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When you’re feeling petty, these snark-filled shows bring the drama, shade, and scandal you’re craving.

The post The Best TV Shows to Watch When You’re Feeling Petty appeared first on TV Fanatic.

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Sometimes, you just need to indulge your inner snark.

For those days when you’re feeling petty, nothing beats a good TV binge-packed with shade, drama, and characters who know how to throw down.

From scandalous romances to epic rivalries and high-stakes power plays, these shows are loaded with the kind of pettiness that makes for addictive entertainment.

(The CW)

Whether it’s elite high schoolers battling for the top spot, feuding Hollywood legends, or ruthless family dynasties, this list has you covered.

So grab some popcorn and get ready for the best shows to watch when you’re feeling a little — okay, maybe a lot — petty.

Succession

(Macall Polay/HBO)

Succession takes family drama and corporate warfare to deliciously petty heights.

The Roy family’s billion-dollar empire is matched only by their ruthless ambition and brutal one-liners.

From Logan’s domineering grip on his children to Kendall, Shiv, and Roman’s relentless battles for power, every scene is packed with tension, betrayal, and dark humor.

It’s a masterclass in snark, with every character out for themselves and no one afraid to play dirty.

If you’re in the mood for jaw-dropping moments and epic takedowns, Succession serves up pettiness on a silver platter.

Watch Succession Online

Revenge

(ABC/Screenshot)

Revenge is all about payback, served ice-cold with a side of high-society flair.

Emily Thorne arrives in the Hamptons with one goal: to destroy the wealthy Grayson family who wronged her.

With every calculated move, hidden scheme, and unexpected turn, Emily turns manipulation into an art form.

The show drips with drama as allies become enemies and layers of deceit unfold at every corner.

When you’re in that petty kind of mood and craving a good tale of retribution, Revenge is the ultimate binge for high-stakes snark and scheming.

Watch Revenge Online

The White Lotus

Tanya at a Party - The White Lotus Season 2 Episode 6
(Fabio Lovino/HBO)

The White Lotus takes luxury and privilege and flips it into pure chaos.

Set in a tropical paradise, this show reveals the dark — and often hilariously petty — side of its wealthy guests and staff.

From passive-aggressive insults to jaw-dropping power plays, every character brings their own brand of snark to the vacation from hell. W

With each new guest’s arrival, tensions build, secrets unravel, and the drama escalates to shocking heights.

If you’re feeling petty and craving some top-tier satire, The White Lotus is the perfect getaway…from sanity.

Watch White Lotus Online

Gossip Girl

(THE CW/Giovanni Rufino)

When it came to scandal, shade, and high society snark, Gossip Girl was the show to tune into.

From Blair’s iconic takedowns to Serena’s endless drama, the Upper East Side turned into a battlefield where pettiness reigned supreme.

Gossip Girl’s anonymous posts exposed everyone’s secrets, ensuring that no one — not even the queen bees — was safe.

This was backstabbing and betrayal with a glamorous twist, where every schemer played to win.

If you’re feeling a little petty, this is your perfect binge.

Watch Gossip Girl Online

House of Cards

(Netflix)

House of Cards is political pettiness at its finest.

Frank and Claire Underwood redefine ruthless ambition, clawing their way to the top with calculated manipulation, cutting remarks, and ice-cold revenge.

Every episode is a masterclass in power plays, as the Underwoods pull strings and eliminate rivals without a hint of remorse.

Watching them scheme their way through Washington is thrilling, darkly entertaining, and satisfyingly petty.

If you’re in the mood for a high-stakes game where loyalty is non-existent, House of Cards delivers drama with zero mercy.

Watch House of Cards Online

Big Little Lies

The Whole Gang - Big Little Lies
This is a photo from Big Little Lies Season 2 coming to HBO June 9, 2019. (Jennifer Clasen/HBO)

Big Little Lies brings all the pettiness of small-town drama wrapped in a gorgeous beachside setting.

Monterey’s seemingly perfect moms have secrets simmering beneath the surface, and as tensions rise, so do the stakes.

From subtle digs to explosive confrontations, every character brings their own blend of snark and shade to the story.

The layers of friendship, rivalry, and betrayal keep things intense, especially when the truth threatens to unravel.

If you’re craving a binge filled with twists, secrets, and deliciously petty moments, Big Little Lies is calling your name.

Watch Big Little Lies Online

Veep

(Colleen Hayes/HBO)

Veep is the ultimate in political pettiness, following the sharp-tongued Selina Meyer as she navigates Washington with zero filters and plenty of insults.

Her ruthless ambition and her team’s chaotic incompetence turn every episode into a whirlwind of snarky one-liners, cringe-worthy mishaps, and brutal takedowns.

Nothing and no one is off-limits in her quest for power, and every setback is met with razor-sharp sarcasm.

If you’re ready to laugh at some of the pettiest political shenanigans imaginable, Veep serves shade like no other.

Watch Veep Online

Dynasty

(ABC/Screenshot)

Dynasty is pure, unapologetic pettiness wrapped in glitz and glamour.

The Carrington family’s power struggles, betrayals, and fierce rivalries make every episode a showcase of backstabbing at its finest.

From Alexis and Krystle’s iconic catfights to Blake’s relentless scheming, the Carringtons know how to keep the drama high and the stakes even higher.

With wealth, power, and scandal at every turn, Dynasty is the ultimate binge for anyone looking to indulge in classic soap opera-style shade.

It’s the kind of deliciously petty drama that’s impossible to resist!

Watch Dynasty Online

The Real Housewives

(Nicole Weingart/Bravo)

The Real Housewives franchise sets the gold standard for reality TV pettiness, with each city bringing its own mix of glitz, feuds, and unforgettable drama.

Whether you’re tuning into Beverly Hills, New York, or Atlanta, these ladies deliver shade with every brunch, charity event, and vacation meltdown.

From epic clapbacks to friendships in flames, Housewives shows that behind every fabulous outfit and perfect manicure is someone ready to throw down.

For jaw-dropping confrontations and a front-row seat to the pettiest disputes, pick your city and watch the chaos unfold because The Real Housewives franchise is OFF. THE. CHARTS.

Watch The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Online

Fleabag

(Steve Schofield/Amazon)

Fleabag is the perfect binge for anyone craving sharp wit and unapologetic honesty.

The show follows its self-destructive, sarcastic heroine as she navigates love, loss, and one messy family, all while breaking the fourth wall with her signature side-eye.

Fleabag’s petty moments are delightfully relatable, from awkward confrontations to brutally honest observations about everyone around her.

With every glance and cutting remark, she takes viewers on a hilariously raw journey through her missteps and grudges.

If you’re feeling petty and craving dark humor, Fleabag is a must-watch.

Watch Fleabag Online

Empire

Cookie's Back - Empire Season 6 Episode 18
(Chuck Hodes/FOX)

If you’re craving family feuds and ruthless ambition, Empire delivers the drama with style.

The Lyon family’s power struggles, betrayals, and unfiltered shade turned the music business into a battlefield.

Cookie’s legendary comebacks (and sass!), Lucious’s relentless scheming, and sibling rivalries that redefine petty make Empire the ultimate binge for anyone who loves high-stakes drama with a side of attitude.

Every episode is packed with jaw-dropping twists, lavish performances, and enough family drama to keep you glued to the screen.

So, grab some popcorn — this one’s all about the art of the takedown.

Watch Empire Online

The Bold Type

(Freeform/Jonathan Wenk)

The Bold Type serves up drama with style, wit, and a hefty dose of snark.

At Scarlet magazine, Jane, Kat, and Sutton juggle friendships, love lives, and career ambitions, all while throwing just the right amount of shade.

The workplace rivalries and heartfelt moments turn this show into an emotional rollercoaster, blending career highs with personal messes and plenty of office drama.

If you’re in the mood for a binge that’s equal parts snark and inspiration, The Bold Type hits all the right notes for those craving a bit of petty entertainment.

Watch The Bold Type Online

The Royals

(E!)

The Royals is royal drama at its absolute prettiest.

This modern monarchy is filled with scandal, betrayal, and enough shade to block out the sun.

Queen Helena rules with an iron fist and a razor-sharp tongue while her kids bring plenty of chaos, secrets, and snark to the palace.

Every family feud feels like a public spectacle, and every backstabbing moment is pure entertainment.

With its outrageous twists and regal rivalries, The Royals is perfect for when you’re in the mood to indulge your inner drama queen.

Watch The Royals Online

Desperate Housewives

(ABC/Screenshot)

When it comes to petty drama, Desperate Housewives practically invented it.

Life on Wisteria Lane was a soap opera wrapped in suburbia, where no secret stayed hidden and every smile came with a side of shade.

Bree’s icy perfection, Gabrielle’s fierce independence, Lynette’s cunning, and Susan’s knack for getting tangled in everyone’s messes kept viewers hooked.

With every episode, friendships got tested, affairs surfaced, and power plays unfolded, all with a flair that made you want to see what these housewives would do next.

If you’re in the mood for snark and scandal, welcome to Wisteria Lane. 

Watch Desperate Housewives Online

How to Get Away with Murder

(ABC/Jessica Brooks)

How to Get Away with Murder is an ultimate showcase of manipulation, secrets, and high-stakes drama.

Annalise Keating and her band of law students are tangled in a web of lies, betrayals, and, yes, murder, making every episode a thrilling descent into chaos.

Annalise’s sharp tongue and cutthroat tactics bring the perfect mix of snark and suspense, while each character’s dark secrets add layers of intrigue.

If you’re feeling petty and want a dose of courtroom drama with ruthless ambition, How to Get Away with Murder serves up just the right amount of scandal. 

Watch How to Get Away with Murder Online

Emily in Paris

Making Strides in Paris - Emily in Paris
(Photo by Stéphanie Branchu/Netflix)

When Emily lands in Paris, her American optimism clashes hilariously with French snobbery, sparking endless drama and passive-aggressive shade.

From love triangles to workplace rivalries, Emily navigates Parisian culture with a mix of naivety and sass, often rubbing locals the wrong way.

Whether she’s butting heads with her colleagues or stirring up romantic chaos, Emily in Paris is the perfect binge for when you’re in the mood for light-hearted, fashion-fueled drama with plenty of snark.

Watch Emily in Paris Online

Bridgerton

(Laurence Cendrowicz/Netflix © 2024)

Bridgerton is the ultimate escape into Regency-era pettiness, where courtships, rivalries, and scandal rule high society.

With Lady Whistledown (the Gossip Girl of the Regency era) spilling secrets at every turn, the Bridgerton family and their peers face relentless public scrutiny and juicy drama.

From Daphne’s love life to Anthony’s power struggles, every episode brims with subtle shade, whispered gossip, and enough romantic tension to fill a ballroom.

Bridgerton is for anyone in the mood for lavish costumes, smoldering glances, and the delicious thrill of high-stakes romance mixed with sly, period-perfect snark.

Watch Bridgerton Online

Sex and the City

(HBO/Screenshot)

Sex and the City is the epitome of petty friendship drama, fabulous fashion, and brutally honest conversations.

Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda navigate love, heartbreak, and career struggles in New York City, serving up shade with Cosmos and support in equal measure.

From Carrie’s dating disasters to Samantha’s legendary one-liners, every episode is packed with iconic moments that blend humor with a touch of snark.

If you’re feeling petty or just want a front-row seat to the highs and lows of single life in the city, Sex and the City has you covered in style.

Watch Sex and the City Online

Pretty Little Liars

(Freeform)

Pretty Little Liars is a rollercoaster of secrets, lies, and non-stop drama.

When four best friends start receiving cryptic messages from the mysterious “A,” their lives spiral into a world of manipulation and betrayal.

With each twist, they uncover darker secrets about each other and their town, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.

From backstabbing frenemies to scandalous romances, every episode is packed with the kind of pettiness and suspense that make this show the ultimate binge.

If you’re craving mystery laced with a hefty dose of snark, Pretty Little Liars is for you. 

Watch Pretty Little Liars Online

90210

(Michael Desmond/The CW)

90210 brings all the high school drama, secrets, and scandal you could want, all wrapped up in Beverly Hills glitz.

The students of West Beverly Hills High are anything but innocent, with rivalries, romances, and power plays keeping things deliciously petty.

From Naomi’s queen-bee attitude to Annie’s constant entanglements, every character brings their own flair for drama and shade.

This show is packed with love triangles, betrayals, and iconic high school moments that make it a binge-worthy classic.

If you’re feeling especially petty, 90210 will deliver all the rich-kid drama you need.

Watch 90210 Online

Feud: Bette and Joan

Normally I Play the Bitch - FEUD: Bette and Joan Season 1 Episode 1
(FX)

Feud: Betty and Joan captures the iconic, real-life rivalry between Hollywood legends Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.

Set against the backdrop of the classic 1962 film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, the series dives into the pettiness, power plays, and behind-the-scenes battles that defined their relationship.

With biting dialogue, intense standoffs, and plenty of old-school Hollywood snark, this show brings their feud to life in all its deliciously dramatic glory.

If you’re craving glamorous cattiness and classic shade, Feud: Betty and Joan delivers pure, iconic pettiness.

Watch Feud: Bette and Joan Online

The O.C.

(FOX/Screenshot)

The O.C. is the ultimate in teen angst, wealth, and West Coast drama.

When outsider Ryan Atwood moves into the elite world of Orange County, he stirs up secrets, rivalries, and endless romantic drama.

The show’s iconic characters — like Marissa, Seth, and Summer — bring plenty of snark and shade as they navigate love triangles, family feuds, and friendship fallout.

Every episode has the perfect mix of heartfelt moments and sharp one-liners, making The O.C. an addictive watch for anyone craving rich-kid drama with a side of petty.

And let’s be real, this list has plenty of it!

Watch The O.C. Online

Curb Your Enthusiasm

(John Johnson/HBO)

Curb Your Enthusiasm takes pettiness to a whole new level, thanks to Larry David’s knack for turning minor annoyances into full-blown fiascos.

Whether he’s arguing over the “right” way to park or getting into absurd social squabbles, Larry’s relentless nitpicking and total lack of a filter make every episode a masterpiece of awkward, petty humor.

