The Equalizer’s run is officially done as a result of its heartbreaking cancellation at CBS amid the 2025 TV schedule. A network executive revealed the reason for canceling the Queen Latifah-led series and other shows, and it all came down to economics. While that's understandable, as a fan, I'm still in my feelings about the decision. All the while, much of the cast have been speaking out, and series alum Lorraine Toussaint shared BTS pictures that are making me even angrier about the procedural's demise.

Toussaint took to Instagram to share a sweet message, through which she reflected on her time playing Aunt Vi across the show's five seasons. As sweet as her "grateful" message is, I really just can't take my eyes off the slew of great photos she shared. The pics show the actress alongside crew members as well as co-stars, and I have to say that this is a very nostalgic carousel of pics. Check them out, and try not to tear up like I did:

Between these great BTS pictures and my knowledge of what was planned for Season 6, I still can’t get over the fact that The Equalizer is over. CBS admitted it’s been a challenging year and, obviously, the network did have to make some cuts to the lineup. However, that doesn't exactly provide any kind of comfort for me.

Lorraine Toussaint's photos are a reminder of some of the great character dynamics that played out over the show's run, and I get emotional just seeing the cast and crew, who appear to have been close. Needless to say, this one stings.

Unfortunately, the longer that the "Eye Network" waited to make a decision on The Equalizer, the more likely the eventual cancellation seemed. The network already had to move Matthew Gray Gubler’s new series, Einstein, to the 2026-27 season, and there are only so many shows that can be on hold until then. I'd love it if another entity swooped in to save the crime drama, but I'm not sure that's in the cards at this point.

CBS cancelled quite a few shows this season. The demises of the FBI spinoffs Most Wanted and International were surprises to me, though the network also ordered a new offshoot CIA offshoot, with Tom Ellis in the lead. S.W.A.T. was also axed for a third time, and it’s likely not going to be reversed (though the finale will leave fans wanting more). Freshman sitcom Poppa’s House is done as well and, of course, Blue Bloods ended in December.

Considering The Equalizer looking to re-enter the world it created can simply stream the series with a Paramount+ subscription. I'd also keep an eye out on social media in case Lorraine Toussaint or any of her co-stars opt to share even more excellent behind-the-scenes photos. Such pics would certainly be bittersweet, as they'd simultaneously be a reminder of how excellent the show is and the fact that it's no longer on the air.

Across its full 2024-2025 lineup, which still has yet to conclude amidst the 2025 TV schedule, CBS boasted a wide variety of the most-watched series of any network, and it may also have suffered the largest number of high-profile cancellations during that same period. From axing FBI’s two ongoing spinoffs in place of Tom Ellis’ CIA to bidding Blue Bloods farewell (also in place of a new spinoff). But don’t go linking those shocking decisions to any BTS drama involving CBS or parent company Paramount.

Why Paramount And CBS Have Both Been Headline-Makers Recently

Those keeping up with CBS and Paramount’s goings-on are likely aware of recent headlines aimed at both. For one, Paramount is in the process of being acquired by Skydance, and the merging that was first put in motion back in July 2024 is expected to go into effect relatively soon after the FCC’s review is complete.

Meanwhile, CBS’ weekly cornerstone 60 Minutes has faced various layers of turmoil in recent months, bolstered by the Trump administration’s lawsuit tied to the editing of a Kamala Harris interview that aired back in October 2024. Longtime executive producer Bill Owens inevitably resigned from his position in April, citing his growing belief that he’d lost journalistic independence due to Paramount execs’ increased level of supervision.

CBS CEO Addresses Recent Challenges And How He's Handling Things

Speaking to press outlets and more at CBS' 2025-2026 Fall TV schedule reveal event (via Deadline), network President and CEO George Cheeks addressed what his professional purview has been throughout the merger process, and why his key goals haven't necessarily been directly affected by what's happening within the entertainment corporation's higher levels. As he put it:

Considering CBS long ago cemented itself as a network where procedural dramas and multicamera sitcoms could thrive for for ages, the laundry list of cancellations made in the past year has been. somewhat troubling, from NCIS: Hawai'i to S.W.A.T.'s canceled-then-renewed-then-canceled fate. To be fair, the entire industry was completely upended by the 2023 strikes, which served as a notable factor in such make-or-break decisions for shows' fates.

But it sounds like George Cheeks is aware that he may not have much influence on issues happening throughout Paramount and CBS on the whole, and is dedicated to focusing on one of his biggest annual tasks, helping spearhead the Fall TV schedule, and he's quick to credit CBS Entertainment boss Amy Reisenbach for keeping the ship afloat.

Speaking directly to that, Cheeks said:

As it was touched upon elsewhere during the schedule reveal event, the decision to cancel the two FBI spinoffs, The Equalizer and other projects was made with financial detail in mind. The longer a series stays on the air, and the more success it enjoys during that time, the better the chances are for the series' creatives to negotiate for more lucrative deals, which is often the point where studios and networks balk, regardless of other details.

Of course, sometimes it's a case where confidence concerning in-development projects is so bullish that a freshman drama's potential can outrank the draw of an established drama. At least I'd assume that's the case involving Luke Grimes' upcoming Yellowstone spinoff Y: Marshals, which will be the franchise's first broadcast offering.

But audiences will just have to wait and see whether this year's Fall TV lineup will stack up successfully against CBS' past primetime plans. And if FBI's CIA offshoot doesn't immediately scratch the itch left by its canceled brethren, expect a sternly worded email or two.

CBS seemingly added more entries than usual to the annual list of canceled and ending TV shows, which means the upcoming TV schedule will look quite different once the fall months arrive. More recently network canceled its two FBI spinoffs, and then followed up by pulling the plug on Queen Latifah’s The Equalizer in early May. The decisions have left some fans in arms, and now they’ve been addressed by one of CBS’ head honchos.

CBS Boss Explains Decision To Cancel Two FBI Spinoffs

Speaking at CBS' Fall TV schedule reveal event (via TVLine), the network's President of Entertainment Amy Reisenbach addressed the nature of the business while speaking to the cancellations of FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted, neither of which cracked the Top 20 primetime shows by way of Live + 35 Day engagement (meanwhile, mothership drama FBI was #11).

Namechecking the latest tentatively titled spinoff, which boasts Lucifer's Tom Ellis in the lead role, Reisenbach said:

It's definitely true that network series' cast contracts tend to work more in the actors' favor as the seasons build up, and the sixth season usually marks negotiation time for such deals. As such, it's often when network execs go hardest on weighing the pros and cons of keeping a show on the air.

FBI: Most Wanted was indeed at that point, with Season 6 set to wrap up on May 20, while FBI: International was only on for four seasons before the cancellation news. And despite not cracking the delayed-viewing Top 20 for all of TV, the dramas' total viewerships still handily beat out a lot of other primetime offerings, averaging around 6.5 million.

Perhaps if both or either had been more of a draw for younger demographics, their fates could have changed.

Why The Equalizer Also Faced An Unexpected Cancellation

The past month has been rough for The Equalizer fans. First, the previously announced plan for a backdoor spinoff starring Bosch's Titus Welliver and Harlem's Juani Feliz went belly-up. Two days after the ep aired in mid-April, it was reported that CBS would not be moving forward with the follow-up project.

Then, just a couple of weeks later, the news broke that The Equalizer wouldn't be moving forward with Season 6, despite Queen Latifah and others reportedly agreeing to take a salary cut to balance any budgetary issues. When addressing that particular decision, Amy Reinsenbach stated:

In the case of the Sunday night offering, ratings almost definitely played heavily into the cancellation decision, as The Equalizer's average nightly viewership shrank by nearly two million viewers, which isn't so easy to sweep away and feel confident while ordering new seasons.

At this point, no plans are seemingly being made to shop The Equalizer or CBS' other canceled shows around to other networks, which is understandable. For now, they can all be streamed in full with a Paramount+ subscription.

Spoilers for The Equalizer’s series finale are ahead! To catch up, you can stream the CBS drama with a Paramount+ subscription.

CBS has been brutal with the cancellations this year. The network has axed a number of shows, with The Equalizer most recently joining the list of shows canceled and ending in 2025. The Queen Latifah-led crime drama officially ended on Sunday on the 2025 TV schedule after five seasons, and as expected, plans were already in place for Season 6. The showrunner even revealed what would have happened had the show continued on beyond Season 5.

In the series finale, Latifah’s Robyn McCall and Tory Kittles’ Dante eventually get engaged, which came after Dante was shot during their romantic getaway thanks to Juan Javier Cardenas’ Salazar. Although fans are probably happy knowing that the couple’s future is set in stone, they are also probably sad that they don’t get to see them get married. But it could have happened.

In an interview with TV Insider conducted prior to the cancellation, showrunner Joe Wilson said that he hoped to see the two walk down the aisle for Season 6:

Hearing what could have been with the wedding is sad, knowing that fans will never see that happen, at least for now. Though perhaps this could be a good thing, especially since it sounds like the wedding would have been a whole lot crazier than the proposal, whatever that could mean. Robyn and Dante certainly deserve a peaceful wedding, but that doesn’t mean that it still isn’t sad that the wedding will never happen on-screen.

The wedding isn’t all that Wilson and the writers were cooking up for Season 6. Wilson also shared that although it’s hard to tell what else could happen in the sixth season, especially with Robyn’s daughter Delilah going off to college, mostly the entire cast of The Equalizer, more or less, would have returned, even if not full-time, and keep that family dynamic that fans loved so much:

It’s unknown if The Equalizer will be shopped around elsewhere, especially since it’s clear that more stories are waiting to be told. Queen Latifah has spoken out about the cancellation, assuring fans that she will return to “kick ass” in the future. So at the very least, she may no longer play Robyn McCall, but she is still going to leap into action. That doesn’t make the cancellation any easier, though.

It's always tough whenever a show gets canceled before its time, especially when plans for the next season were already in place. Not even Tracker could save it. This certainly makes me want a sixth season even more, knowing what could have happened, and the fact that it never will is certainly hard. But with Robyn and Dante living happily ever after, it’s better than nothing.

CBS rolled out its renewals and cancellations in the 2024-2025 TV season rather than announcing the fates of the full slate at once. The Equalizer, starring Queen Latifah, Tory Kittles, Liza Lapira, and Adam Goldberg, was the last show standing until early May in the 2025 TV schedule. Alas, joins like two FBI shows and Shemar Moore's S.W.A.T. (again), the series has been cancelled by CBS, and fans only have one episode left before the only option for reliving the action will be by streaming older installments with a Paramount+ subscription.

Queen Latifah herself wasted no time in posting a message in reaction to the news, and it's worth looking ahead at what to look forward to (or dread) out of the series finale on May 4.

The Equalizer Cancelled After 5 Seasons, And Queen Latifah Has thoughts

News of the cancellation came late on the Friday night before the finale, so the sad news may not have circulated much in the immediate aftermath. According to Deadline, a possibility to bring The Equalizer back at least one more time was a 13-episode sixth and final season, with producers and Queen Latifah reportedly making budget concessions to CBS for that possibility.

Whatever debates may have been happening behind the scenes, the show will not return, the potential spinoff is not moving forward, and it's said that Universal Television is not planning to shop The Equalizer around to be rescued by another network or streamer.

While the cancellation undoubtedly stings for fans, hopefully Queen Latifah's message on Instagram will be a bit soothing. The leading lady.executive producer wrote:

The Equalizer being cancelled obviously wasn't the ideal result of any deliberations at CBS, but Queen Latifah's first public response to the decision was positive and focused on the great parts of the experience. Specifically addressing the "ride-or-die" fans just ahead of the series finale was a lovely move by the star, and I'm just hoping that the finale ends in a satisfying way rather than a stressful cliffhanger that will never be resolved.

And on that note...

What To Expect From The Series Finale

The cancellation news coming less than 48 hours before the season finale – and now series finale – airs on CBS of course means that it's far too late to film a different ending than the one originally produced. The Deadline report states that The Equalizer creative team did plan the Season 5 finale in a way that could double as a series finale. That should come as some relief – The Equalizer has delivered big cliffhangers in finales before! Per CBS' episode description, here's what to expect:

So much for a romantic getaway! It's hard to predict how that storyline could go down or end just based on preview material, but hopefully Dee's meeting with her favorite author is a nice way to end her story of The Equalizer. As for McCall and Dante, the promo sheds more light on just how unromantic their getaway is going to get:

Maybe they'll get a few minutes to enjoy the cabin before it's invaded by gun-toting bad guys? Nothing is ever too straightforward for Robyn McCall on The Equalizer! The promo also doesn't give away any of what happens in any of the subplots, so we'll all just have to tune in for these characters' primetime swan songs.

The series finale of The Equalizer airs on Sunday, May 4 at 10 p.m. ET on CBS, following the penultimate episode of Watson (with the return of Randall Park's Moriarty) at 9 p.m. ET and the long-awaited return of Melissa Roxburgh as Dory Shaw on Tracker at 8 p.m. ET. All three shows are also available streaming on Paramount+.

It’s been nearly two years since NCIS: Los Angeles ended on CBS after 14 seasons, and cast member Daniela Ruah has still been working with the network. The actress not only returned to NCIS for the 1,000^th episode in 2024, but she also directed an episode of both the franchise's Mothership series and the Hawai’i spinoff. Now, she’s bringing her directing skills to The Equalizer amid the 2025 TV schedule and revealing what the transition to the Queen Latifah-led series has been like.

Ruah’s episode of The Equalizer, "Deception," aired this past Sunday, and it was her first time directing the series. Considering she's helmed eight episodes across several NCIS shows, one may be tempted to think that there was a bit of a learning curve when Ruah made the jump to another series. However, it actually sounds like everything went swimmingly, as she explained to Parade:

Directing -- whether it be for TV or film seems somewhat daunting -- especially as far as a high-profile production is concerned. It goes without saying that Daniela Ruah, who played Kensi Blye on NCIS: LA, must consider a lot of variables as a director. I love hearing that she didn't' have a tough time with her latest gig, and it tracks that she wouldn't have been too worried, given she was still working on a procedural.

It sounds like Ruah really enjoys sitting in the big chair on set. During her interview with Parade, she went on to talk about what she wants to do down the road, and it would seem procedurals aren't solely on her mind:

I can understand Ruah wanting to branch out into more genres. She was on NCIS: Los Angeles and, in turn, a regular part of the greater franchise for 14 years. (That's 15 years overall, if you include her 2024 guest appearance that was camouflaged from Hawaii.) She's also acted in and directed other projects throughout her career that were not of the procedural genre, with a chunk of them being Portuguese shows. It's great to see her thriving in this business, and I hope she continues to land opportunities.

In 2024, when it was announced that Daniela Ruah would be directing episodes of NCIS and NCIS: Hawai’i, she opened up about what it’s like returning to the franchise after NCIS: LA’s conclusion. She likened the experience to “coming home” since there were many familiar faces among the cast and crew. Whether or not she’ll return to direct further episodes within the franchise is unknown, but I would hope that the directors would invite her back at some point.

Of course, let's also hope that - should The Equalizer be greenlit for Season 6 that Ruah will work on that show again as well and land other gigs, too. Check out Ruah's episode of The Equalizer now using a Paramount+ subscription.

As the back end of the 2025 TV schedule starts to fill up with premiere dates for both new and returning series for Fall TV and beyond, that means we're thankfully beyond the biggest batch of widespread cancellations tied to May upfronts, at least for broadcast networks. But the boob tube's Grim Reaper waits for no one.

June 2025 was privy to quite a few disappointing cancellation announcements that finally cleared up the bubble shows left over after the May TV bloodbath, with a few additional disappointing surprises also making headlines. So while it doesn't please me to address any amount of bad news, let's shine a light on the most disappointing chopping-block decisions from the start of the summer, followed by a more comprehensive list of series facing bad news this year.

The Most Disappointing TV Cancellations In June 2025

Éoile (Prime Video)

• Number Of Seasons: 1
• Reason For Ending: Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino's ballet dramedy appeared destined for multi-season glory like the creators' Mrs. Maisel and Gilmore Girls, but sadly suffered a Bunheads-esque fate when Amazon reversed its original two-season order and canceled Étoile after its single season dropped all at once in late April. (Like The Bondsman, this series didn't follow the platform's usual weekly episode drops.) Despite critics and audiences being won over by the charms of Luke Kirby, Charlotte Gainsbourg and others, it was canceled six weeks after it first arrived.
• Final Episode: April 24, 2025

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+)

• Number Of Seasons: 5
• Reason For Ending: It's somewhat hard to slot this as a disappointment, considering Paramount+ confirmed the genre-mashing series' fifth season even before Season 3 premiered. (That's happening July 17.) Still, the prequel to the original Trek series delivered so much fun in the first two seasons that it's easier and better on the psyche to just pretend that the final-season announcement never happened and wait until just before the shortened six-episode Season 5 arrives to start getting emotional.
• Final Episode: TBA

Gross Pointe Garden Society (NBC)

• Number Of Seasons: 1
• Reason For Ending: Created by Grey's Anatomy writer/producer Jenna Bans and Bill Krebs, Grosse Pointe Garden Society centered on the classic hook of suburbanites with secrets (and bodies) to hide, with a talented cast of TV vets bringing the goods. Unfortunately, the drama got off to a bad ratings start with its late February debut, and that was the only episode that brought in more than 1.5 million viewers, with one episode falling below a million. Without a massive streaming audience to bolster those numbers, broadcast networks can't afford to stick with that level of succes, and NBC canceled it on June 27, 2025, around six weeks after its cliffhanger-y finale.
• Final Episode: May 16, 2025

Doctor Odyssey (ABC)

• Number Of Seasons: 1
• Reason For Ending: With Ryan Murphy as a co-creator, and a seemingly endless number of oddball at-sea plotlines to explore, Doctor Odyssey never quite seemed to settle its footing with critics or audiences, leading to fluctuating stats that likely played into the medical drama's "on the bubble" status for so many weeks after ABC's other cancellations were unleashed. Technically speaking, the network didn't officially cancel the show; rather, the cast's contracts were allowed to expire without renewal, meaning that ABC will need to work with the cast and crew on new negotiations should execs eventually decide to make Season 2 a reality.
• Final Episode: May 15, 2025

Shows Set For Planned Endings In 2025

Andor (Disney+)

• Number Of Seasons: 2
• Reason For Ending: While the original plan for the upcoming Star Wars project was for a five-season run, the massive scope involved (and thus the enormous budget reported) meant that showrunner Tony Gilroy was limited to just two seasons to tell the entire prequelized story of Gabriel Luna's Cassian Andor.
• Final Episode: TBA to follow Season 2 premiere on April 22, 2025.

Bel-Air (Peacock)

• Number Of Seasons: 4
• Reason For Ending: It's unclear exactly why Peacock chose to make Season 4 the final one for its dramatized Fresh Prince reboot, but given the lower episode count (eight instead of ten) and three-month stretch between the Season 3 finale and the final season renewal, it's likely the lower viewership combined with rising budgets to force execs' hands.
• Final Episode: TBA in 2025

Big Mouth (Netflix)

• Number Of Seasons: 8
• Reason For Ending: Nick Kroll and Andrew Goldberg's animated adult comedy will be Netflix's longest-running original non-kids series when Season 8 arrives, and there doesn't appear to be any straightforward reason for it to be ending, beyond the fact that its characters have been in middle school for seven years now.
• Final Episode: TBA in 2025

Billy The Kid (MGM+)

• Number Of Seasons: 3
• Reason For Ending: Though Billy the Kid was touted as being one of MGM+'s three biggest shows for its second season, the burgeoning streaming service decided in October 2023 to make the impending third season the finale one. Historically speaking, Billy the Kid didn't exactly live to a ripe old age, so it makes sense for the show to be somewhat limited in season number.
• Final Episode: TBA in 2025

Blood Of Zeus (Netflix)

• Number Of Seasons: 3
• Reason For Ending: Netflix's epic-scale animated action-adventure Blood of Zeus has been a critical darling for its sharp animation and effective voice actors, but never quite became as much of a mainstream hit as some of the streamer's other American anime, and the creators announced at SDCC 2024 that the series was ordered for a third and final season to debut in 2025.
• Final Episode: TBA in 2025

Bosch: Legacy (Prime Video)

• Number Of Seasons: 3
• Reason For Ending: Titus Welliver's now-retired Harry Bosch is getting his swan song in the third season of Bosch: Legacy ahead of the Maggie Q-starring spinoff set to debut in the back half of 2025. The series' end coincided with the confirmation that Amazon Freevee was going away in light of Prime Video launching its ad-based tier, and while no hyper-specific reasons have surfaced for why the series is ending with Season 3, it's theorized that the show's questionable value for advertisers played into it.
• Final Episode: TBA in 2025

Cobra Kai (Netflix)

• Number Of Seasons: 6
• Reason For Ending: The Karate Kid franchise follow-up Cobra Kai was revealed to be ending with Season 6 back in January 2023, when creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg released a Netflix-emblazoned letter to fans that addressed their goal to end Johnny, Daniel, and other characters' stories on their own terms, possibly implying the streaming service did not show interest in continuing with a seventh season.
• Final Episode: The final 8 episodes comprising Season 6 Part 3 will drop on Thursday, February 13.

The Conners (ABC)

• Number Of Seasons: 7
• Reason For Ending: The Conners wasn't originally intended to go beyond a single season clearing up Roseanne issues, yet John Goodman & Co. are returning for their eighth year, which will officially be its final one due to a combination of salaries, schedules and dwindling viewership, with only six episodes ordered up to close out this beloved sitcom universe.
• Final Episode: TBA in Spring 2025

The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)

• Number Of Seasons: 6
• Reason For Ending: Hulu ordered up the sixth and final season of The Handmaid's Tale ahead of Season 5's heavy cliffhanger ending, with creator Bruce Miller saying he was given the opportunity to close out June's story on his own terms. That announcement, which coincided with development confirmation on adapting Margaret Atwood's sequel tale The Testaments, happened back in September 2022, with strikes and other factors delaying the production's start until Summer 2024.
• Final Episode: TBA in Spring 2025

9-1-1: Lone Star (Fox)

• Number Of Seasons: 5
• Reason For Ending: With flagship drama 9-1-1 having previously shifted from Fox to ABC, Rob Lowe's 9-1-1: Lone Star spinoff was immediately theorized as a future goner, and such rumors persisted ahead of its strike-delayed premiere, right up until the point in September 2024 when it was confirmed ahead of the Season 5 premiere that it would serve as the final season. Drooping ratings from year to year likely meshed with budget issues to inspire this particular cancellation.
• Final Episode: February 3, 2025

Power Book III: Raising Kanan (Starz)

• Number Of Seasons: 5
• Reason For Ending: The second successful spinoff from 50 Cent's Power franchise, the Mekai Curtis-starring crime drama was renewed for Season 5 back in March 2024, with the "final season" confirmation happening in May 2025. Showrunner Sascha Penn shared a statement saying it was always his goal to tell Kanan's backstory in five seasons, with the final season focusing on the introduction of Breeze, as portrayed by Spider-Verse's Shamiek Moore.
• Final Episode: TBA

The Righteous Gemstones (HBO)

• Number Of Seasons: 4
• Reason For Ending: Just a week before its long-awaited fourth season's premeire date was finally revealed, The Righteous Gemstones' creator Danny McBride broke the news that it would be the Gemstone family's final outing, telling GQ in January 2025 that it felt like a natural decision to send the show to the choir invisible after this cycle, given the way the season was crafted to bring "all these themes and these ideas and these characters to a conclusion, to something that felt like completion." No word yet on whether a Baby Billy Freeman spinoff will ever get prayed into existence.
• Final Episode: May 4, 2025

Solar Opposites (Hulu)

• Number Of Seasons: 5 currently, will end with Season 6
• Reason For Ending: Hulu announced Solar Opposites' Season 6 renewal at SDCC 2024, ahead of Season 5 and its folllow-up special. But it wasn't until mid-March 2025 that fans learned it would be the final batch of misadventures for Korvo, Terry, Yumyulack, Jesse,The Pupa, and everyone in and outside The Wall. No specific reasons were laid out, but it does appear as if this will serve as a proper conclusion for the animated hit.
• Final Episode: TBA Late 2025

Squid Game (Netflix)

• Number Of Seasons: 3
• Reason For Ending: Months ahead of the premiere of its globe-conquering second season, Squid Game Season 3 was ordered up in July 2024, with series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk confirming in the announcement that it would be the final outing. Though he didn't even originally plan for Season 2 to happen, Hwang has spoken since about seeing a third season as the natural conclusion for the characters and games.
• Final Episode: TBA late 2025

Stranger Things (Netflix)

• Number Of Seasons: 5
• Reason For Ending: Since their earliest days working on the project, Matt and Ross Duffer envisioned that Stranger Things Season 5 would likely be the time to conclude things, assuming (correctly) that four wouldn't be enough. The duo confirmed that to be reality in June 2022, well before the Hollywood strikes pushed back filming and premiere plans.
• Final Episode: TBA in 2025

The Summer I Turned Pretty (Prime Video)

• Number Of Seasons: 3
• Reason For Ending: The Summer I Turned Pretty was secured for its third outing a month after Season 2 concluded in 2023, with plans to wrap up Jenny Han's novel trilogy. In May 2024, Amazon MGM delayed new episodes until 2025 while also revealing an expanded episode order. So all the signs were there for this to be the final season, and the streaming platform confirmed this to be the case when the final season's premiere window was finally announced.
• Final Episode: TBA Summer 2025

Upload (Prime Video)

• Number Of Seasons: 4
• Reason For Ending: The tech-afterlife comedy Upload was initially conceived for a four-season arc, according to creator Greg Daniels, and while that number wasn't always guaranteed, the quirky satire has proven successful enough for Amazon execs to take the characters to their natural conclusions with a final season.
• Final Episode: TBA in 2025

You (Netflix)

• Number Of Seasons: 5
• Reason For Ending: Ahead of the 2023 strikes, Netflix put the word out that Penn Badgley's killer thriller You was getting a fifth and final season. Though no reasoning was given, it's possible that part of the decision stemmed from co-creator and showrunner Sara Gamble exiting the series (amicably) and being replaced by a pair of EPs taking her spot to tell Joe Goldberg's swan song.
• Final Episode: TBA in 2025

Shows That Were Straight-Up Canceled For 2025

After Midnight (CBS)

