Small Screen: ‘Beyond The Gates’ reaches 100th episode, ‘Rick and Morty’ expands universe
Daphnee Duplaix, Clifton Davis, Tamara Tunie, and Karla Mosley - Quantrell Colbert/CBS
Broadcast: CBS's Beyond the Gates has reached its 100th episode! Creator Michele Val Jean and Executive Producer Sheila Ducksworth reflected on the show's journey, discussing storylines addressing racial issues and politics.
Val Jean was asked about a specific scene where Martin (Brandon Claybourn) was attacked and called offensive names by his attackers. She explained that the incident is as common as characters being recast, and that overall, she wants to share an experience from a black perspective. Val Jean emphasized that although the scene may have been shocking to some viewers, just because a black family is wealthy and is held in high regard, it doesn’t exempt them from the racism that exists within a community.
“I decided to go down that road because I wanted to show something that happens that you’d never see on daytime TV… I’m telling a story from the Black experience. A lot of it is based around a Black family who is privileged and wealthy, but at the end of the day, they can still be accosted on the side of the road by racists… It was controversial, but I don’t think controversial is wrong,” Val Jean said. Val Jean said. She further gave credit to CBS for standing behind her decision to add a contentious topic to the series, stating that because the narrative is now part of the storyline, she wouldn’t be surprised to see a couple of repercussions in the future.
When asked if we will ever be introduced to any type of President in the series, Val Jean said that she wants to stay away from politics. The series, although it explores serious topics, is supposed to be “entertaining, not polarizing.”
Justina Machado (The Horrors of Dolores Roach) has been cast in a major recurring role in Season 2 of CBS's legal drama, Matlock (2024). She will play Eva, a quick-witted, ambitious attorney who manages the Miami office of Jacobson Moore. During an emergency meeting in New York, she spots an opportunity to leverage for her benefit.
Machado previously collaborated with series creator Jennie Snyder Urman on Jane the Virgin (2014), playing Darci Factor. She recently starred in Broadway's Real Women Have Curves, earning a Tony nomination. Her recent roles include Natalia Cruz in Netflix’s Pulse (2025) and in the Blumhouse series The Horrors of Dolores Roach (2023). Machado is represented by D2 Management, UTA, and attorney Rick Genow.
Tyler James Williams, known for his role as Gregory Eddie in ABC’s Abbott Elementary, has received three nominations and won the 2023 Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, Comedy, or Drama. He recently signed with Range Media Partners. Williams rose to fame as Chris Rock in the family sitcom Everybody Hates Chris (2005), winning a NAACP Image Award. His credits include: Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (2016), Whiskey Cavalier (2019), and films like The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021), The Argument (2020), and Dear White People (2014).
Ronnie Rowe Jr. - Amy Sussman
Cable: Ronnie Rowe Jr. (Star Trek: Discovery) has been cast as a series regular in USA Network’s series Anna Pigeon, a series based on the novels by Nevada Barr. It follows a park ranger whose life takes a turn after experiencing a traumatic event, leading her to solve crimes that occur within national parks. Rowe Jr. will portray Frederick Stanton, a charismatic FBI agent investigating crimes within these national parks.
Lea Thompson is set to direct and executive produce the 10-episode season alongside Todd Berger, Brett Burlock, Sonia Hosko, Julie Di Cresce, Peter Emerson, Gordon Gilbertson, Tom Cox, and Jordy Randall. Leslie Cowan is producing the series. Rowe Jr. was recently a series regular in BET+’s The Porter (2022), receiving a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series. He has also appeared in The Man from Toronto (2022), starring Kevin Hart. He is represented by Buchwald, Link Entertainment, and The Characters Agency.
Calderon has appeared in several productions, including Ryan Murphy’s Grotesquerie (2024), Max’s Minx (2022), AMC’s The Walking Dead: World Beyond (2020), and OWN’s The Haves and the Have Nots (2013). He is represented by AKA Talent Agency, Cultured Artists, and Felker Toczek Suddleson.
