Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Rooster Season 1 finale "Songs For Raisa." Stream the episode with an HBO Max subscription and read at your own risk!

Rooster found a way to keep Greg at Ludlow University for Season 2, though I'm not sure he'll be as happy as he originally anticipated. The HBO series made me so happy by having Katie dump Archie after he ditched Sunny for her, only to deliver a brutal gut punch witht he reveal that Connie Britton's Beth will become Ludlow's next president.

Walter told Greg that his ex-wife would become the new president of the university at the start of the next school year, minutes after the latter delivered a heartfelt speech about truly feeling like he belonged at Ludlow. I was devastated for him, and I fear he will be taking a couple of steps backwards when the new episodes arrive.

Will Beth Ruin Ludlow For Greg?

I should've known a show as critically acclaimed as Rooster was not going to end without conflict, but man, was this twist hard to swallow. All throughout the 2026 TV schedule, we've seen Greg talk about living in Beth's shadow during their marriage, and her ability to invade and take over things he enjoyed. Now, it seems Beth becoming president at Ludlow University is going to impact how much he enjoys teaching there, and potentially the positive impact he has on others.

I also have to wonder if Beth will try to get Greg back after she made a move on him that he pushed off. I don't think she took the job as President to try and get her ex-husband back, but I think the fact that he wasn't on board with getting with her will make Beth more determined to make him obsessed with her all over again.

I Hope Walter Still Has A Presence On Rooster After She Takes Over

Connie Britton's Beth stepping in to be president at Ludlow is upsetting because it means John C. McGinley's Walter will presumably be out of a job at the end of Season 2. It's a shame because I love McGinley in this role even more than I loved him on Scrubs, and I'm going to miss those Hot House pow-wows if he does end up leaving at the end of the season.

That said, we still have him around for Season 2, as his term will not be up until the end of the school year. That means there's still time for Beth to retract taking the position. I'm not sure that she will, but I'm crossing all my fingers and toes that the writers have a plan and will ultimately leave Walter in the job.

If not, at least he'll still live in town and be friends with Greg. I'm sure he's going to need plenty of counsel, having his ex as his boss, and for all of Walter's weird quirks, he does offer some great advice. Greg's going to need it, but thankfully, he doesn't have any shortage of friends in town willing to listen to him vent.

Rooster will return to HBO for Season 2, and I can't wait to see how it all plays out. I loved Season 1 and can't wait for new episodes, but thankfully, HBO has a lot of other great shows lined up for the rest of the year.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Rooster episode "Mr. Razzles." Stream the episode with an HBO Max subscription, and read at your own risk!

Elizabeth has been a subject in Rooster since its very beginning, and finally, the audience got to see Greg's ex-wife make her big debut. Connie Britton's character showed up to help commemorate the building named in her honor, and it was yet another knockout casting by the series. (And one rooted in pop culture history, as it marked Britton's reunion with Spin City creator Bill Lawrence 25 years later.)

I loved Britton as Elizabeth and would love to see her in another episode on the 2026 TV schedule. Of course, the actress was asked directly when she might return to the critically acclaimed series, especially after her character's sudden exit. Unfortunately, though, I'm not sure what to feel about the answer.

Connie Britton Hints She May Return As Elizabeth

Elizabeth was fine hanging out with her ex-husband, right up until she learned Greg still had a portrait of the two of them from decades ago. Realizing he still hadn't moved on from their divorce, she quickly exited, though Connie Britton hinted to TVLine she may return to Rooster. When asked about whether Elizabeth was truly interested in the position of President of Ludlow College, as Walt feared, the actress said this:

At first, I thought Connie Britton was going to outright dismiss the idea of her character taking Walt's job. Then, toward the end, the answer felt more open-ended, which I would assume means that she will be back in a future episode. Could this be the end of Walt's tenure at Ludlow College?

I Would Hate To See Walt Ousted As President Of The University

Walt losing his job as President would mean less John C. McGinley on Rooster, which I think would be a mistake. Walt is one of the best characters on the show, and I would sorely miss everything from his in-office meetings to sauna sessions with various faculty members.

At the same time, I can understand that McGinley's role in Rooster may get in the way of his return as Dr. Cox in the Scrubs revival, and vice versa. Fortunately, creator Bill Lawrence is at the head of both of those shows and might be able to ensure it isn't too much for the actor on both fronts, but who knows? Maybe the plan was for Walt to always be a one-season character and pave the way for Connie Britton's Elizabeth to be in a central role.

That said, Connie Britton also has a lot on her plate coming up. Variety reported last year that she will appear in the Hulu mystery series Phony. That could always impact her returning as Elizabeth in a more permanent capacity, but I'm just speculating at this point.

It may not have the references to The Office some are hoping for, but Rooster remains a hit for many thanks to Steve Carell and its wonderful cast. The show continues to deliver top drama and comedy on top of its superb acting, and I would love Connie Britton to be a bigger part of that. I'm just hoping the writers found a way to make it happen that doesn't remove John C. McGinley from the equation.

Rooster is on HBO on Sundays at 10:00 p.m. ET. We're halfway through Season 1 with so much happening already, I can't wait to see how the rest of the season plays out.

Steve Carell seemingly likes to keep us on our toes, with his best performances spanning all sides of the comedy-drama spectrum. In Rooster, which premieres on the 2026 TV schedule on March 8, he digs into his bag of tricks for a father-daughter dramedy co-created by Bill Lawrence (Ted Lasso, Shrinking). Critics have seen six of Season 1’s 10 episodes and, overall, their sentiments seem to align.

Rooster stars Steve Carell as Greg, a bestselling author who takes a teaching job at a small New England college to help his daughter Katie (Charly Clive), an art history professor, after her fellow professor husband Archie (Ted Lasso’s Phil Dunster) leaves her for a grad student. Michael Peyton of IGN calls the series a 10-out-of-10 “Masterpiece,” writing that it’s a “magic trick of a TV show” in how it's simultaneously elevated in its approach but grounded in its appeal. Peyton explains:

Belen Edwards of Mashable says it’s fun to watch Steve Carell cut loose as Greg enjoys his first taste of college life. Yet Edwards also says Rooster is at its best when it focuses on Greg and Katie, resulting in a show that “feels like a warm hug,” even if it bears similarities to other Bill Lawrence series. Edwards writes:

Rooster boasts an impressive ensemble including Danielle Deadwyler, John C. McGinley, Connie Britton and Hacks standout Robby Hoffman, but Nicole Gallucci of Decider agrees it’s the chemistry between former Office cast member Steve Carell and Charly Clive that makes this a winner — no doubt aided by Carell and both co-creators being girl dads:

Daniel Fienberg of THR, however, doesn’t think Rooster has figured out which of Steve Carell’s stories it wants to tell through six episodes. Fienberg says the university setting is also misunderstood and misused. The critic continues:

Aramide Tinubu of Variety echoes the strangely outdated humor that Rooster brings, “as if misogyny and the #MeToo Movement are just ideas to laugh at,” and says the series is disappointingly full of predictable characters and circumstances that lead to a lackluster narrative. Tinubu continues:

It sounds like Rooster may need some time to find its footing, but the first half of the series’ inaugural season is promising enough for the majority of critics. It’s “Certified Fresh” with 85% on Rotten Tomatoes as of this writing, so if you want to check out the latest Steve Carell dramedy, the first of 10 half-hour episodes will premiere at 10 p.m. ET Sunday, March 8, on HBO and streaming with an HBO Max subscription.

While we typically expect to see a romantic comedy and want to immediately fall in love or bask in having our own personal love story, the latest of Netflix's 2025 releases, The Life List, is apparently prone to have its viewers rethinking their relationships and life overall. So proceed with caution next time you use your Netflix subscription...maybe…because this film led some to break up with their partners.

After Sofia Carson emotionally wrecked us with Purple Hearts and was in the second most popular Netflix movie ever, Carry-On, she stars in The Life List. The new film is about a woman who’s dealing with the death of her mother (played by Connie Britton). Following her passing, Carson's character, Alex, learns that her mom has decided to hold her inheritance until she achieves everything on the “life list” she created for herself at 13.

This causes Alex to reassess and really work on her life, and it sounds like it inspired audiences to do the same, as Carson said:

When Carson spoke to Entertainment Weekly about The Life List, she shared the interesting effect the movie had on early viewers who started raising “all these existential questions” for themselves after seeing the new project. As Carson continued:

If you’ve seen the movie, it’s not hard to understand why breakups happened in real life, and why that's honestly kind of beautiful. And check out some of these reactions on Twitter:

• “The Life List on Netflix just raised my standards. 100/10 movie it’s so good and eye opening!! oh Sofia Carson is that girl ahhhhhh.😭😭😭” - @icy_gwen4bella
• “I cried 7 times while watching ‘the life list’ this movie made me think about my future, even how I want to pick out my future partner and especially the bad relationship with my mother I love this movie so much, gonna obsess over it forever. 💗” - @tsweviee
• “#TheLifeList IS the best movie of Sofia’s career. her acting is MAGICAL. the emotions, the deep places it brings us but making us reflect on our lives and try to become our best versions. I want someone who the answer is “yes” to the 4 questions. I need to hug my mom tight.” @luvhsdid
• “I just finished the life list movie and it was so good, it makes me want to do some motivation in my life” - @irerr24

While Alex’s life list includes fun things like trying standup, getting a tattoo and camping under a full moon, it also takes her to some deep places like making peace with her dad and the last entry on the list: “find true love.” As Alex goes through the list, there’s a list of questions that her friend tells her will help her find Mr. Right that leads her to question her own current relationship. Those questions are:

1. Is he kind?
2. Can I tell him everything in my heart?
3. Does he help me become the best version of myself?
4. And can you imagine him as the father of your kids?

This is such a great list to compare against your relationship. No wonder there were people breaking up with their partners or quitting their jobs! They were likely taking a big step toward living their best lives.

You can check out what critics are saying about The Life List before you watch. Will Carson’s latest movie become another one of Netflix’s most popular original movies? Given its life-changing plotline, it just might!

Former Disney star Sofia Carson has grown up to make quite a name for herself on Netflix. After emotionally wrecking audiences with Purple Hearts in 2022, she appeared in 2024’s Carry-On, and next up on the 2025 movie calendar she stars in the rom-com The Life List. Critics were able to stream the new Netflix movie ahead of its March 28 release, so should you add this one to watch this weekend? Let’s see what critics are saying.

Sofia Carson stars as Alex Rose, who — after the death of her mother (Connie Britton) — decides to revisit her list of childhood aspirations, only for the project to take her on an unexpected journey. Rachel Labonte of ScreenRant says she was charmed by the heartwarming dramedy that solidifies Carson’s partnership with the streamer. The critic rates it a 6 out of 10, writing:

Isabella Soares of Collider also gives it a 6 out of 10, writing that while The Life List — streaming now with a Netflix subscription — is a simple and sweet movie, viewers may find themselves rolling their eyes at the predictable plot, underdeveloped subplots and lack of chemistry between Alex and the men she’s involved with. Soares says:

John Serba of Decider says “Stream It,” because even though there’s no reason for this movie to be longer than 2 hours, the characters are pleasant enough to spend that amount of time with. Serba continues:

Caroline Siede of A.V. Club grades the “dull romantic tearjerker” a C, writing that Netflix has now moved into Lifetime territory by producing weepy, romantic melodramas. In Siede’s words:

Ema Sasic of Next Best Picture also does not fully recommend The Life List, as she calls it an “aggressively okay film,” that despite its nice message fails to show any flair or personality. Basically a good movie to fold laundry to. Sasic gives it 4 out of 10 and says:

The Life List definitely has its faults, according to critics, and holds a 36% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, if you’re a fan of Sofia Carson or think Netflix’s rom-coms are some of the best romantic comedies, give it a shot and draw your own conclusion.

This week, wildfires ravaged the island of Maui, resulting in many deaths and the town completely destroyed. The natural disaster has been catastrophic, and it will be a long journey to recovery. The devastation has impacted so many, and the communities will need immense support as they turn toward rebuilding. To show her love and support, Connie Britton posted a tribute to the beautiful island, as the actress developed a connection to the community after filming The White Lotus there. 

In an Instagram post, the Friday Night Lights actress penned a beautiful message to the Hawaiian island, which was her temporary home during production on the popular HBO series. She shared a handful of sweet pictures of The White Lotus Season 1 cast during their time in Maui, and stunning photos of the beautiful tropical location. Her time in the town clearly was very dear to Britton, as her message truly captures the sadness she feels about the heart-wrenching situation. You can see her post, and tribute below:

Britton and the rest of The White Lotus cast had a particularly unique experience while filming in Maui. The first season was filmed in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, so the production was isolated in a bubble of a closed-down Four Seasons Hotel. As a result, Maui became the temporary home of the ensemble for a while as they were unable to travel elsewhere or interact with anyone else while working on the show. Locations changed for the following season, which was shot in Sicily, and the upcoming season is being filmed in Thailand. However, the experience the cast had in Maui during the first season due to the circumstances is wholly unique. 

Wildfires have been spreading more regularly over the last few years. Miley Cyrus lost her home during wildfires in California a few years back, and The Big Bang Theory's Johnny Galecki also lost a home during a similar spread. This summer's fires have been spreading rapidly as well, with smog from a fire in Canada polluting the air in the US. Photos showing a dystopian orange glow from the fire ash have gone viral on Twitter, visually showing the contaminated air. Climate activists have warned that these extreme patterns will likely worsen as global warming results in record-setting hot summers. 

The devastation of these fires is undeniable, and they are destroying once-beautiful environments. Maui looks spectacular in The White Lotus, which captures the essence of the vacation resort and the community surrounding it. Britton’s photos also show the stunning sunsets and the thriving beaches. Hopefully, Hawaii will be able to recover from the traumatic fire, and rebuild its lively island.

You can get a glimpse into Connie Britton’s picturesque experience in Maui by checking out the first season of The White Lotus, which is streaming now with a Max subscription. The next season of the show has been delayed due to the 2023 WGA Writers strike, but make sure to continue checking CinemaBlend for more updates surrounding the beloved anthology series. 

The streaming war is still in full effect, with a number of different services offering prestige movie and TV content. Apple TV+ is certainly in the race, especially after the Oscar-winning success of Coda. One of the new dramas that recently arrived was Dear Edward, based off the Ann Napolitano novel of the same name. With a deeply emotional story and strong talent behind and in front of the camera, it has the potential to be another Awards Season contender for the streamer. I watched the first five episodes of Dear Edward on Apple TV+, and I've got some thoughts.

The cast of Dear Edward is admittedly what got me involved, as I'm a fan of both Connie Britton and Taylor Schilling. I'm also a sucker for tear-jerker TV; case in point: I've watched Grey's Anatomy for 19 seasons. So I decided to use my Apple TV+ subscription and binge watch the first few episodes, and also go through a box of tissues in the process. Here are my five biggest takeaways from episodes 1-5. 

It's Giving Big This Is Us/ Parenthood Vibes

As I already mentioned, I'm a sucker for a TV show that'll get me in my feelings. And as such, I previously watched tear-jerkers like NBC's This is Us and Parenthood. For those who are looking to get that particular itch scratched, Dear Edward is for you. The show's very premise elicits a strong emotional response: we follow a group of grievers who each lost someone in a plane crash. There's also one survivor named Edward  (Colin O'Brien), who quickly becomes famous as he tries to navigate losing so many of his family members in one fell swoop. He's sent to live with his Aunt Lacey, played by Orange is the New Black star Taylor Schilling.

I'm not going to go too bad into spoilers, but the first episode of Dear Edward allows the audience the opportunity to get to know a number of the victims, as well as the family members who make up the main cast. Each character gets the time to shine, creating an emotional ensemble drama that feels similar to those aforementioned shows. The music even sounds similar to This is Us at times.

Dear Edward Is Nightmare Fuel For People With Flying Anxiety

While having Dear Edward revolve around a support group for those mourning people lost in a plane crash, that type of disaster is sure to get some folks nervous. Indeed, the first episode is basically nightmare fuel for nervous flyers out there, who always pictures the worst when traveling in the air. The sequence where we see the plane losing control is truly terrifying, and I found my entire body clenching throughout it.

It looks like the rest of Dear Edward isn't actually about the plane crash itself, but once in a while we do flash back to the event thanks to the memories/trauma of Edward himself. And as such, it might be triggering when folks who have a phobia about flying tune in. Then again, it could also help those viewers really connect with the title character. 

Bring Your Tissues, And Avoid Watching Dear Edward In Public

Since Dear Edward is basically one long meditation on grief, it's got the potential to elicit strong emotional reactions for audiences. Most episodes have gotten me at least a little misty, while others have destroyed me completely. As such, you might want to be in the right place/headspace to take on the moving new drama that's airing on Apple TV+.

Personally, I started watching Dear Edward on the elliptical. A little weird, but that's when I get my best binge watching in. Unfortunately, that made for a somewhat awkward experience when I found myself choked up, with a lump in my throat. Silver lining: I could pass off some of the tears as sweat drops. Regardless, I'd advise you to be careful about watching the show in public, unless you're not shy about people seeing you cry. And bring some tissues. 

OITNB's Taylor Schilling Is Doing Some Of Her Best Work

One of the familiar faces of Dear Edward's cast that convinced me to give the show a try was Emmy and Golden Globe nominated Orange is the New Black star Taylor Schilling. She plays Aunt Lacey, who is one of the biggest characters in the new series. I personally feel Schilling does some of her best work ever in the show.

While Taylor Schilling has never been far from the TV and film screen, Dear Edward gives her the spotlight and stakes to put out some truly vulnerable performances. Like most of the characters, she's going through the process of grief, although hers is multi-tiered. She lost her older sister, brother-in-law, and nephew in the crash. Additionally she's revealed to be mourning a number of miscarriages. Finally she becomes the guardian of Edward, giving her more complicated emotional material to grapple with throughout the series. And Schilling rises to the occasion time and time again.

Dear Edward Beautifully Shows The Different Reactions And Stages That Come With Grief

While some characters in Dear Edward are larger than others, every member of the grief group gets their chance to take the spotlight throughout the first handful of episodes. The group itself is a great macguffin to help us understand each character, and allows for them to connect with each other in new and exciting ways.

