Critics Choice Awards 2021 Winners: The Crown, Nomadland Win Big

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March 7, 2021

The Crown Critics Choice Awards Winner — Princess Diana (EMMA CORRIN) and Prince Charles (JOSH O’CONNOR) in ‘The Crown’ season 4 (Photo Credit: Netflix)

The 2021 Critics Choice Awards learned an important lesson on how not to host a virtual awards show from the disastrous Golden Globes. There weren’t any horribly uncomfortable reaction shots and much more attention – and time – were devoted to actually showcasing the nominated work during the March 7, 2021 awards show hosted by Taye Diggs.

The Crown and Nomadland were the night’s big Critics Choice Awards winners while Ted Lasso‘s Hannah Waddingham’s, Minari‘s Alan Kim, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom‘s Chadwick Boseman’s widow won the hearts of viewers with their emotional acceptance speeches.

Nomadland took home the Best Picture, Best Director (Chloé Zhao), Best Adapted Screenplay (Zhao), and Best Cinematography awards. Zhao’s wins earned her the honor of being the first Chinese woman to win as either a director or writer.

The Crown also earned four Critics Choice Awards including Best Drama, Best Actor in a Drama Series (Josh O’Connor), Best Actress in a Drama Series (Emma Corrin), and Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Gillian Anderson).

26TH ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS FILM NOMINEES & WINNERS

BEST PICTURE
Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
Mank (Netflix)
Minari (A24)
News of the World (Universal Pictures)
WINNER: Nomadland (Searchlight Pictures)
One Night in Miami (Amazon Studios)
Promising Young Woman (Focus Features)
Sound of Metal (Amazon Studios)
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix)

BEST ACTOR
Ben Affleck – The Way Back (Warner Bros.)
Riz Ahmed – Sound of Metal (Amazon Studios)
WINNER: Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
Tom Hanks – News of the World (Universal Pictures)
Anthony Hopkins – The Father (Sony Pictures Classics)
Delroy Lindo – Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)
Gary Oldman – Mank (Netflix)
Steven Yeun – Minari (A24)

BEST ACTRESS
Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
Andra Day – The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Hulu)
Sidney Flanigan – Never Rarely Sometimes Always (Focus Features)
Vanessa Kirby – Pieces of a Woman (Netflix)
Frances McDormand – Nomadland (Searchlight Pictures)
WINNER: Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman (Focus Features)
Zendaya – Malcolm & Marie (Netflix)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Chadwick Boseman – Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)
Sacha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix)
WINNER: Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah (Warner Bros.)
Bill Murray – On the Rocks (A24/Apple TV+)
Leslie Odom, Jr. – One Night in Miami (Amazon Studios)
Paul Raci – Sound of Metal (Amazon Studios)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
WINNER: Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Amazon Studios)
Ellen Burstyn – Pieces of a Woman (Netflix)
Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy (Netflix)
Olivia Colman – The Father (Sony Pictures Classics)
Amanda Seyfried – Mank (Netflix)
Yuh-Jung Youn – Minari (A24)

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS
Ryder Allen – Palmer (Apple TV+)
Ibrahima Gueye – The Life Ahead (Netflix)
WINNER: Alan Kim – Minari (A24)
Talia Ryder – Never Rarely Sometimes Always (Focus Features)
Caoilinn Springall – The Midnight Sky (Netflix)
Helena Zengel – News of the World (Universal Pictures)

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)
Judas and the Black Messiah (Warner Bros.)
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
Minari (A24)
One Night in Miami (Amazon Studios)
WINNER: The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix)

BEST DIRECTOR
Lee Isaac Chung – Minari (A24)
Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman (Focus Features)
David Fincher – Mank (Netflix)
Spike Lee – Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)
Regina King – One Night in Miami (Amazon Studios)
Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix)
WINNER: Chloé Zhao – Nomadland (Searchlight Pictures)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Lee Isaac Chung – Minari (A24)
WINNER: Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman (Focus Features)
Jack Fincher – Mank (Netflix)
Eliza Hittman – Never Rarely Sometimes Always (Focus Features)
Darius Marder & Abraham Marder – Sound of Metal (Amazon Studios)
Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Paul Greengrass & Luke Davies – News of the World (Universal Pictures)
Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller – The Father (Sony Pictures Classics)
Kemp Powers – One Night in Miami (Amazon Studios)
Jon Raymond & Kelly Reichardt – First Cow (A24)
Ruben Santiago-Hudson – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
WINNER: Chloé Zhao – Nomadland (Searchlight Pictures)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Christopher Blauvelt – First Cow (A24)
Erik Messerschmidt – Mank (Netflix)
Lachlan Milne – Minari (A24)
WINNER: Joshua James Richards – Nomadland (Searchlight Pictures)
Newton Thomas Sigel – Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)
Hoyte Van Hoytema – Tenet (Warner Bros.)
Dariusz Wolski – News of the World (Universal Pictures)

