Final Day of San Diego Comic Con 2022

 

Jeri Jacquin

Sunday, the final day always seems a little bit more relaxed when gathering my things to head over to Hall H. Everyone is heading to the convention center to get the last-minute collectable, see friends one more time before heading back to where ever they have journeyed from, get pictures taken with kids who are spending their Sunday meeting their favorite super heroes or characters.

Me? Well, I’m back to Hall H for two of my favorite television shows and both from the fantastic FX channel. This morning it is the return of MAYANS M.C. and the vampire comedy WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS.

The crowd is told some good news when Elgin James announces that the motorcycle club drama is being given the green light for another season. That’s good news considering we have to know who is responsible for blowing up the warehouse that EZ says in the final episode of season four is ‘the clubs legacy’. The entire cast is not only excited but a few tears of joy were shed.

The panel, along with Elgin James, consisted of J.D. Pardo, Clayton Cardenas, Danny Pino, Sarah Bolger, Emilio Rivera, Michael Irby, Raoul Truillo, Frankie Loyal, Gino Vento, JR Bourne, Vincent Vargas, Emily Toasta, and Vanessa Giselle. Each and every one spoke on their experiences working on MAYANS MC and, most of all, thanking fans for its continual success and, from my perspective, it felt absolutely sincere.

James says of the show, “And every single member of the Mayans family, from our top of the call sheet to our set Pas and every single person in between have put their blood and sweat into making MAYANS something special on the set and on the screen. I’m deeply indebted to John, Eric, Nick and all of the FX and particularly Colette Wilson who’s been in the trenches with us from day one for allowing us to continue to explore and create.”

The last episode of the season left us with EZ taking over the top dog seat, Bishop in a shocked second and Padrino walking away from a club he was trying to keep alive. With the last battle in their own ranks, the vote to go to war with the Sons of Anarchy is ahead. Now, the we are all going to have to take sides!

“Kurt Sutter and I talked about how EZ has this path. The universe was going to spit him out back where he belongs – that was always going to be his fate.” James talked about EZ never knowing if he was in or our because we all saw the mistakes he was making yet still rising in the ranks. “That’s what he’s doing now with the club where there are egos in the way like Bishop and Angel, and I don’t say ego in a negative way.”

Bishop spent the season licking his wounds and Angel spent the season going in and out of love and sadness as his own family starts to change his feelings toward life. But, EZ, well, EZ has the look of a man that is either going to succeed in taking down SAMCRO or, well, lets leave it at that. There will be more on this in a longer article once I have recovered from Comic Con, hey, a girl has got to get some beauty sleep here!

Attendees are told as well that their gift ticket is none other than a MAYANS MC t-shirt and trust when I say that it is the first best nightshirt in my 2022 collection for Comic Con this year.

Next up, the FX hilarious comedy WHAT WE DO IN SHADOWS. The cast panel included Executive Producer and writer Paul Simms, Executive Producer and writer Stefani Robinson, Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillen, Mark Proksch and Kristen Schaal (who cracks me up EVERY time).

Starting out watching an exclusive screening THE NIGHT MARKET, Simms teases that it is the biggest episode yet. That’s fine by me because it had me giggling for half an hour. The process was “Lot of hours of twiddling with my sword and playing with my sword and putting my sword up against Harvey’s sword. Take that as you will, my fellow Nandermo lovers”. The crowd loved it!

Demetriou as Nadja, talks about the hottest vampire club saying, “The reason we have the nightclub is because they’ve seen me dance. When you see a talent like that, you have to use it.” What the audience doesn’t know at this point is that the Comic Con gift from WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS is a tee-shirt with Nadja’s outline and club on it, suitable for becoming the next best nightshirt in my collection.

Simms says that future episodes including the gang in one room and a ‘boys weekend’ which is going to be epic when you think about it. Other tidbits are teasing that viewers are going to meet Guillermo’s family while he tries to find love. WHAT WE DO IN THE SHAWDOWS is on FX and can be seen Tuesday nights with new episodes and streaming the next day on Hulu.

That, my friends, is how I ended my journey through San Diego Comic Con International 2022 at the convention center in San Diego. There was excitement, surprises, trailers, talent and things to do walking around downtown to welcome back fans after a two-year absence. Comic Con did their utmost to protect attendees and with that, masks became part of costumes and it worked!

It a joy to see friends once again, reconnect with our fellow attendees and the excitement that we will once again come back to San Diego Comic Con International in 2023!

See you then!

 

 

A TEACHER on FX and HULU

 

Jeri Jacquin

Currently on FX and HULU from writer/director Hannah Fidell is a limited series story of an educator and the line she crosses being A TEACHER.

Claire Wilson (Kate Mara) married to Matt (Ashley Zukerman) is starting a job at Westerbrook in Austin, Texas as an English teacher and meets new friend Kathryn (Marielle Scott). She seems happy to be starting something new and exciting as well as trying to start a family with Matt. Eric Walker (Nick Robinson) is a popular kid hanging out with friends Logan (Shane Harper) and Josh (Dylan Schmid) when they see Claire. Eric hangs back and they talk about what he wants from school.

Eric heads over to Logans and sees ex-girlfriend Alison (Camila Perez) but they do not have much of a chance to reconnect because the police are busting up the party. Giving a statement to Officer Nate (Adam Thompson), Eric confides that that he cannot call his Mom and asks that he call Claire to set things right. To help him refocus on school, Eric and Claire visit her alma mater and Logan’s older brother Cody entices them to party.

Dealing with the pressure of good grades and getting into college, Eric also helps single Mom Sandra (Rya Kihlstedt) with two young brothers. Needed at home, there comes a moment where he makes a decision about his family that puts his priorities in question.

Enjoying each other’s company as student and teacher, Eric crosses the line and now Claire is conflicted about what to do. Focusing on her marriage, there is tension between the couple when they learn that to have a family, they would need to explore the option of an invitro pregnancy. Adding to the tension is Claire seeing Eric at the dance and confronting him about missing their tutoring meeting.

