Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, and director Rob Marshall share the tale behind making their underwater musical with a groundbreaking Disney princess. By Were watching the development of a best friendship that is born out of what both of them had gone through. Sylvester Powell as Jessie 'JR' Raymond - Jessie Raymond is a longtime friend of Damon's thanks to youth baseball. All American airs on The CW Mondays at 8 p.m. The significance of Jordan in Simone's life is getting her to this point of being able to celebrate herself and making decisions for herself. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action. Although she has never been as central to the plot as the other main characters, knowing she was set to lead the spinoff series should have been a reason to give her a more substantial storyline before leaving. The one where EW follows up with the cast. There's a beautiful history that stands firm on a foundation of strength, perseverance, art, music, and creativity. When he isnt writing about or watching new releases, Cooper is a fantasy football obsessive and looking to expand his Blu-Ray collection because physical media is still king! Even if Bringston is a fictional university, the representation at the end of the day matters most. Still, it seemed that Simone and Jordans story could have been preparing for an eventual breakup to give them each a chance to start fresh when they go to college. of unsupervised early adulthood at a prestigious historically Black college. Watch All American on Mondays at 8 p.m. What do you remember from filming that scene? If you like TVLine, you'll LOVE our email news alerts! GEFFRI MAYA: It was an amazing experience because it's where I started. They play for different reasons, their fight is different reasons, so I'm excited to maybe even tap into a little bit of that. Keisha and Nate are such a huge part in the ebb and flow of [Simone's] college life because they are good friends and sophomores. Since Jordan is still heavily involved with the original show, it seemsAll American: Homecoming will mix Behling into the show using FaceTime primarily, although physical appearances by the actor can still happen. The most pertinent details: Simone is an ambitious tennis player from Beverly Hills starting her freshman year at Bringston, a historically Black university in Atlanta, with support from her journalism-professor aunt Amara (Kelly Jenrette) but against the wishes of her Ivy League-obsessed parents. Leonard Roberts has also been inThe MagiciansandMajor Crimes. WGA Tells Members to Get Ready to Picket If a Deal Isnt Reached, Saint X Review: Hulus Adaptation of Acclaimed Alexis Schaitkin Novel Comes Up Short, Love & Death Review: Elizabeth Olsen and David E. Kelley Struggle to Shed Fresh Light on the Candy Montgomery Case, Mrs. December 18, 2020 4:03pm. 2023 TVLine Media, LLC. A beautiful friendship has been born, one that is meaningful and deep. Nate (Rhoyle Ivy King) and Keisha (Netta Walker) welcome Simone back to Bringston with open arms. Simone is attracted to her Aunt Amara because she's so different than her mother. All American season 3 gave us a . See on this team nothing just gets handed to you. Why do you think it's the right way to begin her college journey? If Homecoming, like its lead characters, still seems to be trying out this and that to see what clicks, thats part of the charm right now. On this team, things wont be handed to her, it has to be earned. He's now attempting to keep Bringston's baseball program relevant so the school can't cut its funding. ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What was it like to return to All American and reunite with the cast? He joined Screen Rant in late 2016 following a year-long stint with MCU Exchange, which came after first developing an MCU blog of his own. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action, Inside the powerful, transformative 2nd episode of. As we all know from the mothership show All American, Simone had a baby at a very young age, and she gave the baby up for adoption and decided to stay in the baby's life. I'm excited for people to be able to share that moment with us, because I know people care about Simone and her relationship with Jordan. There are even some additional returning characters from the mainAll American show. In addition to makingAll American season 4, the network also began developing a spinoff for Simone Hicks. As for Damons baseball career, that storyline actually makes up the bulk ofHomecomings pilot, with Damons MLB prospects suddenly in jeopardy when hes spotted practicing with Bringstons baseball team. America So She Could Breastfeed Privately, Michael J. We'll definitely see a little shift in Simone in terms of how she processes and navigates the new relationships she has with all of these people. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Thea (Camille Hyde) and Simone have a frosty reunion. Amara is unapologetic in her desire to report the truth, which puts her at odds with the administration. They might not be married anymore, but Jordan and Simone's relationship is as strong as ever heading into her spinoff show. That's what growing up really is, it's making certain decisions that are going to benefit you in the long run. Derek Rivera as Santiago Reyes- Santiago Reyes isanother baseball playerfor Bringston's team, where he plays catcher. As we head to the season finale, what can you share about Simone's journey in terms of tennis in the final episodes? Yay! On the flip side, storylines involving the faculty like Amara and Marcus trying to figure out what exactly president Allen (Leonard Roberts) isnt telling them about the schools budgetary woes are progressing at too slow a burn to hold much interest, at least at this early point in the series. What can you share about the part their friendship will play on the show? ), though their romantic outlook is now a bit hazy with news of a potential spinoff. The dichotomy between Nate and Keisha is the calm and the storm, and you need that balance in order to navigate new transitions in life. Freevee (fka IMDB TV) A sub-site of Amazon (formerly IMDB), Freevee has transitioned to an app-only format that requires an Amazon sign-in. Amidst new obstacles, Simone Hicks discovers the makings of a found family in the. 2023 TVLine Media, LLC. When they arrive, the room is empty except for a few male students playing video games, Keisha, and Nate. Being able to be exposed to an environment of people that look like her and come from different backgrounds opens her eye to life, to Black excellence. I grew up as a dancer. Laura let Simone in her house to stay with them with Laura knowing the baby was not even Jordan's . Simone's tennis journey is about her coming into her own. Sometimes that happens and you dont even notice that its getting complicated, Carroll tells Variety. Executive producers: Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, David Madden, Robbie Rogers. From the surface, her mother comes off as harsh and a little smothering, but she could just come off that way because people don't necessarily understand her off hand. Follow Cooper on Twitter @MovieCooper. It's a great question. Though it certainly doesnt hurt to go back and catch up on the backdoor pilot that aired as part of All American last year, Simone (Geffri Maya) the Homecoming protagonist who links the two shows recaps everything a new viewer really needs to know in the first few minutes of the new series. What can you share about what's next for them? Every year Cooper looks forward to seeing the latest blockbusters from the likes of Marvel, DC, and Star Wars, but also loves the rush to catch up on Oscar films near the end of the year. "All American: Homecoming" follows Geffri Maya as Simone Hicks, a teen mother and tennis star from Los Angeles who heads to Atlanta to begin college. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. ET. On top of that, she's experiencing big girl things when it comes to jobs, handling her emotions, making adult decisions. It'll be exciting for people to see Black girls from different backgrounds find ways to support one another. Amara is in journalism because she has a powerful palette and mind, which Simone is inspired by. [Amara] serves as an inspiration as a woman, a Black woman, an educated Black woman. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. The CW's All American franchise expands with Simone's spinoff series. Its just that life is messy. Yes, absolutely. When is it just a friendship?. Related:All American Season 3 Ending Explained. She is portrayed by Camille Hyde. Simone wants to find Coach Loni but Thea knows the coach has seen enough today. Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. Beyond his role in theAll American universe, audiences might also know Michael Evans Behling for his role inGrey's Anatomy andA Cinderella Story: Starstruck. Camille Hyde, who plays Thea, was actually a tennis player when she was younger, which I thought was so inspirational, just hearing her stories and the things she had to experience. I was classically trained in that part, and once you're a dancer, it doesn't go anywhere, especially if you keep up with it. Instead, Simones part inAll American is reduced drastically. What the plots in juicy twists or epic emotions, they make up for with a warm sense of community, often built over the weekly family dinners that Simone hosts at her aunt Amaras house. Airdate: 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21 (The CW) Cast: Geffri Maya, Peyton Alex Smith, Kelly Jenrette, Cory Hardrict, Sylvester Powell, Camille Hyde, Mitchell Edwards, Netta . They might not be married anymore, but Jordan and Simone's relationship is as strong as ever heading into her spinoff show. She walks off and Thea nods a bit impressed.[1]. By The CW'sAll American universe expands with a Simone-focused spinoff, and here's a guide to the cast and characters ofAll American: Homecoming. Simone Hicks (Geffri Maya) has made it to Bringston University! Thea Mays is a main character in "All American: Homecoming". PMC Entertainment. Seeing as howthe couple is still together, that raises the question about if Jordan Bakercould be inAll American: Homecoming. It was just an exciting feeling to know Peyton and I are at the helm of this show and are able to see that and really fulfill a vision of bringing a universe together with so much love and so much fun. While she gets to see Spencer James (Daniel Ezra), Olivia Baker (Samantha Logan) and Layla Keating (Greta Onieogou), the shift she has felt in her relationship with Jordan Baker (Michael Evans Behling) takes up a large chunk of the trip home. Everything was always about someone else and in that moment Damon supports her in doing what she wants. What I loved about the bonfire scene is the camaraderie. The network confirmed on Monday that it's moving forward with a potential spinoff of the football drama, to be focused on Geffri Maya . Simone Hicks is at the center ofAll American: Homecoming, with Geffri Maya returning to play herrole. ET on The CW. All American showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll will executive-produce and write Homecoming, while Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Robbie Rogers all exec producers on the mothership series are on board as EPs, as well. A tennis prodigy, she takes her responsibility for representing the Black community in the sport very seriously. Mitchell Edwards as Cam Watkins- Cam Watkins is Spencer James' former rival and an excellent football player. As he attempts to prove he made the right decision for his baseball career, Damon is also searching for answers about his birth family. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! The one where EW follows up with the cast. As long as Jordan and Simone stay together, though, the odds of Jordan appearing inAll American: Homecoming remains fairly high. ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Simone has a rough start to life at Bringston. Leonard Roberts as President Zeke Allen- Zeke Allen is the president at Bringston University and trying to keep the school afloat amid budgetary concerns. At the moment, Simone is working on herself, but I am curious what can you say about how she'll navigate Damon and Thea's budding relationship? OK, your turn. What types of obstacles will she face as an athlete? All American: Homecoming will air on the CW next season. Grade it in our poll below, then drop a comment with your full reviews! Jordan, then her pregnancy. Obviously available through Amazon Prime, free movies . Thea stops her as Coach Loni has seen enough and is sending her home. This universe is just really special and I was coming home. Professor Corte decides to go with Simones ideas, and Thea attempts to take credit but he cuts her off. Throughout the series, people will start to see how relationships, communication, friendship, and genuine love and support are such key components of the collegiate space. It's time for her to take charge of who she is and [who] she wants to be. And baseball! All Rights Reserved. ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How do you feel about getting to take Simone on this new journey? She's going to learn work-life balance and tackle what it means to be an adult and to make certain decisions, but also what it means to dedicate yourself fully, because tennis is something we gave up and now she's deciding she is taking tennis very seriously. All American and All American Homecoming air Mondays at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., respectively, on The CW. We talk about it in our writers room, the boundaries around friendships, Carroll says. Simone Hicks has fallen in love with Bringston University in the backdoor pilot for, Geffri Maya as Simone on 'All American: Homecoming.'. Simone, in the pilot and you'll see throughout the series will have a different expectation put on her as a Black athlete, especially as a woman. Sorry. Simone Hicks (Geffri Maya) had a hell of a trip back to Los Angeles. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. Thea praises Simone, and they shake hands. Real-life inspiration notwithstanding, The CWs All American seemed to fit pretty squarely into the template of high school dramas set in ultra-posh neighborhoods. The emotional entanglement she has with Damon back at school is what she sees in Layla and Jordan, even if Jordan doesn't. In addition to making All American season 4, the network also began developing a . All American Season 4 News & Updates: Everything We Know, All American: What [SPOILER]'s Survival Means For Season 4, return of Michael Evans Behling as Jordan Baker, All American: What Jordan & Simone's Marriage Means For Her Spinoff. The court time is booked solid by Thea, leading to Simone confronting her. Initially she says she's fine and tries to push through, but the. During the series premiere of All American: Homecoming, we saw that Simone has a tough start to life as a college student. While she initially wasn't considering attending the school, her time at Bringston made a big impact on Simone. Or is that just a really good friend whos there for you? she asks. What were exploring is what friendship between members of the opposite sex look like and when that starts to get complicated. A warm and likable spin on the college experience. All of this tough love seems to resonate with Simone, who seems more certain about applying to Bringston and pursuing tennis by the end of the episode. Follow Cooper on Twitter @MovieCooper. Camille Hyde as Thea Mays - Thea Mays is Simone's biggest tennis rival at Bringston who wants to proudly represent the Black community in athletics. She calls Simone out for not scheduling the time sooner or showing Coach Loni her dedication. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. With All American: Homecoming set to premiere on Monday, February 21, it would have made sense that Simone would have been a more significant focus in All American's fourth season. Warning: This article contains spoilers about the series premiere of All American: Homecoming. Check out our daily must-see picks plus news, celeb interviews, trivia, and more on EW's What to Watch podcast. Simone's mother has a story. While many expected Jordan and Simone to break up duringAll American season 4 then, the series has not gone in that direction. It's my family, you know what I mean? Actress: Private Practice. Back in Beverly Hills, Jordan seems to have a growing connection with Layla (Greta Onieogou), with whom hes been friends for years. And now for something completely different onAll American: tennis! Why do you think Simone ultimately decides breaking up is the right choice? What did you think ofAll American: Homecomings first episode? Every year Cooper looks forward to seeing the latest blockbusters from the likes of Marvel, DC, and Star Wars, but also loves the rush to catch up on Oscar films near the end of the year. All Rights Reserved. All Rights Reserved. Simone knows shes messed up but she needs Loni to know shell never see Simone like that again. If you like TVLine, you'll LOVE our email news alerts! Simone gives Loni her clearance note from President Allen, making it in time for Queen of the Court. This is on top of her ongoing relationship with Jordan, butAll American season 3 began setting up her future away from her friends, family, and life in Beverly Hills. The pressure explodes in a very emotional scene with Damon. OnceAll Americanrevealed their marriage, though, it's difficult not to think about what it means for Simone's spinoff. And while its not necessarily a bad idea to inject a bit of soapy intrigue into an otherwise low-key drama, a subplot involving a characters mysterious parentage feels downright goofy in context, as if its been imported from another series entirely. Mondays episode of the CW drama doubled as the pilot for All American: Homecoming, a Simone-centric spinoff that was officially ordered to series in May. A tennis prodigy, she takes her responsibility for representing the Black community in the sport very seriously. Simone Hicks (Geffri Maya) heads to Bringston University for a fun weekend and ends up finding the place where she belongs. That night, Simone runs to the elevators as Thea passes. How important is it to be part of bringing that to TV? I was ecstatic, because Mitchell Edwards and I were friends before I was even a part of All American, so it's that full circle moment. And again, I had a great scene partner. What all of them take seriously is that their friend group is extraordinary. Layla put up these walls because she doesnt trust people anymore, with the exception of Jordan, who just bullied his way into their friendship. Everyone's driven and ready to bring Bringston Univeristy to life and bring the characters to life. American Idol viewers took to the American Idol Reddit community asking if they could "please" get new judges. It's an important aspect of her life because she's going to have to incorporate [baby Shay] and the decision to be in his life eventually. But in Mondays backdoor pilot, we watched as Simone still a senior in high school remained uncertain about where to apply to college, all while realizing her tennis game needs work, too. GEFFRI MAYA: It was the right way to begin because college ultimately is about transitioning and that's not easy, especially when you're having to live on your own and make decisions on your own. When it was time to decide if she wanted to adopt baby Shay, she had to consider her parents. From your perspective, why does she make that choice? Rhoyle Ivy King as Nathaniel- Nathaniel is a loyal friend to Simone at Bringston who always watches out for her. It was a collaborative effort, which is honestly the most fun for me, especially as a dancer and especially with art. It's going to be interesting in terms of Damon, Thea, and Simone, because at the end of the day in terms of Damon and Simone, my biggest hope is that as the season progresses and hopefully we get a season 2 they navigate truth and learn or grow. The trajectory we see with Simone from season 2 [of All American] to All American: Homecoming is a lot of her decisions have always been made with someone else in mind. After spending time with her Aunt Amara (Kelly Jenrette), a journalist and professor at the university, and meeting elite high school baseball player Damon Sims (Peyton Alex Smith), Simone leaves. She is portrayed by Camille Hyde . Initially she says she's fine and tries to push through, but the heartbreak has an impact on most areas of her life, including tennis. [Sylvester] Powell, who plays JR, does that speech about the cultural creed of being a Bringston Lion and that really is something inspiring and powerful. What was shooting that emotional scene about Simone and Jordan's relationship with Michael like? Jock Zonfrillo Dies: 'MasterChef Australia' Judge And Acclaimed, Damar Hamlin's Charity Sponsor, the Giving Back Fund, Embroiled, Even Without Barry, 'Barry' Is Delighted with Its Own Misery, Malaysia's 'Abang Adik' Wins Udine Festival's Golden Mulberry, Editor's Choice: I Purchased This TikTok-Viral Walking Pad and I, TVLine is a part of Penske Media Corporation. It's pretty exciting. Thea is the reigning Queen and schools the uninitiated. Simone outmatches everyone on the court and makes it to the last match against Thea. This seemed to be a clear move to set up Simone going off on her own for All American: Homecoming. He's a fantastic talent and being on All American since season 1, it's a testament to remaining diligent and dedicated to your craft to be take his character into this new space. It's engulfing in a way and she's put in a place where she never expected to be so attached to spiritually. ), At first, Bringstons president is content to sweep the cheating under the