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HBO Max’s global charts are usually crowded with franchise comfort watches and fresh-release momentum, but this one is different. Genndy Tartakovsky’s brutal, nearly dialogue-free survival saga plays like a prestige animation dare with minimal exposition, maximum visual storytelling, and long stretches where emotion is carried by movement, sound design, and raw violence. The show has been trending continuously since November, and the streaming come-up seems to be the strongest now that Season 3 is airing.

The show premiered in 2019 and has built its reputation as one of adult animation’s boldest genre hybrids. It amalgamates fantasy, horror, and action into something far more intense than its caveman and dinosaur team-up premise suggests.

As per FlixPatrol, Primal is holding around the sweet spot of #8 position and enjoying consistent placements across countries from Australia and Armenia to Spain, Ukraine, and much of Latin America (including repeated top-10 holds in Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Panama). That kind of stability matters more than a one-day spike. And even when it’s not hitting #1, it’s refusing to fall off. In Germany, Primal was recently trending at #7 and #8 on the Apple TV Store in Germany.

‘Primal’ Has Grown to Become an Animated Cult Heavyweight

The key context behind the surge is that Primal is now a 3-season modern cult heavyweight, with 27 episodes total and a third season that premiered in January 2026. It also carries an 8.7/10 on IMDb and a 100% Tomatometer / 89% Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes — and that’s critical and audience validation that helps explain why this dark sci-fi fantasy masterpiece keeps clawing its way back into the conversation.

Primal Season 3 picks up after Spear’s apparent death, bringing him back in a darker, supernatural turn as an undead version of himself. The new season follows Spear as he regains fragments of memory and fights through brutal new threats while searching for Fang. It’s still the same visual-first, dialogue-light storytelling, but with a bigger mythic edge, death, resurrection, and vengeance now shaping the journey as much as raw survival.

Primal is currently trending on HBO Max. Primal Season 3, Episode 8 will air on March 1, 2026. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

October 8, 2019

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Network

Adult Swim

Showrunner

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Genndy Tartakovsky

Directors

Genndy Tartakovsky

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Writers

Genndy Tartakovsky, Darrick Bachman, Bryan Andrews, Nagisa Koyama

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  Laëtitia Eïdo

  Mira (voice)

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  Aaron LaPlante

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  Spear (voice)

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By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 minute ago

Pop quiz: Who do you think is the most boring character in Star Trek? The franchise is filled with annoying characters like Wesley Crusher and Neelix, but those characters were at least grating in memorable ways. Unfortunately, Voyager had one character whose lines, line deliveries, and plotlines were guaranteed to put you to sleep.

We’re talking about Chakotay, the former Maquis rebel leader who has all the personality of an unsalted cracker the moment he becomes Captain Janeway’s first officer. However, Voyager did their best to correct the problems with this character very early on. For example, the forgotten Season 2 episode “Initiations” was written largely to make Chakotay more interesting to audiences.

The Most Boring Man In Starfleet

Some quick context about the episode: “Initiations” begins with Chakotay (played by Robert Beltran) taking a shuttlecraft out to conduct a ritual honoring his father’s death. But he takes custody of a young Kazon before both are captured by a larger Kazon vessel. There, they are forced to escape in a rollicking adventure that gives these two very different characters plenty of time to discover more about each other’s respective cultures.

Incidentally, exploring Kazon culture was one of the goals of “Initiations” and Season 2 as a whole. But the episode was also written in large part to make Chakotay a more interesting character. As revealed in the sixth issue of Star Trek Monthly (remember magazines, kids?), the producers felt that Voyager had underutilized Chakotay in the first season.

Rebranding Chakotay As An Action Star

Episode writer Ken Biller understood the assignment because he agreed with the producers that Chakotay was a pretty weak sauce character in the rest of Season 1 compared to how he was portrayed in “Caretaker,” the series premiere. Biller told the Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine that Chakotay is “like a real action hero in the pilot” and that “I think we need to give him some action stories,” something he was hoping to do with “Initiations.” That’s why the episode features this first officer getting into multiple fights, escaping captivity, and even offering to let his newfound ally kill him.

