stars on screen
In session: Legal drama ‘All Rise’ is on CBS’s fall docket
By Michelle Rose
TV Media
In Session: Fans of Netflix’s
“Luke Cage,” “The Defenders”
or even “Iron Fist” might know
her as Misty Knight, the tough-
talking New York detective with a
bionic arm.
But Simone Missick will be
looking at the law from inside the
courtroom this fall when the new
legal drama “All Rise” debuts on
Monday, Sept. 23, on CBS. The
series will also stream on CBS All
Access.
Missick is Lola Carmichael, a
former L.A. deputy district attor-
ney who is known to be tough, in-
dependent and, well, a bit uncon-
ventional. Lola has been recently
appointed to the bench, which
means she has more power now.
Lots of it. And she doesn’t waste
time wielding that gavel of hers
to get things done and push back
against a flawed justice system.
Missick’s immensely likable
Lola is the main character here,
but the series formerly known as
“Courthouse” (the change was
announced alongside the series
order in May) is an ensemble
drama.
Per CBS, the show is about pull-
ing “back the curtain on the court
system — from judges, assis-
tants, district attorneys and public
defenders to bailiffs, clerks, cops
and jurors.” That means plenty of
compelling characters, and they’ll
each be contributing their own
brand of chaos and humanity to
the weekly storylines.
Marg Helgenberger (“CSI:
Crime Scene Investigation”) is
a familiar face among a regular
cast that includes Jessica Cama-
cho (“The Flash”), Wilson Bethel
(“The Young and the Resetless”),
J. Alex Brinson (“Travelers”),
Lindsay Mendez (“Elementary”)
and Ruthie Ann Miles (“The
Americans”).
There is some buzz around this
one. But when it comes to legal
dramas, especially CBS dramas,
the bar has been set high. With
back-to-back comedies (“The
Neighborhood” and “Bob Hearts
Abishola”) serving as the lead-in,
“All Rise” has a good shot at be-
ing appreciated for what it is: a
character-driven drama with a lot
of heart.
24 | Screentime
Jessica Camacho and J. Alex Brinson in “All Rise”
Funny Lady: All this talk of
Quinta Brunson (“Broke”) joining
fall premieres got you down?
Thede and co-executive producer
Good news, HBO has a new show Issa Rae (“Insecure”).
premiering THIS week.
You might also want to tune
Written by the very funny
in for the guest appearances, be-
Robin Thede (“The Nightly Show
cause the star-studded lineup is a
with Larry Wilmore”), “A Black
who’s who of funny celebrities.
Lady Sketch Show” debuts Friday,
There’s Angela Bassett, David
Aug. 2, on HBO. It’s being de-
Alan Grier and Laverne Cox ...
scribed as a “narrative series set
and Tia Mowry, Aja Naomi King,
in a limitless magical reality full of Patti Labelle, Lena Waithe, Amber
dynamic hilarious characters and
Riley, Yvonne Orji, Loretta Devine,
celebrity guests.”
Gina Torres, Lil Rel Howery,
It’s a half-hour cinematic
Jermaine Fowler, Deon Cole, Na-
sketch show. And it’s one that
tasha Rothwell, Marsai Martin,
already has people talking.
Khandi Alexander, Larry Wilmore,
The groundbreaking series is
Yvette Nicole Brown and Kelly
the first sketch comedy show to
Rowland. You know, just to name
be created, written and directed
a few.
by a black woman. It also features
Earlier this month, HBO re-
an all-black female regular cast,
leased an official trailer. Set to
with Ashley Nicole Black (“Full
Saweetie’s “My Type,” it gave
Frontal with Samantha Bee”), Ga- viewers a taste of what’s to
brielle Dennis (“Rosewood”) and come, like a hike gone wrong
July 24, 2019 | East Oregonian and Hermiston Herald
and a flight attendant struggling
to get a clear “yes” from a pas-
senger.
For viewers, and especially
comedy fans, “A Black Lady
Sketch Show” is a welcome ad-
dition to the TV landscape. As
for HBO, the network has to be
loving all the buzz that’s been
building online ahead of the Aug.
2 premiere.
Say What: From standup to
fangirl encounters with celebri-
ties, Tiffany Haddish (“Girls Trip,”
2017) really does say the darned-
est things. So it’s not much of a
stretch to picture the outspoken
comedian relating with kids who
simply, and innocently, tell it like
it is.
This fall, Haddish serves as host
and executive producer of ABC’s
revival of “Kids Say The Darndest
Things,” which is set to air on
Sundays.
Taped in front of a live audi-
ence, each episode is a mix of
in-studio and taped segments.
There’s “Kids Rule,” in which kids
attempt to explain random rules
to Haddish; “Best Carpool Ever,”
with Haddish chatting up a mini-
van full of kids; “Love Talk” sees
the host getting relationship ad-
vice; and “Granny Tiff,” in which a
costumed “elderly” Haddish gets
tech advice.
The taped segments come
from all across America, courtesy
of recent casting calls in several
cities, including San Diego and
Las Vegas. Kids were asked ran-
dom questions, and you’ll see
many of their reactions or candid
responses come Oct. 6.
Haddish isn’t the only celebrity
helming a kids-themed showcase
this fall. Melissa McCarthy, who
co-stars with Haddish in “The
Kitchen” (coming out in theaters
next week), is taking over the
reins from Steve Harvey for Sea-
son 4 of NBC’s “Little Big Shots.”
The idea for “Kids Say the
Darndest Things” isn’t new,
dating back to 1945 when Art
Linkletter incorporated it into his
“House Party” radio show, and
later on his TV series.
The bit of history that isn’t
talked about as much is the previ-
ous incarnation of “Kids Say the
Darndest Things,” which was
hosted by now-disgraced come-
dian Bill Cosby. But the only thing
it has in common with Haddish’s
edition — other than funny kids
saying funny stuff, of course — is
executive producer Eric Schotz,
who was also at the helm of CBS’s
“Seriously Funny Kids” (2011).