Primetime TV Review: “Secrets of Sulphur Springs”

TV Review!

"Secrets of Sulphur Springs on Disney channel

“Secrets of Sulphur Springs” on Disney Channel Review by Suzanne 1/17/21

This is a good show. It’s aimed at kids, but I’m enjoying it.  It’s well written. It has some good mysteries. A lot of today’s “adult” mystery or horror shows are really gross and gory. This is more like what we used to see on TV, such as “The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries,” or “Murder She Wrote.” For you younger people, it’s like “Veronica Mars,” but without the sex.

The Campbell family move back to Sulphur Springs, where dad Ben (Josh Braaten) grew up. He hasn’t been there in a long time, but he was compelled to quit his job and buy a supposedly-haunted hotel, The Fremont, to fix up and re-open.  Ben doesn’t think the place is haunted, but many of the people in town do. Much of the action centers on his son, Griffin (Preston Oliver), and his new friend from school, Harper (Kyliegh Curran) as they explore the house and try to solve the mystery of what happened to Savannah (Elle Graham), who disappeared 30 years earlier. They find a lot more than a ghost. Griffin also has a mom, and a young brother and sister who are bratty twins.

Although there’s a Sulphur Springs in Texas, the series is set in a fictional town in Louisiana. The Campbell family gets a lot of warnings from the townspeople about re-opening the hotel. They don’t want Ben back in town, nor to have the hotel reopen.  If you like mysteries of “family shows,” check it out.

MORE INFORMATION:

DISNEY CHANNEL GREENLIGHTS LIVE-ACTION MYSTERY SERIES ‘SULPHUR SPRINGS’

Disney Channel has ordered “Sulphur Springs,” a live-action, time travel mystery series from writer and executive producer Tracey Thomson (“The Young and the Restless”). Chuck Pratt (“STAR”) will serve as showrunner and executive producer. Jennifer Phang (Freeform’s “Cloak & Dagger”) directed the pilot episode. Production is set to begin in New Orleans in 2020.

“’Sulphur Springs’ is a truly genre-bending mystery that will help re-define the types of stories we tell on our network,” said Jonas Agin, vice president, Original Series, Disney Channel. “It’s a chilling, heartfelt, funny adventure that we can’t wait for our audience to tune into.”

The 11-episode series follows 12-year-old Griffin Campbell, whose family has just uprooted their lives to move to a new town and take ownership of an abandoned hotel in hopes of restoring it back to the lively vacation destination it once was. Not long after Griffin begins his first day at a new school, he learns that the hotel he’s just moved into is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a girl who disappeared decades ago. Along the way, Griffin befriends Harper, a bright-eyed, mystery-obsessed classmate. Together, they uncover a secret portal that allows them to travel back in time where they’ll uncover that the key to solving the mystery may lie within Griffin’s own family.

Starring are Preston Oliver (“Chicago Fire”) as Griffin, Kyliegh Curran (“Doctor Sleep”) as Harper, Elle Graham (“Swamp Thing”) as Savannah, Kelly Frye (“Criminal Minds”) as Sarah, Josh Braaten (“American Horror Story”) as Ben, Landon Gordon (Disney Channel’s “Coop & Cami Ask the World”) as Wyatt and Madeleine McGraw (“Outcast”) as Zoey.

“Sulphur Springs” is a production of Gwave Productions LLC. Chuck Pratt and Tracey Thomson’s deals were brokered by Paradigm. The deals were completed prior to the expiration of the WGA/ATA franchise agreement.
*COPYRIGHT ©2019 Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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"Secrets of Sulphur Springs on Disney channel

Primetime TV Review: “WandaVision”

TV Review!

Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda) and Paul Bettany (Vision) in "WandaVision" on Disney+

“Wanda/Vision” on Disney+ Review by Suzanne 1/16/21

This is a very weird show. The two stars of this series (Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany), and their characters, were in the Avengers’ movies as superheroes The Scarlet Witch and Vision. If you haven’t seen those films, you might not understand what’s going on. However, the rest of it is a mystery to all of us. They dropped the first two episodes today.  Clearly something strange is going on. Wanda and Vision are trapped as husband and wife in a 1950’s or 1960’s-style TV show. They know who they are, and they have their powers, but they don’t have much memory of what happened before this, or how they got there.  They did something similar in an episode of “Supernatural,” but I think this is going to turn out to be very different from that.

They do a great spoof of the old shows, like “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “The Honeymooners,” “I Love Lucy,” and Bewitched.  I can’t wait to see more. In the first episode, Vision and Wanda can’t remember why there’s a heart on their calendar for some special day. She thinks it must be some anniversary, so she gets ready for that, with the help of her nosy-next-door neighbor, Agnes (Kathryn Hahn). Meanwhile, at his work, Vision learns that today is the day that his boss and the boss’ wife are expected for dinner. He calls Wanda to warn her, but in a typical situation comedy misunderstanding, it doesn’t help.  They have a very funny dinner, but it turns weird. In the next episode, they get involved with neighborhood watch as well as doing a magic act to raise money “for the children” (this phrase is repeated by everyone in a monotone that reminds one of a cult).

Besides the sitcom stories, Wanda and Vision get glimpses that something is not right. Vision computes figures at his job, but no one can tell him what their company actually does. Vision’s boss chokes at dinner, and his wife doesn’t act normal as he’s choking. She just keeps saying, “stop that.”  Finally, Wanda tells Vision to save him (I guess neither of them know CPR), so he uses his powers to reach into the man’s throat and take out the food that he’s choking on.  The boss and his wife don’t act like anything unusual happened.  Wanda notices some strange things going on in the second episode when a voice seems to be asking her, through a radio, what happened to her. Also, in their black-and-white world, she sees a red toy helicopter out in their bushes.  Some other strange things happen as well. I don’t want to give too much away. The second episode ended with something pretty cool happening.

What makes this show great is the chemistry between Wanda and Vision, and their comic timing; the production’s attention to detail also makes it work.  Since they’re in a sitcom, it is funny – funnier than the actual shows were back then.  There’s always an edge to what they’re saying, though, because everything is just a little off.

What we’re dying to know is how they got there and where they are. Are they in Wanda’s head? Is Vision dead (since he died in the movies)? Has he come back to life, or did this happen in the past, before he died? Are the other people really people?  Of course, the big question is: who’s behind this?

I look forward to the rest of the episodes….there are only 9 this season. If you like superheroes, or good fantasy, you should definitely check this out.

MORE INFORMATION:

Marvel Studios presents “WandaVision,” a blend of classic television and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in which Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) – two super-powered beings living idealized suburban lives – begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems. The new series is directed by Matt Shakman; Jac Schaeffer is head writer.

Fact Sheet: Synopsis:Marvel Studios presents “WandaVision,” The new series debuts exclusively on Disney+ beginning January 15, 2021.Title:“WandaVision”Category:Original live-action series U.S. Premiere:January 15, 2021Cast:Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Kathryn Hahn, Teyonah Parris, Kat Dennings, Randall Park Directed by:Matt Shakman Head Writer:Jac SchaefferProduction Company:Marvel StudiosSocial Media:Twitter: @WandaVision, @DisneyPlusFacebook: @WandaVisionOfficial, @DisneyPlusInstagram: @MarvelStudios, @DisneyPlusHashtag:#WandaVision, #DisneyPlus

Production Info:

PRODUCTION BRIEF

 

Marvel Studios presents “WandaVision,” a blend of classic television and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in which Wanda Maximoff and Vision—two super-powered beings living idealized suburban lives—begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems. “‘WandaVision’ will be the very first Marvel Studios series on Disney+,” says Kevin Feige, president, Marvel Studios and chief creative officer, Marvel. “Wanda and Vision are two of our most powerful and complex heroes, and this series is a perfect expansion point for MCU storytelling.”

The series not only marks the first Marvel Studios’ Disney+ series, it is its first journey into the world of sitcoms—with an MCU twist. “It’s a mash-up of classic sitcoms and large-scale Marvel action,” says Matt Shakman, who directs all nine episodes. “I think it’s really lovely that the first streaming show from Marvel Studios—producer of huge blockbuster films—is really a love letter to the history of television.”

According to head writer Jac Schaeffer, “WandaVision” is funny, mysterious and action- packed. “It picks up shortly after ‘Avengers: Endgame,’” she says. “Marvel fans have never seen Wanda and Vision in this way before. Their storyline has been so romantic and tragic—fans have really latched onto it. But really, it’s been precious little screen time, and it’s all been very fraught. In this show, we get to see them in a domestic light, and it gets to breathe. It’s really beautiful.

“In the first episode we meet Wanda and Vision after they’ve just been married,” continues Schaeffer. “They’re driving into this new town with ‘just married’ on the back of their cute little car. It’s 1950s, black and white, they’re absolutely adorable. They’re madly in love, and there is not a hint of the Avengers or the larger MCU. We see them going about their day, making breakfast. She’s a witch, he’s synthezoid. She can dry dishes in the air. He can change density and walk through things.”

Says Shakman, “Wanda and Vision are just starting their married life together in this new town, and they’re meeting their neighbors. Vision’s starting to work at his new job while Wanda navigates life at home. They’re concerned about hiding their powers from their new friends and neighbors, and when they’re pushed for more information about where they came from, they’re stumped. That’s when we start to realize that things are not quite what they seem.”

With nine episodes, the series was created much like a motion picture would be—but more extensive, allowing first-of-its-kind exploration of the relationship between Wanda and Vision. Says co-executive producer Mary Livanos, “Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany have the opportunity to flex different muscles over the course of this series that usually an actor wouldn’t get to do within the scope of a single project.”

Olsen, who has portrayed Wanda since the character’s post-credits debut in Marvel Studios’ 2014 feature film “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” returns to her signature role—taking it in a curious new direction. “Paul and I get to discover at a much deeper level who these characters are,” she says. “Wanda and Vision have always had an unspoken and inherent connection since ‘Ultron.’ “The infinity stone is such a huge part of their intrinsic connection and understanding of one another. I think just like any great love story, there is a strong energy that attracts both of them to one another. In ‘WandaVision,’ we watch them experience a domesticated lifestyle for the first time, or as domesticated as possible for them. We watch them experience the joys and complications of parenting, while also overcoming secrecy and distrust, but always coming together in the end with the common bond, respect and unconditional love for one another.”

Bettany, whose voice made his debut in the MCU as J.A.R.V.I.S. in “Iron Man,” first appeared on screen as Vision in “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” The actor says he first heard about “WandaVision” during a visit to Marvel Studios. “I went in, and much to my surprise, they pitched this idea for a show that is an homage to American sitcoms,” he says. “It’s a beautiful little puzzle box that you begin to open. As mad and chaotic as the trailer looks, everything has a reason. There are layers upon layers.”

“WandaVision” stars Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff, Paul Bettany as Vision, Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau, who was introduced to audiences in “Captain Marvel,” and Kathryn Hahn as Agnes, the nosy neighbor. Randall Park will reprise his role as Jimmy Woo from “Ant-Man and The Wasp,” and Kat Dennings will reprise her role as Darcy from “Thor” and “Thor: The Dark World.”

The series is directed by Matt Shakman (“Game of Thrones,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) with Jac Schaeffer (“The Hustle,” “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure”) as head writer. Executive producers are Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Shakman and Schaeffer, and co-executive producers are Mary Livanos and Trevor Waterson. Jess Hall, ASC, is director of photography, Mark Worthington is production designer, Mayes C. Rubeo is costume designer and Tara DeMarco is VFX supervisor. Composer is Christophe Beck, and theme (for certain episodes) is by Kristen Anderson- Lopez and Robert Lopez. “WandaVision” debuts on Disney+ on Jan. 15, 2021.

SITCOM SAVVY

Filmmakers, Cast and Crew Go Back in Time to Capture Classic Sitcom Style

 

Marvel Studios’ foray into the world of the sitcom celebrates the genre in a big way. “The story imagines Wanda and Vision in a 1950s sitcom—when the show opens, that’s presented without explanation,” says head writer Jac Schaeffer, who also contributed to the story of Marvel Studios’ upcoming “Black Widow.” “We see them move thorough the various eras of sitcoms as the series progresses.”

Director Matt Shakman, Primetime Emmy¼ nominee for his work on “The Great,” came to the production with a unique background, having starred in shows like “Just the Ten of Us” and “Webster” as a child. “It was a unique challenge for me because I did spend my entire childhood as an actor around sitcoms,” he says. “I grew up on sitcom stages and backlots, and so this was a real trip down memory lane.”

The classic-sitcom approach offered exciting opportunities for humor and levity, but filmmakers were very serious about getting the genre right. Says Shakman, “It was really important to us from the get-go that we weren’t parodying sitcoms. We studied tone and style from era to era. We wanted to make sure the actors were really fluent in all of these different styles. So, we had a sitcom bootcamp with the cast before we began. We watched old episodes and we tried on different styles to figure out the physicality and the sound for each era.”

According to Elizabeth Olsen, there was a lot to learn. “Matt led us through a sitcom crash course,” she says. “We watched episodes from the specific shows we wanted to reference in each decade. And as I would any period piece, I worked on the vocal changes as well as the physical manners of the periods. There is also a really amazing arc in sitcoms throughout the decades that is a tug-o-war between earnestness and cynicism. I loved how Jac Schaeffer used these tonal shifts from decade to decade to directly affect Wanda’s emotional journey.”

Cast and crew studied classic sitcoms from the 1950s through the 2000s. “We wanted to make sure that what we were creating was absolutely faithful to the original touchstone shows,” says Shakman. “To that end, we watched lots of episodes, read books about the making of those shows, and interviewed, whenever possible, people who had actually worked on those shows.

“I went to lunch with the great Dick Van Dyke and Kevin Feige before we started production on ‘WandaVision,’” Shakman continues. “That was a lovely experience and a great way to hear how they approached production on his show, which was inspiration for our first episode.”

LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE

To achieve the desired authenticity, filmmakers decided to shoot the first episode in front of a live studio audience. The effort not only conjured genuine laughter, harkening back to classic sitcoms, it affected the performances. Says Shakman, “It’s amazing when you put actors in front of a live audience, how much that material jumps when the adrenaline, the excitement, the communication is happening between the actor and the audience. It elevates the material, and it becomes much more like a play. That was a huge part of what we captured in episode one—that spark, that kind of lightening in a bottle.”

Paul Bettany most definitely felt that spark. “You can’t help yourself when there are people there—you want them to hear it and laugh at it. It makes it all a little bigger. And that, I think, captured the style of the ’50s. It was a brilliant decision.

“I was really nervous,” Bettany continues. “We rehearsed it very thoroughly, and every member of the crew was dressed in [1950s] costumes. Everybody really got into the spirit of it. And then the audience came in, and we just went for it. We jumped into the abyss. I just loved it. I should’ve been on a sitcom all these years.”

TO BE CONTINUED


As the episodes progress, so do the sitcom eras, which required a fresh approach with each episode—including production design, costumes, cinematography and performances. “There aren’t many opportunities as an actor to explore as many genres and tones as we do in this series,” says Olsen. “It was as much of a challenge as it was a joy. This Marvel story could only ever be told through the medium of television and that’s what makes it such a special piece of the MCU.”

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD

MCU Veterans Wanda and Vision Join New Characters

In Marvel Studios’ “WandaVision,” two of the MCU’s most intriguing characters are joined by other favorites, plus new characters—some of whom will go on to appear in future features. Together with the filmmakers, the cast weaved together a mysterious and mesmerizing story. “They were all extraordinary, and they were all fabulous to work with,” says director Matt Shakman of the cast. “Lizzie and Paul are just absolute gems, and I can’t wait for people to see what they’re capable of. They changed tone and style sometimes three or four times a day—from these heartbreaking, dramatic scenes to these incredibly goofy, comedic scenes—and they pulled off everything so brilliantly.

They took huge risks, and they never shied away from a challenge. They set the tone for everybody.”

“They’re both such funny actors,” adds head writer Jac Schaeffer. “The physical comedy is really great, and they’ve been studying the classic shows with the nuanced performance styles. They’ve had to be like Swiss Army knife performers.”

WHO’S WHO IN “WANDAVISION”

WANDA MAXIMOFF and Vision say goodbye to city strife, and settle into a quiet suburban life in their new hometown of Westview. Try as Wanda may to fit in and conceal her powers from neighbors, merry domestic mishaps call this magical maven to action! With a magical wiggle of her fingers, is there anything she can’t do, or conflict she can’t resolve?

According to director Matt Shakman, in terms of the MCU timeline, Wanda has just helped to defeat Thanos. “The world just keeps putting up obstacles for her, and she has all of this untapped power that she doesn’t fully understand,” says Shakman. “Her journey for this show is to come into her own. She’s an incredibly powerful figure who’s been manipulated and used over the years. This is her opportunity to rediscover herself, and at the same time, it’s a brilliant love story.”

Elizabeth Olsen steps into the character’s shoes once again, bringing with her six years of experience. “I think more than anything, this show created an opportunity to expand upon what makes Wanda Wanda,” says Olsen. “She is a deep-feeling person, yet in this show she tries to push that part of herself aside. So, it was more of a journey of allowing Wanda to break through the sitcom facade and accept the woman she is and the life she has led.”

Head writer Jac Schaeffer says Wanda has a simple desire. “What she wants more than anything is to live happily with her husband in this community and to make friends and to be a part of the community.”

