PaleyFest 2017: ‘Pretty Little Liars’ Teases CrAzy 7B, Talks Favorite Moments, & Says Goodbye
It’s the beginning of the end for the groundbreaking teen show, Pretty Little Liars. On April 18, 2017, the hit series will begin its final season. To celebrate seven seasons of secrets, lies and killer outfits, Pretty Little Liars dropped by PaleyFest 2017 to dish on 7B and relive some of their favorite memories.
Debuting in June 2010, Pretty Little Liars quickly changed how we watch TV. Undoubtedly the most tweeted about series, PLL established an Internet presence and created a devoted fanbase. For seven seasons, the show has thrown every twist and turn imaginable as fans try to figure out who “A” is.
To celebrate the beginning of the final ten episode, airing on Freeform later next month, several cast members and executive producers sat down in the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, with a couple hundred devoted fans, to say goodbye. Moderated by Senior TV Editor at Buzzfeed, Jarett Wieselman, PLL was honored in all the right ways. Joining Wieselman for the panel was executive producer Marlene King, executive producer Joseph Dougherty, Ashley Benson, Shay Mitchell, Sasha Pieterse, Janel Parrish, Ian Harding, Tyler Blackburn and Andrea Parker. Lucy Hale, Troian Bellisario and Keegan Allen were missing from the panel, but Hale and Bellisario sent special video messages in their absences.
To kick things off right, PaleyFest 2017 audience members became the first to view the first minute of the premiere of 7B. Don’t worry, you can watch it right here. King assured fans that the final 10 episodes will be a real “love letter to the fans.” Not giving away too many details, King said that the series finale will be a 2-hour event and was written like a movie.
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Note: This article was nominated for “Outstanding News Article” at the 36th Annual EVVY Awards
Celebrating ‘One Tree Hill’: A Look Back At Our Favorite Episodes
Five years ago today, Gavin DeGraw performed for the final time in Tric as One Tree Hill came to a close. Over the course of nine seasons, One Tree Hill helped define the teen drama and created some of the most beloved characters and relationships. Fans fell head-over-heels in love with the town of Tree Hill, NC, the music and the unbelievable bonds between characters.
The show originally followed the lives of two half-brothers Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan Scott (James Lafferty), who competed for positions on their school’s basketball team: The Ravens. As creator Mark Schwahn stated, One Tree Hill is like “Cain and Abel on the basketball court.” What started as a show about a brotherly rivalry evolved into a show about the magic of sport and a small town.
One Tree Hill first premiered on The WB in 2003. The series survived the fateful switch from The WB to The CW and would go on to be one of the networks longest running series. Before an era of binge-watching, the show thrived off of fans and their passion for the series. Beginning with low ratings, fans of One Tree Hill fought for the show and became an integral part to the success.
Five years after the Tree Hill Ravens played their final basketball game, more and more people continue to fall in love with One Tree Hill thanks to the power of Netflix. In honor of the remarkable teen drama’s five year finale anniversary, executive stage editor Nora Dominick lists her top twelve favorite episodes to celebrate.
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How ‘The Walking Dead’ Became A Show Run By Female Characters
After seven seasons of The Walking Dead, the “Ricktatorship” has started to crumble. Following a devastating season seven premiere, Rick (Andrew Lincoln) has become a submissive servant to Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). With Rick’s demotion the show is seeing a major shift in storytelling and characters. After seven seasons, the women ofThe Walking Dead are running the show and it’s been a long road to get here.
Going back to the shows first season, the main female characters on The Walking Deadwere nothing extraordinary. Andrea (Laurie Holden) and Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) were simply trying to survive. They weren’t the strongest assets to the group and exemplified feminine troupes. Andrea is an hysterical female character and Lori is solely defined as a mother/significant other. Andrea loses her sister very early on and struggles with moving forward. Meanwhile, Lori is simply classified as a mother, a wife, and even a girlfriend.
Both characters, sadly, don’t break through these molds until they meet their demises. Lori becomes a strong individual only to die bringing Judith into the world. Andrea finally reaches her redemption arc when she tries to save the group from The Governor (David Morrissey) only to be killed moments later. While these female characters introduce us to The Walking Dead world, it’s the female characters they pave the way for that truly shine.
