Interview with Isaiah Mustafa and Ben Watkins of “Cross” on Prime by Suzanne 10/29/24
I enjoyed speaking with one of the main actors, and the showrunner, of this great new series. I’ve spoken with the main star, Aldis Hodge, years ago (when he was in “Leverage”). Sadly, I did not get that chance this time.
Hodges stars as Alex Cross, the forensic psychiatrist and detective featured in James Patterson novels (and some movies). Aldis was one of my first one-on-one interviews, so it was memorable. He’s always very nice. I also spoke with him in 2011 and 2012.
Mustafa and Wakins, whom I interviewed recently, also were a joy to speak with. Mustafa is a former football player but has become quite a good actor. He plays John Sampson, Mustafa’s close friend and fellow detective. Ben Watkins created, wrote and executive produced the show. He’s worked on some of my favorites, including “Hand of God” and “Burn Notice”.
These are audio-only, even though I did speak with them on video. I didn’t realize that they were only going to send me the audio until yesterday (that was my mistake for not making sure). Oops!
You should definitely check out this series’ first season, which drops Nov. 14 and has already been renewed for season 2. It is a thrilling drama that everyone should enjoy. It also stars Ryan Eggold (“New Amsterdam”), Alona Tal, and Johnny Ray Gill.
Starring Aldis Hodge, Cross is a crime thriller series that follows ALEX CROSS, a decorated D.C. homicide detective and forensic psychologist who faces a sadistic serial killer leaving a string of bodies strewn around the city. As Alex and his partner, John Sampson (Isaiah Mustafa), track this killer, a mysterious threat from Cross’ past appears, aiming to destroy what he’s done to keep his grieving family, career, and life together. Ryan Eggold, Alona Tal, and Johnny Ray Gill also star; Ben Watkins serves as showrunner.
Credits
Produced by
Amazon MGM Studios, Paramount Television Studios, Skydance Television
Created by
Ben Watkins
Directed by
Ben Watkins
Executive Produced by
Ben Watkins
Sam Ernst
Jim Dunn
Craig Siebels
James Patterson
Bill Robinson
Patrick Santa
David Ellison
Dana Goldberg
Matt Thunell
Cast
Aldis Hodge
Isaiah Mustafa
Juanita Jennings
Alona Tal
Samantha Walkes
Caleb Elijah
Melody Hurd
Jennifer Wigmore
Eloise Mumford
Ryan Eggold
Ben Watkins was born on March 19, 1971 in San Francisco, California, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Cross (2024), Burn Notice (2007) and Quest to Ref (2002). He has been married to Kandi Ali since June 1992. They have four children.
Interview with Molly Kunz of “The Irrational” on NBC by Suzanne 10/24/24
I really enjoyed speaking with Molly! I love her show, so it was very nice to speak with her about it, and about her character. Don’t miss the next episode, which airs Nov. 12!
The Irrational
Season 2 Premiering October 8 on NBC (10-11p.m. ET/PT)
“The Irrational” follows world-renowned professor of behavioral science Alec Mercer (Jesse L. Martin) as he lends his unique expertise to high-stakes cases and mysteries. His insight and unconventional approach to understanding human behavior lead him to work alongside varying clients ranging from the FBI to everyday people caught in perplexing situations desperate for answers. With the help of his trusted team and social-science experiments, Alec solves crimes and uncovers the truth to answer intriguing, and irrational, questions.
The cast also includes Maahra Hill, Travina Springer, Molly Kunz and Arash DeMaxi.
Arika Lisanne Mittman, Mark Goffman, Sam Baum, David Frankel and Robert Wolfe executive produce.
The show is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
Next Episode: “Anatomy of a Fall” Simon’s mother asks Alec to help stop a suicide contagion when a third student death strikes the campus; Alec asks Marisa to help when he thinks there might be more to the case; Phoebe struggles with her next career move.
Molly Kunz
Phoebe, “The Irrational”
Molly Kunz stars as Phoebe in the NBC drama “The Irrational.”
Kunz recurred on “Colony,” “Finding Carter” and Hulu’s original series “Battleground,” created by J.D. Walsh. She also co-starred in the Lifetime movie “The Marsh Sisters at Christmas.”
On the film side, Kunz will co-star in the thriller “Wild Eyed and Wicked” and was previously in “The Wolf and the Lion,” based on the French film “Mia and The White Lion.” Kunz also had a supporting role in Steve McQueen’s feature “Widows,” opposite Colin Farrell, as well as a role in the indie “The Wise Kids.”
Kunz is originally from Madison, Wisc., and began her career in regional theater. Productions include “The Nerd” (Memorial Theatre Company), “The Sound of Music” (Music Theater of Madison), “Carousel” (Madison Repertory Theater), “The Boxcar Children” (CTM Family Theater Company), “The Secret Garden” (University of Wisconsin Theater), “Annie” (Stagestruck Productions), “Tom Sawyer” (Madison Creative Arts Program), “Alice in Wonderland” (Shorewood Drama), “The Nutcracker Ballet” (Madison Ballet), and “Sleeping Beauty Ballet” (Performing Arts for Children).
Interview with Sarah Drew, star of “Mistletoe Murders” on Hallmark+ by Suzanne 10/18/24
It was a lot of fun to speak with Sarah about her new mystery series! We had a nice chat about the new show. Check it out. It premieres Thursday, 10/31/24 on Hallmark+ .
Stars: Sarah Drew, Peter Mooney, Sierra Marilyn Riley
Mistletoe Murders follows Emily Lane (Drew), the outwardly friendly, and optimistic shop owner of a charming year-round Christmas-themed store, Under the Mistletoe. However, her inner voice reveals a sardonic sense of humor, cunning intellect, and keen eye for details most people would miss…because Emily has a big secret. Residing in the quaint tourist town of Fletcher’s Grove, Emily finds herself compelled to investigate not-so-quaint local murders. And when Emily begins her personal investigations, Detective Sam Wilner (Mooney), a smart local cop – with a crush on Emily that is not completely unrequited – begins to wonder if there’s more to Emily than meets the eye.
Executive Producer/Showrunner Ken Cuperus (Carter), Executive Producers Michelle Melanson (The Next Step), Jocelyn Hamilton (Burden of Truth), Drew and Co-Executive Producer Grant Harvey (The Way Home) and producer Robbie David (Dark Matter).
The series comes from Lionsgate Canada and Headspinner Productions.
Mistletoe Murders is adapted from the Audible Original series Mistletoe Murders starring Cobie Smulders, Raymond Ablack and a full ensemble cast. Two seasons are currently available and season 3 will premiere on November 7, only from Audible.
Mistletoe Murders Season 1
With time running out to prove her friend’s innocence, Emily puts her own secret past on the line to find the real tree farm killer, raising suspicion from Detective Sam Wilner.
Sarah Drew
Multi-hyphenate actor, producer, writer, and director, Sarah Drew is best known for playing ‘Dr. April Kepner’ for nine seasons on the hit ABC series “Grey’s Anatomy” and Hannah Rogers in Warner Bros’ “Everwood”.
Her recent TV credits include Freeform’s hit series “Cruel Summer” which was the recipient of the Hollywood Critics Association Award for Best Cable Drama Series, and the critically acclaimed Apple TV+ series “Amber Brown,” written, directed and produced by Bonnie Hunt. Sarah released four films in 2023, producing and starring in Lifetime’s “The Girl Who Caught a Killer”, Sony Affirm’s “Birthright Outlaw”, and starring in Hallmark’s “Guiding Emily”. “A Cowboy Christmas Romance” marks Sarah’s second feature film that she’s written and executive produced for Lifetime, in 2022, Sarah produced and starred in her writing debut “Reindeer Games Homecoming” as part of Lifetime’s holiday slate. Sarah made her directorial debut in “Grey’s Anatomy: B-Team the Webisodes” which was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Awards for an Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series.
She recently directed a radio play for LA Theater Works called “Fever Syndrome” which is set to be released later this year. In film, some notable projects include her debut in Columbia Picture’s “Radio” alongside Ed Harris and Cuba Gooding Jr., as well as the lead in the hit Sony comedy “Moms’ Night Out” alongside Patricia Heaton and Sean Astin. In 2022, she received a Canadian Screen Award Nomination for her lead role in Lifetime’s “Stolen By Their Father”. She began producing with Provident Films’ “Indivisible,” in which she starred alongside Tia Mowry.
Sarah got her start in the arts at a young age before booking the lead role of the critically acclaimed production of Romeo and Juliet at McCarter Theatre Center, an award-winning regional theater, in her fourth year of university. The opportunity catapulted her career, opening doors thanks to rave reviews by critics. She went on to make her Broadway debut in Vincent and Brixton, a classic play based on Vincent van Gogh, at the Lincoln Center Theater, then London’s West End, before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in television and film. When she’s not working, Sarah spends time giving back to her community, donating to charities close to her heart such as Door of Hope in Pasadena and Lwala Community Alliance, an organization dedicated to improving health care in Africa.
Poppa’s House stars Damon Wayans as Poppa, a famous radio host who faces challenges at his job when his boss adds a female co-host to his radio show. Damon Wayans Jr. stars as his son Junior who wants to be a film director but he is stuck working for his father-in-law’s advertising agency.
Poppa advises his son to work at his job to support his family while he finds a way to become a director. Junior’s wife Nina (Tetona Jackson) is also supportive of his dream but she wants him to still work at her father’s company so they can enroll their kids in private school.
The show is well written and the cast is funny. I enjoy the close relationship between father and son in the show.
The show airs on Mondays at 8:30 pm EST/7:30 pm CST on CBS and you can stream it the next day on Paramount+.
I think this show is worth watching and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
Happy’s Place stars Reba Macintire as Bobbie who inherits the bar named Happy’s Place after the death of her father.
Bobbie is stunned when, at the reading of her father’s will, she finds out she has a half-sister named Isabella (Belissa Escobedo) who owns half the bar. The two sisters must get to know each other and run the bar together. The bar has a cast of quirky employees and customers. Melissa Peterman plays Gabby the bartender at Happy’s Place who wishes she was Bobbie ‘s half-sister.