VISION lives happily alongside his wife Wanda Maximoff in the quiet suburb of Westview. Like Wanda, Vision endeavors to keep his powers under wraps, but the superpowered synthezoid has been known to slip. Though this domestic version of Vision is unlike any seen before, he remains as keenly aware of his unique existence as ever.

Paul Bettany once again portrays Vision, who seems to have traded in his super responsibilities for a decidedly human gig. “He finds himself fully formed and in the 1950s,” says Bettany. “His daily life is a nine-to-five, briefcase-hat-and-suit job.”

Shakman says Vision is one of the MCU’s most compelling characters. “Vision is this AI who is half human and half robot,” says Shakman. “And yet, he’s more human than any of us.”

Bettany agrees. “Even from his days as J.A.R.V.I.S., he’s always been becoming,” Bettany says. “Vision was born this omnipotent, naïve android, which is a weird combination, and he has always been growing and becoming—trying to understand what makes humans human, trying to understand love. This definitely feels like a culmination of that journey—an ending in some ways, and frankly, a new beginning.”

MONICA RAMBEAU, the daughter of Carol Danver’s best friend Maria, has always been like a niece to Carol who liked to call her “Lieutenant Trouble.” At age 11, Monica helped Carol choose the colors for the suit she’d ultimately wear as Captain Marvel.

Today, Monica is all grown up, destined for her own adventures, obstacles, setbacks and discoveries.

Teyonah Parris portrays Monica. “I am a huge Marvel fan,” she says. “I first connected with Marvel after seeing ‘Iron Man’ for the first time. My current favorite title is ‘Captain Marvel’—my character’s origin! That film was great fun and amplified girl power.”

Parris, who will appear as Monica Rambeau in the upcoming feature “Captain Marvel 2,” adds that filming the complex series has been a great introduction to the MCU. “There are a lot of moving parts to this production,” she says. “It feels like we are making something epic—and there are moments that are a nod to the amazing, iconic television shows from our past. The energy on set has been incredible—from the cast to the crew. It’s clear that we are making something special.”

AGNES is the brassy, nosy neighbor of Wanda and Vision. She’s well-versed in all things suburban, happily giving Wanda a leg up in navigating the social pressures of Westview. A beloved extended member of the family, Agnes is never far away.

“Every sitcom needs a nosy neighbor character,” says Schaeffer. “Agnes is fabulous and brassy and hilarious. She invites herself over and wants to know everything about Wanda. Of course, Wanda doesn’t have the answers to any of the questions, but she’s very charming in deflecting them. It’s all in good fun and Wanda is relieved and excited to have a friend and an ally in this new town.”

Kathryn Hahn expertly fills Agnes’ shoes, embracing the sitcom approach, the MCU and everything else. “It could not be more fun and delicious,” she says. “The fact that I get to do all of this – with these actors, with Matt [Shakman], and play with all of these different characters – it’s a crazy dream that this is my way into this world. It’s bananas. And now with my kids, maybe I will have a little bit of cred! Not much yet, because I’m still a big old nerd to them, but maybe I will be a little bit cooler in their eyes after this comes out.”

“Kathryn Hahn can do anything,” says Shakman. “She is a brilliant comedian and a phenomenal dramatic actor. Having her skillset there to go along with Paul, Lizzie and Teyonah Parris—they are an exceptional ensemble.”

DARCY LEWIS and JIMMY WOO are an integral part of the complicated and mysterious story of “WandaVision.” According to Shakman, Darcy has come a long way since she was last seen in “Thor: The Dark World.” “She’s gone on to become Dr. Darcy Lewis now,” he says. “So, she’s a real expert in her field.”

Joining Darcy in her latest quest is Jimmy Woo, who’s the same diligent agent seen in “Ant-Man and The Wasp.” “They have a mystery to solve,” says Schaeffer. “They have so many questions and no answers.”

Kat Dennings and Randall Park reprise their roles as Darcy Lewis and Jimmy Woo, respectively.

GETTING THE RIGHT LOOK

Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design and Visual Effects Work Together to Achieve Authenticity from Era to Era

 

“WandaVision” not only channels classic sitcoms, it aspired to capture specific eras throughout the series—which meant a fresh approach to each episode when it came to cinematography, production design, costume design and visual effects.

CINEMATOGRAPHY

“The approach in essence was to study and absorb the references of each period, to distill their technical and aesthetic choices and then to selectively apply and to filter these within our own stylistic sensibility,” says director of photography Jess Hall, ASC. “The objective is to create images that were in a sense truly post-modern, not simply an homage to the past. This is what the complex narrative of ‘WandaVision’ demanded.”

Hall utilized 47 different lenses to create seven different periods—many custom modified to render specific period characteristics. “For the 1950s, I tested lenses of the actual period and then modified modern lenses to selectively render the characteristics that I liked—it was never a case of simply copying what had been done before.”

In terms of lighting, Hall utilized a carefully crafted lighting style, as well as lighting instruments that were period appropriate. “This meant delving deep into the archives of several studio equipment houses to source equipment that has become almost obsolete,” he says. “The 1950-1970s episodes are shot almost entirely with period tungsten lighting. LED lighting doesn’t make an appearance until the later episodes that are situated in the 2000s, which is in the correct time line for when this equipment entered the filmmaking vocabulary.”

Hall also studied and incorporated specific composition and camera movement to convey the various periods, adopting specific camera approaches to episodes, depending on what the period’s sitcoms tended to utilize. “However,” he says, “I like to think that ‘WandaVision’ has a unique quality and that in a certain sense its look is original, a visual synthesis that has transcended the cut and mix.”

PRODUCTION DESIGN

“What’s really interesting was the fact that we’re not just dealing with the different eras—it’s a sitcom,” says production designer Mark Worthington. “So, what does that mean? The visual language and vocabulary of a sitcom are actually really specific and it changes radically between decades. ‘I Love Lucy’ had really simple little apartments that looked like theater sets. When you get to ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show,’ you’re starting to get really interesting period references and a little fun, modern design comes into it. ‘The Brady Bunch’ has ’70s wild beautiful colors.”

According to Worthington, the idea of setting the story within traditionally lighthearted sitcoms adds to the mystery. “What interested me about this story was that dichotomy, because these sitcoms are not just these fluffy things,” he says. “They imply a much darker idea. It’s really beautiful.”

Worthington also had to consider the series’ evolution from black-and-white to color.

“Half of film history is in black and white,” he says. “So, reentering this space has been interesting because we’ve discovered some stuff about how colors work in a black-and- white space.”

COSTUME DESIGN

Costume designer Mayes C. Rubeo ensured the cast wardrobe enhanced the authenticity of each episode. “It is rare to find a story that arcs through so many decades, without the characters aging,” she says. “Jac [Schaeffer]’s concept of the story, and the brilliant way that Matt directed each episode made the work so exciting.”

Rubeo says she has favorite costumes from every episode. “The suit Vision wears and the wedding dress we made for Wanda for the opening titles were my favorite creations from that episode,” she says. “They were both made from scratch, and Paul loved the suit and tie so much he was sad it couldn’t be used for the whole episode. Wanda’s dress was a beautiful homage to Audrey Hepburn.”

As the series segued from black and white to color, Rubeo collaborated with the director of photography and production designer to ensure they achieved the perfect overall look. She describes the first three episodes as “particularly stunning,” including a psychedelic 1970s print dress for Wanda in the third episode.

“I think part of the wonder of this show is the strong and fast change between eras and broadcasting styles,” says Rubeo. “The sets, hair, make-up and costumes, as well as the photography, set the scene beautifully.”

VISUAL EFFECTS

According to VFX supervisor Tara DeMarco, filmmakers studied practical effects and early days visual effects of television and film from each era. For the first three episodes, says DeMarco, “we used puppeteered props, practical film cuts and rewind effects.”

While filmmakers leaned into the effects used during the era that inspired the episodes—technology that improved incrementally with each era—they enhanced the look using today’s tools. “We used contemporary technology to help remove the wires and smooth the cuts,” says DeMarco, “but many of the effects were shot in-camera. We occasionally used CG to bolster the storytelling in a beat where we were missing a wire gag. For example, Wanda’s kitchen in the first episode is a blend of practical puppeteered floating objects and CG ones created later to fill out the scene.”

“WANDAVISION” SITCOM STYLE TO INCLUDE ORIGINAL THEME SONGS

Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez Behind Original Theme Songs with Original Score by Christophe Beck

“WandaVision” filmmakers’ research and detailed examinations of sitcoms throughout television history yielded a common thread: theme songs. The nature and style of the songs changed over the years—creating almost a calling card for each era. This signature enhanced the authenticity sought for “WandaVision” and its roots in classic sitcoms. Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez created unique theme songs for episodes spanning from the 1950s to the early 2000s, while Christophe Beck composed the score for the series.

ORIGINAL SONGS

“‘WandaVision’ is such a cool, strange, one-of-a-kind project,” says Lopez. “When the director, Matt Shakman—an old friend from my college days—pitched it to us, we didn’t have to think about it. We loved the bright feeling of American sitcoms mixed with the deep sense of unease the story had, and it was a really inviting challenge to help set that tone. We also really related as a couple to the feeling of chaos Wanda and Vision go through—trying to maintain a loving, happy family through an unyielding and constantly growing onslaught of problems.”

Adds Anderson-Lopez, “I grew up in the ’80s watching shows from every decade on the networks all day long. Episodes from ‘I Love Lucy,’ ‘Brady Bunch’ and ‘Family Ties’ shaped who I am and how I move through the world.”

Indeed, both consider themselves “total TV addicts as kids,” so they had already done much of the research in terms of creating identifiable themes for each era represented. The next step in their process was to find a way to tie the themes together. Says Lopez, “One thing we decided to do before writing anything was find a motif that would unify all the songs, since there were so many different styles and tunes. We found a four-note theme that would be kind of like the ‘WandaVision’ call-out, easily identifiable in some way in each song, that had to work with every style. Once we had that, everything flowed. It was honestly some of the most fun we’ve ever had.”

For the first episode, says Anderson-Lopez, they wanted to evoke the dawn of television. “We wanted to have an optimistic group of voices singing jazzily—though not too jazzily—about the love between these two, and the main question of the first episode, whether two Avengers in love can pass for normal in a typical American suburb,” she says. “It was a great chance to use words like ‘gal’ and ‘hubby’ that we just don’t throw into modern songs anymore. We knew there would be a moment where Vision, carrying Wanda across the threshold, forgot to open the door and just phased through the wall, unexpectedly dropping her, so we put a big musical pratfall in the middle of the piece. It was fun to see how the team executed it.”

ORIGINAL SCORE

Christophe Beck was called on to compose unique scores for all nine episodes. “For each era, the music is a loving homage to the sitcom scores typical of the time period,” says Beck. “This involved not only the instrumentation, but also the composition style. My team and I had enormous fun exploring these styles!

“It was also exciting to find ways to connect the scores together even as they span the stylistic variety across all the episodes,” continues Beck. “Wanda and Vision have a love theme that I was able to weave in and out within the context of all the different sitcom styles, for example.”

According to Beck, the score features instruments that were typical of the era being represented in a given episode. Early episodes feature small orchestral ensembles, while later episodes embrace a rock-pop style. Beck also utilized period-specific recording and mixing techniques to achieve the authenticity filmmakers wanted.

Beck adds that the length of the cues changed with the eras. “As the series progresses through the decades, the music becomes more pervasive.”

ABOUT THE TALENT

 

ELIZABETH OLSEN (Wanda Maximoff) is a vivacious and engaging young actress, a graduate from New York University’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts, and a recipient of Hollywood Rising Star Award at the 41st Annual Deauville Film Festival in 2015.

Olsen starred in and executive produced the dark-comedy series “Sorry For Your Loss” on Facebook Watch. She starred as a young widow who’s dealing with the grief of losing her husband while reconnecting with relationships of her past. Olsen’s performance earned her a Critics Choice Award nomination for best actress in a drama series. The series wrapped its second and final season on Oct. 1, 2019.

Olsen reprises her role as Wanda Maximoff in Marvel Studios’ “WandaVision,” starring alongside Paul Bettany, who reprises his role as Vision. The series debuts Jan. 15, 2021, on Disney+. Olsen returns as Wanda in “Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness,” which opens in theaters March 25, 2022.

Olsen resurrected her character Wanda Maximoff in Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Endgame” alongside Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Paul

Bettany, Brie Larson and Anthony Mackie. The globally anticipated continuation opened in theaters on April 26, 2019, and has grossed almost $3 billion. To date, the film has earned nearly $3 billion in the worldwide box office. Olsen originally appeared as Wanda in 2015’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and subsequently appeared in “Captain

America: Civil War” in 2016.

In 2018, Olsen starred in “Kodachome” opposite Ed Harris and Jason Sudeikis. The film is set during the final days of the still-photo development system known as Kodachrome. The ticking clock to get the rolls of film developed is the backdrop for a father-and-son bonding trip as they try to reach the Kansas photo lab before it closes its doors for good. “Kodachome,” which was acquired by Netflix during the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival, was released on the streaming platform in April 2018.

In 2017, Olsen starred in “Wind River” opposite her Avengers co-star, Jeremy Renner. The film, written and directed by Taylor Sheridan, centers on a murder on the Wind River Indian Reservation. That same year, Olsen starred in the dark comedy “Ingrid Goes West,” alongside Aubrey Plaza, Wyatt Russell and O’Shea Jackson Jr. The Matt Spicer-directed film follows Ingrid Thorburn (Plaza) who becomes obsessed with Taylor Sloane (Olsen), a social media influencer with a seemingly perfect life in Los Angeles. “Ingrid Goes West” was nominated for a 2018 Film Independent Spirit Award for best first screenplay and best first feature.

In 2016, Olsen appeared in the Hank Williams biopic titled “I Saw the Light” as Audrey Mae Williams, opposite Tom Hiddleston. The Sony Pictures Classics film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 11, 2015, opening in theaters in March 2016. In 2014, Olsen appeared in the Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures reboot of “Godzilla,” opposite Aaron-Taylor Johnson and Bryan Cranston.

In 2013, Olsen starred in the Spike Lee-directed film “Oldboy” with Samuel L. Jackson and Josh Brolin. The film centers around an everyday man that has only five days and limited resources to discover why he was imprisoned in a nondescript room for 15 years without any explanation. Olsen also appeared in the film “In Secret,” opposite Jessica Lange and Oscar Issacs, which opened in Feb. 2013. That same year, Olsen helped kick off the Classic Stage Company’s Fall 2013-2014 season as the lead role, Juliet, in the Off Broadway play “Romeo and Juliet.” Olsen also starred in “Very Good Girls,” opposite Dakota Fanning, which premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. The Naomi Foner-directed film is about two New York City girls that make a pact to lose their virginity during their first summer out of high school. Olsen had two previous films premiere at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival: “Liberal Arts” with Josh Radnor, John Magaro, Zac Efron and Richard Jenkins, and “Red Lights” opposite Robert DeNiro, Cillian Murphy and Sigourney Weaver.

In spring of 2012 Olsen starred in the independent film “Silent House” from Open Road Films. The film is the re-imagining of the successful Uruguayan psychological horror- thriller “La Casa Muda.” In 2011 Olsen received a Gotham Award, Critics Choice and Independent Spirit Award nomination for lead actress for her performance in Fox

Searchlight’s “Martha Marcy May Marlene.” The film is a drama that follows a young woman who is living with her older sister after escaping a cult. Olsen stars opposite Hugh Dancy, John Hawkes, Sarah Paulson and Brady Corbet. “Martha Marcy May Marlene” was also selected in the Un Certain Regard as part of the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. She has been nominated for her performance from the following critic associations: St. Louis, Las Vegas, Houston, FIND Spirit, San Diego, IPA and Detroit. She won best actress from the Indiana Critics Association.

Olsen understudied both on the Off Broadway play “Dust” and the Broadway play “Impressionism” while attending New York University. Other workshops include “Bottom of the World” by Lucy Thurber (Atlantic Theatre Company), and “The Living Newspaper” (DRD Theatricals). Olsen has had formal training at Atlantic Acting School and Moscow Art Theatre School.

Olsen serves as a board member of The Latitude Project, which builds solutions to help alleviate the stresses of poverty in ways that engage and empower people from roofs to clean water and healthcare to education. On June 9, 2018, the Environmental Media Association (EMA) honored Olsen with the EMA Futures Award for her work with The Latitude Project. Since 1989, the Environmental Media Association (EMA) has been using its voice to effect change and honoring excelling and role modeling in entertainment, media, technology and business. The organization works to educate the public about water issues, energy solutions, animal protection and conscious consumption for lifestyle choices. The EMA Futures Award is given to young and emerging advocates for the environment. Olsen also is a dedicated volunteer at the Stuart House: Rape Treatment Center, which provides expert comprehensive services for victims of rape, sexual assault, and child sexual abuse, including specialized medical care, forensic services, crisis counseling and longer-term psychotherapy, advocacy, and other forms of support. The center also provides prevention education programs, professional training for law enforcement personnel, medical personnel and school personnel, and advocacy for needed policy rape, sexual assault and child sexual abuse, including specialized medical care, forensic services, crisis counseling and longer-term psychotherapy, advocacy and other forms of support.

PAUL BETTANY (Vision) reprises his role as Vision in the Disney+ series “WandaVision,” debuting on January 15, 2021. Previously, he starred as Vision in the films “Captain America: Civil War,” “The Avengers: Age of Ultron” and “Avengers: Infinity War.”

