The devil’s in the details: Antiques hold the key in ‘The Madame Blanc Mysteries’
BY SARAH PASSINGHAM
The south of France conjures images of sunny Mediterranean beaches, the taste of fine wine and olive oil, the feeling of romance ... and the mystery of suspicious deaths? A brand new season of British dramedy “The Madame Blanc Mysteries” premieres Monday, July 7, on Acorn TV.
After leaving her life in England behind following her husband’s (Peter Gaynor, “Vikings”) death, antiques dealer Jean White, portrayed by series creator and co-writer Sally Lindsay (“Intruder”), settled into their second home in the fictional French village of Sainte Victoire to investigate his possible murder. In the picturesque town, the couple shared a holiday home that suddenly became Jean’s last asset and first clue in the mystery of her husband’s passing.
For three seasons, Jean has used her unique set of skills and knowledge of priceless artifacts to solve the death of not only her late husband but a series of local conundrums. The Sainte Victoire locals have given Jean plenty to assess, whether it be precious antiques or hidden motives. The new six-episode season sees Jean take on a fresh set of mysteries with French flair alongside her trusty confidantes.
Steve Edge (“The Reluctant Landlord”) stars as Dom Hayes, Jean’s right-hand man. A taxi driver originally from the U.K.,
Dom helps Jean acclimate to her second home more permanently and follows her lead when it comes to investigations. The pair have become very close over their cases, their relationship cheekily pointed out in the new season’s official trailer with Jean’s clumsy introduction, “This is my partner, Dom — business partner.”
This season, the two put the will-they-won’t-they debate to rest, finally giving their romance a chance. Surrounded by busybodies and not interested in anyone else’s thoughts on their budding courtship, Dom and Jean keep their secret safe between them, at least for now. Stakes are high as the crime-solving duo, who have made a name for themselves by uncovering hidden truths, now have to cover their own tracks.
Also returning this season are Robin Askwith (“Strike”) and Sue Holderness (“Still Open All Hours”) as Jean’s friends Jeremy and Judith Lloyd James, as well as Alex Gaumond (“The Franchise”) as local chief of police André Caron. Series co-writer Sue Vincent (“Blindspot”) is back as mechanic Gloria Beaushaw, while Paul Chuckle (“ChuckleVision”) is Gloria’s father, Trevor, and Tony Robinson (“Time Team”) is Dom’s uncle, Patrick.
While Jean and Dom may be amateur sleuths, their services
are commissioned by André as the key to solving the hidden mysteries of Sainte Victoire. With a keen eye for antiques — whether it’s a centuries-old coin, a ring with a hidden compartment, intriguing fine china or a bejeweled pendant — Jean is the one who gives voice to artifacts that were silent witnesses to gruesome crimes.
In a trailer for the upcoming season, the breezy dramedy looks to be injected with a few more thrills than usual. Jean faces the business end of a knife, pointed at her neck through the window of her car, while in another scene, she and Dom are held up at gunpoint. Living in the heaven that is southern France has its perks, but Jean’s indispensable gifts mean she has to chip at the polish of paradise and those who are trying to get away with murder surely have their eye on the village’s very own Sherlock Holmes.
Lindsay spoke to the Telegraph in March about crafting the series with Vincent, who she says handles the research while Lindsay is the “criminal mind.” “Sometimes we’ve come up with an idea and pitched it to the channel and they don’t believe it, but all our stories are based in truth. I’m a bit funny about that, I like it to be real. The antiques we talk about all exist, too.”
Horoscopes
ARIES Focus on doing what you love this week. Treat every occasion as an opportunity for a party. Planning your vacation may feel overwhelming with so many options. However, don’t forget to tackle a few important commitments that need your attention.
TAURUS
It’s time for a change; stop procrastinating. You’ll start a new project or explore new and exciting opportunities. Your home might also need a fresh touch, whether through redecorating or relocating.
GEMINI
You’ll participate in training sessions and conferences and negotiate important agreements. In your relationship, your partner may have to step up and take responsibility—you’re not there to cater to their every need. You’ll successfully break certain bad habits at home.
