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On Friday March 14 2025, CBS broadcasts an episode of the series NCIS: Sydney!

Hell Weak Season 2 Episode 6 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “NCIS: Sydney,” titled “Hell Weak,” promises to deliver an intense storyline as international tensions rise in the Indo-Pacific region. This episode, airing on CBS, sees a collaboration between U.S. NCIS agents and the Australian Federal Police (Afp). Together, they form a multinational task force aimed at tackling naval crimes in one of the most contested areas of ocean on the planet.

As the episode unfolds, viewers will witness the challenges faced by the team as they navigate complex political landscapes and dangerous waters. The pressure is on for the agents to maintain security and prevent any criminal activities that could further escalate tensions. The stakes are high, and the team must work together effectively to ensure safety in a region fraught with uncertainty.

“Hell Weak” is expected...

The team heads to a wellness retreat, but not for rest and relaxation, on CBS’s NCIS: Sydney season two episode six. “Hell Weak,” directed by David Caesar and written by Michael Miller, will air on Friday, March 14, 2025 at 8pm Et/Pt.

Season two stars Olivia Swann as NCIS Special Agent Michelle Mackey, Todd Lasance as Afp Sergeant Jim “Jd” Dempsey, Sean Sagar as NCIS Special Agent DeShawn Jackson, and Tuuli Narkle as Afp Constable Evie Cooper. Mavournee Hazel plays Afp Forensic Scientist Bluebird “Blue” Gleeson and William McInnes is Afp Forensic Pathologist Dr. Roy Penrose.

“Hell Weak” Plot: The suspected suicide of a former U.S. Navy Seal leads NCIS: Sydney to a wellness retreat to investigate a group of his fellow former Seal buddies.

Olivia Swann as NCIS Special Agent Captain Michelle Mackey and Todd Lasance as Afp Liaison Officer Sergeant Jim ‘Jd’ Dempsey in ‘NCIS: Sydney’ season...

The following contains major spoilers for NCIS: Sydney Season 2, Episode 5, "Shucked," which debuted Friday, March 7 on CBS.

NCIS: Sydney Season 2, Episode 5, "Shucked" takes a while to get where it's going, but the episode is worth the wait. The CBS spinoff finds its groove in a story about human trafficking that allows the personalities of its characters to shine through. Sometimes, the Australian series feels more like a generic crime drama that happens to have the NCIS acronym attached to it; this is an installment that would fit right in amongst the original NCIS episodes.

"Shucked" starts out with the murder of Petty Officer Rueben Daniels, but evolves into a plot about smuggled abalone, and then a story about human trafficking in a strip club. The ultimate conclusion may not surprise anyone who's watched this franchise regularly, but there are enough moments that turn things left instead of right that audiences will be entertained.

Margot Robbie leads the critically acclaimed Barbiemovie, and it features plenty of notable faces in the supporting cast as well. For the most part, the characters are directly inspired by toys that have been released over the years or are original Barbie movie characters. Of course, this means that the long-beloved Mattel toys Barbie and Ken are not just two people.

Instead, the Truman Show-esque Barbieland is populated with plenty of Barbies and Kens. Still, each character has its place in the story, and they all help make this version of Barbieland vibrant and memorable. Most of these characters are portrayed by familiar faces for fans to look for.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on March 7, 2025: Following the smash success of the first live-action Barbie movie in 2023, all eyes are on Greta Gerwig as she works toward making a sequel. While news on this front is still scarce, fans know...

On Friday March 7 2025, CBS broadcasts an episode of the series NCIS: Sydney!

Shucked Season 2 Episode 5 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “NCIS: Sydney,” titled “Shucked,” promises to deliver an exciting blend of action and intrigue. As international tensions rise in the Indo-Pacific, the stakes are higher than ever. A team of U.S. NCIS agents joins forces with the Australian Federal Police (Afp) to form a multinational taskforce. Their mission is clear: to combat naval crimes in one of the most contested areas of ocean in the world.

In “Shucked,” viewers can expect a gripping storyline that highlights the complexities of international cooperation in law enforcement. The episode will explore how different agencies work together to tackle the challenges posed by rising maritime crime. As the team navigates these tensions, they will face obstacles that test their skills and their ability to collaborate effectively.

The backdrop of the Indo-Pacific region...

CBS’s NCIS: Sydney continues season two with episode five which finds the team investigating the murder of a petty officer. Episode five, “Shucked,” was directed by David Caesar and will air on Friday, March 7, 2025 at 8pm Et/Pt.

Season two stars Olivia Swann as NCIS Special Agent Michelle Mackey, Todd Lasance as Afp Sergeant Jim “Jd” Dempsey, Sean Sagar as NCIS Special Agent DeShawn Jackson, and Tuuli Narkle as Afp Constable Evie Cooper. Mavournee Hazel plays Afp Forensic Scientist Bluebird “Blue” Gleeson and William McInnes is Afp Forensic Pathologist Dr. Roy Penrose.

“Shucked” Plot: When a petty officer is found murdered and frozen, it leads the team into a twisted underworld of seafood and sex trafficking.

