‘Undone’ Season 2 – Rosa Salazar, Angelique Cabral, and Constance Marie Interviews

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April 18, 2022

Prime Video’s groundbreaking dramedy Undone returns for its long-delayed, much-anticipated second season on Friday, April 29, 2022. The critically acclaimed series, beautifully brought to life via rotoscope animation, tells the story of a young woman, Alma (Rosa Salazar), who discovers she has an altered relationship with time following a horrible car accident. Season one focused on Alma’s quest to uncover more about her father’s death, and season two will delve further into her family’s past and unearth even more secrets.

Angelique Cabral plays Alma’s sister, Becca, an integral player in Alma’s search for the truth in Undone’s second season. Constance Marie reprises her role as Alma and Becca’s mom, Camila, a woman with more than a couple of skeletons locked in her closet.

Undone stars Rosa Salazar, Angelique Cabral, and Constance Marie took part in a panel during the 2022 WonderCon in Anaheim, the first in-person WonderCon since Covid-19 turned the world upside down. The trio also participated in interviews in support of the series’ second season which will arrive two and a half years after season one debuted.

Season one currently sits at 98% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and Rosa Salazar believes season two more than delivers on expectations.

“Hisko Hulsing, the director of Undone, says this amazing thing. He says when we were making Undone season one it was like we were building the car as we were driving. And we got really good at that. And then season two is like driving a Maserati, you know what I mean? It’s like we are zooming now. We are such a well-oiled machine at this point.

Season one was very much grounded – I guess you can say that even though it was so spiritual and ethereal and mythical. But season two is…I think the word to use for it is expansive. It’s incredibly expansive,” explained Salazar. “I mean, we are traveling the globe. We are traveling through time and space, the universe. We are traveling through generations. We are going into both sides of Alma’s lineage – the Mexican side of her, the Jewish side of her.”

Salazar continued: “The thing about Undone is that every year we get to go exponentially deeper – deeper into the questions, deeper into our existence, into our lives. So, it is an incredibly expansive second season. I mean, the things that we’ve done in season two are next level. It’s just really next level.”

Asked who Alma will be seeking advice from or turning to in season two, Salazar replied, “You know, that’s so interesting that you ask that because the first season was all about her father [played by Bob Odenkirk] being her guru and saying we’ve got to examine these powers and Alma being sort of reluctant about it. You know, like kind of afraid to know what she’s capable of. In the second season, she’s so obsessive about the powers. It’s almost like she’s gotten a taste of that and she’s like, ‘Gimme that time juice!’ you know? She’s like, ‘I need this!’

She’s so incredibly obsessive about it. She’s not really turning to anyone. She’s become the guru who now wants to harangue her sister into it with her and try to get her sister to go on this adventure with her and to accept her powers, only to find she’s so much about fixing…you know, in the first season about her father, the second season about her mother and her lineage and going back and fixing. ‘Well, we have to fix this thing and then we have to fix this thing…’ She’s so obsessive going outward by the end she realizes that ‘oh my god, I have never gone [inward]. I’ve always [gone outward].’

“She doesn’t really ask anybody because she’s afraid of what she might find out if she goes into [herself]. I think if there were to be a third season, I think instead of being so expansive and outward I think what we’d do is go into the universe within. That’s an interesting question and I think we should tackle that in season three,” said Salazar.

It’s not a spoiler to confirm Angelique Cabral’s Becca will also discover she has the ability to travel through time in season two. (Prime Video’s season two trailer and clips previously revealed Becca’s ability.) Cabral said she didn’t anticipate that twist heading into the series’ second season.

“I did not know what was coming. We don’t know until at the table read, really. They don’t give us a heads up, so I was very excited that Becca gets to take this journey also and becomes a very important part of the time-traveling aspect of the show,” explained Cabral. “I was very excited.”

The idea of alternate realities has always fascinated Cabral. “I’ve always thought of that. I don’t know what I believe, exactly, but I do believe that it’s not linear and that there’s a lot out there and a lot to explore and unpack.”

