News

Happy Face, the serial killer drama starring Dennis Quaid and Annaleigh Ashford, just got a disappointing update for fans of the series. Paramount+ has revealed the fate of the divisive thriller after just one season.

According to Deadline, Paramount+ has decided to cancel Happy Face. The series, which follows a woman navigating her life after finding out her father is a serial killer, was based on a real-life story. As the report states, the news of its cancellation is not necessarily very surprising. Happy Face failed to put a smile on critics' faces, landing divisive reactions that garnered a 57% rotten score on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences were even more critical with a 43%. The series also failed to rank high on the streaming charts, an indicator that audience retention was simply not there despite an intriguing concept and original story.

The cast of Happy Face features Annaleigh Ashford, Dennis Quaid, James Wolk,...

Robert and Michelle King’s crime thriller “Happy Face” has been canceled at Paramount+ after just one season, Variety has confirmed.

The news comes roughly two months after “Happy Face” wrapped Season 1 on May 1. The show tells the real story of Melissa Moore, who in 1995, learned that her father, Keith Hunter Jesperson, was the then-infamous Happy Face Killer. The series is based on the “Happy Face” podcast from iHeartPodcasts as well as Moore’s autobiography “Shattered Silence,” which was co-written by M. Bridget Cook.

In the eight-episode series, which premiered March 20, Melissa changes her name and distances herself from her father as an adult. Despite her best efforts, Keith, who is serving life in prison, tries to weasel his way back into her life. As she reconciles with her past, Melissa “discovers the impact her father had on his victims’ families and must face a reckoning of her own identity,...

It's one and done for Happy Face, the crime drama series based on true events that debuted two months ago on Paramount+. Amid middling reviews, the show's renewal fate has been revealed, and it's not good news for fans.

Per Deadline, Happy Face has been canceled at Paramount+ after just one season. The news comes less than three months after the series wrapped up its first season. It's not the surprise of the century, as Happy Face struggled with viewership, failing to crack Nielsen's Streaming Original Top 10 rankings. What also didn't help was the show's reception, as it has an approval rating of 57% on Rotten Tomatoes with an audience score that's even lower at 43%.

The show was produced by CBS Studios in production with King Size Production, iHeartPodcasts, and Semi-Formal Productions. It was one of the rare original shows on Paramount+ that is not part of an existing IP or Taylor Sheridan's Universe.

Gray skies will not be clearing up on Paramount+ anytime soon: Happy Face has been canceled after one season, TVLine has confirmed.

The series was based on the real-life story of Melissa G. Moore, who found out at 15 years old that her father was actually an infamous serial killer who went by the name of Happy Face. Moore hosts a podcast of the same name on the topic, and she previously told her story in the 2009 memoir Shattered Silence: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer’s Daughter.

More from TVLineStephen Colbert Gets a Visit From Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart...

Exclusive: Paramount+ has opted not to proceed with a second season of Robert and Michelle King’s crime drama series Happy Face, starring Annaleigh Ashford and Dennis Quaid, Deadline has learned. The news comes almost two months after the Season 1 finale was released May 1.

The cancellation is not entirely surprising. Happy Face didn’t make much noise during its run and didn’t break into Nielsen’s Streaming Originals Top 10. Produced by CBS Studios, it was a rare Paramount+ original series not based on existing IP or part of Taylor Sheridan’s Universe.

The drama was inspired by the true-life story of Melissa Moore; the Happy Face podcast from iHeartPodcasts and Moore; and the autobiography Shattered Silence, written by Moore with M. Bridget Cook.

Jumping off from Moore’s true-life story, Happy Face follows Melissa (Ashford) and her incarcerated father, known as the Happy Face Killer (Quaid). After decades of no contact,...

“Tamron Hall” takes a deep dive into the world of true crime this Monday with a special episode dedicated to exploring some of the most headline-grabbing cases in recent memory. The show brings together individuals whose lives have been irrevocably altered by these crimes, offering viewers a firsthand look at the human impact of these […]

Tamron Hall: Melissa G. Moore, Delimar Vera...

True crime adaptations remain ever so popular, and Happy Face on Paramount+ is doing a remarkable job of showing why. Based on the life of Melissa G. Moore, who is the daughter of the notorious Happy Face Killer, the adaptation is shocking and salacious, full of curiosity, secrets, and exposure. However, there’s a lot about Happy Face that allows it to stand out as different from other adaptations.

For example, the limited series does not follow the events of Happy Face Killer Keith Jesperson (Dennis Quaid) and his exploits, but instead jumps off from the true story of his arrest to follow his daughter Melissa as he tries to work his way back into her life. Furthermore, instead of focusing on the killer and his actions, the Paramount+ series focuses more on the effects of Jesperson’s actions on his own family, on his victims’ families, on surrounding communities,...

