Fire Country‘s Diane Farr guest stars on CBS’s Sheriff Country episode two, directed by Fire Country‘s Kevin Alejandro. Episode two, “Firewall,” will air on Friday, October 24, 2025 at 8pm ET/PT.
Morena Baccarin leads the cast as Mickey Fox, Matt Lauria plays Nathan Boone, W. Earl Brown is Wes Fox, Michele Weaver plays Cassidy Campbell, and Christopher Gorham stars as Travis Fraley. Executive producers include Fire Country star Max Thieriot, Tony Phelan, Joan Rater, Matt Lopez, Jerry Bruckheimer, and KristieAnne Reed.
“Firewall” Plot: Mickey’s personal and professional lines blur as she investigates a harrowing missing persons case, all while trying to protect her daughter, whose connection to a crime scene raises unsettling questions. Meanwhile, Mickey’s sister, Sharon Leone (Farr), arrives to support her niece during this deeply emotional time.
Sheriff Country Details, Courtesy of CBS:
Morena Baccarin stars as straight-shooting sheriff Mickey Fox, the stepsister of Cal Fire’s division chief Sharon Leone (Diane Farr of Fire Country). She investigates criminal activity while she patrols the streets of small-town Edgewater, contending with her ex-con father, Wes (W. Earl Brown), who is an off-the-grid marijuana grower, and a mysterious incident involving her wayward daughter.
Mariah Carey is honored by MusiCares (Photo credit: Ethan James Green / MusiCares)
Five-time Grammy winner Mariah Carey is being recognized with the 2026 MusiCares Person of the Year award, joining a list of previous recipients that includes the Grateful Dead, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, Bob Dylan, Carole King, Tom Petty, and Joni Mitchell. Carey is being honored for her career and her “commitment to supporting communities and people in need,” per the Recording Academy.
“Mariah Carey’s influence extends far beyond her remarkable artistry,” stated Theresa Wolters, Executive Director of MusiCares. “She has used her platform consistently to provide tangible support to communities, whether through disaster relief, youth empowerment, or programs that help those facing barriers to opportunity. Her work exemplifies the values at the heart of MusiCares: creating systems of care that lift people up and ensure music professionals and communities can thrive. Honoring her as Person of the Year celebrates both her incredible musical legacy and her dedication to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.”
Carey will be presented with the award during a ceremony to be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Friday, January 30, 2026. The 2026 MusiCares Person of the Year event will include a tribute concert celebrating all things Mariah Carey.
“We are honored to recognize Mariah Carey as this year’s MusiCares Person of the Year, a true creative force and once-in-a-generation talent,” said Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy and MusiCares. “Her artistry and her voice have helped shape the sound of our times. We look forward to celebrating her remarkable career on this very special night.”
The gala event raises much-needed funds to support programs that assist with health and wellness services, addiction recovery, and disaster relief. The Person of the Year event also raises money to provide emergency support for music professionals.
Make no mistake, though; Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere is no Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman, or A Complete Unknown.
Instead of being a full-story biopic, Deliver Me from Nowhere focuses on a very specific time in Bruce Springsteen’s life—the conception and recording of the Nebraska record. The movie starts in 1981 with Bruce (Jeremy Allen White from The Iron Claw, The Bear) wrapping up his successful tour in support of The River. He’s one of the biggest rock stars in the world, but in wondering what he’s going to do next, he stumbles across Terrence Malick’s Badlands on television and gets inspired to write his most introspective and honest album yet.
Except, it’s unlistenable. With the help of a loyal engineer named Mike (Paul Walter Hauser, who was Mole Man in The Fantastic Four: First Steps) and a four-track cassette machine, Bruce lays down guitar-and-harmonica, Dylan-esque folk song after folk song. And when he and The E Street Band try to turn it into a Springsteen record, Bruce is unhappy with it. So, with the help of his manager, Jonny Landau (Succession’s Jeremy Strong), he fights with his record company over releasing the record mastered from his original four-track bedroom tape.
The portrayal of Bruce’s artistic struggle in Deliver Me from Nowhere is admirable. As Springsteen fans know, Bruce followed up Nebraska with his monster hit Born in the U.S.A. The songs for both were written and demoed at the same time, and Bruce stood firm on releasing Nebraska first, and releasing it the way he wanted, even doubling down by refusing to do any promotion at all for the record and not even putting his face on the cover. Of course, Bruce and Jonny knew that they had a number one album in the bank, so the gambit paid off in the end—Bruce got his passion project, and the record company got their album full of hit singles. The hits just came a year later.
