While the titular character may be a purpose-built killing machine, it’s not just a robot: it’s a part-android, partcloned human security construct. The SecUnit, played by Alexander Skarsgard (“True Blood”), is a walking insurance policy created by the megacorporations that control much of humanity’s spacefaring domain in the new series “Murderbot,” making its debut on Apple TV+ Friday, May 16. The series is based on the Hugo and Nebula award-winning series “The Murderbot Diaries” by author Martha Wells.
By Joshua Amy TV Media
At one point or another, pretty much everyone has wished they could be doing anything other than the job at hand, like tuning out a co-worker’s chatter to binge the latest series, for instance. Escapism is a hallmark of being stuck in a mundane workplace, an experience that should resonate with viewers of Apple TV+’s newest series, “Murderbot,” premiering Friday, May 16, on the streamer.
With a title like “Murderbot,” you’d be inclined to think this is an action-packed sci-fi thriller about a robot specifically designed for violence — and you’d be right, at least in part. While the titular character may be a purpose-built killing machine, it’s not just a robot: it’s a part-android, part-cloned human security construct. The SecUnit, played by Alexander Skarsgard (“True Blood”), is a walking insurance policy created by the megacorporations that control much of humanity’s spacefaring domain. SecUnits are required on any planetary expedition to protect the human team members and, more importantly, the company’s investment. Therefore, “Murderbot” is not just an actionpacked sci-fi thriller, it’s also a twisted workplace comedy.
“Murderbot’s” SecUnit is unique, as it’s managed to hack its governor module, giving itself free will. Upon breaking its shackles, it does as any indentured killing machine would, names itself Murderbot and downloads thousands of hours of soap operas from the company media feeds. Although Murderbot is confused and annoyed by the messy “humanness” of those in its charge, it’s good at its job — and needs to keep up appearances for survival. Behind the faceplate, however, it just wants to be left alone with its stories, though it inevitably must do its job.
The humans that Murderbot is assigned to protect are a planetary survey team led by Dr. Mensah (Noma Dumezweni, “Black Earth Rising”). Hailing from a system outside of the Corporation
Dead-end job
‘Murderbot’ reluctantly joins Apple TV+’s workforce
Rim, Mensah and her team struggle with the cutthroat profit motives of their employer, reluctantly agreeing to the terms of their contract — including the need for a SecUnit. The survey team — played by David Dastmalchian (“Late Night with the Devil,” 2023), Sabrina Wu (“Joy Ride,” 2023), Tattiawna Jones (“Orphan Black: Echoes”), Akshay Khanna (“The Doll Factory”) and Tamara Podemski (“Coroner”) — would rather forgo all corporate meddling but opt to simply ignore the SecUnit instead.
The indifference to its presence suits Murderbot just fine, since the humans’ interpersonal relationship drama is irrational, emotional and unpredictable. Hiding behind its mask, Murderbot would much rather engage emotionally through the safety of its obsessive binge of “The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon.” The pulpy, overthe-top sci-fi soap opera exists as a show-within-a-show that stars John Cho (“Star Trek,” 2009), Jack McBrayer (“30 Rock”), DeWanda Wise (“Three Women”) and Clark Gregg (“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”).
“Sanctuary Moon” serves as both escapism between saving the team from hostile threats and a sort of road map for Murderbot as it navigates how to interact with the humans post-rescue.
Based on the Hugo and Nebula award-winning series “The Murderbot Diaries” by author Martha Wells, “Murderbot” adapts the events of the first novella, “All Systems Red.” Fans of the books initially expressed skepticism about how the story would translate to the screen, citing Murderbot’s anxious internal monologue and frustrated lack of patience for human antics as central to the series’ charm. Murderbot’s push-pull relationship between its analytical cybernetic and emotional organic components earned it a reputation as an autistic-coded main character — something Wells has discussed, noting that writing the series helped her recognize her own neurodivergence — and raised concerns that the adaptation may omit this characterization.