CANCER
As your vacation draws near, your mind may linger on certain work-related matters, forcing you to stay connected to the office. If you’re single, temper your excitement after a promising first date. You’ll be left waiting for a response.
LEO You’ll finally sort out those small annoyances that have been bothering you and complete the tasks you’ve been putting off. Don’t be too spontaneous on vacation. Tourist spots will be crowded, so make your reservations right away.
VIRGO
You’ll like the idea of spending your vacation at home. Redesigning your flowerbeds or landscaping could quickly become a time-consuming project, eating away at your downtime and leisure activities. Your vacation could turn into more of a construction site than a retreat.
LIBRA
Expect a busy week filled with travel. To avoid making unnecessary trips, make a grocery list before heading to the store. Be prepared for lively discussions and potential disagreements with those closest to you.
SCORPIO
Don’t be afraid to make the most of your summer! Create a solid budget to help turn your plans into reality. If you want the perfect vacation, you’ll need to juggle your work, family life and romantic relationships to have fun while still managing your responsibilities.
SAGITTARIUS
Your sense of initiative doesn’t go unnoticed. At work and in social settings, you’ll create opportunities and know how to take advantage of them. Your energy will be at its peak, especially during activities with friends, which will keep you energized.
CAPRICORN
Before going on vacation, you’ll find yourself calculating the costs repeatedly, worrying about expenses. Remember, you can’t put a price on pleasurable experiences. In love, you could be swept up in a romance when you least expect it.
AQUARIUS
Cherish the time you spend with your loved ones. Now is the perfect time to slow down on work. Allow yourself to take longer breaks to enjoy socializing with your colleagues.
PISCES
Take advantage of your vacation to turn your professional and home-related dreams into reality. However, don’t forget to rest and give yourself some time to recharge.
New Streaming Movies & Shows
“Simple Plan: The Kids In The Crowd” (July 8)
This documentary offers an unprecedented look into the band’s journey from basement shows in Montreal to global stardom. It chronicles the creation of hits like “Welcome to My Life,” “I’d Do Anything” and “Perfect,” and examines the band’s continued impact as one of the most successful punk rock bands still selling out shows worldwide.
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“Bachelor in Paradise” - Season 10 (July 8)
Fan favorites from “The Bachelor” franchise are heading to a new paradise in Costa Rica for a second (or third) shot at love, hoping to turn a summer fling into something real. With Jesse Palmer returning as host, Wells Adams mixing drinks as bartender, and Hannah Brown heading up Paradise Relations while bringing the bubbly from the all-new Champagne Lounge, this season is raising the bar on romance, with every detail perfectly shaken, stirred and sparkling. once again that age is just a number.
Where all the top choices can be found in one place!
“Trainwreck: The Real Project X” (July 8)
In 2012, A teenage girl in the small Dutch town of Haren creates a Facebook event for her sixteenth birthday party, but mistakenly makes it public instead of private. Dutch teenagers make the event go viral, and soon tens of thousands of people sign up to come to the party. Despite warnings, police and local authorities don’t think anyone will turn up. No provisions are made to entertain the masses of young people who arrive in Haren, and the party soon explodes into a full-blown riot.
BY JAY BOBBIN
“Sharkfest 2025” (July 6)
This summer, Sharkfest returns with more than 25 hair-raising, shark-infested programming that brings viewers closer than ever to the ocean’s fiercest fish. The fin-credible lineup includes “Sharks Up Close,” where wildlife filmmaker Bertie Gregory embarks on a daring cage-free dive to capture the raw power and beauty of great whites on film, and “Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story,” the authorized documentary marking the 50th anniversary of the film that redefined Hollywood and launched the summer blockbuster.
Q: Whose idea was it to show George Clooney’s play “Good Night, and Good Luck” on TV the night before it ended its run on Broadway?
A: From comments he made about the telecast, it appears that the idea originated with Clooney himself, though he surely would have been in close collaboration with the show’s other producers and CNN executives on it. There was appeal to all concerned in presenting a Broadway attraction live on television for the first time while it still was running on the Great White Way. The timing also had a lot to do with it. Besides it being the last weekend of the production’s Broadway run, it also was the weekend of the Tony Awards, in which Clooney was a nominee for the play for his portrayal of legendary newsman Edward R. Murrow (though he didn’t win). Clooney said he also liked the idea of presenting the play on a news-oriented network, since so much of the drama is staged in the form of news broadcasts ... though that also put CNN to the challenge of making sure viewers, particularly those who tuned in late, understood that they were watching a dramatization.
