Tails of Valor will be joining CBS’s educational Saturday morning programming lineup on January 5, 2019. The new half-hour series focuses on the work of service animals and has Kel Mitchell on board as host.
The new series joins CBS’s Saturday morning’s three-hour programming block that kicks off at 9am with Lucky Dog featuring animal trainer Brandon McMillan. Dr. Chris Pet Vet with veterinarian Chris Brown follows at 9:30am and The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation hosted by Mo Rocca airs at 10am.
The Inspectors scripted series starring Bret Green, Jessica Lundy, Terry Serpico, Harrison Knight, and Erica-Marie Sanchez holds the 10:30am time slot, and Hope in the Wild with wildlife rehabilitation expert Hope Swinimer airs at 11am. Tails of Valor will finish up the three-hour block in the 11:30am slot.
Details on Tails of Valor, Courtesy of CBS:
Tails of Valor, hosted by Kel Mitchell, is a live-action half-hour program that features true stories of service animals working to change people’s lives. The program also examines the life science behind these relationships, including the animals’ unique and powerful senses that enable them to protect their human charges. TAILS OF VALOR will focus on the training and day-to-day jobs of these incredible animals and the quality of life they provide the people they serve, leaving viewers with a greater understanding and compassion for animals.
Viewers will learn to see the world from different perspectives, and how those with disabilities experience everyday life and the challenges they face. This program is specifically designed to further the educational and informational needs of children, has educating and informing children as a significant purpose, and otherwise meets the definition of Core Programming as specified in the Commission’s rules.
9:00-9:30am – LUCKY DOG
9:30-10:00am – DR. CHRIS PET VET
10:00-10:30am – THE HENRY FORD’S INNOVATION NATION
Starz is giving American Gods fans a holiday treat by finally announcing the long-awaited premiere date for season two. American Gods will return to Starz’ primetime schedule on Sunday, March 10, 2019 at 8pm ET/PT.
Season two will consist of eight hour-long episodes.
The announcement of the season two premiere date was accompanied by a new poster for season two featuring series stars Ricky Whittle and Ian McShane. Starz also announced season one will be available to binge on December 29th, labeling the late December date “Holy Day Binge Saturday.”
In addition to Ricky Whittle (The 100) as Shadow Moon and Ian McShane (Deadwood) as Mr. Wednesday, the cast of the dramatic series includes Emily Browning (Sucker Punch) as Laura Moon, Pablo Schreiber (Orange is the New Black) as Mad Sweeney, and Crispin Glover (Back to the Future) as Mr. World. Orlando Jones (Sleepy Hollow) is Mr. Nancy, Yetide Badaki (This Is Us) is Bilquis, Bruce Langley (Deadly Waters) is Tech Boy, Mousa Kraish (Transparent) is The Jinn, Omid Abtahi (Damien) is Salim, and Demore Barnes (12 Monkeys) is Mr. Ibis.
Guest stars include Cloris Leachman (Raising Hope) as Zorya Vechernyaya and Peter Stormare (Fargo) as Czernobog. Joining the series which recently wrapped production on season two are Sakina Jaffrey as Mama-Ji’, Dean Winters as Mr. Town, Devery Jacobs as Sam Black Crow, and Kahyun Kim as New Media.
American Gods author Neil Gaiman serves as an executive producer with Jesse Alexander, Craig Cegielski, Scott Hornbacher, Ian McShane, Stefanie Berk, Christopher J. Bryne, and Padraic McKinley.
American Gods Plot:
American Gods is a one-hour drama adapted from Neil Gaiman’s best-selling novel about a war brewing between Old Gods and New Gods: the traditional gods of mythological roots from around the world steadily losing believers to an upstart pantheon of gods reflecting society’s modern love of money, technology, media, celebrity and drugs.
