First poster for ‘The Politician’ (Photo Credit: Netflix)
Netflix just announced the premiere date for Ryan Murphy’s new series, The Politician. The one-hour timely comedy will debut on the streaming service on September 27, 2019.
Season one’s cast is led by Ben Platt (Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, the Pitch Perfect films). Platt’s co-stars include Gwyneth Paltrow (Avengers: Infinity War), Jessica Lange (Murphy’s American Horror Story), Zoey Deutch (The Year of Spectacular Men), Lucy Boynton (Bohemian Rhapsody), and Bob Balaban (Broad City). David Corenswet (Moe and Jerryweather), Julia Schlaepfer (Charlie Says), Laura Dreyfuss (After Party), Theo Germaine, Rahne Jones, and Benjamin Barrett (The Night Stalker) also star in the show’s first season.
Murphy wrote the first season and serves as showrunner and executive producer. Murphy’s joined by his frequent collaborators Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan as writers and executive producers.
About The Politician Season 1:
“Payton Hobart (Ben Platt), a wealthy student from Santa Barbara, California, has known since age seven that he’s going to be President of the United States. But first he’ll have to navigate the most treacherous political landscape of all: Saint Sebastian High School. To get elected Student Body President, secure a spot at Harvard, and stay on his singular path to success, Payton will have to outsmart his ruthless classmates without sacrificing his own morality and carefully crafted image.
Full of dark comedy and sly satire, Ryan Murphy’s The Politician offers a rare glimpse into just what it takes to make a politician.”
Two-time Grammy Award nominee Jennifer Lopez will be celebrating her 50th birthday with the “It’s My Party” tour. The upcoming tour, which marks her first-ever US headlining tour, will hit 25 cities in North America beginning at The Forum in Los Angeles on June 7, 2019. Lopez will perform in cities including San Antonio, Phoenix, Chicago, Orlando, and Detroit before wrapping up the summer tour on July 25th at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, FL.
Tickets for the “It’s My Party” tour are set to go on sale to the general public starting Friday, March 29th at 10am local time via LiveNation.com. A special American Express Card Members presale begins on Tuesday, March 26th at 10am local time and runs through Thursday, March 28th at 10pm local time.
Over the course of her music career Lopez has earned three AMAs, three ASCAP Pop Music Awards, eight Billboard Latin Music Awards, and two VMAs. She also entered the record books as the first woman to receive Billboard Music Awards’ lifetime achievement Icon Award for outstanding contribution to pop music.
Per LiveNation’s official tour announcement: “Fans can anticipate a signature Jennifer Lopez show each night – the “It’s My Party” tour will feature a nonstop party mix of Jennifer’s new and classic anthems, show-stopping choreography and dancers, dazzling wardrobe, jaw-dropping technology and set design, and all of the glamour and wow-factor fans have come to expect of Jenny from the Block.”
Jennifer Lopez “It’s My Party” Tour Dates:
Friday, June 7, 2019 – Los Angeles, CA at The Forum
Monday, June 10, 2019 – San Diego, CA at Pechanga Arena
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 – Sacramento, CA at Golden 1 Center
Thursday, June 13, 2019 – San Jose, CA at SAP Center
Saturday, June 15, 2019 – Las Vegas, NV at T-Mobile Arena
Sunday, June 16, 2019 – Phoenix, AZ at Talking Stick Resort Arena
Wednesday, June 19, 2019 – Denver, CO at Pepsi Center
Friday, June 21, 2019 – San Antonio, TX at AT&T Center
Saturday, June 22, 2019 – Edinburg, TX at Bert Ogden Arena
Monday, June 24, 2019 – Dallas, TX at American Airlines Center
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 – Houston, TX at Toyota Center
Friday, June 28, 2019 – St.Paul, MN at Xcel Energy Center
Saturday, June 29, 2019 – Chicago, IL at United Center
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 – Milwaukee, WI at Summerfest
Friday, July 5, 2019 – Detroit, MI at Little Caesars Arena
Sunday, July 7, 2019 – Toronto, ON at Scotiabank Arena
Wednesday, July 10, 2019 – Montreal, QC at Centre Bell
Friday, July 12, 2019 – New York, NY at Madison Square Garden
Tuesday, July 16, 2019 – Mansfield, MA at Xfinity Center
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 – Washington, DC at Capital One Arena
Friday, July 19, 2019 – Newark, NJ at Prudential Center
Saturday, July 20, 2019 – Philadelphia, PA at Wells Fargo Center
Monday, July 22, 2019 – Atlanta, GA at State Farm Arena
Tuesday, July 23, 2019 – Orlando, FL at Amway Center
Thursday, July 25, 2019 – Miami, FL at American Airlines Arena
Fox’s popular medical drama The Resident continues with Jenna Dewan, Corbin Bernsen, Julianna Guill, Miles Gaston Villanueva, and Tasso Feldman in guest starring roles. Season two episode 18 titled “Emergency Contact” is set to air on Monday, March 25, 2019 at 8pm ET/PT.
