Whew, Roommates! The back-and-forth between Shyne and Brandy over their past relationship isn’t letting up and neither is Ray J. Shyne spun the block with a reply after the singer claimed their past connection was strictly “platonic.”

RELATED: Whew! Brandy Sets The Record Straight After Shyne & Mase Allege They Dated Her At The Same Time (VIDEOS)

Shyne Calls Out Brandy For Seemingly Rewriting Their Relationship History

If you’ve been out of the loop, Brandy and Shyne started trading words after Shyne recalled their relationship during an appearance on Mase and Cam’ron’s ‘It Is What It Is’ podcast. Shyne said he and Mase dated Brandy at the same time, but she stepped in and shut that down, saying what they had was nothing more than a “friendship.”

Now, Shyne is circling back to slam her claims. He spoke exclusively with TMZ and said he never meant any harm when he talked about her. Still, he called her a “liar” and said he thinks she’s avoiding admitting that she dated both him and Mase in attempts to protect her image.

“I don’t know, I can’t get into her mind. I’m just saying she has lied to the public before to protect her image, and maybe the fact that she was seeing both Mase and I at the same time, she feels it’s not good for her image.”

He continued saying, “If he was capping, Mase would’ve said, ‘Nah, Shyne I don’t remember it like that.” 

Here’s What Brandy Previously Said About Her & Shyne’s Status

Shyne’s latest comments came right after Brandy hopped on Instagram to shut down rumors that she dated him. The ‘Full Moon’ songstress also gave fans a peek into her upcoming memoir, ‘PHASES,’ dropping March 31. She said she’s tired of people pushing a narrative about her that isn’t true and made it clear she and Shyne never had any relations.

“In the late 90’s, I had a platonic friendship with rapper Shyne. In an unfortunate turn of events, that friendship is now being mischaracterized as ‘we dated.’ Unequivocally, we did not! I’m not sure why an untrue narrative about a scope of what was a friendship more than 20-years ago is being reshaped during his current media interviews,” she wrote.

From there, she told fans she never asked Ray J to step in and defend her. “While I love my brother Ray J, I don’t condone or support the messages he’s shared on social media and have not asked him to defend me in any form,” Brandy continued.

Ray previously went live to stand up for his big sis after he saw the comments Shyne made while chopping it up with Mase and Cam’ron.

“Shyne, Mase, and Cam — like, I don’t know. I never had a problem with them but I saw some s**t today, and they gotta know that a n****a gon’ come back strong and say some s**t,” Ray said during the stream.

Ray J Continues Going Off & Steps Back In To Defend His Sister

Even though Brandy said she doesn’t condone her baby brother stepping in, he spun the block AGAIN! He hopped on a new livestream and spoke on Shyne’s time behind bars. From there, he asked fans to stop saying he needs help when all he’s doing is standing ten toes down for someone he loves. “Why do I need help?” Ray continued, “I’m defending somebody I love. What am I doing wrong? I don’t give a f***.” 

RELATED: Whew! Shyne Reacts After Ray J Says He’ll “Slap” The “Daylights” Out Of Him & Mase For Claiming They Allegedly Dated Brandy At The Same Time (VIDEOS)

Denise Richards is never one to shy away from getting real about her life in and out of the spotlight — including her experience with cosmetic surgery.

“@deniserichards is one of the most lovely and beautiful people to ever walk this earth,” Richards’ doctor, facial plastic surgeon Dr. Ben Talei of Beverly Hills, wrote in a joint statement with the actress shared via Instagram on Saturday, March 21.

“It was an incredible pleasure and honor to be trusted with her restoration and more importantly, the preservation of her character and beauty,” Dr. Talei continued. “It’s hard to describe in a paragraph the type of surgery or procedures I do because they are so unique in many ways and there isn’t really a standard to compare it to. If you look at every mm from top to bottom of any photo you will see comprehensive improvements.”

The surgeon added, “There are things that the majority of surgeons in the world would gloss over such as the organization of the eyebrow hair or the contour and shape of the forehead. As we age so many little things change like the disarray of the eyebrow hair pattern.”

Related: Denise Richards Is ‘Confident’ After Fixing Her Ruptured Breast Implants

Denise Richards is feeling like herself again. Richards, 54, opened up about undergoing a breast revision surgery via Instagram on Wednesday, August 27, after rupturing both her implants during season 3 of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test. In the video, Richards said she is already “feeling pretty good” after her surgery. “I’m so happy,” she […]

In the shared Saturday upload, Richards and her physician shared jaw-dropping before-and-after photos of the actress, detailing how she looked pre- and post-surgery. The change was noticeable, with many saying as much in the comments section.

“Absolutely stunning result,” read one comment. “Absolutely amazing,” another wrote. “She is such a beauty — and she’s right back to her Wild Things face.”

Dr. Talei continued to detail the changes he made to Richard’s face.

