It’s the final day of Comic Con 2022, and while there aren’t usually too many BIG panels set for the last day in San Diego, there were still a couple notable panels to talk about. And check out just some of the cosplayers on display this year:
Mayans M.C.
The show has been renewed for a 5th season by FX.
And here is a video interview from the folks at Entertainment Weekly with a few of the cast members:
What We Do in the Shadows
You can watch this video interview with some of the cast of and creatives behind What We Do in the SHadows courtesy of the folks at IGN.
While we have a few more months to go until season 6 of Outlander premieres (its back on March 6), a new video clip from the much-anticipated season has been released by its home network, Starz. In addition, the cable network has been releasing promo pictures for the new season, and it seemed only right – since it’s Christmas Day – to share all of those pictures along with the video clip.
First, here are the season 6 promo pictures:
And, here is the clip from season 6:
Mark your calendars for the return of Outlander on Starz on Sunday, March 6.
The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to affect TV production, although most productions are back in place – albeit with quite a bit of protocols and preventions in place – TV viewing has been changed – and not just because of the overall proliferation of streaming services and people cutting the cord.
While last year was very bleak, TV fans have been able to, once again, enjoy their favorite shows, good bad or otherwise. There were new shows for which we became obsessed with; outstanding performances, lots of streaming shows to get hooked on, unexpected departures and much, much more.
Please join me as I focus on the top highlights for 2021 (listed in no particular order):
Highest Rated New Network Drama: FBI: International (CBS)
There have been about 10 new dramas debuting this new TV season (2021-2022); and while ratings for all shows (comedy and drama alike on the major AND cable networks) are in rapid decline, the top new drama is FBI: International, which has earned approximately 5.9 million per week.
Favorite New Drama: The Big Leap (FOX)
The reality show within a drama series is struggling in the ratings (just like every other show on the air right now), but it’s clearly the front runner for being the favorite new drama. The ensemble cast is very diverse, the personalities are over the top fun, the dancing has been entertaining and the drama as well as the comedic moments have been a delight.
Best Actress: Elizabeth Olsen, WandaVision (Disney+)
It’s hard to imagine any other actress this TV season making more of an impression than Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff in the Disney+ series WandaVision. Starting with the pilot episode, filmed in black and white in a salute to shows like The Dick Van Dyke Show, through all of the generational salutes to TV comedies, culminating in the showdown between Wanda and her nemesis [more on that below] and Wanda finally “dealing” with the death of her love, Vision, Olsen did a stellar job!
Best Actor: Billy Porter, Pose (FX)
The Emmy and Tony winner stood out this season in his portrayal of Pray Tell in the FX series, which came to an end in June. In what will become an iconic moment, viewers saw Pray go home where he sat in front of his vanity mirror, removing the glam from his face to reveal the man underneath before going down the hall to his bed where he was found lifeless the following morning.
Best Limited Series: Mare of Easttown (HBO)
This limited series starred Kate Winslet as a talented, but deeply flawed, police investigator in a small Pennsylvania town, dealing with a brutal murder case, a complicated family life and a difficult past. Each cast member was outstanding in their roles as well.
This drama debuted in April, airing all of its 10 episodes and averaging 3 million viewers overall. But despite having a stellar cast that included Katey Sagal, Andy Garcia, John Corbett, Tamala Jones, James Lesure and Sam Palladio along with recurring cast members Mary McDonnell, Abigail Spencer, Adam Arkin and Sharon Lawrence – as well as a talented behind the scenes crew and captivating stories – the network pulled the plug on a show that was actually pretty good.
What a Great Way to End (Great Series Finale): Wynonna Earp (Syfy)
After 4 seasons the supernatural horror drama, based on the comic book series, came to an end with the much anticipated wedding of Waverly and Nicole (aka WayHaught) and Wynonna and Doc riding out of Purgatory heading toward Miracle, Montana to finally get their little girl Alice. Of course, the team had to deal with a haunted wedding dress and a vengeful witch, but such is life in the city of Purgatory in Ghost River County. The empty chairs at the wedding, which were dedicated to those characters that were lost, was especially touching.
Best Performance in an Episode (Part 1): Kenneth Choi in 9-1-1 (FOX)
While watching the episode entitled “Home and Away,” if your heart didn’t break for Howie “Chimney” Han as he repeatedly watched the video left by his love Maddie, and then even more so when he begged the doctor at the hospital to tell him what happened to their child. It was gut wrenching to say the least and powerfully moving.
What a Dramatic Season: Virgin River (Netflix)
Season 3 of the Netflix drama was filled with lots of twists and heart wrenching moments from Lilly’s death to Hope’s accident to the scary finale scenes of Preacher presumably being left for dead by one of Paige’s “so-called” friends; young Christopher and Connie in jeopardy when the boy’s uncle (his father’s identical twin) showing up inside the house and then Jack proposing to Mel only to have her telling him that she’s pregnant.
Best Performance in a Short Lived Series (Part 1): Abigail Spencer on Rebel (ABC)
Abigail Spencer portrayed the fast-talking Dr. Misha Nelson in the short-lived ABC drama, and she was a delight to watch in action, putting a spell on Dr. Nathaniel Flynn (series regular Kevin Zegers) while helping with the case against big pharma spearheaded by Annie “Rebel” Flynn Ray Bello (series lead Katey Sagal) and veteran attorney Julian Cruz (series regular Andy Garcia).
It Was Bound to Happen: LeRoy Jethro Gibbs left his position at NCIS (CBS)
He has been the staple of the franchise since the long-running series debuted way back in September of 2003. It was only a matter of time before Gibbs would either be (heaven forbid) killed in the line of duty or, if lucky enough, retire in a cold climate far removed from DC. Gibbs got the latter, and while die-hard fans may not like the fact that he is gone, it was bound to happen.
Best Performance in a Short Lived Series (Part 2): Luke Mitchell on The Republic of Sarah (The CW)
Luke Mitchell has been playing complex characters since he first appeared on US screens back in 2013 [although he spent five years building his resume on Australian TV prior to that]; but it was his role as Danny Copper on the short-lived CW drama The Republic of Sarah that really moved viewers especially his character dealing with his abusive past.
Can You Believe Those Numbers?: Bridgerton (Netflix)
The Regency era drama, based on the Julia Quinn novels, took the streaming world by storm last Christmas, eventually being watched by 83 million viewers and making its lead – Rege-Jean Page, who played the delectable Duke of Hastings – a household name. And, making the second season of the series one of the most anticipated upcoming events.
