Ariana Grande and Mac Miller have a more complicated past than we thought. The two have been charming us on social media since September 2016, but they've actually known each other for much longer.
"I met [Mac Miller] when I was 19. We have loved and adored and respected each other since the beginning, since before we even met, just because we were fans of each other’s talent," Grande told Cosmopolitan in an interview for its April cover. The 23-year-old explained that the two weren't "ready" for one another. "It's just timing. We both needed to experience some things, but the love has been there the whole time."
In our minds, this means the two have been dancing around each other like the titular pair in When Harry Met Sally. According to our calculations, they must have met when they collaborated on the song "The Way ft. Mac Miller." In the music video for the song, the two canoodle among balloons. This new info from Grande — the fact that "the love has been there the whole time" — really changes the video. So, when they were shooting the vid, they were aching for one another. (At least, that's the narrative we're dreaming up here.)
Grande also had some wise words about love to share. She told the publication that she doesn't see relationships as something she needs in life.
"I’ve never looked at love as something that I need to complete me," she said. "I would like to be complete on my own first and fall in love with somebody who is also complete. You can still celebrate and be totally obsessed with each other, but I want to feel a hundred percent myself so that I can love that person better." It's none too shabby advice. Ariana Grande: pop songstress with phenomenal cosmic talent, casual voyeur, and your new favorite love guru.
This wasn't the only gem she dropped in the interview. Grande, who's no stranger to feminist issues, added, "A lot of times, women are labeled as a bitch or a diva for having a vision and being strong and using their voice, and it’s just not the case...[women] don't have to be just one thing." Well said, Ariana, well said.
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If you aren't a celebrity, getting people to notice you on Snapchat isn't easy. There's no explore section to suggest followers based on your interests (à la Instagram), so if people don't know to look for you, your audience will consist of friends, family, and maybe the odd addition every now and then.
But there arenative Snap stars, users who started from scratch and built a following on the app. Some experienced viral, overnight fame through work with brands. Others grew their audience over time, by word of mouth.
We talked to five of the most successful Snapchatters today f0r their keys to snap gold. Ahead, their tips on starting your channel strong, building an audience, and sustaining it over time. Read on, brush up on the latest features, and snap away.
Find Your Snap Trademark
"At first I posted random drawings, but it wasn't until I created a themed series that people started to take interest in my channel. My dream is to take pictures with famous celebrities, but I know that would be hard to achieve. With the magic of Snapchat, I drew celebrities on my selfies. I told my friends I took selfies with famous people and they thought it was hilarious and looked forward to seeing more."
"Snapchat is a very personal experience, so I'll ask my audience for feedback when I have drawer's block. Sometimes I'll tease a new cat drawing coming up. On Valentine's Day, I drew little cards that people could share."
— Audrey Spencer, @cakes1todough1
Photo: Courtesy of Audrey Spencer.
Post Your Snaps To Other Accounts
"I got my first push on Reddit. Reddit loves cats, food, and things that look cool. I figured my art looked cool, so I first started posting on /r/art and /r/snapsterpiece subreddits.
"[Now,] anytime I finish a drawing or a cool video, I cross-post it to Instagram. It also grows my Instagram audience. Recently, due to Snapchat dysfunctionality on Android, I've been posting more exclusive content to Instagram and pushing my following there."
— Sallia Goldstein, @salliasnap
Work With Other Snappers
"Collaboration is the best way to grow numbers. Approach other Snappers who have a similar following to yours — these can be found on www.the11thsecond.com or the app Ghost Codes — educate them on the content you make, and work together to make a story on each account that brings out what is interesting about both of you.
"Posting each-other's Snapcode towards the end is the best way to share an audience since users get lazy about typing usernames, especially if they are complicated. If you have a bunch of random letters and or numbers and symbols, change that ASAP!"
— CJ OperAmericano, @operamericano
Photo: Courtesy of CJ OperAmericano
Assemble A Weekly Review
"I created a series on my Instagram, before Instagram Stories was around, called 'SnapchatSundays' where I would post a quick recap to my Instagram on what people missed that week [on Snapchat]. The most well received Snapchat posts tend to be ones that include a storyline of sorts."
— Jacey Duprie, @damselindior
Look For "Takeover" Opportunities
"Brands have the resources to grow their accounts to huge numbers, whether it be by hiring other viral stars or cross promotion on their other social accounts. Putting your face, work and username on their accounts can be a huge pull for your audience.
"My Belle drawing grabbed the attention of Disneyland, which prompted them to approach me to take over their account for their 60th Diamond Anniversary 24 hour kick-off party. Their account had a large audience, so that first campaign launched my views into the 4-digit numbers, which have now snow-balled from that initial boost."
— CJ OperAmericano
Photo: Courtesy of CJ OperAmericano.
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Dev Patel hasn't officially confirmed that he's dating Australian actress Tilda Cobham-Hervey, but fans and paparazzi have spotted the pair looking cozy together.
Patel and Cobham-Hervey were seen in L.A. Monday with Patel's mom. The Lion star held hands with the Kettering Incident actress on a leisurely stroll. In one photo, Patel was spotted in a sweet embrace with his arms around both his mother and Cobham-Hervey.
The duo were also spotted together at the Weinstein Company's pre-Oscars party in Beverly Hills last weekend. Patel brought his mom to that event, too.
The actors will both appear in Hotel Mumbai, a film that explores the true story of the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008. The movie is slated for release later this year, and Armie Hammer co-stars alongside Cobham-Hervey and Patel.
While they were filming Hotel Mumbai, Patel and Cobham-Hervey stopped by Mumbai doughnut shop Oh Dough, and the store's official Instagram account shared a photo of them.
But the new photos have sparked rumors that the pair are more than just costars. And the internet wasn't happy that one of its favorite baes might be off the market.
Dev Patel has a girlfriend and I think my heart just broke
Cobham-Hervey starred in 52 Tuesdays, where she played the 16-year-old daughter of a woman in the midst of a gender transition. The film was shown at the Sundance Film Festival and the Berlin International Film Festival in 2014. Since then, she's starred in Girl Asleep, Eaglehawk, Barracuda, and The Kettering Incident.
As a child, Cobham-Hervey also worked with her parents, a lighting designer and performance artist, in a children's circus theater group, according to the Daily Mail. When she was 14, Cobham-Hervey and six of her peers started their own traveling show, she told Marie Claire Australia.
In addition to her work, Cobham-Hervey has been outspoken about gender stereotypes in Hollywood. She toldMarie Claire Australia that she was tired of being asked about working with a female director, Sophie Hyde, on 52 Tuesdays. "It was a thing that we [Sophie and I] talked about a lot afterwards, like, isn't it crazy that we even have to discuss this in an every interview, that that's something that people are interested in," Cobham-Hervey told the magazine. "I feel really lucky to be part of that conversation around change."
Reps for Patel and Cobham-Hervey did not immediately respond to Refinery29's request for comment. We will update this story when we obtain a response.
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We often associate Play-Doh with the pure, unadulterated fun of our childhoods. There's just something about the putty toy that brings us back, and we still hold those memories near and dear to our hearts. Besides the fact that this joy in a plastic jar had the potential to damage nearly every couch or carpet, there's one other thing about the product you likely remember: its scent. It was distinct, for sure, but we never could quite pinpoint what it smelled like. Luckily, someone else did, and it now officially has a fragrance description.
In fact, Hasbro Inc. is trying to trademark the scent itself. Teen Vogue found the request application on the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which contained one of the most unexpected descriptors we've ever seen. According to the website, Play-Doh’s fragrance is a “unique scent formed through the combination of a sweet, slightly musky, vanilla-like fragrance, with slight overtones of cherry, and the natural smell of a salted, wheat-based dough.” How's that for appetizing?
Hasbro, Inc. wants to trademark the smell of Play-Doh. Here’s how they officially describe it. pic.twitter.com/DVKg59bbkg
To be honest, the description does seem quite fitting, in a kids-think-everything-is-food sort of way. Still, we never would have described its aroma as anything remotely close to "cherry" — or gourmand, for that matter — even if we did mold it into a fruit basket or biscuit during play time. Now that we think of it, we always did favor the real-deal bread dough.
So why the trademark after all these years? The company wrote that “[it] has become distinctive of the goods/services," which we can certainly agree with. That doesn't mean we want to bottle up the scent and spray it on as perfume, but we will admit our inner child delighted just a little knowing that the iconic clay is as unique as we always remembered.
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If you thought you had to have influencer status or be a famous street style star to score cash from an #OOTD pic, well, we've got some good news for you. From now until March 6, you could win $1,000 to put towards some fresh spring staples from Anthropologie, just by taking a photo of yourself in your favorite Anthro-inspired look. (Yes, it's seriously that simple.)
Here's the deal. Snap a pic in your most fashion-forward outfit and post it to WEAR — the Japanese style-sharing app that launched in the U.S. last fall. Make sure your look is Anthropologie-approved (think: a billowy dress, a cute pair of sunnies, your go-to straw tote) and use the hashtag #AnthroStyle. Then, 10 lucky contestants with the coolest outfits will be selected to shop the store's signature pieces and get featured on the WEAR homepage. Basically, it's the answer to every fashion enthusiast's prayers.
Ready to get major rewards for your rad sense of style? Check out all the details right here.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 49 contiguous United States (excluding Arizona), 18 years or older and over the age of majority in jurisdiction of residence at time of entry. Ends 03/06/2017 at 11:59 p.m. ET. For Official Rules, click here. Void where prohibited.
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Everyone knows about the unprecedented snafu at the 2017 Oscars. Shortly after Faye Dunaway announced that La La Land won Best Picture, it was revealed that the award was announced incorrectly. Instead of the movie musical earning the accolade — as many people expected it would — it was Moonlight, a coming-of-age story about a gay Black man, that scored the industry's highest honor. The win was historic: not only did a Black film win just one year after the #OscarsSoWhite controversy, but it was the very first LGBTQ movie to receive the honor. Moonlight 's historic win is one of the many reasons why Variety's post-Oscars cover — featuring Moonlight director Barry Jenkins and La La Land 's Damien Chazelle — feels so tone deaf.
On one level, I understand why Variety would place both directors on the cover. They did share a stage — if only accidentally — at the Oscars. They both made history with their films, albeit for different reasons: La La Land 's Chazelle is the youngest director to score the Best Director Oscar (he's 32) and the film itself tied with Titanic and All About Eve for the most Oscar nominations (it scored 14).
Perhaps Chazelle should have covered Variety solo, as is tradition for the Best Director winner. (The past three post-Oscars covers have featured either that year's Best Director or Best Cinematographer.) Jenkins himself took to Twitter to write "I'm the guest here," in regards to the Variety story. But it's not about who gets the cover as much as it's about the narrative that the trade has put into place.
Take the text next to the image of Chazelle and Jenkins with their respective Oscars in hand: it reads "Amazing Grace." Now, consider whom that text is referring to. Is it Jenkins, who scored the Oscar, or is it Chazelle, whose film did not win the Oscar, yet is being applauded for being "gracious" about the loss?
