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Nine years ago, no one could have predicted the cultural phenomenon "Stranger Things" would become. As the series enters its final season, it leaves behind a billion-dollar legacy. With its flagship show coming to an end, can Netflix maintain its momentum? Los Angeles (tca/dpa) – Before the sci-fi series "Stranger Things" premiered on Netflix , several traditional studios had already passed on it. Its creators were first-time show runners, unknown young actors were cast in lead roles, and even though the show starred kids, it was not for children. That was nine years ago. The 1980s-set show about a monster that wreaks havoc on fictional Hawkins, Ind., hit a chord with Netflix 's global subscribers. "Stranger Things" has since become one of the streamer's most culturally significant shows, with its fourth season garnering 140.7 million views in its first three months and ranking third among its top English-language series. It was instrumental in growing new branches of business for Netflix , including live events, a Broadway production and inspired brands eager to partner on licensed merchandise. It became a major franchise for the platform, a chance to build a universe around its central characters and create its own version of "Star Wars." The show helped build Netflix 's reputation as a place that makes big bets on original ideas and, if it's a hit, can build a large fandom for such programs with its worldwide subscriber base. Netflix took a chance on show runner brothers Matt and Ross Duffer . The pair never imagined the series, which held its first premiere in Silver Lake at Mack Sennett Studios , would take off the way it did. That wasn't lost on Matt Duffer , who stood on stage at the final season premiere inside the historic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood earlier this month. It was the same place "Star Wars" premiered in 1977. "For me, as a nerd, this is a dream come true," Duffer told the audience. In an interview, Bela Bajaria , the chief content officer at Netflix , lauded the success of the series: "You could take a bet on an original story, and grow it to a major franchise that has massive global appeal." Other Netflix shows, like " House of Cards ," have certainly captured the zeitgeist before, but co-CEO Ted Sarandos said he believes "Stranger Things" stands above some previous hits. " This was a lot closer to a 'Star Wars' moment," Sarandos said speaking on stage at the "Stranger Things" final season premiere in Hollywood earlier this month. "This is a show, and these are characters that move the culture, that spawned live events and consumer products and spinoffs and sequels … Everything from the first episode of the first season to 'The First Shadow,' the Broadway show, the origin story of the Upside Down, it has been and continues to be a remarkable addition to entertainment culture." The four past seasons of "Stranger Things" made it into Netflix 's Top 10 this past week, Netflix said. From 2020 to the second quarter of 2025, "Stranger Things" earned more than $1 billion in global streaming revenue for Netflix and was responsible for more than 2 million new subscriber acquisitions, according to estimates from Parrot Analytics, which tracks streaming data. Netflix declined to comment on Parrot's estimates. "Every single streaming service needs that anchor series that drives customer acquisition and helps define the original programming," said Brandon Katz , director of insights and content strategy at Greenlight Analytics, adding for Hulu it was "The Handmaid's Tale" and for Disney+, "The Mandalorian." "'Stranger Things' has undoubtedly been that for Netflix . Every few years that it does air, Netflix knows there is a guaranteed high ceiling of acquisition, retention and viewership power," Katz said. "Stranger Things" also helped Netflix expand into licensed goods, with brands eager to partner with the platform. There are themed Eggo breakfast foods, Lego sets and clothing. The series "has been a catalyst for Netflix to explore all of the ways in which a single entertainment property can be turned into an entire global lifestyle," said Robert Thompson , director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University . Its popularity has helped other creative collaborators as well. Artists whose songs were featured on the show climbed the charts. Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" was featured in Season 4 and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 and No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, 37 years after its original release, Netflix said. Metallica's 1986 song "Master of Puppets " also broke the U. K. Top 30 for the first time after it played during the Season 4 finale, the streamer added. The series has been recognized with more than 65 awards and 175 nominations. Netflix estimates "Stranger Things" has helped create 8,000 production-related jobs in the U.S. over its five seasons and, since 2015, contributed more than $1.4 billion to U.S. GDP. In California , Netflix estimates the series contributed more than $500 million of GDP. Netflix is doing a large marketing push with fan events in 28 cities and 21 countries as the series draws to a close. On Sunday, the streamer hosted a bike ride on a stretch