S P ECIAL ISS U E SATUR DAY, J UNE 20, 20 20
www.Deadline.com
#DeadlineContenders
NETFLIX 8:03AM – 8:52AM
HBO 8:52AM – 9:13AM
SHOWTIME 9:13AM – 9:25AM NAT GEO 9:26AM – 9:48AM
CBS TV STUDIOS 9:48AM – 10:11AM
Hollywood
Patti LuPone (Actor) Janet Mock (Director/EP/Writer) Jim Parsons (Actor) Jessica Yu (Director)
Ozark
Jason Bateman (EP/Director/Actor) Julia Garner (Actor) Laura Linney (Actor) Chris Mundy (Showrunner/Writer)
Space Force
Greg Daniels (Creator/Showrunner/EP/Writer) Lisa Kudrow (Actor) John Malkovich (Actor) Ben Schwartz (Actor)
Stranger Things
Matt Duffer (Creator/Showrunner/Director) Ross Duffer (Creator/Showrunner/Director) David Harbour (Actor)
A Black Lady Sketch Show
Robin Thede (Creator/EP/Writer/Actor)
Mrs. Fletcher
Kathryn Hahn (Producer/Actor)
The Loudest Voice
Russell Crowe (EP/Actor)
Cosmos: Possible Worlds
Ann Druyan (Creator/Writer/Director/EP) Jeffrey A. Okun (Visual Effects Supervisor) Neil deGrasse Tyson (Host)
Barkskins
Marcia Gay Harden (Actor) Elwood Reid (Creator/Showrunner/EP) David Thewlis (Actor)
Dead to Me
Christina Applegate (EP/Actor) Linda Cardellini (Co-EP/Actor) Liz Feldman (Creator/Showrunner)
Unbelievable
Kaitlyn Dever (Actor) Susannah Grant (Co-Creator/Showrunner) Sarah Timberman (EP)
SCHEDULE AND PRESENTERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
“RAZOR-SHARP SUPERHERO SATIRE” – COLLIDER
BR E A K ( 1 0 M I N ) - 1 0 :1 1 A M – 1 0 : 21A M Hunters
Jerrika Hinton (Actor) Nikki Toscano (Co-Showrunner) David Weil (Creator/Co-Showrunner)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Amy Sherman-Palladino (Creator/EP) Daniel Palladino (EP)
Homecoming
Kyle Patrick Alvarez (Director/EP) Micah Bloomberg (Creator/EP) Eli Horowitz (Creator/EP)
SONY PICTURES TELEVISION 10:55AM – 11:05AM
The Boys
Evan Goldberg (EP) Eric Kripke (Creator/Showrunner/EP) Seth Rogen (EP)
FREEFORM 11:05AM – 11:14AM
Everything’s Gonna Be Okay
Kayla Cromer (Actor) Maeve Press (Actor) Josh Thomas (Creator/EP/Writer/Actor)
ABC ENTERTAINMENT 11:15AM – 11:34AM
Black-ish
Anthony Anderson (EP/Actor)
For Life
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson (EP/Actor) Hank Steinberg (Creator/EP)
Defending Jacob
Mark Bomback (Creator/Showrunner/EP) Jaeden Martell (Actor) Morten Tyldum (Director/EP)
The Morning Show
Kerry Ehrin (Showrunner/EP) Michael Ellenberg (EP) Mimi Leder (Director/EP)
Dickinson
Alena Smith (Creator/EP) Hailee Steinfeld (EP/Actor)
AMAZON PRIME VIDEO 10:22AM – 10:55AM
APPLE TV+ 11:34AM – 12:04PM
LU N C H ( 3 0 M I N ) - 1 2 : 0 5P M – 1 2 : 3 5 P M SCHEDULE AND PRESENTERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
A CELEBRATION OF THE ORIGINAL MUSIC, CRAFT AND ARTISTRY OF SEASON 3 COMING SOON CONSIDERAMAZON.COM/MAISEL_MUSICAL
HULU 12:36PM – 1:09PM
FX 1:09PM – 1:37PM
CBS ALL ACCESS 1:37PM – 2:01PM
COMEDY CENTRAL 2:01PM – 2:33PM
LIFETIME 2:33PM – 2:52PM
Little Fires Everywhere
Lauren Neustadter (EP) Liz Tigelaar (Creator/Showrunner/EP/Writer) Pilar Savone (EP)
The Great
Elle Fanning (EP/Actor) Nicholas Hoult (Actor) Tony McNamara (Creator/Showrunner)
Ramy
Ramy Youssef (Creator/Director/Actor)
Mrs. America
Uzo Aduba (Actor) Elizabeth Banks (Actor) Cate Blanchett (EP/Actor) Rose Byrne (Actor) Margo Martindale (Actor) Sarah Paulson (Actor) Tracey Ullman (Actor)
Better Things
Pamela Adlon (Creator/EP/Actor)
Star Trek: Picard
Patrick Stewart (EP/Actor)
Why Women Kill
Lucy Liu (Actor/Director)
Drunk History
Jeremy Konner (Co-Creator/EP/Director) Derek Waters (Co-Creator/EP/Director/Host)
South Side
Diallo Riddle (Creator/EP/Actor) Bashir Salahuddin (Creator/EP/Actor)
