The first trailer for Netflix’s limited series Lost Ollie has a live-action Toy Story vibe, with Jonathan Groff voicing the toy – a bunny named Ollie – at the heart of the tale. The four-part series is based on Ollie’s Odyssey by acclaimed author/illustrator William Joyce and will premiere on August 24, 2022.
In addition to Jonathan Groff, the limited series stars Mary J. Blige, Tim Blake Nelson, Gina Rodriguez, Jake Johnson, and Kesler Talbot. Shannon Tindle (Kubo and the Two Strings, Coraline) created the series and adapted Joyce’s story. Tindle also serves as executive producer along with Brandon Oldenburg, Lampton Enochs, and 21 Laps Entertainment’s Shawn Levy and Josh Barry.
Academy Award winner Peter Ramsey (Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse) directed the limited series and executive produces.
Poster for Netflix’s ‘Lost Ollie’
Netflix released the following synopsis:
“Lost Ollie is an epic adventure about a lost toy who braves the many dangers of childhood as he searches the countryside to reunite with the boy who lost him; and the story of the boy who lost more than a best friend. It’s a heartwarming tale for the child in us all, remembering those special souls that we’ve lost but who forever changed our lives.”
Emmy Award winner Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale) is set to star in FX’s newly announced limited series The Veil. Moss will also be involved as an executive producer on the thriller.
The limited series was created by Steven Knight (Taboo, A Christmas Carol) and is described as a gripping thriller that “explores the surprising and fraught relationship between two women who play a deadly game of truth and lies on the road from Istanbul to Paris and London. One woman has a secret, the other a mission to reveal it before thousands of lives are lost.”
Knight is writing and executive producing. Love & Squalor Pictures’ Lindsey McManus and PatMa Productions’ Denise Di Novi and Nina Tassler also executive produce.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be telling this story, which is truly international and very contemporary,” said Knight. “We have gathered together some of the most talented people in the business. Working with Denise Di Novi is always a pleasure and I’ve wanted to work with Elisabeth Moss for a long time. Of course, FX and I are old friends. I think this will be a landmark television event.”
The Veil is produced by FX Productions and will air on Hulu.
“We’re excited to continue our partnership with Steven Knight on The Veil and thrilled to have Elisabeth Moss sign on for the lead role,” said Nick Grad, President, Original Programming FX. “Steven’s scripts are riveting and no doubt will showcase Elisabeth’s exceptional talent.”
Elisabeth Moss has won Emmys, SAG, PGA, and Critics Choice awards, and her credits include The Handmaid’s Tale, Mad Men, Shining Girls, The Invisible Man, and Shirley. She recently completed work on Next Goal Wins written and directed by Taika Waititi and starring Michael Fassbender.
The CW’s Roswell, New Mexico season four episode eight picks up with Clyde, now in possession of Dallas’ special glasses and his family’s Bible, assembling almost everything he’ll need to return home. Clyde has the map, fruit from the alien tree, and the ability to decode the Bible. But apparently, there’s one ingredient still missing.
He sets the abandoned church – and the barn with the tree in it – on fire, covering his tracks.
Meanwhile, Maria (Heather Hemmens) is trying her best to communicate with Alex – now that she knows it’s not her recently deceased mom who’s been sending the spooky messages. Liz (Jeanine Mason) joins her and is sure there’s a reason – other than Alex being dead – that Alex can send these messages. Liz is certain Alex is trapped somewhere and knew to reach out to Maria for help.
Fortunately, the cavalry has arrived…or at least Rosa (Amber Midthunder) has shown up to help her big sister figure out how to science the heck out of this puzzle. It turns out Rosa’s been practicing her echolocation skills, and that might come in handy in tracking down the missing-way-too-long Alex.
Isobel (Lily Cowles) and Michael (Michael Vlamis) check out the charred remains of the church and she reveals she had a memory of fighting Tezca, who was once her teacher, as a child. Michael points out that nothing good ever comes from poking around their childhood memories, but Isobel thinks this time’s different. She may be able to locate Dallas who, you’ll recall, was sucked into the quicksand by Clyde last episode.
Liz and Max (Nathan Dean) have their first heart-to-heart of the episode. He thought she left town because she was running away from him, but Liz explains she just needed to clear her head. They hug and Liz credits Rosa with helping her get in touch with her authentic self and now she and Shivani think they may have figured out how to disable Bonnie’s virus. (You know, the one that caused Max and Michael to lose their powers.)
