Sumter Scene: August 12, 2023

August 12 – August 18, 2023

Grown up: Sixth and final season of ‘grown-ish’

BY JAY BOBBIN

The “Black-ish” spinoff series is in its final season, which sees Junior (Marcus Scribner, “How to Blow Up a Pipeline,” 2022) back at Cal U for his sophomore year, while his older sister Zoey (Yara Shahidi, “Peter Pan & Wendy,” 2023), navigates real grown life, post-college graduation.

Now the only Johnson sibling on campus, Junior spends the season premiere in crisis over all of the paths laid out before him, from his relationship to declaring a major. While most of the storylines for the upcoming season are under wraps for now, Freeform announced some major guest stars that viewers can look forward to spotting on-screen.

Kelly Rowland (“Bad Hair,” 2020) will appear in “Grown-ish” as a psychology professor at Cal U, “Big Energy” rapper Latto guests as a wine rep and Om-

arion (“You Got Served,” 2004), NLE Choppa (“Ain’t Gonna Answer”), Lil Yachty (“Say Something”), Anderson .Paak (“Trolls World Tour,” 2020) and the Free Nationals (“Time”) will all appear as themselves.

Returning this season are Trevor Jackson (“SuperFly,” 2018) as Aaron, Diggy Simmons (“The Plug”) as Doug, Daniella Perkins (“Knight Squad”) as Kiela, Justine Skye (“When I Consume You,” 2021) as Annika and Tara Raani (“King Lahiri,” 2022) as Zaara.

As far as finale seasons go, this one is more of a see you later than a real goodbye. Split in two, the first batch of episodes premiere this summer before the series ties up for good with Season 6B in 2024. Shahidi broke the news of the show’s final season to fans in a video announcement via Freeform’s YouTube page in March, also sharing the exciting news that “grown-ish” will celebrate its 100th episode

milestone before the series’ end.

Shahidi went on to express what portraying her character for years and across series has meant, saying, “It has been such an honor to play Zoey and grow up alongside her for the past nine years.”

Writer and executive producer of “Black-ish,” “Grown-ish” and “Mixed-ish,” Kenya Barris, released a statement reflecting on the experience of creating a groundbreaking set of shows, saying, “we’ve spent nearly a decade telling our stories through the “-ish” series and to say it has been an amazing journey would be an understatement.”

Barris continued: “from the stories we’ve told to the talent we’ve fostered and, most importantly, the memories made, I could not be more proud of everything we’ve accomplished and the “-ish” family I’ve been part of.”

Horoscopes

The luckiest signs this week:

VIRGO, LIBRA AND SCORPIO

ARIES

You’ll be in the spotlight this week. You’ll lead a group that defends your community. You’re charismatic and important to the people around you. This could boost your self-esteem.

TAURUS

If you have children, you’ll spend a lot of time getting ready for back-to-school season. You could decide to move or tackle a major home renovation. If you’re single, you fall in love at first sight.

GEMINI

You won’t be afraid to speak your mind and will say out loud what others are thinking. This will draw attention to your opinions. You’ll find the necessary solutions to get out of a difficult financial situation.

CANCER

At work, you’ll be courted by the competition and receive an offer that’s hard to refuse. You’ll have to do a lot of running around for a family member. In love, someone in your circle of friends could make a statement that leaves you perplexed.

LEO

A new job or life is taking shape. Your dreams are finally coming true! You’ll be most excited about the new opportunities that come your way. In love, life will put someone very romantic in your path.

VIRGO

If your energy levels are low, brew a second cup of coffee before starting your workday. If your health is fragile, you’ll find the right treatments to improve your quality of life. Stress can be a source of momentary energy.

LIBRA

You have no choice but to tackle the obstacles in front of you and overcome the pitfalls. You’ll have to negotiate with many people at the same time, which could prove stressful. You’ll make new friends and expand your social networks.

