More than 20 years after his relationship with Giuliana Rancic ended, Jerry O’Connell is taking ownership of one of the most infamous celebrity breakup stories of the early 2000s.

The actor recently reflected on the split during an appearance on Kelly Ripa‘s “Let’s Talk Off Camera” podcast, admitting he was “a terrible boyfriend” while revealing he couldn’t dispute Rancic’s long-standing account of how their relationship came to an end. His comments also offer a new perspective on a breakup that first made headlines again in 2015, when the entertainment journalist detailed the painful split in her memoir “Going Off Script.”

5

During the podcast, Ripa asked O’Connell about one of the most memorable moments from Rancic’s memoir, in which she claimed he ended their relationship over his condominium’s intercom system. In “Going Off Script,” Rancic recalled O’Connell allegedly telling her, “Nope, sorry, homegirl. Things change, but you take care, OK?”

While O’Connell admitted he doesn’t remember the exact exchange from their 2004 breakup, he also wasn’t prepared to say Rancic got it wrong. “I can’t deny that I said that,” the “Jerry Maguire” actor admitted. “It doesn’t sound like something I would say, but again, if I was writing a memoir, it made for a good quote.”

Rather than criticizing his ex, O’Connell praised the way she told the story. “I applaud her for using colorful dialogue and everything,” he said.

O’Connell Explains Why The Relationship Was Already Falling Apart

5

While acknowledging the breakup was handled poorly, O’Connell also offered additional context that wasn’t widely known when Rancic first shared the story in her memoir. Calling himself “a terrible boyfriend” during their 2003-2004 relationship, the actor apologized before revealing another woman was inside his condominium when Rancic unexpectedly arrived.

“[Another woman] was inside my condominium,” he admitted. “Giuliana Rancic wanted entry into my condominium. Thank goodness, buzzer, gate, security. I paid a pretty hefty homeowners’ fee for these things. Cameras and everything.”

Although O’Connell declined to identify the woman, Ripa speculated it could have been either former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell or O’Connell’s future wife, Rebecca Romijn.

Jerry O’Connell Explains The Context Behind Their Infamous Breakup

5

The actor also insisted the relationship had already begun unraveling before that moment. “Our relationship was already in trouble,” he explained, adding that he hadn’t expected Rancic to stop by.

“I said, ‘I did not know you were coming. You can’t come here unannounced,’” O’Connell recalled. “Notice no one had a key, so the relationship was not like that. There was no warning, and I didn’t want someone coming in because I didn’t want any confrontation.”

Giuliana Rancic’s Memoir Kept The Story Alive For Years

5

Although O’Connell and Rancic split more than two decades ago, the breakup became part of Hollywood lore after the television personality revisited the relationship in her 2015 memoir.

Along with recounting the intercom incident, Rancic accused O’Connell of cheating on her with Geri Halliwell and compared his reaction during the breakup to an airline employee delivering bad news. “[He gave me] as much emotion as the customer service representative who tells you your bags missed the flight,” she wrote.

Rather than push back against that characterization, O’Connell again complimented Rancic’s storytelling during the podcast.

When Ripa referenced the cheating allegations, O’Connell called Rancic “a smart girl” and described her writing as “great,” suggesting he appreciated the colorful way she recounted their relationship despite being at the center of it.

Jerry O’Connell Also Looked Back On Dating Sarah Michelle Gellar

5

Elsewhere during the interview, O’Connell reflected on another famous relationship from his younger years, joking about going on “literally one date” with Sarah Michelle Gellar before she decided not to pursue things further. “We were kids, and Sarah Michelle dumped my ass,” he joked. “She was the smartest one. Sarah Michelle took one look at me and was like, ‘I’ve got to get away from this drunk. One and done.’”

O’Connell quickly added that he has no interest in revisiting that chapter, joking that he doesn’t “want any beef” with Gellar’s husband, Freddie Prinze Jr., while praising the couple’s longtime marriage and “beautiful family.”

Today, O’Connell has been married to Romijn since 2007, and the couple shares twin daughters.

Days of Our Lives 2-Week Spoilers for July 20 – 31, 2026 scare with Lexie Carver (Nikki Crawford) collapsing in public and being rushed to the hospital where she is on her deathbed soon. Plus, Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) is in panic mode and determined to save his bestie Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien).

Also, in the two weeks from July 20th through the 31st, expect to see EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) trying to tie up loose ends as things continue to unravel for him. Plus, Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) is desperate to avoid consequences and Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) faces an emotional shocker.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Holly in the Hot Seat

On Monday, July 20th, it’s the last day of July sweeps. And we know that Tate Black (Leo Howard) found the pills in Holly Jonas’ (Ashley Puzemis) bag on Friday. So, we’re going to pick back up with that on Monday. And of course, we know that EJ planted the Coriseal while Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey) and Xander Cook Kiriakis (Paul Telfer) are away. Tate has to tell Sarah about the pills he found.

