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Dem: Sexual Assaults Allow Military 'Culture To Continue'

2013-05-23T13:10:26Z

WASHINGTON -- A senator says repeated sexual assaults in the military allow a culture to continue.

Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand (KEHR'-sten JIHL'-uh-brand) of New York addressed the latest case at West Point. An Army sergeant is charged with secretly taking pictures and video of at least a dozen women at West Point.

Gillibrand tells NBC "Today" that when sexual assault happens repeatedly, with no accountability, quote, "it allows the culture to continue."

Gillibrand is on the Senate Armed Services Committee. She says sexual assault should be reported outside the chain of command, directly to a military prosecutor, and victims need to know justice is possible.

The West Point case is just the latest in a series. A Pentagon report says as many as 26,000 service members may have been sexually assaulted last year.

'DWTS' Shakeup Ahead?

2013-05-23T13:09:00Z

"Dancing With the Stars" is getting a makeover this fall. After getting trimmed to just one night a week -- say goodbye to the Tuesday night results show -- "Dancing With the Stars" could get new judges.

According to the New York Post, the series is entertaining the idea of adding a fourth judge to the mix. “We are just starting to figure it out now,” "DWTS" producer Deena Katz told The Post about the show's changes. The Post reports current judges Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Toniolo do not have deals in place for the new fall 2013 season. The three have served on the panel throughout the show's entire 16-season run, though Paula Abdul, Michael Flatley and Baz Luhrmann are among those who previously guest judged.

"It's true no one is locked in under contract yet, but that's not necessarily unusual at this stage," a source told E! News. "Nothing has been decided yet about next season. There definitely will be format changes and it's possible there may be some casting changes but those discussions are just beginning."

"Dancing With the Stars" has struggled in the ratings recently with stiff competition from NBC's "The Voice" on Mondays -- a few Season 16 episodes has less than a 2 rating in the key demographic.

"Dancing With the Stars" returns to ABC this fall one night a week Mondays at 8 p.m. ET.

4 Of The Worst Foods For Bloating

2013-05-23T12:47:24Z

It's not exactly the daintiest topic in the world, but it's certainly something everyone's experienced-- that sensation of pressure inside the abdomen, sometimes coupled by swelling in the belly. You know, bloat.

Most of the time, bloating is caused by seemingly benign actions. Maybe you drank out of a straw earlier that day. Maybe you ate your lunch a little too quickly. Maybe you munched on just a bit too much raw broccoli for a snack. Kristi King, a registered dietitian at Texas Children's Hospital and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, explains that bloating itself is more of a feeling -- that pressure in the lower part, and sometimes upper part, of the abdomen -- while the actual sensation of a "swollen" belly is called abdominal distention.

Bloating is most often a result of gas or increased salt intake. When it's the latter, the culprit is eating too many sodium-heavy foods, which leads you to retain water, King explains. But bloating can also be triggered by excess gas, which is caused when particular foods you eat sit in your stomach or aren't digested properly. The bacteria that live in the gut hone in on the sugars in those foods, breaking them down and producing gas, which can lead to bloat.

To beat bloat, King suggests several easy tips. For starters, quit smoking. Bloat can occur when you suck in the excess air as smoke is inhaled from the cigarette. In the same vein, eating more slowly could also help; when a person eats rapidly, he or she takes in more air with each bite -- and that air gets trapped in the stomach and has to come out some way. Ditto with drinking through a straw; it leads to more air being trapped inside your stomach. Taking probiotics to maintain a good balance of good gut bacteria could also help relieve abdominal discomfort (though King recommends talking to your doctor about this approach), as might drinking water, since it helps to move the digestion process along. Exercise is another way to beat bloat.

"The gut is the second brain of the body; it's going to react to any kind of stress and anxiety that the body might be experiencing," King tells HuffPost. "Exercise can help to increase blood flow to various parts of the body, including the gut, so exercising on a regular basis -- 30 to 60 minutes every day -- might help with reducing bloating as well."

