Man of action Jason Statham (Meg 2, Expend4bles) is back and this time he’s got bees with him in the action/revenge film The Beekeeper.
Statham stars as Adam Clay, a quiet honey farmer renting space from elderly, retired teacher Eloise Parker (Phylicia Rashad) who also happens to be his only friend. When Parker receives an alert on her computer that it has a virus, she calls the number on her screen, which connects her to the United Data Group company. The company is really a data mining firm, and Parker becomes their next victim, losing her life savings along with $2 million she managed for a charity.
That night, Clay drops by to deliver some honey and discovers her lifeless body. She shot herself, unable to live with her mistake. This sends Clay on a mission of revenge to literally burn down the business involved with the theft and take down those running it.
Because, you see, Clay isn’t just a beekeeper…he’s a retired Beekeeper! What is that, you – and multiple characters in the film – ask? Well, it’s a trained expert assassin who the government (specifically, the CIA) uses to handle unofficial jobs.
In the film’s most entertaining scene, Clay arrives at the United Data Group building after retrieving the address from a source at the CIA. He knocks out the security guards and goes through the lobby with two canisters of gasoline. Clay orders the girl at the front desk to leave because there’s going to be a fire and heads to the main call center room.
There, he pours gasoline over the computers, phones, and monitors along with a few workers not fast enough to leave. Clay then rigs one computer so that the next call for help from one of the company’s unsuspecting marks will ignite the room. It’s an effective method to shut down United and…BOOM!…the fire engulfs the building.
However, Clay’s only just taken the first steps on his road to revenge. His next task is to hunt down the people at the top of the phishing scam and, to put it bluntly, end them. His list includes Derek Danforth (Josh Hutcherson), a young, arrogant twenty-something creep whose mother is a woman in high places. It also includes Danforth’s protector, Wallace Westwyld (Jeremy Irons), a former director of the CIA.
Overly violent and preposterous, The Beekeeper is a mindless (and tedious) revenge film that almost feels like a spoof of itself. The shoot-outs are blurred and chaotic, and the fight scenes are mediocre and unimpressive.
Jason Statham just Jason Statham’s his way through the film as the ex-government assassin who’s on a mission to take down those involved in his friend’s tragic end. Unfortunately, there’s nothing new here. Statham has played this type of role countless times before and has done it much better and with more entertaining one-liners.
Hutcherson is effective as the annoying young mastermind behind the phishing company, but even his character is basically one-dimensional. Jeremy Irons as Westwyld gives the best performance in the film as the one person who knows only too well the threat Clay is to him and Danforth, and what it’s going to take to stop him.
With ridiculous action scenes and even more ridiculous dialogue and puns, The Beekeeper‘s all buzz and no sting. It adds nothing new to the action film genre and will likely be swatted down at the box office.
GRADE: C-
MPAA Rating: R for pervasive language, drug use, some sexual references, and strong violence throughout
Release Date: January 12, 2024
Running Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Directed By: David Ayer
Studio: Amazon MGM Studios
Kiersey Clemons and Anna Sawai in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ episode 10 (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)
Apple TV+’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters episode 10, the season finale, picks up just seconds after the end of episode nine. Keiko (Mari Yamamoto) has just saved Cate (Anna Sawai) from being attacked by a Titan, and it’s obvious Cate’s more shocked about seeing her grandmother than she is about almost being eaten.
Cate’s upset that May’s not with her and doesn’t respond when Keiko asks if she came with Bill Randa or Lee Shaw. Keiko has no idea that time has passed or that she’s talking to her granddaughter.
Keiko reveals she set up a beacon and thinks that her rescue signal is what brought Cate into this world that she’s named Axis Mundi (the pole between Heaven and Earth). Cate knows nothing about the signal, and Keiko realizes Cate isn’t with Monarch and never expected to find her.
Cate has no time to respond before May (Kiersey Clemons) emerges from the forest. They hug, and May says, “Holy sh*t!” when she notices Keiko. Lee (Kurt Russell) yells from nearby, asking if it’s really Keiko. Keiko is so out of the loop that she still has no idea why they’re shocked to see her.
Lee says his name from a distance away, and Keiko realizes his voice is different. Before he shows his face, he asks how long she’s been down there. Keiko believes it’s 1959, and she’s been there for 57 days. Lee explains that after she fell, he also came down on a recon mission – but that was in 1962.
Lee tries to ease Keiko into the truth by saying that he was there for a week, but when he escaped back to Earth it was 1982. Now it’s 2015.