William McInnes as Forensic Pathologist Dr. Roy Penrose, Todd Lasance as Afp Liaison Officer Sergeant Jim ‘Jd’ Dempsey and Olivia Swann as NCIS Special Agent Captain Michelle Mackey in ‘NCIS: Sydney’ season 2 episode...

Quick Links'The Shield' Is a Violent and Gritty Crime Drama That Pushed BoundariesWalton Goggins' Spectacular Rise to Stardom

Walton Goggins has steadily become one of Hollywood's most dynamic and entertaining actors, with the seasoned star having appeared in a slew of fan-favorite hits throughout his career while serving up unforgettable performances on both the big and small screen. Goggins achieved widespread prominence when he portrayed detective Shane Vendrell in the FX crime drama hit The Shield, which ran for seven exhilarating seasons from 2002 and 2008 and garnered universal acclaim, with the series currently holding a dazzling 96% Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes.

The edgy and downright brutal show helped launch Goggins' stellar career, as he would go on to star in TV knockouts like Justified, Vice Principals, The Righteous Gemstones, and Fallout, as well as in popular films including Predator, Django Unchained, and The Hateful Eight. The gifted actor's most recent project is...

NCIS: Sydney is putting the pressure on the team — NCIS and Afp agents working together — in its second season, so what better way than to bond two of them together in a new way first? Such is the case with Mackey (Olivia Swann) and Jd (Todd Lasance), after she opened up to him and revealed she has a son back in the United States, in the premiere. “The first season of the show was about building this blended family, bringing these kind of disparate misfits together, and seeing if we could somehow find a bond that would actually hold them together under stress. And I think by the end of the first season, we got to that point where we really felt like almost unexpectedly these guys had bonded into what is a team, a family. So the second season is all about putting that family under pressure, under seismic...

On Friday February 21 2025, CBS broadcasts an episode of the series NCIS: Sydney!

Back in the Ussr Season 2 Episode 3 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “NCIS: Sydney,” titled “Back in the Ussr,” promises to bring a thrilling mix of action and intrigue. As international tensions rise in the Indo-Pacific, the stakes are higher than ever for the team of U.S. NCIS agents and their counterparts in the Australian Federal Police. This episode will dive into the complexities of global security as they join forces in a multinational taskforce aimed at tackling naval crimes in one of the most contested areas of the ocean.

Viewers can expect a gripping storyline that highlights the collaboration between the U.S. and Australian agencies. With the backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions, the team faces challenges that test their skills and resolve. The episode will explore not only the external threats but also the personal...

Quick LinksNCIS: Sydney Season 2, Episode 2 Avoids Pirate HumorNCIS: Sydney Offers a Much More Interesting StorylineNCIS: Sydney Continues Its Serialized Plot in Episode 2

The following contains major spoilers for NCIS: Sydney Season 2, Episode 2, "Fire in the Hole," which debuted Friday, Feb. 14 on CBS.

NCIS: Sydney Season 2, Episode 2, "Fire in the Hole" has every reason to be terrible. Any time a TV crime drama throws its characters into an undercover situation, the premise has the potential to become gimmicky (see: The Rookie Season 4 sending Chen and Bradford undercover as two characters who just happened to be very similar to them). When the joint NCIS-Afp task force crosses paths with faux pirates, this seems like an episode that isn't going to take itself seriously.

"Fire in the Hole" starts with the murder of Bradley Shiels, an American sailor who is using his break from the Navy to captain a tall ship that's...

Season two episode three of CBS’s NCIS: Sydney finds the team calling on an old friend for help. Episode three, “Back in the Ussr,” will air on Friday, February 21, 2025 at 8pm Et/Pt.

Season two stars Olivia Swann as NCIS Special Agent Michelle Mackey, Todd Lasance as Afp Sergeant Jim “Jd” Dempsey, Sean Sagar as NCIS Special Agent DeShawn Jackson, and Tuuli Narkle as Afp Constable Evie Cooper. Mavournee Hazel plays Afp Forensic Scientist Bluebird “Blue” Gleeson and William McInnes is Afp Forensic Pathologist Dr. Roy Penrose.

“Back in the Ussr” Plot: When the body of a long-missing U.S. Naval engineer is discovered buried in concrete, the team enlists Doc Roy’s old friend to assist in the investigation. Catherine Millar directs from a script by James Cripps, story by Cripps and Clare Sladden.

Todd Lasance as Afp Liaison Officer Sergeant Jim ‘Jd’ Dempsey and Olivia Swann as...

Anthony Mackie became one of Hollywood’s hottest stars with his lead role as Captain America in Captain America: Brave New World, which premiered on Feb 14. But Mackie has been part of the Marvel Universe since 2014, when he took on the role of Falcon (Sam Wilson) in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Although Steve Rogers gave him the shield already in Avengers: Endgame (2019), Mackie’s character, Sam Wilson, was unsure about taking on the role. After John Walker briefly became Captain America, Sam ultimately decided to embrace the title by the end of the Disney+ series.