“If you look at the after photo, you can see how much more organized they look from the three dimensional changes I’m able to make,” he wrote. “If you look at the forehead contours from the side view, you can see how young in the shape looks now. Her stunning, gorgeous eyes were restored rather than changed or just cleaned up. Even her earlobes look better from all views. The sad or tired look around the eyes and mouth have been neutralized and reversed.”

Richards opened up about the procedure in a Friday, March 20, interview with Allure.

“I wanted to put things back up, where they were before,” Richards told the publication, adding that she “was terrified” of the procedure despite having breast augmentation at 19 and a subsequent revision surgery for her implants.

Related: Denise Richards Shows Off Curves in Bodysuit After Breast Revision Surgery

Advertisement

Denise Richards is embracing her cleavage again. Richards, 54, proudly showed off her curves after getting breast revision surgery, posing in a skin-tight black bodysuit at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles on Monday, September 1. As she struck a pose, the actress flaunted her figure in a push-up design featuring a plunging neckline, thin […]

“Being in the public eye since my 20s, people know what I look like — a facelift is not something that I could hide.”
Dr. Talei thanked his patient for being willing to share her experience with the public.

“I’m so grateful to Denise for being so open about the procedure,” he wrote on Saturday. “She’s been through so much this past year and her resilience is just astounding. She has a golden heart and her golden face is hers again.”

Meghan Markle‘s As Ever brand deal with Netflix reportedly left the company with millions of dollars in the hole.

Industry insiders and sources revealed that the streaming giant “cut a loss” after deciding to end their partnership with the duchess’s lifestyle brand, with many claiming there was no point in continuing the deal since Meghan’s cooking show will not be returning for a third season.

The latest report comes after Meghan Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, were called out in a bombshell exposé about their alleged struggles to find footing in Hollywood.

Meghan Markle’s Netflix Partnership Reportedly Ends In Loss: As Ever Brand Fails To Deliver Returns

Meghan has come under severe scrutiny after it was revealed that her lifestyle brand As Ever’s partnership with Netflix had ended after less than a year.

The lifestyle brand launched alongside her series “With Love, Meghan,” which is not expected to continue into a third season.

Behind the scenes, insiders shared with Page Six that the streaming giant invested millions but saw limited returns, leading to a quiet exit from the deal.

“Netflix put millions behind this deal, and I don’t think they saw a return whatsoever. They just cut a loss,” a source said.

Others noted that there was no need for the streaming giant to maintain the lifestyle brand deal, as Meghan’s “With Love, Meghan” has also reportedly been canned.

Insiders Claim Some Netflix Staff Disliked Working With The Duchess on Her Show

There are also murmurs of internal friction, with a Netflix staffer telling the news outlet that some individuals “did not enjoy working with Meghan on her lifestyle show.

However, the source also noted that “there is no love lost” between Meghan and many at Netflix since the end of “With Love, Meghan.”

The duchess herself once acknowledged the intense demands of building both a show and a brand, describing the process as “incredibly liberating” and “incredibly lonely.”

A Netflix source added they were surprised by the split, asking: “Why ever in the world would Netflix put all this money into the deal and then say the plan was to let it go after 11 months?”

They added, “You can try to spin it whatever way you want, but it’s just not true.”

Meghan Markle’s Relationship With Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos

Meanwhile, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, who originally backed the Sussexes with a reported $100 million deal in 2020, has consistently expressed confidence in Meghan’s cultural influence.

Though rumors of tension have circulated, representatives on both sides insist there’s been no major fallout.

Sarandos had previously praised the As Ever brand, telling Variety that Meghan is “underestimated in terms of her influence on culture” and calling the venture “a big discovery model” for Netflix.

While some within Hollywood suggested the working relationship had grown strained, with communication reportedly difficult at times, the Sussex reps firmly deny these claims.

The Duchess And The Netflix CEO Don’t Have A ‘Relationship Like They Used To’

Insiders note that although certain Netflix staff may have grown frustrated working with the couple, Sarandos has generally remained open to giving them another chance.

Their connection extends beyond business: the Sussexes and Sarandos, along with his wife Nicole Avant, are Montecito neighbors and are reportedly still on friendly terms.

However, sources indicate “Meghan and Ted don’t have a relationship like they used to.”

This claim has been further fueled by reports that Sarandos unfollowed Meghan’s personal Instagram page and that of her lifestyle brand, As Ever, leaving many speculating about the true state of their relationship.

Meghan Markle’s Zoom Absences Explained As Parenting, Not Disengagement, Amid Netflix Rumors

Adding to the speculation, Variety reported that Meghan allegedly “disappeared” during Zoom meetings when she felt offended.

Some teams, including marketing, were told Markle’s long absences were because she was upset by something said during meetings.

Meghan’s lawyer, Michael J. Kump, countered this claim in a statement, explaining that the royal “works from home, is the mother of young children aged 4 and 6, and often encounters children who enter the space unexpectedly during a meeting.”