The cast of Dear Edward is a diverse one, and each character comes from a vastly different background. And since each mourner has a unique backstory, they all react to grief in different ways. And in that way, the show really covers the gamut of reactions and stage of grief. This is a subject that some people feel uncomfortable dealing with interpersonally, so Dear Edward also has the potential to inspire some moving real-life conversations. 

Dear Edward airs new episodes Fridays on Apple TV+. Be sure to check out the TV premiere list to plan your next binge watch.

Ryan Murphy is one of the most notable television producers working today. He is the mastermind behind FOX's Glee, 9-1-1, and Scream Queens, and has produced a number of series for FX, including American Horror Story and American Crime Story, as well as Pose. In 2018, Murphy signed a $300 million deal with Netflix that resulted in a number of successful shows for the streamer, like The Politician, Ratched, and most recently Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and The Watcher. The latter two are a couple of the most popular series streaming right now.

There are several reasons for Murphy's success, including genre-bending entertainment, kooky characters, and outlandish storytelling that always intrigues. However, many cite his casts and frequent collaborators for tending to elevate the material. Here is a list of some of the most frequent and reliable collaborators who Murphy relies on for his fan-favorite television series.

Sarah Paulson

Sarah Paulson seems to find her way into almost every Ryan Murphy-produced endeavor. She has played a variety of characters on almost every season of American Horror Story, excluding Season 9, 1984. Her roles on the anthology series have ranged from a starring role as Ana Winters in Asylum and Roanoke, to a guest appearance in Murder House. 

She also starred in the hit Netflix show, Ratched, and American Crime Story: The People vs. OJ Simpson, for which she won an Emmy for playing lawyer Marcia Clark. In addition, Paulson played supporting roles in Feud: Bette and Joan, and American Crime Story: Impeachment, for which she received yet another Emmy nomination. The actress has collaborated with Murphy since the very beginning, when she played a guest role on Nip/Tuck. 

Evan Peters

Evan Peters is yet another darling of Murphy's. He has starred in nine seasons of American Horror Story, only excluding 1984 and New York City. Like Paulson, Peters' AHS roles have ranged from centerpiece characters like Tate from Murder House, to more experimental seasons like Cult and Apocalypse where the actor has portrayed multiple characters throughout. 

He also acted as a producer for the Double Feature season. In addition to AHS, Peters plays Stan Bowes, a member of the Trump Organization on the FX series, Pose.  Most notably, he plays the titular role in Netflix's Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. 

Darren Criss

Darren Criss has been a Murphy favorite since his Glee performance as Blaine, the a cappella-singing love interest to Chris Colfer's Kurt. He switched things up by following that with The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, where he played the leading role, serial killer Andrew Cunanan. His performance was critically acclaimed and he swept the awards' circuit. He went on to work with Murphy again in Hollywood. In addition, Criss guest starred in an episode of AHS: Hotel.

Jessica Lange

Jessica Lange is yet another favorite. The Oscar winning actress has participated in five seasons of American Horror Story, most notably, Murder House, Coven, Freak Show, and Asylum, and makes a guest appearance in Apocalypse. She also had a starring role in FX's Feud: Bette and Joan, where she played Joan Crawford. In addition, Lange plays the cunning grandmother to Zoey Deutch in The Politician. She is also set to star in another Murphy-led project about Marlene Dietrich for Netflix, so even if she's done with AHS, there is more Lange/Murphy to come. 

Emma Roberts

Nothing says Ryan Murphy like Emma Roberts, who is yet another American Horror Story alum. She participated in five seasons of the FX show, including Coven, Freak Show, Apocalypse, and 1984, while also making a single episode appearance in Cult. In addition, Roberts was the lead in the sorority horror show, Scream Queens, which ran for three seasons. 

Kathy Bates

Kathy Bates is yet another Oscar winner who caught Murphy's eye. The Misery actress starred in five seasons of American Horror Story, including her iconic, bone-chilling character in Coven, for which she won an Emmy, and the fan-favorite evil concierge, Iris, in Hotel. Bates also continued her collaboration by playing Joan Blondell in Feud: Bette and Joan.

Dylan McDermott

Dylan McDermott is another familiar face for Murphy fans. The actor is one of the original stars of American Horror Story, and participated in five seasons, including AHS: Asylum. He is best known for his performance as the father of a problematic family in Murder House, which the season is centered around. He also plays a scandalous gas-station owner in the Murphy-produced Hollywood and makes an appearance in Netflix's The Politician.

Angela Bassett

Angela Bassett is another favorite of the creator's. She is the star of FOX's 9-1-1, where she plays the badass Athena Grant. She has also made an appearance on the spin-off show, 9-1-1: Lone Star. In addition, Basset has been in a grand total of five seasons of American Horror Story. Most notably, in Coven, she portrays a fictionalized version Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans. She reprised the role for Apocalypse. 

Finn Wittrock

Finn Wittrock has found his way into numerous Murphy projects, including five seasons of American Horror Story. He made his AHS debut in Freak Show, where his incredibly disturbed character earned him an Emmy nomination. He has gone on to appear in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story and Netflix's Ratched. In addition, he plays a supporting role in the Murphy-directed television film, The Normal Heart. 

Patti LuPone

Nobody loves Broadway like Murphy, so it makes sense that Patti LuPone would be featured in many of his projects. LuPone participated in two seasons of American Horror Story, Coven and NYC, as well as more glamorous roles in Pose and Hollywood. The Broadway legend also makes a cameo appearance in Glee, where she plays herself.  

Matt Bomer

Who doesn't love Matt Bomer? Ryan Murphy sure does. The White Collar star has made a number of appearances in the showrunner's projects, including three seasons of American Horror Story. He had small roles in Freak Show and Stories, and most notably had a major role as Lady Gaga's lover in Hotel. Bomer has a major role in The Normal Heart and Boys in the Band, and makes brief appearances in The New Normal and Glee. He also got behind the camera, directing an episode of American Crime Story: Versace. 

Leslie Grossman

Leslie Grossman has worked with Ryan Murphy since the early days of Nip/Tuck. The actress had minor roles in his short-lived series, Popular, and The New Normal, and additionally starred in five seasons of American Horror Story, and has had leading roles in every season she's been in. She continues to be apart of the show, and was a definite stand out in the Season 11 cast.

Jim Parsons

When Jim Parsons left The Big Bang Theory, he made it a point to work with Ryan Murphy. The actor has had starring roles in films like The Boys in the Band and The Normal Heart, and plays the predatory manager to Rock Hudson in Netflix's Hollywood. The role was something very different for Parsons, but Murphy has a talent for drawing out performances from actors playing against type. 

Billie Lourd

Billie Lourd is another young actress Murphy has taken under his wing. The Star Wars actress started her collaboration with the producer in Scream Queens, where she played one of the killer sorority girls. She subsequently starred in six seasons of American Horror Story, playing a main role in most, including NYC, the most recent season. 

Connie Britton

Before The White Lotus, Connie Britton was a staple in the Ryan Murphy Universe. She is most known for her performance as Vivien Harmon in Murder House, a role she reprised in Apocalypse that landed her an Emmy nomination. She was also a fan favorite in 9-1-1, where she played a 911 operator. In addition, she played Faye Resnick, a friend of Nicole Brown Simpson in The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story. 

Lea Michele

Some would say Ryan Murphy made Lea Michele a star when he cast her as Rachel Berry in the musical teen comedy, Glee. She became one of the most recognizable stars from the show, and the role earned her both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. She also dawned a neck brace as an unconventional sorority girl in Scream Queens. 

Clearly Murphy has his favorites, and continues to work with the same reliable, talented actors in order to make his projects as binge-worthy as possible. Other notable collaborators include stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Frances Conroy, Lily Rabe, Adina Porter, Cheyenne Jackson, Neil Patrick Harris, Jane Lynch, and John Stamos. For more information on where to check out some of these iconic projects from these iconic stars, make sure to check out our Ryan Murphy streaming guide, as well as the 2023 TV premiere dates.

Connie Britton became iconic for her role as Tami Taylor, the beloved wife of Coach Eric Taylor, in the 2006 NBC sports drama Friday Night Lights. The series’ fandom is so strong that any mention of the show from the original cast immediately brings up the question of if/when/can we get a revival? (Clear eyes, full hearts, reboot?) Britton found herself on the other end of that question again recently, and gave an honest response on what she thinks about revisiting that story.

As news came this week that all five seasons of Friday Night Lights will hit Netflix on August 1, Connie Britton spoke with ET about the chances that Tami Taylor will dust off her big glass of wine and reprise the role of the Dillon Panthers matriarch, and her response was … maybe not as enthusiastic as many fans would hope to hear.

It’s true that the series, which centered around a high school football team in Texas (where they take their high school football verrrrry seriously), was already based off of a movie, which itself was based off of a book. And the series spawned Friday Night at The Luncheonette, a crossover web series with NBC’s Parenthood, which not only shared a number of the same actors but also apparently existed in the same universe. But in an era when everything is getting rebooted and revived, you still can’t expect the Dillon, Texas loyal to be satisfied with what we’ve already had.

Not to be overlooked in Connie Britton’s statement is what sounds like a pretty good chance fans might get to see a cast reunion, as the series celebrates its 15th anniversary this fall. Friday Night Lights premiered in October 2006 starring, along with Britton, Kyle Chandler as football coach Eric Taylor. The show ran for five seasons on NBC. Other well-known stars from the series include Jesse Plemons, Aimee Teegarden, Scott Porter, Zach Gilford, Taylor Kitsch, Michael B. Jordan, Minka Kelly and many more. Any reunion with this much star power would call for a celebratory trip to the Alamo Freeze!

So while we may not see a revival of Friday Night Lights anytime soon — at least with Connie Britton as the coach’s wife — don’t expect fans of the series to give up hope. It sounds like a revival has at least been discussed in the last few years, so fans will continue to pledge “Texas forever!” until better news comes along. You know what they say about clear eyes and full hearts. And we can always relive the glory years when the series hits Netflix on August 1. Until then, check out some other great options on Netflix, as well as our 2021 summer TV schedule.

Whether you are planning to watch or have already started the new HBO dramedy series after catching the sunny and strange first look at the show’s trailer, you probably want to know where you’ve seen the members of The White Lotus cast before they all arrived at a beautiful beachside resort that almost certainly has to take a turn at some point.

Outside of series leads like Alexandra Daddario, Connie Britton, Jennifer Coolidge, and Jake Lacy, the rest of the large ensemble cast is made up of some of the funniest names in Hollywood, with years of experience on the big screen and small screen alike. To help you make sense of it all, we’ve put together a quick (yet comprehensive) rundown of The White Lotus cast and where you have seen them before setting off for a holiday in the sun on the HBO limited series.

Murray Bartlett (Armond)

Armond, the fastidious resort manager of The White Lotus, is played by Murray Bartlett, who longtime HBO subscribers will most likely remember from the 2014 drama series Looking and the 2016 film continuation of the same name. If not there, then some may remember Bartlett from his days on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light, where he was a series regular from 2007 to 2009. Sticking with the television side of his career, Bartlett has shown up in episodes of Sex and the City, White Collar, Damages, and the Marvel Netflix show Iron Fist for a handful of episodes in 2017. The actor’s film credits include the 2013 Kristen Wiig comedy Girl Most Likely and the 2011 drama August.

Connie Britton (Nicole Mossbacher)

Prior to taking on the role of Nicole, the domineering leader of the Mossbacher family on The White Lotus, Connie Britton was already one of the most recognizable faces in show business. Starting with the movie side of her filmography, Britton has been in everything from the 2004 sports drama Friday Night Lights (she would later go on to appear in the TV adaptation of the same name but played a different character) to 2018’s underrated The Land of Steady Habits. Britton also recently appeared in the Academy Award-winning dark comedy Promising Young Woman. Britton’s career on television is just as, if not more, impressive with extended runs on Spin City, Nashville, and the aforementioned Friday Night Lights.

Jennifer Coolidge (Tanya McQuoid)

Tanya McQuoid, the wealthy lonesome traveler looking for love (and a great massage) on The White Lotus is played by comedy legend Jennifer Coolidge. Best known for her portrayal of Jeanine Stiffler in American Pie and for bending and snapping as Paulette Bonafonté Parcelle in the two Legally Blonde films, Coolidge is also a mainstay of Christopher Guest’s mockumentary films, giving hilarious performances in Best in Show and A Mighty Wind to name only a few. Coolidge has also been in her fair share of TV shows over the years, including The Secret Life of the American Teenager, 2 Broke Girls, and the Friends spinoff Joey.

Alexandra Daddario (Rachel)

Alexandra Daddario takes on the role of Rachel, a newlywed whose honeymoon doesn’t go according to plan when her mother-in-law unexpectedly shows up to make a mess of things. Prior to landing one of the leading roles on The White Lotus, Daddario made a name for herself on TV with All My Children and on the big screen in the Percy Jackson films which she followed up with multiple movies alongside Dwayne Johnson including San Andreas and Baywatch (her scene in Rampage was cut). Following one-off appearances on shows like The Sopranos, Law & Order, and Damages, Dadarrio found some success on True Detective Season 1 and American Horror Story: Hotel.

Jake Lacy (Shane Patton)

Playing Alexandra Daddario’s on-screen husband, Shane Patton, is former member of The Office cast, Jake Lacy. In addition to playing Pete Miller, aka “Plop” on the show’s ninth and final season, Lacy has become one of the most promising comedic actors in the past decade, giving outstanding performances in movies like Obvious Child (which was his feature film debut), Carol, and Miss Sloane, as well as on television series like Girls, Last Week Tonight, and Mrs. America. Lacy will soon appear in the Aaron Sorkin’s star-studded biographical drama about the making of I Love Lucy titled Being the Ricardos, in which he will portray television writer Bob Carroll Jr.

Steve Zahn (Mark Mossbacher)

Mark Mossbacher, the subservient husband of Nicole who just so happens to be dealing with what appears to be quite an embarrassing health crisis on The White Lotus, is brought to life by Steve Zahn. Over the years, Zahn has been a fixture of one movie after another with memorable roles in everything from Reality Bites to That Thing You Do (where he almost died) and Dallas Buyers Club to Uncle Frank (oh, and we can’t forget Saving Silverman). The comedic actor who can also handle himself in more dramatic roles has also had a decent amount of success on television, with the HBO limited series From the Earth to the Moon and David Simon’s 2010 post-Katrina drama series Treme coming to mind.

Fred Hechinger (Quinn Mossbacher)

Fred Hechinger, who plays Quinn, the awkward video-game-obsessed teenage son of Mark and Nicole Mossbacher, is one member of The White Lotus cast with not a lot of years under his belt but boundless potential. Since making his debut in Bo Burnham’s 2018 coming-of-age story Eighth Grade, Hechinger has gone on to appear in movies like Let Them All Talk, News of the World, and The Woman in the Window. The young actor reached new heights in July 2021 with the release of the Fear Street trilogy in which he gives a commanding performance as Simon Kalivoda.

Sydney Sweeney (Olivia Mossbacher)

Taking on the role of the fourth and final member of the Mossbacher family, Olivia, is Sydney Sweeney. Prior to appearing in The White Lotus as cynical college sophomore who takes pleasure in running down everyone at the resort, Sweeney appeared on some of the modern era’s biggest television shows including The Handmaid’s Tale, Sharp Objects, and Euphoria. Sweeney has also made appearances in several feature films in recent years, including Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which saw her bring to life Dianne Lake, aka Snake, one of the members of the infamous Manson Family.

Brittany O’Grady (Paula)

Brittany O’Grady shows up on The White Lotus as Paula, Olivia Mossbacher’s friend from college who joins the family on the peaceful retreat at the beachside resort. Prior to joining The White Lotus cast, O’Grady made a name for herself on The CW’s The Messengers before landing a main role on the Fox musical drama series Star, which showcased not only her acting skills but her singing talents as well. After that, O’Grady landed one of the lead roles on the Apple TV+ romantic comedy series Little Voice. The multi-talented star also appeared in the 2019 remake of Black Christmas.

Natasha Rothwell (Belinda)

Belinda, the down-to-earth spa manager who ends up becoming wrapped up in the life and needs of the wealthy Tanya McQuoid on The White Lotus, is played by comedian, teacher, actress, and former Saturday Night Live writer Natasha Rothwell. Prior to landing a role on the HBO limited series, Rothwell came up writing for shows like the aforementioned SNL, Netflix Presents: The Characters, and Insecure, acting on the latter two programs. Since then, Rothwell has been a part of shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, DuckTales, A Black Lady Sketch Show, and BoJack Horseman. You may also recognize the HBO fan-favorite from Love, Simon (and it’s TV follow-up Love, Victor), Wonder Woman 1984, and Sonic the Hedgehog. Rothwell will also be in the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Molly Shannon (Kitty)

Showing up on The White Lotus as Kitty, the mother of Shane Patton who takes it upon herself to join her son and his new wife on their fairytale honeymoon, is Saturday Night Live alum Molly Shannon. Since appearing on a single episode of Twin Peaks back in 1991, Shannon has gone on to become one of the most iconic members of the SNL cast (and one of the few to get her own movie with Superstar), as well as give memorable performances on shows like Will and Grace, Scrubs, The Middle, and 30 Rock. Shannon’s film contributions are just as prolific with everything from the Hotel Transylvania franchise to Me and Earl and the Dying Girl under her belt. She even reprised her role from Wet Hot American Summer for the Netflix revival back in 2015.

In addition to all of these familiar faces and names, The White Lotus cast also includes Jon Gries (Napoleon Dynamite), Jolene Purdy (Wandavision), Kekoa Kekumano (Aquaman), and Lukas Gage (Euphoria) in recurring guest roles.

New episodes of The White Lotus air at 9 p.m. EDT Sundays on HBO and streaming on HBO Max. If you want to know what else is coming to your TV screen soon, check out 2021 Summer TV Schedule for all the latest info.

With the trailer for her upcoming action caper Die in a Gunfight having released only recently, True Detective vet and pants-optional actress Alexandra Daddario is doubling down on the promos with a sunny and strange first look at her upcoming HBO dramedy The White Lotus, which features a truly stellar ensemble cast. From Connie Britton to Steve Zahn to Molly Shannon to Jake Lacy, the talent isn't lacking in The White Lotus, so give the trailer above a watch-through to see this stunning resort vacation increasingly become a dumpster fire.