HBO's period drama The Gilded Age (2022) has been renewed for a fourth season! Set in 1880s New York, the series has gained a strong following. Since moving to HBO's marquee Sunday night slot, The Gilded Age has experienced an upswing in viewership with its current third season.
"We couldn’t be prouder of the impressive viewership heights The Gilded Age has achieved this season," said Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President of HBO Programming and Head of HBO Drama Series and Films.
Season 2 of Murder in a Small Town (2024) has welcomed Bethany Brown and Marci T. House to its cast. The series is based on the book series by L.R. Wright. In the series, Bethany Brown plays Corporal Laila Jackson, a personable and confident officer. Despite her talent, she carries personal baggage that she prefers to keep hidden. As a recovering alcoholic working in a continuously understaffed department, she may find that the strain begins to take a toll, potentially revealing old demons. Brown is represented by Trisko and Thruline Entertainment.
Marci T. House takes on the role of Angela Clyburn, a capable medical examiner and single mother. Initially hesitant to trust her new partner, she gradually begins to respect his methods and integrity. House is represented by Thruline Entertainment and Play Management. Ian Weir serves as the head writer and executive producer, alongside executive producers Nick Orchard, Morris Ruskin, Sharon Wisnia, Amanda Tapping, Jon Cotton, Kim Roberts, and Tina Pehme.
For many, this will be a sad update, but the Sex and the City (1998) franchise is coming to an end, with And Just Like That (2021) concluding after three seasons. Showrunner Michael Patrick King announced that the series would wrap up after the current season. He stated, “While I was writing the last episode of And Just Like That… season 3, it became clear to me that this might be a wonderful place to stop.”
Dolly De Leon - Frazer Harrison
Streaming: Dolly De Leon, a nominee for both Golden Globe and BAFTA Awards, is set to star in the 10-episode series, Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed. This dark comedy revolves around Paula, a recently divorced mother who finds herself entangled in a web of blackmail, murder, and youth soccer.
De Leon will play the role of Detective Sofia Gonzalez as a series regular. The series is written and executive produced by creator and showrunner Rosen, known for Sugar (2024), and is directed and executive produced by David Gordon Green (Halloween). Other executive producers include Simon Kinberg, Audrey Chon, and Bard Dorros. De Leon recently had a role in Season 2 of Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers (2021), playing Agnes, a former nun. She is also credited with playing Abigail in Triangle of Sadness (2022) and Rita in Ghostlight (2024), a film she also executive-produced. De Leon is represented by Gersh, Fusion Entertainment, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.
Rick and Morty (2013) Executive Producers Dan Harmon and James Siciliano are expanding the universe with the new series President Curtis. This announcement was made on Friday, August 1, 2025, at San Diego Comic-Con. Keith David (Duster) will reprise his role as President Andre Curtis in the series. David has worked with Harmon on Krapopolis (2023) and voiced various projects including the revival of Hulu’s King of the Hill, Hazbin Hotel (2019), Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai (2023), and Family Guy (1999). He recently starred in Fox's Duster, High Potential (2024), Abbott Elementary (2021), and will also appear in FX’s upcoming The Lowdown.
President Curtis centers on the Commander-in-Chief and his staff navigating interdimensional scandals and paranormal occurrences. Harmon and Siciliano expressed their excitement about the series. mentioning that President Curtis would have been in development even if it had no connection to the Rick and Morty series.
“President Curtis has always been one of our favorite characters to write — he’s the only person in the multiverse who can go toe-to-toe with Rick and still hold office. Now we finally get to embark on sci-fi missions from Curtis’s point of view. And with Keith David leading the charge, it’s going to be a wild ride.”
David is represented by Gersh Voice, Verve, DVFI Management, Meyer and Downs, and The J Squared Group.
NBC’s Brilliant Minds has cast Al Calderon (Days of Our Lives) for Season 2 of the series. Set to premiere in September 2025, Brilliant Minds (2024) follows Dr. Oliver Wolf, a neurologist, and his team of interns as they explore the complexities of the human mind while navigating their own relationships and mental health challenges. Calderon seamlessly transitions from Days of Our Lives to Brilliant Minds as he plays the charismatic and funny Nurse Scotty Silva, who runs the hospital. The cast also features Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II, and Donna Murphy. Michael Grassi serves as the writer and executive producer. Executive producers include Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, Lee Toland Krieger, DeMane Davis, Henrik Bastin, Andy Serkis, Jonathan Cavendish, and Will Tennant.
