After the extended Elvis trailer premiered during Warner Bros Pictures’ 2022 CinemaCon panel, I tweeted: “Calling it now – #Elvis will catapult Austin Butler into superstar status.” I stood by that declaration after additional footage dropped, and I continue to feel justified with my early praise of Butler after watching the gorgeous music-driven drama. (I hate eating crow so I’m super happy to have been proved correct.)
Writer/director Baz Luhrmann’sElvis is a tale of good versus evil with no middle ground. Elvis, of course, is the good in this equation and Colonel Tom Parker (played by Oscar winner Tom Hanks) is the evil. Luhrmann doesn’t allow for either colorful character to break out of their assigned box. Elvis is shown as a decent man struggling with living life in the spotlight while Parker doesn’t possess a single redeeming quality.
Is the Moulin Rouge director’s interpretation a fair take on Elvis’ relationship with Parker? Yes, according to a source who had a front row seat to this battle between an artist who was basically held prisoner and his corrupt manager/jailer. “It is a true story told brilliantly and creatively that only Baz, in his unique artistic way, could have delivered,” wrote the love of Elvis’ life, Priscilla Presley, on social media.
It’s the tragic story of a talented young man who grew up dirt poor, fell in love with gospel music, and became a movie star/musical icon driven to an early death by a greedy, opportunistic liar. Elvis touches on Presley’s youth in Tupelo, MS, his close relationship with his beloved mother, and his father’s run-in with the law. The future rock star’s teen years reveal how the groundbreaking artist became the star of female audiences’ dreams and the nightmare of authorities who viewed his hip gyrations and pelvic thrusts as criminally provocative.
Told with lots of razzle-dazzle, the film concentrates on the relationship between Elvis and Colonel Tom Parker and often neglects or glosses over some of the most interesting periods of Elvis’ lengthy, groundbreaking career. Even at 159 minutes long, there’s so much story left to be told that it feels that not making a trilogy – or at the very least a two-parter – is a real missed opportunity.
Austin Butler’s incredible, mesmerizing performance as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll will help bring a new generation of fans into the Elvis Presley fold. Butler’s completely keyed into this performance, channeling the still-popular entertainer with such dedication that it’s a shame audiences won’t get more of an extended opportunity to watch him transform on screen. Butler delivers a sexually charged, raw performance and the care he took in capturing every nuance of the larger-than-life performer is evident in every frame.
Tom Hanks rarely has to play second-fiddle at this stage in his career but he gracefully yields the Elvis spotlight to Butler. Obviously, both Hanks and Butler’s performances are central to the film’s success, but it’s Butler who outshines the more seasoned actor. There are a few scenes in which Hank’s accent feels forced but that doesn’t really detract from his terrific performance as a carnival show barker turned mustache-twirling villain.
Olivia DeJonge looks like a young Priscilla Presley and she does a fine job of capturing the initial sweetness and innocence of the couple’s relationship through its ultimate demise. The genuine chemistry between DeJonge and Butler helps to gloss over the large gaps in the story of their relationship.
We can expect to hear cinematographer Mandy Walker and production designers Catherine Martin and Karen Murphy mentioned during awards season. Elvis is a feast for the eyes and their work is absolutely stunning.
Luhrmann’s a brilliant showman and with Elvis it’s a perfect match of subject and filmmaker. His sumptuous tribute to the iconic performer is at its best when Austin Butler’s seen on stage, giving over his body to the music, and making audiences believe Elvis hasn’t yet left the building.
GRADE: A
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for substance abuse, strong language, smoking, and suggestive material
Running Time: 159 minutes
Release Date: June 24, 2022
Cast: Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, Olivia DeJonge, Dacre Montgomery, Luke Bracey, Richard Roxburgh, Kelvin Harrison Jr, David Wenham, Helen Thomson, Xavier Samuel, and Chaydon Jay
Alicia von Rittberg in ‘Becoming Elizabeth’ episode 2 (Photo Courtesy of Starz)
Starz’s Becoming Elizabeth episode two opens with Thomas Seymour (Tom Cullen) doing his best to wake the dead. He claims he’s the new trumpeter and it’s his job to raise the entire household. Princess Elizabeth (Alicia von Rittberg) laughs and even her lady in waiting Kat Ashley (Alexandra Gilbreath) eventually finds his antics amusing.
Later, Thomas outrageously flirts with Elizabeth and tells her she’s gotten inside his head. Kat warns Elizabeth it might be unfair, but she’ll be held responsible for Thomas’ unseemly actions.
Catherine Parr (Jessica Raine) has a word in private with Elizabeth before they join King Edward for the performance of a play. Catherine apologizes she’s upset Elizabeth by marrying Thomas and worries the young princess has a poor opinion of her now.
