Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Series Premiere of ‘Apples Never Fall’.
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There are a great many reasons that we collectively do our best to avoid crisis, in any capacity. Simply because, we know through others and through past experiences, that crisis is difficult to navigate. It can be an emotional nightmare, and it can put us in a tough place where it seems as though there is no escape. But there is another reason that we tend to avoid crisis or try and stave it off. In that, we also know that the biggest crises we will ever face, will also force us to look inward and uncover truths about ourselves and our lives that we aren’t sure we are ready to face. But alas, despite our best efforts to avoid the strife and the truth, crisis always finds us.

If anything, crisis and what it prompts us to ponder upon and face is top of mind today, simply because it will serve as one of the central themes of the new limited Peacock series, Apples Never Fall. As evidenced by how the series premiere of the show plays out, since ‘The Delaneys’ wastes little time in placing that family within quite the crisis. For just like that, their mother, Joy, disappears from the face of the Earth and that immediately causes concern from her children, Amy, Brooke, Troy, and Logan. Because they hear from her day and night really, and to have that silence just doesn’t make sense and well, the dodgy nature of their father, Stan, regarding the matter… prompts all of them to take inventory regarding their family life.

Which leads them to quickly understand that perhaps the picturesque nature of their life isn’t quite as lovely as they remember. Because despite being raised by charitable tennis stars and instructors, there’s a lot of darkness in their past. Such as the fact that Stan is and was abusive toward his kids because of his hyper aggressive competitive nature. One that pushes the kids even in adulthood and that anger, and the reality that he and his mother are going to drive one another crazy in retirement, allows for the kids to understand… that they might cause harm to one another emotionally and/or worse because of the grating nature they exhibit. Which leaves the kids wondering… if by chance their father lost his temper and crossed a line.

A possibility that unsettles them deeply, to the point where others in the family look elsewhere, to another critical moment that showcased cracks in the foundation of the family. For a year ago, a mystery woman named Savannah showed up at the house after suffering through a domestic violence incident and stuck around for a bit. Enough to showcase to Joy the lack of appreciation she felt regarding her family and helped her to ponder upon what she might want out of life in this next chapter. But Savannah did not stick around for reasons unknown and that quick entry and exit from the family’s orbit is why everyone harbors concern. As though the exit in question was ugly enough to give rise to a need for revenge which in turn prompts Logan to speak with the police in this tale regarding Savannah. 

But what matters most here, is that this series premiere, does an amazing job of setting the stage for what crisis can expose to us. Because now we know, this family has buried a lot of secrets and emotions and used the admiration they enjoyed from mom and dad’s fame… to push forward and not give their problems a second thought. But with mom gone, all will be revealed and that makes for one compelling tale. One that properly introduces us to the family, and what makes them tick and of course… gets us ready for an ugly journey of discovery. One where this family will not be the same because of the truths that lie ahead, the kind that might devastate them in ways they never could imagine, depending upon how this story answers the greatest question of all; what happened to Joy Delaney? Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 305 of ‘Resident Alien’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Each and every one of us easily remember… our first love. That relationship where our stomach was constantly filled with butterflies and our where our minds and our hearts could only focus upon that other person. The one that sent us soaring when our eyes met, made us shake with anticipation over touching lips. All because it is our first, and sadly… the emotions and feelings it produces in us aren’t exactly healthy in nature. In fact, they can be quite toxic to say the least. To the point where no amount of advice from our folks, or our closest friends can shake us free from its grasp and its distracting and aloof nature.

It takes the burning out of desire, the lack of the foundation we know to build later on in life, and usually some kind of foolish betrayal or act on someone’s part to get us free and help us to grow into the better, more logical lover we will eventually become. If anything, that moment in time is top of mind today, simply because Resident Alien on SYFY took the time to explore it in incredible detail, as evidenced by this week’s incredible episode of the show. For ‘Lovebird’ lived up to namesake and showcased a first love affair for the ages. Because Harry and Heather… were indeed two birds of a feather, and no, this reporter will not apologize for that terrible pun. 

