AMC+’s official trailer for Ragdoll arrives a month out from the series’ premiere. The network describes Ragdoll as a “modern-day Faustian thriller” and has set a Thursday, November 11, 2021 launch date for the six-part series.
The cast is led by Henry Lloyd-Hughes (The Irregulars, Killing Eve), Thalissa Teixeira (Too Close, The Musketeers) and Lucy Hale (The Hating Game, Pretty Little Liars).
Sid Gentle Films Ltd (Killing Eve) executive produces along with AMC and UKTV’s Alibi. Ms. Marvel‘s Freddy Syborn also executive produces and serves as lead writer.
AMC+ released the official synopsis of the six-episode series:
“Six people have been murdered, dismembered, and sewn into the shape of one grotesque body suspended from the ceiling in a block of London flats – nicknamed the ‘Ragdoll.’ Assigned to the shocking case are newly reinstated DS Nathan Rose (Lloyd-Hughes); his best friend and boss, DI Emily Baxter (Teixeira); and the unit’s new recruit, DC Lake Edmunds (Hale). The ‘Ragdoll Killer’ taunts the police by sending them a list of his next victims, with Rose’s name among them. And with those victims to protect, our heroes soon come under intense public scrutiny.
A gruesomely imaginative serial killer thriller, Ragdoll captures the fascinating but flawed friends struggling with the consequences of institutionalization and trauma.”
Seven cast members from 1993’s The Real World: Los Angeles are getting back together in the original Venice beach house forThe Real World Homecoming: Los Angeles. Paramount+ and MTV announced the reunion and set a Wednesday, November 24, 2021 premiere date for the docuseries.
The Los Angeles edition is the second installment in The Real World Homecoming series. The first season of the reunion series featured the original New York cast and premiered in March 2021.
The Real World: Los Angeles cast members getting back together include Beth Anthony, Beth Stolarczyk, David Edwards, Glen Naessens, Irene Berrera-Kearns, Jon Brennan, and Tami Roman.
MTV Entertainment Studios’ Sitarah Pendelton-Eaglin, Candida Boyette-Clemons, and Nadim Amiry serve as executive producers along with Bunim/Murray Productions’ Jonathan Murray, Julie Pizzi, Erica Ross, Kevin Lee, and James Knox.
Paramount+ released the following details on the upcoming The Real World Homecoming season:
“This groundbreaking season of The Real World made history with a number of series firsts, including never-before-seen ‘confessional’ style interviews, cast members exiting mid-season with new houseguests moving in, a wedding and more. The series also tackled important issues such as same-sex relationships, abortion, consent, safe sex and eating disorders.
After spending decades apart, the roommates will reconnect to find out how the series transformed their lives since the cameras stopped rolling, and they’ll discover, once again, what happens when people stop being polite… and start getting real.”
Netflix’s On My Block spinoff, Freeridge, just announced the new Core Four we’ll be following over the course of the series. Bryana Salaz (Team Kaylie), Keyla Monterroso Mejia (Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 11, Growing Fangs), Ciara Riley Wilson (LA’s Finest, Kim Possible) and Shiv Pai (Iron Fist, Uncut Gems) are confirmed to star in the spinoff of the popular young adult comedy.
The new Core Four appeared in On My Block‘s season four finale, which also served as the series finale. On My Block‘s core four were played by Sierra Capri as Monse, Diego Tinoco as Cesar, Brett Gray as Jamal, and Jason Genao as Ruby.
On My Block season one premiered in March 2018, followed by season two in March 2019. Season three debuted in March 2020, however, season four was a little delayed and arrived in October 2021.
Netflix’s Freeridge casting announcement did not include a targeted release date or a confirmation of the number of episodes. Co-creators Jamie Uyeshiro, Eddie Gonzalez, and Jeremy Haft will guide the series as showrunners and executive producers. Co-creators Lauren Iungerich and Jamie Dooner are also on board as executive producers.
