All Points Bulletin: All Things Media And News!

[tv echo]

Matt’s Inside Line: Scoop on Ghosts, The Rookie, Ahsoka, Downton Abbey, NCIS, The Recruit, The Way Home, Skeleton Crew, Matlock and More!
By Matt Webb Mitovich   December 23, 2024
https://tvline.com/lists/ghosts-season-4-spoilers-hetty-power-revealed-ahsoka-renewed-season-2/ 

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Will The Rookie have a Mother’s Day episode this season? –Shauna
As undoubtedly fun as it would be to see how Nyla and Angela are honored this time around, “We do not have a Mother’s Day episode this season,” showrunner Alexi Hawley answered. “We do have a Valentine’s Day episode, and we have an April Fool’s Day episode, both of which are very good.”

[tv echo]

2024 in Review: Best Love Triangle, Lamest Cameo, Most Unnecessary Death and 80+ More TV Superlatives
By Rebecca Iannucci   December 29, 2024 
https://tvline.com/lists/tv-shows-2024-best-worst-moments/

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MOST HEARTBREAKING BREAKUP (tie!)
Chenford, The Rookie, and Buck/Tommy, 9-1-1

[anna0852]

https://tvline.com/lists/the-rookie-season-7-preview-nolan-bailey-jason-threat-chenford-drama/
 

No real spoilers, but sounds like some interesting storylines heading into season seven.

[KeithJ]

Oh great, we're gonna have drama with Bailey's ex for the whole season.

And, Lucy has a rookie with her? Didn't they make a whole big deal about Nolan using his golden ticket and studying and stuff to become a training officer?  Now Lucy just becomes one?  I guess if you fail the detective exam you become a training officer?

[tv echo]

If I recall correctly, Nolan became a training officer two seasons ago (Season 5).

Ugh, I'm already sick of the Bailey drama with her ex.

[Raja]

23 hours ago, KeithJ said:

Oh great, we're gonna have drama with Bailey's ex for the whole season.

And, Lucy has a rookie with her? Didn't they make a whole big deal about Nolan using his golden ticket and studying and stuff to become a training officer?  Now Lucy just becomes one?  I guess if you fail the detective exam you become a training officer?

I know the probationary year took 3 TV seasons but The Rookie is now an old show and the two surviving boots should not need a golden ticket to get the first promotion to P2.

[tv echo]

The Rookie Season 7's Major Character Departure Explained By Showrunner
By Rachel Foertsch & Nick Bythrow   Updated 1 day ago
https://screenrant.com/the-rookie-season-7-major-character-departure-explained/ 

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When speaking with ScreenRant, showrunner Alexi Hawley was asked if Aaron may return to The Rookie at some point down the line. He responds optimistically, affirming that the exit was not at all due to the actor's lack of ability. While Hawley would love to have Valentino back in some capacity, he felt The Rookie season 7 needed to pivot due to its current creative trajectory. Check out his full quote below:

ScreenRant: We know Aaron is not in the upcoming episodes. Is there any chance that he could return to the show down the line?

Alexi Hawley: Of course. Tru [Valentino] is a great actor, and he was a huge part of our show for several seasons, and so we'd love to have him back in some capacity. It just ultimately felt like, creatively, for where the show was going, that we needed to pivot a bit. But he's still very much alive in our universe.

Edited January 4 by tv echo

[Snazzy Daisy]

'The Rookie': Eric Winter and Melissa O’Neil Say Chenford Romance Will Be ‘Messy’ in Season 7

 

[tv echo]

Why’d Raw Snub Boy Meets World Star? Is Suits LA Promo Sneaky? Did Jerry Jones Score on Landman? Why Shave Mandy Patinkin?! More TV Qs!
By Matt Webb Mitovich, Kimberly Roots, Nick Caruso, Dave Nemetz, Charlie Mason, Ryan Schwartz   January 10, 2025
https://tvline.com/features/fire-country-midseason-premiere-los-angeles-wildfires-1235398028/ 

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14 | Since The Rookie‘s showrunner has previewed the Wesley/Angela/Detective Graham story as being “fun,” could it be that Wesley shut off the shrink session tape too soon? Was Graham about to say something G-rated, or maybe was even talking about a different “Detective Lopez”?