Because that kind of silliness permeated the fabric of this episode, so why not join in? Because that duo were truly two kids lost in love and were as dumb as they come. Since they spent every waking moment with one another, indulged in actions that were silly and goofy and uh, make no mistake about it, they did the deed often and everywhere. Much to the chagrin of those who learned about where, since Asta will likely need to have her car detailed several times to have it feel clean in her mind again. But while that made for some serious cute and some serious laughs, it also brought about major concerns. Because Harry was missing in action a lot, and disappearing for days at a time with Heather, and that signaled the unhealthy nature of their love and a need for intervention.

Which brought forth, one of season three’s finest comedic moments and one of its most sorrowful. Because Asta and D’Arcy tried to stage multiple interventions in this wild love affair. Simply because the world needed Harry and needed him to stop the Greys from executing their diabolical plan and first, they tried to reset Harry in a classy manner, at dinner, with Heather. Which brought forth the hilarity in question because Harry and Heather went wild at dinner and misbehaved and made it weird in the most amazing manner possible, and well… since that didn’t work on getting Harry refocused, Asta and D’Arcy tried to go low to get it moving. Only to have Harry snap at them, and say some harsh things in kind, when he learned of their machinations.
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But oddly enough, that choice enacted a lot of change. Wherein Asta and D’Arcy felt bad for their actions and tried to make things right in their lives by offering up more kindness and motherhood to Jay and through the right thing. Since D’Arcy finally spoke up to Ben about his abduction and the good didn’t end there. Since Harry also came to learn the case against him was stymied by Liv’s hesitation to continue and through the fact that there was no evidence piling up against him. But there was… a formula found in that booklet in the van, one that gave Harry quite the idea when he had the chance to see it, and enough focus to learn what the plan was. So, he could send that information to the General and save Earth, from a gravity reversal that the Greys were prepping to steal the planet for themselves.

But good news or no, make no mistake about it, this was a story about the toxic nature of one’s first love and boy did it showcase it in style. Since all of those moments were familiar and embarrassing and embarrassing for the characters. Because that’s the mess that our first love puts together and it would seem that Harry is indeed about to learn how it ends and how badly that will hurt since Heather made a devastating choice here in the name of safety and love for her family. But while we wait to see how that revelation brings forth disaster for their love, because there is no way she gets to come back from that… we can celebrate one amazing episode. One that was downright hilarious, downright moving, and downright great storytelling from beginning to end. Until next time.

It really is quite stunning what the hit NBC series, Extended Family, is accomplishing right now. For not only does it continue to trail-blaze with its fascinating commentary and lessons regarding blended families and modern family life in America, but it continues to push the envelope of what a sitcom can accomplish. Plus, the stories are growing in scope and the guest star roster is getting bigger by the minute, as evidenced by today’s present from NBC.
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For earlier, the network released the synopsis and some first-look images for next Tuesday’s brand-new episode, and well… some big names are dropping by. For Veterans Celtics Player Paul Pierce, Caroline Rhea, and Joel Murray will be featured in a story full of holiday history, virtual reality, some revelations for Jim and Trey, and laughs of course. And since you’re here because you’re a fan of the show and are eager to garner a sampling of the majesty to come, here are a sampling of those photos and all the details on next week’s all-new episode, courtesy of NBC.

“The Consequences of Being Irish"
Airing Mar. 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on NBC
When Jim learns of Trey’s St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser plans, he offers his expertise in an effort to save Trey and the Celtics from embarrassment, in the episode airing Tuesday, Mar. 19 (8:30 p.m ET/PT). As Jim and Trey work on the fundraiser, the pair starts to realize they may be becoming... friends? A secret handshake and "love you" exchange cause Jim and Trey to realize they may like each other more than they think.
 
About “Extended Family”
Jim and Julia, after an amicable divorce, decide to continue to raise their kids at the family home while taking turns on who gets to stay with them. Navigating the waters of divorce and child-sharing gets more complicated for Jim when Trey, the owner of the Boston Celtics, enters the picture and wins Julia’s heart.

The cast includes Jon Cryer, Donald Faison, Abigail Spencer, Sofia Capanna and Finn Sweeney.

