That’s a wrap: ‘Dexter,’ ‘ANW’ and more end summer seasons
BY SARAH PASSINGHAM
Now that the dog days of summer are behind us, we move into the dog days of summer television — that weeklong period when fan-favorite series reach their boiling point and leave audiences wanting more heat as the chillier weather rolls in.
More than ever, audiences are spoiled for choice when it comes to TV options, but one particular scripted series has had viewers in a chokehold this summer — and tensions are high headed into its final Season 1 episode, given that two previous finales within the franchise have proven disappointing. With that in mind, longtime “Dexter” fans are cautious (but hopeful) as they prepare for the Season 1 finale of the franchise’s newest series, “Dexter: Resurrection.”
Slated for release Friday, Sept. 5, on Paramount+ Premium (formerly Paramount+ with Showtime), the season’s 10th episode, titled “And Justice for All...,” may just be a make-it-orbreak-it event for some fans.
Dexter: Resurrection” sees Hall return as Dexter, this time alongside his son, Harrison (Jack Alcott, “The Good Lord Bird”), with whom he has a somewhat tumultuous relationship after a shocking encounter at the end of “New Blood.” As Dexter tries to sort matters out with his equally twisted son in New York City, the pair must outrun Miami detective Angel Batista (David Zayas, “Michael Clayton,” 2007) while facing off
against a series of other foes, including rival serial killers. Uma Thurman (“Kill Bill: Vol. 1,” 2003), Kadia Saraf (“Law & Order: Special Victim’s Unit”), Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine (“The Lincoln Lawyer”), James Remar (“Oppenheimer,” 2023) and Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones”) also star this season.
Those who simply can’t wait until Sept. 5 for some good ol’ finale fun may consider tuning in Monday, Sept. 1, to NBC for the Season 17 finale of “American Ninja Warrior.”
Entertaining audiences for more than 15 years now, the current iteration of “American Ninja Warrior” — which is based on its predecessor “American Ninja Challenge” and, in turn, on the Japanese game show “Sasuke” — follows some of the United States’ strongest athletes as they compete for the best time in a series of complicated obstacle courses. Although the series is now in its 17th season, this year’s finale looks rather different than in previous years.
The new format, which was announced this summer, spans four weeks as 60 athletes, split into 15 groups of four based on their performance in the semifinals, each compete in three side-by-side races during a bracket-style tournament. The winner from each bracket then goes on to play the other winners until the “ANW” champion is crowned on Sept. 1.
For those who prefer their unscripted television with a side of
love rather than athletics, ABC airs the Season 10 “Bachelor in Paradise” finale Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Previously known for helping former Bachelor franchise still-singles find love while vacationing in Mexico, Season 10 of this love-match offshoot moved the magic to sunny Costa Rica’s Azura Beach Resort ahead of its July 7 premiere. And while some viewers aren’t thrilled about the change — one X user posted that they “miss the little crabs they show in between different segments” — the change appears to work for the cast of the unscripted romance series, which this time also includes contestants from 60-plus “The Golden Bachelor/Bachelorette” seasons.
Lastly, for those who have a bit of a darker side (and who are presumably also awaiting that Sept. 5 “Dexter” finale), why not take in a real-life disaster tale when “Survival Mode” tackles the sinking of the Costa Concordia Monday, Sept. 1, on NBC?
New this year, “Survival Mode” is a harrowing documentary series that follows in the footsteps of “I Survived,” chronicling the experiences of ordinary people who have lived through some of the world’s most terrifying and bizarre events to date.
Horoscopes
ARIES
You’ll take on new responsibilities at work that will push you beyond your current skill level. This experience will help you grow and may pave the way for a promotion. You’ll also get the go-ahead on an innovative project.
TAURUS
You’ll feel inspired to go back to school and work toward a degree, setting yourself up for a brighter future. A romantic getaway will revitalize your relationship and deepen your connection with your partner.
GEMINI
Work has become monotonous, and you need a change. You can steer your career toward exciting new opportunities with a solid plan and some preparation. Boldness will be the key to your success in long-term projects.
