Fewer fandoms in pop culture currently have it as hard fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. As fun, charming, and enjoyable as the original series remains after decades, this particular franchise has been facing many difficulties recently as it tries to come back to a spotlight it should never have left, especially the cancellation of a revival series and the loss of one of its greatest benefactors, the incomparable Dolly Parton. Now, the only Buffy stories that were in active development have also just been cancelled: Dynamite Comics’ Buffy and Angel. While this indefinitely postpones our return to Sunnydale yet again, it isn’t all bad news, because this time, the wait is for the best and will pay off, according to Dynamite.

Dynamite’s Cancellation of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Comics Hits Hard, but It’s for a Good Reason

No one likes seeing their favorite stories being cancelled, but, sometimes, it’s for the best, especially if there is the promise of something even better in the future. That’s what happened with Buffy and its Dynamite release. Initially, the Buffy and Angel series were intended to debut in July and August, respectively, but that didn’t happen, as they ended up being postponed. Buffy #1 then got an August release date, only to get cancelled now.

This time, however, Dynamite CEO Nick Barrucci came forward to clarify what’s really going on, and, as it turns out, it’s not an actual cancellation of both series, but rather a correction in their strategy to make way for something bigger:

“Writer Kelly Thompson’s story for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel evolved and became more ambitious, so we felt we needed to take a step back and up the page count to meet the story and deliver the best possible product for fans. Buffy #1 and Angel #1 will have significant story page increases from average issues — at no additional cost to readers or retailers. It’s important to Kelly and Dynamite that this is done right and not rushed, so we decided resoliciting both titles is the best way to fully convey these updates across the board.”

Writer Kelly Thompson herself also took it to X to explain that both series are “not cancelled — just delayed — which means they had to be re-solicited (and before you re-solicit you have to cancel it all…sigh)” In comics lingo, this simply means that, yes, all pre-orders have been cancelled, but with the intention of listing that particular comic book again later on. “I hope there will be some concrete news for you guys soon. It has all been very frustrating, but please bear with us.”

Still, knowing that this means we’ll get larger and improved versions of the new Buffy and Angel stories is comforting. They’re also not the only Dynamite series to be resolicited, with its new Firefly series also getting the same treatment, showing that both the company and the artists are focused on doing right by their stories. Their X-Files series remains on track for release in February, and that just goes to show how normal a publisher resoliciting comics really is. It’s certainly a bummer, but residents of Sunnydale have been waiting for so long now, we can wait a little longer.

‘Buffy’ Has Been Hit With Successive Cancellations Recently

By now, news of the cancellation of any Buffy project is something that fans have learned to endure. The most recent and painful case was Hulu abruptly cancelling Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale, the long-awaited revival of the original series. It took everybody by surprise, considering the names attached to the project. Sarah Michelle Gellar‘s return was already expected, but the new series also had Oscar winner Chloé Zhao as a producer and directing the pilot, as well as younger talents like Ryan Kiera Armstrong and Chase Sui Wonders lined up.

Of course, Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a franchise isn’t in any danger; all it takes is one talented and willing storyteller with a good idea for things to start moving, as with any IP. But the cycle of having projects picked up only to be subsequently cancelled is certainly frustrating. Compared to Hulu’s cancellation of New Sunnydale, then, Dynamite’s decision to resolicit their Buffy and Angel series to make it bigger and better doesn’t sound all that bad.

As to what to expect from both the upcoming Buffy and Angel comics, they will be the first stories in the so-called Buffyverse released by Dynamite after two decades at Dark Horse Comics and its tenure at Boom! Studios until 2025. Kelly Thompson being the writer is a great sign, though — she’s a three-time Eisner Award winner, and her latest work with the ongoing Absolute Wonder Woman series at DC is some of the best the character has been in recent years. She’s not only a fan, but also an experienced writer in the industry, so if she is up to writing more complex and interconnected stories for Buffy and Angel, we’re all for it. Just, please, don’t make us wait too long.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is available to stream on Disney+.

Former gang leader Duane “Keffe D” Davis has been convicted of the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur in Paradise, Nevada.

A jury in Las Vegas deliberated for only three hours on Monday, August 31, before finding Davis, 63, guilty of murder with the use of a deadly weapon, reports The Associated Press. He could now face life in prison.

Following the verdict, Davis said aloud that he “would like to appeal this matter.” He was told by Judge Carli Kierney that he could file an appeal once sentencing was announced. (Davis pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.)

Members of Shakur’s family, including his sister Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, were present in the courtroom as the verdict was announced.

