Blog

In our Q&A series Last Call, we get down to the bottom of every last thing with some of our favorite celebs – from the last time they were starstruck to the last song they listened to. This week, “How I Met Your Father” star Francia Raisa takes our call.

Francia Raisa has “zero clue” who the titular father is on “How I Met Your Father.” But even if she did, her lips are sealed. “I do not think they will ever tell me, because I keep trying to figure it out,” Raisa tells POPSUGAR. “At this point, I’m so confused, because even though I’m on the show, there are things that I don’t even catch until it airs. I’m like, ‘Wait a second, she said she kissed all of her friends. What does that mean?’ And I didn’t even hear that line until it aired.”

Similar to the beloved CBS sitcom “How I Met Your Mother,” the Hilary Duff-led Hulu reboot centers on trying to figure out who Sophie’s (Duff) son’s father is. So far, there are plenty of contenders, from Drew (Josh Peck), Sophie’s love interest in season one, to Jesse (Christopher Lowell), Sophie’s ex-turned-friend. “We all have our theories, but at this point, honestly, I don’t want to get in trouble. So I’m not even going to say anyone I suspect because anyone could take it out of context,” Raisa says.

Season two of “HIMYF” has been peppered with plenty of celebrity cameos, including Meghan Trainor, Mark Consuelos, and Constance Marie. But the biggest one so far has definitely been “How I Met Your Mother”‘s Neil Patrick Harris reprising his role as Barney Stinson in the midseason finale. In the final moments of the episode, we see Sophie crash into another car, which turns out to be Barney’s. At first, Barney, who is a “recovering serial womanizer,” assumes that Sophie is out to get him, but she informs him that’s not the case. In exchange for not charging Sophie for the damage to his car, Sophie tells Barney all about the drama she’s found herself in. The conversation then helps Sophie decide that she does want to find her dad after all.

Though Raisa didn’t get to personally meet Harris (his scenes were just with Duff), she has met Kim Cattrall and, most recently, Cobie Smulders. “Hoping that I run into Neil at some point, or every other cast member at some point in life,” Raisa says. “It was honestly the best feeling in the world going up to Cobie and being like, ‘Hi, I just wanted to meet you. I’m on ‘How I Met Your Father.’ And it’s like that instant connection where I have the best excuse to approach you.”

“HIMYF” returns for the second installment of season two on May 23, and Raisa promises there are “so many more fun guests” on the way. “I’ll just say this: teenage me was living her best life,” she teases. “There’s a moment that I have that I never in my life thought would happen growing up being fans of these people.”

As of now, the show has yet to be renewed for a third season, but Raisa says she and the cast remain hopeful. “We want to keep going. We just don’t know yet. There’s so much happening within the industry that everything is kind of up in the air. And honestly, I stand in solidarity with the writers,” she notes, referencing the potential Writers Guild of America strike. “So hopefully we get to come back sooner than later, but I feel like it’s only fair enough for everyone to get what they deserve.”

Read on for the rest of Raisa’s Last Call interview.

What was the last day of filming “How I Met Your Father” season two like?

It was really fun. We filmed in front of a live audience, and it was my first time [doing that]. I think nerves were just going crazy, and then when they called action, I blacked out. We all went out for drinks after.

Who’s the last “How I Met Your Father” costar you texted?

Hilary [Duff] today actually, because she had just posted that she pulled a muscle driving and I was like, “Girl, I literally turned my neck and had to run to the chiropractor.” I’m not even 35 yet. Then we just started talking about acupuncture.

What’s the last thing you did with your “How I Met Your Father” costars off set?

I actually just hung out with Ashley Reyes, who plays Hannah on “How I Met Your Father.” She invited me to watch the UFC fight last weekend, so I met up with her. Prior to that, at the wrap party. We all hung out until it was way too late, and it was really, really fun. Other than that, Hilary, Tien [Tran], and I keep talking about having a pool day at Hilary’s. Obviously, at Hilary’s cause her pool’s awesome. Our schedules haven’t aligned, but that’s happening.

What’s the last TV show you binge-watched?

Scripted, “Beef.” Unscripted, “Love Is Blind.”

What’s the last song/album you listened to?

“Hawái” by Maluma. Chlöe’s was the last album I heard, and SZA.

What’s the last book you read?

I’ve been reading a lot of memoirs. I’m reading Trevor Noah’s book right now.

What’s the last thing you did for self-care?

Well, I just took a really nice long steam shower and played meditation music. And now I’m going to go to yoga. I left California and bought a house in [Colorado] so I can find peace. I’m at that house now, and it’s all for my mental health. I wanted to be by the mountains.

What was the last trip you went on?

I think it was Trinidad. I went for Carnival with Lilly Singh in February.

