NBC’s resurrected sci-fi thriller Timeless returns for season two (thanks to a successful campaign by fans) on March 11, 2018. Season one earned mostly positive reviews from critics, and genre fans latched on and threw their support behind the time-travel series. Ratings weren’t quite what NBC expected, and the network initially canceled the series before abruptly changing course and renewing Timeless after a passionate and persistent campaign by fans.
When the show returns it will be with Abigail Spencer (Rectify), Matt Lanter (Star-Crossed), Malcolm Barrett (Dear White People), Goran Višnjić (ER), Paterson Joseph (The Beach), Sakina Jaffrey (House of Cards) and Claudia Doumit (New Girl) in starring roles.
Timeless was created by Shawn Ryan and Eric Kripke who serve as writers and executive producers. Tom Smuts (Bosch), Arika Lisanne Mittman (Elementary), Don Kurt (Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams), Greg Beeman (Falling Skies), John Davis (The Blacklist), John Fox (The Blacklist), and Marney Hochman (The Chicago Code) also executive produce. Smuts and Mittman are the co-showrunners.
The Timeless Season 2 Plot: Season 2 of this thrilling action-adventure series will pick up right where we left off with our heroes. We continue to race throughout history with our beloved team: Rufus (Barrett), a scientist; Wyatt (Lanter), a soldier; and Lucy (Spencer), a history professor, in an attempt to prevent the destruction of our world as we all know it. This season they’ll find an unlikely ally in their quest to ruin Rittenhouse, a deadly organization with plans to change history and reshape reality — even though Lucy’s family has been a part of Rittenhouse for centuries.
Still making every effort not to affect the past themselves, they will visit 1692, 1917, 1941, 1981, and more. We’ll be introduced to the likes of Marie Curie, Hedy Lamarr, William Randolph Hearst and a multitude of other influential people throughout history.
A Look Back at Season 1:Timeless is an action-adventure series in which a mysterious criminal steals a secret state-of-the-art time machine, intent on destroying America as we know it by changing the past. Our only hope is an unexpected team: a scientist, soldier and history professor who must use the machine’s prototype to travel back in time to critical events. While they must make every effort not to affect the past themselves, they must also stay one step ahead of this dangerous fugitive. Can this handpicked team uncover the mystery behind it all and end his destruction before it’s too late?
Cameron Neckers as and Abigail Spencer in ‘Timeless’ season 2 (Photo by: Justin Lubin/NBC)Malcolm Barrett as Rufus Carlin, Matt Lanter as Wyatt Logan, and Abigail Spencer as Lucy Preston in ‘Timeless’ season 2 (Photo by: Justin Lubin/NBC)Matt Lanter as Wyatt Logan (Photo by: Justin Lubin/NBC)Kim Bubbs as Marie Curie, Susanna Thompson as Carol, and Abigail Spencer as Lucy Preston (Photo by: Justin Lubin/NBC)Paterson Joseph as Connor Mason, Sakina Japery as Denise Christopher, and Claudia Doumit as Jiya (Photo by: Justin Lubin/NBC)Abigail Spencer, Malcolm Barrett, and Matt Lanter in ‘Timeless’ (Photo by: Justin Lubin/NBC)
Sosie Bacon, Raymond Lee, Daniel Zovatto, Holly Hunter, Joe Williamson, Avynn Crowder-Jones, Jerrika Hinton, and Tim Robbins in ‘Here and Now’ (Photo: Ali Paige Goldstein / HBO)
HBO’s new dysfunctional family drama Here and Now continues its 10 episode season one run with three new episodes airing in March 2018. The series was created by Alan Ball (True Blood, Six Feet Under), with Ball, Peter Macdissi (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks), and David Knoller (Big Love) executive producing.
Holly Hunter and Tim Robbins lead the cast which includes Jerrika Hinton (Grey’s Anatomy), Daniel Zovatto (Don’t Breathe), Raymond Lee (Mozart in the Jungle), Sosie Bacon (The Closer), Andy Bean (Power), Joe Williamson (Looking), and Peter Macdissi (Six Feet Under).
The Plot: On the surface, the Bayer-Boatwrights of Portland, Ore. are the model of a progressive, multiracial family. Greg is a respected philosophy professor and author; his wife, Audrey, is a former therapist turned conflict-resolution consultant for middle and high schools. Greg and Audrey have three adopted children, Ashley, Duc and Ramon, and a biological daughter, Kristen. But as Audrey prepares for Greg’s 60th birthday party, deep cracks begin to appear in the domestic façade, threatening to upend their very way of life, and they are eventually forced to take Ramon to Dr. Farid Shokrani, a Muslim psychiatrist with demons of his own.
Greg (Tim Robbins) and Audrey (Holly Hunter) adopted three children from different countries and backgrounds in an effort to create a family that reflects the multicultural potential of the country. The Colombian-born Ramon (Daniel Zovatto), who’s starting a relationship with Henry (Andy Bean), a barista, begins therapy with Dr. Farid Shokrani (Peter Macdissi) after hallucinogenic encounters with the numbers “11:11.” Duc (Raymond Lee), adopted from Vietnam, enjoys the fruits of a lucrative career as a “motivational architect,” but his celibacy troubles the family.