Fonda, Tomlin and Parton work ‘9 to 5’
BY JAY BOBBIN
“What a way to make a living,” indeed.
Countless people do it, but a major comedy hit found fun in toiling at a job from “9 to 5.” Turner Classic Movies shows the 1980 film Tuesday, July 8, during the first night of its salute to “’80s Ladies” of the screen that will run on Tuesdays for the rest of the month. The script, co-written by director Colin Higgins, hits many targets with its satire of workplace practices, but the picture also offered one of the most memorable groupings of female stars to date with Jane Fonda (whose company produced the film), Lily Tomlin and (in her movie debut) Dolly Parton.
The women play maligned secretaries who work for chauvinistic boss Franklin Hart Jr. (Dabney Coleman), and with seemingly no recourse to their being objectified by him, they gather to share their thoughts on how they could even the score with him if they only had the chance. They unexpectedly get that chance after a misunderstanding in which Violet (Tomlin) believes she accidentally poisoned him, prompting him to try to blackmail the trio.
However, the situation escalates when they kidnap him and go to elaborate lengths to explain his absence from the office to others — particularly his very nosy assistant (Elizabeth Wilson). The three women use the situation to launch programs that improve worker morale greatly, but they still have the captive Hart to deal with ... and while the outcome is some-
thing that could only happen in the movies, presumably, it’s highly entertaining.
That’s the case in general with “9 to 5,” which scored big marks for its amusing originality while dealing with a societal reality furthered in later years by the “Me Too” movement. Fonda, Tomlin and Parton each evoke different aspects of being in the working world through their respective characters’ personalities, which filmmaker Higgins wisely plays up in dream sequences that picture Violet as the heroine of a Disney-style animated fantasy and Doralee (Parton) as a cowgirl who’s ready to lasso her nemesis.
Of course, a major selling point of “9 to 5” during its theatrical run was the enormously popular title song by musical icon Parton, which was no small factor in helping to alert the public to the fact that she was starting a movie career. The result spawned a TV series — which saw Parton’s role assumed by her youngest sister, then known as Rachel Dennison — and a stage musical that starred Allison Janney, Megan Hilty and Stephanie J. Block in its original Los Angeles staging.
Fonda, Tomlin and Parton reunited in the finale of the Netflix series “Grace and Frankie,” and Jennifer Aniston has talked about doing an update of “9 to 5,” but the original version still packs a lot of punch ... and, just as importantly in its specific case, a lot of laughs.
Best CHRISTOPHER REEVE MOVIES
BY JAY BOBBIN
“Superman” (1978): Appropriately the first attraction in a Turner Classic Movies triple feature saluting Reeve on Thursday, July 10, this blockbuster made him an immediate superstar for his portrayals of the powerful Man of Steel and his earthly counterpart, mildmannered reporter Clark Kent. Not only does Reeve fulfill the job physically, he also brings sizable charm to it.
“Somewhere in Time” (1980): A favorite of many fans of love stories, this fantasy-romance casts Reeve as an aspiring contemporary playwright who wills himself back in time to meet and court the early-20th-century actress he admires (Jane Seymour). John Barry’s music score is gorgeous. This is the second attraction in TCM’s July 10 tribute to Reeve.
“Deathtrap” (1982): Reeve and Michael Caine make fine acting partners in the Sidney Lumet-directed screen version of Ira Levin’s hit stage show about the larceny behind the creation of a play. Dyan Cannon also stars in the film, which wraps up the July 10 Reeve showcase on TCM.
“The Bostonians” (1984): In his first collaboration with producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory, Reeve stars in this Henry James story about a 19th-century attorney whose love for a young suffragist (Madeleine Potter) is complicated by her mentor (Vanessa Redgrave).