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Trevor Noah (EP/Writer/Host)
Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story
Niecy Nash (Actor)
Patsy & Loretta
Megan Hilty (Actor) Neil Meron (EP) Jessie Mueller (Actor)
SCHEDULE AND PRESENTERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
BR E A K ( 1 0 M I N ) - 2 : 53 P M - 3 : 0 3 P M Better Call Saul
Peter Gould (Co-Creator/Showrunner) Bob Odenkirk (Producer/Actor) Rhea Seehorn (Actor)
Dispatches from Elsewhere
Jason Segel (Creator/Actor)
Homeland
Claire Danes (EP/Actor) Alex Gansa (Co-Creator/Showrunner/EP)
Godfather of Harlem
Chris Brancato (Creator/Showrunner/EP) Forest Whitaker (EP/Actor)
One Day at a Time
Gloria Calderon Kellett (Co-Showrunner/EP) Norman Lear (EP) Rita Moreno (Actor)
Schitt’s Creek
Daniel Levy (Co-Creator/EP/Actor) Annie Murphy (Actor)
STARZ 4:11PM – 4:21PM
Hightown
Rebecca Cutter (Creator/EP) Rachel Morrison (Director) Monica Raymund (Actor)
FOX ENTERTAINMENT 4:21PM – 4:42PM
The Masked Singer
Craig Plestis (EP) Marina Toybina (Costume Designer)
Lego Masters
Will Arnett (Host)
Togo
Ericson Core (Director/Cinematographer) Willem Dafoe (Actor) Tom Flynn (Writer)
The Mandalorian
Deborah Chow (Director) Dave Filoni (Director/EP) Pedro Pascal (Actor)
AMC 3:04PM – 3:26PM
DISNEY TELEVISION STUDIOS 3:26PM -3:47PM
POP TV 3:47PM – 4:11PM
DISNEY+ 4:42PM – 5:07PM
PA R T N E R S
PETE HAMMOND
POWER PLAYERS 2019 Emmy nominees Laura Linney and Jason Bateman at Contenders with Emmy-winning co-star Julia Garner.
THE SHOW MUST GO ON PETE HAMMOND details how Deadline created its annual television celebration event… from a distance Welcome to our fifth Contenders Television event—with a rather significant twist. When the coronavirus pandemic put the world, and of course, the entertainment industry on pause, we wondered how we could possibly go ahead with this year’s edition of our Contenders Television event. Originally, we’d planned to present it in April at Paramount Studios in front of a live audience of Television Academy and key guild voters, just like we always do. But it soon became abundantly clear that would be impossible. What
could we do? We didn’t want to disappoint those in the industry who eagerly look forward to our events, not only this one, but also our other Contenders events in New York and London. So, we went back to square one and completely reimagined our approach to work within the restrictions of the COVID-19 era. What we came up with was a completely virtual show for our first ever online streaming Contenders. And it’s a massive undertaking, involving 22 studios and networks, 44 different shows, and 106 speakers—a
logistical challenge to be sure, but one that’s actually turned out to be a lot of fun to put together. In the end, we know this event will carry with it the spirit and informative value of every previous Contenders, just in a different package. Simply in terms of booking talent (thank you to the indefatigable team of Madelyn Hammond and Javier Infante), the response has been phenomenal, and in fact exceeds the number of participants we’ve ever had at Contenders before, since we started doing these a decade ago. Going virtual has certainly proven to have some great advantages too, one being that the whole world is our oyster. Rather than talent needing to be on our stage in Los Angeles for this one day, we actually have them coming in online from all parts of the globe, including the
PETE HAMMOND
FUNNY GUY James Corden does double duty offering some hospitality at last year’s Contenders event.
