“We’ve only got 24 hours to bring back the rest of dad…we’re going on a quest,” says elf Barley Lightfoot (voiced by Chris Pratt) to his younger brother, Ian (voiced by Tom Holland), as they try to bring back their dead father for one special day in the Pixar animated adventure, Onward.
The film takes place in a fantasy suburban world made up of elves and other magical creatures, all of whom have given up or forgotten about magic. On his 16th birthday, Ian’s mom (voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) delivers a special present from his father – a wizard staff. Along with the gift is a magical incantation that will bring back his father for one whole day.
Both Ian and Barley, who has studied the old ways of magic, are excited about the opportunity to see their dad. He passed away when Barley was young and just before Ian was even born.
But when Ian tries to do the spell with Barley’s unwanted assistance it only succeeds in bringing back the bottom half of their dad – his feet, legs, and rear. Having only 24 hours to bring the top part of their dad back and spend time with him, Ian, Barley, and their dad’s legs venture out on a quest to find the gem that will power the wizard staff to complete the spell.
Colorful and zany, Onward is a screwball comedy adventure that misfires when it tries to be heartfelt and poignant. It’s an uneven ride that’s at its most entertaining when the two elf brothers try to rediscover and put to use the magic of their long-ago ancestors.
Chris Pratt is perfectly cast as the voice of Barley, the older elf brother who’s almost always optimistic and who loves the age-old magic. He also loves Ian and is super excited to team up with him on the quest.
Tom Holland is solid as the voice of Ian, a young elf desperate to succeed on the quest so he can finally get to know his father and hopefully do a few “father and son” things which he’s missed out on all these years.
The best part of Onward is the way the legs of the father are worked into scenes; the legs are carried, pulled, and dragged along as they join the two brothers on an adventure. In an attempt to make the legs blend in, Ian uses a volleyball, jacket, sack, sunglasses, and a baseball cap to fill out the rest of the top portion of his dad. The near misses, crashes, and movements of the father while he looks this way are reminiscent of actor Terry Kiser as Bernie in the hilarious 1989 film, Weekend at Bernie’s.
The main problem with the film is its uneven pacing. The film speeds along on the quest with a funny or silly scene only to slow to a near stop for some forced emotional heart tugs of Ian and his dad’s wish list of regrets.
Onward is a wacky animated adventure that should have stayed on its goofy course. It tries way too hard to force emotional moments that should have blended in more organically.
GRADE: C+
MPAA Rating: PG (for action/peril and some mild thematic elements)
Release Date: March 6, 2020
Running Time: 114 minutes
Directed By: Dan Scanlon
There’s trouble brewing at the scene of a drunk driving crash on ABC’s Station 19 season three episode eight. Directed by David Greenspan from a script by Jill Weinberger, episode eight is set to air on Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 8pm ET/PT.
The cast of season three includes Jaina Lee Ortiz as Andy Herrera, Jason George as Ben Warren, Boris Kodjoe as Captain Robert Sullivan, Grey Damon as Jack Gibson, and Barrett Doss as Victoria Hughes. Jay Hayden is Travis Montgomery, Okieriete Onaodowan is Dean Miller, Danielle Savre is Maya Bishop, and Miguel Sandoval is Captain Pruitt Herrera.
Episode eight’s guest stars include Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey, Jesse Williams as Dr. Jackson Avery, Caterina Scorsone as Dr. Amelia Shepherd, Stefania Spampinato as Dr. Carina Deluca, Pat Healy as Chief Dixon, and Lachlan Buchanan as Emmett Dixon.
“Born to Run” Plot – The Station 19 crew responds to a drunk driver scene. Meanwhile, Dean receives advice from Pruitt on a difficult situation, and Sullivan seeks help from Dr. Amelia Shepherd
The Plot, Courtesy of ABC:
“Station 19 follows a group of heroic Seattle firefighters as they put their lives and hearts on the line. The latest series from the executive producers of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder takes us inside the tough, tight-knit and sometimes heartbreaking world of the city’s bravest first responders.”
