Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley achieved a milestone in their relationship with the first official dinner date in the US. The pair had a dinner in Nashville where Cyrus expressed his deep gratitude for the evening. The post received a lot of likes and comments from followers praising the couple’s looks and connection.
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Billy Ray Cyrus expressed his personal event through a very simple but honest note. The message from the country music artist was “Our first date in Nashville. Actually, in the US! So grateful for tonight.” This post marks a new phase for Cyrus and the British actress Elizabeth Hurley, whose love life has always been a matter of public interest. The couple is currently living in Nashville, the birthplace of country music, which is a reason for Cyrus to call it home for such a long time.
The singer got nothing but positive and overwhelming reactions from his audience. Most comments pointed to the visible positive change in the singer as the main reason for his popularity. A user commented, “You have looked so well-dressed; Miss Elizabeth is good for u,” suggesting that Hurley’s presence has not only improved his fashion but could also be his overall attitude. This feeling was shared by another person that said, “You looked and sounded so much better, Billy! I’m so happy for you both!!!”
There was a common tone in the comments that the pair indeed had a magical aura around them. “You two are bringing the best out in each other & it shows,” someone said, echoing the majority view that their relationship is mutually uplifting. The pair was often referred to as “a beautiful couple” and “couple goals,” with their glamorous look for the night out receiving special mention and compliments. “Y’all looking fancy fancy,” was the comment from a follower recognizing their fashionable turnout.
Some comments were humorous or even reminiscent. Someone remarked about a possible coming of the style, saying, “It looks like he’s getting his mullet back,” which is a playful reference to the now-legendary Cyrus’s 90’s hairstyle. Another comment was just an uplifting one, a simple but typical for the country singer’s persona: “Chicoree go get em cowboy.”
While the majority of reactions were of a celebratory nature, the post still had at least one dissenting voice, which signifies that public opinion is never unanimous. One commenter went straight to the point and said, “She deserves way better than you!!!” Although this kind of remark is infrequent in this particular thread, it is still a feature of celebrities’ social media interactions where their personal lives are under public scrutiny.
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In general, the response indicates that the fans are very much in favor of the new relationship. “Love looks good on this couple” and “Wishing you all the best” are the phrases that signify the wish for their happiness. For many followers, the most significant point is that singer Billy Ray Cyrus is now revealing a “happy and healthy” look. For some, the night in Nashville seems just a date but means a fresh start and a turn for the better in the artist’s life for his fans. The public reaction emphasizes the warmth and curiosity that characterize this-cross the Atlantic couple. This reminds many of Miley Cyrus‘s musical tributes to her father. The evening also brought to mind the original “Achy Breaky Heart” demo that started his career. His career includes collaborations like his work with Snoop Dogg and his powerful performance of “Some Gave All” for veterans.
Tired of the same old, same old when it comes to holiday decor? How about a Dream House-themed Christmas, with poinsettias so vividly pink they would make Barbie swoon?
Too much?
Then what about a selection of poinsettias — the country’s top-selling potted flowering plant — in eye-popping colors? There are bright whites, luscious creams, a glowing yellow, velvety autumnal oranges, a demure peach and novelty varieties speckled with dots or swirled with hues so intense they could stand as props in a Renaissance still life.
Still not right? Well, not to worry. Starting this week, Weidner’s Gardens in Encinitas is offering 25 kinds of poinsettias in myriad shapes, sizes and colors, including 10 scarlet varieties that should satisfy the most die-hard of traditionalists in shades of ruby and bright crimson or reds that pop against purplish leaves, curl like fat wrinkled ribbons or crown the tops of shrubs pruned into mini trees.
A worker prepares to load racks of wrapped red poinsettias onto a truck for delivery to one of Weidner’s Gardens’ wholesale customers, with a sea of red poinsettias behind him, waiting to be loaded.
There’s also a petite variety in a 2-inch pot designed to enliven an office desk without taking up too much space.
“Our business is color — we’re color growers,” said Kalim Owens, who co-owns the 52-year-old nursery with his friend and business partner Oliver Storm. “Our founders, Evelyn and Bob Weidner, specialized in growing begonias, then fuchsias and impatiens and on from there. We’re a full-service nursery; we also sell fruit trees and vegetables. But our specialty is flowers.”
Poinsettias, it turns out, are the highest-revenue plants they grow, despite a sales window of just six weeks. With sales like that, no wonder poinsettia promoters have been trying for decades to develop colors and varieties people will buy year-round.
But here’s the rub: The Ecke farming family, who grew and promoted poinsettias into a holiday staple, did their job too well.
“Poinsettias are so strongly connected to the Christmas season, it’s hard to get people to break that mold,” said Ruth Kobayashi, who has been breeding poinsettias and other flowers in Encinitas for some 30 years, first for Ecke Ranch and then for Dümmen Orange, one of the world’s largest breeders and propagators of ornamental plants.
Ruth Kobayashi, senior flower breeder for Dümmen Orange, one of the world’s largest breeders and propagators of ornamental plants, peeps over an overflowing table of Lov U Pink poinsettias, a vivid pink variety she created at the Encinitas greenhouses where she’s worked for 30 years creating blooms in myriad colors.
The vivid pink petals of the Lov U Pink poinsettia, delicately edged in white, seemed like a perfect color for Easter, said Kobayashi, but no matter what color or shape, the public still seems to balk at buying poinsettias for anything but Christmas.
