According to Variety, Hale will star in Ragdoll, a six-part drama series to air on AMC in the United States and Alibi in the UK.

"Six people have been murdered, dismembered, and sewn into the shape of one grotesque body — nicknamed the Ragdoll," reads the logline.

"Assigned to the shocking case are DS Nathan Rose, recently reinstated to the London Met; his best friend and boss, DI Emily Baxter; and the unit’s new recruit, DC Lake Edmunds," it continues. 

"The ‘Ragdoll Killer’ taunts the police by sending them a list of his next victims, with Rose’s name among them."

"And with those victims to protect, our heroes soon come under intense public scrutiny. A gruesomely imaginative serial killer thriller, Ragdoll also captures the fascinating but flawed friends struggling with the consequences of institutionalisation and trauma."

Hale is set to play DC Lake Edmunds on the series.

The actress is best known for her seven-season stint on Freeform's Pretty Little Liars. She followed up that series with both Life Sentence and Katy Keene, which both aired on The CW.

Unfortunately, each of those shows were canceled after a single season at the network.

But this is a different kind of role for the actress, who has mostly starred in teen dramas to date, so it will be fun to witness how she plays this more mature role.

Filming will commence in Spring 2021 around London and air in late 2021, so it will be a quick turnaround for this series.

More cast will be announced at a later date. Freddy Syborn (Writer) said the following when the series got a formal order:

“I hope Ragdoll will be a visually exciting, darkly funny thriller in which the personal is the political. Above all, I hope our characters can make you laugh, then break your heart.”

Sally Woodward Gentle, Executive Producer, Sid Gentle Films says; “I am so excited that we are embarking on this twisty and sophisticated piece with Freddy and the team. AMC have already proved themselves to be brilliant partners and we can’t wait to work with Alibi.”

Dan McDermott, AMC Networks’ President, Original Programming and Co-President of AMC Studios says;

“We have enjoyed and been impressed with Sid Gentle Films during our partnership on Killing Eve, so we jumped at the opportunity to work with them again on Ragdoll."

"This dark yet comedic project written by the talented Freddy has the makings of a fast-paced yet cerebral thriller featuring the premium storytelling and compelling characters viewers expect from AMC.”

What are your thoughts on the casting news?

Hit the comments below.

The post Lucy Hale Cops Different Kind of Role on New Drama from Producers of Killing Eve appeared first on TV Fanatic.

But Santa can’t be fooled. He has a list, he's checked it twice, and he knows exactly which TV characters were naughty or nice.

2020 was a tough year for all of us.

But for every character that deserves a nice Christmas gift is a character who has been so bad that all they should get is a lump of coal under the tree.

Murder, corruption, kidnapping, jealousy, and even hero complexes have landed all of these characters on Santa’s naughty list!

You Season 2 premiered towards the backend of 2019, but Joe and Love were so bad that they truly deserve to be on every naughty list until the end of time.

As Joe's body count continued to rise, Love was revealed to be equally as crazy. And the fact that these two are about to become parents doesn’t excuse their stalker-ish and murder-ish behavior.

Even with Love by his side and a baby on the way, Joe has already found his next obsession for You Season 3: the neighbor next door.

You can blame most of the crime in Gotham City on the one and only Alice.

She's a cold-blooded killer who rarely shows any remorse on Batwoman Season 1.

Not even her family is spared from her wrath and paranoia. She has killed her step-mom and the Commander’s wife, Catherine, double-crossed her “brother” Mouse by poisoning him, and hatched an elaborate plan to kill her very own sister Batwoman/Kate Kane.

Charmaine was insufferable on Virgin River Season 2. She let her insecurities get the best of her, which resulted in behaviors fueled by jealousy.

She was rude to Mel, who went out of her way to help her during her high-risk pregnancy and constantly made Jack feel guilty for wanting to live his life on his own terms, making it hard to sympathize with her.

And she couldn't take no for an answer. There are theories that she's responsible for shooting Jack, and if that's true, she deserves more than coal!

Teddy on Grey’s Anatomy Season 17 deserves some kudos for being on the frontline treating COVID patients, so maybe Santa will go easy on her.

However, she certainly earned herself a place on the naughty list for the naughty, sexy times she had with her ex on her wedding day.

And sadly for her, thanks to a butt dial, she broadcasted it so that Owen, his OR, and the entire North Pole could hear it.

Chastain has never seen villains quite like Barrett Cain and Logan Kim on The Resident Season 3, and we're talking about a staff that has dealt with Lane Hunter!

Cain has been driven by his ego for much of the season and always prioritized himself, which is why he kept quiet about the superbug and caused innocent patients to fall ill.

Logan Kim co-conspired with Cain to get Conrad booted, had no respect for any of the employees and only saw dollar bills.

And when it came down to it, he turned his back on Cain to save himself and his reputation.

The show may be titled “good girls,” but the only thing Beth, Annie, and Ruby are good at is being bad to the bone.

They’ve had so many chances to bow out of a life of crime, but instead, they justify their actions by convincing themselves they are doing it all to support their family.

Beth spent so much of her energy hiring a hitman to kill Rio on Good Girls Season 3, but she failed to realize that they’ve become just as bad as Rio, who also takes a spot on the naughty list for killing Lucy (and possibly Boomer).

The only difference between Rio and the girls is that he owns his actions.

You'll never see Hiram Lodge's name on a "good list." Ever.

He continues to manipulate and sabotage his daughter at every chance he gets. At this point, it’s petty.

He also broke out of jail by making his wife seem guilty of murder and weaseled his way into becoming Mayor of Riverdale so he could assert his power over the residents.

However, there are some other Riverdale Season 4 residents whose actions have also landed them on the naughty list!

Archie snagged a spot on the list for letting his hero complex get the best of him.

He so desperately wants to be in amongst the action, even if it puts everyone he loves in danger.

And who can forget this season’s true villains… the Stonewall Prep Literary Club of Donna Sweett, Joan Berkeley, Bret Weston Wallis, & Jonathan.

These four made it their mission to make Jughead’s life a living hell and dragged Betty Cooper down with them.