Writer-director Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart) based his screenplay for Deliver Me from Nowhere on the 2023 book of the same name by Warren Zanes (who—fun fact—was a member of The Del Fuegos). And, while the movie is wildly unfocused, the parts about the making of Nebraska are actually very interesting. Watching White as Bruce channel his angst and misdirection into an artistic vision that he is unwilling to compromise is nothing short of compelling.
It’s when it meanders away from this subplot that Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere loses its way. See, the movie also features threads about Bruce and a love interest named Faye (Odessa Young from Assassination Nation) as well as more than a handful of flashback sequences of the star dealing with his unsettled feelings towards his parents, particularly his father (Dad Springsteen is played by Adolescence’s Stephen Graham while Mom is Now and Then’s Gaby Hoffman). And this is where all of the film’s momentum is lost.
Deliver Me from Nowhere is long and slow—and at about two hours, it’s not even that long. Unfortunately, the movie slides away from the engaging music stuff to subject the viewer to the everyday life stuff. Which does make sense, since the movie is first and foremost about Bruce’s struggle with mental health and secondarily about the music. But man, the music sections are so good, the audience just wants to go right back to them when the other stuff is going on. The romantic angle is very forced, and the parental issues are very typical. Oh, but the music…
So, what we have with Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere is a portrait of a troubled musician in which the music takes the lead. Which is great, but it seems as if Cooper wants to make a different movie, one about a man instead of a musician. But the music is all the audience cares about.
It’s worth noting that, although Bruce is the main character, the real hero of Deliver Me from Nowhere is Jonny Landau. He’s more than just Bruce’s manager; he’s his friend and confidant. And he will do anything—anything—to help Bruce in his times of struggle, whether it’s going to bat for him with the company or talking him off the ledge when he’s stepped out onto it. Of course, Bruce is a meal ticket to Jonny, but Jonny never treats him that way. He truly cares. Everyone should have a friend like Jonny Landau in their life.
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere isn’t the music biopic that people may be expecting. The story behind Nebraska is fascinating, and it coincides with a dark period in Springsteen’s life, but Cooper only succeeds in telling the musical portion of it. The rest is all filler, and filler that everyone has seen before. Aside from the music, it’s kind of a dud.
Oh, but the music…
GRADE: C-
Rating: PG-13 for some sexuality, smoking, strong language, and thematic material
Running Time: 2 hours
Release Date: October 24, 2025
A horrific accident changes the lives of friends and family members of those involved in the official trailer for Reminders of Him. Based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, the romantic drama stars Longlegs‘ Maika Monroe and is heading to theaters on March 13, 2026.
Tyriq Withers (I Know What You Did Last Summer), Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls), three-time Emmy winner Bradley Whitford (The Handmaid’s Tale), Rudy Pankow (Outer Banks), and Grammy winner Lainey Wilson (Yellowstone) also star. Jennifer Robertson (Schitt’s Creek), Zoe Kosovic (The Smashing Machine), Hilary Jardine (Holidazed), Nicholas Duvernay (The White Lotus), and Monika Myers round out the ensemble.
Universal Pictures offers this description of Reminders of Him:
“After a perfect outing with her boyfriend, Kenna (Monroe) makes an unbearable mistake that sends her to prison. Seven years later, Kenna returns to her hometown in Wyoming, hoping to rebuild her life and earn the chance to reunite with her young daughter, Diem, whom she has never known.
When Diem’s custodial grandparents adamantly refuse Kenna’s attempts to see her daughter, Kenna discovers unexpected compassion, and then something truer and deeper, with former NFL player and local bar owner Ledger (Withers). As their secret romance develops, so do the dangers for both of them, leading Kenna toward heartbreak and, ultimately, the hope for a second chance.”
Author Colleen Hoover adapted her novel, along with Lauren Levine, and both serve as producers. The film boasts an all-female filmmaking team that includes director Vanessa Caswill and producer Gina Matthews. Robin Mulcahy Fisichella executive produces.
Teddy Sears as Dr. Josh Nichols, Zachary Quinto as Dr. Oliver Wolf, and Al Calderon as Nico Silva in ‘Brilliant Minds’ season 2 episode 5 (Photo by: Pief Weyman/NBC)
NBC’s Brilliant Minds season two episode five opens with a scene of blood-soaked bandages and medical instruments, and with Dr. Josh Nichols (Teddy Sears) cleaning up the operating room. The action then shifts back in time to 17 hours earlier, revealing the horrific accident that caused all this blood loss.