He added, “Independent of being a parent who works from home, Meghan is also conscious of shielding her team from the distraction of children. Nearly all professionals can attest to needing to turn off the audio or camera during a virtual meeting at some point during many hours of virtual business calls.”

Ever since Demon Slayer in 2019 and the extra free time the pandemic provided, anime has blown up in popularity, becoming a worldwide sensation that fans have fallen in love with because of its energetic animation and creative stories. However, while anime used to be different, with shows such as One Piece, ever since the medium got popular, stories have gotten unoriginal and repetitive, simply going to entertain and not innovate.

Certain anime follow a specific script and blueprint, but among every genre are a handful of exceptions. There are some game-changing anime that completely rewrote the genre’s rules, establishing a new way for stories to be told. That is why this list will rank game-changing and genre-redefining anime based on originality, how they shook up the script, and how future shows followed.

10

‘Chainsaw Man’ (2022–Present)

Image via MAPPA

The majority of the anime on this list are older shows, but there are a couple of modern series that dare to go against the grain, and Chainsaw Man is one of them. Denji is a simple person, not knowing the luxuries of daily life, but when Makima gives him the opportunity, he becomes a demon hunter. Now hunting devils, his only goal is to experience something new, whether it be a jam of toast or love.

Fans aren’t happy with how the manga is being handled, but the anime, for now, is a truly unique series that deconstructs the typical shōnen protagonist. Anime has always been weird, but Chainsaw Man dialed it up a notch, using its endearing characters and their flaws to tell a bizarrely dark story. In the end, this anime goes against many shōnen tropes and clichés to deliver a modern delight that is one-of-a-kind.

9

‘Puella Magi Madoka Magica’ (2011)

Image via Shaft

There are many definitive anime genres and styles, and one of them is magical girls, which follows cutesy witches battling evil with pure hearts. Puella Magi Madoka Magica starts as such, following an idealistic girl becoming a mage after taking up a mysterious cat on its offer. However, it takes a drastic twist, with the duties of a witch meaning taking on otherworldly horrors, resulting in countless deaths.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica took the genre known for being cute and wholesome and made it one of the most traumatizing, bleak, depressing, and violent anime the medium has to offer. Many anime subvert expectations, but none do it as well as Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and this changed the game when it comes to this type of deconstruction.

8

‘Yu Yu Hakusho’ (1992–1995)

Image via Pierrot

Hunter x Hunter is one of the most popular anime series of all time, but its creator made an anime that is just as influential, if not more. Yu Yu Hakusho follows Yusuke after he dies before his time, leaving the afterworld to give him a set of trials to earn his life back. He now works as a spirit detective, helping keep the balance between the spirit world and the human realm.

By today’s standards, Yu Yu Hakusho feels fairly typical, but that is because it redefined how shōnen anime is handled, making it a true pioneer of its time. Yusuke was an original protagonist who proved that punks can have a heart of gold. However, Yu Yu Hakusho is best known for popularizing the tournament arc, one of the best arcs in anime. Almost every major shōnen now has a tournament arc, and it is because this anime changed the game.

7

‘Slam Dunk’ (1993–1996)

Image via Toei Animation

There are plenty of game-changing sports anime, such as Ashita no Joe, but Slam Dunk is a tier above in terms of rewriting the genre’s rules. Hanamichi is a typical punk who just wants a girlfriend, and his next brightest idea is to impress his crush by joining the basketball team. He may have the measurables, but he has no experience, and he refuses to work with anyone, making his journey to master the sport difficult.

Slam Dunk does feature a lot of standard sports tropes, but it still has an air about it that separates it from other sports anime. It sparked a surge of popularity of the sport in Japan because of its riveting plot and engaging characters. Slam Dunk is a masterclass of character work, creating compelling arcs and development, making it one of the best sports anime of all time.

6

‘The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya’ (2006–2009)

Image via Chiba TV

Anime culture changes constantly, but the 2000s had a different style that is most commonly associated with otaku culture and moe. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya follows a school club that investigates the supernatural and occult. Kyon just wants a normal high school life, but his club mates consist of time travelers, aliens, and supernatural beings, making it anything but normal.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya established the moe style in an era where it was at an all-time high, not to mention it deconstructed it by including supernatural elements and experimental storytelling. The anime is notoriously known for its ending arc, which reused the same episode with minor changes. While this isn’t a good thing, it did rewrite the genre’s rules by including this inventive conclusion. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya proved that moe anime can be profound, playing on its endless summer storyline.

5

‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ (2023–Present)

Image via Kanehito Yamada, Tsukasa Abe/Shogakukan/ “Frieren”Project

Chainsaw Man isn’t the only modern anime on this list; Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is a new fantasy that has instantly become a classic. The titular elf and her party defeated the demon part, but after she outlives some of the members, she realizes she didn’t properly convey her feelings. Frieren, Fern, and Stark now retrace a similar path on their way to the land of the dead, to speak to her fallen comrades.