Not only did they constantly act superior to him and his friends, but the quartet also tried to murder our favorite aspiring writer to achieve their sadistic goals.

They played mind-games, blackmailed people, lied constantly, and broke the law on many occasions. All four of them deserve the biggest piles of coal for the pain they caused our Riverdale group!

Faustus Blackwood has always been a thorn in the coven’s side, so much so that his own daughter, Prudence, tried to kill him.

Unfortunately, she was stopped by Ambrose, and it seems that Faustus’ spell in the final moment of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Season 3 will be the catalyst for the eldritch terrors, which culminate in The Void (the end of all things) on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Season 4.

Lucifer was bad on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, sure, but we never expected the devil himself to be good.

However, Guy LaMontagne (also played by Luke Cook in the sister series) on Katy Keene is a different story.

We expected more from the fashion mogul, but he proved to be the kind of man that succeeds by stealing designs of budding fashion designers.

Katy even found a sketchbook filled with designs stolen from his other apprentices, whom he blacklisted from the industry.

And the worst part is that he preyed on her feelings for him.

The Guiding Hope gang (Murphy, Jess, Felix, and Max) on In the Dark Season 2 also made the cut!

Despite their attempts to get out of the game, Murphy and her friends keep getting sucked into the illegal life.

They're potentially under the thumb of another drug dealer, killed the last one, and now they're on the run. The only one NOT getting coal this year is Pretzel.

While some may say that the robbers holding a bunch of innocent people hostage on Money Heist Season 4 are the “bad guys,” they don’t hold a candle to Arturito.

He’s a human sludge ball that's hated by audiences alike  – which truly speaks to Enrique Arce's talents.

After escaping the first heist, he tried to make money off his hostage survival story by becoming a motivational speaker.

Then, he purposefully locked himself inside the Royal Mint of Spain, tried to get close to his baby momma Stockholm, and drugged and raped/sexually assaulted one of his fellow hostages. Seriously, this guy is the worst!

Why did Agent Odell never treat the Pierce family as equal allies?

At every turn, Agent Odell acted with a secret ulterior motive that hindered the heroes, even though he needed their help to defeat the Markovians on Black Lightning Season 4.

He drugged Lynn and caused her addiction, he manipulated Jennifer into becoming a weapon, he killed Issa Williams and countless meta-humans, and he controlled Freeland with a deadly army.

And what's equally worse is that he tried to justify his evil actions as being for the good of humankind to stop a potential meta-human war.

The Necromancer is the most obvious choice for Santa’s naughty list as he’s responsible for all the darkness engulfing Mystic Falls on Legacies Season 2.

He recreated the pit to Malivore, brought back Kai, activated "dark Josie," forced her and Lizzie to complete the Merge, and puppeteered Rafael into stabbing Landon with the golden arrow . . . to name a few of his evil deeds.

Unfortunately, Caroline Forbes also isn’t being spared!

It's hard to give someone coal when they haven't appeared on the show in the flesh, but Caroline is a terrible mother.

Her daughters are relentlessly pursued by monsters, psycho family members, and everything else imaginable, but she fails to return to check in on them.

We know Candice King isn't interested in reprising her character. Can they at least recast the character or kill her off? We know this isn't how she would behave!

Hvitserk killed Lagertha on Vikings Season 6. That's about as peak 2020 as you'll get. Granted, it was all down to some preposterous prophecy, but there's just no redeeming him.

Is it Christmas without Frank trying to swindle his entire family on Shameless Season Season 10?

He'll never learn, but the family will still somehow find a way to let him back into their lives. Hopefully, something of note makes him change his ways in the final season.

Cassie of The Flight Attendant is an utter trainwreck.

She uses her friends and people who don't even want to be associated with her to get what she wants. It's tiring, but the writing for her is so good that you can’t look away.

Definitely give her some coal, though!

Bette is the definition of petty and privilege on Tiny Pretty Things.

You feel terrible for her at first because she's undervalued by her mother and living in her more-successful sister's shadow.

However, Bette uses that insecurity to lash out at her friends and do underhanded actions to push herself ahead at her ballet school.

Bette didn't have to talk down to her so-called best friend June or sabotage her duet. Bette didn't need to act superior to the new girl, Neveah.

And she didn't need to engage in a threesome to get a part or lash out at her boyfriend. Bette has a lot of growing up to do.

We have no idea whether Jamie was involved with the attempted murders of every member of his family on Yellowstone Season 3, but he's definitely veering in an odd direction after finding his birth father.

Since his birth father murdered his birth mother, we're pretty sure that siding with him won't bring him the warm fuzzies he's seeking. For that, he finds himself on the naughty list.

Usually, reality TV characters are spared from this list, but an exception must be made for Yosef Aborady, the villain of The Bachelorette Season 16.

Yosef disrespected Clare Crawley before she found love with Dale Moss and was replaced by Tayshia Adams by calling her “classless” over a strip dodgeball date.

The situation escalated with him cutting her off and telling her that she doesn’t set “the right example” for his daughter, as if his behavior somehow did.

He also said he expected more “from the oldest Bachelorette” in history.

During the men-tell all, host Chris Harrison gave him a shot at redemption, but again, Yosef found no issue with how he spoke to Clare and refused to apologize even when countless men called him out for his arrogant behavior.

All of us are shaking our heads right along with Harrison, including Santa.

Gretchen on The Wilds. The Wilds is quite the thrill ride, a ride entirely manipulated by Gretchen Klein.

We have no idea about her motivation or what her machinations mean in the long term, but treating people as test subjects gets her a firm spot on the naughty list.

Homelander on The Boys will probably never get off of the naughty list. America's hero, he is not, even though he is admired by people the world over.

He's an angry, troubled little man connected with a genuine Nazi to maintain his top spot.

Will Jen and Judy on Dead to Me start making better decisions in the third and final season? Their lies have gotten them and others in trouble too many times.

They need to stop thinking about themselves and find a better path to get any presents from Santa.

Marty and Wendy Byrde’s actions on Ozark continue landing them in hot water.

Their little trip into the underbelly of the drug trade gets people killed. While the bodies pile up around them, they continue making bad decisions after bad decisions leading to more and more death. Santa is not visiting Wendy or Marty.

