2025's Biggest Celebrity Losses | Whose Death was the Worst?!

Who were the biggest celebrities we lost in 2025? In this heartfelt 10th annual episode of The Worst of the Best Podcast, brothers Ryan and Jason pay tribute to the legends who passed away – from Ozzy Osbourne and Val Kilmer to Gene Hackman, Hulk Hogan, David Lynch, and more. We share personal memories, discuss their iconic roles and lasting impact, and pick the deaths that stung the most. A mix of laughs, reflection, and respect for the icons gone too soon.

Creators and Guests

Host

Jason Rebalkin

Host

Ryan Rebalkin

What is The Worst of the Best Podcast?

Join host Ryan Rebalkin and his rotating guest hosts on The Worst of the Best Podcast, where they dive into the flaws of the best in pop culture and more. Covering genres like films, music, food, true crime, historical events, celebrity culture, and quirky societal trends, this podcast delivers a humorous, irreverent critique of the finest’s shortcomings.

0:02
Welcome to the worst of the best podcast. You wanted the best. Well, they
0:08
didn't freaking make it. So, here's what you get from Canada. Ryan and Jason.
0:16
Good day, everyone. And welcome to the annual, and I believe Jason's the 10th annual worst of the best celebrity
0:23
deaths of 2025. This is one of our favorite episodes to do throughout the year. I admit uh
0:28
throughout the year Jason and I will send what we do kind of behind the curtain here guys is when somebody passes away we'll send like a whatever
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gift comes up in the chat you know when you search for an actor or an actress's name or celebrity's name they show you a
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gift I just send to Jason like cold is whoever can do it first it's so once we see a person's gift for no context we
0:48
know that person's died so that's what we've done throughout the year Jay and uh yeah and folks just so you know how
0:54
how we made this list the rule for this year and it's been this way for most years. It wasn't this way at the very
1:00
beginning, but now it is this way is the name has to be a name that either Jason and I together or one of us. We knew the
1:08
name without looking it up. We knew who they were. So when their death was announced like, "Oh, that person's
1:13
dead." So some are very obvious, of course. But there's a couple that even I knew, maybe Jason doesn't know, but when
1:19
they died, I was like, "Oh, yeah. I know who that is, and there's a reason why I know who they are." So we'll we'll talk about that. Without further ado, Jay,
1:25
how you doing, by the way? And happy new year to you at the time of recording. Happy New Year. Yeah, happy new year. Um, you are the
1:32
first person I've spoken to in the new year. I wouldn't want to do anything else on January 1st at about 8:30 a.m.
1:39
than this podcast with you. Yeah, we gave it right till midnight. Jay, and I checked the news sources. Did you miss anyone died New Year's Eve for
1:46
us? Anyone important anyways? Not that I recognize. No. Yeah. And so we we recognize, of course, the
1:52
celebrities, Jason, and listeners. They're the most important people in the world, you know. Let's be honest, there there's nobody more important than
1:57
celebrities. That's why we do this special episode every year is because the most important people in all of our lives are the celebrities. And then of
2:03
course, we honor those who have passed on. Oh yeah, and by the way, we'll be going in death order. So at the start of
2:09
the year till the end of the year. And lastly, we are going to pick the
Early 2025 Deaths
2:15
celebrity. We'll keep it simple, Jay. We're going to keep we're going to pick the celebrity that sort of meant the most to us, the one that kind of stung
2:21
the most. And I admit there's a couple here where I'm like, "Oh, I don't know. I don't know. It's going to be it's going to be tough to say which one really
2:26
kind of stung the most. First one is Mike Rinerj. Mike Rinder was a high ranking Scientology executive who served
2:33
as a head of the Office of Special Affairs and international spokesperson before leaving the organization in 2007
2:39
and becoming one of its most prominent whistleblowers. He co-hosted the Emmy-winning A&E docue series Lemony
2:46
Scientology in the Aftermath, appeared in the HBO documentary Going Clear, and continued exposing alleged abuses
2:52
through a podcast and his blog. His date of death, January 5th, age 69. Cause of
2:58
death, esofagial cancer. Oh, I've never heard of that before.
3:04
That's Mike Riner was great. I did watch this show. So again, when his name came up in
3:09
my feeds, I actually like, "Oh, I know this guy." and he did a lot of good and he seemed like a really sweetheart of a guy, very well spoken and really did
3:17
whistleblow cuz he was a high ranking official. He really came out and fought the church. Do you know anything about Scientology or did you see any of these
3:24
documents? I I know uh a little bit and I know about um yeah Leah I I know her story.
3:32
I I don't know his but I know hers. It's interesting that somebody would like him
3:37
who was higher up would at some point he saw the light
3:43
shared that with the world. Yeah. Brave in his own right to do that. Yeah. All right. Rest because you have to admit that you're
3:49
wrong. Yeah. That's good point. You have and think I agree with him that he was wrong. But that's just my opinion and
3:54
any Scientologists listen to our show. Welcome to the show and mean no harm to you. Please don't come after us. Okay.
David Lynch Tribute
4:00
David Lynch. David Lynch was a visionary American filmmaker renown for his surreal dreamlike style coined Lynchian
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exploring the darkness beneath Americana and iconic movies like the TV series Twin Peaks and films including Blue
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Velvet, Mahalland Drive, Eraser Head, and The Elephant Man. Beginning as a painter and short filmmaker, he directed
4:22
groundbreaking projects from the 70s through 2017's Twin Peaks Revival, blending horror, mystery, and humor.
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Ambian soundscapes while earning a claim like the Palm Duel for Wild at Heart.
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Date of death, January 15th, age 78. Cause of death, cardiac arrest due to
4:39
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with dehydration as a contributing factor. Geez,
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David Lynch, interesting filmmaker. I have you seen any of his films? I think you you know what's funny Jay? I
4:52
remember this is going to be sound weird to you. I think I remember you renting Wild at Heart when we were teenagers.
4:58
Is that funny? Did I have that memory? It is because I don't have that memory. I remember thinking who starred in it. Do you recall?
5:05
I think Laura Durn. Oh, okay. Yeah. Yeah. There it is. Wild at heart. The film follows Sailor Ripley and Lula
5:11
Fortune, the young couple who go on the run from Lula's dominary mother and the criminals she hires to kill Sailor. Wow.
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Sailor, isn't that Nicholas Cage? That's right. Yeah. You rented this movie. I don't know why
5:23
I remember you renting this movie and I never saw it, but I had that core memory and I think it's something to do with
5:29
the fact that Lauren Durn looks pretty hot in the cover. I think you were kind of hoping for maybe a couple boobage slips maybe.
5:35
No comment. Okay. But that was my introduction to, I suppose, David Lynch, but more to
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Nicholas Cage. The acting in that is pretty good. Oh, yeah. I'm sure his character now,
5:48
you know, it's like many, many years ago, so it may or may not stand up the test of time, but that was my
5:53
introduction, Nicholas Cage. I don't think he's lived up to it. He's had a bit of a resurgent lately.
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Sure, because people have a soft spot for No, that's good. I like it. Bob Uker,
6:06
nicknamed Mr. Baseball, transformed his modest MLB career as a backup catcher
6:11
into a legendary broadcasting tenure with the Milwaukee Brewers for 54 seasons. Holy smokes,
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earning the Forc Award and Hall of Fame recognition. In 2003, he became a beloved comedic figure through acting
6:25
roles in the Major League films, the sitcom Mr. Belvadier, frequent appearances on Johnny Carson and Dave
6:30
Letterman shows and hosting his own sports programs. January 16th, he passed away at the age of 90. Cause of death,
Gene Hackman Story
6:38
complications from small cell lung cancer, but I mean at 90 is just whatever gets you gets you at that age.
