One particular topic that has come up as of late regarding Apple TV+ and their stellar programming, is their vast lineup of family and kids programming. For Apple TV really wants to lead the way in such matters and establish themselves to be the destination for wholesome entertainment amongst the streamers of the world and once again… we are here to discuss that lineup. Since Apple TV took the time today to expand upon one of its upcoming family shows.

For earlier, the network released the trailer and details for Sago Mini Friends. A preschool focused animated series that is based off of the popular and award-winning Sago Mini App, and without further ado… here is what you can expect from this adaptation and that all-important trailer, courtesy of Apple TV+.

​‘Apple TV+ today revealed the trailer for the newest animated series for young viewers, “Sago Mini Friends,” premiering Friday, September 16. Produced by Daytime Emmy Award-nominated Spin Master Entertainment and animated by 9 Story Media Group’s Emmy Award-winning studio Brown Bag Films - Toronto, the “Sago Mini Friends” series is based on the charming characters and artful designs featured in the award-winning Sago Mini World app, developed by Sago Mini. 
 
The series is an adorable nod to gratitude, featuring Harvey the floppy-eared dog and his best friends, Jinja the cat, Jack the rabbit, and Robin the bird. Along with a unique cast of residents as colorful as their own whimsical world, the four friends play, explore, imagine and celebrate daily in their joyful town of Sagoville. In each episode, Harvey and all his friends express their true thankfulness for all things, big and small, through optimism, kindness, preschool-friendly humor and unforgettable original songs! 
 
“Sago Mini Friends” is executive produced by Daytime Emmy Award nominees Jennifer Dodge (“PAW Patrol”), Ronnen Harary (“PAW Patrol”), Tone Thyne (“Wonder Pets!”), and Dustin Ferrer (“Esme & Roy”). Daytime Emmy Award nominees Laura Clunie (“PAW Patrol”), and Toni Stevens (“PAW Patrol”) serve as executive producers, with Chad Hicks (“Kingdom Force”) as series director. Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, distinguished professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside and expert in the science of happiness, serves as the gratitude expert on the series through Apple TV+’s changemakers initiative.
 
The Sago Mini World app, which the “Sago Mini Friends” series is based on, features over 40 games for kids ages 2-5 years old. Sago Mini World has received accolades from the Parents’ Choice Gold Awards, the Webby Awards, the Academics’ Choice Media Awards, and the Kidscreen Awards. The app encourages children to play, build, create, and pretend with digital games that spark imagination and curiosity.
 
The award-winning slate of original series and film for kids and families on Apple TV+ includes the recently premiered critically-acclaimed “El Deafo,” “Amber Brown,” "Best Foot Forward," “Lovely Little Farm,” “Duck & Goose,” “Pinecone & Pony,” “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock” and “Harriet the Spy” from The Jim Henson Company and the star-studded animated adventure film “Luck” from Apple Original Films and Skydance Animation;  Peabody Award-winning series “Stillwater”; Daytime Emmy Award-winning “Ghostwriter” and “Helpsters” from Sesame Workshop; Academy Award-nominated animated film “Wolfwalkers”; “Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show” from Jack McBrayer and Angela C. Santomero; “Wolfboy and the Everything Factory” from Joseph Gordon-Levitt, HITRECORD and Bento Box Entertainment; “Get Rolling with Otis” and “Puppy Place”; new series and specials from Peanuts and WildBrain including “Snoopy in Space” season two, “It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown,” and “For Auld Lang Syne”; and “Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth,” the Daytime Emmy Award-winning television event based on the New York Times best-selling book and TIME Best Book of the Year by Oliver Jeffers. Apple TV+ will also soon expand its slate with stories from some of today’s biggest storytellers in kids and family programming, including the soon to premiere  “Jane,” a new mission-driven series from J.J. Johnson, Sinking Ship Entertainment and the Jane Goodall Institute.’

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Six of ‘Paper Girls’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
​
If there is one critical lesson that we’ve all learned courtesy of the Prime Video series, Paper Girls, it would have to be that meeting your future self, would be downright terrible. For time and time again, we’ve seen the Paper Girls in this series, be utterly rattled by their future iterations. Because none of them took the paths that were in their minds when they were younger and in some cases, learning about the future has brought about tough moments of reflection and painful revelations, especially for Mac. Leaving one to wonder if there is to be any saving grace regarding these consistent encounters and well… believe it or not, this series finally took the time to find something positive about potentially encountering a future version of yourself in its next episode.
​
For when we catch up with the Paper Girls in ‘Matinee’, they’re stranded in 1999 and unsure of what to do next and that brought them to Tiffany’s future self. Wherein they came to learn that she turned out to be pretty freakin’ rad to begin with and while she didn’t exactly meet 1988 Tiffany’s expectations, since she dropped out of MIT and was pretty keen on people pleasing and doing her own thing… 1999 Tiffany did embrace, embracing one’s uniqueness and talents. A mantra that put Past Tiffany right at home and of course, allowed for her to work with her future self on a potential plan to get back to 1988 since two giant brains are always better than one. But more on that in a moment.

Because we’d be remiss to not point out, that Mac and KJ found some positives out of knowing their future and future self after all. Since KJ was able to observe how happy 1999 KJ was in her own skin and the joy following her own path brought her. Something that allowed for her to dig deeper into understanding what brought her to explore her true self, a moment that will clearly arrive years from now. As for Mac, knowing that death was near, while depressing and painful, did indeed help her to ponder upon her path and the time she had left. Since clearly, the path she was currently on wasn’t exactly yielding results happiness wise and that needed to change if/when they got home, and Erin… well this quiet time just allowed for her grieve and process and that’s never a bad thing.