Dennis Quaid es el asesino de la cara feliz. © SkyShowtime

SkyShowtime España ha presentado el tráiler oficial de su nueva serie Happy Face (Cara feliz: la historia de un asesino en serie), basada en una historia real.

Happy Face sigue a Melissa (Ashford) y a su padre encarcelado, conocido como el asesino de la cara feliz (Quaid). Después de décadas sin contacto, por fin encuentra la forma de volver a la vida de su hija. En una carrera contrarreloj, Melissa debe averiguar si un hombre inocente va a ser condenado a muerte por un crimen que cometió su padre. Al mismo tiempo, descubre el impacto que su padre tuvo en las familias de sus víctimas y debe enfrentarse a un ajuste de cuentas de su propia identidad.

La serie de ocho episodios se inspira en la historia real de Melissa G. Moore, que a los 15 años descubrió que su padre...

Note: This story contains spoilers from “Happy Face” Episode 4.

In this week’s episode of “Happy Face,” Melissa (Annaleigh Ashford) reconnects with her brother Shane (Philip Ettinger) after going public with the fact that their father is serial killer Keith Jesperson (Dennis Quaid).

TheWrap spoke to the real Melissa, Melissa G. Moore, as well as Ashford about the complicated relationship they have with their father and with each other.

“There are a lot of fictionalized series of serial killers, and we don’t [usually] see the serial killer portrayed as a parent or the relationships that they have with their family,” said Moore, noting that “Happy Face” also shows how Melissa and her family interact with the victim’s families.

“I just never felt seen watching any [other] shows,” said Moore, who is an executive producer on the series. “I always felt like I was alone and that I had an experience...

True crime series are everywhere these days, so it can be easy to overlook new shows. The Paramount+ series Happy Face takes a unique approach to telling the true story of a serial killer and his daughter, who becomes an investigator in her own right. Using the books and podcast by Melissa G. Moore, Happy Face takes us through her journey from being victimized by her father’s crimes to becoming an advocate for those like her.

Happy Face is an incarcerated serial killer who is also Melissa Reed’s (Annaleigh Ashford) once-beloved father. After decades of no contact, Keith (Dennis Quaid) finds a way to force himself back into his daughter’s life. In a race against the clock, Melissa must find out if an innocent man is going to be put to death for a crime her father committed. Throughout, she discovers the impact her father had on...

Lakeshore Records will release the Happy Face—Original Series Soundtrack digitally on Friday, March 28, 2025. The soundtrack for the new Paramount+ series features original music by Emmi-nominated composer Ariel Marx (A Small Light). Marx’s spare yet atmospheric score subtly augments the psychological tension of the dramatic series based on the popular memoir and podcast.

Happy Face is inspired by the true-life story of Melissa G. Moore, which was documented in the Happy Face podcast from iHeartPodcasts and Moore, as well as in Moore’s autobiography Shattered Silence, which she wrote with M. Bridget Cook. At 15, Moore discovered her father was the prolific serial killer known as Happy Face. Since then, she changed her name and distanced herself from a traumatic past.

In the new series:

Jumping off from Moore’s true-life story, the Paramount+ Original Series follows Melissa (Ashleigh Ashford) and her incarcerated father, known as the Happy Face...

Imagine discovering at the ripe age of 15 that your father is a serial killer. Melissa G. Moore's harrowing real-life journey is chronicled in Happy Face, now streaming on Paramount +. The series focuses on this woman's adult years in a dramatized recounting that's turning true-crime fans' heads far and wide. In the past, Moore has shared her story on different platforms, including the acclaimed Happy Face podcast and her autobiography, Shattered Silence. MovieWeb recently caught up with Moore to learn about bringing her experiences to a streaming platform in the form of narrative true-crime.

"I think what's really incredible about fiction and about this kind of medium is that the things that I couldn't share in a podcast or in the book could be shared in a fictionalized way, even though they're with the essence of truth," Moore told us. "So the conversations and the emotions, everything that was experienced,...

Melissa Jesperson-Moore (with showrunner Jennifer Cacicio) discusses her story and her father, the Happy Face Killer, and the new TV series based on it, starring Dennis Quaid. 'Happy Face' streams new episodes each Thursday on Paramount+.

'Happy Face' is adapted from the 2018 podcast Happy Face by Melissa Moore, and her 2009 autobiography Shattered Silence, co-written with M. Bridget Cook. The series tells the story of Melissa Jesperson-Moore, who at age 15 discovered that her father, Keith Hunter Jesperson, was the serial murderer known as the Happy Face Killer.