[tv echo]

Interview with Melissa O'Neil and Lisseth Chavez (no spoilers)...

"It's Not Just Opposites Attract": 'The Rookie's Melissa O'Neil Goes Deep on Chenford for Season 7
By Therese Lacson   Jan 12, 2025
https://collider.com/the-rookie-melissa-oneil-lisseth-chavez-season-7-chenford/ 

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COLLIDER: The Rookie Season 7. We are jumping in, but before I look into the future, I'm going to look into the past. For each of you, when you look back at your character and their growth, what is the thing that you're most proud of?

MELISSA O’NEIL: Wow. I feel like the thing that I'm most proud of when it comes to Lucy is we've seen her go through so many different setbacks, both personally, in interpersonal relationships and professionally, and somehow, she's retained this heart. There's a levity to her experience. She's able to maintain her inner smile. She's able to maintain a sense of joy when she's at work and when she's out in her life, even though she's had so many things chop her down. That's not something that's accidental or that I've sprinkled in. That is absolutely something that's come from Alexi [Hawley], as a character decision about who she is. If I were a friend to Lucy and I was looking at her, that's something that I would be so proud of because we might not see it on camera, but it takes work to heal yourself and to continue to be open to the world and be open to love and be open to joy. So yeah, I think that's what I would be most proud of.

LISSETH CHAVEZ: I would have to say Celina’s spirit. I feel like there's something about her that I like, that she has this very bubbly personality, but I feel like she's a Powerpuff Girl. [Laughs] She's very sweet and awesome, but then when it comes down to having to protect the city or take over, she can kick some butt. She can turn that on. So I do love that she can be both.
*  *  *
Celina is kind of at the end of her rookie journey. She's coming up on it. She's done a little bit more of the work than the new rookies who are coming in. But I'm curious if you have an idea or a dream for where this character could go after she's done being a rookie.

CHAVEZ: You know, she is a great detective. She is very intuitive. At the beginning, I wasn't sure if she was a little psychic, you know? But she is naturally. I, as Lisseth, feel like I would like I do the undercover a little bit. I feel like it'd be fun to sort of dive into that world.
*  *  *
Melissa, Lucy has explored this undercover world and she's really good at it. I love seeing the way you play her character when she gets into these roles, because she's so soft and gentle, but then she immediately turns it on. Is that something that you're interested in exploring more and leaning into that undercover identity and that part of her career?

O’NEIL: Obviously, I love doing that, and as an actor, I've really enjoyed those opportunities to step out. Then I also zoom out, because after so many years, you start thinking about all the different elements of this industry, and sometimes when I zoom out, and I get an eagle eye perspective, “If I were a creative, would I want to continue doing the same thing with this character?” And I think no. I think maybe I would like her to do something else, and I'd also like to tell different stories for the audience. So I don't know if we’ll utilize that, but what I do like thinking about, as far as Lucy and undercover work is concerned, is that she's always got that in her back pocket. If we have something, if the stuff starts to hit the fan, then we can always know that she or any other of our dope lady officers will come in and handle it, you know?
*  *  *
And talking about the Chenford of it all, I'm not going to ask you how they're going to get back together because that's a whole journey, but I'm curious what you think it is about him that makes Lucy a better person. What do you think about their relationship has made her a better person and a better cop?

O’NEIL: I think it's one of those situations that, like, it's not just opposites attract, but it's that there are qualities that Lucy has that Tim doesn't, and he has a ton of qualities that he possesses that she does not. In that way, they make each other better because it's a different perspective. It's not just being in an echo chamber where everyone has the same opinion, because that's not ever the place where anybody grows. So I think that's one of the primary ways they make themselves better. And at the end of the day, when it comes to the romance aspect of it, there's an intangible quality about people that just feels like home. You see that in friendships, you see that in just regular acquaintances that you suddenly just hit it off with, and you have it in those relationships. Everybody knows that feeling of being in a relationship with someone where you're like, “I should love you. Everything works, but I don't get it.” And it's because it's missing this intangible quality of, like, connection and feeling kismet, you know? So I think that's one of those things about Chenford — you don't know completely why it works, but for some reason, it just fits.