• Number Of Seasons: 2
• Reason For Ending: After two seasons of helping usher in CBS' most random late-night comedy in years, After Midnight host Taylor Tomlinson announced in March 2025 that she would be vacating the series to focus more on her stand-up comedy. After that, CBS reversed its previous Season 3 renewal decision and canceled the show outright, with low ratings no doubt a factor. It's believed that the panel show's time slot will revert back to local affiliates post-finale, which will mark the first time in 30 years that CBS isn't programming the 12:30 a.m. ET hour.
• Final Episode: TBA June 2025

Alert: Missing Persons Unit

• Number Of Seasons: 3
• Reason For Ending: One of Fox's pair of bubble shows that survived the May cancellations, Alert: Missing Persons Unit stayed on the table as a potential renewal due to network execs' faith in Hawaii Five-0 vet as a lead, as well as positive feelings about the third season highlighting more buddy-cop vibes. But the series didn't top 1.5 million nightly viewers beyond its Season 2 premiere, and the cancellation decision was revealed less than two weeks later.
• Final Episode: May 27, 2025

Based On A True Story (Peacock)

• Number Of Seasons: 2
• Reason For Ending: Lovable TV mainstays Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina made for a winning team in the mystery-laden dark comedy Based on a True Story, with two seasons of well-received thrills and kills. Out of the blue in mid-April 2025, news broke that it was canceled, without any initial sign of a motivation on Peacock's part to wrap up after that game-changing Season 2 finale.
• Final Episode: November 21, 2024

The Bondsman (Prime Video)

• Number Of Seasons: 1
• Reason For Ending: Kevin Bacon's gory horror dramedy The Bondsman might have had a bigger impact on Prime Video subscribers had Amazon promoted it beyond the front page of its streaming site. But the series arrived largely out of nowhere in April 2025, made quite a few horror fans giddy with excitement, and then got axed six weeks later. Despite making a showing on Nielsen's streaming charts during its first week of release, The Bondsman's impact wasn't enough for a second round of demon-destroying mayhem.
• Final Episode: April 3, 2025

Bookie (Max)

• Number Of Seasons: 2
• Reason For Ending: Sitcom creator extraordinaire Chuck Lorre made the jump to Max by teaming with stand-up comedian Sebastian Maniscalco and voice-actor Nick Bakay for a closer look at the financially irresponsible world of sports betting and bookies. Perhaps it’s saying something that more attention went to Lorre’s reunion with Charlie Sheen after their Two and a Half Men feud than Bookie itself, and news spread in February 2025 that the dramedy was axed.
• Final Episode: January 30, 2025

Citadel: Honey Bunny (Prime Video)

• Number Of Seasons: 1
• Reason For Ending: The breakout success of spythriller Citadel sparked two spinoffs, with Honey Bunny taking the prequel route with Varun Dhawan's Bunny and Samantha's Honey, the parents of Priyanka Chopra's Nadia in the flagship series. The Indian-Hindu series was a hit in its native countries, but did not take hold of global audiences in the way its predecessor did. But in announcing that it would not return for Season 2, Amazon confirmed that the characters' stories will be woven into Citadel Season 2 when it finally arrives.
• Final Episode: November 26, 2024

Citadel: Diana (Prime Video)

• Number Of Seasons: 1
• Reason For Ending: The sequel-ish Citadel: Diana was Amazon's Italian set spinoff of its hit spy-action series Citadel, starring Matilda De Angelis as an undercover Citadel agent trying to make her way back to safety after getting stuck behind enemy lines. As it went with Honey Bunny, Diana did not garner enough of a global impact to warrant a second season, though its storyline will be worked into the second season of Citadel when it arrives in Q2 2026.
• Final Episode: October 10, 2024

The Cleaning Lady (Fox)

• Number Of Seasons: 4
• Reason For Ending: The fact that Élodie Yung's mob cleaner Thony De La Rosa was able to survive four seasons on Fox is a feat in and of itself, considering its third season's dip in viewership. Despite bringing in Dexter vet Daniel Cerrone as a new showrunner for the fourth season, the numbers didn't go upwards at all, although debuting during the last week of March probably didn't help its chances. That said, Fox execs clearly waited until after it ended to go forward with the decision, rather than ending it pre-finale along with the other cancellations.
• Final Episode: June 3, 2025

Cruel Intentions (Prime Video)

• Number Of Seasons: 1
• Reason For Ending: Starting in 2015, NBC attempted to get a Cruel Intentions TV show off the ground, based on the hit 1997 movie, and Amazon swooped in years after those initial attempts were given up on. Unfortunately, neither general audiences nor critics felt very strongly about the series and its focus on Greek life. Four months or so after its eight-episode season dropped, the studio dropped the show altogether.
• Final Episode: November 21, 2024

The Equalizer (CBS)

• Number Of Seasons: 5
• Reason For Ending: Fans of Queen Latifah’s The Equalizer had to wait until CBS made decisions for all of its other shows to learn that it was canceled. Addressing this decision and others, one exec pointed to financial issues as a cause, though BTS reports allege the cast and crew agreed to accept budget cuts to acquire a smaller episode order. It’s unlikely the series will be shopped to other studios, but that could depend on how star and EP Queen Latifah herself wants to move forward.
• Final Episode: May 4, 2025

• Number Of Seasons: 2
• Reason For Ending: Despite its breakout success as a post-strike premiere in 2023, Found’s fate was sealed for a trifecta of reasons. 1. The first season’s dynamic changed when Mark-Paul Gosselaar’s Sir escaped. 2. The sophomore season’s larger than average drop in viewership. 3. NBC’s upcoming NBA coverage, which required a major decrease in scripted primetime offerings. But as of this writing, Warner Bros. TV is reportedly shipping the thriller around to other platforms for a potential third outing.
• Final Episode: Airing May 15, 2025

FBI: International (CBS)

Number Of Seasons: 4

Reason For Ending: Similar to its weeknight roomie Most Wanted, FBI: International had its fate sealed without any of the usual motivational factors popping up, such as a drop in viewership or generally low ratings. At the moment, the going idea is that both dramas were folded to make room for the in-the-works CIA spinoff, but that project has not yet been ordered to series.

Final Episode: TBA Spring 2025

FBI: Most Wanted (CBS)

Number Of Seasons: 6

Reason For Ending: When the news first dropped that CBS had pulled the plug on its currently airing (and timeslot-winning) FBI spinoff Most Wanted, the going theory was that the network had to make room for another impending spinoff, FBI: CIA, which fans are not exactly happy about. No official reasons have sprung up just yet, but some viewers are hoping for the Dylan McDermott-starring drama to be saved by a streaming service or by NBC, where Dick Wolf's Law & Order and One Chicago franchises have thrived.

Final Episode: TBA Spring 2025

Found (NBC)

The Franchise (HBO)

• Number Of Seasons: 1
• Reason For Ending: Five or so weeks after wrapping its highly chaotic chronicling of superhero blockbuster Tecto: Eye of the Storm, the abundantly satirical comedy The Franchise faced its somewhat ironic cancellation after a single, non-franchising season, albeit a well-received one. While the HBO spokesperson who confirmed the cancellation to Deadline in early January didn't explain the reasoning, the show's seemingly limited viewership likely didn't justify its budget.
• Final Episode: Aired on November 24, 2024

Frasier (Paramount+)

• Number Of Seasons: 2
• Reason For Ending: In January 2025, Paramount+ announced that Kelsey Grammer’s largely enjoyable return to the Frasier universe was ending after two seasons, largely due to the show’s inability to breakout as a hit across the full audience spectrum. Grammer has since gone public confidently stating that he believes Season 3 is still going to happen, but it’s unclear where or who would be paying for it.
• Final Episode: November 14, 2024

Harlem (Prime Video)

• Number Of Seasons: 3
• Reason For Ending: Fans only learned the Meagan Good-starring comedy Harlem would be ending when Prime Video released the first trailer for Season 3 on January 8, 2025, more than a year after the third batch of episodes was ordered with no hint that they would conclude the series. But neither that reveal, nor the follow-up from creator Tracy Oliver, addressed a reason for the surprise decision.
• Final Episode: The final two Season 3 episodes will stream on Thursday, February 6, 2025.

How To Die Alone (Hulu)

• Number Of Seasons: 1
• Reason For Ending: The White Lotus breakout star Natasha Rothwell tapped into a vaguely similar mix of drama, comedy and romantic entanglements for her streaming series How To Die Alone. Though the eight-episode first season largely won over both critics and audiences, Hulu opted not to move forward with the show for a second season, a choice that shocked Rothwell, who is reportedly shopping the series around to other platforms.
• Final Episode: September 27, 2024

The Irrational (NBC)

• Number Of Seasons: 2
• Reason For Ending: Though Season 1 was a hit for NBC in the dregs of post-strikes TV, earning a renewal just a few months in, the Jesse L. Martin-starring drama The Irrational fell short of maintaining its initial audience when Season 2 arrived, perhaps due to a shift from Mondays to Tuesdays. Due to its sizable dips in viewer stats, the series didn’t have an advantage where renewal convos were concerned, especially with the uptick in NBC’s NBA games on the way.
• Final Episode: Aired March 25, 2025

Lopez Vs. Lopez (NBC)

• Number Of Seasons: 3
• Reason For Ending: Comedian George Lopez and daughter Mayan Lopez’s eponymously titled sitcom was never big with critics, and never delivered huge audience totals, which is likely why it was an on-the-bubble decision for NBC in each of Lopez vs. Lopez’s three seasons. But while its familial charms earned last-minute renewals in years past, the choice was made to pull the plug after Season 3, despite a small-but-present uptick in audience numbers during its post-midseason run.
• Final Episode: Aired February 7, 2025

Mr. Throwback (Peacock)

• Number Of Seasons: 1
• Reason For Ending: Co-starring one of the oddest TV comedy pairings with Happy Endings vet Adam Pally and NBA icon Steph Curry, Mr. Throwback was met with a warm enough reception when it landed on Peacock, but didn't spark much beyond silence in the months that followed. The streaming service's decision finally went public in April 2025, without a second season on the way.
• Final Episode: August 8, 2024

Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur (Disney+)

• Number Of Seasons: 2
• Reason For Cancellation: In October 2024, several of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur's excellent cast members confirmed Disney+ canceled the animated Marvel Comics adaptation following executive producer Steve Loter's cryptic online hints. No specific reasons have been confirmed, but there's a silver lining in that fans will still get to see more episodes, as the animation team was still working on nine episodes when the cancellation news dropped.
• Final Episode: TBA in 2025

Mythic Quest (Apple TV+)

• Number Of Seasons: 4
• Reason For Ending: Apple was confident enough to order up a third and fourth season of Mythic Quest back in October 2021, with Season 4 arriving at last in January 2025. Unfortunately, just two weeks after the finale hit streaming, Apple pulled the plug on Mythic Quest, GrimPop and any future expansion plans. The cancellation appeared to come as a surprise to co-creators Rob McElhenney, Megan Ganz and David Hornsby, who were granted the opportunity by Apple to adjust the finale's ending to account for its sealed fate.
• Final Episode: March 26, 2025 (original), TBA April 2025 (updated version)

Night Court (NBC)

• Number Of Seasons: 3
• Reason For Ending: Melissa Rauch’s major Big Bang Theory follow-up, NBC’s Night Court revival also boasted O.G. fave John Larroquette and (occasionally) Marsha Warfield, and the evolving sitcom played up its TBBT ties with Simon Helberg and Young Sheldon’s Raegan Revord guesting in Season 3’s cliffhanger finale. Unfortunately, the show’s loyal viewership fell with each season, and while there’s potential for it to get shopped around (per Deadline), NBC canceled Night Court without an official wrap-up.
• Final Episode: Aired May 6, 2025

The Recruit (Netflix)

Number Of Seasons: 2

Reason For Ending: Alexi Hawley has enjoyed extended runs with ABC procedurals Castle and The Rookie, among others, but his initial jump to streaming was cut short when Netflix spy canceled its spy dramedy The Recruit just over a month after its second season debuted in January. Early numbers indicate more critical acclaim and a higher completion rate for streamers, albeit with a smaller overall audience (per Deadline), and fans angered by the cancellation news have theorized that the sophomore season’s premiering a week after the sorta-similar Night Agent’s second season played a part in the decision.

Final Episode: January 20, 2025

Rescue Hi-Surf (Fox)

• Number Of Seasons: 1
• Reason For Ending: Rescue Hi-Surf’s troubled existence began in COVID-striken 2020 as a project for then-branded HBO Max, and after stagnating for 2-3 years, was picked up by Fox and retitled from Ke Nui Road to the punctuation-friendly Rescue: Hi-Surf. The lifeguard drama enjoyed an NFL lead-in for its September 2024 preview, but immediately lost half of its audience with its Monday night timeslot, and its nightly viewership dipped below 2 million by Episode 4 and never looked back. The fandom’s pulled together for an online renewal campaign, but no updates so far.
• Final Episode: Aired March 31, 2025

The Sex Lives Of College Girls (Max)

• Number Of Seasons: 3
• Reason For Ending: After two successful seasons, The Sex Lives of College Girls bid farewell to co-star Reneé Rapp early in its third-season, and the series never quite reached the levels it had in earlier years, despite two new characters being introduced to help fill the voice. While Max didn't give a specific reason for cancelling the LGBTQ+-friendly comedy, it's believed that dips in viewership accounted for part of the decision.
• Final Episode: January 23, 2025

Star Trek: Prodigy (Netflix)

• Number Of Seasons: 2
• Reason For Ending: Despite the creators' hopes for a seven-season run, the youth-skewing Star Trek: Prodigy's fate was first tested by Paramount+'s cancellation as the already ordered Season 2 was still being made. Netflix stepped in to give the second season a home, but presumably due to lower than expected viewership numbers, the streaming service opted out of going forward with a third season, though without making that decision known until May 2025.
• Final Episode: July 1, 2024

The Sticky (Prime Video)

• Number Of Seasons: 1
• Reason For Ending: Despite having the power of stars such as Margo Martindale and Chris Diamantopoulos, the darkly comedic heist caper The Sticky didn’t appear to draw the kinds of crowds most deserving of its fairly universal critical acclaim. Without a huge viewership to lean on, Prime Video chose not to renew the syrup-covered series for a second outing.
• Final Episode: December 6, 2024

Suits LA (NBC)

• Number Of Seasons: 1
• Reason For Ending: Brought to life entirely due to Suits’ shockingly massive streaming success at Netflix, Suits LA was heavily promoted with lead Arrow vet Stephen Amell, who was soon joined by O.G. vet Gabriel Macht’s Harvey. Unfortunately, the spinoff’s viewership and ratings paled in comparison to Netflix’s stats, and NBC overruled any hopes for a second season both ahead of the upfronts, and ahead of the hopefully conclusive Season 1 finale.
• Final Episode: Airing May 18, 2025

S.W.A.T. (CBS)

Number Of Seasons: 8

Reason For Ending: Most shows need to change networks to survive multiple cancellations, but S.W.A.T. never had to leave CBS to experience getting canceled three different times. Its first came in 2023, and was reversed two days later, while its second pink slip was issued in Feb. 2024, only for CBS to conjure up a surprise renewal for an eighth and now-final season. Despite its star’s hopes for another go, network execs canceled the Shemar Moore series for a third time in March 2025, choosing to forego the usual contractual talks.

Final Episode: TBA May 2025

Teacup (Peacock)

• Number Of Seasons: 1
• Reason For Cancellation: Yvonne Strahovski and Scott Speedman's horror thriller Teacup, based on author (and EP) Robert McCammon's novel Stinger, debuted as a Peacock exclusive in October 2024, two years after it was first ordered. Unfortunately, the show failed to make impactful waves with either critics or streaming audiences, and Variety reported the cancellation news without any additional insight from the streaming service's side.
• Final Episode: October 31, 2024

Tiana (Disney+)

Number Of Seasons: 0

Reason For Ending: A rather standalone entry in the world of canceled TV shows, Disney's episodic The Princess and the Frog spinoff was first announced all the way back in December 2020 (alongside other defunct projects like Armor Wars and Swiss Family Robinson). And despite attempts by multiple creative teams to expand the world of Anika Noni Rose's Tiana, the project was officially scrapped in early March 2025, with production costs cited as a reason alongside the creative issues.

Final Episode: No episodes were aired

Tyler Perry's Young Dylan (Nickelodeon)

• Number Of Seasons: 5
• Reason For Ending: Tyler Perry's Sistas-verse may be growing, but the mega-producer's family-friendly fare at Nickelodeon took a hit as Dylan Gilmer's Young Dylan sang its hip-hop swan song. The unfortunate news came via series director Carl Payne on Instagram, just two days after the final episode went live, and the cable network followed up a few days later and confirmed it wouldn't be moving forward with a Season 6 order. No specific reasons were alluded to.
• Final Episode: Aired April 30, 2025

The Wheel Of Time (Prime Video)

• Number Of Seasons: 3
• Reason For Ending: As an expensive fantasy series, The Wheel of Time earned its first two renewals due to both critical acclaim and the size of the audience streaming the weekly episodes. Unfortunately, even with Prime Video's worldwide audiences in the mix, the numbers for the Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson adaptation's third season weren't quite enough to justify the budgetary costs for a fourth season. Just over a month after the Season 3 finale released, the platform pulled the plug.
• Final Episode: April 17, 2025

Audiences often tend to complain about reboots and remakes, and understandably so. However, sometimes Hollywood manages to get away with recycling familiar ideas by taking inspiration from some of the more obscure titles from the small screen. See if you can recall the old TV shows that inspired these movies.

Wild Wild West (1999)

As a critical and commercial failure, director Barry Sonnenfeld's Wild Wild West is considered a low point for stars Will Smith and Kevin Kline. It is probably for the best that it is rarely associated and bears little resemblance to creator Michael Garrison's The Wild Wild West, in which Robert Conrad and Ross Martin played agents Jim West and Artemus Gordon from 1965 to 1969.

Dark Shadows (2012)

Johnny Depp and Tim Burton are self-described fans of Dan Curtis' original gothic, supernatural soap opera, Dark Shadows, which aired on ABC in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Yet, their goofy feature adaptation is a deeply pale imitation of the series, and that is not meant to be a crack at Barnabas Collins' vampiric condition.

Dudley Do-Right (1999)

In 1999, Brendan Fraser released one of the biggest hits of his career with The Mummy and one of the biggest flops of his career with Dudley Do-Right. The latter was actually one of two times he led a live-action film based on a cartoon character, in this case, a bumbling Canadian mountie who first appeared in segments from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show in the late 1950s.

McHale's Navy (1997)

McHale's Navy is a comedy starring Tom Arnold as a retired officer brought back into action to face his former nemesis (Tim Curry) with a crew of misfits. The best evidence of its connection to the original 1960s sitcom is Ernest Borgnine's reprisal of the title hero (the father of Arnold's character) and its Razzie nomination for Worst Remake or Sequel.

The Untouchables (1987)

Technically, Brian De Palma's classic gangster movie The Untouchables was based on Eliot Ness and Oscar Fraley's memoir recalling their Prohibition-era war on organized crime. However, the book was first adapted into a series starring Robert Stack that ran on ABC from 1959 to 1963.

The Fall Guy (2024)

Despite lasting five seasons and starring Lee Majors as Colt Seavers, a Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a bounty hunter, The Fall Guy is one of the few '80s-era action series from creator Glen A. Larson that was not a huge hit at the time and would not achieve cult status. Yet, it would inspire a well-received romantic-comedy thriller starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt that serves as a much-needed love letter to the film stunt coordination.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015)

The success of NBC's The Man from U.N.C.LE. – following the adventures of Robert Vaughn's Napoleon Solo and David McCallum as Illya Kuryakin – led to the theatrical release of several episodes re-edited as features throughout the 1960s. However, the series' notoriety had waned significantly by the time it was adapted into a Guy Ritchie movie starring Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer as the Cold War-era American and Russian spy duo.

Maverick (1994)

For its first three seasons, Maverick starred James Garner in the title role of an ace Poker player and con artist hustling various opponents in the Old West. It was revealed at the end of director Richard Donner's film adaptation that Garner was reprising the role alongside Mel Gibson as his son.

George Of The Jungle (1997)

Brendan Fraser is hilarious as a fourth-wall-breaking Tarzan parody in Disney's George of the Jungle. However, few of the younger audiences who enjoyed the film upon release and in the years since likely even realized that it was inspired by an animated series that lasted a mere 17 episodes in 1967.

The Naked Gun: From The Files Of Police Squad! (1988)

The fact that the classic parody movie, The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (which spawned two sequels), is spun-off from a TV show is acknowledged in the film's title, despite a lack of acknowledgment much of anywhere else. Leslie Nielsen originated the role of Lt. Frank Drebin in Police Squad!, which was canceled by ABC after just six episodes due to low ratings.

Mission: Impossible (1996)

It was common knowledge that director Brian DePalma's Mission: Impossible was a continuation of the hit 1960s-era series from creator Bruce Gellar upon release. Yet, that fact is widely lost among most younger audiences who have grown up with the franchise of spy movies led by star Tom Cruise, which has practically become its own entity.

21 Jump Street (2012)

We imagine many Gen Y audiences were surprised and confused to see Johnny Depp of all people make a cameo in 21 Jump Street, starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum as cops disguised as high school students. Well, that is because the actor rose to fame as the star of the '80s-era series that inspired Phil Lord and Christopher Miller's hilarious comedy, which was followed by 22 Jump Street two years later.

My Favorite Martian (1999)

The sci-fi family comedy My Favorite Martian stars Jeff Daniels as a TV news station employee befriended by a visitor from Mars, played by Christopher Lloyd. Any children who saw the film when it came out likely had no idea it was based on a 1960s-era sitcom starring Ray Walston (who also appears in the film) as "Uncle Martin."

S.W.A.T. (2003)

We imagine there are some audiences who believe that CBS' S.W.A.T., which premiered in 2017, is an adaptation of an action thriller starring Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez, and LL Cool J. However, it is actually a reboot of a short-lived series from the 1970s that inspired the film in the first place.

Run Ronnie Run! (2003)

David Cross and Bob Odenkirk still had yet to become the full-fledged comedy icons they are known as today when their feature film, Run Ronnie Run!, was released straight-to-video. Some viewers who caught the absurd comedy about a Southern criminal made famous by a struggling infomercial host might not have realized it was inspired by a bit from the comedians' sketch comedy TV show, Mr. Show with Bob and David, which ran on HBO from 1995 to 1998.

The Equalizer (2014)

Some might assume that CBS' Queen Latifah-led action series The Equalizer is a reboot of director Antoine Fuqua's film franchise starring Denzel Washington as retired intelligence agent-turned-vigilante. In fact, both are reboots of creators Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim's series which starred Edward Woodward as Robert McCall in the mid-to-late 1980s.

A Goofy Movie (1995)

Years after it was first released, A Goofy Movie remains a popular animated movie for the eponymous Disney character's (voiced by Bill Farmer) heartwarming relationship with his teenage son, Max (Jason Marsden). Not nearly as popular today is the ABC series, Goof Troop, which first introduced Max.

State Of Play (2009)

The star-studded, American political thriller State of Play – in which Washington D.C. journalist (played by Russell Crowe) uncovers a conspiracy involving a congressional aide's murder – was one of the most acclaimed dramas of the year. Also receiving wide acclaim six years earlier was the six-episode limited series that inspired it, which originally aired on the U.K.'s BBC One and starred David Morrissey and John Simm.

For All Time (2000)

One of the best episodes of The Twilight Zone, "A Stop at Willoughby," is about a disillusioned ad executive who experiences visions of a quaint 19th-century town on his daily commute by train. The Rod Serling-penned story was reimagined into a more optimistic time travel movie with Mark Harmon called For All Time, which originally aired on CBS.

Thunderbirds (2004)

Co-creator Gerry Anderson produced various adventure series featuring marionettes, such as Thunderbirds, which followed a futuristic search and rescue team. Director Jonathan Frakes' feature adaptation traded in the puppets for human teenagers (including Brady Corbet and Vanessa Hudgens), resulting in a film marketed toward viewers who likely never heard of the original series.

Traffic (2000)

Steven Soderbergh earned a Best Director Oscar for helming Traffic – a harrowing, yet powerful, ensemble drama offering an intimate portrait of the war on drugs in America. However, the inspiration for the film was a six-episode British drama called Traffik, which offers an intimate portrait of substance abuse in the U.K.

Sgt. Bilko (1996)

Scheming military sergeant Ernest G. Bilko was the main character of The Phil Silvers Show, which the eponymous comedian led from 1955 to 1959. Decades later, the sitcom was adapted into a screwball comedy movie starring Steve Martin which was instead named after Silvers' original role.

The Singing Detective (2003)

One of Robert Downey Jr.'s most underrated movies is The Singing Detective, in which he plays an ailing mystery author under the delirious delusion that he is a character in his latest novel, complete with catchy musical numbers. Michael Gambon originated the role in a six-episode miniseries of the same name that originally aired on the U.K.'s BBC in 1986.

Mr. Magoo (1997)

By starring in hilarious movies like Airplane! and The Naked Gun movies, Leslie Nielsen defied expectations for an actor of his age by gaining a loving fanbase of younger comedy nerds. We would not be surprised if, when they saw him play the titular visually challenged hero of Disney's Mr. Magoo, they did not realize it was based on a funny animated series of the same name.

Pennies From Heaven (1981)

Steve Martin surprised audiences by starring in a serious musical drama called Pennies from Heaven, in which he plays a sheet-music salesman indulging in a love affair with an innocent schoolteacher in 1930s Chicago. Just three years earlier in the United Kingdom, the BBC aired a six-part serial by writer Dennis Potter and starring Bob Hoskins, which served as the inspiration for the American film.

Bob Roberts (1992)

When you think of movies based on Saturday Night Live characters, you might picture The Blues Brothers or Wayne's World. However, you might not think of the political satire, Bob Roberts, which is based on a character that writer, director, and star Tim Robbins previously portrayed in an SNL sketch from 1986.

Alan Partridge (2013)

Americans who are fans of Steve Coogan's film career have probably seen Alan Partridge – an action-comedy in which the titular radio broadcaster must defuse a violent siege. However, English audiences likely have a better recollection of the various series in which the comedian portrayed the character, such as I'm Alan Partridge.

In The Loop (2009)

Armando Iannucci's clever farce, In the Loop, follows operatives from both the United States and the United Kingdom attempting to prevent the two countries from going to war with each other. The film is a spin-off of Iannucci's British satire series, The Thick of It, which also stars Peter Capaldi as Malcolm Tucker.

