First look at ‘United States of Al’ (Photo Courtesy of CBS)
The half-hour comedy United States of Al has earned a series order from CBS. United States of Al comes from executive producer Chuck Lorre and writer/series creators David Goetsch and Maria Ferrari and will join CBS’s primetime lineup during the 2020-2021 season.
The cast of the just-ordered series includes Adhir Kalyan, Parker Young, Dean Norris, Kelli Goss, and Elizabeth Alderfer.
Mark Cendrowski is directing the pilot and will executive produce with Lorre, Goetsch, Ferrari, Reza Aslan, and Mahyad Tousi. The comedy is a Warner Bros. Television and Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. production.
“Once again, Chuck, his talented writing team of Maria and David, and an amazing cast brings us a heartfelt and touching comedy that honestly and respectfully reflects the experiences and challenges our veterans deal with upon returning home, and the deep bonds they develop with those serving alongside them,” stated Thom Sherman, Senior Executive Vice President, Programming, CBS Entertainment. “In addition, United States of Al holds up a mirror to ourselves in a unique way by taking a look at American culture through the eyes of an immigrant who is experiencing it all for the very first time.”
Chuck Lorre has earned nine Primetime Emmy nominations for Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, and The Kominsky Method. Maria Ferrari and David Goetsch also picked up multiple Emmy nominations for The Big Bang Theory.
Series Description, Courtesy of CBS:
United States of Al stars Adhir Kalyan and Parker Young in a comedy about the friendship between Riley (Young), a Marine combat veteran struggling to readjust to civilian life in Ohio, and Awalmir (“Al”) (Kalyan), the interpreter who served with his unit in Afghanistan and has just arrived to start a new life in America.
Disney+’s new trailer for Black Beauty shows the titular character rounded up and taken away from her family. The two-minute trailer goes on to set up further heartbreak when Black Beauty is once again ripped from her human family.
The cast is led by Mackenzie Foy (“Jo Green”), Iain Glen (“John Manly”), Calam Lynch (“George Winthorp”), Claire Forlani (“Mrs. Winthorp”), and Fern Deacon (“Georgina Winthorp”). Kate Winslet provides the voice of Black Beauty.
Ashley Avis (Adolescence) adapted the classic novel and directed. Jeremy Bolt and Robert Kulzer produced, with Martin Moszkowicz, Edward Winters and Jon Brown executive produced.
Black Beauty premieres on Disney+ on November 27, 2020.
The Plot, Courtesy of Disney+:
This timeless reimagining of Anna Sewell’s classic novel follows the life of Black Beauty — a wild horse born free in the American West. Beauty’s world is turned upside down when she and her family are cruelly rounded up and taken away from their home. Beauty is sent to live in a dusty corral which she fears she may never escape.
Beauty’s fortunes are destined to turn, however. When the quiet, gentle horse whisperer John Manly arrives from New York to adopt a mustang, he notices Beauty’s fiery spirit. Adopting her for his training program at Birtwick Stables, John is unsure if Beauty can ever be tamed. She is heartbroken and angry over the loss of all she’s ever known and does not trust the presence of humans.
Soon, John’s world is upended when his niece, seventeen-year-old Jo Green, shows up on his doorstep. Similar to Beauty, Jo has just lost her parents, and her spirit is close to breaking. It is through the profound connection between Beauty and Jo that both girl and horse begin to heal. The two forge an unbreakable bond that will last for both of their lives — even when Beauty’s journey takes her away from Jo, on a series of adventures with different owners.
Through the seasons of her life, Beauty learns more about love, loss, heartbreak, joy, and the extraordinary power of friendship. The events, locations, and beloved characters of the film parallel the original tale while bringing Black Beauty into today’s light, as we follow literature’s most iconic horse on her quest to be reunited with the girl she loves.
Mackenzie Foy stars in ‘Black Beauty’ (Photo Credit: Disney+)
Season two of Epix’s comic book inspired action drama Pennyworth will premiere on December 13, 2020. In support of its upcoming new season debut, the network’s just released an official trailer as well as a new season two poster.
According to Epix, Pennyworth will air season two episode one on December 13th, episode two on December 20th, and a two-part midseason finale on December 27th. The remaining new season two episodes will arrive in 2021.
