By Kurt Balingit
This Friday, February 19th, Disney+ is premiering ‘Flora & Ulysses’, a family superhero comedy film directed by Lena Khan, based on the children’s novel written by Kate DiCamillo with the same name. The film follows a 10-year-old comic book fan name Flora Buckman, played by Matilda Lawler, who saves the life of an injured squirrel she names Ulysses. While nursing the squirrel, Flora learns that Ulysses isn’t an ordinary squirrel, but one with super powers!
With Ulysses’ presence and super powers, Flora finds a much needed friend who is able to help her live her comic book fantasies. In favor, she protects him from Miller, an animal control officer, played by Danny Pudi, who wants to capture the super squirrel.
To make matters more complicated, Flora’s parents have recently separated. Her dad George, played by Ben Schwartz, is a struggling comic book creator who helps her protect Ulysses, while her mom Phyllis, played by Alyson Hannigan, is a romance novelist who wants her daughter to get her head out of the clouds and doesn’t want a squirrel living in her house.
Director Lena Khan wanted to make sure to that this family movie wasn’t just about usual family troubles. Khan said. “It was about people, what it’s like to be broken and jaded and how do you get out of that and get back up.” She also states
“I think the biggest thing in the movie is that when the world has beaten you down, it’s not about waiting for things to get fixed,” Khan said. “It’s about learning how to see the world differently and that it can be okay to hope. That’s the main thing which hopefully is key to some people during these crazy times.”
Although ‘Flora & Ulysses’ is only available on Disney+, this movie is sure to be another classic family film.
by Emily Nagle
Oprah Winfrey will be interviewing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for a CBS special titled Oprah With Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special.
The interview will cover a wide variety of topics, beginning with Oprah sitting down with Markle to hear about the experience of transitioning to a royal life, motherhood (with another baby on the way), her philanthropic work, and how she handles living such a public life. Prince Harry will then join them and discuss their future plans, in addition to their recent move to the United States.
The couple relocated to Los Angeles in March 2020 after announcing their departure from their role of the royal family a couple of months prior. Markle and Prince Harry chose to leave the royal life behind so that they could be financially independent. They have since established a new life in Los Angeles, signing a multiyear deal with Netflix that will allow the development of several different series, as well as launching a Spotify podcast under their production company, Archwell Audio.
Oprah With Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special will be premiering on CBS on March 7th at 8pm ET/PT.
by Emily Nagle
George Gerdes, a singer-songwriter and actor known for having roles in shows including Seinfeld, Bosch, and Grey’s Anatomy, passed away from a brain aneurysm on January 1st. He was 72.
Born in Queens, NY on February 23, 1948, Gerdes had an interest in acting since toddlerhood; his sister, Julia Dubnoff, told The Hollywood Reporter that when he was only 3 and 4 years old, he often did impressions of television stars like Arthur Godfrey. Terre Roche, the founding member of the musical group The Roches who introduced Gerdes to his life partner, recalls, “He once told me that as a child he wanted to go inside the television with all the people he encountered there. With his acting career, he went on to fulfill that dream for himself.”
Despite his passion for acting, Gerdes’ career began as a singer/songwriter. A couple of years after his graduation from Carnegie Mellon University in 1969, he recorded two folk/pop albums, titled Obituary and Son of Obituary, that were released in 1971 and 1972, respectively. Joni Mitchell was a fan of his music, describing his song “Say So What Else Is New?” as “the happiest sad song I’ve ever heard.”
Gerdes got his start in acting in the 80s, making appearances in Broadway shows including Fool for Love and A Few Good Men.
George Gerdes is survived by his sister Julia, his life partner Judy Johns, and his three nephews, Zachary, Michael, and Will.
by Emily Nagle
The CW’s Wonder Girl, written and executive produced by Dailyn Rodriguez, is no longer moving forward at the network, as confirmed by Rodriguez on Twitter.
The series was confirmed to be in the works back in November, and is an adaptation of a DC Comics character. It followed Yara Flor, a Latina Dreamer who is born from an Amazonian Warrior and a Brazilian River God. When she discovers she is Wonder Girl, she must use her powers to protect the world from evil forces.