(The following is a recap of season two episode five, “Once Upon a Time in America,” and there are spoilers.)
Two women chat on their way into work in a high-rise office. They laugh about it being the last day the shirtless window repairman will be outside their windows. One of the women is really interested and her friend teases her that she should go for it.
The two window repairmen show up on the scaffolding, and the woman makes a move, slapping her number on a sticky they can read from outside. The workers are interested and suggest dinner or dancing, but the fun times are short-lived. The cable snaps and they plummet down the side of the building, with the scaffolding falling on top of them.
Over at the hospital, Josh thanks his team for a successful operation. He’s still smiling as he works out shirtless in his office. Dr. Oliver Wolf (Zachary Quinto) catches him doing knee pushups and notes his interim boss isn’t even showering before putting on his shirt. Oliver hands over paperwork that Josh has been insisting he complete, and Josh has Oliver stick around to meet Nurse Nico Silva.
John Clarence Stewart as Dr. Anthony Thorne and Tamberla Perry as Dr. Carol Pierce in ‘Brilliant Minds’ season 2 episode 5 (Photo by: Pief Weyman/NBC)
Down in the ER, Mya’s been ghosting Dr. Carol Pierce (Tamberla Perry) and Dr. Anthony Thorne (John Clarence Stewart) commiserates as they chat while walking through the ER. Anthony insists that Mya will get over herself and Carol jokes that she better do it soon.
Josh credits Nico (Al Calderon) with cardio’s success and praises Oliver for having the highest patient satisfaction rating in the hospital. Josh wants them to team up to get Neuro back on track, and Oliver admits he had no idea they’re off track. Their conversation’s interrupted by the arrival of the two window repairmen with devastating brain and spinal cord injuries.
The men fell 39 stories and yet somehow, they’re still alive. It’s all hands on deck as Anthony tells Jacob (Spence Moore II) to prep two airways. Oliver’s first concern is that one patient has experienced an internal decapitation. A slight movement the wrong way will completely paralyze or even kill him.
Josh quickly assesses the other man and orders them to prep two operating rooms. He’ll handle the critical parts, and his senior fellows will take care of the rest. Josh instructs Oliver to be ready to handle their neurological recovery the second they’re out of surgery.
Carol speaks with the family, but she isn’t fluent in Spanish. Fortunately, Ericka (Ashleigh LaThrop) is and explains what’s happening. Oliver joins them and Ericka also interprets for him, telling the family what to expect. It’s okay to have hope, but the men are critically injured. Anna is completely dependent on Jorge but believes God will grant them a miracle.
It turns out Benny and Jorge are brothers, and Carol wonders why they only talk about Jorge. Ericka whispers that Jorge might be their favorite. Anna gives Josh her necklace and tells him God chose him. Josh puts it on and promises to give her sons “his all.”
Four hours later, Josh is ready to turn Benny over to Oliver. Jorge should be out of surgery in two hours. Josh returns to Jorge’s side and prepares the next step after the skull’s been reconstructed.
Oliver and his team assess Benny, who’s now Neuro’s responsibility, with Nurse Nico also helping out. Benny’s minimally sedated so it’s easier for them to get a handle on his post-op baseline. Dana (Aury Krebs) reveals they’ve told Benny’s family he’s out of surgery, but no one moved. Benny’s mom, Anna, doesn’t seem to want anything to do with him.
Benny slowly moves his hand, and Oliver wants to start the extubation.
Nico wants the 4-1-1 on Oliver from Ericka and Dana, and Dana confirms he has face blindness but is good at recognizing people. Carol grabs Ericka to do more translating; they need to temper Anna’s expectations. Carol offers to sit with her and talk about her feelings, but Anna claims the Bible is her therapist.
In between all the action, Jacob asks Ericka what’s up between her and Dana. Ericka reveals Dana reported Carol and won’t tell her why. Since she didn’t report Oliver, Ericka says it feels like a double standard. Jacob thinks there must be a good reason.
Meanwhile, Josh is in his eighth hour working on Jorge.
Nico tests Oliver’s facial recognition and when he fails, he explains he wants Oliver to learn the names of all the nurses on the floor. In the meantime, they’ll wear name tags.
Benny’s awake and extubated and Ericka explains to him where he is. He spots a cross on the table and knows his mom is there. Oliver’s there to answer Benny’s questions and confirms he survived a catastrophic fall. Benny asks to see his brother and gets agitated when he can’t.
