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PBS Announces Its Winter and Spring Schedule

By
Rebecca Murray
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Downton Abbey Season 6
ELIZABETH MCGOVERN, ROBERT JAMES-COLLIER, LAURA CARMICHAEL, MICHAEL FOX, and KEVIN DOYLE in ‘Downton Abbey’ (Photo © Nick Briggs / Carnival Film & Television Limited 2015 for MASTERPIECE)

Downton Abbey fans will have one final chance to visit with the estate’s upstairs and downstairs residents when season six premieres on January 3, 2016. PBS’ winter and spring 2016 primetime lineup also includes the premiere of the Civil War drama Mercy Street starring Josh Radnor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. The network’s released their full schedule of shows airing from January 2016 through May 2016 along with premiere dates, air times, and plots.

“As Downton Abbey on MASTERPIECE premieres its highly anticipated final season, we bid a fond farewell to the fan favorite and also look forward to a powerhouse of drama throughout the entire season – including our new original American drama MERCY STREET, MASTERPIECE mysteries Sherlock and Grantchester, and the fifth season of CALL THE MIDWIFE,” said Beth Hoppe, PBS Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, General Audience Programming. “Beyond the season’s strong drama lineup, our schedule showcases PBS’ commitment to a diverse programming slate, highlighted by Stanley Nelson’s THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION from INDEPENDENT LENS, Ken Burns’s new epic film JACKIE ROBINSON and Henry Louis Gates, Jr.’s BLACK AMERICA SINCE MLK: AND STILL I RISE, as well as captivating new and returning specials across science and nature, biography, history, genealogy and the arts.”

JANUARY ON PBS:

GREAT PERFORMANCES “From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2016” – The Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of Mariss Jansons performs favorite Strauss Family waltzes at the opulent Musikverein accompanied by the Vienna City Ballet. Stage and screen legend Julie Andrews returns as host, touring the picturesque city. – Friday, January 1, 2:30-4:00 p.m. and 7:30-9:00 p.m. ET

MASTERPIECE “Downton Abbey, The Final Season” – The top PBS drama of all time approaches its climactic chapter. The year is 1925. Momentous changes threaten the great house, and its owners and its servants, while past scandals loom. The beloved ensemble is back for the farewell season, closing the book on a television legend. – Sundays, January 3 – February 21, 9:00 p.m. ET; series finale March 6, 9:00 p.m. ET

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW – On Monday, January 4, ANTIQUES ROADSHOW turns 20! PBS’ most-watched ongoing series celebrates 20 seasons with a new look, new hidden treasures and more appraisals than ever. Tune in to discover finds from Spokane, Washington; Tucson, Arizona; Little Rock, Arkansas; Charleston, South Carolina; Cleveland, Ohio; and Omaha, Nebraska. – Mondays, beginning January 4, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET


INDEPENDENT LENS “Chuck Norris vs. Communism” – The power of cinema ignited a revolution in 1980s Romania, as an intrepid VHS bootlegger and a brave translator brought Western movies to audiences behind the Iron Curtain. – Monday, January 4, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET

FINDING YOUR ROOTS – The third season continues its exploration of America’s family tree to reveal how our diverse racial, religious and ethnic backgrounds challenge many of our long-held national myths. Hosted and written by Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., this new season features 28 new guests, including Julianne Moore, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Senator John McCain, Norman Lear, Shonda Rhimes and others. – Tuesdays, January 5-March 8, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET

FRONTLINE “Obama, Netanyahu and the Bomb” (w.t.) – In a two-hour investigation, FRONTLINE traces the increasingly contentious relationship between America and Israel and their bitter clash over Iran’s nuclear program. – Tuesday, January 5, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET

INDEPENDENT LENS “Autism in Love” – Follow four adults on the autism spectrum as they open up about their personal lives and navigate dating and romantic relationships. Eye-opening, first-person portrayals show that love can find a way. – Monday, January 11, 10:00 p.m.-11:30 p.m. ET

“The Mine Wars” on AMERICAN EXPERIENCE – Go inside the coal miners’ bitter battle for dignity at the dawn of the 20th century. The struggle over the material that fueled America led to the largest armed insurrection since the Civil War and turned parts of West Virginia into a bloody war zone. – Tuesday, January 12, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET

NATURE “Natural Born Hustlers” – Visit with the planet’s greatest animal hustlers. Meet the shape shifters, mimics, masters of disguise and illusion, cheats and sneaks in the animal world. From double-crossing cuttlefish to shady squirrels, bearded lady lions and criminal monkeys, this series reveals the modus operandi of remarkable animals going to elaborate lengths to claw their way to the top. – Wednesdays, January 13-27, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET

“Staying Alive” (1/13) – Every day, animals must outwit predators, find or catch food, and then raise the next generation. Would they lie, cheat or steal from one another to survive? Of course they would.

“The Hunger Hustle” (1/20) – Animals the world over have adapted their bodies or behavior in extreme ways to create a tantalizing trap. It’s all the result of millions of years of artful adaptation – all in the name of luring in the next meal.

“Sex, Lies & Dirty Tricks” (1/27) – From artful illusions to blatant cheats, some males will do whatever it takes to trick the competition and beguile the girl. Size, style, and skill are all used to best advantage – or faked, if necessary.