She’ll confirm they’re Coriseal and they assume the worst of Holly. So then Tate and Sarah confront Holly about the pills. And Holly’s asking Sarah if she can go home, Sarah says she can’t. And when Holly asks why not, Sarah says because of the pills and waggles the little packet of drugs that EJ planted. So Holly’s going to be stunned when Tate says he found them in her bag. Holly insists the pills are not hers. They will not believe her.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: EJ Sets Holly Up & Apologizes to Cat

And when Tate asks if they can talk, Holly explodes at Tate in front of Sarah. And Holly’s going to explode at Sarah. Also, she feels like everybody is accusing her except EJ, which is really sad because he is the one who’s setting Holly up. Also, Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) gets an apology from EJ. And this may be because she’s stressed out.

She’ll lose her job if EJ can’t keep the hospital. Not that Cat’s really stressed out about it, but EJ may tell Cat he’ll straighten it out. And EJ may be feeling cocky since he’s got Gwen on ice, so she can’t finish the deal to buy the hospital. And of course, Kayla Johnson (Mary Beth Evans) will wonder why Gwen is ghosting her.

DOOL Spoilers: Lexie’s Terminal Collapse and Escape Plans

Leo admits something to Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) in therapy, something difficult, and it may be Leo saying that he realizes he’s lost Javi Hernandez (Jacob Martinez) for good. Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn) and Belle Black (Martha Madison) discuss the clue from the chess set and the letter and they realize that all the clues are pointing to Italy. Sounds to me like we’re going to get a trip to Venice or wherever. But of course Days of our Lives can’t afford a location shoot. So, they’re going to set dress one of those Salem rooms to look like an Italian hotel, I’m sure, and just use stock footage of Europe.

So, Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) is listening as Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) is griping. I suspect this is her venting to her FBI brother Rafe about the counterfeit bag that Gwen bought. And of course, she showed Gabi a couple of websites that were selling her fake merchandise. On the plus side, Gabi should have a large deposit in her bank account, which is her inheritance from Stefano DiMera’s (Joseph Mascolo) estate.

Days Spoilers: Foster Apologizes to Julie

Then on Tuesday, July 21st, we’ve got Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes) getting an apology from Foster. I’m sure it’s about him bailing on the concert. Eli Grant (Lamon Archey) and Lani Price (Sal Stowers) have a nice time celebrating their anniversary. Eli surprises Lani with a gorgeous necklace and a fun afternoon at the Salem Inn. Gabi stuns Xander and Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier) when she drops the bombshell on them that she’s got the money.

But she’s taking back her offer to bail out Titan. Gabi will not invest her DiMera inheritance in them. And Xander and Philip are shocked and they want to know why she changed her mind. So, I wonder if Xander’s going to push Philip to guilt Gabi into investing. I doubt Xander’s going to let her walk out the door without him doing all he can to change Gabi’s mind.

Kristen has this brilliant idea that she and Lexie need to leave Salem together. She already warned Kristen about EJ’s plan to snatch her up and Lexie’s going to need a caretaker as she withers away and dies. So, the DiMera sisters may cook up an exit plan. Of course, it’s going to go awry, but they both have to say goodbye to loved ones first.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Kayla Makes Cat and Offer

Then on Wednesday, July 22nd, Cat gets an offer from Kayla. Is this Kayla offering Cat a job where she can stay at the hospital once EJ’s officially out? Of course, Cat really probably doesn’t want that job because she works for the ISA and she’s only there to spy on EJ. Gabi teams up with Leo. I suspect it’s about Gwen. This week, Leo stops by Gwen’s room at the Salem Inn and he realizes her bed wasn’t slept in.

So, Leo knows Gwen didn’t make it back the night before, and he may tell Gabi that Gwen warned him if something happened to her, that EJ did it. Holly angrily denies taking pills and keeps insisting they’re not hers. Tate and Sarah don’t seem to believe her. We’re going to see a crying Holly with her bags packed. And it looks like she might actually walk out of the hospital when Sarah’s back is turned.

Tate’s back, too. Sarah asks for Xander’s help. But I wonder if Sarah will tell Xander about the drugs that Tate found in Holly’s bag and ask if Xander saw the pills since he’s the one who packed her things. If he confirms that Holly’s bag was empty before he packed it, that might signal to Sarah that there’s more to this.

EJ’s worried and talks things through with Rita. This may be about him losing the hospital or Johnny being so upset with him or maybe about EJ’s guilt over setting up Holly.

