Matt’s Inside Line: Scoop on Daryl Dixon, Magnum P.I., Riverdale, Chucky, Virgin River, Katie McGrath, a Sacked Amazon Series and More!
Is the Daryl Dixon finale a doozy? Why did Riverdale give Tabitha a time-out? Is Virgin River heading for a wedding (or two)? Inside Line is back, so read on for answers to those questions and many more! (You can and should email brand-new Qs to InsideLine@tvline.com.)
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After this week’s Carol tease, I am finally on board with TWD: Daryl Dixon. Any scoop on the season finale? –Deb
Our resident Dead-head Charlie Mason has seen the finale (which premieres Sunday at 9/8c on AMC) and promises that it does not disappoint. Beyond that, he says “Coming Home” reveals the depth of the feelings that Daryl has developed for Sister Isabelle and Laurent, includes one of the most bat-s—t-crazy fight scenes in the franchise’s history and delivers a Season 2 setup that’s all but guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.
It’s so great to finally have Chucky back. How much more twisted will/can things get this season? –Craig
With Chucky running amok in the White House, things can and do reach new levels of depravity! Expect some truly jaw-dropping death scenes that turn the gore up to 11. Plus, when Tiffany gets backed into a corner, she will stop at nothing to fight her way out… and it is quite a display.
Any word on when Resident Alien Season 3 is scheduled to premier? I heard filming had wrapped a while ago. –Isabel
I hear that the sci-fi dramedy’s eight-episode third season will not premiere until 2024.
I just wanted to ask whether we should expect a new interview with Katie McGrath? You’ve interviewed her in the past for Supergirl, and it’d be lovely to know you spoke again and hear her thoughts about The Adjudicator and The Continental! –Paula
Because of the SAG-AFTRA strike, no, I didn’t get to check in with my bezzie mate. But I did make sure to express to The Continental EP Albert Hughes my very personal dissatisfaction with McGrath’s meager screen time in the John Wick prequel miniseries! (And we won’t even talk abut her final scene.) Hughes chuckled and was quick to respond, “Listen, I text with [Katie] every night. We’re really good friends after this shoot and I hear from her fans, so I know. I have a plan for her. Trust me, I have a big plan for her.”
Is Prime Video’s The NFL Pile On coming back for the 2023 season? –Maddy
Sorry to say, Maddy, but as you have have surmised by now, that round-up of mic’d mishaps, off-beat interviewes and madcap memes will not be returning this fall.
Any news on Hightown Season 3? –KJ
When last we tuned in, Starz had narrowed down the release date to the “second half of 2023.” [Everyone now look at their 2023 calendar and raise a collective eyebrow….] Though said date is still being finalized, I am assured it is “getting closer,” which… seems mathematically sound.
Any very early scoop on NCIS: Hawai’i? –Maria
The Season 3 writers room just opened up on Monday, so… patience, everyone!
There are rumors going around that the reason Yasmine Al-Bustami isn’t in this Instagram post is because she is no longer part of the NCIS: Hawai’i main cast. Has CBS said anything? –Marianne
As you have likely realized since those knee-jerk “rumors” hastily spread over the summer, that was simply an unfortunate oversight that CBS quickly remedied with a special Lucy/Yas showcase.
Do you know if NCIS: Sydney has finished shooting all of its episodes? –Peggy
Yes, all eight episodes are done filming — at the Australian Navy base in Sydney Harbor, Bondi Beach, Kings Cross and other photogenic locales — to premiere Stateside on Tuesday, Nov. 14 on CBS. FYI, coming soon I will have allllll the NCIS: Sydney scoop. Keep your eyes peeled, and watch our for drop bears!
Why was Riverdale‘s Erinn Westbrook (Tabitha) demoted from series regular to special guest star in Season 7? –Drew
In case you still craved closure, we made sure to deliver your question straight to Riverdale showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa soon as the WGA strike officially ended. He explained, “We all loved working with Erinn. She loved being on the show. We leaned pretty heavily on Tabitha and Erinn in Season 6, and I think in Season 7, we had a couple of conversations about maybe pulling back a bit. That said, it was important for all of us to make sure that we honored the character… Everyone was so appreciative of Erinn for coming back for Season 7 and helping us reset the table so beautifully.”
I’d like to know, are they bringing back Lingo on CBS? –Mark
Though Season 1 of the RuPaul-hosted game show ended abruptly in March, a second season has already been taped (but is not yet scheduled).
The Roku Channel had The Newsreader until last week. The second season is getting a lot of buzz. Any news on another streamer picking up the series? –Rick
The Newsreader, which stars Anna Torv and Sam Reid, is indeed no longer available on Roku. And at this time, Werner Film Productions confirms for Inside Line, Season 2 — which is about to finale Down Under — has no Stateside streaming home.
When will ABC’s The Rookie be on again? –Doreen
That return date is very much TBD, given the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, but the Season 6 writers room is open, that much I know.
Why do we have to wait until 2025 for Dark Winds Season 3? It’s too long a wait for one of my most favorite programs. –Gynelle
Well, the “catch” with getting that very good news before the writers’ strike had been settled — and with the SAG-AFTRA strike still chugging along — is that AMC likely had to venture its best, conservative guess. Without knowing when the AMPTP will do right by the actors, and not knowing if there will be scheduling conflicts with any cast members to navigate, “2025” is just a very pragmatic guess.
Do you know the status of the Apple TV+ miniseries about Benjamin Franklin, starring Michael Douglas? –Robert
Apple TV+ has yet to announce a premiere date, but I am hearing it will not be this year.
When are we finally going to see Jack and Mel’s wedding on Virgin River? — Carley
Even with the incredibly slow pacing of this show, our gut tells us that Virgin River’s No. 1 couple will probably tie the knot in Season 6, which is expected to be released sometime in 2024 (exact date TBD). Come on, they can only make us wait so long, right? But here’s the thing: Mel and Jack aren’t the only couple in town itching to say “I do.” We can’t say which other pair is heading for the aisle, but you’ll know a lot more when Part 2 of Season 5 (aka Virgin River‘s first-ever Christmas episodes!) drop on Thursday, Nov. 30.
Looking for anything Magnum P.I.-related. Thank you! –Zoe
Showrunner Eric Guggenheim tells me that fans of series vet Tim Kang should be “very” excited for the Oct. 18 episode. “We’ve been wanting to see Katsumoto undercover for the longest time but I wanted to make sure it felt justified,” Guggenheim told TVLine. “In this instance, he’s the only one of our characters who can realistically pull off this particular assignment.” Bonus scoop: On the guest star front, Guggenheim told me that Arrow alum Paul Blackthorne’s role in the midseason premiere was purposely kept under wraps — “and I’m very happy we could get him.” Looking ahead, Kirk Fox (Jury Duty) will play an old partner of Jin’s, while Patrick Fabian (Better Call Saul) “has a big role coming up.”
What kind of boat did Magnum P.I.‘s Thomas and Higgins take to search the island? –Mike
I am told that was a “38-foot signature built by Awesome Power Boats.” Nifty, too!
When is the last episode of Magnum P.I.? –Peter
I don’t have an exact date for you, but the last of these 10 new episodes will air before we ring in the new year.
Do YOU want scoop/have questions about a favorite show? Email InsideLine@tvline.com! Questions plopped in Comments will not be read and may very well count against your final score. (With reporting by Dave Nemetz, Andy Swift and Nick Caruso)
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