The royal audience is seated and everyone’s having a good time until a character representing the Pope is introduced. Princess Mary (Romola Garai) is upset over this turn of events (she’s the only practicing Catholic in the family) and Thomas Seymour joins the players to ask if Lady Jane (Bella Ramsey) gives the Pope a thumbs up or thumbs down. She doesn’t hesitate and says thumbs down, declaring the Pope is the Antichrist.
Everyone chuckles except Princess Mary.
King Edward (Oliver Zetterstrom) follows Lady Jane’s lead and also gives the Pope a thumbs down, adding, “Death to the Pope.”
Princess Mary’s had enough and flees the room with King Edward following after her. She asks to be excused and admits she’s upset her brother condemned the Holy Father. “It cleaves me in two,” confesses Princess Mary, but then makes an excuse that she feels ill and needs to take a walk.
Lord Protector Edward Seymour (John Heffernan) demands Catherine return the royal jewels now that she’s wed his brother, Thomas. Catherine claims they were left to her in King Henry’s will and an argument ensues. Thomas ends the battle of wills and says they will hand the jewels over. He then taunts his brother about wanting to wear them or give them to his future wife, while Edward remains in control of the situation and declares they’ll go to Princess Mary.
The princess siblings finally have a chance to speak alone and they discuss King Edward’s hatred of Catholics. Mary believes she’ll wind up banished or worse. Elizabeth suggests they don’t need to fight even though the world believes they should be at odds. Mary attempts to warn Elizabeth that Catherine is not to be trusted and that she’s mocked their father’s memory by marrying Thomas so quickly.
Mary’s suggesting Elizabeth move out when Thomas Seymour appears and asks if she’s angry. Mary brushes away his concern and reacts strongly when Thomas calls her daughter. “I had a father and he is gone,” says Mary.
Mary turns to Elizabeth and whispers, “For your safety and your sanity, come to me.”
The group – minus Mary – returns to Chelsea Manor and Elizabeth and Jane are working on their lessons while Catherine and Thomas engage in a screaming match about the jewels. Catherine calls Thomas weak for giving into his brother, and Thomas reminds his wife they have both Jane and Elizabeth under their roof. King Edward may marry Jane and Elizabeth is, according to Thomas, their “real jewel.”
The brutal verbal battle is followed by noisy makeup sex that Elizabeth and Jane can hear from the other room.
That evening Elizabeth informs Catherine she’s going to live with Mary. Catherine assures Elizabeth only she and Thomas are working on her side, and Mary’s actually attempting to lure her away because she has her eye on becoming queen.
Catherine claims to love Elizabeth and hopes she’ll remain at Chelsea Manor.
The following day Thomas gets Elizabeth alone and Elizabeth jerks away when Thomas moves in to kiss her. They speak of having sex and Thomas indicates he’s aware she’s interested in him. Elizabeth asks what she is to him and suggests she’s just a playing piece he can use in these royal games.
Thomas is angry she’d assume he doesn’t have legitimate feelings for her and asks, “Do you think this is a smart move for me?” He assures Elizabeth that he’s risking everything – including his life – by being with her.
Elizabeth points out she’s also risking her neck if any relationship between the two is revealed.
King Edward’s council meets and Henry Grey (Leo Bill) points out they went to war for nothing. They’ve lost Mary, Queen of Scots while also doubling their enemies now that France has moved to protect Scotland. Pedro (Ekow Quartey) argues for war and Henry’s upset to be speaking with this man he doesn’t even know. Edward Seymour reveals he knighted Pedro after the battle in Scotland.
Pedro insults Henry and even King Edward laughs.
This isn’t helping Edward Seymour’s case, so he asks Pedro to step out of the room and then takes on Henry Grey. Edward Seymour informs Henry that England will continue their war with Scotland and nothing Henry can say will change that.
King Edward meets privately with Princess Mary and demands she stop holding public Mass. Her actions are damaging him, and she needs to convert to Protestantism. He views her as a rallying point for heretics, but Princess Mary will not do so. She believes this is all Edward Seymour’s doing but King Edward insists it’s not.
“You are to convert and give up Catholicism,” says King Edward, requesting she denounce her religion in front of the whole court. He quietly adds “please” to his request and Mary doesn’t respond. He asks please once more and Mary announces she’ll return to the country rather than give up her religion.
Meanwhile, Jane and Elizabeth are getting on much better and Jane flirts with two young men, one of whom is Robert Dudley (Jamie Blackley). Both young ladies are invited out on the hunt with Robert’s father, John (Jamie Parker), and Thomas Seymour.
Elizabeth rides off ahead of the group, accompanied by Robert. She spots a stag and doesn’t wait for the group before firing an arrow into the creature. She refuses to allow the animal to suffer and grabs Robert’s knife to dispatch the stag.
