&34;Me rapping is really just me having skin in the game.&34; Jeff Probst explains why he started rapping on Survivor 50 (exclusive) &34;Me rapping is really just me having skin in the game.&34; By Dalton Ross :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/DaltonRossauthorphoto2e15b12006e2438a99fb06db6d682421.jpg) Dalton Ross is a writer and editor with over 25 years experience covering TV and the entertainment industry. Survivor is kind of his thing. EW's editorial guidelines March 12, 2026 7:00 a.m. ET :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/survivor10dd8f45ca080745aaa02d4bcec12b965d.jpg) Jeff Probst on 'Survivor 50'.

"Me rapping is really just me having skin in the game."

Jeff Probst explains why he started rapping on *Survivor 50 *(exclusive)

"Me rapping is really just me having skin in the game."

By Dalton Ross

Dalton Ross is a writer and editor with over 25 years experience covering TV and the entertainment industry. *Survivor* is kind of his thing.

EW's editorial guidelines

March 12, 2026 7:00 a.m. ET

Jeff Probst on 'Survivor 50'. Credit:

Something very, very odd happened on this week's episode of *Survivor 50*. When the three tribes showed up for what was disguised as a reward challenge, they surmised that it could potentially be a tribe swap. They were correct. But never in a million years (or seasons) could they have guessed how exactly the news of that swap would unfold.

Instead of simply delivering his iconic "Drop your buffs" line signaling a new stage of the game, Jeff Probst instead asked the contestants to start snapping their fingers in rhythm to create a beat. And then Probst — and I assure you this is not a typo — began rapping.

And that rap went a little something like this…***"Now this season's in the hands of the fans**They're calling the shots, it's out of our hands**They picked the buffs you're wearing today**And the rice and supplies, well, they said 'No way'**And now it's time to drop another fan vote**The dangerous kind, this one will cut your throat**So are you ready to drop your plans?**Are you ready to drop your hands?**Are you ready to drop your bluffs?**Because the fans have spoken, it's time to… Drop your buffs"*

It was such a wonderfully weird moment, and the only thing that would have made it any better is if he had delivered that rap while jet-skiing around the Statue of Liberty or skydiving to a waiting motorcycle in the desert. But why was the most decorated and respected reality television host in the world all of sudden dropping more bars than T-Mobile in the Lincoln Tunnel? Clearly, we needed answers, so went straight to the aspiring LL Cool J(eff) to get the straight dope on his dope ass rhymes.

Contestants on 'Survivor' season 50.

"Me rapping is really just me having skin in the game," Probst tells *.* "I asked the players to bring it, and I want them to know I'll bring it too."

While the host is not exactly expecting an invitation to collaborate on Kendrick's next diss track, he wanted his players to see that he was as committed to the concept of having fun on season 50 as he and the other producers were asking them to be.

"You can criticize the rap," he says. "I'm not a rapper. But my moment with them was to say, 'Let's play. Let's have some fun this season.' And they did, and we do."

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As to when inspiration struck the host to start rhymin' and stealin', Probst reveals, "That rap came early in the morning of that day."

Hold on, he really just decided *that morning* to do that, and then wrote, memorized, and delivered the most epic reality TV rap since the heyday of Chill Town's Mike Boogie?

"100 percent," the host confirms. "And then I debated it and then I talked to [executive producer] Matt Van Wagenen."

Jeff Probst on 'Survivor 50'.

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The trick is, unlike pretty much every other reality TV show, *Survivor* does *not* do do-overs. It's not like Probst could announce the tribe swap in rap form and then do it the traditional way as well in case it did not work. "I said, 'If we do it, we're doing it,'" the host says. "Because I can't say, 'Well, that was kind of fun. Now let's just do a normal one.' And we did it!"

Not we. *He.* And he managed to get through it in one take, managing not to get too distracted by the shocked contestant faces starting back at him. "I concentrated as hard as I could to not mess it up," he says. "And the finger snaps were a little off and that was throwing me off. And then when I saw it in the edit, I laughed out loud and said, 'That's what I want! I wanna be held accountable in the same way the players are.' But I'm telling you, it was a last-minute thing."

Of course, Probst needed a rehearsal audience before delivering the real deal to make sure he was not *completely* out of his mind. And there was the moment of nervous anticipation as he waited for that initial feedback.

"Oh yeah," he acknowledges. "I workshopped it for [challenge producer John Kirhoffer] and everybody. I go, 'Listen, I got a crazy idea.' I rapped it, and I waited, and there's that moment where they might say, 'I don't think you should do it.' And everybody said, 'I think you should do it.'" (Had this otherwise-tremendous-in-every-way *Survivor* crew denied us the pleasure of watching Probst rap on national television, I honestly don't know if I would ever be able to forgive them.)

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The reason the rap got the thumbs up from the crew was not just due to the freestyle stylings of the burgeoning MC, but rather a matter of practicing what everyone had been preaching. "The reason everybody agreed I should do it is what I said earlier," Probst says. "It's skin in the game. We asked the players on camera and off, 'You gotta give us everything. I don't mean *most* everything. I mean, *every single thing*.' That's why this season's probably gonna go down as the greatest season of all time."

Whoa… greatest of all time? That's a bold prediction, but if the first three episodes are any indication, it very much could be in the running alongside other stellar seasons like *Micronesia* and *Heroes vs. Villains*. And who knows if this is even the last *Survivor 50* musical foray for the host. He also released an epic arena rocker on major music platforms titles "Survivor 50 Come and Get it." Which is all part of Probst going and getting it himself.

"I'm not expecting a Grammy," he explains of the hair metal anthem. "I wanted to do a rock song. And I decided this is the only season it makes sense. We went to Henson Studios, now Chaplain Studios. It was a super fun day and night, and we got great musicians and we made this song. *Survivor* is a metaphor for so many things, but one of the ideas is: live your life. What is it you wanna do? That's what I'm saying. For some people, it's doing a rock song. For somebody else, it's learning how to knit. It doesn't matter. Just f---ing do what you wanna do!"

In the end, it's all about Probst just leaning more into being Probst, and having absolutely no problem being the butt of the joke. "I don't take myself seriously on *Survivor* to the point of 'Oh, I don't wanna be embarrassed.' I'm embarrassed all the time."

