Kelly Clarkson left little to the imagination while telling her Las Vegas audience about a brutal hotel bathroom experience. The singer wondered aloud whether she had contracted cyclosporiasis, a foodborne parasitic illness that has reportedly affected nearly 7,000 people nationwide. However, Clarkson did not say she had been tested or diagnosed with the illness. She instead turned the unpleasant ordeal into a story filled with jokes about “Bridesmaids,” heated toilets, and her future dating prospects.

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Clarkson recounted the incident during a recent Studio Sessions residency show at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. “This is TMI, but I’m gonna go ahead and say it,” Clarkson began, according to fan videos shared on social media. “I don’t know if I got that thing, that, you know, like, people eat lettuce. Sh-t, I don’t know what. I don’t know what the f-ck… But last night during the show, I was like, ‘Oh my God. Jesus.’”

The “Stronger” singer appeared to be referencing cyclosporiasis amid reports of rising cases across the country. Clarkson did not confirm what she had eaten before becoming ill or whether she sought medical attention. Her remarks therefore should not be interpreted as confirmation that the parasite caused her symptoms.

The Singer Compares Her Ordeal To ‘Bridesmaids’

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Clarkson said the situation intensified after she returned to her hotel room following the show. “I get back to my room, and I have never been so happy there is not a man in the room cause he for sure would never make sweet love to this again,” the Grammy winner joked.

She then compared the incident to the memorable food-poisoning sequence in the comedy “Bridesmaids.” “Bridesmaids ain’t got sh-t on what happened in my room. I was like, ‘Oh, Lord.’ And you know the part where you think it’s over. You’re like, ‘It has to be over.’ No, girl!”

Clarkson found at least one benefit hidden within the uncomfortable experience: the amenities provided inside her Las Vegas hotel bathroom. “But you know what’s awesome? They have, like, warm toilets for you here,” she told the crowd.

Kelly Clarkson Jokes About Her Dating Future

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The singer also connected her embarrassing hotel experience to her relationship status. “Oh, I’m gonna be single until I’m dead. It’s fine. I’m gonna find another weird motherf-cker out there,” Clarkson said, who got divorced from the late Brandon Blackstock in 2022.

After revealing more than she originally intended, Clarkson struggled to find a smooth way to transition back into her residency performance. “But all that to say… there’s no segue from that,” she admitted. “I hope tonight is not like that. It’s not. I feel fine, thank you.”

Cyclosporiasis Cases Are Rising Across The Country

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Nearly 7,000 cases of cyclosporiasis had reportedly been recorded nationwide as of last week. The source of the contamination had not been identified, although raw produce such as lettuce was being considered as a possible link.

Despite the uncertainty, Dr. Sohaib Imtiaz, Chief Medical Officer at People Inc., said health officials were not advising Americans to eliminate fruits and vegetables from their diets. “The good news is that health officials are not recommending people stop eating fruits and vegetables,” Imtiaz told PEOPLE. “Fresh produce remains an important part of a healthy diet.”

The doctor did, however, recommend that consumers take additional precautions while the cause of the outbreak remains under investigation.

Which Foods Could Carry A Higher Risk?

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According to Imtiaz, prewashed bagged lettuce and salad mixes may carry an elevated risk because produce from several farms can be washed, chopped, and packaged together. That process could allow contamination to affect a larger batch.

Precut fruits and vegetables are another concern because removing their skin or peel exposes the interior. Imtiaz described that outer layer as a “natural protective barrier” and said shared processing equipment can also create opportunities for cross-contamination.

Leafy greens grow close to the ground and may come into contact with soil or contaminated irrigation water. Their textured surfaces, folds, veins, and edges can also provide places for the parasite to remain.

Fresh herbs, particularly basil and cilantro, were also identified as higher-risk items.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 7 seconds ago

I’m not a religious person, but I consider myself blessed to have grown up in real time as The Simpsons was airing its Golden Era. It was that magical time in my life when the show was still appointment viewing, and Sunday night meant it was time for a new episode. It was my favorite part of the week by a long shot.

My love of The Simpsons translated well into adulthood, where I’d get invited to social occasions and suss out the people I’d actually want to hang out with by saying things like “Dental plan!,” or “Are you saying ‘Boo’ or ‘Boo-urns’?” and waiting for the appropriate response.

It’s a perfectly cromulent way to make friends that will embiggen even the smallest of men.