“Bonnie & Clyde” on AMERICAN EXPERIENCE – Discover the true story of the most famous outlaw couple in U.S. history. Though their exploits were romanticized, the Barrow gang was believed responsible for at least 13 murders, including two policemen, as well as numerous robberies and kidnappings. – Tuesday, January 19, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET

WILLIE NELSON: GERSHWIN PRIZE – Rosanne Cash, Edie Brickell, Paul Simon, Alison Krauss, Raul Malo, Neil Young and more pay tribute to singer and songwriter Willie Nelson, the 2015 recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Nelson’s lyrics give voice to America’s heartland and his music pushes genre boundaries. – Friday, January 15, 9:00-10:30 p.m. ET

MERCY STREET – Follow a diverse cast of characters – doctors, nurses, contraband laborers and Southern loyalists – who intersect in the chaotic world of Union-occupied Alexandria, Virginia, and the Mansion House Hospital in the early years of the Civil War. Starring Josh Radnor, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Gary Cole, Peter Gerety and Norbert Leo Butz. – Sundays, January 17-February 21, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET; rpt. Thursdays, January 21-February 25, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET

GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET “Il Trovatore” – Verdi’s classic opera stars Anna Netrebko in her Met role debut as Leonora. Dmitri Hvorostovsky sings Count di Luna, with Yonghoon Lee as lead character Manrico, Štefan Kocán as Ferrando and Dolora Zajick as the gypsy Azucena. – Friday, January 22, 9:00p.m.-12:00 a.m. ET

INDEPENDENT LENS “No Más Bebés (No More Babies)” – Follow the case of Mexican-American women who claim they were coercively sterilized at a Los Angeles hospital in the late 1960s and 1970s. Meet the mothers, their young Chicana lawyers and the whistle-blowing doctors who exposed the shocking practice. – Monday, January 25, 10:00-11:00 pm ET

MIKE NICHOLS: AMERICAN MASTERS – Meet one of America’s late, great directors (The Graduate, Angels in America), who discusses his life and 50-year artistic career, from the comedy duo Nichols and May to his final film, Charlie Wilson’s War. The program includes new interviews with Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks and more. – Friday, January 29, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET

FEBRUARY ON PBS:

INDEPENDENT LENS “In Football We Trust” – Learn the story behind the Polynesian pipeline to the NFL through the lives of high-school players in Utah, as they enter the high-stakes world of college recruiting and the promise of pro sports while struggling with gang violence and poverty. – Monday, February 1, 10:00 p.m.-11:30 p.m. ET

“Murder of a President” on AMERICAN EXPERIENCE – Explore James Garfield’s unprecedented rise to power, his shooting by a madman and its bizarre and tragic aftermath. Based on the best-seller Destiny of the Republic, the story follows the life of one of the most extraordinary men ever elected president. – Tuesday, February 2, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET

NOVA “Iceman Reborn” (w.t.) – Murdered more than 5,000 years ago, Otzi the Iceman is the oldest human mummy on Earth. Now, newly discovered evidence sheds light not only on this mysterious ancient man, but on the dawn of civilization in Europe. – Wednesday, February 3, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET

INDEPENDENT LENS “A Ballerina’s Tale” – Explore the rise of Misty Copeland, who made history as the first African-American female principal dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theater. Get an intimate look at this groundbreaking dancer during a crucial period in her life. – Monday, February 8, 10:00 p.m.-11:30 p.m. ET

NOVA “Robots are Coming” (w.t.) – Machines with human-like capabilities have long been the stuff of science fiction. Until now. Meet the world’s most advance humanoid robots as they leave the lab, battle real-world challenges and endeavor to become part of our everyday lives. – Wednesday, February 10, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET

INDEPENDENT LENS “(T)ERROR” – Watch a covert terrorism sting unfold as a longtime counterterrorism informant takes on what he swears is his last job for the FBI and invites filmmakers to follow efforts to befriend a suspected jihadist, without informing his superiors. – Monday, February 15, 10:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. ET

NOVA “Memory” (w.t.) – Discover how researchers on the cutting edge of mind-control can implant, change and even erase memories. On this thought-provoking journey into the mind, NOVA investigates the mysterious nature of how we remember. – Wednesday, February 17, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET

AMERICAN MASTERS “Carole King: Natural Woman” (w.t.) – Delve into the hit singer-songwriter’s life and career from 1960s in New York to the music mecca of 70s LA to the present. King joins collaborators and family in new interviews, while rare home movies, performances and photos complete the tapestry. – Friday, February 19, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET

THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION: INDEPENDENT LENS – Revisit the turbulent 1960s, when a revolutionary culture emerged with the Black Panther Party at its vanguard. Stanley Nelson tells the vibrant story of a pivotal movement that feels timely all over again. – Tuesday, February 23, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET

AMERICAN MASTERS “Janis: Little Girl Blue” – Observe Janis Joplin’s life through intimate letters and rare footage in the first in-depth celebration of the iconic rock singer. Director Amy Berg presents a portrait of a complicated, driven, often beleaguered artist. Chan Marshall narrates. – Friday, February 26, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET

INDEPENDENT LENS “Wilhelmina’s War” – A Southern grandmother struggles to help her family through a life marked by HIV, but may be unable to save those she loves. AIDS is a grim reality and a leading cause of death for black women in the rural south. – Monday, February 29, 10:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. ET

MARCH ON PBS:

AMERICAN MASTERS “Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl” – Explore the country legend’s hard-fought road to stardom. From her Appalachian roots to the Oscar-winning biopic of her life, Coal Miner’s Daughter, Lynn struggled to balance family and her music career and is still going strong after nearly 60 years. – Friday, March 4, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET

MASTERPIECE “Mr. Selfridge, Season 4” – Jeremy Piven returns for a fourth and final season as the flamboyant American entrepreneur who founded London’s famous Selfridge’s department store. The acclaimed cast includes Katherine Kelly, Amanda Abbington and Tom Goodman-Hill. – Sundays, March/April, dates TBA

FRONTLINE “Once Upon a Crime” (w.t.) – The two-hour extraordinary story of two New York City detectives who are convicted of the sensational murder of a businessman – and their decades-long fight to clear their names. – Tuesday, March 29, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET

APRIL ON PBS:

