Netflix’s reality competition series Squid Game: The Challenge, inspired by the award-winning drama Squid Game, has been renewed for season two. The streaming service is now in the casting stage for the upcoming second season, with potential contestants ages 21 and over advised to visit SquidGameCasting.com for more information.
The casting site says, “Now it’s your chance to take part in Netflix’s biggest ever social experiment! This supersized unscripted show turns the scripted world of the drama into reality. Real-life players will be immersed in the iconic Squid Game universe and will never know what’s coming next. Here they’ll compete in a series of heart-stopping games in order to become the sole survivor* and walk away with a life-changing $4.56 million dollar cash prize.
With a fortune up for grabs, who will be an ally, who will you trust, and who will you betray in this ultimate test of character?
*Please note: Win or lose, all players will walk away. But if you win, you win big!”
Season one of the wild competition series premiered on November 22, 2023 and hit #1 on Netflix for two weeks. The renewal announcement was made on the same date as the first season’s finale.
“There was no red light in our decision to greenlight season two of Squid Game: The Challenge, the most ambitious unscripted show we’ve premiered at Netflix,” said Brandon Riegg, Netflix VP of Nonfiction Series. “We’re so excited to continue the franchise of Squid Game with our team in Korea, and producers at Studio Lambert and The Garden for this epic competition series.”
The 10-episode first season was executive produced by Nicola Brown (The Garden), Tim Harcourt (Studio Lambert), John Hay (The Garden), Toni Ireland (Studio Lambert), Anna Kidd, Stephen Lambert (Studio Lambert), Louise Peet, Nia Yemoh (Studio Lambert), and Stephen Yemoh (Studio Lambert).
“456 real players will enter the competition show in pursuit of a life-changing reward of USD $4.56 million,” reads Netflix’s synopsis. “As they compete through a series of games inspired by the original show – plus surprising new additions – their strategies, alliances, and character will be put to the test while competitors are eliminated around them.”
The original Squid Game won six Emmy Awards, two Critics Choice Awards, a SAG Award, and a Spirit Award. Squid Game racked up 1.65+ billion view hours in just 28 days, and is the streaming service’s most popular series. Netflix plans to expand the Squid Game world with a video game that allows players to compete in games from the series.
Emma Corrin as Darby Hart in ‘A Murder at the End of the World’ episode 5 (Photo CR: Chris Saunders/FX)
We’re getting down to the wire with FX’s limited series A Murder at the End of the World. Going into episode five, the big question was whether it would leave viewers with more questions than answers as to who the killer could possibly be. And by the end of episode five of the seven-episode season, it felt as though we did move a little closer to learning the murderer’s identity – even as the mysterious killer claimed another victim.
Episode four ended with Darby (Emma Corrin) realizing Zoomer (Kellan Tetlow) could be Bill’s son and not Andy’s. Episode five, “Crypt,” begins with her giving Zoomer a hug. We’re then taken back to when she and Bill (Harris Dickinson) were on their murder mystery road trip.
Darby smells smoke while they’re at a gas station, and they spot a massive fire in the distance. She suggests they leave, and Bill replies ominously, “One day there won’t be any place left to go.”
Back to current events and Eva (Britian Seibert) arrives to tell Darby she should lie down since she’s still recovering from her injuries. Darby wants to know where Sian is because she really wants to see her. Her thoughts seem to be scattered, and her questions about the medical room are all over the place. Eva can’t provide any answers; she took the Hippocratic Oath and, ethically, she can’t divulge anything.
When Darby asks if the morphine that killed Bill is in the safe, that gets Eva’s attention. Darby warns, “The more secrets you keep, the more blood that is on your hands.”
Eva admits the morphine did come from that safe. Darby continues questioning her, reminding her that someone also messed with the pacemaker equipment. Eva claims she doesn’t know who’s been in that room.
Darby’s taken to see Andy (Clive Owens) and wastes no time getting down to business. She reveals she knows Zoomer is Bill’s son. Bill found out, so he either killed him or had Todd do it. Rohan was probably a witness. However, it turns out Andy’s known he’s sterile since he was 19. He claims Lee doesn’t know. He also says the morphine was stolen.
Andy thinks the killer could be someone close to him – but insists it wasn’t him. He was receiving treatment when Bill was killed. Darby wonders who would have the motive to kill Bill, and Andy explains that he feels Bill is her blind spot because she loved him.
”See, you think this is all about Bill, but it’s not,” says Andy. He believes someone wants to destroy him and that he’s being set up.
After telling Darby he thinks they should work together, he shows her a laser scan of the building at the time of Bill’s murder. At the exact time the killer made their move, the system did an auto backup. Someone had to have known that. After narrowing down who was where on that night, they decide to question David (Raul Esparza), who was seen in the hallway before and after Bill’s death.