What’s the last piece of advice you received that changed your life?

My friend Cathy Kelley said the other day, “You don’t give to receive, but if you want to receive, that’s called manipulation.” And that just really helped me wake up to the stuff around me. It changed my life mentally and emotionally into being able to handle and understand differently. There’s a lot more great advice I’ve gotten, but that one’s really stuck with me the last few days.

When was the last time you were starstruck?

I would probably say Cobie when I met her the other day. But also I went to WrestleMania recently. And even though I go every year, I still get starstruck by somebody. I saw Ric Flair at catering, and I didn’t know a lot of these people, I still get excited.

I went up to The Rock [Dwayne Johnson] a few years ago at SmackDown. He and I have the same acting coach, and our headshots just happened to be next to each other at the studio. I was like, “By the way, we’re going to work together one day and I’m going to remind you of this conversation when we do it.” He just looked at me and goes, “OK.” I walked away and I was like, “That was probably weird, but this is going to be a great story one day.”

What was the last gift you received?

I just got to my house and I actually named it, so my best friend gave me a cutting board with the name of my house on it.

Image Source: Getty / Michael Loccisano

Zendaya and Labrinth have us in our feels. The pair have collaborated once again, this time on a track for the British singer’s new album, “Ends & Begins.” In “The Feels,” Zendaya joins Labrinth in the second verse, singing about being “intoxicated” by a romantic partner. She sings, “Now you got me lost in emotion,” and divulges to the listener, “The truth of it is I’m in love with you.”

Labrinth’s last studio album, “Imagination & the Misfit Kid,” was released in 2019. That same year, he began serving as lead composer for HBO drama “Euphoria,” on which Zendaya stars.

Zendaya just joined Labrinth on stage at Coachella to perform their first two collaborations, both from “Euphoria.” During the performance, the pair sang their Emmy-nominated song “I’m Tired” from season two of “Euphoria,” as well as “All of Us,” which was included in the first installment of the series and on Labrinth’s “Imagination & the Misfit Kid.”

The “Dune” star has been open about mostly stepping away from music since she released her self-titled album in 2013, save for these team-ups with Labrinth. When “I’m Tired” debuted in early 2022, Zendaya addressed that decision on Twitter while thanking fans for their support. She tweeted, “I stepped away from music quite a while ago, for a number of reasons, but I still really love it, so the kindness and support I’ve received the past few days just for a little tiny toe dip back into some music means the absolute world to me..thanks.”

Keep scrolling to listen to “The Feels.”

Zendaya and Labrinth’s Song “The Feels”

When it comes to sheer quantity and variety, you can’t beat Netflix in the ongoing streaming wars. The OG platform is still churning out plenty of new content every month, from brand-new originals to exciting additions to its extensive catalog of licensed content. With so many shows to navigate, it can be easy to fall into a routine of watching your same few favorites over and over again. And while no one would blame you for rewatching “Bridgerton” or “Stranger Things” for the umpteenth time, there’s plenty to love every month on Netflix – and we’re here to help you narrow down your choices.

Are you looking for an emotional drama or a clutch-your-sides-laughing comedy? You’ll find ’em here. Interested in trying some international shows or learning something new from a nonfiction series? Yep, we’ve got that covered, too. You’ll even find some of your old favorites – maybe shows you haven’t thought about in years – popping up this year on Netflix. When we say there’s something for everyone, we really mean it. So keep your calendar nearby, and get a sneak preview of all the amazing new shows making their Netflix debut in May. With this guide in hand, you won’t miss a thing!

Chris Appleton may be most recognized for his work as a celebrity hairstylist, but he’s also got a full plate when it comes to his family life. The world-renowned hair guru is the proud dad of two adult kids, whom he shares with ex-partner Katie Katon. The former couple, who seem to have coparenting down pat from the looks of their Instagram pages, dated prior to Appleton coming out as gay in 2009.

Speaking to The New York Times in February 2020, Katon shared that Chris poured himself into his work while keeping his personal life a secret. “Hiding who you are for so many years causes a lot of pain inside, wouldn’t it?” she said. “The way Chris dealt with that pain was trying to be the best he could be in other areas.”

Most recently, Chris married “The White Lotus” actor Lukas Gage in April. On April 26, Chris confirmed that he and Gage had tied the knot with the help of pal Kim Kardashian and Shania Twain. “We did it,” he captioned a series of Instagram photos from the beautiful occasion, adding a “big thank you” to both the reality star and the singer. While Appleton’s daughter, Kitty-blu, shared some of her own photos from the wedding on Instagram, his son, Billy, is a bit quieter on social media.

Keep reading to find out more about Kitty-blu and Billy.

