The new USA Network drama Dare Me is set to debut on December 29 at 10 PM.
The series follows the fraught relationship between two best friends (Herizen Guardiola and Marlo Kelly) after a new coach (Willa Fitzgerald from Royal Pains and Scream: The Series) arrives to bring their team to prominence. While the girls’ friendship is put to the test, their young lives are changed forever when a shocking crime rocks their quiet suburban world.
The cast includes Zach Roerig (The Vampire Diaries).
This was the year of superhero movies: Avengers: Endgame, Captain Marvel, Spider-Man: Far from Home, Aquaman and Shazam!, drawing in movie-goers; but just as popular was the big screen “debut” of Downton Abbey and the return to Jumanji.
There were the tearjerkers: Five Feet Apart, A Dog’s Journey and The Art of Racing in the Rain as well as great action flicks like Men in Black International, Angel Has Fallen and Hobbs and Shaw, and of course, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Let’s take a look at the top 30 box office winners from this year (up through Sunday, December 22):
1. Avengers: Endgame – 858 million
2. The Lion King – 544 million
3. Toy Story 4 – 434 million
4. Captain Marvel – 427 million
5. Spider-Man: Far from Home – 391 million
6. Frozen II – 374 million
7. Aladdin – 356 million
8. Joker – 333 million
9. It Chapter Two – 212 million
10. Us 1 175 million
11. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw – 174 million
12. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum – 171 million
13. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World – 161 million
14. The Secret Life of Pets 2 – 158 million
15. Pokemon Detective Pikachu – 144 million
16. Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood – 141 million
17. Shazam! – 140 million
18. Aquaman – 136 million
19. Dumbo – 115 million
20. Maleficent: Mistress of Evil – 113 million
21. Glass – 111 million
22. Godzilla: King of the Monsters – 110 million
23. The Upside – 108 million
24. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part – 106 million
25. Hustlers – 105 million
26. Ford v Ferrari – 104 million
27. The Addams Family – 97 million
28. Downton Abbey – 96 million
29. Rocketman – 96 million
30. Alita: Battle Angel – 86 million
NOTE: Please keep in mind that the box office results for movies released during the week before Christmas; namely Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, won’t be tallied until later this week.
On the other spectrum are the movies that were either a disappointment in the box office due to poor ticket sales or, more importantly, had a horrible trailer that made me completely uninterested in seeing them.
They appear in no alphabetical order below:
A Madea Family Funeral Annabelle Comes Home Black Christmas Brightburn Captive State Countdown Crawl Doctor Sleep Good Boys Joker Like A Boss Long Shot The Intruder Ma Murder Mystery Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Pet Sematary Playing with Fire Ready or Not Scary Stories To Tell in The Dark Stuber
The following list, provided by Business Insider, are the 16 box office flops, listed in no particular order:
Replicas (starring Keanu Reeves) – It fell short $26 million dollars from its production costs and earned only a 10% Rotten Tomatoes score.
The Kid Who Would Be King – It was short by $28 million dollars from its production costs.
Serenity (the Matthew McConaghey and Anne Hathaway film) – It fell short by $17 million dollars from its production value and only got a 19% score at Rotten Tomatoes.
Miss Bala (starring Jane the Virgin lead Gina Rodriguez) – While the film made just a little over its production budget, it only earned a 22% score from Rotten Tomatoes.
Captive State (which starred John Goodman and Vera Farmiga) – This move also lost $17 million from its production value with a 45% score from Rotten Tomatoes.
The Beach Bum (the stoner comedy that starred Zac Efron and Matthew McConaughey) – It lost about a million dollars from its production value with a 54% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Hellboy (the reboot that starred Stranger Things’ David Harbour in the lead role) – It fell short by $9 million dollars from its production value and earned only a 15% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Ugly Dolls (the animated film) – It lost $18 million dollars from its production value with only a 27% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Poms (the Diane Keaton flick) – It is unclear how much money it lost, but it raked in just a little over $13 million overall and earned a 34% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Tolkien (which starred Nicholas Hoult in the title role) – This is another one that under-performed, earning only 7.7 million in global sales with a 51% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Dark Phoenix (what could be the last in the franchise given how much it was reviled) – It made a lot of money in the box office, over $252 million in global gross sales, but critics and fans alike did not like it and it earned a 23% Rotten Tomatoes score.