Kobayashi created the electric pink variety (named Lov U Pink) to bedeck homes at Easter the way red poinsettias do at Christmas. Also, there were similar hopes that Winter Rose (the curly red poinsettia bred to resemble a clutch of roses) would become a popular gift for Valentine’s Day.
“But it didn’t work,” said Weidner’s co-owner Storm. A bouquet of red roses “will be dead within a week, while this,” — he gently shook a pot of plump Winter Rose blooms — “will still be there, happy as a clam. But people looked at the plant and said, ‘Oh, that’s a poinsettia,’ and walked on. They just can’t let go of the idea that poinsettias are for Christmas.”
Nonetheless, Weidner’s prides itself on its floral diversity. It grows about 50,000 poinsettias each year — a fairly small number compared to wholesalers who fill their greenhouses with 10 times as many plants, Storm said. But unlike those massive growers who typically focus on just one or two of the most popular red varieties, Weidner’s offers a smorgasbord of choices.
Red poinsettias are still the biggest sellers, Owens said, especially the lush broad-petaled variety known as Christmas Beauty Red. But there are adventurous Yuletide decorators who make the trek just for choices, and the nursery keeps trying new promotions such as its successful campaign promoting Lov U Pink as a gift for breast cancer survivors during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
Storm said he believes some people are buying more autumnal-colored poinsettias just for Thanksgiving time, but Kobayashi is less optimistic. “It feels like Thanksgiving has kind of disappeared as a holiday,” she said glumly. “People go from Halloween to Christmas and don’t do much in terms of decorating for that big autumnal celebration in between.”
About 70% of the poinsettias Weidner’s grows are sold wholesale to regional nurseries in Southern California such as Roger’s Gardens in Corona del Mar and the five Green Thumb Nurseries around SoCal. The rest are sold to its retail customers, starting this week. On the Friday and Saturday before Thanksgiving (Nov. 21-22 this year), the store traditionally offers free tours of its poinsettia greenhouses. Reservations aren’t necessary; just show up for a tour at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. each day.
Poinsettias don’t take well to long-distance shipping, Storm said, so like Weidner’s, nurseries all over the country purchase thousands of tiny poinsettia clippings from international flower breeders every year and start rooting them in July for sales at the end of the year.
Oliver Storm, co-owner and lead grower of Weidner’s Gardens in Encinitas, holds a pot of Winter Rose poinsettias, bred in the hopes it could compete with roses as a gift for Valentine’s Day, but so far, the public can’t seem to get past the idea of the poinsettia being a Christmas flower, no matter its color, shape or size.
The poinsettias we buy today are significantly different from the tall, gangly plants botanist Joel Roberts Poinsett discovered in Mexico in 1825, after he became that country’s first U.S. ambassador.
Poinsett sent samples of the red, winter-blooming flowers to horticulturists in the U.S., who were delighted enough to name this new discovery after him, according to historian Lindsay Schakenbach Regele. (Poinsett’s reputation is more tarnished today, Regele wrote. He helped create the Smithsonian Institution, but he also enslaved nearly 100 people in his South Carolina home, fueled ill will in Mexico with election meddling and corrupt financial dealings, and oversaw the brutal forced relocation of thousands of Native Americans in 1830 from their homes in the South to reservations in the West.)
The plant Poinsett introduced to the U.S., Euphorbia pulcherrima, adapted well to the southern states, and by the early 1900s, Albert Ecke, a German immigrant dairy farmer and orchardist in Eagle Rock, saw its potential as a cut flower for Christmas bouquets. He began growing poinsettias as a winter crop in Hollywood, which was then mostly farmland, and the flowers sold so well they eventually became his main crop.
Let’s pause here to clarify: The colorful parts of a poinsettia aren’t really flowers; those are the tiny yellow and red orbs in the center of the plant. Kobayashi said the vibrant petals are actually modified leaves known as bracts that require long winter nights — at least 12 to 15 hours of darkness a day — for their colors to change.
The transformation typically takes about eight weeks of long nights. Growers use blackout curtains to trick the plants into coloring earlier in the fall, but Kobayashi said they have to be scrupulous about keeping the greenhouses completely dark.
This is a vital point for people trying to get their poinsettias to rebloom, Kobayashi said, because even a dim streetlight can disrupt the color process. “The rule of thumb is, if you put your hand up in the direction that the light is coming and you see a shadow, that is enough light for the plant to sense,” she said.
The native multistemmed poinsettia (a variety known as St. Louis that can be bought at Weidner’s) worked great for Ecke’s Christmas bouquets. But in the early 1920s, Ecke’s son, horticulturalist Paul Ecke Sr., learned a secret way to create a compact single-stemmed plant with many blooming branches that could be grown in pots indoors. He moved the family business to Encinitas, where he bought 67 acres near the railroad and Interstate 5 and planted so many patented poinsettia plants that passersby were treated to crimson waves come November.
Kalim Owens, co-owner and sales manager of Weidner’s Gardens, walks through one of the nursery’s many greenhouses filled with baskets of hanging red poinsettias and tabletop potted varieties in multiple colors, starting with the variegated Christmas Beauty Marble on the right. The 52-year-old nursery in Encinitas offers free tours of its poinsettia greenhouses every year on the Friday and Saturday before Thanksgiving.