CANCER
It’s often easier to get along with people with whom you have no emotional connection. You might face challenges regarding discipline with one of your children. Use your diplomacy skills to resolve any conflicts.
LEO
Every detail counts. You’ll plan a large work event that will bring many people together. Communication may be difficult, so your patience and calmness will be essential to overcoming these obstacles.
VIRGO
Your leadership will shine, whether at work or in your personal life. You’ll first have to overcome doubts or a lack of self-confidence. However, others will recognize your abilities once you do, and you’ll earn praise for your achievements.
LIBRA
A loved one could slow you down as you rush to make all your appointments on time. It might be time to consider a change, such as moving out of the family home. The space has become too big since your children left.
SCORPIO
Expect a lot of travel for work or family commitments. Numerous details will be vying for your attention. A surprising secret could come to light. You could forge new friendships with people who live close to you.
SAGITTARIUS
You’ll receive the green light for financing a project, like purchasing a property. The idea of starting a business with a family member could appeal to you. Let inspiration and intuition guide you.
CAPRICORN Everything is changing quickly, but things may not be happening fast enough for your liking. You’ll suggest interesting ideas to your partner, who will be impressed. You could win a sports competition.
AQUARIUS
Health issues could slow you down, but this break will allow you to take a step back and gain a fresh perspective on your professional and personal life. Lean into spirituality; you’ll find it to be a source of peace and well-being.
PISCES
You’ll feel stressed this week, but it may also give you more energy and boost your efficiency. You can accomplish great things when you’re in a time crunch. You could be struck by love at first sight. However, if you’re in a relationship, it may lead to some confusion.
New Streaming Movies & Shows
“The Runarounds” (Sept. 1)
Starring Lilah Pate, William Lipton, Marley Aliah, Maximo Salas and more, this brandnew series comes from the creators of “Outer Banks,” and follows a high school band post-graduation, as they try to harness the energy, time, dedication and talent required to achieve fame and success in the modern music industry.
Word Search
“lood & Myth” (Sept. 4)
A haunting true crime documentary that journeys deep into the Alaskan wilderness to unravel a mystery where legend and reality blur. When a series of violent crimes devastates a remote Inupiaq village, all evidence points to one suspect: Teddy Kyle Smith, a celebrated actor and respected member of the community. Upon capture, Teddy makes a startling claim ... his actions were driven by a chilling encounter with the Inukuns, sinister beings from Inupiaq lore.
Where all the top choices can be found in one place!
“Pokémon Concierge” (Sept. 4)
Season 2 follows Haru, a kind-hearted concierge learning life lessons through her daily encounters with Pokémon guests. She’s no longer a newbie concierge at the Pokémon Resort, and alongside her loyal sidekick Psyduck, they welcome guests such as Tyler, Alisa and Watanabe. Amid sunny and relaxing days at the resort, Haru receives a surprise visit from her ex-boyfriend, Kent. Dan is also checking in, accompanied by his Arcanine and a quiet sadness that follows closely behind.
BY JAY BOBBIN
“Lilo & Stitch” (Sept. 3)
In this live-action iteration of the 2003 classic, a lonely young Hawaiian girl, Lilo (Maia Kealoha), finds herself in desperate need of some company. Hoping to adopt a dog from the local shelter, Lilo instead winds up bringing home Stitch (Chris Sanders) — an extraterrestrial entity that crash landed on Earth after escaping an outer space prison. Much to her sister Nani’s (Sydney Agudong) chagrin, Lilo quickly grows attached to her alien companion.
Q: I just saw that Jordan Peele released a book. I didn’t recognize the title. Is he going to make a movie out of it?
A: Jordan Peele (“Get Out,” 2017) is not likely to make a movie out of his new book because it’s not just one story. And for the record, he didn’t actually write it.
“Out There Screaming” is a collection of short stories that Peele compiled and edited. It’s definitely in his cinematic wheelhouse — it describes itself as “an anthology of new Black horror,” and Peele is often credited with reviving Black horror (horror stories revolving around African American characters and themes) as a film genre.
