Latest news with #SCADTVfest
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
As Watson's Season 1 Finale Promo Reveals Moriarty Meeting John, Are We About To See Why Randall Park Fit The Showrunner's 'Fantasy Casting' For The Villain?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The days are counting down until the beginning of the end for Watson in CBS' spring 2025 TV schedule, with the first half of the two-part finale airing on May 4 and streaming afterwards via a Paramount+ subscription. It wouldn't truly feel like a Watson event if the leading man's nemesis didn't return, with the fun twist that John doesn't actually know with certainty that Moriarty is even alive and active to be his enemy. Well, the promo confirms not only that Randall Park will be back for the finale, but he'll share at least one scene with Morris Chestnut. The footage reminded me of what showrunner Craig Sweeny told me earleir this year about casting the Fresh Off the Boat sitcom star as the iconic villain out of Sherlock Holmes lore. First things first! The preview for Part 1 of the finale may be short, but it packs in plenty of reasons to worry about what the episode will bring. One of the Croft twins appears to be in bad shape, and Moriarty... well, it looks like he's finally making a big move that can't be undone. Take a look: Moriarty has mostly lurked in the shadows on Watson, reaching out to Shinwell and then Ingrid to blackmail them and get an edge on Watson. Apparently, if he can't torment Sherlock Holmes, John Watson is the next best thing for him! Based on the preview, it appears that Moriarty will finally be bold enough to reach out to the good doctor himself, which really doesn't bode well. The look on his face is pretty chilling! In fact, the expression on his face in the promo as he tells Watson that he's a "big fan" is what reminded me of my conversation with showrunner Craig Sweeny (who was a writer and executive producer for Elementary prior to Watson's take on the Arthur Conan Doyle characters) and star Morris Chestnut at SCAD TVfest in Atlanta earlier this year. At the time, only the series premiere had aired to reveal that Watson's take on the iconic literary villain was an unassuming man in a polo shirt played by an actor with great comedic timing, so I had to ask: what went in to casting the WandaVision alum as THE James Moriarty? After the star and EP reacted to the strong series premiere ratings, Sweeny shared: When you're writing a pilot, you're sort of fantasy casting as you're writing, because you haven't cast actors yet. Moriarty was one that was wide open in my head, but I did have a pre-existing relationship with Randall, and it sort of jumped into my head that that would be the most surprising casting that you could possibly do. He's a nice [man]. His work reflects who he is as a person, which is this genuinely kind, thoughtful guy. How do you possibly turn that on its head and make that menacing and evil? And that just seemed like a challenge that was really exciting for me. Watson made the most of the veneer of kindness for a fair amount of Moriarty's screentime so far, to the point that he doesn't seem all that despicable even when detailing nefarious plans. I think that may be about to change in at least the first part of the two-episode season finale, which hopefully means big things for Season 2 after the early renewal. Sweeny went on: I have written Moriarty before on Elementary with Natalie Dormer. This was a way to just do it in an entirely different way. Then you think about, 'Okay, how does he present in the world?' The polo shirt was my version of [how] he just wants to blend in. He was referred to in the script as Pittsburgh Dad. That's what he wants you to see when you look at him, just a guy on the incline on his way to work. It's how he blends into the world. Watson may have introduced Moriarty in his Pittsburgh Dad persona, but it certainly appears that it would take more than a polo shirt to hide the villain's true nature in the finale! Then again, no promo is going to spoil the biggest twists of an episode, so perhaps we shouldn't read too much into the ominous but brief shots of Randall Park in the preview. Other than Moriarty's identity seemingly being figured out by Ingrid and Moriarty meeting Watson, we can't say much about what kind of havoc he'll be wreaking in the finale episode based on just the few seconds of footage so far. The first half of the two-part Watson Season 1 finale airs on Sunday, May 4 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS, followed by the second half the next week on May 11. You can also revisit any earlier episodes of the doctor/detective drama streaming on Paramount+ now.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
St. Denis Medical Cast, EP Weigh In on Serena-Matt Tension, Tease ‘Off the Rails' Season Finale — Watch