“The Remains of the Day” (1993): Reeve reunited with Merchant and Ivory for this drama casting him as a retired politician who becomes the new owner of a British estate, retaining the site’s emotionally contained butler (Anthony Hopkins).
“Village of the Damned” (1995): Director John Carpenter’s respectable remake of the horror classic casts Reeve as a doctor who’s the father of one of several youngsters who were born on the same night ... and who have psychic abilities that can be lethal.
“In the Gloaming” (1997): Reeve moved into directing with this HBO project, with Robert Sean Leonard in the central role of an AIDS-afflicted man who sparks a variety of emotions upon his return home. Reeve’s son Will, now an ABC News correspondent, plays the character in younger years; the cast also includes Glenn Close, Bridget Fonda, David Strathairn and Whoopi Goldberg.
“Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” (2024): The documentary earned widespread acclaim for its powerful use of archival footage in recounting Reeve’s career and his inspirational response to becoming paralyzed after a 1995 horse-riding accident.
Case file thaw: Maggie Q reopens cold cases in ‘Ballard’
BY DANA SIMPSON
The sheer number of true crime podcasts and documentaries available is evidence that people love to learn about crime. In journalism, the phrase “If it bleeds, it leads” is a common rhyme to ensure a gripping story with as much detail as possible. On the police side of crime, however, a lot of time is spent on the actual investigation — until, that is, there are no leads left. These unsolved cases are frequently referred to as “cold cases,” and the number of them is rising.
According to an April 2023 piece by NPR reporter Eric Westervelt, “The rate at which murders are solved or ‘cleared’ has been declining for decades” and “dropped to slightly below 50% in 2020 — a new historic low.” He goes on to write that “several big cities, including Chicago, have seen the number of murder cases resulting in at least one arrest dip into the low to mid-30% range”; a troubling statistic, to say the least.
Of course, another city experiencing a high number of cold cases is Los Angeles. The second-largest city in the U.S. by population size, the Los Angeles Police Department — like many metropolitan police forces — has been plagued by a growing number of unsolved mysteries for years. Luckily, the LAPD does have a cold case unit dedicated to getting justice for the families of the victims of unsolved crimes — and that is the
subject of Prime Video’s newest procedural series.
“Ballard,” the new action series from author Michael Connelly’s Bosch universe, premieres Wednesday, July 9, on Prime Video.
“Ballard” follows titular LAPD detective Renée Ballard, played by “Nikita” and “Mission: Impossible III” (2007) actress Maggie Q, as she commands a new and chronically underfunded cold case unit within the department. Acutely aware of the “poor reputation of the LAPD,” Ballard is determined to get to the bottom of some of the force’s biggest stumpers — as well as a few cases that didn’t get the attention they initially deserved.
Additionally, as reported by online entertainment news source ScreenRant, “Ballard will team up with retired detective Thomas Laffont [John Carroll Lynch, “American Horror Story”], who uses his years of experience to give her advice. It is also known that Renée will uncover a strange conspiracy in her investigations, and that will likely be the bulk of the show’s overarching story.”
While the 10-episode series itself is brand new, fans of the Titus Welliver (“Argo,” 2012) -led Amazon series “Bosch,” which ran from 2014 to 2021, and particularly those of its successor, “Bosch: Legacy,” may already be acquainted with Q’s Ballard, given that the character was introduced during “Legacy’s” Season 3 finale. In a “first look” article from May 2024, Deadline writer Denise Petski teases actor Welliver’s return as Det. Bosch while also drawing attention to the real-life inspiration for Q’s leading character: real-life LAPD Det. Mitzi Roberts.
View from the Couch
Roberts, who retired from the force in April 2024 after 29 years of service, is a noted influence for Connelly’s Ballard character, who first appeared in print in his 2017 novel “The Late Show.” In a November 2024 interview with Orlando-based radio station WMMO 98.9FM, Connelly shared how Roberts helped him over the years while writing his Bosch books, and how she went on to inspire Ballard.