SCORPIO

At work or elsewhere, you’ll have to deal with constant emergencies. Everything is falling behind. Someone close to you will help you take a step back. If you’re in a relationship, you must establish common goals to secure your future together.

SAGITTARIUS

You’ll have fun organizing an interesting getaway in nature. You must take some time off. Make sure you prepare in advance to make this adventure possible and create unforgettable memories with your loved ones.

CAPRICORN

Major projects often cause anxiety. Perseverance is the key to success. Don’t be afraid of change; it’s good for you. If your emotions are running high, simmer down by taking a step back.

AQUARIUS

Before making a decision that will affect several people, consult them and get their consent. At work, you’ll reach a profitable agreement after long negotiations.

PISCES

It’s time to take care of yourself. If you change certain habits, you’ll feel more energized, and your love for life will be contagious. You must improve your health; your doctor will tell you what you need to do.

New Streaming Movies & Shows

“Cangaço Novo (New Bandits)”Season 1

This crime drama tells the story of Ubaldo (Allan Souza Lima), an unhappy bank clerk who lives in São Paulo with no memory of his childhood. When he discovers that he has an inheritance and two sisters in the outback of Ceará — Dilvânia (Thainá Duarte), who leads a group that worships her deceased father, and Dinorah (Alice Carvalho), the only woman in a gang of bank robbers — Ubaldo sets out to meet them.

“Movie: To Catch a Killer”

Shailene Woodley stars in this crime drama as Eleanor, a young police investigator wrestling with the demons of her past when she is recruited by the FBI’s chief investigator (Ben Mendelsohn) to help profile and track the work of a disturbed individual. As the police and FBI launch a nationwide manhunt, they are thwarted at every turn by the individual’s unprecedented behavior. Given her tortured psyche, Eleanor may be the only person who can understand the mind of their assailant and bring him to justice.

Word Search

Where all the top choices can be found in one place!

“Movie: The Monkey King”

This action-packed, computer animated family comedy follows a charismatic Monkey and his magical fighting Stick on an epic quest for victory over 100 demons, an eccentric Dragon King, and Monkey’s greatest foe of all — his own ego! Along the way, a young village girl challenges his self-centered attitude and shows him that even the smallest pebble can have a big effect on the world.

“The Wonder Years” - Season 2, New Episodes

Inspired by the beloved, award-winning series of the same name from the 1980s, this series is an original coming-of-age comedy that tells the story of the Williams family during the late 1960s, spotlighting the ups and downs of growing up in a Black middle-class family in Montgomery, Alabama, and the friendship, laughter and lessons gained along the way. Don Cheadle, Elisha “EJ” Williams, Dulé Hill, Saycon Sengbloh, Laura Kariuki, Julian Lerner, Amari O’Neil and Milan Ray star.

“Star Wars: Ahsoka: Season 1” (Disney+ — Aug. 23, Series Premiere)

Set after the fall of the Galactic Empire, this newest addition to the Star Wars universe follows former Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) as she investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy. Created by Dave Filoni, the series also stars Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Wes Chatham, Hayden Christensen, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, David Tennant, Ray Stevenson, Temuera Morrison, Lars Mikkelsen, Ivanna Sakhno, Eman Esfandi and Diana Lee Inosanto.

Q&A with Hilary Duff

Q: What attracted you to “How I Met Your Father”?

A: I’m extremely lucky to have gotten the opportunity to play Sophie. I am so attracted to parts that are extremely relatable, and this one happens to touch on just trying to nd love in this world that we live in with all the options that there are, and how hard it is to meet someone face-to-face. And the fact that she has this lovely friend circle that, kind of, comes together in a strange way, it was all just really attractive to me.

Q: What do you feel that you have in common with Sophie?

A: Even though I’m in a totally different place in my life, I just felt like I was drawn to Sophie. She doesn’t give up. She’s kind of struggling. The odds are kind of against her in her career, but she’s leaning on this little pack of weirdos that she nds one night. And they run off into the sunset together and have all of these experiences that young people have, just trying to nd their footing. It was just a great script.