The show has plenty of funny moments, most notably, when Reba and Melissa Peterman are on screen together since they worked together before on the show Reba. They have their comedy timing perfect with each other. The other cast members need more time to work together on their comedic timing. The cast needs time to relax and get into a rhythm with each other.
The show airs Fridays at 8 PM EST/7 PM CST.
I think this is one of those shows that will get better as the season goes on and the audience gets to know the characters in the show.
“Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage Review by Eva 10/20/2024
I miss Young Sheldon, so I was glad to hear that Georgie Cooper (Montana Jordan) and Mandy (Emily Osment) were getting their own show.
Georgie, Mandy and baby CC move in with Mandy’s parents after they get married. Mandy doesn’t get along with her mother Audrey (Rachel Bay Jones) because Mandy’s mother thinks she could have done better than Georgie for a husband and she only married Georgie because he got her pregnant.
A big part of the show is the constant conflict between Audrey and Mandy and how Mandy’s father, Jim ( Will Sasso), tries his best to be the peacemaker between Audrey and Mandy. Georgie is also determined to make Audrey see that he is a good man who loves Mandy very much and would have married her even if she hadn’t gotten pregnant. Young Sheldon fans know that Georgie’s father, George Sr. (Lance Barber), died in the series finale, so Jim becomes a father figure for Georgie, and they have some touching moments in the show. I enjoyed the moments between Jim and Georgie the most.
If you are a fan of Young Sheldon you will enjoy this show very much, but even if you have never seen Young Sheldon, you can still enjoy the show because it stands alone with occasional mentions of characters from Young Sheldon. The audience can get to know Georgie better. I think this show is well written and acted it is worth watching. If you miss it you can stream it on Paramount+.
The show airs on Thursday nights at 8 PM EST/7 PM CST.
Tracker stars Justin Hartley as Colton Shaw whose father taught him survival skills and now he uses those skills to find missing people. Colton collects the rewards offered by the police or family members only if he finds the missing person. Colton is also trying to figure out how his father died because he doesn’t think his father committed suicide.
I didn’t think I would like the show because I thought it would concentrate too much on Colton’s survival skills, but it really doesn’t show that too much. Colton has a talent for finding people and reuniting them with their family. If you like solving mysteries this show is worth watching.
I give this show a 5 out of 5 stars.
If you want to watch the show, it comes on Sundays at 8 EST/7 CST.
There are occasions when show times may vary because of sports. If you subscribe to Paramount+, the show can be streamed there the next day.
Angela has been a busy realtor since her amicable divorce a couple of years ago to Dakota, a paleontologist whose adventures kept him anywhere but home. Now, she is a devoted if often harried, single mom to a smart and loving 10-year-old girl, Brooklyn. Angela’s busy schedule makes it hard for her to find time for much of anything…or anyone…else. As it is, she can barely get Brooklyn to her scout meetings on time, much to the disapproval of the other mothers. When Brooklyn gets the idea to have William, the owner of her favorite bakery, cater her scout troop’s posh annual holiday event, she asks Angela to work with him on pitching the idea to the moms in charge. Despite sensing that her daughter might be trying to play cupid, she agrees to help and finds herself enjoying time with him, but is reluctant to open her heart and life to someone new. When Dakota returns, missing her, Angela must decide what is best for her daughter and best for her heart. Starring Tamera Mowry-Housley and Carlo Marks.
Tamera Mowry-Housley is an Emmy award-winning host, actress, producer, and entrepreneur who has captivated audiences for over 20 years.
She started her career in Hollywood alongside her sister, Tia, on the hit show “Sister, Sister,” which aired over 100 episodes from 1994-1999 and has gone on to see a cultural revival over the past few years since it was released on Netflix. Mowry-Housley’s work on the show gained praise and recognition; she received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series and Kid’s Choice Award for Favorite Television Actress. She returned to the screen with Tia on the hit Style Network reality TV series “Tia and Tamera,” which chronicled her life as she balanced her acting career along with major life transformations of marriage and motherhood.
Mowry-Housely co-hosted the groundbreaking and Emmy-winning talk show, “The Real,” for six seasons. “The Real is the first syndicated talk show in years to be renewed for a sixth season. She worked alongside co-hosts Loni Love, Adrienne Bailon and Jeannie Mai. Together, the ladies won the Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host Emmy at the 45th Daytime Emmy Awards in April 2018.
In November 2020, it was announced that Mowry-Housley would be expanding her relationship with Crown Media Family Networks, parent company to Hallmark, in a new overall deal to star in and executive produce original films for the network. Her credits include the television movies “A Christmas Miracle” for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, which she also executive produced, as well as “Christmas Angel,” “Something to Sing About,” and “Seventeen Again.” She was a series regular on “Strong Medicine,” “Roommates” (ABC Family) and “Melissa & Joey” (ABC Family). Mowry-Housley has voiced characters in the FOX hit “Family Guy” and Cartoon Network’s “Superhero Squad Show.” She also produced and starred in the Lifetime movie “Double Wedding.” On the big screen, Mowry-Housley co-starred in the Rob Schneider comedy The Hot Chick. Most recently, she starred in the Hallmark original movie “Christmas Comes Twice,” which premiered during the network’s annual “Countdown to Christmas” programming event in 2020.
In addition to co-hosting “The Real,” she hosted season one of Facebook Watch’s “Help Us Get Married, a 12-episode reality web television series that followed three couples trying to plan their weddings with the help of the Facebook community. Mowry-Housley was also a frequent guest host on Hallmark Channel’s “Home & Family.” In 2021, she also competed in season five of “The Masked Singer” and wowed audiences nationwide with her singing abilities as the beloved Seashell.
In June 2021, Hulu announced its upcoming baking competition series “Baker’s Dozen” with Mowry-Housley and former White House pastry chef Bill Yosses. Set to premiere in October, together, they’ll host the unscripted series which pits passionate amateur bakers against seasoned culinary experts. Contestants will compete in head-to-head challenges for a chance to win the golden rolling pin and a cash prize. Additionally, she will serve as a judge alongside Martha Stewart and Chris Hessney on HGTV’s new design competition show, “Table Wars.” In each episode, the competitors must deliver the ultimate themed party environment, including stunning tablescapes, lighting and displays in order to impress the judges and avoid elimination. The finalist who delivers the most over-the-top event space will win the Table Wars title and a $50,000 cash prize.
Born in Germany and raised in Southern California, Mowry-Housley graduated with honors from Pepperdine University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with an emphasis on Abnormal Childhood Development. After meeting at Pepperdine, she married FOX News correspondent Adam Housley in May 2011. They welcomed their first child, Aden John Tanner Housley, in November 2012, and their second child, Ariah Talea Housley, in July 2015. They live in Napa Valley, where they oversee Century Oak Winery. They also opened their own celebrated tasting room in the heart of Downtown Napa where they both can frequently be seen pouring their family wines for fans and visitors. They have also opened up their own coffeehouse and coffee line called Barnhouse Napa Brews in Downtown Napa. They have six brews of coffee at the shop, all of which are locally brewed and sourced and grown sustainably from all over the world. Additionally, 90% of the food and products they have for sale are women and minority owned.
Interview with César Millán of “Cesar Millan: Better Human Better Dog” on Nat Geo Wild and Disney+ by Suzanne 10/1/24
It was interesting speaking with Cesar Millan, the “Dog Whisperer.” I think he’s more comfortable talking about training dogs than about himself. I hope you enjoy our interview and his latest show, which just finished season 5. Check out this electronic dog fence that he’s passionate about, Halo Collar 4! If you can’t find his show on your cable or satellite dish, you can find some episodes on the Nat Geo Wild YouTube Channel, or on these streamers.
Renowned dog behaviorist Cesar Millan comes back not only to rehabilitate dogs, but to train pet parents as well. With empty shelters and dog adoptions at a record high, his return to television gives new pet parents the tools they need to teach their dogs good habits and shed the bad ones. In addition, he helps pet parents better understand the connection that dogs have with their humans, and how people’s actions can influence just how well, or poorly, their dogs behave. From the yards of the pet owners to his newly updated Dog Psychology Center, Cesar demonstrates the skills needed to create happy homes with furry best friends while equipped with a can-do attitude.
about cesar millan
Cesar Millan is one of the most sought-after authorities in the field of dog behavior and rehabilitation. With more than 25 years of experience and with his new TV show, “Better Human Better Dog” now on National Geographic and Disney+; Millan is a household name, a New York Times best-selling author and 3x Emmy nominated acclaimed star with hit TV series broadcasted and streamed in over 120 countries. Cesar has grown into a pop culture phenomenon and a go to for many of today’s celebrities, athletes, world leaders, and entrepreneurs. His work has been highlighted in flattering parodies on “South Park” and “Saturday Night Live”; references on popular shows including “Jeopardy!” and “The Colbert Report”; and appearances on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” “Dr. Oz,” “The Today Show,” “The View,” and “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and others.
Cesar’s message continues to grow on his massive social media following of over 20 million people across the globe, adding new products under his belt, launching more content across various platforms, sharing his gift with The Cesar Millan Foundation and conducting trainings at his 43-acre paradise and Dog Psychology Center in Santa Clarita. Earlier this year Cesar launched his new audio and visual Podcast “Better Humans Better Planet”. In September 2023, Cesar was awarded the coveted Medal of Excellence from the Washington Hispanic Caucus in Washington D.C. 2024 will mark his anniversary of 20 consecutive years on U.S. television.