If the host can make people smile the same way they did when he was delivering votes back to the United States in the most absurd and ridiculous manner possible, then he has done his job. "I'm in on the joke," he notes, "but I take *Survivor* very seriously as a show and an experience. And both are true. I want to have fun every day, but I spend all year trying to create a game with our team that will kick your ass and keep you uncertain."

And it seems one way to keep players uncertain is to deliver their instructions via a rap.

- Survivor Fandom

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Jeff Probst explains why he started rapping on Survivor 50 (exclusive)

&34;Me rapping is really just me having skin in the game.&34; Jeff Probst explains why he started rapping on Sur...

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In the Dick Wolf television universe, dozens of actors have come and gone. These are their stories. The cast of Law & Order, then and now: See Sam Waterston and his costars through the years In the Dick Wolf television universe, dozens of actors have come and gone. These are their stories. By Chris Snellgrove and Kevin Jacobsen March 12, 2026 8:00 a.m. ET :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/LAWandORDERWATN02202614daeaddc33b4e288cf2246ec07bb0c8.jpg) S. Epatha Merkerson as Lt. Anita Van Buren, Chris Noth as Det. Mike Logan, Sam Waterston as EADA Jack McCoy, Jerry Orbach as Det.

In the Dick Wolf television universe, dozens of actors have come and gone. These are their stories.

The cast of Law & Order, then and now: See Sam Waterston and his costars through the years

In the Dick Wolf television universe, dozens of actors have come and gone. These are their stories.

By Chris Snellgrove

and Kevin Jacobsen

March 12, 2026 8:00 a.m. ET

S. Epatha Merkerson as Lt. Anita Van Buren, Chris Noth as Det. Mike Logan, Sam Waterston as EADA Jack McCoy, Jerry Orbach as Det. Lennie Briscoe, Jill Hennessy as ADA Claire Kincaid on 'Law & Order'. Credit:

NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

*Law & Order* has expanded into a vast media franchise, with spinoffs, video games, and books. But it all started with the original series, which premiered in 1990 with a then-innovative concept: Each episode features New York City detectives investigating a crime, followed by the prosecution of the apprehended criminals.

While the format kept people hooked, it was the cast that helped audiences grow attached to the show, from early stars like Chris Noth, Michael Moriarty, and Steven Hill to series mainstays like Jerry Orbach, Sam Waterston, and S. Epatha Merkerson. Each played their respective roles with admirable consistency, providing comfort to long-term viewers through the show's initial conclusion in 2010. While NBC revived the series in 2022, we'll always have a fondness for original variety *Law & Order*.

Ahead, read what the original cast of *Law & Order* has been up to lately.

Sam Waterston (Jack McCoy)

Sam Waterston as Jack McCoy on 'Law & Order'; Sam Waterston attends the 'X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X' opening night at the Metropolitan Opera on Nov. 3, 2023, in New York City.

Jessica Burstein/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; John Nacion/Getty

Coming into *Law & Order*, Sam Waterston was perhaps the most accomplished cast member. The actor impressed in films like 1984's *The Killing Fields* (netting an Oscar nomination) and multiple Woody Allen movies, including *Hannah and Her Sisters* (1986). However, he's best known for his tenure as DA Jack McCoy on *Law & Order*.

"I think *Law & Order* is a show to be proud of being in," he told NPR's *Fresh Air *podcast in 2022. "It also permitted me and even enabled me to do other things like Shakespeare plays and *Long Day's Journey into Night* on the spur of the moment, with my son playing my son. These things were made possible by...the celebrity that came with doing *Law & Order*."

Since his initial departure from *Law & Order*, Waterston took on notable television roles on *The Newsroom** *and *Grace and Frankie*. And, of course, he reprised his role as Jack McCoy in Dick Wolf's revived series from 2022 to 2024.

After getting divorced from Barbara Johns in 1975, Waterston married Lynn Louisa Woodruff. In addition to his son from the previous marriage, Waterston has three children with Woodruff.**

S. Epatha Merkerson (Anita van Buren)

S. Epatha Merkerson as Anita Van Buren on 'Law & Order'; S. Epatha Merkerson attends the 2022 NBCUniversal Upfront at Mandarin Oriental Hotel on May 16, 2022, in New York City.

Jessica Burstein/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Roy Rochlin/Getty

S. Epatha Merkerson started her career with small roles in films like *Jacob's Ladder* (1990), and she delighted audiences as Reba the Mail Lady on *Pee-Wee's Playhouse*. However, it was *Law & Order* that put her on the map as a serious dramatic actor. She first appeared in a one-off role as a grieving mother in season 1, and her strong performance left a lasting impression on the producers, who later recruited her to the main cast in season 4. Merkerson's new character, Anita van Buren, even became a lieutenant before any real woman in the NYPD broke that glass ceiling.

During her tenure on the series, the actress starred in the 2005 TV movie *Lackawanna Blues*, winning an Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG award in the process.

After *Law & Order* first ended in 2010, the actor seemed excited about starting the next chapter of her career. "I'm taking all the good with me," she told EW. "It was 16 years of employment — actors rarely have that experience. And so I know that I'm really, really lucky, because that's what we look for — the next gig. And I've always been able to say, 'I'm going back to *Law & Order*."

As it turns out, her confidence wasn't misplaced. Merkerson ended up joining the world of *Chicago Fire* and its spinoffs.

Jerry Orbach (Lennie Briscoe)

Jerry Orbach as Lennie Briscoe on 'Law & Order' in 2000 and 2003.

Jessica Burstein/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

The late Jerry Orbach was a Broadway veteran long before he became a film and television actor, notably originating the role of Billy Flynn in *Chicago *and winning a Tony in 1969 for *Promises, Promises*. He soon appeared in blockbusters like the pop culture sensation *Dirty Dancing** *(1987) and as the voice of Lumière in *Beauty and the Beast *(1991).

Even with that stacked résumé, Orbach is still best remembered for *Law & Order *character Lennie Briscoe, a patient, methodical, and wry detective whom he played for 12 seasons.

"When I'd gotten the job, I saw [*Law & Order *costar Paul] Sorvino at Billy Crystal's roast at the Friars' Club, and I hugged and kissed him and said, 'My whole family thanks you," Orbach told EW in 1992. "I'm getting really busy, but as Damon Wayans says, 'Mo' money, mo' money, mo' money!"'

