National Adoption Day is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and we wanted to honor it by honoring the best TV adoption storylines.

We’ve chosen several adoption storylines, from infant adoptions to teenagers relinquishing their babies to special needs adoptions to step-parent adoptions. We hope some of these will resonate with you.

Adoption is an important topic to me because I was adopted, so I was delighted to see stories like mine represented in shows in the 1980s like Punky Brewster and Anne of Green Gables.

Since the 2000s, even more series have covered it.

Shows like The OC and The Fosters highlighted the importance of taking in troubled teens and accepting them as part of your family. They are an often overlooked group.

Callie and Jude Find Their Forever Family (The Fosters)

Callie and Jude worked hard to find their forever family, especially Callie. They had been in too many abusive foster homes and longed for some nurturing affection.

Jude adapted more easily. Stef and Lena almost cheered when Jude argued with Jesus because he acted like an irritated younger brother.

However, the series threw so many roadblocks at Callie that it seemed unimaginable, but that often happened in the system. Birth parents had to be contacted before adoptions could become official.

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Stef taught Callie many lessons about love, including that love was unconditional. It didn’t matter if she screwed up; they would still love her.

When Callie graduated, she told Stef and Lena they were the first to treat her like she wasn’t disposable. They were in a unique spot because they treated their adopted children the same way they treated Brandon.

They worked hard not to show favoritism.

Watch The Fosters Online

Jack and Rebecca Adopt Randall (This is Us)

It wasn’t easy to choose between Randall’s or Deja’s adoption on This is Us. Still, Randall’s had more prolonged effects since growing up as the only African-American person in a white family was challenging.

The series highlighted how hard it was for Randall and how it frightened Rebecca that Randall might explore his heritage. Many adoptees struggle with not fitting in, even if they have a loving home.

Jack loved his son as much as the other triplets, and he strived to learn about Randall’s interests, including participating in a father/son initiation at a martial arts studio.

After Jack died, Randall felt more lost, especially when he learned Rebecca had kept his birth father from him for years, after knowing he had questions about his identity.

This was one of the most realistic TV adoption stories because it highlighted how it affected a family for many years, not just at the beginning.

Watch This is Us Online

Regina Adopts Henry and Becomes a Better Person (Once Upon a Time)

Regina from Once Upon a Time started out evil, but becoming a mom and loving someone else changed her.

Being around children always brought Regina joy. She enjoyed being around Owen. Robin Hood commented she had a soft spot for them when she was kind to Roland.

Therefore, seeing Henry’s adoption story made perfect sense. It started out as a way to bring meaning to her life.

She wasn’t prepared for a crying infant, but she fell in love with baby Henry and refused to give him back after all.

Like any other mother, she was determined to protect her son. Since that was Regina, it came with mixed results until Peter Pan kidnapped him.

That was the beginning of her transformation. She would do anything or work with anybody to save her son. Her love for Henry broke the latest curse on Storybrooke.

While Once Upon a Time was a fantasy series, it demonstrated how an adoptive mother and birth mother could eventually work together for the child’s sake.

Regina and Emma despised each other initially but were like family by the series’ end.

Watch Once Upon a Time Online

Olivia Adopts Noah (Law & Order: SVU)

Noah’s adoption story was more complicated than a typical infant adoption. Olivia and Amanda Rollins found Noah in an abandoned motel room of some pornography producers. Soon after, his birth mom, Ellie Porter, was attacked again and died.

Olivia petitioned to be Noah’s guardian, and everything she did was scrutinized. It seemed like if Noah became sick, it was her fault for being a single working mother.

Things worsened when SVU prosecuted Johnny for his crimes, but he wanted paternity rights to Noah, Olivia’s worst nightmare. After Johnny D died, Olivia assumed there were no more living relatives and that she and Noah would live relatively happily together.

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Unlike in Once Upon a Time, Noah’s birth family gave Olivia grief, and she needed to set boundaries. That sometimes happens in real life, and that’s why there are closed adoptions, and adoptive parents have rights.

Sheila Porter never should have been able to contact her that easily.

As Noah grows older, he has become more curious about his birth father, but we haven’t officially seen Olivia confront that delicate subject yet. It’s unique to his case.

Watch Law and Order: SVU Online

Simone Keeps in Touch With Baby Shay (All American/All American: Homecoming)

Many of these TV adoption storylines are from the perspectives of the adoptive parents or the adoptees. Simone’s arc offered an important perspective from a birth mother’s POV.

It was difficult not to sympathize with Simone since her mother, Tina, basically ordered her to give her baby up, or they would disown her. It should have been her decision while she was in high school and had her life ahead of her.

Her dad was the only one who showed her compassion after she delivered her infant son while barely looking at him. Maybe if Simone had taken those few moments to hold her son, she wouldn’t have had doubts.

Simone didn’t want her son back. She wanted assurance that he was cared for, and when she saw him laughing, she knew he was happy with the Douglases.