If you find yourself frequently experiencing abdominal discomfort, it could be a good idea to keep a food diary to track what you eat and how those foods make you feel, she says. And in general, certain foods are more bloat-inducing than others. Some of the more common culprits include:

Cruciferous vegetables. Greens like broccoli, brussels sprouts and cabbage contain sulfur and a carbohydrate called raffinose, both of which are hard for the body to break down. Cooking helps to break these compounds down, though, so while it's certainly healthy to eat your greens, cooking these particular vegetables first could help to reduce bloating. Baked beans are another bloat culprit.

Dairy. Dairy doesn't cause bloating for everyone, but many people have some kind of lactose intolerance, which is when the body doesn't have the necessary enzyme to break down the lactose sugar. "Because they don't have that enzyme, it can cause increased gassiness because that sugar is not broken down," King says. "So dairy products, if you're lactose intolerant, may cause increased bloating." It's a similar case for people who have a gluten intolerance; some people's bodies are unable to break down gluten, which is found in many grains, including wheat and barley, which can also lead to bloat.

Fatty foods. Eating a really rich, heavy, fatty meal can lead to bloating because fats are the last thing to leave the stomach. "Any type of fat takes longer to digest than carbohydrates or protein," King says.

Junk food. Because many junk foods are high in fat and sugar, this double whammy can lead to bloat. "What actually happens with the sugar is, one, you're fueling the bacteria in your gut to start eating those sugars that are being digested, so they may produce more gas," King says. "But sugar also empties from the stomach very quickly ... It's one of the first things that goes into the intestines, which can cause cramping." She says this could explain why after eating a sugary pastry or a cup of soda, you may feel extra gassy and experience cramping sensations.

When Was The Last Time You Cleaned This?

2013-05-23T12:43:16Z

Have you ever thought about cleaning your mailbox? Probably not. But according to List 25, its handle can be a germ hot spot (hello, bird poop). Luckily, our friends over at BrightNest have an easy solution for disinfecting the area if it's plastic or aluminum.

First, clear all the mail from the receptacle. Then, using a sponge, scrub it with a solution of warm water and soap. Next, rinse it down with water and dry it completely with a cloth. The site suggests to then spray the area with a disinfectant or white vinegar to help get rid of any germs.

Click through our slideshow to see more unique cleaning tips and tricks, and be sure to head over to BrightNest for more information.

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masalamommas: Even Celebs Fight the Body-Image Battle, so Why Judge?

2013-05-23T12:24:58Z

Lately I've been thinking a lot about how people in general (and women themselves) judge each other based on body image. Why are we so worried about how other people look, behave, exercise, eat, etc.? This might sound strange coming from me because I write about fashion and style, and have a blog that is mainly filled with pictures of my daily outfits. The thing is; I don't judge women by the way they look, yes I encourage you to dress well and feel good about yourself -- but the size and shape of your body, is none of my business. This problem seems to be the worst when we are talking about celebrities, but really, is it OK to judge celebrities?

Take Aishwariya Rai Bachchan for example -- arguably one of the most beautiful women in the world. For years she was idolized, put on a pedestal, and then she gained some weight and suddenly it was OK for millions of people (women included) to call her horrible names and judge her. Personally I applaud her for taking her weight loss at her own pace, or maybe she doesn't even want to lose weight, that's her business. On the other hand, there is Jessica Alba, who is also being blasted in public this week because she admitted to wearing a corset for three months straight after her second daughter was born in order to regain her pre-baby body. Whether I agree with her choice or not, it's not my place to judge her.

I didn't work for years to gain celebrity status in Hollywood, my future work prospects don't depend on my waist size, I'm not followed around by paparazzi on a daily basis, and my flaws aren't pointed out in national magazines -- so I have no way to imagine what it must feel like to be in her shoes.

I've read various posts online today that are saying that Jessica Alba is a horrible role model for new mothers, and is pressuring moms to lose weight fast -- I disagree. Why would the average suburban mom compare her situation to a Hollywood starlet? We can't use someone's celebrity status as an excuse to speak ill about them -- we are all big girls and can make our own decisions.

