The Brainerd Dispatch - Today's Entertainment Magazine
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Brainerd Dispatch • June 19 - 25, 2022 •19 "Love, Victor" - Season 3 Learn to love who you are with the third and final sea- son of Hulu's hit teen drama "Love, Victor," premiering on the streamer Wednesday, June 15. Based in the world of the 2018 film "Love, Simon," the series began as Victor Salazar (Michael Cimino, "Annabelle Comes Home," 2019) moved to a new school in Atlanta and was forced to navigate new friendships, family drama, budding relationships and a new city — all while com- ing to terms with his sexuality. Season 2, meanwhile, found a newly out Victor navigating new challenges as an openly gay athlete. Now, as the series comes to a close in Season 3, Victor goes on a journey of self- discovery as he and his friends try to make the best choices for their futures, knowing full well that the end of high school looms just around the corner. Inspired by the novel "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli, "Love, Victor" is created by Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger (both of "This Is Us"). The series also stars Rachel Hilson ("This Is Us"), Anthony Turpel ("9-1-1"), Bebe Wood ("The Real O'Neals"), Mason Gooding ("Booksmart," 2019), George Sear ("Will"), Isabella Ferreira ("Orange Is the New Black"), James Martinez ("House of Cards"), Ana Ortiz ("Ugly Betty"), Anthony Keyvan ("Two Eyes," 2020) and new talent Mateo Fernandez. "Good Luck to You, Leo Grande" (2022) Fall in love all over again with the highly anticipated new dramedy "Good Luck to You, Leo Grande," premiering on Hulu Friday, June 17. Emma Thompson ("Sense and Sensibility," 1995) stars as 55-year-old Nancy Stokes, a retired school teacher and widow who is yearning for adventure, human connection and (finally) some fun with intimacy. While her life with her husband was happy and comfortable, a full sex life was never part of the equation. Now, in a bid to have a real adventure and do something for herself, Nancy develops a relationship with a sex worker named Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack, "Peaky Blinders"). While Leo is every bit as good-looking and (ahem) talented as she was hoping, what Nancy wasn't expecting was the incredible conversation and connection that he also provided. The story follows the pair through three ren- dezvous, as the power dynamics between them shift and their emotions start to slip through each of their well-worn masks. Directed by Sophie Hyde ("Animals," 2019) and written by Katy Brand ("Nanny McPhee Returns," 2010), "Good Luck to You, Leo Grande" also stars Lennie Beare ("The Toys That Built America"), Isabella Laughland ("Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince," 2009) and newcomers Les Mabaleka, Carina Lopes and Charlotte Ware. "The Wonder Years" - Season 1, 10 episodes Learn the secret to finding your "wonder years" in tough times with the reboot of "The Wonder Years," airing the second half of its first season on Disney+ as of Wednesday, June 15. Originally an ABC produc- tion, this coming-of-age story follows the Williams family, a middle-class Black family living their life in Montgomery, Alabama, during the 1960s. A particu- larly turbulent time and place for people of color, the Williamses take on every challenge with which they are faced, always trying to find happiness in the little moments they share in the company of family, friends and allies of various kinds. Based on the TV series of the same name which ran from 1988-93 and chronicled the lives of a white family during the period of change from the '60s into the '70s, this reboot is narrated by Don Cheadle ("Hotel Rwanda," 2004), who plays the now-adult version of lead 12-year-old character Dean Williams (Elisha Williams, "Puppy Dog Pals"). While half of the series' first season has already been released on the streamer, these 10 episodes complete the first part of the Williams family's saga before they continue their journey in the newly announced second season. Created by Saladin K. Patterson ("Dave"), "The Wonder Years" also stars Amari O'Neil ("Station 19"), Milan Ray ("Modern Love"), Saycon Sengbloh ("Respect," 2021), Dulé Hill ("Psych"), Julian Lerner ("Yes Day," 2021), Laura Kariuki ("Black Lightning"), Allen Maldonado ("Maya and the Three"), Andrew Tull ("Miles from Nowhere," 2022), Charity Jordan ("Z: The Beginning of Everything") and Caleb Black ("Sins of the Father," 2019). "T.O.T.S." - Season 3, 10 episodes Grab the kids and go on an adventure with the clever creatures from "T.O.T.S." when Disney+ releases 12 episodes from the show's third season on the streamer Wednesday, June 15. Still in its third season on Disney Junior, the streaming platform releases episodes 14 to 23 for those exclusively streaming. The series follows Pip the penguin and Freddy the flamingo, the only non- stork baby-delivery birds at Tiny Ones Transport Service (T.O.T.S.). Throughout these new-to-the-streamer episodes, the pair tackle everything from harebrained plans for success and delivery snafus to tea parties, tooth problems, sneaky squirrels and visits to the moon. They also practice minding their manners and dealing with their overwhelming emotions. Created by Travis Braun ("Monsters at Work"), the series voice stars Christian J. Simon ("Sydney to the Max") as Fred- dy