Sex and the City‘s Kim Cattrall returns to television in a starring role as the lead in Fox’s Filthy Rich. The new Southern Gothic family drama comes from The Help‘s writer/director Tate Taylor and makes its debut on September 21, 2020 at 9pm ET/PT. In support of its premiere, Fox has released photos from episode one along with the season one plot description.
In addition to Kim Cattrall as Margaret, the cast of season one includes Gerald McRaney as Eugene, Corey Cott as Eric, Olivia Macklin as Becky, and Aubrey Dollar as Rose. Melia Kreiling plays Ginger, Benjamin Levy Aguilar is Antonio, Mark L. Young is Jason, Steve Harris is Franklin Lee, and Aaron Lazar plays Reverend Paul Thomas.
Series creator Tate Taylor wrote and directed episode one and serves as an executive producer. Brian Grazer, Francie Calfo, John Norris, and Abe Sylvia also executive produce, with Sylvia handling showrunner duties.
Filthy Rich Plot, Courtesy of Fox:
Meet the Monreauxes, a mega-rich Southern family famed for creating a wildly successful Christian television network. On the cusp of launching a digital retail arm of the company, the family’s patriarch, EUGENE, dies in a plane crash (or so we think), leaving MARGARET, a now-“Oprah” to the religious and Southern communities, to take charge of the family business. Not surprisingly, Eugene’s apparent death greatly impacts the Monreaux children: ERIC, the couple’s ambitious son, married to the prim and snooty BECKY, who assumes he will now run the show; and daughter ROSE, a budding fashion designer, who constantly struggles to evade the vast shadow cast by her mother.
If that wasn’t enough, the Monreauxes are stunned to learn that Eugene fathered three illegitimate children, all of whom are written into his will. Now, Margaret must use her business savvy and Southern charm to control her newly legitimized heirs, whose very existence threatens the Monreaux family name and fortune: GINGER, the tough-as-nails daughter of a Vegas cocktail waitress, whose life was virtually destroyed by Eugene’s rejection; ANTONIO, a single dad and boxer from Queens, NY; and JASON, another scion, who is not what he seems to be.
Margaret’s rock is her lifelong confidant and friend, FRANKLIN LEE, the Monreaux family lawyer, who has her back in the wake of the death of her husband and threats to the Monreaux empire, one of them being the beloved, popular, influential, and ambitious minister at the Sunshine Network, REVEREND PAUL THOMAS, who doesn’t think Margaret is capable of running the network, a newly announced retail venture, and her TV show simultaneously.
With monumental twists and turns, not to mention lies, deceit and shade from every direction, FILTHY RICH presents a world in which everyone has an ulterior motive – and no one is going down without a fight.
MTV’s Video Music Awards held on August 30, 2020 and hosted by Keke Palmer were as wild and weird as the year itself. Performed in front of a virtual attendees and accompanied by an audience track that seemed lifted straight out of a game show, the 2020 Video Music Awards were jampacked with incredible performances. Miley Cyrus mounted her iconic wrecking ball, Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande performed “Rain on Me,” BTS debuted their hit single, “Dynamite,” and DaBaby made a powerful statement about police brutality.
Multiple artists used their time in the spotlight to urge the VMA audience to get out and vote, to seek justice and equality, and to make their voices heard. Plus, MTV’s Video Music Awards set an excellent example by highlighting the use of masks during performances to help stop the spread of Covid-19.
Lady Gaga emerged as the evening’s big winner, taking home five awards including Artist of the Year. Ariana Grande followed close behind with four wins in categories including Best Music Video from Home for “Stuck with U” with Justin Bieber. BTS collected wins in the Best Pop, Best K-pop, and Best Group categories, and The Weeknd snagged top honors in the Video of the Year and Best R&B categories.
The awards show also featured Lady Gaga winning the first-ever MTV Tricon Award and first-time director Taylor Swift picking up a win for helming her “The Man” music video.
