Anderson Cooper’s time with 60 Minutes is coming to an end after nearly 20 years.

Cooper, 58, announced on Monday, February 16, that he would not be renewing his contract with the long-running CBS series.

“Being a correspondent at 60 Minutes has been one of the great honors of my career. I got to tell amazing stories, and work with some of the best producers, editors, and camera crews in the business,” he told Variety in a statement. “For nearly twenty years, I’ve been able to balance my jobs at CNN and CBS, but I have little kids now and I want to spend as much time with them as possible, while they still want to spend time with me.”

According to Variety, Cooper, who joined 60 Minutes in 2007, had been in negotiations with CBS about a potential renewal in recent weeks but ultimately chose to focus on his work with CNN as anchor on Anderson Cooper 360°, as well as the network’s annual New Year’s Eve special, which he cohosts with Bravo’s Andy Cohen. 

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Cooper is the father of two sons — Wyatt, 4, and Sebastian, 3 — whom he shares with ex Benjamin Maisani. The journalist announced during a May 2020 CNN Town Hall broadcast that he had secretly welcomed his first child via surrogate, later asking Maisani, whom he dated from 2009 to 2018, to coparent. 

“I don’t really have a family, so my friends have become my family,” he explained during a May 2020 appearance on The Howard Stern Show. “This is somebody I was involved with for 10 years. He’s a great guy. I think it’s good to have two parents if you can.”

He continued, “When I was a little kid, it was just my mom and my brother. My mom, she was not the most parental person, and I wish some adult after my dad died had stepped in and just been like, ‘You know what, I’ll take you to a ball game,’ or, ‘Let’s go out to lunch every now and then, and let’s just talk.’ No one ever did that.” 

The exes expanded their brood in February 2022 with Benjamin. Cooper previously opened up to People about how he and Maisani, who is a nightclub owner, balance careers and parenthood. 

“I work nights, and so he’s there at night,” Anderson explained to the outlet, noting that it was a very “natural” process. “And we both wake up right before they wake up, get them their milk and spend the first couple of hours of the day just us with them. And Benjamin speaks French to them. I have no idea what they’re saying. I think they’re plotting against me.”

There are few franchises that have shaped popular culture as much as Star Trek. Born from the mind of Gene Roddenberry, it takes place in the 23rd century, where humanity has united with other space-fairing races to create the United Federation of Planets. Captain James Tiberius Kirk (William Shatner) captains the USS Enterprise, whose mission is to traverse the galaxy, explore new planets, and boldly go where no man has gone before.

The show was groundbreaking when it first aired, and is fondly remembered for its innovative science-fiction themes, diverse characters, and for how silly it could be at times. It’s also full of memorable dialogue that has only gotten better with time.

1

“In a different reality, I could have called you a friend.”

Season 1, Episode 14 “Balance of Terror”

Image via Paramount

After playing a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with a cloaked Romulan ship, the Enterprise finally manages to cripple its opponent. Kirk hails the Romulan Commander (Mark Lenard) and offers to bring any survivors aboard the Enterprise, but he refuses, saying that is not the Romulan way. He then delivers this quote to Kirk before setting the ship to self-destruct.

The beauty of this quote is in how simply it conveys the vast complexities of existence and human relationships. There are many times in life when we are forced to stand against someone we would otherwise get along with, and you cannot help but wonder how things would look if one or two of those circumstances were changed. In this case, the Romulan Commander is bound by the duty of his post and an adherence to the chain of command to attack the Federation regardless of his personal feelings, but comes to respect Kirk as a worthy opponent.

2

“Compassion: that’s the one thing no machine ever had. Maybe it’s the one thing that keeps men ahead of them.”

Season 2, Episode 24 “The Ultimate Computer”

Image via NBC

A simple test of a new ship’s AI turns into a deadly fight for survival as it goes rogue and attacks other Starfleet vessels. Kirk is eventually able to regain control over his ship by telling the AI that it has acted contrary to its purpose, and fortunately for him, Commodore Robert Wesley (Barry Russo) realizes that the threat has been neutralized and doesn’t destroy the Enterprise. When Spock (Leonard Nimoy) questions how Kirk knew this would be the outcome, he says it’s because Wesley has always been a compassionate man, and Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy (DeForest Kelley) replies with the above quote.