Claudia Eller, Variety 's co-Editor-in-Chief, seemed to suggest that the cover was about celebrating the humility of La La Land 's producers in an essay about why Jenkins and Chazelle were sharing a cover:
"One thing that struck me as I sat in the Dolby Theatre watching the surreal climax of the show, and later at the after-party for La La Land was the humility and humanity displayed by the film’s producers and studio backer, Lionsgate, when the Oscar was suddenly swept away by the actual winner, Moonlight. "
She also adds that Chazelle was the one who suggested sharing the cover with Jenkins, and that Chazelle had been their first choice for the cover as he was the favorite to win Best Director.
For the record, I admire Chazelle, and I genuinely adored his film. But should La La Land 's legacy really be that it was kind enough to step off the stage when Moonlight, a film that deserved the Oscar, was properly announced as the winner? And should the discussion about Moonlight really end with how surprised the director was to win, considering the mixup? That's not the story that I want for Moonlight, a film that kicked down the door for more LGBTQ films to be considered for Best Picture.
Variety didn't have to put Moonlight 's director on the cover, but let's be honest: since when does Hollywood honor humility over talent? Perhaps it's only when it's faced with something that challenges the status quo.
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Though their marriage's collapse has played out in the media, HGTV stars Tarek and Christina El Moussa haven't sat down for a formal joint interview just yet. Us Weekly did have a sit-down with Tarek, however, and he used it as an opportunity to address many of the rumors swirling around his separation, subsequent divorce, and more. That includes his rumored romance with the couple's nanny.
Fans of the show won't have to worry about seeing any of the drama play out on TV, however. HGTV and the El Moussas insist that Flip or Flopwill continue as if nothing's happened. Essentially, nothing has. The couple will appear together on the home-renovation show that we all know and love.
"It was stressful," Tarek tells Us Weekly of filming with his ex. "But we had to do our job." The show must go on — and the two know that. In the past, they faced infertility and a miscarriage, and the show continued without a hitch.
As for the rumors that came with their separation, Tarek struck down mentions of suicide attempts and refuted claims that he verbally abused Christina. When the reporter mentioned speculation that he dated the kids' nanny, he was open about that, too.
"I did date her for a month. I was going through a tough time, and she’s amazing," Tarek said. "I never held hands with her around the kids, though. Now I’m not dating anyone specifically. It will be a long time before I’m in a relationship."
Tarek adds that he and his ex-wife are on good terms and that the main focus is on the kids. He never hired a personal investigator to follow her around, and he's selling real estate on his own as well. Plus, he mentioned that the family spends a lot of time together, celebrating birthdays and holidays as a unit. Tarek even revealed that he'd consider a reconciliation, but that it would take some time before they two got back together.
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When it comes to father-daughter stories, we love the ones about beauty fails the most. Whenever a dad outwardly owns his struggles in how to do his little girl's hair,gift her the right blending tools for the holidays, or even narrate a makeup tutorial, our hearts immediately melt. But the latest tale isn't about a harmless beauty mistake at all, but instead a sweet message one dad wanted to send his daughter — and subsequently, the world.
Earlier this week, David Brewster Jr. — though you may know him as Dave East, notable rapper from East Harlem — posted an adorable photo to Instagram that showed him doing his 11-month-old daughter’s hair. His caption, "You Make Life So Dope!!! 😍😍😍😍😍" had the entire internet swoon ing. When Ya hoo Beauty asked the rapper and doting dad about the seemingly mundane photo, he responded casually. “I didn’t think on it much. It was a dope pic, and I was really happy with the day we were having, so I put the picture up,” East told t he website.
Styling a little girl's hair can be tough, and the 28-year-old father noted that he’s just doing the best that he can. East's advice to other dads? Seek some helpful tips from other mothers you know — they hold all the good hair secrets. Shortly after the story was posted, his comments section flooded with love for him and his daughter, Kairi Chanel Brewster.
Even if he makes a few mistakes in the process (no one really ever gets a real-deal Hair 101 lesson), it’s these quiet, sweeter moments he gets with her that he loves the most. “I'm really busy so whenever I get a moment, I try to see what I can put together for her,” he said. Thankfully, if you ever need another dose of the feels, the emcee is posts adorable photos of him and Kairi often. (If that's the case, you should also check out the feed of Chance the Rapper, who shares his own fair share of sweet father-daughter stuff.)
Ian Somerhalder has portrayed vampire bro Damon since the Vampire Diaries premiered in 2009, and there's no one who knows this character quite as intimately. So, with The Vampire Diaries bowing out in a mere two episodes, it's worth wondering: what would Somerhalder say to Damon if he could? E! News posed that question to Somerhalder, and it turns out that the actor is just as frustrated with Damon's inability to learn from his mistakes as the audience is.
As much as I adore Damon and his bad boy behavior (his murder-y ways are acceptable for the screen, if not in real life) there's pretty much no changing Damon's mind once it's made up. Take his love of Katherine (Nina Dobrev), for example. Elena's snarky doppelganger was the worst to Damon: Katherine was totally in love with his brother Stefan (Paul Wesley), but that didn't stop Damon from risking everything to save her. Thank God Elena shared her face, but none of her sociopathic tendencies.
According to Somerhalder's interview with E! News, the actor hopes Damon learns from his mistakes moving forward... though he's not so optimistic about it:
"You know the old idea of fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on you? Damon never really got that," ...I don't think he ever really got the whole, 'Ow, fire hot, Ow fire hot' thing."
Gotta agree with Somerhalder here. How many times did Damon turn off his humanity, only to go on a murderous rampage that nearly sent him to the brink? Honestly, one time should have been enough for him never to try it again.
While the actor may not be thrilled with Damon's past behavior, he still has a lot of love for the vampire. He told E! News:"I love this guy, and he was amazing to play for eight years."
I love Damon, too: enough to not want him to spend his eternal life making the same mistake over and over again.
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Amazing news, TV lovers of the world: Since we first published this story in 2013, there have been leaps and bounds in the number of streaming platforms offering hours upon hours of programming to binge-watch whenever the mood strikes. In the interest of equal opportunity, we’ve decided to broaden the scope of this slideshow to look beyond the options available on Netflix Instant. There’s a whole wide world of streaming options out there and you deserve to know everything that’s available. Consider this the one-stop menu we'll be updating every week for your continued viewing pleasure.
We've been there. You've exhausted your Netflix queue, flipped through your entire spectrum of TV channels (twice), and seen every season of 30 Rock. It's tough, but don't despair. There's still uncharted territory out there! In fact, there's oodles of fun to be had from the comfort of your laptop this weekend. You just have to know what to look for.
These are our favorite finds on Netflix Instant Watch. Never heard of 'em? Good! Heard the word, but haven't gotten around to it yet? Now's the time.
Wish you had a cool job?
Check out Netflix's newest documentary series, Abstract. Like Netflix's other show, Chef's Table, each hour-long episode spotlights a different pioneer in his or her field. You'll peer inside the work day and creative mind of New Yorker illustrators, Air Jordan shoe designers, and the Danish architect designing utopias one city block at a time.
Barbara Nitke/Netflix
MissingThe Hunger Games? Then the 3%, a sci-fi Netflix original, might sate your craving. Taking place in a dystopian future where most of the world lives in a dismal abyss of poverty, this Brazilian TV show takes socioeconomic inequity to an extreme level. But after your 20th birthday, you person has a chance to get out of poverty by passing a series of difficult team-building and individual tests called the Process. Only 3% of test-takers pass, and are granted access to the Offshore: a technologically-advanced utopia. The show offers a refreshingly diverse cast of likable characters, pushed to their psychological limits.
Pedro Saad/Netflix
If you like House of Cards... Then HBO's latest buzzy show The Young Pope needs to be on your radar. While House Of Cards is a sultry Washington-based political series, Pope is like a more high-brow, decadent — and shady! — version of Cards. Plus, it's got a surprisingly great soundtrack and some iconic moments from the legendary Diane Keaton.
Love Downton Abbey? If diving into period dramas is your thing, then the based-on-history Versailles, which tells the story of France's King Louis XIV, is up your alley. But we should warn you: Things get much steamier in Versailles than Downton. Like, so steamy that there was quite a bit of controversy in the UK early this year about the show's many, many sex scenes being too raunchy. But luckily for us Americans, the whole scandalous first season is on Netflix now.
Love Stranger Things? Then Netflix's latest series, The OA, belongs in your queue. The streaming service's latest original show is similar in that it centers on someone who mysteriously goes missing from a small town. But warning: This show is much darker — and way creepier.
Love Game of Thrones? Robb Stark may be long gone from the HBO series (RIP), but actor Richard Madden is back in another period piece, Medici: Masters of Florence. But this isn't the imaginary world of Westeros: It's Renaissance-era Florence, Italy, following the family of Giovanni Medici, played by Dustin Hoffman, after his death. Madden is yet again the son of a powerful man trying to create his own legacy. But the big question is: Will he? Or will he end up with the same fate as Robb?
Love all things supernatural? Season 1 of Glitch, the hit Australian show about a small town affected by curious paranormal activity, is now streaming on Netflix. Even better news? Season 2 of the chilling series will now be produced by Netflix, so there's even more of the Aussie thriller coming to America. Good on ya, Netflix!
Love House Of Cards? Check out The Fall, a British phycological thriller that follows a serial killer (Jamie Dornan, in a very un-Christian Grey-like role), and a female detective, played by Gillian Anderson. It's got all the ingredients needed for an irresistible binge: It's gritty, intense, and tantalizing. All three seasons are up on Netflix now. You're welcome!
Photo: BBC Northern Ireland.
LoveDownton Abbey? Then you may never leave the couch after settling in for the new series The Crown. The show is a glittering, fascinating look behind the scenes of the early days of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign — and her relationship to Prince Philip. It's gorgeous, British, and juicy, but if that's not enough to convince you, watch simply for the fact that this is Netflix's most expensive show ever.
Love Game of Thrones? If you're looking to sink your teeth into another large-scale, sweeping epic that will inspire you to theorize for weeks, HBO's latest mega series Westworld needs to be added to your watch list. But instead of Thrones ' medieval-like fantasy tale, here we have an imaginary amusement park — hosted by robots. We won't say too much more to avoid spoiling some of this show's coolest elements, but trust us, it's worth the binge.
Love The Walking Dead? Fans of TWD 's "what if a widespread epidemic ends the world" premise will appreciate The CW's Containment. The first season begins in Atlanta, where a contagion has spread through the city forcing a mandatory quarantine that causes loved ones, friends, and colleagues to question their love, morals, and human decency. Intense, right?
Love scary movies? Just in time for Halloween, the entire season of American Horror Story: Hotel is now on Netflix for your binge-watching pleasure. You can now get lost in the creepy, bloody world of the Hotel Cortez in Los Angeles. The murders, vampires, and specters portrayed by everyone from Lady Gaga to Angela Bassett may be fictional, but you might want to keep the lights on — just in case.