DOOL Spoilers: Goodbye Moments and Exposed Conspiracies

Thursday, July 23rd. We have Shawn Brady (Brandon Beemer) telling Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu) his feelings. So, it sounds like Shawn is falling for Jada. Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) is venting to Belle. I’m sure it’s another tirade about Joy Wesley (AlexAnn Hopkins). Speaking of that, Chad is there for Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson) who’s feeling torn on all sides.

Kristen has a sweet moment with Rachel Black (Lorelei Olivia Mote). And as Brady watches with tears in his eyes, Kristen is hugging Rachel and telling her, “You are my heart and my greatest treasure.” And Kristen tells Rachel that she wants her life to be bright and beautiful. Clearly, Kristen’s planning on ditching her daughter, and Brady may realize this is some sort of goodbye.

Lexie and Abe Carver (James Reynolds) renew their vows. Lexie seems to want this final moment before she bails on Theo and Abe so they don’t have to watch her die all over again. But Lexie isn’t going to make it out of Salem. And she and Kristen’s whole plan to run off isn’t going to work out. Instead Lexie is going to wind up in the hospital and we’ll see. But she may collapse at the vow renewal.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Johnny Goes Off on EJ

Then on Friday, July 24th, Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman) is blasting EJ with accusations. He’s asking Johnny, “What’s this about?” And he wants to know if EJ planted the drugs in Holly’s bag. Well, of course EJ did, but will he actually tell Johnny? He’s been pretty transparent with him, but I don’t think the more criminal things like kidnapping Gwen and things like that are things that EJ will share with his son.

Sarah and Xander share a peaceful moment. Despite them getting closer, Sarah and Brady will soon swap “I love yous.” And Kayla and Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) are worried about what is ahead. There’s trouble at the hospital with Coriseal. There’s the EJ stuff, trouble with Stephanie’s marriage that’s not going away ever, and lots more happening. Leo convinces someone to help him.

This may be about Gwen, especially if this person is the lawyer that Gwen used to hold that stack of EJ’s secrets and receipts that can expose him. Leo’s supposed to get them after Gwen’s been gone a certain amount of time, but Leo may try to get those materials earlier to force EJ’s hand, so he has to give Gwen back.

Days Spoilers: Lexie’s Final Days and Unraveling Conspiracies

The week of July 27th through the 31st, Kristen’s time is just about up. After Lexie collapses, she’ll wind up at the hospital after the vow renewal with Abe. That was supposed to be their final moment before Lexie slunk off to die with just her sister at her side. Abe and Theo Carver (Tyler Joseph Andrews) are panicking as Lexie begins to slip away. They’re facing losing her again.

And while Abe is going to rage at EJ when he comes to the hospital, as this goes on, he and Theo may ask EJ if there’s any way to stop what’s happening to Lexie. So, their desperation may have them looking for any solutions to keep her with them, even if that means turning to EJ. Gabi may offer Theo her support once she hears what’s going on with his mom, Lexie. And Holly is frustrated with her life with the lawsuit, with Sarah and Tate and Brady and others, thinking she’s taking pills.

So, Holly may consider bailing on Salem because life is too hard for her there. Cat does more hypnosis with Marlena soon, and we’ll find out just how deep she got in with EJ in Italy, and Belle and Chad could take the DiMera private jet to Italy following the next clue they get. But there was that Irish symbol as well, so we’ll see how it goes. Also, soon we’re going to see the guy who’s keeping track of them on spy cameras who’s orchestrating the delivery of all these clues.

Young and the Restless 2-Week Spoilers for July 20 – 31, 2026 begin with Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) spiraling. And when he sees an ex-wife doing something very sketchy, he may actually relapse. Also, Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) is scrambling with threats to her business in a tempting offer that could save her.

Also, during the two weeks of July 20th through the 31st, we’re going to see Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) get her bandages off and we find out if her eyesight is working. There’s a big secret that Jill Abbott (Lauren Koslow) is keeping and Traci Abbott (Beth Maitland) is going all out for family. Let’s get right to it.

Young and the Restless: Matt’s Departure and Newman Family Drama

On Monday, July 20th, we have got Matt Clark (Roger Howorth) telling Noah Newman (Lucas Adams) and Sienna Bacall (Tamara Braun), Nick and Sharon Newman (Sharon Case), that he is leaving town. Noah lectures him on forgiveness and Matt snaps that Noah slept with his wife and never apologized. Then Nick gets in Matt’s face and asks what is his next move. Matt wants to leave Genoa City, make a life, find somebody to love. Sounds nice. Sharon wants Matt gone and she offers to help him pack.

Matt doubts that Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) will let him go, but Nick says he’ll take care of that. And Sienna agrees it’s best for everybody if Matt leaves town. He wishes Sienna and Noah good luck with the Shadow Room. Says sorry for all the pain he caused. And Matt walks out.