MTV VMAs 2020 Winners:
Video of the Year
WINNER: The Weeknd: “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records
Billie Eilish: “Everything I Wanted” – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Eminem ft. Juice WRLD: “Godzilla” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records
Future ft. Drake: “Life Is Good” – Epic Records / Freebandz
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain on Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records
Taylor Swift: “The Man” – Republic Records
Artist of the Year
WINNER: Lady Gaga – Streamline / Interscope Records
DaBaby – SCMG / Interscope Records
Justin Bieber – RBMG / Def Jam
Megan Thee Stallion – 300 Entertainment
Post Malone – Republic Records
The Weeknd – XO / Republic Records
PUSH Best New Artist
WINNER: Doja Cat — Kemosabe / RCA Records
Jack Harlow — Generation Now / Atlantic Records
Lewis Capaldi — Capitol Records
Roddy Ricch — Atlantic Records
Tate McRae — RCA Records
Yungblud – Locomotion Recordings / Geffen Records / Interscope Records
Song of the Year
WINNER: Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records
Billie Eilish: “Everything I Wanted” – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Doja Cat: “Say So” – Kemosabe / RCA Records
Megan Thee Stallion: “Savage” – 300 Entertainment
Post Malone: “Circles” – Republic Records
Roddy Ricch: “The Box” – Atlantic Records
Best Collaboration
WINNER: Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records
Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber: “Stuck with U” – Republic Records / Def Jam
Black Eyed Peas ft. J Balvin: “Ritmo (Bad Boys For Life)” – Epic Records / We The Best
Ed Sheeran ft. Khalid: “Beautiful People” – Atlantic Records
Future ft. Drake: “Life Is Good” – Epic Records / Freebandz
Karol G ft. Nicki Minaj: “Tusa” – Universal Music Latin Entertainment
MTV Tricon Award
WINNER: Lady Gaga – Streamline / Interscope Records
Best Pop
WINNER: BTS: “On” – Big Hit Entertainment
Halsey: “You Should Be Sad” – Capitol Records
Jonas Brothers: “What a Man Gotta Do” – Republic Records
Justin Bieber ft. Quavo: “Intentions” – RBMG / Def Jam
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records
Taylor Swift: “Lover” – Republic Records
Best Hip Hop
WINNER: Megan Thee Stallion: “Savage” – 300 Entertainment
DaBaby: “Bop” – SCMG / Interscope Records
Eminem ft. Juice WRLD: “Godzilla” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records
Future ft. Drake: “Life Is Good” – Epic Records / Freebandz
Roddy Ricch: “The Box” – Atlantic Records
Travis Scott: “Highest in the Room” – Epic Records / Cactus Jack
Best R&B
WINNER: The Weeknd: “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records
Alicia Keys: “Underdog” – RCA Records
Chloe x Halle: “Do It” – Parkwood / Columbia Records
H.E.R. ft. YG: “Slide” – MBK / RCA Records
Khalid ft. Summer Walker: “Eleven” – Right Hand Music / RCA Records
Lizzo: “Cuz I Love You” – Atlantic Records
Best K-Pop
WINNER: BTS: “On” – Big Hit Entertainment
EXO: “Obession” – SM Entertainment
(G)I-DLE: “Oh My God” – Republic Records
Monsta X: “Someone’s Someone” – Epic Records
Red Velvet: “Psycho” – SM Entertainment
Tomorrow X Together: “9 and Three Quarters (Run Away)” – Big Hit Entertainment
Best Latin
WINNER: Maluma ft. J Balvin: “Qué Pena” – Sony Music Latin
Anuel AA ft. Daddy Yankee, Ozuna, Karol G & J Balvin: “China” – Real Hasta La Muerte
Bad Bunny: “Yo Perreo Sola” – Rimas Entertainment
Black Eyed Peas ft. Ozuna & J. Rey Soul: “Mamacita” – Epic Records
J Balvin: “Amarillo” – Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Karol G ft. Nicki Minaj: “Tusa” – Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Best Rock
WINNER: Coldplay: “Orphans” – Atlantic Records
Blink-182: “Happy Days” – Columbia Records
Evanescence: “Wasted On You” – BMG
Fall Out Boy ft. Wyclef Jean: “Dear Future Self (Hands Up)” – Island Records
Green Day: “Oh Yeah!” – Reprise / Warner Records
The Killers: “Caution” – Island Records
Best Alternative
WINNER: Machine Gun Kelly: “Bloody Valentine” – Bad Boy / Interscope Records
The 1975: “If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know)” – Dirty Hit / Interscope Records
All Time Low: “Some Kind Of Disaster” – Fueled By Ramen
Finneas: “Let’s Fall in Love for the Night” – AWAL
Lana Del Rey: “Doin’ Time” – Interscope Records
Twenty One Pilots: “Level of Concern” – Elektra Music Group / Fueled By Ramen
Best Group
WINNER: BTS
5 Seconds of Summer
The 1975
Blackpink
Chloe x Halle
CNCO
Little Mix
Monsta X
Now United
Twenty One Pilots
Best Music Video From Home
WINNER: Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber: “Stuck with U” – Republic Records / Def Jam
5 Seconds of Summer: “Wildflower” – Interscope Records
Blink-182: “Happy Days” – Columbia Records