CALL THE MIDWIFE, Season 5 – It’s 1961 and Poplar is beginning to feel the winds of social change, along with improvements in housing, sanitation and healthcare. In new episodes, the midwives and nuns of Nonnatus House encounter complex and challenging cases, from an outbreak of typhoid to the increase in lung cancer, a pregnant teenager and a mother who vanishes. All are shaken when, several months apart, two babies are born with severe deformities. As they struggle to understand why, they must find ways to deal with the resulting medical and emotional fallout. – Sundays, April 3-May 22, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET

JACKIE ROBINSON – Ken Burns examines the life and times of Jack Roosevelt Robinson, who in 1947 lifted a nation and an entire race on his shoulders when he crossed baseball’s color line. Burns reveals fascinating stories about the legend’s life after baseball. – Monday-Tuesday, April 11-12, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET

BLACK AMERICA SINCE MLK: AND STILL I RISE – Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the last 50 years of African-American history, from the victories of the Civil Rights Movement to the first black president, asking profound questions about the state of black America – and the nation as a whole. – Monday-Tuesday, April 18-19, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET

THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA’S BEST IDEA (Encore) – The six-part documentary directed by Ken Burns and co-produced with his longtime colleague Dayton Duncan is the story of an idea as uniquely American as the Declaration of Independence and just as radical: that the most special places in the nation should be preserved, not for royalty or the rich, but for everyone. The series originally aired in September 2013. – Monday-Saturday, April 25-30, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET

MASTERPIECE “Grantchester, Season 2” – The whiskey-drinking and jazz-loving vicar Sidney Chambers (James Norton) returns alongside his friend and veteran cop Inspector Geordie Keating (Robson Green) for a second season of crime solving in the small country parish of Grantchester. – Sundays, April/May, dates TBA

MAY ON PBS:

INDEPENDENT LENS “Peace Officer” – Dub Lawrence is a crusading former sheriff whose investigations highlight the increasingly militarized state of American police. He established Utah’s first SWAT team, only to see that same unit kill his son-in-law in a controversial standoff. – Monday, May 9, 9:00-10:30 p.m. ET

INDEPENDENT LENS “The Armor of Light” – Two Christians – an Evangelical anti-abortion activist and an African-American mother whose son was murdered – find common ground in the fight against a rising tide of gun violence. – Tuesday, May 10, 9:00-10:30 p.m. ET

GENEALOGY ROADSHOW – A diverse cast of participants takes an emotional journey that uses history and science to uncover fascinating family stories, histories and mysteries from Boston, Providence, Miami, Houston, Los Angeles and one city TBD. Each individual’s past reveals a piece of America’s rich cultural tapestry. – Tuesdays, beginning May 17, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET

THE NINE MONTHS THAT MADE YOU (w.t.) – This is the thrilling story of how we were all made, from the moment of conception to the moment of birth 280 days later. The film takes viewers through the gestation process, perhaps the most exquisite biological choreography in all nature. – Wednesdays, May 18-June 1, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET

AMERICAN MASTERS “The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End” (w.t.) – Discover the story behind the pioneering outlaw country music super group that featured Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson, told through vintage performances and new interviews about life on the road and in the studio. – Friday, May 27, 9:00 p.m. ET

NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT – Co-hosts Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna lead the 27th broadcast of this night of remembrance honoring the service and sacrifice of American soldiers, their families, and all those who have given their lives. The NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT airs live from the U.S. Capitol to an audience of hundreds of thousands, millions at home, and American troops around the world. – Sunday, May 29, 2016, 8:00-9:30 pm ET; 9:30-11:00 p.m. ET

Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley Reunite in ‘Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie’

By
Rebecca Murray
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Absolutely Fabulous Movie Joanna Lumley Jennifer Saunders
Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders star in ‘Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie’

It’s really happening…Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders are reprising their roles as Patsy and Edina in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie. Filming is now underway on the Fox Searchlight Pictures and BBC Films project, with Saunders penning the script and Mandie Fletcher (Blackadder, Absolutely Fabulous) directing.


Filming will take place in France and the U.K., and fans of Ab Fab can expect to see the film in theaters in 2016.

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie also stars Julia Sawalha as Saffy, Jane Horrocks as Bubble, and June Whitfield as Mother. Saunders, Steve Milne, Christian Eisenbeiss, Christine Langan, Nichola Martin, Dawn French, and Maureen Vincent are executive producing.

“I am thrilled and excited to finally start filming. We are all taking our medication and hoping for the best,” stated Saunders.

“We’re so happy to join Jennifer, Joanna and the Absolutely Fabulous team on their latest and greatest adventures!” said Claudia Lewis, Fox Searchlight Pictures President of Production.

The Plot:

Appropriate for their big screen debut, Edina and Patsy are still oozing glitz and glamour, living the high life they are accustomed to; shopping, drinking and clubbing their way around London’s trendiest hotspots. Blamed for a major incident at an uber fashionable launch party, they become entangled in a media storm and are relentlessly pursued by the paparazzi. Fleeing penniless to the glamorous playground of the super-rich, the French Riviera, they hatch a plan to make their escape permanent and live the high life forever more!

In true Ab Fab style, the cast will be joined by a host of A-list stars from the acting, music and fashion worlds.

‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Trailer – Familiar Faces & ‘Star Wars’ Newbies

By
Rebecca Murray
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Star Wars The Force Awakens Daisy Ridley BB-8
BB-8 and Rey (played by Daisy Ridley) in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ (Photo by David James © Lucasfilm 2015)

You can bet there were people tuning into Monday Night Football on October 19, 2015 who normally wouldn’t be into watching the NFL, just to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens‘ full trailer. Disney and Lucasfilm announced the trailer’s premiere a day in advance, building up the anticipation for what Star Wars fans hoped would be a trailer full of clues about new characters as well as the return of familiar faces including Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher. Star Wars fans weren’t disappointed as the new full-length trailer provided clips with new characters played by Daisy Ridley and John Boyega as well as a glimpse of Han Solo, Princess Leia, R2D2, and Chewbacca.


