Tim Rozon in season 1 episode 1 of ‘SurrealEstate’ (Photo by: Duncan De Young/Blue Ice Pictures/SYFY)
Syfy’s 2022-2023 lineup will include two new series along with new seasons of Chucky, Resident Alien, and SurrealEstate. The inclusion of a new season of SurrealEstate in the network’s planned lineup was a real shocker since it was previously announced the show would be canceled after one season. Season one showrunner George R. Olson even tweeted about the cancellation back in October 2021.
“Hey folks. Sorry to tell you that we will not be moving forward with Syfy on Season Two of #SurrealEstate. But we have no intention of leaving Luke alone in a bowling alley when his mom is out there somewhere and mortgage rates are so reasonable.”
Apparently Syfy reconsidered and now fans of the haunted real estate drama starring Tim Rozon (Wynonna Earp) will in fact get to check out new episodes in 2023.
Jacob Batalon (“Ned” in the Spider-Man franchise) is set to star in one of the network’s new series, Reginald the Vampire. The series is based on the “Fat Vampire” books by Johnny B. Truant and Batalon will play the titular character, Reginald Andres. The other newcomer is The Ark, a survival drama from writer Dean Devlin (Independence Day: Resurgence).
Syfy’s targeting a fall premiere of Bring It On: Cheer or Die. The film marks the first horror entry in the Bring It On franchise which launched way back in 2000 and starred Kirsten Dunst and Eliza Dushku. Cheer or Die stars Missi Pyle, Kerri Medders, and Tiera Skovbye, and is directed by Karen Lam.
REGINALD THE VAMPIRE
Imagine a world populated by beautiful, fit, and vain vampires. Reginald Andres (Batalon) tumbles headlong into it as an unlikely hero who will have to navigate every kind of obstacle – the girl he loves but can’t be with, a bully manager at work and the vampire chieftain who wants him dead. Fortunately, Reginald discovers he has a few unrecognized powers of his own. A new show with a lot of heart and just enough blood, Reginald the Vampire proves the undead life is just as complicated as life itself.
The series also stars Mandela Van Peebles and Em Haine.
THE ARK The Ark takes place 100 years in the future when planetary colonization missions have begun as a necessity to help secure the survival of the human race. The first of these missions on a spacecraft known as Ark One encounters a catastrophic event causing massive destruction and loss of life. With more than a year left to go before reaching their target planet, a lack of life-sustaining supplies and loss of leadership, the remaining crew must become the best versions of themselves to stay on course and survive.
The series stars Christie Burke, Richard Fleeshman, Reece Ritchie, Stacey Read and Ryan Adams.
BRING IT ON: CHEER OR DIE
A cheer squad’s plan to have a secret practice at a nearby abandoned school on Halloween takes a terrifying turn when their teammates begin disappearing one by one.
“I always say I’m a TV whore. I don’t know if that tracks correctly, but I’m built for television. I love the long hours, I love the intense work, I love being able to tell a story over a long period. I think you get to know the characters more fully than when you get to do film,” said Hurd, who’s married to actor Garret Dillahunt (Deadwood). They split their time between their homes in New York and Los Angeles.
The veteran actress – who’s appeared on Blindspot, Ash vs. Evil Dead, The Glades, Gossip Girl, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Lethal Weapon, Malcolm & Eddie, 90210, Hawaii Five-0, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit – currently plays Cmdr. Raffi Musiker on Star Trek: Picard, which recently completed its second season on Paramount+. The 11th TV series in the 56-year-old Trek franchise that was created by the late Gene Roddenberry, Picard has raised Hurd’s profile.
“It’s interesting because of how I look… It’s always been challenging for me to hide because I have this curly hair and this low voice. People will always recognize me when I’m out and about,” she said. “The writers have given me an opportunity as an actor to exercise my abilities unlike any show I’ve ever done. It doesn’t matter whether I’ve been on a procedural that has many accolades, this show has given me the ability to allow myself to grow as an actress, to challenge myself as an actress, and to share that with the world. I will forever be in their debt for that. People see me as more than just a bunch of curls on my head.”
A native New Yorker, Hurd is the youngest of three daughters to the late actor Hugh Hurd (1959’s Shadows) and psychologist Dr. Merlyn Hurd. She is a graduate of Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn and Boston University. She also studied at London’s National Theater. Performing is in the blood for Hurd and her sisters.
“(My parents) met on-stage in a theater company,” recalled Hurd. “When the three of us were born, my mom decided to get a real job because (the family needed a steady income). She got her doctorate while I was in college. My second sister (Adrienne) is a dance teacher in Albany. My eldest sister (Denise) teaches acting, choreography, and stage combat.”
Ripped from the Headlines
Hurd made her Broadway debut in 1996 with the play Getting Away with Murder. Other stage credits include Hamlet, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Othello. One of her earliest appearances on TV was playing ADA Reynolds on New York Undercover, which was created by Dick Wolf, creator/godfather of the Law & Order and Chicago franchises. Hurd also appeared on Wolf’s L&O and short-lived Players. From there, she went to SVU, where she portrayed Det. Monique Jeffries for the first two seasons. She left SVU because she felt Jeffries wasn’t getting enough character development.
“I enjoy Dick (Wolf). He’s a consummate professional. He knows exactly how to produce good content,” she said. “As a native New Yorker, I really appreciated him, especially back in the day when there had been strikes in New York and work had left New York. Dick was there. He kept his work there. He kept us all employed. For every New York actor, it’s almost like a rite of passage to do some kind of guest spot on (L&O). I had a great time with him. I enjoyed all the shows I’ve done with him and hope to work with him again in the future.”
Hurd laughed when asked what she thinks happened to Jeffries.
“I would like to put this out to the writers since we now have (Associate Justice of the Supreme Court) Ketanji Brown Jackson: Maybe Monique has a position as a Supreme Court justice. Wouldn’t that be cool?” she said.
Hurd isn’t surprised SVU is still on the air, 23 seasons strong.
