The team has a chance to get Agents Hobbs’ killers on CBS’s FBI season six episode 13, the season finale. Directed by Alex Chapple from a script by Rick Eid and Joe Halpin, episode 13 will air on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 8pm ET/PT.
Season six stars Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell, Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom “OA” Zidan, and Jeremy Sisto as Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine. Alana De La Garza plays Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille, John Boyd is Special Agent Stuart Scola, and Katherine Renee Kane stars as Special Agent Tiffany Wallace.
“Ring of Fire” Plot: The Somalian terrorist group behind the death of Agent Hobbs resurfaces, sending the team on a chase to take them down for good.
From Emmy Award winner Dick Wolf and the team behind the Law & Order brand, FBI is a fast-paced drama about the inner workings of the New York office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This elite unit brings to bear all their talents, intellect, and technical expertise on major cases in order to keep New York and the country safe.
Born into a multigenerational law enforcement family, Special Agent Maggie Bell commits deeply to the people she works with as well as those she protects. Her partner is Special Agent Omar Adom “OA” Zidan, a West Point graduate via Bushwick who spent two years undercover for the DEA before being cherry-picked by the FBI. Overseeing them is Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille, who operates under intense pressure and has undeniable command authority.
The team also includes Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine, the nerve center of the office whose ability to easily relate to and engage with both superiors and subordinates makes him a master motivator. The smart and outspoken Special Agent Tiffany Wallace, who spent six years with the NYPD, is partner to Special Agent Stuart Scola, an Ivy League-educated Wall Streeter-turned-FBI agent. These first-class agents tenaciously investigate cases of tremendous magnitude, including terrorism, organized crime, and counterintelligence.
Colin Farrell, Sydney Chandler and Amy Ryan in ‘Sugar’ episode 8 (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)
Apple TV+’s Sugar season one episode eight, the season finale, answers 99% of our lingering questions while leaving the door open for a second season. After a slow build, episode seven finally filled in the blanks regarding who John Sugar is, what he’s doing on Earth, and why Olivia was taken. John found Olivia as the penultimate episode ended. Plus, episode seven revealed that the aliens are being called home.
And now, the season one finale recap:
As the episode begins, John (Colin Farrell) is basking in the warm glow of finding Olivia and being able to reunite her with her family. He calls Melanie (Amy Ryan) and she rushes home, pulls Olivia in for a hug, and comforts the traumatized young woman. John leaves so they can have time alone.
Later, he confesses to being glad the case is nearly over but is a bit melancholy about the idea of endings. He’s hung onto the CD labeled #44 and admits he’s still obsessing about the loose ends.
He leaves very good boy Wiley alone in the motel room and heads over to Ruby’s. She claims she’s happy John found Olivia, but John doubts that’s true. John and Ruby (Kirby) are both aware humans are now hunting them since John exposed the human trafficking ring. Ruby reminds him they need to leave Earth today and that last call will be at sunset. She also confirms Miller is on his way to the meetup location.
Meanwhile, Miller (Paul Schulze) is pulled over on a deserted highway. Before he realizes what’s going on, the officer shoots him in the head.
John walks through Ruby’s place, which is full of moving boxes. Henry (Jason Butler Harner) is there, still jotting down his observations. They both admit to having mixed feelings about leaving this planet. John is actually there to pick up a CD player from Henry. As Henry searches boxes for it, he says Senator Pavich’s son, Ryan, has been all over the news. Ryan’s accused of raping and torturing dozens of people, and John confirms they got the right person.
However, John’s got a feeling there’s more to this story than meets the eye. Henry asks if John can stop by later and give him a ride to the pickup, and John agrees.
John hasn’t driven far before he pops CD #44 into the player. It’s a recording of Ryan describing what he likes to do. Ryan seems to enjoy hammers and uses one to silence a screaming woman.
John’s heard enough for now and turns off the CD player. He pulls up to Jonathan Siegel’s estate and pauses to stare into the sky. Before speaking with Jonathan, John offers Margit (Anna Gunn) his condolences over the death of her son, David. She’s still not sure why John was so obsessed with Olivia’s case, and John has to stop himself before they get into an argument.
Jonathan (James Cromwell) greets John warmly; he’s apparently recovered from his heart attack. Jonathan offers John a job as the head of his security, indicating he can set his own salary. It’s an easy job but John has to turn it down. (He’s only on Earth a few more hours.)