But there was mention of the fact, that Team Tiffany was working hard on figuring out how to get the heck back to 1988 and well, that involved visiting Larry once again. In order to get hold of his cypher so they could come to understand when the next portal was going to open. A meeting that was quite tense in nature and quite heartbreaking as well. Because it really did appear as though, the next portal wasn’t going to arrive until 2006, something the girls simply could not reconcile. But alas, Larry’s data was clearly flawed. Since the closing moments of this story saw the Paper Girls bikes and papers from their route fall from the sky via a portal, meaning that either a way home has indeed presented itself, or the Old Watch has come to realize that the timeline isn’t whole.

But while we wait to see what else will come from that portal, we can celebrate one quality episode. For this one did a wonderful job of slowing things down so the characters could finally catch a breath and reflect upon the wild journey they’ve endured so far. And wow, did they genuinely ponder upon some important moments and concepts, and it is just great to see a show take the time to do this with characters that wouldn’t normally receive this kind of care, since few twelve-year-olds in books or movies or shows get to think about the meaning of life and the future. Plus, it was nice to finally see a future version of a Paper Girl not bring forth harm and strife and well, it is best we enjoy the feel-good nature and wonder of this episode while we can. For there are only two episodes left in season one of this magnificent series and those are likely going to be filled with big and intense moments as the Paper Girls work to finally return home. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘A League of Their Own’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
​
Perhaps the best way to describe everyday life is to use the phrase, highs, and lows Because that is precisely how life goes. For there are days where we enjoy nothing but joy, and others where we deal with tough times and there are other times… where we just float along waiting for something to happen. It’s not a bad thing by any means to know that this is how life goes, nor should we fear it in the slightest. It just means that we simply have to live in the moment and enjoy life as it comes and be ready and vigilant when the tough times come. To mitigate some of the strife those moments will cause and really, highs and lows are top of mind today, simply because they were present in the next episode of A League of Their Own on Prime Video.
​
For ‘Switch Hitter’ is a story that saw the Rockford Peaches and Max Chapman enjoys all kinds of highs and all kinds of lows. For instance, Max was doing so well at work, that she was able to bring Clance into the fold to help out with her forthcoming financial needs and she was even promoted at last. Giving her a chance to finally audition as a pitcher for the factory. And the Peaches? Well, they were on a tear win wise. Because they were finally jelling as a squad and winning games left and right and to top it off, Carson and Greta were finally exploring their feelings for one another, giving rise to joy and peace for both of them. If anything, it really seemed for a brief moment that everything was going to be a-ok and the story was going to celebrate wonder and majesty.

But that’s when the highs and lows came into play. Because while Max STILL had to fight for a chance to get up on the mound and pitch to some potentially future teammates, she was finally granted the opportunity to show her stuff and well, that ended in complete and utter disaster. Because every single pitch she threw, regardless of its heat or regardless of her skill, took to the skies off of well-worn bats. Leaving her beside herself and wondering if she was either out of her league or if she got too deep inside of her head. Not to mention, she was on her own in such matters since her mom wasn’t talking to her and Clance had bigger problems to deal with, such as her husband preparing to go off and fight in the war and well… that left her quite dejected for certain.

As for the Peaches, well they too ran into some uniquely strange highs and lows. Because in the middle of a win, Coach Dove Porter… quit. All so he could take a gig with the Baltimore Orioles. Which meant that Carson and Lupe were selected to handle co-coach duties and while that started off wonderfully, it wasn’t long before Lupe made a power grab and did everything and anything she could to wrest control of the team into her hands and be a star in the process. Which of course, brought about ugly infighting. The kind that left the Peaches with a forfeited loss and it also brought forth the hard reality that Carson and Greta’s time together was nothing short of a spicy summer fling. Leaving Carson beside herself and unsure of what comes next for the team or her newfound understanding of her sexuality.

But another chance encounter between Carson and Max after that fateful game, might once again move both their lives into a fascinating new direction. Since Max took the time to ask Carson for a favor since she still knew her ‘secret’ and well, that has to be related to baseball and if Max was indeed just overwhelmed in the moment and can calm down… she might do wonders for the Peaches fortunes. But while we wait to see if that is indeed the case, we can bask in the majesty of one engaging tale. One full of surprises and wonderful moments that grew the characters, and this is a story that really did reflect everyday life once again. Because ebb and flow didn’t disappear after the forties, it is alive and well and it will undoubtedly rear its unsteady head once again before season one of this magnificent series comes a close. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the documentary series ‘Keep This Between Us’. It also features discussions of grooming and sexual abuse. Which may be triggering to some individuals.
​
It is definitely safe to say that the first twenty-two years of the twenty-first century have been both stunning and eye opening. Because our nation and our world have transformed before our eyes and with that transformation has come… some genuinely unsettling truths. For now, we know that old haunts are alive and well in America and that for a supremely long time, ugly things have been happening behind the scenes. The kind that impacts people in awful ways. For instance, the Boston Globe revealed early on at the start of the century that the Catholic Church covered up decades of horrible actions by priests. The kind that involved sexual abuse and it wasn’t long before that kind of exposure was extended to a powerful industry.
​
Since the #MeToo Movement exposed the toxic behaviors of men in Hollywood, and how they would use their position of power to abuse women that were hoping for their shot to be on the silver or small screen, or they abused established stars as well. Which are both massive surprises that led to some incredible reckonings for certain and what’s unsettling, is that the world isn’t done exposing the dark acts that men in positions of power continue to commit. For over the course of the past last two nights, Freeform was host to a powerful documentary on how teachers cross the line and abuse their students and that makes Keep This Between Us an important and poignant documentary. 