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Cristina Casali, Charlotte Dirickx – The Personal History of David Copperfield (Searchlight Pictures)
David Crank, Elizabeth Keenan – News of the World (Universal Pictures)
Nathan Crowley, Kathy Lucas – Tenet (Warner Bros.)
WINNER: Donald Graham Burt, Jan Pascale – Mank (Netflix)
Kave Quinn, Stella Fox – Emma (Focus Features)
Mark Ricker, Karen O’Hara & Diana Stoughton – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)

BEST EDITING
(TIE) WINNER: Alan Baumgarten – The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix)
Kirk Baxter – Mank (Netflix)
Jennifer Lame – Tenet (Warner Bros.)
Yorgos Lamprinos – The Father (Sony Pictures Classics)
(TIE) WINNER: Mikkel E. G. Nielsen – Sound of Metal (Amazon Studios)
Chloé Zhao – Nomadland (Searchlight Pictures)

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Alexandra Byrne – Emma (Focus Features)
Bina Daigeler – Mulan (Disney)
Suzie Harman & Robert Worley – The Personal History of David Copperfield (Searchlight Pictures)
WINNER: Ann Roth – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
Nancy Steiner – Promising Young Woman (Focus Features)
Trish Summerville – Mank (Netflix)

BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP
Emma (Focus Features)
Hillbilly Elegy (Netflix)
WINNER: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
Mank (Netflix)
Promising Young Woman (Focus Features)
The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Hulu)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Greyhound (Apple TV+)
The Invisible Man (Universal Pictures)
Mank (Netflix)
The Midnight Sky (Netflix)
Mulan (Disney)
WINNER: Tenet (Warner Bros.)
Wonder Woman 1984 (Warner Bros.)

BEST COMEDY
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Amazon Studios)
The Forty-Year-Old Version (Netflix)
The King of Staten Island (Universal Pictures)
On the Rocks (A24/Apple TV+)
WINNER: Palm Springs (Hulu and NEON)
The Prom (Netflix)

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Another Round (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
Collective (Magnolia Pictures)
La Llorona (Shudder)
The Life Ahead (Netflix)
WINNER: Minari (A24)
Two of Us (Magnolia Pictures)

BEST SONG
Everybody Cries – The Outpost (Screen Media Films)
Fight for You – Judas and the Black Messiah (Warner Bros.)
Husavik (My Home Town) – Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (Netflix)
Io sì (Seen) – The Life Ahead (Netflix)
WINNER: Speak Now – One Night in Miami (Amazon Studios)
Tigress & Tweed – The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Hulu)

BEST SCORE
Alexandre Desplat – The Midnight Sky (Netflix)
Ludwig Göransson – Tenet (Warner Bros.)
James Newton Howard – News of the World (Universal Pictures)
Emile Mosseri – Minari (A24)
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross – Mank (Netflix)
WINNER: Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Jon Batiste – Soul (Disney)

26TH ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS NOMINEES & WINNERS

BEST DRAMA SERIES
Better Call Saul (AMC)
WINNER: The Crown (Netflix)
The Good Fight (CBS All Access)
Lovecraft Country (HBO)
The Mandalorian (Disney+)
Ozark (Netflix)
Perry Mason (HBO)
This Is Us (NBC)

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Jason Bateman – Ozark (Netflix)
Sterling K. Brown – This Is Us (NBC)
Jonathan Majors – Lovecraft Country (HBO)
WINNER: Josh O’Connor – The Crown (Netflix)
Bob Odenkirk – Better Call Saul (AMC)
Matthew Rhys – Perry Mason (HBO)

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Christine Baranski – The Good Fight (CBS All Access)
Olivia Colman – The Crown (Netflix)
WINNER: Emma Corrin – The Crown (Netflix)
Claire Danes – Homeland (Showtime)
Laura Linney – Ozark (Netflix)
Jurnee Smollett – Lovecraft Country (HBO)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Jonathan Banks – Better Call Saul (AMC)
Justin Hartley – This Is Us (NBC)
John Lithgow – Perry Mason (HBO)
Tobias Menzies – The Crown (Netflix)
Tom Pelphrey – Ozark (Netflix)
WINNER: Michael K. Williams – Lovecraft Country (HBO)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
WINNER: Gillian Anderson – The Crown (Netflix)
Cynthia Erivo – The Outsider (HBO)
Julia Garner – Ozark (Netflix)
Janet McTeer – Ozark (Netflix)
Wunmi Mosaku – Lovecraft Country (HBO)
Rhea Seehorn – Better Call Saul (AMC)