Jack Bannon leads the cast as Alfred Pennyworth. Ben Aldridge is Thomas Wayne, Paloma Faith is Bet Sykes, Hainsley Lloyd Bennett is Deon “Bazza” Bashford, Ryan Fletcher plays Wallace “Dave Boy” MacDougal, Simon Manyonda is Lucious Fox, and Jessica de Gouw is Melanie Troy.
The season two cast also includes James Purefoy, Edward Hogg, Jessye Romeo, Ramon Tikaram, Harriet Slater, and Jason Flemyng.
The Plot, Courtesy of Epix:
A year after the explosive events of last season, England finds itself embroiled in a devastating civil war, with the powerful, neo-fascist Raven Union, led by Lord Harwood (Flemyng) threatening to control the entire country. North London remains one of the few resistance holdouts remaining. It’s here in the West End Neutral Zone, that we find Alfred Pennyworth.
After years in the British Army, his training with the SAS has taught him to be a cynical optimist – expecting the worst, but knowing that he can handle it. Now running The Delaney, a black-market Soho club that welcomes everyone, regardless of their politics, Alfred, with his SAS mates, Deon “Bazza” Bashford (Bennett) and Wallace “Daveboy” MacDougal (Fletcher), is now in search of a way out – before London, and his country, burns itself to the ground. And he’s got his eye on America.
Fox has confirmed a batch of winter 2020-2021 premiere dates that includes the return of dramas Prodigal Son, 9-1-1, and The Resident. The slate of just-announced dates includes the series premiere of the half-hour comedy Call Me Kat as well as the final season premiere of Last Man Standing.
Reality shows Hell’s Kitchen and The Masked Dancer will be part of the network’s winter primetime lineup.
Sunday, Jan. 3:
8:00-8:30 PM CALL ME KAT (Series Premiere)
8:30-9:00 PM LAST MAN STANDING (Final Season Premiere)
9:00-9:30 PM THE SIMPSONS (Special Time)
9:30-10:00 PM BLESS THE HARTS (Special Time)
Wednesday, Jan. 6
8:00-9:00 PM THE MASKED DANCER (Time Period Premiere)
Thursdays, beginning Jan. 7:
8:00-9:00 PM HELL’S KITCHEN (Season Premiere)
9:00-9:30 PM CALL ME KAT (Time Period Premiere)
9:30-10:00 PM LAST MAN STANDING (Time Period Premiere)
Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 12:
8:00-9:00 PM THE RESIDENT (Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM PRODIGAL SON (Season Premiere)
Hosted by comedian/actor Craig Robinson and featuring celebrity panelists Ken Jeong, world-famous choreographer and singer Paula Abdul, actor and the former “Giraffe” Mask on The Masked Singer Brian Austin Green and actress and singer Ashley Tisdale, The Masked Dancer will feature celebrity contestants shaking their tail feathers, while covered from head-to-toe in elaborate costumes and face masks, leaving audiences to guess their identities. Costumed celebrities will be joined on stage by masked partners and back-up dancers, as they perform a series of dances together; spanning from hip-hop to salsa, jazz to tap dancing and more. When it comes to dance styles, the sky is the limit. Each week, a series of clues will be sprinkled throughout packages, costumes and routines, leading the panelists one step closer to figuring out which famous faces are freestyling behind the masks.
Between all of the celebrity competitors on the show, they’ve amassed more than 38 million albums sold worldwide, 20 Emmy Award wins, 20 Grammy Award nominations, 10 World Dancing titles, five New York Times Best-Selling Author titles, four Olympic gold medals, and three Broadway show appearances.
Call Me Kat:
Based on the BBC UK original series Miranda, Call Me Kat stars Bialik as a woman who struggles every day against society and her mother to prove that she can still live a happy and fulfilling life despite still being single at 39. Which is why she recently spent her entire savings to open a cat café in Louisville, Kentucky. It was expected of KAT (Bialik) to be married with kids by now, but for many reasons, she’s still single – and totally fine with it.