While there isn't anything in The White Lotus trailer that truly takes things over the edge, there's definitely an undercurrent of discomfort woven into things, with Murray Bartlett's resort manager Armond being the ringleader for all of that discomfort. In contrast to Alexandra Daddario and The Office vet Jake Lacy's early onset happiness as relatively new bride and groom Rachel and Shane, Armond is coming off of a life-altering trauma, and it looks like he's going to become completely unraveled as the season goes on. Not that Rachel and Shane's relationship looks extremely ironclad.

In fact, I'd already put money on the couple not making it through the end of The White Lotus' six-episode season, thanks largely to the arrival of Shane's mother Kitty, played with nerve-grinding perfection by SNL vet Molly Shannon. Of all the places one would wish for a demanding mother to show up, a Hawaiian vacation has to be at the bottom of the list, right around "colonoscopy." This is indeed the only proper reaction to have if one doesn't want to be rude by screaming "GET THE HELL OUT!" loud enough to cause volcanoes to erupt:

And who doesn't want to watch a married couple played by a demanding Connie Britton and a self-deprecating Steve Zahn, as joined by their introverted son (Fred Hechinger), their acerbic daughter (Sydney Sweeney) and her equally sardonic friend (Brittany O'Grady)? Or to watch Jennifer Coolidge get a massage and strike up a friendship (and maybe more) with the resort's spa manager (Natasha Rothwell)? Okay, that second one might not be on everyone's to-do list, since it's rather particular, but you can be sure Coolidge will draw more than a few laughs from it as a woman using her wealth to try and recover from her mother's death.

It should be interesting to see just how bright and happy The White Lotus is when things kick off, since audiences can be sure that only emotional turmoil and madness will be present by the time the six-episode season draws to a close. I'm guessing this first trailer is only tapping the surface of the dark places show creator Mike White (Enlightened) will take things. Will Molly Shannon's character be the only one who comes out of this thing unscathed? We'll just have to watch (through our fingers) to find out.

Of all the upcoming Alexandria Daddario projects on the way, The White Lotus may very well be the most unique standout, and not only because Steve Zahn's balls get some of the glory. Be sure to check it out when the show debuts on HBO on Sunday, January 11, at 9:00 p.m. ET.

It's time for a 10-year reunion. It's hard to believe that a full decade has passed since NBC's acclaimed football drama series, Friday Night Lights, left the air. Starring Kyle Chandler in the Emmy-winning role of Coach Eric Taylor, this television adaptation of H.G. Bissinger's best-selling non-fiction book, which also inspired the 2004 film, featured acclaimed performances from Connie Britton and Aimee Teegarden. It also launched the careers of future big-league stars like Michael B. Jordan, Jesse Plemons, Minka Kelly, Taylor Kitsch, Adrianne Palicki, and Jurnee Smollett. With its 10-year anniversary crossed, let's see what Friday Night Lights' star-studded cast is doing now.

Kyle Chandler (Eric Taylor)

As Eric Taylor, the head coach of the Dillon Panthers, Kyle Chandler won an Emmy playing the protagonist of NBC's Friday Night Lights. Prior to his time on this show, Chandler starred in Early Edition, Homefront, What About Joan?, and The Lyon's Den. Following his time on Friday Night Lights, Chandler gave a two-time Emmy-nominated performance in Bloodline. He was also Emmy-nominated for his guest turn in Grey's Anatomy. His other TV credits include Catch-22, Robot Chicken, and King of the Hill.

Away from TV, Kyle Chandler played Hamilton Jordan in Argo. He was also seen in Super 8, The Wolf of Wall Street, Manchester by the Sea, King Kong, Game Night, First Man, and Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Additionally, the actor appeared in The Kingdom, The Spectacular Now, Zero Dark Thirty, Carol, and The Midnight Sky. Most recently, Chandler starred in Godzilla vs. Kong. Currently, he's filming Slumberland.

Connie Britton (Tami Taylor)

In the role of Tami Taylor, a guidance counselor at Dillon High and the wife of Eric Taylor, Connie Britton gave a two-time Emmy-nominated performance in Friday Night Lights. Away from this series, Britton gave an Emmy-nominated performance as Rayna Jaymes in Nashville. She also received an Emmy nomination for her work in American Horror Story. Additionally, Britton starred in 9-1-1, Dirty John, and Spin City.

Away from television, Connie Britton appeared in Friday Night Lights (2004), Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Bombshell, Professor Marston and the Wonder Woman, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, The To Do List, This Is Where I Leave You, A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010), and Beatriz at Dinner. Most recently, Britton was seen in Promising Young Woman. She was also heard in Pandemica. Next, Britton will appear in Joe Bell and The White Lotus.

Aimee Teegarden (Julie Taylor)

Playing the part of Julie Taylor, the eldest Taylor daughter, Aimee Teegarden is a liberal-minded character in Friday Night Lights. Following her time in this show, Teegarden starred in the short-lived Star-Crossed, as well as Notorious. Her other television credits include The Ranch, 90210, Robot Chicken, CSI, Legend of the Seeker, Hannah Montana, CSI: Miami, and Cold Case. Away from TV, Teegarden starred in Prom and Rings. Her other film credits include Call of the Wild, Love and Honor, A Change of Heart, and For Sale by Owner. The actress also produced and starred in Beneath the Darkness, Beautiful Wave, and Bakery in Brooklyn. Last year, she appeared in Guest House.

Most recently, Aimee Teegarden guest-starred on The Rookie. Next, the actress will be seen in The Road to Galena.

Michael B. Jordan (Vince Howard)

As Vince Howard, a troubled teenager who becomes the football team's leader through Coach Taylor's guidance, Michael B. Jordan played a primary part on Friday Night Lights for the show's final two seasons. Discovering his breakout role in The Wire, Jordan found fame after Friday Night Lights with his star performances in Chronicle, Fruitvale Station, Just Mercy (which he produced), and the Creed movies. The actor also stole the show as Erik Killmonger in Marvel's Black Panther. His other film credits include That Awkward Moment, Fantastic Four (2015), Red Tails, Hardball, and Black and White. Additionally, Jordan can be seen in All My Children, Parenthood, and Raising Dion.

Most recently, Michael B. Jordan produced and starred in Tom Clancy's Without Remorse. The actor also lent his voice for Love, Death & Robots. Next, he'll be heard in What If. Currently, Jordan is filming a role in Denzel Washington's A Journal for Jordan. He'll also expected to star in Danny Boyle's Methuselah. Additionally, Jordan reprises his titular role in Creed III, which serves as the actor's directorial debut.

Jesse Plemons (Landry Clarke)

In the role of Landry Clarke, a well-studied student-turned-football standout, Jesse Plemons plays a transformative character in Friday Night Lights. Shortly after his time in this show, Plemons played Todd Alquist in Breaking Bad, which is a role that he reprised in El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. He also received an Emmy nomination for playing Ed Blumquist in Fargo Season 2. Furthermore, Plemons received another Emmy nomination for his performance in Black Mirror. Plemons' other TV credits include Olive Kitteridge and Drunk History.

Away from television, Jesse Plemons starred in Other People. He also appeared in The Irishman, Game Night, Vice, Bridge of Spies, Black Mass, The Master, Observe and Report, Varsity Blues, and The Post. Last year, Plemons starred in I'm Thinking Of Ending Things. Most recently, Plemons appeared in Judas and the Black Messiah. Next, he'll be seen in Jungle Cruise, Antlers, and The Power of the Dog. Currently, Plemons is filming the lead role in Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon. He's also signed on for Love and Death.

Taylor Kitsch (Tim Riggins)

Playing the part of Tim Riggins, the party-loving fullback of the Dillion Panthers, Taylor Kitsch found his first brush with fame in Friday Night Lights. Following this NBC series, Kitsch played the titular role in John Carter and starred in Battleship, Savages, Lone Survivor, The Grand Seduction, and Only the Brave. His other film credits include X-Men Origins: Wolverine, American Assassin, 21 Bridges, John Tucker Must Die, Snakes on a Plane, and The Covenant. Additionally, Kitsch appeared in HBO's The Normal Heart.

Away from film, Taylor Kitsch played Paul Woodrugh in True Detective Season 2. Later, the actor earned acclaim for portraying David Koresh in Waco, which Kitsch produced. Most recently, Kitsch starred in Shadowplay. Currently, Kitsch is filming Amazon Prime's The Terminal List. Additionally, he's signed on to star in Neill Blomkamp's Inferno.

Jurnee Smollett (Jess Merriweather)

As Jess Merriweather, the East Dillon Spirit Squad leader and the former girlfriend of Landry Clarke and Vince Howard, Jurnee Smollett played a primary character in the last two seasons of Friday Night Lights. Away from this NBC series, Smollett played Nicole Wright on True Blood. Additionally, the actress was a series regular on Underground, The Defenders, Wanda at Large, and On Our Own. Her other TV credits include Grey's Anatomy, Parenthood, Do No Harm, and Full House. She's also heard in Sofia the First.

Away from TV, Jurnee Smollett played Eve Batiste in Eve's Bayou. She also starred in Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor. Her other film credits include The Great Debaters, Gridiron Gang, Hands of Stone, Roll Bounce, and One Last Thing. Most recently, Smollett starred in HBO's Lovecraft Country. She also appeared in Birds of Prey and The Twilight Zone. Next, Smollett will be seen in Escape from Spiderhead.

Minka Kelly (Lyla Garrity)

In the role of Lyla Garrity, a smart, bubbly cheerleader infatuated with Jason Street, Minka Kelly played a primary character in Friday Night Lights for four seasons. Away from this show, Kelly played Gaby in Parenthood, Valerie Stahl in Almost Human, and Eve French in Charlie Angels (2011). Her other TV credits include What I Like About You, Jane the Virgin, and Drunk History. Currently, Kelly plays the part of Dawn Granger/Dove in HBO Max's Titans. The actress also starred in Hallmark Channel's The Beach House.

Additionally, on the big screen, Minka Kelly starred in The Roommate. She also played Jackie Kennedy in The Butler. Her other notable film credits include (500) Days of Summer, The Kingdom, Papa: Hemingway in Cuba, Just Go With It, Searching for Sonny, and Naked. Next, Kelly will be seen in Lansky, She's in Portland, and Titans Season 3.

Adrianne Palicki (Tyra Collette)

Playing the part of Tyra Collette, a self-thinking woman who doesn't care about football in a sports-obsessed town, Adrianne Palicki is a strong-willed girl in Friday Night Lights. Outside of this series, Palicki plays Barbara "Bobbi" Morse in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Commander Kelly Grayson in The Orville. Her other notable TV credits include Supernatural, Robot Chicken, From Dusk till Dawn: The Series, and Supernatural.

Away from TV, Adrianne Palicki played Ms. Perkins in John Wick. She also appeared in G.I. Joe: Retaliation, S.W.A.T.: Under Siege, Legion, Elektra Luxx, and Red Dawn (2012). Most recently, Palicki was seen in the short film, Thoughts and Prayers. Next, Palicki is expected to appear in The Orville Season 3, which was picked up by Hulu, and With/In.

Scott Porter (Jason Street)

As Jason Street, a quarterback for the Dillion Panthers, Scott Porter plays a protege player in NBC's Friday Night Lights. Outside of this show, Porter played George Tucker in Hart of Dixie. He also played Blake Calamar in The Good Wife and Nestor Williams in Caprica. His other television credits include Scorpion, Why Women Kill, and As the World Turns. Additionally, the voice actor has a recurring role in Harley Quinn. He can be heard in Avengers Assemble and Ultimate Spider-Man.

Additionally, Scott Porter's film credits include Bandslam, Dear John, Speed Racer, Music and Lyrics, 10 Years, Prom Night, The Good Guy, and The To Do List. Currently, the television actor plays a main role in Ginny & Georgia. He was also seen in Lucifer.

Gaius Charles (Brian “Smash” Williams)

In the role of Brian "Smash" Williams, the confident running back for the Panthers, Gaius Charles played a joke-loving, career-driven star athlete on Friday Night Lights. Following this show, Charles played Dr. Shane Ross in Grey's Anatomy. He was also a series regular on Taken and Aquarius. Additionally, he had a recurring role in God Friended Me.

Additionally, in film, Gaius Charles can be seen in Salt, The Messenger, The Stanford Prison Experiment, and Takers. Most recently, the television actor provided a recurring role in Roswell, New Mexico. Next, Charles will be seen in Land of Dreams and Alice.

Matt Lauria (Luke Cafferty)

Playing the part of Luke Cafferty, a newcomer to the East Dillion team, Matt Lauria is a hard-working personality in Friday Night Lights. Outside of this series, Lauria played Ryan York in Parenthood, Ryan Wheeler in Kingdom, and Ben Newton in Dickinson.

Additionally, Matt Lauria played main roles in Tell Me a Story, Little Birds, Traitors, and The Chicago Code, as well as a recurring role in Lipstick Jungle. In film, he appears in Miss Bala (2019), Ma (2015), and Shaft (2019). Next, Lauria is seen in CSI: Vegas and To Leslie.

Dora Madison (Becky Sproles)

As Becky Sproles, Luke's girlfriend, Dora Madison, a.k.a. Madison Burge, played a recurring role in Season 4, followed by a lead part in Season 5, in Friday Night Lights. Elsewhere, Madison starred in Chicago Fire. She was also a series regular on What Would Diplo Do? and a recurring player on Dexter, Star-Crossed, and Chicago Med.

On the big screen, meanwhile, Dora Madison starred in Bliss. Also, Madison appeared in Everybody Wants Some!!, The Loft, Song to Song, Divine Access, and Night of the Babysitter, which she also produced. Most recently, Madison appeared in VFW. Next, the actress will be seen in Lapsis.

Zach Gilford (Matt Saracen) 

Playing a main role in Friday Night Lights' first three seasons and a recurring role in the final two, Zach Gilford portrayed Matt Saracen, a rising quarterback for the Dillon Panthers. He was also a love interest to Julie Taylor. While Friday Night Lights wasn't Gilford's first screen credit, it was certainly one of the roles that took his career to the next level. Since the NBC drama wrapped up, Zach Gilford has gone on to take on a number of TV roles, the most recent of which include Good Girls and the part of Ben Walker on L.A.'s Finest. 

On the big screen, Zach Gilford appeared in the Arnold Schwarzenegger film The Last Stand, and played a starring role in The Purge: Anarchy.  Coming up, he's among the cast of the Netflix horror series Midnight Mass.

You can stream Friday Night Lights on Peacock.

This past Christmas, Carey Mulligan continued to shine in Promising Young Woman, a twist-heavy revenge thriller that served as a feature screenwriting and directorial debut of Killing Eve's Emerald Fennell. With an all-star cast that includes Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Jennifer Coolidge, Clancy Brown, Max Greenfield, Laverne Cox, Alfred Molina, Connie Britton, and Molly Shannon, the movie was among the splashiest titles at 2020's Sundance Film Festival, and it has only continued to inspire chatter with its VOD debut.

Now that more people have a chance to watch this buzzy title, you might be wondering how you recognize its high-profile ensemble. If that's true, we're here to help! Here's where you've seen the Promising Young Woman cast before.

Carey Mulligan (Cassie Thomas)

As Cassie Thomas, a medical school dropout who spends her evenings confronting predatory men, Carey Mulligan gave another exceptional lead performance in Promising Young Woman. Most notably, Mulligan is known for her breakthrough Oscar-nominated performance in 2009's An Education. Her other notable film credits include Inside Llewyn Davis, Drive, The Great Gatsby (2013), Shame, Never Let Me Go, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Wildlife, and Pride & Prejudice (2005), as well as Public Enemies, Far from the Madding Crowd, Mudbound, Suffragette, The Greatest, and Brothers.

Additionally, on television, Carey Mulligan appears in Netflix's Collateral, Bleak House, The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard, and Doctor Who. Currently, the actress stars in Netflix's The Dig, which is playing theatrically in limited release and streams later this month.

Bo Burnham (Dr. Ryan Cooper)

In the role of Dr. Ryan Cooper, a pediatric surgeon who forms a relationship with Cassie, Bo Burnham plays the love interest in Promising Young Woman. A prominent YouTuber-turned-comedian, Burnham is the co-creator and star of MTV's Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous. Also, as an actor, he appears in The Big Sick, Rough Night, Hall Pass, and Funny People. Burnham's other TV credits include Kroll Show, Parks and Recreation, and We Bare Bears.

Outside of acting and performing, Bo Burnham received copious acclaim for his feature screenwriting-directorial debut, 2018's Eighth Grade. He also directed Jerrod Carmichael: 8 and Chris Rock: Tamborine. Next, Burnham's writing songs and expected to star in Sesame Street.

Alison Brie (Madison McPhee)

Playing the part of Madison McPhee, one of Cassie's former classmates, Alison Brie has a notable supporting role in Promising Young Woman. Most notably, Brie is known for GLOW, Community, and Mad Men, as well as her voice work in BoJack Horseman.

On the big screen, meanwhile, Alison Brie can be seen in Sleeping With Other People, Scream 4, How to Be Single, The Post, The Disaster Artist, The Little Hours, Get Hard, The Five-Year Engagement, The Kings of Summer, The Rental, and Happiest Season. She can co-wrote and starred in Netflix's Horse Girl, and she can be heard in The LEGO Movie and The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part.

Jennifer Coolidge (Susan Thomas)

As Susan Thomas, Cassie's mother, Jennifer Coolidge plays a concerned maternal character in Promising Young Woman. Most notably, Coolidge is recognized from the American Pie franchise and the Legally Blonde movies. And she appears in Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, For Your Consideration, Date Movie, Mascots, A Cinderella Story, Gentlemen Broncos, Click, Like a Boss, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans, and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Additionally, Coolidge is heard in Robots, Igor, The Emoji Movie, and Bobbleheads: The Movie.

Meanwhile, on television, Jennifer Coolidge was in the main cast for Joey, and she appeared in The Secret Life of the American Teenager and 2 Broke Girls. She's also heard in The Fungies! Next, Coolidge will be seen in Swan Song and the upcoming mini-series, The White Lotus. She'll also be heard in Arlo the Alligator Boy and Pierre the Pigeon-Hawk. And she's expected to return for Legally Blonde 3.

Clancy Brown (Stanley Thomas)

In the role of Stanley Thomas, Cassie's father, Clancy Brown is prominently seen throughout Promising Young Woman. Most notably, Brown is known for The Shawshank Redemption, Highlander, Starship Troopers, and HBO's Carnivale. Additionally, he plays Mr. Krabs in SpongeBob SquarePants. Brown also lent his voice to Superman: The Animated Series, Crash Bandicoot, Thor: Ragnarok, and Detroit: Become Human.