The Man Who Finally Died (1963)

Stanley Baker stars in the British feature The Man Who Finally Died as a man who discovers that his father, whom he believed to be dead for decades, is still alive. Just four years earlier, the British network ITV aired a seven-part serial of the same name which served as the film's inspiration for the drama which also starred Peter Cushing, who is most famous these days for the Star Wars movies.

Shanghai Grand (1996)

The Hong Kong period drama, The Bund, which aired in China in 1980, was referred to as "The Godfather of the East" for its compelling tale of organized crime in the 1920s. More than a decade later, a feature-length spin-off called Shanghai Grand was released, which starred Andy Lau as a man who becomes a powerful triad leader after killing a ruthless gang boss.

Edge Of Darkness (2010)

Mel Gibson stars in Edge of Darkness as a homicide detective whose investigation into the murder of his daughter leads him to uncover a governmental corruption conspiracy. It was helmed by Martin Campbell, who also directed the six-part BBC serial from 1985 starring Bob Peck that would inspire the film.

Dad’s Army (2016)

The English, World War II-era sitcom Dad's Army inspired a spin-off feature featuring the TV series' original cast members that was released in theaters in 1971. The show was later adapted into an all-new movie starring Michael Gambon and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

This Is Us alum Justin Hartley returned to primetime in the 2024 TV schedule as star of CBS' Tracker, which got off to a strong start in the post-Super Bowl time slot and hasn't slowed down. The network wasted no time in renewing the drama for Season 2 back in early March. In the weeks since, most of the network's shows have either been renewed for the 2024-2025 TV season or cancelled, with The Equalizer as one of the last still waiting for word. As I was watching CBS on Tuesday night, a Tracker commercial with a particular message repeatedly aired and left me wondering: was it designed to attract more people to watch The Equalizer?

At the time of writing, The Equalizer is one of CBS' two big dramas still on the list of major network TV shows that need to be renewed or cancelled, along with NCIS: Hawai'i. Considering that it was less than a week ago that the network axed CSI: Vegas and So Help Me Todd, it's hard to not speculate about the shows that haven't gotten news yet. So, when I was tuning into CBS for the FBIs – that is, FBI, FBI: International, and FBI: Most Wanted – on April 23, I couldn't help but notice that all of the commercials for Tracker also mentioned The Equalizer.

Take a look at a shot of how the Tracker ads ended each time on Tuesday:

To be perfectly honest, I can't say with 100% certainty if Tracker commercials noting that new episodes air after The Equalizer on Sundays is new, or if that has been part of the advertising all season. What can I say? I'm not always glued to the TV during commercial breaks. But in cancellation/renewal season, I certainly noticed Tracker plugging The Equalizer repeatedly during FBI night. Attaching Queen Latifah's show to CBS' newest hit in Tracker ads that aired during the successful FBI primetime block can surely only help The Equalizer, right?

After all, those other four shows are already guaranteed for next season, as all three FBIs were renewed in one fell swoop. Of course, the hold-up on The Equalizer's fate may not have anything to do with needing more people to tune in via a Tracker plug. According to Deadline, The Equalizer is actually a ratings success as well, even if not quite delivering the same numbers as Tracker or FBI. The outlet reported in mid-April that the show is expected to be renewed for Season 5, once a new deal is negotiated with leading lady Queen Latifah.

Furthermore, a new deal could also result in an increase in total number of episodes up to 20, compared to the 18 episodes of the second and third seasons. So, the viewership might not be the hindrance when it comes to The Equalizer not being renewed as early as the FBIs, and the attachment to Tracker ads might not have anything to do with increasing the new show's Sunday night lead-in's odds of another season.

For now, as the wait continues for the fate of The Equalizer (and NCIS: Hawai'i, which may have to make big changes for a fourth season), you can watch Queen Latifah's series streaming with a Paramount+ subscription. Tracker and all three FBI shows can be found on Paramount+ as well.

We’ve officially reached a stretch of the TV season that includes a considerable amount of uncertainty. That’s right, it’s renewal/cancelation time, during which the major networks truly start plotting out their lineups for the upcoming fall season. At this point, a number of series have received the greenlight and will return. And, on the other hand, there are plenty of shows that have been canceled or are ending in 2024. There’s a third category that needs to be acknowledged as well, and it’s made up of programs that have yet to receive a decision either way. So which ones haven’t been given the thumbs up or down? Well, let’s break it all down by network and talk about it, shall we?

ABC

The Alphabet Network has already made a number of shrewd decisions on both ends of the spectrum, but there are still some outliers. For instance, fan-favorite sitcom The Conners has yet to officially be axed or picked up for another season. That’s a bit surprising, given how the Roseanne spinoff has become a key part of the company’s roster of comedic programming. It’s not the only show sitting in purgatory, as Not Dead Yet – which is currently in its second season, is there as well. Considering that crunch time is coming, decisions should be handed down sooner rather than later.

Fans of the two series may be sweating a little right now and, all the while, devotees of others can breathe a bit easier. In terms of returning series, 9-1-1 was renewed for Season 8, and The Rookie Season 7 is a go as well. Grey’s Anatomy was among big shows renewed, and that decision resulted in the medical drama’s 21st season. Only time will tell whether the two aforementioned comedies will be added to the 2024-2025 schedule.

Fox

Likewise, Fox has also renewed a number of shows, including stalwart programs like the Family Guy and The Simpsons and live-action comedy Animal Control. Those that haven’t been decided upon yet include drama series Accused, The Cleaning Lady and Alert: Missing Persons Unit. For all of the animated fare that’s been given the green light, one title that still has an uncertain future is The Great North, which premiered in 2021. It’s currently hard to say whether the network will budge when it comes to giving these shows additional seasons. And, based on the glut of adult toons on the schedule for the fall, I’d say that TGN’s position is looking relatively tight. 

NBC

Many may be pleased to know that the One Chicago shows, Found, The Irrational and most of the Law & Order spinoffs are set to return in the fall. On that note though, the Christopher Meloni-led L&O: Organized Crime has yet to secure a fourth-season renewal. Aside from that, comedies are what make up the rest of NBC’s list of yet-to-be-renewed/canceled titles. There’s George Lopez’s Lopez vs. Lopez and the Night Court revival – both of which are heading towards the end of their respective second seasons. Finally, there’s also freshman comedy Extended Family, which notably features Jon Cryer, Donald Faison and Abigail Spencer.

CBS

The Eye Network has really been cleaning house as of late, with comedies like Young Sheldon and Bob Hearts Abishola and dramas such as Blue Bloods and CSI: Vegas heading out the door. Two-season sitcom So Help Me Todd was also axed. Nevertheless, most of the NCIS shows remain along with the likes of the FBI spinoffs, Fire Country, Ghosts and Elsbeth. Heck, even S.W.A.T. was un-canceled.

But what about the shows that are still on the bubble? Well, in that case, we’re talking about two key dramas – NCIS: Hawai’i and The Equalizer. Both have been steady performers over the past few years, so it’s definitely possible that they could be picked up again. However, reports indicate that major changes could hit Hawai’i behind the scenes (specifically budget cuts) should it return for Season 4. 

The CW

Some of us may still be reeling from the cancellation bloodbath that hit The CW around this time last year. And, based on the fact that (as of this writing) Sullivan’s Crossing is the only show that’s been officially renewed, more changes could come. Decisions have yet to be made regarding drama series Walker and Wild Cards as well as long-running show All American and its spinoff, All American: Homecoming. Also, Sight Unseen – a Canadian production like WC – has also yet to be renewed or axed. 

All in all, there are definitely still plenty of programs that are currently sitting in limbo. Sadly, not all of these shows will likely make the cut for the 2024-2025 season. That’s part of the business, though and, if you’re like me, you’ll be waiting anxiously to see what ultimately stays and what goes. In the meantime, check out the 2024 TV schedule for information on series that are airing or will in the near future.

As TV comes back in full swing, Queen Latifah is gearing up for the return of her CBS series The Equalizer. The rap icon has acted and collaborated with multiple heavyweights over her decades-long career. So, of course, this advantage lends itself to possible guest stars for the network TV drama. One of those possible guest stars could’ve been country music legend Dolly Parton. After learning about this missed opportunity, I’m feeling so much FOMO.

Right before The Equalizer returns for its fourth season on the 2024 TV schedule, ET caught up with Queen Latifah to learn more about the upcoming season. The subject of guest stars for the CBS drama came up as she teased viewers will get more of what they love from the series. The rapper-turned-actor revealed she also came close to reuniting with Parton, saying:

I’m so heartbroken. I would’ve loved to see Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton together on the screen again after starring in 2012’s Joyful Noise. Getting Parton would’ve been great since they played so well together in the musical comedy. Parton’s appearance would’ve been another amazing guest star for the series after scoring Jada Pinkett Smith and Kelly Rowland in prior seasons. Latifah seemed amped about reuniting with the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer as she recalled their time in the 2012 film, saying:

Working with Dolly Parton seemed like a dream come true. Of course, this revelation wasn’t surprising given Parton’s kind and giving reputation. I hope Queen Latifah and CBS will be able to convince the Grammy winner to do a guest spot. It would be nice to see the music icon back on the screen again after popping up in sporadic TV cameos in recent years. Maybe Parton could have a substantive role where she and Robyn McCall get to interact.

However, making the guest role a possibility might be hard as both women are busy. Queen Latifah has The Equalizer Season 4 premiere to worry about, which will air on CBS at 8 p.m. ET on February 18. Meanwhile, Dolly Parton’s music career hit a new level as she secured her highest-charting album, a new collaboration with goddaughter Miley Cyrus, and caused online discourse over her much-criticized Thanksgiving NFL performance. 

While we hope for these two icons to reunite someday on The Equalizer, make sure to check out our TV schedule to see what other season premieres are coming up.

We all watch action movies for the... well, action. But we also watch actions for the memorable lines that they produce. The lines that we trade back and forth with friends for a laugh, or to make a point. Great lines in action movies can even be more quotable than those in comedies. So here are our choices for some of the best quotes from action movies that never get old. 

"I feel the need... the need for speed!" - Top Gun

Maverick (Tom Cruise) and Goose (Anthony Edwards) in Top Gun are a classic action movie duo. As best friends and work buddies, they do everything together and nothing sums up their friendship better than this line, as the adrenaline courses through their bodies after a flight in their F-14 Tomcats and they do the cool double high five thing. 

"100% pure adrenalin" - Point Break

The Kathryn Bigalow-directed cult classic Point Break wasn't the easiest film to get made, but it's turned into a stone-cold classic. It has some of the most quotable lines from any movie of its era and the line Bohdi (Patrick Swayze) delivers to Johnny (Keanu Reeves) tops the list. 

"Get to da choppah!" - Predator

You know a quote has made the big time when it becomes one of the biggest memes around, and "Get to da choppah!" from Predator has certainly achieved that. The Arnold Schwarzenegger quote is so meme-able, in fact, that it has surpassed the movie that it comes from in popularity and gets tacked on to lots of different Schwarzenegger faces across the internet. 

"When you pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud too." - The Equalizer

Robert McCall, the protagonist in The Equalizer franchise is as thoughtful as he is dangerous. When you've got an actor like Denzel Washington delivering the lines, you know they will be cool and quotable, just like this gem from the first movie. 

"The name is Bond, James Bond." - James Bond Series

James Bond has given us some of the most iconic lines in action movie history. "Shaken, not stirred," and all his quips after baddies get their comeuppance are classics. Nothing is more iconic though, than the way he introduces himself. It may be the most legendary line in all of cinema.  

"I'll be back." - The Terminator

Arnold Schwarzenegger has used the line "I'll be back" in at least eight of his films, but it all started with that confrontation at the police station in The Terminator (1984).  It has also been used in multiple movies in the Terminator franchise, said by other characters. It's incredible that the line almost didn't happen that way when Schwarzenegger suggested "I will be back," instead. Thankfully director James Cameron didn't let him change the script and movie history was born. 

"You've never seen me very upset." - Mission: Impossible

This is one of those lines you feel like anyone could use in everyday life. The Mission: Impossible series has grown into one of the most successful franchises of all time, but it's way back in the very first one that provided the series' most iconic line. 

"Warriors, come out and play." - The Warriors

One of the biggest cult classics of all time is undoubtedly The Warriors (1979). While it's filled with quotable lines, none are more so than this one, which comes towards the end, as the titular gang makes it back to their home turf at Coney Island only to find Luther (David Patrick Kelly) and his rival gang, The Rogues, waiting for them. Clink, clink, clink...

"You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?" - Dirty Harry

Clint Eastwood's character "Dirty" Harry Callahan is one bad man. He carries a lot of firepower and he's not afraid to use it. He proves that in the very beginning of the first film in the series, Dirty Harry asks a would-be bank robber how lucky he feels. 

"Welcome to the party, pal." - Die Hard

Everyone's favorite Christmas action movie is Die Hard. In a lot of ways, it defines the modern breed of action movie, and a big part of that is all of John McClane's (Bruce Willis) quips, like the one he utters after shooting up Powell's (Reginald VelJohnson) car.

"Yeah, I guess I'm back." - John Wick

All John Wick (Keanu Reeves) wanted to do was live his life in peace after leaving the underworld. Unfortunately, his plans didn't work out. When asked if he was getting back into the game, he reluctantly replied with this now-iconic line.

"They drew first blood" - First Blood

It's the line that basically launched a franchise. When cornered in a cave, John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) tells his former commanding officer Col. Trautman (Richard Crenna) why he's doing what he's doing. We get our first glimpse into what drives the now-iconic character. 

"I have a bad feeling about this." - Star Wars

The most iconic franchise of all time deserves one of the most iconic catchphrases of all time and Star Wars has it. "I've got a bad feeling about this" is said in every Star Wars film and is part of most of the canon outside of film as well. Naturally, it was first uttered by the biggest character in the series, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in the very first movie as they first approach the Death Star. 

"I would like to have seen Montana." - The Hunt For Red October

The Hunt For Red October is one of Sean Connery's best movies, but it's Sam Neill's character Vasily who has the best line. After explaining early in the movie that he wants to settle in Montana after the crew arrives in America, it's what's on his mind when he meets his demise. 

"Say hello to my little friend!" - Scarface

In the decades since Tony Montana (Al Pacino) first yelled this line at the police bringing him down, it's become one of the most quoted lines from any action movie ever. It works for so many occasions, not just police raids. 

"Hasta la Vista, Baby." - Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Arnold Schwarzenegger is always good for a great catchphrase and in Terminator 2: Judgment Day that line is something he learns from young John Connor. It's a way Connor hopes will make him more laid back. It doesn't make the terminator more relaxed, but it does work to make him sound pretty cool. 

"Game over, man. Game over." - Aliens

The great Bill Paxton was taken from us way too young, but not before he delivered this no iconic line from Aliens. When everything seems to be lost, and the alien is closing in on the remaining people left, Paxton's character Hudson delivers this line with a level of fear that everyone watching feels. 

"Khaaaaan!" - Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan

It's the line that has launched a million memes. Who doesn't know this iconic line from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan? The answer is nobody. William Shatner's James T. Kirk will live well into the far future, and this one line will always be a part of that legacy. 

"Go ahead, make my day." - Sudden Impact

In the fourth Dirty Harry movie, Sudden Impact, Clint Eastwood, as Dirty Harry Callahan, utters one of the most famous, and quoted, lines in movie history. The line was written by John Milius, a well known script doctor who also wrote some of the most famous lines in Jaws and The Hunt For Red October. 

"Welcome to the Rock" - The Rock

Sean Connery is responsible for an endless amount of great lines. Even in movies that aren't among his best reviewed, like The Rock, he still delivers. After he and Goodspeed (Nicolas Cage) land on Alcatraz Island, Connery's Mason welcomes him to the island Mason called home for a time. 

"Never change the deal." - The Transporter

Frank (Jason Statham) is the best getaway driver in the world in The Transporter and as a driver-for-hire, he has three rules. No names, never look in the package, but #1 and most importantly, "Never change the deal." The man is not only a great driver, but he's true to his word and if you hire him, you better be too. 

"I'm dropping the hammer!" - Days Of Thunder

Director Tony Scott teamed up again with Tom Cruise after Top Gun for Days of Thunder, which was pretty much Top Gun in a race car. The action sequences are amazing, and the dialog produced one true classic when Cruise's Cole Trickle decides to go for it on a practice lap. 

"I expect and demand your very best. Anything less, you should have joined the Air Force." - Crimson Tide

Crimson Tide has a lot of great dialogue between submarine captain, Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman) and his XO, Lieutenant Commander Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington), but it's a line very early in the movie that sums up how the naval captain feels about serving on a submarine. He wants and expects only the best. 

"I hate snakes." - Indiana Jones and The Raiders Of The Lost Ark

There isn't much that stresses the great Indiana Jones out in Raiders of the Lost Ark, except one thing. Little does he know that later in his adventure he will face hundreds of snakes when he jumps in the prop plane at the beginning and finds one harmless snake in his seat, and lets the pilot know how he feels about the reptiles. 

"Put... the bunny... back... in the box." - Con Air 

In Con Air Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage) is a paroled prisoner on his final flight back home after serving an 8-year-sentence. He's bringing home a present for his daughter, a stuffed bunny. It's the most important thing to him on the "con air" flight and everyone knows it when he explains where the stuffed animal needs to go. 

"I Live My Life a Quarter Mile at a Time." - The Fast And The Furious

It can't be argued that the Fast and Furious franchise isn't one of the biggest of all time. It also can't be argued that it hasn't produced some iconic lines, none of which are more famous than when Dominic Toretto explains to Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) how he lives his life. It's not day to day or hour to hour; it's a quarter mile at a time. 

"That Woman Deserves Her Revenge." - Kill Bill

There is one thing on Beatrix's (Uma Thurman) mind in Kill Bill: revenge. Bill (David Carradine) wants to stop her, but another member of their former crew, Budd (Michael Madsen) has other thoughts. He thinks she's justified in her anger. It sums up the whole movie in one sentence.

"You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes." - The Matrix

What if I told you that the line most people think is the most famous line from The Matrix isn't actually in The Matrix? That's right, Morpheus (Lawrence Fishburne) never says the line that has been made famous in memes. He does, however, utter the famous line about what the red pill can do for someone.

"The action is the juice." - Heat

When Heat first came out in 1995, it was the epitome of cool. Tom Sizemore's character, Michael Cheritto, was part of the very cool crew led by Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro). When Neil asks Michael if he's up for the bank robbery, Michael says yes, and tells him why: it's what he lives for. 

"You know you drive almost slow enough to drive Miss Daisy." - Bad Boys

We've all been there. There is nothing worse than getting impatient with a slow driver and in 1995's Bad Boys, Michael (Will Smith) lets his new partner Marcus (Martin Lawrence) have it when he gets fed up with what he thinks is slow driving. It's a line that would have been way out of place if the original casting ideas hadn't changed.  

"What a lovely day." - Mad Max: Fury Road

Mad Max: Fury Road was an instant classic and while there isn't a whole lot of dialogue (who needs it?), there is one very famous line yelled by Nux (Nicholas Hoult) as the army or cars scream across the desert in one of the coolest car chase sequences ever filmed. 

"You're the disease, and I'm the cure." - Cobra

In the mid-'80s, Sly Stallone made a lot of cool movies, with a lot of cool lines. One of the most under-appreciated movies is Cobra, which he wrote based on the original script for Beverly Hills Cop, believe it or not. The best line in that script explains the main character's entire ethos. 

You can't have a great action movie without great dialogue and this list proves it. 

The ends of the WGA writers strike and SAG-AFTRA actors strike mean that TV shows that normally would have returned to primetime by now can finally get back to work. CBS was the first of the major broadcast networks to announce a post-strike 2024 TV schedule, and February is poised to be a very big month for its scripted dramas. That includes The Equalizer, which wrapped Season 3 back in May with a major cliffhanger. Now that fans have a premiere date to look forward to, I'm thinking back to what members of the cast told CinemaBlend, and I have a question for Season 4. Based on what the stars said, what kind of time jump are we in for, and how will it be handled?

First things first, though! CBS' 2024 premiere schedule reveals that The Equalizer will return for the fourth season on Sunday, February 18 at 8 p.m. ET, ahead of Tracker as Justin Hartley's return to TV at 9 p.m. and CSI: Vegas on a new night at 10 p.m. It's much too early for the network to reveal an episode description for the Season 4 premiere of the Queen Latifah drama, but two stars dropped a few details months ago that are even more curious in light of the long delay.

I spoke with Laya DeLeon Hayes, who plays Delilah, and Tory Kittles, who plays Marcus Dante, for the Season 3 finale back in May. When I asked Hayes how much she knew about how Season 4 would pay off on the cliffhanger that involved several main characters in danger of burning to death and McCall seemingly helpless to rescue them, the young actress shared:

Laya DeLeon Hayes revealed at the time that the Equalizer cast had already shot the Season 4 premiere, but a summer of strikes meant that nothing else could be filmed for the show until the SAG-AFTRA deal was agreed upon. The actress didn't drop details about how the hit drama would pick up on the cliffhanger, and at the time, it seemed likely that fans would find out with a fall premiere as usual. 

That of course didn't happen, and the The Equalizer is on the list of shows expected to begin working on November 27 for the 2023-2024 TV season. Tory Kittles teased a bit more about the first episode of Season 4 back in May, saying:

Recalling Kittles' comments is actually what got me thinking about the timeline of The Equalizer Season 3. There isn't going to be a time jump between the end of the third season finale and the fourth season premiere, but what about after the Season 4 premiere? Shows often will pay off on cliffhangers in a premiere and then jump a few months ahead afterwards, which is normally what I would predict for The Equalizer. But would the show really skip ahead the better part of a year? 

A time jump that sizable might not be a huge deal for a cast of all adults, but Delilah is a teenager who was in the middle of training with her mom. Losing most of a year would mean losing an important stage of her life. At the same time, The Equalizer films on location in New York quite a bit, and it would be hard to keep filming on location without a big time jump to explain the weather. If there is a big time jump, how will the show account for the passage of time? And will it even matter? 

My money is currently on the show delivering a big time jump after the first episode of Season 4 and just dealing with how much time has passed. Fortunately, we at least have a date for when the show will return and shed some light. The Equalizer returns on Sunday, February 18 at 8 p.m. ET, with the first three seasons so far streaming via a Paramount+ subscription now. 

Now that the SAG-AFTRA strike has ended and the bulk of the entertainment industry can return to their previously scheduled duties, TV network execs are finally able to start hammering out scheduling details for when everyone's favorite shows will be able to return. CBS is the first broadcaster to go to bat with its additions to the 2024 Winter/Spring schedule, with dates locked down for new (alebit shortened) seasons for ratings winners such as NCIS, the FBI franchise, Young Sheldon and more, including This Is Us vet Justin Hartley's TV return.

CBS viewers will be able to use NCIS: Sydney and its upside-down previews as a procedural life preserver until all the returning favorites start raining down, with the bulk of the planned premieres set for February. (Starting up production again right before the holidays doesn't exactly allow for immediate turnarounds.) Let's take a look at what'll be popping up the soonest, and note that all times listed are in ET.

That should be a busy week for all involved at CBS, and audiences will hopefully be along for the ride. The network wisely left that Wednesday wide open, as not to compete with Valentine's Day evening drawing millions of potential viewers' away from their TVs and onto their loved ones.

Still, it's a stocked schedule, and largely resembles what CBS viewers are used to, with Justin Hartley's Tracker as one of only two brand new series joining the network's ranks. From Monday's sitcoms and NCIS franchise eps to Tuesday's FBI lineup to Thursday's dramedy motif to Friday's star-heavy dramas, it's a schedule that clearly works, and won't be messed with going into all these shows' shortened seasons.

There are more hits left to arrive after that big premiere week, however, including returning favorites and the other new addition, the Good Wife and Good Fight spinoff Elsbeth, starring Carrie Preston's Elsbeth Tascioni.

Elsbeth will likely feel right at home amidst the quirkiness of CBS' Thursday night lineup, which also includes Young Sheldon, Ghosts and So Help Me Todd. And for those hoping that Survivor and Amazing Race would adhere to their extended runtimes going into the next seasons, that will indeed be the case. 

Check out the promo video CBS released to hype fans up for new episodes, which seemed like a pipe dream in the weeks and months prior.

Stay tuned for more possible release dates coming from CBS, and be sure to snag a Paramount+ subscription to watch all the most recent seasons of your favorite shows before the new ones arrive.

Equalizer fans got a nice treat as Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning reunited for The Equalizer 3, two decades after first co-starring in Man on Fire. The reunion paid off as the threequel posted strong opening weekend numbers over Labor Day weekend. Now, amid the pair's big on-screen reunion, the threequel’s director recalls the super funny way Washington would acknowledge his reunion with Fanning while on set.

Equalizer 3 director Antoine Fuqua spilled to People that he orchestrated the decades-long reunion early in the film’s development. Fanning reached out early leading Washington to push for her after finding out she was available. Fuqua mentioned that it was “fun for me to just watch” recalling the duo’s onscreen chemistry. The director then spoke about seeing Fanning’s growth from Man on Fire to The Equalizer 3, recalling a funny story about how Washington reacted to working with her on set all these years later:

Denzel Washington spoke like a true dad finally seeing his daughter as a full-grown adult, and I can't help but chuckle about it. Before co-starring in the threequel, the two-time Oscar winner played the bodyguard trying to rescue a young Dakota Fanning in 2004’s Man on Fire. At the time, Fanning and Washington were two of Hollywood’s go-to stars with successes like Uptown Girls and Out of Time. However, the then-rising star held her own against the Hollywood A-lister. Fast forward decades later, the co-stars are on much more equal footing as the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood star has grown as an actor since the 2004 action thriller.

Overall, the actor's shocked response from the set makes sense, because the first time they worked together was nearly 20 years ago. However, there's also no denying how funny it is that he yelled about her being "a grown woman now!" on set, because, of course, she is. Fanning is 29 years old, and she's been an adult for a long time, it's not surprising. However, I totally get Washington's surprise to seeing her work as a grown-up.

However, the time between projects hasn’t lessened Dakota Fanning and Denzel Washington’s bond. Fanning has spoken openly about her decades-long friendship with her onscreen partner. The actress has kept Washington and his family close as she is friends with one of his daughters. So, he’s seen Fanning grow up to be the star she is today.