HALO COLLAR ANNOUNCES HALO COLLAR 4
The Safest and Most Advanced GPS Dog Fence Brings Your Backyard Everywhere
Now All Dogs 10 lbs and Up Can Experience the Safety of Halo Collar
WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., Sept. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Halo, the most advanced GPS dog fence ever created, is launching the Halo Collar 4, the first collar designed to fit big and small dogs, giving pet parents the ability to create a “backyard” everywhere they go. It is the first and only dual-frequency GPS dog fence for unrivaled accuracy that combines data from L1 and L5 GPS bands for the most accurate location that is not impacted by obstacles even in urban or bad signal areas. Halo Collar 4 also offers the perfect fit for big and small dogs with a tailoring system that lets you custom fit the collar to your dog’s exact neck size from 8 inches to 30.5 inches. The updated rendition includes 25% more battery life for 30+ hours between charges, a smaller and lighter all-day fit and comes in a new Midnight Blue color, as well as updated Graphite, Orchid and Sunburst colors.
With the launch of Halo Collar 4, Halo Collar has quadrupled its sales, three years since inception, to become the leader of the fast-growing $16B dog containment category, with that number continuing to grow. Halo caters to pet parents who value travel and experiences, but will not sacrifice their dog’s safety.
“We are thrilled to announce Halo Collar 4, our most advanced GPS dog fence yet, for both big and small dogs,” said Halo co-founder Ken Ehrman. “We are committed to delivering the safest and most accurate technology to provide dogs everywhere with a safe life off leash.”
Co-founded by world renowned dog behaviorist Cesar Millan, Halo Collar allows you to instantly create and store unlimited wireless dog fence perimeters at the touch of a finger in the Halo app so you can keep your dog safely inside the boundaries that you set. You can use the built-in training designed by Cesar Millan to teach dogs to respond quickly and consistently to customizable prevention and encouragement feedback, including a variety of sounds and vibrations meant as a timely touch. All feedback is customizable, so pet parents can find what works best to keep their dog comfortable and safe.
“Halo Collar 4 allows pet parents to set rules, boundaries and limitations while creating a backyard everywhere they go,” said Halo co-founder Cesar Millan. “You can now provide trust, respect and love to your dog knowing they are safe wherever they go.”
Halo Collar retails for $599 and can now be found on halocollar.com, Amazon.com, Chewy.com and Walmart.com for purchase.
About Halo Collar The AI driven Halo Collar™ is the most advanced GPS dog fence ever created. Co-founded by Cesar Millan, this patented system utilizes technology & dog psychology to provide a wireless smart fence, smart training, real-time GPS tracker, and activity tracker combined into one easy-to-use smart collar. The Halo Collar™ utilizes proprietary GPS and GNSS location technology – keeping them safe and easy to locate should they ever wander too far. Halo protects over 200,000 dogs across the United States each day. For further information and to purchase, please visit: www.halocollar.com.
This is a new show based on a French tv show of the same name. The show stars Kaitlin Olson as Morgan a single mother of three children who has an IQ of 160 and she is considered a high potential intellectual which means, among other things, that she notices details other people miss.
Morgan worries a lot about problems and sometimes loses sleep until the problem is resolved. Morgan works as a janitor for the LAPD and one day Selena (Judy Reyes) notices that Morgan has a natural ability to solve crimes. Selena decides to hire Morgan to help the major crime unit. Selena pairs Morgan with Detective Karadec (Daniel Sunjata) who is skeptical of this experiment until Morgan helps him solve a case.
I enjoy these types of crime shows that aren’t too serious while they investigate crimes. They are fun for me to watch, although, other people may like more serious crime shows. I also like serious crime shows, but at times, I like humor mixed with crime solving.
If you enjoy shows like Monk, Castle and, Will Trent, you will like this show. It is well written and interesting to watch how Morgan’s mind works to solve a case.
I give this show a 4 out of 5 stars because the cast needs a few more episodes to find their rhythm. The show goes too fast and the viewers can miss important details in the episode.
The show airs on Tuesdays at 10 EST/9 CST on ABC. You can also stream the show on Hulu on Wednesdays.
I wanted to like this UK series (originally on ITV) because it has top notch acting and writing, and my late mom’s name was Joan!’ but I have a problem with any show like this, where the main character turns to crime. I guess I can’t ever imagine myself being so desperate as to become a criminal (even though I grew up very poor and was also in foster care). We can blame the success of shows like “Weeds” and “Breaking Bad” for these TV series… There are so many, like “Ozark,” “Claws,” and “The Good Girls.” I also don’t like shows like “The Punisher” or “Penguin” that glorify real villains. I’ve always loved the hero of the story; the good guy. It’s really hard for me to be objective about “Joan” because she makes a lot of poor decisions and endangers her life as well as the lives of her family (especially her daughter).
Perhaps if the show had started with Joan as a sophisticated, beautiful, rich jewel thief who fell in love with a handsome detective, and then we find out gradually what made her turn to crime, then I would like it more (See “The Thomas Crown Affair”). I think we’re supposed to find her sympathetic because she has a rotten husband, gangsters are threatening her and her child, and she has very little family or money. She’s desperate and turns to a life of crime. However, she also loves the excitement of being a thief, and she clearly enjoys beautiful, sparkly things (doesn’t everyone?). She’s obviously smart, so she should go to college and get a real career. Nope, sorry. No sympathy here.
Anyway, if you like these types of shows, this is a good one. Sophie Turner is excellent as a British woman, down on her luck, who becomes a jewel thief. It’s apparently based on a true story. You won’t be alone because the show is very successful. Check it out!
Sophie Turner (“Game of Thrones,” “X-Men: Dark Phoenix,” “The Staircase”) stars as notorious jewel thief Joan Hannington in this exhilarating yet emotional story set against the vibrant backdrop of the 1980s — an era known for its bold fashion trends, iconic music and cultural shifts.
The series opens with Joan, a fiery and uncompromising woman in her twenties who is deeply scarred and vulnerable. She is a devoted mother to her six-year-old daughter, Kelly, but is trapped in a disastrous marriage with a violent criminal named Gary. When Gary goes on the run, Joan seizes the opportunity to create a new life for herself and her daughter.
Joan becomes a masterful jewel thief. She embarks on a thrilling, high-stakes journey that challenges her every limit, driven by her desire to care for her daughter and create a secure home for them both. Through her sharp intelligence, charm and talent for impersonation and performance, we follow the twists and turns in Joan’s life, the ups and downs, the heartache and the joy that makes this story so compelling to follow.
Turner stars alongside Frank Dillane (“Fear the Walking Dead”) as Boisie, a London antiques dealer. Kirsty J. Curtis (“Match Not Found”) plays Nancy, Joan’s older sister and salon worker while Gershwyn Eustache Jr. (“I May Destroy You”) portrays Albie, an old acquaintance of Boisie who’s made a new life in Spain with his wife Val, played by Laura Aikman (“The Split”).
JOAN is written by acclaimed screenwriter Anna Symon (“The Essex Serpent”) and directed by BAFTA award-winner Richard Laxton (“Rain Dogs”). The series is from Snowed-In Productions and executive produced by Ruth Kenley-Letts (“Stonehouse”), Jenny Van Der Lande (“Too Close”), Neil Blair (“The Midwich Cuckoos”) and Richard Laxton.
JOAN has been commissioned for ITV1 and ITVX by Head of Drama Polly Hill. The series is produced in association with All3Media International and The CW Network.
EPISODES
Episode One
SeasonS.1
EpisodeEp.101
Airdate:
SERIES PREMIERE – SOPHIE TURNER STARS AS JEWEL THEIF JOAN HANNINGTON –Joan O’Connell (Sophie Turner) is a young mother trapped in a catastrophic relationship. When her husband brings danger to their door, Joan takes drastic action to keep her six-year-old daughter, Kelly (Mia Millichamp-Long), safe. Attempting to build a new life, Joan begins working in her sister’s salon, determined to get herself back on her feet, but can’t control her reckless streak. After getting a job at a jeweller, Joan finds herself needing to leave due to the unwanted advances of the manager, and finds herself impetuously stealing several diamonds first. High on the thrill, Joan celebrates in the pub where she meets Boise Hannington (Frank Dillane) who runs an antiques shop nearby and proves to be the consummate gentleman. He is also a professional thief. Joan needs money desperately and Boisie offers her a job instead. Joan agrees – could this be the beginning of a successful business relationship, or something more (#101)? The episode was written by Anna Symon and directed by Richard Laxton. The CW original airdate 10/2/2024.
Episode Two
SeasonS.1
EpisodeEp.102
Airdate:
THE GLAMOUROUS LIFE – Joan (Sophie Turner) falls for Boisie (Frank Dillane) who recognizes her innate talent. She enjoys the spoils of crime in glamorous Spain, but faces scrutiny over her role as a mother (#102). The episode was written by Anna Symon and directed by Richard Laxton. The CW original airdate 10/9/2024.
Episode Three
SeasonS.1
EpisodeEp.103
Airdate:
HIGHS AND LOWS – Joan (Sophie Turner) rises to new heights: the theft of a valuable painting and an audacious ring switch. Boisie (Frank Dillane) falls for Joan while Kelly (Mia Millichamp-Long) slips even further away (#103). The episode was written by Anna Symon and directed by Richard Laxton. The CW original airdate 10/16/2024.
“Trivial Pursuit” on The CW Review by Suzanne 10/7/24
If you love game shows (especially those like “Jeopardy”), you should enjoy this. Actor LeVar Burton (Best known for “Reading Rainbow,” “Roots” and “Star Trek: Next Generation”) is the host, as well as producer, of this new series. He competed on Celebrity Jeopardy! in Season 12, and served as interim host on Jeopardy! from July 26 to July 30, 2021. He wasn’t chosen as the permanent host of Jeopardy! , but I’m glad he was able to host this show. He does a great job of it. I think he was too nervous, to be honest, when he tried out for Jeopardy!
The show is much like the home game we’ve all played. Each player has to answer questions from the six categories of Geography (blue), Entertainment (pink), History (yellow), Arts & Literature (purple), Science & Nature (green), and Sports & Leisure (orange). When they answer the question correctly, they get points as well as a wedge in that category. They get points for getting a wedge, as well. After the first round, the player with the lowest score leaves. The two remaining players keep playing for the final round, and the total winning prize of $20,000.