Tom Cullen in ‘Becoming Elizabeth’ episode 2 (Photo Courtesy of Starz)
It’s passed away by the time Thomas, John, Catherine, and Jane ride up. Only Thomas smiles at Elizabeth’s work.
John Dudley slaps his son for allowing Elizabeth to put herself in danger.
Upon the group’s return to Chelsea Manor, Elizabeth is handed a secret letter. It’s from Mary advising her she’s left court and has returned home to Framlingham Castle. Mary reveals to her sister that she’s to be persecuted for her faith and wants Elizabeth to plead her case to their brother, King Edward.
Robert Dudley suggests Elizabeth stay out of their game and not choose sides.
Meanwhile, King Edward stews over Mary’s continuing insistence to hold mass and remain a Catholic. Edward Seymour believes the young monarch should allow his sister to follow her heart.
King Edward requests they hold a prayer meeting with even Catherine Parr invited to attend. He informs his Lord Protector he’d also like to see Thomas Seymour more often. King Edward wants Thomas around much more and doesn’t care that Edward Seymour hates his own brother. He thinks Edward should follow the scriptures and embrace his younger brother.
Over at Chelsea Manor, Thomas creeps into Elizabeth’s bed chamber and warns her to be quiet. They move out of that room and into an adjourning one where they can be alone. He wonders if the attack on the stag was meant to be a warning to him and Elizabeth gently laughs. She may choose not to believe him, but he regards her as magnificent.
He admits he’s in a more powerful position than he believed was possible and yet he’s risking it all to be with her. “This would be a most un-useful move and yet I want to play it all the same,” says Thomas, voice smoldering as they stand by the fire.
Thomas confesses he will let her ruin his life if that’s what is necessary to be with her.
They kiss and Thomas pulls away to caress her face. Elizabeth can’t stand the separation and pulls him close again, and the kisses become much more passionate.
Neither are behaving sensibly but Thomas is determined to enjoy his life and asks for Elizabeth’s permission to bed her. She doesn’t reply and he asks what he describes as a better question.
“Would you like me to stop?” asks Thomas. Elizabeth quickly whispers no.
Thomas demands to know if she thinks of him and Elizabeth confesses she does all the time.
Elizabeth attempts to kiss Thomas again and he pulls away, calling her a powerful tonic. He thinks he’ll need to ration himself but adds “if only I could.”
The scene ends with both smiling while still fully clothed.
The action shifts to Mary Tudor’s residence, Framlingham Castle.
Edward Seymour journeys to Framlingham Castle to speak with Princess Mary. Ambassador Guzman de Silva (Olivier Huband) sits in on their meeting, noting he’s spent the last few months there at the request of his king who wants to ensure Mary isn’t in any danger due to the religious shifts and fanatism in England.
Sir Pedro joins the group and Princess Mary reveals he’s with her because he recognized the attitude shift in court against her and against the Catholic faith. Sir Pedro offered his service and Mary has employed him to keep her safe.
Edward Seymour claims Mary’s held in high regard and, as long as she’s discreet, she can practice her religion without fear of persecution.
Back at Chelsea Manor, Princess Elizabeth works on her reply to Mary’s letter while Kat reminds her she’s free to ask for her opinion rather than Catherine’s. Elizabeth wants to make her own decisions and then reads what she’s written to Kat. She describes the English as at war with themselves but then crinkles up the letter unsure what she really wants to say.
While Elizabeth’s debating what to write, Edward Seymour is busy attempting to keep the religious powder keg from lighting.
Elizabeth finally settles on a reply and hands the letter to the courier.
The courier delivers it to Princess Mary while Edward Seymour sits nearby.
Princess Elizabeth visits King Edward in the chapel while he’s kneeling in prayer. She places her hand on his shoulder, while at Framlingham Princess Mary appears distressed over Elizabeth’s reply.
Princess Mary hurriedly exits the church and Edward Seymour immediately retrieves the letter. He reads it while slowly shaking his head no.
Princess Elizabeth confesses to King Edward that she’s praying her sister will convert so that her soul can be saved. King Edward doesn’t reply and instead appears to offer up that same prayer.
Dennis Quaid has come on board Walt Disney Animation Studios’ fantasy adventure Strange World directed by Big Hero 6 and Raya and the Last Dragon‘s Don Hall. Lucy Liu, Gabrielle Union, and Jaboukie Young-White have also signed up to lend their voices to the project.
Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal was previously announced to lead the cast as Searcher Clade, a farmer who unexpectedly finds himself in a strange world.
Disney’s announcement included details on who the new voice cast members will be playing:
Dennis Quaid (Merry Happy Whatever) as Jaeger Clade, Searcher’s larger-than-life explorer father.
Jaboukie Young-White (Fairfax) as Ethan Clade, Searcher’s 16 year-old son who longs for adventure beyond his father’s farm while also navigating a school crush.