Despite coming to fame as a sketch comedian on his beloved show “Key and Peele,” Peele is now very much focused on horror filmmaking. Since his most recent writer-director project, 2022’s “Nope,” he’s also produced the 2025 shocker “Him.”
BY JAY BOBBIN
‘Jaws 2’ has less bite than its forerunner
BY JAY BOBBIN
With the arrival of Labor Day weekend, a milestone summer for “Jaws” is coming to a close.
The blockbuster thriller has been widely celebrated on its 50th anniversary over the summer, and that has brought extra attention to the four-movie franchise as a whole. AMC has been a frequent television home for those films, and the first sequel — 1978’s “Jaws 2” — gets another showing there Sunday, Aug. 31, with 1975’s original “Jaws” following it. After the monstrous financial success of the first shark tale, it was inevitable that Universal Pictures would return to the franchise with a follow-up, no matter how many naysayers there were. One of them was Steven Spielberg, who had the chance to return as director, but believed he’d already told the basic “Jaws” story as well as he could. That job ultimately went to Jeannot Szwarc, who had done a bounty of TV-episode directing for Universal (“The Rockford Files,” “Columbo,” “The Six Million Dollar Man,” etc.), and who would earn particular acclaim for guiding the movie “Somewhere in Time” in 1980. Roy Scheider also had doubts about reprising the role of Amity Island police chief Martin Brody, but he ended up committed to do the sequel because of contractual matters. Indeed, “Jaws 2” (co-written by Carl Gottlieb, who also worked on the first picture) finds Brody in very much the same situation again, as another great white shark plagues the popular tourist destination, with local authorities — concerned about scaring away vital business — dismissing Brody’s
urgent warnings.
While that’s the familiar set-up of the first half of “Jaws 2,” much of the rest of the film centers on a group of fun-seeking teenagers who (of course) put themselves directly in the line of peril by venturing out to sea. And when one of the youths is Brody’s elder son, Mike (played by Mark Gruner), this raises the personal stakes. The young performers also include such notables as Ann Dusenberry (“Cutter’s Way”), Donna Wilkes (“Angel”), Keith Gordon (“Back to School”) and John Dukakis, the adopted son of former Massachusetts Governor and Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis.
Brody ends up going to that group’s rescue, minus the expertise of Matt Hooper and Quint (the Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw characters in “Jaws”) this time, and the outcome is due as much to lucky coincidence as it is to bravado and skill ... satisfying in the way it meant to be, but still with less punch than the first “Jaws” provided.
Returnees in “Jaws 2” also include Lorraine Gary (alias Brody’s wife Ellen), Murray Hamilton (Mayor Larry Vaughn) and Jeffrey Kramer (Deputy Hendricks).
“Jaws 3-D” (1983) and “Jaws: The Revenge” (1987) followed, with each chapter generally having less impact than the ones before it. Thus, “Jaws 2” is the best of the sequels, though that has to be taken with a sizable grain of salt for coming after what endures as one of the greatest suspense tales ever put on the screen.
Best NEWSPAPER MOVIES
“The Front Page” (1931): In the first of the several screen versions of a famous play, a reporter and his editor (portrayed by Pat O’Brien and Adolphe Menjou) re-examine the story of an alleged murderer who’s on the run.
“It Happened One Night” (1934): A reporter (Clark Gable) who’s just lost his job sees a big story when he crosses paths with an AWOL socialite (Claudette Colbert) in director Frank Capra’s comedy, which swept its year’s top Oscars.
“Citizen Kane” (1941): Fearsome media tycoon Charles Foster Kane is the central character as played by Orson Welles, who also produced, directed and co-wrote this much-lauded milestone in screen history. It won an Academy Award for its script.
“All the President’s Men” (1976): The probe of the Watergate break-in by Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein (Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman) is compellingly dramatized in this Oscar winner.
“The Pelican Brief” (1993): The John Grisham story features Denzel Washington as a reporter who’s contacted by a law student (Julia Roberts) with ties to several killings, with two Supreme Court justices among the victims.