Creator Mike O’Malley serves as showrunner and executive producer. Tom Werner, Jon Cryer, Wyc Grousbeck, Emilia Fazzalari, George Geyer, Victor Levin, Victoria Morrow, and James Widdoes also executive produce.

The series was inspired by the real-life family dynamic of executive producers Grousbeck, Fazzalari, and Geyer.

Lionsgate produces in association with Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

It really is quite the wonderful time to be a fan of the Power Universe. For not only are three amazing spin-offs currently on the air, complete with amazing and captivating storytelling, but the Universe is about to expand once again. For earlier today, STARZ let it be known that another new spin-off series set in this Universe is now in development, one that will once again take us into the past and explore how some of the key players in the franchise came to Power in Origins.
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Which won’t serve as a prequel/sequel to Raising Kanan, oh no, instead… this will take us into the formative days of one Tommy Egan and James St. Patrick, and explore how these two became partners and brothers in arms and well… rose to Power and set in motion all the shows and moments we enjoy now and well… this is one epic announcement to say the least. Because at its core, it means more of the franchise we love, and when one goes deeper, it means we get to explore so much about two characters that mean the world to us, and well to properly celebrate this news, here are all the details on this forthcoming chapter in the Power Universe, courtesy of STARZ.

‘STARZ announced today the development of a new “Power” prequel series, “Origins,”  which will continue to explore the “Power” universe in a fresh way, delving into the origin story of fan-favorite characters Ghost and Tommy. This would mark the fourth spinoff of the hugely popular Power series, preceded by “Power Book II: Ghost” which will debut its fourth season in 2024, “Power Book III: Raising Kanan,” which is currently filming its fourth season in New York and “Power Book IV: Force” which is currently filming its third season in Chicago.
 
“As we approach the 10-year anniversary of Power it is incredible to witness the enormous connection our fans have with the Power universe,” said Kathryn Busby, President of Programming for STARZ. “We can’t wait to see how ‘Origins’ will further evolve this dynamic franchise while bringing fresh, gripping, and expansive storytelling to our audience.”
 
Sascha Penn is the executive producer for “Origins.” The “Power” Universe series is executive produced by the creator and showrunner of the original “Power,” Courtney A. Kemp through her production company End of Episode, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson through G-Unit Film and Television, and Mark Canton through Canton Entertainment. Lionsgate Television produces “Origins” for STARZ.
 
About STARZ
STARZ (www.starz.com), a Lionsgate company, is a leading media streaming platform committed to delivering premium content that amplifies narratives by, about and for women and underrepresented audiences. STARZ is home to the highly rated and first-of-its-kind STARZ app that offers the ability to stream or download STARZ premium content, as well as the flagship domestic STARZ® service, including STARZ ENCORE, 17 premium pay TV channels, and the associated on-demand and online services. STARZ is available across digital OTT platforms and multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies. In February 2021, STARZ launched #TakeTheLead, a multi-faceted and innovative inclusion initiative expanding its existing efforts to improve representation on screen, behind the camera and throughout the company.
 
About Lionsgate
Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) encompasses world-class motion picture and television studio operations aligned with the STARZ premium global subscription platform to bring a unique and varied portfolio of entertainment to consumers around the world. The Company's film, television, subscription and location-based entertainment businesses are backed by an 18,000-title library and a valuable collection of iconic film and television franchises. A digital age company driven by its entrepreneurial culture and commitment to innovation, the Lionsgate brand is synonymous with bold, original, relatable entertainment for audiences worldwide.’

Over the course of the past few years, we’ve sung a great deal of praises regarding Apple TV+ and the programming the good folks there provide us with, and rightfully so. Because Apple TV+ has been a pioneer in storytelling over the past few years, by bringing forth bold programming that has captivated audiences and moved us like never before. Which has brought forth accolade after accolade, and well… the network is showing no signs of slowing down when it comes to bringing forth amazing programming, as evidenced by today’s gift. 
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For earlier, Apple released the trailer for the upcoming limited series, Franklin. Which is produced by and stars Michael Douglas, wherein he plays Benjamin Franklin at a critical moment in American History. A story that, judging from the trailer, will be captivating and fascinating in nature, and it also informs us that Apple is indeed all-in when it comes to crafting stories that explore the past, which is a new chapter for this streamer, one that will be worth our while. And for proof… well just take a look at the trailer, and the details that Apple was kind enough to send over to us, so we can share them with you, as we count down the days to what will be an amazing journey through a powerful moment in time.