Kurt Russell and Mari Yamamoto in the ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ season 1 finale (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)
Keiko realizes it has to do with gravitational distortion. She sobs, and Lee finally steps out from behind the tree. The full impact of what happened finally dawns on her as Lee gently holds her face. Lee breaks the news that Bill died a long time ago, and it’s just too much for Keiko to handle.
She asks about Hiroshi, and Cate introduces herself as Hiroshi’s daughter.
Meanwhile, in Tokyo, Kentaro (Ren Watabe) demands to know what his dad’s been up to. Hiroshi (Takehiro Hira) admits he was trying to lure out a Titan to show Monarch that a network – and a gateway – exists. He wants to prove his parents were right and maybe stop the next G-Day.
Hiroshi asks his son to help him find the secret to co-existing with the Titans. Kentaro agrees, but only if Hiroshi explains why he had two secret families. Hiroshi can’t, and Kentaro leaves without shaking his dad’s hand.
Hiroshi packs up his remaining belongings in Tokyo and informs Emiko (Qyoko Kudo) that he’s returning to San Francisco to finalize the divorce. Emiko confesses that she dreamed he’d return and no matter what he did to her, she hopes he will have a relationship with his son. However, Emiko also confirms in no uncertain terms that their marriage is over. She even returns her wedding ring.
Mirelly Taylor and Joe Tippett in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ episode 10 (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)
Over at Monarch headquarters, Verdugo (Mirelly Taylor) tells Tim (Joe Tippett) that the gamma-ray transmissions have stabilized, and the outposts are mostly back online. Tim wonders what they’re doing about the signal Dr. Barnes discovered, and Verdugo insists it’s not a priority. Tim begs to differ. If someone survived, they may have answers to all Monarch’s questions.
Tim won’t let up and suggests Verdugo do something about getting Lee, Cate, and May back. Verdugo threatens to fire him if he doesn’t let it go.
Later, Tim meets up with Kentaro at the whiskey bar, and after comparing wounds, he gets down to business. Tim brought copies of the gamma-ray bursts printout and tells Kentaro they found a message within them. The signal is coming from inside the rifts, and Tim believes Hiroshi will understand what they mean.
Hiroshi’s watching his dad’s final tape when Tim and Kentaro arrive at this door. Hiroshi doesn’t want to work with Monarch, and Tim assures him they don’t want him around either. Tim shows him the gamma-ray bursts, and Hiroshi’s shocked there’s a signal in them and that it’s possible Cate is alive.
Hiroshi wants it to be true but knows the odds are against it. Only Lee has ever made it back alive. He doesn’t want any part of this, but Kentaro talks him into it by striking a deal. Kentaro will work with him if he helps them find Cate.
Tim insists Monarch’s not the only game in town. There’s someone else who’ll help them.
Lee, Cate, and May go with Keiko back to her camp, and Lee’s overjoyed to see the beacon from 1962 is still in good shape. Keiko has reconfigured it to send out a pulse.
As Lee examines the beacon, Cate speaks in glowing terms about Hiroshi, calling him a family man who followed in his parents’ footsteps. Lee wants Keiko to return the settings to their original configuration, and she’s certain she can do that. Lee’s optimistic he can get them home with Keiko’s help.
They struggle to move the beacon closer to Lee’s 1962 spaceship, with Lee joking (sarcastically) that they should take their time so they can return to a world full of robot butlers. While May and Cate take a break, Lee and Keiko finally have time for a private chat. Lee says Bill never came back from a secret expedition to prove that Axis Mundi exists. Lee also assures her that Bill saved Monarch and everything the three built together.
Lee provides Keiko with the CliffsNotes version of what’s gone on since she fell, briefly touching on TVs, cars, and phones. Oh, and we went to the Moon. But, overall, Lee says it’s the same old world.
Keiko would never have been able to move the beacon to the right location on her own, and even with four people, it’s quite a struggle. They finally arrive at the spot, and Lee’s pleased that his ship is still intact. He climbs inside and is amazed it still has juice, and Keiko reminds him that in Axis Mundi time, it’s only been there a few weeks.
Mari Yamamoto and Kurt Russell in the ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ season 1 finale (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)
They’re busy working on hooking up the beacon to the ship when Keiko announces she’s staying behind. Bill’s gone, Hiroshi is all grown up, and whatever’s happening on Earth is no longer her world. Cate absolutely disagrees. The monsters have taken enough from her, and she needs Keiko in her life. Lee agrees, and Keiko gives in.
They all strap in and prepare for liftoff. All it will take is the beacon attracting a Titan and opening a rift. Once the creature appears and they hit 3,000 feet, Lee will shut off the beacon and the Titan’s retreat will pull them into the rift.
