From the Group Chat: “Dancing with the Stars,” “The Baby-Sitters Club,” and New American Girl

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Sunday. I’m well aware I’m in the minority, but while everyone has been sipping PSLs and buying all of the new Trader Joe’s seasonal items (I’ll fill my freezer with the last one), I’ve been defiantly reminding people that summer isn’t over until tomorrow. That said, here are a few things at the top of my fall bucket list:

• Try Katie Holmes’s new, unsurprisingly genius styling trick — clearly the thing that’ll get me to wear the one color I don’t own.

• Trade my beloved barn jacket for “fall’s defining outerwear,” which is just as timeless, just as understated, and perhaps even more weather-appropriate.

• Consider the latest cool-girl hair color, which, sure, sounds like a Starbucks drink, but has already been cosigned by Leighton Meester and Scarlett Johansson.

• Purchase a fragrance described as “the first gust of crisp fall air” in a bottle (I can honestly think of few things more appealing).

• Ponder whether I need cashmere overalls. Normally, it’d be a hard no, but Gigi Hadid’s quietly chic, tied-around-the-waist look has me questioning my stance entirely.

• Rewatch the trailer for Victoria Beckham’s Netflix documentary every day until October 9 (the cheese sandwich bit is *chef’s kiss*).

— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC

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Well, it only took *checks notes* 34 seasons, but your mom’s favorite reality competition is actually cool. Yes, we’re talking about Dancing with the Stars — and its very unexpected swing in popularity. What’s behind the (pivot) turn of events, you ask? First and foremost, its undeniably stacked cast. Gone are the days of mostly well-past-their-prime retired athletes, D-list celebrities, and the politically adjacent rando. Now, fans are going wild for Australia’s Next Top Underwear Model Robert Irwin (correct, that Irwin), whose debut was described by one judge as “probably the best first dance I have ever seen on this show.” (Obviously, a safari truck is involved.) Plus, there’s Hilaria Baldwin, who brought Alec, all seven “Baldwinitos,” and presumably 100 checked bags to LA; not one but two stars of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives; and Zac Efron’s baby brother (who deserves an honorable mention for twerking to Kelis’s “Milkshake”). Oh, and let’s not forget Boy Meets World’s Topanga (sorry, Danielle Fishel) and literal Meredith Blake — essentially, sealing the deal for millennials everywhere. 

But the stars aren’t the only reason for the competition’s newfound social status. Keep in mind: The show mainly exists in roughly minute-long dance performances, making it a natural TikTok gold mine. Particularly given the seemingly endless well of viral moments (see: the “nothing” that was everything) and actually jaw-dropping dance moves (we beg you, don’t try this at home). Add to that: Pros have become outright stars themselves (which could explain why the names Jenna Johnson and Witney Carson sound vaguely familiar, even to nonwatchers). And the long — and messy — list of showmances. Case in point(e): Last season resulted in two reported star-dancer relationships, between former Bachelorette Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber (once married to a fellow pro) and Sports Illustrated model Brooks Nader and Gleb Savchenko (the two apparently spent a lot of time on set horizontal dancing). As for who will waltz their way to (brief) love this season? TBD, but we’ll be tuning in to find out.

If you also filled your Password Journal (remember those?) with gel-penned musings about whether you were a Kristy, a Mary Anne, a Stacey, or a Claudia, good news: The Baby-Sitters Club is back in business — and headed to Broadway. While we don’t know much about the musical adaptation of Ann M. Martin’s iconic book series, a few key details have been revealed: It’ll pick up 12 years after the disbanding of the club, when the founding members, now 25, return to Stoneybrook to honor a pact they made at 13. Plus, Mark Sonnenblick (of KPop Demon Hunters fame) will handle music and lyrics, inspired by the likes of Sheryl Crow, Indigo Girls, and Shania Twain. Now not that the team needs our input — or that we’re remotely qualified to give it — but we took the liberty of assembling our dream cast:

Meg Stalter as Kristy, who, obviously, got a business degree from Penn and did a brief stint working with NYC’s top finance bros, before launching a boutique sports agency with her mentor (played by BSC’s No. 1 Fan Natalie Portman).

Awkwafina as Claudia. Tired of living in her older sister’s shadow (FYI, Janine is now the youngest woman to lead NASA), Claudia gave up her private phone line and moved to Marfa — where she met her stay-at-home boyfriend and opened a cool-girl candy store slash pottery studio.

Elle Fanning as Stacey, who returned to NYC for college — and immediately questioned why anyone in their right mind would ever leave. Now, she works for Ralph Lauren’s CFO (who hates that she uses hearts to dot her i’s), takes Pilates with her West Village Girls, and is on the board of a nonprofit focused on childhood diabetes research.

Ayo Edebiri as Mary Anne. The only one to stay close to home, Mary Anne is essentially the Miss Honey of Stoneybrook Elementary (minus the whole Trunchbull and adopting-a-student thing), which is how she was introduced to her fellow teacher turned fiancé (sorry, Logan).

Just in case you weren’t feeling old as f*ck: American Girl’s 2026 Girl of the Year is the great-great-granddaughter of someone who’s probably still in the back of your closet.

Here’s a series of questions you probably never asked yourself: What if Jude Law and Jason Bateman were brothers? With a complicated history? And they also committed crimes? The answer is Netflix’s Black Rabbit. Described as a cross between Ozark, The Bear, and Uncut Gems, the eight-episode series follows Jake (Law), owner of the titular Brooklyn cool-kid hangout, whose burgeoning success in the restaurant biz is as precarious as a tray filled with cocktails. Of course, that’s exactly when his brother Vince (Bateman) shows up — a former (read: current) addict saddled with serious debts and even more serious threats. Expect shady siblings, sticky-looking dive bars, and at least one Ozark reunion in what’s been called “the most anxiety-inducing restaurant drama on TV.” A true feat given, well, The Bear.

Introducing our new morning ritual: probiotics, but make it toothpaste. Yep, you read that right. Boka is changing the way you brush with their biggest launch yet. Unlike most toothpastes that wipe out all your mouth’s bacteria, this one is probiotic-powered, fluoride-free, and designed to help the good kind thrive. The result? A balanced oral microbiome and a healthier mouth. And because brushing shouldn’t be boring, it comes in two crave-worthy flavors: citrus mint and peppermint blossom. Oh, and did we mention you get 15% off with code BOKASKIMM15?*

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With cold and flu season on the horizon, have some Airborne Vitamin C tablets on hand for an instant immune system boost. We like the berry flavor.

There are quite a few sales worth shopping this weekend, including designer denim and nicer-than-usual Halloween decor (PS: use code spooky10).

Unleash your competitive side with today’s games and puzzles. Choose from an anagram word search, digital jigsaw puzzle, or crossword (with a twist). Better yet: Try them all.