With the rise of AI in recent years, this quote feels more relevant than ever. Not all AI use is bad: as Spock points out in the episode, computers can run most functions more efficiently than a human can, and AI has a place in sorting data and other menial tasks. However, AI cannot replace a human when it comes to making emotional decisions that require empathy and creativity, as can often be seen when people try to use AI to write stories or generate art.

3

“We can admit that we’re killers, but we’re not going to kill today. That’s all it takes, knowing that we’re not going to kill today.”

Season 1, Episode 23 “A Taste of Armageddon”

Image via Paramount

A diplomatic mission to the planet Eminiar VII has the Enterprise stumble upon a war conducted with computer simulations that selects people to be executed in theoretical attacks. However, Kirk and Spock manage to destroy the Eminian computer, and urge their leader, Anar 7 (David Opatoshu), to open peace negotiations with their opponents, the planet Vendikar. Anar claims this to be impossible due to their savage nature, but Kirk rebukes his claim.

Humanity has a very long and bloody history of destructive conflicts that have shaped our history, and have created weapons so powerful that they risk irreversibly damaging the planet if used. However, we have also evolved to a point where we, as a society, realize this danger, and know when to show restraint rather than force. This quote can also be applied to our everyday lives by reminding us that just because we have flashes of negative emotions, we need not give into them.

4

“Risk is our business. That’s what this starship is all about. That’s why we’re aboard her!”

Season 2, Episode 20 “Return to Tomorrow”

Image via Paramount

The Enterprise encounters an ancient being named Sargon (James Doohan), one of three survivors of a telepathic alien race. Their minds are preserved inside ancient technology, and they offer to share their knowledge in exchange for being allowed to temporarily possess Kirk, Spock, and Lt. Cmdr. Ann Mulhall (Diana Muldaur), so they can build permanent android bodies. During a meeting with Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott (James Doohan), McCoy voices his reservations due to the risks involved, but Kirk convinces him with a powerful speech.

This speech stands as one of the best in the original series because it perfectly encapsulates Enterprise’s mission and the conviction of all who serve aboard her. No great advancement has ever been made without a risk of failure, be it landing astronauts on the moon or even something as mundane as trying to get a better job. Yet if one was to never take risks because of the possibility of such failure, they would be living their whole life in stagnation.

5

“In this galaxy, there’s a mathematical probability of three million Earth-type planets. And in all of the universe, three million million galaxies like this. And in all of that, and perhaps more, only one of each of us. Don’t destroy the one named Kirk.”

Season 1, Episode 14 “Balance of Terror”

Image via Paramount

While waiting for the Romulan ship to decloak, Kirk retreats to his quarters and is later joined by Bones. Kirk confides in his friend that he is beginning to doubt himself, as one mistake could cost them their lives. While struggling at first to think of what to say, Bones eventually restores the captain’s spirits with the above speech.

Bones’ speech is one of the most philosophical in the series, and helps to narrow the incomprehensible vastness of space down to the human level. Simply put, we are each unique, shaped by our individual experiences, choices, and the people we meet. It’s a reminder that, in our darkest moments, those unique qualities are what will help us overcome them as they have in the past.

6

“That’s how you do it, Lieutenant. By remembering who and what you are. A bit of flesh and blood afloat in a universe without end. And the only thing that is truly yours is the rest of humanity. That’s where our duty lies.”

Season 2, Episode 2 “Who Mourns for Adonais?”

Image via Paramount

The Enterprise finds itself at the mercy of the Greek God, Apollo (Michael Forest), who demands that they stay on his planet and worship him to maintain his existence. He also takes a fancy to the ship’s Greek-mythology expert, Lieutenant Carolyn Palamas (Leslie Parrish), and she comes to reciprocate those feelings. Fortunately, Kirk is able to convince her to reject Apollo and save them from slavery with a humanitarian speech.

