Today's Entertainment

2 • November 12 - 18, 2017 • Brainerd Dispatch By Kyla Brewer TV Media B etween tragic weather events, political tension and social un- rest, it seems as if humanity is los- ing its way. While it may appear that bad news is everywhere, how- ever, stories of compassion and hope are all around us. There are people devoted to making the world a better place, and a new fantasy drama follows a man on a journey to do just that. Jason Ritter ("Joan of Arcadia") stars as Kevin Finn, a once selfish, materialistic young man on a mis- sion to save humanity by perform- ing acts of kindness and selfless- ness under the guidance of an un- usual celestial being in "Kevin (Probably) Saves the World," air- ing Tuesday, Nov. 14, on ABC. After an encounter with a mete- orite that crash lands near his fam- ily home, Kevin meets Yvette (Kim- berly Hébert Gregory, "Vice Princi- pals"), the aforementioned celes- tial being. She informs him that she's here to guide and protect him as he saves humanity. Kevin is the only one who can see or hear Yvette, which can be awkward when someone catches him talk- ing to her. Of course, the plot may sound far-fetched to the average TV view- er, but the show has real heart. In a promo for the series, Gregory ex- plains the meaning behind the dra- ma's unconventional premise. "It's about making ourselves better, and reaching out and mak- ing the world better," the actress said. That's exactly what Kevin is tasked with doing, and he has an uphill climb. After hitting rock bot- tom, he returns to his childhood home to live with his widowed twin sister, Amy (JoAnna Garcia Swisher, "Once Upon a Time"), and her teenage daughter, Reese (Chloe East, "True Blood"). In the beginning, Kevin's relationship with Reese is strained at best, but Amy encourages her daughter to give him a chance. While under Yvette's tutelage, Kevin learns that each generation contains 36 righteous souls who protect the human race merely with their existence. For whatever reason, Kevin is the only righteous soul left in this generation, a sta- tistic that has plunged the world into a state of crisis. The world needs the 36 to persevere and pro- vide hope, and now it's Kevin's job to "power up" his soul so that he can find and anoint a new genera- tion of righteous souls. For her part, Yvette serves as his drill ser- geant, employing very un-angelic tactics to keep him on track. She may be hard on Kevin, but he seems to need some tough love; he hasn't always behaved so saint- ly. As Ritter expressed in a promo, Kevin "certainly wouldn't seem like anyone's first choice to save the world" — but that may very well be the point. Even those with flaws and foibles can change the world, one act of kindness at a time. For his part, Ritter has earned the respect of critics and fans for the work as the reluctant hero, which isn't his first regular series role. Son of the late, great actor John Ritter and actress Nancy Morgan, the young Ritter rose through the Hollywood ranks with roles in such films as "Freddy vs. Jason" (2003) and "Raise Your Voice" (2004), while also playing a main role in "Joan of Arcadia." His recurring role on NBC's "Parent- hood" earned him an Emmy nomi- nation. Other credits include "The Class" and "The Event." Fresh off her breakout role as Dr. Belinda Brown in HBO's "Vice Principals," Ritter's co-star Grego- ry has appeared in some of the biggest hits on television, such as "Better Call Saul," "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" and "Devious Maids." Garcia Swisher has been acting since the age of 10, having landed roles in such prominent series as "Are You Afraid of the Dark," "Freak and Geeks" and "Party of Five." She also appeared in "Reba," "Gossip Girl" and "Better With You," and has a recurring role in ABC's "Once Upon a Time" as mermaid Ariel. Young actress East boasts a wealth of experience that belies her age. Her credits include "True Blood," "Liv and Maddie" and "Ice." The supporting cast also in- cludes India de Beaufort ("Veep") as Kristen Allen, J. August Richards ("Angel") as Sheriff Deputy Na- than Purcell, and Dustin Ybarra ("We Bought a Zoo," 2011) as Ty- ler Medina. The team behind the scenes is just as impressive as the one in front of the camera. In an inter- view with IndieWire.com, co-cre- ators Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters admitted that they knew the kooky premise and sense of humor was a bit of a stretch for a network drama, but they hope "Kevin (Probably) Saves the World" finds an audience. Luckily, they've had experience with un- conventional dramas thanks to their work on "Marvel's Agent Carter," "Reaper" and "Resurrec- tion." Their early careers trace back to "The X-Files," where they learned to mix stand-alone ele- ments with serialized storylines, as in "Kevin (Probably) Saves the World." While many of us struggle to find peace amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life, this light- hearted drama can serve as a re- minder that everyone — even the hapless "Kevins" out there — can make the world a better place. For inspiration and entertainment, check out "Kevin (Probably) Saves the World," airing Tuesday, Nov. 14, on ABC. TV with soul: New ABC drama follows a man on a mission Cover Story this week India de Beaufort stars in "Kevin (Probably) Saves the World" Conan Security experts are now keeping a close eye on the rise of Osama bin Laden's son. Even worse, they say Osama bin Laden Jr. may be working together with his siblings: Eric bin Laden and Ivanka bin Laden. The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon A new study finds that playing outside may help kids' eyesight. Kids were like, "Cool!" and then just took their iPads outside. The Late Show With Stephen Colbert The WWE-trademarked 3:16 refers to one of the Bible's most quoted verses, John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that those who believe in him shall not die but have eternal life." Or, as the WWE will now put it, "Christ-a-mania is running wild! Woo, baby!" Jimmy Kimmel Live This is our third time in Brooklyn. Last time we were here, people asked, "Will you ever come back?" And I said, "only if you promise to open 2,000 new juice shops." And you did. So here we are. I was born here in Brooklyn. I grew up in Mill Basin. I went to PS 236 on Avenue U. I did my first major drug deal outside Alexander's store at Kings Plaza. So it's great to be back. Late Night With Seth Meyers Butchers in Northern Ireland have created what they call a "gin and tonic sausage" by infusing the meat with gin. Incidentally, "gin and tonic sausage" is also Steve Bannon's nickname at the gym. Late Laughs 001645131r1 Match of the Month November For more information about Kinship Partners, please call (218)-829-4606 or visit our website at www.kinshippartners.org Be a Friend. Be a Mentor. Photography donated by Mike Aulie at Sothers Studio Why not start your own friendship journey? Kinship Partners is pleased to honor Derek Bahr and Chance Carrier as our Match of the Month. Derek and Chance like to take advantage of the great outdoors and the variety of opportunities the different seasons have to offer. These two enjoy exploring new things together and are always ready for a new adventure. They have made many memories while fishing, canoeing, swimming at the beach, playing with Derek's border collie Echo, carving pumpkins, building snow forts, sledding, and helping out at different community events. Congratulations Derek and Chance on your Match of the Month! We hope you continue to share some great memories as you make an impact in one another's lives. Kinship Partners Inc. 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