Cabral agrees with Salazar that Undone season two will wow audiences. “It tops [season one] in every way, I honestly believe,” said Cabral. “I know season one was unbelievable and it was incredibly beautiful, but season two is expansive. It’s gorgeous. The rotoscoping is so much better after two years. They’ve really honed it and it’s just an incredible work of art.”

Due to the continuing (seemingly never-ending) pandemic, season two was shot with the series creators and directors on Zoom. “It was just us in a black like basically a soundstage and you have nothing. You have no props; you have no wardrobe, really,” explained Cabral. “We just had one dress that we wear the whole time. And it’s a huge work of imagination. It’s a huge trust exercise, I would say, between the three of us and our own imaginations. Like, ‘Can we get there?’”

Cabral added: “It’s a really good acting lesson. I’ll be honest with you I think it’s some of my favorite work I’ve ever done. It’s so fulfilling. It’s so hard. It’s scary because you don’t have anything. You’re just talking to nothing.”

Constance Marie hadn’t finished watching season two prior to our interview but admits she loves the second season even more than the first.

“My character, Camila, she was a very harsh mom and you didn’t understand why she was so harsh. We explored it a little bit but in season two we really get to explore it. I have so much more compassion for her and it’s so touching to me that my whole paradigm has shifted on what I thought of her. I think that is a wonderful example of what we should all do as humans. If you truly understood the life that shaped each person that you come in contact with, I think we’d all be a lot less judgmental.”

Marie described the banter between Rosa Salazar’s Alma and Angelique Cabral’s Becca in season two as brilliant. “It’s really cute,” said Marie. “That’s the part that’s so crazy. This show deals with historical trauma, familial trauma, personal trauma, evolution, choice-making – and yet there’s funny in it. There’s funny moments.”

Marie continued: “Kate Purdy is brilliant. She handles the emotional complexity with such an integrity and such a respect. And then you have these light moments that are just brilliant. It’s almost like life. You know, when something really traumatic happens you think of something funny, or someone will say something funny just to give us a little bit of a break. And so, season two will definitely not leave you disappointed.”

Constance Marie wasn’t fully aware of her character’s backstory prior to season two and instead learned about it as the series went along.

“I knew a little bit but as an actor, you don’t always get that information so you have to dip into your bag of tools and come up with the character,” explained Marie. “I mean, you always have to justify why your character behaves the way [she does]. You have to have compassion for your character, so I did my work and it was wonderful for season one. But I didn’t know all that I learned in season two. And oh my goodness…poor Camila! It’s fascinating that she survived so much of what happened to her. Yeah, Kate Purdy does not disappoint in the writing.”

Constance Marie says after learning more about Camila’s history the character holds a special place in her heart.

“I mean, as any single mom in America will tell you, it’s a very difficult journey. You always put so much pressure on yourself to be perfect, basically. Nobody really has that much compassion for you. The workload is what the workload is, and if you’re not perfect… And you don’t get extra credit for any of that. And so Camila experiences that but hers even goes deeper than that – her mother and how her mother treated her. You really see the generational dysfunction and trauma that these characters have survived. And so, the judgment just goes right out the window. It’s fascinating,” said Marie.

All eight episodes of the Amazon Original Series will debut on April 29, 2022 on Prime Video.

Undone was created by executive producers Kate Purdy and Raphael Bob-Waksberg (BoJack Horseman). Noel Bright, Steven A. Cohen, Tommy Pallotta, Femke Wolting, Felix Bruno, and director/production designer Hisko Hulsing also executive produce.

SWAT Season 5 Episode 18 Preview: “Family” Photos

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Rebecca Murray

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April 17, 2022

A judge is gunned down and the team needs to find the killer on CBS’s S.W.A.T. season five episode 18, “Family.” Directed by Alrick Riley from a script by Mia Fichman, episode 18 will air on Sunday, April 24, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT.

