Entertainment Extra

2 ENTERTAINMENT EXTRA By Kyla Brewer TV Media N ow that the fall television season is in full swing, a cor- nucopia of new shows is com- peting for the attention of TV fans, and only the strong will sur- vive. One of the most promising series seems to have it all with a mix of of drama, mystery, sus- pense and science fiction, not to mention a very likable star. Allison Tolman ("Fargo") plays Jo Evans, a police chief who takes in a young girl, Piper (Alexa Swinton, "Billions"), after she's found unscathed near the scene of a mysterious crash in "Emergence," airing Tuesday, Oct. 1, on ABC. Piper has no memory of what happened or who she really is, so Evans tries to uncover the truth about the girl's identity while also trying to protect her from people with unknown motives. As the plot thickens, the investigation uncov- ers a conspiracy that puts Evans and her loved ones — including Piper — at risk. Evans struggles to keep Piper and her own daughter, Bree (Ashley Aufderheide, "Going in Style," 2017), safe as she delves into the mystery behind the unexplained disaster. All the while, bizarre electronic disrup- tions wreak havoc around town and a strange cryptic symbol seems somehow related to Piper and the crash. The role of Evans requires a careful blend of strength and empathy, something Tolman talk- ed about in an interview with collider.com in July. "What I really wanted to do was make sure that she was nur- turing and caring and warm and really felt like a person we trust- ed with this kid," Tolman explained. "I wanted her to be driven by being good at her job and a sense of common decen- cy." Developed by "Kevin (Probably) Saves the World" cre- ators Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas, "Emergence" was origi- nally produced as a pilot for NBC. When the Peacock network passed on the show, ABC snapped it up, but there aren't any hard feelings. According to deadline.com, NBC executive Paul Telegdy commented on the ABC pickup during an NBC Upfront press call. "'Emergence' is a great show, one that we couldn't find a home for on NBC. We are delighted it has found a future on ABC," Telegdy said. It's clear that ABC has faith in the series. The network has been heavily promoting "Emergence" since the pickup was announced, and it even tried to whet view- ers' appetites by releasing the first nine minutes of the show's first episode a full month before the premiere date. On Tuesday, Aug. 27, the network gave audi- ences the opportunity to view the opening scene of the series, which could be watched on YouTube, ABC.com, Twitter, Facebook and Hulu, as well as on select on-demand services. In a unique twist, the video was released at 3:10 a.m. ET, which is the time of day the mystery begins for Evans and her col- leagues at Long Island's Peconic Bay Police Department. "Emergence" boasts an intriguing premise, but that isn't all it has going for it. The show's cast members have plenty of experience in television. In fact, this isn't even Tolman's first time playing a police officer. She gained widespread acclaim for her role as police officer Molly Solverson in FX's "Fargo," a rei- magining of the famed 1996 Coen Brothers film of the same name. The breakout performance not only made her a star, but it also netted her Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, along with a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress. Tolman's other television credits include "Downward Dog," "The Mindy Project" and "Good Girls." While Tolman's co-star Swinton may be young, her resume is enough to make most seasoned actors jealous. She's appeared as Eva Rhoades in Showtime's "Billions" since 2016 and has snagged roles in "Manifest" and "Saturday Night Live," among other high-profile series. The supporting cast of "Emergence" includes Donald Faison ("Scrubs") as Evans' ex- husband, Alex, who's concerned about what's happening in their sleepy little town. Reuters inves- tigator Benny Gallagher (Owain Yeoman, "The Mentalist") wants to get to the bottom of what's going on as well. At the police department, Evans works along- side fellow officer Chris Minetto (Robert Bailey Jr., "The Night Shift"). She also relies on the support of her best friend, pedia- trician Dr. Abby Frasier (Zabryna Guevara, "Gotham"). Meanwhile, her father, Ed (Clancy Brown, "Carnivàle"), keeps his sense of humor as he battles cancer. YMCA 2 x 2" Pear Tree Gallery 3 x 2" On the Cover Donald Faison and Allison Tolman co-star in "Emergence" Allison Tolman stars as a police chief in 'Emergence' D&J Liquors 3 x 2" American Legion Post 60 2 x 3" Thrifty Muffler 2 x 2.5" 230 Burlington Avenue Logansport 574-992-8038 Tired of Shopping Around for THE Right Mechanic? BRAKE SPECIAL $89.95 PER AXLE. FOR MOST CARS AND TRUCKS Give us an opportunity to earn your business! "We do it Better for Less!"

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