Lola’s out on maternity leave when CBS’s All Rise returns for season two episode seven, “Almost The Meteor.” Episode seven was directed by David Harp from a script by Aaron Carter and will air on Monday, January 25, 2021 at 9pm ET/PT.
Simone Missick leads the cast as Judge Lola Carmichael, Wilson Bethel plays Mark Callan, Marg Helgenberger is Lisa Benner, and Jessica Camacho stars as Emily Lopez. J. Alex Brinson plays Luke Watkins, Lindsay Mendez is Sara Castillo, Ruthie Ann Miles is Sherri Kansky, Lindsey Gort plays Amy Quinn, and Audrey Corsa is Samantha Powell.
Coy Stewart, Bryan Michael Nunez, Shannyn Covington, Melanie Reif, and Jesus Ruiz guest star.
“Almost The Meteor” Plot: While Lola is on maternity leave after going into labor while on the bench, she attempts to participate remotely in Judge Brenner’s special training about brain science and the law. Also, when Luke finds himself opposite Emily on an armed robbery case, he sees an ally in his experiment with restorative justice, and Mark hits another roadblock in his high profile case against a sheriff’s deputy
All Rise is a courthouse drama that follows the chaotic, hopeful and sometimes absurd lives of its judges, prosecutors and public defenders, as they work with bailiffs, clerks and cops to get justice for the people of Los Angeles amidst a flawed legal process. Among them is newly appointed Judge Lola Carmichael, a highly regarded and impressive deputy district attorney who doesn’t intend to sit back on the bench in her new role, but instead leans in, immediately pushing the boundaries and challenging the expectations of what a judge can be.
Sex and the City‘s Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte are reuniting without Samantha. HBO Max has greenlit And Just Like That…, a 10 episode sequel to the popular, award-winning HBO series that premiered in June 1998 and ran for six seasons.
Sarah Jessica Parker will return as Carrie Bradshaw, Cynthia Nixon’s back as Miranda Hobbes, and Kristin Davis will slip back into the role of Charlotte York for the new chapter of Sex and the City. Kim Cattrall, recently seen in Fox’s Filthy Rich (canceled after one season), is not involved in the new half-hour series.
Parker, Nixon, and Davis will executive produce with Michael Patrick King. According to the official announcement, filming is expected to begin in New York this spring.
“I grew up with these characters, and I can’t wait to see how their story has evolved in this new chapter, with the honesty, poignancy, humor and the beloved city that has always defined them,” stated Sarah Aubrey, Head of Original Content, HBO Max.
The network released this description of the upcoming series: “The new Max Original series is based on the book, Sex and the City, by Candice Bushnell and the original TV series created by Darren Star. The series will follow Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte as they navigate the journey from the complicated reality of life and friendship in their 30s to the even more complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s.”
All four Sex and the City stars reunited for the Sex and the City feature films released in 2008 and 2010.
Ricky Whittle stars in ‘American Gods’ season 3 episode 1 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Season two of Starz’s American Gods ended with my favorite character, Mad Sweeney (Pablo Schreiber), dead at the hands of Shadow Moon who, in a shocking twist, learned he’s actually Odin’s son. (Those familiar with Neil Gaiman’s book weren’t surprised by this turn of events.) Laura Moon pledged to kill Wednesday while Shadow found himself on the run, the target of a massive manhunt by law enforcement in connection to the Bellefontaine massacre.
Season three episode one, “A Winter’s Tale,” begins with…of all things…a ballet dance. The dance devolves into a performance by Viking death metal band Blood Death in honor of the Allfather. Odin (Ian McShane) rises to cheers from the crowd as lead singer Johan Wengren (Marilyn Manson) demands the crowd spill blood in his name. Odin leaps from a balcony and crowd surfs as the performance continues.
His followers chant “Odin” and he screams his approval and acceptance of their devotion.
Elsewhere, Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle) has adopted the name Mike Ainsel and is sporting a glorious full head of hair. Although he’s new to the job at Northwest Foundry Steel Casting and Machinery, his co-workers seem to like him and his boss even offers him a promotion. This new job is a government contract which means a thorough background investigation is required. Shadow knows he’ll be in deep trouble if his real identity is discovered.
