Netflix has set an April 2, 2021 premiere date for the dramatic film Concrete Cowboy starring Idris Elba (Luther). The streaming service also dropped an official poster in support of the premiere date announcement.
The R-rated drama made its debut at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival and currently sits at 77% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Idris Elba’s co-stars include Caleb McLaughlin (Stranger Things), Jharrel Jerome (When They See Us), Byron Bowers (The Chi), Lorraine Toussaint (The Equalizer), and Clifford “Method Man” Smith (Power Book II: Ghost). Members of the Fletcher Street Stables also appear in the film.
Concrete Cowboy‘s inspired by G. Neri’s novel, Ghetto Cowboy. Ricky Staub makes his feature film directorial debut with the inspirational tale. Staub also co-wrote the screenplay by Dan Walser.
Elba, Tucker Tooley, Lee Daniels, Dan Walser, Jeff Waxman, and Jennifer Madeloff produced.
The Plot, Courtesy of Netflix:
When fifteen year-old Cole (McLaughlin) is expelled from school in Detroit, he is sent to North Philadelphia to live with Harp (Elba), his estranged father. Harp finds solace in rehabilitating horses for inner-city cowboys at the Fletcher Street Stables, a real-life black urban horsemanship community that has provided a safe haven for the neighborhood residents for more than 100 years.
Torn between his growing respect for his father’s community and his reemerging friendship with troubled cousin Smush (Jerome), Cole begins to reprioritize his life as the stables themselves are threatened by encroaching gentrification.
Season five of CBS’s MacGyver continues with episode 11 that finds Mac and Riley tasked with heading overseas to pick up a package. Episode 11, “C8H7CIO + Nano-Trackers + Resistance + Maldives + Mind Games,” was directed by David Straiton from a script by Joshua Brown and Teresa Huang and will air on Friday, March 26, 2021 at 8pm ET/PT. (Previously scheduled for March 12th.)
Lucas Till stars as Angus “Mac” MacGyver, Tristin Mays plays Riley Davis, and Justin Hires is Wilt Bozer. Meredith Eaton is Matty Weber, Levy Tran is Desi Nguyen, and Henry Ian Cusick plays Russ Taylor.
Episode 11 guest stars include Deepti Gupta, Scott Holroyd, Alexandra Grey, Tina Ivlev, and Jeremy Crutchley.
“C8H7CIO + Nano-Trackers + Resistance + Maldives + Mind Games” Plot: Mac and Riley head overseas together to prevent a governmental collapse and inadvertently inhale new deadly microscopic technology.
MacGyver, a reimagining of the classic series, is an action-adventure drama about 20-something Angus “Mac” MacGyver, who is part of a clandestine organization within the U.S. government, where he uses his extraordinary talent for unconventional problem-solving and vast scientific knowledge to save lives. Joining his team on high-risk missions around the globe are Riley Davis, an unpredictable computer hacker with a chip on her shoulder; Wilt Bozer, Mac’s roommate and an agent on the team; Matty Weber, a legend in Covert Ops and the director of operations at the Phoenix Foundation; Desi Nguyen, whose job is to protect MacGyver and his team on their global missions; and Russ Taylor, quick-witted, Oxford-educated, ex-military skilled in propaganda and lie detection, who shakes things up by challenging the way MacGyver and the team are used to doing things.
Under the aegis of the Phoenix Foundation, MacGyver takes on the responsibility of saving the world, armed to the teeth with resourcefulness and little more than bubble gum and a paper clip.
When Superman & Lois showrunner/executive producer Todd Helbing pitched the show’s concept to Elizabeth Tulloch, he described it as “Friday Night Lights meets Superman.”
“I loved Friday Night Lights,” said Tulloch, who plays intrepid reporter Lois Lane, Superman’s better half, on The CW’s Superman & Lois. “To me, that is a show I want to watch.”