By the 1960s, Paul Sr.’s son, Paul Ecke Jr., had his own innovations: growing the poinsettias in greenhouses instead of fields to better control their growing conditions and, instead of shipping potted plants by rail, sending cuttings of the patented poinsettias by air to nurseries all over the country so they could grow their own. Poinsettias don’t like traveling long distances, so having regional grow centers made for healthier plants — and happier customers.
Ecke Jr. also had a reputation as a tireless promoter, further cementing the poinsettia-Christmas connection with magazine shoots and giving TV stations free poinsettias to decorate late-night talk shows or holiday specials. “They always filmed the Christmas specials in July,” Kobayashi said, and it took a little doing, but if you had the right greenhouse and a way to black it out, you can produce some nice poinsettias in the middle of the year.”
By the early 1990s, The Times reported, “the Ecke family had a virtual monopoly on the world’s poinsettia market largely because no one could figure out how they produced uniformly perfect plants with multiple branches emanating from a single stem — the so-called Ecke style.”
That couldn’t last forever. In 1992, a graduate student named John Dole (now a horticulture professor at the North Carolina State University) reverse engineered Ecke’s secret growing techniques and published his findings, revealing that it wasn’t pollination that created the Ecke plants but the grafting of two different poinsettias.
Different varieties of poinsettias at Weidner’s Gardens in Encinitas.
His paper “completely upended the poinsettia business,” the Hustle newsletter reported in 2021. “You don’t often see a situation in science where one paper makes a serious impact on the market,” Dole was quoted as saying, “but in this case, it really did.”
Competitors pounced, creating their own new varieties and selling plants at lower prices. Big-box stores used the cheaper poinsettias as loss leaders to lure in customers. Eventually cost cutting wasn’t enough, and in 2012, Paul Ecke III sold most of the Ecke Ranch’s assets to the Dutch conglomerate Agribio Group, which later merged with Dümmen Group to become Dümmen Orange.
The 67-acre ranch was bought by the nonprofit Leichtag Foundation and is now known as the Leichtag Commons. The old greenhouses are rented to a variety of users, and the rest of the land is used for farming, educational programs and Jewish community engagement.
It’s where Kobayashi still does her breeding work, where she hopes to someday create a golden poinsettia. Don’t hold your breath. It’s a process that can take seven or eight years of crossing combinations and never knowing what you’ll get. “I’ve learned a lot about what I might get,” she said, “but Mother Nature always has her monkey wrench in hand.”
Gabriela Olguien and Modesto Morales load Luv U Pink poinsettias onto a cart at Weidner’s Gardens in Encinitas.
In the meantime, Weidner’s is gearing up for its big season, moving thousands of poinsettias out of its greenhouses into its sales areas or onto delivery trucks. “It’s how you spend most of your time at a nursery,” Storm said, “schlepping plants around.”
Storm and Owens began working at the nursery 30 years ago and bought the business from Evelyn Weidner when she decided to retire in 2013 at age 84. She still owns the nursery land, which they lease, and she’s 96 now and a widow since 1988. “She’s the same smart, witty lady she’s always been,” Owens said, but she doesn’t come to the nursery as often as before.
Unlike other nurseries whose owners are aging out with no one to take the reins, Storm and Owens say they’re not planning to retire anytime soon. “It’s not easy to farm in an urban environment,” Owens said, but all things considered, the work is pretty wonderful. “I mean, even on your worst days, you get to work with flowers,” he said, “and since we’re the owners, we can sometimes sneak out on Fridays to go fishing.”
Their advice about poinsettia care is pretty simple: Keep temperatures and moisture consistent. Your poinsettias will do fine in the house or on a sheltered porch, as long as they don’t experience big temperature swings like sitting next to a heater. Don’t let your plants dry out or sit in water, because that will suffocate the roots.
And just don’t worry too much. These plants are bred to be sturdy, so take a deep breath and choose this year’s poinsettias with an adventurous heart. “We’ll be here,” Storm said, grinning. “We like plant schlepping.”
Ukraine is facing another huge challenge in its fight to save its borders, its land and its people. The military battle continues as it has since 2014, as it was stepped up in 2022. The new challenge is the emergence of a US-Russia plan to end the war. It has left observers perplexed, and Ukrainians open mouthed in shock.This plan seems to be trying to press-gang Ukraine: to give up land; arms; its armies to placate Putin’s Russia. There would also be cultural changes enforced like the suppression of the Ukrainian language in favour of Russian. Trump’s go-to man on all key world issues, Steve Witkoff and Kiril Dmitriev, a Putin’s advisor who is not subject to a travel ban, met in Miami late last month to hatch this plan.
The pickup truck driver arrested on suspicion of hitting and killing a middle school student Tuesday morning in Dana Point had two previous DUI convictions, according to law enforcement officials.
Bradley Gene Funk, a 59-year-old resident of San Juan Capistrano, allegedly struck 13-year-old Luis Adrian Morales-Pacheco while the boy was standing with his older brother on the safety island between Park Lantern and Dana Point Harbor Drive, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Luis, who lived in San Juan Capistrano, was walking to Niguel Hills Middle School with his brother at the time of the 8:15 a.m. crash. He suffered significant injuries before being pronounced dead at a hospital, authorities said.
Funk allegedly fled the scene in a white GMC truck, officials said. Deputies were able to find him with the help of witnesses about two to three miles away.
