Edi Patterson, Adam Devine, and Danny McBride star in ‘The Righteous Gemstones’ (Photo: Ryan Green/HBO)
HBO’s renewed the comedy series The Righteous Gemstones for a second season just four episodes into the first season. The adult comedy began its nine-episode first season run on August 18, 2019, with new episodes arriving on Sundays at 10pm ET/PT.
“Danny, Jody and David are among our favorite collaborators and we’re thrilled that their take on a family comedy has been met with such enthusiasm,” said Amy Gravitt, executive vice president, HBO Programming. “We cannot wait to share the next steps in the Gemstone family’s epic journey. Hallelujah!”
The cast of season one is led by Danny McBride, John Goodman, Edi Patterson, and Adam Devine. Danny McBride created the comedy series and serves as writer. McBride also executive produces and directs along with Jody Hill and David Gordon Green. David Brightbill produces, and John Carcieri, Jeff Fradley, and Brandon James executive produce.
Frequent collaborators McBride, Hill, and Green previously created the popular half-hour comedies Eastbound & Down and Vice Principals for HBO.
The Righteous Gemstones Plot Details, Courtesy of HBO:
Well into the second generation of a grand televangelist tradition, the renowned Gemstone family is living proof that worship pays dividends in all sizes, including their megachurch. McBride stars as Jesse Gemstone, the eldest of three grown Gemstone offspring, who looks to lead in his father’s footsteps, but finds his past sins jeopardizing the family ministry. Goodman, Patterson, Devine, Walton Goggins, Cassidy Freeman, Tony Cavalero, Tim Baltz and Greg Alan Williams also star.
CBS’s long-running reality survival competition series, Survivor, will return for its 39th season on Wednesday, September 24, 2019. With the new season just two weeks away, the network’s finally revealed the list of 20 castaways who will be attempting to outwit, outplay, and outlast their fellow Survivor competitors.
Jeff Probst returns as host for season 39 which will feature winners Boston Rob Mariano and Sandra Diaz-Twine returning to the series to mentor the new castaways.
“For our 39th season, we are bringing back two of our most dominant winners to serve as mentors to a new group of castaways,” stated executive producer and host Jeff Probst. “It’s a Survivor boot camp where each week, players will be instructed on a different facet of the game and then have a chance to test what they’ve learned for a shot at an advantage.”
According to CBS, Boston Rob and Sandra will “share their knowledge with the new castaways, but for the first time, they won’t be competing for the money. During the 39 days, some castaways will have the opportunity to visit the Island of the Idols to learn skills and strategy from these ‘idols.’ Each player, selected to visit the special island in various ways throughout the season, will have to decide if they should put their knowledge to the test for a chance at a possible advantage in the game, or risk losing something very important in the process. Those who can rise up to the challenge will possibly gain an advantage and continue their individual quest for $1 million and the title of Sole Survivor.”
Season 39’s adventures take place on Mamanuca Islands in Fiji.
Survivor Season 39 Castaways
“LAIRO” TRIBE
Ronnie Bardah (35)
Hometown: Brockton, Mass.
Current Residence: Henderson, Nev.
Occupation: Pro Poker Player
Elizabeth Beisel (26)
Hometown: Saunderstown, R.I.
Current Residence: Saunderstown, R.I.
Occupation: Olympic Medalist
Missy Byrd (24)
Hometown: Decatur, Ga.
Current Residence: Tacoma, Wash.
Occupation: Air Force Veteran
Dean Kowalski (28)
Hometown: Westfield, N. J.
Current Residence: New York, N.Y.
Occupation: Tech Sales
Tom Laidlaw (60)
Hometown: Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Current Residence: Greenwich, Conn.
Occupation: Former NHL Player
Gavin Hood’s Official Secrets is a deep dive into a specific case of extraordinary individual heroism. The R-rated drama’s based on true events and focuses on the incredible story of Katharine Gun, a woman who put her safety of her country and the lives of British soldiers over her own welfare.
Two-time Oscar nominee Keira Knightley (The Imitation Game, Pride & Prejudice) delivers an outstanding performance as Katharine Gun, a British intelligence specialist who works for the GCHQ (Britain’s signals intelligence agency). As the possibility of an invasion of Iraq inches closer to reality, Katharine and the other employees in her unit receive an unusual memo from the NSA. The memo reveals the British government is assisting United States President George W. Bush’s plans for war by gathering compromising material on members of the United Nations Security Council.
