We’ve definitely been blessed with some fantastic crime dramas recently. Series such as True Detective, Dark Winds, MobLand, and The Night Manager have all managed to provide us with suspenseful plots and heart-racing action. But some of these shows have so many episodes that they can be difficult to watch in just a few days. Luckily, last year, Apple TV released a masterful, underrated psychological thriller with only nine episodes, making it the perfect show to binge-watch in one weekend.

What Is ‘Smoke’ About?

Smoke came out last summer, but it’s still well worth your time. You might already be familiar with Dennis Lehane through his incredible films such as Mystic River, Shutter Island, and Gone Baby Gone. He’s the creator of Smoke, which was inspired by the true-crime podcast Firebug, about a real-life arsonist who had been terrorizing a town for over 30 years. In this crime drama, Dave Gudsen (Taron Egerton, who worked with Lehane on the miniseries Black Bird) is a friendly everyman and an arson investigator looking into a string of fires occurring in his jurisdiction.

Dave has his own past trauma, surviving a horrific fire when he was still working as a firefighter. But even with his personal and professional experience, Dave can’t seem to solve this case — especially because he suspects that there might even be multiple arsonists at work. The arsonists seem to be using different methods and incendiary devices to start the fires, and the blazes have become increasingly dangerous and even lethal. Dave’s bosses decide to bring in Detective Michelle Calderone (Jurnee Smollett) to help him solve the mystery. Dave is reluctant to have a partner, and Michelle is definitely guarded, having experienced her own fire-related trauma in her youth, but the two decide to come together eventually to try and crack the case.

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Apple TV’s Eerie, Twisted Crime Miniseries Shouldn’t Have Been Overlooked

Yet another hidden gem that Apple TV has to offer.

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‘Smoke’ Is a Twisty, Psychological Thriller That’s Worthy of a Binge-Watch

Smoke would have been intriguing enough to watch if it were a straightforward story of damaged characters working to solve a crime. Instead, a major twist in the first few episodes turns the entire plot on its head. Even when you think you know where the story is heading, you’ll discover that you pretty much can’t predict any of it. The action of Smoke is non-stop, and the morally grey characters make choices that will keep you guessing until the very end. Along with the fantastic storytelling, Smoke includes stunning cinematography that often creates an eerie, haunting, and terrifying vibe. The series also excels with its special effects, which make you feel like you’re right in the middle of the fires onscreen.

There’s no way that Smoke would be a captivating series without its incredible cast. Egerton has to play many different sides of Dave, but the actor’s ability to portray a wide variety of complex emotions makes him still seem authentic. Smollett is also impressive as the broken, yet fierce Michelle. Several incredible supporting actors allow Smoke to sizzle, including Rafe Spall, Greg Kinnear, John Leguizamo, and Anna Chlumsky. But there’s really one actor that deserves a whole other level of praise. Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine is absolutely extraordinary as Freddy Fasano, a fast-food worker who becomes a major suspect. Mwine’s performance starts with a quiet intensity and then continues to build into a monstrous display of the insidious effects of a lifetime of trauma.

Once you start watching Smoke, there’s no way you can stop without reaching the very last scene. The series hasn’t been renewed by Apple TV (or canceled, for that matter), and Lehane has stated that he intended the show to run for at least three seasons. But Smoke can still stand alone right now as nine episodes of fast-paced, thrilling television. The twisted storytelling and gripping performances ensure that this weekend binge won’t leave you disappointed, although it could make you a little more afraid of fire.

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Release Date

2025 – 2025-00-00

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Network

Apple TV+

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Directors

Kari Skogland

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Bride and groom tribe! The Bachelor alum Sarah Trott and her fiancé, Grant Fisher, are redefining pre-wedding traditions with a joint bachelor and bachelorette celebration in the Caribbean.

Ahead of their summer wedding in Italy, the couple gathered 13 of their closest friends and family for a multi-day getaway from April 15 through April 20, island-hopping from St. Barths to Anguilla. Among those in attendance were Lauren Gabele, Ryan Fisher, and Cameron Roady.

“Our entire relationship has been rooted in shared experiences and travel, so the idea of celebrating separately never quite fit,” Trott told ET. “This wasn’t about his or hers, it was about ours.”

The group stayed aboard the No Bad Ideas yacht charter, where days were spent enjoying the onboard spa, lounging in the deck jacuzzi, and taking in the sweeping ocean views. 

Off the boat, celebrations continued at some of St. Barths’ most sought-after hotspots, including Bagatelle, GypSea, and La Guérite.

While the itinerary embraced classic bachelor and bachelorette elements, it was thoughtfully reimagined. 

“The entire trip was incredibly intentional from the activities to the themed nights. … The girls rented pink jeeps and went shopping while the guys went fishing and we’d come back together for lots of laughs, dancing and shared meals,” Trott shared.

“We feel so lucky that our closest friends genuinely love spending time together. It made everything feel effortless,” she added. 