Always Sunny in Philadelphia” star Kaitlin

Coming Soon

8 Go by, as time

9 Bugs Bunny’s girlfriend

10 Cinnamon Carter portrayer in “Mission: Impossible”: Barbara

11 Conan’s late-night sidekick

19 Autobahn hazard

20 Classic British sports cars

22 Windy City rail inits.

23 Halifax clock setting: Abbr.

24 “The Little Mermaid” (2023) setting

26 “Raiders of the Lost ___” (1981 adventure flick)

27 Not just any

28 Our sun

32 Sigourney Weaver role in the Alien franchise

33 Creeping vine

PAUL’S DINER

“Invasion: Season 2” (Apple TV+ — Aug. 23, Season Premiere)

From creators Simon Kinberg and David Weil, this sweeping, character-driven science fiction drama series returns for its second season. It follows the stories of ordinary individuals around the world as they grapple with the aftermath of an alien invasion that threatens humanity’s existence. Set across multiple continents, the series stars Golshifteh Farahani, Shioli Kutsuna, Shamier Anderson, India Brown, Billy Barratt, Azhy Robertson, Paddy Holland, Tara Moayedi, Enver Gjokaj, Nedra Marie Taylor and Naian González Norvind.

Murray and Johansson get ‘Lost in Translation’

BY JAY BOBBIN

Some of the story may be a nightmare for Bill Murray’s character, but “Lost in Translation” succeeds in large part because it plays out like a dream.

Currently streaming on Peacock, the 2003 comedy helped Sofia Coppola establish herself as a filmmaker in her own right, beyond wearing the mantle of being the daughter of “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now” talent Francis Ford Coppola. Her location filming in Japan has an ethereal quality that lets viewers also experience the fish-out-of-water feeling that Murray’s character – an internationally popular actor who’s overseas to film a television ad – clearly has as he tries to negotiate a foreign culture when he isn’t even all that comfortable with his own.

Luckily for him, another visiting American also is having trouble assimilating, giving him a kindred spirit to associate with. Played by Scarlett Johansson, she’s a soulful and wiser-than-her-years wife who’s left to her own inventions while her photographer husband (Giovanni Ribisi) goes off on the assignment he’s there for. She makes an immediate connection with the actor, especially since they have the same sort of offbeat sensibility when it comes to looking at the world with bemusement.

Writer-director Coppola makes that the main story, but she also gives Murray plenty of room to evoke his brand of humor in vignettes that show his character at work … or at least trying to work. He truly does get

Best Kirk Douglas Movies

BY JAY BOBBIN

“Champion” (1949): Douglas fought his way into stardom, quite literally, with this gritty portrait of a boxer with a tumultuous private life.

“Detective Story” (1951): The gritty approach of this melodrama gives Douglas an ideal framework for his portrayal of a policeman surprisingly connected to a certain case.

“The Bad and the Beautiful”

(1952): Hardly a glossy picture of the entertainment world, this drama casts Douglas as a producer with – appropriately in his case – a lot of enemies. Turner Classic Movies presents the lm Tuesday, June 27, during the last night of its “Hollywoodland” salute to showbiz stories.

“20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” (1954): The Jules Verne literary classic became a classic Disney movie, with Douglas’ Ned Land up against James Mason’s Captain Nemo as well as the ocean elements.

“Gun ght at the O.K. Corral”

(1957): Great friends off-screen, Douglas and Burt Lancaster invest their camaraderie into their portrayals of Old West legends Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp.

lost in translation when it comes to communicating with the director of his commercial, an energetic fellow who takes a lot of time and motion to convey what supposedly is only a two-word order. Also quite funny is Murray’s encounter in his hotel room with a masseuse sent to attend to his presumed needs.