'Apple TV+ unveiled the official trailer for “Franklin,” premiering April 12, 2024.Based on Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff’s book, “A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America,” “Franklin” explores the thrilling story of the greatest gamble of Benjamin Franklin’s career. In December 1776, Franklin is world famous for his electrical experiments, but his passion and power are put to the test when — as the fate of American independence hangs in the balance — he embarks on a secret mission to France.

At age 70, without any diplomatic training, Franklin convinced an absolute monarchy to underwrite America’s experiment in democracy. By virtue of his fame, charisma and ingenuity, Franklin outmaneuvered British spies, French informers and hostile colleagues to engineer the Franco-American Alliance of 1778 and the peace treaty with Great Britain in 1783.

The eight-year French mission stands as Franklin’s most vital service to his country. Diplomats and historians still regard it as the greatest single tour of duty by an ambassador in our nation’s history, as without French aid, America could not have won the Revolution.

The drama also stars Noah Jupe (“A Quiet Place”) as Temple Franklin, Thibault de Montalembert (“Call My Agent!”) as comte de Vergennes, Daniel Mays (“Line of Duty”) as Edward Bancroft, Ludivine Sagnier (“Lupin”) as Madame Brillon, Eddie Marsan (“Ray Donovan”) as John Adams, Assaad Bouab (“Call My Agent!”) as Beaumarchais, Jeanne Balibar (“Irma Vep”) as Madame Helvetius and Théodore Pellerin (“There’s Someone Inside Your House”) as Marquis de Lafayette.

In addition to Douglas, the creative team includes Emmy and WGA Award-winning writer and executive producer Kirk Ellis (“John Adams”) and Emmy, WGA and Pulitzer Prize Award-nominated writer and executive producer Howard Korder (“Boardwalk Empire”). Emmy and DGA Award-winning director Tim Van Patten (“Masters of the Air,” “The Sopranos”) serves as director and executive producer. Richard Plepler executive produces through EDEN Productions, Tony Krantz through Flame Ventures, Philippe Maigret through ITV Studios America and Mark Mostyn also executive produce. Schiff also serves as co-executive producer. “Franklin” is a co-production between ITV Studios America and Apple Studios.

Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all your favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 479 wins and 2,091 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”

About Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $9.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.* 

For more information, visit apple.com/tvpr and see the full list of supported devices.

*Special offer is good for three months after the first activation of the eligible device. One offer per Family Sharing group. Plans automatically renew until cancelled. Other restrictions and terms apply; visit apple.com/promo for more information.'

Whether we like it or not, there comes a point in our lives where we will look at our family in a vastly different light. It may occur late in life, when our parents are gone and new perspective comes forth from their passing, or sooner, courtesy of family crisis. But one way or another… we will no longer see our parents or our siblings in the same light as we used to. Granted, that doesn’t necessarily mean what we see will be negative in nature. Because sometimes that shift in worldview brings forth gratitude and awe, for sacrifices made to ensure we had everything we needed to be successful as an adult or to feel supported when needed. But sadly, a fair chunk of those revelatory moments will indeed bring forth some sorrow and some concern.
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The kind where we realize that our parents and our siblings aren’t the people we remember from our youth, but people who made poor choices and went down dumb paths because that’s what people do, and that can in fact, rattle us deeply. Especially when those choices are mired in secret or are big in nature, and well, what truly makes this moment so difficult, is that we are tasked with quite the challenge once we have our eyes opened to some hard truths. In that, we can either accept what we’ve learned and move on or make some fundamental changes to our relationship with our family and that is not easy. For family is forever and cannot be forgotten, and well… the struggle of what comes next when we begin to uncover hard truths about our family is top of mind today, because it is the focus of a new and fascinating limited series on Peacock entitled, Apples Never Fall.

