The CW’s sci-fi drama The 100 heads toward its season six finale with episode 12, “Adjustment Protocol.” The penultimate episode was directed by Antonio Negret from a script by Kim Shumway and is set to air on July 30, 2019 at 9pm ET/PT.
The cast of season six includes Eliza Taylor as Clarke Griffin, Paige Turco as Dr. Abigail Griffin, Bob Morley as Bellamy Blake, Marie Avgeropoulos as Octavia Blake, Lindsey Morgan as Raven Reyes, Richard Harmon as John Murphy, Tasya Teles as Echo, and Shannon Kook as Jordan Green. Luisa D’Oliveria is Emori, Sachin Sahel is Jackson, and Jarod Joseph is Miller.
The “Adjustment Protocol” Plot: CHANGES – A special Naming Day changes everything in Sanctum. Gabriel (guest star Chuku Modu) comes face to face with an old friend.
The 100 Season 6 Plot:
“After the game-changing season five finale, Clarke and the team make their way down to the new planet. They are left wondering if this planet is suitable for life, and if the human race can finally live in peace? What will they find on this new mysterious home, and what will emerge from Monty’s discovery of the Eligius III mission?”
Meghan Trainor and Sony Music just released the original track “Run Like the River” from the upcoming family-friendly animated film, Playmobil: The Movie. The new song is boppy, uplifting, and definitely targets a younger audience.
Trainor wrote “Run Like the River” specifically for the family movie and is joining the cast of the comedy. Daniel Radcliffe (the Harry Potter films), Anya Taylor-Joy (Split, Glass), Jim Gaffigan (The Jim Gaffigan Show), Gabriel Bateman (Child’s Play), Kenan Thompson (Saturday Night Live), and Adam Lambert (The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again) were previously announced as lending their voices to the 2019 theatrical release.
“Run Like the River” is the lead single off the soundtrack which features score music by Grammy Award winner Heitor Pereira (2006’s Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) for “What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?”). The soundtrack will be released on Friday, August 2, 2019.
“I played it for the director when I first met him, and I said, ‘You should have songs like this in your movie.’ Then the next day they called and were like, ‘We want that song!’ It was just a magical moment,” said Trainor.
Playmobil: The Movie is based on the bestselling children’s playsets. Lino DiSalvo makes his directorial debut with the film. Blaise Hemingway, Greg Erb, and Jason Oremland wrote the screenplay.
Playmobil: The Movie opens in theaters on August 30, 2019.
The Playmobil: The Movie Plot:
When her younger brother Charlie suddenly disappears into the magical, animated PLAYMOBIL® universe, Marla must embark on the adventure of her life to bring him home again. On her incredible journey through new exciting worlds, Marla meets very different, weird and heroic companions, among them the crazy foodtruck owner Del, the intrepid and charming secret agent Rex Dasher, a faithful, lovable robot, as funny as good fairy and many more. In the course of their spectacular adventure, Marla and Charlie realize that you can do anything in life if you believe in yourself!
AMC held a press conference at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con to promote the current (fifth) season of Fear the Walking Dead just after it had been publicly revealed the series would return for a sixth season. The zombie apocalypse action series is currently airing on AMC on Sundays at 9pm ET/PT and finds the central ragtag group of heroes attempting to locate and assist other survivors.
Cast members Ruben Blades, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Lennie James, Danay Garcia, Maggie Grace, Jenna Elfman, Karen David, and Alexa Nisenson joined executive producers Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg to discuss season five. The Walking Dead’s Austin Amelio, who crossed over from the parent series to the spin-off this season, also took part in the Fear the Walking Dead SDCC press conference.
Here are the key takeaways from the 2019 SDCC press conference.
On setting up season six:
Ian Goldberg: “Season five we [have] two parts with eight episodes chunks, but we really see five as one big epic story. But as you’ll see when you continue to watch, the back half of it all builds toward an ending which very much sets up what the design for season six is going to be. We’ve been planning it for a while. I’m sorry I can’t be more specific, but we have a plan. We have a plan.”