BEST COMEDY SERIES
Better Things (FX)
The Flight Attendant (HBO Max)
Mom (CBS)
PEN15 (Hulu)
Ramy (Hulu)
Schitt’s Creek (Pop)
WINNER: Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
What We Do in the Shadows (FX)

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Hank Azaria – Brockmire (IFC)
Matt Berry – What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Nicholas Hoult – The Great (Hulu)
Eugene Levy – Schitt’s Creek (Pop)
WINNER: Jason Sudeikis – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Ramy Youssef – Ramy (Hulu)

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Pamela Adlon – Better Things (FX)
Christina Applegate – Dead to Me (Netflix)
Kaley Cuoco – The Flight Attendant (HBO Max)
Natasia Demetriou – What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
WINNER: Catherine O’Hara – Schitt’s Creek (Pop)
Issa Rae – Insecure (HBO)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
William Fichtner – Mom (CBS)
Harvey Guillén – What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
WINNER: Daniel Levy – Schitt’s Creek (Pop)
Alex Newell – Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC)
Mark Proksch – What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Andrew Rannells – Black Monday (Showtime)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Lecy Goranson – The Conners (ABC)
Rita Moreno – One Day at a Time (Pop)
Annie Murphy – Schitt’s Creek (Pop)
Ashley Park – Emily in Paris (Netflix)
Jaime Pressly – Mom (CBS)
WINNER: Hannah Waddingham – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

BEST LIMITED SERIES
I May Destroy You (HBO)
Mrs. America (FX)
Normal People (Hulu)
The Plot Against America (HBO)
WINNER: The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)
Small Axe (Amazon Studios)
The Undoing (HBO)
Unorthodox (Netflix)

BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Bad Education (HBO)
Between the World and Me (HBO)
The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel (Lifetime)
WINNER: Hamilton (Disney+)
Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Studios)
What the Constitution Means to Me (Amazon Studios)

BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
WINNER: John Boyega – Small Axe (Amazon Studios)
Hugh Grant – The Undoing (HBO)
Paul Mescal – Normal People (Hulu)
Chris Rock – Fargo (FX)
Mark Ruffalo – I Know This Much is True (HBO)
Morgan Spector – The Plot Against America (HBO)

BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Cate Blanchett – Mrs. America (FX)
Michaela Coel – I May Destroy You (HBO)
Daisy Edgar-Jones – Normal People (Hulu)
Shira Haas – Unorthodox (Netflix)
WINNER: Anya Taylor-Joy – The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)
Tessa Thompson – Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Studios)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Daveed Diggs – The Good Lord Bird (Showtime)
Joshua Caleb Johnson – The Good Lord Bird (Showtime)
Dylan McDermott – Hollywood (Netflix)
WINNER: Donald Sutherland – The Undoing (HBO)
Glynn Turman – Fargo (FX)
John Turturro – The Plot Against America (HBO)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
WINNER: Uzo Aduba – Mrs. America (FX)
Betsy Brandt – Soulmates (AMC)
Marielle Heller – The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)
Margo Martindale – Mrs. America (FX)
Winona Ryder – The Plot Against America (HBO)
Tracey Ullman – Mrs. America (FX)

BEST TALK SHOW
Desus & Mero (Showtime)
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS)
The Kelly Clarkson Show (NBC/Syndicated)
WINNER: Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
Red Table Talk (Facebook Watch)

BEST COMEDY SPECIAL
Fortune Feimster: Sweet & Salty (Netflix)
Hannah Gadsby: Douglas (Netflix)
(TIE) WINNER: Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill (Netflix)
Marc Maron: End Times Fun (Netflix)
(TIE) WINNER: Michelle Buteau: Welcome to Buteaupia (Netflix)
Patton Oswalt: I Love Everything (Netflix)

BEST SHORT FORM SERIES
The Andy Cohen Diaries (Quibi)
WINNER: Better Call Saul: Ethics Training with Kim Wexler (AMC/Youtube)
Mapleworth Murders (Quibi)
Nikki Fre$h (Quibi)
Reno 911! (Quibi)
Tooning Out the News (CBS All Access)

Grammy Awards Performers: BTS, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles & Dozens More

By

Alison Helms

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March 7, 2021

Music’s biggest night is back with the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards set to air live on Sunday March 14, 2021 at 8pm ET/5pm PT. The 2021 Grammys hosted by The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah will be broadcast on CBS Television Network and stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

After keeping everyone waiting, the full lineup of performers was finally announced today. Among the musical artists confirmed to perform are BTS, Bad Bunny, Black Pumas, Cardi B, Brandi Carlile, DaBaby, Doja Cat, Billie Eilish, and Miranda Lambert. Dua Lipa, Chris Martin, John Mayer, Megan Thee Stallion, Maren Morris, Post Malone, Roddy Ricch, Harry Styles, and Taylor Swift will also entertain the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards audience.