It’s a shocking request and one that immediately sets Katharine on edge. Her unit is expected to gather the material so the United States and British governments can blackmail UN Security Council members to vote for an invasion of Iraq. The request doesn’t sit well with Katharine who, prior to the memo, would often tell her husband (Adam Bakri) she believed Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George W. Bush were spreading lies about the need to invade Iraq.
During her employment, Katharine had obeyed the rules and never gave the GCHQ any reason to doubt her loyalty. However, the memo was an unethical and morally corrupt attempt at involving her country in what would be an illegal war. Fully aware of the consequences, Katharine acted and leaked the memo in defiance of her government and at the risk of being labeled a traitor.
Steven Spielberg’s The Post told the story of the Washington Post’s decision to print the Pentagon Papers. Hood’s film also involves the process involved in the decision by a prominent paper to print material provided by a whistleblower. In this case, it’s the British newspaper, The Observer, and the implications of that paper releasing a copy of the NSA memo. That aspect of the story could have been dry or detracted from Katharine’s story. It doesn’t due to smart writing and terrific performances by Matthew Goode, Matt Smith, Rhys Ifans, and Conleth Hill as staff of The Observer.
The Observer’s editor Roger Alton (Hill) and reporters Martin Bright (Smith) and Peter Beaumont (Goode) engaged in a vigorous debate over the possibility they were being duped by an anti-war activist attempting to pass off a fake memo as the genuine article. The Observer would be putting their credibility on the line, and the film reveals the inner workings of the newspaper during that difficult – and testy – decision process.
Official Secrets also touches upon Katharine Gun’s legal team led by Ben Emmerson (Ralph Fiennes), James Welch (John Heffernan), and Shami Chakrabarti (Indira Varma). They worked incredibly hard to come up with a defense strategy that ultimately factored heavily in the government’s decision about prosecuting Katharine for divulging the classified memo.
The story’s compelling and Hood keeps it crisp and clean. Hood did extensive research and was determined to stick to the actual story rather than taking artistic license in its telling. The result is a powerful, character-driven film that’s relevant, thought-provoking, and engrossing.
Grade B+
MPAA Rating: R for language
Running Time: 112 minutes
Studio: IFC Films
Keira Knightley stars in IFC Films’ ‘Official Secrets’
CBS has just released the first photos along with a plot description for season two episode one of the dramatic action series, Magnum P.I.. The series returns on Friday, September 27, 2019 at 9pm ET/PT with an episode titled “Payback for Beginners” directed by Bryan Spicer from a script by Peter M. Lenkov and Eric Guggenheim.
The season two premiere’s guest cast includes Michael Patrick Thornton, Sonya Balmores, Alex Solowitz, Matt Gerald, Jacqueline Lord, Ron Encarnacion, and Kelemete Misipeka.
Jay Hernandez stars as Thomas Magnum, Perdita Weeks plays Juliet Higgins, and Zachary Knighton is Orville “Rick” Wright. Stephen Hill is Theodore “TC” Calvin, Tim Kang is Det. Gordon Katsumoto, and Amy Hill plays Kumu. Brooke Lyons appears in a recurring role as Abby Miller.
The “Payback for Beginners” Plot – While Magnum waits for Higgins to decide if she’ll officially become his partner, he takes the case of a missing wife who witnessed her boss’ murder during a bank robbery. Also, Rick makes a big decision about his career.
The Series Description, Courtesy of CBS:
“Magnum P.I. is a modern take on the classic series centering on Thomas Magnum, a decorated former Navy SEAL who, upon returning home from Afghanistan, repurposes his military skills to become a private investigator. A charming rogue, an American hero and a die-hard Detroit Tigers fan, Magnum lives in a guest cottage on Robin’s Nest, the luxurious estate where he works as a security consultant to supplement his P.I. business.
The “majordomo” of the property is Juliet Higgins, a beautiful and commanding disavowed MI:6 agent whose second job is to keep Magnum in line, with the help of her two Dobermans. When Magnum needs back-up on a job, he turns to his trusted buddies and fellow POW survivors, Theodore “TC” Calvin, a former Marine chopper pilot who runs Island Hoppers, a helicopter tour business, and Orville “Rick” Wright, a former Marine door-gunner-turned-impresario of Oahu’s coolest nightclub and the most connected man on the island.