Best Debut Episode: Superman & Lois (The CW)
TV viewers (and film fans) have seen many variations of the story Kal-El from Krypton; be it from the perspective of a teen-aged Clark Kent in Smallville to the young man figuring out who he really is in Man of Steel. The CW jumped on the bandwagon bringing a new version of Clark Kent to the small screen; that of not only superhero but also husband and father. The pilot episode of Superman & Lois was glorious to watch, giving viewers a glimpse of a different Clark Kent – if only the rest of the season had lived up to that.
Best Rescues of the Year: Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (by Roku Channel) and Manifest (by Netflix)
After two seasons on NBC, the delightfully entertaining Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist was cancelled, leaving a void in the hearts of its devoted fans; and the network also pulled the plug on the mysteries surrounding Manifest after three seasons. But, thankfully the folks over at the Roku Channel have given Zoey’s a second chance with the upcoming holiday movie (and a potential for future episodes should that movie perform well) while Netflix has given Manifest a 4th and final season, allowing the show to, hopefully, clear up a great many cliffhangers.
Best Villain: Kathryn Hahn, WandaVision (Disney+)
Kathryn was at her fiendish best playing Agatha, the mysterious and nosy neighbor on the Disney+ streaming series WandaVision; a character who was later revealed to actually be Agatha Harkness, a very powerful witch, who wanted Wanda’s powers for herself only to be tricked by the Scarlet Witch, eventually being trapped as Agatha the nosy neighbor within her own mind forever. It should be noted that Disney+ has officially announced that a spin-off, starring Kathryn, entitled Agatha: House of Harkness, will be “coming soon.”
Thanks for the Entertainment (Best Franchise of Dramas): All of the Disney+ Marvel dramas
Shifting (but not away) from all of the box office movies to the small screen, the streaming service Disney+ has been showering fans of the Marvel universe with plenty of dramas, starting with the debut of the much-buzzed about and now critically acclaimed series WandaVision to the action and adventure of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to the trippy and unexpected Loki to the unpredictable stories of What If…? Next up we’ll have Hawkeye and later She-Hulk, Ms. Marvel, Moon Knight and so much more. Thank you Disney+!
We’re Gonna Miss You (Most Upsetting Deaths): The most upsetting deaths this year have come from very different shows.
They include: Dr. Andrew DeLuca (Giacomo Gianniotti) on Grey’s Anatomy; Jackson West (Titus Makin Jr.) on The Rookie; Nicolette Nevin (Emily VanCamp) on The Resident; Colin Zabel (Evan Peters) on Mare of Easttown and Gordo and Tracy Stevens (Michael Dorman and Sarah Jones) on For All Mankind.
Best Performance in an Episode (Part 2): Gina Torres in 9-1-1: Lone Star (FOX)
In the episode entitled “One Day,” new character Tommy Vega had to deal with the extremely unexpected death of her beloved husband Charles as shown to us in the final moments of the previous week’s episode. Watching as she made the 9-1-1 call with clinical brusqueness, not to mention her putting on a brave face for their twin daughters, was gut-wrenching, to say the least. She spent nearly all of the episode in denial only to break down in the end. It was a magnificently nuanced performance.
Hitting Major Milestones: Law & Order: Special Victims and Chicago Fire (NBC)
It’s a milestone for any TV show to hit its 100th episode – many shows don’t even make it to two or even three seasons. But for the NBC dramas Law & Order: Special Victims and Chicago Fire, their milestones during the 2021-2022 TV season are much bigger than that. Law & Order: Special Victims celebrated its 500th episode while Chicago Fire celebrated its 200th episode; and, ironic or not, their episodes aired back-to-back on consecutive nights in late October.
Worst TV Show: Chad (TBS)
I rarely, if ever, talk about TV comedies, as they simply are one of my least favorite genres. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good laugh, but most TV comedies just rub me the wrong way. None more so than the TBS comedy Chad, which debuted on the cable network in April. The series stars Saturday Night Live alum Nasim Pedrad, an Iranian-born actress who plays a 14-year-old Persian boy desperately trying to fit in and figuring out his cultural identity. Just seeing the trailer and clips of upcoming episodes was a turn-off. Nasim is a talented comedienne and while I understand she worked YEARS to get this comedy off the ground and onto TV, I just found it crass and quite a bit pathetic.
Prettiest Newcomer: Abigail Cowen in Fate: The Winx Saga (Netflix)
This Netflix series may be a teen drama based on a Nickelodeon animated series, but it has all the makings of shows like Shadowhunters (from Freeform), Legacies (The CW) or The Magicians (Syfy). The series is set at a magical boarding school in the Otherworld called Alfea College. There, fairies (yes, fairies) learn how to control their powers – be it light, water, earth, mind, fire (and more) – and they discover that creatures called the Burned Ones have returned to their world and threaten everyone at the college and beyond into our world.
The lead in the series is Abigail Cowen, who plays a powerful fairy named Bloom Peters, who was raised in our world, but soon learns she is a changeling, a human-like creature believed to be a fairy left in place of a human that was stolen by the fairies. This Florida native is best known for her recurring role in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, but she has also appeared in Stranger Things, The Fosters and the short-lived Jeremy Piven drama Wisdom of the Crowd. She also appeared in the faith-based box office film I Still Believe and will be the lead in the January 2022 box office movie Redeeming Love based on the novel by Francine Rivers.
What a Disappointing Outcome: Jupiter’s Legacy (Netflix) and Debris (NBC)
I had such high hopes for the Netflix superhero series Jupiter’s Legacy; mainly because of its cast, which included Josh Duhamel, Leslie Bibb, Ben Daniels and Matt Lanter; and the intensity of each episode, leading to the reveal of how the first generation of superheroes attained their abilities; but behind the scenes problems (aka creative differences) and budgetary issues played key roles in the show’s demise. The one “bright spot” in the show’s cancellation is that Netflix announced a new live-action series based on the unrelated comic – but Jupiter universe related – comic titled Supercrooks will be moving forward at the streaming service.
As for the new NBC sci-fi series Debris, the show aired all of its 13 episodes from its debut season from March to May; but the ratings were lackluster to say the least despite each week’s story being “way-out there” crazy and hard to not get captivated by. Unfortunately, perhaps those were the reasons for viewers not sticking around, and worse yet, the show ended with multiple cliffhangers.