A story that is based upon the novel of the same name from author by Liane Moriarty and revolves around the Delaney family. Who are picturesque in nature since Mother Joy and Father, Stan are former tennis stars who raised four lovely kids and are ready to enjoy retirement after touching their community for decades on end. But one day, when Joy disappears from the face of the earth without a trace, her children must work together to discover what happened to her, and prove whether it was their father who was responsible for this disappearance or a stranger that once caused trouble ages ago and as Brooke, Troy, Amy, and Logan work to uncover the mystery, they in turn expose secrets and truths about their family that will forever change their outlook on the people they’ve known a lifetime.
 
Which really is the perfect way to encapsulate that journey of discovery and explore what it feels like to live through that moment and what changes for us when our eyes are opened. Which gives rise to a powerful drama. One that takes us on an incredible journey filled with surprises and stunning performances from a cast for the ages. Since Annette Bening (Joy), Sam Neill (Stan), Alison Brie (Amy), Jake Levy (Troy) are part of this stellar cast and each of them sell the pain of discovery with vigor, and truly move us emotionally during the show’s biggest moments. Which we won’t reveal here because spoilers would ruin what is a seven-episode masterpiece of storytelling. Wherein the mystery unfolds in an epic manner and where we are truly immersed in a world that feels painfully familiar at times when it comes to what the Delaney’s discover about their family.  Not to mention, this is indeed a solid adaption of the beloved novel, one that showrunner Melanie Marnich took great care to preserve, minus a few changes, as is expected of course.

All of which brings forth, an engaging and captivating series. One that grabs hold of you from the start and never let’s go. Since you simply must know what has happened to Joy and who is responsible and why, and it is further enhanced by more amazing characters that we relate to in some manner, and a story that truly explores the troubles of the family dynamic and some of its wonder. But the best news of all is that we are but hours away from a true passion project from this cast and crew. For we here at NTG had the distinct honor of attending the panel for this show, at the 2024 Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour and Annette, Melanie, Alison, and Jake, had nothing but amazing things to say about a show that will make its debut on Peacock, tomorrow, March 14, 2024 and we simply cannot wait for you to bask in the wonder of this authentic and powerful series about one of the biggest challenges we will ever face in this life, the truth about our family.

Showrunner Melanie Marnich Regarding Her Approach to Adapting the Novel
“Liane’s book is amazing. It’s so rich and some of the most important things that we took from -– that I took from that –- are the themes, obviously the story, the emotional reality and story of these kids, the family and the mystery of Joy Delaney. We had to make some changes to make it work for television obviously. It’s so rich with story, so now we have seven full episodes. The big change we made was relocating the story from Australia to South Florida, West Palm Beach, which is the seat of so much professional tennis training. That was a really fun change. We changed some of the characters, some of their intentions, some of the relationships, but really stayed pretty true to her beautiful book.”
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Annette Bening Regarding the Importance of Her Role and the Joy it Brought Her
“I think there are more and more opportunities where the stereotypes of women, not only older women, but younger women, are being transformed even since I started in the business. And it comes from a project like this. First of all, Liane’s imagination and she writes such juicy stories and juicy parts. So first of all, her. And then Melanie who came in and really took it over, and when I first read it and then spoke to Melanie, that’s what really got me super-excited because I could tell she was obsessed and that she had this really strong commitment to it and vision of it. She really got into it. So once I saw that and everything, I thought, wow, this is just such an opportunity. It was really fun for me because I had never done something over so many episodes. So as we were working, we were talking and changing, and it was because of Melanie because she established this atmosphere where we were all in it together, and pitching in, and you can have an idea in the middle of the night. And even if it doesn’t -– you can come in and say it and then sometimes that’s not the idea that is the good one, but it’s the idea that comes from that idea that’s the good one. So, yeah, that was just a joy for me and to play such a rich character, it was just -- it was such fun.”