Suspicious of Magnum’s casual attitude and presence at his crime scenes, Detective Gordon Katsumoto finds that he and Magnum are more alike than either of them care to admit. One of Magnum’s biggest supporters is Teuila “Kumu” Tuileta, the unofficial “House Mom” and cultural curator of Robin’s Nest. With keys to a vintage Ferrari in one hand, aviator sunglasses in the other, and an Old Düsseldorf longneck chilling in the fridge, Thomas Magnum is back on the case!”
Season 10 of CBS’s Hawaii Five-0 kicks off with an episode titled “Ua ʻeha ka ʻili i ka maka o ka ihe” which translates to “the skin has been hurt by the point of the spear.” Season 10 episode one was directed by Duane Clark from a script by David Wolkove and Matt Wheeler (story by Peter M. Lenkov).
The season premiere will air on Friday, September 27, 2019 at its new time of 8pm ET/PT.
Season 10 episode one guest stars include Katie Wee, Paul S.W. Lee, Eddie Anderson, Rob Morrow, and Roland Nip. Wes Zane, Hank Holliday, Grace Lee, Dennis Takeshita, Lehua Kalima, and Ryan Souza also guest star in “Ua ʻeha ka ʻili i ka maka o ka ihe.”
Alex O’Loughlin leads the cast as Steve McGarrett. Scott Caan plays Danny “Danno” Williams, Ian Anthony Dale is Adam Noshimuri, Meaghan Rath is Tani Rey, and Jorge Garcia plays Jerry Ortega. Beulah Koale stars as Junior Reigns, Chi McBride is Captain Lou Grover, Katrina Law is Quinn Liu, Taylor Wily plays Kamekona, Dennis Chun is Sgt. Duke Lukela, and Kimee Balmilero plays Dr. Noelani Cunha.
“Ua ʻeha ka ʻili i ka maka o ka ihe” Plot – A new ally helps McGarrett and Five-0 when mob bosses on the island are being targeted by an assassin. Also, Five-0 says goodbye to one of their own.
The Series Description, Courtesy of CBS:
“Hawaii Five-O is a contemporary take on the classic series about an elite federalized task force whose mission is to wipe out the crime that washes up on the islands’ sun-drenched beaches. Detective Steve McGarrett, a decorated Naval officer turned cop, returned to Oahu after Hawaii’s former governor persuaded him to head up the new team: his rules, no red tape and full blanket authority to hunt down the biggest “game” in town.
Joining McGarrett are Detective Danny “Danno” Williams, a relocated ex-New Jersey cop who is committed to keeping the islands safe for his children; Captain Lou Grover, who formerly headed Hawaii’s SWAT unit; Jerry Ortega, the islands’ local conspiracy theorist; Tani Rey, a bold, recent police academy graduate; Junior Reigns, a former SEAL who comes to McGarrett looking for a job, Adam Noshimuri, a friend with old ties to a deadly crime family and Quinn Liu, a former Staff Sergeant with Army CID who was recently demoted for insubordination.
Helping them is Kamekona, a local entrepreneur who has his pulse on the Island; Sgt. Duke Lukela, a trusted member of the HPD; and medical examiner Dr. Noelani Cunha. The state’s brash Five-0 unit, who may spar and jest among themselves, remain determined to eliminate the seedy elements from the 50th state.”
Poppy Montgomery and Tamala Shelton in ‘Reef Break’ season 1 episode 13 (ABC/Vince Valitutti)
Season one of ABC’s summer action drama Reef Break draws to a close with episode 13, “Endgame.” Season one episode 13 was directed by Steve Pearlman from a script by Michelle Lirtzman and will air on Friday, September 13, 2019.
La La Anthony guest stars as Regina O’Casey.
The cast of season one is led by Poppy Montgomery (Without a Trace, Unforgettable) as Cat Chambers. Montgomery also serves as an executive producer. The series is based on a story idea by Montgomery and Sanzel.
Season one also features Ray Stevenson (Black Sails, Rome) as Jake Elliot, Desmond Chiam (The Shannara Chronicles, Now Apocalypse) as Wyatt Cole, Melissa Bonne (Home and Away, Pulse) as Ana Dumont, and Tamala Shelton (Nowhere Boys, Cleverman) as Petra.
The “Endgame” Plot – Cat Chambers is on the run and fearing for her life and freedom. Hearts are broken and futures are uncertain as Cat faces her toughest case yet—to clear her own name.
Season One Details, Courtesy of ABC:
“Reef Break is a sexy, action-packed, one-hour drama, starring Poppy Montgomery as Cat Chambers, a thief-turned-fixer for the governor of a stunning and seductive Pacific Island paradise. Impulsive, reckless, and irresistible, Cat’s less-than-perfect past gives her an instinctive gift for understanding crime and criminals as she becomes enmeshed in fast-paced, high-octane adventures and island intrigue.”
