Aleister (voice of Simon Pegg), Sterling Archer (voice of H. Jon Benjamin), Cheryl/Carol Tunt (voice of Judy Greer), and Pam Poovey (voice of Amber Nash) in ‘Archer’ season 11 (Photo Credit: FXX)
Of course FXX renewed the critically acclaimed adult animated comedy Archer for a 12th season. The series’ 11th season, currently airing on Wednesdays at 10pm ET/PT, has been averaging 2.4 million viewers. That’s up an incredible 32% over season 10.
The eight episode 11th season finishes up on October 28, 2020. Season 12 is expected to premiere in 2021.
“Archer is back in a big way this season, with viewership up as the Emmy Award-winning spy series returns to its roots and begins to plot a 12th season next year,” said Nick Grad, President, Original Programming, FX Entertainment. “Our thanks to Adam Reed, Matt Thompson, Casey Willis and the entire team at Floyd County Productions for keeping Archer as fun as ever and true to form. Together with its unbelievable voice cast, Archer is set to give fans another great season.”
The popular series’ voice cast includes H. Jon Benjamin as the newly awakened secret agent, “Sterling Archer;” Aisha Tyler as super spy, “Lana Kane;” Jessica Walter as Archer’s mother and spymaster, “Malory Archer;” Judy Greer as the surprisingly well-adjusted assistant, “Cheryl/Carol Tunt;” Chris Parnell as the newly-minted alpha male, “Cyril Figgis;” Amber Nash as the lovable comrade in arms, “Pam Poovey;” Adam Reed as the consummate professional, “Ray Gillette;” and Lucky Yates as the unscrupulous scientist, “Algernop Krieger.”
The Emmy Award-winning animated comedy was created by Adam Reed. Reed, Matt Thompson, and Casey Willis serve as executive producers.
The Archer Plot, Courtesy of FXX:
Archer is an animated, half-hour comedy that, in its 11th season, follows Sterling Archer and his return to the spy world after a three-year coma. While many things changed during his absence, Archer is confident it will take just a little time for him to reset things back to the old ways. The problem: does the rest of the team want that?
Season 11 episode seven, “Caught Napping,” airs October 21st at 10pm and was written by Mark Ganek.
They’re back… Animaniacs returns with 13 new animated episodes premiering Friday, November 20, 2020 on Hulu. It’s been 22 years since the goofy animated series aired, and the new trailer plays catch-up with the zany characters.
Oscar winner Steven Spielberg’s (Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List) is back as an executive producer of the animated series from Amblin Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation. President of Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios Sam Register and Amblin Television Co-Presidents Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank also executive produce. Executive producer Wellesley Wild is the season one showrunner.
The voice cast includes Rob Paulsen (“Yakko Warner” & “Pinky”), Tress MacNeille (“Dot Warner”), Jess Harnell (“Wakko Warner”), and Maurice LaMarche (“The Brain”).
The Plot, Courtesy of Hulu:
They’re back! The Warner brothers, Yakko and Wakko, and the Warner sister Dot, have a great time wreaking havoc and mayhem in the lives of everyone they meet. After returning to their beloved home, the Warner Bros. water tower, the siblings waste no time in causing chaos and comic confusion as they run loose through the studio, turning the world into their personal playground.
Joining Yakko, Wakko and Dot, fan-favorite characters Pinky and the Brain also return to continue their quest for world domination.
CBS’s popular action drama NCIS: Los Angeles returns to primetime with season 12 episode one, airing on November 8, 2020 at 8pm PT/8:30pm ET. Episode one, “The Bear,” was directed by Dennis Smith from a script by R. Scott Gemmill.
Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J lead the cast as Special Agent G. Callen and Special Agent Sam Hanna. Season 12 also stars Linda Hunt as Operations Manager Henrietta “Hetty” Lange, Daniela Ruah as Special Agent Kensi Blye, Eric Christian Olsen as LAPD Detective Marty Deeks, Barrett Foa as Tech Operator Eric Beale, Renée Felice Smith as Intelligence Analyst Nell Jones, Medalion Rahimi as Special Agent Fatima Namazi, and Caleb Castille as Special Agent Devin Rountree.
Episode one guest stars include Vyto Ruginis, Eugene Prokofiev, Don Wallace, Olesya Rulin, Daniel Kove, Lissa Danshaw, and Brian Leigh Smith.
“The Bear” Plot: When a Russian bomber goes missing while flying over U.S. soil, Callen and Sam must track it down in the desert and secure its weapons and intel before the Russians on board destroy the plane. Also, Hetty gives Nell a cryptic assignment.
