E! NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Inside Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s

E! NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Inside Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Exclusive Wedding Reception

E! NEWS https://www.eonline.com/news/937309/inside-meghan-markle-and-prince-harry-s-exclusive-wedding-reception. 

The best and most exclusive party in Britain was definitely at Frogmore House last night!

After their royal wedding ceremony in front of the world, Prince Harry and Meghan Markletreated themselves and only 200 of their 600 wedding guests to quite the party at Frogmore House inside Windsor Castle and we've got all the juicy details you're dying to know!

The pair arrived to the bash in an environmentally-friendly 1968 Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero that ran on electric power.

Harry changed up his military ensemble and into a James Bond-style tux. Meghan wore a shoulder-baring, halter dress by Stella McCartney and her hair was done in a bun. Meghan's hair stylist Serge Normant said to a reporter that it was "dreamy" to work with Meghan and added that he created a bun that was "messy, in a controlled way."

During his speech, a source from within the party tells E! News that Prince William said, "My brother is clearly in love. Being in love is like a little boy wetting himself. You don't know you are doing it, everyone else knows and you get a warm feeling."

During his speech, William joked, "With all this talk of love, everyone is emotional, even the cake is crying."

Charles, during his speech, shrugged his shoulders and said "the budget is out of the window on this one."

The bride and groom decided to go with an up-beat '80s hit, "I Want to Dance With Somebody" by Whitney Houston, for their first dance.

At one point, Prince Harry has thanked his wife's wedding dress designer Clare Waight Keller, who was at the event, for transforming Meghan into an "absolutely stunning" bride.

As for what was on the menu, guests dined on posh burgers among other dishes. There was candyfloss for guests with a sweet tooth. There was reportedly a cocktail on the menu called When Harry Met Meghan, a reference to the romantic comedy when Harry Met Sally starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal.

Idris Elba, Serena Williams, Alexis Ohanian and Priyanka Chopra were among the night's notable guests.

Elba even had a surprise DJ set during the night, according to The Telegraph.

At one point, A-list guest George Clooneywas running the tequila bar and was serving drinks to everyone.

Adding in on the fun, there was a 12-piece jazz band from the deep south.

There was also a DJ, who was the same one that was at Pippa Middleton's wedding.

One guest said, "It was out of this world, the music was wide ranging, he was incredible."

The guest also said, "It was the most magical night I have ever had. It was one of those experiences that money can't buy. It was a special night."

James Corden MC'd the night and even did a bit of a stand-up routine, making jokes that some may have felt that Bishop Michael Curry's sermon might have gone on a little too long.

The guest said that Corden said all the things about the day that everyone was feeling but didn't want to say.

As for the lucky-in-love twosome, the eyewitness said Meghan and Harry didn't leave each other's side all night. 

Of course there were some hiccups in the lovely affair. Before the firework display, workers had to get a rope to move all the swans off the water and the fireworks all appeared out of the water. The beautiful display was caught by Emily Nash, royal correspondent for Hello! magazine.

It was quite the party, guests ended up leaving after midnight. Some guests are believed to kept the party going, having an after party at top London hot spot Chiltern Firehouse.

As for what the royal couple is up to today, another source tells E! News that that duo left Windsor Castle on Sunday afternoon after being hosted by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh over their wedding weekend.

Watch E! News Monday, May 21 at 7 and 12 a.m. for all the details on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding!

E! Live From the Royal Wedding

E! Live From the Royal Wedding: Prince Charles' Goddaughter Compares the Royal Wedding to Princess Diana's in 1981

E! NEWS  https://www.eonline.com/news/937122/prince-charles-goddaughter-compares-the-royal-wedding-to-princess-diana-s-in-1981

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's big day had some big shoes to fill.

With two major modern royal weddings in recent memory—brother Prince William's nuptials to Kate Middleton in 2011 and his parents' own lavish affair 30 years before that—there was a lot to compare the May 19 celebration to. And for one person directly involved with one of those earlier festivities, the ceremony held at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle hit exactly all the right notes.