Suddenly, an Ion Dragon Titan appears, but it’s one that was already in the area. (They’re supposedly fiercely territorial.) The rift hasn’t opened yet, and the Ion Dragon is getting too close. Something else starts coming through the rift, but it’s at 7,000 feet. It makes it to 5,000 feet and then 4,000 when the Ion Dragon does a flyover and knocks into the beacon. One of the connections comes loose, and the Titan they need starts retreating.
Lee exits the ship to try and reconnect the beacon. The Ion Dragon lands nearby as Lee struggles to pull the beacon back into place and make the connection. The Titan is within feet of the ship when Lee plugs the beacon back in.
All eyes turn to the rift as Godzilla steps through. The winged Titan turns its attention from the ship to Godzilla. Godzilla sees the ship and lets loose a mighty roar before engaging the dragon in a fight.
The Ion Dragon spits green fluid in Godzilla’s face, which briefly affects the massive creature. Godzilla fights back with his atomic breath and sends the Ion Dragon flying into the rift. That action sets the ship in motion as intended, with the vehicle following the draft of the Ion Dragon. Lee does his best to return to the ship, and Keiko manages to grab his hand while ordering him not to let go.
However, the pull on the ship is too great, and Lee tells Keiko that it’s all right. He thanks her for everything as he slips from her grip and falls away. Keiko screams for Lee, but it’s no use. He’s gone.
Cate and May pull Keiko back into the ship and close the hatch. They strap in for the final part of the journey through the rift.
The ship pops out of the rift and skids a few yards before stopping. They emerge to discover they’re surrounded by spotlights. Armed men rush over to check on their condition and escort them a short distance to a building where Kentaro’s waiting to give Cate and May hugs. He welcomes them back and then credits Hiroshi with doing all the calculations for their return.
Cate and Hiroshi share a lengthy hug, only breaking contact when Hiroshi sees Keiko. Mother and son finally reunite after decades of being apart, and Keiko apologizes for not being there while he was growing up.
Cate then introduces Kentaro to his grandmother.
May’s shocked to see her old boss, Brenda, with Tim, and Brenda admits someone had to pay for all of this. Tim describes their relationship as complicated, and Kentaro confirms there have been big changes in the two years that Cate and May have been gone.
A siren sounds, and everyone rushes to safety inside the building. The camera pans up, and the sign on the building reads: APEX Skull Island Research Station!
Kong has the honor of being the focus of the final scene of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season one.
The official trailer for the third and final season of Starz’s Hightown promises the lies will come to an end and the case will come to a close (hopefully in a satisfactory manner). Season three of the critically acclaimed crime drama will premiere on Friday, January 26, 2024 at 12am ET on the STARZ app, streaming and on-demand platforms, and at 9pm ET/PT on Starz linear.
Season three stars Monica Raymund (Chicago Fire), James Badge Dale (1923), Riley Voelkel (Roswell, New Mexico), Amaury Nolasco (Prison Break), Atkins Estimond (The Resident), and Dohn Norwood (Mindhunter). Recurring final season cast members include Imani Lewis (Eighth Grade), Mark Boone Junior (Sons of Anarchy), and Mike Pniewski (Madam Secretary).
Ana Nogueira (The Vampire Diaries), Taja V. Simpson (The Oval), Michael Drayer (Mr. Robot), Garret Dillahunt (12 Years a Slave), Jeanine Serralles (Inside Llewyn Davis), and Kate Miller (The Trial of the Chicago 7) guest star.
Poster for ‘Hightown’ season 3 (Photo Credit: Starz)
“Fishery Service Agent Jackie Quiñones is off the wagon and off the force in the final season of Hightown, but that doesn’t stop her from careening into the dark underbelly of picture-perfect Cape Cod to save a missing woman and a murdered sex worker,” reads Starz’s season three synopsis. “Meanwhile, her former colleagues Ray Abruzzo and Alan Santille are focused on taking down drug syndicates, but despite their best efforts, the drugs keep flowing. This attracts Shane Frawley, a gangster from Boston looking to cut himself in on the Cape’s drug trade – and making an enemy of Osito while he’s at it. Alliances are made and old loyalties are questioned in this beautiful but corrupt place where nothing is as it seems.”
Rebecca Cutter created Hightown and serves as an executive producer along with Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, KristieAnne Reed, Ellen H. Schwartz, Gary Lennon, and Tim Walsh.
The Players trailer might give away just a little too much of the plot but, hey, at least it’s a fun two minutes. The romantic comedy is hitting the streaming service on February 14, 2024 for those who prefer to spend Valentine’s Day at home with Gina Rodriguez (Not Dead Yet), Damon Wayans Jr (The Harder They Fall), and Tom Ellis (Lucifer).