Do I think that Gwyneth Paltrow is the most beautiful woman in the world? Or do I even think that People magazine should be the source in charge of deciding that? Regardless of my opinion, I do not have the right to call her names, imply that she has an eating disorder, or say she's a horrible mom because she feeds her kids organic food. Reading statements like that online break my heart, because women and especially moms should play on the same team.

I'm extremely disheartened as I write this post, because just last week my feed on Twitter and Facebook was full of people sharing Dove's Real Beauty Campaign. You know the one where the artist sketch's the woman's view of herself and then how someone else sees her -- and it was beautiful. And then, just a few days later -- horrible things about Gwyneth Paltrow and Jessica Alba, how is that OK? I thought we all saw each other in a beautiful light.

Some of you will argue that by choosing a public career these women chose to be judged, they know what they were in for. That is true, but in so many ways, this culture of judgement is moving into our everyday interactions. I see it all the time, sometimes I even hear myself doing it (I'm not perfect), judging everyday women by the standards that we set for celebrity moms.

Let's make an effort to measure each other by the size of our hearts, not our waists. Let's celebrate the fact that we live in a time and place where we can make the choices about our bodies, and let's cheer each other on even if we don't have the same viewpoint about weight loss, breast size, or skincare. Next time you meet someone, or read about someone in the press and feel the urge to judge, remember the words of Plato; be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.

By Raj Thandhi @pinkchai

Read more stories by Raj here.

Brenda Chapman: Why I'll Keep Fighting For The Merida I Created

2013-05-23T12:24:44Z

I have been overwhelmed at the supportive response that A Mighty Girl's petition on Change.org has gotten and I'm thrilled and optimistic because of it.

But we're not done. Regardless of the support the petition has received, the campaign is not over. And it is still important to speak up.

In response to the overwhelming amount of support this petition has received, Disney has only backed down a little. They have yet to make a definitive statement that they intend to restore to Merida her original look, staying true to her character, on all future merchandise. The sexier, slimmer version of Merida with a come-hither look and an off-the-shoulder dress is still very much out there. In fact, it remains to be seen what is "limited" about this current iteration of Merida. Instead, it seems like a very intentional image created for the benefit of future merchandising. Disney's move of restoring Merida's bow and arrow seems like a hastily applied band-aid, hoping to quell the uproar about these unnecessary modifications to a beloved girl.

As I have said before, Merida was created to be a different kind of princess -- a princess with a strong will, a stubborn streak and a lot to learn. She makes mistakes along the way and learns from them. But she is not obsessed with what she wears or focused on looking good to attract a man. She's a young girl -- not remotely ready to think about romance or marriage. That doesn't mean she never will. That doesn't mean that those things are bad. It just means that she is an individual who has her own interests. And that's not bad, either! In fact, that's exactly the way that children should spend their childhood and adolescence -- being kids and pursuing the things that make them happy. That's why Merida has become such a beloved character for so many young girls -- and even grown women. Why on Earth does that image need to be changed?

The message Disney sends to the public in changing Merida is that she is not good enough the way she is. In doing that, they are making the same statement to all the young girls out there. Merida is a character that young girls look to and say, "I can be like her -- she's not that different from me!" Or even better, they look at Merida and say, "Merida is like me!" So now when they see what Disney Consumer Products has done to Merida, it tells them that they aren't good enough unless they lose weight, wear tighter, sexier, "girlier" clothes, wear lots of makeup and coif their hair.

I created Merida for my daughter -- inspired by her strong-willed spirit -- of which I am in complete awe and very proud. But despite my best efforts to guide her away from what media images and female stereotypes say to our children, it breaks my heart when she thinks she is too fat or too ugly because she doesn't look like a certain TV star or that "other girl" who is so much more beautiful in her mind. The majority of our children feel that way, and lack self-esteem about their own looks because of issues exactly like this one.

I am certainly NOT saying that wearing makeup, getting dressed up or being a girly girl is bad! I think it's fun, too -- and if that is who you are and what you like, then go for it! That's great! I am specifically saying that Merida is a certain character, created as an alternative to all the girly girl princesses that are already out there. Why put her into that mold when the market is already flooded with those kinds of toys and images? Why not make something that speaks to the girls (and the boys) who aren't into that kind of thing? Why not let Merida be who she is? After all, that's her appeal. That's why Merida has become so beloved, by kids and parents everywhere. She is who she is -- and proud of it.

