Netflix just released the official trailer for the new comedy series, GLOW, created by Nurse Jackie‘s Liz Flahive and Orange is the New Black‘s Carly Mensch. The comedy set in the world of women’s wrestling is executive produced by Flahive, Mensch, Jenji Kohan, and Tara Herrman, and is set to debut on June 23, 2017.
GLOW stars Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, Marc Maron, Britney Young, Jackie Tohn, Kate Nash, and Chris Lowell.
The Plot:GLOW tells the fictional story of Ruth Wilder (Brie), an out-of-work, struggling actress in 1980s Los Angeles who finds one last chance for stardom when she’s thrust into the glitter and spandex world of women’s wrestling. In addition to working with 12 Hollywood misfits, Ruth also has to compete with Debbie Eagan (Gilpin) a former soap actress who left the business to have a baby, only to be sucked back into work when her picture-perfect life is not what it seems. And at the wheel is Sam Sylvia (Maron), a washed-up, B-movie director who now must lead this group of women on the journey to wrestling stardom.
Alison Brie in ‘GLOW’ (Photo Credit: Netflix)Betty Gilpin stars in ‘GLOW’ (Photo Credit: Netflix)
The CW didn’t want to leave Frequency fans without answers to key questions following the show’s cancellation after just one season. In order to tie up loose ends, the network released a four minute video in which Frank Sullivan (Riley Smith) contacts his daughter, Raimy (Peyton List), one final time. The conversation begins with Raimy letting her dad know the captured Nightingale killer died in jail the previous year. Raimy also tells her dad her mom is currently super busy helping her plan the wedding. She then makes her father write down June 14, 2011, the day he’ll die.
Raimy swears she’ll never mess with anyone else’s fate, but she makes her father promise he won’t leave the house on June 14, 2011. Raimy, practically in tears, says her mom mourns him deeply after he dies. As she’s waiting for her father to answer, the radio dies. His answer was yes as he appears alive and well behind her. They hug and a flood of new memories overwhelm them.
Frequency was based on the popular 2000 movie with Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel, and starred Peyton List, Riley Smith, Devin Kelley, Anthony Ruivivar, Lenny Jacobson, Daniel Bonjour, and Mekhi Phifer. The series was executive produced by Jeremy Carver, Toby Emmerich, John Rickard, Dan Li, and Jennifer Gwartz.
The Frequency Plot: Detective Raimy Sullivan (List) has always wanted to prove that she is nothing like her father. In 1996, when Raimy was eight years old, NYPD Officer Frank Sullivan (Smith) left Raimy and her mother, Julie (Kelley), behind when he went deep undercover, got corrupted, and got himself killed. Or so the story has always gone.
Few people knew about the secret undercover sting operation Frank was really charged with, led by Stan Moreno (Ruivivar), who has now risen to Deputy Chief of Police. Frank’s former partner, Lieutenant Satch Reyna (Phifer), is now Raimy’s mentor and friend, and he has urged her to let go of the hurt and anger she still feels about Frank’s disappearance and death, but the old pain still lingers. Raimy can barely bring herself to discuss Frank, even with her devoted boyfriend, Daniel (Bonjour), or her childhood friend, Gordo (Jacobson).
Now, twenty years later, Raimy is stunned when a voice suddenly crackles through her father’s old, long-broken ham radio – it’s Frank, somehow transmitting over the airwaves and through the decades from 1996. They’re both shocked and confused, but Raimy shakes Frank to the core when she warns him that the secret sting he is undertaking will lead to his death. Armed with that knowledge, Frank survives the attempt on his life. But changing history has dramatically affected Raimy’s life in the present – and there have been tragic consequences. Separated by twenty years, father and daughter have reunited on a frequency only they can hear, but can they rewrite the story of their lives without risking everyone they love?
Warner Bros Pictures’ big budget action epic King Arthur: Legend of the Sword wasn’t tracking well prior to its theatrical release, and the film’s actual numbers are down from even the low-end pre-release estimates. Budgeted at $175 million-ish, Guy Ritchie’s new take on the King Arthur legend pulled in just $14.7 million. The weekend’s other wide release, Snatched, fared slightly better, ringing up $17.5 million which is right around what was expected from the R-rated comedy starring Goldie Hawn and Amy Schumer.
With the weekend’s new releases opening to less than spectacular numbers, it was easy for reigning box office champ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 to hang onto first place. However, Guardians will be handing over the #1 spot on the box office chart next weekend when the much-anticipated new Alien film, Alien: Covenant, opens in 3,600 theaters.
Jennifer Morrison and Jared Gilmore in the ‘Once Upon a Time’ season six finale. (ABC/Jack Rowand)
Get ready to say goodbye to multiple members of ABC’s Once Upon a Time family. Season six finished up with a two-part episode that aired May 14, 2017 and served as the final regular appearance by some fan favorites. ‘The Final Battle’ set up a season seven that jumps forward in time and will center on Lana Parrilla (‘Regina’), Colin O’Donoghue (‘Hook’), and Robert Carlyle (‘Gold’). We may see a few now-former series regulars show up in guest starring roles, but season six’s episodes 21 and 22 will apparently mark the final time Hook, Emma, Henry (as played by Jared Gilmore), Regina, Zelena, Snow, and David are together as a team.
The season six finale begins in the Enchanted Forest during a time of great upheaval. A man is chased through the woods at night, barely making it to his home ahead of an unseen creature. He tells his young daughter she needs to immediately leave and take the storybook to safety, and she swears she’ll keep it safe and share its stories. She doesn’t think anyone will believe them, but he assures her someday someone will. She flees as he whips out his sword to take on the beast who broke down his door.
Current day in Storybrooke, the Black Fairy’s (Jaime Murray) curse breaks up Emma (Jennifer Morrison) and Hook’s wedding. Henry wakes to find he’s on top of a building, cradling the storybook. He runs into Dr. Archie Hopper (Raphael Sbarge) and asks about the Black Fairy’s curse and if he’s seen Emma. Archie wonders if Henry needs more therapy and reminds him his mother is in the same place she’s been for two years.
Apparently Emma is in a mental hospital and when Henry wants to discuss Hook, Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin), David (Josh Dallas), and the rest of their family and friends, she stops him short. They sit down and she reminds him none of those people are real and that by bringing the subject up again, he’s setting her recovery back. Henry says this is the Black Fairy’s fault and as he recounts all their adventures, Emma tells him he’s ridiculous. When the nurse brings her medication, Henry stops her from taking it. He shows her the symbols and says it’s the key to winning the final battle.
Emma’s concerned that if Henry doesn’t stop this nonsense, his mom won’t let them visit anymore. And who’s his mom? Fiona (the Black Fairy) who is now the Mayor of Storybrooke. Fiona shows up and grabs the storybook from Henry, sending him off to school. When he leaves, she tells Emma to take her medicine.
Snow, David, Regina, and Hook wake up in the Enchanted Forest back to the days immediately before Snow White and Prince Charming’s wedding. Regina calls out for Henry, and Snow assures Regina they’ll get Emma and Henry back from wherever they may be.
Dr. Hopper and Fiona visit with Emma and Dr. Hopper confirms she’s doing quite well. Fiona teases that maybe Emma will be ready for release soon and perhaps she should visit Boston when she’s better. Fiona blames Emma for Henry’s belief in fairy tales, and she suggests Emma burn the storybook to show that she doesn’t believe in the stories. Emma says no because the book means so much to Henry. Plus, she’s not ready for this big of a step. Fiona gives the book to Dr. Hopper to keep until Emma’s ready to destroy it.