One that introduces us to Cheryl Nichols, who after spending years in an abusive and controlling relationship with a former teacher, decided to regain agency in her life by telling her story and confronting her abuser though this documentary and well… Cheryl wastes little time in this series, outlining exactly how her abuser groomed her into the perfect girlfriend. For he used her youth and need to be recognized at a young age… as his way into her life. Wherein he could be close to her and slowly control her and of course… Cheryl was fine with this at the time, since she was unaware that someone in a position of power was manipulating her in this manner and well… taking the time to explore exactly how this works, was both horrifying and important.

Because this is something that few of us know is an actual problem in this world, but this exposed those kinds of behaviors in a frank manner and set the stage for the horrifying truth that these behaviors happen often. Since we also met Haven in this documentary, who also found herself manipulated by a teacher through false positivity designed to create admiration. Not to mention, Cheryl also received countless messages from others while preparing to assemble this show, who informed her they experienced something similar in their school or knew of someone that experienced it and well… those revelations were quite sobering in nature and of course, beg the question… how on earth is this happening so regularly?

A question that the show was quick to answer as well, and the answer wasn’t comforting in the slightest. For we came to learn that no one holds these men accountable in the slightest. They simply float from school to school when they’re caught and eagerly indulge in their toxic behaviors once again because of that lack of accountability, and the system would rather keep that going than directly confront the fact that there is a serious and systemic problem with abusers in education. In fact, school districts are so blasé on the matter, that poor Haven had to sue her district to get any action and she is still waiting for her abuser to face his day in court. Something that has now been pushed around for six years.
​
But while all of those elements properly expose the horror that hides behind the façade of sanctity in schools, and truly teaches us how the process works and how these abusers gain the upper hand, the outrage one feels from watching this begs another important question. Specifically, what can we do to put an end to this? Well first, we can have these uncomfortable conversations with others, so it becomes a topic that is discussed far and wide. Because that’s the kind of stuff that makes those kinds of men uncomfortable and we can of course, ask better of our school districts and demand clear cut policies and penalties that handle this kind of problem.

But above all else, we need to listen, and we need to be proactive. For if someone is saying this is happening to them, they need to be trusted and believed and supported and if we have concerns about strange interactions between a student and their teacher, we need to get after those concerns hard. So that these men feel fear over being exposed because that kind of fear will make them hesitant to continue their disgusting acts. But while those are long term goals, in the meantime, we can spread the word about this series, one that is honest and visceral and powerful and important. Since it starts a critical conversation about a serious problem in our modern world that needs to be addressed as soon as absolutely possible.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 204 of ‘Good Grief’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
​
Stories that revolve around starting over in life via a second chance of any kind… tend to be quite brisk in nature, and it makes sense as to why. For these are stories that should be inspirational in nature, and nothing gets our spirits soaring, quite like watching someone attack that second chance with drive and determination and a gusto that leaves us ready to go after anything and everything in life, when we close the book or turn of the television or leave the theater. But while those stories do indeed leave our spirits soaring through and through, they do not of course, properly showcase what the second chance in life actually looks like.
​
Because that wouldn’t be quite as inspirational now, would it? For the road toward another opportunity is paved with doubt and worry and failure for that matter as well. Not to mention, sometimes it seems as though we are going nowhere since second chances don’t work on a schedule or feature carefully crafted moments that teach us powerful lessons to build upon. We just live, and we take everything one day at a time, because that is all we can do. If anything, a more realistic look at what a second chance in life looks like is top of mind today, simply because it was put on full display in the next episode of Good Grief on Sundance Now.

For when we catch up with Gwen in ‘Hot Water’, she’s just trying to survive. For she knows she is at a crossroads and there is little she can do in these early days, but her best and hope that is enough. Which brings forth some fascinating scenes with Gwen. Where we watched her go the extra mile to help with the business when needed and work to grow it as well. All because she was trying to see what sticks at this point and if making life a little easier for someone whose husband passed away in the night or setting up a commercial shoot for the funeral home gives her that direction down the line, so be it. And it was just refreshing to see Gwen settle in and try… after spending weeks just fighting everything. 

Which really did make for a realistic examination of this topic and that realism was extended well beyond Gwen’s actions. For this is a story that saw Ellie offer an apology and regret for being so wound up over every little thing in the business and it is also one that saw the crew get closer. For Gwen and Beau continued to toy with their love and Sharyn was also eager to host everyone at her place for a little ‘Spa-BQ’. Where everyone could just enjoy some good food and good times and just kick back and live a little and get to know each other better and really, that sequence and everything involving Gwen, really did lead to one satisfying episode.

