Paramount+’s School Spirits season two ended with Maddie finally back among the living. Unfortunately, Simon wound up in the ghost world, and that’s where the upcoming third season will pick up the story.
The eight-episode second season wrapped up in March 2025. Season three will premiere on January 28, 2026.
Peyton List returns as Maddie Nears, Kristian Ventura is back as Simon Elroy, Spencer MacPherson plays Xavier Baxter, Kiara Pichardo is Nicole Herrera, and Sarah Yarkin is Rhonda. Nick Pugliese stars as Charley, Rainbow Wedell is Claire Zomer, Josh Zuckerman is Mr. Martin, Ci Hang Ma is Quinn, Miles Elliot is Yuri, and Milo Manheim plays Wally Clark.
Season three adds recurring guest stars Jennifer Tilly as Dr. Hunter-Price, Ari Dalbert as Kyle, and Erika Swayze as Livia. The returning guest cast includes Maria Dizzia as Sandra, Patrick Gilmore as Mr. Anderson, Alex Zahara as Principal Hartman, Ian Tracey as Sheriff Baxter, Jess Gabor as Janet, and Zack Calderon as Diego.
Kiara Pichardo, Erika Swayze, Peyton List, Spencer Macpherson, and Rainbow Wedell in ‘School Spirits’ season 3 (Photo Credit: Ed Araquel/Paramount+)
“Season three of School Spirits plunges Maddie Nears and her friends into a deeper, darker mystery as the veil between worlds grows dangerously thin, delivering twists that challenge everything they thought they knew. After clawing her way back to life, Maddie struggles with terrifying visions and the weight of protecting both the living and the dead while Simon—trapped in the afterlife—becomes obsessed with the secrets buried in Split River High’s scars,” reads Paramount+’s synopsis. “Why have so many people died at Split River High? What was Mr. Martin warning them about? As they search for answers, new dangers and dark secrets begin to surface.”
Nate Trinrud and Megan Trinrud created the series and serve as co-showrunners and executive producers along with Oliver Goldstick.
Kristian Ventura as Simon Elroy in season 3 (Photo Credit: Ed Araquel/Paramount+)Milo Manheim as Wally Clark in season 3 (Photo Credit: Ed Araquel/Paramount+)Peyton List as Maddie Nears in season 3 (Photo Credit: Ed Araquel/Paramount+)Jess Gabor, Sarah Yarkin, Ci Hang Ma, Nick Pugliese and Miles Elliot in season 3 (Photo Credit: David Astora/Paramount+)
The team investigates the murder of a journalist on CBS’s FBI season eight, episode eight. Directed by Ken Girotti, episode eight – “Ratlined” – will air on Monday, December 8, 2025 at 9pm ET/PT.
“Ratlined” Plot: When a journalist is shot while interviewing a prime minister, all fingers point to an assassination attempt, but the team uncovers a deeper conspiracy after the assassin is also targeted. Meanwhile, OA struggles to let Gemma in on the dangers of his job.
Missy Peregrym stars as Special Agent Maggie Bell, Zeeko Zaki plays Special Agent Omar Adom “OA” Zidan, Jeremy Sisto returns as Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine, Alana De La Garza is Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille, John Boyd stars as Special Agent Stuart Scola, and Juliana Aidén Martinez plays Eva Ramos.
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, as well as 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.
Sam Elliott as T.L. and Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy in ‘Landman’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Emerson Miller / Paramount+)
Paramount+’s Landman is officially renewed for season three. The renewal announcement came just three episodes into season two, and on the same day that Billy Bob Thornton earned a Critics Choice Awards nomination (Best Actor in a Drama Series).
The streamer reports that season two’s premiere had a 262% jump in viewership over the series’ premiere. It’s also ranked in the top three among all original content for the November 17th week. Season two’s premiere was streamed 9.2 million times over just its first two days in release.
In addition to Billy Bob Thornton, season two stars Oscar nominee Demi Moore, Oscar nominee Andy Garcia, Oscar nominee Sam Elliott, and Ali Larter. Rounding out the ensemble are Jacob Lofland, Michelle Randolph, Paulina Chávez, Kayla Wallace, Mark Collie, James Jordan, and Colm Feore.
“As oil rises from the earth, so do secrets—and Tommy Norris’s (Thornton) breaking point may be closer than he realizes,” reads Paramount+’s synopsis. “Facing mounting pressure from M-Tex Oil, Cami Miller (Moore), and the shadow of his kin, survival in West Texas isn’t noble—it’s brutal. And sooner or later something’s got to break.”
Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace co-created the series and serve as executive producers. Additional executive producers include David C. Glasser, David Hutkin, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, Billy Bob Thornton, Geyer Kosinski, Michael Friedman, and Stephen Kay. Dan Friedkin, Jason Hoch, J.K. Nickell, and Megan Creydt also executive produce. The series is produced by Paramount Television Studios, 101 Studios, and Bosque Ranch Productions.
The 2026 Critics Choice Awards film nominations may have helped to clear up the race for an Oscar Best Picture nomination. The annual Critics Choice Awards is one of the most accurate predictors of the Oscar nominees, and the CCA’s film branch members (of which I’m one) found Sinners to be the best of the best.
Sinners earned 17 nominations, followed by One Battle After Another with 14. Frankenstein and Hamnet each scored 11 nominations, while Marty Supreme, Wicked: For Good, Sentimental Value, and F1 picked up seven nominations.
Adolescence ruled the television categories with six nominations, followed by Nobody Wants This with five. All Her Fault, Death by Lightning, Ghosts, Hacks, Severance, and The Diplomat earned four nominations each.
Winners will be announced during the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards airing live on E! and USA Network on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at 7pm ET/4pm PT. Chelsea Handler returns to host the awards show for the fourth consecutive year.
“We are so excited to kick off awards season in the new year, gathering hundreds of TV, film and streaming stars in one glamorous room for the first major awards show of 2026,” stated CCA CEO Joey Berlin. “Our voters are the critics and entertainment reporters who help audiences find the best of the best every day, all year long. Their collective opinions are the most informed and reliable in the business. We are thrilled to share this incredible group of nominees with audiences around the world today and can’t wait to celebrate this year’s outstanding performances and projects at the Critics Choice Awards on January 4th.”
2026 CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS FILM NOMINEES:
BEST PICTURE Bugonia (Focus Features)
Frankenstein (Netflix)
Hamnet (Focus Features)
Jay Kelly (Netflix)
Marty Supreme (A24)
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Sentimental Value (Neon)
Sinners (Warner Bros.) Train Dreams (Netflix)
Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
BEST ACTOR
Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme (A24)
Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams (Netflix) Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon (Sony Pictures Classics)
Michael B. Jordan – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent (Neon)
BEST ACTRESS
Jessie Buckley – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (A24)
Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value (Neon)
Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee (Searchlight Pictures)
Emma Stone – Bugonia (Focus Features)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Paul Mescal – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Sean Penn – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Adam Sandler – Jay Kelly (Netflix)
Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value (Neon)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value (Neon)
Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value (Neon)
Amy Madigan – Weapons (Warner Bros.)
Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
BEST YOUNG ACTOR / ACTRESS
Everett Blunck – The Plague (Independent Film Company)
Miles Caton – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Cary Christopher – Weapons (Warner Bros.)
Shannon Mahina Gorman – Rental Family (Searchlight Pictures)
Jacobi Jupe – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Nina Ye – Left-Handed Girl (Netflix)
BEST DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Ryan Coogler – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme (A24)
Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value (Neon)
Chloé Zhao – Hamnet (Focus Features)
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Noah Baumbach, Emily Mortimer – Jay Kelly (Netflix)
Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme (A24)
Ryan Coogler – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Zach Cregger – Weapons (Warner Bros.)
Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby (A24)
Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value (Neon)
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar – Train Dreams (Netflix)
Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Don Mckellar, Jahye Lee – No Other Choice (Neon)
Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Will Tracy – Bugonia (Focus Features)
Chloé Zhao, Maggie O’Farrell – Hamnet (Focus Features)
BEST CASTING AND ENSEMBLE
Nina Gold – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Douglas Aibel, Nina Gold – Jay Kelly (Netflix)
Jennifer Venditti – Marty Supreme (A24)
Cassandra Kulukundis – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Francine Maisler – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Tiffany Little Canfield, Bernard Telsey – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Claudio Miranda – F1 (Apple Original Films)
Dan Laustsen – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Łukasz Żal – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Michael Bauman – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Autumn Durald Arkapaw – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Adolpho Veloso – Train Dreams (Netflix)
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Kasra Farahani, Jille Azis – The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Marvel Studios)
Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Fiona Crombie, Alice Felton – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Jack Fisk, Adam Willis – Marty Supreme (A24)
Hannah Beachler, Monique Champagne – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
BEST EDITING
Kirk Baxter – A House of Dynamite (Netflix)
Stephen Mirrione – F1 (Apple Original Films)
Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme (A24)
Andy Jurgensen – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Viridiana Lieberman – The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)
Michael P. Shawver – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Kate Hawley – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Malgosia Turzanska – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Lindsay Pugh – Hedda (Amazon MGM Studios)
Colleen Atwood, Christine Cantella – Kiss of the Spider Woman (Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions)
Ruth E. Carter – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Paul Tazewell – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP
Flora Moody, John Nolan – 28 Years Later (Sony Pictures)
Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Siân Richards, Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine, Shunika Terry – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Kazu Hiro, Felix Fox, Mia Neal – The Smashing Machine (A24)
Leo Satkovich, Melizah Wheat, Jason Collins – Weapons (Warner Bros.)
Frances Hannon, Mark Coulier, Laura Blount – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, Daniel Barrett – Avatar: Fire and Ash (20th Century Studios)
Ryan Tudhope, Nikeah Forde, Robert Harrington, Nicolas Chevallier, Eric Leven, Edward Price, Keith Dawson – F1 (Apple Original Films)
Dennis Berardi, Ayo Burgess, Ivan Busquets, José Granell – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Alex Wuttke, Ian Lowe, Jeff Sutherland, Kirstin Hall – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Paramount Pictures)
Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter, Donnie Dean – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Stephane Ceretti, Enrico Damm, Stéphane Nazé, Guy Williams – Superman (Warner Bros.)
BEST STUNT DESIGN
Stephen Dunlevy, Kyle Gardiner, Jackson Spidell, Jeremy Marinas, Jan Petřina, Domonkos Párdányi, Kinga Kósa-Gavalda – Ballerina (Lionsgate)
Gary Powell, Luciano Bacheta, Craig Dolby – F1 (Apple Original Films)
Wade Eastwood – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Paramount Pictures)
Brian Machleit – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Andy Gill – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Giedrius Nagys – Warfare (A24)
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Arco (Neon) Elio (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
In Your Dreams (Netflix)
KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (GKIDS)
Zootopia 2 (Walt Disney Animation Studios)
BEST COMEDY
The Ballad of Wallis Island (Focus Features)
Eternity (A24)
Friendship (A24) The Naked Gun (Paramount)
The Phoenician Scheme (Focus Features)
Splitsville (Neon)
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
It Was Just an Accident (Neon)
Left-Handed Girl (Netflix)
No Other Choice (Neon)
The Secret Agent (Neon)
Sirāt (Neon)
Belén (Amazon MGM Studios)
BEST SONG
“Drive” – Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, Blake Slatkin – F1 (Apple Original Films)
“Golden” – Ejae, Mark Sonnenblick, Ido, 24, Teddy – KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)
“I Lied to You” – Raphael Saadiq, Ludwig Göransson – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
“Clothed by the Sun” – Daniel Blumberg – The Testament of Ann Lee (Searchlight Pictures)
“Train Dreams” – Nick Cave, Bryce Dessner – Train Dreams (Netflix)
“The Girl in the Bubble” – Stephen Schwartz – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
BEST SCORE
Hans Zimmer – F1 (Apple Original Films)
Alexandre Desplat – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Max Richter – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Daniel Lopatin – Marty Supreme (A24)
Jonny Greenwood – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Ludwig Göransson – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
BEST SOUND
Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta, Gareth John – F1 (Apple Original Films)
Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke, Brad Zoern, Greg Chapman – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Jose Antonio Garcia, Christopher Scarabosio, Tony Villaflor – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Chris Welcker, Benny Burtt, Brandon Proctor, Steve Boeddeker, Felipe Pacheco, David V. Butler – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Laia Casanovas – Sirāt (Neon)
