Latest news with #MichaelConnelly
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Maggie Q on Bosch spin-off show Ballard, her gruelling Nikita workload and love for Hawaii
Landing a lead role in a television series would seem like a dream scenario for an up-and-coming actor. But it can also become a nightmare – just ask Maggie Q. The actress, who got her start in Hong Kong action films, scored the title role in the 2010 spy thriller Nikita, where she showcased her athletic prowess and became one of the few Asian actors to star in a US network drama series. Although Q was grateful for the experience, she also remembers the project as all-consuming and gruelling, prompting her to be more selective about her choices. Her inner red flag went up when she was first approached about starring in Ballard, Amazon Prime Video 's new show based on a series of bestselling novels about fictional LAPD detective Renee Ballard by former Los Angeles Times journalist-turned-author Michael Connelly. 'I get a lot of scripts, and a lot of them I don't like,' says Q, whose real name is Margaret Denise Quigley. 'I also wasn't looking to take on another show. It was like, 'Is this something I really want to do right now?' I know what it takes to be No 1 on a show. It's a massive output, and it really has to be good enough for me to want to do that again.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prime Video's Most Popular Show Right Now Is This Must-Watch 2025 Crime Drama
Amazon Prime Video subscribers have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Ballard, a new spinoff starring Maggie Q as Detective Renée Ballard. But does it live up to the hype? Fans love Bosch and its spinoff, Bosch: Legacy, for their sharp detective stories, character development and realistic portrayal of Los Angeles. This new show is already a hit, and Watch With Us is here to tell you what makes it so compelling. Read on to learn why Ballard is about to become your next TV obsession. It's an Ambitious Franchise Move From Amazon Prime Video Renée Ballard first appeared on Bosch: Legacy when she tracked down Bosch (Titus Welliver) seeking information about one of her LAPD cases. Maggie Q instantly made an impression onscreen as a determined, powerful detective fiercely committed to justice. Just like the original Bosch series, Ballard is based on a series of detective novels by Michael Connelly. This spinoff shows that Amazon is building out the Bosch interconnected universe, promising more complex mysteries and storytelling ahead. (In Connelly's novels, characters routinely pop in and out of each other's stories.) 20 Must-Watch TV Shows on Amazon Prime Video Right Now (July 2025) By continuing to grow its own police procedural universe, Amazon Prime Video is positioning itself as a competitor to franchises like the One Chicago universe or NCIS. They're also testing how well a Bosch spinoff can succeed without the man himself. So far, the answer seems to be: pretty well. It's a Police Procedural That Deals With Relevant Issues At the start of Ballard, the eponymous detective is ousted from the Robbery and Homicide Division for blowing the whistle on a popular cop. She's reassigned to the LAPD's cold case unit — a tiny, underfunded department focused on solving the cases everyone else has given up on. She's the only full-time staffer in a division made up mostly of volunteers. But what starts as a punishment becomes an opportunity for Ballard to utilize her formidable intelligence and detective skills to help those who need it most. Ballard is well aware of the corruption and internal problems within the force, which sometimes block justice instead of delivering it. 20 Must-Watch British Crime Shows to Stream Right Now (July 2025) Before long, Ballard and her scrappy team — Courtney Taylor (Abbott Elementary), Michael Mosley (Scrubs), Rebecca Field (The Client List) and Victoria Moroles (Liv and Maddie) — uncover a conspiracy that forms a season-long arc. However, each episode also delves into a cold case that has slipped through the cracks of the justice system. Ballard stands out from other cop shows by weaving these flaws into the very fabric of the series — not as a one-off 'very special episode,' but as an ongoing theme. The Cast of 'Ballard' Differs From Your Average Crime Drama As an Asian American female detective, Ballard is a loner out of necessity. Few of her colleagues understand the obstacles she faces — in fact, they're often the source of those obstacles. But when she recruits former detective Samira Parker (Taylor), a Black woman, into the cold case department, both women discover the power of having an ally who truly understands their experiences. 'Chicago Med,' 'Chicago Fire' and 'Chicago P.D.' Fall 2025 Season Premieres: Dates, Channel, Plot, Cast Ballard's other key relationship is with her grandmother and roommate, Tutu (played by the always-welcome Amy Hill). Their heart-to-hearts give Ballard space to reflect, even if she keeps her walls up — much to Tutu's dismay. By centering the stories of these women, Ballard opens new doors in the crime procedural genre — not just representing women of color, but making them the heart of the narrative. Watch Ballard season 1 now on Amazon Prime Video.