On how the show’s impacted them off the set:
Karen David: “You know, every time now when I’m walking in the woods or anywhere that’s scenic and beautiful, I used to think coming from Galavant you’d break out in song. And now all I can think of is, ‘Wow, it’d be really cool if some walkers came out of there!’ You name it – Botanical Gardens – all I think is I just go dark immediately.”
Austin Amelio: “I do think about it. I have had dreams…nightmares. It’s part of my thought process.”
Lennie James: “It’s a very weird thing that happens when I’m filming the show where I start having really lucid dreams. A couple of times my wife has had to leave the bed and go someplace else because I’m literally fighting zombies. So, it’s a little bit scary but it’s the mindset you have to be in, the place you have to go to do our show.
It kind of manifests itself in strange places and for me I get really lucid dreams. I wake up in the middle of the night going, ‘No, you can’t go there!’ and things like that. It’s weird.”
On not being the typical action hero:
Lennie James: “I was a badass long before this show. (Laughing) I think it’s the nature of the genre; it’s the nature of what Kirkman created in this that he already laid out with a variety of people, the very premise of it is the different people who can survive. I think the best example of that that I could come up with to a greater extent is like Alycia’s character who was a child when it all kind of started and who she’s manifested into. But, also, Melissa McBride’s character and what’s happened to her and her kind of transformation. They’re very kind of different people.
I mean being a badass, as it were, there’s a few of us who don’t cut the regular shape. But that’s one of the things I like about the genre is that it’s all encompassing. Right from its very inception it was diverse before people were using that phrase to describe what was happening, and it not just being monolithic. So, if I am a badass it’s because this genre made me one. (Laughing) Well, didn’t make me one because I was one before. But it helped me continue to be.”
On reading the script and learning what happens to Alicia in season five episode seven (‘Still Standing’):
Alycia Debnam-Carey: “I knew and had vague ideas about the storylines. Reading it, it was more just about focusing on this is more about reaching out and trying to connect with people after closing myself off for so long.
I think she’s just defined herself as a fighter. Not just physically a warrior but that she’s someone who when she’s in fight or flight mode, she just fights. And, so, in that moment it’s a realization but then it clicks back in, like, ‘Okay, keep going…keep going. Get the kids out to safety now and then I’ll deal with myself later.’
It felt to me as an actor that this is the final mode for Alicia that will change her. She’ll either spiral further down into darkness or she’ll decide to change and evolve into choosing happiness or wanting something more out of her life. It’s really defining the past and the future for her. That’s really what I got from seeing that episode.”
Jenna Elfman, Garret Dillahunt, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Lennie James, Maggie Grace and Danay Garcia in ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ season 5 episode 6 (Photo by Van Redin/AMC)
On Morgan and Alicia’s relationship:
Ian Goldberg: “The Morgan/Alicia relationship is one of the most exciting things for us to explore. It’s two characters who do share a lot of things in common. They both lost people close to them. It’s led both of them down paths of violence and keeping themselves at a distance and not getting close to people. It’s something they really connect on very early in the season.
They learn from each other and there’s tremendous growth that will happen for them over the course of the season because of each other and the shared history. There’s also a division of labor between the two of them. Morgan follows more of the humanist path and Alicia sets herself up as a protector. We’re going to see later on that there’s going to be a bit more of a crossover in what these roles mean for each of them – two very strong leaders.”
Alycia Debnam-Carey: “I’ll just add to that. You know, we really enjoy working with one another and I think we have the same approach and acting sensibility. Even when we’re supposed to be getting into it, there’s an ease to it.”
Lennie James: “Also, I think there’s a sense that them kind of going to war as to who’s the leader is kind of conventional. I feel like I’ve seen that. There’s something different going on here which is that they’re both kind of reluctant leaders.
Morgan feels himself to be a really good #2 and Alicia, to a certain extent, doesn’t realize just how powerful and how strong and how smart she may well be. The two of them together help each other get to that place which will benefit the group. If they succeed, they succeed together. If they fail, they fail together. I haven’t seen that story told nearly enough. I’m much more interested in telling that one than the one where we fight, because I’ve seen it.”