The actor married Marta Curro in 1958 and had two children together. Following their divorce in 1975, he married fellow Broadway star Elaine Cancilla in 1979.

Just two years after joining the cast of *Law & Order* in 1992, Orbach was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He continued to star in the series while quietly undergoing treatments. Orbach eventually left the show at the end of season 14 and died from his illness on Dec. 28, 2004, at age 69.

Chris Noth (Mike Logan)

Chris Noth as Mike Logan on 'Law & Order'; Chris Noth attends Ice-T and Noel Ashman host Mark Minevich's book 'Our Planet Powered by AI' at a private residence on Dec. 14, 2023, in New York City.

NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty

While Chris Noth would go on to appear in multiple major franchises throughout his career, *Law & Order* was effectively his big break. He starred as NYPD Det. Mike Logan, whose womanizing ways softened over time, on *Law & Order* from 1990 to 1995. The character would eventually headline the spinoff series *Law & Order: Criminal Intent*.

He may have starred in more episodes and spinoffs if he had a better working relationship with Dick Wolf. The repetitive procedural aspect wasn't a highlight for Noth, either. "I started to get bored and the magic sort of wore off," he told the *Chicago Tribune* in 2021.

Following his departure from the series, Noth stayed active both personally and professionally. His biggest role outside the *Law & Order* universe was playing Mr. Big on *Sex and the City* and the subsequent films. He later appeared in more than 100 episodes of *The Good Wife*. The actor also began dating model Tara Lynn Wilson around 2001, and the couple had a son together before tying the knot in 2012. They had another son in 2020.

In 2021, Noth was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women. The fallout cost him some business deals and affected his acting career: His character was killed offscreen on *The Equalizer*, and plans to bring Mr. Big back for the season 1 finale of *And Just Like That* were canceled.

Steven Hill (Adam Schiff)

Steven Hill as Adam Schiff on 'Law & Order'.

Jessica Burstein/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

On the small screen, Steven Hill was initially best known for headlining the original *Mission: Impossible* series from 1966 to 1967. He eventually netted two Emmy nominations for *Law & Order* as District Attorney Adam Schiff, whose gentle nature often helped Jack McCoy get away with quite a few things over the years.

Interestingly, Hill and showrunner Dick Wolf saw the character differently. Wolf told *The Washington Post* in 1996 that he considered Hill to be "the Talmudic influence on the entire Zeitgeist of the series. Steven has more moral authority than anyone else on episodic TV. He is *Law & Order's* moral keystone." In response, a somewhat embarrassed Hill said, "I take Dick's statement as a compliment. I always saw Schiff as a man simply trying to do his job on a case-by-case basis."

Hill had starred on *Law & Order *since the beginning, and after an impressive 229-episode run, he left the series in 2000 and effectively retired from acting.

As for his personal life, Hill had been married twice, first to Selma Stern from 1951 to 1964, then to Rachel Schenker in 1967, with whom he shared five children. Hill died of cancer in 2016 at age 94.

Jesse L. Martin (Ed Green)

Jesse L. Martin as Ed Green on 'Law & Order'; Jesse L. Martin as Alec Mercer on 'The Irrational'.

Patrick Harbron/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Sergei Bachlakov/NBC via Getty

Jesse L. Martin established his acting chops by playing Tom Collins in the original Broadway production of *Rent* in 1996. Once he was cast in season 10 of *Law & Order *as Det. Ed Green, who was never afraid to ruffle some feathers if it meant cracking a case, the world got to see what theater fans had been raving about.

Martin exited the show after season 18 to further pursue stage acting, and he left on good terms with Dick Wolf. "I honestly couldn't leave, according to my contract. I could have said, 'Hey, I'm ready to go,' but they could have easily said no," he told EW in 2008. "But Dick has always been really cool about that sort of thing...I had a great time there. I feel like I went to actor boot camp and I'm coming out a colonel."

It didn't take Martin long to land another iconic role, though. In 2014, he joined the cast of the long-running CW superhero dramedy *The Flash* as Joe West. After that series ended in 2023, he starred on NBC's *The Irrational* until its end in 2025.

Leslie Hendrix (Elizabeth Rodgers)

Leslie Hendrix as Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers on 'Law & Order'; Leslie Hendrix as Kathryn Monroe on 'Gotham'.

NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; FOX Image Collection via Getty

Leslie Hendrix had little acting experience before joining the cast of *Law & Order *as the brusque but effective Medical Examiner Elizabeth Rodgers. Previously, she only played small parts in a handful of shows like *Another World* and *Guiding Light*. She later carried the role of Dr. Rodgers into *Special Victims Unit*, *Criminal Intent*, and *Trial by Jury*.

Hendrix continued to act on *Law & Order* until the show initially ended in 2010. She next appeared in episodes of *Blue Bloods*, *Elementary*, and *The Blacklist* before landing a recurring role in the Batman prequel series *Gotham*. She hasn't been in a project since 2020, but we wouldn't be surprised to see this procedural veteran return to primetime TV.

35 actors you didn't know guest-starred on 'Law & Order' (including future Oscar winners)

The cast of 'Law & Order: SVU,' then and now: See how the squad has changed over 27 seasons

Fred Thompson (Arthur Branch)

Fred Thompson as Arthur Branch on 'Law & Order'; Fred Thompson attends 'Persecuted' screening at Lighthouse International Theater on July 18, 2014, in New York City.

NBCU Photo Bank; Ilya S. Savenok/Getty

While *Law & Order *put many of his costars on the map, Fred Thompson had already made a name for himself as a Republican senator for Tennessee. He joined the cast of the hit NBC series in 2002, just months before his 12-year tenure in the Senate ended, playing no-nonsense Manhattan DA Arthur Branch.

He appeared on *Law & Order* and its spinoffs until 2007. After leaving the show, he returned to politics by campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. Thompson continued to make appearances on the small screen with roles on *The Good Wife* and *Allegiance*.

Thompson died in 2015 at age 73 due to a recurrence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which he was first diagnosed with in 2004. He was survived by his second wife, Jeri Kehn, and his five children.