To me, the prize seems very low, compared to shows like “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?” or “$100,000 Pyramid.” However, I checked, and “Jeopardy” winners also get $20,000, so I guess that’s right. Contestants on this show don’t lose points or money if they guess incorrectly. They just don’t get to answer the next question. I noticed that all of them answered very quickly, even interrupting Burton, so I didn’t see anyone get the buzzer that they get on other shows if they take too long to answer. Perhaps they were told to be quick about the answers. In the final round, they have a limited time to answer the questions.
I watched the first episode and enjoyed it. The first winner, Nicole Holliday, was very smart and enthusiastic. She’s a professor at UC Berkeley, so obviously she’s smart. The other two (both men) didn’t stand a chance. The second round’s winner, Sara Delvillano, was also a woman. She teaches music to children and also helps run an organization that helps dogs find homes. Interestingly enough, she also won on Jeopardy! in 2019.
The show is definitely worth watching if you love trivia. I find that I know a lot more of these answers than I ever did watching “Jeopardy!” I believe that makes the show more accessible to the average viewer. Watch it and find out for yourself.
The beloved trivia game TRIVIAL PURSUIT is reimagined in a question-packed entertainment format. Gameplay takes place on a giant version of the iconic Trivial Pursuit game board, as contestants battle it out over a range of play-along question categories to win wedges and beat each other to the center. The victor then takes on a dramatic finale against the clock to claim the big money jackpot.
Hosted by Emmy® Award-winning actor, director, producer and podcaster LeVar Burton, TRIVIAL PURSUIT is produced by Hasbro Entertainment, The CW, Lionsgate Alternative Television and Talpa Studios. David Garfinkle, Gabriel Marano, John De Mol, Matt Walton and Matt Pritchard serve as executive producers.
LeVar Burton
Host of “Trivial Pursuit”
LeVar Burton is the host of The CW’s upcoming game show series “Trivial Pursuit.”
Burton is an actor, director, producer and podcaster whose decades-long body of work includes “Roots,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Reading Rainbow.” He is the honored recipient of seven NAACP Awards, a Peabody, a Grammy and 15 Emmys, including a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Inaugural Children’s & Family Emmys.
As a lifelong literacy advocate, Burton has dedicated decades to encouraging children to read. In 2023, Burton premiered his first documentary, “The Right to Read,” a film that positions the literacy crisis in America as a civil rights issue. “The Right to Read” was an official selection at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and SXSW Edu.
Burton continues to exercise his passion for storytelling as the award-winning author of “Aftermath,” “The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm” and “A Kids Book About Imagination.” He launched his first book club with Fable, a digital book club community, and partnered with Masterclass, to share the power of storytelling.
His production company, LeVar Burton Entertainment (LBE), develops projects in the film, television, podcasting, and publishing space with the mission to share stories that fosters empathy, champions diversity and builds community.
Now in its 12th season, the enormously popular “LeVar Burton Reads” podcast has over 175 episodes in its catalog, boasting 25 million downloads. LBE’s most recent podcast, “Sound Detectives,” premiered at number 1 on the Kids & Family charts.
As a pop culture icon, Burton has the unique ability to reach across all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic groups – communicating to a large fan base that is highly engaged and motivated to embrace his message.
At first glance, this seems like a slightly-more-dramatic version of “The Love Boat,” from the doctor’s point of view. The series was created by Ryan Murphy, who usually comes up ideas that are either horrifying (“American Horror Story”) or at least, slightly-off-kilter (“Nip/Tuck”) or very original (“Glee”). However, even at second glance, this show really does seem to be a just a breezy medical drama set aboard a cruise ship. I find it a little bit disappointing, just from the fact that Murphy created it and that it stars Joshua Jackson, who’s been excellent in so many series, from “Dawson’s Creek” to “Doctor Death.”
Jackson plays a renowned doctor, Max, who is looking for a more relaxing, fun life aboard a cruise ship after battling COVID and other horrors (he reveals in the first episode that he was “Patient Zero” in NYC and nearly died). The legendary Don Johnson plays the ship’s captain, who runs a tight ship and expects excellence from his crew. (Who knew that Sonny Crockett would turn into Captain Stubing?) Max has two nurses that assist him, Avery (Phillipa Soo) and Tristan (Sean Teale). The ship, its crew, and the many medical maladies they encounter on board are not the easy life that Max expected.
Amid the health crises, there is plenty of time for romance, dancing, and drinking. Max and Avery have a slight tryst in the first episode. The second episode is about “Singles Week.” Apparently, each weekly cruise has a different theme, to make it slightly more interesting. I guess Ryan Murphy is trying to pay tribute to the shows he loved in his youth on ABC (the same network where “The Love Boat” aired). Although each episode has new guest stars, they’re not the center of all the action the way they were on the original “Love Boat” that ran from 1977-1986. The show’s four main stars are the focus of the show, along with the ship and the beautiful scenery. Guest stars include Chord Overstreet, Shania Twain, John Stamos, Cheyenne Jackson, Gina Gershon and Rachel Dratch.
From what I’ve read, ABC is trying to sell this as exciting and sexy. My advice is that you pour yourself a nice tropical drink and sit down to watch this one….but you may find that it’s not the drinking that makes you sleepy. I really hope it gets better. Otherwise, the talent on the series deserves better than this. FOX had a much better retro show with the “Fantasy Island” reboot that they canceled last year, sadly. I really enjoyed that one. ABC should have rescued that instead.
From the brilliant mind of Ryan Murphy comes high-octane procedural “Doctor Odyssey.” Max (Joshua Jackson) is the new on-board doctor for a luxury cruise ship where the staff works hard and plays harder. It’s all-hands-on-deck as Max and his small but mighty medical team navigate unique medical crises and each other, miles from shore.
“Doctor Odyssey” stars Joshua Jackson, Phillipa Soo, Sean Teale and Don Johnson. The series, produced by 20th Television in association with Ryan Murphy Television, is written and executive produced by Ryan Murphy, Jon Robin Baitz and Joe Baken. Joshua Jackson and Don Johnson serve as executive producers. Paris Barclay directs and executive produces. Eric Paquette, Alexis Martin Woodall, Eric Kovtun, Scott Robertson and Nissa Diederich also serve as executive producers.
EPISODES
04. Wellness Week
During a week dedicated to wellness, The Odyssey ironically finds itself overwhelmed by a surge of ailing patients. Meanwhile, Tristan’s new romance sparks jealousy, and Capt. Massey must bring the ship to safety in the midst of a hurricane.
Air Date: 10/17/2024
03. Plastic Surgery Week
Plastic Surgery Week on The Odyssey brings new faces and fresh features to be carefully maintained by the medical team. Meanwhile, when the owner’s wife comes on board, Capt. Massey must juggle charm and skillful dodging to sidestep her advances.
Air Date: 10/10/2024
02. Singles Week
It’s Singles Week on The Odyssey, and lust is in the air. As Max, Tristan and Avery navigate their relationship, the crew fends off advances from passengers. With rising desire and quickly spreading ailments, Max and the team rush to restore order.
Air Date: 10/03/2024
01. Pilot
Max Bankman is The Odyssey’s new onboard doctor, where the staff works hard and plays harder. It’s all-hands-on-deck as he gets acquainted with Capt. Massey and his medical team, Avery and Tristan, while treating crises miles from shore.
“Brilliant Minds” on NBC Review by Suzanne 10/6/24
I love seeing Zachary Quinto in any movie or TV show (ever since his great role as Sylar on “Heroes”). He shines here as the prickly neurologist Oliver Wolf, who has trouble getting along with others (particularly his mother). He has prosopagnosia, AKA face blindness, so that doesn’t help him with personal interaction. He works with a team of interns and his long-time good friend, Dr. Carol Pierce (Tamberla Perry, “Death and Other Details”). The show is unusual and interesting, but it might remind you a little of “House” or “The Good Doctor.” At this point, a doctor who thinks he’s more brilliant than everyone else is a familiar TV trope. The writing of the show, however, is excellent and will surprise you. The show was created, written and produced by Michael Grassi of “Riverdale.”
Like most medical dramas, the most intriguing part of the show is watching the doctors figure out what’s wrong with the patients or how to treat them. Wolf has very unusual ideas and likes to dive deep into his patient’s life in order to figure out their neurological problem.
At the beginning of the first episode, Dr. Wolf sneaks out a dementia patient (Broadway and TV vet Andre de Shields) from an elder care facility to see his grand-daughter get married. He and the old man go on stage, and the man sings and plays a Beach Boys song, “God Only Knows.” Wolf figured out that the way to reach the man was through music. The bride is overjoyed to see him there, but her parents are not too happy about Dr. Wolf’s actions. He loses his job and goes into seclusion, but Carol convinces him to come work at her hospital on an interesting case, despite the fact that he doesn’t want to work for his mother (the chief of staff, Dr. Landon, played by Donna Murphy – another Broadway, TV and movie vet).
After Dr. Wolf starts working at the hospital, he learns that he’s expected to mentor some interns, which he’s not too thrilled about. Carol makes him see that he needs to be honest about his condition and connect better with other people in order to get things done. Things may not go that smoothly for the brilliant doctor, though. He’s got many issues, having to do with his childhood. The only thing not an issue is that he’s gay. Another doctor on the show is played by Teddy Sears, Quinto’s former castmate in “American Horror Story,” so perhaps they’ll be teamed up in a romantic relationship. Watch and see! This show is already a hit and will keep you on your toes.
Series Premiere Monday, Sept 23 on NBC (10 – 11pm ET/PT)
Inspired by the extraordinary life and work of world-famous author and physician Oliver Sacks, “Brilliant Minds” follows a revolutionary, larger-than-life neurologist and his team of interns as they explore the last great frontier – the human mind – while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.
The cast includes Zachary Quinto, Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II, Teddy Sears, and Donna Murphy.
Michael Grassi serves as creator, writer and executive producer. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, Lee Toland Krieger, DeMane Davis, Melissa Aouate, Henrik Bastin, Jonathan Cavendish, Andy Serkis, and Shefali Malhoutra also executive produce.
