The official Outlander season seven trailer begins with Claire reminding Jamie he always comes back to her. “I’m not as brave as I was before, you ken? Not brave enough to live without you anymore,” says Jamie.
War is inevitable, sides will be chosen, but Jamie wants to keep his promise to never face his son across the barrel of a gun. The trailer teases an incredible, heart-pounding season seven, with clips of battles scenes as well as quieter, more character-driven moments. The trailer ends with Claire and Jamie in a passionate kiss.
Starz also released the official poster for the upcoming season which debuts on Friday, June 16, 2023 at midnight on the Starz app. (It arrives on Starz at 8pm ET/PT.) The poster features Jamie and Claire on a battlefield with the tagline: “Our History is Now.”
Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan lead the cast as Claire and Jamie Fraser. Sophie Skelton stars as Brianna MacKenzie, Richard Rankin is Roger MacKenzie, John Bell plays Young Ian, and David Berry is Lord John Grey. Season seven newcomers include Charles Vandervaart as William Ransom, Izzy Meikle-Small as Rachel Hunter, and Joey Phillips as Denzell Hunter.
Balfe, Heughan, Matthew B. Roberts, Ronald D. Moore, Maril Davis, Toni Graphia, Luke Schelhaas, Andy Harries, and Jim Kohlberg serve as executive producers.
Poster for ‘Outlander’ season 7 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Starz released this description of season seven:
“Season seven picks up from the harrowing events of the end of season six, with Jamie and Young Ian racing 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.”
Jason Schmidt as Buddy in ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ episode 7 (Photo Credit: Eduardo Araquel / Paramount+)
Paramount+’s Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies episode seven opens with Richie (Johnathan Nieves) striding through Frosty Palace, bruised face shocking Rydell students celebrating the play. He stops within inches of Buddy (Jason Schmidt) and it seems like we’re about to witness a fistfight. But, no. Instead, we’re treated to a flashback to yesterday – the day before the play.
The flashback kicks off with Shy Guy (Maximo Salas) working out at a gym, pummeling punching bags, before sliding away from that scene to show Gil (Nicholas McDonough) serving up sandwiches at a deli counter. Gil turns his mom down when she suggests he take a few dollars for himself. He’s a good son and wants to help her out. Aww, how sweet!
Did we know Gil is Betty’s older brother? I don’t think so, but it turns out he is, and they’ve got the typical sibling relationship.
Meanwhile, Pedrito aka Potato (Alexis Sides) makes breakfast for his little brother and sister. He carefully places the want ads near his snoring dad and hands sack lunches to his siblings. Can we get another aww, please? Thanks.
Over at Olivia’s, she’s not in the least bit gentle when she wakes Richie who’s apparently sleeping off a night of drinking.
The T-Birds make it to school and Richie brags about going out with lovely ladies from St. Bernadette’s. He spots Jane and makes a snap decision. They’ll ditch school and head to Volcano Island. (We can thank Potato for informing us it’s a casino in the desert.)
Shy Guy’s busy with play rehearsals and training, but Richie guilts him into taking off for a day of thrills, chills, and dollar bills. Oh, and girls.
Asst Principal McGee announces Buddy’s the winner and Susan insists they did a recount and discovered he beat Jane. Buddy can’t believe it and realizes that the gym class is abuzz with support for Jane – not him. They believe it’s just the same old status quo with Buddy as president of the student council.
The T-Birds have made it halfway to the casino and start teasing Richie about the end of his relationship with Jane. He claims he ended it and is ready to hook up at the casino.
They haven’t really thought through the plan of how to actually enter the casino, given that they’re underage. But they quickly become sidetracked when Richie lights up a joint.
Nicholas McDonough as Gil, Maximo Salas as Shy Guy, Johnathan Nieves as Richie Valdovinos and Alexis Sides as Potato in ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ episode 7 (Photo Credit: Eduardo Araquel / Paramount+)
The first song of the episode arrives as they enter the casino (without IDs) and sing about high rolling and being served by pretty ladies. (Honestly, this is my least favorite number of the season.)
While they’re singing, Gil’s car gets towed and it’ll cost $20 to get it out. They don’t have it, and decide to gamble Gil’s tip money, hoping they’ll win.
The guys have a run of luck and their winnings pile up. They’ve won $35 between them – enough to get Gil’s car and go home. A girl’s checking out Gil while they’re talking but he’s not interested. Gil admits he only has eyes for Olivia, which grosses Richie out.