“The thing about (L&O) is – this is my take – it’s user-friendly. When you tune in, you know you’ll see a crime, have a couple of suspects, maybe some red herrings, an investigation, a courtroom scene, and a conclusion. That’s very satisfying,” she explained. “Not only is it user-friendly, but there’s a placard in every scene to let you know exactly where you are and what you’ll see. You can literally sit down with the family… and know exactly what you’re gonna get. That’s tried and true. That is a tried-and-true formula. I’m not surprised at all that it’s lasted that long.”
She continued: “The sad part about it is it’s, as the mantra goes, ‘ripped from the headlines.’ Unfortunately, we will always have stories that will be in the headlines that you can make some incredible dramas about; that’s just human nature. Until there’s no stories being ripped from the headlines, I think there’ll always be a (L&O). That’s okay because (L&O) will tell those stories, then on Star Trek we’ll tell the stories about how we can fix that and come together.”
Space – The Final Frontier
Growing up, Michelle Hurd watched 1966-69’s Star Trek: The Original Series with her family. Nichelle Nichols’ Nyota Uhura is not only the first major female character (as well as the first Black female character) in Trek canon, but she’s also important to the African-American community as a whole. Nichols planned to quit TOS, but the late civil rights activist/leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. convinced her to remain because she played a character of color who is an equal instead of someone subservient. Former President Barack Obama is also an Uhura fan.
“I’m biracial – my father’s Black, my mother’s White. Back in the day when my eldest sister was born, there were still states that wouldn’t acknowledge my parents’ marriage,” explained Hurd. “As a family, my father knew it was really important to see his children represented in entertainment, and Star Trek was probably one of the only shows we as a family would sit down and watch together.”
She continued: “I actually had a real flashback moment once I got this job… It brought me back to how smart (my father) was and how much he really got it – what (Roddenberry) was trying to put out there. It’s important to tell the stories of people who don’t necessarily have the voice and the platform. It’s important for us to be inclusive when we’re entertaining and trying to impact and change the world. It was a beautiful full circle for me when I got (the part). The first thing I thought was my dad’s probably so happy and so proud of me right now.”
In Picard, Sir Patrick Stewart reprises his role as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard from 1987-94’s Star Trek: The Next Generation and its subsequent four movies. His last appearance as Picard was 2002’s Star Trek: Nemesis before reprising it in the first season of Picard, which aired in 2020.
No longer in command of the U.S.S. Enterprise, Picard, who rose to the rank of admiral, has long left Starfleet and living in retirement on his family’s vineyard in France. He is deeply haunted by the death of Data (Brent Spiner) in Nemesis and the destruction of Romulus in 2009’s Star Trek reboot.
However, he returns to the fold when he encounters Data’s apparent “daughter,” an android named Soji (Isa Briones), who’s on the run from the Romulans. Rather than reassembling the old Enterprise team (although Jonathan Frakes’ Will Riker and Marina Sirtis’ Deanna Troi appeared in Season 1), Picard handpicks a ragtag crew, including Raffi, mercenary Cristóbol Rios (Santiago Cabrera) and – most notably – Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) from Star Trek: Voyager.
When Picard and Raffi meet again, she is very mad at Picard (whom she calls “J.L.”). It’s revealed Picard and Raffi proposed a plan to evacuate and relocate the Romulans after the destruction of their planet. However, Starfleet rejected it and Picard resigned in protest. As a result, a distraught Raffi, who lost prominence in Starfleet, alienated her family, including her son Gabriel Hwang (Mason Gooding), and turned to alcohol and drugs for comfort.
“After (what) happened with the Romulans, she tumbled back into her addiction and held (Picard) responsible, which is not fair, but that’s what people do when they have addictions: You end up putting blame in other places,” said Hurd. “At the end of the first season, there is so much love and so respect, and she knows that Picard is part of the reason she has a life and a pathway forward. Picard and Raffi have a long history and a very strong bond that’s like… I don’t know if I’d say father-daughter or mentor-student – kindred spirits? But they’re connected. They’re absolutely connected.”
By the end of the first season, Raffi and Seven are romantically involved. Their road is rocky, but Hurd promises fans a satisfying resolution to their relationship by the end of the second season without giving too much away.
“Who would not fall in love with Seven? Just sayin,’ okay? Just sayin’. I quite enjoy how those two came to be these two strong, independent, passionate, crazy, driven but vulnerable and loving and gentle beings in the most powerful sense,” she said. “They were drawn to each other. Raffi sees Seven so clearly and honors her so much and just wants to be part of her life. She wants to be part even if… there’s not gonna be white picket fences and rainbows and unicorns jumping all over the place, but there’s a deep love and mutual respect and desire for each to be safe and loved.”
Hurd continued: “They want the best for each other. I think it’s a complicated relationship, but I think it’s also a (good portrayal of) a relationship between two women who have lived life. Honestly, I feel like it’s more relatable than a lot of relationships portrayed on television because it’s got all the cracks and flaws and you get to see them interacting in real-time with bickering and respect and a whole bunch of love.”
Back to the Future
In the second season, Picard has returned to Starfleet in the role of chancellor of Starfleet Academy. Picard encounters the Borg and dies, along with his allies. However, Picard’s old enemy, the godlike being Q (John DeLancie) returns, saves him, shunting them all into an alternate reality. In this brave, new world, there is no Starfleet, but the Confederation of Earth, a xenophobic, totalitarian empire that has either systematically enslaved or eradicated alien species. Picard is the greatest military leader of the Confederation. To save the future and restore the timeline, Picard and his allies must journey into the past to 2024 to erase the pivotal event that leads to this dark future.
One highlight for Hurd from the second season is working with Back to the Future star Lea Thompson, who has branched into directing in the last several years. Thompson directed two back-to-back episodes and even made a cameo in another episode.
“Lea was great. She directed a couple of heavy ones for me – I had the car chase (scene), as well as Elnor’s (Evan Evagoria) passing, so those were heavy ones for me. First, I had to get over the whole thing of ‘Oh my god, it’s Lea Thompson from (BTTF)!’ because you can’t help it. She’s really sweet, funny, self-deprecating.”