India Hicks, goddaughter of Prince Charles who served as a bridesmaid to the late Princess Diana, called in to E! News' live coverage of the big day, where she broke down all that she saw with her insider perspective.

"Oh my God, all I do, of course, is compare one wedding to the other one that I was on. Completely different thing," she told hosts Giuliana Rancic, Brad Goreski Melanie Bromley and Sarah-Jane Crawford. "This one is absolutely fairy tale to the last moment. Very low-key compared to that 1981 one of over-the-top '80s fashion, over-the-top pomp and circumstance. Amazing for a future king, but I think this one is very reflective of both Harry and Meghan. We're seeing all those little low-key differences that Meghan is already putting in place, which is amazing because, of course, that's the Royal Family and it's hard to tinker with their framework."

Hicks, who founded lifestyle brand India Hicks, Inc. in 2015, couldn't help but hone in on Markle's bridesmaids, given that she's been in their place. "The bridesmaids particularly, of course, I'm looking at them, having had the experience of having ridden in that glass carriage myself," she said. "What I loved was the shoes, the little bridesmaid shoes, and the way that Meghan gave them as a gift to the bridesmaids and they had those initials embroidered on the front. So there were really charming little moments that we saw from today."

She also opened up about what it was like to see her godfather rise to the occasion and step in to walk his new daughter-in-law down the aisle after Markle's father Thomas Markle's health prevented him from attending his daughter's big day due as he recovered from a recent surgery. "Of course,  because I love a woman who stands on her own two feet and I've got a business that's all about women finding themselves, I love the fact that Meghan walked that first bit down the aisle by herself. She did not look alone. I thought she looked wonderful there," Hick said. "And I then loved the tender moment when Charles comes out and walks her down that last bit. It really was a moment that sealed the family connection, and the fact that she's going to get a lot of support having come from something that was quite difficult into a family that's obviously steeped in history and tradition. But hopefully she's going to have that support beside her so it won't feel lonely at any moment for her."

For more from Hicks, including what it means to her to see a true advocate for women marry into the monarchy, be sure to check out the video above!

Watch E! News Monday, May 21 at 7 and 11 p.m. for all the details on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding!

E! Live From the Royal Wedding: How Meghan Markle

E! Live From the Royal Wedding: How Meghan Markle Spent Her Morning Before Marrying Prince Harry

E! NEWS  https://www.eonline.com/news/936852/how-meghan-markle-spent-her-morning-before-marrying-prince-harry

Pre-wedding jitters? Not a chance for Meghan Markle.

It would be perfectly understandable if the bride-to-be was a bit overwhelmed the morning of her wedding. After all, she was set to marry Prince Harry in front of millions of people around the world.

Ultimately, the Suits star and philanthropist appeared to have enjoyed the hours before the ceremony without any drama.

Meghan and her mother Doria Ragland were able to wake up at the Cliveden House Hotel in Taplow, Berkshire where they enjoyed plenty of privacy and time to themselves.

The property offered "the utmost in privacy and escapism" before it was time to head over to St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

While some brides are frantically finalizing their wedding vows hours before their wedding, Meghan's were all ready to go.

In fact, royal watchers were able to read the powerful words the day before the actual ceremony. "I, Meghan, take you, Harry, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part; according to God's holy law," she stated. "In the presence of God I make this vow."

And before Meghan privately got into the car that would take her to the venue, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed a new title onto the bride. "Prince Harry thus becomes His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex, and Ms. Meghan Markle on marriage will become Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex," a Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirmed. 

E! News has learned Meghan's hair was styled by Serge Normant while longtime friend Daniel Martin worked on her makeup earlier this morning as well. 

And if you still have your doubts that Meghan was cool, calm and collective, just look at the day before when she stepped out with her mom arriving at the Cliveden House Hotel.

When asked how she's feeling with just a short time to go before the wedding, Meghan said she was feeling "wonderful."