Berlanti Productions, Fabel Entertainment, The Imaginarium, Grassi Productions and Tavala produce in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
I wasn’t sure whether I would like this show or not because I didn’t really care for the original series, starring Andy Griffith. It was just another show, similar to “Diagnosis: Murder” or “Murder She Wrote,” where an older person helps solve crimes in their every-day life. Of course, “Matlock” was more like “Perry Mason” in that he was a lawyer that would help find the real murderer (so that his client would go free). It’s basically the same idea, though.
This version of “Matlock” is not really a reboot at all. The main character is played by a woman (Kathy Bates), and she is not what she seems, which we find out at the end of the first episode. Bates is always fascinating to watch, and she really excels here because the writing is top-notch. She mentions the original show “Matlock” many times, so we know that this is not set in the original show’s “universe.” What they’ve done with it is very interesting, though, and anyone who stays through the end of the first episode will figure that out.
Besides the great lead actress, there is a wonderful cast of people, including Beau Bridges, Jason Ritter, Skye P. Marshall, David Del Rio and Leah Lewis. There are some fun guest stars each week as well. I can’t wait to see what else they do with this series. Do yourself a favor and tune in ASAP because this is already the best new show of the Fall season.
MATLOCK stars Emmy and Academy Award winner Kathy Bates as Madeline “Matty” Matlock, a brilliant septuagenarian who achieved success in her younger years and decides to rejoin the work force at a prestigious law firm where she uses her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases. Matty is assigned to Olympia (Skye P. Marshall), a senior attorney and key rainmaker with a thirst for justice, Olympia’s ex-husband, Julian (Jason Ritter), the son of the head of the firm, is intrigued by Matty and her clever skills. As Matty endeavors to establish herself in her new high-stakes world, she works alongside the firm’s younger associates – the charismatic Billy (David Del Rio) and the uber ambitious Sarah (Leah Lewis). MATLOCK is inspired by the classic television series of the same name.
Premieres Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.
Jennie Snyder Urman, Joanna Klein, Eric Christian Olsen, John Will, Kat Coiro and Kathy Bates
Honored numerous times for her work, Kathy Bates is an undeniable force on stage, screen and television. Bates won an Academy Award® and a Golden Globe® for her portrayal of obsessed fan Annie Wilkes in Rob Reiner’s 1990 hit “Misery,” based on Stephen King’s novel. In 1995, Bates appeared in the title role of King’s “Dolores Claiborne.”
Currently, she can be seen in the Lionsgate feature adaption of Judy Blume’s classic novel “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” alongside Rachel McAdams.
Additionally, Bates will also star in the Netflix rom-com “A Family Affair” with Nicole Kidman, Joey King, Liza Koshy and Zac Efron. The film will release on the platform later this year. She is set to star in the independent feature film “Thelma,” which recounts the real-life story of the mother of John Kennedy Toole, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Confederacy of Dunces. Bates will star alongside John Malkovich and Lewis Pullman in the film, which is penned by Black List screenwriter Andrew Farotte and will be directed by Ken Kwapis.
Upcoming, Bates will star in the highly anticipated, reimagined CBS series MATLOCK as a new incarnation of the Andy Griffith character from the original hit series. She also serves as an executive producer on the show. Additionally, Bates recently wrapped production on Castille Landon’s comedy “Summer Camp” opposite Diane Keaton and Alfre Woodard.
Bates recently received the National Board of Review Award as well as an Oscar® and Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal as Bobi Jewell in Clint Eastwood’s “Richard Jewell.” Starring alongside Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Olivia Wilde and Jon Hamm, the WB film is based on Marie Brenner’s 1997 Vanity Fair article “American Nightmare: The Ballad of Richard Jewell.”
In 1999, Bates received Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations and won a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award® and a Critics Choice Award for her performance in Mike Nichols’ “Primary Colors.” Bates earned her third Oscar nomination for her role in Alexander Payne’s “About Schmidt,” for which she won a National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress and garnered Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations.
Her film work has also been recognized with Golden Globe and BAFTA Award nominations for Jon Avnet’s film adaptation of Fanny Flagg’s “Fried Green Tomatoes,” and she also shared a SAG Award nomination with the ensemble cast of James Cameron’s blockbuster “Titanic,” as well as a nomination for the ensemble of Woody Allen’s biggest success, “Midnight in Paris.”
Bates received her star on the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame on Sept. 20, 2016.
Her additional film credits include: “The Blind Side” with Sandra Bullock; Stephen Frears’ period drama “Cheri,” in which she starred with Michelle Pfeiffer; Sam Mendes’ drama “Revolutionary Road,” which reunited her with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet; Adam Sandler’s “The Waterboy”; Robert Altman’s “Come Back to the Five & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean”; “Straight Time” with Dustin Hoffman; and Milos Forman’s “Taking Off.”
On television, Bates has received 14 Emmy® nominations, winning her first award in 2003 playing the ghost of Charlie Harper in Chuck Lorre’s TWO AND A HALF MEN. Bates won rave reviews and her second Emmy as the deliciously evil Madame LaLaurie in Ryan Murphy’s “American Horror Story: Coven” on FX. She received two more Emmy nods for her respective performances in “American Horror Story: Freak Show” and “American Horror Story: Hotel.”
For the 1996 HBO film “The Late Shift,” Bates won a Golden Globe and a SAG Award and earned an Emmy nomination. Her television honors also include Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations for her performance as Miss Hannigan in The Wonderful World of Disney musical “Annie.”
Bates has also been honored for her work behind the camera as a director. She helmed the A&E telefilm “Dash and Lily,” starring Sam Shepard and Judy Davis, which earned nine Emmy nominations, including one for Bates as Best Director. She also directed five episodes of the acclaimed HBO series “Six Feet Under,” earning a Directors Guild of America Award® nomination for the episode “Twilight.” Her directing credits also include episodes of “Oz,” “Homicide: Life on the Street” and PBS’ “Great Performances.”
Bates first gained the attention of critics and audiences on the New York stage starring as Joanne in Jack Heifner’s “Vanities” – one of the longest-running plays in Off-Broadway history. She was nominated for a Tony Award® for her portrayal of the suicidal daughter in the original Broadway production of Marsha Norman’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “‘night, Mother.” She has been honored with an Obie Award® for her performance as Frankie in the original Off-Broadway production of Terrence McNally’s “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune.” She portrayed Elsa Barlow in Athol Fugard’s “The Road to Mecca” alongside Fugard and Yvonne Bryceland.
For the past several years, Bates has served as the national spokesperson for the Lymphatic Education and Research Network (LE&RN). LE&RN is an internationally recognized non-profit organization founded in 1998 to fight lymphatic diseases and lymphedema through education, research and advocacy. With chapters throughout the world, LE&RN seeks to accelerate the prevention, treatment and cure of these diseases while bringing patients and medical professionals together to address the unmet needs surrounding lymphatic diseases, which include lymphedema and lipedema.
Interview with Arlen Scarpeta of “Found” on NBC by Suzanne 9/10/24
This was such an enjoyable interview with Arlen, who plays Zeke on “Found” and seems like a great guy. If you aren’t that familiar with the show, Zeke is the one that has agoraphobia (is afraid to leave his place). He has some great scenes at the beginning of this season. No spoilers here! I hope you enjoy our video. Don’t miss the season premiere October 3rd on NBC!
Arlen Escarpeta stars as Zeke on the NBC drama “Found.”
Escarpeta is best known for co-starring in the OWN series “David Makes Man,” from executive producers Oprah Winfrey and Michael B. Jordan. Previous TV credits include “Grimm,” “Extant,” “American Dreams,” “Boston Public,” “House,” “Law & Order: SVU” and the Lifetime film “Whitney.”
On the film side, Escarpeta earned critical acclaim for his breakout role in the IFC drama “American Gun,” making its premiere at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival and starring Forest Whitaker, Marcia Gay Harden and Donald Sutherland. Earlier film roles include Carl Franklin’s courtroom thriller “High Crimes,” opposite Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd.
He has also appeared in “High Crimes,” “Brotherhood,” “Friday the 13th,” “We Are Marshall,” “Final Destination 5” and “The Ten.”
Escarpeta moved to Los Angeles from his native country of Belize.
Found
Season 2 Premiering Oct 3 on NBC (10-11p.m. ET/PT)
In any given year, more than 600,000 people are reported missing in the U.S. More than half that number are people of color that the country seems to forget about. Public relations specialist Gabi Mosely (series star and producer Shanola Hampton), who was once herself one of those forgotten ones, and her crisis management team make sure there is always someone looking out for the missing. Gabi, however, has a chilling secret: In the midst of grief, she imprisoned her childhood kidnapper, Sir (Mark-Paul Gosselaar). Now Sir has escaped and is on the loose, and her biggest secret is now her biggest threat.
The cast includes Shanola Hampton, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Kelli Williams, Brett Dalton, Gabrielle Walsh, Arlen Escarpeta and Karan Oberoi.
In addition to Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Sonay Hoffman serves as executive producer, along with Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman and Lindsay Dunn.
The series is produced by Berlanti Productions and Rock My Soul Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
In any given year, more than 600,000 people are reported missing in the U.S. More than half that number are people of color that the country seems to forget about. Public relations specialist Gabi Mosely (series star and producer Shanola Hampton), who was once herself one of those forgotten ones, and her crisis management team make sure there is always someone looking out for the missing. Gabi, however, has a chilling secret: In the midst of grief, she imprisoned her childhood kidnapper, Sir (Mark-Paul Gosselaar). Now Sir has escaped and is on the loose, and her biggest secret is now her biggest threat.
The cast includes Shanola Hampton, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Kelli Williams, Brett Dalton, Gabrielle Walsh, Arlen Escarpeta and Karan Oberoi.
In addition to Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Sonay Hoffman serves as executive producer, along with Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman and Lindsay Dunn.