Gabrielle Union (LA’s Finest) as Meridian Clade, a pilot and natural leader, mom to Ethan, and wife of Searcher.
Lucy Liu (Why Women Kill) as Callisto Mal, the head of the land of Avalonia and the leader of the exploration into the strange world.
Jake Gyllenhaal (The Guilty, Spider-Man: Far from Home) lends his voice to Searcher Clade, the son of a steadfast explorer. The original action-adventure journeys deep into an uncharted and treacherous land where fantastical creatures await the legendary Clades, a family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest — and by far — most crucial mission.
The Haunting of Bly Manor‘s Oliver Jackson-Cohen and The Serpent‘s Jenna Coleman have signed on to star in Prime Video’s Wilderness. The upcoming dramatic series is based on B.E. Jones’ novel and was created by Marnie Dickens, with Dickens writing and executive producing.
B.E. Jones’ novel is described as a twisted love story, and Jackson-Cohen and Coleman are set to play a couple whose marriage is nowhere near as happy as it seems. Production is expected to take place in the UK, United States, and Canada beginning this month.
Lovesong‘s So Yong Kim is on board to direct and executive produce. Elizabeth Kilgarriff is also serving as an executive producer and Firebird Pictures is producing.
Oliver Jackson-Cohen’s credits include The Invisible Man, Mr. Malcolm’s List, The Lost Daughter, The Haunting of Hill House, and Emerald City. Jenna Coleman will soon be seen in The Sandman based on the DC comics created by Neil Gaiman.
Prime Video’s targeting a 2023 premiere.
The official synopsis:
Based on B.E. Jones’ novel of the same name, Wilderness features British couple Liv (Coleman) and Will (Jackson-Cohen) who seem to have it all: a rock-solid marriage; a glamorous new life in New York thousands of miles from their provincial hometown; and still young enough to feel that their whole lives are ahead of them. Until Liv learns about Will’s affair. Heartbreak is swiftly followed by another emotion: fury. Revenge is her only option, and when Will proposes a trip around America’s epic National Parks to give their relationship a fresh start, Liv knows just how to get it…
Wilderness is a twisted love story, where a dream holiday and a supposedly “happily-ever-after” quickly turns into a living nightmare.
Hulu’s set a July 13, 2022 premiere date for the third season of the critically acclaimed animated comedy Solar Opposites. And although it hasn’t been that long since season two wrapped up in November 2021, Hulu’s just-released short video provides a very basic recap of the first two seasons while sort of teasing season three.
The streaming service also released the first two photos from the 11-episode third season.
Voice cast members include Justin Roiland, Sean Giambrone, Thomas Middleditch, and Mary Mack. Rick & Morty‘s Roiland and Mike McMahan created the series and executive produce with Josh Bycel.
Hulu’s official description of Solar Opposites:
“Solar Opposites centers around a team of four aliens who are evenly split on whether Earth is awful or awesome. Korvo (Roiland) and Yumyulack (Giambrone) only see the pollution, crass consumerism, and human frailty while Terry (Middleditch) and Jesse (Mack) love TV, junk food and fun stuff. In season three, this alien team strives to be less of a team and more of a family team.”
A scene from ‘Solar Opposites’ season 3 (Photo Courtesy of Hulu)A scene from ‘Solar Opposites’ season 3 (Photo Courtesy of Hulu)
Amazon Studios’ first photo from ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’
Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is one of the first major network/studio/streaming service productions to confirm they will have a large presence at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con. The series’ official Comic-Con announcement revealed showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay will join members of the large ensemble cast for a panel in Hall H – the largest hall at the popular pop culture convention.
Prime Video didn’t say which cast members will be in attendance or announce the panel’s date and time. The 2022 San Diego Comic-Con runs July 20 – 24 in downtown San Diego. Last year’s Con was pushed to a November date and limited in size, due to the continuing threat of Covid-19. This year’s event is expected to be closer in attendance numbers to the pre-pandemic gatherings, and organizers are requiring all attendees to wear masks.
Fans in attendance will be treated to a first look at the new fantasy series launching on Prime Video on Friday, September 2, 2022.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power stars Owain Arthur as Prince Durin IV, Sophia Nomvete as Princess Disa, and Morfydd Clark as Galadriel. Robert Aramayo plays Elrond, Ismael Cruz Córdova is Arondir, Nazanin Boniadi is Bronwyn, Maxim Baldry is Isildur, Charles Edwards is Wolf Marloh, Sir Lenny Henry is Sadoc Burrows, and Charlie Vickers stars as Halbrand.
Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Trystan Gravelle, Ema Horvath, Markella Kavenagh, Tyroe Muhafidin, Lloyd Owen, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Leon Wadham, Benjamin Walker, Daniel Weyman, and Sara Zwangobani also star.