La La Anthony in season 1 episode 1 13 (ABC/Vince Valitutti)Poppy Montgomery and Tamala Shelton in season 1 episode 13 (ABC/Vince Valitutti)Akosia Sabet in season 1 episode 13 (ABC/Vince Valitutti)Ray Stevenson and La La Anthony in season 1 episode 13 (ABC/Vince Valitutti)
Alana De La Garza joins the cast of CBS’s FBI for season two, playing Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille. The network’s released details on season two episode one, “Little Egypt,” including photos, cast information, and plot details. The first episode of the new season was directed by Arthur Forney from a script by Rick Eid and will air September 24, 2019.
New episodes of FBI arrive on Tuesdays at 9pm ET/PT.
The season two cast includes Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell, Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom ‘OA’ Zidan, Ebonée Noel as Kristen Chazal, and Jeremy Sisto as Jubal Valentine.
John Boyd guest stars as Stuart Scola, Kristen’s partner out in the field. Additional guest stars include Jared Ward, Nik Sadhnani, Paul Karmiryan, Jack DiFalco, Jon Haslam, Dahlia Azama, Ethan Hova, and Alok Tewari.
The “Little Egypt” Plot – After a bomb detonates at a restaurant in Queens, the case becomes personal for OA, who grew up eating there. But what initially seems like a terrorist attack reveals itself to be more complex, and OA goes undercover to prevent another incident.
The FBI Plot, Courtesy of CBS:
“FBI is a fast-paced drama about the inner workings of the New York office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This elite unit brings to bear all their talents, intellect and technical expertise on major cases in order to keep New York and the country safe. Born into a multigenerational law enforcement family, Special Agent Maggie Bell commits deeply to the people she works with as well as those she protects. Her partner is Special Agent Omar Adom ‘OA’ Zidan, a West Point graduate via Bushwick who spent two years undercover for the DEA before being cherry-picked by the FBI.
Overseeing them is Special Agent in Charge, Isobel Castille, who operates under intense pressure and has undeniable command authority. The team also includes Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine, the nerve center of the office whose ability to easily relate to and engage with both superiors and subordinates makes him a master motivator. Kristen Chazal is the team’s most valued resource, a brilliant analyst recruited straight out of university who can piece together the big picture faster than anyone. These first-class agents tenaciously investigate cases of tremendous magnitude, including terrorism, organized crime and counterintelligence.”
It appears we’ll learn the status of all those involved in the ambulance crash cliffhanger when NBC’s New Amsterdam returns with season two episode one. The first episode of season two is titled “Your Turn” and will air on September 24, 2019, with new episodes arriving on Tuesdays at 10pm ET/PT.
The cast is led by Ryan Eggold as Dr. Max Goodwin. Freema Agyeman plays Dr. Helen Sharpe, Janet Montgomery is Dr. Lauren Bloom, Jocko Sims is Dr. Floyd Reynolds, Anupam Kher plays Dr. Vijay Kapoor, and Tyler Labine is Dr. Iggy Frome.
The Series Plot, Courtesy of NBC:
“Inspired by the oldest public hospital in America, this unique medical drama follows the brilliant and charming Dr. Max Goodwin, the institution’s newest medical director who sets out to tear up the bureaucracy and provide exceptional care. How can he help? Well, the doctors and staff have heard this before.
Not taking “no” for an answer, Dr. Goodwin must disrupt the status quo and prove he will stop at nothing to breathe new life into this understaffed, underfunded and underappreciated hospital — the only one in the world capable of treating Ebola patients, prisoners from Rikers and the President of the United States under one roof — and return it to the glory that put it on the map.”
Ryan Eggold as Dr. Max Goodwin and Tyler Labine as Dr. Iggy Frome in ‘New Amsterdam’ season 2 episode 1 (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)Ana Villafane as Dr. Valentina Castro and Ryan Eggold as Dr. Max Goodwin in “Your Turn” (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)Anupam Kher as Dr. Vijay Kapoor and Ryan Eggold as Dr. Max Goodwin in season 2 episode 1 (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)Ryan Eggold as Dr. Max Goodwin in season 2 episode 1 (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)Ryan Eggold as Dr. Max Goodwin in “Your Turn” (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
CBS’s Bull returns to kick off its fourth season on Monday, September 23, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT with an episode titled “Labor Days.” Season four episode one of the hour-long drama was directed by Bethany Rooney from a script by Glenn Gordon Caron.
