hollywood q&a
By Adam Thomlison
TV Media
Q: We’re wondering
about some of our favorite
shows from last season —
“Survivor,” “A Place to Call
Home” and “Victoria” on
Masterpiece? Will they be
back?
A: The answer is a yes and
two very different maybes.
You have no need to
wonder about “Survivor” for
a while — Season 39 (yes,
you read that right) debuts
later this month, and CBS has
already ponied up for a 40th
season in 2020.
I’ll address the two maybes
in order of likelihood.
“Victoria,” which stars
Jenna Coleman (“Doctor
Who”) and Tom Hughes (“The
Game”) as Queen Victoria
and Prince Albert, hasn’t
officially been greenlit for a
fourth season, but it’s been a
huge hit for PBS, and for ITV
in the U.K. — it’s produced
jointly by the two networks.
And there was no kind of
resolution to the story at
the end of Season 3. (Queen
Victoria reigned for more than
63 years, so how could there
be?) All this bodes well for a
renewal.
The chances of more
episodes of “A Place to Call
Home” range from unlikely
to basically impossible, de-
pending on how you’ve been
watching it so far. That series
was produced in Australia
and aired its sixth and final
season there in 2018. It aired
(in the traditional definition)
in North America on PBS af-
filiates but stopped at Season
4. However, all six seasons
are available to stream in
North America via the Acorn.
tv site (a Netflix competitor
that specializes in imports
from other English-speaking
countries).
So if you’ve been watching
on Acorn, you’re all caught
up and out of luck. If you’ve
watched it on PBS, there are
two seasons you haven’t seen
yet.
However, PBS has made
no mention of picking them
up for air. That could mean
they’re just waiting, or it
could mean they’ve aban-
12 | Screentime
doned the show entirely. The
fourth season debuted on PBS
back in 2017, so the second
scenario is more likely.
But that doesn’t mean you
should give up hope. Both of
the latter shows are interna-
tional ones, and those tend to
operate on a different — that
is, slower and less predictable
— schedule than American
or Canadian ones. Years
often pass between seasons,
meaning that in the case of
“A Place to Call Home,” PBS
can take its time making a
decision on those last two
seasons.
Q: Is it true that Timothy
Olyphant and Anderson
Cooper are related?
A: Handsome seems to run
in the extended Vanderbilt
family.
Former “Justified” star
Timothy Olyphant and news
talking-head Anderson Coo-
per are indeed semi-distant
cousins (third cousins once
removed, if anyone’s keeping
that kind of score).
Both are descended from
William Henry Vanderbilt and
Maria Louisa Kissam — they
were the great-great-great-
grandparents of Olyphant on
his father’s side, and Cooper’s
great-great-grandparents on
his mother’s side. They were
also the second generation of
the megawealthy Vanderbilt
family, which made its money
in shipping and railroads in
the mid-1800s. They were
once the richest family in
America, and they still com-
mand a hefty fortune.
Many of the Vanderbilt
offspring have gravitated to
showbiz. Cooper’s mother
was noted author, designer
and artist Gloria Vanderbilt,
and another distant relative,
James Vanderbilt, is a suc-
cessful Hollywood screen-
writer. He penned such hits as
2012’s “The Amazing Spider-
Man” and this year’s Netflix
film “Murder Mystery,” which
itself was set in the world of
the upper class.
Have a question? Email us
at questions@tvtabloid.com.
Please include your name and
town. Personal replies will not
be provided.
August 28, 2019 | East Oregonian and Hermiston Herald
STREAMING THIS WEEK
Shameik Moore as seen in “Wu-Tang: An American Saga”
By Jessica Gosse
TV Media
WHAT’S NEW ON HULU
“Wu-Tang: An American Saga”
On Wednesday, Sept. 4, Hulu presents the new miniseries “Wu-Tang:
An American Saga.” Written and produced by Alex Tse (“SuperFly,”
2018) and original Wu Tang Clan member RZA, the series introduces
the members of hip hop’s original dynasty. Set in Staten Island, New
York City, in the early 1990s, the show follows Bobby Diggs (a.k.a.
RZA) as he works to bring together a dozen talented black men who
are torn between a life of crime and a career in music. The biographi-
cal miniseries boasts a strong cast, including Ashton Sanders (“Moon-
light,” 2016), Shameik Moore (“The Get Down”), Siddiq Saunderson
(“Boomerang,” 2019) and Zolee Griggs (“Bit,” 2019). Inspired by
“The Wu-Tang Manual,” a book about the philosophy and history of
the group written by RZA, this compelling miniseries will both enter-
tain you and tug at your heart strings. Catch the first three episodes of
the 10-episode series when they premiere Wednesday, Sept. 4, with a
new episode slated for release every subsequent Wednesday.
