RYAN GOSLING as Ken and MARGOT ROBBIE as Barbie in ‘BARBIE’ ((Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures)
The San Diego press screening of Barbie was packed with women in pink, some carrying alcoholic libations, and all ready to embrace the weird and wonderful live-action movie about one of the most popular dolls in history. The crowd was primed for this big, beautiful, pinktastic Barbie tale, signaling their embrace of what ultimately proved to be a sublime, exquisite examination of sexism by clapping the moment the film’s title appeared on the screen.
The screening’s audience demographics were perfect. If this group appreciated the film, then Barbie nailed the landing. Based on the laughter at all the right moments, co-writer and director Greta Gerwig delivered a film that lived up to the months of pre-release hype.
Margot Robbie as Barbie (Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures)
Everyone knows Barbie. Mattel’s iconic creation debuted in 1959, and generations of kids have grown up playing with the plastic 11.5” tall standard Barbie or one of the 175 different versions. Barbie has dipped her perky plastic toes into 250 careers, including doctor, firefighter, CEO, journalist, and robotics engineer. And Barbie’s Miss Astronaut costume arrived 13 years before NASA opened the program to females.
Not every model of Barbie made it into the feature film, and a Weird Barbie (as played by the brilliant Kate McKinnon) doesn’t actually exist—or at least not on purpose. Thousands of unintentionally weird Barbies have come into being as the result of creative playing/abuse by their owners. But in Barbie, it’s Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) that’s front and center.
Barbie reigns over Barbieland, a perfect land drenched in pink and populated by perfect people. Barbie rules dictate that Barbieland occupants don’t climb stairs, they fly. They don’t consume food or drink, which is a good thing since Barbieland’s refrigerators contain fake food. The showers? Also, fake. But the smiles and waves exchanged as Barbie greets the other occupants of Barbieland—other Barbies, multiple Kens, one pregnant Midge, and the very lonely Allan—appear genuine enough.
Life in Barbieland is fantastic until one fateful day when there’s a glitch in Stereotypical Barbie’s world. Rather than wake up with a smile, Stereotypical Barbie begins to think about death while rocking a disgusting case of halitosis. But the coup de grace is a case of flat-footedness. Barbies simply do NOT walk around flat-footed.
Barbie’s closest Barbie friends suggest Weird Barbie might have the answer to what’s turned Stereotypical Barbie into Atypical Barbie.
Weird Barbie believes Barbie’s having an existential crisis caused by a rift that’s been opened between Barbieland and the Real World. To put things right, Barbie needs to travel to Los Angeles and find the girl who’s playing with the doll version of herself.
Now, Barbies, the one and only Midge, and Allan aren’t the only occupants of Barbieland. There are Kens aplenty, and Lifeguard Ken (Ryan Gosling) is their unofficial leader. Ken, who insists he’s not a lifeguard and that his job is simply “beach,” has a massive crush on Stereotypical Barbie. He’s also got a major rival in the form of Ken (Simu Liu), a penchant for showing off, and the inability to comprehend why Barbie constantly rejects his attention. When Stereotypical Barbie is forced to leave Barbieland to seek answers, Ken follows like a happy puppy dog ready to do whatever Barbie commands.
Once the action shifts to California, the story expands as Barbie’s rosy-pink-colored glasses are ripped off, and she’s exposed to the truth. The foundation her cheery plastic life’s built on shatters and her sense of self is destroyed. Meanwhile, Ken’s mind is blown when he learns all about “the patriarchy.”
It’s a Barbie World and Margot Robbie is Queen
Margot Robbie delivers one of the best performances of her career. From her perfect Barbie feet to Barbie’s heartbreaking transformation from pert and perky to the depths of despair, Robbie’s performance is magnetic and true. True? Strange as it seems, Robbie infuses her character with such humanity that it’s possible to forget this is all based on a billion-dollar Mattel toy.
And I’m calling it now. Ryan Gosling is going to be busy this coming awards season—if the SAG-AFTRA strike is over by then. Gosling totally embraced the male himbo role to such a degree that it’s impossible to picture anyone else capturing such Kenergy. Ken’s just a guy who’s in love with a girl and does everything in his limited power to make a connection. He’s earnest to a fault, and any day that Barbie smiles at him is a perfect day. Gosling brings a wide-eyed innocence to the part, and while his Ken might not capture Barbie’s heart, Gosling certainly captures the audience’s.
The entire ensemble – including standouts America Ferrera, Ariana Greenblatt, Simu Liu, and Kate McKinnon—fully commit to this hilarious and surprisingly poignant story. And Michael Cera deserves special mention for nailing the role of Allan, a dude who’s barely acknowledged by the Kens but turns out to be more complex than meets the eye.
You don’t have to love Barbie to love Barbie. Three-time Oscar nominee Gerwig (directing and original screenplay nominations for Lady Bird, adapted screenplay for Little Women) accomplishes the near impossible by using the most unlikely figure to take on important social issues. Co-writers Gerwig and Noah Baumbach deliver biting satire, taking a hot pink poker to sexism while never abandoning the comedy.
Barbie’s a glorious pink explosion of humor and heart, with Margot Robbie as the film’s pitch-perfect soul.
GRADE: A-
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for suggestive references and brief language
JD Pardo as EZ Reyes in ‘Mayans M.C.’ season 5 episode 10 (Photo CR: Prashant Gupta/FX)
FX’s Mayans M.C. season five episode 10 – the series finale – is, hands down, the best episode of the entire series. Amid all the blood and deaths, questions are answered, and dues are stamped paid. Not every character deserves their fate, but every death is, in its own way, justified.
Sons of Anarchy was Hamlet with motorcycles. Mayans M.C. is also a Shakespearean tragedy, complete with betrayals, love, loyalty, and murder.
Season five episode 10, “Slow to Bleed Fair Son,” begins with confirmation that Felipe has died. His funeral is the opening scene, with Angel (Clayton Cardenas) holding Maverick and EZ (JD Pardo) solemnly staring straight ahead as “Were You There When They Crucified My Lord” is sung.