Australian bush (Russell Crowe), Rome (Willem Dafoe), London (Cate Blanchett, among numerous others), the East Coast, the West Coast and many points in between. It has certainly involved some extensive planning and execution, but those challenges are being met by our stellar production team behind the scenes, including executive producer Bob Holmes and his crew. The look, locations, and logistics of all this are certainly different, and may be as new to us as they are to you, but one thing hasn’t changed at all, and that’s
the fantastic and invaluable content the Contenders events are always designed to showcase. We aim to make this a kind of one-stop shop for industry voters, so you can sit down and get a taste of what will eventually appear on your awards ballots this Emmy season. The idea is to provide a blueprint of the season that will serve as a catalyst for voters as they wade through the infinite numbers of television achievements placed before them. It’s an impossible, almost Herculean task to see everything, but what Contenders Televi-
sion does is give you a sample, through clips and conversation with the key movers and shakers involved, to perhaps entice you to see more, and most importantly, to become an informed voter when it comes time to cast that ballot. And we have some great sweepstakes prizes too. So, for the first time, in the comfort of your own home, sit back, stay tuned all day, and enjoy Deadline’s Contenders. There’s nothing else like it. ★ Follow Pete Hammond’s video series, The Actor’s Side and Behind the Lens, this Emmy season at Deadline.com
THE
SHOWS NETFLIX Hollywood Created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, this miniseries is set during Hollywood’s Golden Age, and follows a group of actors and filmmakers who’ll do whatever it takes to realize their dreams. Spotlighting biases toward race, gender and sexuality that exist to this day, it considers what might have happened had inequality in entertainment been addressed decades ago. Bolstered by the direction of Janet Mock and Jessica Yu, the drama’s all-star ensemble includes David Corenswet, Darren Criss, Laura Harrier, Joe Mantello, Dylan McDermott, Jim Parsons and Broadway legend Patti LuPone. Ozark A much-watched critical hit, this crime drama has earned 14 Emmy nominations to date. Jason Bateman and Laura Linney star as Marty and Wendy Byrde, a seemingly normal couple with two teenage kids who are forced to relocate to the Ozarks, after a moneylaundering scheme goes awry. Finding themselves in increasing danger over the course of
three seasons, while working for a Mexican drug cartel, the pair end up funneling cash through a riverboat casino, while contending with scrutiny from the FBI. Created by Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams, the series also stars Julia Garner and Janet McTeer. Space Force Six years after The Office came to an end, Steve Carell and EP Greg Daniels reteamed to create a brand new workplace comedy. Loosely inspired by President Trump’s Space Force initiative, the series centers on the individuals charged with establishing this sixth branch of the United States Armed Forces. Leading the effort is General Mark Naird (Carell), the first Chief of Space Operations, who quickly finds himself over his head in his new role. Premiering last month, the show’s impressive and eclectic ensemble also includes Ben Schwartz, Lisa Kudrow and John Malkovich. Stranger Things Set during the 1980s, this pop culture phenomenon follows a group of teenagers contending with otherworldly forces that
The full rundown of Deadline’s Contenders Television event, where showrunners, stars and other key creatives gather to discuss the standout television of the year threaten to engulf their small Indiana town. When a girl with supernatural powers comes into their lives, dynamics within the group change, and the threat to Hawkins only continues to grow, with Soviet scientists, the terrifying Demogorgon and its undead army threating to turn the world upside down. Created by brothers Matt and Ross Duffer, the Emmy-winning drama’s sprawling ensemble includes Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Noah Schnapp and Millie Bobby Brown. HBO A Black Lady Sketch Show Robin Thede created and stars in this critically acclaimed comedy series, consisting of sketches performed by AfricanAmerican comediennes. Joined on screen by her close friends Quinta Brunson, Ashley Nicole Black and Gabrielle Dennis— who also serve as EPs—Thede pitched the project as one that would address the lack of representation in American comedy, on the part of Black women. Featuring an abundance of A-list guest stars in its first season, including Angela Bassett and Issa Rae, the
Ozark
Hollywood
A Black Lady Sketch Show
The Loudest Voice
Cosmos: Possible Worlds
sketch show was picked up for a second last year.
Republican Party, until sexual harassment accusations took him down. Created by Tom McCarthy and Alex Metcalf, the drama examines the TV executive’s rise into the stratosphere of cultural influence, as well as his inevitable fall from grace. Based on a 2014 book by Gabriel Sherman, and produced by Blumhouse Television, the series features turns from Seth MacFarlane, Sienna Miller and Naomi Watts.