According to Hurd, Thompson’s an actor’s director.
“She knows how to talk to an actor, she knows how to communicate what she needs for the camera from the actor, she knows how to keep a set focused. The whole car stuff took three days for us to shoot. She was on top of these rigs that were on top of the car, in front of the car, on these trucks. She was like a boss! She was just phenomenal! In those emotional moments with Elnor, she was great and emotional. She would come back from video village crying. She was able to guide me through what we needed to do in those scenes. It was just a gift. She’s a real amazing director and a real cool lady.”
It was recently announced that Stewart will reunite with the cast of TNG – Frakes, Sirtis, Spiner, Gates McFadden (Dr. Beverly Crusher), Michael Dorn (Worf), and Levar Burton (Geordi LaForge) – in the third and final season of Picard, which will debut in 2023. Ryan will return for the third season, too. Some actors won’t be returning, though, including Cabrera, Evagora, Briones, Alison Pill (Dr. Agnes Jurati), and Annie Wersching (the Borg Queen).
But what about Hurd?
“I believe I can say that I am in Season 3,” she said. “Yes, yes, I am.”
When Hurd auditioned for Raffi, she didn’t know she was auditioning for Picard. In fact, she was under the impression it was called “Royal Flush” and her character’s name was Alanna, not Raffi. Further, she had to have foot surgery the next day.
“When I read the breakdown – I was in New York at the time – a next-day self-tape audition came into my email at 9:30 p.m.,” she said. “I thought, ‘Let me be a good actor and read what this is about.’ I read the breakdown of this character and just knew I had to give it a go because it was such a good, full, complete, complicated description of a perfectly imperfect human being, which I think we all are. I related to her immediately. I’m so very thankful because bringing her to life these last three seasons has been the best gift of my entire life.”
After reading the 11-page scene, Hurd realized it was Trek when she saw the names of the executive producers, including Stewart, Alex Kurtzman, and Akiva Goldsmith. Kurtzman is the one who oversees the franchise today.
“Then all of the sudden, you’re like, ‘Wait a second. Something’s up here.’ You start to think, ‘This has something to do with Star Trek.’ I didn’t know what that meant, I didn’t know it was (Picard), I didn’t know that Patrick was coming back. They didn’t tell me until after I was being considered for the part, then I realized it was Star Trek,” said Hurd.
The first scene where Picard meets Raffi at her trailer was also Hurd’s first day on the Picard set and her first day working with Stewart.
“I was so nervous. As you can imagine, I’m a big fan just like everybody else. I wanted to be calm and cool and seem like I was okay, but my knees were shaking that you could hear them. He just put me at ease immediately. He’s a beautiful soul. He’s been nothing but generous with me. He respects the show and the fans so much. The most important thing to him when we’re working is telling the story as truthfully and as authentically as we can in the most respectful way to Star Trek,” said Hurd. “I’ve learned so much by following his lead and being conscious of something that doesn’t ring true and (speaking) on it. Maybe there’s something that needs to be adjusted and if we do it, it’ll only make the story better.”
She continued: “I just love him. I really do… I’m giddy to say he’s on my phone. I can speed-dial him at any time. He makes me smile and the stories I could share with you about him between takes would bring you to your knees because you just don’t expect Sir Patrick Stewart to say these things. He’s wickedly funny and just a glorious person. I’m so honored that I get to call him friend. Not only do I get to work with him and share the screen with him, he’s now my friend. It’s a gift.”
Hurd also praised Ryan.
“I would work with her any day of the week. She and I are like two peas in pod. We clicked immediately. We work very similarly. She makes me laugh. Her little laugh is so infectious. She’s a perfectionist but not one in the way it’s crazy – she’s really good at what she does, she knows what works and what doesn’t work,” said Hurd. “I feel like I’ve learned from her as much as I’ve learned from Patrick. Bottom line: We really love working together. We have such a good time. There’s never any drama. We got stuff done. We make each other smile at the same time. I respect the heck out of her. She’s an amazing creature.”
She added with a laugh: “If anyone ever wants to do a ‘Star Trek: Raffi and Seven’ show, I’m in.”
“Unbelievably Liberating”
For Hurd, it’s not only surreal to go from being a Trek fan to being a member of the Trek franchise, but also an honor. And – at the risk of being redundant – a gift.
“I know I keep saying it: It’s been such a gift. I’ve been an actor for three decades now. Even starting in the Dick Wolf world, I did three different shows with Dick before I was on SVU. That was a pretty huge thing and I’ll always be known for the Dick Wolf world and whatever,” she said. “Stepping into – first off – the world of sci-fi has been unbelievably liberating. It’s an amazing world – it can reach more people I think than you realize. You can tell truthful stories… in a much more inclusive way than ever in any kind of procedural I’ve ever been on.”
Hurd is taken aback by Trek’s large, loyal, and vocal fanbase.
“The biggest difference I’ve found being on Star Trek and in this iconic world is our fans aren’t fans – our fans are family. It’s part of a collective,” she said. “My cheeks hurt because I’m smiling because I’m sitting there and receiving so much love and support. People tell me stories – especially because of Raffi and her addiction – about their journeys and their struggles. I value so much of what I’ve been a part of now. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, and I am a lucky, lucky lady that I get to work with this amazing cast.”
She continued: “This has been a gift that will continue to give for the rest of my life. I am incredibly humbled by it. I understand the importance of it… I think it’s because of what Roddenberry really wanted to do, holding a mirror up to society. The stories we tell in Star Trek are about hope, possibility, inclusion, diversity, giving a voice to voiceless people, being a platform where there’ve been platforms missing. It’s about coming together in this crazy little world that we might make a better place, a better planet for all of us by telling these kinds of stories. To be a part of that is a gift.”