Just six episodes into its freshman run, St. Denis Medical's strong vital signs earned it a quick Season 2 renewal. But before the NBC comedy's hospital staff can make it to a completely new season, they'll have to survive a finale that, as star Allison Tolman puts it, sends things 'off the rails' at the titular medical center. 'The finale of this season is the most 'oh no' [that nurse Alex feels],' Tolman recently told TVLine at the SCAD TVfest in Atlanta. 'And it's warranted. A lot of times, when Alex is worked up about something, it's like, 'Girl, calm down.' But in the finale, things really have gone off the rails, and her high alert is warranted.' More from TVLine SNL50: Watch All the Highlights From the Star-Studded Anniversary Special SNL50: The Anniversary Special: How to Watch the Live Celebration Online SNL50: The Homecoming Concert: Every Revived Character, Every Musical Guest and Every Song Performed - Grade It! Tolman, whose full interview with us can be viewed in the video above, couldn't share much more about what transpires at the end of Season 1. We suspect, though, that the hospital's financial situation — a season-long issue for the underfunded St. Denis — might play a significant role as the inaugural season winds down, as co-showrunner Eric Ledgin hinted. 'It's not that they're about to go under. It's more that they can't have any nice things,' Ledgin tells us. 'They never have enough to go any further, and Joyce's hope is so far outsized compared to what they actually have. That's a tension we play with a lot in the first season, and all I'll say is we won't necessarily be playing that same tension in the second season.' And while we're on the subject of tension: There's been a little of that — of the will-they-won't-they variety, to be more specific — between nurses Serena and Matt, no? 'There's a long way to go, in Season 1, even,' admitted Kahyun Kim, who plays Serena on the sitcom, adding that more 'complex feelings' are in store for the colleagues as Season 1 continues. Ledgin was ever-so-slightly more forthcoming about the Serena-Matt situation, promising that 'something will happen' between the pair in upcoming episodes. 'There will be movement. There won't be nothing,' Ledgin teased, before adding with a laugh, 'Is that vague enough?' St. Denis Medical airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC. Best of TVLine Summer TV Calendar: Your Guide to 85+ Season and Series Premieres Classic Christmas Movies Guide: Where to Watch It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, Die Hard and Others What's New on Netflix in June
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Stranger Things' Season 5 Editing Is Ahead of Schedule, Duffer Brothers Promise at SCAD TVfest: ‘We're Definitely on Target' for 2025
Matt and Ross Duffer want to clear up any confusion: Yes, the fifth and final season of 'Stranger Things' is coming this year. As a matter of fact, it may be even sooner than expected. 'We're focused on visual effects sequences right now, which started back in January,' Ross Duffer told the audience at the SCAD TVfest, where the brothers were honored with the Variety Showrunners Award. 'It's going well. We're actually ahead of schedule, which is rare for us.' More from Variety Laverne Cox Gives Powerful Speech Against Trump Agenda at SCAD TVfest: 'They Are Committed to Eradicating Trans People from Public Life' 'Phineas and Ferb' Revival Gets Summer Premiere on Disney Channel and Disney+ SCAD TVfest Sets 2025 Lineup, Will Honor Hiroyuki Sanada, Laverne Cox, Walker Scobell and More It's too soon to tell how the eight episodes will be released — if it will be all in one batch or, if like in Season 4, the show will be spread between two drops. 'We will see,' Matt Duffer said. 'I will say that it is coming this year. We're definitely on target.' At the recent 'Next on Netflix' press event, the Duffers described the final season as 'eight blockbuster movies,' which Matt Duffer admitted 'sounded like a good sound bite.' 'Ross and I do love blockbuster films, we do love big special effects sequences, but at the end of the day, it's about the character work,' he said. 'What I do love about television, even though we were film guys growing up, that we're able to do these huge cinematic special effects, but then we also have a lot of time to spend with the characters… the goal is you're so invested in the story, and that's what I found good TV does really well.' 'Stranger Things' star Caleb McLaughlin, who plays Lucas on the series, was also at the SCADshow theater to hand the Variety award to the Duffers. The two producers noted with awe how much McLaughlin and his fellow young stars had grown up during the course of filming 'Stranger Things.' 'They're like family now,' Matt Duffer said. 'That aspect of the show has been really special. I don't know if it's just because there's a bunch of them, but they've all turned out so well as human beings. The fear is we're going to screw up a child by making them famous. I'm just so proud of how they've turned out as people. Caleb, he's a great guy.' Ross Duffer said the nostalgia is starting to creep in as 'Stranger Things' comes to a close. 