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The late Tupac Shakur’s stepbrother, Mopreme Shakur, explained why his family is now looking into Sean “Diddy” Combs’ possible involvement in Tupac’s murder. “The family is pursuing an investigation into my brother’s death — wherever the investigation leads, that’s where it leads,” Mopreme, 57, said during a Friday, October 11, appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored. […]

Monday’s verdict brought to a close a weeklong trial, which took place just shy of 30 years after Shakur was killed at age 25 in a drive-by shooting in Paradise, Nevada, on September 7, 1996.

On that night, Shakur, Death Row Records label boss Marion “Suge” Knight Jr. and several associates attended a boxing match between Mike Tyson and Bruce Seldon at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Security footage from the hotel captured the moment Shakur got into an altercation with Orlando Anderson, an associate of the South Side Compton Crips gang, over accusations that Anderson had previously robbed Death Row-affiliated gang members.

After the altercation, Shakur left the hotel with Knight in a 1996 BMW 750iL. A white Cadillac allegedly pulled up beside Shakur’s vehicle at a stoplight moments later and opened fire.

Tupac was shot four times: once in the arm, once in the thigh, and twice in the chest, with one of those bullets getting lodged in his right lung.

He was rushed to nearby University Medical Center of Southern Nevada in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead from internal bleeding less than a week later on September 13, 1996.

No arrests were made at the time and it was long considered a cold case until Davis, Anderson’s uncle and a former leader of the South Side Compton Crips gang, was charged with first-degree murder with a deadly weapon in September 2023. Prosecutors accused Davis of ordering the shooting and supplying an undetermined gunman with a weapon, though he denied those accusations. (Anderson died on May 29, 1998, at age 23.)

During the trial, prosecutors introduced excerpts from Davis’ 2019 book, Compton Street Legends, in which he and his co-writer Yusuf Jah accused Shakur and his associates of “crossing the line” when they scuffled with Anderson at the MGM Grand on the night of the shooting.

“Them jumping on my nephew gave us the ultimate green light to do something to their asses,” a passage in the book read.

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The defense argued that the book was entirely fictional, noting that Davis was incorrectly called “Keithy D” in Compton Street Legends.

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“You have no evidence that Davis ever ordered a hit on anyone,” defense attorney Michael Sanft told the jury in his closing statements.

Prosecutor Binu Palal told jurors that Davis secured a gun and “went hunting” for Shakur, later telling “anybody who would listen” that he was responsible for the rapper’s murder.

Sentencing will take place on October 13.

One contestant on Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro is heading to the ballroom for season 35.

Warning: Spoilers for Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro below

When the dust settled after the Monday, August 31, final performances, judges Mark Ballas, Shirley Ballas and guest judge Derek Hough crowned Adele Zaikman as the first-ever champion of DWTS: The Next Pro.

“I just feel like this is a celebration. All the sacrifices that I have done, it’s just a big, ‘I made it’ moment,” Adele said.

Related: What to Know About Season 35 of ‘Dancing With the Stars’ So Far: Cast and More

The Dancing With the Stars ballroom is filling up fast for season 35. While simultaneously confirming the reality competition’s renewal, Hulu shared during the Get Real House event in April that Summer House’s Ciara Miller and Love Island star Maura Higgins would be lacing up their dancing shoes. The following month, Savannah Bananas second baseman Jackson […]

Adele’s partner on season 35 of DWTS will be announced on the Wednesday, September 2, episode of Good Morning America alongside the full cast of pros and celebrities.

During Monday’s episode, Adele danced both a samba and a paso doble freestyle with former DWTS contestant Nev Schulman in front of a live audience.

“Adele, so dynamic. Striking performances every dance that you have done on this stage. It’s been an honor to watch and to judge you,” Mark said after both of her performances.

Adele beat runner-up AJ Pritchard, who performed with Charli D’Amelio.

“Having the opportunity to dance in the finale, especially with Charli, every single moment was just so enriching and something I will never forget for the rest of my life. At the same time, obviously absolutely devastated from every being in my body,” AJ said of placing second.

Selena Hamilton, meanwhile, placed third after taking the stage with Adam Rippon.

Related: DWTS: The Next Pro’s Robert Irwin Offers Support to Grieving Dancer

Robert Irwin is proving — again — that music and dance both have the power to heal. In Us’ exclusive sneak peek of the Monday, July 20, episode of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, Robert, 22, sits down with contestant Allen Genkin before an emotional challenge. “I wanted to visit Allen today because […]

“I didn’t think I would make it past week one. So being in the top three has given me so much and just amazing friends. Yeah, this is not the end,” Selena shared of coming in third.