As opposed to anime that follow the party journeying to kill the demon king, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is set after that, in a time of peace, proving the genre can be fresh when done differently. Not to mention, this anime focuses on mellow storytelling and enjoying the side quests instead of the main adventure. This flies in the face of fantasy anime and its stale storytelling style, reinventing the genre and rewriting the rules in the meantime, becoming one of the best modern anime series ever.

4

‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ (1995–1996)

Image via Toei Company

Mecha anime are outdated now, with fewer and fewer every year, but it used to be the definitive anime genre, and one of the most iconic is Neon Genesis Evangelion. The world is left in tatters, and a third cataclysm threatens to end it for good. However, the only hope for humanity and survival is Shinji and other teenagers, who must pilot mechs and defeat angel-like aliens, but other players have other goals.

A certain anime redefined the genre into what it is most known as, but that show will be featured later, as Neon Genesis Evangelion rewrote the mecha genre again. Most anime protagonists are strong-willed, but Shinji is weak and flawed, which is what makes him so compelling. Neon Genesis Evangelion aged like a fine wine, being an expression of mental health that redefined anime and how it is viewed.

3

‘Urusei Yatsura’ (1981–1986)

Image via Pierrot

It may not be talked about enough among the mainstream community, but romance anime are some of the most popular, and the genre is ripe with well-made classics, such as Urusei Yatsura. When an alien princess comes down to Earth, she falls in love with a scummy high school boy. Now he struggles to stay faithful to her with so many other women he has his eyes on.

The tsundere trope is one of the most famous and popular in anime, and it all started with Urusei Yatsura. Lum revolutionized what a character could be, and this trope has stuck to this day. It rewrote the romance genre by introducing a new archetype, changing the rules, and instantly becoming a classic.

2

‘Mobile Suit Gundam’ (1979–1980)

Image via Netflix

This list mentioned how a certain mecha anime redefined the sci-fi genre, and that was Mobile Suit Gundam, a true classic. A separate colony declares war on Earth, quickly gaining the upper hand with their advanced mechs. However, Earth strikes back after developing its own Gundam, starting an intergalactic war for freedom.

Mechas are a definitive staple of anime, so much so that they are synonymous with Gundam, known for the many anime series and its hobby building. Gundam treated robots as real metallic weapons, straying from the magical and idealistic take. It focused on the grim realities of war and the end of the good vs. evil discussion, creating a nuanced story that rewrote how sci-fi anime are handled.

1

‘Dragon Ball Z’ (1989–1998)

Image via Toei Animation

This list has mentioned shōnen anime a lot, and there is no shōnen anime as iconic and influential as Dragon Ball Z. After an alien child lands on Earth, he trains in the ways of martial arts, becoming a skilled fighter who protects Earth and his friends. From enemies such as Frieza, King Buu, Vegeta, and Cell, Goku will fight a lot of tough enemies on his journey.

Dragon Ball Z defined the modern-day shōnen genre, being an essential and influential classic that established many tropes and storylines. From the silly big-eating protagonist to exaggerated characters and action-packed stories, this anime and its style inspired every anime that came after. Dragon Ball Z is one of the best anime series of all time, and changed how anime operates while doing so.

Advertisement

Dragon Ball Z

Advertisement

Release Date

1989 – 1996

Advertisement

Network

Fuji TV

Directors

Advertisement

Daisuke Nishio, Shigeyasu Yamauchi, Osamu Kasai

Writers

Akira Toriyama, Neil Bligh, Hiroshi Toda, Katsuyuki Sumisawa, Aya Matsui, Keiji Terui, Reiko Yoshida, Toshiki Inoue

Advertisement

Advertisement

• 

  Masako Nozawa

  Son Goku / Son Gohan / Son Goten (voice)

• 

  Ryo Horikawa

  Advertisement

  Vegeta (voice)

Advertisement

Advertisement

Ryan Gosling has made a rare remark about his love life with his wife, Eva Mendes.

The Oscar nominee and the former actress are usually private about their relationship, but Gosling recently switched things up when he brought her on stage as part of a surprise for her 52nd birthday.

Eva Mendes previously shared that she never wanted to have kids, but when she met Ryan Gosling, she had to reconsider her stance as she found herself wanting to have his children.

Ryan Gosling Makes Rare Confession About His Romance With Eva Mendes

Ryan Gosling gave a rare insight into his bedroom escapades with partner Eva Mendes during Wednesday’s episode of Travis and Jason Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast.

The “Barbie” star was asked if he makes love to the soundtrack from his movies, but he emphatically shared that he doesn’t.

It appears the host wanted to know if he shared something in common with his “Blade Runner 2049” co-star Harrison Ford, who confirmed to Jimmy Kimmel earlier this month that he had “of course” done this before.

“That’s an easy, easy no,” Gosling said, before Jason admitted he had asked a “dumb question,” while Travis couldn’t stop laughing.

The Golden Globe winner then said of his friend, “Of course, Harrison has [done that]. I always say, ‘Never meet your heroes unless they’re Harrison Ford.’ He’s as cool as you want him to be.”

