What to Watch the Week of October 13: Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Will Delight Young Sheldon Fans
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The highly-anticipated Young Sheldon spin-off, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, finally arrives on CBS and Paramount+ this Thursday after what seems like months of promos and press. The hype isn’t for nothing: Its predecessors—Young Sheldon and The Big Bang Theory, of course—were two of the most successful shows of all time.
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage certainly has a different feel to it than Young Sheldon. For one, it’s a multi-cam, while Young Sheldon was filmed movie-style as a single-camera comedy. However, Georgie & Mandy is still very much a continuation of the beloved Cooper family—and now the McAllisters. Zoe Perry (Mary) and Annie Potts (Meemaw) make their return in the first episode of the new series, which feels like the comforting hug we all need after the emotional powerhouse of a finale Young Sheldon had in May.
Missy (Raegan Revord), Meemaw (Annie Potts), Sheldon (Iain Armitage), Georgie (Montana Jordan), George Sr. (Lance Barber) and Mary (Zoe Perry).
CBS Photo Archive
Executive producer, co-showrunner, and co-creator Steve Holland says viewers don’t need to have seen Young Sheldon to know the emotions behind Georgie & Mandy, though there are some great Easter eggs in the premiere and subsequent episodes. In fact, future episodes will see beloved cast members like Raegan Revord (Missy) and Craig T. Nelson (Dale) also return.
Perhaps the biggest difference outside the switch to multi-cam from single cam is that there is less science in Georgie & Mandy now that Sheldon is off to study at CalTech. “It’s interesting to pivot and explore part of this world that isn’t about science and this special intellect,” Holland said at a recent press conference for the series. “But it’s been really fun [to explore other areas of] this universe and tell some very human, family stories.”
Montana Jordan as Georgie Cooper.
Troy Harvey/2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment
Viewers will also meet some new characters, mainly Mandy’s brother, Connor. (And yes, though Connor was seen on Young Sheldon, he’s being played by a different actor here.) You’ll also meet Ruben Troy Harvey, a longtime employee at Jim McAllister’s tire store.
Perhaps the most heartwarming character in Georgie & Mandy is Georgie himself, played to perfection by Montana Jordan. The series picks up a few months after the passing of Georgie’s father, George; if you’ll recall, he promised his dad that he’d always look after his family. Now, as he tries to balance the obligations to his wife, Mandy, daughter, Ceecee, his job at the tire store, and also to his own mother, sister, and brother, the weight of the world seems to be on this young man as he aims to protect everyone—and make them all happy.
“We’re incredibly excited to share this show with the world,” Holland says. “It’s just a blast.” (See more about the first episode, below.)
Meanwhile, it’s a big week for other CBS shows, including the second season of Tracker (starring Justin Hartley in the lead role). I binged the series over the summer and have to say I got quite invested in Colter Shaw’s life, as well as all the terrific ensemble characters around him. More on the new season below, and not to worry—fan favorite Jensen Ackles returns for the second episode next week.
Breakout hit Matlock also airs its second episode this week. If you haven’t watched yet, go ahead and get that out of the way now before you get too far behind (it’s streaming on Paramount+). The Kathy Bates drama series has an unexpected twist at the end of the first episode that had everyone talking, and the ratings have only continued to go up since its sneak preview premiere last month.
Blue Bloods also returns on CBS this week for the second half of its 14th—and final—season. Fan favorite guest stars Peter Hermann and Will Hochman will be back, as well as some other fun surprises, before the series concludes later this year.
Over at Apple TV+, Shrinking, the acclaimed comedy from Bill Lawrence, Brett Goldstein, and Jason Segel, returns for season two. Goldstein also guest stars this season. Of course, my favorite scenes are any and all with Harrison Ford, who is a delight as Dr. Paul Rhoades.
On that note, there’s plenty more to check out this week including Reba McEntire in Happy’s Place on NBC and Anna Kendrick in Woman of the Hour on Netflix.
