Raymond Lee as Dr. Ben Song, Caitlin Bassett as Addison, and Justin Hartley as Jake in ‘Quantum Leap’ season 1 episode 4 (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)
Dr. Ben Song and his team at the lab will be jumping around in time for a second season. NBC’s officially renewed the sci-fi drama Quantum Leap for season two, announcing the renewal while season one’s on its winter holiday break.
“We’re leaping into a second season thanks to the incredible work by our cast, producers, writers and everyone who has played a role in giving this iconic NBC series a new life,” stated Lisa Katz, President, Scripted Content, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. “As we continue to bring audiences to our must-watch dramas, it’s gratifying to know Quantum Leap will have a prominent place next season both on our NBC schedule and next day on Peacock.”
The season one casts includes Raymond Lee (Kevin Can F**k Himself) as physicist Ben Song and Caitlin Bassett as Addison Augustine, a co-worker whose hologram helps Ben out when he leaps. Ernie Hudson (The Family Business) plays Herbert “Magic” Williams, Mason Alexander Park (The Sandman) is Ian Wright, and Nanrisa Lee (First Love) plays Jenn Chou.
The series premiered on September 19, 2022, and the first episode, “July 13, 1985,” has pulled in more than 10.8 million viewers across all platforms. Martin Gero (Keep Breathing) serves as executive producer along with Dean Georgaris, Don Bellisario, Deborah Pratt, Chris Grismer, Steven Lilien, and Bryan Wynbrandt.
Nanrisa Lee as Jenn, Ernie Hudson as Magic, Mason Alexander Park as Ian, and Caitlin Bassett as Addison in ‘Quantum Leap’ season 1 episode 1 (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)
The Quantum Leap Plot, Courtesy of NBC:
It’s been nearly 30 years since Dr. Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished. Now, a new team, led by physicist Ben Song (Lee), has been assembled to restart the project in the hope of understanding the mysteries behind the machine and the man who created it.
Everything changes, however, when Ben makes an unauthorized leap into the past, leaving the team behind to solve the mystery of why he did it. At Ben’s side throughout his leaps is Addison (Bassett), who appears in the form of a hologram only Ben can see and hear. She’s a decorated Army veteran who brings level-headed precision to her job.
At the helm of the highly confidential operation is Herbert “Magic” Williams (Hudson), a no-nonsense career military man who has to answer to his bosses who won’t be happy once they learn about the breach of protocol. The rest of the team at headquarters includes Ian Wright (Park), who runs the Artificial Intelligence unit “Ziggy,” and Jenn Chou (Lee), who heads up digital security for the project.
As Ben leaps from life to life, putting right what once went wrong, it becomes clear that he and the team are on a thrilling journey. However, Addison, Magic, Ian and Jenn know that if they are going to solve the mystery of Ben’s leaps and bring him home, they must act fast or lose him forever.
Bryce Dallas Howard to star in ‘Witch Mountain’ (Photo credit: Art Streiber for Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment)
Disney+ has greenlit a pilot for Witch Mountain and has tapped Bryce Dallas Howard (the Jurassic World films) to star. Isabel Gravitt (The Watcher), Levi Miller (Streamline), Bianca “b” Norwood (We Crashed), and Jackson Kelly (Straight Man) have also joined the pilot’s cast.
Disney+ is moving forward on what they’re labeling a “modern reinvention” of the Witch Mountain film franchise that kicked off in 1975 with Escape to Witch Mountain. Return from Witch Mountain followed in 1978, and then in 1995 Robert Vaughn and Elisabeth Moss starred in a television remake of the 1975 family-friendly film. Andy Fickman’s Race to Witch Mountain with Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, and Alexander Ludwig debuted in theaters in 2009 and rang up $100+ million at the box office.
Executive producers Travis Fickett and Terry Matalas co-wrote the pilot, with Augustine Frizzell (Euphoria) on board to direct. Gary Marsh and Davis Entertainment’s John Fox and John Davis are also attached as executive producers.
Disney+ released the following Witch Mountain character descriptions:
Bryce Dallas Howard stars in the leading role as “Audrey,” Tia’s devoted and loving mother. Her husband died from a mental illness, and she tries to reassure a fretful Tia that she shows no sign of following her father’s dark spiral. A warm mama bear type, but like everyone in this town, not everything is as it seems.
Isabel Gravitt as “Tia,” a straight-A student who’s regarded by her classmates as perfect, although she regards herself as flawed. She’s terrified of failure and is plagued by nightmares and fears that her late father’s schizophrenia is starting to exhibit itself in her. Tia has hallucinations in which people around her step outside their living bodies and voice their deepest, darkest fears and desires, and rages.
Levi Miller as “Ben,” a troubled teen who makes ends meet by writing papers for other students but he’s got a hot temper, and if he slugs another student, he’ll be expelled. Ben is best friends with Corey, his co-worker at the diner. He’s recently made a troubling discovery about himself, he can force others in his vicinity to move according to his will and there’s something drawing him inexplicably in the direction of Tia.
Bianca “b” Norwood as “Corey,” Ben’s closest friend, an outsider with tattoos, Corey is a very mature teen who comes across older than they are. They are one step away from expulsion and puts more care into looking like a My Chemical Romance song that became an anime fan. Corey works at the local diner alongside Ben and is in his circle of trust, but doesn’t appreciate it when he tries to act as their protector.
