Author: Alexandra Gallarza

If I'm not watching TV, a movie, or listening to a musical - I'm probably writing about it. Or yelling about it on Twitter @amgallarza

Ring in the holiday season with Hannah Waddingham

by Alexandra Gallarza

Emmy Award winning Hannah Waddingham brings Christmas early in a musical and magical extravaganza to Apple TV+.

This special invokes the feeling of home and dreams coming true. The location of the special played a vital role in this special. Before her time on the West End and Broadway, Hannah spent most of her young life in the halls of the London Coliseum. Her mother, Melodie Kelly, was an opera singer at the London Coliseum when Hannah was growing up. We at Geekscape spoke to the Executive Producer of the special, Moira Ross who commented that Hannah would go, “after school, weekends, school holidays, Hannah spent all of her time there, watching those magnificent singers. Learning her craft. Getting a taste for being up on that stage.”

Home is where the heart is and while home for Hannah may be the Coliseum, it’s also her family. Tucked up in the opera boxes of the theater was Hannah’s mother and father. During the special, Hannah notes that when she was 8 years old, she would sit in the opera box and watch her mother perform on stage. What made the moment extra heartwarming, was Hannah’’s daughter, who was 8 at the time of the filming, had been sitting in the very same box that Hannah once spent so much of her time in. This story comes at the beginning of a gorgeous rendition of ‘‘O Holy Night,’ in which the English National Opera Chorus joins Hannah on stage. It brought the audience, unprompted, to their feet. 

Hannah gifts the audience with little presents in the form of her duets, and the smattering of special guest stars. “We promise a lot of very interesting magical Christmas gifts within this Christmas special.” Moira Ross commented during our conversation. As the special went on, the special guest stars kept getting bigger and bigger, with nice surprises mixed in. 

Geekscape also spoke to the Musical Director of the special, David Tench. To direct the big band, “they were a joy to work with.” When it comes to the guests, David wanted “to make them feel comfortable so they could be the best performers that they can possibly be.” The rehearsal process was slowly honed in between Hannah and himself and when it came to the guest stars, it was a matter of a few days. This simply reinforced the need of David’s to ensure that everyone was comfortable and felt like they were being taken care of.

With the big band, the ensemble of dancers, the English National Opera Chours, the London Gay Men’s Choir, the special guest stars,  and Hannah at the microphone, the whole show felt like a letter to old Hollywood musicals and Christmas specials that would require a yearly viewing. Hannah’s rich voice entrances us and puts us under her spell, wanting more. This dream of hers has come true and it has become our privilege to watch it play out. Her command of the stage and the constant attention of the audience proves why she is such a presence and a force to be reckoned with. She is as graceful as she is talented. 

Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas is an absolute joyous delight that fills us with the warmth of the holiday season. Where we are surrounded by light and love, joy and celebration, against the soundtrack of a big band. This special goes on the list of “must watch” for years to come.

Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas will stream on Apple TV+. The soundtrack to the special can be found on Apple Music and Spotify on November 21st, 2023.

We at Geekscape thank Moira Ross and David Tench for their time and for a wonderful conversation. 

Happy Holidays everyone. Let us know your thoughts about the special below.

“Masters of the Air” will go to new heights in 2024

by Alexandra Gallarza

A first look of Apple TV’s highly anticipated series, ‘Masters of the Air,’ based on the novel written by Donald Miller has been released. ‘Masters of the Air’ follows the men of the 100th Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force as they navigate the skies of Nazi Germany. “‘Masters of the Air’ is a salute to the brave men of the 8th Air Force, who, through their courage and brotherhood, helped defeat Nazi Germany in World War II,” said executive producer Gary Goetzman.

Gary Goetzman, along with Steven Spielberg, and Tom Hanks, are the award winning team that brought audiences “Band of Brothers” and “The Pacific”. Together, they bring this 9 episode limited run series to Apple TV+. Apple announced two episodes will be released on January 26 2024, with episodes being released on Fridays until the series end on March 15, 2024. Starring in this psychological and emotional series is Academy Award nominees Austin Butler and Barry Keoghan. Joining them are Anthony Boyle, Branden Cook, Josiah Cross, Ncuti Gatwa, Rafferty Law, Nate Mann, and Callum Turner.


Take a look below at some of the photos Apple released. For more about “Masters of the Sky” and the full Apple press release, click here.

“Welcome for Wrexham” scores big in Season Two!

by Alexandra Gallarza

‘Welcome to Wrexham’ is back for a new season! The show that highlights the oldest football club in Wales and the 3rd oldest professional football team in the world, has launched it’s second season on September 13th on FX, streaming on Hulu.

For those of you who don’t know what Welcome to Wrexham is – this is what FX says it’s about – “Welcome to Wrexham is a docuseries tracking the dreams and worries of Wrexham, a working-class town in North Wales, UK, as two Hollywood stars take ownership of the town’s historic yet struggling footballclub.” Those two Hollywood stars that has increased the visibility of this football club are Rob McElhenney (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool and The Proposal). It’s about an underdog team that is fighting to get back up on top.

The first season focused on the rebuilding of the team, and introduced the viewers and new fans to the players, the various transfers that occurred, and the building of the staff that Rob and Ryan are in charge of. This show is for the people who are fans of that good underdog story and these men who are in charge of it, who bought the Wrexham Red Dragons, have no knowledge of football and have never worked together. The first season took us through the highs and lows of the winning and losing, the hope that they can get out of the 5th tier of football and get promoted. The first season ended with the devastating reality that they were so close, they could taste it, but to actually have their cake would have to wait. The promotion into a new league would have to wait.

The second season opens with the pressure of being so close and not succeeding in that promotion. The stakes for the second season of Welcome for Wrexham is that they have to get promoted or else the morale of the community might just bottom out. There is the acknowledgment that they have grown their fan base, they have grown more visibily, and the pressure of that, if they don’t succeed is monumental.

The first episode of the second season takes the viewers on a journey starting at the very beginning, with a match against Eastleigh; the match ended with a 2-1 win for Wrexham. Even with one match under their belt of the new season, this put the Red Dragons on and upward trajectory. The second goal of the season is to earn enough funding to move forward with the renovations to the club, including the reconstruction of the seating area that was in much need for a remodel. The audience will assumably go through the football season with the team, taking note of the wins and losses, and ultimately see if they get out of the league they were in.

Take a look at the season trailer and let us know what you think!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuiXCWk_TwQ&ab_channel=FXNetworks

Go Lasso Go! “Ted Lasso” is back for Season 3!

by Alexandra Gallarza

The long awaited return of ‘Ted Lasso’ has come and there is a storm on the horizon between AFC Richmond and West Ham United that is brewing on more than one front.

With its return to Apple TV+ on March 15, the first few episodes of the new season seem to be set up as a first act for the characters. With the end of last season still weighing on some folks at AFC Richmond, the team is eager to prove their worth, even with the press placing them in dead last of 20 Premier League teams. When audiences catch up with AFC Richmond, a new football season is about to begin, and while they are not happy with the decision of their former coach Nate Shelley – played by Nick Mohammed – some clarity is provided to them that makes their eagerness to get ahead also their weakness.

A new season means new faces. Introduced this season is Jack (Jodi Balfour of Apple TV+’s “For All Mankind”), a financial capitalist, who is involved in the world of KJJR – the PR business that Keeley left AFC Richmond for at the end of the second season. Jack’s motives are not made explicitly clear, when she is first introduced, but she seems to have an interest in a floundering Keeley. Over at AFC Richmond, with the team now being in the Premier League, comes an increase of money, and with that money AFC Richmond acquires Zava (Maximillian Osinski, “The Walking Dead: World Beyond), a prima donna footballer who is seen as a god by the team and the world of Football. With his talents, the team finds its way to inch up the leaderboard and possibly out of the doubts of the press.

Episode 1. Jason Sudeikis in “Ted Lasso,” premiering March 15, 2023 on Apple TV+.

Returning this season is Anthony Head, as Rupert Mannion, Rebecca’s ex-husband and current owner of West Ham United. His return allows audiences to see his antics – the bad, the ugly and the uglier – from the outside looking in. Also reprising their role this season is Emmy Award nominated Sarah Niles as Dr. Sharon Fieldstone, who is not the team’s sports therapist anymore, but a frequent call for Ted, who seems to be leaning on her therapeutic guidance. James Lance, as Trent Crimm, the now independent journalist, has landed at AFC Richmond, to a series of mixed reviews. 

