‘Mr. Mercedes’ Season 2 Reveals San Diego Comic Con Plans

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June 21, 2018

Mr. Mercedes Season 2 Comic Con — “Mr. Mercedes Experience” at San Diego Comic-Con (Courtesy of AT&T Audience Network)

AT&T Audience Network’s Mr. Mercedes will return to the San Diego Comic Con for the second consecutive year. The network announced the series will be well-represented at the Con and revealed details on a special “Mr. Mercedes Immersive Experience” open to fans during the sold-out 2018 Comic Con running July 19-21.

Mr. Mercedes cast members and executive producers will also participate in a panel during next month’s Comic Con. Details for the panel will be announced soon.

Cast members from season one returning for season two include Brendan Gleeson as Detective Bill Hodges, Harry Treadaway as Brady Hartsfield, Jharrel Jerome as Jerome Robinson, Scott Lawrence as Detective Peter Dixon, Breeda Wool as Lou Linklatter, Justine Lupe as Holly Gibney, Nancy Travis as Donna Hodges, and Holland Taylor as Ida Silver. Season two newcomers include Jack Huston as Brady Hartsfield’s doctor, Dr. Felix Babineau; Tessa Ferrer as Dr. Babineau’s wife, Cora Babineau; and Maximiliano Hernandez as Assistant DA Antonio Montez.

Season two is set to premiere on August 22, 2018 at 10pm ET/PT.

The Season 2 Plot: The series picks up a year after Brady Hartsfield’s thwarted attempt to perpetrate a second mass murder in the community of Bridgton, Ohio. Since the incident, Hartsfield has been hospitalized in a vegetative state. Retired Detective Bill Hodges has done his best to move on from his Brady obsession, teaming up with Holly Gibney to open Finders Keepers, a private investigative agency. But when unexplainable occurrences begin to affect hospital staff members attending to Brady, Hodges is haunted by the feeling that Brady is somehow responsible.

Details on Mr. Mercedes Activities at the San Diego Comic Con:

The “Mr. Mercedes Immersive Experience” will give fans a glimpse into the past and a peek into the future of the AT&T Audience Network original series based on the trilogy by Stephen King. Fans can be the first to play the virtual reality (VR) escape room game, “Mr. Mercedes: Lair Escape,” on the HTC Vive Pro – the next generation of VR headsets. In the “Mr. Mercedes: Finders Keepers” augmented reality (AR) adventure game, they’ll collect clues to unlock never-before-seen content and special prizes.

The “Mr. Mercedes Immersive Experience” will include:

• Augmented Reality Adventure Game – Download the app to embark on an AR-driven investigation helping Detective Bill Hodges crack the case and claim a reward if you succeed.

• Virtual Reality Escape Room Game – Be fully immersed in a virtual escape room inside Brady’s lair. Escape before time runs out or you’re trapped forever!

• Recreating the Physical World of Mr. Mercedes – The show’s set designers are recreating Finders Keepers, Mercy General Hospital and Brady’s lair using actual props.

• Bringing Brady to Life Through Projection Mapping – 3-D light projection will creepily bring Brady to life in his hospital bed. Is he in a coma or did you just see him move?

• Lenticular Photo Experience – This photo op will transform the participant’s face into Brady’s along with a socially shareable GIF.

• Private Screening Room – Media, VIP and lucky fans will get the chance to watch a sneak peek of season 2.

The “Mr. Mercedes Immserive Experience” will take place at 643 G St, San Diego, CA 92101 from 10am – 6pm PT. Fans who pre-register for the “Mr. Mercedes Immersive Experience” at att.com/MrMercedesSDCC will receive a commemorative pin and chance to get a fast pass.

‘Ozark’ Season 2 Will Premiere in August

By

Rebecca Murray

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June 21, 2018

Netflix will be launching the second season of Ozark on August 31, 2018 at 12:01am PT. The announcement of the new season came with a one-minute video filled with gunshots and the news the Byrde family will be attempting to slip back into their old lives.

The cast of season two is led by Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, and Julia Garner. Janet McTeer joins the series as “a Chicago based attorney with links to the cartel. In making a deal with the devil, she becomes a potential threat to the Byrdes.”

The dramatic series is executive produced by Jason Bateman, Chris Mundy, Bill Dubuque, and Mark Williams.