Grey Damon and Barrett Doss in ‘Station 19’ season 3 episode 8 (ABC/Richard Cartwright)Miguel Sandoval and Okieriete Onaodowan in season 3 episode 8 (ABC/Richard Cartwright)Jason George and Chandra Wilson in season 3 episode 8 (ABC/Richard Cartwright)Jaina Lee Ortiz in season 3 episode 8 (ABC/Richard Cartwright)Jay Hayden in season 3 episode 8 (ABC/Richard Cartwright)
Fox’s police drama Deputy continues its first season with episode 11, “10-8 Paperwork.” Episode 11 will air on Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 9pm ET/PT.
Stephen Dorff (“Sheriff Bill Hollister”) leads a cast that includes Brian Van Holt as Cade Ward, Bex Taylor-Klaus as Brianna Bishop, and Shane Paul McGhie as Joseph Harris. Yara Martinez stars as Dr. Paula Reyes and Danielle Moné Truitt is Charlie Minnick.
“Paperwork” Plot – When Charlie and Joseph arrest a man on his way to a major drug deal, they end up bringing a bigger fight than expected back to the station. Meanwhile, Cade and Teresa continue to deal with the complication in the adoption of their foster children and Bill comes to a big realization about his job as Sherriff, as the window on his term continues to close.
The Deputy Plot, Courtesy of Fox:
“Deputy blends the spirit of a classic Western with a modern-day attitude and emotionally driven, visceral storytelling. Featuring an ensemble of ambitious and complicated people who won’t rest until justice is served, DEPUTY brings a gritty authenticity to the modern cop drama.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is one of the largest police forces in the world, but when the elected Sheriff dies, an arcane rule in the county charter, forged back in the Wild West, suddenly thrusts the most unlikely man into the job. That man is Bill Hollister. A fifth-generation lawman, Bill is only interested in justice; his soul wears a white hat. The bad guys don’t stand a chance, but neither do the politicos in the Hall of Justice.
Under Bill’s command is a county-wide crew of LA’s finest, including Deputy Cade Ward, a former Marine stationed in Afghanistan, eight years sober and one of Bill’s few confidantes; Deputy Brianna Bishop, the whip-smart, sarcastic driver in charge of Bill’s security detail; and Deputy Joseph Harris, the son of Bill’s fallen partner.
The dangers associated with the job often lead the police to LA County General Hospital, where Bill buts heads with Dr. Paula Reyes, the hospital’s chief trauma surgeon – and his wife.
Given a job he never wanted, in an unfamiliar sea of politics, Bill quickly learns that doing what is expected and doing what is right are two different things, and that his innate, dogged pursuit of justice is the only skill the job truly requires.”
Ava DuVernay and Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) will be adapting the #1 New York Times best-selling fantasy series Wings of Fire as an animated series. The Oscar-nominated filmmaker will be executive producing what’s described as a “high-end serialized animated family series” with her ARRAY Filmworks production company.
Tui T. Sutherland’s popular Wings of Fire series currently includes 15 novels, three graphic novels, and four short stories. The rights to Sutherland’s book series were obtained during a highly competitive bidding process, according to WBA.
Author Sutherland will be involved in the series as an executive producer along with Dan Milano, Christa Starr, and WBA’s Sam Register.
Ava DuVernay has an exclusive overall deal with the Warner Bros. Television Group. Wings of Fire is Ava DuVernay’s first animated series as part of that deal.
DuVernay earned a Best Documentary Feature Oscar nomination for 13th. In addition, DuVernay’s earned six Primetime Emmy Award nominations, winning three – Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming, and Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming – for 13th.
The Wings of Fire Plot:
“With more than nine million copies in print and available in 16 languages, the Wings of Fire book series is an epic adventure set in a world entirely ruled by dragons. Across two continents and 10 tribes, the series explores vicious wars, enduring friendships, and heroic quests that span generations of fascinating dragon characters.”
Melanie Scrofano is making her directorial debut with an episode of Wynonna Earp season four. The announcement was accompanied by a behind-the-scenes video featuring Scrofano and her fellow cast members discussing her directing debut.