The Kitchen (starring Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish and Elizabeth Moss) – It lost over $20 million dollars from its production budget while earning only a 21% Rotten Tomatoes score.
The Goldfinch (which starred Ansel Elgort and Nicole Kidman) – This film lost a whopping $42 million dollars below its production budget and received only a 25% Rotten Tomatoes score.
The Gemini Man (the Will Smith action flick) – It earned $34 million dollars over its immense production budget of $138 million dollars, but was not well-received by audiences. It also only earned a 26% score at Rotten Tomatoes.
Doctor Sleep (the “sequel” to The Shining) – It earned $24 million dollars over its production budget and got a 77% Rotten Tomatoes score, but given expectations it ‘should’ have performed far better.
Playmobil: The Movie (the animated film) – It fell incredibly short of its production budget – losing at least $30 million dollars) and earned only an 18% Rotten Tomatoes score.
What movies did you most enjoy seeing this year? Which movies were disappointments to you? Please share your thoughts and comments.
Trying to figure out what to watch tonight? Be it new episodes of the TV season, reairs of cable series or a movie, here are some suggestions:
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
NOTE: Check for a marathon of Doctor Who episodes on BBC America all day today.
5:01 PM: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie on USA Network
6 PM: The Christmas Temp movie on Lifetime (Encore)
6:51 PM: Men in Black: International movie on Starz
7 PM: Time For You to Come Home for Christmas movie on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries (Encore) The Hunger Games: Catching Fire movie on IFC
8 PM: When Calls the Heart: Home for Christmas movie on Hallmark Channel (DEBUT) The Christmas Hotel movie on Lifetime (Encore) Skyscraper movie on Cinemax Ice Age: The Meltdown (animated) movie on Encore Bohemian Rhapsody movie on HBO Green Book movie on Showtime
8:49 PM: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle movie on Starz
9 PM: Call the Midwife Holiday Special on PBS (DEBUT) Cherished Memories: A Gift to Remember 2 movie on Hallmark Channel (Encore) A Merry Christmas Match movie on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries (Encore) The Help movie on Showtime The Wizard of Oz (classic) movie on TNT
9:15 PM: The Polar Express (animated) movie on AMC
9:33 PM: The Good Dinosaur (animated) movie on Encore
10:03 PM: You Light Up My Christmas movie on Lifetime (Encore)
Trying to figure out what to watch tonight? Be it new episodes of the TV season, reairs of cable series or a movie, here are some suggestions:
NOTE: Check for a marathon of Doctor Who episodes on BBC America all day today. The second season of Lost in Space will premiere on Netflix.
5:55 PM: Chocolat movie on HBO 2
6 PM: Holiday Date movie on Hallmark Channel (Encore) Christmas Love Letter movie on Lifetime (Encore) We Bought a Zoo movie on WGN America
7 PM: Baby in a Manger movie on UPTV (DEBUT) Christmas Homecoming movie on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries (Encore) Christmas Belle movie on ION (Reair) The Hunger Games movie on IFC White Christmas (classic) movie on Sundance TV
8 PM: His Dark Materials on HBO 2 (Encore) Christmas Town movie on Hallmark Channel (Encore) A Date By Christmas Eve movie on Lifetime (Encore) NCIS on CBS (Reair) The Patriot movie on TMC
9 PM: Dublin Murders on Starz (Encore) Write Before Christmas movie on Hallmark Channel (Encore) Christmas Crush movie on ION (Encore)
9:50 PM: The Sun Is Also a Star movie on HBO
10 PM: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire movie on IFC
10:03 PM: A Christmas Wish movie on Lifetime (Encore)
TV viewers never know what to expect each season from their favorite shows because the powers that be behind those shows are sneaky, they like to freak us out, make us laugh, make us cheer and sigh in relief.
Every season there is a lot going on that sometimes it’s hard to point out all of the good (and the bad) that TV provides the viewers, but the following list, which is featured in no particular order, is what really stood out:
[Photo Credit: CBS]
Highest Rated New Drama – All Rise (CBS)
Out of the 9 new one-hour dramas that debuted on the major networks since the 2019-2020 TV season got underway in September, the CBS legal drama All Rise came out on top in terms of overnight ratings. The show averaged 5.3 million viewers from September to December.