One that felt real through and through and of course, brought forth the laughs. Because watching these folks film the commercial and use wild accents and inadvertent threats of death was just hilarious. But the realism is what matters most here. Because it made this episode about life and the pursuits of happiness that we chase, and it will be fascinating to see what Gwen learns from these moments and what this little bonding exercise does for the team. Because this is the first time, they were friends and not coworkers and that can go a long way for people when they’re fighting hard to gain that second chance or grow a young business. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season finale of ‘Darby and Joan’. To revisit the previous two episodes, click here.
​
Stories that explore what the search for truth looks like, and the impact it can have upon us, follow a fairly specific formula. Wherein the main character, discovers there is a truth that is being hidden from them and of course… they immediately quest after it, in an effort to learn it, in a supremely bold and noble manner. All before that same character finds peace and resolution in their quest by uncovering their truth regardless of whether it is good or bad. Which is a fairly simple way to present this quest, one that is genuinely designed to motivate people to go for it if this kind of curiosity comes into their life.

But while that is sound advice through and through, what is problematic about that formula, is that it doesn’t explore the troubles that accompany this quest. Because it is hard, it is scary, and it can rattle us to no end when we uncover a truth that is life changing and potentially horrifying. Which is why the Acorn TV series, Darby and Joan, has been such a breath of fresh air. Since this series has explored the harsher side of that quest. For Jack Darby and Joan Kirkhope have come to learn that facing the truth isn’t always a bold and noble quest. It hurts and it brings pain and strife and to top it all off… there is concern regarding what comes next when we finally learn every single fact we’ve been searching for.

In fact, it is that final stage that is of note today, because after weeks of traveling the country and digging into Ian/Rob’s sordid past… this dynamic duo finally uncovered the truth about this man and what happened to him in the middle of nowhere. Prompting a wonderful close to a powerful journey… and a look at what comes next after we learn the truth, but not before some other matters were handled first. Because this particular set of tales also took the time to explore the sheer fact that sometimes, our pursuit of the truth impacts others, and we need to square that. For Joan’s daughter, Rebecca, arrived in Australia to learn more about what happened and well… that prompted Joan to tell her the truth she’d learned so far. Because everyone deserves that, especially family, since secrets cause harm and it was good to see Joan do that and express that lesson.

However, once Rebecca headed home, the time arrived to really dig deep into the truth and uncover exactly what happened and as it turned out, Ian/Rob’s end… involved his own past catching up to him. Since we learned he had a son that he helped force into adoption by fleeing the country since he couldn't support the mother. Because while he didn’t kill that officer, he was involved and wanted to enjoy his freedom. But Summer, who was also there on that fateful day… wanted her own retribution monetarily for this and went after it years later. So, in the end, money and that sorted past brought about his death and well… that discovery brought forth that question of what comes next. Because the only good news to come out of this was that Summer was behind bars and a son met his absent father, and that Ian/Rob wasn’t a killer.   

But the show made it clear… that when we get an uncomfortable truth, all we can do… is accept it and reconcile it and make peace with it in our own special way. Because there is no easy fix to learning this kind of ugly truth and the trauma it brings. We just need support, and love and time and while that might not be the complex answer some want, it is the right one and it was the perfect way to close out this season. Since it gave Joan the closure she needed and direction toward a new chapter in her life, one that might involve supporting someone that means a lot to her. Since Jack got some answers regarding his own past and how to square it and that will hopefully be the focus of a second season, something we hope is greenlit soon. Because year one of this show was just refreshing and delightful and deep and meaningful, and these characters absolutely deserve proper closure to their adventures and the chance to heal more people through their unique brand of kindness.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 202 of ‘Kevin Can F**k Himself’. To revisit the season two premiere, click here.
​
While modern television shows work hard to be as realistic as possible these days and truly provide their audience with an immersive experience unlike any other, there are some aspects of everyday life that T.V. tends to still shy away from or not focus on hard enough. For instance, big and life changing moments in shows… are often glossed over and that can be problematic. Because those types of moments have a lasting impact, the kind that absolutely stay with us for longer than one might expect and to see it fade away from a character’s mind in record time, removes the wonder and realism of a particular show. Simply because the audience is smart, and they tuned for that perfectly real experience, and it is tough to see a show not follow through. 
​
But these are nothing more than growing pains really. For there are shows that are coming to understand the importance of sticking with realism and taking every journey to its logical conclusion, and one show that understand this and executes it to a tee is Kevin Can F**k Himself on AMC. Because this series has never shied away from the consequences of our actions or the emotional impact of the good and bad decisions we make and that was never more evident than during last night’s tale. For ‘The Way We Were’ is a story that spent a lot of time examining the emotional fallout of the whole mess with Kevin, and Neil’s actions as well, and that made for a powerfully realistic story. One that truly reminded us of the fact that life just doesn’t magically return to normal after ugly and traumatic moments. As evidenced by Neil’s journey in this tale.

Because despite getting the business from both Allison and Patty, in a manner that made it clear that anything he said regarding their plans would blow up in his face… Neil couldn’t let it go. In fact, coming to understand this whole mess, put Neil in quite the conflicted place. One that forced him to try and reconcile his own dark actions, and he struggled mightily with that. Because despite his reticence, he knew he was in the wrong for going after Allison, and that she was in the wrong for trying to harm Kevin. And Neil’s attempts to figure out the why behind all of this, and Kevin’s aloof nature to the truth about what Allison was up to, and his actions toward him… gave him perspective and made him wonder where his life is at and if he is indeed aligning with the right people here or if he is just a pawn. A complex journey that basically made it clear that ugly moments sometimes force us to ponder upon the reality of the situation and move us toward a sense of perspective. 