Now, the line is about to be crossed and both of them turn to lying, deception and it will tear their worlds apart.

Mara as Claire is a woman who believes that starting over at a new school is also a new beginning for she and husband Matt. Seeing the lines becoming blurred with her student, she tries to pull back but can not seem to control herself which means she cannot control anything around her. Pulling in every direction to justify her actions, Mara gives her character moments of likeability then the reality of what is happening screams out.

Robinson as Eric is a young man who thinks he knows what he wants. Trusting in the relationship, he does not see further down the road to the ramifications or the damage that is being done. Robinson gives us a wild young man who wants what he wants as young men his age think, its what comes later that he could have never imagined.

Scott as friend Kathryn is also a teacher at Westbrook and unwittingly becomes the person that Claire needs in her life. The problem with that is friendship should be a two-way street and not filled with deception.

Hulu is the leading premium streaming service offering live and on-demand television and movies. The platform gives viewers instant access to current shows, libraries of hit television series and film as well as Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning originals such as The Handmaid’s Tale and The Act. For more of what Hulu has to offer please visit www.hulu.com.

A TEACHER is a story of betrayal most of all as Claire is in a position to know right from wrong and chooses a course of destructive action. Eric is a young man who trusts Claire and decides that his feelings are more important than the fact she happens to be married and his teacher.

Claire is absolutely responsible for her behavior and the broken trust but let’s not give Eric a free pass in this all. Clearly, he is old enough to know what is wrong as shown by his response after kissing Claire and once the line is crossed – everything becomes blurred.

Once the word is out, that is when the destructive path becomes blurred again. Even the face-to-face meeting between them is agonizing and gruesome to watch. As with most affairs, the consequences are far reaching past Claire and Eric and seeing the pain it causes families, friendships and the education system.

There has never been a story about a teacher and student affair that has not caused a stir and the biggest story of 1997 was teacher Mary Kay Letourneau. Having an affair and a child with her student, it opened the door to other stories of teachers breaking the trust of students and their families.

FX takes a bold risk to make the story just as writer Hannah Fidell is equally bold in directing this cast. HULU brings each episode to streaming which is a wild ride for binge watchers looking for drama, tragedy and tension.

In the end – this is what happens when a line of trust is crossed!

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS on FX and FX Hulu

Moderator Haley Joel Osment

Matt Berry

Natasia Demetriou

Kayvan Novak

Mark Proksch

Stefani Robinson

Paul Simms

Harvey Guillen, creator

A household of vampires living in Staten Island try to find their place in the world. For me, it’s the best comedy on television so get to it!

Haley: Thank you everyone for being with us today. Harvey, we left off Season one with a cliff hanger and an arc to the finale in season two. How did your character evolve?

Harvey: I didn't know we were going in that direction I season one and the story-line has been awesome. I don’t' think anyone expected it. Season two started with a bang killing vampires and evil from getting to my housemates. Guillermo is torn but being loyal to a T. He loves his housemates.

Haley: You had stunt work to do.

Harvey: That was fun, I didn't know that was going to happen until Season 2. I started going to the gym and working out which is good for me but all the stunt stuff I did was like a dance. In that sense it was just like doing a musical. It looked cool on camera. People have been really responding to it.

Haley: Kayvan: There are a lot of ups and down for your characters with Guillermo. Do you think Nandor has turned a corner despite that big blow up?

Kayvan: That's a good question. I would say that it’s a really dysfunctional relationship that they have. The way they have this codependency together, one hand Guillermo wanted to be a vampire and now he doesn't need to be one because he's a vampire killer. Nandor needs Guillermo so who is he going to boss around. Now that this big reveal has happened. I have no idea how this relationship is going to evolve. Nandor basically has someone that can kill him. 'm concerned.

Paul: Stephani and I have some ideas where its going but we won't say.

Haley: It's been green-lit for a third season as you write from your vampire hideouts.

Paul: We know what's happening, but we can't tell you.

Haley: Natasha you worked with a puppet version of yourself. I was lucky enough to see all the improve on set, was it hard to improvise with yourself?

Natasia: I did all the recording of the voice actually in lock-down so if it doesn't sound that good, that's why. It was easy to improvise with myself because I am a fantastic improvisor and actress.

Haley: I also did my ADR from this room; did you all do that?

Natasia: Its always been my dream to work against someone who is as good as me, so I finally got to do that with myself.

Haley: You and Matt had an extended musical episode in the club. How much was written from that episode and how much didn't make it into the show.

Matt: I don’t know because I haven't seen that episode. They are more or less 30 second long. They weren't full songs, so I don't know.

Natasia: I did see it and there were some amazing songs written in and a couple, I'm very pleased to say, that me and Matt penned in his little dressing room on a keyboard that also made it it. Yea, there were some amazing ones.

Haley: Mark, I heard you were very ill during the episode during your big promotion.

Mark: Yea, when you get sick filming and on location it sucks. You have none of your creature comforts with you. Too boot it is in Toronto Canada which is very cold. You take a lot of drugs and smile and you take the smooth with the rough. The flying was fun, it is a little painful as all the other vampires know more than I do. Yea, its work so you go to work and do it. Hopefully the episode didn't suffer.

Haley: Do you think Collin is the most powerful vampire in the house.

Mark: We all have our own specialties that we play off of each other. If he gets them all in the room and they aren't aware he can cause a lot of problems. Guillermo is very powerful now and Kayvan has his powers and Matt has his and Natasia is loud, so we all have things that are powers.

Haley: Stefani and Paul, how far in advance did you know that Jim the Vampire would be Mark Hamill?

Stefani: I felt like we had enough time, more than in the past. There is scheduling and visa issues and shooting close to the holidays its hard to lock people down. In this instance we knew ahead of time and had enough time to write the part specifically geared toward him.