Season 3 elicits a similar feeling to the first episode of the show. It has reintroduced audiences back into the world of AFC Richmond, catching everyone up on the characters and what they have been up to since the last time the audience saw them. With new beginnings being a theme of season 1,  Home is one of the few themes that Season 3 explores. Characters are figuring out what home is and what it means to them. Vulnerability is another theme that is being explored. With their departures from AFC Richmond, both Keeley and Nate seem to be dealing with their own vulnerabilities of being in a new place and being in charge. Ted is coming out of his metaphorical dark forest from season 2, leading AFC Richmond who is facing their own set of vulnerabilities on the pitch. 

Check out the trailer below and tune in on Wednesday March 15th to Apple TV+ for Season 3 of ‘Ted Lasso’.  

Geekscape TV Review: ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 2, Episode 2: Lavender

by Alexandra Gallarza

The second episode of the sophomore season of Ted Lasso, entitled Lavender, finds Keeley trying to get Roy to become a pundit and the potential of Jaime Tartt’s return threatens the moral of the team.

For those who have yet to watch the episode, there are spoilers below. Go watch and come back, we’ll be here.

Carrying on from the first episode back of the new season, Keeley is still insistent about being approached to have Roy be a pundit on a morning show. Despite the initial denial, Roy Kent finds himself in a suit and on a soundstage surrounded by other commentators. One of them being his former manager, George, who Rebecca fired in the pilot of Ted Lasso. Roy’s comment in the previous episode, “Shit job for shit people” may ring a little loud for good ‘ol Georgie boy.

When Roy comes home to Keeley, he admits he liked talking about football, adding that in the time he’s been away from the pitch – he’s missed it. In the first episode, when Roy initially told Keeley no, it was because he didn’t want to face another situation like his retirement press conference, which he cried at. At the end of his bout on TV, which was filled with expletives and well worded and crafty word punches in Roy Kent fashion, he thanks Keeley by turning on his press conference and letting her watch while he participated in adult activities — a payoff from the beginning of the episode where Roy catches her watching the press conference, which she considers to be a turn on.

One person who Roy probably hasn’t missed is the golden boy himself, Jaime Tartt. Jaime, who we saw was taking his turn on the reality tv track, was voted off his show. It was Jaime’s agent who told him that his former football team Manchester City let him go. Jaime Tartt with nowhere else to turn to, finds Keeley in a coffee shop. To which he admits was kind of stalking her. Taking another unsuspecting person by surprise, Jaime interrupts Ted’s dinner at Crowne and Anchor.

Phil Dunster, who plays Jaime, teeters on the brink of a new version of Jaime and old Jaime effortlessly. Jaime that we see in the second season asks for help, which Jaime in Season 1 would not have. Everything was fine for season 1 Jaime and now, he’s scrambling for something to do. So, when he interrupts Ted at the pub, he asks for his job back. Ted, calmly and understandably says no to the proposal, to the ask for help. Another sign of growth on Jaime Tartt’s side, is that when Ted tells him no, there is no fight from the younger man.

Jaime burned bridges before he was sent back to Manchester City, a one-way ticket courtesy of Rebecca.

The prospect of Jaime coming back to AFC Richmond was met with animosity. It’s Sam who, uncharacteristically leaves the training pitch and explains to Ted who comes after him, that Jaime was downright mean. Jaime wasn’t antagonistic to just Sam, but many other members of the team as well. For us as the audience, we are on Sam’s side here, because we had seen the methods in which Jaime used to have people pick on Nate, the carelessness he had about other players. He basked in the attention of being a great footballer and was downright greedy for the attention.

The question then becomes – can Jaime Tartt be better?

A third storyline, albeit smaller, was the return of Dr. Sharon Fieldstone, who Ted tried to warm over with biscuits. When she told him she doesn’t eat sugar, he is surprised.  “I’ve never met someone who don’t eat sugar. Only heard about them and they all live in this godless place called Santa Monica.” Never the less, she still took a bite and put it back in the pink box and handed it back to Ted.

In Rebecca’s office, Ted tells the her that he tried to give away her biscuits.

“You did what?” Rebecca questioned.

When Ted tells her Sharon doesn’t eat sugar, Rebecca is shocked, but eats the half eaten biscuit. Which is paid off at the end of the episode when the Doctor introduces herself to Keeley and Rebecca. Sharon thanks Rebecca for the basket of water, and when explained why Rebecca sent Sharon a basket of water, Keeley replies, “There are so many other things without sugar though.”

It’s a nice break from the tension brewing between the team and Ted.

New episodes of Ted Lasso premiere on Friday on Apple TV+.

Geekscape TV Reviews — ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 2 Premiere: Goodbye Earl!

by Alexandra Gallarza

Ted Lasso is back!

Ted Lasso returned to Apple TV+ for its second season on Friday, July 23rd.  Returning to the streaming service, the first season of Ted Lasso has raked up quite a few accolades — it’s the record holder with 20 Emmy nominations for a Comedy in its freshman year. Hannah Waddingham, who plays Rebecca Welton, earned a Critic’s Choice Award as well an Emmy Nomination for her work in the first season. Jason Sudeikis, who plays Ted Lasso, won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. The cast and crew won a Peabody Award “for offering the perfect counter to the enduring prevalence of toxic masculinity, both on-screen and off, in a moment when the nation truly needs inspiring models of kindness.”

Fair warning: If you have yet to watch any of Ted Lasso, I would suggest doing so before reading. There are minor spoilers.

The first season of Ted Lasso introduces audiences to Coach Lasso, who moves to London to coach Football (also known as Soccer in the States) with absolutely no clue how the game works. Rebecca brought Ted Lasso to London for her own mission. When we first meet Rebecca, she fires the current Football manager and, on his way, out he asks Higgins, played by Jeremy Swift, “What do you think is worse? Finding out your husband was cheating on you? Or that you were the last to know?” She later tells Higgins, after Ted gets through the Press Conference relatively unscathed, that she brought Ted to London to help bring down the club, which was the only thing her now ex-husband ever cared about.

Rebecca has her own journey. As does Ted. In the end of the first season when the truth comes out, he forgives Rebecca for sabotaging him every step of the way. “Divorce is hard,” he says. “It doesn’t matter if you’re doing the leaving, or if you’re the one who is being left.” Up until that point, the only person who had left the team was Jaime Tartt (played by Phil Dunster), at Rebecca’s doing, to further drive the team into the ground. She had been teetering on being a team player and still finding ways to bury the team into the ground, not caring who was affected. That is until her ex-husband Rupert tells her that his new and much younger girlfriend/fiancee is pregnant. (Side note: the six thousand emotions that Hannah Waddingham had over her face in that one scene is masterful and heartbreaking.) Roy Kent, played by Brett Goldstein, who is also a writer on the show, had a seemingly career ending injury that had him limping off the pitch.

Season 2 picks up (light spoilers ahead) a few months after the end of Season 1. It was established that the injury Roy sustained did prompt Roy to retire. The team has had 7 ties, and Dani Rojas,kicks the ball so hard, that they had to say goodbye to the team mascot – Earl. Devastated with the events, Dani goes into depression, or the “Yips”. Which brings in Dr. Sharon Fieldstone, played by Sarah Niles. Dr. Fieldstone is a Sports psychologist who tells Ted, “Well, as good as you are at your job, I’m twice as good as mine.” Which is a line that shocks everyone into saying, “Welcome.” And in similar fashion to Trent Crimm, the Independent, a reporter who has wormed his way into fans and Ted’s heart, who said the same about Ted, I can’t help but root for her.

Roy, now no longer a player of AFC Richmond has turned to coaching his niece Phoebe’s team. He also has his Yoga Lady friends, who have absolutely no idea what he does or who he is and he is quite fine with that. He tells this to Keeley, played by Juno Temple, who is also there to ask him to go out on a double date with Rebecca and a man Rebecca has been talking to.