6:44
But it's old age. He was diagnosed a couple years ago, but he kept a private old saying. Interesting. Okay. Yeah. I don't have
6:51
too many memories of him. I just remember just like we said in Major League in those films. You see, you hear his voice and he plays himself
6:57
essentially in those films. Yeah. Michelle Tractenburgg began her career as a child actress,
7:03
breaking out with the lead role in the 1996 film Harriet the Spy. After early appearances on The Adventures of Pete
7:09
and Pete and All My Children, she gained wider fame playing Dawn Summers on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the scheming
7:17
Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl. with other notable credits in films like Euro
7:22
Trip, Ice Princess, and 17 Again. She died February 26, age 39. Her cause of
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death, Jason, was complications of diabetes malitis, natural causes confirmed via toxicology after her
7:36
family objected to an autopsy. So yeah, I mean, she was young, 39. The
7:42
family wanted to be like, "No, no, no, no toxic, you know, we don't want to make this more than what it is, but
7:48
type 1 diabetes." So yeah, so you are of course you don't want to share in diabetics. So what do you think? What
7:54
should not be? Well, it could be DK uh diabetic keto acidosis is a typical result of poor
8:01
diabetic control. So your body is going Yeah, it's complicated, but it's
8:07
probably diabetic ketoacidosis where you have not enough insulin and too much sugar and you don't correct that in
8:14
time. Yeah, this was a big one. I actually watched Buffy and so that's where I knew her from. So, I saw the name. I was
8:19
aware of her. Uh, I mean, she's very pretty and of course, so watching her back in the day,
8:24
she was cute and fun and she did that funny movie Euro Trip, I think, with Tom Green, I think, might have been in it.
8:30
So, um, she had a famous bikini scene, all that good stuff. So, yeah, it sucks. Young age.
8:36
Yeah, that is. I remember Sarah Michelle Geller came out with, of course, kind words at the time. Jean Hackman.
8:42
Oh, yeah. I thought this was later in the year. It's weird, but this was February. So, Gene Hackman was a versatile American
8:47
actor who won two Academy Awards. Best actor for The French Connection and best supporting actor for Unforgiven. I
8:53
freaking love that movie. Unforgiven. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, I just love that movie so much.
8:58
While earning five total Oscar nominations across her career, spending iconic roles in films like Bonnie and Clyde, The Conversation, Superman,
9:06
Mississippi Burning, great film, and The Royal Tenner Bombs. After retiring from acting in 2004,
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he lived a private life in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his wife Betsy, occasionally writing novels. He died February 17th.
9:21
His body just was discovered February 26, age of death 95. Cause of death,
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advanced heart disease with Alzheimer's disease as a significant contributing factor. Kind of a sad story that both he
9:33
and his wife were found dead in the house together. That's a weird one. Remember that one? It it is
9:38
cuz she was a little bit younger. Yeah, man. I can't remember. I didn't I mean, we're not People can Wikipedia this.
9:44
We're not here to, you know, give everyone's life story, but it's just this was just a not just a passing of a
9:49
great actor, but a sad tragic passing at the same time. And that both husband and
9:55
wife were there and the dogs were malnourished and oh, I think she died first. That was the issue because he had
10:01
Alzheimer's and old. He wasn't able to take care of himself after her passing. So I think it was her death and then he
10:07
died because of her death probably. Like I think she was found in the bathroom.
10:12
Bathroom. Yeah. With like pill bottles or something around. Who knows? Rest in peace to them of course. Did you
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enjoy G Hackman as that actor? I should have asked that. Oh yeah. Like every movie that I had ever seen him in.
10:25
Right. There's nothing bad to say about him. He always performed to me performed well
10:32
and I enjoyed all the movies that I would see him in. I haven't seen every movie that he's been in obviously but
10:37
like you said everything he does he he doesn't ded he's Gene Hackman you know he's just he's just good at what he does. Uh I've
10:44
I've gone back and watched some of his older films like the conversations an interesting one and great Lex Luthther.
10:49
You and I grew up with him as Lex Luthther. Yeah. Yeah. Great stuff. Okay. Rest in peace. George Foreman was a two-time world
10:56
heavyweight boxing champion and 1968 Olympic gold medals who achieved one of the greatest comebacks in sports history
11:01
by regaining the title at age 45 in 1994 retiring with a 76 win five loss
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professional record. That's pretty good. After boxing, he became a successful entrepreneur with the the iconic George
11:15
Foreman grill which sold over 100 million units. He was an ordained minister and a television personality
11:21
including his own sitcom and an appearance on the masked sinner. Oh, he did that one, did he? He died on March
11:28
21st at the age of 76. His cause of death, Jay, was undisclosed. The family
11:33
publicly said it was natural causes. He didn't use the grill enough.
11:40
He just seemed, you know, you know what helped him stay, I'll say, popular or he
11:46
kind of, no pun intended, rolled with the punches. You couldn't knock down his good attitude. Yeah. Like he he was just a likable
11:53
individual. Mhm. Didn't take himself too seriously. No. And congrats to him winning at 45.
12:00
That's awesome. Yeah, that's pretty impressive. My understanding, I'm not a boxing nerd,
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but my understanding is uh his punches really hurt. He could punch. Yeah, he'd be one of the heaviest, not
12:11
necessarily the fastest, but just heavy hits. Like if you got hit by him, you felt it.
12:17
Yeah. Val Kilmer. We're getting to the couple now where it's like, man, which one sort of stung the most? Val Kilmer was a
Val Kilmer Memories
12:24
versatile American actor, of course, known for iconic roles such as Iceman and Top Gun and the sequel, Batman and
12:29
Batman Forever, Jim Morrison, The Doors, Doc Holiday, and Tombstone. I mean, that for me alone, Jim, Tombstone's my
12:35
favorite western of all time. It's in my top five films of all time with other memorable performances in Heat Kiss Kiss
12:41
Bang Bang and Voicing Moses in the Prince of Egypt after battling throat cancer diagnosed in 2015 which severely
12:47
affected his voice and was chronicled in the 2021 documentary Val which I did see. It's very nicely done was narrated
12:54
by his son Jack which I believe it almost sounded like Val was very well done or or at the same time it worked really well. So his son narrated his
13:01
voice his story which was a nice way to do it. He continued to inspire fans with his
13:07
resilience until his final years. April 1st at the age of 65, cause of death and
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pneumonia. H too young and kind of a long long struggle there in the last about 10
13:19
years, right? Yeah. When he did pass, you're almost kind of like good. Not good and like I'm
13:24
just the suffering's over. This dealing with that is over. So there's some peace in that. So this one wasn't so much like
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I can't believe he died. It was like well he fought so long and what a great
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fight and and that's truly that's a truly rest in peace now Val because you of your long fight but he gave us such
13:41
the doors of performance tombstone heat uh Willow I forgot about Willow I love
13:47
Mad Morgan and Willow he was so great in that here's a little side story about Willow Jay remember our great grandma
13:52
Edna Mhm. So me and my friends went to go see Willow downtown Victoria and we go in
13:58
the theater. We go sit down and as I'm going walking down the aisle, there was Grandma Edna sitting by herself in the
14:03
theater to watch Willow. Oh, cool. And so we're like, "Grand, please come sit with us." So I watched Willow with
14:10
Grandma Edna in the theater with my friends and her. Oh, interesting. She had a blast. Is that hilarious? She
14:16
used to sit by herself and like, "Come on, come sit." And we all sat together. What I'd be curious to know is uh how
14:21
old was Edna at the time? Oh, she must have well probably at least 70 something at that time.
14:28
So I I kind of wonder like at your age she would have felt ancient but maybe
14:33
she was vibrant. She was a very she was a very vibrant older woman to begin with. She was always I never remember being
14:40
nothing but vibrant. She always reminded me I know she's from England. Even as a kid she always reminded me of the queen.
