In today’s roundup, Paramount Network’s miniseries “Waco” gets its first trailer and AMC‘s “Into the Badlands” expands its cast.
FIRST LOOKS
Paramount Network premiered the trailer for the six-part miniseries “Waco” ahead of the Jannuary 2018 air date. The show stars Michael Shannon, Taylor Kitsch, John Leguizamo, Andrea Riseborough, Rory Culkin, Melissa Benoist, Paul Sparks, Shea Whigham, Camryn Manheim, and Julia Garner and tells the true story of the 1993 standoff between the FBI, ATF, and David Koresh’s spiritual sect in Waco, Texas, that resulted in a deadly shootout and fire. The show is executive produced by Weinstein Television, written by John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle (“No Escape”) and directed by John Erick Dowdle.
On Tuesday, “Bizarre States: Los Angeles” premiered its first episode on the Project Alpha website. Expanding on their original “Bizarre States” podcast for Nerdist, hosts Jessica Chobot and Andrew Bowser have traded in the mics and recording booth for cameras and the real world as they explore six of Los Angeles’ paranormal locations including the Queen Mary, the Devil’s Dam, and Griffith Park. The series is produced by Nerdist.
PREMIERE DATES
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A&E’s unscripted crime show “Live PD” returns for Season 2 on Oct. 6 and will air on Friday and Saturday nights from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. ET/PT. The show uses dash cams and handheld camera rigs to give a real-time glimpse into the policing of a varied mix of urban and rural police forces across the country on a typical Friday and Saturday night. A&E recently announced a 100-episode order of the show from Big Fish Entertainment, putting the season’s run until next summer.
CASTING
Sherman Augustus, Babou Ceesay, and Ella-Rae Smith will join the cast of AMC’s “Into the Badlands” as series regulars and Dean-Charles Chapman and Lewis Tan join as recurring guest stars for its upcoming third season. Augustus returns to the Badlands after being introduced as Nathaniel Moon, the former regent who lost his hand to Sunny in Season 2. In Season 3, Moon joins forces with the Widow in her war against Baron Chau in the hopes of avenging his feud with Sunny. Ceesay plays Pilgrim, a zealous warlord who is on a quest to recover a mysterious artifact from Azra that could tip the balance of power in the Badlands. Smith and Chapman play Nix and Castor respectively, teenagers who Pilgrim loves like his own children and whose dark abilities he uses to enforce his will. Tan plays Gaius Chau, who was imprisoned by his older sister, Baron Chau, for liberating her cog slaves. Gaius becomes a reluctant player in his sister’s war against the Widow.
Micah Stock has joined the cast of Showtime‘s “Escape at Dannemora,” an eight-hour limited series that tells the true story of the escape of two convicted murderers from a New York prison and the manhunt that followed. Stock will play Kenny, the good-natured son of Tilly (Patricia Arquette), the prison worker who aids in the escape plot. Stock has previously appeared on Broadway in “The Front Page,” was nominated for a Tony Award for his role in “It’s Only a Play,” and has appeared on “Pan Am,” “Law and Order: SVU,” “Deception.” Micah is repped by ICM and Anonymous Content.
Bob Newhart will return to “The Big Bang Theory” in his Emmy-winning role as Arthur Jeffries/Professor Proton, whom Sheldon considers his Obi-Wan. Wil Wheaton will also reprise his role as a fictionalized version of himself and Sheldon’s nemesis. The episode has yet to be filmed. “The Big Bang Theory” airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on CBS before moving to its regular night of Thursdays at 8 p.m. on Nov. 2.