Haley: Was the pool cue or light saber thing happen on set?

Stefani: That was one of those that happened on set, it was the stunt coordinators that came up with it during rehearsal and something that was designed for that specific space when they were blocking it all out.

Paul: We thought maybe they would hit pool cues at each other and on the day and we were shooting it and Mark Hamill picked up the pool cue everyone said, 'oh my gawd'.

Stefani: I never saw Matt so giggly.

Matt: I was in front of Luke Skywalker and it doesn't matter how cool you think you are or in character you are, you're not, you are seven years old with Luke Skywalker in front of you. Pretty special.

Haley: About the directors, you can tell there is a different approach from directors so how do you work with that?

Paul: I'll jump in, the interesting thing is that Kyle is great and our editor Yanna directed two episodes for the first time, but it was a really funny experience. She has seen every bit of film and knows how everything goes together and knew what we needed and what we didn't need. You don't usually get that from a first-time director.

Matt: You'd never know she was a first-time director

Natasia: No matter who the director is I send little bits of paper to the cast saying, 'don't f**k it up'. So, there are lots of directors but I'm always directing.

Haley: From this point on didn't you say, 'I refuse to be directed!'

Natasia: That was an actor that I worked with that said she was self-directing. She was so upset with production that she was self-directing like, 'and action', 'camera one on me and action'.

Haley: This show as I found out in the few days that I was there was very nocturnal like its characters and cold when you are shooting. That is real snow you are working in, how challenging is that working through the nights and trying to sleep all day. Added to that all the time in the makeup trailer.

Stefani: A lot of Captain's Oil.

Paul: I'm a nocturnal person so it doesn't wear on me. I start at 6 pm to daylight, I can't imagine being an actor doing it.

Natasia: It makes you made, but it makes you like a vampire but sometimes you are human and think 'oh, I think I'm gonna die'. It's a very surreal experience but it works for the show.

Stefani: There are waves and stages to it. It's like a long-extended sleepover at a theatre camp with your friends, but there is a point where your body is shutting down and your body turns colors and you've only eaten deviled eggs.

Matt: It doesn't help when they dye your hair black because you look even more withdrawn.

Mark: As much as we love Toronto, filming in a cold place doesn't help when it’s the seventh week and your doing an outdoor night shoot and you can't feel your feet. The crew isn't as babied as the actors and they start falling and getting sick.

Paul: It doesn't.

Haley: One thing that does make it on the screen is working in the vampire house. I have never seen so many lit candles on a set before which lends to the atmosphere. What is it like working in that environment?

Matt: Yep.

Natasia: One of my favorite parts of the show, I still can't believe it that it’s a weird vampire house. I want to take it on the road to have people visit.

Mark: I've never in any of my shows worked in such an elaborate and really beautiful set and it lends itself to your creativity which helps a lot.

Matt: I was asked this afternoon, its not only the best set I've ever worked on but the best set I've ever seen. We have a music room that was built and only on the scnee for like 11 seconds and it was incredible.

Natasia: The only issue with lit candles is you can't stop and take a photo, or you will set yourself on fire.

Matt: The terror in their eyes was hilarious.

Natasia: Setting yourself on fire is so embarrassing.

Haley: Is there a policy about taking something from the set.

Matt: That's from the Necromancers hut.

Paul: No one informed me about the policy, so I didn't get anything.

Haley: I remember one night that someone's teeth were misplaced. Do you forget they are there?

Matt: That's not the issue, its forgetting to put them in before a scene.

Natasia: Forgetting to put them in after lunch and they can't use it because I'm an idiot for not putting my teeth in. Matt tried to pull a prank on me putting red stuff on his teeth. To this day I don't know what it was.

Haley: Harvey, how has your podcast with the show been with fans.

Harvey: It started off like a onetime thing and then after the first episode aired fans asked when  will the next one air. So, I really just did it because the fans were asking for it. Sharing the videos and having fun and Natasia shared clips and to give fans something. The show is a 30 minute show and people want more so I did it as a 'here's something' and I think we shot 14 episodes and we had the writers, directors, producers and Paul and hear the stories. I didn't know where Paul grew up and we had a whole conversation like that. It was time consuming though. I was a five day a week thing with jokes, artwork from fans and my sister jumped on and produced it. We were working to stream through all social medias at the same time. It was a lot of work. I'm glad we did it.

Haley: We are doing this remotely so to talk about it, how has everyone's quarantine been?

Natasia: I've been busy with a show called What We Do Before What We Do When What We Do In The Shadows.

Paul: Stefani and I have been busy editing and learning how to do things remotely and get everyone loop and ADR lines remotely and get Mark's voice to sound like it wasn't in a big echo-y room.

Mark: It was fine for everything else but for this it echoed.

Haley: Then I'll throw this to everyone, most of our characters have had successful and romantic adventures. Can Nandor fine love in season 3?

Stefani: Good question Haley.

Paul: Yea, Nandor is lonely and if there is a preview of season 3 they are searching. Nandor is searching for love, there might be new duties - I'm giving too much away.

Haley: I'll plow ahead, we saw a big broadening of the magical world and the creatures who live in it, what sort of creatures are still out there for the characters?

Paul: Yes there are. I'm trying to think of one to say that won't spoil anything.

Stefani: There are creatures who live on edifices.

Natasia: Can you come up with some vampire puppies and kittens.

Paul: I will say the vampires get a hell hound to protect them.

Natasia: You thought we were going to get our animal guy back.

Mark: I felt like I was doing something wrong just standing next to him.

Haley: Have there been live bats on the set or is that CGI?

Paul: We've had a goat.

Stefani: I live raccoon and a gecko.

Matt: A Small dinosaur of some sort.

Natasia: the bat quite often is a rubber bat on a stick and I'm always like very good, and they say 'no, no that's the bat'.