Zachary Quinto as Dr. Oliver Wolf and Teddy Sears as Dr. Josh Nichols in ‘Brilliant Minds’ season 2 episode 5 (Photo by: Pief Weyman/NBC)
Josh is finally out of surgery and gives Oscar and Carol a rundown of what he did. Jorge’s prognosis isn’t looking good, and Josh wants to take off the skull on both sides. It’s the only possible way to save him. Carol and Oliver assure him they’re there for him.
Oliver quizzes Benny to find out his level of brain functioning. He remembers a bunch of pizza places when asked, which is impressive. Benny explains his mother doesn’t like him and only sees what she wants to see. Oliver will support his decision about allowing her to visit, and Benny’s sad that even falling 39 stories and surviving didn’t change his mother’s opinion of him. Benny agrees to see his mom but doesn’t think she wants to see him.
Carol and Ericka speak with Anna, and she explains when she looks at Jorge she sees why they came to America. With Benny, she sees the reasons they shouldn’t have. Benny turned his back on religion and that broke her heart. Carol thinks maybe God is showing Anna that Benny needs his mother.
Carol and Ericka accompany Anna to Benny’s room, and she warns him that if Jorge dies, it will be his fault. She’s speaking in Spanish, but Benny doesn’t understand her, even though it’s his first language.
Later, Oliver admits he’s never seen a case of bilingual aphasia that affects the first language while the second language is intact. Carol doesn’t understand it, either, and they look at a brain diagram. A second language is stored in a different part if it’s learned after early childhood. Oliver thinks they can rebuild the neural pathways, but it won’t be easy.
Josh keeps working, but every step forward results in two steps back.
Oliver sets Benny up with a weak electrical stimulus to help rebuild the pathways, and Benny’s happy the painkillers are helping out. Oliver shows him flashcards, asking if he can say the word in both languages. He can’t and Benny gets frustrated. Oliver reminds him healing doesn’t happen overnight.
Oliver uses flashcards on himself to help him attach names to the nurses’ faces. Nico walks in while Oliver’s working on it and compliments him for trying. He also offers to help reunite Benny and his mom, since moms love him.
Oliver has Nico translate for Benny and his mom, and she starts off by apologizing for blaming him for Jorge’s injuries. She’ll be there with open arms if he can accept that God’s giving him a second chance. Nico does not translate what she says and instead says what Benny needs to hear. Benny accepts her apology (Nico didn’t mention God at all) and says he forgives her. Nico translates and tells Anna that Benny said he accepts God and will come over for dinner every Sunday.
Anna kisses her son and tells him she loves him. Oliver’s okay with Nico’s translations since hopefully Benny and Anna will have time to work it out later.
Suddenly, Benny starts seizing and blows his pupils. Oliver calls for a crash cart and the nurses rush into action. It doesn’t look good as he’s wheeled away.
Oliver interrupts Josh’s surgery to inform him that Benny stroked out his cerebellum even though every scan missed any sign of vascular injury. His spinal cord and brain stem made it, but now there’s a different problem.
Josh wants another OR prepped so he can work on saving Benny again, even though he’s been operating for 14 hours. Josh insists he’s fine.
Sol Miranda as Ana Torres, Zachary Quinto as Dr. Oliver Wolf, Tamberla Perry as Dr. Carol Pierce, Ashleigh LaThrop as Dr. Ericka Kinney, and Aury Krebs as Dr. Dana Dang in ‘Brilliant Minds’ season 2 episode 5 (Photo by: Pief Weyman/NBC)
Carol, Oliver, Dana, Ericka, and Jacob join Anna to pray, since it’s her way of coping. Anna’s family and the staff hold hands as Carol leads the prayer. Anna believes God is with her boys.
Josh walks up as the prayer ends and reports Jorge has strong vitals and is stable. Unfortunately, Benny had a massive stroke and they couldn’t save him. Ericka translates and Anna breaks down, screaming and crying as Josh walks away.
Dana escapes to the bathroom and Ericka follows to see how she’s doing, knowing this death is triggering. Ericka apologizes and says it’s not her business why she reported Carol. She trusts Dana and doesn’t want to remain mad at her best friend. Dana accepts her apology and they hug.
Anthony catches Jacob outside Jorge’s room and explains ER staff don’t have time to check up on patients once they’ve left the emergency department.