His interactions with friends, neighbors, and total strangers spiral into chaos with hilarious, cringe-worthy outcomes.

If you’re in the mood for unapologetic, real-world pettiness, Curb Your Enthusiasm is the perfect watch to indulge your inner contrarian.

Watch Curb Your Enthusiasm Online

Melrose Place

(Fox/Screenshot)

Melrose Place is ‘90s drama at its finest, with outrageous twists, backstabbing friends, and romantic entanglements that never end well.

This classic series is set in a West Hollywood apartment complex where everyone’s lives are intertwined — and nobody’s hands are clean.

From love triangles to betrayal and petty revenge, Melrose Place is packed with all the drama and shade of a prime-time soap opera.

If you’re ready to relive iconic moments and over-the-top feuds, this one is your ultimate blast from the past.

Watch Melrose Place Online

Scream Queens

More In Common - Scream Queens
(FOX)

Scream Queens brings horror and humor together in the pettiest way possible.

At Wallace University, the ruthless Kappa Kappa Tau sorority sisters face a masked killer — and each other.

With sharp one-liners, campy scares, and no shortage of rivalries, Scream Queens is a slasher comedy packed with drama and over-the-top characters.

The show’s hilarious mix of horror and snark makes it the perfect watch when you’re craving something both scary and petty, with enough shade to fill a haunted house.

Watch Scream Queens Online

BEEF

(Netflix/Screenshot)

BEEF brings pettiness to an art form, following two characters whose road rage incident escalates into a full-blown feud.

What starts as a single encounter spirals into a hilarious and dark rivalry, with each one-upping the other in increasingly outrageous ways.

Fueled by revenge and grudges, BEEF explores the lengths people will go to win — even when they’re fighting a completely pointless battle.

If you’re in the mood for petty to the extreme, this show delivers it with a darkly comedic edge that keeps you guessing what they’ll do next.

Watch BEEF Online

You’re the Worst

Self Punishment - You're the Worst
Jimmy implements a punishment-based system to make sure he meets his deadlines on You’re the Worst. “LCD Soundsystem” is the ninth episode of the show’s second season (FXX)

You’re the Worst is a twisted take on romance where love and snark go hand in hand.

Jimmy and Gretchen are two unapologetically selfish characters who dive headfirst into a relationship full of sarcasm, brutal honesty, and total chaos.

Their love story is anything but conventional, packed with cutting remarks and hilariously bad decisions.

This show is a rollercoaster of dark humor and relationship drama that’s impossible to look away from, and the perfect watch if you’re in the mood for a show that takes petty to a new level!

Watch You're the Worst Online

(© Bravo/Andrei Jackamets)

Embrace the Drama, One Episode at a Time

Now that you’ve got the ultimate guide to petty TV, it’s time to dive in and indulge those snarky vibes.

These shows are here for all your binge-watching needs, packed with shade, secrets, and scandal in every scene.

So the next time you’re in the mood to watch characters scheme, backstab, or serve up some serious side-eye, just hit play.

Because when it comes to drama, sometimes it’s good to be a little petty.

Over to you, TV Fanatics! What’s your go-to show when you’re in a snarky mood? Share your favorite petty picks in the comments!

The post The Best TV Shows to Watch When You’re Feeling Petty appeared first on TV Fanatic.

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https://www.tvfanatic.com/the-best-tv-shows-to-watch-when-youre-feeling-petty/feed/ 1 petty – gossip girl – 2 petty – revenge JustWatch petty – revenge – abc JustWatch Tanya at a Party – The White Lotus Season 2 Episode 6 This is a still of HBO's The White Lotus Season 2 Episode 6. JustWatch petty – gossip girl JustWatch petty – house of cards JustWatch The Whole Gang – Big Little Lies This is a photo from Big Little Lies Season 2 coming to HBO June 9, 2019. JustWatch petty – veep JustWatch Petty – Dynasty – ABC JustWatch petty – the real housewives JustWatch petty – fleabag JustWatch Cookie’s Back – Empire Season 6 Episode 18 Cookie is ready to slay in the series finale of Empire. JustWatch petty – the bold type JustWatch petty – the royals JustWatch petty – desperate housewives 2 JustWatch petty – how to get away with murder JustWatch Making Strides in Paris – Emily in Paris JustWatch petty – bridgerton JustWatch petty – sex and the city JustWatch petty – pretty little liars JustWatch petty – 90210 JustWatch Normally I Play the Bitch – FEUD: Bette and Joan Season 1 Episode 1 Joan normally played the bitch, now she gets to watch Bette do it. JustWatch Petty – The OC – Fox JustWatch petty – curb your enthusiasm JustWatch petty melrose place JustWatch More In Common – Scream Queens Do Grace and Chanel have more in common than they think on Scream Queens? "Mommie Dearest" is the eighth episode of the show's first season. JustWatch Beef Season 1 (2) JustWatch Self Punishment – You’re the Worst Jimmy implements a punishment-based system to make sure he meets his deadlines on You're the Worst. "LCD Soundsystem" is the ninth episode of the show's second season JustWatch petty – real housewives of new jersey
High Potential Season 1 Episode 3 Spoilers: Throw The Dead Guy Out With The Bath Water https://www.tvfanatic.com/high-potential-s01e03-spoilers-throw-the-dead-guy-out-with-the-bath-water/ https://www.tvfanatic.com/high-potential-s01e03-spoilers-throw-the-dead-guy-out-with-the-bath-water/#comments Fri, 04 Oct 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.tvfanatic.com/?p=813598 JUDY REYES, KAITLIN OLSON

A dead guy in the tub and a knife-toting bartender? This case may already be solved! Read the spoilers for High Potential Season 1 Episode 3!

The post High Potential Season 1 Episode 3 Spoilers: Throw The Dead Guy Out With The Bath Water appeared first on TV Fanatic.

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If you’re anything like this TV Fanatic, you’ve already developed an addiction to High Potential and need your fix. How dare ABC keep our favorite eccentric cleaning lady away for a whole week!

All joking aside, this show is phenomenal without resorting to crazy gimmicks or overwrought dialogue and plotting. The strength of the series lies in its level of talent.

High Potential doesn’t just boast the fantastic talent of Kaitlin Olson, but a creator who wrote and had a hand in some of history’s biggest shows and movies.

JUDY REYES, KAITLIN OLSON
(Carlos Lopez-Calleja/Disney)

Drew Goddard, creator of High Potential, also wrote for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Lost. If that doesn’t impress you, he also wrote The Martian and World War Z. Still not enough? He directed Cabin in the Woods!

There’s not a TV Fanatic out there who hasn’t loved one or all of those titles, myself included. Just for good measure, I’ll add one more title from his list of creations: Daredevil.

Now, don’t run off to his IMBd or Wikipedia page just yet — we have some High Potential to talk about!

How Bummed Were You When You Found Out High Potential Was Skipping A Week?
×

ABC May Be Employing A Strategy That Other Networks Like CBS Have Used

Now that we’ve addressed one of the reasons this series is so compelling and unforgettable, we can jump into the next episode! From the looks of it, things are about to get dicey for Morgan and Karadec.

I’ve frequented many bars in my day but I’ve never gotten a knife threat with any of my cocktails. Is there a secret menu I don’t know about?

DENIZ AKDENIZ, KAITLIN OLSON
(Carlos Lopez-Calleja/Disney)

Since High Potential Season 1 Episode 1, Morgan and her trusted detective side-kick have managed to avoid dangerous situations despite Morgan’s lack of self-preservation.

Granted, that’s not saying much since we are only two episodes into the season. So, why would ABC take a sudden break in its schedule for a brand-new hit series?

Interestingly enough, CBS did the same thing after Elsbeth Season 1 Episode 1. It took a break and came back with a renewal. Am I saying that’s what’s happening now? It better be!

High Potential Wastes No Time Addressing The More Deadly Aspects Of The Job

As for the knife-wielding assailant in the promo for High Potential Season 1 Episode 3, the actor is Ck Bolado. You may be unable to tell because his haircut in this episode is trash, but he’s a striking fellow.

Handsome features aside, the actor has only been dipping his toes into the television industry for four years. That’s quite the leap to be now pulling a knife on Daniel Sunjata.

DANIEL SUNJATA
(Carlos Lopez-Calleja/Disney)

So far, he’s been on S.W.A.T. as well as And Just Like That…, and funnily enough, he will be in an episode of a series I am currently covering, Matlock.

Now, about his character in High Potential, he could be a suspect or even the killer, or it could be a case of a misunderstanding.

All I know is that Karadec’s handsome face better not get touched! It’s too bad the same can’t be said for the victim.

There’s Something Ironic About A Stuntman Drowning In A Bath Tub

I’m not trying to be gross, but in those very fast few seconds of the promo, did anyone else notice that the dead guy in the tub was shockingly fit? It’s just an observation.

Well, I checked, and he is, in fact, very fit because a stuntman plays the character. If I learned anything from Ryan Gosling in The Fall Guy, it’s that core strength is vital.

JAVICIA LESLIE
(Carlos Lopez-Calleja/Disney)

Chad Guerrero might be one of the most prolific stuntmen in Hollywood. The man has clocked in over two hundred stunt credits and is still walking pretty! That is both impressive and psychotic.

There’s a bit of irony in a stuntman playing a character that dies in a bathtub. Since I don’t think he drove a flaming monster truck into the bath before drowning, I will say his very physically fit status likely played a role in his casting.

To be fair, Guerrero has had actual speaking roles in many other shows, such as Criminal Minds, Shooter, and The Good Place.

It’s unclear what happens to his character other than dying but judging by the candles, it was either a romantic night or a ritual sacrifice.

Since High Potential isn’t a Ryan Murphy show, it was probably a sexy time gone wrong.

High Potential Makes Good Use Of Every Aspect Of Its Story

MELINDA PAGE HAMILTON
(Carlos Lopez-Calleja/Disney)

Now, what you don’t see in the trailer but in the promo pics is the one and only Melinda Page Hamilton! You’re probably going, “Who is that?” Fair question.

On the other hand, you could be saying, “Her face looks so familiar.” That is also a valid statement!

For years, Miss Hamilton has been gracing the small screen in shows like Grimm, Frequency, and True Detective.

My favorite role from Melinda has to be Sister Mary Bernard on Desperate Housewives. She played an unhinged nun who got into a slapping match with Eva Longoria’s Gabby before Sister Mary set herself on fire. It. Was. Iconic.

I clocked the white coat she is wearing, so we can make a solid guess that she’s playing a doctor — possibly the coroner.

Then again, Hamilton’s character may have nothing to do with the hot guy in the bathtub.

DENIZ AKDENIZ, JAVICIA LESLIE
(Carlos Lopez-Calleja/Disney)

High Potential has made strides in not putting the case of Morgan’s missing ex, Roman, on the back burner.

As seen in High Potential Season 1 Episode 2, Captain Selena is already on the case of the missing muralist. Let’s hope Karadec and Morgan don’t drive each other over the edge first.

Kaitlin Olson’s Morgan Is The Eccentric Genius With A Big Heart That Everyone Wants To Be Friends With

High Potential is still so new that it’s impossible to know where this series is headed. Thankfully, the show is so enthralling that most viewers, including yours truly, don’t even care.

I have to give it up to the writers, directors, actors, producers, and everyone involved in this series. The story, dialogue, production, and everything in between have been expert-level.

Audiences are seeing a brand-new side of Kaitlin Olson, and we love every minute of it. From her quick wit and confidence to her big heart that matches her big brain, Morgan is the kind of eccentric genius you wouldn’t mind calling a friend.

KAITLIN OLSON, JUDY REYES, DANIEL SUNJATA
(Carlos Lopez-Calleja/Disney)

ABC‘s High Potential is so refreshing in the way that it organically blends Morgan’s work and home life. The children feel active in the story and not like prop pieces.

Hopefully, this perfectly crafted show will not take too many breaks during its premiere season because I need my fix!

Yes, I know how I sound, and no, I don’t plan to do anything about it other than continue watching this phenomenal show. Check out the promo trailer below!

Do you think Morgan’s wardrobe is over the top?

Who is your favorite character in the series so far?

Please drop a comment below to let me know, and join me again when I bring you more spoilers for High Potential!

Watch High Potential Online

The post High Potential Season 1 Episode 3 Spoilers: Throw The Dead Guy Out With The Bath Water appeared first on TV Fanatic.

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https://www.tvfanatic.com/high-potential-s01e03-spoilers-throw-the-dead-guy-out-with-the-bath-water/feed/ 6 High Potential Season 1 Episode 3 Spoilers A dead guy in the tub and a knife-toting bartender? This case may already be solved! Read the spoilers for High Potential Season 1 Episode 3! High Potential High Potential – Spoilers – S01E03 Oz, Karadec, & Morgan – Spoilers – S01E03 – High Potential Karadec – Spoilers – S01E03 – High Potential Daphne – Spoilers – S01E03 – High Potential Doctor – Spoilers – S01E03 – High Potential Oz & Daphne – Spoilers – S01E03 – High Potential Morgan, Selena, & Karadec – Spoilers – S01E03 – High Potential JustWatch
Tracker Would Benefit From Ditching Its Familiar Formula In Season 2 https://www.tvfanatic.com/tracker-would-benefit-from-ditching-its-familiar-formula-in-season-2/ https://www.tvfanatic.com/tracker-would-benefit-from-ditching-its-familiar-formula-in-season-2/#comments Tue, 24 Sep 2024 19:00:00 +0000 https://www.tvfanatic.com/?p=810571 Justin Hartley and Colter Shaw - Tracker Season 1 Episode 1

The phenomenal success of Tracker Season 1 was rewarded with the show’s renewal for a highly anticipated second season. According to …

The post Tracker Would Benefit From Ditching Its Familiar Formula In Season 2 appeared first on TV Fanatic.

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The phenomenal success of Tracker Season 1 was rewarded with the show’s renewal for a highly anticipated second season.

According to CBS, Tracker was the most watched new series since the 2004-05 season of Desperate Housewives.