They catch each other up on the fact Bonnie, Dallas, and Alex are all missing, and Liz thinks it’s best not to let Michael know Alex has been sending weird messages to Maria. Their friendly chat turns into an argument when Max insists he’s helpful without his alien powers. Liz thinks he’s being selfish, but Max is adamant that he doesn’t want his powers back.
Next, Max meets up with Michael in the middle of nowhere. Michael thinks someone spotted Dallas’ car and that’s the only clue they have right now to his location. Michael notices his brother’s a little off and teases, “Oh, you’re in your feels because we’re Muggles now.”
And speaking of those powers, Max tells his bro that Liz is working on a cure for Bonnie’s virus. They spot Dallas’ car and realize Clyde must have grabbed him.
Over at the lab, Liz is frustrated her research isn’t paying off with a cure. She’s about to give up when Shivani lets her in on a secret after swearing her to secrecy. Shivani reveals she has a pod and that’s where she’s been getting samples of alien fluid. There’s a crack in the pod and Liz determines oxygen is changing the fluid’s composition. They need a pod that’s in perfect shape.
Liz lets Shivani in on her own huge secret and takes her to where the #PodSquad’s pods are kept in the cave. Liz begins work on extracting fluid and Shivani quickly realizes Max is an alien. Liz doesn’t reply but Shivani knows she’s right.
Back at the lab, Liz gets back to work and it seems she’s on the right track. Shivani’s impressed and wonders if the cure could be used to fight human illnesses.
Isobel confronts Tezca and demands to know what Clyde did with Dallas. Isobel describes her memories of training with her as a child and Tezca denies it ever happened. But when Isobel quotes her, Tezca suddenly has her own vision of teaching Isobel. Tezca appears genuinely shocked they have a shared history.
Rosa and Maria team up to try and track Alex, but a strand of his hair is the only thing throwing off his frequency. However, Rosa has a theory: she thinks Maria’s hearing Alex because it’s a new power emerging after Liz blocked her visions. Rosa suggests Maria get in the right headspace and concentrate using Isobel’s technique of finding a space inside herself to feel completely calm.
Maria gets her inner peace when connecting with her mom, and the only way to do that is by walking barefoot in the desert. So, off they go for a hike in the desert with Rosa urging Maria to tap into the earth. A locust lands on Maria and she connects it to Alex since he was looking for them before he went missing.
Unfortunately, Rosa and Maria are so caught up in what they’re doing that they have no idea Michael’s right behind them. Michael’s shocked to learn Alex is missing.
The trio head back to the Wild Pony and Maria spills the beans, explaining not even Deep Sky has heard from Alex. Michael’s pissed everyone kept this a secret and gets upset when Rosa explains they think Michael’s reaching out to Maria because she’s the only one listening to him.
Isobel confronts Tezca and demands to know what Clyde did with Dallas. Isobel describes her memories of training with her as a child and Tezca denies it ever happened. But when Isobel quotes her, Tezca suddenly has her own vision of teaching Isobel. Tezca appears genuinely shocked they have a shared history.
No one thought to warn Max and he’s taken by surprise when Michael arrives at the station and punches him in the face. Max gets him in a headlock and when he lets Michael up, Michael demands to know why they didn’t tell him Alex is missing. Max confesses he kept it a secret because it’s what Liz wanted. “So, to win back the girl you stabbed me in the back,” says Michael, correctly assessing the situation.
Michael storms off, pissed Max is using his suffering to fix his love life. “Hope the wedding’s worth losing a brother,” snarls Michael.
Isobel volunteers to unlock Tezca’s subconscious and takes off her handcuffs. They slip into Tezca’s mindscape and see Tezca assuring Isobel her mom’s off protecting everyone. Tezca tells her student, “No matter where in the universe you are, my blade will find you,” which matches up with Isobel’s memories.
Tezca believed Isobel would be a great warrior, but her strength would be in her compassion. She wanted Isobel to be able to protect herself.
Isobel and Tezca emerge from the mindscape and Tezca’s still in fight mode. However, Isobel talks her into returning to the mindscape to finish the story. In the mindscape, they hear screams and watch as Tezca tells Isobel to hide and not come out, no matter what. Tezca swears she’ll always find her.