They were more gracious than most people. I loved their philosophy that Shay had two moms in his life, and Simone could stop by sometimes, which we saw visits in All American: Homecoming.

These are the best situations, but they don’t often happen.

Watch All American Online

Families Come In Different Forms (Modern Family)

While Modern Family provided many laughs, it also taught us that families come in many forms and don’t need traditional roles. One of the most important things Cam and Mitch showed Lily was they were a family because of their love for one another.

Love and feeling like they are part of the family are the most important things to a child.

Since I’ve worked in social work and conducted home visits, I loved the scenes when the case worker visits the house and finds it a mess. It looked lived-in, and it seemed like the child had fun.

Modern Family did so many essential aspects right. For example, they created a storybook about Lily’s adoption so she would know that she was wanted. That’s important since many children question why their other parents abandoned them.

While Cam and Mitch encouraged Lily to learn about her Vietnamese heritage, she always seemed right at home with her dads.

Watch Modern Family Online

Unlikely Allies and Punky Power (Punky Brewster)

Whoever thought a spunky little girl and a grouchy old man would make a good fit? But they did! Many of us admired Punky Brewster for her survival skills and desire to live independently, but she still needed care and supervision.

It was easy to understand why the DCFS initially hesitated about making Henry Punky’s foster father. He was older, unmarried, and never had children.

However, something about Punky warmed even the grouchiest of hearts, and the social worker saw that, as well as Punky’s fear of the orphanage.

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There were many challenges as Henry had to give up his space, so Punky felt welcome and assured her he’d always be there. They still had to convince the system they were a good match, which presented many challenges.

Punky Brewster was so popular that Peacock rebooted it in 2021, and Punky met and fostered a little girl, Izzy, who resembled her younger self.

Watch Punky Brewster Online

Anne Brings Joy to the Cuthberts (Anne of Green Gables)

Megan Follows will always be Anne Shirley to me. The Canadian version taught many viewers the importance of adopting an older child and how an imagination gets them through the darkness of foster care.

Neither Matthew nor Marilla Cuthbert ever married, and their parenting styles differed greatly, but they both loved Anne. Matthew fell for her the minute she chattered on the way home.

While Marilla was stricter, she often had to hide her laughter over some of Anne’s antics before scolding her, especially when she smashed her slate over Gilbert’s head.

Matthew was outwardly more affectionate, but the two women learned how to express their love better after Matthew’s death.

Anne’s adoption story showed that older children shouldn’t lose hope. It was so popular that Netflix redid it with a modernized version, Anne With An E.

Watch Anne of Green Gables Online

The Cohens Adopt Ryan (The OC)

Ryan’s adoption on The OC seemed similar to Callie’s on The Fosters. He ran into trouble, and Sandy Cohen brought him home.

While initially, Kirsten was wary about keeping him, once she met Ryan’s biological mother, Dawn, she insisted Ryan stay with them. Shortly after that, they officially became his legal family.

Soon, Ryan seemed to have been part of the family for years as Ryan and Seth became close friends. Kirsten even commented once that she had forgotten Ryan had another family because he meshed so well in theirs.

Sandy Cohen was one of the best TV dads, initially making Ryan feel loved and motivated. One of the best scenes is from the pilot when he teaches him how to tie a tie in a father-son bonding moment.

However, he was present throughout the series, motivating Ryan to try harder in school and helping him find peace after Marissa was killed.

The OC Online

Arizona Adopts Sofia (Grey’s Anatomy)

It’s rare that a child leads the story, but Sofia has since she was born. Since Callie and Arizona were together when she was born, Arizona legally adopted her in a second-parent adoption. She knew she wanted to be in her life forever.

Things became messy when they divorced, and Callie moved across the country, wanting to take Sofia with her.

While Grey’s Anatomy is fictional, the laws state that Arizona should have been given as much courtesy as Callie since she was also Sofia’s legal mother.

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Therefore, her defense was so poignant when she stated that she chose to be Sofia’s mother, and it was the best decision she made. That is the epitome of being an adoptive parent.

So was the fact that she chose to share custody with Callie for her daughter’s sake, even though she was awarded full custody.

Watch Grey's Anatomy Online

Lily Accepts Chuck as One of Her Own (Gossip Girl)

Chuck’s situation on Gossip Girl was different. Lily technically adopted him after Bart died, though they discussed it while they were still married.

If she was his legal guardian, he would inherit Bass Industries when he became an adult. But it was more than that.

She was the only adult who ever loved him as he was and often reminded him that she loved him like one of her own.

Many times, Lily’s scenes with Chuck were so heartfelt and loving as they schemed together or built each other up.

They were the best family relationship in the series and highlighted the strength of a stepparent and child relationship.

Watch Gossip Girl Online

These are only a few of the best TV adoption storylines. Did we cover your favorite?