Now that Colter Shaw and his Airstream are gearing up for their sophomore round of adventures, it’s the perfect time to suggest that the series shake up the formula that has served it so well — before it gets stuck.

Justin Hartley and Colter Shaw - Tracker Season 1 Episode 1
(Michael Courtney/CBS)

The immediate and overwhelming success of Tracker’s first season was a pleasant surprise for its network and fans. 

That success was built on many time-tested TV tropes, even before someone had the brilliant idea to feature Justin Hartley sans shirt in several (but not nearly enough!) episodes. 

CBS has a reputation for conventional, long-running fare (despite its recent decision to cancel the much-beloved Blue Bloods). 

Tracker seemed to fit right into the network’s reliance on the tried-and-true while adding Hartley’s “new” star power and Ken Olin’s proven directing chops. 

Its premise of a skilled do-gooder traveling the country to help a fresh set of characters each week had the potential to continue in that same vein forever. 

Gathering Information - Tracker Season 1 Episode 2
(Michael Courtney/CBS)

After all, why mess with a formula that has made tons of fans and TV execs happy?

While a lot of those fans might have initially tuned in to see what this new Tracker show was all about, that element of surprise is absent this time. 

But aside from all that, it’s just never a bad time to make a good show great. And right now, riding high on unexpected ratings and acclaim is the perfect time for Tracker to do so. 

Ambiguity As Opportunity

Colter’s family mythology (survivalist dad, patricidal brother, evasive mother) was sketched out early on in Season 1. 

Mother & Son Out Looking - Tracker Season 1 Episode 2
(Ed Araquel/CBS)

Still, Colter’s tracking skills and knack for knowing the pertinent survival odds for various situations carried the whole first half of the season. 

Colter was a deliberately blank slate whose work history was kept vague even when people from his past like Billie Matalon (Sofia Pernas) popped up to help him find a racehorse. 

We were left a little in the dark, even with his closer collaborators. Teddi and Velma are delightful as his handlers, but who really are they? How’d they meet Colter? Why does he seem to trust them and pretty much no one else? 

Ditto for tech whiz Bobby, although the more transactional nature of their relationship is perhaps clearer. But even hotshot lawyer Reenie Greene had some unspecified affair with Colter that we may never learn more about.

Colter & Billie - Tracker Season 1 Episode 6
(Ed Araquel/CBS)

Then again, do we really need to know much more about him for this type of show?

Colter’s natural reticence serves his lifestyle well. The more of a cipher you are, the easier it is to leave behind strangers you’ve gotten close to while helping them out of dangerous situations.

But how far is that going to work with the audience, who might start wanting more from their titular hero than a case of the week?

Looking At Examples

In terms of series shakeups, there’s a middle ground between The Love Boat, perhaps the ultimate example of a set-it-and-forget-it TV show premise, and the near-constant storyline shifts of Lost

Several excellent shows started out strong but only achieved true greatness when they completely upended their premise after the first season.

(Potential spoilers ahead!)

The Walking Dead revitalized the zombie show genre in mind-blowing ways at the time.

Its use of a hyperrealistic undead horde, the banal landscape of suburban Atlanta, and relatable human characters combined to create a truly horrifying modern television masterpiece. 

Rick & Michonne Talk - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 4
(AMC)

In addition to surviving from moment to moment, the main goal of the characters in that first season was to reach the CDC in Atlanta as their only real chance to escape this zombie nightmare

And they made it! They got to enjoy air conditioning, video games, and hot showers for like a day and a half.  

Then… the entire CDC building blew up, and the show’s premise got reset. Oh, there were still zombies everywhere, but the group now needed a new plan for survival. 

This subversion of our expectations let us know that the series could go in any direction at any time, which was thrilling. The Walking Dead went on to run for eleven seasons with seven spinoffs. 

Alias was a hit with critics more than audiences during its first two seasons, but it was still popular and attracted unique guest stars (Quentin Tarantino, Rutger Hauer).

Liberty Village - Alias
(ABC ( Freevee Screenshot))

The show’s initial premise had Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) juggling graduate school with being a spy for what she thinks is the CIA. It settled into a case-of-the-week format that could have gone on indefinitely. 

Instead, Alias literally blew up the spy agency and its attached storyline in the middle of Season 2, resetting the entire series. The show ran for another three seasons and remains known for its inventiveness.

Explosions aren’t the only way to enact change in a show. 

The Good Place featured a candy-colored afterlife in which some of the new residents questioned whether they should really be there but also didn’t want to admit this and get sent to The Bad Place.  

Party Time - The Good Place Season 4 Episode 3
(Colleen Hayes/NBC)

In the Season 1 finale, the characters (and we!) discovered in a big twist that they’ve been in The Bad Place all along!!

The show was much beloved and ran for four seasons.

All of these shows benefitted from switching things up and became trailblazers that influenced many now-familiar TV trends. 

Tracker’s Finale Left An Opening For Change

Colter’s family mythology was backloaded into the last three episodes of Season 1. 

He reconnected with his sister Dory, worked a case with his estranged brother Russell, and learned secrets about his father from an old family friend.

The angle of his Dad’s government conspiracy theory is mildly interesting, but unless that conspiracy involves actual zombies, I’m going to say it’s not compelling enough to continue into Season 2.

If the show sticks to its status quo, is a focus on Colter’s previous heists and partners (even the charismatic Billie) enough to hang a second season on? 

While I would love to see the series renamed “Tracker and His Brother Russell,” Colter going into business with him or even Reenie wouldn’t work long-term for any of them. 

Intense Russell - Tracker Season 1 Episode 12
(Michael Courtney/CBS)

But hopefully, there’s some other way for Jensen Ackles to appear in every episode of Season 2.

The finale’s hint that Dory could be hiding things from Colter is even less interesting than their Dad’s government conspiracy. 

It’s unfair that Dory is saddled with being the scoldy, responsible sister while Russell gets to be the roguish ne’er-do-well, but that still doesn’t make me want to follow her storyline into Season 2. 

Speaking of Russell, his teasing out that Colter doesn’t have an “exit strategy” for his life on the road was very interesting. 

Russell Shaw - Tracker
(Sergei Bachlakov/CBS)

Either Colter really doesn’t have an exit strategy, or he’s too distrustful of his brother to share it. 

Colter is the stereotypical middle child, keeping the peace. He’s perhaps projected the need to “keep the peace” onto the strangers he helps because that role is all he’s ever known.

The big “why” to explain Colter’s nomadic life hasn’t happened yet, and that might be the perfect bait-and-switch to “blow up” the status quo and lead the series in a completely new direction. 

The last shot of Season 1 is Colter on the beach, running toward the water to surf. It would be incredibly bold if Season 2 gave us open water instead of the open road.

The Latest Case - Tracker Season 1 Episode 11
(Sergei Bachlakov/CBS)

Tracker could flip from constant motion to a static setting, or it could change in any number of other ways.

It would be exciting to see this already enjoyable show get even better.

What do you say, TV fanatics?

Should Tracker stay as-is, or do a total revamp for Season 2?

Head over to the comments and let us know!

Watch Tracker Online

The post Tracker Would Benefit From Ditching Its Familiar Formula In Season 2 appeared first on TV Fanatic.

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https://www.tvfanatic.com/tracker-would-benefit-from-ditching-its-familiar-formula-in-season-2/feed/ 2 Justin Hartley and Colter Shaw – Tracker Season 1 Episode 1 Justin Hartley stars as Colton Shaw on Tracker. "Klamath Falls" is the first episode of the show's first season. Gathering Information – Tracker Season 1 Episode 2 Colter has a new case and as always he sets out to gather information on Tracker Season 1 Episode 2. Mother & Son Out Looking – Tracker Season 1 Episode 2 Colter and Mary team up as they go looking for something on the latest Tracker Season 1 Episode 2. Colter & Billie – Tracker Season 1 Episode 6 Colter and Billie work together to find a missing racehorse during the latest Tracker Season 1 Episode 6. Rick & Michonne Talk – The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 4 Rick and Michonne have their long-awaited talk on the latest The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 4. Liberty Village – Alias Vaughn and Sydney pretended they were a married couple. Party Time – The Good Place Season 4 Episode 3 Michael and Eleanor host a luau for the neighborhood on The Good Place Season 4 Episode 3, "Chillaxing." Intense Russell – Tracker Season 1 Episode 12 Russell Shaw – Tracker Russel Shaw is Colter and Dory's older brother on the CBS show Tracker. He is played by Jensen Ackles. The Latest Case – Tracker Season 1 Episode 11 JustWatch
Stories of Strength: Powerful Depictions of Cancer on Television https://www.tvfanatic.com/stories-of-strength-powerful-depictions-of-cancer-on-television/ https://www.tvfanatic.com/stories-of-strength-powerful-depictions-of-cancer-on-television/#respond Thu, 05 Sep 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.tvfanatic.com/?p=802839 The girls make the most of Samantha's cancer treatment during one of the more positive depictions of cancer on television.

Depictions of cancer on television have not always been the most accurate portrayals in the past. Luckily, the tides have turned …

The post Stories of Strength: Powerful Depictions of Cancer on Television appeared first on TV Fanatic.

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Depictions of cancer on television have not always been the most accurate portrayals in the past.

Luckily, the tides have turned due to writers using experts as reference points to ensure characters diagnosed with cancer have genuine storylines with correct medical details in the fictional cancer narrative.

Not only is it dangerous to spread false narratives, but disseminating valuable information and raising awareness is vital.

The girls make the most of Samantha's cancer treatment during one of the more positive depictions of cancer on television.
(HBO/Netflix Screenshot)

Not all specialists agree that TV portrayals of cancer are as accurate as they need to be in terms of actually living with it instead of using it as a tragic plot.

However, seeing characters diagnosed with cancer who aren’t solely defined by it can be good.

That was almost nonexistent a couple of decades ago, and we want to share those stories of strength!

Firefly Lane — Kate Mularkey

Kate Mularkey's fictional cancer narrative reignites her friendship with Tully.
(Netflix/Netflix Screenshot)

In Firefly Lane, Kate Mularkey (Sarah Chalke) is diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of Stage 3 breast cancer, which I did not see coming, while amid a horrible fight with her childhood best friend, Tully (Katherine Heigl).

The two are not even on speaking terms, but of course, Tully is one of the first people she wants to tell and would be the person by her side.

Naturally, Kate’s whole perspective on life changes, along with her mindset, when it comes to Tully and their argument. Her outlook has shifted, and she follows her instinct to reach out to Tully, who is actually in Antarctica and cannot be reached.

It is one of the most powerful depictions of cancer with a feuding friend’s angle. It shows that when all is said and done, we will always want “our person” when things get tough.

Also, it shows the instinct some may have to downplay what was happening and put on a brave face, knowing her loved ones were worried.

The Summer I Turned Pretty — Susannah Fisher

Susannah has been hiding her cancer diagnosis but is outed at the debutante ball.
(Prime Video/Prime Video Screenshot)

Susannah Fisher, a mom and best friend, is diagnosed with breast cancer in The Summer I Turned Pretty.

It is a fictional cancer narrative that also shows the crushing hope that comes with being in remission and then having it come back, and, this time, it is unquestionably terminal.

The second time around, we see how someone not only diagnosed with cancer copes but how two teenage sons, an ex-husband, and a best friend cope as well.

She tells everyone that she will continue to fight as best she can but refuses to put any more poison into her body or spend any more time in the hospital. She wants to be with the people she cares about most.

As someone who lost their mom at the age of 23 to cancer, she was done with treatment and hospitals after one visit. And I couldn’t blame her. The side effects, environment, and everything else are just miserable.

It depicts how we can only fight for our lives in the name of our loved ones for so long until something has to give, and we spend our last moments exactly how we want.

Izzie Stevens — Grey’s Anatomy

Izzie Stevens has one of the most powerful depictions of cancer on television.
(ABC/Netflix Screenshot)

Izzie Stevens’ fictional cancer narrative on Grey’s Anatomy gave her extremely slim chances of survival. Diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic melanoma, she had to have two tumors removed by the one and only Dr. Derek Shepard.

When she thinks she is dying, Izzie decides to marry Alex. It is one of the depictions of cancer on television that highlights a young person struggling with everything that comes along with the disease.

She has to face hair loss, chemo, preserving her fertility, accepting not all of life’s “important milestones” have been hit, and the harsh reality of explaining to her mother how serious her type of skin cancer is.

She also had the interns diagnose her cancer, and that was one of the hardest-hitting moments from all the TV characters with cancer. It also highlights how much of a toll cancer can take on a relationship.

She leaves Seattle after being fired, writing Alex a letter explaining her departure. Her exit and how she lives her life from then on depicts the renewal that comes with remission. Izzie then becomes a surgical oncologist, which is also an interesting angle.

William Hill — This Is Us

William Hill in the hospital due to his stomach cancer.
(NBC/Youtube Screenshot)

William Hill’s Stage 4 stomach cancer was one of the most emotional storylines on This Is Us. William’s fictional cancer narrative details how life is short and how it needs to be appreciated while it can be because we don’t have all the time in the world.

Unfortunately, after the show ended, Ron Cephas Jones, who played William Hill, died at age 66 from a long-standing pulmonary issue. The series is known for taking big swings, but this may have been the biggest.

However, it adds a depth that makes what he said on the show about his feelings surrounding the fact he was dying even more cogent.

It is one of those TV portrayals of cancer that reveals a hard truth: there is no cure, and treatment is difficult. Sometimes, ending treatments and spending your final moments recounting and sharing the best parts of your life can be the best medicine.

Lynette Scavo — Desperate Housewives

Lynette Scavo is one of the TV show characters diagnosed with cancer whose life ascends in remission.
(ABC/Hulu Screenshot)

Lynette Scavo finds out she has Hodgkin’s lymphoma after going in for a CAT scan due to a bad fall in Desperate Housewives, which is a surprising and scary moment. It is also how some people end up finding out about their cancer.

She decides to hide her diagnosis because she doesn’t want pity. My mom made the same choice for the same reason, making that decision by Lynette pretty understandable.