In his 23-year screen career, Mackie has played diverse characters. He portrayed Harry Mitchell, a junior adjustment agent in The Adjustment Bureau (which earned him two award nominations), and Sergeant J.T. Sanborn in The Hurt Locker, for which he won in the “Best Ensemble Cast” category and was nominated as “Best Supporting Actor” at the Independent Spirit Awards.

British musician and DJ Matthew Herbert has pretty much done it all. After making a name for himself in electronic music (his 2003 manifesto “Personal Contract for the Composition of Music” famously emphasizes “no drum machines”) and launching his label Accidental Records, he ended up remixing such iconic artists as Quincy Jones, Ennio Morricone, Serge Gainsbourg, and classical composer Gustav Mahler.

His production work has seen him work with the likes of The Zone of Interest composer Mica Levi, Róisín Murphy (one half of the pop duo Moloko), and frequent collaborator and Icelandic songstress Björk. Best known for turning ordinary or so-called found sound into electronic music, he has also become a go-to partner for film and TV creators looking for a score. Cases in point are such films as A Fantastic Woman and Starve Acre, as well as such TV series as The Responder and Noughts and Crosses.

Most recently,...

Perhaps no one is more excited about the Berlinale than Fiona Shaw.

The Irish actress is no stranger to the German capital — she’s directed a performance at the city’s opera house, Deutsche Oper Berlin — but it is a first appearance at the film festival.

“I’m just going to see everything I can see in any moment I’m not needed by the press,” Shaw, famed for roles in Harry Potter, Jane Eyre and Killing Eve, tells The Hollywood Reporter. “I’m excited that a festival exists in which a lot of people are going to turn up in order to see films. I just admire that that is still what we do.”

This year, attendees will be turning up to see Shaw as the wheelchair-bound Rose in Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s directorial debut, Hot Milk. Based on the bestselling novel by Deborah Levy, (though, as Shaw points out,...

CBS is scheduled to release the next, new episode 2 of NCIS: Sydney's current season 2 tonight, February 14, 2025, and it will feature some undercover action on an old sailing ship and more. We were able to rack down a couple new spoiler scoops for this new episode 2 via CBS' official episode 2 press release synopsis. So, we're going to reveal those right now. The first piece of information we got for this new episode 3 is the official title. The writers decided to name this one, "Fire In The Hole." This new episode 3 is going to feature DeShawn, Evie, Mackey and more in action. The first teaser scoop reveals the details about the old sailing ship situation. It turns out that a young girl is going to find the dead body of a former USA Navy officer floating in the harbor.

Sofia takes a picture of Ingrid, her summer friend, at her sewing table. “Your August in Almeria…” murmurs Ingrid (a wonderfully feline Vicky Krieps) as she takes pliant Sofia (Emma Mackey) in her arms. But Almeria doesn’t look much of a romantic idyll here, at least wherever Sofia chooses to go: it’s all industrial sites, mean little lean-to cafes, rocky breakwaters and concrete boxes of holiday shacks, besieged by mosquitoes.

Even the sea, her cool blue refuge, teems with poisonous tentacles. “We should have rented somewhere else,” sniffs her mother Rose (Fiona Shaw) from her wheelchair. “I like it here,” says Sofia mutinously. It’s a very low-level mutiny. Fetching and carrying for her mother is Sofia’s life.

Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s adaptation of Deborah Levy’s award-winning 2016 novel hums with tension from the first moment we see tourists on a strip of beach in front of bald,...

“I have been to hell and back, and let me tell you it was wonderful,” reads the epigraph of Hot Milk. That quote is almost too easy to turn back against the film, but sometimes the simplest way to dismiss something is also the easiest. Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s directorial debut feels like hell to endure, and none of its mother-daughter drama is wonderful, not least because the screenplay is too self-conscious in its avoidance of verbalization to propel the narrative forward. Lenkiewicz counts on her collaborators to sell the deliberate ambiguities of the story, but nothing sticks to the nebulously designed framework of the film.

Adapted by Lenkiewicz from Deborah Levy’s 2016 novel of the same name, the film never gains momentum within its cascading rhythm of staccato sequences that establish just how out of sync its central mother-daughter pair is. The ailing Rose (Fiona Shaw) suffers from an illness that feels too conveniently metaphoric.

When Ingrid (Vicky Krieps) glides up to Sofia (Emma Mackey) on horseback like a manic-pixie mirage, Sofia immediately allured, or when Ingrid tells Sofia, “Do you have cigarettes? Ok, let’s go,” even though they’ve just met, you want to believe they’re riding on some hidden code of desire, psychically linked strangers sun-baking on the Iberian peninsula of Spain. Ingrid, a German expat styled in a flowy headscarf like a breezy lesbian pirate or swashbuckling bar wench, is such a void of a woman in Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s directorial debut “Hot Milk” that this study of sapphic malaise along the Mediterranean becomes oddly sizzle-less.

Adapting Deborah Levy’s 2016 novel, whose title unsubtly conjures images of breastfeeding among other bodily activities related to reproduction, the “She Said” and “Disobedience” screenwriter casts Mackey and Krieps as lovers among the ruins of Fiona Shaw’s distress. The great Irish actress plays Rose,...