14:46
I just thought she was almost like the queen apparent. I don't know why. Every time I talked to her it's like I'm talking to the queen. It just seemed
14:51
like she looked like Queen Elizabeth. It was weird. Yeah. So, going back to uh Val, I appreciated
14:58
the fact that he was involved in Maverick. Yeah, that was nice. In a small way. Yeah. And that was a really emotional scene. I
15:05
mean, that was Yeah. And it created closure to his career. His career and to Tom and the character,
15:11
everything. It was perfectly done. You could tell that Tom, though, he was quote unquote acting, it was real. Yeah. It was real for both of them.
15:17
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Good stuff. Rest in peace to Val. Ted Kochef. He was a prolific Canadian
15:23
director of Bulgarian descent who began his career in television at the CBC before achieving acclaim with films like
15:28
the Australian thriller Wake and Fright, the coming age drama The Apprenticeship
15:34
of Duty Kravitz. But Jay, it was the Hollywood hit First Blood that uh broke
15:40
him into the stratosphere that you and I knew knew him from. And he also did weekend at Bernie's fun with Dick and
15:46
Jane and served as executive producer on the first 13 seasons of Law and Order
15:52
Special Victims Unit showcasing his versatility across genres from action to comedy. Died at the ripe old age of 94.
15:59
Cause of death. Well, it's heart failure, but it's like something's got to go. You're 94. The heart said, "I'm
16:05
done." It beat its last beat. And that's just that's pretty much natural causes, wouldn't you say?
16:10
Yeah, that is Yeah. That's why he's on the list, folks. Yeah, again, shout out to Rambo,
16:16
of course, first blood. I mean, that's so cool that he got to work with Sly on that movie. And I wonder if he even if he knew I know I know that film
16:23
very well and I knew that there was it wasn't the easiest film to make. I bet you when that film became the success it
16:29
did become, it was probably a huge relief to him, right? Pope Francis,
Pope Francis Discussion
16:34
born Jorge Mario Burglio, served as the 266th
16:41
Pope from 2013 until his death, becoming the first from the Americas, the first
16:47
Jesuit and the first non-European in centuries. while championing progressive
16:52
causes like climate action, social justice, and greater inclusion for LGBTQ
16:57
plus individuals. His pontificate featured outreach to the marginalized,
17:03
interfaith dialogue, friendships with Hollywood figures, a cameo in the film Beyond the Sun, and documentaries
17:09
exploring his life and travels. He died at the age of 88. He's resting with Jesus in April of 21. His cause of
17:16
death, Jason, was cerebral stroke followed by coma and irreversible cardio
17:22
circulatory collapse. So he's resting with the angels now.
17:27
Jason, Pope Francis, what do you think of the old pope there? I really no comment. I mean,
17:34
the way you read that he he sounds more like a celebrity celebrity rather than
17:41
a religious figure. I I don't know. It it feels weird when it starts to when
17:46
these faiths start mixing in with Hollywood and Am I wrong in that? I
17:52
don't know. No, no, I'm just I'm letting you finish. No, I Yeah, I know. I'm not sure if you know what I'm It just It starts to get a little bit
17:59
Well, yeah. It becomes almost like celebrity worship with a holy figure. It's kind of weird. Like, that doesn't seem like the right way to be. Like, are
18:05
we supposed to worship these people? Are we celebrating their celebrity to a degree? We even have celebrities who are
18:11
excited to see him if that makes He's a celebrity to celebrities. Yeah, it's interesting. Yeah. Bye.
18:18
Rest in peace. But he's a huge figure. That's why he made the list. And again, when he passed,
18:23
I was like, I know who he was. Yeah. It's a big deal. Is there any other religion that when the leader passes makes world news?
18:31
Really? Yeah. Not really. Well, George went Jason was a beloved American actor and
18:37
comedian best known for portraying the affable beer loving barfly Norm across all 275 episodes the iconic
18:44
sitcom Cheers. Every scene you remember just waddled into that bar. He'd waddle
18:50
in and they all yell Norm. He just like you pull up a stool.
18:56
My least favorite character on that show. He was never funny to me. I never enjoyed him. I'm sorry. Rest in peace to
19:02
George W. But I never I never thought he was funny. I thought uh of course uh who's the post guy again? Oh, it just
19:08
escaped me. Cliff. Postman Cliff. No fact. He was like a walking Wikipedia
19:15
at the time. Like little did we know he was a walking smartphone. He was a fact checker. He was a fact checker. Walking
19:21
smartphone Wikipedia. I loved it. Did you like Shelley Long or Christy Ali?
19:27
Which one did you find yourself a young Jason being sort of attracted to? Do you remember? Yeah, I mean I wasn't really a
19:34
huge Cheers like fan fan. I think I'm indifferent to be honest. Um, okay.
19:41
Probably if I was to revisit it, I probably would be more not like
19:46
attracted attractive, but I probably appreciate Shelley Long's character. Yeah, that's I'm not just talking about
19:51
just aesthetics, but just Yeah. Yeah. I think I think I think it' be Shelley Long would be something that's
19:57
more endearing. Yeah. And more relatable. But as far as this Norm guy goes, how old was he in the
20:03
show? Because why does everybody look old and he was in every episode?
20:09
Every episode. Like he looks pretty young in this picture now. I think that might be a season one photo
20:14
there. So Ted Dans was 34, Shelley Long was 33. Wow. Ria Pearlman was 34, and George went 33.
20:22
Cliff Clayman was 35. So Cliff How many like 10? I think 11. 10 or 11. So, even when
20:28
they're even when the show retired, they were 5 years younger than we are now.
20:34
They look 20 years older. It's so weird. I don't I don't understand that
20:40
timeline. I don't get it either. They say it could do with hairstyles. I've seen like this Golden Girls meme. They just changed the
20:49
hairstyles in the Golden Girls and they did look younger. It's crazy. It's the hairstyle. Okay. Well, George W. He
20:55
earned six consecutive Emmy nominations for outstanding supporting actor. Started his career at Chicago Second
21:00
City Improv Theater where he met his wife Bernardet Briquette. Went reprised and parodyied the signature role in
21:06
shows like Fraser Wings and the Simpsons while also appearing in films and guest Ryan on various series. But the norm
21:13
character was his bread and butter and he ate that bread and butter.
21:19
Uh his date of death was uh May of he was 76. Jay, do you want to guess is a
21:25
cause of death? Cardiac arrest, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, hypertension.
21:31
Sorry, that's what that's how he died. You name it. Yeah, you name it. But the heart did it to 76, man. You got
21:38
to give that heart credit, man. It carried that guy from he was 76. Give that heart credit. Okay,
21:44
speaking of giving the heart credit, Brian Wilson, uh, he was the visionary co-founder, primary songwriter, basist,
21:50
and producer of the Beach Boys, crafting timeless hits like Good Vibrations. God Only Knows and the groundbreaking 1966
21:56
album Pet Sounds. Wildly regarded as one of the greatest records in pop history.
22:01
Despite battling severe mental health issues and substance abuse that impacted his contribution in later decades, he
22:08
released 12 solo albums and completed the long abandoned Smile project in 2004
22:13
and he continued performing into the 2020s. Jay, he died at the age of 82 in June. Cause of death, respiratory
22:20
arrest. He also had like chronic kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and a
22:26
neuro degenerative disorder. I mean, the reality is is we all succumb
22:31
to something. Yeah. I did see him and the Beach Boys perform.
22:37
I worked concerts and that was one of the concerts that I worked. Actually, they opened up for Brian Adams.
22:42
Oh, really? Yeah. It's a god. Really? Yeah. Do they sing big? That's not them, is
22:50
it? No, never mind. This big girls Don't cry. That's not them. I'm thinking of other dooop band. Did they do surfing in
22:58
the USA? Yes, they did.
