‘Laguna Beach’ Cast Reveals Show’s Most Surprising Off Camera Hookups During Reunion Special

Laguna Beachis going back, back to the beginning — and revealing some behind-the-scenes romances that never made it to air.

During the Friday, April 10, 20th anniversary special, titledThe Reunion: Laguna Beach, the season 1 cast spilled all the tea on the relationships that were — and weren’t — highlighted on the series. The reality show, which ran from 2004 to 2006 on MTV, followed the trials and tribulations of Laguna High School students as they navigated love, friendship and their impending graduation.

But before the secret romances were revealed, hostCasey Wilsonhad a few hot-seat questions for Laguna’s most iconic love triangle:Kristin Cavallari,Stephen CollettiandLauren Conrad.

The love triangle was a major contributing factor to Laguna Beach’s insta-popularity, as the pilot episode picked up right as Stephen was seemingly choosing between Kristin, his on-off girlfriend, and Lauren, his longtime best friend. According to the trio, cameras actually started rolling after the drama was over, but producers “stretched” out the conflict to keep things interesting.

Lauren Conrad and Kristin Cavallari Break Down ‘Laguna Beach’ Reunion, Where They Stand Now

Warning: Spoilers below forThe Reunion: Laguna Beach.

“Stephen and I were together for about a year before cameras ever came. So my sophomore year, his junior year. We then broke up beginning of my junior year, [his] senior year. That’s whenTalan [Torriero]and I had a little something and [he and Lauren] may have had a little something, and then we got back together, and this is all before MTV ever came,” Kristin explained during the special. “And then when they came, they obviously caught wind of that … and MTV knew it was a juicy story line, so they kept it going as much as possible.”

Kristin admitted she felt most “threatened” by producers asking Stephen and Lauren to “hang out” alone, as she was afraid that he might pick Lauren over her. Lauren, meanwhile, said she was mostly broken up about losing a friend in Stephen.

As for when the height of the drama took place, Lauren recalled a disastrous winter formal.

“[Kristin and Stephen] were starting to get back together, and [Stephen and I] were in the back of a big party bus talking. And I was saying, ‘Well, if you guys are getting back together, that’s fine, I don’t need to be a part of this,’” Lauren shared. “And [Kristin] came back and got really upset. It got a little heated.”

Neither Kristin nor Stephen could remember the incident, but according to Lauren, “A shoe got thrown. We had people pulling us [apart].”

Keep scrolling for every surprise hookup and romance revealed duringThe Reunion: Laguna Beach:

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Trey Phillips and Alex Hooser

Alex revealed during the reunion that she and Trey have “shared a smooch.”

Dieter Schmitz and Alex Hooser

While Alex’s love life wasn’t highlighted on Laguna Beach, the former reality star confessed that she dated more than one person from the show. “Dieter and I have … ‘dietered,’” she said with a laugh.

Jessica Smith and Stephen Colletti

Although briefly discussed on Stephen and Kristin’s “Back to the Beach” podcast in 2022, Jessica recalled how she and Stephen “hung out for a summer, a blip,” although she “wouldn’t call it dating.”

Stephen, for his part, called it a “flash in the pan.”

Christina Sinclair and Talan Torriero

Christina caused jaws to drop when she announced that she was Talan’s “first girlfriend.”

Talan confirmed the news, telling the group, “I remember she was the first girl that I kissed in the quad, with people looking and [we] held hands,” revealing it was “sophomore or junior year” when they got together.

“That’s something that people don’t know,” he said, to which Christina replied, “I thought you forgot!”

‘Laguna Beach’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

Kristin Cavallari and Lauren Conrad’s Ex Doug Reinhardt

When Lauren recalled her off camera relationship with Doug Reinhardt in high school, Kristin revealed that she actually dated him too during her freshman year.

“Can’t you let me have one thing?!” Lauren jokingly yelled at Kristin before admitting, “We’ve got great taste.”

Lauren Conrad and Dieter Schmitz

While portrayed as best friends on the show, Dieter noted that he and Lauren were an item — in middle school.

“It was a roller-coaster,” he quipped.

byAnio Baumeister

in

April 10, 2026

‘Laguna Beach’ Cast Reveals Show’s Most Surprising Off Camera Hookups During Reunion Special

Laguna Beachis going back, back to the beginning — and revealing some behind-the-scenes romances that never made it to air. Durin...

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Florida AG to probe OpenAI and ChatGPT

April 9 (Reuters) - ‌Florida ‌Attorney ​General James ‌Uthmeier ⁠on ⁠Thursday ​launched ​an ​investigation ‌intoOpenAI‌and ​its ​popular ​chatbot ‌ChatGPT.

