Today's Entertainment

2 • October 1 - 7, 2017 • Brainerd Dispatch By Kyla Brewer TV Media P olitical comedy has always had its place in prime time, but one new ABC sitcom is putting an opti- mistic spin on the genre by looking at what happens when an unlikely but hopeful candidate ends up in a position of power. Desperate to promote his mu- sic, 20-something aspiring rapper Courtney Rose (Brandon Micheal Hall, "Search Party") decides to run for office in the small Califor- nia town of Fort Grey in "The May- or," premiering Tuesday, Oct. 3, on ABC. No one is more surprised than he is when he actually wins the election, making for one of the biggest political upsets in the ar- ea's history. What began as a publicity stunt results in a massive opportunity, and he recognizes that he now has the potential to make a big differ- ence in the lives of his fellow citi- zens. Suddenly, he understands that he has the power to do some- thing about the very things he's been rapping about. Under the guidance of his supportive mama, Dina Rose (Yvette Nicole Brown, "Community"), he accepts the position and gets to work. In a promo for the series, Hall explained his character's motiva- tion: "He has a passion for music, but he also has an understanding that something needs to be changed within his community," he said. Luckily, he has some help as he struggles to make the real changes necessary to improve the lives of Fort Grey's citizens. Along with his moth- er, who keeps a close watch on him and his administration, he's coached by Valentina Barella (Lea Michele, "Glee"), former campaign manager for his rival, Ed Gunt (David Spade, "Saturday Night Live"). She offers to serve as Rose's chief of staff when she realizes he truly wants to have a positive impact, but she'll accept nothing less than his very best. Rose also enlists the help of his bumbling but lovable best friends, Jermaine Leforge (Bernard David Jones, "Meet the Browns") and T.K. Carter (newcomer Marcel Spears). Leforge is a smooth oper- ator and Carter is a sensitive sweetheart, but both of Rose's buddies have his back as he sets out to make the town the best it can be. As he transitions from making music in his junk-filled bedroom closet to making major changes in the mayor's office, he discovers he's actually really good at his new job. It turns out that the same outspoken optimism and charisma that got him elected in the first place help him break through red tape and change the world, or at least the town, even though he's never actually had a full-time job before. While it may seem like a goofy premise to staunch politi- cal satirists, "The Mayor" shows promise as a series that could inspire others to do good in their neighbor- hoods as the rookie mayor pushes for positive change despite his lack of experience in politics. Created by Emmy nominee Jere- my Bronson ("The Mindy Proj- ect"), the series has had industry pundits buzzing since it was an- nounced in January. According to Bronson, the show was inspired by Chance the Rapper and Broadway actor Daveed Diggs, who won both a Grammy and Tony for his role as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jef- ferson in the hit musical "Hamil- ton." Diggs serves as an executive producer for "The Mayor" and also writes original music for the show, including some of the raps, which are performed by Hall. No plans have been announced for Diggs to appear on screen in the series. Shortly after news of the pilot deal broke, Hall was cast in the lead role. While he'll be a fresh face to many TV viewers, he has an impressive resume. Since graduat- ing from The Juilliard School, he's appeared in such series as "Unfor- gettable," "Broad City" and "Search Party," and will be seen on the big screen in the upcoming thriller "Monster Party." Within a month of Hall's cast- ing, "Glee" fans cheered for Mi- chele, who'd been cast as his co- star, playing the same kind of am- bitious female that endeared her to millions during her time in Fox's musical series "Glee." Her charac- ter in "The Mayor" helps Rose make his unconventional ideas a reality, thanks to her straitlaced style and extensive knowledge of the municipal political system. When Yvette Nicole Brown joined the cast as Rose's mother, the news sent her fans into a fren- zy, as she was still a cast member in CBS's "The Odd Couple" revival, which has since been cancelled. It's interesting to note that Brown had been cast in "The Odd Cou- ple" while still tied to NBC's quirky cult comedy hit "Community." The popular actress has made a big impression on "The Mayor's" pro- ducers — Diggs has praised her as the "heart of the show." "SNL" alum David Spade will continue his role as Gunt in a re- curring capacity throughout the season. The talented cast, experienced writing staff and even a Broadway star give serious weight to the lighthearted political comedy in the vein of such classic series as "Spin City" and "Benson," and HBO's current hit "Veep." Watch as rapper Rose struggles to over- come his inexperience and rise to the occasion to help his communi- ty in the premiere of "The Mayor," airing Tuesday, Oct. 3, on ABC. Prime-time politics: Rapper runs for office and wins in ABC's 'The Mayor' Cover Story this week Yvette Nicole Brown stars in "The Mayor" The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon A lot of celebrity babies are happening right now. It was just announced that Prince William and Kate Middleton are expecting their third child. Kate's very excited about the baby. In fact, she said she can already feel it waving. The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Donald Trump did more things today. For instance, he traveled to North Dakota to talk tax reform. And by "talk tax reform," I mean rambled incoherently until they turned his mic off. Another hurricane, Irma, is bearing down on Florida. It's the largest Atlantic hurricane ever reported. Experts say it's the size of France. Hey! This is America! We measure things in Delawares. The Late Late Show With James Corden The immigrants who have benefited from DACA are called Dreamers. Sessions explained that the kids will still be Dreamers, but in more of a "Nightmare on Elm Street" sort of way. Jimmy Kimmel Live New York is a dangerous place for fashion models. Last year, one of them slipped through a subway grate and disappeared. Like "It"! But without the balloon. Late Night With Seth Meyers New York Mayor Bill De Blasio recently praised his running of the city, saying: "You'd assume they'd be having parades in the streets." Unfortunately, New Yorkers can't get to the streets because they're stuck underground on the subway all day. 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