Nicole Kidman and David E. Kelley have proven that they can bring the drama through streaming series like Big Little Lies and The Undoing, and now they’ve teamed up again for Margo’s Got Money Troubles. The book-to-screen adaptation stars Elle Fanning as the titular Margo, and with the series hitting the 2026 TV schedule on April 15, critics have shared their reviews for the Apple TV series.

Margo is the daughter of a Hooters waitress (Michelle Pfeiffer) and former professional wrestler (Nick Offerman) who turns to OnlyFans for money after an unexpected pregnancy. Richard Roeper of RogerEbert says Elle Fanning carries the series with grace and humor, and the ensemble helps to create a “wickedly funny, sex-forward” series that’s one of the most engaging so far this year. He gives Margo’s Got Money Troubles 3.5 out of 4 stars, writing:

Taylor Gates of Collider is similarly impressed by the upcoming A24 series, rating it a 9 out of 10. As someone who claims to be a “the book is better” kind of person, this critic says the screen adaptation is just as good. Some small tweaks to the source material work to its advantage, and it still manages to capture the book’s spunky spirit. Gates writes:

Allison Picurro of TV Guide calls Margo’s Got Money Troubles a “technicolor charmer” that sets itself apart in the oversaturated world of streaming limited series by being “totally, completely, honestly itself.” Picurro rates the series 8.5 out of 10 and says:

Branyan Towe of Loud and Clear joins the other critics in giving the upcoming Apple TV series a near-perfect review — 4.5 stars out of 5. David E. Kelley finds the perfect balance of comedy and drama, Towe writes, and Elle Fanning will “stir your soul.” This one will definitely “surprise audiences,” the critic says:

Angie Han of THR says Margo’s family at first seems like the aggressively quirky but not-quite-real characters we’ve seen time and again on our screens. However, look closer and you’ll find a really interesting story about relationships that are very much grounded in the real world. Han’s review of Margo’s Got Money Troubles calls it “warn, welcoming and well-acted,” as she continues:

Suffice it to say the critics are overwhelmingly pleased with the latest collab between David E. Kelley and Nicole Kidman, but if the above reviews aren’t enough to convince you, the series has earned a Certified Fresh 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. The first three episodes of Margo’s Got Money Troubles can be streamed now, as of April 15, with an Apple TV subscription. Episodes will drop weekly starting Wednesday, April 22.

It’s the year of the remake for Jake Gyllenhaal, who starred in the updated version of the ‘80s classic Road House earlier in 2024 and now will take on a role previously played by Harrison Ford more than 30 years ago. The new project — Apple TV+’s Presumed Innocent — also shows an evolution in the actor’s career, as the legal thriller will serve as his Gyllenhaal’s first major TV role. Critics have had the opportunity to screen the first seven episodes of the eight-part miniseries, which premieres on June 12, and the verdict on the new David E. Kelley project is overwhelmingly positive.

Presumed Innocent is a remake of the 1990 movie starring Harrison Ford, but it’s also an adaptation of the novel of the same name. Jake Gyllenhaal will play Chicago prosecutor Rusty Sabich, who becomes the primary suspect in the murder of one of his colleagues. He must go to extreme lengths to prove he didn’t do it. Aramide Tinubu of Variety credits Gyllenhaal’s performance in making Presumed Innocent “one of the best legal thrillers to arrive on television in years.” Tinubu continues: 

Emma Kiely of Collider agrees the performances are stellar, and she points out that knowing how the movie ended does not ruin the experience of watching the series. (Critics did not see the final episode of Presumed Innocent and do not know how or if the ending differs in this miniseries.) Kiely calls it “one of the standout television shows of the year,” rating the series a 9 out of 10: 

Akos Peterbencze of Looper gives it a 7.5 out of 10, also crediting the actors — the supporting cast is just as impressive as Jake Gyllenhaal, if not more, the critic says — as well as the gripping, suspenseful atmosphere and some wild cliffhangers to keep audiences intrigued. It can therefore be forgiven for a somewhat slow first episode and a few clichés. Peterbencze writes:  

Dave Nemetz of TVLine grades the Apple TV+ series an A-, saying that a courtroom thriller from David E. Kelley is already must-watch material, before you even throw in its impressive cast. Presumed Innocent is sleek and riveting, Nemetz says: 

Lauren Milici of GamesRadar agrees with the above assessments as far as the performances given, though the critic thinks some parts are a bit underdeveloped, particularly when it comes to the character of Carolyn (Renate Reinsve). Milici rates the series 3 out of 5 stars, writing: 

If you’re a fan of Jake Gyllenhaal, David E. Kelley or just twisty legal dramas in general, Presumed Innocent sounds like a series you might want to fire up the Apple TV+ subscription for. The first two episodes will be available to stream on June 12, with one episode dropping each Wednesday thereafter. Also be sure to see what other shows are premiering soon with our 2024 TV schedule. 

Presumed Innocent has wrapped its first season on Apple TV+ — one of the best streaming services to subscribe to — as part of the 2024 TV schedule. But even before we learned what role Jake Gyllenhaal’s Rusty Sabich played in the grisly murder of his mistress, we already knew that Presumed Innocent Season 2 was among Apple TV+’s upcoming series. 

In announcing that Presumed Innocent had been renewed for Season 2, the streamer said the first season was its most-watched drama to date, which led to the decision to order more episodes. Read on to see what we know about its release date, cast, story and more. 

What Is The Presumed Innocent Season 2 Premiere Date?

With the series renewal news coming even before the end of the first season, no release date has yet been announced for Presumed Innocent Season 2. The first two episodes of Season 1 aired on June 12, with new episodes airing weekly thereafter until the July 24 season finale. 

Season 2’s Story Will Focus On A New Case

The first season of Presumed Innocent followed Rusty Sabich, a promising Chicago prosecutor who became the prime suspect in a case revolving around the murder of someone from his office. When the series returns to Apple TV+ subscription holders, viewers will follow a new case; however, there was no information about what the new case might entail and who might be involved.

Season 1 was adapted from the book by Scott Turow — who serves as a co-EP on the series — so it’s possible that David E. Kelley could dip back into that well for source material. Turow’s second novel, The Burden of Proof, is considered a sequel to Presumed Innocent as it exists in the same universe as the author’s other novels, featuring and referring to some of the same characters. 

Which Cast Members Could Return For Presumed Innocent Season 2?

Jake Gyllenhaal will return to the second season as an executive producer, but it’s unknown if he’ll reprise the role of Rusty Sabich the second go-round. It's possible Presumed Innocent could go the anthology route with a whole new cast, but here’s who, at this point, could return for Season 2: 

Jake Gyllenhaal (Rusty Sabich)

Jake Gyllenhaal led the Presumed Innocent cast as Rusty Sabich, the chief deputy prosecuting attorney at the center of the murder investigation. Gyllenhaal has spent the past 30 years appearing in movies like Brokeback Mountain, Nightcrawler and Spider-Man: Far From Home, but this was his first major TV role. 

Ruth Negga (Barbara Sabich)

Ruth Negga appeared on Presumed Innocent as Jake Gyllenhaal’s on-screen wife, Barbara Sabich. Negga has worked extensively on TV over the years, including runs on Preacher, Misfits, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 

Bill Camp (Raymond Horgan)

One of the all-time great character actors, Bill Camp, played Rusty’s boss, friend and defense attorney Raymond Horgan. The actor is best known for roles on shows like The Outsider, The Queen’s Gambit and The Leftovers. 

Elizabeth Marvel (Lorraine Horgan)

Elizabeth Marvel joined her real-life husband, Bill Camp, on Presumed Innocent where she took on the role of Lorraine Horgan, Raymond’s wife. In addition to appearing on several shows in the Law & Order universe, Marvel has also worked on series including Lights Out, Homeland and Mrs. Davis. 

Peter Sarsgaard (Tommy Molto)

Peter Sarsgaard was cast on Presumed Innocent as Tommy Molto, the prosecutor with his own questionable past and intentions who was pushing to convict Rusty of murder. Sarsgaard has a long list of TV credits that include The Killing, The Looming Tower and Dopesick.  