We were forged in God’s image, but the Gods are also made in ours — and in Season Two the battle moves inexorably toward crisis point as the destinies of gods and men collide. While Mr. World plots revenge for the attack against him in Season One, Shadow throws in his lot with Wednesday’s attempt to convince the Old Gods of the case for full-out war, with Laura and Mad Sweeney in tow. A council at the House on the Rock explodes into chaos, sending deities both Old and New on quests across America that will converge on Cairo, Illinois: forcing Shadow to carve out a place as a believer in this strange new world of living gods — a dark world where change demands commitment, and faith requires terrible sacrifice.
The CW’s Arrow hosts part two of the 2018-2019 epic crossover event. Arrow season seven episode nine, “Elseworlds, Part 2,” is set to air on Monday, December 10, 2018 at 8pm ET/PT and features special guest star Ruby Rose as Kate Kane/Batwoman. The episode was directed by James Bamford from a script by Marc Guggenheim (story by Caroline Dries).
This season’s three-part crossover begins with The Flash on Sunday, December 9th and ends Supergirl‘s season four episode nine airing on December 11th.
The season seven cast includes Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen/Green Arrow, David Ramsey as John Diggle/Spartan, Emily Bett Rickards as Felicity Smoak, Echo Kellum as Curtis Holt/Mr. Terrific, Katie Cassidy as Laurel/Black Siren, Rick Gonzalez as Rene Ramirez/Wild Dog, Roy Harper / Arsenal, and Juliana Harkavy as Dinah Drake/Black Canary.
The “Elseworlds, Part 2” Plot: THE ELSEWORLDS CROSSOVER CONTINUES IN GOTHAM CITY WITH BATWOMAN (RUBY ROSE) — With Oliver (Stephen Amell) and Barry (guest star Grant Gustin) still stuck in the other’s bodies, the two get a lead on John Deegan (guest star Jeremy Davies) and head to Gotham City with Supergirl (guest star Melissa Benoist) to figure out why their reality has changed. While there, they meet the mysterious Kate Kane (guest star Ruby Rose) who provides them with information that leads the group to Arkham Asylum.
“Well things just got a lot more complicated, didn’t they?” notes Eobard Thawne (Tom Cavanagh) as Barry (Grant Gustin) and Nora (Jessica Parker Kennedy) travel back in time and needs his help in the 100th episode of The CW’s The Flash.
Season five episode eight begins with Ralph (Hartley Sawyer) and Sherloque (Tom Cavanagh) spying on Cicada (Chris Klein) now that they know his real name, Orlin Dwyer. They’re determined to gather as much intel on him as possible.
Over at S.T.A.R. Labs, Team Flash goes over all the intelligence they’ve gathered on Cicada. Barry’s determined they should grab Cicada when he’s at the hospital. Sherloque points out that Cicada will know they’re coming because of his meta tech dagger. He suggests they create a weapon to dampen the dagger’s powers. Nora speaks up and says they can get the materials they need to make the device. Team Flash needs one, a strong alloy, which would be a piece of Savitar’s suit. Two, something to remove Dark Matter – that’s the Speed Force transmitter Harry made for Zoom. And three, a massive event that can infuse the shard with dark matter, which would be when the particle accelerator exploded.
They also need to do a “Time Hack” and plant the device near the hospital while still in the past so Cicada won’t sense its presence. Everyone agrees it’s a good idea. (Seriously, when is Team Flash going to learn about messing with time?!)
Barry wants to go alone but Nora thinks she should go too and back him up. After her dad says no, firmly, Nora goes off to pout. Iris (Candice Patton) takes Nora’s side because it’s Nora’s idea. She believes Nora should go with him, but Barry stands his ground. Barry’s heading back to some crazy times and doesn’t want Nora anywhere near it.
Cisco (Carlos Valdes), Caitlin (Danielle Panabaker), and Ralph pour over the best moments in the past where Barry should go to obtain the materials he needs. With the knowledge of the exact dates and times set, Barry prepares to leave and sees Nora sitting quietly, looking sad. He looks at Iris who gives him a “go ahead and take her with you look” so Barry tells Nora she can come along. However, she has to do everything he tells her to do. Beaming, Nora agrees. Father and daughter speed off into the Speed Force to travel back in time on a scavenger hunt.