Funk was arrested on suspicion of murder, driving under the influence and related charges, sheriff’s officials said.
Funk was convicted in two separate DUI cases in November 2020 and January 2021, according to court records.
In July 2020, he was arrested for DUI twice in a week, when he allegedly hit two cars across the street from Capistrano Union High School before fleeing the scene.
He was sentenced to five years of probation until July 21, 2026, which stipulates that he can’t drive a vehicle with alcohol in his system, according to DMV records.
Funk had his driver’s license suspended on July 26, 2021, and it was reinstated on Feb. 16, 2023, according to DMV records.
Funk’s probation hearing was scheduled for Thursday.
When it comes to hunting big dividend yields, the FTSE 100 gets more attention than the FTSE 250. That should come as no surprise. London’s leading index holds significantly chunkier dividends than most of the world’s other leading stock exchanges. But the UK’s smaller index also has plenty of stocks to choose from for those looking to top up their portfolios.
As I write, the FTSE 250 boasts 46 stocks with at least a 6% yield, 28 stocks with a 7% yield, and 12 stocks with a a 9% yield. These might not all be household names, but they might be worth a look. Let’s meet three of the biggest payers.
Three picks
The first big yielder is investment group Aberdeen (recently abandoning its former moniker of ‘abrdn’). The firm is one of the biggest companies on the index, having dropped down from the FTSE 100 not so long ago. The stock boasts a 7.3% dividend yield and has remained above the 6% mark for most of the last decade.
A second FTSE 250 dividend stock to look at is HarbourEnergy. The oil and gas firm has operations across the globe but is centred around the North Sea. Its 8.43% dividend yield is a good sight higher than its FTSE 100 counterparts of Shell and BP. The yield has been above 7% since the 2022 merger that created it.
The third stock that caught my eye is Foresight Environmental Infrastructure (LSE: FGEN). At a £400m market cap, the investment trust is one of the smallest companies on the FTSE 250. Its dividend yield, by contrast, is the highest at a whopping 12.21%. Looking at the last 10 years of yields, a figure of 6%-7% is closer to a long-term average however.
A bargain?
It’s the final one that intrigues me most out of the three. The gargantuan dividend is attractive of course at over three times the FTSE 100 average. It’s well covered by last year’s earnings and there are no plans for a rebase or cut on that huge yield.
The reason the yield has rocketed is because of a falling share price. At 64p a share, the shares are going at a 52% discount compared to a previous high. The reason for the drop is largely down to interest rates which aren’t fallng as fast as expected. The green energy investments it deals in are cheaper when rates and therefore borrowing is lower.
The most striking detail is a mammoth discount on ‘Net Asset Value’ or NAV. The NAV is like the worth of all its assets. If a firm’s share price is cheaper than the equivalent of its assets (per share) then it has a discount on NAV.
This isn’t uncommon in investment funds where it’s not easy to judge the value of assets. But what is strange is the huge 40% discount on NAV that Foresight Environmental Infrastructure has at the moment. That could be a sign that there is great value here. I’d say it’s one to think about.
In a startling incident, Dr. Gabrielle Henry,who is Miss Jamaica2025, had a terrifying fall off the stage, leaving the audience and jury in shock and concern. She took the tumble during the preliminary evening gown roundof Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand. Consequently, the Jamaican representative was carried out on a stretcher and rushed to Paolo Rangsit Hospital for treatment, sparking concern.
Miss Jamaica carried away on a stretcher after fall at Miss Universe event
Gabrielle Henry experienced a frightening fall off the Miss Universe 2025 stage in Bangkok during the preliminary evening gown round. She was striding confidently across the stage, donning a stunning orange evening gown and high heels.
The 28-year-old Miss Jamaica 2025 lost her footing on the dimly lit runway on her way back and fell off the stage, prompting immediate medical attention. Instantly, members of the audience rushed to her assistance after the dramatic fall.
Soon, a video of the mishap circulated online, showing the staff carrying Henry out of the venue on a stretcher. The beauty pageant winner was immediately rushed to Paolo Rangsit Hospital in Thailand. Unsurprisingly, concerned netizens swarmed social media to enquire about her well-being.
Jamaican Miss Universe contestant Gabrielle Henry was hospitalised after falling off the stage during the competition in Bangkok. Officials confirmed that she had no broken bones and is currently receiving good care. pic.twitter.com/WiETjPIIMW
“OMG!!! I hope she’s fine”, a concerned fan wrote on Instagram. Another commented, “Omg this is so hard to watch. That was a hard fall.”
Luckily, fans and well-wishers have nothing to fret over, as Gabrielle Henry didn’t suffer any major injury. The Miss Universe Jamaica organization released a statement on social media assuring her well-being.
“Medical professionals are attending to her care and have advised that she is not suffering from any life-threatening injuries; however, they continue to conduct tests to ensure her full recovery,” the declaration read.
“We kindly ask everyone to stay upbeat, lift her in prayer, and send positive thoughts as she receives the necessary medical care,” the statement continued.
Meanwhile, Raul Rocha, President of the Miss Universe pageant, also confirmed the same and prayed for Henry’s speedy recovery in a social media update. He also divulged that while she did not suffer from any broken bones, she was kept overnight under observation at the hospital.