Jackson Kelly as “Peter,” Tia’s closest male friend. Peter is lovesick on the subject of Tia, but she’s unaware of his charms, and equally unaware of his devotion. But when Tia expresses her concerns about the seemingly impossible happenings around them, she learns that Peter’s observant, cautious nature might be an asset in figuring out the mystery around them.
Disney+ is opening up a new chapter in the National Treasure franchise with National Treasure: Edge of History, premiering on December 14, 2022. The series introduces a new group of treasure hunters, with a few familiar faces from the National Treasure films popping in in guest starring roles in season one.
National Treasure: Edge of History was created by Cormac and Marianne Wibberley, writers of both National Treasure films – 2004’s National Treasure and 2007’s National Treasure: Book of Secrets – and follows the hunt for a centuries-old lost Pan-American treasure. The treasure has a special connection to Jess Valenzuela (played Lisette Olivera), a 20-year-old intelligent and resourceful DREAMer who loves solving puzzles and is a whiz at piecing together clues.
Season one finds Jess, with the help of her friends, setting out to learn more about her family’s history while on a quest to locate a lost treasure. Antonio Cipriano and Zuri Reed star as Jess’ friends Oren and Tasha who join in the treasure hunt. Paired up for interviews at the San Diego Comic-Con, Cipriano and Reed discussed the appeal of the series, their characters, and working with National Treasure’s Justin Bartha.
Zuri Reed and Antonio Cipriano in ‘National Treasure: Edge of History’ (Disney/Brian Roedel)
Antonio Cipriano and Zuri Reed Interview:
The National Treasure films delve into American history and what it means to be an American. How does the show incorporate those themes?
Zuri Reed: “I am really big on like if this type of person exists, then there could be a story about that because it’s real life. And that goes for people with disabilities and (different) statuses, and things like that. I think it helps to make it even more authentic because that’s what ‘American’ is. We’re not all fresh from the Mayflower.”
Antonio Cipriano: “Exactly. We are all immigrants.”
Zuri Reed: “From different ways and walks of life. There are DREAMers here, and we love them so much.”
Antonio Cipriano: “Yeah, I agree with everything that she said. […] They were talking about it in the panel about how Ben Gates (played by Nicolas Cage) – in that story, his family could have been right off the Mayflower. But (the show) wanted to focus on what makes America, America in so many other ways.”
Zuri Reed: “And America is a melting pot. It’s important for those other stories to be told because that is real life.”
What appealed to you about your characters?
Antonio Cipriano: “I found so much of myself in it in, like the playfulness. And just like the kind of off-the-cuff character is very fun to play and experiment with. And then working with the (Wimberleys) is a dream come true.”
Zuri Reed: “I have never had an audition for a role that felt more like me, ever. I didn’t have to try too hard. The comedic timing of Tasha is my comedic timing. Her attitude and sassiness, you know, that’s all me. It was great. Literally, everything about it was like, ‘Okay, can I please do this project, please?!’”
Antonio Cipriano: “And I think that’s why our relationship in real life is very much like ours in (the show). The first time we met, we sang the entirety of Les Mis.”
Zuri Reed: “From beginning to end…”
Antonio Cipriano: “…at a restaurant…”
Zuri Reed: “…in New York City…”
Antonio Cipriano: “…for everyone to hear.”
Zuri Reed: “It was great. I was like, ‘Hmmm, I’m going to like you.’”
Antonio Cipriano: “We gelled very quickly. And our characters did, too.”
What do you love about your characters?
Antonio Cipriano: “I think for Oren specifically, because he’s sort of such an out-of-the-box character going through the course of the show, it was almost like, ‘Oh, you sing in real life. We should try Oren singing here because he is so random that it would almost work.’ And I think working with that in every scene is so fun as an actor. So yeah, I think just kind of the randomness of him is really cool.”
Zuri Reed: “I think Tasha’s loyalty and the way that she’s such a leader. She commands a room. She’s very strong, and I think that is a very important story to tell, especially as a Black woman to be able to be in that position. So that’s what I love about my character.”
Justin Bartha reprises his role as Riley for the series, and he’s not the only one returning from the film franchise. What can you tell us about this season’s special guests?
Zuri Reed: “Well, Justin does a great job as Riley Poole – we know him and love him so much. And Jake (Austin Walker’s) character, Liam, his grandfather is Harvey Keitel who plays Sadusky. I don’t know what else I can say about Easter eggs of who’s coming back.”
Antonio Cipriano: “But there will be more. We can guarantee it.
The first day (Justin) came to set, we were rained out for like three hours. We were waiting in a van, and he was in there with us. We just got to hear stories of his first table read with the movie and all of this stuff from almost like 18 years ago. Just hearing about his experience on the movies and bringing it to this…he’s excited for this. It was really, really amazing and a once-in-a-lifetime situation.”
Zuri Reed: “We also played games in the van, too.”
Antonio Cipriano: “So many games.”
Zuri Reed: “There was thunder, so we had to stay in a van literally for three hours on the set, so that was fine. It was a nice bonding moment for us.”
Why do you think people will be drawn to this show?