Gosling then described a time on set when Ford “housed half a bottle of Advil as a joke,” adding that the 83-year-old is “not like us. He’s that guy. … He’s the real deal.”

The Actor Surprised Eva Mendes For Her Birthday

Gosling and Mendes have been together for more than a decade now, as they began dating in 2011 while filming “The Place Beyond the Pines.”

The couple has remained tight-lipped about their relationship and are rarely seen together since they got together. However, Gosling took it upon himself to break tradition to celebrate her 52nd birthday in a special way.

Earlier this month, the 45-year-old actor had Mendes brought out while filming “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” so that the audience could sing her a happy birthday song, per CNN.

Gosling was on the show to promote his new film “Project Hail Mary,” where he plays the role of a school teacher who lost his memory and woke up on a spaceship.

Eva Mendes Had ‘No Idea’ About The Surprise From Ryan Gosling

As a sweet tribute to the movie and his wife, Gosling had the audience filled with teachers and revealed that Mendes “loves teachers,” adding that she flaunts her Hall Monitor sash in their home.

As the actress walked up onto the stage, where she gave an impromptu speech, Fallon quipped that she had “no idea” that the surprise was going to happen.

“We owe so much to you guys,” Mendes told the audience of teachers, adding, “and you’re so underpaid!” prompting laughter from them.

The Actress Quit Her Career To Look After Their Daughters

The couple now shares two daughters, Esmeralda and Amada, but Mendes told Australian Nova 96.9 in a 2019 interview that she didn’t want children until she met Gosling.

“I never wanted babies before until I fell in love with Ryan, and it kind of worked out to where I was 40 and having my first baby,” she said at the time, per Page Six.

She also shared that she was always focused on her career, but when the “La La Land” actor later came into the picture, everything fell into place organically.

“I think I was 42 for the second [kid], so it worked out in that way that I had a career and then I changed my focus to my family,” she said.

Mendes has since slammed the brakes on her Hollywood career to raise their daughters.

Ryan Gosling Shares Update On His Desire To Play Ghost Rider

Meanwhile, Gosling is seemingly doubling down on his desire to play Ghost Rider in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The actor, who has previously said that he wants to be the new Ghost Rider, appeared on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast to promote “Project Hail Mary,” and was asked by Josh Horowitz what the situation was with the MCU.

“We’ll keep hope alive”, he said. “Some discussions have been had. It’s a complicated situation.”

Sarah Paulson is in awe of how her longtime friend Amanda Peet summarized her recent cancer battle.

“My best friend, Amanda Peet … has written the most profoundly gorgeous essay about the loss of her parents, while dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis,” Paulson, 51, wrote via Instagram on Saturday, March 21. “@newyorkermag has published it today, and I’m screaming from the rooftops with joy. I hope you all take the time to read it.”

She continued, “If you are running around and doing other stuff, I did the audio recording and you can listen to me try to do the piece justice. My friend is a @newyorkermag essayist. How outrageously groovy is that? Bird, I love you beyond.”

Paulson subsequently inspired a number of her other famous friends to read Peet’s story.

Related: Amanda Peet Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis Amid Parents’ Hospice Care

Amanda Peet has been diagnosed with breast cancer. “For many years, I’ve been told that I have ‘dense’ and ‘busy’ breasts — not as a compliment but as a warning that they require extra monitoring,” Peet wrote in a New Yorker essay published Saturday, March 21, revealing she was diagnosed “last fall.” “I had been […]

“Going to read now!!” Naomi Watts wrote in the comments section, while Rose Byrne revealed that she already “read [the essay] this morning” and found the prose to be “so extraordinary.”

Ali Wentworth, for her part, added, “It’s a beautifully written piece. All too familiar. Give Amanda a huge hug for me!”

In her essay, Peet, 54, revealed that she was diagnosed with stage I breast cancer “last fall” while both her parents were in hospice care.

“For many years, I’ve been told that I have ‘dense’ and ‘busy’ breasts — not as a compliment but as a warning that they require extra monitoring,” the Your Friends and Neighbors star wrote. “I had been seeing a breast surgeon every six months for checkups. The Friday before Labor Day, I went for what I thought would be a routine scan.”

Peet’s physician subsequently told her that she “didn’t like the way something looked on the ultrasound” and requested that the actress undergo a biopsy. Two tumors, one of which was benign, were visible on one breast.

Related: Stars Who Beat Breast Cancer: Linda Evangelista, Cynthia Nixon and More

Advertisement

Many celebrities have spoken out about their personal battles with breast cancer over the years. Julia Louis-Dreyfus went public with her breast cancer diagnosis in September 2017 via Instagram. Nearly one year later, she had successfully beaten the illness and returned to work on Veep. “It sounds kind of corny, but there’s something about after […]

As Peet waited to find out what type of cancer she had, her parents were on their death beds.