I think the chemistry is a big reason.

O’NEIL: [Laughs] That's what I'm talking about!
*  *  *
I'm curious if there's a storyline or maybe some aspect of your character that you want to see grow in future seasons that maybe hasn’t happened yet, and we can manifest it right now. Is there an aspect of your character that you're like, “I want to explore that,” or maybe a storyline?

CHAVEZ: Perhaps a little bit more behind-the-scenes training, or even having those challenges like real life and how that can conflict with work, but they also do a good job in doing both.

O’NEIL: For sure. I mean, the audience is going to love whatever comes down the pipe, and there's a lot to love this season. But as far as any stuff on my wish list, I love Lucy when she is a student. I think she's a student of life, and I like watching her learn. I like watching her fail. And, so I think my secret bucket list hope for her in the future is for her to be in a position where she is receiving mentorship in whatever she's doing. I think that's one of the things I loved about her in the first few seasons, receiving mentorship from Bradford, and I like watching her learn and watching her be corrected and then growing from that. I think that's really compelling stuff to play and to watch. So, I wish that for her, to be in another situation where she gets to grow in that way.

Edited January 13 by tv echo

[Snazzy Daisy]

The Rookie Showrunner Weighs In on 9-1-1 Crossover Talk, Explains Why It Would Be ‘Hard’

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“No, we haven’t really talked about that. To me, that’s a hard crossover, just because you have an expectation that you’re going to see [9-1-1 characters] all the time. If we’re both in the same universe in Los Angeles, how are we not stumbling over them all the time?”

 

[Raja]

2 hours ago, Snazzy Daisy said:

The Rookie Showrunner Weighs In on 9-1-1 Crossover Talk, Explains Why It Would Be ‘Hard’

 

Cute when if they both stayed in their lanes the 9-1-1 crew would be in the Valley while the Mid Wilshire cops in the basin.

[tv echo]

"Is He Still Up for the Job": 'The Rookie' Showrunner Addresses Nolan's Current Struggles
By Denis Kimathi   Jan 13, 2025
https://collider.com/the-rookie-season-7-nolan-struggling-explained-alexi-hawley/

"I Don't Think You Could Avoid It": 'The Rookie' Showrunner Teases Chenford's Direction in Season 7
By Denis Kimathi   Jan 13, 2025
https://collider.com/the-rookie-season-7-chenford-future-update-alexi-hawley/

[tv echo]

‘High Potential’ Returns After Midseason Break To Its Best 7-Day Audience; ‘Will Trent’ & ‘The Rookie’ Pull Off Strong Debuts For ABC
By Katie Campione   Jan 16, 2025
https://deadline.com/2025/01/high-potential-midseason-viewership-will-trent-the-rookie-premieres-abc-1236259182/ 

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According to Disney, the episode has set an audience record on streaming, as did The Rookie‘s Season 7 debut.

Per Disney, The Rookie is up to 9.16M viewers after seven days of multi-platform viewing, which is a 170% increase over its live + same-day audience of 3.4M. While that’s down year-over-year from last season’s premiere, the series seems to be performing better than ever among adults 18-49.

Edited January 17 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Is The Rookie’s Seth Suspect? Apple Stingy With Severance? Did Harley Quinn Hilariously Silence Sirens? Did RHOBH Give Pizza Craving? More Qs!
By Vlada Gelman, Matt Webb Mitovich, Kimberly Roots, Dave Nemetz, Nick Caruso, Andy Swift, Ryan Schwartz   January 17, 2025
https://tvline.com/features/severance-delayed-season-2-premiere-one-episode-tv-questions-1235399670/ 

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8 | Coming out of The Rookie’s first two new episodes, TVLine reader Cass asks, “Does anyone else find something off with Lucy’s rookie, Seth? He always has a sappy excuse ready for his failures….”