He was most recently seen in the film “Uncle Frank” for writer/director Alan Ball which premiered at Sundance and sold to Amazon Studios. It was released on Amazon Prime on Nov. 25, 2020.

Bettany was classically trained at the Drama Centre in London. He made his stage debut in a West End production of “An Inspector Calls” under the direction of Stephen Daldry.

Bettany was nominated for a British Independent Film Award and a London Film Critic’s Award for best newcomer in IFC’s “Gangster No. 1,” directed by Paul McGuigan. He went on to star in Brian Helgeland’s film “A Knight’s Tale” opposite Heath Ledger.

Bettany also starred in the Academy Award¼-winning film “A Beautiful Mind,” and Fox’s “Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World” for director Peter Weir for which he won an Evening Standard Award for best British actor, the London Film Critic’s Award for best supporting actor and Elle Style Award for best actor. His nominations also include a BAFTA for best supporting actor and a Broadcast Film Critics Association nomination for best supporting actor.

Other credits include the Academy Award-nominated film “Margin Call,” the British films “Journey’s End” and “Blood,” the action films “The DaVinci Code,” “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” “Legion and Priest,” and the avant-garde film “Dogville.”

In television, Bettany starred as Ted Kaczynski in “Manhunt: Unabomber” where critics and audiences heralded his performance.

He made his directorial debut with the film “Shelter” starring Jennifer Connelly.

TEYONAH PARRIS (Monica Rambeau) has established herself as a versatile actress who continues to capture attention on stage and screen. She will star opposite John Boyega and Jamie Foxx in the Netflix sci-fi feature film “They Cloned Tyrone.” The film, which will mark the directorial debut of “Creed 2” scribe Juel Taylor, follows a series of events that thrusts an unlikely trio (Boyega, Foxx, Parris) onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy.

On January 15, 2021, global audiences will see Parris join the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the iconic character Monica Rambeau in the highly anticipated Disney+ original series “WandaVision” opposite Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany.  Next August, Parris will star opposite Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in the contemporary take on the cult horror classic “Candyman.” The film, directed by Nia DaCosta and written by Oscar¼ winner Jordan Peele, is scheduled to be released in theaters by Universal Pictures on August 27, 2021.

Parris was recently seen in the HBO Max film “Charm City Kings” alongside Meek Mill, which had its world premiere at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and won the Special Jury Prize for ensemble acting. Based on the documentary “12 O’Clock Boys,” the film adaptation was originally written by Barry Jenkins, with rewrites from Sherman Payne.

Parris gave a memorable performance in Annapurna’s “If Beale Street Could Talk,” directed by Academy Award¼-winner Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight”). The film, adapted from the successful James Baldwin novel, explored the life and challenges faced by a young couple in Harlem. “If Beale Street Could Talk,” which first premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival and screened at the 2018 New York Film Festival, was nominated for a Golden Globe¼ Award for best motion picture drama, and was also honored by AFI as one of their movies of the year.

In 2014, Parris starred opposite Tessa Thompson in Justin Simien’s breakout independent film “Dear White People.” Her performance earned her a Black Reel Award in the category of outstanding breakthrough performance. That next year, Parris was cast as the lead role in Spike Lee’s “Chi-Raq,” for which she won the Black Reel and African-American Film Critics Association Awards for best actress, and also garnered an NAACP Image Award nomination. Parris then went on to appear as real-life singer Miki Howard in the Christine Swanson-directed telefilm “Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story,” in which she also served as a producer. Other film credits include “How Do You Know,” “Point Blank” and “The Photograph.”

On television, Parris recurred opposite Jon Hamm on AMC Network’s critically acclaimed television series “Mad Men,” and remained with the show throughout its final four seasons. In 2013, Parris and her fellow “Mad Men” actors earned a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series. From 2014-2017, Parris also starred on the acclaimed television series “Survivor’s Remorse” for its entire four-season run on Starz.

On stage, Parris made her Broadway debut in John Guare’s play “A Free Man of Color” alongside Jeffrey Wright and Mos Def. The play, directed by George C. Wolfe, played at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. In 2019, Parris originated the role of Kaneisha in the Off-Broadway production of Jeremy O. Harris’ much-buzzed about production of “Slave Play.”

Parris is a graduate of the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City.

KATHRYN HAHN (Agnes) will be seen in “WandaVision,” alongside Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany, portraying the nosy neighbor Agnes. The series is a blend of classic television and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in which two super-powered beings living idealized suburban lives begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems. It is set to debut on Disney+ on January 15.

Hahn is in production in Apple TV+’s “The Shrink Next Door,” alongside Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell. The limited series is based on the true story of a psychiatrist-patient dynamic that morphs into an exploitative relationship filled with manipulation, power grabs and dysfunction. Hahn portrays Phyllis, the younger sister to Martin Markowitz (Ferrell) who is the patient of Dr. Isaac Herschkopf (Rudd).

Recently, Hahn was seen in the HBO limited series “I Know This Much is True,” in which she co-stars with Mark Ruffalo, Melissa Leo, Rosie O’Donnell, Archie Panjabi, Imogen Poots and Juliette Lewis. The series depicts a family saga that follows the parallel lives of identical twin brothers in a story of betrayal, sacrifice and forgiveness set against the backdrop of 20th-century America, based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Wally Lamb.

Film credits include Tamara Jenkins’ “Private Life,” for which she received a Gotham Independent Film Award nomination; Phil Johnston and Rich Moore’s “Spider Man: Into the Spider-Verse”; Genndy Tartakovsky’s “Hotel Transylvannia 3: Summer Vacation”; ”Max Winkler’s “Flower”; Jon Lucas and Scott Moore’s “A Bad Moms Christmas” and “Bad Moms”; Matt Ross’ “Captain Fantastic” opposite Viggo Mortensen; Steven Brill’s “The Do-Over” alongside Adam Sandler and David Spade; Peter Bogdanovich’s “She’s Funny That Way,” alongside Imogen Poots, Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston; M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Visit”; Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel’s “The D Train”; Brad Bird’s “Tomorrowland” opposite George Clooney; as well as Shawn Levy’s “This is Where I Leave You.” Additional credits include Jason Bateman’s “Bad Words,” Ben Stiller’s “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” starring and directed by Ben Stiller, and Rawson Marshall Thurber’s “We’re the Millers” with Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis.

Hahn also starred in Jill Soloway’s “Afternoon Delight,” which premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and garnered her a 2013 breakthrough actor Gotham Award nomination. Other feature film credits include David Wain’s “Wanderlust,” Jesse Peretz’s “Our Idiot Brother,” James Brooks’ “How Do You Know,” Neal Brennan’s “The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard,” Sam Mendes’ Revolutionary Road,” Adam McKay’s “Step Brothers,” Robert Shaye’s “The Last Mimzy,” Nancy Meyers’ “The Holiday,” as well as Adam McKay’s “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.”

On television, Hahn was recently seen in the Tom Perrotta created HBO series “Mrs. Fletcher,” Matthew Weiner’s anthology “The Romanoffs” with Jay R. Ferguson, Annet Mahendru and Clea Duvall, and Jill Soloway’s “I Love Dick” opposite Kevin Bacon.

Additionally, Hahn co-starred in season three of the Emmy¼-nominated Amazon original series “Transparent” created by Jill Soloway. For her portrayal of Raquel Fein, Hahn received a 2017 Emmy Award nomination for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series. Additional television credits include Showtime’s dark comedy “Happyish” opposite Steve Coogan. Hahn had a guest-starring arc on the NBC hit show “Parks and Recreation,” as well as HBO’s “Newsroom” and “Girls.” Her previous roles include NBC’s “Crossing Jordan,” “Four Kings,” “Hung” and “Free Agents.” Hahn also has lent her voice to the Apple TV+ animated series “Central Park,” FX’s “Chozen,” and Fox’s “Bob’s Burgers” and “American Dad!”

Hahn made her Broadway debut in the Tony¼-winning play “Boeing-Boeing,” alongside Bradley Whitford, Gina Gershon, Mary McCormack, Christine Baranski and Mark Rylance. “Boeing-Boeing” won the 2008 Tony in the category of best revival of a play. Additional theatre credits include “Dead End” at the Ahmanson Theater and Huntington Theater Company, “Ten Unknowns” at Huntington Theater Company, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Chaucer in Rome” and “Camino Real” at Williamstown Mainstage, and “Hedda Gabler” at Williamstown/Baystreet.

Hahn received her Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and her Masters in Fine Arts from Yale School of Drama.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

 

MATT SHAKMAN (Director/Executive Producer) just finished directing and executive producing Marvel Studios’ “WandaVision,” starring Elizabeth Olson and Paul Bettany.

He previously wrapped the MRC/Hulu pilot “The Great,” starring Nicholas Hoult and Elle Fanning, for which he received an Emmy¼ nomination for outstanding directing for a comedy series, and directed an episode for the second season of HBO’s “Succession.” His two episodes from season seven of “Game of Thrones,” “The Spoils of War” (DGA nomination) and “Eastwatch,” received some of the best reviews of the entire series.

Last year, Shakman directed episodes of “The Boys” for Amazon and “Billions” for Showtime.

Shakman’s directorial credits also include the feature film “Cut Bank” for A24 (Toronto International Film Festival premiere), as well as many episodes of TV’s best shows including “Mad Men,” “The Good Wife,” and the season one finale of “Fargo” on

  1. Shakman also served as the series director and executive producer on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” He was tapped to adapt his iconic episode “The Nightman Cometh” for the stage which resulted in a sold-out national tour. Shakman is also the artistic director of the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.

JAC SCHAEFFER (Head Writer/Executive Producer/Created for Television By) is the head writer and an executive producer for Marvel Studios’ “WandaVision,” which kicks off on Disney+ on Jan. 15, 2021.

Schaeffer launched her career in 2009 as writer/director/producer of the feature film “TiMER.” She wrote the screenplay for Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 2017 featurette “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure,” and 2019’s “The Hustle,” which starred Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson. Schaeffer also contributed to the story for Marvel Studios’ upcoming feature film “Black Widow,” starring Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff.

Cinematographer JESS HALL (Director of Photography) demonstrates a versatility to move effortlessly between genres bringing his unique eye to a diverse range of projects, incorporating a multiplicity of cinematic styles. From his naturalistic palette and poetic minimal shot structure much celebrated on James Ponsoldt’s Sundance Special Jury Prize winner “The Spectacular Now” to the kinetic pace of Edgar Wright’s cult classic action comedy “Hot Fuzz.” Hall’s images charm, resonate and exhilarate with equal measure.

Hall received a Satellite Award Nomination for his cinematography on “Brideshead Revisited.” His 2017 live-action rendering of the anime classic “Ghost In The Shell” employed many innovative technical strategies, combining 65mm large format digital cinematography, state-of-the-art LED lighting technology, custom-built lenses and the first 24 FPS Photogrammetry capture rig to be used on a live-action feature film. Hall’s use of advanced LED lighting to achieve the precise rendering of the complex secondary anime color palette was honored in the reception of the HPA award for best color grading on a feature film.

In addition to his long-form work, Hall has continued to shoot award-winning commercials, including multiple Cannes Gold Lion winners and Silver D&AD pencils for cinematography. In 2020, Hall received the AICP award for best cinematography on “Smirnoff Infamous Since 1864.” The project also saw Hall’s work receive another award in the color grading category, cementing his reputation as an artist who has dexterously navigated the color science required to produce images of luxurious color depth in the digital format.

Hall collaborated with the Academy Award¼-winning documentarian Kevin Macdonald on his film “Marley” and Academy Award-winning writer/director Stephen Knight on his latest film “Serenity.” Hall is a member of The American Society of Cinematographers, The British Society of Cinematographers and The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

MARK WORTHINGTON (Production Designer) counts among his designs for television include five seasons of “American Horror Story,” the pilot of “Lost,” four seasons of ABC’s “Ugly Betty” and the pilot for “Once Upon a Time,” “Political Animals” for TNT, and the pilot for “Star Trek: Discovery,” the return of the franchise to its original home on television. Worthington’s credits also include the pilot for “The Umbrella Academy” for Netflix, the pilot for Damon Lindelof’s adaptation of “Watchmen” for HBO, and the first season of the CBS All Access series “Why Women Kill.”

Worthington has also worked in feature film as an art director on such projects as “Tombstone,” “The Chamber,” “Wag the Dog,” “Hearts in Atlantis,” “Austin Powers in Goldmember,” and “Legally Blonde 2.”

Worthington has received nine nominations from the Art Director’s Guild for excellence in production design for television, winning the award five times; he has received eight Emmy¼ nominations.

Worthington holds a BA in Theatre from Reed College and an MFA in Scene Design from the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama.

MAYES C. RUBEO (Costume Designer) adds Marvel Studios’ “WandaVision” to her roster of projects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which include 2017’s “Thor: Ragnarok” and the upcoming feature film “Thor: Love and Thunder, which opens on May 6, 2022. She is also known for her work on “Jojo Rabbit” (2019), for which she was nominated for an Oscar¼ and a BAFTA Award, as well “Apocalypto” (2006), “Avatar” (2009), “The Great Wall” (2016), “Warcraft: The Beginning” (2016), “World War Z” (2013) and “John Carter” (2012).

Rubeo was born in Mexico City and went on to train in fashion and costume at the Los Angeles Trade-Tech College (LATTC) and UCLA. In a design career spanning two decades, Rubeo has collaborated with visionary directors such as Mel Gibson and Zhang Yimou, leading studios such as Legendary and Marvel, and with screen stars including Cate Blanchett, Ruth Negga, Brad Pitt and Andy Lau. Rubeo’s early collaborations laid the foundations for a career that has demanded great versatility: she began work as an assistant costume designer and costume supervisor, gaining experience with designers Shay Cunliffe, Erica Edell Phillips, Ellen Mirojnick and Enrico Sabbatini, the latter becoming her career mentor.

After assisting Shay Cunliffe on “Lone Star” (1996), Rubeo continued to work with the same independent director-producer team John Sayles and Maggie Renzi, designing costumes for “Men with Guns” (1997), “Sunshine State” (2002), and “Casa de los Babys” (2003). For Hallmark’s movie “Saga Fidel” (2002), Mayes met the challenge of costuming to tell a story which spanned seven decades. But it was Rubeo’s collaboration with Mel Gibson on “Apocalypto” (2006), for which she delivered a powerful image of the lost Mayan civilization, that set her on the path to creating the look of the otherworldly at an epic scale. Since then, she has been known for creating the visual identities of the Na’vi people in James Cameron’s “Avatar” (2009), bringing to life Edgar Rice Burroughs’s 100-year-old vision of civilized Mars in Andrew Stanton’s “John Carter” (2012), and for transforming some of the world’s most popular video game and comic book characters into reality on-screen with Duncan Jones’ “Warcraft” (2016) and Taika Waititi’s “Thor: Ragnarok” (2017). Mayes put her energies back into gritty realism in 2013 for Marc Forster’s “World War Z” (2013), costuming thousands of people (living and un-dead) on a global scale.

Rubeo continues to bring her costumes into new territories, turning technological and technical challenges into creative opportunities. Her passion and collaborative spirit have enabled her to successfully lead diverse teams across five continents, merging traditional craft skills with state-of-the-art technology.

Rubeo received nominations from the Costume Designer’s Guild for her work on “Fidel,” “Avatar,” “Thor: Ragnarok” and “Jojo Rabbit,” the latter also earning her a WIN Costume Designers Guild award for excellence in period film. Rubeo’s work has been featured in international exhibitions, including the Deborah Nadoolman Landis curated exhibition Hollywood Costume (2012) at the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) in London. Three FIDM Exhibitions: 18th Annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design for the film “Apocalypto,” 21st Annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design for the film “John Carter,” and the 26th Annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design for the film “Thor: Ragnarok.” Rubeo is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, the Costume Designers Guild of America and the Scenic Arts Guild.

TARA DEMARCO (Visual Effects Supervisor) is an award-winning VFX supervisor known for her cutting-edge work as a flame artist. Her 18-year career in visual effects is grounded in high-end commercial work, having composited on Emmy, Cannes Lion, and DA&D award-winning work. Through a 14-year run at The Mill as well as freelancing with several other studios (Method, Brickyard, Psyop), DeMarco has made her mark as compositor and VFX supervisor. She has worked on classic music videos like The White Stripes “The Denial Twist,” as well as Brian Buckley’s Sundance contender “The Bronze.” Her long career in commercial work was supporting the visions of brands like Old Spice, Geico, Nike, Pepsi, Gatorade, Doritos, Xbox, and Apple, for commercials that have aired at the Super Bowl, the World Cup, the Olympics, as well as the Oscars and Emmys.

DeMarco began her career by studying Fine Art Photography and Interrelated Media at Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. It was there that she discovered a passion for visual effects, and the seamless blending of created images with the footage captured in camera.

Award-winning composer CHRISTOPHE BECK (Composer) has a career that bridges genres and garners well-deserved acclaim. Beck displays his range from scoring Marvel Studios’ action-adventure “Ant-Man” to Fox’s film adaptation of Charles Schulz’s beloved comic strip “Peanuts.” Recent projects include “Like a Boss,” “Walkaway Joe,” “The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two,” and “Free Guy,” which is slated for release this year.