John glances out the window and smiles as he sees Olivia looking much better and talking to her dad, Bernie. Jonathan admits there’s no way to express his thanks for what John’s done for his family. John wonders if Olivia’s spoken about her experience, and Jonathan insists she hasn’t—not a single word.
John has decided to assume Jonathan made Clifford’s body disappear. He’s discreet, and Jonathan appreciates that. John also didn’t call the cops until he had Olivia out of Ryan’s house. It’s obvious there’s still something on John’s mind and Jonathan assures him he can relax now.
John hands over the Polaroids of Rachel (Jonathan’s daughter-in-law) wearing the same dress Jonathan’s deceased wife wore in The Winds of Change. John knows Jonathan took the photos, and Jonathan calls Rachel a free spirit, just like Lorraine. He and Rachel broke off their relationship after Rachel got pregnant, and Jonathan realizes John believes Olivia is his daughter – not his granddaughter. John corrects him and says it doesn’t matter. All that is important is that Olivia is loved.
Jonathan compliments John, saying, “Grace and sensitivity to the end.”
A flashback fills John’s thoughts, taking him back to his planet with his sister. He smiles at Olivia and Bernie before pulling out of the driveway.
Kirby and Colin Farrell in ‘Sugar’ episode 8 (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)
Ruby calls John and asks about Miller. Neither has heard from him recently. She’s heading to the evacuation point now, and John explains he’ll be there soon. He has a few more stops to make before picking up Henry.
John presses play again and listens to Ryan talk about his life. “Whatever this is, what I do, more than anything else, it makes me feel alive,” says Ryan into the mic.
On a happier note, John drops Wiley off at Melanie’s and she’s more than happy to have a new furkid as part of her life. Melanie refuses to take no for an answer and makes John come in for a lemonade while they say goodbye. John won’t say he’ll never be back, but it’s not likely. He finally explains that he won’t be seeing his sister on his home planet because she was taken by somebody a long time ago. They don’t know who took her. That’s why he’s a private investigator now.
He pauses and looks toward the sky, contemplating telling her more about himself. He makes up his mind and asks that she hold his hands. Melanie can see his world through his touch. She silently cries at its beauty and strangeness.
John drives off while reminding himself he was never supposed to allow a human to see that. But he’s glad he did.
Ruby calls with a warning that humans are actively hunting them. Humans don’t want their pact exposed. She warns him to be careful and to get to the meetup as soon as possible.
John turns the CD on again as Ryan confesses he hates the part where his victims beg for their lives. Suddenly, John realizes Ryan is speaking to someone else who’s not one of his victims. He returns to Jonathan’s estate and asks to speak with Olivia, believing she can fill in a few blanks. John hates putting her through it, but he needs to know more about what happened in the basement. Bernie agrees to let him ask, but it’s up to Olivia to talk.
John delicately asks if Ryan had someone else with him in the basement. Olivia says there was another person there, but they kept a light on her face so she didn’t see him clearly. Also, he never spoke.
She is certain there was another man there because she could hear him writing. John realizes the man never spoke and only took notes. He thanks Olivia for her help and wishes her a wonderful life.
John pulls away, hitting play once more. He listens as Ryan uses the same words that Henry used while describing his wants and needs. John returns to Ruby’s now empty house as the phone rings. It’s Henry. He assumed John would piece the clues together, and John can’t believe that Henry just sat and watched Ryan torture and kill innocent women. Henry attempts to justify his actions, saying they were only supposed to watch and learn.
Henry is aware they’re being hunted by humans, but he’s decided he’s not returning to their home planet. He believes he fits better in this world with all its anger, confusion, and darkness. John insists Earth is so much more than that, but Henry thinks John belongs here too.
“I left you rose petals,” says Henry before hanging up.
John follows the petals on the floor to a closet. Inside is the outfit his sister, Djen, was wearing when she was abducted. John now knows that Henry took Djen, but he doesn’t know if she’s alive or if she’s here on Earth.
John believes Henry is trapped in a cycle of violence. But then he wonders if he’s different from Henry as he has flashbacks of attacking and killing humans. (They deserved it, but that’s beside the point.)
“I like being here. How I can feel, hurt, taste, touch, dream, love, hate,” thinks John. “Have I become more human, like Henry?”
Colin Farrell in ‘Sugar’ episode 8, the season 1 finale (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)
John’s standing on a beach, shoes off, toes in the water when he decides he needs to find Henry Thorpe. No matter how long it takes.