Darlene Snell is a cold-hearted psychopath who killed her husband and pursued a disturbing relationship with a much-younger Wyatt Langmore. Her predatory behavior is unsettling, to say the least.

Big Sky is ABC’s latest drama, and it has no share of characters who would end up on the naughty list.

Of course, Rick Legarski, the Montana trooper, and Ronald Pergman, a blue-collar truck driver, both top the list for murder and kidnapping young girls to sell them into a life of prostitution.

It's even worse when they try to justify their behavior by saying they're cleaning up America.

Det. Armstrong started off The Rookie as a detective mourning his wife's death and mentoring rookie Officer John Nolan. Nick was smart, empathetic, and generous with his time and advice, all things that seem to make him a shoo-in for the Nice List.

But Detective Armstrong had a secret… he was a dirty cop. We were shocked when he shot and killed another officer to keep her quiet and horrified when he set up Nolan to look like he was the cop working for the mob.

Even if Armstrong gets away with his crimes, he'll still have a permanent place on Santa's Naughty List.

Moff Gideon on The Mandalorian made the list for kidnapping Baby Yoda. That's all it took!

Rupert Manion on Ted Lasso is getting coal for being a womanizer who never misses an opportunity to attack Rebecca — his ex-wife — personally and professionally. 

While most of the Intelligence Unit on Chicago PD Season 8 works to make Chicago a safe place, Kenny Nolan has made it his mission to destroy Atwater for sticking up for what he believes in and not standing by as a racist cop gets away with profiling and murdering a black man.

Kenny was a bully who went to great lengths to intimidate and punish Atwater. He deserves all the coal.

Eugene Monreaux on Filthy Rich was the filthiest of them all.

From his infidelity to impregnating a harem of women, to pretending to be dead, to ripping off the poor, to his penchant for young women, this so-called God-fearing man should be terrified of Santa (and Satan) because he's definitely only getting lumps of coal in his stocking.

He is Cesar no more. After years of fighting against gang life, Cesar has officially taken over his brother's spot as the leader on On My Block.

Lil Spooky won't be seeing that jolly man in red coming down the chimney to leave him anything festive.

And lastly, Santa won't be showing Sensei Kreese any mercy in the coal department.

After blowing into town, manipulating Johnny, taking over his dojo, and fostering the worst in the Cobra Kai students, he more than earned himself a spot on that naughty list.

Turning it over to you, festive TV Fanatics!

Which 2020 characters would you add to Santa's naughty list?

These Relationships Changed Dramatically from Page to Small Screen

Open List

The post TV Characters Who Are Definitely on Santa’s Naughty List appeared first on TV Fanatic.

But when The CW and Netflix canceled the latter two shows, it also canceled all possibilities of a crossover. 

TV Fantics Becca and Lizzy discuss what could have been, what they would have liked to see, and whether a three-way crossover would have even been feasible. 

Becca: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Katy Keene were among the most notable cancellations of the year. How do you feel about both shows being canceled?

Lizzy: Since I watched both of them, I was bummed.

Obiviously, Katy Keene was in its first season, so it didn't sting as much as Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Katy Keene was also the black sheep of the family, as it was more upbeat and fashion-focused.

You wouldn't think it was part of the same universe as Riverdale if you didn't know it was promoted as a spinoff.

But there was something genuine about it and the characters — so many shows are dark and twisted these days, Riverdale and CAOS included, but Katy Keene set itself apart by being less driven by evil and more by high heels and designer brands.  

The series had potential, but unfortunately, it wasn't marketed or promoted well enough and it didn't get enough time to spread its wings and fly.

But despite my interest in Katy, CAOS stings more. It's my favorite of the three shows — ever since Riverdale went off the rails slightly — since I'm a sucker for dark themes and witchcraft.

The series had more seasons left in it, so it's unfortunate that Netflix pulled the plug.

Becca: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina's cancellation came as a big shock. I expected the Netlix curse to strike after another season was ordered. 

Unfortunately for Katy Keene, there were a lot of cards stacked against it receiving a second season. 

It wasn't going to stream on Netflix. It was filmed on location in New York. Plus, even though I heard a lot of positive things about it, I don't think it got people as excited as Riverdale Season 1.

Katy Keene left a lot of storylines hanging, including the threat of Hiram Lodge. What did you think of Hiram showing up on Katy Keene Season 1 Episode 13?

Lizzy: I definitely agree with you. Katy Keene had a lot of sparkle, but fans didn't gravitate towards it the way they did with Riverdale and CAOS. I do think that's largely because of how different the series is from its counterparts.

To many in the fandom, it came off as almost too standalone despite all the attempts at minor crossovers, which were a lot easier to accomplish between Riverdale and Katy Keene then they would be between the shows and CAOS.

The biggest obstacle, and one that maybe would have been smoothed out in with the time jump being introduced in Riverdale Season 5, is that Katy Keene was ahead five years in terms of timeline.

They needed to be strategic in how they crossed over because it was giving fans a glimpse into the future for many Riverdale characters.

Hiram paying Katy Keene a visit was a delicious and unexpected twist — the kind we've come to expect from Riverdale. Who would have thought the buyer trying to tear down Jorge's beloved block was none other than Hiram Lodge?

It the kind of shakeup that needed to happen on Katy Keene, a series that sometimes spanned episodes without accomplishing much of anything plot-wise.

It was a treat for Riverdale fans as it allowed them to see Hiram operate outside of Riverdale. Is he still the big bad outside of the small town limits? Does he still wield that same power?

From Katy Keene Season 1 Episode 13, it seems as though he does as he eagerly starts a real estate war with Jorge Lopez and his family. And it was made personal because, as it turns out, Hiram is from the Heights! It proved that even the residents of New York aren't safe from the Hiram Lodge.

And it either shows that Hiram survives his illness from Riverdale Season 4 or proves that he's been faking it this whole time to manipulate Veronica, which would not be a surprise to fans.

Hiram's introduction could have opened the door for potential crossovers like bringing Veronica into the fold, as she already has an established relationship with Katy. Her feud with daddy could have bled into Katy Keene, if the writers chose that route.