The announcement and new video arrived a day prior to the planned “Fan-Favorites” marathons which kick off on March 6th at 6:30am PT/ET with episodes 301-303. Episodes 304-307 air on Friday, March 20th at 6:30am PT/ET followed by episodes 308-310 on March 27th beginning at 6am PT/ET.
“I’m very excited to bring my experience as Wynonna Earp to the director’s chair for an episode of season four. I’ve had the great luck to learn from some of the best directors and showrunners in the business and hope that viewers will enjoy the episode as much as I’ve enjoyed directing it,” said Melanie Scrofano.
“There is literally no one else who knows what makes Wynonna Earp tick better than Melanie Scrofano,” stated Emily Andras, showrunner and executive producer. “Her enthusiasm, ingenuity, and diligence — not to mention the fierce loyalty of her cast and crew — make her a natural fit for the director’s chair. I am so excited to watch her shine in this new role.”
In addition to Melanie Scrofano, the season four cast includes Tim Rozon as Doc Holliday, Dominique Provost-Chalkley as Waverly Earp, and Katherine Barrell as Nicole Haught.
The SYFY, CTV Sci-Fi, IDW Entertainment, SEVEN24 Films and Cineflix Media series is currently shooting its fourth season. Season four will consist of 12 episodes and is expected to air this summer. The season three finale aired September 28, 2018.
The Season 4 Plot:
“In Season 4, the infamous Earp Curse is broken, and witty and wild demon hunter Wynonna Earp would love to be celebrating with cold whisky and hot donuts. Too bad she has to rescue everyone she loves, save the town of Purgatory, and take on her most diabolical, Earp-hating enemy yet — all without her trustworthy gun, Peacemaker. And that’s just Monday…”
Evan Rachel Wood stars in ‘Westworld’ season 3 (Photo by John P. Johnson/HBO)
HBO’s just released (very limited) details on the first four episodes of Westworld season three. The network confirmed the titles of episodes one through four, air dates, and provided the shortest of plot descriptions.
The returning cast includes Evan Rachel Wood (Dolores), Thandie Newton (Maeve), Ed Harris (Man in Black), Jeffrey Wright (Bernard), Tessa Thompson (Charlotte), Luke Hemsworth (Stubbs), and Rodrigo Santoro (Hector Escaton). New to the series for the third season are Aaron Paul (Caleb), Vincent Cassel (Serac), Lena Waithe (Ash), Scott Mescudi (Francis), Marshawn Lynch (Giggles), John Gallagher Jr. (Liam), Michael Ealy (Jake) and Tommy Flanagan (Conells).
Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy created the Emmy Award-winning sci-fi series and serve as executive producers. J.J. Abrams, Athena Wickham, Richard J. Lewis, Ben Stephenson, and Denise Thé also executive produce.
The eight-episode third season premieres on Sunday, March 15, 2020.
Westworld Season 3 Episodes:
Season 3, episode 1: “Parce Domine”
Debut date: SUNDAY, MARCH 15 (9:00-10:10 p.m. ET/PT)
If you’re stuck in a loop, try walking in a straight line.
Written by Lisa Joy & Jonathan Nolan; directed by Jonathan Nolan.
Season 3, episode 2: “The Winter Line”
Debut date: SUNDAY, MARCH 22 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
People put up a lot of walls. Bring a sledgehammer to your life.
Written by Matthew Pitts & Lisa Joy; directed by Richard J. Lewis.
Season 3, episode 3: “The Absence of Field”
Debut date: SUNDAY, MARCH 29 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
If you don’t like what you see in the mirror, don’t blame the mirror.
Written by Denise Thé; directed by Amanda Marsalis.
Season 3, episode 4: “The Mother of Exiles”
Debut date: SUNDAY, APRIL 5 (9:00-10:10 p.m.)
The truth doesn’t always set you free.
Written by Jordan Goldberg & Lisa Joy; directed by Paul Cameron.
CBS All Access just announced Isla Fisher’s set to star in Guilty Party, a new half-hour series described as a dark comedy. Fisher will also be involved as an executive producer along with Rebecca Addelman, Sam Hansen, Jimmy Miller, Joe Farrell, Jim Ziegler, and Mike Farah.
