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Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser Interview: Dutton Ranch Season 1 Finale and Season 2

By
Rebecca Murray
-
Dutton Ranch Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly
Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler and Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton in ‘Dutton Ranch’ (Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+)

Paramount+ hosted a Zoom interview with Dutton Ranch stars Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser on the eve of the release of the first season’s finale. The Yellowstone spinoff focuses on fan favorite characters Beth and Rip, and the new series moves the action from Montana to Texas.

In season one, Beth and Rip bought an established ranch in Rio Paloma and renamed it Dutton Ranch. Even though they’re in a new state and a new ranch, Beth and Rip still haven’t found a way to live peacefully. Dealings with the 10-Petal Ranch, run by Beulah Jackson (Annette Bening) and her sons Rob-Will (Jai Courtney) and Joaquin (Juan Pablo Raba), have put Beth and Rip smack dab in the middle of a new war, this time one that crosses the border into Mexico.

The following are highlights from the lengthy press conference with Reilly and Hauser, who’ve now spent six seasons as Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler. (There are a few spoilers ahead so make sure you’ve watched the finale before reading any further.)

On having to find their feet again at the start of Dutton Ranch season one:

Kelly Reilly: I think a new endeavor, a new show—it’s almost like by the time we were in the last few seasons of Yellowstone, I mean, we were on our feet; we knew what this was. We knew where we were going. We had an audience that [was] with us. And there was a sense of a ship that we knew how to sail. And this one, it was a brand-new endeavor that felt as every new creative endeavor should feel. Challenging and exciting, but challenging. So, there was definitely a sense of finding new feet for all of us.  And it’s like, how do you maintain the soul of something while also wanting to explore new parts of characters? 

[…] And we were starting a new terrain. So, it was definitely daunting. Way more daunting than Yellowstone was. It was very similar to the beginning of Yellowstone, the first season of Yellowstone. That’s the closest thing I can relate it to, I think. 

Cole Hauser: Yeah, I mean, just to piggyback off what she said, for me, you know, I think what was the most comforting is having Kelly and Christina Voros. You can take all three of us and put us on the moon, which is what it felt like when we got to Texas. We’re so used to Montana at this point. It’s such a character in our show and has become so much ensouled in these characters. And so, to bring them out of that place and to literally burn it down to the ground and start fresh is something that both Kelly and I, and Christina as well, and everybody, the whole cast, we just developed as best we could. And, in many respects, the show kind of imitates the characters and what’s going on truly with them. 

So that was a real pleasure. The other thing I would say that was wonderful is, you know, as much as this is a new show, Kelly and I have the ability as actor and actresses to look at each other and be able to really navigate together, which is kinda what Beth and Rip are doing throughout this process. And that to me was always very comforting. So, it was a new beginning, but in many respects, we got an opportunity to continue to build these characters that we love. 

Dutton Ranch Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly
Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler and Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton in ‘Dutton Ranch’ episode 9 (Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+)

On their characters’ evolution in this new environment:

Kelly Reilly: Well, for me, this went back to the fire at the beginning. I mean, literally that is figuratively the end of Yellowstone. It’s like it’s letting everyone know that we’re starting again. She says, “We’ll start again.” And out of the ashes, out of loss, is new life. 

And so, for me, I wanted Beth to wonder for a minute what does that look like.  She’s lost her father. She’s lost her reason for living, which was to fight for him, to preserve a legacy, to preserve a land. And now all of that is gone. Who is she? What sort of woman is she beyond that? And it was something I was always curious to leaning into playing. Who is she beyond the ranch and beyond her father?

Now she is a wife and mother figure, and she’s moving into matriarch. And that excited me. I knew the Beth of wild days. We all know her very well, and that hasn’t gone anywhere. But I was interested in finding the adult woman in there that could, you know, align with her husband in making a new life for themselves. And what do they want? So that’s where I was moving into.

And also, not having Taylor Sheridan’s words. You know, Beth was his, and I had to take her on as myself. It was like passing on the baton, really. And so with that, there’s losses, and there’s also things that I could get to explore that maybe he didn’t have much interest in exploring. So, you know, it’s a brand-new creative endeavor, and there’s something just so beautiful about that for us, yeah. 

Cole Hauser: You know, it’s interesting because he’s such a pillar of a man, you know? He’s so consistent in who he is. And I think, you know, the way we started Dutton Ranch, it just gets spun on its heels immediately. And it’s about trying to adapt to a new environment. Trying to cowboy, deal with the Hispanic culture in Texas, and be able to try to get along with them, their language, their land, you know? So being able to go and cowboy down there was just a feat in itself.

[Laughing] I mean, we talked about it a lot the last couple months, but it’s the heat down there. I mean, it’s just different. Everything’s different. You know, becoming a father figure in a way for the first time. And really, that responsibility … there’s always this great strength and kind of beautiful love between Beth and Rip, but they’re challenged. 

I mean, it’s a new world for me, a new way of trying to get along. And by the way, they’re not at the top anymore. They’re at the bottom. And that to me, again, it’s such an honor to play a character for so long and then get to a place where it’s like, “Let’s burn it all to the ground, and let’s start fresh, and let’s get after it. And let’s challenge these characters at the highest level.”

And I feel like if we can continue to do that into the second season, we’ll be—well, hopefully be—successful. 

Kelly Reilly: It felt the most authentic thing to do, actually, Cole. You know, I don’t think we were aware that that’s what we were doing, is like there was something bold and brave about going, you know?

Cole Hauser: Bravery. 

Kelly Reilly: Yeah. There was something about that that just went, that’s the only way we could start this, was we were gonna just wipe the slate clean and hope that in our own DNA, in our own mind of the characters that were in our body that live in our soul, that they’re there, and we’ve got one another. 

Cole Hauser: But that was a real reality too. That was an energy. I mean, that’s something that we live through and put on camera together. And looking back at it, I’m sure years from now, Kelly and I will be sitting hopefully on an island laughing about all the struggles and the ups and downs and the beauty of it too, you know? You can’t forget that, you know? Sometimes it’s the lowest part. As long as you have somebody special like Kelly there to kinda lift you up and just go, “Let’s keep f**king powering forward.” [Laughing] You know what I mean?  And that’s what we did together. It was a two-way street. 

On Mariano being revealed as the big season one villain:

Cole Hauser: There was always someone lurking, I would say. But I think what’s really good about the show and the way that it was laid out is that we’re learning with the audience versus they’re ahead of, meaning Beth and Ripper, anybody. And then, so, I like to call it walking the dog, and I think they did a great job. And we as creatives, all of us, did a great job of making sure that we kind of left people on the edge of their seat each and every ending of the episode, to watch with us and go through what our journey is.

And so, it starts with Ed [Harris] and the initial meeting that they have, which is fabulous. And then, you know, that brings us to Beulah. So the dots start to connect, and that’s something that I think, ultimately, the editor did a very good job of doing. So, I’m proud of that. But, you know, Mariano, there was something lurking towards the end where Beth and Rip are starting to sniff out this other world that might exist behind Beulah.

Kelly Reilly: But you don’t really see Beth on the back foot in any of Yellowstone, which enables her to maybe, you know, in this moment of just trying to just live a quiet, simple life that she dreams of with her family, be left alone, honestly, I think is what her dream is. Not to own a piece of land that everybody wants to take chunks out of. She doesn’t want to fight. But there’s that essence of like, well, if she has to, she’s gonna. 

And so, building up to that in the last episode of what it is that could be taken from her, that she’s willing to go back into warrior mode, it was fun for me to kind of remember that that was still there. And actually, that is, such an engine in her.

Cole Hauser: They’re so offensive characters, you know, throughout the seasons when it comes to Yellowstone. But to see them, like Kelly alluded to, on their back foot and playing a little bit of defense and trying to figure which way to run the ball … you know what I mean?

Kelly Reilly: Yes.

Cole Hauser: And I think that is what’s really interesting about season one of Dutton Ranch. And I think that that has to continue into season two, of course.

Dutton Ranch Season 1 Finale Recap Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser
Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton and Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler in ‘Dutton Ranch’ season 1 (Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+)

On the secret of Rip and Beth’s relationship:

Kelly Reilly: They’re each other’s only love. They loved each other when they were 15. They’ve never loved another person. They’ve never, you know, been romantic with another person. Like, they are each other’s other half. And so, in a strange way, it almost feels it’s a love story, like, out of another time and there’s a romance about them. And there is a “I’ve got your back,” and like I said, this mirror image of either, like, he is one side of the coin and she is the other.

