CBS unveiled the new official logo for the upcoming Star Trek TV series with a short teaser video during the CBS Upfront Presentation at Carnegie Hall in New York. The video is less than a minute long and gives away nothing at all about the plot, but at least it does include the original iconic theme music. Star Trek will be premiering in January 2017 and will air on CBS All Access, with a special preview airing first on the CBS Television Network.
Hannibal‘s Bryan Fuller is the series’ showrunner and executive produces along with Alex Kurtzman, Heather Kadin, Rod Roddenberry, and Trevor Roth.
The short teaser promises new crews, new villains, new heroes, and new worlds. Rumor has it the new series has nothing to do at all with the rebooted Star Trek film franchise and instead will be a continuation of the original series that starred William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, James Doohan, Walter Koenig, and DeForest Kelley.
“You always have to be the hero. While you’re playing the good little boy, I’ll be busy winning,” says Zoom (Teddy Sears) to Barry (Grant Gustin) during a short pause in the war for Central City on Earth-1 in episode 22 of season two of The CW’s comic book-inspired fantasy action series, The Flash.
As the episode begins, the war for control over Central City is exploding in the streets. The CCPD and a handful of citizens are doing their best to fight the army of evil meta-humans that Zoom has brought from Earth 2. Joe (Jesse L. Martin) and the rest of the officers are finally aided and, to be honest, saved (they were in way over their heads) when The Flash uses his super speed to zip around and take down the attacking meta-humans.
Back at S.T.A.R. Labs, Barry is commenting to Iris (Candice Patton) about taking down so many meta-humans at one time when Cisco (Carlos Valdes) comes rushing up to tell Barry to hurry, that he’s got to see this. Barry enters the main room to see Caitlin (Danielle Panabaker) being checked over by his father, Henry (John Wesley Shipp), who says she’s in shock and is suffering from mild dehydration but she should be fine. Barry quickly goes to Caitlin and asks how she got away and she tells him that Zoom let her go. At first she thought it was a trick but he did actually let her go. Caitlin begins to get emotional and starts to cry when she tells Barry that Zoom told her Barry was dead. Barry comforts Caitlin and tells her he’s not dead, that they’re all here together. He tells her that he’s going to defeat Zoom and Caitlin’s face changes to a look of horror as she warns him he doesn’t know what Zoom is capable of. But Barry continues to comfort Caitlin, telling her he went into the speed force and that the universe is on their side; they can’t lose. “Right?” says Barry to everyone in the room and Jessie (Violett Beane) backs Barry up by answering yes. Barry walks Caitlin into the sickbay so she can get some rest after everything she’s been through and begins to tell her about how he got his powers back and getting drawn into the speed force.
After Barry and Caitlin leave, Cisco asks everyone if Barry doesn’t seem to be “a little…” Iris finishes his sentence by saying overconfident. Everyone, even Henry, is worried that ever since Barry came back from the speed force he seems to think he cannot lose and is throwing caution to the wind. Dr. Wells (Tom Cavanagh) suggests that someone should talk to Barry about it.
Over at Mercury Labs, Black Siren (Katie Cassidy) – Zoom’s main lieutenant – uses her powers of sonic vocal blasts to cause the Mercury Labs building to come crashing down. Fortunately, it’s strong enough to hold together until almost everyone inside is safely out of the building (only on television would that happen!) except for Dr. McGee (Amanda Pays) who The Flash zips in using once again his speed and saves the doctor from being buried with the building. “Thank you, Mr. Allen,” says McGee, to which Barry responds by staring at her shocked that she knows his true identity. She replies, “Please, I’m not an idiot.”
Back at S.T.A.R. Labs, Barry, Cisco, Caitlin – who still looks like she could do with a week’s worth of sleep – and Dr. McGee are talking about who and why someone would want to target Mercury Labs. Caitlin says it has to be Zoom. Dr. McGee tells Team Flash that there’s a black box failsafe that might have footage of who sabotaged the building. Barry gets the box and Cisco, Henry, and Dr. Wells are off to see if they can view the footage. Henry tries to take a minute with Barry to talk about him being a little too upbeat considering what they are facing but Barry refuses to listen, even telling his own father that he hasn’t been around enough to know what Barry is like, something he quickly recants and apologizes for. Just then alarms go off showing something wrong at the CCPD which is now Zoom’s headquarters. Barry rushes off to face him while his father tells him not to go.
Barry arrives at the CCPD to find Zoom going on and on about how he never saw the crime photos of his own mother’s death but since he witnessed it as a kid, he probably doesn’t need to. Turns out Zoom doesn’t want to fight Barry this time but play more mind games with him saying they are actually very much alike. Same similar tragedy in their lives, same powers, same need to be the best and fastest, but Barry plays at being a hero and Zoom doesn’t. He asks Barry if he gets tired of it, confiding that he found it exhausting being the fake hero Jay. Barry tells Zoom they are not alike and he will beat him. Zoom promises Barry that while he’s racing around fighting all the meta-humans, he will beat him in the end.
Barry goes back to S.T.A.R. Labs and tells everyone they need to find a way to take down the meta-humans all at once. With his army defeated, Zoom will be weak and they can beat him. Dr. Wells thinks that’s great but asks how they are going to stop him. He suggests to Cisco that everyone from Earth-2 vibrates at a different frequency and maybe they could use that against them. Both Cisco and Dr. Wells like the idea and go off to see what they can come up with, and Caitlin goes off to help too. On his way, Cisco has a vision of dead birds falling to the ground and shakes it off not knowing what it means. Joe asks to talk to Barry for a minute and tells him he needs his help with Wally. Joe caught Wally (Keiynan Lonsdale) trying to stop a purse snatcher who turned out to be a meta-human and Joe saved Wally from him but Wally feels the need to prove to The Flash and to himself that he can make a difference in Central City, too. Joe wants Barry to have The Flash talk to Wally and get him to stop trying to be a hero. Barry says he’ll talk to him but it’s obvious he sort of approves of where the kid’s heart is.