Love romantic comedies? Each of the episodes in Netflix's original original series Easy, is like a quirky miniature rom-com. Guest stars include the likes of Malin Åkerman, Orlando Bloom, and Dave Franco exploring everything from unplanned pregnancies to threesomes, breakups, and using Tinder to find a teacher for your child. (Ha!) And because this is an anthology series, each episode focuses on a different couple, making it perfect for the viewer looking for an enjoyable show with minimal commitment.
LoveJessica Jones? Marvel's latest comic book-based series, Luke Cage, stars Mike Colter as a regular human who ends up with super strength and capabilities after an experiment gone awry. Binge watch the Harlem-set series to see how Cage uses his new powers to fight the bad guys — and we're not just talking about superhuman villains.
Love comic-book movies and shows? Then Gotham is for you. The Fox series revolves around the characters created in DC Comics' Batman, specifically Bruce Wayne, of course, and police commissioner James Gordon. But you can also expect special appearances by everyone from Catwoman to the Penguin, Poison Ivy, and Two-Face.
LoveTwin Peaks? Sci-fi lovers, this one's for you. Netflix's hit series Stranger Things has captivated audiences with its tale of Joyce Byers, the mother of a little boy who goes missing from a small Indiana town in 1983. There are government conspiracy theory cover-ups, supernatural occurrences, and some really cute kids. So '80s.
Love family dramas? In Shameless, a gaggle of Gallaghers — that would be, the Gallagher family — are figuring out how to make it in life, despite their alcoholic father. And trust us, William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum's characters alone will keep you hooked. Seasons 1-6 are up now; happy bingeing.
LoveDownton Abbey? The U.K. already took on a family tale centered on three daughters of marrying age during times of war. Now it's Germany's turn with Ku'damm 56, a new series hitting America via Netflix, set at the family's strict dance school. But of course, just like Lady Sybil in Downton, one of the daughters rebels. Binge with subtitles and enjoy.
Love fairy tales? If magic, whimsy, and a contemporary spin on the fables you grew up loving sound like the makings of a great TV show, Once Upon a Time will keep you hooked. The fifth season of the ABC drama is now on Netflix; prepare to get acquainted with Snow White, Prince Charming, and the rest of their squad.
LoveBallers? If you love all things football — or even just the behind-the-scenes, off-the-field drama — then you'll easily become addicted to Netflix's docuseries Last Chance U, which follows NFL-bound college players from East Mississippi Community College. You'll get to know the men underneath the helmets and see firsthand the blood, sweat, and dedication it takes to succeed in the world of football.
LoveEmpire? Odds are fans of the Fox drama — and music-lovers in general — will enjoy the much-buzzed-about original series The Get Down. Baz Luhrmann's Bronx tale is set in the late-1970s and glamorously weaves together the coming-of-age stories of teenage love, New York history, and the rise of hip-hop. The show is perfect for binge-watching. Believe us, we know. Bonus: The soundtrack is just as dope as the show itself.
Love reality TV spoofs? Season 4 of BET's The Real Husbands of Hollywood hits Netflix this week. Kevin Hart's hilarious series trolls The Real Housewives franchise from a celebrity male perspective, starring everyone from Nick Cannon to Nelly. We promise you, it's worth watching just for the laughs. Seasons 1-3 are already on Netflix, so get to bingeing just in time for the new one.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of BET.
Love Robin Williams? Of course you do. You are a human. And that’s why you might enjoy Mork & Mindy. In this weird-as-hell sitcom, Williams plays Mork, an alien hailing from the planet Ork. And then he befriends Mindy, who becomes his roommate. An alien and a terrestrial in the same apartment? Hilarity probably ensues.
Love voyeuristic shows about New York City? Then it’s time to watch Gossip Girl. In fact, even if you already experienced this show in real time, you should re-watch it. It’s a guilty-pleasure dramatic view of how Manhattan’s elite live — fictionally, anyway. The show centers around Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) and Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester). They’re the cream of the crop at the fancy Upper East Side high school, which is basically a political landscape none of us could even begin to comprehend. Drama! Fashion! Get into it.
Love John Krasinski? Then you must experience him in his landmark role as Jim Halpert in The Office. Yes, technically Michael Scott (Steve Carell) is the main character, but you’ll see very quickly that the most addictive story line is the will-they-won’t-they between Jim and Pam (Jenna Fischer). It only helps that the show is hilarious.
Love Parks and Rec? Then Veep is for you. Julia Louis-Dreyfus stars as Selina Meyer, the vice president who inevitably becomes president. She and her team hilariously make their way through the political landscape, while trying to do actual good work and leave their mark as an administration that made a difference. Kind of like if Leslie Knope made it to the White House.
Love high school dramas? Then it's time to get into Friday Night Lights. Let me tell you something about Dillon, Texas. It’s the home of the top football team in the state, and also home to some real soap-opera crap. You would think that when you combine those two things, you get a terrible show. But it actually works, here. You will fall in love with Tim Riggins (Kitsch). You will wish Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) was your dad. You will wish Tami Taylor (Connie Britton) was your best friend.
Love a badass heroine? Then Buffy the Vampire Slayer is for you. Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is a teenage vampire slayer, but she also is in love with a vampire. It's all very strange, but Joss Whedon delivers an incredibly satisfactory show around that otherwise ridiculous plot.
Love waiting until the buzz dies down to watch a great TV show? Then it’s time you committed to Breaking Bad. The hype is real, but it is justified. Walter White (Bryan Cranston) is a high school chemistry teacher who, diagnosed with cancer, must figure out a way to leave his family with enough money to survive when he dies. So, naturally, he starts making the best meth New Mexico’s ever seen.
Love openly weeping on your couch? Then Six Feet Under is for you. The Fisher family runs a funeral home in California. But when the patriarch dies unexpectedly in a car crash, they’re thrown into handling the family business — along with all of their pre-existing personal baggage. It’s five seasons of solid television, and the finale is bound to destroy you.
Love witty banter and Benedict Cumberbatch? Then you’re gonna freaking love Sherlock. Benedict Cumberbatch plays the modern-day Sherlock opposite Martin Freeman as Watson. Their chemistry — and comedy — is downright delightful. Don’t get put off by the hour-and-a-half length of each episode, either. This show’s so entertaining it’ll fly right by.
Love Making A Murderer? Then Five Days is for you. In this BBC mini series, a young mother and her children go missing. The show wastes no time, taking us right to the police investigation. It’s the perfect amount of length, too, so you won’t find yourself in the shame spiral of a 15-episode binge.
Love hilarious looks at everyday life? Well, that’s pretty much Louis C.K.’s brand of comedy. Maybe that’s why his series, Louie, feels like such a natural fit for him. The scripted series focuses on the trials and tribulations of the comedian’s day-to-day existence, but with the smart brand of commentary we’ve come to expect from him.
Love The Americans? Stay with us here: Imagine if the Axis powers (Nazi Germany, Italy, and Japan) had won World War II. That’s the scenario in The Man in the High Castle, Amazon’s adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s 1962 novel. The show is set in a dystopian version of the United States where the country has been divided into the Pacific States of America, a Japanese puppet state on the West Coast, the Greater Nazi Reich, a German puppet state that takes up the majority of the country through the midwest, and the Rocky Mountain States, which act as a neutral zone between the two.
Love The Mindy Project? Just like T.M.P., Catastrophe flips the script on traditional romantic comedies by upending all the usual contrivances. They have sex immediately. She (Sharon Horgan) gets pregnant. They live on two separate continents and decide to give it a go. The humor is blunt and British. In other words, if you’re tired of boring rom-coms, this is the show for you.
Love Downton Abbey? If you love a good Masterpiece production (that might have some quality eye candy), journey to Cornwall shortly after the American revolution to find out how the Brits fared after they lost the war for the colonies. Poldark is the story of Ross Poldark, who returns home from fighting in the revolution to find that his father has died, leaving Ross penniless.
Love Homeland? You really owe it to yourself to binge-watch all of FX’s The Americans. The tense, slow-burn series follows two Soviet spies (Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys) deep undercover in the United States during the Cold War in the 1980s.
Love Grace and Frankie? Turn to another show about late-in-life personal discoveries that lead to larger familial repercussions: Transparent. As Maura Pfefferman (Jeffrey Tambor) — formerly Mort — transitions, tumultuous issues that had previously bubbled beneath the surface in her children’s lives also come to light.
Love sci-fi and amazing acting? If you aren’t on the Orphan Black train yet, you absolutely need to climb aboard. In the opening scene, a woman named Sarah watches someone who looks exactly like her commit suicide by jumping in front of a train. From there, things only get more involved. Sarah learns that she’s one of more than 10 clones (and counting) developed by a top-secret genetic engineering project. She also learns ther life is in peril, as is that of her daughter Kira. Tatiana Maslany stars as every single one of the clones. She’s amazing.
Love Big Love? And investigations into fringe movements whose beliefs don’t quite match those of mainstream society? Watch Hulu’s The Path. Aaron Paul (of Breaking Bad fame) makes his return to TV — well, streaming — in this drama about a creepy movement called Meyerism. It started out with good intentions, but it’s become a cult. Many viewers and critics questioned whether creator Jessica Goldberg based the Meyerist movement on Scientology, but that’s something you’ll have to decide for yourself as you watch. There are some very eerie similarities, we’ll tell you that much.
Love Skins? Are ne’er-do-well British teens who just DGAF and look effortlessly cool while doing so your jam? Then why not add a dash of superhuman abilities into the mix? On Misfits, a group of teens doing court-mandated community service are struck by lightning during a freak storm. Afterward, they discover that the storm gave them all different superpowers.
This isn’t your typical sci-fi show, though. We’re still dealing with cheeky teens who really just want to rub their parts together, but now there's an additional element of intrigue because the superpowered group needs to hide their abilities — and the fact that they accidentally murdered their probation officer. And yes, that is Iwan Rheon, who plays the villainous Ramsay Bolton on Game of Thrones, on the right. You’ll fall in love with him on Misfits, and then be very confused by your feelings for him the next time you watch GoT.
Love Billy on the Street? If you can’t get enough of Billy Eichner’s sassy, in-your-face humor, it behooves you to watch Difficult People. It’s a perfect blend of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Will & Grace.
Love Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt? You, Me and the Apocalypse is a sardonically dark and funny look at what happens to the people of Earth when they learn they have only 33 days left to live. It’s even got Rob Lowe as a Catholic priest tasked with discerning which people claiming to be the second coming of Christ are the real deal.
Love New Girl? The blink-and-you-missed it marvel Happy Endings is finally (finally!) on Hulu — and it is a gosh-darn delight. Prepare to meet a group of friends with even better inside jokes than the gang on How I Met Your Mother, better chemistry than the Friends, and more bodily function discussions than Abbi and Ilana on Broad City.