'For both of us, I think it hit mostly that last week of filming, and specifically the last day of filming when we started to wrap our main cast,' he said. 'It was a full year of filming that you're really in it moment to moment. But that last week, and particularly that last day, you started to reflect on everything and the journeys that we've all been on. It hit us all pretty hard. Now we're backing in on editing, and it'll hit us again, I think, when the show is finally released.' As for what's next with the 'Stranger Things' franchise, the Olivier-winning West End play 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow' hits Broadway next month. And beyond that, the Duffers have more ideas about the future — although they're not able to get into specifics yet. 'This story, these characters' stories, that's done,' Matt Duffer said. 'So that that whole story is coming to an end. There's not like a Steve/Dustin spinoff or something. The hope is, we finished telling this story, and then you leave it, and then you tell new stories. And hopefully there are new characters that people can fall in love with.' There's also an opportunity for more 'Stranger Things' in other venues like gaming. 'I love games,' Matt Duffer said. 'That sounds like a good idea. I'm open to that, if they want to do that. For sure, there is a board game… and I got them to make a pinball machine.' As part of their deal with Netflix, the Duffers are the executive producers on the upcoming series 'The Boroughs,' from Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, who created a thriller set inside a retirement community; as well as the horror series 'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen,' from writer Haley Z. Boston, about the week leading up to a couple's ill-fated wedding. Matt Duffer said 'the cool part' of running their Upside Down Pictures shingle is 'to use that to help get people like Haley, and Jeff and Will's show off the ground. You know, we're fans. We love watching TV and we love watching film. We're trying to use the fact that our name means anything to help get some of this stuff off the ground.' Is there a franchise that the Duffers might want to tackle, perhaps in the comic book, sci-fi or superhero realm? 'I think this kind of distressing to our agents, but no, not really,' Matt Duffer said. 'If we have any chips that we can cash in from 'Stranger Things,' we should be doing something original.' Added Ross Duffer, who pointed out that 'Stranger Things' started as an original homage to the kind of storytelling that inspired them: 'Can we take these loves, and in this case, our childhood and our friends and do something completely unique and original? Even though that wasn't the original goal or the plan, I think that ended up being so exciting to us that we kind of want to follow that blueprint.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Grammy Predictions, From Beyoncé to Kendrick Lamar: Who Will Win? Who Should Win? What's Coming to Netflix in February 2025
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Laverne Cox Gives Powerful Speech Against Trump Agenda at SCAD TVfest: ‘They Are Committed to Eradicating Trans People from Public Life'
Laverne Cox got the SCAD TVfest crowd to its feet on Friday evening, as the star delivered a powerful, emotional speech about the new Trump administration's attack on trans rights, civil rights and destruction of regulations in order to enrich the billionaires now in office. Taking the stage to accept SCAD's Impact Award, before premiering two episodes of her new Amazon Prime Video series 'Clean Slate,' Cox delivered a call to action while also admitting the frightening truth that at the moment, 'it might be too little, too late.' 'The system is rigged in favor of corporations, plutocrats, oligarchs, the wealthy,' she said. 'It might not be the time for us to be able to rise up not only as trans people, but as working people, as people of color. People with the capacity for pregnancy, people who really just want to get a no fault divorce. And so many other things.' More from Variety 'Phineas and Ferb' Revival Gets Summer Premiere on Disney Channel and Disney+ Laverne Cox's Norman Lear-Produced 'Clean Slate' Has Beautiful Trans Representation but Muted Comedy: TV Review SCAD TVfest Sets 2025 Lineup, Will Honor Hiroyuki Sanada, Laverne Cox, Walker Scobell and More Cox noted that Trump ran on a platform that could easily be interpreted as white supremacist. 'The Project 2025 agenda is a Christian nationalist agenda, if you read the text,' she noted. 'And their form of Christian nationalism is a white Christian nationalism. It is a Christian nationalism with the man, the patriarch, as the head of the household, after God, and women being subservient, women not being able to get a divorce, women not being able to get an abortion, and people with ectopic pregnancy not being able to get an abortion. This is the America they dream of, iIn addition to dismantling the regulatory state, which we're seeing happen very quickly right now. It is a future, a vision of America that would completely deregulate everything so the corporations can do whatever they want and make as much money as possible.' But Cox saved her most heartbreaking portion of her speech to discuss what is now happening to trans people, particularly trans youth, across the country. 