Her diagnosis was also one of the first depictions of cancer on television involving lymphoma by a significant character on network TV since Murphy Brown.

It is one of the TV portrayals of cancer that acknowledges how costly treatment can be, especially Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which requires extensive medicare care.

It also means patients cannot work, creating even more financial strain.

The Scavos end up asking a couple of family members for a loan, which can be considered uncomfortable and challenging but realistic.

Lynette also lives with the fear of her cancer returning even after being cleared, as we see at the beginning of her pregnancy with her twins.

Samantha Jones — Sex in the City

Samantha's hair starts falling out as a result of chemo.
(HBO/Netflix Screenshot)

Samantha Jones’ cancer diagnosis is one of the most tragic moments in Sex and the City. She is known for being career-focused, independent, and risqué. However, this means that she has to face this journey alone.

Of course, her friends are there for support, but it’s not the same.

We see her do some self-reflection and analysis of what matters in life, something many characters diagnosed with cancer do because I think it is instinctive.

One unique angle shown by Samantha is that she builds a platform centered around speaking about breast cancer in a humorous manner, which also brings humor and solidarity to the topic.

In one moment, she takes off her wig, revealing her baldness, while making a speech, and the other women are inspired to follow suit. This was big for Samantha because her hair is a distinctive attribute of the character.

Although characteristics like hair don’t mean much at the end of the day when one is facing the battle of cancer, and typically that is quickly realized, it doesn’t make losing something you cherish any easier in those first moments.

Celia Hodes — Weeds

Celia Hodes' personality does a whole 180 while she has cancer.
(Showtime/Youtube Screenshot)

Celia Hodes constantly tries to undermine Nancy and the other characters on Weeds. She is easy to hate for many reasons.

She shipped off her older daughter and is extremely harsh to her younger daughter about her weight. She’s controlling, abrasive, judgemental, and unsympathetic.

However, she brought an element to the show that was sorely missed when Elizabeth Perkins decided to leave the series.

Although she was a character meant for fans to dislike, she did grow on many. Or at least have a love-hate relationship. And for all the horrible things she did, karma gave it back to her way worse.

Some storylines humanized her, one of them being her diagnosis of breast cancer.

Forced to be one of the TV characters with cancer who had to deeply reexamine her life and attitude, we see Celia go from evil to fun and loving. She wants to relax and change, but that’s a tall glass.

During this time, we saw some of her better parts, like when she tells Shane to let his freak flag fly, that things like having a dead parent [Shane] and having cancer make other people uncomfortable, but why pretend to be normal when you can be your strange self, even if the scenarios are a b**** to deal with.

She embraces having a double mastectomy, saying she is thinking of going freakshow big, 47-triple-Fs, so large that other smaller breasts will want to orbit them.

While her more accepting side doesn’t last, she is one of the few TV portrayals of cancer that shows how even someone as hateful as her can put things into perspective when necessary.

Dr. Mark Greene — ER

Dr. Greene has one of the most emotional depictions of cancer on television.
(NBC/Hulu Screenshot)

Dr. Greene is one of the characters diagnosed with cancer whose journey is full of ups and downs. While stitching a patient on ER, he loses control of his mental and physical capabilities.

A CT scan and biopsy reveal he has an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme. Aside from pancreatic cancer, malignant brain tumors have a worse survival rate than all other cancers and have lasting and life-changing cognitive, physical, and psychological impacts.

Dr. Greene’s tumor is deemed inoperable. However, a second opinion gives hope when he is told that it is near a critical part of the brain, but it hasn’t invaded it yet, and the doctor can operate.

He has one of the most vital TV portrayals of cancer because it brings some hope to a very grim diagnosis, highlights how getting a second opinion can be worth it, and just how severe and robust the effects of brain cancer are.

After the successful surgery, it takes a while for him to return to his old self.

Although the tumor regrows and is inoperable this time, he got married and saw the birth of his daughter when he was initially supposed to die a year ago.

Cathy Jamison — The Big C

The Big C is one of TV's powerful depictions of cancer meant to bring awareness to the disease.
(Showtime/Youtube Screenshot)

The Showtime cancer-centered comedy series The Big C is revolutionary in many ways and has been deemed one of the best depictions of cancer on television, even if pairing humor and cancer isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

It brings cancer to the mainstream, raising awareness and conversation. It is one of the best depictions of cancer on television, illustrating the emotional rollercoaster of the diagnosis. Also, part of the series’ soundtrack album proceeds were donated to Stand Up to Cancer.

It begins with Cathy making the understandable decision not to receive treatment for her advanced melanoma because she doesn’t want to get sicker while trying to get better rather than end up dying anyway.

She spends her time pushing her boundaries despite how uncomfortable the situation is. She is one of the most powerful TV portrayals of cancer in terms of re-evaluating one’s own life.

The relatability comes from how she uses her illness to remind herself how she wants to live. It is spot on with how multifaceted cancer is and how every individual case is, even with the same stage and kind of cancer.

April Carver — Chasing Life

April Carver is one of televisions powerful depictions of cancer because she is still set on chasing her life.
(ABC Family/Youtube Screenshot)

April Carver fights leukemia in Chasing Life, and as the title suggests, it tells the story of how April starts chasing life after her transformative diagnosis.

Italia Ricci takes her role exceptionally seriously as one of the characters diagnosed with cancer in the public eye.

April is a young adult whose life has just begun to improve when she finds out she has leukemia, which she rejects at first, not telling her family.

The show doesn’t boast to be a cancer drama, but it does bring conversation and insight and examines the grimmer side effects of cancer, emotionally and physically.

It has some mixed reviews regarding its representation of cancer, but that also depends on one’s experience.

It does a great job at hammering its message as one of the more powerful depictions of cancer that just because someone is diagnosed with cancer doesn’t mean that is all they are and that life can, and does, go on still.

Gary Mendez & Margaret “Maggie” Bloom — A Million Little Things

Gary Mendez's breast cancer detection is one of the most unique characters diagnosed with cancer.
(ABC/Hulu Screenshot)

In A Million Little Things, Gary Mendez is a breast cancer survivor who is later diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

AMLT does an incredible job of storytelling in its TV portrayals of cancer.

As much as the show is about cancer, it also discusses suicide just as much.

One of its unique angles is the fact that a man is seen battling breast cancer, and it does a good job of showcasing that and how he constantly feared the return of it throughout the entire series.

Maggie's fiction cancer narrative shows the struggle of not wanting to go through treatment.
(ABC/Hulu Screenshot)

Unfortunately, it does return, and the side effects of his treatment are not sugar-coated.

His journey is a devastating one, and it is easy to instantly connect to his character and become invested and feel the worry and concern for his health that he does.

It also extends to Maggie, who Gary meets at a cancer survivor group. Her cancer also returns, but she does go back into remission. With the help of Gary and their friends, we see her journey as she battles it.

Through these characters diagnosed with cancer, we get a very realistic, and at times very bleak, look at what it’s like for cancer survivors and their loved ones.

Hunter Cole — Red Band Society

Hunter Cole displays how characters diagnosed with cancer in the past may have longterm effects from treatment.
(Fox/Youtube Screenshot)

In Red Band Society, we see a different perspective than most depictions of cancer on television since Hunter Cole doesn’t currently have cancer. Still, his liver is failing due to his past leukemia treatments.

Hunter needs a liver transplant and is currently in the pediatric ward of Ocean Park Hospital. The show’s concept is extraordinary, as its focus is on sick teenagers living together as patients dealing with their illnesses and being a teenager.

With Hunter, fans also see how his sister wants to give him part of her liver but is afraid because the surgery has the potential to kill her.

This is a struggle most can only imagine having to face, but it is a real situation that is hard to understand unless one is actually living it.

Regardless of his health, he still makes trouble and lives life to the fullest, even falling in love.

Its positive message of making the best of your circumstances inspires, and it doesn’t matter how short someone’s time in your life is; their impact can last forever.

Katherine Anne “Kitty” McCallister — Brothers & Sisters

Kitty Walker's diagnosis gives her a new perspective and purpose.
(ABC/Hulu Screenshot)

In Brothers & Sisters, powerful depictions of cancer, Kitty McCallister is diagnosed with Non-Hyodgkin’s Lymphoma. One compelling angle portrayed is that while this happens, she and her husband are at odds because of her emotional affair.

However, this makes her husband, Robert, realize how precious life is and forgive her and promise they will fight it together.

It is also one of the TV portrayals of cancer that reveals the harsh physical and psychological tolls treatment takes on a person. She loses her hair and is in a weakened state, but the grim news seems to bring her and Robert closer.

When she learns that the treatment isn’t working, she doesn’t want to tell her family since she thinks it would ruin her brother’s wedding.

Unfortunately, she passes out, resulting in her being brought to the hospital where they are told her cancer has not only advanced but has spread, and she is now in need of a risky bone marrow transplant.

The only match is her half-brother, who doesn’t want to donate because he blames their family for his mother’s suicide. This complicated family dynamic brings an interesting viewpoint that we do not often see in depictions of cancer on television.

Raj Kher — 90210

Raj's fictional cancer narrative contains a multitude of distinctive angles involving his friends, girlfriend, and treatment.
(The CW/The CW Screenshot)

It’s not too often that teenagers are diagnosed with cancer, but in 90210 Raj Kher is one of the characters diagnosed with cancer at a very young age.

Raj’s storyline hits numerous beats, from treating the chronic pain with medical marijuana to marrying his current girlfriend Ivy to then the two not being able to afford experimental treatments.

It also shows how hard it is to deal with the fact that death looms when Ivy’s school’s prom theme is The Future is Ours. He starts to drink and pushes Ivy away because he doesn’t want her to have to deal with what he is going through.

In a moment of true solidarity, their friends host a talent show to raise money for the treatments, which is met, and after treatment, he is cancer-free. Still, a whole new set of drama between the couple ensues until he finds out that his cancer didn’t go away.

Instead of telling Ivy, he breaks up with her and leaves until his friends find him sick in a hospital, at which point the two reunite.

His frustration with his illness is understandable, and even though his toxic behavior rubs some fans the wrong way, who’s to say how anybody should act when facing what Raj is?

Kristina Braverman — Parenthood

Kristina Braverman's storyline is among the powerful depictions of cancer centered around family.
(NBC/Hulu Screenshot)

Kristina Braverman’s fictional cancer narrative on Parenthood is one centered on family. She finds out she has breast cancer after sending her oldest child to college and shortly after having her youngest.

The series’ family-centric dynamic is truly emotional. They all rally around her. Her oldest daughter, Hattie, leaves school and takes a semester off to help where she can.

She surprises her parents with her arrival in a very tear-jerking scene.

While she’s sick, Christina records videos for her kids to watch in case she does die, and regardless of how many times the show is rewatched, it gets viewers every time.

I, too, was in college when I found out about my mother, and I dropped everything to take care of her, so this is one of the powerful depictions of cancer on television that is emotional and touching, especially if there is a connection.

Sonya Rebecchi — Neighbours

In the Australian soap opera Neighbours, Sonya Rebecchi is diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Compared to Days of Our Lives, the TV portrayals of cancer and medical storylines are much more realistically handled.

The most heartbreaking one they’ve ever had was Sonya’s fictional cancer narrative. Its harrowing nature stems from how realistic it is, starting with her stomach pains she isn’t taking seriously until she can’t ignore them anymore.

(Channel 10 (YouTube screenshot))

By this point, she is in Stage 4, and she doesn’t have much time left. Everyone blows off stomach pains, and they are easy to ignore, which is why it hits she is one of the characters diagnosed with cancer that hits home so well.

From her diagnosis to the decisions she has to make to her death, the show’s commitment to being true to life doesn’t stop.

Even after her death, the storyline isn’t dropped like many soaps tend to do. Her husband has maintained a foundation named after her, which educates people about cancer.

We even see how important raising awareness about cancer is when a younger character learns he has testicular cancer, which was another of its characters diagnosed with cancer that was depicted matter-of-factly.

The period from Sonya’s diagnosis to death is so real and powerful that it is almost hard to watch.

Maggie Lockwood — Chicago Med

Maggie Lockwood is diagnosed with breast cancer in Chicago Med.
(NBC/Youtube Screenshot)

In an interesting twist by Chicago Med, Maggie Lockwood is diagnosed with breast cancer after an old friend who she donated a kidney to comes back to the hospital and is diagnosed with cancer herself.

As in many TV portrayals of cancer, Maggie doesn’t want to worry the people around her, so she receives chemotherapy at a nearby hospital and even wears a very convincing wig to keep it a secret until she decides to reveal her diagnosis to the nursing staff.

Thankfully, the treatment works, which brings an even more interesting twist: She meets someone while receiving chemo.

We see how, even during these nerve-racking times and difficult treatments, one can still flirt and bond over a distressful shared experience.

There is also so much hope as the two eventually get married and share a healthy and loving life.

Depictions of cancer on television can go so many different ways, and regardless of the outcome, the ability to bring conversation and awareness is vital.

Everyone’s experience is different, and we hope the TV industry only continues to show characters diagnosed with cancer in an educational, accurate, and compelling manner.

Over to you, TV fanatics. Can you recall a particularly moving cancer storyline that we may have missed?

If so, please share it with us in the comments.

The post Stories of Strength: Powerful Depictions of Cancer on Television appeared first on TV Fanatic.

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https://www.tvfanatic.com/stories-of-strength-powerful-depictions-of-cancer-on-television/feed/ 0 Samantha Receiving Treatment Kate and Tully Susannah Fisher Izzie Stevens and Alex Karev Wedding William Hill Lynette Scavo Samantha Jones Celia Hodes Exercising Dr. Greene Cathy Jamison April Carver Gary Mendez Maggie Bloom Hunter Cole Kitty Walker Raj Kher Kristina Braverman Sonya Rebecchi Maggie Lockwood
13 Fictional TV Chefs That Make Our Mouths Water https://www.tvfanatic.com/13-fictional-tv-chefs-that-make-our-mouths-water/ https://www.tvfanatic.com/13-fictional-tv-chefs-that-make-our-mouths-water/#respond Mon, 29 Jul 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.tvfanatic.com/?p=798037 Sookie St. James on Gilmore Girls.