The discussion with the cast and crew of Hot Milk quickly got personal on Friday.

British director Rebecca Lenkiewicz debuts her first feature at the Berlin Film Festival this week with stars Fiona Shaw, Emma Mackey and Vicky Krieps on her arm.

The movie follows Rose (Shaw) and her daughter Sofia (Mackey) who travel to the Spanish seaside town of Almería to consult with the shamanic Dr. Gomez, a physician who could possibly hold the cure to Rose’s mystery illness.

But in the sultry atmosphere of this sun-bleached town, Sofia, after being trapped by her mother’s illness all her life, finally starts to shed her inhibitions, enticed by the persuasive charms of enigmatic traveler Ingrid (Krieps).

“It’s a big question, and there’s a lot of talk about assisted dying in Britain at the moment,” said Lenkiewicz when asked about the film’s themes of dying with...

Sex Education star Emma Mackey has described starring in Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s Hot Milk as a “baptism of fire.”

The movie premiered at the Berlin Film Festival today and is the debut directing project for She Said scribe Lenkiewicz.

Mackey said filming was tough but she heaped praise on Lenkiewicz. “We had to come in on a baptism of fire – it was hot and we didn’t have much time – but [Lenkiewicz] created that environment and surrounded yourself with the right amount of people.”

Based on the novel by Deborah Levy, Hot Milk sees Mackey play Sofia, who embarks on a journey to a Spanish clinic in a search of a medical cure for her mother Rose’s paralysis. Rose is played by Fiona Shaw and Vicky Krieps stars as Ingrid in the movie, which is distributed by Mubi.

Mackey said there was a “huge amount of trust” on set, which “helped me feel freer.

When Emma Mackey met Vicky Krieps, she couldn’t help but blush.

The two actors play love interests Sofia and Ingrid in “Hot Milk,” Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s feature directorial debut that premieres at Berlin Film Festival on Friday, and the first scene they shot together also marked the first time they’d truly interacted.

“I didn’t get to meet her before we started shooting, and I remember the first scene we shot was on the beach. It’s the first time Sofia sees Ingrid, and Vicky looked at me and I blushed,” Mackey tells Variety. “And that just tells you — I was like, ‘Wow, how did she do that?'”

Based on Deborah Levy’s 2016 novel of the same name, “Hot Milk” follows a daughter and mother — played by Mackey and Fiona Shaw, respectively — who “wrestle with co-dependency and desire by the Spanish seaside,” according to the synopsis. “Yearning for freedom,...

On Friday February 14 2025, CBS broadcasts an episode of the series NCIS: Sydney!

Fire in the Hole Season 2 Episode 2 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “NCIS: Sydney,” titled “Fire in the Hole,” promises to be an exciting and suspenseful ride. In this episode, a young girl makes a shocking discovery when she finds the body of a former U.S. Navy officer floating in the harbor. This unsettling find sets off a chain of events that leads the NCIS team into a world filled with mystery and intrigue.

As the team begins their investigation, they uncover clues that point to an unusual location. Their search takes them to an 18th-century sailing ship, which is currently hosting a pirate-themed wedding. The vibrant atmosphere of the wedding contrasts sharply with the seriousness of the investigation, creating a unique backdrop for the episode.

To gather more information, agents DeShawn and Evie will go undercover at the wedding.

Avast ye matey, CBS’s NCIS: Sydney season two episode two finds the team dealing with a pirate-themed wedding. Directed by Jennifer Leacey from a script by Andrew Anastasios, episode two – “Fire in the Hole” – will air on Friday, February 14, 2025 at 8pm Et/Pt.

Season two stars Olivia Swann as NCIS Special Agent Michelle Mackey, Todd Lasance as Afp Sergeant Jim “Jd” Dempsey, Sean Sagar as NCIS Special Agent DeShawn Jackson, and Tuuli Narkle as Afp Constable Evie Cooper. Mavournee Hazel plays Afp Forensic Scientist Bluebird “Blue” Gleeson and William McInnes is Afp Forensic Pathologist Dr. Roy Penrose.

“Fire in the Hole” Plot: When a young girl finds the body of a former U.S. Navy officer floating in the harbor, the team is led to an 18th-century sailing ship hosting a pirate-themed wedding, where DeShawn and Evie go undercover to investigate. Meanwhile, Mackey and Jd are pulled in to prevent...

Michael Chiklis is most (and deservedly) famous for playing corrupt LAPD detective Vic Mackey on "The Shield" -- but before that, he was more of a comedy actor. There's a reason he got the part of Ben Grimm/The Thing in director Tim Story's super family-friendly "Fantastic Four" films.

Before "The Shield," Chiklis' two leading TV roles were "The Commish" (about a wholesome police commissioner in a small New York town) and "Daddio" (a short-lived sitcom about a stay at home dad). Then he made a conscious choice to change his image, shaving his head, going to the gym and ultimately landing "The Shield" due to a run-in with his neighbor, series creator Shawn Ryan.

If this sounds familiar, or Chiklis' past roles make his performance as Mackey seem shocking, remember that Bryan Cranston also played goofy dad Hal on "Malcolm in the Middle" before he became Heisenberg on "Breaking Bad.