Sadly, the service has very few people other than Mayans in attendance. When the song ends, Angel and EZ stand in front of the coffin in silence. EZ stares at the cross on the wall rather than at his father’s coffin.
Miguel Galindo (Danny Pino) attends the service, paying his respects to the man he refused to forgive and who was his father only by blood. Angel silently accepts his condolences, but EZ tells Miguel he’s neither a friend nor family and shouldn’t be there. Angel notices family photos in Miguel’s hand as he walks away.
Potter (Ray McKinnon) puts in an unexpected and unwelcome appearance outside the church, reminding EZ that it was only because of him that Felipe was allowed to remain in the United States. Potter hopes that telling EZ that we are all meaningless offers him a little peace. What they do will ultimately be forgotten.
Sofia (Andrea Cortes) returns to the clubhouse and collects Sandy from Bottles (Alex Barone) who’s been pulling dog-sitting duty. Sandy nuzzles Sofia, and Bottles points out that his sister’s dog did that when his sister was pregnant.
EZ arrives at the clubhouse on his repaired bike and is shocked to learn they have a surprise visitor. The guys are holding Sons of Anarchy San Bernardino’s VP Terry (Greg Vrotsos) at gunpoint, and Terry wants to swap info on Jess for details on Felipe’s death.
Later, Hank (Frankie Loyal) says Taza wants back in, adding that it would mean a lot to him if Taza was allowed back. EZ doesn’t pause before responding, “F**k Taza.”
Frankie Loyal, JD Pardo, and Michael Irby in ‘Mayans M.C.’ season 5 episode 10 (Photo CR: Prashant Gupta/FX
However, EZ does take a moment to center himself before stepping outside. The courtyard is packed with Mayans, Iron War, and Grim Bastards, all ready to take down the Sons. EZ delivers a rousing speech, admitting it’s smart to fear war and death, but they do it out of love for their brothers and family.
“Today, anyone wearing a reaper is an enemy. If they strip it, they can live. If they don’t, the streets of San Bernardino will run red,” says EZ.
The men chant for war as EZ declares that it’s time to put an end to SoA. If they fight with him today, he promises there will be peace tomorrow.
EZ quotes Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and shouts, “Let’s cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!”
The Sons are hosting a rager in their clubhouse, completely unprepared for the bloodbath to come. The Mayans and their allies bust into the clubhouse and unleash war. Baseball bats appear to be the preferred weapon, but gunshots also ring out as SAMDINO is wiped out.
EZ spots Isaac (JR Bourne) making a run for it and chases after him. He corners him in a hallway, and they exchange blows before EZ tosses Isaac down a flight of stairs. Isaac slithers into an alleyway on his belly, trailing blood as he crawls away from his pursuer.
EZ allows Isaac to keep crawling for a short while and then steps on his leg. Isaac begs EZ to wait, claiming this can’t be it. He was right in that EZ would be the one to take him out, but Isaac thinks there must be more than death in an alley.
EZ shoots him in the head as Isaac holds up his hands and yells, “Wait, wait, WAIT! I’m not ready. I’m not ready for this to be over.”
EZ pisses on his dead body.
JR Bourne as Isaac Packer in ‘Mayans M.C.’ season 5 (Photo CR: Prashant Gupta/FX)
That night, it’s the Mayans hosting a rager, burning SoA cuts in a massive bonfire in their clubhouse yard. Everyone’s celebrating their win, and Bishop (Michael Irby) chooses this moment to apologize to Treenie (Augie Duke). She accepts but tells Bish, in no uncertain terms, that she’s done with him.
Hank, Gilly (Vincent Vargas), and Downer (Angel Oquendo) are also engaged in a serious conversation during the party. Hank orders Downer to take care of Cielo, who’s been texting around looking for Jess. Downer doesn’t want to kill a woman, but Hank orders him to see her tonight.
EZ scans the crowd and realizes Angel’s not there. He asks around, but no one’s seen his brother.
Meanwhile, Sofia takes a pregnancy test in EZ’s trailer. She briefly smiles as she rubs her belly.
EZ stands among the crowd but separately, watching the celebration but not participating. (It’s an example of that grey veil EZ told Wendy about that makes him feel stuck outside.)
While the Mayans are celebrating their win, Marcus (Emilio Rivera) and his wife, Izzy (Patricia De Leon), are welcoming a new baby boy to their family. And Deputy Assistant Inspector General Patricia Devlin (Dana Delany) is putting the finishing touches on her case against Potter. She’s aware he’s working on something but not what and truly doesn’t care. Patricia believes she’s got him dead to rights because Miguel Galindo’s set to come in tomorrow night and spill his guts.
Patricia’s boss warns her that Potter’s got his fingers all over the Mayans M.C. and its war with Sons of Anarchy. The fighting has been in the news for six months, and if he manages to take the Mayans down, Potter will be untouchable. Patricia doesn’t believe anyone cares about low-level dirtbags killing each other. She insists her case is much more important.
Downer shows up at Cielo’s, and she’s instantly on guard. Cielo (Mia Danelle) refuses to come with him until he forces her to, and after sitting in the passenger seat, she notices Downer making sure his gun’s loaded in the rearview mirror. There’s a knife on the seat, and Cielo grabs it before Downer sits down.
Downer acknowledges Cielo’s not a bad person, but he has to take care of her. Cielo doesn’t wait for him to finish speaking or pull out his gun. She attacks him with the knife, stabbing him repeatedly while crying. She finally drops the knife, hands soaked in blood. It’s only then that she sees he had a one-way ticket and a wad of money to help her escape.
Cielo holds him tight as she screams his name and apologizes. It’s too late. Downer succumbs to his many stab wounds.
Morning arrives, and EZ is about to leave when Sofia joins him outside. She smiles and says they need to talk when he gets home that evening. Angel invited him to go for a ride – something they never do anymore – and EZ thinks he’ll be gone all day.
Sofia tells EZ she loves him before he rides off. EZ doesn’t say it back.
Letty (Emily Tosta) hit up Louie (Noel Gugliemi) for a gun, and he delivers it. But before handing it over, he asks why she needs a weapon. “To kill every mother**ker in a Mayans cut,” replies Letty.