“Our parents, long divorced, were both in hospice, on opposite coasts,” Peet recalled to the outlet, also referring to her sister. “Our mother’s had started in June, but our father’s was only a week in, so we hadn’t expected him to go first. I flew to New York. I didn’t make it before my father took his last breath, but I got to see his body before it was taken from his apartment.”

Peet returned home to Los Angeles, where she learned that her cancer was “hormone-receptor-positive” and “HER2-negative.” She received her first “clear scan” shortly before her mom’s death in January.

Actor Nicholas Brendon, who is best known for playing Xander Harris on all seven seasons of the original “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” series. According to a statement released by his family, the actor passed away from natural causes at the age of 54. He had been plagued by health issues in recent years, including a cardiac incident in 2022.

Nicholas Brendon’s Family Asks For Privacy After His Passing

On Friday, March 20, the late actor’s family confirmed his passing in a brief statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter.

“We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon. He passed in his sleep of natural causes,” they wrote in a brief statement, going on to say: “Nicky loved to share his enthusiastic talent with his family, friends and fans. He was passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create. Those who truly knew him understood that his art was one of the purest reflections of who he was.”

“While it’s no secret that Nicholas had struggles in the past, he was on medications and treatment to manage his diagnosis and he was optimistic about the future at the time of his passing,” they continued. “Our family asks for privacy during this time as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart.”

In the hours after the news broke, his “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” costars took to social media to pay tribute.

Sarah Michelle Gellar Mourns Nicholas Brendon’s Death With Poignant ‘Buffy’ Quote

Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar, who played the titular Buffy Summers, took to Instagram to pay tribute to her late costar with a quote that Xander said during the show’s seventh and final season.

“They’ll never know how tough it is to be the one who isn’t chosen. To live so near to the spotlight, and never step in it. But I know. I see more than anybody realizes, because nobody’s watching me,” she quoted.

“I saw you Nicky,” she added. “I know you are at peace, in that big rocking chair in the sky.”

Alyson Hannigan Also Pays Tribute With A ‘Buffy’ Photo

Similarly, Alyson Hannigan, who played the witchy Willow, took to Instagram to share a screenshot of Xander holding a crying Willow during one of the show’s most emotional episodes.

“My Sweet Nicky, thank you for years of laughter, love and Dodgers. I will think of you every time I see a rocking chair.  I love you. RIP,” she wrote alongside the photo.

Advertisement

David Boreanaz Also Pays Tribute To Nicholas Brendon

Actor David Boreanaz played the vampire Angel during the early seasons of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” before moving to his own spin-off show, “Angel.”

In a lengthy caption, the “Bones” actor began by writing, “There are people you work with
and then there are people you share time with. Nick was the latter.”

He praised Nicholas Brendon as someone who “carried something real,” even though he wasn’t “perfect” or “polished” and noted how, in the entertainment industry, “that matters more than most things.”

“We don’t always get to choose how long someone stays in the story, only that they were here,” he wrote, concluding, “Some people leave a mark without trying.”

More ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ Costars Pay Tribute

Emma Caulfield Ford, who played the demon turned Xander’s love interest, Anya Jenkins, took to her Instagram Stories to share a clip of the late actor giving an interview about the show’s final season.

In a text box placed over the photo, she wrote, “My heart is so heavy. I can’t put into words just yet how this has hit me.” She shared a clip of Brendon on the series, adding, “Let this clip of us giving it our all be a place holder. Rest Nicky. Rest. I love you.”

Advertisement

Charisma Carpenter, who played Cordelia Chase, a love interest of Xander on “Buffy” before moving over to “Angel,” also took to Instagram to share her condolences in a lengthy tribute.

“I will miss the version of the man I once knew – someone who was so warm and loving. He was cuddly, funny, silly, self-deprecating, and supremely talented. I loved every scene we had together back in the day. He always kept me on my toes, never delivering a line the same way twice, forcing me to become a better actor by listening,” she wrote alongside a carousel of photos of the two together.

“I will always remember him in my mind’s eye, in his trailer with the door wide open, in his rocking chair, smoking a cigarette and listening to music. From his trailer, which my window faced on the lot, I could hear all the bands that exemplify the 90s but are also, for me, tied up in the memory of Nicky,” she continued, listing bands like Creed, Alice in Chains, Green Day, and Nirvana.

“I miss those days and cling to those memories of him today. I offer my condolences to his family, his closest friends – who were with him to the end – and to the fans around the world who found comfort in his work,” she continued, adding, “May he be at peace now.”

Advertisement

We’ve all been in this situation before. You curl up on the coach, teeing up your favorite streaming service for a night of binging one of the classic crime shows from a bygone era. You settle in, popcorn and wine on deck, and press play, ready for a night of reliving nostalgia. Then, 30 minutes into the series, you begin to realize that the protagonist of your “classic” crime show is basically a walking HR nightmare, and you go searching for something that will be easier to watch.