Josh thanks his team for all of their hard work and assures them they did everything they could. He remains behind and cleans. Oliver walks in as Josh uses a squeegee to push the blood down the drain. Oliver grabs a mop and starts helping, waiting for Josh to talk if he feels like it. Josh does, and he’s mad he didn’t start over when the nurse put his glove on his right hand first, instead of his left. Oliver believes Josh was Jorge and Benny’s only shot at survival, and he did everything humanly possible to save them.
Oliver tells Anna that they put an EEG on Benny and after his heart stopped, there was still brain activity. He shows her the EEG and says it literally shows Benny’s life flashed before his eyes in those final moments. She wonders what he saw, and Oscar asks her what she would see. She lists special moments with her boys.
Mya and Carol make up, and Carol tells Anthony it was because of a text she sent. She offers him a donut to celebrate, but Anthony admits he’s jealous. His kids haven’t spoken to him since he moved out. Carol easily convinces him to have a donut anyway.
Oliver thanks the nursing staff, calling each of them by name. Nico appreciates Oliver’s hard work in learning their names and promises to be his Gary to Oliver’s Madam President, and of course Oliver doesn’t get the VEEP reference.
The women from the building stop by to share their condolences and tell the family that the brothers were having the best time together right before the fall. They say it looked like there was nowhere else they’d rather be.
Episode five ends with Anna slapping Josh, ripping the necklace she gave him from his neck, and cursing him for failing to save Benny.
Joe Walsh on ‘The Voice’ (Photo by: Casey Durkin/NBC)
Grammy Award winners Joe Walsh and Zac Brown are joining NBC’s The Voice season 28 as mega mentors. Walsh, a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, will be teaming up with judges Niall Horan and Reba McEntire as their teams head into the Knockout Round on Monday, October 27, 2025.
Zac Brown will be lending his expertise to members of Michael Bublé’s and Snoop Dogg’s teams. Season 28 marks Brown’s first time taking part as a mentor on NBC’s The Voice.
New episodes of season 28 air on Mondays at 8pm ET/PT.
NBC offered this description of season 28’s Knockout Round: “Alongside the coaches, Walsh and Brown bring their dynamic artistry and long-standing industry experience to guide the artists into their most powerful performances yet. Each coach enters the Knockouts with eight artists. With no saves or steals in this round, the competition is intense. Coaches alone choose the winner from their team to advance to the Playoffs, the last round before the Live Shows.
The stakes have never been higher as this season’s Knockouts feature the first-ever ‘Mic Drop’ button, given to each coach to use on an artist from their respective teams whose performance blows them away. Viewers at home will have the opportunity to vote for the ‘Mic Drop’ winner among the four.
The artist with the most votes is awarded a performance at ‘The Rose Parade Presented by Honda,’ live on Jan. 1, 2026.”
The Voice was created by John de Mol. Mark Burnett, Audrey Morrissey, Amanda Zucker, Kyra Thompson, Adam H. Sher, Barry Poznick, and de Mol executive produce.
Two-time Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender (The Agency, The Killer) is on board to star as Joe Kennedy, Sr., in Netflix’s Kennedy. The eight-episode drama is based on JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956 by Fredrik Logevall and has Sam Shaw (Castle Rock, Masters of Sex) guiding the project as executive producer and showrunner.
“Kennedy reveals the intimate lives, loves, rivalries, and tragedies that shaped the most iconic dynasty in modern history and helped create the world we live in today,” reads Netflix’s synopsis. “Beginning in the 1930s, the first season charts the improbable ascent of Joe and Rose Kennedy and their nine children, including rebellious second son Jack, who struggles to escape the shadow of his golden boy older brother.”
Additional executive producers include author Logevall, Eric Roth, Lila Byock, Anya Epstein, Dustin Thomason, and Anna O’Malley. Chernin Entertainment’s Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, and Kaitlin Dahill also executive produce. Thomas Vinterberg (The Hunt) will direct and executive produce.
“The story of the Kennedys is the closest we have to American mythology—somewhere between Shakespeare and The Bold and the Beautiful. But Fredrik Logevall’s stunning, nuanced biography pulls a veil on the human strivings and burdens behind the myth, revealing as much about our present moment, how we got here and where we’re going as about the Kennedys themselves,” said Shaw in an interview with Tudum. “I’m thrilled to be able to explore this saga of a family and a world in transition with Eric Roth, Thomas Vinterberg and our incredible band of artists and partners, at a moment when our past feels urgently present.”
Season two, episode five of Fox’s medical drama Doc promises to reveal more of Brian Clark’s backstory. Episode five, “Tightrope,” will air on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 9pm ET/PT.