The series is produced by Berlanti Productions and Rock My Soul Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
Interview with Bárbara Mori and Fernando Rovzar of “Women in Blue” AKA “Las Azules” on Apple TV+ by Suzanne 9/18/24
This is such a wonderful series, and everyone should watch it. It takes places in 1970, when women were encouraged to join the police department in Mexico City, only to find that they’re being used for political reasons. The women then have to prove themselves in the search for a serial killer targeting young women. María, Valentina, Gabina and Ángeles are the focus of the show as we learn about each of them and how they work together. It’s intriguing both as a look back on how women were treated then, and as a riveting police drama. Mori starts as María, so I was delighted to speak with her and Rovzar. He created and wrote the show, as well as directed some of the episodes. I didn’t know (until María mentioned it in this interview) that the two of them are married. I was fascinated to learn more about the creation and filming of show after watching many of the episodes. I hope you enjoy our interview as well! Tomorrow is the series finale, so don’t miss it! It’s worth binge-watching. If you don’t like to read subtitles, and you don’t know Spanish, you can watch it in English (dubbed). They have all of those options for you on Apple TV+, which is great. I prefer dubbed, myself.
Apple TV+ shares first-look at “Women in Blue” (“Las Azules”), new Spanish-language crime drama from International Emmy Award winner Fernando Rovzar
Set to debut globally July 31, 2024 on Apple TV+, new series featuring Ariel Award nominee Bárbara Mori is inspired by the thrilling true stories of Mexico’s first female police force and stars Ximena Sariñana, Natalia Téllez and Amorita Rasgado
Apple TV+ today unveiled the premiere date and a first-look at “Women in Blue” (“Las Azules”), its upcoming ten episode Spanish-language crime drama featuring an entirely Hispanic cast and crew led by Ariel Award nominee Bárbara Mori (“Perdidos en La Noche,” “La Negociadora,” “La Mujer De Mi Hermano”). Created by International Emmy Award-winning showrunner and director Fernando Rovzar (“Monarca,” “Sr. Ávila”) and Pablo Aramendi (“Tijuana,” “Los Elegidos”), “Women in Blue” will make its global debut with the first two episodes on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 on Apple TV+, followed by one episode weekly through September 25.
Set in 1970 and inspired by true events, “Women in Blue” tells the story of four women who defy the ultra-conservative norms of the time and join Mexico’s first female police force, only to discover that their squad is a publicity stunt to distract the media from a brutal serial killer. As the body count grows, María (Mori), whose determination to catch the killer becomes an obsession, Gabina (Amorita Rasgado), whose father is a renowned cop, Ángeles (Ximena Sariñana), a brilliant fingerprint analyst, and Valentina (Natalia Téllez), a young rebel, set up a secret investigation to achieve what no male officer has been able to do and bring the serial killer to justice.
The series stars Mori, Sariñana, Téllez, Rasgado, Miguel Rodarte, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Christian Tappan, and Horacio García Rojas.
Rovzar, Emmy Award nominee Wendy Riss (“Yellowstone,” “Genius,” “The Killing”), Erica Sanchez Su (“Monarca,” “La Venganza de Las Juanas,” “Paramédicos”), Sandra Solares ( “Point Break,” “Y Tú Mamá También,” “Instructions Not Included”) and International Emmy Award winner Billy Rovzar (“Monarca,” “Control Z,” “Sr. Ávila”) serve as executive producers. The series is produced for Apple TV+ by Lemon Studios.
Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have earned 488 wins and 2,143 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
About Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $9.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.*
*Special offer is good for three months after the first activation of the eligible device. One offer per Family Sharing group. Plans automatically renew until canceled. Other restrictions and terms apply; visit apple.com/promo for more information.
Interview with Tim Rozon, Melanie Scrofano and Emily Andras of “Wyatt Earp: Vengeance” on Tubi by Suzanne 9/5 and 9/10/24
I just love chatting with these actors, which I’ve done several times now; it was great to also meet Emily (the creator/writer). They’re all extremely nice and fun. Emily has an amazing enthusiasm that I’ve rarely seen in anyone I’ve talked to, let alone a writer, producer or showrunner. Don’t miss Tim and Mel’s return to this delightful universe that Emily created. I hope this special is very successful, so that they can do another special, movie or TV series. You should be able to enjoy it even if you’ve never seen it before, I’m told. I apologize that the videos are on speaker mode and not gallery like usual… This was some glitch with the PR and not with me! I always prefer gallery mode. Enjoy!
Wynonna Earp – spicy, hard-living, demon-slaying anti-heroine and great-great-granddaughter of legendary lawman Wyatt Earp – must return, once again, to her hometown of Purgatory to battle her greatest foe yet: a psychotic villainess hellbent on revenge against Wynonna… and everyone she loves.
VENGEANCE features original cast members, Melanie Scrofano (Wynonna Earp), Tim Rozon (Doc Holliday), Dominique Provost-Chalkley (Waverly Earp) and Katherine Barrell (Nicole Haught).
WYNONNA EARP – VENGEANCE is produced by SEVEN24 Films in association withCineflix Studios, written, created and executive produced by Emily Andras and directed by Paolo Barzman. SEVEN24’s Jordy Randall and Tom Cox with Cineflix’s Peter Emerson and Brett Burlock serve as Executive Producers along with Todd Berger and Rick Jacobs. “Wynonna Earp” is based on the IDW Publishing graphic novel created and written by Beau Smith.
Follow all WYNONNA EARP: VENGEANCE news on social here:
Interview with Lea Thompson, Schuyler Fisk, Genevieve Angelson and Wendie Malick of “The Chicken Sisters” on Hallmark+ by Suzanne 8/19/24
These were two fun interviews! I was so glad to speak to the legendary actresses, Wendie and Lea, whose work I’ve enjoyed so much over the years. The other two young actresses also do a great job in the show. Everyone was very nice. Fun fact: Schuyler Fisk is the daughter of movie star Sissy Spacek! Anyway, the show is not only funny but heart-warming. However, it’s not sappy or saccharine. I enjoyed the episodes I’ve seen so far. Hallmark is starting their first streaming channel, Hallmark+, and this is one of their first original series on it. You can only watch this series on Hallmark+. It begins Tuesday, Sept. 10, and new episodes will premiere every Thursday beginning on September 12. I hope you enjoy the series as much I do! It’s worth adding another streaming service for this. You can always try it with the free trial and see if you like it.
Sisters Amanda and Mae are reunited when reality show KITCHEN CLASH comes to their town, and the competition between their two feuding restaurants heats up. Starring Schuyler Fisk, Genevieve Angelson, Lea Thompson and Wendie Malick.
The ChickenSisters is a new original series based on the NY Times Bestseller of the same name and Reese’s Book Club selection penned by KJ Dell’Antonia. Coming home to roost on Hallmark in September, the eight-episode series from Showrunner and Executive Producer Annie Mebane stars Schuyler Fisk (Sam & Kate, Orange County), Genevieve Angelson (The Handmaid’s Tale, Good Girls Revolt), Lea Thompson (Switched at Birth, Back to the Future) and Wendie Malick (Young Sheldon, Shrinking, Just Shoot Me!).
The ChickenSisters is a family drama dipped in southern charm and served up with a saucy side of romance. The setting is the fictional town of Merinac, where a generations-old rift between dueling fried chicken restaurants – Mimi’s and Frannie’s – has left the founders’ families fractured and the locals taking sides. When popular cooking competition show Kitchen Clash comes to town, this could be the recipe for ending this feud once and for all. But things are fixing to heat up both inside and outside of the kitchen as the reality show spotlight causes sparks to fly as secrets are spilled and feathers get ruffled.
The series will premiere in September on Hallmark’s recently announced streaming service and membership rewards program, Hallmark+.
THE CHICKEN SISTERS
Cast Bios
SCHUYLER FISK (Amanda Moore Hillier) – Schuyler Fisk’s long and respected acting career began at the age of 11 years old when she starred in (the now cult-favorite film) The Baby-sitter’s Club. Most recently, Fisk starred in the titular role of Kate in the well-received indie film (and Austin Film Festival audience award winner), Sam & Kate. Deadline film reviewer Pete Hammond said, “Fisk is just terrific here, and like her real-life mom seems incapable of a false note.” Other feature films of note include, include Orange County with Jack Black and Colin Hanks, I’m Reed Fish with Jay Baruchel, Gus Van Sant’s film Restless and The Best of Me.
With her vibrant voice and honest songwriting, Fisk also draws legions of fans to her music, both onstage and online, where she enjoys an active grassroots following as a top indie artist. After a decade of touring, songwriting and collaborating with other artists, she came onto the scene with a bang in 2009, when her first album The Good Stuff debuted on Billboard’s Heatseekers Chart and at #1 on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter Chart. She then went on to release a number of records and singles under her own moniker as well as a few with side-projects, including her duo FM Radio, with whom she performed as a musical guest on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Fisk’s latest album, WeCould Be Alright, produced by Colin Killalea, was released at the end of 2022. Fisk has performed and toured with artists including Sheryl Crow, Rachael Yamagata, Cary Brothers, Joshua Radin and Ben Taylor. She has numerous collaborations and a songwriter and a singer, including the immensely popular song “Paperweight,” written and performed with Joshua Radin for the film The Last Kiss. Fisk continues to contribute original songs to many other film and television projects, including, most recently, “Life After” in Sam & Kate.
GENEVIEVE ANGELSON (Mae Moore) – Actress Genevieve Angelson has built a strong reputation for starring in a diverse array of memorable roles across film, television and theater.
Angelson is most-well known for her starring role as Patti Robinson on Amazon’s critically-acclaimed series Good Girls Revolt. The series followed a group of women at a 1960s magazine who pushed back against gender boundaries.
This past year, Angelson has starred in a number of memorable roles, and can currently be seen as Alanis Wheeler on the fifth season of Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale. Additionally, she starred as Indigo on Apple TV+’s The Afterparty with Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barenholtz, as well as Dr. Mia Castries on NBC’s New Amsterdam and Sally on This is Us.
Other past television roles include Anna Paquin’s sister Ruth on Flack, Detective Nicole Gravely, opposite Rainn Wilson on Backstrom, House of Lies, Titans, The Good Wife and Blue Bloods.