Y&R Spoilers: Victor Rages

Meanwhile, Nikki asks Victor if he’d even be speaking to her if she wasn’t blind. Nikki knows he’s furious that she went to see Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) in the hospital. And Nikki tells Victor that Jack is her friend, but he tells Nikki she’s got to cut Jack out of her life. Nikki claps back about him letting Matt live on the ranch and then treating her best friend like this. Nikki walks away but stops to tell Victor she’ll always love him despite what he has done.

He’s mad and that’s when Matt shows up to tell Victor he can’t get the dirt on Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn) and just wants to leave Genoa City. Victor says no and then he threatens him. Matt says the rest of his family wants him gone. Walks out and then Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) meets up with Matt after he leaves the new ranch very upset and he’s telling Phyllis he just wants to leave town. He is tired of being emotionally kicked and always being the villain. But Phyllis also refuses to let Matt go, just like Victor.

Young and Restless Spoilers: Adam’s Shocking Offer

Elsewhere, Sally is looking at nursery paint colors as Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) strolls up. He reminds her the color that she was going to paint their baby Ava’s nursery. And then Adam proposes a plan to take care of Newman Media so that Victor won’t try and destroy her and Audra Charles (Zuleyka Silver).

Adam says that Victor will never take Sally’s offer to sell to him. So, Adam suggests that he will secretly pay her for Newman Media. Sally will sign it over to him and then Adam will tell Victor that he yanked it away from her just like his dad wants to do. And Adam says Victor will think he won. And Sally asks why Adam is willing to risk his father’s eye over this. And he says Victor shut him out of Newman Enterprises.

So, he promises Sally that only her and Audra and him and Chelsea Newman (Melissa Claire Egan) will know about this deal. Sally doesn’t want to owe Adam, but he says he’s the one who owes Sally, and he always will. It’s very sweet. I miss them together as a couple.

Across town, Noah checks on Sharon, who wishes that Nick would just let Victor handle Matt because Sharon’s afraid that this is too much on Nick and he may relapse. Victor and Nick talk about Matt wanting to leave town, and Victor asks Nick if he was in charge of Matt’s fate, what would it be?

Young and the Restless: Markham Search and Nikki’s Medical Appointment

Then on Tuesday, July 21st, Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) and Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) share secrets with each other. And I wonder if Kyle drops the bombshell that Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) rolled over on Victor and is going to give the DA evidence that her dad orchestrated all of this madness done to Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters) and Jack. We don’t know if that’s the deal that Kyle made with Patty. I know it’s the deal he wants. So maybe we’ll find out that he made it happen.

And speaking of them, Diane is thrilled that Jack is now at home, but he’s still recovering. But at least Diane gets to cuddle with him. And she wants loose ends tied up, particularly with Dr. Markham. She wants that guy behind bars so she can breathe.

So, Diane presses Traci about Martin Laurent (Christopher Cousins), who of course is Tracy’s sociopathic ex. Diane thinks Martin may have a clue how to find Markham, who had tons of Alan Laurent (also Christopher Cousins) books on his shelves. But Traci tells Diane that Martin will never talk to her. But Traci admits that Martin would talk to her. And of course, Traci never wanted to lay eyes on that creep again, but she is willing to do it for Diane. So, we’ll have scenes of Christopher Cousins as Martin talking with Traci soon.

Y&R Spoilers: Victor Makes Nikke a Promise

Then on Wednesday, July 22nd, Victor promises Nikki something as she is up at the doctor’s office. Victor’s there with her. The doctor takes off Nikki’s bandages and then Victor holds her hand and the doctor says to Nikki, “It’s time to open your eyes.” I would be shocked if she can see. There should be more to this story. Phyllis is watching Matt like a hawk. Phyllis does not want Matt to leave Genoa City, and she may tempt him to stay by seducing him on Young and the Restless.

Because this week, Phyllis has Matt in her room at the GCAC. She’s in sexy blue satin pajamas that are practically falling off of her as she flirts. And we know that Nick is going to catch Matt and Phyllis in a compromising position soon. And that could be what sends him spiraling back to drugs. Also, it’s just gross to see a woman seducing a man who assaulted her friend. I’m sorry. It’s awful. Josh Griffith needs therapy.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: Nick Fesses Up

Thursday, July 23rd, Nick makes a confession to Sharon, and I wonder if it’s Nick saying out loud, actually confirming that he wants Matt dead. Then again, Nick may tell Sharon that he popped a pill and needs a meeting. Sally and Audra consider their options. I’m sure Sally’s going to run to Audra and tell her about Adam’s offer. They may feel like they have no choice but to accept.