Liberian-born Ashley (Jerrika Hinton), who runs a retail-fashion business, begins to struggle with her identity as an African-American woman in modern-day America and is finding more and more reason to shake up her marriage with her husband, Malcolm (Joe Williamson). And Kristen (Sosie Bacon), the youngest child at 17, chafes at her banal life and heritage, especially compared to her more exotic siblings.
Here and Now March 2018 Episodes:
Episode #4: “Hide and Seek”
Debut date: SUNDAY, MARCH 4 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Greg (Tim Robbins) and Audrey (Holly Hunter) look to the past to find financing for the Empathy Initiative. Kristen (Sosie Bacon) is partnered with Navid (Marwan Salama), Farid’s son, in a school project, and learns there’s more to him than meets the eye. Farid (Peter Macdissi) debates Islam with the mosque’s Imam (Michael Weaver), much to Layla’s (Necar Zadegan) chagrin. Ramon (Daniel Zovatto) worries that he may have shared too much with Henry (Andy Bean). The family heads to a familiar retreat to celebrate Hailey’s (Avynn Crowder-Jones) birthday, with an unexpected conclusion
Written by Nancy Oliver; directed by Jeremy Podeswa.
Episode #5: “From Sun Up to Sun Down”
Debut date: SUNDAY, MARCH 11 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Farid (Peter Macdissi) has trouble separating professional and personal perspectives after Ramon’s (Daniel Zovatto) most recent incident. Kristen (Sosie Bacon) and Navid (Marwan Salama) stumble onto potentially incriminating activity. Duc (Raymond Lee) and Carmen (Fernanda Andrade) make a pledge over tea. Ashley (Jerrika Hinton) and Malcolm (Joe Williamson) have dinner with the parents of Haley’s classmate, but come away with divergent opinions about the couple.
Written by J.R. Edwards; directed by Jeremy Podeswa.
Episode #6: “Fight, Death”
Debut date: SUNDAY, MARCH 18 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Rocked by a disturbing revelation, Ramon (Daniel Zovatto) escapes into the past. Farid (Peter Macdissi) looks for meaning in a translation, while Kristen (Sosie Bacon) takes comfort in the music of the Torah. Audrey (Holly Hunter) finds that an old college friend, Steven Benjamin (Tim DeKay), is receptive to her Empathy Initiative pitch. Greg (Tim Robbins) works out with Duc (Raymond Lee) and Michael (Kevin Bigley), and submits a foreword to Duc’s soon-to-be-published self-help book.
Written by Wes Taylor; directed by Lisa Cholodenko.
Fox’s Lucifer season three episode 15 found Lucifer completely out of ideas on how to kill Cain. Fortunately, a new murder case involved a novelist overcoming writer’s block. Unfortunately, her solution wasn’t the least bit helpful to Lucifer. The episode also featured Maze setting Linda up on a horrible blind date and Chloe finally getting her invitation to the prom. As she and Lucifer danced, fans were this|close to getting a Chloe & Lucifer kissing scene.
Up next, Lucifer season three episode 16 titled “Infernal Guinea Pig.” Airing on March 5, 2018, “Infernal Guinea Pig” features guest stars Lauren Lapkus as Bree Garland/Abel, Jacqueline Obradors as Alexa Lee, and Blake Shields as Liam Wade.
Season three stars Tom Ellis as Lucifer, Lauren German as Chloe, DB Woodside as Amenadiel, Lesley-Ann Brandt as Maze, Kevin Alejandro as Dan, Scarlett Estevez as Trixie, Rachael Harris as Linda Martin, Tricia Helfer as Charlotte, Aimee Garcia as Ella, and Tom Welling as Marcus Pierce/Cain.
The “Infernal Guinea Pig” Plot: When a murder investigation reveals the dark side of Hollywood, Chloe puts her life on the line to protect an innocent victim. Then, Lucifer comes up with a hell-raising scheme to help Cain, but when Amenadiel and Maze get involved, things don’t quite go as planned.
Tom Welling and Tom Ellis in ‘Lucifer’ season 3 episode 16 (Photo by Ray Mickshaw / FOX)Tom Ellis in ‘Lucifer’ season 3 episode 16 (Photo by Ray Mickshaw / FOX)Lauren German and Tom Ellis in ‘Lucifer’ season 3 episode 16 (Photo by Ray Mickshaw / FOX)Tom Ellis as Lucifer (Photo by Ray Mickshaw / FOX)Tom Ellis and DB Woodside (Photo by Ray Mickshaw / FOX)Guest star Lauren Lapkus and DB Woodside in the “Infernal Guinea Pig” episode (Photo by Ray Mickshaw / FOX)
Logo for Disney Junior’s upcoming animated series, ‘The Rocketeer’ (Disney Junior)
Production has gotten underway on Disney Junior’s The Rocketeer. The new animated television series is inspired by the popular comic book series by Dave Stevens and is expected to launch on the family-friendly network sometime in 2019.
The series has Transformers: Rescue Bots‘ Nicole Dubuc on board as executive producer. Wild Canary and Disney Junior are producing the animated series aimed at a young audience.