NCIS: Sydney's unique location offers fresh storylines and engaging characters not seen in domestic NCIS shows. Expect deeper character development in Season 2, including Jd's expanded role in his family and Mackey's mysterious past. Potential crossovers with other NCIS franchises and the need for a new villain in Season 2 keep viewers excited for more.

The first batch of episodes from NCIS: Sydney has filled me with high expectations for the show's second season. The spinoff is the first show in the NCIS franchise to take place outside the United States. The new location allows the show to create interesting storylines that would not be possible in a domestic NCIS series.

The series is an exciting addition to the NCIS franchise and features a team of well-rounded characters. Season 1 also features a series of dramatic storylines and plot twists that NCIS is known for. The first season has made me...

NCIS: Sydney season 2 hints at a possible romance tradition returning, adding to the dynamic of the show. Evie and DeShawn's developing relationship could potentially lead to obstacles and tension in future episodes, the same way Tony and Ziva's, as well as Nick and Ellie's respective stories did. Slow-burn romances have been a successful element in the NCIS franchise, adding depth and excitement to the series.

The first season of NCIS: Sydney was filled with classic procedural episodes, but it also left hints that a popular NCIS romance tradition might return in season 2. While NCIS does not focus on romance, the interpersonal relationships in the show are a major part of what makes the series so good. The show and its spin-offs have also featured several romantic relationships among its team members and, from the looks of it, NCIS: Sydney season 2 will continue this trend.

The eight-episode NCIS: Sydney...

Judah Mackey recently hit a major milestone, celebrating his 5th anniversary on The Young and the Restless as Connor Newman. The young actor joined the CBS daytime in 2019, making his debut on August 8 of that year. He took over the role from Gunner and Ruder Gadbois. So far, Mackey has been in over […]

The post Judah Mackey Celebrates A Milestone appeared first on Soap Opera News.

Tom Cruise likes to take risks with the stunt sequences in his recent films, but there was a time when he took a big acting risk in a role. Cruise landed the role of Frank T.J. Mackey in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia after approaching the director for a role. He had become a fan of Anderson’s work after watching Boogie Nights.

Tom Cruise as Frank Mackey in Magnolia | New Line Cinema

Anderson sent him the script, which included the character of a motivational speaker and pickup artist. Anderson based the role on the real-life character Ross Jeffries, whom he had only heard about from a secondary source. It turned out that Jeffries was reportedly just a persona created by another man.

Tom Cruise Believed That His Character In Magnolia Was Based On A Real Person Tom Cruise in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia | New Line Cinema

After being impressed with Boogie Nights,...

Harrison Ford comments on the process of filming Captain America: Brave New World, describing Marvel as a unique and fun experience. Ford praises director Julius Onah and star Anthony Mackie. Harrison Ford's MCU debut was unexpected, as Thaddeus Ross was previously played by the late William Hurt.

Red Hulk actor Harrison Ford discusses his experience filming Captain America: Brave New World at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, praising the MCU production.

Speaking to Screen Rant at San Diego Comic-Con, Harrison Ford describes Captain America: Brave New World as a unique but enjoyable venture. Ford applauds director Julius Onah and star Anthony Mackie in particular. Read Ford's full comments below:

Screen Rant: You've been in so many iconic franchises. What is it about Marvel that stands out?

Harrison Ford: It's a whole different cut of cloth, isn't it? I mean, it's free of some normal constraints to the imagination, it's delightful to deal with,...

Evie and DeShawn's unique backgrounds make their developing romance in NCIS: Sydney season 2 compelling to watch. Key moments in NCIS: Sydney season 1 set the stage for Evie and DeShawn's relationship to grow in season 2. Fans can expect Tuuli Narkle and Sean Sagar to reprise their roles in NCIS: Sydney season 2, adding depth to the evolving storyline.

There will be a lot going on in the NCIS universe this fall, but there is one romance I need to see continue. NCIS, NCIS: Origins, and NCIS: Sydney all have a spot on the 2024 television schedule. Each series set up complex storylines with compelling romances in the coming seasons. According to TV Guide, NCIS will return with NCIS season 22 in the fall, and NCIS: Sydney will return mid-season to replace Blue Bloods. The new NCIS: Origins prequel series will also premiere in the fall, introducing many complex narratives surrounding the franchise's central character,...

It was but one year ago when Jamie Lee Curtis became an Oscar winner, taking home the trophy for best supporting actress thanks to her work in the night’s eventual best picture winner “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” Back at the Oscars this year as a presenter, Curtis said during Variety On the Carpet presented by Directv that last year’s win changed her career in ways that can’t even be measured.

“In really incalculable ways,” Curtis said when Variety’s Marc Malkin asked how the Oscar win changed her career. “I’m making a movie with James L. Brooks right now! I’ve been asked to work with people that I never thought I’d get asked to work with. James L. Brooks being one of them…it’s hard to put into words. But the good feeling that I’ve had from all over the world has changed me.

NCIS has been part of the television landscape for the past two decades.

Following a two-episode backdoor pilot on Jag in 2003, the redundantly named Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service debuted in the fall of that year.