Mrs. Fletcher Kathryn Hahn takes center stage in this miniseries from Tom Perrotta, based on his acclaimed novel of the same name. The story centers on Eve, a middle-aged, single mom, and her spoiled son Brendan (Jackson White), who is heading off to college. When Brendan moves out, both mother and son go through existential crises, as they look to build new lives on their own. Executive producer Nicole Holofcener directs the pilot. The dramatic comedy’s other accomplished helmers include Gillian Robespierre, Carrie Brownstein and Liesl Tommy. SHOWTIME The Loudest Voice In this seven-part miniseries, Russell Crowe transforms himself beyond recognition to portray Fox News founder Roger Ailes, one of the most controversial figures in modern history, who became a major figure in media, and within the
NAT GEO Cosmos: Possible Worlds Six years after his last voyage into the Cosmos, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson is back for another magnificent journey through time and space. Based on an iconic PBS program presented by Carl Sagan, the educational docuseries invites viewers back on board the ship of the Imagination, transporting them to worlds that are long gone, and worlds that are little understood, as well as those that humans might one day call home. Written, directed and executive produced by Ann
Dead to Me
Druyan and Brannon Braga, the series is bolstered by the work of composer Alan Silvestri and visual effects supervisor Jeffrey A. Okun. Barkskins Based on a 2016 novel by Annie Proulx, this drama explores the range of hardships that defined life in 1600s New France. Centered on René Sel and Charles Duquet, two immigrant woodcutters, the series ultimately spans 300 years of history, following the lives of their descendants. Shot in the Canadian forest on the site of the original story, creator Elwood Reid’s series painstakingly recreates an authentic historical tale, with a cast including Marcia Gay Harden, David Thewlis, Zahn McClarnon, James Bloor and Christian Cooke. CBS TELEVISION STUDIOS Dead to Me Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini star in this dark comedy from Liz Feldman, which premiered last
There’s so much more to your favorite shows than what you see on the screen. Go behind the scenes of Amazon Original series with host Tim Kash as he sits down with the biggest stars and producers to reveal all the twists and turns that happened off-camera. Subscribe free on Apple Podcasts.
apple.co/PrimeVideoPodcast
Hunters
May. Golden Globe, Emmy and Critics’ Choice Award nominee Applegate plays Jen, a real estate agent whose life unravels after her husband is killed in a hit-and-run. While attending a support group for the bereaved, Jen meets free spirit Judy, striking up what appears to be a beautiful friendship until a dark secret emerges, which threatens to destroy things. Executive produced by Feldman, Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Jessica Elbaum, the series returns for its second season this year. Unbelievable Kaitlyn Dever, Merritt Wever and Toni Collette lead this weighty miniseries, each receiving a Golden Globe nomination for their work. Based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning article by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong, the drama tells the true story of Marie, a teenager charged with lying about being raped, and the two female detectives who doggedly pursue
the truth of her case. Created by Susannah Grant, Ayelet Waldman and Michael Chabon, the series has also garnered nominations from the Writers Guild, the Screen Actors Guild, the Producers Guild and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association. AMAZON PRIME VIDEO The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, and executive produced by Daniel Palladino, this period comedy amassed 16 Emmys and three Golden Globes in its first two seasons. Set in New York City during the late ’50s and early ’60s, it centers on Midge Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan), a housewife who goes against the wishes of her family, and the expectations of society at large, in her pursuit of a career in stand-up. Boasting an all-star cast that includes Alex Borstein, Michael Zegen, Marin Hinkle and Tony Shalhoub, the comedy returned for its third
season last December, and has been renewed for a fourth. Homecoming Created by Eli Horowitz and Micah Bloomberg, based on their podcast of the same name, this psychological thriller picks apart a haunting government conspiracy. Executive produced by Sam Esmail, the series centers on a facility claiming to help soldiers in their transition back to civilian life, which was in fact created for a much darker purpose. Directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez, the series’ second season tells a much more expansive story, as it grapples with the fallout of the first. Stephan James and Hong Chau reprise their roles, as Janelle Monáe and Chris Cooper join the cast. Hunters This star-studded, pulpy drama centers on Logan Lerman’s Jonah, a young Jewish man living in New York City in 1977, whose
tive produced by Matt Reeves and Mark Romanek—who also directs—the quiet, reflective series’ helmers include Jodie Foster, Charlie McDowell, Ti West and So Yong Kim.