Hook, Regina, Snow, and David watch what’s happening through the magic mirror, yelling out “Emma” simultaneously before the image fades. Regina knows Fiona’s controlling the mirror and she believes this is all because of the final battle. Snow figures it out and says, “The final battle isn’t a war! It’s a battle for her soul, for her belief, her hope.” Zelena (Rebecca Mader) arrives just then with the munchkins and the Mad Hatter’s Hat. She used the hat to escape Oz and activates the hat to show them what they’re running from. She opens a door to Oz and the whole land has been erased.
The gang realizes the Black Fairy wants Emma to destroy the book because as the Savior’s story fades, so do all the stories. All the realms will disappear along with all the people in them.
Back in Storybrooke, Fiona pays a visit to Rumple and Gideon (Giles Matthey). She wants Gideon to fix her watch and when he leaves the room, she asks how Rumple is doing since this is the anniversary of Belle’s disappearance. He says it’s a difficult day, given what happened. Fiona leaves after reminding him she’s always there to help.
People have fled their realms and are in the hat, and the Storybrooke gang knows they need to return home to fix this immediately but don’t know how to accomplish that. They can’t use the hat and when Hook says he has an idea, Regina shoots him down saying they need to use magic and that’s her forte, not his. She sends the group to her castle and once there Hook charges off in a different direction.
In Storybrooke, Henry uses Dr. Hopper’s key to break Emma out of the hospital.
Hook finds the beanstalk and David catches up to him, advising him that if he’s sneaking off he needs to do better since the munchkins saw him and are easy to bribe. Hook wants to climb the 1,000-foot-tall beanstalk and David warns him not to because he’ll kill himself. Hook reminds him he climbed it once before, years ago with Emma, and David recalls that was when Hook wanted to kill all of them – including Snow. Hook gets emotional and tells David that he and Emma weren’t a predestined love story and fought for their love and won. They made each other better and now Hook will climb the beanstalk and find the bean to get back to the woman he loves. David understands but wants Hook to calm down before they climb the beanstalk together.
Over in Storybrooke, Henry takes Emma to the rooftop to try to get her to remember this is where she married Captain Hook just yesterday. Henry describes the ceremony and where she exchanged her vows, and Emma has flashes of memories from the wedding. She doesn’t admit it right away to Henry, and he tells her she needs to fight. He also says she can’t leave, but she really wants to go to Boston and lay low. He finally agrees but suggests she wait until after dark to make her getaway. Henry tells her he’ll meet up with her in an hour and then she can have the life she always wanted.
Rumple looks through his cabinets and finally finds the Her Handsome Hero book signed by Belle. He brings it to Gideon telling him Belle would want him to have it. Gideon doesn’t care, saying Fiona’s been more of a mother than Belle ever was. Gideon doesn’t have any memories of her, only that Rumple told him she went to the store and never came back when he was a baby. Rumple says that’s not the whole story because there’s no way Belle would have just left without a good reason. Gideon doesn’t want to hear it, believing his mother didn’t love them, and simply left. Rumple says Belle would always want to be a part of her son’s life.
Regina and Zelena work on a spell and discover all of Regina’s ingredients are gone. They try to figure out who took them and in walks the Evil Queen. The Evil Queen says this is HER castle and Regina asks why she’s not in the wish realm with Robin. The Evil Queen informs her that everyone there wanted her dead because they thought she killed Snow and Charming. She decided to leave and says she and Robin now spend their time stealing from the rich and giving to the poor…mostly. Now that they’re all caught up, Regina asks for the Evil Queen’s help with their fairy problem.
Colin O’Donoghue, Josh Dallas, Ginnifer Goodwin, Lana Parrilla, Jared Gilmore and Rebecca Mader in ‘Once Upon a Time’ (ABC/Jack Rowand)
In Storybrooke, Fiona gets word that Emma has broken out. She heads to Dr. Hopper’s and catches Henry stealing car keys and the storybook. She finally admits she’s not his mother and everything Henry believes is true is actually true. Fiona confesses she can’t get Emma to give up the final little bit of belief she has in the world Henry describes. She needs to Henry to help with that and as he runs out of the office, Fiona pushes him down the stairs!
The paramedics take Henry away, unconscious and injured. Rumple catches up with Fiona as she’s watching the paramedics place her son in the ambulance and although he knows the timing’s not good, he asks her to reopen the investigation into Belle’s disappearance. Fiona doesn’t want to open old wounds, but Rumple believes Gideon needs to know the truth.
Hook and David finally climb to the top of the beanstalk and hunt for the magic bean. They’re tiny in this giant land and conquering a regular table is a challenge. David wants to be the one who climbs up, but Hook insists he’ll do it since he’s a pirate and even one-armed is better suited than David to this challenge. Hook’s shocked when David agrees and even more shocked when David says he’ll trust his son … long pause … in-law to do it.
Hook makes it on top of the table and then has to climb over and around assorted fruits and vegetables. He finally spots a bean but it’s inside a glass jar. Hook picks up a huge knife and uses it as a battering ram to break the glass and retrieve the bean. Just when he’s got the bean in his hand, they hear loud noises and assume they’ve awakened the giants. Nope, not giants after all. It’s a fire-breathing dragon who is now on their tail as they race for the beanstalk.
Fiona and Rumple are in her car when she hands over a file that has evidence from Belle’s disappearance. She’s never shared these details with him, handing him a folder with photos of a happy, smiling Belle posing in front of landmarks from around the world. Fiona tells him he needs to accept Belle’s gone and move on. Rumple thanks her and says the photos are illuminating.
Once he leaves the car, Fiona opens the storybook and finds the drawings of the symbols. “Oh Henry, what do you know?” she asks out loud.
Emma races to the hospital to check on Henry and Fiona informs her he was trying to steal the storybook. Henry tries to convince Emma Fiona used magic to push him down the stairs and he demands she touch the book. Emma finally gives in and holds the book and nothing happens. Emma reminds him he’s not a kid anymore and she blames herself for what’s happening. Henry begs her to believe in him and not destroy the book, but she says it’s because she loves him she must get rid of the book. He yells at her not to go and says this is the final battle, but she leaves the room with Fiona anyway.
Hook and David struggle to retain their holds on the beanstalk and the earth shakes in the Evil Queen’s castle as in Storybrooke Emma and Fiona walk toward the furnace with the book. Emma throws the book into the flames as the other realms begin to be erased.
Emma sees the book open to a drawing of Hook and then watches as flames engulf the page.
We travel back in time once again to the young girl who swore to protect the storybook. She returns home and finds her father’s sword, with Tiger Lily arriving and telling her not to cry. Tiger Lily isn’t sure what happened and the young girl feels bad about leaving him alone. Tiger Lily tells her she did what was right and that now they need to take the book to her mother. She promises the girl will be reunited with her father one day, reminding her to never lose hope.
Fiona delivers the ashes of the storybook to Henry in the hospital, telling him Emma has lost every bit of her belief in the fairy tales. He warns her his family will stop her, but she reveals his family won’t exist much longer now that the book is gone. They can’t save him.
Hook hangs off the side of the beanstalk and David tries to save him but can’t. Hook falls and David is barely able to hang on. Snow feels something’s wrong but doesn’t know where David is. Jasmine uses the flying carpet to take Snow to the beanstalk and she finds Hook but not David. Hook shows her the bean and she tells him to get to Emma and Henry and she’ll find David, warning him the realms are disappearing and time’s almost up. “Get to Emma. It’s important. Make her believe again,” says Snow.
Emma’s all packed up and ready to leave Storybrooke and Henry can’t believe she’s actually taking off. He says this means the Black Fairy won and she replies that he has to stop. She wants to get back to her life now and it’s obvious to Henry that Emma truly does not believe anymore. It’s over, and she kisses him before driving off.