First stop in time is the final battle with Savitar. Barry and Nora watch from a distance as The Flash fights Savitar from season three. Barry notices a Time Wraith has followed them out of the Speed Force so he tells Nora he’ll lead it away while she grabs a piece of Savitar’s suit after The Flash from the past destroys it. Nora does but stops and watches Iris shoot Savitar, killing him. Nora reunites with Barry and they re-enter the Speed Force with the Time Wraith following them.
Second stop in time is when Zoom (Teddy Sears) steals Barry’s speed using the Speed Force transmitter. Barry and Nora watch from the other room as Caitlin pleads for Hunter who’s choking Barry to let him go. Nora’s surprised by this; she didn’t know that Caitlin saved her dad from Zoom.
Zoom releases Barry and speeds off, kidnapping Caitlin. Barry and Nora from the future wait until everyone has left and Barry enters the medical bay to grab the Speed Force transmitter. Unfortunately, it’s not on the table where Zoom left it. As he’s looking, Harry (Cavanagh) arrives, upset. He notices Barry changed fast but doesn’t realize it’s Barry from the future.
Harry yells at Barry for giving up his speed and is about to break the Speed Force transmitter, which he had in his pocket, out of frustration. Barry tells Harry he should try using the different ways people vibrate from Earth-2 to find his daughter and gets the Speed Force transmitter away from him. Just as he and Nora are about to go, Zoom speeds in and chases after them. All three enter the Speed Force and the Time Wraith catches up and grabs Zoom while Barry and Nora dive out of the Speed Force.
Upon landing, Barry falls and breaks the Speed Force transmitter. Nora suggests they go see Harry to fix it, but Barry tells her he’s not as brilliant as he used to be. Nora then suggests seeing Dr. Wells (aka Eobard Thawne), but Barry says he’s much too dangerous. Barry looks around and realizes they’ve come out of the Speed Force back when Barry from season two went back in time to get Thawne’s help. Seeing no other choice, Barry and Nora phase into the Time Vault of S.T.A.R. Labs where Thawne, disguised as Wells, has season two Barry cuffed to a chair.
Thawne asks which Barry Allen he’s talking to now and Barry says a much later one from the one he has cuffed there. Thawne asks who his new friend is and realizes by his behavior she’s Barry’s daughter. He calls her Dawn but she corrects him and says her name is Nora. Thawne realizes with his appearance from the future he may not get home. Barry assures Thawne he won’t get home unless he helps him fix the Speed Force transmitter. Having no other option, Thawne agrees.
While fixing the device, Thawne asks Nora if she saw Savitar with his pizza face and how he was a much bigger jerk than Thawne is. He fixes it and Barry and Nora speed off to the next important stop on their time traveling quest – the night the particle accelerator explodes.
Barry and Nora sneak into S.T.A.R. Labs and phase into the Time Vault, avoiding Thawne/Wells who seemed to sense their presence. Cisco and Caitlin ask Wells if anything’s wrong and he claims everything is fine. Wells tells Caitlin to get the champagne they’ve been saving. Wells reveals to Cisco he’s eager to be along for the adventure of who Cisco will become and that he couldn’t have built the particle accelerator without him. They awkwardly shake hands and go to turn it on.
Inside the Time Vault, Nora wanders over to look at the Reverse Flash’s suit and Barry immediately reacts by pulling her back, demanding she stop. She asks why he hates him so much and he realizes she doesn’t know. Barry tells Nora that Eobard Thawne killed his mother to try to prevent him from becoming The Flash. Nora’s obviously very surprised by the news.
The particle accelerator is turned on and explodes. Barry talks to Gideon about diverting some of the Dark Matter into the shard and it works. Barry and Nora then phase the weapon into its hiding place at the Central City hospital and speed off to return home.
Back at S.T.A.R. Labs, Barry and Nora return a few seconds after they left which prompts Ralph to declare, “Time travel is weird.” With the new weapon placed and Cicada at the hospital, Barry confirms to Team Flash it’s time to take Cicada down.