It was nice to know the Oscar winner continued to play a major role in her life following the 2004 movie. Their close mentor-mentee dynamic can be seen in Robert McCall and Emma’s relationship throughout The Equalizer 3.

Getting a Fanning/Washington reunion was a great sign-off as The Equalizer series ends with the threequel. The Equalizer 3 is currently in movie theaters. Of course, Antoine Fuqua is open to revisiting the franchise in the future if the opportunity arises. Until then, Denzel Washington will be seen next in Gladiator 2, which arrives in cinemas on November 22, 2024. Dakota Fanning will return to the big screen in The Watchers, which will hit theaters on June 7, 2024. In the meantime, find out what new movies are coming to theaters by checking out our 2023 movie schedule.

The Equalizer movies have been among the biggest successes of star Denzel Washington's career. The first two, released respectively in 2014 and 2018, both managed to make north of $190 million worldwide and did so with eight-figure budgets. Now the R-rated action trilogy has come to an end with the release of director Antoine Fuqua's The Equalizer 3, and it would appear that Washington has yet another hit on his hands.

Check out the full Top 10 for this weekend below, and join me after for analysis.

The Equalizer 3's Opening Weekend Numbers Are Right In Line With Those Of Its Predecessors, And That's A Good Sign

When it comes to judging the success of a sequel, one of the most easiest methodologies is comparing opening weekend numbers to  the film's that came before it. If the numbers are up, it's a sign that excitement is up for the latest installment, and if numbers are down, it's a sign that enthusiasm is waning. In the case of The Equalizer 3, we have more of a "same as it ever was" type situation brewing, as the ticket sales for the new movie are right in line with what the first two releases in the franchise did.

Antoine Fuqua's The Equalizer made $34.1 million in its first three days back in 2014, and the same director's The Equalizer 2 made $36 million in the same time frame four years later. Now, The Equalizer 3 has put up results right between those two figures, having made $34.5 million domestically since Friday (according to The Numbers). Factoring in its Variety-reported $70 million budget – which is smaller than The Equalizer 2's costs – the film is on a clear path to have a similar box office legacy.

And surely only going to help things is the response that The Equalizer 3 has earned. The 2023 sequel has gotten a better critical response than the other two titles in the series (The Equalizer has a 61 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and The Equalizer 2 sports a 52 percent), and CinemaScore surveys delivered an "A" grade that matches its immediate predecessor (The Equalizer just got an "A-"). All signs point to the blockbuster having a matching box office trajectory, which should make the producers at Sony very happy.

From a global perspective, this is a franchise that has always seen more than half of its box office grosses come from the United States and Canada, but The Equalizer 3 is finding success early on selling tickets abroad. The Numbers is reporting that the film has brought in $26.1 million thus far from overseas.

If the new movie does end up keeping pace with its predecessors and grossing $190 million before the end of its theatrical run, what does that mean for the future? Sony will surely want to order a fourth film, as the franchise has proven to be one of their most consistent, but it may not be an immediate "yes" situation from the creatives. Denzel Washington has said that it's time to end his run as Robert McCall, and Antoine Fuqua has supported that sentiment. We'll have to wait and see what happens, so stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for all of the latest developments on that front.

Blue Beetle Once Again Holds On Strong With Another Small Weekend-To-Weekend Drop

Though Angel Manuel Soto's Blue Beetle didn't get off to the hottest start when it  arrived in theaters in mid-August, it has since demonstrated some strong legs thanks to positive buzz and word of mouth. As I pointed out in my box office column last week, 2023 is a year when superhero blockbusters are dipping as much as 70 percent weekend-to-weekend after their debuts, but this DC release is different. After holding strong with a 51 percent dip in its sophomore Friday-to-Sunday, this weekend saw its numbers go down only 40 percent.

We're not talking about ridiculous numbers here, as a 40 percent drop still means that Blue Beetle only made $7.3 million in the last three days, but the film's big picture look is improving. The film has now made $56.6 million domestically and $45.3 million overseas, and that means its become the 41st movie of the year to earn nine-figures. Its presently ranked as the 40th biggest international release of the year, its $101.9 million in ticket sales having surpassed Justin Simien's Haunted Mansion.

Blue Beetle isn't totally changing DC Studios' recent profile, which has suffered some big blows in the last year thanks to Jaume Collet-Serra's Black Adam, David F. Sandberg's Shazam! Fury Of The Gods and Andy Muschietti's The Flash, but it offers fans to have some optimism about upcoming DC movies (James Wan's Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom is currently on the release schedule for December).

Barbie And Oppenheimer Both Cross Two More Massive Domestic Box Office Milestones

We now may be more than a month removed from the opening weekend phenomenon that was Barbenheimer, and the summer blockbuster season may be over, but that doesn't mean we're done discussing two of the biggest box office hits of 2023 thus far. Greta Gerwig's Barbie and Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer continue to make headlines, and they've successfully done so this weekend with both of them crossing two massive domestic milestones.

Having made $10.6 million this past weekend, Barbie is now one of just 14 movies ever to make over $600 million domestically – which is notably a benchmark that Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic's The Super Mario Bros. Movie was unable to reach (it finished its run in the United States and Canada having made $574.9 million).

As for Oppenheimer, the $5.5 million it has added to its gross means that it has now made over $304 million here at home. It's now the third highest grossing domestic hit of Christopher Nolan's career, having made more money than Inception, Batman Begins, Dunkirk, and Interstellar – and this is in spite of the fact that it is an R-rated, three hour-long historical biopic. It's a remarkable thing to see.

Coming up next weekend, Hollywood will be officially kicking off spooky season 2023 with the release of Michael Chaves' The Nun 2 – the direct sequel to Corin Hardy's The Nun – which Conjuring Universe fans will remember made a staggering $363.4 million worldwide when it came out in 2018. Will the sequel be able to follow in The Equalizer 3's footsteps and put up matching numbers? Head back here to CinemaBlend next Sunday to see our weekend box office report, and get a look ahead at all of the movies coming out between now and the end of the year with our 2023 Movie Release Calendar.

Robert McCall is back for one more action-packed adventure to close out a summer of blockbusters. The Equalizer 3 will see the ex-DIA officer once again exacting his violent brand of vigilante justice — this time upon the Sicilian mafia — before potentially bringing the series to an end. Antoine Fuqua is back at the helm to complete the trilogy, which is set to hit theaters on September 1. Critics have already seen Denzel Washington’s latest project, and they’re here to share what they know about The Equalizer 3.

In addition to Denzel Washington in the leading role, The Equalizer 3 cast includes Gaia Scodellaro, David Denman, Sonia Amma, and more, while reuniting Washington with decades-long friend Dakota Fanning. Let’s see what the critics have to say, starting with CinemaBlend’s review of The Equalizer 3. Our own Eric Eisenberg rates the threequel 3 stars out of 5, saying that if you enjoyed the first two movies, you’ll probably like this one too, because it’s more of the same. He continues: 

Emily Garbutt of GamesRadar also rates the movie 3 out of 5 stars, calling it an “uneven sendoff” for Robert McCall. The reunion between Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning isn’t as satisfying as it could have been, according to the critic, who writes:  

Liz Shannon Miller of Consequence says in terms of violence, The Equalizer 3 definitely earns its R-rating, but isn’t quite as intense as the John Wick series. Don’t worry if you’re new to the Denzel Washington franchise either, Miller says. She grades the movie a B, writing: 

Fran Hoepfner of The Wrap says while the first two Equalizer films were drab, dire affairs, the third offering allows Denzel Washington to let loose a little. The movie still falls victim to some of the series’ worst instincts, including lackluster villains. However, Hoepfner continues: 

For all the middling opinions, however, Chris Bumbray of JoBlo is all in for the straight-forward action thriller and considers it the perfect way to close the book on Robert McCall’s story, should this actually be the final movie. Bumbray gives The Equalizer 3 a “Great” 8 out of 10, noting that Antoine Fuqua really ups the ante in terms of gore in this one: 

While it doesn’t seem like The Equalizer 3 is breaking any new ground in the vigilante action genre, any fans of Denzel Washington’s movies playing Robert McCall should be satisfied with this supposed ending to the trilogy. In fact, even those who haven’t partaken in the 2014 and 2018 blockbusters will be apparently just fine purchasing a ticket to this one when it hits theaters Friday, September 1. Be sure to also check out our 2023 movie release schedule to see what else is coming soon. 

Over the last several years we have seen CGI technology progress to the point that it can do a remarkably good job making actors look significantly younger than they actually are. We tend to see the tech used in big blockbuster movies that already have a lot of digital effects, but it turns out that director Antoine Fuqua has been considering using the technology on Denzel Washington for the Equalizer franchise.

We meet Denzel Washington’s character Robert McCall in the first Equalizer movie after he has already retired from his professional life. While we get some information about who he was when he was younger, there’s still a lot that we don’t know about how he became the man he is. With The Equalizer 3 release date set for September, we're set to know how the story will end, but what about the beginning? Antoine Fuqua recently told NME that he is curious about McCall’s past, and he has even had conversations with the franchise screenwriter about what that story might be. He explained…

Antoine Fuqua specifically talks about this idea as it pertains to using CGI to de-age the character, so he’s not considering hiring a younger actor to play a young McCall in a prequel movie. It’s actually a bit unclear just how Fuqua is considering using the tech. He says he “thought” about using the technology a lot, seemingly a reference to maybe using it in Equalizer 3, but he also says the idea is something he’s never discussed with Denzel Washington, which makes it sound like it might be an idea he’s considering for the future.

Of course, if Fuqua is actually considering an origin story movie, that’s quite a tall order. Such a project would likely mean de-aging Denzel Washington in every shot of the film, which is something we haven’t really seen before. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny de-aged Harrison Ford for a significant amount of the film's runtime, but even that was a small part of the total movie.

Whatever the director is thinking about, it’s clear that Antoine Fuqua doesn’t think that the de-aging technology is quite there yet. However, he’s clearly intrigued by the whole thing and says he is paying attention to where it all goes, so while we might not be there yet, maybe we will be soon. Fuqua continued…

The Equalizer 3 is supposed to be the end of this particular franchise. Having said that, if the movie makes a lot of money, there will almost certainly be a studio that would be happy to see more movies coming. So between that and improving technology maybe that origin story will happen one day. 

Warning: spoilers ahead for the Season 3 finale of The Equalizer, called "Eye for an Eye."

The third season of The Equalizer has come to an end on CBS with a finale that put the whole cast of characters in varying degrees of danger from almost the very beginning. While some of them were safe by the end of the hour, "Eye for an Eye" wrapped with no fewer than three regulars in immediate danger of burning to death, with McCall seemingly helpless to save them. While fans will have to wait through summer hiatus to find out what happens next for all the characters, two stars spoke with CinemaBlend about what went down... and dropped some clues about how Season 4 will pick up.  

Read on for how Laya DeLeon Hayes and Tory Kittles broke down the "Eye for an Eye" finale of The Equalizer after they'd hyped the high stakes and "imminent jeopardy" of the episode!

Delilah Dealt With A Hostage Situation

Delilah and Aunt Vi seemed like the safest characters of the episode with their plans to go out to a movie, but their plan to load up with snacks at a bodega instead of paying movie theater prices for candy backfired. They ended up in a hostage situation with the armed and desperate Drake waving a gun around. Fortunately, Aunt Vi was able to get through to him with her particular kind of wisdom with some help from Delilah, and Dee managed to save the man's life with a well-timed dropkick. She used what she learned from both Vi and her mom in this situation, and Laya DeLeon Hayes weighed in on what her character went through:

Delilah put her own life at risk at the end of the hostage situation when the police stormed the bodega. After noticing an instant before that Drake's revolver wasn't actually loaded, she dropkicked him so that that cops wouldn't have a clean shot, then shouted that his gun was empty while she more or less served as his human shield. It was a brave moment that could have gone sideways if somebody had shot anyway, and all came down to Dee noticing that the gun wasn't loaded in a very Robyn McCall-type move. Laya DeLeon Hayes elaborated on the situation:

Interestingly, the episode with McCall and Delilah in the cafe (available streaming via Paramount+ subscription) was the same one that showcased Lorraine Toussaint as Aunt Vi did everything she could to help a friend stuck in a cycle of domestic abuse. Dee obviously absorbed a lot of what her mom tried to teach her about situational awareness, and was proved right (albeit too late to escape) in her deduction that Drake was about to rob the store. The actress went on to share what it means to Delilah to be taken seriously, with Hayes saying:

Luckily, Delilah is one of a couple important characters actually guaranteed to have a future after the events of "Eye for an Eye," since neither she nor Vi was captured by Michelle Chambers in her revenge plot against McCall. Hayes continued:

The little family unit of McCall, Delilah, and Aunt Vi (which Lorraine Toussaint has said she's very "proud" of) is at the heart of The Equalizer, and according to Hayes, the two older women acknowledging Dee's maturity and growth has been a special part of Season 3. A lot has changed since just earlier this year, when McCall didn't want her daughter trained at all! 

Dante Has A Fiery Cliffhanger (And Accidental Confession)

Unfortunately for Dante, his dangerous situation was not neatly wrapped up by the end of the hour like Delilah's was. Not only was his life in danger in the final minutes of the finale, but he was injected with a deadly truth serum earlier in the hour and actually had his heart stopped before Harry's Hail Mary move with a defibrillator. Oddly enough, though, Dante being stabbed in the neck with the syringe of serum led to some comedy with Harry... and Dante confessing his feelings for McCall. Actor Tory Kittles weighed in on whether his character would have ever said any of what he said without the effects of truth serum, saying:

The truth may have been bound to come out at some point or other, but spilling the truth to Harry with McCall and Mel on speakerphone was not the way that Dante would have gone if given the choice! He's certainly one of the more serious characters on the show, which made this a fun episode for Tory Kittles, as he explained: 

As much as the episode was fun for Tory Kittles to play, the same cannot be said for his character! As if Dante wasn't already having a bad day when he went from trying to drink his suspension woes away to getting in a brawl with a bad guy to stabbed with a truth serum to his heart literally stopping, he was revived just in time to be captured, tied to a chair in a room full of accelerant, and unable to fight back when the room was set on fire... and the credits rolled without a resolution. The actor shared his thoughts on the cliffhanger:

How much time it will take for The Equalizer to tell remains to be seen, particularly in light of the WGA writers strike, but Dante, Mel, and Harry are going to need some help ASAP, which McCall seemingly can't provide unless something big changes. "Eye for an Eye" ended with McCall's three allies tied to chairs and on the verge of burning alive, and Tory Kittles opened up about filming that climactic moment:

Hopefully most people will never been in the same circumstances as Dante when it comes to being tied to chairs with what appears to be the seemingly impossible objective of escaping! According to Kittles, the fire wasn't all a result of special effects, either. The actor shared:

The writers ended Season 3 with a big and complicated cliffhanger to resolve, and fans can only speculate about the payoff for the time being. As to whether or not everybody will survive... well, we can always cross our fingers until The Equalizer is back!

Season 4 Started Filming Early

While CBS has not yet announced precisely when The Equalizer is expected to return to primetime for Season 4, the show did take the extra step of making sure to film the resolution sooner rather than later. The actors confirmed that the fourth season premiere has already been filmed. When asked if she gets any clues about what comes next or is kept in the dark as much as fans, Laya DeLeon Hayes shared:

This certainly isn't the first time that The Equalizer wasted no time in filming the payoff of a cliffhanger, as the show did something similar with Mel's story at the end of the fall finale and beginning of the winter premiere, according to Liza Lapira. Of course, the stakes are considerably higher following this season finale than it was back with the fall finale. For Tory Kittles, getting right into the premiere was "great," as he explained:

Fans will have to wait to see the continuation of this Season 3 finale, but it's a good sign when actors are already speaking highly of an episode that is still months away from airing. For summer hiatus, viewers can always revisit past episodes of The Equalizer streaming on Paramount+, which has all three seasons so far available. For some new viewing options to pass the warmer months, check out our 2023 TV premiere schedule.

Season 3 of The Equalizer is nearly over, but the CBS drama still has plenty of twists and turns left before the final credits roll on the finale. Donal Logue returns as Colton Fisk, and the entire team will find themselves in danger as targets for revenge. As if that’s not enough, Delilah and Aunt Vi will end up in a sticky situation of their own, and the episode clearly isn’t going to be safe for any of the main characters. Fortunately, two stars spoke with CinemaBlend ahead of the finale to preview the “imminent danger” ahead.

Called “Eye for an Eye,” the May 21 finale isn’t going to be an episode to miss, based on what actors Tory Kittles (Dante) and Laya DeLeon Hayes (Delilah) had to say! 

Tory Kittles Promises Comedy And Intensity

Dante will be in harm’s way in “Eye for an Eye” due to McCall’s CIA past resurfacing in the form of a former colleague looking for revenge, according to the episode description from CBS. The crisis comes in a season that has already been rough for Dante (and available streaming with a Paramount+ subscription); by the time the finale picks up, he’s been suspended from his job despite trying to do everything the right way. Tory Kittles described the situation as Dante being “at a loss” after he gets suspended. When asked how high the stakes will be in the Season 3 finale, the actor shared:

The episode taking one of the longtime stars by surprise seems to be a strong signal that fans may want to expect the unexpected! A little levity may be more than welcome in a finale that Kittles ranks as the “most intense” Equalizer episode, complete with a new side of Dante. The actor teased that his usually serious character is a source of levity in the finale when paired with Adam Goldberg (who had an intense episode of his own that addressed anti-semitism earlier in Season 3). Kittles previewed why it was fun for him:

Dante and Harry don’t team up on the most regular basis compared to other characters, let alone in what sound like some stressful and also silly circumstances with sky-high stakes. All in all, it sounds like a must-see way to end a season!  

Laya DeLeon Discusses Delilah 'Maturing'

Delilah may not be caught up in the same kind of danger as most of the other characters, but she and Aunt Vi will have a crisis of their own to deal with when they’re mixed up in a hostage situation. The character has been training for danger physically and mentally for several episodes now, so how prepared is she for this emergency? Actress Laya DeLeon Hayes answered that very question, saying: 

Delilah may still be a teenager in high school, but a teenager with training from McCall and Mel is not one who should be messed with! Of course, she’ll also have Aunt Vi with her, and Vi – as she demonstrated in the episode that addressed domestic abuse – has her own kind of wisdom and approach to crises. Laya DeLeon Hayes shared what it was like to work with Lorraine Toussaint as Dee and Vi in the Season 3 finale, saying that they “always have fun together.” She went on:

Aunt Vi and Delilah may be a formidable team under bad circumstances in the finale, and Laya DeLeon Hayes’ praise of Lorraine Toussaint is especially touching in light of what Toussaint said she’s proud of from the show. So, with high stakes all around and Delilah and Vi finding themselves in their own mess, it’s a good thing that fans can already count on Season 4!

Stars Share Thoughts On Season 4 Renewal

The Equalizer was actually renewed for Season 4 last spring, when CBS announced that the hit show would return for a third and a fourth season. There's no guarantee that the entire cast of Season 3 characters who made to the finale will also make it to the 2023-2024 TV season, but it was very good news for the future of the show. Tory Kittles shared his thoughts on going into the Season 3 finale with the knowledge that Season 4 was assured:

The show continuing is hardly a 100% guarantee that an actor’s role will continue, and Tory Kittles had questions about how The Equalizer would move forward in the long run! Laya DeLeon Hayes shared her own thoughts, which were a bit different from her co-star’s. She said:

Fortunately for fans, the wait is almost over to see how The Equalizer closes out Season 3 and whether everybody will be able to return for Season 4! The third season finale will air on Sunday, May 21 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS, ahead of the series finale of NCIS: Los Angeles. You can always revisit earlier seasons of The Equalizer streaming via Paramount+ over the summer, and find some upcoming viewing options on our 2023 TV premiere schedule.

The Equalizer is one of many hit shows approaching a finale in May, as the final episode of Season 3 will air on CBS in just a few weeks after taking the night of April 30 off. The show is fresh off of an episode that shone the spotlight on Lorraine Toussaint’s Vi and the importance of speaking up in cases of domestic abuse. Ahead of the next episode, Toussaint opened up to CinemaBlend about what she loves and is proud of about The Equalizer after three seasons so far. 

Lorraine Toussaint has been part of The Equalizer cast from the first season, and Aunt Vi has experienced some serious highs and lows over the years. The most recent episode involved both for the character, as she had to revisit her own history as a victim of domestic abuse, but was able to save another woman’s life by refusing to give up on her in the process. 

The actress had shared her hopes that the episode would empower the audience to be “more courageous” in situations that would require somebody to speak up and provide support. When I noted that the message of support is fitting for The Equalizer with its sense of family and community, Toussaint responded:

The show has proven many times over the years that there are ways for people to be equalizers without having McCall’s history and skills, especially when touching on very personal issues. Vi’s history with domestic abuse fueling her determination to help another woman is just one example from this season; by using some different perspectives, the series aired a powerful episode about antisemitism that ended with an important message from Harry. Not too long before that, the winter premiere delved into Mel’s history with her family. 

Of course, nowhere in The Equalizer is the sense of family and community stronger than in the little family unit of McCall, Vi, and Delilah. When speaking about the “incredibly delicate” scene between McCall and Vi in the last episode, Lorraine Toussaint shared that the love between the three characters is mirrored by the love between the three actresses playing the different generations of women. Toussaint went on to share why she’s proud of how the show demonstrates different kinds of equalizing within that household, saying:

Unfortunately, time is running out for fans to see these characters that Lorraine Toussaint is so proud of before the end of the 2022-2023 TV season. The Season 3 finale of The Equalizer will air on Sunday, May 21 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS, ahead of the series finale of NCIS: Los Angeles. On the plus side, The Equalizer was renewed for another two seasons last spring, so Season 4 is already guaranteed without the kinds of cuts and concessions required for the Blue Bloods renewal elsewhere on the network this spring.

For now, you can look forward to the next new episode of The Equalizer Season 3 on Sunday, May 7 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. You can also revisit earlier days of the show streaming now with a Paramount+ subscription.

When we last saw Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning together on screen, the explosive action movie rampage that was Man on Fire was born. Even though she was a young actor at the time, Fanning’s chemistry with Washington was undeniable, and a reunion has been long overdue. Lo and behold, director Antoine Fuqua made it happen after almost two decades, as our first trailer for The Equalizer 3 has Denzel torturing bad guys and reuniting with his on-screen friend. 

Raising the stakes even higher is the fact that this big Sony three-quel serves as the final chapter in the film series adapted from the CBS hit drama. Denzel Washington’s Robert McCall has settled into a life much calmer than we’re used to. Since he's taking in the sun and sea of Italy, you’d think the upcoming flick might be a totally different beast than we’re used to, especially when Equalizer 3's Amalfi Coast shoot looked so warm and inviting in social media posts. 

That notion would be true, if the trailer didn’t start off with Washington’s trademark high-pressure deadlines. This final ride for Mr. McCall sees him up against the criminal underworld yet again. As usual, the vicious hero knows where and when to apply pressure to get the right result; and it looks like a bloody good time.

It’s even cooler to see Dakota Fanning back with Denzel Washington, as we've been anticipating a first look since Fanning's casting was announced last year. Even if she’s being set up to play one of the handlers that probably feeds our hero intel on his quest for vengeance. Whether Ms. Fanning will get to engage in some fast and furious action herself remains to be seen, but it’s a welcomed proposition for sure. Though there’s no shortage of what we are being shown from this series' latest round of destruction and bodily harm.

To skimp out on the thrills for this trailer would be as much of a mistake as thinking you can beat Robert McCall in a game of patient revenge. That in mind, the powers that be obviously aren't going to show us everything this first time out. Though there does look to be a contender for the set piece of the movie, as Mr. Washington goes to town on some mobsters in what looks like a wine cellar; going as far as shoving a gun in someone's face. Literally in their face! 

Even if it was the one scene Denzel Washington hated filming for the franchise first film, the tool warehouse scene kind of set the bar for fight sequences in this saga. That much was true when The Equalizer 2's equally taxing set piece moved the action to the middle of a Nor'Easter, upping the stakes higher. With that sort of pattern in mind, this final thrill could be something Herculean, which means the story behind how it happened might be just as compelling as past tales.

The Equalizer 3 closes out Robert McCall’s story of vigilante justice on September 1st. To see what else is waiting in the wings, you don't need to set an imposing countdown. Rather, you should just check out our 2023 new movie releases guide, so that way nobody gets hurt, and we can all go home happy.

Warning: spoilers ahead for the April 23 episode of The Equalizer Season 3, called "No Way Out."

The Equalizer hasn't been known to sidestep important issues over the three seasons that have aired on CBS so far, and "No Way Out" saw the show addressing the subject of domestic violence via none other than Vi, played by Lorraine Toussaint. Like the episode earlier this season that put Adam Goldberg's Harry through the wringer with the character's personal experiences with antisemitism, the case this week required Vi to revisit a very difficult time in her life to try and help a woman whose life was in danger in her own home. Toussaint spoke with CinemaBlend about the episode, the reveals about her character's backstory, and that powerful final scene with Queen Latifah.

The situation started when Vi realized that Angie, her friend and masseuse, was sporting a nasty bruise that didn't match her explanation of a simple accident. She realized that all signs pointed toward Angie being trapped in a situation of domestic abuse at the hands of her husband, Doug, with their son Craig to worry about as well. Vi wouldn't accept Angie's attempts to deny what was happening, opening up about her own history of abuse and how much it took to leave the man responsible. She gave Angie the resources to reach out, which she finally did. 

The case came to a bloody end when Robyn arrived in the nick of time to shoot Doug before he could hurt Vi or Angie any worse. Vi and Robyn had a tearful conversation to close the episode, when Vi felt guilty about not being able to shoot Doug. Robyn assured her aunt that it didn't make her weak that she's not a killer, even though it doesn't feel good. The final credits rolled after Vi finally said that she's so grateful to be alive, then broke down into sobs on Robyn's shoulder. 