Additionally, in film, Clancy Brown appeared in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Hail Caesar!, The Informant!, Flubber, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, Blue Steel, Pet Sematary Two, The Hurricane, Cowboys & Aliens, and Stronger. Next, Brown plays the main antagonist in Dexter's upcoming revival. He'll also be seen in Last Looks and heard in Invincible and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run.

Chris Lowell (Al Monroe)

Playing the part of Al Monroe, Cassie's former classmate with a dark history with Nina, Cassie's lifelong friend, Chris Lowell has an antagonistic character in Promising Young Woman. Most notably, Lowell is known for Veronica Mars. He also played prominent parts in Private Practice, Graves, GLOW, and Life As We Know It. His other television credits include Enlisted, Halt and Catch Fire, and iZombie. Outside of TV, Lowell appears in The Help, Up in the Air, Brightest Star, Love and Honor, Graduation, Spin, Katie Says Goodbye, Veronica Mars (2014), and Complete Unknown.

Next, Chris Lowell stars in Breaking News in Yuba County, which comes out on February 12th. Away from acting, he also wrote and directed Beside Still Waters and he's a vocalist and a harmonicist for the acoustic band, Two Shots for Poe.

Max Greenfield (Joe Macklemore III)

As Joe Macklemore III, one of Al's best friends, Max Greenfield plays an eventful character in Promising Young Woman's third act. Most notably, Greenfield is known for his Emmy-nominated performance in New Girl. He also played recurring roles in Ugly Betty and Veronica Mars. Currently, the actor stars in CBS's The Neighborhood. His other television credits include Greek, American Horror Story: Hotel, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, and A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Additionally, Max Greenfield appears in They Came Together, Hello My Name is Doris, The Big Short, A Futile and Stupid Gesture, The Oath, What Men Want, About Alex, The Glass Castle, and Shot Caller. Greenfield also made a cameo in Veronica Mars (2014). Furthermore, he's heard in Ice Age: Collision Course and Cats & Dogs 3: Paws Unite.

Laverne Cox (Gail)

In the role of Gail, Cassie's boss at Make Me Coffee, Laverne Cox plays another notable supporting character in Promising Young Woman. Most notably, Cox is known for her Emmy-nominated performance in Netflix's Orange Is the New Black. She later won an Emmy for Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word. Her other TV credits include Doubt, I Want to Work for Diddy, TRANSform Me, The Mindy Project, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again. Additionally, her other film credits include Grandma, Freak Show, Can You Keep a Secret?, Charlie's Angels (2019), 36 Saints, Musical Chairs, and Bad Hair.

Outside of acting, Laverne Cox was heavily involved with Netflix's documentary, Disclosure: Trans Lives On Screen. Next, she'll be seen in Jolt, Senior Entourage, and Inventing Anna.

Connie Britton (Dean Elizabeth Walker)

Playing the part of Dean Elizabeth Walker, whom Cassie confronts midway through the film, Connie Britton has an extended cameo in Promising Young Woman. Most notably, Britton is known for her Emmy-nominated roles in NBC's Friday Night Lights, ABC/CMT's Nashville, and FX's American Horror Story. Her other TV credits include 9-1-1, Spin City, Dirty John, 24, The West Wing, and The People vs. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story.

Outside of TV, Connie Britton appears in Friday Night Lights (2004), The Brothers McMullen, This is Where I Leave You, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, The To-Do List, and The Land of Steady Habits, as well as Bombshell, The Mustang, Professor Marston and the Wonder Woman, American Ultra, Beatriz at Dinner, Conception, A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010), and Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. Next, she'll appear in Joe Bell. Also, Britton stars in the mini-series, The White Lotus.

Sam Richardson (Paul)

As Paul, one of Jerry's friends, Sam Richardson appears in two early scenes in Promising Young Woman. Most notably, Richardson was a writer, co-creator, and star of Comedy Central's Detroiters. Additionally, he played a main role in HBO's Veep and starred in YouTube Premium's Champaign ILL. His other TV credits include The Second City Project, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Fungies!, and The Office. His other film credits include Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, Ghostbusters (2016), Good Boys, Game Over Man!, The House, Office Christmas Party, Horrible Bosses 2, Spy, We're the Millers, Hooking Up, and Superintelligence.

Next, Sam Richardson will be heard in M.O.D.O.K. and Housebroken and seen in The Tomorrow War, Werewolves Within, Shoot the Rooster, and The Afterparty.

Adam Brody (Jerry)

In the role of Jerry, Cassie's first target, Adam Brody plays a key character in Promising Young Woman's opening. Most notably, Brody starred in The O.C. and StartUp. He also appears in Gilmore Girls, The League, House of Lies, Single Parents, and Mrs. America. Outside of television, Brody is seen in Jennifer's Body, In the Land of Women, Cop Out, Scream 4, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Ready or Not, Thank You for Smoking, Sleeping with Other People, Think Like A Man Too, and Shazam! He also recently starred in The Kid Detective.

Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Neil)

Playing the part of Neil, another one of Cassie's targets, Christopher Mintz-Plasse has a talky cameo in Promising Young Woman. Most notably, Mintz-Plasse is known for his role as McLovin in Superbad. He also appeared in Role Models, Kick-Ass, Kick-Ass 2, Neighbors, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, Year One, Fright Night (2011), Pitch Perfect, This is the End, The To-Do List, and Movie 43. Additionally, Mintz-Plasse is heard in Trolls, Trolls World Tour, the How to Train Your Dragon movies, ParaNorman, and Marmaduke.

Outside of film, Christopher Mintz-Plasse's TV credits include The Great Indoors, Flaked, and Stan Against Evil. He's also heard in DreamWorks Dragons and Sanjay and Craig.

Alfred Molina (Jordan Green)

As Jordan Green, Al's former lawyer, Alfred Molina plays a remorseful supporting character in Promising Young Woman. A veteran performer of the stage and screen, Molina is a Tony and Emmy-nominated thespian, though he's best known for Spider-Man 2. He also appears in Boogie Nights, Chocolat, The Da Vinci Code, Love is Strange, Frida, Dudley Do-Right, Magnolia, Prick Up Your Ears, Enchanted April, and An Education, which also starred Carey Mulligan, and he's heard in Rango, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Monsters University, and Frozen II.

On television, Alfred Molina gained acclaim for Feud: Bette and Joan, Show Me a Hero, Law & Order: LA, Bram & Alice, and Angie Tribeca. Next, he'll be seen in The Water Man. He's also currently playing Doc Ock in the MCU's Spider-Man 3.

Molly Shannon (Mrs. Fisher)

In the role of Mrs. Fisher, the mother of the late Nina, Molly Shannon plays a somber supporting character in Promising Young Woman. Most notably, Shannon is known for Saturday Night Live, as well as her starring role in Superstar. She also gained acclaim for Other People. Her other film credits include Private Life, Happiness, A Night at the Roxbury, Never Been Kissed, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Osmosis Jones, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, My Boss's Daughter, Wet Hot American Summer, The Santa Clause 2, Shallow Hal, Serendipity, Analyze This, Marie Antoinette, Wild Nights with Emily, and Horse Girl. She's also heard in Igor and the Hotel Transylvania movies.

Additionally, on television, Molly Shannon received an Emmy nomination for her guest appearances on Will & Grace and Enlightened. She also had a main role in Divorce and appeared in The Royal Wedding Live with Cord & Tish, The Other Two, and Kath & Kim.

Did you love Promising Young Woman? Let us know below!

Based on the explosive accounts of several former Fox News employees who exposed CEO Roger Ailes for rampant sexual harassment (as well as the toxic workplace that surrounded and emboldened him), Bombshell seemed destined to be one of December 2019's biggest releases — particularly as it featured one of the year's most high-profile acting ensembles.

An A-list cast that includes Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, John Lithgow, Kate McKinnon, and Allison Janney, the film from Emmy-winning director Jay Roach was predicted to be an awards contender from the moment it was first announced. Sure enough, it received three Oscar nominations, for Best Actress (Theron), Best Supporting Actress (Robbie), and Best Make-Up and Hairstyling, notably for the impressive transformations that turned Theron and Lithgow into Megyn Kelly and Ailes, respectively.

While the movie underperformed financially, Bombshell remains a sizable streaming hit, particularly for the impressive talent involved. Now that it has been a little over a year since the drama premiered in theaters, what is the high-profile Bombshell cast working on? Let's take a look and find out!

Charlize Theron (Megyn Kelly)

Playing the part of Megyn Kelly, a Fox News anchor caught in personal and professional conflict during the end of her tenure at the station, Charlize Theron received another Oscar nomination for her portrayal of the real-life broadcast television personality in Bombshell. An Oscar-winning actress for her leading role in Monster, Theron is an A-list superstar who's best known for North Country, The Italian Job (2003), Young Adult, The Devil's Advocate, The Cider House Rules, Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde, Prometheus, Snow White and the Huntsman, Tully, Mighty Joe Young, The Fate of the Furious, Hancock, and Long Shot, as well as Æon Flux, Reindeer Games, That Thing You Do!, In the Valley of Elah, The Road, and Arrested Development. She can also be heard in Kubo and the Two Strings and The Addams Family (2019).

Most recently, Charlize Theron starred in Netflix's The Old Guard, which she also produced. Next, Theron will appear in F9, which is expected to come out later this year. She'll also be heard in The Addams Family 2.

Nicole Kidman (Gretchen Carlson)

As Gretchen Carlson, a Fox News broadcast journalist, Nicole Kidman plays one of the lead roles in 2019's Bombshell. An Oscar-winning and two-time Emmy-winning actress, Kidman is known and acclaimed for her performances in The Hours, Rabbit Hole, Moulin Rouge!, Eyes Wide Shut, To Die For, Dogville, Cold Mountain, Big Little Lies, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Paddington, The Others, Far and Away, and Top of the Lake: China Girl, as well as Hemingway & Gellhorn, Lion, Birth, Destroyer, Boy Erased, The Beguiled, and Stoker. She's also recognized for her work in Batman Forever, Aquaman, Australia, Bewitched, Practical Magic, Days of Thunder, and The Upside.

Most recently, Nicole Kidman starred in HBO's The Undoing. She also played a splashy supporting role in Netflix's The Prom. Next, Kidman appears in Nine Perfect Strangers, Hulu's mini-series based on Liane Moriarty's novel, and she's set to be seen in The Northman, a Viking drama from director Robert Eggers (The Lighthouse). Additionally, Kidman's signed on to star in Amazon Prime's Pretty Things and Things I Know To Be True.

Margot Robbie (Kayla Pospisil)

In the role of Kayla Pospisil, an ambitious young TV producer (and a fictitious personality based on several people who worked for Fox News), Margot Robbie received her second Oscar nomination for her supporting role in Bombshell. A rising superstar after her scene-stealing performance in The Wolf of Wall Street, Robbie garnered her first Oscar nomination for I, Tonya and she was notably seen in Suicide Squad, Focus, Mary Queen of Scots, The Legend of Tarzan, and Once Upon A Time ... In Hollywood.

Shortly following Bombshell's release, Margot Robbie starred in Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn, which she also produced. A few months later, Robbie starred in and produced Dreamland. She also produced December's Promising Young Woman. Next, the actress will be seen in The Suicide Squad, reprising her role as Harley Quinn, and she'll be heard in Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway. Additionally, she's expected to star in Babylon and the newest film from writer-director David O. Russell. Robbie will also serve as a producer on Netflix's Maid.

John Lithgow (Roger Ailes)

Playing Roger Ailes, Fox News' CEO and chairman, John Lithgow adopted heavy make-up to become the main antagonist in Bombshell. A well-versed veteran of the stage and screen, Lithgow is most well-known for Emmy-winning work in 3rd Rock from the Sun, Dexter, and The Crown. He also appeared in Terms of Endearment, Harry and the Hendersons, Dreamgirls, Footloose, The World According to Garp, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, This is 40, Love is Strange, Interstellar, Pitch Perfect 3, Daddy's Home Two, Late Night, and Pet Sematary (2019). Also, the actor is heard in Shrek. In addition to his screen work, Lithgow won two Tony Awards for 1973's The Changing Room and 2002's Sweet Smell of Success.

Most recently, John Lithgow starred in HBO's Perry Mason. Next, the actor will star in FX's The Old Man. Additionally, outside of acting, Lithgow wrote 2019's Dumpty: The Age of Trump in Verse, a book of poems and illustrations, along with its follow-up, Trumpty Dumpty Wanted a Crown: Verses for a Despotic Age, which was published this past September.

Kate McKinnon (Jess Carr)

In the role of Jess Carr, Kayla's savvy Fox News co-worker and eventual love interest, Kate McKinnon had a scene-stealing character in Bombshell. Most notably, McKinnon is a long-standing standout on NBC's Saturday Night Live, having won two Emmys for her work on the sketch comedy series. Her popularity on SNL eventually led to starring roles in Ghostbusters (2016), Rough Night, The Spy Who Dumped Me, and Office Christmas Party. Additionally, the film/TV actress can be seen in Yesterday and Masterminds, as well as heard in The Venture Bros., Finding Dory, Ferdinand, China, IL, and The Angry Birds Movie.

Currently, Kate McKinnon can be seen in the latest ongoing season of SNL. She can also be heard as the voice of Ms. Frizzle in Netflix's The Magic School Bus Rides Again. The actress also does voice work for Nature Cat and Heads Will Roll. Up next, McKinnon will play Elizabeth Holmes in Hulu's mini-series, The Dropout, and Carole Baskin in NBC's Joe Exotic. She's also set to star in an adaptation of Deb Lucke's The Lunch Witch.

Connie Britton (Beth Ailes)

As Beth Ailes, Roger Ailes' wife, Connie Britton played a prominent supporting character in Bombshell. Most notably, Britton is best known for her television work in NBC's Friday Night Lights, for which she received two Emmy nominations, ABC/CMT's Nashville, another Emmy-nominated performance, and the first and eighth seasons of FX's American Horror Story, where she was, once again, Emmy-nominated. She also played a main cast role in the first season of Fox's 9-1-1, and she starred in Spin City and Dirty John. Outside of TV, Britton appears in Friday Night Lights (2004), The Brothers McMullen, The Last Winter, This is Where I Leave You, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, The To-Do List, The Land of Steady Habits, and Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.

Most recently, Connie Britton was briefly seen in Promising Young Woman. She also reprised her role as Abby Clark in a couple of episodes of Fox's 9-1-1. Next, Britton appears in Joe Bell, which recently premiered at TIFF. She's also starring in the upcoming mini-series, The White Lotus.

Malcolm McDowell (Rupert Murdoch)

Playing the part of Rupert Murdoch, the media mogul behind Fox News, Malcolm McDowell had a small-but-imposing role in Bombshell. Most famously, McDowell was the lead in Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange. He can also be seen in Time After Time, Halloween (2007), Star Trek: Generations, Caligula, If..., O Lucky Man!, Britannia Hospital, Cat People, Tank Girl, The Artist, Easy A, Franklin & Bash, Mozart in the Jungle, Entourage, and Heroes, and he can be heard in Bolt and Metalocalypse.

Most recently, Malcolm McDowell appeared in Amazon Prime's Truth Seekers. He can also be seen in The Big Ugly and Timecrafters: The Treasure of Pirate's Cove and heard in The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two and an episode of Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? Additionally, McDowell was the narrator for Free Lunch Express. Next, the actor lends his talents to a number of upcoming films and shows, including Wizardream, Just Noise, Trick and Treats, She Will, ARK: The Animated Series, The Virus, Monster Butler, Midnight Reckoning, The Mystery of Casa Matusita, and Experiment 77, to name only a few.

Allison Janney (Susan Estrich)

In the role of Susan Estrich, a legal counsel for Roger Ailes, Allison Janney played a notable supporting character in Bombshell. An acclaimed actress with seven Emmys and an Oscar to her name, among other accolades, Janney is best known for The West Wing, Masters of Sex, Mom, and I, Tonya, as well as Drop Dead Gorgeous, Nurse Betty, Hairspray (2007), The Way Way Back, The Help, Juno, American Beauty, 10 Things I Hate About You, Private Parts, Primary Colors, The Hours, Tammy, Spy, Tallulah, Ma, Get On Up, and The Girl on the Train. She can also be heard in Finding Nemo, Minions, Over the Hedge, and The Addams Family (2019).

Currently, Allison Janney is still playing the lead role in CBS's Mom. She also lends her voice to DuckTales. Following Bombshell's release, Janney appeared in Troop Zero, Bad Education, Lazy Susan, and the short film, The Great Man Himself. Next, the actress will be seen in Breaking News in Yuba County and To Leslie. She's also signed on to star in The Heart and Lou.

You can watch Bombshell on Hulu here. You can also stream it on Amazon Prime here.

Connie Britton’s Season 1 exit from 9-1-1 on Fox was one of the series' biggest game-changers, so obviously there was quite a bit of excitement when it was announced she would return to play Abby Clark for multiple episodes of Season 3. Now, executive producer Tim Minear has noted that Abby will re-enter the series with some “unfinished business,” concerning Buck, and spoke a bit about his thoughts on the character's head space.

Many will remember the two tried a long distance relationship when Abby left to visit Ireland after her mother’s death. That trip ended up turning into a tour of Europe, and eventually Buck moved out of her apartment and on from any hope of a relationship. Tim Minear recapped some of what's happening with Buck upon Abby's return, and teased some of the complications that may arise for him with her coming back.

Tim Minear’s comments on Abby’s return (which has been in the works for a while) are intriguing, and hint at the main problem Abby’s return could present on 9-1-1. Buck has worked on himself since finding Abby, and her return may put at risk all the growth he’s had while she was away. Is he willing to retread old ground if it means going back on some of the ways he’s grown since she left?

Of course, that's assuming Abby even wants anything to do with Buck. Perhaps he'll unexpectedly learn she's back in the States and not be too happy he had to find out that way? Abby has to be aware that Buck's feelings must be a little hurt after she threw away their relationship for an extended Eurotrip, and seeing as she's the more seasoned one of the pair, may have figured it best to steer clear of him upon her return.