Alison Brie and Jake Levy Regarding What Attracted Them to the Roles of Amy and Troy Delaney
ALISON BRIE: “… one of the things, actually, that I really liked about the character when reading the book and the episodes is how different she is from characters that I've played before, the blue hair, the tattoos, the general -- I'm just going to say laissez-faire, but that's far too casual for this character.  She's not quite as driven as the kind of archetype of the characters that I've normally played, and I really liked that she is this open wound of a character and really sort of leads with her emotions, and the writing was extraordinary.”

JAKE LEVY: “Well, when I was in school, we had this mask class with this incredible teacher, Bob Francesconi. And in the third year, he, in my -- the grading system's kind of a joke. It's an art school, and he wrote, ‘All your characters are alone.’ Like, you get to create this whole world, and your imagination goes to a person who's alone in the woods.  You should figure that out. Like, as a human and as an actor. Why do you do that? And we're getting there.  This kind of answers both questions, I think. When I first got on a Zoom with Melanie, Chris Sweeney, who directed episodes one, two and then six and seven, I'd read the first two scripts I think, and Chris said part of what he thought was so great about this family was that all of the men think that they're crushing masculinity. And I just started laughing because as I was reading it, I was like, Troy is crushing masculinity. (Laughter.)

It was like nice cars, cool watch, hot girlfriend. This is amazing.  This guy is just killing it, you know, and has no access to his own pain and insecurity. And Joy's disappearing fractures that. The ability to keep that island or this false narrative he has for himself of being an island falls apart pretty quickly. And, so, that is what attracted me to it. I know very well the guy who's the first one. And me as a person is trying to get to the second, as is Troy. And it was a pleasure to go on that little ride together.”

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 211 of ‘Night Court’. To revisit the previous episode, clickhere.
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If there is one lesson we’ve learned as fans of popular entertainment, it is easy to give life to a sequel to a popular story. Because really, all one needs to do is slap a part two on that bad boy and create something that does indeed invoke the spirit of its predecessor. Which we’ve seen come to life, time and time again with mixed results. Since some of those stories don’t really do much than offer that tip of the cap. Which means we tend to take a lot of sequels with a grain of salt because what we really want… are sequels that understand balance. That know how to take the story in a new direction but properly invoke the spirit of what came before it and that is why Night Court on NBC is such a wondrous show.

Because it knows balance and it has indeed carved out its own path, while paying proper tribute to the original series. A feat that it once again accomplished during this week’s adventure in the courtroom. For ‘Wheelers of Fortune’ took the time to bring back two wildly popular guest stars from the original series, Bob, and June Wheeler. Who were perhaps the unluckiest characters to ever grace the small screen as evidenced by the shenanigans they went through in Judge Harry Stone’s courtroom and the hell they put Dan Fielding through. But they were of course, a true staple of the previous show, and their return here was highly anticipated through and through and well, their return was nothing short of legendary for several reasons.

First, because it was like old times all over again. Thanks in part to Brent Spiner and Annie O’Donnell not missing a beat in reprising their roles as Bob and June, respectively. Because they were simply delightful here and brought the unluckiness back to life courtesy of a case involving a haunted house, and some sheep. Because that’s how the Wheelers do. But having them back and having the next generation of Wheeler appear here in Carol Ann (played just as brilliantly by Kate Micucci) really did bring about a perfect tribute to the past and a reminder that we are in new territory, and it was wondrous and amazing to see this duo in action once again, and enjoy some hearty laughs at their tragedies and oddly enough… their return here led to another endearing tribute. One for Harry Anderson and his legacy as Judge Harry Stone.

Because the return of the Wheelers reminded Abby of all the stories her father told her about them, and that prompted her to think deeply upon her dear old dad and the impact he had on this courtroom and of course her life, and how badly she missed him. Which of course, prompted her to babysit Carol Ann to make use of a psychic the Wheelers hired to flush their property of evil spirits. Because then she could fulfill a longstanding dream to make contact her dad on the other side via a message, he promised to express to her if the afterlife was really a thing. Which Abby wanted to have happen to answer that eternal question about what comes next and to have hope she would see her dad again. Which of course, ended in disaster since Jovan (played by the iconic Julia Sweeney) wasn’t a psychic but a grand sham.