And Cole and I love one another, you know. And we were given [five] seasons of Yellowstone written by Taylor Sheridan, and he loved writing for Beth and Rip. And he created such a love story from these fierce characters. But when they’re with one another, you get to see their heart. So, that was the gift, and we’re just trying to protect it now and expand on it. And who are they now as the adults, the patriarch, the matriarch of their world together? We know what they’re capable of together and individually, and we’ve just got to remember that sweetness.

She’s so vulnerable with him and he’s vulnerable with her. And I think people love to see that.

Cole Hauser: Yeah, I can’t put it any better, to be honest. I mean, the only thing I would say is that there’s this really beautiful thing that I always tell myself. It’s just love, honor, and friendship—if you can have those three things. And I think that they have always done that for each other. They’ve always been there for each other in that way, and it’s such a beautiful simplicity with a lot of complex things going on around them.

(Showbiz Junkies’ question:) Do you see a future for Beth and Rip where they don’t have to constantly fight outside forces just to survive?

Cole Hauser: God, that’s a great question. [Laughing] I would say yes and no. I think that we’ve talked about it a lot, Kelly and I; trouble seems to find them and it’s what creates great television and great drama. I think, ultimately, you want to be able to show many colors. And I think by doing that you have to have some kind of drama.

I think the endgame, one day, I mean, we’ve talked about this as well, is they get back to Montana. But there’s gonna be a whirlwind of shit before we do that, I think. So, I think that, to me, is sitting on a porch, the two of us, one day in this beautiful place that we love so much. But I’m looking forward to the struggle over the next few years to build an empire, to get what we want. And it doesn’t have to be this legacy, you know, this ranch. It could be a lot of different things that make them happy. And it could be, again, the simplicity of life too.

Kelly Reilly: And something they get to pass on to Carter.

Cole Hauser: Exactly.

Kelly Reilly: Like, as you get older, you start to think about what you’re gonna leave behind. And, you know, they’re starting to think about things that are different.

Cole Hauser: Yeah, they’re not spring chickens.

Kelly Reilly: Yeah, exactly.

Cole Hauser: They can’t fight forever, you know.

Kelly Reilly: That’s the other thing. Like, you know, with Beth and Rip getting older, not old but, like, older in the middle of their lives. And so are Cole and I. So, there is a whole new other playground.

Cole Hauser: Maybe grandchildren?

Kelly Reilly: Maybe. Oh, my God, Grandma Beth. [Laughing] Watch out!

Cole Hauser: [Laughing] I would love to see that one.

On playing Beth’s fiercely destructive and deeply vulnerable sides:

Kelly Reilly: You know, I enjoy polarities and complexities and conundrums in people in my life, and I really enjoy them in writing and great characters. I think kind of not letting her lean into caricature is really important to me. I think it would have been an easy thing to do. So, to try and just keep approaching the work with a level of seriousness and truthful intention, integrity. I think that I could then, you know, allow myself to just trust that if the writing is good, I could hit that ceiling and then go further, and then I’d bring it back down again. So, it has to be what is it when she is that fiercely destructive or fiercely protective. It has to mean something. It has to be for a reason.

It’s not just this sort of random, crazy character. It is usually because she feels like she’s fighting a war, and that’s certainly how she felt in [five] seasons of Yellowstone, to play her. So, now, putting the weapons down for a minute, it’s a moment of reflection and what do I want. What does she want? What makes her happy? And, honestly, the truth is him. Him and Carter and their little bit of land and making a go of it and having their farm-to-table. It’s just truly simplicity and moments of happiness. 

But yeah. I’m not afraid of holding different aspects of a character in her. I think that’s what makes her really interesting to play.

Dutton Ranch Episode 6 Kelly Reilly and Annette Bening
Kelly Reilly and Annette Bening in ‘Dutton Ranch’ episode 6 (Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+)

On welcoming Annette Bening to the Yellowstone universe:

Kelly Reilly: She’s a powerhouse, a force. One of the most beautiful actresses I’ve ever gotten to work with. Such a kind, fun, warm person. I think Cole and I really lucked out with having some heavyweights come join us in our little spin-off show. They made it legit, quite honestly. And her and Ed Harris, you know, especially going into a season two, it’s the four of us. We share our show with them and we’re in their world.

Annette Bening is so playful. She is constantly just coming up with new things. She’s an acting animal in the best way possible and you gotta be on your toes. You gotta be prepared and ready, and it’s exciting and thrilling. In my very first scene with her, I was nervous and I fluffed my lines and my first take. And I was like, “Aw, man, I’ve dropped the ball.” You know, I need to hold my own. But she was nervous too. So, once we’d gotten the first few takes out of the way, we went at it and it was like, “I can’t wait to work with her again.”

(Moderator:  And then, at the end of the season, of course, you’re staring down the crosshairs of a shotgun pointed in her direction.)

Kelly Reilly: But did you see how she walks off? She didn’t care. She did it with such class.

You know, when Beth’s like the opposite of Rip’s warrior spirit of going calm, Beth gets the teeth out, right? She’s like a f**king badger. She’ll take your throat out. And I love that fire of Beth, obviously, and when it comes out. But for Beulah to just walk up and she just sort of shakes her hair and she walks past me as if it doesn’t bother her at all, I just thought was perfect.

On what they hope’s in store for season two:

Cole Hauser: Well, we have some work to do, you know. And I think we all know what that is. I mean, getting our child back is key in the beginning. But, you know, I’m really excited about this new kind of adventure with Ben [Cavell, the new showrunner]. You know, I love what Chad [Feehan] did and he brought a different kind of game to this year. And certainly, with Ben, I’m looking forward to getting to know him—for him getting to know me, the character. To spend some time with him and really just pick his brain and not come in with any ideas of what I want. I want to hear what he thinks.

And we’ve had an amazing conversation, Kelly and I, with him. And he’s a lovely human being. I have friends that have worked with him for six, seven years at a time for S.E.A.L Team, Neil Brown. So, I got to know a little bit of how he communicates, how he works. And it’s just gonna be refreshing for Kelly and I, I hope. And, again, I look forward to it, and I don’t want to put any preconceived notions of what I want. I want him to be able to speak his truth, his mind, and go from there.

Kelly Reilly: I think Cole and I both have a competitive spirit. We want to deliver real high-quality entertainment. I think a season two, it’s almost like, “Right now, let’s go.” Now we’ve done the hard job of season one of beginning it and getting through that sort of birth moment of the show. Now, we can really get in there and get into some character work. That’s what I’m interested in, like getting back to the characters and exploring something and blowing it up even more. And let’s make it even better.

And I think we’ve all got some ideas about how we want to do that, because of the passion we have for the show and what it could be and what it means to us. This is not just a job. We really have cared about it, and why would we stop now? So, it’s a privilege and it’s exciting. And so, yeah, season two? Can’t wait.

Season 1 Recaps

Dutton Ranch Season 1 Finale Recap: “El Padrino” Ends in Violence and a Shocking Cliffhanger

By
Rebecca Murray
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Dutton Ranch Season 1 Finale Recap Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser
Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton and Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler in ‘Dutton Ranch’ season 1 (Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+)

The season one finale of Paramount+’s Dutton Ranch opens with Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Rip (Cole Hauser) supervising the unloading of 10-Petal cattle at Dutton Ranch. They suspect the cows are being used as drug mules and realize they’ll have to tell Everett what’s going on to verify their suspicions.

(The following is a recap of season one, episode nine – “El Padrino” – and there are spoilers.)

Rob-Will (Jai Courtney) drives up in a hurry and tries to fire Rip and Beth while making the huge mistake of calling Beth a bitch. Rip punches him in the face and warns him they can do it the easy or hard way. Rob-Will chooses the hard way, unaware of who he’s going up against.

The cowboys suggest that Rob-Will stay down but he doesn’t and receives another furious round of blows. Once Rip’s got his foot on Rob-Will’s chest, Beth nonchalantly walks over with Rob-Will’s ledger. Rip asks if he’s running drugs and Beth warns him that if they find what they expect to find, he’s a dead man.

Rip orders Austin (Sterlin English) to take off so Rob-Will doesn’t go after him. He then yells for the cowboys to separate numbers 176, 295, 58, and 822 from the rest of the herd.

Rob-Will gets in his truck and speaks with his mom, informing her Rip and Beth just pinched their shipment. It’s obvious from her response that Beulah (Annette Bening) knows about the drug smuggling.

The scene switches to a christening attended by Joaquin’s dad, Mariano (Raoul Max Trujillo). He tells one of the men there to round up others; they’re going to Rio Paloma. Meanwhile, Beulah calls Joaquin (Juan Pablo Raba) and tells him to speak with his brother. Joaquin doesn’t listen and hangs up.