But for those who turned into Katy Keene without ever watching Riverdale, it could have been alienating. Hiram showing up doesn't mean much when you don't know what Hiram's capable of.

However, his arrival also underlined how much Katy Keene relied on Riverdale for success.

Crossovers are par for the course, and fans love them, but Season 1 was filled with little visits from familiar characters. Despite the joy it brought to fans, Hiram's introduction almost felt like a lifeline to save Katy Keene from its inevitable fate.

Becca: That Katy Keene did a lot of crossovers early on does sound like the creators and execs were desperate to grab as many Riverdale fans as possible.

Out of all the Riverdale villains to show up on Katy Keene, Hiram makes the most sense. We knew he had ties to New York before he mentioned he was from the Heights. Real estate schemes are in his wheelhouse. 

Actually, I thought the explanation of him being from the Heights wasn't needed and annoyed me because of Riverdale's habit of casual retconning or at least veering uncomfortably close to retconning. Suddenly saying Hiram was from the Heights struck me as a close to retconning moment. 

My issue with Hiram showing up is that he lost all credibility as a villain during Riverdale Season 2. Storylines with him are particularly tedious.

I took him a lot more seriously as a villain during his Katy Keene appearance than I had in a long time. I don't know if Katy Keene could have sustained it, though.

One of Riverdale's biggest problems (and I think CAOS suffers from it too) is how laughable its recurring villains are. Even though the Hiram reveal was a good shakeup, I think any storyline built around him would become a drag.

Do you think Katy Keene Season 2 could have pulled off a good storyline based around Hiram?

Lizzy: I agree, four seasons in and Hiram's not as threatening as he once was. The tug-and-pull between him and Veronica has gotten repetitive.

I think, to some extent, Riverdale and CAOS make its villains laughable on purpose. We all remember Edgar Evernever! Hiram began to fall flat because he's competing with outlandish villains like Evernever, the Black Hood, and the Gargoyle King.

It's possible that with a new adversary, Hiram Lodge could once again rise to the occasion. I think with good writing, Mark Consuelos definitely has it in him. It might be refreshing to see him face-off against Jorge and company this time around, but again the writing is key.

Unlike on Riverdale and CAOS, the villains on Katy Keene exist in the real world.

Yes, they may still be exaggerated, but we've likely all encountered the mean girl or a mean and sexist boss at some point in our lives, so the grounded nature of the show could have worked for the story arc.

Becca: Oh, yes, I don't think Edgar Evernever trying to fly a rocket while wearing an Even Knievel costume will be forgotten anytime soon.

It's not impossible to make a good storyline with what Katy Keene set up with Hiram. But like you said, the writing is key.

I've become so used to Riverdale squandering all of its potential. Katy Keene was still in its early stages, but based on what did air, do think the writing was living up to its potential in general? How about the crossovers in particular?

Lizzy: I've found that to be the case with Katy Keene as well. The foundation was there, but the series lacked direction and oftentimes felt like it was at a standstill as characters would be in the same place as they were when the episode began.

The lack of progress for each character's arc was frustrating to watch, especially in the show's infancy when there was so much to explore. The series glossed over the character's backstory and rushed many relationships without giving them time to breathe or flourish.

In the first episodes, Katy and K.O. are introduced as soulmates. Then they break up just as quickly, but it's hard to sympathize with Katy when we knew nothing about her and K.O.'s relationship. We're told not shown, and I think that was one of Katy Keene's biggest flaws.

When it came to crossovers, they seemed forced simply to capitalize on the Riverdale audience. I found most of the Katy Keene/Riverdale crossovers fell flat, particularly the episode with Kevin Keller.

Since it was set five years in the future, he was a drama teacher at Riverdale High and resented staying in the murderous town. His character was basically stuck in high school, and he told tales of Le Bonne Nuit (Veronica's nightclub) and of "Creekdale's" serial killers.

It was odd and unnecessary even to fans of Riverdale, almost as if the show was trying to maintain any connection to its sister series.

Pepper also helped him take down a Harvey Weinstein-like director, but the storyline didn't reasonable because, again, since we never see their backstory, there's no emotional connection when Kevin gets his revenge.

Becca: Despite the differences between the three shows, they share a lot of the same writing weaknesses. Plots are either rushing or dragging. Characters and relationships aren't given time to breathe. They're usually at their worse when trying to push a "message" storyline, and I could go on.

I think Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is a little better than the other two in some of those areas, but I credit it more to the streaming format than the actual writing.

It seems like the Riverdale crossovers didn't help and possibly hurt Katy Keene. Katy's appearance on Riverdale Season 4 Episode 12 felt perfunctory. I thought Katy was likable, but the appearance didn't get me excited for the show.

I agree the five-year difference in the timelines created issues, but I don't think syncing up the timelines would make crossovers more exciting because the writing weaknesses would remain.

Riverdale/CAOS crossovers have more potential than Katy Keene/Riverdale crossovers story-wise, but I think the same writing weaknesses would ultimately make the crossover(s) disappointing, especially since there has been a high demand for such a crossover.

Do you think a Riverdale/Chilling Adventures crossover could be as good as the audience wants it to be?

Lizzy: When you get your hopes up, there's plenty of room for disappointment. That's what typically happens with a series finale of a show, and I think that applies to crossovers, as well.

There's definitely potential for a Riverdale and CAOS crossover, but they would need to find a good reason to blend the worlds. It cannot be just fan service, which I feel like it would be at this point.

There's also a lot to think about logistically, as its unclear what time period Sabrina exists in or whether the Riverdale we know is the same Riverdale she visited during her brief trip in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Season 3.

What if they exist in parallel universes? Weird things happen in Greendale all the time, but it doesn't seem to impact anyone in Riverdale even though they're supposed to be right across the river.

I think the fact they haven't done a full-fledged crossover yet and have given us little Easter eggs in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is because they haven't figured out a solid way to bring these two very different worlds together.

What are your thoughts on a Riverdale/CAOS crossover?

Becca: I think a lot of concerns you bring up would be waived away by magic or the show(s) wouldn't bother to explain.