Why was it necessary for the writers and producers to make Chakotay a more interesting character? The short answer is that early Voyager, like The Next Generation before it, was hesitant to feature much conflict between characters. Therefore, even though the show’s premise was that Starfleet officers would be forced to work with Maquis terrorists, everyone mostly acted like one big, happy family after the first episode thrust them together.

Facing Off Against The Entire Delta Quadrant

In “Caretaker,” Chakotay is a Maquis leader who tries to help his crew escape the pursuing Voyager. After both ships are transported to the Delta Quadrant, he proves himself in and out of battle, eventually becoming Captain Janeway’s first officer. This was a practical choice because of Chakotay’s skills and Starfleet experience, but it was also a symbolic choice that underscored the need for both crews to work together to survive.

This was a recipe for juicy conflict between these two very different characters, but that never happened; Chakotay quickly became little more than Janeway’s yes man in Season 1. The writers tried to make him more interesting in subsequent seasons, but this led to mixed results because Voyager increasingly relied on the fraudulent Native American consultant Jamake Highwater to craft Chakotay stories. At any rate, Chakotay actor Robert Beltran came to hate how his character was written, and he reportedly began phoning in his performances later in the show due to what he saw as poor scripts.

While Chakotay never became a very interesting character, “Initiations” remains a very solid episode full of action, adventure, and a cameo from Deep Space Nine’s Aaron Eisenberg. In helping to flesh out the Kazon, this episode lives up to the Star Trek mandate to seek out new life and new civilizations. Unfortunately for the fans and Beltran alike, though, Voyager would soon run out of strange new worlds to explore with Chakotay, who soon cemented himself as the most boring character in the entire franchise.

[Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers for the premiere of Scrubs.]The 30-minute ABC revival series Scrubs sees Dr. John “J.D.” Dorian (Zach Braff) and Dr. Christopher Turk (Donald Faison) back at work together, their bromance as strong as ever. While certain aspects of life at Sacred Heart Hospital are the same, including familiar faces that will pop up throughout the season, changes in relationship dynamics make their bonds even more crucial. Trying to find a new normal with Dr. Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke) is uncharted waters for J.D., who’s trying to figure out the best way to mentor a new generation of interns while still caring about the patients, often stuck having to deal with the not-so-funny realities of healthcare.

During this interview with Collider, co-stars Braff, Faison and Chalke, who are clearly good friends in real life, discussed whether we’ll see that taxidermied golden retriever Rowdy make a return this season, what was most important in getting them to come back after wrapping the series more than 15 years ago, when the Scrubs comeback finally felt real, whether Braff has run into anyone in real life who has him tattooed on their body (like J.D. comes across in the season premiere), that Faison is not experiencing the same physical limitations that Turk is, the evolving dynamic between J.D. and Elliot, why Turk and Carla (Judy Reyes) are the cutest couple onTV, and how much fun they’re having working with the new cast members.

Will Rowdy, the Stuffed Dog, Make a Comeback on ‘Scrubs’?

“There’s a lot of mystery around Rowdy.”

Image via ABC

Collider: I appreciate you talking to me about this. It’s so fun to watch you all back as these characters. When you guys found out the show was returning, Zach and Donald, how soon did you wonder whether you would see Rowdy again, as well as what happened to Rowdy? Was that the first question that you had?

DONALD FAISON: I miss Rowdy, and I miss Steven.

ZACH BRAFF: There’s a lot of mystery around Rowdy. This is a recreation of Rowdy. I’m giving you the exclusive because Rowdy is a bit injured. Your taxidermied golden retriever will only last so many years these days, even if you keep him in the Disney vault. Think of Raiders of the Lost Ark at the end. That’s where Rowdy is kept, in a crate at the back. But we have a new Rowdy, and he’s ready to go for as many years as needed.

Were there any other really important pressing questions that you guys had before agreeing to do this again?