The cast of the rom-com also includes Joel Courtney (The Kissing Booth), Augustus Prew (The Morning Show), Liza Koshy (Work It), Ego Nwodim (Saturday Night Live), and Marin Hinkle (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel). Trish Sie (Sitting in Bars with Cake, Pitch Perfect 3) directs from a screenplay by Whit Anderson.
Ross M. Dinerstein, Marc Platt, Adam Siegel, and Ryan Christians serve as producers. Ross Girard, Sophia Lin, Gina Rodriguez, and Molly Breeskin executive produce.
Poster for ‘Players’ (Photo Credit: Netflix)
“New York sportswriter Mack (Rodriguez) has spent years devising successful hook-up ‘plays with best friend Adam (Wayans Jr.) and their crew. While it has led to countless one-night stands over the years, following their playbook comes with a strict set of ground rules — chief among them: you can’t build a relationship from a play,” reads Netflix’s synopsis. “When Mack unexpectedly falls for her latest target, charming war correspondent Nick (Ellis), she begins to rethink the game entirely. As the lines between work, fun, friendship, and romance begin to blur, Mack must learn what it takes to go from simply scoring to playing for keeps.”
Found fans should prepare for an incredibly intense hour of television with the arrival of the season one finale. After everything that was finally revealed in episode 12, you can expect the first season’s final episode – episode 13 – to deliver even more shocking revelations.
“Missing While Forgotten” will air on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at 10pm ET/PT. Season two is expected to debut as part of the 2024-2025 primetime lineup.
Found stars Shanola Hampton as Gabi, Kelli Williams as Margaret, Brett Dalton as Detective Mark Trent, Gabrielle Walsh as Lacey, Arlen Escarpeta as Zeke, Karan Oberoi as Dhan, and Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Sir.
“Missing While Forgotten” Plot: Gabi unravels as the team receives an anonymous tip about one of its most important cases – a missing girl they’ve been tracking for months. Gabi makes a shocking discovery about Sir.
Shanola Hampton as Gabi Mosely and Karan Oberoi as Dahn Rana in ‘Found’ episode 13 (Photo by: Matt Miller/NBC)
The Plot, Courtesy of NBC:
In any given year, more than 600,000 people are reported missing in the U.S. More than half that number are people of color that the country seems to forget about.
Public relations specialist Gabi Mosely (Hampton) — who was once herself one of those forgotten ones — and her crisis management team now make sure there is always someone looking out for the forgotten missing people. But unbeknownst to anyone, this everyday hero is hiding a chilling secret of her own.
Kelli Williams as Margaret Reed, Karan Oberoi as Dahn Rana, Shanola Hampton as Gabi Mosely, Brett Dalton as Detective Mark Trent, and Gabrielle Elise Walsh as Lacey Quinn in episode 13 (Photo by: Matt Miller/NBC)Joyce Guy as Grandma Lilly, Shanola Hampton as Gabi Mosely, Gabrielle Elise Walsh as Lacey Quinn, and Kelli Williams as Margaret Reed in the season 1 finale (Photo by: Matt Miller/NBC)Gabrielle Elise Walsh as Lacey Quinn, Kelli Williams as Margaret Reed, Karan Oberoi as Dahn Rana, and Shanola Hampton as Gabi Mosely in the “Missing While Forgotten” episode (Photo by: Matt Miller/NBC)Arlen Escarpeta as Zeke Wallace and Gabrielle Elise Walsh as Lacey Quinn in episode 13 (Photo by: Matt Miller/NBC)Shanola Hampton as Gabi Mosely and Karan Oberoi as Dahn Rana in the season 1 finale (Photo by: Matt Miller/NBC)
By the power of Grayskull…Netflix has released the official trailer for Masters of the Universe: Revolution. The streaming service’s new trailer arrived alongside the official poster and news that John De Lancie has joined the cast to voice Granamyr.
“It’s technology versus magic when He-Man and the heroic warriors face the forces of Skeletor and something more in Masters of the Universe: Revolution – the new epic chapter in the battle for Castle Grayskull! The newly mechanized Skeletor, armed with the might of Motherboard, attacks the heart of Eternia while Prince Adam grapples with a new responsibility and what that means for him as He-Man!” reads Netflix’s very enthusiastic synopsis. “Adam is forced to choose between the scepter or the sword, and a life as either the King or the Champion! Meanwhile, the new Sorceress Teela searches for the secret of Snake Magic in the mists of Darksmoke to rebuild a magic realm and help He-Man hold off the greatest threat Eternia has ever faced: the return of the despot Hordak, the ruthless leader of the Horde Empire!”