By the time The Simpsons hit Season 12, it was no longer appointment viewing for me, and until Disney+ came along, I was relegated to watching the DVDs I’d accumulated over the years, all of them from Season 10 or earlier. Suddenly, I could fire up every single episode with the click of a button, and it dawned on me that I could watch some of my favorite episodes with my kids.

Now that my son and daughter are 5 and 7 years old, respectively, I’m reveling in the fact that I can corrupt their blank slates with some of my favorite episodes. What I didn’t expect was for my daughter to barrel into the later seasons and actually pick out some certified bangers that are now in my regular rotation, even though I’m still a purist who barely dares venture past Season 10.

The moral of the story? If you grew up during the Golden Era and have kids of your own now, Simpsons night should be mandatory.

Transcends Generations

As somebody who chose to die on the “Simpsons haven’t been good since the ’90s” hill, one thing I really admire about the Golden Era is that it became the perfect time capsule. Everything about The Simpsons during that stretch is so undeniably ’90s that you can’t ignore it. I’m pretty sure my kids learned what a payphone was by watching The Simpsons with me.

But it’s not just about educating your kids on what a great animated sitcom looks like. Episodes like Season 7’s “Summer of 4 Ft. 2.” land especially well with my daughter, who’s about Lisa’s age and navigating some of her first friendships at school. My son, who’s so into dinosaurs that he has a Jurassic Park-themed bedroom, loves “Treehouse of Horror XXIX” for its third segment, “Geriatric Park,” which revolves around Grandpa Simpson turning into a Grampasaurus.

Ironically enough, it’s one of my favorite modern Halloween specials in the entire series, and I have my kids to thank for that.

Now that the kids are older, and they actually let me choose the episodes with a little more authority, I’ve been shoving them headfirst into the Golden Era because I want them to grow up to be superior human beings.

Here’s how it’s working out for me.

The last time we went to the zoo, my daughter said, “Remember, we’re in the Itchy lot!” when we parked the car, and nobody batted an eyelash because even my wife, who’s a casual Simpsons fan at best, knew it was an “Itchy & Scratchy Land” reference.

The last time I cooked burgers at home, my son started ranting about the Northern Lights being localized entirely in my kitchen. He couldn’t quite enunciate “Aurora Borealis,” but credit where it’s due.

Those little moments are honestly my favorite part. Half the fun of introducing my kids to The Simpsons isn’t watching the episodes. It’s hearing those jokes come back days or weeks later in completely unrelated situations, knowing they landed the same way they did when I was their age.

Let Them Get On Your Level Sometimes, They’ll Surprise You

I’m beyond guilty of showing my kids The Simpsons, South Park, Futurama, and Rocko’s Modern Life. Obviously, I’m not showing them the extremely risqué episodes, and they’re not watching unsupervised, but if you show your kids something that’s even remotely adult adjacent while you’re just vegging out around the house, they’re surprisingly receptive to shows that aren’t Bluey or Paw Patrol.

But the real party starts when I barge into their rooms at midnight on a Friday yelling, “Kids, I don’t want to alarm you, but there may be a boogeyman, or boogeymen, in the house!”

I, of course, follow this upsetting, Jerkass Homer, statement with, “Just kidding, we’re watching The Simpsons,” and then we all pick an episode and let it rip on the projector we have set up in the apartment.

Sidebar: if you want your kids to not watch TV during the day, get a cheap projector, because you physically can’t use it when the sun is pouring into the room.

We’re able to bond over one of my favorite shows, but for different reasons. I love the scathing satire of yesteryear, while the kids are mostly into slapstick humor. It feels like a full-circle experience because when I was their age, I valued the show for the exact same reasons they value it today. When a joke flies over their heads, I get to offer sage-like advice like, “You’ll understand when you’re older,” knowing full well I used to hear the same thing. 

One day, they’ll probably outgrow our midnight Simpsons binges. They’ll have their own friends, their own hobbies, and eventually they’ll think hanging out with Dad isn’t nearly as exciting as it is now. That’s just part of growing up. But for the moment, I get to share something that meant the world to me with two little people who are discovering it for the first time, and that’s a pretty incredible feeling.

At my house, Simpsons night has become a staple. It starts with doors getting kicked open in the middle of the night and ends with everybody quoting along in real time before I tell them to promise me they’ll let Mom and Dad sleep in because they got to stay up way past their bedtime.

Ninety-nine percent of the time, it never works.