Chelsea and Adam try to impress Victor with a power move they are planning. I expect Adam and Chelsea to lie and to tell Victor that he’s right. They need to get back Newman Media, but they’re going to take care of it. They’re going to snatch it from Sally. They’re going to be ruthless. I am guessing that Victor will be skeptical about their reversal of attitude.

Young and the Restless: Secrets and Health Crises

Then on Friday, July 24th, Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) and Sally find out Jill’s keeping a secret from them. Could be about business with Victor. Maybe she’s investing in Chancellor to help Cane or it could be something about her heart condition and Billy finds out his mom is dying.

And if Cane finds out first, Billy will have a meltdown. We also have Cane driving a hard bargain with somebody on Friday.  Could be about Billy and the whole deal for him to work at Chancellor or it could be something fun and flirty with Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) because they are sparking every time they’re together these days.

Devon Hamilton (Bryton James) and Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson) find common ground. I’m sure that’s about Abigail and Dominic. And I wonder if Devon will open up to Ashley about his anger issues. Maybe he’ll get some good advice from his mother-in-law.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: Nick Pushed Over the Edge?

Then the week of July 27th through the 31st, we could see Nick popping some pills because he’s ramping up to deliver the fate that he and Victor agreed Matt should face. Nick seeing his ex-wife Phyllis in Matt’s arms might push him over the edge towards violence and possibly also drugs. We’ll find out more about Jill’s big secret and how it’s going to affect Billy and Cane and many others. Sally and Audra let Adam know what they decided about his sneaky scheme to trick Victor.

And Tracy’s probably going to have some PTSD after having to see her ex-fiancé Martin. And we’ll find out if he has any idea where to find Dr. Markham or if he knows that his dead brother Alan Laurent and Dr. Markham perhaps knew each other. I also expect Ashley to leave town again now that Jack is on the road to recovery. We’ll find out if Kyle cut a devil’s bargain with Patty that will make Victor face consequences at last. And we’ll get more on Nikki’s health struggle and find out the extent of what Victor did with Patty and whether Nikki can live with that or not.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Updated 1 hour ago

“Yesterday’s Enterprise” isn’t just a great episode of The Next Generation; it’s arguably in the running for the best Star Trek episode ever made. The story takes our characters to a much darker place than they have ever been before, all while emphasizing the need to fight for a better universe. As the cherry on top, the writers used the timey-wimey nature of this episode to bring back a beloved character who had died back in Season 1: Tasha Yar, who lost her life fighting an evil oil slick named Armus. In the altered reality of “Yesterday’s Enterprise,” that never happened, and Yar was very much alive.

Unfortunately, that didn’t last very long. The Tasha of this universe decides to travel back in time, leading the crew of the Enterprise-C on a suicide mission into the past. She succeeds in restoring reality, but this ultimately comes at the expense of her own life. At the time, it seemed shocking that Star Trek: The Next Generation had brought a popular character back just to kill her off again. Why did they do that? According to one of the show’s greatest writers, they wanted to give Tasha Yar a “heroic sacrifice” and make up for the crappy way she died in the first season.

Yar Trek: The Next Generation

The plot of “Yesterday’s Enterprise” is that when the Enterprise-C travels forward in time instead of getting destroyed, it alters history for the worse. The Federation is now losing a bitter war with the Klingons. Thanks to information from Guinan, Captain Picard authorizes a risky plan to send the Enterprise-C back in time, where it was destined to be destroyed while defending a Klingon outpost. He hopes that this will restore the timeline, saving countless lives from pointless slaughter. Ironically, this plan involves sacrificing someone who should already be dead: Tasha Yar, who leads the Enterprise-C back into the past after its captain is killed.

For audiences watching this Star Trek: The Next Generation episode at home, seeing Denise Crosby’s Tasha Yar on the screen again was a very pleasant surprise. This character had died in the Season 1 episode “Skin of Evil,” fighting a living oil slick named Armus. It was sudden and unexpected, and she died the same ignominious kind of death as the various redshirts of The Original Series. Her death added tension to the show, of course; if a main character could suddenly be killed off, then nobody was safe. Still, many thought it would have been better if Tasha Yar’s death had a bit more meaning to it.

“A Chance To Kill Her Right“

Interestingly, this included the TNG writers who were hired after Season 1. Ronald D. Moore, the veteran Trek writer who went on to create the Battlestar Galactica reboot, described the writing staff’s motivation for bringing Yar back in “Yesterday’s Enterprise.” On the Season 4 DVD special features, he claimed, “We brought Denise back to kill off Tasha Yar a second time. It was a great opportunity to send the character off in a big heroic sacrifice because nobody was really happy with the way she left the series in the first season.” Continuing, he said, “Nobody on the show really liked it, the fans didn’t like it, I’m not sure even she really liked it. So ‘Yesterday’s Enterprise’ was a chance to kill her right.” 