Everett (Ed Harris) arrives after Beth calls him, and they fill him in on their suspicions. Rip points out what looks like fresh sutures on one of the four cattle they pulled aside. It could be from being spayed or it could be from having drugs inserted into their bodies to smuggle across the border. Everett reluctantly examines one of the cows, hoping that Beth’s instincts are wrong. But they’re not. He pulls out two bags of drugs that could be either meth or fentanyl.

Everett wants to exam the rest of the cattle before the bags can break open and kill them. He winds up filling three buckets with bags of drugs. Azul (J.R. Villarreal) and Zach (Marc Menchaca) take the drugs to the barn as Everett leaves to get some questions answered.

Beth and Rip aren’t sure what they’re dealing with, and Beth’s worried about Carter. She leaves to try and find him, calling him first to warn him there’s “sh*t” going down.

Joaquin waits outside a motel as his father and his men drive up. He apologizes for calling his dad and fills him in on Beulah’s decision to put Rob-Will in charge. But more importantly, Beulah brought in Beth and Rip which could screw up their operation. Mariano demands to know everything.

Oreana (Natalie Alyn Lind) is looking at a positive pregnancy test when Beth knocks, asking about Carter. She claims she hasn’t seen him in days.

Everett confronts Beulah, warning her not to lie to him. Beulah confesses that her dad’s man, Mariano, helped her get rid of a body decades ago. She tells the story of how she was raped and got pregnant, and then had Mariano take her to the man’s trailer. She killed the man – Rob-Will’s father – and Mariano buried the body. Her dad found out, blamed Mariano, and made him disappear to Mexico while leaving Joaquin behind. Joaquin’s mother was killed in an incident at the border.

A drought hit and 10-Petal was about to go under when Joaquin brought her a proposal from Mariano. It was supposed to be temporary, so Beulah agreed. It’s now been 15 years that the ranch has been running drugs. Miguel, Tommy, Joaquin, and Rob-Will know about it. She confirms Beth and Rip didn’t know about it, and Everett’s upset that she’s putting them in danger without telling them what they’ve gotten into.

He wonders if she was going to keep lying to him, even though they were going to run off together. Everett tells her to leave, now, and Beulah walks away.

Beth asks Sheriff Wade for help locating Carter, but he can’t do anything unless Carter’s life is in danger.

Dutton Ranch Episode Recap
J.R. Villarreal, Cole Hauser, and Marc Menchaca in ‘Dutton Ranch’ season 1 (Photo Credit: Emerson Miller / Paramount+)

Zach and Azul weigh the drugs and discover it’s 3.5 kilos of fentanyl, worth about $2 million on the street. Rip knows someone will come looking for it and orders Zach and Azul to leave. He doesn’t want them to be in danger. They refuse. Rip has them take the drugs to the hay barn and make sure all the security cameras are online.

Carter’s hanging at Dwight’s place when Oreana drives up. She’s not surprised to find him there. He apologizes for the party and is relieved Beulah’s recovering. Carter’s made himself at home at Dwight’s and Oreana says she’ll stay if he calls Beth. She describes Beth as stressed out and worried, and Carter agrees to call her. Beth asks him to come home, and he hangs up without telling her where he is.

When Mariano arrives at the ranch to speak with Beulah, he is impressed by the kingdom she has built. She believes she’s paid back her debt, and she placed Rob-Will in charge to protect both her sons. Mariano believes she chose blood over competence and both Joaquin and Rob-Will are soft. Mariano wants to know about Rip and Beth, and Beulah insists they know nothing about their arrangement. They were hired to run the ranch and keep the bankers away. Mariano calls 10-Petal their house, and Beulah corrects him. “This was never your house,” she says.

Mariano thinks Rip and Beth are wolves and orders her to fire them and reinstate Joaquin.

Beulah informs Rob-Will that Mariano is in town and orders him not to confront him.

Mariano assures Joaquin that Beulah will come to her senses soon. Rob-Will calls as they’re talking and tells Mariano about the ambush this morning, which Beulah never mentioned. Mariano wants Rob-Will to join them at the motel for a meeting.

Beth barges into the 10-Petal Meats office and demands entry to the butchering area. Denise refuses, Beth responds as Beth always responds, and suddenly what Denise thinks doesn’t matter. Beth looks around and discovers there’s no beef inside the building. Tommy walks in and orders Beth to leave, making the critical mistake of putting his hands on her. Beth tells him he’ll regret it. Tommy’s totally unaware Rip’s just a step behind him. Rip knocks him out and hangs him like meat.

Beth informs Rip that Carter’s not coming home and they’re worried he’s going to get hurt. Rip calls Carter and asks him to call back ASAP.

Beth and Rip head to the Dutton Ranch after Zach calls with news that Beulah just showed up. Beth steps out first, grabs her rifle, and holds Beulah at gunpoint. Rip orders Beulah into the house and tells Azul and Zach to load the drugs into Beulah’s car.

Oreana suggests that she and Carter leave Rio Paloma. Carter agrees and Oreana’s heads home to pack. They intend to leave that night.

Beulah fills Beth and Rip in on the ranch’s recent history, claiming she’s been trying to get out of the drug business for years. She didn’t think Beth and Rip would get involved, and Beth insists Beulah brought them in to “fix a business that doesn’t exist.” Beulah reminds them they came to her for a job, and she needs the drugs back now before Mariano finds out they’re missing.

Beth orders Beulah out of her house, and Rip confirms the drugs are already in her car.

Rob-Will informs Mariano that Rip and Beth knew which cattle to exam because they had the tally book. Joaquin and Rob-Will argue over whose fault it is and who Beulah loves more.

Mariano demands to know where Rip and Beth are right now and he calls Beth’s phone asking for Rip. Rip and Beth insist that they don’t have the drugs, but Mariano doesn’t believe them and is coming not for the cattle, but for the cattle thieves.

Mariano sends Rob-Will home and says his men will handle Rip and Beth. After Mariano’s right-hand man and Rob-Will leave, he tells Joaquin to kill Rob-Will.

That night, Mariano goes to The Oasis Bar as Beth, Rip, Azul, and Zach prepare for a gunfight. Rip places guns around outside where they’re accessible but not out in the open. Beth wants to go look for Carter one last time and Rip asks her to take Azul’s truck since they know her license plate.

Before she can leave, a truck pulls into the driveway. Fortunately, it’s just Everett. Beth hands him her rifle before driving away.

Beth searches the streets as she drives.

Azul watches the security cams and spots five men in one of the pastures. They’re on foot and sneaking up. They get within 20’ of the house, unaware they’ve already been spotted. Zach takes down the first man and Azul is hit during the ensuing gunfight. Everett kills one man, and Rip shoots two more. Everett hits another of Mariano’s men, but he’s still alive. Everett finishes him off while another man who was shot takes off running. Rip hunts him down in his truck, steps on his wound, and then tosses him into the back of his truck.

Beth stops at Rustler’s Grill and shows Carter’s photo around. No one recognizes him. Rip calls to let her know it’s done.

Everett tends to Azul’s wound as Rip and Zach load up the dead men. Beth returns just as they finish up and runs to hug Rip. She can’t find Carter, but they can’t linger with the bodies.

Everett remains behind with Beth.

Beulah pulls up back at the 10-Petal and Miguel (who’s working with Mariano) unloads the drugs. She calls Rob-Will, who’s back at home, but he doesn’t pick up. Oreana’s packing when her dad knocks, and she confirms she’s leaving and isn’t sure she’ll return. She doesn’t know where she’s heading. He doesn’t blame her for leaving but needs to stay to protect the ranch. Rob-Will apologizes for not being a good dad and insists she’s the only thing he did right.

A knock interrupts their hug. Oreana returns to packing and suddenly a gunshot rings out. She runs to the door and finds her dad dead right inside the door. A car speeds off as she screams.

Zach, Rip, and Azul dump the dead bodies down the abandoned mineshaft. (It seems to be Dutton Ranch’s version of the train station.)

Beulah returns to the big house and finds Rob-Will lying dead inside the door, blood in a pool around his head, with Oreana by his side.

Joaquin stops driving and has tears in his eyes. He glances down at the gun on the passenger’s seat.

Beth and Everett scrub away the blood in front of the house. She wonders if he’s ever felt the world is going to swallow up what he loves. Beth’s felt it a lot and has been right every time. And she’s feeling it right now.

Zach, Rip, and Azul torture the one remaining man, and Rip demands to know where Mariano’s from in Mexico.

Carter’s packing his things at Dwight’s house while ignoring Beth’s call. He hears a car outside, opens the door, and is immediately knocked out. Mariano’s men place a bag over his head and toss him in the back of a van.