The genre of YA continues to expand in 2023, spotlighting young people and their unique struggles in refreshing new ways. For the lovers of high fantasy, Cassandra Clare and Holly Black continue their magical series with wondrous new additions. The high stakes of young love come to a peak with new books from Julian Winters, Emma Lord, Elise Bryant, Liselle Sambury, Gloria Chao, and Dana Schwartz.

Most notably, New York Times bestselling author Alice Oseman, whose graphic-novel series, Heartstopper, has taken over our screens and reading lists, is giving readers an intimate peek into Nick and Charlie’s relationship as they gear up for the future in “Nick and Charlie: A Heartstopper Novella.” Holly Jackson also wraps up her A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series with a prequel novella called “Kill Joy,” and Hayley Kiyoko makes her debut as an author with “Girls Like Girls.”

Whether you’re looking for the next #BookTok star or books serving a niche, you’ll have plenty of 2023 YA releases to scope out the next time you hit the bookstore.

Showtime’s electrifying thriller series “Yellowjackets” is back for more murder and mayhem in its second season. The show follows a high school girl’s soccer team – the titular Yellowjackets – destined for the national championship when all hell breaks loose. On the way to the championship, their private plane crashes in the woods and the group is forced to do whatever it takes to survive. Meanwhile, in the present day, the surviving Yellowjackets, now adults, are dealing with the repercussions of what they had to do to survive and go to extremes to keep the secrets of their time in the woods hidden.

Fans might wonder if “Yellowjackets” is based in reality. While it’s not a completely true story, it does have real-life inspirations. Here’s what we know.

Is “Yellowjackets” Based on a True Story?

The show isn’t entirely based on a true story, but it does resemble the real-life Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 disaster. On Oct. 13, 1972, the flight was bound for Santiago, Chile, from Montevideo, Uruguay, when poor weather conditions caused the plane to crash into the Andes Mountains. Flight 571 carried 45 total passengers, 19 of whom were members of the Old Christians Club rugby union team, but upon impact, only 34 survived. Unfortunately, the frigid temperatures of the mountains, along with a lack of supplies and severe injuries, caused several more fatalities, leaving the remainder of the survivors stranded. For 72 days, the survivors took whatever measures necessary to survive, even resorting to cannibalism.

“Yellowjackets” seems to draw inspiration from the tragic disaster, as the group of sports players, the plane crash, the cold climate, and violent, cannibalistic actions are all paralleled in the series. One major difference that ratchets up the drama, however, is that in “Yellowjackets” the soccer team is stranded for even longer than the real survivors were: 19 months.

What Inspired “Yellowjackets”?

Show creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson have noted that “Yellowjackets” is influenced by William Golding’s 1954 novel “Lord of the Flies,” which is about a group of boys stranded on an island. Lyle elaborated on this on The Hollywood Reporter‘s “TV’s Top Five” podcast in November 2021, saying, “‘Lord of the Flies’ is about how socialization falls away and how society is a facade. We thought, who is more socialized than women? As girls, you learn early on how to make people like you and what the social hierarchies are.”

Furthermore, Lyle highlighted how the series explores gender roles and performance in even the most extreme of situations, noting, “It’s a more interesting way of having things fall away. The mask is even thicker. It’s a more layered amount of preconceived notions of how to behave and act.”

In a November 2021 interview with the New York Times, Lyle added that she wanted to counter the ideas that girls can’t be savage and will always work together. “There was a girl in my high school who poisoned another girl’s food for fun,” she said. “Only showing girls getting along is not painting a full picture.” At the same time, she wanted to honor the importance of relationships between girls, calling some of her high school relationships “probably the most important in my life.”

In a March 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lyle revealed another source of inspiration for “Yellowjackets”: iconic fictional mobster Tony Soprano. “Tony Soprano is an absolute monster – but, because he’s so well drawn, you understand him,” she explained. “That’s what we’re aiming for. We have conversations about what could be too far, but it’s less about likability for the characters and more about the type of story. We never want to be shocking and salacious for the sheer joy of it.”

“Yellowjackets” season two started streaming on March 24 and airs on Showtime on Sundays, returning with a new episode on May 7.

Available NOW!

Polished, practical, relaxed but refined.

One of the best ways to determine if a garment is worth adding to your wardrobe, is making sure it can be styled multiple ways. I apply this to rule when shopping, as well as when I’m designing Girl With Curves collection, so it should be no surprise that every style within the collection is really versatile.

The Oversized Tunic Sweater just dropped today, and it’s one of my all-time favorite pieces because it’s seriously so versatile, pairing back to leggings, jeans and even skirts!

Here’s 4 ways to style it:

Wide Leg Pant, Medallion Dress & More

A statement cardigan, layering tee & more…