Jones arrives and he and Tezca fight over Isobel. Jones gets the best of Tezca, but she refuses to beg. “I hate you with the fire of our two suns,” she snarls. Jones accepts that as a challenge to bend her will to his. He’s going to make her hate her students and only love him.
Back to current events, Isobel reminds Tezca they’re on the same side. She asks what Clyde’s looking for and Tezca, reluctantly, replies, “Jones said once you’ve gathered all the pieces, Liz Ortecho will bring the alighting.”
Liz heads to Michael’s secret lair and her reception’s…shall we say…icy. She attempts to make it up to Michael by administering the cure (which is in vapor form) while apologizing for keeping Alex’s disappearance from him. Michael understands and takes some of the blame on himself, claiming he lost sight of Alex while hanging with his new alien besties. He also suggests Max needs to make his own decision about his powers or else it will tear them apart.
They hug as Michael tries out his powers and they work!
Liz and Max sit for their second heart-to-heart and Max admits he should have pushed back harder on telling Michael about Alex. He confesses he no longer knows exactly what to do, and he’s unsure if denying his powers is the right decision. Is he just turning his back on his family?
Liz suggests life is going to keep punching until he figures out who he is and swings back. She swears she’ll always be on his side – no matter what he decides to do.
It’s Michael’s turn to do some apologizing and he joins Maria and Rosa at the bar. They’re happy he has his powers back (although he’s not completely recovered), and Maria promises they’re going to get Alex back. Michael now believes Maria is the key to finding Alex.
Maria slips off her shoes and begins concentrating. A song Alex wrote about Michael begins playing on the piano. Michael picks up his guitar and the piano plays without anyone seated at it. His pendant begins glowing and lights flicker. The trio figure out Alex is leading them to his location with the lights!
The lights outside the Wild Pony flicker and Michael grabs a New Mexico map out of his truck. He places his pendant on it and it moves to point out Grant’s Pass.
Meanwhile, Liz returns to her lab and sees a new equation written on the board. Shivani explains what she wrote and then admits she inhaled the cure. Liz grabs her to take her to the hospital, but Shivani claims she’s fine. Her mind’s been opened up and she shows Liz her final secret – her daughter, who suffered from a rare disease, suspended in a cryogenic state. Liz is stunned she’s dead, but Shivani thinks she doesn’t have to be. That’s why she’s been researching solutions off of Earth. And now that she knows Rosa is back from the dead, maybe Max’s alien DNA is what it will take to bring back her daughter.
Liz insists Rosa was a special case and also insists the vapor won’t regenerate human cells; it’s meant to cure aliens. Shivani thinks they can use it to figure out something that will. She also suggests Liz inhale some of it to boost her own brainpower!
Maria, Michael, and Rosa make it to Grant’s Pass and discover Dallas’ dad’s glasses case. Rosa’s confused and wonders if Alex is with Dallas. Things have escalated now, and she thinks they need to assemble the #PodSquad. Michael reminds her Max is basically useless at this moment.
Maria wanders away and gets stuck in the quicksand. Michael’s powers aren’t strong enough to pull her out but fortunately, Max arrives and tosses her a rope. Between them pulling and Michael using his weakened powers, Maria’s saved.
Maria’s the only one who sees the sand shimmering and believes there’s a world under the quicksand. She can see Alex’s pendant and can feel that he’s alive down there.
Michael grabs Max’s rope and wants to hop down there but Max thinks Michael’s behaving like an idiot. He needs to think this through first. “Be the thing that pulls Alex back,” says Max as he pulls a crying Michael in for a hug.
Max followed the notes in Dallas’ Bible to find them and Michael apologizes for kicking his brother’s butt back at the station. Max promises to have his brother’s back and to help him save the love of his life.
Maria doesn’t know why she’s the only one who can see the other world and Rosa points out it probably has to do with her powers.
Clyde arrives at the Crashdown Café and learns from Liz’s student that she doesn’t work there anymore.
Liz confronts Shivani and tells her bringing back her sister came at a huge cost. She doesn’t want to play god and Shivani demands she stop denying her true nature. Liz attempts to get Shivani to give up on trying to bring back her daughter, warning her she’ll lose herself in the process. “Do not become a casualty to your grief,” says Liz.