There are a thousand different ways Buck and Abby can reconnect, but perhaps focusing on Tim Minear's core reveal to TVLine is most important. Abby's situation with Buck is "unfinished business," so there should be no doubt their former relationship will be addressed in her return. The chances of the two becoming a permanent couple feel slim considering Connie Britton's return is temporary, but who knows? Perhaps Abby could remain an off-screen girlfriend, or Britton could sign up for a more permanent role on the show after this stint.

9-1-1 airs on Fox Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Tune in there for the eventual return of Connie Britton's Abby, and stick with CinemaBlend for all the latest news happening in television and movies.

All the big network shows are slowly but surely making their way back to TV for the back half of their seasons, and some are set to deliver more surprises than others. On 9-1-1, the unexpected can happen at any moment, though even the biggest fans may be shocked to learn that former star Connie Britton may come back to the series. That means more Abby is potentially on the way, which should make a lot of viewers really happy.

Before anyone gets too excited, it should be mentioned this possible return doesn't have too many details in regards to length. TVLine reported Connie Britton is in talks to appear in multiple episodes. Britton's Abby was a key character in Season 1 of 9-1-1, but was written off in the end, as Britton's contract was only set for one season. Ryan Murphy has mentioned a couple of times in the past that his plan was to bring her back around for a couple episodes to keep her character relevant throughout the series.

As such, Connie Britton's possible return to 9-1-1 is not a complete surprise. The actress mentioned last year she's always one to say yes to Ryan Murphy. Of course, she did choose to step away from 9-1-1 at the time to do handle other things, but it's not as though the series' ratings suffered immensely in her absence. With that said, Abby has been gone for a long time, so how will 9-1-1 re-introduce her character?

The last time Abby was referenced on 9-1-1, she and Buck had split while she across the planet on a food-friendly trek across Europe. Buck had tried to make the situation work, but eventually gave up hope and moved out of her apartment. He's sure to have mixed feelings about her return, since so much has happened in his life since they were last in contact. He joked about being a renewed Buck 2.0 at one point, though he might be on version 5.0 or something by the time she shows up again.

Of course, some things are sure to have changed with Abby as well. Traveling the world can obviously be a viewpoint-changing and eye-opening experience, so her outlook on life may be just as different as Buck's after all the things he's been through since she left. Will the two realize that and ultimately decide their lives have changed too much to make things work, or will Ryan Murphy surprise us with news that Connie Britton is staying longer than expected?

It will certainly be interesting to see these two interact and how 9-1-1 will utilize Abby for the time they've managed to tack down Connie Britton for. Whether the whole story is good or bad for Buck, at least one can count on some strong performances from the always-entertaining Britton, who even returned to American Horror Story for its Apocalypse season.

Related: 9-1-1 Delivered A Heartbreaking Twist In Fall Finale, But What About Bobby?

9-1-1 Returns to Fox for its back half of Season 3 sometime in 2020. Stick with CinemaBlend for more on the series, and for the latest news happening in the world of television and movies.

Some of the juiciest drama happens behind-the-scenes of TV shows. Offhand, you can probably think of any number of actors/actresses from Downton Abbey to Game of Thrones and beyond with shocking exits. Sometimes the actors leave under let's say cloudy conditions, and other times it's the showrunners who create controversy with the writing of the exit. It's kind of amazing to think that we've had so many such departures just in the past five years. This list only scratches the surface -- starting with the exit that should be coming up next...

George Eads, MacGyver

George Eads is leaving MacGyver, with the show setting up an exit for his character Jack Dalton in the Friday, February 1 episode. Eads reportedly had an on-set altercation of some kind back in October and subsequently stormed off the Atlanta set. When he returned, he asked to be released from his contract, reportedly due to a desire to spend time with his daughter in Los Angeles. Eads also left a different CBS show under similar circumstances. He left CSI after 15 seasons, one season after an on-set problem with one of the writers. It seemed like he might quit, but he took a leave of absence and came back for another season before being written off.

Clayne Crawford, Lethal Weapon

Clayne Crawford's departure from Lethal Weapon was ugly from every angle. He was cut from the show before Season 3 due to alleged misconduct. The show decided to kill off Martin Riggs and give Damon Wayans' Roger Murtaugh a new partner. Some of Crawford's bad behavior was caught on camera, including clashes with Wayans, who didn't come across so good himself. In one instance, Crawford had a meltdown over filming scenes at an L.A. area pool. After that, he agreed to undergo counseling. Ultimately, his character was killed off and -- after a time jump -- Seann William Scott stepped in as the new co-lead Season 3. In late 2018, Wayans said he planned to leave the show after Season 3, but that may not be the case anymore. Then again, Fox has yet to renew the show for a Season 4, so it may be a moot point.

Thomas Gibson, Criminal Minds

Thomas Gibson's character Aaron Hotchner was written off Criminal Minds after the actor had an on-set altercation during production on Season 12. Gibson was directing an episode and had a heated incident with the episode's writer, allegedly kicking at him. He was fired. Hotch, a main character of the show, was written to have taken a consulting job off screen. Later, that was said to be a ruse, and he went into witness protection to get away from Mr. Scratch. Hotch could've returned to the BAU later, but fans were told that he decided to retire and be a full-time parent to Jack. It's not clear if Hotch will return for the Criminal Minds finale. That wasn't the first time something like that had happened; in 2010, Gibson allegedly pushed an assistant director, and had to take anger management counseling.

Danny Masterson, The Ranch

Danny Masterson was fired from Netflix's The Ranch during filming for Season 3, after five women came forward with rape allegations. His character, Rooster, appeared to leave town at the end of Part 5. But that wasn't the end of his story. When Part 6 premiered, Beau Bennett (Sam Elliott) got a call that Rooster's motorcycle was found at the bottom of a cliff. Apparently he went into a curve too fast, his brakes locked up, and he went over the guardrail. Rooster's body wasn't found, but he was presumed dead, and the family held a memorial for him. So they killed Rooster off, but also left the door open for the character. Danny Masterson asked fans to keep supporting The Ranch, even with Rooster "MIA."

Roseanne Barr, Roseanne

Roseanne had a hugely popular revival Season 10 when it returned in 2018. But Roseanne Barr has never been shy with her opinions, and she took a tweet a step too far for ABC. Since it was Roseanne's show, with her name on it, when ABC wanted to fire Barr after a racist tweet, the network decided to cancel the entire show. ABC boss Channing Dungey called Roseanne's tweet about Valerie Jarrett "abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values." The rest of the Roseanne cast, who were basically collateral damage in the drama, returned for a spinoff called The Conners.

Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

Kevin Spacey's personal house of cards came crashing down after Star Trek: Discovery and Rent star Anthony Rapp accused Spacey of trying to have sex with him when Rapp was just 14 years old. After that, several members of the House of Cards also came forward with stories about Spacey's alleged misconduct. Netflix decide to cut ties with Spacey, and cut him out of the final Season 6 entirely. Robin Wright's President Claire Underwood was instead the lead of the shortened final season. The show killed off Frank Underwood, and also buried the character somewhere he would never want to be. Spacey later revived his character for a bizarre holiday video called "Let Me Be Frank."

Erinn Hayes, Kevin Can Wait

This casting drama started when it was announced that Kevin James' former King of Queens co-star Leah Remini would be joining Kevin Can Wait full-time in Season 2. That news was followed by reports that Erinn Hayes was fired after Season 1. The show decided to kill off her character, Donna, wife of Kevin's lead character. That allowed Season 2 to focus on Kevin's relationship with Remini's Vanessa Cellucci. The change didn't sit well with fans, and Hayes didn't seem to be happy with it either. CBS decided to cancel the whole show after Season 2 anyway.

Connie Britton, Nashville

It was a huge shock to Nashville fans when Rayna James died due to injuries from a car crash. It seemed like Rayna was going to be fine ... until she wasn't. Fans were devastated. What was Nashville without Rayna James? Connie Britton said leaving was her decision. She felt it was time to exit Nashville after it found a new home at CMT for Season 5. But the show continued for another season on CMT, and Britton even brought back Rayna back in the finale for two scenes -- a flashback and the big musical number at the end.

Sophia Bush, Chicago P.D.

Sophia Bush left Chicago P.D. after playing Det. Erin Lindsay for four seasons. She was tight-lipped about her reasons at first, and only opened up more over time, talking about her unhappiness on the set. Bush said (via TVLine) that she experienced "a consistent onslaught barrage of abusive behavior." She said producers initially dismissed her complaints, and they even seemed irritated that she was asking them to investigate negative conditions on set. She gave them notice that if things didn't change by the end of Season 4, she'd quit. She threatened to sue the network and write an op-ed on why she was unhappy, but NBC ultimately allowed her an early exit from her seven-season contract.

T.J. Miller, Silicon Valley

T.J. Miller's Erlich Bachman was one of the main characters of HBO's Silicon Valley. When Miller announced he'd be leaving the show after Season 4 wrapped, plenty of reasons flew around as to why. Initially, Miller said he wanted to do more things like The Emoji Movie and have time to develop animated features. After that, more stories started coming out about his allegedly unprofessional behavior on set. He also reportedly didn't get along with star Thomas Middleditch. The more that came out, the more toxic and mutual the departure sounded.

Stana Katic, Castle

Stana Katic played co-lead Kate Beckett on Castle, so it was baffling to fans to hear she'd be leaving after Season 8 -- and not by her own choice. Nathan Fillion's contract was renewed, and he and some of the other stars were ready to return for Season 9. But how could Castle continue without Beckett? Rumors flew as to what happened, from recycled talk of tension between Katic and Fillion to discussion of various contracts. There was huge fan outcry, and ABC ultimately decided just to end the show with Season 8. Two different endings were filmed -- one with a cliffhanger if Season 9 had happened, and the happy ending that fans got to see. But the behind-the-scenes drama toward the end of the show's run was still fresh to fans, and soured the happy ending a bit.

Josh Charles, The Good Wife

So much of The Good Wife was the love story between Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies) and Will Gardner (Josh Charles). So it was a massive shock to see Will gunned down inside a courtroom in Season 5, Episode 15. Will was dead. Josh Charles had wanted to leave the show, and the creators wrote an open letter to fans to try and justify the end of Will's story. Charles' exit wasn't even the only dramatic one for the legal show. You may have heard about the rumored tension between Margulies and Archie Panjabi, who played Kalinda Sharma. When Panjabi left in Season 6, the show filmed a final scene for best friends Alicia and Kalinda. But there was speculation that the stars filmed their respective sides of the scene separately.

Patrick Dempsey, Grey's Anatomy

Grey's Anatomy is now in Season 15 but fans are still pissed about Derek's death. There was already behind-the-scenes drama suggesting Patrick Dempsey would be leaving the show, but the way they wrote out his character in Season 11 was just brutal. Derek had stopped to help some people in a car accident, and ended up hit himself. He was rushed to a hospital, but not Grey Sloan, and his doctor made a mistake that ended up in Derek's death. Shonda Rhimes defended the decision to kill off Derek, saying it was better than having him just disappear on Meredith Grey. At least this preserved their love story. Some fans said they would stop watching after Derek's death. Even some current viewers still don't want Mer to be with anyone else.

Columbus Short, Scandal

Columbus Short brought his own scandal to Scandal. He played Harrison Wright on the first three seasons, but confirmed he wouldn't return for Season 4. Harrison was ultimately killed in the Season 3 finale. Short opened up later about the personal drama that led to his departure, saying, "I'll be candid. I was struggling with drugs. I had a lot on my plate, and you know, I was using unhealthy ways to kind of self-medicate and deal with a lot of heavy duty stuff in my life." He was jailed after getting into a fight in a restaurant, and his wife filed for divorce following a misdemeanor spousal battery charge. Short said Scandal creator Shonda Rhimes and the cast knew about his drug and alcohol problems and tried to protect him and hold him down. "And that was one of the real reasons – they just wanted me to get my stuff together."

Chandler Riggs, The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead loves a shocking exit, but if there was any character that seemed safe, it was Carl Grimes. Chandler Riggs apparently though he'd be safe for a while too, so it was shocking for him as well as fans when Carl was killed off halfway through Season 8. Riggs said it was "devastating" for him and his family, especially since he had just bought a house in the Atlanta area where Walking Dead films. Riggs' father also spoke out on social media, slamming showrunner Scott M. Gimple for firing Chandler two weeks before the actor's 18th birthday, despite telling him they wanted him on the show for the next three years. The very next season, the show's main star, Andrew Lincoln, also exited the show -- although this time it was by choice, and AMC didn't kill off Rick Grimes, the network is giving him his own set of films.

Those are just a few of the controversial departures from the past few years. There are more -- and many more if we went back even further in time. At this point, we've just started the second month of 2019, but it will surely add more names to the list. That's the way of the TV biz. For now, keep up on everything airing with our handy midseason 2019 schedule.

There is nothing messy about the ratings for Dirty John's premiere. The new Bravo anthology kicked off last Sunday (November 25), and it cleaned up. With its debut, Dirty John easily set the new ratings record for Bravo's most-watched scripted series.

After counting three days of delayed viewing, Dirty John swept up the competition -- bringing in 2.09 million viewers with its premiere, per THR. That number puts it well ahead of the former record-holder, Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce. For comparison, that Bravo series garnered 1.48 million with its debut in 2014.

When replays from USA, E!, and Oxygen are combined, Dirty John's total viewership amounts to 3.8 million. That is an impressive number. Clearly, anticipation was intense for the podcast adaptation of the same name. When you consider the popularity of the true crime podcast, it comes as little surprise. The television series comes a little over a year after the podcast premiered in October 2017.

The series Dirty John stars Connie Britton as Debra, a divorcée and mom to three adult kids -- a son and two daughters. The daughters are played by Juno Temple and Ozark's breakout star Julia Garner. When Dirty John begins, Debra is looking for true love via a dating site. She thinks she has found it when she meets John Meehan.

Played by Eric Bana, John claims to be a doctor and the answer to all of Debra's dreams. The problem is that Debra's grown daughters have an entirely different impression of him. They smell a rat. The psychological battle between John and Debra's daughters starts to escalate in the first episode, while a flash-forward when Dirty John begins hints at the life-and-death struggle ahead.

With its second episode, Dirty John will have to prove it has the staying power to keep its debut viewership. Traditionally speaking, shows tend to see a slight dip after viewers have gotten a taste of what they have seen. Whether word-of-mouth buzz will prove powerful enough to propel Dirty John to another spectacular week of ratings success will be interesting to follow.

There is every reason to believe Dirty John can do it. Fans of the podcast will have to tune in to see how the series' change to a crucial real-life moment plays out.

The next episode airs Sunday, and it will focus on the aftermath of Debra and John's Las Vegas wedding. They got married at the end of Episode 1. While the newlyweds bask in having taken the next step in their relationship in Episode 2, Debra's daughters and nephew start making plans to unmask the real John.

See if they succeed when new episodes of Dirty John air Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on Bravo. The true crime drama is among many new series premiering this fall. Even more, shows are set to bow in television's upcoming midseason.

Connie Britton has been a beloved fixture on television for many years. Now, the actress is back as the lead in the Bravo anthology, Dirty John. Why did she choose the podcast adaptation as her next major TV show? Britton explained what drew her to it, saying:

It sounds as though a chance to probe deeper into the mind of Debra Newell is what appealed to Connie Britton, per her answer to THR. Hearing about something in a podcast is one thing. Seeing it brought to life is another. Whether Dirty John has the power to change hearts regarding its central protagonist is not entirely clear.

Actors bringing a story to life can be a game changer regarding how people feel about a character. Or in this case, a real-life person. Debra Newell is the central focus of the true crime podcast, Dirty John, and she is interviewed throughout its run.

The show and Connie Britton's portrayal of Debra Newell has a chance to do what the podcast could not. Provide subconscious subtext to the story. Audiences' familiarity with Britton should have an impact on how they automatically perceive Debra, as portrayed in the series.

In the first episode, Dirty John also presented John in a way in which Debra's attraction to him made sense. Accordingly, so does the trepidation of Debra's children. The key is what Connie Britton mentions about asking questions. For instance, how and would viewers have handled things differently?

In the mind's eye of the show, it is easy to get swept up in the way Debra sees John, but we know what she's falling for is an illusion. Her kids do not have those romanticized blinders on. Albeit, while watching, it is easier to understand how she got swept up into her whirlwind romance with John than it is in the podcast.

In the podcast, we have no frame of her reference for the sort of chemistry Debra and John shared. Dirty John can tell its tale from that perspective of fleshing out what we only heard about it. Seeing is believing. As she has done in many of her roles, Connie Britton brings her ability to create relatable characters, ensuring that she does the same for Debra.

The first episode of Dirty John portrayed the first month or so of Debra and John's rapid courtship. Episode 1 shows viewers how they met, began dating, moved into together, and got even more serious. Eric Bana does an excellent job of portraying the smooth-talking and seemingly innocuous John. It is easier to get what Connie Britton's Debra sees in him.

It may not have the feel of the podcast, but there is a reason. Like any adaptation, Dirty John will be taking artistic liberties with certain facts. It will also be using that artistry to explore how we perceive the characters and their choices. Seeing an actor's charisma gives you a chance to understand better how their real-life charms would work on people.

This is one of the things actors and their portrayals bring to the table. It is a chance for listeners of the podcast to experience the story in a whole new way. So far, Dirty John and Connie Britton are doing that.

New episodes of Dirty John air Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on Bravo. The true crime drama is among many new shows premiering this fall. Even more, will be bowing in television's upcoming midseason.

Like many adaptations based on actual events, Bravo's Dirty John changed a crucial real-life moment. In the podcast, Debra is eventually faced with disturbing info about John. When faced with what do, the series introduces "a drug rehab element" into the equation of Debra's decision. Something that did not actually happen. Connie Britton discussed the show's decision, saying:

The Bravo series' choice to take artistic license a.k.a. fictionalize this part of the real-life tale may be frustrating to listeners of the podcast. Primarily, those wanting Dirty John to stick with the facts. Based on what Connie Britton told Variety, she also struggled with the change.

Having introduced a fictional aspect to Debra's return to John, the show has disrupted a crucial aspect of the true-life tale. Providing additional layers for a character's choices is something done with fiction. Dirty John is based on a true story, and listeners of the mega-popular podcast know it did not happen this way.

Of course, the adaptation makes it clear, for viewers unfamiliar with the podcast, that it will be departing from the real story. For instance, Debra's daughter Jacquelyn has been renamed Veronica on the series. A sign that Dirty John does not intend to tell an entirely accurate rendering of the real events.