At the dinner, Rebecca’s date John, asks Roy questions about being retired, reminiscing about his favorite team being either Manchester City or Manchester United. Rebecca, rather pleased that she herself was on the date, was surprised when Roy bluntly said that John was just fine. That she didn’t deserve fine. She deserved someone who makes her feel like she was struck by lightning. Let me tell you, if this is the kind of gruff but loveable advice Roy Kent gives – I would listen to it on a run, every day.  

Goodbye Earl ends with Ted apprehensive about therapy. He tells Beard as such. His players are eagerly waiting for a meeting with the Doctor, which seems to make Ted uncomfortable. Whether Ted will warm up to the Doctor, only time will tell.

Episode 2 streams July 30th on Apple TV+.

Have you seen the first episode? Sound off in the comments below and we can have a proper chat about it.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker D23 Special Look

by Alexandra Gallarza

What’s classified as the largest Disney fan event in the world, with guests coming from around the world to celebrate, the D23 Expo is a celebration. It celebrates the best of what we know to be Disney today. Everything from Marvel, to Pixar, Star Wars, new films, new television shows. There’s even stuff for the people who love to know about the theme parks, and merchandise. D23 Expo 2019 marked the sixth biennial Expo held in Anaheim.

Live music, food, entertainment happens all throughout the expo. What people are most excited for are the ‘E-ticket’ panels. One of them being a panel about all the upcoming movies for the next two years.

One of them being, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. With an introduction of the cast, new droids, fans were shown a special look of what is to come.

Comment below with your thoughts and comments. And remember, may the force be with you.

Netflix’ ‘When They See Us’ Trailer Has Arrived

by Alexandra Gallarza

On April 19, 1989, a woman was raped and attacked in Central Park. Five teenage boys would be arrested and jailed for the crime.

Two boys were initially arrested for unlawful assembly – also known as a riot. Police unjustly deemed them and three other teenagers as those responsible for the rape and attack of the 28 year old woman in the park. They would be known forever more as ‘The Central Park Five’ in the media and by the prosecution.

The five teenagers, 4 of them black, 1 Latino, were charged with attempted murder, rape in the first degree, sexual abuse in the first degree, two counts of assault in the first degree, and riot in the first degree. The five were sentenced between five-15 years in prison. One was tried as an adult, he spent 12 years at Rikers Island – the world’s largest correctional institutions and mental institutions, also deemed and described as New York’s most famous jail. They were exonerated in 2002 after someone admitted to the crime and DNA matched.

Academy Award nominated Ava DuVernay brings the story of the five men to Netflix in a mini-series entitled, When They See Us. It’s a sliver of the history of unjust racial profiling that young people of color are subjected to. The story of the men takes place over 25 years, from when they were 14-16 and first questioned by the police to 2014 when they reached a settlement with New York in 2014 after their names were cleared.

Taking to Twitter, on the 30th anniversary, Ava Duvernay said this, “On this exact day, 30 years ago, a woman was raped in Central Park. Five black + brown boys were framed for her rape. The story you know is the lie that police, prosecutors, and Donald Trump told you. When They See Us, is the story of the boys from their eyes and their hearts.”

Actors Asante Blackk, Justin Cunningham, Caleel Harris, Jovan Adepo, Ethan Herisse, Chris Chalk, Freddy Miyares and Marquis Rodriguez portray the men, the boys, who were were wrongfully convicted of the crime. The series also stars Michael K. Williams, John Leguizamo, Felicity Huffman, Niecy Nash, Vera Farmiga and Joshua Jackson.

When They See Us, will be available for viewing on Netflix, May 31, 2019. Below is the trailer, share your thoughts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3F9n_smGWY

Amazon Prime ‘Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ Season 2 Teaser Trailer is Here!

by Alexandra Gallarza

Amazon Prime’s Marvelous Mrs. Maisel premiered to critical acclaim and the star Rachel Brosnahan, who plays the title character Midge, took home a Golden Globe. It’s nominated for 5 Emmys including Lead Actress in a Comedy series and Best Comedy Series.

The show, created by husband and wife duo Amy and Dan Sherman-Palladino, revolves around Midge, a dedicated wife, mother, and an upcoming comedienne. The first season took it’s audience on an adventure as we watched Midge try her hand at stand up comedy and succeed with a failure or two here. Midge’s parents are played by Tony Shalhoub and Marin Hinkle who have the best comedic timing, necessary for this pace of a show. Alex Borstein plays Midge’s agent Susie, a gruff, vulgar, but lovable woman.

When we last saw Midge, she was getting into her own groove as a stand up comic, her husband Joel was trying to figure out what he wanted out of life, and the world was continuing on.

On Thursday, August 9th, Amazon Prime released a teaser trailer for the Second Season and the theme is happy. With Judy Garland reminding everyone to ‘Forget your troubles, come on get happy,” one can’t help but smile. Take a look at the teaser and let us know what you think.

NBC Renews ‘Will and Grace’ for Third Season!

by Alexandra Gallarza

Listen up, Honey!

The show has returned and will return for two more seasons. The creators asked that their audience simply forget that the series finale ever happened. Will and Grace don’t have children, they aren’t in a relationship with anyone and Grace lives with Will and their friends Jack and Karen come and go as they please. It was the fab four that audiences fell in love with twenty years ago when the pilot first aired in 1999. It is the fab four that the audiences continue to love today.

The episode orders have been constantly raised. When the initial announcement came, that the show was going to be back on air, the episode count was 12. In August of 2017, it was announced at the TCA’s that the episode count for the first season was actually going to be 16 episodes. They also announced that the show had been renewed for a second season. It was announced at Paley Center on March 17th, that the show was coming back for a 3rd season. It’s episode order is 18, which is also now the count of the second season.

“As far as I’m concerned, we can’t get enough of ‘Will & Grace’ and 23 more episodes is music to my ears,” Greenblatt said. “We’re eternally grateful that Debra, Eric, Sean and Megan feel the same way and wanted to keep this good thing going. I’m overwhelmed by the euphoric response the new show has received from the press and the audience, and my hat is off to the unrivaled writing team of Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, as well as the brilliant directing of Jimmy Burrows, for consistently delivering one of the best shows on television.”

Maintaining a 9.8 overall rating, “Will and Grace” is NBC’s most-watched primetime comedy at this point in the season in eight years. With it’s return, the guest stars have included the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Alec Baldwin, Minnie Driver, Ben Platt, Molly Shannon, Jane Lynch, Andrew Rannells and others. One can only guess who will be coming back in the next two seasons.

Will & Grace” stars Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally. Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, who co-created the series, write and executive produce. James Burrows directs and executive produces. “Will & Grace” is produced by Universal Television.

Be sure to tune into ‘Will and Grace’ on Thursday nights at 9/8c on NBC.

WILL & GRACE — 35th Annual PaleyFest LA: Will & Grace, Dolby Theater — Pictured: (l-r) Dan Bucatinsky, Moderator; Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment; James Burrows, Director; Sean Hayes, Debra Messing, Eric McCormack; Megan Mullally; Max Mutchnick, Executive Producer; David Kohan, Executive Producer — (Photo by: Chris Haston/NBC)

Geekscape Interviews: ‘Major Crimes’ James Duff

by Alexandra Gallarza

In the year 2005, TNT picked up a show called The Closer, about a Deputy Chief by the name of Brenda Leigh Johnson, who worked on some of the cruelest cases brought to the LAPD’s front door. Fast forward seven years, the series star Kyra Sedgwick said goodbye to her crew and audiences said hello to Mary McDonnell and Sharon Raydor for Major Crimes. Now, the show is saying goodbye again.

In a span of 13 years, the crew and a majority of the cast stayed together. From the pilot of The Closer, to the finale of Major Crimes, hundreds of hours were spent on creating unique cases, suspects and victim’s stories that were unique, characters that were relatable and memorable, friendships that were unforgettable. At the helm of all of this is James Duff; the visionary behind the characters, the cases, the idea.

We at Geekscape had the privilege to speak to Mr. Duff before the season began, on the heels of it’s cancellation. Since then a lot has happened. Storylines hit close to home for some, the loss of a main character struck a nerve, and the realization that saying goodbye to this show was imminent. Now with the ending of the series upon us, we spoke to him again.