Louie’s reaction is spontaneous. “Oh, hell no!” he says as he wraps it back up.
Letty offers him triple and threatens to kill him with a gun that she’ll eventually buy somewhere else. It’s only after she says the Mayans killed Hope that Louie changes his mind.
Michael Irby as Obispo “Bishop” Losa in ‘Mayans M.C.’ season 5 episode 10 (Photo CR: Prashant Gupta/FX)
Bishop shows up at the hospital with flowers for Izzy. The tension between Marcus and Bishop finally melts when Bishop makes a joke about Marcus’ age. Marcus asks his old friend if he’s doing the right thing by staying out of the Mayans and putting his family first.
“I think for the first time in our lives, I know for absolutely f**king sure that one of us is doing the right thing,” replies Bishop.
Over at the Galindo estate, Miguel reveals he’ll be heading to San Diego after dinner that evening. Plans are in motion to save their family. He asks Emily (Sarah Bolger) to wear her wedding ring tonight at dinner, and she slips it on. He gently kisses her hand as he holds her from behind.
After Miguel walks away, Emily looks at the photo of her sister she has tucked into her jewelry box.
Bishop’s shocked to find Kody/Katie (Stella Maeve) at his door. It’s a super short scene, and all she says is that she has a message from Creeper! (It seems only fitting that Bishop’s the first to learn EZ’s secret.)
EZ and Angel ride in silence past their dad’s butcher shop, which now has a For Rent sign in the window. In a strange coincidence, Emily and Miguel are just exiting their vehicle as EZ and Angel ride past. The Reyes brothers don’t notice them, but both Emily and Miguel stare as they ride by.
Once outside the city, EZ and Angel laugh as they race down a straight stretch of road. They make it to Angel’s chosen destination – the railroad bridge over the river. EZ used to come here to clear his head, while Angel smirks and admits he used to come here to have sex back in the day. They laugh about their separate memories of the bridge, and Angel suggests they should never run a blacklight over the tracks.
Angel’s sorry EZ didn’t get to set things straight with their dad. He also reveals that Adelita left them, and that’s why he was at Pop’s house. (Angel will never know the truth.) Angel blames himself for their dad’s death.
Maverick only has Angel now, and Angel’s decided he needs to leave the Mayans – and town – to do what’s best for his boy. (Excellent decision!) He’s not sure where he’s going, but he doesn’t want to end up dead and leave Maverick orphaned.
“I have to live for him,” says Angel. (Angel’s had the best, most well-earned character arc of all Mayans M.C. key players. This scene between brothers who’ve gone through hell and back is unbelievably moving and showcases Clayton Cardenas and JD Pardo’s incredible talents.)
EZ agrees to let Angel leave and says they’ll take it to the table tonight. Angel applauds his brother for putting the Mayans on top, something no one else could have accomplished – not even Alvarez.
“You truly are the one king, but you’re still my annoying ass, know-it-all little brother,” says Angel, laughing.
Elsewhere, Katie’s got a surprise in store for Potter. They walk through the halls of a police station as Katie reveals someone’s come forward with an incredible story to tell. The door opens and Cielo, clothing and arms still bloody, is ready to turn on the Mayans.
Danny Pino as Miguel Galindo in ‘Mayans M.C.’ season 5 (Photo CR: Frank Ockenfels/FX)
Miguel, Emily, and Cristobal return from dinner, but they’ve left Mr. Owl in the car. Miguel volunteers to retrieve Cristobal’s toy, and Emily strokes her husband’s arm, asking when he needs to leave for San Diego. Miguel’s got a few minutes to spare for his wife, and Emily smiles and says she’ll take Cristobal to bed.
After Miguel steps outside, Emily asks Luis to carry Cristobal up to bed. But first, Emily asks him to take off his suspender shoulder holsters holding his two guns before picking up her son. Of course, he agrees.
Emily watches them head upstairs while outside, Miguel locates Mr. Owl. The moment he steps through his front door, Emily uses Luis’ training – and his gun – and shoots him in the chest. She fires again, and Miguel falls to the ground, wounds fatal.
Luis rushes down the stairs, and Emily clutches him, acting terrified. She whispers, “I know you killed my sister,” and then shoots Luis from close range. Emily places the gun by Luis’ foot, takes off her gloves, counts to five, and then screams. She runs to Miguel and continues crying and screaming while holding his bloody chest. (Interesting how it’s the women who are taking control as Mayans M.C. ends, after being second-class citizens – other than Adelita – for five seasons.)
The police and ambulances arrive, and no one seems to question Emily’s story. After all, Emily’s recently installed – and carefully placed – video surveillance system shows Miguel being shot by a shooter who’s off camera. Luis falls into camera range with the third shot. Emily claims Luis was interested in her and shot Miguel and then himself in a jealous rage.
Emily insists she was upstairs with Cristobal when the shootings occurred. The video backs up her story.
Meanwhile, Patricia and her team are waiting for Miguel to arrive when Patricia receives the news that her star witness is dead.
Clayton Cardenas as Angel Reyes and JD Pardo as EZ Reyes in the ‘Mayans M.C.’ series finale (Photo CR: Prashant Gupta/FX
Night’s fallen when EZ and Angel roll up to the clubhouse after a day of brotherly bonding. Before they head inside, Angel tells his brother he loves him, and they hug. Treenie’s been babysitting Maverick, and she calls him the most mature, best-behaved man on these premises as the boy runs into his dad’s arms.
EZ’s all smiles, watching his big brother be a good dad.
Minutes later, Santo Padre gathers at the table. No one knows why Downer’s absent, and he hasn’t been answering his phone. They begin the meeting without him, and EZ and Angel exchange smiles before they get down to business. EZ thanks everyone for what Santo Padre’s accomplished against all odds. He says he’s indebted to their loyalty and brotherhood forever.
EZ then turns the meeting over to Angel who cries as he confesses how much being a brother to them all has meant to him. He’s proud to sit at this table but doesn’t want Maverick to follow in his footsteps. Angel says he’s prepared to be a janitor to take care of his son.