rug; since these ghost classes were offered to everyone, and not just student athletes, the NCAA likely wont penalize the school for giving athletes exclusive advantages. His future with theAll American universe seems to be with the main show, as he has dreams of continuing his football career. The most prominent and most emotionally resonant arc in the first four hourlong episodes sent to critics concerns Simones struggles to adjust. It's been time, so I'm grateful and honored for the opportunity. Netta Walker previously appeared inChicago Fire. Simone and Thea head to the party together where Thea agrees to feign surprise. Simone has still only been a supporting character inAll American, although her excellent tennis abilities and desire to be a positive voice within the Black community have come to be defining parts of her story. One user there wrote: "Between their terrible saves, their constant praise of mediocrity, and standing for every act (I've never seen judges more guilty of this than these Idol judges), I think it's time for a change." What was more challenging the tennis game scene or the dance sequence? Monday's episode of the CW drama doubled as the pilot for All American: Homecoming, a Simone-centric spinoff that was officially ordered to series in May. As she, Olivia, Spencer and Jordan prepare to leave campus and return home, Jordan notes that his wife looks happy though when Simone gets in the car, Jordans now the one looking anxious about his and Simones future. Her challenges are built not from dramatic developments but from the compounding burdens of relatively minor setbacks a housing snafu, a disappointing practice, a keen bout of homesickness. Amara faces the consequences of her actions. The girls square off with Simone scoring the first point. The 'All American' spinoff follows a tennis player from Beverly Hills to her first year at a historically Black university in Atlanta. The original football drama based on Spencer Paysinger's pre-NFL careerhas become an incredibly popular series for The CW, as a wider continues to find it on Netflix. During the worst of her stress, Simone takes her aunts advice to point to examples of Black excellence and see what is possible, taking inspiration from the real HBCU alums whose portraits hang in the hallways, like Their Eyes Were Watching God author Zora Neale Hurston. RELATED STORIES But Homecoming seems to know what Simone doesnt: that that very capacity for growth and change can be the core of a winning identity. Viewers might recognize Kelly Jenrette from her roles inMixed-ish andGrandfathered. He helped get her there and allowed her to push through to be better, stronger, and wiser. There's a nice dynamic between the two and they'll be able to teach other things. The writer notes that for years, shes had conversations with her friends about different types of emotional relationships, friendships and boundaries. That tennis match seems to rattle Simone for much of the weekend, even as she starts to consider applying to Bringston instead of just visiting for fun. Jock Zonfrillo Dies: 'MasterChef Australia' Judge And Acclaimed, Damar Hamlin's Charity Sponsor, the Giving Back Fund, Embroiled, Even Without Barry, 'Barry' Is Delighted with Its Own Misery, Malaysia's 'Abang Adik' Wins Udine Festival's Golden Mulberry, Editor's Choice: I Purchased This TikTok-Viral Walking Pad and I, TVLine is a part of Penske Media Corporation. More:All American: Layla's Season 4 Move Could Set Up Jordan Romance. Set against the backdrop of the historically Black college and university (HBCU) experience, All American: Homecoming follows a young tennis hopeful from Beverly Hills (Maya) and an elite baseball player from Chicago as they contend with the high stakes of college sports, all while navigating the highs and lows (and sexiness!) Simone Hicks (formerly Baker) is a recurring character in the The CW series All American and the main protagonist of its spinoff All American: Homecoming . The former assistant coach for Bringston's baseball team finds himself learning how to be a head coach in the series after the previous coach was fired for an academic scandal. GeffriMaya. All American airs Mondays at 8 p.m. I can honestly say All American's cast and crew from the moment I stepped foot into the makeup trailer made me feel loved and supported. She leaves, feeling humiliated by the event. And this is just the beginning, because All American: Homecoming has received a series order. What do you think Simone thinks of Damon by the end of the episode? Cooper Hood is a news and feature writer for Screen Rant. By the end of the episode, Simone has the beginnings of a strong tribe. " Thea to Simone [source] Thea Mays is a main character in "All American: Homecoming". (And Jordan might have good reason to worry, because Damon Sims is clearlyvery interested in his girl.). The potential new series slated to be introduced during a regular episode of All American 's upcoming third season (aka a backdoor spinoff) would be set at a a historically Black . It reminds you that you made the right decision; and I remember when I went to Clark Atlanta and I saw people celebrating Black excellence and the legacy of fraternities and sororities. They discuss Queen of the Court, a tradition at Bringston. I was super emotional. Simone insists shes only spending the weekend to see her aunt but the school clearly grows on her while shes there, too.

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