Of course, Kat’s mother, SHEILA (Swoosie Kurtz), views her daughter’s single-hood as her own personal failure, but Kat remains determined to live a fulfilling life, and charts her own course to happiness. Working alongside Kat at the café are RANDI (Kyla Pratt), a confident millennial and self-proclaimed “non” cat person; and PHIL (Leslie Jordan), who recently broke up with his longtime partner.
Although Kat celebrates her independence, her single-forever plans may begin to veer off-course, when her former crush and good friend, MAX (Cheyenne Jackson), returns to town and takes a job as a bartender at the piano bar across the street, working with his friend, CARTER (Julian Gant).
Last Man Standing:
The series stars Tim Allen as MIKE BAXTER, a happily married father of three daughters, who finds himself the odd man out in a home dominated by women. The series also stars Nancy Travis, Amanda Fuller, Molly McCook, Christoph Sanders, Jordan Masterson, Jonathan Adams, Krista Marie Yu and Hector Elizondo. After the events of the eighth season finale, during which Kristin (Fuller) went into labor with her baby daughter, while Mandy (McCook) was pregnant with her first child, the series will jump ahead into the near future, when Mike and his wife, Vanessa (Travis), will contemplate their own future, including Mike’s imminent retirement from his lifelong job at Outdoor Man – and who could be his successor.
Hell’s Kitchen:
Hit culinary competition series Hell’s Kitchen returns for its 19th season in a flashy new setting, as Chef Gordon Ramsay takes the show to Las Vegas, the city that’s home to the world’s first Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen restaurant at Caesars Palace. For the first time ever, 16 aspiring chefs from around the country will roll the dice and head to Sin City in the hopes of winning big.
Each week, the competition will get hotter as the chefs are put through rigorous culinary challenges – reaping high stakes rewards and punishments, all with a Sin City flare. But only those who possess the right combination of ingredients will continue in the competition until one is named winner. At stake is a life-changing grand prize, including a Head Chef position at Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen Lake Tahoe at Harvey’s Hotel and Casino, and the title of Hell’s Kitchen winner.
The Resident:
Season four of The Resident continues to shine a light on the daily heroism of today’s health care workers. The provocative medical drama follows the doctors and nurses at Chastain Memorial Hospital, as they face personal and professional challenges and fight for their patients’ health.
The new season picks up as DR. CONRAD HAWKINS (Matt Czuchry) and NURSE PRACTIONER NICOLETTE NEVIN (Emily VanCamp) tie the knot in an intimate and beautiful wedding, strengthening their already powerful bond. Meanwhile, Chastain is transitioning from private to public hospital, causing the hero doctors to fight to fix the broken machine from the inside. DR. RANDOLPH BELL (Bruce Greenwood) finds himself mining his own past to find his estranged former stepson, elite plastic surgeon DR. JAKE WONG (guest star Conrad Ricamora). Bell attempts to bring Dr. Wong to Chastain to increase the number of world-class surgeries at the hospital and to repair their complicated past.
Additionally, as star surgical resident DR. MINA OKAFOR (Shaunette Renée Wilson) and her brilliant mentor, DR. AJ AUSTIN (Emmy Award nominee Malcolm-Jamal Warner), grow closer than ever, they must learn to maintain a professional relationship within the walls of the hospital.
Prodigal Son:
Prodigal Son follows MALCOLM BRIGHT (Tom Payne), a criminal profiler with a rare talent for getting inside the minds of killers. He learned how they think because his father, DR. MARTIN WHITLY (Michael Sheen), was a notorious serial killer known as “The Surgeon.” Now he’s using his twisted genius to help the NYPD solve their most puzzling murders. Bright’s team, led by his longtime mentor, NYPD Lieutenant GIL ARROYO (Lou Diamond Phillips), includes Detectives DANI POWELL (Aurora Perrineau), JT TARMEL (Frank Harts) and medical examiner DR. EDRISA TANAKA (Keiko Agena).
Season two picks up with Bright’s personal life in disarray after the shocking actions of his sister, AINSLEY (Halston Sage), in the Season One finale. Now, he must “take care” of her and protect his mother, JESSICA WHITLY (Bellamy Young), from a secret that could tear the family apart all over again. Further complicating matters, Martin seeks to deepen his relationship with Bright, his “prodigal son,” but forging this bond leads to shocking twists and revelations.
Creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear reenergize the procedural drama with 9-1-1 and the first extension of its universe, 9-1-1: Lone Star, set in Austin, TX. Both series explore 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.
The fourth season premiere of 9-1-1 kicks off with another jaw-dropping signature disaster that only Los Angeles’ finest and fearless first responders can handle. After a devastating 8.0 earthquake and coastal tsunami wreaked havoc in the city, what could possibly be next? Meanwhile, among the chaos, Athena (Angela Bassett) is determined to put her physical and emotional injuries behind her and jump back into the job, as Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Chimney (Kenneth Choi) prepare for the birth of their baby, and Buck (Oliver Stark) delves into his past to help deal with his present.
Actress Gina Torres joins Season two of 9-1-1: Lone Star as Captain TOMMY VEGA. But even as CPT. OWEN STRAND (Rob Lowe) welcomes Vega to the 126, he must face the unexpected arrival of his ex-wife, Gwyneth (Lisa Edelstein), who visits Austin to check on their firefighter son, T.K. (Ronen Rubinstein), following the injuries he sustained at the end of last season. All of this occurs as the rescue squad must deal with an emergency that the Texas capital has never encountered before.
Love the cast but the trailer for the romantic drama Wild Mountain Thyme seems to give far too much away. In addition to the lengthy trailer, Bleecker Street released a new poster in support of the film’s December 11, 2020 release on demand and in theaters.
The cast includes Emily Blunt, Jamie Dornan, Jon Hamm, Dearbhla Molloy, and Christopher Walken. John Patrick Shanley adapted his play for the screen and directs.
Leslie Urdang, Anthony Bregman, Alex Witchel, Martina Niland, Michael A. Helfant, and Bradley Gallo served as producers.
The Plot, Courtesy of Bleecker Street:
John Patrick Shanley, who created the classic Moonstruck, brings his sweeping romantic vision to Ireland with Wild Mountain Thyme. The headstrong farmer Rosemary Muldoon (Blunt) has her heart set on winning her neighbor Anthony Reilly’s love. The problem is Anthony (Dornan) seems to have inherited a family curse, and remains oblivious to his beautiful admirer.
Stung by his father Tony’s (Walken) plans to sell the family farm to his American nephew (Hamm), Anthony is jolted into pursuing his dreams in this comedic, moving and wildly romantic tale.”
Poster for the romantic film, ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’ (Photo Courtesy of Bleecker Street)
CBS’s Magnum P.I. returns to kick off season three on Friday, December 4, 2020. Episode one airs at 9pm ET/PT after the season five premiere of MacGyver and before the season 11 premiere of Blue Bloods. “Double Jeopardy” was directed by Bryan Spicer from a script by Peter M. Lenkov and Eric Guggenheim.
Jay Hernandez leads the cast as Thomas Magnum. Perdita Weeks is Juliet Higgins, Zachary Knighton is Orville “Rick” Wright, Stephen Hill is Theodore “TC” Calvin, Tim Kang stars as Det. Gordon Katsumoto, and Amy Hill as Teuila “Kumu” Tuileta.
Episode one guest stars include Hawaii Five-0’s Kimee Balmilero and Shawn Garnett as well as Jay Ali, Paola Nunez, Brian Letscher, Kap Te’o-Tafiti, and Juan-Pablo Veizaga.
“Double Jeopardy” Plot: Magnum and Higgins’ new clients hire them to find their missing brother last seen on the island, leading to Higgins being shot and TC abducted when a secret case of revenge is revealed during the investigation. Also, Higgins (and Magnum!) are surprised when her surgeon asks her out.
Netflix just announced they’re bringing back The Umbrella Academy for season three. The third season renewal announcement also confirmed Ellen Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, Justin H. Min, Ritu Arya, and Colm Feore will be reprising their roles for the just-ordered season.
Filming is expected to kick off in February 2021 in Toronto. The third season will consist of 10 one-hour episodes.
Steve Blackman (Fargo, Altered Carbon) is returning as showrunner and will executive produce along with Jeff F. King, Mike Richardson, Keith Goldberg, Jesse McKeown, Gerard Way, and Gabriel Bá.
The critically acclaimed series is based on the Dark Horse comic book series written by Gerard Way and illustrated by Gabriel Bá.