Cisco is getting more and more frustrated and even throws something at the board he’s been writing on which gets Caitlin to comment on how out of character that is for Cisco. He tells her he’s that frustrated and Caitlin turns only to see Zoom in front of her. She turns to run and Zoom is again in front of her coming closer! Caitlin begins to yell, “NO!” and Cisco runs over to her telling her it’s okay and that he’s right here for her. Turns out Caitlin keeps seeing Zoom because deep down she’s still terrified and convinced he’s coming for her. She confides in Cisco telling him that Zoom aka Jay aka Zolomon took from her her confidence, her very sanity, and she doesn’t know how she’ll ever be able to move forward. Cisco hugs her and tells her what she feels is normal for someone who just escaped from a psychopath and he promises her she will be herself soon.
The Flash catches up to Wally sitting in his car listening to a police radio. The Flash tells Wally he admires what he’s trying to do but the best thing he can do is to let him (along with the police) handle Zoom and his meta-humans. Wally doesn’t agree, telling The Flash that Central City is now his home too and he needs to help fight to protect it. Their talk gets cut short when they both hear over the police scanner about a meta encounter. The Flash races off to see who it is.
The Flash arrives to find Black Siren waiting for him. He’s taken aback by the fact that she’s Black Canary’s doppelganger but shakes it off and after a few brief words in which Siren even admits to The Flash that Zoom seems frightened of him she uses her sonic sound to knock The Flash off his feet. With his ears ringing, Barry tries to get up but just gets punched, kicked, and sonic hit again. Lying on the street, things don’t look good for Barry as Siren starts to walk up to him to finish him off. Just then she gets slammed by Wally’s speeding car. Wally opens up the passenger door and tells The Flash to get in and the two of them speed out of sight together. The Flash thanks Wally and speeds off back to S.T.A.R. Labs.
Caitlin is back at her job taking care of Barry and attending to his wounds telling him he’s going to be okay while Joe argues with Barry that his talk obviously didn’t take and that Wally isn’t like Barry and is going to get himself killed. Iris pulls Barry aside and tries to talk to him about his overconfidence being a weakness and that fear can be a good thing, reminding him what he should be willing to risk his life for and that he’s not invincible.
Leave it to Cisco to come up with THE plan to defeat not just the meta-humans but Zoom as well. With the help of Wells, Cisco has created a device that when amplified can be reflected all over Central City and with the help of Barry using his speed to create a wall of energy it will bounce back and forth. This will attack anyone from Earth-2 and knock them out leaving them to be arrested and locked up. It should also render Zoom helpless. (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…Cisco is the real hero of season two.) Wells has made a pair of headphones which should protect he and Jesse from its effects.
Black Siren is getting ready to attack another building as ordered by Zoom who wants to keep Team Flash busy saving people and fighting meta-humans so they don’t realize what he’s really up to. An alarm goes off at S.T.A.R. Labs and Wells tells Cisco this is it and to get ready, but Barry argues that Siren can kill all the people in the building if he doesn’t go to save them. Wells argues that they have to take down the meta-humans and Zoom now. This is when Cisco says, “I just got a terrible idea.”
Siren comments out loud to herself that she has never knocked down so many buildings and just then she hears a familiar voice say to her maybe she’s not so powerful after all. Siren goes looking to see who it is and to her surprise she sees Reverb and Killer Frost. Siren says she thought they were dead and Reverb tells her they would like Zoom to believe that to be the truth for now. Reverb says to Frost that Siren isn’t ready but Frost says to him to give her a chance. Siren wants to know what they are talking about and Reverb tells her that she shouldn’t be reporting to Zoom but she should be like a god. That they should all be god-like and rule together. Reverb tells her that together with their combined powers they can beat Zoom. Siren seems interested and asks what their plan is and Reverb says they will show up together at the CCPD and take down Zoom. Siren tells him it sounds good but just one thing first and throws Reverb a pipe to catch which he does but with his right hand. Oops, it seems doppelgangers are literally mirror images and the real Reverb was left-handed. Yes, it’s Cisco and Caitlin dressed up as their evil doppelgangers buying Team Flash time to charge up and fire off the frequency machine which Wells and the gang do with The Flash creating that energy wall they discussed. Cisco and Caitlin make a run for it but come to a dead end. Siren tells them no one on this Earth can beat her and just as she is about to hit them with a sonic boom Cisco uses his powers and creates a blast like the one Reverb used on Barry back on Earth-2 and knocks Siren off her feet. “What the what?” asks Caitlin. “I don’t know,” replies Cisco. “Well, do it again!” says Caitlin, but sadly Cisco can’t repeat it. Fortunately, he doesn’t need to because the plan works and all the meta-humans end up passed out on the ground…all that is except for Zoom who creates a breach and escapes to Earth-2.
With Zoom gone and all the evil meta-humans locked up Central City seems for the first time since the beginning of season two to be getting back to normal. Black Siren is locked up down in what used to be the particle accelerator with Cisco asking if they should tell their friends in Starling City about her and Barry says no and that she’s just a poor evil version of Black Canary. Cisco compliments Caitlin on her performance as Frost and she says she was in a place of feeling cold and distant which causes Barry to ask her how she’s feeling now. Caitlin says helping them fight the meta-humans made her feel like herself again and Barry gives her a big hug to which Cisco joins in saying it’s time for a team hug with Caitlin smiling wide, hugging the two most important men in her life. Joe and Barry talk about Wally one more time but this time Barry tells Joe to let Wally become the man he’s destined to be – a hero like his father.
