CBS’s FBI will be taking a couple of weeks off, with the next new episode scheduled for March 9, 2020. Season two episode 17, “Broken Promises,” was directed by Olivia Newman from a script by Tamara Jaron.
Episode 17 guest stars include Yasmine Aker, Roshawn Franklin, Taylor Anthony Miller, Ty Jones, Jelani Alladin, Carolyn Holding, Kevin Carrigan, and Manny Galan. Van Hansis, Joe Carroll, Bianca Laverne Jones, Samantha Wendorf, Danielle Alonzo, Ellen Bryan, Tom Paolino, Megan Allison Hayes, and Paul Scanlan also guest star in “Broken Promises.”
The season two cast includes Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell, Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom ‘OA’ Zidan, Ebonée Noel as Kristen Chazal, Alana De La Garza as Isobel Castille, John Boyd as Stuart Scola, and Jeremy Sisto as Jubal Valentine.
“Broken Promises” Plot – When the team is called to the scene of a murder, they quickly suspect political motivation, but when another murder occurs, they work to uncover a common thread before more bodies pile up. Also, Maggie contemplates a decision that could affect her entire career.
The FBI Plot, Courtesy of CBS:
“FBI is a fast-paced drama about the inner workings of the New York office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This elite unit brings to bear all their talents, intellect and technical expertise on major cases in order to keep New York and the country safe. Born into a multigenerational law enforcement family, Special Agent Maggie Bell commits deeply to the people she works with as well as those she protects. Her partner is Special Agent Omar Adom ‘OA’ Zidan, a West Point graduate via Bushwick who spent two years undercover for the DEA before being cherry-picked by the FBI.
Overseeing them is Special Agent in Charge, Isobel Castille, who operates under intense pressure and has undeniable command authority. The team also includes Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine, the nerve center of the office whose ability to easily relate to and engage with both superiors and subordinates makes him a master motivator. Kristen Chazal is the team’s most valued resource, a brilliant analyst recruited straight out of university who can piece together the big picture faster than anyone. These first-class agents tenaciously investigate cases of tremendous magnitude, including terrorism, organized crime and counterintelligence.”
The CW’s Riverdale season four episode 13 finally caught up to the moment that’s been teased all season – the possible death of Jughead. After taking a two-week break, Riverdale will return on February 26, 2020 with, hopefully, answers as to who attacked Jughead and left him lying dead in the woods.
Episode 14, “How To Get Away with Murder,” was directed by James DeWille from a script by Arabella Anderson.
The season four cast is led by KJ Apa as Archie Andrews, Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper, Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge, and Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones. Madelaine Petsch is Cheryl Blossom, Marisol Nichols is Hermione Lodge, Mӓdchen Amick is Alice Cooper, Ashleigh Murray is Josie McCoy, Casey Cott is Kevin Keller, Mark Consuelos is Hiram Lodge, Skeet Ulrich is FP Jones, Charles Melton is Reggie Mantle, and Vanessa Morgan plays Toni Topaz.
“Chapter Seventy-One: How to Get Away with Murder” Plot – THE AFTERMATH — When a night in the woods goes horribly awry, Betty (Reinhart), Archie (Apa) and Veronica (Mendes) are forced to confront what one of them may be capable of.
Disney+ just released a new selection of photos from Star Wars: The Clone Wars season seven episode one. The subscription streaming service also released a special clip from “The Bad Batch” which airs on Friday, February 21, 2020.
Season seven will be the critically acclaimed animated series’ final season.
The 12 episode seventh season features the voices of Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker, Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano, Dee Bradley Baker as Captain Rex and the clone troopers, James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Katee Sackhoff as Bo-Katan, and Sam Witwer as Maul.
Dave Filoni (The Mandalorian) serves as director and executive producer.
The Plot:
“It’s the end of the historic Clone Wars, as the forces of darkness have amassed great power in their bid to transform the Republic into the Galactic Empire. With the Republic on a losing streak, Captain Rex fears the Separatists are using stolen data to help predict the Grand Army’s every move. As the threat of defeat looms, Rex teams up with experimental Clone Force 99, also known as the Bad Batch. Together, they embark on a high-risk mission behind enemy lines to uncover the truth behind the Separatist victories in ‘The Bad Batch.'”
Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker leads the fight behind enemy lines.Ahsoka Tano faces Maul.Wrecker, Hunter, and Captain Rex in “The Bad Batch” episode.Our heroes must outsmart and outmatch the nefarious Admiral TrenchCaptain Rex, Wrecker, and Crosshair survey the battlefieldMeet experimental Clone Force 99, also known as “the Bad Batch”
Ellen DeGeneres hosts ‘Ellen’s Game of Games’ (Photo by: Mike Rozman/Warner Brothers/NBC)
NBC has officially confirmed Ellen’s Game of Games will return for a fourth season. Season three is averaging 5.2 million viewers and, according to NBC, is a strong draw for family audiences. It’s currently ranked #4 with viewers aged 2 through 11 among all primetime entertainment programs.
“I’m so excited. I love this show so much,” said DeGeneres, breaking the news today on her The Ellen DeGeneres Show. “It makes me so happy. I love games. It combines all my favorite things: prizes and surprises. I’m sure you’ve seen it but if you haven’t, you’ve been missing out. We can’t wait to get started on the next round of episodes.”
Ellen’s Game of Games season one was #1 among all new alternative shows during the 2017-2018 season.
Ellen DeGeneres hosts and executive produces, with Stephen “tWitch” Boss as the announcer. Kevin A. Leman II, Mary Connelly, Ed Glavin, Andy Lassner, Derek Westervelt, Daniel Norris, Noah Bonnett and Jeff Kleeman also executive produce.
Season three currently airs on Tuesdays on NBC at 8pm ET/PT.
Series Details:
“Ellen’s Game of Games includes supersized versions of the most popular and action-packed games from DeGeneres’ award-winning daytime talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Contestants are pulled from the audience and must maneuver massive obstacles, answer questions under crushing time pressure and face gigantic plunges into the unknown – all in a quest to win a big cash prize.
In addition, this season DeGeneres has convinced several of her celebrity friends to join in on the fun.
Every episode will feature DeGeneres’ mischievous personality along with a raucous roster of games, including familiar favorites ‘Blindfolded Musical Chairs,’ ‘Dizzy Dash’ and ‘You Bet Your Wife’ as well as some big and new additions for this season that include ‘Mazed and Confused,’ ‘Runaway Bride,’ ‘Dirty Laundry’ and ‘Buckin’ Blasters.’ The high-pressure moments and unexpected results will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
Contestants play different games over four rounds. The winner of each round advances to play ‘Know or Go.’ The winner of ‘Know of Go’ gets the chance to play an epic game of ‘Hot Hands’ where they have to guess as many answers as they can in a designated amount of time.”
Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter in ‘Bill & Ted Face the Music’
A new photo’s arrived from the much anticipated, long-awaited third film of the Bill & Ted franchise, Bill & Ted Face the Music. The new image shows William “Bill” S. Preston Esq. (Alex Winter) and Theodore “Ted” Logan (Keanu Reeves) all suited up and looking sharp.
In addition to Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter, the upcoming comedy features Samara Weaving, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Scott Mescudi (Kid Cudi), Kristen Schaal, and Anthony Carrigan. Erinn Hayes, Jayma Mays, Jillian Bell, Holland Taylor, Beck Bennett, William Sadler, Hal Landon Jr. and Amy Stoch also star.
Orion Pictures will release Bill & Ted Face the Music in theaters on August 21, 2020. Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure arrived on February 17, 1989. Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey followed on July 19, 1991.
Dean Parisot (Galaxy Quest) directed from a screenplay by Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey). Scott Kroopf, Alex Lebovici, and Steve Ponce produced, with Steven Soderbergh, R. Scott Reid, John Ryan Jr, and John Santilli executive producing.
The Plot:
“The stakes are higher than ever for the time-traveling exploits of William “Bill” S. Preston Esq. and Theodore “Ted” Logan. Yet to fulfill their rock and roll destiny, the now middle-aged best friends set out on a new adventure when a visitor from the future warns them that only their song can save life as we know it. Along the way, they will be helped by their daughters, a new batch of historical figures, and a few music legends – to seek the song that will set their world right and bring harmony in the universe.”
CBS’s SEAL Team will finally return for the second half of season three with a two-hour winter premiere on February 26, 2020. “Siege Protocol: Part 1” was directed by Gonzalo Amat from a script by Matt Bosack and will air at 9pm ET/PT. “Siege Protocol: Part 2” was also directed by Gonzalo Amat from a script by Kenny Sheard and follows episode 11 at 10pm ET/PT.
