The entertainment and pop culture world saw several notable developments this week, ranging from the upcoming auction of beloved painter Bob Ross's artwork to help fund PBS, to social media influencers disrupting New England's fall foliage tourism season. Additionally, Lay's announced a major rebranding effort after discovering that less than half of consumers know their chips are made from real potatoes.
Social media influencers are causing significant disruption to New England's traditional leaf-peeping season, particularly affecting Vermont communities. Local residents have grown frustrated with the influx of content creators whose cars damage rural roads while they seek the perfect autumn backdrop for their posts. The situation has become so problematic that one Vermont local has created collectible action figures mocking the intruders, with names like "Influencer Trespassing on Private Road" and "Leaf Peepers Blocking Traffic." The phenomenon highlights the growing tension between traditional tourism and the modern influencer economy's impact on small communities.
In more positive news for art enthusiasts, thirty original paintings by the late Bob Ross will be auctioned off to support PBS following the recent elimination of the network's federal funding. The beloved painter, known for his calm demeanor and methodical approach on television, consistently amazed viewers by completing beautiful landscape paintings within each episode's timeframe. The first three paintings will go under the hammer at Bonhams auction house in Los Angeles this November, with the remaining twenty-seven works being sold at various Bonhams locations throughout the following year. Ross's work continues to resonate with audiences who found his patient teaching style and peaceful nature deeply comforting.
Lay's potato chips is undertaking a comprehensive rebranding of their packaging after internal market research revealed that only 42 percent of consumers understand their chips are made from actual potatoes. While many Lay's products don't prominently display "potato chips" on their front packaging, they do contain real potatoes as their primary ingredient. The new packaging design will feature "Real Potatoes" prominently displayed on the front to eliminate consumer confusion and better communicate the product's natural ingredients.
The entertainment industry continues to mine childhood games and toys for content, with M. Night Shyamalan set to direct a horror television series based on the Magic 8-Ball fortune-telling toy. The acclaimed director of "The Sixth Sense" and "Unbreakable" joins a growing trend of filmmakers adapting board games and toys into feature films and series, following previous adaptations like "Battleship," "Ouija," and Netflix's upcoming "Clue" series. Whether this supernatural approach to the classic toy will prove successful remains to be seen.
The week also brought news of several significant losses in the entertainment world. Diane Keaton, the Academy Award-winning actress known for iconic roles in "Annie Hall," "Manhattan," the "Godfather" films, and "Something's Gotta Give," passed away at age 79. R&B artist D'Angelo, whose hits included "Untitled (How Does It Feel?)," "Lady," and "Brown Sugar," died at 51. The entertainment industry also mourned Drew Struzan, the legendary poster artist behind iconic movie artwork for "Back to the Future," "The Empire Strikes Back," and the Indiana Jones franchise, who died at 78.
Additional notable passings included character actor Ron Dean, who appeared in "The Breakfast Club," "The Dark Knight," and "The Fugitive," who died at 87. Music industry veteran Ian Freebairn-Smith, who arranged "Evergreen" from "A Star is Born" and contributed vocals to theme songs for "Batman," "Flipper," and "Gilligan's Island," passed away at 93. Sister Jean Schmidt, who became famous for her devoted support of Loyola University's basketball team, died at 106, while Clark Olofsson, one of the bank robbers involved in the 1973 Swedish heist that popularized the term "Stockholm Syndrome," died at 78.
Looking ahead, next week brings several notable observances including No Beard Day on October 18, the peak of the Orionid Meteor Shower on October 21, and Back to the Future Day, also on October 21. The latter commemorates the date Marty McFly traveled to in "Back to the Future Part II," and coincidentally, the original 1985 film will receive a special 40th anniversary IMAX re-release on Halloween. NASA predicts this year's Orionid Meteor Shower will be particularly spectacular for stargazers.