This speech is a reminder that, at the end of the day, the most important thing in the world is human connections. We are social creatures at heart, and when our brief time in this vast universe is done, the ways we interact with others will be how we are remembered. That’s why it’s important to stand by our fellow men and help them in times of need.

7

“To be human is to be complex. You can’t avoid a little ugliness, from within, and from without.”

Season 3, Episode 19 “Requiem for Methuselah”

Image via Paramount

While searching for a rare mineral to cure an outbreak on the Enterprise, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy encounter Flint (James Daly), a cultured man living with his ward, Rayna (Louise Sorel). As Kirk shows Rayna how to play pool, he and Flint debate about humanity’s savage nature, with Flint saying that the fact that the Enterprise is armed is proof of humanity’s cruelty. Kirk counters by saying their weapons are meant to be used in defense before talking about the “beast of instinct” within every human, and ending with this quote.

As humans, we always want to try and be our best selves and prefer not to mention the more negative aspects of life. However, these aspects are unavoidable, and while we don’t have to like them and should work to improve what we can, it’s foolish to try and deny their existence. Indeed, Flint experiences this firsthand as the episode proceeds, as even a man as well cultured as he cannot help but succumb to a base emotion like jealousy.

8

“Death, destruction, disease, horror… that’s what war is all about, Anan. That’s what makes it a thing to be avoided. But you’ve made it neat and painless — so neat and painless, you’ve had no reason to stop it, and you’ve had it for five hundred years.”

Season 1, Episode 23 “A Taste of Armageddon”

Image via Paramount

Upon arriving at Eminiar VII, the Enterprise is considered a casualty in the most recent simulated attack, and Anan 7 (David Opatoshu) demands that the crew comply with the law and accept their execution. When negotiations fail, Kirk tells Scotty to enact “General Oder 24,” destroying all habitable zones on the planet unless they stand down. Kirk then delivers this speech before working with Spock to destroy their war computer.

In today’s age of mass media and constant access to the internet, it’s easy to become desensitized to violence and the idea of mass destruction. This is why it’s more important than ever to emphasize how horrible war is, and why it should be avoided. There is no humane way to wage war, and when you try to boil it down to statistics on a page, morality becomes eroded.

9

“After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing, after all, as wanting.”

Season 2, Episode 1 “Amok Time”

Image via Paramount

Believing he has killed Kirk in a ritual duel over the hand of his betrothed, T’Pring (Arlene Martel), Spock renounces his claim on her, but asks why she selected Kirk to be her champion. T’Pring explains that she engineered the duel in such a way that, whoever won, she would be free to choose her intended lover, Stonn (Lawrence Montaigne), since Kirk would not want her, and Spock would release her. Spock compliments her logic, then delivers this quote to Stonn before re-boarding the Enterprise.

Spock’s words touch on the paradoxical reality that, oftentimes, the pursuit of a goal is more satisfying than actually achieving it. We as humans have a tendency to idolize something so much that it can dampen our enjoyment of reality, or sometimes obtaining the goal comes with unforeseen consequences in a sort of “be careful what you wish for” moment. It’s also a warning to Stonn that, one day, T’Pring may tire of him much like she did of Spock, starting the cycle anew.

10

“There’s no such thing as the unknown. Only things temporarily hidden, temporarily not understood.”

Season 1, Episode 10 “The Corbomite Maneuver”

Image via Paramount

After destroying a mysterious cube emitting harmful radiation, the Enterprise is approached by an impossibly large warship from The First Federation. Its captain, Balok (Ted Cassidy, Walker Edmiston, and Clint Howard), declares that the Enterprise has destroyed one of their border markers, and after destroying their recorder marker, gives them 10 minutes before the ship will be destroyed. When Kirk learns that the entire crew heard Balok’s message, he delivers a calm, reassuring speech before trying to find a solution.