Mitch Low, Glenn Freemantle, Ben Barker, Howard Bargroff, Richard Spooner – Warfare (A24)
Critics Choice Awards Best Drama Nominees
31ST ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS TELEVISION NOMINEES:
BEST DRAMA SERIES Alien: Earth (FX)
Andor (Disney+)
The Diplomat (Netflix)
Paradise (Hulu) The Pitt (HBO Max)
Pluribus (Apple TV)
Severance (Apple TV) Task (HBO Max)
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Sterling K. Brown – Paradise (Hulu)
Diego Luna – Andor (Disney+)
Mark Ruffalo – Task (HBO Max)
Adam Scott – Severance (Apple TV)
Billy Bob Thornton – Landman (Paramount+)
Noah Wyle – The Pitt (HBO Max)
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Kathy Bates – Matlock (CBS)
Carrie Coon – The Gilded Age (HBO Max)
Britt Lower – Severance (Apple TV)
Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us (HBO Max)
Keri Russell – The Diplomat (Netflix)
Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus (Apple TV)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Patrick Ball – The Pitt (HBO Max)
Billy Crudup – The Morning Show (Apple TV)
Ato Essandoh – The Diplomat (Netflix)
Wood Harris – Forever (Netflix)
Tom Pelphrey – Task (HBO Max)
Tramell Tillman – Severance (Apple TV)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Nicole Beharie – The Morning Show (Apple TV)
Denée Benton – The Gilded Age (HBO Max)
Allison Janney – The Diplomat (Netflix)
Katherine LaNasa – The Pitt (HBO Max)
Greta Lee – The Morning Show (Apple TV)
Skye P. Marshall – Matlock (CBS)
BEST COMEDY SERIES
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Elsbeth (CBS)
Ghosts (CBS)
Hacks (HBO Max)
Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
The Righteous Gemstones (HBO Max)
The Studio (Apple TV)
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Adam Brody – Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
Ted Danson – A Man on the Inside (Netflix)
David Alan Grier – St. Denis Medical (NBC)
Danny McBride – The Righteous Gemstones (HBO Max)
Seth Rogen – The Studio (Apple TV)
Alexander Skarsgård – Murderbot (Apple TV)
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Kristen Bell – Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
Natasha Lyonne – Poker Face (Peacock)
Rose McIver – Ghosts (CBS)
Edi Patterson – The Righteous Gemstones (HBO Max)
Carrie Preston – Elsbeth (CBS)
Jean Smart – Hacks (HBO Max)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Ike Barinholtz – The Studio (Apple TV)
Paul W. Downs – Hacks (HBO Max)
Asher Grodman – Ghosts (CBS)
Oscar Nuñez – The Paper (Peacock)
Chris Perfetti – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Timothy Simons – Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Danielle Brooks – Peacemaker (HBO Max)
Hannah Einbinder – Hacks (HBO Max)
Janelle James – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Justine Lupe – Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
Ego Nwodim – Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Rebecca Wisocky – Ghosts (CBS)
BEST LIMITED SERIES
Adolescence (Netflix)
All Her Fault (Peacock)
Chief of War (Apple TV)
Death by Lightning (Netflix)
Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Peacock)
Dope Thief (Apple TV)
Dying for Sex (FX on Hulu)
The Girlfriend (Prime Video)
BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock)
Deep Cover (Prime Video)
The Gorge (Apple TV)
Mountainhead (HBO Max)
Nonnas (Netflix)
Summer of ’69 (Hulu)
BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Michael Chernus – Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Peacock)
Stephen Graham – Adolescence (Netflix)
Brian Tyree Henry – Dope Thief (Apple TV)
Charlie Hunnam – Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Netflix)
Matthew Rhys – The Beast in Me (Netflix)
Michael Shannon – Death by Lightning (Netflix)
BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jessica Biel – The Better Sister (Prime Video)
Meghann Fahy – Sirens (Netflix)
Sarah Snook – All Her Fault (Peacock)
Michelle Williams – Dying for Sex (FX on Hulu)
Robin Wright – The Girlfriend (Prime Video)
Renée Zellweger – Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Owen Cooper – Adolescence (Netflix)
Wagner Moura – Dope Thief (Apple TV)
Nick Offerman – Death by Lightning (Netflix)
Michael Peña – All Her Fault (Peacock)
Ashley Walters – Adolescence (Netflix)
Ramy Youssef – Mountainhead (HBO Max)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Erin Doherty – Adolescence (Netflix)
Betty Gilpin – Death by Lightning (Netflix)
Marin Ireland – Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Peacock)
Sophia Lillis – All Her Fault (Peacock)
Julianne Moore – Sirens (Netflix)
Christine Tremarco – Adolescence (Netflix)
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE SERIES
Acapulco (Apple TV)
Last Samurai Standing (Netflix)
Mussolini: Son of the Century (MUBI)
Red Alert (Paramount+)
Squid Game (Netflix)
When No One Sees Us (HBO Max)
BEST ANIMATED SERIES
Bob’s Burgers (Fox)
Harley Quinn (HBO Max)
Long Story Short (Netflix)
Marvel Zombies (Disney+)
South Park (Comedy Central)
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Disney+)
BEST TALK SHOW
The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
Hot Ones (YouTube)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (Bravo)
BEST VARIETY SERIES
Conan O’Brien Must Go (HBO Max)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO Max)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)
BEST COMEDY SPECIAL
Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night of Your Life (HBO Max)
Caleb Hearon: Model Comedian (HBO Max)
Leanne Morgan: Unspeakable Things (Netflix)
Marc Maron: Panicked (HBO Max)
Sarah Silverman: PostMortem (Netflix)
SNL50: The Anniversary Special (NBC)
Netflix, Inc. and Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (WBD) have nailed a deal that will reshape the entertainment industry. The $82.7 billion agreement brings Warner Bros’ film and television studios into Netflix’s control. The acquisition also includes HBO and HBO Max.