Haley: It’s been great to see your faces, Harvey, Mark, Natasia, Matt, Kayvan, Stefani and Paul take care.

FX's and FX on Hulu Brings ARCHER Who Still Steals My Heart Year After Year

Aisha Tyler - Lana

Chris Parnell - Figgis

Judy Greer - Cheryl

Amber Nash - Pam

Lucky Yates - Krieger

Casey Willis, executive producer

Casey: We are really excited to connect with you virtually with fun stories, witty banter and some fun hints and tidbits about season 11. I want to thank everyone for being here. It’s a little bittersweet because we talk about how the only time we see each other is at these conventions so I'm sending you a virtual hug and kiss. I will miss the cosplay from the Archer fans. One year at Dragon-Con it was an outlaw country Cheryl.  Another great cosplay was also at Dragon-Con and the first year we went as a group and comic book artist Adam Hughes was dressed as Pam. We recorded the last two episodes of ARCHER while under quarantine, did that make it difficult and what did you think about that.

Chris: They had these safety protocols and we didn't touch each other because I usually touch a lot of people in the studio.

Aisha: I come in after Chris and everyone was traumatized.

Chris: I have a lot of love to give.

Judy: I tried to figure out how to record form home and it was the pain for a bum and then I found out you guys went to the studio and I said 'can I go to the studio?'

Amber: I thought it looked the same to me.

Judy: We walk in on our own anyway. I feel like it was definitely clean and spaced but it wasn't any different. I go in the front door and straight to the studio.

Aisha: Don't look at anyone in the eyes, yell 'let’s get this done' and run off on your unicorn.

Judy: There is one good thing is that there is a liquor store right next door and they always had toilet paper. Last night I was introduced to dry vermouth on the rocks, now that's a drink.

Aisha: There is red vermouth and white vermouth and dry vermouth and the white vermouth on the rocks is the most delicious thing.

Judy: I've only had white vermouth because every Tuesday is my Zoom knitting group and we do a different signature drink and last night was that. You guys can talk now if you want.

Aisha: Did anybody else find the supermarkets didn't have anything but the liquor stores had everything. I mean mine had anti-bacterial dial, fresh limes, N95 mask, it was insane.

Judy: I learned early on that her Bodega market and I couldn't find garlic and sure enough they had one of those garlic socks.

Aisha: Support local businesses.

Amber: My parents are preppers, so he had masks, Clorox, paper towels and wipes and made my bug out bag and had all the toilet paper I needed.

Chris: I refuse to give my local store my business because I use Amazon.

Casey: Judy mentioned her knitting which you've been doing for quite a while. Has anyone else got interesting quarantine hobbies.

Aisha: Does drinking count as a hobby.

Judy: I am into craft cocktails. I don't consider a light beer alcohol anymore.

Aisha: That's like water.

Judy: Happy hour is getting earlier.

Aisha: I cannot have a meeting before 11 a.m. in the morning because I'm sleeping in my bed so now, I'm available between 1 and 4. Can we meet? Nah, I'm booked till 1.

Casey: Normally when doing a Comic Con panel, we talk about the season that's already happened. This time, lucky viewer, we've recorded everything and here in Atlanta and we are working on the last couple of episodes. What guy are you guys excited about in the real world and not a coma season?

Amber: The scripts were so funny. I loved being in space and on the island and thought it was super fun but something excited about being back in the real world and super fun to see what everyone has been up to.

Chris: It has been a challenge keeping my son occupied and just started an art class on Zoom. He's enjoying that and then we do a neighborhood karate class and they are going to do a neighborhood hip hop class. People are outside and socially distance.

Lucky: I'm coming to your neighborhood.

Aisha: Does not showering count as a hobby. I've perfected it.

Amber: Telling your partner 'hey, maybe today is a good day to take a shower!'

Judy: Can I draw you a bath?

Aisha: Lead by example.

Lucky: What was your question?

Casey: It’s about a little show we do call ARCHER. So, Season 11?

Aisha: We can't say anything, we can't give anything away.

Casey: This happens to all of us coming into work. There was three of us in a giant conference room and the first half hour we were so happy to see other people that were talking and b.s.'ing. Maybe we can do hints and spoilers, there are going to be cool guest stars. One that I can reveal, we are very excited, Simon Pegg is going to be in the season.

Aisha: That means I can't wait to run up to him on the street and say 'hey Simon you were on my show!' and he can say 'stop touching me I don’t' know who you are!'.

Casey: The other person I want to talk about as a reoccurring guests star came to us via Judy Greer - its' Jamie Lee Curtis. I don't want to say anything about her character.

Judy: Earlier Aisha was talking about the many, many feature films I am in and one of them came out two years ago from the Halloween franchise starring Jamie Lee Curtis and I was offered the role as her daughter. When we first showed up for rehearsals in Charleston, I introduced myself to her and she went right into ARCHER. I think it was maybe how I got the job because she was an executive producer on the movie. So, she and her son really bond over ARCHER and it’s his favorite show and she loves it. I said 'Jaimie, 100% I could get you on the show' and she's like 'oh really' and I said yes.

Aisha: I'm always surprised when reputable people like our show.

Judy: I still feel surprised to know people watch our show.

Aisha: We are a little group of weirdos.

Lucky: Speaking of weirdos, where is Jon Benjamin.

Casey: He is out in the wilderness watching birds.

Aisha: Is he camping or doing some survivalist thing?

Judy: I don't get that from him.

Amber: I doubt it.

Lucky: Is he at a drum circle.

Amber: He's doing Naked & Afraid.

Casey: I have a couple of fan questions as well. Having lived with these characters more than a decade have you had an episode play out in your dreams.

Chris: I never remember my dreams.

Judy: Me either, because of passing out.

Aisha: Have you ever dreamt about a character you've played.