of Melrose Avenue in partnership with CicLAvia where 50,000 fans were encouraged to dress in '80s attire, or as a "Stranger Things" character. On Thursday, a "Stranger Things" float appeared in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. The company began a phased release of the final season with four episodes that debuted Wednesday. Another three episodes will land on Christmas Day and a two-hour finale Dec. 31 on Netflix . The finale will also play inmore than 350 movie theaters in the U.S. and Canada on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 . "Stranger Things" fans Kelly Audrain and Jason Serstock said they have been rewatching the show from the beginning to refresh their memories on the whole tale, and were still on Season 2 as of earlier this month. The couple attended the premiere of the last season in Hollywood . "The whole costuming and everything was so perfect that you just feel like you're taken back to the '80s," 29-year-old Audrain said, who was dressed as "Stranger Things" character Eleven in a pink dress and sporting a mock bloody nose. Netflix is expanding the show's universe with the animated series "Stranger Things: Tales from '85" next year. In April, Netflix 's "Stranger Things: The First Shadow " stage play hit Broadway . The company has also opened "Stranger Things" pop-up stores, held live experiences and will feature immersive experiences at its Netflix House locations, including "Stranger Things: Escape the Dark" in Dallas . In Las Vegas , Netflix will offer themed foods like Surfer Boy Pizza at its Netflix Bites restaurant. The Duffers recentlytold Deadline a spinoff is in the works at Netflix . Bajaria declined to share anything about that but said, "I think the world is really rich and there's still a lot of story in there." But there are challenges ahead. Netflix , seen as the leader in subscription streaming, has had two major flagship series end this year — "Stranger Things" and Korean-language drama "Squid Game." Analysts say the company will need to keep pumping out popular shows and movies to keep subscribers coming back. Netflix has successfully expanded its "Squid Game" franchise to include reality competition series "Squid Game: The Challenge ," where more than 95% of watchers also tuned into the scripted series. Other popular franchises like Addams family series "Wednesday," pirates tale "One Piece" and Regency-era romance "Bridgerton" are ongoing. Netflix 's hit animated movie "KPop Demon Hunters" will get a sequel. Separately, Netflix placed a bid on parts of Warner Bros. Discovery , with interest in Warner's Burbank studios and HBO , according to people familiar with the matter. If the acquisition is successful, it would greatly expand Netflix 's library of titles and intellectual property. Whi…

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A Paris Christmas romance has rocketed to 20 million views in five days and hit number one in 51 countries, Netflix says. Is "Champagne Problems" a charming festive escape or a sugar-sweet schmaltz? Paris (dpa) – Young and single, she flies in from the United States to France for work and finds a whirlwind romance instead. Yes, yes, we've seen this one already. Except that no, this isn't "Emily in Paris", but Netflix's latest rom-com film with a Christmas-branded take on some less-than-original tearjerking schmaltz. The story Junior manager Sydney is sent to Paris to help her company acquire the prestigious champagne label Château Cassell just before Christmas. Exploring the festively decorated city on her own with a promise to keep her head down ("I don't have time for sightseeing"), she soon meets the Frenchman Henri in a bookshop. Between the Eiffel Tower and a bridge over the Seine they spend magical romantic hours together before the bubble bursts the next morning when they both make a surprise discovery that impacts her work in Paris. If the story feels familiar so far, then the rest of the film will feel very predictable. The characters Minka Kelly, crowned Sexiest Woman Alive in 2010, plays Sydney with an innocently sultry glance and pleasant smile. Opposite her, Tom Wozniczka is an easy-on-the-eyes Henri. Their characters yearn for an orderly happiness without drama and are a touch strait-laced. That is fair and true to life, but for outsiders it is a bit like listening to the neighbours' pillow talk, only mildly exciting. Champagne magnate Hugo Cassell (Thibault de Montalembert) is fatherly and well-meaning, while the German Otto (Flula Borg) comes across as stiff and overly correct. He is Sydney’s rival for the champagne brand, as is the distinguished Frenchwoman Brigitte. Stirring things up is Roberto (Sean Amsing), a gay millionaire who also wants the company because he loves serving the noble fizz at his parties. The script and the setting The film radiates a rose-tinted plush cosiness. The twinkling Eiffel Tower is present, as are Paris’s glittering lights and of course the snow-dusted baroque little chateau of the Cassell family, where patriarch Hugo plans to decide on a buyer. It is a setting and film far removed from the world’s problems. The script, meanwhile, holds plenty of howlers and groaners, some more, some less cringe-inducing. A selection: "Château Cassell turns my troubles into bubbles." (Roberto on why he wants to buy the brand.) "With over a thousand varieties in France alone, cheese is more than food. It’s part of our culture, our history. To get to know France, it’s to get to know and love cheese." (during a tasting) "We have a saying in Germany: 'Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei'. Which is 'Everything has an end, except for sausage, which has two.'" (Otto trying to be funny.) "Champagne problems? It just means your problems aren’t really that bad. Most people would feel lucky to have your worries." (Sydney on her experiences in France.) "Sometimes, you can live a whole life in just one day. I had a great life today." (Henri to Sydney on their first evening.) How does it make you feel?   