Per the official announcement: “The cash and stock transaction is valued at $27.75 per WBD share (subject to a collar as detailed below), with a total enterprise value of approximately $82.7 billion (equity value of $72.0 billion). The transaction is expected to close after the previously announced separation of WBD’s Global Networks division, Discovery Global, into a new publicly traded company, which is now expected to be completed in Q3 2026.
This acquisition brings together two pioneering entertainment businesses, combining Netflix’s innovation, global reach, and best-in-class streaming service with Warner Bros.’ century-long legacy of world-class storytelling. Beloved franchises, shows, and movies such as The Big Bang Theory, The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, The Wizard of Oz, and the DC Universe will join Netflix’s extensive portfolio, including Wednesday, Money Heist, Bridgerton, Adolescence, and Extraction, creating an extraordinary entertainment offering for audiences worldwide.”
The Boards of Directors of both Netflix and WBD unanimously approved the deal.
“Our mission has always been to entertain the world,” stated Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix. “By combining Warner Bros.’ incredible library of shows and movies—from timeless classics like Casablanca and Citizen Kane to modern favorites like Harry Potter and Friends—with our culture-defining titles like Stranger Things, KPop Demon Hunters, and Squid Game, we’ll be able to do that even better. Together, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling.”
Netflix expects to maintain Warner Bros.’ current operations and build on its strengths. The streamer’s announcement stated that maintaining WB operations includes continuing theatrical releases for films.
“This acquisition will improve our offering and accelerate our business for decades to come,” said Greg Peters, co-CEO of Netflix. “Warner Bros. has helped define entertainment for more than a century and continues to do so with phenomenal creative executives and production capabilities. With our global reach and proven business model, we can introduce a broader audience to the worlds they create—giving our members more options, attracting more fans to our best-in-class streaming service, strengthening the entire entertainment industry and creating more value for shareholders.”
Netflix believes the deal will deliver more choices to consumers since the streaming service will add WBD’s “film and TV libraries and HBO and HBO Max programming.”
HBO’s new trailer for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms shows the titular knight promising Prince Baelor Targaryen that he’ll show him just how good a knight he is. And, although he’s dressed as a simple farmer, he knows how to handle himself in combat.
Peter Claffey stars as Ser Duncan “Dunk” the Tall and Dexter Sol Ansell stars as Egg. Daniel Ings plays Ser Lyonel Baratheon, Bertie Carvel is Baelor Targaryen, Danny Webb is Ser Arlan of Pennytree, Sam Spruell is Maekar Targaryen, and Shaun Thomas is Raymun Fossoway. Finn Bennett plays Aerion Targaryen, Edward Ashley is Ser Steffon Fossoway, Tanzyn Crawford is Tanselle, and Henry Ashton is Daeron Targaryen.
Youssef Kerkour is Steely Pate, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor plays Plummer, and Daniel Monks is Ser Manfred Dondarrion.
“A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros… a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg,” reads HBO’s synopsis. “Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends.”
Season one premieres on Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 10pm ET/PT. In November, HBO officially announced the newest entry in the Game of Thrones franchise has been renewed for season two.
Author George R. R. Martin and Ira Parker are the co-creators and serve as executive producers, with Parker guiding the series as showrunner. Sarah Bradshaw, Owen Harris, Ryan Condal, and Vince Gerardis also executive produce, and Harris and Sarah Adina Smith direct season one episodes.