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(Reporting ​by ​Juby ​Babu ‌in ​Mexico ​City)

byAnio Baumeister

in

April 09, 2026

Florida AG to probe OpenAI and ChatGPT

April 9 (Reuters) - ‌Florida ‌Attorney ​General James ‌Uthmeier ⁠on ⁠Thursday ​launched ​an ​investigation ‌intoOpenAI‌and ​its ​popula...

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Catherine O'Hara's brother says actress 'wasn't talking much in the end,' said goodbye to him in a dream

Catherine O'Hara's brother Michael P. O'Hara is sharing some insight into the "sort of goodbye" he shared with his sister beforeher death in January.

During the first episode of season 3 of his podcastDreams of Our Loved Ones, Michael looks back on a dream he had in which he was visited by his sister shortly before her death on Jan. 28. While sharing with his listeners that he recently had a "very unexpected and very, very sad" death in the family, Michael recalled the dream that came to him "days or a few days before she died."

"I always cherish the times I can meet with a loved one in the dream state," Michael began. "And I was hugging her, which was really beautiful. And I guess it was sort of a goodbye."

The dream served as their farewell because, as the podcast host shared, Catherine "wasn't talking much in the end" before her death. "She didn't really want to talk on the phone. And she didn't live close by, she's in Los Angeles," he explained.

The dream visitation didn't end there, according to Michael. "Since then, I've had a lovely dream where I was visiting her, and she was in a new house and it was being renovated and she was really busy choosing furniture and couches," he told listeners. "And she said, 'You can sleep here anytime, Michael. You can come over and stay anytime.'"

"And it reminded me of when I was when she was inSecond City Televisionand I was apprenticing at the Windsor Arms Hotel," he continued. "I would go over and sleep over at her place some nights because she had an extra bedroom. Yeah, pretty cool. But yeah, it was beautiful. She was just so happy and very busy in the other world that she's now in, but yeah, it's beautiful."

Michael ended the podcast telling his listeners that the bittersweetness of dream visitations was that it helped people stay connected with their "deceased loved ones."

"We're all interconnected," he added. "And the love, you know, continues no matter what. They're always with us."

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Since Catherine's death, her peers and celebrity fans haveshared numerous tributestoher memory.

Dan Levy, who co-created and starred on the award-winning seriesSchitt’s Creekalongside O'Hara, recentlyremembered his beloved costarin an emotional interview onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

"It's a collective loss. She was the greatest. She's irreplaceable. I think the great comfort for me has just been to see how loved she was. The outpouring — everyone felt like they kind of knew her," he said.

During a recent visit toSchitt's Creekshooting location Goodwood, Ontario, Levy surprised himself bybreaking down into tears over the prospect of a sequelwithout Catherine.

"No, not now," hetoldCBS Sunday Morningcorrespondent Anthony Mason, who asked if there could ever be moreSchitt's Creekin the wake of the tragedy. "You can't."

Levy grew up with Catherine: She and his fatherEugene Levyenjoyed a long, fruitful creative relationship that began at Toronto comedy institution The Second City in the 1970s. That collaboration continued on the sketch seriesSCTVand in the mockumentaries of Christopher Guest, and culminated with her Emmy-winning portrayal of riches-to-rags matriarch Moira Rose onSchitt's Creek.

Dan explained that before Catherine's death, he was "thinking about" aSchitt's Creeksequel, reboot, or some other kind of revival. But now, he said, "it's tough."

When Mason asked what Dan was feeling, he responded that he was overwhelmed with "just a lot of memories. A lot of memories with with Catherine... It's what you have to hold onto, the memories of it all."

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byAnio Baumeister

in

April 09, 2026

Catherine O'Hara's brother says actress 'wasn't talking much in the end,' said goodbye to him in a dream

Catherine O'Hara's brother Michael P. O'Hara is sharing some insight into the "sort of goodbye" he shared with hi...

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Who's in 2026 NBA playoffs? Latest bracket, standings, scenarios

The NBA's annual play-in tournament is less than a week away. We know, we're shocked, too. However, despite the proximity to the end of the regular season, there are only two teams currently locked into their seeds in the Eastern and Western conferences.

Only the Golden State Warriors (locked into the Western Conference's No. 10 seed) and Detroit Pistons (locked into the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed) know for sure where they'll rank by season's end.

Other than them, it's an absolute mish-mosh of what-ifs and maybes that could shape the NBA's postseason, with five teams in the Eastern Conference fighting it out to ensure they avoid the play-in.