The Flash lures Cicada outside and when throws his dagger at Barry, the dagger gets drawn to where the powered shard is and is stuck in the wall. Vibe opens up a portal and sends the dagger into space. Unfortunately for Team Flash, Cicada’s able to draw the dagger back to him – even from space. He uses it to knock The Flash, Vibe, XS, and Elongated Man off their feet. Cicada advances toward The Flash and is about to stab him with the dagger when Killer Frost shows up and blasts him with her icy powers. Shocked that his dagger has no powers over Killer Frost, Cicada stares in disbelief. “Let’s dance,” says Killer Frost but Cicada ignores the challenge and flies off to escape.
At S.T.A.R. Labs, Cisco and Sherloque want to run a few tests on Caitlin to see if maybe Killer Frost is the key to stopping Cicada. Later, Nora’s looking for her journal and discovers Sherloque has it. He asks her about the strange symbols in it and she claims it’s a time language she created. He hands it back to her and runs a sentence through the decipher program in the computer. It turns out the English translation is “Timeline is Malleable.”
Nora travels back to the past and watches Barry’s parents from across the street. They’re alive and happy. Barry shows up and doesn’t scold his daughter for time-traveling again. Instead, he confesses he understands and tells her his parents were the greatest.After a few minutes, father and daughter speed off together back to present day.
The final scene of the 100th episode is Nora talking to Gideon about sending data to someone. She also explains she’ll deliver a message to him in person. Nora travels to 2049 and visits Eobard Thawne who’s locked up in Iron Heights. She says, “We need to talk,” and he replies, “Yes, we do”.
Action-packed, suspenseful, and touching, the 100th episode titled “What’s Past is Prologue” is a masterfully directed, written, paced, and acted episode. It takes the hero, as well as the audience, back through some of the most harrowing and suspenseful moments of the first three seasons.
The stand-out performance goes to Tom Cavanagh who not only portrayed Sherloque and Harry Wells but also Eobard Thawne as Dr. Wells in some of the best scenes in the episode. He helped bring back the tension, drama, and feel of the first season. Cavanagh also directed the episode which is, to put it succinctly, brilliant. Honestly, the last three episodes have been just as great as most of the episodes in the first season.
With the reveal that Nora has been conspiring with Thawne from the future, does this mean she’s a threat to Team Flash? Is she really their daughter? Remember, Thawne called Barry’s daughter Dawn not Nora, and fans of the comics will understand the Dawn reference. Who is Nora really and what is her true reason for going back in time to become a part of Team Flash? Hopefully, the answers will be revealed before the end of season five.
ABC’s The Rookie is set to air its winter finale on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at 10pm ET/PT. Season one episode eight is titled “Time of Death” and was directed by Mike Goi from a script by Brynn Malone.
The winter finale guest stars include Mircea Monroe as Isabel Bradford, David DeSantos as Detective Elijah Vestri, and Demetrius Grosse as Detective Kevin Wolfe.
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 “Time of Death” Plot: OFFICER NOLAN IS IN PURSUIT ON THE WINTER FINALE OF ABC’S THE ROOKIE – Officer Nolan and Officer Bishop respond to a silent alarm call at a local convenience store where two men are attempting to rob the place. Officer Nolan pursues one of the suspects on foot and is forced to make a split-second decision that will affect both of their lives. Meanwhile, Officer Bishop helps coordinate a drug bust that hits a little too close to home for Officer Bradford.
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.
Mercedes Mason and Nathan Fillion in ‘The Rookie’ season 1 episode 8 (ABC/Eric McCandless)Michael Beach and Mercedes Mason in season 1 episode 8 (Photo Courtesy of ABC)Eric Winter and Mercedes Mason in season 1 episode 8 (ABC/Eric McCandless)Michael Beach and Titus Makin in ‘The Rookie’ season 1’s winter finale (ABC/Eric McCandless)Michael Beach and Titus Makin in episode 8 “Time of Death” (ABC/Eric McCandless)
IMDb Top Stars of 2018, as determined by page views. IMDb is the #1 movie website in the world. (Photo courtesy of IMDb)
IMDb’s released their annual lists of the Top 10 Stars and Top 10 Breakout Stars of 2018. The lists represent actors from films and television series who have garnered the most page views on the website over 2018.