Like you've drunk a bit too much mulled wine, given nearly two hours of sugar-sweet romance. In return your head feels pleasantly empty and ready for dreams of sparkling lights and Christmas romance. The following information is not intended for publication dpa cor yyby n1 gth/slb

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Nearly ten years after its debut, "Stranger Things" is drawing the curtain with a three-part final season and sky-high expectations. The cast shared some hints with us at catharsis, secrets and one last showdown. Can the Duffers deliver a satisfying payoff for Hawkins? London (dpa) – The first four episodes of the final season of "Stranger Things" will launch on Wednesday, November 26, after a three-year wait. The fifth and final season is being released in three parts on November 27, December 25 and December 31, 2026 on Netflix. The launch at 5 pm US Pacific Time means many in the Eastern Hemisphere will need to wait another day (or at least until after midnight) before they can watch. The wait has been long for the finale of a series that premiered in the summer of 2016 and became a global phenomenon almost overnight with its mix of fantasy, mystery, horror and coming-of-age, plus a heavy dose of 1980s flair and pop culture nods. 'A  satisfying conclusion'? "It's scary, but it is exciting," said Noah Schnapp in an interview with dpa. Schnapp plays Will Byers, one of the central figures in "Stranger Things". "It's sad, of course, and we keep saying how emotional it is." Fans have waited three years for the finale. There are many examples of series that disappointed fans at the end, from "Lost" to "Game of Thrones". "It's obviously scary," said series creator Matt Duffer, who devised the show with his twin brother Ross. "There's so many examples of long running shows that have not landed the plane so smoothly It's just really challenging because there's so many stories. There's mythology, there's plot. You have to bring it all to a satisfying conclusion." The ending has been set for years Natalia Dyer, who plays Nancy Wheeler, said she was satisfied. "I think there was a lot of catharsis," she told dpa. "They went out of their way, obviously, to make sure that we had proper closure, which is really nice." The Duffers said they had long been prepared and had the ending in mind early on. "We've always had the ending in mind, the last scene in particular," Matt Duffer said. "We've had that for seven years or something. So that provided us with a North Star that we were we were confident in. So we were always building towards that moment." All involved were very happy with the result, he added. Hype before the last season is enormous and is being fuelled by Netflix with extensive marketing and fan events. The actors went on a wide-ranging PR tour, visiting an abandoned building in Berlin and a disused underground station in London, locations that echo the show’s dark shadow world. There is a flood of merchandise and a fast-food chain is offering "Stranger Things" menus. For viewers who have gaps in their memory after three years but lack time to rewatch the first four seasons, Netflix offers recap videos with short season summaries to refresh memories. What's happened so far (careful , spoilers) In season one, set in 1983, Will Byers disappears. His friends Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson and Lucas Sinclair, searching for him, meet the mysterious girl Eleven, who has extraordinary powers. They, and Will’s mother Joyce, discover a parallel shadow world, the Upside Down, where the fearsome Demogorgon lurks. After Will is rescued, Hawkins faces a greater threat in 1984. A creature called the Mind Flayer invades victims’ thoughts and takes control of their will. In season three, set in 1985, Soviet agents infiltrate Hawkins to open a portal to the shadow world, bringing more unwelcome visitors. Police chief Jim Hopper sacrifices himself to close the portal from the other side and ends up in a Russian penal camp where Demogorgons are being used for experiments. Season four opens with unexplained deaths in Hawkins. An intelligent entity called Vecna haunts citizens in their dreams. Eleven learns she has a link to Vecna rooted in her traumatic past. The shadow world breaches the real one and parts of the town must be evacuated. The last battle looms Ahead of the finale, secrecy is paramount. What we do know is that in autumn 1987 Hawkins is under military quarantine, scarred by the opening of the Upside Down portal. Eleven is being hunted by the government, while her friends, under constant surveillance, forge a plan to end the horror once and for all. "The stakes are high," said Caleb McLaughlin, pausing to consider what he was allowed to reveal about season five and the last battle. "We all have one agenda is to get Vecna. We were defeated last season, and everyone has their eye on the tiger." The following information is not intended for publication dpa pde zlp xx a3 jcf

