A tennis prodigy, she takes her responsibility for representing the Black community in the sport very seriously. As great of a person as Jordan is and has been to Simone, it's just different. Simone knows shes messed up but she needs Loni to know shell never see Simone like that again. EW spoke to the All American: Homecoming star about honoring Black athletes, getting to tell Simone's story on the new show, what's next for her character's relationship with husband-to-be Jordan, and much more. ), though their romantic outlook is now a bit hazy with news of a potential spinoff. While many expected Jordan and Simone to break up duringAll American season 4 then, the series has not gone in that direction. Though it certainly doesnt hurt to go back and catch up on the backdoor pilot that aired as part of All American last year, Simone (Geffri Maya) the Homecoming protagonist who links the two shows recaps everything a new viewer really needs to know in the first few minutes of the new series. Sylvester Powell as Jessie 'JR' Raymond - Jessie Raymond is a longtime friend of Damon's thanks to youth baseball. Simonebecame a slightly more central character inAll American season 3, partially due toThe CW's plans to give her a spinoff show. Freevee (fka IMDB TV) A sub-site of Amazon (formerly IMDB), Freevee has transitioned to an app-only format that requires an Amazon sign-in. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Simone's new life at college is whereAll American: Homecoming begins its story. She's carefree, self-fulling in mind, body, and spirit, she's diligent to her dream and to her voice. Talk to me a bit about their bond and relationship. ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Simone has a rough start to life at Bringston. In the meantime, the two leads balance academics, athletics and the squishier project of self-discovery with the help of new friends and adult mentors, and in defiance of unfriendly teammates or disapproving parental figures. But in Mondays backdoor pilot, we watched as Simone still a senior in high school remained uncertain about where to apply to college, all while realizing her tennis game needs work, too. By the end of the hour, though, Simone is surrounded by what looks like will be her college tribe. Mitchell Edwards as Cam Watkins- Cam Watkins is Spencer James' former rival and an excellent football player. Follow Cooper on Twitter @MovieCooper. She is Simone's aunt and a journalism teacher at Bringston University. Not just to each other's arcs, but to All American. Simone Hicks (formerly Baker) is a recurring character in the The CW series All American and the main protagonist of its spinoff All American: Homecoming . 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. All Rights Reserved. He joined Screen Rant in late 2016 following a year-long stint with MCU Exchange, which came after first developing an MCU blog of his own. American Idol viewers took to the American Idol Reddit community asking if they could "please" get new judges. What can you share about what's next for them? All Rights Reserved. He is an elite baseball prospect from Chicago who turned down a shot to play professionally to help Bringston's baseball program regain prominence. Throughout the series, people will start to see how relationships, communication, friendship, and genuine love and support are such key components of the collegiate space. As long as Jordan and Simone stay together, though, the odds of Jordan appearing inAll American: Homecoming remains fairly high. In addition to making All American season 4, the network also began developing a . Their foundation has always been friendship, and a lot of times you need that before love in the first place. Their friend group is their family.. OK, your turn. This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity. GeffriMaya. "which is why you brought us to this ugh. The series premieres Monday on the CW. All American episode 7 was full of secrets and confessions as the show finally revealed what went down in Las Vegas, something that kept haunting the fans ever since the first episode of season 3. A beautiful friendship has been born, one that is meaningful and deep. College kids are messy. To explore Black families, especially Black motherhood and sisterhood is important. GEFFRI MAYA: It was an amazing experience because it's where I started. Youre 18, youre in college, and 18-year-olds are messy. And this is just the beginning, because All American: Homecoming has received a series order. Earlier, when the series had shown the backdoor pilot forAll American: Homecoming, Damon Sims, the male lead to the spinoff, gets a heavier focus on his motivations for enrolling at Bringston University than Simone. What do you think Simone thinks of Damon by the end of the episode? But Homecoming seems to know what Simone doesnt: that that very capacity for growth and change can be the core of a winning identity. TheAll American: Homecoming cast also includes the return of Michael Evans Behling as Jordan Baker. Simone sets up a surprise party for Thea when a girl arrives hoping to study. Professor Corte decides to go with Simones ideas, and Thea attempts to take credit but he cuts her off. Its hard finding something that fits who I am when