The cast is led by Michael Weatherly as Dr. Jason Bull, Freddy Rodriguez as Benny Colón, Geneva Carr as Marissa Morgan, Jamie Lee Kirchner as Danny James, Christopher Jackson as Chunk Palmer, and MacKenzie Meehan as Taylor Rentzel.
Season four episode one guest stars include Yara Martinez, David Furr, Monique St. Cyr, Jeremy Landon Hays, Drew Valins, and Nathan Klau. Doug Yasuda, Albert Jones, Billy Beyrer, Brennan Brown, Kate Grimes, Amir Arison, Kit Flanagan, Kerry Flanagan, Gio Castellano, and Brian Calì also guest star in “Labor Days.”
“Labor Days” Plot – As Bull prepares for fatherhood, his work at TAC suffers without his top attorney, Benny, who quit in reaction to Bull’s romantic reconnection to his ex-wife and Benny’s sister, Isabella (Yara Martinez). In addition, the team faces a difficult time in court as they mount a defense for a young bartender on trial for involuntary manslaughter.
Bull Series Details, Courtesy of CBS:
Bull stars Michael Weatherly as Dr. Jason Bull in a drama inspired by the early career of Dr. Phil McGraw, the founder of one of the most prolific trial-consulting firms of all time. Brilliant, brash and charming, Dr. Bull is the ultimate puppet master as he combines psychology, human intuition and high-tech data to learn what makes jurors, attorneys, witnesses and the accused tick. His personal life proves harder to manage as he tries to live a healthier lifestyle following a heart attack and learns he is expecting a child with his ex-wife.
Bull employs an enviable team of experts at Trial Analysis Corporation to shape successful narratives down to the very last detail. This includes his quick-witted former brother-in-law, Benny Colón, a lawyer who acts as defense attorney in the company’s mock trials; Marissa Morgan, a neurolinguistics expert from the Department of Homeland Security who monitors shifting jury reactions in real-time for Bull; former NYPD detective Danny James, the firm’s tough but relatable investigator; Taylor Rentzel, a working mother and former colleague of Marissa’s who is an expert in coding and computer hacking; and Chunk Palmer, a former all-American lineman and stylist-turned-law student who helps clients prepare their look and testimony for trial.
In high-stakes trials, Bull’s combination of remarkable insight into human nature, three Ph.D.’s and a top-notch staff creates winning strategies that tip the scales of justice in his clients’ favor.
Milo Ventimiglia to star in ‘Evel’ (Photo by Glenn Francis / Provided by USA Network)
USA Network has tapped This Is Us star Milo Ventimiglia to play daredevil Evel Knievel in Evel. The just-announced limited series will shoot in 2020, but USA Network hasn’t confirmed when they expect Evel to premiere.
“USA Network is known for big event series that celebrate heroes, rebels, and icons, and what could be bigger than the story of one of the greatest thrill-seekers of all time?” said Chris McCumber, President, Entertainment Networks – USA Network and SYFY. “The incredible life and journey of Evel Knievel lends itself to a dramatic retelling, and we are excited to be partnering with Milo, McG, UCP, Atlas and Wonderland to bring this iconic American tale to our viewers.”
Etan Frankel (Sorry For Your Loss, Shameless, Animal Kingdom) is on board to write and serve as an executive producer. McG, Mary Viola, and Steven Bello of Wonderland Sound & Vision; Alex Gartner, Charles Roven and Topher Rhys-Lawrence of Atlas Entertainment; and Ventimiglia are also executive producing.
In addition to his starring role as Jack Pearson in NBC’s This Is Us, Milo Ventimiglia’s recent credits include The Art of Racing in the Rain. In that tearjerker, Ventimiglia starred as race car driver Denny Swift opposite Amanda Seyfriend and a scene-stealing canine named Enzo (voiced by Kevin Costner). Ventimiglia also starred in the feature films Second Act, Wild Card, Grace of Monaco, Grown Ups 2, and Killing Season.
The Evel Plot:
“USA Network has ordered the Milo Ventimiglia-led limited series Evel, which is based on the story of larger-than-life 70’s daredevil Evel Knievel as he prepares for his greatest death-defying feat, the historic Snake River Canyon jump. Evel is an exhilarating portrait of a complex man living the American dream, juggling meteoric celebrity and raising a family — and facing the very real probability that his next jump will kill him.”