Zuri Reed: “I think there’s something really satisfying about when people represent what is real. We are very different, we come from different backgrounds, different walks of life, but are on this hunt that is fictionalized. It’s based around real things and real artifacts and Mexican artifacts that we might not have been taught in history class.”/p>
Antonio Cipriano: “It’s just exciting. It’s very exciting to go on these treasure hunts. I mean, watching it growing up, you wanted to be a treasure hunter watching these movies. So, I think it’s the same reason that people watch the movies. It’s amazing.”
Zuri Reed: “You get the thrill and the excitement, and you also laugh.”
The cast of Netflix’s ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’
A return trip to Pandora and the soaring long-awaited sequel to Top Gun made the cut and earned spots on my Top 10 Films of 2022 list. So did the story of young adult cannibals finding love in Bones and All, and the twisted tale of a friendship gone south in writer/director Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin. Austin Butler’s extraordinary work channeling the King of Rock and Roll in Elvis deserved a spot, as did the powerful retelling of the murder of Emmett Till by white supremacists in director Chinonye Chukwu’s Till.
Everything Everywhere All at Once had everything necessary to make it into the top 10 of 2022 including sci-fi, action, comedy, drama, and a fabulous cast led by Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan. You couldn’t ask for a more entertaining murder mystery than what Rian Johnson and his talented ensemble served up in Glass Onion. 2022 also found Steven Spielberg delivering his most personal film to date with The Fabelmans, a movie that allowed audiences a peek behind the curtain into his lifelong love of the cinema. And actor/director Sarah Polley’s compelling drama Women Talking is simply filmmaking at its finest.
The following are my personal favorite films and performances of 2022. Given that it’s all just a matter of taste, I won’t hold it against you if you disagree with any or all of my picks. It was an incredibly difficult year to narrow any category down to just 10 that fit. I spent more time than I’m willing to admit deleting, adding, deleting again, re-adding, and engaging in lengthy internal debates before landing on the final selections for each of my lists – except the animated films and breakthrough performances lists. Those were, thankfully, relatively easy.
The Best of 2022 in Films – All lists are in alphabetical order
Top 10 Films Avatar: The Way of Water The Banshees of Inisherin Bones and All Elvis Everything Everywhere All at Once The Fabelmans Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Till Top Gun: Maverick Women Talking
(Runners-up: The Whale, Bodies Bodies Bodies, The Menu, The Woman King, Triangle of Sadness, A Man Called Otto, Aftersun, and White Noise)
Top 10 Male Actors
Austin Butler, Elvis Timothee Chalamet, Bones and All
Adam Driver, White Noise
Colin Farrell, The Banshees of Inisherin
Brendan Fraser, The Whale
Tom Hanks, A Man Called Otto
Daniel Kaluuya, Nope
Felix Kammerer, All Quiet on the Western Front
Gabriel LaBelle, The Fabelmans
Bill Nighy, Living
Top 10 Supporting Male Actors
Don Cheadle, White Noise
Paul Dano, The Fabelmans
Brendan Gleeson, The Banshees of Inisherin
Jalyn Hall, Till
Rory Kinnear, Men
Edward Norton, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Brad Pitt, Babylon
Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Mark Rylance, Bones and All
Ben Whishaw, Women Talking
Top 10 Female Actors
Cate Blanchett, Tar
Viola Davis, The Woman King
Danielle Deadwyler, Till
Mia Goth, Pearl
Rooney Mara, Women Talking
Florence Pugh, Don’t Worry, Darling
Margot Robbie, Babylon
Taylor Russell, Bones and All
Michelle Williams, The Fabelmans
Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Top 10 Supporting Female Actors
Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Jessie Buckley, Women Talking
Hong Chau, The Whale
Jamie Lee Curtis, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Dolly De Leon, Triangle of Sadness
Stephanie Hsu, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Janelle Monae, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Carey Mulligan, She Said
Keke Palmer, Nope
Mariana Trevino, A Man Called Otto
Stanislaus Katczinsky (Albrecht Schuch), Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer), and Tjaden Stackfleet (Edin Hasanovic) in Netflix’s ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’
Top 10 International Films All Quiet on the Western Front Argentina, 1985 Bardo Close Decision to Leave EO Holy Spider The Quiet Girl RRR Saint Omer
Top 10 Documentary Films All the Beauty and the Bloodshed All That Breathes Bad Axe Descendant Fire of Love Good Night Oppy Retrograde The Janes The Territory Wildcat
Top 5 Animated Features Apollo 10 ½ Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio Marcel the Shell With Shoes On Turning Red Wendell & Wild
Top 10 Directors
James Cameron, Avatar: The Way of Water
Edward Berger, All Quiet on the Western Front
Chinonye Chukwu, Till
Rian Johnson, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Baz Luhrmann, Elvis
Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin
Sarah Polley, Women Talking
S.S. Rajamouli, RRR
Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans
Austin Butler as Elvis in Warner Bros. Pictures’ drama ‘Elvis,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. (Photo by Hugh Stewart)
Top 10 Breakthrough Performances
Austin Butler, Elvis
Frankie Corio, Aftersun
Danielle Deadwyler, Till
Mia Goth, X and Pearl
Stephanie Hsu, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Gabriel LaBelle, The Fabelmans
Paul Mescal, Aftersun
Amber Midthunder, Prey
Cooper Raiff, Director and star of Cha Cha Real Smooth
Taylor Russell, Bones and All
Top 10 Ensemble Casts Babylon Bodies Bodies Bodies Everything Everywhere All at Once Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery The Menu Thirteen Lives Triangle of Sadness The Woman King Women Talking White Noise
Top 10 Disappointments Amsterdam Blonde Death on the Nile Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness Halloween Ends Jurassic World Dominion Me Time Morbius Strange World The 355
The controversial Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced the 2023 Golden Globes nominations, sparking debate over whether the troubled group’s awards mean anything at this point. 2022’s awards show was pulled by the network after an uproar over the HFPA’s complete lack of diversity, among other issues. HFPA vowed to fix things, and the 2023 ceremony will be a test to see if the Golden Globes and its voting body are beyond redemption.