It was an emotional ending to an episode that was a lot heavier than what Vi usually goes through as a member of The Equalizer cast, and Lorraine Toussaint had high hopes for how the show would address the issue of domestic violence. Speaking with CinemaBlend, she shared that she and the writers had spoken about the fact that Vi lived a big life before she even arrived on the show, with "so much more below the surface that has brought her to this moment." The actress continued:

Who doesn't wish that they had an Aunt Vi of their own, honestly? Unfortunately in this situation of Vi speaking to a friend about domestic abuse, however, the wisdom came from her own experience with violence from a partner. As she told her friend in the episode, she wanted to help Angie the way that she wishes somebody had helped her back when she needed it. The actress continued:

Vi really didn't get through to Angie until she opened up about when somebody she'd trusted put her through hell, and she made it clear that she knew what Angie was feeling better than almost anybody else. And Vi delivered on being there for Angie, even when Doug hunted them down with an intent to not just hurt, but kill. Lorraine Toussaint went on:

There were points in the episode where Vi absolutely could have stepped back behind the normal boundaries of a friendship, but she just couldn't do it when she suspected that Angie's life was in danger. She recognized the signs, acted, and saved the life of an innocent woman, and possibly her child as well. 

And while Vi was nothing but strong for Angie throughout "No Way Out," she was finally able to really absorb what had happened and lean on a loved one by the end of the episode. Robyn was there to care for her aunt, leading to a raw show of emotion between both women. 

When asked what it was like to perform such a raw scene, Lorraine Toussaint shared that she charges herself with "with going where no one has gone before in telling as much truth as I can" as an actor, so that audiences "identify with a human experience" and "allow the camera to see a truthful human experience." She continued:

The raw emotion and tenderness between Vi and Robyn in that final scene of "No Way Out" came because of a comfort and "safety" between Lorraine Toussaint and Queen Latifah. The scene – and in fact, the show as a whole – might not work if the actresses didn't sell that family bond and intimacy, and it made for a cathartic end to a difficult episode. Toussaint went on to establish that Laya DeLeon Hayes, who plays Delilah, is key as well: 

The love in the scenes back at home between Vi, Robyn, and Delilah isn't manufactured by the actresses, but truly felt between all three of them. A strong working relationship seems essential in episodes that cover particularly difficult subjects that hit close to home for the characters. Hopefully, however, Vi will get a break from danger in the next episode on CBS (or streaming via a Paramount+ subscription)!

The Equalizer itself is taking a brief break from primetime, as no new episode will air on Sunday, April 30, but the show will return the next week. Tune in to CBS on Sunday, May 7 for the next new episode of the hit drama, which has already been renewed for Season 4. With the Season 3 finale on May 21, now is the time to make sure not to miss any episodes and check out our 2023 TV premiere schedule for what you can watch over summer hiatus.

The Equalizer hasn’t shied away from addressing difficult and even sometimes uncomfortable topics over the three seasons so far, including antisemitic hate not too long ago. Now, the CBS drama is set to tackle the subject of domestic abuse via the character of Vi. Played by Lorraine Toussaint, Vi isn’t always in the thick of the cases of the week, with McCall (Queen Latifah) and her team usually solving cases. In the “No Way Out” episode, Vi will step up when she suspects that somebody she knows is a victim of domestic abuse, and Toussaint opened up to CinemaBlend about what she hopes fans take away from the episode, and its “important message.”

According to the CBS episode description, Vi will come to suspect that her masseuse is in situation of domestic abuse. Lorraine Toussaint previewed how The Equalizer approaches the sensitive but important message of awareness about domestic abuse in “No Way Out,” saying: 

The Equalizer – which, as Adam Goldberg has said, is able to take advantage of “different perspectives” to tell well-rounded stories – is empowering Vi in a different way when she steps up for a friend who seems to be suffering from domestic abuse. Lorraine Toussaint explained that a person not ignoring red flags is an “important message,” even if it means crossing boundaries. The actress continued:

It sounds like Vi’s masseuse may not initially embrace the attempts to reach out in case something is wrong, but the character seemingly won’t be discouraged from continuing to try to help. Could we expect anything else from Vi, who isn’t exactly known for giving up on the people she cares about? Toussaint elaborated on what it meant to her that her character doesn’t just give up:

Lorraine Toussaint hopes that the episode can empower the audience, as Vi seemingly tries to empower the victim in this episode. Fans will have to wait and see whether or not the character is able to help the victim in time, but all signs point toward a powerful episode addressing a difficult issue from the perspective of a deeply caring character. 

It also remains to be seen how involved the Season 3 cast members playing McCall’s team will be with the case, but Toussaint opened up about how it felt to her as an actress that The Equalizer is addressing domestic abuse via her character, saying that it “felt appropriate” because Vi has “lived a great deal of life” with “many different kinds of relationships” through “good times and hard times.” She continued: 

The episode writers took advantage of resources for “No Way Out,” including consulting with L.A.-based domestic abuse treatment center Jenesse for insight on the dynamics in abuse situations. As for within the episode, it will address what it can take to help the victims of domestic abuse, as Toussaint said: 

Lorraine Toussaint went on to comment that it “does take the resources of the community to also be there to support the person who’s being abused.” If there’s anything that the tight-knight group of characters – particularly the three generations of women living in the McCall household, with Vi, Robyn, and Delilah – can be counted on for, it’s a sense of community. 

Whether that community will be enough in Vi’s attempt to help a friend in “No Way Out” is a question that can only be answered with the new episode. Tune in to CBS on Sunday, April 23 at 8 p.m. ET for the “No Way Out” episode of The Equalizer, and/or streaming with a Paramount+ subscription. Check out the promo for a teaser of what to expect:

Now is the time to make sure to stay current on the hit drama, with the Season 3 finale arriving on May 21. The Equalizer was one of a handful of shows lucky enough to get a two-season renewal from CBS last spring (along with the three FBI shows), so fans don’t have to worry about whether or not it will be back for the 2023-2024 TV season. For now, you can always check out our 2023 TV premiere schedule for what to check out during summer hiatus.

For going on three seasons now, Liza Lapira has been a primetime regular within the cast of CBS’s The Equalizer, where she stars as the bar-owning, ass-whooping former sniper Mel Bayani. But she’s definitely been a familiar face among CBS viewers for far longer, and for an assortment of other projects. Perhaps most notably, she recurred as the duplicitous lawyer Michelle Lee across three earlier seasons of NCIS, and the actress reflected on that career highlight while revealing the fun way co-stars Mark Harmon and Rocky Carroll surprised Lapira’s mom. 

When the star of Must Love Christmas talked with TV Insider, presumably in part about her current arc on The Equalizer, she reflected on her years kicking it with the NCIS squad, sharing how happy she was that it went from a fairly limited part to something more expansive, to the point where she was revealed to be the sympathetic mole the team was trying to smoke out back in Season 6. Here’s how she put it:

Amusingly enough, Liza Lapira distinctly recalled meeting Brian Dietzen's wife, who was pregnant at the time when their romantic arc was put into play, and having to go quickly from salutations to fake relationships. Nothing potentially disastrous about that.

Even though her arc on NCIS ended 15 years ago, which is enough to turn one's brain inside out, the long-running drama still holds a special spot in her heart and her memories, particularly the time when she took her mom to the set for a birthday surprise. 

Mark Harmon's birthday wishes obviously aren't a surprise that would still be possible for Lapira's mom to enjoy if so desired, since Leroy Gibbs notably exited the CBS drama's narrative in October 2021, much to fans' shared chagrin. 

Rocky Carroll is still thriving on NCIS as Director Leon Vance, though, so he's probably still good for celebratory messages. He joined the drama in Season 5 following the canonical death of Lauren Holly's Jenny, and was the one who sparked the mole-hunt that led to Michelle's death. That's the exact opposite of what I think of when I consider "birthday surprises."

The Equalizer airs Sunday nights on CBS at 8:00 p.m. ET, with the next new episode coming on April 16, as the network is airing a Grammy retrospective about The Beach Boys on April 9. Head to our 2023 TV premiere schedule to see what else will be returning and debuting soon as we also anticipate more updates on Denzel Washington's upcoming sequel The Equalizer 3.

Warning: spoilers ahead for the March 12 episode of The Equalizer, called “Never Again.”

The Equalizer never shies away from addressing difficult issues via the cases that McCall (Queen Latifah) and the team investigate, but the crimes of “Never Again” hit particularly close to home for Harry (Adam Goldberg). A local community in New York was terrorized by a series of antisemitic hate crimes, perpetrated by a group that not only attacked Jewish people within the community, but recorded their attacks to share with those who shared their hatred onlin. Goldberg as well as episode writers Adam Glass and Ora Yashar spoke with CinemaBlend to break down how Harry ultimately got the last word with this group and his cathartic final scene. 

“David Slays Goliath Every Time”

While Harry managed to find a way to prevent carnage at a synagogue, guaranteed that the antisemitic attackers would be arrested, and even outed the anonymous website users for their antisemitism to their employers and peers, it was a scarily close call, and very lucky that Harry got the last word. His parting shot to the hate group was to inform them that he hacked their “Nazi clownshow website,” and tell them: “Remember – we may be few, but David slays Goliath every time.” Adam Goldberg shared his thoughts on that particular moment for Harry: 

Goldberg had previously shared when he addressed his sense of responsibility about “Never Again” that this case for Harry was like “playing whack-a-mole with an enormous problem here that's hardly resolved” by the end of the episode. Harry and the team did get a win over these specific criminals in this specific case, but as the actor noted, that doesn’t mean a win every time. He continued: 

A sense of hope was a way to end the very dark episode on an uplifting note, especially since Harry’s emotional journey still wasn’t over by that point. He’d go on to learn that his mother hadn’t just abandoned him due to a lack of love as a child, but because she struggled with what the rabbi described as “horrible bouts of depression” in an era when nobody really understood how to treat it. 

The writers also shared their takes on the idea of “David always slays Goliath” coming from Harry when the case was closed. Adam Glass, who is a co-showrunner on The Equalizer as well as co-writer of “Never Again,” was paired with fellow writer Ora Yashar when speaking with CinemaBlend, and he shared:

Adam Glass echoed Adam Goldberg’s point about David slaying Goliath as a fitting sentiment of hope, and credited his fellow writer with coming up with how Harry got the last word in “Never Again.” Ora Yashar shared her own take on the idea, saying:

As Adam Glass had noted, Harry winning the day against the antisemitic hate group in “Never Again” was the plan from the beginning, but that wasn’t the only thing that was in the works from the earliest stages. The final scene of Harry lighting a candle for his mother alongside Mel (Liza Lapira, who recently got a very big episode of her own) was always part of the plan.

Harry Lights A Candle And Says A Prayer

Harry had an eventful day in "Never Again," to say the very least, and he capped it off with a quiet moment that he shared with Mel as he lit a candle and said a prayer for his mother. Adam Goldberg addressed Harry’s motivation when he “discovers that his mother was troubled” and that she didn’t leave him because “she didn't love him and she didn't abandon him.” The actor continued:

Adam Goldberg had not yet decided on whether or not he’d watch the scene, but I think it’s safe to say that it will be a standout for fans of the show. The actor portrayed a side of Harry that hadn’t been explored before, which is saying something since he’s been on board The Equalizer from the very beginning. Whether or not the show will continue to explore this side of Harry in Season 3 or beyond remains to be seen, but he was deeply affected by “Never Again.”

Adam Glass also weighed in on the candle scene with Adam Goldberg and Liza Lapira, revealing that the original vision for the scene was different from “the way [Goldberg] decided to do it.” The co-showrunner/co-writer reflected:

Adam Glass had previously shared that the background created for Harry in “Never Again” came from his own background as somebody who was “an Ashkenazi Jew and grew up in New York City.” For her part, Ora Yashar is a first-generation American whose family came from Iran, and this episode brought together the perspectives of herself, Adam Glass, and Adam Goldberg. She addressed the candle scene, saying:

Harry lighting the candle and saying a prayer was a poignant ending to a powerful episode, and the finished product of “Never Again” may go down as one of The Equalizer’s most memorable episodes. It’s certainly a standout of the show since its February return in the 2023 TV premiere schedule!

See what’s next for CBS’ drama with new episodes of The Equalizer on Sundays at 8 p.m. ET. If you can’t tune in live (or just want to revisit some earlier episodes), you can always catch up streaming with a Paramount+ subscription. The show is still going strong in Season 3, and serves as the lead-in to East New York as one of the network’s freshman dramas.

The Equalizer has been going strong since its return in the 2023 TV schedule, and the hit CBS drama is on the verge of addressing an important issue through the eyes of a major character. A case involve antisemitic hate will mean members of the team pulling out all the stops, and lead to Harry (Adam Goldberg) reconnecting with his Jewish faith. Ahead of the episode, called “Never Again,” Goldberg as well as writers Adam Glass (also the showrunner) and Ora Yashar spoke with CinemaBlend about bringing this issue to television. 

“Never Again” will put Harry in the forefront of a storyline about a string of antisemitic hate crimes, which are terrorizing a local community in New York. With the threat of the attacks continuing, he’ll reconnect with his Jewish faith, which isn’t something that The Equalizer has incorporated into such an important case before. When Adam Goldberg spoke with CinemaBlend about playing Harry in such a standout episode, he shared his thoughts on exploring a new side of his character in the face of such a horrifying situation: 

Adam Goldberg, who grew up in California and has been part of the Equalizer cast from the beginning, brought his own experience to “Never Again,” both from what he has dealt with in his own life and roles that he’s played, including Higher Learning in 1995 and Saving Private Ryan in 1998. 

The rise in antisemitic hate crimes in recent years made the actor feel a sense of “responsibility” to bring this powerful story to life on The Equalizer. Viewers will have to wait and see how the show will handle such a sensitive subject, but all signs point toward an episode that fans won’t want to miss. The actor continued: 

While it’s safe to say that “Never Again” won’t be an easy hour of television for Harry, it has expanded what Adam Goldberg knows (and what he can play) about his character. The actor also shared that he went to Jewish day school as a child but “decided not to get a bar mitzvah because I felt it would be disingenuous” because he wasn’t religious, and he “always felt like it was hard for me to balance my cultural heritage with the sort of religious aspects of being Jewish.” 

Since Goldberg shared that the case of this episode is personal to him and his character, his perspective is clearly important for “Never Again.” He’s also not the only one from The Equalizer team to open up about the importance of perspective for this episode. Writer Ora Yashar co-wrote “Never Again” with showrunner Adam Glass, and she brought her very personal perspective as a first-generation American whose family came from Iran. She addressed how the show approached telling this story, saying: 

The Equalizer is on the verge of delving into an area of Harry’s life that he’s been disconnected from; based on what has been revealed about the episode so far, fans can only hope that he’ll have all the support he can get from Mel (whose own backstory was recently explored in an episode featuring her siblings) and McCall, although the latter has been dealing with pressing problems of her own recently. 

Showrunner Adam Glass shared his own thoughts on exploring perspective in “Never Again,” previewing that some of the stories that Harry has will “come a little more from my background and be an Ashkenazi Jew and grew up in New York City,” and that he, Ora Yashar, and Adam Goldberg “just had conversations about it.” He addressed why now is the time that The Equalizer will address antisemitic hate crimes, saying:

Harry already has an identity of his own, with Ora Yashar noting that the character is Armenian. Adam Glass went on to explain how they found a poignant way to explore another side of the character and expand his identity via these discussions. He shared: 

The Equalizer team did indeed find a way to tell the story, and “Never Again” promises to be a powerful hour of television that puts Harry through the wringer and gives Adam Goldberg the chance to shine in a way that hasn’t happened before on the show. He'll portray a side of Harry that fans haven't seen, even after two full seasons and many episodes of the third.

And fans don’t have much longer to wait for “Never Again.” The upcoming episode of The Equalizer that will address antisemitic hate crimes airs on Sunday, March 12 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. You can also revisit earlier episodes of the three seasons so far streaming with a Paramount+ subscription. Saving Private Ryan (featuring all of its shocking moments) with Adam Goldberg is also available on the streamer. 

The Equalizer is on the way back to primetime for the first time since November, and the hit CBS drama has a cliffhanger to resolve when it comes to Mel. When last seen, she was fighting her way through a lineup of what looked like some very bad men, searching for answers about her brother. The winter premiere on February 19 will deliver some answers that fans have been waiting for, and actress Liza Lapira opened up about the “cool” way that it’s going to happen as well as Mel's continued conflict with McCall (played by Queen Latifah).

The fall finale (which you can revisit streaming with a Paramount+ subscription) was already stressful for Mel even before she got the news about her brother, with McCall confronting her about secretly training Delilah on how to fight. The winter premiere – called “He Ain’t Heavy” – will involve a family reunion, when Mel meets up with her sister with the clock ticking to save their brother, Edison. When Liza Lapira, who plays Mel, spoke with CinemaBlend about the upcoming episode, she previewed how the show will pick up where it left off:

Fans don’t have to worry that The Equalizer is skipping a payoff on the action-packed cliffhanger by jumping ahead in the timeline, which sounds dangerous for Mel but exciting for viewers! The directors overlapping also means that Lapira didn’t have to film the second half of a scene days or even weeks after shooting the first half. When asked if the overlap made fight choreography easier from the end of one episode to the beginning of the next, the actress shared:

While Mel chasing after some bad guys to get information about her missing brother was definitely the most intense cliffhanger from the fall finale, there is still more left to resolve. Mel and McCall are usually solid as friends and on the job, but for McCall, Mel crossed a line when she began secretly training her daughter. 

Even though Mel made some solid points about Delilah wanting training because she didn’t feel safe, Delilah is still McCall’s daughter. That episode (which featured former Destiny’s Child member-turned-solo artist Kelly Rowland) ended in November without any resolution between the women. According to Liza Lapira, that conflict isn’t going to just be forgotten because of the larger crisis with Mel's brother. The actress explained:

It sounds like all hands will be on deck with the kidnapping of Mel’s brother, but that doesn’t mean that the events of the fall finale between Mel and McCall will be brushed aside on the whole. With Liza Lapira’s preview that it will take multiple episodes for the pair to get their resolution, The Equalizer seems on the verge of exploring some uncharted territory between two characters who are usually very close. The actress continued:

Will they be able to fully resolve their argument if one of them concedes that they were wrong, or fully comes around to the other’s point of view? Only time will tell on that front, but Mel’s brother’s situation sounds like it will be the most urgent problem for all the characters in the winter premiere. Who knows? Maybe they’ll concede that they both made some valid points. Whatever happens, it won’t necessarily be within the show’s first episode of 2023! 

You can find the intense winter premiere of The Equalizer Season 3 on Sunday, February 19 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS, and it’s safe to say that this will be an episode that fans won’t want to miss with Mel's family reunion and more!  It’s also safe to say that Liza Lapira will be back in Mel mode after playing a much more festive character for some rom-com Christmas fun, as star of CBS’ Must Love Christmas. You can find some upcoming viewing options on our 2023 TV premiere schedule.

CBS will soon celebrate the holiday season with actress Liza Lapira taking on a very different role than what fans of The Equalizer are used to seeing. She stars as Natalie in Must Love Christmas, playing a writer renowned for her romance novels about Christmas, but the author may be the one finding love this time around. Lapira spoke with CinemaBlend about starring in Must Love Christmas on top of her role on The Equalizer, the perks of working with Hallmark Christmas movie alums Neal Bledsoe and Nathan Witte, and how this movie will stand out from the holiday pack.

Must Love Christmas will send novelist Natalie to the town of Cranberry Falls, and wind up caught between Nick (Neal Bledsoe), a journalist who wants her to tell her story, and Caleb (Nathan Witte), her childhood crush. While it’s safe to say that some kind of conflict is on the way even in a genre known for being merry and bright, it won’t be nearly on the scale of what Liza Lapira encounters on The Equalizer, currently in its third season on CBS. When the actress spoke with CinemaBlend about her new project, she shared what drew her to the role of Natalie and Must Love Christmas: 

Natalie has a journey to go on beyond choosing between two men who came to Must Love Christmas with plenty of holiday movie experience, but not the kind of journey that her character of Mel does on The Equalizer. Liza Lapira had to flex some different acting muscles for the journey to Cranberry Falls for an experience more likely to be holly-jolly than full of stunt sequences. When I asked what it was like for her to come to a Christmas movie from her work on the hit drama, she shared: 

From a stunt standpoint, Mel certainly has a lot more to do opposite Queen Latifah’s Robyn McCall than pick up any pets, so Must Love Christmas’ Natalie is definitely a different direction that Liza Lapira enjoyed exploring. According to the trailer, Natalie is known as the “queen of Christmas romance” but hasn’t actually gone on a date in years, and sparks will fly with not one but two men for a potential happily-ever-after! 

And who better to star opposite Liza Lapira for a Christmas rom-com than two stars who know their way around a Christmas movie? Leading men Neal Bledsoe and Nathan Witte came to Must Love Christmas with some Hallmark holiday movies to their names. Bledsoe (who recently made an emotional statement in response to Candace Cameron Bure’s GAF controversy) starred in Coming Home for Christmas and A Christmas Carousel. For his part, Witte had roles in A Christmas Treasure and A Christmas Miracle as just two of his Hallmark credits.  

So, did the two Hallmark veterans have any advice for Liza Lapira in her first starring role in a Christmas movie? The actress confirmed that “they did” and she had “a great time,” then continued:

While Liza Lapira and her two holiday movie veteran leading men liked being around each other while working on Must Love Christmas, will that be the case for Natalie, Nick, and Caleb? Christmas movies can usually be relied on for happy endings, and both guys probably can’t get the girl. Liza Lapira previewed how she thinks that fans will be torn about who to root for:

Luckily, Christmas movie fans (and Equalizer viewers who want to check out Liza Lapira in a different kind of character), the wait for the movie is nearly over. Must Love Christmas premieres on Sunday, December 11 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS, and will be available streaming afterward with a Paramount+ subscription. You can also find the new Christmas movie starring The Talk’s Amanda Kloots opposite a Hallmark leading man of her own, with Fit for Christmas streaming as well and delivering an ending (and wardrobe) that Kloots loved. 

If you're ready to start planning ahead for the new year, be sure to check out our 2023 TV premiere schedule for what will debut on the small screen in the not-too-distant future.

Production on The Equalizer 3 has finally begun, as Sony Pictures revealed in October that lead actor Denzel Washington, his co-star Dakota Fanning and director Antoine Fuqua are working on the film in Italy. The movie has been in production for a few weeks now and, off the set, there was an incident. According to a new report, there was a drug raid connected to members of the film's catering crew, and it would seem that the authorities confiscated more than 100 grams of cocaine during the operation.

Said raid took place on Tuesday, according to Variety. Italian paramilitary police apparently searched for drugs in the Maiori-based resort where the Equalizer 3 crew was staying. The trade reports that the authorities ultimately seized 120 grams of cocaine, which led to the arrest of two catering service employees. Two other caterers were also hit with alleged drug dealing charges and placed under house arrest in the resort. It’s said that another member of the catering staff was found with a small possession and as a result, had his driver’s license taken away. 

The drug bust was apparently initiated after the head of the production’s catering service suffered a fatal heart attack on Monday. The news outlet reports that small packs of cocaine were later found in his clothes. With that, the police wondered whether other drug paraphernalia was present in the area. The cops are also said to have searched a small port in Maiori, where the production had also established a base of operations. 

Sony Pictures has yet to provide a statement regarding whether this recent development will affect the movie’s production timeline in any way. Variety reached out to Garbo Produzioni, the company that’s handling physical production in Italy, and a spokesperson said the organization had no comment.

The Equalizer 3 is the realization of a dream for action aficionados, who’d been inquiring about it since the release of the franchise’s second installment in 2018. That same year, Antoine Fuqua discussed the possibility of a third film, saying that he’d “love” to do it if the opportunity presented itself. This past January, Denzel Washington confirmed it was in development and that the script had been written. Fans got an even bigger surprise in June when it was reported that the movie would reunite Washington with Dakota Fanning, who famously starred alongside the Oscar winner in 2004’s Man on Fire.

Plot details are currently being kept under wraps and the only other confirmed cast member is Italian actress Gaia Scodellaro. More details on the movie itself are sure to arrive sooner rather than later, though it’s hard to say if or when more information will be shared about the drug raid.

The Equalizer 3 is set to open in theaters on September 1 as part of the schedule of 2023 new movie releases. The first two installments in the series can be streaming using a Hulu subscription.

Since its debut in February 2021, The Equalizer has become one of the most popular crime drama series, not just on its home of CBS, but on all of broadcast TV. The series, which is led by rapper-turned-actor Queen Latifah as former CIA operative Robyn McCall, a.k.a. “The Equalizer,” returned for its third season of thrilling action on Sunday, October 2, 2022, bringing with it some new and familiar faces along with it.

If you have watched the show’s return, or are planning to stream it later with a Paramount+ subscription, you probably want to know about those new additions to The Equalizer Season 3 cast and where you’ve seen them before. Well, you’ve come to the right place because we’re about to break down those new cast members as well as the other actors who are back in the game once again for the start of CBS’ fall 2022 TV schedule.

Donal Logue (Colton Fisk)

The first new addition to the Season 3 cast is Donal Logue, who Deadline revealed will be taking on the role of Colton Fisk. A decorated CIA agent with an impeccable record, the highest level of security clearance, and no loose ends, Fisk has been described as being a ghost whose assignment is on a “need-to-know” basis. The character, will presumably be filling the void left by the death of William Bishop, who died in a plane crash after the actor who played him, Chris Noth, was fired from the series because of a series of sexual assault allegations in late 2021.

Throughout his career, Logue has appeared on a variety of TV shows that have seen him play characters ranging from hardened detective Harvey Bullock on Gotham to family patriarch Sean Finnerty on the early 2000s sitcom, Grounded for Life. His other small-screen credits include Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, ER, The Practice, and Vikings, to name only a few.

Gloria Reuben (Trish)

The second new addition to The Equalizer Season 3 cast is former ER mainstay, Gloria Reuben, who will be taking on the role of Trish, a character Deadline described as the recently widowed girlfriend of Viola “Aunt Vi” Marsette (Lorraine Toussaint). Though she will be rekindling her relationship with Vi in Season 3, only time will tell where things will lead.

Throughout her career, Reuben has appeared on a great number of TV shows, including Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, Falling Skies, The Blacklist, Mr. Robot, Cloak and Dagger, City on the Hill, and Blue Bloods. Her film work includes titles like Lincoln, Admission, Timecop, The Jesus Rolls, and most recently, the 2022 Stephen King adaptation, Firestarter.

Returning Equalizer Cast Members In Season 3

In addition to the new faces who will be joining The Equalizer in Season 3, the CBS crime procedural will also see its major players and fan-favorites come back for another round of action. CBS has announced that Queen Latifah, Tory Kittles, Adam Goldberg, Liza Lapira, Laya DeLeon Hayes, and Lorraine Toussaint will all be back in the roles they have been playing since the show premiered following Super Bowl LV in February 2021.