John makes it to the rendezvous and Ruby confesses she knows Henry was observing Ryan. They all went along with it for the mission. However, she had no idea that Henry took Djen. She asks about his hand and the voices, and John claims he’s fine. A noise in the sky interrupts and their ride home has arrived.
John’s made up his mind to remain on Earth. Ruby reminds him it will just be him and Henry on Earth, and that it’s likely Djen’s already dead. John understands that but needs to stop Henry from learning from – and teaching – other psychotic killers.
John confesses he’ll miss his home, which he loves, and he’ll miss Ruby and the others. But Earth and its people are calling to him. He genuinely likes humans.
John wishes Ruby safe travels and drives off in his beloved Corvette.
“The End” screens from multiple films flash by as John acknowledges that you always know a movie ending is coming. Still, you’re surprised when the credits roll.
And that, my fellow Sugar fans, is it. John heads off into the sunset, determined to track down Henry. Will he take Jonathan up on his job offer? Maybe. But more importantly, John can now remain a part of Melanie and Wylie’s lives.
Chris Stapleton and Morgane Stapleton at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for ACM)
Luke Combs went into 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards with the most nominations, but it was Chris Stapleton who emerged as the big winner. Stapleton took home four wins at the 59th ACM Awards, with Lainey Wilson scoring three wins. Combs and Jordan Davis each picked up two wins during the ceremony held on May 16th at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
Hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winner Reba McEntire, this year’s awards show streamed live on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch. McEntire confirmed she’ll host next year’s awards while hosting this year’s show.
Performances included Female Artist of the Year winner Lainey Wilson singing “God Blessed Texas” and “Hang Tight Honey,” with Jelly Roll taking the stage to perform “Liar.” Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan collaborated on “Stick Season,” and the New Duo or Group winners Tigirlily Gold entertained with “I Tried a Ring On.”
Additional performers included five-time ACM Award nominee Cody Johnson, 38-time ACM Award winner Miranda Lambert, Kane Brown, and eight-time ACM Award winner Thomas Rhett. Plus, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, Chris Stapleton, Dua Lipa, Post Malone, and host Reba McEntire wowed the crowd with their performances.
ACM Awards Winners:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
• Lainey Wilson
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Lainey Wilson
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Chris Stapleton
DUO OF THE YEAR
• Dan + Shay
GROUP OF THE YEAR
• Old Dominion
NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Megan Moroney
NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Nate Smith
NEW DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
• Tigirlily Gold
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
• Higher – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Chris Stapleton, Dave Cobb, Morgane Stapleton
Record Company-Label: Mercury Nashville
SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
• Fast Car – Luke Combs
Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
Record Company-Label: River House Artists / Columbia Nashville
SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
• Next Thing You Know – Jordan Davis
Songwriters: Chase McGill, Greylan James, Jordan Davis, Josh Osborne
Publishers: Family Farm Songs; Hold On Can I Get A Number 1 Music; Songs of Universal Inc.
VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
• Burn It Down – Parker McCollum
Produces: Christen Pinkston &Wesley Stebbins-Perry
Director: Dustin Haney
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
• Jessie Jo Dillon
ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
• Chris Stapleton
MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
• Save Me – Jelly Roll (with Lainey Wilson)
Producers: Zach Crowell, David Ray Stevens
Record Company-Label: Stoney Creek Records / BMG Nashville
Fox’s The Cleaning Lady season three finishes up with an action-packed two-part finale. Episode 11, “Fight or Fight, and episode 12, “House of Cards,” will air back-to-back on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 beginning at 8pm ET/PT.
Elodie Yung leads the cast as Thony, Martha Millan plays Fiona, Kate del Castillo is Ramona Sanchez, and Eva De Dominici is Nadia. Santiago Cabrera plays Jorge, Faith Bryant is Jaz, and Sean Lew plays Chris. Mayans MC‘s Clayton Cardenas guest stars as Dante and Brandon Jay McLaren guest stars as Jeremy.
“Fight or Flight/House of Cards” Plot: As Ramona continues her attempts to recruit Thony into her business, Thony and Fiona work with the FBI to help Nadia. Meanwhile, the FBI starts organizing a plan to take down Ramona inside her own event. Then, Russo receives a terrifying warning from Sin Cara and Jorge gets news that could alter his alliances.