Before EZ can announce that they need to vote on Angel leaving Santo Padre, Hank interrupts and says he has something to bring up first. Hank says they’ve discussed it, and since they’re talking about putting the club above everything else, they want to patch in Nestor.
Hank believes Nestor will always put the club and the patch first. EZ agrees and calls for a vote. It’s unanimous.
Guero (Andrew Jacobs) retrieves Nestor (Gino Vento), and Nestor stands at the end of the table as Hank presents him with his new cut. The guys pound the table and then stand up to give Nestor hugs, welcoming him as a full member.
EZ welcomes Nestor to the tribe and then is suddenly grabbed from behind around his neck by Gilly. Bishop also helps hang onto EZ, placing a gun to the side of his head, as Hank and Nestor hold Angel back.
Bishop snarls, “You the f**king rat!”
Bishop informs EZ they know he had Iron War and Storm 88 take out Creeper to keep his secret. Creeper was loyal, and EZ had him killed. Hank’s also pissed that EZ put them into business with cops.
“You have broken every f**king code we’ve got, and now you’re working with the f**king feds!” says Bishop while not breaking eye contact with EZ.
Bishop turns his gun on Angel, pressing it to his cheek and blaming him for bringing EZ in even though he knew he was a rat. EZ screams out, “No!” and insists Angel never knew anything. EZ yells at his brother to tell them he didn’t know, but Bishop doesn’t let up. Kody/Katie apparently filled Bishop in on everything, and Bishop reveals he knows EZ was flipped by his cousin, a DEA agent. Bishop finds it hard to believe Angel didn’t know that.
Hank takes EZ’s knife and places it in Angel’s hand. Bishop wants Angel to prove he’s loyal to the club over blood, and Angel calls out to Gilly – who’s still holding EZ but not making eye contact – for help. Gilly refuses.
Angel must make a choice: stab his brother or die alongside him. EZ apologizes to his brother, lying and saying that he betrayed him and now must do what the club demands. Angel continues to refuse as EZ attempts to make his brother understand what he must do unless he wants Maverick to be an orphan.
Angel sobs and says he can’t; not even the mention of Maverick has changed his mind. EZ brings up their childhood dog, Freya, and insists that Angel needs to be strong now. EZ put down Freya when she was suffering; Angel needs to step up now. (That’s a callback to the season 4 finale.)
Bishop chambers a bullet and prepares to shoot Angel in the face. EZ speaks gently to his brother, smiling at him as he says it’s okay.
Angel finally gives in and steps toward his brother. EZ tells his big brother to look at him and that everything’s okay. (The same thing Felipe said to Maverick as he died.) Angel’s an emotional wreck as EZ asks him to tell Maverick about him and about their mom.
Angel’s sobbing as EZ says, “Go…and don’t come back.”
EZ makes this as easy on his brother as possible, insisting it’s okay but admitting that he’ll miss him. EZ says, “I’m ready,” and Angel holds his brother’s shoulder and plunges the knife into his chest.
Angel holds him as tightly as possible as EZ finally says, “I love you, Angel.”
Angel’s ripped away from his brother. It’s not a true Julius Caesar “Et tu, Brute” moment as Angel, unlike Brutus, never voluntarily turns on EZ. He did not want to stab his brother. But what follows replicates the scene of Caesar meeting his death on the Ides of March.
Hank is the second member of the club to stab EZ. Bishop follows and pulls EZ’s head down, whispering in his ear, “You ain’t the only one who reads Shakespeare, motherf**ker.”
Andrew Jacobs as Guero and Gino Vento as Nestor in ‘Mayans M.C.’ season 5 finale (Photo CR: Prashant Gupta/FX)
Blood flows after Bishop delivers a particularly vicious stab to EZ’s chest, and EZ sinks to the ground. Angel is allowed to hold him as Gilly delivers a quick stab to EZ’s side, followed by Guero. Nestor dispassionately stabs EZ in or near his heart.
Blood seeps out of EZ’s mouth in his final seconds. Santo Padre stand and stare at EZ as he dies. (Gilly cries but Hank and Bishop show no emotion.)
Minutes later, Sofia and Sally wait for EZ to return to the trailer. Sofia holds her positive pregnancy test and smiles as Sally pants sitting next to her on the bed. The door finally opens, and Sofia’s massive grin transforms into a look of shock. Bottles enters the trailer and fires two quick shots followed by a single shot. (Did he kill Sally too?!)
Letty pulls into the clubhouse yard with her newly purchased gun. It’s eerily quiet in the yard, and she leaves the motor running as she calls out, “Hey! Hey, you okay?”
Bottles did not, in fact, shoot Sally. She’s standing alone with bloody paws, and whines as Letty approaches. Letty’s eyes trace the path of bloody paw prints back to EZ’s trailer. Letty makes the right decision and takes Sally with her as she drives away from the Mayans M.C. Santo Padre clubhouse for the final time.
Bishop retakes his seat at the head of the table wearing EZ’s bloody Presidente cut, lights up a cigarette (prohibited under EZ’s reign), and says they should get back to business. The table remains silent as the camera pans to show the bloody streak on the floor from EZ’s body.
With just four minutes left in the series, the action shifts to right outside the clubhouse. Silently, ATF agents in full tactical gear approach the door and bust it open while shouting, “Federal agents. Search warrant!”
Federal agents pour into the parking lot as a helicopter circles overhead. The agents enter the clubhouse while Potter, who has the survival ability of a cockroach, and Katie watch from outside. A barrage of gunshots ring out from inside the clubhouse as Potter tells Katie, “The levy will hold…for now.”
The final shot of the Mayans M.C. Santo Padre clubhouse is of dozens of agents entering the building.
The following day, six surviving members of Broken Saints finish packing up their ranch after chemicals released during the cookhouse fire made the property unusable. Johnny Panic is no longer with them. Was she killed for her part in bringing the Mayans onto the ranch? We’ll never know.
All six point their guns at Letty as she drives up. Letty lets Sally out to join the other dogs and then steps out, hands raised. She walks a few feet with her hands up, still at gunpoint. She doesn’t say a word but instead simply shakes her head, yes, accepting her fate.