Congratulations Meghan and here's to many more wonderful feelings in the night and years to come.

Watch E!'s five-hour Live From the Royal Wedding coverage Saturday, May 19, starting at 5 a.m. ET/2 a.m. PT for wall-to-wall coverage of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's big day! Also, catch E! Newsevery night at 7 and 11 the week prior for everything you need to know.

E! NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Prince Harry Is "Protective" of Meghan Markle

E! NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Prince Harry Is "Protective" of Meghan Markle Amid "Difficult" Situation With Her Dad.

MUST CREDIT E! NEWS AND LINK BACK TO: https://www.eonline.com/news/936316/prince-harry-is-protective-of-meghan-markle-amid-difficult-situation-with-her-dad

Watch E!'s five-hour Live From the Royal Wedding coverage Saturday, May 19 starting at 5 a.m. ET/2 a.m. PT for wall-to-wall coverage of Meghan and Harry's big day! Also, catch E! News every night at 7 and 11 p.m. the week prior for everything you need to know.

Prince Harryhas his bride's back.

Meghan Marklefaced some challenging moments this month when her father Thomas Markle got caught up in a scandal involving staged paparazzi photos and subsequently revealed that he had suffered a heart attack. As the royal wedding drew closer, the retired Hollywood lighting director reportedly underwent heart surgery three days before the ceremony. By Thursday morning, the American star issued a statement confirming that her father will no longer be attending her nuptials and, as such, will not be walking her down the aisle.

"Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding," Meghan said in a statement. "I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health."

As a source told E! News, "This is a very celebratory and happy time for both Meghan and Harry, but the situation with her father has been very difficult." As for the groom, "Prince Harry is very protective. He will do all he can to protect Meghan and her immediate family."

"Mental health is a huge priority to the Royal Family and everyone is fully aware of what kind of effect this can have on someone," the source continued. "Prince Charles and the entire family have a great understanding and are supporting and caring for both Prince Harry and Meghan during this private matter."

Prince Harry's father demonstrated his support for his future daughter-in-law when he met with Markle's mother Doria Ragland for the first time on Wednesday. E! News exclusively learned he and Camilla Parker-Bowles, Duchess of Cornwall, enjoyed tea with Prince Harry, Markle and Ragland at their London home, Clarence House. E! News has learned it was a pleasant affair. Everyone got on very well and it was a happy day.

As E! News previously reported, Prince Charles thinks she is charming and very bright and Duchess Camilla believes Markle has made a great start in becoming a member of the family.

Despite the unfortunate Thursday announcement, Markle smiled to fans lining the streets as she and Prince Harry arrived to Windsor Castle on Thursday. The soon-to-be bride looked radiant from inside the car as she and her British beau reportedly traveled for a meeting with Queen Elizabeth II over tea.

As Markle concluded in her public statement, "I would like to thank everyone who has offered generous messages of support. Please know how much Harry and I look forward to sharing our special day with you on Saturday." 

E! NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Scott Disick Says It’s “Bulls--t”

E! NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Scott Disick Says It’s “Bulls--t” Kourtney Kardashian Didn’t Invite Him to Khloe’s Birthday: “I Just Didn’t Want You There”

 E! NEWS  http://www.eonline.com/shows/kardashians/news/892009/scott-disick-says-it-s-bulls-t-kourtney-kardashian-didn-t-invite-him-to-khloe-s-birthday-i-just-didn-t-want-you-there

Someone's feeling a little left out.

In this preview from Sunday's new Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Scott Disick is mad after he didn't get invited to Khloe Kardashian's surprise birthday party. 

"F--k, I didn't even get invited to her birthday. And I'm family. That was really sweet. That made me feel really good," and angry Scott tells Kourtney Kardashian and Kim Kardashian.