HBO surprised Westworld fans with the release of an official trailer for the award-winning series’ fourth season. The two-minute trailer has a little bit of everything, from gunfire to flies to a burning tree and even a solitary horse on a hillside. The story that connects all these disparate snippets won’t be revealed until the much-anticipated season four debuts on June 26, 2022.
Season four will consist of eight episodes. New episodes will air on Sundays at 9pm ET/PT.
Westworld‘s first 10-episode season premiered in October 2016 followed by season two in April 2018. Season three debuted in March 2020 and wrapped up its eight-episode run in May 2020.
The sci-fi series has won seven Emmys and earned five Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations.
Confirmed returning cast members include Evan Rachel Wood as Christina, Emmy winner Thandiwe Newton as Maeve Millay, Ed Harris as Man in Black, Jeffrey Wright as Bernard Lowe, Tessa Thompson as Charlotte Hale, Luke Hemsworth as Ashley Stubbs, Aaron Paul as Caleb Nichols, and Angela Sarafyan as Clementine. Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose (West Side Story) is a recurring guest star on the new season.
Westworld is based on the 1973 film written by Michael Crichton and was created for TV by Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan. Joy, Nolan, Alison Schapker, Denise Thé, J.J. Abrams, Athena Wickham, Richard J. Lewis, and Ben Stephenson executive produce.
HBO’s official synopsis reads: “A dark odyssey about the fate of sentient life on earth.”
Theo James and Rose Leslie in ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ (Photograph by Macall B. Polay/HBO)
Theo James and Rose Leslie star in HBO’s The Time Traveler’s Wife, a new series based on Audrey Niffenegger’s bestselling novel and set to premiere on May 15, 2022. Theo James (Divergent) stars as Henry DeTamble, the time traveler referenced in the title. Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones) plays Clare Abshire, the titular character and love of Henry’s life.
Two-time Emmy Award winner Steven Moffat (Sherlock) adapted Niffenegger’s novel for the series and during the Television Critics Association’s winter press panel, he explained his fascination with time travel and romance.
“I think, actually, I loved the idea of time travel affecting romance when I read this book. When I read this book – and I was working on Doctor Who back then – I said we had to do a Doctor Who story like that, which we did. Which was called ‘The Girl in the Fireplace,’ which Audrey Niffenegger saw on television and wrote into her next book, so I knew she was onto me.
But I think what is brilliant and thrilling about the interaction of time travel and a love story here is it makes the most common phenomenon of a completely happy marriage interesting again. I mean, love stories tend to end at the altar…or love movies do. A romance movie ends at the altar or they start with the divorce. We never do the bit where people are perfectly happy with each other for decades because it seems like an undramatic thing, in a way. By scrambling it all up and by constantly reminding you that love is inextricably linked to loss – which is a cheery thought for you all – you make this very common phenomenon of the happy marriage interesting, thrilling, and full of tension and tragedy, as well as joy and happiness. So, that is why.
And I do love the time travel story, in general, as my career would suggest,” explained executive producer Moffat.
Theo James had the difficult task of playing Henry at different ages and in different time periods. James admits it was a huge challenge to try and keep track of where Henry was at certain points in his life during specific scenes.
“That was a massive challenge because we cross-shot the series, as you often do as you know these days. And on top of that, everything is out of order,” explained James. “What Steven did was deliciously use the narrative and the concept and the construct of time travel to make it jump around in a way that made it percussive and pacey and really interesting. But as a result…you know, people tried to help all of us out as much as possible, but there were days when we could be shooting one year in the beginning of the day and an entirely different year at a different age at the end of the day. So, it was a head f**k – to put it lightly.
But you know, in a way, it was good because you made sure you kept on top of exactly where you’re going and where you’re coming from. And that’s kind of the beginning and end of acting, in a way.”
In addition to tackling different ages and time periods, there were also scenes in which James was playing against himself.
“Henry plays against different ages of himself so sometimes I was playing against nothing. Sometimes I was playing against a great scene partner that then would be taken out in post,” said James. “So, it was complicated, definitely.”
Fortunately, Henry sports different hairstyles throughout his adult life which helped Theo James. Still, switching between the ages took some getting used to.
“David (Nutter, executive producer and director) tried to shoot the younger guy out first. And then the next day we’d go back to the older version. Because it’s quite hard to switch between those on a dime, you know? You’ve got to kind of live in that person from the moment you wake up in a way. It sounds pretentious to say, but the way he walks and talks and stuff are just a little bit different with age, even if it’s the same person,” explained James.
Brit Theo James claims his Scottish co-star Rose Leslie was much better at hopping in and out of an American accent while shooting The Time Traveler’s Wife.
“I’ve done an American accent a fair bit but I haven’t done it opposite another English person before, and so it was different because you can drag yourself out of it and start making similar mistakes,” said James. “I stay in it because I have to. I find I’m a natural mumbler and I need to exercise my mouth. And I need to be in the character a little bit from the beginning of the day. But Rose is much better, and she can just slip in and out of it like that. So, it was a little challenging but not too bad.”
NBC’s This Is Us season six episode 16 picks up after the heartbreaking death of Miguel with the Big Three at odds over how to take care of their mom. Episode 16 – “Family Meeting” – will air on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT.
The sixth and final season stars Milo Ventimiglia as Jack Pearson, Mandy Moore as Rebecca Pearson, Sterling K. Brown as Randall, Chrissy Metz as Kate, Justin Hartley as Kevin, Susan Kelechi Watson as Beth Pearson, and Chris Sullivan as Toby.
The Plot, Courtesy of NBC:
Everyone has a family. And every family has a story. This Is Us chronicles the Pearson family across the decades: from Jack (Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Moore) as young parents in the 1980s to their kids (the big three), Kevin (Hartley), Kate (Metz) and Randall (Brown) searching for love and fulfillment in the present day along with Toby (Sullivan) and Beth (Kelechi Watson).
This grounded, life-affirming dramedy reveals how the tiniest events in our lives impact who we become, and how the connections we share with each other can transcend time, distance, and even death.