The CAOS Easter egg that best set up a Riverdale/CAOS crossover was Hilda eating a Southside Serpent on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Part 3 Episode 6. I'm not sure if the Serpent remained dead post-Sabrina's time travel shenanigans, but if he is, that's a very easy way to get Jughead and Betty to Greendale and investigating.

I think a Riverdale/CAOS crossover would work best if it was limited to the Riverdale characters who could best handle the idea of magic, which would be Betty, Jughead, and probably Cheryl.

Regardless of how it's contrived, I think I would wind up disappointed with the substance of the crossover interactions.

A lot of crossovers waste too much time pitting the protagonists against each other. Also, and this is especially worrisome with CAOS and Riverdale being such plot-heavy shows, crossovers tend to focus more on the plot at the expense of the characters.

I suspect interactions between Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Riverdale would be entirely devoted to the discussion of the plot instead of the characters getting to know each other and forging bonds.

How much time would be given over for a crossover? If it's just one scene consisting of a pair of characters providing information to another pair of characters, it would be a waste.

Since both shows are anticlimactic more often than not, it seems doubtful the story they come up with for the crossover (whatever it is) will end satisfactorily.

Lizzy: Those are all valid points. Though, I do think if the crossover were to have any chance of success, it would have to be a full fledged episode where everyone was involved.

I think the reason they brought in a random Serpent we've never met for that CAOS episode is because, again, they couldn't justify bringing in anyone from the main or supporting cast. It doesn't move anything forward, but it's a fun nod to showcase that these shows co-exist.

I agree that a crossover would be heavily plot-focused and rely too much on magic to explain any hiccups.

Riverdale has mingled with some supernatural ideas, but not the likes of Greendale, so I don't think it would go over well, unless, at the end of it, Sabrina wiped everyone's memories the way she used to with Harvey, Roz, and her human friends.

And that would be disappointing because it wouldn't have a permanent impact on either of the show's plots.

Riverdale is also jumping five years into the future, so they can't use school rivalries as a way to facilitate the crossover anymore. It's hard to imagine where Riverdale will go with the time jump, but since CAOS still has one season left, do you think it's something they are considering before they wrap up?

Becca: I thought CAOS wrapped filming before the cancellation news broke. Maybe if they filmed afterward they would have thrown something in. But if everything was wrapped up, I doubt there will be anything significant in the final season. Even if they could add something last minute, it would probably be something very trivial.

You seem to like the idea of a really big crossover with everyone from both casts having roles. Do you think a crossover with all three shows simultaneously could have been possible?

Lizzy: Well, I think that if they were to commit to doing a crossover, the dream would be to have it like an Arrowverse crossover where they get everyone involved. Obviously, that's easier for Arrowverse shows because they have more common ground than Archieverse.

As we discussed previously, there's a lot of things to consider so while I'd love to see that, sadly, I don't think it's possible for all three shows to crossover.

Are you relieved there likely won't be any crossovers?

Becca: Yes, for me it comes back to the writing. No matter how good everything else would be, I don't think the writing teams would have succeeded in telling good stories.

The other reason I'm relieved is that there won't be a big musical finale, and you know they would do such a thing. I don't understand why they keep adding musical numbers; they're almost always terrible on any of the shows.

Lizzy: Now that's a point we can both agree on. I'm not a huge fan of musical numbers on shows to begin with, but for some reason, they are so cringe-worthy and cheesy.

I could possibly stomach one random song here and there, but the musical episodes are filler and don't contribute much to the overall story, which makes it even worse. I can back a crossover, but a musical crossover? That's where I draw the line!

Becca: Here, here!

On the flip side, is there anything you wanted from a crossover — a particular moment or character interaction or action set piece — that you wished could have happened?

Lizzy: I never really thought much about it, but I would enjoy a Hiram Lodge vs. Faustus Blackwood showdown. I think the dynamic there would be worth exploring. How about you?

Becca: If they could have done it with all three shows, my ideal ending would have been Archie and Veronica coming back to Riverdale all shiny and happy from their NYC escapades and meeting up at Pop's with Betty and Jughead who are covered in gore because they just helped avert the apocalypse.

Lizzy: Nothing like a milkshake to end the day!

Over to you, TV Fanatics!

13 Vicious Beatdowns from the 2018-19 TV Season

Open List

Are you disappointed about not getting Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Riverdale, and/or Katy Keene's crossovers in the future?

What CAOS, Riverdale, and/or Katy Keene crossovers would you have liked to have seen?

Hit the comments below. 

You can watch Katy Keene online at TV Fanatic.

The post It Is A Tragedy We’ll Never See A Chilling Adventures of Sabrina-Riverdale-Katy Keene Crossover appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Lucy Hale, who played the titular character on the Riverdale spinoff, has opened up about it. 

The actress shared a video via social media, noting that the decision to cancel the series "sucks."

Hale said that she had been "a blubbering mess" since the cancellation news broke. 

"I've kind of struggled all day with what I wanted to say about this, or if I shouldn't say anything. Nothing felt right," she said in a video on Instagram.

"I didn't want to just post a picture or a caption because nothing would do justice to how I feel about Katy Keene, or how I feel about the people involved with it."

The Pretty Little Liars alum called her role as Katy in the series "one of the highlights" of her life, and added that her involvement on the show had been "a joy from top to bottom."

She also revealed that she is "a little confused" ove the cancellation decision. 

"I do believe it's timeless," she told fans.

View this post on Instagram

Sad to deliver this news ! But I love the show. I love what it stands for. And mostly I love YOU. To the cast, crew, and all involved… 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 adore you.

A post shared by Lucy Hale (@lucyhale) on Jul 2, 2020 at 7:02pm PDT

"But sometimes things just don't work out and maybe it's just not the right time for it…"

"The show's not coming back and that sucks, but I'll hold my head high and who knows what I'll do next," she said.

The series followed the professional and romantic lives of four Archie Comics characters, including fashion legend-to-be Katy Keene and singer-songwriter Josie McCoy, five years after the events of Riverdale, as they chase their dreams in New York City.

It infused music into the plotlines and follow the origins, trials, and tribulations of four struggling artists who are desperate to make it in the spotlight.