23:04
Everybody's gone surfing. Oh, no. Yeah, that's I think that may be like
23:10
their paradise city, you know. Oh, sure. That's their closer, of course. And on a high note, you know when they did Aruba Jamaica?
23:17
Oh, yeah. Yeah, they did that. Did you know they were like only 40? That was their big comeback and they were old at
23:24
40. I know. That's what I'm saying. Like with George went when we were teenagers and the Beach Boys came back with that song.
23:31
It was a popular song when we were teenagers. We're like, "Oh, the old Beach Boys think they can come back with a big hit." And it was their biggest hit
23:36
of their career. They were 40. Yeah. They're still young.
23:42
That's 10 years younger plus than we are now.
23:47
I remember when the Rolling Stone, we talked about this before, but when the Rolling Stones were made fun of for being old touring Jay and this was 1992,
23:54
the wheelchair tour, they were 52, but they were like 50.
24:00
I know. And then like that one performance with Axel Rose, you know, he comes on stage, Axel and Izzy,
24:05
and they sing Salt of the Earth and you're just like looking at like the young well, the young gun, Axel versus
24:12
the old MC Jagger. And now Mc Jagger are still performing. Well, they just still performing. Oh, I
24:19
know. They had been up to last year. Yeah. Well, I know. No, I don't mean that as a like as a 2025. They were
24:25
still, but it's just Yeah. And Axel's now older now. Yeah, I know. By like 15 years old than
24:32
MC Jagger was when they did that duet, Salted the Earth. So, I it's just
24:38
it's amazing. Times time's amazing. Jimmy Swagger was a prominent Pentecostal televangelist
24:44
who built a massive global ministry in the 80s, reaching millions through his fiery sermons, the Jimmy Swagger
24:50
telecast and gospel music, recording over 200 albums and raising up to 150 million annually at its peak.
24:57
His career was derailed. However, Jason, it's all for God, Jay. It's all for God. Don't be silly now.
25:03
150 million back then. I know. Per year. Holy.
25:09
His career was derailed, Jay, however, by prostitution scandals in the late 80s, leading to a tearful public
25:15
confession and a defrocking. He got defrocked, all right,
25:21
Jimmy got swagger. He got swagger and he got defrocked. But he persevered, Jason, launching the Some
25:28
Life Broadcasting Network in 2010 and continuing to preach until his death. Well, you got to preach. You got to preach, Jay. The word of God from Jimmy.
25:35
Praise be to God from Jimmy. He died at the ripe old age of 90. Complications following a cardiac arrest that he
25:41
suffered in June. Yeah, I remember that tearful. It was made the news when we
25:47
were kids. Yeah, it was a big deal. You can look it up, guys. You can go Google it. It's pretty common. You can
25:52
watch it. I'll let you guys decide. Was Jimmy crying because he got caught or
25:58
because he felt remorse? Let me know in the comments. Michael Madson was a prolific American actor known for his
26:03
intense portrayals of tough, often menacing characters. most notably as the sadistic Mr. Blonde and Quinton
26:09
Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs and Bud in one of my favorite films of all time, the Kill Bill films, with additional
26:15
collaborations, The Hateful Eight and Once Upon a Time of Hollywood. So, I love Michael Madison. Thank you, Quenton
26:20
for giving him such great acting roles. His extensive filmography though continued and including standout roles
26:27
in Donnie Brasco, Tho, Dying of the Day, Free Willie, Sin City, and Species
26:32
spanning over 300 credits across film and television. Remember that movie Species J that came out in the 90s
26:38
with that alien, Natasha Hendrich or whatever? She's Canadian by the way. You know, she was only 19 in that first
26:45
film, taking off her top and all those scenes. She was 19. Bless her heart.
26:51
Those are my favorite aliens. The ones that just No, but if the world gets taken over, if we get attacked by bust aliens.
26:58
Oh no. Oh no. Don't Don't attack me. I think the premise was is that she had a
27:05
stop as you put your hands behind your back. I can't takes no more. I think the premise of that film was like she was
27:11
had to procreate with a human and then she would kill you or something afterwards if if you didn't make her reach climax. I'm not sure. Something
27:17
like that. I don't remember the movie. I just know she took I know the movie.
27:22
Yeah. So he died at the age of 67. Cardiac arrest due to cardioopathy,
27:28
coronary artery disease and chronic alcoholism. So, rest in peace to Michael Master.
27:34
Great. I always enjoyed him. Sucks. That's too Yeah. 67's too young, man. Put down the bottle, folks. Put down the
27:41
bottle. It's going to It's poison. You're literally drinking poison, Jay. It's poison. I I know. Every every indication that it
27:49
is extremely toxic. Even a glass. Even Yeah, it's completely toxic. But
27:55
Mark Snow was a Giuliard train composer were renown for creating the iconic whistling theme and scoring over 200
28:01
episodes of the X-Files, becoming a pioneer in electronic television scoring after transitioning
28:08
from orchestral work in the 70s and 80s. His public career included memorable
28:13
music for series like Smallville, Ghost Whispers, Blue Bloods, Heart to Heart, and and TJ Hooker, earning him 15 Emmy
28:20
nominations, 30 ASCAP awards and honors from the Society of
28:25
Composers and Lyricists in the TV Academy. He died at the age of 78. His
28:31
death was a rare form of blood cancer. I even knew the name Mark Snow because I'm such an X-Files fan. So, I knew he did
28:36
that music. So, when I heard of his passing, I was like, "Oh, yeah, Mark Snow." The that theme is hard to beat. Once that theme kicks in, you know
28:42
you're in for an episode of XFiles. That is such a great show. Oh yeah. Boy. Um Jillian Anderson. Talk
28:48
about somebody who's aged like fine wine over the years. Yes. Malcolm Jamal Warner rose to fame as a
28:55
child actor playing Theodore Hexable. The only son on the groundbreaking sitcom The Cosby Show from 84 to 92.
29:03
Cosby didn't like competition. No, he only wanted one man on the set. Yeah. or he earned an Emmy nomination
29:09
and he became a beloved figure in television history. He later starred in sitcoms like Malcolm and Eddi recurred
29:16
on shows like The Resident 911 and alert Missing Persons Unit and pursued passions in directing poetry and music
29:22
including Grammy recognition. He died at the young age of 54 accidental drowning.
29:29
That's horrible. He got caught up in a rip current while swimming in Costa Rica. The rip
29:34
currents, they are unforgiving. They don't care. They'll suck you out, man. You have to have ultimate respect for
29:40
water wherever you are, whether it's a lake, a stream, the ocean. Yeah.
29:46
Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Aussie Osborne, dubbed the Prince of Darkness, pioneered heavy metal as the frontman of Black
29:52
Sabbath, delivering iconic albums and hits in the 70s before launching his successful solo career with tracks like
29:58
Crazy Train and earning multiple Grammys. He gained further fame through the groundbreaking MTV reality series
30:04
The Osbors with his family and performed an emotional farewell concert with Black Sabbath's original lineup just weeks
30:10
before his death. He died at the age of 76 in July, acute myocardial
30:16
infarction, heart attack, and out of hospital cardiac arrest with coronary
30:22
artery disease and Parkinson's disease all contributing factors. Azie Osborne
Ozzy Osbourne Legacy
30:28
J. Yeah. I mean, there there's fewer and fewer and fewer true lead
30:34
singers. Now we're one fewer less. Am I making any sense?
30:40
There's something about the lead singer. Like when you say the name, the front, you know, the front, Steven
30:47
Tyler, Jagger, Mc Jagger, there's How many are left that Yeah. How many can you name right now that
30:52
from the 40 and under club, let's say? you know, so he's one we're one less of
30:58
those type of people that um are just pioneers and icons. Yeah. His
31:03
contribution and to heavy metal to rock and roll to possibly future
31:10
frontmen, but we'll see. And he seemed like a good like an, you know, despite the the reputation or whatever, you got
31:18
to separate the character from the person sometimes and the role that he played. Well loved by everyone.
