For whom Annabelle tolls
A demonic doll, SNL updates and Kesha returns
BEVERLY HILLS — The details of a tragedy looming over will be revealed in season 2.
Dan Fogelman, creator of NBC’s time-shifting hit drama series, said the circumstances around the death of doting family man Jack will be part of the show’s sophomore season that begins Sept. 26. (In Canada, the show also airs on CTV.)
“If that is a question that is haunting people, in the course of the second season” they’ll get the answers they need and more, Fogelman told a TV critics’ meeting, surrounded by the show’s ensemble cast including Milo Ventimiglia, who plays Jack.
His character’s ultimate fate — but not how he meets it — has been a key part of the show that travels between the past and present of Jack, wife Rebecca (Mandy Moore,) their three children and family circle.
Fogelman said the season’s first episode will create “some momentum” toward filling in the blanks about Jack’s death. But, characters who die are revisited in the show’s era-hopping that’s intended to illustrate how “the past influences the present,” he said.
“Jack has been dead the entire season, and he’s nominated for an Emmy,” Fogelman said, wryly.
The hit drama earned 11 Emmy nominations for next month’s ceremony, including acting nods for Ventimiglia, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz and Ron Cephas Jones. Its best-drama series bid is the first for a network show since
in 2011. The show’s present-day storyline will pick up shortly after it ended last season and on the 37th birthday of siblings Randall (Brown), Kate (Metz) and Kevin (Justin Hartley) — one year after they were first introduced in the season-one opener.
The focus will include Randall’s fervent wish to adopt a child, Kate’s pursuit of a singing career, and Kevin’s acting career. Sylvester Stallone will make an appearance as star of the movie that could represent Kevin’s big break.
For parents Jack and Rebecca, seen in the early years of their marriage, the action begins immediately after a bitter argument. Moore also will spend a “lot of time” in aging makeup for the later years in which her widowed character has remarried, Fogelman said.
“I’m so happy to have this job. I’ll sit in age makeup and prosthetics makeup as long as I have to,” Moore said.
Big picture: It’s Chucky meets Pinocchio. In summer moviegoers are treated to the origin story of the demonic doll. It all starts with a doll maker and his wife who lost their little girl in a tragic accident. (That’s when the poor decision-making kicks in.) When their girl’s spirit asks them to build a doll she can live in forever, they naturally say “Sure!” Later, they build an orphanage and welcome other little girls into their haunted little family.
Meanwhile, makes me wonder if all animated sequels should be word plays on hip-hop groups. Can or
be far off ? In this squirrelly sequel, Surly Squirrel (Will Arnett) and the gang are back, this time to fight a greedy mayor for the right to be nutty in their new urban home, Liberty Park. Expect environmental and protest messages hidden beneath all the furry puns.
Forecast: I predict will star Jack Nicholson as Surly’s dad — and be called
TV
Big events: (Aug. 10, (Aug. 11, NBC/Global); Netflix.)
Big picture: isn’t back until Sept. 30, but fans can get their fix of the re-energized show’s laughs this summer with a four-week, half-hour telecast of the show’s popular satirical news segment, currently hosted by cast members Colin Jost and Michael Che. The two anchors will be bolstered by the guest appearances of other
cast members. Meanwhile, Netflix’s is an atypical family comedy that features Jennifer Jason Leigh as the mother of an autistic teenager (Keir Gilchrist.) The sitcom comes from two of the minds between
Forecast: will offer a muchneed dose of summer comedy. On a side note, if Mike Myers can “play” a game-show host on
why can’t fictional throwback newsman Ron Burgundy get a job in the real news business? If this wacky, new four-anchor
thing doesn’t work it, I predict the CBC may come a-calling for Will Ferrell’s fake-news services. Honourable mention: (Aug. 11, Netflix.) It’s meets meets doorto-door sale shenanigans. This ’80-set British dramedy is about a band of professional con artists — also known as window salesmen. Sample lie/pitch: “President Reagan has a fallout shelter made entirely out of our windows.”
MUSIC
Big release on Aug. 10: Kesha Big picture: I assume the many colours of Kesha’s eye makeup inspired this album. The 30-yearold hitmaker returns after a long, messy legal battle with her former manager and producer. This is her first effort since 2012; I imagine the low profile has allowed America’s glitter industry to replenish its depleted stocks.
For Kesha, this album is personal, and it finds a vulnerable artist channelling her pain through music. What emerges is a selfaware adult pop star ready to take the next step in her career.
Moreover, she has excellent help. Most notably, the Dap Kings’ horns back her in the raucous a heated response to Trump’s infamous “grab her in the p---- ” comments that emerged during the election campaign. Ben Folds contributes orchestral arrangements to the title track, which was apparently inspired by the Beach Boy’s Kesha even toys with country twang in the song
Forecast: First, she ditched the money sign in her name. Now, she’s showing increasing maturity as an artist. Kesha deserves her pot of gold at the end of