‘The Good Place’ Earns a Much Deserved Fourth Season

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December 4, 2018

The Good Place stars Kristen Bell and Ted Danson — Kristen Bell as Eleanor Shellstrop and Ted Danson as Michael in ‘The Good Place’ season 3 (Photo by: Colleen Hayes / NBC)

NBC has officially confirmed The Good Place has earned a fourth season order. According to NBC, the third season of The Good Place has been drawing in 4.6 million viewers on average. Its audience ranks as the most educated among all four major networks’ primetime programming.

The network didn’t announce the episode order for the show’s upcoming fourth season.

Kristen Bell and Ted Danson led the cast of the award-winning half-hour comedy. William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, Manny Jacinto and D’Arcy Carden also star in season three which is currently airing on Thursdays at 8:30pm ET/PT.

Michael Schur (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Parks and Recreation) created the comedy and serves as writer and showrunner. Schur also executive produces along with David Miner (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, 30 Rock), Morgan Sackett (Parks and Recreation, Veep) and Drew Goddard (Oscar-nominated writer of The Martian).

“Congratulations to Mike Schur and an exceptional cast and crew, all of whom collaborate to create a thoughtful, mind-bending and hysterical series unlike anything else on television,” stated Tracey Pakosta and Lisa Katz, Co-Presidents, Scripted Programming, NBC Entertainment. “We can’t wait to see what unexpected stories the new season will bring.”

The Good Place has been nominated for two Emmys: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Ted Danson) and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (Maya Rudolph). The show also won an AFI Award and two Critics’ Choice Awards.

The Plot:

From creator Michael Schur comes a unique comedy about what makes a good person. The show follows Eleanor Shellstrop (Bell), an ordinary woman who enters the afterlife, and thanks to some kind of error, is sent to the Good Place instead of the Bad Place (which is definitely where she belongs). While hiding in plain sight from Good Place Architect Michael (Danson), she’s determined to shed her old way of living and earn her spot.

The first two seasons featured surprise after surprise and twist after twist, including a world-upending season one finale that threw everything up in the air. At the end of season two, Michael appeared in front of the Judge (Maya Rudolph) to argue that the humans may have been judged unfairly, and deserve a second chance. With a snap of her fingers, the Judge sent the humans back to Earth, in a new timeline where they never died.

Also seeking redemption, along with Eleanor, are Senegalese philosopher Chidi Anagonye (Harper), who is tortured by decision-making; elegant Pakistani-British socialite Tahani Al-Jamil (Jamil) and dance-obsessed Floridian Jason Mendoza (Jacinto). Michael is aided by Janet (Carden), a human-esque repository for all of the knowledge in the universe.

AFI Awards: 2018’s Lists Include ‘Mary Poppins Returns,’ ‘A Star is Born’ and ‘Black Panther’

By

Rebecca Murray

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December 4, 2018

AFI Awards Black Panther — T’Challa/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) in a scene from ‘Black Panther’ (Photo: Matt Kennedy © Marvel Studios 2018)

The American Film Institute has chimed in on the best films and television series of 2018. The annual AFI Awards are selected by juries consisting of artists, authors, film critics, television critics, and film historians. This year’s juries included Courtney B. Vance, Alfre Woodard, David Benioff, and Leonard Maltin, as well as critics from Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, and Variety.

The film jury was chaired by AFI Board of Trustees Vice Chair Tom Pollock, former Vice Chairman of MCA, Chairman of Universal Pictures. Richard Frank (former Chairman of Walt Disney Television, President of Walt Disney Studios, President of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences) chaired the television jury.

Each year the AFI Awards recognize the outstanding achievements of 10 films and 10 television series the juries deem “culturally and artistically significant.” According to the American Film Institute, the chosen television shows and films were selected for advancing the art of the moving image, enhancing the rich cultural heritage of America’s art form, inspiring audiences and artists alike, and making a mark on American society.

AFI MOVIES OF THE YEAR

BLACK PANTHER

AFI TV PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR

THE AMERICANS

The AFI Awards film jury also chose to honor Roma with an AFI Special Award.