Also returning as part of the recurring cast are Brett Dalton, Gabriel Sloyer, Chris Vance, and Stephen Bishop, who all appeared in various episodes in the later part of The Equalizer Season 2.

You can see all these new and returning faces in The Equalizer Season 3 cast when new episodes air Sunday nights on CBS. If you want to know what other shows are coming your way the end of the year, check out CinemaBlend’s 2022 fall TV schedule so you don’t miss any of the action. 

For someone who’s kicked as much ass as Liam Neeson has over the years, the art of action is something that has definitely caught the man’s eye. From Taken to Memory, and all the upcoming movies on the way, Neeson knows action, plain and simple. That why it’s impressive, and all the more exciting, that he’s recently admitted he’s obsessed with Denzel Washington’s Equalizer movies. 

In a role that occupies the same sort of space as Liam Neeson’s action efforts, it’s Washington’s role as the cinematic Robert McCall that has the Irish actor fanning out. During an interview with Slashfilm to promote his recent psychological thriller Memory, Neeson recounted some of his acting heroes from his childhood. In that same breath, he voiced the following support for Denzel Washington’s acting abilities:

That right there is a spot-on take on Washington’s legendary acting career. Not only does that description sum up The Equalizer films rather well, but it could also apply to several other iconic Denzel Washington movies. You could just as easily use Liam Neeson’s words to describe his lead in The Tragedy of Macbeth as you could his performance as vengeful bodyguard John Creasy in Tony Scott’s Man on Fire. 

Both of those movies see the Academy Award-winner as equal parts killer and sympathetic victim of fate, depending on how you view those stories of course. Even with the most lenient read on those parts, Denzel Washington's acting abilities absolutely touch on both the vulnerable and the vicious. It's a combination that even Liam Neeson has exhibited in his career, which is probably part of why he's so drawn to the work of his peer. 

Now that Liam Neeson has admitted himself as a fan of Washington’s body of work, it’s probably a safe bet that he was excited about the news that a third Equalizer movie is on its way. Of course, that enthusiasm could lead to some other exciting developments if all involved were properly motivated. In other words, maybe there’s a chance that Neeson and Denzel Washington could team up on either that new Equalizer film or another project down the line.

It’s not that crazy of a prospect, as Liam Neeson’s potential Naked Gun reboot can thank his love of Leslie Nielsen movies for staying alive as long as it has. It’s hard to think that Denzel Washington wouldn’t at least be curious to be a part of Neeson’s continued career in all-out action throwdowns. The only question is, should these two actors fight on the same side, or would it be more fun to pit them against each other on the big screen?

At the moment, Liam Neeson fans can catch his latest film, Memory, which is currently showing only in theaters. Meanwhile, Denzel Washington’s The Tragedy of Macbeth is available to watch with an Apple TV+ subscription. 

Fans of The Equalizer star Chris Noth were very surprised in mid-December, when the actor was accused of sexual assault by several women, after his Sex and the City character, Mr. Big, was killed off in the premiere of the continuation series, And Just Like That… Noth was quickly removed from a future episode of that show, as well as being fired from the CBS hit, where he played the lead’s trusted ally. Now, Queen Latifah has broken her silence on Noth’s firing after those allegations, and admits it’s a “delicate situation.”

What Did Queen Latifah Say About Chris Noth’s The Equalizer Firing?

Just a few days after Chris Noth was removed from a future episode of And Just That Like…, his co-stars, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon, released a joint statement saying they were “saddened” by the sexual assault claims and “commended” the women for coming forward. But, Queen Latifah, who stars on The Equalizer as Robyn McCall and worked very closely with Noth for two seasons (he portrayed Robyn’s long-time friend, William Bishop) remained quiet after his late December firing from the drama.

Now, though, Queen Latifah has opened up about the situation to People, and had this to say:

I can only imagine that “surreal” might be the least of what Queen Latifah has been feeling since the allegations about Noth came out. While he has clearly stated that “I did not assault these women” and said that the claims were “categorically false,” he has been accused of sexually assualting several women (with Law & Order guest star Zoe Lister-Jones alleging that she knew him to be “consistently sexually inappropriate”), along with a domestic abuse claim from 1995 resurfacing in the wake of the new allegations.

If reports such as the ones against Noth come out, it has to be very odd and troubling to hear those stories, especially if your interactions with that person don’t line up with the claims you’re now hearing. On top of that, Queen Latifah needs to be aware of how sensitive the situation is, particularly for those who’ve finally shared their stories. And, she does seem to be clear on that and how careful she has to be when talking about what’s happened.

What Did Queen Latifah Say Will Happen To Chris Noth’s Equalizer Character?

At the same time, losing Noth’s character was, indeed, a blow to her series. William Bishop was an ex-CIA director who’d worked with Robyn while she was an operative for the agency, and after she became a vigilante fighting for those who can’t fight for themselves, he lent her his considerable skills and connections to assist in her new missions. 

It was just earlier this month that The Equalizer viewers saw what is the last of Noth’s appearances on the drama, and it remains to be seen how he’ll be written off permanently. Queen Latifah added:

There are some relatively easy avenues The Equalizer can take to keep Chris Noth out of the picture long term, but while those behind the show haven’t fully decided how to handle that just yet, we do all hope, like Queen Latifah, that the right things are done in this difficult situation.

You can see how they handle Bishop’s absence as The Equalizer continues, Sundays at 8 p.m. EST, with the rest of the returning TV shows. 

It was just a couple of weeks ago that the CBS drama The Equalizer cut ties with actor Chris Noth, a few days after two women came forward with sexual assault claims against him (which he has denied). It was noted at the time that viewers would still be able to see Noth in an upcoming new episode, and now that the series is back from its winter hiatus we know how the show handled his final episode after those allegations. 

What Happened In Chris Noth’s Final Episode Of The Equalizer?

Fans had been wondering just what Chris Noth’s William Bishop would be doing in his final episode of The Equalizer when it returned for new episodes, and Sunday night’s “Separated” gave the series a pretty clear path to fully writing off Noth’s character, after he called in a big favor to get Harry out of jail.

Harry had been arrested at the end of the fall finale for his part in Robyn McCall and Bishop’s secret activities, with the computer hacker having caught the attention of the FBI for breaching the CIA’s servers and gaining access to confidential files. After his arrest, Harry insisted on keeping mum about the fact that he was working for Robyn and Bishop, meaning that the two were even more determined to do anything possible to get him out of trouble.

Bishop first spoke to General Ryland at the Pentagon, in an effort to have Harry recruited for the cyber intelligence task force there. But, Ryland had already offered the hacker that opportunity, and been turned down, so Bishop only had one play left, and called in the biggest favor available to him. 

Harry is finally freed after Bishop makes a call that reveals his connection to the president, who personally oversees Harry’s release. The episode ends with a nice moment between Bishop and Robyn, where he admits that he used his “one and only get out of jail free card” not specifically to help Harry, but because of her.

How Will The Equalizer Explain Chris Noth’s Absence Going Forward?

Those who tune in on a regular basis will know that Noth’s character has been a major part of The Equalizer cast across both of its seasons so far. Bishop is an ex-CIA director who’s known Robyn since her days as an operative for the agency, and she frequently turned to him for help as she took on cases from people who needed a little vigilante-style justice after being wronged. They were good friends, with Bishop using his many connections to help Robyn get the information and assistance she often needed when trying to help the downtrodden, so he was a big asset to her team.

While we’ve seen the last of Chris Noth on The Equalizer, what we don’t know is how the show will explain why he’s not around anymore as the series moves on, but there are at least two possibilities now. With him having made what would seem to be his biggest play in order to save Harry, it could be that Bishop feels he should lay low and not engage in Robyn’s illegal actions, even with them being used to help the helpless. It could also be that the president ordered Bishop to stop allying himself with Robyn’s team, in exchange for setting Harry free.

I also wouldn’t put it past the show to have Bishop take an extended break just so he can play a more active part in his son’s life. The fall finale saw Bishop reveal his formerly secret (and now adult) son to Robyn so that she could help save him from a terrorist in Bishop’s past. His life had been in serious danger, but the terrorist and his cronies are now dead, so Bishop might feel free to get to know his son.

Either way, The Equalizer is sure to spend some time before the end of the season explaining why Chris Noth and William Bishop have left Robyn McCall and her band of street justice warriors behind, so keep watching the hit series on CBS, every Sunday at 8 p.m. EST, to see how they finalize his story. While you wait, be sure to look into the 2022 TV premiere dates.

The big four broadcast networks got back to business more or less as usual for the 2021-2022 TV season compared to the late start back in fall of 2020, and the fall ratings competition was stiff between ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. Although the season is technically only half over with most major scripted shows running until late spring after winter hiatus, the numbers for the fall can indicate a lot about what to expect (and not expect) next on the small screen. So, as 2022 kicks off, let’s take a look at the 13 biggest ratings hits in scripted TV across the major four networks, and what their numbers could mean for the new year! 

In the interest of finding the most fair comparisons, I’m going to use the average Live+7 totals – a.k.a. the ratings and audience size for shows within seven days of an episode airing – in the valuable 18-49 age demographic for the scripted shows with the best numbers, starting with a Fox series at #1!

1. 9-1-1/Fox - Season 5

Following the fall half of 9-1-1’s fifth season, TVLine’s Fox report reveals that the show is averaging an excellent 1.4 rating and audience of 8.34 million viewers. 9-1-1 doesn’t have the biggest audience size of the Top 13, but the 1.4 puts it at the top of the ratings and sets it up for a strong second half of the season. That said, the show won’t actually be back for the second half of Season 5 until March, with Fox giving its time slot to spinoff 9-1-1: Lone Star in early 2022. The high numbers for 9-1-1 could benefit Lone Star, but will the long break result in a ratings drop come spring?

2. Chicago Fire/NBC - Season 10

With a rating of 1.3 and audience of 9.95 million, the NBC report from TVLine proves that Chicago Fire is one of two shows that come very close to at least tying the top spot in the ratings and actually beat 9-1-1 in viewership. That is quite an accomplishment for a show that is not only in its tenth season, but also lost its top-billed actor after only five episodes in fall 2021. With Fire returning in the first week of the new year after the midseason finale ended on a cliffhanger for what has become the show’s biggest couple, the odds are good that the show will start 2022 strong. 

3. Chicago P.D./NBC - Season 9

Chicago P.D. is the second show that nearly ties 9-1-1’s ratings and beats it in audience size with a 1.3 rating and viewership of 9.25 million, tying Chicago Fire's ratings and coming close in the number of viewers. This is particularly impressive for P.D., as it is the One Chicago show that reliably comes in third behind both Chicago Med and Chicago Fire on Wednesdays in the initial Live+Same day numbers, only to receive a big boost in delayed numbers. That has been a consistent trend for years, and undoubtedly will continue in the new year. 

4. Grey's Anatomy/ABC - Season 18

Based on the numbers from TVLine’s ABC report, Grey’s Anatomy breaks the One Chicago streak with a rating of 1.3 and audience size of 6.67 million. The average number of viewers is well below the other shows that scored a 1.3, but the long-running ABC show is still going strong. For a show nearly 20 seasons in with a leading lady who thinks the show can end, that’s certainly worth bragging about for ABC. Grey's returns for the second half of the season in February, so not right away in 2022 but not quite pushed back to spring. 

5. Chicago Med/NBC - Season 7

And we’re back to One Chicago on NBC, courtesy of Chicago Med! Although Med generally delivers Live+Same numbers that are close to Fire, it comes in third in Live+7 with a 1.2 rating and audience of 9.17 million thanks to P.D.'s big delayed viewing bump. The audience size is larger than Grey’s Anatomy by more than 2 million, however, and only just under P.D. Med was also up against some stiff unscripted competition in the fall TV season courtesy of The Masked Singer on Fox and Survivor on CBS, so it’s possible that it will get a boost in 2022 with Survivor and The Masked Singer finished for the season.

6. Law & Order: SVU/NBC - Season 23

Law & Order: SVU is the longest-running live-action show to rank in the Top 13 after the fall season with average numbers of 1.2 rating and 6.63 million. At 23 seasons and counting, SVU making the Top 5 in ratings (when accounting for the tie between Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Grey’s Anatomy) is more than a little impressive. This is after losing two series regulars at the beginning of the season. Like the One Chicago shows (with which the Law & Order shows share a universe), SVU is returning early in the new year, so the odds are good for ratings and viewership numbers to remain strong in 2022, especially considering the upcoming return of Law & Order to create a full block of L&O primetime for NBC. 

7. Law & Order: Organized Crime/NBC - Season 2

Right on the heels of SVU is spinoff Law & Order: Organized Crime in its second season, with a rating of 1.1 and audience of 5.86 million. Considering shows like OC that air at 10 p.m. ET generally score lower numbers than those in earlier time slots, the spinoff coming close to SVU is a nice feat in Season 2. And, like SVU, it could benefit from the February return of Law & Order to create a three-hour block of closely-knit shows. The three-hour One Chicago block is hugely successful for NBC on Wednesdays (see above), and the same could be true for the L&O shows on Thursdays in 2022.

8. NCIS/CBS - Season 19

And now, we get into another set of shows that tied with each other in the ratings, ranked by which have the largest audiences. CBS’ NCIS is actually easily the winner overall when it comes to audience size with 11.43 million viewers, according to the CBS fall numbers from TVLine. That said, it’s not quite as dominant in the ratings, although the 1.0 is certainly not bad. This is in spite of NCIS losing Mark Harmon’s Gibbs in arguably the biggest cast departure on a major broadcast show in the fall season. The show is still going strong, and is a solid lead-in for freshman spinoff NCIS: Hawai’i, even though Hawai’i doesn’t crack the Top 13. With a January 3 return date, it is another show returning early and likely to do well. 

9. FBI/CBS - Season 4

The CBS ratings train keeps rolling with the fourth season of FBI, which is not only the highest-rated of the three FBI shows but was also the second most-viewed show on all four broadcast networks in the fall, behind just NCIS. The current average for FBI is a rating of 1.0 and audience of 9.97 million, putting it just over Chicago Fire’s audience of 9.95 million over on NBC. (Interestingly, FBI and Fire technically share a universe, although quite tangentially at this point.) FBI is far more procedural than serialized, and the numbers so far prove that it’s working with viewers heading into 2022. With its early return in the new year, there’s no reason to expect the show to start tanking.

10. The Equalizer/CBS - Season 2

The Equalizer has the bragging rights of averaging the highest ratings of any scripted series airing on a weekend, with its Sunday episodes scoring an average rating of 1.0 and audience of 9.67 million. It places fourth in audience size as well, behind just NCIS and FBI on its own network, and then Chicago Fire on NBC. The Queen Latifah series has settled into its Sunday night time slot of 8 p.m. ET on CBS, and despite generating some less-than-positive buzz due to actor Chris Noth, it should continue to do well when it returns on January 2. 

11. Young Sheldon/CBS - Season 5

With Young Sheldon, we have not only the highest-rated comedy of the fall with a 1.0, but also the most-watched comedy by far. With its 9.13 million, it comes in behind only fellow CBS shows NCIS, FBI, and The Equalizer and the three One Chicago shows on NBC. That’s more than a little impressive, particularly since it actually tied NCIS, FBI, and The Equalizer in the ratings with the 1.0. It’s not the only comedy in the Top 13, but the biggest shows are almost entirely dramas, so CBS has something very good going heading into 2022 with Young Sheldon.

12. Station 19/ABC - Season 5

Another show with a 1.0 rating is Station 19 over on ABC as the hit Grey’s Anatomy spinoff, with a solid average audience of 6.27 million. It trails Grey’s Anatomy fairly significantly in Live+7 but still is among the top shows of the fall. Even coming in at #12 due to the smaller audience compared to NCIS, FBI, The Equalizer, and Young Sheldon, it holds the same 1.0 rating as all four. Station 19 and Grey’s are also the only two ABC shows in the Top 13, proving that ABC – like NBC and CBS – has a good thing going with its shared universe. Not returning until February might not work in the show’s favor, but it’s returning with a Grey’s crossover, so starting 2022 with an event is likely going to benefit Station 19.

13. The Simpsons/Fox - Season 33

With The Simpsons, we have the last scripted show to hit a 1.0 rating or higher on average in the fall, as well as the show with the longest run so far with 33 seasons beating SVU’s 23. Season 33 currently averages a 1.0 rating and audience of 3.21 million, making it the least-watched of the 1.0-rated shows by far but only the second comedy to make the Top 13, after Young Sheldon. It is also the only other show that airs on a weekend to make the list, behind The Equalizer. The Simpsons may be all but unstoppable at this point even if the records that it breaks aren’t necessarily in the ratings. 

So, there we have the 13 shows that broke a 1.0 or higher in the ratings on average in the fall of the 2021-2022 TV season! There are series that averaged 0.9, like NBC’s La Brea, CBS’ FBI: Most Wanted and Ghosts, and ABC’s The Good Doctor and The Conners, and it’s possible that those that are still going heading into 2022 could overtake some of those averaging a 1.0. Only time will tell! For when the biggest shows are returning in the new year, be sure to check out our 2022 winter and spring premiere schedule!

Chris Noth found a new home on television in early 2021 thanks to his role on CBS’ The Equalizer, but the actor will soon no longer be featured in new episodes of the hit show due to sexual assault allegations. The network has cut ties with Noth due to the allegations that recently surfaced after a high profile (albeit brief) appearance on HBO Max’s And Just Like That spinoff of Sex and the City. That said, fans of The Equalizer haven’t seen the last of his character. 

One more episode of The Equalizer will feature Chris Noth’s William Bishop despite CBS cutting ties with the actor due to accusations from two women of sexual assault, according to Variety, as that episode had already completed filming prior to the decision about his future with the series. He will reportedly also appear in reruns of the episodes that featured him before and including his upcoming final episode. CBS and production company Universal Television released a brief statement (via Deadline) to confirm the situation:

The Equalizer is currently on hiatus after its fall finale back in late November. The sexual assault allegations came to light just days before the decision by CBS, after a commercial featuring Chris Noth went viral due to how his character was killed off in And Just Like That. Two women came forward to allege that Noth had sexually assaulted them, with one incident said to occur in 2004 in Los Angeles and the other said to take place in New York in 2015. He wrapped up his role as Big on Sex and the City in 2004 and began his run on NBC's Law & Order: Criminal Intent in 2005, and was working on CBS' The Good Wife in 2015. 

After the allegations emerged, the actor released a statement (via THR, after the initial claims of sexual assault became public), saying:

The two women who accused Noth of sexual assault reportedly came forward after he received mainstream attention both for being killed off And Just Like That as Big in a shocking twist, and then appearing in a Peleton commercial produced by Ryan Reynolds to play on Big's death. That Peleton ad has been removed from the company's social media and YouTube pages, and a company spokesperson stated that they were "unaware of these allegations when we featured Chris Noth in our response to HBO’s reboot." 

It's not clear at the time of writing when exactly Chris Noth's final episode of The Equalizer will air or how the show will write his character out. That said, the show is scheduled to return with its midseason premiere on Sunday, January 2 at 8 p.m. ET. Given that Noth only filmed one episode before CBS made the decision to cut him, the odds seem in favor of his final episode being the Season 2 midseason premiere. 

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Has there ever been a more memorable and commendable depiction of a United States president than Bill Pullman as Thomas J. Whitmore? His performance in Independence Day as a former Gulf War pilot with a penchant for giving damn good speeches made the 1996 sci-fi blockbuster the most iconic film of the actor’s career thus far, outside of other notable roles such as Lone Star in Spaceballs or in While You Were Sleeping as Sandra Bullock’s love interest. Lest we forget, there have been many other Bill Pullman movies and TV shows in more recent years, such as the following 12 titles we have collected below - starting with another epic about defending the Earth from aliens.

Titan A.E. (2000)

Years after the human race has failed to defend the Earth from aliens (resulting in the planet’s devastating destruction in the 31st Century), one brave survivor (Matt Damon) learns that he holds the key to ensuring humanity’s survival if he can find a powerful ship missing somewhere in outer space.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman movie worth checking out: Bill Pullman lends his voice to a character who is, essentially, the opposite of his Independence Day role in Titan A.E. - one of the best space movies (especially of animated kind) co-directed by the legendary Don Bluth.

Stream Titan A.E. on Starz.

Rent Titan A.E. on Amazon.

The Grudge (2004)

An American woman (Scream Queen Sarah Michelle Gellar) working as a nurse in Tokyo, Japan, falls prey to a mysterious curse with deadly consequences passed down to each person who enters a house with a horrifying history.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman movie worth checking out: Bill Pullman would later appear in Scary Movie 4 to poke fun at his role as an American teacher with a direct tie to the titular curse of The Grudge, director Takashi Shimizu’s hit English-language remake of his own 2002 film and one of the most acclaimed Japanese horror movies of all time.

Stream The Grudge on Amazon Prime.

Rent The Grudge on Amazon.

Bottle Shock (2008)

A renowned, British sommelier (the late Alan Rickman) organizes a blind taste test that pits a California wine seller (Bill Pullman) against products from France that were assumed to be superior in 1976.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman movie worth checking out: Bill Pullman stars as winemaker Jim Barrett (opposite a young Chris Pine as his son, Bo) in Bottle Shock - director Randall Miller’s fun, comedic take on the legendary real-life wine competition which came to be known as the Judgment of Paris and changed the world’s understanding of quality wine forever.

Stream Bottle Shock on Amazon Prime.

Stream Bottle Shock on Tubi.

Stream Bottle Shock on IMDb TV.

Stream Bottle Shock on Pluto TV.

Stream Bottle Shock on Vudu.

Rent Bottle Shock on Amazon.

The Killer Inside Me (2010)

An affair between a deputy sheriff (Academy Award winner Casey Affleck) and a sex worker he was supposed to arrest (Jessica Alba) evolves into a vengeful get rich quick scheme that quickly turns deadly in 1950s Texas.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman movie worth checking out: Bill Pullman steals the show as a southern lawyer who comes to the aid of Casey Affleck’s antagonistic protagonist in The Killer Inside Me, a chilling noir from the point of view of a sociopath from director Michael Winterbottom and based on Jim Thompson’s novel.

Rent The Killer Inside Me on Amazon.

Torchwood: Miracle Day (2011)

A disbanded team of paranormal investigators regroup with new members to figure why every living being on Earth has suddenly become unable to die.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman TV show worth checking out: Bill Pullman absolutely stole the show and earned rave reviews for his performance as a convicted sex offender and child murderer later seen as a messianic figure after surviving lethal injection in Torchwood: Miracle Day - a unique and engrossing eight-part sci-fi miniseries that is meant to be the fourth season of the UK-based Doctor Who spin-off.

Stream Torchwood: Miracle Day on HBO Max.

Buy Torchwood: Miracle Day on Amazon.

1600 Penn (2012-2013)

The President of the United States struggles to put up with the complications that come with running the country and raising a family, especially when it comes to his eldest son - an underachieving man-child (Josh Gad).

Why it’s a Bill Pullman TV show worth checking out: Bill Pullman returned to his spot in the Oval Office for a more humorous take on the presidency than he portrayed in Independence Day on 1600 Penn - a short-lived but well-received NBC original from star and co-creator Josh Gad that essentially reimagines The West Wing as a single-camera family sitcom.

Buy 1600 Penn on Amazon.

The Equalizer (2014)

A former special services operative is compelled to put his quiet life hiding in plain sight on hold when he meets a young sex worker (Chloë Grace Moretz) targeted by a vicious Russian mob.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman movie worth checking out: Bill Pullman makes an appearance as Brian, the husband of Denzel Washington’s friend and former CIA colleague Susan Plummer (Melissa Leo), in both The Equalizer and 2018’s The Equalizer 2 - director Antoine Fuqua’s big screen adaptations of the hit ’80s TV show that was rebooted as a Paramount+ original series starring Queen Latifah more recently.

Rent The Equalizer on Amazon.

Rent The Equalizer 2 on Amazon.

American Ultra (2015)

A stoned convenience store clerk (Jesse Eisenberg) and his supportive girlfriend (Kristen Stewart) go on the run when he accidentally kills two thieves, which begins to unravel a mystery about his forgotten past.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman movie worth checking out: Bill Pullman plays a CIA superior with questionable motives in American Ultra - a comedy that feels a little bit like the Jason Bourne movies and a little bit like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Total Recall had those action thrillers been written by Cheech and Chong.

Stream American Ultra on Netflix.

Rent American Ultra on Amazon.

LBJ (2016)

After assuming the role of the United States President by tragic means, Lyndon B. Johnson (Academy Award nominee Woody Harrelson) fights to see the passing of the Civil Rights Act.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman movie worth checking out: Bill Pullman assumes a political position a bit lower than that of Thomas J. Whitmore as Senator Ralph Yarborough in LBJ - director Rob Reiner’s revealing and inspiring biopic about John F. Kennedy’s Vice President-turned-successor to the presidency.

Stream LBJ on Kanopy.

Stream LBJ on Hoopla.

Rent LBJ on Amazon.

Battle Of The Sexes (2017)

Feminist trailblazer Billie Jean King (Academy Award winner Emma Stone) accepts an invitation from notorious chauvinist Bobby Riggs (Academy Award nominee Steve Carell) to compete against each other in a tennis match that would become a cultural milestone in 1973.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman movie worth checking out: Bill Pullman stars as real-life former tennis champion Jack Kramer, who comes under fire for his sexist approach to dictating how male and female athletes are paid Battle of the Sexes - one of the best sports movies in recent memory for its grand performances and timely social commentary.

Rent Battle of the Sexes on Amazon.

Dark Waters (2019)

A corporate defense lawyer for chemical companies (Academy Award nominee Mark Ruffalo) is compelled to change his tune when he uncovers a health crisis of which one of his clients, DuPont, is to blame.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman movie worth checking out: Harry Dietzler, Bill Pullman’s character in director Todd Haynes’ fact-based legal drama Dark Waters, is, thankfully, on the right side of history by assisting Mark Ruffalo’s Robert Billot in the fight to expose DuPont for its lengthy history of consciously polluting the drinking water in West Virginia.

Stream Dark Waters on Showtime.

Rent Dark Waters on Amazon.