Apple TV’s Born to be Wild series debuted an official trailer in honor of World Wildlife Conservation Day, December 4th. Hugh Bonneville, a two-time Emmy nominee for his work on Downton Abbey, narrates the new six-part nature series, which will premiere on December 19, 2025.
“These are family stories about growing up and finding your way in life,” said executive producer Alex Williamson, describing the new series that follows six endangered species. “Each heartwarming film shows the amazing dedication of human foster parents willing to sacrifice everything to return these youngsters to the wild.”
Additional executive producers include Lucy van Beek and Isla Robertson. Tom Payne serves as showrunner and producer, and Sam Hodgson is the editor.
A lynx kitten in ‘Born to be Wild’ (Photo Credit: Apple TV)
Apple TV released this description of Born to be Wild:
“Filmed over several years across five countries, the six-part documentary series follows six endangered young animals as they grow up in our world but are destined to return to theirs. At the heart of Born to Be Wild lies a powerful truth: in the face of extinction, survival often depends on the extraordinary bonds between humans and animals.
From their earliest days to their journey into the wild, the series highlights the challenges, triumphs, and resilience that define their survival—both for the animals and the remarkable people working to raise and protect them. As each animal finds its place in the world after being orphaned or born through conservation programs—from an elephant calf and two young cheetahs to a ring-tailed lemur pup, a moon bear cub, Iberian lynx kittens, and rescued African penguins—Born to be Wild offers an intimate and emotional look at the powerful relationships between these animals and the heroic humans dedicated to raising, rehabilitating, and rewilding them to help save their species.”
Adapting a video game into a movie can be a dicey proposition, and a couple of years ago, Five Nights at Freddy’s did it about as well as any other movie. And, since there were sequels to the video game, there’s now a sequel to the movie, appropriately called Five Nights at Freddy’s 2.
Picking up after the events of Five Nights at Freddy’s, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 sees ex-security guard Mike (Josh Hutcherson from The Hunger Games) helping his sister, Abby (For All Mankind’s Piper Rubio), deal with the trauma of losing her mechanical “friends” at Freddy Fazbear’s while helpful police officer Vanessa (You’s Elizabeth Lail) comes to terms with the awful truth about her father (Scream’s Matthew Lillard). But little do they know, Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza was a franchised chain, and the original location still has cursed animatronics in it, and they’re controlled by a mysterious and threatening Marionette. And they have a reason to come after Mike, Abby, and Vanessa.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 gets pretty much the whole band back together. Hutcherson, Rubio, Lail, and Lillard are all back in the cast, as are director Emma Tammi (The Wind) and writer Scott Cawthon (who created and developed the video game series). And the freakily colorful animatronic villains are all back, too. It’s a pretty consistent sequel.
So why isn’t it as good?
The plot of Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 isn’t as coherent as the first movie, and the introduction of a more formidable “super-villain” from a different location doesn’t really feel complete. The spooky atmosphere is there, the actors all understand the assignment, and the camera and sound work are all passable, but when the ingredients come together, it’s a tough sell. And that fact seems to fall squarely upon the shoulders of the story and the script.
The narrative reeks of a desperate attempt to cash in on the moderate success of the first movie. It’s an adaptation of the second game in the series, so it plays as pure fan service. And fans of the game will be satisfied with what they see—the callbacks and references are all there. It’s almost alienating to those who aren’t as familiar with the game series. It’s easy to ask “should I recognize that?” when the camera lingers on an image or when a character is introduced.
The shining spot of the movie is the cast. Not just the leads, but the support cast and the bit players are all great. Wayne Knight (Jurassic Park) shows up as Abby’s antagonistic, dismissive science teacher. Freddy Carter (Pennyworth) brings his A-game as a creepy security guard who helps a Paranormal Podcast team into the decrepit old restaurant, and McKenna Grace (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire) pops in as the leader of the podcasters who winds up playing a more significant role in the mayhem. There’s even a minor Scream reunion when Skeet Ulrich shows up in a scene as a previous child victim’s father (although Ulrich and Lillard don’t share any screen time). The whole cast knows exactly what kind of movie they’re making—a B-grade techno-thriller.
