Sins of the father

New Fox drama is police procedural and family drama combined

By Breanna Henry TV Media

As most viewers are probably aware, the Parable of the Prodigal Son comes from the Bible. It’s a culturally transcendent tale about a wayward child who returns home after many years to a shockingly welcome reunion. The story has been reworded, reimagined and retold many times in books, movies and television, but never quite like this.

The new Fox series “Prodigal Son” premieres Monday, Sept. 23, and in this case, “prodigal” doesn’t imply that the son was reckless, wasteful and extravagant, like he was in the source material. This time it just means that he’s not a serial killer.

British actor Tom Payne (“The Walking Dead”) plays Malcolm Bright, a criminal profiler whose life and career choices have been heavily influenced by the traumatic events of his childhood. A-list Welsh actor Michael Sheen (“Good Omens”) plays Martin, Malcolm’s father and the cause of all that trauma — he just happens to be an infamous serial killer.

If you’re not sure how a biblical tale of unconditional love and ac- ceptance can be used as a jumpingoff point for a series about a possibly unstable profiler with a criminally insane father, you’ll need to tune in to find out.

I can admit to prejudging this series when I first heard about it. I can’t be the only person who hears the words “serial killer” and “TV drama” and immediately thinks of the long-running, Golden Globewinning series “Dexter,” despite that show having ended more than six years ago. “Prodigal Son” however, does not try to be “Dexter.” It’s an original story that has intrigued me more and more as I’ve learned more about it.

Sheen’s Martin is a seemingly deranged serial killer known as “The Surgeon,” who was locked up when Malcolm was just a boy. As a direct result of his strange and horrifying childhood, Malcolm takes an inter est in law enforcement as an adult, particularly criminal psychology. He becomes a very successful profiler, thanks to his ability to “think like a killer.”

Unfortunately for Malcolm, his talent is eclipsed by the fear that the apple may not have fallen far from the tree, and the FBI lets him go. Instead, he’s picked out by an NYPD agent named Gil, who is played by screen veteran Lou Diamond Phillips (“Longmire”). Unfortunately for Malcolm’s sanity, Gil seems to have chosen him because of his unsavory connections, not despite them. A copycat serial killer has emerged, and the perpetrator is copying “The Surgeon.” Malcolm is forced to meet with his father, which brings memories of his traumatic childhood flooding back. He’s worked his whole life to ensure that people like his father are caught and incarcerated, so why the title “Prodigal Son?”

Well, Martin seems to think that he and his son are exactly the same, and that once Malcolm accepts his true nature, the father and son can build a wonderful relationship like the one they had when Malcolm was a child, before Martin was locked up for being a homicidal maniac. It is the relationship

Late Laughs

Conan

Sources at the White House say that, multiple times, President Trump has asked if a nuclear bomb could stop a hurricane. Luckily, his 13-year-old son told him no.

between father and son that really drives this series. Though Malcolm is loathe to admit it, he and Martin really connect. There is still a bond between the two that cannot be denied.

While the circumstances are extreme, “Prodigal Son” combines its serial killer-centric storyline with elements of a family drama. Rounding out this beyond-dysfunctional family is Halston Sage (“The Orville”) as Payne’s spoiled sister and Bellamy Young (“Scandal”) as Payne’s mother — Fox has put together a team of actors who have earned their stripes on the small screen, proven dramatic stars that keep the show compelling. This series has a real shot at becoming television gold, and I (along with Fox executives) am hoping that it lives up to its potential.

If you have yet to watch any of the great trailers for “Prodigal Son,” they’re a good place to start in preparation for the series premiere. The costumes, set design and color correction of the show evoke the 1991 Oscar-winning film “The Silence of the Lambs,” and that’s without taking into consideration flashbacks to meetings between the boy and his father, who is chained up just like Dr. Hannibal Lecter himself.

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

To save money, New York City is thinking about cleaning the subways less often. Apparently, the annual once-over with a wet nap was just way too expensive.

A family in Texas just realized their vacation photos were photo-bombed by a topless woman. They knew something was up when their son ran up to his room with the family album and locked the door.

The Late Late Show with James Corden

According to a study, people who keep a tidy house are twice as happy as people who are messy. I think it’s pretty obvious that this study was conducted by your mum. This study also said that, on average, a clean person has more sex than a messy person. So when someone says, “I’m a neat freak,” what they really mean is, “I’m neat, and I’m a freak.”

Late Night With Seth Meyers

A Kansas man received stitches over the weekend after he was hit by his cousin’s girlfriend during a game of Monopoly. The girl was going to spend the night in jail but got out of it by rolling doubles.

By Jessica Gosse TV Media

WHAT’S NEW ON NETFLIX: “The Politician”

On Friday, Sept. 27, writer, producer and director Ryan Murphy (“American Horror Story”) presents his new high school series, “The Politician.” Ben Platt (“Pitch Perfect 2,” 2015) stars as Payton Hobart, a wealthy student from California who has had his heart set on being the president of the United States since he was 7 years old. Now, in order to reach that goal, he has to make it past one of the most difficult political hurdles: high school. Also starring Gwyneth Paltrow (“Avengers: Endgame,” 2019), “The Politician” is an insightful and satirical look into the ruthless world of politics.