Chrissy Metz as Kate, Justin Hartley as Kevin, Mandy Moore as Rebecca, and Sterling K. Brown as Randall in ‘This Is Us’ season 6 episode 16 (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)Susan Kelechi Watson as Beth, Sterling K. Brown as Randall, Chrissy Metz as Kate, and Justin Hartley as Kevin in season 6 episode 16 (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)Griffin Dunne as Nicky and Vanessa Bell Calloway as Edie in season 6 episode 16 (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)Justin Hartley as Kevin, Chrissy Metz as Kate, and Sterling K. Brown as Randall (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)Sterling K. Brown as Randall and Mandy Moore as Rebecca in the “Family Meeting” episode (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)Chrissy Metz as Kate and Mandy Moore as Rebecca in season 6 episode 16 (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)Justin Hartley as Kevin and Sterling K. Brown as Randall in season 6 episode 16 (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)
NBC’s The Blacklist season nine episode 20 finds Red teaming up with the Task Force to expose an enemy. Episode 20 – “Caelum Bank” – will air on Friday, May 13, 2022 at 8pm ET/PT.
James Spader leads the cast as Raymond “Red” Reddington. The season nine cast also includes Diego Klattenhoff as Donald Ressler, Amir Arison as Aram Mojtabai, Hisham Tawfiq as Dembe Zuma, Laura Sohn as Alina Park, and Harry Lennix as Harold Cooper.
“Caelum Bank” Plot: In an effort to reveal his true enemy, Red turns to the Task Force to help ground a flying fortress bank.
Season 9 Description, Courtesy of NBC:
“In the two years following the death of Elizabeth Keen, Raymond Reddington (Spader) and the members of the FBI Task Force have disbanded – their lives now changed in unexpected ways and with Reddington’s whereabouts unknown. Finding themselves each at a crossroads, a common purpose compels them to renew their original mission: to take down dangerous, vicious and eccentric Blacklisters. In the process, they begin to uncover lethal adversaries, unimaginable conspiracies and surprising betrayals that will threaten alliances and spur vengeance for the past, led by the most devious criminal of them all – Raymond Reddington.”
James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington in ‘The Blacklist’ season 9 episode 20 (Photo by: Will Hart /NBC)Karina Arroyave as Mierce Xiu in season 9 episode 20 (Photo by: Will Hart /NBC)Aida Turturro as Heddie Hawkins in season 9 episode 20 (Photo by: Will Hart /NBC)Brian Dykstra as Mickey Croft in season 9 episode 20 (Photo by: Will Hart /NBC)Laura Sohn as Alina Park in season 9 episode 20 (Photo by: Will Hart /NBC)Diany Rodriguez as Weecha Xiu in season 9 episode 20 (Photo by: Will Hart /NBC)
We’ve come to the end of Netflix’s Ozark with season four episode 14, “A Hard Way to Go,” an episode that succeeded in splitting the show’s fan base by basically allowing the bad guys – most notably, Wendy Byrde – to win. (Spoilers ahead!) The episode also saw the untimely death of fan-favorite and arguably the series’ best character – Ruth Langmore, played by Julia Garner. Showrunner Chris Mundy said it would have been too much of a fairytale ending to allow the character to survive. Fans beg to differ.
Settle in for the series finale recap…
Season four episode 14 kicks off with Ruth in the hole that was dug for a pool and smoothing over the dirt. It’s safe to say Nelson is buried and will soon disappear beneath the concrete.
Marty (Jason Bateman) arrives as Ruth’s climbing out of the hole and apparently he’s taken a page out of his wife’s book. Marty orders Ruth to help him get his kids back or he’s going to tell Javi’s mom she’s the one who killed her son. Ruth can’t believe he’d really get her killed and Marty claims he’ll have to if she doesn’t help. She asks why her and Marty explains it’s because his kids listen to her, adding that she’s to blame for Jonah moving out.
Ruth has no idea how she’s supposed to get the kids and Marty suggests either kill Nathan or kidnap the kids; he does not care which. As he’s leaving Ruth asks if this is Wendy talking. Marty points at himself.
Camila (Veronica Falcon) joins Marty for a meeting and asks where Wendy is. He lies and says she’s working on her dinner party. (Wendy (Laura Linney) is actually still at the mental health facility.) Camila checks to see if Marty’s kids are out of the house so they can speak freely. They are, and Marty hands her paperwork with account numbers so she can pay anyone she needs to directly from her end. Marty also reveals the FBI has agreed to move Omar but Omar does not know about it yet. He suggests that if something were to happen to Navarro during the transfer and he had to be killed, there isn’t anything anyone can do about it.
Camila isn’t putting anything into motion until she speaks with the FBI and Marty assures her that meeting is set. Camila needs to hear about the day her son, Javi, died but Marty says there isn’t much to tell. They had a meeting with Clare and Javi in the morning that went well. They did some things in Chicago, had dinner with Clare, and then they came home.
Marty wonders if she’s having second thoughts. Camila claims she’s not.
Ruth heads over to see Wendy, certain it was her idea to issue a threat and not Marty’s. She informs Wendy that if she does her part the rest is on her. It’s only when Wendy asks what she’s talking about that Ruth realizes Marty was really the one who came up with the threat. She fills Wendy in on what Marty told her – stop their kids from going to North Carolina or he’ll tell Javi’s mom she killed him.
Ruth explains she’s learned Wendy’s dad is a piece of crap and says she’s sorry about her dad. Wendy lets down her guard for a second and pretends to be a real person. Wendy says she’s sorry about Ruth’s dad as well. Ruth asks how bad is it in this place Wendy’s staying and Wendy confirms it’s bad. Ruth asks if it’s bearable in there and Wendy replies that everything is bearable. Ruth reluctantly admits Wendy was right. If she would have just left Ben in there, he would still be alive. Wendy doesn’t say anything.
Over at the Lazy-O, Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) asks Charlotte (Sofia Hublitz) if she’s going to their parents’ gala. She reminds him they’re leaving before it begins. Ruth’s watching as they chat.