Drake: “Toosie Slide” – OVO/Republic Records
John Legend: “Bigger Love” – Columbia Records
Twenty One Pilots: “Level of Concern” – Elektra Music Group / Fueled By Ramen
Best Quarantine Performance
WINNER: CNCO: MTV Unplugged At Home
Chloe x Halle: “Do It (from MTV Prom-Athon)”
DJ D-Nice: Club MTV Presents: #DanceTogether
John Legend: #TogetherAtHome Concert Series
Lady Gaga: “Smile” from One World: Together At Home
Post Malone: Nirvana Tribute
Video For Good
WINNER: H.E.R.: “I Can’t Breathe” – MBK / RCA Records
Anderson .Paak: “Lockdown” – 12 Tone Music Group
Billie Eilish: “All the Good Girls Go to Hell” – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Demi Lovato: “I Love Me” – Island Records
Lil Baby: “The Bigger Picture” – Quality Control Music / Motown / Capitol Music Group
Taylor Swift: “The Man” – Republic Records
Everyday Heroes: Frontline Medical Workers
WINNER: ALL
Dr. Elvis Francois and Dr. William Robinson: “Imagine”
Dr. Nate Wood: “Lean On Me”
Jefferson University Hospital’s Swab Squad: “Level Up”
Jason “Tik Tok Doc” Campbell
Lori Marie Key: “Amazing Grace”
Best Direction
WINNER: Taylor Swift: “The Man” – Republic Records – Directed by Taylor Swift
Billie Eilish: “Xanny” – Darkroom / Interscope Records – Directed by Billie Eilish
Doja Cat: “Say So” – Kemosabe / RCA Records – Directed by Hannah Lux Davis
Dua Lipa: “Don’t Start Now” – Warner Records – Directed by Nabil
Harry Styles: “Adore You” – Columbia Records – Directed by Dave Meyers
The Weeknd: “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records – Directed by Anton Tammi
Best Cinematography
WINNER: Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records – Cinematography by Michael Merriman
5 Seconds of Summer: “Old Me” – Interscope Records – Cinematography by Kieran Fowler
Camila Cabello ft. DaBaby: “My Oh My” – Syco Music / Epic Records – Cinematography by Scott Cunningham
Billie Eilish: “all the good girls go to hell” – Darkroom / Interscope Records – Cinematography by Christopher Probst
Katy Perry: “Harleys In Hawaii” – Capitol Records – Cinematography by Arnau Valls
The Weeknd: “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records – Cinematography by Oliver Millar
Best Art Direction
WINNER: Miley Cyrus: “Mother’s Daughter” – RCA Records – Art Direction by Christian Stone
A$AP Rocky: “Babushka Boi” – Polo Grounds Music / RCA Records – Art Direction by A$AP Rocky & Nadia Lee Cohen
Dua Lipa: “Physical” – Warner Records – Art Direction by Anna Colomer Nogué
Harry Styles: “Adore You” – Columbia Records – Art Direction by Laura Ellis Cricks
Selena Gomez: “Boyfriend” – Interscope Records – Art Direction by Tatiana Van Sauter
Taylor Swift: “Lover” – Republic Records – Art Direction by Kurt Gefke
Best Visual Effects
WINNER: Dua Lipa: “Physical” – Warner Records – Visual Effects by EIGHTY4 and Mathematic
Billie Eilish: “All the Good Girls Go to Hell” – Darkroom / Interscope Records – Visual Effects by Drive Studios
Demi Lovato: “I Love Me” – Island Records – Visual Effects by Hoody FX
Harry Styles: “Adore You” – Columbia Records – Visual Effects by Mathematic
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records – Visual Effects by Ingenuity Studios
Travis Scott: “Highest in the Room” – Epic Records / Cactus Jack – Visual Effects by ARTJAIL, SCISSOR FILMS & FRENDER
Best Choreography
WINNER: BTS: “On” – Big Hit Entertainment – Choreography by The Lab, Son Sung Deuk
CNCO & Natti Natasha: “Honey Boo” – Sony Music Latin / RCA Records – Choreography by Kyle Hanagami
DaBaby: “BOP” – SCMG / Interscope Records – Choreography by Dani Leigh and Cherry
Dua Lipa: “Physical” – Warner Records – Choreography by Charm La’Donna
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records – Choreography by Richy Jackson
Normani: “Motivation” – Keep Cool / RCA Records – Choreography by Sean Bankhead
Best Editing
WINNER: Miley Cyrus: “Mother’s Daughter” – RCA Records – Edited by Alexandre Moors, Nuno Xico
Halsey: “Graveyard” – Capitol Records – Edited by Emilie Aubry, Janne Vartia & Tim Montana
James Blake: “Can’t Believe the Way We Flow” – Republic Records – Edited by Frank Lebon
Lizzo: “Good As Hell” – Atlantic Records – Edited by Russell Santos & Sofia Kerpan
Rosalía: “A Palé” – Columbia Records – Edited by Andre Jones
The Weeknd: “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records – Edited by Janne Vartia & Tim Montana
Chadwick Boseman, the tremendously talented star of Black Panther, 42, 21 Bridges, and Marshall, passed away on Friday, August 28, 2020 after a private four year battle with colon cancer. The world was informed of his tragic passing by way of a tweet from his official account, a tweet that has now become the most liked ever according to Twitter.