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Ahead of her final performance, Adele became emotional while opening up about her health journey.

“It’s crazy because dance has always been my therapy. When I was 13, I got scoliosis in my back and I had to wear a brace for 2.5 years for 20 hours every single day,” she said. “The doctors said if I wouldn’t do it, I would not be able to dance. So these four hours that I was not wearing it, I was dancing. They were the happiest hours of my life. It saved me and I don’t know what I would do if I wouldn’t have dance.”

Dancing With the Stars season 35 kicks off with a double premiere on ABC and Disney+ Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16, at 8 p.m. ET.

Even in death, Dolly Parton seemingly continues to break records as the impact of her legacy is felt all over the world.

The iconic country musician took her last breath last week at 80 years old. It was confirmed that she passed away in a Tennessee hospital after a secret battle with cancer.

Now, fans all over are reaching for Parton’s music for some comfort, inevitably granting their beloved idol a posthumous win.

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In a bittersweet victory, Parton is reportedly on course to take the number one spot as the UK’s top single thanks to her hit track, “9 to 5.”

Despite being globally loved and acknowledged, boasting eleven Grammy Awards, six Golden Globes, three Emmys, and one Tony Award, the Queen of Country never dominated international waters. At least until now.

According to the Daily Mail, last Friday, the 1980 track climbed to the number 12 position days after Parton’s death. It has since achieved a 350 percent week-on-week increase.

By the weekend, “9 to 5” had graduated to the number one spot on the charts, with another Parton banger, “Jolene,” following closely at number two.

The Official Charts Company predicts that the late songstress will continue her reign all through this week. 

Dolly Parton Blessed Fans With One Final Song But There’s A Twist

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While fans cling to Parton’s catalog as a way to hold on to her artistry, the singer, in her usual fashion of kindness, didn’t leave them hanging.

Although she is gone, they can still look forward to hearing something new from the country legend. As reported by The Blast, the singer secretly recorded one song years ago, which has since been locked away at her DreamMore Resort in Tennessee.

The track, reportedly titled “My Place in History,” will, however, not be available to fans until two decades later. 

Parton left strict instructions that it not be released until her milestone 100th birthday on January 19, 2046, thereby turning it into a historical musical time capsule.

The piece of the legacy is kept inside a chestnut “Dream Box,” sitting behind glass at the resort, which opened in 2015 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

She Left Behind Vault Filled With Hundreds Of Unheard Songs

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The 100th birthday recording isn’t the only gift left behind by the “Coat of Many Colors” songstress.

Insiders close to Parton have since confirmed that she had a secret archive of scores of unreleased songs, which was kept under tight security.

“The songs are hidden very safely in ‘The Vault’; that is what she called her secret storage place for her music,” claimed the source, per The Blast. “They are protected and very secure. There could be as many as 200 songs; no one really knows because Dolly was very secretive.”

Never one to be without a plan, the icon left instructions for how the songs would be managed, as she had deliberately prepared “posthumous music.”

She Will Also Live On Through Her Imagination Library 

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Parton’s music was only a part of her impressive legacy, which was mainly philanthropy. She leveraged her fame and wealth to spread love and hope to millions, especially children.

One of her most notable projects was the Imagination Library, a program geared to improving childhood literacy. Founded in 1995 through The Dollywood Foundation, she was inspired by her father, Robert Lee Parton, whom she described as the smartest man, but he couldn’t read or write.

The program, which was first launched locally to provide community kids access to books, has since become a global source of hope, available in over six countries.

According to The Blast, a rep for the singer has since urged fans to donate to the Imagination Library in lieu of flowers in the aftermath of her death.

Parton’s Final Wish For Dollywood Park Revealed

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Parton also left a piece of herself in her famous Dollywood Theme Park, created to bring joy to families all over the world. The management for the Tennessee Park released a statement after her death on August 25, unveiling plans to carry on her legacy

While mourning their Dreamer-in-chief, they revealed that they would instead honor Parton through celebration, music, and laughter rather than silence. 

Hence, the theme park would remain open in accordance with her wishes, per The Blast.

Bad Wolves guitarist AJ Rebollo has quit the heavy metal band after a dispute over the decision to release a cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” just days after her death. Rebollo, who joined Bad Wolves as a touring guitarist in 2023, claimed the planned tribute became the “final nail in the coffin” following several disagreements with the group’s record label. The guitarist said members had opposed releasing the song after Parton died because she could no longer contribute the guest vocals that had reportedly been planned.