31:24
Yeah. I did you ever see him in concert? I saw the original Black Sabbath in
31:29
during their Black Sabbath tour. Oh, yeah, I did, too. Were we whatever it was? UBC.
31:35
It was Vancouver. The UBC uh Thunder, guess we went together. We went together.
31:42
That was 25 years ago. So, that was like uh Yeah. Slayer. Is that weird to think, Jay? He was 50.
31:47
He was our age of that show. Wow. See, that's Yeah. So, yeah. White
31:52
Zombie was there. Primus. Yeah, Rob Zombie Primus. The funny thing is I haven't seen it the
31:58
solo Aussie show, which I would have loved to see because I'm a huge fan of his soul work, but yeah, seeing the Black Sabbath show, seeing
32:04
that live, I mean, come on, that was pretty amazing. It was. So, and I also saw him as a solo
32:10
artist as well. Oh, cool. They would not have had that big uh show at the end of his life here if he wasn't
32:17
loved. No. And and respected. So, the fact that he made it a 76 is a
32:23
miracle. And to some degree, oh, the abuse that he put his body through was just unprecedented.
32:32
I think he says some sort of quote. I'm paraphrasing like it was during the Osborne part. So he's at this, you know, almost like he's again he's walking
32:38
around the Osborne show, that reality show at your age. He was your age in that show. What?
32:44
Yeah, that came out in 2000 or something. It was a long time ago. The Osource was 2000, 2001. Let's say at
32:50
least 20 years. Shuffling around. Yeah, he shuffled around. He was your age, Jay. But he
32:56
said, I think it was around that time he said that he takes more drugs now to stay alive than he took.
33:01
I've like 70 pills a day. Yeah, it was something. It was insane. It was only two days after this icon's
33:08
death, this icon died. Oh, yeah. Crazy. Yeah. Two days later, we were barely
Hulk Hogan Reflections
33:14
mourning Aussie when we had to start mourning the Hulkster. He was born Terry Jean Bolia. was a legendary professional
33:22
wrestler propelled WWE to global fame in the 80s with Hulkamania headlining eight Wrestlemania winning six WWE
33:28
championships and becoming a two-time Hall of Fame inductee he crossed over into the mainstream entertainment with
33:33
roles in films like Rocky 3 no holds barred TV appearances on the A team and the reality show himself had one Hogan
33:40
knows best solidifying his status as a popular culture icon he died Jason at the age of 71 caused a death heart
33:47
attack the controversial figure in many ways Anyways, um his outside of the ring
33:53
life is frustrating because as a child, I enjoyed him. I enjoyed his character. Uh there was a terrible thing he did
33:59
just before his dad. I mean, this is his ex-wife had this tearful plea on social media. I forget what it was about, but
34:05
she was crying like about her plight in life. And then Hogan and his young wife
34:10
at the time, new wife, were eating popcorn, mocking, laughing at the at the video kind of like like you know, eating
34:17
popcorn. This is what I mean, man. Like, dude, come on. You're supposed to be an example to the little hulsters and you
34:23
know, here you are mocking your ex-wife's whatever her drama is. You shouldn't be mocking it like publicly
34:29
anyways. You know what I mean? This is the problem with modernday social media. I mean, that's the social
34:36
media response. this back and forth pettiness that is on full display to be
34:42
honest on both sides airing your grievances or whatever you're whatever you're going through in such a public
34:48
way. You're going to get a public response. Yeah, it it was sad to see some of the behind thescenes stuff,
34:54
especially when he had to deal with his children and you see him come to like car accident scenes or whatever and he's
35:01
walking around with his gain and you just look at a a person who isn't happy
35:07
to see what his life turned out. It's conflicting. I mean, I I I appreciated the fact, you know, say your prayers,
35:14
eat your vitamins, eat your vitamins, go to school, do your homework. Yeah. Like those were great messages when we were growing up. But maybe it
35:20
gets to their heads, you know, a little bit. That's what mean his peers in the ring. A lot of lot of bats. It's like, man, with enough smoke, there's fire and then
35:28
saying inappropriate things, of course, about other races. And anyways, all that being said, but the childhood part of
35:34
Ryan, you know, we stayed up late watching Saturday night's main event. Oh, yeah.
35:39
We would go to bed and then our mom would wake us up so we could watch WW at
35:45
the time WWF wrestling. Saturday night's main event was midnight. It started midnight.
35:51
I mean, that was a lot of our childhood. I remember wrestling in the, you know, the school field at recess and lunch.
35:58
We'd all, you know, be different characters and so it was a big part of our growing up.
36:04
Mhm. I mean, rest in peace to Hulk. He gave us a lot of great memories for the entertainment field, but a complicated
36:10
outside the ring life for sure. Yeah. You know, he was loved by people at the same time, but we're all complicated humans to a certain degree, I guess.
36:16
Okay. That's basically the same thing. Uh Lonnie Anderson, of course, you and I watched WKRP in Cincinnati when we were
36:23
kids. It's funny. Lonnie Anderson was the blonde bombshell on that show, but if you go back and see the other, you
36:29
remember the Bernette that was on the show? I don't recall, dude. I'm going to have to see a picture. Okay, I'm going to show you really
36:35
quick. Okay, so it's just funny how when you're like when you're young, of course, we're just like little boys, right? Like, oh, the hot blonde woman.
36:40
Well, the brunette on the show, her name was Jan Smithers, who played Bailey
36:46
Quarters. She was way hotter. It's a black and white photo, but here's a picture of them together. I am partial to brunettes. Anyway, so um
36:53
I just remember like it's the same thing with Ginger and and Maryanne on Gilgens's Island. We all like Ginger
37:00
the sex pot. That's the design, but it's funny when you get older, you realize it was Marianne all along.
37:05
Yeah, I know. And same with Daphne and Velma. When we were kids, Daffany was the hot, you know, cheerleading girl. Then you get
37:12
older, it's Velma all along. Is it Why does that happen? Why do you realize it's actually VM all along? It's I think it's maturity.
37:18
The beauty was there the whole time. We missed it. So, here's a picture of what I'm talking about. The two actresses
37:23
that were in WKRP. You tell me objectively which one would you date? Oh, yeah. I know.
37:30
That's her. She was gorgeous. It's not even a question. The funny thing though is Ryan is I don't remember
37:36
the brunette, so I'm not sure how they presented the character. you know, Lonnie Anderson
37:42
obviously had, you know, the bigger paycheck. Oh, I think I know. I was gonna say I was like, you
37:49
know, the bigger prominent role. So, she was kind of force-fed to everybody. The brunette, she actually looks like, you
37:57
know, just the hairstyle every it looks modern even to today. Interesting. Here's a colorized picture of her on the
38:03
show. Oh, okay. I now I remember. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. If I was working at W KRP, man,
38:08
I'd be asking her out for sure. Back to Lonnie, rest in peace. She was the American actress best known for WKRP
38:15
from 78 to 82, earning two Emmy nominations and three Golden Globes nods
38:20
for her Golden Globe, I mean for her performances. She later reprised the character sequels, joined the cast of
38:26
Nurses, and appeared in films like a night of the Roxberry as well as guest boss in shows including Mel's Place and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Let's not
38:32
forget her wonderful marriage and lovely marriage to Bert Reynolds. They're both up in heaven together right now, renewing their vows, maybe. She died at
38:40
the age of 79. Uh, she had a rare aggressive form of cancer, which I can't pronounce. But
38:46
Terrence Stamp was a distinguished English actor whose career spanned six decades, earning a claim for his debut
38:52
in Billy Bud for an Oscar nomination, Art House Masterpieces, iconic villain, of course, General Zod and Superman and
38:58
Superman 2. He won best actor of the con for the collector. He collaborated with many big directors like Tim Burton. He
39:06
also had a late career performance in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Last Night in Soho in
39:12
2021. But more importantly for me, Ryan, the reason why I know him, not just because of Superman alone, because of his great role in my one of my favorite
39:18
westerns of all time, Young Guns, where he played John Tonsel, who was gunned down in front of his young prodigs in
39:25
the desert. And that's how those guys, the regulators reformed was because of his death. Jason Terrence Stamp died at
39:31
the age of 87. Yeah, obviously for me it would be the Superman would be my most lasting
39:38
impression though I am a Young Guns fan. Would I be able to point that out?