"There's only one person that would have gotten me not invited and that's Kourtney. I highly doubt that Khloe was like, ‘The last person I'd want at my surprise party would be Scott,'" Scott rants before sarcastically joking, "It's cool. Honestly, I called my sister and I hung out with her the whole night. And then actually I called my mom after and was, ‘Hey mom, do you want to come over because I'm feeling a little down and lonely because the family that claims I'm still blood even though we're not together still doesn't invite me to a surprise party.' But I really felt good about it.”

"The pity party is why you would think that you would act differently," Kourt says.

"I understand you not inviting me to your birthday, but your sister who I've known forever, longer than anybody else who was there outside of the family. Like I would have wanted to be there for her," Scott says. "I don't get it. Be honest."

Kourtney decides to lie and tells Scott, "I didn't want to have you coming to the birthday and be photographed going in.”

"Photographed going in is your concern?" Scott asks.

"I'm a little bit caught off guard and I just said that I didn't want to be photographed even though that's really not what I meant," Kourtney later admits. "I was trying to be positive. I didn't want to say I just didn't want you there. So if I can't say anything nice I just won't say anything at all." 

"That's all bulls—t," Scott tells her. "It's funny to realize just how fake you really are though.”

Watch a brand new episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians Sunday at 9 p.m., only on E! 

E! News Exclusive: The Real Story Behind Ben Affleck’s

E! News Exclusive: The Real Story Behind Ben Affleck’s ''Down to Earth'' Girlfriend Lindsay Shookus

 E! News  http://www.eonline.com/news/865693/the-real-story-behind-ben-affleck-s-down-to-earth-girlfriend-lindsay-shookus

More on E! News at 7p and 11p ET/PT.

Let's not jump to conclusions about Ben Affleck's new leading lady, Lindsay Shookus.

A source tells E! News that the Saturday Night Live producer and the Oscar-winning actor have "been friends for a while but things got romantic [between the two] only recently."

The new duo was seen together for the first time just last night when they stepped out on the town for a late bite to eat.

And despite the rumor mill going into overdrive about the relatively new romance, a close friend tells us that Lindsay is "the kindest person" and "down to earth."

The insider adds that "Lindsay is the girl next door. She's completely unpretentious. She is fiercely loyal to her friends. She's a rock to them and her family. She's the friend that is there during good and hard times and she's the first person to show up next to your side."

Last night, E! News exclusively reported that the couple has been spending quality time together this summer and even traveled to London together last week for a quick getaway.

We're told Lindsay and Ben have plenty in common between focusing on their successful careers in the entertainment industry, remaining on positive terms with their respective exes and making sure that their children are their first priority.

The close friend adds that Lindsay remains good friends with her ex and that she even threw him a birthday party this year.

"They grew in different directions and ultimately made a mutual decision to go their separate ways. They are truly the definition of great co-parents and respect each other immensely. Both are so committed to their daughter. She spends every second she has with her daughter."

The same goes for Ben and his ex Jennifer Garner as the two have maintained a united front for the sake of the three children.

In fact, just this past week for the Fourth of July, the two were seen taking in a local fair with their little ones in Los Angeles.

Ben and Jennifer filed for divorce back in April of this year, with joint filings, two years after announcing that they were ending their 10-year marriage.

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E! News Exclusive: Meet the New Lady Joining The Real Housewives

E! News Exclusive: Meet the New Lady Joining The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for Season 8

E! News  http://www.eonline.com/news/865695/meet-the-new-lady-joining-the-real-housewives-of-beverly-hills

There's a new face in the 90210!

With filming underway on season eight of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, E! News has exclusively learned that Teddi Jo Mellencamp, daughter of music legend John Cougar Mellencamp, is officially in the mix. While it's still too early to tell whether she'll be a full-time Housewife with a diamond of her very own to hold in the opening credits or simply appear as a Friend of the Housewives (a la season seven's Eden Sassoon), sources tell us that she is currently filming with the rest of the cast.

While not much is known about Teddi beyond her famous lineage, she describes herself in her Instagram bio as an "accountability coach and fitmom addicted to sweat and laughter" and "writer of honest sarcastic reviews for anything health/fitness." She blogs about fitness as LAWorkoutJunkie.com Married to husband Edwin Arroyave, she has two children and one step-child.