David claims he was going to the room of another guest, Oliver. After that admission, he clams up and won’t say another word without his lawyer present.
Next up for questioning is Oliver (Ryan J. Haddad). Oliver says that he and David had sex and that David got a call. After David got off the phone, he returned and seemed flustered. He said he thinks Lu Mei’s a Chinese spy.
Darby realizes Oliver was alone when Bill died. Plus, it’s no secret that Oliver doesn’t care for Bill.
Darby realizes Oliver’s sneakers are worn out, considering he uses a wheelchair. She asks if he can walk and he admits he can, but not far or for long.
Lu Mei (Joan Chen) is next to be called on for questioning. She recalls the events of the night Bill died, and Darby asks about her hacking skills. Lu Mei admits she hacked the firewall after Rohan’s death to see if she could get in contact with her security team. She couldn’t reach them.
Darby wants to question Lee because Lu Mei says Lee did leave their poker game for a bit. Andy shuts that down and wants to know who called David’s room that night. It turns out the call came from Bill.
Andy is told the Wall Street Journal wants to speak to him. They’ve somehow found out about Rohan’s death. Andy loses it because this leak confirms he can’t trust anyone.
Darby finds Lee (Brit Marling) and asks where she went that night after she left the poker game. Lee claims she was checking on Zoomer. Darby spills the beans that Zoomer is Bill’s, and – surprise! – Andy is sterile. Lee quickly leaves the room, and Darby uses the opportunity to go through her bag. She finds a black wig and a debit card with the name Marie on it.
Unfortunately, Lee catches her. Andy arrives and interrupts an incredibly creepy moment between Darby and Lee. Darby insists she wants to go lie down.
Back in her room, Darby crushes pills and then snorts them. She calls David and asks why Bill called him that night, but instead of an answer, she hears the dial tone.
After trying to pull herself together, an unknown person suddenly attacks Darby from behind. The attacker plays a message with their voice disguised, and the message indicates they don’t want to take another life but will if she forces their hand.
Emma Corrin as Darby Hart and Harris Dickinson as Billy in ‘A Murder at the End of the World’ episode 5 (Photo CR: Chris Saunders/FX)
We slip back in time to Darby and Bill on their quest for answers. Bill wants to know when she fell for him but goes first and confesses to when he fell for her. “What makes you think I fell for you?” asks Darby, which is clearly not the response Bill thought he’d get.
Darby, obsessed with the murder case, is excited to discover a man just posted that he thinks the ring they have is from the 1920s. E. Bell is probably the original owner.
Bill pulls over and gets out, and Darby seems oblivious to the fact that he’s upset. He goes on a rant about how everyone’s addicted to their phones. Darby suddenly admits she’s in love with him.
Emma Corrin as Darby Hart and Alice Braga as Sian in ‘A Murder at the End of the World’ episode 5 (Photo CR: Chris Saunders/FX)
The flashback ends, and Darby pays Sian (Alice Braga) a visit. She feels guilty for what happened to Sian, but wanted to tell her someone broke into her room and attacked her. Darby also informs Sian that Zoomer is Bill’s son. Sian suggests she find the people she can trust before anything else bad happens.
Sian asks Darby to get her water, and while Darby retrieves a glass, Sian’s monitors start to go off. Eva hurries into the room and demands to know what Darby did to her.
Andy wonders why death seems to follow Darby. She thinks it’s someone close to Andy but doesn’t think he realizes how close. Darby tells him about Lee’s passport with a fake name, and Andy reacts by ordering her to go lie down and declaring that she’s no longer his concern.
Martin (Jermaine Fowler) joins Darby as she tells Ziba (Pegah Ferydoni) and Lu Mei that Sian died. Darby believes Andy built some sort of bunker, and now she’s wondering if this is all an audition for a spot in it.
Ziba thinks they should release the ones who died to the wind. Darby cannot say Bill’s name and once again we slip back into the past. Darby tells Bill she found the killer and explains how she went about it. Bill reacts by questioning if she’s high. Darby confesses she got Adderall from someone at a truck stop, and Bill admits he’s worried about her because she’s on uppers and drinking.
A fire breaks out in their motel room, and they manage to escape. Bill feels like he has to die for Darby to love him. Suddenly, Darby’s jostled out of her memory and runs back into the hotel.
Once she’s back in her room, she opens up to Andy’s AI assistant, Ray. All of a sudden, her light starts to flicker in Morse code. It reads, “I know why Bill called David. 22.00 pool.”
Episode five ends on a cliffhanger as Darby heads to the pool. It’s cold out, so Darby gets into the heated pool. As she goes underwater, the pool’s cover goes over the pool. Darby’s trapped!
New episodes of FX’s A Murder at the End of the World air on Tuesdays on Hulu.
Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij (The OA) created the series and serve as writers, directors, and executive producers. Andrea Sperling, Melanie Marnich, and Nicki Paluga also executive produce.