The cast also included Ashleigh Murray as Josie McCoy, Jonny Beauchamp as Jorge Lopez, Julia Chan as Pepper Smith, Zane Holtz as K.O. Kelly, Lucien Laviscount as Alexander Cabot, Camille Hyde as Alex’s sister Alexandra, and Katherine LaNasa as fashion queen Gloria Grandbilt.

Katy Keene Season 1 averaged 480,000 total viewers and a 0.1 rating in the 18-49 demo. Out of 16 dramas, Katy Keene ranked #14 in both metrics, coming in just ahead of In the Dark and Dynasty. 

Katy Keene was one of the first shows that was not automatically added to Netflix a week after its first season concluded.

This is thanks to The CW not renewing its deal with Netflix, meaning that the network could find a streaming home for Katy Keene on its own.

This also allowed the network to host the entire first season on The CW app and website, something that is typically reserved for the most recent five episodes of its series.

The series also streams on HBO Max, and it is thought that it could move there as an original series, but moving shows to new homes comes with a lot of hurdles. 

The good news is that the options on the cast were extended until the end of the month, so Warner Bros. TV group does have some wiggle room to try to save the series. 

What are your thoughts on the decision?

Hit the comments below. 

17 Satisfying Moments of Iconic LGBTQ+ Happiness on TV

Open List

The post Katy Keene Star Lucy Hale Reacts to Surprising Cancellation appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The CW has canceled the Riverdale spinoff after just one season. 

The drama's freshman finale aired May 14, and while it seemed the series would be a hit because of its connection to Riverdale, it was not meant to be. 

Katy Keene Season 1 averaged 480,000 total viewers and a 0.1 rating among adults. 

Out of 16 dramas the network aired this season, it ranked 14th. 

It bested In the Dark and Dynasty — both of which have been picked up for the 2020-21 TV season. 

Alarm bells started ringing when The CW opted to hold off on a renewal decision, with network president Mark Pedowitz wanting to wait to assess the digital figures for the series. 

The CW has always looked at the bigger picture when it comes to other avenues people use to watch their shows. 

Katy Keene was one of the first shows that was not automatically added to Netflix a week after its first season concluded. 

This is thanks to The CW not renewing its deal with Netflix, meaning that the network could find a streaming home for Katy Keene on its own. 

This also allowed the network to host the entire first season on The CW app and website, something that is typically reserved for the most recent five episodes of its series. 

While the network waited a while to make the decision to cancel the series, the series launched on HBO Max with its entire freshman season. 

It's unclear whether the streaming numbers on that platform factored into the decision, but what is clear is that Warner Bros. TV group plans on shopping Katy Keene around to other outlets. 

The cancellation could also signal a change in the way the network renews shows. 

The decision means that Lucy Hale, who plays the titular character has now starred on three CW dramas that were cut during their opening runs. 

The series followed the professional and romantic lives of four Archie Comics characters, including fashion legend-to-be Katy Keene and singer-songwriter Josie McCoy, five years after the events of Riverdale, as they chase their dreams in New York City.

The series infuses music into the plotlines and follow the origins, trials, and tribulations of four struggling artists who are desperate to make it in the spotlight.

The series also starred Ashleigh Murray as Josie McCoy, Jonny Beauchamp as Jorge Lopez, Julia Chan as Pepper Smith, Zane Holtz as K.O. Kelly, Lucien Laviscount as Alexander Cabot, Camille Hyde as Alex’s sister Alexandra, and Katherine LaNasa as fashion queen Gloria Grandbilt.

What do you think of the decision to end the series?

Hit the comments. 

Remember you can watch Katy Keene online right here via TV Fanatic. 

17 Satisfying Moments of Iconic LGBTQ+ Happiness on TV

Open List

The post Katy Keene Canceled After One Season at The CW appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Devoid of murders and darkness, the series (based on the Archie Comics), spearheaded by Lucy Hale in the role of the titular character, shines bright amidst the supernatural vibes of its sister shows, Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and the often supernatural lineup embraced on The CW.

In place of those murder mysteries that tend to envelop the residents of Riverdale, Katy Keene sets the stage for a coming-of-age tale that propels themes of hopefulness, following your destiny, and chasing every opportunity.

Some of us — the ones that were old enough to have watched Gossip Girl and Sex and the City when it aired live, anyway — might say that the series is the younger sister of those fashion-centric shows and fills the void they left behind quite nicely with its bubbly depiction of New York's elite, always-on-the-go, and hook-up-heavy aesthetic. 

But don't be fooled — the show's optimistic outlook doesn't mean it's without its fair share of drama.

Like Riverdale, Katy Keene relies on a formula of convoluted mysteries and twists, and it thrives on throwing its characters into unpredictable and messy situations, albeit, with less murder and fewer serial killers. 

And New York, much like Riverdale, can make or break you in a minute; it can snuff out that very hope it evokes and destroy the opportunities it's made possible until you're left feeling more alone than ever.

Katy Keene focuses heavily on its ensemble cast — heavier than Riverdale at times — giving each of its characters a storyline to dig into. 

The circumstances of the Big Apple  —  rent as tall as the skyscrapers and the competitiveness of its inhabitants — brings Katy closer to Jorge/Ginger Lopez (Johhny Beauchamp), Pepper Smith (Julia Chan), and Josie McCoy (Ashleigh Murray).

And their career ambitions are so fun with Katy an aspiring fashion designer, Jorge/Ginger an aspiring Broadway star, Pepper an aspiring business owner, and Riverdale's finest, Josie, an aspiring singer.

Much like Riverdale's core four, this unit relies on each other to navigates life's up and downs. 

For Riverdale's Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead, their trials and tribulations tend to consist of dark forces and mysteries like finding the identity of the Black Hood, the Gargoyle King, and how to escape (and stop) an organ-harvesting cult, among others. 

Instead, Katy Keene offers up a dreamlike vibe while showcasing more relatable and realistic issues of navigating your upper 20s with the focus being on every millennial's struggle to juggle the pursuit of a dream career in an overpriced city with romantic life. 

Alex says it best — you're no one in this city without money — and thus, a lot of the drama revolves around financial situations. 