Dann Florek (Donald Cragen)

Dann Florek as Donald Cragen on 'Law & Order'; Dann Florek at the 'Law & Order: SVU' 25th anniversary celebration held at the Peak Restaurant on Jan. 16, 2024, in New York City.

Alice S. Hall/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty

Dann Florek was no stranger to police procedurals before collaborating with Dick Wolf, having appeared in 22 episodes of* L.A. Law*. He soon joined *Law & Order* in 1990 as Capt. Donald Cragen, a recovering alcoholic and fiercely loyal leader, though he's best known for his longtime starring role on the spinoff *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*.

When it comes to his early days on the original show, Florek shared an odd anecdote with PEOPLE in 2015, explaining, "I remember starting on the show years ago. We were at Chelsea Piers. And nobody was down there then. And my buddy Chris Noth and I used to take the golf carts and drive all the way around there...It was a lot of fun to go out there and we actually would go hunting for vermin. We found and we conquered."

The actor's last appearance on the original *Law & Order* was in 2004, though he would continue to helm *SVU* until 2021 and reprised the role of Captain Cragen in some episodes of the spinoff *Law & Order: Organized Crime*.

Florek has been married to his wife, Karen, since 1980.

Michael Moriarty (Benjamin Stone)

Michael Moriarty as Ben Stone on 'Law & Order'.

NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Michael Moriarty brought quite the acting pedigree to *Law & Order*, having won an Emmy for the 1978 miniseries *Holocaust*. He was also a Tony-winning stage actor thanks to his performance in *Find Your Way Home*. In seasons 1 through 4 of *Law & Order*, he dazzled as District Attorney Benjamin Stone, whose Catholic faith colors his views of social justice, though his tenure was ironically cut short due to real-world legal drama.

Moriarty claims he was written out of the series after publicly lashing out against Attorney General Janet Reno, who partially attributed violence in America to TV shows like *Law & Order*. "Television is the most open, it's the most potentially rebellious — we've got new channels coming in every day, and young, new people with fresh ideas," he told the *L.A. Times* in 1994. "But because it is this mass medium and it has to turn out so much product, there is a caste system, and a contempt and self-loathing I despise."

Regardless of why he departed, Moriarty made his last appearance on *Law & Order* in 1994. He then moved to Canada and declared himself a political exile, but this didn't keep him from continuing to find work. He later appeared on television shows like *The Dead Zone* and *The 4400* and in movies such as *Courage Under Fire* (1996).

George Dzundza (Max Greevey)

George Dzundza as Max Greevey on 'Law & Order'; George Dzundza arrives at the Griffith Observatory re-opening Galactic Gala held in Griffith Park.

NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty

George Dzundza had quite the storied résumé heading into *Law & Order*. He was already known for television shows such as *The Waltons* and films like *The Deer Hunter *(1978). Still, landing a role in season 1 of *Law & Order* as Sgt. Max Greevey, an investigative officer and friend of Captain Cragen, was quite the opportunity for the actor.

After leaving *Law & Order* in 1991, Dzundza went on to appear in some of the biggest films of the '90s, including *Basic Instinct** *(1992), *Crimson Tide *(1995), and *Dangerous Minds *(1995). He also did voice work for shows like *Batman: The Animated Series* and *Superman: The Animated Series*, and had a brief arc on *Grey's Anatomy*. It appears he's retired from acting, though, with his last credit being the 2011 TV movie *Danni Lowinski*.

Dzundza has been married to Mary Jo Vermeulen since 1982. The couple shares three daughters and two grandchildren.

Richard Brooks (Paul Robinette)

Richard Brooks as Paul Robinette on 'Law & Order'; Richard Brooks attends Netflix's 'The Black Godfather' premiere at Paramount Studios Theatre on June 3, 2019, in Los Angeles.

NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Lisa O'Connor/AFP via Getty

Richard Brooks appeared intermittently on *Law & Order* between 1990 and 2006. Still, he left his mark as Paul Robinette, the only Black male district attorney in the series.

"Of course, *Law & Order* in Paul Robinette had a more transformative role for me because I had to really grow as a man, as an intellect, as a scholar," Brooks told Andscape in 2017. "I had to become more versed in current affairs, and law, and politics and things like that… my research for it actually influenced me as a person a lot… To grow into that role, I think, has helped me with the rest of my career to take on more challenging parts and things like that."

The rest of his career has proven to be quite impressive. Since leaving *Law & Order*, Brooks has appeared in multiple episodes of shows like BET's *Being Mary Jane*, *The Flash*, and *The Rich & The Ruthless*. You may have also spotted him in episodes of *Abbott Elementary*, *9-1-1*, and *Reasonable Doubt*. Those wishing to discover a completely different side of Brooks can check out his debut album, *Smooth Love*.

Paul Sorvino (Phil Cerreta)

Paul Sorvino as Phil Cerreta on 'Law & Order'; Paul Sorvino at the 'Mary Poppins Returns' film screening after party in New York on Dec. 17, 2018.

NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Stephen Lovekin/Variety/Penske Media via Getty

When Paul Sorvino was cast on *Law & Order*, it felt a bit ironic. After all, the larger-than-life actor was mostly known for playing a gangster in *Goodfellas* (1990). He wasn't on the show very long, but having an onscreen career criminal play a good guy (specifically Sgt. Phil Cerreta, a homicide detective who replaced the deceased Max Greevey) ended up being a stroke of genius.

In a 1991 interview with *Today*, Sorvino revealed that the role posed a unique challenge because, "To my knowledge, I've never played myself, and this will be the first time I'm doing that." He clarified that he had built a career off of playing robust characters known for their outsized lines and big personalities. On *Law & Order*, however, he had to channel a quieter performance, and it was one that quickly won audiences over.

Sorvino left the show in 1992, and he had quite the career afterward. He played the head of the Capulet family in *Romeo + Juliet* (1996), and starred in dozens of episodes of the show *That's Life*.

Sorvino died of natural causes in 2022 at the age of 83. He is survived by his wife, Dee Dee Benkie, and his three children, including actors Michael and Mira Sorvino.

Benjamin Bratt (Rey Curtis)

Benjamin Bratt as Rey Curtis on 'Law & Order'; Benjamin Bratt attends the 29th annual Critics Choice Awards at the Barker Hangar on Jan. 14, 2024 in Santa Monica, Calif.

Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Benjamin Bratt was mostly known to film lovers for his supporting roles in memorable movies such as *Demolition Man *(1993) and *Clear and Present Danger *(1994). He then joined *Law & Order* in 1995 as homicide detective Rey Curtis, who often had very strident religious views.

After initially leaving the series in 1999, Bratt starred in two of his most famous films, *Miss Congeniality* and *Traffic*, both of which were released in 2000. He later reprised his *Law & Order* role in a season 20 episode, and he went on to appear on shows like *Private Practice*, *Poker Face*, and *Andor*.

Bratt married former Bond girl Talisa Soto in 2002. The couple has two children together.

- Celebrities & Creators

- Where Are They Now

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Where"

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The cast of Law & Order, then and now: See Sam Waterston and his costars through the years

In the Dick Wolf television universe, dozens of actors have come and gone. These are their stories. The cast of Law & Ord...

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Pick your favorites daily! Vote in EW's best Survivor winner ever bracket Pick your favorites daily! By Dalton Ross :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/DaltonRossauthorphoto2e15b12006e2438a99fb06db6d682421.jpg) Dalton Ross is a writer and editor with over 25 years experience covering TV and the entertainment industry. Survivor is kind of his thing. EW's editorial guidelines on March 12, 2026 9:43 a.m. ET Who is the best Survivor winner ever? Ask 10 Survivor fans and you may get 10 different answers. Which is part of the fun of the question.

Pick your favorites daily!

Vote in EW's best Survivor winner ever bracket

Pick your favorites daily!

By Dalton Ross

Dalton Ross is a writer and editor with over 25 years experience covering TV and the entertainment industry. *Survivor* is kind of his thing.

EW's editorial guidelines

on March 12, 2026 9:43 a.m. ET

Who is the best *Survivor* winner ever? Ask 10 *Survivor* fans and you may get 10 different answers. Which is part of the fun of the question.

Hardcore *Survivor* fans love to discuss and debate the intricacies of the game and their favorite seasons and winners in the same way that sports fans enjoy chattering nonstop about their teams.

But what do most fans think when posed with the question of whose the greatest *Survivor* winner ever? Let's find out!

EW has put together a bracket with all 49 season *Survivor* winners, with a match-up happening every day until the best of the best is crowned at the *Survivor 50* finale. And then the winner of *Survivor 50* can take on the king or queen of the bracket to see who comes out on top there.

Because common math tells us that 49 does not equal 64, some winners have received first round byes from **'s panel of *Survivor* experts and already advanced to the second round. Also, the two-time winners Sandra Diaz-Twine and Tony Vlachos are guaranteed on making it to the second round since *Heroes vs. Villains* Sandra defeated *Pearl Islands* Sandra in round one, and *Cagayan* Tony will take on *Winners at War* Tony. The rest is all up to you!

Explore EW's *Survivor* HQ

Exclusive video, interviews, breaking news, games, polls, and more!

Think Chris Underwood is highly underrated? Have at it! Believe Kim Spradlin-Wolfe wasn't actually that dominant? I mean… that sounds crazy, but the vote is yours to make!

Yesterday's match matchup featured *All-Stars* champion Amber Brkich (now Amber Mariano), who won the very first all-returning players season, going up against *Survivor 44* champion and possible Lisa Rinna kiss recipient Yam Yam Arocho. Would old school prevail, or would new school shine? In this case, it was old school all the way, as Amber took the win with 64 percent of the vote. That means she joins her husband (Boston Rob Mariano) in the second round. although her next matchup will be a toughie against Kim Spradlin.

With that, we are now halfway through the first-round, and we start the second half off with a doozy as we go Tony vs. Tony! Which winning effort from Tony Vlachos was better: *Cagayan* or *Winners at War? *That is the choice before you, and choose wisely because whichever season prevails will be the one Tony is representing moving forward. The power is in your hands!

Vote for your favorite below, and then come back here tomorrow for the results and weigh in on the next battle. Because now the winners truly are at war!

***Want to be kept up with all things Survivor? Dig deep and sign up for 's ******free Survivor Weekly newsletter****** to have all the latest news, interviews, and commentary sent right to your inbox. ***

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Pick your favorites daily! Vote in EW's best Survivor winner ever bracket Pick your favorites daily! By Dalton Ross...

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The ousted player also says original Vatu tried to throw their last challenge. Survivor 50 star Q Burdette reveals big Ozzy and Christian lies that did not make it to TV The ousted player also says original Vatu tried to throw their last challenge. By Dalton Ross :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/DaltonRossauthorphoto2e15b12006e2438a99fb06db6d682421.jpg) Dalton Ross is a writer and editor with over 25 years experience covering TV and the entertainment industry. Survivor is kind of his thing. EW's editorial guidelines March 12, 2026 11:30 a.m.

The ousted player also says original Vatu tried to throw their last challenge.

Survivor 50 star Q Burdette reveals big Ozzy and Christian lies that did not make it to TV

The ousted player also says original Vatu tried to throw their last challenge.

By Dalton Ross

Dalton Ross is a writer and editor with over 25 years experience covering TV and the entertainment industry. *Survivor* is kind of his thing.

EW's editorial guidelines

March 12, 2026 11:30 a.m. ET

Q Burdette on 'Survivor 50'. Credit:

Robert Voets/CBS

Quintavius "Q" Burdette seemed to be sitting pretty on *Survivor 50*. Even though he lost his vote and he lost an ally to a medevac in Kyle Fraser, he was in a what appeared to be a rock solid majority alliance and could easily survive a few votes should his tribe lose an immunity challenge.

But then Jeff Probst started rapping, the tribes started swapping, and Q watched his numbers advantage disappear as a new *David vs. Goliath* reunion took control of the new Vatu tribe. After Emily Flippen convinced Ozzy Lusth to side against his old Exile Island buddy, Q's fate was sealed.

How screwed did Q know he was walking into that Tribal Council? How different would things have been had he given Ozzy his vote on day 2 of the game? We asked the ousted fan favorite all that and more, including who did less work around camp: Rizo or Angelina? You can watch or read the entire interview below, and also find out all about the aborted thrown challenge, and the lies Ozzy and Christian told along the way.