Rebollo announced his departure in a lengthy statement shared on social media. “I can no longer in good faith remain a member and co-sign the decisions constantly being made FOR this band by the label, among other issues I have with the inner workings of the business,” he said.

The guitarist acknowledged that he expected certain challenges when he joined Bad Wolves, but claimed he did not initially understand the full extent of the band’s internal problems. “When I stepped into the picture, a part of me knew what I was getting into, but the full extent of it was unknown to me,” he said.

“I have been at odds with one too many decisions being made for the band for quite some time, but the final nail in the coffin was the label’s decision to move forward with the upcoming Dolly Parton cover, after we blatantly expressed our opposition,” he added.

According to Rebollo, the band had been working on a heavy metal version of “Jolene” before Parton died at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer. The release proceeded despite opposition from multiple members, according to Rebollo’s account.

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Dolly Parton Was Reportedly Set To Record Vocals

Bad Wolves founding drummer John Boecklin said the cover was initially intended to become a collaboration with Parton. The band had already recorded a demo featuring its new lead singer, Sara “Killboy” Skinner, and planned to include the track on its next album.

“Our new singer is a big fan of Dolly and had posted a bunch of videos of her covering ‘Jolene.’ So, we decided to make a heavy metal cover version for our next album,” Boecklin said. “On hearing our version, our label CEO Dan Waite sent the finished demo to Dolly’s manager Danny Nozell with a request for Dolly to guest feature on our version.”

He said they heard back that Danny had played the track to Dolly, and that “Dolly loved our version, and that Dolly was going to go into the studio and add her vocals very soon.”

The band then “sent over the stems for Dolly’s studio engineers to work with,” and “like everyone, we were devastated [by] this week’s news of Dolly’s passing.” The band said they will honor Dolly’s “incredible legacy by donating proceeds from ‘Jolene’ to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.”

Parton reportedly heard and approved the group’s rendition before her death, but did not record her contribution.

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Guitarist Worried About How The Tribute Would Look

Rebollo claimed members no longer wanted to release the track once a collaboration with Parton became impossible. “We, as an entity, told the label we had no interest in releasing the cover after learning of Dolly’s unfortunate passing as her collaboration on the song was no longer a possibility,” Rebollo said. “And we felt it would (understandably) be interpreted as somewhat of a capitalization on her passing from an outside perspective.”

Although Rebollo supported donating proceeds to Parton’s literacy nonprofit, he remained uncomfortable with the decision and its timing. “While the donation to her Imagination Library is an incredible choice to do something good with the profits, I can’t help but feel there is ill intent behind the decision to release the song,” Rebollo said.

The guitarist did not accuse his bandmates of attempting to exploit Parton’s death. Instead, his criticism was directed toward decisions he alleged were being made by the label without sufficient regard for the band’s wishes.

Label Disagreements Allegedly Took A Mental Toll

Rebollo said the “Jolene” dispute reflected a larger pattern of frustration behind the scenes. “With the label completely disregarding numerous decisions we make out of passion, and ultimately just unknowingly exhausting the band’s attempts to fully enjoy being here, I am no longer happy here,” Rebollo said.

He added, “The amount of hate, negativity, and harassment we receive on a daily basis due to decisions made outside of our control has taken a massive toll on our sanity.”

Despite leaving without another job secured, Rebollo said he could no longer compromise his artistic values. “…I have no interest in being a vessel for what I believe to be terrible decisions,” Rebollo said. “Music is my job, my livelihood, and most importantly, my passion.”

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He continued, “Stepping away from this is absolutely terrifying as I am sacrificing what little I have left when it comes to stability within the music world. I do not know what the future holds for me regarding that.”

Rebollo also thanked Boecklin and the label for helping him support himself during his time with the band.

Rebollo Insists He Has No Ill Will Toward Bad Wolves

Although his exit was prompted by a major dispute, Rebollo emphasized that he still cared about the musicians he worked alongside. “This is not, by any means, some sort of call to arms against anyone, nor do I wish ill will on anyone involved in the label’s decision making,” he said.

“I absolutely loved the time I got to spend with the band. I love them all (the old and new members) as bandmates, people, and friends,” Rebollo continued. “I loved creating this upcoming album with them as I think it is a genuinely incredible piece of art, but this is a decision I just have to make.”

Bad Wolves was co-founded by Boecklin in 2017. The group achieved a multi-platinum breakthrough the following year with its cover of The Cranberries’ “Zombie.” Cranberries singer Dolores O’Riordan had reportedly planned to record vocals for the track before her death in January 2018. The song was subsequently released without her contribution and became Bad Wolves’ biggest commercial success.