“Artists will be coming together, while still safely apart, to play music for each other as a community and celebrate the music that unites us all,” stated the Recording Academy.

In addition to honoring outstanding artists, Music’s Biggest Night will pay tribute to the independent venues that have been greatly impacted by the pandemic. From bartenders to box office managers, those who work day-to-day at the Troubadour (Los Angeles), The Hotel Café (Los Angeles), the Apollo Theater (New York City), and The Station Inn (Nashville) will present various categories throughout the night.

The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards was originally set to air January 31 but was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Executive producer Ben Winston explained on January 5th, “After discussions with health experts the 63rd Grammy Awards will be rescheduled for March 14, 2021.”

Presenters for this year’s show have yet to be announced.

2021’s Grammy Awards are produced by Fulwell 73 Productions for the Recording Academy. Ben Winston is executive producer, Jesse Collins and Raj Kapoor are co-executive producers, and Fatima Robinson, Josie Cliff, and David Wild are producers. Patrick Menton is talent producer and Hamish Hamilton is directing.

Grammy week kicks off Monday, March 8th with the four-day virtual Grammy In The Schools Fest. The annual MusiCares Charity event will be held Friday, March 12th and this year will be a virtual fundraiser to honor the resilience of the music community, which has been deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. MusiCares will feature new performances from BTS, HAIM, H.E.R., Jhené Aiko, and John Legend as well as legendary performances from the MusiCares’ vaults featuring Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty, and Usher.

The event will also have special appearances by Carole King, Jesse & Joy, Jonas Brothers, Ledisi, Lionel Richie, Macklemore, Mick Fleetwood, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and Shakira, as well as a special pre-show DJ set performed by DJ D-Nice. Tickets are available to the public for $25 and are on sale now via MusiCares.org. All proceeds will be distributed to music people in need.

“Music on a Mission is a chance to recognize the challenges music people have faced this past year and honor their resiliency,” said Laura Segura, Executive Director of MusiCares. “After surveying the music industry, it is clear the pandemic has taken a financial and mental toll. As the leading foundation dedicated to the health and welfare of music people, it is our responsibility to support music people through this pandemic and beyond. We’re thrilled to pay tribute to the people who have kept the music playing.”

Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak Release “Leave the Door Open” Video

By

Alison Helms

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March 6, 2021

Multiple Grammy Award winners Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak just released the first single, “Leave the Door Open,” from their highly anticipated new band, Silk Sonic. Named Silk Sonic by the legendary Bootsy Collins, Bruno and Anderson have come together to create the setlist of doom. (Yes, “doom,” you read that right.)

“[…] We thought it’d be incredible if we could dream up a dream set list and we, that was our model in the studio, ‘Alright, well, let’s create the set list of doom, who would be the ultimate host that could thread all these songs together?’ And thank God for Bootsy,” said Mars in an interview with Billboard.

“Leave the Door Open” was produced by Mars and D’Mile, and written by Bruno, Anderson, D’Mile, and Brody Brown.

These two R&B/soul powerhouses are no strangers to hits. Recently the 11-time Grammy award-winning Mars released the smash hit “Please Me” featuring rapper Cardi B. which landed in the top five on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Anderson .Paak racked up Grammy wins in 2019 and 2020 for Best Rap Performance, Best R&B Performance, and Best R&B Album. Anderson also opened for Bruno on his 24k Magic tour from 2017-2018.

The official music video for “Leave the Door Open,” which is now streaming on YouTube, has a retro vibe and is set in a recording studio with a full band as well as Anderson .Paak on the drums and Bruno Mars on the keyboard. The single is now available everywhere along with a special intro track featuring special guest host Bootsy Collins. (Collins got his start as part of the “Godfather of Soul” James Brown’s band in 1970.)

Silk Sonic’s debut album, An Evening With Silk Sonic, will be available later this year. An official release date has yet to be announced. This will be Bruno Mars’ first full album since releasing 24K Magic in 2016.

Even with so much on his plate, March 5th marked the debut of Bruno Mars’ first lifestyle clothing collection, teaming up with Lacoste to launch Ricky Regal. The clothing is 1970s-inspired, which fits perfectly with the tone of the “Leave the Door Open” video. The clothing line’s set to launch on Monday, March 8th after debuting in select retailers.

Mars Exploration Rover’s Bond with Humans Explored in ‘Good Night Oppy’ Documentary

By

Rebecca Murray

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March 5, 2021

The bond between Mars Exploration Rover “Opportunity” and the humans who created her is the subject of the upcoming feature documentary Good Night Oppy. Ryan White (Visible: Out on Television) directs the Amazon Studios, Amblin Television, Film 45, and Tripod Media production which has the support of NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Industrial Light & Magic (ILM).