Although the character of Merida is obviously near and dear to my heart, this campaign and my passion for it is not just about this character. The reason I'm lending my voice and supporting this campaign is to bring this discussion to the forefront of the public's attention. The images our children are being exposed to and influenced by through toy merchandising and general mass marketing are incredibly detrimental to young girls and boys alike. If you just take a look at the magazine racks, TV shows, movies and Internet advertising, society as we know it is all about superficial beauty.

Our children -- and adults -- are bombarded daily with the message that what you look like is the only thing that really matters. The lesson being taught is that if you're not beautiful or handsome or perfect in every way, you are not good enough. This is especially the case for young girls, who become obsessed with their weight and looks at much too young of an age. If the issue of Disney changing Merida to be, in their opinion, "more marketable" and the public uproar that has resulted from that bad decision makes people think a bit more deeply about this issue, I think that's great. And more importantly, I think it's necessary. The time has come to change these perceptions and if we don't do all we can to do that, then our children inevitably suffer as a result.

Let's collectively work to stop sending messages, explicit or implied to our boys, that girls are here just to be eye and arm candy and should only be valued based on their looks. Let's stop sending messages to our girls that they are the sum of what they look like as opposed to respecting them for their intelligence, their abilities, their skills and their strength. This is how we can help lead girls to achieve positions of leadership, in school, in society, in the workplace. And while this battle may seem insignificant, over a cartoon girl and her appearance, in reality it's about so much more. And the conversations taking place as a result of this campaign can potentially have a HUGE ripple effect.

Truly, Merida is just the tip of the iceberg.

Make no mistake, Disney is watching what we do. If we stop now, if we appear to be pacified by their unconvincing claims of "limited" release of this image, we'll be playing into their hands and they will continue on the same path. But if we continue the journey, hang tough and continue to speak out, we may just convince them to rethink their marketing strategy on Merida... and hopefully future merchandising.

Are you in? I hope so. What can you do to help? I'm glad you asked. Our friends at A Mighty Girl, the group that started this whole campaign and to whom I am incredibly grateful for forcing awareness of this issue, have created a Take Action page where you can learn how to make your voice heard: http://www.amightygirl.com/keepmeridabrave/take-action

Brenda Chapman has a unique and broad experience as a storyteller from the American film industry -- as director, story supervisor and scriptwriter. She was the first woman to direct a feature film for one of the big studios, Dreamworks' The Prince of Egypt, and was head of story on Disney's Lion King. Brenda recently received an Academy Award and a BAFTA for Best Feature Animated Film, as well as a Golden Globe Award for Brave, a Disney/Pixar film which she wrote and directed. She is now consulting on a project for LucasFilm and developing a project for DreamWorks Animation.

You can find Brenda's blog at http://brenda-chapman.com and find her on Twitter at @brenda_chapman and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/bchapmanproductions

This post originally appeared on A Mighty Girl's blog.

Nobel Prize Winner's Unpublished Novel Found In Storage Unit

2013-05-23T12:10:56Z

Forty years after being written, an unpublished novel by Pearl S. Buck, the Nobel laureate and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, will be released this fall, her publisher said on Tuesday.

'What Have We Unleashed?'

2013-05-23T11:48:59Z

CANNES, France — To convince Kristin Scott Thomas to play the bloodthirsty matriarch of "Only God Forgives," director Nicolas Winding Refn appealed to Scott Thomas – how else? – with the flattery of his own mother.

"That's how he got me to do the film," Scott Thomas said in a beachside interview Wednesday. "He said, `You're my mother's favorite actress.' So I had to. It was a good trick."

It was an appropriate start for a disturbing portrait of a woman with, to say the least, harsh motherly instincts. In the Bangkok noir, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday, Scott Thomas plays a mother demanding her surviving son (Ryan Gosling) avenge the murder of her other, more favored son (Tom Burke).