The season five cast is led by Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson. Alex Russell stars as Jim Street, Jay Harrington plays David “Deacon” Kay, Lina Esco is Christina “Chris” Alonso, Kenny Johnson is Dominique Luca, David Lim is Victor Tan, and Patrick St. Esprit stars as Commander Robert Hicks.

Recurring cast members include Obba Babatundé and Ryan Hurst.

“Family” Plot: When Hicks witnesses the assassination of his longtime friend, a prominent judge, the team races to find the shooter and determine why he was targeted. Also, Luca struggles with how to help his brother, Terry (Hurst), after he’s arrested.

Series Description, Courtesy of CBS:

Inspired by the television series and the feature film, S.W.A.T. stars Shemar Moore as a former Marine and locally born and raised S.W.A.T. sergeant, tasked to run a specialized tactical unit that is the last stop in law enforcement in Los Angeles. Torn between loyalty to where he was raised and allegiance to his brothers in blue, Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson strives to bridge the divide between his two worlds. However, Hondo is forced to question his professional identity when he is demoted from Squad Leader after going public to expose racial corruption within the LAPD.

The other members of Hondo’s elite S.W.A.T. unit include David “Deacon” Kay, an experienced S.W.A.T. officer and dedicated family man who always puts the team first; Christina “Chris” Alonso, a skilled officer and the team’s canine trainer; Dominique Luca, an expert driver who gets them in and out of high risk situations; newlywed Victor Tan, who started in the LAPD Hollywood Division and uses his confidential informants in the community to help the team; and Jim Street, the team’s cocky newest member. Responsible for the management of all Metro Division S.W.A.T. units is Commander Robert Hicks, a senior LAPD official with the Special Operations Bureau.

With Hondo no longer leading the charge, these dedicated men and women face an uncertain future as they bravely put themselves at risk to protect their community and save lives.

SWAT Season 5 Episode 18 — Kenneth “Kenny” Johnson as Dominique Luca and David Lim as Victor Tan in ‘SWAT’ season 5 episode 18 (Photo: Sonja Flemming © 2022 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)

‘Blue Bloods’ Season 12 Episode 19 Preview: “Tangled Up in Blue” Photos

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Rebecca Murray

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April 15, 2022

Blue Bloods Season 12 Episode 19 — Bridget Moynahan as Erin Reagan in ‘Blue Bloods’ season 12 episode 19 (Photo: John Paul Filo © 2022 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)

CBS’s Blue Bloods will return after a three-week break with season 12 episode 19, “Tangled Up in Blue.” Directed by Doug Aarniokoski from a script by Kevin Wade (story by Wade and Graham Thiel), episode 19 will air on Friday, April 29, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT.

Tom Selleck leads the cast as Frank Reagan, with Donnie Wahlberg back as Danny Reagan and Bridget Moynahan returning as Erin Reagan. Will Estes plays Jamie Reagan, Len Cariou is Henry Reagan, Sami Gayle is Nicky Reagan-Boyle, Marisa Ramirez is Det. Maria Baez, and Vanessa Ray plays Officer Eddie Janko.

Recurring season 12 cast members include Abigail Hawk, Gregory Jbara, Robert Clohessy, Steven Schirripa, Andrew Terraciano, Luis Antonio Ramos, Ian Quinlan, Jim Bracchitta, and Ann Harada.

“Tangled Up in Blue” Plot: When Erin is stalked by a man who was recently released from prison after serving 12 years, she enlists Anthony and Danny to investigate her office’s role in his sentencing. Also, Jamie works to save his badge when he is caught driving under the influence after he is unknowingly given drugs at a party, and Frank navigates multiple family issues as he deals with a troubling medical diagnosis for Henry, as well as Jamie’s DUI.