The season two cast includes Matt Czuchry as Conrad Hawkins, Bruce Greenwood as Dr. Randolph Bell, Emily VanCamp as Nicolette, and Manish Dayal as Devon Pravesh. Shaunette Renée Wilson is Mina Okafor, Malcolm-Jamal Warner is Dr. AJ Austin, Jane Leeves is Dr. Kit Voss, and Glenn Morshower plays Marshall Winthrop.
The “Emergency Contact” Plot: Chastain picks up the pieces after the fall out with the corrupt medical device company Quovadis, leaving Marshall ready to charter new territory in the medical field, and Devon to finally discover the truth about what happened to Julian Booth (guest star Jenna Dewan). As Conrad and Alec team up to help a young gymnast experiencing mysterious symptoms, Nic focuses on her sister, who’s back with their estranged father, Kyle (guest star Corbin Bernsen), in tow. Meanwhile, Bell rushes to Kit’s aid when her ex-husband comes to the ER needing emergency surgery.
The Season 2 Plot:
Season two finds star resident Dr. Conrad Hawkins continuing to make difficult calls in the best interests of his patients. But, having rekindled a romantic relationship with nurse Nicolette “Nic” Nevins, the two now must face unresolved issues from their past. Conrad’s father, Marshall Winthrop, has taken over as head of Chastain, and comes into direct conflict with the hospital’s newly minted CEO, Dr. Randolph Bell.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mina Okafor continues to work with her larger-than-life mentor, Dr. AJ Austin. However, the skills of new ortho surgeon Dr. Kitt Voss could lead Mina on a different path. First-year resident Dr. Devon Pravesh becomes intrigued by new medical device rep Julian Booth, whose presence at the hospital will upend business as usual for everyone there.
The first season of ABC’s dramatic series The Rookie continues with episode 17 titled “The Shake Up.” The upcoming episode was directed by Steve Robin from a script by Alexi Hawley and is set to air on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT.
Season one episode 17 guest stars include Sarah Shahi as Jessica Russo, Joel McHale as Brad Hayes, Greg Cromer as Captain Tom Weatherby, Rocky Marquette as Byron and Kurt Caceres as Russell.
The season one cast is led by Nathan Fillion as John Nolan and includes Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, and Richard T. Jones as Sergeant Wade Grey. Titus Makin plays Jackson West, Mercedes Mason is Captain Zoe Andersen, Melissa O’Neil is Lucy Chen, Afton Williamson plays Talia Bishop, and Eric Winter is Tim Bradford.
“The Shake Up” Plot – A massive earthquake rocks the city and throws everyone’s patrols and its citizens into chaos. Meanwhile, agent Russo (Sarah Shahi) recommends Officer Nolan for a protective detail of Brad Hayes (Joel McHale), a man whose dealings have put a target on his head.
The Season One Plot:
Starting over isn’t easy, especially for small-town guy John Nolan (Fillion) who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of being a Los Angeles police officer. As the force’s oldest rookie, he’s met with skepticism from some higher-ups who see him as just a walking midlife crisis. If he can’t keep up with the young cops and the criminals, he’ll be risking lives including his own. But if he can use his life experience, determination and sense of humor to give him an edge, he may just become a success in this new chapter of his life.
Eric Winter and Nathan Fillion in ‘The Rookie’ season 1 episode 17 (ABC/Richard Carwright)Eric Winter in season 1 episode 17 (ABC/Richard Carwright)Michael Trucco and Nathan Fillion in season 1 episode 17 (ABC/Richard Carwright)Eric Winter and Nathan Fillion in season 1 episode 17 (ABC/Richard Carwright)
Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly), John Dutton (Kevin Costner), Monica Long (Kelsey Asbille), Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley), Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) in ‘Yellowstone’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Paramount Network)
Paramount Network has set a June 19, 2019 premiere date for the second season of Yellowstone and they’ve released the first official photo from the upcoming season. The series will air new season two episodes on Wednesdays at 10pm ET/PT.