There’s something extremely frustrating about watching a fictional TV chef cook something that looks absolutely delicious. Sure, showing off a skill …

The post 13 Fictional TV Chefs That Make Our Mouths Water appeared first on TV Fanatic.

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There’s something extremely frustrating about watching a fictional TV chef cook something that looks absolutely delicious.

Sure, showing off a skill adds to the character’s depth, but what about the depths of our stomachs?

I’m never hungrier than when my favorite fictional TV chefs are hard at work on the screen, so it’s time to round up some of the best in class.

Sookie St. James on Gilmore Girls.
(WB/Netflix Screenshot)

While there are countless incredible chefs, we had to narrow it down to just 13, and it was no easy task.

These chefs keep our mouths watering with their food (and sometimes with their looks, charisma, and personality).

Finding the best of the best meant poring through hours of TV episodes filled to the brim with the best looking food we’ll never get the chance to taste.

Related: TV Characters Defined by Their Sense of Humor

But if ever the universe granted us the ability to eat at the table of a fictional chef, we’d choose one of these without a doubt.

Without further ado, and in no particular order, let’s take a look at some of television’s most talented fictional chefs.

Hannah Swensen in Carrot Cake Murder
(Hallmark/Youtube Screenshot)

Hannah Swensen from The Hannah Swensen Mysteries


In The Hannah Swensen Mysteries on Hallmark, Hannah owns a bakery, and a good portion of every movie details her love for the process.

We see her rolling dough and stuffing pastries before sharing the delightful morsels with her customers and friends.

Her love of baking dovetails with her penchant for solving crime, and Alison Sweeney plays the role with expertise.

That means that even when murder is on the menu, we are still getting a visual sugar high.

Time to Get Started - The Bear
(FX on Hulu (Teaser Screenshot))

Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto from The Bear


Carmy obviously deserves a spot here because of the food he makes, but that’s not the only reason he makes mouths water.

You know, Jeremy Allen White’s Calvin Klein ad says it all, doesn’t it?

Related: The Best Shows to Revisit Your High School Years

On Hulu’s dramedy hit The Bear, Carmy is working well below his capabilities now that he’s taken over the family restaurant, but his talents are still on display.

He might have traded fine dining for local grub, but he’ll always be the award-winning chef he worked hard to become.

Erik's Offer - Sweet Magnolias Season 3 Episode 10
(Netflix (Screenshot))

Erik Whitley from Sweet Magnolias

Erik’s fudge brownies and cinnamon ice cream are to die for.

The Sweet Magnolias fan favorite has cooked up food that can even cure heartbreak — what’s not to love?

Plus, Erik makes pretty decent wedding cakes.

Not to mention he’s easy on the eyes, too!

Making Like The Office
(TNT)

Eliot Spencer from Leverage

There isn’t a single moment when I’m watching Leverage and don’t think about his artisanal sandwich from The Office Job.

As an added bonus, we got to experience the hilarious back-and-forth between him and Hardison over the sandwich.

Eliot is such an unexpected but great chef, and the moments where they do show him cooking will leave you longing for more.

Related: The 17 Best Fictional Journalists on TV

He could’ve easily had his own cooking show.

He simultaneously provided food for an entire wedding while also taking down bad guys. Talk about talent!

It’s safe to say his food makes your mouth water, but he’s super attractive, so he does, too. 

Bree on the Lane
(ABC)

Bree Van De Kamp from Desperate Housewives

As fictional TV chefs go, this woman can bake like nobody’s business, and she’s absolutely stunning, to boot.

For someone with a sweet tooth, it’s a quality worth appreciating.

From muffins and pastries to casseroles and holiday meals, Bree will have you begging for a seat at her table.

Don’t worry—once you’ve cleaned your plate, you’ll stay for all the equally delicious drama.

They don’t call it Desperate Housewives for nothing!

The Matchmaker - The Goldbergs
(ABC)

Beverly Goldberg – The Goldbergs

Beverly was the yenta with the yummies on The Goldbergs.

Besides her family, the two things she loved most were gossip and food.

Related: The Bear Cast: Where Have We Seen Them Before?

Her “food is love” attitude often got her in trouble, especially during holiday celebrations.

Whether she was making a family meal or working on getting her cookbook published, she always served up a lot of laughs.

Henry Ross from Gourmet Detective
(Hallmark/Youtube Screenshot)

Henry Ross from Gourmet Detective

Another Hallmark favorite, Gourmet Detective, brings us Henry, a dashing and handsome culinary consultant.

He knows seemingly everything there is to know about food.

When a murder occurs in his friend’s restaurant, he teams up with Detective Maggie Price (Brooke Burns) to solve the case.

After the initial case, the two formed an ongoing team.

Henry has discerning taste, but he also has a discerning eye and a taste for solving a mystery.

Plus, he can pour on the charm just as easily as he pours an ingredient into a bowl.

Monica Finds Out They're Infertile - Friends
(NBC (MsMojo Screenshot))

Monica Gellar from Friends

Monica’s talents go largely unappreciated for the better part of Friends, and it’s a real shame.

She’s a whiz in the kitchen with the ability to make everything from diner fare to gourmet cuisine, which is no small feat.

Monica is in charge of all group meals for a reason.

Related: 12 Obscenely Wealthy Characters Who Get a Free Pass

Even her ever-critical mother has to admit that the food Monica serves is delicious.

She manages to impress everyone she cooks for, even if they don’t know anything about food.

Throughout the series, her career takes some strange turns, but she never lets go of her dream to be a chef.

Sookie St. James from Gilmore Girls.
(Netflix/Screenshot)

Sookie St. James from Gilmore Girls

Sookie was one of the roles that put Melissa McCarthy on the map.

With a character as fun and entertaining as Sookie, it’s no wonder why she was a fan favorite, even long after Gilmore Girls ended.

Not only was she a devoted friend, Sookie was a top-tier chef.

She cooked at home, catered countless events in Stars Hollow, and kept the guests at the Independence Inn and the Firefly Inn fed and happy. 

Bob Belcher - Bob's Burgers Season 11 Episode 3
(FOX)

Bob Belcher from Bob’s Burgers

It might be a stretch to call Bob a chef since his niche is flipping burgers but stick with me here.

Every single day, Bob comes up with a creative and unique Burger of the Day, which is proudly advertised on a board inside Bob’s Burgers.

Related: 13 Deeply Flawed Characters We Can’t Get Out of Our Heads

They all have punny names, but they’re also genuinely delicious culinary treats.

You can even find recipes for them if you’re itching to try one!

Gabi Diamond from Young & Hungry.
(Freeform/Youtube Screenshot)

Gabi Diamond from Young & Hungry

Gabi is a personal chef working for a tech millionaire, so we get to see her exquisite dishes up close and personal.

She prepares gorgeous meals for her boss-turned-lover every day.

Gabi also hosts elaborate and fancy dinners and never fails to have a delicious treat on standby when a friend needs a pick-me-up.

Young & Hungry’s series finale may have left off on a cliffhanger, but Gabi’s talents in the kitchen were never a mystery.

She’s definitely one of the best fictional TV chefs that ever graced our screens.

Cookie Monster and Chef Gonger in their food truck.
(PBS Kids/Youtube Screenshot)

Hear me out.

The mark of being able to do something well is the ability to teach someone else how to do it, right?

Cookie Monster & Chef Gonger take requests from kids around the world and recreate their favorite treats, dipping their paws into cuisine from different cultures around the world.

Related: 19 TV Cameos Worth Celebrating

The recipes they make and share are easy enough for toddlers at home to help make. They’re usually pretty tasty, too!

Just another reason Sesame Street is one of the best (and longest-running) shows of all time!

Desert Bobby - 9-1-1 Season 7 Episode 8
(Disney/Chris Willard)

Bobby Nash from 9-1-1

Bobby may be the Captain of the 118, but he’s also the de facto chef on 9-1-1.

The lovable leader shows his love by feeding people, and his people feel the love!

Constantly cooking delectable meals for the firefighters and serving up delicious dinners at home for his wife, Athena.

Always proving that a man in an apron is a man you can’t help but love, Bobby is one of the best fictional TV chefs we know.

Baking with Luca - tall - The Bear
(Chuck Hodes/FX)

Now that our stomachs are rumbling thinking about all these incredible fictional dishes, we’re off to find a snack.

Related: 13 Fictional Places Where We’d Totally Love to Hang Out

Let us know in the comments if we missed any of your favorite TV chefs!

The post 13 Fictional TV Chefs That Make Our Mouths Water appeared first on TV Fanatic.

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https://www.tvfanatic.com/13-fictional-tv-chefs-that-make-our-mouths-water/feed/ 0 Lead Photo for TV Chefs Hannah Swensen – Carrot Cake Murder – Hannah Swensen Mysteries Time to Get Started – The Bear In this screenshot from The Bear Season 3 Teaser, Carmy begins working at 3:10 am. Erik’s Offer – Sweet Magnolias Season 3 Episode 10 Erik reconsiders and brings some cake options to show Dana Sue. Making Like The Office Leverage mocks The Office on the aptly-named "The Office Job," as the crew finds itself part of a documentary. Bree on the Lane Bree has a lot to react to on "Down the Block There's a Riot." It's the final episode of 2010. The Matchmaker – The Goldbergs Beverly gets back to her matchmaking ways on The Goldbergs. "As You Wish" is the 19th episode of the show's second season. Henry Ross – Gourmet Detective – A Healthy Place to Die Monica Finds Out They’re Infertile – Friends Chandler (Matthew Perry) breaks the heartbreaking news to Monica (Courteney Cox) that they can't naturally conceive a baby, and she is devastated. Sookie St. James – Gilmore Girls S03E09 Sookie Bob Belcher – Bob’s Burgers Season 11 Episode 3 This photo is to be used in conjunction with the Bob's Burgers Season 11 Episode 3 review. Gabi – Young & Hungry S04E10 Gabi Cookie Monster and Gonger – Sesame Street Desert Bobby – 9-1-1 Season 7 Episode 8 Bobby heads out into the desert and soon finds himself lending a helping hand during 9-1-1 Season 7 Episode 8. Baking with Luca – tall – The Bear Marcus is in Denmark learning how to bake with a pastry chef Luca in The Bear Season 2 Episode 4 "Honeydew."
Essential Viewing: 11 Eva Longoria Movies and TV Shows You Must See https://www.tvfanatic.com/essential-viewing-11-eva-longoria-movies-and-tv-shows-you-must-s/ https://www.tvfanatic.com/essential-viewing-11-eva-longoria-movies-and-tv-shows-you-must-s/#respond Fri, 28 Jun 2024 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.tvfanatic.com/essential-viewing-11-eva-longoria-movies-and-tv-shows-you-must-s/ Essential Viewing: 11 Eva Longoria Movies and TV Shows You Must See

From being young and restless to a desperate housewife and now a mother on the run, Eva Longoria has dominated TV screens for years. Read the best of the bunch here!

The post Essential Viewing: 11 Eva Longoria Movies and TV Shows You Must See appeared first on TV Fanatic.

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You know you love Eva Longoria, and why wouldn’t you?

Eva Longoria is not only a talented actress who chooses projects that speak not just to her amazing acting talent but resonate with her heart in a way that shows in her performances.

She may have gotten recognition from her role on a drama-dripping soap opera with a cast of actors who have no right to be as attractive as they are talented, but Longoria has proven she is so much more than a pretty face and a smile that could melt steel.

Essential Viewing: 11 Eva Longoria Movies and TV Shows You Must See
(ABC, Apple TV+, Lionsgate, BBC One, Lifetime, CBS, Fox, Vertical Entertainment (Screenshots))

With wins from the Screen Actors Guild and the People’s Choice, the actress is a familiar face who has been entertaining folks since the start of the millennium.

If this fantastic woman hasn’t won you over yet, do a quick search of her to see how she brings thousands of dollars to charities and foundations that help impoverished communities and immigrants worldwide.

Related: Essential Viewing: 11 Riley Keough Movies and TV Shows You Must See

Now, get ready to put a smile on that face because Eva Longoria has a whole lot of heart and humor coming your way with some of her best work to date, including a little upcoming role that we at TV Fanatic are at the edge of our seats to watch!

Overboard (2018)

Role: Theresa. Available for rent or purchase.

Theresa - Eva Longoria - Dog Days - 2018 - Lionsgate
(Lionsgate (Screenshot))

While the original Overboard with Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn has become somewhat problematic, somehow switching the gender roles of the story and adding Anna Faris made the film more relatable while pushing the comedy past what the original achieved.

Kate is a single, working-class mother of three hired to clean a luxury yacht that belongs to Leonardo, a selfish, spoiled, and wealthy Mexican playboy.

After unjustly firing Kate, Leonardo falls off the boat and wakes up without remembering who he is. To get payback, Kate shows up at the hospital and convinces the confused amnesiac that they’re married.

As Leonardo gets used to manual labor and his new family, Kate wonders how long she can keep fooling her fake husband.

Despite what critics might have you believe with the movie’s low RT score, this is still a story worth watching with some timeless themes and messages.

Eva Longoria takes a backseat as a wise-cracking sidekick friend willing to throw herself under the bus to save Anna Faris’s character, and the film is all the better for her performance, which grounds the otherwise zany Faris.

Theresa - 2 - Eva Longoria - Dog Days - 2018 - Lionsgate
(Lionsgate (Screenshot))

Cast: Eugenio Derbez (Acapulco), Anna Faris (Mom), Mel Rodriguez (The Afterparty), Alyvia Alyn Lind (Chucky), John Hannah (Transplant), Swoosie Kurtz (Mike & Molly), Josh Segarra (Abbott Elementary)

For more physical comedy and lies with a countdown till the truth bomb, check out the hilarious and lovable character stuck in the afterlife on The Good Place, streaming on Netflix.