Series Description, Courtesy of CBS:

Blue Bloods is a drama about a multi-generational family of cops dedicated to New York City law enforcement. Frank Reagan is the New York Police Commissioner, and heads both the police force and the Reagan brood. He runs his department as diplomatically as he runs his family, even when dealing with the politics that plagued his unapologetically bold father, Henry, during his stint as Chief. A source of pride and concern for Frank is his eldest son, Danny, a seasoned detective, family man and Iraq War vet who on occasion uses dubious tactics to solve cases with his partner, Detective Maria Baez. Erin, the middle daughter, is a New York Assistant D.A. who serves as the legal compass for her siblings and father.

Jamie is the youngest Reagan, a Harvard Law graduate and the family’s “golden boy.” Unable to deny the family tradition, Jamie decided to give up a lucrative future in law and follow in the family footsteps as a cop. He’s found a friend and ally in his wife, Eddie, who keeps him on his toes, and has very different reasons than the Reagans for joining the police force.

‘Bull’ Season 6 Episode 18 Preview: “The Other Shoe” Photos

By

Rebecca Murray

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April 15, 2022

Bull Season 6 episode 18 Michael Weatherly — Michael Weatherly as Dr. Jason Bull and Patrick Breen as Reilly in ‘Bull’ season 6 episode 18 (Photo: Patrick Harbron © 2022 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)

Patrick Breen reprises his role as AUSA Reilly and approaches Bull with a surprising request on CBS’s Bull season six episode 18. Directed by Mike Smith from a script by Jenny Raftery, episode 18 – “The Other Shoe” – will air on Thursday, April 21, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT.

The cast is led by Michael Weatherly as Dr. Jason Bull. Yara Martinez plays Isabella “Izzy” Colón, Geneva Carr is Marissa Morgan, Jamie Lee Kirchner plays Danny James, Christopher Jackson stars as Chunk Palmer, and MacKenzie Meehan is Taylor Rentzel.

Additional episode 18 guest stars include Lev Gorn, Amirah Vann, Michael Potts, and Tony DeMil.

“The Other Shoe” Plot: Bull puts aside his personal grievances to help AUSA Reilly (Patrick Breen), who prosecuted him for jury tampering, bring one of the world’s most dangerous drug lords to justice. As the pair enter into a hesitant partnership, Bull’s unconventional style clashes with the lawyer’s commitment to working by the book.

The Bull Plot, Courtesy of CBS:

Bull stars Michael Weatherly as Dr. Jason Bull in a drama inspired by the early career of Dr. Phil McGraw, the founder of one of the most prolific trial-consulting firms of all time. Brilliant, brash and charming, Dr. Bull is the ultimate puppet master as he combines psychology, human intuition and high-tech data to learn what makes jurors, attorneys, witnesses and the accused tick.

While Bull has mastered his professional domain, his personal life continues to evolve in surprising ways. Now the father of a young daughter, Bull is newly remarried to his ex-wife, Isabella “Izzy” Colón. Bull’s enviable group of experts at Trial Analysis Corporation shape successful narratives down to the last detail. His team includes Marissa Morgan, a neurolinguistics expert from the Department of Homeland Security who monitors shifting jury reactions in real-time for Bull; former NYPD detective Danny James, the firm’s tough but relatable investigator; Taylor Rentzel, a working mother and former colleague of Marissa’s who is an expert at coding and computer hacking; and Chunk Palmer, a former all-American lineman and stylist-turned-lawyer, who helps clients prepare their image and testimony and serves as TAC’s official trial attorney.

In high-stakes trials, Bull’s combination of remarkable insight into human nature, three Ph.D.’s and a top-notch staff creates winning strategies that tip the scales of justice in his clients’ favor.

48 Hours “Death on Safari” Preview: Details and Air Date

By

Rebecca Murray

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April 15, 2022

CBS’s 48 Hours explores the death of an American shot while on safari in Zambia, Africa on the Saturday, April 16, 2022 episode airing at 10pm ET/PT. “Death on Safari” examines the events surrounding Biana Rudolph’s death and delves into the investigation that ultimately led to the arrest of Bianca’s dentist husband, Lawrence, in December 2021.