“People turn to IMDb first to learn more about the talented actors behind phenomenal performances, which makes the IMDbPro STARmeter chart a uniquely accurate predictor of stars who are about to have a breakthrough career moment, including previous No. 1 Breakout Stars of the year Bill Skarsgård (2017), Millie Bobby Brown (2016), Bryce Dallas Howard (2015) and Margot Robbie (2014),” stated Matt Kumin, Head of IMDbPro. “The suite of convenient IMDbPro tools and real-time insights, including our iPhone and Android apps and authoritative box office data from Box Office Mojo, empowers our members throughout the year with information that can make a difference in their projects and careers.”
The Top 10 Stars list represents celebrities who “consistently ranked highest on the IMDbPro STARmeter chart throughout 2018,” per IMDB. The Breakout Stars list consists of actors who made the Top 100 list for the first time, with the 10 selected being the actors who ranked highest most consistently.
IMDb Top 10 Stars of 2018
Karen Gillan – Avengers: Infinity WarBryce Dallas Howard – Jurassic World: Fallen KingdomAlicia Vikander – Tomb RaiderTom Hardy – VenomRebecca Ferguson – Mission: Impossible – FalloutLily James – Mamma Mia! Here We Go AgainJessica Barden – The End of the F***ing WorldHannah John-Kamen – Ant-Man and the WaspJosh Brolin – Deadpool 2, Avengers: Infinity WarTessa Thompson – Westworld, Sorry to Bother You, Creed II
IMDb Top 10 Breakout Stars of 2018
Jessica BardenHannah John-KamenTessa ThompsonMartha Higareda – Altered Carbon, Queen of the SouthMichael B. Jordan – Black Panther, Creed IIOlivia Cooke – Ready Player OneNoah Centineo – To All the Boys I’ve Loved BeforeKiernan Shipka – Chilling Adventures of SabrinaJohn Krasinski – Jack Ryan, A Quiet PlaceJacob Elordi – The Kissing Booth
The CW’s Charmed offers up a holiday-themed mid-season finale with “Jingle Hell” airing on December 9, 2018. Season one episode nine was directed by Michael Lange from a script by Jessica O’Toole and Amy Rardin.
The cast of Charmed season one is led by Melonie Diaz as Mel Vega, Sarah Jeffery as Maggie Vera, and Madeleine Mantock as Macy Vaughn. The cast also includes Rupert Evans as Harry Greenwood, Ser’Darius Blaine as Galvin Burdette, Charlie Gillespie as Brian, Nick Hargrove as Parker, and Ellen Tamaki as Niko Hamada. Jessica O’Toole, Amy Rardin, Jennie Snyder Urman, Ben Silverman, Brad Silberling, and Carter Covington executive produce.
The “Jingle Hell” Plot: HAPPY HOLIDAYS — Mel (Melonie Diaz) turns to Harry (Rupert Evans) for guidance after learning information about the magical world that leaves her questioning everything she knows. Galvin (Ser’Darius Blain) shows up to see Macy (Madeleine Mantock) and she is determined to not let fate get in the way of their potential relationship. Meanwhile, Maggie (Sarah Jeffery) tries to keep her mom’s Christmas traditions going and is excited for Parker (Nick Hargrove) to be a part of it.
The Season 1 Plot:
“Stronger together.” That’s what Marisoltells her daughters, firebrand social justice warrior Melanie “Mel” Vera, and her sister, fun-loving Maggie, about their family. Mel is a graduate student in the women’s studies department her mother heads at Hilltowne University; Maggie is a freshman considering sorority rush (to Mel’s amused dismay) and going “on” again with her on-again/off-again boyfriend, Brian. But then, a shocking tragedy shatters their world and threatens their sibling bond: Marisol dies in a horrifying accident. Or was it? Three months later, we find Mel unable to accept the official explanation of their mother’s death, while Maggie accuses her of being morbidly obsessed. And then, another huge shock shows up at their front door: they have an older sister – brilliant geneticist Macy (Madeleine Mantock), whom their mother kept a secret all these years! Macy is new in town and doesn’t know a soul (except for Galvin), the cute fellow scientist who’s been showing her around). Macy is eager to connect with Mel and Maggie, but Mel can’t handle another shock, and shuts her out.