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Why ‘Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life’ Should Finally Get Lauren Graham An Emmy
After almost ten years since the lights went out in Luke’s Diner, the Gilmore Girls are back with Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. Thanks to the magic of Netflix, Lorelai (Lauren Graham), Rory (Alexis Bledel) and the entire gang are back to drinking coffee and talking at record speeds. Broken down into four 90-minute episodes– Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall– Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life has everything devoted fans have been searching for. While the revival series offers a chance to return to Stars Hollow, it gives us something more. It gives us an award worthy performance by the reigning Lorelai herself, Lauren Graham.
During Gilmore Girls’ original run, Graham was praised for her work as the fast-talking Lorelai Gilmore. During the shows first two seasons, Graham snagged two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations as well as a Golden Globe Nomination. It’s the role that defines her careers. There’s no way to talk about Graham without mentioning her work as Lorelai. The two go hand in hand. So, when the show came to an end in 2007, it was hard to envision Graham playing any other role.
In 2010 Graham joined the ensemble of the NBC hit drama Parenthood. A role not radically different from Lorelai, Sarah Braverman is also a single-mother searching for a better life for her children. Similar to Lorelai, Sarah doesn’t have everything figured out. That’s what makes both characters so honest, genuine, and brave. Graham’s work once again defied expectations as she brought fans joy and heartache week after week. She delighted audiences for six years on Parenthood and after its end, we prayed she would find another TV role. We just never thought returning to Lorelai Gilmore would be the answer we’ve been searching for.
When Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life begins in “Winter,” it takes a little while for some of the actors to hit their stride. No surprise since it’s been nearly 10 years since playing these roles. Alexis Bledel takes a little while to assume the sweet, sometimes naive, Rory and Scott Patterson hits his curmudgeon stride as Luke Danes eventually. The actress that doesn’t skip a beat in the revival is Lauren Graham. From the moment she begins talking in “Winter,” she is Lorelai Gilmore. There’s no separating the two. If we didn’t know any better, we would suspect Amy Sherman-Palladino kept her locked up in Miss Patty’s Dance Studio all these years. Lorelai’s witt is stronger than ever and that’s thanks to equal parts Sherman-Palladino being back in the saddle and Graham, who never stopped living the role.
From the moment the camera pans down to Lorelai sitting on the steps of the gazebo, you can tell how emotional Graham is to be back. The slight crack in her voice when she turns to Bledel and utters “I’ve missed you kid,” is enough to reduce any fan to a puddle. And this is just the beginning. Throughout Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, Graham shines in the moments of pure heartache. The show may thrive on the hilarious, pop culture infused moments, but Graham out does herself in the dramatic ones. During each episode, she proves why she’s the steady pillar for the Gilmore Girls franchise.
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‘The Walking Dead’ Cast Dishes on Brutal Season 7 at NYCC
On Saturday, The Walking Dead producers and stars descended on Madison Square Garden to chat all things season seven at New York Comic Con. Moderated by Talking Dead host Chris Hardwick, The Walking Dead crew dished on filming this horrific season and what’s ahead.
Last season, The Walking Dead ended on a brutal, emotional cliffhanger. The episode found Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and the gang on their knees at the mercy of Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). For those fans wondering if the show will pull another fast one and not reveal the victim, executive producer Scott M. Gimple assures fans “You will indeed find out in the season seven premiere.” He tells fans there won’t be another fake out like the end of season six.
Although fans were less than pleased about the epic cliffhanger, The Walking Deadcrew says the season premiere brings some amazing performances. Gimple says, “The performances this year are astounding. The actors are the stars this year.” Executive producer and director for the season opener, Greg Nicotero also spoke to the incredible performances this season saying, “Some of the most amazing moments were found not where you’re going to expect them.”
Speaking to the season seven premiere, everyone unanimously seems to agree it was a grueling episode to film. Norman Reedus says he felt utterly powerless while shooting the season six finale and season seven premiere. He says, “I hated doing all that. It was miserable. It sucked, it really did.”
Of course Negan was the main topic at this years NYCC panel. Jeffrey Dean Morgan joined the panel for the first time this year and was enjoying every bit of it. Morgan describes Negan’s level of justice as “Barnum and Bailey.” He continues saying, “This world is his stage and he owns it.”
Fans caught a glimpse of his special brand of justice at the end of season six, but it’s only going to get worse. This is already evident in a new The Walking Dead sneak peak released shortly after their NYCC panel. So, if Negan is that brutal, why does he have so many followers? Morgan answers this saying, “A lot of people follow him out of fear of getting an iron to the face or worse. But he’s also kept a lot of people alive for a long time.”