Let us know in the comments below.

The post TV’s Best Adoption Storylines appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The CW sports drama — a spinoff of the original All American series — will come to an end with its upcoming third season.

According to a new report from Deadline, cast members were informed of the decision on Tuesday.

Series creator and showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll reacted to the news in a statement issued to Deadline.

“I’m devastated to learn that All American: Homecoming will not be moving forward with more episodes and that this new season premiering in July will be our final one,” she said.

“However, I am so very grateful to have worked with this incredible cast and crew, led by Geffri Maya, to bring the authentic HBCU experience to your screens for the last three seasons.

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"We made this show for the culture and thank our loyal audience and fans for taking this ride with us.

"We made this show so that our community, our kids (and their dreams), could be seen and celebrated every week and we are proud to say we accomplished that mission… Especially with this exciting final season which we can’t wait to show you all," Carroll continued.

"So with a heavy but proud heart, I give one final shoutout to our favorite Bringston Lions!”

As Deadline notes, the first indicator that the show might not be long for this world came with the announcement that the third season of Homecoming would air over the summer, instead of during the regular broadcast season.

While the series has proven popular in key demos, it received fewer overall viewers than the original All American.

Further imperiling the show was the fact that, unlike its predecessor, it did not benefit from a lucrative streaming deal with Netflix.

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In their own statement, CW execs attempted to put a positive spin on the news, assuring fans that the upcoming third season of Homecoming will be the best yet.

“We want to thank the cast, crew, producers, NK, Marqui and everybody at Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television for their hard work and dedication in telling these important stories for three incredible seasons,” the network said in a statement.

"The upcoming final season is the best yet and we cannot wait to share it with fans beginning on Monday, July 8.”

It's a little strange to praise the quality of a show that you just canceled, but that's the corporate world for you!

What do you think, TV fanatics? Are you upset about the decision to cancel All American: Homecoming, or do you think this is a good time for the series to come to an end?

Hit the comments section below to share your thoughts.

The post All American: Homecoming Canceled After 3 Seasons on CW appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Since its spinoff, All American: Homecoming, was also renewed and is scheduled to air sometime in the summer of 2024, it’s not overall surprising they want to capitalize on both.

It’s not uncommon for a TV to expand its universe into spinoffs. Most often, procedural-type franchises such as CSI, Law & Order, and the One Chicago Universe have done it.

However, we’ve seen teen shows do it successfully, including The Vampire Diaries universe on The CW and The Fosters transitioning into Good Trouble on Freeform.

All American and All American: Homecoming are succeeding the way they are. Do we need additional spinoffs?

What is All American About?

All American was inspired by the life of professional football player Spencer Paysinger. Daniel Ezra portrays the fictional lead role of Spencer James.

All American has seemed like a mixture of other popular teen television shows, including Friday Night Lights, The OC, and Beverly Hills 90210. Like Ryan moves in with the Cohens on The O.C., Spencer moves in with the Bakers and becomes like family.

Billy Baker cared about his players like Eric Taylor did on Friday Night Lights. He alternated between compassion and tough love because he often considered them his children.

Right from the beginning, All American oozed drama and tension and left audiences wondering if Billy Baker and Grace James had a fling that would destroy everything.

That scandal, plus the drama that the Baker twins caused, was enough to keep audiences glued to the television, and we haven't even begun to discuss the leading couple, Spencer James and Olivia Baker.

Spencer and Olivia oozed chemistry from the minute they met, but at the time, it seemed forbidden since they were all living under her parents' roof. However, they bonded in ways others didn't understand, and it was hot when they became a couple.

However, Spencer and Olivia have had a complicated relationship when they've been on and off as they've experienced growing pains. It's amusing that her twin brother, Jordan, ended up being engaged to her best friend, Layla.

Besides Olivia, Layla had one of the best character arcs. We've seen her admit her vulnerability, conquer her depression, and become a successful businesswoman. She's a total badass who has helped and supported her friends, including Coop and Patience.

While All American: Homecoming has tackled sports and mental health better, the mothership has featured plenty about addiction, mental health, and grief, most recently with Billy's death.

While everyone is moving on, they are still finding it difficult without Billy.

What is All American: Homecoming About?

All American: Homecoming had a backdoor pilot on All American Season 3 Episode 17, when Jordan, Simone, Spencer, and Olivia visited Simone’s Aunt Amara and toured Bringston University.

Initially, the spinoff focused on Simone’s (Geffri Maya) tennis aspirations and her love triangle with Jordan and infamous baseball star Damon Sims (Peyton Alex Smith).

Maya and Smith oozed chemistry, so Simone and Damon quickly became a rootable couple, just as Jordan and Layla did on the mothership. As Jordan and Simone ended their relationship, there wasn’t as much need for crossovers between the two shows.

The last time they interacted was in the holiday episode on All American Season 5 Episode 1 before Simone ended things indefinitely. Simone is stuck in another love triangle with Damon and another baseball player, Lando.