15:11 Survivor 50 exit interview with Q Burdette

**: Okay, let's get to the most important question first: What do you make of Jeff Probst's rapping skills?**

**Q BURDETTE:** You know, when you're out there and you're snapping, it doesn't sound nice. Let me just say, when I was hearing it live, I was like, "Jeff, this ain't it, boss." But when you add the little music to it now, it had a little, "Okay, he got a couple bars in." but it was all good.

**What did you think was going to happen when you walked into last night's Tribal Council?**

The second I drew that buff, I knew I was kinda screwed. But going into Tribal, I thought at least Ozzy and Emily would also vote with Stephenie to vote Angelina. I needed that to happen to even have a chance. Even if they vote Stephenie, I think I'm screwed because in a way, who else will they go to next? But going into Tribal, as long as Ozzy and Emily don't flip, I'm fine. I didn't care what Christian, Mike, or Angelina did because the thinking was if those three vote for me, and Stephenie, Ozzy and Emily vote for Angelina, on a re-vote, we still have three votes essentially, and now they're down to two, but I could not have them to vote for Stephenie.

So it was just one of those things, man. It happened, and I don't even think the vote is really the problem. For me, the problem was the swap and the buff that I chose. I think my destiny was kind of sealed at that point.

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**Well, the other question is: What happens you have your vote? So let's just say that you had your vote. What do you think Ozzy and Emily do in that situation where they don't have to worry about any ties or anything?**

I think Emily probably still flips. The only thing more I could have probably done then is maybe play my Shot in the Dark and gave myself a chance at that time. Or just pull another buff. Why can't I go one to the left, one to the right? The one I pulled was just.... Dude, it was like Russian roulette. The bullet went off on me.

Q Burdette, Jeff Probst on 'Survivor 50'.

**When you and Ozzy ended up on the same beach, did you ask if you could have your vote back?**

So I asked Ozzy about the extra vote. And this is when I knew, like, *Okay, maybe Ozzy is not playing with me the way I think*. Because I asked Ozzy about the extra vote and he told me at the time he gave it away to Joe to protect himself at a Tribal Council. And it did not even sound like it was true because he hesitated. I even said in a confessional, like, "Either this guy thinks I'm an idiot or he's just the worst liar ever."

But I don't think I can trust Ozzy at this time because I knew then it was a lie. And then when Emily gave me the information about Christian giving Aubry the idol — see, we knew Aubry had that idol. We just didn't know who it came from. So it was one of those things once Emily told me this information and I kind of confronted Christian about it and I realized then Christian lied to me because he was like, "Oh yeah, Savannah found an idol and gave it to Aubry." I'm like: *Why would Savannah give Aubry of all people an idol when Rizo is on the same tribe?* So I knew then Christian was also lying and he's the one who gave the idol.

I had so much information, it was crazy. I had all of the information on Ozzy with his extra vote and his idol. I never told anybody about his extra vote. I was willing to work with the guy throughout the entirety of the game to a point, but it was one of those things. Look, Dalton, if you look at that tribe, the only vote that makes sense on that tribe, given all of the relationship history, it's me.

Christian and Emily, they play video games together, the Clocktower and all that. They're not voting for each other. Come on. To make it seem as if they just met on day one, day two, and they're all of a sudden want to ... Come on. And then the three that played on *David vs. Goliath*, they're not voting for each other right now. Come on. So who am I kidding?

Then Mike White told me on the island that him and Ozzy had a relationship in terms of being in the restaurant industry and meeting him in L.A. So the only two options really is me and Stephenie. Who makes a better splash? So the buff I drew is kinda what took me out.

2:33 The Cast of 'Survivor 50' on Who Is the Most Extra

**What did you make of Emily telling everyone everything.?Telling you guys about the Aubry idol, then going back and telling Angelina about what you said about her? She was kind of all over the map.**

I thought it was kind of sloppy gameplay. I didn't know all that took place. I knew about her telling Angelina, but I didn't know about her going back and talking to Christian more about the idol situation. It was kind of sloppy. But going into the game, I knew: That's the person that Emily Flippen is. She got flippin' in her name.

Maybe I could have shifted and tried to work with Angelina, but it was so far gone because I caught Angelina in so many lies that it was, like, disgusting. She was telling me, "Oh, I haven't talked to Mike White in like three years." Then when Mike White gets on the beach, I asked him, "Aare you still cool with all these folks from your season?" He was like, "Yeah, I talked to Angelina right before we came out here." I'm like, "She told me y'all ain't talked in ... " So that right there kind of really sealed it.

But even around camp, I'm the guy going out every single day making sure the tribe has what they need. I'm keeping the fire going all night long for these folks, and in the daytime, I'm just thinking, *Okay, maybe they're gonna do something. *And there was so many days where something was nothing  for two or three people in my tribe. And Angelina was one of those people. So now, you put us on the same beach, we haven't left Vatu, she's still here. Now I found out, *Okay, she's just been lying to my face about this whole Mike White thing and Christian thing, I can't trust her. I need her to go.*

Q Burdette on 'Survivor 50'.

**Who did less work around original Vatu, Rizo or Angelina?**

I think it was a tie. I'm telling you. Rizo don't do much, Angelina didn't do much, but at least you could edge Rizzo, "Come on, Rizo, let's go. " And he would be like, "Hey, I got you. Let's go. " Angelina, it was more I didn't wanna say anything really because again, Q being Q, I have to be careful as to how I act and how quickly I react in public. So I was just quiet and I talked my crap in my confessionals. I know how to keep my mouth shut a little bit, but I think it was equal. I mean, they didn't do hardly anything.

'Survivor 50' recap: Battle lines are redrawn after a tribe swap

Jeff Probst explains why he started rapping on 'Survivor 50'

**You said you knew about Aubry having an idol. I was wondering because sometimes things get shown out of order because they're showing things at one beach before getting over to the other beach. When you guys did that bag search, did she already have the idol or not?**

Yeah, she already had it.