Here are the current NBA standings and what the NBA postseason and play-in tournament would look like if the season ended today.

Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

NBA Eastern Conference standings

(Through Wednesday, April 8)

*- clinched conference;d- clinched division; x-clinched playoff berth

1. *-Detroit Pistons: 58-22

2. x-Boston Celtics: 54-25 (3.5 GB)

3. x-New York Knicks: 51-28 (6.5 GB)

4. x-Cleveland Cavaliers: 51-29 (7 GB)

5. Atlanta Hawks: 45-35 (13 GB)

6. Toronto Raptors: 44-35 (13.5 GB)

7. Orlando Magic: 44-36 (14 GB)

8. Philadelphia 76ers: 43-36 (14.5 GB)

9. Charlotte Hornets: 43-37 (15 GB)

10. Miami Heat: 41-38 (16.5 GB)

The Bucks, Bulls, Nets, Pacers and Wizards have been eliminated from postseason contention.

NBA Western Conference standings

(Through Wednesday, April 8)

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*- clinched conference;d- clinched division; x-clinched playoff berth

1. *-Oklahoma City Thunder: 64-16

2. d-San Antonio Spurs: 61-19 (3 GB)

3. x-Denver Nuggets: 52-28 (12 GB)

4. d-Los Angeles Lakers: 50-29 (13.5 GB)

5. x-Houston Rockets: 50-29 (13.5 GB)

6. x-Minnesota Timberwolves: 47-33 (17 GB)

7. Phoenix Suns: 44-36 (20 GB)

8. Los Angeles Clippers: 41-39 (23 GB)

9. Portland Trail Blazers: 40-40 (24 GB)

10. Golden State Warriors: 37-42 (26.5 GB)

The Pelicans, Grizzlies, Mavericks, Kings and Jazz have been eliminated from postseason contention.

NBA playoffs bracket

(Through Wednesday, April 8)

Eastern Conference

• (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Play-In Winner

• (4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks

• (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Toronto Raptors

• (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner

Western Conference

• (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner

• (4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets

• (3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves

• (2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Play-In Winner

NBA Play-In Tournament

(Through Wednesday, April 8)

Eastern Conference

• (7) Orlando Magic vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers

• (9) Charlotte Hornets vs. (10) Miami Heat

Western Conference

• (7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) Los Angeles Clippers

• (9) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors

When do the NBA playoffs begin?

The NBA Play-In Tournament begins Tuesday, April 14 and finishes Friday, April 17.

The NBA playoffs begin the very next day, Saturday, April 18, featuring eight teams in each conference after two teams from both the East and West are eliminated in the Play-In Tournament.

Game 1 of the NBA Finals will be on Wednesday, June 3.

Which upcoming games could impact the postseason standings?

With just five days left in the regular season, every game matters, but there are a few games that could have serious impact on the end-of-season standings.

Wednesday, April 8

• Atlanta Hawks at Cleveland Cavaliers

• Oklahoma City Thunder at LA Clippers

  • Thunder can clinch top seed with win or Spurs loss

Thursday, April 9

• Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors

• Boston Celtics at New York Knicks

Friday, April 10

• Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks

• Toronto Raptors at New York Knicks

• Los Angeles Clippers at Portland Trail Blazers

Sunday, April 12

• Atlanta Hawks at Miami Heat

• Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers

• Denver Nuggets at San Antonio Spurs

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NBA playoff bracket, latest standings, scenarios

byAnio Baumeister

in

April 09, 2026

Who's in 2026 NBA playoffs? Latest bracket, standings, scenarios

The NBA's annual play-in tournament is less than a week away. We know, we're shocked, too. However, despite the proximity to th...

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Quinta Brunson breaks down Janine and Gregory's relationship cliffhanger on “Abbott Elementary” (exclusive)

Warning: This article contains spoilers fromAbbott Elementaryseason 5, episode 19, "Trip."

Quinta Brunsonknows thatAbbott Elementaryfans will be upset after Wednesday's episode, but she's not making any apologies.

"I don't even want to say I'm sorry," the show's creator and star tellsEntertainment Weekly. "We're all going to go on a nice sun ride with each other [after this], right?"

That remains in question after fans watched Janine (played by Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) teeter on the brink of ending their relationship afterseasons of waiting for them to finally get together.