All American: Homecoming covered so much more than love triangles, though. They were better than the mothership at delving into sports and mental health issues.

Coach Marcus struggled with having bipolar, and after he melted down, he was determined to show his players that needing help wasn’t a weakness.

The series dealt with some core issues like bomb threats, sexual assault, racism, and danger. Near the end of All American: Homecoming Season 2, Coach Marcus and Amara created a student service building to help with mental health.

Is There a Need for More Spinoffs in the All American Universe?

Showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll recently hinted there were more stories ahead.

“I’ve been talking to the studio about some possibilities, so the ideas and interest are there. We’ll see what happens, but right now, our focus is on the mother ship and  All American: Homecoming and really seeing these characters through,” she says.

“But the beauty of this world, the universal story, and the pursuit of what is seemingly the impossible dream for the Black community are endless.”

Her dreams for the universe seem endless, as she often refers to All American as her multiverse. Carroll would love for the series to run for years, as Spencer and Jordan have joined the NFL and have their own families.

Ideally, she sees this generation as Beverly Hills 90210. Is it better to branch the characters into multiple shows or keep them on the mothership?

What Ideas Would Work for Possible Spinoffs?

The All American franchise is about watching the Black community achieve their dreams. When All American: Homecoming first started, the series branched off into Jordan’s girlfriend, Simone Hicks, fulfilling her dream of playing tennis at Bringston University.

The options are limited if the series wants to follow some of the same characters. The best option would be a new show or spinoff about Spencer getting drafted into the NFL and following his professional and Olivia’s journalism careers.

Another option could be following Thea Mays as she changes back to her professional tennis career.

Another interesting choice would be an All American: Homecoming prequel about when Coach Marcus and Amara were in college and he was drafted. There were hints that her family disliked him, and then Marcus took some drugs to assist with a sports injury.

These choices destroyed their relationship, but it would be exciting to see this play out versus only hearing about it.

Besides those options, the series would start with brand new characters in a spinoff, and that’s risky when viewers are already invested in long-term characters and story arcs. While they may get invested, do we need another spinoff?

What do you think, All American Fanatics? Should The CW create another All American spinoff or further invest in its long-term characters? What would type of spinoff would you like to see?

Let us know in the comments below.

All American airs at 8/7c on Mondays on The CW.

The post With Talk of More All American Spinoffs Is the Franchise In Danger of Overextending Itself? appeared first on TV Fanatic.

All American: Homecoming is the latest show to announce its changes ahead of next season.

According to Deadline, Peyton Alex Smith, who plays Damon Sims on the series, will not be back as a series regular.

If you watch All American: Homecoming online, you know Damon has been pivotal since All American: Homecoming Season 1 Episode 1.

While casting changes were expected, it's surprising Smith is one of the actors to have their contract changed.

There's no confirmation whether the actor will stage a comeback in a recurring or guest capacity.

Time will tell, but hopefully, he will appear on-screen to wrap up Damon's storyline if the actor decides against accepting the contract.

Additionally, Kelly Jenrette, who plays Bringston University president Amara Patterson, will return as a recurring player.

Geffri Maya (Simone Hicks), Sylvester Powell (JR Raymond), Netta Walker (Keisha McCalla), and Mitchell Edwards (Cam Watkins) are all confirmed to be returning as regulars.

Cory Hardrict (Marcus Turner) and Rhoyle Ivy King (Nathaniel Hardin) will return, but their episode guarantees have been reduced.

Camille Hyde, who plays Thea Mays, is still awaiting word on whether she will be asked back for All American: Homecoming Season 3.

All American: Homecoming was picked up at the same time as Superman & Lois for the 2023-24 TV season.

The latter has already cut seven series regulars ahead of Superman & Lois Season 4.

They include Dylan Walsh (as General Sam Lane), Emmanuelle Chriqui (as Mayor Lana Lang), Erik Valdez (as Kyle Cushing), Inde Navarrette (as Sarah), Wolé Parks (as John Henry Irons), Tayler Buck (as daughter Natalie), and Sofia Hasmik (as Chrissy Beppo).

The budget cuts come as broadcast TV continues to navigate tricky economics.

Bob Hearts Abishola recently demoted all but two of its series regulars, the Blue Bloods cast all took a pay cut to secure a renewal, and NBC's Dick Wolf shows all reduced the episode guarantees of their actors.

What are your thoughts on this casting news?

Are you surprised?

Hit the comments.

All American: Homecoming is slated to return to The CW in 2024.

Cliffhangers That Made Our Jaws Drop to The Floor

Open List

The post All American: Homecoming: Peyton Alex Smith & Kelly Jenrette Out as Series Regulars! appeared first on TV Fanatic.

We'll start with the good.

Superman & Lois has landed a surprise pickup for a fourth season to air in the 2023-24 season.

