Entertainment News through May 12, 2021

Not much new to report from my TV and movie viewing experiences. We wrapped up “For All Mankind” the alternate history sci-fi series on Apple TV+ speculating that the space race would have continued for years when the Soviet Union beat America to the moon. The second season was every bit as good as the first with a very dramatic and somewhat tragic climax.

Marvel’s “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” was good but not spectacular. At six episodes it was just about right.

Hulu’s hit drama “The Handmaid’s Tale” has returned for season 4 and the critics are not impressed. I suppose I partially agree that the story is dragging a little bit. Still it’s one of the best dramas on television.

American Idol has been great this year. Anyone of the top 5 has a decent shot at winning. And even the top 10 has been extraordinary.

Pandemic News

  • “Top Gun: Maverick” opening has been moved from July 2 two November 19. “Mission Impossible 7” which was scheduled for that November date has now been moved to May 27, 2022.
  • “The Phantom of the Opera” is the first announced Broadway reopening. Now scheduled for October 22nd. Shortly afterwards a number of other productions announced their return to Broadway for September or October.

Renewals, Coming Soon, and Casting News

  • Ellen DeGeneres Show will end after 19 seasons. It will continue to the current 2021-2022 season.
  • NBC announced it will not air the 2022 Golden Globes. Backlash against the HFPA over lack of diversity. Tom Cruise recently returned his three Golden Globe Awards in protest.
  • NBC hit drama “This Is Us” will end with upcoming season 6 as long proposed by showrunner Dan Fogelman.
  • John de Lancie will return as “Q” in the upcoming second season of “Star Trek: Picard”.
  • The animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks has already been renewed for season 3 even though season 2 has not yet been released.
  • After a long hiatus we reintroduce the “Chris Young’s Sure of the Coming Apocalypse Award”. There will be a new animated movie based on “Peeps” marshmallow candy.
  • Wayne Brady will be joining the cast of “The Good Fight” for season 5.
  • ABC game show “Don’t” has been canceled after one season. Write your own joke 🙂 There are too many.
  • CBS says that “MacGyver” will end with the current season 5.
  • Phoebe Waller-Bridge has been cast opposite Harrison Ford in the upcoming Indiana Jones 5 film. John Williams will score.
  • Tatiana Maslany is not returning as Sister Alice in season 2 of “Perry Mason”. We are very disappointed.
  • Netflix has renewed “Bridgerton” for seasons 3 and 4 even before 2 has been released.
  • CBS reality competition show “Tough As Nails” has been renewed for 2 more seasons.
  • Martial arts drama “Warrior” has been renewed for season 3 but will move from Cinemax to HBO Max after Cinemax announced it will no longer do original series.
  • CBS has renewed Blue Bloods, SWAT, Magnum PI, Bull, NCIS , and NCIS LA. Also new series NCIS Hawaii has been greenlit
  • Dominic Purcell says he’s leaving CW’s “Legends of Tomorrow” after season 6.
  • Hilary Duff will star in “How I Met Your Father” a spinoff of “How I Met Your Mother” to appear on Hulu.
  • NBC has renewed “Young Rock” and “Kenan” each for a second season.
  • CW has renewed “Kung Fu” and “Star Girl” for season 2 and 3 respectively.
  • Although not finalized, “Pennyworth” is possibly moving from Epix to HBO Max. The first two seasons appeared on Epix and it may move for the third. It’s the story of young Alfred Pennyworth who would later go on to become Bruce Wayne’s Butler.
  • ABC has renewed “The Good Doctor” for season 5.
  • FX has renewed “Mayans MC” for season 4.
  • ABC has renewed “Big Sky” for season 2.
  • Netflix has canceled the Sherlock Holmes related series “The Irregulars”
  • CW has renewed “The Flash” for season 8 but it will be without Carlos Valdes who plays Cisco Ramon and Tom Cavanaugh who has played various versions of Harrison Wells and Eobard Thawne. Both of which are original cast members.
  • Lilly Singh late-night show on NBC will end with season 2.
  • Grey’s Anatomy has been renewed for season 18. Jesse Williams a.k.a. Dr. Avery is leaving Grey’s Anatomy after 12 seasons.
  • Fox has renewed Mayim Bialik sitcom “Call Me Kat” for season 2. It is tied as the number one new comedy with NBC’s “Young Rock”. As much as I like the star, it was one episode and done for me. Despite its success next season it will have a new showrunner.
  • Fox has canceled “Prodigal Son” and we are very disappointed.
  • Daytime soap “Days of Our Lives” has been renewed for seasons 57 and 58.

Miscellaneous News

  • The French Open tennis tournament has been delayed one week in hopes that things will open up more and they can get more fans. It will now run from May 30 minus June 13 with qualifying the week before.
  • HBO Max has announced a new ad supported subscription will only be $10 per month.

In Memoriam

  • Bobby Unser three time Indy 500 Champion. Age 87
  • Rapper DMX a.k.a Earl Simmons. Age 50 heart attack
  • Norman Lloyd actor who appeared in “St. Elsewhere” age 106.
  • Anne Beatts writer for SNL and creator of the sitcom “Square Pegs” . Age 74
  • James Hampton writer, director and character on 60 sitcom “F Troop”. Age 84
  • Joseph Siravo character actor who played Tony Soprano’s father. Age 64 cancer.
  • Felix Silla who was under all of that hair as “Cousin Itt” on TVs “The Adams Family”. Age 84 cancer.
  • Michael Collins astronaut on Apollo 11 who remained in orbit while Armstrong and Aldrin landed. Not really an entertainer but a noteworthy death so we decided to honor him here. Age 90
  • Charles Beeson TV director on “The Mentalist” and Supernatural” no age listed but he looked to be late 50s? Heart attack
  • Olympia Dukakis who won a supporting actress Oscar for “Moonstruck”. Age 89
  • Billy Hayes who portrayed Witchiepoo in the early 70s Saturday morning show “HR Pufnstuf”, age 96.
  • Televangelist Rev. Ernest Angley . Age 99
  • Lloyd Price rock ‘n’ roll Hall of Fame inductee who sang “Lawdy Miss Clawdy age 88
  • Tawny Kithaen, music video and reality TV star. Age 59
  • Graeme Ferguson Canadian filmmaker who cofounded IMAX. Age 91

Links of Interest