Born in San Diego, Tulloch grew up in Spain, Uruguay, and Argentina, moving a lot due to her father’s job. Upon returning to the United States, she graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with a double major in English/American literature and visual and environmental studies. Her first acting credit is 2001’s R2-D2: Beneath the Dome, a mockumentary produced by Star Wars creator George Lucas. She’s appeared in the movies Concussion (starring Will Smith) and Lakeview Terrace (starring Samuel L. Jackson). She’s guest-starred on The West Wing, Cold Case, Moonlight, Outlaw, and House, M.D..
Tulloch is best known as Dr. Juliette Silverton (and later the enigmatic Eve) on the NBC fantasy drama Grimm from 2011-17, which starred David Giuntoli (who’s currently appearing on ABC’s A Million Little Things). She’s been married to Giuntoli, whom she met on Grimm, since 2017. Together, they live in Vancouver where their respective series are filmed, with their daughter Vivian, two.
“At this point, I’m married with a child – (choosing an acting role is) not a decision I get to make by myself anymore,” she said.
When asked what attracted her to this part, Tulloch countered with a question of her own, channeling her inner Lois Lane.
“What didn’t attract me to the part of Lois Lane?” said Tulloch. “As far as strong women go, it doesn’t get much more impressive or cool than Lois Lane. She was introduced in 1938 and from the time she’s been introduced, she’s remained incredibly appealing and popular and iconic for really understandable reasons: She is determined, she is unafraid, she is uncompromising, she is incredibly intelligent. All of those things are balanced out by a sort of lovable goofiness about her. To me, it’s a dream come true to play someone as wonderful as Lois Lane.”
Tulloch doesn’t feel a great deal of pressure taking on this role.
“I find it more humbling than daunting because I have so much respect for the character of Lois Lane myself,” said Tulloch. “And I like her so much. I feel giddy sometimes that I get to be Lois Lane; I think she’s wonderful.”
Tulloch is the latest in a long line of actresses who have played Lois Lane, whether on the big or small screen, in live action or animation, over the course of 80 years. This distinguished company includes Joan Alexander, Noel Neill, Phyllis Coates, Margot Kidder, Teri Hatcher, Dana Delany, Erica Durance, Kate Bosworth, Amy Adams, Amy Acker, Juliet Landau, Christina Hendricks, Rebecca Romijn, among others.
She admitted that she’s not familiar with the other actresses who’ve played the character with the exception of the late Kidder, who appeared as Lois Lane in 1978’s Superman, 1980’s Superman II, 1983’s Superman III, and 1987’s Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, alongside the late Christopher Reeve, considered by many as the definitive Man of Steel. Richard Donner (the Lethal Weapon series) directed the first Superman.
“I love Margot Kidder,” said Tulloch. “This is a true story: I started acting in my mid-20s and I had an acting teacher tell me to watch the Lois Lane screen tests in the Donner film and tell her why Margot Kidder won the role. I said, ‘It’s so obvious – she’s having so much fun with it. It’s fun to watch her on-screen having so much fun with this character.’ There were some amazing actresses (Holly Palance, Debra Raffin, Susan Blakely, Stockard Channing, Anne Archer, Lesley Ann Warren) who screen-tested for this role, but to me, I enjoyed watching Margot Kidder the most… I hope she’s proud of me.”
Poster for season 1 of ‘Superman & Lois’ airing on The CW.
The seventh series in The CW’s “Arrowverse,” Superman & Lois recently debuted and has been already been renewed for a second season. Tyler Hoechlin (Road to Perdition, Teen Wolf) plays Superman and his alter ego, Clark Kent. Both Tulloch and Hoechlin first appeared as their respective characters on The Flash and Supergirl, respectively, before spinning off into Superman & Lois. Tulloch also appeared as Lois Lane on Arrow, Batwoman, and Legends of Tomorrow.
“Obviously it was very different when Tyler and I were doing the crossovers because there’s a lot going on and you’re in scenes with leads with several other shows. During crossovers, you have a whole line per scene. Now you have all this depth and complexity to play with,” she explained.