Related: Essential Viewing: 11 Joel Edgerton Movies and TV Shows You Must See

Dog Days (2018)

Role: Grace. Available to watch on The CW.

Grace - 2 - Eva Longoria - Dog Days - 2018 - LD Entertainment
(LD Entertainment (Screenshot))

Honestly, this movie looks like every television network got together and dropped in an actor from each of their respective shows because I can’t remember the last time I saw a cast list with so many familiar small screen faces.

Elizabeth is a charming anchorwoman who seeks advice from her dog’s therapist. Tara is a spunky barista who dreams of a life beyond the coffee shop.

Daisy is a dog walker who’s enamored with a client. Garrett pines for a woman while trying to keep his adopt-a-dog business afloat.

The beloved canines in their lives soon start to influence their careers, friendships, and romantic relationships in funny and unexpected ways.

Sure, it’s a romantic comedy, but there’s one thing even critics can’t deny, and that’s the power of a pooch, which may be why this movie received some solid reviews. I’m sure the actors were great, too, but we’re really here for the canine companions.

Eva Longoria deviates from comedy to play Grace, a mother who serves up heart in heaps with more love for her child than she can sometimes handle.

Grace - Eva Longoria - Dog Days - 2018 - LD Entertainment
(LD Entertainment (Screenshot))

Cast: Vanessa Hudgens (Powerless), Michael Cassidy (Good Trouble), Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries), Tone Bell (Truth Be Told), Adam Pally (Happy Endings), Thomas Lennon (Santa Clarita Diet), Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things), Tig Notaro (Star Trek: Discovery)

You don’t need to trek to the theater to get your romantic comedy fix, as Netflix has got you covered with the hilarious and sweet series Emily in Paris starring Lily Collins.

Related: Essential Viewing: 11 Jessica Biel Movies and TV Shows You Must See

Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019)

Role: Elena Marquez. Available to watch on Paramount+.

Elena Marquez - Eva Longoria - Dora - 2019 - Paramount Pictures
(Paramount Pictures (Screenshot))

You’re probably wondering why we would include a movie clearly intended for kids on a list of titles geared toward adults, and all that can be said is that you answered your own question. We’re here to serve up a little something for everyone.

Even though it’s based on a popular children’s animated show, this live-action adaptation bridges the generational gap. Anyone of any age will love this wild ride of Hispanic proportions.

Having spent most of her life exploring the jungle, nothing could prepare Dora for her most dangerous adventure yet — high school.

Accompanied by a ragtag group of teens and Boots the Monkey, Dora embarks on a quest to save her parents while trying to solve the seemingly impossible mystery behind a lost Incan civilization.

If you need the critic’s input before landing on whether to watch something, you may be in for a surprise to find out that this movie is just as beloved by reviewers as it is by the audience that left the theaters likely with smiles still on their faces from this certified fresh film.

Elena checks all the boxes of the stereotypical loving mother, offering compassion and solid advice while whipping up baked goods, but then again, her character is based on a cartoon.

Elena Marquez - 2 - Eva Longoria - Dora - 2019 - Paramount Pictures
(Paramount Pictures (Screenshot))

Cast: Isabela Merced (The Last of Us), Eugenio (Acapulco), Michael Pena (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan), Jeff Wahlberg (The Girl from Plainville), Madeleine Madden (The Wheel of Time), Temuera Morrison (Ahsoka), Danny Trejo (RZR), Benicio del Toro (Escape at Dannemora)

For more precocious children in the most obscure and unexpected situations, catch up with the Baudelaire children in Lemony Snickets A Series of Unfortunate Events, streaming on Netflix.

Related: Essential Viewing: 11 Olivia Munn Movies and TV Shows You Must See

Unplugging (2022)

Role: Jeanine Dewerson. Available to watch on Hulu.

Jeanine Dewerson - Eva Longoria - Unplugging - 2022 - Hulu
(Hulu (Screenshot))

Listen, we are all for reconnecting with nature and your loved ones as much as possible, but for God’s sake, have some backup plan, like a life alert.

To revive their marriage and reconnect, a couple takes a self-prescribed digital detox weekend to a remote mountain town. What starts as a perfect weekend getaway without technology quickly spirals out of control.

Sure, not every project can be a hit, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t genuine laughs to be had in this comedy, especially when you bring together a few faces known for their funny film and television performances.

The best way to describe Jeanine is by saying she is a workaholic wound so tightly that if you placed a rock squarely between her cheeks, you’d have a diamond by the morning because this type A character truly needs unplugging.

Jeanine Dewerson - 2 - Eva Longoria - Unplugging - 2022 - Hulu
(Hulu (Screenshot))

Cast: Matt Walsh (Veep), Lea Thompson (The Spencer Sisters), Keith David (From Scratch), Nicole Byer (Velma), Al Madrigal (Lopez vs. Lopez), Johnny Pemberton (Fallout), Hala Finley (Magnum PI), Morgan Walsh (Games People Play)

Technology certainly has a way of embedding itself into our lives, and to see how it can carry on with us into the afterlife, catch Robbie Amell in the fresh take on virtual in Upload, available on  Amazon Prime Video.

Related: Essential Viewing: 11 Josh Charles Movies and TV Show You Must See

The Young and the Restless (2001-2003)

Role: Isabella Brana. Available to stream on Paramount+.

Isabella Brana - Eva Longoria - TYATR - 2001 - CBS
(CBS (Screenshot))

Soap opera actors must have excellent medical insurance because it has to be murder on the neck to whip your head around dramatically, but how else are they supposed to get across how serious they’re being on The Young and The Restless?

I guess they could always shoot someone. That seems to be a popular plot device in these drama-drenched series with actors so handsome and beautiful — it’s like looking into the sun.

The Newmans and the Abbotts represent Genoa City’s upper class. Powerful Businessman Victor Newman runs Newman Enterprises and has never stopped loving his former flame and wife, Nikki Reed Newman.

Jack Abbott and his sister, Ashley, are closely connected with the Newman family, personally and professionally.

The battle for supremacy in Genoa City has been going on for years. Katherine Chancellor and Jill Foster Abbott, the Winters family, the Williams family, and recent newcomers round out the socially and ethnically diverse town.

Can you believe this series is still airing? It’s hard to fathom, but the show is still going strong over fifty years after its debut. There are shows that are lifers, and there are some that seem downright immortal.

Isabella Brana - 2 - Eva Longoria - TYATR - 2001 - CBS
(CBS (Screenshot))

Cast: Peter Bergman (The King of Queens), Eric Braeden (How I Met Your Mother), Sharon Case (Poor Paul), Sean Dominic (Makeup X Breakup), Melissa Claire Egan (Misguided), Hayley Erin (General Hospital), Camryn Grimes (NCIS), Amelia Heinle (Ghost Whisperer)

Do you ever notice that Soap Operas usually have show titles that are just as extra and dramatic as the stories they depict? For example, The Bold and The Beautiful is still going as strong as this series decades later and streaming on Paramount+.

Related: Essential Viewing: 13 Colin Farrell Movies and TV Shows You Must See

Desperate Housewives (2004-2012)

Role: Gabrielle Solis. Available to stream on Hulu.

Gabrielle Solis - Eva Longoria - Desperate Housewives - 2004 - ABC
(ABC (Screenshot))

It seems odd to have to inform people about this one-of-a-kind show, but if you can believe it, there are still people who haven’t tuned in to see the residents of Wysteria Lane on Desperate Housewives. That’s just crazy talk.

Behind the facade of a postcard-perfect subdivision live four women whose lives are anything but idyllic. Klutzy Susan is divorced and the mother of teenage Julie.

Lynette is married to Tom and the frazzled mother of four rambunctious children. Bree is the neighborhood’s Martha Stewart, whose perfection masks significant dysfunction.

Ex-model Gabrielle, married to handsome and successful Carlos, wants to have her cake and eat it too. Looking down on it all is Mary Alice, who took her own life but comments on the lives of her former neighbors.

Coming straight from her role on a soap opera, we can’t imagine it was that hard for Longoria to slip into the heels of an ex-model who married for love and especially money while having an affair with the soap opera hot teenager who mows their lawn.

That might’ve been a tough sell to any actress, but Eva Longoria was clearly having fun playing the part, considering she shines as Gabrielle Solis.

Gabrielle Solis - 2 - Eva Longoria - Desperate Housewives - 2004 - ABC
(ABC (Screenshot))

Cast: Teri Hatcher (Fantasy Island), Felicity Huffman (Get Shorty), Marcia Cross (Monarch), Nicollette Sheridan (Dynasty), Ricardo Chavira (Selena: The Series), Brenda Strong (Supergirl), James Denton (Good Witch), Vanessa Williams (Girls5eva)

It’s hard to imagine any show could come close to capturing the perfect balance of comedy, drama, and characters that remain likable while having questionable intentions, but why try to imagine when you can just stream Why Women Kill on Paramount+?

Related: Essential Viewing: 13 Jennifer Morrison Movies and TV Shows You Must See

Devious Maids (2016)

Role: Herself. Available to stream on Hulu.

Herself - Eva Longoria - Devious Maids - 2016 - Lifetime
(Lifetime (Screenshot))

If there’s one person you never want to mess with, it’s a maid. People forget how seamlessly these hospitality providers move behind the scenes and how much they can learn about a person from very little. And these are definitely some Devious Maids.

In Beverly Hills, whoever ‘has the dirt’ holds the power. In some of the city’s wealthiest families, the power belongs to the close-knit group of maids with ambitions and dreams.

The maids are brought together by their jobs, life struggles, and their employers’ upstairs-downstairs universe. Rosie, who left Mexico after her husband’s death, works for a pair of self-absorbed actors.

Aspiring singer Carmen hopes her pop-star employer can help get her career off the ground. Still, her boss, Odessa, will do whatever it takes to stand in her way, and Zoila works beside her teenage daughter, Valentina, for an emotionally unstable woman.

The maids, along with newcomer Marisol, turn to one another for support when fellow maid Flora is murdered in her employer’s home. Then, a loved one gets wrapped up in the murder, and Marisol searches for the truth.

It was inevitable that Eva Longoria would find her way onto this series, considering she was an executive producer. Even though she technically plays herself, it’s very obvious that performs as a caricature of herself—an amalgamation of all her previous characters, really.

Herself - 2 - Eva Longoria - Devious Maids - 2016 - Lifetime
(Lifetime (Screenshot))

Cast: Ana Ortiz (Love, Victor), Dania Ramirez (Sweet Tooth), Roselyn Sanchez (Home Economics), Judy Reyes (Dr. Death), Edy Ganem (9-1-1), Rebecca Wisocky (Ghosts), Drew Van Acker (Titans), Cristian de la Fuente (Manchild)

If there is one thing that many entries on this list prove, it’s that an all-female ensemble series is a hit with audiences, which is why so many people love Good Girls, currently streaming on Netflix.

Related: Essential Viewing: 11 Anya Taylor-Joy Movies and TV Shows You Must See

Decline and Fall (2017)

Role: Margot Beste-Chetwynde. Available to stream on Acorn TV.

Margot Beste-Chetwynde - Eva Longoria - Decline and Fall - 2017 - BBC One
(BBC One (Screenshot))

This was certainly a treat for fans of Eva Longoria. Although she is not an actress who takes on period projects, it’s clear that the comedic opportunity spoke to her wheelhouse. Plus, they don’t make fashion and headwear like on Decline and Fall anymore.

Based on Evelyn Waugh’s 1028 novel of the same name, Oxford University student Paul Pennyfeather is wrongly expelled for indecent exposure after falling victim to an ill-conceived prank, triggering a rather unfortunate and unexpected series of events.

After his expulsion, Paul moves to Wales and takes up a teaching position. He immediately falls head over heels for the Honorable Mrs. Margot Beste-Chetwynde, the mother of one of his students.

After agreeing to tutor her son over the summer, Paul becomes wrapped up in far more than he could have ever bargained for.

As Margot, Eva plays a woman who is used to getting what she wants. When she sets her eyes on Pennyfeather, it isn’t long before the wedding bells ring.

Margot Beste-Chetwynde - 2 - Eva Longoria - Decline and Fall - 2017 - BBC One
(BBC One (Screenshot))

Cast: Jack Whitehall (Bad Education), David Suchet (His Dark Materials), Douglas Hodge (The Great), Vincent Franklin (Happy Valley), Stephen Graham (Bodies), Matthew Beard (Funny Woman), Oscar Kennedy (Wreck), Katy Wix (Ted Lasso)

Brits know how to bring a special kind of dry humor that’s surprisingly refreshing with so much goofy comedy on the broadcast airways. However, Fleabag toes the line closely while keeping itself grounded, available for chuckles on Amazon Prime Video.

Related: Essential Viewing: 11 Jensen Ackles Movies and TV Shows You Must See

Empire (2017)

Role: Charlotte Frost. Available to stream on Hulu.

Charlotte Frost - Eva Longoria - Empire - 2017 - Fox
(Fox (Screenshot))

Every so often, a show comes along that is so incredibly written and acted that TV viewers who don’t frequent that particular genre find themselves tuning into a show that they can get enough of even though they probably never would’ve normally watched it.

Just speaking from experience here. This show is incredible, and it’s no wonder that Oscar-nominated director Lee Daniels has called Empire the “Black Dynasty.”

Hip-hop artist and CEO of Empire Entertainment, Lucious Lyon, has always ruled unchallenged. Still, a medical diagnosis predicts he will be incapacitated in three years, which prompts the sharks to circle.

Without further damaging his family, he must decide which of his three sons will take over. His favorite, young Hakeem, is a gifted musician but values fame over hard work. His middle son, Jamal, is talented and shy but gay, embarrassing to Lyon.

The oldest, Andre, is business-minded but lacks charisma. The reappearance of Cookie, his ex-wife, complicates things since she says he owes her for taking the fall for the drug-running that financed his early career.

Eva plays Charlotte Frost, the head of the Las Vegas Gaming Commission, who holds the keys to Lucious entering Vegas. Because she doesn’t drink due to being a conservative Mormon, Lucious’s usual tactics of wining and dining are dead on arrival.