I feel like Im a work in progress, minus the progress, Simone sighs to her friends while picking out school outfits in the second episode. Simone's mother has a story. She gestures to a parking garage where a car is parked. However, Damon also has a little-known connection to the HBCU, as his birth parents attended the university before giving him up for adoption. This seemed to be a clear move to set up Simone going off on her own forAll American: Homecoming. Were watching the development of a best friendship that is born out of what both of them had gone through. Also new to campus is Damon (Peyton Alex Smith), a charismatic baseball phenom who, to his mothers profound irritation, has deferred his plans to go pro in favor of enrolling at Bringston and helping the schools team rebuild under coach Marcus (Cory Hardrict) after a fake-class scandal derailed their last season. What was more challenging the tennis game scene or the dance sequence? Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. Viewers could recognize Cory Hardrict from any number of projects, such asThe Chi,All Eyez on Me, andAmerican Sniper. Simone Hicks (Geffri Maya) had a hell of a trip back to Los Angeles. Seeing as howthe couple is still together, that raises the question about if Jordan Bakercould be inAll American: Homecoming. See on this team nothing just gets handed to you. GEFFRI MAYA: It was the right way to begin because college ultimately is about transitioning and that's not easy, especially when you're having to live on your own and make decisions on your own. It's an important aspect of her life because she's going to have to incorporate [baby Shay] and the decision to be in his life eventually. All American season 3 gave us a . Simone was a student at Beverly Hills High School and upon graduating, moved to Atlanta to attend Bringston University. Thea stops her as Coach Loni has seen enough and is sending her home. Homecomings sprawling cast allows it to approach the college experience from all angles, some inevitably more compelling than others. Every year Cooper looks forward to seeing the latest blockbusters from the likes of Marvel, DC, and Star Wars, but also loves the rush to catch up on Oscar films near the end of the year. Coopers love for movies began by watching Toy Story and Lion King on repeat as a child, but it wasn't until The Avengers that he took an invested interest in movies and the filmmaking process, leading him to discover the world of film journalism. (L-R): Geffri Maya as Simone and Michael Evans Behling as Jordan The CW. They might not be married anymore, but Jordan and Simone's relationship is as strong as ever heading into her spinoff show. Feb 21, 2022, 09:00 AM EST | Updated Jul 20, 2022. Simone, along with Spencer (Daniel Ezra), Olivia (Samantha Logan), and Jordan (Michael Evans Behling), headed to Atlanta to hit Bringston's campus for homecoming and ended up finding a new path for herself after not getting into Princeton. About All American: Homecoming (TV series). Derek Rivera as Santiago Reyes- Santiago Reyes isanother baseball playerfor Bringston's team, where he plays catcher. If Homecoming, like its lead characters, still seems to be trying out this and that to see what clicks, thats part of the charm right now. The CW's All American universe expands with a Simone-focused spinoff, and here's a guide to the cast and characters of All American: Homecoming.The original football drama based on Spencer Paysinger's pre-NFL career has become an incredibly popular series for The CW, as a wider continues to find it on Netflix. The idea of living on my own and making new friends and being in a totally different state was exciting. His future with theAll American universe seems to be with the main show, as he has dreams of continuing his football career. Instead, Simones part inAll American is reduced drastically. Its just that life is messy. Is emotional cheating a thing and is that a thing you have to apologize for? All American: Homecoming. However,All American season 3 concluded with a reversal of Jordan and Simone's marriage. The biggest thing I took away from the bonfire scene is remembering when I first stepped foot on Clark Atlanta University's campus. Simones storyline remained entwined with Jordans. As she, Olivia, Spencer and Jordan prepare to leave campus and return home, Jordan notes that his wife looks happy though when Simone gets in the car, Jordans now the one looking anxious about his and Simones future. Executive producers: Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, David Madden, Robbie Rogers. Those discussions continue in the writers rooms for both series. This is on top of her ongoing relationship with Jordan, butAll American season 3 began setting up her future away from her friends, family, and life in Beverly Hills. Sylvester Powell previously appeared onCriminal Minds. While she gets to see Spencer James (Daniel Ezra), Olivia Baker (Samantha Logan) and Layla Keating (Greta Onieogou), the shift she has felt in her relationship with Jordan Baker (Michael Evans Behling) takes up a large chunk of the trip home. All American Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. What are you hoping Homecoming explores about Simone's family? As we head to the season