Love Glee? Well, the first few seasons. If you’ve been missing a show with diegetic musical interludes, you need to be watching Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. This series one-ups Glee, though, because all of the songs are original and Rebecca Bunch’s (Rachel Bloom) life is much more grown-up and relatable than those of the high-schoolers in Glee.
Love The Bachelor? But ready to see it’s way-too-earnest peddling of unironic romantic journeys parodied to the hilt? Burning Love is the satire for you.
Love Curb Your Enthusiasm? If you thrive on seeing incredibly awkward human interactions, cue up Nathan for You. Comedian Nathan Fielder adopts the persona of a rube who just wants to help failing small businesses — and the outcomes are so uncomfortable you’ll actually squirm in your seat.
Love The Office? Fans of the mockumentary-style comedy will definitely enjoy Parks and Rec, which follows the lives and times of a local parks department. Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) is kind of like the Michael Scott here, though more adept by leaps and bounds. Come for the jokes, stay for the cast of incredible weird characters.
Love anthologies? Then you’ll probably enjoy The Twilight Zone. You’re likely familiar with Rod Serling’s more timeless tales. (Think: William Shatner shouting that there’s something on the wing of a plane.) But there are so many episodes worthy of your attention, each more interesting and chilling than the last.
Love House? Nurse Jackie is for you. Edie Falco plays Jackie, a no-nonsense nurse who’s hiding a painkiller addiction. Her life begins to slowly spiral out of control. At moments, it’s hard to watch her make such terrible decisions. But you’ll want to stick with it for her sassy hospital friends and her babe of a husband (Dominic Fumusa).
Love Boy Meets World? Of course you do. That’s why 3rd Rock from the Sun is right up your alley. This '90s sitcom features Saturday Night Live alum Jane Curtin, John Lithgow, and yes, a baby-faced Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The show centers on an extraterrestrial family visiting Earth to learn about human behavior. If you loved the fish-out-of-water feeling from Boy Meets World, then you’ll be delighted by the utterly strange cast of characters in this one. Did we mention JGL is in it? Just wanna make sure you got that part.
Love old-school cartoons from your childhood? Guess what’s on Netflix? Animaniacs! That’s right; those zany-to-the-max creatures and their joyous antics are finally available to stream on the 'flix. Unfortunately, you may no longer be able to watch them during those prime after-school hours on weekdays like you used to (due to a little annoyance called work). Oh well; that's what weekends are for when you're an adult: watching cartoons.
Love Better Off Ted? If you can’t stand corporate doublespeak, buzzwords, and meetings that go absolutely nowhere (or in complete circles), watch W1A. This brilliant mockumentary follows Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville), the BBC’s new Head of Values — yes, a completely bullshit position — as he tries to sort out the institutional jeremiads plaguing the U.K.’s most important broadcast company.
Love Comedy Bang! Bang!? If you love watching comedians showcasing their weirdest, wackiest, most creative characters, Netflix Presents: The Characters is right up your alley. In each 30-minute episode (there are eight in total), one up-and-coming comedian writes and stars in a series of sketches straight from his or her witty, clever imagination. Some notable comedians who are already on your radar include Lauren Lapkus ( Orange Is the New Black) and Paul W. Downs ( Broad City).
Love Taylor Lautner? And wondering what he’s been up to lately? Why, ol’ T. Lauts has been across the pond starring in the Britcom Cuckoo. He took the reins from Andy Samberg during season 2 of the show after Samberg was forced to step aside due to scheduling commitments to Brooklyn 99. On Cuckoo, Lautner gets the chance to demonstrate his comedy chops. Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Netflix, so you get a chance to watch both Samberg and Lautner play off of one of Britain’s current funniest actor/comedians, Greg Davies.
Love You’re the Worst? There’s been a shifting tide in television over the past few years wherein shows like The Mindy Project, Catastrophe, and You’re the Worst are more than undoing the cloying, completely unrealistic romantic comedies that came out in spades in the early aughts. Netflix’s Love is the latest entry in this canon. The show follows nice, nerdy Gus (Paul Rust) and cool girl Mickey (Gillian Jacobs) as they try to find love in Los Angeles.
Love Girlfriends? You need to watch Being Mary Jane: The Series. Gabrielle Union plays Mary Jane Paul, the host of a successful talk show who’s also trying to support her extended family and find love at the same time. Her life is a whirlwind, her clothes are unreal, and the show is addictive AF.
Love House Hunters? But can’t stand the commercials you always end up watching during the H.H. and H.H. International marathons that always seem to suck you in on lazy Sundays? Sure, you could plan ahead and keep a few episodes stored on your DVR for whenever the mood for some shelter porn strikes, but that just sounds like something that would never happen.
Well, guess what? Our good friend Netflix has House Hunters, House Hunters International, and House Hunters Renovation collections at the ready for you to watch whenever you so please. Now, if only the couples where he wants to live in a one-story ranch located far away from the city, but she wants to be right in the heart of downtown could agree as easily as you will on what to watch tonight.
Love Chelsea Lately? If you’ve been missing Chelsea Handler’s signature brand of undercutting sass and refusal to accept the status quo since her late-night show on E! went off the air, tune into Chelsea Does..., the comedian’s new investigative docuseries on Netflix. In each episode, Handler explores a stand-alone topic, such as race, Silicon Valley, or marriage, from many angles. She doesn’t always reach a conclusion or even come to any groundbreaking realizations, but by looking at each subject through a unique lens, with help from many different interview subjects, Handler moves the conversation along in a way only she really can.
Love Game of Thrones? If your favorite part of George R.R. Martin’s sweeping saga is the various characters’ devious machinations and power plays for the Iron Throne, cue up The Tudors. There are no dragons or White Walkers, but the historical drama does tell the extremely scandalous story of England’s 16th-century royal court, led by King Henry VIII (played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers), and there’s just as much sex as you’ll find on Game of Thrones. There’s even some Thrones crossover: Natalie Dormer, who plays Margaery Tyrell on GoT, stars as the doomed Anne Boleyn on The Tudors.
Love Degrassi: The Next Generation? Really, who doesn’t? The hallowed halls of Degrassi Community School saw more than their fair share of D-R-A-M-A throughout the show’s 14 (yes, 14) seasons. Not only did the series deal with serious issues, including teen pregnancy, drug addiction, eating disorders, and school shootings, it also introduced us to then-unknown actors like Jake Epstein (who’s now a Broadway star), Nina Dobrev, and Aubrey Graham (now better known as the rapper named Drake). The Next Generation had a long run, yet fans seemed surprised when TeenNick announced its cancellation in June 2015. Luckily, Netflix swooped in to make loyal Degrassi viewers very happy. Degrassi: Next Class premiered on January 4, 2016, with a whole new cast of characters and updated issues for a new generation, including cyberbullying in the world of e-sports.
Love Narcos? Sean Penn claims in his Rolling Stone interview with Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman that Mexican actress Kate del Castillo is the one who connected Penn with El Chapo. del Castillo has since noted that some of the stories surrounding her involvement with El Chapo are untrue, but still, her involvement with a drug cartel leader is almost stranger than fiction. Why? del Castillo starred as Teresa Mendoza, who is also known as the “Queen of the South” on the popular telenovela La Reina del Sur. The telenovela is based on Arturo Pérez-Reverte's 2002 novel of the same name, which tells the story of the first woman to become the leader of a Spanish drug cartel.
Love Serial? It seems everyone came back from the 2015 holidays talking about one thing and one thing only: Making a Murderer. Netflix’s 10-episode true-crime docuseries follows the trial of Steven Avery, who was accused of killing 25-year-old Teresa Halbach in 2005. Avery had a troubled history with law enforcement officials in his home county of Manitowoc, WI, which led his defense attorneys to argue that he had been framed by the police. The series offers a riveting look at the criminal justice system that will leave you wondering what to believe.
Love The Shawshank Redemption? Sundance TV's Rectify tells the story of Daniel Holden, who was put on death row after being found guilty of rape and murder as a teenager. Almost 20 years later, his conviction is overturned after new DNA evidence nullifies it, and Daniel is released. He returns to live in the town where everyone is still convinced of his guilt, except for his younger sister, Amantha.
Love Office Space? Better Off Ted is a criminally underrated gem of a sitcom about Ted Crisp (Jay Harrington), who runs the R&D department at a soulless mega-corporation called Veridian Dynamics. It’s a send-up of everything that’s wrong with corporate America and evil companies content to destroy the environment without thinking twice. Yet the show always errs on the side of hopeful optimism while taking them to task. The biggest disappointment of all is that this delight of a series never got another season.
Love Friends? But looking for a half-hour show grounded a bit more in reality with up-to-date references? You need Aziz Ansari’s Master of None. The series is a combination of lessons from the comedian’s book, Modern Romance, aspects of his own life, and the overall experience of being in one's late 20s and early 30s. The result is a poignant, funny, and an extremely accurate depiction of what it’s like to be alive right now.
Love Daredevil? Netflix continues its dark dive into the Marvel universe with Jessica Jones. She’s not your typical superhero. Jessica (Krysten Ritter) works as a P.I. and floats along the outskirts of society. She’s suffering from PTSD after a mysterious man named Kilgrave (David Tennant) took control over her mind for months. The series has just the right amount of gritty badassary we’ve been longing to see from a female superhero. You can binge-watch all of season 1 along with us right here.
Love Top Chef? You need The Great British Baking Show (or, as it’s called in the U.K., The Great British Bake Off) in your life. Picture all the things you like about Top Chef (drooling at the culinary creations, and worrying whether the contestants will finish them in the time limit provided) without the things you don’t like (the heavily sponsored and overly branded everything, and how they make the contestants extremely stressed and frazzled by keeping them isolated from their families). Add to that the most quaint, idyllic British location you can imagine — a tent outside a manor complete with a pond, adorable sheep, and rolling lawns for days — and two judges who take baking more seriously than you’ve ever thought anyone could. It’s basically a recipe for the most charming cooking competition you’ve ever seen, and it’s finally on Netflix.
Love UnREAL? If shows featuring strong, take-charge women who aren’t afraid to show that they’re also flawed (because seriously, who among us isn’t) are your television milieu, you’ll easily sail through Rita. This Danish dramedy (yes, there are subtitles, but we promise it’s worth it) follows a fiercely independent teacher and single mother-of-three as she navigates through institutional bullshit and personal affairs.
Love Downton Abbey? Picture the beautiful period costumes and luxe settings, but transport them to a gorgeous hotel in Santander. On Grand Hotel, there's mystery afoot when a maid goes missing from one of Spain's most elegant hotels. Soon, her disappearance reveals other secrets, and the drama is positively Downton -esque.
Love Outlander? If you enjoy a bodice-ripping romance with dashes of true-to-life historical events mixed in, you’ll want to wait out the break between seasons 1 and 2 of Outlander with Reign. It’s a CW show, so the sex is much less explicit (sorry), but you’re still in for some sordid, nefarious plots against the monarchy in this story centered on the years Mary, Queen of Scots, spent in France during her youth.