Poster for ‘Masters of the Universe: Revolution’ (Photo Credit: Netflix)
Returning voice cast members from 2021’s Masters of the Universe: Revelation include Chris Wood as He-Man, Mark Hamill as Skeletor, Liam Cunningham as Duncan, Tiffany Smith as Andra, Lena Headey as Evil-Lyn, Diedrich Bader as King Randor, Tony Todd as Scare Glow, and Griffin Newman as Orko. Keith David joins the franchise as Hordak and 1987’s Masters of the Universe‘s Meg Foster (“Evil-Lyn”) joins as Motherboard. William Shatner is also voicing a character, and Melissa Benoist is taking over the role of Teela from Sarah Michelle Gellar.
The five-episode season premieres on January 25, 2024. Kevin Smith, Ted Biaselli, Rob David, Christopher Keenan, and Frederic Soulie serve as executive producers.
Team members find themselves in a dire situation on CBS’s NCIS: Sydney season one episode seven. Directed by Kriv Stenders from a script by Kim Ho and James Cripps, episode seven – “Bunder Down” – airs on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at 8pm ET/PT.
Season one stars Olivia Swann (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow) as NCIS Special Agent Michelle Mackey, Sean Sagar (The Covenant) as NCIS Special Agent DeShawn Jackson, and Todd Lasance (Spartacus: War of the Damned) as her 2IC AFP counterpart, Sergeant Jim “JD” Dempsey. The cast also includes Tuuli Narkle (Mystery Road: Origin) as AFP liaison officer Constable Evie Cooper, Mavournee Hazel (Shantaram) as AFP forensic scientist Bluebird “Blue” Gleeson, and William McInnes (The Newsreader) as AFP forensic pathologist Dr Roy Penrose.
“Bunker Down” Plot: When a U.S. Navy researcher is found dead at a glitzy tech launch in a secret underground bunker, part of the team heads over to investigate, only to find themselves trapped inside with limited oxygen when the bunker fails to open.
Tuuli Narkle as AFP Liaison Officer Constable Evie Cooper, Olivia Swann as NCIS Special Agent Captain Michelle Mackey and Mavournee Hazel as Forensic Pathologist “Bluebird ‘Blue’ Gleeson on the set of ‘NCIS: Sydney’ episode 7 (Photo Credit: Daniel Asher Smith/Paramount+)
Series Description, Courtesy of CBS:
With rising international tensions in the Indo-Pacific, a brilliant and eclectic team of U.S. NCIS agents and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) are grafted into a multinational taskforce to keep naval crimes in check in the most contested patch of ocean on the planet.
Led by NCIS Special Agent Michelle Mackey and her 2IC AFP counterpart, Sergeant Jim “JD” Dempsey, our team of Americans and Aussies must quickly learn to trust each other, overcoming and harnessing their differences to solve each case. Though jurisdictional tussles and culture clashes make for a rocky start, Mackey will eventually come to respect JD’s nose for the truth, as he does her maverick style.
Meanwhile, sassy AFP Constable Evie Cooper and endlessly curious Special Agent DeShawn Jackson form a fast friendship, while curmudgeonly forensic pathologist Doctor Roy Penrose meets his match in the brilliant young forensic scientist Bluebird “Blue” Gleeson. Together, our team becomes NCIS’ first-ever internationally blended family.
Tuuli Narkle as AFP Liaison Officer Constable Evie Cooper, Olivia Swann as NCIS Special Agent Captain Michelle Mackey and Mavournee Hazel as Forensic Pathologist “Bluebird ‘Blue’ Gleeson in episode 7 (Photo Credit: Daniel Asher Smith/Paramount+)Georgina Haig as Ana Niemus in episode 7 (Photo Credit: Daniel Asher Smith/Paramount+)William McInnes as Forensic Pathologist Dr. Roy Penrose in episode 7 (Photo Credit: Daniel Asher Smith/Paramount+)Sean Sagar as Special Agent DeShawn Jackson, Todd Lasance as AFP Liaison Officer Sergeant Jim ‘JD’ Dempsey and William McInnes as Forensic Pathologist Dr. Roy Penrose in episode 7 (Photo Credit: Daniel Asher Smith/Paramount+)
Melissa Barrera reunites with her Scream and Scream VI directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett for Abigail, a twisted horror film about a vampire ballerina. The two-minute trailer introduces the titular character as well as the batch of adults who are caught completely by surprise when Abigail turns out to be a blood-sucking monster and not an innocent young dancer.
In addition to Barrera, the cast includes Dan Stevens (Gaslit), Kathryn Newton (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), William Catlett (Black Lightning), Kevin Durand (Resident Evil: Retribution), Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul), and Alisha Weir (Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical) as Abigail. Euphoria‘s Angus Cloud, who passed away in July 2023 from an accidental overdose, also stars.