This is the unfortunate fate of some of the shows that were once destined to become classics. Shows that once felt edgy and gritty now feel dated and problematic, according to today’s standards. Whether it’s the glorification of “cowboy” policing, or true-crime documentaries that feel more exploitative than groundbreaking, these crime shows didn’t age like a fine wine from Napa, but more like sour milk that sat on the porch for a week with the sun beaming down on it. So, let’s look at the shows that prove that “law and order” can sometimes become stale.

’24’ (2001–2014)

Image via FOX

In the 2000s, Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) was the man that protected America from the terrorists. Created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran, 24 premiered two months after the terrorist attacks of September 11th, and the show ushered in a new age for crime shows as it moved away from the “crime-of-the-week” formula in exchange for high-concept television that was high-stakes, and provided high-drama. Each season of 24 focused on a single day in which Bauer and the FBI must investigate and stop a terrorist attack on the homeland. Back in the 2000s, this was an exciting and genre-bending premise; however, the veneer of 24 has dulled greatly in recent years.

For starters, while 24 focused on terrorism as its central plot, it was often accused of glorifying torture and illegal government surveillance, the latter of which became an issue in real life with the public as the War on Terror dragged on. 24 is also not fondly looked on for the way it portrayed Muslim characters, often stereotyping them as terrorists, along with the fact that the series ran too long. After the fifth season, the quality of the show dropped substantially as its terrorist-heavy, post-9/11 themes began to grow stale among an audience that was clamoring for something fresher. While older viewers may still look at 24 as a groundbreaking series, to those who grew up after its peak, and even those who were around during its original run, its themes and tropes have certainly aged like curdled milk.

‘Cops’ (1989–Present)

Image via FOX

After the murder of George Floyd in the Summer of 2020, Americans began to re-think what they thought of law enforcement, both in how they interact with the public, and how they’re portrayed on television. This reckoning is what led to the cancellation of Cops, a longtime fixture of Saturday nights on Fox that was the vanguard of the reality TV genre. Born out of the writer’s strike of 1989, Cops became a hit among audiences with its portrayal of cops as they busted the bad guys and served their communities. The show blew open the notion that Saturday nights was a “death spot” in the TV lineup, and the action on the screen was often exciting.

But looking at the show from a modern lens, Cops was a very problematic show in which its high ratings help hide its poorly aged concepts. A large portion of the people profiled on the show were often people of color, who were highlighted as criminals who were the scourge of society. Cops also normalized police brutality, as the show framed violent arrests and the harsh treatment of suspects as justified, a thinking that changed dramatically after the death of numerous African American individuals at the hands of the police. While Cops was truly groundbreaking, kicking off the reality TV format that would only grow in subsequent years, Cops is nothing more than police propaganda in the face of other reality shows such as On Patrol Live, a similar show that shows police in real-time and gives a more honest look at policing.

‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ (1993–2001)

Image via CBS

This one hurts, as this author is a huge fan of Walker, Texas Ranger, and remains so to this day. However, while I’m still a huge fan of this crime procedural, even I can’t help but notice how poorly the show has aged. Inspired by the 1983 film Lone Wolf McQuade, the crime drama stars Chuck Norris as Cordell Walker, a member of the Texas Ranger who, along with his partner, James “Jimmy” Trivette (Clarence Gilyard), help solve crimes and bring criminals to justice in the Rangers’ Dallas-Fort Worth division. Airing in syndication, Walker, Texas Ranger became a hit among viewers during its initial run, and has maintained its popularity in the years after it left first-run status in 2001.

Having said that, there are a number of issues that have made this show age poorly. For starters, Walker, Texas Ranger feels very predictable, thanks to its “attack first, ask questions later” format that it followed with religion, with Cordell being portrayed as a “Super Ranger” with near impossible immunity to physical harm, even though he inflicted a lot of harm on criminals. Then there’s the production quality, which looked a bit campy even during its original run, but it’s even more obvious today. In many of the action scenes, you can clearly see Norris’ stunt double, and the many mistakes that are made, such as clearly-damaged cars repairing themselves in between scenes. While many longtime viewers could possibly get past those examples, what modern viewers can’t get past is how the show clearly justifies excessive policing, to the point that some viewers now view Walker, Texas Ranger as a “conservative law enforcement fantasy” that has aged the show quite poorly according to today’s standards.

‘CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’ (2000–2015)

Image via CBS

Back at the turn of the millennium, TV viewers were becoming increasingly interested in forensic science, especially when it came to solving cases. This was thanks to CBS’ highly stylistic crime procedural CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, a show that would go on to launch an entire franchise that would become the bedrock of the network’s crime procedural programming. The original CSI premiered in 2000, and took a different take on the typical crime series, focusing on a team of crime scene investigators who use physical evidence and forensic science to solve murders in Las Vegas. The science the CSI team used was high-tech and looked cool to viewers, with the show having an outsized effect on the real world use of forensic evidence.

