Stars on Screen
Usque ad finem: It’s been a wild ride, but it’s not over yet.
The fourth and final season of AMC’s “Preacher” gets underway this Sunday, Aug 4. And while fans of the source material — the ‘90s comics by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon — have an idea of what’s in store, TV viewers should know to expect a few extra twists in the road to the finale.
The last we saw him, Jesse (Dominic Cooper, “Mamma Mia!,” 2008) had finally put Angelville behind him, but not without condemning his soul. Meanwhile, God appeared to Tulip (Ruth Negga, “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”) and asked her to convince Jesse to call off his search, and Irish vampire Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun, “Misfits”) was kidnapped by Herr Starr (Pip Torrens, “Poldark”) and taken to the Grail headquarters.
The return of “Preacher” has been eagerly anticipated since it was renewed last November, but in April, the true endgame was revealed when executive producer Seth Rogen simultaneously announced the series’ return and its cancellation on Twitter and Instagram.
To industry insiders, the news wasn’t entirely unexpected. Rogen and producing partner Evan Goldberg left Sony Pictures Television, which co-produces the show with AMC Studio, after signing a big film and
TV deal with Lionsgate.
And keep in mind that unlike “The Walking Dead,” which is owned by AMC and produced in-house, the
network has to pay a licensing fee for “Preacher.”
Fans can at least take solace in the fact that there will be 10 new episodes of “Preacher” to watch over the next few months. That should (hopefully) be plenty of time to give the characters a proper send off. Just how are they going to do that? Tune in to AMC on Sunday, Aug. 4, to find out.
America’s Got Leno: Brad Paisley did it. So did Dwayne Wade. And Ellie Kemper too. This week, it’s Jay Leno’s turn to weigh in on whether he thinks “America’s Got Talent” in an episode airing Tuesday, Aug. 6, on NBC.
Like the previous celeb judges, Leno has his own seat alongside fulltime judges Simon Cowell, Gabrielle Union (who, incidentally, is married to Wade), Julianne Hough and Howie Mandel. And if Leno really likes an act, he has his own Golden Buzzer to send them through to the live shows.
All the main judges have already used their Golden Buzzer this season, even host Terry Crews, who was visibly moved when he awarded it to the Detroit Youth Choir. Since Leno’s appearance comes at the end of the Judges’ Cuts portion of the competition, that potentially gives Leno the final word before the live rounds begin next week.
The former “Tonight Show” host is the fourth guest judge to appear in this year’s edition of the competition show, which has proven to be a perennial summer hit for NBC. And given Leno’s extensive experience in comedy, it will probably be tough for any comic act to impress him — especially in the short time they’re given to perform their routine.