What makes Superman & Lois stand out from other Superman shows is there is no love triangle (with two people) between Superman, Clark Kent, and Lois Lane. On Superman & Lois, she knows Superman and Clark Kent are one and the same, and she’s married to him. The biggest difference is they are parents to twin teenage boys Jonathan (Jordan Elsass, Little Fires Everywhere) and Jordan (Alex Garfin, The Peanuts Movie).
“To me, teenagers are just so interesting, so it makes sense to me why writers would want to mine that,” said Tulloch.
Jonathan (named after Superman’s adoptive father, Jonathan Kent) is a star football player and outgoing person. Jordan (named after Superman’s biological father, Jor-El) has social anxiety and is an outcast. Of the two, Jordan inherits superpowers, which makes him feel more like an outcast than ever before. Once Jordan’s superpowers manifest themselves, Clark tells his sons that he’s Superman. The Kents move from Metropolis, NY to the old Kent farm in Smallville, KS where Clark trains Jordan how to use his newfound superpowers in seclusion.
“I do know this is the first time you’re seeing Lois and Clark as not only parents (on TV)… but being parents to two teenagers, which is why Tyler and I were really attracted to the idea of doing this show because teens are so complex, so interesting, so hormonal, so rebellious, and they’re trying to figure out who they are. It just felt like there’s so many places to go with that as parents and with them still having all their side-hustles, so to speak, as a superhero and as a world-famous journalist,” explained Tulloch.
She spoke very highly of Hoechlin.
“I absolutely adore him, and I love working with him,” said Tulloch.
“I feel really, really grateful that our relationship is so wonderful. We love working together. We both get bummed out when we look at the schedule and notice that we’re not shooting together all day just because we have so much fun together,” said Tulloch. “The chemistry is also apparent on-screen. Fans can read that Tyler and I adore each other and get along with each other. Tyler feels the same way. There’s not only respect for these characters, there’s a lot of love Tyler and I have for them.”
NBC’s The Blacklist season eight continues with episode 10, “Dr. Laken Perillos,” featuring four-time Emmy nominee Laverne Cox (Orange is the New Black) in the title role. Episode 10 is set to air on Friday, March 12, 2021.
The cast of The Blacklist is led by James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington and Megan Boone as Elizabeth Keen. Diego Klattenhoff plays Donald Ressler, Amir Arison is Aram Mojtabai, Hisham Tawfiq is Dembe Zuma, and Harry Lennix stars as Harold Cooper.
“Dr. Laken Perillos” Plot: Red and Dembe land in peril when Townsend deploys a torture specialist who uses unorthodox methods to interrogate her victims.
Season 8 Description, Courtesy of NBC:
With his back against the wall, Raymond Reddington (Spader) faces his most formidable enemy yet: Elizabeth Keen (Boone). Aligned with her mother, infamous Russian spy Katarina Rostova, Liz must decide how far she is willing to go to find out why Reddington has entered her life and what his endgame really is. The fallout between Reddington and Keen will have devastating consequences for all that lie in their wake, including the Task Force they helped to create.
James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington and Laverne Cox as Dr. Laken Perillos in ‘The Blacklist’ season 8 episode 10 (Photo by: Will Hart/NBC)James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington in season 8 episode 10 (Photo by: Will Hart/NBC)Laura Sohn as Agent Alina Park and Diego Klattenhoff as Donald Ressler in season 8 episode 10 (Photo by: Will Hart/NBC)Dikran Tulaine as Ruddiger and James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington in season 8 episode 10 (Photo by: Will Hart/NBC)Hisham Tawfiq as Dembe Zuma in season 8 episode 10 (Photo by: Will Hart/NBC)Laverne Cox as Dr. Laken Perillos in season 8 episode 10 (Photo by: Will Hart/NBC)
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)
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)
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.
Logo for the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards (Photo: 2020 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)
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.”
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.
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.”
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.”
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.
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.
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.