We're surprised because the show was thought to be too expensive for the network's new regime.

If you watch Superman & Lois online, you know the show is VFX-heavy compared to the other shows that have scored pickups for next season.

As a result, there's a good chance Superman & Lois Season 4 will look very different from Superman & Lois Season 3.

For starters, we're getting just ten episodes for the new season, which marks the series' shortest episode order to date.

But still, we're just happy we're getting another season of the show.

It will be unfortunate if many of the show's cast are let go between seasons because the show's essence will forever change.

On Superman & Lois, after years of facing megalomaniacal supervillains, monsters wreaking havoc on Metropolis, and alien invaders intent on wiping out the human race, the world's most famous superhero, The Man of Steel aka Clark Kent (Tyler Hoechlin) and comic books' most famous journalist, Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch), come face to face with one of their greatest challenges ever — dealing with all the stress, pressures and complexities that come with being working parents in today's society.

Also scoring a pickup is the bubble drama All American: Homecoming.

The CW has picked up a 13-episode All American: Homecoming Season 3.

With the news that All American scored a renewal for next season, the spinoff was expected to score a pickup.

However, there was some skepticism about the changes on the way for the network.

All American: Homecoming is a young adult sports drama set against the backdrop of the HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) experience at Bringston University, where Black excellence is a way of life.

The series is centered around tennis player Simone Hicks (Geffri Maya), baseball prodigy Damon Sims (Peyton Alex Smith), and the diverse group of friends they have cultivated at Bringston University.

"We are thrilled to bring ALL AMERICAN: HOMECOMING and SUPERMAN & LOIS back to The CW," commented Schwartz.

"These series are two of our strongest performers across our linear and digital platforms with some of the most passionate fanbases in all of television."

"We are grateful to our partners at Warner Bros. Television and Berlanti Productions for their continued collaboration, and we cannot wait to get started on the new seasons."

With the good news out of the way, the bad news is here.

Gotham Knights, the network's latest superhero drama, will not return next season.

While the show has had decent (by CW standards) numbers, it seems there were fewer slots for returning series than usual, complicating a renewal.

The series picked up following Bruce Wayne's murder and focused on his adoptive son being framed for killing him.

The series finale is set for June 27.

Why Aren’t You Watching These Excellent Shows?

Open List

What are your thoughts on the decisions?

Are you surprised?

Hit the comments below.

The post Superman & Lois, All American: Homecoming Renewed at The CW With Budget Cuts; Gotham Knights Canceled appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Sometimes, characters must go to their lowest point and crawl out to find new meaning in their lives.

Other characters developed new purposes and self-worth through different careers and relationships, which was fascinating to watch.

With so much content, many TV characters evolved in 2022.

Check what made our list below.

Maxine (Max) Chapman and Carson Shaw – A League of Their Own (Prime Video)

Max wanted to play professional ball her whole life, but her gender and race held her back. She's able to overcome her circumstances while also embracing her sexuality.

Her journey parallels white housewife Carson, who must finally admit she is unhappy with her life and embraces her sexuality, as well as a leadership role on the women's professional softball league.

These two unlikely friends overcome prejudice, social norms, and self-doubts holding them back.

They are role models based on real women who changed history.

Helen Decatur – Sweet Magnolias (Netflix)

Sweet Magnolias has covered many storylines over two seasons, but none were as heartfelt or as emotional as Helen's miscarriage and IVF arc.

Helen longed to become pregnant and be more than just an aunt but knew Ryan didn't want kids. Shortly after becoming pregnant, she miscarried the baby.

Helen's journey didn't end there. While she grieved for her baby, she was still determined to become a mother, no matter who was in her life.

Above all, Helen had to think of herself, and she still wanted a baby, even if it meant IVF treatments. She had just started going to the clinic when Season 2 ended.

Sydney Adamu – The Bear (FX)

Sydney steps into the kitchen of The Original Beef of Chicago sandwich shop with one goal — to train under the tutelage of Carmen Berzatto, a gifted chef with Michelin star standards.

She's ambitious, driven, and professional. But when faced with a team of life-long lunch-slingers without respect for her, she finds herself losing her way.

She clings to the fact Berzatto recognizes her skill but resents that he isn't in a position to mentor her the way she dreams of.

Constantly feeling like the outsider, Sydney rises and falls and rises again, stronger for knowing what quitting feels like. And while her knife may have found Cousin's rump by accident, it was a cathartic moment that reverberated through the very fiber of the show.

Nick Nelson & Charlie Spring – Heartstopper (Netflix)

Nick and Charlie are easily one of the best couples of the year. You can feel the love between them whenever they stare at each other or whenever they're together. But one of their biggest draws was the strong character arcs they took individually and together as a couple by the end of Heartstopper Season 1.

Nick was figuring out his sexuality and allowed himself to process his feelings comfortably. During this time, he also worked through who he had been as a person with his friends and the type of person he wanted to be in life.