Alycia Debnam-Carey: “That’s really great!”
Lennie James: (Laughing) “Thank you. Can I go home now because that’s kind of it for me?”
On who they would bring back if they could bring back one character:
Lennie James: “Shiva, because I like tigers.”
Alycia Debnam-Carey: “I think it would be great to bring back Tobias from the pilot episode. He was the kid who knew it was all coming from the get-go.”
Lennie James: “And the first time you see him, he goes, ‘I told you this would happen! I told you!’”
Alycia Debnam-Carey: “Exactly!”
On going to a darker space with the series:
Karen David: “When I was first cast, this was a whole new universe for me. I’m used to breaking out in song or riding a magic carpet ride. Ian warned me. He said, ‘It’s none of that,’ but that’s what made me really excited.
Especially when you’re first starting out in a new show, it can be wonderfully challenging and overwhelming because you’re trying to bond with the cast and hoping everyone will like you. You want the viewers to embrace the new character and hope that they like her. I had all that going on in my head and then you’re trying to memorize your lines and make sure your American accent sounds as authentic as possible. Being in a darker but hopeful universe, I think I latched onto the hopefulness. And then I’d go back to the hotel room and watch cheesy Hallmark films just to keep me laughing and smiling again. And then come back and be hopeful the next day.”
Alycia Debnam-Carey: “I watch a lot of trash TV. (Laughing) I think there’s also a real importance of separation from who you are and your life and then the separation of work. That’s very important to me.”
On making the transition from The Walking Dead to Fear the Walking Dead:
Austin Amelio: “It’s awesome. It’s actually a funny story. When I heard that Fear was going to Austin, Texas, probably a couple of months before I was finished with the season of The Walking Dead, I was talking to Mr. Gimple – Scott – and I was like, ‘Hey Scott, wouldn’t it be funny if Dwight went down to Texas?’ because that’s my hometown. And then a couple months later I got the call.
He didn’t really ask me. He was like, ‘You should probably come down if you want a job.’ I was like, ‘For sure, I’ll come down.’
It’s been awesome. I love it. I get to film in my hometown. I get to be with all these wonderful people. We have a blast and we’re making incredible art. I couldn’t think of anything better. It’s awesome.”
On other characters potentially crossing over:
Ian Goldberg: “I think what is so exciting about having Morgan and Dwight crossover to Fear is that this is a universe that is constantly expanding and finding points of intersection in surprising ways. I think anything can happen, which is exciting. I would be shocked if this was the last crossover from one section of the universe to the other.”
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Season five episode nine airs on August 11th. The series will be back to kick off the remaining episodes of season five in October.
Louisa Krause and Anna Friel in ‘The Girlfriend Experience’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Starz has given The Girlfriend Experience fans reason to celebrate with the announcement of a third season order for the drama series. The limited series is based on the 2009 Steven Soderbergh film of the same name and has Oscar winner Soderbergh (Traffic) involved as an executive producer.
Philip Fleishman and Jeff Cuban also executive the Starz series. Anja Marquardt (She’s Lost Control) writes, directs, and serves as a co-executive producer.
Season one premiered on April 10, 2016. Season two followed on November 5, 2017. A premiere date hasn’t been set for season three which will consist of 10 new episodes.
Riley Keough earned a Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Golden Globe nomination for season one. The series currently registers an 81% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Details on The Girlfriend Experience, Courtesy of Starz:
Season one of The Girlfriend Experience followed Christine Reade (Riley Keough), a second-year law student. Working hard to establish herself as an intern at a prestigious law firm, her focus quickly shifts when a classmate introduces her to the world of transactional relationships.
The second season of the anthology series followed two parallel stories each focusing on entirely new characters, relationships, plotlines and locations while exploring the price of intimacy and its emotional consequences. Starring Anna Friel, Louisa Krause and Carmen Ejogo, the storylines for season two were juxtaposed between Washington, D.C. and New Mexico.