Lawrence claims he had nothing to do with his wife’s death.

48 Hours contributor Debora Patta spoke with a game scout, a park investigator, and a retired police commander in Zambia in an attempt to answer the question: was Bianca’s death the result of an accident or murder?

CBS released the following description of 48 Hours‘ “Death on Safari:”

Lawrence Rudolph and his wife, Bianca, were getting ready to head back home after a safari vacation in Zambia, Africa in October 2016 when something went terribly wrong. The couple were experienced hunters. Lawrence, a successful dentist with several offices near Pittsburgh, Pa., told local authorities that he was in the bathroom of the couple’s two-room cabin when he heard a shot and found his wife dead in the next room. Local police found Bianca Rudolph lying on the floor with a gunshot wound. Lawrence said his wife was packing up a shotgun in a soft-shell gun case.

At first, he told a local hunting scout that his wife had died by suicide, but later he told investigators that the gun must have accidentally fired. After two days of investigating, Zambian police closed the case, calling it an accident.

There were also questions early on about how Bianca could have accidentally shot herself in the chest with such a long-barreled weapon. Kafue National Park investigator Masuwa Musese, who went to the couple’s cabin after the shooting, also had concerns. He said he took his theory to the local police. “To me,” Musese says, “I suspected this to be a foul play. Because the way the firearm was lying. The way the deceased was lying. The way the bullet went through. Because, to me, to say that she shot herself, I doubt it.”

Game scout Spencer Kakoma maintains that he saw Bianca Rudolph clearing her weapon of live ammunition the night before the incident.

Lawrence had his wife’s body quickly cremated in Zambia, which led a friend of Bianca’s to doubt this was an accident. Soon after Bianca’s death, the friend called the FBI. According to an FBI complaint, she also said Lawrence was having an affair and had been verbally abusive to Bianca. The friend also told the FBI that the couple fought over money.

‘The Witcher’ Season 3 Adds Robbie Amell and Meng’er Zhang

By

Rebecca Murray

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April 14, 2022

The Witcher Season 3 New Cast — The Witcher adds new season 3 cast members (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)

Robbie Amell, Meng’er Zhang, Hugh Skinner, and Christelle Elwin have joined the cast of Netflix’s popular fantasy series The Witcher for the upcoming third season. Netflix just announced the new additions to season three along with details on each of the new characters.

The Witcher newbies will be joining returning cast members Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, Anya Chalotra as sorceress Yennefer, Freya Allan as Ciri, Joey Batey as Jaskier, MyAnna Buring as Tissaia, and Tom Canton as Filavandrel. Jeremy Crawford plays Yarpin Zigrin, Eamon Farren is Cahir, Mahesh Jadu is Vilgefortz, Terence Maynard is Artorius, and Lars Mikkelsen is Stregobor.

Additional returning cast members include Mimî M Khayisa as Fringilla Vigo, Royce Pierreson as Istredd, Wilson Mbomio as Dara, Anna Shaffer as Triss Merigold, Therica Wilson-Read as Sabrina, Mecia Simson as Francesca, and Graham McTavish as Sigismund Dijkstra. Bart Edwards plays Duny, Ed Birch is King Vizimir of Redania, and Kaine Zajaz is Gage.

The Witcher, based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels, is executive produced by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, Tomek Baginski, Jason F. Brown, Sean Daniel, Mike Ostrowski, Steve Gaub, and Jarosław Sawko. Schmidt Hissrich is the showrunner and Stephen Surjik, Gandja Monteiro, Loni Peristere, and Bola Ogun are season three directors.

Writers include Mike Ostrowski, Tania Lotia, Haily Hall, Rae Benjamin, Clare Higgins, Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Matthew D’Ambrosio, and Troy Dangerfield.

