HBO’s set to premiere the new dramatic series, Here and Now, starring Tim Robbins and Holly Hunter on February 11, 2018. The drama comes from Alan Ball (Six Feet Under, True Blood, Banshee) who executive produces along with Peter Macdissi (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks) and David Knoller (Big Love).
The 10 episode first season will also star Jerrika Hinton (Grey’s Anatomy), Daniel Zovatto (Don’t Breathe), Raymond Lee (Mozart in the Jungle), Sosie Bacon (The Closer), Andy Bean (Power), Joe Williamson (Looking), and Peter Macdissi (Six Feet Under).
In support of the series’ upcoming premiere, HBO has provided details on the first three episodes along with a lengthy plot description of Alan Ball’s latest collaboration with the network.
The Plot: On the surface, the Bayer-Boatwrights of Portland, Ore. are the model of a progressive, multiracial family. Greg is a respected philosophy professor and author; his wife, Audrey, is a former therapist turned conflict-resolution consultant for middle and high schools. Greg and Audrey have three adopted children, Ashley, Duc and Ramon, and a biological daughter, Kristen. But as Audrey prepares for Greg’s 60th birthday party, deep cracks begin to appear in the domestic façade, threatening to upend their very way of life, and they are eventually forced to take Ramon to Dr. Farid Shokrani, a Muslim psychiatrist with demons of his own.
Greg (Tim Robbins) and Audrey (Holly Hunter) adopted three children from different countries and backgrounds in an effort to create a family that reflects the multicultural potential of the country. The Colombian-born Ramon (Daniel Zovatto), who’s starting a relationship with Henry (Andy Bean), a barista, begins therapy with Dr. Farid Shokrani (Peter Macdissi) after hallucinogenic encounters with the numbers “11:11.” Duc (Raymond Lee), adopted from Vietnam, enjoys the fruits of a lucrative career as a “motivational architect,” but his celibacy troubles the family.
Liberian-born Ashley (Jerrika Hinton), who runs a retail-fashion business, begins to struggle with her identity as an African-American woman in modern-day America and is finding more and more reason to shake up her marriage with her husband, Malcolm (Joe Williamson). And Kristen (Sosie Bacon), the youngest child at 17, chafes at her banal life and heritage, especially compared to her more exotic siblings.
Here and Now February 2018 Episodes:
- Episode #1: “Eleven, Eleven”
Debut date: SUNDAY, FEB. 11 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
As Audrey Bayer (Holly Hunter) puts the finishing touches on her husband Greg’s 60th birthday party – a milestone Greg (Tim Robbins) is loath to celebrate – cracks begin to emerge in their progressive, multiracial family. Ramon (Daniel Zovatto), the couple’s Colombian-born son, who’s just starting a relationship with Henry (Andy Bean), a barista, is having unexplained, recurring encounters with the numbers “11:11.” Duc (Raymond Lee), adopted from Vietnam, enjoys the fruits of a lucrative career as a “motivational architect,” but his celibacy troubles Audrey.
Liberian-born Ashley (Jerrika Hinton), a successful fashion-industry exec, is finding more and more reason to shake up her marriage with her husband, Malcolm (Joe Williamson). And 17-year-old Kristen (Sosie Bacon), the couple’s youngest child, chafes at her banal life, especially compared to her more exotic siblings.
After a troubling incident at the birthday party, Audrey and Greg take Ramon to a therapist, Dr. Farid Shokrani (Peter Macdissi), who has an unlikely and unexplainable connection to the young man.
Written and directed by Alan Ball. - Episode #2: “It’s Coming”
Debut date: SUNDAY, FEB. 18 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Ramon (Daniel Zovatto) and Shokrani (Peter Macdissi) explore the possible psychic connection between “11:11” and a photograph in the doctor’s office. Kristen (Sosie Bacon) and Ashley (Jerrika Hinton) run into trouble. Duc (Raymond Lee) gets good news about his self-help manuscript, but his mood is dampened by the publisher’s request. Audrey (Holly Hunter) is enlisted to help break up a politically incorrect new society at school. Disturbed in part by a medical diagnosis, Greg (Tim Robbins) loses his cool in the classroom. Ramon crashes a family meeting.
Written by Alan Ball; directed by Uta Briesewitz. - Episode #3: “If a Deer Sh*ts in the Woods”
Debut date: SUNDAY, FEB. 25 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Greg (Tim Robbins) gets detoured in the wilderness on the way to an ethics convention. Audrey (Holly Hunter) finds herself in the media crosshairs after a hate crime at school. Following a mountain-bike race with best friend Malcolm (Joe Williamson) and their pals, Duc (Raymond Lee) reveals the secret to staying in control, a credo that’s tested by Carmen (Fernanda Andrade), a fellow life coach. Haunted by a painful memory, Shokrani (Peter Macdissi) looks for unconventional help to get him through a wedding. With help from Ashley (Jerrika Hinton), Kristen’s (Sosie Bacon) crush on a predator comes to an end. Audrey ends an otherwise bad day with a rare good night with Greg.
Written by Mohamad El Masri; directed by Uta Briesewitz.