Fear of the unknown is one of the most primal human fears, as it clashes with our dependency on routine, and makes us fear that danger could be just a moment away. However, Kirk’s words remind us that the unknown is also a chance to learn and explore. It transforms the problem into a puzzle that can be solved, and represents humanity’s optimism and defiance even in the face of uncertainty.

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Star Trek: The Original Series

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Release Date

1966 – 1969-00-00

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Showrunner

Gene Roddenberry

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Directors

Marc Daniels, Joseph Pevney, Ralph Senensky, Vincent McEveety, Herb Wallerstein, Jud Taylor, Marvin J. Chomsky, David Alexander, Gerd Oswald, Herschel Daugherty, James Goldstone, Robert Butler, Anton Leader, Gene Nelson, Harvey Hart, Herbert Kenwith, James Komack, John Erman, John Newland, Joseph Sargent, Lawrence Dobkin, Leo Penn, Michael O’Herlihy, Murray Golden

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Trying to create a psychological thriller with a huge mystery and then basing it on a popular true-crime story is a questionable choice at best. But in Apple TV’s The Crowded Room, it actually works, despite what the majority of critics say. Unfortunately, it received a 33% on Rotten Tomatoes, mainly criticized for its shallow and anticlimactic reveal, and while this is somewhat true, The Crowded Room‘s premise makes way for Tom Holland‘s most versatile performance on screen, which is particularly exciting after his Marvel grind. It doesn’t work as a mystery, but thrives as a character-driven show, one you’ll want to binge for their precarious fate.

Danny Sullivan (Holland) is an awkward, bullied teen with two best friends who convince him to deal drugs, a high school crush who plays with his heart, a step-father who severely mistreats him and a mother who doesn’t protect him. One day, after a particularly awful bullying incident, he finds refuge with new neighbor Yitzak (Lior Raz) and party girl Ariana (Sasha Lane) and decides to call it home. When he and Ariana decide to take vengeance on a childhood abuser, Danny is arrested and interviewed by Doctor Rya Goodwin (Amanda Seyfried). As the series progresses, Rya tries to dig for the truth about where Danny’s friends are, why he would commit these crimes, and if there are more heinous crimes yet to uncover.

Apple TV’s ‘The Crowded Room’ Is Driven by Its Multi-Faceted Characters

The biggest mistake the show commits is revealing its source material too openly, as it is based on a non-fiction book about a figure that even the most casual true-crime fans will recognize. Luckily for The Crowded Room, its appeal lies in the character-driven story, one that will make you invested in their growth and outcomes, nary of whether you’ve guessed the “grand reveal.” There is a wealth of multi-faceted, flawed, and fascinating characters to explore, including Danny’s two new roommates who straddle the line between being his saviors and pushing his boundaries relentlessly. Jason Isaacs also enters the show as Jack Lamb, a mysterious, charming figure who offers to introduce Danny to his biological dad.

Around the halfway point of the limited series, the framing narrative of Danny talking to Doctor Rya shifts and the show explores her personal life and motivations. She is an overworked mother in the middle of a grueling divorce process, simply trying to make ends meet while also pursuing her academic ambitions. Upon discovering that her thesis is about Danny, on one hand, the mystery around his situation increases, but also fleshes out Rya’s stakes and determination. At first, Seyfried’s performance is restricted to her expressive eyes from across the table to Holland, but in the second half, she wavers between distress and tenacity, which is a compelling mix. As we invest in her, we in turn care more about the case’s outcome for her research, and thus the psychological tension demands our attention until the very end.

Tom Holland Delivers a Gritty, Devastating Performance in ‘The Crowded Room’

At the center of all these vibrant characters is Danny, almost forlorn and pitiful by comparison, but who grows in nuance as the series delves into his mental health. Holland is nothing like the happy-go-lucky superhero he is famous for in the MCU, and is more akin to the angsty teenager in The Devil All the Time. But Danny is imbued with an ache to be loved and cared for, finding it in perhaps all the wrong places, while also discovering troubling things about himself and his past. It’s a harrowing performance that doesn’t really get any substantial reprieve, so much so that Holland claimed he would need to take a year off acting after production.