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Boecklin is now the only founding member who remains in Bad Wolves. The group’s previous lineup has included vocalist Tommy Vext, guitarists Doc Coyle and Chris Cain, and bassist Kyle Konkiel.

A release date has not been announced for the band’s fifth full-length album.

Dolly Parton‘s humanitarian impact continues to be heralded in the nooks and crannies of the country, nearly a week after she died.

People within her hometown have spoken up about her generosity in their individual lives and as a community in general, with one fan saying everything Parton did was about taking care of others.

It comes as the “Jolene” singer’s family confirmed that she has been laid to rest in a private cemetery close to her husband of several decades, Carl Dean.

For the people of East Tennessee, Dolly Parton was not just a global superstar who sold tens of millions of records; she was family in every sense of the word.

Born and raised in a small cabin in Locust Ridge, her humble mountain beginnings were reflected in her career and helped put Appalachian culture on the world map.

Even after achieving global stardom, the “9 to 5” singer chose to remain with her people and help build their community in the little way she could.

Back in 2020, she donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville for research work on a COVID vaccine. She also helped to raise the same amount for a hospital project that eventually housed the Dolly Parton Center for Women’s Services in Sevierville.

She was so well loved that a local florist, Dustin Manning, revealed that he received orders from Germany and Korea for bouquets to be left for her in large numbers.

There were so many that they had to remove the first batch and donate them to hospitals and homes for the elderly before more arrived.

“The best gift is given twice,” Manning said, paraphrasing Parton.

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Alongside several of her well-known charitable efforts, like the Imagination Library, which donates millions of books to children to encourage literacy, Parton also made a quiet impact in the lives of many families in the area.

Following the 2016 Smoky Mountain fires that ravaged nearby Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, her Dollywood Foundation gave 900 families $1,000 a month for six months, and backed that up with a final payment of $5,000.

“She was here before FEMA,” resident Michael Gibson said, referring to the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Reports suggest she also donated money when Hurricane Helene hit the region in 2024, saying she loved her “mountain people.”

Hundreds of locals and traveling fans have gathered around the community to pay their last respects to the global icon in the days following her death.

Parton Was Also Known For Her Work With Children

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Parton’s work with the children’s hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee, cannot be overemphasized.

Formerly named East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, it was renamed after her in recognition of the “generational and transformational commitment” she made to the establishment.

“I’ve always believed every child deserves to grow up healthy, hopeful and surrounded with love,” Parton said in a video statement.

The hospital’s chief executive, Matt Schaefer, reiterated the big role Parton played in the establishment, saying her gift would create a “halo effect of everything she stood for in her life, including her love for children in particular.”

It is said that 60% of the patients there receive free treatment, with the cost largely taken care of by donations.

“We really depend on donations,” said Natalia Havasy, the hospital’s director of marketing. “We felt the children’s hospital in town should be hers. The halo effect of Dolly… you just can’t touch it.”

Dolly Parton Is Laid To Rest Beside Husband Carl Dean

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The Queen of Country died on Tuesday, August 25, following a brief battle with cancer.

Her family confirmed she was laid to rest beside her late husband, Carl Dean, at Woodlawn Memorial Park on Friday, August 28.

In a 2014 interview with Entertainment Weekly, she said that she expected Whitney Houston’s cover of her song “I Will Always Love You” to be played, and would like for the hymn “If We Never Meet Again” to be sung, explaining that it was her father’s favorite.

“It’s an old country-gospel church song that talks about, ‘If we never meet again this side of heaven, I will meet you on that beautiful shore,’” she said. “That was my daddy’s favorite. We did sing it at his funeral, and I would like it to be sung at mine.”

The Country Icon Could Have Hundreds Of Unreleased Works

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As it stands, fans will still get to relate to the “Coat of Many Colors” singer, as she reportedly left a song locked in a time capsule that will only be opened in 2046 on what would have been her 100th birthday.

However, she may have left more secret recordings than initially thought. A source told the Daily Mail she deliberately hid her unreleased works inside a secure archive known to those close to her as “The Vault.”

“The songs are hidden very safely in ‘The Vault’; that is what she called her secret storage place for her music,” the source claimed. “They are protected and very secure. There could be as many as 200 songs; no one really knows, because Dolly was very secretive.”

A second source explained that the late singer was purposely preparing materials that could be shared after her death.

“She was working on posthumous music for after she was gone,” the source explained. “It’s a music catalog that will live on forever.”