Shivani refuses to turn over the canister and instead drops it. It shatters and the mist fills the room. Liz has no choice but to breathe in the alien cure. She collapses, unconscious.
Everything I Know About Love, based on the bestseller by Dolly Alderton, arrives on Peacock on August 25, 2022 following its successful season one run on BBC One. The seven-episode dramedy was created by author Alderton who adapted her memoir for the series and serves as an executive producer.
Everything I Know About Love follows four friends attempting to make it through their 20s while dealing with love and heartbreak. The cast is led by Emma Appleton as Maggie and Bel Powley as Birdy, with Marli Siu playing Nell and Aliyah Odoffin starring as Amara. Season one also features Connor Finch as Street, Ryan Bown as Nathan, Jordan Peters as Neil, and Jill Halfpenny as Roisin.
Author Dolly Alderton believes the appeal of the series is its relatable subject matter, even though the show is set in London in 2012.
“It doesn’t matter where you are in the world, everyone knows or remembers what it is like to have your heart broken. Everyone knows what it is to lose someone really close to you who you thought you were going to spend your life with,” stated Alderton. “Everyone knows what it is to try and work out what kind of adult you want to be and feel kind of lost in the adult world. I also think it provides a nice story; we always knew it was going to take place in 2012 and wanted to tell it like a period piece, for want of a better word. We wanted an episode about the Olympics in London. We wanted an episode about the Diamond Jubilee. We wanted an episode about the launch of dating apps.”
Surian Fletcher-Jones, Eric Fellner, Working Title Television, and BBC’s Jo McClellan executive produce, with Simon Maloney producing. China Moo-Young directed episodes one, two, three, and four. Julia Ford directed episodes five, six, and seven.
Season one was shot in Manchester, London, and New York, and premiered on BBC One on June 7, 2022. The first season has earned a 93% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Plot: The central love story of Everything I Know About Love is between childhood best friends Maggie and Birdy. But it is also a raucous girl gang show, set in a 2012 London house-share inhabited by four girls – Maggie, Birdy and their mates from university, Amara and Nell. The series is an unflinching deep dive into bad dates, heartaches and humiliations and begs the question: can platonic love survive romantic love as we grow up?
A scene from ‘Everything I Know About Love’ season 1 (Photo by: Matt Squire/Peacock/Universal International Studios Limited)Season one of ‘Everything I Know About Love’ (Photo by: Matt Squire/Peacock/Universal International Studios Limited)A scene from episode 5 (Photo by: Matt Squire/Peacock/Universal International Studios Limited)A scene from episode 5 (Photo by: Matt Squire/Peacock/Universal International Studios Limited)A scene from season 1 episode 3 (Photo by: Simon Webb/Peacock/Universal International Studios Limited)A scene from episode 4 (Photo by: Matt Squire/Peacock/Universal International Studios Limited)
Hulu’s just released the trailer for Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers, the docuseries from executive producer Jeanie Buss. Buss is the NBA franchise’s CEO and controlling owner and was actively involved in telling the story of her father’s transformation of the struggling club into one of the league’s most popular NBA teams.
Antoine Fuqua (Southpaw, The Guilty) directs and executive produces along with Lakers senior executive Linda Rambis and Haven Entertainment’s Kevin Mann, Michael Mann, and Brendan Bragg. Additional executive producers include Los Angeles Media Fund’s (LAMF) Jeffrey Soros and Simon Horsman.
Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers will premiere on Hulu on August 15, 2022 with the release of the first two episodes. New episodes arrive on Mondays.
Hulu released the following lengthy description of the docuseries:
“Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers captures the remarkable rise and unprecedented success of one of the most dominant and iconic franchises in professional sports. Featuring exclusive access to the Buss Family and probing, revealing interviews with players, coaches, and front-office execs, this 10-part documentary series chronicles this extraordinary story from the inside – told only by the people who lived it.
When charismatic real estate tycoon Dr. Jerry Buss purchased the Los Angeles Lakers in a wildly risky and complex business deal, nobody could’ve predicted just how much success was to come. Kicking off the ‘Showtime’ era in 1979, the notorious L.A.-playboy pioneered the business of basketball. He raised the price of floor seats, introduced dancers and a live band, opened an exclusive private club inside the arena, and cultivated famous fans in Hollywood. Over the last 40 years, the team captured 11 titles and retired the jerseys of some of the NBA’s most legendary players.