Beth and Everett continue to discuss the feeling, and Everett reveals he had a son who died at age 14. Beth’s phone rings and Mariano informs her he has her boy. She runs out to the barn, screaming at Rip, “They have him. They have Carter!”

Rip replies, “They don’t want Carter. They want us.”

Beth snarls, “Then they’re gonna f**king get us,” as the season finale ends.

Sugar Season 2 Episode 3: Colin Farrell’s John Sugar Hunts a Killer

By
Rebecca Murray
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Sugar Season 2 Episode 3 Recap Colin Farrell
Colin Farrell in ‘Sugar’ season 2 episode 3 (Photo Credit: Apple TV)

Apple TV’s Sugar season two, episode three begins in the immediate aftermath of John Sugar (Colin Farrell) being shot and left for dead. If he were human, he’d be dead, and that would be the end of Sugar. But his alien body allows him to drive away, although his car’s sounding as rough as he looks.

(The following is a recap of season two, episode three – “Watch Face” – and there are spoilers.)

He swaps cars with Val (Sasha Calle), and she’s stunned by the two large bullet holes in his windshield and the fact that his shirt’s covered with blood. John’s voiceover explains it feels like there were at least 300 pellets in each shotgun shell. “We can take a lot … and that was a lot,” admits John.

John sets about tending to his wounds, even setting up a transfusion with alien blood.

Not long afterward, Sugar’s back on his feet, looking completely normal. His car’s also back in top shape, thanks to someone Val knows. John likes her and warns that maybe it’s too dangerous for her to work with him now. She understands but isn’t quitting. (Their relationship is sweet, and John genuinely cares about Val’s safety.)

John’s voiceover notes there are 40,000 unhoused people in Los Angeles, and he’s seen how people treat those who are underprivileged. He walks through an encampment and finds Sarah Jaquez, Jesus’s mom, and she confirms that she knows her son was murdered. He hung with a rough crowd, but he was a good boy. She’s certain that “Fire Sale” did this and then sounds a bit off when she says he didn’t like that they were feeding the homeless fentanyl. Sarah warns John to be careful.

Danny’s trainer, Teddy, introduces him to Len Pankow (Rell Battle), a promoter who offers him a chance to go to Vegas and fight Nestor Rodrigues. Danny (Jin Ha) is speechless; this could be his big break.

Ji (Raymond Lee) calls as Danny’s heading out after training, and he sounds like he’s out partying.

John had Val buy a camera for surveillance, which she’s going to use while she watches Hannah’s place in case Ji shows up.  

Sugar Season 2 Episode 3 Recap
Jin Ha and Colin Farrell in ‘Sugar’ season 2 episode 3 (Photo Credit: Apple TV)

Danny fills John in on Ji’s call and sounds freaked out when he tells John that he’s being followed. John gets his address and confronts a couple of EZ4 gangbangers in a car, asking them to deliver a message to their boss. They need to tell the man in charge that he hasn’t forgotten and will be talking to him soon. (EZ4 is the gang that’s after Ji and killed Jesus because they mistook him for Ji.)

Danny thought John would show the gang members following him his gun, but all John did was talk. (He doesn’t carry a gun.) John makes a risky move in traffic and loses Danny’s tail. They head to the club Ji called from and Danny scans the crowd. It’s packed, and John and Danny split up to cover more ground.

John’s shocked to see Peg (Laura San Giacomo) from his home planet on the dance floor and then quickly realizes he hallucinated her presence. Meanwhile, Danny spots Ji at the bar, hair dyed blonde, and drinking. Ji warns his brother to be careful because there’s somebody after him. They need to go to the desert and hide out for a while, promising they’ll come back eventually bigger than ever.

Ji mentions he’s got money coming and Danny tells him that he knows about the drugs he stole from a hospital. Ji freaks out when he sees Sugar, thinking his brother called the cops. Sugar chases him into the alley and a friend of Ji’s knocks Sugar out from behind.

Ji and his friend run away.

Danny takes John back to his place, and John admires a painting that Ji drew of their mom. Danny provides a few more details on his family and confesses he doesn’t think Ji will live long enough to complete his big drug deal. He thinks Ji’s given up on himself.

John and Danny get a chuckle over the fact that John went home and counted his suits after Danny commented on his wealth. John’s got 14 suits in his closet and more in storage. Danny calls him a baller.

Another voiceover finds John talking about siblings and how they can drive each other crazy, just like what happened with him and his sister. “But I’d do anything to get her back,” he admits.

As John’s driving home, he spots graffiti that reads “Fire Sale in Downer Town.” He googles it and doesn’t come up with any results. Val reports in and she’s incredibly bored. Ji hasn’t shown up at Hannah’s, and she wonders what she’s supposed to do if she needs to pee. John laughs and tells her to pee. There aren’t specific rules.

Sugar Season 2 Episode 3 Recap
Laura Donnelly and Colin Farrell in ‘Sugar’ season 2 episode 3 (Photo Credit: Apple TV)

John goes for a late-night swim, confessing that he hopes that seeing Peg doesn’t mean that he’s seeing ghosts again. Charlotte (Laura Donnelly) just happens to also be in the pool and jokes that he’s stalking her. She poses an ethical question about her job, asking if certain ends justify any means. She doesn’t disclose any details because she signed an NDA, and John thinks she’s being mysterious, obscure, and cryptic. John suggests the answer to her question is that it sounds like a slippery slope to go down.

John describes her as a hard person to read; Charlotte’s heard that before. There’s some serious flirting going on before she swims away. Back in his room, John explains that the rules state he’s not supposed to get involved with a human.

Tom Flyberg (Shea Whigham) meets with John in a dog park – of course – and he’s learned that the EZ4s are a “heavy f**king crew” in Downer Town. They’re basically a Mexican gang, and John won’t explain why Ji, a Korean, made their hit list. Tom confirms EZ4’s leader is Jose Alejandro Cortez, who goes by Jose Guapo. Tom describes him as a killer who’s disciplined and smart. He moves drugs for the Universales, run by Sergey, who John’s familiar with. Tom believes Ji should just keep running; these aren’t people to screw around with.

John’s next stop is to see the gang member he keeps running into. The guy admits Guapo is the big dude and claims he didn’t know that the gang tried to kill John. John’s still sure he and Guapo can deal with this without any more violence. When John brings up the fire sale in Downer Town, that gets his attention. He escorts John through a gauntlet of EZ4s, all of whom eyeball John as he walks by.

It turns out this guy is Guapo and he leads John into a sketchy room with a mattress covered in blood and makeshift soundproofing. John tosses him the bloody card that was thrown on his body after the shooting, and Guapo asks how he heard about Fire Sale. Guapo claims none of this was his idea but before he can reveal whose idea it was, gunshots are heard outside. John and Guapo get into a fight, and just as Guapo is about to shoot John, the police barge in and shoot Guapo dead.

John’s cuffed and walked out, along with the remaining gang members. Once he’s outside the building, a sheriff cuts him loose. John explains he’s a PI looking for a missing kid but is distracted when he spots a sheriff (Tony Dalton) checking his watch the same way that he saw a man do in security footage.

The sheriff notices John’s staring at him and stares back.

 

Nightshade Book Review: Autumn Woods’ Dark Academia Thriller

By
Alison Helms
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Nightshade Review

Title: Nightshade
Author:  Autumn Woods
Series: Sorrowsong University
Publication Date: January 28, 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Nightshade Synopsis:

MYSTERY. MURDER. REVENGE. WELCOME TO SORROWSONG UNIVERSITY. . .

He’d burn the world down for her . . . but she plans to burn his to the ground.

Isolated in the Scottish Highlands, Sorrowsong University only welcomes students from the most powerful families. Ophelia Winters doesn’t belong, but a rare scholarship grants her the perfect opportunity to investigate her parents’ “accidental” death near the castle grounds.

Things get off to a rocky start when she runs afoul of the mysterious Alex Corbeau-Green – son of her prime suspect. As far as she’s concerned, he is just a younger version of his billionaire father. A monster hiding beneath a beautiful façade.

When an unknown tormentor begins to stalk Ophelia, she realizes she may not be able to survive Sorrowsong on her own. Alex becomes her unexpected ally – and alibi for murder. And as she begins to fall for the soft heart that hides beneath his hard exterior, her hunger for revenge wavers for the first time.

Can she really bring herself to destroy everything he’s ever known?

Nightshade Review:

Obsessed (adjective): being abnormally or completely preoccupied with a person, idea, or activity, often to the point of being unable to stop thinking about it.

“Obsessed.” That’s the only word that fits. From the very first page, Nightshade had me completely hooked and demanding my full attention. Autumn Woods weaved a story that had me enthralled from the start.