Stand Out Dialogue: “But what is grief, if not love persevering?” from WandaVision (Disney+)
These words were uttered by Vision (Paul Bettany) in the WandaVision episode entitled “Previously On,” and those words truly struck a chord with viewers all over. Vision was attempting to comfort Wanda after being forced by her nemesis Agatha to relive the pain of losing her parents, being unable to bury her lover AND losing her brother. The folks over at Junkee stated that this line of dialogue is “likely the most beautiful line ever uttered in the Marvel Cinematic Universe,” but the best comment about this dialogue came from actor, writer and director Madison Hatfield (@madhat31) on Twitter: “Do you hear that sound? It’s every screenwriter in the world whispering a reverent “F*CK” under their breath.” Masterfully done Laura Donney, masterfully done! [By the way Laura was the writer of the “Previously On” episode.]
Favorite Streaming Thriller: Squid Game (Netflix)
For whatever reason, one I am still unclear of, people all over the planet have been flocking to the Netflix Korean thriller Squid Game, watching the show in droves. The disturbing series – which hit Number 1 on the streaming service – has become a breakout hit. The tagline for the show is “Hundreds of cash-strapped contestants accept an invitation to compete in children’s games for a tempting prize, but the stakes are deadly.” I have seen social media posts stating that people have binged the series; that they couldn’t get enough of the series and were just in plain awe of the thriller. Viewing Squid Game for me is a HARD pass, but I can’t deny the attention that it has garnered.
Most Talked About Comedy: Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Again, as I mentioned before, I rarely talk about comedies, but the Apple TV+ comedy Ted Lasso has garnered a LOT of attention – and its fair share of awards – including 7 Emmy Awards – and accolades. I won’t ever be watching the series – just not my kind of show – but I have to give credit where credit is due.
Hunky Newcomer: Liam Hall in Wicked (Passionflix)
Passionflix may not be a household name in the world of streaming services, but it certainly provides movies to a niche market: woman who want fantasy, romance and lots and lots of love and sex. Co-founded by Tosca Musk – yes, the sister of billionaire Elon Musk and daughter of 70-year old supermodel Maye Musk – this streaming service debuted the small screen adaptation of the Jennifer L. Armentrout sci-fi book Wicked in May of this year.
The movie featured Liam Hall in the lead role of Ren Owens, a hunter of the Fae (think of them like Buffy, the Vampire Slayer except its Fae they seek). This handsome Australian has appeared in episodes of Lucifer, Once Upon a Time, Riverdale, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and the box office movie Before I Fall. TV viewers may also recognize him as Joseph Wilson (aka Kane Wolfman) in episodes of The CW’s Arrow.
NOTE: The books in the trilogy by Armentrout have been optioned by Passionflix and the folks at the streaming service are actively looking at schedules to film the remaining two books.
So Glad You’ll Be Back: Sanditon (PBS)
Sanditon was a hit with U.S. viewers back in 2020 (while it aired in the U.K. in 2019); and when the realization that only 8 episodes were created and filmed with no plans for a season two, viewers were up-in-arms (to say the least). There were petitions created and a social media movement began. Thankfully the powers that be eventually came to their senses and are giving the fans what they want: more Sanditon. In fact, there will be seasons 2 AND 3; although hunky Theo James will not be returning to the series in the role of Sidney Parker. Sigh!! Mark your calendars for March 20, 2022.
Most Anticipated New, Upcoming Drama: The Sandman (Netflix)
Netflix will be releasing a live-action adaptation of the popular Neil Gaiman comic book series The Sandman, which originally ran for 75 issues way back in January 1989 through March 1996, sometime in 2022. The story is a rich blend of modern myth and dark fantasy, following the people and places affected by Morpheus, the Dream King (Tom Sturridge), as he mends the cosmic and human mistakes he’s made during his vast existence. The ensemble cast will include Game of Thrones alums Gwendoline Christie and Charles Dance; Doctor Who alum Jenna Coleman; Harry Potter alum David Thewlis and the one and only Stephen Fry (along with an array of other talent).
Best Looking Cast on a New Drama: Our Kind of People (FOX)
The FOX drama set in the real-life town of Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts is a sprawling story of a strong-willed, single mother who sets out to reclaim her family’s name while making an impact with her revolutionary hair care line and learning the truth about who she really is. While the show may not be breaking ratings records – it’s averaging about 1.5 million viewers each week, and is currently on a short hiatus due to the World Series – this new series probably has the best looking cast (and don’t get me started on those incredible hairstyles and the clothes and the shoes – and that’s coming from someone whose idea of dressing up is wearing jeans, a comfy t-shirt and sneakers). Check out the picture to judge for yourself.
A Moving TV Moment: “Birth Mother” episode of This Is Us (NBC)
After several seasons of build-up, and many years of wondering on the part of Randall Pearson, the truth behind the life of his biological mother Laurel DuBois was revealed to him in this episode that aired in January. Shown mostly in flashbacks through stories told to Randall and his wife Beth by Hai, a Vietnamese refugee, who became Laurel’s secret lover during her young adult life, Randall finally got the answers he sought. But it wasn’t until he waded out into the water located on the edge of the lakefront property that he was gifted by Hai, who had been acting as caretaker for many years, screaming out his pain and anger – much like what his own mother did many times herself – that he came to terms with his past.
Just a Little Too Much in Common: Queens (ABC) and Girls5Eva (Peacock)
While these two shows have nearly identical storylines – members of former 90’s girl groups reunite after a hit song of each group is sampled by a current music star and each girl group is given the chance to perform at a big music event – they couldn’t be more different. Girls5Eva is a farcical comedy while Queens is a hip-hop drama. There is no question that both groups – Girls5Eva and Nasty Bitches (aka Queens) – include extremely talented performers [hello, Eve, Brandy, Sara Bareilles and Hamilton’s own Renee Elise Goldsberry!], but Queens is much more showy and theatrical while Girls5Eva has laugh your pants off scenes and, undeniably, horrible song lyrics.
It Was Worth the Wait: Leverage: Redemption (IMDbTV)
The last episode of the 5-seasons long series Leverage aired on Christmas Day back in 2012; and viewers of the series thought that would be it. Jump to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020) when it was announced that a revival of the show had been ordered. Leverage: Redemption debuted the first 8 episodes of its new season during the summer of this year with the back half airing in October. The series brought back the original team Sophie (Gina Bellman), Elliot (Christian Kane), Parker (Beth Riesgraf) and Hardison (Aldis Hodge) and introduced Aleyse Shannon as Breanne, Hardison’s “little sister” and adding Noah Wyle as Harry Wilson; and gifted the fandom with 16 delightfully different and entertaining episodes. There is no word yet if there will be a second season, but it sure would be great to hear some good news soon.