In film, Angelson recently co-starred in the romantic comedy, Which Brings Me to You opposite Lucy Hale and Nat Wolff, for BCDF Pictures.
Angelson originated the role of Nina in the Broadway production of NinaVanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike on Broadway opposite Sigourney Weaver, which won the Tony Award for Best Play. She also starred in the Off-Broadway production of The Cake at the Manhattan Theater Club.
Angelson is a published writer and has been featured in outlets including Elle, Town & Country and
Refinery29.
Angelson is a Graduate of the Tisch School Graduate Acting Program.
LEA THOMPSON (Nancy Hillier) – Lea Thompson has had a remarkable career as an artist of many colors over the last four decades. She is probably best known for Back to the Future and Switched at Birth, but her career has encompassed acting, directing, singing, dancing in ballet, theatre, films and television.
Thompson started in ballet at the Minnesota Dance Theater and the Pennsylvania Ballet. She moved into acting an has amassed more that 50 feature films to her credit such as Red Dawn, Back to the Future, Some Kind of Wonderful, Howard the Duck, Little Rascals, Dennis the Menace, Beverly Hillbillies, All the Right Moves, J Edgar, Little Women and The Trouble with the Truth. In television series, highlights are starring in Caroline in the City, Jane Doe and Switched at Birth along with many guest star spots in series such as Friends, Tales from the Crypt and Scorpion. Now a veteran director now in television, Thompson has helmed Jane Doe, Switched at Birth, The Goldbergs, Star Girl, Star Trek: Picard, Resident Alien and Will Trent. She made her feature film directorial debut with The Year of Spectacular Men on which she collaborated with her daughters Madelyn and Zoey Deutch. Stage singing and acting credits include I love My Wife and as Sally Bowles in Cabaret on Broadway.
Lea often performs at events for the Alzheimer’s Association, Michael J Fox Foundation and breast cancer charities. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband of 35 years, Howard Deutch, and a menagerie of dogs, fish, horses and chickens.
WENDIE MALICK (Augusta “Gus” Moore) – Wendie Malick has graced screens with an illustrious film and television career for decades. She received four Cable Ace awards for her role in HBO’s groundbreaking comedy, Dream On and garnered a Golden Globe and two Emmy Nominations for her iconic role, Nina Van Horn, in Just Shoot Me! Malick also starred in Hot In Cleveland, for which she and her cast mates earned a People’s Choice Award, and a SAG nomination for Best Ensemble. Other series included Frasier, Big Day, Good Company, and Rush Hour, as well as recurring roles on The Ranch, American Housewife, This Is Us, Pitch, Darrow & Darrow and NYPD Blue.
Malick recently recurred on Physical, Young Sheldon, and opposite Harrison Ford on the Apple TV+ series, Shrinking and also appeared in the last season of Dear White People. She’s made guest appearances on Billions, Mom, Seinfeld, Grace and Frankie, CSI, L.A. Law, The X Files, and many
more. Animated television credits include “Jimmy Neutron,” SpongeBob SquarePants, Bojack Horseman (Annie nomination), Rugrats and the Peabody award winning show, The Owl House.
Big screen credits include: Endings, Beginnings, Adventureland, Fifty-Nothing, Jerome, Confessions of a Shopaholic, Waiting, Racing Stripes, The American President, Trojan Wars, Raising Genius, Mr. Mikes Mondo Video, A Little Sex, The Goods, Bugsy, The Emperor’s New Groove, Alvin and the Chipmunks: the Squeakquel, The Surrogate, Mack and Rita, About Fate, The Re-Education of Molly Singer, 7000 Miles and Mother of All Shows.
On stage, Malick’s work included BURLEIGH GRIMES, NORTH SHORE FISH (Off-Broadway), Big Night (Kirk Douglas Theater),The Engagement Party and The Underpants (Geffen), Don’t Blame Me, I Voted For Helen Gahagan Douglas (Wooly Mammoth), Santaland Diaries (Coast Playhouse), Love Letters (Laguna Playhouse), The Guys (Studio Arena), Blithe Spirit and What is The Cause of Thunder (Williamstown) and Closure (New Jersey Rep).
Malick is on the Board of the Environmental Media Association, and the Advisory Board of Return To Freedom, a wild horse sanctuary and advocacy group. Through their charitable gift fund, A Drop in the Bucket, she and her husband, Richard Erickson, support a medical center in Congo. They live on a ranch in the Santa Monica mountains, with two dogs, three horses and a miniature donkey.
Interview with Doug Jones and Elias Toufexis of “Star Trek: Discovery” on Paramount+ by Suzanne 8/15 and 8/21/24
I’m a lifelong Trekkie, so I’m always happy to speak with anyone from the franchise. I’ve spoken with Doug (who played Saru) before, but he’s just such a nice and fun guy to chat with, that I was happy to speak with him again about the release of the show’s final season, as well as the complete series, on DVD, Blu-Ray™ and Limited Edition Blu-Ray™ Steelbook. We had a great chat. Then, the following week, I spoke at length with Elias, who played the last season’s villain, L’ak (along with Moll). Both actors have been in many great scifi, fantasy and horror movies, TV shows and video games. They’re both amazing actors. Honestly, I could have spokne with them both for hours. I hope you enjoy our video interviews!
Win a free copy of “Star Trek Discovery: The Final Season” Blu-ray (Season 5) – we have 2 to give away… Email us with the subject line “Let’s Fly!” to enter! Ends 9/6/24.
STAR TREK: DISCOVERY™ THE FINAL SEASON ARRIVES AUGUST 27 ON DVD, BLU-RAY™ AND LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY™ STEELBOOK
With Nearly 2 Hours of Special Features, Including Featurettes, Audio Commentary, a Gag Reel, and More!
LOS ANGELES – June 10, 2024 – Captain Burnham and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery return when STAR TREK: DISCOVERY™ THE FINAL SEASON arrives with even more “incredible action sequences and truly breathtaking visuals” – Collider (Samantha Coley) August 27 on DVD, Blu-ray™ and Limited Edition Blu-ray™ Steelbook from Paramount Home Entertainment.
STAR TREK: DISCOVERY™ THE FINAL SEASON cast members include Sonequa Martin-Green (Captain Michael Burnham), Doug Jones (Saru), Anthony Rapp (Paul Stamets), Mary Wiseman (Sylvia Tilly), Wilson Cruz (Dr. Hugh Culber), David Ajala (Cleveland “Book” Booker), Blu del Barrio (Adira), and Callum Keith Rennie (Rayner). The final season also features recurring guest stars Elias Toufexis (L’ak) and Eve Harlow (Moll).
These 4-disc DVD and Blu-ray™ collections include every adventure-filled episode and nearly 2 hours of special features, including featurettes, audio commentary, a gag reel, and more!
STAR TREK: DISCOVERY™ THE FINAL SEASON is also available on Digital August 26*
STAR TREK: DISCOVERY™: THE COMPLETE SERIES will also be available on August 27 on Blu-ray and DVD, featuring all 65 episodes and over 15 hours of special features including a BONUS DISC that takes you on a never-before-seen journey through all five seasons with the cast and crew.
SYNOPSIS
STAR TREK: DISCOVERY™ follows the voyages of Starfleet on their missions to discover new worlds and new life forms. The fifth and final season will find Captain Burnham and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery uncovering a mystery that will send them on an epic adventure across the galaxy to find an ancient power whose very existence has been deliberately hidden for centuries. But there are others on the hunt as well… dangerous foes who are desperate to claim the prize for themselves and will stop at nothing to get it.
FINAL SEASON SPECIAL FEATURES
Audio Commentary (Exclusive to Home Entertainment)
Deleted Scene (Exclusive to Home Entertainment)
Being Michael Burnham (Exclusive to Home Entertainment)
Character Development (Exclusive to Home Entertainment)
Gag Reel (Exclusive to Home Entertainment)
Star Trek: Discovery™: The Voyage of Season 5
A Team Effort
Discovery‘s Creative Force
The series is produced by CBS Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment. Alex Kurtzman, Michelle Paradise, Heather Kadin, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Sonequa Martin-Green, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth serve as executive producers. Alex Kurtzman and Michelle Paradise serve as co-showrunners.
*Special features available at select digital retailers with the purchase of full season
About CBS Studios:
CBS Studios is one of the world’s leading suppliers of entertainment programming with development and production for broadcast, cable networks, streaming services, and other emerging platforms. The Studio’s expansive portfolio spans a diverse slate of commercially successful and critically acclaimed scripted programming, which includes genre-defining franchises such as NCIS and the ever-growing Star Trek universe, award-winning late night and daytime talk shows, as well as an extensive library of iconic intellectual property. The Studio also develops and produces local language and international content originating outside of the US for viewers around the world.
Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a unit of Paramount (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA), a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. The PHE division oversees PPC’s home entertainment and transactional digital distribution activities worldwide. The division is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment content on behalf of Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television Studios, Paramount Players, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and CBS and applicable licensing and servicing of certain DreamWorks Animation titles. PHE additionally manages global licensing of studio content and transactional distribution across worldwide digital distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices and emerging technologies.
Final Season Specifications:
Blu-ray™ Specifications:
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French (Parisian) 5.1 Surround Dolby Digital AC3, German 5.1 Surround Dolby Digital AC3, Italian 5.1 Surround Dolby Digital AC3, Japanese 5.1 Surround Dolby Digital AC3, Spanish (Castilian) 5.1 Surround Dolby Digital AC3
Subtitles: English SDH, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French (Parisian), German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Spanish (Castilian), Swedish
Blu-ray™ Steelbook:
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French (Parisian) 5.1 Surround Dolby Digital AC3, German 5.1 Surround Dolby Digital AC3, Italian 5.1 Surround Dolby Digital AC3, Japanese 5.1 Surround Dolby Digital AC3, Spanish (Castilian) 5.1 Surround Dolby Digital AC3
Subtitles: English SDH, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French (Parisian), German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Spanish (Castilian), Swedish
DVD Specifications:
Audio: English 5.1 Surround Dolby Digital AC3, French 5.1 Surround Dolby Digital AC3,
Subtitles:English SDH, French (Parisian)
U.S. Rating:
Not Rated
Canadian Rating:
PG – Violence, Mature Theme
Run Times:
9:36:40 (Final Season)
54:50:39 (Complete Series)
Doug Jones
October 2020
While famous for working under prosthetics in iconic feature film roles, Doug Jones is also a versatile character actor who has performed as himself in guest star roles on shows like “Arrow,” “The Flash,” “Teen Wolf,” “Z-Nation,” “The Neighbors,” “Criminal Minds,” “C.S.I.” and NBC’s horror anthology “Fear Itself.” A veteran of over 100 commercials, Doug was Mac Tonight, the moon-headed piano player in the long-running 1990s McDonald’s campaign. He also starred as the lead villain in “Hush,” an Emmy-winning episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” long considered a fan favorite. Doug was also a semi-regular guest judge on the hit SyFy Net reality series “Face Off.”