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By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 29 seconds ago

In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Giles is a Watcher who moonlights as a librarian. Unsurprisingly, he has an endless library of books that he uses to help Buffy fight vampires and other demons that go bump in the night in Sunnydale. If you look closely, you’ll notice that one of those books is Tobin’s Spirit Guide. Does that name ring a bell? It should. It’s one of the fictional texts name-dropped by Egon in the original Ghostbusters movie. While the book doesn’t play a major role in Buffy, it is surprisingly prominent, popping up in a dozen episodes.

In all likelihood, the writers and producers of Buffy the Vampire Slayer felt that Tobin’s Spirit Guide would fit right in as yet another Easter egg in this pop culture-obsessed show. However, there is no real reason to believe that Buffy doesn’t take place in the same universe as Ghostbusters. Later films in the franchise (including Ghostbusters II and Ghostbusters: Afterlife) reinforce this connection by confirming a startling fact: the reason that our favorite nerdy scientists have such a ghost problem is that the ultimate Big Bad of the franchise keeps trying to open new Hellmouths!  

Is Buffy A Ghostbusters Spinoff?

First, it’s important to talk about the timeline of these two franchises. After the events of Ghostbusters II, the team disbands because there are no new ghosts to catch. Ghostbusters: Afterlife reveals that the group broke up sometime in the ‘90s, and the most popular fan theories speculate they would have dissolved around 1995. This is significant because Buffy doesn’t become a Slayer until 1996, one year after the Ghostbusters disbanded.

Now, the elephant in the room (and what you’ve likely been screaming about for a minute or two) is that neither Buffy nor any of her friends ever references the events of the Ghostbusters films. Isn’t it weird that nobody, not even nerdy Xander, ever mentions the time a giant marshmallow man nearly did his own, super-sticky 9/11? However, it’s canonical in the Ghostbusters universe that almost everyone has a weirdly bad memory when it comes to ghosts. No officials in Ghostbusters II take the new spook threat seriously, despite the entire city being besieged by spirits only five years earlier. In Afterlife, seemingly nobody but Egon’s family and Paul Rudd’s character even remembers who the Ghostbusters are.

Horrors Of The Hellmouth

If a bunch of people in the Northeast and the Midwest don’t remember the Ghostbusters’ exploits, it makes sense that Buffy and the rest of her West Coast crew wouldn’t remember these stream-crossing heroes. The exception is likely Giles, who knows better than most people that ghosts, just like vampires and werewolves, are quite real. That’s why he has Tobin’s Spirit Guide. Like Egon Spengler and Ray Stantz, he wants to be prepared for Buffy’s inevitable clash with Sunnydale’s own spooks, specters, and ghosts. 

However, my theory is that Giles’ link to the Ghostbusters goes far beyond having his own copy of Tobin’s Spirit Guide. You see, one of his biggest priorities is ensuring that none of Sunnydale’s demons manage to open the Hellmouth. That’s because the Hellmouth is a portal to a different dimension full of absolute horrors. Incidentally, it’s established Buffy canon that there are multiple Hellmouths on the planet. This includes one in Cleveland that, since they have no Slayer, must be guarded by other do-gooders in the fight against evil.

Stopping The Apocalypse Before It Was Cool

What does this have to do with Ghostbusters? In the first movie, our heroes discover that Dana Barrett’s apartment was designed by Ivo Shandor, who (along with a small army of cultists) worships an interdimensional bad guy named Gozer. Their ultimate goal is to summon Gozer away from its home dimension and to Earth, where it will usher in a brutal apocalypse by summoning a Destructor. An evil portal bad guys are trying to open to summon an interdimensional villain to wreak havoc on Earth? That’s right, boys and girls, Ivo Shandor was trying to open a Hellmouth!

One of the quirks about Hellmouths is that, before they open, there are ominous portents. In Buffy, portents come in many forms, including earthquakes, insect swarms, and water transforming into blood. In Ghostbusters, these portents take the form of ghosts, and more of them appear as Gozer’s arrival nears. Ray and Winston even have a cheerful conversation about the increasing number of spirits, speculating that this might be a portent of an upcoming apocalypse.

Welcome To The Hellmouth, Ghostbusters

If the ghosts were portents of a Hellmouth about to open, that explains why they suddenly stopped appearing. In Ghostbusters II, we found out that ghost appearances started drying up after the Ghostbusters crossed the streams and defeated Gozer. Simply put, they kept the Hellmouth from opening, and afterward, the ghostly portents all disappeared. Incidentally, the Hellmouth in New York City may explain how these characters were able to invent proton packs, space-age technology that’s far too advanced for 1984. Buffy creator Joss Whedon once explained to writer/producer David Fury that energy from the Hellmouth “makes mad scientists out of humans,” allowing them to create impossible technology.

Incidentally, the pattern continues in later Ghostbusters movies. The team shuts down the Hellmouth in the first film, but in Ghostbusters II, the ghosts suddenly start appearing in greater numbers again. The team believes this is connected to the mood slime, but I think they have it backwards. The ghosts are actually a portent of another interdimensional door about to open, one which will free Vigo the Carpathian from his painting and unleash him on the planet. Afterlife explains that the ghosts mostly went away after this, which makes sense; the team shut down another dimensional portal, and the portents (the river of slime and the ghosts), subsequently disappeared.