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Note: This article was nominated for “Outstanding News Article” at the 36th Annual EVVY Awards
‘Outlander’ Review: “Dragonfly in Amber”
From the upscale halls of Parisian royalty to the blood stained battlefield on Culloden Moor, Outlander brings fans on a life-altering journey with season two. The monumental season two finale, “Dragonfly in Amber” effortlessly weaves together the 1745 and 1968 storylines, introduces two, fan favorite book characters and leaves fans with an emotional pit in their stomachs.
When season two of Outlander began, fans learned that Claire (Caitriona Balfe) had been sent back through the stones to 1948 leaving Jamie (Sam Heughan) behind. Not only had Claire returned to Frank (Tobias Menzies), but she was also pregnant with Jamie’s child. Now after twelve, emotionally charged episodes, fans return to the future storyline, this time in 1968. Writers Toni Graphia and Matthew B. Roberts do a beautiful job at bringing Diana Gabaldon’s book to life as they effortlessly intertwine the 1745 Battle of Culloden with Claire’s 1968 storyline. With the 1745 storyline feeling claustrophobic and rushed, the 1968 storyline breathes and lets the weight of Claire’s decisions fully sink in. More than any other episode the repercussions of time travel are at the forefront. Outlander is about time traveling and dealing with those consequences and the season two finale gets back to that basic theme.
After an entire season of waiting, fans were finally introduced to Roger Wakefield MacKenzie and Brianna Randall Fraser in an epic 90-minute finale. Following so much secrecy surrounding Brianna and Roger’s introduction into Outlander, Sophie Skelton and Richard Rankin were formally ushered into the Outlander family. Rankin brings his A-game and brings Roger to life with as much heart and charisma as his character has on the page. One of his first outstanding scenes in finale comes between him and Balfe. After Claire and Brianna arrive in Inverness after the passing of Roger’s adoptive father, Reverend Wakefield, Claire begins to relive the mistakes of the past. One night when she can’t sleep, Roger and Claire have a heart to heart about saying goodbye to those you love. It’s a small scene in the grand scheme of the episode, however it introduces Rankin as a formidable scene partner for Balfe. Rankin’s ability to be the calming voice amongst a sea of chaos in this episode of Outlander proves he’s the right man to bring Roger to life.
When it was first announced that Outlander would come to life on TV, the first thing fans did was dream cast their favorite characters. Of course, Jamie and Claire were at the top of the list, but next came their daughter, Brianna. The actress stepping into the role had to embody characteristics from Heughan and Balfe and be able to bring this eloquently crafted character to life. Seeing British actress Sophie Skelton bring the role to life in the finale is something truly special to witness. From the moment she walks the halls of Roger’s house, Brianna Randall Fraser has leapt off the page in the most perfect way. Skelton has several key moments in the season two finale. Between her chemistry with Rankin to going toe-to-toe with Balfe, Skelton proves herself in this episode.
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‘Sidekick’ Beautifully Tells A New Kind of Superhero Story
What do you get when The Flash camera extraordinary, Jeff Cassidy, enlists three of the biggest TV stars for a new kind of superhero film? The beautifully crafted 15-minute short film, Sidekick. In a TV and film landscape filled to the brim with superheroes,Sidekick breaks through the clutter and creates a short film filled with heart.
Sidekick tells the story of James (Josh Dallas) and Emma (Emily Bett Rickards) as they deal with tragic news. One night, James puts their young son, Billy (Christian Michael Cooper), to bed and he spins an elaborate story to make him feel better. He tells the story of Captain Strong (also Dallas), who fell in love with a beautiful Princess (also Rickards) in need of rescuing. But with every superhero there comes a super villain. The villainous Darkman (Tom Cavanagh) is out to kill Captain Strong and torture the Princess. The only way to save Captain Strong is if his sidekick rises. Written and directed by Jeff Cassidy, Sidekick uses the superhero genre to tell an even bigger story.