Directed by J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: The Force Awakens also features Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Mark Hamill, Peter Mayhew and Max Von Sydow.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in theaters on December 18, 2015.

Watch the trailer:

‘The Royals’ Season Two Premiere Date Announced

By
Rebecca Murray
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Royals Season 2 William Moseley Elizabeth Hurtley Mark Schwahn Photo
William Moseley, Creator Mark Schwahn and Elizabeth Hurley (Photo by: Kevin Plunkett / E! Entertainment)

E! will be bringing back The Royals for a second season starting on November 15, 2015 at 10pm ET/PT, as just announced by the network. E!’s original scripted series stars Elizabeth Hurley, William Moseley, and Alexandra Park as the hard-partying fictional British Royal family.

Season two will also feature Tom Austen, Oliver Milburn, Jake Maskall, Lydia Rose Bewley, Andrew Bicknell, Victoria Ekanoye, Poppy Corby-Tuech, Simon Thomas, and Scott Maslen. And Dame Joan Collins is confirmed to reprise her role as Grand Duchess of Oxford for four episodes of the second season.

Mark Schwahn writes, directs and executive produces the dramatic series, with Brian Robbins and Joe Davola also involved as executive producers.

The Plot:

The second season picks up eight weeks after the tragic murder of King Simon (Vincent Regan) by an unknown assailant. Cyrus, Simon’s arrogant brother, has taken the throne after deeming the Prince and Princess illegitimate, with the help of the Queen to fabricate the paternity results.

While Cyrus is convinced the Queen is on his side, her majesty has her own agenda in mind: change the succession of the Royal Family and make the power shift to the Queen if anything should happen to yet another King. Meanwhile, Liam vows to bring his father’s murderer to justice and teams up with an unlikely ally to do so, the duplicitous bodyguard Jasper who had been relieved from his duties after sleeping with both the Princess and the Queen, and had once been considered a prime suspect in the King’s attack that led to his death.

However, the two young men, who are both working to mend their respective broken hearts, have bonded over their mutual concern for the Princess’ well-being and seek to bring a common enemy to justice.

While King Cyrus struggles to win over a country of people who despise him due to his inability to relate and general disdain for common society, Eleanor sinks further into despair as she searches to have a real connection with anyone despite her seemingly fairytale life as a princess. Her bodyguard blackmailed her and slept with her mother, her brother is locked in a vengeful tunnel vision, her mother just revealed her father isn’t who she thought, the new King hates her, and the only person who ever believed in her was murdered with the last words he spoke to her being of his disappointment.

Now, Eleanor finds solace in excessive amounts of booze, drugs and random sex, while still trying to navigate through the murky waters of real romance. Not since Marie Antoinette has there been so much anarchy in the monarchy.




Filming Begins on ‘Zookeeper’s Wife’ with Jessica Chastain

By
Rebecca Murray
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Jessica Chastain Smiling Photo
Jessica Chastain (Photo by Richard Chavez)

Diane Ackerman’s The Zookeeper’s Wife has been adapted for the screen by Angela Workman (War Bride) and filming is now underway in the Czech Republic on the feature film. Jessica Chastain is starring in the drama based on Antonina Zabinski’s diaries and directed by Niki Caro (North Country, Whale Rider).


Focus Features is set to release The Zookeeper’s Wife domestically while Universal Pictures International will distribute the film in the U.K., France, Germany, Scandinavia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.

The Plot:

The Zookeeper’s Wife dramatizes a real-life story of heroism. The time is 1939. The place is Poland, homeland of Antonina Żabiński (Chastain) and her husband, Dr. Jan Żabiński (Johan Heldenbergh). The Warsaw Zoo flourishes under Jan’s stewardship and Antonina’s care. When their country is invaded by the Nazis, Jan and Antonina are forced to report to the Reich’s newly appointed chief zoologist, Lutz Heck (Daniel Brühl). The Żabińskis covertly begin working with the Resistance – and put into action plans to save the lives of hundreds from what has become the Warsaw Ghetto, with Antonina putting herself and her children at great risk.

The cast also includes Michael McElhatton, Iddo Goldberg, Goran Kostic, Shira Haas, and Efrat Dor.

‘The Walking Dead’ Season 6 Episode 2 Recap and Review – Just Survive Somehow

By
Kevin Finnerty
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The Walking Dead Season 6 Melissa McBride
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier in ‘The Walking Dead’ Season 6, Episode 2 (Photo Credit: Gene Page / AMC)

“You keep choosing this life, you will die,” says Morgan (Lennie James) to one of the killers who mark themselves with W’s on their foreheads and call themselves Wolves. “We didn’t choose,” replies the Wolf as he quickly leaves the compound but not before taking a discarded handgun in the second episode of season six of AMC’s horror/drama series The Walking Dead.


The massive group of hungry walkers that Rick (Andrew Lincoln), Glenn (Steven Yeun), Daryl (Norman Reedus), Michonne (Danai Gurira), and the others were leading away from the town of Alexandria have turned towards it after hearing a loud horn continuously blaring at the end of the last episode. Episode two titled “Just Survive Somehow” begins by focusing on Enid’s (Katelyn Nacon) past, on how she lost her parents to a group of walkers, found a way to survive in the woods on her own avoiding hungry zombies, and fed on small living things (including a turtle) for weeks before coming across Alexandria. During that time Enid kept making the letters JSS on car windows and in the dirt almost obsessively.