 

[tv echo]

A rookie no more: Calgary's Melissa O'Neil reflects on seven years in hit police procedural
By Eric Volmers   Jan 23, 2025
https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/television/a-rookie-no-more-calgarys-melissa-oneil-reflects-on-seven-years-in-hit-police-procedural 

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In a Zoom interview from her home in Los Angeles, O’Neil admits that everyone involved in the series – and particularly the two actors who play Chen and Bradford – were taken aback by the intense interest in the relationship. It was a long-gestating romance that finally took hold in Season 4 with the couple’s first kiss after many will-they-or-won’t-they moments. They became a couple in Season 5. Halfway through Season 6, it was over. Or was it?

“I guess it’s flattering in a sense that the fans of the show pick up on this chemistry and this shorthand between these two characters and it inspires their imagination to create other realms of possibility,” says O’Neil “I’ve always found that aspect of it very fascinating. While I have not – and I want to be very clear about that – dabbled in reading any of it, my understanding is that there is a really big fan-fiction community. They make edits and they will doctor photos to make new photos to help serve the narratives they create. A real community was born out of this shared thing that they saw between these two characters. It is strange because I think a lot of us didn’t see that so much, especially because the dynamic between those two characters at the beginning was quite adversarial given his mentorship style. But I think there is also just a chemistry and shorthand that Eric and I have as actors and I think that translates well onto camera.”
*  *  *
O’Neil hasn’t avoided the fan fiction because she is unnerved by it, she actually finds it “very sweet.” But she tends to leave Lucy Chen and her romantic entanglements behind during her off hours.

“It feels like a private space, it feels like it belongs to them,” she says. “Also, with hair and makeup and travel, sometimes my (work day) is like 16 hours and my whole world is the Rookie. So when I go home, I’m not trying to do more of it.”
*  *  *
“Through the seasons, Lucy Chen has gone through quite an evolution,” O’Neil says. “I was one of the lucky ones because I got to occupy a character that began in a rookie role so she has had a lot of transformation through the years both professionally and personally and there’s a lot of reflection of that in my own life as well. I started the show in my 20s, I’m well into my 30s at this point. I had just recently moved to Los Angeles for the job. So I was also a rookie in this city. I learned how to drive on this job. I didn’t have my licence before. They didn’t know that. They probably wouldn’t have hired me had they known. It’s been quite the journey.”

Edited January 27 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Grisly #OneChicago Xover? Did Will Trent Trigger Alias Binge? Worst Night Agent Wig? Did Paradise 100% Shock? Cheerwine on All American? More Qs!
By Vlada Gelman, Matt Webb Mitovich, Ryan Schwartz, Rebecca Iannucci, Dave Nemetz, Kimberly Roots, Andy Swift   January 31, 2025 
https://tvline.com/features/paradise-premiere-twist-predictions-hulu-sterling-k-brown-1235404064/ 

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12 | Did The Rookie’s Novak not think that a house full of sorority girls might be sitting inside, to possibly thwart his clumsy abduction attempt? And once again…. Seth gets chastised for his phone alerts pinging, but Nolan can step away from managing an active accident scene because “I have to take this” call from Bailey?

[tv echo]

2025 Renewal/Cancellation Scorecard: What’s Coming Back? What’s Already Axed? What’s on the Bubble?
By Matt Webb Mitovich   February 3, 2025
https://tvline.com/lists/canceled-renewed-tv-shows-2025-scorecard/ 

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ABC
*  *  *
The Rookie: Too soon to tell

[tv echo]

Melissa O'Neil is Readers' Choice for 2024 Performer of the Year...

2024 Readers' Choice Performer Of The Year - Results
Posted by SpoilerTV - February 05, 2025
https://www.spoilertv.com/2025/02/2024-readers-choice-performer-of-year.html 

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In first place and with 47.1% of the votes we have Melissa O'Neil (Lucy Chen) - The Rookie.