Later that night, Iris invited everyone over to the house for a belated welcome home Henry party to surprise both Barry and Henry. Jesse flirts with Wally, Henry flirts with Dr. McGee, and Barry asks Iris if she wants to give them a shot at dating to which she says yes. Everyone is happy and enjoying themselves until Cisco has another vision of birds dying but this time he sees people screaming and Earth-2 being split in two. Barry asks Cisco what he saw and Cisco begs someone to tell him he did not just see the future and the end of the world or worlds. Zoom rushes in which causes Caitlin to freeze in terror. Zoom grabs Henry and tells Barry that they’re not finished yet. He races out of the house and Barry zips after him. This is how Wally discovers that Barry, the guy he never really liked and has been giving nothing but grief since his punk butt showed up in town, IS the hero who has saved his life multiple times.
Zoom leads Barry back to his childhood home and into the room where his mother died. Zoom looks at Barry still holding Henry and tells him that he’s going to make Barry just like him. Barry begs Zoom not to do this and to take him instead to which Henry yells no. Henry tells Barry that he loves him and that he and Barry’s mother are so proud of the man he’s grown to – he doesn’t get to finish his sentence because Zoom puts his vibrating arm through Henry’s heart. Barry screams, “NO!”
Review of The Flash Season 2 Episode 22:
Suspenseful, action-packed, emotional, and shocking, season two episode 22 titled “Invincible” is hands-down the BEST episode of the season, giving every main character a storyline and moments to shine and connect with each other. It also has a tragic, shocking – okay, maybe not so shocking – ending which sets up the season finale showdown. The stand-out performance goes to Danielle Panabaker who displays such realistic heartfelt emotion in being back home with her friends and seeing her Barry, who she had been told was dead, alive and well. The tears she holds back and the break in her voice as she tells Barry Zoom told her he was dead is emotionally powerful. Panabaker also captures true terror as Caitlin in the scenes where she keeps seeing Zoom coming for her. The viewers can’t help but ache for Caitlin and what she’s going through. It’s truly a remarkable performance deserving of an Emmy nomination.
With Earth-2 looking like it’s going to come to an end and Barry determined to avenge the death of this father, the season finale of The Flash should be the most exciting, suspenseful and exhilarating episode of the series. Can’t wait.
Stephen Amell poses with a hockey stick and Megan Fox just poses on the new poster for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. The Turtles are nowhere to be seen on the latest poster for the Paramount Pictures release and instead the focus is on Amell’s Casey Jones and Fox’s April O’Neil. Directed by Earth to Echo‘s David Green, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 also stars Will Arnett, Tyler Perry, Gary Anthony Williams, Laura Linney, Brian Tee, and Stephen ‘Sheamus’ Farrelly. The Turtles are played by Alan Ritchson (Raphael), Noel Fisher (Michelangelo), Pete Ploszek (Leonardo), and Jeremy Howard (Donatello). TMNT: Out of the Shadows will open in theaters on June 3, 2016.
The Plot: Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo, and Raphael return to theaters this summer to battle bigger, badder villains, alongside April O’Neil (Megan Fox), Vern Fenwick (Will Arnett), and a newcomer: the hockey-masked vigilante Casey Jones (Stephen Amell). After supervillain Shredder escapes custody, he joins forces with mad scientist Baxter Stockman (Tyler Perry) and two dimwitted henchmen, Bebop (Gary Anthony Williams) and Rocksteady (WWE Superstar Stephen “Sheamus” Farrelly), to unleash a diabolical plan to take over the world. As the Turtles prepare to take on Shredder and his new crew, they find themselves facing an even greater evil with similar intentions: the notorious Krang.
Season three of The 100 comes to a conclusion with episode 16 titled ‘Perverse Instantiation – Part Two’ airing on May 19, 2016. It’s been a bloody, violent, and controversial season, with a high body count that included fan favorites Lexa (played by Alycia Debnam-Carey who’s busy with Fear the Walking Dead) and Lincoln (played by Ricky Whittle, currently shooting the new series American Gods). The season three finale will find Clarke (Eliza Taylor) attempting to destroy the City of Light from the inside.
The episode will also feature Paige Turco, Isaiah Washington, Henry Ian Cusick, Bob Morley, Marie Avgeropoulos, Lindsey Morgan, Devon Bostick, Christopher Larkin, and Richard Harmon. Jason Rothenberg wrote the season three finale and Dean White directed.
The 100 Season 3 Episode 16 Plot: PART TWO OF THE SEASON FINALE – In the season’s epic and mind-bending conclusion, our heroes begin to face the reality of their tragic situation. Everyone prepares for a final showdown.
ABC’s “Imaginary Mary” stars Jenna Elfman as Alice. (ABC/Ed Herrera)
ABC’s showing off the first trailers from their new primetime shows that will be joining the network’s lineup of programming for the 2016-2017 season. Nine new series have been added to the schedule: four comedies and five dramas. ABC hopes audiences will be laughing at American Housewife, Downward Dog, Imaginary Mary, and Speechless, and will become absorbed with the stories told in Conviction, Designated Survivor, Notorious, Still Star-Crossed, and Time After Time. Details on all the news shows were revealed during the 2016-2017 Upfront Event at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall in New York City.