Ruth makes up her mind, grabs a gun out of her safe, and then grabs a bottle of alcohol. She pays Nathan (Richard Thomas) an unexpected visit and suggests they should have a drink to Ben before he leaves. As they talk and drink, Nathan continues to insult Ruth but in a cheerful way (as if that makes it okay). She tells him he won; he got the kids. She even goes as far as to say every beating she got as a kid from her dad she deserved. Nathan seems pleased by this.
Ruth wonders if he beat Ben and Nathan says that while Ben embarrassed the family it wasn’t his fault. Ben had a “glitch.” He adds that the other one (Wendy) should have been better but was worse. Ruth cuts to the chase and confronts him, suggesting he doesn’t actually care for or want Jonah and Charlotte. Nathan doesn’t like the way Ruth’s speaking to him and asks her to leave. Ruth agrees to leave but first she wants to know why he went to court for kids he didn’t want. Nathan confesses he did so because Wendy was a slut and an embarrassment.
Nathan attempts to excuse Ruth with, “Now you have a blessed f**kin day,” and is shocked when she pulls a gun on him. She instructs him to tell Jonah and Charlotte they aren’t going with him. When Nathan says he won’t do it, she shoots the glass next to him. She informs him they’re about to come running in there and when they do, he’s going to tell them everything he just told her. If he doesn’t, she’ll shoot him in his private parts.
Ruth’s plan must have worked because after they both came running in, the next scene is of them visiting Wendy. She looks excited to see them but then quickly disguises her happiness. Jonah speaks first and says, “This is messed up. You know that, right?” Charlotte explains that just because they’re there doesn’t mean they are staying.
It’s unclear what sort of game Wendy’s playing but she finally takes the blame for Ben’s murder. She doesn’t just take the blame for that despicable betrayal; she takes the blame for all of it. Wendy confesses she wanted to prove she was in control and that’s why she had Ben stay. She also admits she’s been trying to control them as well. She suggests they do what they need to do and promises she won’t trap them.
The kids get in the van and Marty asks how it went. They don’t answer. Wendy also gets in the van and tells Marty he didn’t have to threaten Ruth.
And now we finally revisit the opening scene in the first episode of this season. Marty’s driving while the Byrdes discuss moving back to Chicago. The accident featured in the first episode plays out, with a big rig driving in their lane causing the Byrdes’ van to spin off the road and roll over. However, this time we see the aftermath with Marty and the kids crawling out of the overturned vehicle. Wendy’s been knocked unconscious but wakes up as Marty’s pulling her out.
They take a cab back home to find Navarro’s priest waiting there for them. He informs them Navarro wants to see them and he’s agitated because Nelson’s missing. Marty needs to run a quick errand then he’ll be there. The priest tells Wendy he thinks the accident was their last warning. She doesn’t agree and thinks it’s insurance they’ll make it out alive.
Marty’s errand winds up being a visit to Ruth to find out if Nelson’s buried under her pool. Marty, once again taking a page from Wendy’s playbook, blames Ruth for all his problems. Marty reveals Navarro’s going to be out of the picture soon and they all have to meet with the FBI the following day. The FBI wants to launder money through the casino.
Marty and Wendy have one final meeting with Navarro (Felix Solis) and he admits he thinks Camila was behind the attempt on his life. He slides a number to Marty and tells him to call it. It’s a man from Chicago that will “come take care of it.” Navarro also thinks his sister was behind whatever happened to Nelson.
The Byrdes tell Navarro whatever he wants to hear knowing he won’t be alive much longer.
Ruth has a daydream about her dead family members and in it she’s sitting on top of the trailer with her deceased cousin, Wyatt. Three comes up and asks if he can join them.
Rachel (Jordana Spiro) isn’t exactly happy about Ruth going into business with the FBI and attempts to talk Ruth into leaving. Rachel’s still worried about people finding out she killed Nelson and it’s obvious she’s having regrets. Ruth tries to make Rachel feel better by reminding her Nelson was a horrible person who killed people. Ruth reveals she plans to take the fall if anyone finds out.
The meeting with the FBI takes place at the funeral home. They go over the plans to have Navarro transferred with Camila. Ruth and Rachel show up a little late, and Ruth demands the FBI apologize to Rachel for allowing the last FBI agent to get her hooked on drugs. Agent Clay does so and then Ruth and Rachel are handed a contract stating that if they agree to launder money through the casino, they will never be prosecuted.
Later, Sam Dermody announces he’s joined Nathan’s church and will be moving to North Carolina with the group. Wendy says goodbye to him before speaking with her dad. She wants him to know her foundation made a sizable donation to the website he set up to find Ben. When her dad says he supposes she is proud of herself, Wendy replies, “Not at all,” and then walks away.
It seems all of Wendy’s schemes have worked. Both of her children are dressed and ready to go to the foundation gala.
After talking to Jim (Damian Young) about how well the gala is going, Wendy finds Schafer (Bruce Davison) and informs him he’s not only off the board, but they have instructed people in Wisconsin and Michigan to pull his voting machines. He’s still under the mistaken impression she needs someone off the FDN list. She doesn’t.
Navarro is in the process of being transferred and when he repeatedly asks where he’s going, he never gets a response.
Charlotte’s underage drinking at the casino bar (like she’s been doing for the past couple of seasons) when she and Jonah launch into a discussion about their time in the Ozarks. Ruth joins them and compliments Jonah, letting him know there’s always a job for him there if he wants it. Jonah claims he’s going legit…at least until after he finishes high school.
Wendy and Marty are in the midst of a conversation with Clare Shaw (Katrina Lenk) when Camila interrupts. She questions Clare about the day Javi died. The questioning doesn’t lead to any real answers so Camila turns to threatening to kill Clare. Clare breaks and reveals Ruth Langmore killed her son. Clare explains Javi killed Ruth’s cousin so Ruth killed him. Camila warns the Byrdes that if they even look at Ruth or try to warn her in any way, she’ll have their children killed.