“I go back to a cadre of people to help me,” Connelly said of his writing process, referencing the care he takes to maintain as much procedural accuracy as possible in his novels. “One of those people that helped me over the years was Mitzi Roberts, who is a homicide detective with the
Interested in Roberts’ experience as a woman in a male-dominated field, Connelly said, “I started talking to Mitzi specifically about building a character, a female character. ... So, when I’m writing about Renée, I don’t send my questions or my texts to a lot of people. I send them to one: Mitzi Roberts.”
BY JAY BOBBIN
“SINNERS”
An enormous box-office hit, writer-director Ryan Coogler’s horror tale reunites him with Michael B. Jordan, with whom he has worked on such other screen successes as “Black Panther” and “Creed.” Jordan has dual roles here, playing World War I-veteran twin brothers who make an early-1930s return to their Mississippi hometown after years of underworld dealings and open a club, but trouble from their past follows them ... and so do vampires, setting the stage for considerable mayhem for the siblings and their acquaintances and patrons. Hailee Steinfeld (who’s gotten added attention lately as the new wife of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen), Miles Caton, Jack O’Connell and Delroy Lindo also are featured in the melodra-
ma, which carefully evokes its time period in every aspect, including Ruth E. Carter’s costume design and Ludwig Goransson’s original score (among the contributions by other talents who had collaborated with Coogler before). *** (R: AS, P, GV)
(Also on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD and Digital)
“THE AMATEUR”
The second screen version of a novel by Robert Littell, this action drama lets Oscar and Primetime Emmy winner Rami Malek – also a producer of the picture – bounce back from being a James Bond villain (in “No Time to Die”) to get back on the heroic side of things. He plays a CIA employee determined to avenge the death of his wife (Rachel Brosnahan) by tracking down those responsible for the tragedy. The pursuit is global, taking him to such locations as Paris, Madrid and Romania; his bosses hope that in letting him pursue his personal revenge, he also can address the larger concerns they have about those he’s chasing. Laurence Fishburne, Michael Stuhlbarg, Caitriona Balfe (“Outlander”), Holt McCallany, Julianne Nicholson and Jon Bernthal also are featured. Marthe Keller, who was in the original 1981 film, makes a brief appearance. *** (PG-13: AS, P, V)
(Also on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD and Digital)
“FALLOUT: SEASON ONE”
Walton Goggins got a lot of attention for his recent role in the third season of HBO’s “The White Lotus,” but before that, he was
Romance for the ages: ‘Bachelor in Paradise’ prepares for ‘Golden’ tenth season
BY CAROLINE COLLACUTT
Sun, sand and singles — what more could you ask for? With plenty of “Golden” moments in store, “Bachelor in Paradise” kicks off its landmark 10th season Monday, July 7, on ABC.
Returning after last year’s hiatus, host Jesse Palmer (“The Bachelor”) and beloved in-house bartender Wells Adams (“The Traitors”) are ready to hit the beach and get acquainted with their latest batch of singles — but this time, they won’t be sipping drinks and tanning in Mexico. Instead, Costa Rica welcomes this season’s rowdy bunch of “Bachelor” alums, marking a brandnew era for “Paradise.”
But that’s not all. More changes are in store for Season 10, as Palmer and Adams are joined by “Bachelorette” favorite Hannah Brown, who debuts as the newly minted head of “Paradise” relations. While keeping her reality TV comrades in line, Brown will also be serving up bubbly in the Champagne Lounge, another new addition for the upcoming season.