[Photo Credit: The CW]
Best Actress in a Drama – Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin (The CW)
Gina received rave reviews for her 7-minute monologue, where Jane talked on and on about her dead husband Michael’s very unexpected reappearance, in the season premiere of Jane the Virgin; an episode that she also directed.
[Photo Credit: Amazon Prime]
Best Actors in a Drama – Michael Sheen and David Tennant in Good Omens (Amazon)
The third episode of the debut season found Aziraphale (Sheen) and Crowley’s (Tennant) friendship over the centuries played out. The entire episode was quite the montage of how this angel and demon grew and changed over the millenia, hiding their friendship from their superiors.
[Photo Credit: AP Images]
That Really Wasn’t A Surprise – Mateo was the narrator on Jane the Virgin (The CW)
For much of the series’ run, viewers of Jane the Virgin contemplated the identity of the narrator with the reveal being made in the show’s final episode; and while it may have come as a surprise that the narrator was a grown-up Mateo (voiced by Anthony Mendez), I was pleased to learn that I was correct in my belief since season two that it was Mateo.
Best Reality Star – Kodi Lee, America’s Got Talent (NBC)
I am the first person to state loud and clear how much I detest reality programming. I honestly think it’s the bane of existence and should be wiped off the TV landscape fully and completely, but every once in awhile there are a few good things that come out of that genre of programming. Kodi Lee is one of those unicorns. He is the blind and autistic singing phenom who won season 14 of the reality competition show.
Check out Kodi’s audtion for America’s Got Talent:
[Photo Credit: Netflix]
Talk of the Streaming World – Tidying Up with Marie Kondo (Netflix)
The Japanese organizing consultant and author debuted her new show on the streaming service at the beginning of the year, becoming quite the talk of the internet especially with her “sparks joy” method of organizing.
[Photo Credit: Nuccio DiNuzzo-Getty Images]
What Were You Thinking? – Jussie Smollett
The Empire actor-singer claimed to be the victim of a homophobic-racist assault, but after receiving endless amounts of support, it was revealed to have been a hoax; although the actor never confirmed that was the case. He was indicted on 16 counts, but eventually charges were dropped and his record was wiped clean. However, he essentially lost his role on the FOX drama and has become a bit of a society pariah.
[Photo Credit: The CW]
Best Villainess – Rachel Skarsten as Alice on Batwoman (The CW)
From the pilot episode it was clear that Alice was a complicated character. Her backstory is heartbreaking but also very telling in why she became who she is now. She has been so set on revenge that she doesn’t even she how vile and villainous she has become. [SPOILER ALERT!] Taking the life of her stepmother and setting up her father as the killer took that villainy to an all-new low.
[Photo Credit: Ron Batzdorff-NBC]
Hunky Newcomer – Blake Stadnik as Jack on This Is Us (NBC)
The fourth season premiere of This Is Us gave us a look at a young man, who was revealed to a successful blind musician and was also revealed to be Jack, the grown son of Kate and Toby. His mom’s scary premature birth caused Jack to be blind. Being from the Pearson line he is just as charming and lovable as the Pearson men and he inherited his singing genes from the Pearson women.
[Photo Credit: Kharen Hill-The CW]
Prettiest Newcomer – Kennedy McMann as Nancy Drew (The CW)
While the show itself hasn’t been performing well in the ratings, and for those of us who aren’t sold on this more modern take on the teenage sleuth, this new incarnation of Nancy Drew may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Kennedy is the prettiest of the newcomers this TV season.
[Photo Credit; Clipart Library]
Where’s the Viewers – Ratings decline
TV viewership has been on the decline, but this fall as existing series returned and new ones debuted, the overnight ratings have seen a noticeable drop – even popular shows. In some instances, returning shows have lost at least a million, if not more, viewers weekly.
[Photo Credit: Dean Buscher-The CW]
Best Comeback From Death – John Winchester on Supernatural (The CW)
It may have only been temporary, but getting to see Jeffrey Dean Morgan as John Winchester on Supernatural was so terrific. Sam and Dean inadvertently summoned their dad from the year 2003, allowing the family – including Mama Winchester – a chance to have one somewhat “normal” night together before bidding an emotional goodbye to him yet again.