Season three episode 11’s guest cast includes Scott Foxx, Adelaide Kane, Alona Tal, Parisa Fakhri, Emily Swallow, and Jamie McShane. Lucca De Oliveira, Coby Bell, Kerri Medders, Luis Jose Lopez, Max Phyo, Paul Fox, Juan Blasquez, and Matthew Bridges also guest star in “Siege Protocol: Part 1.”
“Siege Protocol: Part 2” features guest stars Scott Foxx, Lucca De Oliveira, Coby Bell, Luis Jose Lopez, Hector Atreyu Ruiz, and Hector Atreyu Ruiz.
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.
Justin Melnick and Tyler Grey appear in season three recurring roles.
“Siege Protocol: Part 1 and Part 2” Plot – Amid several life-altering moments on the home front, Bravo Team travels overseas to extract a CIA agent who is being held hostage. As the situation escalates, the Tactical Operations Center is compromised and Bravo’s support team comes face-to-face with the enemy, on the two-hour winter premiere.
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.
Matt Long as Zeke and Melissa Roxburgh as Michaela in ‘Manifest’ season 2 episode 7 (Photo by: Peter Kramer/NBC)
“Seems to me I figure out one calling only to get another one even more terrifying,” says Ben (Josh Dallas) to Grace (Athena Karkanis) as he struggles to figure out the latest calling and “save the passengers” in season two episode seven of NBC’s mystery drama, Manifest.
The episode begins with a flashback of T.J. (Garrett Wareing) packing for his trip to Jamaica with help from his mom. They smile and laugh as she talks about missing him even though he’s only going to be gone a week. Jump to present day with T.J. spending time talking with Olive (Luna Blaise) using Skype.
Grace (Athena Karkanis) visits Ben in his home office where he’s done all his work connecting all the passengers of Flight 828. He admits he feels stumped about figuring out the calling he and Michaela (Melissa Roxburgh) had – the vision of a crashed 828 with burnt ash all around and dead bodies.
“Whatever we are meant to save the passengers from, it’s coming. It’s violent,” says Ben.
Over at Michaela’s apartment, she confronts Zeke (Matt Long) after testing him about finding drugs hidden in his razor. He gets upset that she would think it was him and not even consider that Courtney put them there. He leaves in a huff.
Cal (Jack Messina) is upset with Ben and Grace for not letting him go on a field trip and Olive butts in saying they should let him go. They tell her to stay out of it and that she’s grounded for disobeying them and attending Adrian’s Believers meetings. Olive tells them off declaring she’s going to get emancipated because their family is shattered now that they’re living in fear. She hurries out. Ben tells Grace that Adrian must be stopped.
Dr. Saanvi Bahl (Parveen Kaur) gets a visit from her father while in the midst of being frustrated over her lack of success. They talk over lunch and she confesses she’s hit a wall with her research. He suggests she reach out and get help from her old colleague and friend, Alex, who she admits she hasn’t seen since she returned.
Focusing his anger on Adrian, Ben heads over and warns him he’ll sue him if he doesn’t leave Olive alone. They argue and Ben reveals the details of his latest calling. He’s afraid something terrible’s going to happen to the passengers of Flight 828. Ben ends the confrontation by telling Adrian if Olive gets hurt it’s on him.
At the precinct, Jared (J.R. Ramirez) catches Michaela in thought and she explains she had a bleak calling that felt like a warning about the X’ers. Jared says he’ll help but she gets a message about a caller with info on the recent church attack. As Michaela takes the call from Isaiah, Jared receives a call from his girlfriend’s brother – an X’er – who wants info from Michaela’s files ASAP.
A brief scene follows of someone wearing black gloves injecting drugs into bottles of champagne.
Olive and T.J. meet up to hang out and investigate the creator of the Tarot deck. They discover he kept a journal that references a return from the death and callings, and T.J. has it sent to Ben’s office on campus. T.J. confesses he agrees with Ben that Adrian is full of it and that he’s not buying his message of hope. He reminds her he was on the flight and isn’t an angel or God, but just lost five and half years of his life. When he came back his mother was dead and his friends had moved on.
Isaiah, who we know is bonkers, agrees to meet with Michaela to help with the investigation of the assault on the church.