With the show being one of, if not the top-rated show for TNT, it’s a bittersweet farewell. Over the last few years the show went from their usual Monday night time slot, which it held for 10 years, to Wednesday, to ultimately Tuesday nights. Their ratings held. Their audience kept coming back. For good reason.

The show had interesting characters. Cases that rung true to ways of life and provided an insight into the lives of LAPD officers. Characters made the transition from The Closer to Major Crimes with new characters being introduced and settling into our hearts. One of those characters was portrayed by Mary McDonnell, who was nominated for her work on The Closer, as Captain Sharon Raydor.

Fans were forced to say goodbye to Sharon Raydor, when her character died four episodes before the end of the show. In a move that upset a lot of fans, we asked James what caused him to make that move.

“We wanted the audience to let go with us,” Duff remarked. “We knew the audience was going to fight, that the audience was going to struggle and not want us to go.”

It was announced in the summer that Billy Burke, who Duff claimed to be a genius, would be returning to the show as the serial killer Phillip Stroh. With Sharon Raydor gone, the team is left vulnerable in their grief- much like the fans who are reeling with her departure.

“The archetype of the leader, taking her band of heroes to the battle, but can’t be allowed to participate is not new.” Duff said.

When asked if Sharon Raydor was ever going to be involved in this battle with Phillip Stroh, he answered, “No.”

“To me it’s an expression of my heart and soul,” Duff said, in regard to the show and the show ending. “I wanted to grieve and I wanted the audience to grieve with us.”

The final table read was bittersweet. The final days of shooting were bittersweet. Saying goodbye to these characters, difficult and emotional.

“The feeling of loss permeated our company. No one felt it more keenly more than I did,” Duff added. “It’s admitting that the show was over.”

Now that the show is over, screen has gone black, the question is What’s next?

“I have a couple features back to back that I’m writing,” he told us. “We’ll see if they’ll get made. I have a pilot that I’m shopping.”

Being involved in this show for the last thirteen years, he claimed “I haven’t really had an opportunity to think of the future.”

With the show ending, Duff hopes that there can be things in the future that will allow this family that was created to come together once again.

Major Crimes aired on TNT.

Netflix’s ‘Jessica Jones’ Season 2 trailer is here!

by Alexandra Gallarza

Jessica Jones is back. She is still angry. She is still drinking. She still does not want a sidekick.

The Netflix trailer that was released on Wednesday gives viewers a look into the new season and into the backstory of Jessica Jones. In the trailer, she explains that her parents died in a terrible car accident, someone did experiments on her, and she wants to know how many more like her are out there. With seventeen years of questions, it’s time for her to get some answers. Simple things, right?

It might cost her though.At the end of the trailer, there is someone clapping their hands, almost mockingly. Who is that with Jessica on the roof? Could it be the return of Killgrave? Or someone else?

Season 2 of Jessica Jones brings back Kristen Ritter, Rachael Taylor, Carrie-Ann Moss, and Eka Darville. New seasons of Daredevil and Iron Fist are expected to be released later this year.

Take a look at the trailer below and let us know what you think!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSvnepZS26s

 

Geekscape Interviews: ‘Major Crimes’ Jessica Meraz

by Alexandra Gallarza

Detective Camila Paige, portrayed by the extraordinary Jessica Meraz, is new to the Major Crimes family. Now, with the show ending, the audience wasn’t really granted the opportunity to spend a whole lot of time with the new Detective. We were still given bits and pieces of her character. She had a history with Lieutenant Provenza (GW Bailey), was trained by the newly appointed Chief Leo Mason when she was in Missing Persons, and raised her siblings.

Geekscape talked to Jessica Meraz and asked her about Camila Paige.  She’s bubbly and happy. Yet also very determined and focused when it comes to her job. How it plays out in the rest of the season?

“Cami is always focused on how she can be a better detective and help the case,” she said, adding, “one distraction will be too difficult (attractive) to ignore.”

With a budding relationship and possible romance between Detective Page and Detective Wes Nolan, portrayed by Daniel DiTomasso, one can only wonder, how does Cami balance her home life and work life?

“As far as her home/work balance – Cami could definitely do better at this. Her siblings are all either in or through college so Cami doesn’t have to worry about them so much anymore. She is committed to her work so I think she probably hasn’t had a romantic relationship in a while. Her thoughts on the necessities of balance and relationships will come into question later in the season.”

Her home life revolves or at least revolved around her five siblings, raising them, and making sure they had good heads on their shoulders. Cami is able to balance her home life well. When it comes to work she is able to balance that well. But when it becomes potentially merged?

“As far as her home/work balance – Cami could definitely do better at this. Her siblings are all either in or through college so Cami doesn’t have to worry about them so much anymore. She is committed to her work so I think she probably hasn’t had a romantic relationship in a while. Her thoughts on the necessities of balance and relationships will come into question later in the season.”

The first arc, in which we meet Camila Paige, she is brought in to deal with missing boys, who were last seen leaving a field strip. With her background in Missing Persons, while working the ‘Sanctuary City’ case it is evident that Cami has sympathy for a child’s struggles. Having raised her five siblings, her approach to children is done in a more intimate way.

“Cami is able to relate and interrogate young people in a specialized way that is unique to her background,” Meraz commented on her character’s background. “She gets to the truth while protecting the child’s feelings and best interest. “

The themes of the season, per the show creator James Duff, have been Faith and Reason. Upcoming is Risk.

The Risk that the team has to take is in dealing with alleged serial killer, Phillip Stroh played by Billy Burke, who fans saw at the end of the last episode of the four-episode arc entitled, ‘Conspiracy Theory’. With the heartbreak that revolved around the loss of a major character, his presence was suspect and he looked slightly gleeful about the impending doom of said character.

The arc, “By Any Means” comes after the loss of a dominant player in the hunt for Stroh.

Being new to the show, as a member of the crew, this would be Cami’s first time dealing with the serial killer. We asked Jessica what it was like to be part of the Phillip Stroh story line and what could she tease about the next four episodes, in which he appears.

“I will say that while reading a scene with Stroh, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.” Jessica commented. “He’s such a scary character and he comes back in full force. The fans will not be disappointed. The suspense in palpable.”

There was a possibility that the show would end after this season. It was officially announced in October of 2017, that the 6th season would be it’s last. The announcement came before the show premiered, just as the cast and crew were sitting down for their final table read.

“I am just so thrilled to get to work with these story tellers,” Meraz commented on what it was like approaching the possible last season of the show. “Of course I wish this could go on forever, but I’ll take what I can get. You get an opportunity and you make the most of it. I put my heart and soul into every second of this season.”

Being the new kid on the block can be intimidating. With her first day being cancelled, due to a swarm of bees, the rest of her experience was, “the most fulfilling six months of my life so far.”

“Every day was a new adventure,” Meraz added. “I made some of the best friends of my life and learned all sorts of new things about myself.”

The final four episodes of Major Crimes can be seen on TNT, Tuesday nights at 9/8c.

 

Geekscape Interviews: ‘Major Crimes’ Tony Denison

by Alexandra Gallarza

Sanctuary City, which premieres it’s penultimate episode tonight, is said to be an emotional episode. Tensions are high. As for the rest of the season? Well, Tony Denison, also known as Andy Flynn on the show, gave us a little bit of an insight into an event that fans are anticipating, the relationship between Flynn and Provenza, as well as the end of the show.

Andy Flynn last season was benched due to health problems. He watched the building his fiancée, best friend, and team were inside of blow up after trying and somewhat successfully being the hero. This season we see him back in the field with a few moderations.

“He’s recouping his health. He’s on the mend,” Tony Denison said. “There are some really heroic things that Andy does in the show and like James [Duff] said, not to toot my own horn, but some of the acting I’ve done this season is the best acting I’ve done.”

James Duff commented on the acting of Tony Denison and Mary McDonnell in a previous interview, which can be read here.

Coming on the heels of Mary McDonnell’s character, Sharon Raydor, passing out in the middle of the squad room, there is apprehension. As Duff said in his previous interview, she puts on the breaks.

“He wants to assure her that everything is going to be okay,” Denison said, commenting on the case his character had to make to Sharon. “That I’m going to be fine. She wanted everything to be clean or else she wouldn’t have gone through with the wedding.”