Flash forward to Alexandria with the residents going about their normal business making dinner, patrolling, going for walks, etc, when Carol (Melissa McBride) sees her neighbor getting bludgeoned to death by one of the Wolves. It seems a group of the Wolves have invaded Alexandria with the intent to murder, steal, and take hostages. Carol doesn’t hesitate; she quickly grabs a knife and heads to Rick and Carl’s house to check on them and tell Carl (Chandler Riggs) what’s happening. Carl locks himself inside with his baby sister and swears to protect her.

Meanwhile, Morgan has made it back to Alexandria just in time to get involved in the fight and takes on one of the bigger killers. Just as the Wolf seems to be getting the better of Morgan in the fight, a cloaked figure quickly comes up from behind and stabs the Wolf to death with a huge knife. Morgan, both surprised and annoyed because he believes he could have won the fight without killing the hulking man, is surprised once again when the masked figure turns out to be Carol who’s in disguise and has put a bloody W on her forehead so the Wolves will believe she’s one of them. Carol tells Morgan they need to get to the armory and load up with guns before the Wolves find it. The Wolves don’t have guns, just knives, machetes, and axes.

Back at Rick’s, Carl is just about to shoot a shadow near the front door when he sees it’s Enid. He tells her to get in and be quiet. She tries to tell him she only came to say goodbye to which Carl tells her to sit down and keep an eye on the front door and to let him know if she sees anyone. Enid does as she is told. As Carl and Enid sit with their backs to each other watching the two main entrances to the house, Carl says, “And don’t tell me goodbye,” to which Enid replies, “All right, I won’t.”

During the killing strike at Alexandria, Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Deanna (Tovah Feldshuh) were outside the walls going over new areas for farming and growing crops. They come running back but Deanna knows she doesn’t know how to fight and admits to Maggie she’ll just be someone else who needs to be saved. Maggie turns to her son, Spencer (Austin Nichols), who just a few minutes before almost got bit by a walker while trying to get the walker out of a crashed truck and off the truck’s stuck horn (eureka! that’s why the horn went off when Rick and the others were trying to lead the massive group of walkers away from the town) and tells him to keep Deanna safe. Spencer puts Deanna in the very same truck which is now quiet thanks to Morgan coming along, killing a walker, and turning off the horn.

Meanwhile, at Jessie’s (Alexandra Breckenridge) home a Wolf breaks in and manages to wrestle Jesse’s gun away from her. But when the Wolf goes to get it, Jesse attacks her with a pair of scissors, screaming and stabbing her over and over again while her whinny, useless older son watches in shock.

Carol finally reaches the armory after discarding four more Wolves, gets loaded handguns, and gives them to Morgan, Maggie, and Father Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) to use. She hurries off to take out more Wolves and Maggie does the same. Gabriel looks down at the gun in his hand and says to Morgan, who just saved him moments ago from a wolf, “I’m not very good with guns,” to which Morgan replies, “Neither am I,” as he hands the handgun Carol gave him to Gabriel and walks off.

Walking Dead Lance Tafelski and Lennie James
Lance Tafelski as Horseshoe Mustache Wolf and Lennie James as Morgan Jones in ‘The Walking Dead’ (Photo Credit: Gene Page / AMC)

Morgan comes across a group of Wolves led by one of the men he beat up with his mighty staff. He tells him to leave and that his friends have guns and the Wolves don’t. Morgan takes down four of the Wolves with his staff and tells the leader he has seconds before they open fire. Believing the bluff, the lead Wolf runs off with a few of his comrades and leaves Alexandria but not before he picks up a discarded handgun and looks back at Morgan and smiles.

Morgan, checking out a house that looks to be empty, gets tackled by a Wolf who was left behind. As the two fight, the Wolf realizes Morgan doesn’t have it in him to kill. Fight, yes, but kill, no, which he says to Morgan. Feeling as though he can’t lose, the Wolf gets a second wind and tries again to kill Morgan who finally puts him down but not before saying he’s sorry.

The episode ends with Carol and Morgan checking on the wounded and dead and with Carl realizing Enid is gone and has left him a note which reads, “Just Survive Somehow.”

Brutal, shocking, and full of violence, The Walking Dead season six’s second episode titled “Just Survive Somehow” ups the action and violence with the citizens of Alexandria being attacked and murdered by the vicious people known as the Wolves. It’s this episode where once again Melissa McBride shines as Carol, the tough, no nonsense, do whatever is necessary to survive, member of Rick’s group who is mostly responsible for stopping the Wolves from killing everyone in Alexandria. She makes Charlize Theron in the film Mad Max: Fury Road seem like a pushover the way she cons the residents into believing she’s just a simple ex-housewife and good cook and then comes out wielding knives and firing guns killing most of the invading Wolves. The fact this actress has been denied an Emmy nomination is truly criminal.

Lennie James also delivers a stand-out performance as Morgan, the experienced fighter with his staff who’s completely willing to take on the invaders but is still hesitant to take a human life, especially once the opponent is down and beaten. It’s obvious Morgan is now the moral compass of Rick’s group and that’s concerning because usually the characters who become the voice of reason, aka Dale and Hershel, don’t make it. One difference in Morgan’s situation is that he is armed and trained to fight where the other moral compasses of the group were not.

The special effects, sets, and action scenes are all first-rate and the pacing and direction of the episode is both tense and suspenseful. This is perhaps one of the most thrilling episodes in the run of the series.

With a massive herd of hungry walkers headed to Alexandria and only Rick and his small band of friends between them and the already shocked and overwhelmed town, here’s looking forward to another terrifying and possibly gory episode next Sunday night.