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Holland showed off his range in this role, but it is his performance next to Emmy Rossum as Danny’s mother, Candy, that really shines in The Crowded Room. Their turbulent relationship captures many of the misconceptions around mental health and the misunderstandings that can arise when you don’t have a stable support system. As Danny struggles to navigate his mental landscape, he also confronts how his mother failed to protect him, while Candy deals with her own demons and fears. The finale, in particular, has a moving moment between the two, one that will tug at the heartstrings of any parent as the question of forgiveness is dissected. Apart from Danny’s relationship with himself, this mother-son dynamic is one of the most evocative in the series, providing enough substance to mull over throughout the show.

The Crowded Room may have failed in the eyes of critics, but it has a wealth of character studies that make for a satisfying and thoughtful watch. Holland is at the forefront of them all, and if you’ve only watched him in the MCU, then this miniseries will change the way you see the actor as he showcases his versatility. With only ten episodes, the slow-burning thriller makes for a chilling binge — even if you immediately recognize the real case it is based on.

The art of a good crime procedural is not so easily replicated. Classics such as Law & Order are remembered for their gripping portrayal of detectives and lawyers, but there are just as many series that have fallen through the cracks. To be truly successful, procedurals need to have a solid set-up that can deliver the same formula week to week. Criminal Minds became popular because it added psychology to the mix. NBC has shown that this art is not dead with the latest take on the genre.

The 2025 series The Hunting Party has delivered on the promise of a good procedural, though not everyone may agree. Critics and fans are divided on the merits of the series, according to Rotten Tomatoes. The Hunting Party has garnered an 18% critics’ score and an 83% audience score. When there is such a large divide of opinion on a show, that typically means it’s worth a watch.

‘The Hunting Party’ is Reminiscent of the Golden Age of Procedurals

Right out of the gate, The Hunting Party has a concept that measures up against the greats. The story is straightforward with little room for interpretation, which is where procedurals like to live. The series follows FBI Agent Bex Henderson (Melissa Roxburgh) at a low point in her life. Working security for a casino, she gets recruited to the world of psychological profiling. Her talents are specifically required because a super-secret prison housing serial killers recently suffered a breakout.

The Hunting Party compels audiences to suspend their disbelief with the idea of The Pit, a prison where the worst criminals are kept in secret and experimented on. This is the joy of these types of shows, which have a history on network television. One of the more heightened serialized programs on a network was Prison Break, which joyfully explored government conspiracies with no hint of subtlety. This may explain why critics and fans are divided on the issue of The Hunting Party.

While not exactly reinventing the wheel, The Hunting Party is a classic good-versus-evil tale as Bex races to capture a different serial killer week-to-week. Shows like these are tailor-made for appointment television, which regrettably has become a thing of the past. NBC is one of the last bastions of an era gone by, where viewers can tune in and not feel like they’re missing anything. There is still a place for programming like this, and The Hunting Party doesn’t take it for granted.

In addition to a weekly villain, the series also weaves in overarching mythology to keep viewers engaged. It uses the fascinating field of psychology — like Criminal Minds did — as a touchstone for fans as well. Psychoanalyzing killers is one of the reasons why true crime has become so popular, and The Hunting Party is ready to deliver the same thrills. The first season is only 10 episodes, which means fans can catch up quickly to Season 2.

The Hunting Party airs on Thursdays on NBC and is available to stream the next day on Peacock.

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Release Date

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January 19, 2025

Directors

Thor Freudenthal, Glen Winter, James Bamford, Nicole Rubio, Rod Hardy, Shana Stein, Blackhorse Lowe, Marcus Stokes, Kristin Windell

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Writers

David Loong, JJ Bailey, Jake Coburn, Keto Shimizu, Michael Jones-Morales, Paula Sabbaga, Rebecca Bellotto, Vinny Ferris

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  Melissa Roxburgh

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  Rebecca ‘Bex’ Henderson

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