[Photo Credit: Syfy]
[Photo Credit: Hulu]
Most Upsetting TV Deaths – Quentin on The Magicians (Syfy) and Logan Echolls in Veronica Mars (Hulu)
Quentin shockingly sacrificed himself in order to save his friends and officially vanquish The Monster.
Logan was unnecessarily killed by a bomb inadvertently left inside Veronica’s car not too long after they finally married.
[Photo Credit: TV Land]
It’s About Damn Time – Diana (Miriam Shor) finally learned the truth about Liza (Sutton Foster) on Younger (TV Land)
It only took SIX seasons for the truth to finally be revealed to everyone, but seeing Diana deal with that truth was quite something to behold.
[Photo Credit: HBO]
The Girl with No Name, Takes Down the King – Arya Defeated the Night King on Game of Thrones (HBO)
Say what you will about the final season of Game of Thrones, but one of the best scenes from that last run was watching mighty but mini Arya take out the big bad Night King, using the best subterfuge possible.
[Photo: ABC-Mitch Haaseth]
We Are One – “Silent All These Years” episode of Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
In this episode, every single woman on the show lined the hall to usher Abby, a sexual assault survivor, into surgery. When the episode aired, Christine Blasey Ford has just testified about her sexual assault by Brett Kavanaugh, who – despite Ford’s meticulously detailed testimony – was confirmed as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
[Photo Credit: HBO]
Getting What She Justly Deserved – Brienne of Tarth Knighed on Game of Thrones (HBO)
It was a long time in coming, given all that the warrior woman had done, in the war for the Iron Throne, but Brienne was finally knighted by Jamie Lannister before the final battle ensued.
[Photo Credit: Diyah Pera-Netflix]
That Was Quite a Twist – The identity of the Dark Lord in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Netflix)
The big reveal was made in the finale of the second season with Sabrina Spellman learning that the Dark Lord was one other than her own dad (how Star Wars-like, right?).
[Photo Credit: Netflix]
How Could You? – Judy Hale (Linda Cardellini) was the hit and run driver, who killed the husband of Jen Harding (Christina Applegate) in Dead to Me (Netflix)
The two women met through a therapy group made of bereft spouses. They became quick friends, but in the final moments of the finale, Judy admitted the truth; but then it was shown that the body of Steve, Judy’s ex-fiance was floating in Jen’s pool
[Photo Credit: HBO]
The Most Mind-Blowing Show – Watchmen (HBO)
This series, based on the acclaimed graphic novel, was mind-boggling for those not well-versed in the canon, but visual stunning in its directorial vision, expertly acted by its ensemble cast, led by the amazing Regina King, and incredibly complex in its storytelling.
Young Inspirations – Teenage Climate Activists
Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old girl from Sweden with Asperger’s Syndrome may be the face of the young climate activists – especially after being named as Time Magazine’s Person of the Year – but she is not the only one.
Just take a look at this article to see that she is not the only one nor should she be seen by the world as the only one.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on what you liked the most and the least on television throughout 2019. Please share.
In my world, I couldn’t live without music. As I’ve shared for years now, I wake up to music every single day rather than an alarm. Every night I go to bed with music playing. The first thing I do after I start my car is turn on the radio. Whenever I leave my house, my music is playing as I don’t like to have a quiet house – even when I’m not around.
Music may not be for everyone, but I couldn’t function without it.
Since music plays a crucial role in my life, I wanted – like for so many years – to take the time to highlight just some of the songs, performers and video moments from this past year:
Best New Male Singer – Lewis Capaldi
Lewis has been a performing for most of his life, but it was his current single “Someone You Loved” that catapulted him into global stardom:
You can watch his video for that single here:
Best New Female Singer – Billie Eilish
This unconventional 18-year-old singer from Los Angeles began singing when she was a young girl. She released her first single in 2015 on SoundCloud, and released several other singles and an EP over the next few years; but it was her 2019 album “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” – which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard charts – that shot her to the top of heap.