Joe Keery as Gator Tillman in ‘Fargo’ season 5 episode 4 (Photo CR: Michelle Faye/FX)
Gator (Joe Keery) and his three minions make their move as FX’s Fargo season five episode four, “Insolubilia,” gets underway. The foursome splits into two twosomes and enters the Lyons’ home. Are they surprised to find the doors unlocked? Probably, but it’s impossible to tell because of their Nightmare Before Christmas masks.
Armed with tasers, knives, and guns – and half a brain between them – they slowly make their way through the house. Smoke pours out of the oven and Dot (Juno Temple) watches from inside a closet, waiting to launch her attack.
The tension ratchets up along with the action as the lights go out, a smoke alarm sounds, and a strobe light flashes. It turns out the strobe light’s coming from a plastic jack-o-lantern with a maniacal laugh. While one intruder’s distracted looking at the pumpkin, Dot moves in and sprays him right in the eye with pepper spray. (Her aim is incredibly accurate!) She pushes him down the basement stairs.
His cries of pain draw the attention of Gator and his two other buddies. As they’re distracted looking out the front door, Dot pulls the chain and the sledgehammer swings down and knocks one out as she races past him into the street.
Gator almost takes out one of his own thugs by pushing her down the front stairs while ordering her to chase Dot. He then drags the sledgehammered dude back inside as Dot returns through the back door, grabs the Lyon’s version of Negan’s zombie-killing bat, and takes a swing at his head. Unfortunately, she misses and the bat gets stuck in the wall.
Gator removes his mask, and Dot looks at him in anger and disgust. She shoves him, saying, “Shame on you, Gator. There’s a baby in this house!” (It doesn’t matter that Scotty’s way too old to be considered a baby.)
A brief argument over whether Dot’s coming peacefully ensues, and Dot – of course – isn’t about to get into Gator’s van without putting up a fight. Go, Dot!
Dot grabs Gator’s broken arm and pushes him away before locking herself in the basement.
Gator sends the guy who was in the basement but has now made his way back upstairs to go to find the husband and Dot’s kid. Gator removes the cause of the smoke from the oven and takes the zombie-killing bat to the annoying smoke alarm, shutting it off forever.
Dot’s using a ladder inside a laundry chute to climb out of the basement as Gator busts through the basement door. Two of his recently injured minions make their way through the house. Gator whips out his gun with a flashlight and whistles for Dot like you’d whistle for a dog. Apparently, Gator forgot the lesson Ole Munch learned the hard way – Dot Lyon’s a tiger.
Gator discovers how Dot escaped the basement just as the pepper spray dude pulls on the attic chain. The stairs stream down and pin him to the floor, holding him in place by his neck. Dot attacks the lone female intruder, wrapping her in a sheet, knocking away her gun, and pushing her down the stairs. Gator’s bad timing causes him to be on the stairs while his friend’s falling down, and both end up in a clump on the living room floor. (Stair-pushing is a recurring move in this fight.)
Scotty (Sienna King), who is in fact in the attic with her dad, calls out for her mom. Wayne (David Rysdahl) has absolutely no idea what’s going on but is smart enough to follow Dot’s orders. He stands on the ladder and keeps pepper spray dude pinned down while Dot fetches a toilet lid and slams it into the guy’s head.
“Go, mom!” says Scotty with a huge smile. Wayne’s less enthusiastic and really confused as to why their attacker is calling his wife Nadine.
Dot orders Wayne and Scotty down the laundry chute as she grabs a gun and fires at Gator who’s back on his feet and heading up the stairs. But Wayne calls an audible and wants to go out the bedroom window instead, unaware of all of Dot’s booby traps.
Dot follows him into the bedroom, but she’s too slow and can’t stop Wayne before he’s knocked unconscious from being electrocuted. The wires cause the curtains to catch fire and soon the bedroom’s in flames.
With Scotty’s help, Dot lifts Wayne’s limp body out the window and onto the roof. All the while Gator’s pounding on the bedroom door, trying to break in.
Dot scans the neighborhood, looking for the best escape route. Scotty heads down the trellis and runs away, but Dot has no choice but just to push Wayne off the roof as sirens are finally heard in the distance.
Dot climbs down the trellis as Gator frees the guy who didn’t die from being hit with the toilet lid. They grab their friend who was hit with the sledgehammer (he’s in worse shape than toilet lid guy) and walk away as emergency crews arrive.
Dot pulls Wayne away from the house and can only watch as her home goes up in flames.
The Dot vs Gator and Friends battle took up the first 15 minutes of the episode and was worth every minute devoted to the fight.
Roy Tillman (Jon Hamm) arrives home after spending time alone in the chapel to discover bloody footprints in his foyer leading up to the second floor. He grabs a shotgun and quickly enters his twins’ room. They’re asleep and don’t seem to realize someone has drawn a strange symbol on the bedroom wall between their beds.