“Our new shows reflect the inclusive and empowering storytelling that defines the ABC brand. We will continue to raise the bar for our audience, investing in great storytellers and reflecting the authentic faces and voices of the world around us,” said Channing Dungey, president, ABC Entertainment.
American Housewife Plot: Katie Otto (Katy Mixon), a confident, unapologetic, plump wife and mother of three, raises her flawed family in the wealthy town of Westport, Connecticut, filled with “perfect” mommies and their “perfect” offspring. She lets us in on her deepest, most unfiltered thoughts through voiceover as the she lives her life as the second fattest housewife in Westport.
Downward Dog Plot: Based on the web series, Downward Dog is about a struggling millennial, Nan (Emmy nominated Allison Tolman), from the point of view of her lonely and philosophical dog, Martin. One session at obedience school already makes them realize that even at their worst, they may be the best thing for each other.
Imaginary Mary Plot: Alice (Jenna Elfman) has her life turned upside-down when she ‘stupidly’ falls for the love of her life Ben (Stephen Schneider) — an adorable, quick-witted divorced father with three kids. But when she ignores her fears of commitment and her ability to mother, Imaginary Mary, her childhood invention (voiced by Rachel Dratch), comes back to life to express Alice’s deepest fears and add more chaos to the situation.
Speechless Plot: Maya DiMeo (Minnie Driver) is a mom on a mission who will do anything for her husband Jimmy, her kids Ray, Dylan, and JJ, her eldest son with special needs. As Maya fights injustices both real and imagined, the family works to make a new home for themselves, and searches for just the right person to give JJ his “voice.”
Conviction Plot: Lawyer and former First Daughter Hayes Morrison (Hayley Atwell) is about to accept a job offered from her sexy nemesis, NY District Attorney Wayne Wallis, to avoid jail time for cocaine possession and avoid hurting her mother’s Senate campaign. Working with his team at the new Conviction Integrity Unit will let her use her brilliant mind to turn over cases where there is credible suspicion of wrongful conviction, and give her a chance to turn things around with her high-powered political family.
Designated Survivor Plot: Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor Kiefer Sutherland returns to primetime in a conspiracy thriller as Tom Kirkman, a lower cabinet member who unexpectedly becomes president after a devastating attack on Washington. He will struggle to prevent the country and his own family from falling into chaos, as he is thrust into one of the most difficult presidencies in history.
Notorious Plot:Notorious is inspired by the true-life stories of famed criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos and cable news producer Wendy Walker, who serve as executive producers. The series is a provocative look at the unique, sexy and dangerous interplay of criminal law and the media.
Still Star-Crossed Plot:Still Star-Crossed, a period drama from Shondaland, picks up where the famous story of Romeo and Juliet ends, charting the treachery, palace intrigue and ill-fated romances of the Montagues and Capulets in the wake of the young lovers’ tragic fate.
Time After Time Plot: Based on the novel and movie Time After Time, executive producer/writer Kevin Williamson delivers a fantastical cat and mouse adventure through time when famed science fiction writer H.G. Wells is transported to modern day Manhattan in pursuit of Jack the Ripper. Once H.G. arrives in New York City, he finds a world he never thought possible and a young woman who captivates him.
Ben Schwartz, Kristen Bell, Don Cheadle, and Josh Lawson star in ‘House of Lies’
Showtime will be ending the critically acclaimed comedy House of Lies with season five. The current season of House of Lies will be its last, culminating with the season five finale on June 13, 2016 at 9pm ET/PT. That episode just happens to be the first episode of an American scripted series to be shot in Cuba since diplomatic relations were restored. Series creator/executive producer Matthew Carnahan directed the season/series finale titled “No Es Fácil” and starring Don Cheadle, Kristen Bell, Ben Schwartz, Josh Lawson, Donis Leonard Jr., and Glynn Turman.
“House of Lies is a comedy that has frequently been ahead of the curve,” said David Nevins, President and CEO, Showtime Networks Inc. “Over the course of its five seasons, it has tackled such hot-button topics as gender identity, wealth inequality, white privilege, police brutality, interracial relationships, and code-switching with honesty and a biting sense of humor. Matthew Carnahan and Don Cheadle have been dream partners and impeccable leaders. The core cast of Don, Kristen, Ben and Josh are one of the best comedy teams on television. They have brought the series to an incredibly satisfying conclusion with this historic final episode shot in Cuba.”
“Creating and running House of Lies has been a true dream gig, a creative apotheosis,” stated Carnahan. “Working with the remarkable team that Jessika Borsiczcky, David Walpert and I were allowed to put together, along with the incredible cast and crew, coming to work every day was a joy. Getting to work with heroes like Don Cheadle, Kristen Bell and Glynn Turman, breaking out amazing performers like Dawn Olivieri and the shockingly funny Josh Lawson; seeing Ben Schwartz, already so well-known as a comedic actor doing a deep-dive into really complex work; watching great actors like Matt Damon be willing to skewer versions of themselves; and then going out on the high note that is shooting in Cuba — these are all the kinds of reasons I got into this business in the first place.”
The award-winning series is based on House of Lies: How Management Consultants Steal Your Watch and Tell You the Time by Martin Kihn and is executive produced by Carnahan, Jessika Borsiczky, Don Cheadle and David Walpert. Season five guest stars include Wanda Sykes, Keegan-Michael Key, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Donald Faison, Ken Marino, John Cho and Steven Weber.
