Television Q&A: When will ‘The Rookie’ be back on patrol?
You have questions. I have some answers.
Q: Is “The Rookie” coming back? I think it’s been on TV for four or five years, and I can’t find anything about it.
A: Yes, the police drama starring Nathan Fillion will be back on ABC for its ninth season — in 2027, most likely January. That same year will bring a spinoff, “The Rookie: North,” starring Jay Ellis. According to the network, that show “introduces Alex Holland (played by Ellis) who believed his midlife wasn’t worthy of a crisis. But after a violent home invasion ignites a dormant purpose, Alex battles a lifetime of failed commitments by joining the Pierce County Police Department as a rookie.”
Q: I recently finished watching “Mr. Inbetween” on Disney+. I really enjoyed it despite the heavy Australian accents. My question is, will it be back for a fourth season? The last episode suggested that it might be.
A: The series originally ran in 2018-21 for three seasons totaling 26 episodes, and Disney+ has all of that. I know of no plans for more.
For those of you tuning in late, “Mr. Inbetween” is a comedy created by Scott Ryan. He stars as Ray Shoesmith, a “criminal for hire,” collecting debts, drugs and guns from people and, as the Disney+ site puts it, often handling people “on a more permanent basis.” And he does it all while dealing with family and friends. If that sounds familiar, it’s because the series is derived from the movie “The Magician,” also about Shoesmith, and written and directed by Ryan.
Q: With all the recent buzz about the new movie about John Madden, I recalled a documentary or film I saw many years ago about the original “Monday Night Football” broadcast team. It featured John Madden alongside Don Meredith and Howard Cosell, including archival footage and behind-the-scenes insights into how the trio worked together. I haven't been able to find the title or where to watch it. Could you help me identify this production?
A: There’s a good bit of revisiting of “MNF” these days, including with Nicolas Cage starring in the movie “Madden” in November, and the recent HBO film “Miller Night Football,” about Dennis Miller’s tenure on the football telecast. But I think you may have seen “Monday Night Mayhem,” a 2002 drama based on the 1988 book by Marc Gunther and Bill Carter. It looks closely at the early years of the telecast — at the heyday of Howard Cosell (played by John Turturro), Don Meredith (Brad Beyer) and Frank Gifford (Kevin Anderson). Madden did not join the program until much later.
“Monday Night Mayhem” is available for rent on Amazon.
Q: I’m curious to know the name of the African American actor called “Snowflake.” He appeared in five classic films. Do you know when he was born and when he died?
A: That was Fred Toones (1906-1962) sometimes billed only as Snowflake (like several actors of color, he was saddled with a demeaning nickname). According to IMDb, he was in about 200 films and “was usually typecast as a porter, appearing in over 50 films in such a role. He also played a variety of other service-oriented or domestic worker roles such as stable grooms, janitors, elevator operators, valets, cooks, bellhops, doormen, butlers, and bartenders.” You can find videos about him on YouTube, and a detailed look at his life and work at Fred “Snowflake” Toones on the Old Corral site about B-movie Westerns.
Do you have a question or comment about entertainment past, present and future? Write to Rich Heldenfels, P.O. Box 417, Mogadore, OH 44260, or brenfels@gmail.com. Letters may be edited. Individual replies are not guaranteed.
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