BRAFF: It was just resetting the tone with (creator) Bill [Lawrence], having Bill be such a part of this. This was Bill’s idea. This is Bill’s vision. This was from a singular creator’s mind. So, I think it was just really making sure Bill, even though he couldn’t run the show day to day because of his other commitments, was a big part of coming up with what the tone was going to be. There was a big conversation about resetting it back to the reality that we really played in the early seasons, and what would the rules be of this revival.

FAISON: When everybody said they were coming back, that’s when it felt real. I think that was the most necessary thing to have, in some form, the OG cast back. And we’ve done that, for the most part.

Did you all know immediately that you were all on board, or was there one that nobody could get ahold of, for whatever reason, so you didn’t know what was going to happen?

FAISON: I dare that person to even admit if that did happen.

SARAH CHALKE: We all still hang out.

BRAFF: We’re all friends.

FAISON: That would be the craziest thing ever. “Listen, we’re gonna do it, but Johnny’s holding out, bro. Somebody’s got call Johnny.”

I just meant if someone was on vacation, out of reception. Not that one of you was holding out on the others.

BRAFF: It was a very long process to get this going, so it wasn’t an overnight thing.

CHALKE: Yeah, we talked about it for a couple of years leading up to it.

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The medical comedy doesn’t hit with every joke, but the revival retains the heart of the original.

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Zach, there’s a moment in the season premiere when a nurse asks J.D. to sign her tattoo of him. Have you ever come across someone that’s had you tattooed on their body?

BRAFF: Oh, yeah. A lot.

(Thinking he was kidding) What do you think your reaction would be, if you were ever faced with that personally?

BRAFF: No, it’s happened a bunch. In fact, I once ran into a gal in New Mexico who had a tattoo of me. And then, she said, “Will you sign it?,” and I signed it with Sharpie. And when she came back to the same coffee shop where I was, she had had my signature tattooed on her. And that person’s name was Sarah Chalke.

CHALKE: (Laughs) Would you like to see it?

BRAFF: There are crazy tattoos out there.

FAISON: There are tattoos that don’t even look like us, but they’re supposed to be us.

CHALKE: Tattoos of the two of you guys together?

FAISON and BRAFF: (Simultaneously) Yeah.

FAISON: There are a lot of Eagling tattoos.

BRAFF: You can Google them. Google Scrubs tattoo images. There are some crazy ones. We love it.

I will be doing that as soon as this interview is over. I love that J.D. and Turk’s onscreen reunion is a reminder of their friendship, but also of how many years have passed since we saw them. Are you guys realizing that there are at least some physical limitations to their friendship now?

FAISON: I think Turk and J.D. are realizing that. I want to put it out there that I am still a very fit young man. I might be 51, but your boy can still squat 250 and bench 120. I don’t know, whatever the heavyweight is, I’ve still got that.

BRAFF: Benching 120 is, I don’t think, a big brag.

FAISON: Can you do 185?

BRAFF: I don’t know. I haven’t looked. Donald wants the world to know that even though Turk can’t carry a 165-pound man, Donald Faison can.

FAISON: I am still fit.

Zach Braff and Sarah Chalke Are Having Fun Navigating the New ‘Scrubs’ Dynamic Between J.D. and Elliot

“I think it was a really good jumping off point.”

I will make note of that. Zach and Sarah, to get into spoilers, we learn from J.D. and Elliot that their marriage didn’t last and that they’re trying to navigate post-divorce life. How does their relationship affect and shape things for them this season? What was it like to explore this new relationship for them?

CHALKE: It was so fun, in their original one, to play that they’re together, they’re not, now they’re breaking up, now they’re getting married. We had so much fun doing it the first time around. So, I was really excited to hear that we were starting off divorced and not just happily married, because there’s not a lot of comedy and drama that comes out of them just being okay and fine and happy. I think it was a really good jumping off point. Even in this first nine episodes, we got to explore what that’s like for them to co-parent and work together. Do they try to start dating other people? It was a super fun dynamic to play around with, and I hope we get to do more of that.

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Zach Braff Says the ‘Scrubs’ Reboot Will Feature a “Beaten-Down” J.D.

“It’s very, very hard to be a doctor today.”

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Zach, how does J.D. feel about the status of their relationship?