Fortunately, Moore and the other writers succeeded in this task. Tasha Yar died to save billions of lives throughout the galaxy by restoring reality and ending a pointless war. “Yesterday’s Enterprise” implied that the Enterprise-C would be destroyed as soon as it returned to the past, killing everyone on board. Later, the two-part episode “Redemption” clarified that the attacking Romulans took a handful of prisoners, including Tasha Yar. Later, she was betrayed by her own half-Romulan child and killed. That child was Sela, who grew up to be one of the scariest threats Picard and the Enterprise-D crew would ever face.

Arguably, “Redemption” ruined Tasha Yar’s act of self-sacrifice. Sure, she still saved an entire reality, but instead of dying in battle, she died at the hands of the evil aliens who captured and violated her. However, one person who had no problem with this retcon was Denise Crosby, who now had another reason to return to the show that she had left back in Season 1. Of course, it’s fair to say her character was having more fun in that first season. Instead of saving the galaxy or forcibly bearing Romulan kids, she was cozying up to a drunken android and performing a job much more rewarding than security chief: Data entry.

Sure, jeans pair well with basic tops, but on days when you’re looking for something a bit more elevated, Reese Witherspoon‘s outfit is the perfect source of inspiration. Her classy blouse style begs to be worn with denim, and we found a near-identical, expensive-looking design on Amazon, on sale for only $13!

Witherspoon recently took to Instagram to share a photo of herself in front of a large American flag. Her look was classic, featuring a white flutter-sleeve blouse, a straw hat and rich mom sunglasses. While we couldn’t see the star’s pants, we really didn’t need to. Her white top stole the show, and since the photo was posted for Independence Day, we could easily envision it styled with jeans or cutoffs.

Get the Astylish Ruffle-Sleeve Blouse for $13 (was $15) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

This Astylish Ruffle-Sleeve Blouse has the same fluttery cap sleeves that flatter the arms, plus a loose, breezy fit that skims rather than hugs. The budget pick even has ruffles framing your neckline, ensuring it’s crisp, romantic and feels straight out of a Nashville boutique.

Related: Charlize Theron Wore the Comfiest Shorts Style Ever — We‘re Copying for $14

Advertisement

Leave it to Charlize Theron to turn our favorite loungewear staple into something incredibly polished. The actress recently stepped out in blue satin shorts, and although hers were probably made of silk, we found the comfy-luxe look on sale for only $14. While promoting The Odyssey in Paris, France, Theron took her chic, pajama-like bottoms to the next […]

It’s easy to picture this top styled a number of ways, whether you’re letting it hang loose with your favorite jeans and adding gold hoops or keeping it breezy by tucking it into wide-leg linen trousers. Even if you knot it over a slip skirt, you’ll find yourself reaching for this elevated basic over and over, rocking it for brunches, book club meetings and dinners with your boo, then shrugging it on for errands the next day.

One five-star fan wrote, “The material is very lightweight, cool and really comfortable. It looks good with jeans and shorts and also looks good with a skirt.”

Better yet, shoppers swear the piece is extremely flattering. “Makes me look 10 pounds slimmer, and the material is thin for the summer,” one happy customer wrote.

If you’re searching for a box-checking, celebrity-approved blouse style that makes you look and feel your best, this sleeveless top is it. It’s ideal for pairing with jeans, but honestly, just like Witherspoon showed Us, it won’t even matter what you wear on the bottom!

Get the Astylish Ruffle-Sleeve Blouse for $13 (was $15) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more summer blouses and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

UsNow Summer Sale Alert: These Chic Fashion Finds are over 30% off – Plus Free Shipping
Welcome to summer with our biggest sale of the year. This summer’s chicest dresses, tops and swimsuits are all over 30% + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.
Shop the UsNow Summer Sale –>

Related: Kate Middleton‘s White Dress Style Conceals the Upper Arms (and Tummy!)

Like Us, Kate Middleton leans on mega flattering dress styles. During a summer outing, Middleton opted for a dress that covered her upper arms and cinched her waist at the same time, no squeezing involved. We found the look on sale for only $50! While visiting a children’s hospital, Middleton wore a crisp white dress, […]

After competing on Big Brother and The Amazing Race, Rachel Reilly now has her eyes set on another CBS reality show.

“Yes, I would love to do Survivor,” Rachel, 41, exclusively shared with Us. “That’s, like, oh my gosh, my dream. I talk about it all the time with my husband Brendon [Villegas].”

Both Rachel and Brendon, 46, competed on season 12 of Big Brother in 2010. Although they came into the game as complete strangers, they fell in love while filming and are now married with two kids.

“Brendon is in the process of teaching me how to get a really good fire going,” Rachel shared with Us. “What else did you say you’re going to work on with me?”