Stephen Shields (The Hole in the Ground) and Guy Busick (Ready or Not) wrote the screenplay. Project X’s William Sherak, Paul Neinstein, and James Vanderbilt served as producers along with Tripp Vinson, and Radio Silence’s Chad Vilella. Ron Lynch and Macdara Kelleher executive produced.
After a group of would-be criminals kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, all they have to do to collect a $50 million ransom is watch the girl overnight. In an isolated mansion, the captors start to dwindle, one by one, and they discover, to their mounting horror, that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl.”
Fans of ABC’s popular primetime medical drama The Good Doctor will have one final season to say goodbye to Dr. Shaun Murphy, played by Freddie Highmore, and his colleagues. ABC released a new trailer and confirmed the series will end with the upcoming seventh season, set to premiere on February 20, 2024.
Season seven will air on Tuesdays at 10pm ET/PT.
“The Good Doctor has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but it’s time to say goodbye,” said executive producer Erin Gunn and executive producers/showrunners David Shore and Liz Friedman. “We are incredibly proud of the work we’ve done and the message we’ve been privileged to be a part of. We look forward to giving our fantastic fans, the truly extraordinary Freddie Highmore, the rest of our talented actors (and friends), and the best crew in the business the series ending that you all deserve. Thank you, Sony; thank you, ABC; thank you all.”
Highmore leads a cast that includes Richard Schiff as Dr. Aaron Grassman, Chuku Modu as Dr. Jared Kalu, Will Yun Lee as Dr. Alex Park, and Fiona Gubelmann as Dr. Morgan Reznick. Christina Chang is Dr. Audrey Lim, Paige Spara is Lea Dilallo, Bria Samoné Henderson is Dr. Jordan Allen, and Noah Galvin plays Dr. Asher Wolke.
“Playing Dr. Shaun Murphy has been an immense privilege and one of the most remarkable and rewarding experiences of my life,” stated Highmore. “I will always be grateful to David, Liz, and Erin as well as the hugely talented – and lovely – cast, writers, and crew who made this show possible. Caring deeply is what got us here. Thank you to Sony and ABC, and to everyone who has watched along at home. With love from Vancouver… tequila, stat!”
Poster for ‘The Good Doctor’ season 7 (Disney)
ABC’s official synopsis:
“Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, has worked tirelessly to prove to his colleagues that his extraordinary medical gifts will save lives. Meanwhile, Dr. Murphy and the rest of the team must also navigate the complexities of their own changing relationships as they continue to deal with life-and-death situations.”
Puppies, puppies, and more puppies! Animal Planet promises more adorable dogs than ever before as they celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Puppy Bowl. The family-friendly alternative to the Super Bowl will air on Sunday, February 11, 2024 at 2pm ET/11am PT.
This year’s extravaganza of adoptable doggies will be broadcast on Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, TBS, TruTV, Max, and Discovery+. The pregame show airs on Animal Planet at 1pm ET/ 10am PT.
Puppy Bowl XX will feature 131 puppies from 73 shelters across the United States and territories. One pup, Sweatpea, takes the title as the smallest pup to ever grace the Puppy Bowl field, weighing in at just 1.7 lbs. In contrast, Levi the Great Dane will be the all-time largest dog at 72 lbs.
The 20th-anniversary broadcast welcomes back four previous players who will be inducted into the brand-new Puppy Bowl Hall of Fame. Six special needs doggies will also join the fun, including a Papillon with two legs, four deaf puppies, an an adorable Pug with the neurological condition cerebellar hypoplasia.
Animal Planet offers this description of Puppy Bowl XX:
“For the first time ever, puppies are taking over the show’s production by operating the cameras and lighting, directing from the control room, stage managing on the studio floor and even coaching Team Ruff and Team Fluff. Puppy Bowl referee Dan Schachner returns for his 13th year and for the first time, will have a puppy assistant coach, Whistle, who helps him call the plays and fumbles.
With new camera angles, including a ref GoPro camera and wide-angle shot from the goal posts, viewers will experience getting nose-to-nose with the puppies. Fan-favorite elements including the slo-mo cam, NEXGARD® Brand Products blimp, the coveted water-bowl cam and the TEMPTATIONS™ Skybox kittens will return alongside sportscasters Steve Levy and Taylor Rooks providing play-by-play commentary between Team Ruff and Team Fluff.
Also returning are the SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. ‘Pup Close and Personal’ segments that share some of the all-star athletes’ backstories. Featured will be Baltimore Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley’s rescue foundation which trains dogs, including hound Linus, to support people with special needs; and Beignet, a New Orleans dachshund, who gets a nose-to-tail makeover before the big game.”