In 2005 he played the title role of Pan (as well as the nightmare character known as The Pale Man) in Guillermo del Toro’s Oscar-winning Spanish language fantasy/horror feature “Pan’s Labyrinth.” But it was his sensitive and elegant performance as Abe Sapien in del Toro’s 2004 box office hit “Hellboy” that brought Doug’s unique work to a wider audience. He went on to voice that same character for the Emmy-nominated Cartoon Network animations “Hellboy: Sword of Storms” and “Hellboy: Blood and Iron.” In 2007 Doug’s title role performance in “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” was hailed by fans and critics alike. 2008 saw Doug reprise his starring role (as well as two other characters) in “Hellboy II: The Golden Army,” once more under the direction of del Toro. He also starred in “Gainsbourg,” a stylized biopic of the famous French poet/singer/composer Serge Gainsbourg, in which he plays Gainsbourg’s dark alter ego. The film has won three Cesar Awards. Doug has also had prominent creature roles in “Crimson Peak,” “The Watch,” “The Bye Bye Man,” “Legion,” “Hocus Pocus” and many others.
Jones was a series regular on three seasons of TNT’s Spielberg-produced sci-fi series “Falling Skies” and recurred on Guillermo del Toro’s FX series “The Strain.” Upcoming, Jones will star opposite Sally Hawkins in del Toro’s “The Shape of Water.”
Elias Toufexis is a Canadian actor. He has played characters on television and in video games, mostly in science fiction and fantasy genres.
He has played dozens of major characters on television in shows like: Star Trek: Discovery, FBI, FBI Most Wanted, Shadowhunters, Criminal Minds, Bitten, Lost Girl, Alphas, Stargate: Atlantis and particularly memorable characters on: Supernatural and The Expanse.
He is one of the busiest Performance Capture actors in the world, with characters in video games, films, and television. Variety has called him “The Canadian Andy Serkis”
In the video-game world, he’s played leading characters in many multi-million dollar projects. The Assassin’s Creed Series, The Deus Ex Series, Gotham Knights, The Call Of Duty Series, The Fortnite Series, The Splinter Cell Series, The Far Cry Series, The Immortals Fenyx Rising series, and dozens more. He has a cult following around the world for his work in Performance Capture and Voice in Videogames.
Forbes Magazine called him a “voice-acting heavyweight”. In Animation, you can hear Elias is multiple animated series and films. Most recently in the Netflix Animated series Blood Of Zeus and in Adult Swim’s Blade Runner Black Lotus. You can also hear him as the voice of Yellow Pages, McDonald’s, Lexus Cars, Taco Bell, and many many more radio and TV voice-over commercials.
Interview with Tim Reid of “Miss Cleo: Her Rise and Fall” on Lifetime by Suzanne 8/6/24
This is my second one-on-one interview with actor/director/producer Tim Reid; he’s always so fun and interesting to speak with. He knows a lot about history, black history, and more, as well as the entertainment industry. He directs this movie, so it was great to get his perspective on it, and on Miss Cleo herself. If you remember her, or even if you just like to watch biopics, you should definitely watch it because it’s fascinating, and you’ll probably learn a lot.
LIFETIME WILL ALSO AIR THE DOC CALL ME MISS CLEO IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE MOVIE
LOS ANGELES, CA (July 15, 2024) – Lifetime expands the network’s summer movie slate with all-new biopic about beloved television personality and cult icon, Miss Cleo: Her Rise and Fall, premiering on Lifetime Saturday, August 10 at 8/7c, followed by the documentaryCall Me Miss Cleoat 10/9c. Starring Robin “The Lady of Rage” Allen (On Ten, Tha Dogg Pound & Snoop Dogg: Who da Hardest) along with Shane Johnson (Power) and Ian Bohen (Yellowstone) and directed by Tim Reid (Sister, Sister) the epic journey picks up in the late 90s’ when, single mom Youree Dell Harris finds herself desperate to take care of her family and takes a job at the Psychic Readers Network — only to become one of the networks most beloved personalities, Miss Cleo. But her challenges don’t end there and when the network faces allegations of fraud and deception, they turn their sights on Miss Cleo. For the first time ever, Miss Cleo’s side of the story will finally be told.
Known for her work during the late 1990’s and early 2000’s with the Psychic Readers Network, this professional telephone and television psychic Youree Dell Harris (Allen) was launched into the pop culture zeitgeist when the network’s infomercials took off, making her a cult icon as the TV persona Miss Cleo. Fondly remembered for donning a colorful turban in a candlelit room, Miss Cleo dutifully listened to callers detailing the most intimate details of their lives. Miss Cleo ultimately became the face of the Psychic Readers Network, earning the trust and loyalty for those that called her. Years later, Harris’ world was turned upside down with complaints that the Psychic Readers Network was fraudulent and spread false advertising. Facing angry fans, Harris was forced to defend her reputation to clear her name and escape financial devastation.
Miss Cleo: Her Rise and Fall also stars Daphne Maxwell Reid, Cocoa Brown, Dwayne Boyd, Towanda Braxton, Jaida Standberry, Marley Taylor, Amelia Young, Stevie Baggs Jr., and Leslie Black. Miss Cleo: Her Rise and Fall is produced by Hillionaire Productions for Lifetime and produced by Jami McCoy-Lankford and Samone Norsworthy, Anthony Standberry, Ahmed Hussain and Jami McCoy-Lankford serve as executive producers and William J. Cone serves as consulting producer. Tim Reid directs a screenplay by Camara Davis.
Call Me Miss Cleo the documentary chronicles the icons rise, fall, and reinvention of the ’90s TV psychic Miss Cleo. Known for her larger-than-life persona and memorable accent, Miss Cleo, born Youree Dell Harris, garnered a nationwide cult following on the Psychic Readers Network, a popular telephone hotline that later came under fire for its alleged deceptive practices. Featuring interviews with celebrities and those closest to the self-proclaimed voodoo priestess, the film explores the many layers behind a complicated and charismatic figure. Call Me Miss Cleo was produced by Gunpowder & Sky for HBO Max. Van Toffler, Floris Bauer, Barry Barclay, Anne Loder, Jennifer O’Connell, and Lizzie Fox serve as executive producers. The documentary is directed by Celia Aniskovich and Jennifer Brea.
Timothy Lee Reid Sr. is an American actor, comedian and film director best known for his roles in prime time American television programs, such as Venus Flytrap on WKRP in Cincinnati, Marcel “Downtown” Brown on Simon & Simon, Ray Campbell on Sister, Sister and William Barnett on That ’70s Show.
Interview with David Caspe, Matthew Libman and Daniel Libman of “Mr. Throwback” on Peacock by Suzanne 8/5/24
It was great fun to speak to a few of the writers and producers for this show. It’s a very funny series that you should watch! Even though it involves Steph Curry, who plays himself, it’s not really about basketball. Don’t miss it! We need a second season, for sure.
“Mr. Throwback” follows a down-on-his-luck memorabilia dealer who looks for redemption by reuniting with his sixth-grade teammate, NBA legend Stephen Curry.
SERIES DETAILS
Synopsis: A down-on-his-luck memorabilia dealer looks for redemption by reuniting with his sixth-grade teammate, NBA legend Steph Curry.
Writer / Executive Producer: David Caspe (Happy Endings, Black Monday)
Writers / Executive Producers: Matthew Libman and Daniel Libman (Happy Endings, Champaign ILL)
Executive Producer / Star: Stephen Curry
Executive Producer / Star: Adam Pally (Knuckles, Happy Endings)
Interview with Gloria Hampton of “Dance Moms: A New Era” on HULU by Suzanne 8/1/24
If you enjoyed episodes of the original “Dance Moms,” you should love this one as well. Gloria seems very nice, and the kids are great to watch. It was great to speak with her! Don’t miss the show, premiering now on HULU.
Glo has a long history in the dance world, and she currently leads the Bleu Junior Elites from Studio Bleu in Ashburn, Virginia. Over the course of her career, she has helped guide students to dance professionally on Broadway, in music videos, on tours and in movies.
Additionally, Glo has served as a national judge for Dance One.
PREMIERE DATE: August 7th, 2024
EPISODES: 10
SYNOPSIS: DanceMoms: A New Era is a reboot of the ever so popular DanceMoms. This time, with a new coach, new dancers and new mama drama. Introducing beloved dance coach, Glo Hampton, who wants to take her students and prestigious dance school Studio Bleu to the next level – competing nationally every week. But the road to glory won’t be an easy one. Coach Glo must juggle her tiny but mighty dancers, their scheming moms, and ensuing meltdowns, all while ruling with a tender but tough iron fist. Will Glo and her dance team persevere amidst the dramatics?
CREDITS: “DanceMoms: A New Era” is produced by the A+E Factual Studios™ group for Hulu and Lifetime. The project is helmed by original series Executive Producer Bryan Stinson, alongside Sharon Scott, Steve Ascher, Kristy Sabat, Allie Breslin and Natalie Feldman who serve as executive producers from A+E Factual Studios.™ Kimberly Chessler and Brie Miranda Bryant executive produce from Lifetime.
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