If Only Buffy Tried Crossing The Streams

In Ghostbusters: Afterlife, ghosts suddenly pop up again in the Midwest, where former Ghostbuster Egon Spengler settled down and eventually died. Why? Because OG franchise villain, Ivo Shandor, had secretly turned an old mine into a temple to Gozer, complete with a sacrificial pit. This was another Hellmouth, one intended to summon Shandor’s favorite monster from another dimension. Ghosts began popping up as portents of the Hellmouth opening. The new Ghostbusters team discovers the mine and, with the help of the original team, defeats Gozer. However, they never really closed the Hellmouth (no crossing the streams or anything), which helps explain why ghosts are still around in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. 

There you have it, boys and girls. When Tobin’s Spirit Guide pops up in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it’s more than just another Easter egg. It is, in fact, a powerful clue that the world of Buffy and the world of Ghostbusters are one and the same. Buffy continued the same fight that the Ghostbusters began back in the ‘80s, and they (albeit unknowingly) became warriors in the wider fight between humans and demons. As a huge fan of both franchises, I’m left with only one question: did Giles get his copy of Tobin’s Spirit Guide from Ray’s Occult Books before venturing to the West Coast?

Pink’s teen daughter, Willow, looked all grown up as she stepped out with her mom for a rare appearance at the Broadway premiere of The Lost Boys.

Pink, 46, and Willow, 14, held hands as they posed together on the red carpet at the Palace Theater in New York City on Sunday, April 26. The “So What” singer sported a long black dress paired with a black bedazzled jacket for the occasion, while her eldest child wore an elegant red strapless corset gown.

Pink shares Willow and son Jameson, 9, with husband Carey Hart. Last month, the family of four stepped out for a performance of & Juliet at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre on Broadway. (Pink’s 2010 song “F***in’ Perfect” is featured in the jukebox musical inspired by Romeo and Juliet.)

During an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show in March, Pink explained that she and her family recently moved to the Big Apple so that Willow could pursue a theater career.

Related: Pink’s Daughter Shows Off Incredible Voice While Watching the Tony Awards

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. While watching the Tony Awards alongside her mom, pop star Pink, 14-year-old Willow Hart dressed up in her “Great Gatsby the Musical costume which she designed herself” to celebrate another season of Broadway. “This girl is where she wants to be,” Pink wrote alongside photos of Willow, […]

“We actually moved here because I am an amazing mom,” the musician quipped after singing “Hopeless War” from The Outsiders with Willow. “And also so Willow could study theater and experience more Broadway.”

Pink previously opened up about Willow’s ambitions in May 2024, telling People that her daughter hoped to become a trauma surgeon after a stint on Broadway.

“I want her to go do the damn thing,” the songwriter shared. “She’s got a voice, man. She’s a little bird. She wants to do Broadway and then be a trauma surgeon.”

Pink’s daughter has already stepped into the music world by touring with her mom, as the “Just Give Me a Reason” singer revealed in 2023 that Willow began working on the road for minimum wage. (The mother-daughter duo also collaborated on the 2021 song “Cover Me in Sunshine.”)

“Willow has a job on tour,” Pink revealed on Today at the time. “We just had to go over minimum wage, and it’s different state to state. I said it’s about $22.50 a show depending [on] how long I go, if I run over. She goes, ‘I’ll take $20, it’s easier to do the math.’ I’m like, ‘That’s not how you negotiate for yourself.’ I’m like, ‘You’ll take $25 so it’s easier math.’”

Pink and Hart, 50, tied the knot in 2006 and welcomed Willow in 2011, followed by Jameson in 2016.

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Related: Pink and Carey Hart’s Family Album: The Sweetest Photos With Their Kids

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Pink and her husband, Carey Hart, have been documenting their lives with daughter Willow and son Jameson since becoming parents. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Enter your email Please enter a valid email. Subscribe By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us […]

In late February, a source told Us Weekly that Pink and Hart, who famously have had an up-and-down relationship, had split after 20 years of marriage.

Reps for Pink and Hart did not respond to Us’ requests for comment. Pink, however, denied the speculation via Instagram.

“I was just alerted to the fact that I’m separated from my husband. I didn’t know,” Pink said in an Instagram video. She added in the caption, “If you don’t hear it from me, don’t believe the hype. Stay tuned though! Who knows what could happen next!?!”

A black cat picked a chicken coop nesting box as the spot to deliver her kittens — and the hens sharing that space decided to pitch in with the newborns.

In a video posted by @farmer.jo.homesteading on Instagram, the cat gives birth to a litter of kittens in a nesting box right next to the chickens. The footage takes a turn that somehow makes the already heartwarming scene even sweeter: when the mother cat gets up and steps away from the kittens for a moment, the chickens are right there, stepping in. They gather close around the newborn kittens and seem to take over warming duty, sitting on them as if they were their own eggs.

The original post was shared on April 9. It has since racked up over 27 million views and over 1 million likes on Instagram, drawing a massive response from viewers charmed by the interspecies teamwork.

The Chickens Fill In for Mama Cat in Viral Video

The video captures the mama cat delivering her kittens in the nesting box inside the chicken coop, with hens right beside her. When the mother cat stands up and briefly steps away from her litter, the chickens do not ignore the tiny newcomers. They gather around the newborn kittens and settle down on top of them — treating the little felines exactly the way they would a clutch of eggs that need to stay warm.