The series’ initial trailer — narrated by Skarsgard as Murderbot’s
innermost thoughts, including its soap opera hyperfixation, disdain for irrational behavior and struggles with human contact — reassured fans that their favorite killing machine is being handled with care. “Murderbot’s” showrunners, Chris and Paul Weitz, who co-directed the thematically similar misanthropic rom-com “About a Boy” (2002), appear to have done their homework.
Despite Murderbot’s desire to be left alone, its evolving relationship with Mensah’s team is cen-
tral to the story. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Chris Weitz describes this reluctant dynamic: “They’re not really cut out for this. Murderbot feels it has to keep them from dying. It’s not really because it necessarily cares about them at first. It has this thing of being good at its job in spite of everything.”
Describing the character’s struggle connecting with people, Skarsgard tells Vanity Fair: “There’s something about being an outsider, and observing hu-
manity from a slight distance, and being a bit confused and perplexed by it.” He goes on to explain that while Murderbot may be a soap opera superfan, it doesn’t want any part of the drama that comes with being the main character. “Murderbot definitely doesn’t want to step into the center of things. Murderbot wants to blend into the background and just be left alone to watch its TV shows.”
Apple TV+ has consistently lived up to its reputation as a
must-have streaming service for fans of science fiction. Heavy hitters such as “For All Mankind,” “Foundation,” “Silo” and the Emmy-winning “Severance” certainly put the pressure on any new additions to the streamer if they want to stand out. However, the darkly funny tone and reluctant emotional heart of “Murderbot” are sure to set it apart when it premieres Friday, May 16, on Apple TV+.
Alexander Skarsgard stars in “Murderbot”
Arquette.
Comeback Trail (‘20) Robert De Niro. (P) MobLand
Bad Moms
Highlights
Sunday
Marie-Antoinette
(11) WTTW WILL 9:00 p.m.
It’s the end of the beginning for Marie Antoinette (Emilia Schüle) and Louis XVI (Louis Cunningham) in this Season 2 finale. Marie struggles to support Louis’s overreaching rule caused by his depression, leaving her to step
this week
Monday
American Idol
(7) WLS 7:00 p.m.
The stress reaches an alltime high as this singing competition moves ever closer to the finale. With only three spots left, the remaining contestants push themselves to impress judges Luke Bryan, Carrie Under
Sunday
(2) WBBM WCIA 7:00 p.m.
Tracker
Colter (Justin Hartley) finds himself back in Echo Ridge looking into the disappearance of a diner owner during the Season 2 finale of “Tracker,” which airs Sunday, May 11, on CBS. As the lone wolf survivalist searches for clues, he uncovers a stunning family secret and a kidnapping that goes back decades.
es the province’s cowboy culture before learning how immigrant communities in the “Texas of Canada” are reshaping the country’s identity.
Thursday
Doctor Odyssey
(7) WLS 8:00 p.m.
With talk of cancelation and the show hinting at the exit of several cast members, it’s looking that this Season 1 finale may be the nautical medical drama’s last. If so, how will showrunner Ryan Murphy wrap up all the loose ends?
Friday
S.W.A.T.
(2) WBBM WCIA 9:00 p.m.
This two-hour series finale finds Hondo (Shemar Moore) and the 20-Squad facing a ghost from his past in a terrifying race through the streets of Los Angeles. Then, Russian mercenaries terrorize the city, holding it hostage and attacking the team.
Saturday
Saturday Night Live
(5) WMAQ 9:00 p.m.
Five decades in, this hilarious and award-winning ensemble cast, including Chloe Fineman, Bowen Yang, Mikey Day and Marcello Hernandez, perform comedy sketches, satirical news and digital shorts, alongside a celebrity host and popular musical acts.