Without being able to play Debra's entire real-life context for taking John back, Connie Britton had to utilize another angle. Britton went on to explain that process saying that she:

Dirty John's decision to depart with this key bit of reality means viewers will miss out on a crucial opportunity. To truly protect one's self from a "Dirty John," you need to know all of the facts that went into someone staying involved with them.

Leaving this element of the story untouched would have provided the audience with something more challenging to understand. However, that is what really happened.

Many people tuning in have likely listened to the podcast. So, they will know the added element of drug rehab is not true. But those tuning in without that context may leave with a false sense of what happened between Debra and John. It takes a true fan to distinguish the fact from the fiction.

Listeners of the true crime podcast are anxiously awaiting Bravo's premiere of the limited series. While certain details have been removed, the essence of the story seems to remain unscathed.

For those unfamiliar, Dirty John tells the tale of Debra, a successful businesswoman who falls into a rapid romance with John. Her daughters immediately sense something is amiss. Before long, the battle lines between John and Debra's daughters are soon drawn. What ensues is life and death.

Dirty John premieres Sunday, November 25 at 10 p.m. ET on Bravo. The drama is among many premiering this fall. More new series will be bowing in television's upcoming midseason.

Connie Britton has starred in some of the best shows on television in the past decade or so. So it's understandable any series that formerly had her would want her back, given the opportunity. Fortunately, it appears that may actually happen with two shows. Britton indicated she might return to 9-1-1 or American Horror Story at some point in the future.

When it comes to Ryan Murphy, Connie Britton will apparently never shut the door on a return. That much was evident when she reprised her role as Vivien Harmon in Season 8 of American Horror Story. Britton admitted to The Wrap she had yet to see her return to the anthology horror series, mostly due to her busy schedule as of late. Britton also confessed she has trouble watching American Horror Story even when she is free because it's scary.

Unlike American Horror Story, Connie Britton hasn't been seen on 9-1-1 since Season 1. Britton exited the first responder drama at the end of the inaugural season. Her exit came after her character Abby was set up for a romance with Buck, but her mother's death inspired her to take a trip to Ireland. The two parted ways, and Britton's character was ultimately replaced with a new character played by Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Though Abby is gone from 9-1-1, the story was written in such a way that she could return to the story for an episode or two. Britton has confirmed in the past that she'd be willing to return to Abby at some point in the future, which appears to mean she's ready to hop back on board for a short run should the stars align in the future.

Connie Britton may be up for a return to 9-1-1, or another run on American Horror Story, but it'd have to be a deal that accounts for her busy schedule. The world is about to see Britton's next television adventure in the upcoming Bravo miniseries Dirty John, which premieres Sunday, November 25. Britton will play divorcée Debra Newell in a true crime drama based on a popular podcast.

9-1-1 airs on Fox Mondays at 9 p.m. ET. American Horror Story: Apocalypse Season 8 has already ended, but episodes of FX's Seasons 1-7 can be binged on Netflix. For a look at what else is coming to television in the near future, be sure to visit our fall and midseason premiere guides.

Along the lines of the old adage, the truth is sometimes more startling than fiction, and in the case of Bravo's upcoming miniseries, Dirty John, that is incredibly accurate. The podcast sensation is making its way to television by way of a limited series starring 9-1-1's Connie Britton and Eric Bana, along with a few other recognizable faces. The home to the Real Housewives has unveiled a first look at the new series with its official trailer. Check it out for yourself before we regroup below:

The trailer opens with the frantic 911 calls that served as the basis for the podcast of the same name. The stunning true crime tale is brought to life with Connie Britton as Debra Newell, a divorcee who is swept off her feet by the mysterious John Meehan, who introduces himself as a doctor.

The rapidly-developing romance alarms Debra's daughters, Terra and Veronica. The sisters' suspicions surrounding John and their mother's enduring faith in him set off a schism within the family. As the trailer hints, there will be consequences. The glossily-filmed trailer is teeming with tension and appears to have captured the urgency felt listening to the podcast. In the trailer, you get a strong sense of what the cast will be bringing to the table in their respective roles.

In the first look alone, it is apparent that Connie Britton and Eric Bana have captured a sparkling screen chemistry, as Bana hints at John's true nature seeping beneath the surface during certain snippets. Playing Debra's daughters are Vinyl's Juno Temple and Ozark's Julie Garner, with the latter trading in Ruth's southern-style Missouri accent for Terra's California girl lilt. For those familiar with Garner's work on the Netflix crime drama, her casting as Terra will offer her a fresh opportunity to show off her impressive range even more.

One of the most spine-tingling moments of the podcast involves a woman Debra and John find inside the former's house when they arrive home. As visualized in the adaptation, it is equally bizarre. The trailer does not tip its hand in teasing John's past leading up to when he meets Debra, which means prospective viewers have not had everything given away to them. There are so many twists and turns in this story that the trailer could not possibly hint at them all.

When it comes to showing the unnerving side of the story, the limited drama's trailer makes its point. The wait for the podcast adaptation will require a bit more patience. Dirty John will premiere Sunday, November 25 at 10 p.m. ET on Bravo. The true crime drama is among a slew of new series making their returns or premieres this fall. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest in entertainment news.

The world is still waiting on actual details about American Horror Story: Apocalypse's big crossover between Murder House and Coven, but it's now been revealed the franchise's first family will apparently be coming together again for the new season. It's being reported that both Connie Britton and Dylan McDermott are filming scenes for the future-set American Horror Story: Apocalypse, which can only mean the presumably fraught-filled returns of Vivien and Ben Harmon.

Given that American Horror Story: Apocalypse will feature the return of Michael Langdon, the antichrist that was conceived by Vivien and Tate-As-Rubber-Suit-Man back when Season 1 kicked off. (Cody Fern will be taking over the role for Season 8.) So it's only natural that we should be able to reconnect with the bastard child's mother in some way, shape or form. And while it would have been great to get Vivien without Ben around to muck things up, it might be nice to reconnect with Ben's emotional destruction for a spell. (Witch pun intended.)

Technically, Vivien and Ben's returns haven't been fully confirmed, with TheWrap's report only saying that Connie Britton and Dylan McDermott will be filming, without any specific characters getting named. But crossover-centric common sense dictates that the Harmons are coming back for more.

How will they do it, some may be asking, considering everyone in the family besides Michael was killed off by the end of the season. Being dead is hardly a reason for a character to not appear in American Horror Story, and we're also pretty clueless how each of the recently revealed Coven stars will be coming back, since many of them also met horrifying fates in different ways. Something tells me we won't actually find anything out until the premiere kicks off, though.

Aiding this Harmon-ious assumption is that Taissa Farmiga is also returning to the franchise as a regular for the first time since American Horror Story: Coven, so she may very well get a bit more ghastly for Apocalypse as Vivien and Ben's daughter Violet. As well, both the long-absent Jessica Lange and Evan Peters are returning in currently unspecified capacities, but it's easy to assume we'll soon see Constance and Tate Langdon on our TVs again.

Beyond those listed above, the American Horror Story: Apocalypse cast is also welcoming back franchise vets like Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Cheyenne Jackson, Adina Porter, Billie Lourd, Leslie Grossman and Billy Eichner. And other than Cody Fern, the only new cast member that has been confirmed is Joan Collins, which is the only that matters anyway, right?

With the franchise already now set to continue on into Season 10, American Horror Story: Apocalypse is set to debut on FX on Wednesday, September 12, at 10:00 p.m. ET. To see what your TVs will be conjuring up elsewhere, head to our fall premiere schedule.

Spoilers ahead for Nashville's series finale.

Nashville fans were left devastated when lead character Rayna Jaymes was killed off in what turned out to be the series' penultimate season. While Rayna has been gone from the small screen, her portrayer has been super busy. Since leaving the show, actress Connie Britton starred on several shows, including Ryan Murphy's 9-1-1 and Showtime's SMILF. Considering her busy schedule, how on earth did Nashville get Britton back for the pivotal send-off? Nashville's creator Callie Khouri explained, saying:

In the end, it all worked out. Thank goodness for schedule shuffling! Many fans will certainly appreciate Nashville creator Callie Khouri's sentiments regarding the show closing out without Rayna. As she told Deadline, it would have been wrong, especially for fans, considering that Rayna was one of the original forces of the series. Gone but not forgotten was certainly something Nashville found a way to present in a meaningful way.

In the lead-up to Nashville taking its final bow, fans were left to wonder if the show would give a nod to its one-time co-lead. Well, it turns out Nashville did just that, courtesy of Deacon flashing back in time to his wedding night with Rayna. The moment also provided the impetus for Deacon to take a huge step forward in his relationship with his father. And that was not Connie Britton's only scene during the Nashville finale.

In the finale, Nashville made a bold move as Deacon's father joined him on stage for a song. As many fan favorites among the living went on to join him, so did Connie Britton. No, it was not the ghost of Rayna Jaymes. It was the beginning of a scene that ultimately led to Nashville creator Callie Khouri also coming on stage as the scroll "Celebrating 6 Wonderful Years" came on-screen, thus breaking the fourth-wall once and for all.

As important as it was for fans to see Rayna on Nashville one last time, it took some convincing given the circumstances of her deadly exit. Connie Britton shared an intriguing tidbit behind her return for the series finale to TVLine. If you were against Rayna Jaymes making her series finale appearance as a ghost, you were not alone. As it turns out, so was Connie Britton. Speaking about her initial hesitation regarding a return for the series finale, Britton said:

When it all came down to it, all it took was a little flashback magic and breaking the fourth-wall mystique to give Nashville a send-off that culminated six seasons. And it all circumvented a potentially dreadful ghost Rayna scenario that could have been disastrous and slightly controversial. The flashback also created forward motion in Deacon's relationship with his father, a poetic symmetry a songwriter could appreciate.

For new television shows coming around the bend, check out CinemaBlend's guide to TV's summer premieres.

Television hasn't had clear eyes and full hearts since NBC's critically acclaimed high school football drama Friday Night Lights ended in 2011. While fans certainly have their pick of favorite scenes from the series' five-season run, one cast member has shared four of her own. In honor of every episode of Friday Night Lights arriving on Hulu, lead actress Connie Britton looked back at the scenes that have stayed with her the most. Find out if any of them are your favorites too!

Jason Street's Injury

With countless scenes to choose from over the course of five seasons, the actress who portrayed Tami Taylor was able to narrow down her top four. One of Connie Britton's favorites (as shared with EW) was one of Friday Night Light's most harrowing scenes. Fans of the show will undoubtedly recall its searing power and the sensation was clearly not lost on one of the series' leads. Britton explained why a certain scene from the pilot made her list, saying:

Friday Night Lights' pilot is one of the few in television history to reverberate throughout the entire run of the series. Jason Street being paralyzed underneath the lights of the small town's biggest stage changes Dillon, Texas forever. It is a scene that relies on the cast to communicate the horror of the events. Their performances in scenes like these have cemented the drama's ensemble as one of the greatest to ever hit the small screen.

Fighting Under The Table

Connie Britton's picks continue with another scene from Season 1, also known as the one before Landry killed a guy. At the heart of Friday Night Lights was the marriage of Coach Taylor and his headstrong wife. The love that fueled that marriage was copious enough to fill the open skies of Texas. With her second choice, Britton recalls the quiet comedy that played out between Tami and Coach during an inopportune time for the power couple, saying:

Connie Britton's second mentioned favorite occurs in Season 1's fourth episode. The comedy of the scene helps add levity to a particularly intense episode of Friday Night Lights. In the episode, tensions between The Panthers and their fiercest rivals are inching ever closer to their breaking point. Scenes like Britton's second pick point to the series' innate ability to know when a bit of comedy is needed to lift the mood of the always-simmering series.

The Sex Talk

Connie Britton's third selection is another special Friday Night Lights scene from Season 1. This one is a standout as Tami takes on one of the more challenging conversations a mother has to have with their child. The actress also shares that this is one that many fans of the series have cited as having been very helpful to them when they come up and talk to her about the show. Recalling the scene, Britton reveals:

In a Season 1 episode filled with parental angst for Tim Riggins and new romantic prospects for Jason Street, Episode 17 also finds Tami dealing with a major mom moment. With Julie spearheading the decision to take the next step with boyfriend Matt Saracen, her concerned mother decides it is time to have "the talk" with her daughter. As with many conversations on Friday Night Lights, it doesn't play out with the intended finesse. It is this rough-edged facet that gives scenes such as these their grip.

The Final Episode

The time has arrived for Connie Britton's fourth-favorite Friday Night Lights scene. Britton's final favorite is a broader pick than her other ones, which dealt with a single scene. The actress' selection finds Coach and Tami as they are faced with life-changing decisions for their future. It is Britton's only favorite scene to not originate in Season 1. Her last disclosed selection also offers a bookend to her first three. Britton explains the poignant reason behind her last pick, saying:

Connie Britton's final favorite highlights one of television's greatest relationships. While Friday Night Lights was about high school, football, and the players that comprised an inspiring team, it also focused on that team's coach, his family, the effect the team had on them and vice versa. It makes Friday Night Lights one of the most multi-layered character dramas that television has ever seen. You can see its impact reflected in the series that have come after it.

In a show filled with memorable scenes, it is impressive that Connie Britton was able to narrow it down to only four. Tami and Coach Taylor shared a myriad of magnificent scenes, including the ones Britton mentions. Scenes involving Coach Taylor and Buddy Garrity are also among Friday Night Lights' most memorable. The buddy chemistry between Kyle Chandler and Brad Leland was another top-drawer aspect of the outstanding series.

Friday Night Lights left a mark that made it a fan favorite during its initial run. It is truly one of television's benchmark series and, thanks to streaming networks like Hulu, a new audience will have an opportunity to discover it. As for fans who watched during its original run, reliving the tremendous series will never get old. For more of what's streaming, check out our guide to 2018's Netflix and Amazon Prime premiere schedules.

Connie Britton has had a big couple of years on the small screen. First she decided to leave Nashville after five seasons, then moved on to a recurring role on Showtime's SMILF. She returned to network television with a regular role on Fox's smash hit freshman drama 9-1-1, but that gig was only slated to run for a single season. Now, Britton has signed on for a starring role on a brand new show that will take her back cable. Britton will star in the anthology series Dirty John on Bravo.

Dirty John will be based on the true crime podcast from Los Angeles Times reporter Christopher Goffard, who also wrote articles about the true story to be told by the series. It will tell the story of how successful interior designer and single parent Debra Newell fell in love with a man by the name of John Meehan, whose sheer charisma drew her into a status quo of secrets and manipulation. Connie Britton signed on to star as Debra Newell.

No news is yet available about who will play John Meehan or any of the other characters who will presumably have a similar part to play in the show as they did in the podcast. We can only hope that Bravo will land a strong cast to surround Connie Britton, as the show won't go anywhere for a while. Despite its nature as an anthology series based on a true story, the plot won't be wrapped up in a single batch of episodes. Earlier this year, Dirty John scored a straight-to-series order for two seasons. The podcast only ran for one set of episodes, and only six episodes in that one set.

The Dirty John series will either stretch the events of the podcast out to fill two seasons of television or take the story of Debra, John, and the rest of the characters beyond the events chronicled in the podcast. It's possible that the series will go in a fictional direction with some of the plot. Alternately, perhaps Christopher Goffard has some inside info on the story that he didn't bring to light in any articles or episodes of the podcast. Alexandra Cunningham of Chance and Desperate Housewives is on board as writer and executive producer.

Bravo has not yet announced how many episodes we can expect from Dirty John, when production will begin, or when we can expect the series to premiere. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest in TV news. If you're in the market for shows to watch while we wait for Connie Britton's return to TV in Dirty John, be sure to swing by our midseason TV premiere guide. Britton may be back sooner, as 9-1-1 creator Ryan Murphy has stated that he's working to bring her back at some point in 9-1-1 Season 2.

If streaming is more your style, check out our 2018 Netflix premiere schedule and our 2018 Amazon premiere guide. For the shows that will come to an end after the current TV season, take a look at our rundown of TV cancellations and renewals.

Ryan Murphy debuted yet another new show in the beginning of 2018 with 9-1-1 on Fox, and the first-responder drama has been a big hit for the network. In fact, 9-1-1 marks Fox's biggest hit since Empire and scores solid ratings that regularly get a significant boost from delayed viewing. Part of why the show has been so successful undoubtedly is that Murphy landed a cast of pretty big TV names to star, including Connie Britton of Nashville and Friday Night Lights fame. The bad news is that Britton only signed on for a single season, and Murphy has revealed how 9-1-1 is dealing with her looming departure:

Well, we don't have to worry that 9-1-1 will be killing Abby off as a crazy Season 1 finale cliffhanger! Ryan Murphy is clearly on board with signing Connie Britton on for more in the second season. He revealed to TVLine that Britton signed on in the first place as a favor to him, so it's not like she was planning on staying for years and changed her mind. It does sound like nothing is set in stone yet and we shouldn't start imagining arcs for Abby in Season 2 just yet, but we can probably look forward to seeing Britton reprise the role in the next batch of episodes.

It's worth noting that Abby is arguably the main character that could most easily lift in and out of 9-1-1 without altering the course of the series too drastically. Unlike the characters played by Angela Bassett and Peter Krause, Connie Britton's Abby works as a phone operator in the call center that responds to 911 emergencies. She's not in the thick of the action, and the show wouldn't necessarily even need to write her off. She could simply just not be on screen for a while.

Ryan Murphy is evidently quite positive about bringing Connie Britton back, saying this about why her decision to sign on for only a single season wasn't really a problem:

Shows created and/or run by Ryan Murphy are known for recycling actors (and Connie Britton herself starred in the first season of American Horror Story), and Sarah Paulson has turned up in a lot of his shows. If he can find ways to bring her back over and over again in different capacities, surely he can work out a way with Britton!

We'll have to wait and see. The Season 1 finale of 9-1-1 airs on March 21 at 9 p.m. ET on Fox. For what you can watch once the show is done for the season, be sure to swing by our midseason TV premiere guide. If streaming is more your style, our 2018 Netflix premiere guide and our 2018 Amazon Prime rundown can help you out. Our rundown of renewals and cancellations can keep you up to date on the shows that have gotten the axe so far in the 2017-2018 TV season.