Here is the video to her hit single “Bad Guy”:
Best Duets – Sam Smith and Normani “Dancing with a Stranger” and Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello “Senorita
Here is the video for “Dancing with a Stranger”:
Here is the video for “Senorita”:
Top R&B Artist – Lizzo
The Detroit native hit it big this year with her third album “Cuz I Love You,” which peaked inside the top five of the Billboard 200. She is not only a singer and songwriter, but also an actress and flautist.
Here is the video for her big hit “Good As Hell”:
Most Moving Song from a Box Office Film – Cynthia Erivo “Stand Up” from Harriet
The Broadway star shined in the lead role in this box office movie and easily stirs a lot of emotion in the amazing video to the song.
Here is the video for “Stand Up”:
Top Country Hit and Women’s Anthem – Maren Morris “Girl”
The last time a song from a female artist topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart was in February 2018 until this January when “Girl” was released.
Here is the video for “Girl”:
Best TV Performance By a Duo – Taylor Swift and Brendan Urie performing “ME!” on the Billboard Music Awards
The duo opened the show with lots of color, a marching band and umbrellas, performing the song – which had just been released a few days before – as if they’d been performing it for a long time.
You can see the opening performance to the award show here:
Hit Song of the Year – Post Malone “Circles”
The singer-rapper released this song in August and it quickly became a number one hit of the Billboard charts.
Here is the lyric video for “Circles”:
Still Going Strong – Pink
Nearly 20 years after hitting the charts for the first time, Pink is still going strong, releasing her 8th album this year, featuring the hit single “Walk Me Home”.
Here is Pink’s video for “Walk Me Home”:
Which artists stood out for you over this past year? What was your favorite song? Which songs did you get sick of hearing on the radio? What song could you listen to over and over again? What was the top album in your opinion? Please share your thoughts on the music of 2019 below.
Here is the list of the programming options to expect on TV this coming week, the last week of 2019:
On December 24, the second season premiere of Lost in Space will air on Netflix.
The UP TV movie Baby in a Manger will debut on December 24 at 7 PM. With the help of a handsome young police officer, a social worker searches for the mother of a baby she has found abandoned in a nativity scene at her church. Newcomers Monica Knox and Michael Morrone star.
On December 25, the When Calls the Heart: Home for Christmas movie will air on the Hallmark Channel at 8 PM. Elizabeth (Erin Krakow) is excited to celebrate Christmas with Little Jack, as well as his first birthday on Christmas Eve, but she’s missing Jack Sr. as she tries to create a Christmas for her son that’s as special as the ones she experienced growing up. She becomes drawn into a crisis in Nathan’s (Kevin McGarry) family life with his niece, Allie (Jaeda Lily Miller) when he’s faced with a life-altering decision. Meanwhile Lucas (Chris McNally) puts on a show for Elizabeth and the entire town, transforming Main Street into a magical German Christmas Festival. Elsewhere, Rosemary (Pascale Hutton) and Lee (Kavan Smith) obsess with their own challenge to come up with the perfect Christmas present for Little Jack while Bill (Jack Wagner) knows exactly what he intends to give his godson. Carson (Paul Greene) and Faith (Andrea Brooks) get their signals crossed as they try to spend their first Christmas together as a couple.
Call the Midwife Holiday Special will debut on PBS on December 25 at 9 PM, airing for 90 minutes. Mother Mildred and the Nonnatus House team go to the Outer Hebrides in response to a nursing shortage. Navigating the terrain, they strive to keep up with the needs of the locals. As Christmas approaches, a bout of influenza sweeps through both Nonnatus House and the Turner family. When Mother Mildred declares that God is calling her to set up a branch house in the Outer Hebrides, it seems an ideal opportunity for the nuns and midwives to convalesce in the bracing, Scottish fresh air. As they recover, they will also be able to help the island where there is a nursing and doctor shortage. Much to Violet’s frustration, Mother Mildred enlists Fred to drive them all. Sister Monica Joan associates the Outer Hebrides with St Eustace’s White Stag, a symbol of Christ and is thrilled at the idea of travelling there. However, she soon discovers to her annoyance that she is being left behind with Sister Hilda and Sister Frances. Within a week Dr Turner, Shelagh, Mother Mildred, Trixie, Sister Julienne, Valerie, Lucille and Fred set off on their journey to the Outer Hebrides, where they are to stay in a freezing cold, converted church. As the team set about establishing an antenatal clinic and treating the local population, they must battle not only the weather and bleak terrain, but the suspicions of some of the islanders. Meanwhile, in Poplar, Reggie has come home for Christmas and finds one of Violet’s presents for him: the Guinness World’s Records Book. Inspired by the triumphs of others, Reggie decides that he too will try to break a World record.