Boseman fully embraced the role of King T’Challa and understood the significance of Black Panther, it’s representation and impact. Bringing Wakanda to life and playing its fierce, intelligent King T’Challa was about so much more than living the part of a comic book-inspired superhero. Boseman embraced the challenges and responsibilities of the role, and his legacy will live on for decades as new generations aspire to be like Boseman’s King.
To know now, only after his passing, the physical toll all of his films since his diagnosis in 2016 took on his body… It’s impossible to comprehend exactly what he went through while still delivering incredible performances, interacting with fans, visiting sick children in hospitals, and lending his voice to social issues he believed in.
Marvel Studios, ABC Entertainment and ABC News announced they will present a special commercial-free broadcast of the Oscar-winning Black Panther on ABC on Sunday, August 30th at 8pm. Immediately following the screening, ABC will air Chadwick Boseman – A Tribute for a King. Per ABC, the special will “celebrate Boseman’s storied life, legacy and career, and the cultural imprint he made on- and off-screen. It will feature tributes that have poured in from celebrities, political figures and fans across the world, special words from those who starred alongside him and knew Boseman best, and shine a light on the medical condition he privately battled.”
Boseman’s Black Panther director Ryan Coogler released an incredibly moving statement on the loss of his friend.
Ryan Coogler’s Full Statement:
“Before sharing my thoughts on the passing of the great Chadwick Boseman, I first offer my condolences to his family who meant so very much to him. To his wife, Simone, especially.
I inherited Marvel and the Russo Brothers’ casting choice of T’Challa. It is something that I will forever be grateful for. The first time I saw Chad’s performance as T’Challa, it was in an unfinished cut of Captain America: Civil War. I was deciding whether or not directing Black Panther was the right choice for me. I’ll never forget, sitting in an editorial suite on the Disney Lot and watching his scenes. His first with Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, then, with the South African cinema titan, John Kani as T’Challa’s father, King T’Chaka. It was at that moment I knew I wanted to make this movie. After Scarlett’s character leaves them, Chad and John began conversing in a language I had never heard before. It sounded familiar, full of the same clicks and smacks that young black children would make in the States. The same clicks that we would often be chided for being disrespectful or improper. But, it had a musicality to it that felt ancient, powerful, and African.
In my meeting after watching the film, I asked Nate Moore, one of the producers of the film, about the language. ‘Did you guys make it up?’ Nate replied, ‘that’s Xhosa, John Kani’s native language. He and Chad decided to do the scene like that on set, and we rolled with it.’ I thought to myself. ‘He just learned lines in another language, that day?’ I couldn’t conceive how difficult that must have been, and even though I hadn’t met Chad, I was already in awe of his capacity as actor.
I learned later that there was much conversation over how T’Challa would sound in the film. The decision to have Xhosa be the official language of Wakanda was solidified by Chad, a native of South Carolina, because he was able to learn his lines in Xhosa, there on the spot. He also advocated for his character to speak with an African accent, so that he could present T’Challa to audiences as an African king, whose dialect had not been conquered by the West.
I finally met Chad in person in early 2016, once I signed onto the film. He snuck past journalists that were congregated for a press junket I was doing for Creed, and met with me in the green room. We talked about our lives, my time playing football in college, and his time at Howard studying to be a director, about our collective vision for T’Challa and Wakanda. We spoke about the irony of how his former Howard classmate Ta-Nehisi Coates was writing T’Challa’s current arc with Marvel Comics. And how Chad knew Howard student Prince Jones, whose murder by a police officer inspired Coates’ memoir Between The World and Me.
I noticed then that Chad was an anomaly. He was calm. Assured. Constantly studying. But also kind, comforting, had the warmest laugh in the world, and eyes that seen much beyond his years, but could still sparkle like a child seeing something for the first time.
That was the first of many conversations. He was a special person. We would often speak about heritage and what it means to be African. When preparing for the film, he would ponder every decision, every choice, not just for how it would reflect on himself, but how those choices could reverberate. ‘They not ready for this, what we are doing…’ ‘This is Star Wars, this is Lord of the Rings, but for us… and bigger!’ He would say this to me while we were struggling to finish a dramatic scene, stretching into double overtime. Or while he was covered in body paint, doing his own stunts. Or crashing into frigid water, and foam landing pads. I would nod and smile, but I didn’t believe him. I had no idea if the film would work. I wasn’t sure I knew what I was doing. But I look back and realize that Chad knew something we all didn’t. He was playing the long game. All while putting in the work. And work he did.
He would come to auditions for supporting roles, which is not common for lead actors in big budget movies. He was there for several M’Baku auditions. In Winston Duke’s, he turned a chemistry read into a wrestling match. Winston broke his bracelet. In Letitia Wright’s audition for Shuri, she pierced his royal poise with her signature humor, and would bring about a smile to T’Challa’s face that was 100% Chad.
While filming the movie, we would meet at the office or at my rental home in Atlanta, to discuss lines and different ways to add depth to each scene. We talked costumes, military practices. He said to me ‘Wakandans have to dance during the coronations. If they just stand there with spears, what separates them from Romans?’ In early drafts of the script. Eric Killmonger’s character would ask T’Challa to be buried in Wakanda. Chad challenged that and asked, what if Killmonger asked to be buried somewhere else?
Chad deeply valued his privacy, and I wasn’t privy to the details of his illness. After his family released their statement, I realized that he was living with his illness the entire time I knew him. Because he was a caretaker, a leader, and a man of faith, dignity and pride, he shielded his collaborators from his suffering. He lived a beautiful life. And he made great art. Day after day, year after year. That was who he was. He was an epic firework display. I will tell stories about being there for some of the brilliant sparks till the end of my days. What an incredible mark he’s left for us.
I haven’t grieved a loss this acute before. I spent the last year preparing, imagining and writing words for him to say, that we weren’t destined to see. It leaves me broken knowing that I won’t be able to watch another close-up of him in the monitor again or walk up to him and ask for another take.
It hurts more to know that we can’t have another conversation, or facetime, or text message exchange. He would send vegetarian recipes and eating regimens for my family and me to follow during the pandemic. He would check in on me and my loved ones, even as he dealt with the scourge of cancer.
In African cultures we often refer to loved ones that have passed on as ancestors. Sometimes you are genetically related. Sometimes you are not. I had the privilege of directing scenes of Chad’s character, T’Challa, communicating with the ancestors of Wakanda. We were in Atlanta, in an abandoned warehouse, with bluescreens, and massive movie lights, but Chad’s performance made it feel real. I think it was because from the time that I met him, the ancestors spoke through him. It’s no secret to me now how he was able to skillfully portray some of our most notable ones. I had no doubt that he would live on and continue to bless us with more. But it is with a heavy heart and a sense of deep gratitude to have ever been in his presence, that I have to reckon with the fact that Chad is an ancestor now. And I know that he will watch over us, until we meet again.”
* * * * * * * * *
Chadwick Boseman passed away at home surrounded by his wife, Taylor Simone Ledward, and family. He was just 43. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time. Thank you so much for sharing this incredible, compassionate artist with the world.
Carrie Underwood’s released her My Gift tracklist and announced the album’s very special guest artist, her son Isaiah. The Country superstar is set to release her first-ever Christmas album on digital and CD on September 25, 2020, followed by a release on vinyl on October 30th. Additionally, an exclusive version of the My Gift CD and special white vinyl, with a bonus Christmas card from Underwood, will be available only at Target.
New merchandise bundles are also available in the official pre-order store. Pre-orders for My Gift begin today.
Grammy Award-winning producer, mixer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Greg Wells produced and arranged the album. Wells has written and produced some of the best-selling and highest-charting tracks of the past 15 years for such artists as Adele, Celine Dion, Keith Urban, and P!nk, as well as the worldwide smash The Greatest Showman soundtrack.
Underwood’s My Gift features a world-class orchestra led by David Campbell. Pulling out all the stops for this Christmas album, acclaimed gospel quartet The McCrary Sisters – who have performed backing vocals on previous Underwood songs including “Choctaw County Affair” and “The Champion” – will also be heard on the album.
“I’ve always wanted to make a Christmas album and it’s been a long time coming,” stated Underwood. “I knew this would be my next music project after wrapping my tour last year, and I think it’s turned out to be the perfect time for an album like this, in this period of such personal and spiritual reflection. For me, it’s more important than ever to focus on the true meaning of Christmas in a project like this. Even though it has been a tough year for all of us, sometimes I feel like the greatest realizations can be inspired by the most difficult times, and make us more grateful for the things we do have and for what truly matters.”
The tracklist for My Gift includes the new original song “Let There Be Peace” available now as wel as a track with Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award winner John Legend on the classic song, “Hallelujah.” Carrie Underwood’s ‘My Gift’ (Photo by Joseph Llanes)
My Gift Tracklist:
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Traditional)
O Come All Ye Faithful (Traditional)
Let There Be Peace (Carrie Underwood, Brett James, David Garcia)
Little Drummer Boy (featuring Isaiah Fisher) (Harry Simeone, Henry Onorati, Katherine Davis)
Sweet Baby Jesus (Carrie Underwood, Brett James, David Garcia)
Hallelujah (with John Legend) (John Stephens, Toby Gad)
O Holy Night (Traditional)
Mary, Did You Know? (Buddy Greene, Mark Lowry)
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin)
Away In A Manger (Traditional)
Silent Night (Traditional)
In addition to the new album, the seven-time Grammy Award-winner and multi-platinum recording artist is back singing NBC’s Sunday Night Football theme song. The popular football broadcast has been primetime television’s number-one program for an unprecedented nine consecutive years. The new season kicks off September 13, 2020 with the Dallas Cowboys taking on the Los Angeles Rams.