‘Pennyworth’ Casts Polly Walker in a Recurring Role

By

Rebecca Murray

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December 4, 2018

Pennyworth Polly Walker — Polly Walker joins ‘Pennyworth’ (Photo Courtesy of EPIX)

The Epix drama Pennyworth has added Polly Walker (The Mentalist, Rome) to its season one cast in a recurring role. Walker has signed on to play Peggy Sykes in the series, which delves into the backstory of Batman’s butler, Alfred Pennyworth. Jack Bannon was previously announced to star in the title role.

According to the casting announcement, Peggy Sykes is the sister of Bet Sykes, played by Paloma Faith. Peggy is described as “one of Lancashire’s busiest and most successful dominatrixes. The sensible matriarch in a family of maniacs, Peggy is fiercely loyal, endlessly resourceful, and lives by her own strange but rigorous moral code.”

Filming is currently underway on the 10-episode first season at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, UK. The Warner Horizon Scripted Television project comes from writer/executive producer Bruno Heller and director/executive producer Danny Cannon.

The Pennyworth Plot:

The drama follows Bruce Wayne’s legendary butler, Alfred Pennyworth (Bannon), a former British SAS soldier in his 20’s, who forms a security company and goes to work with a young billionaire Thomas Wayne (Ben Aldridge), who’s not yet Bruce’s father, in 1960s London.

The Characters:

Alfred Pennyworth is a boyishly handsome, cheerful, charming, clever young man from London. Honest, open-faced, and witty; you’d never take him for a SAS killer. Alfred doesn’t know how to reconcile the kind-hearted boy he used to be with the cold, calculated killer he was forced to become. He’s a man on the make, who doesn’t know what to make of himself yet.
Thomas Wayne is a young, fresh-faced billionaire hailing from the east coast of the United States. Confident and extremely disciplined, this young aristocrat meets an unlikely business partner in Alfred Pennyworth.
Dave Boy (Ryan Fletcher), a haggard Highland Scotsman who is slowly drinking himself to death since leaving the army, is a close ally of Alfred and Bazza and also the most unpredictable of the trio.
Bazza (Hainsley Lloyd Bennett), a posh Bajan playboy, is highly proficient at logistics and a valued member of Alfred’s team.
Lord Harwood (Jason Flemyng) is an upper-class Englishman; he’s cultured, urbane, brilliant, and supremely sure of himself. His sadistic, cruel nature has a veneer of charm.
Bet Sykes is a spirited, sadistic, and sharp-tongued villain.

‘Sex Education’ Coming of Age Series Gets a January 2019 Premiere Date

By

Rebecca Murray

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December 4, 2018

Sex Education Season 1 — Asa Butterfield and Emma Mackey in ‘Sex Education’ season 1 (Photo Credit: Jon Hall/Netflix)

Netflix will be delivering a little Sex Education to help kick off the new year. The streaming service has set a January 11, 2019 premiere date for the new comedy/drama created and written by Laurie Nunn. In addition, a new batch of photos have been released in support of the series’ first season.

Asa Butterfield (Ender’s Game, Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children, Hugo) leads the season one cast of the coming-of-age series playing Otis Milburn. Gillian Anderson (The X-Files, American Gods) is Otis’ mom, Ncuti Gatwa is Otis’ best friend, and Emma Mackey (Badger Lane) plays the mastermind behind the underground sex therapy clinic. Kedar Williams-Stirling (Will), Aimee-Lou Wood, and Connor Swindells (Keepers) co-star in the show’s first season.

According to Netflix, season one consists of eight one-hour episodes. Ben Taylor (Catastrophe) and Kate Herron (Five by Five) directed, with Jamie Campbell executive producing. The Eleven Film production has Sian Robins-Grace on board as a co-executive producer.

Season one is set in the fictional town of Moordale and was shot in Wales, UK.

The Plot:

Meet Otis Milburn – an inexperienced, socially awkward high school student who lives with his mother, a sex therapist. Surrounded by manuals, videos and tediously open conversations about sex, Otis is a reluctant expert on the subject. When his home life is revealed at school, Otis realizes that he can use his specialist knowledge to gain status. He teams up with Maeve, a whip-smart bad-girl, and together they set up an underground sex therapy clinic to deal with their fellow students’ weird and wonderful problems. Through his analysis of teenage sexuality, Otis realizes he may need some therapy of his own.