**And that's why she was carrying her bag around everywhere after she got it?**

Right. And Genevieve peeped it out where the first couple days, everybody left their bag in the same area. And then, all of a sudden, Aubry leaves camp with her bag and Genevieve had already found the Billie Eilish Boomerang Idol, so she kind of knew, *Okay, this is kind of weird. She's never done this.* And then from that point forward, Aubry always just kind of kept her bag. And the one day that we did search, we were just coming back and maybe it was on her, but we knew she had it.

Like, it was no doubt in our minds that Aubry had it and that's what we were going with. And then to find out to confirm, *Okay, she actually had it,* it was like, *Okay, we knew that information*. So that's why I was so surprised when Emily came to me, and again, it's one of those things, you look back on it, I just don't think I could have been in a more terrible spot than what I was in.

Q Burdette and Benjamin "Coach" Wade on 'Survivor 50'.

**One of the big storylines before the season was you and Aubry obviously, because you name dropped her in 46, and then *of course* they put you guys on the same tribe together. So what did you make of her once you got to actually play with her for a few days there?**

Aubry was one of those folks, she wouldn't really commit one way or the other. But she also wasn't saying my name. She was more so screaming other names other than mine that I could remember and I heard of, but it was just one of those things where it was a little bit in me like*, Okay, hey, we can play this thing up and be on opposite sides and bring all of the information back.*

But we had an opportunity to do this challenge that Vatu lost in — if it was my original Vatu tribe, we probably would have lost on purpose, because we talked about throwing the previous challenge. The only reason we couldn't do it is because Cila was so bad at the ball — they kept dropping. So there was no way for us to throw it without it looking so obvious, and we didn't want to be there all day, but so if the Vatu tribe could have maybe stayed together for one more challenge. But that would have been the perfect challenge that we would have probably thrown, and we would have had votes on Angelina and Aubry to get Aubry out with the idol and then now Colby and I have our votes back. Here we go!

And it was so crazy because the last challenge we won that we were talking about throwing it, I had us all at the water well and I was like, "Listen, the worst thing that's going to happen is if we go into this challenge, we win, and we swap the next day. I fear I'm going to swap and I'm either going to get on the same tribe with Colby and we're going to be down two votes, or I'm going to get on the tribe by myself with no vote and I'm going to go home." And that is exactly what happened.

7:23 The Cast of 'Survivor 50' Reveals Who They Want to Vote Out First

**So you were trying to get your lost votes out of the way by losing a challenge.**

**So at that previous immunity challenge, were you in that challenge actively trying to lose until it got to a point where you couldn't, or you just kind of didn't implement that plan after you talked it.**

Well, it had to be implemented towards the back end on the ball. So in terms of taking our time, it was talked about. And when we got back to camp, Genevieve comes up to me and she was like, "I'm so sorry, Q. We was in the mood, we knew we had to throw it." I was like, "Listen, it's good." Because it was so difficult to throw that challenge just based on the mess at Cila.

But something that I wanna address is the fact that in a season like season 50, and it's in the hands of the fans and I understand they vote for a tribe swap at some point. For me, I felt like it was kinda early maybe, because we only saw these folks vote together twice. We build these relationships for seven days that don't fester into anything unless you're the losing tribe that's been voting together, and now you're stuck together again on a swap. So it happened kinda fast, but in the new era — 26 days, 24 people — it has to happen fast. So I can't complain about it. Everybody was dealt the same cards. It was just the hand that I was dealt, I had to play it, and it wasn't great.

Mike White, Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick, Q Burdette, and Ozzy Lusth on 'Survivor 50'.

**Anything else that happened out there that didn't make it to TV that you wish we had seen?**

I really wish they would've shown the conversation between Ozzy and I about his extra vote, and there was more conversation about his idol. So at that point in time, I thought, *Okay, at the very least, I have *Ozzy *and I have Stephenie, and how can we finesse one more person to kind of vote with us?* And we thought it was gonna be Emily. But I don't think Emily really had any interest in actually playing with me. And that goes all the way back to stuff that I heard before even going to the island that Emily was saying — you know, I was not her favorite person to play with.

And it was like, *Okay, you don't even know me.* Nut it's just one of those things that you're in the game and you have to try. And who else am I gonna go to to vote Angelina? Mike White and Christian? Probably not, because I know now she's lied to me about the Mike White relationship. What is she not telling me about Christian? I did not think that Emily would go to Angelina.

***Want to be kept up with all things Survivor? Dig deep and sign up for 's ******free Survivor Weekly newsletter****** to have all the latest news, interviews, and commentary sent right to your inbox. ***

- Survivor Fandom

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Source: Survivor

Published: March 13, 2026 at 04:57AM on Source: PRIME TIME

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Survivor 50 star Q Burdette reveals big Ozzy and Christian lies that did not make it to TV

The ousted player also says original Vatu tried to throw their last challenge. Survivor 50 star Q Burdette reveals big Ozz...

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Kiss' Gene Simmons stuck his tongue 'almost down' Adam Sandler's throat, wanted to make him his '...

The Sandman previously shared that he &34;took it like a man.&34; Kiss' Gene Simmons stuck his tongue 'almost down' Adam Sandler's throat, wanted to make him his 'bitch' The Sandman previously shared that he &34;took it like a man.&34; By Daysia Tolentino :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/DaysiaTolentinoauthorphotob1c9bf2343cf4cf7b77759eeb9f69e8d.jpg) Daysia Tolentino Daysia Tolentino is a writer at . She has written for since 2025. Her work has appeared in NBC News, Vulture, GQ, and InStyle. EW's editorial guidelines March 12, 2026 3:33 p.m.

The Sandman previously shared that he "took it like a man."

Kiss' Gene Simmons stuck his tongue 'almost down' Adam Sandler's throat, wanted to make him his 'bitch'

The Sandman previously shared that he "took it like a man."

By Daysia Tolentino

Daysia Tolentino

Daysia Tolentino is a writer at *. *She has written for * *since 2025. Her work has appeared in NBC News, Vulture, GQ, and InStyle.

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Gene Simmons; Adam Sandler. Credit:

Ethan Miller/Getty; Emma McIntyre/WireImage

Gene Simmons' tongue was made for lovin' Adam Sandler.

The bassist planted a big kiss on Sandler during a charity event, saying he wanted to make the Sandman his "bitch" in front of the cameras. Simmons recalled his interaction with Sandler, who had invited him and other musicians to jam out. He said the *Saturday Night Live* alum was a "real rock fan" who was playing onstage with the artists.