The prolific composer scored the Oscar¼ and GRAMMY¼-winning animated film “Frozen” (the soundtrack album has sold over 3 million copies), and “Frozen 2”—whose soundtrack beat the “Frozen” record for most weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Soundtrack Charts at 45 non-consecutive weeks. Beck’s recent credits also include the documentary “Watson,” “The Christmas Chronicles” for Netflix, and Marvel Studios’ “Ant-Man and the Wasp.” He is the musical voice of iconic comedies of the last decade,

including: “The Hangover,” “American Pie,” “Hot Tub Time Machine” and “Pitch Perfect”; poignant films, including “Cake,” starring Jennifer Anniston, and the true-life-based drama “We Are Marshall”; documentaries including “Red Army” and the award-winning “Waiting for Superman”; rom-coms, including “Under the Tuscan Sun” and “Crazy,

Stupid, Love”; along with action films, including “Year of the Dog” and “Edge of Tomorrow,” the sci-fi thriller directed by Doug Liman, starring Tom Cruise and Emily

Blunt, as well as the drama/crime film “American Made.” Beck’s breakthrough success came by composing music for the TV series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” for which he earned an Emmy¼.

Beck is unique in his versatile ability to develop the tone in any genre. His music combines a masterful use of complex dynamics to create tension and convey a vast spectrum of emotion. Beck’s scores add depth, intrigue, humor and sentiment, and his music contributes powerfully to the aesthetic of each film he scores.

Beck began playing piano at age 5. He then studied music at Yale and attended the USC film-scoring program under the tutelage of legendary composer Jerry Goldsmith. He began composing in television at the personal recommendation of Disney music legend Buddy Baker.

KRISTEN ANDERSON-LOPEZ and ROBERT LOPEZ (Episode-Specific Theme Songs by) are the Oscar¼- and Grammy¼-award winning, married songwriting team behind Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Frozen 2.” They wrote the songs for original “Frozen,” for which they won the Oscar for best original song for “Let it Go.” They also wrote the Oscar-winning song “Remember Me” from Disney and Pixar’s “Coco,” and adapted “Frozen” for the Broadway stage. Their original song “Into the Unknown” from Disney’s 2019 feature film “Frozen 2” was also nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe¼.

Lopez co-conceived and co-wrote the hit musicals “Avenue Q” and “The Book of Mormon,” both earning him Tony¼ Awards. Anderson-Lopez’s show “In Transit” made history as the first all a cappella musical to run on Broadway, after earning recognition at the Drama Desk, Drama League and Lucille Lortel Awards for its Off-Broadway run. Lopez and Anderson-Lopez have written for television, film and stage, including “Finding Nemo: The Musical,” songs for “The Wonder Pets” (two Emmy¼ Award wins) and the “Winnie the Pooh” animated film. Their original musical “Up Here” premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse.

Graduates of Yale University and Williams College, respectively, Lopez and Anderson- Lopez now reside in Brooklyn, NY, with their two daughters.

KEY CREDITS

 

DIRECTOR: Matt Shakman
HEAD WRITER/CREATED FOR TELEVISION BY: Jac Schaeffer
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Matt Shakman, Jac Schaeffer
CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Mary Livanos, Trevor Waterson
LINE PRODUCER: Mary Kane
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Jason Tamez
EPISODE-SPECIFIC EDITORS: Tim Roche, Nona Khodai, Zene Baker
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Jess Hall, ASC
PRODUCTION DESIGNER: Mark Worthington
COSTUME DESIGNER: Mayes C. Rubeo
VFX SUPERVISOR: Tara DeMarco
VFX PRODUCER: James Alexander
COMPOSER: Christophe Beck
EPISODE-SPECIFIC THEMES BY: Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
MUSIC SUPERVISOR: Dave Jordan
CASTING BY: Sarah Halley Finn, CSA / Jason B. Stamey, CSA
MAIN CAST (not all cast in all episodes): Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Teyonah Parris, Kathryn Hahn, Randall Park, Kat Dennings

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TVMEG.COM or its other volunteers.

Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda) and Paul Bettany (Vision) in "WandaVision" on Disney+

Primetime TV Review: “Tandav”

TV Review!

Indian drama "Tandav" on Netflix

“Tandav” on Amazon Prime Review by Suzanne 1/16/21

This is a TV series from India, so if you don’t speak the language, you’ll need to read the subtitles like I do.  This is a political drama, but it has a lot of violence as well.  Some of it is hard to watch. I don’t know much about India or its politics, so some parts were a little confusing to me. I do know that they have a pretty corrupt country. Out of 198 countries, they’re ranked 138 on the Global Corruption Index. That’s not good.

With shows like this, I sometimes have trouble telling the characters apart, at least for a while…especially when they introduce so many characters in the first episode, like this one does.  The series takes place in the large city of New Delhi.  There is political unrest between the government and the farms. The students are also protesting with the farms.  According to what one character said, the government, working with the corporations, wants to use the farm land to build chemical plants.  The police and the government in the show are very corrupt. The police shoot or beat up the protestors.  The beginning of the show has two amiable-seeming police offers sharing a drink during the protest. Things turn ugly really quickly.

The current Prime Minister, Devki Nandan Singh (Tigmanshu Dhulia), who’s about to be re-elected, doesn’t get along very well with his son, Samar Pratap (Saif Ali Khan).  Samar is obviously the villain of the series.  He keeps doing what his father tells him not to do, and the shocking ending tells us just how much the son hates the fathers. Another villain is Gurpal (Sunil Grover), who does some of Samar’s dirty work.

The writers put way too much into the first episode. I hope that they explain things a little better as the show goes on, and I hope that they show more about the other characters. I don’t like what I’ve seen so far, though. It’s too confusing, dark and violent for me.

MORE INFORMATION:

Tandav is the coming together of different worlds under the gamut of politics. It is a dramatic take of the powerplay between people at the high level to secure their position. Youth plays a significant role in the story as we see where their future is headed in this dark abyss of politics. Catch Tandav in Tamil & Telugu, Feb 12 onwards.

drama thriller series – India

Created by Sudip Sharma (writer of NH 10 & Udta Punjab) and produced by Clean Slate Films, this new Indian Prime Original series is an investigative thriller that also acts as a scathing commentary of modern day Indian society and politics. The series will go into production in February 2019 before being released on Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TVMEG.COM or its other volunteers.

Indian drama "Tandav" on Amazon Prime

Primetime TV Review: “Bridgerton”

TV Review!

"Bridgerton" on Netflix

“Bridgerton” on Netflix Review by Suzanne 1/15/21

I’m enjoying this series. It’s a great romantic drama with many plot twists and some humor. The acting is very good, and it has beautiful scenery and other details. If you’re a fan of the great PBS period shows, such as “Upstairs: Downstairs” and “Downton Abbey,” you should love this one, even though it’s not on “Masterpiece: Theater.” It’s produced by Shonda Rimes (“Scandal,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “How to Get Away with Murder”) and created by Chris Van Dusen, who worked on “Grey’s” as well. The series is based on novels by Julia Quinn about life in Regency London in the 1800’s.

Most of the action centers around Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and her family. Her widowed mother, Violet (Ruth Gemmell) is trying to get her a husband. If you’ve ever watched any of these type of shows before, or read romance novels, you’ll know that they have a debutante season each year, where everyone dresses up, and the ladies dance with prospective suitors. Then one or more of the suitors calls on them at home (properly chaperoned, of course), and one eventually proposes. The women are treated more like belongings than people, and they usually have a sizable dowry that goes to the husband when they’re married. Everyone has to be particularly careful to avoid any kind of scandal.

Daphne is a smart and beautiful young women, but she’s naĂŻve in the ways of the world. Most of the young men she dances with don’t interest her. She meets her brother’s friend, a duke named Simon Bassett (RegĂ©-Jean Page). Like most of these romance stories, they don’t like each other too much at first, but then they start getting attracted to each other. He isn’t looking for a wife, and she benefits from having a duke court her (so that others will be more interested). They make a plan to look like they’re interested in each other; then, of course, they fall for each other. However, they still face many obstacles.

This is a large ensemble series, so there are other relationships, and stories for her brothers and the other main family on the show, The Featheringtons. We’re told at the beginning that the Bridgertons are all handsome and beautiful, whereas the Featheringtons are not. The show is narrated by Julie Andrews as a gossip-writer, Lady Whistledown. Besides the drama, the show makes a point of letting us know how difficult life was back then for women (even those with money and status).

There are a few things I could quibble about, such as the fact that I had trouble telling Anthony, the oldest Bridgerton son, apart from Benedict, the middle Bridgerton son. Also, I found it odd that the Duke, when trying to use his , shall we say, home version of birth control, was successful, with all of the sex they’d had (in real life, that method is only 78% effective). I’m very glad that the last episode tied everything up pretty neatly, including letting us know who “Lady Whistledown” really is.

Although the show is set in 1813, it doesn’t have an all-white cast, including the nobles. In fact, the queen – Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) – is black. The duke and many other characters are black or Asian. Some of this is rooted in history because Queen Charlotte was rumored to be black. The rest is just literary license. Although the show does look very authentic for its time (to this layperson), it’s not. Also, some of the music they use in the background is modern. If that kind of thing doesn’t bother you, then you should watch it. You’ll be glad you did because it’s very binge-worthy.

MORE INFORMATION:

TIME SLOT:
completed airing its current season
CURRENT SEASON:
1 (8 episodes)
VISIT THE OFFICIAL WEB SITE
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
completed airing its first season on 12/25/20; has yet to be renewed for a second season
DESCRIPTION:
(from Netflix’s web site, December 2020) The eight close-knit siblings of the Bridgerton family look for love and happiness in London high society. Inspired by Julia Quinn’s bestselling novels.

PRINCIPAL CAST INFORMATION:
· Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury
· Ben Miller as Lord Featherington
· Bessie Carter as Prudence Featherington
· Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton
· Florence Hunt as Hyacinth Bridgerton
· Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte
· Harriet Cains as Philippa Featherington
· Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton
· Julie Andrews as Lady Whistledown (Voice)
· Lorraine Ashbourne as Mrs. Varley
· Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton
· Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton
· Martins Imhangbe as Will Mondrich
· Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington
· Phoebe Dynevor as Daphne Bridgerton
· Polly Walker as Lady Portia Featherington
· Regé-Jean Page as Simon Basset
· Ruby Barker as Marina Thompson
· Ruby Stokes as Francesca Bridgerton
· Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton
· Sabrina Bartlett as Siena Rosso
· Will Tilston as Gregory Bridgerton

CREW INFORMATION:
· Betsy Beers as EP
· Chris Van Dusen as CRTR/EP
· Julia Quinn as BOOK
· Julie Anne Robinson as EP/DIR (Pilot)
· Shonda Rhimes as EP

NETFLIX AND SHONDALAND ANNOUNCE FIRST SLATE OF SERIES

Hollywood, Calif. – Friday, July 20, 2018 – Netflix, the world’s leading internet entertainment service, and Shondaland today announced the first slate of series being developed by Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers and their team to premiere exclusively for Netflix members around the world.

“I wanted the new Shondaland to be a place where we expand the types of stories we tell, where my fellow talented creatives could thrive and make their best work and where we as a team come to the office each day filled with excitement,” said Rhimes. “Ted and Cindy and everyone at Netflix have been incredible partners in making that happen. This is Shondaland 2.0.”

“From the world of Regency England all the way to present day Manhattan, we at Shondaland have a wonderful opportunity to explore new worlds and tell these stories in many different ways,” said Beers. “We are fortunate to be working with such an inspiring group of talent, including our amazing creative team at Netflix. I could not be more thrilled!”

“It’s been thrilling to begin this journey with Shonda, Betsy and their team and watch them embrace the full range of creative freedom possible at Netflix,” said Cindy Holland, Vice President, Original Content, Netflix. “Infused with Shonda’s sensibility, the Shondaland slate is shaping up to be something truly special that we know will delight our members around the world.”

Untitled Bridgerton Project

Based on Julia Quinn’s best-selling series of novels, this smart feminist take on Regency England romance unveils the glittering, wealthy, sexual, painful, funny and sometimes lonely lives of the women and men in London’s high society marriage mart as told through the eyes of the powerful Bridgerton family.

* Scandal veteran Chris Van Dusen (EP) will adapt and showrun the series.

WRITER-PRODUCER CHRIS VAN DUSEN SIGNS SERIES OVERALL DEAL WITH NETFLIX

His first project will be Shondaland’s Untitled Bridgerton Project

Hollywood, Calif. – October 29, 2018 — Writer-producer Chris Van Dusen has signed a brand new, multi-year series overall deal with Netflix.

Under the terms of the agreement, Van Dusen will create new series and other projects for the streaming platform. His first will be Shondaland’s Untitled Bridgerton Project, a one-hour drama ordered straight-to-series, based on Julia Quinn’s best-selling novels. Van Dusen will adapt, showrun, and executive produce, along with Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers through Shondaland.

This smart feminist take on Regency England romance unveils the glittering, wealthy, sexual, painful, funny and sometimes lonely lives of the women and men in London’s high society marriage mart as told through the eyes of the powerful Bridgerton family.

“I couldn’t be more excited about being a part of the creative powerhouse that is Shondaland at Netflix,” said Van Dusen. “Bringing these irresistible books by Julia Quinn to the screen, with the fearless and talented team of storytellers I’ve been so fortunate to have worked alongside for so long, is a dream come true. I am grateful to have a home at Netflix, whose commitment to innovative, groundbreaking storytelling is unmatched.”

Van Dusen most recently served as co-executive producer on SCANDAL. A homegrown Shondaland talent, Van Dusen landed his first writing gig on GREY’S ANATOMY. He is a graduate of Emory University and USC’s Peter Stark Producing Program.

JULIE ANDREWS TO VOICE “LADY WHISTLEDOWN” IN NETFLIX AND SHONDALAND’S THE UNTITLED BRIDGERTON SERIES

ABOUT THE SERIES

LAUNCH DATE: 2020

FORMAT: Drama; 8 x 1-hour episodes

LOCATION: London

CREATOR/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Chris Van Dusen

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers

SYNOPSIS:

Based on Julia Quinn’s best-selling series of novels, BRIDGERTON, is set in the sexy, lavish and competitive world of Regency London high society. From the glittering ballrooms of Mayfair to the aristocratic palaces of Park Lane and beyond, the series unveils a seductive, sumptuous world replete with intricate rules and dramatic power struggles, where no one is truly ever on steady ground. At the heart of the show is the powerful Bridgerton family. Comprised of eight close-knit siblings, this funny, witty, daring and clever group must navigate the upper ten thousand’s marriage mart in search of romance, adventure and love.

CASTING:

JULIE ANDREWS will lend her voice to the character of “LADY WHISTLEDOWN.” Anonymous to readers, this mysterious, sharp-tongued gossip writer uses a curious mix of social commentary and scathing insult to send the season of 1813’s ton into an all-out frenzy.

BIO:

Julie Andrews has been a beloved and much-honored star of stage,screen and television for more than half a century. She was already a Broadway legend when she made her feature film debut in 1964’s “Mary Poppins.” Andrews’ iconic performance in the title role of the magical nanny brought her an Academy Award (R) , a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award. The following year, she earned a second Oscar (R) nomination and won another Golden Globe Award for her unforgettable portrayal of Maria Von Trapp in “The Sound of Music.” She received her third Academy Award (R) nomination and won another Golden Globe Award for her “dual” role in “Victor/Victoria” in 1982. Today’s young film audiences may be more familiar with Andrews as a queen trying to train her teenaged granddaughter to be a princess in the hit films, “The Princess Diaries,” and its sequel, “The Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement,” as well as Gru’s mother, Marlena, in the hugely successful “Despicable Me” and “Minion” franchises. Andrews also voiced the character of Queen Lillian in the blockbuster hits “Shrek 2,” “Shrek the Third,” and “Shrek Forever After.” More recently, she voiced the narration of the very successful Disney release of “Enchanted.” In 2010, Ms. Andrews added to her multi- generational appeal with the release of “The Tooth Fairy.”

Her earlier motion picture credits also include “The Americanization of Emily,” “Hawaii,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Star!,” “Darling Lili,” “SOB” and “10,” to name only a few. Julie was born and raised in England, where she first came to fame as a young musical performer on stage and on radio. She was still in her teens when she made her way across the Atlantic and to Broadway, in her 1953 debut in the musical “The Boy Friend.” She went on to create the role of Eliza Doolittle in Lerner and Loewe’s Broadway musical “My Fair Lady,” which became an instant classic and the longest-running musical of its day. Andrews also won a New York Drama Critics Award and garnered a Tony Award nomination for her performance. She received another Tony Award nomination in 1961 when she originated the role of Queen Guinevere in the Lerner and Loewe musical “Camelot.” Thirty-five years later, Ms. Andrews returned to Broadway to star in the 1995 stage adaptation of “Victor/Victoria.” Julie’s career came full circle in 2005 when she directed a revival of “The Boy Friend” which toured throughout North America. Julie has also been honored for her work on television, beginning in 1957 with her Emmy-nominated performance in the title role of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical “Cinderella.” She later won an Emmy Award for her own musical variety series, “The Julie Andrews Hour,” and also earned Emmy nominations for “Julie and Carol at Lincoln Center” (with her “chum” Carol Burnett) as well as her performance in the TV holiday special, “Sounds of Christmas.” Andrews’ more recent television movies includes “One Special Night” with her friend James Garner, “Eloise at the Plaza,” “Eloise at Christmastime” and re-united with Christopher Plummer in the CBS live production of “On Golden Pond.”