NCIS: Los Angeles Series Description, Courtesy of CBS:
NCIS: Los Angeles is a drama about the high-stakes world of a division of NCIS that is charged with apprehending dangerous and elusive criminals, who pose a threat to the nation’s security. By assuming false identities and utilizing the most advanced technology, this team of highly trained agents goes deep undercover, putting their lives on the line in the field to bring down their targets.
Special Agent “G” Callen is a chameleon who transforms himself into whomever he needs to be to infiltrate the criminal underworld. His partner is Special Agent Sam Hanna, a former U.S. Navy SEAL who has seen action in both Afghanistan and Iraq. The team includes the all-knowing Henrietta “Hetty” Lange, who handles the politics of the job and is tasked with providing everything from micro-surveillance cameras to cars for the team; Special Agent Kensi Blye, the exceptionally bright daughter of a slain Marine who lives for the adrenaline rush that comes with undercover work; Marty Deeks, a seasoned LAPD undercover detective who was recruited to the team by Hetty; tech operator Eric Beale, who has mastered every gadget and computer in the Ops Center; intelligence analyst Nell Jones, who won the team’s respect with her spot-on assessments and her shrewd insights; Fatima Namazi, a Middle East specialist and a razor-sharp cryptologist; and former FBI Agent Devin Rountree, whose unique upbringing, discipline and athletic ability are a welcome addition to the team.
Armed with the latest in high-tech gear and sent regularly into life-threatening situations, this tight-knit unit relies on each other to do what is necessary to protect national interests.
The Covid-19 pandemic and the heroic efforts of health care workers are integrated into season four episode one of ABC’s critically acclaimed medical drama, The Good Doctor. Directed by Mike Listo from a script by David Shore and Liz Friedman, season four episode one will air on Monday, November 2, 2020 at 10pm ET/PT.
The cast of season four includes Freddie Highmore as Dr. Shaun Murphy, Antonia Thomas as Dr. Claire Browne, Hill Harper as Dr. Marcus Andrews, and Richard Schiff as Dr. Aaron Glassman. Christina Chang plays Dr. Audrey Lim, Fiona Gubelmann is Dr. Morgan Reznick, Will Yun Lee is Dr. Alex Park and Paige Spara stars as Lea Dilallo.
Guest starring in episode one are Beau Garrett as Jessica Preston, Ricky He as Kellan Park, Sheila Kelley as Debbie Wexler, Karin Konoval as Nurse Petringa, and Jennifer Birmingham Lee as Mia. Elfina Luk guests as Nurse Villanueva, Lochlyn Munro is Martin Cross, Carly Pope is Lily Cross, and Arlen Aguayo-Stewart is Ambar Estrada.
“Frontline Part 1” Plot: In part one of the two-part season premiere of ABC’s The Good Doctor, Dr. Shaun Murphy treats a patient with an illness that is not only unpredictable in nature, but also unlike anything he or the team at San Jose St. Bonaventure has ever seen before. As safety protocols and quarantines increase due to the global pandemic, Lea and Shaun’s new relationship will become tested; and Dr. Alex Park gets ready to move back to Phoenix, Arizona, to be closer to his family.
Meanwhile, Dr. Morgan Reznick navigates her way around the clinic following her departure from the surgery team and unknowingly puts herself and several members of the staff in danger. Finally, Dr. Claire Brown continues to work through her grief, still reeling from the sudden death of Dr. Neil Melendez.
Freddie Highmore in ‘The Good Doctor’ season 4 episode 1 (ABC/Jeff Weddell)Arlen Aguayo-Stewart in season 4 episode 1 (ABC/Jeff Weddell)Will Yun Lee in season 4 episode 1 (ABC/Jeff Weddell)Antonia Thomas and Christina Chang in season 4 episode 1 (ABC/Jeff Weddell)Freddie Highmore and Lochlyn Munro in season 4 episode 1 (ABC/Jeff Weddell)Christina Chang and Bethany Brown in season 4 episode 1 (ABC/Jeff Weddell)
NBC’s This Is Us finally returns to kick off season five on Tuesday, October 27, 2020. The fifth season will premiere with back-to-back episodes, beginning at 9pm ET/PT.
Returning cast members include Mandy Moore as Rebecca, Milo Ventimiglia as Jack, Justin Hartley as Kevin, Sterling K. Brown as Randall, and Chrissy Metz as Kate. Susan Kelechi Watson is Beth and Chris Sullivan stars as Toby.
Season 5 Episodes 1 & 2 Plots: “Forty: Part One/Part Two” – The Pearsons gather to celebrate their 40th birthday while musing about the day they were born.