Yet that wasn’t the only storyline that further explored how hard it is to just magically move forward when tough times find their way into our lives, since Patty also struggled to get back to her everyday life. For she really thought she could easily toss Allison and her behavior aside and just move forward without giving it a second thought. But the reality of the situation, and that she basically just agreed to commit to murder... hung heavy here. As did her inability to figure out her feelings for Tammy and what she wants out of that relationship and that left her in a cold place in this tale. One where she couldn’t open her emotions to Tammy when an opportunity arose to do so. Mainly because there were undertones of guilt present here for Patty. The kind that related to her actions and to not seeing things through with Allison, since she genuinely cares for her and wants to see her happy. But what mattered more here, is that her journey reminds of us how quickly we become lost and closed off when a life changing moment hits, especially when they force us to look in the mirror.

However, while this episode was incredibly introspective for Patty and Neil, Allison’s journey here spoke to some measure of positivity regarding when we are faced with a reckoning or life changing moment. In that… sometimes that moment just motivates us to keep going and take further action. Because while Allison could have collapsed here and slipped into darker territory over her failed plans to end Kevin in every way imaginable, she instead started looking at said failure as a second chance. As though she didn’t really approach escaping her life from the right angle. Which in turn motivated her to spend more time with Diane and work to help her with her problems in an effort to get close to a private investigator that might give her tips on being free from this nightmare and to get her hands on anything and everything she could sell from Kevin’s sports collection.
​
All because she wanted out and she knew that she would need cash to start that process in any capacity, and sadly… that part of her plan went about as well as one might expect. Simply because one of Kevin’s prized sports possessions, was stolen long ago and reported as such. Which meant there was no chance to pawn it, putting Allison back at square one and in a sorrowful place. Since she once again wondered if she would be able to escape Kevin and his madness. But a conversation about the past, with a local reporter and old acquaintance that dropped by the house to interview the Worcester Wild Dude, and a reunion with Patty… motivated Allison to pick up the mantle and try again and make a full-on sacrifice. By pawning family pearls to get the money to talk with that investigator and see if by chance, she can fulfill her plan of starting a new life on her own terms.

If anything, this was just… a brilliant episode through and through. One that featured a lot of moments that would be seen as taboo writing wise. Since Neil and Patty really didn’t find resolution to their concerns or worries. They just floated about or went back to old habits and haunts and that is… painfully realistic. Because so many of us do that to keep a sense of normalcy or peace while we sort out our mess and kudos to the show for informing us that sometimes dealing with trauma requires that so we can properly heal and process, and it will be interesting to see what comes out of this for Patty and Neil. Mainly because Allison does give Patty purpose and Neil, showed hints of growth here with his defense of his sister. Giving rise to the reality that these characters are indeed silently working it out in their heads, seeing unfinished business to its conclusion, and growing before our eyes.

Speaking of growth, we also saw that from Allison here as well. Since she finally made a positive change by not using revenge or vindictive acts to gain agency for her future in this tale. Because making a sacrifice speaks to how much she wants to be free on her own terms… in a healthy manner. Granted her plan is still quite wild and unhealthy in nature since faking one’s death is about as extreme a manner as one can get when it comes to wanting to be free of a bad relationship. But growth is growth, and we will take it here and it will be fascinating to see what this new plan will entail as this bold new season of storytelling continues along. And of course, it will be equally as fascinating to see if Allison will get her wish and find freedom from the man that torments her soul. Until next time.

While we are absolutely living in a wonderful time when it comes to television, since the arrival of streaming has brought forth incredible programming through and through, the kind that challenges viewers like never before with powerful stories that examine every corner of the human condition… there is a slight draw back to this era of peak television. In that, children and family themed programming has seemingly gone the wayside. Yes, it is out there, but it requires a little bit of work to get it on the screen and that’s unfortunate. Because that too is something that audiences want in spades since everyone loves sitting around the television with their family to enjoy wholesome content. But thankfully there is one network that is working hard to make sure that family themed programming is a priority: Apple TV+.
​
Because they consistently bring quality family entertainment to their already incredible library of stunning shows and to top it off, they consistently advertise the fact that they have this kind of content and that they want families to enjoy said content on their respective family night and that’s why today’s announcement is so incredibly wonderful. Because earlier, Apple TV+ released their family entertainment fall lineup, so parents everywhere can plan ahead and arrange viewings of top-notch family entertainment with those they love, and well, with that in mind, here is that fall lineup… courtesy of Apple TV+.

‘Apple TV+ today announced a vibrant fall slate for kids and families, featuring an array of fresh, original series, new on-screen imaginings of beloved properties, as well as returning fan-favorite and critically acclaimed series. 
 
New original series coming to platform this autumn include "Sago Mini Friends," an animated series based on characters from the award-winning Sago Mini World app; "Slumberkins," a mixed media puppet / 2D animation program from the beloved children’s emotional learning brand empowering children to be caring, confident and resilient, and produced by The Jim Henson Company; "Circuit Breakers" a futuristic anthology series that tackles kid-relatable issues through a sci-fi lens; and "Interrupting Chicken," an animated preschool series which illuminates for children the joy of reading, writing, and storytelling, and stars the voice talents three time Emmy Award winner Sterling K. Brown ("This Is Us," "Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul”).
 
The acclaimed series returning this fall include the Emmy Award-winning series "Ghostwriter" with an entirely new cast, animated adventure epic "Wolfboy and the Everything Factory," charming friendship and farming tale "Get Rolling with Otis," and Jack McBrayer's sweet, music-forward "Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show." Additionally, even more classic Peanuts titles will be made available to fans, many for the first time in decades. 
 