The series concludes with Angel holding Maverick tight as he stands on the beach and stares out at the Pacific Ocean. The camera pans around and shows Angel’s large Mayans M.C. tattoo that covers his back has the “Mayans M.C.” wording blacked out. The logo remains.
The waves gently lap at the shore as Maverick hugs his father’s neck. Mayans M.C. Santo Padre is dead, but Angel lives on.
Mark Critch’s bestselling memoir provides the source material for the half-hour comedy Son of a Critch which originally premiered on Canada’s CBC back in January 2022. The CW snatched it up and will add season one to its summer primetime lineup with the release of the first two episodes on July 24, 2023 at 8pm ET/PT. Both episodes were written by Mark Critch and Tim McAuliffe and directed by Renuka Jeyapalan.
Mark Critch stars as his dad, Mike, and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth plays young Mark. The cast also includes Claire Rankin as Mark’s mom, Mary, and Malcolm McDowell as Patrick “Pop” Critch. Colton Gobbo stars as Mike Jr, Mark’s brother. The season one cast also includes Sophia Powers and Mark Rivera.
Mark Critch and Tim McAuliffe created the series and executive produce along with Andrew Barnsley, and Allan Hawco.
Series Premiere Plot: Mark’s first day of sixth grade goes awry when a family of bullies take a special interest in making his life miserable. But when Mark stands up for himself and takes a shot at one of the bullies – a young girl named Fox (Powers) – he learns that words can hurt a lot more than fists.
“The Most Unexpected of Places” Plot: A chance encounter at a funeral parlor leads to Mark’s first date with a girl. As he risks life and limb in a race across town to meet her, Fox finds herself unexpectedly jealous. Meanwhile, Mary tries to convince Dick (Richard Clarkin) to sell her the old radio station truck.
Season 1 Description, Courtesy of The CW:
“Son of a Critch is the hilarious and very real story of a young Mark coming of age in the 1980s. The series is a heartfelt window in the life of a child — who is much older inside than his 11 years — using comedy and self-deprecation to win friends and connect with the small collection of people in his limited world.”
Anthony Anderson and Cedric the Entertainer star in ‘Kings of BBQ’ (Photo Credit: A&E)
black-ish‘s Anthony Anderson and The Neighborhood‘s Cedric the Entertainer scour the country to learn everything they can about barbecuing on A&E’s Kings of BBQ. Premiering on August 12, 2023, the new unscripted series will find the two friends learning the best techniques as they prepare to launch their own BBQ brand, AC Barbeque.
New episodes of the 10-episode season arrive on Saturdays at 9pm ET/PT.
Cedric the Entertainer executive produces along with A Bird and A Bear Entertainment’s Eric C. Rhone. Anthony Anderson and Brian Dobbins from Just a Kid From Compton; A&E’s Elaine Frontain Bryant and Brad Holcman; and Propagate’s Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, Drew Buckley, Linh Le, and Rebecca Graham Forde are also executive producing the unscripted series.
A&E offered this description of Kings of BBQ:
In each one-hour episode, Kings of BBQ will follow Cedric and Anthony as they meet with barbeque chefs, pitmasters, and everyday experts who share their knowledge and secrets of the trade, highlighting Black Excellence in the industry along the way. With the launch of AC Barbeque in stores nationwide, Cedric and Anthony aim to take grilling to the next level with their signature flair and laugh-out-loud antics.
The duo will do it all to master barbeque in all its glory and create a business that honors its legacy and flavors. The friends will travel to the Memphis in May BBQ festival, fire up the grill to feed the LA Rams, stop by backyard cookouts, and return to their hometowns for inspiration from friends and family.
Friends for years, Cedric and Anthony bonded over their shared love of barbeque and the unique history that surrounds it. Hailing from St. Louis, MO and Compton, CA, both Cedric and Anthony grew up with their own variations on the craft. Partnering on AC Barbeque, the friends combine their individual experiences, knowledge from experts in the field, and enthusiasm for the artform together to create a brand that has everything the home cook needs for a barbeque feast anywhere.
‘Only Murders in the Building’ season 3 poster (Courtesy of Hulu)
Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd get their own Only Murders in the Building posters ahead of the season three premiere. Hulu also dropped posters for the show’s stars – Steve Martin (“Charles”), Martin Short (“Oliver”), and Selena Gomez (“Mabel”) – along with new season three key art.
Season three will premiere with the release of the first two episodes on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.
Steve Martin and John Hoffman co-created and write the Emmy Award-winning series. Martin, Hoffman, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Dan Fogelman, and Jess Rosenthal executive produce.
Steve Martin in season 3 (Courtesy of Hulu)
Season 3 Plot and a Look Back at Seasons 1 and 2:
Only Murders in the Building follows three strangers (Martin, Short, and Gomez) who share an obsession with true crime and suddenly find themselves wrapped up in one. When a grisly death occurs inside their exclusive Upper West Side apartment building, the trio suspects murder and employs their precise knowledge of true crime to investigate the truth.
As they record a podcast of their own to document the case, the three unravel the complex secrets of the building which stretch back years. Perhaps even more explosive are the lies they tell one another. Soon, the endangered trio comes to realize a killer might be living amongst them as they race to decipher the mounting clues before it’s too late.
Season 2: Following the shocking death of Arconia Board President Bunny Folger, Charles, Oliver and Mabel race to unmask her killer. However, three (unfortunate) complications ensue – the trio is publicly implicated in Bunny’s homicide, they are now the subjects of a competing podcast, and they have to deal with a bunch of New York neighbors who all think they committed murder.
Season three finds Charles, Oliver, and Mabel investigating a murder behind the scenes of a Broadway show. Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd) is a Hollywood action star whose Broadway debut is cut short by his untimely death. Aided by co-star Loretta Durkin (Meryl Streep), our trio embarks on their toughest case yet, all while director Oliver desperately attempts to put his show back together. Curtains up!