As for the wedding, Denison commented that, “they lit Mary in a way that when she walked down the aisle she looked like an angel.”

The lighter episodes that always seem to be fan favorites are those that involve Denison’s character and G.W. Bailey’s Provenza, a gruff and at times cranky Lieutenant who has years of experience on the force.

While they are not having as much fun as they used to have, Denison commented that, “It’s something GW and I miss. It’s difficult for us to go onto capers that go into mishaps. Maybe if the show had gotten another year, maybe that would have happened.”

Speaking to the end of the show and the possibility that the show may come back Denison remarked, “You never know. The only thing you can be sure about is that you can’t be sure about anything.”

Major Crimes airs on TNT at 9PM EST, 8CST on Tuesday nights.

 

Geekscape Reviews: ‘Major Crimes’ Season 6 Premiere

by Alexandra Gallarza

The sixth and final season of TNT’s Major Crimes kicked off on Tuesday night. While there were no goblins or ghouls lurking around the squad room, there was plenty to be scared of.

The ‘Sanctuary City’ arc starts when three boys go missing from a school field trip. Each of them are considered critically missing for one reason or another. The need to find these boys is magnified when their personal lives begin to be investigated by the Major Crimes Division. It’s a race against the clock and by the end of first part of this story arc, the fate of one of these ‘St. Joseph’s Three’ is revealed.

The theme of this arc is Faith. Faith is tested when the boys, who are missing from a Catholic School, and the team wonders what makes it a Major Crime. A question that is answered week after week. The parents put their faith into the Major Crimes team to find their sons. The team puts their faith in each other to do their jobs and set their personal beliefs aside.

While the ‘Saint Joseph Three’ are the main focus of this first arc, the imminent return of serial killer Phillip Stroh, played by Billy Burke, is set into motion. In this week’s episode, Andrea Hobbs (Kathe Mazur), the Deputy District Attorney tells Sharon (Mary McDonnell) about a new pattern that has come to light. Hobbs proposes precautions that would keep Sharon’s adoptive son Rusty (Graham Patrick Martin), and other potential victim’s safe. Despite being the primary witness in the Stroh case, Rusty is apprehensive about the idea proposed and as Sharon tries to present the facts to him, the moment is interrupted with a break in the case.

Joining the cast and crew is Jessica Meraz, who plays Detective Camila Paige. Detective Page has transferred to Major Crimes after working with Assistant Chief Leo Mason (Leonard Roberts). Roberts is back as Leo Mason, the newly appointed Assistant Chief. While Roberts is not new, his character is new to the job. Roberts does an excellent job at showing the ups and downs that Mason has with the position.

Be sure to check out the next installment of Sanctuary City and to see what unfolds in the case of the ‘Saint Joseph Three.”

Major Crimes airs every Tuesday at 9EST/8CST on TNT. Take a look at the trailer for the season below.

Geekscape Interviews: ‘Major Crimes’ creator James Duff

by Alexandra Gallarza

TNT announced early in the month of October that it’s high-rated television show, Major Crimes would end with its sixth season. The final season premieres on October 31st.

Major Crimes has been a serialized show. Each week there would be a new case with a new victim, or victims, and new suspects. This season, there are 3 new cases, with their own set of victims and suspects that take up the 13-episode order.

James Duff, the creator of Major Crimes, spoke about the themes of the season, which revolve around Faith, Reason, and Risk.

“It gets tested,” Duff said, commenting on Faith, the theme that launches the season in the five-part story arc Sanctuary City.

In Sanctuary City three boys are missing. Time is not on the side of these elite detectives. Each boy missing has a metaphorical stop watch, forcing the detectives to race against time.  The detectives find themselves questioning their faith as the priorities of the justice system change.

The detectives find themselves trying to figure out how to reason through the changes in the justice system and another difficult situation that arises.

“We do a show about conspiracy theory,” he said in regard to what is ahead for the sixth season. Without giving too much away about the actual story line, he added that the four-part arc Conspiracy Theory, “has become very, very, topical.”

It was announced earlier in the year that Billy Burke was coming back to reprise his role as serial killer, Phillip Stroh. Fans of The Closer and Major Crimes know that Phillip Stroh does not work alone. Phillip Stroh and his co-villain, played by William Attenborough will appear in the last four episodes called, “By Any Means.”

It is no secret to fans of the show that there is some animosity between members of the Major Crimes division and Phillip Stroh. Fans will remember that the last they saw of Stroh he had broken out of his handcuffs and fled Los Angeles. Why he is back, when he made is a clean getaway is a question on these detective’s minds.

“The ending of Phillip Stroh is the end of Phillip Stroh,” Duff remarked. Whether Phillip Stroh is put into a body bag or back behind bars is still unknown. But whatever the answer is, his story is done by the end of the run of the show.

Despite being tested by faith, or finding the reason of a situation, and the plans that have changed due to risks taken, there is romance.

Andy Flynn (Tony Denison), he has every intention of marrying Sharon Raydor (Mary McDonnell). At least that’s what the plan is until Sharon puts on the breaks.

“She does suggest stopping it,” Duff said. “Andy has to make his case. It’s a good case. Tony Denison and Mary McDonnell do some of the finest acting they have ever done in the entire series.”

When asked about the cancellation of the show and the fans, Duff commented, “The interaction between the viewers and the show – we have been able to form a community out of that. I am so sad [to be] leaving that community behind.”

For the end of the show, how he would describe it?

“The ending of the series is defiant,” Duff said. “I have through what I wanted to say. That’s the word I have chosen.”

In conclusion, Duff remarked that the stories of the Major Crimes in the six seasons that it was on the air with TNT, were, “The story of ordinary people.”

Geekscape Reviews: ABC’s ‘Ten Days In The Valley’ Premiere

by Alexandra Gallarza

It’s been six years since Kyra Sedgwick signed off as Brenda Leigh Johnson from her Emmy Award winning run on TNT’s The Closer. Viewers could be finding themselves asking, “Brenda Leigh Johnson, who?”

ABC’s Ten Days In The Valley, stars Emmy Award winning actress Kyra Sedgwick (“The Closer”) as Jane Sadler, an overworked TV producer and a single mother. It’s a parent’s worst nightmare to have their kid disappear on them at any time of day, let alone in the middle of the night. When Lake, Jane’s 8-year-old daughter disappears, Jane’s life, which includes her family and controversial TV show family, begins to slowly collapse.

On Sunday night’s premiere, Sedgwick steps back into the police force. While Jane is at the forefront of a police investigation, she is not the one leading it. She is in the middle of all of it. Which is a nice step away for Kyra Sedgwick, who spent 7 years as Deputy Chief of the LAPD on The Closer. 

At the beginning, it’s a slow roll out. For Jane, everything seems perfect. She is the show runner of a Police Drama TV show, she is a single mother raising Lake who is 8. Pretty perfect, right? That peaceful, perfect, life unravels immediately when Jane finds her house locked, broken into, and her daughter missing from her bed.

Viewers are quickly introduced to key players in the potential ten day search for Lake.  Jane’s sister Ali, (NBC Parenthood’s Erika Christensen) comes to her sister’s aid to help search for Lake and provide some comfort. Jane’s estranged husband, Pete (Kick Gurry) is the first-person Jane blames, but Detective Bird of LAPD’s Robbery Homicide Division (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, ABC’s Lost) rules him out as a suspect. The people of Jane’s staff, including her head writer Matt, ( Malcom- Jamal Warner, TNT’s Major Crimes) and assistant Casey, (Emily Kinney) who idolizes Jane, find it difficult to continue with their show when Jane is not in the office.

With talk of suicide and drugs at the top of the show, how Lake disappeared remains the main mystery of the show. Why Lake was taken, who she was taken by, are additional questions that the Robbery Homicide Division of the LAPD want to have answers to. For Jane, suddenly, life is imitating art. Her show is becoming her life. No one can be trusted. Everyone has something to hide. Everything is shrouded in mystery.

Ten Days In The Valley, airs at 10PM, on ABC.

Have you seen the episode? Let us know what you think? If not, take a look at the trailer below and see if Ten Days In The Valley is something you want to immerse yourself in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbQLFRVuDk8

‘Major Crimes’ returns to TNT!

by Alexandra Gallarza

It’s back!  TNT’s top rated show, Major Crimes, will be returning late October. October 31st to be exact.