‘Good Trouble’ Season 1 Episode 1 Preview: “DTLA” Photos, Cast and Plot

By

Rebecca Murray

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December 4, 2018

Freeform’s set to kick off the first season of Good Trouble, the highly anticipated spinoff of The Fosters, on January 8, 2019 at 8pm ET/PT. In support of season one episode one, Freeform’s released new photos along with a plot description.

Season one’s cast includes Maia Mitchell (Hot Summer Nights, Teen Beach 2) as Callie Jacob, Cierra Ramirez (The Secret Life of the American Teenager) as Mariana Adams Foster, Tommy Martinez (Riverdale) as Gael, Zuri Adele as Malika, Sherry Cola (I Love Dick) as Alice, Roger Bart (A Series of Unfortunate Events) as Judge Wilson, Emma Hunton (Happy Endings) as Davia, and Ken Kirby (The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo) as Benjamin.

Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) directed the first episode and serves as an executive producer with series creators/showrunners Joanna Johnson, Peter Paige, and Bradley Bredeweg. Gregory Gugliotta, Christine Sacani, Jennifer Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Benny Medina, and series stars Maia Mitchell and Cierra Ramirez also executive produce.

The “DTLA” Plot: After moving to The Coterie in Downtown Los Angeles, Callie and Mariana realize that living on their own is not all that it’s cracked up to be. Faced with new neighbors, new challenges and, of course, new romances, the sisters must depend on one another to navigate the City of Angels.

The Season 1 Plot:

Good Trouble follows Callie (Maia Mitchell) and Mariana (Cierra Ramirez) as they embark on the next phase of their young adult lives in Los Angeles, as Mariana tackles the male-dominated world of tech and Callie faces the harsh realities of the federal legal system clerking for a federal judge.

After moving to The Coterie in Downtown Los Angeles, Callie and Mariana realize that living on their own is not all that it’s cracked up to be. Faced with new neighbors, new challenges and, of course, new romances, the sisters must depend on one another to navigate the City of Angels.

Good Trouble Season 1 Episode 1 — Cierra Ramirez and Maia Mitchell in ‘Good Trouble’ season 1 episode 1 (Freeform/Beth Dubber)

‘Captain Marvel’ New Trailer with Brie Larson and Loads of New Action Scenes

By

Rebecca Murray

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December 3, 2018

Marvel Studios just introduced the new full trailer for the much-anticipated action adventure film, Captain Marvel. The trailer dropped one day after the release of a gorgeous new poster for the comic book-inspired film starring Brie Larson in the title role. Fans watching ESPN’s Monday Night Football got the first look at the new video, immediately followed by its release online.

In addition to Brie Larson as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel, the 2019 superhero film stars Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury, Ben Mendelsohn as Talos, Djimon Hounsou as Korath, Guardians of the Galaxy‘s Lee Pace as Ronan, and Lashana Lynch as Maria Rambeau. The cast also includes Gemma Chan as Minn-Erva, Rune Temte as Bron-Char, Algenis Perez Soto, Mckenna Grace as the young Carol Danvers, Annette Bening, Jude Law as Starforce, and Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson.

Marvel Studios’ Captain Marvel was directed by the filmmaking team of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. Boden and Fleck wrote the screenplay with Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Jac Schaeffer from a story by Nicole Perlman, Joe Shrapnel, and Anna Waterhouse. Kevin Feige produces, and Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Jonathan Schwartz, Patricia Whitcher, and Stan Lee (may he rest in peace) served as executive producers.

Disney’s set a March 8, 2019 theatrical release date for the Marvel Studios film. Brie Larson will be seen reprising her as Captain Marvel shortly thereafter in Avengers 4 which opens on May 3, 2019.

The Plot:

Set in the 1990s, Marvel Studios’ Captain Marvel is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that follows the journey of Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes. While a galactic war between two alien races reaches Earth, Danvers finds herself and a small cadre of allies at the center of the maelstrom.

Captain Marvel Poster — Poster for Marvel Studios’ ‘Captain Marvel’ starring Brie Larson

‘The Twilight Zone’ Adds John Cho, Allison Tolman and Jacob Tremblay

By

Rebecca Murray

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December 3, 2018

The cast of CBS All Access’ upcoming science fiction series The Twilight Zone has expanded by three. John Cho (Searching), Allison Tolman (Good Girls), and Jacob Tremblay (The Book of Henry) have signed on to the season one episode, “The Wunderkind.”