The Season 2 Plot: In its much-anticipated second season, Ozark continues to follow Marty Bryde and his family as they navigate the murky waters of life within a dangerous drug cartel. With Del out, the crime syndicate sends their ruthless attorney Helen Pierce to town to shake things up just as The Byrdes are finally settling in.

Marty and Wendy struggle to balance their family interests amid the escalating dangers presented by their partnerships with the power-hungry Snells, the cartel and their new deputy, Ruth Langmore, whose father Cade has been released from prison. The stakes are even higher than before and The Byrdes soon realize they have to go all in before they can get out.

A Look Back at Season 1: A Chicago financial advisor, who has been quietly laundering money for a drug kingpin, must quickly uproot his family and move the operation to The Ozarks, after his partner is caught cheating the business. There, he bumps heads with both a local drug dealer whose business he inadvertently interrupts, and a clan of ruffians, led by their 19-year-old niece, who want his money, all the while avoiding the eye of a tenacious FBI agent. He must complete his laundering, to save the life of his family, as they struggle to find their own path in this seemingly foreign way of life.

Ozark Season 2 — The cast of ‘Ozark’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Netflix)

‘American Animals’ Review: Smart True Crime Story with a Stellar Cast

By

Rebecca Murray

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June 21, 2018

American Animals makes the point of clarifying to its audience that it’s not just based on a true story, it is a true story. Four college-age men plotted to steal rare books from a library. That’s the indisputable truth. However, who did what as far as the planning and execution of the heist is up for debate.

Writer/director Bart Layton weaves interviews with the actual criminals who took part in the heist with actors portraying them as they planned, executed, and then ultimately paid the price for their illegal scheme. The true story of the robbery that’s the focus of American Animals isn’t so easy to discern and varies from actual participant to participant as memories fade or shift to lessen responsibility for specific actions.

The story’s set in 2004 when a small group of friends came up with the bizarre idea to steal rare books by John James Audubon from Kentucky’s Transylvania University library. Once the idea of getting rich by stealing books worth more than $10 million took hold, the men carefully planned out how to incapacitate the librarian in charge of the rare books room, get by the minimal security, and make their escape in a waiting getaway car.

The mix of interviews with the real criminals and their family members with the reenactment of their crime could have come across as gimmicky. It doesn’t because Layton shrewdly allowed the real members of the heist gang to contradict each other’s recollections. This means the re-creations of the events surrounding the robbery are only possible versions of how the heist went down.

American Animals shows how inept these first-time robbers were and how a plan that began as almost a joke snowballed into the preparation of a huge art heist. The guys used code names inspired by Reservoir Dogs, and much of their preparation for the robbery included watching heist movies. They were ill-equipped to handle the heist and their planning, which included drawing a blueprint of the rare book room, only factored in best-case scenarios. Yet even when every aspect of the plan went awry, they almost pulled off the heist (albeit on a smaller scale than they’d anticipated).

Evan Peters, Barry Keoghan, Blake Jenner, and Jared Abrahamson star as the four buddies who pushed each other into carrying out the heist. Keoghan plays Spencer Reinhard, the Transylvania University student whose field trip to the rare book room was the genesis of the heist. Evan Peters stars as Warren Lipka, Reinhard’s slacker friend who takes Reinhard’s joke about the goldmine just waiting to be stolen seriously and runs with the idea of stealing the books.

Blake Jenner plays Chas Allen, a clean-cut college jock who inexplicably allowed himself to be convinced to join the gang. Filling out the foursome is Jared Abrahamson as Eric Borsuk, perhaps the most unlikely member of the heist crew. Borsuk had his sights set on joining the FBI but instead wrecked his law enforcement dreams by agreeing to participate in what became known as the Transy Book Heist.

Jenner, Keoghan, Peters, and Abrahamson deliver outstanding performances as the college students who stupidly make a decision that will cost them dearly the rest of their lives. Writer/director Layton delves deep into the group psyche and explores how something akin to peer pressure propelled their plan, which sprang from a flippant comment, into action. We know the outcome of the heist, yet Layton’s film makes it difficult not to root for the foursome to emerge from this episode unscathed.