“We are very excited to introduce The Rocketeer to our young Disney Junior audience. The vast storytelling found in the original comic books provides the perfect opportunity to create an exciting new adventure series told from a young girl superhero perspective that the whole family can enjoy together,” stated Disney Junior Senior Vice President of Original Programming while announcing the start of production.
Dave Stevens’ The Rocketeer was made into a feature film starring Jennifer Connelly, Billy Campbell, Alan Arkin, and Paul Sorvino in 1991. Joe Johnston (Captain America: The First Avenger, Jumanji, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids) directed the PG-rated film which grossed $46 million domestically during its entire theatrical run.
The Rocketeer Details, Courtesy of Disney Junior: Inspired by The Rocketeer, the series follows Kit, a young girl who receives a surprise package on her birthday revealing she’s next in line to become the Rocketeer, a legendary superhero who has the ability to fly with the help of a rocket-powered jet pack. Armed with her cool new gear and secret identity, Kit is ready to take flight and save the day with her gadget-minded best friend, Tesh, and airplane mechanic uncle, Ambrose, who join her on her epic adventures.
Geared towards kids 2-7 and their families, each episode of The Rocketeer will feature two 11-minute stories and include an original song.
The CW’s iZombie season four episode one found humans and zombies adjusting to life inside the walled-off city of New Seattle. Major was charged with mentoring new zombies while Liv was busy eating the brain of a murdered Seattle Seahawks fan to discover who killed him. Meanwhile, Ravi has been turning into a zombie (occasionally) while testing out a zombie virus vaccine.
The new season continues with episode two titled “Blue Bloody” airing on March 5, 2018. Michael Fields directed from a script by Dean Lorey.
The cast of season four includes Rose McIver as Olivia “Liv” Moore, Malcolm Goodwin as Clive Babineaux, Rahul Kohli as Dr. Ravi Chakrabarti, Robert Buckley as Major Lilywhite, David Anders as Blaine DeBeers, Aly Michalka as Peyton Charles, and Robert Knepper as Angus McDonough.
The “Blue Bloody” Plot: THE STRUGGLE IS REAL — It’s a real-life game of clue for Liv (Rose McIver) after she eats the brains of a despicable dowager and must determine which one of her disgruntled servants killed her. Clive (Malcolm Goodwin) and Bozzio (guest star Jessica Harmon, The 100) are struggling to maintain a healthy relationship. Meanwhile, circumstances place Major (Robert Buckley) and Liv in opposition to one another.
Netflix just released a new two-minute trailer for the comedy film, The Week Of, directed by Robert Smigel (Saturday Night Live writer). The original comedy reunites frequent collaborators Adam Sandler and Chris Rock who shared the stage in Saturday Night Live and co-starred in the comedy films The Longest Yard, Grown Ups, and Grown Ups 2.
Director Smigel and Adam Sandler co-wrote the film which finds Sandler and Chris Rock about to become in-laws. Sandler also served as a producer on the Netflix film along with Allen Covert (Hotel Transylvania, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry). Barry Bernardi and Tim Herlihy executive produced.
The cast of The Week Of also includes Rachel Dratch (Great News, Imaginary Mary) and Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire, 30 Rock). Netflix will release the comedy on April 27, 2018.
“Adam Sandler and Chris Rock are cornerstones of the Netflix comedy family and we are over the moon about these two legends reuniting to give our members worldwide a healthy dose of the hilarity that they have been creating together for years. Similar in the romantic comedy tone of Sandler’s most recent film Sandy Wexler, this film will be the perfect vehicle for Sandler and Rock and their millions of fans around the world,” explained Ted Sarandos, Netflix Chief Content Officer, about the 2018 production.
The Week Of Plot: The comedy tells the story of two fathers who are polar opposites (Adam Sandler and Chris Rock) and the dysfunctional hilarity that ensues when their families come together to celebrate the wedding of their children. They are forced to spend the longest week of their lives together and the big day could not come soon enough.
Chris Rock and Adam Sandler star in the Netflix comedy film, ‘The Week Of.’
ABC’s final season of Once Upon a Time finally returns after a nearly three-month break with season seven episode 11. The second half of the season kicks off on Friday, March 2, 2018 at 8pm ET/PT with episode 11 titled “Secret Garden” directed by Mick Garris from a script by series creators Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz.
Season seven stars Lana Parrilla as Regina/Roni, Robert Carlyle as Rumpelstiltskin/Weaver, Colin O’Donoghue as Hook/Rogers, Andrew J. West as Henry Mills, Gabrielle Anwar as Lady Tremaine/Victoria Belfrey, Dania Ramirez as Cinderella/Jacinda, Alison Fernandez as Lucy, Mekia Cox as Sabine/Tiana, and Adelaide Kane as Drizella/Ivy. The guest cast includes Emma Booth as The Witch/Gothel/Eloise Gardener, Rebecca Mader as Zelena/Kelly, Nathan Parsons as Nick Branson, Yael Yurman as Anastasia, Tiera Skovbye as Robin, Nisreen Slim as Doctor Sage, and Suzy Joachim as Madame Leota.