The dynamic between Ophelia and Alex is incredible, and it truly resonated with me. Watching them navigate their emotions while uncovering the mysteries hidden within the castle kept me hooked, and my heart broke for both of them. I loved and adored Ophelia and Alex, and Ophelia’s struggles with her mental health felt real and raw. I was constantly cheering them on – and honestly, using crossword puzzles to flirt? Are you kidding me? I was smiling like a fool.

Overall, this book truly offers everything—murder, mystery, revenge, love, and betrayal. I was so captivated, unable to put it down, yet at the same time I didn’t want it to end. I’m already counting down the days until Daybreak drops on July 28, 2026.

 

Brilliant Minds Series Finale Recap: A Shocking Twist and an Emotional Ending

By
Rebecca Murray
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Brilliant Minds Season 2 Episode 20 Series Finale Recap
Zachary Quinto and Ed Begley Jr. in the ‘Brilliant Minds’ season/series finale (Photo by: Pief Weyman/NBC)

An elderly man wanders around a strip mall and can’t seem to remember his way home as the season/series finale of NBC’s Brilliant Minds opens. Meanwhile, Oliver (Zachary Quinto) and his mom, Muriel (Donna Murphy), clean up his home, and he refuses to throw away his patient archives. Muriel’s busy booking a flight for Oliver, although he insists he can do it for himself.

(The following is a recap of season two, episode 20 – the series finale – and there are spoilers.)

Muriel reads from a file about a woman who mistook her husband for a hat, which is a twist on the real title of Dr. Oliver Sacks’ book (the series is based on his life) as well as the focus of season one, episode 13. She believes the archives prove he’s a good writer, and each case file reads the chapter of a book.

Dana (Aury Krebs) and Ericka (Ashleigh LaThrop) catch up with Van Markus (Alex MacNicoll) for breakfast, chatting about what’s going on at the hospital and in their lives. Ericka’s been frequenting this diner since discovering her mother, Joan, works there as a waitress. But she hasn’t told her who she is yet. Van reminds her it’s important to say things now because you never know how long you have.

A man rushes into the ER complaining that it feels like there’s a zipper in his chest pulling him apart. Dr. Anthony Thorne (John Clarence Stewart) quickly figures out he needs immediate open-heart surgery, but the patient refuses. Anthony calls Carol (Tamberla Perry) for support so she can evaluate his mental state. The man continues to refuse the surgery because his dad suffered for years after having it. He would rather die.

Carol speaks with the patient three different times and assesses that he’s fully capable of making a decision. Anthony wants her to lie and sign off on the operation, but Carol refuses.

Oliver’s embraced his new attitude and is actually going to take a vacation to Mexico. He tells Josh (Teddy Sears) he’s leaving, and Josh reveals he’s officially been promoted to chief. Suddenly, Josh’s sister, Serena (Amanda Walsh), barges in and orders him to take her side against their parents. It turns out the elderly man in the episode’s opening is Josh’s dad, Duke (Ed Begley Jr), who arrives with Josh’s mom, Bonnie (Anne Archer).

Josh’s mom introduces herself to Oliver as Duke wanders out of Josh’s room. Oliver follows him and Duke punches a glass, believing it’s a stranger staring at him. Bonnie explains that Duke’s been getting angry at home when he’s confused. The nurses Josh hired have quit because of it.

Oliver’s very gentle while explaining there are ways to help patients with Alzheimer’s, but Duke doesn’t want to talk about it. He asks Josh when he’s going to settle down with a nice girl and then leaves with his wife for the cafeteria. Once they’re gone, Josh confirms his parents know he’s gay and that’s what caused a rift between him and his dad. Oliver asks to take on Duke as a patient and assures Josh that they’ll handle what’s going on, no matter what it is.

Ericka, Charlie (Brian Altemus), and Oliver speak with Duke and try to assess his mental state. He gets upset but settles down when Oliver suggests a break. He recalls that he was stationed in Alaska in the ‘70s as a crew chief on an F15. He folds a paper airplane perfectly and it flies through the room. But then his mood shifts and he wants to go home.

Oliver asks him to draw what home looks like. He draws the outline of a basic house and writes the numbers 72 20 14.

Ericka, Dana, and Charlie wonder what it means. But Nico (Al Calderon) is much more interested in the fact Oliver’s treating Josh’s dad. Dana suggests what the audience is thinking, that this is a “pivotal moment in their ‘will they or won’t they’ saga.” Nico throws cold water on that when he reveals Beau asked Josh to marry him.

Dana pulls Ericka to the ground because Sofia (Sarah Steele) just showed up in the waiting room, and apparently she and Sofia slept together last night. Sofia left before Dana woke up. Sofia peeks over the counter and sees Dana and asks if she’s hiding from her. Sofia didn’t come to Bronx General for Dana; she came to see her brother, Oliver Wolf. That announcement stuns everyone and causes Ericka to drop the file she’s holding.

Nico volunteers to take Sofia to Oliver’s office, while Ericka’s shocked to realize that Dana slept with Oliver’s sister. Oliver sees Sofia standing there and is briefly confused. He asks Nico to confirm she’s real. After determining she is, Sofia introduces herself and Oliver admits he found photos and put together the pieces.

Sofia reveals their dad only told her about Oliver a few weeks ago when he got into a motorcycle accident. They live in Marin County, CA, and both she and their dad used to work at Mount Zion there. She breaks the news that their father died from the accident.

He left some things for Oliver in his will, and she asks him to help her clean out his secret apartment.

Oliver visits Bonnie and Duke at home, along with Josh and Serena. Bonnie’s made the house safe, even hiding the knives. Oliver points out that might be more harmful than helpful, but he understands why she did it. Duke’s quietly playing the banjo and Bonnie confirms that he was playing when she met and fell in love with him.

Oliver’s had luck with music and dementia patients before and asks Duke if he could have the banjo to play. He plays it well and sings “The Only Living Boy in New York,” which draws the family over to watch. Duke joins in singing on the chorus and everyone smiles. Duke turns to look at Josh, but when he speaks, he thinks he’s seeing his own father. Josh’s eyes fill with tears as they hug. Duke tells his dad he misses him and wants to go home. Oliver quietly assures Josh it’s okay to let him think that, but Josh corrects his dad. Duke insists he doesn’t have a son and pushes him away.

Josh and Oliver look through Josh’s old room, which Oliver calls a shrine. Josh looks at his old photos and sees a sad kid. He played sports and joined the military just to connect with his dad, but it didn’t work. Oliver can relate.

Oliver believes that Duke seeing him as his father was his way of trying to connect with his son.

Brilliant Minds Season 2 Episode 20 Series Finale Recap
Teddy Sears and Ed Begley Jr. in ‘Brilliant Minds’ season 2, episode 20 (Photo by: Pief Weyman/NBC)

Back at the hospital, Oliver tells Beau (Marco Pigossi) that it’s possible a focused ultrasound with microbubbles could help the progression. But it’s experimental and Josh isn’t big on experimental procedures. That’s why Oliver’s talking to Beau instead. However, Beau already discussed this with Serena (they’re apparently close) and Beau doesn’t think it will help.

Beau realizes Oliver’s not up on his and Josh’s relationship. Beau informs him that he and Josh broke up, and he hopes Oliver’s ready for everything Josh wants.

Oliver picks up Duke’s drawing and realizes it’s a home plate. He asks Josh, Bonnie, and Serena if the numbers ring a bell, and Josh realizes they are his dad’s high school baseball stats. Duke chimes in and confirms that’s true. Oliver holds a baseball and explains that while Duke can’t form new memories, his long-term memories are intact. He wants them to step back into the past, to the time when Duke’s most powerful memories were formed. Josh calls it reminiscence therapy, and Oliver agrees. He believes this is a low-risk intervention that has been proven to help patients with dementia. Bonnie agrees to try anything.

Serena points out that her dad is elderly and that it’s the dead of winter. Playing baseball might be dangerous. But Oliver’s already thought about that.

Carol’s upset to learn Anthony went behind her back, got a second opinion, and operated on the patient. She confronts him and says she thought he had more integrity.

Ericka is seated at the counter and Joan admits she looks familiar. Ericka finally confesses she was born in Brooklyn and was given up for adoption. She knows her mom was a good person and could be Joan. Ericka confesses she just needed to meet her, but Joan claims she never gave up a baby for adoption.

Dana and Van are waiting outside and pull Ericka in for a hug as she cries.

Oliver’s set up a baseball field, complete with a snack truck, inside a motorcycle gang’s warehouse. Carol’s impressed and Oliver confesses he wants Josh to have a moment with his dad that he never got with his.