A worthy Miss Universe contestant and a living example of ‘beauty with brains’, Dr. Gabrielle Henry, is an ophthalmologist. She is also the founder of the See Me Foundation, a charity advocating for the visually impaired across Jamaica. Henry won the Miss Jamaica title in August 2025.
Originally reported by Sibanee Gogoi on Mandatory.
Bizarre structures have been discovered in the blood of individuals suffering from long Covid, potentially contributing to symptoms such as brain fog and fatigue.
Long Covid has remained a puzzle since the pandemic began, but unique biomarkers have now been identified that could support two probable theories, both of which may turn out to be accurate.
The first theory suggests that the condition is caused by minuscule blood clots that obstruct blood flow, while another piece of the mystery could be sticky webs of DNA having a similar impact.
While it’s still early days, medical professionals are optimistic that understanding how these blood components affect long Covid could pave the way towards effective treatment and possibly even a cure.
Usually, NETs perform their function and disintegrate. However, in these samples, the webs were physically embedded within the microclots, forming stubborn, gummy structures that could impede blood flow through capillaries and resist the body’s normal clean-up process.
The team utilised imaging flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy to identify these tangled clots, discovering the NETs–microclot combination in all samples but far more pronounced in individuals with long Covid.
The difference was so significant that when the samples were anonymised, an AI system could identify the long Covid patients with approximately 91% accuracy. This suggests the possibility of a potential biomarker to assist doctors in diagnosing a condition that’s often dismissed because standard tests return ‘normal’.
In 2021, Pretorius’s team initially highlighted microclots in long Covid; in 2022, Thierry’s group reported elevated NETs. Now, combining those threads, the new study suggests the two may be collaborating in the blood – and when that partnership goes rogue, trouble ensues.
Since its launch in 2006, The CW has been the home of some of TV’s hottest long-running shows, from “Supernatural” to “The Vampire Diaries” to “Gilmore Girls.” That said, the network — like many others — has been guilty of pulling plug on shows that deserved a little more time. By no means is this a Netflix scenario where the executives cancel a show because the viewers dared to breathe during the intro, or didn’t super-like it after 30 seconds, but we’ve put together a list of 10 CW shows deserved more leeway in retrospect.
Everyone knows there are many factors that result in a series being canceled — low ratings, poor reviews, key cast member departures, etc. But sometimes you can’t help but feel as if it’s a knee-jerk reaction to hit that “with regrets” email too quickly. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and many shows only find their footing after the first season. Who knows, with another season or two, a lot of the programs on this list could have gone on to become the best CW shows of all time.
Full transparency: There were quite a few series that almost made it onto this list, but these were the picks that really made us scratch our heads. Read on for a list of 10 CW shows that were canceled way too soon, then drop a comment and let us know which series would be at the top of your list.
Runaway
The CW
Who doesn’t love a good show about someone on the run? That’s the basic setup for 2006’s aptly titled “Runaway,” which follows the Holland family as they move to Bridgewater, Iowa. They’re an unassuming lot, blending in like any other regular family — all smiles, all good. However, there’s a nasty skeleton in their closet: the “Hollands” are actually the Raders! Jim Holland is really attorney Paul Rader (Donnie Wahlberg), who was accused of a murder he didn’t commit. After the real murderer targeted the Raders, Paul hightailed it with his family to Iowa, hoping to protect them and figure out a way to prove his innocence.
“Runaway” didn’t exactly run away with the ratings upon debut. In fact, low viewership resulted in the show’s axing after just three episodes. While The CW had initially ordered a 13-episode first season, only nine episodes of “Runaway” were produced by the time of its cancellation, and the remaining six weren’t even broadcast on The CW in the U.S., telling you how fast the network gave up here. (The unaired episodes were eventually broadcast internationally.)
The worst part about this is that the viewers who were invested in “Runaway” never received closure. There’s serious drama and intrigue in this series that could have played out over several seasons. Instead, it’s like a book where the first chapter grabs you, then the remaining pages are all blank, and you never know what follows.
Reaper
The CW
Remember the short-lived Kevin Bacon series “The Bondsman” on Prime Video? Debuting in 2007, The CW’s “Reaper” follows a similar premise about a person being a bounty hunter for the Devil. In this series, it’s Sam Oliver (Bret Harrison) who finds out that his parents cut a deal with the Devil (Ray Wise), and now he’s forced to act as a “reaper” for the great deceiver, fetching escaped souls from Hell.
Unlike Bacon’s Hub Halloran, Sam is a terrible bounty hunter, even if the Devil gives him powers to aid his work. He’s a slacker who enlists the help of his friends Sock (Tyler Labine) and Ben (future “Arrow” star Rick Gonzalez) on his soul-snatching missions. “Reaper” plays out as a side-splitting and heartfelt amalgamation of “Dude, Where’s My Car?” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” as Sam labors to success, but he’s such a lovable character to get behind.
After a hellish run of low ratings, the series encountered the grim reaper’s scythe after its second season. There were talks of another network saving the show, but those conversations went nowhere. It’s a bummer, because “Reaper” had just started to find its footing, with Wise standing out as one of the best on-screen portrayals the Devil across film and TV. Furthermore, the showrunners had killer plans for a third season that could have shook up the status quo, but that’s not going to happen now. At least ABC gave us a “Reaper” reunion between Harrison and Labine in 2018 on the also-short-lived “Kevin (Probably) Saves the World.”