GRADE: B+

MPAA Rating: R for language throughout, some drug use and brief crude/sexual material

Running Time: 1 hour 56 minutes

Released By: Orchard Studios

American Animals Cast — Jared Abrahamson, Evan Peters, Blake Jenner, and Barry Keoghan in ‘American Animals’ (Photo Credit: Orchard Studios)

The CW Sets 2018-2019 Fall Premiere Dates

By

Rebecca Murray

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June 20, 2018

The CW's Legacies Season 1 Danielle Rose Russell — Danielle Rose Russell as Hope in ‘Legacies’ season 1 (Photo: Annette Brown © 2018 The CW Network)

The CW’s fall 2018-2019 primetime season will kick off on October 7th with the iHeartRadio Music Festival. The festival will air on October 7th and October 8th at 8pm ET/PT, followed by the debut of the new season’s regular lineup on October 9th.

The new schedule confirms Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow have landed different timeslots than were previously announced in May. Arrow will now air on Mondays at 8pm ET/PT followed by Legends of Tomorrow at 9pm ET/PT.

This upcoming season marks the network’s first year of six nights of original programming. Supergirl will be anchoring The CW’s new Sunday night lineup, airing at 8pm ET/PT followed by the revamped supernatural series Charmed at 9pm ET/PT.

The CW’s Fall 2018 Premiere Schedule:

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7
8:00-10:00pm 2018 IHEARTRADIO MUSIC FESTIVAL, NIGHT ONE

MONDAY, OCTOBER 8
8:00-10:00pm 2018 IHEARTRADIO MUSIC FESTIVAL, NIGHT TWO

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9
8:00-9:00pm THE FLASH (Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00pm BLACK LIGHTNING (Season Premiere)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10
8:00-9:00pm RIVERDALE (Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00pm ALL AMERICAN (Series Premiere)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11
8:00-9:00pm SUPERNATURAL (Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00pm ALL AMERICAN (Encore of Premiere)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12
8:00-9:00pm DYNASTY (Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00pm CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND (Season Premiere)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14
8:00-9:00pm SUPERGIRL (Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00pm CHARMED (Series Premiere)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 15
8:00-9:00pm ARROW (Season Premiere)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18
8:00-9:00pm SUPERNATURAL (Original Episode)
9:00-10:00pm CHARMED (Encore of Premiere)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 22
8:00-9:00pm ARROW (Original Episode)
9:00-10:00pm DC’S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW (Season Premiere)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25
8:00-9:00pm SUPERNATURAL (Original Episode)
9:00-10:00pm LEGACIES (Series Premiere)

Details on The CW’s new fall shows:

All American – Spencer James is a rising high school football player and A student at South Crenshaw High. Compton is the place he calls home. But when Beverly High School’s football coach Billy Baker recruits him to join his team in Beverly Hills, Spencer’s mother, Grace, and his best friend, Coop, convince Spencer it’s an opportunity he has to seize. Now Spencer must navigate two worlds, the south side neighborhood that he knows and the affluent Beverly Hills world that has offered him an opportunity for something bigger.

When Spencer is forced to move in with Billy and his family to protect his transfer permit to Beverly, Billy’s son, Jordan (the team’s starting quarterback), is less than thrilled to be sharing his father’s attention — or the team spotlight — with Spencer. While Spencer struggles to find his footing, he makes an unlikely friend in Jordan’s sister, Olivia, who is dealing with her own demons. He also quickly develops a crush on his classmate, Layla, something her boyfriend, Asher, quickly realizes — and so, he sets out to drive Spencer off the football team and out of Beverly Hills for good.

Charmed – “Stronger together.” That’s what Marisol tells 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 rushing a sorority (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, 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.

Legacies – For the last decade, the iconic heroes and villains of The Vampire Diaries and The Originals have captivated audiences worldwide. They left an enduring legacy of love and family in their wake, which continues in Legacies, a thrilling new drama that tells the story of the next generation of supernatural beings at The Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted. It’s here that Klaus Mikaelson’s daughter, 17-year-old Hope Mikaelson; Alaric Saltzman’s twins, Lizzie and Josie Saltzman; and other young adults — including political scion MG and the mysterious Landon Kirby — come of age in the most unconventional way possible, nurtured to be their best selves…in spite of their worst impulses.

Will these young witches, vampires and werewolves become the heroes they want to be — or the villains they were born to be? As they fight to protect their secret, their town of Mystic Falls and eventually the world, they will have to rely on ancient folklore and tales to learn how to battle their far-reaching enemies.

Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman’s ‘Master Maker’ Announces Season 1’s Cast

By

Rebecca Murray

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June 20, 2018

NBC’s announced the eight contestants who’ll be showing off their skills on season one of Master Maker. The first season of the competition series is hosted by Parks and Recreation‘s Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman and will consist of six episodes.

Judging season one are Etsy’s trend expert Dayne Isom Johnson and Barneys New York Creative Ambassador Simon Doonan. Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, Brooke Posch, Nicolle Yaron, Dave Becky, and Anthony Dominici are executive producing.

NBC’s set a Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at 10pm ET/PT premiere date.

The Plot: Every episode of Making It will revolve around a central theme that draws inspiration from hugely popular nationwide trends in crafting and DIY, which the whole family can enjoy.

Each episode of the competition will consist of two projects, cleverly designed by Poehler and Offerman, that test the Makers’ ability to think outside of the box in unpredictable ways. Believing there is no better way to express yourself than by making things by hand, the challenges are also designed to bring out skilled insights and takeaway, touching personal stories and lots of laughs.

First, the “faster-craft” round will be a timed challenge that will test their ability to not only work quickly but imaginatively as well. Next, the Makers will move to the “master craft collection,” a one-of-a-kind themed challenge in which the competitors will need to use their expertise and get inventive in order to assemble a winning craft that fits the theme of that week. In the end, only one will emerge victorious and be named “Master Maker.”

Making It Season 1 Cast — Jeff, Amber, Billy, Robert, Jemma, Khiem, Nicole, and Jo (Photo by Paul Drinkwater/NBC)

Master Maker Season 1 Cast:

JOANNA GICK (Age 37, Chandler, AZ) — Co-owner of J & J Design Group, Gick is a creative and energetic mother of two, wife and sought-after interior designer whose projects have been featured in HGTV magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, People, The Wall Street Journal, Fit Pregnancy and more. Gick’s love for interior design was fueled by her early love for crafting. She especially loves to create custom kids’ rooms.

AMBER KEMP-GERSTEL (Age 37, Miami, FL) — A clinical psychologist by training, Kemp-Gerstel grew up in a single-parent home that focused on the importance of higher education and a traditional career path. After taking a huge risk and leaving her career as a psychologist, Kemp-Gerstel dove into crafting with the support of her husband and son. She is now a full-time blogger and shares fun creative content with her followers.

BILLY KHEEL (Age 43, Los Angeles, CA) — A Massachusetts native, Kheel attended boarding school and then moved on to Wesleyan University where he played sports and pursued his love of art. Kheel spent time in New York before moving to Los Angeles where he met his wife. Now a full-time artist and visiting art teacher at schools across the city, his focus of applique and felt is very unique from other mediums in the competition and sets his work apart.

ROBERT MAHAR (Age 46, Los Angeles, CA) — A Midwest native, Mahar’s creativity developed from a childhood filled with library books and public television. Mahar is now an artist and designer who teaches imaginative do-it-yourself projects and is at the helm of a craft-driven collection for Knock Knock. His style is informed by an education in studio arts and art history, and 20+ years of work in creative fields, including 13 years as an appraiser of modern and contemporary art.

KHIEM NGUYEN (Age 28, Austin, TX) — Inspired by mid-century modern and Japanese design, Nguyen is a true craftsman. His passion for crafting began with photography and led to him becoming an open major in art school so he could “get his hands into everything.” After college, Nguyen and his fiancé moved to Austin where they began A & K Woodworking & Design, specializing in furniture and wood crafts.

JEMMA OLSON (Age 60, Rockwall, TX) — A self-proclaimed heartfelt crafter, mother of eight and grandmother of 16, Olson comes from a generation of crafters that made things out of necessity as opposed to beauty. She imparts that same tradition upon her grandkids while teaching them the beauty in making things by hand. Not the stereotypical grandmother by any means, Olson spends time with her younger family members to stay in the know of all things pop culture.

JEFFERY RUDELL (Age 54, New York, NY) — Rudell grew up in the Midwest where his father worked at a paper mill and kept him well supplied with cardboard, foil and tissue. Today he is known for the extraordinary paper props he creates for clients such as Tiffany & Co., Unilever, New York Botanical Gardens and a wide range of print and online publications. He’s also a nationally known storyteller and a contributor to the Moth Radio Hour.