Calderon has appeared in several productions, including Ryan Murphy’s Grotesquerie (2024), Max’s Minx (2022), AMC’s The Walking Dead: World Beyond (2020), and OWN’s The Haves and the Have Nots (2013). He is represented by AKA Talent Agency, Cultured Artists, and Felker Toczek Suddleson.
The Pitt (2025) expands its Season 2 cast with Lawrence Robinson (Three Ways) in a recurring role as Brian Hancock, a charming and kind-hearted patient whose soccer injury leads to a chance encounter with one of the doctors. The Pitt follows Dr. Michael Robinavitch, the chief attendant in the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital's ER. The series unfolds hour by hour, highlighting the medical cases and personal crises that physicians and nurses face amid an overwhelming number of patients and limited resources. The cast includes Supriya Ganesh, Shabana Azeez, and Sepideh Moafi, with Irene Choi and Laëtitia Hollard also recurring in Season 2.
Recently, Robinson appeared in the Hulu feature Three Ways (2022) and has been featured in BET’s Tales (2017), Sistas (2019), and Route 187, as well as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He is represented by 831 Entertainment and HRI Talent.
ABC's Grey's Anatomy (2005), 9-1-1 (2018), and spinoff 9-1-1: Nashville has rescheduled their season by a week. Set to debut on Thursday, October 16, 2025, the drama series will now premiere on Thursday, October 9.
The premiere will begin with 9-1-1, debuting its ninth season at 8:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, followed by 9-1-1: Nashville at 9:00 PM Central Time, and Grey's Anatomy’s 22nd season at 10:00 PM Central Time. 9-1-1: Nashville focuses on the courageous first responders in Tennessee. Ryan Murphy, Tim Minear, and Rashad Raisani are the executive producers and writers, with Brad Buecker, Brad Falchuk, and Angela Bassett also serving as executive producers. The cast of 9-1-1 includes Angela Bassett, Ryan Guzman, Aisha Hinds, and Kenneth Choi. The show was created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, with Minear as the showrunner. Other executive producers include Bassett, Peter Krause, John J. Gray, Brad Buecker, Lyndsey Beaulieu, Ted Griffen, and Robert M. Williams.
Season 22 of Grey's Anatomy will feature 18 new episodes, starring a mix of familiar and new faces, including Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr., Jason George, Anthony Hill, Alexis Floyd, Harry Shum Jr., Adelaide Kane, and Niko Terho. Debbie Allen and Trevor Jackson will appear in recurring roles. The executive production team consists of creator Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers from Shondaland, alongside current executive producer Meg Marinis, who is also a director and recurring cast member, and Debbie Allen.
Emmy winner Sterling K. Brown, Oscar winner Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Winston Duke from Black Panther will lead a limited series based on Percival Everett's 2022 novel, The Trees. The adaptation of the novel, written by Marcus Gardley (The Chi) has already sparked a bidding war among networks.
The Trees is a thriller that addresses themes of racism and police violence. The story begins with a series of brutal murders in the rural town of Money, Mississippi, where detectives face hostility and resistance from the local sheriff and coroner. The tension is also heightened by numerous racist residents interfering with the investigation. At each crime scene, an additional body that resembles Emmett Till is found. As the detectives delve deeper, they discover similar murders happening nationwide.
While the roles have not been confirmed, Sterling K. Brown and Winston Duke are suspected to portray the detectives.