Showrunners Payne and McKay executive produce along with Lindsey Weber, Callum Greene, J.A. Bayona, Belén Atienza, Justin Doble, Jason Cahill, Gennifer Hutchison, Bruce Richmond, and Sharon Tal Yguado. Bayona, Charlotte Brändström, and co-executive producer Wayne Che Yip direct season one episodes.
Prime Video released the following description of the fantasy series:
“Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power brings to screens for the very first time the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth’s history.
This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books, and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and one of the greatest villains that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness.
Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared reemergence of evil to Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the farthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.”
Pixar’s first fully computer-animated feature film, Toy Story, hit the big screen in 1995 and introduced the world to the now-beloved characters Woody, the toy cowboy doll (voiced by Tom Hanks), and Buzz Lightyear, an arrogant toy space ranger who thinks he’s a real spaceman on a mission only to discover he’s a child’s toy (voiced by Tim Allen). The film was a huge success and became the second top-grossing movie that year. It received three Oscar nominations and is ranked at 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. The ’95 release was followed by three very successful sequels.
Disney/Pixar apparently wants to keep the franchise going but in a very different direction with Lightyear, a prequel that focuses on the backstory of the popular space ranger that inspired the toy featured in the Toy Story franchise. When the film begins, Buzz (now voiced by Chris Evans) is a space ranger on a special mission that ends with him and his large crew, including his dear friend Alisha (voiced by Uzo Aduba), marooned on an uncharted and hostile planet. Determined to get everyone back home safely, Buzz goes on a series of 4-minute space flights trying to achieve the hyperspeed required to get back to Earth.
Finally reaching the hyperspeed needed, Buzz returns to the planet only to discover he and his robot cat companion, SOX (voiced by Peter Sohn), have been gone for 62 years, seven months, and five days. Buzz and SOX also discover an army of robots commanded by a ruthless robot giant named Zurg (voiced by James Brolin) are after them and have imprisoned his crew.
Fortunately, Izzy Hawthorne (voiced by Keke Palmer), who is the granddaughter of his former commander; Mo (voiced by Taika Waititi), a good-hearted klutz; and Darby (voiced by Dale Soules), a scrappy, elderly convict, have escaped Zurg’s clutches and offer to team up with Buzz to stop the robots. The ragtag team must work together and overcome their deepest fears if they hope to defeat Zurg and his robot army.
To say Lightyear is a disappointment is an understatement. The 2022 prequel is a dull, lackluster, and soulless film that lacks original ideas and features characters that aren’t just uninteresting but also downright annoying. It’s a far cry from the four Toy Story films that preceded it.
Chris Evans delivers a bland, boring, and humorless Buzz Lightyear who doesn’t remotely resemble the cocky, arrogant, and self-assured space ranger Tim Allen brought to life so magically in the original film. This version of the space ranger comes across more like Captain America-light than Buzz.
The computer animation is stellar, but the planet Buzz and his crew wind up stranded on is dismal, and the threats, such as the long green vines and giant flying insects, are old ideas right out of some 1950s B-grade science fiction films. There is nothing new or creative to be seen.
The one saving grace in the film is the funny and likable character SOX, Buzz’s robot cat. A mixture of the personalities of C-3PO and R2-D2 from Star Wars and hilariously voiced by Peter Sohn, SOX is the only enjoyable and engaging character on the screen and steals every scene he’s in. Sadly, it’s not enough to make the film worthwhile.
Unimaginative and spiritless, Lightyear is an empty, dull, and forgettable animated film. Buzz deserves better and so does the audience.
GRADE: C-
MPAA Rating: PG for action and peril
Running Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Release Date: June 17, 2022
Directed By: Angus MacLane
Studio: Disney/Pixar
‘Alone’ season 9 competitor Benji (Photo by: Brendan George Ko / The History Channel)
Season nine episode four of The History Channel’s Alone catches up with five of the remaining nine survivalists: Igor, Benji, Teimojin, Tom, and Terry. It also includes the second tap out of the season as Igor’s health and lack of nutrition cause him to give up 20 days in. He wasn’t able to finish his log cabin due to his lack of strength combined with backpain and heart issues that kept him from working quickly.
Assorted survival tidbits dished out in “The Beaver” episode airing June 16, 2022 include that beavers can weigh up to 60 pounds and provide 960 calories per pound. Bears can smell animal guts 20 miles away, and leaving the hide on a carcass is a natural form of insulation against contamination. And Whiskey Jacks are birds nicknamed “camp robbers” because they like to steal supplies.
We also learned survivalists are provided a toothbrush but not toothpaste.
Eight contestants remain at the end of episode four.