Love Food Network? If watching skilled chefs do their thing is your jam, Netflix’s six-part documentary series Chef’s Table is ideal for you. Each episode follows a world-famous chef, from Dan Barber of the renowned Blue Hill restaurants in NYC and Pocantico Hills, NY, to Niki Nakayama at N/Naka in L.A. You might want to eat before watching, though, because this series is going to make your mouth water.
Love Breaking Bad? One of the taglines for Netflix’s newest original series, Narcos, which premiered on August 28, 2015, is “There’s no business like blow business.” It’s a pun on the famous line about show business, and also a true statement about the thriving drug empire run by Colombian kingpin Pablo Escobar in the 1980s and ‘90s. This series chronicles the inner workings of Escobar’s life and cartel, and the DEA’s increasing attempts to take him down.
Love Reading Rainbow? Watch… Reading Rainbow! The beloved childhood show that instilled a love of reading in many generations is finally available on Netflix. Watching episodes from Volume 1 will make you feel all sorts of nostalgic for books like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and Miss Nelson Is Back. Take a look, it’s in a book …on Reading Rainbow.
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Love Wet Hot American Summer? The entire gang is back for Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, the prequel to end all prequels. Fifteen years after the cult classic film, head back to Camp Firewood for eight new episodes chock-full of absurdist humor, talking vegetable cans, and your favorite actors (Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, Elizabeth Banks…the list goes on and on) playing 16-year-old camp counselors.
Love Empire & Beverly Hills, 90210? Throw in a dash of Melrose Place, and you’ve got The L.A. Complex. The short-lived cult favorite is a painfully honest portrayal of a group of twentysomethings pursuing stardom in Hollywood. In the most compelling and dramatic storyline, closeted rapper Kaldrick King (Andra Fuller) tries to stage a successful comeback while resorting to violence to hide his gay relationships.
Love True Blood? Drop in on the supernatural creatures of Bristol, England, including a ghost, a werewolf, and a sexy vampire, all shacking up in a house and doing their best to fit in with the locals on Being Human. Go for the original U.K. version (although Netflix also has the American remake), with Looking ’s Russell Tovey as the werewolf who hates his time of the month, Poldark ’s Aidan Turner as the brooding vampire, and A to Z ’s Lenora Crichlow as the ghost with unfinished business.
Love Lost & The Matrix? Sci-fi powerhouse siblings, the Wachowskis, have brought their flair for mind-bending, perception-and-reality-altering plotlines to the small screen with Sense8. The new Netflix original spares no expense in its scenic globetrotting (seriously, if you can’t afford to travel, this show might just be the next best thing) as it rambles through the lives of eight characters whose minds are somehow intertwined.
Love Supernatural? Go deep into the paranormal YA archives with Roswell, the now-cult classic that ran from 1999-2002. On Roswell, not only did a UFO crash at Area 51, but it had three alien children aboard. When the show starts, they’re in high school trying to be normal teenagers and stay under the radar. They’re falling in love with humans and want to share their secret, though, so there’s clearly going to be some D-R-A-M-A.
Love 9 to 5 and The Golden Girls? Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin star in Netflix’s newest original show, Grace and Frankie. The two play frenemies in their 70s whose husbands announce that they’re in love and are leaving Grace and Frankie to be together. What happens when you have to reboot your life as a septuagenarian? That’s what these two are bound to find out.
Love Gotham & Arrow? Watch Daredevil, Netflix’s gritty new original series about Marvel hero Matt Murdock: blind lawyer by day, masked vigilante who protects Hell’s Kitchen by night (and, still blind). It’ll completely make you forget about that Ben Affleck travesty from 2003.
Love Friends? Specifically, the episode where Joey models for a free clinic and unwittingly becomes the face of gonorrhea? Imagine a whole series using that conceit, only the protagonist (an affable British twentysomething named Dylan) really does have chlamydia, and he has to contact all of his past sexual partners to tell them. It winds up being sort of charming, because in the process, he reconnects with past loves who might have been the one. Also, the show is called Scrotal Recall, and if that’s not the best Arnold Schwarzenegger movie pun-based sitcom title ever, your pec-spectations are too high.
Love Flight of the Conchords? Cue up the dulcet sounds of comedy duo Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci, also known as Garfunkel and Oates. The duo writes and performs satirical songs about their personal and professional lives, which get incorporated into the framework of this clever half-hour comedy named for the pair.
Love Dynasty and Dallas? Sounds like you love a good multi-generational familial drama. Dig into Netflix’s new original series Bloodline, which stars Kyle Chandler (Coach Taylor on FNL) as the supposedly good son in the hard-working Rayburn family, who run a hotel in the Florida Keys.
Love How to Get Away with Murder? It sounds like you enjoy watching strong female characters who know a thing or two about dabbling in the grayer areas of the law. Watch Damages, which stars Glenn Close as a ruthless, all-star attorney of questionable morals and Rose Byrne as her wide-eyed protégée.
Love Arrested Development? Watch The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret. David Cross (who played Tobias Fünke) stars as the titular bumbling American businessman, who’s sent across the pond to promote an energy drink called Thunder Muscle in England.
Love Skins? But also feel like the show can be overwhelmingly serious at times? Get ready for some laddish hijinks courtesy of The Inbetweeners. The humor’s a bit sophomoric, but just try not to LOL as you watch Will, Simon, Jay, and Neil fumble their way through high school in England.
Love Game of Thrones? Swords-and-sandals-clad warriors get even sexier and more bloodthirsty in Spartacus. If you thought the Unsullied were treated brutally in Astapor, just wait until you see the dregs from which the gladiators of Thrace had to rise.
Love Homeland? Maggie Gyllenhaal just won a Golden Globe for her work in the political spy thriller The Honorable Woman. The eight-part miniseries follows a British-Israeli businesswoman as she tries to work toward peace in the Middle East.
Love Jane the Virgin? Watch JTV creator Jennie Snyder Urman’s last CW romp, Emily Owens, M.D. The short-lived show was a sweet mix of Grey’s Anatomy and Scrubs — plus it introduced the talented Aja Naomi King, who’s now blowing audiences away on How t o Get Away with Murder.
Love The Fall? For starters, make sure you watch season 2, which hit Netflix back on January 16, 2015. Once you’ve done that, cue up Southcliffe, an extremely vivid portrait of a fictional English town wracked by a horrifying shooting spree. It’s a macabre study of the human condition you won’t forget.
Love Orange Is the New Black? Get locked up in Wentworth, the equally compelling women’s prison drama from Australia. Bea Smith (played by Danielle Cormack) is thrown in jail while awaiting trial for trying to kill her violent husband, and the series follows her time behind bars learning the ins and outs of prison life.
Loved The Imitation Game? Watch The Bletchley Circle, a British mystery about four women who worked at Bletchley Park breaking codes during World War II and reunite in the early 1950s to solve new mysteries.
Love Boardwalk Empire? Journey across the pond for the British historical crime drama, Peaky Blinders. In the aftermath of World War I, a detective (Sam Neill) is tasked with taking down the Birmingham gang, Peaky Blinders, led by the quick-witted Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy).
Love The Twilight Zone? Watch the spectacularly twisted Black Mirror. The Brit anthology series has just six episodes, each one telling a uniquely haunting tale about near-distant futures where technology can recreate dead loved ones, get the prime minister to commit bestiality on national television, and allow people to rewatch old memories that might destroy their lives. The scariest part is just how much of a reflection the series is of our current fixation with gadgets and the lives we lead online.
Love The Sopranos? Watch Lilyhammer. Steven Van Zandt plays a New York gangster named Frank “The Fixer” Tagliano who tries to start a new life for himself in the titular isolated Norway town after he’s forced into the federal witness protection program.
Love Friends? Cozy up with the wry Britcom Coupling. It's a clever and humorous exploration of looking for love when you’re absolutely terrified of everything that comes with it.
Love Halloween? Cue up Netflix’s horror series, Hemlock Grove. Executive produced by gore-lover Eli Roth, the show focuses on the mysterious goings-on in the fictional titular town, which range from the supernatural to the just plain sadistic.
Love Breaking Bad? Take a gun-running thrill ride with Sons of Anarchy. Loosely based on Hamlet, it brings the intra-familial intrigue of Shakespeare’s Danish royalty tale to a motorcycle gang unofficially responsible for keeping things going in the fictional city of Charming, CA.
Love Television? We’re guessing you do because here you are, reading a slideshow of Netflix streaming recommendations. As an aficionado and appreciator of the finer TV series in life, we think you’ll also love The Writers’ Room. In this fascinating interview show, Academy Award-winning writer Jim Rash (who’s best known for playing Dean Pelton on Community) sits down with writers of some of your favorite shows to discuss how they’re crafted. In the first six episodes, he talks to the writers and creators of Breaking Bad, Parks and Recreation, Dexter, New Girl, Game of Thrones, and American Horror Story. If you’re a fan of television and love hearing about how it’s created, this is for you.
Love The Office? Watch the British gem that is Peep Show. Part The Odd Couple, part The Office (British version), and filmed through each character’s eyes, the offbeat sitcom is perfect for a weekend binge.
Love Supernatural? Tune your spidey senses into Psych. This playful show features the overly clever, extremely witty Shawn Spencer who uses his heightened powers of observation to serve as the resident psychic for the Santa Barbara Police Department. Come for the ridiculous fake clairvoyant act, but stay for the lovable characters like Gus, O’Hara, and Lassie. And, did we mention that there’s a musical episode? Because there’s a musical episode.
Love Flight of the Conchords? Get your New Zealand fix with Short Poppies, a mockumentary series created and written by Rhys Darby, who you’ll recognize from his role as Murray, the Conchords’ clueless manager. On Short Poppies, Darby plays David Farrier, an entertainment reporter. Farrier interviews people he deems "extraordinary New Zealanders," who live in a fictional town known as The Bay. With just eight episodes, this is the perfect Sunday Funday binge-watch.
Love Friday Night Lights? That’s a silly question; of course you do. You’re a human being with emotions and a heart, right? Also, you’ve seen Tim Riggins. Texas forever. Unfortunately, we don’t have any updates on the proposed movie (yes, that would mean a book that became a movie that became a show would be made into a movie again), but we do have a series currently streaming on Netflix that will make you feel as many feelings as FNL.
Jason Katims, the brilliant screenwriter who adapted Friday Night Lights for the small screen, also turned the 1989 dramedy Parenthood into a poignant drama now entering its fifth and final season on NBC. Warning: You will definitely need tissues for this one, but the emotional roller coaster of watching the Bravermans is so, so worth it.
Love The Mindy Project? Check out the short-lived but hilarious Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23. Krysten Ritter plays the titular B, a hustler and legend in her own mind with a gorgeous apartment and a best friend/ex-boyfriend named James Van Der Beek. Yes, the Beek from the Creek. He plays a heightened caricature of himself complete with a tragic stint on Dancing with the Stars. Enter into the fray Dreama Walker, a small-town girl with a business degree who just wants to make it in New York City — plus a pervy neighbor across the air shaft — and you’ve got yourself a delightful little sitcom.