Sterling K. Brown is a three-time Emmy winner, recognized for his performances in American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson (2016) and This Is Us (2016). He is represented by Jennifer Wiley-Moxley of JWM Entertainment Group, CAA, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole. Da'Vine Joy Randolph has won an Oscar in the comedy The Holdovers (2023) and is known for her performance opposite Eddie Murphy in Dolemite Is My Name (2019) and for her Emmy-nominated role in Hulu's Only Murders In the Building (2021). Randolph is represented by CAA and Fox Rothschild. Winston Duke gained traction for his role as M'Baku in Black Panther (2018), reprising in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). He has also starred in Jordan Peele's Us (2019), Netflix's Spencer Confidential (2020), and headlines and executive-produced Nine Days (2021). Duke is represented by CAA, M88, and Attorney John Meigs.
Stefani Robinson, a six-time Emmy-nominated writer, director, and executive producer, has signed with WME. Robinson has served as an executive producer and written for all four seasons of FX’s drama series, Atlanta (2016). In 2018, she made history by becoming the first Black woman to receive a nomination for both Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in the same year. Recently, she executive-produced, showran, and directed an episode of the FX series Adults (2025). She is also developing the pilot for Very Young Frankenstein, a series she created based on the 1974 film, Young Frankenstein. Robinson also contributed as an executive producer and writer for the comedy series What We Do in the Shadows (2019), earning additional Emmy nominations for its second and third seasons in 2020 and 2022. Robinson is represented by Lev Ginsburg and Grace Kallis.
HBO's period drama The Gilded Age (2022) has been renewed for a fourth season! Set in 1880s New York, the series has gained a strong following. Since moving to HBO's marquee Sunday night slot, The Gilded Age has experienced an upswing in viewership with its current third season.
"We couldn’t be prouder of the impressive viewership heights The Gilded Age has achieved this season," Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President of HBO Programming and Head of HBO Drama Series and Films, said.
With just two episodes left in Season 3, Episode 7 will debut on August 3, and Episode 8 will premiere on August 10. The series has so far earned seven Emmy nominations, including one for Outstanding Drama Series, as well as one Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. The cast for Season 3 includes Denée Benton, Jordan Donica, Simon Jones, Audra McDonald, John Douglas Thompson, and Phylicia Rashad. Executive producers of the series are Gareth Neame and David Crockett, directors and executive producers Michael Engler and Salli Richardson-Whitfield, writer and executive producer Sonja Warfield, executive producer Bob Greenblatt, and co-executive producer Erica Armstrong Dunbar.
Apple TV+’s The Studio has made history with 23 Emmy nominations, becoming the most-nominated comedy series ever!
Dominican-American producer Frida Perez could make history herself if the series wins, becoming the first Latina to secure that Emmy and the second Latino ever to win as a producer in this category. A Brown University graduate, Perez worked her way up from being Seth Rogen’s assistant to co-creator and executive producer of The Studio. Ann Emmy win would win place her among a group of Latinas likeSelena Gomez and Salma Hayek. Only three Latino actors were nominated this year, underscoring the ongoing need for diversity in the industry. Looking forward to Season 2, Perez wants to raise the bar with creative storylines and production sets. Whether or not The Studio wins, Perez's nominations signal the potential for Latino-led productions in mainstream media.
Season 2 of Murder in a Small Town (2024) has welcomed Bethany Brown and Marci T. House to its cast. The series is based on the book series by L.R. Wright. Bethany Brown plays Corporal Laila Jackson, a personable and confident officer. Despite her talent, she carries personal baggage that she prefers to keep hidden. As a recovering alcoholic working in an understaffed department, she may find that the strain begins to take a toll, potentially revealing old demons. Brown is represented by Trisko and Thruline Entertainment.
Marci T. House takes on the role of Angela Clyburn, a capable medical examiner and single mother. Initially hesitant to trust her new partner, she gradually begins to respect his methods and integrity. House is represented by Thruline Entertainment and Play Management. Ian Weir serves as the head writer and executive producer, alongside executive producers Nick Orchard, Morris Ruskin, Sharon Wisnia, Amanda Tapping, Jon Cotton, Kim Roberts, and Tina Pehme.
For many, this will be a sad update, but the Sex and the City (1998) franchise is coming to an end, with And Just Like That (2021) concluding after three seasons. Showrunner Michael Patrick King announced that the series would wrap after the current season.
“While I was writing the last episode of And Just Like That… season 3, it became clear to me that this might be a wonderful place to stop,” he stated.