Potato’s shocked to discover it’s midnight and everyone but Richie’s anxious to get home. Gil knows he can’t convince Richie to leave; Richie will have to get whatever this is out of his system.
A quick check in on Jane (Marisa Davila) and Buddy finds Buddy thanking Jane for suggesting they host the dance at the gym instead of the country club. He totally agrees with that choice. He promises to talk to the PTA about hiring DJ Johnny Vavoom (again, Jane’s suggestion), reminding her they’re in this together.
They’re about to kiss when Buddy’s dad barges in and gives his son a hug for winning. Jane takes off and Buddy convinces his dad to tell the club they’re using the gym this year.
Buddy then heads over to the radio station and asks Johnny Vavoom if he’s interested in handling Rydell’s dance. The DJ’s aware parents hate him and isn’t sure why he’d risk their wrath for a school dance. Buddy confesses he’s not into rock and roll and explains he’s doing this to get his girl back. Johnny can relate to that; that’s what rock and roll is all about. However, he still won’t DJ the dance.
As Buddy leaves, DJ Johnny Vavoom spins a record from a young up-and-comer out of Memphis – Elvis Presley.
Buddy returns home, disappointed, and his drunk dad reveals Jane won the election. He claims he did what was best for the school by cheating, and Buddy’s upset he didn’t win fair and square. Buddy’s dad also reveals he’s the one who convinced the football coach to make Buddy the quarterback.
Back at the casino, Richie’s drunk and being rude – and crude – to the waitresses. He grabs the bucket of money and places a $5 bet, but then is shamed into betting their entire stash by a guy who could have been a T-Bird 20 years ago. (Earlier, Gil had pointed out an older foursome that look like the T-Birds aged up.)
Richie bets on black and loses everything.
Richie’s out of his mind when he calls out their older versions, suggesting a rumble in the garage. He shows what a slimeball he can be by pushing Shy Guy out to do the fighting in his place. Shy Guy refuses to fight. Potato has a $1 bill that’s a sentimental keepsake from his dad’s time fighting the war, and Richie grabs – as if it means nothing – and flashes it at the older foursome.
Gil’s had enough of Richie and punches him in the face. (Richie’s extremely unlikable thus far into the episode.)
Richie gets his second musical number and begs the T-Birds to hit him. Potato obliges and gets his dad’s $1 bill back.
Richie punctuates his song by falling over a short wall in the parking garage, landing on top of a car. He’s not hurt, physically, but mentally he’s given up on trying, convinced he doesn’t have a future.
The fight’s over and the talk turns serious. Shy Guy confesses he’s only fighting to make his dad happy and doesn’t want to do it anymore. Potato confesses his dad came back with PTSD (he doesn’t mention that specific diagnosis), and Gil says he’s been the man of the house since he was eight. He’s exhausted.
Richie cries and says he’s in love, but he screwed it up.
They’re all emotional and Gil blames it on the nearby kitchen exhaust. “They’re probably cutting onions in there,” says Gil.
They come together for a brief group hug before breaking apart like it was no big deal. They’re flat broke with no way home and suddenly Potato decides he wants to bet his dad’s lucky dollar.
They return to the casino and Potato makes a bet with one of the older guys. Potato bets $1 that he can make the guy giggle by tickling his left nipple. He loses, but it doesn’t matter. While that bet was going on, Richie and the guys bet another member of the foursome that Potato could tickle that nipple. They won $20, enough to free their car…or so they think.
Unfortunately, it’s now day two and they owe $25 instead of $20. Richie tries telling the truth; they just want to go home, and he can’t let them down again. Honesty doesn’t work and the tow yard guy’s a jerk. Shy Guy resorts to punching him in the face while Potato grabs their $20 and the keys.
Back at school, Buddy’s on the verge of confessing to Jane that he didn’t win but can’t quite bring himself to do it. Instead, he calls her a great #2. Jane wishes him luck with the play.
Jason Schmidt as Buddy in ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ episode 7 (Photo Credit: Eduardo Araquel / Paramount+)
Fast-forward to the performance and Buddy’s distracted and stumbles over a few lines before collecting himself. He breaks out in song, confused as to whether he’s making decisions for himself or only following orders. Is he just a product of pulling strings, doing as expected, and faking his way through life?
“I thought I was a winner, but it turns out I’m a joke,” he sings.