Ms. Andrews, already an accomplished best selling author (“Mandy,” [1971], “The Last of The Really Great Whangdoodles,” [1974], has joined talents with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, to pursue the publishing of books committed to stimulating a sense of wonder in children and young readers. The Julie Andrews Collection was launched in October 2003 and has released over 25 books to date, (many of them bestsellers) including the “Little Bo” series, the “Dumpy The Dump Truck” franchise, “The Great American Mousical,” “Thanks to You” and “Simeon’s Gift” (the musical/stage adaptation of which toured parts of the U.S. in 2008, including two performances at the Hollywood Bowl, and in London in 2010) and “The Julie Andrews Collection of Poems, Songs & Lullabies.” “Home – A Memoir of My Early Years,” Ms. Andrews’ autobiography was released in April 2008 to rave reviews and immediately climbed to #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list as well as several other prestigious lists in the U.S. and abroad. Julie and Emma are enjoying great receptivity to their new franchise of books called “The Very Fairy Princess.” The initial release ascended rapidly to #1 after its May 2010 release on the New York Times Bestseller list and enjoyed top 10 status for over 10 weeks. It was followed in May 2011 with “The Very Fairy Princess Takes the Stage” (which reached #1 status as well),and then in April 2012, “The Very Fairy Princess – Here Comes the Flower Girl” (which enjoyed top 10 status for several weeks). In October 2013, “The Very Fairy Princess Sparkles in the Snow” was released and has shown its “sparkle” as a perennial by being re-released in November 2014 for the holiday season. Valentine’s Day 2013 was greeted by “The Very Fairy Princess Follows Her Heart” and the latest picture book was “The Very Fairy Princess Graduation Day” which was released in April 2014. Interwoven in these releases were several activity books and doodle books and “earlier reader” books that have rounded out the franchise. In October 2012, Julie adapted and directed her best-selling children’s book “The Great American Mousical” as a musical for the stage. The project opened at the Norma Terris Theatre at Goodspeed Musicals in Connecticut and received a spectacular reception. Several other projects authored by Ms. Andrews are currently being developed for filmed and TV entertainment.

Although she continues to receive offers for films and TV as an actress, she is Immensely enjoying her work “behind the cameras.” In addition to her stage and screen work, Julie has dedicated her life to her family and to service important causes, including Operation USA, an international relief organization with which Julie has traveled to such places as Vietnam and Cambodia. From 1992 to 2006 she was honored as the Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), which provides financial and technical support for low-income women in developing countries. Ms. Andrews received her honours as a Dame of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on New Year’s Eve 1999. She was also a 2001 Kennedy Center Honoree, and, in 2011 was celebrated with the SAG Lifetime Achievement Award. More recently, in 2016 Julie helmed a first class revival of “My Fair Lady” which toured through Australia for 12 months and broke all sales records at The Sydney Opera House. The production was immaculately produced, and replicated the original stage and costume designs of the 1956 debut production in which Julie created the Eliza Doolittle character. Also in 2016, Julie co-created, wrote and executive produced “Julie’s Greenroom,” a children’s television series about the arts, created for Netflix in partnership with the Jim Henson Company. The series earned three Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Preschool Children’s Series and Outstanding Writing in a Children’s, Pre-School Children’s or Family Viewing Program.

For more about Ms. Andrews and her activities and book collection,please go to www.julieandrewscollection.com JULIE ANDREWS TO VOICE “LADY WHISTLEDOWN” IN NETFLIX AND SHONDALAND’S THE UNTITLED BRIDGERTON SERIES

ABOUT THE SERIES

LAUNCH DATE: 2020

FORMAT: Drama; 8 x 1-hour episodes

LOCATION: London

CREATOR/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Chris Van Dusen

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers

SYNOPSIS:

Based on Julia Quinn’s best-selling series of novels, BRIDGERTON, is set in the sexy, lavish and competitive world of Regency London high society. From the glittering ballrooms of Mayfair to the aristocratic palaces of Park Lane and beyond, the series unveils a seductive, sumptuous world replete with intricate rules and dramatic power struggles, where no one is truly ever on steady ground. At the heart of the show is the powerful Bridgerton family. Comprised of eight close-knit siblings, this funny, witty, daring and clever group must navigate the upper ten thousand’s marriage mart in search of romance, adventure and love.

CASTING:

JULIE ANDREWS will lend her voice to the character of “LADY WHISTLEDOWN.” Anonymous to readers, this mysterious, sharp-tongued gossip writer uses a curious mix of social commentary and scathing insult to send the season of 1813’s ton into an all-out frenzy.

BIO:

Julie Andrews has been a beloved and much-honored star of stage,screen and television for more than half a century. She was already a Broadway legend when she made her feature film debut in 1964’s “Mary Poppins.” Andrews’ iconic performance in the title role of the magical nanny brought her an Academy Award (R) , a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award. The following year, she earned a second Oscar (R) nomination and won another Golden Globe Award for her unforgettable portrayal of Maria Von Trapp in “The Sound of Music.” She received her third Academy Award (R) nomination and won another Golden Globe Award for her “dual” role in “Victor/Victoria” in 1982. Today’s young film audiences may be more familiar with Andrews as a queen trying to train her teenaged granddaughter to be a princess in the hit films, “The Princess Diaries,” and its sequel, “The Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement,” as well as Gru’s mother, Marlena, in the hugely successful “Despicable Me” and “Minion” franchises. Andrews also voiced the character of Queen Lillian in the blockbuster hits “Shrek 2,” “Shrek the Third,” and “Shrek Forever After.” More recently, she voiced the narration of the very successful Disney release of “Enchanted.” In 2010, Ms. Andrews added to her multi- generational appeal with the release of “The Tooth Fairy.”

Her earlier motion picture credits also include “The Americanization of Emily,” “Hawaii,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Star!,” “Darling Lili,” “SOB” and “10,” to name only a few. Julie was born and raised in England, where she first came to fame as a young musical performer on stage and on radio. She was still in her teens when she made her way across the Atlantic and to Broadway, in her 1953 debut in the musical “The Boy Friend.” She went on to create the role of Eliza Doolittle in Lerner and Loewe’s Broadway musical “My Fair Lady,” which became an instant classic and the longest-running musical of its day. Andrews also won a New York Drama Critics Award and garnered a Tony Award nomination for her performance. She received another Tony Award nomination in 1961 when she originated the role of Queen Guinevere in the Lerner and Loewe musical “Camelot.” Thirty-five years later, Ms. Andrews returned to Broadway to star in the 1995 stage adaptation of “Victor/Victoria.” Julie’s career came full circle in 2005 when she directed a revival of “The Boy Friend” which toured throughout North America. Julie has also been honored for her work on television, beginning in 1957 with her Emmy-nominated performance in the title role of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical “Cinderella.” She later won an Emmy Award for her own musical variety series, “The Julie Andrews Hour,” and also earned Emmy nominations for “Julie and Carol at Lincoln Center” (with her “chum” Carol Burnett) as well as her performance in the TV holiday special, “Sounds of Christmas.” Andrews’ more recent television movies includes “One Special Night” with her friend James Garner, “Eloise at the Plaza,” “Eloise at Christmastime” and re-united with Christopher Plummer in the CBS live production of “On Golden Pond.”

Ms. Andrews, already an accomplished best selling author (“Mandy,” [1971], “The Last of The Really Great Whangdoodles,” [1974], has joined talents with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, to pursue the publishing of books committed to stimulating a sense of wonder in children and young readers. The Julie Andrews Collection was launched in October 2003 and has released over 25 books to date, (many of them bestsellers) including the “Little Bo” series, the “Dumpy The Dump Truck” franchise, “The Great American Mousical,” “Thanks to You” and “Simeon’s Gift” (the musical/stage adaptation of which toured parts of the U.S. in 2008, including two performances at the Hollywood Bowl, and in London in 2010) and “The Julie Andrews Collection of Poems, Songs & Lullabies.” “Home – A Memoir of My Early Years,” Ms. Andrews’ autobiography was released in April 2008 to rave reviews and immediately climbed to #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list as well as several other prestigious lists in the U.S. and abroad. Julie and Emma are enjoying great receptivity to their new franchise of books called “The Very Fairy Princess.” The initial release ascended rapidly to #1 after its May 2010 release on the New York Times Bestseller list and enjoyed top 10 status for over 10 weeks. It was followed in May 2011 with “The Very Fairy Princess Takes the Stage” (which reached #1 status as well),and then in April 2012, “The Very Fairy Princess – Here Comes the Flower Girl” (which enjoyed top 10 status for several weeks). In October 2013, “The Very Fairy Princess Sparkles in the Snow” was released and has shown its “sparkle” as a perennial by being re-released in November 2014 for the holiday season. Valentine’s Day 2013 was greeted by “The Very Fairy Princess Follows Her Heart” and the latest picture book was “The Very Fairy Princess Graduation Day” which was released in April 2014. Interwoven in these releases were several activity books and doodle books and “earlier reader” books that have rounded out the franchise. In October 2012, Julie adapted and directed her best-selling children’s book “The Great American Mousical” as a musical for the stage. The project opened at the Norma Terris Theatre at Goodspeed Musicals in Connecticut and received a spectacular reception. Several other projects authored by Ms. Andrews are currently being developed for filmed and TV entertainment.

Although she continues to receive offers for films and TV as an actress, she is Immensely enjoying her work “behind the cameras.” In addition to her stage and screen work, Julie has dedicated her life to her family and to service important causes, including Operation USA, an international relief organization with which Julie has traveled to such places as Vietnam and Cambodia. From 1992 to 2006 she was honored as the Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), which provides financial and technical support for low-income women in developing countries. Ms. Andrews received her honours as a Dame of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on New Year’s Eve 1999. She was also a 2001 Kennedy Center Honoree, and, in 2011 was celebrated with the SAG Lifetime Achievement Award. More recently, in 2016 Julie helmed a first class revival of “My Fair Lady” which toured through Australia for 12 months and broke all sales records at The Sydney Opera House. The production was immaculately produced, and replicated the original stage and costume designs of the 1956 debut production in which Julie created the Eliza Doolittle character. Also in 2016, Julie co-created, wrote and executive produced “Julie’s Greenroom,” a children’s television series about the arts, created for Netflix in partnership with the Jim Henson Company. The series earned three Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Preschool Children’s Series and Outstanding Writing in a Children’s, Pre-School Children’s or Family Viewing Program.

For more about Ms. Andrews and her activities and book collection,please go to www.julieandrewscollection.com

NETFLIX AND SHONDALAND SET CAST FOR UPCOMING BRIDGERTON SERIES

ABOUT THE SERIES

LAUNCH DATE: 2020

FORMAT: Drama; 8 x 1-hour episodes

LOCATION: London

CREATOR/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Chris Van Dusen

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers

SYNOPSIS:

Based on Julia Quinn’s best-selling series of novels, BRIDGERTON, is set in the sexy, lavish and competitive world of Regency London high society. From the glittering ballrooms of Mayfair to the aristocratic palaces of Park Lane and beyond, the series unveils a seductive, sumptuous world replete with intricate rules and dramatic power struggles, where no one is truly ever on steady ground. At the heart of the show is the powerful Bridgerton family. Comprised of eight close-knit siblings, this funny, witty, daring and clever group must navigate the upper ten thousand’s marriage mart in search of romance, adventure and love.

QUOTE FROM CREATOR CHRIS VAN DUSEN: “We could not have found a more gifted group of actors to bring Bridgerton to life. When creating this series, the goal was to turn a very traditional genre on its head and make something fresh, smart, sexy and fun. That’s exactly what this cast embodies and I’m ridiculously excited to see them inhabit these characters and captivate viewers in their own incredibly brilliant ways.”

CAST:

PHOEBE DYNEVOR (Younger, Dickensian) will play “DAPHNE BRIDGERTON.”

The picture-perfect young debutante has been waiting her entire life to make her grand debut on the marriage mart. Poised to be the season of 1813’s forthcoming Incomparable, Daphne’s set to take the town by storm – but not everything goes exactly as planned for this diamond of the first water, especially after she meets a certain Duke.

REGÉ-JEAN PAGE (For The People, Roots) will play “SIMON BASSET.”

Having newly returned to London, the Duke of Hastings finds himself the primary topic of conversation amongst marriage-minded misses and ambitious mamas alike. Yet, for reasons of his own, our devastating Duke has zero interest in his title, society, or taking a wife.

GOLDA ROSHEUVEL (Silent Witness, Lady MacBeth) will play “QUEEN CHARLOTTE.”

The veritable tastemaker of London society, Queen Charlotte finds herself living for the sordid gossip that Lady Whistledown prints, though she’d swear she’s above such mundane musings. It’s only when the ton’s newest gossip writer takes aim at the palace that Queen Charlotte knows she must do something about it.

JONATHAN BAILEY (W1A, Broadchurch) will play “ANTHONY BRIDGERTON.”

The quintessential English nobleman, Anthony is the eldest Bridgerton sibling and dutiful head of the family since assuming his late father’s title of Viscount. Endlessly handsome, charming and rich, he’s quite the catch on this year’s marriage mart. But if he has any hope of fulfilling his oftentimes overwhelming duty of marrying and producing an heir, Anthony must first learn to temper his pursuit of pleasure.

LUKE NEWTON (The Lodge, The Cut) will play “COLIN BRIDGERTON.”

The dashing Colin Bridgerton is used to disarming his fellow society members with good-natured jokes, though a serious sense of adventure lurks behind those swoon-worthy eyes. Colin takes a liking to the newest young lady in town — but it’s this infatuation that winds up giving him more than he may have bargained for.

CLAUDIA JESSIE (Vanity Fair, Doctor Who) will play “ELOISE BRIDGERTON.”

Whip-smart, brazen and rebellious, Eloise Bridgerton is definitely not here for turning into just another young simpering and mincing debutante. She believes she’s destined for something much greater, though she’s quite rapidly approaching marriageable age.

NICOLA COUGHLAN (Derry Girls, Harlots) will play “PENELOPE FEATHERINGTON.”

A vastly intelligent girl with a sharp wit and kind heart, Penelope would prefer to quietly sway near the perimeter of any ballroom rather than take center stage. She’s been born into a family who will never truly understand her–as if dealing with the cutthroat, mean girls of 1813 Regency London weren’t enough.

RUBY BARKER (Wolfblood, Doctors) will play “MARINA THOMPSON.”

Having been sent from the country to live with her cousins, the Featheringtons, Marina never imagined being a part of London society. Yet the arrival of this resourceful young lady seems to make more than just a splash in our glittering, exclusive world.

SABRINA BARTLETT (Victoria, Knightfall) will play “SIENA ROSSO.”

The beautiful, captivating, and enterprising opera singer who’s having a secret affair with a prominent lord. Fun and a bit impetuous, Siena secretly longs to be a part of our town’s world.

RUTH GEMMELL (Deep State, Penny Dreadful) will play “LADY VIOLET BRIDGERTON.”

All warmth, wisdom and love, the Bridgerton matriarch manages to treat everyone with unmatched kindness and respect. But don’t mistake her compassion for weakness – as she’s an impressive match for anyone who dares comes close to interfering with her family. She’d like nothing more than for her children to marry – not for convenience or opportunity, but for love.

ADJOA ANDOH (Thunderbirds Are A Go) will play “LADY DANBURY.”

The legendary, acerbic, lioness of a dowager who runs this town. Unconcerned with the rules of polite society, Lady Danbury is a straight shooter – both formidable and a little scary. And while her judgments may be sharp, they’re always accurate. She is a friend of Simon’s late mother, having shown the now Duke a rare kindness when he was a child.

POLLY WALKER (Pennyworth, Age Before Beauty) will play “LADY PORTIA FEATHERINGTON.”

Perhaps the most ambitious mama of all, Lady Featherington is determined to make advantageous matches for each of her daughters – and is forever pushing them on some rather disinterested parties. Cunning and ruthless, Lady Featherington hustles to get what she wants, no matter the cost.

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED:

JULIE ANDREWS will play the voice of “LADY WHISTLEDOWN.”

Anonymous to readers, this mysterious, sharp-tongued gossip writer uses a curious mix of social commentary and scathing insult to send the season of 1813’s ton into an all-out frenzy.

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"Bridgerton" on Netflix

Primetime TV Review: “Everyone Is Doing Great”

TV Review!

"Everyone Is Doing Great" on HULU

“Everyone Is Doing Great” on HULU Review by Suzanne 1/15/21

I didn’t find this “comedy” to be funny at all, and the characters are bland and unlikable. Also, it has too many awkward scenes. I hate that type of humor. The last thing I want to see is someone being or looking awkward for a half an hour or more. That’s not funny. It’s hard to watch. You have to have funny jokes and/or situations in a comedy. Being weird or awkward is just not enough.

The series is loosely based on the lives of “One Tree Hill” co-stars Stephen Colletti (Seth) and James Lafferty (Jeremy), who also created and wrote the series as well as star in it. In the series, they’re both former actors from a hit vampire TV series called “Eternal,” but now, 5 years later, they can’t find work. We’re supposed to feel sorry for them, I guess, in their mansions with all the drugs and booze they want.