The “Secret Garden” Plot: Eager to harness her burgeoning magical skills, Robin engages in a risky relationship with Mother Gothel. Meanwhile in Hyperion Heights, Roni and Kelly strike a deal with Eloise, desperate to save Lucy from her mysterious illness. But nothing comes without a price. As things finally come to a head between Victoria and Ivy, someone may have to pay with their life.
Colin O’Donoghue and Rebecca Mader in ‘Once Upon a Time’ season 7 episode 11 (ABC/Jack Rowand)Colin O’Donoghue, Rebecca Mader, and Tiera Skovbye (ABC/Jack Rowand)Tiera Skovbye and Rebecca Mader (ABC/Jack Rowand)Tiera Skovbye and Emma Booth in ‘Once Upon a Time’ season 7 episode 11 (ABC/Jack Rowand)Rebecca Mader and Tiera Skovbye (ABC/Jack Rowand)Colin O’Donoghue in ‘Once Upon a Time’ season 7 episode 11 (ABC/Jack Rowand)
Magician David Blaine has announced the dates of his 2018 North American tour set to consist of 36 stops across the U.S. and Canada. The “David Blaine Live” tour will take place during the spring and summer months, kicking off on May 6th in San Diego.
Cities on the upcoming tour include Seattle, Houston, Orlando, Chicago, and Boston. “David Blaine Live” will wrap up on July 14th in Brooklyn, New York at the Kings Theatre.
Tickets will be available beginning March 2nd via Live Nation. A special presale for Citi cardmembers begins on March 1st at 10am local time.
David Blaine Live Tour Dates:
Sunday, May 06, 2018 in San Diego, CA at San Diego Civic Theatre
Monday, May 07, 2018 in Bakersfield, CA at Rabobank Theater
Wednesday, May 09, 2018 in Fresno, CA at Saroyan Theatre
Thursday, May 10, 2018 in San Jose, CA at City National Civic
Saturday, May 12, 2018 in Oakland, CA at Paramount Theatre
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 in Seattle, WA at Paramount Theatre
Friday, May 18, 2018 in Vancouver, BC at Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Monday, May 21, 2018 in Portland, OR at Keller Auditorium
Thursday, May 24, 2018 in Los Angeles, CA at Dolby Theatre
Sunday, May 27, 2018 in Mesa, AZ at Mesa Arts Center
Wednesday, May 30, 2018 in Houston, TX at Smart Financial Center at Sugar Land
Thursday, May 31, 2018 in Dallas, TX at Music Hall at Fair Park
Saturday, June 02, 2018 in Chattanooga, TN at Tivoli Theatre
Sunday, June 03, 2018 in Huntsville, AL at Von Braun Center – Concert Hall
Tuesday, June 05, 2018 in Jacksonville, FL at Florida Theatre
Wednesday, June 06, 2018 in St. Petersburg, FL at Mahaffey Theater
Friday, June 08, 2018 in Miami, FL at Adrienne Arsht Center
Monday, June 11, 2018 in Orlando, FL at Dr. Phillips Center
Friday, June 15, 2018 in Minneapolis, MN at State Theatre
Saturday, June 16, 2018 in Chicago, IL at The Chicago Theatre
Wednesday, June 20, 2018 in St. Louis, MO at Peabody Opera House
Thursday, June 21, 2018 in Knoxville, TN at The Tennessee Theatre
Saturday, June 23, 2018 in Asheville, NC at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
Sunday, June 24, 2018 in Oxon Hill, MD at The Theater at MGM National Harbor
Tuesday, June 26, 2018 in Albany, NY at Palace Theatre
Thursday, June 28, 2018 in Richmond, VA at Altria Theater
Friday, June 29, 2018 in Wallingford, CT at Toyota Presents Oakdale
Sunday, July 01, 2018 in Boston, MA at Boch Center Wang Theatre
Monday, July 02, 2018 in Montreal, QC at L’Olympia
Wednesday, July 04, 2018 in Toronto, ON at Sony Centre For Performing Arts
Thursday, July 05, 2018 in Toronto, ON at Sony Centre For Performing Arts
Saturday, July 07, 2018 in Detroit, MI at The Fox Theatre
Sunday, July 08, 2018 in Buffalo, NY at Shea’s Performing Arts Center
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 in Upper Darby, PA at Tower Theatre
Thursday, July 12, 2018 in Brooklyn, NY at Kings Theatre
Saturday, July 14, 2018 in Brooklyn, NY at Kings Theatre
More on David Blaine, Courtesy of Live Nation: “Blaine’s highly-rated primetime specials have shown him being buried alive in New York City for a week, encased inside a six-ton block of ice for three days, surviving standing atop a 100ft tall pillar in Bryant Park for 36 hours without a safety net, enduring 44 days inside a transparent box in London on nothing but water, and living within one million volts discharged at him continuously for 72 hours from seven Tesla coils. Blaine also spent one week submerged in a sphere-shaped aquarium at Lincoln Center, after which he broke the world record for breath holding live on the Oprah Winfrey show where he held his breath for over 17 minutes.
Since graduating high school, he has performed to audiences of over 20,000 in arenas around the world. He has performed for U.S Presidents including Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and other international leaders and prominent figures such as Bill Gates, Henry Kissinger, Michael Bloomberg, Stephen Hawking and Muhammad Ali.