In the episode aptly titled "Trip," the newly cohabitating couple find themselves unexpectedly at odds while planning a couple's trip. Just when they've finally landed on the Outer Banks as their destination, the itinerary proves to be a continuing source of obstacles between them. First, it's the question of whether to stay at a hotel or an Airbnb — which ends with a compromise of sourcing a B'n'B — only for the mode of transportation to prove truly insurmountable.

Although Gregory's inflexibility when it comes to choosing between taking a flight to the Outer Banks versus driving there is expected of the first-grade teacher, it's Janine's refusal to stand down that might be surprising for some fans. But maybe it shouldn't, Brunson reasons.

"This is a girl who has, over the years, learned to stand up for what she wants and to not compromise as much," the Emmy winner points out. "We talked about that a lot in the [writers'] room. Her learning, especially with a trip — there was a trip she wanted to take a few seasons ago and she was going to compromise for the sake of her mother and she learned not to do that. So she's trying to exercise that. She's trying to exercise her wants and getting what she needs."

And who couldn't respect the way Janine confronted Gregory about his less-than-compromising compromise of deciding they should go to Atlantic City instead of the Outer Banks?!

But between Janine's hard-won backbone and Gregory's doggedness, the episode-long back and forth ends with the unthinkable; the argument about their contrasting ideas for vacation ends with Janine suggesting that maybe, in light of their difficultly, they should break up.

This is why they say you should take a vacation before you move in together!

Despite the surety that fans would be sent into a tizzy over that emotional cliffhanger, Brunson shared that the fight was something she and the sitcom writers were excited about seeing played out.

"I think [we were excited] because Jeanine and Gregory are two characters we know very well, and more than anything, two characters wethinkwe know very well. So we think we know their relationship. We feel settled with it," she says. "But I think as with any relationship, the inside has its own dynamics. And I thought that they've been in such an easy ride since they got together, it was interesting to all of us to see some different layers there."

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Brunson says she and the writers posed the question of what could be under the surface of Janine and Gregory's relationship to be unearthed, leading to their trials and tribulations on Wednesday.

"Gregory and Janine haven't had this kind of conflict yet," she adds. "So now it's like, what happens when these two developed characters — who have learned a lot of lessons and have done a lot of growing up — come to this kind of point in their relationship?"

But the actress notes that the fight between Janine and Gregory wasn't created simply for the sake of it; it also served as a "moment of growth" for Gregory. "I think that Gregory is a really solutions-based character, and I feel like he's like, 'I provided the solution. That's it.' And that's not always the case when it comes to our interpersonal relationships," she says. "I think that's true for all relationships, romantic, work relationships, and friendships. You really want to try to find something that actually works for both people, and that's just not always easy to do."

It was also a moment of challenge for Brunson and Williams behind the scenes. "We've been doing this for a long time now and you kind of get used to being able to play certain things with your character," Brunson says. "We're used to playing with the kids, we're used to playing nice and fun, and we're used to playing dramatic in other elements, but this was a new challenge for him and I as actors."

"It's kind of fun," the actress adds, laughing. "It's the stuff that makes you feel like you're back in acting class, your character, a new element throne at it, something new to develop. Who is Gregory in this moment? Who is Janine in this moment? And it's fun, honestly, as actors. This last episode and the one where they move in with each other were both episodes where Tyler and I felt a challenge in how we do these things to make sense."

Brunson shares that the challenge went beyond just her and Williams — even the episode's director and supervising director, Razan Ghalayini and Randall Einhorn, respectively, held "a longer tone meeting than usual."

"We really took the time to be like, how is this going to feel? This is a monumental moment for these two characters, as well as our writer of this episode, Ava Coleman," Brunson says. "I felt like we had a two-part tone meeting, which we very rarely do, because this is a big moment. And then on set, same. We took more time to shoot these scenes than we normally would because we really wanted to feel it out in rehearsal and feel it out in the direction."

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She continues, "There were smaller elements like Razan choosing to shoot farther away rather than in closeups in certain scenes. Sometimes it was like, 'Oh, we need to be a bit further away for this because even our camera crew in the show doesn't feel like they should be this close to this discussion. This is between these two characters.' So it was a fun challenge for all of us."

Hopefully the knowledge that the crew behind the cameras were working hard to bring the drama will make any fans feeling personally victimized by the cliffhanger ending of Wednesday's episode feel better!

Abbott Elementaryairs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET onABC.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byAnio Baumeister

in

April 09, 2026

Quinta Brunson breaks down Janine and Gregory's relationship cliffhanger on “Abbott Elementary” (exclusive)

Warning: This article contains spoilers fromAbbott Elementaryseason 5, episode 19, "Trip." Quinta Brunsonknows thatAbbo...

Read More