The Girlfriend Experience third season is set amidst the London tech scene where a young female neuroscientist begins to explore the transactional world of The Girlfriend Experience, only to find herself deep inside the Uncanny Valley with the relationships she creates.
NBC’s summer drama The InBetween season one continues with episode eight, “While the Song Remains the Same.” Episode eight was directed by P.J. Pesce and is set to air on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT.
Harriet Dyer stars as Cassie, Justin Cornwell is Damien Asante, Anne-Marie Johnson is Lt. Swanstrom, and Cindy Luna plays Det. Maria Salinas. Chad James Buchanan is Will and Arrow‘s Paul Blackthorne plays Tom Hackett.
The drama comes from writer/executive producer Moira Kirland (Castle, Madam Secretary). David Heyman, Nancy Cotton, and Matthew Gross executive produce, and Charlotte Sieling directed/executive produced the pilot.
The “While the Song Remains the Same” Plot – Tom (Blackthorne) and Damian (Cornwell) investigate the mysterious death of a vibrant young woman while Cassie’s (Dyer) visions reveal a complicated family story. Cassie also encounters an idol from her childhood in the InBetween and helps him right some past wrongs.
The Season 1 Plot:
“Cassie Bedford was born with a rare ability.
She has visions … whether she likes it or not. Sometimes Cassie sees events that have previously occurred or will happen in the future. In addition, sometimes she encounters unsettled spirits who need her help.
When her father, Det. Tom Hackett, and his new partner, former FBI Agent Damien Asante, need assistance solving a dark and puzzling murder, Cassie reluctantly agrees to use her abilities and helps solve some of the city’s most challenging cases.”
Harriet Dyer as Cassie Gallagher in ‘The InBetween’ season 1 episode 8 (Photo by: Sergei Bachlakov)Justin Cornwell as Damien Asante in season 1 episode 8 (Photo by: Sergei Bachlakov)Andres Joseph as Zayn Meier and Cindy Luna as Set. Maria Salinas in season 1 episode 8 (Photo by: Sergei Bachlakov)Justin Cornwell as Damien Asante and Paul Blackthorne as Tom Hackett in episode 8 (Photo by: Sergei Bachlakov)Cindy Luna as Set. Maria Salinas, Justin Cornwell as Damien Asante, and Paul Blackthorne as Tom Hackett (Photo by: Sergei Bachlakov)
The adult animated comedy series Big Mouth has earned three additional seasons ahead of its third season premiere. Netflix announced the early renewal order as part of a multi-year deal with Brutus Pink, the new animation production company created by Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Mark Levin, and Jennifer Flackett.
“Big Mouth brilliantly captures the most awkward phase in a person’s life, puberty, in a hilarious yet heartwarming way,” said Mike Moon, head of adult animation for Netflix. “We couldn’t be more excited to continue our relationship with Brutus Pink and bring more stories, more humor, and more hormones to Netflix members around the world.”
“Netflix has given us the best creative experience imaginable, and we’ve been able to build an amazing community of talented writers, actors, producers and artists. We’re thrilled to be continuing with everyone for years to come,” stated the Brutus Pink team in a press release announcing the deal between the new animation production company and Netflix.
Big Mouth has been nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards, two Annie Awards, and two MTV Movie & TV Awards.
Season three will premiere this fall.
The voice cast includes John Mulaney (John Mulaney: The Comeback Kid), Maya Rudolph (Maya & Marty), Jason Mantzoukas (The League, Lady Dynamite), Jordan Peele (Keanu, Key and Peele), Fred Armisen (Portlandia, Documentary Now!), Jenny Slate (Girls, Lady Dynamite), and Jessi Klein (Inside Amy Schumer).
The Big Mouth Plot:
Big Mouth is the fan beloved, critically acclaimed, and Emmy-nominated adult animated comedy about the glorious nightmare that is puberty. Inspired by Kroll and Goldberg’s childhood, it follows a group of friends and their hormone monsters as they navigate adolescence, human sexuality, and coming of age.