Malaysian Reserve
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Malaysian Reserve
Wise F&I Welcomes Michael Connelly as Vice President, Business Development
ST. LOUIS, July 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Wise F&I, a leading provider of finance and insurance (F&I) products, is proud to formally introduce Michael Connelly in the newest position Vice President of Business Development. Michael joined the organization six months ago and has already made a strong impact with his strategic vision and commitment to delivering tailored support for our agent partners. With over 16 years of industry experience and a bachelor's degree in communications from Boston University, Michael brings both insight and innovation to the role. He first entered the automotive space through a family connection and quickly found his passion—transforming that early start into a meaningful career. Prior to joining Wise F&I, he earned recognition as the 2021 'So You Think You Can F&I' winner during the Ethical F&I Managers Conference, and he continues to be known for his ability to inspire measurable growth within dealerships and agencies alike. Michael's mission is simply to be the most effective partner possible by customizing training, development, and support to the specific needs of each agent. His goals include redefining partnership standards, building strategies for agency growth, and positioning Wise F&I as a trendsetter in an evolving marketplace. According to Jay Sharpnack, Chief Revenue Officer at Wise F&I, 'I've known Connelly for a long time, and he continues to impress me with everything he gets involved in. He hit the ground running and has already become an invaluable asset to both our team and our agent partners. His deep industry knowledge and strong relationship-building skills make him exactly the kind of leader we want driving our business development efforts. Having Mike around really helps Wise Make F&I Fun Again!' Outside of work, Michael enjoys quality time with his family. Whether they're playing games, sharing laughs or playing a round of golf (even though he's admittedly terrible at it). Please join us in welcoming Michael Connelly and celebrating the value he brings to our team and our partners.
Forbes
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Amazon Prime Video's Best New Show Has A 100% Rotten Tomatoes Score
Ballard There aren't all that many high profile new shows on Amazon Prime Video at the moment, but a new one has entered the race, premiered at no. 1 and has racked up a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes critic score to boot. That would be Ballard, the new police series that is only kind of new. Rather, it's a spin-off of the very popular Bosch, one of the OG Amazon series that ran for seven seasons before ending in 2021. Now, it's back in the form of Ballard, where Maggie Q reprises the character from her recent Bosch: Legacy appearance. Renée Ballard was first introduced in Michael Connelly's 2017 novel, The Last Show. Here's the description of her new series: 'Detective Renée Ballard plunges into a web of murder and corruption as she hunts a ruthless serial killer and uncovers a sinister police conspiracy that threatens everything she stands for. With her own demons nipping at her heels, Ballard must outwit both criminals and colleagues to bring long-overdue justice to the victims and their families.' Top 10 Good news; Amazon really wants you to watch Ballard, so it's released it as a binge drop. All ten episodes are available right now, which has probably helped cement its place on the top 10 list. As it stands, Ballard also boasts a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, albeit from a limited number of critics so far. That may seem high until you realize that Bosch itself had a stunning 97% critic score (and 94% audience score) as an average for its seven seasons. That includes a 100% score for every season except the first one. So, if Ballard follows a similar path with similar talent working on it, you may in fact expect that high figure to stay in place. As for audiences, it already has a quite high (in context) 7.8/10 on IMDB. The series is not exactly full of big names besides Q. Michael Mosley, Rebecca Field, Victoria Moroles and Amy Hill also star. I recognize John Carroll Lynch (Zodiac), Michael Cassidy (The OC) and Courtney Taylor (Abbott Elementary). Amazon is continually looking for shows like this. Not Bosch spin-offs, specifically, but shows in this range that combine a good but not overpaid cast, relatively cheap location filming, high viewership scores and in this case, a lot of source material. I am mainly describing Reacher, but that's the model that Amazon wants to replicate (Reacher is so far the #2 most-watched show in 2025, with no other Amazon production even on the list at all). There are no indications that Ballard is supposed to be a miniseries, and surely the goal is renewal and a string of seasons like Bosch itself (or Reacher!). A premiere at no.1 is as solid a start as you're going to get, and I'd be surprised if it left that post any time soon. I'll watch it this week and report back. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy
Daily Record
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Maggie Q's new project unveiled as fans demand season 2 of Prime Video's Ballard
Ballard has been a hit with Prime Video subscribers since it was released last week and lead actress Maggie Q is set to star in another thriller. Ballard star Maggie Q has been hailed as "absolutely fire" by avid viewers, yet she's already immersed in her next venture. The Bosch franchise creator Michael Connelly, who also penned Netflix's The Lincoln Lawyer, is the mastermind behind the new series Ballard, which shares the same fictional universe. Since its debut last week, fans have been captivated by the character of Ballard (portrayed by Maggie Q), an LAPD detective at the helm of the cold cases division, navigating professional tribulations. Social media has been abuzz with praise for the 46-year-old actress's portrayal, with numerous fans extolling her as "fabulous" and an "incredible star". Amidst the buzz surrounding the Bosch Legacy offshoot, Q has shifted her focus to a forthcoming project. Her IMDb page reveals that she's set to appear in the soon-to-be-produced series Can't Go Home. The crime thriller's synopsis hints at a gripping tale centred around "fugitive recovery agents Tom Desjadon and his partner KD Williams W.H.O. are in too deep." Set against the backdrop of Boston's criminal underbelly, the narrative follows two intrepid bounty hunters who opt for a life riddled with deceit and dread to evade retribution. Tom Mariano will embody Desjadon, while Jennifer Garner, renowned for roles in Alias, Juno, 13 Going on 30, and Daredevil, will play Williams. Q's role as Cam remains shrouded in mystery, with details of her involvement in the thriller yet to be disclosed. An official release date for Can't Go Home hasn't been confirmed yet, but it's anticipated to premiere later this year on Prime Video. As of now, there's no word on whether Q will return as Detective Ballard for a second series of Ballard. However, considering the show has garnered an impressive 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and received high praise on social media, it's probable that we'll see more from the programme.