Addelman (Dead to Me) is writing and Trent O’Donnell (No Activity) is directing.
“Guilty Party is a wild ride fueled by Beth’s grit, passionate heart and desperation to redeem herself,” stated Julie McNamara, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming, CBS All Access. “We knew we needed a magnetic, versatile talent in the role, and Isla perfectly embodies the wholly original character Rebecca created. We are thrilled to add Guilty Party to our growing comedy slate which includes Why Women Kill, No Activity, and the upcoming animated Star Trek: Lower Decks.”
CBS Television Studios is producing in association with Funny Or Die and Mosaic.
Fisher’s credits include Greed, Arrested Development, The Beach Bum, Keeping Up with the Joneses, and Now You See Me. She recently completed work on Blithe Spirit alongside Dan Stevens, Leslie Mann, and Dame Judi Dench, and is currently busy shooting Godmothered with Jillian Bell.
The Plot, Courtesy of CBS All Access:
Isa Fisher plays Beth Baker, a discredited journalist desperate to salvage her career by latching on to the story of a young mother sentenced to life in prison for maiming and murdering her husband, crimes she claims she didn’t commit. In trying to uncover the truth, Beth finds herself in over her head as she contends with Colorado gun-smugglers, clickbait culture, the doldrums of marriage and her own tarnished past.
Isobel (Lily Cowles) discovered everything thought she knew about her husband was a lie at the end of season one of The CW’s Roswell, New Mexico. Plus, her heroic twin brother died but not before he brought a girl she murdered (well, her husband inhabiting her body murdered) back to life. That’s a lot of dramatic, life-altering events for one person – or one alien – to handle.
How will Isobel be dealing with these major events? During our roundtable interview at the New York Comic-Con, Cowles said we can expect to see Isobel reaching out to others for help. Yes, the self-assured newly widowed Isobel will realize she needs help as she attempts to put her life back together. Cowles also says this season will give Isobel the opportunity to empower herself.
Roswell, New Mexico season two premieres on March 16, 2020 at 9pm ET/PT.
Where do we pick up with Isobel as season two begins?
Lily Cowles: “We pick up right where season one ended. I was really hoping that maybe we’d be like a year later and she’s had some time to process. She’s over it and we can move on. No. We’re seeing Isobel absolutely reeling from the information that she got at the end of season one. Finding out that her husband had been lying to her and betrayed her. Finding out that her marriage was this sham. She thought she was in this loving relationship that she was working so hard always to keep going and it was with someone who had been using her and manipulating her.
So, not only that but the events of the very end of the season with Max. Isobel is going to have to…she suddenly finds herself very much alone. I think she is a character who throughout her entire life has defined herself in relation to other people. She was always part of the family unit. She’s a wife in a marriage. She got married very young and she was so co-dependent on Max; they had this like super twin bond.
At the top of season two, suddenly all that has been ripped away from her. It’s like a little snail without a shell. She doesn’t have anything to protect herself. So, we see her extremely vulnerable and I love that. I’m happy for her. As horrible as everything is that she is having to go through, it’s a change that offers her an opportunity to empower herself. I think that’s such a powerful storyline for a female character, that she’s suddenly like I’m going to have to put on my big girl pants and find a way through this now.”
Who can she turn to at this point for help?
Lily Cowles: “Well, Guerin…I don’t know. Can you turn to Guerin? I mean of course she loves him so much and they love each other so deeply. I think she feels that familial bond with him. He’s always kind of felt like he was the outsider to the two of them. She didn’t have the same relationship that she had with Max with Guerin. But I think that she’ll find it in unexpected places.
I think that she will find comfort and support in other female characters that can give the support that she maybe doesn’t expect to find there. She hasn’t historically played so nice with other girls, and so she has kind of burned some bridges there. But I think when you’re so broken there’s a power in coming to people like, ‘Help me. Can you help me? I need help.’
I think we get to see some unexpected combinations of things and it’s been a pleasure as an actor to get to go through that.”