Ariana Biermann sparked a connection with Next Gen NYC costar Liam Obergfoll following her split from Hudson McLeroy.

“Honestly, he checked off every single box, and I remember calling my mom, being like, ‘Oh my God!’” Ariana, 24, exclusively tells Us after she and Liam, 29, explored a flirtationship during the first few episodes of Next Gen NYC season 2, which premiered on June 24.

Ariana continues, “After the first time I ever met [Liam], we just kind of hit it off immediately. We laugh like no other together, and we just always have such a great time. And he’s a really good person, and I could tell that from initially meeting him.”

The Bravolebrity also gushes about meeting Liam’s parents.

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Related: Ariana Biermann Seemingly Hints at Reconciliation With Hudson McLeroy

Next Gen NYC star Ariana Biermann has sparked reconciliation rumors with costar Hudson McLeroy six months after their split. Ariana, 24, took to Instagram on Thursday, April 16, to share a video of herself lounging on the beach as a mystery man’s hand reached over and gently brushed her hair before resting on her head. […]

“I have a terrible mouth. I got tattoos all over my body. Like, I was so nervous. I hadn’t met somebody’s family in, I don’t even know, years and years,” she explains. It’s been a while since I met a family that I like really cared about their opinion of me.”

Despite her fears about meeting Liam’s family, Ariana says it went “great.”

“He has an incredible family. His mom and his dad are awesome, and his siblings are great, and they were so welcoming,” she shares.

Ariana connected with Liam after she and Hudson, 23, called it quits in October 2025 after seven years of dating on and off.

“Since I was 14, I saw this boy who I loved, who I wanted to help. He always called me when he was down bad,” Ariana admitted during the season 2 premiere. “He knew I was going to be there because I care about this person so deeply and they deserve somebody to be there and hold their hand. As time went on, I kind of realized nobody was holding mine.”

Though Ariana said Hudson wasn’t there for her in the way that she needed, she still cared about him “deeply.”

Ariana’s connection with Liam has caused a stir in Next Gen NYC as she and Hudson navigate their own dynamic post-breakup. At one point, Hudson expressed concern over Liam getting close to Ariana after costar Shai Frutcher warned him about his ex hitting it off with someone new.

Related: Gia Giudice Reacts to Ariana Biermann and Hudson McLeroy’s Breakup

Gia Giudice is sharing her thoughts on Next Gen NYC costars Ariana Biermann and Hudson McLeroy’s split. During a Tuesday, October 21, appearance on SiriusXM’s The Julia Cunningham Show, Giudice, 24, said she was surprised by the long-term couple calling it quits after dating on and off since junior high. “I mean, wow. I love […]

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“Liam can try all he wants, but I don’t think Ariana’s gonna go from me to dating some guy who rides horses for a living,” he said.

Ariana tells Us that she was happy to know that Liam was unbothered by the chatter surrounding their dynamic.

“It made me feel like I like a man who is strong and doesn’t care what the outside factors are saying,” she explains. “It’s about what’s right here in the moment between us, and so I think that it was another reason for me to be attracted to him.”

Though Ariana says she had “strong feelings” for Liam, she is hesitant to label their situation as a relationship.

“You know, I realized, and you’ll kind of see throughout the season, that I don’t fully understand dating these days, right? And I think I’m also saying that because I didn’t know where my head was fully at at the time,” she notes. “I think he was the only person I went on a date with outside of when I was broken up with Hudson for all of those months, but he was there for me through so much stuff as well. And he was helping me as I was grieving some things with Hudson and with a lot of different things. So he is a one-of-a-kind person. … I have nothing negative to say about him.”

Related: Next Gen NYC’s Hudson Addresses Rumor Gia Caused Ariana Biermann Split

Next Gen NYC star Hudson McLeroy is shutting down rumors that Gia Giudice had anything to do with his split from Ariana Biermann. “The biggest rumor was you’re the one that caused the breakup,” Hudson, 24, said during the Monday, June 29, episode of Gia’s iHeartRadio “Casual Chaos” podcast. “We could put that to rest […]

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Ariana adds that she and Liam are “friends” today.

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As for where she stands with Hudson, Ariana teases that she and her ex are “figuring [it] out day by day.”