39:44
No. But I mean he is recognizable. Yeah. I mean I see it in my mind's eye him
39:50
getting gunned down right in Young Guns. But I would point to those characters on Superman. Brent
39:58
Hines was a co-founding league guitarist and vocalist of the progressive metal band Mastedon,
40:04
contributing distinctive riffs, melodic solos influenced by his banjo root, and shared vocal duties across eight studio
40:11
albums, including winning a Grammy for Sultan's Curse in 2018. After parting ways with the band in March 2025,
40:17
initially described as mutual but later disputed by hands as him being forced out, he continued with side projects
40:23
like Fiend Without a Face, West End Motel, Draft Tongue Orchestra, and Legend of the Seagleman. He died Jason
40:30
at the age of 51 due to multiple blunt force injuries from a motorcycle
40:36
collision due to excessive speed. Yeah, a tough one. Now you have a little
40:44
bit knowledge of these guys. My youngest son introduced me to Mastadon which is what he is known for.
40:52
I had not heard of them before that but upon listening to their music. It's amazing. They're an amazing band and
40:59
he's you know arguably the heart and soul of it. We went and saw them a couple years ago. My son and I were at
41:06
the front and center during the Macedon show right on the rail getting beat up
41:12
the whole time, but we held on for the whole set. And uh I've got some video of
41:17
him and his guitaring right in front of us. Uh so that's a a fond fond memory that I was able to share with my son.
41:24
His passing was quite hard on on him and we reminisced a little bit at the time
41:30
of his passing. Anyway, so I'll always be inter, you know, interconnected with Brent Hines and the band Mastadon.
41:37
All right, the time is recording. It's well, it's January 1st. This will be released fairly soon. I'm going to try to get this out sooner than later
41:42
anyways to tap into the new year. And tomorrow, I'm actually recording an episode of Mastadon with a new guest
41:48
host named Joe, who's the brother of Truck Randy, who's guested on a couple times on the show. He wanted to do Mastedon. I've never heard of them
41:54
before, never heard their music. So, I listened to Crack the Sky, the 2009 album for the first time. Totally into
41:59
it. So stay tuned for uh that episode coming out shortly this new year where I
42:06
break down Macedon with Joe and share my feelings as a first-time listener of that album. I'll share my thoughts. I'll
42:11
save it for the show, but thank you for sharing yours. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Graeme Green was a trailblazing Canadian
42:18
first nations actor who earned a Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Lakota Medicine Man Kicking Bird in
42:25
Dances Wolves becoming a pioneer for indigenous representation in Hollywood. With a prolific career spanning over 150
42:32
credits, he delivered memorable performances in the Green Mile, Maverick, Wind River. He was in the series Last of Us, Reservation Dogs, and
42:38
Echo while also supporting indigenous theater education in Toronto. He died at the age of 73. natural causes falling a
42:46
long illness, but the details were not specified. So, there you go. Rest in peace to the great Graeme Green Graham, fellow Canadian Jay.
42:52
I know him from Dancing with Wolves. Yeah, of course. Yeah, mostly. I mean, I recognize his face
42:58
throughout the years, but it's mostly Dances with Wolves. I'd love to watch that movie again. It's been decades
43:04
probably since I've seen it. It'd be interesting to see how it stands up over over time, but I suspect
43:10
it would be interesting. I I suspect I'd appreciate it even more as an adult.
43:15
Oh, okay. The cinematography, the way that they make movies differently back then to
43:21
today. I appreciate a little bit of a longer slow burn in a movie than all the
43:26
CGI. Yeah. So, I think I would even appreciate it more. I loved it back when I had seen it. We saw it in the theater.
43:33
I may have seen it once or twice outside of the theater, you know, throughout the years, but it's been decades. That's
43:39
kind of why I'm a big fan of westerns Jay in general because yes the genre forces you very rare. I mean you might
43:46
use CGI for a a backdrop so to speak a um but even then they're very careful
43:51
with it and I that's what I like about westerns in general. anything that's old west 1800 type just you you're kind of
43:57
forcing your hands no magic there's yeah there's no magic there's no CGI trickery no flying people like it's
44:04
just people on horses talking and whatever it is gunfights and uh the drama is the
44:09
human relations so westerns to me always have that you got to you got to tell a story to make it a western fun or else what do you have right just tumble weed
44:17
so that's why I'm a big fan of westerns I think because it's just it forces the hand in a good way to tell a story Charlie Kirk Charlie Kirk found Turning
44:24
Point USA at the age of 18, building into a major conservative youth organization that mobilized young voters
44:31
for Donald Trump through campus debates, the viral Prove Me Wrong Tables, and largecale rallies. A prominent media
44:38
personality and staunch Trump ally at the time, he hosted a popular podcast, appeared frequently on Fox News, and
44:43
became a leading voice in the mega movement until his assassination Jason during a campus event. The date of his
44:49
death, Jay, was September 30th. I think he's clocking at the youngest this year. 31. Cause of death, Jason. Nothing else
44:56
to investigate here. Single gunshot wound to the neck. That's it. Nothing else to see here. Case closed. Case closed. Nothing else to
45:02
investigate. It was one lone angry person, student who got offended by some transgend gender questions. Load up the
45:09
weapon, made little carvings on the bullets to make his point and all that good stuff. So, Jason, any thoughts on
45:14
Charlie Kirk before we move on? I really don't. I mean, I knew him peripherally. I saw way more of him
45:21
after his let's just call what it is an assassination. Yeah, it's an unfortunate obviously. I
45:28
mean there's not really much more to say. Yeah, it's Yeah, there's not much more. No, of course. I mean, what are we going
45:34
to say that someone else doesn't already think or have investigated themselves? Of course, this was a huge topic. When we did our Google search episode, of
45:40
course, recently, this was huge on right not rightfully so, but understandably so.