'They are committed to eradicating trans people from public life, they've said it blatantly,' Cox said. They said it in everything that they have done. This is not a distraction. This is part of their agenda… When states pass laws that criminalize, stigmatize trans people, it emboldens the public to do the same thing, to commit violence against trans people. Violence against trans youth has skyrocketed in states that pass discriminatory policies affecting trans people. When the state sanctions discrimination against us, it emboldens citizens to commit violence against us, and it is heartbreaking. And it has been heartbreaking for years what trans people, and particularly trans youth, have experienced.' 'Clean Slate,' which comes Sony Pictures TV and the late Norman Lear's Act III Prods. (led by Brent Miller), centers on car wash owner Henry (George Wallace), whose estranged child comes home to Alabama after 17 years. But he must do some soul searching as he comes to terms with the fact that his adult child is a trans woman, Desiree (Cox). The eight-episode series premiered Feb. 6 on Prime Video. The 'Clean Slate' premiere rounded out this year's SCAD TVfest, held Feb. 5 to Feb. 7 at the school's Atlanta campus. Here's a full text of Cox's remarks: 'I've had a few little accolades in my career that I am incredibly proud of. And it reminds me that an impact award or an Emmy nomination or two SAG awards or countless magazine covers (including British Vogue, twice!), these are wonderful, wonderful things. These honors have inspired many people, and I'm proud of that, and given perspective to people who might not know a trans person in real life. 'But these honors have not changed the material reality of the majority of trans people in this country and around the world. The reality is that most trans people in this country are poor and working class. The reality of the lives of most trans people, particularly trans youth in this country that over the past several years, they have been fleeing states who have passed laws banning gender affirming care, laws that would criminalize parents that support their trans kids. And so, families have been fleeing states for several years. And mostly states that are here in the south. 'This wonderful honor will not change the material reality that right now there are trans people who have put in applications for passports, and they're waiting to receive their passports back, knowing that they will not get their gender marker changed — and are not even sure they'll get their passports back. It won't change the reality that in the state of Florida, for a year now, you have not been able to change your gender marker on your state identification. 'It won't change the fact that when states pass laws that criminalize, stigmatize trans people, it emboldens the public to do the same thing, to commit violence against trans people. Violence against trans youth has skyrocketed in states that pass discriminatory policies affecting trans people. When the state sanctions discrimination against us, it emboldens citizens to commit violence against us, and it is heartbreaking. And it has been heartbreaking for years what trans people, and particularly trans youth, have experienced. 'In the 26 states that have been gender-affirming care for young people, there are often laws that would criminalize the doctors for providing that care. According to recently signed executive order from the current president of the United States, gender affirming care for all young people should be banned in this country. I want to remind you that there are 14 or 15, states that say we're not following that because that's illegal. 'And so much of what is happening under in this chaotic new administration is blatantly illegal. If you read Project 2025 — it was quite a read — none of this is surprising. And it is the jobs of our elected representatives and the amazing organizations who are suing this administration to challenge them and to resist at every point. 'But it might be too little, too late. There is the power system is rigged. The system is rigged in favor of corporations, plutocrats, oligarchs, the wealthy. It might not be the time for us to be able to rise up not only as trans people but as working people, as people of color. People with the capacity for pregnancy, people who really just want to get a no fault divorce. And so many other things. 'The Project 2025 agenda is a Christian nationalist agenda, if you read the text. And for the Heritage Foundation, their form of Christian nationalism is a white Christian nationalism. It is a Christian nationalism with the man, the patriarch, as the head of the household, after God, and women being subservient. Women not being able to get a divorce, women not being able to get an abortion, and people with ectopic pregnancy not being able to get an abortion. 