A Look Back at The Umbrella Academy Season 2:
“On the same day in 1989, forty-three infants are inexplicably born to random, unconnected women who showed no signs of pregnancy the day before. Seven are adopted by a billionaire who creates The Umbrella Academy and prepares his “children” to save the world. Now, the six surviving members reunite upon the news of their father’s passing and must work together to solve a mystery surrounding his death. But the estranged family begins to come apart due to their divergent personalities and abilities, not to mention the imminent threat of a global apocalypse.
About Season 2: Five warned his family (so, so many times) that using his powers to escape from Vanya’s 2019 apocalypse was risky. Well, he was right – the time jump scatters the siblings in time in and around Dallas, Texas. Over a three year period. Starting in 1960. Some, having been stuck in the past for years, have built lives and moved on, certain they’re the only ones who survived. Five is the last to land, smack dab in the middle of a nuclear doomsday, which – spoiler alert! – turns out is a result of the group’s disruption of the timeline (déjà vu, anyone?).
Now the Umbrella Academy must find a way to reunite, figure out what caused doomsday, put a stop to it, and return to the present timeline to stop that other apocalypse. All while being hunted by a trio of ruthless Swedish assassins. But seriously, no pressure or anything.”
Netflix just announced more Narcos: Mexico season three series regulars and guest stars, with Puerto Rican singer, rapper, and songwriter Bad Bunny signing on to guest star. The streaming service provided details on who each of the new series regulars will be playing as well as confirming the show’s returning cast members.
Joining the cast for season three are:
Luis Gerardo Méndez as Victor Tapia (Series Regular) – A Juarez cop with a moral dilemma; despite his misgivings over getting involved, he is drawn into the mystery of a series of brutal killings.
Alberto Guerra as Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada (Series Regular)- An independent drug trafficker, whose unassuming manner belies the fact that he is quietly one step ahead of everyone else.
Luisa Rubino as Andrea Nuñez (Series Regular) – A young idealistic and ambitious journalist whose mission to expose corruption brings her an even bigger story than she anticipated.
Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio “Bad Bunny” guest stars as Arturo “Kitty” Paez – A member of Ramon Arellano Felix’s gang called the “Narco Juniors” – rich, well-connected kids from upper society who fell in with the cartel life for the money, drugs and violence.
Additional confirmed new series regulars include Alejandro Furth as Ramon Salgado, Lorenzo Ferro as Alex Hodoyan, José Zúñiga as General Rebollo, Diego Calva as Arturo Beltran Leyva, Kristen Lee Gutoskie as Dani, and Beau Mirchoff as Steve Sheridan. Yessica Borroto, Damayanti Quintanar, Manuel Uriza, and Markin López will guest star.
The Narcos newcomers join returning regulars Scoot McNairy, José María Yázpik, Alfonso Dosal, Mayra Hermosillo, Matt Letscher, Manuel Masalva, Alejandro Edda, and Gorka Lasaosa.
Carlo Bernard is the season three showrunner and executive producer, along with Sidonie Dumas, Christophe Riandee, Nicolas Atlan, José Padilha, Doug Miro, Andrés Baiz, and Eric Newman. Narcos star Wagner Moura returns to direct episodes of the upcoming season. Andrés Baiz, Alejandra Márquez Abella, Luis Ortega, and Amat Escalante also direct season three episodes.
Narcos: Mexico Season 3 Plot, Courtesy of Netflix:
Set in the 90s, when the globalization of the drug business ignites, Season 3 examines the war that breaks out after Felix’s empire splinters. As newly independent cartels struggle to survive political upheaval and escalating violence, a new generation of Mexican kingpins emerge. But in this war, truth is the first casualty – and every arrest, murder and take-down only pushes real victory further away…
Season one episode six of Fox’s primetime soap Filthy Rich ended with the death of Townes Dockerty at the hands of Hagamond Sheen. Fortunately for Hagamond, Townes’ death is being labeled a suicide and as episode seven kicks off a sparsely attended funeral is just wrapping up.
Margaret (Kim Cattrall) and Franklin (Steve Harris) are there to support the grieving widow, Veronica (Gia Carides), and after they send her off to rest, Franklin warns Margaret they need to keep Reverend Paul Luke Thomas from snapping up Townes’ shares of the Sunshine Network.