BRAFF: Spoiler, but we learn that she was the one who ended it.

FAISON: Yep.

BRAFF: So, I think that we can infer that on-again, off-again bickering that was a part of their existence persisted through the marriage. Whereas J.D. still wanted to work on it and go to couples counseling and do stuff, eventually Elliot just pulled the ripcord and called it. I think J.D. understands but is dealing with it. They’re learning to co-parent. Now, they have to learn to work together. He has to learn what it’s like to see her flirting with a handsome doctor at the end of the hallway. It’s going to be tricky for them.

FAISON: I feel like it hurt him a lot, actually, when she called it, because he’s definitely doing some things around the hospital to make her life just a little bit more difficult.

BRAFF: There was a beat that was actually cut out of the pilot where you saw a flash of Elliot dropping off their son for the joint custody, for his turn, and she sees him through the window and she sees how sad he is, sitting there alone, and she really clocks it. And then, when he answers the door, he switches to a smile to act like he’s fine. It was very telling. We had to cut for time, but it was a very telling moment.

Donald Faison Believes ‘Scrubs’ Turk and Carla Are the Cutest Couple in TV History

“It’s important that Turk and Carla are together.”

Image via ABC

Donald, I also love that we get to see Carla and Turk at home with their daughters. Are you hoping we’ll get to see more of that?

FAISON: That’s a great storyline. When Judy [Reyes] said she was coming back, because she’s on the number one television show in America, on broadcast television … I don’t know if you knew that, but she is.

CHALKE: High Potential.

FAISON: The fear, at first, was like, “Well, is Judy coming back?,” because there’s so much great story to tell about Turk and Carla. And when she said yes, she was, it just made it great. And then, when we went and had meetings with the writers, and they said we have four daughters, it made it even better because that’s just so much to play with. I think it’s important that Turk and Carla are together. They’re the cutest couple ever in the history of television. And so, because of that, they’re the best couple in the history of television.

BRAFF: What about Lucy and Desi?

FAISON: Yeah, you know, it’s cute, but it ain’t Turk and Carla.

BRAFF: Sam and Diane?

FAISON: Not even close. They didn’t last. You can even go Brady. We’ve got them beat. The only cuter couple on television is Turk and J.D. I think it’s important to show that love can last, and it should be seen on television. I think everybody should be able to see love at its finest, and that’s what you get with Turk and Carla.

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I already love Joel Kim Booster on the show and how much he’s already trying to stir up trouble for J.D., specifically. What will we continue to see from him? What do you guys love about what he’s bringing to the show? It must be scary to jump into something like this and figure out what to do.

BRAFF: Yeah. You have to figure out new antagonists for J.D., and Joel Kim Booster is doing a great job at that. He’s very funny. There are two lines that are in the pilot that he improvised. He brings a lot of improvisation and comedy. He’s just one of the people that are going to be pushing J.D.’s buttons. He’s after his job, and he wants to topple him.

FAISON: You bring up a great point: all the new people are fearless and so wonderful to work with. From the new interns to our guest stars, from Vanessa [Bayer] to Joel to Phill Lewis to Rob Maschio, it’s great to go to work and work with people that are committed to doing something that they’ve seen in the past and want to be a part of.

Because they don’t want to screw it up. They want to do it justice too.

BRAFF: But it is a lot of pressure. You’re right. They’ve got to come in and perform and hit the ground running. Vanessa Bayer is a perfect example. She came into a show with all these people who know each other, and right off the bat is having us belly laugh with every single thing she says. You’ve got to show up and hit the ground running.

CHALKE: The way she delivers a line of dialogue, you’ll read it in the script, and then she says it, and I could not get through one of the takes in one scene we did. She’s so funny. She does it different, every time. It’s so fun to work with her.

BRAFF: When we saw the gag reel with you not being able to get through it, it made me wish I’d put that version in the show because that’s not what’s in the show – her singing “Ave Maria.”

CHALKE: I was like, “Sarah, the crew all wants to go home. They have families. Think of terrible things.” And then, she would open her mouth and sing.