"Somebody was taking a photo of us," the rock star told actor Adam Lupis in an interview. "Of course, I wanted to turn Adam into my bitch. So I stuck my tongue almost, almost down his throat."

Gene Simmons of Kiss performing in 2019.

Per Ole Hagen/Redferns/Getty

Sandler had shared his side of the story on *Conan** *in 2019, recounting that it was actually a holiday party. He told host Conan O'Brien that Simmons had pulled out his famed "7-incher" tongue and came at Sandler while the comedian was playing guitar.

"Came at the Sandman, big tongue right to me," Sandler said. "I think he gave me a couple of licks and I took it like a man."

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

Adam Sandler told Conan O'Brien that Gene Simmons licked him during a party.

Michael Kovac/Getty

In addition to his signature tongue, Simmons is known for his brash personality. He recently spoke out against the low pay that modern musicians receive from their songs. He testified in support of the American Music Fairness Act, which would require radio stations to pay royalties to artists, in front of a Senate subcommittee in December.

"If you are against this bill, you are un-American," Simmons told the politicians. "You cannot let this injustice continue. It looks like a small issue … There are wars going on and everything, but our emissaries to the world are Elvis and Frank Sinatra. And when they find out we're not treating our stars right — in other words, worse than slaves; slaves get food and water. Elvis and Sinatra and Bing Crosby got nothing for their performance. You've got to change this now for our children and our children's children."

Check out the full interview between Adam Lupis and Gene Simmons below.

- Celebrities & Creators

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Kiss' Gene Simmons stuck his tongue 'almost down' Adam Sandler's throat, wanted to make him his '...

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Grace Gummer Explores the Kennedy Sibling Bond in 'Love Story'

Grace Gummer Explores the Kennedy Sibling Bond in &x27;Love Story&x27; Adam RatheFri, March 13, 2026 at 2:00 AM UTC 0 Grace Gummer on Caroline Kennedy Courtesy FX If Grace Gummer were to encounter Caroline Kennedy on the street, she knows just what she would do. "I bow to her; I say thank you; I let her speak," Gummer, who plays Kennedy on Love Storysays. "I have so much admiration and respect for Caroline, and my greatest hope is that I did right by her." It's easy to admire Kennedy.

Grace Gummer Explores the Kennedy Sibling Bond in 'Love Story'

Adam RatheFri, March 13, 2026 at 2:00 AM UTC

0

Grace Gummer on Caroline Kennedy Courtesy FX

If Grace Gummer were to encounter Caroline Kennedy on the street, she knows just what she would do. "I bow to her; I say thank you; I let her speak," Gummer, who plays Kennedy on Love Storysays. "I have so much admiration and respect for Caroline, and my greatest hope is that I did right by her."

It's easy to admire Kennedy. She has, after all, served twice as a United States Ambassador (once to Japan, once to Australia), written and edited a number of books, and lent her efforts to causes including the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Kennedy Library Foundation, and American Ballet Theatre. "She's a formidable woman who I really look up to," Gummer notes.

But Love Story isn't focused on Kennedy's accomplishments. (Well, not entirely; the character does, in occasional fits of sibling rivalry, remind her brother John that she's already made something of herself while he's still trying.) Instead, Gummer's Kennedy serves as a voice of reason, reminding her brother and his soon-to-be wife, Carolyn Bessette, of their responsibilities and—even though sometimes it seems like she's being sensible against her will—trying to lead by example.

Grace Gummer as Caroline Kennedy on Love Story. Courtesy FX

"Aside from the series being a story I could really sink my teeth into," Gummer says, "Ryan Murphy [an executive producer of Love Story] explained to me why she was so important. Caroline is part of the love story, too; that sibling relationship is integral to the show." It's also changing as the season progresses.

"I don't think she was always this trusted voice for John," Gummer says. "I think she took on that role, especially after the passing of their mother. She was a real woman with real struggles—and obviously a lot of tragedy in her life—and was not perfect but was invested in carrying on the legacy of this family and inevitably became, in our telling of the story, a matriarchal figure. I think she's also so fed up with him." It's true and watching Gummer's Caroline endure her younger brother (portrayed by Paul Anthony Kelly), plays a large part in making characters who are essentially American royalty feel relatable. "The sibling banter is real," says Gummer, who's one of four siblings herself. "That was important to us."

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Prior to her role on Love Story, Gummer appeared in series including All's Fair and Doctor Death and films like Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere. Zackery Michael

The banter might feel real, but it's still important to note that Love Story is a dramatization. "It's not a documentary," Gummer says. "It's a retelling of a story about these two people and their love triumphing over an immense amount of adversity. In playing a real person, there's a duty to uphold; I did a lot of research, and I always tried to capture the essence of Caroline instead of trying to do an imitation. We're expanding on a story and retelling it."

Some parts of the series, however, do hit a bit close to home. Take, for example, the crowds that have been flocking to the Manhattan apothecary C.O. Bigelow where Bessette is said to have bought her preferred tortoiseshell headbands. "That's my pharmacy, too," Gummer says. "I was in there today, so I think about it all the time."

Gummer as Caroline Kennedy—with Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn Bessette and Tonatiuh as Narcisco Rodriguez—on Love Story. Eric Liebowitz / FX

In this week's episode, titled "Obsession," Caroline and her sister-in-law find themselves at odds thanks to the intense press attention Bessette has faced since her relationship with John became public. "For Caroline, privacy is paramount—and I can definitely relate," says Gummer, who has her own experience with familial notoriety. "She's invested in protecting her family; her entire life has been spent in the public eye, so any disruption is something she's trying to work against. Before this episode, I was in my own world in the show, in Caroline's head and in her relationship with John. Now, all of a sudden, the story has expanded and it's this amazing moment about these two women coming together and trying to make sense of who they are to each other and who they're going to be."

Of course, viewers know that there isn't much time left for the two women to figure their relationship out, but the situation is still one that let Gummer stretch her muscles as a performer. "I was so proud to be able to play someone with such integrity and honor," she says—but just because the role was fulfilling doesn't mean it was always easy. "There's a lot of her story, and the story in general, that's entrenched in tragedy. I was ready for some of that to end."

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