Saanvi meets up with her former colleague Alex and it’s revealed that Alex was her lover who didn’t join her on the trip to Jamaica. Seems Alex also had a family at the time. After a few apologies and rebuttals, they start to work together on the cure for the passengers of 828.
Back at the precinct, Jared tries to get into Michaela’s files but is blocked by her security code. He seeks out the help of the IT guy and after making a threatening comment about getting him fired if he doesn’t help, the IT guy agrees to try to open the files.
Michaela meets up with Ben who tells her about his confrontation with Adrian and about Olive threatening emancipation. Michaela tries to calm him down, reminding him how she threatened to run away and follow a band when she was about Olive’s age. He asks how things are with Zeke and she tells him she fears she’s only attracted to guys with issues.
Zeke, Grace, and Cal all have a calling in which they see bottles of champagne. Cal says, “Save the passengers…it’s now!”
T.J. and Olive go to a club to have a good time and it turns out it’s the same club where Isaiah agreed to meet with Michaela to talk about the church incident. They head into a photo booth to pose for pics and he tells her that working with Ben and meeting her has been the happiest thing to happen to him since he came back.
Josh Dallas as Ben in ‘Manifest’ season 2 episode 7 (Photo by: Peter Kramer/NBC)
Ben shows up at the club, finds Adrian, and asks why he texted him to meet at the club. Adrian’s shocked and reveals he didn’t.
Michaela’s also at the club trying to talk Isaiah. He’s really busy tending bar since the place is packed due to a free champagne promotion. However, he thinks he’ll find time to talk to her about the case a little later.
Over at her lab, Saanvi does another test on herself to see if the new serum works. She gets dizzy and has visions of past callings before passing out.
Back at the crowded club, Ben notices a few other passengers from 828 and elsewhere in the club so does Michaela. They begin to suspect that something else is going on but haven’t yet noticed each other due to the packed house.
Grace calls Jared about the calling and asks where Michaela is. He tells her she’s at the club and he’s going over there now. Grace, Zeke, and Cal also head to the club.
Ben spots Michaela and realizes someone has set a trap for the passengers of 828. This is what the calling was trying to warn them about! Isaiah has drugged the champagne and people are starting to feel the drug’s effects. Even worse, Isaiah starts a fire in the back room of the club and locks the entrance/exit doors with chains and a padlock.
Olive and T.J. are dancing and having fun in a smaller room (not the main dance floor) when he heads off to fetch some champagne for them. He doesn’t notice Isaiah locking the door into that room behind him.
As the club starts filling up with smoke and flames, the people begin to panic. Adrian tells Ben he saw Olive headed to another part of the club. T.J. races back to Olive as the panic ensues, but he’s unable to break through the locked door. Michaela leads the scared club-goers to the exit and finds it locked. She uses a fire extinguisher to break the padlock and open the doors to get them out.
Ben joins T.J. to break down the door and release Olive and the other guests. Everyone escapes that room only to find the halls are covered in thick smoke. Olive stumbles while everyone else races to safety. She’s twisted her ankle and can’t run, so Ben and T.J. carry her through the fire.
Michaela goes back inside and finds another passenger of 828 pinned by burning debris. As she tries to get her out from under it, Zeke shows up and lifts a heavy burning beam. Together they make it outside.
As Ben, T.J., and Olive head for the exit there’s an explosion from the now extensive fire and their exit is blocked by debris. Ben and T.J. start working to clear it and Isiah appears with a knife and grabs Olive saying they’ll experience the light together. As he holds the knife to her throat Ben and T.J. are able to distract him. T.J. tackles the crazy believer to the ground. “Get her out! Go!” yells T.J. and Ben grabs Olive, promising he’ll return.
Flames and fallen lumber is everywhere and their escape looks hopeless. Just then Ben sees a bright white glow that leads him in the direction of the exit.
Michaela checks on Zeke’s hands but incredibly they don’t appear to be in bad shape after lifting the burning beam. Ben says T.J. is still inside fighting with Isiah and starts to go back into the burning building, even though Olive and Michaela plead with him not to because it’s too dangerous. Olive begs him to save T.J. and as Ben starts to run toward the building there’s a huge fiery explosion. The club is completely engulfed in flames.