The Carrie Diaries
The CW
Knowing what you know now, let’s go back to 2014 and offer you a red pill/blue pill scenario. If you take the red pill, you’ll get more seasons of The CW’s “Sex and the City” prequel “The Carrie Diaries.” If you take the blue pill, you’ll experience “And Just Like That…” exactly as it happened. In hindsight, most viewers are likely to pop the red pill here, because the former’s tenacious teen drama provides more value and enjoyment than the disappointing latter. Just spitting facts here!
Although “The Carrie Diaries” took considerable liberties with the backstory of Carrie Bradshaw (AnnaSophia Robb) — including giving her a father (Matt Letscher) and a dead mother, despite Carrie saying on “SATC” that her father left her and her mother whens she was young — the show remains a fun coming-of-age character portrait of one of TV’s most beloved protagonists. Not only does Robb capture the sassy personality of the younger Carrie, but she’s also complemented by a stellar supporting cast, including Ellen Wong as Mouse and Austin Butler as Sebastian Kydd. Even here, it’s clear that Robb and Butler were destined to become the stars they are now.
After two seasons, The CW scratched a red line through “The Carrie Diaries.” For fans, it cut deep, because the second season introduces Samantha Jones (Lindsey Gort) and showrunner Amy B. Harris revealed to E! News that a third season would have featured Miranda Hobbes. Talk about leaving when it was getting good!
Melrose Place
The CW
Was The CW’s “Melrose Place” revival as good as the original ’90s show? Not by a long shot. But like “90210,” it just needed more time to come into itself. “90210” received abysmal reviews when it premiered, but that sentiment changed as more people accepted it for what it was: a breezy teen drama. This wouldn’t have happened if the network had a hair-trigger reaction to it. “Melrose Place” didn’t get the chance to prove its worth or demonstrate what it’s capable of, though, as The CW served an eviction notice after the first season.
Much like the original “Melrose Place,” The CW’s 2009’s revival follows the dramatic lives of the tenants of 4616 Melrose Place, with all the relationships, situationships and hardships that viewers demand from a show like this. Laura Leighton’s Sydney Andrews returns from the dead — this time as the landlord of the apartment block, playing an important role in the storyline centering around the new breed of characters played by the likes of Katie Cassidy, Colin Egglesfield, Jessica Lucas and Shaun Sipos. Unfortunately, not even Heather Locklear returning as Amanda Woodward in the second half of the season was enough to save it from cancellation.
There’s yet another “Melrose Place” revival, with Heather Locklear, Leighton, And Daphne Zuniga, on the way. It remains to be seen if it ignores the 2009 show’s storyline and characters entirely, or incorporates elements of it into the continuation. Hopefully, it’s the latter, because its predecessor receives a worse rap than what it deserves.
The Winchesters
Matt Miller/The CW
Life’s saddest eras can be divided into two periods: before “Supernatural” and after “Supernatural.” It’s no coincidence that the world fell apart after the Winchester brothers’ adventures came to an end in 2020, but we almost healed in 2022 when “The Winchesters” hit our screens. A prequel to “Supernatural,” this show took place in the ’70s follows Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Sam Winchester’s (Jared Padalecki) parents, John Winchester (Drake Rodger) and Mary Campbell (Meg Donnelly).
Much like “Supernatural,” the series mashes up family drama with monster hunting, as we learn more about John and Mary, how they fall in love, and the expansion of the lore surrounding monsters and demons. It established itself as an instant hit too, becoming The CW’s most-viewed premiere of the fall season.
All signs pointed to “The Winchesters” evolving into a sprawling multi-season story, but it wasn’t meant to be, as The CW canceled it after a single season. It was shopped it around to other networks, but one wanted to keep the *ahem* supernatural dream alive. In 2023, Jensen Ackles confirmed “The Winchesters” was finito, stating that the network shake-up and Writers Guild of America strike impacted the chances of keeping it alive. It’s disappointing, because even though “The Winchesters” isn’t in the same league as “Supernatural,” it also lacked the chance to grow and develop. The series showed promise, but it’ll forever remain a curious case of what-if now.
Katy Keene
The CW
Despite being a spinoff of “Riverdale,” “Katy Keene” doesn’t try to be “Twin Peaks” for teens. Instead, it’s more akin to a modern-day fairytale focusing on hope and heart. This musically inclined series shines the spotlight on four individuals — Katy Keene (Lucy Hale), Josie McCoy (Ashleigh Murray), Pepper Smith (Julia Chan), and Jorge Lopez (Jonny Beauchamp) — and their respective dreams and desires in New York City. It’s a bright and bustling show that encapsulates the ambition, allure and promise of the Big Apple for all those who want something more out of their lives, and you can’t help but feel like you can conquer the world alongside these characters.
“Katy Keene” debuted in 2020 with largely positive reviews from critics, but it didn’t hit the numbers that the network wanted on linear and digital, so the plug was pulled after13 episodes. Look, 2020 was a weird time. People were making banana bread and developing obsessions with “Tiger King,” so let’s not judge the decisions made during this period too harshly.
Ringer
The CW
You have a series featuring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ioan Gruffudd, Nestor and Mike Colter, but it’s canceled after a single season? Wow. The early 2010s were unforgiving and brutal, because “Ringer” is a thrilling show that would have everyone talking about it today. The program started off hot in the ratings, but it experienced a steep decline that had everyone fearing the inevitable. Despite various campaigns to keep it alive, The CW rang the show’s bell after a single season.