It's a ferocious, gloriously evil performance as far away from "The English Patient" (and the other elegant British period dramas Scott Thomas is best known for) as cinematically possible. Upon learning her son was punished for killing a teenage prostitute, for example, she retorts: "I'm sure he had his reasons."

"A lot of the stuff that I had to do as Crystal was exciting and frightening at the same time," Scott Thomas said. "It made this whole project one of terror and at the same time totally thrilling."

"Only God Forgives" is Refn's second collaboration in a row with Gosling, following the more pop "Drive." It's a menacing descent into brutal darkness, punctuated by bloody spurts of stylish violence. There's even less dialogue than "Drive" (the script was a sparse 60 pages, Refn says), and the film unfolds as a perverse Greek tragedy transported to Thailand's grim underbelly.

Refn conceived of Scott Thomas' character as a combination of Lady Macbeth and Donatella Versace after the actress sent him photos of her with long blonde extensions.

"I was like, `God, that's so sexy,'" the Danish director said sitting alongside Scott Thomas. "That whole Donatella oddness: frightening but very sexual."

Scott Thomas calls the thick makeup an "ultra-costume."

"It's a sort of armor, that look," she says. "It's very, very, very empowering and at the same time very frightening. It changes the way people look at you completely."

While critics at Cannes had mixed reactions to "Only God Forgives" (it drew boos from some), Scott Thomas' performance was hailed, along with predictions of an Oscar nomination. In a memorable dinner party scene, she cuttingly and vulgarly dresses down Gosling's character. She negatively compares the size of his genitalia with his brother's – an explicitness that not even the Greeks dared.

"They had all these things that were implied," Scott Thomas says. "I said why don't we just say it? Just get it out there, so to speak. Say the words that everyone else is alluding to."

Refn gradually cut the lengthy scene more and more until it was basically a monologue. Gosling also added a suggestion – a slur Crystal lobs at her son's female guest – after Refn asked for one of the most offensive words to call a woman in America.

"I couldn't get it out," Scott Thomas says, laughing. "I couldn't get it right until about 10 takes."

It's the kind of harsh, hilariously cruel dialogue actors dream of. But Scott Thomas says that while it was an interesting acting challenge "to push the dialogue," "it was such a nightmare."

"After a while, once you've been doing this for a long time – weeks and nights – you feel, `Oh, god, I'd love to say something nice,'" says Scott Thomas. "This hatred and anger and destruction is actually quite difficult after a while. It gets to you once the novelty of the transition is over and you're just stuck in that darkness."

Much of the character and her archetypal qualities weren't refined until they were on set shooting. Refn works collaboratively with actors, guided by the boldness of his oft-repeated mantra: "The enemy of creativity is good taste." He was enamored by what "KST," as he calls her, did with the part.

"Most of the time, we'd just sit and stare and go, `Oh my god! What have we unleashed?'" Refn says. "It was what the film needed, the film needed a character like that that would essentially be the antagonist of the protagonist. But she would be so dominating that you could never live up to her, you could never penetrate her."

The experience, while clearly enthralling for Scott Thomas, was also unnerving. As much as audiences at Cannes responded to her performance, she exhales: "I'm going to do a comedy next."

___

Follow AP Entertainment Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jake_coyle

Vin Diesel Says His Body Is All Natural, No Steroids

2013-05-23T11:15:14Z

Vin Diesel stood by his comments about the pressure on men in Hollywood to be in shape on "The Tonight Show." He told Men's Fitness that there's more pressure on men to stay in shape than there is on women in Hollywood, which pushes a lot of men into steroid use -- which he insists he's never done; his body is all-natural.

"Female actors don’t feel compelled to take steroids," Diesel said.

“Female steroids are called breast implants," Jay Leno countered.

Vulture thought Diesel's argument was pretty boneheaded, considering that men can age in Hollywood while their leading ladies aren't. "It seems like time and time again, male movie stars are allowed to age into their forties, fifties, and even sixties while the ages of their female love interests remain firmly on one side of the big 4-0.”