Season one of the drama attracted an average of 5.1 million viewers per episode, making it the most watched new cable series of 2018.
Cast members returning for the show’s second season include Kevin Costner as John Dutton, Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton, Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton, Wes Bentley as Jamie Dutton, Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler, Kelsey Asbille as Monica Dutton, Brecken Merrill as Tate Dutton, Jefferson White as Jimmy Hurdstrom, and Gil Birmingham as Thomas Rainwater.
The series was created by Oscar nominee Taylor Sheridan (Hell or High Water) and John Linson. Oscar-winner Kevin Costner (Dances with Wolves) executive produces Yellowstone along with Sheridan, John Linson, Art Linson, and David C. Glasser.
The one-hour drama is produced by Paramount Network and 101 Studios.
The Season 1 Plot:
“Yellowstone, Paramount Network’s epic scripted dramatic series, stars Costner as John Dutton who controls the largest contiguous ranch in the United States. Amid shifting alliances, unsolved murders, open wounds, and hard-earned respect – the ranch is in constant conflict with those it borders – an expanding town, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park.”
Jordan Peele takes us on a trip down the rabbit hole with his second feature film directorial project, Us. Get Out introduced the talented actor/producer/writer as a force to be reckoned with behind the camera, and Us solidifies his place as one of the most impressive storytellers to emerge in recent years.
Us focuses on a middle-class family on vacation in Santa Cruz, CA. Mom Adelaide Wilson (Lupita Nyong’o) is freaked out by the prospect of a day at the beach, but dad, Gabe (Winston Duke), is all-in on making the most of his escape from the rat race. In fact, within hours of arriving at Adelaide’s childhood home, he buys a not-so-gently-used boat. The motor works only when it feels like it, but Gabe’s giddy over his new purchase. (He’s so proud of being a boat owner that you just know that particular vehicle’s going to play a role in events that unfold later.)
Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph), a typical teen glued to her phone, and youngest son Jason (Evan Alex) complete the family unit.
Adelaide’s unease while at the Santa Cruz beach and its nearby amusement park puts a damper of sorts on the family’s visit with their friends, the Tylers (played by Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker, Cali Sheldon, and Noelle Sheldon). Adelaide’s spidey sense has been ramping up from tingles to jolts, and she’s certain the town’s horrifying secrets are soon to be revealed.
Adelaide’s premonition of impending violence proves correct when four creepy strangers show up in the driveway on the second night of the family’s vacation. These bizarre strangers stand there, mute, staring at the home as Gabe—who’s a pretty wimpy dude considering his physical appearance and the fact he has two young children to protect—attempts to make contact.
What follows that initial introduction of the creepy family clad in matching red jumpsuits is unexpected and terrifying. These intruders are doppelgängers of the Wilson family in appearance, but not in personality or intelligence. These are insane and twisted versions of the Wilsons, and their invasion of Adelaide’s childhood home quickly escalates into a life-and-death battle.
Both Get Out and Us avoided horror film tropes and, for the most part, avoided the use of jump scares. Peele doesn’t freak out the audience by serving up blood and guts, although there is plenty of action and violence. Instead of gore, his Us plays on our fears that something evil might well lurk deep inside us.
Jordan Peele’s twisted psychological horror film features a terrific cast led by Lupita Nyong’o. Nyong’o delivers an award-worthy performance as both a fierce mama bear and her homicidal doppelgänger. The incredible range on display as Nyong’o brings both characters—one intense and relatable, the other a warped fun-house version of a mother—is phenomenal, and it’s Nyong’o who keeps you engaged throughout the weirdness that is Us.
Winston Duke provides the film its few much-needed moments of levity, playing a bumbling good guy ill-prepared for this slide into a Twilight Zone-ish nightmare. Shahadi Wright Joseph and Evan Alex also do terrific work as they pull double duty by playing both normal kids on vacation as well as their depraved doppelgängers.
The lighting, sets, and score help amp up the level of fear and dread as the family’s lives spiral out of control. In a particular stroke of genius, Peele selected the Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations” followed by N.W.A.’s “**ck Tha Police” to cap off particularly harrowing death scenes.
The ending of Us might not be perfect, but the acts leading up to it are comparable to the best of Peele’s Get Out. Us is surprisingly thought-provoking for the genre and a film you’re likely to think about in your sleepless hours of the night.