The last time audiences saw the Major Crimes team, their headquarters blew up, courtesy of an angry citizen who wanted revenge on the LAPD. The last season ended with a multi-episode arc, which is a format TNT have taken to. When the show comes back, it will deal with three  multi-episode arcs, each dealing with various complexities . While the team deals with changing times in both their professional and personal lives, hiding in the shadows is the return of Billy Burke’s character, Phillip Stroh, a serial killer, who fans haven’t seen since the end of season 3, when he escaped detainment.

In the trailer below, the Major Crimes deals with a trio of boys who have gone missing, lots of money, and a new Assistant Chief who wants to know what makes the case they are dealing with a Major Crime.

Major Crimes, will air on Tuesday, October 31st, at 9pm Eastern 8pm Central, on TNT.

Take a look at the trailer below and let us know what you think.

CBS’ ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ – First Look

by Alexandra Gallarza

In New York, it’s UpFronts week. Each mainstream network rolled out their primetime schedule for the upcoming television season. CBS was no different. Among their freshman shows is going to be ‘Star Trek: Discovery‘.

Star Trek: Discovery takes place about ten years before audiences are expected to meet Captain Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the Enterprise Crew. Don’t worry, despite the lack of Enterprise crew, we do have Klingons.  The events of a previously mentioned, but not explored story line in the Star Trek franchise will be the focus of this new adventure.

Discovery will air on CBS All Access, for a 15 episode run, after a two hour premiere on CBS. The official premiere date has yet to be announced, but keep an eye out for it in the Fall of 2017.

Below is the first look of this new crew. Does this make you want to subscribe to CBS All Access? Sound off on what you think!

‘Will and Grace’ Revival Trailer is Here!

by Alexandra Gallarza

On Monday, September 15th, NBC revealed its lineup for their new season at NBC Upfronts in New York City. NBC released its first look into the revival of ‘Will and Grace’ which is the show poised to kick off the new ‘Must See TV’ on Thursday nights. Despite it being a near decade since the show went off air, Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Sean Hayes, and Megan Mullally, Will, Grace, Jack and Karen respectively, make it seem like no time has passed.

‘Will and Grace’ will air sometime in the fall, on Thursday nights, 8/7c, on NBC.

Take a look at the trailer below and let us know what you think. Are you excited to see these guys back in their sitcom sized apartment?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY10pANm4eM

Geekscape Review: Trouble Creek on YouTube

by Alexandra Gallarza

Trouble Creek, created by Stacey K. Black, is a mystery drama with crime and supernatural elements. Answers to questions aren’t necessarily answered, which is okay. The show begins in the middle of a missing person case, which revolves around a missing little girl. Sheriff Stone Geary, is reminded of his past as a Detroit Police Officer, when bones of a body float to the top of a creek. The ugly secrets that the town and it’s occupants have are introduced with the characters. The secrets unfold as the story does, adding layers to the already complicated and well written characters. Some story lines don’t answer every question that the viewer may have, in fact, more questions might arise. Never to fear, plenty is explained as the story unfolds over it’s seven acts.

Sheriff Geary, played by Jason Gedrick moved to the small town after his time on the Detroit Police force came to an abrupt end. His fiancee, Miss Amelia Valentine, played by Crystal Lott, finds herself exploring her own dark side and falls under the spell of temptation and all that it entails, when a new, young, student is enrolled. Then there is the house that can be easily described as creepy which it’s new occupants become aware of, along with the supernatural that reside in it’s history.

This show has it’s moments where plot points, or at least one in particular, is not a matter of if it happens, but when. The underlying question of ‘Will this girl be found?’ weighs heavy. The audience is treated to moments that are surprising, expected, and all around enjoyable to watch. There are moments where the audience could ask themselves, ‘Well, what’s going to happen next?’ and the act is over. So they move onto the next one quickly. Unlike most TV on the web nowadays, Trouble Creek will not take up your entire day, nor will it consume you for days at a time. Maybe an hour of your day will be devoted to this show. And it is an enjoyable hour.

This show can be easily described as a crime drama, but unlike most crime dramas, this story has no apparent villain, no one is being chased, there is no motive, and the formula that most crime dramas follow is not put into play here. All that these characters have are their personal stories, how this little girl affects their day to day, if it affects them at all, and how life simply moves on while others don’t.  A parent’s worry, anguish, and wonder is brought out in the grieving parents who don’t know if their daughter is alive or dead. A town sheriff who has the responsibility in finding this girl dead or alive, the latter more hopeful than the former. And the new comers who have no idea what they stumbled into.

The town plagued by dark secrets was brought to YouTube by Stacey K. Black, who has directed episodes of Major Crimes, NCIS: New Orleans, and The Closer. The series is executive produced by Ms. Black and Shea Butler, and the duo also took turns at directing the episodes.

Trouble Creek can be found on YouTube.com, streaming now. Check out the trailer down below.

 

The ‘X-Files’ have been re-opened at Fox!

by Alexandra Gallarza

It was announced on Thursday night that Fox is bringing the critically acclaimed sci-fi show back for 10 episodes. In a press release issued by Fox, 10 all new episodes have been ordered. The show will  be executive produced by creator Chris Carter. Returning to their roles as FBI Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, are stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. With production beginning in early August of 2017, the series will air during the 2017-2018 season.

“Iconic characters, rich storytelling, bold creators – these are hallmarks of great TV shows. And they are some of the reasons why THE X-FILES has such a profound impact on millions of fans worldwide,” said David Madden, President of Fox Broadcasting Company. In addition, Madden said, “Chris’ creativity, along with the brilliant work of Dvid and Gillian, continue to propel this pop culture phenomenon, and we can’t wait to see what fresh mysteries Mulder and Scully uncover in this next chapter of THE X-FILES.”

The show, which follows the FBI Agents through their unexplainable and usually paranormal cases, found itself revived on Fox last year, with ratings that averaged nearly 16 million people across various platforms. The show, in it’s original run, which started in 1993, earned 16 Emmy’s, five Golden Globes and a Peabody Award.

Also, take a look below at the key art, Fox released in tandem with their announcement.

Edward James Olmos To Lead FX’s ‘Sons Of Anarchy’ Spinoff

by Alexandra Gallarza

It was reported in December of 2016, FX ordered a Kurt Sutter penned pilot for the Son’s of Anarchy spinoff.  Mayan MC, the current working title, and per FX is to take place in a  post Jax Teller world, where EZ Reyes, a prospect in the Mayan MC charter on the Cali/Mexi border, struggles with the desire for vengeance against the cartel, and his need for respect from the women he loves.” If you are a fan of Sons of Anarchy, you know that the Mayans are the opposition for the men of SAMCRO. It’ll be a treat to see how the Mayans run, in comparison to the men of SAMCRO.

In the series, it’s established that the crews have their President. In Sons of Anarchy that was played by Ron Perlman and at the end it was played by Charlie Hunnam. While there hasn’t been a whole lot of casting announced for Mayans MC, news broke Monday afternoon, that Edward James Olmos was to join the world of the Mayans. His character, Felipe, the patriarch, hopes to keep his past behind him, hidden, while he leads his son on a lawful and righteous path. Which could prove difficult since his past involves hard labor, bullets, and other struggles.

Edward James Olmos is known for his performance in Stand and Deliver, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. He also known for his role as Commander turned Admiral Adama in Battlestar Galactica. He has also be seen in Dexter and more recently in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 

Kurt Sutter, creator of Sons of Anarchy, will also serve as director for the spinoff. He, and Elgin James co-wrote the pilot and James will serve as co-executive producer.

There has been no announcement for release date, but from gathered intel, the pilot is slated to begin filming in March 2017. Mayans MC is produced by Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Network.

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” coming to Broadway!

by Alexandra Gallarza

On December 1st, The Ambassador Theatre Group released a press statement, indicating plans to bring the London Production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to New York.

Sonia Friedman and Colin Callendar, producers of the staged production, along with J.K. Rowling creator of the Harry Potter franchise confirmed that they are in talks with ATG to bring the production to the States with a slated start in Spring of 2018.