Former Housewife Camille Grammer shared a photo of herself alongside current cast members Lisa Vanderpump, Lisa Rinna, Kyle Richards, Erika Girardi and Dorit Kemsley, along with fellow former HW Adrienne Maloof and an unidentified blonde on Thursday, July 6, posing with the Las Vegas skyline behind them. That unidentified blonde? None other than Teddi herself. "Hot night in Vegas," Camille captioned the photo.

Bravo had no comment on Teddi's involvement.

Teddi's addition to the series comes after Eileen Davidson confirmed she was walking away from the series after three seasons.

"After a lot of careful thought, I've decided because of my crazy schedules at The Young and The Restless, as well as Days of Our Lives, it's best for me and my family if I step away from being a Housewife for now," she said in a statement obtained by E! News. "But you never know, I might be popping in from time to time just to see what the ladies are up to! Thanks for your love and support guys!!!"

Are you looking forward to getting to know Teddi? Sound off in the comments below.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills returns to Bravo later this year.

(E! and Bravo are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)

Ben Affleck Dating Saturday Night Live Producer

E! News Exclusive: Ben Affleck Dating Saturday Night Live Producer Lindsay Shookus 3 Months After Jennifer Garner Divorce

 E! News  http://www.eonline.com/news/865486/ben-affleck-dating-saturday-night-live-producer-lindsay-shookus-3-months-after-jennifer-garner-divorce

MORE ON E!'S DAILY POP AT 12P ET/PT AND E! NEWS AT 7P AND 11P ET/PT ONLY ON E!

Ben Affleck has a new lady in his life, E! News has learned.

The Oscar-winning actor is dating Lindsay Shookus, a producer at Saturday Night Live.

A source tells us that the two are still very much "in the early stages" of their relationship and recently met up while he was in London for work. We're told that the duo caught a showing of Sam Mendes' play Ferryman last week during their trip abroad.

"It's more than a summer fling," the insider shared. "They are having fun and care for each other. It's early and they are taking it slow."

And while the new couple has done their best to keep things under wraps in the beginning stages of their romance, the two stepped out on the town in Los Angeles Thursday night for a quick date night.

Back in April of this year, Jennifer Garner and Ben filed for divorce nearly two years after announcing that they were separating following 10 years of marriage.

According to court documents, the friendly exes filed for joint legal and physical custody of their children.

A source at the time told E! News that the two "were co-parenting" and that the "most important thing in all of this are their kids."

Both Ben and Jen have publically praised one another since announcing that they were splitting.

In fact, in an interview with us, the father of three gushed, "Jen is a superhero mom. She is an amazing mother and I'm really lucky to have her as a partner to co-parent these kids with. We try our best, we put them first and that's what we do."

Meanwhile, Jen told NBC's Today show, "We are definitely a modern family. We're doing really well."

Just days ago, the entire modern family was spotted celebrating the Fourth of July near their home in Los Angeles.

Jen participated in a neighborhood 3K race while her kids and ex smiled and cheered from the sidelines.

Shortly thereafter, the group enjoyed celebrating with their neighbors and taking in the local fireworks show.

E! NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

E! NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Are "Doing so Well," but Here's the Fashion Dilemma She's Facing With Kate Middleton

E! NEWS  http://www.eonline.com/news/851142/prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-are-doing-so-well-but-here-s-the-fashion-dilemma-she-s-facing-with-kate-middleton

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are in the swing of things.

As they approach their first full year of dating, the Suits star and her royal beau are adjusting to having a romance as high profile as theirs. Fortunately, the publicity hasn't taken a toll on their spark. 

They are "doing so well," a source tells E! News. "Obviously things aren't as intense as when the news about their relationship first came out, and that's really made it easier for them to navigate the craziness when it comes to public attention."