45:46
And in many ways, it still is. It's not going away for a while. Yeah. No. Robert Redford, big name, was a
45:52
charismatic American actor and filmmaker whose iconic roles in classics like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The
45:58
Sting, All the Presence Men, and The Three Days of the Condor define new Hollywood, earning him an Oscar
Robert Redford & More
46:03
nomination and lasting stardom. He won best director for his debut film, Ordinary People. Founded the Sundance
46:10
Institute and Film Festival to champion independent cinema and remained an influential environmental activist
46:15
throughout his life. died Jason September at the ripe old age of 89 died
46:20
peacefully in his sleep now that is the way to go that is the way to go look at that young Brad Pitt there I mean Robert
46:26
Redford there doesn't he look like a Brad Pitt with red hair a little bit I see what you're saying there there is
46:31
no cloning central casting cloning do you think that we haven't done that actual cloning
46:38
conspiracy theory episode have we that'd be a fun one to cover remember folks when we cover conspiracy theories we don't say we subscribe
46:45
well you acknowledge that they're that they're out there, that they exist. Yeah. When you do a true crime episode, you're not
46:50
advocating murder, but you're saying this thing happened. This is what happened. Same with conspiracy theories. They exist and this is why they say they
46:57
exist. Okay. I enjoyed him as an actor and director. I thought he's great. I've always enjoyed him. And I think if I was
47:02
younger during those days, I would have been a big fan of his the same way I'm kind of like that's why I mentioned Brad Pitt. I'm a huge Brad Pitt fan. I think
47:08
I would have been the same growing up with Redford. Jane Goodall J was a pioneering British primatologist whose
47:14
groundbreaking observations of chimpanzees in the Tan Tanzania's Gambe
47:20
Stream National Park starting in 1960 revolutionized understanding of primate behavior revealing tool use meat eating
47:27
hunting and complex social structures including warfare and cannibalism. A tireless conservationist and advocate,
47:33
she founded the Jane Goodall Institute, opposed animal testing and climate change impacts on wildlife, promoted
47:39
plant-based diets through works like her 2021 vegan cookbook, authored over two dozen books, inspired global audiences
47:45
via documentaries and cultural references. She died of the she just died of a cardiac arrest at 91. Jane Goodall, lovely photo over here. This is
47:51
1965, so she was probably uh this was 60 years ago, so she was 31, that photo
47:57
there. Yeah, 31, eh? Oh, she's pretty. She's very pretty. Don't know her that
48:03
well, but that's a name I did know. So, again, when the the names were announced, I knew exactly when we were kids, right? Like even when
48:08
I was a kid, I knew of her and her work. That's pretty amazing to kind of dedicate your whole life to a thing.
48:14
I've seen the same thing like her passion, right? She found a passion, was able to create a a career around that.
48:22
That's rare to do. It's a rare rare accomplishment. Yeah. I've done nothing with my life.
48:28
That's what I've learned. Diane Katon was an acclaimed American actress who rose to fame with her Oscar winning role
48:33
in Woody Allen's Annie Hall, cementing her as a fashion icon while delivering memorable performances as K. Coralone in
48:41
the old three Godfather films and starring in hits like The First Wise Club, Something's Got to Give and multiple collaborations with Nancy
48:46
Meyers. Beyond acting though, she directed projects of her own, authored bestselling memoirs, including the book Then Again, and pursued passions of
48:52
photography, singing, and real estate renovation throughout her prolific career. She died Jason in 79 from
48:59
pneumonia. I always enjoyed her. I've seen her many like I think I've seen most movies. Of course, The Godfather.
49:04
She was great. Very talented actress. Never never rubbed me the wrong way. No.
49:09
Or the right way. Uh but she was a I mean she was just one of those actresses when she's in a film like oh we're going
49:15
to get good acting from Diane. Yeah. Very good at her job. I've got nothing really to add. I mean
49:21
she's just a name that's been there since forever. Yeah. You know who she was. is the fact when you heard she passed away like you
49:27
knew right away who it was. Yeah. Yeah. And that kind of ties into the next one. Jay Ace Freely, born Paul Daniel Freely,
49:32
was a founding member and original league guitarist of Kiss, adopting the iconic spaceman persona with pyrochnic guitars and contributing
49:40
songs of vocals like shock me across the band's early albums. After leaving in ' 82, he enjoyed solo success with his
49:47
1978 platinum album featuring the hit New York Groove. He rejoined for the 96
49:52
reunion and psycho circus album and continued releasing solo work into the 2020s. Ji died in October at the age of
49:59
74. His cause of death, Jason, was blunt force injuries to the head, including skull fractures, subdural hematoma,
50:07
brain bleed, and stroke due to an accidental fall. Oh, 74. He just tripped on something.
50:12
Yeah. Hit his head on something. Could have suffered a stroke and then fell. Who knows?
50:18
Who knows? Regardless, that sounds tragic. And was he alone?
50:24
I don't know. You found him that way. Yeah. The Jean Simmons question. Yeah. Kiss has been a part of our my
50:32
whole life. He would be a big reason why it is. Yeah. When you heard of his passing, you knew exactly who he was. We weren't Kiss
50:38
fans. But I'll say this on this podcast, The Worst of the Best Podcast, uh, with two different co-hosts. I've actually
50:43
done two Kiss albums for review and I legitimately joined them. I did Love Gun and Destroyer and they were good albums.
50:50
They're just good rock and roll albums. This is good rock and roll. I was actually surprised. Some of their early stuff was just good, decent. This is the
50:57
pre-reveal makeup days when they were still in the makeup era at the beginning of their career with all four original members. It was good stuff. I could see
51:03
I could objectively see why they were popular. They combined the imagery, the theatrics
51:09
with solid music. Would they have been as big without the theatrics? I don't
51:14
know. I don't know. And no, I think is the answer. I think that's the answer. I think it was marketing genius.
51:21
We all That's Jean Simmons. Combined with Yeah. Combined with reasonably solid music.
51:27
Yeah. And Ace Freelia is actually a good guitarist, too. So, yes. Yeah. Everybody would will say that
51:33
he's a huge influence on many modern-day guitarists. Yeah. Abs. Oh, yeah. His name comes up
51:38
all the time. All the time. Well, you know who's not a influence on a lot of guitars, Jay, is Dick Cheney.
51:44
Uh he was a powerful and polarizing Republican figure who rose from Gerald Ford's chief of staff to Wyoming
51:50
congressman then served as secretary of defense under George HW Bush overseeing
51:55
the Persian Gulf War as vice president under George W. Bush from 01 to09. He
52:00
wielded a significant influence on foreign policy, national security and the response to 911 becoming the subject
52:06
as well Jason of the Oscar winning 2018 biopic Vice starring Christian Bale playing set character or person. He died
52:13
Jay November at the age of 84. Heart failure. Yeah.
52:20
I I don't know a ton. Didn't he shoot about American polit politics? Yeah. You
52:26
shot a a friend while hunting. How do you do that? By shooting your gun with your
52:32
somebody's in front of you. Is that from the uh the school of Alec Baldwin? Weapon handling.
52:37
His name has been around forever. 911 cements it. Yeah. Interesting that his construction
52:43
company, Hallebertton, had a big coincidental contracts air quote
52:48
rebuilding Iraq. Good for him. All about board, I'm sure. So, good. Yeah. Okay. Jay, uh, Cleto Escabedo III. He
52:57
was the longtime band leader and saxoponist for the Jimmy Kim live show where he founded and led that band Cleto
53:04
and the Cleones in '95 onward playing alto tener and soprano saxopones while occasionally providing vocals alongside
53:10
band members including his own father Cleto Escobato Senior. Uh beyond the late show the group tour to perform with
53:15
artists such as Paul Abdul, Mark Anthony and Philip Bailey of Earthwind and Fire Jay he died at the age of 59 due to a
53:21
heart attack. childhood friend of Jimmy Kimmel, band leader of his show, died at the age of 59 in November of a heart
53:27
attack. Yeah, I was too young. I did not realize they were friends.