Saanvi wakes and quickly tests her saliva. It appears she’s found a cure! That would explain why she didn’t have the latest calling. As she leaves her office she’s surprised to find so many victims of the club fire in her emergency room.
She treats Zeke and is amazed he doesn’t have burns on his hands. Instead, it appears as if he has frostbite on his fingers.
Later at home, Olive tells Ben what T.J. said about loving working with him and about the journal he made sure was sent to Ben’s office. Ben promises to go check on it.
At Michaela’s apartment, Zeke confesses he loves her and that he’s all in. Michaela tells him she loves him too and they kiss.
In the final scene of the episode, Ben goes to his office on campus and finds the journal. He looks through it and finds a page with a drawing of what looks like him carrying Olive out of the club toward the bright light and away from the fire. As Ben continues looking at the journal, it begins emitting a bright white glow from its pages.
Series star Freddie Highmore steps behind the camera again to direct ABC’s The Good Doctor season three episode 16. “Autopsy” was written by David Hoselton and will air on Monday, February 24, 2020 at 10am PT/ET.
Episode 16 guest stars include Cameron Gellman as Aiden, Luke Camilleri as Jules, Jessica Van Der Veen as Maribel, and Ariah Lee as Trinity.
Season three of the popular medical drama features Freddie Highmore as Dr. Shaun Murphy, Antonia Thomas as Dr. Claire Browne, Nicholas Gonzalez as Dr. Neil Melendez, and Hill Harper as Dr. Marcus Andrews. Richard Schiff is Dr. Aaron Glassman, Christina Chang is Dr. Audrey Lim, Fiona Gubelmann is Dr. Morgan Reznick, Will Yun Lee is Dr. Alex Park, Paige Spara is Lea Dilallo, and Jasika Nicole plays Dr. Carly Lever.
“Autopsy” Plot – When Dr. Shaun Murphy makes an emotional confession, the result may not be as desired. Meanwhile, he becomes obsessed with performing an autopsy on a Jane Doe, which challenges his relationships at the hospital; and Dr. Claire Browne, Dr. Morgan Reznick and Dr. Marcus Andrews treat a male college student with a mysterious split personality disorder.
The Good Doctor Description, Courtesy of ABC:
Dr. Shaun Murphy (Highmore), a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, continues to use his extraordinary medical gifts at St. Bonaventure Hospital’s surgical unit. As his friendships deepen, Shaun tackles the world of dating for the first time and continues to work harder than he ever has before, navigating his environment to prove to his colleagues that his talents as a surgeon will save lives.
Freddie Highmore, Will Yun Lee, and Kayla Deorksen in ‘The Good Doctor’ season 3 episode 16 (ABC/Liane Hentscher)Freddie Highmore on the set of season 3 episode 16 (ABC/Liane Hentscher)Paige Spara and Freddie Highmore in season 3 episode 16 (ABC/Kailey Schwerman)Freddie Highmore and Peter Graham-Gaudreau in season 3 episode 16 (ABC/Liane Hentscher)Freddie Highmore in season 3 episode 16 (ABC/Kailey Schwerman)
Season one episode seven of USA Network’s Dare Me found the team and Coach Colette finally at Regionals. Colette continued to manipulate Addy into a fake friendship, and Addy remained unaware of Colette’s true intentions. The last remnants of Addy and Beth’s friendship shattered, but the team succeeded in scoring a top five spot and moving on to State.
However, Regionals and the death of Addy and Beth’s friendship wasn’t all episode seven served up. No, the big twist – that death that’s been teased out over series since episode one – was finally revealed. Will’s dead, but who killed him? It certainly looks like Colette did away with her lover.
Up next, season one episode eight airing on February 23, 2020 at 10pm ET/PT.
The season one cast includes Herizen Guardiola as Addy Hanlon, Marlo Kelly as Beth Cassidy, Willa Fitzgerald as Coach Colette French, Paul Fitzgerald as Bert Cassidy, Zach Roerig as Sarge Will Mosley, Rob Heaps as Matt French, and Alison Thornton as Tacy Cassidy.
“Containment” Plot – In the wake of a tragedy, Addy and Colette struggle with a shared secret that threatens them both.
Details on Season 1, Courtesy of USA Network:
“Dare Me is an unflinching exploration of teen angst, jealousy, loyalty and the dynamics of power in a small Midwestern town.