NICOLE SWEENEY (Age 31, San Francisco, CA) — With a background in dance and professional education in architecture, Sweeney’s work is a confluence of her life experience and artistic vision. Having dabbled in nearly every medium — from reusing paper coffee filters to welding steel — she has found her true passion in working with wood. Sweeney recently departed her full-time position as a display coordinator at Anthropologie to pursue her passion and establish herself as an artist.

‘Welcome to Marwen’ Trailer: Steve Carell Battles Nazis in Robert Zemeckis’ New Film

By

Rebecca Murray

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June 20, 2018

Universal Pictures has released the first visually stunning trailer for Welcome to Marwen starring Steve Carell. Oscar winner Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump) directs the holiday release which is based on a 2010 documentary directed by Jeff Malmberg.

Universal Pictures also unveiled a poster and new photos from the 2018 drama.

In addition to Oscar nominee Steve Carell (Foxcatcher), the cast includes Leslie Mann (How to Be Single), Diane Kruger (The Bridge), Merritt Wever (The Walking Dead), Janelle Monáe (Hidden Figures), Eiza González (From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series), Gwendolyn Christie (Game of Thrones), Leslie Zemeckis (A Christmas Carol), and Neil Jackson (Sleepy Hollow). Robert Zemeckis wrote the script and produced the film along with Jack Rapke, Steve Starkey, and Cherylanne Martin. Jeff Malmberg and Jackie Levine executive produced.

Welcome to Marwen will be released in theaters on November 21, 2018.

The Plot: “This holiday season, Academy Award® winner Robert Zemeckis — the groundbreaking filmmaker behind Forrest Gump, Flight and Cast Away — directs Steve Carell in the most original movie of the year. Welcome to Marwen tells the miraculous true story of one broken man’s fight as he discovers how artistic imagination can restore the human spirit.

When a devastating attack shatters Mark Hogancamp (Carell) and wipes away all memories, no one expected recovery. Putting together pieces from his old and new life, Mark meticulously creates a wondrous town where he can heal and be heroic. As he builds an astonishing art installation — a testament to the most powerful women he knows—through his fantasy world, he draws strength to triumph in the real one.

In a bold, wondrous and timely film from this revolutionary pioneer of contemporary cinema, Welcome to Marwen shows that when your only weapon is your imagination…you’ll find courage in the most unexpected place.”

Welcome to Marwen Photos and Trailer — Steve Carell in ‘Welcome to Marwen’ (Photo Courtesy of Universal Pictures)

‘Educated: A Memoir’ Tops Amazon’s List of the Best Books of 2018 So Far

By

Rebecca Murray

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June 20, 2018

Tara Westover’s Educated: A Memoir earned the top spot on Amazon’s Best Books of the Year (So Far). The list was compiled by Amazon book editors and includes their choices of the best books released between January and June of this year.

“Whether you enjoy reading in print or Kindle, or listening on Audible, the past six months have delivered some unforgettable books across a range of genres, from Kristin Hannah’s Alaska-based family drama, The Great Alone, to The Feather Thief, Kirk Wallace Johnson’s account of one of the weirdest crimes ever committed for the sake of a flute,” stated Sarah Harrison Smith, editorial director of Amazon Books and Kindle. “But it was Educated, Tara Westover’s utterly surprising memoir, that was our hands-down favorite. By sheer force of will, she emerged from a rough, unschooled childhood among Idaho survivalists to earn a doctorate in history at Cambridge University. We were awed by her journey.”

Amazon’s Best Books of 2018 (So Far) List:

Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover: Tara Westover didn’t see the inside of a classroom until she was seventeen, but it was an experience that dramatically changed the trajectory of her life. This stirring memoir chronicles how she survived her survivalist upbringing, eventually earning a PhD from Cambridge University. It’s a rousing reminder that knowledge is, indeed, power.

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah: In this pressure cooker of a page-turner, a damaged Vietnam vet moves his family to the wilds of Alaska. Initially it’s a welcome change, but as winter approaches, and his mental state deteriorates, his wife and daughter find themselves in an increasingly precarious position. Like her mega-bestselling The Nightingale, Kristin Hannah’s The Great Alone highlights the heroics of everyday people, especially women.