53:32
Oh, wow. Okay, so you know, used to be a fan of Jimmy's not so much anymore. His shtick is getting boring and long in the
53:39
tooth. Um I miss the the man show. Yeah, the manual. Yeah, him. Yeah, I
53:44
kind of miss that Jimmy where it was just kind of fun is that I feel bad for
53:50
Jimmy for losing a childhood friend. Regardless of how I feel about Jimmy now. I I you know there's a human
53:56
connection there that that I feel bad that he's lost. This is a name I knew when I heard of his past. I thought, whoa, that's
54:02
because I watched the first. I'm surprised cuz he's so young. Yeah, he's young. 59. Heart attack. It's
54:09
probably I don't want to guess, but I probably not the healthiest living. I was suspected of his heart attack at 59. So
54:14
yeah, J. You've heard of Rob Reiner. He gained famed as Michael Meathead Stivic on the groundbreaking sitcom All the Family
54:21
before becoming an acclaimed director of beloved classics including This is Spinal Tap, Standby Me, The Princess
54:26
Bride when Harry Met Sally, Misery, and a Few Good Men and many more. He and his wife Michelle Singer Riner were found
54:32
stabbed to death in their Brentwood home in a double homicide with their son Nick Riner charged with two counts of
54:38
first-degree murder December 14th age of 78 with his wife horrific absolutely
54:45
horrific murdered by your own child Robinj any thoughts on his career? I could well his career what's crazy is um
54:54
Spinal Tap the mockumentary was his first debut right out of the cannon so to speak
55:00
and then of course my my favorite of all the things that he's done is Princess Bride I mean that's such a classic it
55:07
never gets old it's so well done then of course his other pieces of work
55:12
but uh what a what a tragic way to die I mean you you bring in a child You love
55:20
the child. You support the child. You are by that child's side. We know that
55:25
that guy from all accounts had mental illness and drug addition addiction issues. He still stood by him. It it
55:32
appears by all accounts and then you are taken out by that person that you
55:39
brought into the world and tried your best to help. It's weird. It's unfortunate. Weird. Yeah.
55:44
All right. Recipes to Rob. Of course, I have I've loved a lot those movies I've loved from one of my one of my favorite
55:50
films of all time is if you can. Tom Cruz's performance in that movie is amazing. Princess Bride is one I've shown all my kids all the various ages
55:56
they've been in. Uh Stand by Me is one I showed them too. They love that one. It's a great movie. Yeah. I mean, and
56:02
Miseries, that freaking ankle breaking scene is one of the hardest things to watch in movie history. I can't handle
56:07
it. Once that board gets put between James Con's feet, I look I look away. I look away, too,
56:12
man. I think I saw in the theater happen cuz I wasn't too sure what was going on. Then ever since No. Stop. What do you
56:18
As soon as she grabbed that sledgehammer, I should have known. No, there's no way. Well, I didn't think they were going to
56:23
show it. I think I thought it was going to be offcreen. But that's probably why I kept watching because I didn't think
56:28
they would show it because this came out 1990 or something. So, I'm thinking, "Oh, they're not going to show it. The ankle snap backwards." What?
56:36
All right. Uh, now Jay, we got one last December 28th, the lovely Bridget
56:42
Bardaux. Look at her. lovely woman rose to international fame as a French actress and sex symbol in the 50s and
56:48
60s starring iconic films and God created woman and contempt where her sensual and liberated portrayals
56:54
redefined female sexuality on screen. After retiring from acting in 73 however at the age of 39 she dedicated her life
57:00
to animal rights activism founding the Burg Bau Foundation and campaigning against issues like seal hunting and
57:06
animal cruelty. In her later years, however, Jay, she became a controversial figure due to outspoken political views,
57:12
including criticism of immigration, the Meat Too movement, and multiple convictions she was charged with for
57:18
inciting racial hatred. She died at the age of 91. The cause of death was not publicly disclosed, but again, at the
57:24
age of 91. Again, a name I knew when I heard of her past, I knew who she was. This is, you know, you hear she's like a
57:31
Marilyn Maro type figure or uh she did face a little bit of controversy in her later years, but Okay. So there you go
57:37
folks, there's the list from 2025 of the most important people in our world. These are the only people that matter.
57:43
So let's go through this list again for reminder. Mike Riner, David Lynch, Bob Uker, Michelle Trackenberg, Gene
57:48
Hackman, George Foreman, Bel Kilmer, Ted Cochev, Pope Francis, George Went, Brian Wilson, Jimmy Swagger, Michael Madson,
57:55
Mark Snow, Michael Jamal Warner, Aussie Osborne, Hulk Hogan, Lonnie Anderson, Terrence Stamp, Brent Hines, Graeme
58:01
Green, Charlie Kirk, Robert Redford, Jane Goodall, Dian Katon, Ace Freely, Dick Cheney, Cleto, Escobatoto II, Rob
58:10
Reiner, and Bridgetette Berdau. Jason, who was the worst for you to pass? I'm
Most Impactful Deaths
58:15
gonna have to say Bren Hines first. His age. Yeah. 51. Right. 51. He's young. Obviously tragic.
58:22
Maybe if he was being reckless on the motorcycle, which it sounds like he may have been. I feel like him being kicked out of his
58:29
band. I didn't know that part actually. I Okay. I thought he was still in the band. It was kind of fairly recent. And so
58:37
maybe the turmoil in his heart and mind regarding that experience. There's not
58:42
closure. my interaction with him uh with my son. That's a memory that will never
58:50
fade that I had with him and it was a great time and a great memory and I know
58:56
it impacted him as well. For that reason, it had maybe the biggest impact on me and impression on me.
59:03
That's great. That's I love those reasons. Fantastic. And I think it's pretty obvious what mine is. I will say
59:09
runner up was Vel Kilmore cuz I love Tombstone and I love Willow. Those are
59:14
my two favorite. Val Kilmer is always a great actor. I always enjoyed him but he was never an actor that I ran to see
59:19
because so this is key like I got to see a Val Kilmer film but I seem to see a lot of his films cuz he just picked good
59:25
projects and I happened to watch the good projects that he was in but I didn't necessarily see it because of
59:31
him. There's only a few actors I do that for today. But that being said, I love him. rest in peace. And I'm glad he found peace after
59:36
a long bout of health issues. But I I think it would be remiss if one of us didn't obviously pick Aussie Osborne.
59:41
Yeah. And he was second. Yeah. I figured as much. So I'll speak probably for both of us regarding his
59:47
passing. It's just the difference between I guess Val and and I also say third runner up maybe was Hulk just
59:53
because my childhood memories were so pure and so nice to remember like before I knew of any drama behind the scenes
59:59
stuff. Childhood Ryan would have been crushed by the death, right? But adult Ryan is kind of like it's tarnished too
1:00:05
much. Uh but with Aussie, he was just such a sweet soul. He had his own demons, but those demons didn't make him a bad person. He was well loved and I
1:00:13
just loved his music. That's the other thing. It's like his music continues today. I put it in. You just you just
1:00:18
love to see him live to hear those songs. Black Sabbath, of course, this is stuff that's just going to last forever.
1:00:23
Music touches the soul in a different way than an actor does. And music is a really powerful emotion. So yeah, we
1:00:29
both picked musicians today and that stands out to reason why, right? Music has a very powerful bonding that it's
1:00:34
hard to beat musicians. I think a lot of these lists that we've done has been musicians almost seem to win out because there's a special
1:00:40
emotal. Yeah, they're more of emotional intangible. If Brent Hines wasn't on
1:00:45
this list, it would be Azie, but I'm not surprised that Aussie passed. I'm more
1:00:51
surprised that he lasted as long as he did. Um, we all knew it was coming. It's been coming for years. His impact is
1:00:58
what it is, but just on an emotional level in my experience that I had with
1:01:04
my son at their concert and the impact that it had, I have to grant.
1:01:09
Okay, another fun episode. Jay, I really enjoyed doing this with you. Of course, I'm really looking forward to who we're
Final Thoughts
1:01:16
going to miss next year. I get excited when January first hits. I'm like, who's the first one? There's always one that's
1:01:21
kind of popped the bubble for the year. It's always kind of exciting like there's celebrities, right? There's
1:01:26
celebrities right now. I have no idea. It's third year. It's coming. It's coming, folks. It's coming for you. So, I always think each year is like, well,
1:01:33
who's going to be this year? It's going to be boring, you know, but 2025 gave us some big names. And I'm really excited for 2026. Jay, thank you so much for
1:01:40
everyone who supports the show. We appreciate your support. Remember, in front of every silver lining, there's a cloud. And today, for Ryan, it was
1:01:46
Aussie Osborne. And for Jason, it was Brian Hines. Heat. Heat.