Peanuts Anthology II - New to Platform - September 9
Fans of the beloved Peanuts gang will have more classics available to watch from Mendelson/Melendez Productions and Peanuts Worldwide including “He’s A Bully, Charlie Brown,” “He’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown,” “It Was A Short Summer, Charlie Brown,” “It’s Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown,” “There’s No Time For Love, Charlie Brown,” “Why, Charlie Brown, Why?,” “You’re In Love, Charlie Brown,” and “You’re The Greatest, Charlie Brown.”
 
“Sago Mini Friends” - New Series - September 16
“Sago Mini Friends” is a new preschool animated series produced by Daytime Emmy Award-nominated Spin Master Entertainment and animated by 9 Story Media Group’s Emmy Award-winning studio Brown Bag Films - Toronto, based on the charming characters and artful designs featured in the award-winning Sago Mini World app, developed by Sago Mini. The “Sago Mini Friends” series is an adorable nod to gratitude, featuring Harvey the floppy-eared dog and his best friends, Jinja the cat, Jack the rabbit, and Robin the bird. Along with a unique cast of residents as colorful as their own whimsical world, the four friends play, explore, imagine and celebrate daily in their joyful town of Sagoville. In each episode, Harvey and all his friends express their true thankfulness for all things, big and small, through optimism, kindness, preschool-friendly humor and unforgettable original songs! “Sago Mini Friends” is executive produced by Daytime Emmy Award nominees Jennifer Dodge (“PAW Patrol”), Ronnen Harary (“PAW Patrol”), Tone Thyne (“Wonder Pets!”), and Dustin Ferrer (“Esme & Roy”). Daytime Emmy Award nominees Laura Clunie (“PAW Patrol”), and Toni Stevens (“PAW Patrol”) serve as executive producers, with Chad Hicks (“Kingdom Force”) as series director. Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, distinguished professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside and expert in the science of happiness, serves as the gratitude expert on the series through Apple TV+’s changemakers initiative.
 
“Wolfboy and the Everything Factory” - Season Two - September 30
Inspired by the work of visual artist Toff Mazery, co-created by Emmy Award winner Edward Jesse (HITRECORD’s “Create Together”), developed by Emmy winner Michael Ryan (“All Hail King Julien,” “Kung Fu Panda”), and executive produced by Emmy winner Joseph Gordon-Levitt (“Mr. Corman”), HITRECORD and FOX Entertainment’s Bento Box Entertainment, the second season of the animated epic “Wolfboy and the Everything Factory” takes Wolfboy (voiced by Kassian Akhtar), to a new realm underneath the Everything Factory that is responsible for all of the destruction in the universe. With his Spryte friends and new allies, Wolfboy engages in a quest to unite the forces of creation and destruction, and realizes that being different is what makes him special - and ultimately, it’s the oddballs and dreamers who change the world.
 
“Get Rolling with Otis” - Season Two - September 30
Based on the Penguin Random House book series by Loren Long, “Get Rolling With Otis,” is an animated adventure series from 9 Story Media Group and Brown Bag Films welcoming young viewers to Long Hill Dairy Farm, home to Otis the tractor and all his friends. Otis may be little, but he has a big heart. Whenever he sees a friend in need, he hits the brakes, asks how they're feeling, and rolls into action to help! Get rolling with new adventures, new friends, and a little tractor who’s big on helping others. The series is executive produced by Vince Commisso, Wendy Harris, author Long, Darragh O’Connell, Jane Startz and Angela C. Santomero. Dr. Michele Borba, internationally renowned educational psychologist, best-selling author, frequent media contributor on TODAY show, and an expert in parenting, bullying, and character development serves as the compassionate action expert on the series through Apple TV+’s changemakers initiative. 
 
“Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show” - Season Two - October 7
Jack is one of Clover Grove’s most thoughtful and caring residents, greeting everyone with kindness and humor. His ability to spread compassion, creativity, and imagination inspires everyone in town to do the same. A new season of kindness creates more incredible change. “Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show” is co-created and executive produced by Jack McBrayer (“30 Rock,” “Phineas and Ferb,” “Wreck-It Ralph” franchise) and Angela C. Santomero (“Blue’s Clues,” “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood”). 
The series is produced by Emmy Award-winning 9 Story Media Group (“Karma’s World,” “Blue’s Clues & You!,”) with animation by its Oscar-nominated studio Brown Bag Films (“Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” “Doc McStuffins,” “Vampirina”). Jax Media also produces. Wendy Harris and Vince Commisso from 9 Story Media Group and Tony Hernandez and John Skidmore from Jax Media serve as executive producers, alongside showrunner and Emmy Award nominee Guy Toubes. Dr. Junlei Li, the Saul Zaentz senior lecturer in Early Childhood Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, serves as the kindness and human connection expert on the series through Apple TV+’s changemakers initiative.
 
“Ghostwriter” - Season Three - October 21
Emmy Award-winning “Ghostwriter” returns for a third season with an entirely new cast and a new adventure! When a ghost haunts a bookstore and releases fictional characters into the real world, a group of friends works to solve a mystery surrounding the ghost’s unfinished business. A reimagining of the 1992 hit series from Sesame Workshop, the modern-day “Ghostwriter” maintains a city-based, multicultural cast, inviting children ages 6-11 to see themselves on screen as they learn to appreciate a range of new and classic literature. Starring Princess Mapp (“Sydney to the Max,” “The Unicorn”), Nour Assaf (“The Casagrandes”), and Daire McLeod (“Danger Force”), the series was developed for television by J.J. Johnson and Andrew Orenstein with Academy Award winning and DGA Award-nominated Luke Matheny directing the first episode. Matheny and Orenstein executive produce alongside Johnson, Christin Simms, and Blair Powers for Sinking Ship Entertainment and Kay Wilson Stallings for Sesame Workshop.  
 