“We are so thrilled to be working with these extraordinary partners to bring Oppy’s story to our global customers,” stated Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios. “The innovation and determination that made Oppy’s journey possible, and the spirit of discovery that drives the team at JPL, are an inspiration. As we celebrate their achievements, we are delighted to also be working with the extremely talented filmmaker Ryan White, and our friends at Amblin Television and Film 45 to bring this heartwarming story to life.”

Amblin Partners’ Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey, Film 45’s Brandon Carroll and Matt Goldberg, and Tripod Media’s Jessica Hargrave and Ryan White are producing. Max Wagner and Stephen Neely are executive producing.

“I grew up on films like E.T. and Wall-E, so to make a documentary with similar themes of wonder and awe has been a joy,” stated director White. “We’re thrilled to work with Amazon to bring the story of Oppy and her humans to global audiences of all ages.”

“It was impossible not to fall in love with the story of Oppy – one of hope, ambition, adventure and exceeded expectations, and an exploration of the special relationship between mankind and technology, which ticked all the boxes for our Amblin brand,” said Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey, Co-Presidents Amblin Television. “We couldn’t be more excited to partner with our friends at Amazon Studios, Film 45 and Tripod Media to bring Oppy’s miraculous story to life.”

Details on Good Night Oppy, Courtesy of Amazon Studios:

“Good Night Oppy follows Opportunity, the Mars Exploration Rover affectionately dubbed ‘Oppy’ by her creators and scientists at NASA. Oppy was originally expected to live for only 90 days, but she ultimately explored the Red Planet for nearly 15 years. The story is one of a robot traveling a planet on her own, but driven (literally) by the connection and extreme bond that formed between human and machine.

Through riveting visual effects created by ILM, audiences will be transported to the Red Planet alongside Oppy. JPL, which successfully landed Opportunity’s ‘younger sister’ Perseverance on Mars last month, is providing the filmmakers with access and unique footage in the filming of this documentary, along with their scientific expertise and knowledge of Oppy’s mission.”

Legacies Season 3 Episode 6 Photos, Cast, Plot and Trailer

By

Rebecca Murray

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March 5, 2021

When The CW’s Legacies returns from its short break it will be with an episode that finds the gang attempting to lure new students to the Salvatore School. Season three episode six, “To Whom It May Concern,” was directed by Lauren Petzke from a script by Thomas Brandon and will air on March 11, 2021.

The cast includes Danielle Rose Russell plays Hope Mikaelson, Jenny Boyd is Lizzie Saltzman, Kaylee Bryant is Josie Saltzman, Quincy Fouse plays Milton “MG” Greasley, and Aria Shahghasemi stars as Landon Kirby. Peyton Alex Smith is Rafael, Chris Lee is Kaleb, Leo Howard is Ethan Mac, Ben Levin is Jed, and Matthew Davis plays Alaric Saltzman.

“To Whom It May Concern” Plot: WELCOME TO THE SALVATORE SCHOOL — After a sudden mass exodus of the school’s student body, Alaric (Davis) and the squad desperately try to recruit new students to keep the school afloat. Hope (Russell) agrees to help Lizzie (Boyd) with the new student orientation. Josie (Bryant) enjoys a fresh start on her first day at Mystic Falls High, while MG (Fouse) begins his semester of “no.”

Series Description, Courtesy of The CW:

Set in The Salvatore Boarding School for the Young & Gifted, and within The Vampire Diaries universe, Legacies tells the ongoing story of a new generation of supernatural students as they learn what it means to be special in a society that wouldn’t understand their gifts.

In season two, Hope Mikaelson returned to a world that had forgotten she ever existed and reunited with her former Headmaster, Alaric Saltzman. Working together, Hope and Dr. Saltzman ultimately rejoined The Salvatore School to lead their Super Squad of powerful vampires, witches and werewolves, including Lizzie & Josie Saltzman, MG, Rafael, and Kaleb and even a Phoenix, her true love Landon, into battle against a dizzying horde of fantastic and deadly monsters birthed from the Malivore Pit … and their old nemesis, The Necromancer, who was determined to resurrect Malivore.

As season three begins, Hope has risked everything to pull her friends back from the brink of a monstrous prophecy that threatened to doom them all. But when a heartbreaking loss shatters her whole world, Hope Mikaelson will be forced to fight fate itself.

Legacies Season 3 Episode 6 — Courtney Bandeko as Finch and Kaylee Bryant as Josie in ‘Legacies’ season 3 episode 6 (Photo © 2021 The CW Network, LLC)

9-1-1: Lone Star Season 2 Episode 8 Photos, Plot, Cast and Trailer

By

Rebecca Murray

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March 5, 2021

The winter finale of Fox’s 9-1-1: Lone Star finds Carlos working with his dad and a pregnant woman wandering a parking garage. Season two episode eight, “Bad Call,” will air on Monday, March 8, 2021 at 9pm ET/PT.