The Boys
grandmother is murdered by Nazis hiding out in The States. Falling in with a secret group of Nazi hunters, Jonah pursues his chance at revenge, helping to take down war criminals planning a Fourth Reich within the U.S. Created by David Weil and executive produced by Jordan Peele, the series features Al Pacino’s first television role in almost two decades. Lena Olin, Jerrika Hinton, Saul Rubinek, Carol Kane, Josh Radnor and Greg Austin also star. Modern Love Premiering last October, this star-studded anthology series is written, directed and produced by John Carney (Sing Street, Once). Based on a popular weekly column in The New York Times, the romantic
comedy explores many different kinds of love stories over the course of eight episodes, all of which take place in New York City. Featuring turns from Anne Hathaway, Tina Fey, Dev Patel, Catherine Keener, Julia Garner, Shea Whigham and more, it was renewed for a second season just days after its premiere. Tales from the Loop Rebecca Hall, Jonathan Pryce, Paul Schneider, Jane Alexander and Dan Bakkedahl appear in this intimate sci-fi drama from Nathaniel Halpern (Legion). Based on an art book by Simon Stålenhag, it follows the unlikely journeys of townspeople living above “The Loop”, a machine built to tap into the mysteries of the universe. Execu-
Undone Bojack Horseman’s Raphael Bob-Waksberg and Kate Purdy embraced rotoscoping techniques to craft this singular show—the first original animated series to come from Amazon. Rosa Salazar stars as Alma, a woman who gains the ability to manipulate time, after a car crash nearly kills her. Offering viewers the chance to explore the nature of reality, the adult animated series also features the voices of Bob Odenkirk, Daveed Diggs and Sheila Vand. Two months after its debut, it was picked up for a second season. SONY PICTURES TELEVISION The Boys Eric Kripke joined forces with longtime writing partners Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen to bring this gritty superhero drama to the small screen. Jack Quaid stars as Hughie, a young man whose girlfriend is killed in an accidental collision with a celebrity superhero. Traumatized and enraged, Hughie partners with a group of vigilantes to take down a team of corrupt superheroes running rampant in New York City. Picked up for a second season ahead of its premiere, the series also stars Karl Urban, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Jes-
Black-Ish
Defending Jacob
sie T. Usher, Laz Alonso, Chace Crawford and Elisabeth Shue. FREEFORM Everything’s Gonna Be Okay This emotionally charged comedy centers on Nicholas, a 25-year-old Australian who comes to visit his family in Los Angeles. Learning during his visit that his father is terminally ill, Nicholas is soon left to cope with a terrible loss, while assuming responsibility for his two teenage half-sisters. Created by and starring Australian comedian Josh Thomas, the series also features notable turns by Kayla Cromer, Adam Faison and Maeve Press. Its 10-episode first season premiered in January. ABC ENTERTAINMENT Black-ish A boon for ABC since its 2014
debut, Kenya Barris’ sitcom has earned 15 Emmy nominations to date, as well as a Golden Globe for star Tracee Ellis Ross. The comedy centers on Andre ‘Dre’ Johnson (executive producer Anthony Anderson) and his wife, Rainbow (Ross), an AfricanAmerican couple struggling to imbue their kids with a sense of cultural identity, while raising them in a mostly-white neighborhood. Also starring Yara Shahidi, Marcus Scribner, Miles Brown, Marsai Martin, Deon Cole, Jenifer Lewis, Jeff Meacham and Peter Mackenzie, the series wrapped its sixth season this past month. For Life Executive produced by Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson, this legal drama charts the journey of Aaron Wallace, a man sen-
tenced to life in prison for a crime he did not commit. During his time behind bars, Wallace works to become a lawyer, so that he can aid in the defense of others, while fighting to prove his own innocence. Loosely based on the true story of Isaac Wright Jr.—a falsely accused inmate-turned-paralegal—the Hank Steinberg series stars Nicholas Pinnock, Indira Varma, Joy Bryant, Mary Stuart Masterson and more. APPLE TV+ The Morning Show Jennifer Aniston makes a triumphant return to the small screen in this workplace drama, based on a book by Brian Stelter. Aniston plays Alex, an anchor on a popular breakfast news program, whose life is turned upside down, when her co-anchor (Steve Carell) is ousted, due to accusations of sexual misconduct. Finding friction in her relationship with her new on-air partner (Reese Witherspoon), Alex must navigate a chaotic situation at the network, while fighting to keep her job. Executive produced by Kerry Ehrin, Mimi Leder and Michael Ellenberg, the series’ allstar cast includes Billy Crudup and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. Defending Jacob Produced by Anonymous Content and Paramount Television, this harrowing thriller centers on Andy Barber, an assistant DA in Massachusetts whose world is changed forever, when his 14-year-old son is accused of murdering a classmate. Sub-