On December 26, the second season premiere of You will air on Netflix.
The Hallmark Channel movie A New Year’s Resolution will debut on December 28 at 8 PM. When a morning show producer (Aimee Teagarden from Friday Night Lights) makes a New Year’s resolution to say yes more, she crosses paths with a confirmed Yes man (Michael Rady) who just might hold the key to her biggest story and to her heart.
On December 29, the season finale of Dublin Murders will air on Starz at 8 PM.
The new USA Network series Dare Me will debut on December 29 at 10 PM. The series follows the fraught relationship between two best friends (Herizen Guardiola and Marlo Kelly) after a new coach (Willa Fitzgerald) arrives to bring their team to prominence. While the girls’ friendship is put to the test, their young lives are changed forever when a shocking crime rocks their quiet suburban world. The cast includes Zach Roerig.
Trying to figure out what to watch tonight? Be it new episodes of the TV season, reairs of cable series or a movie, here are some suggestions:
6 PM: Christmas Unleashed movie on Lifetime (Encore) Sherlock on BBC America (Reair) Christmas Under Wraps movie on Hallmark Channel (Reair) Red Dawn movie on THISTV
6:45 PM: Shazam! movie on HBO
7 PM: Christmas On My Mind movie on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries (Encore) A Prince for Christmas movie on ION (Reair) Spider-Man: Homecoming movie on FX The Bourne Identity movie on Paramount Network NCIS on Oxygen
7:05 PM: His Dark Materials on HBO2 (Encore)
7:17 PM: McFarland, USA movie on Encore
7:31 PM: Dublin Murders on Starz (Encore)
8 PM: Same Time, Next Christmas movie on ABC (Encore) A Very Vintage Christmas movie on Lifetime (Encore) His Dark Materials on HBO2 (Encore) 9-1-1 on FOX (Reair) Sherlock on BBC America (Reair) Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them movie on Syfy Road House movie on TMC Wonder Woman movie on TNT NCIS on Oxygen
8:15 PM: Peppermint movie on Showtime 2
9 PM: His Dark Materials on HBO (NEW – Finale) A Godwink Christmas: Meant For Love movie on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries (Encore) Best Christmas Ball Ever movie on ION (Encore) All Rise on CBS (Reair) NCIS on Oxygen
9:01 PM: Prodigal Son on FOX (Reair)
10 PM: His Dark Materials on HBO (Encore) Double Holiday movie on Hallmark Channel (Encore) Sherlock on BBC America (Reair) Spider-Man: Homecoming movie on FX The Bourne Supremacy movie on Paramount Network NCIS on Oxygen
10:03 PM: Merry Liddle Christmas movie on Lifetime (Encore)
Actor Sam Heughan (Outlander) will star as Paul Newman in the untitled biopic about Patricia Neal and Roald Dahl. Bodyguard actress Keeley Hawes will play American actress Neal while Downton Abbey alum Hugh Bonneville will play British children’s author Dahl. (Deadline)
RENEWAL/CANCELLATION NEWS
Starz has cancelled Sweetbitter after two seasons. (Deadline)
The Netflix drama Virgin River, based on the book series by Robyn Carr, has been renewed for a 10-episode second season. (Deadline)
TV CASTING NEWS
Actress Uzo Aduba (Orange Is the New Black) will star opposite Us star Lupita Nyong’o in the HBO Max 10-episode series Americanah based on the best-selling novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The limited series follows the story of Ifemelu (Nyong’o), a self-assured young woman raised in Nigeria, who as a teenager falls in love with her classmate Obinze. Living in a military-ruled country, they each depart for the west. Ifemelu heads for America, where she finds academic success, but is forced to grapple for the first time with what it means to be black. Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead begins living undocumented in London. Aduba will play Aunty Uju, Ifemelu’s young aunt and confidant. A highly intelligent doctor, Uju left Nigeria under tumultuous circumstances and has resettled in America to build a better life for herself and her son Dike. The Walking Dead and Black Panther/Avengers franchise actress Danai Gurira wrote the pilot and will serve as showrunner. (Variety)