Laura Moon (Emily Browning) pays a visit to Maman Brigitte (Hani Furstenberg) and learns Baron Samedi is out of town. Laura’s looking for a way to bring Mad Sweeney back from the dead. Although she claims she’s only doing so to obtain something from his horde so she can get revenge on Wednesday, we know it’s because she genuinely likes the towering leprechaun. Unfortunately, Maman says resurrecting a god isn’t as easy as it used to be.
Although she can’t really help Laura, Maman’s happy to announce Mad Sweeney’s dead body is in good shape.
Laura fumes as she wheels Mad Sweeney’s body away in a shopping cart covered by a tarp. She’s not exactly gentle when she pushes the cart down a short flight of stairs. Mad Sweeney’s body – which is in fact in great shape – flies out and lands in the dirt. She carries him into a crypt, arranges his body, and then writes “Get Spear Kill Odin” in marker on Mad Sweeney’s forehead. She then slices open her abdomen and retrieves Sweeney’s coin.
Her strength is waning as she places the coin in Sweeney’s hand. Unfortunately, it falls to the floor and rolls away as Laura’s body disintegrates into dust. (I screamed “No!” watching this as Laura Moon and Mad Sweeney are my favorite American Gods tag team.)
Wednesday reenters Shadow’s life, something which pisses off Shadow to no end. Wednesday reminds “Mike” he was supposed to head to Lakeside, Wisconsin, and Shadow reminds him he’s no longer his man. Shadow, who’s figured out Wednesday set it up so that he’d have to pass a background check, warns Wednesday to stay away. He’s done playing Odin’s games.
Meanwhile, Mr. World (Crispin Glover) slips into a different form. He appears to his minions gathered around a conference table as Ms. World (Dominique Jackson) and they’re impressed with his new form. Ms. World’s unhappy about the social media response of her team which was supposed to ensure the first components of their new project (building a virtual church of the mind) trends on all platforms. Instead, video of Odin crowd-surfing is generating all the buzz.
Ms. World demands her team make people pay attention to them, not Odin and the Old Gods. They need to do more to control people’s minds.
Technical Boy (Bruce Langley) arrives at the meeting and quickly expresses his approval of Mr. World’s new look. She reminds everyone that Wednesday becomes more powerful with all this attention. Ms. World also warns her minions Wednesday only needs to throw a lightning bolt into the power grid to take them offline. One minion makes the mistake of disagreeing with her and she bashes him to smithereens with a bat. Blood squirts everywhere as he’s taken permanently offline.
She warns her remaining underlings they will suffer the same fate if they disappoint her.
Technical Boy asks for a moment alone, confessing he’s concerned Ms. World’s angry with him. She ticks off a list of things he’s done wrong including basically declaring war on Shadow Moon, messing up his own upgrade, and not delivering Bilquis. Technical Boy explains he’s playing it slow with Bilquis but remains optimistic she’ll come around to their side.
Ms. World orders Technical Boy to finish up with Bilquis as well as explain why he hasn’t procured funding for their project. Technical Boy says it’s because of the huge expense of creating a “digital pipeline direct into every cerebral cortex” and that bankers don’t want to lend $20 million to a yet-to-be-developed technology that will alter humans forever. Plus, he believes asking the humans for money for the project makes them appear weak.
Ms. World reminds him the humans need to be convinced to fork over the funds in order to feel like they’re the ones actually building the project. Once it’s done, the New Gods will control it and wipe out the Old Gods. She adds that while the other Old Gods might not be powerful enough to hurt them, Wednesday is. Ms. World declares she’s taking care of that problem by taking Wednesday out of the game.
And back to the Shadow Moon story we go… Shadow is returning home when he spots cops knocking at his door. Wednesday’s parked nearby and Shadow flips him off as he hurriedly walks away. Shadow winds up at a diner and Wednesday follows, showing up uninvited at his table. Wednesday offers Shadow the opportunity to pepper him with questions, and Shadow’s first inquiry is to whether he’s truly his father. Wednesday, as usual, talks in circles and his answer angers Shadow.
Wednesday admits his relationship with Shadow’s mom was a mistake because she was too young. Wednesday confirms he did love her but couldn’t follow her when she left America. If he left, he would cease to exist per the rules of gods who come to America. Wednesday attempts to convince Shadow he’s just trying to save the human race, but, again, Shadow’s having none of this.