PUPPY BOWL XX ROSTER
Arizona
• Cherry – Arizona Humane Society (Phoenix, AZ)
• Pecan – Arizona Humane Society (Phoenix, AZ)
California
• Raine – Angel City Pit Bulls (Los Angeles, CA)
• Skipper – Angel City Pit Bulls (Los Angeles, CA)
• Peanut Pretzel – The Pug Queen Foundation (Los Angeles, CA)
• Harvey – Pug Nation Rescue of Los Angeles (Gardena, CA)
• Riddle – Pug Nation Rescue of Los Angeles (Gardena, CA)
• Bark Purdy – Sacramento SPCA (Sacramento, CA)
• Dobby – The Animal Pad Dog Rescue (San Diego, CA)
• Frederick – The Animal Pad Dog Rescue (San Diego, CA)
• Fred – Helen Woodward Animal Center (Rancho Santa Fe, CA)
• Dory – Helen Woodward Animal Center (Rancho Santa Fe, CA)
• Hana – Helen Woodward Animal Center (Rancho Santa Fe, CA)
• Frankie – Humane Society Silicon Valley (Milpitas, CA)
• Niner – Humane Society Silicon Valley (Milpitas, CA)
Colorado
• Chili – Humane Society of Pikes Peak Region (Colorado Springs, CO)
Connecticut
• Sierra – American Lab Rescue (Willington, CT)
• London – Connecticut Humane Society (Newington, CT)
• Apollo – Danbury Animal Welfare Society (Danbury, CT)
• Courage – Danbury Animal Welfare Society (Danbury, CT)
• Hope – Danbury Animal Welfare Society (Danbury, CT)
• Lainie – Danbury Animal Welfare Society (Danbury, CT)
• Mimi – Dog Star Rescue (Canton, CT)
• Tater – Dog Star Rescue (Canton, CT)
• Betty – Lucky Dog Refuge (Stamford, CT)
• Rebekah – Lucky Dog Refuge (Stamford, CT)
• Inez – Lucky Dog Refuge (Stamford, CT)
• Greyson – Pack Leaders Rescue of CT (East Hartford, CT)
• Hudson – Ridgefield Operation Animal Rescue (Ridgefield, CT)
• Ranger – Ridgefield Operation Animal Rescue (Ridgefield, CT)
Delaware
• Moe – Renee’s Rescues (Hockessin, DE)
Florida
• Payton – Miami Dade County Animal Services (Miami, FL)
• Thomas – Miami Dade County Animal Services (Miami, FL)
• Athena – Florida Little Dog Rescue Group (St. Cloud, FL)
• Beemo – Florida Little Dog Rescue Group (St. Cloud, FL)
• Chester – Florida Little Dog Rescue Group (St. Cloud, FL)
• Dash – Florida Little Dog Rescue Group (St. Cloud, FL)
• Elinor – Florida Little Dog Rescue Group (St. Cloud, FL)
• Taylor – Florida Little Dog Rescue Group (St. Cloud, FL)
• Wilson – Florida Little Dog Rescue Group (St. Cloud, FL)
• Kalani – Compassion Kind Foundation (St. Petersburg, FL)
• Nora – Compassion Kind Foundation (St. Petersburg, FL)
• Mr. Bean – Barky Pines Animal Rescue & Sanctuary (West Palm Beach, FL)
Georgia
• Charlotte – Bosley’s Place (Smyrna, GA)
• Lillie – Bosley’s Place (Smyrna, GA)
• Sweetpea – Bosley’s Place (Smyrna, GA)
• Theodore – Bosley’s Place (Smyrna, GA)
Illinois
• Rose Fay – The Anti-Cruelty Society (Chicago, Illinois)
• Guy Fureri – One Tail at a Time (Chicago, Illinois)
• Arthur – One Tail at a Time (Chicago, Illinois)
Iowa
• Angus – AHeinz57 Pet Rescue (DeSota, IA)
• Patrick Mabone – AHeinz57 Pet Rescue (DeSota, IA)
• Jambu – AHeinz57 Pet Rescue (DeSota, IA)
• June – AHeinz57 Pet Rescue (DeSota, IA)
• Vega – AHeinz57 Pet Rescue (DeSota, IA)
Louisiana
• Beignet – Take Paws Rescue (New Orleans, LA)
• Agatha – Ninna’s Road to Rescue (Shreveport, LA)
• Corndog – Ninna’s Road to Rescue (Shreveport, LA)
Maine
• Eliot – Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland (Portland, ME)
• Jade – Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland (Portland, ME)