Duke and Josh’s family arrive, and Serena tells her dad he looks handsome. Duke replies, “No crying in baseball,” while Bonnie hands him his mitt.

Josh finally tells Carol that he and Beau are officially over. He’s only holding back with Oliver because he’s worried Oliver will run away again. Carol reveals Oliver didn’t want to tell him, but his dad just passed away. He’s doing okay; he grieved a long time ago.

The hospital staff hit the field, and Duke takes the pitcher’s mound with Oliver up at bat. Oliver actually makes good contact and Charlie’s impressed that Nico’s got a good arm. Carol tags out Oliver as he tries to steal, and everyone’s having a great time.

Van’s pitching while Duke’s up to bat, and Van’s son cheers on his dad. Duke hits a home run on his first swing and both teams cheer. Duke stands at home plate, and Josh joins him to run the bases. Josh is smiling broader than we’ve seen in two seasons as Duke slaps hands and crosses home plate.

Once the game’s over, Bonnie thanks Oliver for all his help. She thought they’d spend their golden years looking back on all their memories, but Duke can’t remember things. Oliver points out that she picked the right person to make memories with. Bonnie wants that for her kids, too. She hopes she taught Josh to follow his heart.

Anthony confesses he’s felt awful all day and apologizes. Carol doesn’t think mixing work and their personal lives is a wise idea and wants to hit the pause button. Anthony understands and says to let him know when she’s ready.

Josh sits with his dad and talks about his Little League career. Josh recalls his dad made him bat cleanup, even though he was a weak hitter. He was mad about it back then, but then they stayed around and hit balls together. Josh even hit his first home run during their practice time. Duke tells Josh he’s so proud of him and knows he’s a doctor. He asks if Josh is dating anyone special, and Josh replies, “Not at the moment, but there is someone. It’s complicated.”

Duke asks for more details about “him,” and Josh catches that. He admits he’s crazy about a stubborn, brilliant neurologist.

Sofia packs up their dad’s apartment and Oliver confesses it hurt when he learned his dad had a good life with another family. Sofia hands Oliver half their dad’s ashes and then continues looking through his paperwork. She’s not taking the fact her dad had another family well since she learned about it right before he died. Sofia now understands that her dad was always comparing her to Oliver, without her realizing it.

Brilliant Minds Series Finale Recap Oliver and Josh kiss
Zachary Quinto as Oliver and Teddy Sears as Josh in the ‘Brilliant Minds’ series finale (Photo by: Pief Weyman/NBC)

Josh is waiting outside Oliver’s place, holding a fern. He bought it for himself months ago, even though ferns are Oliver’s thing. He’s tried everything to keep it alive, but only playing Bach seems to work. Josh talks about it being unpredictable, stubborn, moody, and taking over his life, and it’s the only thing he can think about. He’s definitely no longer talking about the fern.

Josh says, “I love you, Oliver. I want to play Bach for you. I want to put you in the sun.”

Oliver replies, “I love you, too, but I don’t know if I could give you the life you want. You know me, Josh, I’m not the one you choose.”

Josh corrects him and says it’s not a choice. He fought falling in love with Oliver, but it’s always been him. The life Josh wants is with Oliver.

Oliver’s voiceover talks about love being a brain-altering event that creates euphoria. They share a passionate kiss and finally make it inside Oliver’s place.

Scenes of the days following their reunion show they can barely keep their hands off each other.

The police arrive at the emergency department and inform Anthony that they discovered the dead wife of the patient who needed an open-heart surgery in the patient’s trunk. He named Anthony and Carol as his alibis.

Josh joins Oliver on vacation in Mexico and they tease each other about working while they’re supposed to be relaxing. Carol’s also joined them and knocks on the door to remind them that breakfast is in 15 minutes. They laugh as they enter the restaurant but then suddenly the mood changes. All the customers are unconscious in their chairs. They rush to take pulses and find some are thready. Others appear to be deceased.

Some are experiencing seizures and Oliver, Josh, and Carol have any idea what’s happening.

And that’s how the series ends. With a bunch of possibly dead or dying people in a Mexico City resort. At least Josh and Oliver had their happy ending – unless whatever caused this medical issue is still spreading…

Michael Weatherly Returns to NCIS Season 24 After Tony & Ziva Cancellation

By
Rebecca Murray
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Michael Weatherly NCIS
Michael Weatherly as Tony Dinozzo in NCIS: Tony & Ziva (Photo Credit: Jason Bell / Paramount+)

Michael Weatherly isn’t done playing Tony DiNozzo. CBS cancelled NCIS: Tony & Ziva, starring Weatherly and Cote de Pablo, after just one season but that’s not the end of DiNozzo’s story. The network announced Weatherly will be reprising his role for a season-long arc in the upcoming 24th season of NCIS.

Season 24 will air this fall on Tuesdays at 8pm ET/PT.

Weatherly starred on the series for 13 seasons. He returns to join Sean Murray as Timothy McGee, Wilmer Valderrama as Nick Torres, Brian Dietzen as Jimmy Palmer, Diona Reasonover as Kasie Hines, Katrina Law as Jessica Knight, and Gary Cole as Alden Parker for the upcoming season.

Steven D. Binder, Chas. Floyd Johnson, Mark Harmon, Scott Williams, and Christopher J. Waild serve as executive producers. Additional executive producers include Mark R. Schilz, José Clemente Hernandez, Avery C. Drewe, Marco Schnabel, and Donald P. Bellisario. 

DET Announces 24-Hour Disney Celebrates America 250 Lineup

By
Rebecca Murray
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Disney Celebrates America 250
Disney Celebrates America 250 (Photo credit: Disney Entertainment Television)

Disney Entertainment Television is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America with a special 24-hour block of programming. The Disney Celebrates America lineup begins on Friday, July 3, 2026 at 10pm ET and wraps up with Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash airing live at 8-11pm ET on July 4th.

“Storytelling has always been at the heart of The Walt Disney Company, creating generations of fans around the world for more than a century,” stated Debra OConnell, chairman, Disney Entertainment Television. “Disney Celebrates America continues that legacy by bringing together the breadth of our portfolio to create something only Disney can, and we’re proud to bring audiences everywhere together to celebrate America’s stories.”

The special celebration will air on ABC, Disney+, Hulu, National Geographic, ESPN, FX, Freeform, and ABC News Live. 

World News Tonight‘s David Muir guides viewers through the special programming lineup that includes Fourth of July celebrations, performances, and interviews with MrBeast, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Brandi Carlile, and Nick Jonas.

Disney Celebrates America 250

America the Beautiful
10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT
• The 24-hour multiplatform broadcast kicks off on July 3 with a primetime special anchored by David Muir, with rare reporting from deep inside the Statue of Liberty, including the torch and crown, for an immersive story on the monument’s history and resonance.
• “Liberty Lights,” a first-of-its-kind artistic illumination of the Statue of Liberty, will transform the iconic monument and how the world sees it, produced in close partnership with the consulate general of France in New York. This tribute marks the 250th anniversary of America by celebrating France’s iconic gift to the United States and the lasting bond between the two countries. Deborah Roberts will also take to the skies, joining the Patrouille de France of the French Air and Space Force in the cockpit during their flyover above Liberty Island. 
• There will be a special performance of “America the Beautiful” by 11-time GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer Brandi Carlile accompanied by musical duo SistaStrings and a special message from The Walt Disney Company CEO Josh D’Amaro.

Pre-Party Across America
11:00-11:35 p.m. EDT
• Prime anchor and World News Tonight Sunday anchor Linsey Davis will host live from New Orleans. Good Morning America’s Lara Spencer and Sam Champion will anchor from New York City with a live audience, spotlighting celebrations across the country.

Party Across America
11:35 p.m.-12:37 a.m. EDT
• Linsey Davis, Lara Spencer, and Sam Champion will continue anchoring from across the country.
• Davis will report from Bourbon Street on the music and culture of the influential city and will interview jazz musician Wynton Marsalis, correspondent John Quiñones from the San Antonio River Walk, correspondent Trevor Ault from a Disney cruise ship along the coast of Alaska, contributor Cameron Mathison live from Las Vegas as the city celebrates, and KABC reporter Anabel Munoz in Los Angeles covering the fireworks spectacular.
• Additional programming includes performances by the Tony®-nominated Broadway musical Ragtime and Dancing with the Stars, fireworks at Walt Disney World and Mount Rushmore, and coverage of the 4th of July Midnight Parade, the first Independence Day parade in the nation in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Nightline (Special Edition)
12:37 a.m.-1:07 a.m. EDT
• A special edition of Nightline co-anchored by Juju Chang and Byron Pitts will celebrate 80 years of news storytelling at ABC News, profile the Hartford Courant, the oldest newspaper in the country, and feature reporting by correspondent Ashan Singh.