“The Paper” (1994): Not to be confused with a same-named Peacock series that premieres Thursday, Sept. 4, director Ron Howard’s comedy-drama casts Michael Keaton as a New Yorkbased editor who’s facing staff cutbacks at a time when a controversial murder story breaks.
“State of Play” (1999): A veteran Washington, D.C., reporter (Russell Crowe) straddles the personal and the professional as he examines the connection of a congressman (Ben Affleck) — his longtime friend — to several deaths in this adaptation of a BBC drama series.
“Zodiac” (2007): Cryptic messages sent to a newspaper get some staff members involved in seeking San Francisco’s Zodiac Killer; Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr. are in director David Fincher’s cast.
“Spotlight” (2015): Backed by a new editor (Liev Schreiber), the Boston Globe’s investigative Spotlight team (Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Brian d’Arcy James) looks into alleged child sex abuse by clergymen in this involving Oscar winner for best picture.
“The Post” (2017): Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham (Meryl Streep) and executive editor Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks) ponder whether to print the Pentagon Papers in director Steven Spielberg’s drama.
“She Said” (2022): New York Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey (Zoe Kazan, Carey Mulligan) give a boost to the #MeToo movement by writing articles about alleged sexual misconduct.
On deadline: Mockumentary ‘The Paper’ dives into a drowning local newspaper
BY DANA SIMPSON
Breaking news: a familiar mockumentary crew have picked their cameras back up and settled into a new office. From the creator of “The Office” comes “The Paper,” a new sitcom premiering its first four episodes Thursday, Sept. 4, on Peacock, with two new episodes streaming every Thursday through September 25. Set in a struggling Midwestern newspaper office, “The Paper” follows the news team and office staff as they try to keep the Toledo Truth-Teller alive.
Domhnall Gleeson (“The Patient”) stars as Ned Sampson, the paper’s new editor-in-chief, whose desperate, earnest attempts at reviving the paper yield Michael Scott-esque (Steve Carell, “The Big Short,” 2015) awkward moments in the newsroom. Reprising his role from “The Office” is Oscar Nunez (“The Lost City,” 2022) as accountant Oscar Martinez, who has left Scranton, Pennsylvania, behind for the slightly more cosmopolitan city of Toledo, Ohio, and a new kind of paper business.
Also starring in “The Paper” are Sabrina Impacciatore (“The White Lotus”), Chelsea Frei (“Animal Control”), Melvin Gregg (“Nine Perfect
Strangers”), Gbemisola Ikumelo (“A League of Their Own”), Alex Edelman (“Unfrosted,” 2024), Ramona Young (“Never Have I Ever”) and Tim Key (“The Ballad of Wallis Island,” 2025).
Guest stars include Eric Rahill (“Friendship,” 2024), Tracy Letts (“Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty”), Molly Ephraim (“Perry Ma son”), Mo Welch (“Life In Pieces”), Allan Havey (“Billions”), Duane Shepard Sr. (“American Crime Story”), Nate Jackson (“Young Rock”) and Nancy Lenehan (“Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”).
Genre-jumping superstars:
Thee Stallion and more to star in ‘K-pop’ competition series
In an official trailer for the upcoming series, Ned introduces himself to the staff, who are largely unimpressed by a new regime at their floundering paper. The office exudes an energy that says, “Why try?” The company is more proud of its custodial paper products than the Truth-Teller, which is used in-house as a bird cage tray liner.
Undeterred by the general malaise he’s stepped into, Ned knows what he’s working with. “It sucks,” he honestly tells one of the reporters when asked for his appraisal of the Truth Teller. “But we are going to make it better,” Ned promises. With a vision for the paper and a set of volunteers who don’t quite have the skills to execute it just yet, Ned takes stock, saying, “Seven highly motivated, tenacious Buckeyes are out there hunting for news. You’d be a fool to bet against that.”
The Truth Teller’s volunteer reporters gather their experience writing middle school essays, tweeting and participating in group chats, and set out to find stories worth telling across Toledo. Over 10 episodes, Ned hopes to transform the paper from something that’s most useful as a janitorial product to a — readable at minimum, must-read at best — source of community news.