Sunday, October 13Tracker (CBS/Paramount+): The second season premieres tonight, kicking off CBS premiere week and leading into the season finale of Big Brother. In the first episode, titled “Out of the Past,” of its sophomore outing, Colter makes a shocking discovery about the mother of a missing family whose car was found abandoned on the side of the road in the backwoods of Arkansas. As a result, it leads him into the world of organized crime. Meanwhile, Reenie opens her new law firm and enlists Velma’s help in setting up shop. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT and streaming on Paramount+
Monday, October 14Family Guy (Hulu): In this Hulu exclusive Halloween special, Glen Powell guest stars as “Patrick McCloskey,” the reigning champion in Quahog’s annual Pumpkin Contest. Derek Jacobi stars as “Rupert,” Stewie’s beloved teddy bear. Streaming
Tuesday, October 15Glamour: An Extraordinary History (85 Years of Women Breaking Boundaries): From Abrams Books, comes this new coffee table retrospective of nine decades worth of iconic photos, articles, and interviews from the Glamour vault. Available wherever books are sold
Anatomy of Lies (Peacock): Based on the Vanity Fair article, “Scene Stealer,” (Part 1, Part 2), comes this shocking story which examines the rise and fall of Grey’s Anatomy writer Elisabeth Finch, whose lies fooled friends, family, and Hollywood for years. Directed by VF contributing editor Evgenia Peretz and documentary filmmaker David Schisgall, Anatomy of Lies does a deep dive into the web spun by Finch over nearly a decade, and the woman who bravely came forward to put an end to her deceit: Finch’s estranged wife, Jennifer Beyer. Streaming
Wednesday, October 16Shrinking (Apple TV+): The sophomore season of the Emmy Award-nominated comedy starring Jason Segel, Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams, Christa Miller, Lukita Maxwell, and more debuts today with the first two episodes. (There will be 12 episodes overall in season 2.) Streaming weekly
Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? (Prime Video): Travis Kelce hosts the game show which features a classroom full of fan-favorite celeb participants. They will have to answer 11 questions on a range of subjects, pulled from elementary curriculum, in an effort to win a $100,000 prize. Rather than compete against the stars, contestants enlist their help and, in some cases, can even “cheat” off of them. On the final question, worth $100,000, the contestant selects one celebrity to discuss the answer with before locking in. The final question is always at the 6th-grade level. Three episodes at launch, followed by one episode a week
The Golden Bachelorette (ABC): Last week’s episode was the most emotional yet, both with Chock’s mother passing away and Charles, Gary, and Dan’s goodbyes. I’ll be interested to see how this week’s episode shapes up without our fan favorites in the house, but I’m also curious to see things finally heat up between Joan and Mark Anderson, Kelsey’s dad. In the previews, we hear Joan telling him that she loves him, which is an unusual reveal for the producers to make so clear and so early. My prediction? Take this with a grain of salt, because I have no intel, but my thinking is Mark goes home before the Men Tell All special airs and is announced as the next Golden Bachelor. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT and streaming the next day on Hulu
Thursday, October 17Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage (CBS/Paramount+): In the premiere episode, titled “The 6:10 to Lubbock,” Georgie and Mandy get fed up staying with her parents and reconsider their living situation after a fight with Mandy’s mom, Audrey. Young Sheldon stars Zoe Perry (Mary) and Annie Potts (Meemaw) guest star in the premiere, which was written by YS and Big Bang Theory vets, Chuck Lorre, Steve Molaro, and Steve Holland and directed by Mark Cendrowski. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT and streaming on Paramount+
Ghosts (CBS/Paramount+): The new season premieres tonight, in which Isaac comes face to face with Puritan ghost Patience (Mary Holland) for the first time since she was lost in the dirt. As a result, Sam and the ghosts race to find him. 8:30 p.m. ET/PT, 7:30 p.m. CT and streaming on Paramount+
Matlock (CBS/Paramount+): The second episode of the critically acclaimed Matlock airs tonight. Titled “Rome, in a Day,” Matty (Kathy Bates) settles into her new role at Jacobson Moore. Meanwhile, Olympia and the aptly nicknamed “Team You Three” (Matty, Billy and Sarah) take on a lawsuit involving a developmentally delayed teenager whose family claims he’s been wrongly accused of murder. Also, Olympia and Julian disagree on a parenting matter, 9 p.m. ET/PT, 8 p.m. CT and streaming on Paramount+
Elsbeth (CBS/Paramount+): The second season premiere is here. 10 p.m. ET/PT, 9 p.m. CT and streaming on Paramount+
Friday, October 18Happy’s Place (NBC): Reba McEntire, Belissa Escobedo, Melissa Peterman, Rex Linn, Pablo Castelblanco, and Tokala Black Elk star in NBC’s latest multi-camera comedy. McEntire plays Bobbie, a woman who inherits her father’s tavern (Happy’s Place) and is surprised to discover that she has a new business partner name Isabella (Belissa Escobedo), the twenty-something half-sister she never knew she had. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT
Blue Bloods (CBS/Paramount+): Following the eighth season premiere of S.W.A.T. and third season premiere of Fire Country, comes the premiere of the final remaining episodes of Blue Blood’s 14th and final season. Stacy Keach, Peter Hermann, and Will Hochman guest star in the episode, titled “Life Sentence.” Here’s what we know: The Reagans’ professional lives converge when an allegation of jury tampering against Erin intertwines with Danny and Baez’s homicide case and Eddie’s bond to a child murder witness; Frank clashes with his friend and confidant Archbishop Kearns over the death penalty; and when Jamie’s car is stolen, he joins forces with his nephew, Joe Hill, to recover it. 10 p.m. ET/PT, 9 p.m. CT and streaming on Paramount+
L-R): Debi Mazar as Eveline Ramano, Peter Hermann as Jack Boyle, and Bridget Moynahan as Erin Reagan Boyle.