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Happy Face is a true crime drama series created by Jennifer Cacicio. Based on the 2018 podcast of the same name by Meissa Moore and Moore’s 2009 autobiography Shattered Silence, the Paramount+ series follows Melissa Jesperson-Moore, who discovered that her father is the notorious serial killer Happy Face Killer at the age of 15. Now, she is contacted by her father, who promises to tell her about his unknown victims. Happy Face stars Annaleigh Ashford, James Wolk, Dennis Quaid, Tamera Tomakili, Khiyla Aynne, and Benjamin Mackey. So, if you loved the psychologically thrilling mysteries, intense story, and compelling characters in Happy Face, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Mindhunter (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Mindhunter is a psychological crime thriller drama series created by Joe Penhall. Based on the 1995 true-crime book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite...

Like Hulu’s “Good American Family,” which also premieres this week, “Happy Face” is based on an unbelievable true story.

The new drama explores the collateral damage of human evil, and thanks to the involvement of “The Good Wife” and “Evil” creators Robert and Michelle King, it has all the potential to become your next true-crime TV binge. That is assuming, of course, you do not mind the narrative and thematic darkness, as well as the off-putting lead performance from Dennis Quaid, that “Happy Face” has to offer.

Here is how, when and where you can watch new episodes of the series.

When does “Happy Face” premiere?

The true-crime drama premieres Thursday, March 20.

How can I watch “Happy Face”?

“Happy Face” is available to stream only on Paramount+.

When are new “Happy Face” episodes released?

New episodes of “Happy Face” debut weekly on Thursdays.

When do new episodes come out?...

The cast and creatives of Paramount+'s new series Happy Face dove into the complexity of telling this story based on true-story events.

Happy Face is a new true crime drama series adapted from Melissa G. Moore's 2018 podcast and her 2009 autobiography Shattered Silence. 

Developed by Jennifer Cacicio, along with Robert and Michelle King, the show will premiere globally on March 20, 2025, on Paramount+, with two episodes released initially, followed by weekly drops on the streaming platform.

The series explores Moore's complex journey as the daughter of Keith Hunter Jesperson, the infamous Happy Face Killer. The Direct got the opportunity to speak with some of the cast and dive into recreating this chilling story.

Read full article on The Direct.

At the heart of every true crime show, movie, book and podcast lies the same uncomfortable reality: The worst epoch in a victim’s life, the pain from which ripples through their loved ones’ lives forever, becomes a form of ghastly entertainment for the masses.

Happy Face, which premiered today on Paramount+, acknowledges and wrestles with that quandary as it tells the story of Melissa G. Moore, who learned at age 15 that her father was a serial killer. The series is inspired by on Moore’s podcast of the same name and her book Shattered Silence, which chronicled her experiences...

If you’re a true crime fan and love adaptations as much as documentaries, you’re absolutely going to want to watch the new Paramount+ limited series Happy Face, which is inspired by a true story.

When 15-year-old Melissa Moore’s father is arrested for murder, her life is forever changed. As the notorious Happy Face Killer, Keith Jesperson spent the early 90s traveling around the country as a long-haul trucker, murdering eight women along the way. He was finally arrested in 1995, confessed, and he is serving four life sentences as an inmate at the Oregon State Penitentiary. Happy Face on Paramount+ picks up here and jumps off from Melissa’s story in continuance of the true crime adaptation.

Happy Face premiered today, March 20, 2025 with the first two episodes on Paramount+. Going forward, one new episode will be released from the 8-episode season on Thursdays until the finale on May...

Quick LinksHappy Face Is Memorable For What It Doesn't ShowHappy Face's Cast Brings the True Story to Life Exceedingly WellHappy Face Stumbles When It Moves Away From Melissa's Story

The following contains major spoilers from Happy Face Episodes 1 & 2, "The Confession" & "Killing Shame," now streaming on Paramount+. It also contains discussion of violence.

Happy Face is unlike any other "based on a true story" crime drama. The Paramount+ series -- inspired by the life story of Melissa G. Moore, as well as her Happy Face podcast and her memoir Shattered Silence -- is about a serial killer, but it's not centered on him. Instead, the show opts to tell the tale of the Happy Face Killer through the perspective of his daughter, and to talk about everything surrounding his heinous acts of violence.

The eight-episode series is a fictionalization of the story of Keith Hunter Jesperson, but it's Keith's daughter Melissa who is front and center.

Thedrama series, based on the true-crime podcast of the same name, stars Annaleigh Ashford and Dennis Quaid.

At 15, Melissa G. Moore discovered that her father, Keith Hunter Jesperson, was the infamous Happy Face serial killer. Thirty years later, Moore tells her story in Paramount+’s “Happy Face,” the new true-crime drama series inspired by the podcast that sees Melissa in a race against the clock to see if an innocent man will be put to death for a crime her father committed. “Happy Face” will premiere globally on Thursday, March 20 and you can watch exclusively with a subscription to Paramount+!

How to watch ‘Happy Face’: When: Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 3:01 a.m. Et TV: Paramount+ Stream: Watch with a subscription to Paramount+. From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a Vpn. Everything you need to know to stream ‘Happy Face’

How to watch ‘Happy Face’:

When will new...

Stars of the highly anticipated limited series Happy Face, including Dennis Quaid and Annaleigh Ashford, walked the red carpet at an Emmys For Your Consideration event at The Metrograph in New York City on March 18.

Joining Quaid and Ashford were cast members James Wolk, Tamera Tomakili, Khiyla Aynne, Benjamin Mackey, Phillip Ettinger, and Jenn Lyon. The industry event also welcomed the creative team behind Happy Face: showrunner Jennifer Cacicio and executive producers Melissa G. Moore, Robert King, Michelle King, and Liz Glotzer. The eight-episode series is adapted from Moore's 2018 podcast, Happy Face, and the 2009 autobiography Shattered Silence, and cowritten by M. Bridget Cook.

Quaid (an Emmy nominee for The Special Relationship) portrays Keith Hunter Jesperson, aka the Happy Face Killer. Ashford (an Emmy nominee for Welcome to Chippendales) plays Moore, Keith's daughter and a makeup artist on a television talk show who learns of her father's deadly secret.

See Does ‘Happy Face’ slay?...

Dennis Quaid’s new true-crime series is set to premiere on Paramount+ tomorrow, and the show has earned a solid Rotten Tomatoes score ahead of its debut. At the time of writing, Happy Face sits at 63% on the aggregate site from critics, which puts it around the middle of the road for Quaid’s project in his career. This score is subject to change, and a general audience rating will also not be given until the show has premiered. Happy Face tells the story of Melissa Jesperson-Moore, a 15-year-old girl who discovers that her father, Keith Hunter Jesperson, is the serial killer known as Happy Face. In addition to Quaid, Annaleigh Ashford also stars in the series as Melissa, with James Wolk portraying Ben and Benjamin Mackey playing Max.

Dennis Quaid and Annaleigh Ashford pose for photos at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival premiere of their new series Happy Face on Monday (March 10) in Austin, Tex.

The two actors lead the cast of the upcoming Paramount+ drama, which is based on a true story, and they were also joined by some of their co-stars.

Also stepping out were fellow series regulars James Wolk, Tamera Tomakili and Khiyla Aynne.

While at the premiere screening, Dennis opened up about why he was hesitant to play serial killer Keith Jespersen.

Keep reading to find out more…

“I really had to think about this one for a long time, simply because I didn’t want him to feel any kind of glory about himself being out there, which is exactly what he wants,” Dennis said of the killer, via Variety, who is currently serving four consecutive life sentences at the Oregon State Penitentiary. “It’s entertaining for him,...

Dennis Quaid is used to playing beloved characters, but that’s not the reason playing a serial killer made him feel hesitant.

“Happy Face,” Paramount+’s upcoming drama series based on the real story of Melissa G. Moore, daughter of Keith Jesperson aka the Happy Face Killer, Quaid portrays the infamous murderer of at least eight women in the early ’90s..

At the SXSW world premiere of “Happy Face,” Quaid shared why he had reservations before saying yes to the role.

“I really had to think about this one for a long time, simply because I didn’t want him to feel any kind of glory about himself being out there, which is exactly what he wants,” Quaid said of Jesperson, who is serving four consecutive life sentences at the Oregon State Penitentiary. “It’s entertaining for him, I think. But to play somebody like this has an effect on you.

Dennis Quaid is set to mark a haunting role in his filmography: Playing a serial killer. Starring alongside Annaleigh Ashford, upcoming Paramount+ series “Happy Face” follows real-life murderer Keith Jesperson, also known as the Happy Face Killer. Ashford stars as Jesperson’s daughter Melissa Reed Aka Melissa G. Moore, who is forced to confront the carnage caused by her father during the trial of another alleged killer.

“Keith Jesperson is a serial killer,” Quaid told IndieWire of his character at Paramount+’s The Lodge in SXSW. “He killed eight women in five years. He was also a father to Annaleigh’s character, Melissa, and she had a very close relationship. Then she found out at the age of 15, when he was caught, that he was a serial killer. How do you reconcile having that loving dad, with this monster, what he did? That’s basically what the show ‘Happy Face’ is about.

Dennis Quaid channels the notorious serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson in the new trailer for Happy Face, a series coming soon to Paramount+. The show stars Quaid as the titular character and Annaleigh Ashford (American Crime Story) as his daughter, Melissa G. Moore. You can watch the new trailer below.

The show follows Moore as an adult as she investigates whether a possibly innocent man is going to be put to death for a crime possibly committed by her father, who happens to be the infamous Happy Face Killer. The big twist is that Reed discovered that her own father was the serial killer when she was only 15.

RelatedDennis Quaid Puts on a 'Happy Face' as Notorious Serial Killer in Trailer for New Streaming Series

Based on the true story of Melissa G. Moore who discovered her father's secret life as a murderer.

The Happy Face Killer earned his moniker...

Paramount+ just dropped the trailer for its new original drama series, Happy Face, based on a shocking true story. The eight-episode series premieres on Thursday, March 20, with two episodes, and will stream exclusively on Paramount+. Here’s the Lowdown: Happy Face is inspired by the real life of Melissa G. Moore, who discovered at 15 […]

Dennis Quaid is the Happy Face Killer in New Paramount+ Thriller – First Look!

Maintaining close connections with family can be difficult for some. Time, experiences, and bad blood tend to divide even the strongest bonds. In Paramount‘s Happy Face trailer, a daughter rediscovers her father’s horrific nature as another family’s peace and closure hangs in the balance. While there’s no escaping the past, Melissa (Annaleigh Ashford) must come to grips with old scars as the life she tried to bury returns to taunt and dismantle everything she built atop a foundation of lies.

Happy Face is inspired by the true-life story of Melissa G. Moore; the critically acclaimed Happy Face podcast from iHeartPodcasts and Moore; and the autobiography Shattered Silence, written by Moore with M. Bridget Cook. At 15, Moore discovered that her beloved father was the prolific serial killer known as Happy Face. As an adult, she has changed her name and guarded her secret while her father has been serving life in prison.

Paramount+ has released the official trailer and key art for its Happy Face series, which will premiere with two episodes on Thursday, March 20. The eight-episode season will stream on Paramount+ in the U.S. and international markets where the service is available.

Following the premiere, new episodes of the series will drop weekly on Thursdays, with the season finale debuting on May 1.

Happy Face is inspired by the true-life story of Melissa G. Moore; the critically acclaimed Happy Face podcast from iHeartPodcasts and Moore; and the autobiography Shattered Silence, written by Moore with M. Bridget Cook.

At 15, Moore discovered that her beloved father was the prolific serial killer known as Happy Face. As an adult, she has changed her name and guarded her secret while her father has been serving life in prison.

Jumping off from Moore’s true-life story, the Paramount+ Original Series follows Melissa (Annaleigh Ashford) and her incarcerated father,...

Fresh off last year’s The Substance, Dennis Quaid stars in the eight-episode series “Happy Face” for Paramount+, which will premiere on March 20 with the first two episodes.

Watch the new trailer for “Happy Face” below. The series will be streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and international markets where the service is available. Following the premiere, new episodes will drop weekly on Thursdays, with the finale on May 1.

Annaleigh Ashford (“American Crime Story”) co-stars, with series regulars also including James Wolk, Tamera Tomakili, Khiyla Aynne and Benjamin Mackey.

“Happy Face” is inspired by the true-life story of Melissa G. Moore, as well as the critically acclaimed Happy Face podcast from iHeartPodcasts and Moore; and the autobiography Shattered Silence, written by Moore with M. Bridget Cook.

At 15, Moore discovered that her beloved father was the prolific serial killer known as Happy Face. As an adult, she has changed...

Paramount+ has had some recent hits, such as Landman and School Spirits Season 2, and the streaming platform is poised to keep that streak going with Happy Face.

The new crime drama premieres on Thursday, March 20, with a two-episode drop on Paramount+ territories around the globe.

New episodes will air each week through its May 1 season finale.

(Paramount+/Screenshot)

The “season” finale is interesting because the newly released Happy Face trailer reminds me of the many crime dramas that have invaded the small screen in the peak TV era.

More often than not, they’re limited series due to the cases having a clearly defined endpoint that didn’t call for more episodes.

(Paramount+/Screenshot)

It hasn’t stopped some shows from toying with the idea of more episodes, such as HBO’s Mare of Easttown.

Thankfully, Mare of Easttown has remained a miniseries thus far, but it’s unclear how...

Dennis Quaid is transforming into a haunting serial killer for the true crime series “Happy Face.” In the upcoming Paramount+ series, the actor portrays real-life murderer Keith Jesperson, also known as the Happy Face Killer. “Impeachment” actress Annaleigh Ashford stars as Jesperson’s daughter Melissa Reed Aka Melissa G. Moore, who is forced to confront the carnage caused by her father during the trial of another alleged killer.