“Slumberkins” - New Series - November 4
Embark on adventures with Bigfoot, Unicorn, Sloth, Yak, and Fox as they explore a world of feelings in this Jim Henson Company mixed media puppet / 2D animation series that empowers the emotional wellness of children through supportive storytelling. Based on the leading children’s emotional learning brand Slumberkins, the series brings to life some of the beloved characters from the Slumberkins books as they explore new stories of friendship, confidence and connection to model healthy relationships. “Slumberkins” was created for television by Alex Rockwell (“Word Party,” “Pajanimals”). The Jim Henson Company’s Halle Stanford is executive producer along with Rockwell. Callie Christensen, MIT in Elementary Education and Special Education and Kelly Oriard, M.S. in Counseling and Marriage Therapy & School Counseling, creators of the Slumberkins education brand, are co-executive producers. Dr. Dan Siegel, executive director of the Mindsight Institute and clinical professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and the founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA, and author of multiple New York Times bestsellers, serves as an expert in understanding how attachment experiences affect behavior through the Apple TV+ changemaker initiative.
 
“Circuit Breakers” - New Series - November 11
“Circuit Breakers” is a half-hour futuristic anthology series that tackles kid-relatable issues through a sci-fi lens. But not everything is as it seems, and their curiosity leads to chaos. The series was created by Melody Fox with executive producer Matt Hastings directing the pilot episode. “Circuit Breakers” is executive produced by Andrew Orenstein, Cottonwood Media’s Sarah Haasz, David Michel and Cécile Lauritano, Aircraft Pictures’ Anthony Leo and Andrew Rosen, and Todd Berger. 
 
“Interrupting Chicken” - New Series - November 18 
This animated preschool series based upon the 2011 Caldecott Honor-winning book series written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein "Interrupting Chicken" introduces children to the joy of creative writing - starting with a young little chicken named Piper who has a habit of interrupting storytime! Every time Piper hears a story, she can’t help but jump in, ask questions and let her imagination run wild as she tries to fill in details, guess what happens next or insert herself in the middle of the action to help save the day. “Interrupting Chicken” was developed by Emmy Award winner Ron Holsey who serves as executive producer. In partnership with Mercury Filmworks, the series stars the voice talents of three time Emmy Award winner Sterling K. Brown ("This Is Us," "Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul”) and is executive produced by Holsey, Stein, Loris Kramer Lunsford, Clint Eland and Chantal Ling. Dr. Lucy Calkins, Founding Director of the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project and the Richard Robinson Professor of Children’s Literature at Teachers College, Columbia University, serves as our reading and writing expert through the Apple TV+ changemaker initiative.  
 
The award-winning slate of original series and film for kids and families on Apple TV+ includes the recently premiered critically-acclaimed “El Deafo,” “Amber Brown,” "Best Foot Forward," “Lovely Little Farm,” “Duck & Goose,” “Pinecone & Pony,” “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock” and “Harriet the Spy” from The Jim Henson Company, and the star-studded animated adventure film “Luck” from Apple Original Films and Skydance Animation;  Peabody Award-winning series “Stillwater”; Daytime Emmy Award-winning “Ghostwriter” and “Helpsters” from Sesame Workshop; Academy Award-nominated animated film “Wolfwalkers”; “Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show” from Jack McBrayer and Angela C. Santomero; “Wolfboy and the Everything Factory” from Joseph Gordon-Levitt, HITRECORD and Bento Box Entertainment; “Get Rolling with Otis” and “Puppy Place”; new series and specials from Peanuts and WildBrain including “Snoopy in Space” season two, “It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown,” and “For Auld Lang Syne”; and “Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth,” the Daytime Emmy Award-winning television event based on the New York Times best-selling book and TIME Best Book of the Year by Oliver Jeffers. Apple TV+ will also soon expand its slate with stories from some of today’s biggest storytellers in kids and family programming, including the soon to premiere  “Jane,” a new mission-driven series from J.J. Johnson, Sinking Ship Entertainment and the Jane Goodall Institute. 
 
The award-winning slate of original series and film for kids and families on Apple TV+ includes the recently premiered groundbreaking series “El Deafo,” critically-acclaimed “Amber Brown” created by Bonnie Hunt, and Common Sense Media Selections "Best Foot Forward" and “Duck & Goose." The impressive all-ages offerings also include  “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock” and “Harriet the Spy” from The Jim Henson Company, the Peabody Award-winning series “Stillwater," Daytime Emmy Award-winning “Ghostwriter” and “Helpsters” from Sesame Workshop, Academy Award-nominated animated film “Wolfwalkers," new series and specials from Peanuts and WildBrain including “The Snoopy Show," as well as “Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth,” the Daytime Emmy Award-winning television event based on the New York Times best-selling book and TIME Best Book of the Year by Oliver Jeffers. Apple TV+ continues to present young viewers and their caregivers with first-rate options including the upcoming series  “Jane,” a new mission-driven series from J.J. Johnson, Sinking Ship Entertainment and the Jane Goodall Institute.’