O-T Fagbenle (Nico Della Guardia)

O-T Fagbenle portrayed the newly elected district attorney Nico Della Guardia in Season 1. The ambitious politician used the murder for his own political gain and had a clear dislike for Rusty and Raymond, but he did not have it out for Rusty in the same way as Molto. Fagbenle is best known for shows like Looking, The Handmaid’s Tale, and The First Lady. 

David E. Kelley Returning As EP For Presumed Innocent Season 2

After creating this latest adaptation of Presumed Innocent, David E. Kelley will return as executive producer for the second season. Kelley has writing credits on seven of Season 1’s eight episodes, but no specifics regarding the writing or direction of Season 2 have been released as of this writing.

David E. Kelley is a prolific TV writer and producer, known for spearheading some of the biggest legal and crime thrillers to ever hit the small screen. Amongst his credits are series like The Lincoln Lawyer, The Practice, Ally McBeal and Big Little Lies, which have pulled from his real-life work as a lawyer. Kelley has won 11 Primetime Emmy Awards from 30 nominations. 

What Is Presumed Innocent’s Rating?

Presumed Innocent Season 1 was rated TV-MA for its gruesome crime scene images, sexual content, some nudity and coarse language. It’s likely Season 2 will carry the same rating. 

How Many Episodes Are In Presumed Innocent Season 2?

No episode order has been announced for Presumed Innocent Season 2, but Season 1 featured eight episodes, all around 45 minutes long. The first two episodes were released at the same time, with one dropping each week through the season finale.

Presumed Innocent quickly became one of Apple TV+’s best original series when it premiered in June 2024, and after the thriller's twisty conclusion, there’s no doubt fans will be excited to see whatever is to come in Season 2. 

Jake Gyllenhaal has been a busy man on the big screen in recent years. Whether it’s thwarting Spider-Man’s plans or working as a paramedic under pressure, the Oscar-nominated actor has kept himself occupied, even lending his vocal talents as part of the voice cast for Disney’s Strange World. But may soon finally be able to add "TV lead" to his growing resume, as Gyllenhaal is in the process of landing his first big role on the small screen, and with an Emmy-winning creator to boot. 

Gyllenhaal has starred in a few streaming-exclusive features of late, such as the crime thriller The Guilty, and Deadline reports the actor will stick within the digital realm for the "new" series Presumed Innocent, which he is in negotiations to star in and executive produce. The Apple TV+ limited series comes from The Undoing and Lincoln Lawyer creator David E. Kelley, who will be teaming with J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot and Warner Bros. TV for the project. Kelley, whose TV credits also include Boston Legal and Big Sky, will serve as the upcoming courtroom thriller's writer, executive producer, and showrunner.

Inspired by the 1987 novel of the same name by esteemed author Scott Turow, Presumed Innocent follows a prosecutor charged with the murder of his colleague. There was a film adaptation of the novel in 1990 starring Harrison Ford, Brian Dennehy, Raúl Juliá, Bonnie Bedelia, Paul Winfield, and Greta Scacchi. The feature spawned a television miniseries, The Burden of Proof, in 1992, as well as a 2011 television film sequel, Innocent, that aired on TNT.

Presumed Innocent would be reimagined for episode storytelling, with a focus on love, sex, power, and more. Gyllenhall's Rusty Sabich is set to fight to save his family and marriage after he's accused of murder, and he'll have some pretty big shoes to fill given Ford's performance in the original adaptation. Considering Ford is just diving into his own first TV lead role for 1923, he might have all kinds of advice for Gyllenhall's new gig.

Not many other details have been released about Presumed Innocent, but if the series does move forward, it would mark his first major TV role, and could potentially open up the possibility of him doing even more episodic roles. Even if negotiations fall through, this could be the start of a career shift for the Ambulance actor. Though Gyllenhaal is busy filming a movie remake of the '80s classic Road House, so it could also depend on scheduling.

Meanwhile, TV is not the only new territory that Jake Gyllenhaal has taken a liking to lately. Gyllenhaal recently became viral on TikTok after discovering that he previously did a movie with Strange World co-star Dennis Quaid. Does The Day After Tomorrow ring a bell? The two had very few scenes together, and the disaster film did release nearly 20 years ago, so it’s perhaps not so surprising that Gyllenhaal forgot. His reaction and Quaid’s reaction make the video almost as good as the movie itself.

I suggest signing up for an Apple TV+ subscription just in case Jake Gyllenhaal goes forward with Presumed Innocent. In the meantime, check out CinemaBlend’s 2023 TV schedule to see what is coming in the new year to keep you occupied!

As I’ve chronicled in the writing of this weekly column, the choice of medium is key in adapting the works of Stephen King, and his novels in particular have vexed many filmmakers. The limited runtime of theatrical movies often forces massive cuts to compensate for the author’s verbose style, and TV shows like USA Network’s The Dead Zone, Syfy’s Haven, and CBS’s Under The Dome all had to dilute their source material in the name of generating multiple years’ worth of stories. There has been a lot of success with miniseries, but even those have had limitations – such as content censorship on network television and basic cable.

The work generally demands a certain amount of compromise and manipulation… but Mr. Mercedes is special compared to all that came before it. For the first time in the history of Stephen King adaptations, an on-going television series was developed with the plan to have a single season adapt a single novel – which was a plan that was executable because King had written a pair of sequels that could be adapted subsequently and keep the show going.

The sequels admittedly didn’t exist in publication when the Mr. Mercedes TV series was first announced in January 2015 with David E. Kelley and Jack Bender respectively attached to write and direct, but one did by the time Audience announced a 10-episode order, and both were out by the time principal photography commenced in early 2017. Access to the show wasn’t exactly broad, as the network on which it aired was only available to DirecTV and AT&T U-verse subscribers, but between the 10 hours of runtime real estate and zero limitations in regards to language, sexuality and violence, a perfect opportunity was available to create an ideal adaptation.

In the coming weeks I’ll be writing about both End Of Watch and Finders Keepers as source material for Mr. Mercedes Season 2 and Season 3, but this week’s Adapting Stephen King focuses solely on Season 1, which exists as one of the best all-around small screen King projects that have been produced to date.

What Mr. Mercedes Is About

Stephen King is certainly best known for his work in the horror genre, but only an ignorant individual would say that it is his exclusive realm. His body of work is a demonstration of remarkable range, as he has written sci-fi, fantasy, coming-of-age drama and more. And yet he had to deal with some doubts when he was considering trying to write a new kind of book in the early ‘00s: detective fiction.

In a 2017 interview with USA Today, King explained that he had a moment of getting real with himself and analyzing what it was that was stopping him from getting the work done. He determined that there was a degree of cowardice involved:

Further encouraging him to pursue the story was a passion for the storytelling. In the same interview he explained how he has devoured mysteries since he was young, and with Mr. Mercedes he wanted to tackle material akin to the Master of Suspense himself, Alfred Hitchcock. Said King,

As for the crime that would be at the center of his story, Stephen King took inspiration from real life and turned the dial up to 11 on the horribleness. According to Bev Vincent’s Stephen King: A Complete Exploration Of His Work, Life, And Influences, the author was traveling between Florida and Maine when he heard a news story about a woman who, during an “altercation” with another woman, ended up driving her car into a crowd of people.

After mulling over this story for about a year, King imagined the crime being far worse and pondered the idea of the driver getting away with it, his identity kept a secret. He then thought of this mass murderer turning the tables on the retired detective who failed to catch him and trying to goad the cop into committing suicide. The original intention for the idea was a short story, but it ended up becoming one of the two novels he had published in 2014 (the other being the phenomenal, nightmare-inducing Revival).

Mr. Mercedes begins with a tragedy that becomes known as the City Center Massacre. While people stand in line one morning to attend a job fair, an individual driving a stolen Mercedes-Benz sedan pulls up and purposefully plows into the crowd – killing eight people and crippling three others. Det. Bill Hodges dedicates himself to discovering the identity of the psychopath, but the investigation yields no arrests and he is eventually forced into retirement.

Lonely and listless, Bill wastes his days away as a retiree, but that changes when he receives a letter in the mail from an individual who claims to be The Mercedes Killer. Unbeknownst to the detective, this homicidal maniac is his neighborhood’s ice cream man, a psychotic 30-something named Brady Hartsfield, and while it’s Brady’s intention to get the retired investigator to eat his own gun, he instead manages to give Bill a fresh reason for living.