Today, Dr. Buss’s empire is now worth more than $5 billion. But all of that success did not come easy. Along with notorious feuds, career-ending illnesses, and a bevy of insurmountable on-court obstacles, the Lakers have also weathered intense drama off the court – within Dr. Buss’s own family. Running the franchise as a ‘mom and pop’ operation, Dr. Buss gave his children front office jobs with the understanding they would, someday, inherit his kingdom. But sibling rivalry, interpersonal conflict, and corporate unrest threatened to destroy everything Dr. Buss worked so hard to build.
Ultimately, Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers is about family, business, and power – and how all three must be harnessed to achieve greatness.”
Grant Gustin as The Flash and Danielle Panabaker as Caitlin Frost in ‘The Flash’ season 8 (Photo by Bettina Strauss (C) 2022 The CW Network, LLC)
The Flash, the last remaining series in The CW’s Arrowverse, will wrap up with season nine. The network’s sending off the comic book-inspired superhero series with a short 13-episode final season.
“Nine seasons! Nine years of saving Central City while taking audiences on an emotional journey full of heart, humor and spectacle,” stated executive producer Eric Wallace. “And now Barry Allen has reached the starting gate for his last race. So many amazing people have given their talents, time, and love to bring this wonderful show to life each week. So, as we get ready to honor the show’s incredible legacy with our exciting final chapter, I want to say thank you to our phenomenal cast, writers, producers and crew over the years who helped make The Flash such an unforgettable experience for audiences around the world.”
A ninth season means The Flash will be the longest-running series of the Arrowverse. Arrow starring Stephen Amell ran for eight seasons while Supergirl lasted seven. Legends of Tomorrow concluded with season seven, Black Lightning made it through season four, and Batwoman stuck around for just three seasons.
In addition to Grant Gustin as the titular character, season nine is expected to star original cast members Danielle Panabaker and Candice Patton. The CW’s targeting a 2023 final season premiere.
The Flash kicked off in October 2014, and season eight finished up on June 29, 2022. Although the series used to be one of The CW’s biggest draws, season eight’s ratings tumbled to just a little over half a million viewers for the season finale.
Luke Bryan’s returning to host the 2022 CMA Awards and he’ll be joined by NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. The 56th Annual CMA Awards will mark Bryan’s second consecutive year as host while retired quarterback Manning is making his hosting debut.
“Being a part of such a historical night that honors my peers and Country Music is such a privilege,” said two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan. “When I was asked if Peyton Manning is someone I would consider co-hosting with, I didn’t hesitate. We have become great friends through the years, and what he brings to the table is gonna make it even more of a blast. I know he’s been to the CMA Awards before, but he’s never been with me. Hey Peyton, I hope you’re ready for the night of your life!”
“I cannot wait to head to Nashville and take the CMA Awards stage alongside my friend Luke Bryan,” said five-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning. “I am such a huge fan of Country Music, so to have the chance to stand among so many incredibly talented artists is an absolute honor.”
This year’s awards show will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on November 8th at 8pm ET/PT (tape-delayed on the West Coast) on ABC.
Alan Carter is the director, Jon Macks is the head writer, and Robert Deaton is executive producing. Nominees will be announced soon.
“Country Music’s Biggest Night will without a doubt live up to its expectation this year,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA chief executive officer. “During an evening when we celebrate the best of the best in Country Music, we are thrilled to have two award-winning hosts at the helm! I cannot wait to see what Luke and Peyton have up their sleeves, which I’m sure will be hilariously unpredictable and playfully energetic, just like the two of them.”
“Just when we thought we couldn’t top Luke’s explosive energy and signature charm as host of last year’s CMA Awards, we’re bringing him back alongside sports legend Peyton Manning for Country Music’s biggest night,” said Rob Mills, executive vice president, Unscripted and Alternative Entertainment, Walt Disney Television. “Their dynamic chemistry and magnetic friendship are the perfect anchors for this year’s star-studded show.”
Eric Church and Chris Stapleton topped the list of the 2021 CMA Awards nominees, with Stapleton ultimately emerging as the event’s big winner. Luke Bryan was named Entertainer of the Year.