The Plot: For five seasons, fans traveled with Marty, Jeannie (Bell), Clyde (Schwartz) and Doug (Lawson) as they criss-crossed the globe manipulating hard-earned (well, usually inherited, sometimes stolen) bucks from powerful CEOs. Under Marty’s leadership, the Pod, as they became affectionately known, went from fleecing millionaire moguls to skewering billionaires with an unwavering eye on their end-state vision (or, ultimate goal for non-management rookies): global domination. Along the way, Marty and Jeannie went from business associates to lovers to adversaries and back again, ultimately landing on amicable co-worker/co-parents to their baby girl. All the while, wisecracking Clyde and insufferable yet sweet Harvard MBA Doug fought and squabbled over the number three spot (and, ultimately, for partnership) at Kaan & Associates. They frequently banded together against Marty’s ex-wife and business foe Monica (Dawn Olivieri) as she lurched between wanting to bed him, kill him and steal all his clients. On the home front, sage advice from live-in psychologist dad Jeremiah (Turman) helped Marty lead son Roscoe (Leonard Jr.) through the discovery and celebration of his gender fluidity and maturation into a self-assured, fashion-forward teenager. As we conclude the series, the Pod is assessing their personal portfolios: in their constant quest for the almighty dollar, how much is enough? How much money buys happiness and at what cost?
“Shaw!” says a surprised Root (Amy Acker). “Not a very friendly homecoming,” replies Shaw (Sarah Shahi) who it seems has broken out of where Samaritan and its goons were keeping her prisoner in season five episode four of CBS’ crime action series, Person of Interest.
As the episode begins, Shaw is strapped down on an operating table where Samaritan doctors are implanting a mind control chip near her brain stem. The chip however doesn’t seem to take and when they are preparing to try a different one, Shaw – who is not so out of it as she is pretending – is able to break free and escape the facility only to find herself on some uncharted island. Desperate, she looks around to see a small boat nearby. She borrows the boat and heads for New York.
Once in the city Shaw is afraid to go to the subway headquarters of Finch and the Machine, unsure if she might lead Samaritan thugs right to the Machine. She decides to try to take out the chip herself in a drug store but every time she tries, she becomes overcome with pain and gets disoriented. Shaw decides to threaten to kill the poor drugstore clerk to get the Machine’s attention and bring help. The plan works and Root finds Shaw after saving her from a few of Samaritan’s agents who got there first.
Still not sure what she has been through and if Shaw has been turned, Reese (Jim Caviezel) and Root take the chip out of her while riding in the subway. Afterward, they take her to an apartment Root is using and Shaw is reunited with Finch (Michael Emerson) and Bear the dog. Harold is leery of trusting her because Martine told them months ago that Samaritan had broken Shaw and turned her. Shaw overhears this and asks Finch if he even tried to look for her. Finch and Reese leave to study the chip and see what information they can get out of it.
Root tries to get close to Shaw who she missed terribly, but Shaw is in no mood for picking up where they left off right before she was shot. (Shaw kissed Root as she stood her ground and held back Samaritan thugs so that Root, Finch, and a badly wounded Reese could escape.) A little while later Shaw changes her mind and she and Root end up in bed together being very intimate. (Is it getting hot in here?!) Afterward, Shaw tells Root about some of the psychological torture she went through while a prisoner. Later that night Shaw goes to the ladies room and has another mind attack while looking at the wound from where the chip was inside her. When she becomes aware again she sees herself holding a gun and ammo but has no memory of picking them up. This scares her and she puts them away quickly, slipping back in bed with Root.
The next morning Root meets up with John at a diner and he tells her that the chip is a placebo. Root begins to defend Shaw and says she won’t let him hurt her. Reese smiles and tries to calm Root telling her, “No one is saying or suggesting that.” He goes on to say that they need to know what happened to her and where her head is at when Shaw comes in angry that John is suggesting she is a double agent. She grabs a patron’s phone and calls, letting Samaritan know where she is to try and lure more agents to an ambush. It works with Reese and Root’s help. They use one of the phones on the Samaritan thugs to find Greer’s hideout. Team Machine takes Greer (John Nolan) to a church to get information out of him and to keep him off Samaritan’s radar.
While searching Greer Shaw discovers a chip hidden in his arm underneath the skin so she digs it out. Finch analyzes it and says it looks like it has the code to shut down Samaritan once it is plugged into a networked device. Finch and Root head off to try it while Reese and Shaw stand watch. While Reese tries to convince Shaw to go get some rest they hear men walking around upstairs in the church. Reese goes up to take care of what sounds like Samaritan goons while Shaw watches Greer. He uses this alone time with her to tell Shaw good job but she needs to stop the charade and let him go. She tells him he’s lucky not to be dead and he laughs telling her it was her idea to put the chip in his arm and that they turned her months ago. Shaw doesn’t want to believe it and has another brain attack. When she comes to, she realizes she has had Greer in the head.
Reese comes back down and Shaw tells him the drive is a trap for Samaritan to find the Machine. Reese and Shaw head out to stop Finch from plugging the drive in. Reese begins to question how Samaritan found them and how did they know they would kidnap Greer. How could they be certain? Reese realizes Shaw isn’t right in the head and that she might be programmed by Samaritan. He tells her he needs her to be calm and more collected before they go find Harold, suggesting they go get a coffee. When John’s back is turned to her – seriously, Reese would never turn his back on a potential threat which is what Shaw is now – Shaw shoots him. Shaw tells Root and Finch that Samaritan operatives just killed John.
Root doubles back and finds Shaw and the two go together to an old rundown park. That’s where Shaw admits to shooting Reese and that she doesn’t know who is controlling her. “Nothing’s safe,” says Shaw and she tells Root that being with her is where she would go in her mind to try to shield herself from the tortures of Samaritan. With tears in her eyes, Shaw takes her gun and shoots herself in the head.