Chris: When I was in collage we were doing a story theatre, fairy tales and  we were travelling around the state in empty theatres and college gymnasiums and one of my characters is a crow and I go 'kaaaa kaaa kaaa' and my roommate said I was doing it in my sleep. I was in character as a crow.

Aisha: You are a method actor.

Lucky: Maybe Chris is our three-eyed raven!

Judy: I don't know what that is.

Casey: When things get stressful at work I always dream about when I worked at a chain restaurant 20 some odd years ago but never about ARCHER.

Aisha: This isn't a stressful show.

Amber: Casey is always stressed out.

Judy: This is the easiest thing to ever make.

Casey: Wonderful animators and artists know this is not easy.

Aisha: To echo what Casey said the animators on the show are the best animators on television doing the most beautiful and complex show and they work very hard. We clowns come in and our sweat pants so thank you very much.

Judy: How old is the Archer baby now?

Casey: I think one is nine or ten years old.

Judy: Is that the one who was the model baby for Seamus.

Casey: I don't recall but let’s say… yes. If the Archer cast could star in a James Bond film what would it be?

Aisha: Octopussy

Lucky: Stink Finger or The Man With the Golden Rod.

Aisha: A Liter of Vodka isn't Enough.

Chris: A Good Day to Sploosh.

Casey: Which Archer catch phrase are you tired of having repeated back to you?

Aisha: It’s got to be Lana…I love you and appreciate you and I'll give you a halfhearted "what", it gets weathered.

And it’s the shrieking! People are delighted by it and I try to put my 'what' back into it.

Casey: People ask me how I come up with catch phrases and I say they are pretty organic. Anything that works super well in the booth, Adam would say it’s got to come back. They are all things that organically happen.

Amber: That still happens now and there are times we have a reaction and we try it and it will come back.

Lucky: It's like 'smoke bomb' wasn't in the script but we bounced a few things around and 'smoke bomb' is the thing we all liked.

Judy: We also had ISIS first.

Aisha: Terrorists ruin everything!

Casey: the Shazam Isis Hour and we had t.v. Michael Grey who was Shazam in the television show. I think we have to wrap it up.

Aisha: I have a question for everyone. Do you notice when you are on Zoom you don't know how many times you touch your face, but you star into the abyss if your own eyes. I've been touching my face a lot.

Judy: Now I want to touch my face.

Aisha: Wash your hands and don't touch your face.

Casey: And if you do, we can all be back together again. Before we go, we have some big exciting news and you are hearing it first here. ARCHER's 11th season will air Wednesday, September 16th at 10 p.m. on FXX and on FX Hulu. From our families to yours, we wish you the best and sincerely appreciate the continued support and until next time San Diego Comic Con family.

MAYANS M.C.: The Complete First Season Prepares us for What is to Come

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD from creators Elgin James, Kurt Sutter, FX and 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment comes the high anticipated MAYANS M.C.: The Complete First Season.

In the small California border town of Santo Padre, Ezekiel ‘EZ’ Reyes (JD Pardo) has served time in prison for killing a cop and is now a prospect with the Mayan motorcycle club. The club’s president Bishop (Michael Irby) is working on drugs that are being transported to Las Vegas and making the trip with EZ is brother Angel (Clayton Cardenas).

Before they go, EZ stops by the local high school and remembers being enrolled at Stanford and coming home to visit then-girlfriend Emily (Sarah Bolger). Visiting father Felipe (Edward James Olmos), EZ assures him that he is being careful and before leaving gives him something wrapped up and gets a poetry book. Brother Angel is outside dealing with his own issues about Felipe.

Making a delivery, the Mayans are jumped and EZ comes to the rescue. The problem is that now they have to tell Miguel Galindo (Danny Pino), a cartel boss, what has happened to his drugs. Angel and EZ go through tunnels to get into Mexico looking for help for one of its members.

At the Mayans clubhouse, El Padrino (Emilio Rivera) comes to talk about the cartel issues but tells EZ to stop outside. Knowing the Samoans made the hit, it is agreed to reach out for help with the problem. After getting their hands on the leader of the Samoan group, Galindo takes over and shows them what happens when you take something that doesn’t belong to you. Besides a big mess, Galindo believes there is someone in their ranks giving out details and he wants whoever it is.

EZ is personally still dealing with the fact that Emily, his high school and college love, is now married to cartel boss Galindo. Angel has his own secrets as well when EZ learns that he is helping a woman named Adelita (Carla Baratta) who leads a group called the Olvidados. She makes it clear that she wants to help the families affected by what is happening by Galindo.

After an evening out, Galindo and Emily, along with their baby, go their separate ways. Emily’s car is attacked and the baby is kidnapped quickly. This is just the beginning of the deception, lies, secrets, twists and terror and that’s just the first episode!

Pardo as EZ has a story to tell and most of it is sad and full of misunderstandings. There is a part of this character that has the same feel as Jax Teller in that he knows what he wants but getting there might be tricky. I think Pardo is doing an amazing job and with the cast surrounding him it is only going to get more epic to watch EZ’s story unfold.

Cardenas as brother Angel has a serious magazine rack full of outdated issues. Not speaking to his own father and keep secrets from his brother EZ is going to cost him. Always trying to keep his brother out of trouble, sometimes it’s Angel who actually gets him IN trouble.

I’m so thrilled to see Rivera return as El Padrino Marcus Alvarez because it is a thread to SONS OF ANARCHY that I can grab onto while watching this new web be woven by the Mayans. Irby as Bishop is the club’s president who is moving at a glacial pace trying to understand what works best for the club while keeping an eye totally on everything. Baratta as Adelita is a woman who is just plain nuts in my book. She knows what she wants from Galindo and doesn’t care who gets in the way of making that happen. Of course there is a history she needs to settle and it’s close to EZ’s front door.