Emma is able to drive out of Storybrooke without any problem. She arrives in Boston and finds a note from Henry attached to a book sticking out of her purse. The note reads: “You might not think this story is true. But I know that it is. And it can still have a happy ending.” The phone rings just then and it’s her old boss asking if she’s ready to get back to work. She is, but then she opens the book and sees drawings of her past adventures.
Hook arrives back at the castle and hands the bean over to Regina. Unfortunately, the bean doesn’t work because Emma has sapped all the magic since she no longer believes. Zelena says that with the Evil Queen’s help, they may have enough power to get the bean to work.
Snow searches for David and finally finds him but it appears he’s dead. She kisses his lips and his eyes spring open. “You found me,” says David. “Did you ever doubt I would?” asks Snow. They exchange I love yous as the world shakes around them.
The cast of ‘Once Upon a Time’ season six (ABC/Jack Rowand)
Henry heads to Rumple’s and tells him he’s his grandson. Rumple thinks he injured his head as Henry charges into the back room. Henry knows Rumple’s been pretending and wants to know why. Rumple admits he knows Belle isn’t off seeing the world and is somewhere in Storybrooke. Henry says the hunt for Belle should wait because they need to help everyone in the Enchanted Forest. He explains the Black Fairy made Emma stop believing and he needs Rumple to help him rescue his family. Rumple wants to concentrate on finding Belle but agrees to let Henry take what he needs.
Henry uses Rumple’s mirror to send a message to his family. He apologizes for not being able to stop Emma from losing belief, but he’ll keep fighting the good fight. He will take on the Black Fairy in her place.
His family received the message but the bean still isn’t working, even with the Evil Queen’s help. The storm that’s erasing realms is coming closer and the Evil Queen separates from the group and stands, facing it. Regina doesn’t understand what she’s doing and the Evil Queen’s willing to sacrifice herself so that the others can live. She tells Regina to get to the center of the courtyard and work on getting the bean to activate. The Evil Queen will hold off the storm as long as she can.
Regina gathers everyone into the center of the courtyard as the Evil Queen uses the last of her magic to hold off the storm.
The bean doesn’t work and the gang is trapped in the center of the courtyard as the world around them breaks apart and disappears.
Henry strides through town hall and is about to go to battle when Emma arrives. She tells him she read the book and the woman he wrote about is who she wants to be. She says she believes it and back in the Enchanted Forest the storm abruptly stops. Snow realizes that means Emma is back.
Her Handsome Hero leads Rumple to a house where Belle (Emilie de Ravin) is hiding inside. He sees her peek through the window and when he enters the house, she tries to hide. She’s scared to death and doesn’t want to leave. Rumple tries to explain the Black Fairy did this to her and he’ll make her pay.
Fiona rushes into Rumple’s shop and she’s pissed Emma Swan has returned. She needs her fairy wand back and Gideon looks confused. He offers to call his father but she makes him put down the phone as she goes through the drawers. Because she still has his heart, she commands Gideon to help find the wand. He locates it quickly and she uses the wand to translate the symbols Henry drew. The wand translates the page and Fiona says, “Time to get to work, Gideon.”
Fiona’s still at the shop when Rumple returns. He confesses he knows the truth, and she claims she only separated him from Belle for his own good. She promises she’ll lift the curse on Belle and Gideon after the final battle, plus he can have whatever he wants. She even offers to bring back Baelfire when she gets her new powers. They hug, but then he says, “All magic comes with a price.”
Rumple grabs her fairy wand and says she won’t win the final battle. She then reveals the translation said that only light can snuff out light, which means Gideon is now on his way to kill the Savior. She taunts Rumple, saying her death can’t stop it. He kills her anyway.
Once the Black Fairy is dead, everyone’s returned to Storybrooke and Emma gets all her memories back.
Gideon confronts Emma and she sends Henry away.
Belle is freed from the curse and returns to Rumple’s shop. He reveals he killed his mother but that Gideon is still under the Black Fairy’s control and is about to battle Emma. Belle asks if he can stop it and Rumple replies, “I don’t intend to stop him. I intend to save him.”
Gideon and Emma are about to fight when Henry hits Gideon over the head with a fire extinguisher. She uses magic to seal Gideon in the room, at least temporarily.
Rumple and Belle search for Gideon’s heart in the mines as Emma and Henry race through the streets. They meet up with Snow, David, Hook, Regina, and Zelena and there are hugs all around.
Rumple finally finds Gideon’s heart as out in the streets Regina warns that if Gideon kills Emma, light will be destroyed. If Emma kills Gideon, she’ll turn dark and light will be destroyed. Snow chimes in and says they just need to hold Gideon off until Rumple has his heart.
Emma knows it’s a trap and no matter what darkness wins. Regina suggests there’s always a third way, pulling Emma aside and reminding her that when she first came to Storybrooke they hated each other. They fought but then they found the third way: they were both his mother. Regina also admits she never expected to see her evil self being selfless and saving them all. Regina believes in Emma and tells her she’ll know what to do when the time comes.
Gideon arrives and holds a sword to Snow’s throat. He lets Snow go once Emma faces him and now it’s time for the battle to begin. They circle each other as down in the mines Rumpelstiltskin tells Rumple that if he lets the Savior die, he can have it all. “This is our last chance to finally get everything – the love and the power,” says Rumpelstiltskin. But Rumple will not betray his family and will do the right thing. He remembers that he was meant to be the Savior and he speaks to Gideon’s heart, telling him not to kill Emma. Unfortunately, the heart stops beating as Rumpelstiltskin laughs, saying this is the Black Fairy’s spell and he can’t get what he wants that easily.
Gideon and Emma fight, with Gideon warning her that no one is going to save her. As she’s fighting, Emma says she won’t kill an innocent person, she won’t destroy light, and she is hope. She tosses her sword to the ground and Gideon finishes the fight by plunging his sword through her chest. A brilliant white light emerges from the wound along with little sparkling lights.
Rumple returns to Belle who hurt her foot and didn’t make it all the way through the mines. He explains he made the right choice but it didn’t work out.
The gang gathers around Emma’s dead body in the center of the street. Henry kneels and kisses her and she immediately comes back to life from true love’s kiss. They all hug, a reunited family once again.
Belle and Rumple hug in the mines and break apart when they hear a baby cry. The baby is in a basket and has the Her Handsome Hero book tucked alongside him, and they realize he’s Gideon. It’s a fresh start and when Rumple calls it a happy ending, Belle corrects him and says it’s a happy beginning.
The storybook is back in one piece and Snow retrieves it from the street where it’s magically appeared. Henry opens it and the final page reads, “When Good and Evil both did the right thing, faith was restored. The final battle was won.”
Henry says, “That’s it,” and Emma asks, “No ‘the end’?” Snow says it’s not the ‘end’ end and now they all get to see what’s next. Living with the belief of a happy ending is the most important thing of all, says Snow. They get to keep doing what they love with the people that they love. “An ending isn’t happiness. Being together is,” says Snow.
All the realms are restored and there’s a quick glimpse of each world ending with the return of the Evil Queen to her castle in the Enchanted Forest.
In Storybrooke, David waves goodbye to Snow as she heads to work once again as a teacher. Emma and Regina send David off to school, and Hook’s now a sheriff and he and Emma are on patrol in her yellow VW. The dwarves unveil a new door to Regina’s office at the town hall that reads, “Regina Mills. Queen.” She picks up an apple and holds it to the camera, harkening back to season one.
In the Enchanted Forest, an arrow sails through the castle and lands next to the mirror where the Evil Queen is brushing her hair. There’s a diamond ring attached along with a note that says, “Ready for a new adventure?”