Lori Loughlin is making her highly anticipated return to social media after her prison stay following the public college admissions scandal — and her Full House costars helped make the moment a special one.

“Wake up, San Francisco! I’m back on IG 💕,” the actress, 62, wrote via Instagram on Monday, August 31.

Loughlin included a video featuring John Stamos, Jodie Sweetin, Candace Cameron Bure, Scott Weinger, Andrea Barber and Dave Coulier all holding a cup of coffee as they recited Loughlin’s Full House line “Wake up San Francisco.”

Following the montage of her former costars, Loughlin appeared on screen. She lip-synced another line from Full House.

“Hi I’m Rebecca Donaldson and I’m welcoming myself back to the show,” she lip-synced. “Welcome back Becky. Why thank you Becky.”

The video then showed a clip from Full House featuring her late costar Bob Saget delivering the line when he was in character. (Saget and Loughlin’s characters were morning show cohosts on the beloved series. Saget was found dead in his Florida hotel room in January 2022. He was 65.)

“Wake up San Francisco, I’m Danny Tanner,” Saget said, iconically introducing his character.

Present-day Loughlin reappeared on screen to introduce herself alongside a round of applause, “And I’m Rebecca Donaldson.”

Fans of Loughlin flocked to the comments section to give her a warm welcome back.

“Welcome Aunt Becky we missed you❤️❤️❤️,” one user wrote while another replied, “Friends support friends even after hard times ☮️.”

Loughlin deleted her social media pages in March 2019 amid news of her involvement in a now infamous college admissions scandal. Loughlin and her then-husband, Mossimo Giannulli, were accused of paying $500,000 in bribes in order to guarantee their daughters, Olivia Jade, 26, and Bella, 27, were accepted to the University of Southern California.

Giannulli, 62, and Loughlin were indicted and pleaded guilty to fraud charges two months later. The Fuller House alum was sentenced to two months behind bars and was released in December 2020. Giannulli served a five-month sentence and was released in April 2021.

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Last year, Loughlin and Giannulli separated after 27 years of marriage.

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“They are living apart now,” Loughlin’s rep told Us in an October 2025 statement. “There are no legal proceedings underway.”

A source later told Us that the college admission scandal had an impact on the pair’s relationship.

“The school scandal was a turning point, and they never really connected or recovered their relationship after that,” the insider said. “She felt that he got her involved. She didn’t fully blame him, but he spearheaded it. She never fully forgave him and never fully got over it, and they were never the same after.”

We may not be in the golden era of network sitcoms anymore, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some great comedies coming out of the basic cable networks right now. Abbott Elementary has obviously been a major bright spot, and has fortunately reached a level of popularity that has been difficult for classic sitcoms in the streaming era. Over the past few years, however, Fox has seen one of its few original sitcoms sneakily rise in popularity, finding sizable audiences on both TV and Netflix. Not only that, but the series seems to be getting better and better the longer it goes.

In what feels like a mixture of Community and Parks & Recreation, with a healthy dose of Brooklyn Nine-Nine sprinkled on top, Animal Control is the kind of show that has really benefited from being given the chance to find its fanbase. Starring Community‘s own Joel McHale, Animal Control just saw its fourth season land on Netflix, with its fifth set to premiere on Fox in the coming weeks. If you haven’t already jumped on the Animal Control bandwagon, now is the time, because one of TV’s funniest shows appears to just be getting started.

‘Animal Control’ Is Worth the Watch

Image via Bettina Strauss/FOX

If you’re not familiar yet, Animal Control is a workplace comedy set in Seattle, following the folks at the city’s Animal Control office. They go out on calls to deal with animals, deal with strange city rivalries, and get caught up in one another’s personal drama. Of course, there’s also a healthy dose of found family mixed in, checking off all the boxes necessary for a great workplace comedy. It doesn’t hurt that the animal-centric setting offers a lot of unique and hilarious scenarios for the main characters.

After starring in six seasons (and, at some point, a movie) of Community, McHale leads the cast of Animal Control as a lone wolf agent named Frank Shaw. Much like Jeff Winger, Frank has his guard up around everyone, using overconfidence and self-deprecation as defense mechanisms to keep anyone who might actually like him at arms-length. His plan to remain the mysterious hero forever is upended by aloof snowboarder-turned-animal control agent Shred (Michael Rowland), who joins the team and is assigned to be his new partner.

The series also stars Vella Lovell, Ravi Patel, Grace Palmer, and Gerry Dee. McHale’s former Community co-star and real-life best friend Ken Jeong has also guest-starred in several episodes over the past couple of seasons.