Season two’s cast is led by Emmy Award nominee Rob Lowe (The West Wing) as Owen Strand. Gina Torres is Tommy Vega, Ronen Rubinstein plays T.K. Strand, Sierra Aylina McClain is Grace Ryder, and Jim Parrack stars as Judd Ryder. Natacha Karam returns as Marjan Marwani, Brian Michael Smith is Paul Strickland, Rafael L. Silva plays Carlos Reyes, and Julian Works is Mateo Chavez.

“Bad Call” Plot: A bank robbery, an apartment fire, and a pregnant woman lost in a parking garage are the seemingly unconnected calls to which the 126 responds. Then, T.K. celebrates his one-year anniversary of sobriety, while Owen and Gwyn may not make it to the end of the week as a couple.

Also, Carlos finds himself working on a case with his Texas Ranger father.

Season 2 Description, Courtesy of Fox:

The 126 welcomes new Paramedic Captain TOMMY VEGA (Torres) to the crew. Tommy was at the top of her game when she hung up her uniform eight years ago to raise her twin daughters. When her husband’s restaurant went under due to the devastation of the pandemic, she has no choice but to re-enter the workforce to support her family. Though it breaks her heart to be apart from her little girls, Tommy will show the world that no matter how much time has passed, when she puts on that uniform, she’s still a boss.

Additionally, Owen is reunited with his ex-wife and T.K.’s mother, GWYNETH (guest star Lisa Edelstein), and the former couple re-discover the spark they once shared. As Owen finds out his cancer is in remission, he receives news that could change his life forever.

911 Lone Star Season 2 Episode 8 — Guest star Brianna Baker, guest star Tara Buck, Gina Torres and guest star Alexander Bedria in ‘9-1-1: Lone Star’ season 2 episode 8 (Photo by Jordin Althaus © 2021 Fox Media LLC)

‘The Good Fight’ Adds Mandy Patinkin for Season 5

By

Rebecca Murray

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March 5, 2021

Homeland's Mandy Patinkin Joins The Good Fight — Mandy Patinkin as Saul Berenson in ‘Homeland’ (Photo Credit: Erica Parise/SHOWTIME)

Emmy Award winner Mandy Patinkin (Homeland, Chicago Hope) has joined the season five cast of Paramount+’s award-winning drama, The Good Fight. According to the official announcement, Patinkin will be playing a character named Hal Wackner who’s described as “a layman with no legal training who spontaneously decides to open a court in the back of a copy shop. Against all odds, the court catches on, and the team at Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart find themselves contending with judgments that mean nothing legally, but are honored by much of the entertained public.”

“We are the biggest fans of Mandy’s stage, screen, and now YouTube work, so we couldn’t be more excited for him to play Wackner,” stated series co-creators, showrunners, and executive producers Robert and Michelle King. “We only worry that he’ll have less time to do his fantastic work on YouTube.”

Ridley Scott, David W. Zucker, Brooke Kennedy, Liz Glotzer, William Finkelstein, Jonathan Tolins, and Jacquelyn Reingold executive produce the drama from CBS Studios in association with Scott Free Productions and King Size Productions.

Season four’s cast was led by Christine Baranski and included Cush Jumbo, Sarah Steele, Nyambi Nyambi, Michael Boatman, Zach Grenier, John Larroquette, Audra McDonald, and Delroy Lindo.

The Good Fight Description, Courtesy of Paramount+:

Season four of The Good Fight found Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart navigating a very different landscape. After they lost their biggest client, Chumhum, and their founding partner’s name was tarnished, Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart was forced to accept an offer by a huge multi-national law firm, STR Laurie, to become a small subsidiary. Suddenly, all of their decisions can be second-guessed by the giant firm that is literally on top of them.

While STR Laurie initially seem like benevolent overlords, we find Diane Lockhart and her colleagues chafing at their loss of independence while simultaneously investigating the emergence of a mysterious “Memo 618.”

Film Review: ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’

By

Kevin Finnerty

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March 5, 2021

A princess, fantastic adventures, magical powers, and a goofy dragon mix together to make up Disney’s animated film, Raya and the Last Dragon.

The animated film begins with a voice-over by Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) explaining how her world was saved from the dreaded Druun by magical dragons who sacrificed themselves by placing all their powers into a stone, stopping the Druun from turning everyone into stone. However, the once peaceful and unified kingdom, Kumandra, split into five parts over what to do with the magical stone that holds the dragons’ power.

Jump ahead 500 years to young Raya learning from her father, Benja (voiced by Daniel Dae Kim), the martial arts necessary to defend the stone from anyone who would try to steal it. Raya’s father has a dream of once again unifying the lands to become Kumandra again and invites the leaders of the other four parts to a big dinner gathering.