GRADE: B+

‘Once Upon a Time’ Season 5 Episode 4 Recap, Review: The Broken Kingdom

By
Rebecca Murray
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Once Upon a Time Josh Dallas and Ginnifer Goodwin
Josh Dallas and Ginnifer Goodwin in ‘Once Upon a Time’ season five episode four (Photo by Jack Rowand / ABC)

The battle to keep Emma from turning into the Dark One continued with episode four, season five of ABC’s Once Upon a Time which aired on October 18, 2015. The fourth episode of the season also revealed much more about King Arthur and Queen Guinevere’s relationship as well as why Lancelot was pretending to be dead all these years. “The Broken Kingdom” also found Hook doing his best to keep Emma occupied so she wouldn’t have time to think about Rumplestiltskin.

Recap of Season Five’s Fourth Episode:

We start off the episode with Arthur and Guinevere as kids. Merlin’s trapped inside the tree and Arthur tells Guinevere about the prophesy of Excalibur, and he promises to give her flowers every year on her birthday (yes, that will be important later in the episode). Bigger kids tease Arthur about the sword prophesy and warn him that no one will ever kneel to the boy who cleans the stables. But Guinevere makes him feel better by assuring him that she believes he will some day find the sword, if he follows his heart.

Fast forward to when he removes the broken sword from the stone. Arthur (Liam Garrigan) and his knights race back with Excalibur but he doesn’t tell the kingdom that the sword is broken, only showing off the top half and leaving the break concealed in his scabbard. Guinevere senses something’s wrong and Arthur says his quest has only just begun.


David (Josh Dallas) joins Arthur at the Round Table, and Arthur reveals the sword is broken and that the missing piece is the dagger of the Dark One. Arthur believes that with the dagger they wouldn’t need Merlin and could reforge Excalibur and destroy the Dark One on their own.

At Camelot, Rumple (Robert Carlyle) leads Emma (Jennifer Morrison), who was sitting in front of dreamcatchers, to a strange noise. It’s the dagger and Rumple wants her to shatter the spell Regina (Lana Parrilla) put on it and save herself. She tells him to get out of her head, but it’s Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) who actually appears in the doorway. She hugs Hook, telling him Rumple’s always there.

The gang assembles in Regina’s room in Camelot and Emma is awake but unresponsive. David rushes in and tells Mary Margaret (Ginnifer Goodwin) that if they give the dagger to Arthur, he will help them. But Mary Margaret says no way; Arthur’s not trustworthy according to Lancelot. They all believe Lancelot is dead, but Mary Margaret lets them know he’s just hiding out.

Regina says Emma needs somewhere quiet to recuperate, and Henry and Hook take her away. Regina then lets David and Mary Margaret know that Emma must have been in her room looking for the dagger, and David’s still dead-set on giving the dagger to Arthur. Mary Margaret, with fire in her eyes, says no. They argue about Lancelot – who married them – but David’s upset with Lancelot for falling in love with Arthur’s wife, Guinevere (Joana Metrass). Mary Margaret thinks David is starstruck by meeting a king and that he’s not to tell Arthur anything until they know what’s up.

Five years earlier, Arthur is studying up on Excalibur. He’s translating a scroll and has figured out how to find the dagger, but doesn’t know what the symbols Star + Eye + Sun mean. It’s a maddening riddle, says Arthur, but Guinevere wants him to take a break and dance with her at her birthday party. Arthur doesn’t show up, but Lancelot does. She’s upset and dances with Lancelot. Guinevere’s worried because Arthur’s not building a kingdom and instead is locked up in a room all day looking for clues on Excalibur. Flowers are sprinkled and the crowd claps, but Guinevere knows Lancelot actually planned the party and remembered the flowers.

Arthur finally shows up at the party, but he only wants to talk about the dagger. It’s a day’s journey away, he believes, and leaves Lancelot there to protect the queen.

Back in Camelot five years later, David goes back to the Round Table. David confesses to Arthur the real reason the Storybrooke gang is in Camelot. He says he’ll do anything to destroy the darkness and tells Arthur they are going to restore Excalibur tonight… Mary Margaret is not going to take this well!

Arthur’s happy to learn the truth and promises he’ll help David get rid of the darkness inside Emma. Then the ever-trusting David goes ahead and tells Arthur Lancelot is alive. David, David, David, what are you thinking?!

Five years earlier, Lancelot finds Guinevere sneaking out in the dead of night. She broke into Merlin’s tower and took his gauntlet and she’s going to use it to find the dagger, even though Arthur would never do that. She’s going to finish the quest and Lancelot says he’ll join her.

Guinevere puts on the gauntlet, goes into the woods, finds the Dark One’s vault with the symbols from Arthur’s scroll, presses them, it opens and black liquid oozes, and a stairwell is revealed. They venture down and Lancelot is attacked. Guinevere saves him and they passionately kiss. She apologizes and says it won’t happen again. He agrees.

Five years later, Arthur tells David he wants the news that Lancelot lives to be kept a secret. However, Guinevere overhears and wants to know where he is so she can make him pay for his actions. David thinks they’re both equally guilty of infidelity, but Guinevere has a different story to tell. “If Lancelot is in Camelot, then that dagger isn’t safe anywhere,” says Arthur. David says he brought it with him, Arthur and Guinevere exchange looks, but the box it was in is empty.

Mary Margaret goes to Granny’s Diner to talk to Lancelot. She needs his help and tells him they have to hide the dagger.

Henry (Jared Gilmore) and Hook bring Emma to a quiet, out of the way stable that Violet’s family owns. Hook’s overjoyed to hear about this girl Henry has a crush on, but Emma can’t believe he lied about his feelings to his mom who happens to be the Dark One. Hook wants to know what’s going on with her, and Emma tells him she’s seeing and talking to Rumple in her head all the time. She even sees him as she’s telling Hook about this. Hook’s battled demons in his head and purged them by sailing the Jolly Roger, and he thinks getting Emma’s heart racing on a horse might be just the ticket to ridding her – for now – of Rumple’s presence.