The Witcher Season 3 Description and New Characters:

As monarchs, mages, and beasts of the Continent compete to capture her, Geralt takes Ciri of Cintra into hiding, determined to protect his newly-reunited family against those who threaten to destroy it. Entrusted with Ciri’s magical training, Yennefer leads them to the protected fortress of Aretuza, where she hopes to discover more about the girl’s untapped powers; instead, they discover they’ve landed in a battlefield of political corruption, dark magic, and treachery. They must fight back, put everything on the line — or risk losing each other forever.

Robbie Amell (Upload, Code 8) as Gallatin
A born fighter, Gallatin leads an army of guerrilla Scoia’tael fighting on behalf of Nilfgaard. Unafraid to speak his truth, Gallatin’s loyalty to his people ultimately leads him on a collision course with Francesca over power.
Meng’er Zhang (Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings) as Milva
A human adopted by the dryads of Brokilon Forest, Milva is a fierce and talented huntress. Exact archery skills coupled with a stone-cold aptitude for survival make her a formidable adversary in the unforgiving Continent – those that cross her, do so at their peril.
Hugh Skinner (Mamma Mia Here We Go Again!, Fleabag) as Prince Radovid
Royal playboy and younger brother to King Vizimir, Radovid finds himself suddenly a man on the inside of the Redanian Intelligence. With his good looks and often drunken charm, Radovid surprises with how incisive he can be in matters of politics, but it’s all games until someone gets hurt.
Christelle Elwin (Half Bad, Bloods) as Mistle
Mistle is a member of The Rats, a gang of misfit teenagers who steal from the rich and give to themselves – and sometimes the poor. She is street hard, suspicious of everyone and out for revenge, until a chance meeting that will change everything.

‘FBI: International’ Season 1 Episode 17 Preview: “Uprooting” Photos

By

Rebecca Murray

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April 14, 2022

The team investigates a violent protest group on CBS’s FBI: International season one episode 17. Directed by Avi Youabian from a script by Brooke Roberts, episode 17 – “Uprooting” – will air on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT.

The season one cast includes Luke Kleintank as Special Agent Scott Forrester, Heida Reed as Special Agent Jamie Kellett, Carter Redwood as Special Agent Andre Raines, Vinessa Vidotto as Special Agent Cameron Vo, and Christiane Paul as Europol Agent Katrin Jaeger.

Guest stars include Raphael Roger Levy, Alana O’Brien, Angela Lin, Jeff Ayars, and Katalin Ruzsik.

“Uprooting” Plot: When an American vintner is shot and killed on his wine estate in France, the Fly Team must determine if the region’s local protest group with a history of violence against foreigners is to blame.

Season One Description, Courtesy of CBS:

FBI: International is the third iteration of the successful FBI brand that follows the elite operatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s International Fly Team. Headquartered in Budapest, they travel the world with the mission of tracking and neutralizing threats against American citizens wherever they may be, putting their lives on the line to protect the U.S. and its people.

The Fly Team’s Special Agent Scott Forrester, their accomplished and dedicated leader, puts his missions ahead of his personal life and is rarely seen without the team’s “secret weapon” – their trusty Schutzhund dog, Tank. Second in command is Special Agent Jamie Kellett, not afraid to tussle – in an alley or courtroom – and her extensive network of informants is a powerful resource. Special Agent Andre Raines shines in the field and makes good use of his accounting background in tracking criminal enterprises’ moving money; and the group’s newest member is Special Agent Cameron Vo, a competitive West Point grad who excels at interrogation and strategy.

A key part of the mix is the unflappable Europol Agent Katrin Jaeger, a multilinguistic liaison between the FBI Fly Team and each host country they inhabit. Always at the scene where American interests are at risk, FBI: International is a globe-trotting depiction of law enforcement overseas.