The downside, now, is that a lot of what was portrayed in the original CSI was very inaccurate. The show drastically exaggerated the capabilities of forensic technicians, making them look like detectives when, in reality, they’re not. As aforementioned, the “CSI Effect” wound up having a negative impact on the judicial system in real life, with juries often demanding excessive forensic evidence for convictions, which was impossible to do. This was corrected in later versions of the franchise, but they couldn’t fix the tone and style of the original CSI, with its highly stylized nature aging the show rapidly in subsequent years.

‘Worst Roommate Ever’ (2022–Present)

Image via Netflix

Advertisement

For a show that premiered in 2022, Netflix’s true-crime documentary Worst Roommate Ever has surely aged poorly in its short stint on the streaming service. Directed by Domini Hofmann and Cynthia Childs, the series tells stories of roommates who turned the lives of their unsuspecting victims upside down. This is a show that would make one think twice about taking in a roommate, but it’s also garnered a lot of criticism for the way it tells its horror stories. While the show’s originally aim was to highlight how some people can hide their malevolent tendencies, Worst Roommate Ever feels less like a cautionary tale, and more like a show that uses the “bad roommate” dynamic for entertainment purposes.

When you watch an episode of Worst Roommate Ever, the first thing that stands out is how sensationalist the series feels, almost like the story an episode is telling is “hyped up” for shock and entertainment value. Using a sensational tone has rubbed some viewers the wrong way, with the tone being inappropriate given the nature of the crimes committed, which often ends in death and long-lasting trauma for the victims who endured it. Also, some feel as though the show’s title itself is misleading. While most people see a “bad roommate” as someone who doesn’t pay their fair share of bills on-time, or leaves their living space a mess, the people portrayed in Worst Roommate Ever are actual criminals that go beyond the “bad roommate” label. You don’t get a deeper understanding of how America’s legal system allows these situations to happen; instead, you get a crime documentary that’s focusing on “scaring” the viewer and nothing else, ensuring that Worst Roommate Ever will surely age like spoiled milk.

‘Hill Street Blues’ (1981–1987)

Image via NBC

Advertisement

There is zero doubt that the NBC police drama Hill Street Blues is a groundbreaking show that changed how crime shows were made. Created by Steven Bocho and Michael Kozoll, the series created the template for the modern prestige drama, with serialized storylines and overlapping dialogue now becoming a staple of modern day crime shows. However, as revolutionary as the series is, it hasn’t escaped the ravages of times, and there are a combination of things that have made Hill Street Blues age poorly when looked at from today’s cultural lens.

While TV culture was different in the 1980s, the way Hill Street Blues portrayed race and gender is very outdated, as people of color were often seen as criminals or the poor underclass, and casual sexism was the norm. Hill Street Blues also falls under the “Seinfeld is unfunny” phenomenon, in which the techniques that the series popularized have been refined and made better by other shows. Because of this, the show feels chaotic, derivative, and more of a product of its time instead of being the genre-changing series that it is. While it’s OK to still look at Hill Street Blues as a trailblazing crime series, its flaws have certainly made the series age more poorly than most people realize.

‘Law & Order’ (1990–Present)

As mentioned earlier, the cultural perception of law enforcement has changed significantly since the death of George Floyd in 2020, which wasn’t regulated to real world policing, but also to how it was portrayed on television. Suddenly, shows like the iconic Law & Order, created by the legendary Dick Wolf, weren’t looked at as a trailblazing crime series, but one with problematic elements that modern viewers simply can’t dismiss. Just to be clear, Law & Order helped advance the modern prestige crime drama Hill Street Blues brought into vogue in 1981. It was a series that focused on the totality of the justice system, from the detectives who investigate and arrest criminals, to the prosecutors who bring cases to trial, and it helped make Law & Order a powerhouse franchise for NBC.

But with the shifting cultural landscape policing, the cases looked at in Law & Order, which were pulled from existing headlines, don’t feel quite as satisfying as it once did. This is also thanks to how the show portrays the police, as the series is staunchly “pro police,” and portrays the detectives within the series as heroes, making the show feel less like entertainment and more like propaganda. This is not to say that Law & Order is a bad show, far from it; but being a fan also means pointing out its flaws, and the fact of the matter is that this is a show that certainly had flaws that have made it age less like wine and more like milk.

Advertisement

Law & Order

Advertisement

Release Date

September 13, 1990

Showrunner

Rick Eid

Advertisement

Directors

Constantine Makris, Edwin Sherin, Jace Alexander, David Platt, Matthew Penn, Martha Mitchell, Don Scardino, Christopher Misiano, Jean de Segonzac, Michael Pressman, Daniel Sackheim, Alex Chapple, Fred Berner, Fred Gerber, Gloria Muzio, James Frawley, Jim McKay, Vincent Misiano, Michael W. Watkins, Vern Gillum, Alex Hall, Dann Florek, Darnell Martin, David Grossman

Advertisement

• 
• 

  S. Epatha Merkerson

  Advertisement

  Lieutenant Anita Van Buren

Advertisement

Advertisement