The streaming service released the following official description of the spinoff:
“The stories of Freeridge continue in this On My Block spinoff following a new crew of friends who may or may not have unleashed a deadly curse kicking off an unforgettable adventure.”
A Look Back at On My Block Season 4, Courtesy of Netflix:
“On My Block is a coming-of-age comedy about a group of bright and street-savvy friends navigating their way through high school in the rough inner city. Season 4 finds our friends two years later, having gone their separate ways. When a secret is unburied, they quickly learn you can’t run from the past and they will need to stick together to survive.”
Season four of The CW’s Legacies is set to premiere on Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 9pm ET/PT after a new episode of Coroner. Directed by Tony Solomons from a script by Mark Ryan Walberg, season four episode one – “You Have to Pick One This Time” – finds the gang working on saving Landon (again).
The cast includes Danielle Rose Russell as Hope Mikaelson, Jenny Boyd as Lizzie Saltzman, Kaylee Bryant as Josie Saltzman, Quincy Fouse as Milton “MG” Greasley, and Aria Shahghasemi as Landon Kirby. Chris Lee plays Kaleb, Leo Howard is Ethan Mac, Ben Levin is Jed, and Matthew Davis is Alaric Saltzman.
“You Have to Pick One This Time” Plot: SEASON PREMIERE – After learning that Malivore has taken over Landon’s (Shahghasemi) body, Hope (Russell) and the Super Squad come up with a risky plan to rescue Landon, as well as Cleo (guest star Omono Okojie), who has been absorbed into Malivore’s darkness. Meanwhile, an impromptu date with Finch (guest star Courtney Bandeko) brings up a subject that Josie (Bryant) is not ready to talk about.
Season one episode four of CBS’s new FBI series, FBI: International, finds the team investigating a murder. Directed by Deborah Kampmeier from a script by Matt Olmstead, episode four – “American Optimism” – will air on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 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.
Ivan Mok, David Noroña, Erica Lutz, Rodrigo Penalosa Pita, and Armand Schultz guest star.
“American Optimism” Plot: The team investigates an American citizen who is proclaiming his innocence after seeking sanctuary at Madrid’s U.S. embassy while still covered in the blood of his murdered Spanish boyfriend. Also, Vo and Raines continue to grow their friendship.
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.
Katheryn Winnick and Kylie Bunbury in ‘Big Sky’ season 2 episode 2 (ABC/Michael Moriatis)
ABC’s Big Sky season two episode two finds our two favorite detectives collaborating on a case and Ronald being formally introduced to Rick Legarski’s twin brother. Although it’s the lesser of the two concurrent storylines, Ronald and the new Legarski (also played by John Carroll Lynch) open the episode.
This Legarski’s name is Wolfgang and Ronald (Brian Geraghty) reveals Rick always referred to his brother as a weak, degenerate hippie. There was no love lost between the siblings as Wolfgang’s description of his dead twin’s character is equally as insulting. Wolf promises he’ll undo the evil Rick committed, and part of that redemption process is “helping” Ronald master his urges.
Wolf reveals Ronald will need to earn the privilege of speaking with Scarlet. Wolf believes in tough love and suggests Ronald needs to accept his position at the bottom of the pack. He allows Ronald to see Scarlet’s working in the garden but that’s as close as he lets him come to his psycho killer girlfriend.
From the way he praises Scarlet, it’s obvious Wolf has no idea what she’s capable of. (And that’s a wrap on Ronald’s storyline in season two episode two.)
Jenny (Katheryn Winnick) carries around the rock with the heart drawn on it as she inspects the crime scene. The driver’s missing and Jenny notes whoever he was, he scratched off the truck’s VIN. She continues to inspect the vehicle and locates blood in a crease on the backseat. It’s fresh enough that it comes off on her pen.