Coppola has an excellent collaborator in cinematographer Lance Acord, who gives “Lost in Translation” the sort of style that mirrors how a tourist might experience Japan, with plenty of neon lighting up views of heavily traveled urban areas. At the same time, there’s a visual gentility to quieter regions to which Johansson’s alter ego ventures in day trips away from the hotel. Even a late-night fire drill that clears the hotel has a certain lyrical look.

Though the cast of “Lost in Translation” logically involves many Japanese performers, another American who makes a mark in it is Anna Faris (“Mom”), enjoyably lovely as a self-involved actress who knows Ribisi … and who is quite the turnoff to both Murray and Johansson. They get to do their share of smirking as they observe her karaoke rendering of “Nobody Does It Better” in the hotel bar.

While Murray is a very big part of “Lost in Translation,” it can be appreciated whether you’re a fan of his or not. Its main triumph is in giving a sense of trying to make yourself at home while you’re away from home, and it pretty much hits a home run that way.

All-stars in Flavortown: ‘GGG’ returns with biggest names in culinary

BY GEORGE DICKIE

Guy Fieri wines, dines and runs the aisles with the best of the best when the five-week, fiveepisode tournament “Guy’s Grocery Games: All-Star Invitational” begins Wednesday, Aug. 16, on Food Network.

This time, the “GGG” competition we all know and love will feature only the biggest names in the culinary industry, as renowned celebrity chefs Karen Akunowicz, Nate Appleman, Jose Garces, Ilan Hall, Stephanie Izard, Mei Lin, Shota Nakajima and Jonathon Sawyer each take to the kitchen in order to compete for the winning “GGG” trophy and the $75,000 cash grand prize.

“Each week the chefs go head-to-head to see whose shopping and cooking skills are a cut above the rest,” Food Network shared in a recent news release. “They must navigate their way through the grocery aisles as they are tested in challenges from ‘Express Lane,’ where they must create a signature sandwich and side using only eight ingredients, to ‘Budget Battle,’ where they must make an impressive weeknight dinner for four with only $25, to ‘Frozen Food Feud,’ where they must make a dish only using frozen ingredients, and many more.”

“Ultimately,” the network explains, “the food does the talking, as a rotating panel of judges determines who checks out of the competition.”

The tournament begins as Fieri welcomes his eight competing all-stars to the ring, each equally impressive, with ranks including Iron Chefs, James Beard recipients, and “Top Chef” and “Tournament of Champion” winners. Most importantly, each cook shares one thing in common: they have never stepped foot inside the infamous Flavortown Market before. No matter their history, each competitor is totally new to the world of “GGG.”

“Now, Guy will put them through a gauntlet of diabolical games,” Food Network shared, “starting with the ultimate limited ingredient game, ‘Express Lane,’ as chefs make their signature sandwich and a side using only eight ingredients. The chef awarded best dish wins an automatic $10,000, while the others are vulnerable to a surprise twist!”

Later in the release, Fieri commented: “These culinary rock stars have more awards and accolades than you can count, but let me tell you, they’ve never experienced the heart-pounding intensity of Flavortown Market before. They’re itching to prove they’re the true masters of flavor, and I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve to see if they’re the real deal!”

“Spartacus” (1960): Douglas reteamed with Kubrick on this epic about a slave who went up against the Roman Empire … much as Douglas, also a producer here, went up against Hollywood’s establishment by insisting that blacklisted Dalton Trumbo get name credit for his script here.

“Cast a Giant Shadow”

(1966): The true story of Colonel David “Mickey” Marcus, who helped build the Israeli Defense Forces, gives Douglas a ne showcase within a cast that also includes John Wayne and Frank Sinatra.

“The War Wagon” (1967): Douglas and John Wayne pour on the star power in this wonderfully traditional Western about the plot to rob an armored stagecoach.

“The Fury” (1978): John Farris’ novel yielded this intriguing thriller, with Douglas as a former CIA agent whose son (Andrew Stevens) has psychic abilities that are being exploited.