“We are thrilled about ATG’s ambitious plans which will provide a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a unique theatre space tailored to the specific needs of the production over the play’s two parts,” said Friedman and Callender. trio

After coming to New York in September, the team settled on the Lyric Theater, which now houses Cirque Du Soleil’s Paramour. The 1,900 seat theater will be downsized to 1,500 seats. The deduction is to fit the more dramatic feel of The Cursed Child.

“But above all, ATG’s plans will provide Harry Potter and the Cursed Child with a bespoke home that will be intimate enough for a drama, yet big enough for us to deliver on our commitment to provide audiences with access to low priced tickets throughout the auditorium.”

The auditorium won’t be the only renovation the theater will have. The front of the house will also be renovated, which was a large selling point for the team.

‘We know the moment people walk through the door, the experience begins.’12-_harry_potter_and_the_cursed_child__photo_credit_manuel_harlan

While there are no dates as of yet, updates are to be announced sometime in the future.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is presented in two parts, with the beloved characters of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger as adults. Harry deals with things in the past that refuses to stay in the past and his son Albus deals with being a Potter – the family legacy he never wanted.

For more information on the play visit the show’s site,  HarryPotterthePlay.com.

Sound off below, if you’re excited for the show’s transfer to the Great White Way. Do you think it will work? Also if you’ve seen the show #KeepTheSecrets.

Geekscape Review: Gilmore Girls ‘A Year In The Life’

by Alexandra Gallarza

It was nine years ago when The CW pulled the plug on its popular program Gilmore Girls. Starring Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore and Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore. The fast talking, coffee drinking duo returned to people’s small screens this weekend all thanks to Netflix.

Over the course of the four episodes, ‘Winter’, ‘Spring’, ‘Summer’ and ‘Fall’, an ode to Carole King’s song ‘You’ve Got A Friend’, the Gilmore Girls go through ups and downs. Reeling from the loss of patriarch Richard Gilmore, the women, Emily, Lorelai, and Rory all come to terms with the loss and all three go on a journey that make them re-evaluate life.

springIf you have not seen Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life – read this later. It does contain spoilers. Come back and read once you’re done. If you’ve finished your 6 hour binge and have seen all four episodes, pull up a chair and take a read.

Over the four seasons, we see the the ups and downs of the characters. Emily is grappling with being a widow and ultimately finds herself in Nantucket, selling the mansion fans know as the Gilmore Mansion. Lorelai is dealing with her own complications – she’s happy in her relationship with Luke, but she wants him to be happy. Her Inn is struggling, one best friend has already left and the other is on their way out. Rory is in a rut, where she’s not getting any work, has what it seems like no confidence, and has her things spread across 3 different states. Her story seems to be the one to have taken control of the series and with the ending, it’s understandably so.

In the original run of the show, the crew did what they could to have a big budget item every season. With the 4 episodes, there was a big budget item in every one. With Winter, there was snow for the entire run and from what it seems like – snow is expensive when your show shoots in Burbank California. In Spring, there was a cultural festival where there was a booth for a variety of countries with different kinds of food. In Summer, the town puts on a musical and in Fall, there is a wedding and a full on production number that involves the Life and Death Brigade – who are friends of Logan (Matt Czuchry). Out of all of them, I must say that the musical number with the Life and Death Brigade was fantastic and visually well done.

Story wise, certain points flowed throughout the various episodes. Lorelai and Luke stay together, and it’s not until the end, after a hike for clarity does Lorelai realize what it is that she wants. She wants to marry Luke. Luke on the other hand thought she was leaving him because Lorelai has signs, which fans of the show know all about, and as Luke expressed them, it made sense. Rory struggles with maintaining a job. She expresses to Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) that she’s broke, she’s homeless (over the course of the show she stays in her Mom’s, Paris’, her best friend Lane’s, her grandmother’s) and has no job. It’s Jess who suggests she writes a story about her and her Mom, points out that it’s a “cool story” that only she has perspective on. That does not go over well with Lorelai, but Lorelai eventually gives Rory consent. Rory goes to tell her father, Christopher, about the book and asks him if he was upset that Lorelai raised Rory on her own. While it seems out of left field, perfectly placed, it gives perspective on the ending and makes sense as to her line of questioning.

The show was chalk full of cameos and special guest stars. Over the course of the 10 months, from when they announced the show coming to Netflix, and the actual launch of the series, the list of who is coming back continued to grow. Amy Sherman Palladino dipped into the world of her previous series, Bunheads and brought back four of its actors. Lauren Graham brought some from friends from her days at Parenthood. Cameos were what they are, but never the less, enjoyable for fans, not just of the show, but the actors and their body of work.

https://youtu.be/kGGNNSmGDpU

What Amy Sherman Palladino and her husband Daniel Palladino are masters at are giving you bits and pieces of the story sugarcoated in other things. The Final Four Words are things fans of this show have been speculating for the last decade. The Palladino duo left at the end of season 6 and were not able to write the ending of the show. A Year In The Life is how they wanted the show to end, which begs the question – Would the final four words have made sense then? The writing of this show is show specific. It’s jam packed with pop culture references, but the reference audiences don’t get or don’t understand, turns them onto Google which in turns educates them. So really, the show is educating their audiences as well. Come award season I would not be surprised if Amy Sherman Palladino gets nominated for her work in “Fall”.

Speaking of award season – I would not be surprised if Lauren Graham gets nominated. The girls all dealt with the death of Richard Gilmore in their own way. At the beginning, Emily was getting rid of everything in the house, then she tried to get back into the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) and then ultimately moved to Nantucket and sold her house. She grieved, she moved on and started a life for herself. She was married for 50 years and knew nothing else really. Rory traveled, had a casual fling, and hunted for a job. She didn’t have anything steady happening. Lorelai on the other hand, still had everything in her life. She had her boyfriend, her job, her house – she just didn’t have her Dad. Lauren Graham played Lorelai on the cusp of breaking down in almost every season. There was rarely a scene where she wasn’t close to breaking down in some form. Graham reigned it in and it wasn’t until she was on the side of a mountain, calling her mother, that she broke down and told her mother a very heartwarming story about her father. It was remarkable work.

gilmore-girls-last-four-words1This is how Amy Sherman-Palladino wanted the show to end. This was her vision. The last four words were in her mind from the conception of the pilot. Sound off below on what you thought of the final four words and let us know what you thought of the Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life. 

Disney Has Released The Full Trailer For ‘Beauty and the Beast’!

by Alexandra Gallarza

Disney released its first full trailer for its live action Beauty and the Beast. It’s the re-telling of the classic 1991 original animated film, but on a larger, grander scale. Being the first Disney movie that was basically a musical in animation form, seeing what they have done with the technological advances is going to be fun.

In this trailer, we get glimpses of Kevin Kline who plays Belle’s father Maurice. We see what the Beast, who is played by Dan Stevens looks like and how the other characters – Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, and Cogsworth (Ewan McGregor, Emma Thompson, and Sir. Ian McKellan) are brought to life. We also see Luke Evan’s Gaston.

With the characters, we see more of the Castle and bits and pieces of the town Belle comes from. Granted it revolves around Gaston and not Belle, but regardless – the sets, along with the costumes, look marvelous.

The movie is slated to be released in March 2017. Will you be running for the theater to check out this tale that’s old as time?  Watch the trailer below and let us know what you think.

https://youtu.be/OvW_L8sTu5E

Geekscape Reviews: Netflix’ ‘The Crown’

by Alexandra Gallarza

There is something mesmerizing about the Royal Family. They have not been strangers to the media of the 21st century and many people find them interesting. One can compare the First Family of the United States to the Royal Family. The difference is, the first family of the United States changes every four to eight years. The Monarch remains the same until the reigning Monarch passes away and the Crown is passed.

Netflix’s The Crown takes us through the years of 1947-1956. Despite knowing what happens next, the 10 episode series makes the audience wonder what exactly happens next. In a world of spoilers, this show was spoiled by history. Yet, that didn’t seem to matter in the way this show colored in the black and white history.

the-crown-netflixThere is always talk of chemistry between actors. Does it work? If it doesn’t, does it transpire on screen? For that of Matt Smith and Claire Foy, the relationship between Philip and Elizabeth, there is some strain. Their relationship is almost awkward to watch. But that awkwardness and strain is needed. At the beginning of the series, Elizabeth is 21 and Philip is 26 – a five year difference. What a lot of people don’t know is that Elizabeth was 13 when she first developed her crush on the Prince and it was her father who made her wait until her 21st birthday to marry.