That will be interesting to actually see her ask for help because that’s just not her.
Lily Cowles: “It’s so not Isobel. I think we’re going to see a really different shade of Isobel, by necessity. I think she built this gilded cage to keep herself safe with this insecurity. I don’t think she really knows who she is. I think she’s always defined herself in a performative way. It’s like, ‘This is how I should be. This is what a wife does. This is what a person who’s successful looks like.’ It’s always been an imitation.
So, I think we’re going to see a whole side of her when that has just been shattered. She’s left with like, ‘What if I don’t have this? What am I left with?’ She’s looking at the shattered pieces of her life and like, ‘How does this now fit back together?’
It’s a great storyline for Isobel to get into it.”
Can you tease how her relationship will be with Rosa now that she’s back?
Lily Cowles: “They knew each other and were friends, but Isobel doesn’t remember that. I mean she has the memories of it, but it wasn’t really her.
There’s this kind of cognitive dissonance for her where I think she knows her and she’s like, ‘I can remember that I was nice to you. I also remember that the real me was kind of a bitch to you.’ She was not so nice to Rosa when she was left to her own devices. It was only when Noah was inhabiting her that she became friends with her. So, I think that will be such an interesting kind of coming back together.
We’ve both been victimized by this man so there’s this yearning, I think, to connect on that level and yet I think Isobel feels tremendous guilt, despite the fact that she wasn’t actually responsible for what happened to Rosa. It was her hands. She has the memory of killing that person so it’s like how do you kind of move through that? I think that’s going to be a really juicy kind of relationship to untangle.”
Is she going to spend a lot of time having to deal with what she did when she wasn’t in control of herself?
Lily Cowles: “You know, I think that other events come up that are more pressing than having to dwell on what happened. I think she needs to plow straight ahead because there are some really intense issues that come up very quickly for Isobel. So, no, she doesn’t spend a lot of time dwelling.
I think she’s kind of like, ‘I just need to find a way to survive.’ I think dwelling would only keep her down. I think the story that we’re seeing of Isobel is how do I pick myself up and keep walking? It’s very much more a forward…she’s leaning in.”
Has season two been more of a challenge for you?
Lily Cowles: “I think it’s different. Honestly, I’ve loved it so much. I think in the first season it was really interesting to play a character who did not know who they were and was always having a façade. It was actually difficult for me to watch it back sometimes. It’s weird to see yourself being kind of phony and like a jerk. And in this season, I think we’re going to find her a lot more likable because she’s having to just be real now.
Actually, I think I prefer her now. This has been more fun for me, as difficult as it’s been because it gets dark for Isobel very quickly for several episodes. That’s hard to go through as an actor. It’s been a challenge to go through it, but it’s been a very welcome challenge because I’m getting to move her towards a kind of authentic place that I think she’s really been wanting to go.”
Will she be going through other changes this season?
Lily Cowles: “Oh, she’s definitely changing. She’s going through a real transformation now. I think after the experience that she had, her number one feeling is I’m never going to let that happen again so how do I protect myself now? I was such a victim – I don’t ever want to be a victim again. So, Isobel is going to be taking steps now to arm herself against that.
NASCAR driver Austin Dillon guest stars on CBS’s SEAL Team season three episode 14. Directed by David Cook from a script by Tom Mularz, episode 14 is set to air on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 9pm ET/PT.
Scott Foxx, Adelaide Kane, Alona Tal, Jared Farid Ward, Emily Swallow, Nick Gracer, Ali Saam, and Jamie McShane also guest star.
David Boreanaz leads the cast as Jason Hayes. Max Thieriot plays Clay Spenser, Neil Brown Jr. is Ray Perry, AJ Buckley is Sonny Quinn, Toni Trucks is Lisa Davis, Jessica Paré is Mandy Ellis, Tyler Grey is Trent Sawyer, and Judd Lormand plays Lt. Cdr. Eric Blackburn.
“Objects in Mirror” Plot – Bravo Team travels overseas for a foreign training exercise to disguise their true mission – to rescue a high-value target that is being held hostage. Also, NASCAR driver Austin Dillon gives the team a special driving lesson.