Working within social distancing parameters, the 2020 Sunday Night Football show open was uniquely produced without extras in a studio or stadium, while also celebrating the millions who watch the games. “We are excited about this year’s new collaboration with Carrie, including scenes in the recording studio, and look forward to uniquely incorporating the game’s great fans,” said Tripp Dixon, creative director of the SNF show open.
Sterling K. Brown as Randall, Justin Hartley as Kevin, and Chrissy Metz as Kate in ‘This Is Us’ season 4 episode 18 (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)
NBC’s launching six of its dramatic series – This Is Us, Law & Order: SVU, The Blacklist, and the three Chicago shows – in November, just slightly delayed from their normal September and October start dates. Covid-19 shook up the network’s schedule, delaying the premiere of scripted series and making actually shooting episodes a challenge.
The network’s upcoming fall primetime lineup kicks off on September 1st with the premiere of the Canadian medical drama, Transplant. September also finds new seasons of American Ninja Warrior, NBC Sunday Night Football, and Dateline NBC making their debuts. In addition, the reboot of the Weakest Link game show joins the network’s primetime schedule in September.
October premieres include the launch of the new season of The Voice featuring coaches Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Blake Shelton, and Gwen Stefani on the 19th. Ellen’s Game of Games will kick off with a two-hour premiere on October 6th. Season six of the critically acclaimed comedy Superstore premieres on October 22nd, and the first season of the scripted comedy Connecting… from Blindspot executive producer Martin Gero debuts on Thursday, October 8th at 8pm. Connecting… moves to 8:30pm beginning October 29th.
Fans of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Good Girls, Making It, Manifest, New Amsterdam, and Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist will have to wait until 2021 for those shows to return. NBC will also be premiering new series Kenan, Law & Order: Organized Crime, Mr. Mayor, That’s My Jam, Small Fortune, True Story, Who Do You Think You Are? and Young Rock in 2021.
OCTOBER
“Connecting … ” (Thursday, 10/8, 8-9 p.m.)
“Ellen’s Game of Games” (Tuesday, 10/6, 8-10 p.m., then shifting to 9-10 p.m. on 10/13)
“The Voice” (Monday, 10/19, 8-10 p.m., Tuesday, 10/20, 8-10 p.m. then switches to 8-9 p.m. on 10/27)
“Superstore” (Thursday, 10/29, 8-8:30 p.m.)
NOVEMBER
“This Is Us” (Tuesday, 11/10, 9-11 p.m.; returns to 9-10 p.m. on 11/17) “Chicago Med” (Wednesday, 11/11, 8-9 p.m.)
“Chicago Fire” (Wednesday, 11/11, 9-10 p.m.)
“Chicago P.D.” (Wednesday, 11/11, 10-11 p.m.)
“Law & Order: SVU” (Thursday, 11/12, 9-10 p.m.)
“The Blacklist” (Friday, 11/13, 8-9 p.m.)
Vincent Piazza and Genesis Rodriguez in ‘Centigrade’ (Photo Courtesy of IFC Midnight)
There are some basic fears most everyone has…fear of rejection, fear of death, and for some fear of enclosed spaces. It’s the last two that are the focus of the dramatic thriller, Centigrade. Co-writer Brendan Walsh (Nurse Jackie) makes his feature film directorial debut with this indie loosely inspired by tales of people trapped in the snow and their desperate struggles to survive.
The film stars Vincent Piazza as Matt and Genesis Rodriguez as Naomi, a married couple who wake up in their rented SUV to find themselves trapped due to a massive storm burying them under layers of snow and ice. The couple had been driving in Norway through the artic mountains during a blinding blizzard and pulled over to wait it out. Unfortunately, they fell asleep and the storm buried them alive.
Naomi, who is eight months pregnant, thinks they should break a window and try to walk 50 miles to the nearest town. Matt, however, believes it’s safer to wait for help. He thinks that when Naomi doesn’t show up for her book signing (she’s a novelist out on tour), they are sure to be missed and someone will come looking.
After a short argument (many more will occur over the course of the film), Naomi agrees and Matt begins sorting their food and water supply which should last them for 12 days. As the days and nights slowly pass, Naomi and Matt find themselves constantly arguing and bickering. Naomi is keeping secrets and makes mistake after mistake while Matt continues to refuse to try to escape the SUV which is both their lifeboat from the deadly elements and their prison.