Series star Lucy Liu steps behind the camera again to direct season seven episode 11 of CBS’s Elementary. The episode titled “Unfriended” was written by Bob Goodman and will Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT.
Episode 11 guest stars include John Noble, Kristen Bush, Charlie Semine, Jodi Long, and Roderick Hill. January Lavoy, Lisbeth MacKay, Eric Elizaga, Kristoffer Cusick, Rachael Holmes, and Gabe Doran also guest star in “Unfriended.”
The cast of Elementary is led by Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu as Joan Watson. Aidan Quinn is Captain Tommy Gregson, Jon Michael Hill is Detective Marcus Bell, and James Frain plays Odin Reichenbach. Virginia Madsen and Jordan Gelber appear in recurring roles as Paige and M.E. Hawes.
The “Unfriended” Plot – Holmes and Watson join forces with Holmes’ father, Morland (John Noble), to enlist his vast criminal network to help disassemble tech billionaire Odin Reichenbach’s crime prevention system.
The Elementary Plot:
“Elementary stars Jonny Lee Miller as Detective Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson in a modern-day drama about a crime-solving duo that cracks the NYPD’s most impossible cases. Initially sober companion and client, Holmes and Watson’s relationship evolved into a symbiotic professional investigative partnership. Once the top homicide consultants for Captain Thomas Gregson, they worked regularly alongside Detective Marcus Bell before Holmes’ false confession to a murder he did not commit forced them to move to London.
Holmes and Watson forge new careers in England as consultants for Scotland Yard until they receive news that a member of their inner circle has been gravely wounded in the United States. As Holmes’ stateside legal trouble threatens to keep them from returning to New York, their greatest foe to date, tech billionaire Odin Reichenbach waits on the horizon to test their limits.”
Dagmara Dominczyk and Jeremy Strong in ‘Succession’ season 2 (Photo: Craig Blankenhorn / HBO)
HBO’s family drama Succession returns for its 10-episode second season on August 11, 2019 with an episode titled “The Summer Palace.” In support of the upcoming season, HBO’s released details on the first five episodes including air dates and cast lists.
The critically acclaimed drama was created by showrunner Jesse Armstrong and stars Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Hiam Abbass, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, Alan Ruck, Nicholas Braun, and Matthew Macfadyen. Season two’s cast also includes Peter Friedman, Rob Yang, J. Smith Cameron, Dagmara Dominczyk and Arian Moayed.
Newcomers to the series include Holly Hunter, Cherry Jones, Danny Huston, Jeannie Berlin, and Fisher Stevens.
Armstrong executive produces with Adam McKay, Frank Rich, Kevin Messick, Will Ferrell, Jane Tranter, Mark Mylod, Tony Roche, and Scott Ferguson.
The Season 2 Plot:
Beginning where season one dramatically left off, season two follows the Roy family as they struggle to retain control of their empire, and while the future looks increasingly uncertain, it is the past that threatens to ultimately destroy them.
Succession Season 2 Episodes 1 Through 5:
Season 2, episode 1: “The Summer Palace”
Debut date: SUNDAY, AUG. 11 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Still addled from the events in England, Kendall (Jeremy Strong) tries to make amends with his dad for his takeover attempt betrayal. Logan (Brian Cox) receives some unvarnished advice from his financial banker about the next best move for Waystar Royco. As Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) maneuvers for a new position in the company, Shiv (Sarah Snook) tries to determine whether Logan is playing mind games regarding his successor.
Written by Jesse Armstrong; directed by Mark Mylod.
Season 2, episode 2: “Vaulter”
Debut date: SUNDAY, AUG. 18 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Kendall (Jeremy Strong) do a “routine health check” of a new media brand to help Vaulter to determine the future of the company. Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) tasks Greg (Nicholas Braun) with sniffing out waste at ATN, as Greg wonders if the divisive media outlet is the right fit for him. Connor (Alan Ruck) and Willa (Justine Lupe) host a soiree to mark their return to New York. Shiv (Sarah Snook) brings Tom in the loop about her future at Waystar and with Gil’s (Eric Bogosian) campaign.
Written by Jon Brown; directed by Andrij Parekh.