Although it started slowly ratings-wise in its first couple of seasons, a franchise soon was born.

Now in its 21st season, NCIS has produced more than 450 episodes and six spinoff series, a record unmatched in TV history (although Law & Order fans doubtless will quibble).

Maybe now, shortly after the series said goodbye to its second-most popular character on NCIS Season 21 Episode 2, would be a good time for a hiatus.

That's insane, you say, what with two new spinoffs in the pipeline.

Look back fondly

Let's start with the fact that every day, on cable and streaming, fans can watch their favorite episodes from the golden years of NCIS, back before Abby, Tony, Ziva,...

Taraji P. Henson praises her vocal coach Stevie Mackey in a behind-the-scenes video for The Color Purple. Henson expresses gratitude to Mackey for helping her unlock her vocal abilities for the role of Shug Avery. Henson's performance in The Color Purple is receiving praise, with early award buzz for a Best Supporting Actress nomination.

The Color Purple actor Taraji P. Henson lauds her vocal coach in a new behind-the-scenes video. Henson stars as Shug Avery in the acclaimed Blitz Bazawule-directed musical adaptation of The Color Purple, which revolves around Celie Harris-Johnson and other Black women in her life as they try to find happiness in the South in the early 1900s. In addition to Henson, the movie's cast includes Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, and Halle Bailey.

Now, Henson shares a behind-the-scenes look at her work with The Color Purple’s vocal coach Stevie Mackey. Taking to Instagram,...

Taraji P. Henson has given fans a glimpse into the vocal training she went through to prepare for her role as Shug Avery in The Color Purple.

On Instagram Wednesday, the actor reshared a video posted by her vocal coach Stevie Mackey, in which they worked on her show-stopping performance of “What About Love?” for the Blitz Bazawule-helmed musical movie now in theaters.

In her caption, Henson called Mackey “the man behind #ShugAveryvoice,” adding that her coach helped her “to unlock some thangs vocally.”

“We worked so hard,” she added, telling Mackey, “you helped give me the confidence I needed to breathe life into #shugavery I Love You Forever And I Am Forever Grateful.”

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In The Hollywood Reporter‘s cover story featuring The Color Purple‘s stars Henson, Danielle Brooks and Fantasia Barrino, as well as producer...

A brand new “South Park” special has dropped on Paramount+ on Wednesday and is now available to stream in the U.S. and Canada.

“South Park: Not Suitable for Children” spoofs OnlyFans, the popular adult content creation platform. In the new trailer, Mr. Mackey bursts into his classroom and exclaims they have a problem. The parents of South Park then assemble for a meeting. They shout out, “We’re talking about someone who influences our children!” and “This isn’t just softcore porn we’re talking about here!”

The official logline reads, “After it’s discovered that a teacher at South Park Elementary has an OnlyFans page, Randy is compelled to take a closer look at the seedy underbelly of the world of on-line influencers.”

This marks the sixth “South Park” special to stream on Paramount+, following “South Park: Post Covid,” “South Park: Post Covid: The Return of Covid,” “South Park: The Streaming Wars,...

CBS’s international addition to the NCIS franchise, NCIS: Sydney, is taking a four-week break and will return after the holidays with episode six, “Extraction.” Directed by Catherine Millar from a script by James Cripps and Clare Sladden, episode six will air on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 8pm Et/Pt.

Season one stars Olivia Swann (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow) as NCIS Special Agent Michelle Mackey, Sean Sagar (The Covenant) as NCIS Special Agent DeShawn Jackson, and Todd Lasance (Spartacus: War of the Damned) as her 2Ic Afp counterpart, Sergeant Jim “Jd” Dempsey. The cast also includes Tuuli Narkle (Mystery Road: Origin) as Afp liaison officer Constable Evie Cooper, Mavournee Hazel (Shantaram) as Afp forensic scientist Bluebird “Blue” Gleeson, and William McInnes (The Newsreader) as Afp forensic pathologist Dr Roy Penrose.

“Extraction” Plot: When a man in a concealed U.S. Navy jacket drops dead from a cocaine overdose on a crowded bus in Bondi,...

The sixth episode of NCIS Sydney went in a slightly novel direction, where, for the first time, one of the team’s members was under suspicion of being a criminal. Constable Evie Cooper, who had done a stellar job until now, was the focus of this episode, as she was assumed to be working for a drug cartel. She hadn’t taken a day off since Jim had inducted her into the unit, but when the new case arrived, she went Awol, arousing suspicion. Mackey and others tried solving the new murder mystery, but it was all linked to Evie’s past. The new episode seemed too much like an undercover cop movie from the seventies, but there were humorous moments, especially when Blue walked in, explaining how she had made a breakthrough.

Spoilers Ahead

What Was The Real Identity Of The Deceased?

It all started when a man clicked...