With the emotions of all three sisters running high, each of the girls suddenly exhibit impossible new abilities: Mel can freeze time, Maggie starts hearing others’ thoughts and Macy has telekinetic powers. But don’t worry, there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation…or so says Harry Greenwood – who as far as they know is the officious new chair of the women’s studies department – when he gathers the three sisters together to reveal they’re actually powerful witches, as was their mother. And he’s not really a professor, he’s their “Whitelighter,” a witch’s advisor and guide! Not only that, but Mel was right: their mother’s death was no accident – she was murdered by unknown dark forces. It’s a lot to take in, but ultimately the sisters accept their new destiny as The Charmed Ones…and their new duty to protect humankind from the demons that walk among us…one of whom killed their mother. With the Power of Three, they are stronger together… even if they have no idea what they’re really up against.
The first official trailer for Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: A Midwinter’s Tale declares the holidays can be such a “witch.” The holiday special returns viewers to Greendale and the world of witches as they celebrate the Winter Solstice.
Netflix’s popular series stars Kiernan Shipka as Sabrina Spellman, Miranda Otto as Zelda Spellman, Lucy Davis as Hilda spellman, Ross Lynch as Harvey, Michelle Gomez as Mary Wardwell, Chance Perdomo as Ambrose Spellman, Jaz Sinclair as Rosalind, and Richard Coyle as Father Blackwood. Tati Gabrielle plays Prudence, Adeline Rudolph is Agatha, Abigail Cowen is Dorcas, Lachlan Watson is Susie Putnam, Bronson Pinchot plays George Hawthorne, and Gavin Leatherwood is Nicholas Scratch.
Archie Comics Chief Creative Officer Robert Aguirre-Sacasa (Riverdale) writes and executive produces the series. Aguirre-Sacasa teamed up with Donna Thorland to write A Midwinter’s Tale with Jeff Woolnough directing. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Archie Comics CEO Jon Goldwater, and Lee Toland Krieger are also executive producers.
Netflix will debut Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: A Midwinter’s Tale on December 14, 2018.
Details on the Holiday Special:
The Church of Night, like all covens, celebrates the Winter Solstice — the longest night of the year—when families gather around the Yule Fire to sing pagan carols and tell ghost stories. But the holidays are also a time for guests and visitors — both welcome and unwelcome — you never know what might come down the chimney…
The Series’ Season One Plot:
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina imagines the origin and adventures of Sabrina the Teenage Witch as a dark coming-of-age story that traffics in horror, the occult and, of course, witchcraft. Tonally in the vein of Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist, this adaptation finds Sabrina wrestling to reconcile her dual nature — half-witch, half-mortal — while standing against the evil forces that threaten her, her family and the daylight world humans inhabit.
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.
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
BLACKKKLANSMAN directed by Spike Lee BLACK PANTHER directed by Ryan Coogler
EIGHTH GRADE directed by Bo Burnham
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK directed by Barry Jenkins
THE FAVOURITE directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
FIRST REFORMED directed by Paul Schrader
GREEN BOOK directed by Peter Farrelly
MARY POPPINS RETURNS directed by Rob Marshall
A QUIET PLACE directed by John Krasinski
A STAR IS BORN directed by Bradley Cooper
AFI TV PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR
THE AMERICANS (FX)
THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE: AMERICAN CRIME STORY (FX)
ATLANTA (FX)
BARRY (HBO)
BETTER CALL SAUL (AMC)
THE KOMINSKY METHOD (Netflix)
THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL (Amazon)
POSE (FX)
SUCCESSION (HBO)
THIS IS US (NBC)
The AFI Awards film jury also chose to honor Roma with an AFI Special Award.