[We’re] trying to make sure that we’re growing independently still,” she shares. “Like, I really want to keep my independence and have my peace. And I feel like if my peace is interrupted, I found peace when I was by myself and I was alone, the peace that I hadn’t had in quite some time. And so, if that is interrupted, then I feel like that’s when we kind of are going to be wagering, like, ‘What are we gonna do here?’ But I love him, and I always will. You know, he’s so important to me, no matter what.”

To find out where Ariana ends up with Liam and Hudson, tune in to new episodes of Next Gen NYC on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.

Days of Our Lives delivers Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) absolutely furious that her designer handbags have been counterfeited. She immediately assumed that Xander Cook Kiriakis (Paul Telfer) and Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier) are behind the design theft.

Which honestly makes zero sense at all to me. Gabi was planning to bail them out. So, why would they ever screw her over? We’re going to get into the epic blindside coming Gabi’s way when the thief is revealed.

Days of our Lives: Gabi Horrified at Knockoff Handbag

Now, let’s talk about these purloined purse designs. So, Gabi was stunned when she saw Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien) carrying one of her Gabi Chic bags. And at a glance, Gabi thought it was legit and was excited. But when she got up close and looked at Gwen’s bag, she saw it was a cheap knockoff of one of Gabi’s brand new designs.

Gwen didn’t know it, but she bought a very expensive, very fake bag online. And now, of course, Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) is involved, and before she went missing, he and Gwen were talking about it. They had discussed buying all kinds of fake designer goods on sketchy shopping sprees in the past. That was before either of them had much money to spend.

And Gabi explained how much this hurts the designer when these original pieces are copied and tagged with a fake designer label. It’s really bad for business. I personally feel her pain. My videos get stolen constantly. My thumbnails get stolen, my website name, my YouTube channel name.

There’s a sketchy channel that’s basically copied my thumbnail colors and style trying to fool you guys into clicking on them. So, Gabi’s all fired up and she’s got Leo and Gwen on board to investigate and find the thief. Of course, Gwen’s not going to be much help because she’s been kidnapped. And Leo got the go-ahead from Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn) to write an article about Gabi’s counterfeit issue and the whole world of fashion fakes.

DOOL: Tracking the Counterfeit Designer Ring

So, at first, Gabi assumed it was the Titan co-CEO Xander and Philip. And Gabi thinks because Titan handles her overseas shipments, they popped open a crate, stole bags, and used them to make knockoffs. That’s why Gabi reneged on her deal to bail out Titan with her inheritance. Now, I’ll say this. She should be thinking about the last time she jumped to a conclusion on Days of our Lives.

That was after Philip dumped her because he found out she set them up and was doing corporate espionage on Tony DiMera’s behalf. If you remember, Gabi accused Theo Carver (Tyler Joseph Andrews) of spilling the beans, and she was 100% wrong. And I think she’s 100% wrong about Xander and Philip.

Days of our Lives: Kate’s a Likely Suspect

But Gabi invoked the morality clause that was in her contract with Titan, and she backed out of the deal that she made with them. And of course, she knows Xander and Philip can’t afford to fight her in court, but I don’t think they did it. So, the question is, who really is copying Gabi’s designs? One person to consider is Kate Roberts (Lauren Koslow).

She plotted with Xander and Philip to set up Johnny with that plagiarism suit. That was dirty. Kate despises that Gabi did Philip so wrong and broke his heart. And as we know, Kate can be ruthless because it all came out, you know, Philip and Kate know that Gabi was spying on Titan and the reason she did it to get this CEO job with their chief rival, DiMera Enterprises.

It would have worked if Tony hadn’t double crossed Gabi and hired Theo instead. And Mama Kate doesn’t let anybody mess with her sons. She would go to bat for payback on Philip’s behalf in a minute. She doesn’t want Gabi to get away with what she did. So, could be that Kate is behind these phony Gabi Chic handbags. But I doubt that.

Days of Our Lives: Suspects and the Dark Truth

So, assuming that it’s not Xander or Philip or Kate, maybe it’s Tony DiMera. He and his fashionista wife Anna DiMera could be behind this whole operation. Tony may be annoyed that Gabi turned down the job when he asked her to be CEO after Theo decided to step down. We know DiMeras love revenge games and they love to manipulate people.

So, Tony might be trying to mess with Gabi. I mean, he might have set it up to even look like Xander and Philip did it so that Gabi would turn her back on them and she might reconsider being CEO of DiMera, answering directly to Tony because he doesn’t want Johnny in the job. But I doubt it.

Days of our Lives: EJ to Blame?