The scene cuts back to the room where Shaw is being kept tied down to a bed going through another simulation created by Greer and Samaritan to try to get Shaw to give up the location of the Machine. She’s unconscious and hooked up to a machine with Greer and another staff member observing. Shaw has gone through 6,741 simulations and every time she kills Greer and herself. That’s right, it was all just a simulation/dream.
Review of Person of Interest Season 5 episode 4:
Suspenseful and intriguing, season five episode four titled “6,741” brought back to the show missing team member Shaw and unfortunately just wasted one of the 13 episodes of this abbreviated final season by not moving the main storyline forward at all. Even though both Sarah Shahi and Amy Acker give stellar, stand-out performances in this episode it basically is the classic “It was all just a dream and nothing you just witnessed actually happened” filler episode.
With only nine episodes left, here’s hoping that the next episode gets the show back on track and begins to build to what should be an exciting and unforgettable showdown between Team Machine and Samaritan.
Ned as Martin and Allison Tolman as Nan in ‘Downward Dog’ (ABC/Bob D’Amico)
ABC’s just announced their schedule for the upcoming 2016-2017 primetime season which will feature nine new shows including Still Star-Crossed, Time After Time, Downward Dog, and American Housewife. The newbies will be joining a lineup that includes returning series Last Man Standing, Scandal, black-ish, How to Get Away with Murder, Modern Family, Once Upon a Time, and The Real O’Neals. The network’s also bringing back the Emmy nominated series American Crime from creator/executive producer John Ridley. When We Rise, a limited series created by Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black (screenplay, Milk), will air during the upcoming season as will the specials Dirty Dancing and Ali: The Champion.
“Our new shows reflect the inclusive and empowering storytelling that defines the ABC brand. We will continue to raise the bar for our audience, investing in great storytellers and reflecting the authentic faces and voices of the world around us,” said Channing Dungey, president, ABC Entertainment Dungey.
ABC’s Primetime Schedule
MONDAY:
8:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars”
10:00 p.m. “Conviction”
TUESDAY:
8:00 p.m. “The Middle” (new day/time)
8:30 p.m. “American Housewife”
9:00 p.m. “Fresh Off the Boat” (new time)
9:30 p.m. “The Real O’Neals” (new time)
10:00 p.m. “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (new time)
SUNDAY:
7:00 p.m. “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
8:00 p.m. “Once Upon a Time”
9:00 p.m. “Secrets and Lies”
10:00 p.m. “Quantico”
NEW FALL AND MIDSEASON SERIES:
CONVICTION – Lawyer and former First Daughter Hayes Morrison (Hayley Atwell, “Marvel’s Agent Carter”) is about to accept a job offered from her sexy nemesis, NY District Attorney Wayne Wallis, to avoid jail time for cocaine possession and avoid hurting her mother’s Senate campaign. Working with his team at the new Conviction Integrity Unit will let her use her brilliant mind to turn over cases, where there is credible suspicion of wrongful conviction, and give her a chance to turn things around with her high-powered political family.
In addition to Atwell, “Conviction” stars Eddie Cahill as Wayne Wallis, Shawn Ashmore as Sam Sullivan, Merrin Dungey as Maxine Barton, Emily Kinney as Tess Thompson, Manny Montana as Franklin “Frankie” Rios and Daniel di Tomasso as Jackson Morrison.
“Conviction” is from The Mark Gordon Company and ABC Studios. “Conviction” is co-created by writer Liz Friedman (“Elementary,” “Marvel’s Jessica Jones”) and director Liz Friedlander (“The Following”). Friedman and Friedlander will executive produce with Mark Gordon (“Criminal Minds,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Saving Private Ryan”) and Nick Pepper.
DESIGNATED SURVIVOR – Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actor Kiefer Sutherland (“24”) returns to primetime in a conspiracy thriller as Tom Kirkman, a lower-level cabinet member who unexpectedly becomes president after a devastating attack on Washington. He will struggle to prevent the country and his own family from falling into chaos, as he is thrust into one of the most difficult presidencies in history.
“Designated Survivor” stars Kiefer Sutherland as Tom Kirkman, Natascha McElhone as Alex Kirkman, Maggie Q as Hannah Watts, Kal Penn as Seth Wheeler, Adan Canto as Aaron Shore, Italia Ricci as Emily Rhodes, LaMonica Garrett as James Ritter, and Tanner Buchanan as Leo Kirkman.
“Designated Survvor” is from The Mark Gordon Company and ABC Studios. David Guggenheim is creator and executive producer. In addition to Guggenheim, the series is executive produced by Simon Kinberg, Kiefer Sutherland, Mark Gordon, Nick Pepper, Suzan Bymel, and Aditya Sood. Paul McGuigan directed the pilot episode.
NOTORIOUS – “Notorious” is inspired by the true-life stories of famed criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos and cable news producer Wendy Walker, who serve as executive producers. The series is a provocative look at the unique, sexy and dangerous interplay of criminal law and the media. Josh Berman (“Blacklist,” “Bones,” “CSI”) is writer and executive producer, and Allie Hagan (“Suri’s Burn Book”) is writer and co-executive producer.
“Notorious” stars Piper Perabo (“Covert Affairs”) as Julia George, Daniel Sunjata (“Graceland”) as Jake Gregorian, Sepideh Moafi as Megan Byrd, Kate Jennings Grant as Louise Herrick, Ryan Guzman as Ryan, Kevin Zegers as Oscar Keaton, J. August Richards as Bradley Gregorian and Aimee Teegarden as Ella Benjamin.
“Notorious” is from Sony Pictures Television and ABC Studios. Michael Engler, Kenny Meiselas, Jeff Kwatinetz and Josh Barry are also executive producers. Michael Engler directed the pilot.