'This is the America they dream of. In addition to dismantling the regulatory state, which we're seeing happen very quickly right now, is a future, a vision of America that would completely deregulate everything so the corporations can do whatever they want and make as much money as possible. It is a vision where, billionaires get even bigger tax breaks while the cost of health care goes up while people can't afford a home or rent or groceries. It is an administration that is for the wealthy and corporations. And disdain for you, all the working people all over this country. 'And what is so disappointing to me about the Democratic party and so many people who identify as a liberal, a leftist, is that somehow we have not been able to come together across our differences and form coalitions to resist this. The fact that there is such a lack of willingness to tell the truth about our racist legacy when presidential candidates run for office. Democrats run — particularly Democrats of color — and don't talk about racism, because it's really uncomfortable for a lot of white people to hear about racism, and they don't want to feel guilty. And so, 'talking about racism is like, you know, not really good. So let's not do that.' 'And for the entire history of the United States, we just don't talk about racism. Racism exists, and this President ran on a blatantly white supremacist platform. So if we have a white supremacist platform that's being run on, and we don't talk about race, there are a lot of people who are like, 'what?' If you don't actually have an agenda for working people? A lot of people say, 'what?' And then forming coalitions of working class people around you, when you leave trans people behind. 'Kamala Harris, love her, didn't talk about trans people at all. You'd never know it based on what the Republicans were saying. We can't leave people behind. We actually have to tell the truth about the history and legacy of this country so that we can actually be in coalition with each other and trust each other. Trans people are not going to be in coalition with folks who deny our existence or who want to say that our issues are a distraction. 'If you read Project 2025, or just look around at what Republicans have been doing on the state level for the past five years, it is not a distraction for them. They are committed to eradicating trans people from public life, they've said it blatantly. They said it in everything that they have done. This is not a distraction. This is part of their agenda. And so saying we're a distraction is a great way to say 'this issue is a little touchy, and I really don't want to go there' instead of standing up for the most marginalized, having some values and standing up for something. 'We have to take back our narratives as people on the left and Democrats and not just respond to the agenda that the Conservatives are setting. They have been setting the agenda, and leftist Democrats have been responding. We can set the agenda, an agenda for working people, agenda for human rights and civil rights, because if we don't, well, we're probably already screwed. 'So if we are already screwed, and I think we kind of already are, if that is the case, then what? To be honest, that 'then what,' it actually excites me. Because then the 'then what' is community. The 'then what' is our legacy and history as LGBTQI+ folks and people of color, of mutual aid, of chosen family, of finding resources. 'You know, trans people have been getting access to gender-affirming care since gender-affirming care existed. And Susan Stryker, who literally wrote the book on trans history, told me many years ago she interviewed Miss Major Griffin-Gracy. If you don't know who that is, girl, you need to get your life together. Google her! Miss Major is from Chicago. And she told me that Miss Major said in 1955, when she was 15 years old, doing sex work on the streets of Chicago, the girl had hormones. In 1955, Black trans sex workers had access to feminizing hormones. In 1955. 'For years, through black markets, through underground railroads of resources, trans people have been getting access to gender-affirming care. It's not always the safest. There have been issues with that. I want to get our blood work done. We want to be able to go to a doctor and do it. But we've never been stopped from being ourselves. We've never allowed any government, anyone to tell us that we can exist. And we've done everything we can to be ourselves and to support each other on that journey. I've heard stories from the back in the day of forging birth certificates, forging IDs, doing what we have to do. 