Lancelot (Sinqua Walls) and Mary Margaret walk through the woods and she wants to know about his relationship with Guinevere. He says he’ll forever love Guinevere.

And now we’re back to that scene five years earlier in which Guinevere and Lancelot are looking for the dagger guided by Merlin’s gauntlet. She thinks they’re close. They step through a door and there’s the dagger on an altar but when she reaches for it, she’s thrown back. Rumple’s there and sees Merlin’s gauntlet. He won’t give them the dagger after learning she’s Guinevere, but he’ll make a deal if she gives him the gauntlet. He won’t give them the dagger, but he’ll make it appear like the sword has been completed by using enchanted sand. One pinch of it can finish Excalibur. It’ll be their secret, and she can have her husband back. Lancelot doesn’t want her to listen to Rumple, but she accepts the deal. “Good girl, but be careful. Love is a weapon. The most dangerous weapon of all which means the pain you should worry about isn’t the kind inflicted by a broken sword, but the kind that comes from a broken heart,” warns Rumple.

Five years later, Lancelot and Mary Margaret make it to the vault of the Dark One. He pushes the symbols and they retrace Guinevere’s footsteps. Mary Margaret’s been there before… She had a vision of Emma crushing her heart there years ago. Lancelot tells her the altar is shielded by a protection spell, and Lancelot wants to be the one to put the dagger on the altar in case something bad happens. Mary Margaret hesitates and in walks Arthur, sword drawn. He followed them and sent David out to search for them in the wrong place. “If you ever want to see him again, you’re going to hand over that dagger,” says Arthur.

Liam Garrigan Joana Metrass in Once Upon a Time
Liam Garrigan and Joana Metrass in ‘Once Upon a Time’ (Photo by Jack Rowand / ABC)

Five years earlier, Arthur watches Lancelot and Guinevere share a quiet moment together and figures out their relationship. Guinevere comes into the room and Arthur wants to know where she’s been. Hiding the sand behind her back, she tells him they were searching for the dagger of the Dark One. She says she found it in the Dark One’s vault. Arthur goes crazy, trying to find it in her bags, screaming at her. Angry, she tells him she was only able to get the enchanted sand but not the dagger. He thinks she just wanted to trick him, but she says it was because she wanted him back, the king she knew he could be. He says he will be back if she tells him where the vault is, but she threatens him to stop trying to mend the sword or his marriage and the kingdom will be broken forever. He thinks her heart belongs to Lancelot, and he won’t lose her to him. He uses the sand to keep her by his side! She’s now enchanted and her anger is gone. She will support his desire to get the dagger, and he says it’s time to fix the broken kingdom. He tosses sand out the window to fix Camelot.

Five years later, Arthur says he’ll kill Lancelot if Mary Margaret doesn’t hand over the dagger. She gives it to him to save Lancelot. Arthur says, “I have waited a lifetime for this. Now I control your daughter. I can command her to unite the sword and free Merlin. Excalibur’s blade will be the last thing he sees before I use it to run him through,” says Arthur. He will also use the blade to snuff out the darkness. He commands the Dark One to appear but nothing happens. Mary Margaret says she’s not coming because the dagger is not real. It was all a trick and David was in on it. David comes in behind Arthur and holds him at sword point while Mary Margaret disarms him. Arthur’s upset David broke his trust and betrayed him…not in the least bit concerned he was doing the same thing to David that he accused David of doing. Arthur continues to claim he wants to destroy the darkness and David tells him the darkness is in his daughter and every choice he makes is for his family.

Hook and Emma are walking through the forest with the horse. Hook says Emma has to introduce herself to the horse before she can ride it. The horse shies away and Rumple laughs. Hook tells Emma to knock off talking to the demon in her head and get on the horse. Emma has no idea why and Hook says it’s about her putting her faith in him and their future. “I’ll never stop fighting for us. All you have to do is trust me. This will work,” says Hook, in his most charming way. Up on the horse Emma goes.

At Granny’s Diner, David and Mary Margaret talk about what to do with Excalibur and the dagger. Arthur wanted to reunite them and use it for evil, but David thinks they could be used for good. Lancelot says Guinevere is fit to rule, but Arthur says nothing which makes David and Mary Margaret very suspicious. And for good reason as his knights surround the diner and face off with Lancelot, Mary Margaret and David. Guinevere, still under the sand spell, frees Arthur and tells Lancelot she loves Arthur. Lancelot knows immediately she’s under the sand’s spell, but Guinevere has Lancelot taken away to the dungeon. Arthur gets Excalibur back and Guinevere uses the sand on David and Mary Margaret.

Lancelot lands in the cell and Merida is down there. She’s locked away too, and tells him an enemy of King Arthur’s is a friend of hers.

Regina paces and Robin tells her to stop worrying. In walks Mary Margaret and David who claim Arthur is actually a good guy and Lancelot is where he should be – locked away. They now want Regina to give the dagger to Arthur.

Hook and Emma get off the horse after an invigorating ride. He picks a rose for her and asks what she doesn’t see. “Rumplestiltskin. He’s gone,” says Emma. It worked and they kiss in a field of pink roses.

Storybrooke, present day. Emma holds a pink rose and Gold is tied up. He tells her she can just set him free, but she needs him to be the hero and pull Excalibur from the stone. She’s going to use a ‘secret weapon’ to get him to do it.

She goes back to her VW Bug where she has Merida tied up, pulling her heart out. She instructs her to pull out the bow and make Gold brave, just like her.

“The Broken Kingdom” Review:

“The Broken Kingdom” revealed much more about King Arthur’s obsessive quest for the dagger and how he’s been able to manipulate Guinevere into being such a supportive wife. The reveal really altered our perception of the King who, up until this episode, seemed shady but not truly evil. It will be interesting to see the next step in Arthur’s arc this season and if this particular storyline will end with King Arthur – a beloved, heroic mythological figure – will wind up being one of the series’ big villains.