Travis (Logan Marshall-Green) gets caught up in the roadblock around the accident and tells Jenny the delay will cause him to be late to work. Jenny reveals there’s blood at the scene, and they flirt a little as he asks her to let him through. She waves him through with a smile.
Elsewhere, Bridger (Jeremy Ray Taylor) and his sister Madison (Lola Skye Reid) debate the pros and cons of talking to the cops. Bridger’s worried the killer saw them, but Madison’s equally positive they’re in the clear.
It’s confirmed Bridger’s suspicions are correct when the guy who spied on them up at the ridge is shown seated in a vehicle outside their home.
Mark Lindor (Omar Metwally) shows up at the detective agency to take Jerrie (Jesse James Keitel) gun shopping and is pulled aside by Cassie (Kylie Bunbury). She wonders if he’s learned anything about murdered state trooper Dewey but he confirms he can’t go near the files until he’s reinstated. Cassie blames herself for putting her son in harm’s way and Mark suggests they proceed carefully. Cassie appears unwilling to follow his lead, determined to protect her family.
Meanwhile, a woman who looks really out of place in Montana disembarks a private jet at the local airport. She’s snobby to the guy on the ground and steals his cowboy hat, despite the fact he refuses to sell it to her. Her minion, Donno (Ryan O’Nan), is about to resort to violence when the now hat-less man decides it’s best to lose a hat rather than his life.
The woman, who it turns out is named Ren (Janina Gavankar), warns Donno they need to stop cutting up people. This time they’re just going to follow the money and find their drugs.
Bridger’s still feeling guilty about not reporting the crash and shows up at the sheriff’s office to give a statement. He’s seated in the lobby when Deputy Harvey (Michael Malarkey) walks by whistling the same tune the killer whistled while shooting the driver at the crash scene.
By the time Jenny makes it to the lobby to talk to him, Bridger has taken off without saying anything.
Max (Madelyn Kientz) comes home to find that her mom, Rachel (T.V. Carpio), has been drinking. She claims she fell off the wagon because she has a toothache and can’t afford a visit to the dentist. Max hates seeing her mother this way and says she’ll use her babysitting money to pay the dentist. (Maybe having Max be the one to hide the bags of money and drugs wasn’t the best idea…)
A waitress named Tonya (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) asks Cassie to help her find her missing boyfriend. His name’s Big Sam and he mysteriously disappeared on his way to pick her up. Cassie assures her she can help.
There’s cause to celebrate at the agency as Jerrie has just passed her test and is officially a private investigator. Denise (Dedee Pfeiffer) is into it, decorating Jerrie’s desk and hanging congratulations banners. Cassie’s reaction is more subdued and business-like. She asks if Jerrie’s found anything out about Sam, and Jerrie thinks there’s something weird about him. He was living beyond his means and they’re not sure what he actually does for a job.
Max checks in after receiving a text from Cassie, and Cassie asks if she can babysit on Saturday. As they’re chatting, Max does a double-take when she spots a photo of Big Sam on Cassie’s desk. Cassie notices Max’s reaction, but Max claims she’s never seen the man before.
Jerrie and Mark relax over dinner and drinks at a restaurant, and Jerrie insists they steer the conversation away from work. Mark asks her advice on how to get through to Cassie, and Jerrie suggests he stop trying so hard. “Cassie’s got walls…high ones,” says Jerrie.
The teens gather back at the ridge to share updates on the crash investigation. Bridger informs them the killer was a cop – and the cop has seen his face. Fortunately, Bridger believes the cop didn’t recognize him. Max confesses she gave her mom $2,000 and then distributes the same amount to each of them. They’re all cool with that.
Harper (Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson) suggests they wait a few months and if there aren’t any new developments, they’ll divide up the remaining money. As for the drugs, they think the best solution is to get rid of them quickly.
Harper and Max are walking home from the meetup when the strange man from the mountains approaches them. “I saw you,” he says as they turn and walk away. He yells after them and Max screams for him to leave them alone. Max pepper sprays him before running off with Harper.