‘Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert’ Poster (Photo by NBC)
NBC’s next live musical event will be a staging of the iconic rock musical, Jesus Christ Superstar. The cast of Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert includes John Legend as Jesus Christ, Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene, Brandon Victor Dixon as Judas, Alice Cooper as King Herod, Ben Daniels as Pontius Pilate, Norm Lewis as Caiaphas, Jin Ha as Annas, Jason Tam as Peter, and Erik Gronwall as Simon Zealotes.
Executive producers Neil Meron and Marc Platt are no strangers to live television musicals. Meron was involved in The Wiz Live!, Peter Pan Live!, and Hairspray Live!, while Platt executive produced A Christmas Story Live! and Grease Live!. Teamed up for a conference call, Meron and Platt discussed their cast, the staging of this live musical event, and lessons learned from previous television musical productions.
Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert will air on Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018.
Neil Meron and Marc Platt Interview:
Can you talk about casting Alice Cooper and why you think he makes the perfect King Herod?
Neil Meron: “Alice Cooper actually has a history with Jesus Christ Superstar. There was an album probably about 10 years ago and he recorded the role of King Herod and so when we were going forward with this production Tim Rice said, ‘What about Alice because he’s in the family? He’s terrific. He would lend that rock authenticity. He has that outrageous persona that seems to be very right for King Herod.’ And we reached out and he was very interested, and we were very happy about that.”
Marc Platt: “It’s going to be a lot of fun. And listen, Jesus Christ Superstar itself is so iconic. Its music is so iconic. It in some ways was very defining for a generation for that kind of narrative music, particularly one that appeared on the West End and subsequently on Broadway. And so to have an iconic rock star like Alice Cooper participate in it feels like it elevates the evening and is both organic but also makes a real exciting, exciting enterprise.
The thing about Superstar is it’s for all ages. Of course there’s those of us who are older who remember it and its impact on us when we were much younger. But it’s also something for those who might not know it to be rediscovered, and so Alice sort of covers all the bases in that regard.”
Neil Meron: “Also, you know that Alice Cooper because we’re doing it in concert style, the idea that we have an actual rock performer in this venue seems to make a great deal of sense.”
Can you discuss your cast and what each member brings to their role?
Marc Platt: “John Legend is not only one of the great sort of pop stars and personalities of our time now, but he has the voice that is distinctive and singular. We all know it and we’re all familiar with it. And so to have the role of Jesus sung by that masterful vocalist – , and of course he appeared in La La Land among other things – will be a great joy and will do justice to the challenge of that score and that particular role.
The same thing can be said of course of Sara (Bareilles) who we all know both from her vocal career, her pop star career, her now Broadway career both as a writer and appearing on stage. So to hear her voice sing those gorgeous melodies that we’re all so familiar with and have lasted through time is joyous and it’s exciting. You really lean into it.”
Neil Meron: “And regarding Brandon Victor Dixon, we spent an inordinately long time auditioning many, many actors to play Judas. Brandon came in very, very early and he was always the one to beat. But we did a lot of due diligence because there were a lot of people that want to play that role. Brandon just has this incredible quality not only vocally but he’s also a Tony-nominated actor. He’s coming off of Hamilton and so it just seemed to make sense for this particular project.
Regarding Ben Daniels, he’s one of the finest actors in the English-speaking world, mostly stage and more well-known in the UK than here. But we wanted a really complex actor, somebody that can take on the role of Pilate because it is such a conflicted role. We reached out to Ben and he did a vocal audition for all of us.
All of these people had to be approved by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. When we presented them our choices, we had to make sure that we, as the creative team, really endorsed and knew that we were not going to be turned down because we loved all these actors that we’ve chosen.”
What are the challenges you’ve been facing with this venue in Brooklyn?
Neil Meron: “Me and Craig Zadan and Marc, we’re the only producers that do these live musicals which is kind of a very small club to be in. Marc actually shot a film at this venue that we’re shooting at in Brooklyn which is the Marcy Armory. He knew the rawness of the space which is what we were looking for, just in terms of the presentation of Jesus Christ Superstar. We wanted to bring it back. We wanted to strip it of a lot of theatricality and go to the essence of a concert and have some theatrical staging mixed in. Just the rawness of that space and the idea that we can create this environment there just made sense to all of us.”
Why did you decide that you wanted to do this performance as a concert rather than a more straight staging of the show?
Neil Meron: “You know, the basis of Jesus Christ Superstar was this live concert album. It was a rock opera. When the album first came out, unauthorized concert stagings of the piece starting popping up all over the US. I think that was Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s original inclination was to have it done very, very concert-like. The Broadway production that was done in the early ’70s kind of deflected from that and gave it a lot more theatricality, which was very controversial at the time. But Andrew and Tim really wanted to go back to what the essence of the piece was which was presentational-like in front of a live audience and more concert-like.”
Marc Platt: “And that is organic to what their intention was and we are delivering a concert. But it does have, as many concerts do actually these days, sort of the bells and whistles of wonderful visuals and enough storytelling. You sit down so you feel the concert, you feel the musicians and the music being played live. But it does have some of the eye-candy pyrotechnic fun and glory that you would expect at a concert and that you would expect also of a story that is Jesus Christ Superstar.”