Wednesday calls the New Gods parasites that allow humans to indulge in their most destructive instincts. Shadow doesn’t know whether to believe Wednesday or not, but he’s done with this conversation for now. As he attempts to leave, Wednesday grabs his arm and tells him he needs him. Shadow asks why and Wednesday replies, “Because war is coming, Shadow, and if I don’t have the loyalty of my own son, how can I expect support from anyone else?”
Wednesday hits the road with Shadow in an old RV which he confirms is Betty in a new form. They’re on the road to see Wisakedjak (aka Whiskey Jack), a Native American deity who doesn’t exactly get along with Wednesday. They haven’t been on speaking terms in hundreds of years – a fact that doesn’t surprise Shadow in the least.
As they drive, Wednesday answers Shadow’s questions about the New Gods. He confirms they’re both dangerous and powerful but doesn’t sound worried. Shadow turns his questions to more personal topics, asking again who he is. Wednesday replies, “You are the son of the Allfather so walk this path with me and greatness shall be yours.”
Wednesday doesn’t actually reply when Shadow asks if he’s a god, too. Instead, he turns his attention to the road where up ahead minions sent by Ms. World have set up a barricade across the road. He momentarily hits the brakes before speeding ahead, rising from the driver’s seat and instructing Shadow to take over.
Those set up on the road prepare to fire but Wednesday concentrates, symbols appear, and he instructs Shadow to take a hard right. Shadow hesitates and Wednesday suggests he trust himself on this. Shadow speeds forward a few yards more and then turns the wheel to the right. The RV’s lit by blinding yellow light and appears on the verge of overturning. It settles and Shadow steps out into another dimension lit up like the aurora borealis.
Half an hour into season three episode one we catch up with Bilquis (Yetide Badaki) as she’s scrolling through her Sheba app looking at available men. None seem to be to her liking. Technical Boy shows up and although she attempts to send him away, he pushes his way into her home. After reminding Bilquis he rescued her from sleeping in doorways, he asks that she join the New Gods and their war against Wednesday. Bilquis refuses.
Although Wednesday didn’t help her when she was down, Bilquis is fully aware Technical Boy did so only to get her on the New Gods’ side. Bilquis has no intention of going to war ever again.
Graham Greene and Ricky Whittle in ‘American Gods’ season 3 episode 1 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Wednesday and Shadow arrive back at the RV, with Wednesday warning that once they enter it it’s easy to get lost. They step through and are transported into a forest. Birds chirp, the sun shines through tall trees, and up ahead Shadow spots a man by a campfire. It’s Wisakedjak (Graham Greene) and he announces he’s been waiting for Shadow. Wednesday’s nowhere to be seen and Wisakedjak tells Shadow Wednesday’s on the wrong path.
“The twilight of the gods and the end of humanity are at hand. But you have a destiny to fulfill so don’t screw it up or everything will come to an end,” says Wisakedjak. He admits he doesn’t know what that destiny is but there are those who do.
Shadow looks into the flames and sees figures but doesn’t know who they are. Wisakedjak says once Shadow’s head and heart are in alignment, he will know the answer to their identities.
Wednesday shows up and Wisakedjak tells him he’s not welcome there. That doesn’t deter Wednesday from joining them and discussing their upcoming war against the New Gods. Wisakedjak remains angry that Odin’s followers slaughtered his people and stole their land, blaming Wednesday for allowing that to happen.
Wednesday wants to mend fences but Wisakedjak refuses to agree to join his war.
Wednesday and Shadow exit the RV, stepping out into a chilly North Dakota. An old VW van pulls up with Cordelia (Ashley Reyes) driving. Wednesday introduces her as his fiancé and she announces they should hit the road immediately to Utah to beat the storm. Shadow’s confused about their choice of destination and Wednesday explains they’re off to see another old friend of his. Wednesday offers Shadow a ride, and Shadow accepts but says he’ll find his own place to lay low. Wednesday suggests Lakeside, telling him there’s a paid apartment waiting for him there and he’ll be safe.
Shadow declines and again asserts he’s going to make his own way. Wednesday’s okay with that and agrees to drop Shadow off at the nearest bus stop. Although he turned down Lakeside, Wednesday tries to hand him the apartment keys just in case Shadow changes his mind.