Another sunny day and another case bewilder the NCIS team in episode 3 of the series NCIS Sydney. In the previous episode, there was a snake responsible for the death of an American in Australia, and in this episode, there is a shark angle to the homicide. Jim, Mackey, and the others regroup and try to solve the complicated case, ultimately discovering the presence of some high-profile people. We are kept entertained by Bluebird’s quirky behavior while she helps crack the case. The use of technology is one aspect of the investigations that the episodes frequently bring forward. Previously, it was the gait-recognition equipment that had helped NCIS solve the case, and this time, there is a dive computer and the Gps tracker on a shark that simplify the case. To keep things light-hearted, Bluebird is given a surprise. While it was supposed to be her last week, as MacNamara,...

The second episode of NCIS Sydney brings another task for Agent Mackey, where she has to take on a complicated homicide case on Australian soil. Jim Dempsey had been asked to work under Mackey and solve any cases involving a US connection. The Afp team was gelling nicely with NCIS, but the usual banter kept things charged, and the fact that NCIS couldn’t have their firearms on Australian soil made them the butt of the joke throughout the episode. The latest case was perhaps made more complex by the ‘snake’ situation, which Australia has no dearth of.

Spoilers Ahead

How Was The Body Discovered?

Jim had already started to wear the NCIS cap in order to soothe Mackey, who behaved in a stern manner all the time. Jim was smart enough to make the situation a little less explosive, but his partner Evie called him out on his ‘yielding’ behavior.

What do you think of when you hear the word Australia? “If you speak to anyone around the world, one of the first things they talk to you about is that everything can kill you,” cracks Morgan O’Neill, executive producer of NCIS: Sydney, originally developed to stream on Paramount+ Australia but too good for CBS to pass up. O’Neill then lists (with clear Oz pride) his native land’s deadly snakes, the spider that “makes the black widow look like a lamb” and, of course, crocs. Two-legged baddies aren’t in short supply, either, on this fifth entry in the massively successful military crime franchise. Smugglers, drug dealers, and the like are in the crosshairs of the eclectic new team led by NCIS Special Agent Michelle Mackey (Olivia Swann). “She’s very hot-blooded,” Swann says. “It’s her way or the highway.” In the November 14 opener — the first of eight...

Season one of CBS’s first international edition of the NCIS franchise, NCIS: Sydney, continues with episode three, “Brothers in Arms.” Directed by David Caesar from a script by Andrew Anastasios, episode three will air on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at 8pm Et/Pt.

The series’ premiere on November 14, 2023 on the CBS Television Network in the US and on Global in Canada was a ratings winner, with 10 million viewers watching via CBS and Paramount+. In Australia, the series currently stands as the most-watched local show since Paramount+ launched.

“We are absolutely delighted that audiences locally and internationally have embraced NCIS: Sydney with its stellar cast and compelling storytelling,” stated Beverley McGarvey, executive vice president and chief content officer and head of Paramount+ Australia. “We are so appreciative of the opportunity to utilize the world-class NCIS brand to tell quintessentially Australian stories and it has been so productive to work closely with our...

Obviously, the NCIS: Sydney unit got thrown together without much forethought by its political creators.

But that didn't stop the team from solving a bizarre murder on NCIS: Sydney Season 1 Episode 2.

Along the way, the "fish out of water" storyline got used for all it was worth, and then some as Mackey and DeShawn struggled to adjust to their unexpected new life in Australia.

This episode must have occurred relatively soon after the temporary squad became more permanent on NCIS: Sydney Season 1 Episode 1.

Otherwise, why would everyone be bringing in coffee in large quantities? Shouldn't someone visit the housey stuff store for a coffee maker?

It's clear that no daily office routine has yet been implemented. And what's with the big bags of boba that Blue naturally supplied?

At least everyone was trying, to various degrees, to make this new arrangement work as envisioned. It's just that sufficient planning hadn't gone into it.

Every once in a while you will find a show that will become your obsession. You know what I’m talking about, it’s the show that you can’t stop thinking about. The water cooler shows as they say. Game of Thrones, The Wire, and of course, Breaking Bad are the prime examples. Some are mostly perfect, and some we just try not to talk about. But some shows that are equally as good, sometimes just fly under the radar. TV shows that are just as good if not better than the Breaking Bad’s of the world. One of those shows is called The Shield.

This show is something special. To say that The Shield pushes the envelope is an understatement. The series showed the ugly side of crime and law enforcement. Corruption, murder, racism, political machinations, serial killers, and other dark stuff that you would probably would not like to hear about.

Pulp’s reunion tour brought the beloved Britpop band to Mexico City for a headlining set at Corona Capital on Friday, where they unveiled a new song called “Background Noise.”

Frontman Jarvis Cocker introduced the new composition, and dedicated it to his girlfriend, who was watching from the audience. Carried by a string arrangement and the kind of introspective, spoken lyrics you’d expect from Pulp, the tune uses its verses to build into a thesis-presenting chorus: “Love turns into background noise/ Like this ringing in my ears/ Like the buzzing of the fridge/ You only notice when it disappears.”

Previously, Pulped played an unreleased song called “Hymn of the North” at a hometown show in Sheffield, England.

The reunion tour is Pulp’s first outing in over a decade, and now, with new music being teased, it’s possible that the band might be eyeing a return to recording.