Just four episodes into its Season 1 run, SMILF is getting a Season 2 renewal from Showtime. The official Twitter for the series shared the news with fans via video, which can be seen below:

SMILF, which is created, directed by and starring actress Frankie Shaw, tells the tale of a single mother living in South Boston in a comedic way. Described as semi-autobiographical, Shaw's series has gotten some solid reviews in its short run, and had the biggest premiere week for a Showtime comedy since 2012. In addition to Shaw, the series also stars Rosie O'Donnell, Miguel Gomez, Samara Weaving, and Connie Britton.

SMILF originally was a 2014 short film from Frankie Shaw and managed to snag a jury award from Sundance before being developed into a series. Production on Season 2 is reportedly starting next year, and the Season 1 finale for SMILF is set for New Year's Eve. Shaw, who was understandably psyched to hear the news, tweeted her excitement separate from the show's official account and apparently jammed up her editor in the process:

Interestingly enough, SMILF is a rare instance of a series regular role in a television series for actress Rosie O'Donnell. O'Donnell, who has appeared in many films and television shows throughout her career, does not often settle into a scripted television series. But it appears as though she has a home playing Brigette's mother Tutu in the show. Additionally, SMILF is also the new home for up and coming actor and regular on The Strain Miguel Gomez, who first found acclaim for his role in the film Southpaw.

As far as what Season 2 of SMILF will be about is hard to say considering the series is only halfway into its Season 1 run, although the core purpose of the show is to tackle subjects specific to women. This includes topics like eating disorders and sexual abuse which are based on experiences Frankie Shaw has had in her actual life. The stories aren't always 100% true-life, but there are some connections between the storylines of the series and actual events in Shaw's life.

SMILF is all new on Showtime Sunday, December 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET. For a list of other shows arriving in the near future, be sure to visit both our fall premiere guide and midseason premiere guide for some new shows to look out for as the new year approaches. For a list of shows that didn't make the cut in 2017 and got canceled, visit our cancellation guide.

When ABC canceled Nashville, CMT jumped in as a savior to the series, and has been the home for the show ever since. In that time following, the show has gone through some pretty big changes with Connie Britton exiting the show, and Rachel Bilson joining the cast to fill the void she left. Now, it looks like the curtain is finally closing on the series, as CMT announced today Nashville would be ending after Season 6.

Fortunately, the Nashville team seems ok with getting the boot this time around. Per TVLine, executive producer Marshall Herskovitz thanked fans for their support that led to CMT taking interest in the drama in the first place, and said that this final Season 6 will be a compilation of all the things that made the show great to them from the beginning:

When we first reported Nashville would be returning for Season 6 months ago, it was said that the series would return for 16 episodes at some point in the 2018 season. That's shorter than the usual 21-22 episode count and, at the time, was thought to be a consequence of a reduced budget in the series. Given the series' renewal came still fairly early in Season 5, it was assumed that CMT was eager to bring the show back for another season. Now that we know Season 6 will be the final season, one has to wonder if that was always the plan, or if something changed. Regardless, Season 6 now has an official airdate of Thursday, January 4th, so fans better get ready to say their goodbyes here in the near future.

Fans of Rachel Bilson's Alyssa Green already missed their chance to say goodbye, as it's also being reported Bilson will not return for the show's final season. While it was always known that Bilson's contract on Nashville was only for one season, the actress recently accepted a leading role in a new ABC series that officially pulled her away from the show. No other departures have been announced ahead of Season 6, so it appears that everyone fans expect to be back will be around for the final season.

As mentioned earlier, Nashville will return for its final Season 6 on January 4th on CMT. The series will survive just long enough to miss out on our 2017 cancellation list, but it appears as though it'll be one of the first entries for 2018. For less on cancelled shows, and more on what shows to watch throughout the rest of 2017, be sure to visit our fall premiere guide for dates and times for the hottest remaining shows of the year. For a look ahead at what's coming to television in the new year, head on over to our midseason premiere guide.

Actress Connie Britton has many fans of her work on the small screen, thanks to her work on critically-acclaimed series Nashville and Friday Night Lights. Unfortunately for those fans, Britton left her role on Nashville quite definitively behind earlier this year when her character died due to injuries sustained in a car crash. The good news is that Britton has officially landed a major role in a brand new TV show. Connie Britton is coming to Fox.

Connie Britton landed a significant part in the upcoming Fox drama 9-1-1, which hails from Ryan Murphy and Bran Falchuk of the American Horror Story franchise. Britton starred in the fantastic first season of American Horror Story, so 9-1-1 will mark a reunion with Murphy and Falchuk for her. She also appeared in the first season of Murphy's new American Crime Story franchise. No details are yet available about the character she'll be playing on this new series, but it will be "a lead role."

9-1-1 will explore the lives of police, firefighters, and paramedics as they run headfirst into high-pressure situations that only the bravest can handle. The cases are often shocking to the point of heart-stopping. The various folks who have taken on these jobs as emergency responders must find a way to balance their personal lives with working to rescue others who require 100% focus of their rescuers if they are to survive their various crises.

The cast is also comprised of Angela Bassett and Peter Krause, so we at least know that the show will be anchored by some heavy-hitters. The only downside of this Connie Britton casting news is that we still have a while to wait before the show hits the airwaves with her on board. Fox hasn't yet listed a premiere date other than that it will debut at some point in 2018.

That said, fans of Connie Britton won't have to wait until the new year to see her back on the small screen. She also landed a recurring role in the upcoming Showtime series by the name of SMILF, which will debut on Sunday, November 5 at 10 p.m. ET. SMILF will take Britton back to comedy, which should be fun after the heartbreaking death of her character on Nashville. On SMILF, Britton will play a woman named Ally who wants to be a more stable person but has issues with personal boundaries that are undoubtedly going to bring the laughs.

You can catch SMILF in November. For your other options moving forward, our fall TV premiere schedule can provide with all the dates you need. If streaming is more your style, we have a handy Netflix premiere schedule to help guide you to the latest and best of Netflix options. Be sure to stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest in TV news.

One of TV's most compelling leading ladies is undoubtedly Connie Britton, who spent the past decade (and then some) giving life to unforgettable characters like Friday Night Lights' Tami Taylor and Nashville's Rayna Jaymes. The actress' fans won't have to worry about her being gone from primetime for too long, either, as Britton has signed on for a large recurring role on the upcoming Showtime comedy SMILF.

Booking this role on SMILF will mark Connie Britton's long-awaited return to the comedy genre that broke her career wide open. (Who can forget her years as Nikki on the still-excellent Spin City?) And while this new gig may not be of the starring capacity just yet, fans shouldnt' expect to see a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo appearance.

SMILF is based a short film by creator Frankie Shaw, who stars as Bridgette BIrd, a twentysomething woman in Boston whose idealized approach to relationships, sex and a job is thwarted somewhat by the reality of being a young and single mother. And speaking of a job, Bridgette will work tutoring the children of Connie Britton's Ally, according to THR. Ally isn't the most stable person in the world, even as she works towards becoming a better person, and she doesn't understand the concept of personal boundaries too well, as she attempts to involve Bridgette in her life in ways that have little to do with tutoring.

Earlier this year, Connie Britton made the somewhat shocking exit from Nashville in the middle of Season 5; surprising, because it was a shock within the narrative itself, although fans had time to prepare after rumors surfaced that the actress would be skipping out on the drama during its first season at CMT. Beyond that, Friday Night Lights and Spin City, Britton is also known for starring in the first season of American Horror Story, for reteaming with Ryan Murphy for a couple of appearances in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, and she appeared earlier this year on American Dad. Here's hoping this role turns into something permanent.

Connie Britton is joining a cast that also includes Samara Weaving and Rosie O'Donnell, who is executive producing. Also recently cast was Raven Goodwin of Being Mary Jane fame, who will play Bridgett's perfectionist best friend Eliza. You can check out a trailer for the show below.

We'll all be able to check out Connie Britton's big return to TV at some point after SMILF premieres on Showtime on Sunday, November 5, at 10:00 p.m. ET. To see when everything else is hitting the small screen in the near future, head to our summer premiere schedule and our fall TV guide.

There are a lot of stories out there about actors who almost got major parts in big movies. However, one actress recently opened up about a part she came very close to getting, and how tough it was for her when it didn't happen. Apparently, Nashville and Friday Night Lights star Connie Britton read for the female lead in Jerry Maguire and while you might expect actors are used to not getting roles, the actress says this one hurt. According to Britton...

The role, of course, ended up going to Renee Zellweger whose famous line "you had me at hello" would become only one of the endlessly quotable, and parodied, lines in movie history. While Zellweger wasn't completely unknown going into Jerry Maguire, the film certainly helped her career in many ways. Connie Britton, on the other hand, was at an earlier stage in her own career. Her role on TV's Spin City only began a few months before Jerry Maguire hit theaters so she would have been a mostly unknown going into the audition. A role opposite Tom Crusie would have been huge for her.

However, that's not the only reason that Connie Britton told Talking with Chris Hardwick she was upset at not scoring the role. She was probably more than a little shocked to discover she'd lost it because Jerry Maguire director Cameron Crowe made comments to her during the audition which clearly would have given Britton the idea she had the inside track. She was the one who apparently understood the role best. Britton continues...

When the director of a movie is that responsive to your audition, you'd have to think you've got a pretty solid shot at the role. Finding out you didn't get the part after being told that you showed the director what the role is supposed to be had to have been shocking.

Of course, it's anybody's guess why Connie Britton didn't end up getting the role. It's entirely possible that she did, in fact, have the best audition, but that she lost out for some other reason. As mentioned earlier she was mostly unknown at the time and that may have played against her in the studio's eyes. Maybe they just wanted a particular look that Renee Zellweger had.

In the end, Connie Britton has built a solid career for herself and she says now that she wouldn't change anything that happened.

Warning: major spoilers ahead for Episode 8 of Nashville Season 5, "If Tomorrow Never Comes."

Nashville Season 5 has been an emotional rollercoaster, and last week's episode put leading lady Rayna James in the hospital with grave injuries. Still, she was very much alive at the end of the hour and was even in decent spirits through much of this week's episode. Actress Connie Britton brought as much warmth and heart to Rayna as always, and it was easy to believe that everything was going to be alright. Unfortunately, everything is not alright, and we can be sure that everything won't be entirely alright for the rest of the series. Rayna James really, actually, truly died on Nashville due to injuries from last week's car crash. Britton has now come out and addressed why Rayna's death happened, saying this:

Connie Britton shared her feelings on her departure from Nashville in a chat with THR, and it's clear that there was no bad blood that led to Rayna's death being written into Season 5. She and showrunner Marshall Herskovitz worked out a way to end Rayna's story in a way that was organic, heartbreaking, and in honor of the character's journey over the span of five years on the small screen. Her death will undoubtedly go down as one of the biggest and most devastating plot twists of the series, and fans will probably be in mourning for a while, but at least we don't have to despair at how her death was handled.

If you're anything like me, after the unexpected twist at the end of last week's "Stand Beside Me" and the promos that pointed toward big trouble for Rayna in "If Tomorrow Never Comes," you were expecting a pretty grim hour of television. Instead, Rayna started out the episode in a surprisingly good mood, all things considered. Her surgery went well, she was craving a cheeseburger, and she had a nice moment with Juliette...but all was not well. Despite doctors' assurances that she'd be healthy enough to go home to Deacon and her daughters in a few days, she began to hallucinate and speak to her mother, who had died years before. All too soon, Rayna's vitals crashed, and she passed away after one last song from her daughters.

In case this episode wasn't sad enough, the next looks like it'll be a real doozy as all of Rayna's loved ones try to process her death and honor her life in the best ways that they know how. Unfortunately, they'll run into some major problems that will make a difficult period even more difficult. Check out the trailer:

Tune in to CMT on Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET to catch new episodes of Nashville. If the trailer is anything to go by, you may want to have a box of tissues handy for what happens next. Don't forget to check out our midseason TV premiere schedule to see what else you can watch in the not-too-distant future.

Friday Night Lights was one of the most critically acclaimed shows on broadcast television during its five seasons. For many fans, the characters were the big draw of the show. Sure, the premise and plot twists were interesting, but they would have been nothing without the strong cast of characters. Eric and Tami Taylor anchored the series from start to finish as husband and wife, and they were almost always a united front. Actress Connie Britton has now explained why the Taylors had such a stable marriage, saying this:

Evidently we have Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler to thank for the fact that Eric and Tami never cheated on one another. Instead of sordid affairs and infidelities over the course of the series, we got a married couple who went through the normal ups and downs of their small town life. Their stability kept the show balanced even through some of its more melodramatic and unexpected twists. Many shows nowadays seem to operate under the belief that a major romance can't be interesting without something always going wrong in their relationship. That wasn't the case for the Taylors. Connie Britton's reveal to EW is a clue that we might not have gotten such a steady relationship if not for the actors' convictions.

Unfortunately, the show and relationship that were so popular with critics never reached an especially wide audience on NBC. Friday Night Lights fans were loyal, but there were just never enough of them to achieve stellar ratings for the series and the show eventually moved to DirecTV for its final three seasons. Because of its fanbase, the show hung on for five seasons, and there was even talk of a movie with the characters for a while after the series came to an end. The movie never happened, and it seems that Friday Night Lights is done for good. The most we can probably hope for is a reboot someday.

There was chatter not too long ago of a Friday Night Lights revival series a la the Gilmore Girls revival, but nothing ever came of it. Luckily, it's not too hard to find a way to watch Friday Night Lights. All five seasons are currently available on Netflix. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest in TV news. Even if Friday Night Lights probably won't be back, there are plenty of great programs currently on the air. Check out our midseason TV premiere schedule to see what you can catch on the small screen now and in the not-too-distant future.

It's been a crazy ride for Nashville in 2016, both within the fictional narrative and behind the scenes. After surviving a cancellation at ABC, the show was resurrected for more music-tinged hyperdrama at CMT, though that meant a few cutbacks on the character front. Now it looks like a big part of Season 5 might be happening without lead actress Connie Britton's Rayna James, as it has been revealed the actress' contract doesn't even cover half of the episodes.

Nashville was picked up at CMT for a 22-episode fifth season, which is standard on the broadcast networks, but Connie Britton seems to have more of a cable drama deal happening. Her contract is only set for ten episodes, and if that remains the case, we'll either only get to sporadically catch up with Rayna's latest familial and/or romantic foils, or the Grammy-winning hitmaker might meet her maker in some manner around the season's midpoint. I'm not saying I want it to happen, but you know how things go.

It does make some sense that Connie Britton might have wanted to keep her options open when locking herself in for more Nashville. Following the show's initial axing, the actress said she was torn about her feelings, obviously not wanting to leave behind a gig that she loved dearly, but also very happy to able to return home to Los Angeles without worrying about spending such a huge chunk of the year on location in Nashville. It's possible Britton just wanted to take a wade through the drama's latest season rather than diving in headfirst.

According to EW, sources are also torn about what Rayna's future is. Some are saying this is definitely going to be Britton's last season, while others are claiming her deal is not yet completely set in stone, meaning there is still time for her to rethink things and agree to appear for the entire season. At this point, it really depends on the actress, and whether she thinks plans for Rayna are worth sticking around for. (She'll be teaming up with an affluent app developer who tells her he wants to bring her music to new audiences, all while hiding his darker true intentions.)

On the flip side of the female lead front, there will reportedly be no worrying about co-star Hayden Panettiere, who is set to return as Juliette Barnes for the entirety of Season 5. That's especially comforting, considering that cliffhanger set her up for a completely different fate. Almost everyone else from the main cast will be back as well, though we won't be seeing Will Chase's Luke Wheeler or Aubrey Peeples' Layla Grant anymore.

Nashville is set to return to audiences for Season 5 when it debuts on CMT on Thursday, January 5. To see what's coming to TV before then, check out our fall premiere schedule.

Nashville fans went through quite an emotional ordeal recently, as it temporarily looked like the drama's cancellation at ABC meant we wouldn't get to see these characters on our televisions again. But then in stepped CMT, the most natural new home for the show, and excitement for Season 5 could really begin. Unfortunately, producers had to make a few cuts on the move from broadcast network to cable channel, but now we know that the majority of the show's major players will be returning, headed up by Connie Britton's Rayna James.

While I'm sure there weren't many people out there holding their breath over the chance that Connie Britton wouldn't be tapped to bring her signature class back to the faux country music scene, the fact that nothing had been announced yet was quite the curiosity. So yes, Rayna will be back, and you're probably thinking that Charles Estes will also be back as Rayna's on-again/off-again Deacon, and that is the correct assumption to make, according to TVLine.

But you're probably even more anxious to know how that crazy cliffhanger will end up, right?

Fear not, world! Hayden Panettiere will reportedly be back for Season 5 as the illustrious Juliette Barnes. You may recall that when Season 4 ended, Avery learned at the airport that Juliette's plane had gone missing after a distress signal had been sent out, making the cancellation news all the more frustrating for viewers. But it looks like the sensible decision has been made to write an explanation for the missing plane so that Juliette can come home safely to her husband, as Avery portrayer Jonathan Jackson will also be returning for Season 5.

It's fabulous that Nashville will have four of its top draws back for more, but let's not forget everyone else that we'll be seeing again. We'll also get to catch up again with Clare Bowen's rising star Scarlett O'Connor, Sam Palladio's rising-even-higher star Gunnar Scott, Chris Carmack's out-of-the-closet hitmaker Will Lexington, and the sisterly duo of Maddie and Daphne Conrad, as played by Lennon Stella and Maisy Stella, respectively.

Confirmed recently were the character exiles of Will Chase's Luke Wheeler and Aubrey Peeples' Layla Grant, neither of whom will be returning for Season 5. And there are still a bunch of recurring characters whose fates are still up in the air, but if CMT is dedicated enough to bring back almost the entire main cast, the network just might be interested in keeping around more of the second-tier players than we thought.

There's no telling just when Nashville Season 5 is going to hit CMT, but at least we know that we're going to see just about all of the most familiar faces coming back for another round of harmony-blending drama.

Every year, there are a couple of cancellations that totally blindside audiences. This year, ABC decided to cancel a couple of programs that were totally expected to get renewals. One of those shows was the long-running series Castle. The other show was the well-liked niche drama Nashville, which had signed on new showrunners before ABC ultimately opted to end its run. Although even the cast and crew of the series seemed a little surprised by the cancellation, recently Nashville lead Connie Britton spoke out about her feelings regarding moving on. Here’s what she had to say:

Recently, Connie Britton popped up on Late Night with Seth Meyers to talk about leaving Nashville. She’s spent the last four years filming in the Tennessee city, and she says it is really going to be difficult for her to adjust. Namely, she hasn’t spent much time in Los Angeles over the last four TV seasons. In fact, her son is 5 and really has been raised in Nashville for his whole life. Britton told the late night host the whole cancellation has been a little “schizophrenic,” as part of her is happy to return to Los Angeles and part of her will really miss her Nashville friends. 