This Is Us Series Description, Courtesy of NBC:
Everyone has a family. And every family has a story. This Is Us chronicles the Pearson family across the decades: from Jack (Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Moore) as young parents in the 1980s to their kids (the big three), Kevin (Hartley), Kate (Metz) and Randall (Brown) searching for love and fulfillment in the present day along with Toby (Sullivan) and Beth (Kelechi Watson). This grounded, life-affirming dramedy reveals how the tiniest events in our lives impact who we become, and how the connections we share with each other can transcend time, distance and even death.
Justin Hartley as Kevin, Chrissy Metz as Kate, and Sterling K. Brown as Randall in ‘This Is Us’ season 5 episode 1 (Photo by: NBC)Asante Blackk as Malik and Sterling K. Brown as Randall in season 5 episode 1 (Photo by: NBC)Chrissy Metz as Kate and Justin Hartley as Kevin in season 5 episode 1 (Photo by: NBC)Sterling K. Brown as Randall and Faithe Herman as Annie in the season 5 premiere (Photo by: NBC)Caitlin Thompson as Madison and Justin Hartley as Kevin in season 5 episode 1 (Photo by: NBC)Chrissy Metz as Kate and Justin Hartley as Kevin in season 5 episode 1 (Photo by: NBC)Justin Hartley wears a mask in season 5 episode 1 (Photo by: NBC)
The special one-minute video for season two of Lucasfilm’s The Mandalorian begins with a chase scene followed by the Mandalorian requesting the help of Greef Karga and Cara Dune. “I’ve been quested to bring this one back to its kind,” says Baby Yoda’s protector. He adds, “If I can locate other Mandalorians, they can guide me.”
The special look at season two arrived just 10 days out from the premiere. Season two will kick off on Disney+ on Friday, October 30, 2020.
In addition to the scene-stealing Baby Yoda, the cast features Pedro Pascal in the title role, Gina Carano as Cara Dune, Carl Weathers as Greef Karga, and Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon. Weathers, Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rick Famuyiwa, Peyton Reed, and Robert Rodriguez directed season two episodes.
Showrunner Jon Favreau executive produces with Dave Filoni, Kathleen Kennedy, and Colin Wilson. The season two writers are Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni and Rick Famuyiwa.
Pedro Pascal and Baby Yoda in season 2 of ‘The Mandalorian’ (Photo Credit: Disney+)
The Season 2 Plot:
The Mandalorian and the Child continue their journey, facing enemies and rallying allies as they make their way through a dangerous galaxy in the tumultuous era after the collapse of the Galactic Empire.
Series Description, Courtesy of Disney+:
After the stories of Jango and Boba Fett, another warrior emerges in the Star Wars universe. The Mandalorian is set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order. We follow the travails of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic.
Jake Gyllenhaal reunites with his Prisoners and Enemy director Denis Villeneuve for the HBO limited series, The Son. Gyllenhaal is on board to star in and executive produce, with Oscar nominee Villeneuve (Arrival) directing and executive producing.
The Son, based on the New York Times bestseller by Jo Nesbø, is adapted by Lenore Zion. Zion is also the showrunner and executive produces with Kilter Films’ Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy as well as Nine Stories’ Riva Marker and Kilter Films’ Athena Wickham.
The limited series’ executive producers also include author Jo Nesbø, Niclas Salomonsson, Bold Films’ David Litvak, Gary Michael Walters, Michel Litvak, and Svetlana Metkina.
“Jonah and Lisa are a formidable creative force and we are excited to collaborate with them again, alongside the brilliant Lenore, to adapt Jo Nesbø’s novel,” said Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President, HBO Programming. “Denis is a master at weaving visually exquisite and unique narratives, Jake is a gifted actor and producer whose work often traverses provocative and compelling terrain, and of course, he and Denis have collaborated brilliantly in the past. We are beyond excited to see how this powerhouse team tackles this exceptional work.”
The Son is a Nine Stories Productions, Kilter Films, and Bold Films production in association with Warner Bros. Television.
Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal’s (Brokeback Mountain) credits include Nightcrawler, Everest, Nocturnal Animals, Stronger, Velvet Buzzsaw, and Spider-Man: Far From Home.
The Book’s Plot:
Sonny Lofthus has been in prison for almost half his life: serving time for crimes he didn’t commit. In exchange, he gets an uninterrupted supply of heroin—and a stream of fellow prisoners seeking out his Buddha-like absolution. Years earlier Sonny’s father, a corrupt cop, took his own life rather than face exposure. Now Sonny is the center of a vortex of corruption: prison staff, police, lawyers, a desperate priest—all of them focused on keeping him stoned and jailed.