Do you feel after 50 years the play’s importance and messages have changed or even strengthened?
Neil Meron: “I actually think it’s more relevant now, just in terms of something with the best of intentions to heal, to do good, to spread a message of love, to spread a message of life is snuffed out by opposing forces because he’s misunderstood by the powers that be. And I think that is incredibly timely.”
Marc Platt: “And I also think that interestingly enough, not just from a nostalgic point of view, but the music still is sensational and still feels relevant and in its own way of the moment which is why I’m excited for folks that don’t know it to rediscover. I was just in rehearsal yesterday and listening to John and Brandon sing. Neil turned to me and said, ‘Listen to that music. It’s just great,’ and it really is. It really feels fresh and as iconic as some of it is.”
Alice Cooper, Brandon Victor Dixon, Sara Bareilles, and John Legend star in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert’ (Photo by Peter Kramer / NBC)
Was it always your intention to end up with a mix of theatre performers and pop/rock stars or did that just happen organically?
Neil Meron: “I think it was a little bit of both. I mean, we wanted the combination because it isn’t just singing songs. These songs needed to be acted. So when you examine the piece, you want people that can do both and some of the roles you want a little bit more – like the role of Pilate. Even Judas is incredibly complex in this particular telling of the story. We know that the people that can balance both and still have that incredible vocal ability can come from the theatre. And, we want to populate it with some real authenticity just in terms of a rock sound which is why we have Alice or a pop sound which is why we have John Legend and Sara Bareilles who can do both.
It really is a happy turn of events that led us to this particular cast. But this is the type of cast we were looking for.”
Is there any chance that an album might come out of this?
Neil Meron: “There is a chance.”
Marc Platt: “We’re trying.”
Why was British theatre director David Leveaux the right person to handle this production?
Marc Platt: “A number of reasons. There were a number of directors interested but David was very aggressive in pursuing it both because of his personal love of the material and his passion for it. And, he’s a noted stage director.
[…] I think that he grew up with a particular love of Jesus Christ Superstar as a younger person and now as an artist and a director he has the passion for it. He was just utterly convincing to us that he felt the music, he felt the characters. He loved the concept of the concerts. He’d worked with camera before so that marriage of stage and camera felt organic and he kind of won us over in that regard. Did I leave anything out, Neil?”
Neil Meron: “No, I don’t think so. And also what struck us by his work in the past is that it’s incredibly visual and we wanted it to be a visual presentation as well.”
You have so many of these live television productions underneath your belts at this point. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned working on these live events?
Neil Meron: “I think one of the biggest lessons… Well one of the great things about doing them over and over again is that you are not daunted by the challenge, that you kind of know what the mechanics are that needs to take place in order to fulfill a production live. Again, anything can happen which is kind of the exciting thing. You become less fearful of it as we were when we started with Sound of Music. Marc, you may have a different response?”
Marc Platt: “I think you learn a lot about the things you can do, in terms of tricks and embracing what’s live about it and how to render that exciting and to deliver what is thrilling for an audience. You know, Neil and Craig really reintroduced to the world the notion of live musicals which many, many, many decades ago had, I guess, been done on TV. They reinvented it with Sound of Music. I think each iteration and each musical there’s been more learned in terms of what can and can’t be done and how to embrace the fact that it’s its own genre, kind of. It’s both a stage event, like in the theatre, but there’s also a camera – or cameras, I should say.”
Neil Meron: “And Marc took it to the next level.”
Marc Platt: “Well, I think we all learned and it evolved. I think it continues to evolve. I would say the thing we’ve learned the most however is that it is live, as Neil said, and anything can happen. I think the first time out is kind of such a daunting and scary thing. And then you sort of realize, ‘Well, wait a second, that is sort of the point.’
You embrace the things that might go wrong when it’s live and you sort of learn to encourage others to let’s just go with it. That’s part of why an audience tunes in. Of course they want the music delivered magnificently and they want to see the tremendous visuals and exciting narrative and wonderful performance, but it’s live and they want to feel that they are participants in it because so much of our lives today is, you know, there’s a little screen that we get everything off of. Here, it’s live. I think that’s what I learned the most is sort of embrace the liveness and not be fearful of it, but just to lean into it.”
Are all the songs from the original stage production going to be in Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert?
Neil Meron: “Right now – and we expect it to stay this way – everything is intact from the way that Andrew and Tim wrote it.”
Lauren German and Tom Ellis in ‘Lucifer’ season 3 episode 15 (Photo by Erik Voake / FOX)
Lucifer returns to Fox’s Monday night lineup after a two week break with season three episode 15 airing February 26, 2018. The episode, titled “High School Poppycock,” opens with Chloe (Lauren German) showing up at Lucifer’s place and calling out to him, but he stands in the dark and warns her to leave. Lucifer (Tom Ellis) can’t make his wings go away and rages at her to get out. The wings spread out in their full glory as Chloe falls from Lucifer’s penthouse to the streets below.