They hop into the van and Shadow instantly recognizes it as a new version of Betty. “Same soul, different chassis,” confirms Wednesday.
They drop Shadow off at a bus station after dark. His attempts to buy a ticket to, well, anywhere other than Lakeside don’t work. Every bus is canceled to Chicago, Kansas City, Springfield, etc., etc., etc. Shadow chuckles as he realizes he’s being forced to head to Lakeside against his will and that Wednesday put the apartment key in his jacket.
Hours later Shadow arrives in Lakeside and heads into the general store. The clerk can’t believe his coat is so thin and offers him a cup of coffee to warm up. She’s super friendly and overly talkative, and even calls up a friend – Chad Mulligan – to take him to Gorman Street. The woman introduces herself as Ann-Marie Hinzelmann (Julia Sweeney), and when Chad (Eric Johnson) arrives it turns out he’s not just helping out with taxi service – he’s also the local cop.
Chad gives Shadow a history of the town as he drives him to Gorman Street. After that small talk ends, he begins questioning Shadow about his visit to Lakeside. Shadow explains his uncle rented a place and he’s planning on checking out the town out for a few days.
Chad issues a friendly warning about Shadow’s neighbor. The neighbor, Marguerite Olsen, runs the paper and Shadow needs to watch what he says in front of her.
Chad drops him off and Shadow tries the door to his apartment. The key breaks off and he heads outside to look for another way in. As he’s trying a door, someone comes up behind him and puts a gun to his head.
Netflix has released a gorgeous new trailer for Malcolm & Marie, a romantic drama starring Emmy Award winner Zendaya (Euphoria) and Screen Actors Guild Award nominee John David Washington (BlacKkKlansman). The sparks fly off the screen in this luscious trailer for the upcoming February 5, 2021 release.
Malcolm & Marie was written and directed by Sam Levinson (Euphoria, Assassination Nation). Levinson also produced along with Zendaya, John David Washington, Kevin Turen, and Ashley Levinson. Will Greenfield, Aaron L. Gilbert, Yariv Milchan, Michael Schaefer, and Scott Mescudi executive produced.
The Plot, Courtesy of Netflix:
Writer/director Sam Levinson teams up with Zendaya and John David Washington for an achingly romantic drama in which a filmmaker (Washington) and his girlfriend (Zendaya) return home following a celebratory movie premiere as he awaits what’s sure to be imminent critical and financial success. The evening suddenly takes a turn as revelations about their relationships begin to surface, testing the strength of their love.
Working with cinematographer Marcell Rev, Levinson creates a film of rare originality; an ode to the great Hollywood romances as well as a heartfelt expression of faith in the medium’s future.
Poster for ‘Malcolm and Marie’ (Photo Credit: Netflix)
Apple TV+ just released an intense new trailer for the psychological drama, Losing Alice. The eight episode series is described as a neo-noir thriller and stars Ayelet Zurer (Daredevil).
The Israeli drama was created by writer/director Sigal Avin and will debut on Apple TV+ on January 22, 2021. Three episodes will drop on Jan. 22nd followed by a new episode every Friday.
In addition to Ayelet Zurer, the cast of the eight-episode series includes Lihi Kornowski (Kfulim), Gal Toren (Asylum City), Yossi Marshak (Yellow Peppers), Shai Avivi (The Conductor), and Chelli Goldenberg (Out in the Dark). Creator Sigal Avin serves as an executive producer with Yoni Paran, Nadav Palti, and Tami Mozes Borovitz.
Lihi Kornowski and Ayelet Zurer star in ‘Losing Alice’ (Photo Courtesy of Apple TV+)
The Plot, Courtesy of Apple TV+:
Losing Alice is Apple TV+’s latest must-watch drama that takes the viewer on a hair-raising, heart-stopping cinematic journey through the conscious and subconscious of its protagonist’s mind. The Israeli-produced drama follows Alice (Zurer), a 48-year-old female film director, who feels irrelevant since taking a step back to raise a family, while her husband, David (Toren) is in the prime of his flourishing acting career. After a brief encounter on the train, Alice becomes obsessed with a young screenwriter femme fatale, Sophie (Kornowski) and her haunting film that David is set to star in. When Alice is asked to direct the project, she enters into an unconventional love triangle, eventually surrendering her moral integrity in order to achieve power, relevance and success.