Jeff Cassidy’s script is the heart of Sidekick. The superhero moments are filled with destroyed city streets and amazing special effects, but the soul of this short film lies in Cassidy’s script. He intricately weaves together the real world storyline with the superhero one. As a viewer, we know there’s something devastating happening in the real world, but it’s never explicitly said what. Cassidy leaves the audience inferring, which makes the short film all the better. We don’t need to know what’s happening with James, his relationship with Billy and Emma propels the story forward. Cassidy creates this world with enough complexity to leave us guessing, while still making it a story we can all relate too. Sidekick goes above and beyond because it shows us the morality in ourselves and even superheroes.
Sidekick hinges on Dallas’ perform as both a superhero and just a normal father. He struggle to make sure there is a life for his family long after he’s gone. His epic superhero moments are only exemplified with his intimate moments with Rickards and Cooper. Sidekick opens with Emma and James sharing a quiet, heartbreaking moment in the car. Although no words are exchanged, it’s a scene that sets the stage for the rest of the film. James weaves an intricate story and Dallas allows fans to hang on every single word. He breathes life, depth, and hope into Sidekick and it’s breathtaking.
If you’ve ever watched an episode of Arrow, you already know that Emily Bett Rickards thrives in emotional moments. Simply seeing her on screen crying is enough for us to reach for a box of tissues. Although she’s in a superhero short, Rickards plays a character far from Felicity Smoak. She’s a mother and a wife, who can’t seem to find a way past the tragedy in her life. The change of character is jarring at first, but as the film progresses, Rickards proves she will have an extensive career long after Arrow. Emma’s most heartbreaking moment comes when she’s sitting in their living room rewatching her wedding video. A moment lacking any dialogue, Rickards shines.
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A Look at How ‘Outlander’ Became The Breakout Drama You Need to Be Watching
On Saturday, Outlander will end its second season with the highly-anticipated episode, “Dragonfly in Amber.” The 90-minute finale will include the monumental Battle of Culloden, an event that will leave Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie’s (Sam Heughan) world forever changed. The season finale will also introduce fans to highly-anticipated characters Brianna (Sophie Skelton) and Roger (Richard Rankin).
Ahead of the season two finale, Emertainment Monthly looks back at how Outlander became the breakout drama you need to be watching right now!
It All Started With a Man in a Kilt
In order to fully appreciate the TV show, you first have to look at the beautifully crafted book series. Long before Jamie and Claire were traveling through the Highlands on TV, the duo were turning heads in Diana Gabaldon’s romance series. In 1991, Gabaldon released the first novel in what would become The Outlander Series, Outlander.
According to her official website, Outlander wasn’t originally supposed to be published. Gabaldon wrote the novel for practice and it spiraled from there. The inspiration for Outlander and the Scottish setting actually came from a minor character in a Dr. Who episode. Gabaldon says, “[I] was taken by a minor character– a young Scotsman from 1745, who appeared in his kilt…” So that’s where Gabaldon began. She had no prior knowledge of Scotland or the eighteenth century. There was no predetermined plot, no outline, no characters in mind, she says there was “nothing but the rather vague images conjured up by a man in a kilt.”
Gabaldon also discusses the idea of time-travel on her official website. She says the idea for a time-travel novel came directly from the character, Claire. She reminisces about writing the scene inOutlander where Dougal meets Claire for the first time. Gabaldon writes, “without my stopping to think who she should be, she drew herself up, stared belligerently at him and said ‘Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp. And who the hell are you?’ She promptly took over the story and began telling it herself, making smart-ass modern remarks about everything.” At this point Gabaldon didn’t think anyone would read Outlander. She figured she would determine how Claire travelled to the past later on. She says, “So the time-travel was all her [Claire’s] fault.”
The original novel also earned Gabaldon a 1992 Romance Writer’s of America’s RITA Award for Best Romance of 1991. Outlander also reached number one on The New York Times Bestseller List for Fiction in 2014 following the release of the TV show.
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First Timers Rule: A Look at First Time Winners at the 2016 Emmy Awards
Last night, the 68th Annual Emmy Awards held some surprising wins for TV’s biggest night. Some veterans took home trophies, like Julia Louis-Dreyfus for Veep and Jeffrey Tambor for Transparent, however the theme of the night seemed to be: first timers.
When the 2016 Emmy nominations were first announced, I was pleasantly surprised by the new talent being recognized. Sure, I had my share of snubs like everyone else, but a lot of new faces would be gracing the Emmy Awards. There was Kit Harington for Game of Thrones, Constance Zimmer for UnREAL, Ellie Kemper for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Americans finally got the love they deserved and numerous others that stole my heart during the past TV season. Although some of my favorites were finally getting recognized, I couldn’t help but wonder if this would really change the Emmy game?