BRAFF: Sarah has these tricks to not laugh when she doesn’t ruin a take, and none of those tricks were working.

CHALKE: None of those tricks were working. Sometimes I have to ask our boss to come in and just glare at me and give me a stern look. And then, I’m like, “Okay, okay.” That didn’t even work.

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Release Date

February 25, 2026

Writers

Aaron Lee, Amy Pocha, Aseem Batra, Mathew Harawitz, Michael Hobert, Seth Cohen, Tim Hobert

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• 

  Donald Faison

  Christopher Turk

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Scrubs airs on ABC and is available to stream on Hulu.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 41 seconds ago

If you’ve ever found yourself watching RoboCop and wondering if there was a crappier version starring Billy Blanks, I’d point you to 1993’s TC 2000. That’s right, the Tae Bo guy leads a dystopian sci-fi action flick in which his partner becomes a ruthless killing machine with only fragmented memories of her past life. Cybersecurity is compromised, government buildings are leveled, and the fate of humanity hangs in the balance. Thankfully, we get enough montages involving flexed muscles and shadowboxing to reassure us that, after all is said and done, everything will be right in the world.

TC 2000, despite its sloppy mixed martial arts messaging, remains an entertaining entry in writer-director T.J. Scott’s filmography, and for his first feature-length project, it certainly has legs. Those legs belong to Billy Blanks, who unflinchingly steps up as the action hero nobody asked for and commits fully to the premise.

Humans Vs. Cyborgs Vs … Picasso?

Set in an underground city in the year 2020, TC 2000 centers on an elite police force designed to protect the wealthy from the remaining surface dwellers, who are always looking for a way into their heavily fortified community. Jason Storm (Billy Blanks) and his partner Zoey Kinsella (Bobbie Phillips) work as Tracker-Communicators, or TCs, whose sole purpose is to keep the riff raff out of the compound. When the community’s force field is breached by common citizens who just want a safe place to rest their heads, Zoey suspects they were given intel from the inside, meaning the city is no longer secure.

Through exchanges between Jason and his superior, The Controller (Ramsay Smith), we learn that, with the help of his muscle man Bigalow (Matthias Hues), he plans to replace TCs with the next iteration of cybernetically infused enforcers known as TC-Xs.

When gang leader Niki Picasso (Jalal Merhi) infiltrates the city with the intention of seizing whatever pre-collapse firepower is hidden within its walls, Zoey is killed and secretly converted into a TC-X by The Controller. He programs her to gain Picasso’s trust through seduction, intending to infiltrate another gang known as the Lifers, who guard a research facility he wants to claim.

Exiled from the force and framed for his partner’s murder, Jason needs a training montage to restore balance and properly confront The Controller. With the help of his mentor, Master Sumai (Bolo Yeung), Jason learns the facility was once owned by Zoey’s father to repair the environment, but has since been converted into a chemical weapons manufacturing plant. Now guarded by Zoey, who has been programmed to assassinate her former partner, breaching the factory seems impossible for anyone but Jason Storm.

A Martial Arts Showcase

While TC 2000 leaves plenty to be desired in terms of on-screen chemistry, special effects, truly menacing villains, and meaningful internal conflict between Jason Storm and his superiors, it more than makes up for its lack of depth with its fight sequences. Billy Blanks tries his hardest to be a leading man and action hero, and the effort is commendable, but he is just not that guy. He can throw hands and roundhouse kick as well as Jean-Claude Van Damme, but he lacks the charisma needed to carry the show alone.

As for the evil forces at play, Picasso may go down as one of the least threatening villains in cinema history. He listens to records and struts around like he is a badass, but if I am being honest, I kept waiting for him to clutch his pearls and yell “curses!” upon defeat. What I anticipated is not too far off from what actually happens in TC 2000.

If you head over to Tubi and fire up TC 2000, you might find yourself drifting during the expository scenes. When the fights ramp up, though, it is worth your time if you love a good old-fashioned cybernetic beatdown. It’s cheesy but it’s charming. It’s sloppy, but it’s fun. It’s best not to take this one too seriously, because it will ruin the experience. 