The stakes in season three are higher and more intense than ever. This season, Thony turns her efforts to bringing Fiona back to the US after she was deported to the Philippines, devising an extraction plan with Arman (Adan Canto) using Nadia’s plane. When he mysteriously disappears, Thony and Nadia begrudgingly team together to look for him.
Meanwhile, Fiona tries to manage the aftermath of her deportation to the Philippines while Thony explores drastic measures to get her back home as well as search for answers regarding Arman. While Thony is relieved that Luca’s medical issues have improved, he and Thony face a new threat that may keep them apart, while Chris makes a careless decision to help his mother Fiona but may jeopardize their futures as well as that of Jaz’s.
As Thony’s journey continues to unfold, she is completely alone. Her world is turned upside down as she fights to protect her family, forcing her to take steps that deepen a new association with a dangerous Cartel.
Bailee Madison and Antonio Cipriano in ‘Pretty Little Liars: Summer School’ episode 3 (Photograph by Karolina Wojtasik/Max)
Max’s Pretty Little Liars: Summer School is off to a creepy start. We’ve learned about Angela and A’s mother – dubbed Bloody Rose Waters – and that two teens were murdered inside Rose’s cabin. Plus, there have been a spate of other recent deaths among people the BFFs know. And that was just the first two episodes.
Episode three, “Sweet Sixteen,” opens with Mouse (Malia Pyles) watching a video of a reenactment of Rose and Archie Waters on Spooky Spaghetti. When the video ends, Mouse discovers someone’s posted their phone numbers under their pictures on the site.
Thursday
Mouse and the other girls compare notes and confirm they all received calls the night before from unknown numbers. Mouse reveals that someone has posted their phone numbers online. Which, of course, leads to the BFFs confessing they each gave out their numbers, which they weren’t supposed to do.
Mouse changes the subject and reminds the group that her birthday is coming up and that it’s her Sweet 16. The girls downplay it, suggesting it’s not a good idea to go all out this year.
Mouse visits Dr. Sullivan (Annabeth Gish) and brings up that she’s concerned about her grandmother’s memory problems. She’s also hurt that her friends don’t want to have a birthday party for her, confessing she’s scared they don’t really like her. Dr. Sullivan assures her that’s not the case.
Cue the girls talking about Mouse’s surprise birthday party.
Pastor Malachi lets the church patrons know Sandy will be joining her parents in Cape Cod for the summer, so she won’t be in the play. (Odd, considering we witnessed her being murdered in episode two.) Kelly (Mallory Bechtel) volunteers to take over Sandy’s role in the play.
Mrs. Beasley tasks Kelly and her friends with passing out flyers about the church around town.
Tabby’s (Chandler Kinney) mom comes home to find Christian (Noah Alexander Gerry) on her couch and wants to know who the hell he is. Tabby explains they work together.
Imogen (Bailee Madison) has new eye candy to look at when her co-worker Johnny (Antonio Cipriano) arrives at work shirtless and riding a bike.
Noa (Maia Reficco) asks Jen (Ava Capri) if she gave her number to anyone. Jen assures her she has not. The manager at the pizza place says the cash register is short $20 and wants Noa and Jen to empty their pockets. Jen becomes combative and Noa counts the money herself and claims he counted it wrong.
The girls walk outside, and Jen thanks Noa for helping her out with their manager. Noa is pissed because she slipped in her own tip money to cover it. Jen doesn’t seem to care.
Kelly stops by the ice cream shop to leave flyers for Redemption House but seems hesitant when she discovers Imogen works there. Imogen’s genuinely happy to see Kelly and invites her to Mouse’s secret birthday party at the roller rink.
Christian asks Tabby about her favorite vampire movie and when she confesses that she’s never seen his favorite, he invites her over to watch it at his place. She takes him up on the invitation and very hesitantly follows him into his basement, He’s got an impressive, albeit creepy, collection of horror movie stuff, most of which he made. Tabby feels horrified when she sees an A mask in one of his cabinets. Christian tries to explain, but she is out of there before he can say anything.
The guys are still giving Faran (Zaria) a hard time at the pool because she made captain. In response, she makes them do planks. Later, Henry (Ben Cook) tells Faran what he is going to be doing in the Redemption House play. Without being asked for his opinion, Henry suggests Faran should lighten up when it comes to the boys at her work.
Imogen figures out Johnny’s a player when she sees him flirting with multiple girls. When she tries to give one of the girls a heads up, the girl reacts by cussing at her and then Johnny. It turns out Johnny has no shame in his game or his ego and tells Imogen not to be such a stuck-up prude.