While they've figured out how to keep their trips across the pond almost under wraps, there's no denying that a relationship between an English prince and an American TV princess is the stuff of modern fairytales. 

"On the set, people find it crazy to look at her and think, 'You're pretty much living with Prince Harry,'" the source described. 

While the world waits patiently to see if Markle will be the one Prince Harry gets down on one knee for, they'll get to watch another pair close to the royal family walk down the aisle first—Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton's sister, Pippa Middleton, and her future husband, James Matthews.

However, there's one thing the actress needs to figure out before May 20: her outfit! As the insider close to Markle told E! News, she waited to find the perfect outfit to wear for the wedding because it took a while to find out what Duchess Kate will don. Of course, this is not the occasion to accidentally wear the same thing! 

So, while Markle always styles herself, she bounced ideas off of her Toronto BFF, Jessica Mulroney, who happens to also be a stylist.

"Jessica is a fantastic stylist and is smart enough to know that, as well as making sure Meghan looks her best, they also need to be mindful about what Kate is wearing," the insider said. 

"The last thing anyone would want would be for them to be in a similar color or design. Meghan would never want to attract the wrong kind of attention."

Led Ben Affleck to Enter Rehab

E! News Exclusive: Here's What Led Ben Affleck to Enter Rehab for Alcohol Addiction

 E! News  http://www.eonline.com/news/836099/here-s-what-led-ben-affleck-to-enter-rehab-for-alcohol-addiction 

Ben Affleck is staying focused on his health and sobriety. 

Shortly after the Oscar winner announced on social media that he recently completed treatment for alcohol addiction, E! News is learning more about the actor's decision to get professional help.

"He didn't want to cycle through anything he had dealt with in the past," a source shared with E! News exclusively. "He's moving in a healthy, balanced direction."

Our insider also assures us that entering rehab had nothing to do with Jennifer Garner. Instead, the Hollywood star decided to do everything on his own including his public announcement.

"He didn't want to hide," our source explained. "He will continue to work on it. This was a step, but it's a progressive process. He's in a good place."

On Tuesday afternoon, Ben released a statement to his Facebook followers and revealed his personal news that he had completed a stint in rehab.

"I have completed treatment for alcohol addiction; something I've dealt with in the past and will continue to confront," Ben shared with his followers. "I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be. I want my kids to know there is no shame in getting help when you need it, and to be a source of strength for anyone out there who needs help but is afraid to take the first step."

The actor also thanked Jennifer, with whom he shares three children with and separated from in 2015.

"I'm lucky to have the love of my family and friends, including my co-parent, Jen, who has supported me and cared for our kids as I've done the work I set out to do," he explained. "This was the first of many steps being taken towards a positive recovery."

While many details of Ben's stint in treatment will understandably remain private, our source did share one theme during the actor's visit that made an impact.

"He learned a lot while he was there," our insider shared. "Everyone has a story and was open about it. That was meaningful to him."

E! NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Insider Secrets

E! NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Insider Secrets From the Birth of True Crime Television

 E! NEWS  www.eonline.com/news/845240/insider-secrets-from-the-birth-of-true-crime-television

Check out more exclusive content from E! News True Crime Week on the network each night at 7pm and 11pm, as well as across E! News digital, mobile and social (@enews on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.)

Everywhere you look these days, there's a new true crime series. Whether it's a podcast or a documentary or a made-for-TV movie, audiences simply can't get enough of the mysteries behind real-life murders. But once upon a time there was no Making a Murderer, no The Jinx, no Serial. 

Back in 2004, a little show called Snapped hit the airwaves. In the early aughts, crime shows that didn't fall under the Cops umbrella were a novelty—never mind one that focused primarily on female killers. (Who, for the record, commit less than 10% of the murders in this country, according to the FBI.) Television viewers may not have known it at the time, but they were thirsting, starving even, for true crime programming. 

And now, as the landmark show prepares to launch its 20th season, it still has a lot to teach its many, many predecessors. 