Great Girl Power: Gunpowder Milkshake (Netflix)
This Netflix original had all the earmarks of a Quentin Tarentino film: blood, guts, and even sword fighting; but, thankfully, it was filled with powerful, kick-ass women: Karen Gillan, Lena Headey, Angela Bassett, Carla Gugino and Michelle Yeoh. Gillan played a dangerous assassin named Sam, who set out to protect an 8-year old girl (whose father Sam was contracted to kill); and in the course of providing this protection, Sam was reunited with her assassin mother Scarlet (Headey) and a team of lethal associates Madeline (Gugino), Florence (Yeoh) and Anna May (Bassett) in order to take down a ruthless crime syndicate and its army of henchmen. It was a bloody battle that found all but one of the team of ladies making it out, setting out on the road trip of a lifetime. Here’s to hoping they make a sequel.
What have been the stand-out moments on the small screen (networks or streaming) for you? Who was your favorite actor for the year? What series, special or TV event disappointed you the most? Please share your thoughts on TV from this year below.
New York Comic Con 2021 was held this weekend with both in-person and virtual panels. TV was represented by many different shows, ranging from superheroes to sci-fi to fantasy to thriller to time travel to apocalyptic to comedy.
The following is only a sampling of the panels that took place over the last few days.
SUPERGIRL
Melissa Benoist participated in a virtual panel for Supergirl and she shared the following:
“I don’t think I truly realized what I was signing up for, so my expectations…my mind was blown right from the start. It was one of the hardest, most challenging experiences of my life, and I think it will remain that for the rest of my life. I hope that (Supergirl) always and forever…shows fans and young women in particular how to be true to yourself and not be afraid to speak up and to empower the people you love around you and really embrace community.”
With the show now wrapped, the two-hour series finale of Supergirl will air on The CW on November 9, Benoist is busy with her 1-year-old child and a new project through her Three Things production banner based on the young adult novel series ‘Haven’s Secret.’
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA RETROSPECTIVE with EDWARD JAMES OLMOS AND MARY MCDONNELL
[CREDIT: Bennett Raglin-Getty Images for ReedPop]
“So say we all!”
Edward James Olmost and Mary McDonnell appeared in person for this retrospective on the reboot of the 1970’s series that debuted as a mini-series back in 2003.
Both actors were “a bit dubious about the reboot (at first), but after reading the script, (they) both were sold.” They both remembered the dearly departed Richard Hatch, who starred in the original series and came back to play Tom Zarek in the reboot. They shared that Hatch was dubious as well, but became a huge defender of it once it began.
Among the other things they shared during their time on stage was:
* Series creator Ronald D. Moore told McDonnell her character, Laura Roslin, would live to see Earth at the end (of the show) and then die soon after;
* They didn’t know who the famous “final five” Cylons were until they got the scripts for those episodes, and they shared that even some of the actors who ended up playing those Cylons didn’t know;
* McDonnell shared that her most emblematic comment as Roslin was in season 4 when Adama was being threatened. She uttered the line, “I’m coming for all of you” over the comms, and that made McDonnell realize that Roslin was a powerhouse of rage and loss; and,
* Olmos shared that the most difficult scene for him was when Adama put the ring on Roslin’s finger after her death. “It was the last thing we shot together, and it ended up becoming the truth of what life is, the cycle.” And, he shared that he “was very fortunate to part” of the show.
You can rewatch Battlestar Galactica on Peacock, and a revival of the show is in the works for Peacock as well.
The sixth and final season of the sci-fi drama that went from Syfy to Amazon Prime Video was at the con virtually with most of the cast and the producers in attendance. There will be plenty of pedal-to-the-metal excitement, as each episode will roll out “old-school style” – one episode per week.
There will be plenty of tension, guilt and worry on the Rocif with the “not-so-welcome” Clarissa (aka Peaches) in Alex’s (who died last season) stead; tension between Naomi and Amos; Holden still has the weight of the universe on his shoulders; and Avasarala is back heading the UN, trying to save the universe.
The Expanse is back one last time on December 10 on Amazon.
The cast and creator were there virtually to talk about the debut of the fantasy series. Creator Rafe Judkins shared that this show “will be different from other fantasy TV series out there. It’s the book’s connection to Eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism philosophy that makes (it) stand out. It’s not really about defeating evil, it’s about restoring balance to the world. And at a time like this in the world, he feels finding balance is super relevant right now.”
For lead star Rosamund Pike, she shared that “she is a big reader of fantasy, and was intrigued that the central character who gets to change these people’s lives is a woman.
The sets and costumes were described by some of the cast members as “grand scale,” and there was even some speculation on season two before the show even debuts.
Cast members Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Chase Crawford and Karen Fukuhara took to the stage in New York to talk about the first two seasons of the superhero series, as they didn’t share much about the upcoming third season.
As you can imagine, the conversation included talk about their super suits, with Antony sharing that Homelander’s getup is among one of the most intense ensembles, stating, “My suit’s a nightmare.” And, Erin teased that Nathan Mitchell (who plays Black Noir) fell asleep in his suit, which covers him head-to-toe, he was “fully 100% asleep, caught on camera.” Jack and Karen shared that while they don’t have super suits, they’re “always covered in blood.”
Some other behind the scenes items were:
* Helen Mirren almost provided the voice over for The Deep’s gills (but that eventually went to Patton Oswalt);
* “We are children on set,” the cast admitted; and,
* Chase joked the Fresca obsession is “still a secret…we don’t know.”
The third season of The Boys will air on Amazon Prime Video, but an official date has yet to be set.
It was another virtual panel for the CBS thriller series that has since moved over to Paramount+. While the season two finale aired on Sunday night, fans can be happy to know that the show will be back for a third season.
The main cast and executive producers were on tap for the panel with co-creator Robert King sharing that the discussions throughout the series between Kristen and David are the “heartbeat” of the series.
Each cast member shared something:
* Katja Herbers shared she enjoyed Kristen unraveling in season two; she’s “always really happy” when a new script comes in;
* Mike Colter shared that he’s “drawn to his character because he’s very far from (who he is) himself, especially when it comes to religion; and,
* Michael Emerson shared that Leland “relishes his work, and he likes the expressions on people’s faces when his sickness goes down; I’m not working so hard at comedy, but I’m grateful it’s there.”