Through the prism of this female Faust, the series explores issues such as jealousy, guilt, fear of aging, and the complex relationships women have among themselves and each other. But above all, Losing Alice is a love letter for the still-too-rare female director.
Starz’s official trialer for Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham declares the docuseries starring Outlander‘s Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish features the “greatest roadtrip ever attempted without pants.” The official two-minute trailer was accompanied by a poster for the series which promises to ease the pain of Droughtlander a wee bit.
Men in Kilts was developed by the Outlander co-stars who executive produce with Alexander Norouzi, Andrew Fried, Dane Lillegard and Kevin Johnston. Johnston also directed the eight episode buddy roadtrip docuseries.
Men in Kilts is a Boardwalk Pictures production in association with Sony Pictures Television.
Starz is set to premiere the series on February 14, 2021 at 9pm ET/PT, offering up a perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s Day safely at home.
Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish star in ‘Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham’ (Photo Credit: Starz)
The Plot, Courtesy of Starz:
Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham is a fun-filled buddy travelogue through Scotland led by Outlander stars Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish. The two will reunite for an epic adventure, exploring their heritage and meeting an incredible collection of people who truly showcase what it means to be Scottish.
The half-hour, eight-episode series offers the duo’s one-of-a-kind perspective on everything from Scottish clans and the Battle of Culloden to whisky tasting and folk dancing, with Sam and Graham’s witty banter and hijinks leading the way. Whether hanging off the edge of a cliff, wrangling a flock of wild sheep or discovering the true legacy of their Outlander characters, both men dive head first into each and every experience.
Netflix’s official trailer for Penguin Bloom introduces Oscar nominee Naomi Watts (21 Grams, The Impossible) as a woman who bonds with a bird and finds hope after a devastating event. The Walking Dead‘s Andrew Lincoln co-stars in the inspirational drama based on a true story.
The cast also includes two-time Oscar nominee Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook, Animal Kingdom).
Shaun Grant and Harry Cripps adapted Cameron Bloom and Bradley Trevor Greive’s book for the screen, with Glendyn Ivin directing. Watts is a producer with Emma J. Cooper, Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky, and Jodi Matterson. Sonia Amoroso, George Kekeli, Meryl Metni, Ricci Swart, Sam Bloom, Cameron Bloom, Bradley Trevor Greive, Joel Pearlman, Edwina Waddy and Jill Bilcock served as executive producers.
Netflix has set a January 27, 2021 release date.
The Plot, Courtesy of Netflix:
In 2013, Samantha Bloom (Watts), her husband Cameron (Lincoln) and their three sons left their home in Australia for a holiday in Thailand. While enjoying a view, Sam fell off of a rooftop due to what was later determined to be a rotted railing…breaking her vertebrae in two places. Paralyzed from the chest down, Sam — a lifelong outdoorswoman, surfer, and traveler — was unrecognizable to herself, and spent long months in a depression that made her question who she could be in the world and in her own family.
A year later, her children brought home a wounded baby magpie they found. Warily eyeing the black-and-white bird the kids affectionately named “Penguin,” Sam bonded with the household’s new member, beginning a process of emotional healing that surprised her husband and sons, her mother (Weaver), and herself.
Penguin Bloom tells the amazing true story of renewal that occurred when a woman whose life seemed shattered found hope and purpose in her family’s love — and in a bird on its own journey of recovery.
Naomi Watts as Sam Bloom, Andrew Lincoln as Cameron Bloom, Griffin Murray-Johnston as Noah Bloom, and Felix Cameron as Rueben Bloom, and Abe Clifford-Barr as Oli Bloom in ‘Penguin Bloom’ (Photo by Joel Pratley / Netflix)Naomi Watts as Sam Bloom (Photo Credit: Netflix)
Fox’s dramatic series 9-1-1 returns to primetime to kick off its fourth season on Monday, January 18, 2021 at 8pm ET/PT. Episode one, “The New Abnormal,” finds the first responders dealing with the aftermath of a dam breaking.
Season four’s cast includes executive producer Angela Bassett as Athena Grant, executive producer Peter Krause as Bobby Nash, and Jennifer Love Hewitt as Maddie Kendall. Oliver Stark plays Evan “Buck” Buckley, Aisha Hinds is Henrietta “Hen” Wilson, Kenneth Choi is Howie “Chimney” Han, Ryan Guzman plays Eddie Diaz, and Rockmond Dunbar is Michael Grant.