“Jeff Dunham: Beside Himself”

Ventriloquist Jeff Dunham takes the stage with his classic characters in this latest comedy special, premiering Tuesday, Sept. 24. Dunham has been described as America’s favorite comedian. Filmed in Dallas, the special features Dunham’s classic characters: the curmudgeonly Walter, the hyperactive Peanut (who tends to make fun of Dunham), talking jalapeno pepper José Jalapeño and the skeletal corpse Achmed the Dead Terrorist. Don’t miss this tongue-incheek black comedy special.

“Team Kaylie”

Bryana Salaz (“Malibu Rescue”) stars as teen celebrity Kaylie Konrad in this new series, which premieres Monday, Sept. 23. After a run-in with the law, the self-obsessed celebrity must complete court-ordered community service, and she ends up the leader of a wilderness club at an inner-city middle school. Kaylie tries to prove she is more than just a pretty face and attempts to find common ground with a rag-tag group of kids.

“Glitch” Season 3

On Wednesday, Sept. 25, this Australian paranormal drama returns for a third and final season. “Glitch” follows police Sgt. James Hayes (Patrick

Brammall, “No Activity”) as he investigates the mysterious resurrection of seven people from the local cemetery. Hayes must figure out what links these people and how they rose from the dead. Catch up on the first two seasons of this supernatural series before you binge Season 3, and then experience the show’s thrilling finale.

“Explained” Season 2

Season 2 of this documentary series premieres Thursday, Sept. 26. Each episode is a short documentary meant to explore the big questions surrounding almost any topic, big or small. Season 1 featured an impressive cast of narrators and a wide range of topics, from pop star Carly Rae Jepsen narrating “Music” and Kevin Smith (“Clerks II,” 2006) narrating “Weed,” to Rachael McAdams (“Game Night,” 2018) narrating “Why Women Are Paid Less” and Christian Slater (“Mr. Robot”) narrating “Cryptocurrency.” Delve into more fascinating subjects when Season 2 premieres this week.

“Bard

of Blood”

On Friday, Sept. 27, this Indian political thriller, based on the popular book by Bilal Siddiq, premieres. When his former lieutenant-general is killed by a double agent, Kabir Anand (Emraan Hashmi, “Why Cheat India,” 2019), a literature professor in Mumbai, is ripped out of his comfortable life ent Musical Finale.” Showrunner Jill Soloway has confirmed that the two-hour series finale will feature the death of the main character, Maura (Jeffrey Tambor, “Arrested Development”), and will allow family members Shelly (Judith Light, “Ugly Betty”), Sarah (Amy Landecker, “Room 104”), Josh (Jay Duplass, “The Mindy Project”) and Ali (Gaby Hoffmann, “Girls”) to grieve and cope. Don’t miss this spectacular finale when it premiers on Amazon Prime.

“American Horror Story: Apocalypse” and thrust back into the world of espionage after trying to distance himself from the Indian secret service for years. Anand is forced to confront the ghosts of his past as he fights to avenge his mentor and save his country from what could become World War III.

WHAT’S NEW ON AMAZON PRIME: “Transparent”

On Friday, Sept. 27, this comedic and poignant series comes to a dramatic close with “The Transpar-

The eighth installment of the “American Horror Story” anthology series makes its Prime debut on Tuesday, Sept. 24. True to its name, “Apocalypse” is set in the aftermath of a nuclear apocalypse, where the chosen elite survive in outposts set up by the mysterious Cooperative. A Cooperative representative, determined to save society with a secret paradise, arrives at an outpost on the American West Coast, which is run by the strict Wilhemina Venable (Sarah Paulson, “Glass,” 2019) and Miriam Mead (Kathy Bates, “The Highwaymen,” 2019), and order quickly turns to chaos. Beneath it all, the final battle between good and evil wages.

WHAT’S NEW ON HULU: “Mixed-ish”

Fans of Bow (Tracee Ellis Ross) from the popular comedy series “Black-ish” — or anyone who craves an expansion of the “Blackish” universe — are in luck. On Wednesday, Sept. 25, the series premiere of the spinoff series “Mixed-ish” begins streaming on Hulu. “Mixed-ish” goes back 30 years and chronicles the origins of the beloved character Rainbow “Bow” Johnson as she grows up in a mixed-race family in the 1980s. Tika Sumpter (“The Haves and the Have Nots”) and Mark-Paul Gosselaar (“NYPD Blue”) star, and the series premiere leads right into the “Black-ish” season opener.

Yesterday

After Jack (Patel), a struggling singer-songwriter from a small British town, is hit by a bus, he wakes up in an alternate timeline where no one has ever heard of The Beatles. He tries to jog people’s memories by singing some of the most famous Beatles tracks to his friends and family, but when even that doesn’t work, he starts taking credit for the band’s greatest hits. Jack’s manager and childhood friend, Ellie

(James), has him record a demo with a local music producer, and he is soon performing on local television. After being invited to be the opening act for Ed Sheeran, Jack’s music career takes off, and he must choose between his newfound fame and a life of integrity.

Director:DannyBoyle.Stars: HimeshPatel,LilyJames,SophiaDi Martino,EdSheeran,KateMcKinnon.2019.116mins.Drama.