Becky (Olivia Macklin) shows up at the motel and demands Ginger (Melia Kreiling) reveal who’s sleeping with her husband, Eric. She shows Ginger the note she found in Eric’s glove compartment and Ginger scans it, noting it’s not a list of women – it’s a list of hurricanes.
Becky’s shocked to see reporter Luke Taylor (Cranston Johnson) in Ginger’s room and snatches back the note before leaving in a huff.
The Monreaux siblings – minus Fake Jason/Mark – show up as requested to collect their $6 million checks. Margaret gives them each their checks but offers them a choice first: take the money or remain involved in the Sunshine Network and possibly collect an even larger payout.
Eric (Corey Cott) rips up his check, Antonio (Benjamin Levy Aguilar) signs his, and Ginger announces both she and Rose (Aubrey Dollar) are accepting the money. Rose will be launching her fashion line that evening with Ginger’s backing. “I couldn’t wait for you anymore. I’m sorry,” says Rose in response to Margaret asking if she’s ready for this big step.
Fake Jason arrives as they’re all still discussing the checks and reveals his brother Mark (the real Jason) has passed away. Rose is rendered speechless but recovers to ask to speak with him privately after he announces he’s taking the check and leaving.
In private, Rose says she’s sorry about Jason’s death. She realizes he can be with her publicly if he declares he’s Mark, not Jason. Mark’s down on himself, saying he’s a loser who doesn’t want to reveal who he actually is. He wants to return to Colorado with the money, knowing it means the end of their relationship.
And speaking of relationships, Townes’ widow tells Franklin she wants to be with him. He reveals he’s only there to pass on the news Margaret wants to buy her shares, and Veronica’s upset he’s relegated himself to just being Margaret’s lackey. She turns down the offer to buy her out.
Rose and Ginger prepare for Rose’s debut show planned for that evening at the motel. As they chat, Ginger admits she’s sure Rose has a thing for Jason, explaining sibling attraction isn’t unusual. Rose opens up and apparently reveals the truth about Jason’s identity as the scene cuts away.
Margaret attempts to stop Veronica from leaving, but Veronica’s too upset about Franklin and his refusal to be with her to be persuaded to stay. Mark asks to hitch a ride into town and Margaret assumes Veronica’s found a new boy-toy. Franklin finally lets Margaret in on the secret that Jason’s Veronica’s son.
Antonio finds Margaret in the kitchen and says his goodbyes. There are things he needs to handle and he wants her to understand he’s not being disloyal. Margaret hopes he’ll let Franklin put his $6 million payout into an account Yopi can’t access, and Antonio says he needs to talk to Yopi first.
Next, Margaret meets one-on-one with Eric – the only child who ripped up his check. She’s naming him CEO and she’ll take on the role of chairwoman. She wants Eric to monitor the 1820 club in Eugene’s place and make sure they never pull off another stunt like they did with Ginger. It’s now Eric’s turn to reveal secrets…
Eric divulges the details of the 1820 club’s grift involving the missions. “We got rich by intentionally building homes for the poor that were meant to fail,” says Eric. “This problem is so much bigger than you and me, mama.”
Margaret asks to keep this a secret until she develops a plan. Eric confesses he doesn’t want to end up like his dad – and not just in business. He reveals he’s trying to fight off the urges to cheat on Becky and she reminds him he must heed the Lord’s word. She genuinely believes he can be a better man than his father.
Antonio catches up with his mom at the hotel and she tells him to get ready to fight. He’s about to get his shot.
Ginger and Rose invite Becky to help with the fashion show, but Eric doesn’t believe the motel’s a good place for his pregnant wife. Becky’s undeterred, reminding him he’ll just be spending time in his room with his laptop anyway.
Rose and Ginger are on their way out when Margaret stops them for a peek at Rose’s clothing line. It’s obvious Margaret doesn’t approve. She also doesn’t think Rose making her clothing line debut using sex workers as models at a sleazy motel is the right way to kick things off. It sends the wrong message.
Ginger doesn’t care. Good or bad reviews – either way they’re getting noticed.