The Show Gets Better, the Cast Keeps Growing

As Animal Control continues to grow its audience, and gets funnier with each passing season, the cast has gotten even more impressive. Kyla Pratt and Josh Segarra both joined the Animal Control cast last year, each appearing in at least seven episodes heading into Season 5. Both are reportedly returning for the new season on Fox this fall.

The show has seen several big-name guest stars arrive over the years, including Sarah Chalke, Thomas Lennon, Lucy Punch, Oliver Hudson, and Rob Gronkowski. Jim Rash, known to many as Dean Pelton, has also appeared in an episode, making two former Community stars that have reunited with McHale on the series.

The first four seasons of Animal Control are currently available to stream on Netflix. The fifth season, meanwhile, is set to debut on Sunday, September 27th.

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Release Date

February 16, 2023

Network

FOX

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Writers

Dan Sterling, Tad Quill

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Questions surrounding Hayden Panettiere’s painful reflections on fame have taken on new significance following her death, especially after her mother publicly challenged one of the memoir’s most disturbing claims. 

While Panettiere’s book explored addiction, trauma, and the pressures of growing up in Hollywood, her mother, Lesley Vogel, is now disputing the actress’ account that she was given stimulant-like pills as a teenager. 

The disagreement has reopened a larger conversation about who Hayden was before the headlines and what it cost her to become a star.

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The most startling dispute between Hayden Panettiere’s memoir and her mother’s recollections centers on the actress’ claim that she was given “pep pills” before public appearances as a teenager.

In “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” the “Nashville” actress described being offered pills by a member of her team during her rise to fame, later connecting that experience to the addiction struggles that followed. 

According to InStyle, she wrote that the pills became “the gateway drug that ushered me toward the good of pharmaceuticals and the downfall of addiction.”

However, Vogel says she has serious doubts about that account. “I have heard this before, and I know who her publicist was,” the 70-year-old told the Daily Mail, adding,  “Her publicist was not perfect, but I never knew anything about her doing that.”

Vogel stressed that she remained heavily involved in Panettiere’s career at the time and found the allegation surprising. According to her, her daughter never personally discussed the alleged pills with her.

“She never said that to me, but she told others that that’s what happened,” Vogel claimed.

Panettiere Wondered If Childhood Fame Changed How She Saw Pain

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Long before the debate over the pills allegation, Hayden Panettiere was already questioning the emotional foundation of her success.

In her memoir, the “Heroes” actress reflected on receiving praise whenever she portrayed fear, grief, illness, or heartbreak on screen. Over time, she began wondering whether that constant reinforcement blurred the line between performance and reality.

“Subconsciously I began to associate catastrophe with adoration; people loved me because make-believe bad things happened to me,” she wrote. 

Panettiere went even further, questioning whether years of being rewarded for dramatic suffering may have influenced the way she processed real-life struggles later in life.

“Reality merged with my imagination and burrowed into my core memories, where all my shame and trauma lived.”

The movie star openly wrestled with whether the industry unintentionally conditioned her to view pain as something valuable. 

Hayden Panettiere’s Mother Says Talent, Not Coaching, Made Her Special

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While critics have accused Vogel of pushing her daughter into the spotlight too young, the former manager insists Panettiere possessed extraordinary abilities that went far beyond coaching.

She recalled that her daughter had already learned to trigger tears by age four and could memorize scripts before she could even read properly.

One of her favorite examples involved a television pilot table read in California. According to Vogel, producers suddenly realized the young actress couldn’t yet read the script and panicked, stating, “Oh my God, oh my God! I just realized Hayden can’t read. How’s she going to do this?”

However, Vogel wasn’t concerned. “I just looked at the producer. I said, ‘Oh, we’ve got this,’ because we had studied it and she had memorized it,” she told the outlet.

When Panettiere flawlessly delivered the material, Vogel said the production team was stunned and “dumbfounded.” 

For Vogel, moments like that proved her daughter possessed a rare gift that couldn’t simply be taught.

More From The Blast

Panettiere’s Mother Defends Her Grief Amid Growing Scrutiny

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Before reigniting debate over Hayden Panettiere’s memoir and the painful memories detailed within it, Vogel found herself facing a wave of public attention. 

She broke her silence in an emotional television interview, pushing back against critics who questioned how she had handled her daughter’s death.

Speaking on “Good Morning America,” Vogel delivered a direct message to those judging her from afar. “I would say to the haters out there, you don’t have a right to tell me how I mourn the loss of my second child. That’s my domain,” she said.