Bolger as Emily is the one time love of EZ who got away. He’s not over it and neither is she although you wouldn’t know it. Currently married to cartel boss Miguel Galindo isn’t helping her cause any. Trying to navigate her way through the family history and where they are going, she might be a force for them all. Pino as husband and cartel boss Miguel Galindo is a vicious leader who isn’t afraid to get his hands bloody, and the first episode proves that! Pino is sharp, fast and effective and even when you think he’s cornered, remember what happens to trapped tigers!

Olmos as EZ and Angel’s father Felipe is a daunting role. He has a history that neither son knows about but, like all secrets, will make its way out slowly and painfully for Felipe. I am thrilled to see Olmos once again on the screen because this man is an icon who has blazed the way in some man arenas that I know his character will be memorable. Personally I’ll be cheering for him what ever happens.

Other wonderful cast includes Richard Cabral as Coco, Maurice Compte as Jiminez, Frankie Loyal as Tranq, Vincent Vargas as Gilly, Gino Vento as Nestor, Tony Plana as Devante Cano, Michael Ornstein as Chucky Marstein, Joseph Lucero as Creeper, Ada Maris as Dita Galindo, Salvador Chacon as Pablo, Melany Ochoa as Mini, Curtiss Cook as Bowen, Emily Tosta as Leticia Cruz, Alexander Bedria as Heimler, Joe Ordaz as Paco and Ray McKinnon as Lincoln Potter.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

Special Features of MAYANS M.C. are The Creation of MAYANS M.C., Hit the Ground Roaring, Customizing the Mayans’ Signature Bikes and Promotional Featurettes.

The DVD includes the episodes Perro/Oc, Escorpion/Dzec, Buho/Muwan, Murcielago/Zotz, Uch/Opossum, Gato/Mis, Cucaracha/K’uruch, Rata/Ch’o, Serpiente/Chikchan and Cuervo/Tzikb/uul.

MAYANS M.C.: The Complete First Season is a must have to add to the SOA/MAYAN library. There isn’t an episode that doesn’t just cause the jaw to drop or a few cheers. The cast is extensive and I wish I had the space to cover them all but here and now I say the show wouldn’t be the SHOW without each and every one of them.

There are familiar faces and an Easter Egg I won’t talk about because I want the viewer to find it too. Of course there is always one face that is bad news and trust me you will know him when you see him because honestly I threw something at the television myself. I think it’s fantastic that Sutter and James kind of gave SOA fans a few kisses here and there to remind us that SAMCRO isn’t forgotten but also asks us to embrace MAYANS M.C. – and I fully intend to.

I can’t wait for season two to begin because my jaw hit the floor at the finale moments at the end of season one. Without giving anything away let me just say I was shocked, horrified and all I could say was ‘no, no, NO, NO!’

In the end – Mayans have their own story to tell.

Prepare for THE AMERICANS: The Complete Final Season on DVD

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD is the highly acclaimed FX series and 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment offering of THE AMERICANS: The Complete Final Season.

The Jennings have moved on with life and in 1987 it is about to remind them of who they are. Working at a travel agency, Philip (Matthew Rhys) is giving all his time to the job. The same can’t be said for Elizabeth (Keri Russell) who has been working for weeks with a proposed Reagan-Gorbachev summit in the works. Claudia (Margo Martindale) doesn’t give her a moments break when she orders Elizabeth to Mexico to learn of new plans called ‘Dead Hand’.

Henry (Keidrich Sellati) and Paige (Holly Taylor) are also living their own lives in boarding school and college with the latter preparing for her own training. It is quickly put to the test. Oleg Burov (Costa Ronin) contacts Philip and orders him to discover where Elizabeth went and why.

Elizabeth returns and must find a way into the State Department to see CIA McCleesh and gets more information than she bargained for regarding the President. She also uses the powers of information persuasion to get what she wants from McCleesh agreeing to meet up later. When it goes wrong, Elizabeth is relieved to have Paige on her side but also lets her know that she could have blown it by leaving her look out.

Now it starts to get a little dirty as Dennis (Brandon Dirden) and Stan (Noah Emmerich) discover Burov is in Washington and need to find out why he is so interested in transportation. They aren’t the only ones to have to deal with him as Philip learns through their meet-up that things with Gorbachev aren’t going well.

Claudia is keeping Elizabeth busy with a new contact for what they tried to get from McCleesh. Her gun isn’t even cold before she takes out security guards in the Altheon warehouse to get the radiation sensors they need. There has been a defection and it is big news.

Philip discovers that he might not have enough money to afford Henry’s school and works even harder at the travel agency and finally tells Elizabeth about it. Sex as a way to get information begins as Paige finds a Congressional intern and Philip is assigned Kimmy (Julia Garner) for a trip to Greece that will lead to a kidnapping.

After a double hit, Philip changes his mind and tells Elizabeth what he has done. Claudia has other plans sending Elizabeth and Marilyn (Amy Tribbey) to find ‘Harvest’, a Russian code name for someone else working on ‘Dead Hand’. When Philip asks her to stop what she is doing, Elizabeth turns him down leaving him no choice but to go and help her.

Working together, Philip and Elizabeth get their person but not without cost. Marilyn and ‘Harvest’ both leave the two looking for even more answers in France. Before they go, it is mess cleaning time. Even though Elizabeth had previously thought Paige might not ever be ready for the spy game, she encourages her into a State Department internship.

Philip finally discovers what Elizabeth has been up to and can not believe it but that has to wait as Gorbachev has landed in the United States. Using her intern conquest, Elizabeth manages to plant a bug and learns that Nesterenko (Alex Feldman) is interested in having no nuclear weapons and immediately the order is given for his assassination. Claudia finally comes clean about her movies and she turns to Philip for help.

When Father Andrei (Konstantin Lavysh) is discovered to be with the KGB and Philip narrowly escaped being arrested. Also in custody Oleg is suggesting that he was only placed in the United States to protect the Russian President. Claudia is furious that Elizabeth did not follow the plan and Paige asks again about her seducing interns for information and when she doesn’t get the answer she wants, Paige begins the name calling. No time for thinking, Philip gives Elizabeth a signal that begins a clearing out of their home.

