TV Bits: Renewals, Reunions, Sports Docs, And More
In this edition of TV Bits:
Let’s start with some positive news, shall we? Several shows have been renewed, and that’s good news for anyone who happens to like any of these shows. Congrats everyone, we did it! Here’s what’s coming back:
Netflix has announced the return date forThe Politician, the ambitiousRyan Murphyseries that follows Payton Hobart (Benn Platt), with every season revolving “around a different political race his character is involved in.” The second season will arrive onJune 19. In the second season, Payton Hobart “fights to unseat Dede Standish (Judith Light) intheNew York State Senate race. As a long-time incumbent and greatly admired Senate Majority Leader with no-nonsense Chief of Staff, Hadassah Gold (Bette Midler) at her side, Dede’s re-election was supposed to be easy, but Payton – who sees this asthenext step on his path tothePresidency – must decide what kind ofpoliticianhe ultimately wants to be to succeed, even if that means exposing secrets, lies, and a throuple. Meanwhile, his mother, Georgina Hobart (Gwyneth Paltrow), makes a momentous decision that threatens to upstage him and everything he’s hoping to accomplish. But if Payton wants to rise above pettypoliticsand succeed without compromising his character, he must find his voice and strengthen his political message to inspire and excitethevoters.”
Orphan Blackcast membersTatiana Maslany,Dylan Bruce,Jordan Gavaris,Kevin Hanchard,Michael Mando,Maria Doyle Kennedy,Évelyne Brochu, andKristian Bruunreunited for a charity read recently, and you can watch it above. The two-episode table read and reunion benefited CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers and Sistering 24 Hour Drop In, and since so much ofOrphan Blackdealt with clones all played by Maslany, Maslany’s stand-inKathryn Alexandrealso got in on the action to help read some lines.
Legendary, a new competition series on HBO Max, now has a trailer you can check out above. The show is available to watch now, coinciding with the launch of the streaming service, and is described as “a new HBO Max competition series that pulls from the underground ballroom community, voguing teams (aka ‘houses’) must compete in unbelievable balls and showcase sickening fashion in order to achieve ‘legendary’ status. The cast includes MC Dashaun Wesley and DJ MikeQ as well as celebrity judges Law Roach, Jameela Jamil, Leiomy Maldonado, and Megan Thee Stallion.”
ESPN won big withThe Last Dance, their fantastic docuseries about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Now they want to try it again with a new subject: Tom Brady. PerTHR, the nine-episode series is calledMan in the Arena, and ' will offer the quarterback’s first-hand accounts of pivotal moments in his career, including all nine of his Super Bowl appearances with the New England Patriots." The big question is: will it get as much buzz asThe Last Dance? We won’t know until 2021, which is when the series is set to debut.
Riverdale, the sexyTwin Peaks-inspired update ofArchieComics, lostSkeet Ulrich. The actor, who played the father of Jughead Jones, decided to depart the show, and now we know why. During an Instagram Live video (viaVariety), Ulrich revealed that he left the series due to boredom. “I’m leavingRiverdalebecause I got bored creatively. How’s that? That’s the most honest answer.” Thank you for your honesty, Skeet.