It’s just not a very interesting B-grade techno-thriller. The plot has a few fun twists, but for the most part, it’s standard monster movie fare. The characters switch between running and fighting the enemy, and there’s a lot of wandering and meandering along the way. The plot gets a bit lost in the shuffle as it makes its way to its inevitable final boss battle. And not even a top-notch ensemble can save a movie from its own lack of focus.
Overall, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is a disappointment for the average horror fan. It was made for fans of the video game, and they’ll probably find a lot to like in it. For everyone else, it’s a bit of a letdown.
GRADE: C-
Rating: PG-13 for violent content, terror, and some language
Runtime: 1 hour 44 minutes
Release Date: December 5, 2025
Studio: Universal Pictures
CBS’s Boston Blue returns after a two-week break with season one, episode seven. And CBS just announced that this is definitely the first of at least two seasons, renewing the Blue Bloods spinoff for a second season on December 3, 2025. Episode seven, “Baggage Claim,” airs on Friday, December 5, 2025 at 10pm ET/PT.
“Baggage Claim” Plot: Lena’s pursuit of justice forces Danny into an unexpected role reversal, while Sarah faces a personal dilemma that tests her resolve. Meanwhile, Mae contends with political pressure, and Sean and Jonah uncover more than they anticipated during a routine case.
Donnie Wahlberg stars as Danny Reagan, Sonequa Martin-Green plays Lena Silver, Marcus Scribner is Jonah Silver, Maggie Lawson is Sarah Silver, and Mika Amonson is Sean Reagan. Gloria Reuben stars as Mae Silver and Ernie Hudson plays Reverend Edwin Peters.
Donnie Wahlberg reprises his role as NYPD detective Danny Reagan in a universe expansion of the long-running top drama Blue Bloods. In this new series, Reagan takes a position with the Boston Police Department and is paired with Detective Lena Silver (Sonequa Martin-Green), the eldest daughter of a prominent law enforcement family.
The Silver family is comprised of Boston district attorney Mae Silver (Reuben), Boston PD detective Lena Silver, police superintendent Sarah Silver (Lawson), rookie cop Jonah Silver (Scribner) and renowned Baptist pastor Reverend Edwin Peters (Hudson). As Reagan settles into his new city, he also hopes to reconnect with his younger son, Sean (Amonsen), who is beginning his own career in Boston.
Executive producers include Donnie Wahlberg, Brandon Sonnier, Brandon Margolis, Jerry Bruckheimer, and KristieAnne Reed.
Netflix’s first teaser for The Night Agent season three declares that “what began with a call became a calling.” Gabriel Basso returns to lead the cast as the titular Night Agent, Peter Sutherland.
The series premiered in March 2023, with season two finally debuting in January 2025. The streamer isn’t making viewers wait as long for season three, setting a February 19, 2026 release date.
Series creator and showrunner Shawn Ryan offered this description of season three: “Season three of The Night Agent takes our audience on an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride across Istanbul, Mexico City, Washington, D.C., New York, and the Dominican Republic as Peter grapples with a dangerous conspiracy at the heart of the White House… Amidst these new characters and challenges, Peter will reckon with hard truths and confront the impact of what being a Night Agent has personally cost him and how it has changed him, for better and for worse.”
In addition to Gabriel Basso, season three stars Louis Herthum, Stephen Moyer, Callum Vinson, David Lyons, and Fola Evans-Akingbola. Jennifer Morrison, Albert Jones, Ward Horton, and Genesis Rodriguez are also series regulars.
“Coming off the explosive events of season two, Night Agent Peter Sutherland is called
in to track down a young Treasury Agent who fled to Istanbul with sensitive government intel after killing his boss,” reads Netflix’s official synopsis. “This kicks off a sequence of events where Peter investigates a dark money network while avoiding its paid assassins, while putting him on a collision course with a relentless journalist. Working together, they uncover buried secrets and old grudges that threaten to bring the government to its knees—and get them both killed in the process.”
Shawn Ryan, Marney Hochman, Seth Gordon, Julia Gunn, James Vanderbilt, William Sherak, Paul Neinstein, Nicole Tossou, David Beaubaire, Munis Rashid, Paul Bernard, Guy Ferland, and Seth Fisher are the executive producers. The 10-episode third season is written by Rashid, Fisher, Anayat Fakhraie, Eileen Myers, Corey Deshon, Imogen Browder, Andres Smith, Corey Deshon, and Aiyana White. Directors include Guy Ferland, Adam Arkin, Paris Barclay, Hiromi Kamata, and Billy Gierhart.