Peering behind the all-American facade, the series dives into the cutthroat world of competitive high school cheerleading. It follows the fraught relationship between two best friends (Guardiola and Kelly) after a new coach (Fitzgerald) arrives to bring their team to prominence. While the girls’ friendship is put to the test, their young lives are changed forever when a shocking crime rocks their quiet rust belt town.
Part coming-of-age story, part sports drama, part murder mystery, Dare Me exposes the physical and psychological extremes that some young women are willing to endure in order to get ahead.”
Marlo Kelly as Beth Cassidy in ‘Dare Me’ season 1 episode 8 (Photo by: Pana Pantazidis/USA Network)Willa Fitzgerald as Collette French in season 1 episode 8 (Photo by: Pana Pantazidis/USA Network)Taveeta Szymanowicz as Riri Curtis in season 1 episode 8 (Photo by: Rafy/USA Network)Marlo Kelly as Beth Cassidy and Herizen Guardiola as Addy Hanlon in season 1 episode 8 (Photo by: Rafy/USA Network)Zach Roerig as Sgt. Will Mosley in season 1 episode 8 (Photo by: Rafy/USA Network)
The entire main cast of The CW’s Roswell, New Mexico made the trip to the New York Comic Con in support of the sci-fi drama’s second season. Included in the cast making the trek to NYC was Nathan Dean Parsons who plays Max in the popular series. Season one ended with Max’s death but given the flexibility of the sci-fi genre, no one – including an alien – can ever truly be considered dead and gone.
Teamed up with Jeanine Mason (“Liz Ortecho”) for roundtable interviews, Parsons joked that he’s just hanging out on set as part of the behind-the-scenes crew. Plus, Max could appear in flashbacks. (If you believe that, I’ve got some oceanfront property in Arizona I’d like to sell you.) Check out what the duo had to say about season two and the resurrection of Rosa.
You’re here so that must mean Max doesn’t die, right?
Nathan Dean Parsons: “Not necessarily.”
Jeanine Mason: (Laughing) “He just wanted a trip to New York.”
Nathan Dean Parsons: “Exactly. I’m really here for moral support. No, we still get to… As we did with season one, we still have flashbacks, you know. So, I’m still around to sort of fill out everyone else’s story.”
Jeanine Mason: “Yeah. I mean, we’re shooting episode five right now and we’ve only had one scene together this season.”
Nathan Dean Parsons: “Yeah.”
No, really?
Nathan Dean Parsons: “Yeah, so it’s a big change. I mean it’s not easy bringing someone back from the dead when you don’t have superpowers.”
But he is the savior, right?
Nathan Dean Parsons: “Well, he was. (Laughing) I think you’re looking at the savior here now.” (Indicating Jeanine.)
Jeanine Mason: “Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, we’ll see. I mean that’s the sort of setup for this season is the beginning of season one our catalyst is Liz gets shot and Max is able to repair her. And now Max is very much in need of repair and Liz is a mere human. And her science is incredible and she’s brilliant, for sure, but she’s set up to do something that’s immediate for him.
We’ve been playing a lot with the imagery of hands because it is his hands (that heal) and her frustration of her hands has been fun for me to play with. She’s in her lab; she’s doing her work but these (hands) just don’t work as quick as his. So that’s our setup for this season is whether she can.”
If you’ve only had one scene together so far, have you been having more interaction with the other cast members?
Jeanine Mason: “For sure. The fact that Rose is back – my sister – I have had a lot with her and it’s been this new dynamic for Liz in the gratitude, the unbelievableness of having someone that you lost 10 years ago and that had such a massive affect on her. I mean, it changed her persona. She was 17 when she lost Rosa. She’s jaded, she’s hardened, and her abandonment issues are high and that’s all the walls that Max had to break down in season one. So, having her back but then also the complications of having your once older sister who’s now 10 years younger than you back…
And then I’ve gotten to spend a lot more time working with Lily (Cowles) and (Michael) Vlamis because it does very much feel like the Scooby-Doo gang. Everyone is all hands on deck. Everyone’s trying to save his ass. It’s been fun. We’ve had a lot of days where it’s a lot of us on set which is so fun.”
Does Liz have to explain to people how Rosa came back to life? How does that work?