The characters just seem pathetic and whiny to me. I wouldn’t care so much about that, if it were funny, but it’s not. In one scene, Seth has sex with a pillow during an audition. Jeremy, who seems worse than Seth, has trouble having sex with his wife or even masturbating by himself. At the end of the series, he throws up after getting some bad news. Somehow I can’t see any of the actors from “True Blood,” “Vampire Diaries” or “The Originals” acting this way. Part of the problem is that they’ve made it so that Seth and Jeremy were on their shows straight out of college, so they don’t have much experience beyond “Eternal.”  It’s very rare for anyone to cast a newbie as the star of a primetime series, so this premise didn’t work for me.

The actors crowd-funded most of the episodes. They must have some really great fans. Chalk this show up to yet another unfunny HULU show.

MORE INFORMATION:

Seth and Jeremy enjoyed the success of ‘Eternal,’ a hit television vampire drama. Five years after their show has ended, they lean on each other as they awkwardly navigate the perils of life and love in a late coming-of-age.

Trailer

PRINCIPAL CAST INFORMATION:
· James Lafferty as Jeremy
· Stephen Colletti as Seth

CREW INFORMATION:
· Eshom Nelms as EP
· Ian Nelms as EP
· James Lafferty as CRTR/EP
· Johnny Derango as EP
· Michelle Lang as EP
· Ngoc Nguyen as PROD
· Rocque Trem as EP
· Stephen Colletti as CRTR/EP
· Stuart Lafferty as CO-PROD

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Stephen Colletti (Seth) and James Lafferty (Jeremy) in "Everyone Is Doing Great" on HULU

Primetime TV Review: “Call Your Mother”

TV Review!

“Call Your Mother” Review on ABC by Eva 1/14/2021

I watched several of the commercials for this show and it seemed funny so I thought I would watch it and I wasn’t let down, it is very funny.

The show centers around Jean Raines a mom whose two grown children live in Los Angeles and she lives in Iowa. Jean (Kyra Sedgwick) calls her children every day to check and see how they are doing so when her youngest son Freddie (Joey Bragg) doesn’t answer her calls in four days she decides to fly to Los Angeles to find him because she is afraid something has happened of him. Once she arrives in Los Angeles she discovers that her daughter Jackie (Rachel Sennott) has broken up with her fiancĂ© and is dating her boss who is much older than her because she was hurt by her break-up with her boyfriend. Jean also finds out that Freddie has been dating a girl named Celia (Emma Caymares) for a year and didn’t tell her about his girlfriend. Jean also discovers that Jackie and Freddie have not spoken to each other in a year. Once Jean gets Jackie and Freddie’s relationship back on track she feels better and is about to leave but her kids ask her to stay longer. Jean then calls her best friend Sharon (Sherry Shepard) and tells her that she is staying in Los Angeles for a little bit longer because her kids need her.

I really enjoyed this show. It is very funny and heart-warming and the cast seems like it has been working together for a long time
 everyone is great. I think that if you like sitcoms you will really enjoy this show too. I think this show will be a hit and a wonderful addition to the ABC comedy lineup I give this show 5 out of 5 stars.Stroll through London’s Harrods for an https://www.swisswatch.is/product-category/tag-heuer/grand-carrera/ upscale retail experience and gourmet treats.

MORE INFORMATION:

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Primetime TV Review: “Trickster”

TV Review!

Jared on Trickster on The CW

“Trickster” on The CW Review by Suzanne 1/13/21

I watched the first episode of this supernatural thriller..it moves a bit slowly at first. It’s creepy, but interesting. Even though it was a bit slow, I never felt bored.  The episode opened with a great action/fantasy scene, and then it comes back to the present when Jared (Joel Oulette), the main character, is a teenager. He makes drugs and sells them at school or to others.  His mother, Maggie (Crystle Lightning) appears to be a crazy party girl, but we know from the opening scene that she’s much more than that.  His parents are divorced, and his father, Phil (Craig Lauzon), isn’t much better than the mother.  Jared’s grades are slipping, too. He clearly hates his life and wants to leave town. What makes this series unique (especially to those of us in the U.S.) is that most of the characters are Haisla, a tribe of indigenous people in British Columbia.

This Canadian show is based on a series of books by Eden Robinson. The first one is “Son of a Trickster.” Jared starts seeing weird things that he can’t explain.  As the episode goes along, he sees more and more. Things escalate. I have to admit that I was disappointed when it ended because I wanted to see what was going on. It has me hooked, and I’ll definitely be watching more.  There was only one thing that I really didn’t like, and that was that a dog was killed. I wish TV series and movies would stop showing this type of thing. It ruins the show for me. Normally I would stop watching the show based on that alone, but I want to see more. I’ll be giving it more chances to make me love the show rather than just liking it.

MORE INFORMATION:

“TRICKSTER”

Tuesdays (9:00 p.m. ET) on The CW

The CW’s new drama TRICKSTER, based on the bestselling trilogy of novels by Eden Robinson, tells the story of the Indigenous Gothic, spirits, ancient magic, deadly rites of passage in a coming of age story unlike any you’ve ever seen.

Jared (Joel Oulette) is an Indigenous teen struggling to keep his dysfunctional family above water. Jared holds down an after-school job and cooks ecstasy on the side to support his separated parents: partying mom Maggie (Crystle Lightning), who self-medicates an undiagnosed mental illness, and unemployable dad Phil (Craig Lauzon), who has a painkiller addiction and a new girlfriend. But when Jared starts seeing strange things – talking ravens, doppelgĂ€ngers, skin monsters – his already chaotic life is turned upside down. At first, he thinks he’s losing his mind, but to his relief, and terror, the supernatural events surrounding him are all too real.  There is more than meets the eye to the place Jared grew up, the people he loves – and to Jared himself.

Rounding out the TRICKSTER cast are Kalani Queypo as Wade, Anna Lambe as Sarah, Nathan Alexis as Crashpad, Joel Thomas Hynes as Richie, Gail Maurice as Georgina and as Georgina Lightning as Sophia.

A CBC Original, TRICKSTER is a Sienna Films/Streel Films production, executive produced by co-creators Michelle Latimer (“RISE”) and Tony Elliott (“Orphan Black”) and Sienna Films’ (Cardinal) Jennifer Kawaja and Julia Sereny.

CREDITS FOR “SHOW TITLE” ON THE CW

Day and time: Tuesday, 9:00 – 10:00 ET/PT
Network debut: January 12, 2020
 

Short Synopsis:

 

 

Jared (Joel Oulette) is an Indigenous teen struggling to keep his dysfunctional family above water.  When Jared starts seeing strange things – talking ravens, doppelgĂ€ngers, skin monsters – his already chaotic life is turned upside down.

 

Cast: Joel Oulette as Jared
  Crystle Lightning as Maggie
  Kalani Queypo as Wade
  Anna Lambe as Sarah
  Nathan Alexis as Crashpad
  Joel Thomas Hynes as Richie
  Craig Lauzon as Phil

Georgina Lightning as Sophia

Gail Maurice as Georgina

 
Executive Producers: Michelle Latimer

Tony Elliott

Jennifer Kawaja

Julia Sereny

 

Produced by:

 

Format:

 

Sienna Films/Streel Films

 

Drama / 60 min

 

 

Origination:

 

North Bay, British Columbia

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Trickster cast photo on The CW

Primetime TV Review: “All Creatures Great and Small”

TV Review!

"All Creatures Great and Small" on PBS

“All Creatures Great and Small” on PBS Review by Suzanne 1/10/21

This is your typical “Masterpiece” show, set in the past (the 1930s), with an intriguing story and good actors. It’s based on a series of autobiographical books written by James Herriot (the main character), a real-life vet. There was a “All Creatures Great and Small” film in 1975, and a successful series in 1978. The first book was first published in 1970 (50 years ago last week) , so they showed it in the UK last year for that anniversary. PBS is celebrating Masterpiece’s 50 anniversary this year, so that’s why we’re seeing this now.

James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph) leaves Scotland for Yorkshire, England to interview for a job with a vet, Mr. Farnon (Samuel West). Herriot is young and green, and Farnon is an older man who seems gruff at first. Herriot has to prove himself and then experiences both the life as a vet and as a newcomer to Yorkshire. Diana Rigg plays Mrs. Pumphrey (her last performance). You’ll probably recognize other familiar faces as well.

The countryside scenery is beautiful, the actors do a fabulous job, and the story is intriguing. It’s not an epic series. It’s a nice little throwback to a simpler time. Viewers loved the one in the 70’s, so they’ll probably love this one, too. You should check it out because it’s enjoyable.

MORE INFORMATION:

MASTERPIECE: ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL

Premieres Sundays, January 10 – February 21, 2021, 9:00 – 10:00 p.m. ET

James Herriot’s adventures as a veterinarian in 1930’s Yorkshire get a glorious new adaptation in a seven-part series based on his beloved stories. Exciting newcomer Nicholas Ralph will make his television debut as the iconic vet who became renowned for his inspiring humor, compassion and love of life. The 1970s adaptation, which aired on public broadcasting, was a favorite of millions of viewers.
James Herriot’s first day as a Yorkshire veterinarian is full of surprises.
  • Airdate(s): 1/10/2021, 9:00 – 10:00 PM ET

Winner of 83 Primetime EmmysÂź and 16 Peabody Awards, MASTERPIECE has been essential Sunday night viewing for millions of fans since 1971 and is known for recent hits such as Sherlock, Downton Abbey and Victoria, and beloved classics such as Upstairs Downstairs, Prime Suspect, The Forsyte Saga and Poldark.

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"All Creatures Great and Small" on PBS

Primetime TV Review: “Celebrity Wheel Of Fortune”

TV Review!

“Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” on ABC Review by Eva 1/11/2021

Pat Sajak and Vanna White have finally made it to prime time with Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.

The game works the same as the daytime version, except they give away a lot more money, since the celebrities are playing for charity. The show is more relaxed with the celebrities, and Pat Sajak and Vanna White get to show their personalities more. The audience at home also has a chance to win ten thousand dollars by solving a puzzle.

I think this show will be a strong addition to the ABC game show lineup because it is very funny and fun to watch. I give this show 5 out of 5 stars.

MORE INFORMATION:

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Primetime TV Review: “Remedy”

TV Review!

“Remedy” on Ovation Review by Eva 1/11/2021

I wanted to watch Remedy because I like medical shows. Ovation offers a variety of shows on TV because they buy the rights to programming from Canada. The latest Canadian show they’re airing is called Remedy.

The show centers around Griffin Connor (Dillon Casey), who returns home after two years of having no contact with his family. Griffin dropped out of medical school because he was a drug addict who was accused of writing prescriptions for himself, using his father’s prescription pad. The charges were never proven, so they were dropped.  When he returned home, he was working as a bouncer at a strip club. Griffin tried to keep a customer from touching one of the strippers, and he accidentally stabbed the guy while trying to take it away from him. Griffin and the man were taken to the hospital, where his father, Allen Connor (Enrico Colantoni) is the chief of staff. Griffin’s sisters Sandy Conner (Sarah Allen) work there as a doctor, and his other sister, Melisa Connor (Sarah Canning) works as a nurse. The family decided to get Griffin a job as an orderly at the hospital to help his court case.

I enjoyed this show because it’s different to see how a family’s life is affected by working together. I like how the show lets people see both the work and personal lives of this family. The show is serious but can be very funny at times. My favorite part of the episode was the scene of the family eating together at the hospital cafeteria and discussing family problems with each other, as well as joking and laughing with each other. The show airs on Ovation on Friday at midnight Eastern time.

I really think that if you like medical shows, or family shows, you’ll enjoy this show very much. You should watch it if you have Ovation as part of your channel lineup. I give this show a 5 out of 5 stars.

MORE INFORMATION:

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Primetime DVD Review: “The Twilight Zone (2019): Season Two”

DVD Review!

The Twilight Zone (2019): Season Two DVD cover

“The Twilight Zone (2019): Season Two” Review by Suzanne 1/10/21

I love this show. This season was even better than first season. There were more great guest stars and interesting stories. Jordan Peele and his team do a great job of paying homage to the original series as well as taking it a step further. Season 2 is just as great as Season 1.  Of course, since it’s an anthology series, you can watch any episode by itself and be entertained. However, just like season one, there is a plot throughline. You should watch them all.

Unfortunately, the set is sorely lacking in extras. They just have some deleted scenes and a gag reel. Still, it’s a great set to own and should make a very good gift to any adult. It has some violence and adult themes, so you shouldn’t give it to any kids. I can’t wait for season 3!

MORE INFORMATION:

Season two of the America’s anthology series The Twilight Zone will be available on DVD on January 12th from  CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment. Starring Academy and Emmy Award winner Jordan Peele, Oscar nominee Kumail Nanjiani, and Peter Atencio, the series is heavily based on the original 1959 series created by Rod Sterling.

TWILIGHT ZONE: SEASON TWO

Street Date: January 12, 2021

Format: DVD

Description: This updated version of Rod Sterling’s 1959 classical series consists of tales revolving around science fiction, mystery, and horror. Each episode features its own mind-bending and insane journey into a different dimension filled with endless possibilities for the viewers to explore. The conscious storytelling consists of a standout cast that includes Oscar nominee Kumail Nanjiani, Seth Rogen, Tracy Morgan,  John Cho, Zazie Beatz, and many others. Not only that, but the modern take on the all-time classic is hosted by Academy Award and Emmy Award winner Jordan Peele. It truly captures the mind-blowing world that fans of Rod Sterling classic would be able to enjoy.

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Scenes from The Twilight Zone season 2

Primetime TV Review: “Squish”

TV Review!

"Squish" on HBO Max

“Squish” on HBO Max Review by Suzanne 1/9/21

This is a weird animated show that familiarizes children with science. It’s based on a graphic novel (also for children). Most of the characters are kids who go to school, study, play, etc. even though they are amoeba, paramecium, bacteria, viruses and fungi. Each one has a separate character. Squish (voiced by Cory Doran), the star of the show, is an amoeba. In the very first show, Squish meets a new friend, Vinnie, who’s a virus. He learns that too much Vinnie is not a good thing. At the same time, the series teaches the kids how a virus works.

The series is fun and well done – no question. I just wonder if the timing (talking about viruses during the pandemic) is a good idea. I guess they figure that any education is good for everyone to have. I just wonder if kids that are forced to stay home all the time because of the risk of COVID really want to spend their fun time watching this. As an adult, I don’t like watching shows that remind me of the pandemic. I want escapism. Well, the episodes are only 12 minutes long, so that might be just about the right amount of time.

MORE INFORMATION:

Squish, along with best friends Peggy and Pod, embarks on hilarious adventures in the town of Small Pond! Together, the pals navigate bacteria, viruses, fungi, and social survival.

Welcome to the fascinating world of amoebas! Squish, along with best friends Peggy and Pod, embarks on hilarious adventures in the town of Small Pond! Together, the pals navigate bacteria, viruses, fungi, and social survival. Based on the action-packed graphic novel, stream Squish now on HBO Max.

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"Squish" on HBO Max

Primetime TV Review: “Marvel Studios: Legends”

TV Review!

"Marvel Studios: Legends" on Disney+

“Marvel Studios: Legends” on Disney+ Review by Suzanne 1/9/21

This series showcases other upcoming Marvel series’ on the Disney+ channel. The first two episodes, which were released this week, focus on Wanda (The Scarlet Witch) and Vision from The Avengers movies. They have a new series starting soon. Each of these episodes use many clips from the movies to remind you who they are and what they’ve been through, to prepare you for the series. I enjoyed them.

Besides reminding me of their story, I enjoyed seeing the other Avengers characters, especially Black Panther and Iron Man. It makes me want to watch all the Marvel movies again (which I’m sure is what they intended). If you haven’t seen any or all of the Marvel movies, then these two episodes will fill you in a bit about them before the new series starts. I can’t wait for the new series. I assume that “Legends” will also cover similar material for the new series’ featuring Falcon and Bucky, Loki, Hawkeye and more.

MORE INFORMATION:

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is expanding with the start of Phase Four! In addition to the arrival of Marvel Studios’ WandaVision on Disney+ on January 15, 2021, a new ongoing series will dive deeper into the stories of the MCU’s most compelling characters.

Coming exclusively to Disney+, Marvel Studios: Legends is a new series that will showcase individual characters viewers have come to know and love over the years and revisit some of their most iconic moments. Marvel Studios: Legends kicks off by highlighting Wanda Maximoff and Vision, the two stars of WandaVision, and their interconnected path across the MCU that led them both here.

The first two episodes of Marvel Studios: Legends, featuring Wanda and Vision, premiere on January 8, 2021, only on Disney+.

MARVEL STUDIOS: LEGENDS

As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand, Marvel Studios: Legends celebrates and codifies what has come before. Revisit the epic heroes, villains and moments from across the MCU in preparation for the highly anticipated stories still to come. Each dynamic segment feeds directly into the upcoming series premiering on Disney+ — setting the stage for future events. Marvel Studios: Legends weaves together the many threads that constitute the unparalleled Marvel Cinematic Universe.

WANDA MAXIMOFF

Wanda Maximoff made her debut in Avengers: Age of Ultron as a powerful adversary of The Avengers, only to become an even more powerful ally. Wanda found strength in herself and in her extraordinary relationship with one highly unique individual, Vision. Marvel Studios: Legends explores Wanda’s story as she grapples with cruel hardships and loss, a chaotic power that she strives to control, and shifting loyalties from those she trusts most.

