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Thank goodness we have more TV shows coming our way!
I mean, we’re just about out of options so … kidding, of course. We manifestly are not even remotely short of shows to stream and frankly the number of new programs coming our way is almost alarming (which for a medium meant to provide relaxation and escape is a little ironic).
BUT, and here’s the thing, many of the shows, including the three, maybe four, profiled in this post are absolutely worth our time, or at least their trailers suggest they are, so it’s likely worth us clearing the viewing decks a little to make room for some more shows …
(courtesy IMP Awards)
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Paramount+ unveiled the first official trailer for the upcoming season of the updated Frasier, which includes the typically awkward interactions between Frasier and his son Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scott), plus the dry-pan humor the sitcom has long been known for since the original series debuted in 1993. Arguably, the most notable sequence in the trailer comes midway through, showing bits of Frasier’s anticipated Seattle return. Frasier sits in the chair at KACL where he took calls as part of his psychiatrist talk show for much of the original show’s run, saying, “This is Dr. Frasier Crane, I’m listening,” as a smiling Roz Doyle (Peri Gilpin) looks on. [The season will also features the return of Dan Butler as Bob “Bulldog” Briscoe, Edward Hibbert as Gil Chesterton, and Harriet Sansom Harris as Frasier’s agent, Bebe Glazer.]The Frasier reboot continues to tell the story of the eponymous personality’s “third act” in Boston as he embraces new challenges and continues to work on his relationship with Freddy on his return to the home of parent series, Cheers. First-look season 2 images plugged another potential relationship on the horizon as Frasier and Roz, long-time friends and colleagues throughout the series, seemingly kiss during one episode as Freddy and Eve (Jess Salgueiro) look on in shock. Roz will be a recurring character in Season 2 after a cameo appearance in the Season 1 finale, “Reindeer Games.” (courtesy CBR)
Frasier season 2 premieres on Paramount+ on 19 September with the first two episodes, with the remaining seven likely screening weekly after that.
(courtesy First Showing)
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A sixteen-year-old girl named Penelope (starring Megan Stott) who feels alienated from contemporary civilization is pulled into the uncharted wilderness and starts to build a new life for herself there. Penelope is a series created by producer / filmmaker / screenwriter Mel Eslyn, a writer on Hoarders, Room 104, and Cinema Toast previously; she also wrote & directed the film Biosphere, and produced the indie films Duck Butter, Horse Girl, 7 Days, Spin Me Round, and The Drop. previously. It’s also co-created by beloved indie actor / producer / filmmaker Mark Duplass. With writing by Mel Eslyn and Mark Duplass. All the eps are directed by Mel Eslyn. It’s made by Duplass Brothers Productions and produced by Meghan Mowery. Executive produced by Mark and Jay Duplass, Mel Eslyn, and Shuli Harel. (courtesy First Showing)
Penelope releases on Netflix on 24 September in U.S. only; no dates for international release at this time.
(courtesy IMP Awards)
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Zeus has long enjoyed his status as King of The Gods. Until he wakes up and discovers a wrinkle on his forehead. Neurosis sets in, setting him off on a dangerous, paranoid path. Zeus becomes convinced his fall is coming – and starts to see signs of it everywhere. Zeus’ once reliable brother, Hades, the God of the Underworld, is secretly losing his grip on his dark dominion. There is a backlog of dead waiting to be processed and they are growing restless. Hera (Janet McTeer), Queen of the Gods, exercises dominion on Earth — and over Zeus — in her own unique way. But her power and freedom become threatened by Zeus’ growing paranoia, and she is forced to act, while Zeus’ rebellious son, Dionysus, (Nabhaan Rizwan), is out of control and on course for a cosmic collision with his father. On Earth people are aching for change, however Poseidon (Cliff Curtis), God of Sea, Storms & Earthquakes (& Horses) is more concerned with the size of his super-yacht & where the next party is. The wellbeing of mere mortals is of little interest to him…Kaos is a series created by British writer Charlie Covell (Burn Burn Burn, Humans, Gap Year, The End of the F***ing World, Truelove) for Netflix. With writing by Georgia Christou. And episodes directed by Georgi Banks-Davies and Runyararo Mapfumo. Produced by Michael Eagle-Hodgson, Katie Carpenter, Harry Munday. Developed by Sister, All3Media, and Brightstar. Executive produced by Charlie Covell, Chris Fry, Georgi Banks-Davies, Jane Featherstone, John Woodward, Nina Lederman, Tanya Seghatchian. (courtesy First Showing)
Kaos premieres on Netflix on 29 August.
EXTRA EXTRA!
Ted Lasso S4?
(courtesy IMP Awards)
Apparently Ted Lasso lives again! According to some sleuthing by Deadline, the wheels are in motion for a fourth season of the much-loved series with ” … Warner Bros. Television has [picking] up the options on the three original cast members who had been contracted under the aegis of the UK acting union Equity … Hannah Waddingham, who plays AFC Richmond owner Rebecca Walton, Brett Goldstein, who plays hardman Roy Kent and Jeremy Swift, who plays Director of Football Operations Leslie Higgins.”
The report goes on to say …
“… the studio is expected to start reaching out to Ted Lasso cast members with SAG-AFTRA contracts whose options had expired, so they will need to make new deals, we hear. In addition to co-creators/executive producers Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso) and Brendan Hunt (Coach Beard), the list is believed to include Juno Temple (Keeley Jones). We hear one of the Ted Lasso OGs, Phil Dunster (Jamie Tart), has not been picked up, presumably due to a conflict with another series; he is on both Prime Video’s The Devil’s Hour and Apple’s Surface.”
If all goes well, and there’s quite a few hurdles to surmount yet, production may get underway in early 2025.