Season 2, episode 3: “Hunting”
Debut date: SUNDAY, AUG. 25 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Logan (Brian Cox) informs his skeptical management team of his plan to make another attempt to acquire Pierce, a rival media company and one of the most respected names in news, and brings back Frank (Peter Friedman) to work on the deal. Convinced the acquisition is a terrible idea, Shiv (Sarah Snook) asks Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) to deliver the message to Logan at a corporate retreat in Hungary. Greg (Nicholas Braun) worries his pre-meeting with a Logan biographer puts his standing with the family at risk. Connor’s (Alan Ruck) presidential announcement irritates Logan.
Written by Tony Roche; directed by Andrij Parekh.
Season 2, episode 4: “Safe Room”
Debut date: SUNDAY, SEPT. 1 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Roman (Kieran Culkin) begins a six-week management training program in the Parks division and is irritated about spending so much time with “normals.” Logan (Brian Cox) brings Shiv in for a day at Waystar, raising suspicions with Kendall (Jeremy Strong) and Gerri (J. Smith-Cameron). Connor (Alan Ruck) and Willa (Justine Lupe) attend the funeral of a family friend with a complicated past. Logan and Kendall arrange a covert meeting with PGM CEO Rhea Jarrell (Holly Hunter), as a controversy surrounding a star anchor leads to a day of chaos at ATN headquarters.
Written by Georgia Pritchett; directed by Robert Pulcini & Shari Springer Berman.
Season 2, episode 5: “Tern Haven”
Debut date: SUNDAY, SEPT. 8 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Logan (Brian Cox) attempts to solidify his buyout of PGM at a weekend retreat at the Pierce family home, where Shiv (Sarah Snook), Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Connor (Alan Ruck) veer from their carefully orchestrated roles. As the Pierces question whether an alliance with Waystar Royco will tarnish their legacy, Kendall (Jeremy Strong) makes his case to Naomi Pierce (Annabelle Dexter-Jones) during a drug-filled night.
Written by Will Tracy; directed by Mark Mylod.
“All right, what’s the matter, partner?” asks Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). “It’s official, old buddy…I’m a has-been,” replies Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) after a meeting with a Hollywood producer has Dalton thinking his best days of acting are behind him in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
The year is 1969 and Rick Dalton, the former star of a popular Western television series, is struggling to reinvigorate his career by guest starring in TV pilots. He’s even considering going to Italy to make Spaghetti Westerns. His best friend, chauffeur, and stunt double Cliff Booth spends his days and nights driving Dalton to sets, running errands for him, and trying to keep his ego from hitting rock bottom.
Living next door to Dalton is film director Roman Polanski and his wife, the gorgeous actress Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) whose career is on the rise. Dalton confesses to Booth one evening as he’s being driven home that maybe one night he’ll be invited to one of Polanski’s parties and that would be it, career restarted.
As Dalton struggles on a set to play a villain in a popular TV show, Booth drives around in Dalton’s Cadillac Coupe DeVille. He picks up a cute young hippie hitchhiker (Margaret Qualley) who he’s seen – and smiled at – before. She asks him to take her to the Spahn movie ranch in Chatsworth where she lives with other hippies. She’s excited for Booth to meet her friend Charlie Manson but finds out he’s already off on a road trip.
Booth, who has a bad feeling about the group of people his new hitchhiker friend’s hanging out with, decides to check things out. He’s not there long before he makes a wise decision and takes his leave of the place.
As Dalton tries to save what’s left of his career under the watchful eye of his long-time best friend, he and Booth – along with Sharon Tate – are set on a collision course to a bloody and murderous night in Hollywood that will change their lives forever.
Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood uses revisionist history to create a love letter to the golden age of Hollywood. With skillful craftsmanship, incredible period costumes, and outstanding set design, Tarantino working in collaboration with production designer Barbara Ling and set decorator Nancy Haigh have managed to bring back to life 1969 Hollywood in all its glory. It’s a monumental achievement likely to earn technical year-end award nominations.