Of course it’s a dream and he’s actually recalling the details to Dr. Linda (Rachael Harris). He thinks the dream means he needs stronger guardrails, but then admits he knows he has issues with his dad. He wants to prove to his dad he can’t control him which means he needs to remove Pierce’s curse. Unfortunately, he’s run out of ideas on how to do that.
Lucifer wants Dr. Linda to remove his mental block using hypnotism, and she has to explain that’s not how it works. Lucifer storms out, upset Linda has no helpful suggestions.
Chloe stops by Ella’s office and begs off their evening plans. Ella (Aimee Garcia), wearing a blue wig, places a bright pink one on Chloe’s head and reminds her she needs to have fun. Chloe’s mind is set; she’s all work and no play. Bummer for Ella who really wanted her buddy for a night out.
Speaking of work, Chloe drives as Lucifer explains he has a mental block and is frustrated. She tells him she’s never at a loss for ideas during an investigation because there’s always a new angle to approach the problem.
And this week’s murder is of a bestselling sci-fi author, Kathleen Pike. There’s weird white stuff on the floor by her dead body, but it turns out to be only melted ice cream. Ella shows off the fatal wound as Lucifer questions Dan (Kevin Alejandro) about how he comes up with improv ideas. Dan suggests “yes, and…” and Lucifer is so desperate he thinks he’ll try it out.
Chloe questions Kathleen’s editor, Vincent Green (Russell Wong), and he thinks maybe it’s his fault because he tweeted out news of her new book. Maybe a crazed fan did this. Lucifer keeps starting statements with “yes, and” but gets nowhere that way. Chloe points out that all Lucifer is really doing is adding “yes, and” to his normal statements.
Vincent reveals Kathleen had writer’s block and teased he would learn how she broke through it after reading this new book. Lucifer’s on full alert, determined to retrieve the only copy of her book which apparently the killer stole. Chloe points out Lucifer means they need to find the killer, but Lucifer’s pretty sure he’s more interested in getting his hands on that book to try and end his own mental block.
Meanwhile, Amenadiel (DB Woodside) and Linda meet for a romantic dinner and they’re obviously happy. They’re sneaking around so the dinner is in Linda’s office, both afraid Maze will find out. Linda admits she wants to tell Maze, but they know she won’t take it well. They realize they’re being cowards but, after all, it’s Maze they’re talking about.
Amenadiel sweetly says he’ll do anything for Linda, so he volunteers to check in on Maze and make sure she’s okay.
Lucifer’s busy ready Kathleen’s books and he’s disappointed by the lack of sex and drugs. He asks Chloe if her high school years were this boring, and she reveals as an actor her high school time was definitely not normal.
Chloe finds an online argument between a fan and Kathleen. Kathleen was super rude and Ashley, the fan, went offline when Kathleen humiliated her.
Amenadiel shows up at Chloe’s looking for Maze but Trixie informs him Maze isn’t home. She does promise to pass on the message. Maze, of course, is home and Trixie suggests that maybe Amenadiel and Linda just need help telling the truth.
Chloe and Lucifer visit the ice cream store that Ashley works at, and it turns out the melting ice cream at Kathleen’s house came from this store. A girl behind the counter tries to flee when Chloe flashes her badge, believing she’s in trouble for having a joint. It turns out the store manager’s name is Ashley and Chloe and Lucifer bring him in for questioning.
When Lucifer demands the book, he swears he doesn’t have it. He admits he made Kathleen special ice cream and always delivered it himself. He claims he had no idea she was murdered and confesses he loves her books because they remind him of the good times he had in high school. He also comes clean about their online fight and proudly declares he writes lots of fan fiction. He even helped Kathleen write her last book, which means he knows how she got over writer’s block. Turns out, all she had to do was be authentic. She decided to return to her original inspirations for her books and didn’t use what he suggested. He also surprises Chloe and Lucifer by revealing the characters in Kathleen’s books were based on real people she knew in high school.
Kathleen didn’t change the characters’ first names even though her books exposed their dirty laundry. Chloe and Lucifer believe it’s possible one of her former classmates murdered her once they heard she had a new book coming out. The gang, and Charlotte, decide someone needs to go to the high school reunion to find out which one could be the killer.
Since it’s a high school reunion, it will be tough to infiltrate because the people in attendance all know each other. However, Ella points out there’s a loner, Todd Cornwell, in the class who has no social media presence. Lucifer could masquerade as him. Todd’s photo shows he’s a balding, paunchy guy and when Dan says Lucifer looks just like him, Lucifer replies, “Has all that masturbation finally caught up with your eyesight, Daniel?”
Chloe volunteers to go as Lucifer’s plus one. Unfortunately, Todd RSVPed. Charlotte says she’ll find a way to keep him from attending, mentioning a certain bounty hunter who will help her out.
Maze pays a visit to Dr. Linda’s office and asks if she found a boyfriend and that’s why she hasn’t been around. Linda denies it, and Maze wants to set her up. Maze doesn’t take no for an answer and so Linda’s forced into going on a blind date.
Next we see that Chloe’s drinking wine and absorbed in Kathleen’s books. Apparently, she was reading all night and only Trixie needing a ride to school makes her realize she was awake the whole night.