Normally, when a show ends, the actors and actresses who appear on the show are devastated, but for Connie Britton, it seems as if the ending of Nashville is a bit of a mixed bag. The finale, too, will probably be a mixed bag. Obviously, the Nashville team didn’t realize the show would be ending when ABC opted to cancel it.  An early look at the episode seems to indicate that Juliette Barnes will get a question about Jeff Fordham’s death and more in the episode. There are a still lot of loose ends to tie up on Nashville and I’m note sure this series finale will wrap everything up. 

Some reports have indicated that Lionsgate TV is looking to shop the series elsewhere. This was a few weeks ago and we haven’t heard any further news on that front, plus Britton seems to believe she will definitely be leaving Tennessee soon. While the likelihood of a pick-up might be slim, if it does end up happening, doubtless fans would be happy. It would also mark the second time in a row a Connie Britton drama switched networks after cancellation. The same thing happened with Friday Night Lights a few years ago. 

If you’d like to watch Rayna, Juliette and the rest of the main cast in their final outing on ABC, you don’t have too much longer to wait. The series finale airs tonight at 10 p.m. ET, only on ABC. To find out what other shows have been cancelled and renewed, you can take a look at our complete network rundown. 

Ryan Murphy’s hotly anticipated new series American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson, otherwise known as that new show following the behind-the-scenes antics during the O.J. Simpson trial, has cast some huge names to appear during Season 1. Today, Murphy revealed that Friday Night Lights, Nashville and American Horror Story actress Connie Britton has signed on to the FX program.

Britton has signed on to play Faye Resnick in the upcoming drama. If you are already familiar with the actual People of the State of California v. Orenthal James Simpson trial, you may remember Resnick, a friend of Nicole Simpson Brown’s who sought treatment for a drug addiction just a few days before her friend and waiter Ronald Goldman were murdered. Resnick later went on to write a controversial book about Nicole Simpson Brown and even appeared in Real Housewives of Beverly Hills on Bravo, so Britton should have plenty of source material to draw from in the role.

Murphy made the Britton casting announcement in typical fashion, presenting the world with the news via Twitter.

As noted prior, she’s not the first high profile name to sign on to American Crime Story. Cuba Gooding Jr. is taking on the lead, playing O.J. Simpson in the new drama. Sarah Paulson is signed on to play prosecutor Marcia Clark. In addition, Courtney B. Vance will play Johnnie Cochran, David Schwimmer will play Robert Kardashian, Sr. and John Travolta has signed on to play Robert Shapiro. The latter characters provided aid to Simpson during his actual trial. If you are wondering why the castings of the lawyers are so prominent, the fall 2015 series will focus more on the legal end of the criminal process, giving audiences an eagle eye view of the court proceedings.

There’s a good chance Nashville will be renewed on ABC next year, and while we can’t confirm Britton's schedule for next TV season, we expect that actress’ schedule should allow her to appear in American Crime Story and ABC’s Nashville should it return. We’ll let you know if any other big names get cast in FX’s upcoming fall drama.

As the miracle-haired star of ABC soap Nashville and the oddball leading man on HBO's down-and-dirty Girls, Connie Britton and Adam Driver come from TV universes so different it's impossible to imagine them breathing the same air. And yet, as if my DVR had suddenly developed a mind of its own and produced a perverse spin on The Dating Game, they'll finally meet in the comedy This Is Where I Leave You, which already has a ton of stars on board and has recently added Britton to the flock.

According to Entertainment Weekly Britton has signed on to play the girlfriend of Driver's character, the youngest of four siblings who have gathered at their childhood home to sit shiva for the week after their father's death. The fact that Britton is 16 years older than Driver is part of the point-- he's the black sheep of the family, and bringing home an older girlfriend is just another way for him to shock the gout. Of course, the fact that the girlfriend is also a psychoanalyst means she'll have a prime opportunity to pick apart the group of nut bags who have gathered for the week.

The cast of the film, adapted form Jonathan Tropper's novel and directed by Shawn Levy, has been getting better and better with each announcement, starting with Tina Fey and Jason Bateman in the lead roles, then adding actors from virtually every TV show you've ever loved: House of Cards's Corey Stoll, Justified's Timothy Olyphant and Parks & Recreation's Ben Schwartz, Damages's Rose Byrne and Jane Fonda, who isn't a TV star but is a goddamn living legend to make up for it. Even though Levy's the guy who brought us Real Steel and the Night at the Museum movies, the cast he's lined up for this seems to suggest something far beyond them. At the very least, it'll give us the weirdest romance that we never knew we secretly wanted.

Those still holding out hope for a(nother) Friday Night Lights movie will be pleased to hear that Connie Britton still sounds fairly positive that a big screen follow-up to the beloved TV series will eventually happen. That’s the good news. The less than exciting news here is that the update sounds more or less the same as it did last year.

Since the NBC drama series Friday Night Lights, which was based on a movie and a book before that, wrapped up last year, many fans have hoped that the series would be adapted back to the big screen for a follow up film that would take the story even further. A few months back, Britton, who played Coach Taylor’s wife Tami in the series, was quoted as saying that “everybody really wants to make it happen,” but also that she thought Peter Berg (director of the original film and developer of the TV series) was going to be pretty tied up with other projects this year.

Britton spoke with E! at PaleyFest recently and the update she gave sounds somewhat similar.

So it seems things are about where they were a few months ago, in that people want it to happen, but definite plans aren't in place and schedules are a factor. On the bright side, for those who are hoping to see this rumored movie become an actual project, it does sound like it’s still in consideration, which is better than nothing. Britton's uncertainty but positivity sounds about on par with what fellow FNL star Michael B. Jordan said recently, in that he didn’t know “how real” the movie was, but did say he was up for returning to the role of Vince if it does happen.

Personally, as much as I loved Friday Night Lights, and would definitely like see it on the big screen. I can’t say it’s as high on my list of anticipated TV-to-movie adaptations as other projects. By comparison to Party Down and Veronica Mars, both of which had relatively short runs, and 24, which had a long run but ended wide open and could really use a better conclusion, Friday Night Lights being on the back burner for a little while seems fair. The series had a good run and it ended well, which makes me less anxious to see the story continued. But it’ll be good news if there’s a point when Berg and the casts’ schedules work out and a movie can be made, even if it takes years for it to happen.

When you love a TV show, you know that eventually it’s got to come to an end. So, let’s say that day comes and the creators wrap it up rather neatly. Yes, it’s nice to end on a high note, but it’s impossible not to want more-- and that's usually in the form of a movie that the creators themselves hope will happen. That's the situation surrounding plenty of shows, not least among them Friday Night Lights

While chatting Chronicle with the actor who plays Vince Howard, Michael B. Jordon, he discussed whether or not the new Friday Night Lights movie should happen at all. “I don’t know. It’s rough. I think I’m playing devil’s advocate; it can go both sides of the fence.” Jordan continued, “There’s so many different takes that you can put on it, but definitely Jason Katims, if he’s writing the script, he’ll probably do a tasteful job with incorporating the characters that everybody loves and new characters maybe.”

While Jordan was certainly willing to discuss the potential of the Friday Night Lights film, he also noted, “I just don’t know how real that movie is, so I can’t really talk about it so much.” We got a similarly weary reaction from Connie Britton back in December. She noted that Peter Berg was a busy guy, so the movie wouldn’t even be able to shoot until the end of next year. No, not a total thumbs down, but then she threw in, “if it happens at all.”

It’s pretty clear that Friday Night Lights the movie won’t be happening anytime soon, but the idea still seems to have some force. Britton also mentioned, “But everybody really wants to make it happen,” and apparently, everybody includes Jordan. He exclaimed, “If they called me up and go, ‘Hey man, I need you to play Vince,’ I’ll go, ‘Okay, cool. Perfect! When do we shoot?’”

Even if that shooting day does come, the big question is, who’ll even be part of it? Without spoiling the show for the folks who’ve yet to finish, it’s tough to imagine a plot that could possible bring the series’ main players back together again beyond the Taylors. In any case, it looks as though we’ll have quite a while to mull this one over.

Next week, the first season of American Horror Story wraps up in what is sure to be a twisted conclusion to this very warped, but strangely addicting drama series. Connie Britton shared some interesting tidbits about next week’s finale. The spoilers on next week's episode are vague but read no further if you haven't seen tonight's "Birth" episode!

We’ll have a full report on what went on in “Birth” posted tomorrow. In the meantime, for those of you who were wondering about the babies that were birthed in the episode, TVLine spoke with Connie Britton and the subject of what she gave birth to came up. When asked, “What did you give birth to? We didn’t see its face. Tell me!” Britton responded:

I’m under the assumption that the baby that lived, and the one referenced above is the Tate baby. It’ll definitely be interesting to see what a baby that’s half-human, half-ghost/rubber-man looks like.

Meanwhile, Britton sounds excited to be joining the ghosts among the house, saying, “The ghosts have all the fun!” She also offered some hints as to what newly-dead Vivien will be up to next week. What she says is vague but could be considered a spoiler given what seems like the obvious theory, so take that for what it’s worth before reading on...

Does “bringing the family together” mean killing Ben? Or convincing him to kill himself? That seems to be the obvious way to do that. If so, is Vivien really prepared to spend what could be an eternity with her husband and his mistress? Hayden’s probably not going anywhere anytime soon, so Vivien’s sort of stuck with her either way. No way around that, that we know of anyway, short of the “Go away” technique that Violet used on Tate tonight.

Maybe there is a way out for the ghosts. Britton says it’s always been her understanding that she’s only doing one season of the series (but it's "all up in the air"). So it's possible that either Vivien’s going to fade into the woodwork with some of the lesser seen ghosts in the house, or perhaps “bringing the family together” means she’ll find some way out of the house, either to a more permanent afterlife or off the property. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Read Britton’s full interview with TVLine here.

For those of you hoping for a(nother) Friday Night Lights movie, there’s some not so great news on the status of the potential project. Connie Britton offered a vague update on it, which sounds as though the film wouldn’t get going until late next year, if at all.

TVLine caught up with Britton to talk about tonight’s (bizarre, dark, creepy, bloody) episode of FX’s American Horror Story, in which the former Friday Night Lights actor stars. During the conversation, they asked her for an update on the Friday Night Lights movie. Back in October Britton said Peter Berg, the director of the FNL film, and developer of the NBC series, was “totally fired up” to do the movie and that Jason Katims was talking about writing the script, however from what she says now, Berg is tied up with other projects:

What she says about Berg isn't all that surprising. It’s the “if it happens at all” that sounds a bit less optimistic than fans of the football themed drama series (which was based on a movie, which was based on a book) will want to hear.

Berg has two projects in the works, the first of which is directing Battleship, which is due out next year. IMDB also has him listed as set to direct a film called Lone Survivor, which he also wrote.

So while it sounds like Britton would still be up for doing the movie, the project may not happen anytime soon. This is, of course, assuming there’s no one else available to take over the project in Berg’s place. But given Berg’s involvement in the original film and the series, it’s hard to see that as a positive scenario. Waiting might actually be the better option here, even if it takes years.

Clear eyes, full hearts...

Of course there's always been one Friday Night Lights movie, the 2004 one starring Billy Bob Thornton, but the only one anybody wants to talk about these days is a potential film based on the recently cancelled NBC series, which also took home two Emmys last month. Right after he won the statue for Best Writing for a Drama, executive producer Jason Katims confirmed that the team still wants to make the movie happen, and that the Emmy win confirmed to him that "people are still passionate about the show."

Connie Britton, who didn't get an Emmy last month but probably should have, is also enthusiastic about the prospects for a movie, and in no uncertain terms promised to Us Weekly that it was going to happen. In fact, she said "It's happening for realsies," which makes me adore her all the more. Here's the rest of what she had to say:

Of course, Friday Night Lights is just one of many, many beloved TV shows with showrunners and stars who promised over and over again that a movie would happen even when no visible progress was being made-- Arrested Development is another recent high profile example. Enthusiasm about Friday Night Lights wasn't enough to make it a big hit on NBC or keep it alive longer, so it's unclear how enthusiasm might make the movie happen. But if you've got your finger crossed for the Friday NIght Lights movie, know that you're in good company with Connie Britton.

It was only five or six days ago that my interest in Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk's American Horror Story was, well, what's less than zero? Then everything changed in a matter of seconds. Literally, all it took was the first three promos for the show to completely alter my perception and anticipation for the upcoming FX horror series. I still don't know what to expect, but now I find that mystery intriguing and not just inconsequential.

Don't get me wrong, I have (had) a lot of respect for Glee when it first hit the airwaves. I mean, bringing a musical to primetime, network television was a gutsy move and it totally paid off. For me, though, it only really worked for about half of the first season, not disproving the viability of musicals on TV, just proving that you have to maintain a level of quality to maintain interest -- my interest, especially -- and Glee falls far short of that. So we're back at AHS and why all of a sudden this one is at the top of my must-see list this fall.

The cast is decent enough (including Dylan McDermott, Connie Britton, Jessica Lange, Frances Conroy, and Alexandra Breckenridge) but, like I said above, it was the first rash of promos that grabbed and piqued my interest. I posted the first three the other day, and they are wonderfully ambiguous, eerie, and unsettling. No cheap scares, no clichés, just abstract footage mixed with a cover of "Tainted Love." They are supposed to function as clues but all I can make of it is...uh, this shit is weird. To be fair, I think they're hinting at past affairs, possibly illegitimate (dead) children, and a lot of death.

Before briefly discussing the new viral campaign, let's get to the fifth video, "Lying Down," which introduces us to another one of the show's characters. A character I can only describe as the gimp...and if you want the gimp or other odd characters from the show to come to your house for a haunting, well, that's entirely possibly with the American Horror Story "Horror House Calls." Not sure what that means? Take a look...

American Horror Story on FX -- Clue #5: Lying Down

American Horror Story on FX -- Horror House Call

American Horror Story on FX -- Horror House Call #1

American Horror Story premieres October 5th on FX. It stars Dylan McDermott, Connie Britton, and Jessica Lange.

Ryan Murphy and his Glee co-creator Brad Falchuk are returning to the house that helped establish them with their long-running soapy take on plastic surgery, Nip/Tuck. Deadline is reporting that FX has given American Horror Story from Murphy and Falchuk a full 13-episode series order. The things-going-bump-in-the-night drama pilot focuses on a therapist (Dylan McDermott) and his wife (Connie Britton) who move their family into a new home. Apparently McDermott's character cheated on his wife, and the couple hopes the new set of digs will also help give them a fresh start. Unfortunately, with a title like American Horror Story, you can guess that the house is going to be more trouble than the adultery ever was. Especially when the series' inspirations include The Shining.

While I've never jumped aboard the Glee train, I watched Nip/Tuck from start to finish, and despite that show's uneven track record, there's no question that Murphy and Falchuk can put together solid television. I'm also excited to see them tackling a different genre, especially since shows like Twin Peaks and American Gothic have proven that slow-burn horror can work remarkably well in a series format (whether or not it finds an audience is an altogether different question). While the haunted-house concept has been thoroughly strip-mined, American Horror Story still has the potential to be something special given the talent involved. At the very least, FX seems confident, having targeted the show for a fall 2011 launch even before the show had any actors attached. Between this and Powers, FX's upcoming slate definitely has my attention.

Look for American Horror Story this October, and in the mean time, here's the full press release.

Friday Night Lights started as a 2004 movie that critics liked but not too many people saw, then was turned into a TV series that critics adored but even fewer people saw. Now could the circle complete itself with yet another movie? TVLine reports that Peter Berg, who directed the Friday Night Lights movie and was an executive producer on the series, has talked up his hopes to make another movie, this one following main characters Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and Tami Taylor (Connie Britton). The news started with a tweet from Bill Simmons, who's been working on an oral history of the show, and TVLine confirmed that Berg is in fact working on the idea.

With the final episode of Friday Night Lights airing tonight on NBC, now is the perfect time for dreams of a movie version to flare up. Of course, this will be far from the first TV show to harbor such dreams-- just ask fans of Arrested Development, 24, Party Down or Veronica Mars who are still holding on to hope that they'll see their favorite characters onscreen again. Friday Night Lights seems no more or less likely than any of those shows to actually become a movie, given that it's got a devoted fanbase and, more importantly, a lot of critical support, but isn't really the kind of huge brand name that immediately inspires a studio to take notice. They've got a leg up in Berg, though, the director behind the upcoming Battleship movie who knows his way around major studio politics. We already know he's hoping to make a drama about Navy SEALs in Afghanistan-- is this another pet project he's willing to take under his wing?

Chandler and Britton are both nominated for Emmys this year for their performances on the show, which also snagged its first nomination for Best Drama Series, and it's clear they'd love to bring back the characters as much as the fans would. But given the long history of TV show-to-movie adaptations that never actually happen, is there any reason to assume this will be the one that works? I agree, it's a cruel and ridiculous thing that we live in a world with the new The A-Team movie and not an Arrested Development movie, but if it were a just world, Friday Night Lights wouldn't have its first Emmy nomination this year, now would it?

We've got a pretty big update to our story from earlier today about Gillian Jacobs joining Steve Carell and Keira Knightley in Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. The film starts production today in Los Angeles, and to mark the occasion distributor Focus Features has issues a press release announcing a ton of other new names in the cast. Among the new faces are Friday Night Lights star Connie Britton, Win Win's Melanie Lynskey, Cloverfield's T.J. Miller, and stand-up and all-around hilarious person Patton Oswalt. Here's the section from the press release that gives you the full lineup, including the names we already knew about:

Because this is a road trip movie, in which Carell and Knightley's characters team up to find Carell's long-lost love before the world ends, it seems possible that all of these actors will actually fit into the cast. But still, director Lorene Scafaria will have her hands full, especially since she's making her directing debut with this original script that she also wrote. Scafaria's previous credit writing Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist already gave me really high hopes for how this might turn out, and the amount of familiar faces and favorite actors signing on for this cast makes it look all the more promising.