Plotlines include Katy getting into mishaps as she attempts to salvage her job at Lacy's while also revolting against the shady fashion practices of fashion mogul (and temporary love interest), Guy LaMontagne. 

Josie endures a back-and-forth tussles with the Cabot family whose grasp extends almost as wide as the Blossoms' in Riverdale.

She can't break free from the Cabot's despite doing her best to get her music career off the ground and supplements the income she's not making off of her music by working at a donut-shop we never see. 

Pepper Smith channels her inner con-artist heiress, Anna Delvey, while aspiring to scrounge up (or con) enough money to become the next Andy Warhol with the launch of her visionary shared creative space for artists dubbed the Pepper Plant.

The series also taps into the theme of disappointment and rejection when you realize getting your heart's desire isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Despite its picture-perfect exterior, it doesn't shy away from grim realities that fall upon Katy and her friends. 

Life is messy, unpredictable, oftentimes downright cruel, but it's survivable with a tribe that pushes and motivates you every single day. 

Katy Keene has found her tribe, and the strength of the show lies within their connections and shared experiences. 

Admittedly, Katy as a standalone character could not carry a show. Hale, much like Katy, does best when she's propped up by a supporting cast that infuses the storytelling with color. Their personal storylines have potential, depth, and offer intrigue that Katy's plots sometimes lack.

Katy Keene is an entirely different ball game than Riverdale, and sometimes, you have to actively remind yourself that these two shows — which are also five years apart in the timeline — exist on the same playing field.

But in case you suddenly forget, the series won't hesitate to remind you by using every opportunity to relate back to Riverdale in hopes of reeling in the viewers that made the series, complete with its oddities, an international and social success. 

There are elements that give it "Riverdale-esque" vibes to entice viewers, such as the violence Jorge endures while walking the streets as his drag queen persona, Ginger Lopez, and the mysteries of both Katy's birth father and Pepper's birth parents. 

Josie constantly labels herself as a survivor of the "murder capital of the world."

There's even been a handful of crossovers episodes that bring familiar faces like Josie's mother, Kevin Keller, and the more exciting inclusion of Hiram Lodge, who proves that he's a villain that can adaptable to any background and reality.

They even deliver a bit of incest — on a slightly less in-your-face level — with Alex and Xandra Cabot, former romantic partners turned step-siblings. 

Katy Keene and Riverdale's worlds bleed together ever so slightly so that it works in the frame of Keene's doe-eyed, optimistic, and at times, silly, world.

But by embracing their difference, they can exist on the same playing field and offer up an entirely contrasting experience — one that's less twisted and dark and more relatable; you want to root for these characters and their success. 

Now, if Katy Keene snags a second season renewal (The CW still hasn't made a decision), it needs to use the opportunity to work out some kinks. 

The foundation is there, but the series lacks direction. Riverdale never fails in that department because its murder mysteries are meticulously plotted out, whereas viewers may find themselves frustrated with the lack of progress or movement for each character's arc on Katy Keene.

The series also suffers immensely by glossing over the character's backstory and rushing through relationships without giving them the proper time to develop or flourish. 

If the series can smooth out these creases, it has what it takes to become what Riverdale often struggles to be — an authentic and realistic portrayal of a twentysomethings journey. 

What do you think about the similar but distinct worlds on Katy Keene and Riverdale? Is Katy Keene establishing a world you want to visit frequently?

Hit the comments, and watch Katy Keene online now to catch up on episodes! 

17 Endgame ‘Ships We Love With Endings We Hate

Open List

The post Katy Keene Is No Riverdale, And That’s a Good Thing! appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Katy Keene, which wraps its freshman season tonight, has been left in limbo. 

The Riverdale spinoff, which stars Lucy Hale as the titular character, has not been given word on its future. 

Deadline is reporting that the network will not be making a decision on the future of the show for a few weeks yet, and it will all come down to the streaming numbers. 

The CW has full stacking rights of the episode, meaning that all episodes are available to stream on The CW's digital platform. 

It is also getting a second streaming home on HBO Max, but the linear numbers have been soft, with the show averaging around 500,000 viewers and a 0.1 rating among adults 18-49. 

As a spinoff of Riverdale, the network probably expected better. 

“The linear ratings have been soft but we have seen some good streaming viewership,” Mark Pedowitz, The CW's CEO, said of the series.

“We’ll make a decision in a few weeks.”

The good news is that the network has extended the options on the cast, meaning that a renewal should not be ruled out. 

Ahead of the series debut, it was announced that The CW had ordered 13 scripts for a potential second season. 

Meanwhile, Arrow's spinoff, Green Arrow & the Canaries, and stars Arrow vets Katie Cassidy, Juliana Harkavy, and Kat McNamara, has not learned whether it is coming to the air. 

The potential series aired as a backdoor pilot on Arrow earlier this season, and was considered a shoo-in for a slot on the schedule. 

With Arrow ending, it seemed like the network wanted to keep the franchise alive. 

The 100's prequel pilot has not aired, but May is typically the time when networks make pickup decisions. 

However, Pedowitz said on a conference call that each of the projects were still in consideration. 

“They are very much in active discussions to see what we can do. I’ve had many discussions with Warner Bros, we have a strategy involved, hopefully we can pull it off,” he said.

Kung Fu, The Republic Of Sarah, Superman and Lois, and Walker have all been ordered as the network's new shows for next season. 

What are your thoughts on all of this?

Do you want any of these shows on the schedule next season?

Hit the comments below. 

17 Endgame ‘Ships We Love With Endings We Hate

Open List

The post Katy Keene, Green Arrow & the Canaries, and The 100 Prequel in Limbo at The CW appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Katy Keene Season 1 Episode 10 will lift the lid on that as Casey Cott's character makes his way to the Riverdale spinoff this week. 

The CW has dropped the latest trailer, which shows Kevin meeting Katy for the first time, but there's no telling what brings him to New York City. 

If you watch Katy Keene online, you know Josie has been struggling to revive the Pussycats, and could use some assistance from Kevin. 

The official logline for the episode teases that Josie has a falling out with the Pussycats, and it's not a surprise. 

Josie hated the picks from Mr. Cabot, so she went off on her own to revive the band, even admitting that she didn't care about the EP deal she had. 