M Stooges <++++ Rocky (1976,Drama) Talia Shire, Sylvester Stallone. <+++ Rocky II (1979,Drama) Talia Shire, Sylvester Stallone <+++ Rocky III (1982,Drama) Mr. T, Sylvester Stallone. T The Three Stooges/<++ The Hitman's Bodyguard (‘17) Ryan Reynolds. <++ Transporter 3 (‘08,Act) Natalya Rudakova, Jason Statham. <+++ Tombstone (1993,Western) Val Kilmer, Kurt Russell. W Stooges <+++ Baby Driver (2017,Action) Kevin Spacey,Ansel Elgort. <++ Den of Thieves (2018,Thriller) Pablo Schreiber, Gerard Butler. <+ Major League II (‘94) Charlie Sheen. Th Stooges Stooges <+++ Ferris Bueller's Day Off (‘86) Matthew Broderick. <++ Footloose (1984,Drama) Lori Singer, Kevin Bacon. <+++ The Breakfast Club (‘85) Emilio Estevez. F <+++ Contagion (‘11) Marion Cotillard. <++ The Meg (2018,Sci-Fi) Li Bingbing, Jason Statham <+++ War of the Worlds (2005,Sci-Fi) Dakota Fanning, Tom Cruise. Movie
66 (M) River Monsters / The Zoo (M) River Monsters / Mega Zoo (M) River Monsters / Mega Zoo (M) River Monsters / Crikey! It's
Stars on screen
By Michelle Rose TV Media
‘My Mom Jayne’: Mariska Hargitay, the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning star of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” will soon make her film directorial debut by turning the lens on a subject that is dear to her heart: her mother.
Hargitay was just three years old when her mother, Hollywood legend Jayne Mansfield, was killed in a car accident in 1967; Hargitay was asleep in the back seat with her two brothers, who escaped with minor injuries. Almost 60 years later, Hargitay is bringing Mansfield’s story to the screen with the debut of her documentary “My Mom Jayne,” set to arrive on HBO and Max next month.
“My Mom Jayne” seeks to piece together a more in-depth portrait of the famous blond bombshell through interviews and never-before-seen photos and home movies, as Hargitay grapples with both her mother’s public and private legacy while also discovering “the layers and depth of who Jayne was, not only to her audience but to those who were closest to her,” per the release.
“This movie is a labor of love and longing,” Hargitay said in a
statement. “It’s a search for the mother I never knew, an integration of a part of myself I’d never owned, and a reclaiming of my mother’s story and my own truth.
I’ve always believed there is strength in vulnerability, and the process of making this film has confirmed that belief like never before.”
A former Playboy Playmate and, at one point, the world’s most photographed celebrity, Mansfield’s star rose after roles in “The Girl Can’t Help It” (1956), which earned her a Golden Globe, and “Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?” (1957), in which she starred alongside her future second husband, Mr. Universe winner Mickey Hargitay. Mansfield and the bodybuilder — who was portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger (“The Terminator,” 1984) in the 1980 made-for-TV biography “The Jayne Mansfield Story” — married in 1958 but divorced in 1964 after having three children (including Mariska) together. Hargitay previously co-produced another HBO documentary, the Emmy-winning “I Am Evidence” (2017), alongside Trish Adlesic, who is also a producer on “My Mom Jayne.” Lauran Bromley (“Chaperone,” 2024) will serve as executive producer.
From the list below, find each word and circle its letters in the puzzle to reveal the message relating to this week’s topic.
Deadwood
ALMA
WedneSday
6:00
Sunday
6:00 p.m.
TRU TNT NBA Basketball First Round: Teams TBA. (Live) (2:30)
ESPN MLB Baseball Philadelphia Phillies at Cleveland Guardians. (Live) (3:00)
9:30 p.m.
TBS NHL Hockey Second Round: Teams TBA. (Live) (3:00)
10:30 p.m.
TNT NBA Basketball First Round: Teams TBA. (2:30)
monday
6:00 p.m.
TRU TNT NHL Hockey Second Round: Teams TBA. (Live) (3:00)
6:30 p.m.