GRADE: A
Rating: R for violence/terror and language
Running Time: 1 hour 56 minutes
Writer/Director: Jordan Peele
Studio: Universal Pictures
Release Date: March 22, 2019
That scream you heard on March 21, 2019 at around 2pm ET was thousands of Deadwood fans reacting to the release of Deadwood: The Movie‘s first trailer. HBO unveiled the one-minute teaser along with announcing the much-anticipated film will debut on Friday, May 31st at 8pm ET/PT.
The trailer opens with a voice-over by Ian McShane. “This town is a sanctuary. Every man worth the name knows the value of being unreachable,” says McShane, reprising his role as fan-favorite Al Swearengen. The teaser goes on to show a few clips of the rest of the returning cast, without giving away too much of the actual plot.
In addition to Ian McShane, returning cast members include Timothy Olyphant as Seth Bullock, Molly Parker as Alma Ellsworth, and Paula Malcomson as Trixie. Also returning are John Hawkes playing Sol Star, Anna Gunn as Martha Bullock, Dayton Callie as Charlie Utter, Brad Dourif as Doc Cochran, Robin Weigert as “Calamity” Jane Canary, William Sanderson as E.B. Farnum, Kim Dickens as Joanie Stubbs, and Gerald McRaney as George Hearst. Sean Bridgers is back as Johnny Burns, W. Earl Brown returns as Dan Dority, and Keone Young reprises his role as Mr. Wu.
Jade Pettyjohn joins the Deadwood family as Caroline.
Series creator David Milch executive produces along with Carolyn Strauss, Daniel Minahan, Gregg Fienberg, Scott Stephens, Ian McShane and Timothy Olyphant. Milch wrote the script and Daniel Minahan (Deadwood, True Blood, Game of Thrones) directed the HBO Films original movie.
Ian McShane stars in ‘Deadwood: The Movie’ (Photo: Warrick Page/HBO)
The Plot:
“In this original movie based on David Milch’s acclaimed, Emmy-winning HBO series of the same name which debuted 15 years ago today, the indelible characters of the show are reunited after a decade to celebrate South Dakota’s statehood. Former rivalries are reignited, alliances are tested and old wounds reopened as all are left to navigate the inevitable changes that modernity and time have wrought.”
In the latest trailer for John Wick: Chapter Three – Parabellum Keanu Reeves as John Wick asks Ian McShane as Winston – the owner of the Continental Hotel and a powerful figure in the criminal underworld – if the hotel’s services are still off limits. Winston replies, “What do you need?” “Guns. Lots of guns,” says Wick.
Dogs, horses, and motorcycles are all placed into action as John Wick attempts to survive multiple attacks by trained assassins. As the trailer ends, Anjelica Huston as The Director asks, “All this for what? Because of a puppy?” Wick responds, “Wasn’t just a puppy.”
Also joining Keanu Reeves for the chapter three are Laurence Fishburne (Mission: Impossible III), Lance Reddick (White House Down), Mark Dacascos (Lucky Day), Asia Kate Dillon (Billions, Orange is the New Black), Saïd Taghmaoui (The Missing), Jerome Flynn (Game of Thrones), Jason Mantzoukas (The Long Dumb Road), Tobias Segal (The Good Wife), and Boban Marjanovic.
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum was directed by Chad Stahelski, director of John Wick and John Wick 2, from a screenplay by Derek Kolstad, Shay Hatten, Chris Collins, and Marc Abrams. Kolstad created the characters. Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee served as producers.
The behind the scenes team includes director of photography Dan Laustsen, editor Evan Schiff, production designer Kevin Kavanaugh, and costume designer Luca Mosca.
The third John Wick film will be released by Summit and Lionsgate on May 17, 2019.
The Plot:
In this third installment of the adrenaline-fueled action franchise, super-assassin John Wick returns with a $14 million price tag on his head and an army of bounty-hunting killers on his trail. After killing a member of the shadowy international assassin’s guild, the High Table, John Wick is excommunicado, but the world’s most ruthless hit men and women await his every turn.
Keanu Reeves is featured on the final poster for ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ (Photo Credit: Summit)
The cast of Schitt’s Creek (Photo Courtesy of POP)
There’s good news and bad news for fans of the comedy series Schitt’s Creek. The good news: CBC and Pop have renewed the critically acclaimed comedy for a sixth season. The bad news: season six will be the show’s final season.
Filming’s about to get underway soon on season six, according to the network. The final season is expected to air in 2020.