This week on Getting Real With the Housewives, former Real Housewives of Atlanta star Eva Marcille reveals if she would ever return to the Bravo franchise.

“I never say never, but I’m looking into scripted, that’s my joy and my businesses and my babies,” the actress, 41, exclusively tells Us Weekly. “I am a fan, I must say, I do watch. I love it.”

In 2020, Eva who is promoting her new Lifetime movie, Pushed Off a Plane and Survived, announced she was leaving RHOA after three seasons.

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Related: Former ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ Stars: Where Are They Now?

The Real Housewives of Atlanta has said goodbye to many cast members since its Bravo debut in 2008 — but there’s always a chance they could return. For instance, original RHOA star NeNe Leakes left the show in season 7 before rejoining the cast in 2018. “It’s been a long process but we’ve finally reached […]

In a statement at the time she said, “After speaking with my family and representatives, I believe that what I hope to accomplish for the culture and community will be better served by focusing on other opportunities.”

The former America’s Next Top Model cycle 3 winner joined the Bravo reality series as a friend of the Housewives during season 10, which premiered in November 2017. She was promoted to full-time Housewife the following year and also served as a main cast member during the 12th and 13th season.

“I just love to see the girls keep juking and keep going,” Eva tells Us. “I believe that it is a representation that needs to be had. It is a real representation and I love that Atlanta just keeps doing its thing.”

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Eva Marcille was one of the most notable America’s Next Top Model contestants missing from Netflix’s 2026 documentary series Reality Check. Marcille’s fiery personality and undeniable charisma earned her the nickname “Eva the Diva” during the third cycle of ANTM, which she won in July 2004. After winning a Ford modeling contract on the reality […]

For now, Eva is focusing on Pushed off a Plane and Survived, telling Us, “Lifetime does a beautiful job at finding stories that are ripped from the headlines. And as an actor, art depicts life and so what yummier story to tell than a real life story. To be pushed from a plane, I mean, who could imagine? But there’s one thing that is a theme in all of this, is, what do you do for love?”

For a full Housewives recap, watch the video above.
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NeNe Leakes
Locks Lips W/ New Man Courtside at Grizzles Game!!!

Published
February 25, 2026
7:50 PM PST

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’s Mary Cosby and her husband, Robert Cosby Sr., are “struggling to understand” son Robert Cosby Jr.’s death.

“Robert Sr. and Mary Cosby are mourning the loss of their beloved son, Robert Clinton Cosby, Jr.,” Clayton Simms, an attorney for the Cosby family, exclusively told Us Weekly on Wednesday, February 25. “His untimely passing is hard to comprehend, and the Cosbys are struggling to understand how someone so young and full of life could be gone so soon. Robert Jr.’s warm spirit, humor and kind heart will be missed.”

He continued, “A favorite bible passage of the Cosby family is Ecclesiastes 1:2-8, which touches upon the idea that human pursuits, pleasures and accomplishments are fleeting and futile without spiritual purpose. This loss is sudden, and the family asks for privacy during this difficult time.”

News broke on Wednesday that Robert Jr. died at age 23. Authorities confirmed to Us that they responded to a call on Monday, February 23, with TMZ reporting that it was for a “full arrest” and “medical emergency.” Robert Jr. was found dead on arrival.

Related: RHOSLC’s Mary Cosby Breaks Silence After Son Robert’s Death at 23

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby has broken her silence after her son Robert Cosby Jr.’s untimely death. “Our beloved son Robert Jr. has been called home to the Lord,” Mary, 53, told Us Weekly on Wednesday, February 25. “Though our hearts ache, we take comfort in God’s promise and in […]

A death investigation is open and active. TMZ, who was the first to report the news on Wednesday, alleged that Robert died following a possible overdose. His cause of death has not been confirmed.

A 911 audio has since been obtained by Page Six, with the dispatcher saying, “Twenty-three-year-old male, not conscious, not breathing. One dose of Narcan given. Police have been called. Three units in route.” (Us Weekly reached out to the Salt Lake City Police Department for comment.)

Mary and Robert Sr. paid tribute to Robert Jr. in a statement to Us, sharing that their son has “been called home to the Lord.”