Meanwhile, Charlie was discovering his self-worth and confidence within himself after he had been bullied for over a year after coming out. He started standing up against the people who wanted to use him or made him feel less than others; Charlie discovered he was worthy of happiness and true love.

Together, they worked through things to become emotionally available and became the strong couple (as well as individuals) we all love.

Beth Dutton – Yellowstone (Paramount +)

People may be shocked to find that Beth Dutton has done much growing, but after marrying Rip, she's found another side of herself.

The always wild child has simmered down just enough to allow herself to fight Summer hard and show mutual respect (when warranted) afterward. She's opening herself little by little to a life she may not have imagined she'd ever nail down.

The Beth we first met would have never gone on a gathering, but she went and showed her appreciation for the cowboys' efforts to manage the cattle and even got teary-eyed when faced with the splendor of their cherished land.

Little strides for all but magnificent strides for Beth Dutton.

Eddie – A Million Little Things (ABC)

There used to be a time when the only character who superseded Eddie in the annoying and off-putting category was Delilah. However, when you consider where he's started versus where he is now, one can't deny that he's had quite the evolution and may have even become a fan-favorite.

Coming off a terrible accident and fighting his way back to sobriety, Eddie has become a voice of reason among his friends, a shoulder to lean on, and such a supportive figure in the last season.

He and Katherine went from one of the most tumultuous divorces in tv history to becoming a beautiful new-age family, particularly as Eddie helped Katherine with her new relationship with Greta and owning her sexuality.

Somewhere along the way, the hot mess of the friend group became one of the most solid, dependable, and mature, and that's the mark of excellent character evolution.

Sonny – SEAL Team (CBS)

This was the season that Bravo Team's resident knuckledragger and door kicker evolved into something more.

Even after he attempted to form a family with Hannah and Leanne fell apart, Sonny continued to be his daughter's loving dad from afar in between missions.

He also blamed himself and hurt the most among Bravo when his BFF Clay lost his leg and later his life during Clay's rough decision into civilian life.

AJ Buckley brought out new emotional sides to Sonny, and the series has been better for it.

Coach Marcus – All American: Homecoming (The CW)

The All American franchise excels at mental health storylines, and Coach Marcus's character evolved throughout both seasons.

In All American: Homecoming Season 1 highlighted how embarrassed Coach Marcus was because of his bipolar disorder and he hated breaking down in front of the team.

He even admitted that he broke up with Amara years before because he feared passing on his mental health issues.

However, on All American: Homecoming Season 2, Marcus attended treatment and openly talked to his team and prospective students about mental health. He was a role model for young African-American men.

Tory Nichols – Cobra Kai (Netflix)

It's hard not to be taken by the grit of someone who walks into a karate studio and challenges anyone there to a battle royale.

Tori has always been solid out of the gate, and her hard-scrabble teenage existence has always given us a reason to root for her.

But on Cobra Kai Season 4, she has become a capable anti-hero that provides a welcome yin to Samantha's privileged yang.

Although we were programmed to cheer an eventual Samantha win at the tournament this year, it felt unexpectedly right to see Tori triumph at the end of the day (Even if there was a technicality involved).

Over to you, Fanatics. Did your favorite make our list?

What else would you have added?

Let us know in the comments.

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Don't get too excited:

The network has not announced premiere dates for Riverdale, The Flash, Nancy Drew, and Superman & Lois.

Instead, the network revealed when its currently airing shows will return from their typical holiday breaks.

Scroll down to find out when your favorite shows will be back on the air.

THURSDAY, JAN. 12

8 pm Walker (midseason premiere)

9 pm Walker: Independence (midseason premiere)

SATURDAY, JAN. 14

8 pm Criss Angel’s Magic With the Stars (midseason premiere)

9 pm World’s Funniest Animals (midseason premiere)

9:30 pm World’s Funniest Animals (encore episode)

SUNDAY, JAN. 15

7 pm The 28th Annual Critics Choice Awards

FRIDAY, JAN. 20

8 pm Penn & Teller: Fool Us (midseason premiere)

9 pm Whose Line Is It Anyway? (midseason premiere)

9:30 pm Whose Line Is It Anyway? (encore episode)

MONDAY, JAN. 23

8 pm All American (midseason premiere)

9 pm All American: Homecoming (midseason premiere)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24

8 pm The Winchesters (encore episode)

9 pm The Winchesters (midseason premiere – new timeslot)

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 8

9 pm Kung Fu (midseason premiere)

SATURDAY, FEB. 11

8pm Masters of Illusion (Season 9 premiere)

8:30 pm Masters of Illusion (encore episode)

9 pm World’s Funniest Animals (new episode)

9:30 pm World’s Funniest Animals (encore episode)

The lack of premiere dates for the four returning shows and Gotham Knights makes it seem like the network might be holding those shows until later in 2023.