Throughout the episode, Margaret’s been having flashbacks to her teen years and her early relationship with Franklin. The flashbacks also reveal Margaret wasn’t wealthy and her pushy mom wanted her to marry up. She pushed her teenage daughter, who was serving as a waiter, into delivering a tray of food during a debutante ball to Eugene in his bedroom. It’s also revealed the elderly woman who rescued Eugene in the swamp after the plane crash is Margaret’s mom. (Did we know already know that? I don’t think so, but I try and tune out Eugene’s miraculous survival plotline so it’s possible.)
Reverend Paul (Aaron Lazar) pays a visit to Franklin and tries to pull him over to the dark side. Franklin remains loyal to Margaret and turns down Reverend Paul’s offer to join him.
Another flashback finds Franklin interrupting and stopping Eugene from kissing Margaret in his bedroom during the party.
Over at the motel, Rose is panicking as showtime approaches. Meanwhile, Becky is laser-focused on figuring out which of Ginger’s ex-employees is sleeping with her husband.
Yopi (Alanna Ubach) sits with Reverend Paul and Don Bouchard watching Antonio practice for his first big fight. She reveals she hasn’t told her son they want him to throw a fight.
For some inexplicable reason, Margaret’s dusting a chandelier when she topples from the step ladder and injures herself. Hours – and a little whiskey later – Franklin discovers she’s been hurt. After helping her onto a sofa, Franklin confesses he still feels like a servant even though he’s now a wealthy man. Margaret says he’s everything to her, but Franklin can’t continue this way. He’s considering leaving and they discuss their mutual mistrust of each other right now. (Margaret’s sore Franklin kept Eugene’s baby mamas a secret.)
There’s something else bothering Margaret and Franklin asks what’s really going on.
Antonio refuses to fix his first big fight, even though his mom promises he’ll win his second one. The third planned fight will be fair – he wins or loses on his own. Antonio demands to know what happened to all the money she made years ago, and she explains she was paid $1 million to have an abortion and disappear when she was pregnant with him. After they learned she kept the child, they broke her hand so she couldn’t fight again and stole her money.
Yopi believes everything she went through was worth it. Antonio gives his mom a hug and it appears he’s going to bend to her wishes.
As the crowd pours into the motel parking lot, Becky confronts Ginger’s sister, Rachel (Aqueela Zoll), about Eric. Rachel apologizes and confesses she never thought about her as an actual person. They’re both in tears as Becky explains it’s not Rachel’s fault. She claims Eric doesn’t see her and then admits she likes it that way.
Ginger’s been eavesdropping and suggests there’s a way to make everyone see Becky.
Back at the Monreaux place, Margaret’s confessed to Franklin the secret that could ruin their company. She’s not really up to it but thinks she should head to Rose’s show. Franklin suggests Margaret set her children free to fly and allow them to fail or succeed on their own.
And once more to the motel we go. Hagamond (Thomas Francis Murphy) is among the crowd in the parking lot. He stares at Antonio’s son and appears to believe he needs to save him from Yopi.
Catching up with Mark/Jason, without revealing his true identity he shares his feelings about his brother’s recent death with Veronica while hitching a ride into town. She suggests he speak with a spiritual advisor and he agrees, so she brings him back to the network to talk with Reverend Paul. She then drops the bombshell that if he lets God lift him up, she’ll give him her 32% ownership of the Sunshine Network.
Mark/Jason’s very confused as Veronica reveals she wants to get to know him better. He’s stunned to learn she’s Jason’s real mom.
Over at the motel, Rose is continuing to panic and becomes upset over Margaret’s absence. Rose wonders if Eugene’s watching from Heaven. (Eugene is actually watching from not far away.)
The fashion show begins and Ginger’s set it up so that the live broadcast of Reverend Paul’s The Word is streaming on the big screen as the models walk the runway. Reverend Paul’s singing provides the soundtrack to the event and then suddenly it’s Mark/Jason on the screen with Veronica asking Reverend Paul to heal her only son.
Rose doesn’t notice what’s on the screen and misses Veronica revealing Jason’s her son. What’s on the screen when Rose looks up is Veronica and Mark with their arms around each other on The Word.