As it turns out, it wasn’t really The CW’s fault that “Ringer” was canceled in the first place. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2023, Gellar revealed that she asked for it to end. “I got pregnant with my second child, which was a surprise, so I turned to CW like, ‘I can’t,'” she said. “They would’ve picked it up again. I just couldn’t do it.”
Gellar’s reason is understandable, even if “Ringer” ends on such a juicy cliffhanger that leaves you wanting more. It’s a twisty single-season show, as Bridget Kelly (Gellar) witnesses a murder committed by her former boss. Worried that he’s coming for her like he did others, she heads to New York to see her twin sister Siobhan Martin. Here’s the capper: Siobhan never told her family about Bridget’s existence, so after Siobhan dies, Bridget takes her sister’s identity and her seemingly perfect life. However, Siobhan also has her own challenges that Bridget now inherits.
Walker: Independence
The CW
Few could have predicted that “Walker,” The CW’s Jared Padalecki-ed “Walker, Texas Ranger” reboot, would have been such a success when it premiered in 2021. (There’s a Chuck Norris joke somewhere here, but there’s a genuine fear he may roundhouse kick anyone who dares to laugh at a show without the almighty Chuckle’s presence.) Even so, a prequel show set in the Old Wes initially felt a bit excessive — and maybe a step too far — for this franchise.
But those feelings were squashed when “Walker: Independence” galloped onto The CW in 2022. Katherine McNamara plays Abby Walker, a 19th-century relative of Cordell Walker (Jared Padalecki), who finds herself in Independence, Texas after the murder of her husband. More than 75% of TVLine readers considered the “Walker: Independence” premiere above average, while Rotten Tomatoes paints a picture of critics and fans being in unison about the show’s overall quality. Its storyline potential was cited as one of its strengths, with most viewers enjoying the Old West setting and the dynamics forming between the characters.
Fun fact: “The Tomorrow People” is actually based on a British TV show from the 1970s, which was also previously rebooted in 1990s. While that technically means the 2013 U.S. version is the show’s second reboot, that doesn’t mean it was bad — quite the contrary.
“The Tomorrow People” feels like an X-Men story, as several human beings show themselves to be homo superior, develop abilities including telekinesis, telepathy and teleportation. Like Professor Xavier’s Children of the Atom, the Tomorrow People need to fight back against those who use and hate them. In this instance, the enemy is a sinister organization known as Ultra. The show also features familiar faces to The CW viewers, such as Robbie Amell (“The Flash”), Peyton List (“Frequency”), Madeleine Mantock (“Charmed”), and Mark Pellegrino (“Supernatural”).
Regardless of the exciting premise and recognizable cast, “The Tomorrow People” didn’t have a future beyond its first season. The numbers just didn’t do it, so The CW canceled the show.
Naomi
The CW
What did you think of “Naomi”? Don’t worry if your first reaction is “Who?” as many people remember this CW superhero show even existed. Unfortunately for “Naomi,” the show debuted in 2022, right before a time of great upheaval for the network; Nexstar’s acquisition of The CW led to a “bloodbath” of sweeping cancellations, including “Naomi.”
It’s a case of bad luck and bad timing, because “Naomi” is a charming show that captures every comic book fan’s fantasy of discovering they have superpowers like their favorite heroes. In the story, Naomi McDuffie (Kaci Walffall) adores the world of capes and cowls, even running her own Superman fansite. The unexpected happens to her, as she learns that she also has special abilities, leading to a journey of Naomi mastering her new reality and understanding that with great power comes great responsibility. Okay, this is a DC series — not Spider-Man or Marvel — but Uncle Ben’s message still resonates strongly here.
Critics praised “Naomi,” but like so many shows before it, the audience just wasn’t there.
This year, members can take advantage of elevated earning rates at theAeroplan eStore, 50% more points on eStore purchases with a co-branded credit card, redemption offers, and more!
From now through November 29, 2025, you can rack up huge returns by shopping through the Aeroplan eStore, score savings when redeeming Aeroplan points for hotels and cars, and if you’re new to Aeroplan credit cards, even turbocharging your points with a 50% earning bonus.
Whether you’re eyeing a tech splurge at Apple or loading up on gifts from Amazon, the earning potential can be significant, especially if you stack strategically.
Earn 10x at the Aeroplan eStore (Plus 50% Bonus with Aeroplan Cards)
The heart of this year’s Black Friday campaign is the Aeroplan eStore, which is offering up to 10x points per dollar at top retailers.
Amazon and lululemon are back with strong earn rates, and for a limited window starting November 25, Apple is also offering 6x Aeroplan points—one of the highest rates we’ve seen all year.
Better yet, if you hold an Aeroplan co-branded credit card from TD, American Express, or CIBC, you’ll also receive a 50% bonus on the base eStore earn, just for paying with your card and going through the Aeroplan Shopping Button.
For example, a $1,000 purchase at lululemon earning 10x via the eStore would net 10,000 points. The 50% credit card bonus adds 5,000 more, for a total of 15,000 Aeroplan points—before any elite multiplier kicks in.
If you were making this purchase with a premium Aeroplan credit card, you’re earning 1,250 Aeroplan points from the base earn rate, making it a 19.25x aeroplan per dollar during Black Friday!