Gold and Belle dance to “Beauty and the Beast,” sharing a sweet kiss as they hold each other close. Meanwhile, over at Granny’s, the gang is gathered, laughing, smiling, and enjoying each other’s company. Belle and Rumple are greeted warmly when they arrive with baby Gideon. The camera pulls back to show the gang seated on one side of a long table and then the image transforms to a drawing that’s in the storybook. Under the picture is printed, “They lived happily ever after…”
The book closes and the young girl from the beginning of the episode is holding it while she’s riding on a bus. We’re told this is Seattle years later. She arrives at apartment 815 and bangs on the door. It opens and a man answers. She asks if he’s Henry Mills and he says he is, and then asks her name. She introduces herself as Lucy and reveals she’s his daughter. He says he doesn’t have a daughter and tries to close the door. She pushes it back open and tells him his family needs him.
Ricky Whittle and Ian McShane in ‘American Gods’ season 1 episode 3 (Photo Courtesy of Starz)
Season one episode three of Starz’ American Gods features Mr. Wednesday’s complicated plan to rob a bank, a surprise snowstorm, and Mad Sweeney searching for his lucky coin. The episode titled ‘Head Full of Snow’ picks up the action somewhere in America with a woman and her cat cooking dinner. As she cooks, the woman speaks disparagingly of all the family members she has to feed. She’s interrupted by a visit from Anubis (Chris Obi) who informs her she’s dead and must come with him. She protests, convinced she’s still alive but then she sees her body sprawled out lifeless on the floor. She wonders why, since she is a Muslim, it is Anubis who’s fetching her and he reminds her of her childhood and her grandmother who taught her stories of Bastet. Because of that, Anubis will take her to the weighing scales to determine if she can enter the realm of the dead.
They climb what appears to be hundreds of flights of stairs until they reach another realm. There, Anubis takes her heart and places it on the scales to see if she has used it well. She begins reciting her faults, but she’s deemed a good person. Holding her hand, Anubis asks her to stand before five doors. She doesn’t want to go wherever her father ended up, and she asks Anubis to choose for her. He opens one door and when she’s reluctant to step through because she might be following the wrong god, her cat nudges her through the door.
Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle) sleeps on the couch of the apartment where Czernobog beat him at checkers and sentenced him to death. He believes he’s awake as he climbs stairs to the roof where he meets Zorya Polunochnaya (Erika Kaar), the sister who was sleeping. She points out a formation in the sky, explaining the story behind the Great Bear (Ursa Major). It’s not a god but if it escapes, it will eat everything. She says it’s up to the three sisters to watch the skies all day and all night. If the Great Bear escapes, the world will end. She asks about his birthday and then reads his palm. “You believe in nothing so you have nothing. You are on a path from nothing to everything,” says Zorya. She also notes he doesn’t care if he lives or dies, which is why he made the deal with Czernobog.
Zorya wants to help Shadow but he must kiss her first. It will be her first kiss and she rushes in before he says yes. Zorya compares kissing to blue cheese and brandy and then tells Shadow to take the moon. She plucks it from the sky and it becomes a coin in his hand. She warns him not to give it away and instructs him to wake up.
Shadow enters Czernobog’s room and challenges him to another game. Czernobog (Peter Stormare) says he doesn’t need to make a new wager, but Shadow suggests it’s possible he’s grown weak and won’t kill him in just one blow. If Shadow wins, Czernobog comes with them. If he loses, Czernobog can have two swings at his head if he needs it. Czernobog agrees.
Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane) visits Zorya Vechernyaya (Cloris Leachman) in her room and she tells him to go to bed. He suggests she deserves better than her current circumstances, but she claims to be fine with her accommodations. Mr. Wednesday recalls how in the old country Zorya was waited upon and adored, promising things will be better soon. He asks for her to tell his fortune and she reveals he will lose. Mr. Wednesday suggests that’s just his fortune today.
Zorya and Mr. Wednesday head outside for a walk and they kiss. Lightning flashes across the sky, rain begins to pour down, and she asks, concerned, “What have you done?” He tells her war is coming as back in the apartment Shadow and Czernobog are deep into their game of checkers. Shadow wins and Czernobog agrees to go with them to Wisconsin.
The next morning Shadow looks out the window and discovers there aren’t any stairs leading to the roof. He then looks at the coin in his palm as Mr. Wednesday walks in and announces they’re going to rob a bank.
Back at the dive bar, Jack (Beth Grant) puts a shotgun to Mad Sweeney’s (Pablo Schreiber) head as he slumbers on the toilet. She warns him to move on but he believes if she pulls the trigger, nothing will happen. She does, and shoots the beer bottle he’s drinking out of, surprising Mad Sweeney and shattering the bottle.
Mad Sweeney heads down the road on foot when a man pulls up and asks where he’s headed. When he says Wisconsin, the man offers a ride to Madison. Mad Sweeney gets in, warns the man not to touch his penis, and puts the seat back to sleep. They’ve only traveled a few yards when the truck ahead of them blows a tire, swerves, and a metal pipe pierces their windshield and the man’s mouth. An ambulance and the police arrive, with one man commenting on the driver’s death as “crazy bad luck.” Mad Sweeney overhears and pulls coins from his pocket and then panics when he can’t find one in particular.
And now the story transitions to somewhere else in America and follows a salesman (Omid Abtahi) to his appointment. He waits … and waits … and waits, and the secretary is absolutely no help. Hours go by and she finally announces the man he’s waiting for won’t be coming back. The salesman asks to make an appointment for the following day, and she reminds him appointments are only made by telephone. He smiles and she can’t believe he’s happy so he explains, “A salesman is naked in America without a smile.”
The salesman climbs into the back of a cab and he and the cabbie (Mousa Kraish) exchange stories in Arabic. They discuss Muscat in Oman and the city of Ubar, the Lost City of Towers. It was recently found in the desert after disappearing thousands of years ago. Neither are happy with their current jobs (or lives), and the salesman describes what he sells as shit. The cabbie falls asleep while they’re waiting in traffic and the salesman leans through the window between the front and back seats and gently touches his shoulder. As he does, the cab driver’s eyes blaze with fire.
The salesman recalls his grandmother describing a man she saw years ago who also had burning eyes. The salesman asks if there are many Jinn in New York, and the cab driver says no. The Jinn says the people in America know nothing about his people and think all his type do is grant wishes. They touch hands and instantly they see the beautiful sands of the desert. The salesman settles back into his seat until they arrive at his destination.
The salesman tells the cabbie he’s in Room 318 and together they ride the elevator, gently holding hands. In his room, the Jinn is free to show his eyes and the salesman says, “I wish you could see what I see,” as the Jinn removes his towel and is naked. They kiss and make love and then the room melts into the desert as the Jinn’s true form is revealed.
The salesman wakes the next morning and the Jinn is gone, but he’s left his clothing and ID. The salesman steps outside and now he’s the cab driver and a Jinn.
Mr. Wednesday and Shadow pull up in front of a bank and after Mr. Wednesday declares it’s the one they’re robbing, Shadow asks, “Are you out of your goddamn mind?” Shadow can’t believe they’re doing this and refuses to be involved in anything criminal. Mr. Wednesday says Shadow will only be aiding and abetting and will ultimately come out smelling like a rose.
They’re both caught on the security cameras and after they leave the bank following a quick look around inside, Shadow reminds Mr. Wednesday he doesn’t want to return to prison. Mr. Wednesday tries to solve Shadow’s problem by buying him a hot cocoa from a store across from the bank, instructing Shadow to jot down the number from a nearby payphone.