Another DiMera though could be behind this. Why not EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel)? He could be messing with Gabi. He hates that she got her hands on part of Stefan’s inheritance. She proved to Theo that she was Stefan’s widow, not his ex-wife. And of course, Theo knows Gabi wanted to use the money to bail out Titan.

So, EJ might have found out that Gabi was going to ride to the rescue and help Philip because she feels guilty. And if you remember, EJ set up a holding company and he bought Titan’s loan and set these terrible new terms, a lot higher interest rate, more frequent payments.

So, I wouldn’t put it past EJ to have his henchwoman, Rita, set up a counterfeit ring to sell Gabi Chic bags to mess with her and of course to drive a wedge between Gabi and the guys at Titan. I think EJ is able to multitask revenge plans quite cleverly. But I feel like he’s got bigger fish to fry than Gabi, so I don’t think it’s him.

Theo the Culprit on DOOL?

Another DiMera to consider though is Theo Carver. He’s totally plausible. He’s really angry at Gabi for assuming he blabbed her dirty corporate spy secret to Philip. And let’s face it, Theo is certainly smart enough to set up a counterfeit ring and those knockoff websites. He’s a computer genius.

So, Theo could have hacked into Gabi Chic’s servers and stole the patented designs from there. However, I don’t think Theo would do this because he had a big crush on Gabi that could still be lingering. Plus, Theo is one of the few good DiMeras. So, that brings me to the person that I think it actually is – somebody truly shocking.

We’ll see, of course, when the official reveal is made, but I suspect it could be Javi Hernandez’s (Jacob Martinez) hot new boyfriend, Gus (Michael Ocampo), who’s doing this. At a glance, he seems like a really nice guy, and Javi’s crazy about him, and Gabi approves of him. She’s still annoyed, of course, that Leo broke Javi’s heart.

Gus Makes Perfect Sense on Days

But here’s why I suspect it’s Gus. All these years, and Gabi’s handbag designs never got stolen, no issues. All of a sudden, there’s knockoffs for sale not long after Gus moved to Salem. Plus, he lives with Javi at Casa Hernandez and Gabi works from home a lot. And remember, she was living with Philip at the Kiriakis mansion, but he kicked her out and she moved back home with Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) and others. And then all of a sudden, knockoff bags.

We know her laptop’s been lying around the house, maybe even some design sketches. And remember what Javi’s job was when he first came to Salem? He was Gabi’s assistant at Gabi Chic. So, that means Javi had access to all her files. And based on proximity, Gus has access to Javi’s laptop. And since he’s family, Gabi might not have shut off Javi’s credentials to Gabi Chic’s files. So question is, why would Gus do this? Greed or a crime of opportunity or both?

DOOL Needs Gus Out of the Way

Javi’s boyfriend might have a sick family member that needs money. So, he might have a personal motive. In the end, the main reason I think it’s Gus is because he’s got to go. Presumably, Leo’s going to end up back with Javi and they need Gus out of the way. But right now, he seems like a super nice guy, a really good guy. Maybe a little too good to be true, though.

It’s no coincidence that Leo’s working with Gabi to crack this counterfeit case because I expect Leo to get the goods that proves it is Gus. But from there, Gabi and Javi won’t want to believe it. They might even think Leo is deliberately setting up Gus because he’s jealous. We’ll see how it goes. But Gabi’s handbag design thief might be right under her nose and the last person she’d ever think would betray her – Javi’s new love interest.

General Hospital fans. This week, we should see Drew Cain Quartermaine (Cameron Mathison) rolling into the Quartermaine lake and left to die again. And it seems like Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros) has the idea to take him out before he takes her and Willow Tait (Katelyn MacMullen) down.

But when Drew survives, all heck is absolutely going to break loose. He’s nearly recovered his strength. And when he does, Nina and Willow are going to face his ruthless revenge plan. We’re going to talk about how Drew will wreak havoc and make Nina and Willow pay for all the things they’ve done to him.

General Hospital: Jack & Nina on the Hunt

So, right now, Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) is still looking for his black box that Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) stole. Despite Nina injecting him with a paralytic, Brennan is committed to helping her and Willow shut down Drew. And I’m sure that Nina doing the horizontal mambo with Jack is another incentive for him to keep helping.

So, it looks like Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart) has realized that Jack wants the box. Valentin’s smart enough to have concluded that it wasn’t Cullum’s. It was one that he stole from Jack. So, Valentin’s going to offer a deal. If the WSB will unfreeze his assets, then he’ll give Jack the box.