While at the tense event, Raya befriends a girl her own age named Namaari (Gemma Chan). After she gives Raya her dragon necklace as a gift, Raya decides to give Namaari a peek at the protected dragon stone. Unfortunately, Namaari was only pretending to be friendly to gain access to the stone and after sending a signal to show its location, a fight ensues between all the grown-ups who want to steal it.

During the skirmish, the precious stone is broken into five pieces, allowing the dreaded Druun to come alive once again. They chase everyone and turn those they catch into stone. While the fight is raging, Raya manages to escape the melee with a piece of the stone.

Six years later, Raya’s now a grown adventurer scouring the land to find Sisu, the last dragon who’s rumored to have actually survived the battle with the Druun. Her plan is to steal all the pieces of the stone back and get Sisu to do battle once more against the evil Druun to save her world and return everyone turned to stone back into flesh.

Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon is a colorful, visually impressive film with a solid voice cast but suffers from an irritating secondary character and an uneven plot. The film’s tone is all over the place, attempting to be fun and adventurous in one scene, silly and goofy the next, followed by sad and sorrowful.

Kelly Marie Tran delivers an engaging performance as the voice of Raya, a young princess who has more in common with Indiana Jones, Aladdin, or Robin Hood than with any Disney princesses. This is a refreshing change and one of the highlights of the film. In fact, the film’s best scenes are with Raya sneaking into the other territories to try to steal parts of the broken stone to make it one again. She’s a capable, heroic young woman and extremely resourceful.

Awkwafina lends her voice to the dragon Sisu, but portrays the shape-shifting dragon as a silly, overly optimistic scatterbrained creature who quickly becomes more annoying than cute or endearing. It almost seems as though the writers and filmmakers wanted Sisu to be to Raya what the Genie was to Aladdin in Disney’s classic animated film. Sadly, this attempt fails miserably.

The PG-rated animated film’s look is its greatest strength, with wondrous, glorious animation and artwork bringing the five different regions of the world to life. The characters are also gorgeously animated and engaging. Plus, James Newton Howard’s score enhances the film, especially throughout the exciting action scenes.

Even with the headache-inducing character of Sisu, the superb animation and a strong heroine on an exciting quest make Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon a very entertaining adventure that families shouldn’t miss.

GRADE: B-

MPAA Rating: PG for some violence, action, and thematic elements

Release Date: March 5, 2021

Running Time: 1 hour 48 minutes

Directed By: Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada

Pose Will End with Its Third Season Debuting in May

By

Rebecca Murray

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March 5, 2021

Pose Star Billy Porter — Billy Porter as Pray Tell in ‘Pose’ season 2 (Photo by Michael Parmelee/FX)

FX’s critically acclaimed, award-winning drama Pose will come to end with the series’ upcoming third season. FX just announced the conclusion of Pose along with confirming a Sunday, May 2, 2021 premiere date for the final season. The season/series finale will air June 6th.

Pose was created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Steven Canals. The first two seasons earned Emmy, Peabody, and AFI awards, and is credited with breaking down multiple barriers.

“Pose has been one of the creative highlights of my entire career,” said co-creator, writer, executive producer, and director Ryan Murphy. “From the very beginning when Steven Canals and I sat down to hear his vision and ideas for the show, it has been a passion project. To go from the beginning of my career in the late 90s when it was nearly impossible to get an LGBTQ character on television to Pose — which will go down in history for having the largest LGBTQ cast of all time — is a truly full circle moment for me.

This show made history behind and in front of the camera, and its legacy runs deep. I’m so proud of my fellow creators Steven Canals and Brad Falchuk, and also to exec producer/writer/director Janet Mock who made such an indelible mark with her personal and heartfelt work. Thanks also to Our Lady J for her incredible work as a producer, writer and actress on the show. John Landgraf and Dana Walden supported Pose from the very beginning. We got to tell the exact story we wanted, as we wanted to tell it, and I’m incredibly honored and grateful. Pose’s story may end in 1996, but its impact will go on forever.”

The cast of Pose includes transgender actors Michaela Jaé, Dominique Jackson, Indya Moore, and Hailie Sahar. Emmy and Tony Award winner Billy Porter stars along with Dyllón Burnside, Angel Bismark Curiel, Sandra Bernhard, and Jason A. Rodriguez. Porter’s Emmy win in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series marked the first time an openly gay man won in that category.

Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Alexis Martin Woodall, Sherry Marsh, and Janet Mock serve as executive producers, with Our Lady J co-executive producing. Tanase Popa is the supervising producer and Lou Eyrich, Jeff Dickerson, and Kip Myers serve as producers.