Charlotte Frost - 2 - Eva Longoria - Empire - 2017 - Fox
(Fox (Screenshot))

Cast: Terrence Howard (The Best Man: The Final Chapters), Taraji P. Henson (Abbott Elementary), Bryshere Y. Gray (The New Edition Story), Jussie Smollett (Star), Trai Byers (Harlem), Grace Byers (Phoenix), Malik Yoba (Blue Bloods), Tasha Smith (First Wives Club)

There is no drama like the music industry, and while many times, these stories seem too grand and elaborate to be based on reality, the more we see shows like Star streaming on Hulu, the more we believe the possibility.

Related: Essential Viewing: 11 Melissa Roxburgh Movies and TV Shows You Must See

Land of Women (2024)

Role: Gala. Available to stream on Apple TV+.

Gala at vineyard - S01E02 - Land of Women Season 1 Episode 2
(Apple TV+)

First, if you haven’t ventured over to Apple TV+ for some of its incredible original programming, I highly recommend Land of Women because even critics can’t get enough of this fantastic series.

A New York socialite is forced to flee to a charming Spanish wine town with her mother and daughter. She navigates small-town quirks while confronting her deepest family secrets and a pair of bumbling hitmen.

Seriously, this show has barely gotten off the ground, but it packs so much into just one episode yet seems to effortlessly balance humor, heart, and heated arguments.

As for Eva Longoria’s Gala, I previously said in my review of the premiere that her character is like if Gabrielle Solis left Carlos, moved to NYC, and landed herself another Mr. Money-bags, and I fully stand by that characterization.

Gala - S01E02 - Land of Women Season 1 Episode 2
(Apple TV+)

Cast: Santiago Cabrera (Star Trek: Picard), Victoria Bazua, Carmen Maura (Limbo), Amaury Nolasco (Hightown), Gloria Munoz (Dangerous Moms)

A fabulous-looking woman on the run in stilettos after having her entire life turned upside down? Are you sure we aren’t discussing the Kaley Cuoco-led Max series The Flight Attendant?

Related: Essential Viewing: 11 Keegan-Michael Key Movies and TV Shows You Must See

Only Murders in the Building (2024)

Role: Herself. Available to stream on Hulu.

Eva Longoria at Land Of Women World Premiere
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. Eva will be joining fellow Latina actress Selena Gomez in the absolute phenomenon of a show, Only Murders in the Building. Considering the all-star cast that has already made its way over to the Hulu hit, we are currently chomping at the bit.

Three strangers share an obsession with true crime and suddenly find themselves wrapped up in one.

When a horrible death occurs inside their exclusive Upper West Side apartment building, the trio suspects murder and employs their precise knowledge of true crime to investigate the truth. Perhaps even more explosive are the lies they tell one another.

Soon, the endangered trio comes to realize a killer might be living among them as they race to decipher the mounting clues before it’s too late.

There is no news yet about who Eva Longoria’s character is or how she will be involved in the mystery comedy drama’s story, but if you’ve kept up with the show, you know it will be amazing no matter what. And how crazy was that Meryl Streep reveal from the third season?! 

No wonder the most recent season, which premiered with 719 million viewers, came in ninth on the Nielsen overall streaming charts and third among streaming originals.

Eva Logoria at Flamin' Hot Celebration
(Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Mandarin Oriental Residences Beverly Hills)

Cast: Steve Martin (The Downer Channel), Martin Short (Schmigadoon!), Selena Gomez (Inside Amy Schumer), Aaron Dominguez (Gossip Girl), Amy Ryan (Sugar), Cara Delevingne (American Horror Story), Adina Verson (And Just Like That…)

True crime is almost everywhere in every genre of storytelling right now, from comedic to dramatic to thrilling. Still, in the Peacock series Poker Face, Natasha Lyonne delivers all that and more in this exciting show about a woman with a sixth sense to sniff out liars.

Eva Longoria During Vogue World 2024
(Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Vogue)

Eva Longoria is as talented as she is a beautiful soul who works hard to give back to the less fortunate and has managed to remain grounded despite years of acclaim and success.

Wherever her career takes her, we will gladly be along for the ride while laughing all the way.

Related: Essential Viewing: 11 Elisabeth Moss Movies and TV Shows You Must See

Which of Eva Longoria’s previous works is your favorite?

Will you be tuning in like the rest of us to her exciting new Apple TV+ series and again when she joins the cast of Only Murders in the Building?

Drop a comment below to let us know, and join us again when we break down the must-watch movies and television shows of your favorite actors!

The post Essential Viewing: 11 Eva Longoria Movies and TV Shows You Must See appeared first on TV Fanatic.

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https://www.tvfanatic.com/essential-viewing-11-eva-longoria-movies-and-tv-shows-you-must-s/feed/ 0 Essential Viewing: 11 Eva Longoria Movies and TV Shows You Must See Essential Viewing: 11 Eva Longoria Movies and TV Shows You Must See Theresa – Eva Longoria – Dog Days – 2018 – Lionsgate Theresa - Eva Longoria - Dog Days - 2018 - Lionsgate Theresa – 2 – Eva Longoria – Dog Days – 2018 – Lionsgate Theresa - Eva Longoria - Dog Days - 2018 - Lionsgate Grace – 2 – Eva Longoria – Dog Days – 2018 – LD Entertainment Grace - Eva Longoria - Dog Days - 2018 - LD Entertainment Grace – Eva Longoria – Dog Days – 2018 – LD Entertainment Grace - Eva Longoria - Dog Days - 2018 - LD Entertainment Elena Marquez – Eva Longoria – Dora – 2019 – Paramount Pictures Elena Marquez - Eva Longoria - Dora - 2019 - Paramount Pictures Elena Marquez – 2 – Eva Longoria – Dora – 2019 – Paramount Pictures Elena Marquez - Eva Longoria - Dora - 2019 - Paramount Pictures Jeanine Dewerson – Eva Longoria – Unplugging – 2022 – Hulu Jeanine Dewerson - Eva Longoria - Unplugging - 2022 - Hulu Jeanine Dewerson – 2 – Eva Longoria – Unplugging – 2022 – Hulu Jeanine Dewerson - Eva Longoria - Unplugging - 2022 - Hulu Isabella Brana – Eva Longoria – TYATR – 2001 – CBS Isabella Brana - Eva Longoria - TYATR - 2001 - CBS Isabella Brana – 2 – Eva Longoria – TYATR – 2001 – CBS Isabella Brana - Eva Longoria - TYATR - 2001 - CBS Gabrielle Solis – Eva Longoria – Desperate Housewives – 2004 – ABC Gabrielle Solis - Eva Longoria - Desperate Housewives - 2004 - ABC Gabrielle Solis – 2 – Eva Longoria – Desperate Housewives – 2004 – ABC Gabrielle Solis - Eva Longoria - Desperate Housewives - 2004 - ABC Herself – Eva Longoria – Devious Maids – 2016 – Lifetime Herself - Eva Longoria - Devious Maids - 2016 - Lifetime Herself – 2 – Eva Longoria – Devious Maids – 2016 – Lifetime Herself - Eva Longoria - Devious Maids - 2016 - Lifetime Margot Beste-Chetwynde – Eva Longoria – Decline and Fall – 2017 – BBC One Margot Beste-Chetwynde - Eva Longoria - Decline and Fall - 2017 - BBC One Margot Beste-Chetwynde – 2 – Eva Longoria – Decline and Fall – 2017 – BBC One Margot Beste-Chetwynde - Eva Longoria - Decline and Fall - 2017 - BBC One Charlotte Frost – Eva Longoria – Empire – 2017 – Fox Charlotte Frost - Eva Longoria - Empire - 2017 - Fox Charlotte Frost – 2 – Eva Longoria – Empire – 2017 – Fox Charlotte Frost - Eva Longoria - Empire - 2017 - Fox Gala at vineyard – S01E02 – Land of Women Season 1 Episode 2 Gala - Land of Women on Apple TV+ with Eva Longoria Gala – S01E02 – Land of Women Season 1 Episode 2 Gala - S01E02 - Land of Women on Apple TV+ with Eva Longoria Eva Longoria at Land Of Women World Premiere Eva Longoria attends Apple TV+'s "Land Of Women" World Premiere at The Whitby Hotel on June 20, 2024 in New York City. Eva Logoria at Flamin’ Hot Celebration Eva Longoria is seen as Ariana DeBose hosts brunch celebrating Eva Longoria's directorial debut for "Flamin' Hot" at Mandarin Oriental Residences Beverly Hills on January 13, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. Eva Longoria During Vogue World 2024 Eva Longoria during Vogue World: Paris at Place Vendome on June 23, 2024, in Paris, France.
How Behind-the-Scenes Drama Influences How We Watch TV https://www.tvfanatic.com/how-behind-the-scenes-drama-influences-how-we-watch-tv/ https://www.tvfanatic.com/how-behind-the-scenes-drama-influences-how-we-watch-tv/#respond Mon, 19 Feb 2024 20:00:00 +0000 https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/02/19/how-behind-the-scenes-drama-influences-how-we-watch-tv/ Queer Eye Season 8 Pic

The drama behind the cameras can affect how we view our favorite TV shows, for better or for worse. Here's our take on behind-the-scenes drama.

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Whether you want a feel-good escape from reality or to embroil yourself in drama you would never experience in your daily life, TV has got you covered.

But what happens when the world you see onscreen is overshadowed by what's going on behind the cameras?

If you've ever had a favorite show hit by scandal, you might have noticed it affected how you watched the show — for better or worse.

Queer Eye Season 8 Pic
(Ilana Panich-Linsman/Netflix © 2024)

The Curious Case of Queer Eye Season 8

Typically, when a new season of Queer Eye drops on Netflix, I'm on it like Antoni Porowski on the weird food in someone's fridge. But when Season 8 premiered on Netflix on January 24, the urge to binge was missing. So was the spark.

Controversial TV Takes That Are Sure to Spark Debate

Season 8 felt awkward and forced as I plodded through the short six-episode season. For the first time in my Queer Eye-watching history, which dates back to the release date of Season 1, I didn't shed a single tear. I felt distracted.

In November of last year, we first learned that Bobby Berk, interior design expert, would not be returning after Season 8 wrapped.

Bobby Berk on Queer Eye
(Ilana Panich-Linsman/Netflix © 2024)

As it does, the internet went wild with speculation. Some eagle-eyed fans noticed Bobby had unfollowed fellow castmate Tan France on Instagram, and the rumor mill ran with it. Was this why Bobby was leaving?

With the rumors of a rift swirling in the back of my mind, I scrutinized every interaction between the two.

Instead of watching the heroes' lives, hair, houses, and wardrobes transform before my eyes, I was laser-focused on the cast interactions.

Was that a "look" he just gave him, or am I imagining things? Does there seem to be a lot less Bobby this season, or has he always been in the background more than his costars?

And where do the loyalties of the rest of the cast lie?

Tan France of Queer Eye
(Ilana Panich-Linsman/Netflix © 2024)

The behind-the-scenes drama was turning this show from wholesome to tiresome. I wanted to care about Season 8's heroes, but I was constantly taken out of the moment.

It seems that knowing the cast weren't best friends forever and ever was coloring how I saw the interactions not only between the cast members but with the heroes as well.

I had to wonder: does this happen to other shows with behind-the-scenes misadventures?

It depends. The drama only ruined Queer Eye because I didn't expect this kind of behavior from the seemingly sweet and supportive cast.

What about other shows with issues behind the scenes?

Determined to Bring Kayce Home - Yellowstone Season 1 Episode 5
(Emerson Miller / Paramount)

When Drama Builds Anticipation

Let's take a look at Yellowstone, the antithesis of Queer Eye. Where Queer Eye's cast is lovable, helpful, and caring, the characters on Yellowstone are conniving, angry, and flawed.

Is Event TV a Thing of the Past? What Does That Mean for Our Culture?

These shows are night and day, but they share one common thread — they've both had a lot of behind-the-scenes drama in the news recently.

The difference is that the issues circling Queer Eye dampened interest in the show, while the problems behind Yellowstone have only fueled impatience for the last half of Yellowstone Season 5.

 Kevin Costner attends Paramount Network's
((Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Paramount Network))

In February of last year, rumors surfaced that Kevin Costner would not return for the remaining episodes of Season 5 due to creative differences and pay issues.

Later in the year, Taylor Sheridon, the show's creator, sued Yellowstone star Cole Hauser's coffee company for trademark infringement.

This drama is a whole lot uglier than Bobby quietly unfollowing Tan on Instagram, and yet it doesn't make me want to drop Yellowstone from my watchlist.

Perhaps it's because I expect drama from Yellowstone. The show has built a world where underhanded deeds are the norm, and it's not abnormal to see people breaking promises or calling each other out on their issues.

A Dressing Down - Yellowstone Season 1 Episode 9
(Emerson Miller/Paramount+)

The first half of Season 5 saw one character murdering his biological father — the real-life creative differences and legal issues plaguing the cast are mild by comparison.

The Drama Should Enhance the Moment, Not Ruin It

It all comes down to the style of the show and the type of behind-the-scenes drama.

Widely acknowledged rumors of cast infighting and bullying on the set of Desperate Housewives didn't harm its watchability because the characters also bullied one another.

However, rumors of bullying on Glee made it hard to support the characters we were supposed to root for.

Samantha Jones Cameo  - And Just Like That...
(Max (Screenshot))

The feud between Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker made Samantha Jones' cameo in Season 2 of And Just Like That… widely anticipated, while Chevy Chase's feuds with his Community costars made later seasons of the show hard to watch.

The infamous "Scandoval" of Vanderpump Rules Season 10 delivered a massive bump in viewership for Season 11.

Avatar: The Last Airbender Fans Raise Red Flags About the Netflix Series

We're talking millions of new viewers. For a drama-centric reality show, scandal was not only encouraged; it was expected.

Denying Scandoval - Vanderpump Rules Season 10 Episode 12
(Casey Durkin/Bravo)

When Scandal Goes Too Far

Sometimes, beloved shows face a scandal so grave the only solution is to axe a character entirely to avoid a ratings loss.