ESPN NBA Basketball Conference Semifinals: Teams TBA. (Live) (0:10)
6:40 p.m.
ESPN NBA Basketball Conference Semifinals: Teams TBA. (Live) (2:20) 9:00 p.m.
TRU TNT NHL Hockey Second Round: Teams TBA. (Live) (3:00)
ESPN NBA Basketball Conference Semifinals: Teams TBA. (Live) (2:30)
TueSday
5:30 p m
TBS MLB Baseball Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers. (Live) (3:00)
6:30 p.m.
TRU TNT NBA Basketball First Round: Teams TBA. (Live) (2:30)
ESPN NHL Hockey Second Round: Teams TBA. (Live) (2:30) 9:00 p.m.
TRU TNT NBA Basketball First Round: Teams TBA. (Live) (2:30)
ESPN NHL Hockey Second Round: Teams TBA. (Live) (2:30)
Mariska Hargitay to direct “My Mom Jayne”
MONDAY PRIME
(N) R. Maddow (L) (N) Last Word (L) (N) 11th-Stephanie (L) (N) Rachel Maddow Show MTV 60 160 331 <+++ The Other Guys (‘10) Mark Wahlberg, Will Ferrell.
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Last Stop in Yuma County (P) MobLand <+++ Gangs of New York (‘02) Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo Di Caprio. <++ Manglehorn (‘14) Al Pacino.
Reunion (‘12)
Biggs. <+++
Thousand and On e (‘23) Teyana Taylor. Power III <++ Contraband (‘12) Mark Wahlberg. Power Book III < Misfits
Bridge
Saint (‘97) Michael Byrne, Elisabeth Shue. (P) <+++ G.I. Jane (‘97) Demi Moore. < Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon Kate Hudson. < Good Boy
M3GAN (‘22) Allison Williams <+++ Star Wars: The Force Aw akens (‘15) Harrison Ford.
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Boss (‘16) Kristen Bell, Melissa McCarthy.
He's Just Not That Into You Ben Affleck.
Good Hair (‘09, Documentary )
The Martian Matt Damon.
(‘00) Joaquin Phoenix, Russell Crowe.
The Girl on the Trai n (‘16) Emily Blunt. <+++ The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (‘11) Daniel Craig. Movie
Ride (‘23) Ashley Park. <+ Miss Bala (‘19)Gina Rodriguez. <+ The Crow (‘24) FKA Twigs, Bill Skarsgård. < The Misfits (‘21) Pierce Brosnan. Movie
Ladies Man Tim Meadows.
Jules (‘23) Ben Kingsley. <++ Cloud Atlas (2012, Drama) Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Tom Hanks. <+++ Things We Lost in the Fire Halle Berry.
Television
Crossword
1. Bowler and dicer
5. Midyear Grand Canyon setting: Abbr.
8. Back from boating?
11. Big name in tennis
12. Job listing letters
13. Potatoes, on Indian menus
14. Caught in the act
15. Collins or Langdon on “The Pitt,” e.g.
17. Elisabeth Moss’s series, with “The”
19. Coral reef
20. “Westward ___”
35. Genre for Benny and Artie
37. Urkel’s TV series
43. Christiane of CNN
44. Race length, for short
45. Chinese dynasty
46. College sr.’s test
47. Java Freeze maker
48. Pronoun for every other hurricane
49. Contingencies
50. Little feller
Down
1. Hodgepodge
2. Between ports
3. Fran Drescher sitcom
4. Mailing label phrase
5. Mercury
6. The Phantom’s “best friend”
7. “Sweeney ___”
24. Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce on “Mad Men,” e.g.