Over at the hospital, Dot and Scotty wait for news on Wayne’s condition, and Dot makes Scotty promise she won’t talk about the intruders. If she does, they’ll return – and no one wants that. Instead, they’re going to stick to a faulty wiring story. Any scratches are from falling into the bushes, and the fire was because they plugged in some lights.
Poor Dot, it’s obvious she doesn’t want to lie to her daughter or force her daughter to lie. It’s also obvious she knows it’s best to keep her daughter away from the truth as much as possible.
Richa Moorjani as Indira Olmstead and Lamorne Morris as Witt Farr in ‘Fargo’ season 5 episode 4 (Photo CR: Michelle Faye/FX)
North Dakota Deputy Witt Farr (Lamorne Morris) shows Scandia Police Deputy Indira Olmstead (Richa Moorjani) security tape from the gas station. There’s no way around it – the video shows Dot was the kidnap victim who helped Witt survive the gun battle. The video makes Dot’s story even more difficult to understand. She’s a victim and a hero yet denies ever being held against her will.
And now, a five-alarm fire destroyed the Lyons’ home. Both Witt and Indira have no idea what the heck’s going on.
Meanwhile, Lorraine Lyon (Jennifer Jason Leigh) sits for a semi-contentious interview with a reporter from Forbes about her company, Redemption Services. Lorraine claims they’re attempting to help those who’ve gotten themselves in debt. The reporter points out it’s Redemption that calls people during meals demanding money.
Lorraine insists her employees are professionals who offer solutions, including payment plans, to those who need assistance getting out from under their bills. Wrapping up the interview after learning her son’s been hurt, Lorraine says that Americans want to fix things for themselves – and that’s what Redemption Services offers. (If you believe that, I’ve got some oceanfront property in Nebraska I’d like to sell you.)
Jennifer Jason Leigh as Lorraine Lyon and Dave Foley as Danish Graves in ‘Fargo’ season 5 episode 4 (Photo CR: Michelle Faye/FX)
Lorraine gives Dot two seconds of her time in the waiting room before insisting Danish Graves (David Foley) call a hospital board member and demand Wayne receives the Saudi package. Dot attempts to calm her down, but Lorraine’s on a roll, demanding special service from a nurse. She doesn’t receive the preferential treatment she believes she deserves and immediately instructs Danish to have the nurse fired.
Dot’s day goes from horrible to whatever comes after horrible with the arrival of Indira and Witt. Witt insists he recognizes Dot, even though she denies knowing him. Also, there’s video footage of her at the gas station.
“With all due respect, we’ve got our own reality,” says Danish, and Witt reminds him alternate facts aren’t a thing.
Lorraine doesn’t even attempt to act like she likes her daughter-in-law, wondering if they’re on welfare when Dot suggests Scotty get something from the vending machine. Lorraine wouldn’t do something as déclassé as carry money, so she has Danish hand Scotty cash to get a Snickers bar.
Witt asks about the kidnappers, and Dot looks to Danish for rescue. Fortunately, Dot’s called away to see Wayne before she needs to answer Witt and Indira’s questions.
While heading to Wayne’s room, Dot makes note of the patient across the hall.
Wayne calls Dot “Nadine” and then breaks out in a loopy smile as he recognizes her. He’s drugged up and doesn’t remember what happened, so she “reminds” him he touched a wire. Poor Wayne can’t stop smiling when he calls her his wife, and Dot promises she’s going to fix everything.
Dot gently crawls into bed with her injured hubby, carefully placing one of his wrapped arms around her as they spoon.
Elsewhere, FBI agents Meyer and Joaquin don’t receive any backing from the judge when they inform him that Roy Tillman’s reported weapons are missing and that he gave them to Odin Little and his militia. Their informant disappeared, one of Roy’s deputies just died in a mysterious car crash, and two of Roy’s wives have gone missing.
The agents are up against a brick wall with this judge. He refuses to do anything about Roy and instead just hopes he won’t get reelected.
Although the judge is a huge disappointment, the agents score a win with the discovery that Nadine’s been found – thanks to her fingerprints. She’s changed her name and is now Dorothy Lyon. (Oh no, this absolutely can’t be good for Dot!)
Roy stews over Ole Munch invading his home. Miles away, a filthy Ole Munch (Sam Spruell) delivers a lecture to his mom while soaking in a bathtub. She hasn’t a clue as to why he’s in her home and begs him to tell her what he wants.
Ole Munch replies, “Pancakes,” which, when you’re in a tub covered in blood, is definitely a very bizarre answer.
Morning arrives, and Roy visits the young couple he recently counseled. He quotes the Bible and attempts to assess whether the husband, Joshua, has been doing right by his wife, Lenore, since their last meeting. A fresh bruise on her wrist as she pours Roy’s coffee confirms Joshua hasn’t changed his abusive ways.