How Mr. Mercedes Season 1 Differs From Stephen King's Book

Serving as showrunner on Mr. Mercedes, David E. Kelley clearly recognized the special opportunity he was granted in bringing Stephen King’s work to television, and as such, I’d say about 90 percent of what is in King’s novel is adapted directly for the show. There are significant changes made to the ending, and smaller alterations made throughout, but all of the major plot points from the book are featured in the series’ first 10 episodes.

As far as the cast of characters is concerned, there are three characters that are invented or greatly expanded for the show. Ida, played by Holland Taylor, is introduced as a next door neighbor for Bill Hodges (Brendan Gleeson), and her kindly presence has a way of softening some of the protagonist’s sharper edges in the source material.

On the other side of the narrative, the world of Brady Hartsfield (Harry Treadaway) is expanded with the show spending a lot of time with him while he works as an employee in a small electronics store (Discount Electronics in the book, Supreme Electronix in the show). The standout impact of this is increased roles for his boss and coworker. Tones Frobisher in the novel becomes Anthony 'Robi' Frobisher (Robert Stanton), and Freddi Linklatter is changed to be Lou Linklatter (Breeda Wool).

Like the effect that Ida has on Bill, Robi and Lou end up making Brady Hartsfield a lighter character than his on page counterpart. Verbally abusive treatment from Robi adds to the perspective of the antagonist as a victim to go along with the regular sexual abuse he suffers at the hands of his mother (Kelly Lynch). Brady’s friendship with Lou, a proud lesbian, paints him as much less of a hateful bigot than what King originally wrote, and he even commits a Dexter-esque murder of a neo-Nazi customer who is hateful and rude toward her.

There are a few other invented episode-long arcs such as that one – like Brady’s mother taking a stab at sobriety after Brady’s rejects her advances – but they don’t steer the plot far away from what is in Stephen King’s book.

The most significant changes away from what’s in the source material come at the end of Mr. Mercedes Season 1, and it’s obvious that the reasoning behind them were more driven by logistics than creative choices. In the novel, Brady’s plan as the cops are circling in is to suicide bomb a boy band concert, but his plan is foiled when Holly Gibney bashes his skull in with Bill Hodges’ Happy Slapper (a sock full of steel ball bearings). It surely would have been very expensive for the show to depict a boy band concert, so the target of Brady’s crime instead becomes the opening of a new local arts center. The series also doesn’t feature the Happy Slapper, as Holly (Justine Lupe) instead inflicts damage to the killer’s brain by swinging a brass doorstop into it more than a couple times.

Mr. Mercedes also skips over the events of the final pages of the book – which has Brady Hartsfield waking up in the hospital and calling for his mother – but that’s a choice that was clearly made with the knowledge of what happens in End Of Watch (which I’ll get into in a few weeks with my column about Mr. Mercedes Season 2).

Is It Worthy Of The King?

Despite any and all genre trappings, Stephen King books live and die by the strength of their characters, and this maxim holds true for Mr. Mercedes primarily because of Bill Hodges and Holly Gibney: two of King’s greatest creations. They are individually textured and real personalities who ultimately undergo powerful and meaningful changes, and the special bond that is formed between them is beautiful. King’s personal love for them is clear, expressed in his prose and in the fact that they have been such a significant part of his modern work. (In addition to the Mr. Mercedes trilogy, Holly is also featured in 2018’s The Outsider and is the lead character in the novella “If It Bleeds.” She will be featured as the protagonist in King’s upcoming 2023 novel Holly).

Not only does the Mr. Mercedes TV series do justice to the characters through the adapted story, but the casting of Brendan Gleeson and Justine Lupe is perfection on the level of Kathy Bates in Misery and Morgan Freeman in The Shawshank Redemption. Bill isn’t Irish in the book, but that’s incidental in light of the passion and power that Gleeson provides the flawed and haunted detective. Opposite him, Holly has such obvious expressed fragility, and the audience is made to feel fervent about her protection at all costs, but underneath it is an awesome determination that Bill uniquely evokes, and Lupe’s performance is stunning.

Gleeson and Lupe are standouts, but the casting is tremendous all around – Harry Treadaway’s Brady Hartsfield also deserving special recognition along with Jharrel Jerome as Harvard-bound helper Jerome Robinson. With its engaging characters and tight mystery, the show is a remarkable example of the greatness that can happen when filmmakers trust and lean into the source material, and Mr. Mercedes Season 1 alone is one of the best Stephen King adaptations we’ve seen in the 21st century.

How To Watch Mr. Mercedes Season 1

Due to the network on which it aired, Mr. Mercedes wasn’t available to a lot of TV viewers when episodes were first premiering, but things changed in a big way back in March 2021 when the entire show became available to those with a Peacock subscription. You can also digitally rent and purchase episodes via Amazon, Vudu, Google Play, and Apple. If you’re a physical media collector and/or building the Ultimate Stephen King collection, the complete series is available on a region free Blu-ray, and there are DVD releases for each season.

Next week’s Adapting Stephen King will be a special one, as I’ll be taking an in-depth look at what currently exists as the biggest box office hit in the history of King adaptations: Andy Muschietti’s IT. Look for the column in the CinemaBlend Movies section next week, and click through the banners below to discover all of my previous features.

Earlier this summer, it was revealed that Scream franchise star Neve Campbell would not be returning for the sixth movie, shocking fans of the beloved scream queen and her character Sydney Prescott. However, that decision is proving to be a good thing for TV viewers, because the actress has landed the lead role in a new series that has her teaming up again with The Lincoln Lawyer creator David E. Kelley!

Neve Campbell is now set to head up ABC’s new drama series Avalon, according to Deadline. Based on the short story of the same name from Lincoln Lawyer author Michael Connelly — I sense a pattern here — the series comes from legal drama mastermind David E. Kelley, who created the Netflix hit that starred Campbell among its cast members. Avalon has already received a straight-to-series order from ABC, so fans are already guaranteed to see this creative reunion in the future. 

The upcoming series is set in the city of Avalon, set on Catalina Island, where Neve Campbell will portray Nicole “Nic” Searcy, a detective within the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. The island has been privy to its fair share of noteworthy events and stories, as an attention-grabbing tourist spot for many years, and Detective Searcy will find herself in the middle of a just such a noteworthy mystery that will be the apex of the lone detective's career, while putting into focus everything she thinks she knows about the island.

Campbell and Kelley are definitely a solid duo, especially with Michael Connelly serving up source material, considering how The Lincoln Lawyer crushing its streaming competition after first hitting Netflix, despite some negative-to-middling reviews from critics. The series marked Campbell’s first TV role since Netflix's House of Cards in 2017, and it's already sparking more small screen projects. 

As mentioned above, Neve Campbell shocked fans when it was announced she wouldn’t be returning as fan-favorite final girl Sidney Prescott in the upcoming Scream 6. Campbell recently explained her reasoning for not returning to the franchise, noting she didn’t feel valued enough, with her pay offer falling short of what she'd expected. It was definitely a disappointment, yet an understandable move for any female star to make, and Scream 6's Melisa Barrera defended her decision.

Although it'll be tough to not see Neve Campbell in the new Scream film, she seems to be keeping plenty busy on television otherwise. The Lincoln Lawyer has already been renewed for a second season, which will reportedly be based on Michael Connelly’s The Fifth Witness. Campbell will be recurring in that season, as she will likely be busy with ABC's Avalon. She is also set to recur in the upcoming Peacock series Twisted Metal, based on the popular video game franchise.

More details on the ABC series, including other cast members, have yet to be revealed, but we'll hopefully hear more in the coming months. It’s unknown when in the future Avalon will premiere, but it doesn't seem like it'll be hard to get this one up and running. But in the meantime, you can also see what the rest of the OG Scream cast has been up to if you can’t get enough of them.

Check out CinemaBlend’s 2022 TV schedule to see what else to look forward to in the coming months.