Granted, eventually Abby got her wish through Dan, since somehow, he channeled the spirit of Harry Stone, but that aside… this truly was a beautiful segment to experience. Because it really did speak to Harry’s impact on the franchise and in many ways, how much he meant to us as fans and how much we miss what he brought to this show and showbiz in general. And it was wonderfully expressed through Melissa Rauch’s amazing performance here, who sold Abby’s wounds wonderfully and well, in the end, this was just an incredible episode. One that tied the old show and the new guard together beautifully through the return of the Wheelers and that tribute to the Harry’s, while still finding ways to remind us that we are in a new chapter for this saga. Since it is Abby’s courtroom now and well, all this episode does is leave us filled with emotion and joy, and it also leaves us eager for more… so we can see what other wonders await us when court returns to session. Until next time.

To learn more about the cast’s experiences in creating ‘Night Court’, check out our interview with the actor who plays Donna ‘Gurgs’ Gurganous, Lacretta.

As a bonus, here are some stills spotlighting the incredible guest stars that appeared in this week's episode and reflect the wondrous tribute to Harry Anderson and his character, Judge Harry Stone.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 111 of ‘Extended Family’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It is definitely safe to say, that the hit NBC series, Extended Family, is quite the revolutionary sitcom. Simply because, this is a sitcom that does more than just make people laugh heartily. It’s a show that accurately reflects family life in America right now, and the struggles that blended families go through. Which in turn is allowing for guidance and lessons to come forth for viewers that might be in need of a little nudge in the right direction, and that’s unprecedented for certain as is the other amazing element from this series. In that, this is also a sitcom that makes use of serialized storytelling.

Which granted, isn’t new to the sitcom universe, but it is extremely rare. Since so many sitcoms focus upon new laughs and new scenarios for the characters to take part in week in and week out. But this series, takes the time to return to concepts explored, often, and expand upon them in a manner that is compelling and organic, and after twice pondering upon what it means to have our children look at us in a positive light, the series decided to return to another concept introduced earlier this season. Specifically, what the world of dating in middle age looks like after one has gone through a divorce, and how can successfully find a partner when diving into post-divorce dating. Which ‘The Consequences of Writing Things Down’ accomplished by putting Jim in quite the unique situation
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In that, he managed to flirt successfully with a woman named Kristin in the supermarket. To the point where he had her laughing and where he of course, went with the flow of the conversation. Because he and Kristin were indeed genuinely vibing and found one another attractive, and that allowed for him to successfully arrange a yoga date with Kristin. But there was just one problem with that. In that, Jim really wasn’t up front and honest about his lack of yoga skills or how the yoga pants he was wearing when they met were put on for comfort over expression. But of course, Jim rolled with it to have that date and of course, took a physical beating over it and learned some valuable lessons in the process.

Specifically, that dating in middle age and after divorce is hard. Super hard in fact, because of the strange mantra that surrounds those who have left a relationship and have children. But one cannot hide behind white lies and flash and dash out of concerns that someone will struggle with that. We still need to be honest and up front and find chemistry organically. Because that’s what will create a lasting love with someone, and it will help us meet people who don’t subscribe to stereotypes and close-minded mantras about dating someone that’s divorced, with kids. Which brought about some real moments of growth for Jim, and a second chance with Kristin, through honesty and openness.
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Which really did bring forth quite the lovely follow up, one that showcased a great deal about modern dating and what’s amazing… is that the show took the time to expand upon romantic concepts further to explore another side of the coin. Such as how we keep our current relationships healthy, which was explored via Trey and Julia. Because Julia revealed when she agreed to support Jim in this yoga endeavor, that she once wanted him to try new things, including a bevy of other wishes via a list she made before they were divorced. A list that Trey got hold of and followed to a tee, much to some embarrassment since it made him a showoff. But the point of going this route, was to teach all of us, to find a way to know how we can be better partners to our partners. So, they feel validated and seen.