Claire Foy brings an innocence to Elizabeth at the beginning of her reign and she slowly gets stronger, more sure, of herself as the years go on. Matt Smith brings the unhappiness of a husband who thinks his wife has become the Crown and all that comes with it instead of the woman he married. Clair Foy shows the struggle Elizabeth has from not getting swallowed by the rules of the Monarchy and tries to be herself. Together they have a very tumultuous relationship and it shows.

While more things could be said about the acting of the title characters of the show, many more things can be said about John Lithgow’s portrayal of Winston Churchill. From our history books, we know he was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice. In the portrayal by Lithgow, Winston Churchill seemed very much of a curmudgeon. Very unhappy with life. But that might have been age. He was 70 years old the second time he became Prime Minister. There are moments when you feel for Winston Churchill, despite what history has told us of him. One can even argue that Mr. Lithgow’s performance may reward him with an Emmy Nomination and possible win.

Before her father’s death Elizabeth and Philip take a world tour and the sweeping shots of the countries they visit are extraordinary. There were elements that were used to make the scenery seem authentic. In partner ship with the scenery are the costumes. Period pieces are always difficult to make and seem authentic. These costumes are gorgeous – it is evident that a lot of attention was paid to detail and to the history in which these costumes needed to be placed.the-crown-season-2-770x433This season sets up a lot of history. Things one may not know. Things that need the watcher to Google and research on their own. There was a period of a few days when there was a toxic smoke that filled the air of London – many died and many survived – yet not many know about it. The same could be said for Elizabeth’s sister Margaret and her affair with a man who was much older than her. While Margaret wanted to marry this man, she couldn’t until a certain age and even then she wasn’t allowed to because of rules put in place with the Monarch. With a simple keystroke on Google, one would find that the pair did not marry and Margaret married someone else.

In a society of instant access to facts, historical pictures and shows are full of “spoilers”. The knowledge is there. It’s the actors and the talents of the director to bring out the surprises despite the historical backstory this brings.

As a whole, the season moved slowly. It was very much a set up season and set up the personalities of these characters and things that get the ball rolling. The Queen is the oldest reigning monarch, having reigned for about 65 years now and continues to rule at the age of 90. Watching this show, you know the little boy running around his mother is Charles and one day, he will be at the center of a media circus when his wife dies. And we know that he will have a son and his son will have a son – three generations of men who will take the Crown.

You can watch all 10 episodes on Netflix now. Netflix has a 6 season order that will take their audience into the Queen’s present life.

Geekscape Reviews: Hedwig and the Angry Inch

by Alexandra Gallarza

Los Angeles is not New York and New York is not Los Angeles. The thing that Los Angeles is fortunate to have, are New York shows coming to the West Coast for a short period of time. At least to Los Angeles.

The Pantages Theater, founded in June of 1930, originally began as a movie house. It housed the very first Academy Awards and went on to house staged musicals. It was announced around this time last year the 2016-2017 season. The first show being ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’.

‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ some readers might be familiar with already. It was a movie in the 1980’s by the same name starring John Cameron Mitchell. It went onto Broadway in 2014, where it won Tony Awards for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress in a musical. Starring as Hedwig on Broadway was Neil Patrick Harris and as Yitzhak, Hedwig’s other half, Lena Hall. The show closed the following year and began it’s tour at the beginning of October, 2016 in San Fransisco.

 

6-210604Not knowing who Hedwig is – or what the show is about – here is a brief synopsis. Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a rock musical, with the rock and roll sounds and flashing lights to go with it. Hedwig is an East German singer who tells her story about living in Berlin, coming to the United States and how she took inspiration from the likes of David Bowie, Iggie Pop, Lou Reed, John Lennon – just to name a few.

The Pantages theater having housed ‘Wicked’ and ‘The Lion King’, the production value of these shows are not to be frowned upon. They can also be very simple, which Hedwig and the Angry Inch was. The set was simple – very few moving pieces – and a lot of moving around by the actors on the stage. The fourman band was on the stage the entire time and they were wonderful. Their presence is what made the rock concert – rock and roll.

Darren Criss headlines the show as Hedwig. Darren Criss is known for his role on “Glee”. His portrayal of Hedwig takes the audience on an emotional journey. He also played the humorous bits to perfection. While he did not open the show on Broadway, took over for Harris when he left, one can see why the role was Tony nominated and why Harris won.

9-199516Lena Hall, who plays Yitzhak, has very few moments alone on the stage. The show is primarily ran by Hedwig, which again plays into the talent of Darren Criss. Yet, there is a moment at the end and without giving anything away, the audience erupted in applause. The character runs up the aisle and comes back and again – the audience erupts into applause. It’s the 11 o’clock number, which is primarily held for the main characters of the show. She sings out the number and brought the house down. It’s easy to see in this performance, despite the seemingly ‘small’ role she has in comparison to Hedwig, why Ms. Hall won the Tony for her work.

As publicized and promoted, this show is very much a rock concert. A tiny bit disconcerting when the first notes of the show are loud blats of music with flashing lights. A few songs are catchy; others are kind of hard to understand – but they fit in with the story. And if the songs weren’t understandable, the exposition explains what one may have missed. To go with the rock music are the rock costumes. The design of these costumes are simply exquisite.

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There is audience interaction. The show has been adapted for Los Angeles, making Los Angeles jokes, putting puns in, using celebrities like Lea Michele as jumping off points for jokes. It’s all relevant. As if the show wasn’t relevant enough – there is a joke about Hedwig’s old flame, “who liked to pop tic-tacs and grab me whenever he wanted because he was a celebrity.” Does that sound familiar?

All in all, the show was fantastic. The cast was extraordinary and if you are in the Los Angeles area and want to have a good time, go see Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

You can purchase tickets at the Pantages Theater website. The show runs from now until November 27th.

‘Sherlock’ returns to BBC One!

by Alexandra Gallarza

A very Happy New Year to our friends who are Sherlock Holmes fans. BBC One announced today that the famous detective will be returning to BBC on January 1st, 2017.

In promoting his movie, Doctor Strange, Benedict Cumberbatch has alluded that this may be the last time we see the dynamic duo of John Watson and Sherlock Holmes. According to Cumberbatch, he told GQ magazine, “It goes to a place where it will be pretty hard to follow on immediately.”

At the end of the last series, and the Christmas special, we see that things from Sherlock’s past is catching up with him. That not everything is as they seem.

True to the Sherlock fashion, the series will only be 3 episodes, each having a title or story based on a short story written by Sir Arthur Coonan Doyle. The first episode, entitled ‘The Six Thatchers‘ with it’s title loosely based on the short story The Adventures of the Six Napoleons.

Watch the teaser down below and let us know your thoughts!

The ‘Untitled Han Solo’ Film Has Found Its Lando Calrissian!

by Alexandra Gallarza

Hello, what have we here?

“We’re so lucky to have an artist as talented as Donald join us,” said Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the directing pair of the Untilted film. “These are big shoes to fill, and an even bigger cape, and this one fits him perfectly, which will save us money on alterations. Also, we’d like to publicly apologize to Donald for ruining Comic-Con for him forever.”

LucasFilm announced and it was donald-glover-lando-calrissian-star-warsposted on Twitter, @starwars, the newest cast member to the Untitled Han Solo film, is Donald Glover. He will be playing Lando Calrissian, the smooth talking smuggler. Han Solo will be played by Aldin Ehrenreich. Playing Lando in the original Star Wars films was Billy Dee Miller opposite Harrison Ford’s Solo.

Who is Donald Glover? one may ask. He is known for his work on NBC’s Community. He is also known for his critically acclaimed FX series, Atlanta. He was in Ridley Scott’s Martian and can be seen in the upcoming Marvel film, Spiderman: Homecoming. 

The duo meet years before the events of A New Hope. The film will follow the duo in their formative years, giving us a look at what makes these guys tick. The Untitled Han Solo Film is set to premiere sometime in 2018.

Good Casting choice? Or bad casting choice? Sound off below.