Carly Fears for Valentin’s Life on GH

But Carly Corinthos (Laura Wright) is worried that Jack might just kill Valentin. And then on Thursday, Nina gets a wild idea that she shares with Willow. So, Nina might tell Willow, “You leave so you have an alibi and I’ll just let Drew accidentally on purpose roll right into the lake to die.” But Willow doesn’t like this. She tells her mom, “We can control Drew without taking drastic action.” But just because Willow told Nina no, that doesn’t mean her mom will listen on General Hospital.

Especially when Drew reveals to Nina that he can speak, he’s going to hear her on a phone call, presumably with Jack, who’s giving her a bad news update, that he’s made no progress yet on the search for the black box. And then when Drew speaks to Nina and asks her what’s wrong and if she got bad news, that’s going to be the big deal.

So, after Willow talked her down, I think Drew amps Nina back up and she decides in that moment that he needs to take a swim, wheelchair and all. She is terrified for Willow and may act very badly. So I suspect Nina is going to leave off the brake so he can just roll in the lake and gravity and water will kill Drew. Or Nina might even give Drew a little push.

General Hospital: Drew’s Survival and Revenge Plans

Unfortunately for her, Giovanni Palmieri (Giovanni Mazza) is around and he is a strong swimmer and a lifeguard and he’s going to save Drew. Even though Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) might tell Gio that he should have just stayed on the dock and let nature take its course. This is the third attempt on his life from Drew’s perspective. Willow shot him twice. Then she dosed Drew into a stroke and locked him in a paralyzed state and now her mom Nina is trying to drown him. So Drew is going to be understandably ticked off and out for revenge.

Plus, I suspect that Nina and Willow are going to get the goods from Jack Brennan right in the nick of time, the eleventh hour, to stop Drew and blackmail him into silence. Now, that should keep him from going to the cops. But after what Willow and Nina have done, I don’t think anything will stop Drew from getting payback, especially if he knows they won’t be punished otherwise. So, the first thing that I think we could see is that Drew may tell Willow she’s got to stay married to him. She is so looking forward to getting Drew out of her life.

General Hospital: Drew Traps Willow

Willow told Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard) that same thing recently. But Drew may point out it’ll be suspicious for Willow to dump him right as he is recovering. And Drew may tell her that it’ll ruin her political career.

So, Willow may be trapped in this marriage. Drew might even threaten her, saying he’ll risk prison and they can both go to trial and see who ends up in Pentonville. But I definitely think he would love to keep Willow under his thumb. I think that would be the ultimate revenge for Drew and it would horrify both Willow and Nina. They would be stuck with him indefinitely.

General Hospital: Drew Torments Nina

Another revenge play we could see from Drew might be to take direct aim at his mother-in-law/ex-lover Nina. She’s running Crimson, which is still under Aurora Media. And Drew is a very large stakeholder in that company. Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) owns slightly more stock than him, a controlling interest. But I could see Drew getting hold of enough shares to try and flip control back his way.

And with Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) going on trial for a felony assault, there might be a morals clause in that five-year CEO contract he got. That way, Drew can try and force Curtis out and try and get power back. I’m sure he’d love to take over Aurora Media. That way he could screw over Michael and also he could mess with Crimson and torment Nina every day at work. Drew could make her life absolutely miserable. We know a corporate shakeup is coming. We just don’t know which company it happens to.

GH: Strategic Revenge and Long-Term Consequences

Another thing that we could see is Drew conspiring with Michael. Because they have something in common. Intense dislike of Willow. I could see Drew being so petty that he helps Michael get sole custody of their kids. Because Drew knows that’s what would hurt Willow the most.

Drew may not be able to have Willow arrested, may not see her behind bars. But he could whisper stuff to Michael that he could then turn around and use to blackmail Willow or use in custody court. Even if it won’t work out as a criminal case, Drew helping Michael take Willow’s kids away from her would be huge revenge.

General Hospital: Drew Swipes Jack’s Evidence

Because as much as fans want to see Drew, Nina, and Willow all go to prison, I would be shocked if it happens. It’s so rare that there are real consequences like prison for front burner characters. So, I’m sure we’ll see Drew continuing to do bad things and wreak havoc on Willow’s life even if she can’t be arrested.