Now, Philip, Elizabeth and Paige must make a decision about where they are to go but are sure that it’s better to leave Henry behind at boarding school. Stan has finally put the pieces together and has to make a decision of his own when it is confirmed that the two people he is looking for are right in front of him.

Russell as Elizabeth has come such a long way in playing this character. From the very beginning I was never quite sure what her motivation was or which way she would turn. That’s what made her character to intriguing and let me tell you, there isn’t anything she wouldn’t do to get an assignment done – some of it quite harrowing. Russell proved in this series why she got the role in the first place and there is no one else ever, in watching this series, could have done it better.

Rhys as Philip has the unique ability to show everything on his face while saying something totally opposite with his words. I have enjoyed watching his career blossom with so many amazing roles but I honestly believe it is the series THE AMERICANS that will be the standout for him. Along with Russell, the role of Philip was unpredictable, intense, stirring and even confusing but in a good way.

Taylor as Paige has certainly grown up in this series. I always suspected that she would attempt to join the ranks of the life her parents were living; of course I was hoping she wouldn’t but there it is. Taylor’s performance continues to be strong until the end leaving a moment of question that I just frustratingly love. Selatti as Henry is the one kept out of the loop throughout the series. There is something amazing when you have one character that lives in what he thinks is the real world without knowing that it isn’t.

Emmerich as Stan has been the suspicious eye throughout the series and he has the amazing and unique ability to do just that. There were times I thought he was so very close to figuring it out and then backed off again not wanting to accuse anyone of something so serious. Emmerich, like Rhys, has made a name for himself in playing amazing roles and in THE AMERICANS he deserves to be recognized for every moment he has been on screen.

Other cast include Lev Gorn as Arkady Zotov, Laurie Holden as Renee, Darya Ekamasova as Sofia Bystrova, Yuri Kolokolnikov as Gennadi Bystrov, and Kelly AuCoin as Pastor Tim.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

The DVD includes the Special Features of Deleted Scenes, Inside Looks and Gag Reel which helps to lighten up a very intense series! The 3-disc set is 526 minutes of drama that will leave you guessing up until the very end – and it’s an ending worthy of such an amazing series as THE AMERICANS.

Also included are the episodes Dead Hand, Tchaikovsky, Urban Transport Planning, Mr. and Mrs. Teacup, The Great Patriotic War, Rififi, Harvest, The Summit, Jennings Elizabeth and START.

What has made THE AMERICANS such a unique experience is the stellar cast that continued week after week and season after season bringing it all home to fans. Beginning in 2013, the Cold War series set in the 1980’s was actually a reminder to many of us who remember that time period. Another amazing thing that came from the series is loads of conversations about the characters and the season after season unknowns.

Created by former CIA officer and novelist Joseph Weisberg, he is also responsible for working on the series Falling Skies, Damages and Justified. He also won Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series from the Primetime Emmy Awards. Rhys also won for Outstanding Lead Actor and Russell was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. The TCA Awards gave THE AMERICANS an award for Program of the Year and Outstanding Achievement in a Drama. Russell won Individual Achievement in Drama and Rhys received a nomination.

That proves one thing for sure – fans of THE AMERICANS are going to miss the series greatly but, when that feeling hits, 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment makes THE AMERICANS easy to get into your own home library.

In the end – their dedication is being watched and the clock is ticking!

AMERICAN HORROR STORY: Cult Comes to DVD with the Complete Seventh Season

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is the stellar hit FX series that brings questions, fright and jaw drops with AMERICAN HORROR STORY: Cult, The Complete Seventh Season.

The 2016 Presidential elections are happening and it is even reaching the city of Brookfield Heights, Michigan in an emotional way. Ally Mayfair-Richards (Sarah Paulson) can't believe that the people of the United States would elect the likes of Donald Trump as President. Suffering from many ailments, this latest catastrophe isn't exactly helping her feel emotionally secure. Ally isn't the only person reeling from the news as Winter (Billie Lourd) is finding her own way of dealing with it all and it doesn't help that her brother Kai (Evan Peters) is about to find a way to use that to his advantage. But I've jumped ahead a little...do let me slow down.

Ally and her partner Ivy (Alison Pill) share a son named Oz (Cooper Dodson) who they both dote on lovingly. Since Ally can't keep herself under control emotionally, she leans on her psychiatrist Dr. Vincent (Cheyenne Jackson) to help put it all into perspective. Winter becomes Oz's nanny to help relieve some of the stress Ally is feeling and give her more time to help her restaurant succeed. What she doesn't know is that Winter has a little bit of a different nanny style. Kai has a plan that requires unthinkable actions that he sees no problem with - beginning with the clown-deaths of Ally's neighbors and paying someone to beat him up.

With the death of the neighbor, a city council seat magically opens up and Kai is all over it. But Ally is dealing with problems at the restaurant when one of her employees is found in the meat locker. The new neighbors, Harrison (Billy Eichner) and Meadow Wiltons (Leslie Grossman), help Ally get a gun for protection especially since Ally is now seeing killer clowns roaming the streets. Det. Jack Samuels (Colton Haynes) suspect Ally's delivery man Pedro (Jorge-Luis Pallo) for the crime and that puts her in a position to defend herself with the same gun the Wiltons gave her. When the neighborhood is covered in a mysterious gas, Ally blames the Wilton's and it's only going to get worse when Meadow disappears.

Kai sees what's happening with Ally and say's he'll help try to stop the protests at her business but he has motives for everything he does. As the election draws closer Ivy meets Winter at a rally. Upset that a man took advantage of her in the crowd, Ivy tells Winter and a plan is hatched to make his day a little less important. Thinking it's harmless, Kai decides to make an example of the man by giving him a choice - stay chained up or do the unthinkable so he can vote.