The time travel drama was on the stage with Sam Heughan, author Diana Gabaldon and EP Maril Davis appearing in person while cast members Caitriona Balfe, Sophie Skelton, Lauren Lyle, Cesar Domboy and John Bell were there virtually.
Season 6 will focus on Claire and her beloved Jamie’s attempts to settle in peace and thrive in colonial America – not an easy task, on highlands or in North Carolina. You can see the teaser trailer in the link below:
The upcoming season will feature a 90-minute premiere episode and overall consists of 8 episodes. Production on Season 7 will start soon, consisting of 16 episodes.
Outlander will be back with season 6 in early 2022.
PSYCH 3: THIS IS GUS
Check out the trailer for the latest movie:
Psych 3: This Is Gust will debut on Peacock on November 18.
HANNA
Season 3 of Hanna will consist of 6 episodes and will premiere on Amazon Prime on November 24.
Here is a trailer:
THE CW’S 4400
Based on the USA Network series The 4400, this reboot still has many elements of the original’s premise, but taken from the perspective of the predominantly black cast. Thousands of people who were abducted from across different points throughout the 21st century are suddenly returned together in the present day with no memory of where they were taken or who took them. What the 4400 do know, however, is that some of them develop different superhuman abilities that drastically change their lives even more.
The panel featured a conversation with showrunner/writer/executive producer Eliza Clark and several members of the principal cast, including Ben Schnetzer who plays Yorick Brown, the titular last man on Earth after all other humans with a Y chromosome start dropping dead. Even Brian K. Vaughan (co-creator of the comic upon which the series is based) took to the stage in a surprise appearance.
The show went through a lot to get to the small screen: they lost a pair of showrunners, they lost their leading man and then the COVID pandemic hit. They were two weeks from kicking off when the world suddenly went into lockdown.
Clark did share that, “We wanted to photograph people differently, and particularly women, than they have been photographed [before]. Ultimately, what we decided (was) the female gaze was, subjectivity, point-of-view, and detail. You see the roots of hair, you’re seeing skin, sweat, dirt under fingernails. Each scene is shot from somebody’s point-of-view, so that you feel like you’re inside of it.”
You can currently watch Y: The Last Man on FX on Hulu.
The anthology series will be set in the days after the September 11 terrorist attacks when letters led to five deaths and caused panic across the United States.
The cast this time will consist of Daniel Dae Kim [in his first lead role] as FBI Special Agent Matthew Ryker, a character created for the series, and Tony Goldwyn as Dr. Bruce Ivins. Ryker was a microbiologist before he became an FBI agent; Ivins was the lead anthrax researcher for the government.
The Hot Zone: Anthrax will premiere on National Geographic on November 28.
Starz released new pictures for the show’s upcoming 6th season today, and shared that the series will be back in early 2022.
So we’ve got to hang on a little longer to see the new episodes, but at least we’ve got some new pictures to enjoy.
Those pictures follow below..
In the meantime, fans should know that season 6 will consist of EIGHT episodes and will premiere sometime after January 1, 2022 with a 90-minute premiere.
I’m sure you already know that production on season 6 is underway in Scotland; and it was recently announced that the show has been given an early 7th season renewal. So we will have much more of Jamie and Claire and the rest of the Fraser family to look forward to.
Also, the show announced the addition to the cast for season 6. Here are the details (verbatim) from the folks at TV Line:
Relative newcomer Jessica Reynolds will play Malva Christie, whom readers of Diana Gabaldon’s books will recognize as the young woman who becomes Claire’s apprentice and eventually causes great trouble on Fraser’s Ridge. Meanwhile, Mark Lewis Jones (Chernobyl) will play Tom Christie, Malva’s father and one of Jamie’s not-so-friendly acquaintances from his Ardsmuir Prison days. Alexander Vlahos (Merlin) will play Allan Christie, Malva’s brother, who is wary of strangers.
Here is a picture thanks to Starz and TV Line of those new additions:
Do you want to catch up on Outlander while we wait during another “Droughtlander?” You can watch here.
When the 2019-2020 TV season came back from the holidays in January, the coronavirus wasn’t really on the radar here in the United States. It was a blip on the radar, a news item that barely got any attention. Unlike the man in the White House, we weren’t aware of the seriousness of the virus until the middle of March, as lockdowns began in earnest all across the country along with massive shutdowns of every single production on the planet.
It’s been a bleak year to say the least, but fortunately there have been some rays of hope throughout the year with new shows, returning favorites, some new movies and a slew of series finales.
The following are my top highlights for 2020 (in no particular order):
Highest Rated New Drama – FBI: Most Wanted (CBS)
Out of the dozen (or so) new dramas that debuted this TV season (2019-2020), the spin-off series FBI: Most Wanted ranked the highest with an average of 7.1 million viewers weekly.
Best Actress in a Drama – Yvonne Strahovki in Stateless (Netflix)
This gripping 6-part series, loosely based on the true story of Cornelia Rau, found Chuck and The Handmaid’s Tale alum Yvonne Strahovski starring as Sofie Werner, a flight attendant with an undiagnosed mental illness who joined, and escaped from, a cult-like group only to end up in a horrible Australian detention camp. This was a gritty role that left Strahovski almost unrecognizable for much of its run, and showed the depths of her acting skill beyond being just a pretty face.
Best Actor in a Drama [TIE] – Paul Mescal (Normal People on Hulu) and Jeremy Strong (Succession on HBO)
While I have not watched either drama, Paul Mescal has easily become one of the most talked about new actors on TV, who will be segwaying into films (make sure to check out my Faces of 2020 section, which will be posted in a few days for more details on him) while Jeremy Strong won an Emmy this year for Best Actor in a Drama.
Favorite New Drama – Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC)
The series debuted on January 7, running 12 episodes through May 3, becoming one of the few stand-outs during the first lockdown. The finale was extremely moving especially with Zoey imagining dancing one last time with her father, whose health had been rapidly declining since the pilot episode. This was the one feel-good show (despite the passing of Zoey’s dad) of the year.
Here is the musical number, as Zoey says goodbye to her dad (make sure you have tissues nearby):
How Could You! (The Most Disappointing Cancellations) – Project Blue Book (History Channel) and the Party of Five reboot (Freeform)
The plug was pulled on Project Blue Book by the History Channel in May after only two seasons, leaving the fans with a pretty dramatic cliffhanger that will, sadly, never get resolved. As for the Party of Five reboot, the series suffered from very low ratings, but rave reviews for its timeliness in its main storyline while still honoring the original.