Related: Arie and Lauren Luyendyk Name Their Home Chicken Coop ‘Hatchelor Mansion’

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Jennifer Garner and more celebrities have expanded their families with pet chickens. “She’s always wanted chickens,” the Duke of Sussex said of his wife during their March 2021 CBS tell-all interview, giving a tour of their chicken coop. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Enter your email Please […]

For newborn kittens, that kind of immediate body heat is far more than a cute moment caught on camera. It fills a critical physical need. According to VCA Hospitals, “Warmth is essential for the newborn. Kittens cannot control their own body temperature for the first couple of weeks of life. In nature, kittens stay warm by direct body contact with their mother and littermates in the enclosed nest bed.”

The hens in the video appear to provide exactly that. By sitting on the kittens inside the enclosed nesting box, the chickens deliver direct body contact — the very thing newborn kittens need to maintain their body temperature when their mother is not beside them.

A Hen Named Bitsy Earns the Spotlight After Kitten Birth

The farmer behind the @farmer.jo.homesteading account has kept viewers updated on the cat and chicken arrangement since the original post. In another video from April 11, one hen in particular takes center stage.

The chicken, named Bitsy, sits on all of the baby kittens while the mama cat has left the nesting box to get some food and water. The farmer’s caption on that follow-up video read, “Oh Bitsy 🩷 such a special girl taking great care of these babies while mama cat is out getting some food and water. These babies are well loved and very well taken care of!”

The April 11 footage shows Bitsy settled comfortably over the entire litter, holding down the nesting box while the mama cat gets her refreshments. The farmer’s affectionate caption made clear that Bitsy’s caretaking was not a one-time event. The arrangement between the mama cat and the hen had become a routine, with Bitsy stepping up whenever the mother cat needed a break from the nest.

Related: What Does ‘the Saxophones Are Getting Louder’ Mean on TikTok?

If you’ve scrolled through TikTok recently, you may have stumbled across videos captioned with some variation of “the saxophones are getting louder.” The phrase is appearing across the platform in clips that layer it over everyday situations, workplace mistakes and dramatic scenarios that seem to be heading toward an inevitable outcome. While it might sound […]

Millions of Viewers Weigh In on the Adorable Instagram Clip

The original video drew a wave of comments from people who could not stop watching the unlikely cooperation between the cat and the chickens. With over 27 million views and more than 1 million likes, the post clearly struck a chord with animal lovers across Instagram.

“The hen was her birth doula,” one commenter wrote, casting the chicken as an attendant during the delivery.

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“To be an interspecies aunt must be an honor,” another said.

Others found humor in the scene, imagining how the whole situation must have looked from the hen’s perspective. “The chicken is thinking ‘that cat just laid the world’s weirdest egg…’” one viewer joked.

And one comment captured the spirit of the entire video in just four words: “Mammas help mammas.”

On Sunday (April 26), Lexie Brown gave the internet that “my name is Bennett and I ain’t in it” energy! The WNBA star took to Instagram to clear the air on rumors linking her to Klay Thompson cheating on Megan Thee Stallion.

RELATED: Hotties Stand Up! Fans Show Megan Thee Stallion Love On Social Media Amid Breakup With Klay Thompson (PHOTOS)

Lexie Brown Denies Being Involved With Klay Thompson

Megan Thee Stallion first hinted at relationship issues with Klay when she posted about “cold feet” and “cheating” amid family functions. Her post, shared on IG Stories, also seemingly accused Thompson of “horrible mood swings” and not wanting to be monogamous. She later confirmed the breakup in an exclusive statement to TMZ.

Along with flooding Thompson’s socials with backlash, fans also began speculating about the other woman involved in the cheating scandal. Somehow, Lexie Brown ended up in the mix! Though Brown didn’t use any names, the WNBA player clarified on IG that she’s not involved in Klay’s drama. Instead, she’s locked in on playing her second season with the Seattle Storm team.

“I’ve seen what’s being said online, and I want to be clear, none of it is true, and I have no involvement in this situation,” Lexie Brown wrote. “This week marks the start of an important and exciting new season for me, and my focus is fully on that.”

Social Media Continues Searching For Mystery Side Chick

In The Shade Room’s comment section, the roommates had plenty to say about Lexie Brown clearing the air. While some pointed out how quick she shut down the Klay Thompson rumors, others argued they wouldn’t have addressed it at all. Also, a few seemed to doubt her statement and mentioned an unspecific post on Close Friends, which TSR has not independently seen or verified.

@dr.hardiman commented, “If I was a celebrity, I wouldn’t tell yall SHIT 😂 People gonna make up their own narratives anyway.” 

“I mean y’all expected her to jump out the window and admit she been hunching on Klay,” @jonswavyy93 added.

“A rumour can really ruin your whole life smh,” @sadiekreates said.

“Y’all don’t know if that girl was the one he was cheating with ….. because where the receipts at,” @harujukobeanie wrote.

“Naaa, cause she was QUICK to cut them comments off, GUILTY AS CHARGED 😭,” @wan.shinobi commented.