“Words cannot truly express my gratitude and appreciation for those who have given FX and the world the gift that is Pose,” said John Landgraf, Chairman, FX. “Ryan Murphy, Steven Canals, our incomparable cast and their collaborators created a masterpiece and, in doing so, have left an indelible legacy that will open doors, new doors, for the trans community. Pose is proof that Ryan’s, Dana’s and our commitment to giving more opportunities to underrepresented writers, directors, producers, actors and craftspeople was not done to signal our virtue — but because our world is literally filled with untapped geniuses looking for nothing more than a chance to prove their extraordinary talent, beauty and value in the marketplace of stories.

Pose has always been a family drama — one about acceptance and inclusion, pain and joy, struggle and perseverance and, most of all, love. The third and final season is a fitting and beautiful ending to this story.”

Executive producer, co-creator, writer, and director Steven Canals said, “‘Write the TV show you want to watch!’ That’s what I was told in 2014 while completing my MFA in screenwriting. At the time we weren’t seeing very many Black and Latinx characters — that happened to also be LGBTQ+ — populating screens. And so I wrote the first draft of a pilot the ‘younger me’ deserved. Pose was conceived as a love letter to the underground NY ballroom community, to my beloved New York, to my queer & trans family, to myself.

I, along with my incredible collaborators, never intended on changing the TV landscape. I simply wanted to tell an honest story about family, resilience, and love. How fortunate am I to have done that for three seasons. I’m filled with gratitude to our intrepid writers, cast, crew, and producers who worked tirelessly to make Pose come to life, humbled by our loyal audience, thankful to the ballroom community who trusted us to tell their story, overwhelmed by the critics who warmly embraced us, and forever indebted to Ryan Murphy, FX, and 20th Television for changing my life.”

“I am more proud of this show than anything else I have created – or ever will create. I’m so grateful to have been a part of it,” added Brad Falchuk, writer, director, co-creator, and executive producer.

Walt Disney Television Chairman of Entertainment Dana Walden said, “Pose represents a great source of pride for all of us inside Disney Television Studios. We are incredibly grateful to Ryan, Steven, Brad, Janet, Nina and Brad for delivering an artistically superb, socially relevant, wildly entertaining and groundbreaking series. This show demonstrates the power of our industry to shine a light on the underrepresented and point to our common humanity—and to do it with glitter, gusto and sheer fabulousness!

A special thanks to Ryan for introducing us to voices like Steven Canals and Janet Mock, and then for clearing the way for them to do their best work. Thanks also go to John Landgraf and the talented team at FX, who have been the best possible partners. And while we are sad to bid the show farewell at the end of this season, audiences are in for a beautiful and emotional final ride.”

Pose Details, Courtesy of FX:

Pose is a drama spotlighting the legends icons and ferocious house mothers of New York’s underground ball culture, a movement that first gained notice in the late 1980s. In this final season, it’s now 1994 and ballroom feels like a distant memory for Blanca who struggles to balance being a mother with being a present partner to her new love, and her latest role as a nurse’s aide.

Meanwhile, as AIDS becomes the leading cause of death for Americans ages 25 to 44, Pray Tell contends with unexpected health burdens. Elsewhere, the emergence of a vicious new upstart house forces the House of Evangelista members to contend with their legacy.

‘Made for Love’ Teaser Trailer Teases a Twisted Love Story

By

Rebecca Murray

-

March 5, 2021

Ray Romano recites Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love” as a young woman tries to flee her controlling husband in the first-look teaser trailer for HBO Max’s Made for Love. Romano co-stars in the comedy series alongside Cristin Milioti (Palm Springs), Billy Magnussen (Tell Me a Story), Dan Bakkedahl (The Goldbergs), Noma Dumezweni (The Undoing), and Augusto Aguilera (Too Old to Die Young).

Season one’s recurring guest stars include Caleb Foote, Kym Whitley, Nyasha Hatendi, and Patti Harrison. Ione Skye, Jon Daly, Matty Cardarople, Mel Rodriguez, and Sarunas Jackson also guest star.

The Max Original and Paramount Television Studios production is executive produced by showrunner Christina Lee, Alissa Nutting, Patrick Somerville, Dean Bakopoulos, Liza Chasin, and SJ Clarkson.

Made for Love will premiere in April 2021.

The Plot, Courtesy of HBO Max:

The comedy series is a darkly absurd and cynically poignant story of love and divorce. It follows Hazel Green (Milioti), a thirty-something woman on the run after 10 years in a suffocating marriage to Byron Gogol (Magnussen), a controlling tech billionaire. Soon she discovers that her husband has implanted a monitoring device – the Made for Love chip – in her brain, allowing him to track her, watch her, and know her “emotional data” as she tries to regain her independence.

Through the chip, Byron’s able to watch Hazel’s every move as she flees to her desert hometown to take refuge with her aging widower father Herbert (Romano) and his synthetic partner, Diane.

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