He vows to expose his flaws and come clean and change as he takes Hazel’s hands on stage. They kiss, and Buddy’s song continues. He’s going to make meaningful connections, stand on his own, and cut all the strings.
The play’s going on, but the T-Birds are still 10 miles out. Richie helps Shy Guy rehearse his lines and also thanks Gil for always driving. He even gives his approval for Gil to ask out Olivia which nearly causes Gil to wreck the car.
Mr. Vaughan’s seconds away from subbing in for Shy Guy when he arrives on stage, out of breath but in costume. He delivers his line and the T-Birds cheer.
The play ends and Hazel remains on stage as Buddy exits, stage left. His dad catches up to him backstage and tries to convince him not to tell Jane the truth. However, Buddy puts his foot down, determined to tell Jane she’s the real winner.
And now we finally catch up to the beginning of the episode. Buddy’s looking for Jane at the Frosty Palace when Richie confronts him. Richie’s searching for Jane too, but neither knows where she is.
Dot grabs everyone’s attention as DJ Johnny Vavoom has a message for Rydell High. He announces he’ll be DJing the class dance, and credits Buddy with making him decide to take on the gig.
Applause breaks out for Buddy as he rushes off to find Jane.
Richie and Buddy show up at Jane’s door at the same time. Richie goes first, apologizing for Halloween and admitting he was jealous. Buddy steps away to give Richie room, and Richie confesses Jane makes him feel things he hasn’t felt in a long time – things that scare him.
“But, Jane, I’d rather feel everything with you than nothing with someone else,” says Richie.
He asks her to the dance but then graciously steps aside to let Buddy deliver his speech before she answers. Buddy tries again to tell her the truth about the election but instead just says that Johnny Vavoom agreed to DJ.
Richie rejoins the conversation and says now she has two offers to consider. But, they’ll give her time to decide.
Frenchy and Betty are eavesdropping and Betty bets on Buddy while Frenchy goes for Richie and his dreamboat smile.
The episode ends with Buddy grabbing a bottle and drowning his worries in alcohol. Richie, on the other hand, looks at the bottles in his room and throws them all away.
Buddy looks miserable while Richie has a huge, satisfied smile.
Writer/director Robert Rodriguez’s Hypnotic, a film that promises a mind-bending and reality-shifting experience, isn’t edgy enough to be interesting. While the final act provides some thrills, getting there requires you to endure two acts desperately in need of a dose of adrenaline. (“Endure” is not an overstatement in this case.)
Ben Affleck, coming off an outstanding job directing and starring in Air, seems to be just going through the paces as Danny Rourke, a police detective devastated by the loss of his child. Flashbacks reveal his young daughter, Minnie, was abducted from a playground while he was watching her. Danny made the mistake of taking his eyes off his child for just a moment, long enough for a stranger to steal her away.
Although Minnie was never found, a man who claimed not to have any memory of the incident was found guilty of her kidnapping. His conviction failed to offer Danny any solace, and he remains determined to find his missing daughter, convinced she’s still alive.
Cleared to return to work after his personal trauma, Danny leaps into a case involving multiple bank robberies. What’s unusual about this series of robberies is that the thief only steals a single safe deposit box at each location.
Danny and his partner, Nicks (JD Pardo, Mayans M.C.), follow an anonymous tip about the thief’s next target. They organize a stakeout and observe a suspicious man (William Fichtner, The Company You Keep) briefly conversing with a woman on a park bench. The man then whispers something to two armed guards before entering the bank.
The man appears to trigger bizarre, erratic behavior in anyone he encounters. Even Danny’s colleagues aren’t immune to whatever power this mysterious man possesses.
Danny’s shocked to discover a clue to his daughter’s whereabouts in the safe deposit box described by the anonymous tipster. Inside the box is a polaroid of Minnie with “find Lev dellrayne” written on the bottom. The mysterious man who appears to be able to control minds is Dellrayne, and Danny quickly realizes this mysterious figure has all the answers.
Danny’s journey to reunite with his daughter sends him down the rabbit hole into a secret government organization of “hypnotic constructs.” Diana Cruz (Alice Braga), a gifted psychic, is his entry into this hidden world. As she slowly doles out the details, Danny loses his ability to determine what’s real and what’s a thought planted in his mind.
To say more would spoil the experience, and if you’re going to take a chance on Hypnotic, the less you know, the better. So don’t even watch a trailer as it may raise your expectations and set you up to have your hopes dashed.