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From Herb Alpert’s Latin flair to Stryper’s heavy holiday vibes, this year’s Christmas album lineup has something for everyone. With fresh takes on classics and standout originals, which of these 2025 releases will make your holiday playlist sparkle? Los Angeles (tca/dpa) – We love those classic Christmas recordings. And we cherish the chance to hear Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, Barbra Streisand, the Beach Boys, Darlene Love and other greats sing these standards each and every Christmas season. Yet, we also like to spice things up and add some new voices to our holiday playlist. Thankfully, we never have any shortage of contenders trying to make the cut. That’s because there are dozens upon dozens ofnew Christmas albums released each season. We’ve combed through the offerings and have come up with what we consider to be the best of the bunch. Here are our picks for the top 10new Christmas albums for 2025: 1. “On This Winter’s Night: Volume 2,” Lady A The country act’s first seasonal offering, 2012’s “On This Winter’s Night,” was a joyous affair that included sparkling versions of such Christmas classics as “The First Noel” and “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” Thirteen years later, the platinum-plus-selling Nashville trio — consisting of lead vocalists Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley as well as the multi-talented Dave Haywood — returns with an equally good follow-up record. This second installment, in what hopefully will grow into a lengthy series, includes solid takes on “O Holy Night,” “Winter Wonderland” and other favorites. It also features guest appearances from Ricky Skaggs on “Why We Sing Noel” and Chris Tomlin on an absolutely gorgeous version of “Silent Night.” Listen to: “Silent Night” (featuring Chris Tomlin) 2. “Greatest Gift of All,” Stryper The holidays are about to get heavy — but in the right way — as powerhouse metal act Stryper finally releases its first-ever Christmas album. The SoCal outfit, best known for the platinum-selling ‘80s offering “To Hell with the Devil,” thoroughly rocks us around the Christmas tree as it thunders through a mix of holiday classics and originals. As far as the latter goes, we are really enjoying turning up the volume on “Still the Light” — which features some blistering guitar work from Michael Sweet and Oz Fox — and the Black Sabbath-esque “On This Holy Night.” Truly great stuff from Christian metal’s most legendary band. Listen to: “Still the Light” 3. “Greatest Hits Christmas,” LeAnn Rimes The country crooner — blessed with one of the finest singing voices in the history of the genre — has a long history with holiday recordings. It began in the mid-‘90s when she recorded “Put a Little Holiday in Your Heart” as a promotional/bonus single for her blockbuster major-label debut, “Blue,” and has continued through the years. This generous collection, which is big enough to warrant a double-LP release for vinyl fans, gathers up so many of her classic Christmas recordings — “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” to “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” — as well as three new cuts. Collectively, these songs serve to underscore that Rimes stands among the greatest Christmas music interpreters of the last 30 years. Listen to: “Little Drummer Boy” 4. “Let Me Carry You This Christmas,” Darius de Haas The versatile vocalist has quite a track record in the theater world, having appeared in Broadway productions of “Rent,” “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “Carousel,” “Marie Christine” and other plays. He’s also fashioned an impressive career as a concert/recording artist, performing with both the Boston and Cincinnati pops orchestras and releasing a number of albums. Now, he’s making his mark in the seasonal music realm with this 11-track outing. He’s blessed with a beautiful voice — which many know from him doing the singing parts for the character of Shy Baldwin on Amazon’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” — and he puts it to great use on “The First Noel,” “Silent Night” and other holiday tunes. Listen to: “Who Would Imagine a King” 5. “Come Home for Christmas,” Matthew West The contemporary Christian singer-songwriter, who gave voice to such chart-topping hits as “More,” “You Are Everything,” “Hello, My Name Is,” “Grace Wins,” “Broken Things” and “The God Who Stays,” is inviting music lovers to “Come Home for Christmas.” This eight-song offering follows is yet another Christmastime delight for West, who previously recorded “The Heart of Christmas” in 2011 and “We Need Christmas” in 2021. The set is a mix of original tunes and holiday standards. And, as an added bonus, it even includes a “kids version” of West’s excellent Thanksgiving ode “Gobble Gobble.” Listen to: “Because of Bethlehem” 6. “Nollaig — A Christmas Journey,” Celtic Woman These PBS favorites