Over the past few Emmy Awards most of the same actors and shows have dominated categories. We went through an era of Bryan Cranston, deservedly, taking home Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series, Modern Family winning Best Comedy Series year after year and even Maggie Smith bringing home Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series time and time again. Although some things still haven’t changed, I began to be bored with the Emmy Awards. A night that I had deemed my “Super Bowl” for so many years was beginning to be somewhat predictable.
So, when Kevin Spacey for House of Cards, Claire Danes for Homeland and even Bob Odenkirk for Better Call Saul showed up as nominees, I became slightly discouraged. I felt like these nominations could have come out four years prior and still be relevant. Not that these veterans didn’t deserve their nominations, all of them continuously thrive on their respective shows, however I wanted to see new people take home TV’s highest honor.
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Celebrating 10 Years of ‘Friday Night Lights’: A Look Back at Our Favorite Episodes
Ten years ago today we learned the meaning of “Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can’t Lose” when Friday Night Lights first premiered on NBC. In its five season run, Friday Night Lights became one of the most beloved dramas in TV history. Fans fell head-over-heels in love with Eric and Tami Taylor (Connie Britton) and the entire culture of Texas high school football.
Based on the 1990 best selling novel by H.G Bissinger, Friday Night Lights was first adapted to a film in 2004. The hit TV show developed by Peter Berg and executive produced by Jason Katims (Parenthood). Friday Night Lights would go onto change the face of TV dramas.
Set in the fictional town of Dillon, Texas, Friday Night Lights tells the story of a small, close-knit community in rural Texas. The series follows Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and his family as he coaches the elite Dillon high school football team: The Panthers. The show beautifully uses the small town as a backdrop to address many issues facing contemporary American culture. From family values to school funding to racism and drugs, Friday Night Lights tackles it all.
Friday Night Lights originally ran for two season on NBC. Despite passionate fans and critical acclaim, the show was in threat of cancellation until DirecTV struck a deal with NBC to co-produce the last three season. Although low ratings ultimately led to the series cancellation, the critical acclaim consistently followed the show. In 2011, Chandler won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Katims also won for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for the series finale, “Always.” He beat critically acclaimed shows such as Mad Men and Game of Thrones.
Ten years later, thanks to the power of Netflix, more and more people are traveling to Dillon and falling in love with Friday Night Lights. In honor of this incredible drama’s tenth anniversary, executive stage editor Nora Dominick lists her top ten favorite episodes to celebrate!
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Happy 10th Birthday The CW! A Look at Ten of Its Greatest Series
Today marks the 10th anniversary of The CW! Over its ten year history it has transformed itself from a perceived “teen network” into a heavy hitter on TV. Producing numerous hit TV shows, introducing fans to fresh faced actors and earning awards across the board, The CW has solidified its rank amongst the best.
Resident CW reporter, Nora Dominick, lists her top ten CW shows to celebrate the massive 10th anniversary of the network!
Check out the full list below!
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‘Teen Wolf’ Unveils Final Season Trailer Ahead of NYCC
It’s time to say farewell. Just ahead of Teen Wolf heading to New York Comic Con for the final time, the hit TV shows dropped a monumental final season trailer.
For fans wondering how Teen Wolf will address Dylan O’Brien’s absence this season, some clues were finally revealed. O’Brien was injured while filming the latest film in The Maze Runner franchise earlier this year.
The trailer focuses on Stiles (O’Brien) begging Lydia (Holland Roden) not to forget him before he is swept into darkness. Not only will Lydia be struggling to remember Stiles it seems the entire pack will also forget him. Cue the sobs.
The heartbreak doesn’t stop there. The bromance between Stiles and Scott (Tyler Posey) is at the core of the season. In the trailer, Scott asks why he needs to remember Stiles. Stiles replies in the most heartbreaking way saying, “You are my best friend. You’re my brother.”
If that isn’t enough towards the end of the trailer Stiles utters the very words “Stydia” fans have been waiting for, “I love you.” Teen Wolf is already making a splash in its final season and it’s just through trailers.
Teen Wolf’s final season is definitely a homage to devoted, long time fans and we are ready tor strap in for a wild, heartbreaking ride.
Check out the full trailer now!
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*Note: These are not all my published articles*
Nora Dominick 