That night, Tabby and Imogen discuss their day over pints of ice cream. Imogen thinks Tabby did the right thing with Christian. And she spills the tea about her good-looking co-worker, Johnny.
Alex Aiono, Zaria, Jordan Gonzalez, and Elias Kacavas in ‘Pretty Little Liars: Summer School’ episode 3 (Photograph by Karolina Wojtasik/Max)
Friday
The girls are going over Mouse’s surprise party plans but have to stop when Mouse shows up. She has good news to share, for once. Spooky Spaghetti took down their photos and numbers. Mouse thinks they can do something for her birthday now but she’s met with a bunch of excuses why they can’t.
Imogen apologizes to Johnny and is surprised when he also apologizes for being insensitive. Johnny swears that anything he would do with any of those girls would be consensual. Plus, he confesses he googled her.
Apologies are going around because now it’s Christian and Tabby’s turns to apologize to each other. Christian claims he made those masks before he met her. Tabby wonders if he posted her number online, and he swears he didn’t. Tabby seems to believe him and goes into more detail about what happened to her. She also invites him to Mouse’s party.
Faran takes Henry’s advice, and with Greg and a few other lifeguards, she plays a prank on one of the guys who fell asleep on the job.
And speaking of being tired, Imogen is exhausted at work. Johnny suggests she take a nap in the back office, and she takes him up on it.
Imogen wakes up and tells Johnny she keeps having creepy dreams about Bloody Rose Waters and her mom. She even confesses that he was in her dream too. Imogen claims she saw Rose outside by the dumpster and wants to go outside to check if she is actually there – which she was. However, it turns out that she’s just having a nightmare and none of this happened.
Imogen awkwardly invites Johnny to Mouse’s birthday party.
Mouse complains to Ash (Jordan Gonzalez) about her moms being gone and her friends being checked out. Ash feels really sorry for his girlfriend and spills the beans. He’s not supposed to say anything, but he can’t stop himself from telling her the girls are throwing her a surprise party.
Noa tries to give Jen the silent treatment, but after some gross customers don’t tip Jen, Noa gets involved and gets the money for her.
Faran rescues a girl in the pool after the guy who was supposed to be in the lifeguard chair wasn’t where he was supposed to be. She fires him on the spot.
Faran tells Henry about what happened at the pool and then admits that she was cleared to dance weeks ago. Henry’s stunned and needs time to wrap his head around it.
Zaria, Maia Reficco, Mallory Bechtel, Bailee Madison, and Chandler Kinney in ‘Pretty Little Liars: Summer School’ episode 3 (Photograph by Karolina Wojtasik/Max)
Mouse’s grandmother, Lola, appears to be in on the surprise and admits that she has been assigned the job of driving Mouse to the party. Meanwhile, all of Mouse’s friends are at the roller rink decked out in vintage wear and ready to party. Even Kelly and Greg show up. So do Johnny and Jen.
However, Lola doesn’t take Mouse to her party but instead drops her off at an abandoned restaurant that looks similar to a Chuck E. Cheese. It’s eerily quiet when Mouse walks in and spots a cake, a rose, and a card that says Happy Birthday, Mouse. Inside it reads: “This is your birthday test. A final girl must escape any death trap. You hide, I seek.”
Mouse is locked inside and as she runs to escape, she sees Bloody Rose Waters.
The girls are having the time of their lives, and Greg cracks a joke that maybe Jen and Noa were lesbian lovers in juvie.
Ash arrives at Mouse’s place to pick her up and Lola’s confused. She informs him she dropped her off already after getting a call from one of Mouse’s friends.
And now things are rapidly escalating as episode three ends. Mouse isn’t just running from Bloody Rose Waters; she’s trying to escape the building which is now engulfed in flames.
After Ash tells the girls what’s going on, they leave the party to look for Mouse. They make it to the burning restaurant just as Mouse emerges from the smoke and flames. They wonder what happened and Mouse says, “Bloody Rose. It started again.”
The team’s in dire straits on CBS’s CSI: Vegas season three episode 10. The season and, unfortunately, series finale was directed by Erin Feeley from a script by Erika Vázquez and Siena Butterfield. “Tunnel Vision” airs on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 10pm ET/PT.