Benji, Age 46, Bellevue, ID
Day 17: Benji’s up early to track down the beaver he shot the previous evening. Fortunately, he finds the poor creature’s dead body so it didn’t die in vain. He carries the heavy animal back to an area not too close to camp, aware the smell might attract bears.
Benji worries the meat might go bad if the temperature doesn’t cool off more. He gets busy preparing the beaver to be cooked and has decided to set up a steamer. Benji’s going to leave the skin on to protect the meat.
Benji builds an impressive smoker and prepares different parts of the beaver for cooking. He hangs meat on his smoke rack; the meat’s smelling good so far as it’s still relatively fresh. The fat from the beaver feels great on his hands and works as a natural moisturizer.
Later that evening he crisps-up the scrap meat and declares it tastes like roast beef. He thanks the land for this awesome meal.
Benji truly believes he’s capable of going over 100 days and winning.
Day 18: Benji sets up a game camera by the beaver gut pile about half a mile from his camp. He hopes the footage will reveal a bear’s in the area. Benji’s really interested in shooting a bear, certain that would provide enough meat to get him much further down the road into this adventure.
Benji’s proud of how he’s flourishing up to this point. The only thing that would be better than beaver is bagging a bear.
Day 19: A bear visits the guts pile and is captured on the game camera!
‘Alone’ Season 9 competitor Teimojin (Photo by: Brendan George Ko / The History Channel)
Teimojin, Age 31, Montreal, CAN
Day 17: Teimojin continues to work on his shelter and finishes up his bed that’s about a foot off the ground. He hasn’t had any protein in two weeks and has lost 23 pounds. He’s going to get busy setting up snares and doing more foraging.
His camp’s in an area with lots of squirrels (he calls Labrador a “squirrel palace”) and he’s found Balsam Fir green cones that appear to have been chewed by small animals. Teimojin’s determined his best option is to make spring pull snares that should work well in capturing squirrels.
If he can get some meat, it’ll go a long way toward confirming he can survive a good period of time in this wilderness.
Day 18: His meal of bunchberries isn’t very satisfying so thankfully the squirrels have become more active. He gathers firewood while hoping to spot a squirrel and admits to feeling like he’s hitting a wall. Everything takes a little more energy than normal and he’s aware getting pulled for medical reasons is a possibility.
He pauses his gathering when he hears a grouse fluttering in the trees. His first shot is a kill, but the bird gets stuck in a tree while dying. He’s able to knock it down and celebrates his first kill.
Teimojin prepares the bird for cooking and roasts the meat. A short while later he has his first meal with protein. He has renewed hope now that he knows what a grouse sounds like.
He spent time in East Africa with different Indigenous communities and found them to be incredibly happy and resilient, despite living in rough climates. They taught him important life lessons including to be resilient in the face of hardship.
‘Alone’ Season 9 competitor Terry (Photo by: Brendan George Ko / The History Channel)
Terry, Age 31, Homer, AK
Day 18: Terry has a confession to make – he hasn’t pooped in 12 days. He thinks his body’s been burning everything he takes in and there isn’t any leftover waste to get rid of. Terry’s worried constipation may wind up taking him out. He needs to find big game or he won’t last.
It’s still dark when he sneaks down to the river to search for a beaver. He spots one but decides not to take a shot because he can’t be certain it would be an instantly lethal shot. Terry doesn’t want the beaver to wind up somewhere he can’t reach; he’s concerned about being respectful to the beaver and not killing it without being able to retrieve it.
Terry says the mark of a true hunter is restraint. “You just gotta do things in the right way. If it doesn’t feel right, it’s not,” says Terry.
Day 19: 13 days and Terry’s still backed up. He uses sap resin to help with his fire and knows if he gets a beaver, he could be there for the long haul. Not being able to poop is taking a toll on his body and he becomes dizzy.
Hours later he’s experiencing muscle spasms and leg cramps. Plus, his stomach hurts.
We hear him groan but, fortunately, are spared the actual proof that he’s finally been able to poop. He feels renewed and his body’s back to feeling surprisingly good.
Day 21: Terry wakes before the sunrise to try and get a beaver. He’s patient and watches one for a while before deciding it’s worth taking a shot. His first arrow is all it takes to kill the beaver and then it’s just a matter of waiting to see where the beaver’s body comes close to shore.
Unfortunately, the beaver’s not getting any closer and Terry’s forced to strip down and retrieve the body from the water, even though it’s icy. He realizes there’s a risk of hypothermia but he doesn’t have any choice.
It’s 39 degrees when Terry exits the water with the beaver. It’s a massive animal and well worth the dive into freezing water. It took him eight days of going down to the river in the early morning hours and today his patience finally paid off.
Terry guesses the beaver weighs 30-ish pounds and is one of his favorite wild game meats.