Marty and Wendy try to discuss options of what to do. Wendy thinks they can fix this but nothing they come up with will work. Charlotte interrupts to tell her parents that people are asking for them.
Ruth has had enough partying for the night and tells Rachel she’s leaving. One of Camila’s men is keeping an eye on her movements and calls Camila.
Meanwhile, Wendy and Marty are only concerned about losing each other and their children.
The van transporting Navarro pulls over and one of the guards says he needs to use the bathroom. The guard gets out and then shoots the other guard. He lets Navarro out and hands him a gun, claiming there’s a car waiting for him and to go. When Navarro turns his back on the guard he hears the cocking of the guard’s gun. Navarro turns around, points the gun at the guard, and tries to shoot. Unfortunately for Omar, the gun’s not loaded. Navarro is shot dead.
Ruth pulls up at her home and spots an empty SUV. As Ruth’s checking it out Camila comes out of the woods pointing a gun in her direction. Ruth asks how Camila found out (already aware of why she’s there) and Camila admits Clare told her. Ruth says, “I’m not sorry. Your son was a murdering b**ch and now I know where he got it from.” The Ozark writers decided one of the most beloved characters on the show must die. Camila shoots Ruth.
The Byrdes return home after their gala and Wendy and Marty confess their love for each other before going inside the house. Once inside they discover their sliding glass door is broken. They see PI Mel (Adam Rottenberg) sitting outside with the goat cookie jar full of Ben’s ashes. Mel confesses he couldn’t do his job because all he could think about was them. He’s figured out what’s inside Ruth’s goat cookie jar.
The series ends on a horrible note. Martin and Wendy offer Mel anything he wants but he turns down their money. The jar contains evidence that Ben’s dead and Mel says, “You don’t get it, do you? You don’t get to win. You don’t get to be the Kochs or the Kennedys or whatever f**king royalty you people think you are. World doesn’t work like that.”
Wendy replies, “Since when?”
Jonah is shown pointing a shotgun at Mel and then the screen goes black and the audience hears a gunshot. It appears the Byrdes got everything they wanted in the end, even with so many people left dead in their wake.
Disney+ is reviving (and revamping) the short-lived hybrid competition series The Quest, retaining the key elements of the original series while incorporating new twists. Described as a fantasy-based competition series, the original show ran for just one season on ABC and featured adults dropped into the fictional world of Everealm, complete with a real castle populated by knights and ruled by a royal family.
The 2022 version takes away the elimination element and subs in a diverse group of teens in place of adult participants. During the 2022 WonderCon, executive producer Elise Doganieri (The Amazing Race) explained the reason behind the age group switch.
“There’s a time in our lives when we’re teenagers where we’re not knowing who we are, what we want to be, what we want to become, and we wanted to have a show that was a fantasy world but also a very inspirational show,” explained Doganieri. “It’s a show that crosses many age groups. There’s something for everybody. It’s nice with all the social media stuff out there that can be very negative and damaging, there’s also the positive side of social media, but a lot of kids are feeling certain ways about themselves by what they’re seeing, right? And so, we wanted to put something on the air with kids that were very relatable to other teenagers where they can see themselves.”
Doganieri added: “It is very inspirational. And you see these kids…they don’t always succeed at everything but because there’s no eliminations, the support that they get from the other contestants is really wonderful to watch. They’re all there for a common purpose. There is a winner – one true hero in the end – but you see them all supporting each other. It’s really amazing. And in a time when everything is so divisive and crazy, it’s nice to see a group coming together. There’s hope for our future with these kids!”
Because the series was due to shoot during Covid-19, the production team had to scramble to come up with a workable location since they couldn’t film in Austria (the location of the original series).
“The biggest issue with a real castle and filming is who owns it. If it’s owned by some historical trust, you’re never going to be able to do as much as you want to do,” explained Michael Williams (Queer Eye). “I had previously looked at Castello di Amorosa [in Napa Valley] which is owned by one guy. He runs the winery and he built this 20 years ago. He got craftsmen from all over Europe to build it exactly.
And I’m telling you, you’re in a hallway you’re back in time. There’s nothing that feels modern whatsoever. Just even the dust on things…it really felt right. So that, to be honest with you, was our only choice.”
The timing worked out just right as the Covid-19 pandemic forced Castello di Amorosa to shut down for six months, giving the production the opportunity to have the place to themselves while helping out the struggling business.
In addition to the eight teenage competitors, actors portray the citizens of Everealm and the royal family. As the teens become a part of the story in their quest to fulfill an ancient prophecy and save the kingdom, they interact with actors who guide their journeys or, in some cases, attempt to thwart their quests.
“The scripted actors, they move the story forward. We knew every episode we knew what the storyline was, and we knew at the end of that episode they’re going to have to get this or do this, and then this character’s going to walk in and surprise them. And this creature’s going to come in and surprise them. Then everything else naturally happened,” said Doganieri.
Rob Eric (Queer Eye) confirmed there aren’t any second takes and everything is done practically on the set, rather than with CGI or special effects.
“There’s a lot of narrative in this one so there’s a lot of scripted scenes that don’t take place with the kids. Just like a normal movie, not every scripted character is in every scene. So, the kids weren’t in some of the scripted scenes. The scripted scenes that happened in front of them, they were well-rehearsed and they got one take to do it,” explained Rob Eric.
“I don’t think we ever had a mistake. Like, there was no moment where somebody said a name wrong or somebody didn’t have the right where to go to for the story,” added Eric. “They were awesome; the actors were amazing.”
Jane Fleming (Lord of the Rings) believes The Quest is more of a reality “experience” than a reality show. “We really tried – and this was all of us – to stay away from the traditional tropes. You’ll see a few things [but] we tried to stay away from it as much as we could. We included the bare minimum just so people felt moored and anchored to something that was familiar,” said Fleming. “It’s a really different type of storytelling that hasn’t been done yet.”
The eight-episode first season premieres on Disney+ on May 11, 2022.