Get ready to meet Masha and her Tranquillum House. The upcoming Nine Perfect Strangers TV miniseries on Hulu, created by David E. Kelley, will bring nine people together at a health and wellness retreat. Though these characters are looking for a transformative experience at the pricey resort, fans of the HBO series Big Little Lies and Liane Moriarty's books should know they’re in for much more than they bargained for.

The limited series is coming to screens at an interesting time in our collective lives. We’ve all experienced the disaster that was 2020, when people around the world were confronted with issues like isolation, self-reflection and mortality. Not unlike some of these wellness retreats, many people took the opportunity to try to improve relationships or focus on their physical wellbeing. So while it’s completely coincidental, the timing is actually quite appropriate to dive into a fictionalized world that explores the extreme side of healing. Let’s take a look at what we know about Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers.

The Night Perfect Strangers Premiere Date Is Set For August 18

Nine Perfect Strangers is an eight-episode miniseries and will begin streaming on Hulu on August 18, with the first three episodes being released on that date. After that, one episode per week will be released on Hulu each Wednesday. The staggered release is the same format Hulu followed with the book adaptation of Little Fires Everywhere in 2020. So we can binge the first three episodes (and get hooked), but then we’ll have to wait and experience the rest of the series in smaller doses.

Nine Perfect Strangers Is Based On The Book By Liane Moriarty

The Hulu miniseries Nine Perfect Strangers is based on the book of the same name by Liane Moriarty, which was published in 2018 and made the New York Times Bestseller list. It’s the second book-to-screen adaptation for Moriarty, whose Big Little Lies was adapted for an HBO miniseries in 2017. After the success of the first season, a second season of Big Little Lies was added that continued the story after the events of the book, and the fate of a possible Season 3 hangs in the balance.

Nicole Kidman And Melissa McCarthy Lead The Nine Perfect Strangers Cast

Nicole Kidman — who gave an Emmy-winning performance as Celeste in Big Little Lies — is set to star as Masha, the leader of Tranquillum House. Melissa McCarthy will play romantic novelist Frances Welty, one of the retreat attendees. They lead a star-studded cast that also includes Michael Shannon, Asher Keddie and Grace Van Patten as the Marconi family; Luke Evans as divorce lawyer Lars Lee; Samara Weaving and Melvin Gregg as lottery-winning couple Jessica and Ben Chandler; Regina Hall as single mother Carmel Schneider; and Bobby Cannavale as retired athlete Tony Hogburn. Manny Jacinto and Tiffany Boone will play Tranquillum House staffers Yao and Delilah.

The Miniseres Reunites David E. Kelley And Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman and Liane Moriarty aren’t the ties Nine Perfect Strangers has to Big Little Lies. Both series were created and written by David E. Kelley. Kidman and Kelley also worked together on the recent HBO Max miniseries The Undoing. Though she’s said these dramatic roles cause some “disturbing” side effects for her personally, I selfishly hope they keep collaborating, because they’ve made some pretty damn entertaining television. Hopefully Nine Perfect Strangers continues that trend.

Nine Perfect Strangers Is A Satire Of The Wellness Industry

Liane Moriarty, who wrote the book the miniseries is based on, has said she was inspired to write about the wellness industry because she was fascinated by the “weird and wonderful things” people are willing to do to transform their lives, especially if their lives are already pretty good. While she said she didn’t intend to do a straight satire, the things that are done in the name of health lend themselves to the dark humor her books are known for.

Nine Perfect Strangers Should Strike A Balance Between “Ridiculous” And “Very Real”

David E. Kelley seemed to be on the same page as Liane Moriarty as far as the tone of the miniseries, telling Vanity Fair that it’s hard to parody self-improvement:

He acknowledged the absurdity of the lengths people will go to change, but without losing the fact that those people are hurt and asking for help.

Actors Had to Quarantine In Isolation Prior To Shooting

The process of filming Nine Perfect Strangers during the pandemic seems like it might have been a transformative experience in itself. Luke Evans detailed the quarantine process they had to go through before they could shoot the limited series, which was filmed in Australia in the latter part of 2020. Evans said they were tested every other day as they quarantined alone for 14 days. That’s even longer than the Tranquillum House’s 10-day retreat! The actors were also reportedly given the option to do their own hair and makeup.

With nine retreat-goers’ stories to tell, as well as those of the Tranquillum House employees, it’s good to see Nine Perfect Strangers being adapted as a miniseries rather than a movie. Hopefully eight episodes will give David E. Kelley et. al. the space to develop the characters as well as Liane Moriarty did in the book. Judging by the success of the book and the previous work done by this cast and crew, I’m excited to see the completed project. Check out the trailer below to get a glimpse of what these nine strangers are in for. And stay up to date on all of your other shows with our 2021 Summer TV schedule.

Big Little Lies became a runaway hit for HBO when it first premiered on the channel back in 2017, so much so that the “limited series” ultimately spawned a second season in 2019. And as you would expect fans would love to see a third season. A potential Season 3 is far from a sure thing at this point, and there are a few obstacles standing in its way. One just so happens to be Warner Bros. and DC Films’ The Batman, and Big Little Lies showrunner David E. Kelley has now shed some light on why this is the case.

David E. Kelly definitely isn’t giving up on the idea of “bringing the band back together” for a third season of Big Little Lies, as he recently told TV Line. However, the producer is realistic in noting that scheduling the series would be incredibly difficult especially when stars like Zoe Kravitz are working on massive projects like The Batman:

One of the things that propelled Big Little Lies to critical acclaim was the work of its star-studded ensemble cast, headlined by Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley and Zoe Kravitz. And in the second season, the five stars were joined by none other than Meryl Streep. The only downside to having so many A-List stars is that they’re more than likely booked solid for long periods of time. With this in mind, getting all of them back together again would definitely be a feat.

Productions that are very involved can tie up actors for quite a while. In the case of Zoe Kravitz, The Batman’s filming schedule has been somewhat of a rollercoaster ride. The movie originally began shooting early last year before it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sometime after filming started back up again, filming was briefly delayed again due to someone on set testing positive for COVID-19. This person was later revealed to be the film’s star, Robert Pattinson.

Even though making Big Little Lies Season 3 could be an uphill battle due to scheduling, it’s good to see Kelley is still feeling optimistic about its chances. Nicole Kidman echoed his positivity in a separate interview, even confirming that “a story is being concocted.”

We’ll have to wait and see if plans for a Big Little Lies Season 3 actually come to pass, but fans still have plenty of reason to be hopeful. In the meantime, fans can stream the first two seasons of the show on HBO Max.

Big Little Lies’ future is a not-so-small question that has hung in the air ever since its initially unplanned second season aired. There have been numerous comments on the topic, including a pretty hopeful update from Nicole Kidman not too long ago. Well, as it turns out, Kidman has some great news about the potential of Season 3.

So will there be a Season 3, after all? Hope has shifted back and forth since Big Little Lies’ second season wrapped last summer. The seesaw included HBO’s Casey Bloys pouring some pretty chilly water on the possibility of a Season 3. At the time, Bloys was open to a potential third season while simultaneously pointing to a lack of story. Cut to the present, and Nicole Kidman told Australia’s JAM Nation with Jonesy & Amanda:

Nice! Nicole Kidman says that Liane Moriarty, the author behind the novel Big Little Lies is based on, is creating potential source material for Season 3. Plus, Kidman reports that she and her fellow co-stars all want to proceed with making another season. Kidman's enthusiasm really isn't too surprising since she's always sounded open to one. All of these developments are considerably big moves towards making Season 3 a reality, but things are still far from being set in stone.

A lot can change and, while Nicole Kidman’s update will undoubtedly leave a lot of Big Little Lies fans upbeat, it could go another way. Should Season 3 happen, I hope the HBO drama learned its lesson from the last time and kept all of the set décor on-hand. It would also be quite the accomplishment for the big-budget series to receive a third season, especially when you consider the resistance it faced.

At first, Big Little Lies’ creator David E. Kelley was not the biggest fan of moving forward with another season following its initial success. Remember, the Nicole Kidman starrer was supposed to be a one-and-done adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s novel and not a returning series that saw its star-studded cast continue sifting through the rubble of their characters’ messy lives.