Diesel also said that his muscular physique has kept him from getting a lot of roles. For example, he would never get tp lay a role like Ferris Bueller. Uproxx pointed out that naming himself Vin Diesel might be ruling out roles, too. Plus, he could always change his physique for a role as so many other actors and actresses have done.

His name and physique have worked perfectly for the "Fast & Furious" franchise. He's starring in the sixth installment, which hits theaters this Friday, May 24. Tune in to "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" every weeknight at 11:35 p.m. ET on NBC.

TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.

Alyssa Milano Embarrassed By Teen Japanese Singing Career

2013-05-23T09:15:03Z

Alyssa Milano clearly did not want to live one of the most successful eras of her long career as a star. She began in television as a child on "Who's the Boss?" But during those years, she was also a huge multi-platinum selling recording artist -- in Japan. On "Jimmy Kimmel Live," though, she couldn't hide from her past.

She released four albums in Japan and even had a "greatest hits" collection. "You’re like the Japanese David Hasselhoff in a way," Kimmel marveled.

Surprisingly, Milano revealed that she's never been back since all her teen success. She also didn't remember her biggest hit from that era -- or she just didn't want to say. Regardless, though, Kimmel had a clip from YouTube. Milano couldn't even watch herself, putting her head down on his desk while it played.

Milano explained to The L.A. Times back then why she didn't bring her music stateside. "A lot of actors who release albums here are laughed at," she said. "I'm not interested in crossing over. I'd much rather have it released where it's appreciated than laughed at." Now fans can, of course, appreciate and laugh at those old clips, as there are tons of them on YouTube.

Here in the United States, Milano is sticking to her successful career as an actress. She'll next appear on the summer ABC series, "Mistresses," premiering June 3. Catch "Jimmy Kimmel Live" every weeknight at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC.

TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.

'Criminal Minds' Finale: Replicator Kills One Of Their Own

2013-05-23T08:45:02Z

The Replicator was revealed on the "Criminal Minds" season finale. He'd been copying crimes already solved by the BAU, meaning he had to be someone with inside connections. And he was. It turned out to be John Curtis, played by guest star Mark Hamill, a former agent with a grudge against Strauss after he was rightfully demoted.

Curtis managed to get his "revenge" on Strauss by forcing her to OD and ultimately killing her. The team managed to track him down, and while things got worrisome for a while there, Curtis only managed to kill himself in the end via a massive explosion.

The episode ended with the team coming together to celebrate Strauss after her funeral. "We celebrate a life well-lived, well-loved. To a good woman, an even better mother. To our friend, who I will miss very much," said David.

It was an ending that mirrored last season's finale, as noted by TVLine. Then, the team gathered to celebrate JJ at her wedding. This time, though, the circumstances were much more somber.

Buddy TV, though, was not pleased with this turn of events. “While Strauss' death opens up the possibility of the team getting a new boss next season, I think killing her was a mistake," they wrote. "She was not popular with many fans, but Strauss provided some much-needed tension whenever she appeared.”

TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.

'Chicago Fire' Finale: Renee's Surprise For Severide

2013-05-23T07:45:45Z

It was baby news all over the place on the "Chicago Fire" season finale. Shay found out she wasn't pregnant, while Christopher's wife gave birth. Shay and Severide were prepared to settle for being godparents to Hermann's new baby when Renee returned.

"I didn’t know that you’d be in town," Severide said to her.

“Well, I just wanted to tell you ... in person," she said before the camera panned down to reveal she was pregnant. So it looks like Severide is going to be a dad. As Sarah Shahi, who plays Renee, has been upped to a series regular on "Person of Interest" next season, she probably can't stick around on a regular basis here, can she?

TVLine thought the reveal was "intense," but The AV Club thought it was a little random -- like most of the season. “The one thing the show hasn’t mastered yet is subtlety in the characters’ personal affairs," they wrote. "Over the span of just this one season characters have been involved with street gangs, killed people, been through the cycles of a drug habit, had a fiancé murdered, been targeted by a dirty cop, and on, and on, and on.”