Season three stars Paula Newsome as Maxine Roby, Marg Helgenberger as Catherine Willows, Matt Lauria as Joshua Folsom, and Mandeep Dhillon as Allie Rajan. Ariana Guerra is Detective Serena Chavez, Lex Medlin plays Beau Finado, and Jay Lee is Chris Park.
“Tunnel Vision” Plot: After an explosion in a bio lab, the CSI team races to determine which nerve agent left one of their own unconscious, while the others explore a dangerous underground tunnel to find another CSI who got kidnapped during the blast.
CSI: Vegas returns for its third season and continues the legacy of the global hit franchise. Amidst the neon lights and long shadows, dark threats lurk in Sin City. Maxine Roby (Newsome) leads her brilliant team of crime scene investigators – Catherine Willows (Helgenberger), Allie Rajan (Dhillon), Detective Serena Chavez (Guerra), Chris Park (Lee) and Beau Finado (Medlin) – as they use science to solve baffling mysteries. Chief among them: who framed their colleague, Joshua Folsom (Lauria), for a gruesome murder?
The most daunting and dangerous cases in the history of this storied franchise are coming, and the team will have to deploy the latest forensic techniques to preserve and serve justice in Sin City.
The promo for ABC’s 9-1-1 season seven episode eight shows Bobby’s life is in grave danger. Episode eight, “Step Nine,” will air on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at 8pm ET/PT.
Season seven stars Angela Bassett as Athena Grant, Peter Krause as Bobby Nash, Jennifer Love Hewitt as Maddie Buckley, and Oliver Stark as Evan “Buck” Buckley. Kenneth Choi plays Howie “Chimney” Han, Aisha Hinds is Henrietta “Hen” Wilson, Ryan Guzman is Eddie Diaz, and Gavin McHugh is Christopher Diaz. Lou Ferrigno Jr guest stars as Tommy Kinard.
“Step Nine” Plot: After a victim of the apartment fire that changed Bobby’s life resurfaces, he searches to make amends. Driven by his need to right past wrongs, Bobby delves deep into memories of his childhood, unearthing moments from his fractured past.
Angela Bassett and Peter Krause in ‘9-1-1’ season 7 episode 8 (Disney/Chris Willard)
9-1-1 Description, Courtesy of ABC:
The series explores the high-pressure experiences of first responders — including police officers, firefighters, and dispatchers — who are thrust into the most frightening, shocking, and heart-stopping situations. These emergency responders must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in their own lives. The show draws from real-life, high-pressure experiences of first responders who regularly face heart-stopping situations that are often unpredictable, intense, and uplifting at the same time.
Elijah M. Cooper and Angela Bassett in season 7 episode 8 (Disney/Chris Willard)Peter Krause and Juliana Aiden Martinez in season 7 episode 8 (Disney/Chris Willard)Angela Bassett in season 7 episode 8 (Disney/Chris Willard)Juliana Aiden Martinez, Keith Walker, Wilson Aldas, Briza Covarrubias, and Peter Krause in season 7 episode 8 (Disney/Chris Willard)Peter Krause, Juliana Aiden Martinez, and Keith Walker in season 7 episode 8 (Disney/Chris Willard)
Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne and Anna Sawai as Toda Mariko in ‘Shogun’ (Photo CR: Katie Yu / FX)
Shōgun set FX viewership records, becoming the network’s most-watched series over its first nine weeks. Given the show’s popularity, it comes as no surprise that FX, Hulu, and the James Clavell estate are moving forward on two additional seasons of the critically acclaimed drama.
FX hasn’t confirmed when production will begin or announced a target launch date for Shogun season two. A writers’ room is expected to open this summer. Series co-creators, executive producers, and writers Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo are back on board along with executive producer Michaela Clavell and series star and producer Hiroyuki Sanada.
“Shōgun, an original adaptation of James Clavell’s bestselling novel, is set in Japan in the year 1600 at the dawn of a century-defining civil war. Producer Hiroyuki Sanada stars as Lord Yoshii Toranaga who is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him. When a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village, its English pilot, John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), comes bearing secrets that could help Toranaga tip the scales of power and devastate the formidable influence of Blackthorne’s own enemies — the Jesuit priests and Portuguese merchants,” reads FX’s synopsis. “Toranaga’s and Blackthorne’s fates become inextricably tied to their translator, Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai), a mysterious Christian noblewoman and the last of a disgraced line. While serving her lord amidst this fraught political landscape, Mariko must reconcile her newfound companionship with Blackthorne, her commitment to the faith that saved her, and her duty to her late father.”