Joe Walsh announces VetsAid 2022 (Photo Credit: Ross Halfin)
Joe Walsh’s VetsAid 2022 will take place on November 13th in Columbus, Ohio at the Nationwide Arena. Walsh confirmed the date for the sixth annual event, and announced the newly reunited James Gang (Joe Walsh, Jimmy Fox, and Dale Peters) will make the VetsAid concert their final performance, with a special guest appearance by Dave Grohl. Nine Inch Nails, The Black Keys, and The Breeders are also on board to hit the stage to help raise money for veterans.
Comedian and game show host Drew Carey will return as host for the third time. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, August 5, 2022 at 10am ET via Ticketmaster.
VetsAid 2022 will feature an all-Ohio lineup and all net proceeds will help Ohio veterans. Walsh calls Columbus his hometown and Nine Inch Nails and James Gang come from Cleveland. Dave Grohl was born in Warren, Ohio, and The Breeders are from Dayton. The Black Keys come from Akron.
“It all started in Ohio,” stated Walsh. “Picking up my first guitar as a kid in Columbus set me on a musical journey to Kent State, Cleveland and then the world. Now it is a great privilege and humbling opportunity for me to share the stage once again with my original James Gang buddies and with this absolutely incredible group of Ohio rock legends like Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails, The Black Keys, The Breeders and Dave Grohl. I believe in Ohio and look forward to celebrating our musical legacy while honoring our veterans with VetsAid 2022.”
Details on VetsAid, Courtesy of the 501(c) Non-Profit:
Now in its sixth year, VetsAid hosted its inaugural show on September 20, 2017 with a concert at the EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, VA featuring performances by Walsh, Zac Brown Band, Keith Urban and Gary Clark Jr. In 2018, VetsAid traveled to Tacoma, WA with a sell-out event featuring Walsh, Don Henley, James Taylor, Chris Stapleton, Haim and special guest Ringo Starr. In 2019, Houston, TX welcomed VetsAid for a blockbuster show with Walsh, ZZ Top, The Doobie Brothers, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Sheryl Crow and Brad Paisley.
The pandemic moved the festival online in 2020 and 2021 with intimate performances from Eddie Vedder, James Hetfield, Gwen Stefani and nearly 40 other artists from across the United States as well as the debut of new music from Walsh in his studio available via live stream.
As every year, all net proceeds from the concert will go directly to the veterans’ services charities selected through a vetting process coordinated in tandem with the Combined Arms Institute. To date, VetsAid has disbursed $2,000,000 in grants. In 2022 VetsAid plans to disburse grants exclusively to organizations based in Ohio or with operations on the ground in Ohio; grant applications are open now via the VetsAid website (www.vetsaid.org/grants).
Veterans and their wellbeing have always been important to Walsh, a Gold Star son himself. His father was a flight instructor for the first US operational jet powered aircraft, the Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star, and died while stationed and on active duty on Okinawa when Walsh was 20 months old.
Walsh aims to use this platform to raise funds and awareness for the still urgent and significant needs of our returning soldiers and their families. Through the establishment of VetsAid and this annual benefit concert, he aims to give back to those who have given so much in sacrifice for this country.
The new trailer for Disney+’s Andor perfectly captures the tone and visuals of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The series is set before Rogue One and stars Diego Luna reprising his role as Cassian Andor.
The new trailer was accompanied by a gorgeous poster and new photos from the latest addition to the Star Wars franchise.
Joining Diego Luna are Genevieve O’Reilly, Stellan Skarsgård, and Adria Arjona. Denise Gough, Kyle Soller, and Fiona Shaw also star. Tony Gilroy created the series and serves as showrunner and executive producer. Additional executive producers include Kathleen Kennedy, Sanne Wohlenberg, Diego Luna, and Michelle Rejwan.
The season consists of 12 episodes and will premiere on September 21, 2022 with the launch of the first three episodes. New episodes will arrive on Disney+ on subsequent Wednesdays.
The Plot: The Andor series explores a new perspective from the Star Wars galaxy, focusing on Cassian Andor’s journey to discover the difference he can make. The series brings forward the tale of the burgeoning rebellion against the Empire and how people and planets became involved. It’s an era filled with danger, deception and intrigue where Cassian will embark on the path that is destined to turn him into a rebel hero.