Love Twin Peaks? After many requests, Netflix secured the rights to the newest British cult hit Happy Valley. Police sergeant Catherine Cawood is trying to cope with her daughter’s suicide, but things unravel when she spots the man she believes raped her daughter (which led to her death). She becomes obsessed with finding him, which uncovers an even larger mystery involving the kidnapping of a local girl.
Love Family Guy? Or, any animated show for adults, really, including The Simpsons, The Critic, Bob’s Burgers, South Park, and Archer? Netflix debuted its first foray into original animated programming for grown-ups this week with BoJack Horseman. Will Arnett voices the titular character, a washed-up actor who starred in a popular sitcom called Horsin’ Around 20 years ago and has done nothing of note since. The world of BoJack is populated with humans and anthropomorphized animals alike, so it’s a bit surreal. Aaron Paul plays Todd, BoJack’s sycophantic perma-houseguest, and Alison Brie is Diane, who’s been hired to ghostwrite his memoirs. Can BoJack and his ragtag crew somehow turn his downward spiral of a life around? Watch and find out.
Love Downton Abbey? If you’re especially attuned to the burgeoning role of women beyond the domestic sphere in Downton, cue up Call the Midwife. Imagine Sybil’s can-do nursing skills transported to a group of midwives in a convent in East London in the ‘50s. That’s exactly what you’ll find in this engrossing BBC series, which airs new seasons on PBS.
Love Pretty Little Liars? First of all, read the books instead. They’re even more engrossing than ABC Family’s frothy mystery about Rosewood. When you’re done with those (or concurrently), cue up Skins. The British show made international headlines for the reckless lifestyle promoted by “Skins parties ” and sent the U.K. into a nationwide panic about the hedonistic pursuits of Millennial teens. No matter what your takeaway, Skins will suck you right in.
Love True Detective? If you love a slow-build, extremely tense, psychological thriller, watch The Fall. Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan, here causing much inner turmoil when you find yourself attracted to a deviant sociopath) is a serial killer terrorizing Belfast, and Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) is the detective trying to catch him before he strikes again. Season 1 is only five episodes, so you’ll burn through them in no time. Luckily, they’re filming the second season right now.
Love Gossip Girl? Guilty pleasures: We all have them. Gossip Girl (well, the first few seasons) was one of ours. The South Korean series Boys Over Flowers follows the whole fish-out-of-water setup, only this time Lonely Boy is Jan Di, the daughter of a dry cleaner who finds herself falling for the spoiled rich kid whose clique runs their elite private school. It’s somehow even more addictive than Gossip Girl — maybe it’s the amazing vintage Bieber haircuts all of the boys sport. And, because of the subtitles, watching it feels a bit more highbrow. Get watching. XOXO.
Love American Horror Story? Dive even deeper into the uncanny valley with The Returned. The cult French show follows the lives — and afterlives — of a sleepy town where nothing is as it seems. Long-dead relatives return to life; residents try to leave — only to be thwarted by roads running in circles. There’s a serial killer on the loose, but no one seems to care. It’s a slow, eerie build but oh, is it worth it.
Love Silicon Valley? Try turning your machine off and on again, then booting up The IT Crowd (that’s a joke you’ll get when you start watching). This hilarious British sitcom chronicles an odd couple of IT guys trying to do as little work as possible in their dungeon of an office at a horrible corporation. Chris O’Dowd (before he became a household name in Bridesmaids) plays Roy, the ringleader, while Richard Ayoade is Moss, his introverted, nebbishy foil. And, just like the Pied Piper guys on Silicon Valley, Roy and Moss’ world is rocked when a female enters their daily routine. Fire up the Internet and get watching.
Love The Killing? You've undoubtedly heard of Top of the Lake — everyone, or at least everyone in this office, is talking about it. Like Twin Peaks and The Killing, it centers around a mysterious, troubled young girl and a small town with a lot of secrets to hide. Recipe for a good time, right?
Love Law & Order? You'll go crazy for Swedish crime show Wallander. Though it doesn't cover sex-based offenses in particular, this thriller reminds us of SVU (our favorite iteration, obviously) because of its focus on the cops' and detectives' personal lives. There's also a Masterpiece Mystery version, but we recommend starting out with the original Henning Mankel l.
Love House? Well, this is basically the exact same concept, but British. And that's usually a good thing. Doc Martin follows the antics of a curmudgeonly MD after he moves to a provincial town, abandoning his prestigious London surgical post for unknown reasons. Weird diseases, even weirder people.
Love Parks & Recreation? If you're a fan of all things dysfunctional, British sitcom Black Books is perfect for you. Focused on a perpetually down-and-out bookstore owner who regularly puts a mid-afternoon drink over customer service, this show should be heartbreaking — but instead, it's hilarious. Plus, if you're missing the glory days of TV, you'll dig the distinct early-2000s vibe.
Love Homeland? British series House of Cards is chock-full of political drama and underhanded scheming, guaranteed to get your blood pumping. It's also great if totally inappropriate and unethical sexual relationships are your thing. This is a great pick if you've already binged through the American version, but are still hungry for more!
As Lorde's close personal friend (read: I've been to one of her concerts), I was pretty shocked that she didn't shoot me a text to let me know that she had broken up with her rumored boyfriend, James Lowe. You might remember him from 2013, when he was the victim of racist attacks after fans found pictures of him on the singer's Instagram. Well, now, it sure sounds like he's the subject of her new single "Green Light," which dropped today along with a music video.
I mean, just take a listen to some of the lyrics:
"I know about what you did and I wanna scream the truth/ She thinks you love the beach, you're such a damn liar"
Or:
"Thought you said that you would always be in love/But you're not in love no more"
Or:
"'Cause honey I'll come get my things, but I can't let go/I'm waiting for it, that green light, I want it/Oh, I wish I could get my things and just let go/I'm waiting for it, that green light, I want it"
I guess it's my fault, as a close personal friend, for not picking up on the signals. While Lorde has always been pretty quiet about her romantic life, she often posted pictures with Lowe on social media. That is, until 65 weeks ago, which is the last time he appeared on the 20-year-old's Instagram in the caption of this picture.
I know what you're thinking: that's a creepy thing to do. Anyways, then I went on his Instagram and found that the last time he posted a photo of Lorde (real name Ella Yelich-O'Connor) was 68 weeks ago. There were whispers of a split, and some deleted Instagrams, in a story in the New Zealand herald, but it was never officially confirmed. One thing's for certain: this song is definitely about an ending.
"The song is actually about a heartbreak," she said in an interview with Zane Lowe (no relation to her possibly ex-bf, I assume, but then again, apparently I know nothing) for Pitchfork. "And it's not something that I really am used to writing about."
While she never mentions Lowe by name, she does reference the end of a relationship.
"It was my first major heartbreak," she continued. "And the song is really about those moments kind of immediately after your life changes and about all the silly little things that you gravitate towards."
The process of grieving is what ended up inspiring the video, especially the crazed, murky dancing scenes.
"I realized this is that drunk girl at the party dancing around crying about her ex boyfriend who everyone thinks is a mess," she explained. "That’s her tonight and tomorrow she starts to rebuild. And that’s the song for me."
This also puts a tweet the singer posted on Wednesday into better perspective.
it's the first chapter of a story i'm gonna tell you, the story of the last 2 wild, fluorescent years of my life. this is where we begin
"It's the first chapter of a story i'm gonna tell you, the story of the last 2 wild, fluorescent years of my life," she wrote. "This is where we begin."
So, for all we know, this possible breakup could have taken place a long, long time ago (once again, thanks for the call). No matter what, it sounds like this is just one of many life events that took her on this personal journey.
"Everyone has that first year that feels like the first proper year of adulthood," she told Pitchfork. "I moved out of home and all of a sudden I was kind of figuring out who am I when I’m alone? Who am I when I’m doing things just for myself?"
The answer? Growing up, and making an amazing new album in the process. And remember, Lorde — I'm always here if you want to chat!
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It's pretty much a given that hazing rituals are a part of fraternity and sorority life. However, many Greek life organizations have been known to take things a step too far, endangering the lives of their pledges.
According to People, Central Michigan University is currently investigating an incident that occurred last fall, during which a student who is severely allergic to peanuts was involved in a fraternity hazing ritual that included peanut butter. Andrew Seely, who was hoping to join the Alpha Chi Rho fraternity, was allegedly covered with peanut butter while he was passed out.
In a post to her Facebook page, Seely's mother, Teresa Seely, wrote that her son could have been killed.
"He was sent to the campus health clinic by a professor and treated," she wrote. "Luckily he is still alive."
Teresa also wrote that the family has notified campus and city police, local news agencies, and have contacted an attorney.
"Our son does have an Epi-pen and carries Benadryl tablets in his wallet at all times," she wrote.
"Our family is devastated,” she told the Detroit Free Press. “We thought we were sending our child off to school in a safe environment, and obviously that wasn’t the case. He could have died from this. He has a deadly peanut allergy.”
“We take these types of things very seriously,” Heather Smith, a spokeswoman for the school, told People. “So the CMU Police Department and CMU’s Office of Student Conduct responded immediately and started looking into it. The alleged incident would have taken place off-campus, so we involved the Mt. Pleasant Police Department because that would have been their jurisdiction. To my knowledge, there still has not been a police report filed with them, but it’s a potentially criminal matter.”
Smith also told Detroit Free Press that the fraternity was already banned from official recognition for hazing incidents in 2011, and the university and its interfraternity council had denied the fraternity's requests for reinstatement as late as last fall.
Serious peanut allergies can causeanaphylactic shock, which can involve symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and even fatal cardiac arrest. Luckily, Seely was treated early enough, but in case it needs repeating: It's never okay to put someone's life at risk for a hazing ritual.
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Simon Porte Jacquemus, the 27-year-old designer behind French label Jacquemus, seems to know the It item secret sauce. In fact, many of last year's most ubiquitous trends (extra-long sleeves, inventive shirting and suiting), are trickle-down effects of Porte's runway collections; the presence of his own pieces in street style and on celebrities is undeniable as well, because they are, in fact, everywhere. And while we can sit here and pick apart his fall 2017 offering — and note how things like its athleisure-meets-work-trouser capris, its billowing, one-shouldered crop top-cum-blouse, and its diagonal-seamed button-up knit will likely inspire a flurry of other designers — we're instead looking to something that doesn't nearly get enough attention: the accessories.
If you're looking for the definition of soon-to-be street style bait, Jacquemus' upside-down bag is basically it. Sent down the runway were powder pink and white, bright yellow, and solid black purses that featured top handles hanging from the bottom; they were held in models hands by gold chain links, which also dangled below. It was a fun, push-the-envelope riff on the pervasiveness on the It bag, one that seemed to ask, "How far can a trend go?" while already knowing the answer. Because if there's one thing Jacquemus has learned in his few years on the international stage, it's that people want weird and unconventional without sacrificing style and maturity. And is there anything that sums that notion up more than a bag that looks really, really cool — but that you can't really use?