originally came together for a one-off performance in Dublin, Ireland, in 2004 and are still going strong 21 years later. And now they are embarking on “A Christmas Journey.” It is not — to put it mildly — their first such journey. Celtic Woman, which some have described as “’Riverdance’ for the voice,” has released approximately 215,334 seasonal albums over the years. Or it could be 215,335 — since the group might have released another since I started writing this. The reason the collective keeps releasing holiday platters — and the reason we keep buy them — is that it does a really good job with the Christmas songbook. And that’s certainly the case, once again, with this fine collection of wintery tunes. Listen to: “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” 7. “Christmas Time Is Here,” Herb Alpert The legendary trumpeter — who turned 90 earlier this year — has delivered such a gorgeous set of Latin-flavored holiday songs with “Christmas Time Is Here.” The collection of mostly instrumentals kicks off with a true jaw-dropper — with Alpert pouring such emotion and feeling into a softly held version of “Feliz Navidad” — and then continues to shine through such Christmas classics as “White Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland” and “Sleigh Ride.” Of course, this is not the first holiday rodeo for Alpert, who achieved massive success with 1968’s “Christmas Album” — recorded with his Tijuana Brass band — and then followed up with the well-received “Christmas Wish” some 50 years later. Listen to: “Feliz Navidad” 8. “Christmas,” Natalie Grant A lot has happened since this Seattle native released her first seasonal offering — “Believe” — in 2005. For starters, she won a mind-blowing four consecutive Dove Awards for female vocalist of the year from 2006-2009. (And then she’d add a fifth such trophy to her collection in 2012.) Twenty years after “Believe,” Grant returns with “Christmas,” another gorgeous set of holiday favorites (“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland,” etc.) and other tunes. We especially love her work with MercyMe’s Bart Millard on “Silent Night.” Listen to: “Silent Night” 9. “Snow Globe Town,” Brad Paisley “Brad Paisley Christmas” was a fine holiday affair, filled with cool covers of seasonal staples (“Silent Night,” “Winter Wonderland,” etc.) as well as a few more unorthodox selections (notably, the PC-diss-track “Kung Pao Buckaroo Holiday”). The country music star’s long-awaited follow-up — coming 19 years after that first 2006 Christmas outing — is another intriguing platter that mixes tradition and novelty. Paisley, a decent vocalist and excellent guitarist, sounds like he’s having a blast on “That Crazy Elf (On the Shelf),” “A Marshmallow World” and other fun tunes. Yet, listeners are likely to enjoy his work on the slower numbers even more. Listen to: “The First N…

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New York (tca/dpa) – Fiddy is making good on his promise to expose Diddy. Hip-hop superstarCurtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s eagerly anticipated documentary aboutSean “Diddy” Combs will finally see the light of day two years after the project was announced. Netflix is set to release “Sean Combs: The Reckoning” globally on December 2, the streamer confirmed on Tuesday. The four-part series — directed by Alexandria Stapleton and executive produced by 50 Cent — is described by the streaming giant as “a staggering examination of the media mogul, music legend and convicted offender.” The documentary will feature new interviews with “those formerly in Combs’ orbit,” according to Tuesday’s announcement. It also promises to “(tell) the story of a powerful, enterprising man and the gilded empire he built — and the underworld that lay just beneath its surface.” In a teaser also released on Tuesday,former Bad Boy Records rapper Mark Curry is heard saying: “You can’t continue to keep hurting people and nothing ever happens. It’s just a matter of time.” Combs was found guilty in July on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, following a nine-week trial in which his ex-girlfriend,R&B singer Cassie Ventura, served as the star witness . Last month, hebegan serving his four-year federal prison sentence at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey. He’s also currently facing a barrage of civil lawsuits connected to sexual misconduct allegations as he attempts to appeal his conviction and sentence. “This isn’t just about the story of Sean Combs or the story of Cassie, or the story of any of the victims, or the allegations against him, or the trial,” said Stapleton, whose previous credits include documentaries on Reggie Jackson, Chelsea Handler andJonBenét Ramsey . “Ultimately, this story is a mirror (reflecting us) as the public, and what we are saying when we put our celebrities on such a high pedestal,” she continued. “I hope [this documentary] is a wake-up call for how we idolize people, and to understand that everybody is a human being.” 50 Cent, meanwhile, said he’s “grateful to everyone who came forward and trusted us with their stories,” adding that he’s proud to have Stapleton to “bring this important story to the screen.” The “In Da Club ” rapper has hadlong-standing beef with Diddy , dating back to the 2006 diss track “The Bomb,” in which 50 accused Combs of having something to do with the 1997 murder of the Notorious B.I.G. The feud has continued ever since through social media jabs and rival business ventures. Actress, model and entrepreneurDaphne Joy, who shares a son with 50 Cent, was also named as one of Diddy’s “sex worker[s]” in alawsuit filed by Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones . 50 Cent has said he suspected Combs’ alleged illegal behavior for years and that the documentary was already in the works prior toDiddy’s arrest in September 2024 . The following information is not intended for publication tca dpa coh