The Banshees of Inisherin leads the list of film nominees, collecting eight nominations, including Best Picture – Musical/Comedy, Best Actor – Motion Picture, Musical/Comedy (Colin Farrell), and Best Director (Martin McDonagh). Abbott Elementary leads the list on the television side, picking up five including Best Musical/Comedy Series and Best Television Actress – Musical/Comedy Series (Quinta Brunson).
The 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards will air live on NBC and Peacock on Tuesday, January 10, 2023. Jerrod Carmichael has been tapped to host the three-hour show.
Best Picture – Musical/Comedy
Babylon
The Banshees of Inisherin
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Triangle of Sadness
Best Actress– Motion Picture, Drama
Cate Blanchett – TÁR
Olivia Colman – Empire of Light
Viola Davis – The Woman King
Ana de Armas – Blonde
Michelle Williams – The Fabelmans
Best Actor– Motion Picture, Drama
Austin Butler – Elvis
Brendan Fraser – The Whale
Hugh Jackman – The Son
Bill Nighy – Living
Jeremy Pope – The Inspection
Best Actress – Motion Picture, Musical/Comedy
Lesley Manville – Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris
Margot Robbie – Babylon
Anya Taylor-Joy – The Menu
Emma Thompson – Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
Michelle Yeoh – Everything Everywhere All at Once
Best Actor – Motion Picture, Musical/Comedy
Diego Calva – Babylon
Daniel Craig – Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Adam Driver – White Noise
Colin Farrell – The Banshees of Inisherin
Ralph Fiennes – The Menu
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Angela Bassett – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Kerry Condon – The Banshees of Inisherin
Jamie Lee Curtis – Everything Everywhere All at Once
Dolly De Leon – Triangle of Sadness
Carey Mulligan – She Said
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Brendan Gleeson – The Banshees of Inisherin
Barry Keoghan – The Banshees of Inisherin
Brad Pitt – Babylon
Ke Huy Quan – Everything Everywhere All at Once
Eddie Redmayne – The Good Nurse
Best Director – Motion Picture
James Cameron – Avatar: The Way of Water
Daniel Schienert, Daniel Kwan – Everything Everywhere All at Once
Baz Luhrmann – Elvis
Martin McDonagh – The Banshees of Inisherin
Steven Spielberg – The Fabelmans
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Todd Field – TÁR
Daniel Schienert, Daniel Kwan – Everything Everywhere All at Once
Martin McDonagh – The Banshees of Inisherin
Sarah Polley – Women Talking
Tony Kushner, Steven Spielberg – The Fabelmans
Best Picture – Animated
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinochhio
Inu-Oh
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Turning Red
Best Picture – Non-English Language
All Quiet on the Western Front – Germany
Argentina, 1985 – Argentina
Close – Netherlands, France, Belgium
Decision to Leave – South Korea
RRR – India
Best Score – Motion Picture
Carter Burwell – The Banshees of Inisherin
Alexandre Desplat – Guillermo del Toro’s Pinochhio
Hildur Guðnadóttir – Women Talking
Justin Hurwitz – Babylon
John Williams – The Fabelmans
Best Song – Motion Picture
“Carolina” – Where the Crawdads Sing
“Ciao Papa” – Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
“Hold My Hand” – Top Gun: Maverick
“Lift Me Up” – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
“Naatu Naatu” – RRR
Best Drama Series
Better Call Saul
The Crown
House of Dragon
Ozark
Severance
Best Musical/Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
Hacks
Only Murders in the Building
Wednesday
Best Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Motion Picture
Black Bird
Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
The Dropout
Pam & Tommy
The White Lotus
Best Actress – Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Motion Picture
Jessica Chastain – George & Tammy
Julia Garner – Inventing Anna
Lily James – Pam & Tommy
Julia Roberts – Gaslit
Amanda Seyfried – The Dropout
Best Actor – Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Motion Picture
Taron Egerton – Black Bird
Colin Firth – The Staircase
Andrew Garfield – Under the Banner of Heaven
Evan Peters – Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Sebastian Stan – Pam & Tommy
Best Television Actress – Drama Series
Emma D’Arcy – House of the Dragon
Laura Linney – Ozark
Imelda Staunton – The Crown
Hilary Swank – Alaska Daily
Zendaya – Euphoria
Best Television Actor – Drama Series
Jeff Bridges – The Old Man
Kevin Costner – Yellowstone
Diego Luna – Andor
Bob Odenkirk – Better Call Saul
Adam Scott – Severance
Best Television Actress – Musical/Comedy Series
Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary
Kaley Cuoco – The Flight Attendant
Selena Gomez – Only Murders in the Building
Jenna Ortega – Wednesday
Jean Smart – Hacks
Best Television Actor – Musical/Comedy Series
Donald Glover – Atlanta
Bill Hader – Barry
Steve Martin – Only Murders in the Building
Martin Short – Only Murders in the Building
Jeremy Allen White – The Bear
Best Supporting Actress – Television Limited Series/Motion Picture
Jennifer Coolidge – The White Lotus
Claire Danes – Fleishman Is in Trouble
Daisy Edgar-Jones – Under the Banner of Heaven
Niecy Nash – Dahmer– Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Aubrey Plaza – The White Lotus
Best Supporting Actor – Television Limited Series/Motion Picture
F. Murray Abraham – The White Lotus
Domhnall Gleeson – The Patient
Paul Walter Hauser – Black Bird
Richard Jenkins – Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Seth Rogen – Pam & Tommy
Best Supporting Actress – Television Series
Elizabeth Debicki – The Crown
Hannah Einbinder – Hacks
Julia Garner – Ozark
Janelle James – Abbott Elementary
Sheryl Lee Ralph – Abbott Elementary
Best Supporting Actor – Television Series
John Lithgow – The Old Man
Jonathan Pryce – The Crown
John Turturro – Severance
Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary
Henry Winkler – Barry
CBS’s first season of Fire Country returns after the winter break with episode nine, “No Good Deed.” Directed by Sarah Wayne Callis (The Walking Dead) from a script by Tia Napolitano and Julia Fontana, episode nine premieres on Friday, January 6, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT.