At 15, Moore discovered that her beloved father was the prolific serial killer known as Happy Face. As an adult, she has changed her name and guarded her secret while her father has been serving life in prison. The official synopsis for the series reads: “After decades of no contact, Keith forces his way back into his daughter’s life. In a race against the clock, Melissa must find out if an innocent man is going to be put to death for a crime her father committed.

Annaleigh Ashford is the daughter of the notorious Happy Face serial killer out to help save an innocent man facing death for a crime her father committed in the trailer for the Paramount+ dramatic thriller Happy Face.

Ashford plays Melissa Reed, who must get her father, convicted killer Keith Jerperson, and played by Dennis Quaid, to help save an innocent man before he goes to his death for a crime he committed. “If I don’t deal with him, there is a family who lost a daughter, who will never get answers,” Reed says at one point in the trailer for the drama inspired by a true-life story.

After decades of no contact, Jerperson forced his way back into his daughter’s life, and Reed, trying to solve the crime her imprisoned father committed, faces a reckoning of her own identity and the impact the Happy Face killer had on his victims’ families.

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

This March, we are getting a ton of great shows on various streaming services. From the much-anticipated superhero action drama series Daredevil: Born Again series to an interesting murder mystery comedy-drama series, The Residence. So, we are here to sort out all of the brilliant upcoming shows that you might want to check out.

Daredevil: Born Again (Disney+) Release Date: March 4 Credit – Disney+

Daredevil: Born Again is a superhero action crime legal drama series created by Dario Scardapane, Matt Corman, and Chris Ord. The upcoming Disney+ series is the continuation of the Netflix series. It follows Matt Murdock as he struggles to deal with old enemies while fighting against some dangerous new ones. Daredevil: Born Again stars Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Margarita Levieva, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Wilson Bethel, Zabryna Guevara, Nikki M. James, Genneya Walton, Arty Froushan,...

After celebrating the success of the recent Scad TVfest, the Savannah College of Arts and Design and SCADFilm will present SCADFilm In Focus: True Crime Thursday, March 6, spotlighting the popularity of TV, podcast and streaming true crime shows. All events will be held at SCADshow, the university’s state-of-the-art theater complex in Midtown Atlanta.

SCADFilm In Focus: True Crime will narrow the lens on the people behind the scenes of popular true crime shows, investigating the macabre power of the genre.

See the full programming lineup below:

Beyond the Screen: Using Storytelling to Educate, Empower, and Engage

11:15 a.m. — SCADshow, Stage 2

Adapting true crime stories into compelling limited series can capture massive audiences, particularly when the fiction stays rooted in reality. But when a show profits from someone’s real-life story, do the creators have an obligation to give back to the individuals and communities behind those narratives? The...

Paramount has announced the lineup of movies, TV shows and live sports coming to Paramount+ in March, which will mark the streaming service’s fourth anniversary. The Paramount Plus March 2025 schedule includes the updated Women Who Move Mountains collection, which shines a light on the real and fictional women who inspire.

For Women’s History Month, new additions to the collection include A League of Their Own, Annihilation, Blue Crush, Ex Machina, Failure to Launch, Julie & Julia, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Lara Croft: The Cradle of Life, Marie Antoinette, Practical Magic, Room, Sugar & Spice, The Other Boleyn Girl, The Women and more.

Happy Face

Speaking of strong leading ladies, don’t miss the premiere of the original series Happy Face, inspired by the true-life story of Melissa G. Moore (played by Annaleigh Ashford) who discovered that her once beloved father, Keith Jesperson (Dennis Quaid), was the prolific serial killer known as Happy Face.

Dennis Quaid (The Substance) is tearing Annaleigh Ashford’s (Hold Your Breath) life in half in Collider’s exclusive first look at the official poster for Happy Face. Paramount+’s latest original series won’t be one to miss, especially for the true-crime fans out there, as it follows the true story first told by Melissa G. Moore in the iHeartPodcast of the same name and the autobiography, Shattered, which Moore co-penned alongside M. Bridget Cook. Joining the streamer's lineup of content in just over a month, the show’s March 20 release will allow audiences to uncover the stranger-than-fiction story in a completely new way with two critically acclaimed actors leading the production.

Robert De Niro’s “Goodfellas” reunion is now an official Tribeca event.

De Niro, who cofounded the festival and organization with producer Jane Rosenthal, leads the upcoming mob true story “The Alto Knights” in dual roles: De Niro portrays real-life mafia dons Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, with “Goodfellas” screenwriter Nick Pileggi penning the script.

IndieWire can announce that Tribeca members will be the among the first audiences for the feature, which will have its U.S. premiere March 15 as part of the membership program. “The Alto Knights” debuts in theaters March 21.

“The Alto Knights” is more than just a “Goodfellas” reunion for De Niro: he also is back with director Barry Levinson, who he previously collaborated with on the HBO TV movie “The Wizard of Lies” (2017) and the 1997 political satire film “Wag the Dog.” Levinson also produced “The Sopranos” and “The Wire.”