Martin Short season 3 poster (Courtesy of Hulu)Selena Gomez season 3 poster (Courtesy of Hulu)Meryl Streep season 3 poster (Courtesy of Hulu)Paul Rudd season 3 poster (Courtesy of Hulu)
Kelli Williams as Margaret Reed, Shanola Hampton as Gabi Mosley, Gabrielle Elise Walsh as Lacey Quinn, and Karan Oberoi as Dhan Rana in ‘Found’ (Photo by: Matt Miller/NBC)
NBC’s fall 2023 primetime lineup includes a new season of Quantum Leap and new episodes from season five of Magnum P.I., as well as the series premieres of The Irrational starring Jesse L. Martin and Found starring Shanola Hampton. The first week of the upcoming fall season will also include the return of The Voice and the season finale of America’s Got Talent.
NBC’s fall premiere date schedule:
Monday, Sept. 25
8-10 p.m. – The Voice with Reba McEntire, John Legend, Gwen Stefani, and Niall Horan
10-11 p.m. – The Irrational (Original)
FOUND Synopsis: 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. A public relations specialist, 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.
The cast includes Shanola Hampton, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Kelli Williams, Brett Dalton, Gabrielle Walsh, Arlen Escarpeta and Karan Oberoi.
THE IRRATIONAL Plot:The Irrational follows world-renowned professor of behavioral science Alec Mercer (Jesse L. Martin) as he lends his unique expertise on an array of high-stakes cases involving governments, law enforcement and corporations. His insight and unconventional approach to understanding human behavior lead him and the team on a series of intense, unexpected journeys to solve illogical puzzles and perplexing mysteries.
The show is based on best-selling author Dan Ariely’s book, Predictably Irrational. The cast also includes Maahra Hill, Travina Springer, Molly Kunz, and Arash DeMaxi.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE COUNTRY AWARDS Details: The two-hour telecast will lean into the rich connection between country music and the Opry through chart-topping musical performances, genre-bending collaborations, legendary tributes and surprise moments that regularly happen from the iconic venue.
The only award show for the people and by the people, the People’s Choice Country Awards will recognize the biggest and best country music has to offer chosen entirely by the fans across various categories. Several honorary awards will also be bestowed during the awards ceremony.
The Dark One’s been set free and Rand needs to be protected, no matter the cost, in season two of Prime Video’s The Wheel of Time. The season two trailer teases the battle in store and advises that in order to seek the light, you must brave the dark.
Season two is based on Robert Jordan’s second novel of the series, The Great Hunt. The new season will also include bits of the third novel, The Dragon Reborn.
Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) returns to lead the cast as Moiraine Damodred. Daniel Henney (Criminal Minds) stars as Lan Mandragoran, Josha Stradowski (Gran Turismo) is Rand al’Thor, Zoë Robins (Power Rangers Ninja Steel) is Nynaeve al’Meara, and Madeleine Madden (Dora and the Lost City of Gold) plays Egwene al’Vere. Marcus Rutherford (Obey) is Perrin Aybara, Dónal Finn (Rogue Heroes) stars sas Mat Cauthon, and Ceara Coveney (Young Wallander) is Elayne Trakand.
Season two premieres on September 1, 2023.
Rafe Judkins (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) adapted the series for television and serves as showrunner and executive producer. Additional executive producers include Larry Mondragon and Rick Selvage of iwot productions, Ted Field of Radar Pictures, Mike Weber, Darren Lemke, Marigo Kehoe, Justine Juel Gillmer, Sanaa Hamri, and Amanda Kate Shuman. Rosamund Pike is a co-executive producer on the Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television Studios production.
Moiraine Damodred played by Rosamund Pike in ‘The Wheel of Time’ (Photo: Amazon Content Services LLC and Sony Pictures Television Inc)
The Wheel of Time Plot, Courtesy of Prime Video:
Based on the best-selling Robert Jordan fantasy series The Wheel of Time, Rand al’Thor (Stradowski) learns he is The Dragon Reborn — a dangerous figure from history destined to save the world … or break it. Desperate to protect him from the Dark One, an army of powerful women must reckon with his burgeoning power and encroaching madness. The Wheel of Time turns, and the Last Battle approaches.
Though Rand thought he destroyed the Dark One, evil is not gone from the world.
In Season Two, threats, new and very old, seek out the young friends from the Two Rivers, now scattered over the world. The woman who found and guided them is now powerless to help, and so they must find other sources of strength. In each other, or themselves. In the Light … or the Dark.
The stars won’t be present, but CBS is still bringing Ghosts to the Ballroom 20 stage at the San Diego Comic-Con. The network’s also delivering content from the Star Trek universe at Comic-Con, taking place July 20 through July 23, 2023 in downtown San Diego.
Nearly every network and studio have altered their plans for the sold-out fan convention, with some completely canceling panels and other drastically altering their presentations. CBS’s Comic-Con plans now include panels, activations, and special giveaways.
The network provided this updated list (as of July 18th) of their SDCC schedule:
STAR TREK Universe in Hall H: As previously announced by Paramount+, the fan-favorite Star Trek universe returns to San Diego Comic-Con, featuring exclusive reveals and surprises from upcoming and current seasons of STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS, and STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS. Fans in attendance will also be the first to see the highly anticipated STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS and STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS crossover episode with a special Hall H premiere screening! Saturday, July 22, 1:30-2:45 p.m. PT, Hall H
The Activation: STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS will have an interactive booth space on the convention floor where fans will get an intimate look at official costumes and props from the series on display and have a chance to receive exclusive giveaways. Booth #3529
Official 50th Star Trek Animated Celebration in 25ABC. Get a first look at Star Trek: The Animated Celebration – a campaign celebrating 50 years of STAR TREK: THE ANIMATED SERIES with John Van Citters (VP, Star Trek Brand Development); explore the latest in publishing with an IDW representative and talk gaming with Scopely’s Brian Lelas (Lead Narrative Designer, Star Trek Fleet Command) and Rebekah Plants (Community Manager, Star Trek Fleet Command). You won’t want to miss this panel, complete with limited edition pin giveaways and special guest Casper Kelly (Star Trek: Short Treks, Too Many Cooks)! Friday, July 21, 10 – 11AM PT, 25ABC.