Another development saw Mills fail to make the rescue squad. He was then seen picking up an application for the police department. Could he be heading to the upcoming spin-off series, "Chicago PD"?

TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.

'Nashville' Finale: More Twists Than You Can Fit Into A Country Song

2013-05-23T07:15:03Z

It seemed like everything but the kitchen sink made it into the final script for the Season 1 finale of "Nashville." The hour featured a wedding proposal, funeral, alcohol-induced rage, award victory, paternity shocker, surprise pregnancy and a potentially tragic car accident.

As TVLine put it, "A huge reveal, a new pregnancy, a proposal and a car accident involving two of the lead characters? Good god, Nashville – save something for next season!"

Juliette mourned her mother in anger until she got a letter. Thankfully, Jolene had thought to write and explain that she'd done everything deliberately to take all of the controversy on herself and allow her daughter a chance to be clean for once. Still, it was a bittersweet awards victory for Juliette -- neither she nor Rayna were there for the ceremony.

Rayna bailed when her eldest daughter, Maddie, found out that Deacon was her father. Then, when she confronted Deacon, he found out. It was enough to throw 13 years of sobriety out the window. Rayna tried to drive him home from Juliette's memorial performance at the Bluebird, leading to a massive fight. It was enough to distract Rayna, leading to a terrible accident that saw their vehicle roll over several times on its way into a ditch.

“All in all, the finale was well done and all the acting was phenomenal," wrote TV Fanatic of the whirlwind hour. "I was still holding my breath at the very end, even if the car crash was a bit obvious.” Luckily, "Nashville" is back in the fall to begin picking up all the pieces.

TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.

'How To Live With Your Parents' Finale: Polly Moves Out

2013-05-23T05:45:54Z

If "How to Live With Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life)" felt a little stilted in places, it's because the show cut a few episodes to fit its 13-episode season into its 8-episode run while still getting viewers to that first season finale. And that finale ultimately put the show right back where it started.

After fighting with her stepfather, Polly determined to move out and get her life back on track. Her ex-husband gave up his place -- reluctantly moving in with his girlfriend -- and things were progressing, but it wasn't smooth sailing. Ultimately, it became clear that both of her parents wanted her back home, her daughter wanted her back with her parents and really, that's where Polly wanted to be as well. Everyone just had to get past their pride.

In the end, they did.

“I’m sure I’ll get my own place one day," Polly said in voice-over as she peeked in on her parents. "But until then, there are worse things in life than living with the people who care about you the most.”

So things came together nicely, despite that shortened run. Despite steady ratings, ABC pulled the plug on the show as well. Star Sarah Chalke encouraged her followers to "be a rebel" and check out the finale of her canceled show.

TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.

'The Middle' Finale: Graduations, Licenses & Growing Up

2013-05-23T04:45:20Z

The kids are growing up on "The Middle," and Frankie was having a hard time with it on the season finale. In particular, she and Axl were fighting more than usual as she prepared to have her first child leave the nest and head off to college.

Sue was growing up as well, having finally -- after five failed attempts -- passed her driver's exam. Sure, she was the last of her friends to do so, but she was probably the most excited about it, too. And in classic Sue fashion, her test was anything but normal. She passed because she navigated a few blocks of pure insanity like a pro.

In lieu of a graduation party, Frankie and Mike pooled their resources and bought Axl that car he'd been wanting for years. It wasn't a great car, but it was great to Axl. Of course, he wanted to leave right away to go hang out with his friends. Almost before Frankie could turn around, Sue wanted to leave as well to show off her new driver's license.

That left Brick, achieving his own milestone as he finished up grade school and was headed into junior high

"Never leave me!” Frankie told him, holding him in a tight hug.

The AV Club thought it was a rewarding ending to what they called "a pretty great season." They wrote, "It’ll be interesting to see where things stand in the fall, with Axl heading off to college, Sue hitting the road, and Brick battling his way through middle school.”

Fans of the Hecks will enjoy a double-dose of "The Middle" in the fall. It's back for Season 5 on ABC and the first four seasons head to syndication on ABC Family.

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