Joshua draws on Roy, shaking while holding the sheriff at gunpoint. Roy doesn’t panic; in fact, he barely reacts. Joshua finally pulls the trigger but Roy’s faster and a better aim. Roy’s bullet hits Joshua in the neck, while Joshua’s bullet puts a hole in the window two inches from Roy’s head.
Gator barges in as Joshua’s gulping for air. Roy realizes Gator didn’t grab Nadine, and Gator confirms Dot is indeed a tiger.
Roy’s going to cover Joshua’s death by saying that he’s Munch, the cop killer from the gas station. Lenore’s not given a choice except to back up Roy’s story, which leaves Roy free and clear to “settle his differences” with Munch and Dot in private since outsiders in law enforcement will be told the case is closed.
Roy promises Lenore that he’ll provide her with monthly payments if she doesn’t tell anyone the truth.
Tom Hollander, Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Calista Flockhart, and Chloë Sevigny lead the cast of FX’s FEUD: Capote Vs. The Swans, based on Laurence Leamer’s Capote’s Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era. The second installment of Ryan Murphy’s anthology series will premiere on January 31, 2024 on FX and FXX with the release of the first two episodes.
New episodes of the eight-episode season air on Wednesdays at 10pm ET/PT.
The first season, FEUD: Bette and Joan, premiered in March 2017 and explored the relationship between classic movie stars Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Susan Sarandon starred as Bette Davis, Jessica Lange played Joan Crawford, and Judy Davis played gossip columnist Hedda Hopper.
Tom Hollander as Truman Capote in ‘FEUD: Capote Vs. The Swans’ (Photo CR: Pari Dukovic/FX)
“Acclaimed writer Truman Capote (Hollander) surrounded himself with a coterie of society’s most elite women – rich, glamorous socialites who defined a bygone era of high society New York – whom he nicknamed ‘the swans.’ Beautiful and distinguished, the group included grande dame Barbara ‘Babe’ Paley (Watts), Slim Keith (Lane), C.Z. Guest (Sevigny) and Lee Radziwill (Flockhart),” reads FX’s synopsis.
“Enchanted and captivated by these doyennes, Capote ingratiated himself into their lives, befriending them and becoming their confidante, only to ultimately betray them by writing a thinly veiled fictionalization of their lives, exposing their most intimate secrets. When an excerpt from the book Answered Prayers, Capote’s planned magnum opus, was published in Esquire, it effectively destroyed his relationship with his swans, banished him from the high society he so loved and sent him into a spiral of self-destruction from which he would ultimately never recover.”
The cast of the second installment of FEUD also includes Demi Moore as Ann “Bang-Bang” Woodward, Molly Ringwald as Joanne Carson, Treat Williams as Bill Paley, Joe Mantello as Jack Dunphy, and Russell Tovey as John O’Shea.
Jon Robin Baitz wrote FEUD: Capote Vs. The Swans and Gus Van Sant, Max Winkler, and Jennifer Lynch directed. Ryan Murphy, Alexis Martin Woodall, Baitz, Van Sant, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Naomi Watts, Eric Kovtun, and Scott Robertson executive produced.
Naomi Watts as Babe Paley (Photo CR: Pari Dukovic/FX)Diane Lane as Slim Keith. (Photo CR: Pari Dukovic/FX)Calista Flockhart as Lee Radziwill (Photo CR: Pari Dukovic/FX)Chloë Sevigny as C.Z. Guest (Photo Credit: FX)
‘So You Think You Can Dance’ season 18’s Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Comfort Fedoke, Cat Deeley, Nigel Lythgoe, and Allison Holker (Photo Credit: Fox)
So You Think You Can Dance will return for an 18th season, but with a new judging panel and new format. Season 17 wasn’t a ratings winner, but Fox is apparently willing to take a chance with an invigorated edition of the popular dance competition series.
Season 18’s judging panel will consist of series co-creator Nigel Lythgoe, So You Think You Can Dance All-Star and Emmy-nominated Dancing with the Stars choreographer Allison Holker, and dancer and Dancing with the Stars alum choreographer Maksim Chmerkovskiy. So You Think You Can Dance All-Star Comfort Fedoke, an associate choreographer on Wicked (the film) and associate choreographer for Cabaret on London’s West End, will join the panel during the auditions.
Cat Deeley is on board to return as host when the new season premieres on Monday, March 4, 2024 at 9pm ET/PT.
“So You Think You Can Dance is television’s preeminent dance competition, and we are thrilled to bring the beloved show back for an all-new season,” said Allison Wallach, President of Unscripted Programming at FOX Entertainment. “Reuniting Cat, Nigel, Allison, and Comfort and, welcoming Maksim into the SYTYCD family, is sure to make Season 18 bigger than ever for their legions of fans around the globe.”