When Sonny discovers a shocking truth about his father’s suicide, he makes a brilliant escape and begins hunting down the people responsible for his and his father’s demise. But he’s also being hunted, and by enemies too many to count. Two questions remain: who will get to him first, and what will he do when he’s cornered?
Kaley Cuoco claims to be a crazy drunk flight attendant but not a killer in the official trailer for The Flight Attendant. The eight-episode limited series is adapted from the bestselling novel by Chris Bohjalian and premieres on HBO Max on November 26, 2020.
Episodes one through three will arrive on November 26 followed by two new episodes on December 3rd. Episodes six and seven will debut on December 10. The limited series wraps up with episode eight on December 17th.
In addition to Kaley Cuoco, the cast includes Michiel Huisman, Rosie Perez, Zosia Mamet, Michelle Gomez, T.R. Knight, Colin Woodell, Merle Dandridge, Griffin Matthews, and Nolan Gerard Funk.
Susanna Fogel directed and executive produces episodes one and two of the dark comedic thriller. The Berlanti Productions, Yes, Norman Productions, and Warner Horizon Scripted Television production is also executive produced by Greg Berlanti, Kaley Cuoco, Steve Yockey, Marcie Ulin, Meredith Lavender, and Sarah Schechter.
The Plot, Courtesy of HBO Max:
The Flight Attendant is a story of how an entire life can change in one night. A flight attendant (Cuoco) wakes up in the wrong hotel, in the wrong bed, with a dead man – and no idea what happened.
Warwick Davis in a scene from ‘Willow’ (Photo Courtesy of Lucasfilm)
Warwick Davis is set to reprise his role from the popular 1988 film in the new series Willow, set up at Disney+. Lucasfilm announced the series and confirmed Davis won’t be the only connection to the original movie. Willow director Ron Howard is on board as executive producer and the film’s screenwriter, Bob Dolman, will serve as a consulting producer.
Crazy Rich Asians‘ Jon M. Chu is attached to direct the series’ pilot from a script by Jonathan Kasdan. Chu will also executive produce along with Kathleen Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan, and showrunners Kasdan (Solo) and Wendy Mericle (Arrow).
“Growing up in the ’80s, Willow has had a profound effect on me,” said Chu. “The story of the bravest heroes in the least likely places allowed me, an Asian-American kid growing up in a Chinese restaurant looking to go to Hollywood, to believe in the power of our own will, determination and of course, inner magic. So the fact that I get to work with my heroes from Kathleen Kennedy to Ron Howard is bigger than a dream come-true. It’s a bucket-list moment for me. Jon Kasdan and Wendy Mericle have added such groundbreaking new characters and delightful surprises to this timeless story that I can’t wait for the world to come along on this epic journey with us.”
According to Lucasfilm, the series is set after the events that transpired in the feature film and introduces “all-new characters to the enchanted realm of fairy queens and two-headed Eborsisk monsters, and welcomes back its namesake hero, Willow Ufgood, performed once again by the unmatchable Warwick Davis.”
“It’s creatively exciting to not only revisit the world and characters first conceived by George Lucas, Bob Dolman and myself but to see it take flight in such fresh, fun and cinematic ways through the imagination of Jon Kasdan and Team Willow,” stated Howard. “This isn’t a nostalgic throw-back, it’s a creative lean-forward and it’s a blast to be a part of it all.”
Filming is expected to begin next year in Wales where the original movie was shot.
“So many fans have asked me over the years if Willow will make a return, and now I’m thrilled to tell them that he will indeed,” said Davis. “Many have told me they grew up with Willow and that the film has influenced how they view heroism in our own world. If Willow Ufgood can represent the heroic potential in all of us, then he is a character I am extremely honored to reprise.”
“This is an exciting new era for storytelling at Lucasfilm,” explained Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. “Jon Chu’s vision, coupled with the writing of Jon Kasdan and Wendy Mericle, is going to take Willow into new and exciting directions for the series. Reuniting Ron Howard and Warwick Davis in the world of Willow is something that they’ve both wanted to do for some time, and I couldn’t be more proud of the incredible team we’ve put together to bring this series to Disney+.”
Taylor Schilling and Roberta Colindrez in ‘Monsterland’ episode 5 (Photo by: Barbara Nitke/Hulu)
Nathan Ballingrud’s short story collection North American Lake Monsters springs to life in Hulu’s horror anthology series, Monsterland. Each of the eight episodes that make up Monsterland focus on a unique supernatural tale told with a different cast and in different settings.