Ricky Whittle in ‘American Gods’ season 1 episode 3 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Mr. Wednesday tells Shadow to “think snow” and to concentrate on making the clouds bigger and darker. Mr. Wednesday keeps repeating snow as they drive away from the bank. Shadow looks into his cocoa and falls into a trance, finally coming to at a copy shop. Inside the shop, Mr. Wednesday points out a woman and tells Shadow she believes Jesus suffered for her sins. They then engage in a conversation about the many different colors Jesus comes in including white, brown, and black. When Shadow points out that’s a lot of Jesuses, Mr. Wednesday replies, “There’s a lot of need for Jesus so there’s a lot of Jesuses.” He then whispers that the Mexican Jesus came here the same way a lot of illegal Mexicans enter America, wading illegally across the Rio Grande. Shadow can’t believe it and Mr. Wednesday tells him to ask him himself.
Shadow returns to concentrating on snow while Mr. Wednesday puts in his order for business cards and posters. After the print job is complete, they step outside and snow is falling.
Next up, they sit down for a meal at a nearby restaurant but Shadow can’t get over the fact he made it snow. As they’re eating and discussing reality versus fantasy, a very angry Mad Sweeney arrives to get his coin back from Shadow. Mad Sweeney says it was his lucky coin but Shadow refuses to give it back until Mad Sweeney reveals how he plucked it out of thin air. He won’t and Shadow confesses he threw the coin away in Eagle Point, Indiana. He says it’s on his wife’s grave. Mad Sweeney insults Shadow’s dead wife and then storms off, flipping them off as he leaves.
Mr. Wednesday has changed into an A1 repair uniform and tells Shadow to head to the grocery store and pass time at the phone booth. He hands Shadow a business card, telling him if anyone asks what he’s doing to say he’s waiting for a call from his girlfriend because her car broke down. The business card is to A1 Security Services and it has a fake name listed.
Before Mr. Wednesday walks across the snowy street to the bank, he asks Shadow if he’ll believe in him if he doesn’t end up in jail at the end of the evening.
Mr. Wednesday hangs an “out of order” sign on the First River Bank of Chicago’s night deposit slot and on the ATM. He sets up a chair and waits for a customer, looking very official. He has a clipboard and he begins collecting night deposit bags while making each person sign in on the clipboard as a receipt.
Shadow watches from across the street, amused, until a cop pulls up. Shadow answers the payphone as “A1 Security Services” and assures the cop the man stationed at the bank is legitimate. He even tells the cop to give him a call if he ever needs any weekend work. It works and the scam’s a success.
Day over, they drive off through the snow. Mr. Wednesday tells his bodyguard, “This is the only country in the world that wonders what it is.” No other country has people who wonder about the country’s heart or search for its soul. Americans only pretend to know what they are, and he knows Shadow can’t believe in impossible things. Distracted, Shadow barely manages to stop as a wolf walks out in front of their car.
Shadow asks if he actually made the snow, saying all of this feels like a dream. “What a beautiful, beautiful thing to be able to dream when you’re not asleep,” replies Mr. Wednesday. Shadow thinks one out of every four people is stupid, and even the smart ones believe in gods or ghosts. Mr. Wednesday follows that up by asking if he believes in love. Of course, Shadow does, but he didn’t before Laura. Mr. Wednesday points out Shadow doesn’t scare easily and confesses the only thing that scares him is being forgotten. “We remember what’s important to us,” says Mr. Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Mad Sweeney makes it to Laura’s grave and starts to dig it up. He makes it down to the coffin and pries off the lid which has a coin-sized hole in it. Laura’s body is gone and the coin is also missing.
Mr. Wednesday and Shadow check into a motel and when Shadow makes it to his room, Laura (Emily Browning) is there to greet him looking very much alive.
Jodie Comer (Lizzie) and Jacob Collins-Levy (King Henry VII) in ‘The White Princess’ season 1 episode 5. (Photo Credit: STARZ)
Starz’s The White Princess takes a seven year leap forward with season one episode five airing on May 14, 2017. The episode begins with the Duchess of Burgundy (Joanne Whalley) watching as Prince Richard (Patrick Gibson) is measured for clothing, with a voice-over revealing the contents of a recent letter to Dowager Queen Elizabeth (Essie Davis). She claims the news of Richard’s return has been embraced by their supporters and songs are sung about the “handsome York Prince with golden hair.” She reports those who support Richard have waited seven years for him to be ready to take his place as the true King of England.
King Henry (Jacob Collins-Levy) and Queen Elizabeth (Jodie Comer) watch as their three young children play while Lady Margaret (Michelle Fairley) looks on stone-faced. Back to official business, Henry and Lizzie inform their advisors of a letter from the Duchess on behalf of Richard inviting them to be her guests at court. Henry knows Richard is an imposter, and Lizzie assures him he has the support of England. There are rumors of nobles fleeing to Burgundy and Henry has a plan to respond.
Maggie (Rebecca Benson) plays with her young son and seems happy in her marriage to Sir Richard Pole (Andrew Whipp). She doesn’t want to return to Court when King Henry summons them but will go because she can visit her brother, Teddy.
Next, we catch up with Teddy who’s not in the best mental state after being locked up for all these years. However, a smile emerges when he hugs his young nephew, Henry.
It’s revealed the reason Richard and Maggie have been asked to Westminster Palace is because King Henry is sending Maggie to Burgundy in his place. He believes she will be able to recognize Richard, if he’s truly her kin. With tears in her eyes, she agrees.
Lizzie and Maggie take a walk, and Maggie confesses the only thing keeping her from pure happiness is the absence of her brother. Lizzie reveals Henry always leaves a red rose and a white rose in her room every day and says it’s a happy union. Maggie is obviously nervous about her Burgundy trip, but Lizzie tells her not to be. Maggie asks if it’s possible it’s actually Richard, and Lizzie confides that this whole masquerade was instigated by her mother. “This is just another urchin our aunt has plucked from the streets and dressed up as a prince,” says Lizzie, trying to put Maggie at ease. Lizzie adds that Henry must never be told Richard escaped and reveals she is certain the Duchess of Burgundy’s “Richard” is not her brother.
Maggie says goodbye to her young son and Lizzie promises she’ll look after him while his parents are in Burgundy. As Maggie and Sir Richard ride off, Lady Margaret asks Henry if he’s sure about trusting them with this mission. Henry assures her he can trust Maggie, particularly since her son is with them at Westminster.
The setting switches to Bermondsey Abbey where Lizzie isn’t pleased with her mother. Lizzie demands Dowager Queen Elizabeth stop plotting with the Duchess of Burgundy. Elizabeth claims the Duchess doesn’t need her assistance, and then she hands Lizzie a letter from the Duchess. Lizzie declines to read it and says this Richard is an imposter. They argue over Richard’s right to the throne, and Lizzie reminds her mother she made her a Tudor Queen. Lizzie will not allow her mother to take away the crown and reveals she knows her mother loves Richard more than she loves her. Elizabeth tries to convince Lizzie that’s not true, struggling to talk as she’s in ill health. Elizabeth says, “I’m fading. I should be with my oldest girl as I live out my days.” Elizabeth’s daughters have all been married off, and she realizes Henry would never allow her to live with Lizzie. Elizabeth tells her daughter she loves her and Lizzie, clearly moved, declares she and Henry are in love and Henry will do what she asks.
Dowager Queen Elizabeth is freed and welcomed back by Lizzie and Henry, with Henry sharing his hope that she’ll soon be well again.
Bishop Morton shows King Henry, Lizzie, and their advisors letters written by English lords which were to be delivered to the Duchess of Burgundy. The letters pledge their support for Richard and call King Henry “The Pretender” while naming Richard as Prince Richard, Duke of York. Lizzie speaks up, suggesting their son Harry should be ennobled and named Duke of York. Lady Margaret agrees with Lizzie, and King Henry says to make plans to do so. He also reveals he has something planned for the traitors.