Max Thieriot leads the cast as Bode Donovan. Season one’s regulars include Billy Burke as Vince, Kevin Alejandro as Manny, Diane Farr as Sharon, Stephanie Arcila as Gabriela, Jordan Calloway as Jake, and Jules Latimer as Eve.
“No Good Deed” Plot: An internal investigation is launched after a difficult rescue went awry and a life was lost.
Episode nine guest stars include W Tre Davis, Hilary Jardine, Fiona Rene, Crystal Balint, and Hugo Raymundo.
Fire Country stars Max Thieriot as Bode Donovan, a young convict seeking redemption and a shortened prison sentence by joining a prison release firefighting program in Northern California, where he and other inmates are partnered with elite firefighters to extinguish massive, unpredictable wildfires across the region. It’s a high-risk, high-reward assignment, and the heat is turned up when Bode is assigned to the program in his rural hometown, where he was once a golden all-American son until his troubles began.
Five years ago, Bode burned down everything in his life, leaving town with a big secret. Now he’s back, with the rap sheet of a criminal and the audacity to believe in a chance for redemption with Cal Fire.
Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser in ‘Yellowstone’ season 5 episode 6
Paramount Network’s Yellowstone season five episode six divides its time between the gathering, Jamie’s troubling relationship with Sarah, and preparation for a visit by the President of the United States. The episode also showcases the beauty of the land, and it gives Kelly Reilly a chance to play a different, seldom-seen side of Beth Dutton.
However, before we get to the little-seen side of Beth, we’re served up Beth with a bad attitude. In fact, her approach to the gathering is so negative that she’s ruining the experience for her dad as the episode begins. She thinks there’s too much open space and prefers more intimate, secluded settings – like a hidden meadow. Rip (Cole Hauser) understands exactly what she means because he’s just that type of guy.
Back in town, military helicopters shake the house as Mo (Mo Brings Plenty) and his family eat breakfast. Mo has no idea why the military’s in this area and jumps in his vehicle to follow them. It turns out the Secret Service are in town for an event, and Mo’s frustrated when the officer who stops him won’t explain what’s going on. No events are supposed to take place on tribal land without the tribe’s approval.
The police begin shooting stray dogs in the area, and Mo’s enraged because they won’t stand down. They continue to claim the dogs are all security threats, even though Mo insists they’re pets. (What’s with all the animal killing this season, Yellowstone writers?!)
Mo deduces the activity means the U.S. President is coming to town.
Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) arrives and he’s dismissive when Angela Blue Thunder (Q’orianka Kilcher) welcomes him to the event. Thomas points out that neither she nor the council has any authority to authorize anything on tribal land. She disagrees and thinks it’s important that people understand they’re not invisible. The president’s visit will amplify that message.
Thomas reminds her that President Obama visited Standing Rock and then two years later wanted to run a pipeline through it. Presidents don’t see Native Americans. Angela brags that she’s this president’s Director of Native American Affairs and he’ll be endorsing her candidate, Martin.
Thomas doesn’t appear fazed and doesn’t want or need the president’s endorsement. However, when the President and other dignitaries arrive, Thomas takes his seat on the stage – certain his absence would be held against him.
Elsewhere, Jamie (Wes Bentley) wakes up in bed next to Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri). They slept together, again, and Jamie confesses he’s still confused about her game plan. She accuses him of calling her a whore since he’s implying she’s being paid by Market Equities to sleep with him. Jamie’s self-esteem is so low that he doesn’t think there’s any other explanation, other than it’s part of some game she’s playing.
She strokes his ego and then asks why he’s not Montana’s governor. Jamie chuckles when she reminds him his dad won by campaigning on stopping progress.
Sarah asks, “Are there that many pissed-off old white men in Montana?”
“Apparently,” replies Jamie.