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the finale of ‘Showtrial’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
​
We are taught from a very early age, that searching for the truth will always result in closure. Sure, that closure might be sour in nature, but we will have the answers we seek none the less and we will be able to walk away from our quest, satisfied and content with the fact that we pushed against the odds and uncovered the facts. Which in turn motivates us to dig deep into the quest for truth when it presents itself to us, and it is then that we learn… that such advice isn’t exactly on point. Because chasing the truth is a messy and ugly business… one that rattles us when the truth we uncover is unsettling in nature and it is also one, that sometimes yields no results.
​
Because sometimes, the answers we seek aren’t there. We just… come to the end of the search and are forced to come to our own conclusions on the matter and not once will we enjoy closure or satisfaction and well… that unfortunate aspect of searching for the truth is top of mind today, because it hung heavy over the finale of Showtrial on Sundance Now. For when we return to the courtroom in ‘The Long Voyage’, both sides were nearing the end of the case and that meant, the time had come for Dhillon and Talitha to take the stand. An act that should have brought forth the truth through and through. But alas, the mess that both sides created in getting here… yielded some odd results.

For instance, everything the prosecution threw at Dhillon, made him look guilty. Since he was broken and angry on the stand and defensive and well… appeared as though he was harboring some genuine guilt. Making it seems as though a similar strategy would do the trick with Talitha since she was easily rattled as well. But her time on the stand, where she was able to be herself and be honest for a change, left hearts and minds confused as to whether or not she was the broken and evil person that Vendler’s widow portrayed her to be. Instead, she was instead a flawed individual on that stand, with a checkered past and a lot of traumas, and that… combined with some revelations about DI Cassidy’s fumbling of evidence led to a shocking conclusion to the trial.

Wherein Dhillon was found guilty no problem, but Talitha was allowed to walk. While that verdict did indeed bring forth some measure of justice for Hannah Ellis in the end, it most certainly did not provide us with what we wanted the most… the truth. The truth about what happened that night and the truth about how and why Hannah died. But that is the nature of the quest sometimes and while that can be infuriating, that is quite the realistic ending. Since there are a great many trials that end in an incomplete manner such as this, where we still don’t have answers and well, kudos to the show for taking the time to offer up that kind of ending and for offering up so much commentary over the course of the season.

For this really is a show that took the time to put a magnifying glass up to the police and legal system and point out how the quest for justice in our world has become petty and egotistical and the cost of that pursuit. Since honesty has gone the wayside over viral moments and swaying people to a particular point of view. When the system was always supposed to be about justice. About peace for the fallen and the victimized and to teach others that fancy lawyers mean nothing. This process is only about the truth and nothing more and well… hopefully we all carry with us that messaging and begin to ask more of our system. So that showtrials such as this one, come to an end and the truth prevails above all else.

There was a time, when science fiction stories were supremely sweeping and epic in nature and understandably so. For the titans of this genre, showed everyone how these stories could explore every single corner of the human condition and their grand examinations of who we are and what we could be, set amongst the backdrop of deep space or the future… motivated everyone to tell a similar story in scope and design. But somewhere along the line, the demands of viewers and readers for more focused entertainment, pushed this genre to abandon such grandiose plans and while that didn’t ruin the genre or make it unwatchable or unreadable, it certainly had an impact on the scale of these stories.

But as this era of peak television continues along, and the demand for new shows accompanies it, the time it would seem… is right for the return of the science fiction epic. Simply because television can indeed support the many concepts such a story would explore and it just so happens that a brand-new Sci-Fi epic is about to arrive on AMC+. For Thursday will bring forth the premiere of Pantheon on the network and well… we here at NTG thought it would be worthwhile to highlight what you can expect from this new series, in a spoiler-free manner of course. Because spoilers before the release date are the worst, but the majesty of this show needs to be celebrated.

Mainly because… this is a series that fools you regarding its epic nature. For it is at first, quite intimate. For we are introduced to a young woman named Maddie who is dealing with loss of her father and trying to go about her day in the future whilst reconciling her grief. But a strange series of messages that appear on Maddie’s computer, and the events that follow them, opens this story up to so much more. Such as grand concepts revolving around our reliance upon and love of technology and how that might transform how we deal with death in ways we never thought possible. Which is quite the grand exploration, one that really does ponder upon notions that are only barely being discussed in our world now and the wonder of this series doesn’t end with this particularly bold and big concept.

For this is a story that also ponders upon grief and its power and how we reconcile it at a time where memories are everywhere digitally, and it also ponders upon technology’s role in the household and our family life. Making this a grand and sweeping epic through and through, that gives us so much to chew upon regarding the strange crossroads that humanity currently stands at regarding technology. But what truly allows for this series to shine and accomplish wonders with its story, is the fact that it is animated. Because that allows for the future to come to life in ways, we never thought possible, and it allows for stunning visuals as well. Something that is evident early on in the premiere since it wastes little time in making use of this particular freedom to tell this incredible story.

Plus, the voice acting is simply top notch in this series. Which only adds to the engagement of the viewer, since they are drawn in and moved by acting that feels real in every sense of the word. With Katie Chang (Maddie) of course leading the way in such matters, and truly the best news of all… is that we are so close to sharing in the wonder of this new series together. Since Thursday is the big day, wherein AMC+ will drop the first two episodes of this phenomenal series, one that really does deliver as advertised. For this really is the return of the science fiction epic, and this is one that is going to take us on a powerful and thought-provoking ride.