The Sinner (2017-Present)

A seemingly meek housewife and mother who is unable to explain her motive for committing a horrifying murder (Jessica Biel) is only the first story involving unusual criminals in this intense, seasonal anthology original proposed as a limited series.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman TV show worth checking out: Bill Pullman received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for his performance as Detective Harry Ambrose, who would become the main character of The Sinner, which will enter its fourth season on USA in 2021.

Stream The Sinner on Netflix.

Buy The Sinner on Amazon.

Whether or not you believe that Bill Pullman has ever or will ever top his rousing performance in 1996’s Independence Day as President Thomas J. Whitmore, you cannot say that he has not done a great job trying. Enjoy a nice binge of the movies and TV shows above if you need more proof. If you already have been a close follower of the actor’s career up to this point, is there a title from the list above which you believe should be considered as his strongest career highlight?

This poll is no longer available.

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With every new streaming platform, there are several great dramas for people to turn to when they want to spice up their lives with the problems of fictional characters. Paramount+ is no stranger to that, even though it’s sort of new to the scene. Already, it sports awesome shows, with some of the best dramas out there. While you wait for your new shows to premiere from the 2021 TV schedule, streaming is the way to go.

We have shows that have been going on for what feels like forever, such as NCIS and Star Trek, and others that still have dedicated fans, like Blue Bloods and The Good Wife. No matter what you’re into, Paramount+ is sure to have some sort of drama for you to wrap your head around. These are some of the best that the streaming service has to offer.

NCIS Shows

If you haven’t heard of NCIS at this point, I don’t know what rock you’ve been hiding under.

NCIS is one of the quintessential cop dramas out there. The phrase stands for Naval Criminal Investigation Service, and the series has been going on for years, since 2003.

Because of the popularity of this military and police procedural show, there have been a couple of spinoffs in this franchise that have also been put onto Paramount+ for your viewing, including NCIS: New Orleans and NCIS: Los Angeles. For all you procedural fans, this is most certainly the one for you.

Stream the NCIS franchise on Paramount+ here.

All Rise

Moving onto a more recent entry in this list, All Rise follows the stories, cases, and personal lives of a judge, a persecutor, and a public defender in the beautiful world of Los Angeles, and all the crime that comes along with it.

Obviously, if you’re already a fan of legal shows like Your Honor and Better Call Saul, this drama will be right up your alley. Even if you’ve never given series like this a chance, I’d say keep an eye out for this show. It’s an intriguing look at the legal system, which does a great of of illuminating and entertaining.

Stream All Rise on Paramount+ here.

The Good Wife

Another legal and political drama, The Good Wife, kept a steady reputation as one of the best shows on TV for seven seasons. Produced by Ridley Scott, this show covers the story of Alicia Florrick, the wife of Cook County State’s Attorney, who returns to her career in law after her husband is found guilty of a public sex and political corruption scandal.

The show received critical acclaim and was nominated for multiple Primetime Emmy Awards for how fantastic it was. Sometimes shows like this need to be viewed to really grab you, and once you start that first episode, it’s like a drug. You’ll find yourself rooting for Alicia in ways that you never thought you would – truly worth the time to view.

Stream The Good Wife on Paramount+ here.

Clarice

Think of one of the best films you’ve ever seen – did you think of The Silence of the Lambs? Because I did, and that’s exactly what Clarice is based on. We return to the world of Clarice Starling a year after the events of Silence of the Lambs, as we dive deep into the personal, untold story of the detective.

This series has everything from the movie that you loved and more, with that same psychological aspect that made Silence of the Lambs so intriguing in the first place. Along with that, you’ll get some prime hunting down of other serial killers and sexual predators, in a high-stakes world all around Washington D.C. If you loved the original, you’re sure to love the show as well.

Stream Clarice on Paramount+ here.

Star Trek Shows

Alright, there are far too many to tell you the individual plot of each Star Trek show, but know that there are so many for you to explore. The Star Trek franchise – which has been around since the 1960’s – is all about going “boldly where no man has gone before,” through the channel of space and (sometimes) time. Trust me, there are several stories which have been told throughout the years.

From the Star Trek franchise, you could watch the original Star Trek, Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Discovery and so much more. While the series is rooted in science-fiction, there is still plenty of drama for you to enjoy. With each of the new shows that this franchise has turned out over the years, you’ll have entertainment for months.

Stream the Star Trek franchise on Paramount+ here.

The Equalizer

Moving onto another show based on a movie, The Equalizer is a brand-new TV series inspired by the original series of the same name from the 1980s. The show, now starring the fabulous Queen Latifah, tells the story of a vigilante who wants to help with social justice and pursues cases where the people aren’t helped by the law – which is where the “equalizer” steps in to help them out.

After the success of the series (and films starring Denzel Washington), it was only a matter of time before they decided to reboot the idea, and Queen Latifah holds up in the main role, along with several other shining costars alongside her. The crime-drama has only has a few episodes so far, so it’s easy to catch up, and who doesn’t love a good vigilante story?

Stream The Equalizer on Paramount+ here.

Blue Bloods

Blue Bloods focuses on the Reagan family, a group of individuals who largely work in law enforcement. The father is the New York City Police Commissioner, followed by family members that play other pivotal roles in the daily ongoings of the NYC Police Department.

With eleven seasons to binge, there’s plenty of you to enjoy on this popular cop show. Whether you’re a city dweller or someone who’s really into the law, there are parts of this show that will satisfy any viewer. Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg, and several others star in this popular show, so there’s also plenty of talent to watch during the long-running series.

Stream Blue Bloods on Paramount+ here.

Twin Peaks

This is one of my all-time favorite dramas, and it's been popular for such a long time that it’s clear others feel the same way. Twin Peaks, while short-lived, has a cult following for a reason. The series tells the tale of a murder investigation of a homecoming queen, in the fictional town of Twin Peaks, Washington.

While it sounds like just some normal everyday crime show, there are so many elements to Twin Peaks that stand out. For example, every episode is a standard day in the show, so each season only chronicles a month – therefore, as the viewer, you really get to dive deep into these investigations and see all of the horror, mystery, and killers that appear during these cases. It’s super interesting, extremely entertaining, and worth the watch for any crime fan, even if it's a short series.

Stream Twin Peaks on Paramount+ here.

Madam Secretary

Back to the political spectrum, we take a look at a role that isn’t usually covered that often from the White House in scripted TV – the secretary of the United States. Madam Secretary is the story of a secretary of state, and the internal struggles that she has while trying to drive diplomacy, and the politics of not just the country, but the office as well.

I know that there are so many political shows out there, but this was is super complex. It really digs deep into this position and the troubles that anyone in the White House can face. I feel like in the last couple of years, we’ve all had our fair share of politics, but for a show that was around for six seasons, it’s clear they must have been doing something right. The character development is great, the stories interesting, and the politics aren’t too hard to understand for someone who’s new to shows like this.

Stream Madam Secretary on Paramount+ here.

The Stand

Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, The Stand is basically what we’re living right now – through a pandemic.

Nah, I’m just joking, but that is a main plot-point of this miniseries. In this show, we see the beginning of a pandemic that is a result of a mishap in a military biological research station – this, in turn, leads to the people who are left fighting a true battle of good against evil.

With this great show, we see awesome actors like James Marsden and Odessa Young take the lead, really providing us with a rich story – I mean, it’s Stephen King, the same guy who wrote The Shining. We all know that this story is going to be great. There’s no better time than now to watch it.

Stream The Stand on Paramount+ here.

The Twilight Zone

While the new Twilight Zone that Jordan Peele hosts is fun and all, there’s nothing that can quite compare to the original The Twilight Zone from the ’60s. The Twilight Zone is an anthology, often dealing with strange and unusual events and the people who get caught up in those events.

While the show can lean a little bit more into the horror and mystery aspect, the episodes always end with some sort of lesson being taught. Even though some of the issues can be a bit dated (this show did debut in 1959), many of the stories are still mysterious enough to be thoroughly entertaining.

Stream The Twilight Zone on Paramount+ here.

Under The Dome

Another Stephen King adaption here, Under The Dome, tells the story of a small town which is suddenly trapped under a glass dome. No one knows why, but it’s up to the townspeople to figure out exactly how to get out – and why it might have happened to them in the first place.

I know that this sounds a little bit like the plot of The Simpsons Movie, but I promise you that the story of Under The Dome is much more fleshed out and entertaining – and a lot less comical. This is the epitome of what a drama should be, with a nice science-fiction twist.

Stream Under the Dome on Paramount+ here.

Jeez. I’m already biting my nails imagining the stress I would feel watching all these dramas – but, I suppose that’s the fun part about it. You can sit on the couch and view it all on Paramount+, without having to deal with any of the consequences that the characters did.

CBS’ new series The Equalizer is already getting a ton of buzz. While the series can hold its own solo and boasts a big-name star thanks to Queen Latifah, the idea of a crossover between The Equalizer and NCIS: Los Angeles is something that longtime NCIS: LA star LL Cool J is not opposed to.

Queen Latifah stars in the Equalizer reboot as Robyn McCall, who balances her crime-fighting life with her duties as a single mother. During a conversation with Deadline at the virtual SXSW Film Festival, the actress explained that both she and LL Cool J feed off each other’s success and seeing each other open doors. As to doors being opened, LL Cool J would love to do a crossover with the new series:

Just after the premiere, CBS decided to renew The Equalizer for a second season, much to cast and fan appreciation. The renewal definitely gives writers room to include a crossover with NCIS: LA, especially since the new series currently serves as a lead-in to NCIS: LA. LL Cool J’s reasoning makes sense, for fans who already watch The Equalizer and NCIS: Los Angeles as well as newcomers to one or the other drawn to give the show a shot if there is a crossover. But just how would that storyline fit in with the other?

Meanwhile, even without a crossover with The Equalizer, the NCIS franchise is going through some changes. It was recently revealed that CBS is developing a Hawaii spinoff of the procedural, and members of the NCIS: LA cast could barely contain their excitement about the new addition. If The Equalizer does join the NCIS universe (which is losing NCIS: New Orleans this year), it would be the latest in the ever-growing franchise. Other shows part of the NCIS universe include JAG (which is what NCIS originated from), Magnum P.I., Hawaii Five-O, MacGyver and Scorpion.

Although CBS has yet to renew NCIS: Los Angeles for a 13th season, it wouldn’t be a surprise if news were to come soon, although the future of NCIS itself is uncertain and NCIS: NOLA is just a couple of months away from ending. But how exactly the Equalizer reboot would fit in with the NCIS universe is a question for another day. Seeing that there are already so many shows involved, it wouldn’t be hard adding another one to the list, especially if some of the cast members are already so close to each other.

Many Queen Latifah fans were a bit surprised a couple of years ago when it was announced that the Oscar nominee and former Star and Living Single lead was planning a return to TV in the drama The Equalizer. But, it didn't take long for the project to get off the ground and hit our TVs (right after this year's Super Bowl), and prove to be a great move for the multi-hyphenate star. The Equalizer connected with audiences right out of the gate, and now it's led Queen Latifah and more stars of the freshman hit to celebrate the show's Season 2 renewal.

CBS fans love a procedural, and they've been given a rebooted property with a lot of new angles in The Equalizer. The series, which is based on the popular '80s hit of the same name which starred Edward Woodward, now follows Queen Latifah's Robyn McCall as a former CIA operative who's decided to use her considerable skills to work secretly as a vigilante, fighting for people who've been wronged and usually have no way to fight back on their own.

After only four episodes, The Equalizer is now the number one scripted show in viewers, adults 25-54, and adults 18-49, averaging 14.6 million eyeballs per week, and Queen Latifah took to Twitter to share her excitement at the early renewal:

There's no doubt in my mind that Queen Latifah is truly excited at the Season 2 renewal for The Equalizer. Sure, this might not be the most effusive tweet ever when it comes to posting good news, but Latifah is both the star and an executive producer on her new hit series, so she's probably already very aware of the amount of work she's about to embark on to help deliver both the rest of this season and a new season which will satisfy fans.

One of her executive producing partners on the series, Debra Martin Chase (The Princess Diaries, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants), had much more to say on the renewal, and thanked the fans for "embracing" the show, a sentiment which actor Tory Kittles (who plays Detective Marcus Dante, a cop tracking Robyn's vigilante activities) echoed on Instagram:

season2 of #theequalizer is coming!!!! you all made this happen, and i’m extremely grateful and humbled that we get to continue the story. thank you - thank you - thank you. keep tuning!!!! #theequalizer

Kittles amplified his message with the use of three heart emojis to show how much he (and probably everyone involved in The Equalizer) appreciates the support of the fans, which star Lorraine Toussaint (Robyn's Aunt Vi), also shared, along with one of her signature looks from the show:

Aren't you glad we're going to get more of these looks every Sunday night? Fans likely love Aunt Vi as much as Toussaint loves the fans. People tuned in for The Equalizer's post-Super Bowl premiere to the tune of 23.8 million viewers, meaning it was able to keep 40% of the audience for the post game show, the best numbers since New Girl's half hour showing in 2014 (40%) and the best hour-long retention since Glee's post-game spot in 2011 (41%).

Liza Lapira, who plays Mel Bayani, a bar owner and former colleague from Robyn's past who helps her with her modern day missions, posted her thanks on Instagram, and kept fans pumped for what's to come, saying:

Lapira wrapped her post with the two heart emoji to help show her love for the fans and all the episodes to come of The Equalizer which they helped to make a reality. And, you can bet that she, Queen Latifah, Tory Kittles, Lorraine Toussaint and the rest of the cast and crew are all looking forward to bringing fans more intriguing cases where Robyn and her friends help the helpless while trying to stay several steps ahead of the cops.

The Equalizer airs Sundays on CBS at 8 p.m. EST.

It's incredibly difficult nowadays to make sure that enough eyeballs are on a new series when it premieres so that it can start with a solid fan base that will, hopefully, be able to grow over time. This is part of the reason why having a proven ratings winner as a lead-in can help a new show find an audience which might not have otherwise paid much attention to such a debut. In the case of The Equalizer, CBS' new Queen Latifah drama, that lead-in was Super Bowl LV, and while it led to a big win for the show, now it's been faced with a production shutdown.

Being shown after a television event as big as the Super Bowl has been a prime spot for many series in the past, and it usually gives a boost to shows both old and brand new. This was certainly the case with The Equalizer, but, unfortunately, the show has now had to stop filming over COVID-19 concerns. According to Deadline, those behind the freshman show were made aware of a positive virus test which was produced just this Monday during the regular testing process for all cast and crew. This has led to a production shutdown, while those who were exposed to the individual have been told to quarantine.

Even though contact tracing began as soon as possible so that the production could quickly identify everyone who'd been in close contact with the person who tested positive, it's standard operating procedure now for filming to cease so that all details can be ironed out, and anyone who may have been exposed can be tested again. Right now, we don't know how many people on The Equalizer set may have been sent to self-isolate, or what particular category of employees was directly impacted.

We are also unsure of how long the shutdown will last, though, for right now, it's said it will be at least a few days as the situation is being monitored. While the production schedule is being updated to reflect the pause in filming, there's no word on whether or not it will affect when new episodes of The Equalizer will air down the line.

Considering how many people tuned in to watch the premier of The Equalizer after the Super Bowl, you can bet that a lot of people will likely be wondering about the show's schedule going forward. The Queen Latifah starrer brought in a whopping 20.4 million viewers on Sunday, which is a very high number both for a debut and any scripted show on a broadcast network, in general, nowadays.

Aside from its Super Bowl lead in, The Equalizer does have the added benefit of being a property which is already familiar to many people. It was first seen as a series on CBS in the 1980s (then starring Edward Woodward), where it lasted for four seasons, and was recently re-imagined as a film franchise starring Denzel Washington as the titular righter of wrongs for the downtrodden and hopeless.

Now, Queen Latifah has taken on the badass role of the former federal agent who's using her skills for vigilante efforts, and the show stars several other well-known faces like Chris Noth (The Good Wife), Lorriane Toussaint (Orange Is the New Black), and Adam Goldberg (Friends, Saving Private Ryan).

Hopefully, those directly impacted by this positive diagnosis are already well on their way to a full and speedy recovery, and The Equalizer can get back up and running soon. The series will be back this Sunday on CBS at its regular time of 8 p.m. EST. For more on what to watch in the coming weeks, be sure to check out our guide to winter / spring 2021 TV.

Fans were a bit surprised when it was announced that Queen Latifah was all set to take over the badass, justice-finding shoes of The Equalizer in a new CBS show. Obviously, we all love us some Latifah, but for those who were thinking we'd be treated to someone closer to Denzel Washington's film version or Edward Woodward's '80s TV version of the do-gooder, the move probably came out of left field.

Luckily, the Oscar nominee is more than capable of righting the many wrongs done to the oppressed and exploited, and The Equalizer cast is similarly filled with other talented, familiar faces (like Chris Noth) to help her in those efforts. So, let's take a look at where you've seen all of the major players before!

Queen Latifah (Robyn McCall)

As our exceedingly skilled former CIA operative who's now dedicating her life to helping those with nowhere else to turn, is Queen Latifah. It would be a true shock if you've never seen this dynamic multi-hyphenate before, as she's been making moves in the entertainment industry as a rapper/singer/actor/producer/talk show host since she burst onto the scene with her debut album, All Hail the Queen in 1989.

Since then, Latifah has lent her considerable talents to appearances in properties like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Jungle Fever, House Party 2, and The Bone Collector. She transitioned to leading roles in the hit sitcom Living Single, and the recent Fox drama Star, and films like Set It Off, The Perfect Holiday, Beauty Shop, Hairspray, The Secret Life of Bees, Just Wright, and the Ice Age franchise. In addition, Queen Latifah got an Oscar nomination for Chicago in 2003, and won an Emmy in 2015 for Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for HBO's Bessie.

Chris Noth (William Bishop)

Robyn's former CIA handler and long time friend, William Bishop, helps her in her new mission on The Equalizer, and he should easily be recognized by fans of the original Law & Order and Sex and the City, as Chris Noth played major parts in each of those iconic television shows. But, his parts as Detective Mike Logan and Mr. Big, respectively, are far from the only places where you could have seen him.

Noth had short runs in the mid-80s on both the soap opera Another World, and the long-running cop drama Hill Street Blues, and soon moved on to TV movies and mini-series like I'll Take Manhattan, At Mother's Request, and Nothing Lasts Forever. Of course, Noth also reprised his role as Detective Logan for Law & Order: Criminal Intent from 2005-2008, and appeared more recently in Tyrant, Catastrophe, and Doctor Who, but is also known for his seven season stint as a very bad husband on the CBS legal drama The Good Wife.

Lorraine Toussaint (Viola “Vi” Marsette)

This time around our Equalizer has some family to deal with. As Robyn's Aunt Vi, we have stage and screen veteran Lorraine Toussaint, who is probably most recognizable from her short, but impactful, stint as inmate Yvonne 'Vee' Parker on Orange Is the New Black.

Toussaint's career, though, goes way back to before her time on the Netflix hit. Her first screen credit was the in TV movie The Face of Rage in 1983, and she's gone on to appear in over 100 film and TV projects. These include 227, Dangerous Minds, Any Day Now, Crossing Jordan, Law & Order, CSI, Ugly Betty, Friday Night Lights, Rosewood, The Fosters, and Into the Badlands. Lorraine Toussaint has also voiced a few video game and animated characters, including the Shadow Weaver on Netflix's She-Ra and the Princesses of Power.

Liza Lapira (Melody “Mel” Bayani)

Everyone needs friends they can trust, and Liza Lapira's edgy bar owner, Mel, is that for Robyn as she helps in her mission to find justice for the downtrodden. Lapira has mostly been known for her roles in sitcoms over her 21 year career, with parts in series such as Don't Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23, Royal Pains, Super Fun Night, Battle Creek, Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life, and Con Man.

Lapira has also been featured in more dramatic work like Law & Order: SVU, Dexter, NCIS, Fast & Furious, Cloverfield, Dollhouse, and most recently, The CW's Nancy Drew.

Adam Goldberg (Harry Keshegian)

You might not immediately recognize Adam Goldberg as paranoid, white-hat hacker Harry Keshegian when you see him on The Equalizer, but you have definitely seen the veteran of nearly 100 film and TV projects during his 31 years on screen. Because of repeats and binge-viewings, Goldberg might always be best known for his three episode stint as Chandler's irritating and excessively weird non-Joey roommate, Eddie, on Friends.

But, Goldberg has been in a wealth of other projects over the decades, including Saving Private Ryan, A Beautiful Mind, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Joey (where he did not reprise his role as Eddie), Entourage, the first season of Fargo, NBC's Taken series, and, most recently, God Friended Me.

Tory Kittles (Detective Marcus Dante)

Every vigilante like Robyn McCall needs a dogged law enforcement officer who's hot on her trail, and The Equalizer has that in Tory Kittles' Detective Dante. His appearance here is actually a reunion of sorts, as he's worked with Queen Latifah twice before, in Bessie and the 2012 TV movie Steel Magnolias. However, Kittles has plenty of credits besides those, and has lent his talents to projects such as Tigerland, Phone Booth, Get Rich or Die Tryin', Miracle at St. Anna, Sons of Anarchy, Olympus Has Fallen, True Detective, Colony, and recently portrayed Frederick Douglass in Harriet.

Laya DeLeon Hayes (Delilah)

Robyn's teenaged daughter, Delilah, may be too smart and observant for her mom to keep her mission secret from her for long, and any doubts we see Delilah have will surely be well-communicated by Laya DeLeon Hayes, who got her first acting credit for voicing a character in the League of Legends video game in 2009. Since then, the young star has been on Grey's Anatomy, Cougar Town, Chicago Fire, Liv and Maddie, Quantico, Code Black, Raven's Home, and Just Add Magic. DeLeon Hayes is also known for her voice work in Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny, and for playing the title character in Doc McStuffins.

Now that you know where you've seen (and heard) the main cast of The Equalizer before, here's hoping you enjoy the new show even more!

You know, it might be good for some people to come out of retirement. Like musicians. Who doesn’t want to see their favorite band come out of retirement for one last show? But you know who you don’t want to take out of retirement? Killers. Killers and people who can wreck you with a single punch to the throat. But characters like John Wick, played by the impossibly cool Keanu Reeves, and Bryan Mills from Taken always seem to be pushed to the point of No More Mr. Nice Guy. I wonder why.

Maybe it’s because people love seeing extremely talented fighters in their element. And that’s what all the characters on this list have in common. They’re the kind of people who you don’t want to piss off. Because you wouldn’t like them when they’re angry.

John Wick

Do you remember what pushed John Wick over the edge? It was his dog. Somebody killed his beloved dog. Sure, his house was broken into and his sweet car was stolen, but you don't mess with a person's dog. Everybody knows that.

And since then, John Wick has killed pretty much everybody and their mother, first in retaliation and then because he's been drawn back into a life he wanted to leave behind. My favorite kill of his is when he took down a giant with a book. A book! Who kills somebody with a book? John Wick, that’s who. Leave him alone.

Bryan Mills - Taken

Bryan Mills from the Taken series (played by Liam Neeson) is ex-CIA, and the main reason he called it quits in the first place was so he could be closer to his daughter. But things go awry when his daughter is kidnapped on a trip to Paris and is being sold off as a sex slave. You would think this would be bad news for Bryan, and it is. But it's much, much worse news for the kidnappers. Because boy oh boy, Mills has a particular set of skills that you don’t want to be on the receiving end of.

Sure, Mills is very handy with a gun, but I’m much more terrified of his interrogation methods. You know, because being strapped down to a chair and being electrocuted until I cry doesn’t sound like my ideal way of spending a weekend.

The Bride - Kill Bill

It was supposed to be a beautiful wedding. But wouldn’t you know it, “the bride” (played by Uma Thurman) gets betrayed by her old boss and coworkers on her special day. Not only that, but she was pregnant to boot. Instead of a baby shower, she was getting showered in her own blood. Now that’s enough to piss anybody off, especially considering she'd tried to leave that life behind. They should've let her.

But, oh, did she get her vengeance. So much so, that the Bride needed two movies to take out the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad and finally kill Bill. My favorite moment of hers is when she rips out Elle Driver’s (played by Daryl Hannah) other eye. Because Elle had it coming. She just didn’t see it coming. And now she'll never see again. Tough luck.

Mad Max

Max Rockatansky just can’t seem to catch a break. First, his wife and child are brutally murdered in the first movie, and then, he gets pulled into a fight between roving marauders and a community of settlers in the second (do I even need to bring up what he can do in a Thunderdome?) I mean, can’t a man cruise the apocalyptic wasteland in peace?

Apparently not, since Max is always being hounded by psychopaths and big dudes like Lord Humungus. But Max is the kind of guy who doesn’t mind driving head first into another vehicle if it means killing your enemies. They don’t call him “Mad” Max for nothing.

Samantha Caine - The Long Kiss Goodnight

The most badass schoolteacher on the planet, Samantha Caine (played by Geena Davis) is living a peaceful life in the suburbs. Sure, she has a bit of memory loss and hires the occasional private investigator to make sense of her forgotten past, but otherwise, life is peachy. That is until she gets into a car accident that knocks her brain back into place and activates her killer mode since she was an assassin in her past life. Now, she can cut carrots like a pro, knock thugs out cold with a pie (a pie!), and (why not?) dye her hair platinum blonde. 

Getting her memories back didn't seem to bother her much, but the people who came after her shortly after did. Big mistake.

Ms. Caine is now Charlene "Charly" Baltimore, the kind of killer you don't want to piss off since she doesn't flinch when a gun is pointed straight at her. She also has no problem pushing Samuel L. Jackson out of a moving vehicle, which is pretty pimp given that Jackson would later become the eye patch wearing head of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Robert McCall - The Equalizer

Robert McCall (played by Denzel Washington) would like nothing more than to just hang out in a diner, drink some coffee, and read some fine ass literature. But when he finds out a young prostitute who he befriended (played by Chloe Grace Moretz) is brutally beaten and put in a hospital by some punk in the Russian Mafia, it’s time for him to put down the book, come out of retirement (he's a former DIA agent), and kill everybody in the room.

Like Bryan Mills from Taken, Robert McCall in The Equalizer also has a special set of skills. But his involve setting booby traps in a Home Depot knock-off and then walking in slow motion as the sprinkler system goes off. Not smart, Russian mob. Not smart at all.