“Though our hearts ache, we take comfort in God’s promise and in knowing he is finally at peace,” the couple wrote. “We are grateful for your prayers and trust in the Lord to carry us through this time of sorrow.”

In a separate statement, Bravo also mourned the death of Robert Jr. “We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Mary’s beloved son, Robert Jr. Mary is a cherished member of our family, and our thoughts, love, and deepest condolences are with her and her loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” the network wrote in a statement to Us.

Last year, Robert Jr. checked into an in-patient rehab facility. After he was out, Robert Jr. was arrested for violating a protective order. He pleaded guilty to the charges and was released from jail earlier this month.

“I’m happy. I’m in a good place. I’m not worried about him,” Mary shared during the Bravo show’s season 6 reunion in January when asked about Robert Jr.’s arrest. “I know he’s somewhere where he’s not using. At some point, I have to step back so that he can learn and he can make his own decision, and unfortunately, he’s learning the hard way.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Jenna Lewis-Dougherty is as old-school a Survivor player as one can be, but the season 1 fan favorite and season 50 contestant has some new tricks up her sleeve.

Knowing she would probably be underestimated by the mostly younger Survivor 50 cast, she decided to play into the perception that she was too old to be a threat in the game. It all started on the flight to Fiji.

“On the plane, you can’t have anything electronic, but I have a CD player and I made CDs,” Jenna, 48, told Us Weekly exclusively on the red carpet of the Survivor 50 premiere on Tuesday, February 24. “I didn’t have one before. I thought, ‘Oh, my God, I want to seem so [like] I don’t know how to use technology.’”

“Well, I do,” she continued. “I had to retroactively teach myself how to burn CDs again, but I carried around a CD player. Everyone noticed. I was embroidering on the plane. Everyone noticed.”

Jenna placed eighth in Survivor: Borneo, the show’s first season, which aired in 2000. Her fan-favorite status and reputation as a gameplayer before anyone really knew how the game was played earned her an invite back for Survivor: All-Stars, where she finished third.

All-Stars aired in 2004, and Jenna hasn’t played since. When Survivor began putting its cast together for season 50, production wanted someone from the first season. Host Jeff Probst insisted on asking Jenna.

“I think Jeff sees me as the first villain,” Jenna said. “If you watched Survivor 1, I was out there playing. Ramona [Gray], who was an amazing girl, comes out and says, ‘I think Jenna can be my first white friend.’ And in my confessional, I was like, ‘Too little too late.’ I wrote her name down like I didn’t care. And I didn’t. I love Ramona. I did not care. I could compartmentalize. I knew this was 39 days. I have a lifetime for apologies.”

Like many former Survivor players, Jenna kept up with the show for a while before real life got in the way and her fandom faded. (“Nobody watched” the 20s, she said, referring to seasons 20-29.)

Related: ‘Survivor’ Alums Share Emotional Reactions to Not Being Cast for Season 50

While the cast list for Survivor 50 included many memorable names, some fan favorites couldn’t help but express their disappointment. Host Jeff Probst revealed on Wednesday, May 26, that season 50 will include 24 returning players which features two previous winners, several multi-time castaways and two names from Survivor 49 who have yet to be […]

Still, when she got the call, it was an easy decision.

“If you don’t win Survivor in your previous seasons, then you don’t know that deep niggle,” she said. “Every time you think about it, you go, ‘If one thing had changed, I would be relevant. If one thing had changed, I would be cool.’ That’s what I think. I would be cool and relevant if I did one thing different.”

On Survivor 50, Jenna finds herself in a tribe with other players from Survivor’s old era, including Cirie Fields and Ozzy Lusth. It will be the biggest Survivor season in the show’s history, with 24 castaways hitting the beaches of Fiji, but Jenna has played with only one other player on the cast before. Colby Donaldson, the runner-up in Survivor: The Australian Outback, also played All-Stars and later returned for season 20, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, in 2010.

Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans premieres with a three-hour episode on Wednesday, February 25, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. The series will then go to its normal 90-minute format beginning March 4.