The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson: Clever, informative, and sometimes endearingly bumbling, this mix of natural history and crime opens up new worlds. Readers will never look at an old stuffed bird or an elaborately tied fishing fly the same way again.

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn: The Woman in the Window is a seductive and unpredictable novel about an agoraphobic woman with a tricky past who witnesses a murder. Or does she? With twists that will have you gasping out loud, this Hitchcockian noir thriller is the book to read if you’ve been waiting (too long) for the next Gone Girl.

Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao: This emotionally ungentle novel of two very different young women in modern-day India will prompt both outrage and hope as the girls separately traverse perilous paths to find each other again.

The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches from the Border by Francisco Cantú: The son of a park ranger, Francisco Cantú grew up in the southwest. When he joined the Border Patrol, he became witness to the stark realities of illegal immigration, and the obligations of his job weighed heavy against his sense of humanity. With its direct, stoic prose, The Line Becomes a River is a weighty and timely document on one of our most divisive arguments.

The Electric Woman: A Memoir by Tessa Fontaine: Many people say they’d like to join the circus, not many people actually do. Having difficulty coming to terms with her mother’s imminent passing, Tessa Fontaine joined The World of Wonders, the last touring sideshow in America. The Electric Woman is a fascinating behind-the-scenes peek at carnival life, and an ode to unconditional love.

Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha) by Tomi Adeyemi: Here is a fresh take on young adult fantasy. With West African-inspired characters, magic, and setting, Children of Blood and Bone is non-stop action, enriched with themes that resonate in today’s social and political landscape: injustice, discrimination, and a struggle for change. Author Tomi Adeyemi’s debut novel is the start of what promises to be an epic, addictive new series.

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin: In this ambitious and deeply moving novel, Chloe Benjamin imagines how the lives of four siblings might be warped by a fortuneteller’s prediction of the dates of their deaths. While recounting their stories, Benjamin poses intriguing questions about the value of longevity and whether we are victims, or perpetrators, of our own fates.

There There by Tommy Orange: What does it really mean to be an Indian/Native American/American Indian/Native? Orange’s vivid debut novel allows a unique cast of characters–ranging from teenagers to elders living in Oakland, California–to pull this question apart for themselves as they live within an urban ecosystem.

Visit Amazon for their picks for books 11-20.

First Look: ‘Creed II’ Official Trailer Shows Who Adonis is Fighting in the Ring

By

Rebecca Murray

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June 20, 2018

MGM and Warner Bros Pictures’ first official trailer for Creed II shows Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) attempting to change Adonis Creed’s (Michael B Jordan) mind about his next big fight. Adonis won’t be dissuaded and replies, “It may not seem like it now, but this is more than just a fight.”

As the first official two-minute trailer comes to a close, one of the final shots shows who Adonis will be fighting in the ring: the son of Ivan Drago.

In addition to Sylvester Stallone and Michael B Jordan, the cast includes Tessa Thompson, Wood Harris, Russell Hornsby, Florian “Big Nasty” Munteanu, Andre Ward, Phylicia Rashad, and Dolph Lundgren. Steven Caple Jr. directs the sequel from a screenplay by Sylvester Stallone.

Sylvester Stallone, Kevin King-Templeton, Charles Winkler, William Chartoff, David Winkler, and Irwin Winkler served as producers, with Ryan Coogler (Creed, Black Panther director), Michael B. Jordan, and Guy Riedel executive producing.

Creed II will open in theaters on Wednesday, November 21, 2018.

The Plot: Life has become a balancing act for Adonis Creed. Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life. Facing an opponent with ties to his family’s past only intensifies his impending battle in the ring. Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what’s worth fighting for, and discover that nothing’s more important than family. Creed II is about going back to basics to rediscover what made you a champion in the first place, and remembering that, no matter where you go, you can’t escape your history.

A Look Back at the Plot of Creed: “Adonis Johnson (Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa. Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky (Stallone) down and asks him to be his trainer. Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in Apollo—the fierce rival who became his closest friend.

Agreeing to take him on, Rocky trains the young fighter, even as the former champ is battling an opponent more deadly than any he faced in the ring. With Rocky in his corner, it isn’t long before Adonis gets his own shot at the title…but can he develop not only the drive but also the heart of a true fighter, in time to get into the ring?”