Hook continues to be a dashing hero while Mary Margaret and David have actually become more interesting as a couple as this season goes on. Episode four also finally pulled Merida back into the story, although it was just two very brief scenes at the very end.

Season five’s fourth episode pulled off a few surprising twists that Once Upon a Time fans may not have seen coming. But while episode four was pretty entertaining overall, unfortunately it also had a few scenes where the visual effects were way too obvious. The scenes down in the Dark One’s vault contained CG effects that weren’t up to par with Once Upon a Time‘s usual efforts. They were jarringly apparent, something unusual for the show, and hopefully just a one-time glitch.

GRADE: B-

Once Upon a Time Season 5 Recaps: Episode 1 The Dark Swan / Episode 2 The Price / Episode 3 Siege Perilous

Season 5 Interviews: Colin O’Donoghue & Jennifer Morrison / Lana Parrilla / Josh Dallas & Ginnifer Goodwin / Sean Maguire & Rebecca Mader / Robert Carlyle & Emilie de Ravin

‘Rosewood’ Gets a Full Season One Order

By
Rebecca Murray
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Rosewood Cast
Anna Konkle, Gabrielle Dennis, Morris Chestnut, Jaina Lee Ortiz, Lorraine Toussaint and Domenick Lombardozzi in ‘Rosewood’ (Photo by Justin Stephens © 2015 Fox Broadcasting Co)

The new dramatic series Rosewood starring Morris Chestnut will be sticking around for a full first season. Fox has given the show a full season one order after averaging 7.3 million viewers since its premiere on September 23, 2015. Created by Todd Harthan, Rosewood is executive produced by Harthan, Wyck Godfrey, and Marty Bowen.


“Rosewood has proven to be a real self-starter for us, which is a tremendous feat on this highly competitive night. Todd Harthan, Morris, Jaina, Lorraine and the entire cast and crew have done a fantastic job creating a gorgeous, sexy world that is the perfect complement to Empire,” said David Madden, President, Entertainment, FOX Broadcasting Company. “The upcoming episodes are so compelling as we build out the family dynamics, and with today’s order, we’re excited to explore the world of Rosewood even further this season.”

In addition to Chestnut, the Rosewood season one cast includes Jaina Lee Ortiz,
Lorraine Toussaint, Gabrielle Dennis, Anna Konkle, and Domenick Lombardozzi.

The Plot:

Set against the vibrant backdrop of one of the world’s hottest cities – Miami – new medical procedural Rosewood stars Morris Chestnut as Dr. Beaumont Rosewood, Jr., the city’s top private pathologist. Brilliant, cool with tons of charisma, Rosewood teams up with the tough-as-nails Detective Annalise Villa (Ortiz), to uncover clues no one else sees and help the Miami PD solve the city’s most challenging cases.

‘The Walking Dead’ Season Six Midseason Premiere Date Announced

By
Rebecca Murray
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Walking Dead Norman Reedus Season 6
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon in ‘The Walking Dead’ Season 6, Episode 1 (Photo Credit: Gene Page / AMC)

AMC’s once again splitting The Walking Dead in two, with the network just announcing the premiere day of the current season’s second half. Season six, which is airing on Sunday nights at 9pm ET/PT, will air eight new episodes in the first half of the season and then return on Valentine’s Day 2016 with eight more season six episodes.


The Walking Dead season six premiered on October 11th to 19.5 million viewers making it the #1 premiere among adults 18-49 for the 2015/2016 season. According to AMC, The Walking Dead‘s the only cable program to hold the #1 spot, with the current season the third in a row to top the chart.

“What an unforgettable week for all who love The Walking Dead – from sharing the premiere with more than 13,000 screaming fans at a packed Madison Square Garden to our sixth season return on Sunday as the number one show in all of television. We’re so humbled and proud of the way this incredibly ambitious episode has been received,” stated Charlie Collier, president of AMC, SundanceTV and AMC Studios. “All credit goes to the amazing talent that continues to drive this show, beginning with Robert Kirkman, Scott M. Gimple, the executive producers, cast and crew and, of course, the terrific fans who inspire us all.”

The Walking Dead starring Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Danai Gurira, Lennie James, Michael Cudlitz, and Steven Yeun also returned to a big welcome on social media, generating almost one million tweets on October 11th.

Box Office Report: ‘Goosebumps’ Wins, ‘Crimson Peak’ Underwhelms

By
Rebecca Murray
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Goosebumps Jack Black, Odeya Rush, Dylan Minnette
Jack Black, Odeya Rush, and Dylan Minnette in ‘Goosebumps’ (Photo 2014 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.)

Family audiences turned out to check out Goosebumps in theaters, with the film’s opening weekend slightly over-performing its pre-release estimates while taking the number one spot away from the high-flying The Martian. The Martian‘s domestic box office take stands at $143 million after this weekend and it’ll likely wind up being Ridley Scott’s biggest box office film by the time it ends its release in North American theaters.

Meanwhile, Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak just didn’t catch on with audiences. Even with a top-notch cast led by Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam, Jessica Chastain, and Mia Wasikowska, Crimson Peak failed to make an impression at the domestic box office ringing up just $12.8 million over its first three days in theaters.


Top 10 Box Office – October 16-18, 2015
1. Goosebumps – $23,500,000
2. The Martian – $21,500,000
3. Bridge of Spies – $15,530,000
4. Crimson Peak – $12,850,000
5. Hotel Transylvania 2 – $12,250,000
6. Pan – $5,860,000
7. The Intern – $5,405,000
8. Sicario – $4,500,000
9. Woodlawn – $4,100,000
10. Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials – $2,750,000

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