Another thing that we might see Drew trying is he may want to steal the evidence that Jack has on him. That way Drew can feel free to go after revenge. And to press criminal charges on his toxic little wife Willow. But I think Drew’s efforts wouldn’t work out. The WSB boss has topnotch security. And even if he hired a professional, I think Brennan might catch whoever he sends.

Drew Pushes Willow Out of Office on GH

But it’s something I can see Drew at least trying. Because he doesn’t want this blackmail worthy evidence out there hanging over his head forever. But again, I don’t think this would work out for him. I think Jack would get the better of him. And one last thing that dawned on me, I think Drew might find a way to get Willow kicked out of her seat in Congress.

Whether Drew can get the seat back or not, he knows how much Willow enjoys the job. And how much she really likes helping the people of Port Charles. This is important to her. And even worse, she’s so much better at it than Drew, who pretty much didn’t do a lot other than abuse his power.

General Hospital: Did Drew Deserve it All?

Willow’s been mentored by Laura Collins (Genie Francis), and she’s out there doing legit good work. So, Drew knows it would hurt Willow if she lost her seat in Congress. And I think Drew wants to take everything that’s important away from Willow. So, bottom line, I don’t think Drew is going to stop until he makes Nina and Willow pay for everything they’ve done to him. Even though Drew deserves a lot of what’s happened to him, I don’t think he deserved everything that happened to him.

And I doubt this experience though has taught him any sort of life lesson. I don’t see Drew as somebody who will be changed by this. Unlike Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst), who was changed by his kidnapping. Unlike Jason Morgan (Steve Burton), who comes back from this WSB thing, a changed man, I suspect that Drew will be the same old creep as always and maybe even slightly worse, more driven to do bad things, especially to Nina and Willow. I can’t wait to see it all play out.

The Invite is quickly becoming one of critics and audiences favorite films of the year. Olivia Wilde‘s remake of the Spanish-language The People Upstairs has tapped into a kind of awkward, painful vein of comedy that’s been sorely missed. The film walks a fine line between its character-driven humor and marital drama, and the four actors are all exemplary. As with any film that captures widespread attention and inspires such praise, The Invite has left many viewers wanting more.

There are many films that fit a similar bill to what The Invite provides, particularly those which Wilde has listed as major influences when making it. Beyond those, there are also films by the same creatives that also offer something different but equally enjoyable. If you’re a fan of The Invite or its cast, then these are the must-watch movies for you.

‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ (1966)

Image via Warner Bros.

There are many films featuring dysfunctional marriages, several of which Wilde has specifically singled out as inspirations on The Invite, such as Scenes from a Marriage or Husbands and Wives. The greatest of all of these, and the clearest influence, is the Mike Nichols classic Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Based on a play, as was The People Upstairs, the film transcends its theater origins thanks to Nichols direction and the incredible quartet of performances. It’s a far more dramatic piece, but just as equally enthralling.

George (Richard Burton) and Martha (Elizabeth Taylor) are a married couple who like to play games, push buttons and blur the lines between fantasy and reality. That makes for an awkward evening of personal revelations and confrontations when they host younger couple Nick (George Segal) and Honey (Sandy Dennis). Just like The Invite, the tension is all in the performances and the action is all in the emotions of the best directed and acted marital drama of all time. Both Nichols and his entire cast were nominated for Academy Awards, with both Taylor and Dennis walking away with Oscar gold.

‘Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice’ (1969)

Image via Columbia Pictures

Another film that was an obvious influence on The Invite, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice was a seminal film in depicting polyamory. It may not seem as groundbreaking now more than fifty years later, but it’s still a fun, funny time capsule of both the free love era of the ’60s and Hollywood’s own sexual revolution. Directed by the underrated filmmaker Paul Mazursky, it’s another well-acted, Oscar-nominated story of marriage and sex.

Bob (Robert Culp) and Carol (Natalie Wood) are a couple who have discovered sexual liberation at a retreat. Their friends Ted (Elliot Gould) and Alice (Dyan Cannon) are more conservative and don’t know what to make of their newfound freewheeling ways. The whole film culminates with a proposed foursome that gets further than it does in The Invite. Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice may not be considered as subversive as it once was, but the performances and comedy haven’t aged a day.

‘Take This Waltz’ (2011)

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If you’re in the mood for another comedic drama about crumbling relationships co-starring Seth Rogen, then look no further than Sarah Polley‘s Take This Waltz. The actress-turned-director has proven to be an insightful chronicler of highly sensitive content in films like Away From Her and Women Talking. The more comedic Take This Waltz doesn’t involve as high-stakes drama as those other films, but is still a keenly observed film about relationships and the loss of passion.