Lucifer and Chloe show up at the Westside High School Class of 2001 reunion and Chloe points out all the characters from the books. She’s really into them now that she’s read the books, calling the characters compelling and fangirling over them all being at the reunion.
Chloe divides them up so that she and Lucifer each have three people to question. Chloe has a hard time focusing on the job at hand since she’s now a huge fan of these people’s characters and acts like she knows them personally.
Rachael Harris, D.B. Woodside and Lesley-Ann Brandt in ‘Lucifer’ (Photo by Erik Voake / FOX)
Amenadiel and Linda show up (separately) at the restaurant, and it seems Maze has brought Todd there as Linda’s blind date. Maze then announces it’s a double date and Amenadiel is her date.
Back at the reunion, Lucifer talks to Isabel who can’t believe he’s Oddball Todd, apologizing for calling him by his old nickname and declaring that she thinks he’s hot. Lucifer has no problem getting her to answer his questions.
Chloe talks to two of the people on her list, and they can’t believe there’s another book coming out. Chloe mixes her real police questions with questions directed at the characters from the books. (Chloe is definitely not in her normal police mode!)
Over at the restaurant, Maze tries to get Linda and Todd to talk. Todd admits he wets the bed and Amenadiel pipes up, “Most serial killers wet the bed,” shooting daggers with his eyes at Todd. Amenadiel’s on the verge of being angry about this situation and Linda whispers they just have to get through the night.
Lucifer uses his powers to get Tristan to admit he broke into the school the night of Kathleen’s murder. Tristan apologizes that ‘Todd’ wasn’t invited, and it turns out the entire gang was together so they all have the same alibi.
Chloe and the hunky Max meet privately in the hallway, and Jessica quickly arrives to break them up. A bad soap opera-type reunion breaks out in front of Chloe with slaps, accusations, and lots of yelling. Lucifer also shows up and yells, “None of these people killed Kathleen!” He can’t believe he’s the responsible one and then Max reminds them that Todd was hanging out with Kathleen two nights ago. Lucifer realizes he (well, Todd) is probably the killer.
Lucifer and Chloe head over to the restaurant, and Chloe wonders why Todd would have killed Kathleen. She can’t believe she was so into Kathleen’s books that she forgot to really pay attention.
Maze tells Amenadiel and Linda she’s missed them, pulling Amenadiel close and hugging him. Linda asks her to stop because it makes her uncomfortable to see the public display of affection. As Maze licks Amenadiel’s face, Linda figures out Maze knows. When Linda explains they didn’t tell her because she overreacts, Maze slams her knife into the table. Linda and Maze get into it, and Linda is furious when Maze calls her selfish. Linda says she and Amenadiel found something unexpected and real, and it’s not just some fling. Maze doesn’t understand how this could happen since Linda’s her friend. Maze rushes off just as Chloe and Lucifer arrive at the table.
The real Todd’s taken in for questioning and he’s yet another person who can’t believe Kathleen is dead. He understands why they think he did it since he’s a weirdo. Todd explains Kathleen tracked him down because she was going to make him the hero in the final book. She was going to show everyone the book at the reunion.
Kathleen told Todd the final book had a peaceful, grounded ending. It was going to end with everyone understanding each other, and Todd admits it sounded beautiful to him. Chloe realizes this ending doesn’t match with the ending the editor described. Chloe gives Vincent a call and asks about a fanfiction writer named Ashley, and he confirms Kathleen told him about an overeager fan.
Lucifer waits at the ice cream store in the dark and Vincent arrives with a gun. Chloe demands Vincent drop the gun, explaining she knows Ashley’s ending is the one he described. Vincent didn’t like Kathleen’s ending so he argued with her about using Ashley’s ending instead. He admits he threw the typewriter at her and that he destroyed the book because he didn’t want anyone to read it.
Vincent explains how Kathleen fixed her writer’s block, and Lucifer’s enraged because it doesn’t help him at all.
Linda and Amenadiel meet in a park, and Linda knows they never should have lied to Maze. She knew this relationship would hurt Maze, yet she did it anyway. Linda says she was being selfish and can’t be with Amenadiel because of what it does to Maze. Amenadiel doesn’t think it’s fair for Maze to take this away from them, but Linda says this just isn’t the kind of person she is. Amenadiel understands, but ending this relationship isn’t easy.
That night, Chloe shows up at Lucifer’s place after he calls and asks to see her. He wants to make sure she’s okay and back to being the responsible member of their relationship. She is, and she admits she likes being the responsible adult. After attending the high school reunion, she claims she isn’t sad she didn’t have that sort of high school experience. Lucifer asks, “So you don’t desire any of that high school poppycock?” When she says no, he pins a corsage on her and asks her to go to the prom with him.
Music plays and a glitter ball spins as they take to the dance floor alone. She thanks him and it looks as if they’re about to kiss…but no. She asks if he figured out how to break through his mental block, and he gives her the basics of the problem. Chloe offers the advice that it’s better to move forward than be stuck in the past. When she says they can’t rewrite history, Lucifer is dumbstruck.
“You can’t, but maybe I can. Detective, you’re a genius.” He now has an idea of how to handle his problem. Lucifer’s going to go back and undo the reason it exists in the first place.