@zeroofcksgiven_ said, “ngl she shouldn’t have said anything . if it has nothing to do with you then dont address it 🙄.” 

@whitney_tt alleged, “Don’t worry! The internet WILL find the CULPRIT 😩.”

@m_mines1 commented, “This reminds me of when Lemonade dropped and Beyonce fans were in random women’s comments calling them Becky 😭.” 

“Listen how they pick yu out of all the woman what yall was doing to make them think that,” @pony_tailfairy added.

@keepingupwthguccipucci wrote, “You responded too quickly 😂😂😂 you did it 😂😂😂 it alway be them close friends 🥴🤏🏾.” 

RELATED: From “Baby” To Bye! 5 Moments That Had Fans Thinking Klay Thompson Was The One For Megan Thee Stallion (PHOTOS +VIDEOS)

Megan Thee Stallion Pushes Through Heartbreak 

Klay Thompson’s name may be all over the internet, but he hasn’t been. In the days since Megan Thee Stallion confirmed their split, he has not addressed her cheating allegations. His NBA season with the Dallas Mavericks ended in mid-April, which means we likely won’t see him on the court again until October. Additionally, his history, if any, with WNBA star Lexie Brown remains unclear.

Megan, though, is pushing through her heartbreak. Hours after blasting her former boo on April 25, she took the stage for her ‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical’ performance. The show has an 8-week run and will reportedly end on May 17. During curtain call, a video showed Thee Stallion wiping away tears as the crowd gave her a standing ovation. Even the dancers are seen seemingly encouraging her on stage as she became emotional. Also, celebrity peers like Angel Reese and Asian Doll, have shown her online love amid her breakup.

RELATED: 4 Moments Megan Thee Stallion & Klay Thompson’s Parents Shared That Hit Different Now (VIDEOS)

Sister Wives star Janelle Brown recently posted a warning from her new Taeda Farms home. And this has folks taking notice because it warns that there is danger lurking.

Sister Wives: Janelle Brown Posts Frightening Warning

Janelle Brown’s Sister Wives fans know how she loves to grow things, and her new farm lets her take this to a grand level. She plans to grow flowers to send to market from her newly purchased Taeda Farms in North Carolina.

But while she is outside, especially with her grandchildren around, she needs to keep an eye out for something adorable but venomous in her surroundings.

Janelle’s Post Shows How This Adorable Creature Appeals to Kids

Janelle Brown shared a public service message that warns parents of this danger, possibly found in their own backyards. While this post shows a Puss Caterpillar looking harmless, it is not. Because that soft-looking, cat-like hair hides venomous spines that could sting you.

Plus, in the post you can hear what the kids are saying as they watch this venomous caterpillar. While they think it is so cute to look at, it is dangerous to touch.

The Sister Wives star shared this post, which comes from a mom in Janelle Brown’s area. And this mom warns, “This is the most venomous caterpillar found in the United States.”

It continues with how it was “found right here in the backyard of Wilmington, North Carolina.” This public service message was posted by Wilmingtonmom on Facebook, and Janelle shared it with her Sister Wives fans.

Sister Wives: A Grandmother/Mom Who Cares

Leave it to the mom in Janelle Brown to post this to her million-plus Sister Wives followers. With Maddie Brown Brush and Caleb Brush helping her run Taeda Farms, this likely means their young kids will be exploring the land.

So these caterpillars can be scary to encounter. These little creatures have a lot of hair. And this makes them look cuddly.

So, you can see how the look of the furry backyard crawler might entice kids to want it as a pet. Or at the very least, try to pick it up. But this species of caterpillar stings, and it has dangerous venom, despite looking adorable to kids.

About the Puss Caterpillar …

The venom from this caterpillar is located on its hollow spines, which are mixed in and hidden among the thick hair. So you can get stung by this creature just by brushing up against it. If you find one on you or someone else, do not remove it with bare hands.

According to Columbia University Irving Medical Center, the symptoms of puss caterpillar contact may include the following:

• Instant, intense pain that usually comes in waves.
• Swelling with a rash that causes itching. The rash contains red blotches and raised ridges.
• Anxiety and Restlessness
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Fever.
• Muscle cramps.
• Swollen glands.
• Symptoms of shock.

If someone is stung by this caterpillar, the National Capital Poison Center suggests calling them for help if needed at 1-800-222-1222. Treatment includes removing the spines using tape (sticky side down). Pull up the tape and repeat with new pieces of tape until all the spines are removed.

Then, gently wash the area with soap and water. It is also recommended that you seek medical help if the symptoms are severe, such as having “trouble breathing” or the skin becoming “badly blistered.”

There you have it: Janelle Brown takes time out from her busy life to pass a warning along. This could benefit the families of the many fans she’s gathered on social media from her TLC series.

Head back to Soap Dirt for the latest buzz on Sister Wives.

The Voice alum Dylan Carter has died. He was 24.

Carter died on Saturday, April 25, in Colleton County, South Carolina, according to multiple reports.

“Our family is heartbroken to hear about the passing of Dylan Carter in a car accident,” wrote Thomas Hamilton Jr., the mayor of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, via Facebook on Sunday, April 26. “As a gifted singer, he frequently entertained our community with his performances at Town events. His kindness and charm earned him immense respect, and his absence will be deeply felt.”

