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What’s Trending on TV: ‘Orphan Black’ Gets Fatal, Emmy Actress Roundtables, and “Grey’s’ Actress Returns

Candis R. McLean|

Each week we will bring you the latest in television news, episode trailers, and promotional news. From what’s streaming this week to the best scenes from hit series, we’ve got you covered.

The BBC America intense sci-fi series Orphan Black has it all; murder, danger, insane science, and clones. The clones aren’t similar  any way to the helpful way Michael Keaton displayed them in the film “Multiplicity.” Each one carries their own signature brand for charisma, intelligence, and history. They are also threatened by several different levels of danger when it comes to the global corporation that created them. At the helm of this critically acclaimed show is Tatiana Maslany who plays all of the endless female clones beautifully. She depicts so many different characters that her Emmy nomination card truly couldn’t fit them all. Last week, the show’s final season began. The viewers are now two episodes in. It’s safe to say the production is ramping up the danger and unpredictability meter to 100%.

The fifth season inches these scientific sisters closer to their creator, who happens to be 140 years old. Yes, he’s as old as Morgan Freeman. The broadcast has always done a good job of webbing several plot lines, various supporting characters for each clone, and also immersing its audience with heightened paranoia.  Each new person that the main cast encounters could be a part of a massive and interconnected coverup. The mistrust that permeates through the screen is not just reserved for outsiders. The sisters often display distance  towards each other when it comes to trust. Whether its questioning each other’s significant others, the loyalty they have for each other, or the fact that one of them works for the conglomerate they’re fighting, wariness will always be a part of the texture of their bond for each other. So far, there has been a shocking and eye-popping murder and a character coming back from the dead. With  under a dozen episodes to go, who knows where this twisting and panic paced plot will end.

News

-OWN Network series Queen Sugar returns this Tuesday on June 20th. The critically acclaimed drama centered on a sibling struggle to sustain their family sugar cane farm was one of the best new shows of 2016. Last week the cast spoke about how the new season is thematically anchored by identity and what to expect in its sophomore season. Waiting for these 24 hours to pass like:

-It was recently announced that the Latin Grammys will air on November 16th, 2017. Nominations for the cultural music celebration will be handed out on September 20th.

–Orange is the New Black star Laura Pepron recently spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about the unique dynamic of starring on the hit series and directing one of this season’s most pivotal and emotional episodes. She stated, “I’m wrapped on the floor with my legs and arms bound and with duct tape over my mouth, and I’m having to be Alex, but I’m watching Brad give Piscatella’s monologue and I’m also directing him…While I’m sitting on the floor bound and gagged, I’m also in my head thinking, ‘In the next take I want him to do this.”

–Grey’s Anatomy alum Sandra Oh is returning to television. The former Christina Yang will be starring in the BBC American spy drama Killing Eve. She will play a bored M15 desk clerk who gets thrust into an insane mission of her own. The new series will also star UK actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge from several comedy series such as Fleabag and Crashing. Unfortunately none of this news lands Oh back in Seattle saving lives.

-Henry Slick, director of visually stunning films such as Coraline and The Nightmare Before Christmas is bringing his haunting animations to your front door. The seasoned filmmaker is adapting the horror game Little Nightmares for TV audiences. The project is in early stages and has no premiere date in sight.

-Emmy nomination season is upon us. Each year, The Hollywood Reporter speaks with actors, actresses, directors, and more in roundtable discussions about their work. Last week the comedy actress roundtable was released. It featured actress Issa Rae (Insecure), Emmy Rossum (Shameless), America Ferrera (Superstore), Kathryn Hahn (I Love Dick), Pamela Aldon (Better Things), and Mine Driver (Speechless). Here’s a clip:

–The Wrap listed the top-rated shows that got cancelled last season. I know this list is like a consolation prize to avid fans who just want their binge worthy shows back, but there were some surprises on the list. There were also some shows nobody ever heard of. Atop the list was CBS’ 2 Broke Girls and Hunted and FOX’s 24:Legacy.

–Bill Nye Saves the World has been saved and will return to Netflix for a second season. With this and The Magic School Bus being remade, it appears all of our old favorites are coming back to television.

-Jerrod Carmichael was on Chelsea Lately recently discussing his NBC’s The Carmichael Show. The duo got to the topic of gun sensitivity on television. The mass-shooting episode of his show was pulled by the network last week in wake of the Steve Scalise shooting.

-Each pilot season Amazon does a unique fan curated voting system to decide which show’s will get a full order. The fans must not be phenomenal at ratings because rarely do we see hits coming from the network. Soon, the show The Last Tycoon will be the next to premiere after the fan tally system crowned the Matt Bomer, Lily Collins, and Kelsey Grammer drama as their favorite. The trailer for the July 28th release debuted last week:

Shock and Jaw Dropping Moment of the Week

The teen drama Pretty Little Liars has been on television for seven seasons. Long enough for the show’s home network to switch names and for these once young characters to spring into full adulthood. The murder mystery and who-done-it thriller has just two episodes left. This week when the girls inched closer to discover who has been behind their almost decade long stalking fest, they were surprised by the fact that one of their core friends was actually working for the enemy. I’m just surprised the reveal didn’t end in some hi-key soap opera level slapping. The Freeform show airs on Tuesdays at 8 PM.

Promo of the Week

(TURN: Washington’s Spies, Saturdays at 9/8c on AMC.)

https://youtu.be/_y9p5r15IoE

What You Should Be Watching

The Handmaid’s Tale has been one of the best new riveting shows to hit television this year. The Hulu series, based off the 1985 dystopian work, stars Elizabeth Moss, Jospeh Fiennes, former Chuck star Yvonne Strahovski, Alexis Bledel, and more. Set in a war-torn and warped present time, the drama depicts a reality of worldwide infertility. The only remaining fertile women are subjugated to rape by the elite class of individuals in the social power hierarchy. All of the handmaids are under strict rules and regulation as their ability to produce and be submissive is the key to continuation of their lives. The quest for independence, freedom, and a return to their former lives leads some of these embattled women down a dangerous and thrilling path.

Tweets of The Week

You can follow Candis McLean on Twitter (@CandisRMcLean) and e-mail her at [email protected]. Follow Philly Influencer on Twitter (@PHL_Influencer), Facebook and Instagram.

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