While this 50% bonus is generous, it’s worth noting that:
The 50% bonus only applies to the eStore portion, not your card’s regular earn rate
The 50% bonus portion do not count towards Everyday Status Qualification (EDQ)
Additional/supplementary cardholder purchases are not eligible for the eStore bonus
As always, make sure your purchase is tracked properly by disabling ad blockers and clicking through the Aeroplan Shopping Button.
When you apply and are approved for an eligible TD or American Express Aeroplan card through an Air Canada application channel by November 28, 2025, you’ll earn 50% more points on all eligible purchases made between November 13, 2025 and January 15, 2026. The bonus is capped at 20,000 Aeroplan points, but that’s still a generous top‑up on spending you may have planned anyway.
This elevated earn applies to your regular purchase categories. For example, if your card typically earns 1.5 points per dollar on gas and groceries, you’d collect an extra 0.75 points per dollar during the promotional period.
The boost applies even if supplementary cardholders make the purchases—the bonus simply posts to the primary/basic cardholder’s Aeroplan account.
To qualify, you must be a true first-time Aeroplan credit cardholder, and your application must originate from an Air Canada channel. Applications via TD or Amex directly won’t qualify.
All bonus points from this offer are also not eligible for Everyday Status Qualification (EDQ), which is consistent across all Aeroplan Black Friday earning promos this year. Once the promo window closes, you can expect the extra points—up to the 20,000‑point maximum—within roughly 12 weeks.
If you were already planning to sign up for an Aeroplan card, this Black Friday window adds a very appealing incentive to get the process started sooner rather than later.
Apple: 6x Points on Select Products
From November 25–29, 2025, Apple joins the Black Friday festivities with a rare 6x earn rate on eligible purchases made through the Aeroplan eStore.
From November 25–29, Apple joins the Aeroplan eStore promotion with a strong 6x earn rate on many popular items. Eligible purchases include iPads, Macs, and AirPods.
Just keep in mind that newer releases like the iPhone 17 series, Aple Watch Series 11, and Airpods Pro 3 are excluded.
This is one of the best times of the year to buy Apple gear if you’re points-focused, and when combined with the 50% credit card bonus, you’re looking at an effective 13.25x return just from the eStore portion alone.
Save 15,000 Points on Hotel and Car Redemptions
Aeroplan is also currently offering 15,000-point back when you redeem 60,000 points or more for select hotels or car rentals.
This works particularly well if you’re also stacking Aeroplan’s Fourth Night Free on hotels. Four-night redemptions can price out at three nights thanks to the built-in discount, and with the Black Friday rebate, you’ll knock off another 15,000 points, provided your redemption meets the threshold.
Earn 3x Points per Dollar Spent on Air Canada Gift Cards
Between November 20 and December 2, 2025, you’ll earn 3 Aeroplan points per dollar spent when purchasing $750 or more in Air Canada gift cards.
This gives you a minimum of 2,250 points back. While not as eye-popping as the eStore offers, it’s a solid option if you plan to travel with Air Canada in the coming months. Be sure to review the gift card terms carefully, as there are restrictions on how they can be used.
Conclusion
Aeroplan’s Black Friday 2025 promotions are among the strongest we’ve seen. If you can stack the 10x eStore earn, Apple’s 6x window, and the 50% credit card bonus, you’ll come out far ahead.
New cardholders can also grab up to 20,000 bonus points, and if you’ve got upcoming hotel or car bookings, don’t overlook the 15,000-point rebate.
Just make sure you’re spending with purpose. These deals are worth it when they align with your real plans, not just your cart-trigger finger.
It’s a fine line between savvy points collector and becoming an Aeroplan millionaire with a chequing account that says otherwise.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 386 points, or 0.8%, to 45,752. The blue-chip index had risen more than 700 points earlier in the session. The S&P 500 lost 1.6%, and the Nasdaq slipped nearly 500 points, or 2.2%.
Nvidia closed down 3% after surging as much as 5% earlier in the day. Most chip-related companies also turned negative, with the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index down 3.4%.
The Dow erased a 700-point gain earlier in the session. Getty Images
Investors have worried about lofty technology valuations amid concerns over steep artificial intelligence spending, with the Nasdaq now sharply off its October high.
In addition, data showed the unemployment rate rose in September even as employers added more jobs than economists had expected. Traders now see an increasing chance of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in December.
Jed Ellerbroek, portfolio manager at Argent Capital Management in St. Louis, said it is difficult to pinpoint what caused the market’s reversal.
“I expected the market to be up today just based on the strength of Nvidia’s earnings and the recent skepticism about AI investment. Nvidia’s earnings obviously dispelled a bunch of those fears,” he said.
“We’ve been in kind of a defensive type of trading action for the last two weeks, so it could be a continuation of that.”
Nvidia, the world’s most valuable company, forecast sales above analysts’ estimates for the fourth quarter and surpassed expectations for third-quarter revenue.
Investors have worried about lofty technology valuations amid concerns over steep artificial intelligence spending, with the Nasdaq now sharply off its October high. AFP via Getty Images
In addition, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang shrugged off concerns about AI on a call with analysts, saying, “We see something very different.”
Among gainers, Walmart advanced after the retailer raised its annual forecast for the second time this year and set a December date to change its stock listing to the Nasdaq from the NYSE.