It’s not that Rodriguez and Max Borenstein’s script is confusing. Hypnotic isn’t difficult to understand if you pay attention. And therein lies the problem. Paying attention is a big ask, given that Hypnotic is so lacking in character development that it’s difficult to care about Danny, Alice, or Dellrayne.
The world in which these hypnotic constructs exist should be fascinating, but only the last act manages to capitalize on the concept of mind control as a weapon. Unfortunately, the twist is revealed too early, making it feel like Hypnotic would have been better suited as a short film solely focused on the final act.
Fox’s 9-1-1: Lone Star season four will come to an end with back-to-back episodes. Episode 17, “Best of Men,” will air on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 8pm ET/PT followed by episode 18, “In Sickness and In Health,” at 9pm.
The season four cast is led by Rob Lowe as Captain Owen Strand and Gina Torres as Captain Tommy Vegas. The season also stars Ronen Rubinstein as T.K. Strand, Sierra McClain as Grace Ryder, Jim Parrack as Judd Ryder, Natacha Karem as Marjan Marwani, and Brian Michael Smith as Paul Strickland. Rafael L. Silva is Carlos Reyes, Julian Works is Mateo Chavez, and Brianna Baker plays Nancy Gillian.
“Best of Men” / “In Sickness and In Health” Plot: Owen is conflicted when his brother Robert (guest star Chad Lowe) asks him for help, and Judd and Grace face a family crisis. As T.K. and Carlos prepare for their wedding day, tragedy strikes.
Nearly 20 years ago, Owen Strand was the lone survivor of his Manhattan firehouse on 9/11, and in the wake of the attack, was left with the unenviable task of rebuilding the station. After a similar tragedy strikes a firehouse in Austin, Texas, Owen – along with his troubled firefighter son, T.K. – takes his progressive philosophies of life and firefighting down to the Lone Star State to help them start anew.
On the surface, Owen is all about big-city style and swagger, but underneath, he struggles with a secret he hides from the world — one that could very well end his life.
Tom Holland (Spider-Man: No Way Home) doesn’t look dangerous in the first trailer for Apple TV+’s The Crowded Room, but is his youthful, innocent-looking face just a disguise? That appears to be what Amanda Seyfried’s attempting to figure out in the intense first look at the 10-episode series.
Emmy Rossum, Sasha Lane, Will Chase, and Lior Raz also star. Jason Isaacs, Christopher Abbott, Thomas Sadoski, and Zachary Golinger guest star.
Oscar winner Akiva Goldsman created the series and executive produces along with Holland, EMJAG Productions’ Alexandra Milchan, and New Regency’s Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan, and Michael Schaefer. Kornel Mundruczo directed the pilot (and additional episodes) and also serves as an executive producer.
The series will premiere on Apple TV+ on Friday, June 9, 2023 with the release of the first three episodes. New episodes will follow on Fridays.
The Plot: “The Crowded Room follows ‘Danny Sullivan’ (Holland), a man who is arrested following his involvement in a shooting in New York City in 1979. A captivating thriller told through a series of interviews with curious interrogator ‘Rya Goodwin’ (Seyfried), Danny’s life story unfolds, revealing elements of the mysterious past that shaped him, and the twists and turns that will lead him to a life-altering revelation.”
Fox has closed up Fantasy Island after two seasons but Animal Control managed to escape the ax and will return for season two. The network announced the half-hour comedy starring Joel McHale has been renewed for season two after coming off a hot first season that included setting a record for Fox’s most-streamed scripted series premiere.
“We are thrilled our viewers have responded to Animal Control as much as we did,” said Michael Thorn, President of Scripted Programming, FOX Entertainment. “The incredibly talented ensemble cast, led by Joel McHale, along with our creative team, Bob Fisher, Rob Greenberg, Dan Sterling and Tad Quill – not to mention a menagerie of wild animal method actors – have delivered a hilarious series that is sharp, witty, and warm, week after week.”
In addition to McHale, the season one cast includes Michael Rowland as Fred “Shred” Taylor, Vella Lovel as Emily Price, Ravi Patel as Amit Patel, and Grace Palmer as Victoria Sands. Alvina August plays Dr. Summers, Kelli Ogmundson is Dolores Stubb, and Gerry Dee is Templeton Dudge.
Bob Fisher, Rob Greenberg, and Dan Sterling created the series and executive produce along with McHale and Tad Quill. Animal Control is produced by FOX Entertainment Studios and is the network’s first wholly owned live-action action.