King confirmed that the finale will consist of two parts.
Many cast members have expressed their farewells on social media. Kristin Davis shared her sadness, saying, “I am profoundly sad. I love our whole beautiful cast and crew. 400 artisans have worked hard on our show with deep love.”
Sarita Choudhury, who played Seema Patel in both Sex and the City and And Just Like That, didn’t comment but reposted Sarah Jessica Parker’s farewell to Carrie Bradshaw on her Instagram.
A recently amended lawsuit from Amy Takahara, Netflix’s former director of Kids & Family Acquisitions, has brought attention to the company’s challenging workplace culture. Takahara has claimed she was fired after confronting the current Director of Kids & Tween Live Action and Content Licensing, Edward Horasz, about his behavior, detailing a hostile environment where she says that her ideas were undermined and her mental health attacked. “In sum, Ms. Takahara’s repeated complaints unfortunately fell on deaf ears.”
Her complaint describes a “toxic workplace culture,” citing instances of misogyny and discrimination, as well as Horasz's comments about a “lesbian agenda” and mocking pregnant staff. Netflix previously dismissed her claims as “meritless,” asserting her position was eliminated due to downsizing. The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and unspecified damages, alleging serious violations of Takahara’s rights under California law.
Edwin Hodge (The Purge, Parallel) has been cast in a recurring guest role for Season 2 of Prime Video's The Terminal List (2022).
Created by David DiGilio, The Terminal List follows James Reece, a Navy SEAL who is ambushed during a high-risk mission. Returning home, he grapples with conflicting memories and questions everything he thought he knew. Season 2 of The Terminal List is executive-produced by Chris Pratt, David DiGilio, Antoine Fuqua, and Kat Samick.
Hodge played Laker Ron Boone in HBO series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (2022) and appeared in National Geographic’s Genius: Aretha Franklin (2017). He co-wrote, produced, and starred alongside his brother Aldis Hodge and Danielle Deadwyler in Parallel (2024). Hodge is also known for his lead role in the Blumhouse franchise The Purge (2013) and for his work in Transformers: Bumblebee (2018). He is represented by Paradigm, the Priluck Company, and Ziffren Brittenham.
Kimberla Lawson roby
Industry: According to Ofcom's Media Nations report, streaming services in the UK have slowed significantly since 2024. The report suggests that income from Broadcaster Video on Demand (BVoD) has passed $1.34 billion for the first time. Following two years of growth at 20%, American streaming platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ experienced a revenue increase of just over 10% in 2024. Despite many subscribers considering Netflix too expensive, it remains the leading Subscription Video on Demand (SVoD) service, with 59% market share, followed by Prime Video at 46% and Disney+ at 25%. BVoD platforms, including ITVX, Channel 4, and Channel 5, now represent a quarter of total broadcaster advertising revenue. Additionally, BBC iPlayer had a good year, gaining 22% of all BBC viewing.
Stefani Robinson, a six-time Emmy-nominated writer, director, and executive producer, has signed with WME. Robinson has served as an executive producer and written for all four seasons of FX’s drama series, Atlanta (2016). In 2018, she made history by becoming the first Black woman to receive a nomination for both Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in the same year. Recently, she executive-produced, showran, and directed an episode of the FX series Adults (2025). She is also developing the pilot for Very Young Frankenstein, a series she created based on the 1974 film, Young Frankenstein. Robinson has also contributed as an executive producer and writer for the comedy series What We Do in the Shadows (2019), earning additional Emmy nominations for its second and third seasons in 2020 and 2022.. Robinson is represented by Lev Ginsburg and Grace Kallis.
Author Kimberla Lawson Roby, known for her Reverend Curtis Black series, has partnered with L.A.-based Newell Law Group to represent her catalog of 28 novels for both film and TV adaptations. This marks the first time in over three decades that her work has been considered for an adaptation. Her ninth installment, The Reverend’s Wife, has won a NAACP Image Award. Roby is collaborating with Newell’s Packaging & Sales team, led by Ty Cameron, to prepare her stories for adaptation.