Another Activation: The Star Trek brand team, in partnership with Paramount+, will also be distributing limited-edition pins daily during San Diego Comic-Con in the downtown Gaslamp District at “The Lodge: A Paramount+ Experience,” located at the transformed Happy Does Bar. Happy Does Bar, 340 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101. Operating hours: Wednesday, July 19, 6-10PM; Thursday, July 20-Saturday, July 22, 12 – 10PM; Sunday, July 23, 10AM – 7PM. Admission is free, but is on a reservation system. No SDCC badge is required. Keep your eyes on StarTrek.com and @StarTrek on socials for more information.
GHOSTS Presentation in Ballroom 20: Join the Ghosts ‘fan-ily’ reunion at the San Diego Convention Center. The event will be hosted by TV host, journalist, “Talking Strange” podcast host Aaron Sagers and will treat fans to a ‘lively’ debate with fans on just who got ‘sucked off’ in this year’s cliffhanger, plus surprises specific to this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. The presentation will also screen the season two finale, a video featurette showcasing the past two seasons and an exclusive SDCC behind-the-scenes presentation from CBS Sunday Morning, which was on-set earlier this year. Thursday, July 20, 12:45 – 1:45PM PT, Ballroom 20.
Ghosts Activation:Ghosts Destiny Decider – Comic-Con attendees arriving to Booth 229 will be welcomed as guests of Sam and Jay’s Bed and Breakfast. As the front doors of Woodstone Mansion close behind each guest, they’ll warm themselves by the fire and relive special moments from the hit series. However, before exiting, each guest will have their fate decided.
Will they get ‘sucked off’ into the eternal light above or ‘go down’ to where their past misfortunes catch up to them? After each transition to their ‘next life,’ attendees will receive images of their posthumous experience and receive a limited-edition Comic-Con t-shirt*, branded as being ‘Ghosted’ at San Diego Comic-Con. *Supplies are limited.
Starz’s Outlander season seven episode six will find Jamie and Claire hustling to stay ahead of the British, while in Roger and Brianna’s world a mystery is set to be solved. Directed by Tracy Deer from a script by Sarah Haught, episode six, “Where the Waters Meet,” will air on Friday, July 21, 2023.
The cast is led by Caitriona Balfe as Claire Fraser and Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser. Season seven also stars Sophie Skelton as Brianna Randall Fraser Mackenzie, Richard Rankin as Roger Wakefield MacKenzie, David Berry as Lord John Grey, and John Bell as Young Ian.
Charles Vandervaart plays William Ransom, Izzy Meikle-Small is Rachel Hunter, Joey Phillips is Denzell Hunter, and Caitlin O’Ryan is Lizzie Wemyss. Paul Gorman returns as Josiah and Kezzie Beardsley, Hugh Ross is Arch Bug, Sarah Collier is Murdina Bug, Mark Lewis Jones is Tom Christie, and Alexander Vhalos plays Allan Christie.
“Where the Waters Meet” Plot: Jamie and Claire help civilians flee Ticonderoga after the fort falls into British hands. Roger discovers the identity of the mysterious ‘Nuckelavee’.
Sam Heughan and John Bell in ‘Outlander’ season 7 episode 6 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Season 7 Plot, Courtesy of Starz:
Following the harrowing events of Season 6, Jamie and Young Ian race to rescue Claire before she’s tried and wrongfully convicted for the murder of Malva Christie. But their mission is complicated by the beginning of a geopolitical firestorm: The American Revolution has arrived. In the seventh season of Outlander, Jamie, Claire, and their family are caught in the violent birth pains of an emerging nation as armies march to war and British institutions crumble in the face of armed rebellion.
The land the Frasers call home is changing – and they must change with it. In order to protect what they’ve built, the Frasers have to navigate the perils of the Revolutionary War. They learn that sometimes to defend what you love, you have to leave it behind. As the conflict draws them out of North Carolina and into the heart of this fight for
independence, Jamie, Claire, Brianna, and Roger are faced with impossible decisions that have the potential to tear their family apart.
Richard Rankin in season 7 episode 6 (Photo Credit: Starz)Charles Vandervaart and Angus MacFadyen in season 7 episode 6 (Photo Credit: Starz)John Bell and Charles Vandervaart in season 7 episode 6 (Photo Credit: Starz)Caitriona Balfe in season 7 episode 6 (Photo Credit: Starz)Izzy Meikle-Small and John Bell in season 7 episode 6 (Photo Credit: Starz)Joey Phillips, Sam Heughan, and John Bell in season 7 episode 6 (Photo Credit: Starz)Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan in season 7 episode 6 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Sadie Stanley and Griffin Gluck in ‘Cruel Summer’ season 2 episode 8 (Freeform/Justine Yeung)
With just two episodes to go in Freeform’s Cruel Summer season two and, finally, with episode eight, we’re getting down to the business of discovering what went down during Luke’s last hours. Episode eight, “Confess your Sins,” takes place on:
August 1, 1999
January 1, 2000
August 1, 2000
Summer of 1999
After Megan (Sadie Stanley) tells Isabella (Lexi Underwood) about the kiss she and Luke shared (in episode seven), Megan thinks this could have never happened if it wasn’t for Isabella. Megan thanks her and calls Isabella the best friend she could ever have asked for.
Luke (Griffin Gluck) comes over and Megan wants some alone time with him, which seems to make Isabella sad. (Or, maybe jealous?) Debbie (KaDee Strickland) gives Isabella a pep talk about how she’s going to have fun when school starts.
Megan and Luke have a make-out session, and she thinks it’s good they both waited to have sex until they could be each other’s first. That makes their relationship special. Unbeknownst to her, Luke had sex with Isabella and, of course, he doesn’t come forward with that information.
Later, the senior car wash is in full swing and, strangely, Isabella and Parker (Lisa Yamada) seem to be hitting it off. As Isabella and Parker bond, Luke and Megan show up holding hands. Parker wonders if it’s awkward, and Isabella claims it’s not.
Isabella asks Jeff (Nile Bullock) what he’s doing with all the footage he’s shooting. Jeff reveals he’s making a time capsule of their senior year.