Hamilton continued, “To the loved ones and acquaintances of Dylan, we offer our sincerest condolences during this difficult period. The Town of Moncks Corner, its Council, and entire staff extend their deepest sympathies. He was much more to our family than an entertainer he was our friend and we are deeply saddened.”

Related: Reba McEntire Will Join ‘The Voice’ Season 24 After Blake Shelton’s Exit

Clear a chair! Reba McEntire is officially joining season 24 of The Voice as a coach following Blake Shelton‘s exit. NBC confirmed the news at the network’s upfront presentation on Monday, May 15. The “Fancy” songstress, 68, will join returning coaches John Legend, Gwen Stefani and Niall Horan with the new season, which is set […]

Carter competed on The Voice season 24 in 2023. He earned four chair turns from judges Reba McEntire, Niall Horan, Gwen Stefani and John Legend with his cover of Whitney Houston‘s “I Look to You” during the blind auditions. Carter’s performance moved McEntire, 71, and Legend, 47, to tears as he dedicated it to his late mother, who died the year before his audition.

“This was the best second chance,” the South Carolina native said at the time. “I just made her so proud.”

McEntire told Carter, “I saw [the emotion], I felt it and I heard it when you were singing. That’s the kind of songs that do that to me too. I saw you get so emotionally involved, and that’s when you know you’ve got a great song and a great singer, when it touches your heart.”

Legend added, “I know your mother is proud of you.”

Carter chose to join Team Reba. He was subsequently eliminated in the battle rounds.

After The Voice, Carter continued to perform at local events in his hometown. He was scheduled to sing at Moncks Corner’s “Music on Main” event on Monday, April 27, according to multiple reports. The event has since been canceled.

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Carter was also the cofounder of The Local Voice, a nonprofit based in Santee, South Carolina, that offers care to women battling breast cancer.

Related: ‘The Voice’ Singer Ryan Whyte Maloney Dead at 44

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The Voice singer Ryan Whyte Maloney has died at the age of 44. The reality show alum, who appeared on the show in 2014, died by suicide, the Clark County Coroner in Las Vegas confirmed to Us Weekly on Tuesday, January 28. (People was first to report the news.) Just hours before his death, the […]

“With heavy hearts we share the passing of Dylan Carter, co-founder of The Local Voice, talented musician and someone who meant so much to our community,” the organization wrote via Facebook. “Dylan was the heart of what we do. He believed every voice matters and lived that every day. Through his music, his kindness, and his smile, he brought people together and made everyone feel seen.”

Outside of music, Carter worked as a realtor and partly owned an RV park and campground near Lake Marion in Santee, according to local outlet Count on 2 News.

Meryl Streep isn’t just promoting a movie. She’s sparking a movement. The 76-year-old Oscar winner is making headlines after wrapping a global press tour for “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” with experts saying her bold fashion choices and candid remarks are challenging how women over 50 are seen in Hollywood.

While promoting The Devil Wears Prada 2 in Japan, Meryl Streep didn’t shy away from addressing the reality of aging in Hollywood. “You don’t see many 70-, almost 77-year-old women playing parts like this in any movie or under any circumstance,” she told reporters, as shared by the Associated Press. “So I’m happy to represent, you know?”

She also spoke directly about the broader issue facing women in the industry. “Often women over 50, I’d say, disappear into the woodwork,” she added. “Their interests and opinions are less valued in our culture, so it’s fun to see this person who is credibly placed in the world and having that influence.”

Experts Say Streep Is Making A ‘Power Move’ By Challenging Ageism In Hollywood

Leading voices in fashion, activism, and academia are pointing to Streep’s recent comments about older women “disappearing into the woodwork” as a major cultural turning point. Ashton Applewhite, an anti-ageism activist, told AARP’s Movies for Grownups that Streep is “explicitly calling out gendered ageism,” adding that she’s doing far more than just promoting a film.

“She’s encouraging women to take up space with confidence,” Applewhite said, noting that Streep’s style doesn’t chase youth; it embraces authenticity.

Fashion designer Carla Rockmore echoed that sentiment, praising Streep’s fearless approach to style. “By dressing so boldly, Meryl Streep is rejecting the premise that women of a certain age must style themselves with a whisper rather than a roar,” she said. “It’s a power move.”

Stylists And Experts Say Meryl Streep’s Bold Looks Signal Confidence, Not Trends

Celebrity stylist Julia von Boehm pointed out that Streep’s looks aren’t about trends, but they’re about self-expression. “Her looks are more out there for this press tour, but still I feel like they’re not like a fashion trend,” she said. “She still stays herself.”

She added that the message behind the tour is clear: “You’re not finished with life. You’re out there, and you’re great, and you’re confident.”

And Adrienne Jones, a fashion design professor at Pratt Institute, said Streep’s impact goes beyond the red carpet, highlighting a larger shift in how women approach style later in life. “Women over 50 are free. I don’t have to fit in any box,” Jones said, explaining that confidence and identity often become clearer with age.