If (and it is still an if) Big Little Lies returns, it will have to contend with its popular cast’s busy schedules and the new normal. Any production that's done on a third season in the near future will have to deal with the COVID protocols that are facing many series. Though based on Nicole Kidman’s statement, it sounds like it is still a viable possibility.

You can stream the first two seasons of Big Little Lies on HBO Max. While you wait to see if a Season 3 actually happens, you can check out this fall’s premieres for further entertainment. Among the new offerings this season is Nicole Kidman’s thriller, The Undoing, in which she stars opposite Hugh Grant. New episodes of The Undoing air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and are also available to stream on HBO Max.

The current TV renaissance is showing no signs of slowing down. With so much great content being produced on the small screen, we've seen a bevy of A-list film actors recently make the transition over to TV. Perhaps no show proves this more than HBO's Big Little Lies, which has an outstanding cast including Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, and Laura Dern. While originally billed as a limited series, BLL ultimately got renewed for a second season on HBO after winning a slew of Emmy and Golden Globe Awards. But it turns out that creator/writer David E. Kelley was originally nervous about bringing the series back. He recently spoke to this dichotomy, saying:

It appears that Big Little Lies' gorgeous Season 1 finale originally was the perfect ending for David E. Kelley. But there were certainly strings to pull from for the sophomore season, and he eventually changed his mind.

David E. Kelley's comments to THR should come to no surprise for Big Little Lies fans, especially if you've been paying close attention to the development of Season 2. While no one expected to come back for Season 2, the series became massively popular and picked up a series of awards. Just like Kelley, Season 1 director Jean-Marc Vallée was originally against bringing the show back, although he'll ultimately be serving as producer in Season 2. The first season (and therefore the original book) had a beautiful ending, and both the writer and director didn't want to mess with a good thing.

Then again, there did seem like plenty of dynamics to mine from in a potential second season. While the five mothers ultimately put their differences aside, there are plenty of consequences. They'll all have to keep the secret of Perry's death, which should be made especially challenging with the arrival of his mother (played by Meryl Streep). Additionally, Perry's identity as Jane's attacker mean that Ziggy and Celeste's twins are half brothers, which should make for another fascinating change. And with Detective Quinlan still not buying their collective story, the drama has only begun.

Considering the trumphant firt season that Big Little Lies had on HBO, the pressure is on to deliver an equally emotional and fascinating experience with Season 2. Be sure to check back with CinemaBlend for all the updates on what's happening in Monterey.

Big Little Lies will return to HBO sometime in 2018. In the meantime, check out our midseason premiere list to plan your next binge watch. Plus our superhero premiere list and Amazon premiere list to ensure you don't miss a single episode.

The Dark Tower just recently hit theaters, Spike's The Mist is heading towards its Season 1 finale, and IT's Pennywise will rush through Derry's pipes soon. With more adaptations just beyond the horizon, Stephen King's imagination is alive and well in pop culture, and it's quite possible the best of the bunch is currently hurtling towards audiences. With Audience Network's Mr. Mercedes, legal TV juggernaut David E. Kelley and an A+ cast trade in King's traditional horror for his pulpy crime drama, and the results are as deliciously dark and twisted and fun as fans could've hoped. Perhaps delicious is the wrong word...

A cat-and-mouse dance between the psyches of its protagonist and antagonist -- both polar opposites, save for a shared sense of world-weary fatigue -- Mr. Mercedes hides neither its cat nor its mouse from audiences, clearly uninterested in tethering its story to stock shocks and baffling twists. David E. Kelley and his creative team want viewers to know two things very, very well: what it's like to be inside the alcohol-addled brain of retired detective Bill Hodges, played to perfection by the ever-laudable Brendan Gleeson, and what it's like to be inside the migraine-addled brain of tech-savvy killer Brady Hartsfield, portrayed by a most sinister Harry Treadaway. Spoiler alert: one of those brains is much more disturbing than the other.

The series begins in the same way as the novel does, with a flashback centered on a crowd of people waiting in line falling victim to a thrill kill motorist using a vehicle as his weapon. The heinous brutality of the murders is made all the more disturbing by top notch direction from Kelley familiar Jack Bender, as well as a handful of similar real-life events in recent months. And in the show's present-day reality, the "Mr. Mercedes" case is still unsolved, which factors largely into Hodges' sour moods, as well as his thirst for whatever's most potent.

But while Hodges' social awkwardness with his amorous neighbor Ida (Holland Taylor) is about as good as it gets for his personality, his mental state fractures anew when he starts receiving horrifying messages from the Mr. Mercedes killer. As the episodes go on, viewers start to learn just how obsessive he got about solving the case when it was fresh, as well how quickly he's able to fall right back into that obsession, much to the dismay of his former partner, Det. Peter Dixon (Legion's Scott Lawrence). Brendan Gleeson embodies every bit of the Bill Hodges that Stephen King first put to paper, and TV audiences are all the better for witnessing his judgment-spewing jaunt to live-action.

Hodges is the equivalent of every stereotypical older person who doesn't understand technology, so when he first starts getting messages from his former nemesis (of sorts), Hodges enlists the assistance of his Internet-mentored yard-mower Jerome, played by Moonlight's Jharrel Jerome. While the episodes available for review didn't bring Jerome too deeply into Hodges' mission just yet, their kinship is as naturally uneven as one should be between a teenager and a retiree, and its development should be excellent. Mary Louise Parker enters the story as Janey, the sister of the woman who owned the Mercedes used to run down those initial victims, and Hodges also enlists her mind (and body) in re-attempting to crack the case.

Which brings us to the titular killer, a multi-talented and antisocial chap whose childhood was tailor-made to one day produce an emotionally stunted and bloodthirsty murderer. Coming off a winning turn as Victor Frankenstein on Penny Dreadful, Harry Treadaway inhabits some troublingly grim places as Brady Hartsfield, and Mr. Mercedes interestingly doesn't vilify Brady as often as other dramas might. (Not that his heinous actions are celebrated.) Brady's skills make him a perfect IT tech for a local electronics store, where he deals with an overbearing boss (Robert Stanton) and finds a unexpected and meaningful friendship with his coworker Lou (Breeda Wool). And because this is Stephen King, Brady also drives an ice cream truck around the neighborhoods as a side gig with ulterior motives.

But Brady isn't so much a workaholic as he is the lone surviving Hartsfield male left to get loved on by his mother Deborah, played by Kelly Lynch. That's a softcore way of hinting at the scandalous things that have gone on inside their family home, usually after Deborah drank all the clear liquor in the freezer, and while Brady is dealing with one of his attention-thwarting headaches. As such, Brady keeps himself busy outside of Deborah's reach, spending most of his home time scheming all top-secret-like in the basement.

There's sympathy to be found here, though almost completely for those whose lives Brady has ruined, and while viewers can easily understand that he is a also a victim -- a bi-product of his awkwardly botched upbringing -- Brady and his self-serving perversions are not above getting muffled by justice. Especially with a smile so skeevy.

Mr. Mercedes is the first novel in Stephen King's relatively recent crime trilogy centered around Bill Hodges, and David E. Kelley has done a fantastic job of bringing this dour -- but still often devilishly fun -- story into three dimensions, even if the TV show seems to be embracing the hard-boiled tropes that King turned on their heads. (At least early on, by way of Hodges' alcoholism outweighing his daytime TV obsessions.) If there's one major dispute to be had here, it's that the novel's true standout character Holly Gibney (played by Justine Lupe), didn't show up in those early episodes. Not that it's a real dispute, since she doesn't show up until the middle of the novel anyway, but it does feel weird to judge any form of Mr. Mercedes where she isn't present.

But judge it, I will, and I won't hesitate at all to judge it in high regards. As he did with HBO's Big Little Lies, David E. Kelley brought Mr. Mercedes to life in an engrossing way that burrows under your skin, and all while telling a fairly straightforward story whose biggest narrative trick is flashbacks. And through all the visceral and emotional turmoil, there are still many reasons to grin and cheer, even if it's just about watching a douchebag get just desserts. Why aren't more networks making TV like this? Certainly a vile soul like Brady is capable of collapsing the show's airbag of quality in the second half of the season, but from where I'm sitting, Mr. Mercedes looks to be the best TV adaptation of a Stephen King novel yet. Pretend the rating below is being presented as smiley face stickers on steering wheels.