The reboot of The Twilight Zone will be hosted and narrated by actor/filmmaker Jordan Peele. Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions is producing the new Twilight Zone with CBS Television Studios and Simon Kinberg’s Genre Films. Peele and Kinberg are joined by Win Rosenfeld, Audrey Chon, Glen Morgan, Carol Serling, Rick Berg, and Greg Yaitanes as season one executive producers.

Cho, Tolman, and Tremblay join previously announced cast members Sanaa Lathan, Adam Scott, and Kumail Nanjiani in the show’s upcoming first season.

John Cho’s recent credits include The Exorcist TV series, The Oath, Better Luck Tomorrow, and the Star Trek and Harold & Kumar films. Cho earned a Film Independent Spirit Awards nomination in the Best Male Lead category for 2018’s Searching.

Allison Tolman earned a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her work in FX’s Fargo. She took home the Critics’ Choice Award in the Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries category for Fargo. Tolman’s credits also include Castle Rock, Downward Dog, Krampus, and The Sisters Brothers.

Jacob Tremblay burst onto the scene in the 2015 dramatic film Room starring Brie Larson. Tremblay earned the Critics’ Choice Best Young Actor/Actress award and the Breakthrough Performance award from National Board of Review. He was nominated in the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role by the Screen Actors Guild.

CBS All Access is targeting a 2019 premiere. In anticipation of the reboot, CBS All Access has every episode of the classic series hosted by Rod Serling available to stream.

A Look Back at The Twilight Zone, Courtesy of CBS All Access:

“The original The Twilight Zone premiered on Oct. 2, 1959 on CBS. The series took viewers to another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind. “The Twilight Zone” became a worldwide phenomenon as it used socially conscious storytelling to explore the human condition and culture of the times. It was a journey into a wondrous land of imagination for five years on CBS, from 1959 to 1964. The godfather of sci-fi series, the show explored humanity’s hopes, despairs, prides and prejudices in metaphoric ways conventional dramas could not.”

‘You’ Season 2 Starring Penn Badgley Moves to Netflix

By

Rebecca Murray

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December 3, 2018

You Elizabeth Lail and Penn Badgley — Elizabeth Lail and Penn Badgley star in the dramatic series ‘You’ season 1 (Photo Courtesy of Lifetime Copyright 2018)

Lifetime announced an early second season order for You prior to the dramatic thriller’s season one premiere on September 9, 2018. However, the series’ 10 episode first season didn’t generate the anticipated ratings for the cable network. That, combined with Lifetime’s shift away from original series, factored into the decision not to move forward with a second season.

Fortunately for fans of the Dexter-ish thriller, You‘s run isn’t over after just a single season. It was just announced You will make the leap to Netflix for its upcoming second season.

Netflix already had a deal in place for the show and had planned a December 26, 2018 premiere of season one on the streaming service. Season two, which will now be a Netflix global original, doesn’t have a confirmed premiere date.

Lifetime issued the following statement regarding the show’s move to Netflix. “Lifetime had an incredible experience working with Greg Bertlanti, Sera Gamble and the entire team on You for Season 1. We wish the cast and crew the best as the series continues on at Netflix and can’t wait for the opportunity to work with the creative team again.”

You is based on the novel by Caroline Kepnes and was developed for TV by Gamble and Berlanti. They serve as executive producers along with Sarah Schechter, Leslie Morgenstein, Gina Girolamo, and Marcos Siega.

Season one starred Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg, Elizabeth Lail as Guinevere Beck, and Luca Padovan as Paco. Zach Cherry played Ethan, Shay Mitchell was Peach Salinger, Nicole Kang played Lynn, and John Stamos appeared as a special guest.

The Season 1 Plot:

“You is a 21st century love story about an obsessive, yet brilliant twentysomething who uses the hyper connectivity of today’s technology to make the woman of his dreams fall in love with him. ‘What would you do for love?’ When a brilliant bookstore manager crosses paths with an aspiring writer, his answer becomes clear: anything. Using the Internet and social media as his tools to gather the most intimate of details and get close to her, a charming and awkward crush quickly becomes obsession as he quietly and strategically removes every obstacle – and person – in his way.”