Brent (Braeden De La Garza) is bragging about how much better homemade porn is when Isabella overhears his gross conversation. Luke talks to Isabella about how he didn’t tell Megan the truth about them having sex. He assumed she told Megan, but obviously, she didn’t. He thinks they should keep it from Megan, and Isabella reluctantly agrees.
Brent tries to hit on Isabella and when she denies him, he unties her bath suit top and calls her a tease. He adds that “she’s asking for it.” Brent’s dad, Steve (Paul Adelstein), heard what his son said and tells Isabella that she’s okay and boys will be boys. How disgusting!
Megan notices something’s wrong with Isabella, but she won’t tell Megan what happened. Megan asks her if she would tell her if something was wrong. “No secrets,” Isabella promises. Which is incredibly ironic since she and Luke just agreed to lie to Megan.
Lisa Yamada and Lexi Underwood in ‘Cruel Summer’ season 2 episode 8 (Freeform/Justine Yeung)
Winter of 1999
Megan and Luke are preparing to get intimate at his cabin…or so Luke thinks. Things go sideways when Megan produces a rope and announces she wants to try something different.
As Megan ties up Luke, he wonders if they should have a safe word in case things get out of control. Suddenly, Isabella walks in and Luke appears to be shocked. (It’s worth noting the sheets on the bed are the bloody items Megan was trying to throw away a few episodes back.)
Luke demands to know what’s going on. Megan reveals she wants to know the truth about the plunge, and Luke begins to panic. Isabella tells him to relax, suggesting it will make everything a lot easier. The girls leave him alone to go make drinks and put some kind of “truth serum” medication in his drink. Odd, they could just ask him since he is tied up and all.
The girls make their own drinks with alcohol, and Megan adds a little alcohol to Luke’s as well. Isabella decides to add a third pill to his drink.
Now that Luke’s all drugged up, they decide to question him. Megan records their interrogation as Luke comes clean. He admits he’s been bragging about having both girls wrapped around his finger but insists it was just to sound cool. He asks what they’re going to do with the recording, and Megan replies, “Confess your sins, and we are going to make sure everyone in town sees it.”
Luke continues to insist he was only saying that stuff to look cool. Isabella needs to know if Luke knew about the tapes his brother was making. Megan looks puzzled by that question but is soon distracted when he says he saw a little of one tape, therefore, he knew Brent was making tapes. Megan is outraged that Luke knew Brent was recording at the cabin and did nothing. Luke confesses he made the tape – not his brother.
Megan justifiably freaks out that Luke recorded them. She’s ready to flee and leave Luke tied up. But Luke, in a last-ditch effort, yells out that Isabella has lied to Megan too. Luke confesses that he and Isabella had sex once last summer.
Isabella blames Luke, insisting he wanted to keep it from Megan that they had sex. As Luke continues to pit them against each other, Isabella retrieves a gun and points it at Luke, demanding that he shuts up.
Summer of 2000
Megan is trying to get ahold of Ned on Instant Messenger with no luck when Isabella arrives, demanding that they talk. “Sheriff Myer called my lawyer. He knows about our lie,” says Isabella.
Megan wonders which lie she’s referring to since there are so many. Sheriff Myer knows that it’s Megan on the sex tape and not Isabella. Megan accuses her of telling him to cut a deal for herself, but Isabella insists it wasn’t her.
Megan informs Isabella they have a bigger problem; Steve Chambers thinks Ned killed Luke. Isabella doesn’t see that as a problem. She thinks the heat will be off them. Megan shuts her down by revealing that Ned has security cameras all over his property and they were filming on New Year’s Eve. Plus, he has a camera pointed toward the fork in the road between his house and the Chambers’ cabin.
Megan and Isabella need to get to the footage before the cops do, so they decide to head to Ned’s.
Sheriff Myer (Sean Blakemore) speaks with a deputy about the case and shows him surveillance footage of Megan with Ned. Myer knows that Steve believes Ned killed Luke, and he asks if the deputy has finished going over Jeff’s videos from New Year’s. The deputy claims that so far, there hasn’t been anything noticeable with Megan and Isabella from that night.
Myer orders him to keep looking. If they lied about the sex tape this whole time, what else might they be lying about?
After the girls don’t get an answer from Ned, Megan remembers Ned’s code to get into his house. The girls begin to go through his computer to try and find the footage from that night. Just as Megan thinks she found something, suddenly Sheriff Myer can be heard saying, “Me too.”
Steve Chambers desperately tries to talk to Debbie, curious to know if she knew it was really Megan on the sex tape. She admits she was just trying to protect her daughter, and he wonders about Isabella. Debbie’s not going to let her daughter go down for a crime she didn’t commit. Steve wants to know if she can say the same about Isabella. Debbie walks away without answering.
The girls are at the police station, and Sheriff Myer questions Isabella about what they were doing in Ned’s house. Isabella claims they were trying to find out if he killed Luke. He asks Megan why, if she and Isabella aren’t friends anymore, did he catch them together in Ned’s house? And why did they maintain the lie about who was on the sex tape? Myer says the only other person who knows the truth is dead, and he thinks they killed Luke to protect the lie.
Megan says Luke and Isabella continued the lie of who was on the tape to protect her. If people knew it was Megan, she would lose her scholarship.
Myer asks Isabella what came in between her and Megan, and she responds that gossip came between them. Isabella confirms that she and Megan got into a fight on New Year’s Eve and never made up.
Sheriff Myer inquires as to when the last time Megan and Isabella saw each other. Their stories differ as Isabella says she wasn’t feeling well, so she left the party and saw Megan the next day. Megan says at the party.
Megan’s shown Jeff’s video from the party. Apparently, they were able to isolate Megan and Isabella’s conversation at a loud party about getting back at Luke.
Myer tries to get them to crack, telling each of them that the other said they brought the pills to the cabin and gave them to Luke. It’s obvious as Megan and Isabella talk about wanting to make Luke pay that they’re now blaming each other for Luke’s death.
Episode eight wraps up with a crazy ending recalling the events of Luke’s last night. Isabella is more concerned about looking like a bad friend to Megan as she points the gun at Luke, and he just keeps calling her crazy. Megan attempts to defuse the situation, but Luke won’t stop. In the final moments of the episode, Isabella fires the gun!