“Schitt’s Creek is that rare zeitgeist show that creates incredible fandom, catalyzes culture, and receives best-of-television critical praise for its intelligence, character development, laughter and heart,” said Brad Schwartz, President of Pop. “Schitt’s Creek has given all of us a joyous gift that, in my opinion, places the show among the very best. Everyone at Pop could not be more proud than to have been associated with what Dan Levy and Eugene Levy created alongside this amazing cast and crew. While we will miss this gem with all our heart, we are thrilled that the show will end its run exactly as the show’s creators intended.”
Series co-creators Daniel Levy and Eugene Levy issued a statement to fans explaining their decision to finish up the show with one final sixth season:
To Our Dear Fans,
We are very excited to announce that Schitt’s Creek is coming back for a sixth season on CBC and Pop in 2020! We also wanted to take this opportunity to let you know that we’ve decided season six will be our last. We are so grateful to have been given the time and creative freedom to tell this story in its totality, concluding with a final chapter that we had envisioned from the very beginning. It’s not lost on us what a rare privilege it is in this industry to get to decide when your show should take its final bow. We could never have dreamed that our fans would grow to love and care about these characters in the ways that you have.
We are all so excited to begin shooting these last fourteen episodes and can’t thank you enough for the overwhelming love and generosity you’ve shown us. We hope you continue to enjoy the rest of our fifth season as we prepare to shoot our sixth!
Best Wishes and Warmest Regards,
Dan and Eugene Levy
“Dan and Eugene have created a brilliant and irreverent series that has struck a powerful chord with audiences in Canada and around the world, fuelled by stellar writing, sharp humor, an outstanding cast and a wardrobe for the ages,” stated Sally Catto, General Manager, Programming, CBC. “The show’s reversal-of-fortune storyline has been mined not just for comedy but to share an empowering message about acceptance and authenticity. We couldn’t be more proud to have commissioned this original comedy and respect the team’s creative decision to wrap up the series at a time that feels right for them. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew on their achievement and contribution to Canadian comedy legacy.”
The cast of Schitt’s Creek is led by Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara. Daniel Levy, Annie Murphy, Chris Elliott, Emily Hampshire, Jennifer Robertson, Noah Reid, Dustin Milligan, Sarah Levy, and Karen Robinson also star in the comedy series.
15 additional cities have been added to the 2019 “Phil Collins Still Not Dead Yet, Live!” tour. The new dates kick off on September 23rd in Dallas, Texas at the American Airlines Center. Among the cities included on the just released list are Atlanta, New York City, Denver, San Francisco, and Pittsburgh. The limited engagement will wrap up on October 19th in Las Vegas, Nevada at T-Mobile Arena.
Tickets for the just-announced 15 city portion of Collins’ tour go on sale beginning on March 29th at 10am local time via the Verified Fan program at Ticketmaster. Citi is hosting a special presale for cardmembers that starts on March 26th. The remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public on March 30th.
Fans can expect to hear Phil Collins and his band – longtime guitarist Daryl Stuermer, keyboardist Brad Cole, bassist Leland Sklar, percussionist Richie Garcia, and Phil’s son Nicolas handling the drums – performing his hits including “Against All Odds,” “Another Day in Paradise,” “I Missed Again,” “Follow You Follow Me,” “In the Air Tonight” “Invisible Touch” and “Easy Lover.”
Phil Collins Still Not Dead Yet, Live 2019 Tour Dates:
Monday, September 23, 2019 – Dallas, TX at American Airlines Center
Tuesday, September 24, 2019 – Houston, TX at Toyota Center
Thursday, September 26, 2019 – Tampa, FL at Amalie Arena
Saturday, September 28, 2019 – Atlanta, GA at Infinite Energy Center
Sunday, September 29, 2019 – Charlotte, NC at Spectrum Center
Tuesday, October 1, 2019 – Detroit, MI at Little Caesars Arena
Wednesday, October 2, 2019 – Pittsburgh, PA at PPG Paints Arena
Friday, October 4, 2019 – Buffalo, NY at KeyBank Center
Sunday, October 6, 2019 – New York, NY at Madison Square Garden
Wednesday, October 9, 2019 – Louisville, KY at KFC Yum! Center
Friday, October 11, 2019 – Omaha, NE at CHI Health Center
Sunday, October 13, 2019 – Denver, CO at Pepsi Center
Tuesday, October 15, 2019 – Phoenix, AZ at Talking Stick Resort Arena
Thursday, October 17, 2019 – San Francisco, CA at Chase Center
Saturday, October 19, 2019 – Las Vegas, NV at T-Mobile Arena
Visit Phil Collins’ official site for more details on the tour and further information on purchasing tickets.