In the thirteen years since his last directorial feature, James L. Brooks has stayed busy helping emerging filmmakers like Kelly Fremon Craig realize their visions with the stellar The Edge of Seventeen and this year’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Thankfully, the 83-year-old filmmaker is now getting behind the camera once again for a long-awaited directorial feature.

Brooks is set to kick off production on Ella McCay, a 20th Century Studios project, by the end of the year. Set to star Emma Mackey, the romantic drama follows an “idealistic politician poised to run governor as she deals with lingering family issues.” The project was mentioned in the latest issue of Production Weekly and confirmed by the Boston Globe and Providence Journal, both based near where the film is set to shoot.

In the film, Mackey’s character will also be “taking care of her socially anxious, estranged...

The international expansion of CBS‘ hit franchise brought in viewers on November 14. NCIS: Sydney debuted at 8/7c as the #1 show of the night, averaging 5.48 million viewers. It also had the largest premiere audience of any new show this season and was the #1 live-streamed entertainment program on Paramount+. CBS also posted its largest Tuesday audience of the season with 2.92m viewers, up +34 percent from last week and up +21 percent from its Tuesday average. The series premiere did include new boss Michelle Mackey (Olivia Swann) quoting one of Gibbs’ (Mark Harmon) rules, and showrunner Morgan O’Neill was vague when TV Insider asked if that means they have history. “Interestingly, there’s a backstory that we’re going to be delving into as the show progresses about how Mackey came to be NCIS, and it’s a rough road, let me tell you that, and it involves her formal career as a Marine...

Episode two of CBS’s latest addition to the popular NCIS franchise, NCIS: Sydney, finds the team attempting to track down a poisonous snake. Directed by Shawn Seet from a script by Michael Miller and Morgan O’Neill, season one episode two – “Snakes in the Grass” – will air on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 8pm Et/Pt.

Season one stars Olivia Swann (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow) as NCIS Special Agent Michelle Mackey, Sean Sagar (The Covenant) as NCIS Special Agent DeShawn Jackson, and Todd Lasance (Spartacus: War of the Damned) as her 2Ic Afp counterpart, Sergeant Jim “Jd” Dempsey. The cast also includes Tuuli Narkle (Mystery Road: Origin) as Afp liaison officer Constable Evie Cooper, Mavournee Hazel (Shantaram) as Afp forensic scientist Bluebird “Blue” Gleeson, and William McInnes (The Newsreader) as Afp forensic pathologist Dr Roy Penrose.

“Snakes in the Grass” Plot: When a Navy compliance officer is found dead in a waterhole from a snakebite,...

NCIS: Sydney is the first international spin-off of the long-running American TV franchise, featuring a talented Australian ensemble cast. The show includes Easter eggs and connections to the original series, drawing the attention of dedicated NCIS fans. The lead actors have appeared in Arrowverse shows, adding to the excitement for viewers of both franchises.

The long-running American TV franchise NCIS receives its first international spin-off with NCIS: Sydney, a Paramount+ title that boasts an ensemble cast full of talented Australian actors. Tracing its origins in 2003, NCIS started out as a crime procedural on the activities of the titular Naval Criminal Investigative Service of the U.S. Navy Department. Soon, interest was generated to such a mainstream level that NCIS received equally popular spin-offs, like NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, and NCIS: Hawai’i. But NCIS: Sydney is unique in the sense that its events unfurl outside America. NCIS: Sydney focuses...

[Warning: The below contains Major spoilers for the NCIS: Sydney series premiere “Gone Fission.”] NCIS has officially gone international with Sydney, the latest in the hit franchise, and right from the first episode, there are nods to the original series. The premiere introduces viewers to NCIS Special Agents Michelle Mackey (Olivia Swann) and DeShawn Jackson (Sean Sager), working alongside Afp’s Jd Dempsey (Todd Lasance), Evie Cooper (Tuuli Narkle), Bluebird “Blue” Gleeson (Mavournee Hazel), and Dr. Roy Penrose (William McInnes), as well as the members of the two agencies to each other. And let’s just say that at least one NCIS character is name-dropped in one scene and a certain set of rules strongly hinted at in another. Below, showrunner Morgan O’Neill breaks down the Easter eggs in the series premiere and what’s next in that not-so-wrapped case. Penrose asks Mackey if she’s “of the CSI,” which reminded me of the Tsa agent in...

The NCIS creatives have pulled it off yet again.

Another exotic location has been found to be populated with colorful Navy cops on NCIS: Sydney Season 1 Episode 1.

Sydney is Australia's most populous city and is best known for its Opera House, prominently featured in this pilot.

American broadcast viewers almost didn't get the chance to see this series. If not for the writers' and actors' strikes, likely only Paramount+ subscribers would have had that opportunity.

But when the cupboard is nearly bare, you air what you've got. Big Brother can only air on so many nights.

Then again, maybe airing this and other streaming content, such as Yellowstone and Seal Team, will ultimately draw more eyes to streaming. There are many exciting series on streaming that many viewers are missing out on.

Here's hoping, like with NCIS: Hawaii and NCIS: New Orleans before that, the show's producers find narrative excuses...