Molly Parker stars as Dr. Amy Larsen, Omar Metwally plays Dr. Michael Hamda, Felicity Huffman is Dr. Joan Ridley, Amirah Vann is Dr. Gina Walker, and Charlotte Fountain-Jardim plays Katie Hamda. Jon Ecker is Dr. Jake Heller and Anya Banerjee plays Dr. Sonya Maitra.
“Tightrope” Plot: A popular weight loss medication reveals the cracks in a couple’s relationship and two sisters face an unexpected diagnosis.
“Inspired by a true story and based on the hit eponymous Italian drama series, Doc begins its second season of the life-affirming medical drama following the heartbreak and victories of hard-charging, brilliant physician DR. AMY LARSEN (Parker) as she rebuilds her life after a car crash erased eight years of her memory. This season, Amy will continue to confront hard truths about her missing years, work to repair fractured relationships and seek to reconcile the person she used to be with the one everyone else has come to know.
Determined to get her memory back and piece together who she really is, Amy’s goal is to become the doctor she used to be in those missing years and to eventually, once again, be Chief of Internal Medicine. In the interim, her ex-husband/Westside Hospital’s Chief Medical Officer, DR. MICHAEL HAMDA (Metwally) fills the position with Amy’s former mentor and friend DR. JOAN RIDLEY (Huffman), whose motives and priorities remain hidden, just as long as Amy still can’t recall Joan’s life-changing secret. Amy’s best friend and colleague, DR. GINA WALKER (Vann), is weary of Joan’s motives and continues to be a beacon of support for those around her, while finally learning to put on her own oxygen mask first.
While relearning eight years of medical advancements is complicated, it pales in comparison to learning to navigate her new/old/current romantic entanglements. Amy continues to fight her feelings and let Michael go, especially now with the birth of his son with his new wife, bringing up emotions for both Amy and their daughter KATIE HAMDA (Fountain-Jardim). Amy’s on-again, off-again relationship with Chief Resident DR. JAKE HELLER (Ecker) is a bit more delicate as he struggles to protect his heart from her this time around. However, DR. SONYA MAITRA (Banerjee) would only be too glad to pick up the pieces, navigating the balance between her feelings for Jake and her complicated resentment towards Amy.
The second season of Doc begins as Amy’s past comes back to haunt her when a desperate father sacrifices everything to secure his daughter’s heart transplant. Chaos and confusion reverberate through the hallways of Westside Medical when a subsequent high-stakes emergency leaves a doctor’s life in the balance.”
Carra Patterson returns as Detective Kaya Blanke for CBS’s Elsbeth season three, episode three. “Good Grief,” directed by Ron Underwood and featuring guest star Julia Fox, will air on Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 10pm ET/PT.
Carrie Preston returns to star as the titular character. Wendell Pierce is also back as Captain C.W. Wagner for the series’ third season.
“Good Grief” Plot: When “grief influencer” Raquel Drabowski’s (Julia Fox) presumed-dead husband makes a miraculous return, their reunion takes a fatal plunge. Meanwhile, Elsbeth’s surprise reunion with an old friend could expose a dangerous undercover operation.
Emmy Award winner Carrie Preston returns as Elsbeth Tascioni, the cunning yet unconventional consent decree attorney working with the NYPD to track down New York’s most well-heeled murderers utilizing her unique intuitive insight. The critically acclaimed series enters its third season with fresh cases, new characters, and unexpected challenges for Elsbeth and the 11th Precinct, led by her boss, Captain C.W. Wagner (Wendell Pierce).
CBS’s Tracker season three kicks off with part one of a two-part premiere that welcomes back Jensen Ackles (The Boys, Supernatural) as Russell Shaw. We catch up with Colter (Justin Hartley) in Garrett, Wyoming, relaxing at a bar, ignoring his phone, and getting called out for it by the waitress.
(The following is a recap of season three, episode one and there are spoilers ahead!)
Apparently, Colter’s been visiting the bar a lot recently. An obnoxious jerk walks in, bumps the waitress and makes her drop her tray. He tosses money in her face—and Colter’s—when Colter tells him to pick up the broken glass. A fight breaks out and Colter’s easily holding his own when Russell shows up and gets an accidental punch to the face delivered by his bro.
Colter and Russell are the only two standing at the end of the melee.