Sarah explains her ulterior motive is to get him elected, reverse his dad’s no-growth policies, and get the state back in business with Market Equities. She claims that wasn’t her original motive, but now that they’ve spent time naked in his house, she’s shifted her plan.
Jamie joins her in the shower and Sarah continues to insist she’s there because she wants to be. Jamie gives in and says if she helps make him governor, Market Equities can have their airport. They both agree they can’t wait four years for the building to begin.
As they have sex, Sarah says they need to find a way to make it happen sooner. (Sarah’s a snake and Jamie’s doing a great job of imitating a mouse.)
Back at the ranch, Summer (Piper Perabo) explores the house, browsing through photo albums to try to get a better understanding of the Duttons. She then heads down to the tents where Monica’s helping peel potatoes, and Monica (Kelsey Asbille) guilts her into also pitching in. They’re expecting hundreds of people tomorrow for the branding.
Monica and Summer discuss the Duttons and Monica admits she wasn’t what John had in mind for Kayce. Monica knows she’s the reason Kayce, the heir apparent, no longer wants the ranch. Yet despite that, Beth always stands up for her because Beth doesn’t view her as a threat to the Yellowstone. Beth does, however, view Summer as a threat.
Monica waxes philosophical while explaining what sets this town apart from other cities across America. Fire and blizzards work to make forests thrive, but if fires and blizzards hit cities, the cities are devastated. These mountains will hold up for thousands of years. The same can’t be said for cities.
Summer and Monica take a walk and wind up in the family graveyard. Summer stops by James Dutton’s grave (played by Tim McGraw in 1883) and Monica believes he was one of the first Duttons to be buried on the land. (James died in 1893.) Summer still can’t grasp how long they’ve been there, and Monica points out the land was her family’s before it was the Duttons’.
Monica suggests this graveyard is exactly where Summer needs to be in order to understand John Dutton. (Margaret’s headstone is also shown, but the year she died and her age aren’t legible.)
And now back to the gathering… Kayce (Luke Grimes) teaches Tate where to look for cattle, noting their whereabouts depend on the heat of the sun. Kayce also explains it’s better to slowly ride up to them, otherwise the chase is on. Tate admits he’s looking forward to the chase.
The other cowboys are also busy driving the herd toward the corrals. It’s a peaceful scene and even Beth’s smiling as the gathering continues. She shows off her skills and guides a stray calf back toward the herd.
As Rip rides off, Beth’s surprisingly happy as she advises him to never call this “work” again. “I can’t believe you’re not smiling,” she says.
Rip replies, “I’m smiling on the inside.”
Luke Grimes and Kevin Costner in ‘Yellowstone’ season 5 episode 6
They’ve rounded up the cattle much faster than they anticipated and John (Kevin Costner) wishes he brought his fly rod. Tate points out he told him not to, but fortunately, Emmett Walsh (Buck Taylor) brought his and is willing to share. He and Tate ride off and John’s assistant, Clara (Lilli Kay), joins Kayce and John, declaring this experience “f*cking awesome.”
John’s ready to take a nap until it’s his turn to watch the herd. Clara’s too excited to rest and John sends her off to watch the cows by the stream. John and Kayce are briefly alone, and John acknowledges he’d like to bottle this up and sell it. Kayce doesn’t think there would be a market for it since anyone who recognizes its value is already a cowboy.
Kayce gazes around the area, watching the cowboys settle in for a rest. He seems to reconsider his dad’s suggestion as he looks at all the contented faces.
Rip returns to find Beth asleep on the ground. He laughs when she wakes up, and Beth confesses she’s surprised she actually took a nap during the day. Beth never does that.
Rip asks her to join him on a short ride and then leads her to a picturesque, secluded meadow by a stream. Beth’s rendered speechless by its beauty and Rip explains he found it a year ago when she revealed she wanted to be married somewhere “with no memories” until they made them. Beth apologizes for rushing the wedding; she doesn’t say this place is perfect, but it’s obvious that’s how she feels.
He pulls out a flask which earns him a hug. She takes a drink and then they settle in under a tree. All she could ask for now would be a cigarette, and Rip once again surprises her by pulling out a pack. (This happier, more content Beth is someone we could get used to!)
“You know I’m blowing you anyway, right? You don’t have to work so f**king hard,” she says, laughing. “You are perfect, motherf**ker.”
Beth is sure she could live out her days here with only Rip for company. Just cigarettes, whiskey, a meadow, and Rip.
Night falls and the cowboys hunker down without the normal amenities. Emmett brought a blanket, and he and John discuss how perfect the day’s been. The old guy snores but John’s determined to make the best of it.
Morning arrives, horses are saddled, and the day begins with quiet conversations. There’s a discussion about the hardships of starting the day without coffee along with other good-natured kidding around before the hard work begins.
John’s already up and his horse is saddled when he returns to wake up Emmett. Unfortunately, Emmett passed away in the night, but John refuses to be sad about it. Emmett’s final day was perfect and he died on the trail, like every cowboy dreams.
Clara uses the satellite phone to call for a helicopter while the rest of the group, except she and John, head out to start the trip back to the corrals.
At the ranch, Monica tells Summer “the almost back to her” part is the part of the trip that makes her the most nervous. She’s relieved when she spots the group approaching.