The Quest Plot, Courtesy of Disney+:
For thousands of years, Everealm has been a land of unrivaled beauty and powerful magic. Now, the realm is threatened by a powerful evil Sorceress. As a last hope, the noble Fates summon eight strangers known as Paladins from a world beyond to work together to fulfill an ancient prophecy and vanquish the Sorceress. The Paladins must unlock the hero within through a series of challenges that push their limits to restore balance to Everealm. If they fail, all will be lost. Heroes will rise. Kingdoms will fall.
Brought to the screen by the Academy Award and Emmy-winning teams behind The Lord of the Rings, The Amazing Race, and Queer Eye, The Quest is a groundbreaking, immersive, hybrid competition series that drops eight real-life teenagers (Paladins) into the fantastic, fictional world of Everealm, where they must save a kingdom by fulfilling an ancient prophecy. Throughout the eight-episode series, these heroes are immersed in a fantasy world come to life, complete with a castle, royals, ethereal fates, all forms of mystical creatures and a sorceress intent on destruction and power.
CBS’s incredibly popular FBI series franchise will be sticking around for at least two more seasons. The network announced they’ve renewed FBI, FBI: Most Wanted, and FBI: International for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 primetime seasons.
“The FBIs are one of the most successful brands in the entire TV landscape and a powerful cornerstone of our #1 lineup,” stated Kelly Kahl, president of CBS Entertainment. “They’ve attracted a dedicated, loyal fan base, thanks to the extraordinary vision of executive producer Dick Wolf and the talents of all three outstanding casts and creative teams. I know we and our viewers look forward to two additional seasons of engaging, heroic stories.”
The three FBI shows have driven CBS to the top of the pack on Tuesdays. FBI and its two spinoffs are watched by 1.4 million more viewers than their closest competitor, according to CBS.
“Everybody who works on these three shows is over the moon about the multi-year pickups,” said Dick Wolf, executive producer and FBI brand creator. “We are all incredibly grateful to CBS and our partners at Universal Television and CBS Studios. And I personally would like to thank the incredible casts, talented writers, and dedicated producers, not to mention three crews who never missed an airdate despite the difficulties of producing full seasons during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
FBI is currently in its fourth season starring Missy Peregrym (currently out on maternity leave), Zeeko Zaki, Jeremy Sisto, Alana De La Garza, John Boyd, and Katherine Renee Turner. Most Wanted with Dylan McDermott, Alexa Davalos, Roxy Sternberg, Keisha Castle-Hughes, and Miguel Gomez has been averaging 8.85 million viewers over its third season.
The newest addition to the FBI franchise – FBI: International – stars Luke Kleintank, Heida Reed, Carter Redwood, Vinessa Vidotto and Christiane Paul. Season one sits as the #2 new drama of the 2021-2022 season and has been averaging 8.31 million viewers.
Oscar nominee Andy Garcia stars as a dad who’s in over his head in the remake of Father of the Bride. The official trailer introduces Garcia as Billy and Gloria Estefan as Ingrid, parents of the titular bride who are dealing with marriage issues of their own while attempting to handle the unexpected announcement their oldest daughter (played by Adria Arjona) is getting married.
The cast also includes Diego Boneta, Isabela Merced, Chloe Fineman, and Pedro Damián. Gaz Alazraki (Nosotros Los Nobles) directed from a screenplay by Matt Lopez (Promised Land), based on the novel by Edward Streeter.
Plan B Entertainment’s Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Paul Michael Perez produce, with Brad Pitt, Andy Garcia, Ted Gidlow, and Jesse Ehrman executive producing.
Warner Bros. Pictures will release Father of the Bride on HBO Max on June 16, 2022.
The Father of the Bride Plot, Courtesy of Warner Bros:
Long-marrieds Billy (Garcia) and Ingrid (Estefan) are surprised when their eldest daughter Sofia (Arjona) comes home to Miami for a visit. But the surprises just keep coming when she announces a new boyfriend, Adan (Boneta) — who is now her fiancé — and their plans for a quick-turnaround wedding and a new life together in Mexico, where Adan’s family is from.
Sofia’s quickfire revelations keep Billy and Ingrid from making their own disclosure — that they’re calling quits on their marriage — but both agree to delay the news and play the loving couple for the benefit of the family. Old-fashioned Billy is at first opposed to the wedding, but he is eventually swayed — as long as his opinions as father of the bride carry the most weight in all things matrimonial. A prominent architect and family man, Billy feels his hard-fought success and dedication to his heritage earn him the right to call the shots. After all his achievements, why is he suddenly seen as the bad guy?
The same could also be said for Adan’s equally headstrong father, Hernan (Damián), who soon arrives with his own traditions and family pride in tow. With both iron-willed fathers vying to take charge of the festivities, it becomes a prideful game of one-upmanship, as cultures clash, generations take sides and competing traditions collide. Family relationships are tested, along with the couple at the center of it all, as the roller coaster ride of wedding planning races toward the altar.
You are enthusiastically invited to the love, the food, the music, and the fun of Father of the Bride, a modern rom-com updated from the timeless classic. This sparkling story of a family and its unbreakable bonds illustrates the surprising and funny ways the heart can adapt in the name of love.
ANDY GARCIA as Billy and GLORIA ESTEFAN as Ingrid in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and HBO Max’s ‘FATHER OF THE BRIDE’ (Photo by Claudette Barius)ANDY GARCIA as Billy and ADRIA ARJONA as Sophie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and HBO Max’s ‘FATHER OF THE BRIDE’ (Photo by Claudette Barius) GLORIA ESTEFAN as Ingrid, ANDY GARCIA as Billy, DIEGO BONETA as Adan and ADRIA ARJONA as Sophie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and HBO Max’s ‘FATHER OF THE BRIDE’ (Photo by Claudette Barius)ANDY GARCIA as Billy, GLORIA ESTEFAN as Ingrid, ADRIA ARJONA as Sophie and DIEGO BONETA as Adan in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and HBO Max’s ‘”FATHER OF THE BRIDE’ (Photo by Claudette Barius)