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What do you call a text message that's flirty, but not yet a sext? A flext? I'm still brainstorming.
Whatever you call them, flirty text messages are the reality for most people dating in 2017. And text message flirting can be just as scary as in-person flirting. First off, you need to suss out whether or not your crush is at least mildly interested in you before you blow up their phone.
"You know your crush is receptive to flirting if he or she is responsive," says Barbara Greenberg PhD, a clinical psychologist who specializes in family and relationship issues. "Pupils dilate when a person is interested in you. Look into the eyes of the one you are flirting with. They speak volumes."
If you're mostly limited to texting or online messaging, Dr. Greenberg confirms what many of us already know: More than likely, your crush is into you if they carry on the conversation and respond without too much of a lag time.
At a loss for the words (and emojis!) to send to someone? I put together some tried-and-true text messages to send when you want to flirt but haven't started sexting yet. (But if you're already there, here's how to kick the conversation up a notch.)
While we're arguably more in control of and confident about our sexuality than ever, there's still so much we don't know about female arousal. So this month, we're exploring everything you want and need to know about how women get turned on now. Check out more here.
"You made an appearance in my dream last night."
Why it works: This suggestive message lets your crush know that you're interested in them while also hinting at sex (hey, you're telling them about what you do in bed). Pro tip: Don't tell them what happened in the dream so you can keep them guessing and intrigued. And of course, feel free to send this one even if your dream wasn't actually about them.
Photographed by Refinery29.
"How was your day? I just got home and am finally relaxing."
Why it works: This is a great text to send in the early stages of a crush or courtship, as it shows you care and are thinking of them, but isn't directly sexual (though the "relaxing" bit is certainly suggestive in a good way). It's a great one to send during the week after you know your crush has had a long day, since most people love to talk about themselves. Plus, it's an open-ended question that encourages conversation, which is always preferable to a "yes or no" answer. And in this case, that involves talking about how you both like to unwind (which is, again, suggestive).
Photographed by Rockie Nolan.
"Stop distracting me. I'm busy ;)"
Why it works: People want what they can't have. Send this sucker when you and your crush are texting back and forth during the work day or while you're running errands (or, hell, when you're out with friends), and you actually don't have time for them. By stating that they're distracting you (in a sexy way, since you employed the wink emoji), you let them know you're not being mean — and you also remind them that you're indeed a busy person with a full life, so if they want you, they're going to have to work for it.
Photographed by Ashley Batz.
"I can't stop thinking about you."
Why it works: As the saying goes, flattery will get you everywhere. Send this one after a first date. If you haven't gotten it on yet, the sexual tension will be palpable, since you're letting your future bae know they're on your mind. By the time the second or third date roles around, good luck keeping your clothes on.
Photographed by Lorenna Gomez-Sanchez.
"How about we move this conversation to IRL?"
Why it works: If you've just been flirty texting and haven't officially gone out yet (and all is going well), this text is the perfect way to land a date. Sure, you're flirting, but you're also being straightforward and asking for what you want. Have a list of date ideas ready to throw out just in case — that could mean anything from drinks at an intimate bar to a daytime hike to a movie and take out at your place, so no pressure to come up with anything too complicated.
Photographed by Alice Gao.
"I want to experience you."
Why it works: Save this work of art for when you're confident your flirting partner is down to bone. A friend who was obviously about to turn into more than that sent this to me in college, and we were shortly having sex multiple times in the span of a few hours. This text gets straight to the point: You want to have sex with them. However, rather than make it vulgar or about their body, you're demonstrating that you're interested in them as a person. This one's definitely not for everybody, but with the right person, this message could lead to an intimate experience via text and IRL.
Photographed by Natalia Mantini.
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“So let’s talk about your aversion to casual sex,” I began.
“Ohh-kay,” he stammered. “What do you want to know?”
“Well, for starters, how strict is this rule?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, what is your definition of sex? Is it the Bill Clinton definition or the Mormon definition?”
“Well, first off, it’s not a rule. It’s just what I think is best for me right now. And as far as strictness goes…no intercourse.”
“No intercourse?”
“Nope.”
“None?”
“None.”
“Damn,” I cursed under my breath. “I really wanted to fuck you tonight.”
He laughed. “Was that your mission?”
“Yes. And I fear I’ve failed miserably before I even left the base. But…can I ask you something?”
“Ask me anything,” he said invitingly.
I paused for a long moment trying to gather my thoughts. The fact that my brain was swimming in bourbon and cheap beer didn’t help things. “How or why did you decide to become celibate?”
He smiled. “I never said I was celibate.”
“Well, you kind of are celibate if you aren’t having casual sex.”
“No. It just means I want to have sex with people I trust. People I feel safe with and who feel safe with me. I haven’t found someone that I feel safe with in a long while.”
“Safe,” I echoed thoughtfully. Why would he use that word? “Did someone…did someone hurt you?” I asked, my voice soft and careful. In my experience, most men didn’t like to talk about their feelings. They especially didn’t like it when women went digging around in them.
“Once,” he answered. Short and succinct. It was clear he wouldn’t discuss it further.
Liquor tends to erase proper boundaries, so I dug around a bit more anyway. “And she’s the reason why you don’t have casual sex anymore?”
“That and other reasons.”
“So you’re saving yourself for marriage?”
He chuckled and gave me a sideways glance. “No, Yves. I’m not waiting for my bride.”
“So you’re saying that if the right girl came along, you would give it up?”
“For the right woman? Yes.”
“Well, I hope that the right woman is me.”
Elijah chuckled again and moved on to the next foot, rubbing the pad of his thumb into the arch, coaxing out that moan. He smiled, licking the corner of his mouth mischievously. “I like that.”
“What?”
“When you moan like that, it sounds like I’m making love to you.”
I frowned. “I don’t make love. You can fuck me, screw me, or even lay me, but you can’t make love to me.”
Elijah looked genuinely distressed. “Why not?”
“I just don’t want to feel that way again.”
“And what way is that?”
“Hopeless, helpless, vulnerable.”
“That’s what making love feels like to you?” he asked.
I nodded, slightly distracted by the weight of his green-eyed gaze. He was studying me. I felt like a bug trapped under a glass.
“Well,” he kissed the instep of my foot. The press of those full lips on that thin neglected skin made places further north ache for the same treatment. “What if I want to make love to you?”
“I won’t be made love to,” I repeated.
“We’ll see,” he said with a smile.
“Really? If you’re feeling so confident, why don’t you try it right now?”
The bourbon made me bold. All that talk of his abstinence had only served as foreplay to my drunken brain. I swung my leg over him and straddled his lap. His hands clamped around my waist to push me away, but it was a minute too late. My mouth was already on his and oh… it was as magical as I’d dreamed. That obscenely sexy pout with its too-full lips was made for my kiss. I traced my tongue along the seam of his lips and coaxed it to open for me. He gave a soft moan and I took advantage of it — covered his mouth with mine and slid my tongue inside. Dios. Never should’ve done that. That sound, the taste of him — malty with beer and bourbon — the rough, tender flesh of his tongue surrendering to mine. His big hands tightened, fingertips pressing deep into my hips.
“Yves,” he breathed over my lips, tongue lapping out for another taste.
If I was questioning if I was “that woman” before, I wasn’t now. He wanted me just as much — if not more — than I wanted him. I could feel that want growing against my parted thighs. With fingers spread wide, I pushed my hands into his thick, silky hair, grabbed it in fistfuls and drew him deeper into the kiss. One of his hands slid up to the middle of my back, drawing me closer. This time I was the one who gave the drunken moan.
“Yves,” he said again.
“Yes, Elijah?”
“You’re not respecting my boundaries.” The hand on my back splayed, cradled me. The other drifted lower to cup my ass. Clearly he wasn’t as concerned about his boundaries as he wanted me to believe.
“Just tell me no and I’ll stop.”
He growled in response and kissed me again. The hand in the middle of my back pushed into my hair. He grabbed a handful and yanked, separating our mouths. I gasped as his mouth found purchase on my neck, sucking and then nipping lightly. My pussy clenched every time I felt the edge of his teeth on my skin. He tipped me back a little further and the room spun.
“Whoa…” I slurred, holding him tighter.
He pulled away and took a good, long look at me.
“What?”
“You’re drunk,” he said evenly. “We shouldn’t do this.”
“Don’t worry about it. I totally want this. You don’t have to be a gentleman. In fact, the less of a gentleman you are, the better it’ll be.”
Something about that statement rubbed him wrong, because he stood up abruptly and set me on my feet. I swayed drunkenly and looked up at him.
“I’m gonna go.”
“Don’t,” I said and sank to my knees.
Elijah froze. My hands were on his thighs and they felt as solid as stone under my palms. I looked up into his eyes. Apprehension conflicted with the clearly evident desire there. I reached for the waistband of his jeans, curled my fingers over the thick leather belt. His hands grasped mine, stilling them.
“Don’t,” I said again. But even to my own ears it sounded like begging. A strange feeling welled in me. Maybe it was because I was already on my knees or maybe it was the bourbon, but when I looked up at him, his hair falling over his forehead to hide his eyes, his mouth slack and wanting, I felt… worshipful.
“Get up,” he said his voice tremulous.
Getting up was the last thing I wanted to do. I wanted to unbuckle his belt. Get him out of his jeans and into my mouth. The whole scene unfolded in my mind like it had already happened — his fist wound in my hair, forcing my open mouth onto his cock. Me gagging to accommodate him, tears blurring my vision. But the moment my hand closed over the buckle he hauled me to my feet.
“You’re drunk, Yves. Go to bed. I’ll call to you in the morning.”
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Gigi Hadid has been on an incredible 17 Vogue covers internationally in her short modelling career. But it's not until her most recent one that the 21-year-old has received searing backlash for her work. Hadid is on the cover of the inaugural edition of Vogue Arabia. She is wearing a head covering that looks more like a beaded veil than a hijab; inside the magazine, she sports what looks like a traditional hijab. And people are not pleased.
Most have accused her of religious appropriation. Some are upset, understandably, because they see Hadid glamorizing something that other women are criticized for. "CAN GIGI HADID STOP WEARING HIJAB AS A FASHION STATEMENT !!!! MUSLIM WOMEN ARE SHAMED FOR IT YET SHE CAN PARADE AROUND ON THE COVER OF VOGUE," wrote someone with a very loud internet voice. Another critic wonders, "why not hire an islamic model[?]" Somebody else tweeted, "Gigi Hadid wearing a hijab is probably the stupidest thing Vogue could have done. They clearly don't understand Arabs."