Queen and Adam Lambert 2019 North American Tour Dates Announced

By

Rebecca Murray

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December 3, 2018

Hot on the heels of Bohemian Rhapsody‘s box office success, Queen has just announced they’ll hit the road in 2019 with the “Rhapsody” tour. Adam Lambert will once again join remaining original Queen band members Brian May and Roger Taylor for the North American tour which will visit 23 cities next summer.

Spike Edney will handle the keyboards, Neil Fairclough joins the tour on bass, and percussionist Tyler Warren is also committed to the “Rhapsody” tour.

The “Rhapsody” tour will kick off in Vancouver on July 10, 2019 and will stop in cities including Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, and New Orleans. The tour’s set to finish up on Friday, August 23rd at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“We are ready for America and raring to get back in the saddle,” said Roger Taylor, announcing the upcoming “Rhapsody” tour dates.

“We have been designing a brand new visual spectacle that will reframe these iconic songs and we are excited to unveil it!” said Lambert about the 2019 tour. Adam Lambert first performed with Queen on the 2009 season final of American Idol. He’s since paired up with the iconic rock band for 180 shows.

“This is a great opportunity. Our last tour featured our most ambitious production ever and got us our best notices ever. So we decided to rip it apart and get even more ambitious! Watch out, America!” added original Queen band member Brian May.

Set designer Ric Lipson promises the 2019 tour will be a larger-than-life production. “Queen + Adam Lambert’s Rhapsody tour will, once again for them, expand the parameters of what a live music experience can be. This new show promises to be their most spectacular yet, an innovative and interactive celebration of the continued power of Queen’s music,” said Lipson.

The general public will be able to purchase “Rhapsody” tour tickets beginning December 7 at 10am local time via LiveNation.com. A special presale will take place on December 6th for members of the Queen and Adam Lambert Fan Club.

Queen and Adam Lambert “Rhapsody” Tour Dates:

#theRhapsodyTour @QueenWillRock SUMMER 2019 North America pic.twitter.com/r7NQx3Mago

— ADAM LAMBERT (@adamlambert) December 3, 2018

‘The Flash’ Season 5 Episode 9 Photos: “Elseworlds, Part 1” Crossover Event

By

Rebecca Murray

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December 3, 2018

The CW’s The Flash temporarily moves to Sunday night on December 9, 2018 to kick off this season’s massive crossover event with the series’ ninth episode of season five. The Flash begins the three-night crossover with an episode titled “Elseworlds, Part 1” directed by Kevin Tancharoen from a script by Eric Wallace and Sam Chalsen.

“Elseworlds, Part 2” is also Arrow‘s season seven episode nine airing on Monday, December 10th at 8pm ET/PT. The Arrow portion of the “Elseworlds” crossover features the introduction of Ruby Rose as Batwoman. Legends of Tomorrow skips involvement in the crossover which will conclude with Supergirl‘s season four episode nine airing on December 11th at 8pm ET/PT.

The Flash season five cast includes Grant Gustin as Barry Allen/The Flash, Tom Cavanagh as Harrison Wells, Danielle Panabaker as Caitlin Snow, Carlos Valdes as Cisco, Candice Patton as Iris West, and Jesse L Martin as Joe West. The cast also includes Hartley Sawyer as Ralph Dibny, Jessica Parker Kennedy as Nora West-Allen, and Danielle Nicolet as Cecile Horton.

The “Elseworlds, Part 1” Plot: EPIC ELSEWORLDS CROSSOVER KICKS OFF TONIGHT — When Barry Allen (Gustin) and Oliver Queen (guest star Stephen Amell) wake up one morning and realize they have swapped bodies with each other, the two set off to find out what disturbed the timeline to cause such a shift. However, things quickly go from bad to worse when they present their case to Team Flash and the gang doesn’t believe them.

Barry and Oliver realize they need Supergirl’s (guest star Melissa Benoist) help and travel to Smallville on Earth-38 where they end up meeting Kara’s cousin, Clark Kent (guest star Tyler Hoechlin), and intrepid reporter, Lois Lane (guest star Elizabeth Tulloch). LaMonica Garrett guest stars as The Monitor.