The 17-time Emmy Award-winning series is executive produced by Lythgoe, Daniel Martin, Barry Adelman, Eli Holzman, and Aaron Saidman. Martin also serves as showrunner.
Fox released this description of season 18:
Season 18 will infuse the long-running hit with a new format reflecting the authentic experience of building a successful career in dance, as so many So You Think You Can Dance alums have. Each week, contestants will compete in new, intense dance challenges that will give them a real taste of the career, from performing in a music video or a football halftime show to going toe-to-toe on stage with a Broadway performer. In the end, it will be up to the judges to decide their fate. Eliminations will take place weekly, with the Top 3 finalists competing in the season’s spectacular finale, but only one will win the $100,000 grand prize and the highly coveted title of So You Think You Can Dance champion.
This season will also debut new storytelling elements to further capture the authentic ups and downs experienced by professional dancers. For the first time ever, in addition to the big spectacle dance numbers that So You Think You Can Dance has long been famous for, viewers will get a documentary-style inside look at the contestants’ dynamics, following them throughout the competition as they go through their personal and competitive journeys, including the daily struggles, new relationships, personality clashes and more.
These new dimensions to the show’s format reflect and celebrate its consistency in launching illustrious dance careers for its contestants, who can be found in the dance troupes for superstar musical acts, on Broadway stages, on every dance show on TV and beyond. Each year, amateurs gain the experience and exposure to launch successful careers, and the real-world challenges of the 18th season will prove their professional readiness more than ever. Last year, ballroom dancer Alexis Warr from Orem, UT was named the winner of So You Think You Can Dance during the live two-hour season finale on FOX. Warr waltzed off with the grand prize winnings and prestigious title of “America’s Favorite Dancer.”
Paramount+ has unveiled the official season two trailer for the medical drama SkyMed. The trailer’s release was accompanied by news that season two will premiere on Thursday, January 11, 2024, with all nine episodes available for bingeing.
The returning series cast includes Natasha Calis (Nurses) as Hayley, Morgan Holmstrom (Day of the Dead) as Crystal, Praneet Akilla (Nancy Drew) as Chopper, “Ace” Aason Nadjiwon (Honey Girls) as Bodie, Mercedes Morris (Y: The Last Man) as Lexi, Thomas Elms (The Order) as Nowak, and Kheon Clarke (Riverdale) as Tristan. Season two will feature new series regulars Sydney Kuhne (Ginny & Georgia) as Stef, Ryan Ali (Aquaslash) as Reese, and Nadine Whiteman-Roden (Faith Heist) as Dr. Yana Noah.
Braeden Clarke (Outlander), Emilia McCarthy (Zombies), and Aaron Ashmore (Ginny & Georgia) return in recurring roles.
Poster for season 2 of Paramount+’s ‘SkyMed’
“SkyMed follows the triumphs and tribulations of young medics and pilots who fly air ambulances across Northern Canada. Weaving together intense personal journeys with jaw-dropping medical rescues in the most remote conditions, the new season thrusts the diverse group of medical responders into intense emergencies as they continue to rely on each other for survival 20,000 feet in the air,” reads Paramount+’s official synopsis. “As SkyMed expands, expect all new hookups, heartbreaks, and challenges on the job as the team wrestles with what it really means to grow up and discover whether they can grow together or grow apart.”
Julie Puckrin created the series and serves as an executive producer. Vanessa Piazza and Gillian Hormel also executive produce the one-hour medical drama, with Rhonda Baker and Carrie Wilkins producing.
Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly (Photo Credits: John Russo and Melanie Dunea, Courtesy of Netflix)
Josh Duhamel (Love, Simon) and Minka Kelly (Euphoria) are confirmed to star in Ransom Canyon, a new family drama just ordered to series by Netflix. Ransom Canyon comes from writer and executive producer April Blair (Wednesday), and Amanda Marsalis (Umbrella Academy) is on board to direct the first two episodes.
Netflix’s announcement states the first season will have 10 one-hour episodes. The streaming service did not announce a target premiere date.
Netflix released this synopsis of Ransom Canyon along with descriptions of Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly’s characters:
“Ransom Canyon is a romance-fueled family drama and contemporary western saga that charts the intersecting lives of three ranching families, all set against the rugged expanse of Texas Hill Country.”
Josh Duhamel (The Lost Husband, Transformers) will play Staten Kirkland, owner and sole occupant of the sprawling Double K Ranch. Steadfast and stoic, Staten leads the charge to resist outside forces threatening his way of life and the land that he loves.
Minka Kelly (Friday Night Lights) will play Quinn. Quinn has often found herself in the shadow of others, but after a stint in New York pursuing her career as a concert pianist, she has returned to Ransom Canyon to carve out a new path for herself.