The Plot:
Animal Control follows a group of local Animal Control workers whose lives are complicated by the fact that animals are simple, but humans are not. McHale stars as Frank, an opinionated, eccentric Animal Control officer who may not have gone to college but is still the most well-read person in the room. A former cop, Frank tried to expose corruption in his department, but his efforts got him fired, which may explain why he’s so cynical and curmudgeonly. He has an almost superhuman ability to understand animals. Humans…not so much.
Searchlight’s Flamin’ Hot trailer delves into the true story behind the popular (but messy) Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. Jesse Garcia (Quinceañera) stars as Richard Montañez, the janitor at a Frito-Lay factory who helped turn the industry around by cooking up a spicy version of the cheesy snack food.
“My journey is the journey of billions of people,” said the real Richard Montañez. “Being Mexican, being born in a labor camp, I’ve been fighting my whole life. I don’t know what it’s like not to fight.”
Director Eva Longoria calls Montañez the godfather of Hispanic marketing.
“That was his gift: seeing that nobody was paying attention to the Hispanic consumer. His gift wasn’t making a recipe in a chemical lab. His genius and talent and where he broke through was saying, ‘You guys, there’s a huge segment of the population in the United States that nobody is paying attention to, who spend money just like everybody else.’ That has been our North Star in making this film,” explained Eva Longoria.
In addition to Jesse Garcia as Richard, Flamin’ Hot features Annie Gonzalez (Gentefied) as his wife, Judy; Emilio Rivera (Mayans M.C.) as Richard’s father, Nacho; Dennis Haysbert (24) as Richard’s mentor, Clarence; and Emmy Award winner Tony Shalhoub (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Monk) as PepsiCo CEO Roger Enrico. Matt Walsh, Pepe Serna. Bobby Soto, Jimmy Gonzales, Brice Gonzalez, Vanessa Martinez, Fabian Alomar, Mario Ponce, and Hunter Jones also star.
Lewis Colick (October Sky) and Linda Yvette Chávez (creator/writer Gentefied) wrote the screenplay, based on the book A Boy, A Burrito and A Cookie: from Janitor to Executive by Richard Montañez. DeVon Franklin (Miracles From Heaven) serves as producer.
Longoria’s behind-the-scenes team includes director of photography Federico Cantini, production designers Brandon Mendez and Cabot McMullen, editors Kayla M. Emter and Liza D. Espinas, and costume designer Elaine Montalvo.
Searchlight’s set a June 9, 2023 premiere date on Hulu and Disney+.
CBS is adding three new dramas along with a half-hour comedy, starring Damon Wayans Sr. and Jr., to their 2023 primetime lineup. The network’s confirmed schedule also includes the return of 22 shows including the three FBI series, S.W.A.T. season seven, and season two of breakout hit Fire Country.
“Along with our outstanding team at the Network, I am incredibly excited to introduce four new series with big-name talent portraying distinct, bold, engaging characters,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “These new shows from marquee auspices capture everything our viewers love about a CBS series – unique personalities, suspenseful drama, intrigue, high stakes, and relatable laugh-out-loud comedy with heart and humor. The new additions to our lineup are a stellar complement to our winning slate of returning series and we are confident they will resonate with our viewers on broadcast and streaming platforms.”
New seasons of the reality competition series Survivor and The Amazing Race will kick off with special 90-minute episodes. Other scheduling highlights include the premiere of Tracker starring This Is Us‘ Justin Hartley immediately after Super Bowl LVIII on February 11, 2024.
CBS’s 2023-2024 Primetime Schedule:
MONDAY – Monday’s winning slate returns intact with the popular comedies THE NEIGHBORHOOD and BOB ♥ ABISHOLA opening the night from 8:00-9:00 PM. At 9:00 PM, the #1 broadcast series, NCIS, returns for season 21, leading into the third season of NCIS: HAWAI`I at 10:00 PM.
TUESDAY – FBI Tuesday returns with the top-rated lineup of the night. FBI opens the night at 8:00 PM, followed by FBI: INTERNATIONAL at 9:00 PM and FBI: MOST WANTED concluding the block of heroic storytelling at 10:00 PM.