It's no secret that the network will very likely part ways with the bulk of its programming heading into next season.

Nexstar assumed control of 75% of the network and the aim is to get cheaper programming that is more profitable by 2025.

Stay tuned for news of the premiere dates for the rest of the schedule.

CBS Cheat Sheet: CSI: Vegas & NCIS: Los Angeles in Danger

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The post The CW Midseason Premiere Dates: All American, The Winchesters, & More! appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The series was initially set to premiere on the latter last month, but the series never materialized on the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streamer.

Now, we have a definite answer about what's happening to the drama series.

According to What's On Netflix, All American: Homecoming has been added to the Netflix library, joining the parent series All American.

Since the conclusion of the Netflix streaming deal with The CW, no new CW shows have gone to Netflix.

Instead, shows like Katy Keene, Batwoman, and Nancy Drew all landed on HBO Max in an attempt to shore up the content roster on the relatively new streaming service.

The original All American performs very well for Netflix, so there was clearly an incentive in being the streaming home to the show.

It probably helps matters that both shows are now streaming under the same roof.

The spinoff will, however, also be available on HBO Max, sharing the streaming rights.

All American: Homecoming focuses on Geffri Maya's character, Simone Hicks, as well as a new athlete.

Simone is a tennis hopeful, while the new person is an elite baseball player from Chicago.

Together, they will deal with the high stakes of college sports while also navigating the highs, lows, and sexiness of unsupervised early adulthood at college.

All American showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll executive-produce the spinoff.

Peyton Alex Smith, Kelly Jenrette, Cory Hardrict, Sylvester Powell, Camille Hyde, Mitchell Edwards, Netta Walker, and Rhoyle Ivy King also star.

The series was a strong performer for The CW when it launched earlier this year, quickly snagging a pickup for Season 2.

It will, once again, be paired with the main series and will return on October 10.

What are your thoughts on the show heading to Netflix?

Hit the comments below.

Remember, you can watch All American: Homecoming online right here via TV Fanatic.

The post All American: Homecoming to Stream on Netflix appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The young-skewing network has confirmed that Stargirl Season 3 will actually get a late summer bow, with the superhero drama set to return Wednesday, August 31.

The series has had a long time off the air, so fans will be happy to know there's an end in sight for the hiatus.

In true CW fashion, the rest of its fall schedule will play out in October.

Canadian import Family Law is set to premiere on October 2, followed by the debut of Coroner Season 4.

As the network's future is up in the air, it is looking at cheaper offerings in terms of content, and imported shows like above are a way to keep that strategy going.

Kung Fu Season 3 will launch Wednesday, October 5.

Walker Season 3 gets underway on Thursday, October 6, followed by the series debut of spinoff Walker: Independence.

All American and All American: Homecoming will return on October 10.

Supernatural spinoff The Winchesters will premiere Tuesday, October 11, followed by Tom Welling-led Professionals.

Fridays and Saturdays will consist of unscripted content… for now.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31

8:00-9:00PM DC’S STARGIRL (Season Premiere)

9:00-9:30PM WELLINGTON PARANORMAL (Original Episode)

9:30-10:00PM WELLINGTON PARANORMAL (Encore Episode)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2

8:00-9:00PM FAMILY LAW (Series Premiere)

9:00-10:00PM CORONER (Season Premiere)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5

8:00-9:00PM DC’S STARGIRL (Original Episode)

9:00-10:00PM KUNG FU (Season Premiere)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6

8:00-9:00PM WALKER (Season Premiere)

9:00-10:00PM WALKER INDEPENDENCE (Series Premiere)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7

8:00-10:00PM IHEARTRADIO MUSIC FESTIVAL (Night One)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8

8:00-10:00PM IHEARTRADIO MUSIC FESTIVAL (Night Two)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 10

8:00-9:00PM ALL AMERICAN (Season Premiere)

9:00-10:00PM ALL AMERICAN: HOMECOMING (Season Premiere)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11

8:00-9:00PM THE WINCHESTERS (Series Premiere)

9:00-10:00PM PROFESSIONALS (Series Premiere)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14

8:00-9:00PM PENN & TELLER: FOOL US (Season Premiere)

9:00-9:30PM WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY? (Season Premiere)

9:30-10:00PM WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY? (Encore Episode)

Renewal Scorecard: Which Shows Didn’t Survive the Bloodiest Season in Years?!

Open List

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22

8:00-9:00PM CRISS ANGEL’S MAGIC WITH THE STARS (Series Premiere)

9:00-9:30PM WORLD’S FUNNIEST ANIMALS (Season Premiere)

9:30-10:00PM WORLD’S FUNNIEST ANIMALS (Original Episode)

The post The CW Sets Fall Premiere Dates for The Winchesters, All American, & More! appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Throughout the series, the Bringston students and faculty have become a "chosen family," and All American: Homecoming Season 1 Episode 13 highlighted the strength of those relationships as they worked to save Bringston and save one of their own.