John Oliver will be occupying fans’ Sunday nights at least through 2026. HBO has renewed Last Week Tonight with John Oliver for three additional seasons, taking the weekly news show through its 13th season.
“We’re very happy to get to keep making this show with our fantastic staff,” said John Oliver. “We will continue trying to stretch the term ‘entertainment’ to the breaking point.”
Oliver’s critically acclaimed series has earned 26 Emmy Awards, five Critics Choice Awards, six Writers Guild Awards, eight PGA Awards, two Peabodys, and two GLAAD Media Awards. Just hours prior to its three-season renewal, Last Week Tonight picked up another Best Talk Show nomination from the Critics Choice Awards.
“Over the past decade, John and his exceptional team have combined deep research and intelligence with cutting humor to tackle a broad range of subjects, both widely discussed and unconventional.” said Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO, HBO & Max Content. “With an important election year on the horizon, we look forward to seeing what John has in store for audiences over the next three years.”
John Oliver, Tim Carvell, Liz Stanton, Jon Thoday, and James Taylor serve as executive producers, with Paul Pennolino directing. The series is produced for HBO by Avalon and Sixteen String Jack Productions.
“A satirical, insightful, and meticulously researched look at current events in the U.S. and around the globe, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver features Oliver’s hilarious, expertly honed perspective on today’s pressing political, social, and cultural issues, as well as lesser-reported topics that both inform and entertain,” reads HBO’s synopsis. “Shot in New York, the series features the show’s weekly topical insights, signature deep dives, and distinctive comedy pieces.”
Lee Pace in ‘Foundation’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)
Foundation, based on stories by Isaac Asimov, has earned a third season order. Apple TV+ confirmed the critically acclaimed sci-fi drama starring Lee Pace and Jared Harris has been renewed for season three. However, the announcement didn’t hint at when the third season might arrive on the streaming service.
“I’m thrilled Apple has given us the opportunity to continue chronicling Asimov’s pioneering galactic saga. This time, the stakes for Foundation and Empire are even higher as the Mule takes center stage, along with fan favorites Bayta, Toran, Ebling, and Magnifico Giganticus,” said showrunner and executive producer David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight trilogy).
In addition to Pace and Harris, season two featured Lou Llobell, Leah Harvey, Laura Birn, Cassian Bilton, Terrence Mann, Isabella Laughland, and Kulvinder Ghir. Ella-Rae Smith, Holt McCallany, Rachel House, Nimrat Kaur, Ben Daniels, and Dimitri Leonidas also starred.
“We have all been incredibly impressed with the ambitious, action-packed, and imaginative adaptation that David and the rest of this gifted creative team and cast have brought to life with this premium sci-fi series from day one,” stated Matt Cherniss, head of programming for Apple TV+. “To watch Foundation become such a global hit has been beyond exciting with audiences around the world continuing to be captivated week after week by this dramatic and compelling journey to save humanity. We can’t wait for everyone to experience what is in store for characters old and new in season three.”
Season one premiered in September 2021. Season two followed in July 2023.
“In Foundation season two, which takes viewers more than a century after the season one finale, tension mounts throughout the galaxy. As the Cleons unravel, a vengeful queen plots to destroy Empire from within. Hari, Gaal, and Salvor discover a colony of Mentalics with psionic abilities that threaten to alter psychohistory itself,” reads Apple TV+’s synopsis. “The Foundation has entered its religious phase, promulgating the Church of Seldon throughout the Outer Reach and inciting the Second Crisis: war with Empire.
The monumental adaptation of Foundation chronicles the stories of four crucial individuals transcending space and time as they overcome deadly crises, shifting loyalties, and complicated relationships that will ultimately determine the fate of humanity.”
Jennifer Aniston in ‘The Morning Show’ season 3 (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)
Apple TV+’s The Morning Show starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon scored six 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards nominations followed by HBO’s final season of Succession with five. Series earning four nominations included A Small Light (National Geographic), Abbott Elementary (ABC), Beef (Netflix), Lessons In Chemistry (Apple TV+), Loki (Disney+), Reservation Dogs (FX), and The Bear (FX).
Winners will be announced at the Critics Choice Awards show set for January 14, 2024. Hosted by Chelsea Handler, the CCAs will air on The CW beginning at 7pm ET/PT (tape-delayed on the West Coast).