Brendon replied, “Eating one handful of rice a day. Building a shelter.”

Although Rachel is confident that she knows “how to do that,” her husband of more than 10 years remains doubtful.

“OK, let’s see,” he said with a laugh. “Hey, we’re in Alabama. We got plenty of stuff to practice with out here. Surviving mosquitoes for 10 minutes.”

During the season 28 premiere of Big Brother, host Julie Chen Moonves revealed Survivor alums Dee Valladares and Rick Devens would be competing this summer.

While Rachel made a surprise appearance on the July 9 episode, her visit was cut short when she was pushed by a velociraptor into a volcano and, ultimately, her fiery death.

Back home in Alabama, Rachel and her husband make quite the team as they raise their two kids. While Brendon may be considered the “fun” parent, Rachel said she is likely the “strict” and “mean” one.

“Brendon’s a really good dad,” she told Us. “I’m so lucky. I love watching him with the kids.”

Brendon added, “It’s really fun. We love being parents. It’s really cool because you get to relive all of your favorite things that you got to do growing up and do it with the kids.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

When asked about a return to reality TV, Brendon said he has his hands full working full-time as a medical physicist. If his wife got the call to compete in a show, however, he’d make it work.

“She’s made me be a soccer coach. She was signed up to be a soccer coach, and then she went on Traitors and was like, ‘Oh yeah, hey, can you take over the soccer?’” Brendon recalled. “I was like, ‘You went to one game, and you’re making me coach the entire season.’”

Big Brother airs on CBS Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.

George R.R. Martin‘s world of Westeros has had its fair share of busy eras. From the Doom of Valyria to Aegon Targaryen’s Conquest of Westeros, backed by his sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys, to The Dance of the Dragons, the Blackfyre Rebellion, and eventually, Robert Baratheon’s rebellion, which would ultimately cripple the House from Dragonstone. Outside the world of fantasy, Westeros has become exceedingly busy well beyond the bounds of the original Game of Thrones series. HBO and Warner Bros. have embarked upon an effort to expand the franchise beyond its previous limits of novels and television.

A franchise expansion that now includes film and gaming comes on the back of House of the Dragon Season 3, currently delivering the next devastating chapter of the civil war that effectively began the decline of Westeros’ most powerful House. With a lesser emphasis on war, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is preparing to adapt more of Martin’s beloved Dunk and Egg novellas as we get to enjoy Westeros from the countryside and not the confines of castles and great halls. In film, it has been officially announced by Warner Bros. that an Aegon’s Conquest feature film exploring the Targaryen invasion of Westeros is on the way — and we can’t wait to see Balerion the Black Dread onscreen.

However, beyond television and film, the franchise has expanded its influence into gaming. Video games like Game of Thrones: Dragonfire, which allows fans the opportunity to be dragon riders, and the strategy game, Game of Thrones: War for Westeros, which gives fans the chance to fix Game of Thrones‘ controversial ending, show a growing portfolio in gaming. Sadly, War for Westeros, which represents Jon Snow’s return to the franchise, which was originally scheduled to release later this year, has since been delayed. However, the franchise’s gaming collection continues to grow even further, as a brand-new release coming out on July 22 called The North Bannerman Duel Festival is set to enthrall hardcore fans (via Netmarble). At the moment, gamers can explore the Westerosi universe through two notable titles: the aforementioned Dragonfire and the free-to-play RPG Game of Thrones: Kingsroad, which has just begun its first season, Frost and Steel, which includes the newly announced Duel Festival event. However, it is important to note that the event is currently limited to APAC regions, with no confirmation of a global release.

The ‘Game of Thrones’ Universe Is Awash With Possibilities

It is amazing just how detailed Martin’s fantasy world is, and as such, it presents an incredible amount of opportunity to explore even more stories. An Arya Stark-led show bringing back Maisie Williams to the iconic role was confirmed earlier this year, and that in itself is great news. But the level of attention, intrigue, and detail woven into crafting Westeros’ history and its many houses, both major and minor, offers ample opportunity for those clever enough to craft a new story. A series on the Blackfyre Rebellion, showcasing Baelor Targaryen (Bertie Carvel), the firstborn son and heir of King Daeron II Targaryen, in the prime of youth, might be interesting. So would other spin-off options, like Nymeria and the 10,000 Ships and The Sea Snake, focused on Corlys Velaryon. There might still be some hope for a Jon Snow spin-off, with Kit Harington admitting recently that “there was something left to say” regarding Jon Snow.

Check out new episodes of House of the Dragon every Sunday night on HBO Max and stay tuned to Collider for more Game of Thrones updates and coverage.