“Untouchable” (2019)
On Monday, Sept. 2, the controversial documentary “Untouchable”
premieres on Hulu. The film originally premiered at this years Sun-
dance Film Festival and is a harsh look at the life of producer Harvey
Weinstein as he built his intimidating empire — easy to see why there
has been controversy attached to this one. The documentary looks at
how Weinstein rose to his position of dominance within the Weinstein
Company and Miramax, and how he was brought down by more
than 80 allegations of sexual assault. Viewers are treated to accounts
from former employees who enabled the power-hungry abuser, as
well as interviews with a number of celebrities — including Rosanna
Arquette (“Pulp Fiction,” 1994) and Paz de la Huerta (“Boardwalk
Empire”) — who were affected not only professionally, but physically
and emotionally by the movie mogul’s unscrupulous use of power.
“Untouchable” is a poignant film that looks at the lasting effects of
sexual assault and the Hollywood empire that turned a blind eye.
tans” would premiere Friday, Sept. 6, on their streaming platform.
The series focuses on a team of superhero vigilantes led by Batman’s
former sidekick, Dick Grayson, a.k.a. Robin (Brenton Thwaites, “Gods
of Egypt,” 2016), who was infected with a dark force at the end of
Season 1. Fighting alongside him are Raven (Teagan Croft “Home
and Away”), a teenage girl with incredible powers that she doesn’t
yet understand; Starfire (Anna Diop, “Us,” 2019), an alien warrior
who was sent to Earth to capture Raven but chooses to stay and
protect her instead; and Beast Boy (Ryan Potter, “Big Hero 6,” 2104),
a shape shifter whose powers came from the life-saving treatment of
a fringe-science doctor. Minka Kelly (“Almost Human”) also stars as
Dawn Granger, the Dove half of Hawk and Dove, a vigilante team that
Robin used to run with. Alan Ritchson (“The Wedding Ringer,” 2015)
is Hawk. The new season delivers even more exciting characters with
the arrival of Iain Glen (“Game of Thrones”) as Bruce Wayne and Esai
Morales (“Ozark”) as main villain Slade Wilson (a.k.a. Deathstroke
the Terminator). Based on the comic book series “The New Teen Ti-
tans,” created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez, the series itself is
very dark (as so many of the DC Comics adaptations are), but is also
highly comical, thanks to some great writing. Whether or not you’re a
comic book fan, you won’t want to miss Season 2 of “Titans,” and you
can catch up on Season 1 on DC Universe any time.
WHAT’S NEW ON NETFLIX
“Elite” Season 2
On Friday, Sept. 6, Season 2 of the Spanish drama/thriller “Elite” is
set to premiere on Netflix. Akin to shows like “Gossip Girl” and “Big
Little Lies,” “Elite” focuses on the lives of three working-class teenag-
ers, Samuel (Itzan Escamilla “Victor Ros”), Christian (Miguel Herran
“Money Heist”) and Nadia (Mina El Hammani “Servir y proteger”),
who are enrolled in an exclusive private school after the roof of their
public school collapses. Their arrival sparks controversy in a school
where money, sex and power determine your social standing, and the
three quickly clash with their wealthy classmates. The first season
hooks you immediately with scandals such as a mysterious murder,
student-teacher blackmail and faith-based discrimination, not to
mention the perennial high school problem: relationships. The new
season includes new cast members, including Claudia Salas (“The
Plague”), Jorge López (“Soy Luna”) and Georgina Amorós (“Welcome
to the Family”). Season 1 of the Spanish series is already available on
Netflix, so you can catch up on the nuances of privilege and sexuality
before the Season 2 premiere on Friday, Sept. 6.
Into the Dark: Pure
The September installment of the gruesome horror event series “Into
the Dark” premieres Friday, Sept. 6, on Hulu. This month’s feature
spins an eerie tale that plays out on a holiday known as Daughter’s
Day and stars Jahkara Smith (“NOS4A2”) and McKaley Miller (“Hart
of Dixie”) as two teen girls who attend a purity retreat. As they par-
ticipate in a secret ritual intended to release a demon, things begin to
go sideways, and the girls are torn between the dangers of the super-
natural being they’ve summoned and the pressures of conforming to
their fathers’ expectations. Don’t miss this frightful, supernatural new
episode in Hulu’s horror series.
WHAT’S NEW ON DC UNIVERSE
“Titans” Season 2
During an event promoting their new streaming service at this year’s
San Diego Comic-Con, DC Comics announced that Season 2 of “Ti-
Brenton Thwaites stars in “Titans”