Jeanine Mason: “So that’s the other element which we’re actually just getting into now with episode four and five. They’re being very strategic about who and how they introduce her back to people. We still haven’t figured that out. There’s still a lot more. Right now, she’s pretty much on lockdown and she’s not a character which enjoys that, which has ever responded well to parental restrictions.”
Nathan Dean Parsons: “Authority, in general.”
Jeanine Mason: “So it’s another thing she has to navigate while trying to do the impossible. It’s quite active, the setup, which is really fun to play. But I miss working with this guy. We’re a team and we lead the show together.”
Nathan Dean Parsons: “Last year we were pretty much together in every scene. And you’re able to build a working dynamic that you just fall into, right? You just immediately know what the other person’s going to bring and you know what you can play with and play off of.
(Laughing) I haven’t really been there so I don’t know how that’s going but I know if I was in that position it’s hard to establish entirely new rhythms with people that you don’t work with just off the bat.”
Jeanine Mason: “It’s been fun because it feels like such a beautiful training ground in the sense that only sci-fi can really afford you the kind of stuff where it’s like what you know, flip it on its head. But, yeah, it’s both our first times leading a show, so it’s been fun to figure that out together and then use it each without having each other as scene partners.”
So, with only one scene together that must mean you’ve had lots of free time?
Nathan Dean Parsons: “Oh yeah. I’ve had a lot of free time. No, I go to set; I’m an extra sometimes. I’ll help the grips.”
Jeanine Mason: “He’s working in the crew.”
Nathan Dean Parsons: “Whatever they need. They need something moved, ‘All right, I’ve got nothing else to do.’”
Jeanine Mason: “It started because we both worked on films during hiatus that were in the same part of the country and he came and visited my set one day. I’m like, ‘Hey, so, my buddy’s coming over.’ I think I said… I think they asked, like, ‘Oh, okay.’ I said, ‘He’s an actor. You’ll see him. He’s going to come visit the set.’
The PA, my buddy who I sent to go get him, was like, ‘Oh, that can’t be him. He’s clearly a grip.’ Because he’s just so casual! He’s got his baseball cap on. So, we were like, ‘Oh we need a picture of you just like lifting stuff!’ And now it’s come over to the Roswell set. This is what he does with his time off.”
Nathan Dean Parsons: “I’m learning a lot from our best boy grips and our electricians.”
How was it working with Sheri Appleby when she directed last season? Is she directing this season?
Jeanine Mason: “She actually just finished directing episode four last week. She’s wonderful. She’s such a hustler. It’s fun to have that kind of energy around and to learn from her. But she also just loves this property so much. It’s really fun to work with someone who… I don’t think we could find someone who it means as much and is as close to heart as it is with her. For as long as we go, she’ll be around. Everybody loves her.”
Nathan Dean Parsons: “You know that when you put this property in her hands that it’s going to be taken care of, that she’s going to honor the original and bring a nuance to it. You can really just kind of give your trust to what she wants to do. That’s a blessing.”
Jeanine Mason: “It was fun. We’ve had so much…it’s a lot of big, heavy stuff so when we find those moments of levity or those moments of ridiculousness, it’s fun to have a director who’s really like, ‘How can we lean into the pressure release valve of this little scene right here?’ She’s so great at that.
I had a couple of scenes with Michael Trevino who plays Kyle and we felt like we were really doing a sitcom for a moment there. It’s like, ‘Quick! Let’s lighten this thing up!’ Sheri is just so capable at that stuff. Her range is just beautiful.”
Given the events in season one, who is Liz turning to in season two as a sounding board?
Jeanine Mason: “I think a lot of that is that she doesn’t. That’s not healthful for her but it’s a fun thing to play. The pressure she’s putting on herself to be a pseudo parent to her sister in helping her get back on her feet and to be leading this project to bring Max back, that will get even more complicated now that her mom’s coming back into the picture which is a character we’ve spoken about a lot and we know is quite complicated. We know she’s also been an abandonment person in her life. So, that’s definitely been the main thing.
But the aliens and like Michael Guerin…I love Liz Ortecho and Michael Guerin because they’re our two geniuses… (Whispers ‘no offense’ to Nathan.) They’re the two genius characters on the show so we meet at the level where it’s like everybody else is playing catch up. ‘Are you with me?’ You know what I mean, which is so fun to do. So, him. We get a lot of Michael and Liz which is fun and they’re saving this guy.”