9-1-1 was created by writers/executive producers Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Tim Minear.
“The New Abnormal” Plot: When the Hollywood Reservoir dam breaks, Bobby and the 118 race into action to save passengers on a city bus that has crashed into a building several stories in the air. Maddie must first locate, and then rescue, a trapped cyclist, and Athena helps an agoraphobic woman evacuate her home. Meanwhile, the team adjusts to life as first responders during the pandemic. Bobby worries if Athena is ready for field duty since recovering from her physical and psychological injuries; Chimney takes extreme precautions around a pregnant Maddie; and May begins a surprising new job.
Series Description, Courtesy of Fox:
Creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear reimagine the procedural drama with 9-1-1, exploring the high-pressure experiences of police officers, firefighters and dispatchers who are thrust into the most frightening, shocking and heart-stopping situations. These emergency responders must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in their own lives.
Netflix just released the first photos from Army of the Dead written and directed by Zack Snyder (300, Justice League). The first batch of four photos feature a behind-the-scenes look at Snyder with members of his cast as well as a full cast photo.
Netflix also released an official plot description for the zombie heist film:
“Following a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, a group of mercenaries take the ultimate gamble, venturing into the quarantine zone to pull off the greatest heist ever attempted.”
The film’s based on a story by Snyder and co-written by Shay Hatten and Joby Harold. Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, and Wesley Coller produced.
Army of the Dead stars Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana De La Reguera, Theo Rossi, and Matthias Schweighöfer. Nora Arnezeder, Hiroyuki Sanada, Garret Dillahunt, Tig Notaro, Raúl Castillo, Huma Qureshi, Samantha Win, Richard Cetrone, and Michael Cassidy also star in Snyder’s second zombie film. (Snyder’s first feature film was 2004’s Dawn of the Dead.)
“It is a full-blown, balls-to-the-wall zombie heist movie, so it’s genre-on-genre in a great way,” explained Snyder in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. “So you expect pure zombie mayhem, and you get that, 100 percent. But also you get these really amazing characters on a fantastic journey. It’s going to surprise people that there’s a lot of warmth and real emotion with these great characters.”
A UPS driver and a travel nurse are among the 12 competitors set to take part in season two of CBS’s Tough As Nails. The unscripted competition series hosted by The Amazing Race‘s Phil Keoghan will return for its second season on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 8pm ET/PT.
Keoghan created the series and serves as showrunner. CBS reports season one ranked as the top new summer reality series.
“Tough As Nails is a celebration of the hard-working men and women who are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty to do a hard day’s work,” stated Keoghan. “Over the past year, we have a renewed appreciation of the ‘essential workforce’ that keep the country running and I’m excited for viewers to meet the new crew members because this is a group of amazing folks who are real people in real life who are real tough!”
Tough As Nails Season 2 Competitors:
Name: Tara Alverson
Job: Mariner
Age: 38
Hometown: Bothell, Wash.
Current Residence: Endurance, a tug boat in Alaska
Name: Sarah Burkett
Job: Pipe Welder
Age: 41
Hometown: Chesterfield, Va.
Current Residence: Petersburg, Pa.
Name: Cyril “Zeus” Ontai III
Job: Lineman
Age: 29
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii
Name: Swifty Sanders
Job: Steelworker
Age: 43
Hometown: East Chicago, Ind.
Current Residence: Merrillville, Ind.
Name: Merryl Tengesdal
Job: Retired Air Force Colonel who was a combat aviator for the Navy and Air Force.
Age: 49
Hometown: Bronx, N.Y.
Current Residence: Sacramento, Calif.
Series Description, Courtesy of CBS:
These competitors, who come from different walks of life but all roll up their sleeves every day to make an honest day’s living, will compete in challenges that take place at real-world job sites including farms, construction sites, high rise buildings, fishing boats and a Pick-a-Part where they need to build a drivable car. One competitor will be crowned the champion and win the coveted TOUGH AS NAILS belt, but anybody that “punches out” of the individual competition still has the opportunity to win additional cash prizes in the team competition that continues throughout the season.