jected to the harsh judgment of those in his community, Andy can only look on hopelessly as Jacob is put through the legal system, wondering all along whether his son could truly have committed such a horrific act. Based on a bestselling novel by William Landay, Mark Bomback’s miniseries is directed by Morten Tyldum. Chris Evans, Michelle Dockery and Jaeden Martell star. WIIP Dickinson Hailee Steinfeld executive produces and stars in this historical comedy, depicting the coming-of-age experience of 19th century poet Emily Dickinson. A period tale crafted with modern perspective, the series finds Dickinson in Amherst, Massachusetts, rebelling against the dictates of her father, and the constraints imposed upon women in her time, while writing some of her iconic works. Created by Alena Smith, the critically acclaimed series stars Toby Huss, Jane Krakowski, Adrian Enscoe, and Anna Baryshnikov. HULU The Great Tony McNamara, one of the Oscar-nominated scribes behind The Favourite, returns to skewering royalty with this anachronistic portrait of a young Catherine the Great. Played by executive producer Elle Fanning, Catherine is a young royal living happily in 18th century Austria, who marries Russia’s Peter III. Hoping
Little Fires Everywhere
Everything’s Gonna Be Okay
for a marriage based on love and respect, she’s disappointed to learn of the Emperor’s true nature, and soon plots to overthrow him, ultimately becoming the country’s longestruling female leader. Nicholas Hoult portrays the mercurial Peter, while Phoebe Fox, Adam Godley, Gwilym Lee and Douglas Hodge round out the cast. Ramy Creator Ramy Youssef based this comedy on his coming-ofage experience in New Jersey, as a first-generation American Muslim. Constantly torn between his Egyptian community and the millennial world that surrounds him, Ramy doubles down on his commitment to his faith, in spite of all obstacles in his path. Youssef’s series is produced by A24 and he won a Golden Globe for his
Dickinson
autobiographical turn. The second season debuted in May, and features a guest appearance by two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali. Little Fires Everywhere Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington executive produce and star in this miniseries, based on the 2017 bestseller by Celeste Ng. Set in Shaker Heights, Ohio during the late 1990s, it centers on Elena Richardson, a journalist and mother of four whose family life is upended when a mysterious woman and her young daughter come into town. Executive produced by Liz Tigelaar, Lauren Neustadter and Pilar Savone, the drama scratches at the façade of a seemingly idyllic community, revealing underlying racial and socioeconomic
Mrs. America
tensions. Its cast also includes Joshua Jackson and Rosemarie DeWitt. FX Mrs. America Exploring the political movement to pass the Equal Rights Amendment, this miniseries finds an unexpected focal point in Phyllis Schlafly (executive producer Cate Blanchett), the conservative activist who leads the fight against it. Created by Dahvi Waller, the drama demonstrates how one of the most significant fights of the ’70s helped give rise to the Moral Majority, shifting the American political landscape in the process. Depicting such
notable feminist icons as Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan, the series’ cast includes Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba, Margo Martindale, John Slattery, Tracey Ullman, Sarah Paulson and Elizabeth Banks. Better Things Pamela Adlon created and stars in this critically acclaimed comedy, directing the vast majority of its episodes herself. Loosely based on Adlon’s own life, the series follows Sam, an actor who struggles to balance her work in Hollywood with the pressure of raising three daughters on her own. Earning two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, Adlon’s show
Star Trek: Picard
has also won a Peabody Award and a Critics’ Choice Television Award since its original 2016 debut. Wrapping its fourth season last month, the series also stars Mikey Madison, Hannah Alligood, Olivia Edward and Celia Imrie. CBS ALL ACCESS Star Trek: Picard The eighth Star Trek series sees Patrick Stewart reprise the role of Jean-Luc Picard for the first time in almost two decades. Set at the end of the 24th Century, the show picks up with the Starfleet admiral 14 years into his retirement, as his quiet life at the Chateau Picard vineyard is disrupted by the appearance of a mysterious
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