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Hand-sized, colourful plus a loving message – these playful cakes are popular, selling like – well – hotcakes, partly thanks to social media. Even novice bakers can create beautiful, sweet surprises. Berlin (dpa) – They're creative, look impressive and come from the heart: Bento cakes. These South Korean mini cakes have long since spread beyond Asia thanks to social media. While only palm-sized, they offer everything a large cake does, including a base, filling, coating and decoration. They often feature a short message to the recipient. A buttery "Love yourself" or an apologetic "Oops" are words that come from the heart. "In South Korea, people love colourful, playful and cute things," says Man Ahn Büschges, master confectioner and operator of an online bakery. No wonder that the trend started there. The name "bento" is derived from the Japanese bento boxes, those lovingly assembled lunch boxes that enjoy cult status in large parts of Asia. Photos of bento cakes and videos of people surprised when opening a box are often shared on social media, but bento cakes don't need an online audience. "They are easy for anyone to make and are a great gift," says Marid Lubenow, author and food blogger. Instagram-worthy bento cakes are relatively easy to bake at home, with manageable effort and no need for professional equipment. One batter, two creams plus imagination "Patience is the most important ingredient," says Lubenow. "Allow more time than you think you'll need," says Büschges, because it's crucial for success that the cake is well chilled between each step. The typical bento cake is a layer cake. For beginners, sponge mixtures are suitable, which are given an interesting flavour by special ingredients. Lubenow bakes a chai cake with spices like vanilla, cinnamon, ginger and cardamom. She also likes to add a little olive oil to her Italian orange cake. If you don't have a mini baking tin with a diameter of 8-12 cm, you can use an existing baking tin and cut circles out of a larger base. Once the cake base has been baked and cooled, the filling and coating, also known as frosting, are prepared. "Mousse fillings are particularly popular. They are light and less sweet," says Büschges. She offers cakes with three sponge bases and two mousse fillings. "Sponge cake stacks well and a finger-width layer of mousse keeps the cake stable," says Büschges. If the layers are too thick, the cake could break when carried. For those trying their hand at frosting for the first time, Lubenow recommends American buttercream or icing. Cream cheese frosting, Swiss meringue or ganache are more elaborate. Small mistakes when applying the frosting can be corrected. If crumbs get into the cream or the frosting is uneven, chill the cake and frosting again. Later, add a second layer on top to create a clean and smooth coating. Helpful tools, but not essential, are a turntable and a palette knife for spreading the cream. Icing on the cake and kind words Once the cake is covered with frosting, put it back into the fridge, because the artistic piping decorations work best when it is well chilled. Lubenow advises first trying out the piping nozzle on a plate. Now put the test cream back into the nozzle and, once cooled again, use it to decorate the cake. "With a little patience, it will turn out fine and the cake will look homemade," says Lubenow. It takes some courage and skill to write a message on the tiny cake. Büschges advises, "Write with the base colour of the icing. If you make a mistake, just smooth it out again." When you are happy with the result, write over it with the coloured cream. Another tip from Lubenow: write on baking paper with liquid chocolate and place the lettering on the cake later. It doesn't always have to be a layer cake. "The cake should look good and taste good to the recipient," says Lubenow, who makes a New York cheesecake and a lemon tart in bento style. Even vegan versions are possible, such as a courgette bento cake. Now the packaging There is a trick to lifting the finished cake into the box without destroying the work of art. At the very beginning, the bottom layer is placed on a piece of baking paper cut to size. You can lift the cake by grabbing the protruding corners. "If brown baking paper doesn't work, I use white sandwich paper," says Büschges. You can order a wide selection of suitable boxes online. Or "just ask at your local snack bar if you can buy a burger box," says Lubenow. And what to do with the cake scraps left over from cutting out the shapes? If you haven't already nibbled them away while baking, you can use them to make cake pralines or layered desserts in a glass. You can find inspiration for bento cakes everywhere. Lubenow finds new flavour combinations or exciting ingredients while shopping. She also gets ideas from cafés or friends, which she incorporates into her creations. Büschges also uses social media as a source of inspiration. She gets ideas for the visual design of the cakes from interior design websites. "Interior photos provide trendy ideas," says Büschges. So, with a little creativity and a lot of patience, anyone can bake little works of art that make someone's heart beat a little bit faster. In the end, it's not the perfect photo that counts, but the smile on someone's face. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn ode bzl cwg loe xxde arw coh