‘The 100’ Season 5 Episode 8 Preview and Photos: “How We Get to Peace”

By

Rebecca Murray

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June 20, 2018

The CW’s The 100 season five episode seven revealed Octavia is harvesting worms to use in the battle for the valley. She doesn’t care about possible collateral damage, deeming the murder of friends to be acceptable losses. Monty read Jasper’s suicide letter and learned Jasper believed humans are the problem and war will never end until they’re all gone. Clarke instructed Madi to pretend to be weak during training to appear less threatening to Octavia. Unfortunately, Madi went against Clarke’s orders and showed off her fighting ability. Octavia then invited Madi to become Wonkru. That prompted Clarke attempt to make a deal with Diyoza: they’ll take out Octavia if Diyoza agrees to share the valley.

Up next, season five episode eight titled “How We Get to Peace” and set to air on June 26, 2018. Antonio Negret directed the episode from a script by Lauren Muir.

The season five cast 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, Christopher Larkin as Monty Green, Henry Ian Cusick as Marcus Kane, Richard Harmon as John Murphy, Luisa d’Oliveira as Emori, Chelsey Reist as Harper, Ivana Milicevic as Diyoza, Lola Flanery as Madi, and Tasya Teles as Echo.

The “How We Get To Peace” Plot: DETERMINATION — Clarke’s (Taylor) determination to protect Madi (guest star Lola Flannery, Home Again, Shadowhunters) puts Bellamy (Morley) in an impossible position.

The Season 5 Plot: Over the last four seasons The 100 have fought to survive against unimaginable odds, only to see the world end for a second time. Season five begins six years later, with our heroes still separated: Bellamy’s team in space, Clarke on the ground, and hundreds trapped in the bunker below. But when a massive prison ship descends upon the last survivable place on earth, The 100 must come together to reclaim their home.

As two armies converge on one valley, alliances will shift, friends will become foes, and the march to war threatens to destroy all that’s left of the human race. Can our heroes break the cycle, or is humanity doomed to repeat the past? In this epic battle for survival, one thing is certain: there are no good guys.

More on The 100 Season 5:

The 100 Season 5 Episode 8 Preview — Bob Morley as Bellamy in ‘The 100’ season 5 episode 8 (Photo: Katie Yu © 2018 The CW Network)

NBC Announces Its 2018-2019 Primetime Premiere Dates and Lineup

By

Rebecca Murray

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June 19, 2018

NBC Announces Its 2018-2019 Primetime Lineupt — ‘Manifest’ season one poster (Photo by: NBC)

NBC’s set their 2018-2019 fall primetime schedule which includes the debuts of Manifest, New Amsterdam, and I Feel Bad. The upcoming fall season will kick off on Monday, September 24 with the 15th season of The Voice featuring coaches Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Kelly Clarkson, and Jennifer Hudson. Earning the coveted spot behind The Voice is newcomer Manifest from Oscar winner Robert Zemeckis.

Season three of This Is Us premieres on September 25 followed by the debut of the medical drama New Amsterdam. All three shows in the Chicago franchise will air back-to-back beginning on Wednesday, September 26.

NBC’s Thursday lineup includes four comedies – Superstore, The Good Place, Will & Grace, and I Feel Bad – followed by the 20th season of Law & Order: SVU. Friday nights on the network will feature season four of Blindspot, season two of Midnight, Texas, and new episodes of Dateline.

NBC 2018 Primetime Schedule

MONDAY, SEPT. 24

TUESDAY, SEPT. 25
8 p.m. – The Voice
9 p.m. – This Is Us
10 p.m. – New Amsterdam

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 26
8 p.m. – Chicago Med
9 p.m. – Chicago Fire
10 p.m. – Chicago P.D.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 27
8 p.m. – The Good Place (one hour)
9 p.m. – Law & Order: SVU (two hours)

FRIDAY, SEPT. 28
10 p.m. – Dateline NBC

THURSDAY, OCT. 4
8 p.m. – Superstore
8:30 p.m. – The Good Place
9 p.m. – Will & Grace
9:30 p.m. – I Feel Bad
10 p.m. – Law & Order: SVU

FRIDAY, OCT. 12
8 p.m. – Blindspot

FRIDAY, OCT. 26
9 p.m. – Midnight, Texas

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NBC 2018 Primetime Schedule

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