Streep’s Press Tour Becomes A Statement

For many watching, Meryl Streep’s “The Devil Wears Prada 2” press tour isn’t just about fashion, but it’s being seen as a reset. The film, set to hit theaters May 1, was preceded by a six-week global tour spanning six cities and more than 30 carefully curated looks, all centered around one idea: evolution.

According to longtime stylist Micaela Erlanger, the goal wasn’t to recreate Miranda Priestly, but to highlight who Streep is today. “We wanted to have a wink and a nod to the original movie, but it’s also about evolution,” Erlanger told Vogue. “It was about dressing Meryl Streep as she is now, a powerful and realized woman at the height of her career.”

Meryl Streep Says Aging Brings Freedom And Confidence

For Meryl Streep, getting older isn’t something to fear; it’s something to embrace. The Oscar winner has previously spoken about the sense of freedom that comes with age, explaining that it allows her to live more authentically and on her own terms. “The good thing about getting older is that you find your own way… what feels right to you,” she said.

That sense of freedom has shaped how Meryl Streep views aging as a whole, not as a loss, but as a transformation. “Aging is not for the weak. One day you wake up and realize that your youth is gone, but along with it, so go insecurity, haste, and the need to please,” she said.

“You learn to walk more slowly, but with greater certainty. You say goodbye without fear, and you cherish those who stay,” the actress continued. “Aging means letting go, it means accepting, it means discovering that beauty was never in our skin … but in the story we carry inside us.”

Science fiction is one of the most vast genres at filmmakers’ disposal, at least in terms of the sheer myriad of subgenres that they can use as vehicles for some of the strongest stories cinema has ever told. One of the ways in which this genre can be divided is into hard science fiction and soft science fiction. The former is strongly concerned with scientific accuracy and logic, usually dealing chiefly with natural sciences like biology and astrology. On the other hand, soft sci-fi explores soft sciences (like psychology and sociology) and is more concerned with emotions, speculative societies, and the relationships between its characters, rather than science or engineering.

Soft sci-fi is often looked down on even by sci-fi fans, who see it as a pulpy and lesser form of the genre that lacks the rigor and prestige of hard science fiction. Over the years, however, several of the greatest sci-fi films ever made have been on the softer side, showing beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is a form of science fiction as respectable as any other. From modern action blockbusters to classic horror movies, there are many ways of making a good soft sci-fi film.

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‘Arrival’ (2016)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Canadian auteur Denis Villeneuve was already a well-established filmmaker going into 2016, but it was 2016 that introduced the world to his work in the genre that has come to define him: science fiction. Based on Ted Chiang‘s novella Story of Your Life, Arrival is an alien invasion story unlike any other, boosted by Jóhann Jóhannsson‘s hauntingly beautiful score and Amy Adams at her absolute (and most egregiously Oscar-snubbed) best.

Arrival is one of those films that can be argued to be both soft and hard sci-fi, but it definitely leans more toward the former. Its strong focus on linguistics, communication, and the concept of memory as it relates to identity is science fiction at its softest, even if Villeneuve relies on quite a bit of hard scientific exposition to show his characters’ intelligence. The result is one of the most thought-provoking films the genre had to offer at any point during the 2010s.

9

‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ (2022)

An over-the-top indie comedy that mixes sci-fi and martial arts movie elements to tell a story about generational trauma, family, immigration, and existential dread? It sounds a bit all over the place, and it’s definitely not the type of concept that screams “Oscars material.” That only makes the Daniels‘ Everything Everywhere All At Once and its winning seven Academy Awards all the more admirable.

Everything Everywhere relies on some elements of hard sci-fi to explain the mechanics of its multiversal elements, but that’s a relatively tiny part of a film that’s as soft as butter. It is one of the most perfect sci-fi movies of the 21st century, and it achieves that status through a focus on the family dynamics between its characters, a strongly philosophical story, and sci-fi elements that serve the emotional dimension of the narrative much more than they do its scientific dimension.

8

‘Alien’ (1979)

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Ridley Scott is nowadays known as one of the most prolific and successful Hollywood filmmakers in history, but even the greats have to start somewhere. Alien was only Scott’s second-ever feature film, and it must have surely been ample proof for 1979 audiences and critics that they were witnessing the birth of a master filmmaker. Who, if not a maestro of the craft, could possibly revolutionize sci-fi horror in quite this way?

Alien is profoundly atmospheric, genuinely scary even after almost half a century of its release, and one of the most perfectly written sci-fi movies ever made. Psychological horror, character drama, and atmospheric tension are far more important to this late New Hollywood classic than scientific rigor. It makes for a sort of haunted house in space whose slow-burning approach to its story makes it even more suspenseful.

7

‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)

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After three decades away from the Mad Max universe that he revolutionized Australian cinema and low-budget action cinema with, George Miller returned to the action genre with Mad Max: Fury Road, easily one of the greatest legacy sequels ever made. It’s one of the most perfectly-directed action epics of all time, two hours of pure non-stop adrenaline and high-octane action.

The post-apocalyptic and dystopian genres are typically science fiction by nature, and this one’s no exception. But science isn’t really important to Miller here, nor any kind of particularly intellectual approach to the natural crisis that makes Max Rockatansky’s world a desert wasteland. That doesn’t detract from Fury Road‘s quality in any way, however. On the contrary, the movie’s soft approach to its genre allows it to focus on its rapid-fire pacing, exhilarating action scenes, and delectably over-the-top world-building.