“The Alto Knights” centers on the 1950s rivalry between Genovese and Costello,...

Paramount+ has announced the premiere date and released a teaser trailer for its upcoming original drama series, “Happy Face.” The series, based on the true story of Melissa G. Moore, whose father was the notorious Happy Face Killer, boasts a cast that includes Annaleigh Ashford, Dennis Quaid, James Wolk, Tamera Tomakili, Khiyla Aynne, and Benjamin […]

Paramount+ Announces “Happy Face” Premiere Date and Releases Teaser Trailer...

Dennis Quaid is once again stepping back out on the bad-guy limb and embracing another creepy character, this time taking on his darkest role yet. The actor, who is best known for his characters in action movies and as a charming, handsome lead in romcoms, is set to portray real-life serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson in the upcoming, Paramount+ original drama series Happy Face. The streaming giant recently released the teaser trailer for its new true-crime adaptation, and it is seriously twisted, folks. If you’re a fan of true crime, you’re gonna want to watch this.

Happy Face, which premieres Thursday, March 20 with the first two episodes on Paramount+, is inspired by the true-life story of Melissa G. Moore, who, at 15 years of age, discovered her father was the prolific serial killer known as Happy Face. The series is based on her critically acclaimed podcast “Happy Face” and her autobiography “Shattered Silence,...

La historia del asesino en serie que aterrorizó los 90. © Paramount+

Paramount+ ha compartido el primer tráiler de su nueva serie true crime Happy Face, basada en una historia real.

Happy Face sigue a Melissa (Ashford) y a su padre encarcelado, conocido como el asesino de la cara feliz (Quaid). Después de décadas sin contacto, por fin encuentra la forma de volver a la vida de su hija. En una carrera contrarreloj, Melissa debe averiguar si un hombre inocente va a ser condenado a muerte por un crimen que cometió su padre. Al mismo tiempo, descubre el impacto que su padre tuvo en las familias de sus víctimas y debe enfrentarse a un ajuste de cuentas de su propia identidad.

La serie de ocho episodios se inspira en la historia real de Melissa G. Moore, que a los 15 años descubrió que su padre era el prolífico asesino de la cara feliz.

Dennis Quaid, who had a shining role in The Substance last year as a Terry Gilliam-style grotesquerie, will play American killer Keith Hunter Jesperson a.k.a. "The Happy Face Killer" (because of the smiley faces he wrote on notes to authorities) in a new series, Happy Face, for Paramount+.

The only thing America is better at than producing serial killers is drama series and movies based on those serial killers. Maybe it was the leaded gasoline of the mid-20th century that crushed the nation's neural empathy centers, but the 60s through the 90s churned out some of the most deranged serial killers of all time.

Though Quaid plays the dead-eyed killer as the center of the string of grisly murders in the early 90s, the series focuses on Jesperson's daughter, Melissa G. Moore who, at 15, discovered her father's secret life as a criminal.

The series is based on Moore's 2018 podcast,...

Dennis Quaid is going from playing a slimeball in The Substance to a downright monster in the new Paramount+ series, Happy Face. The first teaser trailer for the true-crime show was just released, putting the Day After Tomorrow and Reagan star into the shoes of the real-life Happy Face Killer, Keith Hunter Jesperson. Though the prolific murderer's name is the source of the title, the harrowing drama is instead inspired by the story of his daughter, Melissa G. Moore, who discovered his identity when she was 15 and has since changed her name and tried to move on while keeping their relation a secret. However, the footage teases how her father finds a way to force himself back into her life despite being locked up for life without parole.

Paramount+ has announced this week that the eight-episode series “Happy Face” will premiere on March 20 with two episodes, and they’ve also released the official trailer.

“Happy Face” starring Dennis Quaid (The Substance) will be streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and international markets where the service is available. Following the premiere, new episodes will drop weekly on Thursdays, with the season finale on May 1.

Annaleigh Ashford (“American Crime Story”) co-stars, with series regulars also including James Wolk, Tamera Tomakili, Khiyla Aynne and Benjamin Mackey.

“Happy Face” is inspired by the true-life story of Melissa G. Moore, as well as the critically acclaimed Happy Face podcast from iHeartPodcasts and Moore; and the autobiography Shattered Silence, written by Moore with M. Bridget Cook.

At 15, Moore discovered that her beloved father was the prolific serial killer known as Happy Face. As an adult, she has changed her name and guarded...

Paramount+ today revealed the teaser trailer and premiere date for its original drama series Happy Face. The eight-episode season will premiere on Thursday, March 20 with two episodes, exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and international markets where the service is available.