Sir Richard and Maggie arrive in Burgundy and are welcomed by Duchess Cecily (Caroline Goodall) and the Duchess of Burgundy. The Duchess of Burgundy informs them Prince Richard can’t wait to see them and expresses shock that Maggie’s missing Harry’s ennobling.
Maggie gets a tour of the grounds from Duchess Cecily who she calls Lady Grandmother. Duchess Cecily believes Prince Richard is the true King, but she understands Maggie is there to say he’s an imposter.
Preparation for the ennobling ceremony is taking place as Lady Margaret and Jasper Tudor watch (Vincent Regan). They talk about their beloved Harry and Lady Margaret appreciates Jasper’s care of their child, King Henry, and his children. She asks if he’s happy with his York wife, and he confesses she’s kind and patient. His wife arrives and the conversation ends.
The young Prince Henry (‘Harry’) rides into his ennobling ceremony on a horse and then kneels as his father names him Duke of York.
Meanwhile in Burgundy, Prince Richard is introduced to Maggie Pole and Sir Richard Pole. The Duchess of Burgundy suggests Prince Richard and Maggie sit together so they can talk and get acquainted.
Prince Henry’s celebrated with a feast and King Henry leads a toast in his honor. Dowager Queen Elizabeth chooses this moment to appear, leading a toast to her own son, Prince Richard, Duke of York, who lives in Burgundy. She tells the nobles gathered they should follow Prince Richard and not the pretender who currently sits on the throne. Lizzie, angry at this outrageous act, declares Dowager Queen Elizabeth is not her mother. Elizabeth is taken away by the guards as a hush falls over those gathered.
Lady Margaret confronts Dowager Queen Elizabeth as she’s taken away, calling her mad for this betrayal of her daughter and grandchildren. Elizabeth insists the true King will prevail, but Lady Margaret insists Prince Richard is a fraud. “My son Richard made me a promise when I sent him away. He swore that he would avenge his brother,” says Elizabeth. “That vengeance is coming.” Elizabeth chokes and looks ill, and Lady Margaret assures her it’s God making her sick. Elizabeth doesn’t back down, asking Margaret how she’ll explain the blood on her hands. Lady Margaret responds by telling the guards to return Dowager Queen Elizabeth to the Abbey and make sure she has no way of sending messages.
Joanne Whalley (Duchess of Burgundy), Patrick Gibson (The Boy), and Amy Manson (Cathy Gordon) in ‘The White Princess.’
In Burgundy, Maggie asks Richard if he remembers their time together as children. Richard reminds her they didn’t meet as children, and Maggie corrects her inquiry to say they knew the same people and therefore should have memories involving those people. The Duchess of Burgundy asks Maggie to tell a story about Richard as a child and she recalls hearing a story of Richard and his brother sneaking a fox into the nursery. Richard laughs and says he remembers being terrified of the fox, and then Maggie asks the name of the maid Richard was scared of as a child. He replies, “Mary,” and Maggie doesn’t react.
Maggie continues to politely challenge Richard on his childhood memories, recalling that Christmas was her favorite time to visit. She says they used to sing and on one occasion the servants joined in. Richard says he remembers that, but Maggie points out they didn’t meet as children so they shouldn’t share that memory. Richard covers by confessing he watched them sing from the balcony, too shy to join the fun. He then adds that it was the first Christmas after her father died and he explains he watched from a hiding place as she and Teddy wept in private. With tears in her eyes, Maggie says, “That is not my memory.”
Maggie gets up to leave the small group assembled and the Duchess of Burgundy stops her, whispering in her ear that she realizes she must continue this charade. The Duchess advises her that once Richard rises, Maggie will be called on to join them. The Duchess then announces to the group that Richard is to marry Lady Catherine Gordon.
Alone, Lizzie once again assures Henry England loves him. She also believes no one will take her mother’s statements seriously. Henry needs to know she loves him and Lizzie declares, “You are God’s King. You are England’s King. And you are my King.” They kiss and Henry is still obviously wounded by Lizzie’s mother’s speech. He tells Lizzie he’ll sleep alone.
Lady Margaret washes her hands and suddenly the clear water turns to blood. She runs from her room to the church where she kneels and prays. Jasper follows her and asks what’s wrong. He offers to share her burden, adding that Dowager Queen Elizabeth is mad and she shouldn’t listen to anything she says. Lady Margaret paces the floor and then quietly reveals one of the boys got away all those years ago. Lady Margaret believes Elizabeth swapped one of the boys, recalling that Elizabeth asked Margaret’s doctor years ago, “If you had two precious jewels, would you put them in the same box?”
Lady Margaret is nearly frantic and then Jasper asks the key question, wanting to know who the boys got away from – the murderer? Lady Margaret replies, “It is not murder if it is God’s will.” Jasper’s incredulous, accusing Margaret of actually killing the young boys. She admits to ordering it but isn’t sure if it was carried out. Jasper’s furious, telling her killing children is not God’s will. As he turns to leave, Margaret needs to know if he’ll tell King Henry. Begging, she says Henry would not understand. Jasper is certain Henry would not forgive such a despicable act. Margaret continues to plead that the knowledge of what she did to help him become King would ruin Henry. “If Henry is to be ruined it will be by your actions, not my telling of them,” says Jasper, tossing her hand off his arm.
In Burgundy, Duchess Cecily and the Duchess of Burgundy are not in agreement over how to proceed. Duchess Cecily doesn’t believe going to war to make Prince Richard the King is the answer, however, the Duchess of Burgundy will not be reasoned with.
Duchess Cecily visits Maggie and breaks down in tears. Cecily knows if Prince Richard marries Catherine, then the only possible outcome is war. She thinks Richard is her real grandson and can’t stand the thought of losing him.
Maggie wakes to find her husband prepared to leave to return to England. He wrote a letter to King Henry informing him of Richard’s betrothal to Catherine, and Maggie confesses her grandmother thinks Richard is not an imposter. Plus, the fact Richard knew about her and Teddy crying all those years ago on Christmas has her confused as to what to believe. Sir Richard asks if it’s possible someone else witnessed her and Teddy and simply told the story to Richard. He also thinks anyone could deduce she would cry on Christmas after her father’s death. Sir Richard is certain this Richard is fake and begs her to think about the implications if this Richard is real.
The morning after Lady Margaret’s confession, Jasper claims to be ill and misses the council meeting with King Henry. Henry addresses those in attendance, revealing the Duchess of Burgundy’s plan to marry Prince Richard to Catherine Gordon and gain the support of Scotland. Lizzie immediately shoots this down, noting that if Catherine’s the best the Duchess can do then it’s obvious Prince Richard doesn’t have the support of Europe. Plus, Scotland doesn’t have the money to start a war. King Henry tables the matter until he can speak to Jasper.
Maggie and Sir Richard return and after some prompting by King Henry, Maggie declares Prince Richard is an imposter. Sir Richard then hands King Henry a bag containing the wax seals of the traitors who support the imposter. King Henry pulls out paper with Sir Boswell’s seal and has him taken away. He next names Lord Smithson, Dowager Queen Elizabeth, and his own close confidante Sir William Stanley, brother of Sir Thomas Stanley and brother-in-law of Lady Margaret. Sir Stanley declares he’s loyal to the rightful king, Sir Richard of York, as he’s taken away.
Following the public unveiling of the traitors, Lizzie asks Henry what he plans to do with her mother and the others who plotted against him. He’s not going to kill her mother, but he must kill the others. As they’re speaking, Lady Margaret enters and agrees with Henry’s decisions.
