In this issue of The Upworthiest, Patrick Hamilton unearths a 1990 talk-show moment that late night still hasn't caught up to. Then: the harsh truths 6,500 Redditors say made life better, a woman who out-cooled Harry and Meghan without moving a muscle, and a waiter's perfect response to a chicken parm request in Italy.
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In 1990, LGBTQ protesters interrupted Arsenio Hall. His response was years ahead of its time. | ||
When confronted during a taping, his empathy became the real story. | ||
By Patrick Hamilton | ||
The television talk show circuit of the 1980s rarely courted controversy. That all changed in 1989 with the premiere of The Arsenio Hall Show, which changed late night TV forever. However, a recently unearthed time capsule reveals that Hall himself was sometimes challenged by the new culture he helped usher into the mainstream. During the December 14, 1990 episode of his show, two members of Queer Nation interrupted Hall to challenge him on why he didn’t have more openly gay guests on his show. And how Hall reacted made for one of the most electric, unscripted moments in talk-show history. | ||
Premiering in 1989, The Arsenio Hall Show brought hip-hop, R&B, and a younger, more diverse guest list—and audience—to a genre that had been coasting on the same formula for decades. It was a major sea change before cable, and the internet broke the monoculture. And it broke the rules of what late night had to be forevermore. | ||
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15 hard truths that people swear made their lives so much better | ||
You might be the bad guy in someone else’s story. | ||
By Tod Perry | ||
A significant part of adulthood is realizing that many uncomfortable truths are indeed real, even if we wish they weren’t. At first, these harsh truths may dampen our spirits and make us feel that the world is a bit colder. However, understanding some of life’s hard lessons opens us up to greater possibilities and can help us overcome the obstacles holding us back. | ||
Harsh truths help us realize when relationships aren’t as great as they can be. They also prevent us from having too much faith in people and institutions that will ultimately disappoint us. Knowing dark truths can also help us appreciate the things that are truly beautiful, honest, and good. A Redditor named Rare_Can_5418 asked the AskReddit forum, “What difficult truths, the sooner you accept them, the better your life will be?” and received over 6,500 responses. Many of them were centered around harsh truths about relationships and the fact that even if we do our best in life, we can still end up with the short end of the stick. | ||
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Idk about you but I am cracking up right now. 🤣
(L) Meghan Markle and Prince Harry; (R) A sunbather reads a book. | ||
Sunbather doesn’t budge when Harry and Meghan’s entourage has to walk around her. She’s the internet’s new hero. | ||
A beachgoer couldn’t be bothered by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s visit and the internet is absolutely obsessed with her: “The level of not giving a f* I dream of achieving.” | ||
By Adam Albright-Hanna | ||
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited Bondi Beach on April 17, they were surrounded by the usual circus: paparazzi, crowds, bodyguards in matching uniforms, the whole production. One woman lay on her mat in the middle of it all, scribbling in her notebook, wearing sunglasses, and apparently not giving a single thought to any of it. | ||
A TikTok clip posted by News.com.au captured the moment as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex walked the beach during the final day of their Australian tour. Their entourage had to navigate around her. She did not look up. The royal couple’s eyes tracked her as they passed. She continued writing. | ||
News.com.au summed it up in their caption: “One woman’s complete indifference is peak Bondi attitude.” The clip has since drawn more than 500,000 likes and nearly 7,000 comments on TikTok. | ||
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An Upworthiest Quiz
Which of these dishes is an Italian-American classic rather than a traditional Italian dish?
Yesterday's Results
In yesterday's issue, we shared a woman who spent 22 years looking for her fourth-grade teacher.
And we asked: Which person from your school days would you most like to thank now? 44.9% of you chose a high school teacher. Some people really do stay with us long after the final bell.
An elementary school teacher (32.1%)
A high school teacher (44.9%) 🏆
A coach, director, or advisor (5.1%)
A college professor or mentor (17.9%)
Upworthiest reader Fayenel shared this story of a highschool teacher that touched her life. “Mr. R helped me get through some of the worst time of my life but just offering an ear and a safe place, his classroom, to escape too. 'Moderation in all things.' He helped teach me that being sad, being angry or rageful are okay but moderation. No wallowing. Feel the feels then decide on your next step.“
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American orders Olive Garden-style chicken parm in Italy and the waiter’s response is perfect | ||
Olive Garden: bringing America to Italy? | ||
By Tod Perry | ||
One of the great things about America is that we have a relatively young culture, so many of the foods that we eat were brought over from other countries. That makes America a great place to try out all the different types of food from around the world. | ||
However, we also like to put our own stamp on staples from around the globe that give the American version its own unique flair. Some foods that we claim originated overseas were actually first made right here in the U.S. of A. For example, chimichangas, which can be found in many Mexican restaurants, actually originated in the state of Arizona. Crab Rangoon, a popular “Chinese” dish, was actually invented in the San Francisco Bay area, and spaghetti and meatballs were never a thing in Italy. | ||
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