STILL STAR-CROSSED – “Still Star-Crossed,” a period drama from Shondaland, picks up where the famous story of Romeo and Juliet ends, charting the treachery, palace intrigue and ill-fated romances of the Montagues and Capulets in the wake of the young lovers’ tragic fate. The series is based on the book by Melinda Taub.
“Still Star-Crossed” stars Wade Briggs (“Home and Away”) as Benvolio Montague, Anthony Head as Lord Silvestro Capulet, Zuleikha Robinson as Lady Guiliana Capulet, Lashana Lynch as Rosaline, Ebonee Noel as Livia, Sterling Sulieman as Prince Escalus, Medalion Rahimi as Princess Isabella, Grant Bowler as Damiano Montague, Susan Wooldridge as Nurse, Torrance Coombs as Paris and Dan Hildebrand as Friar Lawrence.
Heather Mitchell (“Scandal,” “Grey’s Anatomy”) is writer and executive producer. Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers and Michael Goldstein are executive producers. Michael Offer is executive producer and director of the pilot, from ABC Studios.
TIME AFTER TIME – Based on the novel and movie “Time After Time,” executive producer/writer Kevin Williamson (“The Vampire Diaries,” “Scream” franchise, “Dawson’s Creek”) delivers a fantastical cat and mouse adventure through time when famed science fiction writer H.G. Wells is transported to modern day Manhattan in pursuit of Jack the Ripper. Once H.G. arrives in New York City, he finds a world he never thought possible and a young woman who captivates him.
The series stars Freddie Stroma (“Harry Potter” films) as H.G. Wells, Josh Bowman (“Revenge”) as John Stevenson/Jack the Ripper, Genesis Rodriguez (“Big Hero 6”) as Jane and Regina Taylor (“Dig”) as Vanessa Anders.
“Time After Time” is from Outerbanks Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television. Williamson and Marcos Siega (“Blindspot,” “The Following”) are executive producers. Siega directed the pilot. Williamson wrote the teleplay. “Time After Time” is based on the novel written by Karl Alexander.
AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE – Katie Otto (Katy Mixon, “Mike and Molly”), a confident, unapologetic wife and mother of three, raises her flawed family in the wealthy town of Westport, Connecticut, filled with “perfect” mommies and their “perfect” offspring.
The series stars Katy Mixon as Katie Otto, Diedrich Bader as Jeff Otto, Johnny Sequoyah as Taylor, Daniel DiMaggio as Harrison, Julia Butters as Anna-Kat, Carly Hughes as Angela and Ali Wong as Doris.
“American Housewife” is written by Sarah Dunn (“Spin City,” “Bunheads”) and produced by Kapital Entertainment and ABC Studios. Aaron Kaplan, Rick Weiner and Kenny Schwartz are executive producers. Ruben Fleischer directed and was executive producer of the pilot.
DOWNWARD DOG – Based on the web series, “Downward Dog” is about a struggling millennial, Nan (Emmy-nominated Allison Tolman, “Fargo”), from the point of view of her lonely and philosophical dog, Martin. One session at obedience school already makes them realize that even at their worst they may be the best thing for each other.
The series stars Allison Tolman as Nan, Lucas Neff as Jason, Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Jenn, Barry Rothbart as Kevin and Mo Collins as Kim. Samm Hodges is the voice of Martin.
“Downward Dog” creators/writers Samm Hodges and Michael Killen will executive produce with Mosaic Media Group’s Jimmy Miller and Sam Hansen, and Animal’s Kathy Dziubek. Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky were executive producers of the pilot. The series is from Legendary Television and ABC Studios.
IMAGINARY MARY – Alice (Jenna Elfman, “Dharma & Greg,” “Friends With Benefits,” “EDtv”) is a fiercely independent career woman whose life is turned upside-down when she meets the love of her life – a divorced father with three kids. This triggers even more upheaval when the slightly unhinged imaginary friend she created as a child suddenly reappears to help her navigate the transition from single girl to a woman ready for a family.
The series stars Jenna Elfman as Alice, Stephen Schneider as Ben, Rachel Dratch as Mary (VO), Nicholas Coombe as Andy, Matreya Scarrwener as Dora and Erica Tremblay as Bunny.
The live action/CGI hybrid comes from “The Goldbergs” team Adam F. Goldberg (writer/executive producer), David Guarascio (writer/executive producer) and Doug Robinson (executive producer). Mary CG animation is designed by Patrick Osborne (creator of Academy Award- winning animated short, “The Feast”), who is also executive producer. The pilot was directed by Shawn Levy (“Night at the Museum,” “Cheaper by the Dozen”), who is also executive producer. The series is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television, Happy Madison and ABC Studios.
SPEECHLESS – Maya DiMeo (Minnie Driver, “About a Boy,” “The Riches,” “Good Will Hunting”) is a mom on a mission who will do anything for her husband, Jimmy, and kids Ray, Dylan, and JJ, her eldest son with special needs. As Maya fights injustices both real and imagined, the family works to make a new home for themselves and searches for just the right person to give JJ his “voice.”
“Speechless” stars Minnie Driver as Maya DiMeo, John Ross Bowie (“The Big Bang Theory”) as Jimmy DiMeo, Mason Cook as Ray DiMeo, Micah Fowler as JJ DiMeo, Kyla Kenedy as Dylan DiMeo and Cedric Yarbrough as Kenneth.
Scott Silveri (“Friends”) writes and is executive producer of the show, along with “Fresh Off the Boat”‘s Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar. The series is from Twentieth Century Fox Television and ABC Studios.