young woman. Also starring Santiago Cabrera, Michelle Hurd, Harry Treadaway and Alison Pill, Picard was renewed for a second season ahead of its January premiere. Why Women Kill Produced by Imagine Entertainment and CBS Television Studios, this dark comedy centers on women in three different decades that are connected by the Pasadena mansion they live in, and the infidelity they experience. In each case, marital betrayal results in a chain of events that leads a woman to kill—though the person killed is not always who one might expect. Marc Cherry’s
series stars Ginnifer Goodwin, Lucy Liu, Jack Davenport, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Alexandra Daddario and Reid Scott. First premiering last August, it was renewed for a second season, which is expected to feature a whole new set of characters. COMEDY CENTRAL The Daily Show with Trevor Noah South African comedian Trevor Noah executive produces, writes and hosts the third iteration of this iconic late-night series—the longest-running program on Comedy Central. Nominated for four Emmys, the comedic news program sees Noah lampooning current events, both in and outside of
politics, while engaging in interviews with an ever-growing list of A-list celebrities. Like all late-night shows, Noah’s was threatened when the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered production across the world. But the host quickly adapted. Devising The Social Distancing Show—a remote version of the series—in March, Noah has continued airing shows every week since. Drunk History Created by Derek Waters and Jeremy Konner, based on their acclaimed Funny or Die web series, this educational comedy features an inebriated narrator recounting the details of a historical event
ation—that the family she’s known all her life isn’t hers at all. Jeffrey Byrd dramatizes the headline-grabbing true story in this television movie, scripted by Richard Kletter and Michele Samit. Rayven Symone Ferrell stars as Kamiyah, while Niecy Nash and Ta’Rhonda Jones round out the cast. Homeland
Patsy & Loretta
to Waters, who hosts. It then presents a troupe of A-list actors to reenact the story, as the narrator tells it, lip-syncing the often-absurd dialogue that they conjure up. Racking up 14 Emmy nominations since its 2015 debut, the series’ sixth season featured the stories of Frankenstein author Mary Shelley, aviator Bessie Coleman and singer/activist Eartha Kitt, with appearances by Seth Rogen, Elijah Wood, Samira Wiley, Tony Hale and more. South Side Late Night with Jimmy Fallon scribes Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle created and star in this comedy, set on the South Side of Chicago. A loving tribute to the area where Salahuddin grew up, the series centers on Simon and Kareem,
a pair of recent community college graduates who set out to become entrepreneurs, by hook or by crook, hustling hard for upward mobility. Featuring notable turns from Sultan Salahuddin, Kareme Young, Chandra Russell and Lil Rel Howery, the series was renewed for a second season last year. LIFETIME Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story Eight hours after her birth on July 10, 1998, Kamiyah Mobley was abducted by Gloria Williams, who posed as a nurse. Traumatized by a recent miscarriage, Williams renamed the child Alexis, then raised her for the next 18 years. And it’s only at this age that Kamiyah realizes the truth of her situ-
Patsy & Loretta Megan Hilty and Jessie Mueller star in this TV movie, depicting the friendship between country singers Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn. Directed by Callie Khouri (Thelma & Louise), the drama picks up at a point when Cline is already a major star. After a serious automobile accident in 1961, she takes Lynn under her wing and a powerful bond is forged, until an airplane crash takes her life in 1963. Executive produced by Neil Meron, with Janine Turner and Kyle Schmid starring, the film was nominated for three Critics’ Choice Awards, including in the Best Movie Made For Television category. AMC NETWORK Better Call Saul This spin-off to the iconic Breaking Bad has proudly carried forth the crime drama’s legacy, garnering 32 Emmy nominations since 2015. Bob Odenkirk stars as Jimmy McGill, a beaten down con man and small-time lawyer who has now adopted the persona of Saul Goodman, making his downward spiral toward crime and corruption nearly complete. Recently wrapping
its acclaimed fifth season, the series created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould will take its final bow when Season 6 airs next year. Jonathan Banks, Rhea Seehorn, Patrick Fabian, Michael Mando, Giancarlo Esposito, Tony Dalton and Mark Margolis also star. Dispatches from Elsewhere The first television series created by Jason Segel centers on four ordinary people, united in their belief that something is missing from their lives. Stumbling on a puzzle hiding behind the veil of humdrum, everyday life, the group’s eyes are opened to a world of magic, and an ever-deepening sense of mystery. In this whimsical anthology drama, based on the 2013 documentary The Institute, Segel stars opposite André Benjamin, Eve Lindley, Sally Field and Richard E. Grant.