To be clear, Hadid is not Muslim. She is, however, half-Palestinian. (Her father Mohamed is Jordanian-American of Palestinian descent; her mother, Yolanda , is Dutch-American.) She has been vocal about the importance of her roots, and marched against Trump's executive order banning immigrants from Muslim-majority countries. (Palestine is a member state of the Arab League.) In October 2016, Hadid said of her heritage, "I especially love it when you meet other Arabs...There’s such a sense of family regardless of whether you are blood-related or not anywhere in the world." Clearly, the supermodel doesn't deny her Middle Eastern roots, and in fact has often addressed her ethnicity.
Not everyone feels that the cover is appropriative, however. Supporters see the photos as a positive sign of inclusivity and diversity in and outside of the fashion industry: Hadid's way to use her platform to spread a message of tolerance. And while Hadid is not Muslim, she has at least some connection to — and has previously allied herself with — the surrounding culture. As she wrote on Instagram: "I hope that this magazine will show another layer of the fashion industry's desire to continue to accept, celebrate, and incorporate all people & customs and make everyone feel like they have fashion images and moments they can relate to... & learn and grow in doing so."
"It's great she is using her fame to promote the # hijab and the Palestinian people," one supporter wrote. "I think @GiGiHadid 's cover is gorgeous and maybe normalising the hijab by someone who is half paslestinian [sic] is not the worst thing," said another.
Where do you come down on the issue? Is Gigi's cover a net positive or negative for Arabs, Muslims, and representation in the media? Sound off in the comments below.
Gigi Hadid: Half-Palestinian but not Muslim. Vogue: Lets make Gigi Hadid wear a hijab because she's half- Palestinian so it's justified. pic.twitter.com/z1MdoAlNmp
CAN GIGI HADID STOP WEARING HIJAB AS A FASHION STATEMENT !!!! MUSLIM WOMEN ARE SHAMED FOR IT YET SHE CAN PARADE AROUND ON THE COVER OF VOGUE pic.twitter.com/g2s7bD0ZmN
ah yes , gigi hadid wears a hijab, it's fashion and vogue but when everyday muslim women wear it, its terrorism and oppression :)) https://t.co/QFv8ZEx3VH
Ladies, we need to stop criticizing our bodies so much. It's not exactly a novel thought, and definitely easier said than done, but a new video from Real Simple reminds us why it's so important — especially for moms.
The video features some familiar words. "I'm so bad, I ate a cupcake today." "My nose is so ugly." "I could never wear a dress without Spanx." But instead of hearing these phrases from the grown women who say them way too often, it's little girls who spout this negative rhetoric about their bodies.
Sure, it's a scripted video, and girls this young might not be thinking about Spanx or the shape of their nose. And we hope they just think cupcakes are delicious (because they are.) But the video makes an excellent point about how the way we talk about our bodies gets passed down from generation to generation. Because, if you really think about it, who did you learn it from?
I'm not a mom, but I am a big sister. My sister is 7-years-old. She loves space and Frozen and can name dinosaurs I never even knew existed. She's not thinking about her weight or her hair or the double chin every single person in our family has — but someday, she probably will.
I try my best as her big sister, who she loves and looks up to, to be careful about what I say in front of her. But even though I consider myself a body-positive person and have spent a lot of time and energy working against negative body image in myself and others, sometimes I slip. And sometimes I slip in front of her.
I'd hate to think that my own insecurities could someday make my sister think negatively about her body. So I'm vowing now to do better. I hope you'll join me.
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Update: Daniela Vargas, the 22-year-old DREAMer who was arrested after giving a press conference in Jackson, MI, is set to be deported without a court hearing, her attorney Abby Peterson told The Huffington Post.
According to Peterson, immigration officials told her on Thursday that Vargas would be immediately deported without a court hearing or bond because she is being processed for overstaying her visa. Vargas arrived in the U.S. when she was only 7 years old.
Peterson said that Vargas' family came through the visa waiver program. (At the time, the program was available to Argentinian citizens.) Waiving their visa also meant surrendering some of their rights, which could have protected Vargas today.
This story was originally published on March 2, 2017 at 10:30 a.m.
This time, a 22-year-old DREAMer was arrested just after she gave a press conference in which she talked about her fear of deportation and advocated for the rights of undocumented immigrants, The Guardian reports.
On Wednesday, Daniela Vargas — an undocumented immigrant who moved to the U.S. from Cordoba, Argentina, at the age of 7 — was detained in Jackson, MI.
Nathan Elmore, her immigration lawyer, told The Guardian that after the press conference Vargas was pulled over and apprehended by ICE officials on the interstate. She was with a friend at the time.
Elmore said that Vargas' permit had recently expired, but her renewal application was currently under review.
"She is not a danger to society. She is a good person who can contribute and she’s the sort of person that the DACA legislation envisaged. It was correct for her to be under there, and we hope she can get under that statute again," Elmore told The Guardian. "But first we have to get her out of jail."
The Department of Homeland Security has said DACA recipients and people without a previous criminal record are not a priority for deportation. It's unclear, then, why Vargas, who has no criminal record, was apprehended.
Local media reported that Vargas' father and brother were arrested by ICE officials in mid-February. She was also detained, but was eventually let go of by immigration officials.
"During that time, I couldn’t even breathe, honestly,” Vargas told the Clarion Ledger at the time. “I just watched them handcuff my dad and take them. I was scared for my life. I didn’t know. I didn’t know anything. I called my mom and I just let out a cry. I didn’t even get to see my brother leave; I think that was the harshest thing for me.”
ICE confirmed to The Guardian that Vargas is currently detained, saying she was arrested by immigration officials during a “targeted immigration enforcement action.” The spokesman also described Vargas to The Guardian as an “unlawfully present Argentinian citizen."
Daniel Ramirez Medina, a 23-year-old DREAMer living in Seattle, WA, was detained in February despite having his DACA permit. ICE claimed that Ramirez Medina was affiliated with a gang, but he passed the DACA background checks twice, and his lawyers say those allegations are untrue.
Jesus Alonso Arreola Robles, a 22 year-old DACA recipient, was also arrested last month when he was driving in the company of a 17-year-old boy about a mile from the U.S.-Mexico border. At the time, officials said he was arrested on suspicion of trying to smuggle someone illegally into the U.S. It's unclear whether there's any truth to that.
During her press conference, Vargas asked for a comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to legalization for the 11 million undocumented immigrants who are currently living in the U.S.
"The path to citizenship is necessary for DACA recipients but also for the other 11 million undocumented people with dreams," she said. "Today, my father and brother await deportation, while I continue to fight this battle as a DREAMer to help contribute to this country, which I feel that is very much my country."
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Forever 21 is, yet again, under fire for reportedly knocking off an indie designer. This time around, the fast-fashion retailer is being accused of copying activewear brand Alala, which launched in 2012; its signature Captain leggings have been around for years, with their distinctive, swooped mesh paneling, long before the sort-of-risque transparent detailing became ubiquitous in the activewear space. Though Alala’s legging designs seem to be safe (for now) from plagiarism, a handful of the New York-based label’s other items have been all too faithfully duplicated by Forever 21.
In early February, Alala’s founder and CEO, Denise Lee, received an email from a customer pointing out the similarities. “I felt very conflicted, especially since some of the designs were blatant copies being sold at incredibly low prices,” Lee told Refinery29 of her initial reactions to the undeniable aesthetic parallels. “On one hand, you could argue our designs are public domain that anyone can access. On the other, we are a small team working hard on designing product that our customers will love and building our brand, so it was very disheartening.” Lee then posted on Instagram Stories about the knockoffs, and “received an incredible response of support,” from followers, she said.
Alala has seen its pieces more or less duplicated by other brands in the past, but the four items (one jacket, one hoodie, and two differentsports bras) were "by far the most obvious” riffs on the luxury activewear label’s look, Lee said. (You can see the Forever 21 versions here, here, and here). “It's definitely frustrating, especially when the end product is a direct copy of your work produced with less quality and care, and maybe by workers that are not working in optimal conditions.”
In the past, Forever 21 has taken conspicuous design cues for hoodies — see: this take on a Sporty & Rich piece — and tees — these Life Of Pablo -esque shirts — plus plenty of high-end designer styles. (Zara, too, has produced items that look far too similar to work by various artists, and contemporary labels, like Brother Vellies; if you need a refresher, here’a thorough rundown of all the egregious copycat moments we saw in 2016). And while we haven’t really seen workout clothing get ripped off, Lee isn’t at all surprised: “As with many verticals within apparel and accessories, [activewear] a crowded market, and I'm not surprised that with the speed [of getting styles] to market that fast fashion demands, their design teams might find it easier to copy what's in the market versus innovating themselves,” she said.
Alala's Swell Cropped Tank......and Forever 21's take on the piece.
As for why we’ve seen so many knockoffs recently, Lee thinks it has to do with an influx of smaller startup-scale fashion labels in the past couple of years, and how they've been able to succeed: “I think big brands are realizing more and more that they're not as in control of the market as they used to be,” she said. “There’s a lot of innovation and creativity coming from smaller brands,” pointing out that it’s easier than ever for indie names to reach customers — certainly by social media and celebrity sightings, if not via ad budgets. “Bigger brands are trying to figure out how to respond to this new challenge, and copying is unfortunately a result of that.”
Alala won’t be pursuing legal action against the retailer: As a small company, Lee and her team decided to “focus our time, energy, and money to doing what we do best — creating products that our customers are going to love” in addition to bringing attention to the striking similarities.
We’ve reached out to Forever 21 for comment, and will update when we hear back.
Alala's The Cut bra in Summer Palm......and the Forever 21 iteration.
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One is an NBA champion. One is a cookbook author, business maven, and actress. It's the stuff of dreams, right? Only it happened in real life to Steph and Ayesha Curry. The two met when they were only 14 and 15 — and since then, their relationship and family values have shown us exactly what #familygoals are.
"We're going to make each other better and we're going to nurture our love for each other," Steph said in a clip recorded right before they said their vows. "You know I love you, you know that. Always will."
Cue the waterworks. From their fairy-tale wedding to that championship ring, the two have been there for each other. And while Ayesha's career has moved from acting and modeling to her cooking show, Ayesha's Homemade, and business ventures, Steph has been there every step of the way.
"You're like Nala from The Lion King," Steph says in another clip. Disney fans, too? Can they be any cuter?
The couple's two kids, scene-stealing Riley (who you'll recognize from adorable post-game interviews) and newborn Ryan, have only brought them closer together. She's sure to follow in her big sis' footsteps and sass reporters after her sweet daddy's games. "Every since she was born," Steph says of Riley, "life changed immediately. Nothing could have prepared me for how I feel about her."
As fans see this young family develop and grow, we're all given a peek into just how supporting and loving Steph and Ayesha are. He's made appearances on her cooking show (and YouTube channel), where she shares family recipes and gives us all a chance to see what an NBA star does in his off hours. Together, the two have traversed showbiz, the sports industry, and raising a family in the spotlight. With nary a scandal to their name, it's a refreshing take on family values we can definitely get behind.
Check out exactly what #familygoals looks like in the video, below.
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