Maryland
• Linus – Ronnie Stanley Foundation (Baltimore, MD)
Massachusetts
• Big Man – Great Dog Rescue New England (Andover, MA)
Michigan
• Dolly – Big Lake Humane Society (Muskegon, MI)
Mississippi
• Rocky – Charlie’s Crusaders Pet Rescue (Horn Lake, MS)
Missouri
• Indigo – Five Acres Animal Shelter (St. Charles, MO)
• Sadie – Humane Society of Missouri (St. Louis, MO)
Nevada
• Lady Luck – Nevada SPCA (Las Vegas, NV)
New Jersey
• Fancy – A Second Chance for Ziva (Chatham, NJ)
• Biscuit – Jersey Girls Animal Rescue (North Plainfield, NJ)
• Bob Barker – Jersey Girls Animal Rescue (North Plainfield, NJ)
New York
• Gunnar – Buddy’s Second Chance Rescue (Buffalo, NY)
• Shadow – Buddy’s Second Chance Rescue w(Buffalo, NY)
• Farin – Nickel City Canine Rescue (Lancaster, NY)
• Flaxo – Nickel City Canine Rescue (Lancaster, NY)
• Willie – Helping Hounds Dog Rescue (Syracuse, NY)
• Justin – Paws Crossed Animal Rescue (Elmsford, NY)
• Bailey – Paws Crossed Animal Rescue (Elmsford, NY)
• Jonesy – Rescue City (New York, NY)
• Dee Dee – Rescue Dogs Rock NYC (New York, NY)
• Francine – Rescue Dogs Rock NYC (New York, NY)
• Romeo – Rescue Dogs Rock NYC (New York, NY)
• Captain Chaos – SATO Project (New York, NY and San Juan, Puerto Rico)
• Mr. Miraculous – SATO Project (New York, NY and San Juan, Puerto Rico)
• Tornado – SATO Project (New York, NY and San Juan, Puerto Rico)
• Vasco – SATO Project (New York, NY and San Juan, Puerto Rico)
• Vince – SATO Project (New York, NY and San Juan, Puerto Rico)
• Granite – SATO Project (New York, NY and San Juan, Puerto Rico)
• Dallas – SPCA Westchester (Briarcliff Manor, NY)
• Melody – SPCA Westchester (Briarcliff Manor, NY)
• Sonny – Best Friends Animal Society (New York, NY and National)
Ohio
• Cookie – Humane Society of Greater Dayton (Dayton, OH)
• Gracie – Humane Society of Greater Dayton (Dayton, OH)
Pennsylvania
• Dominic – Brandywine Valley SPCA (Westchester, PA)
• Vanessa – Brandywine Valley SPCA (Westchester, PA)
• Bertie – Phoenix Animal Rescue (Chester Springs, PA)
• Small Ed – Phoenix Animal Rescue (Chester Springs, PA)
• Whistle – Phoenix Animal Rescue (Chester Springs, PA)
• Sasha – Providence Animal Center (Media, PA)
• Gertie – Paws Across Pittsburgh Animal Rescue (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Good Girl – Paws Across Pittsburgh Animal Rescue (Pittsburgh, PA)
Tennessee
• Archie – Big Fluffy Dog Rescue (Nashville, TN)
• Ozzie – Big Fluffy Dog Rescue (Nashville, TN)
• Sherlock – Big Fluffy Dog Rescue (Nashville, TN)
Texas
• Anza – Dallas Dog (Dallas, TX)
• Lou Lou – Dallas Dog (Dallas, TX)
• Snack Prescott – Hearts and Bones Rescue (Dallas, TX)
Virginia
• Fox – Green Dogs Unleashed (Troy, VA)
• Levi – Green Dogs Unleashed (Troy, VA)
• Ollie – Green Dogs Unleashed (Troy, VA)
• Moosh – Green Dogs Unleashed (Troy, VA)
• Xinia – Green Dogs Unleashed (Troy, VA)
• Stryker – Green Dogs Unleashed (Troy, VA)
• Cosmo – Green Dogs Unleashed (Troy, VA)
• Zeke – Green Dogs Unleashed (Troy, VA)
• Cronut – Shar-Pei Rescue of Virginia (Chesapeake, VA)
• Flea Flicker – Southside SPCA (Meherrin, VA)
• Blake – Operation Paws for Homes (Alexandria, VA)
• Coby – Operation Paws for Homes (Alexandria, VA)
Virgin Islands
• Maggie – Ruff Start Rescue STX (St. Croix, Virgin Islands)
West Virginia
• Miro – Hedgesville Hounds (Hedgesville, WV)