Series Details, Courtesy of CBS:
SEAL Team is a military drama that follows the professional and personal lives of the most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan and execute the most dangerous, high-stakes missions our country can ask of them.
Jason Hayes is the respected, intense leader of the Tier One team whose home life has suffered as a result of his extensive warrior’s existence. His team includes his trusted confidant, Ray Perry, the longest-tenured operator with whom Jason shares an ingrained shorthand; Sonny Quinn, an exceptional, loyal soldier with a checkered past who still combats self-destructive tendencies; and Clay Spenser, a young, multilingual, second-generation SEAL with insatiable drive and dedication.
Vital to the team’s success are troop commander Lt. Cdr. Eric Blackburn, who serves as a leader and confidant both on and off the battlefield; CIA analyst Mandy Ellis, who has sacrificed everything in her drive to root out evil and take down terrorists; and Lisa Davis, a no-nonsense, take-charge logistics officer and unofficial den mother responsible for outfitting the team with the necessary gear for each mission.
Deployed on clandestine missions worldwide at a moment’s notice, and knowing the toll it takes on them and their families, this tight-knit SEAL team displays unwavering patriotism and fearless dedication even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Former boxer Laila Ali guest stars as herself on CBS’s S.W.A.T. season three episode 15, “Knockout.” Episode 15, directed by Billy Gierhart from a script by A.C. Allen and Kent Rotherham, will air on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 10pm ET/PT.
The cast of season three features Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, Stephanie Sigman as Jessica Cortez, Alex Russell as Jim Street, and Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay. Lina Esco stars as Christina “Chris” Alonso, Kenny Johnson is Dominique Luca, David Lim is Victor Tan, Amy Farrington is Lieutenant Piper Lynch, and Patrick St. Esprit plays Commander Robert Hicks. Louis Ferreira plays Buck and Cory Hardrict is Nate.
Bill Bellamy, Karissa Lee Staples, Kareem Grimes, Bailey Chase, Carlo Arrechea, Andrea Cortés, and Adi Spektor guest star in “Knockout.” Episode 15 guest stars also include Norman Nixon, David Huey, David Kency, Al Marchesi, Susan Chuang, Johnny Kostrey, Ashlee Brian, Marko Jankovic, Keitrell Hamilton, and Courtney Nichole.
“Knockout” Plot – Deacon’s second job working private security at a high-profile boxing match places the SWAT team in the middle of a kidnapping case when a prize fighter’s wife is abducted. Also, Hondo’s young charge, Darryl, becomes frustrated with his lack of paternal rights regarding his infant son, and Tan prepares to introduce his critical mother to his girlfriend, Bonnie.
S.W.A.T. Description, Courtesy of CBS:
Inspired by the television series and the feature film, S.W.A.T. stars Shemar Moore as a former Marine and locally born and raised S.W.A.T. sergeant, tasked to run a specialized tactical unit that is the last stop in law enforcement in Los Angeles. Torn between loyalty to where he was raised and allegiance to his brothers in blue, Daniel ”Hondo” Harrelson strives to bridge the divide between his two worlds and acclimate to his new duties as the legal guardian of a teenager.
Hondo’s elite unit includes David “Deacon” Kay, an experienced S.W.A.T. officer and dedicated family man who always puts the team first; Christina “Chris” Alonso, a skilled officer and the team’s canine trainer; Dominique Luca, an expert driver who gets them in and out of high risk situations; Victor Tan, who started in the LAPD Hollywood Division and uses his confidential informants in the community to help the team; and Jim Street, the team’s cocky newest member who is re-instated to S.W.A.T. after being fired for compromising the unit.
Responsible for the management of all Metro Division S.W.A.T. units is Commander Robert Hicks, a senior LAPD official with the Special Operations Bureau. Overseeing Hondo’s team is Hicks’ direct report, Jessica Cortez, the ambitious captain of L.A. Metro weighing an offer to leave S.W.A.T and work for the FBI. With Hondo leading the charge, these dedicated men and women bravely put themselves at risk to protect their community and save lives.