For every television revival that finds a second life, there are plenty more that mistake nostalgia for a creative direction. Too often, reboots either recreate familiar stories beat for beat or lean so heavily on legacy characters that the new cast never gets a chance to stand on its own. Netflix’s upcoming A Different World sequel doesn’t appear to be falling into either trap.

Instead, it’s making a series of smart decisions before the first episode even premieres. Rather than rebooting one of television’s most influential sitcoms from scratch, it’s telling the next chapter. It’s keeping Hillman College at the center of the story, surrounding the new generation with the people who shaped the original, and handing the keys to a showrunner who’s already shown she understands how to update beloved television without losing its identity. If those choices are any indication, Netflix already understands what made A Different World special in the first place.

Netflix Isn’t Remaking ‘A Different World’

Image via NBC

The biggest reason to feel optimistic about the new series is that it isn’t pretending the original never happened. Instead of introducing a brand-new group of students with only a passing reference to Hillman College, the sequel follows Deborah Wayne (Maleah Joi Moon), the youngest daughter of Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy), as she begins her freshman year at her parents’ alma mater — a far more compelling starting point than another modern retelling because it immediately creates stakes that only this series can have.

Deborah is entering a campus where her parents are legends, meaning she’ll spend her first semester trying to build an identity that isn’t defined by one of television’s most beloved sitcom couples. Just as importantly, the decision allows the original series to remain intact. Nothing is being overwritten or reimagined.

Advertisement

The history of Hillman matters because the characters still remember it. New viewers can jump in through Deborah’s perspective, while longtime fans get the satisfaction of seeing what became of the people they spent six seasons with instead of watching younger actors recreate familiar moments, which is a much harder creative path than simply remaking the original, but is also the one that respects it most.

Debbie Allen and the Original Cast Keep Hillman’s DNA Intact

Image via J. Del Valle / ©NBC / Courtesy Everett Collection

Of course, continuing the narrative remains possible only if those engaged in this production have a clear understanding of why audiences may have related to Hillman. Debbie Allen is amongst the few people who meet the required qualifications. Although A Different World started off as a spin-off sitcom from The Cosby Show that introduced us to Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet), it came into its own only when Allen took over after the first season. Drawing on her college experience at Howard University, Allen elevated the sitcom, making it more than an ordinary sitcom by addressing college-related themes. Thanks to her endeavors, Hillman has become a place where characters can discuss not only love and friendship but also important issues related to race, class, sexual harassment, HIV/AIDS, and identity, and it seems this creativity is being carried over to Netflix’s sequel.

Advertisement

Allen returns as an executive producer and will direct the premiere, while original stars Guy, Hardison, Cree Summer, Darryl M. Bell, Dawnn Lewis, Glynn Turman, Charnele Brown, and several other familiar faces are reprising their roles. Original writers Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood are back as executive producers as well, giving the sequel something many revivals never manage: genuine continuity behind the camera, not just in front of it.

Just as significant is the decision to keep Hillman itself as the setting. The fictional HBCU has always been more than a backdrop because, for many viewers, Hillman represented possibility. The original series inspired countless students to consider historically Black colleges and universities, turning a fictional campus into one of television’s most meaningful institutions. Returning there feels like the only place this story could happen.

Felicia Pride Feels Like the Right Person To Lead the Next Generation

Image via Carsey-Werner/courtesy Everett Collection

Advertisement

Legacy television is difficult to modernize because audiences usually want two contradictory things at once. They want something that feels familiar, but they also don’t want to watch the same show again, and that’s where Felicia Pride’s hiring stands out. Her work on Bel-Air demonstrated that she understands how to revisit recognizable material without becoming trapped by nostalgia. That series didn’t copy The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air scene-for-scene. Instead, it used the original as a foundation for telling stories that reflected a different era and different conversations.

A Different World requires a similar balancing act, as the original series became groundbreaking because it constantly evolved. After a shaky first season, it grew into one of television’s smartest ensemble comedies precisely because it refused to stay frozen in time. It reflected what college students were actually experiencing instead of presenting an idealized version of campus life.

If the sequel hopes to honor that legacy, it can’t simply recreate late-’80s and early-’90s television with updated wardrobes and smartphones. It has to ask what Hillman looks like for today’s students, what conversations belong on campus now, and what issues deserve the same honesty that defined the original. The new series introduces an entirely fresh student ensemble while surrounding them with characters who understand Hillman’s history. Deborah’s journey is rooted in legacy, but the future of the show clearly belongs to her generation. It’s a difficult balance to strike, yet it’s one the creative team appears to be embracing rather than avoiding.

No reboot succeeds on paper alone, and A Different World will ultimately have to prove itself once classes begin at Hillman again. The foundation is unusually strong, though. Netflix is treating the original series like a story worth continuing. After 39 years, that’s exactly the approach this sitcom deserved.

Advertisement