Wonder Girl was written by Dailyn Rodriguez, who is known for her work on Ugly Betty and The Night Shift, as well as being the showrunner for several seasons of Queen of the South. Also set to work on the unreleased show were Greg Berlanti as executive producer, along with Sarah Schechter and David Madden as producers in association with Warner Bros. Television.
Although Wonder Girl will not be developing any further, the CW confirmed earlier this week that they have ordered various other shows for the 2021-2022 television season, including a live-action reboot of Powerpuff Girls, a reboot of The 4400, an adaptation of another DC Comic titled Naomi, and an untitled religious dramedy written by Claire Rothrock and Ryann Weir.
By Kurt Balingit
After 8 long seasons we bid adieu to ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘. On February 11th, it was announced by NBC that the upcoming Season 8 of ‘B99’ will be its final one. This is the second time the show has been canceled, with the first time being after season 5 by Fox in 2018, but it was was later revived by NBC that same year.
The series takes place in New York City and follows the fictional 99th Brooklyn police precinct and the officer in it. Mainly, detectives Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg), Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero), Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz), Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio), Lieutenant Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews) and Captain Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher).
The show was originally to begin production of it’s 8th season in 2019 but the pandemic has stopped it’s production. Season 8 will air as part of the 2021-2022 and will consist of 10 episodes.
In 2014, The series won the Golden Globe for best comedy series, along with Andy Samberg winning best actor in a comedy. Andre Braugher was also nominated for four Emmy Awards for his role as the stern-faced lovable Captain Raymond Holt.
The cast and creators have stated that this final season would address many social issues revolving around today’s law enforcement. The show had previously been criticized for not addressing issues of police brutality and systemic racism, and instead created a sympathetic portrayal of police. In June of 2020, the cast and crew announced that they would be donating $100,000 to the National Bail Fund Network in favor of radically changing the bail systems and reducing incarceration. Although there will be heavy topics discussed in the final season, we can assure that it will not lose any of its comedic aspects. Executive producer Dan Goor writes…
“I feel incredibly lucky to have worked with this amazing cast and crew for eight seasons. They are not only among the most talented people in the business, they are all good human beings who have become a family. But most of all, I feel lucky that we have had the best fans in the world. Fans who literally saved us from cancellation. Fans who fill us with joy. Ending the show was a difficult decision, but ultimately, we felt it was the best way to honor the characters, the story and our viewers. I know some people will be disappointed it’s ending so soon, but honestly, I’m grateful it lasted this long. Title of my sex tape.“
‘Noice’ one, Dan Goor.
by Emily Nagle
The CW has ordered three pilot episodes and one series for the 2021-2022 television season.
The 4400 has been picked up by the network for a reboot series that will be written and executive produced by Ariana Jackson, and produced by CBS Studios. The series, originally airing on USA Network from 2004 to 2007, is a science fiction show following 4400 people who mysteriously disappeared without a trace a hundred years prior, then reappeared without having aged and with no recollection of the time they were gone. When it is discovered that some of them have powers, it’s up to the government to contain them while they determine why they have returned to Earth.
Also returning to television are the Powerpuff Girls. A live-action series based on the Cartoon Network show has been in the works since August, and will reimagine the kindergarteners as women in their 20s. Having lost their childhood to fighting crime in the city of Townsville, Bubbles, Blossom, and Buttercup must decide whether it’s time to reunite when the world needs them more than ever. The series was written by Heather Regnier and Diablo Cody, and has no involvement with Craig McCracken, the creator of the original series.
Naomi is an adaptation of a 2019 DC comic series revolving around a small-town teenage girl who must uncover the origins of a supernatural event that shakes her hometown. It will be produced by Ava DuVernay, who has teamed up with Arrow writer Jill Blankenship to write the series.
The last show in The CW’s order for 2021-2022 is an untitled religious dramedy written by Claire Rothrock and Ryann Weir about two nuns who start out as strangers and bond as they determine their own faith and where they belong in the Catholic church. Both Rothrock and Weir will be executive producing the series along with Jennie Snyder Urman and Joanna Klein, and CBS Studios will be the studio.
Get Some Strange!