“The Final Countdown”

(1980): A clever script and solid cast do much for this time-jumping adventure, with Douglas as the captain of a modern aircraft carrier that could change the course of World War II.

Rocking reflections: Paramount+ revisits Elvis Presley’s 1968 comeback special

BY JAY BOBBIN

Elvis Presley’s legendary 1968 television special was a turning point not only for him, but for many of the other people involved in it.

One was producer-director Steve Binder, who candidly told the “King” of music that the latter’s career was “in the toilet,” so he needed to do the NBC-televised hour. The result quickly became a legendary piece of television, and Paramount+ looks back at it in the new offering “Reinventing Elvis: The ‘68 Comeback,” which starts streaming Tuesday, Aug, 15 — the night before the 46th anniversary of Presley’s death, and fol-lowing the project’s limited showings in movie theaters globally.

While incorporating many segments from the original show, “Reinventing Elvis” examines Presley’s relationship not only with Binder (who narrates the bulk of the film), but

View from the Couch

also with Col. Tom Parker, the famously strict manager who kept tight control over Presley. Singers Darius Rucker and Drake Milligan are among those who offer comments, along with journalist Alanna Nash and Anita Mann, who was a dancer on the 1968 special.

Also an executive producer of “Reinventing Elvis,” Binder maintains that he’s “real pleased with what they did” creatively with the documentary, though he admits he was skeptical at first. “When I was approached to get involved, I said, ‘There are so many third-party stories about Elvis, why do we need another one?’ Then they pitched me their idea, and it really covered 1968 as a whole. I was rooting for them from the sidelines, and I certainly was responsive to any of their requests for more material.”

Music-documentary veteran John Scheinfeld — who also has done projects on John Lennon, John Coltrane, Herb Alpert and Harry Nilsson — directed “Rein-venting Elvis,” which also has music-industry legend Spencer Proffer, a longtime Binder associate, as the executive producer who conceived it. “There are so few of us alive today who were there when it all happened,” Binder reflects of the 1968 Elvis show. “There have been specials and books about it, but I never felt that anybody who was there told the real story.

“I was there from the beginning to the end, and it’s so gratifying today to realize what the public response to it was. A number of years ago, somebody approached me and said, ‘Steve, you realize that no matter what you did in the past or do from here on in, you’ll be remembered mostly for the Elvis comeback special’ … and I think they told the truth.”

BY JAY BOBBIN

iar with the series that dates back to the early 1980s, that having a strong stomach is a definite benefit for any viewer here. Morgan Davies, Gabrielle Echols and Neil Fisher also appear. *** (R: AS, P, GV) (Also on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD, Digital and On Demand)

GEORGE FOREMAN”

““BIG

Relationship boot camp: ‘90

Day’ couples head to therapy in paradise

”

EVIL DEAD RISE”

The iconic horror franchise gets a new chapter that involves many of the talents who also contributed to it previously, including producers Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert and actor Bruce Campbell. Demons still are on the loose here, moving out of woodlands and into a more metropolitan setting for their mayhem, with two estranged and newly reunited sisters (played by Lily Sullivan and Alyssa Sutherland) among their principal targets. It likely goes without saying, particularly for those already famil-

This biographical drama is subtitled “The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World,” and that pretty much covers the saga of the boxing legend — played here by Khris Davis (“Judas and the Black Messiah”) – whose athletic triumphs were put on hold for a while after a situation that nearly turned tragic for him. That wouldn’t be the end of his career in the ring, though, since he became determined to reclaim his title to help his ailing community.

Directed and co-written by George Tillman Jr. (“Soul Food”), the film also stars Forest Whitaker, Jasmine Matthews, Sonia Sohn and Lawrence Gilliard Jr. *** (PG-13: AS, V) (Also on Blu-ray, Digital and On Demand)

“NATIONAL LAMPOON’S

As it marks its 40th anniversary, a classic comedy gets its day on 4K

BY GEORGE DICKIE

Our favorite fast-moving couples from the “90 Day” franchise return, hopeful to save their relationships, in “90 Day: The Last Resort,” premiering Monday, Aug. 14, on TLC.