Emmy nominee Taylor Schilling (Orange Is the New Black) leads the cast of season one episode five, “Plainfield, Illinois.” The episode explores the relationship of a couple, played by Schilling and Roberta Colindrez, as they push the boundaries between life and death. Schilling joined Monsterland showrunner and executive producer Mary Laws for a virtual roundtable discussion during New York Comic Con to discuss the source material and Schilling’s riveting (and disturbing) episode.
All episodes of Monsterland are currently streaming on Hulu. (Warning: There are episode five spoilers ahead.)
What type of research did you do to better understand what your character was dealing with, both in terms of having bipolar disorder and also turning into a zombie?
Taylor Schilling: “I think that I had many moments where I felt like I was experiencing my life as a horror film. And it feels that way and it feels that heightened. I think a lot of times it’s just when a script is very well written and feels very emotionally solvent, logical, it’s really just a little bit of detective work to figure out, to connect the dots from what’s happening there to what’s happening other places.
This piece made a hell of a lot more sense to me than other more seemingly simple things I’ve done.”
What made you look at the source material and believe it was perfect for an anthology series?
Mary Laws: “Well, the source material itself sort of feels like an anthology series. You know, Nathan’s book is…I mean, first of all, it’s truly beautiful. The depth of character in his book is astonishing and I think as a writer you get sent a lot of (intellectual property) all the time. I took one look at the first story in his book, which is our pilot episode, and I thought, ‘Oh my god I have to do this. I’ve never read anything like this.’
It was such an incredible portrait of a really complicated, young single mother that I felt like, ‘Oh, I’ve never seen that person on screen before.’ And that’s sort of when I always know I have to do it – to put things and people on screen that don’t usually get that spotlight.
But the book itself is a collection of short stories and so every story kind of felt like it was its own tiny little moment in time about a human sort of wrestling inside a pothole they had fallen into in their life. I felt like that was just an amazing stage to be able to play on and tell stories about a lot of different broken people and why they do the monstrous things that they do, a real exploration of humanity.”
What is it that draws you to the supernatural and horror genre?
Mary Laws: “Oh my gosh I just love it! Isn’t it fun? I was talking to a friend of mine a while back and said, ‘I just don’t know how I would ever write anything that’s just stark naturalism.’ I feel like I am so fortunate to sort of put the way that I see the world, emotionally, into these metaphors of zombies, of monsters and demons. I think it’s just a really exciting way to talk about the actual horror of the world is through this lens. So, I’m just drawn to it.
I think as an audience member I’m actually drawn to a lot of naturalism though, maybe because it feels like something I can’t do. But I don’t know – I love it.”
How did you go about finding the directors of each episode?
Mary Laws: “I watched a lot. I mean, some of the directors I’d known because I’d worked with them previously and I felt so lucky to have a chance to work with them on this project. But then others, it was exploration. Recommendations from Hulu, recommendations from our studio Annapurna, recommendations from our writing team. I mean, we were just looking for really incredible auteur-style directors who could come in and really put their fingerprints all over an episode, which is really exciting to me because I think directors don’t usually have that kind of opportunity in television. Everything is sort of supposed to be in a style set. But this, I think every episode is a little bit different and quite unique which I think is a result of us having eight really brilliant, different styles, different backgrounds, different kinds of directors come to the material.
I just chose directors whose work I deeply, truly admired and that I wanted to learn from.”
How do you get into the mindset of someone who’s mentally and physically deteriorating and losing herself as you’re going along in this project?
Taylor Schilling: “I think it’s closer than one would imagine. For me, when the external pieces match the puzzle pieces of the internal landscape it’s really fun. It’s really fun. Everything coalesces and you just can kind of slalom down the slope. So, I think it was a pleasure.”
Was it easier to find her at the beginning of her journey or the end of her journey?
Taylor Schilling: “I think that she was seeking freedom throughout the piece in a really aggressive way. She developed a sense of relief by the end of her story, and that was fun. There were no more constraints. That was really exciting and fun.”
You’ve mentioned you’re not a big horror fan, but you do like psychological thrillers. What is it about them that interests you?
Taylor Schilling: “I’m not opposed to horror films; it’s just never what I click on. It’s not what I’m immediately taken by. That said, any kind of psychological thriller piece where I feel bent emotionally, I feel emotionally manipulated and frightened – I’m all in. I get scared by that. A jump scare I’m like, ‘Really?’ It doesn’t really do much for me. But I want to feel like I’m losing my mind. The mind is really what gets me.
And that’s kind of how I felt about The Prodigy, too. I was fascinated by that woman. And that’s all you can do as an actor, sort of see what comes and then say, ‘Let’s give it a shot. Let’s see how it turns out.’ But that’s what I like. Both (Monsterland and The Prodigy) related in that way, that it felt like the razor’s edge of reality was melting for both of the women in those projects.”