Jenny shows up late at night at Travis’ hotel room rocking a UB40 T-shirt but pauses outside his door. She’s shocked to discover he’s in the room with a woman and sees them kiss through the window. She takes off without making her presence known.
Deputy Harvey fills Ren and Donno in on the investigation into the crash. He explains Sam’s truck has been taken to the station to be checked out but he cleaned it up first. He swears he did the best he could, but Ren’s pissed the money and drugs are missing. Ren wonders if he took them; he claims he’s innocent.
Harvey’s sure Sam’s girlfriend, Tonya, isn’t involved in this. He’s known her for years and thinks she’s a good girl. Ren informs him they’ll take things from here. Before Harvey leaves, he warns them not to assume they can come to town and make messes. “This is Montana,” says Harvey.
The following morning Travis shows up at Jenny’s and apparently he knows she stopped by the hotel. He claims the woman she saw him with was just part of his undercover work. “She’s the front for a connection I’ve been trying to make,” says Travis.
Travis suggests they lay down some ground rules to make their relationship work. Jenny puts a temporary halt to the relationship conversation because she’s late for work. When she mentions the truck involved in the crash didn’t have a VIN, it sparks Travis’ interest. There’s a possibility it’s connected to what he’s working on. It might have to do with a missing drug shipment.
Jerrie informs Cassie she discovered Sam purchased one-way tickets to Cabo. Tonya didn’t mention them before, and Cassie confronts her at the diner. Tonya explains it’s complicated and can’t talk about this at work.
When Tonya steps away from the counter to serve customers, it’s revealed Ren’s seated a few chairs down from Cassie. She asks about the best pie to eat and Cassie suggests huckleberry. (So the title isn’t a reference to Tombstone after all.)
Cassie leaves and Ren’s joined by Donno. They both order huckleberry pie from Tonya and then reveal they’re old friends of Big Sam’s.
Jenny takes a closer look at the truck and discovers a hidden smuggling compartment containing a gun. She hopes they can pull a print from it.
Back at the detective agency, Cassie shows Jenny her file on Big Sam. Jenny thinks it’s a weird coincidence she’s looking for the same guy after pulling his prints off the gun. They decide to team up and talk to Tonya.
Madelyn Kientz and Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson in ‘Big Sky’ season 2 episode 2 (ABC/Michael Moriatis)
Max returns home and is confronted by T-Lock (Arturo Del Puerto) who demands to know where she got the money. She lies and claims it was babysitting money.
A short while later Max confesses to her BFF Harper she’s worried he didn’t believe it. The situation’s getting too messy, what with her mom’s boyfriend sensing she’s lying and Cassie looking into the accident. Max confesses she saw the dead driver’s face in a file at Cassie’s and Harper reminds her no one knows anything. Max thinks they need to bring Bridger and Madison into the loop. Harper’s leery of that since their parents are lawyers.
Harper thinks instead of dumping the drugs they should sell them. A guy she knows could do it for them and they’d get a cut of the profits. Harper wants Max to get a sample to give to this guy. If it’s too sketchy, they’ll call it off.
Tonya’s packing a bag when Ren and Donno bust in. They want their money and drugs, but Tonya claims not to know anything. She’s knocked out and her place is ransacked.
Cassie and Jenny drive over to Tonya’s place anxious to discover what she really knows. They arrive after Ren and Donno have searched the place. Tonya’s gone and they assume she’s been taken.
Max takes a small bag of drugs from the shed and is stopped in her tracks by T-Lock as she attempts to run across the lawn. T-Lock pries her hand open and discovers the drugs.
Ren and Donno have indeed kidnapped Tonya and have her gagged and bound in the backseat of their car as season two episode two ends.