It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye (Shows That Came to An End This Year):
* Arrow (The CW) – finale on February 28 after 8 seasons
* The 100 (The CW) – finale on May 20 after 7 seasons
* Blindspot (NBC) – finale on July 23 after 5 seasons
NOTE: As it neared its end, Blindspot tricked us into thinking that Patterson had died; and then gave us that crazy ending of everyone together for a holiday dinner, or was it all a dream as Jane was killed at Times Square? The debate still lingers on the meaning of that ending.
* The Magicians (Syfy) – finale on April 1 after 5 seasons
* Supernatural (The CW) – finale on November 19 after 15 seasons [how many tissues did you go through watching the last half of that emotional finale?!]
* Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC) – two-part finale on August 12 after 7 seasons
Most Moving Loss (Saddest Death in a Series) – Enoch on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
The Chronicom Enoch (beloved actor Joel Stoffer) first appeared in an episode of Marvel’s Agents of SHIElD back in May of 2017, but only in silhouette. It was in December of that year that he became a regular recurring part of the long-running series set in the Marvel TV world. He quickly became a fan favorite, who developed a close connection to human genius engineer and scientist Leo Fitz. A few weeks before the show came to its final conclusion, Enoch sacrificed his “life,” giving up his Electrochron Displacement Mechanism [aka his heart] to save the Zephyr and all his friends on board the SHIELD ship. Enoch may have lived for thousand of years, but his time with the current SHIELD team really made him “feel,” and his loss made all of the fans/viewers feel too.
Here is the video of Enoch’s final scene and goodbye:
You Have Failed the Streaming World – Quibi, the streaming service for cell phones
This short-form streaming platform with content to be viewing on our cell phones was founded in August 2018 by Jeffrey Katzenberg, the film producer and media proprietor and led by CEO Meg Whitman. It officially launched on April 6, but came to a crashing halt on October 21 when it was shut down.
Prettiest Newcomer – Adriyan Rae
The Delaware native graduated with degrees in physician assistant studies and medical laboratory science, but segwayed into acting, starring in the lead role in the short-lived 2019 Syfy series Vagrant Queen, which was, sadly, cancelled after only one season. She now plays paramedic Gianna Mackey, a new addition for this year, in the franchise drama Chicago Fire.
Hunky Newcomer [TIE] – Lucas Bravo (from Emily in Paris on Netflix) and Charlie Gillespie (from Julie and the Phantoms on Netflix)
The Netflix series Emily in Paris, which debuted on October 2, may focus on lead character Emily Cooper (Lily Collins), but it’s been newcomer Lucas Bravo [who plays Emily’s hunky next-door neighbor Gabriel] who has been turning heads.
Here is a video of Emily meeting her neighbor Gabriel for the first time (please excuse the synchronizing problem between the subtitles and the audio):
Also thanks to Netflix, the younger generation has been captivated by newcomer Charlie Gillespie, who plays guitarist-singer Luke in the Kenny Ortega-run musical series Julie and the Phantoms, which debuted on the streaming service on September 10. You can judge him for yourself by watching this scene from the series (Charlie, as Luke, is the last of the 3 “phantoms” that appear on the stage with the lead character Julie):
Julie and the Phantoms (Final Concert Scene):
Left: Jeremy Shada and Right: Drew Fuller
Left: Owen Joyner and Right: Logan Shroyer
NOTE: Eagle eye viewers of Julie and the Phantoms will (hopefully, like me) see a resemblance (eye color and freckles aside) between Reggie [actor Jeremy Shada] and actor Drew Fuller from the OG (Old Guard) Charmed. Drew played Chris Halliwell, son of Piper Halliwell and her whitelighter husband Leo. And that’s not all: Owen Joyner, who plays Alex in Julie and the Phantoms bears a striking resemblance to Logan Shroyer, who plays teenage Kevin in This Is Us. Compare the featured pictures to judge for yourself:
Most Anticipated New Show – Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (CBS All Access soon to be Paramount Plus)
The trio of Anson Mount (Captain Pike), Ethan Peck (as a young Spock) and Rebecca Romijn (as Number One) turned heads on the CBS All Access series Star Trek: Discovery, and that quickly led to another spin-off series of the popular franchise Star Trek: Strange New Worlds [SNW]. Due to the pandemic, however, there is no release date for SNW (reportedly filming hasn’t even begun), but the show will eventually air on CBS All Access, which in early 2021 will become known as Paramount Plus.
It Was Done So Well – Virtual episode of All Rise on May 4 (CBS)
The final episode entitled “Dancing at Los Angeles” aired on May 4, about a month and a half into the beginning of the first lockdown caused by the Coronavirus Pandemic, and was one of the first looks at how a TV show would have to handle quarantining, et al. The episode was well done in terms of storyline and filming structure, but also performed fairly well in the ratings, earning 5.1 million viewers.
Most Hated Villain – Stormfront on The Boys (Amazon)
Actress Aya Cash was introduced in season two of The Boys, easily becoming the most reviled villain not only on the show – where superheroes are anything but super or heroes – but also the most reviled villain all year. She was a horrible human being with superhuman powers, whose not-so-veiled racism just made the viewers hate her more.
You Are So Adorable – Baby Yoda (aka Grogu) on The Mandalorian (Disney+)
Season 1 of The Mandalorian may have aired from November 12 to December 27 of 2019 with the second season of the series getting underway on October 30, but it has been Baby Yoda that has really captured the hearts of Star Wars fans all over the globe. The little one may only communicate in baby sounds and a few magical waves of its little hands, but those were more than enough.
This Was Unexpected But Actually Pretty Great (Most Unexpected Couple That We Loved) – Daisy and Sousa on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC)
The out-of-his-time Agent Daniel Sousa (Enver Gjokaj) and genius-level hacker Inhuman Daisy Johnson started working together in the final season of Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD; and while they pretended to be a couple in an early episode of season 7, it was slow burn for their becoming a REAL couple that captured fans’ hearts [especially given the heartbreaking relationship record for Daisy, finding out Ward was a turncoat and then losing Lincoln who sacrificed himself for the team, it was really sweet to see her end up with such a great, stand-up kind of man).