Rev your engines and be wary of strange emails, as Mr. Mercedes will make its bloody debut on AT&T's Audience Network on Wednesday, August 9, at 8 p.m. ET. (Don't let the early airtime trick you into thinking this show could or should be seen by children, however.) To see when everything else is heading to the small screen in the near future, head to our summer premiere schedule and our fall TV schedule.

Throughout the past year or so, it's become clear that TV is the place to work for actors. With so much great content being produced, even bonafide movie stars have taken to the small screen for their next jobs. Case in point: HBO's Big Little Lies, which is produced by and starring Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon. The dark comedy has been critically acclaimed for its fantastic performance, as well as its nearly spot on adaptation of the novel of the same name. But one aspect of Liane Moriarty's novel was noticeably missing: the backstory of Zoe Kravitz's Bonnie. Now creator David E. Kelley has explained why Bonnie's history of abuse wasn't shown onscreen.

Ahead of the upcoming Emmy nominations, David E. Kelly spoke with THR about the process of crafting Big Little Lies for the small screen. Regarding the lack of Bonnie's backstory in the series, Kelly explained his choice, saying;

This is a pretty interesting choice, to be sure. The ending for Big Little Lies was extremely powerful, even if it didn't allow Bonnie to share her story with both the audience and the other women.

In Liane Moriarty's novel, Bonnie ends up saving Celeste (Nicole Kidman) by pushing Perry to his death. But the characters get to have an epilogue of sorts, where Bonnie reveals that she grew up in a similarly abusive household. As a kid, Bonnie witnessed her father's violence toward her mother. Seeing Perry's attack on his wife brought up all of her childhood trauma, which helped explain Bonnie's motivation in killing Perry.

And although the TV adaptation didn't explicitly include Bonnie's history of abuse, audiences could certainly figure it out. Throughout Perry and Celeste's interactions at Trivia Night, Bonnie is shown noticing their erratic and troublesome behavior. She watched them throughout the night, and eventually followed the couple to their final confrontation. Throughout it all, the audience can tell that Bonnie knows the signs of abuse, although its unclear exactly what her history is. And while Bonnie's backstory wasn't explicitly shared on screen, Big Little Lies' season finale was extremely powerful due to its lack of dialogue. So it probably is all for the best.

You can watch Big Little Lies on HBO's streaming services, and Zoe Kravitz is currently in theaters starring in Rough Night.

Stephen King is known as one of the most prolific authors on the planet, having dozens of best-selling novels, so it only makes sense that his books are almost routinely adapted for the screen. If this guy ever stops working, Hollywood will be out of ideas. Just recently we’ve had 11.22.63 over on Hulu, Under the Dome wrapping up in 2015, and the highly anticipated The Dark Tower film (starring Mathew McConaughey and Idris Elba) currently under production. Now another King adaptation is on the way, with a Mr. Mercedes television series officially picked up to air in 2018.

AT&T’s Audience Network picked up Mr. Mercedes to full series, with 10 episodes of the Stephen King best-seller coming to audiences. According to The Hollywood Reporter, David E. Kelly (one of the people behind shows such as Ally McBeal and The Practice) will serve as showrunner and will write the first episode. Actors Brendan Gleeson and Anton Yelchin are already tapped to play the two lead characters. Both actors are pretty familiar with adapting characters for the screen; Gleeson is arguably best known as Mad-Eye Moody from the Harry Potter films, and Yelchin plays Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek film franchise.

For the uninitiated, Mr. Mercedes is a novel about a deranged killer who taunts a retired police detective by sending him perverse emails and letters (do people still send threats through the mail these days?). The ex-detective is forced to undergo a dangerous and potentially illegal investigation to bring his old nemesis to justice. Brendan Gleeson will play the police officer Detective Bill Hodges, with Anton Yelchin taking the role of Brady Hartsfield, an IT worker and ice cream truck driver who is secretly the Mercedes Killer. Who would have thought that the IT guy/ice cream man was a crazy person?

The novel was published back in 2014 and jumped to the top of the New York Times bestseller list. It’s also won the Edgar Award for Best Novel. Mr. Mercedes is the first of a trilogy with the partially connected second book, Finders Keepers, published in 2015. End of Watch, the third book, will wrap up the trilogy and hit bookshelves on June 7. If the television show is successful, it will most likely work its way through the entire collection of source material à la Hannibal. At least until that show was cancelled.

That’s a lot to be excited about if you’re a fan of Stephen King or the Mr. Mercedes novel. The description doesn’t really set it apart from any other serial killer versus cop thrillers, but this is Stephen King we’re talking about, so quality is to be expected. The series will be arriving sometime in 2018, but keep checking in to Cinema Blend for more updates as they come.

I think it’s been the required amount of time between major announcements of future Stephen King adaptations, which is good, since the bestselling author’s crime thriller Mr. Mercedes is now on its way to the small screen. David E. Kelley, the TV stalwart known for shows such as Ally McBeal and The Practice, will be adapting the hard-boiled novel as a limited series. Will this project do for ice cream trucks what Psycho did for showers?

Kelley, who last created CBS’ The Crazy Ones, will be executive producing and writing the script for Mr. Mercedes. It’ll be produced by Sonar Entertainment, who recently picked up another genre project, WE’s South of Hell. Though it’s unclear how many episodes will get made, TV veteran Jack Bender (Lost, Under the Dome) has signed on to helm them, according to Deadline.

Published in June of last year, Mr. Mercedes centers on the danger-filled cat and mouse hunt between retired detective Bill Hodges and a thrill killer who calls himself Mr. Mercedes. The nickname was earned when he drove a Mercedes into a crowd of people and got away with it, and he has so far remained uncaptured. The case still eats at Hodges, having been one of few left unsolved when he retired, so he jumps at the chance to figure things out when the killer starts taunting him through the mail. To say things take some dark turns – pun intended – is to understate it.

The troublesome event that kicks it all off – the vehicular homicide – is going to be a rough thing to watch on TV, as will a lot of the details that make up Mr. Mercedes’ personal life. (The book is told through flipping points-of-view, so it seems like the TV series would do the same thing.) I can’t imagine this project would land anywhere but cable, given its twisted subject matter, but Kelley’s career has been almost exclusively tied to the basic networks, so I guess anything is possible. That said, I could easily see it being watered down and adapted for CBS audiences, much like Under the Dome was.

No stranger to TV, King has quite a few boob tube projects in the works. (Not to mention last year’s Lifetime Original Big Driver.) CBS is mulling over a pilot order for Seth Grahame-Smith and Greg Berlanti’s adaptation of the short story The Things They Left Behind, and Hulu is bringing audiences the time travel drama 11/22/63 with Bad Robot and Bridget Carpenter (Friday Night Lights).

Though this is being pegged as a limited series, the Mr. Mercedes novel is getting a sequel from King called Finders Keepers in May, with an as-yet-untitled third novel coming later. If success hits, you can bet your umbrella that we’ll be seeing Kelley crafting a couple more limited series in the years to come.

Alright, so, apparently good ratings and being one of the first series to get a full-season order this season is no indication as to whether or not CBS will keep a show around. Because their comedy, The Crazy Ones is looking very likely to be cancelled. Which is stupid! Yeah. I said it. I’m not a fan of this potential decision, higher-ups at CBS and people at home reading this — and I’m here to tell you why.

The Crazy Ones is a delight, plain and simple. It’s charming, fun, and the actors are wonderful. Watch 10 seconds of Robin Williams and James “Not Great, Bob!” Wolk riffing and improving together and try to not feel an overdose of glee. Watch Sarah Michelle Gellar and Hamish Linklater’s chemistry slowly build and get not-always-overtly teased at and not get flashbacks to some of the better TV will-they-won’t-they couples out there (Josh Lyman and Donna from The West Wing, anyone?). Listen to Amanda Setton’s devious mind go darker and nuttier with each passing day and try to not cackle (even just a little bit). It’s pretty hard — I’m telling you. It’s a show you watch and you know everyone on it is having fun, and that fun and joy translates into the funny, heartwarming bits in each and every scene.