TELEVISION NOMINATIONS FOR THE 29TH ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS
BEST DRAMA SERIES
The Crown (Netflix)
The Diplomat (Netflix)
The Last of Us (HBO | Max)
Loki (Disney+)
The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+)
Succession (HBO | Max)
Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (HBO | Max)
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Kieran Culkin – Succession (HBO | Max)
Tom Hiddleston – Loki (Disney+)
Timothy Olyphant – Justified: City Primeval (FX)
Pedro Pascal – The Last of Us (HBO | Max)
Ramón Rodríguez – Will Trent (ABC)
Jeremy Strong – Succession (HBO | Max)
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Jennifer Aniston – The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Aunjanue Ellis – Justified: City Primeval (FX)
Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us (HBO | Max)
Keri Russell – The Diplomat (Netflix)
Sarah Snook – Succession (HBO | Max)
Reese Witherspoon – The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Khalid Abdalla – The Crown (Netflix)
Billy Crudup – The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Ron Cephas Jones – Truth Be Told (Apple TV+)
Matthew MacFadyen – Succession (HBO | Max)
Ke Huy Quan – Loki (Disney+)
Rufus Sewell – The Diplomat (Netflix)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Nicole Beharie – The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Elizabeth Debicki – The Crown (Netflix)
Sophia Di Martino – Loki (Disney+)
Celia Rose Gooding – Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+)
Karen Pittman – The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Christina Ricci – Yellowjackets (Showtime)
BEST COMEDY SERIES
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Barry (HBO | Max)
The Bear (FX)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Poker Face (Peacock)
Reservation Dogs (FX)
Shrinking (Apple TV+)
What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Bill Hader – Barry (HBO | Max)
Steve Martin – Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Kayvan Novak – What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Drew Tarver – The Other Two (HBO | Max)
Jeremy Allen White – The Bear (FX)
D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai – Reservation Dogs (FX)
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Rachel Brosnahan – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Ayo Edebiri – The Bear (FX)
Bridget Everett – Somebody Somewhere (HBO | Max)
Devery Jacobs – Reservation Dogs (FX)
Natasha Lyonne – Poker Face (Peacock)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Phil Dunster – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Harrison Ford – Shrinking (Apple TV+)
Harvey Guillén – What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
James Marsden – Jury Duty (Amazon Freevee)
Ebon Moss-Bachrach – The Bear (FX)
Henry Winkler – Barry (HBO | Max)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Paulina Alexis – Reservation Dogs (FX)
Alex Borstein – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Janelle James – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Sheryl Lee Ralph – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Meryl Streep – Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Jessica Williams – Shrinking (Apple TV+)
BEST LIMITED SERIES
Beef (Netflix)
Daisy Jones & the Six (Prime Video)
Fargo (FX)
Fellow Travelers (Showtime)
Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)
Love & Death (HBO | Max)
A Murder at the End of the World (FX)
A Small Light (National Geographic)
BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (Showtime)
Finestkind (Paramount+)
Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie (Peacock)
No One Will Save You (Hulu)
Quiz Lady (Hulu)
Reality (HBO | Max)
BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Matt Bomer – Fellow Travelers (Showtime)
Tom Holland – The Crowded Room (Apple TV+)
David Oyelowo – Lawmen: Bass Reeves (Paramount+)
Tony Shalhoub – Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie (Peacock)
Kiefer Sutherland – The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (Showtime)
Steven Yeun – Beef (Netflix)
BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Kaitlyn Dever – No One Will Save You (Hulu)
Carla Gugino – The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix)
Brie Larson – Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)
Bel Powley – A Small Light (National Geographic)
Sydney Sweeney – Reality (HBO | Max)
Juno Temple – Fargo (FX)
Ali Wong – Beef (Netflix)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jonathan Bailey – Fellow Travelers (Showtime)
Taylor Kitsch – Painkiller (Netflix)
Jesse Plemons – Love & Death (HBO | Max)
Lewis Pullman – Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)
Liev Schreiber – A Small Light (National Geographic)
Justin Theroux – White House Plumbers (HBO | Max)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Maria Bello – Beef (Netflix)
Billie Boullet – A Small Light (National Geographic)
Willa Fitzgerald – The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix)
Aja Naomi King – Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)
Mary McDonnell – The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix)
Camila Morrone – Daisy Jones & the Six (Prime Video)
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE SERIES
Bargain (Paramount+)
The Glory (Netflix)
The Good Mothers (Hulu)
The Interpreter of Silence (Hulu)
Lupin (Netflix)
Mask Girl (Netflix)
Moving (Hulu)
BEST ANIMATED SERIES
Bluey (Disney+)
Bob’s Burgers (Fox)
Harley Quinn (HBO | Max)
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (Netflix)
Star Trek: Lower Decks (Paramount+)
Young Love (HBO | Max)
BEST TALK SHOW
The Graham Norton Show (BBC America)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
The Kelly Clarkson Show (NBC)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO | Max)
Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
BEST COMEDY SPECIAL
Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man and the Pool (Netflix)
Alex Borstein: Corsets & Clown Suits (Prime Video)
John Early: Now More Than Ever (HBO | Max)
John Mulaney: Baby J (Netflix)
Trevor Noah: Where Was I (Netflix)
Wanda Sykes – I’m an Entertainer (Netflix)