Shogun season one premiered on February 27, 2024 and concluded its 10 episode run on April 23rd.
The talented season one ensemble includes Tadanobu Asano as Kashigi Yabushige, a notorious backstabber and close ally of Toranaga; Hiroto Kanai as Kashigi Omi, the young leader of the fishing village where Blackthorne’s ship was found; Takehiro Hira as Ishido Kazunari, a powerful bureaucrat who is Toranaga’s chief rival; and Moeka Hoshi as Usami Fuji, a widow who must find new purpose amidst her lord’s fight. Tokuma Nishioka plays Toda Hiromatsu, Toranaga’s trusted general and closest friend; Shinnosuke Abe is Toda Hirokatsu (Buntaro), Mariko’s jealous husband; and Yuki Kura is Yoshii Nagakado, the brash son of Toranaga with a strong desire to prove himself.
Shogun‘s season one cast also includes Yuka Kouri as Kiku, a courtesan renowned for her artistry throughout Japan, and Fumi Nikaido as Ochiba no Kata, the revered mother of the heir who will stop at nothing to put an end to Toranaga and his threat to her son’s power.
The Never Let Go trailer introduces a world in which you must stay connected to a rope or risk death. Evil is always lurking close by, now that the world has ended. And if you let go of the rope, then evil can take you.
Oscar-winner Halle Berry stars as the mom of twins struggling to keep her family safe. Percy Daggs IV and Anthony B. Jenkins star as the twins.
“From visionary director Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes) and the creative minds behind Stranger Things and Arrival comes Never Let Go. In this new psychological thriller/horror, as an Evil takes over the world beyond their front doorstep, the only protection for a mother, played by Academy Award winner Halle Berry, and her twin sons is their house and their family’s protective bond,” reads Lionsgate’s synopsis. “Needing to stay connected at all times – even tethering themselves with ropes – they cling to one another, urging each other to never let go. But when one of the boys questions if the evil is real, the ties that bind them together are severed, triggering a terrifying fight for survival.”
Anthony B. Jenkins as Samuel, Halle Berry as Momma and Percy Daggs IV as Nolan in ‘Never Let Go’ (Photo Credit: Liane Hentscher)
KC Coughlin and Ryan Grassby wrote the screenplay, with Aja, Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, and Dan Levine producing. Halle Berry serves as executive producer along with Holly Jeter, Daniel Clarke, Emily Morris, Christopher Woodrow, and Connor DiGregorio.
Never Let Go will open in theaters on September 27, 2024.
HBO’s Moviepass, Moviecrash documentary explores the meteoric rise and surprisingly quick demise of Moviepass. The movie ticketing program allowed moviegoers to subscribe to a service that was less expensive than purchasing individual film tickets. Ultimately, the business model was unsustainable.
“In a span of eight years, MoviePass went from being the fastest-growing subscription service since Spotify to total bankruptcy, losing over $150 million in 2017 alone,” reads HBO’s synopsis. “Moviepass, Moviecrash chronicles the company’s beginnings as an innovative movie ticketing model beloved by cinema-goers, exploring the visionary mission of its entrepreneur co-founders, its impressive early successes, and its precipitous downfall caused by mismanagement and corporate greed.
MoviePass was a movie lover’s dream, offering access to movie theater tickets at a discounted monthly subscription rate. In 2017, with a ‘too good to be true’ promotional deal of $9.95 a month, subscriptions exploded, the company’s stock soared, and investors rushed to get in on the venture. However, the co-founders, who had built the pop culture phenomenon from scratch, were cast aside and forced to watch from the sidelines as new executives seized control. A combination of extravagant and fraudulent spending with lavish parties at the Sundance Film Festival, Coachella, and the Cannes Film Festival, and a fundamentally unsustainable business model, led the company to shutter abruptly in 2019.”
The documentary features new interviews with Moviepass co-founders along with former CEO Mitch Lowe, former employees, investors, and subscribers. Industry analysts and Business Insider journalists also provide details on what happened and why the company failed.
Muta’Ali (HBO’s Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn) directs and Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Archie Gips, Jack Heller, Scott Veltri, Jevon Frank, and David Wendell produce. Executive producers include Muta’Ali, Jason Guerrasio, Joel Stonington, and HBO’s Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller.
Moviepass, Moviecrash premieres on May 29, 2024.
Poster for ‘Moviepass MovieCrash’ (Photo Credit: HBO)