Now, there are reasons why a show that’s as enjoyable as The Crazy Ones would be cancelled, many of which would be speculative conjecture at best if we printed them here. But there’s one that feels a little bit obvious — and likely — given the players involved. And that reason is: money. Ah, that almighty dollar, rearing it’s ugly head, ruining everything that we love. It’s fairly likely that The Crazy Ones isn’t cheap to make, even if 95% of the show’s action takes place in one room. When your main creative team includes heavyweight actors like Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar, chances are the cost is up there. And there’s also the issue of the series’ creator, David E. Kelley. You, uh, might better know him as the known as the creator of such teeny, tiny, itty bitty shows like Picket Fences, Chicago Hope, The Practice, Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Boston Legal, and Harry's Law? Yeah, he’s also written a few movies, too. So it seems very, very likely that Mr. Kelley’s work ain’t all that cheap, either, meaning bankrolling a production like The Crazy Ones is probably a heftier burden than some of the other series on the network.

But there’s something fun, exciting, and — most importantly — different about The Crazy Ones than a lot of the other comedies on CBS. And that’s a good thing: too much of the same stuff (do you want Chuck Lorre to program every day?) can not only pigeonhole your network, but it removes diversity and the chance to reel in new viewers and different demographics.

Plus, The Crazy Ones is just fun to watch. Gellar’s character is uptight but seemingly unaware of that fact, and she tries hard every day to change her ways (and accept those that she cannot). Her relationship with her father (Williams) is endearing and doesn’t shy away from the awkwardness that comes with having an addict as a parent, while still evolving every episode. And the comedic timing of Wolk and Linklater is delightful, particularly when peppered with Setton’s unexpected darkness. It’s a workplace comedy that has a little bit more than that, and that’s something worth supporting — at least in our eyes.

Call us an idealist (since we totally are), but shouldn’t — at least sometimes — quality win out? I won’t name names but… to not renew The Crazy Ones over some of those other series CBS said yes to? It raises an eyebrow, is all I’m saying.

So think about it, CBS. Please?

Monday Mornings is having a bad Friday morning. Today, TNT announced the freshman drama will not be getting picked up for a second season, which is somewhat surprising when you consider the track record of Boston Legal and Harry’s Law creator David E. Kelley, who also put together the TNT drama. Then again, when considering the ratings Monday Mornings brought in during Season 1, the cancellation is a little less of a surprise.

The series premiere of Monday Mornings only brought in 1.34 million total viewers. According to Deadline, the finale barely inched ahead of the premiere numbers, bringing in 1.37 million total viewers. I suppose it’s sort of impressive that the series managed to maintain and improve upon its premiere numbers, but the ratings were still too low for the network to probably even seriously consider a renewal. Monday Mornings is the second series TNT has cancelled, today. Earlier on Friday, TNT also cancelled Southland, a series the network picked up after it ended its run on CBS several seasons ago. While many of the Southland actors have moved on to new projects, I'm not certain the Monday Mornings actors will have the same luxury.

I was one of the people who showed up for the Monday Mornings premiere and later never found myself heading back to TNT to show up for an episode of the medical-based drama. TNT has plenty of shows that do well, including Major Crimes and Franklin & Bash and with a few new programs on the horizon, including Legends with Sean Bean, Monday Mornings shouldn’t be a huge loss.

If you were at all interested in the now-cancelled Wonder Woman series, you can at least take a better look at what you would have been getting. Three clips have leaked online, and one of them is reasonably substantial.

The lengthy four-minute clip shows two separate action sequences, a chase scene, and a fight scene. It does include one brief look into the Wonder Woman character, and a rather well-chosen one at that in my opinion. Shortly after apprehending the target of the chase scene, the cops arrive and Wonder Woman is obviously not pleased about giving the man to the cops, saying that he will just "lawyer up." It's pretty normal to have friction between an action hero and the cops, but this is a bit more unique as they clearly don't treat her as an outlaw. Not to mention, lack of faith in the criminal justice system is an especially hot topic these days.

The action scenes are pretty over-the-top but not any more so than you're probably already used to for a comic-book hero. The other two clips are more candid and emotional in nature, and give a closer look at the Wonder Woman character. One features Wonder Woman in a women's business suit, walking out on what appears to be some sort of marketing team, upset with their portrayal of her. In the other short clip she is visiting what seems to be a friend in the hospital, but this bit is painfully out of context for the most part.

The show being cancelled doesn't come as a huge surprise. Live-action takes on classic comic-book heroes seem to be far more easily ported to the big screen. A Wonder Woman film is in development but isn't slated to appear for at least a few years. In any case I think the film route is probably the best one, particularly in financial terms. Networks are looking for shows that have potential not only to draw viewers, but to bring them back for future seasons -- something I think would have been very difficult for the Wonder Woman team to manage, regardless of how well they put together the first season or two.

Update: Looks like the clips have been pulled down. It was fun while it lasted!

Despite the whole Wonder Woman fiasco -- although it still hopes to find life on another network...any network -- David E. Kelley still makes successful television shows. The man behind Ally McBeal and Boston Legal seems to find his greatest success in the courtroom, so it's no surprise that his Harry's Law made the jump to a second season, and they just lined up a great guest star for the first three episodes.

So just who is coming aboard for this exciting guest mini-arc for the season two opener(s)? None other than Dr. Octopus himself, Alfred Molina. The amazing character actor was last seen as a detective on Law & Order: Los Angeles, but, as TV Line reports, "this time around, the actor will be on the other side of the legal system, playing a man who stands accused of murdering his wife." The case will span the first three episodes of the new season.

It's also worth noting that Kathy Bates, the star of Harry's Law -- as, well, Harry -- was forced to give up her recurring role on the NBC comedy, The Office, in order to continue her duties on this blossoming quirky law-procedural. Bates played the CEO of Sabre, the company that owns Dunder Mifflin Paper, and will be replaced by the best cameo appearance from last season's finale, Robert California, aka Mr. James Spader. Oddly enough, Spader's last acclaimed role came in a Robert E. Kelley TV show (the aforementioned Boston Legal)... so it seems everything is coming full circle. And good news all around, really.

Harry's Law returns Wednesday, Sept. 21st at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.

Here's the synopsis from NBC's website:

Over the last few weeks, there has been a steady stream of Wonder Woman content, even though (or perhaps because) the series did not get picked up by NBC. First, we got to see the "booty-shorts" costume picture, which was then followed by another couple photos and even a fan review and comparison of the script and pilot.

Now there's a short teaser for the David E. Kelley show (and I mean SHORT), because there is still hope that another network (may I suggest The CW) might want to give it a shot. The series features (featured) Adrianne Palicki as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince, Elizabeth Hurley as the baddie, and Cary Elwes as the hapless CEO of Prince's Themyscira Industries.

The tease is literally six seconds long, featuring a brief glimpse of both a fiercely walking Wonder Woman and the potential logo for the series. It's not exactly the kind of thing that would inspire a network to send a dump-truck of cash to Kelley's door, but perhaps it can at least spark some more (and positive) buzz? We'll see. Take a look, tell us what you think.

You can see Wonder Woman on...well, maybe some network around mid-season, depending on how these little promos work out for the Amazonian Princess.

She may be an Amazonian princess and an important member of the Justice League of America, but that doesn't mean she's super enough to make a fall TV schedule. Yes, as we are all aware by now, NBC has passed on the new network TV version of Wonder Woman from David E. "Ally McBeal" Kelley.

To quickly throw my two cents in, I was whole-heartedly against this idea right from the announcement that Diana Prince would be relegated to the small screen. I'm waiting for SOMEONE to finally pull off a female-led comic book film and not immediately assume that they need to try their hand at TV first. Especially with one of the few female superheroes big enough to possibly draw audiences to theaters (someone call Matthew Vaughn). My preferred lead: Rosario Dawson.

Enough of my wishful thinking, let's get to what we're really for: checking out the costume that will never see the glow of a TV screen. Thankfully, Twitter has come to the rescue. Here you have it, the booty-shorted version of the WW costume that you were never going to see. Props to BleedingCool for catching it. Enjoy.

You can see Wonder Woman on...oh, right.