Schitt’s Creek
DISNEY TELEVISION STUDIOS Godfather of Harlem Set in 1960s New York City, this crime drama tells the story of infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson. Portrayed by Oscar winner Forest Whitaker, Johnson returns from a 10-year stint in prison to find his neighborhood in disarray. Forging an alliance with preacher Malcolm X prior to his political ascent, he engages in a war with the Italian mob to regain control of the streets. A TV prequel to Ridley Scott’s American Gangster, created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, the series’ cast includes Paul Sorvino, Chazz Palminteri, Vincent D’Onofrio, Giancarlo Esposito and Luis Guzman. Homeland Developed by Howard Gordon
and Alex Gansa, this international spy thriller has thus far earned eight Emmys and 39 nominations. Claire Danes stars as Carrie Mathison, a former CIA case officer in the Counterterrorism Center who suffers from bipolar disorder. When the series returned for its eighth and final season in February, Mathison was struggling to recover from a brutal experience in a Russian gulag. Called upon by her mentor, Saul (Mandy Patinkin), Carrie must then head to Afghanistan to aid the United States government in peace negotiations with the Taliban. POP TV One Day at a Time A reimagining of Norman Lear’s classic ’70s sitcom, this comedy centers on three generations of a Cuban-American family living together in Echo
Schitt’s Creek
Park. Centered on Penelope Alvarez, an Army veteran who struggles as a single mother dealing with PTSD, the story also taps into the lives of her children and her Cuban mother, touching on such issues as mental illness, immigration and bigotry along the way. Developed by Gloria Calderon Kellett and Mike Royce, with Lear on board as an executive producer, the Emmy-winning series stars Justina Machado and Rita Moreno. Schitt’s Creek Created by the father-son duo of Eugene and Daniel Levy, this sitcom has only continued to grow in popularity since its 2015 debut, racking up four Emmy nominations in the last two years. The first Canadian series to be nominated for
Hightown
a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Comedy, it focuses on the incredibly rich Rose family, who are forced to move to the town they once bought as a joke, when funds dry up. Wrapping its sixth season in April, the series’ cast features the two Levys, along with Annie Murphy, Chris Elliott and Emily Hampshire. STARZ Hightown Directed by Oscar-nominated DP Rachel Morrison, this crime drama follows Jackie Quinones, a hard-partying agent for the National Marine Fisheries Service in Provincetown, Massachusetts, who battles with her sobriety, while seducing tourists passing through town. When she discovers a body in Cape Cod Bay, a murder inves-
tigation spotlights the region’s heroin epidemic, and Jackie’s life is changed forever. Created by Rebecca Perry Cutter and executive produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the series stars Monica Raymund and James Badge Dale. FOX ENTERTAINMENT The Masked Singer Based on a popular South Korean format, this reality singing competition features celebrities singing covers of wellknown songs, while covered in elaborate costumes that conceal their identities. Each week, panelists Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Nicole Scherzinger and Robin Thicke try to identify the person behind the mask, learning their true identity only when they’re eliminated. Executive
The Masked Singer
produced by Craig Plestis, and hosted by Nick Cannon, with costumes by Marina Toybina, the series has been renewed for a fourth season. Among those singing in Season 3 were Sarah Palin, Lil Wayne, Tony Hawk and Bella Thorne. Lego Masters Hosted and executive produced by Will Arnett, this reality competition series follows teams of two as they build elaborate Lego projects over the course of many hours, intended to meet creative and practical goals that are never the same twice. Judged by Lego Group creative designers Jamie Berard and Amy Corbett, contestants compete for a chance at a Lego Master trophy, a $100,000 prize and the coveted title of Lego
The Mandalorian
Master. Produced by Plan B Entertainment and Endemol Shine North America, the competition featured a number of celebrity guests in Season 1, including Mayim Bialik, Nicole Byer and Terry Crews. DISNEY+ Togo Starring Willem Dafoe, this TV movie tells the remarkable true story of the 1925 Serum Run. Centered on dog-sled team drover Leonhard Seppala and his lead dog Togo, the drama watches as Seppala and his team transport diphtheria antitoxin serum in brutal conditions, over a span of more than 800 miles, to combat an epidemic unfolding in the Alaskan town of Nome. Directed and shot by Ericson Core, from a script by Tom Flynn, the
film also features turns from Michael Greyeyes, Julianne Nicholson and Michael Gaston. The Mandalorian Created by Jon Favreau, the Star Wars franchise’s first liveaction series introduced the internet sensation known as ‘Baby Yoda’. Set five years after the events of Return of the Jedi, and 25 years prior to The Force Awakens, the space Western centers on Din Djarin, a lone Mandalorian bounty hunter, who chases down a wide array of criminals in the outer reaches of the galaxy. Directed by Deborah Chow and executive producer Dave Filoni, the series includes a score from Oscar winner Ludwig Göransson. Among the cast are Pedro Pascal, Carl Weathers and Werner Herzog.★
CONSIDER AMAZON ORIGINALS Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
Carnival Row
ZeroZeroZero
Troop Zero
Tales from the Loop
Goliath