Barbara Nitke/2024 CBS Broadcasting
Woman of the Hour (Netflix): Anna Kendrick makes her directorial debut and also stars in the film, alongside Daniel Zovatto, Tony Hale, Nicolette Robinson, Pete Holmes, Autumn Best, Kathryn Gallagher, and Kelley Jakle. Here’s the logline: The stranger-than-fiction story of an aspiring actress in 1970s Los Angeles and a serial killer in the midst of a yearslong murder spree, whose lives intersect when they’re cast on an episode of The Dating Game. Streaming
Goodrich (Ketchup Entertainment): Directed and written by Hallie Meyers-Shyer (daughter of Nancy Meyers), the film stars Michael Keaton, Mila Kunis, Carmen Ejogo, Michael Urie, Kevin Pollak, Laura Benanti, Andie MacDowell, and more. Here’s the synopsis: Andy Goodrich’s (Michael Keaton) life is upended when his wife and mother of their nine-year-old twins enters a 90-day rehab program, leaving him on his own with their young kids. Thrust into the world of modern parenthood, Goodrich leans on his daughter from his first marriage, Grace (Mila Kunis), as he ultimately evolves into the father Grace never had. In theaters
Smile 2 (Paramount Pictures): About to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control. Rosemarie DeWitt, Kyle Gallner, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Peter Jacobson, RaĂşl Castillo, Dylan Gelula, and Ray Nicholson also star. In theaters
Rivals (Disney+/Hulu): Based on the celebrated novel by Dame Jilly Cooper, Rivals is set against the backdrop of the drama, excess, and shocking antics of the power-grabbing social elite of 1980s England. Bella MacLean leads as Taggie, the tender-hearted yet strong-willed daughter of a TV presenter caught in the crossfire of two opposing politicians. The ensemble cast also includes David Tennant, Alex Hassell, Aidan Turner, Katherine Parkinson, and Nafessa Williams. Streaming
Flight Risk (Lionsgate): Synopsis: Mark Wahlberg plays a pilot transporting an Air Marshal (Michelle Dockery) accompanying a fugitive (Topher Grace) to trial in this suspense thriller. As they cross the Alaskan wilderness, tensions soar and trust is tested. Not everyone on board is who they seem. In theaters
Hysteria! (Peacock): When a beloved varsity quarterback disappears during the “Satanic Panic” of the late 1980s, a struggling high school heavy metal band of outcasts realize they can capitalize on the town’s sudden interest in the occult by building a reputation as a Satanic metal band, until a bizarre series of murders, kidnappings, and reported “supernatural activity” triggers a leather-studded witch hunt that leads directly back to them. Julie Bowen, Anna Camp, Emjay Anthony, Chiara Aurelia, Kezii Curtis and Nikki Hahn star in the drama series, which consists of eight, hour-long episodes. Streaming
Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara (Hulu): The documentary shows how Tegan and Sara’s world turned upside down when Tegan’s personal files were hacked in 2011, revealing the dark side of fame, fandom, and the scary side of the internet. Erin Lee Carr (Stormy, I Love You, Now Die, Mommy Dead & Dearest, Britney vs Spears) directs. Streaming
Saturday, October 19It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (Apple TV+ streaming for free): On this Saturday and Sunday, stream this iconic Charlie Brown Halloween special for free on Apple TV+. In the movie, Charlie Brown preps for a party, while Snoopy sets his sights on the Red Baron and Linus patiently awaits a pumpkin patch miracle. Streaming
Husband, Father, Killer: The Alyssa Pladl Story (Lifetime): Elisabeth Rohm directs this new Lifetime movie in which Alyssa (Jackie Cruz) and Steven (Matthew MacCaull)’s relationship takes a dark turn after they have a daughter of their own, and Steven becomes physically abusive toward the infant. Alyssa senses the situation is dire and puts the child up for adoption. Things get even more dramatic when 18 years later, their daughter, now named Katie (Matreya Scarrwener), seeks them out. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT
Saturday Night Live (NBC/Peacock): Michael Keaton will return to host for the fourth time (the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice actor next stars in Goodrich, in theaters on October 18). Billie Eilish will take the stage as musical guest for the fourth time. The Grammy-winning artist will launch a worldwide tour this fall in support of her newest album, Hit Me Hard and Soft. 11:30 p.m. ET/10:30 p.m. CT/8:30 p.m. PT and streaming on Peacock