Vogel admitted she was overwhelmed when she learned of her daughter’s death. In her words, “I was numb. I was just numb,” she said. “I just couldn’t feel anything. I still am not grasping this is real. It doesn’t feel real. My mind tells me it’s not all the time. It’s gonna be a process.” 

The interview also revisited claims Panettiere made in her memoir about their strained relationship. However, despite the estrangement that developed over the years, Vogel said she wanted her daughter remembered not for the controversies surrounding her death but for her intelligence, talent, and determination. 

Hayden Panettiere’s ‘Heroes’ Family Reunites For Emotional Tribute

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While Vogel was defending her daughter’s memory in interviews, another powerful tribute was unfolding among the people who helped make Panettiere a television star.

Nearly ten days after her death, members of the “Heroes” cast reunited to celebrate the actress who became a household name playing Claire Bennet, the indestructible cheerleader at the center of the show’s iconic slogan, “Save the cheerleader, save the world.” 

As The Blast reported, the gathering brought together several of her former co-stars, including Masi Oka, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Santiago Cabrera, and others, while Zachary Quinto participated remotely. 

Jean-Louis shared photographs from the reunion and described the experience as profoundly moving. “A HEROES reunion to celebrate the life of HAYDEN was deeply emotional,” he wrote on X.

He added, “There was sadness in our hearts, but also so much love, gratitude, and warmth as we remembered the beautiful moments shared and the lasting impact of a life that touched so many.”

Mama June Shannon’s daughter Jessica “Chubbs” Shannon is legally single, Us can exclusively confirm.

A Georgia court finalized the 29-year-old’s divorce from Shyann, 23, and the pair’s marriage was fully dissolved as of August 27, just over a month after the reality star initially filed to end their 10-month marriage, according to docs.

As Us exclusively reported, Jessica filed for divorce in Jones County on July 24.

Jessica’s maiden name was also restored in the wake of the divorce, per the docs. The exes are also “restrained and enjoined” from “harassing the other party.”

Related: Mama June’s Daughter Jessica Shannon Files for Divorce Amid Cheating Claims

Jessica “Chubbs” Shannon filed for divorce from estranged wife Shyann McCant amid infidelity allegations made by her mother, Mama June Shannon. According to documents exclusively obtained by Us, Jessica, 29, filed her divorce petition in Georgia on July 24, listing the pair’s date of separation as June 1. The papers were signed on July 17. […]

Jessica and Shyann tied the knot in September 2025. They later filmed a separate ceremony for the family’s reality TV series Mama June: Family Crisis season 8, which aired this past May. One month after their televised wedding aired, Jessica shocked fans by revealing she and Shyann had split.

“As most of y’all can tell, me and Shyann are no longer together,” she wrote via a June 2 Facebook statement. “We mutually decided that it was the best decision for both of us.”

Jessica encouraged her followers to remain respectful amid her public breakup.

“Yes, we are still friends, and yes, we are both cordial with each other, but we are no longer in a relationship,” she continued. “We kindly ask that everyone be respectful during this time. Please don’t send hate or negativity to either of us. This is already a difficult situation, and mean comments or unnecessary drama won’t make it any easier.”

Following Jessica’s announcement, Mama June weighed in on her daughter’s separation and accused Shyann of being unfaithful.

“Well since I’m always to b the blame for every relationships not working out and since it was shared publicly and yall have been wanting to see who Shyann cheated with and left Jessica for here you go McKenzie is in the middle of them in the red shirt,” she wrote via Instagram on July 21 alongside a photo of Shyann with a group of people. “Yall are welcome so everyone can stop digging now #reality #cheater #mamajune #divorce #SpillTheTea.”

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Related: Mama June Puts Daughter Jessica’s Ex Shyann on Blast for Cheating

Mama June Shannon entered the chat to call out Shyann McCant for cheating on her daughter Jessica “Chubbs” Shannon. “Well since I’m always to b the blame for every relationships not working out and since it was shared publicly and yall have been wanting to see who Shyann cheated with and left Jessica for here […]

Shortly after Mama June’s post made headlines, Shyann confessed that she did cheat on Jessica.

“I take full responsibility for [cheating],” Shyann wrote via Facebook on July 21. “I’m not making excuses, and I’m not trying to change what happened. I’m also not saying I wish none of this had been posted. I understand that when I post parts of my life, I’m opening the door for people to have opinions.”

One week later, Jessica officially filed for divorce from Shyann, listing their date of separation as June 1. The divorce papers were signed on July 17, with Jessica citing that their marriage was “irretrievably broken.”