Following the premiere, new episodes of the series will drop weekly on Thursdays, with the season finale on May 1.

Happy Face is inspired by the true-life story of Melissa G. Moore; the critically acclaimed Happy Face podcast from iHeartPodcasts and Moore; and the autobiography Shattered Silence, written by Moore with M. Bridget Cook.

At 15, Moore discovered that her beloved father was the prolific serial killer known as Happy Face. As an adult, she has changed her name and guarded her secret while her father has been serving life in prison.

Jumping off from Moore’s true-life story, the Paramount+ Original Series follows Melissa (Annaleigh Ashford) and her incarcerated father,...

Everything we do has a knock-on effect, especially our crimes. Most of the time, we’re blissfully unaware of the harm we cause others, but in the trailer for Happy Face, a new series coming to Paramount+, a daughter discovers how her father’s vile actions ruined the lives of many. Paramount+ today revealed the teaser trailer and premiere date for its highly anticipated original drama series Happy Face, starring Annaleigh Ashford and Dennis Quaid. The eight-episode season will premiere on Thursday, March 20, with two episodes exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and international markets where the service is available. New episodes will drop weekly on Thursdays following the premiere, with the season finale on May 1.

Happy Face is inspired by the true-life story of Melissa G. Moore; the critically acclaimed Happy Face podcast from iHeartPodcasts and Moore; and the autobiography Shattered Silence, written by Moore with M. Bridget Cook.

The long-in-the-works thriller Happy Face will arrive on Paramount+ in the spring.

The streamer has set a March 20 premiere date and released a teaser for the drama, which stars Annaleigh Ashford (B Positive, Masters of Sex) as Melissa, a woman whose father (Dennis Quaid) is a notorious serial killer known as Happy Face. The show, executive produced by Robert and Michelle King (Evil, Elsbeth), is based on a true story.

In the teaser, Ashford’s Melissa says that “every violent act is a rock dropped in water. If you stay silent, the ripples of trauma just keep pulling everyone they touch underneath.” Watch it below.

Along with Ashford and Quaid, Happy Face also stars James Wolk, Tamera Tomakili, Khiyla Aynne and Benjamin Mackey. The show is based on the real-life story of Melissa G. Moore; the Happy Face podcast from Moore and iHeartPodcasts; and Moore’s autobiography Shattered Silence, written with M.

The new Paramount+ crime drama series Happy Face will premiere on March 20 with two episodes with individual drops to follow on Thursdays concluding on May 1. An eerie teaser trailer can be seen above.

The CBS Studios-produced Happy Face is inspired by the true-life story of Melissa Moore; the Happy Face podcast from iHeartPodcasts and Moore; and the autobiography Shattered Silence, written by Moore with M. Bridget Cook.

At 15, Moore discovered that her beloved father was the prolific serial killer known as Happy Face. As an adult, she has changed her name and guarded her secret while her father has been serving life in prison.

Annaleigh Ashford and Dennis Quaid lead the Happy Face cast, joined by series regulars James Wolk, Tamera Tomakili, Khiyla Aynne and Benjamin Mackey.

Jumping off from Moore’s true-life story, the Paramount+ Original Series follows Melissa (Ashford) and her incarcerated father, known as the Happy...

In the two-night Lifetime television premiere of The Life and Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson, loved ones of the second wife of O.J. Simpson put more of a face and a voice to the woman whose existence has been overshadowed by that of her famous football player ex-husband (who stood trial and was acquitted of her murder and that of her friend Ron Goldman, both of whom were found stabbed to death in her Brentwood, Los Angeles, home on June 12, 1994).

“Anytime you mention the trial of the century, people always say, ‘Oh yeah, O.J. Simpson,'” Nicole’s sister Dominique Brown says, speaking with The Hollywood Reporter in the conversation below. “They don’t remember the victims.”

Dominique and her sisters, Denise and Tanya Brown, have lived with that reality for three decades now, and it’s iswhat prompted their interest in creating a documentary about Nicole on the 30th anniversary of her death.

Though Lifetime first announced the four-part docuseries, The Life and Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson, on April 12 — one day after O.J. Simpson died from metastatic prostate cancer at the age of 76 — the project has actually been a decade coming, says one of its executive producers, Melissa Moore.

“It’s 10 years in the making,” Moore tells The Hollywood Reporter in the conversation below. “I connected with Denise Brown first over the topic of domestic violence. I’m a survivor of domestic violence myself, and we connected through going to speaking events and galas, raising money. Over this last decade, a friendship and trust started to be built, so much so that I got introduced to the other Brown sisters, Dominique and Tanya, and then in 2016, they introduced me to the Simpson children, and that trust then continued on with my relationship with Brie and Jesse,” Moore says of her co-executive producers,...