WEDNESDAY – Two iconic reality series will expand to 90 minutes each to deliver a full night of adventure and challenges. The groundbreaking broadcast hit and most-watched reality show on Paramount+, SURVIVOR, hosted by Jeff Probst, kicks off the night at 8:00 PM. At 9:30 PM, the globe-trotting, Emmy Award-winning THE AMAZING RACE hosted by Phil Keoghan returns, ending at 11:00 PM.
THURSDAY – Thursdays kick off with the top two comedies on television. The #1 comedy, YOUNG SHELDON, anchors the night at 8:00 PM, leading into the #2 comedy series, GHOSTS, at 8:30 PM. At 9:00 PM, the witty drama SO HELP ME TODD, starring Marcia Gay Harden and Skylar Astin, returns and serves as a perfect pairing with the humorous new drama ELSBETH, starring Carrie Preston, at 10:00 PM.
FRIDAY – CBS’s most dominant night will feature the return of S.W.A.T. at 8:00 PM followed at 9:00 PM with television’s #1 new series and CBS’s #1 streaming series on Paramount+, FIRE COUNTRY. At 10:00 PM, Friday’s consistent winner, BLUE BLOODS starring Tom Selleck, closes out one of television’s strongest nights as it returns for its 14th season.
SATURDAY – CBS’s Saturday night lineup features encore broadcasts of the Network’s popular dramas at 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM, followed at 10:00 PM by the true crime docuseries 48 HOURS, Saturday’s #1 non-sports primetime series.
SUNDAY – CBS’s Sunday night starts at 7:00 PM with 60 MINUTES, television’s acclaimed #1 news program, followed at 8:00 PM by the new legal drama MATLOCK, starring Emmy and Academy Award winner Kathy Bates. At 9:00 PM, one of television’s top shows, averaging over 10 million multiplatform viewers a week and reigning as the most-watched drama among African American viewers, THE EQUALIZER, starring Queen Latifah, returns for a fourth season.
During the first half of the season, when the CBS Sunday primetime lineup often starts later due to late afternoon NFL broadcasts, the 10:00 PM slot will feature encore broadcasts of popular Network dramas. CSI: VEGAS returns for its third season to anchor the 10:00 PM slot later in the year.
ELSBETH (Thursday, 10:00-11:00 PM)
ELSBETH stars Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni, an astute but unconventional attorney who utilizes her singular point of view to make unique observations and corner brilliant criminals alongside the NYPD. After leaving her successful legal career in Chicago to tackle a new investigative role in New York City, Elsbeth finds herself jockeying with the toast of the NYPD, Captain C.W. Wagner (Wendell Pierce).
Working alongside Elsbeth is Officer Kaya Blanke (Carra Patterson), a stoic and ethical officer who quickly develops an appreciation for Elsbeth’s insightful and offbeat ways.
ELSBETH is based on the character featured in THE GOOD WIFE and THE GOOD FIGHT. Robert King, Michelle King, Liz Glotzer, and Jonathan Tolins are executive producers. Tolins will serve as showrunner. Robert King directed the pilot from a script he wrote with Michelle King. The series is produced by CBS Studios.
MATLOCK (Sunday, 8:00-9:00 PM)
MATLOCK stars Emmy and Academy Award winner Kathy Bates as Madeline “Matty” Matlock, a brilliant septuagenarian who achieved success in her younger years and decides to rejoin the workforce at a prestigious law firm where she uses her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases. Matty is assigned to Olympia (Skye P. Marshall), a senior attorney and key rainmaker with a thirst for justice. Olympia’s ex-husband, Julian (Jason Ritter), the son of the head of the firm, is intrigued by Matty and her clever skills. As Matty endeavors to establish herself in her new high-stakes world, she works alongside the firm’s younger associates – the charismatic Billy (David Del Rio) and the uber ambitious Sarah (Leah Lewis).
Bates, Jennie Snyder Urman, Joanna Klein, Eric Christian Olsen, and John Will are executive producers. Kat Coiro directed the pilot from a script written by Urman. The series is produced by CBS Studios. MATLOCK is inspired by the classic television series of the same name.
TRACKER (Premieres after the Super Bowl 2024)
TRACKER stars Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw, a lone-wolf survivalist who roams the country as a “reward seeker,” using his expert tracking skills to help private citizens and law enforcement solve all manner of mysteries while contending with his own fractured family. The series is based on the bestselling novel The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver.