‘Alone’ season 9 competitor Igor (Photo by: Brendan George Ko / The History Channel)
Igor, Age 39, Bountiful, UT
Day 18: Igor’s back is sore and his energy level is low. His log cabin is much more difficult than he anticipated, especially given that he’s not taking in many calories. He’s lost 25 pounds over these 18 days.
Igor heads to the river to try his hand at fly fishing. He’s not great at it and recognizes it’s a deficit in his skill set. He spots seals in the river and that means there are fish. They also mean Igor’s got competition for food. (Regulations prohibit anyone from hunting a harbor seal.)
Igor returns to camp with a single small mussel. Even though it’s tiny he’s excited about being able to cook something. He boils it with seaweed as he reveals he believes diversity representation in the survival environment is important. His first experience seeing a positive portrayal of someone who looks like him on TV was when he was 10 or 12. He watched Omar Sharif in Lawrence of Arabia and that made him believe he could be a hero. His mustache is an homage to Sharif.
He eats his mussel which contains about 14 calories and deems it “amazing.”
Day 19: Igor makes toothpaste out of charcoal from his fire. After that, he slowly begins working on his log cabin again. He still needs lots of logs and is moving at a snail’s pace. He regrets not just doing a simple double A-frame and jokes that what he really needs is a “phone a friend” option.
Igor doesn’t consider himself in competition with the other Alone contestants. It’s more like he’s competing against himself. Igor realizes that thinking about going home hurts his morale so instead he concentrates on building his shelter.
Igor’s back is getting worse each day and he’s worried about his heart. It’s been beating irregularly, and he assumes it’s struggling to keep him going without much food. If he could only catch a fish or a hare, it would really help. He’s existing on a seaweed diet.
Day 20: He didn’t sleep well and admits he’s at the limit of what his body can take. Stretching doesn’t really help his back, his heart continues to bother him, and he’s forced to tap out before he does real harm to his body.
He’s disappointed he didn’t last three weeks but can’t risk a permanent injury to his back or damage to his heart.
‘Alone’ Season 9 competitor Tom (Photo by: Brendan George Ko / The History Channel)
Tom, Age 35, Earlysville, VA
Day 18: Tom’s completed just one wall of his permanent structure after all this time. He heads off to fish but a Whiskey Jack gets his attention first and he shoots it dead. It’s a pretty bird and Tom didn’t want to shoot him, but he needs food.
Tom’s going to use feathers from the bird as flies as a way of honoring the bird’s sacrifice. He’s not anticipating the bird will taste delicious since it’s in the crow family. Tom hopes he can combine it with fish in a stew to help it taste better.
He pulls in a decent-size brook trout from his honey hole, thankful the area’s still paying off.
Tom cooks his fish and prepares it on a plate made of small branches, a meal he believes rivals first-class restaurants in New York.
Joe Manganiello as Tomm in ‘Moonhaven’ season 1 episode 6 (Photo Credit: Szymon Lazewski / AMC)
AMC+’s summer 2022 lineup will include the final episodes of the award-winning Breaking Bad prequel, Better Call Saul, starring Bob Odenkirk. The streaming service is also set to introduce the new original series Moonhaven, a sci-fi thriller starring Joe Manganiello (True Blood, Magic Mike) and Dominic Monaghan (the Lord of the Rings film franchise).
The first season of Dark Winds, based on the critically acclaimed Leaphorn & Chee book series by Tony Hillerman, will wrap up on July 10, 2022. And the new comedy-drama This is Going to Hurt with Ben Whishaw, which premiered on June 2, 2022, is set to end on July 14th.
AMC+’s summer “Friday Night Films” lineup includes the home invasion thriller Barbarians (July 1), Hollywood whodunnit Last Looks (July 8), the romantic dramedy Paris, 13th District (July 15), timely award-winning drama Happening (July 22), and Shudder Original The Reef: Stalked (July 29).
Moonhaven (AMC+ Original) – Two-Episode Premiere Thursday, July 7; New Episodes Premiere Weekly
This sci-fi thriller set 100 years into the future follows Bella Sway (Emma McDonald), a lunar cargo pilot and smuggler who finds herself accused of a crime and marooned on Moonhaven, a utopian community on a 500 square mile Garden of Eden built on the moon to find solutions to the problems that will soon end civilization on Mother Earth. A skeptic in paradise, Bella is sucked into a conspiracy to gain control of the artificial intelligence responsible for Moonhaven’s miracles and teams with a local detective, Paul Serno (Dominic Monaghan), to stop the forces that want to destroy Earth’s last hope before they are destroyed themselves.
Tomm Schultz (Joe Manganiello), an ex-military with a philosophical bent, is the right hand of the lead Earth diplomat to the moon, who finds his ambitions changed when he’s injected with a mind-altering moon drug.