Centigrade strives to be a claustrophobic, dramatic thriller but lacks interesting characters and any real tension. Piazza and Rodriguez give solid performances as the young couple trapped in the deadly situation, but their characters and the history of their relationship are never delved into via flashback or even in dialogue. Instead, the script presents them as simplistic and shallow, with Naomi being a nagging, fatalistic novelist and Matt her meek, put-upon husband trying to do what he can to help them survive. With the couple having argument after argument about simple and insignificant topics instead of conversations about plans for their baby or stories of how they met or their life back home, it’s nearly impossible to connect with the characters.
The film’s pacing is painfully slow and it feels as though we’re spending much more than an hour and a half watching the events unfold. The lighting on the exterior shots of the snow and ice-covered road and mountains is too dark and too white to make anything out. Director Walsh does make a solid effort to keep the film visually interesting, given most of the action happens inside the SUV. Particularly effective are the shots of Matt up close to a window trying to get snow from the outside when their food supply dwindles as well as the use of candles inside to light up the darkness at night.
Centigrade‘s biggest failure is its inability to capture and bring alive the severe effects of claustrophobia, the intensity of cabin fever, and any real sense of dread or terror during what’s supposed to be a life and death situation.
Ayo Edebiri joins ‘Big Mouth’ (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)
In June 2020, Jenny Slate announced she was leaving the Netflix animated TV series Big Mouth and would no longer be voicing one of the lead characters, “Missy.” The Emmy-nominated series just announced Ayo Edebiri has signed on to take over the character and will do so beginning with season four’s penultimate episode.
Jenny Slate posted an explanation behind her departure from the series in June on Instagram. In the post, she stated, “I have come to the decision today that I can no longer play the characters of ‘Missy’ on the animated TV show Big Mouth. At the start of the show, I reasoned with myself that it was permissible for me to play ‘Missy’ because her mom is Jewish and white — as am I. But ‘Missy’ is also Black, and Black characters on an animated show should be played by Black people. I acknowledge how my original reasoning was flawed, that it existed as an example of white privilege and unjust allowances made within a system of societal white supremacy, and that in me playing ‘Missy,’ I was engaging in an act of erasure of Black people. Ending my portrayal of ‘Missy’ is one step in a life-long process of uncovering the racism in my actions.”
Per Netflix’s official casting announcement, Ayo Edebiri has joined the show’s writer’s room for season five. Season four is expected to arrive this fall, and Netflix has already renewed the critically acclaimed adult comedy through season six.
Ayo Edebiri’s credits include a role on the upcoming second season of Dickinson, voicing the lead in Netflix’s We Lost Our Human, and as co-host of the Iconography podcast. She’s also a co-producer on Tina Fey and Robert Carlock’s Mulligan, a new Netflix animated series.
A Look Back at Season 3, Courtesy of Netflix:
In Season 3, Big Mouth focuses on what’s like to be going through puberty now. The show continues exploring human sexuality and everything around it, tackling issues such as cell phone addiction, female anger, the vast spectrum of sexuality, Adderall abuse, dick pics, toxic masculinity, and of course “how to have an orgasm.”
As the end of seventh grade rapidly approaches, Thandie Newton shakes things up as Missy’s new Hormone Monstress, and Ali Wong joins the cast as a new student who makes everyone at Bridgeton Middle question their sexuality. The season culminates with a superhero showdown that brings long-simmering tensions to a head and tests even the strongest friendships.
HBO just released a new official teaser trailer for season two of the critically acclaimed sci-fi fantasy series, His Dark Materials. The teaser reveals the skies are darkening, the world is changing, and preparations are underway for the Great War.
The second season is set to premiere in November 2020.
Returning for season two are Dafne Keen (“Lyra”), Ruth Wilson (“Mrs Coulter”), Ariyon Bakare (“Lord Boreal”), Amir Wilson (“Will”), Andrew Scott (“Colonel John Parry”), Will Keen (” Father MacPhail”), Ruta Gedmintas (“Serafina Pekkala”), and Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Lee Scoresby”). Terence Stamp (“Giacomo Paradisi”), Jade Anouka (“Ruta Skadi”), and Simone Kirby (“Dr. Mary Malone”) join the cast for the second season.
The series is based on Philip Pullman’s bestselling book series. Pullman, Jane Tranter, Dan McCulloch, Joel Collins, Julie Gardner, Jack Thorne, Tom Hooper, Deborah Forte, Toby Emmerich, Carolyn Blackwood, Ben Irving, and Piers Wenger serve as executive producers. His Dark Materials is a Bad Wolf production in association with New Line Cinema for BBC One and HBO.