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Thirty years ago, The Beatles Anthology provided a whole new insight into the work of the Fab Four. Now the band's archive has been reopened. Sound engineer Giles Martin explains what was important in this process. London (dpa) – The documentary series "The Beatles Anthology" is returning to Disney+ with a new ninth episode to mark the anniversary, alongside freshly curated archive music releases. "The Beatles exist without us," George Harrison said 30 years ago in the documentary series "The Beatles Anthology", in which the musicians told the band’s story from their own perspective. Longstanding fans were delighted by the mid-1990s series, which allowed a new generation to discover the Beatles. Alongside the series came three double CDs of previously unreleased rarities, demos and live recordings, plus the first Beatles single in 25 years, "Free as a Bird". Those music compilations are now being reissued in multiple formats.Renowned producer and sound engineer Giles Martin, son of the Beatles’ late producer George Martin, has curated a new fourth compilation. It includes 13 previously unreleased demos and session takes, and also features "Now and Then", released two years ago as the Beatles’ final song. "Anthology 4 is an interesting mix of some material that we've heard before in other box sets and other material that's just worth listening to," said Martin in an interview with dpa in London at the famous Abbey Road Studios. "The reason behind it is that we felt like the Beatles' anthologies weren't complete alongside everything else." Up close with John, Paul, George and Ringo Thousands of hours of recordings sit in the Beatles’ archives. Martin did not make the track selection alone. There is a team of two Beatles nerds who know everything about the Beatles, he said. "They suggest things that they've argued in the past should be released, and I'll go through and listen to everything. And then my judgement is purely based on whether I think it's fun to listen to and whether I want to listen to it more than once and whether it provides a really good sketch into the world of the Beatles." That was also the idea 30 years ago behind "The Beatles Anthology": to give fans a look behind the scenes and a sense of being present as music history was made. The recordings capture not only the songs but also studio chatter and banter from Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Band and families directly involved The new Anthology was created in close consultation with the surviving Beatles, Paul and Ringo, as well as with George Harrison’s widow Olivia and son Dhani, and John Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono and son Sean Lennon. "There's no marketing teams or anything like that," Martin stressed. He has remixed the first three Anthology compilations, originally released in 1995 and 1996. "It was the CD world of things being quite bright and digital," he explained. "the transfer from tape to digital wasn't necessarily the best it could be and all that stuff. So I went and reback and redid all of that." Martin emphasised that "The Beatles Anthology" was not produced for specific technology, such as modern headphones, since he was keen not to mix for a particular technology that might not last as long as the music itself. Some fans voice criticism in advance As with such releases, the run-up brought not only enthusiasm but also criticism from some fans who wanted even more tracks and obscure rarities from the archive. Martin said it's great to work for such passionate fans, but notes that he doesn't make records to collect, but ones to listen to and enjoy. The sound expert is already working on the next Beatles project. Director Sam Mendes is making four films about the Fab Four, one about each member, and Martin is involved. He is convinced the Beatles phenomenon will endure. "I think people discover the Beatles in different ways, and generations will continue to discover the Beatles in different ways in the same way they discover a piece of music by Mozart – it could be from an advert, from TikTok or from a concert. It's the same with the Beatles." "The Beatles Anthology Collection" is available now on CD or vinyl, individually or as a box set, and digitally. The documentary series "The Beatles Anthology" will be available on Disney+ from November 26 with three episodes, with a further three episodes released on November 27 and November 28. The following information is not intended for publication dpa xx pde a3 thn cco

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