Lady Margaret visits Jasper, but he only wishes to speak with King Henry. He will not disclose what he’s going to tell Henry, and once again Lady Margaret pleads with him to not say anything. Jasper is in fact very ill and wasn’t pretending simply to avoid Lady Margaret. She comforts him as she helps him into bed and he responds to her question about his feelings by saying he’s never loved anyone but her. But, this revelation about her part in the murders makes him believe he never really knew her. “Henry needs to know what is done in his name or he will execute traitors while the greatest of all remains at his side,” says Jasper, struggling to speak. Tears fall from Lady Margaret’s face as she apologizes for the pain she’s caused him. She leans close as if to kiss him and then places a pillow over his face, holding it there until he is dead. In his weakened state, Jasper’s unable to hold her off.
Lady Margaret flees Jasper’s room, returning to the chapel to pray.
King Henry’s informed of his uncle’s death by Jasper’s wife and runs to his room. He kneels by Jasper’s body on the bed and wails in sadness.
Lady Margaret cries in the chapel and then looks up to see a candle’s flame extinguished.
Mike Vogel as Michael Dalton, Noah Mills as Joseph J. McGuire, Hadi Tabbal as Amir Al-Rasani, Demetrius Grosse as Anthony ‘Preach’ Carter, and Natacha Karam as Jasmine ‘Jaz’ Ervin in ‘The Brave’ (Photo by: Jeff Riedel / NBC)
NBC announced their 2017-2018 primetime schedule including the new lineup of shows for their Thursday programming block. The network reversed course on one of its canceled series’ and decided to renew Timeless for a second season, and it will be joining returning series The Blacklist, Blindspot, Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago P.D., Dateline NBC, The Good Place, Great News, Law & Order: SVU, Little Big Shots, Shades of Blue, Superstore, Taken, This Is Us, The Voice and The Wall.
NBC also confirmed it’s adding five new dramas and three new comedies to this upcoming season’s lineup. A.P. Bio starring Glenn Howerton, Champions from Charlie Grandy and Mindy Kaling, and a new season of Will & Grace hope to drum up some laughs for NBC. The new dramatic series include Rise, The Brave, Good Girls, Reverie, and Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders. (Details on the new series are included below the 2017-2018 schedule.)
“Coming off another stabilizing year, which included the launch of one of the great new dramas in a decade, our upcoming fall schedule is both limited in the number of new series and aggressive in rebooting Thursday night,” said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. “To create another undeniable night of television, we’re aligning some of our most potent shows on Thursday in order to bring back ‘Must See TV.’ We are also strategically deploying strong new shows in choice time periods on other nights and nurturing our growing comedy lineup.
“To do all that you have to have the goods, and our development teams headed by Presidents Jennifer Salke and Paul Telegdy once again delivered new scripted and unscripted shows that are among the best on television. From fall to midseason to summer, we will be programming robustly so as to achieve a record amount of original programming all year long. And when you add the Super Bowl, the Winter Olympics, and the balance of our unprecedented sports franchises, we expect to remain the leading broadcast network by virtually every measure.”
NBC FALL 2017-18 SCHEDULE
MONDAY
8-10 P.M. — The Voice
10-11 P.M. — THE BRAVE
TUESDAY
8-9 P.M. — The Voice
9-9:30 P.M. — Superstore
9:30-10 P.M. — The Good Place
10-11 P.M. — Chicago Fire
WEDNESDAY
8-9 P.M. — The Blacklist
9-10 P.M. — Law & Order: SVU
10-11 P.M. — Chicago P.D.
THURSDAY
8-8:30 P.M. — WILL & GRACE
8:30-9 P.M. — Great News
9-10 P.M. — This Is Us
10-11 P.M. — LAW & ORDER TRUE CRIME: THE MENENDEZ MURDERS
FRIDAY
8-9 P.M. — Blindspot
9-10 P.M. — Taken
10-11 P.M — Dateline NBC
SATURDAY
8-10 P.M. — Dateline Saturday Night Mystery
10-11 P.M. — Saturday Night Live (encores)
SUNDAY
7-8:20 P.M. — Football Night in America
8:20-11 P.M. — NBC Sunday Night Football
THE BRAVE: From Keshet Studios and Avi Nir comes a fresh, heart-pounding journey into the complex world of America’s elite undercover military heroes. While D.I.A. Deputy Director Patricia Campbell (Anne Heche) and her team of analysts wield the world’s most advanced surveillance technology from Washington, D.C., Adam Dalton and his heroic Special Ops squad of highly trained undercover specialists use their unbreakable bond and commitment to freedom to save lives of innocent people and execute missions in some of the most dangerous places in the world.
The cast includes Anne Heche, Mike Vogel, Sofia Pernas, Tate Ellington, Natacha Karam, Demetrius Grosse, Noah Mills and Hadi Tabbal.
GOOD GIRLS: When three suburban moms get tired of trying to make ends meet, they decide it’s time to stick up for themselves by robbing the local supermarket at (toy) gunpoint. But when the manager catches a glimpse of one of them and the loot is far more than they expected, it doesn’t take long for the three best friends to realize the perfect getaway will be harder than they think. From executive producer Jenna Bans comes this comedy-infused drama that mixes a little Thelma & Louise with a bit of Breaking Bad.
The cast includes Retta, Mae Whitman, Reno Wilson, Manny Montana, Lidya Jewett, Izzy Stannard and Matthew Lillard.
LAW & ORDER TRUE CRIME: THE MENENDEZ MURDERS: Starring the incomparable Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Edie Falco, this new eight-episode true-crime installment of the powerhouse Law & Order franchise delivers a gripping in-depth dramatization of the notorious murder case that changed America forever. When the Menendez brothers were tried on national TV for brutally killing their parents in Beverly Hills, their story became a national obsession. Now, the first edition of this anthology series delves into the players, the crime and the media circus, detailing the day-to-day battles of the trial and unveiling the shocking truth of what really went down when the cameras stopped rolling.
REVERIE: From Mickey Fisher, the creator of Extant, this grounded new thriller follows Mara Kint (Sarah Shahi), a former hostage negotiator and expert on human behavior who became a college professor after facing an unimaginable personal tragedy. But when she’s brought in to save ordinary people who have lost themselves in a highly advanced virtual-reality program in which you can literally live your dreams, she finds that in saving others, she may actually have discovered a way to save herself.
The cast includes Sarah Shahi, Dennis Haysbert, Jessica Lu, Sendhil Ramamurthy and Kathryn Morris.
RISE: From Jason Katims, writer and executive producer of Friday Night Lights and Parenthood, and Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller comes a heartening new drama about finding inspiration in unexpected places. When dedicated teacher and family man Lou Mazzuchelli (Josh Radnor) sheds his own self-doubt and takes over the school’s lackluster theater department, he galvanizes not only the faculty and students but the entire working-class town. Inspired by a true story.
The cast includes Josh Radnor, Rosie Perez, Marley Shelton, Auli’i Cravalho, Damon J. Gillespie, Amy Forsyth, Rarmian Newton, Ted Sutherland, Casey Johnson, Taylor Richardson, Joe Tippett and Shirley Rumierk.
A.P. BIO: When a philosophy scholar loses out on his dream job and goes to work as a high school Advanced Placement biology teacher, he makes it clear he will not be teaching any biology. Realizing he has a room full of honor roll students at his disposal, he decides instead to use the kids to his own benefit.
The cast includes Glenn Howerton, Patton Oswalt, Lyric Lewis, Mary Sohn, Aparna Brielle, Jacob McCarthy, Nick Peine and guest star Vanessa Bayer (pilot only).