'Obviously, the criminalization of trans people, it's all very, very scary. But I look to my ancestors and trans-cestors. I look to my history as a Black American, and think about the resilience that is baked inside of us to resist this as individuals. Because what is happening now is so big. We need systemic change, and there's not political will or politicians with courage to really make that happen. But each of us as individuals can make changes in our lives and the lives of the people we know and love. We can go out into our communities, and do what we can for each other. We can support organizations like Campaign for Southern Equality, who are helping to relocate people. We may need to relocate to other countries. So all of that is happening. 'So that 'we're probably screwed' thing becomes an opportunity to love each other more. To lean into all the things that make us human. To rehumanize each other. Even people we disagree with. Even people who voted for that man. We can rehumanize them, they're still human beings. We're all humans, and this is what I love about being an artist. Being able to tell human stories. To be an arbiter of empathy. With 'Clean Slate' being able to tell a story of a trans woman and her family, just trying to do the best that they can. A story about love and family. I want to thank everyone at Amazon and Sony for working with us to make this possible. It is a big deal for a studio to support a project like this at any time in history, but particularly at this time… 'I want to say how much I love all of you and how grateful I am. We need our allies more than ever right now as LGBTQ+ people. If you say you're with us, girl, this is the time to show it. In a substantial way, a material way. For us to be there for each other, across all our differences. Because they're not just coming for trans people, we know that, right? They're coming for all of us. I'm focusing on trans, but I also am thinking of people who are undocumented, people who are incarcerated, marginalized people everywhere, people with disabilities. I'll end with this. Brene Brown's definition of love. Brene Brown says that 'we cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from offering with trust, respect, kindness, and affection. Love is not something we give or get; it is something we nurture and grow, a connection that can be cultivated between two people only when it exists within each of them- we can love others only as much as we love ourselves.' She ends by saying, 'Shame, blame, disrespect, betrayal, and withholding affection damage the roots from which love grows. Love can survive these injuries only if they're acknowledged, healed, and rare.'' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Grammy Predictions, From Beyoncé to Kendrick Lamar: Who Will Win? Who Should Win? What's Coming to Netflix in February 2025
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Watson Boss Illuminates Moriarty's Sinister, Ultimate, ‘Shattering-to-Watson' Plan — Watch
When Watson returns on Sunday, Feb. 16, it'll kick off a run of episodes in which the diabolical Moriarty ramps up his plan to mess with the good doctor, series creator Craig Sweeny says. I spoke with Sweeny and series star/executive producer Morris Chestnut at SCAD TVfest in Atlanta, and the showrunner hinted that we'd learn more about who else Moriarty (played by recurring guest star Randall Park) has working on his behalf. More from TVLine The Amazing Race's Phil Keoghan Teases New 'Fork in the Road' Twist and Upcoming 'Season of Surprises' - Watch NCIS: Sydney Boss Cheers 'More Ambitious' Season 2 (Trip to Darwin Included!), 'Romantic Tension' Ahead FBI: International Just Bid a Fly Team Member Adieu - Will You Miss [Spoiler]? 'In learning more about his organization, you learn about his plan for what's going on at Watson's clinic,' Sweeny previews in the video above. 'It's a vast, scientifically accurate and — if successfully pulled off — shattering-to-Watson plan.' And remember, Chestnut points out, Watson is at a severe disadvantage thanks to his tumble over the falls. 'He's normally a very sure and confident person in his intellect and all the way around,' he says. 'But, we open up the story, and he has a traumatic brain injury… now things happen to cause him to question himself. He's really uneven in his confidence.' Episode 2 will find Watson and his fellows investigating a man with a bullet in his head who believes he is a Scottish soldier from the past and who seems to be hiding something 'nefarious,' per the official synopsis. Elsewhere, Watson will investigate Mary's dating life, and Ingrid will try to discern how Watson can tell when she's lying. When Is Your Favorite TV Show Back? An A-to-Z List of 300+ Scripted Series View List And of course, as we learned at the end of the premiere, Moriarty already has someone working on the inside: Watson's closest confidant, Shinwell Johnson. 'There aren't that many people that Watson trusts all the way, and Shinwell is, in fact, one of those,' Sweeny notes. 'So that is going to be a really shocking revelation to Watson.' Best of TVLine Summer TV Calendar: Your Guide to 85+ Season and Series Premieres Classic Christmas Movies Guide: Where to Watch It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, Die Hard and Others What's New on Netflix in June