25. Tight do
26. __ Paulo
30. Existence
31. Sharp sound of discomfort
32. Theater area
33. Rapt
35. Blue toon
36. Things to sell
37. Thomas Waller’s nickname
38. Eastern nurse
39. Horse head feature
40. Picnic basket stealing bear
41. Smell really bad
42. __-Ball
Solution on page 6
21. Scorpion secretion
23. Saudi nationals
27. Barnyard cackler
28. Singer ___ Lipa
29. Spacecraft’s datagathering maneuver
32. Cliburn’s instrument
34. Certain Caltech alum: Abbr.
8. Province of Canada: Abbr.
9. Trick
10. Floored it
13. Stage performer
16. Workers’ protection org.
18. Pop’s companion
21. TV channels 2 to 13
22. Sinuous swimmer
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(N)
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War (‘12) Reese Witherspoon. Rehear sal <+++ Lady Bird (‘17)
Lopez.
Saoirse Ronan. <+++ Barbie (‘23) Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie. The Last Foot Wav e Undertow
Morgan (‘16) Kate Ma ra. <++ A Cure for Wellness (‘16)Jason Isaacs, Dane DeHaan. <+++ The Killing of a Sacred Deer Bill Camp. Movie
(‘03) Ben Affleck. (P) <+++ Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol (‘11) Tom Cruise. <+++ Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation (P) <+++ Cop Land (‘97) Sylvester Stallone. (P)
Nights at Freddy's Josh Hutcherson. <++ Strays (‘23) Will Ferrell. Power III < Love Beats Rhyme s Azealia Banks
Stepford Wives
Water
The Dead Don't Hurt (‘23) Viggo Mortensen, Vicky Krieps. < Outlaw Posse
Bourne
Matt
<++
<+++
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Foxx.
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Avengers: Age of Ultron (‘15) Robert Downey Jr.. <++ Cocaine Bear Keri Russell.
(‘16)
Damon.
Fast & Furious (‘09) Paul Walker, Vin Diesel. Foot Wave Cortes Bank The Last Foot Wav e Cortes Bank Rehear sal Foot Wave Cortes Bank
Ghosts of Girlfriends <+++ Role Models (‘08) Seann William Scott. <+ The Sitter Jonah Hill. <++ What's Your Number? (‘11) Anna Faris. < Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates Movie
<+++ Inglourious Basterd s (‘09) Mélanie Laurent, Brad Pitt. <+++ Bridge of Spies (‘15) Mark Rylance, Tom Hanks. <+++ Patriots Day (‘16) Mark Wahlberg. Movie
Escape Room: Tourn <++ Ghostbusters (‘16) Melissa McCarthy. Power III <++ The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (‘23) Tom Blyth. <+++ Bleed for This Miles Teller.
Fletch <++ The Fabulous Four (‘24) Susan Sarandon. <++ Rat Race (‘01) Rowan Atkinson. (P) <++ Soapdish (‘91) Sally Field. (P) <+ Boogie Woogie
Jason Statham
Kong (2005, Adventure) Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Naomi Watts. <++ The Shallows
Companion
Bill Maher (N) The Last Real, Bill MaherRehearsal
Calle, Michael Shannon, Ezra Miller.
Warcraft (‘16) Paula Patton, Travis Fimmel. < The Kill Team (‘19) Nat Wolff. < The Secrets We Keep
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Black Snake Moan (‘07) Samuel L. Jackson. Movie
(‘24)
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(‘03)
Affleck. (P)
Face/Off (‘97, Act) Nicolas Cage, Joan Allen, John Travolta. <+++ Cop Land (P) <++ Shaft (‘00) Samuel L. Jackson. (P) < Allied
(‘09)
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(P)
The Fifth Estate (‘13) Benedict Cumberbatch.
The Dead Don't Hurt (‘23) Viggo Mortensen, Vicky Krieps. < Hell or High Water
By Adam Thomlison TV Media
Q: Is it true that Leonardo DiCaprio was in one of the Gremlins movies? I’ve watched them both and can’t see him anywhere.
A: You’ve made the mistake a lot of people have made — mixing up “Gremlins” (1984) and “Critters” (1986).
Both are ‘80s comedy-horror franchises about slightly gross little monsters that ravage small towns before taking their murderous rampages to major cities in their sequels. It’s an easy mistake to make.