The election is in full swing and Kai moves onto bigger and better things and starts with getting himself in shape. Hiring a personal trainer, it becomes clear that he will have other uses. He also becomes interested in reporter Beverly Hope (Adina Porter) and uses his charm to prove he is dedicated to her. In return, Beverly gives Kai the scoop on the news coverage about Kai that shows her boss Bob is clearly not a fan of the new political figure. Things aren't looking good for Bob at the moment when Kai and his friends visit him for a 'friendly' chat about his future. The journalist wants to know where Kai came from and what is the odd connection with Ally's doctor.

Kai is having lady problems and when a lady's feelings aren't being returned, well, all sorts of mayhem ensure and there comes a time when Ally discovers that all friends aren't true friends. Thinking that the only way to keep her family safe is to expose Kai turns badly, Meadow has no choice but to take matters into her own armed hands. Surviving Meadow's instructions, Kai decides to take his political bid one step further and announce a run for Senate publically, but privately he asks his followers to prove their loyalty. The problem is by the time the event is over, Ally is left holding evidence and the police want to arrest now and ask questions later.

Once again Ally is the victim of people with their own agendas and driving her crazy is just a bonus that gets her out of the way and into the hospital. There are still women in the group that have a plan of their own as Kai keeps moving forward.

Winter isn't sure what to make when Kai announces his divinity and believes that she should carry a child. In the meantime Ally is finally released from the hospital and has had time to formulate a little plan of her own that includes getting her son Oz back from the group and settling little fires here and there and see what burns - and joining the group is step number one. Ivy isn't thrilled but Ally tries to show that having her family back is the most important thing. Using a little psychology of her own, Ally's steps are slow but very, very deliberate as she edges closer to her mark.

She needn't have worried about Kai because his own delusions have taken him down a dark road and visions of Charles Manson. Believing there is a mole in the group, Ally shuffles the information around with deadly accuracy.

Stronger by the deed, Ally secretly puts everyone on notice and knows it is what has to happen in order for the group and Kai to be stopped. Even when she begins to get her life together, Kai tries to strike one more time. Of course you can't keep a good woman down!

Paulson as Ally continues to just own her parts in the American Horror Story seasons. There is not one part that she has played that isn't filled with every human emotion possible and maybe a few inhumane ones as well. She can freeze up one minute and pour it on the next and she has the most stunning facial expressions to pull it all off. She continues with each season to broaden the characters she plays and take them just one step further never truly knowing until the end whether she's gone over or rides the edge of insanity with unique perfection.

From the beginning, along with Lange and Bates, Paulson has made this series ever changing and ever glorious to watch. With the new season premier of American Horror Story already airing its first episode, it is clear that she is going full bore.

Peters as Kai leaves no doubt almost immediately that this character is a force to be reckoned with and showing no fear of repercussions means he is well past being dangerous. He has a little bit of someone else we all know in that Kai can be very endearing to your face while planning your demise at the very same time - to your face. This character seeks out like minded crazies and if you don't follow the rules - a new crazy will emerge. Watching Peters take on such depth with each of his characters has also proven that from the moment he came aboard AHS, it isn't going to be over until he damn well says its over.

Lourd as Winter has such duality in this season. There are moments when Lourd's portrayal of Winter gives you hope that she isn't going to be like her brother and then she flips the script and I'm saying, "oh there is the crazy lady now!". The character of Winter is cold, harsh, loving, loyal and every bit as whacked out as her brother - but which brother? I have so enjoyed watching Lourd come into her own and she is her mother's daughter when it comes to talent and the ability to give us all a reason to keep watching.

Pill as Ivy is another actress that has just managed to keep me guessing as to whether her character has the ability to be real or has her nose right on too tight which makes it easy to lead her around. Becoming one of the group wasn't something I thought was going to happen but then again, that's AHS for you!

Other case include Emma Roberts as Serena Belinda, Mare Winningham as Sally Effler, Lena Dunham as Valerie Solanas, Frances Conroy as Bebe Babbitt, Chaz Bono as Gary Longstreet, Dermot Mulroney as Bob Thompson, Cameron Cowperthwaite as Speedwagon, John Carroll Lynch as Twist the Clown, Zack Ward as Roger, Laura Allen as Rosie, Dot-Marie Jones as Butchy May and Jamie Brewer as Hedda.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

FX continues to provide viewers with amazing programming including the new series Mayans M.C. along with favorites Legion, Archer and You’re the Worst. For more of what FX has to offer as well as shows, apps and information please visit www.fxnetworks.com.

The DVD also includes the Special Bonus Features of the FX Promo Spots which are artistic, misleading, strong, telling, mysterious and everything else every season manages to bring to American Horror Story fans. It's like the biggest most colorful tease in the world. The three disc set contains all eleven episodes including Election Night, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, Neighbors from Hell, 11/9, Holes, Mid-Western Assassin, Valerie Solanas Died for Your Sins: Scumbag, Winter of Our Discontent, Drink the Kool-Aid, Charles (Manson) in Charge and Great Again.

American Horror Story began it's run on FX in 2016 and hasn't shown any signs of slowing. Fans have waited patiently year after year to see how all the seasons connect yet don't mind if its not so straight forward in the explanation.

In 2016, viewers had no idea what to expect from the show and it has continued to be the case since then. Already, people I know who watch AHS are trying to guess where the 2018 story is going to take them and all I say to them is, 'why are you trying to guess?'. I mean seriously folks, that's what makes good television when you sit back and let the ride take you wherever it may.

Nominated for two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for Sarah Paulson and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for Adina Porter is validation that the show is award worthy (as if AHS followers needed that to know how fantastic the show is!).

What truly makes this show is the cast that returns to show us the range and diversity of AHS. I just love their dedication to the show and the storyline which, I believe, is another reason fans of the show come back time and time again.

In the end – know your neighbors and politicians!