When Isaiah Washington used a homophobic slur against a costar in the earlier days of Grey's Anatomy, it was necessary to write Washington out of the show or face backlash.

Similarly, serious abuse allegations against Kevin Spacey meant he needed to be fired from House of Cards to keep viewers interested.

House of Cards Season 6 Poster
(Netflix)

When people put in long days together on a TV set, there's bound to be a little drama. If we're watching because we crave the tension, behind-the-scenes shenanigans can help us get excited about a show.

But when we expect more from our TV shows, the drama can lead to disappointment.

How does behind-the-scenes chaos make you feel about your favorite shows?

Does it make you want to turn the TV off, or are you itching for more? Let us know in the comments.

The post How Behind-the-Scenes Drama Influences How We Watch TV appeared first on TV Fanatic.

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https://www.tvfanatic.com/how-behind-the-scenes-drama-influences-how-we-watch-tv/feed/ 0 Queer Eye Season 8 Pic Antoni Porowski, Bobby Berk, Tan France, Tim Keel, Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown in episode 802 of Queer Eye. Bobby Berk on Queer Eye This is a photo of Bobby Berk in episode 804 of Queer Eye. Tan France of Queer Eye This is a picture of Tan France in episode 804 of Queer Eye. Determined to Bring Kayce Home – Yellowstone Season 1 Episode 5 John is determined to bring Kayce home to the ranch for good on Yellowstone Season 1 Episode 5. Kevin Costner attends Paramount Network’s “Yellowstone” Season 2 Premiere Party Kevin Costner attends Paramount Network's "Yellowstone" Season 2 Premiere Party at Lombardi House on May 30, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. A Dressing Down – Yellowstone Season 1 Episode 9 With the walls closing in, John discovers which family and allies will stand with him and fight. Samantha Jones Cameo – And Just Like That… Fan-favorite Samantha Jones returns for a brief cameo at the end of Season 2 of And Just Like That... Denying Scandoval – Vanderpump Rules Season 10 Episode 12 Tom Sandoval has come up with many stories to minimize the potential of there being an affair. He's not keeping his story straight. House of Cards Season 6 Poster House of Cards is coming back for one final season with Robin Wright as the lead. It debuts November 2 on Netflix.
Desperate Housewives: Eva Longoria Expresses Interest in Revival https://www.tvfanatic.com/desperate-housewives-eva-longoria-expresses-interest-in-revival/ https://www.tvfanatic.com/desperate-housewives-eva-longoria-expresses-interest-in-revival/#respond Fri, 29 Oct 2021 12:36:57 +0000 https://www.tvfanatic.com/2021/10/29/desperate-housewives-eva-longoria-expresses-interest-in-revival/ An Important Meal

Eva Longoria would be open to returning to the world of Desperate Housewives. The actress expressed hope of returning, and what she thinks Gabrielle would be up to.

The post Desperate Housewives: Eva Longoria Expresses Interest in Revival appeared first on TV Fanatic.

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If a Desperate Housewives revival ever gets the green light, Eva Longoria would be one of the first stars to sign on.

In a recent interview with Radio Times, the Gabrielle Solis star shared that the 2012 series finale was the perfect ending to allow the show to resume at some point.

"We ended the series with [Gaby] going off to start her own business. So I'd love to pick up and see like how she's grown that business," the star shared.

An Important Meal
(ABC/RON TOM)

"Is she, you know, Kris Jenner? Just fabulous and flying all over the world and managing all of these businesses.

"I would love to think up and see where her children are and what are they doing, and how did they turn out?" she added.

Longoria said that having over 20 episodes each year for eight seasons meant that creator Marc Cherry had exhausted all the storylines he could.

Eva Longoria Attends PAAG Event
((Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images))

"I think because you know back then, we did eight years of 24 episodes. I mean that's a lot. Now you get a series with six episodes or five episodes," she explained.

"We had so many episodes per year that [creator Marc Cherry] felt like he exhausted every storyline, like I couldn't sleep with one more person on that street."

In this reboot and the revival-obsessed world, it would make sense to revisit these characters at some point, but the bigger question would be the format of it all.

A movie with a self-contained plot may be the bigger draw, but a limited run season spanning fewer than ten episodes might also work.

Eva Longoria Attends Farrah Fawcett Foundation Event
((Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Farrah Fawcett Foundation))

The series also starred Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, and Marcia Cross and was one of the biggest hits on the air when it was on.

It kicked off the same season as Lost and Grey's Anatomy for ABC, giving the network three of the biggest shows on the small screen at the time.

At the time the show ended its eight-season run it was still a strong performer for the network, but with Disney owning it, a return would likely be on Hulu.

What are your thoughts on a potential comeback for the series?

Eva Longoria Attends Event
((Photo by JC Olivera/Getty Images))

Do you think it would be right, or do you think the fact that all the housewives left Wisteria Lane would make it too difficult?

Hit the comments below.

Desperate Housewives is available to stream on Hulu.

The Pretty Little Liars

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https://www.tvfanatic.com/desperate-housewives-eva-longoria-expresses-interest-in-revival/feed/ 0 An Important Meal Gaby is out to prove to Lee and Bob that her kids are sweethearts. See how the family prays together and everything! Eva Longoria Attends PAAG Event Eva Longoria attends the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's Annual Grants Banquet at Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel on July 31, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. Eva Longoria Attends Farrah Fawcett Foundation Event Eva Longoria attends the Farrah Fawcett Foundation's Tex-Mex Fiesta on September 06, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Eva Longoria Attends Event Actress Eva Longoria attends the 13th Annual ADCOLOR Awards at JW Marriott At LA Live on September 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Pretty Little Liars The Pretty Little Liars are scheming in this photo. It's courtesy of the Season 3 finale.
Hallmark Hosts a Desperate Housewives Reunion During Countdown to Christmas https://www.tvfanatic.com/hallmark-hosts-a-desperate-housewives-reunion-during-countdown-t/ https://www.tvfanatic.com/hallmark-hosts-a-desperate-housewives-reunion-during-countdown-t/#respond Wed, 06 Oct 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.tvfanatic.com/2021/10/06/hallmark-hosts-a-desperate-housewives-reunion-during-countdown-t/ There has never been a Desperate Housewives reunion, but Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas reunites James Denton and Teri Hatcher in A Kiss Before Christmas!

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The holidays are all about bringing people together.

Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas is going the extra mile this year by staging a Desperate Housewives reunion.

This isn't just any reunion, either. This one is big!

Former Desperate Housewives co-stars James Denton and Teri Hatcher are reuniting in A Kiss Before Christmas, which will premiere during Hallmark's annual Countdown to Christmas event.

Denton, who just wrapped up seven successful seasons on Good Witch, executive produces A Kiss Before Christmas, marking the first time that Denton and Hatcher will have worked together since their iconic series ended in 2021.

Producer James Denton
(Crown Media United States LLC/Larsen & Talbert)

It is the first on-screen reunion of ANY of the characters we had grown to love from Wisteria Way. That's big news!

Denton plays real estate development executive Ethan Holt, a married father with two teens.

On Christmas Eve, Ethan is disappointed to learn he's losing out on a promotion and laments that his "nice guy" way of doing business has held him back in his career.

Thanks to some Christmas magic, Ethan's casual wish that his life had taken a different course becomes a reality.

Costar Teri Hatcher
(Crown Media United States LLC)

He wakes up the next morning and is shocked to find everything is different. He isn't married to Joyce (Hatcher), he doesn't have two teenaged kids, and he's CEO of his company.

Joyce is the key to Ethan being able to reclaim his original life and the family he loves. But, first, he must convince her that their happily-ever-after is waiting for them, and he only has until Christmas Day.

"From the very beginning, I wanted the first Hallmark Christmas movie I produced to be unique," Denton said.

"I had no idea that we'd be lucky enough to get Teri. We've always wanted to work together again, and we found the perfect vehicle for what I think is the first Desperate Housewives reunion. And since we're on Hallmark, I don't have to worry about getting shot at the end," he quipped.

James Denton Up Close - Good Witch Season 7 Episode 1
(©2021 Crown Media United States LLC)

"Since that famous scene where he found me in the bushes, I knew James and I would be friends for life,” Hatcher said.

“The chemistry and friendship we had on ‘Desperate Housewives’ is alive and well all these years later and the loving, warm spirit of the holidays is the perfect backdrop for reuniting. It’s amazing to be back together. It’s just like old times. You won’t want to miss it."

A Kiss Before Christmas is from Crown Media Productions, LLC.

Stan Spry, Eric Woods, James Denton, Jonathan Eskenas, and Kimberley Bradley are executive producers. Devan Towers serves as co-producer.

Jeff Beesley directs from a script by Mark Amato and Tracy Andreen.

And Marilu Henner joins Denton and Hatcher in the movie.

How excited are you for this movie to air this holiday season?

Let's hear it for this Christmas wish coming true!

The post Hallmark Hosts a Desperate Housewives Reunion During Countdown to Christmas appeared first on TV Fanatic.

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https://www.tvfanatic.com/hallmark-hosts-a-desperate-housewives-reunion-during-countdown-t/feed/ 0 Producer James Denton James Denton and Teri Hatcher co-star in A Kiss Before Christmas on Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas event in 2021! Costar Teri Hatcher James Denton and Teri Hatcher co-star in A Kiss Before Christmas on Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas event in 2021! James Denton Up Close – Good Witch Season 7 Episode 1 Cassie, Abigail, and Joy try to figure out the significance of the purple velvet pouches of soil mysteriously left for each of them, though they may not have to wait very long for the answer. Cassie and Sam seem to be two ships passing in the night so they set out on a boating date, only to have engine trouble and end up stranded on an island where Cassie makes a surprising discovery. Plans for Abigail and Donovan’s engagement party are in high gear thanks to Donovan’s overly eager mom Dotty, who is anxious for the couple to set a date. Meanwhile, Martha’s very pregnant daughter-in-law Claire is there for an extended stay and Stephanie and Adam navigate their friendship now that he’s returned from his mission.
Felicity Huffman’s Desperate Housewives Co-Star Slams ‘Slap on the Wrist’ Sentence https://www.tvfanatic.com/felicity-huffmans-desperate-housewives-co-star-slams-slap-on-the/ https://www.tvfanatic.com/felicity-huffmans-desperate-housewives-co-star-slams-slap-on-the/#respond Wed, 09 Oct 2019 15:26:02 +0000 https://www.tvfanatic.com/2019/10/09/felicity-huffmans-desperate-housewives-co-star-slams-slap-on-the/ Felicity Huffman Poses

Felicity Huffman's former Desperate Housewives co-star has slammed her sentence and opened up about white privilege on the set of the ABC drama.

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Felicity Huffman's tiny sentence for her role in the college admissions scandal did not go down well with one of her former Desperate Housewives co-stars. 

Ricardo Antonio Chavira took to Twitter to publicly slam the 14-day prison sentence. 

“White Privilege. And I saw Eight years worth of it, so I know what I’m talking about,” Chavira tweeted.

Felicity Huffman Poses
((Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images))

“Accountability and Responsibility don’t mean s–t to these people.”

He continued,  “I saw Eight years worth of it working on Housewives."

Related: Felicity Huffman Sentenced to Prison

"I’ve seen a lifetime of it being a halfbreed, and I’ve struggled w the intricacies of it on a daily basis w all the cultural bias I’ve received on both ends."

"But whatever. Slap on the wrist. Sorry, but this s–t.”

Ricardo Antonio Chavira Photo
((c) 2011 Fame Pictures, Inc., Santa Monica, CA, USA)

Chavira was a series regular on the ABC hit as Carlos Solis, the husband of Eva Longoria's Gabrielle Solis. 

Huffman was sentenced to 14-days behind bars back in September. Her prison sentence is expected to begin on October 25 when the actress is slated to report to prison. 

In addition, she must pay a $30,000 fine, complete a year of supervised release as well as 250 hours of community service. 

The actress was accused of paying $15,000 to give her daughter Sophia a boost in her SAT scores to help with her entrance to an elite college. 

Felicity Huffman Attends Emmy Event
((Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for Backstage Creations))

Even more concerning is that Huffman planned on doing the same again for her younger daughter, but decided against it. 

For her part, the actress has accepted responsibility for her actions. 

Related: Eva Longoria Reveals She Was "Bullied" on Desperate Housewives Set

"I am ashamed of the pain I have caused my daughter, my family, my friends, my colleagues and the educational community," she said in a statement released in April. 

"I want to apologize to them and, especially, I want to apologize to the students who work hard every day to get into college, and to their parents who make tremendous sacrifices to support their children and do so honestly.”

Felicity Huffman Attends Golden Globes
((Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images))

After pleading guilty to fraud charges, 27 people wrote letters to the judge in the case to try to help Huffman avoid a lengthy prison sentence. 

One of those was Longoria, with whom she appeared alongside on all eight seasons of Desperate Housewives. 

“There was a time when I was being bullied at work by a co-worker. I dreaded the days I had to work with that person because it was pure torture,” Longoria said.

Felicity Huffman Attends Event
(Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

“Until one day, Felicity told the bully ‘enough’ and it all stopped. … I know I would not have survived those 10 years if it wasn’t for the friendship of Felicity.”

What are your thoughts on this news?

Hit the comments below. 

The Pretty Little Liars

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https://www.tvfanatic.com/felicity-huffmans-desperate-housewives-co-star-slams-slap-on-the/feed/ 0 Felicity Huffman Poses Felicity Huffman attends the 70th Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Ricardo Antonio Chavira Photo Ricardo Antonio Chavira at 'An Evening With Desperate Housewives' in Hollywood, CA. Felicity Huffman Attends Emmy Event Felicity Huffman attends Backstage Creations Giving Suite At The 70th Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Felicity Huffman Attends Golden Globes Felicity Huffman attends the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 6, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. Felicity Huffman Attends Event Felicity Huffman attends EMILY's List 2nd Annual Pre-Oscars Event at Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on February 19, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Pretty Little Liars The Pretty Little Liars are scheming in this photo. It's courtesy of the Season 3 finale.