VISION

Born into the world in Avengers: Age of Ultron Vision chooses to fight on the side of humanity, though he himself is an artificial form of life. Marvel Studios: Legends follows Vision on his quest to understand humans more fully, evolving to be more like them, as he explores a romantic relationship with Wanda Maximoff in Captain America: Civil War. All of this leads to his final moments, as he makes the ultimate sacrifice for mankind, leaving those he loved to an uncertain future.

Want more exciting information about Phase 4? Find the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe news right here — and stay tuned for more!

This is just the beginning of the Phase 4 news. Stay tuned to Marvel.com for more details! And be sure to follow Marvel on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Looking for more Marvel movies and shows to stream? Check out everything on Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ right here, and where to find all your favorite Super Heroes right here. Sign up for Disney+ and start streaming now!

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"Marvel Studios: Legends" on Disney+

Primetime TV Review: “Mighty Little Bheem: Kite Festival”

TV Review!

"Mighty Little Bheem: Kite Festival" on Netflix

“Mighty Little Bheem: Kite Festival” on Netflix Review by Suzanne 1/9/21

This is a spinoff from another series from India called “Chhota Bheem.” Netflix made the spinoff in 2019 with “Mighty Little Bheem,” which has had three seasons already. It’s about a baby with super-human strength and the community he lives in (including cows). This is the third special collection after “Mighty Little Bheem: Diwali” and “Mighty Little Bheem: Festival of Colors.” Each episode is only a half hour long, like most children’s shows.

The show is very cute and intended for young children 6-11. There is no dialogue. It’s all grunts and other sounds, in order to make it universal. Even so, it has various lessons that it shows, such as cooperation. Make sure you recommend this to any parent or young child.

MORE INFORMATION:

With winter behind them, Bheem and his townspeople usher in a sunny new season in all their favorite ways during the Makar Sankranti festival.
Starring:Sumruddhi Shukla, Aranya Kaur, Nishka Raheja
Creators:Rajiv Chilaka

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"Mighty Little Bheem: Kite Festival" on Netflix

Primetime TV Review: “Lupin”

TV Review!

Lupin on Netflix

“Lupin” on Netflix Review by Suzanne 1/9/21

This is a really fun show that reminds me of old 60’s movies and shows that I grew up with, like “The Thomas Crown Affair,” “Charade” and “To Catch a Thief,” as well as the more recent series “Leverage.” Omar Sy plays Assane Diop, an immigrant janitor who seemingly owes money to a group of criminals. He gets them involved in a jewel heist at The Louvre. As the story unfolds, we see that Assane is not who he seemed. We see flashbacks to when he was younger; a rich family destroyed his father by accusing him of a crime. Assane reads about the adventures of dashing criminal mastermind ArsĂšne Lupin (from 1905 books) and is inspired by him.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but it’s a great twisty story that’s so enjoyable to watch. I’m going to keep watching this one for sure to see how it turns out. Sy is wonderfully suave in the role. Vincent Londez plays Capitaine Romain Laugier, the officer investigating the heist. He has a good intense stare. Ludivine Sagnier plays Assane’s ex-wife, Claire. They have a son together, so I would guess that at some point, his criminal behavior puts them in danger.

I want to see more about this series and can’t wait to watch it. The character Lupin has appeared in many books, plays, TV series and movies…and even a comic book.

MORE INFORMATION:

Inspired by the adventures of ArsĂšne Lupin, gentleman thief Assane Diop sets out to avenge his father for an injustice inflicted by a wealthy family.

As a teenager, Assane Diop’s life was turned upside down when his father died after being accused of a crime he didn’t commit. 25 years later, Assane will use “ArsĂšne Lupin, Gentleman Burglar” as his inspiration to avenge his father. A Netflix Original Series only on Netflix, January 8.

Starring:Omar Sy, Ludivine Sagnier, Clotilde Hesme
Creators:George Kay

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Lupin on Netflix

Primetime TV Review: “Coyote”

TV Review!

Coyote on CBS All Access

“Coyote” on CBS All Access Review by Suzanne 1/9/21

This is a very good and compelling drama. It definitely kept me glued to the screen. It has a tight script and very good acting. Michael Chiklis (who’s always so good) stars as Ben, a retiring border patrol agent who gets caught up with gangs down in Mexico. The premise may sound far-fetched, but they make the story work. Also, I expected Chiklis’ Ben to be as corrupt as his character on “The Shield,” but he’s not.

Ben is a hard-working border cop who has clearly put everything into his job, since he has an ex-wife and college-aged daughter (and he doesn’t seem to have any friends outside of work). He’s not happy about retiring. He makes a big bust on his last day. Later, he goes down to a Tijuana because his late partner, Javi, bought some beach property down there and was fixing it up for his family (presumably to retire to). Ben wants to help out Javi’s widow by fixing it up to sell. He’s a guy who’s just trying to do the right thing, but he doesn’t seem to be very equipped at life outside his job.

If you liked “Breaking Bad,” then you’ll probably love this show as well. Honestly, I don’t like these types of shows where the protagonist ends up being a bad guy or breaking the law, but at least Ben is a good, honest cop (at the beginning). There have been so many shows like now: Weeds, Ozark, Claws, and Good Girls. Few are as good as this, though.

MORE INFORMATION:

COYOTE is the story of Ben Clemens (Michael Chiklis), who after 32 years as a border patrol agent is forced to work for the very people he spent his career trying to keep out of the United States. Now exposed to life on the other side of the wall, Ben will start to question his black and white views of the world, challenging his ideology and his loyalties.

ON AIR:

 

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7 on CBS All Access with all six episodes dropping at once.
FORMAT:

 

STARRING:

Drama

 

Michael Chiklis

Juan Pablo Raba

Adriana Paz

Kristyan Ferrer

Octavio Pisano

Cynthia Kaye McWilliams

Julio Cedillo

 

 

(Ben Clemens)

(Juan Diego “El Catrin” Zamora)

(Silvia)

(Dante)

(Sultan)

(Holly Vincent)

(Neto)

PRODUCED BY:

 

 

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:

Sony Pictures Television, Dark Horse Entertainment

 

 

Michelle MacLaren, David Graziano, Michael Carnes, Josh Gilbert, Mike Richardson, Keith Goldberg, Rebecca Hobbs, and Michael Chiklis

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Coyote on CBS All Access

Primetime TV Review: “History of Swear Words”

TV Review!

Nicolas Cage in "History of Swear Words" on Netflix

“History of Swear Words” on Netflix Review by Suzanne 1/9/21

This seemed like a cute idea, but it’s not all that interesting or funny. Nicolas Cage puts on a robe and stands in a stuffy-looking study to pretend to be hosting some pretentious show, like Masterpiece on PBS. Instead, each episode is about a new curse word. “Fuck” is the first episode. Besides Cage, there are comedians (like Jim Jefferies and Sarah Silverman) that talk about the word, and experts who talk about the history of the word. They show a lot of video clips to illustrate what they’re talking about.

If you like shows like “Drunk History,” then this may be more your kind of thing than mine. I found it disappointing. The only thing I can think of is that writer Bellamie Blackstone must have been really bored while on pandemic lockdown to come up with this idea…I don’t know why this project went forward, since all he’s done before is produce game shows and hasn’t written much….and it shows.

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Nicolas Cage hosts this proudly profane series that explores the history and impact of some of the most notorious bad words in the English language.

Join Nicolas Cage for an education in expletives. This six-part comedy series explores the origins, pop culture-usage, science and cultural impact of curse words. History of Swear Words premieres January 5, 2021, on Netflix.

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Nicolas Cage in "History of Swear Words" on Netflix

Primetime TV Review: “Gabby’s Dollhouse”

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Gabby's Dollhouse on Netflix

“Gabby’s Dollhouse” on Netflix Review by Suzanne 1/9/21

This is a children’s show that combines live action with animation. Gabby (Laila Lockhart Kraner) is a young girl who loves cats. Besides her real-life cat and all of her cat-themed possessions in her bedroom, she has a cat-themed dollhouse. She’s able to magically shrink herself and go into the dollhouse (where she becomes animated) to play with her stuffed cat friends, like Pandy Paws (Tucker Chandler) and Pillow Cat (Sainty Nelsen).

The show is fun and kids should enjoy it. It has a lot of good energy, creativity, and music, as well as lessons about cooperation, baking, and more. It’s by Dreamworks, so you know that the animation and special effects are top notch. In each episode, Gabby brings out a new story or adventure. In real life, many kids like to watch “unboxing” videos on YouTube, where someone opens a new boxes of toys. The writers took that concept and made it so that Gabby is “unboxing” a new story. It’s very clever.

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Cute cats, quirky crafts and colorful magic! Join kitty enthusiast Gabby and her sidekick Pandy Paws as they team up for a series of animated adventures.
Starring:Laila Lockhart Kraner, Tucker Chandler, Juliet Donenfeld
Creators:Traci Paige Johnson, Jennifer Twomey
A preschool show with a surprise inside, created and executive produced by Traci Paige Johnson (Blue’s Clues, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood) and Jennifer Twomey (Blue’s Clues, Team Umizoomi), Gabby’s Dollhouse is a mixed media series that unboxes a surprise before jumping into a fantastical animated world full of adorable cat characters that live inside Gabby’s dollhouse.

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"Gabby's Dollhouse" on Netflix

Primetime TV Review: “Mr. Mayor”

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Mr. Mayor cast

“Mr. Mayor” on NBC Review by Suzanne 1/9/21

This show is created by Tina Fey and her writing/producing partner Robert Carlock (who also did “30 Rock,” “Good News” and “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”) and stars Ted Danson (“The Good Stuff,” “Cheers”). However, it’s not as funny as it could be. I watched the first two episodes. The second episode was funnier (where the Mayor gets stoned), so you do need to stick with it to enjoy it. It’s no “30 Rock” or “The Good Place,” though.

Danson stars as the new mayor of Los Angeles, Neil Bremer. He’s a former retired local businessman, widowed, that got into the race after the previous mayor flamed out in that last horrible year, 2020. Holly Hunter plays a sarcastic city councilwoman, Arpi Meskimen. She reminds me a bit of Tig Notaro’s character in “Star Trek: Discovery.” Mikaela Shaw plays Vella, the mayor’s chief of staff. Others in the mayor’s staff include Mike (Tommy TomĂĄs) and a really annoying dumb guy, Jayden (Bobby Moynihan).

The joke of the show is that the mayor knows nothing about politics, and they’re all worried about what dumb things he’ll do, but really, he’s a bit more savvy than they give him credit for because he’s good with people. He’s softened a bit by his teen daughter, Orly (Kyla Kenedy).

Unless the show gets a lot funnier, I doubt it’ll be a hit. Hunter and Danson are both way too good to be in this sitcom.

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“Mr. Mayor” follows a retired businessman (Ted Danson) who runs for mayor of Los Angeles to prove he’s “still got it.” Once he wins, he has to figure out what he stands for, gain the respect of his biggest critic (Holly Hunter) and connect with his teenage daughter, all while trying to get anything right for America’s second weirdest city.
The series stars Ted Danson, Holly Hunter, Vella Lovell, Mike Cabellon, Kyla Kenedy and Bobby Moynihan.If you are in the market for clothes, our platform is your best choice! The largest shopping mall!
“Mr. Mayor” is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, Little Stranger, Bevel Gears and 3 Arts Entertainment. Robert Carlock, Tina Fey, Jeff Richmond and David Miner will executive produce. Eric Gurian will serve as a co-executive producer.

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Mr. Mayor cast

Primetime TV Review: “30 Coins”

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30 Coins' Montaner and Silvestre

“30 Coins” on HBO Review by Suzanne 1/9/21

If you like horror (not just the gross-out kind), you should love this show. It’s in Spanish, though, so you do have to pay attention if you’re not a native speaker and you’re watching the English subtitles. This show really grabbed me right at the beginning. They don’t play around. The first thing you see is horrible, and more terrible things follow. The show reminds me a bit of the Exorcist TV series, but it’s got even more shocks. There’s very little that’s subtle here; however, they do have a lot of surprises.

The heroine of the show is Elena (Megan Montaner), a veterinarian who witnesses some horrific things. Paco (Miguel Ángel Silvestre) is the handsome mayor of their small town. He runs a butchering plant and was pushed into running by his domineering wife (Macarena Gómez). Paco is called when something really weird happens with Elena and this newborn baby.

The other main character is Padre Vergara (Eduard FernĂĄndez), who’s new to town. He has a history with exorcism. He claims that he doesn’t believe in the devil any more, but we know that he’s seen otherwise. He’s called in by Paco about the baby.

The 30 coins in the title refers to the pieces of silver given to Judas. The show’s “theme song” shows Christ’s crucifixion, and then Judas’ hanging, in vivid detail. Apparently the devil (or someone in Hell) wants the coins back, but they’re scattered all over the world.

I’m really trying hard not to post a spoiler here because it’s important, in a horror movie, not to spoil the really terrifying, shocking or gruesome things that happen. I’ll just say that there is plenty to be had, and all I watched was the first episode. I watched it late at night, so I had to watch a couple of lighter shows afterwards, to make sure I didn’t have nightmares. Watch this in the daytime. It’s very compelling.

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Directed and co-written by acclaimed horror master Álex de la Iglesia (The Day of the Beast, The Last Circus), 30 Coins takes viewers into a world where nothing is as it seems, and nobody can be trusted.

The eight-episode drama series follows Father Vergara (Eduard Fernåndez), an exorcist, boxer, and ex-convict who is exiled by the church to be the priest of a remote town in Spain. As his past and old enemies come back to haunt him, strange things begin to happen. An unlikely task force forms as Mayor Paco (Miguel Ángel Silvestre) and local vet Elena (Megan Montaner) seek the truth, while reality is distorted by a cursed coin which is at the heart of a global conspiracy.

30 Coins is co-written by Álex de la Iglesia and Jorge Guerricaechevarría. Executive producers for HBO Europe are Steve Matthews, Miguel Salvat, and Antony Root. Álex de la Iglesia and Carolina Bang are executive producers for Pokeepsie Films. The series was produced with participation from HBO Latin America.

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"30 Coins" promotional pic

Primetime TV Review: “Name That Tune” (2021)

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“Name That Tune (2021)” on Fox Review by Eva 1/9/2021

I was excited to learn that the game show Name that Tune was getting an update and would air on Fox. Broadway, film, and television star Jane Krakowski hosts the show and musician and former American Idol judge Randy Jackson directs the band and singers.

In the first round of the game, two contestants play against each other guessing songs from topics they choose from a list. The second round is called Bd A Note where contestants bid against each other to see in how many notes they can guess a song. If the contestant who wins the bet can guess the song, he wins money. If the contestant is unable to guess the song the other contestant gets ten notes to guess the song and if they are correct they win the money. The person who has the most money at the end of the two rounds goes to the Golden Medley round where they can win $ 100,000 if they guess seven songs correctly. Jane and Randy have great chemistry together and are truly rooting for the contestants to win the game.

I think the show is fun to watch and you will have fun playing along with the game to see if you can guess the songs along with the contestants. I think this will be a big hit and one of the strongest games in the Fox game show line up. I give the show a 5 out of 5 stars you will really enjoy this show.

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Primetime TV Review: “The Chase”

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“The Chase” on ABC Review by Eva 1/9/2021

I was very excited when I saw the commercial for the game show The Chase because I am a big fan of the previous version of the show which still airs in reruns on the Game Show Network (GSN) and is also streaming on Hulu.

Three contestants take on a trivia genius who is The Chaser. One at a time each contestant builds up cash in the cash builder round. Once the cash builder round is complete, then the contestant takes on the Chaser. The Chaser offers the contestant a low offer for the contestant to start the Chase closer to the bank or the contestant could start the Chase in the middle of the board and take the money they earned toward the bank or if he takes the chasers high offer the contestant risks giving the Chaser an easier way to catch them. The contestant and the Chaser answer trivia questions head to head and if the contestant gets the question right they take their money closer to the bank. If the Chaser also gets the question right he also moves down the board. If the contestant is caught by the Chaser the contestant is eliminated from the game and he loses his money. The other two contestants continue the game and whichever contestants beat the Chaser they bank their money and go to the Final Chase where they take on the Chaser one more time for the chance to take home the money in the bank.

This new version of the game is hosted by Sarah Haines and the Chasers are Jeopardy! champions Ken Jennings, James Holzhauer, and Brad Rutter I enjoyed the show very much, but I would have enjoyed it more if the show had a better host because Sarah Haines is too serious to host a game show. She doesn’t appear to care if the contestants win or not because she doesn’t cheer them on or support them. I hope that in future episodes she loosens up and starts to be more supportive of the contestants. I advise you to watch the previous version of The Chase and you will notice the difference between the two shows. I give this show 4 out of 5 stars

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Primetime TV Review: “Call Me Kat”

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Call Me Kat on FOX

“Call Me Kat” on FOX Review by Suzanne 1/9/21

Mayam Bialik (“Big Bang Theory”) stars as a 39-year-old single woman, Kat, who loves cats. She has social anxiety and opened her own Cat CafĂ©. In other words, she’s supposed to be a lovable dork. Other characters in this show include Max (Cheyenne Jackson), a man Kat used to have a crush on in high school; her good friend Tara (Vanessa Lachey); her mother (Swoosie Kurtz), who likes to nag her; a bartender she knows, Carter (Julian Gant); and people that work in her cat cafe: Randi (Kyla Pratt) and Phil (Leslie Jordan). Leslie Jordan is always funny, especially if he has good material. I’m sad to say that’s not really the case here.