Melissa O'Neil consistently delivers one of the most compelling performances on The Rookie. She brings depth, resilience, and emotional authenticity to Lucy, making her one of the most dynamic and beloved characters in the series. Whether navigating intense undercover missions, showing vulnerability in personal moments, or holding her own in high-stakes police action, O’Neil fully embodies Lucy’s growth and strength. Her chemistry with the rest of the cast, particularly in emotionally charged scenes, adds another layer of realism to her portrayal. Beyond her acting, she also takes time to connect with fans, showing appreciation for their support and making them feel part of the journey. Her dedication to both her character and audience proves why she more than earned this recognition.

Cristina (CT))

Edited February 7 by tv echo

[DanaK]

Per The Futon Critic, the show will be seen at 9pm ET starting February 18, switching timeslots with repeats of High Potential after that show has its season finale on February 11. ABC confirms the different timeslot with a press release on the episode for the 18th. Odd that they would do that though. I would think they would want original episodes going into the late local news as long as possible

http://thefutoncritic.com/showatch/rookie/listings/

http://thefutoncritic.com/listings/20250203abc04/

 

[tv echo]

15 TV Pairs That Need to Couple Up
By Vlada Gelman, Matt Webb Mitovich, Dave Nemetz, Ryan Schwartz, Nick Caruso, Andy Swift, Charlie Mason   February 14, 2025
https://tvline.com/lists/tv-couples-we-want-to-see-2025/the-rookie-lucy-tim-2/ 

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Lucy and Tim, The Rookie
...
It has been a long 10 months since a defeated Tim, after being dressed down by Sgt. Grey, initiated a break-up outside the cop shop, telling Lucy, “I just can’t go back to the way things were… maybe never.” Season 7’s Valentine’s Day/”ex sex” episode very much set the stage for a reboot of their romance — perhaps by season’s end? — Matt Webb Mitovich

[tv echo]

Jenna Dewan & Nathan Fillion on Why Their Romance on The Rookie Works
Parade   Jan 15, 2025

The following questions were asked and answered:

• Why is John Nolan back to work without being able to give 100%?
• Jenna, where do we pick back up with your character?
• Would you say Bailey rescues herself?
• Are Jason and Oscar the villains this season?
• Why do you think Bailey and Nolan work so well?
• Are there plans to pick back up on the adoption storyline?
• How was plain clothes day such a learning experience for Nolan?
• What can you tease about 'Superman'?

[tv echo]

‘The Rookie’ Star Jenna Dewan on Having Real-Life Fiancé Steve Kazee Play Her Abusive Ex and Touring With ‘Idol’ Janet Jackson
By Max Gao   Feb 18, 2025
https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/the-rookie-jenna-dewan-real-life-fiance-steve-kazee-abusive-ex-1236311096/ 

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For Dewan, the opportunity to play Fillion’s potential new love interest in the Season 3 finale felt, at most, like a welcome respite from the then-raging pandemic. But once creator Alexi Hawley noticed an immediate spark between Nolan and Bailey, he decided to promote Dewan to series regular in Season 4. Since then, Bailey’s storyline has evolved into a woman realizing that she can’t outrun her traumatic past.
*  *  *
Interestingly enough, you aren’t the first actor I’ve talked to who has enlisted their real-life partner to play their abusive ex on TV. Jennifer Love Hewitt recently told Variety that working with her real-life husband on “9-1-1” actually allowed them to feel safe enough to go deeper into their characters’ storyline. Was that also your experience with Steve?

I’ve always been a really big fan of his talent. So when Alexi had this great idea, I was immediately excited. He’s such a good actor that I felt we would be able to push each other and really go to places that you feel safer to go to when it’s someone you trust and you’re going home with. It just feels as if you’re going to unlock new sides to your relationship. It’s also fun to do something outside the box and different in your relationship in general. [There’s] nothing like going through the daily motions of parenting 24/7 at home and then getting to go and play these really extreme moments together.