They move their reunion to Colter’s camper, and Russell confronts him for ignoring everyone. Reenie sent him to check on his brother, and Colter unconvincingly insists he’s fine. Colter finally tells his brother that he found the mystery man on the cliff the night their dad died. Russell’s shocked to learn their mom sent the man, Otto, to talk to their dad.
Their mom wanted to leave their dad, and they both recall he went crazy that night when he learned what she had planned. Otto and their dad went up on the cliff, they tussled, and Otto threw their father over the cliff. Colter is having a rough time dealing with it since he now understands their mom’s been lying for decades. Russell claims he didn’t know any of this, apart from that there was a guy on the cliff.
Colter apologizes for ever believing their mom and for thinking Russell had anything to do with their dad’s death. Russell thinks their mom did what she needed to because their dad was losing it. Colter’s still wondering what happened that summer that caused their dad to change. He can’t just push away the memories, like Russell can. Russell understands but thinks it’s time for Colter to stop ghosting everyone.
Russell calls Reenie (Fiona Rene) and she’s pissed at Colter for going three weeks without touching base. He apologizes, and although he tries to put her off, Russell agrees with Reenie that it’s time to get back to work. In fact, Russell will even join in on a new case. Russell just got fired so he’s free to spend quality time with his brother.
The new case involves Reenie’s client Cal Rodgers. Cal’s wife, Lisa, and daughter, Hailey, may have gone missing, and Cal’s willing to pay what it takes to get them back. Hailey wasn’t there when Cal went to pick her up earlier today, and Cal doesn’t think it’s just a custody dispute. Cal’s suspicious of his ex’s new finance bro boyfriend, Kurt. Cal dug into his background and discovered he runs a crypto scam.
Reenie’s surprised to find Randy (Chris Lee) in her office, reorganizing her internet system. It’ll take a while and Reenie’s not much help because Velma normally takes care of supplies, etc. She offers a brief excuse for Velma’s absence, saying she went to see Teddi to try and save her marriage. (Abby McEnany left the show as a series regular after the second season, and Robin Weigert who played Teddi left after season one.) Randy promises to do deep background dives on Reenie’s candidates to take over as her assistant. He also explains Bobby’s absence by saying he has a new job as an encryption specialist at a startup who’s making big bucks.
Back to the Shaw brothers, Colter confirms he hasn’t told their sister, Dory, about Otto. Colter adds that their mom believed government people were harassing their family. He tells Russell about the hidden phone number he found that belonged to a scientist who died the year their dad died. Russell volunteers to do a deeper dive into the scientist.
Colter and Russell meet with Cal at his ex’s house and learn Lisa and Hailey still haven’t returned. Lisa’s and her boyfriend’s cars are in the driveway, and he doesn’t trust the boyfriend. Kurt’s running a crypto scam and Russell decides that he hates him, too. Cal and Kurt got into an argument the last time Cal went to pick up Hailey, and maybe Kurt is behind the fact they’re missing.
Hailey doesn’t like Kurt either and told Cal he’s stealing money from her mom. She revealed that a stranger showed up a while back who claimed Kurt owed him money.
Since there’s no alarm, Russell just breaks the glass door. Hailey’s and Lisa’s phones are on a table and Cal knows they wouldn’t leave without them. Colter checks upstairs and finds blood splatter on the wall. He enters a bathroom, gun drawn, and finds Kurt lying dead on the floor. His right hand’s been cut off and is missing.
Russell and Colter walk through various scenarios since nothing’s missing and there are no signs of forced entry (other than the glass Russell broke). Reenie has arrived, along with the cops, and has learned Kurt Foster has a criminal record for running a pyramid scheme. Colter and the sheriffs believe Kurt pissed off the wrong people. Reenie looks at Russell like he’s grown a second head when he suggests the hand might have been cut off by somebody who just collects hands.
Russell admits he loves it when Colter calls “his guy,” Randy, for help. Randy’s discovered Kurt’s got enemies, based on his text messages, and might have left clues in his laptop. Randy sends Colter and Russell Kurt’s address as Reenie heads off to the sheriff’s office. Russell asks his bro about Reenie’s boyfriend because he can’t get a handle on the situation. Reenie said they are in a “weird place,” and Russell’s disappointed to learn she’s dating a lawyer. Colter claims not to know anything about Reenie’s relationship because he and Reenie stay in their own lanes. Russell reminds him that there was a time when Colter knew a lot. He jokes about Colter swerving out of his lane or maybe it was Reenie who swerved out of hers.