Cory Hardrict deserved an award for his emotional performance as Coach Marcus when he had his emotional breakdown.

All American: Homecoming featured a realistic mental health storyline about a coach in the media. Coach Marcus would be ashamed if anyone knew he had bipolar, so he hid it and stopped taking his medication.

Marcus admired Amara, so he didn't want her to think any less of her, so that's likely why he never let her see him that bad either or why they indeed never reunited.

He didn't want to risk passing on depression or bipolar to his children.

Since Marcus thought of the baseball team as his children, it made sense why he opened the door to Mrs. Sims when he thought Damon was in trouble.

Surprisingly, she was the only one that got through to him.

Mrs. Sims: This was going to be an impassioned plea to convince you to come back and coach, but I think ill save that for another time.

_{🔗 permalink: This was going to be an impassioned plea to convince you to come back and coach, but I think…}

There was absolutely no shame in admitting he needed help or medication to regulate his bipolar disorder.

However, there is a stigma around asking for help for mental health issues. For Marcus, this was worsened because he used medication for pain in the past, and he was afraid to become dependent on meds again.

Mrs. Sims: My son is a better man because you came into his life. You are a good man and you deserve to get better.

_{🔗 permalink: My son is a better man because you came into his life. You are a good man and you deserve to…}

Hopefully, now that he realizes people care about him and he was a positive influence in other people's lives, he'll continue to get help.

With Marcus gone, JR's dad stepped in as the interim coach and caused numerous issues for the team. He still believed that Damon was the only reason the team would win the championship game, which alienated the rest of the team.

JR’s dad: Sims, it’s clear we’ll be depending on your star power tomorrow.

Damon: A game isn’t won by a single player. When we win, we’ll do it as a team.

_{🔗 permalink: A game isn’t won by a single player. When we win, we’ll do it as a team.}

Since the beginning of the series, Damon has grown and believed in giving his teammates credit. It isn't easy to think that JR's dad didn't know that Damon was Seline's son when Damon confronted him.

Damon was a kid when JR's parents gave him away for adoption, making him feel like an unwanted child. Even after JR's dad told him about how he got that scar as a child and JR's anemia, it just left Damon feeling unloved.

JR’s dad: I’m sorry I hurt you, but I had to protect my family.

_{🔗 permalink: I’m sorry I hurt you, but I had to protect my family.}

While JR's dad may have thought he was protecting his family, he lost his life, and he's going to lose JR too by keeping secrets and expecting too much from him in baseball.

Keena Sims is the only loving parent Damon has. Ironically if he had never been given up for adoption, he never would have met his mom.

His mom is organized and practical, keeping electronic records of medical tests. I feared Damon had memory issues after his mom mentioned his dad's Alzheimer's disease.

I never suspected that Damon was the biological son of both of JR's parents. Technically, at least his dad didn't hide something awful from him and his mom all these years.

However,  how do you choose which son to give away? Damon won't forgive either of them for that anytime soon.

The students at Bringston have become a family, and Keisha was determined to keep them together.

It was most important to her "family," intact since she thought everyone important had left her. Keisha took it hard when Simone revealed she might transfer back to CA.

Keisha's speech was so inspiring, and so was her choreographed dance with Cam that they raised enough money to save Bringston. It finally felt earned when Keisha and Cam exchanged "I love you's" after the performance.

An anonymous donor added the requirement that Amara be promoted to the dean of students. You'd think our Bringston students would be happy with everything in place, right?

That would have been too easy. The Thea and Simone rivalry returned with a vengeance. It's never easy being second best. Thea felt like Damon only picked her because he thought Simone wasn't available.

That point seemed even more accurate when Damon confided in Simone again about his paternity issues. He then wondered why she didn't tell him about her breakup with Jordan sooner,  making us wonder if Thea was the second choice.

Simone got Thea's spot on the tennis team to make matters worse since Thea got injured.  Understandably, Thea was bitter, but I hate that she blamed her.

It almost seemed like a vicious game, like Thea was insinuating she took Damon since Simone took her spot.

Every series needs a set of frenemies and rivals, but I enjoyed the growth these two ladies shared as friends.

It's depressing to see them backslide this much. No one wants to see the same catfights week after week.

Hopefully, they'll move forward next season, and we can see a stronger single Simone.

Over to you, All American: Homecoming Fanatics. Were you surprised by the final twist in Damon's paternity saga?

Do you think Marcus will continue to get the help he needs? Are you tired of the Thea and Simone rivalry? Chime in below in the comments.

Remember, if you miss an episode, you could watch All American: Homecoming online via TV Fanatic.

All American: Homecoming will return with Season 2 in the fall on The CW.

The post All American: Homecoming Season 1 Episode 13 Review: Irreplaceable appeared first on TV Fanatic.