If Kevin can help her realize that she doesn't need to be bickering with members of the band because she has the star power to light up a room on her own, it will be a good thing. 

There's a good chance fans will get some updates on Riverdale favorites, especially with the spinoff being set five years after the parent series. 

Here's the full logline from The CW:

When an allegation against Gloria (Katherine LaNasa) is made, Katy (Lucy Hale), tries to get to the bottom of it, but instead might have discovered something about her mother.

Josie (Ashleigh Murray) and the new Pussycats have a falling out leaving Josie’s close friend, Kevin Keller (guest star Casey Cott), to remind that she doesn’t need to be that person anymore.

Jorge (Jonny Beauchamp) offers Bernardo (guest star Ryan Faucett) an interesting relationship proposition in order not to lose him, but it does not go as he hoped.

Meanwhile, Pepper’s (Julia Chan) past is starting to catch up with her and it could jeopardize more than just the Pepper Plant.

Sounds like another fun episode, right?

Have a look at the clip below. 

What are your thoughts on Kevin's arrival?

Do you think he should stay on the series?

Hit the comments below.

Katy Keene airs Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW. 

17 Endgame ‘Ships We Love With Endings We Hate

Open List

The post Katy Keene Welcomes Riverdale’s Kevin Keller in Latest Crossover – Watch Trailer appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Katy Keene Season 1 Episode 9 gave our core four their own storylines to work with, switched up the way the story was told, and it resulted in one of the best episodes of the series to date. 

We'll start with Katy because she's Katy freaking Keene. 

If you watch Katy Keene online, you know Katy made her fair share of mistakes throughout the first bunch of episodes. 

Taking the internship with Guy was either going to make her sink or swim, and it changed the game for her. 

Gone was the Katy who was passionate about fashion, and in was a young woman struggling to keep her job. 

Guy may have been hard, but at least he taught Katy a lesson about resilience. If she gets something out of this internship, it's that she needs to have a thicker skin. 

Guy is a real piece of work, but he's a master of his craft and does not want the intern to cramp his style. 

Katy taking one of his designs out of the trash to make the fifth garment was a bold move, and one that came back to bite her. 

My favorite aspect of this series is that good things do not come to these characters easily. Katy always finds a way out of the daring situations she finds herself in. 

But now Guy might just use her as a model. He likes people who listen to him, and nothing else, especially if he's trying to get a new fashion line off the ground. 

Whether Katy will be able to make this work, I don't know. Gloria's warning about Guy seemed premature, but it was evident he was a nightmare from the jump. 

Did anyone else think Gloria declined the dress because she knew it was a Katy Keene garment? I expected a small scene with Gloria scolding Katy for it. 

As for Josie, it was amazing how she opted to ditch the confines of her EP with Alex's dad. There's only so much one person can take, and the Cabots seem to think they can control everything. 

The Pussycats go all the way back to Riverdale Season 1, and even further back if we include the comic books, so they should get the time to shine. 

Josie's analogy about the Pussycat Dolls was right on the money. Josie wanted a band that equally brought talent to the table, so that there wasn't just one person getting all the limelight. 

That tends to be when bands falter because the less prominent members want some more of that lovely spotlight. 

When Josie arrived in New York, she was swept off her feet by Alex, with him offering her everything under the sun, but it all came crashing down in a New York minute. 

Josie is wise beyond her years, and telling Alex's father where to stick the EP was the best foot forward. 

She wants to have creative control of her brand, and she's only going to get that if she goes independent. 

Alex proved his belief that Josie is talented when he went against his father's wishes and chose to follow his heart. 

Will this result in his trust fund being cut off? Highly likely, but Lucien Laviscount is hitting us in the feels on a weekly basis with his excellent portrayal of Alex Cabot. 

Let's hope he doesn't ask to move in with Josie because that apartment is getting very busy. Just ask Jorge. 

Jorge's feelings about Buzz have never really went away. It was the relationship that could never work because Buzz did not want to come out to his co-workers. 

That's why Jorge had to cut him loose. When Jorge rebounded with the hot fireman that is Bernardo, it seemed like things were looking up. 

But it was only a matter of time before Buzz re-entered the picture. The connection between Jorge and Buzz is undeniable. 

They have chemistry for days, and naturally, that made Jorge wonder what was going to happen. Bernardo's jealousy was starting to show, and he made some great points. 

What I did not expect was for them to have a threesome. Pepper thought she was giving Jorge some good advice, but it's only going to make things complicated in the long run. 

Jorge's jealousy was evident when he woke up the morning after to Buzz in Bernardo's arms. It's possible Jorge could be left out in the cold when all is said and done. 

Which brings me to Pepper. Her dark secrets are finally starting to see the light of day, and leaving her wife in a Moroccan jail was horrid. 

The most striking revelation was that Pepper's been lying about her age. Where the heck did that come from? While I don't think she's the kid from Orphan, she's hiding a lot. 

What did you think of Katy's decision? Did Jorge go too far by having sex with both the men in his life at the same time? What did you think of Josie telling Mr. Cabot to keep his money?

Hit the comments. 

Remember you can watch Katy Keene online right here via TV Fanatic. 

Katy Keen airs Thursdays on The CW at 8/7c.

17 Endgame ‘Ships We Love With Endings We Hate

Open List

The post Katy Keene Season 1 Episode 9 Review: Chapter Nine: Wishin’ & a Hopin’ appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Guy flips out but Gloria does not choose the garments for the show. 

Katy gets ready to leave, but Guy says he has some other work for her, and makes her a model for a while. 

Josie is shocked when Mr. Cabot causes some problems with the band. 

Josie ousts the new girls when she learns they can't play any instruments. 

She makes her own band and Mr. Cabot says he will not support her, so she says she doesn't need him and goes off on her own adventure. 

Pepper gets a blast from the past in the form of her ex-wife who is seeking revenge because of something that happened in the past. 

Elsewhere, Jorge struggles with his feelings for Buzz, so he decides to have a threesome with him and Bernardo. 

The post Katy Keene Season 1 Episode 9 Recap: Chapter Nine: Wishin’ & a Hopin’ appeared first on TV Fanatic.