Ready for another shot at finding love — this time while on a one-ofa-kind, stunning vacation — “Bachelor in Paradise” finds 16 former contenders from “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette,” alongside some former “Bachelor in Paradise” players, mingling amongst their fellow singles as each hopes to head home kissed by more than just the sun, hand in hand with a brand new
among the stars of this Prime Video sci-fi saga based on a video-game franchise. Its focus is the aftermath of a future war between America and China, when survivors vie for limited resources and try to protect themselves from nuclear fallout in specially designed bunkers ... not knowing the shelters have been built to conduct experiments on them. One young woman (played by Ella Purnell) leaves for the remains of what was Los Angeles to find her father (Kyle MacLachlan), encountering a mutated bounty hunter (Goggins) along the way. Aaron Moten and Moises Arias also are among the show’s stars, with Sarita Choudhury and Leslie Uggams among recurring players. Two more seasons of the series are forthcoming. *** (Not rated: AS, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD)
“CLUELESS”
Director-screenwriter Amy Heckerling’s energetic and appealing comedy, loosely inspired by Jane Austen’s classic novel “Emma,” marks its 30th anniversary will a new Steelbook edition on 4K Ultra HD. Alicia Silverstone shot to stardom as privileged Cher, whose popularity only increases as she positions herself as a matchmaker for school peers and teachers. She gets ideas about having a romance of her own when she meets the son (Paul Rudd) of her father’s (Dan Hedaya) ex-wife. Some of the 1995 film’s cast members – including Stacey Dash, Elisa Donovan, Donald Faison, Twink Caplan, Julie Brown and Wallace Shawn — reprised
their roles in a 1996-99 series version that began on ABC and ended on UPN. Brittany Murphy, Jeremy Sisto (now of “FBI”) and Breckin Meyer also appear in this generational favorite. *** (PG-13: AS, P) (Also on Blu-ray)
“BARRY LYNDON”
Based on a William Makepeace Thackeray novel, iconic screenwriter-director Stanley Kubrick’s 1975 costume epic joins the ranks of Criterion Collection offerings on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD, with Ryan O’Neal in the title role of an 18th-century rascal who marries into wealth and tries to make the most of the social status he inherits. With Oscar-winning cinematography by John Alcott that was deemed innovative for its time, the film is separated into two halves that detail Lyndon’s rise and fall; he enjoys great success playing the romantic field initially, but his wife’s (Marisa Berenson) son (longtime Kubrick associate Leon Vitali) from an earlier marriage is on to him, complicating Barry’s escapades considerably. Patrick Magee, Hardy Kruger and Steven Berkoff also have prominent parts in the lengthy, Michael Hordern-narrated saga that also won Oscars for original score (by Leonard Rosenman), art direction and costume design. Special features include audio comments by Kubrick on making the movie. *** (PG: AS, V) “EARTHQUAKE”
One of the most successful entries during the disaster-movie craze, this 1974 drama makes its debut in the 4K Ultra HD format, complete with the Sensurround tracks that gave
partner.
Plus, this season, these “Bachelor” and “Bachelorette” stars will be joined by favorites from the all-new “Golden Bachelor” and “Golden Bachelorette,” as six men and four women from the senior side of Bachelor Nation join in for the fun. April Kirkwood, Kathy Swarts, Leslie Fhima and Natascha Hardee join from Season 1 of “The Golden Bachelor,” while Charles “CK” King, Gary Levingston, Jack Lencioni, Keith Gordon, Kim Buike and Ralph “RJ” Johnson join from its “Golden Bachelorette” counterpart.
While some are excited by the ad dition of more experienced players, others seem less than interested in mingling with the older stars, considering their noticeable age gap.
“Historically, I’ve capped it at 45,” “Bachelor” alum Zoe McGrady told Us Weekly, speaking on the series’ newest additions. “I don’t know what the [youngest] is for the Goldens, but I think as far as they go, I just want to focus on their advice and their wisdom, but you know, never say never.”
In the same publication, bartender Wells Adams claimed, “[this] happens all the time in the real world,” leaving the door to romance wide open.
Bringing the entirety of Bachelor Nation together, Season 10 of “Bachelor in Paradise” begins Monday, July 7, on ABC.
the effect of the theater shaking when they were activated ... so viewers should be sure about their house’s stability before trying that out at home. “The Big One” hits Los Angeles, forcing numerous people to take whatever measures are necessary to survive. Among them: an architect (Charlton Heston) who’s married to his boss’ (Lorne Greene) daughter (Ava Gardner), but also is attracted to a young widow (Genevieve Bujold); a no-nonsense police veteran (George Kennedy); a motorcycle daredevil (Richard Roundtree); and a too-eager military volunteer (Marjoe Gortner). Victoria Principal, Barry Sullivan and (in a cameo, under an alias) Walter Matthau also are in director Mark Robson’s cast; the film earned Oscars for its sound and visual effects. *** (PG: AS, P, V) (Also on DVD and Blu-ray)
