stars on screen
We have lift-off
HBO launches new Hugh Laurie space comedy
By Michelle Rose
TV Media
We have lift-off: NASA has
big plans for the new decade,
including a return trip to the
moon (the last moon landing was
in 1972) with an eye toward a
mission to Mars. But if this week
is any indication, the 2020s may
prove to be a big decade for
space on small screens, too.
While all sci-loving eyes are
on Patrick Stewart and streamer
CBS All Access this week — “Star
Trek: Picard” debuts Thursday,
Jan. 23 — HBO is also shooting
for the stars but is aiming for
laughter with its new space-
themed series.
“Avenue 5” premieres Sunday,
Jan. 19. The series is set a few
decades from now, when space
tourism has taken off and fol-
lowing an unprecedented era of
space exploration.
This one is more satire than sci-
fi — think “Star Trek” meets “The
Love Boat,” with hints of “Veep.”
The action largely takes place
on the titular cruise ship. And if
the dialogue and humor remind
you of the Julia Louis-Dreyfus
comedy, there’s a good reason:
former “Veep” showrunner
Armando Iannucci is at the helm
of “Avenue 5” off screen, while
Hugh Laurie, who had a recurring
guest role on “Veep,” is at the
helm on screen.
Laurie is best known for por-
traying the cantankerous title
character on the Fox medical
drama, “House, M.D.” But his
lengthy filmography provides
ample proof of comedic chops
that were honed (or suitably
showcased) on classic Britcoms
such as “Blackadder” and
“Jeeves and Wooster,” to name
a few.
The actor stars as Ryan Clark,
the captain of the luxury space
cruise ship, which quickly ex-
periences technical difficulties
during its voyage. Clark and the
rest of the staff — including
Zach Woods (“The Office”) as
the head of customer relations
— struggle to keep passengers
calm. Add an out-of-touch bil-
lionaire (Josh Gad, better known
24 | Screentime
Hugh Laurie stars in “Avenue 5”
to parents as the voice of Olaf
The series was a big hit in
in the “Frozen” movies), and a
Gadot’s native Israel, where
boozy former astronaut (Ethan
it’s known as “Malkot,” and a
Phillips, aka Neelix in “Star Trek:
second season will air this year.
Voyager”), and the situation is
The U.S. adaptation is still in the
ripe with chaos and (hopefully)
concept stage, so no word yet on
comedy.
its future home or a possible pre-
miere date. But it’s a joint project
Gadot’s TV gigs: Can’t get
between Endemol Shine and
enough of that “Wonder Woman
Gadot’s production company,
1984” trailer? Currently in post-
Pilot Wave, which she formed
production, the film is due out in
earlier last year with her produc-
theaters on June 5. In the mean-
ing partner and husband, Jaron
time, Wonder Woman herself,
Varsano. Both spouses will serve
actress Gal Gadot, has been busy as executive producers.
lining up future TV projects.
Another TV project may not
Gadot is teaming up with En-
have a premiere date (or even a
demol Shine to remake the crime
title), either, but it does have a
drama “Queens.” The original se- home: Gadot has signed on to
ries is the story of the women of
star in and produce a Showtime
the Malka family, who are forced
limited series about Hedy Lamarr
to run the family business after a
(“Samson and Delilah,” 1949).
rival crime syndicate takes down
Gadot will star as the Austrian-
all the men in their family.
born Hollywood icon. Lamarr was
January 15, 2020 | East Oregonian and Hermiston Herald
also a brilliant inventor — she
helped pioneer technology that
still plays a part in the Wi-Fi and
Bluetooth devices of today. Sarah
Treem, co-creator of “The Affair,”
will serve as writer and execu-
tive producer, along with Warren
Littlefield (“The Handmaid’s
Tale”), Katie Robbins (“The Last
Tycoon”), and, of course, Varsano.
Richie recurring: ABC’s
“Bless This Mess” is the story of a
New York City couple who moved
to a Nebraska farm without
any prior farming experience or
knowledge.
And that “fish out of water”
concept probably sounds familiar
to Nicole Richie, whose “rich
socialite on the farm” antics in
“The Simple Life” made her a
household name in the early to
mid aughts.
Today, Richie is a busy fash-
ion designer, author, mom and
producer whose acting credits
include a series regular role on
NBC’s “Great News.” But next
month, she’ll be adding to her re-
sume with a recurring guest spot
on “Bless This Mess.”
In a multi-episode arc, Richie
will play Rio’s (Lake Bell, “Chil-
drens Hospital”) NYC bestie,
who “would probably tell you
she’s from Brooklyn, but she’s a
spoiled Upper-East-Sider through
and through” (as reported by
Deadline). Richie’s character is
looking to get married at Mike
(Dax Shepard, “The Ranch”) and
Rio’s farm, which is described as
“super rustic, kind of gross.”
Last spring, it was announced
that Richie had been cast as a
series regular in “Richard Lovely”
opposite “Seinfeld” alum Jason
Alexander and “Just Shoot Me’s”
Wendie Mallick. Fox has since
passed on the comedy pilot, but it
looks like Richie will next appear
on streaming services in 2020.
Look for the founder of House
of Harlow 1960 to be part of the
judging panel on Heidi Klum and
Tim Gunn’s “Making the Cut”
series, coming soon to Amazon.
And Quibi has teamed up with
Richie for the upcoming comedy
series “Nikki Fre$h” (that’s the
name of her rapper alter ego). The
series will have a wellness and
lifestyle theme, with Nikki Fre$h
interacting with experts while
using music to deliver socially
conscious messaging. Richie
and JAX Media will produce the
series, with music overseen by
Benji and Joel Madden’s MDDN
(Joel has been married to Richie
since 2010).