Margot (Michelle Williams) is married to Lou (Rogen). They love each other, but the spark in their marriage has long since faded. When Margot feels that spark with artist Daniel (Luke Kirby), it threatens to tear her apart emotionally. Take This Waltz isn’t necessarily a revelatory film, but it succeeds thanks to the light touch that Polley maintains in exploring the subtleties of relationships and infatuation, and the solid performances of its cast.

‘Celeste and Jesse Forever’ (2012)

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The sharp screenplay for The Invite was written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, which should come as no surprise to anyone who saw their earlier film about a marriage coming to an end, Celeste and Jesse Forever. It’s a charming romantic comedy and a hidden gem of the genre that works because of the self-aware script and the insanely likable cast. It’s an honest and refreshing depiction of a disintegrating marriage that actually makes you want to believe in love.

Celeste (Jones) and Jesse (Andy Samberg) are high school sweethearts whose marriage has come to an end. They decide to remain friends, against the advice of others, but their emotions eventually get the better of both of them as they struggle with their separation separately before trying to move on. Celeste and Jesse Forever isn’t quite as caustic as other divorce movies, and that’s part of what makes it emotionally effective. Not every failed marriage should be considered a failure, and it’s simply nice to see that represented on screen.

‘The Overnight’ (2015)

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Take the discomfort of The Invite and amp it up to more outrageous levels, and you might get something like The Overnight. It’s a comic sex romp directed by Patrick Brice, who brings the same kind of nervous energy to it that infects both of his Creep films. Much like Celeste and Jesse, it’s flown mostly under the radar, but, for anyone who loves the tension in The Invite, The Overnight is a must-watch.

Alex (Adam Scott) and Emily (Taylor Schilling) are new in town and looking for adult friends when they meet the eccentric Kurt (Jason Schwartzman) and Charlotte (Judith Godrèche). The couple invites them over for pizza and, once the kids are put to bed, things take a turn towards debauchery. The Overnight works best when Brice employs horror techniques for comedic effect, and the actors, especially Schwartzman, play off that disconcerting tone well. It’s a dark comedy that isn’t going to be for everyone, but deserves more attention than it’s been given.

‘Booksmart’ (2019)

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The assuredness with which Wilde directs The Invite is all on display in her raucous debut Booksmart, a film which many labeled as a female Superbad when it came out but which is more than just a gender-swap of that classic teen comedy. It’s a whipsmart coming-of-age film that has a huge amount of empathy and is energized by two outstanding lead performances. It’s certainly a very different flavor of comedy to that which is employed in The Invite, but it’s a perfect showcase for Wilde’s versatility as a director.

As graduation looms, seniors and best friends Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein) take solace in the fact that their unpopularity has been worth the fact that they will be attending prestigious schools in the fall. When they discover that their far more popular peers also have bright futures ahead of them, they decide to spend one night partying like they’ve never partied before. That set-up leads to some of the wildness you’d expect, including a Barbie-themed drug trip and some awkward sexcapades, but Wilde also uses the premise to explore underneath the stock labels that so many high school comedies are too quick to try and apply.

‘The Drama’ (2026)

While The Invite and fellow A24 film The Drama seem to be superficially similar, they offer vastly different viewing experiences, with the Zendaya–Robert Pattinson joint offering a dark contrast to Wilde’s decidedly lighter film. Directed by Kristoffer Borgli, and produced by Ari Aster, the film offers a portrait of a couple about to exchange vows whose entire future together is put in jeopardy by a dark revelation.

Charlie (Pattinson) and Emma (Zendaya) are set to walk down the aisle in a week’s time when a conversation with friends reveals a horrifying secret from Emma’s past. The revelation has Charlie questioning everything he knows about Emma, while she begins to deteriorate from stress-induced nightmares. The Drama is even darker than it was advertised as, picking at a particularly potent social issue that it isn’t quite well-equipped enough to handle at times. It’s still affecting in moments, and extremely uncomfortable in others, and it has two very committed and talented actors in the lead role. If The Invite didn’t make you squirm enough, you might see if you can handle The Drama.

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The Drama

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Release Date

April 3, 2026

Runtime

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105 minutes

Director

Kristoffer Borgli

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Writers

Kristoffer Borgli

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