and Jet Jurgensmeyer ("Last Man Standing") as Pip. "The Summer I Turned Pretty" - Season 1 Jenny Han's young adult romance novel trilogy makes its way to the small screen when the new Prime origi- nal series "The Summer I Turned Pretty" premieres Friday, June 17. Every summer, Belly (played by new talent Lola Tung) and her family head to the Fishers' beach house in Cousins, and every summer is the same — that is, until Belly turns 16, and suddenly her unrequited feelings for her friend, Conrad Fisher (Chris- topher Briney, "Under the Covers," 2018), are finally returned. But when Belly finds herself in a love triangle between Conrad and his brother, Jeremiah (Gavin Ca- salegno, "Walker"), relationships are tested and tough truths are revealed. In this multigenerational coming- of-age story, the evolving relationships between mothers and their daughters are explored, as well as first loves, first heartbreaks and the power of strong female friendships. Written for the screen by Han, Marty Scott ("Drop Dead Diva") and Deborah Swisher ("That's So Raven"), "The Summer I Turned Pretty" is directed by Erica Dunton ("The 27 Club," 2008). The series also stars Jackie Chung ("Coming Home Again," 2019), Kelsey Rose Healey ("Along for the Ride," 2022), Sarah Hudson ("Bruh"), Major Dodge Jr. ("Roswell, New Mexico"), Connor Hammond ("Emergency," 2022), Mackenzie Alison Hicks ("Ultimate Invasion"), Braxton Alexander ("I Want You Back," 2022), Nicole Marie Johnson ("Tulsa," 2020) and new talent Shea Pritchard. "Mad God" (2021) Go on a terrifying trip through a monstrous world with animation pioneer Phil Tippett's ("Starship Troopers," 1997) 2021 experimental stop-motion horror film "Mad God," available on Shudder through Prime Video as of Thursday, June 16. Set in a "forbidding world of tortured souls, decrepit bunkers and wretched monstrosities forged from the most primordial horrors of the subconscious mind" (per MadGodMovie.com), the film follows a character known as The Assassin, who embarks on a journey through the ruins of a world marked by bizarre landscapes and freakish inhabitants. In a land of mutant beings and drones, The Assassin's quest to destroy himself and everyone else is halted and sent spiraling into torture when he is captured and left in the clutches of a sadistic surgeon. A true labor of love and creative endurance, Tippett created the film using traditional stop-motion techniques and hand- crafted sets and puppets over the course of 30 years. "God's Favorite Idiot" - Season 1 Comedy power couple Melissa McCarthy ("The Heat," 2013) and Ben Falcone ("Tammy," 2014) team up once again to bring audiences a comedy series of bibli- cal proportions in "God's Favorite Idiot," premiering Wednesday, June 15, on Netflix. Ordinary, sweet, mid- level tech employee Clark Thompson (Falcone) wants nothing more than to find love, spend time with his family and hang out with his cats. But when he starts to glow at work one day, he realizes the powers that be seem to have bigger plans for him. Now called upon as God's unwitting messenger, Clark must gather his eclectic group of co-workers, his longtime crush Amily (McCarthy) and some angelic allies to take down Satan (Leslie Bibb, "Iron Man," 2008) herself and prevent an impending apocalypse. Created by Falcone and di - rected by Michael McDonald ("Cougar Town"), "God's Favorite Idiot" also stars Denise Roberts ("G.P."), Rahel Romahn ("The Principal"), Kevin Dunn ("Veep"), Lynn Gilmartin ("World Poker Tour"), Usman Ally ("A Series of Unfortunate Events"), Goran D. Kleut ("Hacksaw Ridge," 2016), Chris Sandiford ("Moonfall," 2022), Ana Scotney ("Millie Lies Low," 2021), Yure Covich ("Red Dog," 2011) and Georgie Bolton ("Joe vs. Carole"). "Pete Davidson Presents: The Best Friends" Get in on the joke with "Pete Davidson Presents: The Best Friends," available to stream Monday, June 13, on Netflix. Filmed live from The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, this stand-up special features comedy star Pete Davidson ("Saturday Night Live") and a curated showcase of some of the comedians he considers to be the best in the business. Davidson opens the show with a short set, touching on the recent chaos of his life, before handing the mic over to friends Giulio Gallarotti ("Totally Clueless"), Neko White ("Dark Humor"), Carly Aquilino ("The King of Staten Island," 2020), Joey Gay ("Big Time Adolescence," 2019), Derek Gaines ("The Last O.G."), Jordan Rock ("Love") and Dave Sirus ("The King of Staten Island," 2020). Later, Pete's best friend, Machine Gun Kelly (known for the 2020 hit "my ex's best friend"), closes out the show with a three- song set. The special comes as a part of the Netflix Is A Joke comedy festival, which ran this year from April 28 to May 8, and features performances from comedy legends and rising stars Ali Wong ("American House - wife"), Amy Poehler and Tina Fey ("Wine Country," 2019), Ben Schwartz ("The Afterparty"), Bert Kreischer ("Go-Big Show"), Seth Rogen ("Superbad," 2007), Nicole Byer ("*Loosely Exactly Nicole") and more. Amari O'Neil, Milan Ray, Elisha Williams, Saycon Sengbloh, Dulé Hill, Laura Kariuki and Julian Lerner in "The Wonder Years" Christopher Briney and Lola Tung in "The Summer I Turned Pretty" Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy star in "God's Favorite Idiot" Michael Cimino stars in "Love Victor" STREAMING NOW