Colter convinces Russell to get his mind back on the job and thinks Kurt’s home is the perfect place to start. It’s unlocked when they arrive, and they discover someone beat them there and used the severed hand to open a biometric safe. The killer took Kurt’s gun and all the money from the safe. Colter believes that the building probably has cameras and Russell claims he has skillz (stressing the “z”) that will get them access.
Russell finds the security guard and asks to see any surveillance footage from yesterday showing apartment 3F. He explains the situation and when the guy turns him down, Russell thinks he’s found an inroad through their shared military service.
Colter continues to search Kurt’s apartment while Russell shares war stories with the guard. Even though he’s enjoying the talk, the guard still refuses to share the footage. Russell makes as if to leave, but instead he puts the guard in a chokehold and steals his laptop.
He runs out, looking back over his shoulder, and meets up with Colter. Colter found Kurt’s client list, and Randy is busy looking for possible suspects. The Shaw brothers watch the footage and see Lisa entering Kurt’s apartment. Colter thinks Lisa, an orthopedic surgeon, cut off her boyfriend’s hand and opened the safe. The question is why.
Randy’s research reveals Lisa bought a burner phone at a convenience store 24 hours ago.
Russell and Colter discuss how Lisa’s moving around since she left her car behind. Randy reports that someone who matches Lisa’s description stole a red Volvo from the area where she bought the burner phone. He tracks the car and forwards the location to Colter. Just then, sirens approach, and Russell volunteers to stay behind to explain why he took the laptop.
Colter finds the Volvo and sees a woman hurrying away looking sketchy. He calls out to Lisa and she panics and runs. He convinces her to stop, explains her ex hired him, and confirms the cops are now involved. She begs Colter to let her go, confessing she had no choice. Colter tries to assure her he can help, but she panics again and runs into the street. She’s hit by a car and in terrible shape but aware enough to beg Colter to save her daughter.
A message briefly appears on her burner phone asking if she’s retrieved the item. It warns her that she’s running out of time.
Reenie joins Colter at the hospital where Lisa’s been rushed into surgery. He explains Hailey was kidnapped and Lisa was forced to follow instructions. Colter doesn’t know what Lisa was on her way to retrieve (it wasn’t just the money from the safe) but believes whoever’s responsible knows what they’re doing.
Randy backdoors Lisa’s burner and discovers it was a highly sophisticated sender. The messages are encrypted and like nothing he’s dealt with before. He was able to retrieve one message that included the location where Lisa was supposed to bring the item. She was given two hours to do it or Hailey would be killed.
Reenie fills Cal in on what’s going on and why Lisa didn’t reach out. Cal doesn’t think Lisa did anything shady and places the full blame on Kurt.
Randy sends Colter the meeting location and he and Russell take off, with Russell warning that these guys are professionals and they need to be careful.
Randy calls with an update on Lisa’s real phone. Her last call right before the threatening text message was with Raymond Ockman, a teacher at Benjamin Franklin High. He doesn’t have a criminal record and seems to be living an ordinary life. Also, there’s no connection between him and Lisa or Kurt prior to this call. Randy promises to keep digging.
The Shaw brothers arrive at the rock quarry meeting location and spot a car with someone inside. They rush up, guns drawn, and it’s Raymond Ockman. Raymond is scared to death and asks if they’re with “them.” (Lisa also asked Colter that.) He can’t tell them where Hailey is until they give him permission. Colter threatens to shoot him, and Raymond says he can take them to Hailey.
They get in and Raymond drives while answering their questions. Suddenly, he deliberately crashes his car. Raymond makes a run for it, but Colter is much faster. He continues to insist he has to wait for the next step, but Colter and Russell demand to know Hailey’s location. He finally gives it up and says they kidnapped his sister to make him follow their orders.
“They said I was part of the process,” says Raymond. Raymond also confesses that he killed Kurt when he got in the way while he was kidnapping Hailey. Raymond’s phone buzzes with the same ringtone as Lisa’s. The message reads, “YOU HAVE FAILED.”
Colter and Russell save Hailey (Nevis Unipan) and the cops take Raymond away. Hailey’s fine and being examined by EMTs as Cal arrives. Cal hands over a check and thanks them, and Russell’s ready to wrap things up. However, Colter’s still thinking about what Raymond said.
Reenie calls with the sad news that Raymond’s sister’s body was just found. Colter thinks there’s something to the “process” Raymond was talking about, but Russell is ready to call it a day. They rescued Hailey so the job is over. He’s suggesting beers and steaks on Colter when they both receive text messages that say, “You have interrupted the process and there will be consequences.”