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‘Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope’ (1977)

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Star Wars‘ status as a sci-fi franchise is a hotly debated topic. Whereas some people agree that George Lucas‘ immensely successful creation is a science-fantasy franchise at heart, there are those sci-fi purists who claim that this is mostly a fairy tale that just happens to be set in space. If anything, this debate is a testament to how ambiguous a blanket term soft sci-fi can sometimes be, but it only takes one look at Episode IV — A New Hope—the one that started it all—to realize that cataloging the story of the Skywalkers as soft science-fantasy makes the most sense.

It is the quintessential Hero’s Journey movie, a classic that has mostly aged like fine wine, and gave birth to what’s arguably the biggest transmedia franchise in history. Lucas is in no way, shape, or form interested in intellectual scientific rigor here. A New Hope is a space opera made up of pure action, emotion, and fun character arcs. It may not be the best soft sci-fi film ever made, but it might just be the most iconic example of the subgenre.

5

‘Children of Men’ (2006)

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Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón has spent the vast majority of his career in Hollywood, and it’s there that he made what some may consider his magnum opus: Children of Men, one of the best dystopian movies of the 21st century. Supported by Clive Owen‘s phenomenal lead performance, Cuarón’s admirably atmospheric direction, and Emmanuel Lubezki‘s legendary camerawork (which includes some of the most impressive long takes of any action film of the 21st century), it’s among the most thrilling movie masterpieces of all time.

But though the mysterious scientific crisis at the core of Children of Men (a case of worldwide infertility) might have provided a solid basis for an interesting hard sci-fi film, that’s never Cuarón’s focus here. Instead, Children of Men is a masterpiece dealing with themes of migration and the struggle to maintain faith in the face of an international crisis, which is about as focused on the social sciences as a sci-fi movie can possibly be.

4

‘Dune: Part Two’ (2024)

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The differentiation between soft and hard science fiction first appeared in the late 1970s, attributed to Australian literary scholar Peter Nicholls. It was in 1965 that Frank Herbert‘s seminal space opera Dune came out, but though it predicts the coining of the term “soft science fiction,” it absolutely fits the definition of the subgenre in every way that matters. And though many fans of the source material believed for many years that it was impossible to make a film worthy of Herbert’s legacy, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two proved them wrong.Perhaps the best sci-fi movie of the last 15 years, Dune: Part Two definitely has some elements of hard sci-fi (though less significantly than Herbert’s novel), but those are minuscule in comparison to the film’s focus on softer elements. Light-speed space travel and psychic powers are crucial elements of this landmark of soft sci-fi, and the narrative is far more focused on sociology, ecology, and political science than any kind of natural discipline.

3

‘Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980)

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The original Star Wars may be great, but there’s one film that’s almost universally agreed to be the best piece of Star Wars content ever created, and that’s Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back. Full of exciting action sequences, delightfully creative science-fantasy elements, and possessing one of the most untouchable twists in the history of sci-fi movies, it’s undoubtedly one of the most iconic examples of the genre.

The Empire Strikes Back is every bit as unconcerned with scientific rigor as its predecessor, and that’s perfectly fine—particularly when the soft sci-fi elements that director Irvin Kershner leverages here are so well-executed. Inventive, epic, and with some of the most engrossing world-building and fun character arcs of any 20th-century sci-fi movie, the fifth chapter of the Skywalker Saga is an example of science fiction at its soft best.

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‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ (2004)

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On the basis of Charlie Kaufman‘s genius writing — one of the best screenplays of the 2000s for sure — Michel Gondry made Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. One of the most complex, creative, and beloved romance films ever created, this masterpiece is what many cinephiles immediately think of as soon as they hear the term “soft sci-fi,” and for a very good reason.

Kaufman is never interested in explaining the scientific viability of the memory-erasure technology at the heart of the story, because that’s not what the story’s about. Instead, the sci-fi elements of Eternal Sunshine are a plot device used to anchor its examination of romance, the psychology of love, and the importance of memories in human identity. This film is all about the emotional effects of its story on both its characters and the viewer, proving that soft sci-fi can still make for absolutely perfect examples of the genre.

1

‘Stalker’ (1979)

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Soviet auteur Andrei Tarkovsky was one of the greatest filmmakers that have ever lived, author of several of the greatest films of his time, including two of the best sci-fi movies of the last 75 years. While Solaris leans more toward the harder side of sci-fi, Stalker is about as cashmere-soft as the genre can possibly get. There’s also a strong argument to be made that it is both Tarkovsky’s strongest movie and the greatest European sci-fi film of all time, making it all the more of a must-see for those who love soft science fiction.

Stalker revolves around three men traveling to The Room, a mysterious place that grants those who visit it their innermost wish. There’s no semblance of even a remote attempt at an explanation of the scientific dimension of this story. Instead, Stalker is an arthouse movie through and through, and Tarkovsky’s approach to it is both poetic and sociopolitically charged. Slow-burning, emotionally stirring, and intellectually provocative, this masterpiece is a testament to the tremendous heights that soft science fiction can reach at its best.