Actress Jessy Schram (Falling Skies) will appear in a multi-episode arc on Chicago Med, playing Dr. Hannah Asher, a brilliant gynecological surgeon with a secret drug addiction. (Deadline)
Actor Baily Chase (Longmire) will recur in the CBS drama S.W.A.T., playing Owen, an ex-Army Ranger who is in the process of launching a high-end private security firm. (Deadline)
Actress Morfydd Clark (His Dark Materials and the upcoming box office movie Saint Maud) has been cast in lead role in Amazon high-profile Lord of the Rings TV series, which explores new storylines preceding J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring. Clark will play young Galadriel (played by Cate Blanchett in the box office franchise). (Deadline)
Actress Joely Richardson (Nip/Tuck) will appear in an upcoming episode of The Blacklist, playing Cassandra Bianchi, a shrewd criminal who is on the verge of the score of a lifetime, who has a connection with Reddington. (TV Line)
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
EPIX has given a 10-episode straight-to-series order to Jerusalem’s Lot, a drama based on the short story by Stephen King that will star Adrien Brody. Set in the 1850s, the series follows Captain Charles Boone (Brody), who relocates his family of three children to his ancestral home in the small, seemingly sleepy town of Preacher’s Corners, Maine after his wife dies at sea. However, Charles will soon have to confront the secrets of his family’s sordid history, and fight to end the darkness that has plagued the Boones for generations. The show is expected to premiere in the fall of 2020. (Deadline)
A one-hour drama called The Beach, based on the book Beach Lane by best-selling author Melissa de la Cruz, has been put into development at HBO Max with Life Sentence creator Erin Cardillo and Richard Keith at the helm along with Julie Plec (The Vampire Diaries). The series will follow three local teens who work in the Hamptons’ lavish estates, exclusive beach clubs, and breath-taking boats over one magical summer as their lives and hearts become increasingly intertwined with wealthy families who swoop in from the city for the summer season. (Deadline)
Once Upon a Time and Lost EP’s Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis are shepherding a new ABC series called Epic that is set within the Disney fairytale universe. Written by Brigitte Hales the anthology series will take place in a Disney-like Enchanted Forest. (Deadline and TV Line)
Trying to figure out what to watch tonight? Be it new episodes of the TV season, reairs of cable series or a movie, here are some suggestions:
5 PM: Dreamgirls movie on BET
5:30 PM: Top Gun movie on CMT
6 PM: Christmas at the Plaza movie on Hallmark Channel (Encore) Christmas Hotel movie on Lifetime (Encore) Road House movie on THISTV
6:30 PM: Mission: Impossible – Fallout movie on EPIX
6:50 PM: The Day After Tomorrow movie on HBO2
7 PM: Christmas Crush movie on ION (DEBUT) Christmas Wedding Runaway movie on UP TV (DEBUT) Angel Falls: A Novel Holiday movie on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries (Encore) His Dark Materials on HBO (Encore) Downton Abbey on PBS (Reair) Forrest Gump movie on BBC America The Princess Bride movie on Sudnance TV
7:30 PM: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire movie on Syfy
8 PM: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas movie on Hallmark Channel (DEBUT) A Date by Christmas Eve movie on Lifetime (DEBUT) His Dark Materials on HBO (Encore) Victoria on PBS (Reair) Julie & Julia movie on TMC
8:30 PM: Suicide Squad movie on TBS
9 PM: The Year: 2019 on ABC (Special) A Home for the Holidays on CBS (Special) A Family Christmas Gift movie on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries (DEBUT) Pennyworth on EPIX (Encore) Watchmen on HBO2 (Encore) Victoria on PBS (Reair) The Princess Bride movie on Sundance TV
10 PM: NCIS: New Orleans on CBS (Reair) Forrest Gump movie on BBC America
10:02 PM: Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie on TNT
10:03 PM: Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses movie on Hallmark Channel (Encore) Christmas Love Letter movie on Lifetime (Encore)
Rueben's Ramblings 