Filmmakers Chris Miller and Phil Lord (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, 21 Jump Street) are the creative forces behind Apple TV+’s upcoming comedy series, The Afterparty, debuting next January. Judging solely by the first teaser trailer, The Afterparty could become the streaming service’s breakout comedy of 2022. Hopefully the series is as funny as its teaser.
“This is one of the most surprising, original and fun projects we’ve ever made,” said Lord and Miller. “Our goal was to tell a comedic whodunnit story in a new and exciting way. By giving each episode its own unique style of storytelling, we were able to make what feels like eight distinctly different but interconnected films that highlight how everyone’s personal perspective and biases shape how they see the world.”
The first season stars Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip), Sam Richardson (Veep), Zoë Chao (Love Life), Ben Schwartz (House of Lies), and Ike Barinholtz (The Mindy Project). Ilana Glazer (Broad City), Jamie Demetriou (Fleabag), Dave Franco (The Rental), and John Early (Search Party) also star in the eight-episode season.
Chris Miller created the series and directs, executive produces, and serves as showrunner. Phil Lord and Anthony King also executive produce. The behind-the-scenes team includes director of photography Carl Herse, production designer Bruce Hill, costume designer Trayce Gigi Field, composer Daniel Pemberton, and editor Joel Negron.
Apple TV+ released the following description of season one:
“The Afterparty centers on a murder mystery at a high school reunion. Each of the eight episodes features a retelling of the same night told through a different character’s perspective, each with its own unique visual style and film genre to match the teller’s personality.”
Lee Pace stars in ‘Foundation’ (Photo credit courtesy of Apple)
Apple TV+ has officially given Foundation a renewal order, with a second season announced prior to season one’s fourth episode. The sci-fi series is based on Isaac Asimov’s award-winning trilogy and stars Jared Harris and Lee Pace, with David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight trilogy) guiding Foundation as showrunner and executive producer.
“Since my childhood I’ve dreamed of how Hari Seldon and Eto Demerzel would look and sound — what Terminus and Trantor would feel like,” stated Goyer. “Now, with season two, our audience will get to visit more of Asimov’s indelible characters and worlds, including Hober Mallow, General Bel Riose, and all the Outer Suns. I’m thrilled that a whole new generation of fans are reading Asimov’s brilliant masterwork. We’re playing the long game with Foundation and I’m grateful to my partners at Apple and Skydance for entrusting me with this epic. Buckle up. We’re about to fold some serious space.”
Season one premiered on September 24, 2021 and has six new episodes still to air.
“We have been so excited to watch global audiences embrace the captivating, suspenseful and breathtaking thrill ride that is Foundation,” said Matt Cherniss, head of programming for Apple TV+. “We know how long fans of these beloved Asimov stories have waited to see his iconic work brought to life as a visually spectacular event series and now we can’t wait to showcase even more of the richly layered world, compelling storytelling and stunning world-building in season two.”
In addition to Goyer, the Skydance Television production has Robyn Asimov, Josh Friedman, Cameron Welsh, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Bill Bost involved as executive producers.
“David Goyer’s Foundation has surpassed all my expectations by bringing my father’s philosophy and ideas to the screen in ways he could never do while staying true to his work,” said Robyn Asimov. “I know my father would have been proud to see his iconic story come to life through the show’s visual beauty and the layered characters, understanding full well his words would need this cinematic translation. My father was deeply indebted to his fans, to their loyalty and always hoped his work would pass through to following generations. The ‘Foundation’ series is fulfilling his wish (and mine) by introducing his work to a vast array of new readers. Given the cerebral nature of the Foundation books, this series is a tour de force.”
The season one cast also features Lou Llobell, Leah Harvey, Laura Birn, Terrence Mann, Cassian Bilton, and Alfred Enoch.
The Plot, Courtesy of Apple TV+:
The monumental adaptation chronicles the stories of four crucial individuals transcending space and time as they overcome deadly crises, shifting loyalties and complicated relationships that will ultimately determine the fate of humanity.