POPPA’S HOUSE (Mid-Season)
POPPA’S HOUSE, starring Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr., features Wayans as legendary talk radio host and happily divorced “Poppa” who has his point of view challenged at work when a new female co-host (Essence Atkins) is hired, and at home where he finds himself still parenting his adult son (Damon Wayans Jr.), a brilliant dreamer who is trying to pursue his passion while being a responsible father and husband.
POPPA’S HOUSE stars Damon Wayans as Poppa, Damon Wayans Jr. as Damon, Essence Atkins as Ivy and Tetona Jackson as Nina. Wayans and Kevin Hench are executive producers. Andy Ackerman directed the pilot from a script written by Hench and Wayans. The series is produced by CBS Studios.
The death of seven teenagers has the team hustling to find the person responsible on CBS’s FBI season five episode 22, “Torn.” Directed by Yamgzom Brauen from a script by Thomas Kelly, episode 22 will air on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 8pm ET/PT.
Season five stars Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell, Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom “OA” Zidan, Jeremy Sisto as Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine, and Alana De La Garza as Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille. John Boyd plays Special Agent Stuart Scola and Katherine Renee Turner is Special Agent Tiffany Wallace.
“Torn” Plot: After finding a group of teens dead from a drug overdose, the team races to find the dangerous dealer and his supplier. Meanwhile, OA questions where he stands in his faith.
FBI is a fast-paced drama about the inner workings of the New York office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This elite unit brings to bear all their talents, intellect and technical expertise on major cases in order to keep New York and the country safe. Born into a multigenerational law enforcement family, Special Agent Maggie Bell commits deeply to the people she works with as well as those she protects. Her partner is Special Agent Omar Adom “OA” Zidan, a West Point graduate via Bushwick who spent two years undercover for the DEA before being cherry-picked by the FBI.
Overseeing them is Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille, who operates under intense pressure and has undeniable command authority. The team also includes Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine, the nerve center of the office whose ability to easily relate to and engage with both superiors and subordinates makes him a master motivator. The smart and outspoken Special Agent Tiffany Wallace, who spent six years with the NYPD, is partner to Special Agent Stuart Scola, an Ivy League-educated Wall Streeter-turned-FBI agent.
These first-class agents tenaciously investigate cases of tremendous magnitude, including terrorism, organized crime, and counterintelligence.
‘Ghost Adventures’ poster (Courtesy of Discovery Channel’s social media)
Ghost Adventures star Zak Bagans promises the upcoming 2023 season is going to be insane and will feature “mountains” of supernatural evidence. “I can’t wait to share our findings with longtime fans and capture the attention of new viewers. I’m grateful to be able to expand the reach of what Ghost Adventures has always set out to do – build a better understanding of the afterlife,” stated Bagans.
The new season will premiere on Discovery Channel on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 10pm ET/PT.
“Ghost Adventures is one of the many successful franchises in the Warner Bros. Discovery portfolio and we can continue to help it grow by sharing it with a much larger audience on Discovery,” said Kathleen Finch, Chairman and Chief Content Officer, US Networks Group, Warner Bros. Discovery. “One of the benefits of having an incredible network ecosystem is that we can find new ways to amplify great content, super serve passionate fans of each genre, and introduce new audiences to additional content that will appeal to them.”
Paranormal investigators Zak Bagans, Aaron Goodwin, Jay Wasley, and Billy Tolley return to guide supernatural fans through spooky investigations. 10+ million viewers tuned into it on Travel Channel last season, making the series cable’s top non-sport/news program in its timeslot.
Discovery Channel released the following details on the new season:
Each episode of Ghost Adventures features the investigative team as they travel to haunted locations in search of evidence of the afterlife and meet with locals, eyewitnesses, and experts to piece together the haunted history of each site. Their comprehensive investigations use the latest scientific gadgets and technology to capture physical evidence of the paranormal and gain a better understanding of each supernatural mystery.
During the supersized premiere, Ghost Adventures: Lake of Death, along the sprawling shores of Lake Mead, an attack by an anxiety-inducing spirit brings Bagans to his knees and fearing for his life.
Other stories this season include the team’s investigations of paranormal evidence at locations such as Los Angeles’ Barclay Hotel, whose grisly history rivals that of the infamous Hotel Cecil; California’s first oil boomtown, Mentryville, which is teeming with paranormal chaos; The Commercial Casino and Hotel in Elko, Nevada with a lawless history that now fuels a malevolent energy; and Los Angeles’ peculiar Longfellow-Hastings Octagon House that’s brimming with poltergeist activity.