CHAMPIONS: Vince, a charismatic gym owner with no ambition, lives with his younger brother Michael, a gorgeous idiot. Their simple life of women and working out is put on hold when the teenage son of Vince is dropped off on their doorstep by Priya (Mindy Kaling), one of his old high school flings.
The cast includes Anders Holm, Andy Favreau, J.J. Totah, Mouzam Makkar, Nina Wadia and guest star Mindy Kaling.
WILL & GRACE: That’s right, honey! A decade after their unforgettable eight-season run, comedy’s most fabulous foursome is back. Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally reprise their infamous roles as Will, Grace, Jack and Karen in this exclusive 12-episode event. The legendary James Burrows, director of every original Will & Grace episode, returns along with a slew of razor-sharp jabs and dirty martinis. Behold once again, from the minds of Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, TV’s wittiest ensemble ever.
The cast includes Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally.
NEW ALTERNATIVE SERIES
THE AWESOME SHOW: From executive producer/host Chris Hardwick, executive producer Mark Burnett and Silicon Valley’s Singularity University comes a new series that will showcase the groundbreaking scientific and technological advances that are shaping the future, as well as celebrate the pioneers and communities at the forefront of this golden age of unprecedented discovery, innovation and opportunity. Each episode of “The Awesome Show” will be a rollercoaster ride through the world of innovation as told by the people who are shaping it and whose lives are affected by it. The series will highlight stories of revolutionary scientific and technological advances and will marvel at mankind’s tremendous feats, both now and in the future.
ELLEN’S GAME OF GAMES: The one and only Ellen DeGeneres returns to primetime to host an exciting new game show that’s one big party! Featuring super-sized versions of some of the most beloved games from The Ellen DeGeneres Show, as well as new ones, contestants will be pulled from the studio audience to maneuver massive obstacles while answering trivia questions, all under the pressure of Ellen’s mischievous and hilarious antics. With DeGeneres’ witty and comedic sensibility plus fun-filled games, each episode is sure to entertain the entire family and deliver lots of laughs. One lucky contestant will get the chance to win the grand prize, but everyone will have a blast!
GENIUS JUNIOR: No stranger to young geniuses, Neil Patrick Harris hosts an exciting new game show that celebrates the smartest kids in America. These talented “genius juniors” will team up to take on mind-blowing tests of logic, math, memory, spelling and more. Through escalating rounds, they will be tested in each area of the brain, culminating in an ultimate challenge to be crowned the smartest and brightest. The winning team will take home a life-changing prize — setting the stage for a big, bright future ahead.
THE HANDMADE PROJECT: From executive producer and host Amy Poehler and co-host Nick Offerman comes a lighthearted competition celebrating the creativity and craftiness in all of us. Each week, eight amateur makers will take on a series of projects they must complete in their own unique way. As the competition escalates, the amateurs will be challenged to master progressively difficult skills, culminating in a final craft-off between the most creative and tenacious contestants. Shot in a serene outdoor setting, this friendly competition will focus on the character and camaraderie of DIY culture – and through it all, Poehler and Offerman will provide encouragement, guidance and plenty of laughs.
Fox announced the network’s next live musical production will be A Christmas Story based on the film and the Tony Award nominated production, A Christmas Story: The Musical. Marc Platt (Grease: Live, La La Land) and Adam Siegel are on board as executive producers, with Jonathan Tolins and Robert Cary writing and co-executive producing. Tony Award nominees Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Dear Evan Hansen) scored A Christmas Story: The Musical and are writing new songs for the live television production.
“A Christmas Story is one of the most beloved holiday films of all time – audiences have made a yearly ritual of re-watching it – and we are so thrilled to have Marc leading the charge in bringing the musical version of that film to television,” said David Madden, President, Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. “The extraordinarily gifted Pasek and Paul were instrumental in transposing the movie to the stage, and we believe the transition to LIVE television event will be just as entertaining for viewers.”
“I can’t believe how incredibly lucky we are to have Marc Platt producing this iconic Christmas classic,” added Mike Darnell, President, Warner Bros. Unscripted & Alternative Television. “Marc is the defining voice in this genre and it’s amazing to have this caliber of talent leading what is sure to be a new standard in live musical events.”
Fox is targeting a December 2017 airing of the three-hour musical event.
Reese Witherspoon and Pico Alexander in ‘Home Again’ (Photo credit: Karen Ballard / Open Road Films)
Open Road Films has released a new teaser trailer for the romantic comedy, Home Again. Reese Witherspoon headlines the romcom about a woman whose life dramatically changes after opening up her life to three strangers. The cast also includes Pico Alexander, Nat Wolff, Jon Rudnitsky, Michael Sheen, Candice Bergen, and Lake Bell.
Hallie Meyers-Shyer made her feature film directorial debut with Home Again and romantic comedy veteran Nancy Meyers produces. Open Road Films is expected to open in theaters in September 2017.
The Plot:Home Again stars Reese Witherspoon as Alice Kinney in a modern romantic comedy. Recently separated from her husband, (Sheen), Alice decides to start over by moving back to her hometown of Los Angeles with her two young daughters. During a night out on her 40th birthday, Alice meets three aspiring filmmakers who happen to be in need of a place to live. Alice agrees to let the guys stay in her guest house temporarily, but the arrangement ends up unfolding in unexpected ways.
Alice’s unlikely new family and new romance comes to a crashing halt when her ex-husband shows up, suitcase in hand. Home Again is a story of love, friendship, and the families we create. And one very big life lesson: Starting over is not for beginners.
John Cena and Aaron Taylor-Johnson in ‘The Wall’ (Photo by: David James Courtesy of Amazon Studios)
“What do you want?” asks Isaac (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). “I want to get to know you,” replies the enemy Iraqi sniper who has the American soldier pinned down after shooting his comrade in arms in the psychological war film, The Wall.
During the last official days of the Iraq war, two U.S. soldiers – a sniper named Matthews (John Cena) and his spotter, Isaac – spend hours trying to detect the location of an enemy sniper. Matthews finally becomes convinced the sniper who took out five unfortunate men a few days earlier is gone. When Matthews heads out to verify the sniper’s withdrawal, he’s shot by the cleverly concealed enemy sniper. Isaac attempts to make it to Matthews but is shot in the leg. His radio is also hit, rendering it fairly useless. Running for cover, Isaac jumps over an old crumbling wall.
Isaac calls out to Matthews, discussing their wounds and the possible location of the enemy sniper. Isaac is successful at repairing his radio and calls in reporting a man down, requesting an emergency evac. He suddenly realizes the voice on the other end doesn’t sound American and orders whoever it is to identify himself. In a creepy twist, the enemy sniper admits he’s the one talking on the radio because he wants to get to know Isaac and Matthews before he kills them.
Directed by Doug Liman (Edge of Tomorrow, Jumper), The Wall is a tense war drama with a solid performance by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Unfortunately, the film suffers from drawn-out pacing, one-dimensional characters, and too much dialogue. Aaron Taylor-Johnson gives a noteworthy performance as Isaac, the spotter who failed to find the sniper and now finds he and his friend pinned down by the enemy. He shows the pain, frustration, anger, and fear that Isaac goes through while struggling to stay alive and find a way to still take down his enemy.
The first half of the film is the best part as it displays the exhaustion of war which in this scenario leads to a potentially lethal mistake. The idea of an enemy sniper reaching out to his targets is intriguing, with the enemy sniper playing psychological games with his wounded prey. However, once the set-up is in place The Wall runs into trouble as the pace slows and the storyline feels a bit too contrived. It also becomes clear a little before the half-way point how it’s most likely going to end, which kills the tension and suspense.
Bogged down by dialogue and lacking any character development, The Wall tries to be a psychological thriller but ultimately comes up short.
GRADE: C-
MPAA Rating: R for language throughout and some war violence
