Q: I thought Selena Gomez did a great job opposite Martin Short and Steve Martin in their new series. Is this her first acting role as an adult? I remember when she was on Disney. — Z.P.
A: When the “Wizards of Waverly Place” ended on the Disney Channel in 2012, Selena Gomez quickly branched out into more adult roles in films like “Spring Breakers.” She also recorded several hit songs and did voice work in “Hotel Transylvania” and its sequels. She’s also made her mark behind the scenes as an executive producer for several of her projects. Starring opposite comedy legends Martin Short and Steve Martin in Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building” is her smartest move yet.
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Q: What happened to the new show “Monarch” starring Susan Sarandon and Trace Adkins? It was supposed to premiere on Jan. 30. — L.D.
A: Unfortunately, viewers will have to wait until the fall 2022 season for the highly anticipated series “Monarch.” It was supposed to premiere on Fox right after the NFC Championship game in January, but due to the rise in COVID cases, the network chose to postpone it, likely not wanting to shut down production in the middle of filming its first season.
Another factor in its delay could be the fact that there was a creative change behind the scenes in November. The original showrunner, Michael Rauch, was replaced by Jon Feldman, which resulted in reshoots of several scenes. Having a few more months of creative planning will only benefit the show in the long run, which is about a country music dynasty starring Susan Sarandon (“Dead Man Walking”). It has the makings of a hit, so it should be worth the wait.
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Q: Was there ever a TV show about a family that had a winery before the new one called “Promised Land?” If so, what year was it on? — L.K.
A: The first dramas I recall of that genre was “Falcon Crest,” which aired for nine seasons on CBS beginning in 1981. It starred Jane Wyman as the head of the Channing family and Robert Foxworth as the Gioberti family patriarch.
“Promised Land” is a new ABC drama about a Latinx family that spans generations in Sonoma Valley. It stars John Ortiz (“Messiah”) and Cecilia Suarez (“The House of Flowers”). According to MediaVillage.com, “‘Promised Land’ is filled to the brim with scandal, betrayal, love and lust.”
The OWN network recently premiered “The Kings of Napa” with the tagline “Family Secrets Never Stay Bottled Up.” It’s about an African American family whose patriarch leaves the wine biz, resulting in a battle among his children for control of the family business. It stars Isiah Whitlock Jr. (“The Wire”) and Ebonee Noel (“Wrecked”).
There’s also “Uncorked” over on Netflix, which stars Courtney B. Vance (“American Crime Story”) as a father who owns a barbecue joint but whose son wants to become a sommelier instead of following in Dad’s footsteps.
Send me your questions at [email protected], or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.
(c) 2021 King Features Synd., Inc.
PHOTO: Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short in “Only Murders in the Building”
Photo credit: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu
