Top 5 TV News Stories Of The Week: Succession Out, Goodbye Grey & Going Down The Rabbit Hole
I’m Late, I’m Late….Getting this article out!
It’s Friyay y’all! (insert little girl squeals here). Not sure about the weather where you are, but it is POURING here! Like cats, dogs, parrots, elephants and peanuts. A little rain doesn’t slow down TV news though and if I can use just one word to sum up this week’s news it would be “Farewell” — farewell to Meredith Grey, Succession and just about everything HBO Max had in development (WTF is going on over there at Warner Bros.?). Hopefully you can find something in the Top 5 to smile about (let me know what you’re excited to stream in the comments!).
Top 5 TV News Stories of the Week
Emily In Paris’ Ashley Park to Star in Only Murders In the Building Season 3
How I love me some Ashley Park and how I love even more Only Murders in the Building. This is one of my favorite shows on Hulu and probably currently streaming overall. I love how each season has these really cool cameos and mega-stars in recurring roles. Now it has been announced that Ashley Park, who plays Mindy, the bestie on Emily in Paris will join the cast of OMITB alongside regulars Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez. Park will portray Kimber, a Broadway ingenue and is joined by other jaw-dropping stars for season 3 — Paul Rudd, Meryl Streep, and Jesse Williams.
2. Sam Smith Joins And Just Like That… Season 2
Hmmm….there’s some secretive stuff going on on the set of And Just Like That… Singer Sam Smith has shared cryptic photos on his Instagram page with the caption “Up to something unholy on set”. Could it be that Smith will be joining the ladies on the Sex and the City spinoff? The post features two images — Smith peeking out a of trailer on the set of the series waving a peace sign and another photo show Smith in a director’s chair. I think Smith will fit right in with these iconic NYC characters especially since he has already (on several occasions) professed his love for Carrie Bradshaw and SATC.
3. Modern’s Family Eric Stonestreet Joins The Santa Clauses: Season 2
Here’s a little Christmas cheer in February - Modern Family’s Eric Stonestreet will join the cast of The Santa Clauses for Season 2. The Disney+ series is a spinoff from the holiday classic The Santa Clause starring Tim Allen. Stonestreet will star as Mad Santa, a 14th century Santa Claus who reigned over Christmas and is now back to dethrone Scott Calvin (Allen) and take back The North Pole. The Santa Clauses: Season 1 is now streaming on Disney+.
HBO Max Orders Welcome To Derry, Prequel series to It + What HBO Has Ordered DOA
Here’s a big surprise — something HBO Max is actually ordering to series. Welcome To Derry will be a prequel series to Stephen King’s chilling horror film, It about the terrifying killer clown, Pennywise. The series will serve as an accompaniment to the two most recent It films and will be written by the same team. The series will explore the town of Derry, Maine’s most haunted city. In other news from the same discombobulated network…HBO has killed the reboot of True Blood, the second season of Mare of Eastown, any potential spin-offs for Succession, and has sent Neil Gaiman’s Dead Boy Detectives over to Netflix. I guess there’s always the Wonder Woman prequel series to look forward to. 🤷🏼♀️
4. Apples Never Fall Update: Alison Brie & Jake Lacy Join Cast
It was recently announced that Sam Neill will join Annette Bening in the series adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s bestselling novel “Apples Never Fall”. Now Alison Brie (Glow, Mad Men) and Jake Lacy (The White Lotus) will join the cast as the adult children of Joy and Stan Delaney (Bening and Neill). The Peacock series will have Lacy star as Troy, the second oldest of the Delaney children who after having had a competitive streak as a young tennis player is now taking swings at being a venture capitalist. Brie will play Amy Delaney, the oldest child and hot mess of the family who is still finding her way, bouncing from career to career. The series is currently in development, but you can stream Liane Moriarty’s other hit series based on her novels — Big Little Lies (HBO) and Nine Perfect Strangers (Hulu).
P.S. just discovered Jake Lacy and I share a birthday. I knew I felt his Aquarius vibes in High Fidelity.
5. Farewell Meredith Grey
So long, farewell Meredith Grey! After 19 seasons on the OMG how long?-running series Grey’s Anatomy, Ellen Pompeo is finally calling it quits. If only everyone had that type of job security. Her final episode aired on Thursday night as Meredith Grey said goodbye to Seattle and is now on her way to Boston, leaving room for a potential return (turns out there will be one more episode, the May finale which she will appear in). Pompeo has starred in over 400 episodes for the ABC/Shonda Rhimes series. Pompeo will remain as executive producer and narrator of Grey’s. Currently Grey’s Anatomy has not been renewed for a 20th season.
Book Adaptation of the Week - A Gentlemen In Moscow series at Paramount+
Real-life husband and wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead (10 Cloverfield Lane) and Ewan McGregor (Moulin Rouge!) will star in this historical thriller about a Russian aristocrat who is spared from death and placed on house arrest while the Bolshevik Revolution plays out before him. Based on the bestselling novel by Amor Towles. The eight-episode series is currently in development and will stream on Paramount+. Sam Miller (Luther) and Sarah O’Gorman (The Witcher) will split directing duties.
Trailer of the Week : Rabbit Hole (Paramount+)
An espionage thriller starring Kiefer Sutherland. Premiering March 26.
Spinoff of the Week: FBI True
A documentary spinoff of a drama series spinoff…this is the state of television, guys. Paramount+ will premiere the docuseries FBI True on Tuesday, February 28. This half-hour series, inspired by the popular nighttime drama, FBI and FBI: International dives into big cases with the agents walking viewers through each case.
Renewed/Cancelled Series This Week
Renewed
When The Heart Calls: Season 11 Renewal (Hallmark Channel)
NCIS: Hawaii
NCIS: Vegas
Survivor
Amazing Race
48 Hours
60 Minutes
Lingo
Tough As Nails
Fire Country
Cancelled
Soulmates: after just one season (AMC)
The Goldbergs: after 10 seasons (ABC)
Big Shot: after one season (Disney+)
Mighty Ducks: Game Changer: after two seasons (Disney+)
Southside: after three seasons (HBO)
Succession: after four seasons (HBO)
Succession Will End After Season 4
It’s been a good run! One of my favorite series currently streaming will come to an end after the upcoming fourth season which premieres March 26. I’ll miss the creative use of the F-word, but even I, as a fan have to admit that a show should quit itself while it is still ahead of the game. Stream the first three seasons on HBO Max.
Happy Birthday To You!
Feb 24
Director Todd Field - stream Tar (Peacock), Little Children (HBO Max)
Billy Zane - stream Titanic (Disney+)
Kate Mulvany - stream Hunters (Amazon Prime), The Great Gatsby (HBO Max)
Daniel Kaluuya - stream Nope (Peacock), Black Panther (Disney+)
Debra Jo Rupp - stream That 90’s Show (Netflix)
Edward James Olmos - stream Blade Runner and Mayans M.C. (Hulu)
Director Benny Safdie - stream Uncut Gems (Showtime)
Feb 25
Téa Leoni - stream Madam Secretary (Paramount+), Spanglish (Netflix)
Sean Astin - stream The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Perry Mason (HBO Max)
Rashida Jones - stream Parks & Recreation (Peacock), On The Rocks (Apple TV+)
Chelsea Handler - stream Chelsea Does and Hello, Privilege. It’s Me, Chelsea (Netflix)
Director Neil Jordan - stream Interview with the Vampire and The Crying Game (HBO Max)
Feb 26
William Frawley - Stream I Love Lucy (Paramount+)