Holy costume update, Batman! David E. Kelley’s Wonder Woman is set to take the feminine crime fighter in a holy new direction, and apparently, that starts with her wardrobe. Pictures just dropped of Adrianne Palicki decked out in the new ensemble, and something tells me more ardent fans are going to have something to say about it.

Entertainment Weekly has the exclusive photo, in which she’s wearing--get this--skintight pants. That’s right, full length pants, complete with a lasso on the belt and gold trimmings. I guess if you’re going to update the character into a rogue vigilante for the twenty-first century, might as well alter her appearance.

No word yet on what villain Elizabeth Hurley might resemble, but one would expect her getup might be a little less showy. I’ve embedded a small version of her outfit below. Go ahead and head over to EW to see the whole thing.

The David E. Kelley Wonder Woman series that seemed doomed as recently as January is moving along nicely, with Friday Night Lights veteran Adrianne Palicki set to star as Diana Prince and production still moving forward. Now they've added another improbably gorgeous woman to the cast, but this one's going to be a baddie. The news comes from the relatively unlikely source of Elizabeth Hurley's twitter account, where the English actress and model announced she's doing the Wonder Woman pilot for NBC, and will play "the evil villain."

As for which villain Hurley will be playing, you can kind of take your pick-- Wonder Woman's rogue's gallery includes far more females than most superheroes, which makes sense given the weird feeling of seeing a man try to beat up a woman. No matter who she winds up playing, though, I love that Hurley is on board. It's easier to imagine her having played Wonder Woman herself when she was younger, and now that she's a little older but still improbably beautiful, she'll make an excellent arch-rival to the heroine.

Well, that was fast. After just a few weeks of speculation about who might put on the iconic suit for David E. Kelley's Wonder Woman reimagining, Adrianne Palicki has been officially cast. While not exactly a household name, the actress recently raised some eyebrows after crushing on Lone Star, Fox's recently cancelled disaster. Seems like that epic failure may have been a pretty sweet blessing in disguise.

According to Deadline, Palicki was the first and only woman asked to audition. She must have performed quite well in the screen test as this was one of the more coveted open slots for young actresses. The new incarnation of Wonder Woman follows Diana Prince as she juggles her corporate executive job with whooping criminal ass on the streets of Los Angeles. Friday Night Lights executive producer Jeff Reiner will helm the pilot, and if all goes well, it'll air next fall on NBC.

Often times, pilots need a big name to fight their way through the crowded field of potential new shows, but with David E. Kelley and an established brand like Wonder Woman, this effort will surely be more about quality. People will tune in. The only question is whether they'll stay.

Well, the long strange saga of Wonder Woman keeps getting a bit more bizarre. First, everyone and their brother surprisingly passed on the David E Kelley pilot, and then, out of nowhere, NBC swooped in and gave it a last second greenlight. Whether the original passes were a shot at the project itself, a nervousness over a possible big budget or fear of the declining superhero genre is anyone’s guess, but now that it’s once again in play, some important decisions still need to be made, starting with a director.

According to TV Line, David E. Kelley is apparently looking at We Are Marshall director McG. Far from a stretch, the helmer was responsible for the Charlie’s Angels flicks and perhaps more importantly, is also a heavy hitter in the television world. His production credits include The O.C., Supernatural and Chuck, the latter of which he directed the pilot for.

Nothing has been confirmed, but if this does come to fruition, expect a spectacle. McG is historically short on nuance and big on grandiosity. It could work, but if he goes big, Wonder Woman better be ready to make a sizeable splash.

Even though just a few days ago we learned that every major TV network has already passed on David E. Kelley’s proposed resurrection of Wonder Woman, the near-legendary television producer still seems to think it’s happening.

Talking to THR Kelley says that in spite of this development he thinks, “the likelihood is we'll see it next year.” He blames the disinterest from major networks on how “late in the game” their script rolled out and says that no one latched on to it because of executive shuffling. He plans to bring it back to NBC and take another shot at getting them to buy in. Even if it doesn’t, there’s a chance it could end up on cable. It’s easy to imagine it on NBC owned SyFy for instance, particularly since the network no longer really shows hard science fiction and they’re in something of a drought when it comes to original programming.

Kelley has a pretty good relationship with NBC, they’re premiering his new series Harry Law this coming Monday and he believes it’s the right home for Wonder Woman. Of the project Kelley says, “I like to think of it as a smart script.” It sounds like they’re definitely taking this thing in a far different direction from the original. He says the character of Wonder Woman will be explored as a “real complex woman and not just a superhero.”

It was huge news back in October when it was announced that Wonder Woman would be coming back to TV, and by David E. Kelley of all people. While a film version of the character has always hit stalls, the character has a rich history on the small screen, with Lynda Carter playing the character for a successful three seasons during the 70s. Sadly, it looks like it's going to be a long while before we get to see what Kelley had cooking.

Deadline is reporting that the show will have to sit on the shelf for a while, as all of the network channels have passed on it. According to the story, the CW can't afford the show; NBC can't put up the money until the new programming chief, Bob Greenblatt, officially gets settled; CBS's executive team couldn't make an official decision; and both Fox and ABC simply didn't want it. It is believed by some that ABC decided not to take on the project because the station's owner, the The Walt Disney Company, now owns Marvel Studios and doesn't want the conflict that would come with having a show based on a DC Comics character (not to mention the fact that two programs based on Marvel characters, The Hulk and Jessica Jones, are currently in development). The show would have been a contemporary take on the character who, in addition to her superhuman strength, is known for her lasso of truth, invisible jet and bullet-proof bracelets.

Anyone else think this kind of sucks? DC is finally starting to take advantage of its incredible number of characters, yet Wonder Woman, the greatest female superhero of all time, just can't catch a break. Here's hoping that things change in the near future and the show can still get made.

While a big screen Wonder Woman adventure is still something you and I and Joss Whedon can only dream about, there really is going to be another TV show, developed by The Practice mastermind David E. Kelley and due to show up on your TV screen at some point within the next year probably. With that in the works we're now due for an entire new round of Wonder Woman casting rumors, which may be marginally less annoying because they actually stand a chance of coming true, unlike the endless parade of "Eliza Dushku wants to play Wonder Woman"-type stories we've gotten before.

Over at the Australian site What's Playing they're writing that Tanit Phoenix, an actress you probably know as little as I do, is rumored to be in the running for the role, and at bare minimum has a promise of a screen test from the production team The South African actress's main credit thus far is in the direct-to-DVD sequel Lost Boys: The Thirst, but she'll also show up in another direct-to-DVD sequel, Death Race 2, and has also apparently been cast in a forthcoming cable series called Femme Fatales. I have no idea how that show might conflict with a potential Wonder Woman job, but Phoenix probably knows as well as I do which would make the better career opportunity.

If we were talking about the casting of a major tentpole movie, Phoenix's name wouldn't even be in the conversation-- actresses simply don't make that kind of leap from low-budget silliness to superhero in the movies. But things are a lot more flexible on TV, and it's possible to imagine Kelley pulling his lasso-wielding heroine from pretty much anywhere. Will it be Phoenix? Eh, probably not. But her photo above should at least give you an idea of what they're going for.

Fans of DC and the character have wondered for years when we might see a Wonder Woman movie. After decades of only Batman and Superman films, the tide seemed as though it was ready to change, with Green Lantern and The Flash getting big screen projects into development. The bad news is that it looks as though we won't be getting a Wonder Woman movie. The good news is that we will be getting a new Wonder Woman TV show. THR is reporting that Warner Bros. Television and David E. Kelley (Ally McBeal, Boston Legal, The Practice) are developing a new, live-action Wonder Woman television show. One of the most notable incarnations of the character beyond comic books was the television series with Lynda Carter that aired from 1975-79.

It's a shame that Joss Whedon won't be the one to bring Wonder Woman to television, but considering the fallout that occurred when he was tasked with making a film version in 2005, it's hardly surprising. Now the only question is whether people will watch it. No Ordinary Family had great numbers in its early week and people loved the first season of Heroes, but, as THR points out, Bionic Woman was a bomb, as was the series Birds Of Prey. If they can get this one off the ground, let's just hope they do it right.