Gritty comicbook series ‘Preacher’ returns to AMC Cover Story

from The Brainerd Dispatch TV Week June 25th 2017

by Brainerd Dispatch and Echo Journal

Ten years on ‘Zoo’ jaunts forward a decade in season 3

By Kyla Brewer TV Media

There is no such thing as typical television anymore. While traditional dramas and sitcoms are still key landmarks on the prime-time landscape, the rise of cable giants has produced TV series that push boundaries in ways network shows cannot.

One of those boundary-pushing series is AMC’s “Preacher,” and it returns with a two-night event beginning Sunday, June 25, and continuing Monday, June 26, on AMC. Dominic Cooper (“Captain America: The First Avenger,” 2011) stars as West Texas preacher Jesse Custer, who’s on a mission to find God — literally — in the drama, which has garnered a reputation for its stunning visuals, offbeat comedy and thrilling horror.

Based on the ‘90s DC Vergito comicbook series by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, “Preacher” was created by Seth Rogen (“Knocked Up,” 2007), Sam Catlin (“Breaking Bad”) and Evan Goldberg (“Superbad,” 2007), and picked up by AMC in September 2015. Its 10-episode first season premiered in May 2016 and proved so popular that an expanded 13-episode second season was announced before the end of June that year.

AMC executive Charlie Collier had high praise for the series when the renewal was announced: “What Sam, Seth, Evan and the entire creative team have achieved in bringing Garth Ennis’ graphic novel to the screen is extraordinary,” Collier said. “We look forward to more time with

Late Laughs

Conan

these unforgettable characters, be it in heaven, hell, Texas or beyond.”

In the series, a disillusioned Custer has been possessed by a mysterious entity known as Genesis, which gives him the power to compel others to do exactly what he wants. Known as “the Word of God,” the power forces listeners to obey Custer’s commands, so long as they can hear and understand them. Armed with the Word and deadly hand-to-hand combat skills thanks to his sordid and violent past, the preacher sets out to find God and make him answer for his actions. The entity Genesis is appar- ently the product of a union between an angel and a demon, giving it elements of both good and evil.

This season, “Preacher” follows Custer as he embarks on an epic road trip with his allies, who include Tulip O’Hare, played by Academy Award nominee Ruth Negga (“Loving,” 2016). A fan favorite, Tulip is Custer’s gun-toting, highly capable ex-girlfriend. Custer’s best friend is a charismatic Irish vampire named Cassidy, portrayed by English actor Joseph Gilgun (“Misfits”). Ian Colletti (“Jimmy,” 2013) also returns as Eugene Root, a young man with a disfigured face. Throughout season 1, and presumably season 2, Custer and his friends must elude a bounty hunter with god-like powers known as The Saint of Killers (Graham McTavish,

Trailers for season 2 have fans excited about catching a glimpse of Herr Starr, a villainous character from the comics who works for The Grail, a sinister organization out to get Custer. However, producers have been keeping mum about who will play this season’s big bad. With a large portion of the regular cast wiped out by the end of last season thanks to a massive explosion that destroyed Annville, Texas, there are several new cast members hopping on board for season 2.

Match of

Month

Kinship Partners is pleased to honor Bryella Fluegge, Alexia Cripps and Lenora Faulk as our Match of the Month.

About four years ago, Alexia called the Kinship Partners office and asked about mentoring. She wanted a little girl in her life. She and Lenora were matched and their friendship quickly became precious to both of them.

Then, Lenora moved out of the area. Alexia’s heart was broken, but eventually she decided she would open her heart to another child and became Bryella’s Kinship Mentor. They also were immediately bonded and had wonderful times together.

Less than a year later, Lenora moved back into the area. Of course, she wanted Alexia back in her life! And as expected, Alexia was more than willing.

Lexi is always ready with another story about “her girls” and their visits to her farm, whether it be naming the chickens or running around with the goats. These three are a match made in heaven.

Why not start your own friendship journey?

The general consensus among fans and critics is that actor Pip Torrens (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” 2015) will play Herr Starr, but nothing official has been released to confirm the casting. Other new regular cast members include “Game of Thrones” alum Noah Taylor and Julie Ann Emery (“Fargo”). Also, Malcolm Barrett (“Timeless”), Ronald Guttman (“The Hunt for Red October,” 1990) and Justin Prentice (“13 Reasons Why”) have landed recurring roles in season 2.

As with other comicbook adaptations, “Preacher” has fans wondering whether the TV show will follow the source material or deviate from it as other series such as “The Walking Dead” and “Game of Thrones” have done. As the group ventures further afield this season, it seems as if the show is about to take a cue from the comics, which were known for hopping around from place to place as Custer searched for God. This season whisks viewers to New Orleans and even Sin City as Custer continues his quest. He and his friends end up entangled in a battle spanning heaven, hell and many points in between.

New locations have the potential to add even more thrills to a program that’s already doing well. More than two million viewers tuned in to the pilot, and the drama held fairly steady throughout its first season. AMC’s latest comicbook adaptation was among the top cable dramas of 2016 — part of a list that included ratings juggernauts “Game of Thrones,” “The Walking Dead” and “Fear the Walking Dead.”

Season 1 proved popular enough to spawn “Talking Preacher,” a live after-show hosted by Chris Hardwick, in which guests discuss the night’s episode. Viewers can tune into “Talking Preacher” immediately following each new episode.

Highly praised for its visuals, “Preacher” has earned a number of industry accolades, including nominations for the American Society of Cinematographers Awards and the Art Directors Guild Awards. The show is also up for a coveted Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Television Series, but fans will have to wait until the awards ceremony June 28 to find out if the quirky horror comedy-drama is a winner.

In the meantime, don’t miss the season premiere of “Preacher,” airing Sunday and Monday, June 25 and 26, on AMC.

In New York, a cocaine-trafficking ring was busted after they were caught pretending to be Uber drivers. Police called Uber the perfect cover for cokeheads, because most Uber drivers also never stop talking.

Yesterday in Florida, a drunk and naked man wielding a machete went on a rampage attacking mailboxes. Local police put out an APB for “literally any guy in Florida.”

The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon

Jay Leno is here tonight! We love Jay. He’s the only guy at Universal who gets excited when the Transformers turn back into cars.

Sears announced they are closing 42 stores. You know what that means? Lost jobs for 42 sales clerks.

The Late Late Show With James Corden

The shoe store Payless is filing for bankruptcy and closing nearly 400 stores in the United States. Yes, 400 shoe stores closed, and thousands of “soles” were lost. The problem was their work ethic. Most of Payless was just a bunch of “loafers.”

Jimmy Kimmel Live

Memorial Day’s become the unofficial start to summer. Summer doesn’t technically start until next month, but that didn’t stop me from wearing a bikini all weekend.

There’s a new report that says more than half of American workers didn’t use all their vacation days last year. They had them, they just didn’t take them. So the people who did the study asked why. Some said they did it to impress their boss with their work ethic. The rest said, I hate my family.