FBI International Episode 17 — Christiane Paul as Europol Agent Katrin Jaeger and Luke Kleintank as Special Agent Scott Forrester in ‘FBI: International’ season 1 episode 17 (Photo: Nelly Kiss © 2022 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)

‘Hacks’ Season 2 Debuts a Teaser Trailer and Sets May Premiere Date

By

Rebecca Murray

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April 14, 2022

Season two of HBO Max’s Hacks starring Jean Smart will premiere on Thursday, May 12, 2022. The premiere date announcement was accompanied by a super short teaser for the upcoming season of the Emmy Award-winning comedy.

HBO Max will unveil the first two episodes on May 12th followed by two new episodes each week leading up to the June 2nd finale.

Emmy, SAG, and Critics Choice Awards winner Jean Smart reprises her role as Deborah Vance. Hannah Einbinder’s back as Ava, Carl Clemons-Hopkins returns as Marcus, and Jane Adams returns as Nina. Additional returning cast members include Christopher McDonald, Kaitlin Olson, Paul W. Downs, Poppy Liu, Rose Abdoo, Mark Indelicato, Meg Stalter, Angela E. Gibbs, Luenell, Johnny Sibilly, Joe Mande, Ally Maki, and Lorenza Izzo.

New recurring cast members for season two include Laurie Metcalf, Martha Kelly, Ming-Na Wen, and Susie Essman. Margaret Cho and Devon Sawa guest star.

The critically acclaimed comedy was created by showrunners Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky. Downs and Aniello executive produce through their Paulilu banner, and Statsky executive produces via First Thought Productions. Morgan Sackett, Fremulon’s Michael Schur, and 3 Arts Entertainment’s David Miner also executive produce.

HBO Max released the following description of season two:

“The dark mentorship between legendary Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance (Smart) and her young, entitled writer Ava (Einbinder) continues to evolve as the two travel across the country workshopping Deborah’s new stand-up act.”

Hacks Makes Our List of the 10 Best New Shows of 2021

‘Crimes of the Future’ Teaser Trailer is Pure David Cronenberg Creepiness

By

Rebecca Murray

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April 14, 2022

Visionary filmmaker David Cronenberg (A History of Violence, Eastern Promises, Crash) reunites with Viggo Mortensen for the twisted sci-fi thriller Crimes of the Future. The one-minute trailer for the Neon release sets up the vibe without giving away too much while, at the same time, teasing a bleak future for humans.

Writer/director David Cronenberg described Crimes of the Future as a meditation on human evolution. “Specifically – the ways in which we have had to take control of the process because we have created such powerful environments that did not exist previously. Crimes of the Future is an evolution of things I have done before. Fans will see key references to other scenes and moments from my other films. That’s a continuity of my understanding of technology as connected to the human body. Technology is always an extension of the human body, even when it seems to be very mechanical and non-human. A fist becomes enhanced by a club or a stone that you throw – but ultimately, that club or stone is an extension of some potency that the human body already has.

At this critical junction in human history, one wonders – can the human body evolve to solve problems we have created? Can the human body evolve a process to digest plastics and artificial materials not only as part of a solution to the climate crisis, but also, to grow, thrive, and survive,” stated Cronenberg.

In addition to three-time Oscar nominee Viggo Mortensen, the cast includes Léa Seydoux (No Time to Die), Kristen Stewart (Spencer), Don McKellar (Blindness), Scott Speedman (Grey’s Anatomy), Tanaya Beatty (Yellowstone), Nadia Litz (Big Muddy), Lihi Kornowski (Losing Alice), and Welket Bungué (Berlin Alexanderplatz).

Cronenberg’s behind the scenes team includes editor Christopher Donaldson, production designer Carol Spier, director of photography Douglas Koch, and costume designer Mayou Trikerioti.

Crimes of the Future Cast — Léa Seydoux, Viggo Mortensen, and Kristen Stewart star in David Cronenberg’s ‘Crimes of the Future’ (Photo Courtesy of Neon)

The Crimes of the Future Plot, Courtesy of Neon:

In a not-so-distant future, humankind is learning to adapt to its synthetic surroundings. Their biological makeup changed, many humans have adapted to life with “Accelerated Evolution Syndrome” thanks partly to specialized equipment that aids in everything from eating to sleeping.