Best Sidekick – Ashley Park (Mindy Chen in Emily in Paris on Netflix)
The new Darren Star dramedy debuted on Netflix on October 2 and featured Ashley in the co-starring role of Mindy Chen, the daughter of an extremely wealthy Chinese businessman, who works as a nanny for a wealthy family in Paris. It was later revealed [SPOILER ALERT!] that she competed in an American Idol-like series where she shocked while singing a song live on TV before an audience of millions. The Tony nominated actress is a powerhouse singer, who has appeared on Broadway in Mamma Mia, has appeared in The King and I and Mean Girls (based on the box office movie).
NOTE: Unfortunately, a video of Ashley singing as Mindy keeps getting pulled from YouTube so it cannot be provided here.
Can’t Wait to See the Reboot – Leverage (IMDbTV)
It is not clear when this reboot of the popular series will premiere on IMDbTV, but it is clear that cast members Christian Kane, Beth Riesgraf and Gina Bellman are back for all of the episodes with occasional appearances by cast member Aldis Hodge and newcomer Aleyse Shannon as well as Noah Wyle, who is taking over for the disgraced Tim Hutton.
It Was a Rollercoaster Ride – Outlander Season 5 (Starz)
[SPOILER ALERT!!] The fifth season of the series started with the wedding of Brianna and Roger (series regular Sophie Skelton and Richard Rankin), and later found the couple, and the people of Fraser’s Ridge, battling locust as well as current villain Stephen Bonnet. The season also included Roger nearly being hung to death and Jamie losing his beloved godfather Murtagh. The season ended with the kidnapping and horrific rape of Claire (series lead Caitriona Balfe) at the hands of Lionel Brown (and his minions) and being saved by Jamie (series lead Sam Heughan) and the men of the Ridge.
What the Hell Happened? (The Most Unexpected Season Finale) – Yellowstone (Paramount Network)
Viewers of the modern-day western series that stars film legend Kevin Costner know all too well to expect the unexpected when it comes to the Dutton family. This current season finale was a doozy with [SPOILER ALERT!] the explosion at Beth’s office; the shoot-out at Casey’s office and the not-so drive-by shooting aimed at patriarch John while he was on the side of the road helping a lady and her little son with a flat tire.
This Show Is Crazy and Its Diehard Fans Wouldn’t Have It Any Other Way (Most Overrated Show/Most Dedicated Fans) – Wynonna Earp (Syfy)
Wynonna Earp returned for its much anticipated and almost didn’t happen season 4 premiere on Syfy on July 26. The show faced some major uphill financial battles last year, and its fanbase’s relentless efforts to keep the show alive were notable, especially their renting a series of billboards in Times Square, which helped the 4th season become a reality then the Coronavirus Pandemic happened. The first 6 episodes aired over the summer, and the remainder will air, hopefully, at some point in 2021 when it’s safe for the cast and crew to reconvene. Kudos to the fans for their never-ending support and to everyone involved on the show for creating such an apeshit crazy show that never disappoints.
Oh, Man That Was Disgusting! – The whale episode of The Boys (Amazon)
The Boys, consisting of Butcher, Huglie, Mother’s Milk, Frenchie, Kimko (and her brother Kenji) were [SPOILER ALERT!] racing away in a speedboat trying to get away from not only the law but also the superhero The Deep, who was holding on tight to a 50-foot long whale as he gave chase to the wanted team. The whale beached itself so The Deep could attempt to stop the Boys, but that backfired when Butcher laid on the gas and rammed the speedboat [and all of them] right into the side of the whale, causing a bloody mess on the shore. Obviously, most of the scene was CGI, using a fake whale, but it was bloody disgusting.
Here is that scene (Viewer Discretion Advised):
A Welcome Transfer – Cobra Kai going from YouTube to Netflix
The first two seasons of The Karate Kid continuation – in the form of small screen series Cobra Kai – aired on YouTube, but Netflix realized how overlooked this series was being available only at YouTube so they acquired the series, making it available to a much bigger audience in August. The first two seasons did so well on the streaming service that a third season will get started on Netflix on January 8, 2021.
Add These to Your Streaming List (If You Haven’t Watched Them Already) – Virgin River and Sweet Magnolias (both on Netflix)
If you are looking for some great rom-coms that aren’t really just rom-coms (and believe me these shows are SO much more than just rom-coms), you should check out Virgin River and Sweet Magnolias; both are available on Netflix. They are great chicks shows with layers and complicated relationships. In fact, the second season of Virgin River got underway on November 27 with the second season of Sweet Magnolias planned, but probably won’t be available until either 2021 or 2022. Then
It Was a Treat Watching – Enola Holmes (Netflix)
This was a box office film that ended up on the streaming service, starring Stranger Things alum Millie Bobby Brown in the title role and Superman himself Henry Cavill. The movie routinely broke the 4th wall when Enola (Brown) would address the audience throughout the movie, which was actually pretty darn entertaining.
Do Not Miss This Show (Streaming Series You Need to Watch) – The Wilds (Amazon)
The new streaming series The Wilds debuted on Amazon on December 11 and is about a group of teenage girls whose plane crashes, leaving them stranded on a deserted island. This show has been heralded as a combination of Lord of the Flies and Lost; and that is true to form (I got a chance to watch all 10 episodes before Thanksgiving and can vouch for the angst and survival aspect). Much of the cast are newcomers (but talented newcomers each and everyone) as well as Rachel Griffiths (Brothers & Sisters) and Sophia Ali (Grey’s Anatomy).
Best Documentaries – I’ll Be Gone in the Dark (HBO) and Seduced: Inside the Nxivm Cult (Starz)
The 6-part documentary, based on the extensive research conducted by the late true crime author Michelle McNamara (Patton Oswalt’s late wife), which was an exploration of the case of the Golden State Killer who terrorized California in the 1970s and 1980s, committing 50 sexual assaults and 10 murders, was a much-buzzed about event over the summer.
That was followed closely by the 4-part documentary Seduced: Inside the Nxivm Cult, which aired this fall on Starz, focusing on 29-year old India Oxenberg, the daughter of actress Catherine Oxenburg, who – at the age of 20 – got involved in NXIVM, an “American multi-level marketing company” that was later exposed as a sex cult where she spent 7 years, finally being able to escape; and helping – along with other victims – to bring down the “ringleader” (or more to the point cult leader) Keith Raniere.