John informs Clara they need to race back to get ahead of the group so that Emmett’s wife doesn’t learn what happened by noticing he’s not with the cowboys. They gallop back and beat the group to the corrals, and John’s able to personally inform Emmett’s wife, Ella, about his death.
Ella breaks down sobbing and John holds her tight. She takes a seat and John kneels in front of her, describing how Emmett died. He went peacefully in his sleep, head resting against his saddle.
The media notice something’s going on and film John and Ella’s interaction.
Cole Hauser and Kevin Costner in ‘Yellowstone’ season 5 (Photo Courtesy of Paramount Network)
The branding gets underway and everyone, including John, is kept busy. The first group’s done and John instructs Rip to push them into the valley tomorrow to make room for another group.
Plates are filled and Lynelle Perry (Wendy Moniz) and John finally get a minute to talk. Lynelle points out that Emmett’s wife is busy helping on the food line, and John says she wanted to keep things normal because that’s how Emmett would have wanted it.
Lynelle asks about Summer and confesses she’s a little jealous. However, she also reveals she’s seeing the Secretary of Energy. He makes her laugh and he’s kind, and John thinks that means it might actually work out.
Talk turns to the President’s visit and John has no intention of putting in an appearance. “I have nothing to say to that idiot,” he says. Lynelle thinks he needs to or else it’ll send a bad message to the nation. John’s fine with that. Besides, he’ll be busy branding cattle.
John takes a seat next to Summer and asks her opinion of the events of the day. She calls it a mix of beautiful and heartbreaking.
Ryan’s grin lights up his face as he listens to Abby (Lainey Wilson) sing “Watermelon Moonshine.” Once the song’s over, Walker (Ryan Bingham) takes the stage while Abby and Ryan (Ian Bohen) dance – and kiss. Abby’s sure their relationship doesn’t have a future and they agree their relationship will just go until it doesn’t.
Rip and Beth relax on the hill overlooking the corral and Rip compliments Walker’s singing. “Motherf**ker can sing, can’t he? Sure won’t sing like that for me,” says Rip, and Beth calls him sensitive. She notices he’s insulted by that description and smiles.
A pretty girl asks Carter (Finn Little) to dance, and he admits he doesn’t know how. She doesn’t give up and volunteers to teach him.
John asks Summer to dance and she suggests he ask his “MILF senator.” John chuckles over his women troubles and does as Summer suggests. Lynelle doesn’t want to step on the inmate’s toes, and John points out it’s easier to wrangle cattle than to get a woman to join him on the dance floor. Lynelle gives in and confesses she wishes there were two of him. She’d like to marry the sensible one.
Abby heads back to the stage and promises Ryan a fun song. She launches into “Hold My Halo.”
Night’s fallen and Jamie and Sarah are naked while watching the news at his place. The reporter announces John won’t be present when the President visits Helena. Reporter Pat Jennings (Garon Grigsby) says that’s because local rancher and former head of Montana’s Fish & Game Emmett Walsh died in his sleep during the gathering.
Footage is shown of John comforting Emmett’s wife.
One of the news anchors voices her support of John’s decision.
Jamie thinks his dad could fall in manure and smell like a rose. Neither Jamie nor Sarah believe John can be beaten in a fair fight, and Sarah says John can’t be allowed to show up to the fight. Jamie doesn’t respond.
What is she suggesting?! The trailer for episode seven hints at a reason to impeach the newly-elected governor.
CBS’s Blue Bloods will return from the winter holiday break with season 13 episode nine, directed by series star Bridget Moynahan. Episode nine, “Nothing Sacred,” will air on Friday, January 6, 2023 at 10pm ET/PT.
The cast is led by Tom Selleck as Frank Reagan, Donnie Wahlberg as Danny Reagan, and Bridget Moynahan as Erin Reagan. Will Estes stars as Jamie Reagan, Len Cariou is Henry Reagan, Marisa Ramirez plays Det. Maria Baez, and Vanessa Ray is Officer Eddie Janko.
Season 13’s recurring guest stars include Abigail Hawk, Gregory Jbara, Robert Clohessy, Steven Schirripa, Andrew Terraciano, Will Hochman, Stephanie Kurtzuba, James Nuciforo, and Ian Quinlan.
“Nothing Sacred” Plot: Reagan family tensions run high when Frank and his grandson, Joe Hill (Hochman), contend with a grievous insult to the memory of Joe’s father, Joe Reagan. Also, Erin and Henry work together to bust an over-the-phone scammer targeting the elderly; Danny intervenes in an undercover assignment led by his spiraling former partner; and Eddie’s captain takes suspicious interest in her efforts to locate a stolen puppy.
Bonnie Somerville guest stars as Joe’s mother, Paula Hill.
Blue Bloods is a drama about a multi-generational family of cops dedicated to New York City law enforcement. Frank Reagan is the New York Police Commissioner, and heads both the police force and the Reagan brood. He runs his department as diplomatically as he runs his family, even when dealing with the politics that plagued his unapologetically bold father, Henry, during his stint as chief.
A source of pride and concern for Frank is his eldest son, Danny, a seasoned detective, family man and Iraq War vet who on occasion uses dubious tactics to solve cases with his partner and new mother, Detective Maria Baez. Erin, the middle daughter, is a New York assistant D.A. who serves as the legal compass for her siblings and father, while also pursuing a run for district attorney. Jamie is the youngest Reagan, a Harvard Law graduate and the family’s golden boy.