Beloved performance artist Saul Tenser sleeps in a womb-like bed suspended in mid-air. The OrchidBed, as it’s called, comes complete with software to anticipate, and adjust his every bodily need. The machine even detects the growth of new organs, which Saul’s creative partner Caprice can observe and tattoo in his personal operating theatre. Together, Saul and Caprice have turned the discovery and removal of these new body organs into performance art, via sold-out voyeuristic surgical shows using a sarcophagus-like machine where the surgeries take place.

These human evolutionary changes do not receive universal positivity. Before long, a new secret government entity is established – the National Organ Registry, led by bureaucrats Wippet and Timlin – to discreetly track new organ growths, with particular enthusiasm for Saul’s artistic anomalies.

With increased scrutiny on the syndrome and therefore his art, Saul is forced to consider what would be his most shocking performance of all.

‘The Resident’ Season 5 Episode 19 Preview: “All We Have Is Now”

By

Rebecca Murray

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April 14, 2022

A patient presents with an unusual disease and Raptor needs to spend more time with his mom on Fox’s The Resident season five episode 19. “All We Have Is Now” will air on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 8pm ET/PT.

Season five stars Matt Czuchry as Dr. Conrad Hawkins, Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Dr. AJ Austin, Bruce Greenwood as Dr. Randolph Bell, Jane Leeves as Dr. Kit Voss, and Manish Dayal is Dr. Devon Pravesh. Jessica Lucas plays Dr. Billie Sutton, Anuja Joshi is Dr. Leela Devi, and Miles Fowler is Trevor.

“All We Have Is Now” Plot: With Raptor on leave to take care of his mother, the hospital scrambles to stay organized without him. Meanwhile, a camping trip leaves a patient with a fatal disease that none of the doctors have seen before. Then, Bell and Kit devise a plan to help their case with the Medical Board.

The Season 5 Plot, Courtesy of Fox:

Entering its fifth season, The Resident continues to shine a light on the daily heroism of our health care workers. The provocative medical drama follows the doctors and nurses at Chastain Memorial Hospital as they face personal and professional challenges and fight for their patients’ health.

Season four saw a multitude of highs and lows as the heroes at Chastain struggled to overcome the impossible, including the unprecedented and devastating Covid-19 pandemic. Now, in a propulsive and emotional season five, the ante is upped, as the doctors continue to save patients and fight corruption in the healthcare system, this time with a partner. The alliance with Big Pharma that found a cure for sickle cell disease last season proves in season five to be a very sharp double-edged sword.

The season kicks off when a mysterious ransomware attack threatens the hospital, and DR. DEVON PRAVESH (Dayal) and Chastain’s recently appointed CEO, DR. KIT VOSS (Leeves), must make high-stakes, split-second decisions with lives in the balance. Meanwhile, DR. CONRAD HAWKINS (Czuchry) and NURSE PRACTITIONER NICOLETTE NEVIN’s (Emily VanCamp) attempts to navigate parenthood, marriage and work-life balance take a shocking turn when Conrad is forced to make a life-changing choice that will alter the course of their family forever.

After the unwanted arrival of DR. BILLIE SUTTON’s (Lucas) biological son, she is forced to confront her past head-on in hopes of healing. Luckily, she’ll have help with the emergence of a new friendship – and rivalry – with DR. AJ AUSTIN (Malcolm-Jamal Warner), who unknowingly takes an interest in Billie’s son, TREVOR (Fowler). Elsewhere, a wrench is thrown in the plans of DR. LEELA DEVI (Joshi), when an unannounced visitor threatens her new relationship, and DR. RANDOLPH BELL (Greenwood) moves forward with a surprising love interest.

A new wrinkle five episodes into the season will challenge audience expectations and reveal new truths about our characters. Old relationships will be tested, new ones formed, and the emergence of a widespread Medicare fraud scheme ensures Chastain will never be the same.