Leonardo DiCaprio delivers an effective, high-strung performance as Rick Dalton, a once promising TV action star whose career is now headed into a downward spiral fueled by self-doubt and desperation. DiCaprio’s Dalton is a whiny, self-absorbed, semi-talented man who’s starting to face the fact he will never be as good as he thought he would be.
Brad Pitt delivers one of his best performances to date as the cool, not quick to anger best friend and stunt double who wouldn’t have any kind of career in Hollywood if it wasn’t for his friendship with Dalton. Pitt’s Cliff Booth is the rock Dalton leans on both to keep him grounded and to get his ego boost when he needs it. Pitt and DiCaprio have solid chemistry together and come off as old best friends who are as close as brothers and just as loyal, always looking out for each other in difficult situations.
Margot Robbie shines as Sharon Tate, the sweet, bubbly, and very likeable wife of Roman Polanski whose acting career is just getting off the ground. Robbie perfectly captures Tate’s innocence and kind nature as well as her love of music and fun. One of the film’s weaknesses is that Robbie doesn’t get enough screen time as Tate.
Clocking in at around two and a half hours, the film does start to lose some of its momentum and interest early in the third act. Fortunately, Tarantino gets it back on track as it becomes suspenseful and intense while building to a climax.
With superb set and production design, engaging performances, and a fantastic soundtrack (a Tarantino trademark), Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood does a terrific job of entertaining the audience while paying tribute to an era in filmmaking and Hollywood that’s long since disappeared.
GRADE: B
MPAA Rating: R for language throughout, some strong graphic violence, drug use, and sexual references
Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally, and Sean Hayes star in ‘Will & Grace’ (Photo by Meghan Connor / NBC)
Bad news for fans of smart comedies… NBC announced Will & Grace will come to an end after its upcoming 11th season. The network confirmed the series starring Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally, and Sean Hayes will finish up with season 11 which is set to premiere in 2020.
“When NBC had the opportunity to reconnect this amazing cast and creative team, we jumped at the chance. The impact and legacy of Will & Grace simply can’t be overstated, both as a true game-changer in the portrayal of the LGBTQ community and as one of the finest comedies in television history. A huge thank you to Max, David, Jimmy and a cast that is second to none for their brilliance over an incredible run,” said George Cheeks and Paul Telegdy, Co-Chairmen, NBC Entertainment.
The award-winning half-hour comedy will have aired 246 episodes by the time the season 11 finale airs. The series has earned 91 Emmy Award nominations, winning 18. It’s also earned seven Screen Actors Guild Awards along with seven GLAAD Awards and a Directors Guild of America award.
Executive producers Max Mutchnick, David Kohan and James Burrows issued a lengthy statement about the decision to end the show after season 11:
“We think of the Will & Grace reboot episodes the way Karen Walker thinks of martinis – 51 is not enough, 53 is too many. That is why, after consulting with the cast, we all have decided this will be the final season of Will & Grace.
In 2016, Bob Greenblatt came to us with the idea of doing a 10-episode reboot of Will & Grace. They say you can’t go home again, but we did. And now, three seasons and 52 episodes later, we’re even more proud of something we never thought we’d get a chance to do again. We have had a once-in-a-lifetime experience twice. And for that, we owe a double debt of gratitude to NBC, this show’s supportive and caring home since day one.
It’s been the highlight of our careers to write for and direct four incredible artists who we consider to be the finest and funniest ensemble sitcom cast of all time – Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally, and Sean Hayes.
Of course, actors as brilliant as these four are only as good as the words they’re given. The Will & Grace writing room has been a dream team that has consistently lifted the show to heights we never could have achieved on our own with their collective humor, warmth, and humanity.
The hardest part about making this decision is saying goodbye to our outstanding production team and crew who, over two decades, brought passion and artistry to every department. If we had just one more season, we would have learned their names. So, thank you Handlebar Mustache, Cheese Lady, and Cargo Shorts #1 – #12. We will always think of you as family.
And finally, our deepest gratitude goes to each and every Will & Grace fan across the world. It was a privilege to make you laugh.”