Unable to deny the family tradition, Jamie decided to give up a lucrative future in law and follow in the family footsteps as a cop. He’s found a friend and ally in his wife, Eddie, who keeps him on his toes, and has very different reasons than the Reagans for joining the police force.
Fox’s The Cleaning Lady wraps up season two with episode 12 airing as part of a two-hour event. Episode 12, “At Long Last,” will air on Monday, December 12, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT.
Élodie Yung returns to lead the cast as Thony. Oliver Hudson stars as FBI Agent Garrett Miller, Adan Canto is Arman Morales, and Martha Millan is Fiona. Sean Lew plays Chris, Eva De Dominici is Nadia, Faith Bryant is Jaz, Naveen Andrews is Robert Kamdar, and Sebastien and Valentino LaSalle share time playing Luca.
“At Long Last” Plot: Thony is confronted by Garrett regarding the truth behind Maya’s death as Nadia tries to stay on Kamdar’s good side. Meanwhile, Fiona helps Luca celebrate his birthday. Then, after Thony, Arman, and Garrett work together to come up with a plan to take down Kamdar once and for all, Thony decides to take things into her own hands to ensure the safety of Fiona and Luca.
Season two of The Cleaning Lady picks up with THONY (Yung) desperately trying to find her son, LUCA, after he was kidnapped by his father, MARCO (Ivan Shaw). With nowhere else to turn, she enlists the help of FBI Agent GARRETT MILLER (Hudson) to track him down before they leave the country. Meanwhile, an incident involving CHRIS (Lew) forces FIONA (Millan) to shield her son by any means necessary, furthering the theme of how far a mother will go to protect her child.
This season introduces ROBERT KAMDAR (Andrews), NADIA’s (De Dominici) gregarious and charming ex-lover, who is intent on driving a wedge between ARMAN (Canto) and Nadia. Standing to lose everything, Arman must fight to keep his world — and his dignity — intact, while rebuilding his life under the worst of circumstances.
The Cleaning Lady continues to examine the plight of undocumented immigrants and their difficulties accessing necessary healthcare and resources. Galvanized by the many roadblocks she faced while searching for a treatment to save her son, Thony will utilize her expertise as a doctor to find ways to help her underserved community. However, as Thony continues to entwine her business undertakings with Arman, she is dragged further across the moral line and into the dark underbelly of Las Vegas.
Nostalgia, racism, mental health, and the love of cinema are just some of the topics touched upon in Oscar-winning filmmaker Sam Mendes’ 2022 drama Empire of Light.
Empire of Light takes place in an old cinema house on the south coast of England in the early 1980s. The film focuses on the relationship between Hilary Small (Olivia Colman), the middle-aged mid-manager of the theater, and the new, young Black ticket taker Stephen (Micheal Ward). It’s made clear early on that Hilary is suffering from depression and takes medication to combat the illness – a medication she tells her psychiatrist makes her feel a bit numb. The doctor assures her she’ll get used to the drug and to give it time.
Hilary’s work life contributes to her depression. She’s engaged in a not-so-secret affair with her married boss, Donald Ellis (Colin Firth), and is simply going through the motions of her job while encompassed in a mental fog. This all changes when Stephen’s hired and almost immediately they’re drawn to each other. The two quickly end up in an unexpected – and unlikely – romance despite their age difference and the fact they have nothing in common except for working at the theater. And despite the fact Hilary’s basically his boss and should know better, given her relationship with Mr. Ellis.
Hilary’s attraction to this much-younger man makes her feel happy and reinvigorated for the first time in quite a while. She’s done with feeling tired and numb from her medication and stops taking it.
A short while into their relationship, Hilary and Stephen are at the shore enjoying a day off when she begins to experience strong mood swings due to going off her medication. Unfortunately, her decision to stop taking her meds ruins an otherwise fun day at the beach and drives them temporarily apart.
During their relationship, Hilary’s eyes are opened to the racism Stephen experiences from loathsome skinheads as well as from some older patrons of the movie house. She tries to comfort Stephen and sympathize with how it makes him feel, but her lack of understanding of what Stephen’s going through only makes it worse for him.
As their relationship goes through its ups and downs, Hilary’s mood swings become more and more erratic until, finally, she has the inevitable breakdown.
Slow and tedious, Empire of Light features strong performances from a very talented cast but is bogged down by an uneven script and too many subplots. Mendes tries to take on way too many issues, including racism, love of cinema, the guilt and shame of mental illness, and a mismatched interracial affair, and the result is a cluttered, clunky, and painfully boring film.
Olivia Colman delivers a decent performance as Hilary, a woman with justifiable resentment toward men who is just looking for some kind of happiness but, at times, becomes her own worst enemy.
Micheal Ward delivers a solid performance as Stephen, the stylish young man who has found himself at the movie house because his last relationship and his pursuit of college both fell short. Ward is a dynamic presence and shines in scenes where he tries to explain to Hilary how life has been for him and shares his fears for the future.
Sadly, impressive performances are not enough to salvage this ponderous and mundane film.
GRADE: C-
MPAA Rating: R for sexual content, language, and brief violence
Running Time: 1 hour 59 minutes
Release Date: December 9, 2022
Studio: Searchlight Pictures