Kat is a very different character than probably any others you’ve seen Bialik play before. She’s an excellent actress, but this show is not right for her. In an annoying plot device, she talks to the audience a lot. I really hate shows that do this. Kat is very animated and often makes wild gestures, which end up with her accidentally hitting or kicking someone or something. She’s supposed to be very awkward, but frankly…. I just don’t think it works. There aren’t enough jokes in the show to make me laugh.

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New comedy CALL ME KAT, starring Emmy Award nominee Mayim Bialik (“The Big Bang Theory”), and executive-produced by Bialik, Emmy Award-nominated producer Jim Parsons (“The Big Bang Theory,” “The Boys in the Band”) and Darlene Hunt (“The Big C”), will have a special series premiere Sunday, Jan. 3 (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT), following the NFL ON FOX doubleheader. The series then makes its time period premiere with an all-new episode Thursday, Jan. 7 (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT). Based on the BBC UK original series “Miranda,” CALL ME KAT stars Bialik as a woman who struggles every day against society and her mother to prove that she can still live a happy and fulfilling life despite being single at 39.  Which is why she recently spent her entire savings to open a cat cafĂ© in Louisville, Kentucky. It was expected of KAT (Bialik) to be married with kids by now, but for many reasons, she’s still single – and totally fine with it. Of course, Kat’s mother, SHEILA (Emmy Award winner and Golden Globe nominee Swoosie Kurtz, “Mike & Molly,” “Sisters”), views her daughter’s single-hood as her own personal failure, but Kat remains determined to live a fulfilling life, and charts her own course to happiness. Working alongside Kat at the cafĂ© are RANDI (Kyla Pratt, “One on One”), a confident millennial and self-proclaimed “non” cat person; and PHIL (Emmy Award winner Leslie Jordan, “The Cool Kids,” “Will & Grace”), who recently broke up with his longtime partner. Although Kat celebrates her independence, her single-forever plans may begin to veer off-course, when her former crush and good friend, MAX (Cheyenne Jackson, “American Horror Story,” “30 Rock”), returns to town and takes a job as a bartender at the piano bar across the street, working with his friend, CARTER (Julian Gant, “Good Girls”).  CALL ME KAT is produced by That’s Wonderful Productions, Sad Clown Productions and BBC Studios’ Los Angeles production arm in association with Warner Bros. Television and FOX Entertainment. Darlene Hunt is the executive producer and showrunner. Additionally, Jim Parsons, Todd Spiewak (That’s Wonderful Productions), Mayim Bialik (Sad Clown Productions), Miranda Hart, Angie Stephenson (BBC Studios) and Beth McCarthy-Miller also serve as executive producers. McCarthy-Miller directed the series premiere.

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Call Me Kat on FOX

Primetime TV Review: “The Watch”

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The Watch on BBC America

“The Watch” on BBCA Review by Suzanne 1/9/21

This is a weird scifi show, loosely based on fantasy author Terry Pratchett’s “Discworld” series. I don’t generally like TV series where everything is grimy and disgusting, and where the people are terrible and lawless. However, there is a lot to enjoy about this series, so it’s worth watching for that. If you like scifi/fantasy – especially Dystopian – you should enjoy this. There are elements of steampunk as well.

Richard Dormer plays Sam Vimes, a washed-up police detective, in this fantasy world where humans live alongside dwarves, imps, werewolves, dragons and more. We see most of the action from his POV. The first episode appears to be mostly in flashback as he’s chatting with the devil. I’m not sure if the rest of the show is also in flashback or not. Like I said, it’s a weird show! When Vimes was young, he had been in a gang, and his friend there, Carcer Dun (Samuel Adewunmi), had him infiltrate the police department in order to tear it apart. Instead, Vimes was recruited by the police department and liked it, so Dun shot the police Captain John Keel (Hakeem Kae-Kazim), and then Vimes fought with him. Dun ends up falling from a large height, so everyone assumed he’s dead.

In the present, Vimes is a serious alcoholic. The police (The Watch) don’t chase criminals any more. It’s explained that in order to cut down on all the crime, criminals now have to join a Guild and leave a receipt if they steal something, kill someone, etc. The Watch can only pursue minor crimes, such as missing library books and pets, unless someone commits a crime and isn’t part of a Guild.

We meet all of the members of The Watch, which includes newbie-from-out-of-town Carrot (Adam Hugill); Angua (who looks like a goth but is really a werewolf), played by Marama Corlett; Cheery (Jo Eaton-Kent), a transgender forensics expert; and Sergeant Detritus (Ralph Ineson), who looks a lot like a cross between the Fantastic Four’s Thing and the adult Groot.

Vimes thinks he sees Dun, so he chases after him and finds more mystery (of course) and a strange woman named Lady Sybil Ramkin (Lara Rossi). Meanwhile, Carrot has discovered a dead body that was not killed by a Guild member, so the others have that new mystery to solve.

The acting and writing are very good. There is a lot of plot here, but it’s not too hard to follow unless you’re really not paying attention. The show has a lot of mystery, humor, fantasy, action and more.

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BBC AMERICA GREENLIGHTS ORIGINAL SCRIPTED SERIES THE WATCH

New Punk Rock Thriller is Based on Sir Terry Pratchett’s “Discworld” Novels

New York – October 31, 2018 – On the heels of hit series Killing Eve and the introduction of the first female Doctor on Doctor Who, BBC AMERICA announced today the greenlight of the new original scripted series, The Watch, based on Sir Terry Pratchett’s wildly popular “Discworld” novels, which have sold more than 90 million books worldwide. The (8 x 60) series is produced by BBC Studios for BBC AMERICA. The Watch is distributed by BBC Studios.

The Watch is a punk rock thriller inspired by the legendary ‘City Watch’ subset of “Discworld” novels. This disruptive, character-driven thriller centers on Terry Pratchett’s misfit cops as they fight to save a ramshackle city of normalized wrongness, from both the past and future in a perilous quest. Modern and inclusive, The Watch features many famous “Discworld” creations including City Watch Captain Sam Vimes, the last scion of nobility Lady Sybil Ramkin, the naïve but heroic Carrot, the mysterious Angua and the ingenious non-binary forensics expert Cheery together with Terry Pratchett’s iconic characterization of Death.

The Watch was commissioned for BBC AMERICA by President and GM Sarah Barnett, and Nena Rodrigue, EVP of Original Programming, Acquisitions and Production. Co-produced with Narrativia and written by Simon Allen (The Musketeers, Das Boot and New Tricks), The Watch is executive produced by Hilary Salmon (Luther, Silent Witness and Three Girls), Ben Donald for BBC Studios and Rob Wilkins for Narrativia. Phil Collinson (Doctor Who) also joins the team as executive producer.

“The Watch has been startlingly reimagined for television by writer Simon Allen, while still cleaving to the humor, heart and ingenuity of Terry Pratchett’s incomparably original work,” commented BBC AMERICA President, Sarah Barnett. “BBC AMERICA embraces what’s fresh and exhilarating in TV; we believe The Watch will astonish audiences.”

Writer Simon Allen said: “With events in our own world making the insanity of ‘Discworld’ seem outrageously familiar, there couldn’t be a better time to bring Terry’s fun, fire and fury back to the small screen or a better place than BBC AMERICA. I’m grateful to them, BBC Studios and especially Rob Wilkins at Narrativia who has been a constant source of inspiration on this epic and emotional journey.”

Hilary Salmon, Executive Producer and Head of BBC Studios Drama Production London, said: “The Watch is a distinctly British but defiantly global exhilarating thriller that is disruptive in its approach to the fantasy genre and also big on the themes of mortality, inclusion, alternative facts and justice. It’s a dizzying riot of hope, joy, suspense and audaciously dark humor. We can’t wait to work with BBC AMERICA to bring it all to life for existing fans and brand new audiences.”

Rob Wilkins, Executive Producer and Managing Director of Narrativia, said: “Many years ago Terry made the brave decision to allow brand new Watch stories to be told with his existing characters. It’s taken a long time for anything to happen because we guard these characters with our very lives! So many of Terry’s biggest ideas seem more vital and urgent now than ever before and I am thrilled to be working with Simon and such a talented team, who understand the unique genius of their creator. They have really keyed into the subversive qualities of Terry’s voice and they clearly adore ‘Discworld’ as much as I and millions of fans around the world do.”

The new series joins an outstanding offering of original scripted programming at BBC AMERICA including the EmmyÂź-nominated Killing Eve starring Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer, the iconic series Doctor Who starring Jodie Whittaker, and the Golden GlobeÂź-winning Luther starring Idris Elba.

BBC Studios produces multi-award-winning dramas loved by audiences around the world, including Doctor Who, Luther and War and Peace. It works with the best established and new drama talent, from writers and directors to on-screen talent, to create original, bold and ambitious British drama. BBC Studios is also making Good Omens, based on the Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman novel, co-produced with Narrativia, The Blank Corporation and Amazon.

BBC AMERICA is a hub of innovative, culturally contagious programming including the critically acclaimed series Killing Eve starring Emmy¼-nominee Sandra Oh, Jodie Comer and from Emmy¼-nominee Phoebe Waller-Bridge; top-rated phenomenon Doctor Who starring Jodie Whittaker; Emmy¼ and IDA-winning Planet Earth II and the producers’ next epic story of our planet, Dynasties; Emmy¼-winning Blue Planet II; acclaimed drama Luther starring Golden Globe¼-winner Idris Elba; ground-breaking unscripted series Top Gear; buzzy and hilarious The Graham Norton Show; and the world’s biggest darts championships. A joint venture between BBC Studios (the commercial arm of the BBC) and AMC Networks, BBCA’s influential shows such as Orphan Black and Broadchurch, among many others, have attracted critical acclaim and earned Emmy¼ Awards, Peabody Awards, Critics’ Choice Awards, TCA Awards and Golden Globes¼. Created in 1998, the irrepressible network has garnered one of cable’s most curious, educated and affluent audiences, with many properties boasting super-fan levels of engagement. Get caught up, BBCA offers full episodes On Demand across all major digital platforms, BBC AMERICA app and bbcamerica.com. Find out more by visiting press.bbcamerica.com. BBCA on social: YouTube – Twitter – Instagram – Facebook – Tumblr – Snapchat: BBCAmerica_TV

ABOUT BBC STUDIOS

BBC Studios, a global content company with British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group. Formed in April 2018 by the merger of BBC Worldwide and BBC Studios, it spans content financing, development, production, sales, branded services and ancillaries. BBC Studios’ award-winning British programmes are internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms. It has offices in 22 markets globally, including seven production bases in the UK, and a further nine wholly-owned and production partnerships internationally. The company, which makes 2500 hours of content a year, is a champion for British creativity around the world and a committed partner for the UK’s independent sector. BBC Studios has revenue of £1.4bn, and returns around £200m to the BBC Group annually, complementing the BBC’s licence fee and enhancing programmes for UK audiences.

twitter.com/bbcstudios

ABOUT THE WRITER

Simon Allen is the showrunner of The Watch, an irreverent 8 x ’60 remix of Terry Pratchett’s “Discworld” novels for BBC AMERICA. He recently served as a writer/producer on the remake of Das Boot for Sky Atlantic and Sonar Entertainment having been a showrunner on The Musketeers for BBC One. He has worked on multiple high-profile shows including Strike Back for Sky/HBO, Frank Spotnitz’s Hunted for BBC One/HBO, and Spotless for Canal Plus/Netflix. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Terry Pratchett was the acclaimed creator of the global bestselling “Discworld” series, the first of which was published in 1983. With more than 90 million books sold worldwide, translated into 38 languages, Pratchett’s writing has created a literary phenomenon across the globe. His books have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes and accolades, including the Carnegie Medal, and the award of a Knighthood for services to literature. He died in March 2015.

ABOUT NARRATIVIA

Narrativia is an independent production company, launched in 2012 by Sir Terry Pratchett. The company owns and controls the exclusive multimedia and merchandising rights to all of Sir Terry’s works, including his “Discworld” characters and creations. The company is headed by Managing Director Rob Wilkins and celebrated writer Rhianna Pratchett.

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The Watch on BBC America

Primetime TV Review: “The Hustler”

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“The Hustler” Review by Eva 1/7/2021

The Hustler is the latest game show on ABC, but it is a bit different than other game shows because it mixes trivia questions with some detective work.

There are five contestants but one of the five knows all the answers to the trivia questions because the questions are based on that contestant’s personal likes, dislikes, and habits. The contestant that has all the answers and controls the game is known as the Hustler. The Hustler must hide the fact that they are the Hustler from the other contestants in the game. The five contestants answer trivia questions to build up cash and the Hustler eliminates two of the contestants and then the final three contestants must decide the identity of the Hustler if the identity of the Hustler is guessed correctly then the contestants that figures out the identity of the Hustler they split the money between them if only one contestant figures out the identity of the Hustler then they go home with all the money. If neither of the contestants guess the identity of the Hustler then the Hustler goes home with all the money.

I enjoy watching game shows and I thought this one was interesting and different because it is a mystery mixed with trivia and I had fun trying to figure out who the Hustler was but, as game show fans know, the people watching mist want to play along and secondly they must want a particular contestant to win in order to keep watching the game. I had fun playing along with the game, but I wasn’t rooting for any particular contestant to win the game. I think this is a big problem for this show because I don’t want to keep watching the show. I think I will watch this show and hope that it gets better but I think this is the weakest of the games in the ABC lineup. and I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

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NEW CRAIG FERGUSON-HOSTED GAME SHOW, ABC’S ‘THE HUSTLER,’
CHALLENGES VIEWERS TO HONE THEIR DETECTIVE SKILLS
ABC announced today the network has picked up the mind-bending, new game show series, “The Hustler.” Hosted by Emmy¼ Award-winning game show host, actor, writer, comedian and ABC alum Craig Ferguson, “The Hustler” breaks the game show mold by featuring one player who secretly already knows the answers. Don’t be fooled. Just because they have a leg up doesn’t mean they’ll be taking home the prize. “The Hustler” is set to begin production later this fall, with an airdate to be announced at a later date.
Each episode of “The Hustler” will follow five contestants as they collaborate to answer a series of trivia questions, with the goal of building a collective prize pot that increases with each correct answer. The catch? One of the five contestants, the Hustler, already knows the answers but must keep their identity a secret in order to have a shot at winning the grand prize. Throughout each episode, two contestants are anonymously eliminated by the Hustler, leaving three remaining contestants – the Hustler and two others, who must collectively decide who they think the Hustler is. If they are right, they share the prize pot. If the two contestants are wrong, the Hustler goes home with the full cash reward.
“It’s rare and exciting to have a mystery-based game show that employs viewers and contestants to tap into their sleuth skills,” said Rob Mills, senior vice president, Alternative Series, Specials and Late Night, ABC Entertainment. “This fun, new format is the perfect addition to our dynamic game show lineup, and Craig’s unmatched wit and humor make him the ideal host. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome him back to ABC.”
“Studio Lambert and format creator Richard Bacon are incredibly excited to partner with ABC on ‘The Hustler,’” said Studio Lambert CEO Stephen Lambert. “With Craig in the driver’s seat, the comedic beats of this game are very much to the fore. We think ABC viewers will laugh a lot but also be shocked and surprised by the twists of this game, which invites contestants and viewers to play detective, solving a whodunit or, in this case, a whoisit.”
“The Hustler,” which is produced by All3Media-backed production company Studio Lambert, is an original format created by British TV and radio host Richard Bacon, who serves as an executive producer along with Studio Lambert company founder Stephen Lambert, executive vice president of Studio Lambert USA Jack Burgess, creative director Tim Harcourt and Susan House.

About ABC Entertainment
ABC Entertainment airs compelling programming across all day parts, including “Grey’s Anatomy,” the longest-running medical drama in prime-time television; riveting dramas “The Good Doctor,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” “A Million Little Things” and “Station 19”; the Emmy¼ Award-winning “Modern Family” and trailblazing comedy favorites “American Housewife,” “black-ish,” “Bless This Mess,” “The Conners,” “The Goldbergs,” and “Schooled”; the popular “Summer Fun & Games” programming block, including “Card Sharks,” “Celebrity Family Feud,” “Holey Moley” and “Press Your Luck”; star-making sensation “American Idol”; reality phenomenon “Shark Tank”; “The Bachelor” franchise; long-running hits “Dancing with the Stars” and “America’s Funniest Home Videos”; “General Hospital,” which has aired for more than 55 years on the network; and late-night talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”; as well as the critically acclaimed hit special ”Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons.’” The network also boasts some of television’s most prestigious awards shows, including “The Oscars¼,” “The CMA Awards” and the “American Music Awards.”
ABC programming can also be viewed on ABC.com, the ABC app and Hulu.

About Studio Lambert
Studio Lambert is a British and American production company producing high quality scripted and unscripted series. It was established in 2008 by Stephen Lambert, creator of many well-known global formats including the CBS Emmy-winning “Undercover Boss” and BAFTA-winning “Wife Swap”, which ran on ABC for many years. Studio Lambert is part of the All3Media group and is currently producing scripted series for the BBC and Amazon and several new unscripted series for UK and US networks, including global phenomenon “The Circle”, soon to launch on Netflix. In two recent UK industry polls, Studio Lambert was ranked No. 1 by its peers.
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