The new series comes from television legend Greg Daniels, who adapted the original British series for the American version of “The Office,” created beloved and recently rebooted animated sitcom “King of the Hill” and produced five seasons of “The Simpsons” and the whole run of “Parks and Recreation.” Co-creator of “The Paper” is Michael Koman, who also co-created “Nathan for You” on Comedy Central with Nathan Fielder (“The Rehearsal”), so expect expert cringe comedy in the upcoming series.
“LOST IN SPACE”
Remade more recently as a Netflix series, the Irwin Allen-produced sci-fi series that ran on CBS in the 1960s also got an overhaul in this 1998 movie version, now making its 4K Ultra HD debut. William Hurt and Mimi Rogers play the science-minded heads of the Robinson family, launched into the cosmos to oversee and test the adjustment of another planet to accommodate the population of a dying Earth. The mission is threatened by the traitorous Dr. Zachary Smith (Gary Oldman), with the group’s spaceship Jupiter II sent off course and into an unexplored section of the universe. Heather Graham, Lacey Chabert and Jack Johnson play the Robinson children, with Matt
BY JAY BOBBIN
LeBlanc in a considerable departure from “Friends” as Major Don West. Dick Tufeld reprises his job from the original show as the voice of Robot, and that series’ June Lockhart, Mark Goddard, Angela Cartwright and Marta Kristen have cameo roles here. *** (PG-13: AS, P, V) (Also on DVD and Blu-ray)
“OUTRAGEOUS”
Television outlets in North American and England recently enjoyed wide acclaim for this drama series focusing on the lives of high society’s six Mitford sisters, who sparked considerable controversy — some of it politically driven — with their greatly independent behavior in the 1930s. Bessie Carter, Orla Hill, Joanna Vanderham, Isobel Jesper Jones, Shannon Watson and Zoe Brough play the siblings, who each had their own interests and pursuits; Anna Chancellor and James Purefoy portray their parents, with Toby Regbo as the women’s brother. Mary S. Lovell’s biography, originally published as “The Mitford Girls” but renamed “The Sisters” in the United States, provided the basis for the six-episode show. ***
(Not rated: AS, P)
“SUPERMAN 5-FILM
COLLECTION”
Many fans of the Man of Steel undoubtedly are awaiting the home-video premiere of the latest movie about the enduring superhero, but in the meantime, the
Christopher Reeve-starring entries in the series get 4K Ultra HD Steelbook treatment. He only made four pictures in the role, but there are five inclusions here, counting the extra version of “Superman II” (1980) that restored footage done by original director Richard Donner. He also guided the original epic (1978) that introduced Reeve in the part; “Superman III” (1983) and “Superman IV: The Quest for Peace” (1987) also are here. Additional stars include Gene Hackman, Marlon Brando, Margot Kidder, Ned Beatty, Valerie Perrine, Glenn Ford, Susannah York, Terence Stamp, Annette O’Toole, Richard Pryor and Robert Vaughn. *** (PG: AS, V) (Also on Blu-ray)
“SALVADOR”
James Woods gives one of his strongest performances in director and co-writer Oliver Stone’s 1986 drama, now getting a 4K Ultra HD release. The actor plays real-life photojournalist Richard Boyle, whose personal vices have taken a toll on his career — so he decides to give himself a job by traveling to El Salvador with a friend (Jim Belushi) and covering the civil war there as a freelancer. He encounters an ex-flame (Elpidia Carrillo) and revives their relationship, but they end up in trouble as they witness an assassination and try to leave the country in the midst of a subsequent rebellion. Michael Murphy,
BY CAROLINE COLLACUTT
You might know the artists — you may even love their songs — but you’ve never heard them quite like this before. “KPOPPED” is now streaming on Apple TV+, with all eight episodes available to watch.
In Seoul, South Korea, host Soojeong Son (“The Brothers Sun”) stands alongside Megan Thee Stallion (“Savage”) and PSY (“Gagnam Style”) as they lead this fun-filled competition series, which sees Western artists working alongside some of the most recognizable K-pop idols to revamp some of their most popular songs as iconic K-pop performances.