“Gremlins” is by far the betterremembered, more successful film series. But “Critters” has the edge in launching megastar careers.
While the original “Gremlins” provided child star Corey Feldman (“Stand By Me,” 1986) an early screen role, “Critters 3” (1991) gave Hollywood icon Leonardo DiCaprio (“Titanic,” 1997) his very first feature film role. He played the stepson of a villainous landlord (William Dennis Hunt, “Dragonfly,” 2002) in the film, which took the action from rural Kansas to Los Angeles. He was just 16 at the time, and though it was his first big-screen role, it was far from his first acting gig.
He’d been doing TV for a couple of years at that point, already starring in the short-lived sitcom “Parenthood” and guesting in a couple of better-established shows, including “Roseanne” and the daytime soap “Santa Barbara.” But, it should be noted that he
was still a few months out from joining the cast of the hit sitcom “Growing Pains” when “Critters 3” came out, which is generally considered DiCaprio’s first big role.
Q: I know a lot of wrestlers end up becoming actors. Has Roman Reigns ever acted? Does he plan to?
A: Joe Anoa’i, the hulking man better known as pro wrestling champion Roman Reigns, has dabbled a little in acting already and plans to do a lot more.
Most notably, he had a smallish part in 2019’s “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw,” the action smash that featured another wrestler-turned-actor, and Anoa‘i’s cousin, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (“Black Adam,” 2022). Anoa’i also appeared as a character known only as “Tatted Meathead” in the 2020 comedy “The Wrong Missy” and he has another small role in the upcoming heist comedy “The Pickup,” due out later this year.
But, Anoa’i has his eyes set on more. In a sprawling Vanity Fair interview published just last month, he said that, at 40 years of age, he knows his wrestling career will come to a close soon, and acting is a big part of his retirement plan.
The WWE mainstay said that he already receives a lot of offers, but when he decides to start accepting them, he wants to be selective. “I almost want to model it after Tarantino,” he said, referring to famed director Quentin Tarantino (“Pulp Fiction,” 1994), “where we’re not just doing anything and everything. I want to really plot out: I want this one, I want that one.”
Indeed, the whole Vanity Fair piece seems designed as a statement of intent for his entry into Hollywood. It also features testimonies from directors who’ve worked with him and an argument for the idea that wrestling is already acting.
He’s not willing to say that his wrestling persona, Roman Reigns, is a fictional character, but he admits that it involves playing a heightened version of himself.
“We just turn the dial up. My normal level is a five or a four, but when it’s time to work, we turn it up to a 10 or an 11.”
— most notably she starred in, co-produced and wrote the 2011 surprise hit “Bridesmaids” — she actually started stretching her dramatic legs early on. Wiig first tested that range in the 2010 crime drama “All Good Things,” in a supporting role but most definitely a dramatic one. And she continued from there, sprinkling in weightier material amid the comedic stuff. For example, she appeared in the sci-fi drama “The Martian” (2015) and the deeply weird psychological thriller “Mother!” (2017). She’s
Sudoku
in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9 Solution on page 6.
Q: I love Kristen Wiig’s comedy, but I’m curious: has she done any other type of work? Horror or drama, maybe? Does she have any on the horizon?
A: Former “Saturday Night Live” star Kristen Wiig has in fact branched out — far out, in some cases — from comedy in the past. But her current pile of future projects is all laughs.
As with so many “SNL” standouts, Wiig soon transitioned to films. In fact, she started even before she officially left the cast in 2012 (I say “officially” because she’s popped in on “SNL” numerous times since).
And though the majority of Wiig’s films have been comedies
even done a superhero movie, playing the villain, Cheetah, in “Wonder Woman 1984” (2020). But Wiig remains, first and foremost, an in-demand comedy star. You can see this in the six projects she has in development — all comedies. Two of those are already in post-production: the animated film “Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie,” slated for release in September, and the romantic comedy “Epiphany,” although the release date has yet to be announced.