This latest spinoff follows five couples from the “90 Day” series, each of which has reached the make-it-or-break-it point in their relationship. Before tossing in the towel and filing for divorce, they have decided to go allin on one last attempt to save their struggling relationships: participating in a couples retreat designed to help them reconnect, restructure and reconsider, overall determining whether they will be able to heal long-festering wounds.

As of now, TLC has only announced three of the five participating couples, but fans of the series will certainly remember these “90 Day” hopefuls: Jovi

Ultra HD, thanks to this memorable cross-country trip to the California amusement park Walley World undertaken by Clark Griswold –played by Chevy Chase in one of his biggest movie hits – and the rest of his Chicago-area family, including some not-immediate relatives who aren’t exactly welcome as fellow travelers. Written by John Hughes and directed by Harold Ramis, the picture (which launched a “Vacation” franchise for Chase) uses Lindsey Buckingham’s “Holiday Road” as its theme song. The cast also includes Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid, Imogene Coca, Anthony Michael Hall, Dana Barron, Eddie Bracken, Eugene Levy, Jane Krakowski and (as a determined security guard) John Candy, plus Christie Brinkley as a beauty in a frequently passing car who doesn’t escape Clark’s notice. *** (R: AS, N, P, V)

“MICKEY & FRIENDS: 10

CLASSIC SHORTS — VOLUME 2”

As part of the continuing 100th-anniversary celebration of the company founded by entertainment icon Walt Disney, this gathering of animated short subjects boasts some of his most famous charac-

ters. A notable entry is “Tugboat Mickey,” which took the concept of “Steamboat Willie” – the cartoon that introduced Mickey Mouse to the public – and updated it, at least by the standards of 1940, when it originally was released (with Disney himself supplying Mickey’s voice). Among the other attractions in this set are “Mr. Duck Steps Out,” “Pluto’s Party,” “The Band Concert” and “Lonesome Ghosts.” *** (Not rated) (Also on Blu-ray)

“TALES OF THE WALKING DEAD”

The parent show yielded another AMC spinoff series last year with this six-episode anthology involving existing characters from the franchise and also introducing new ones. Among the subjects: a time loop that sends some people back to the start of the zombie apocalypse, the struggle for control of a boat, and a scientist’s view of the world’s future as dominated by the undead. Actors featured in the stories include Terry Crews, Olivia Munn, Parker Posey, Jillian Bell, Samantha Morton, Anthony Edwards, Embeth Davidtz and Juilie Carmen. A follow-up series titled “More Tales From the Walking Dead Universe” is being planned. *** (Not rated: AS, P, GV)

and Yara, Ed and Liz and Angela and Michael – all of whom hope that “The Last Resort” will lead to a fresh new start in their marriages after experiencing disappointments, distance and distrust. Alongside a team of professionals, the couples will attempt to navigate struggles within their relationships, discussing a variety of important and influential issues, including trust, jealousy, anger and intimacy – all topics that could potentially make or break a rocky relationship.

During the retreat, the couples will be invited to explore a wide range of activities, including group therapy, couples counseling sessions, past life regressions and other unique activities, located both on and off the resort site. By the end of their time in paradise, each pair must decide once and for all whether they wish to remain together or to move on separately.

“NATURE: NIAGARA FALLS”

One of the scenic wonders of the United States – though it regularly draws many visitors from over the border in Canada, too — is showcased in this recent episode of the PBS series, and you can bank on many views of the waterfall that has kept the New York site a major destination for tourists for more than two centuries. A year in the “life” of Niagara Falls is the approach taken by award-winning filmmaker Joe Pontecorvo, who also considers the various types of wildlife that the area serves as a home for …. on the ground, in the water and in the air. *** (Not rated)

Coming Home Soon

“ROMAN HOLIDAY” (4K ULTRA HD) (AUG.