Amir Wilson and Dafne Keen in season 2 of ‘His Dark Materials’ (Photo Courtesy of HBO)
The Season 2 Plot, Courtesy of HBO:
The second season of His Dark Materials begins after Lord Asriel has opened a bridge to a new world, and, distraught over the death of her best friend, Lyra follows Asriel into the unknown. In a strange and mysterious abandoned city she meets Will, a boy from our world who is also running from a troubled past. Lyra and Will learn their destinies are tied to reuniting Will with his father but find their path is constantly thwarted as a war begins to brew around them. Meanwhile, Mrs. Coulter searches for Lyra, determined to bring her home by any means necessary.
Maren Morris performs on ‘The Late Late Show with James Corden’ (Photo Credit: 2020 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)
The 55th Academy of Country Music Awards announced a batch of artists set to perform during the 2020 awards show. Kelsea Ballerini, Jimmie Allen, Gabby Barrett, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Old Dominion, and Thomas Rhett featuring Jon Pardi have been added to the list of confirmed performers.
15-time ACM Award winner Keith Urban – 2019’s ACM Entertainer of the Year – is hosting this year’s show which will be broadcast live from Nashville on Wednesday, September 16th at 8pm ET/PT (tape-delayed on the West Coast). The Academy of Country Music Awards will air on CBS and will be available to stream on demand and CBS All Access.
On August 20th, Keith Urban surprised Riley Green and Tenille Townes with the announcement they were this year’s New Male Artist of the Year and New Female Artist of the Year winners, respectively. Both will also be performing during the live broadcast.
“When we had to come off the road back in March, I wasn’t sure what the rest of 2020 would look like,” said Green. “So much has happened in the world since then, and I’m really excited to have a moment to play music again. My grandfathers’ love for country music is what led me to this moment, and I have to dedicate this award to them. Thank you to everyone who believes in my music enough to let this boy from Alabama get to share his songs like this.”
“I’ll always remember this feeling, standing here as a new artist,” said Townes. “I feel so honored and incredibly grateful just to be a part of this country music community that inspires me. Receiving this ACM Award feels like belief from that community, and that means so much to me.”
The 55th ACM Awards mark the first time the show is taking place in Nashville using the Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium, and The Bluebird Cafe. According to CBS, Kelsea Ballerini will perform “Hole in the Bottle,” Gabby Barrett will sing “I Hope,” and Maren Morris is set to perform “To Hell & Back” at the Ryman Auditorium. Also performing from Ryman are Tenille Townes, Riley Green, Old Dominion, and Thomas Rhett, featuring Jon Pardi.
Jimmie Allen, Luke Combs, Tim McGraw, and Miranda Lambert will take the stage at The Bluebird Cafe.
CBS All Access’ new docuseries That Animal Rescue Show focuses on Austin, Texas’ animal rescue community. The series comes from five-time Oscar nominee Richard Linklater and two-time Oscar winner Bill Guttentag and is set to premiere on the subscription service on Thursday, October 29, 2020.
All 10 episodes of the season will be available on October 29th for binge-watching.
Linklater, Guttentag, Nayeema Raza, Phil McGraw, Jay McGraw, and Julia Eisenman executive produce.
“I come to this project hoping to shine a light on the folks I’ve met who are making a difference every day in the lives of unwanted, abused and disabled animals. What strikes me most is the joy and discovery on both sides of the relationship between the animals and their human caregivers. These are inspirational stories that I believe will be a positive force in the world.” said Richard Linklater. “I’m grateful to CBS All Access for their support in this adventure.”
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with Richard, one of the most creative and ambitious artists of our time,” stated Julie McNamara, Executive Vice President, Original Content, CBS All Access. “His profound passion for animals – and the humans devoted to them – is apparent, as he reveals rich, nuanced stories, nowhere more emotional, hilarious, or revealing of character than through these dynamic, and sometimes unconventional, relationships. Richard’s unique brand and keen eye will make an excellent addition to CBS All Access’s early expansion into unscripted programming.”
That Animal Rescue Show Details, Courtesy of CBS All Access:
The series follows the animal rescue community in and around Austin, Texas, where Linklater lives. The docuseries provides a window into this captivating world through moving, humorous and powerful stories of animals and the humans who love them.
The episodes transport audiences to a ranch where humans heal alongside goats, a pioneering no-kill shelter that has saved the lives of 80,000 dogs and cats, an arena where children with disabilities learn to walk with the help of horses and a program in which female prisoners find second chances alongside rescue puppies. They feature extraordinary characters including a volunteer wildlife veterinarian who rehabilitates squirrels and eagles, a homeless woman who dedicates herself to three cows she tows along with her and young couples who have opened their homes to abandoned 200-pound pigs.
Throughout, the series captures the inspiring, life-changing bond that occurs between people who have dedicated their lives to rescue and the animals who rescue them right back.