Zahn McClarnon as Joe Leaphorn in ‘Dark Winds’ (Photo Credit: Michael Moriatis / Stalwart Productions / AMC)
Dark Winds – New Episodes Released One Week Ahead of AMC; Season Finale July 10
Set in 1971 on a remote outpost of the Navajo Nation near Monument Valley, Dark Winds follows Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon, Fargo) of the Tribal Police as he is besieged by a series of seemingly unrelated crimes. The closer he digs to the truth, the more he exposes the wounds of his past. He is joined on this journey by his new deputy, Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon, Roswell, New Mexico). Chee, too, has old scores to settle from his youth on the reservation. Together, the two men battle the forces of evil, each other, and their own personal demons on the path to salvation.
Bob Odenkirk as Jimmy McGill in ‘Better Call Saul’ season 6 (Photo Credit: Greg Lewis/AMC/Sony Pictures Television)
Better Call Saul – Part 2 of Season 6 Premieres Monday, July 11
Better Call Saul’s final season concludes the complicated journey and transformation of its compromised hero, Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk), into criminal lawyer Saul Goodman.
Ben Whishaw stars in ‘This is Going to Hurt’ (Photo Credit: Anika Molnar / Sister Pictures / BBC Studios / AMC)
This is Going to Hurt (AMC+ Original) – New Episodes Premiere Thursdays; Season Finale July 14
A provocative and heartfelt new comedy-drama starring Ben Whishaw (A Very English Scandal, No Time to Die), based on Adam Kay’s award-winning international memoir of the same name. This Is Going To Hurt pulls no punches in its depiction of the laugh-out-loud highs and gut-wrenching lows of life on a gynecology and obstetrics ward. The series follows Adam (Whishaw), a doctor who is finding his way through the ranks of hospital hierarchy; junior enough to suffer the crippling hours, but senior enough to face a constant barrage of terrifying responsibilities. Adam is clinging to his personal life as he is increasingly overwhelmed by stresses at work: the 97-hour weeks, the life-and-death decisions, and all-the-while knowing the hospital parking meter is earning more than him.
Hilary Swank stars in ‘Alaska Daily’ (ABC/Darko Sikman)
ABC’s fall 2022-2023 primetime lineup will include two new dramas – Alaska Daily (previously titled Alaska) and The Rookie: Feds – along with new nights for returning series Big Sky and Abbott Elementary. In addition, the just-announced lineup includes premiere dates for returning shows including The Good Doctor, Shark Tank, and Station 19.
Highlights of the schedule include the news ABC’s popular Shark Tank will air its first live episode with the six original Sharks on September 23, 2022. The Good Doctor‘s upcoming season will include the show’s milestone 100th episode, and the third season of Big Sky will feature Reba McEntire and Jensen Ackles. Per ABC, McEntire and Ackles “step into the world of Big Sky on its new night, bringing with them a new mystery to unravel as the mercurial matriarch of an established local family and the new sheriff in town, respectively.”
ABC’S FALL PRIMETIME SCHEDULE:
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21
8:00 p.m. “The Conners”
8:30 p.m. “The Goldbergs”
9:00 p.m. “Abbott Elementary” (new night)
9:31 p.m. “Home Economics”
10:00 p.m. “Big Sky” (new night)
ALASKA DAILY (Thursday, Oct. 6, at 10:01 p.m. EDT)
From the mind of Tom McCarthy (Spotlight), Alaska Daily stars Hilary Swank as Eileen Fitzgerald, a recently disgraced reporter who leaves her high-profile New York life behind to join a daily metro newspaper in Anchorage on a journey to find both personal and professional redemption.
Alongside Swank, Alaska Daily stars Jeff Perry as Stanley Cornik, Matt Malloy as Bob Young, Meredith Holzman as Claire Muncy, Grace Dove as Rosalind “Roz” Friendly, Pablo Castelblanco as Gabriel Martin, Ami Park as Jieun Park and Craig Frank as Austin Greene.
CELEBRITY JEOPARDY! (Sunday, Sept. 25, at 8:00 p.m. EDT) Celebrity Jeopardy!, produced by Sony Pictures Television, is an all-new game show premiering this fall. This new series welcomes celebrity contestants to compete for a chance to win money for a charity of their choice.
THE ROOKIE: FEDS (Tuesday, Sept. 27, at 10:00 p.m. EDT)
From the executive producers of flagship series The Rookie comes The Rookie: Feds, starring Niecy Nash-Betts as Simone Clark, the oldest rookie in the FBI Academy. The spinoff was introduced as a two-part event during the fourth season of “The Rookie,” where Officer John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and the LA division of the FBI enlist the help of Simone Clark when one of her former students is a suspect in a terror attack.
The Rookie: Feds stars Niecy Nash-Betts as Simone Clark, Frankie Faison as Christopher “Cutty” Clark and Felix Solis as Special Agent Matthew Garza.