First, let's set the scene. Although streaming services like Netflix existed when Snapped was still a twinkle in Oxygen's eye, they were still almost a decade out from creating any sort of original programming. This was well before today's world of anything goes, true-crime wise. As executive producer (and narrator) Sharon Martin told us, they had to focus on the show's relatability when they were putting the pitch together. 

"To a female audience, there's an appeal to seeing women that are similar to them, or women they know, make these choices and take these drastic actions," she said of Snapped's concept. "It's relatable because that could me or someone I know. That's what's kept it going for 20 seasons."

But just because Oxygen got the show off the ground, doesn't mean it found instant viral success the way that the genre does today. Remember, viral wasn't even a thing in 2004. Instead, the show has grown and grown in popularity, just like true crime in general has. 

"Whether we would be renewed was always a bit of a gamble," Martin said. "True crime wasn't nearly as popular or mainstream as it is now. Everybody else eventually caught up with us. Not to take too much credit for true crime, but the genre grew around us."

Once it was established that audiences were—excuse the pun—dying to watch a series about female killers, the challenge lied in continuing to keep the episodes fresh and interesting. That means, in layman's terms, seeking out totally insane crimes to tell stories about. One has an image of a team of crime geeks scouring the Internet looking for any and all news of murder, racking up quite the Google search history, but it turns out the process of making the show is a bit more scientific than that. 

To start, Snapped has an entire research team devoted to not only hunting down stories, but vetting and verifying current cases. And, they have a team of connections at police departments and prosecutor's offices all across the country. Anytime a story comes up that seems like a great fit for Snapped, the first thing the prosecutors or police officers do (okay, maybe not the very first thing) is call up the Snapped team to give them the heads up. The research team then takes over to make sure it's the perfect fit for the audience. 

Devoted Snapped fans will know that the most compelling parts of any episode are the interviews with the families and witnesses to the crime. It's also what makes the show different from programs like Missing Richard Simmons—the main characters are all willing participants. The amount varies from case to case and it's a very personal decision for each family, but as Martin puts it, "It's not a surprise to anyone involved in a high-profile case to be asked to be on a show."  

But, they have a rule that they only approach those involved in a murder once it's been adjudicated (that's court jargon done in court), to ensure that the emotions aren't as fresh as, say, local news coverage of an investigation that's currently ongoing. 

As the current surge in true crime shows has taught us, sensitivity is perhaps the most important aspect of making any documentary-style program. Series like Making a Murderer or podcasts like Missing Richard Simmons have shown us the potentially dark side of prying, and audiences are more keen to pick out this type of treatment when they're watching. As such, Martin and her Snapped team could be considered to be under heightened scrutiny in this day and age. 

"We haven't made any changes to our process based on the surge in popularity [of true crime], but we have always tried our hardest to be very sensitive," she explains. "When we're interviewing people that are involved in a case, it's never out of my mind that this is a story I have the privilege of telling. I take that responsibility very importantly; these families that talk to us have had terrible things happen to them."

Some of the subject matter is so dark, in fact, that it can begin to haunt even a seasoned true crime veteran. Martin has been executive producing and narrating Snapped for 20 seasons and she admits that there are certain crimes that stick with her. 

"I have a teenage daughter, so anything that involves a teenager feels a little too close to home for me," she told E! "The viewers feel the same way—when you see the show and think, that happened down the street from me, that's eerie. There was one crime in Washington, when a woman starved her victims to death under the guise of helping them, and that was an episode that scared me. And I look at these crimes every day."

But the show must go on, even despite the potential nightmares, and this landmark season has plenty of haunts on the docket. As Martin teased for us, they have everything from mother-daughter crimes to Mother-in-law crimes. There are no huge changes in the works for the veteran show, but that seems to be just the way its fans like it—fans that include the likes of Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Viola Davis, no less. Now that social media has been introduced to the fold, the Snapped team is able to see minute-by-minute reactions to each episode, and they're now armed with the knowledge of the exact moments that fascinate its fan base.

In other words, they're not slowing down any time soon.