GMA’s 50 States in 50 Weeks
1:07-5:00 a.m. EDT
• The festivities continue on July 4 with the culmination of the comprehensive “50 States in 50 Weeks” franchise from Good Morning America. GMA hit the road to showcase the beauty across America starting in July 2025, with a GMA anchor or correspondent visiting a new state each week, following the order in which they joined the United States. Spotlighting the beauty of the land and the people, GMA invites viewers to peek inside the best places across the country.

Dawn in America
5:00-7:00 a.m. EDT
• David Muir leads coverage tracing American history from colonial times through the Declaration of Independence, with exclusive access to the archives in Philadelphia on the words that helped shape America’s most important documents, such as the Constitution.
• Coverage will also highlight a series of live sunrise moments and reporting from the following:
• Live with Kelly and Mark co-host and executive producer Kelly Ripa honors the legacy of “Schoolhouse Rock”
• Chief meteorologist and chief climate correspondent Ginger Zee from Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes in Michigan
• What You Need to Know host and senior political correspondent Rachel Scott boards the U.S. Coast Guard Eagle to preview the Tall Ship Parade in the New York Harbor and will report from Ellis Island throughout the day
• Senior correspondent Steve Osunsami will document his personal family story and the history of immigration and naturalization live from a ceremony in Monticello
• Good Morning America weekend co-anchor and transportation correspondent Gio Benitez from Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park, Maine
• Correspondent Jay O’Brien from Old North Church in Boston on Revolutionary-era re-enactments
• Correspondent Maggie Rulli with active service members and their families from Ramstein Base in Germany
• WPVI chief meteorologist Cecily Tinan from the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia
• Additional stories will include features on the national anthem, the history of the American flag, and children reading the Declaration of Independence.

Good Morning America (Special Edition)
7:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. EDT
• On a special edition of Good Morning America, co-anchors Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, and Michael Strahan will each present a deep dive into their own American journeys and how their families arrived in the United States, in addition to reporting on the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Army, respectively.
• In an unprecedented and exclusive Robin Roberts report in collaboration with the “10 Million Names Project,” will uncover the extraordinary human story behind one of the nation’s most iconic landmarks: the White House. In a genealogical breakthrough years in the making, Roberts will sit down with the first confirmed living descendants of an enslaved individual who helped build it.
• Plus, GRAMMY CEO Harvey Mason Jr. discusses great moments in GRAMMY history. The 2027 GRAMMY Awards will be live on ABC, Disney+ and Hulu on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2027.

Additional stories include the following:
• Ginger Zee with a national holiday forecast and a look at how her home state of Michigan celebrates the holiday
• Good Morning America weekend co-anchor and World News Tonight Saturday anchor Whit Johnson from the 9/11 Memorial and Freedom Tower in New York on America’s resilience
• This Week co-anchor and chief global affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz from Pearl Harbor on active military and survivors
• Chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce from Washington, D.C., to preview July 4 events at the Capital
• Correspondent Bob Woodruff from Walt Disney World with Blue Star families
• Correspondent Matt Rivers sits down with family members about their careers as firefighters, police officers and members of the armed forces and how their commitment to public service inspired his path to journalism
• National correspondent Stephanie Ramos live from Fort Campbell Army Base in Kentucky
• Correspondent Faith Abubey from Parris Island, South Carolina, on the Marine Corps Recruit Depot
• Correspondent Elizabeth Schulze from the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota, honoring the legacy and creation of national parks

Hometowns & Heroes
10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. EDT
• David Muir will anchor storytelling on America’s westward expansion on a cross-country adventure, including:
• Live with Kelly and Mark co-hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos go on a desert adventure to one of the most beautiful places in America—Indian Canyons—to visit the largest oasis in the world
• Linsey Davis on the crucial role of the Louisiana Purchase and the legacy of New Orleans in the growth of America
• This Week co-anchor and chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl, live from Mount Rushmore, where he spent his childhood
• Ginger Zee explores the magic of Adventures by Disney
• Chief business, technology and economics correspondent Rebecca Jarvis from the Taste of Minnesota food festival on how her home state celebrates the holiday
• John Quiñones from San Antonio on the acquisition of Texas and the growth of Latino and Tejano culture
• Steve Osunsami on slavery and the descendants of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings
• The View co-host Sunny Hostin on the rich cultural legacy of Puerto Rico
• The View co-host Sara Haines from Iowa on the multigenerational American farmers’ experience
• ESPN’s Joe Buck from his hometown of St. Louis on the journey of Lewis and Clark from the Mississippi to the Pacific
• GMA First Look and World News Now co-anchors Sophie Flay and Hannah Battah from Bristol, Rhode Island, at America’s oldest July 4 parade
• KSFN anchor Vanessa Vasconselos from Yosemite National Park on the legacy of Ansel Adams
• KTRK anchor Charly Edsitty from Houston

Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest
12:30-1:00 p.m. EDT
• ESPN’s annual coverage of the American pastime “Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest” will feature top-ranked Joey Chestnut, Miki Sudo, and more.

7 Wonders of America
1:00-3:00 p.m. EDT
• The broadcast will feature the Seven Natural Wonders of America and how they have shaped the people and culture of the country. Beloved ABC News anchors are paired with National Geographic Explorers throughout the segment, taking viewers on an adventure to some of the most beautiful places in the nation.
• The Seven Natural Wonders of America include:
• The Grand Canyon via air, land and water with David Muir reporting on the historic landmark with National Geographic Explorer Pete McBride and the Redwoods in Redwood National and State Park and the Sequoia Skywalk with National Geographic Explorer at Large Nalini M. Nadkarni
• The Appalachian Mountains with anchor Diane Sawyer hiking with National Geographic Explorer Gabby Salazar into the Great Smoky National Park, encountering the flora, fauna and local people
• The Everglades with Robin Roberts and National Geographic Explorer Carlton Ward Jr. by airboat and foot to learn about protecting the keystone species within the ecosystem and meet with Betty Osceola, a member of the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida, to talk about her ancestral homeland
• Niagara Falls with Michael Strahan and National Geographic Explorer M Jackson below and above the majestic rapids
• The volcanoes of Hawai’i, which Nightline co-anchor Juju Chang and National Geographic Explorer Andrés Ruzo will explore together
• Yellowstone National Park with Deborah Roberts and National Geographic Explorer James Edward Mills across multiple locations to discover the secrets of America’s first national park
• The NFL’s Myles Garrett in North Dakota on a prehistoric dig to discover dinosaur bones with National Geographic Explorer Tyler Lyson
• Also, viewers will get an exclusive glimpse of National Geographic’s brand-new Museum of Exploration in Washington, D.C.

Dreamers & Innovators
3:00-5:00 p.m. EDT
• David Muir will anchor continuing coverage of parades and other live events happening around the country in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, featuring anchors and reporters from more than a dozen local stations around the nation.
• In addition, The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg presents a special look at the birth of Hollywood cinema; Deborah Roberts reports on the history of American fashion with the segment “Red, White and Blue Jeans”; Gio Benitez documents the space race, lunar landing, and Artemis II; Chief justice correspondent Pierre Thomas on the Supreme Court’s most consequential decisions over the years; contributor Jesse Palmer spotlights Americans’ obsession with cars and the automobile industry; and the legendary oceanographer and National Geographic Explorer at Large Bob Ballard is interviewed aboard the research vessel The Nautilus.

SportsCenter (Special Edition)
5:00-7:00 p.m. EDT
• ESPN’s flagship news and information program, SportsCenter, will present a special two-hour edition live on ABC on July 4, celebrating the people, moments, and stories that have shaped American sports culture. Co-hosted by Kevin Negandhi and Christine Williamson, the program will feature live reports from across the country, alongside original storytelling, historical retrospectives, and talent-driven segments from SportsCenter anchors. Coverage will include features on iconic American sports moments and the enduring cultural impact of sports in America, complemented by essays, featured storytelling, and appearances from multiple ESPN personalities.

World News Tonight with David Muir (Special Edition)
7:00-7:30 p.m. EDT
• David Muir presents a special edition of ABC’s No. 1 flagship evening program, with the latest headlines and stories on America’s anniversary.

Countdown to Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash
7:30-8:00 p.m. EDT
• This special preview will feature a look at the upcoming Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash celebration with host Ryan Seacrest and feature interviews with performers Boyz II Men and Clint Black, as well as an all-access pass to the Camp Rock 3 nationwide bus tour as it stops in Nashville. Plus, Jesse Palmer visits MrBeast’s headquarters in Greenville, North Carolina, to discover the secrets behind the most-subscribed YouTube channel in the world.

Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash
8:00-11:00 p.m. EDT, live from coast to coast
• In collaboration with the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (NCVC) and ITV America Nashville, ABC celebrates America turning 250 with a one-of-a-kind celebration live from the heart of downtown Nashville, Tennessee.
• Hosted by Emmy® Award-winner Ryan Seacrest, this unforgettable night will feature must-see performances by iconic artists and musical acts spanning multiple genres.
• The superstar lineup includes The All-American Rejects, Boyz II Men, Brothers Osborne, Clint Black, Elizabeth Nichols, Emily Ann Roberts, John Crist, Lauren Daigle, Little Big Town, NE-YO, Nick Jonas, Reba McEntire, Sublime, and Tim McGraw.
• Hundreds of thousands are expected to gather in person for this milestone event, which will also feature one of the largest fireworks and drone shows in the United States, set to a live score by the GRAMMY Award-winning Nashville Symphony.
• Adding to the magic will be coverage of the patriotic-themed fireworks displays at Disneyland Resort, which will light up this unforgettable evening.

 

Big Brother Season 28 Preview: ‘Time Trip’ Theme House Details

By
Rebecca Murray
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Big Brother Season 28 House
The ‘BIG BROTHER: Time Trip’-themed house (Photo: Matthew Taplinger © 2026 CBS Broadcasting, Inc.)

CBS’s Big Brother is stepping back in time to the ’80s and Y2K with a “Time Trip”-themed season 28. The new season, which includes its 1,000th original episode, premieres on Thursday, July 9, 2026 at 8pm ET/PT. No other original primetime series has hit that milestone.

Julie Chen returns to host the reality competition series, which premiered way back in July 2020.

“Houseguests will enter a world where rooms, relics, and competitions transport them across moments in time, while early twists shake up the game from the start. Inspired by decades like the ’80s and Y2K, new powers and challenges can disrupt strategy and alliances,” reads CBS’s synopsis. 

Kitchen of Curiosities Season 28
The Kitchen of Curiosities in season 28 (Photo: Matthew Taplinger © 2026 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)

And CBS offered these details on the Big Brother: Time Trip House:

• Time-Bending Entryway: Houseguests are greeted by a striking faux neon sign and a dizzying array of clocks, immediately setting the tone: time is fractured, unpredictable, and constantly in motion.

• Living Room of Eras: 17-foot gothic windows glow against oxblood stone walls, blending classic and industrial design alongside relics from across history, from a triceratops skull to royal crown jewels—a reminder that anything from any era could shape the game.

• Nostalgic Trophies: A 1940s jukebox and an ’80s transparent phone highlight a surreal mix of decades, celebrating nostalgia as past, present, and future collide inside the BB house.

• Relic Lab Hallway: The iconic time laser returns alongside quirky failed inventions including a pogo stick, keytar, and more, all displayed as relics of past experiments.

Season 28 Clockwork Bathroom
The Clockwork Bathroom in season 28 (Photo: Matthew Taplinger © 2026 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)

• Clockwork Bathroom: Gears and intricate mechanical details surround Houseguests, while subatomic-inspired lighting fixtures create a visually stunning otherworldly atmosphere.

• The Artifact Bedroom: Housing five Houseguests, this artifact-filled room features two mysterious doorways—one to the past, one to the future.

• Futuristic Sleep Pods Room: A sleek retreat with pod beds, organic ladders, and nebula visuals offers a calm, futuristic escape from the chaos of the game.

• Upstairs Lounge: Vintage tech lines the shelves. Massive arched windows overlooking the living room make it a prime vantage point for eavesdropping, while the custom-built sofa is perfectly suited for both strategizing and showmancing.

• Time-Lapse Gym: Walls wrapped in time-lapse photography create the illusion of motion and progression, energizing Houseguests as they work out and reset.

• Clock Tower Feature: Tying the entire house together, a dramatic clock tower crowns the space, a symbolic reminder that in this game, time is always ticking … but never predictable.

Season 28 Sleep Pods
The futuristic sleep pods room in season 28 (Photo: Matthew Taplinger © 2026 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)

Netflix’s Wonka Competition Series Uses AI Gene Wilder Voice with Estate’s Blessing

By
Rebecca Murray
-

Netflix’s trailer for Wonka’s The Golden Ticket confirms the competition series is using an AI version of Gene Wilder’s voice to narrate, which is an interesting choice. Fortunately, it has the support of Gene Wilder’s estate.

“More than five decades after Gene brought Willy Wonka to life, people of all ages and backgrounds around the world continue to find joy, laughter, and inspiration in his performance,” stated Karen B. Wilder, Gene Wilder’s wife, on behalf of the Gene Wilder Estate. “Gene had a remarkable ability to bring humor, wonder, and heart into people’s lives, and that connection has endured for generations. We are delighted that Wonka’s The Golden Ticket celebrates the warmth and imagination that he brought to the role, introducing that magic to a new generation while honoring the fans who have cherished it for decades.”

Netflix released the teaser on the 55th anniversary of the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder, and announced the series will premiere on September 23, 2026. The nine-episode season will wrap up with a two-part finale streaming on September 30.

Wonka's The Golden Ticket
Wonka’s The Golden Ticket season 1 (Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2026)

Netflix released this description of the competition series:

“Twelve lucky Golden Ticket winners, each with a partner of their choosing, will step through the gates of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory and into a world of pure imagination, delicious mischief, and unexpected challenges. Once inside, contestants must navigate a series of Wonka’s games, tests, and temptations designed to challenge them physically, mentally, and morally.

In this high-stakes social experiment, players will journey through the factory’s wondrous and unpredictable landscape, adapting, strategizing, and withstanding the unknown while proving they have the instincts, resilience, and character to thrive in chaos. In the end, only one contestant will have what it takes to earn Wonka’s life-changing prize.”

Chris Culvenor, Paul Franklin, Rikkie Proost, David Tibballs, Alison Holloway, and Emer Harkin serve as executive producers. Rusty Goffe from the ’71 film returns as an Oompa Loompa.

A Killer Among Friends Season 2 Episode Guide & Air Dates

By
Rebecca Murray
-

Jennifer Love Hewitt returns to host the second season of ID’s A Killer Among Friends. The six-episode season kicks off July 20, 2026, with new episodes airing on Mondays at 9pm ET/PT.

Season two’s episodes involve the murders of an Auburn University student, a 14-year-old pitcher, a member of a California theater group, and a teenage computer whiz. Jennifer Love Hewitt narrates each episode and serves as an executive producer.

“Following in the footsteps of its first season, which featured shocking cases of deadly friendship betrayals that irrevocably fractured once-tight-knit groups of friends, A Killer Among Friends will continue to unpack devastating cases of deception among groups where everyone thought they knew everything about each other,” reads Investigation Discovery’s synopsis.

Additional executive producers include Julie Pizzi, Jesse Daniels, Farnaz Farjam, and Elissa Halperin.

A Killer Among Friends

A Killer Among Friends Season 2 Episodes

Secret Life of a Private Eye
Premieres on July 20 at 9pm ET/PT
After a woman disappears in Florida, her friends uncover a hidden life filled with new relationships and secrets. As investigators follow the trail, suspicion shifts toward someone in her inner circle who may know more than they’ve revealed.

Strike to Kill
Premieres on July 27 at 9pm ET/PT
When an Auburn University graduate disappears, her tight-knit group of friends falls under suspicion. As investigators chase leads and rumors spread, distrust grows until new evidence reveals a chilling truth about someone close to her.

The Murder Pact
Premieres on August 3 at 9pm ET/PT
When an 18-year-old computer whiz vanishes after leaving a friend’s house in rural Georgia, his close friend group bonds together to search for answers. As days pass with no sign of him, suspicion grows and detectives begin to question th9ose closest to him.

Staging A Murder
Premieres on August 10 at 9pm ET/PT
Investigators find a young woman murdered in a California apartment, throwing a tight-knit theater group into chaos. As they search for answers, suspicion spreads through the case, leaving friends to question who they can trust.

Murder Lasts Forever
Premieres on August 17 at 9pm ET/PT
When a teenager disappears in North Carolina, her group of friends and their usual hangout spot become the focus of the investigation into her disappearance. As their stories begin to change, suspicion grows and the truth about that night slowly comes into question.

Rivalry Fueled Murder
Premieres on August 24 at 9pm ET/PT
Investigators find a 14-year-old pitcher dead, and the discovery shocks residents in Davis, California, as a baseball rivalry suddenly emerges as a possible motive.

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