In our first scene, we had a real moment of, ‘Oh, thank God, we work well together!’ We wouldn’t have known that until ‘The Rookie.’ I think it was fun for him to play a really bad guy — just truly, outright bad — and it was fun for me to be able to unleash on him. They’d say ‘cut!’ and we’d immediately look at each other and start laughing, like, ‘What are we doing?’ We had the ending fight in the fifth episode where Jason dies. That episode was really surreal, because we had just had [our daughter] Rhiannon. So we were thrust into this crazy car fight — beating each other up, throwing each other around, yelling at each other — all the while our newborn was in the trailer, and I was going back and forth to breastfeed. We had every color on the emotional spectrum together.
*  *  *
Nolan has been unable to help Bailey heal, largely because he still does not know the full extent of what Jason did to her, but Bailey seems ready to come clean to him in an attempt to move on and rebuild the sense of trust between them. What do Nolan and Bailey see in each other that makes them want to make their relationship work?

For Bailey, Nolan feels like a safe place for her to be vulnerable and to be herself. Nolan feels like Bailey is someone that’s always bringing him into new experiences. They keep each other on their toes at the same time as there’s an understanding. When two people have that level of danger in their jobs, it’s hard for anyone else to acknowledge and experience that unless you’re in it. So there’s a lot of commonality with that, and I think he gets a kick out of her. Bailey is a whole, full-fledged powerful woman in her own right, and I think that’s really seductive, and they have great chemistry together. I also think that Nolan being such a safe place and being able to hold her emotions and her big feelings encourages her to express herself more, be funny and playful with him. I always say he’s like one big healing in every way to Bailey.
*  *  *
Will Bailey have to deal with any legal consequences for her actions later in the season?

Yes and no. Of course, there are the moral complexities of that situation — being married to a cop and all of that is complex, at best. But there are also some other factors that present themselves that explain certain things a little bit more, so it appears one way but then you realize there’s more to the story.

Edited February 19 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Actor Eric Winter Talks ‘The Rookie,’ Dodgers, Lakers, Rum & More with Rich Eisen | Full Interview
The Rich Eisen Show   Feb 20, 2025

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Actor Eric Winter joins Rich Eisen in-studio to discuss his ‘The Rookie’ series on ABC and reveals how he went from being a pre-med major at UCLA to modeling for Tommy Hilfiger to ‘Days of Our Lives’ soap opera stardom, if his beloved Dodgers can break the single-season wins record on the way to another World Series title, Luka Doncic on the Lakers, his ‘Palm Republic’ brand of rum, and more.

[tv echo]

Will Elsbeth Complete Ferris Bueller Trifecta? Is Captain America Latest to Snub Secret Invasion? Did SNL ‘In Memoriam’ Forget Someone? More Qs!
By Vlada Gelman, Matt Webb Mitovich, Kimberly Roots, Ryan Schwartz, Rebecca Luther, Dave Nemetz, Charlie Mason, Nick Caruso, Andy Swift   February 21, 2025
https://tvline.com/features/snl-anniversary-montage-donald-trump-elon-musk-omittted-aged-badly-1235411393/ 

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13 | Every time The Rookie referred to “Mickey and the Hammer,” didn’t it sound like a music act? Were you surprised to see Tamara be so instantly taken by the rather-vanilla Seth? And hey, does anyone remember the big serial killer/Liam Glasser storyline from three weeks ago..?

[tv echo]

The Rookie: Season 7’s Wiiildest Episode Gave Us an Iconic #Chenford Scene and 3-1/2 Other Big Twists
By Matt Webb Mitovich   February 25, 2025 
https://tvline.com/recaps/the-rookie-ending-explained-james-alive-dead-season-7-episode-8-1235413395/ 

[tv echo]

Was Suits LA Overstuffed? Did You Catch White Lotus Cameo? Will Trent Has Vanderpump Fan? Is Andor Plan Exhausting? Daddy Pig MIA?! More Qs!
By Vlada Gelman, Matt Webb Mitovich, Kimberly Roots, Ryan Schwartz, Dave Nemetz, Nick Caruso, Charlie Mason, Andy Swift   February 28, 2025 
https://tvline.com/features/the-white-lotus-secret-cameo-ke-huy-quan-telephone-call-episode-2-1235414371/ 

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15 | Was The Rookie‘s Seth, the flaky boot, really Sgt. Gray’s best option for being in charge of liaising with FEMA, NWS and LAFD? And would Liam’s wife really talk about “all the bodies” he is responsible for in front of their wee son? #ChildTherapy!