Wyatt Earp - Tombstone

Wyatt Earp (played by Kurt Russell) is retired and would like nothing more than to just hang out with his brothers, Virgil and Morgan. But that’s when some no-good red-sash wearing outlaws known as the Cowboys had to mess everything up. And now, it’s personal.

Wyatt Earp is not above surprise attacks at train stations or letting baddies know that he’s coming, and not only that, but that hell’s coming with him. He’s also not above bitch slapping somebody and then staring them directly in the eyes. Wyatt Earp is nobody’s huckleberry, that’s for sure.

John Rambo

Rambo (played by Sylvester Stallone) is pretty much the quintessential, just-leave-him-alone, character. He’d had enough of people spitting at him and calling him a baby killer once he got back from the war to last him a lifetime, and the last thing he needed was for some Podunk police officer to get on his nerves. But the sheriff (played by Brian Dennehy) arrests Rambo, retrains him, and even tries to shave his head. Dumb move, dude, since it flicked on a switch in Rambo’s head that brought him back to his Vietnam days. And now, he can't switch it back off again.

Which is bad news, because when you mess with John Rambo, you better have a good supply of body bags available. Rambo has probably never killed more people than he did in his fourth outing, though, when he got behind a mounted machine gun and just went ballistic. But they had it coming. They drew first blood.

And that’s the list. What are some other characters you don’t want to piss off? Sound off in the comments.

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Queen Latifah has a couple of series regular roles on television shows under her acting belt, and now that Fox's Star has been over for several months, it looks like she might have found her next big TV gig. And, it's a pretty surprising one, considering that she's signed on as the lead of the CBS reboot of The Equalizer. What? Yeah, I know. Let's dig into this.

CBS has just given The Equalizer a pilot production commitment, with Queen Latifah set to star as the one who equalizes, along with executive producing the reboot of the CBS classic. The Equalizer initially ran for four seasons, from 1985-1989, and starred Edward Woodward in the titular role, but the property was recently taken to the big screen in two films, with Denzel Washington in the lead. And, if you're afraid the new series will veer too far from the original, you can take solace in the fact that Richard Lindheim, who co-created the first series, is also acting as an EP.

As with the original show and the Denzel Washington movies, The Equalizer will feature Queen Latifah as a mysterious figure who uses her wealth of knowledge and skills to help people with some big problems who feel they have nowhere else to turn when it comes to getting out of tricky, or just plain dangerous, situations. According to Deadline, The Equalizer comes from Andrew Marlowe and Terri Miller (both of ABC's Take Two), Flavor Unit, Martin Chase Productions, Davis Entertainment, Universal Television and CBS TV Studios. Marlowe and Miller will also write and act as showrunners.

Obviously, this will be a big departure for The Eqalizer, as only men have played the leading equalizer of wrongs in the past. Both the previous show and the movies set their main character as Robert McCall, who was a retired intelligence agent with a mysterious past. There's no word right now what moniker Queen Latifah's version of the character will go by, or how she's come by her many skills, but who can really argue that Latifah is wrong for this part?

Truthfully, I don't believe we've ever seen Queen Latifah in a role where she wasn't a take charge, authoritative individual. She's not known for playing badasses in a Robert McCall / Liam Neeson in the Taken franchise kind of way, but her characters always work towards their goals with the kind of fierce determination that we need to see from The Equalizer. There's no doubt in my mind that she could solve any number of problems for those in need. Hell, I wouldn't mind giving over some of my issues to the real Queen Latifah. I'm sure she'd tell me what to do in good faith.

Along with Star (which was cancelled after Season 3), Queen Latifah has been in a host of TV shows and movies. These include Living Single (sounds like we might have to wait for that revival), House Party 2, Set It Off, Beauty Shop, Hairspray, Just Wright, Girls Trip and Chicago (which netted her an Oscar nomination in 2003). Plus, she'll be in the upcoming live TV musical version of The Little Mermaid on November 5.

Universal TV, which produced the initial television show, has been trying to bring the property back to the small screen for about five years, with several attempts to lock down a new take falling through. I'm sure those behind The Equalizer are bolstered by the show of faith they've gotten from CBS with this pilot commitment.

The Equalizer is still in the very early stages, but stick with CinemaBlend and we'll let you know as things develop. In the meantime, be sure to see what else you can watch by perusing our 2019 fall TV premiere guide!

The best Denzel Washington movies are the ones that bring out that smoldering inner fire that Washington controls so well as an actor. These are the movies where he plays characters that remain cool and calm on the outside, but with a deep intensity just under the surface that only explodes to surface when the time is exactly right.

Denzel Washington has been nominated for an Oscar an impressive eight times for acting roles, and another as a producer. He’s played so many iconic roles that we can’t even fit all his nominated roles on this list, like his two most recent ones in 2017's Fences and last year's Roman J. Israel, Esq. He even won a Tony Award for his performance in Fences' run as a play on Broadway in 2010.

But what are his most iconic roles? The ones for which he’ll be remembered forever? That’s what this list is all about. Denzel Washington’s passion and dedication to these roles are why he rises above so many other actors in Hollywood and commands all the attention of audiences when he is on the big screen.

10. Glory (1989)

Glory was not the first time Denzel Washington was nominated for an Academy Award; he had been nominated a couple years previously for his role as Steve Biko in Cry Freedom, but it was the first time he won an Oscar. It was also this role, as Private Trip in one of the very few all-black regiments in the Union Army during the Civil War, that launched his career towards superstardom.

This is a rare example of Denzel Washington not being the main character of a film, instead playing a supporting role to star Matthew Broderick, but Washington steals every scene he is in as a young volunteer private. Making this breakout performance with such an all-star cast that also including Morgan Freeman and Cary Elwes tells you all you need to know about how commanding a presence Washington is.

9. Remember The Titans (2000)

It’s true that even by Hollywood standards, Remember The Titans takes a lot of artistic liberties in this movie that is what can only be described as “loosely” based on a true story about an African-American football coach that comes in to coach a recently integrated high school in Virginia in 1971.

Though much of the story is manipulated in a lot of different ways, Denzel Washington’s performance is outstanding. In a way, it’s the perfect role for his talents: a very tough coach with a heart of gold. It’s his smoldering intensity, again, that drives the character of Coach Herman Boone and his desire for success and equality.

8. American Gangster (2007)

Frank Lucas was one of the boldest, most brutal and most successful drug traffickers in American history. His exploits are legendary and horrifying. When Denzel Washington played him in American Gangster, audiences loved that he brought that trademark intensity along with some serious charm to the role.

Playing a gangster like Frank Lucas must be a lot of fun for an actor, especially in a period piece done as well as American Gangster, and Denzel Washington’s enthusiasm for the role comes through brilliantly. Like so many other movies, Washington shows just how powerful a leading man he is when he stands out in the terrific ensemble cast that includes other heavyweights like Russell Crowe, Josh Brolin, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Norman Reedus.

7. He Got Game (1998)

Denzel Washington first worked with director Spike Lee early in both of their careers with 1990’s Mo’ Better Blues, and that collaboration proved so fruitful that they have gone on to work together three more times, most recently in 2006’s Inside Man. The relationship has proved to be one of the most enduring of Washington’s career, only working with the late Tony Scott more often.

He Got Game is vintage Denzel. In it, he plays a convict named Jake Shuttlesworth trying to reconnect with his son, a star high school basketball player with dreams of reaching the NBA. Because his temporary parole was granted by the governor in hopes of Jake convincing his son to play for the governor’s alma mater, Jake must make the most of the moment to not only reconnect with a son that he had little connection to while in prison, but also gently nudge him towards accepting the scholarship. It’s everything you want in a Denzel Washington performance.

6. Crimson Tide (1995)

Speaking of Tony Scott, Crimson Tide was the first time Denzel Washington worked with the director, and after watching his performance as the second-in-command of a nuclear submarine, it’s easy to see why they worked together successfully four subsequent times with Man On Fire, Deja Vu, The Taking Of Pelham 123 and Unstoppable.

Denzel Washington’s chemistry with Gene Hackman, who plays the captain of the sub and the main antagonist to Washington’s character, is fantastic as well. Washington’s character is forced to make the difficult decision to relieve his commanding officer of command, while Hackman fights back, calling the move a mutiny. Their back-and-forth battle, with the backdrop of the threat of nuclear war hangs over their clash, makes for an incredible intense and excellent movie.

5. The Equalizer (2014)

Denzel Washington has shown his versatility of the years, playing every kind of role imaginable, from Civil War soldier to Shakespeare to criminal to lawyer and everything in between. But it wasn’t until 2014 that he played what we think of as a modern action hero, or anti-hero, like his character Robert McCall in The Equalizer. Sure, he had dabbled in action movies over the years, but McCall is a character in the vein of John Wick or Bryan Mills in Taken.

Denzel Washington liked the role and the movie so much that for the first time in his career, he appeared in a sequel, playing the same role once again and nailing it a second time. Of course, it’s still pure Denzel: often cool, calm, and collected while reading his books in the corner of the coffee shop until it’s time to unleash the fury of a man haunted by his past and obsessed with justice. 30 years into his career and Denzel Washington is still at the top of his game.

4. Training Day (2001)

Training Day is a controversial movie. Some critics complain that the over-the-top corruption and violence conducted by Denzel Washington’s character, Alonzo Harris, is too unbelievable. They argue that despite winning his second Academy Award for the performance, the award was really just a “make-up” for Washington not winning for previous roles in Hurricane and Remember The Titans. But those critics are wrong.

Training Day is an awesome movie and Denzel Washington’s performance is not only credible and believable as an unscrupulous cop running a completely corrupt crew of equally bad cops, it is totally terrifying. He certainly deserved the Oscar nod for one of his most intense and scariest roles, pushing the boundaries of his talents and finding new ways to bring his intensity to bear in a role he born to play. It also marked the first time Washington worked with director Antoine Fuqua, someone he would work with three more times to date in some of his best roles, including The Equalizer films.

3. The Hurricane (1999)

Just like some of his other great movies, Denzel Washington plays a role based on the life of a real person in Hurricane, that of boxer and wrongly-convicted prisoner Ruben “Hurricane” Carter. How he didn’t win the Oscar for his performance is a mystery to many, losing to Kevin Spacey in a decision the Academy may regret today.

In a career noted for incredible powerful performances, this is easily among the most powerful. The movie itself has its flaws, but Denzel Washington’s performance carries it on his back and shines like few other roles he’s had over the years. Usually, Washington puts in a strong performance in powerful movies, but what makes this so iconic is that he is so good in a movie that is at best so uneven. His performance is why you watch the film.

2. Philadelphia (1993)

1993’s Philadelphia was an important movie whose message and impact has been a little bit lost to history. Denzel Washington plays a lawyer reluctant to take the case of a fellow lawyer, played by Tom Hanks in an Oscar-winning performance, who is suing his former law firm for discrimination because he believes he was fired for being gay and for having AIDS. The movie was a breakthrough in mainstream understanding and acceptance for people living with HIV and AIDS, and how they should be treated by the public.

In the early ‘90s, homophobia was still mainstream and HIV/AIDS was so misunderstood that people suffering from the disease were treated like lepers in the 19th century, shunned from society and feared by most people. Denzel Washington’s powerful performance as just one of those people, homophobic and fearful, but redeemed and enlightened by the end, actually had a real effect on the public, especially after the film received attention at the Academy Awards for Hanks and Bruce Springsteen for his powerful theme song.

1. Malcolm X (1992)

Denzel Washington’s third collaboration with Spike Lee has proven to be his most iconic role. Playing the controversial civil rights activist Malcolm X in the movie with the same title, Denzel Washington puts in the performance of his career. Not only does he perfectly capture the essence of the charismatic, but contentious 1960s member of The Nation Of Islam, but he captures the man’s spirit as well.

It’s easy to see that the role and the film are deeply personal to both Denzel Washington and to Spike Lee, and the passion that both put into the movie is moving and incredible. The movie, like the man, was very controversial, but Washington’s incredible performance is unquestionably the defining moment of his career. He may have lost the Oscar for Best Actor to Al Pacino that year, but there is no doubt it was not only the best acting performance of 1992, it remains the best of Denzel Washington’s stellar career.

There are many other fantastic performances that didn’t make this top 10 list in movies, like Antwone Fisher, Courage Under Fire, The Manchurian Candidate, The Pelican Brief and, of course, his wonderful turn doing Shakespeare in 1993’s Much Ado About Nothing. But in a career like Denzel Washington’s, it’s hard to pick out just ten.

The good news is it looks like it might get harder as he set to appear once again in a Shakespeare classic, Macbeth. We can’t wait to see what else the future holds for a man who proves over and over that he is one of the best leading men in cinema history.

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Like most action movies, The Equalizer 2 escalates its action to the point of a giant firefight in its third act... but the upcoming sequel has one thing that makes it special: the fact that the sequence is set during a raging hurricane. As you would expect, on the big screen it looks totally crazy, and when I recently sat down with director Antoine Fuqua and star Denzel Washington, they confirmed all of my suspicions:

The Los Angeles press day for The Equalizer 2 was held this past weekend, and it was appropriately at the end of my interview with the veteran actor-director duo that I asked about the movie's climactic battle. Antoine Fuqua noted that shooting the action was exactly as "not fun" as you'd expect, with Denzel Washington stressing that things definitely aren't made easier on the set of a film when things are all wet. His specific choice of word was "tedious," as they not only had the stress of doing multiple takes filming each scene, but everything was cranked up to 10 because of the uncomfortable wind and water effects making everything more difficult.

Without getting into too many details that might spoil the experience of actually watching The Equalizer 2, the pain and struggle filming the sequence legitimately does pay off -- as it legitimately looks like the last section of the movie was filmed during a serious Nor'easter. It makes for a thrilling and intense atmosphere, amping the stakes, and more importantly allows Denzel Washington's Robert McCall to effectively show off his crazy killing skills in a unique environment. It's definitely a whole lot different than the end of the first Equalizer, which you may remember concludes at the hardware superstore at which McCall worked (in the sequel the story picks up with him operating as a Lyft driver).

While it's usually not necessarily a great thing to be thinking about the filmmaking process while watching a movie, I will say that The Equalizer 2's finale is a bit of an exception. It's pretty crazy to see the cast of actors battling the elements while facing off in a life-or-death battle, but in the moment you also can't help but think about how they actually got the work done. Without seeing the behind-the-scenes footage, one can only imagine the scale of the sprinkler system and the size on the fans being used, and that image alone should put a smile on the face of any cinephile.

Fans of The Equalizer will soon be able to see the action for themselves. The Equalizer 2, which co-stars Pedro Pascal, Melissa Leo, Bill Pullman, Ashton Sanders, and more, arrives in theaters this Friday, July 20th. Stay tuned for more of our coverage here on CinemaBlend, including more from my interview with Denzel Washington and Antoine Fuqua.

In 2014's The Equalizer, Denzel Washington was surrounded by a very talented ensemble cast - and it looks like some of those who didn't wind up in the ground will be coming back for round two. The upcoming sequel is now in full development, and new reports are saying that Melissa Leo and Bill Pullman will be back to reprise their roles as Susan and Brian Plummer.

With cameras getting ready to start rolling on The Equalizer in a couple of weeks, the production is putting the various pieces of its cast together, and that, according to Deadline, includes reuniting two incredibly talented actors. Antoine Fuqua is back in the director's chair for the sequel, and while the plot of the movie is currently unknown, we do know that the writer of the first movie, Richard Wenk, has been working on drafts.

In the first Equalizer, audiences were introduced to Denzel Washington's Robert McCall, a retired CIA black ops operative who has the good quality of having a hard time ignoring calls for help. Over the course of the movie, we see that Susan and Brian Plummer wind up being a part of both parts of McCall's life. Not only were they previously CIA operatives themselves, but they're also more than happy to help their old friend collect information on dangerous Russian mob bosses so that he can complete his personal mission.

Since her Oscar-winning performance in David O. Russell's The Fighter, Melissa Leo has been starring in an endless stream of interesting projects, and The Equalizer 2 will actually be her third time working with Denzel Washington (after both the first Equalizer and Robert Zemeckis' Flight). Recently she's been a part of the Jim Carrey-produced television series I'm Dying Up Here, and also has a number of small independent projects in the works.

Bill Pullman is also having a nice busy year with smaller projects, having spent the last few summers in films like the unfortunate Independence: Day Resurgence and American Ultra. Like Leo, he is also moved to the small screen to be on the new show The Sinner, which features Jessica Biel in the lead role, but he is also featured alongside Steve Carell and Emma Stone in the upcoming historical comedy Battle of the Sexes.

The Equalizer made a shocking amount of money when it came out in 2014 - pulling in nearly $200 million worldwide - but the film is currently on track to be celebrating its fourth birthday with the release of The Equalizer 2. Sony Pictures has announced that the thriller will be in theaters everywhere on September 14, 2018 - and you can be sure that we will have all of the latest news and updates about the project for you here on CinemaBlend.

The Equalizer 2 is one of those sequels you forget are happening until new news breaks. This is not an insult. It's just that the major tentpole sequels -- superhero franchises and incredible bouts of nostalgia (like Jurassic World) -- get more attention than a sequel to a well-performing autumn hit like Denzel Washington's The Equalizer. And yet, the movie did do enough business to land itself a follow up, and today we are learning that Narcos and Game of Thrones standout Pedro Pascal is being eyed to play the main villain in The Equalizer 2.

The major players are returning for The Equalizer 2, including Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua (The Magnificent Seven). The movies seem to be serialized, and won't build off of the story of the first movie, taking things in a new direction. But this makes sense, as The Equalizer movie is adapted from a popular TV show in the mid-1980s. On the show, Robert McCall (Edward Woodward) was a retired intelligence agent who helped clients "equalize" their odds when they ran into trouble with evil folks. That's what Denzel did in the first Equalizer movie, helping Chloe Moretz take down a gaggle of Russian gangsters. It looked like this.

Pedro Pascal, who Variety attaches to The Equalizer 2, is on a hot streak, and has been since The Good Wife in 2009. He has stayed extremely busy on television, peaking with a turn on Narcos, as well as playing Oberyn Martell on HBO's Game of Thrones. His stint on that show won't be forgotten. But since, he has tapped into several big-screen roles, from Matt Damon's The Great Wall earlier this year to the upcoming Kingsman: The Golden Circle. From there, he'll terrify Denzel Washington in an as-yet-identified villainous role.

So, why is The Equalizer 2 happening? Because The Equalizer, released in 2014, banked $100M domestically and almost got that amount overseas. The worldwide gross, according to BoxOfficeMojo, is $192 million and the reviews were extremely positive. Getting Denzel Washington to agree to come back makes this happen, because the two-time Oscar winner hasn't done a sequel yet. But he routinely works with Antoine Fuqua, and if he two of them have an idea for a story that warrants The Equalizer 2, then we're eager to see what they put up on screen.

We'll continue to track the progress of The Equalizer 2, which is working towards a Sept. 14, 2018 release date. That's exactly the window that worked for the first movie. Why fix what isn't broken? And visit our Upcoming Movie Release Date feature to find out when movies you are excited to see are finally hitting theaters.

There's nothing that Hollywood cannot turn into a movie. Novels? It's been done. Comic books? No problem. Video games? They haven't gotten it right yet, but they keep trying. However, TV shows have also played a huge role in providing inspiration for films over the years. From The Addams Family to Aeon Flux, television shows have established a basis for a lot of films in recent years, and that idea has come to a head with the release of Baywatch, which is now in theaters.

By now, most of you already know that most movies based on TV shows actually don't turn out very well. The transition from small screen to silver screen almost never works properly, and only a select number of films can claim to be better than the shows that inspired them. With that in mind, we have put together a list of the few films based on TV shows that managed to pull that balancing act off. We have quite a few films to get to, so let's get started with the one whose success clearly paved the way for this weekend's release of Baywatch.

21 Jump Street

The DNA shared between Baywatch and 21 Jump Street is plain to see, and it's not hard to understand why the latter has become such a successful franchise. Using an overwhelmingly meta approach to its source material, 21 Jump Street took a relatively dumb concept (cops masquerading as high school students) and used it as a means to provide some incredibly biting commentary on puberty, high school and pop culture of the 2000s. Combine that with the fact that it features great performances from Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill and Ice Cube, and it's clear that directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller caught lightning in a bottle. Beyond that, it's also one of the few comedies to produce a worthy sequel in recent years.

The Fugitive

The Fugitive is one of those stories that has been told time and time again for over half a century -- with a new version reportedly in development right now. The story of Richard Kimble trying to prove his innocence after the murder of his wife has become an utterly iconic tale since the 1963 TV series, but it is the 1993 Harrison Ford-fronted version of the story that has persisted and resonated with audiences all over the world. Andrew Davis' take on the classic story has become the definitive version of the story, and the time restrictions imposed by a big screen story have made the film incarnation of The Fugitive into one of the tightest and most exciting thrillers of all time.

Mission: Impossible

The Mission: Impossible franchise is a unique entity because it is technically not a remake of the original series from which it takes its name. Jim Phelps (the hero of the original series) is the antagonist of the first Mission: Impossible film, which ostensibly means that the adventures of Ethan Hunt are sequels to the TV show. It's an argument that can go both ways, depending on the evidence you choose to accept. That said, it doesn't change the fact that the Mission: Impossible movies have elevated the franchise to the A-list, and Tom Cruise's commitment to the fantastic stunt work has turned Mission: Impossible into one of the best spy franchises over the last two decades. A sixth film is on the way, and things are only going to get crazier.

Monty Python And the Holy Grail

The original Monty Python's Flying Circus TV series is not for everyone. The titular British comedy troupe has delivered plenty of hit-or-miss content over the years, and the particular brand of comedy produced by the TV show has proven quite polarizing among die-hard comedy enthusiasts. That's not the case with Monty Python's best movie. Monty Python and the Holy Grail shows the Monty Python team firing on all cylinders, and the film has become widely regarded as one of the best comedies ever committed to film. While the Monty Python TV series has certainly established its own iconography, as well as its own rabid fanbase, nothing can compare to the legacy created by this remarkable work of medieval fiction.

The Equalizer

Antoine Fuqua's The Equalizer is actually a fairly faithful take on the classic CBS series of the same name, but it surpasses its source material for a few key reasons. For starters, the movie lives and dies by the seemingly never-ending charisma of Denzel Washington -- who could pretty much make you root for any hero, regardless of their questionable morality. However, The Equalizer also stands out for the skill with which Fuqua delivers the action and drama in equal measure. In a world defined by superheroes and blockbusters, The Equalizer is the type of pulpy and brutal (yet insanely well-made) revenge flick that doesn't really get made anymore, and it's an absolute blast as a result.

The Naked Gun

Police Squad is one of those iconic shows that ended its run far too early, but The Naked Gun film series capitalized on its unique comedic style and created something that has since gone down in the annals of film history as a result. Channeling the beautifully deadpan comedic timing of the late Leslie Nielsen, The Naked Gun movies took everything that worked about the Police Squad series and dialed the insanity up to eleven on a silver screen budget. While Police Squad came and went with little fanfare, The Naked Gun has gone on to become one of the most influential comedy series of all time, and its effect on the genre as a whole is still being felt to this day.

Miami Vice

Unlike The Equalizer or Mission: Impossible, Miami Vice has become a show that virtually everyone knows about in some form or another. As such, the film adaptation had to fight against the iconography of the series that inspired it. In that regard, Michael Mann deserves quite a bit of credit for what he accomplished in this 2006 reimagining. Gone were the neon lights and stylish 1980s suits that made the original so beloved, and instead we were faced with a far more gritty and downright mean version of contemporary Miami -- grounded by strong performances from Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell. The Miami Vice movie isn't the universe that most people grew up with, but it's a far more intense and mature story that surpasses its origins in several ways.

Power Rangers

Dean Israelite's Power Rangers fought an intense uphill battle when it debuted in theaters back in March. The film provided the 1990s kids series with a massive upgrade in visual effects and gritty aesthetic, but it also had to contend with the collective nostalgia of those who still look back fondly on the Mighty Morphin series. That said, in terms of the sheer quality of its story, performances and overall direction, Power Rangers is objectively an improvement over its own source material. While its prospects for a sequel seem to have diminished with its lackluster performance overseas (much to our chagrin), that does not change the fact that the film takes a cult classic property and improves upon it in almost every conceivable way.

The Denzel Washington-fronted action thriller The Equalizer wasn’t exactly a huge runaway hit when it was released last September. It was, however, a solid success, at least enough so that Sony has officially announced it’s getting a sequel, and the star is likely coming back for more.

Rumors of a follow up began swirling even before The Equalizer hit theaters last fall and began racking up a better-than-expected box office total. According to Variety those rumors have now come to fruition, as the studio finally decided to go ahead with The Equalizer 2. The first film earned north of $101 million domestically, adding another $90 million from the international market, not a bad haul against a $55 million budget.

Antoine Fuqua directed the first film, and while his involvement in the sequel is not mentioned in the article, it does state that star Denzel Washington is "expected" to reprise his role. Let’s hope, because it wouldn’t be much without him, as he brings additional layers and texture to what could very easily have been a rote, one note revenge film.

Critics were pretty split on The Equalizer, though skewing towards the positive side, and the film currently has a 61% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While that’s not the end all be all, people with an affinity for an affinity for action, especially of the R-rated, tough-guy variety, tended to appreciate the film’s grim, gritty charms.

Washington plays Robert McCall in the revamp of the mid-1980s TV series of the same name, taking over the lead role held by Edward Woodward. The plays like an origin story of that character. Washington’s McCall is a former deep cover operative who has since left the game and is keeping a low profile. All he wants is to be left alone and lead a quiet, simple life, but when a young prostitute (Chloe Grace Moretz) gets roughed up by some Russian mobsters, he can’t abide and is forced to use his skillset to defend the helpless. That last part is the basic logline for the series, McCall is a vigilante who helps "equalize" the odds for those who can’t help themselves.

While that sounds pretty bland, the film is actually a wee bit nuts. The action is gritty and intense—this is a style of brutal, violent action movies that doesn’t get made much these days, the kind that had its heyday in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s—and it borders on over the top. It has one of the best walking-away-from-an-explosion scenes ever. One of the villains is also basically the devil, and literary references abound, so it’s not always exactly what you expect.

There’s no word on when The Equalizer 2 might actually happen, but Denzel Washington and Antoine Fuqua, as well as their Training Day cohort Ethan Hawke, are reuniting for MGM’s Magnificent Seven remake, so maybe they’ll discuss the matter on set.