All of which made for another wondrous story from a series that is so unique and so refreshing. Because this is the kind of storytelling we just don’t see in sitcoms, and it was handled in a magical manner by being both endearing and hilarious. Since watching Jim endure hot yoga for the first time was quite hilarious. But what matters most is the original nature of this story, and that it showcased how sitcoms can serialize concepts and help their characters grow in a manner that is both organic and inspiring, and of course… the lessons it taught us are relevant and wonderful. Because we can all use a little advice on how to be a better partner and how best to attract someone when we’re back on the market after years of commitment, and it will be interesting to see what other amazing lessons await us as season one of this magnificent show continues along. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Six of ‘Constellation’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It is definitely safe to say that one giant question continues to hang over the hit Apple TV+ series, Constellation. In that, we are all curious as to what the heck is going on with Jo. Because on the one hand, there’s a strong possibility that she is suffering from some kind of mental break courtesy of severe PTSD. For she isn’t herself, she’s forgetting things often and she really is struggling mentally. But on the other hand, something strange is happening around her, something that’s extended to Alice and seems to speak to the possibility that Jo and the Cal Device have breached some kind of barrier between worlds and possibilities.

But there’s been nothing to confirm one way or the other that either one of those concepts is really what’s happening at hand. But after weeks of powerful moments and constant guessing on our part, we finally have an answer in hand. In that, the Cal, has breached a multiverse of sorts. Where every possibility comes to life and that was made clear in ‘Paul Is Dead’, by taking us back to the beginning of the journey. Wherein once again, the Cal Device was being fired up for experimentation, except that this time… when it ignited and did whatever the hell it did, history took a different course. For there was no death for Paul in this tale, instead… Jo was slammed into a breach in the glass in the ISS and lost her life in a horrible manner.

Which took this story in a vastly different direction. Because just like that, there was no story for Jo, just Paul and as Paul returned to Earth instead, after leaving Jo’s seemingly half alive/half dead corpse behind… he began to suffer from similar problems to what we’ve seen Jo suffer through. For he saw Jo everywhere, at moments that she saw him earlier in this tale, and of course… this world was different to Paul. His wife had a different name for instance, and oddly, the Cal was of no concern here. In fact, there was no Cal and no Henry Caldera. Just a botched Apollo 18 mission involving Commander Bud Caldera and that put Paul in quite the strange place mentally, one as broken as Jo and it prompted him to also take part in unique choices, especially after worlds collided at Jo’s funeral.

Because that saw two Alices encounter one another and brought forth more moments we’ve lived through via Jo’s journey and well, that was enough for Paul to seek out some answers. Which brought him Los Angeles way to see Bud and see if he could learn anything about what was going on, and sadly… he was greeted with fury and the discharge of a gun via a powerhouse scene. And while that happened, Alice and Magnus made their way to the cabin where once again, Alice saw her mother and her other iteration. All of which… speaks to the fact that all along, we’ve been treated to a story about multiple realities.
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Because everything we saw here, showcased two parallel paths taking place following that accident on the ISS. One where Jo lived and Paul died, and vice versa, and where both of them suffered and were eager to find answers as to how and why their worlds changed and how and why they felt out of place. And of course, we now know that the Caldera boys aren’t twins but separate versions of themselves that speak across the multiverse and are aware of what’s going on. Because it would seem dear Henry figured out how to breach the multiverse via the Cal, and it wouldn’t be shocking if that is the key to putting the multiverse back together and putting all these lives back on the right path. 

But what matters most, is that truths have been revealed and now we know Paul and Jo will continue to suffer because they need to be home. As to whether or not they can get there, time will tell. Not to mention… clearly this breach is having major impacts on others since Alice can see through the veil, and well… all of these elements brought forth one daring an amazing episode. For this was just a jaw-dropper of a tale, one that leaned hard into science fiction concepts that were complex yet digestible and of course, left us hungry for more. So, we can see what these universes and our heroes, will do with the revelation that there are other worlds than these. Until next time.

​Please enjoy this sneak peek and synopsis of Episode Six of Constellation which debuts tomorrow (3/13/24) on Apple TV+!
 
Episode 106: Paul Is Dead
Magnus worries that Alice is living in a fantasy world.