When revolutionary Dr. Hari Seldon predicts the impending fall of the Empire, he and a band of loyal followers venture to the far reaches of the galaxy to establish The Foundation in an attempt to rebuild and preserve the future of civilization. Enraged by Hari’s claims, the ruling Cleons — a long line of emperor clones — fear their unrivaled reign may be weakening as they’re forced to reckon with the potential reality of losing their powerful legacy forever.
In this week’s new episode, “Barbarians at the Gate,” Salvor faces off with an enemy of the Empire. Brothers Day and Dusk are at odds, while Brother Dawn wrestles with his truth.
Emmy Award nominee Steve Carell is teaming up with the award-winning team behind The Americans for the FX limited series, The Patient. The FX Productions limited series is described as a psychological thriller and will star Carell as a psychiatrist.
The Americans‘ Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg are writing the 10-episode limited series and will serve as executive producers. Carell, Victor Hsu, and Caroline Moore are also executive producing.
“We are excited that Joe and Joel are back with their next series for FX after the great experience of working with them on six amazing seasons of The Americans,” said Eric Schrier, President, FX Entertainment. “Their creative instincts and mastery of plot and character are on display again with The Patient, which will showcase Steve Carell’s remarkable talents as an actor, producer, and creative collaborator.”
Steve Carell earned a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his performance in Foxcatcher and multiple Emmy nominations for his starring role as Michael Scott on The Office. Carell’s credits include The Morning Show, Space Force, Welcome to Marwen, Vice, Beautiful Boy, and Last Flag Flying. He recently completed work on the animated sequel, Minions: The Rise of Gru.
FX released the following description of the half-hour limited series:
“A psychological thriller from the minds of Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg, a psychotherapist finds himself held prisoner by a serial killer with an unusual request: curb his homicidal urges. But unwinding the mind of this man while also dealing with the waves of his own repressed troubles creates a journey perhaps as treacherous as his captivity.
Steve Carell will play ‘Alexander Strauss,’ a psychiatrist who has recently lost his wife. Behind his cerebral, sensitive exterior, he has yet to plumb the depths of his own pain and loss.”
HBO Max’s What Happened, Brittany Murphy? examines the career, private life, and death of the actress who died under bizarre circumstances at 32. The official trailer shows a smiling Murphy at the height of her career as well as in the more troubled period just prior to her death.
Brittany Murphy’s life is remembered via interviews with friends and co-stars as well as footage from her films and TV projects. In particular, the months leading up to her death are examined along with Murphy’s relationship with her husband, a controversial figure who also died unexpectedly less than a year after Murphy passed away. Both Murphy and Monjack’s deaths were attributed to pneumonia and severe anemia.
Emmy nominee Cynthia Hill (Private Violence) directed and Mary Lisio, James Buddy Day, and Blumhouse’s Jason Blum, Chris McCumber, and Jeremy Gold executive produced. What Happened, Brittany Murphy? was produced by Blumhouse Television and Pyramid Productions.
The Max Original two-part documentary will premiere on Thursday, October 14, 2021.
HBO Max released the following description of the docuseries:
“The documentary is an intimate, in-depth character portrait of actress Brittany Murphy, going beyond the headlines to explore the mysterious circumstances surrounding her tragic death at 32 years old.
A captivating actress as effervescent on-screen as she was off, Murphy was a rising star whose movies helped define a generation. But in 2009, Murphy’s untimely passing ended her promising career, while the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death quickly became fodder for speculation and conspiracy theories. Featuring new archival footage and interviews with those closest to her, What Happened, Brittany Murphy? goes beyond the tabloid rumors to examine the impact of Hollywood’s sexism on her struggles, as well as lingering concerns about her relationship with husband Simon Monjack. Sensitive and nuanced, the docuseries explores the legacy of a unique talent.”
On a personal note, I interviewed Brittany Murphy multiple times over the years and always found her to be a delightful interview with a contagious smile. RIP Brittany.