As a series description given by The Wrap reads, “The eight-part competition series gives artists the chance to reimagine some of their most popular songs with the help of their K-pop counterparts. The show’s teams are then tasked with performing their new remixes in front of a live audience in a competition to decide which songs were K-popped the best.”
While the first “KPOPPED” trailer offers viewers a glimpse at some of the collaborations they can expect to see throughout this series’ first season — including a “Savage” remix performed by Megan Thee Stallion and K-pop girl group Billlie (“GingaMingaYo”) — there are plenty of impressive remixes to enjoy, includ-
John Savage, Cindy Gibb and Tony Plana also are in the cast, but this is very much a showcase for Woods, who earned an Oscar nomination for his work here. The script by Stone and Boyle also was an Academy Award contender. ****
(R: AS, N, P, V) (Also on DVD and Blu-ray)
“TARZAN OF THE APES”
Author Edgar Rice Burroughs’s jungle icon has serviced a number of actors over the decades, but Elmo Lincoln was the first actor to have the role in this silent 1918 adventure, now offered in a newly restored version. Filmed in Louisiana, the picture shows how Tarzan went from being a member of the privileged Greystoke dynasty to wearing pop culture’s most famous loincloth as the hero who swings from trees and is friendly with the animal kingdom. The latter fact prompts the story here, as Tarzan seeks revenge for the death of the ape who basically acted as his mother. Enid Markey plays Jane, legendary for being Tarzan’s true love. Also included is a re-edited 1928 feature version of the 1921 serial “The Adventures of Tarzan,” also starring Lincoln (though with a different “Jane,” Louise Lorraine) and newly restored as well. ****
(Not rated: V) (Also on Blu-ray)
“’50S SCI-FI COLLECTION”
Four of the most popular scare shows of the 1950s are compiled
ing Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby,” Kylie Minogue’s “Can’t Get You Outta My Head,” TLC’s “Waterfalls,” “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls, “Karma Chameleon” from Boy George and plenty of others.
This season also sees the appearance of Kesha (“Die Young”), Patti LaBelle (“On My Own”), Taylor Dayne (“Tell it to My Heart”), Eve (“Let Me Blow Ya Mind”), J Balvin (“Loco Contigo”), Ava Max (“Kings & Queens”), Boyz II Men (“End of the Road”) and Jess Glynne (“Hold My Hand”), who team up with K-pop superstars such as ITZY (“DALLA DALLA”), JO1 (“Love seeker”), Kiss of Life (“Sticky”), Blackswan (“Cat & Mouse”), STAYC (“Cheeky Icy Thang”), KEP1ER (“Shooting Star”) and Ateez (“WORK”) for their performances.
With Megan Thee Stallion, Lionel Richie (“We Are the World”), Moira Ross (“The Masked Singer”), Miky Lee (“Parasite,” 2019), Greg Foster (“To the Arctic 3D,” 2012), Chris Culvenor (“Stars on Mars”), Paul Franklin (“The Mole”), Wesley Dening (“Australian Idol”), David Tibballs (“Finding Magic Mike”) and Bruce Eskowitz (“The Greatest Night in Pop,” 2024) acting as executive producers, “KPOPPED” is available for music lovers of every genre to enjoy only on Apple TV+.
in this Blu-ray set, with fears generated by the nuclear age incorporated into several of the stories. “Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman” (1958) casts Allison Hayes as an emotionally troubled lady whose encounter with an alien makes her grow considerably; “The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms” (1953) uses Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion animation to bring the title creature to life, with Paul Christian as the tale’s physicist hero; “Them!” (1954) causes ants to grow to huge size via radiation, with James Whitmore as a policeman who fights them; and “World Without End” (1956) sends several astronauts — including one played by Rod Taylor — into the future while they’re returning from Mars. *** (Not rated: V)
Coming Home Soon
“JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH” (SEPT. 9)
“ELIO” (SEPT. 9)
“FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK: BALLERINA” (SEPT. 9)