Elvis Presley in ‘Elvis the Searcher’ (Photo Courtesy of HBO)
Baz Luhrmann’s stylish and exuberant movie Elvis starring Austin Butler is held in high regard by Priscilla Presley, his daughter Lisa Marie, and Elvis’s good friend for 23 years, Jerry Schilling. In a June 2022 interview in the Memphis Flyer, Schilling (played in the film by Luke Bracey) stated that “I think the movie, overall, is the best piece of work in a project done on Elvis.” Their appreciation of the film suggests that it captured the essence of Elvis and his career.
The 2018 two-part HBO documentary Elvis Presley: The Searcher complements the film by providing information and insights from family, friends, musicians, historians, and Elvis himself. Priscilla Presley, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Emmylou Harris, Robbie Robertson, Jerry Schilling, Sam Phillips of Sun Records, and historians provide voice-over commentary while photos and videos of Elvis are shown. There are also interviews of Elvis and concert footage.
Luhrmann’s film largely corresponds to the facts presented in the documentary with a couple of cases of artistic license. For example, Elvis was drafted and that’s why he went into the Army and not to avoid jail.
Both Elvis and The Searcher highlight the influence of Black musicians and gospel music on Elvis’s music. What the documentary makes clear is how unique he was in the era of segregation. Petty states that he was interested in Black music when most whites were not. In addition, his music and movement on stage created a lot of controversy because of concern about race mixing.
Elvis incorporated rhythm and blues, country, and gospel in his music and made a new genre, rock, popular. After his TV appearances, Robbie Robertson notes, “That’s when we saw somebody who can sing better than other people, could move better than other people, had style better than other people. In the pop world, when he came along, it broke glass.”
In addition to types of music, Elvis absorbed everything. Schilling notes that “Elvis picked up everything. He was the most eclectic human being I have ever been around. He would pick up something from another singer or he would pick up something from a guy walking down the street and he’d say, ‘Jerry, look at that walk. I’m going to use that walk.’”
When he was in the Army in Germany, he listened to Italian crooners and used the sound on “It’s Now or Never.”
Colonel Tom Parker was painted in a very negative light in Elvis, while the documentary is somewhat more balanced in this regard. Elvis knew that Parker could help his career more than his first producer, Sam Phillips, could. The Colonel was a promoter with no real knowledge of producing music, and he got RCA to buy his Sun contract and got Elvis appearances on TV shows and in movies. Parker also made sure that he and Presley had a financial interest in what Elvis sang through a contract with a music publishing company. Priscilla called him a father figure for Elvis.
The documentary does show the dark side of the relationship. For example, Luhrmann’s film treats the Colonel’s role in the 1968 Comeback Special as a comic episode with the Colonel wanting Presley to wear a Christmas sweater and sing Christmas songs. Steve Binder, the director of the TV show, recounts a conversation in which the Colonel said that Elvis wanted a Christmas song, “Don’t you Elvis?” Elvis had his head down and replied, “Yes, sir.” Binder continued, “I watched Elvis cower to Parker.” “The Colonel says, ‘Okay, then, we’re in agreement.’” According to Binder, Elvis walked out with his head high and said, “(expletive) him.” Ultimately, there was no Christmas song in the special.
Both the film and the documentary also hold the Colonel responsible for hurting Elvis’s career and his health.
Elvis, the film, doesn’t focus much on his movie career but all the years when he did two films a year for a total of 31 movies kept him away from the music scene and hurt his music career. It was depressing for him at the end. He wanted to be a serious actor, but he had no script or song approval and was required to sing in the movies. After the first few, the quality of the films and music wasn’t good.
According to Priscilla, “The humdrum movies he was given, boy chases girl, boy gets girl, they get married and it’s happily ever after, that’s not Elvis Presley. He was not that man. He was much deeper than that. After a movie, he felt trapped. He dreaded the next script because he knew it would be the same thing over and over again.”
Luhrmann’s choice of “Suspicious Minds” with the phrase “caught in a trap” repeated over and over again underlined how Elvis felt about the years of shows that the Colonel negotiated with the International Hotel in Las Vegas. He was worn out physically and his addiction to prescription medicine became worse. He starred in 31 movies, recorded 784 songs, and appeared in 1,684 concerts, according to the documentary.
Both the film and the documentary end, appropriately, with Elvis himself singing. His performance of “Unchained Melody” in the movie showed his enormous talent as did his performance of “If I Can Dream” from the 1968 Comeback Special in the documentary.