The crowd cheers Rose’s designs as the final model hits the runway. It’s the very pregnant Becky wearing a wedding dress and angel wings. Okay, now wait a minute… Rachel was supposed to model this dress but instead it’s Becky, a move pulled off by Ginger so that Eric’s wife will feel “seen.” I can go along with that but how does the wedding dress suddenly change sizes and fit over Becky’s big baby bump? Seriously?! It’s not bad enough that the writers inserted Eugene back into the mix, again, now they want us to believe Rose had a backup wedding dress hanging in the wings to fit over Becky’s belly. Utterly ridiculous.
Hagamond watches from his car and determines Becky is carrying the beast.
Rachel finds Eric in the crowd and comments on how amazing Becky looks. Eric agrees and is totally confused about what he’s doing. He informs Rachel they need to stop messing around. Rachel begs him to stay with her, saying she feels in her heart that he’s not meant to be with Becky. He leaves a devastated Rachel to search for his wife.
Luke tries to grab an interview with Eric, but Eric warns him to leave his family alone. Eugene walks up after Eric storms off and tells Luke he wants to testify. Luke’s stunned to learn Eugene’s not dead.
Later, Rose reads positive reviews and gives Ginger a hug for pulling this off.
Becky admits to Ginger she doesn’t want to go home, and Ginger suggests they get her out of the wedding dress. Returning to her motel room, Becky locks the door and asks Ginger to set her free. Ginger unzips the dress and kisses Becky’s neck from behind.
Rose returns home to find her mom’s arm in a sling. She either doesn’t care or doesn’t notice since she’s so pissed off about her mom skipping her big debut. Rose reveals she’s going to sign the check and go into business with Ginger. Plus, she’s going to move out and leave her mother’s shadow behind.
As Rose walks away, Margaret whispers, “Fly, my little bird. Fly.”
Fake Jason confesses to Reverend Paul that his brother (the real Jason) asked him to end his life because he was in pain. Mark reveals he didn’t want to and Reverend Paul grabs him to pray. Once it’s done, he asks Jason to breathe in the Lord’s forgiveness and holds him close in a hug. (Mark’s confession gives Reverend Paul some powerful ammunition to use against Margaret and her family.)
It’s late and Margaret makes Franklin promise he won’t leave. He does, and they gently kiss. As Franklin pulls away, Margaret continues holding his hand. They kiss again, this time with actual passion behind the action. They stroll off to her bedroom and Franklin warns her this will change everything. “I hope so,” replies Margaret.
Kristen Stewart (Charlie’s Angels) and Mackenzie Davis (Terminator: Dark Fate) star as a couple hiding their relationship over the holidays in the romantic comedy, Happiest Season. Hulu’s just released a new trailer for the romcom from actress, writer, and director Clea DuVall.
In addition to Stewart and Davis, the cast includes Alison Brie (GLOW), Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation), Daniel Levy (Schitt’s Creek), Mary Holland (Hoops), Burl Moseley (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Victor Garber (Tales of the City), and Mary Steenburgen (The Last Man on Earth).
Mary Holland co-wrote the screenplay and Issac Klausner and Marty Bowen produced. Wyck Godfrey and Jonathan McCoy served as executive producers.
Hulu has set a November 25, 2020 premiere date.
Eric (BURL MOSELEY), Magnus (ANIS N’DOBE), Sloane (ALISON BRIE), MATILDA (ASIYIH N’DOBE), Abby (KRISTEN STEWART), Harper (MACKENZIE DAVIS), Jane (MARY HOLLAND), Ted (VICTOR GARBER) and Tipper (MARY STEENBURGEN) pose at last for their family Christmas picture in TriStar Pictures’ ‘Happiest Season’ (Courtesy of Sony Pictures)
The Plot:
Meeting your girlfriend’s family for the first time can be tough. Planning to propose at her family’s annual Christmas dinner – until you realize that they don’t even know she’s gay – is even harder. When Abby (Stewart) learns that Harper (Davis) has kept their relationship a secret from her family, she begins to question the girlfriend she thought she knew.
Happiest Season is a holiday romantic comedy that hilariously captures the range of emotions tied to wanting your family’s acceptance, being true to yourself, and trying not to ruin Christmas.