LIMITED SERIES, SPECIAL EVENTS
AMERICAN CRIME (Limited Series – Season 3) – Critically acclaimed limited series “American Crime,” nominated for 10 Emmys and winner of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for Regina King, returns for its third season and will feature a new crime committed in a different setting, as told through the eyes of those affected.
The series was created and executive produced by Oscar-winner John Ridley (“12 Years a Slave”). Michael J. McDonald also serves as executive producer. “American Crime” is produced by ABC Studios.
WHEN WE RISE (Limited Series Event) – “When We Rise” chronicles the real-life personal and political struggles, setbacks and triumphs of a diverse family of LGBT men and women who helped pioneer one of the last legs of the U.S. Civil Rights movement from its turbulent infancy in the 20th century to the once unfathomable successes of today.
Written and created by Oscar(R)-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (“Milk,” “Big Love,” “J. Edgar”), the limited series event stars Guy Pearce as LGBT activist Cleve Jones, Mary-Louise Parker as women’s rights leader Roma Guy and Rachel Griffiths as her wife, social justice activist Diane. Also starring are Austin McKenzie as Younger Cleve Jones, Emily Skeggs as Younger Roma Guy, Jonathan Majors as Younger Ken Jones, and Fiona Dourif as Younger Diane.
The miniseries is executive produced by Black, Laurence Mark (“Julie & Julia,””Dreamgirls,””I, Robot,” “Jerry Maguire”), Bruce Cohen (“American Beauty,” “Milk”) and Gus Van Sant (“Good Will Hunting,” “Milk”) for ABC. Van Sant will direct the two-hour premiere of the seven-episode-limited series event. “When We Rise” is from ABC Studios.
DIRTY DANCING – “Dirty Dancing,” the global pop-cultural phenomenon, becomes a three-hour filmed musical event this season on the ABC Television Network. An adaptation of the beloved 1987 romantic drama and instant music classic, “Dirty Dancing” will be produced by Lionsgate Television in association with Allison Shearmur Productions, executive produced by Allison Shearmur (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” “The Hunger Games” franchise; “Cinderella”); Eleanor Bergstein, who wrote the screenplay for the original movie; and Grammy Award-nominee Adam Anders (“Glee,” “Rock of Ages”), who also serves as executive music producer. Wayne Blair (“The Sapphires,” “Septembers of Shiraz”) is the director, and Andy Blankenbuehler (“Hamilton,” “Bring It On,” “In the Heights”) is the choreographer.
“Dirty Dancing” stars Abigail Breslin as Baby, Debra Messing as Marjorie Houseman, Bruce Greenwood as Dr. Jake Houseman, Nicole Scherzinger as Penny, Colt Prattes as Johnny, Sarah Hyland as Lisa Houseman, Tony Roberts as Max Kellerman, Trevor Einhorn as Neil, Shane Harper as Robbie Gould, J. Quinton Johnson as Marco, Beau “Casper” Smart as Billy, Katey Sagal as Vivian Pressman and Billy Dee Williams as Tito.
UNTITLED DAVID BLAINE – David Blaine returns to ABC for his final primetime special to follow-up his critically acclaimed ratings smash “David Blaine: Real or Magic,” with a groundbreaking new primetime event. The special reunites Blaine with Emmy Award-winning director Matthew Akers, who helmed “David Blaine: Real or Magic,” and is executive produced by David Blaine, along with Justin Wilkes and Dave O’Connor for Radical Media.
ALI: THE CHAMPION (working title) – An athlete, a humanitarian, and a civil rights activist, Muhammad Ali will be honored for his goodwill efforts that have impacted individuals from different walks of life around the world. In a new, two-hour special featuring live musical performances, his closest friends and contemporaries, admirers come together to celebrate the man who’s known the world over as simply The Greatest. The project is executive produced by Ron Weisner.
Frankie J. Alvarez, Jonathan Groff, and Murray Bartlett in ‘Looking’ (Photo: Richard Foreman / HBO)
The promised conclusion to the series Looking now has a premiere date and plot synopsis. Looking: The Movie will air on Saturday, July 23, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT and will provide closure to fans of the three friends played by Jonathan Groff (Frozen, Glee), Frankie J. Alvarez, and Murray Bartlett. The series ran on HBO for two seasons but was not picked up for a third. Instead, the hour and a half movie will wrap up the series.
The conclusion to Looking was written by Andrew Haigh and Michael Lannan. Haigh directed and also executive produced along with Michael Lannan and Sarah Condon.
The Plot:Looking: The Movie wraps up the story of three close friends living in San Francisco who explore the options available to a new generation of gay men seeking fulfillment in love and life. In the film, Patrick (Groff) returns to the city for the first time in almost a year to celebrate a momentous event with his old friends. In the process, he must face the unresolved relationships he left behind and make difficult choices about what’s important to him.
The first trailer’s arrived for Buddymoon starring Grimm co-stars David Giuntoli and Claire Coffee along with Flula Borg. The twisted comedy was written and executive produced by Giuntoli, Borg, and Alex Simmons, and also features Brian T. Finney and Jeanne Syquia. Buddymoon will premiere simultaneously on demand and in theaters on July 1, 2016.
The Plot: David (Giuntoli) is left by his fiancé days before the wedding, and Flula (Borg), his eccentrically upbeat best man, insists that they go on David’s honeymoon together: a backpacking trip through Oregon’s scenic mountains. Prepare to laugh when the pair crosses paths with a dazed conspiracy theorist, an attractively charming backpacker (Coffee), and a bloodthirsty predator (an actual wolf) who all partake in a trek that tests their friendship – and their lives.