Oh ,What a Night!! – Saturday, November 7, 2020
It was 4 days after Election Night when the major networks announced that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris became President-Elect and Vice President-Elect respectively. Now let’s hope that our country can get back on track after four tumultuous years under the “rule” of a narcissistic, draft dodging, uncaring baboon who doesn’t give a damn about anyone else but himself. Most important of all is getting a handle on the virus and getting the vaccines out to as many people as possible as soon as it’s safe to do so.
Movies That Made Waves (in a Good Way) – The Old Guard (Netflix), Black Is King (Disney+); To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (Netflix) and Mulan on September 4 (Disney+)
With all of us spending a lot more time at home, it only made sense that a lot of us were watching WAY more TV than ever before, and especially a lot of movies on the plethora of streaming services.
Some of the top movies that people were raving about included To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, which debuted on Netflix on February 12; The Old Guard which hit Netflix on July 10; Black Is King, which landed on Disney+ on July 31 and Mulan which became available on Disney+ on September 4.
Stand-Out Character in an Ensemble Cast – Klaus in The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)
It’s not always that easy to stand-out when part of an ensemble cast in any production (TV or otherwise), but when you are part of the Netflix series The Umbrella Academy, based on the popular comic book series, it’s doubly hard because all of the characters are complex and, yes, a bit twisted. Klaus Hargreeves (as portrayed by talented Irish actor Robert Sheehan) has been a stand-out since the show debuted back in February of 2019, but it was his turn in season two as a time-traveling channeler of the dead turned unintended cult leader with a heart of gold (but a mind drenched in drug use) that really turned the season on its head and charmed viewers.
The John Barrowman Award (Best Scene-Stealer) – Alex Newell as Mo on Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC)
Alex is an extremely talented singer and made a big impression from the very first scene in Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, playing Zoey’s next door neighbor, pseudo friend and confidante. With powerhouse vocals, heartfelt vulnerability and a gorgeous smile, Mo wormed their way into our hearts, and we all cannot wait to see what comes next in season two.
Here is just one of Alex’s performances from Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist:
It’s Not Inconceivable (Reunion of the Year) – The Princess Bride virtual reunion, reading the script (all thanks to the Wisconsin Democrats)
Back on October 9, 1987, a little movie called The Princess Bride, adapted from the 1973 book of the same name by William Goldman, was released in the theatres. While the movie received critical acclaim, it was a moderate hit at the box office; but over the years it has become a timeless classic, evoking countless pop culture references [such as “Inconceivable!,” “Have fun stormin’ the castle!” and “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”]
So, when it was announced that the remaining cast (and a few additional players like Whoppi Goldberg and Josh Gad) would be gathering on a Zoom-like “call” – thanks to the Wisconsin Democrats – to read the script on September 13, well, to say the least none of the worldwide fans was shouting “inconceivable,” more like they were saying, “Sign me up!”
It was a fantastic virtual production, albeit with some glitches here and there, with great performances by the main cast – and even including some original props [thank you Mandy Patinkin for having Inigo’s sword]. It was a night to remember for everyone who tuned in and thanks to everyone who made that virtual event possible.
What have been the stand-out moments on the small screen (networks or streaming) for you? Who was your favorite actor for the year? What series, special or TV event disappointed you the most? Please share your thoughts on TV from this year below.
Today is the final day of panels for Comic Con @Home, which will include panels for the Freeform fantasy series Motherland: Fort Salem, the upcoming FOX drama nExt and the final season of The CW’s post-apocalyptic series The 100 as well as a panels focusing on Who’s the Best Doctor Who, the Psychology of Pop Culture and Christmas and A Conversation with (the one and only) Nathan Fillion [among many other panels].
The first panels start at 10 AM and the final panels start at 4 PM.
For many years now, Supernatural has been a part of the Sunday line-up in Hall H, and it only feels right to include pictures – taken by our own Dominick Dusseault – from last year, which was the show’s final appearance at Comic Con since it is coming to an end after 15 seasons on The CW.
Supernatural:
Jared Padalecki
Jensen Ackles
Mischa Collins
Alexander Calvert
Mischa, Jensen and Jared
Rob Benedict and Richard Speight, Jr.
It also seemed like the right time to include pictures – also from Dominick Dusseault – from last year’s panels for The Witcher and Game of Thrones:
The Witcher:
Henry Cavill
Anya Chalotra
Freya Allan
Series Creator Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, Freya, Henry and Anya
Game of Thrones:
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Maisie Williams
Isaac Hempstead Wright
John Bradley
Liam Cunningham
Conleth Hill
Jacob Anderson
Here’s to next year’s event (that will hopefully be held in person).
Today is the third full day of panels for Comic Con @Home, which will feature panels for TV shows For All Mankind, the new Peacock series Brave New World, Netflix’s The Order, the new HBO thriller Lovecraft Country, ABC’s Stumptown, the fan favorite Wynonna Earp, the AMC thriller NOS4A2 and a salute to the popular sci-fi series Farscape as well as a reunion/salute to the original box office movie Constantine – that is expected to include Keanu Reeves, who is also expected to show up for the panel focusing on the new Bill & Ted movie and An Evening with Kevin Smith [among many other panels].
The first panels start at 10 AM and the final panels start at 6 PM.
Since there are a few panels dedicated to the world of Marvel – included a scientific salute to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – it felt only right to take a look back, courtesy of photos taken by our very own Dominick Dusseault, – to the plethora of Marvel cast members who appeared at a huge Marvel event last year:
Black Widow:
Scarlett Johansson
David Harbour
Rachel Weisz
Florence Pugh
O-T Fagbenle
Blade:
Mahershala Ali
Doctor Strange:
Benedict Cumberbatch
The Eternals:
Angelina Jolie as Thena
Richard Madden as Ikaris
Salma Hayek as Ajak
Dong-seok Ma as Gilgamesh
Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo
Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos
Lauren Ridloff as Makkari
Lia McHugh as Sprite
Falcon and Winter Soldier:
Anthony Mackie
Sebastian and Anthony
Sebastian Stan
Hawkeye:
Jeremy Renner
Loki:
Tom Hiddleston
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings:
Simu Liu
Thor: Love and Thunder:
Chris Hemsworth
Natalie Portman
Tessa Thompson
Taika Waititi
WandaVision:
Elizabeth Olsen
Paul Bettany
Teyonah Parris
What If:
Jeffrey Wright
And, since this year’s event features a panel dedicated to Kevin Smith, it only seemed fitting to include pictures – courtesy of Dominick Dusseault – from last year’s panel that featured Kevin along with a few of his co-stars from the Jay and Silent Bob Reboot movie:
Rueben's Ramblings 