finale, what can you share about Simone's journey in terms of tennis in the final episodes? All American: Homecomingwill also give Kelly Jenrette a prominent role as Amara Patterson. This seemed to be a clear move to set up Simone going off on her own for All American: Homecoming. I think it's one of those things when you're in a new space to start fresh and you have to figure out how to navigate a new world. Throughout both shows, which will follow the same timeline and have a few natural crossovers, the theme of how one relationship affects a larger friend group will continue. What the plots in juicy twists or epic emotions, they make up for with a warm sense of community, often built over the weekly family dinners that Simone hosts at her aunt Amaras house. Build your customCulturess Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onCulturess and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Simone wants to find Coach Loni but Thea knows the coach has seen enough today. She doesnt care about either of them, even ignoring Damon's attempts to introduce himself, as she only cares about getting an A. Thea cancels their lunchtime sessions as she went ahead and picked out the book they would be reading, and assigns each of them a role in the presentation. Simone starts to crack but finds motivation from a group assignment with Damon and Thea. That all of this is happening against the backdrop of an HBCU adds another layer of depth. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Obviously available through Amazon Prime, free movies . Simone, in the pilot and you'll see throughout the series will have a different expectation put on her as a Black athlete, especially as a woman. All Rights Reserved. Real-life inspiration notwithstanding, The CWs All American seemed to fit pretty squarely into the template of high school dramas set in ultra-posh neighborhoods. GeffriMaya is known for Private Practice (2007), WTF, Baron Davis (2019) and Loco (2020). After spending time with her Aunt Amara (Kelly Jenrette), a journalist and professor at the university, and meeting elite high school baseball player Damon Sims (Peyton Alex Smith), Simone leaves the campus with a sense of purpose and knowing where she wants to go next. The audacity for her to even be catching and attitude with Laura is outta pocket and disrespectful. Related:All American Season 3 Ending Explained. Cast: Geffri Maya, Peyton Alex Smith, Kelly Jenrette, Cory Hardrict, Sylvester Powell, Camille Hyde, Mitchell Edwards, Netta Walker Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. There has not been any confirmation that actorMichael Evans Behling is part of Simone's spinoff. She walks off and Thea nods a bit impressed.[1]. Sorry. It is a part of life because if you have a door open and you don't walk through it, there is an opportunity that somebody else will, and it's just the truth. Damons storyline needed to be set up and understood going into a new show. The most prominent and most emotionally resonant arc in the first four hourlong episodes sent to critics concerns Simones struggles to adjust. Its not going to be what people are going to expect in terms of the nature of the love triangle that exists across these two shows, with both Simone on Homecoming and with Jordan on All American. It just gets a little messy, but at the heart, whats undeniable is the love the Jordan and Simone have for each other.. Rhoyle Ivy King as Nathaniel- Nathaniel is a loyal friend to Simone at Bringston who always watches out for her. Jock Zonfrillo Dies: 'MasterChef Australia' Judge And Acclaimed, Damar Hamlin's Charity Sponsor, the Giving Back Fund, Embroiled, Even Without Barry, 'Barry' Is Delighted with Its Own Misery, Malaysia's 'Abang Adik' Wins Udine Festival's Golden Mulberry, Editor's Choice: I Purchased This TikTok-Viral Walking Pad and I, TVLine is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Later, in a conversation with the aforementioned elite baseball player, Damon Sims more on him in a minute Simone is all too aware of the heavy tennis competition shes facing, and Damon encourages her to use that as motivation. July 5 2021, 6:00 PM PDT. And again, I had a great scene partner. We don't know what's going to be in store for Jordan and Simone's futures, whether together or apart. That Simone and Damon, dormmates and fast friends, are headed toward romance seems inevitable, even if Simons technically still attached to her All American boyfriend Jordan (Michael Evans Behling); whats more college than gradually letting go of the high-school sweetheart in favor of the cutie who lives just down the hall? It reminds you that you made the right decision; and I remember when I went to Clark Atlanta and I saw people celebrating Black excellence and the legacy of fraternities and sororities. John Marshall Jones as Leonard Shaw- Leonard Shaw is the former Bringston baseball coach who finds a new job at a rival school. Simone Hicks (Geffri Maya) heads to Bringston University for a fun weekend and ends up finding the place where she belongs. We know people love Jordan and Simone together and everything they have overcome. Yes, absolutely. This is especially true considering there have been no signs that Jordan is moving toAll American: Homecoming. Jordan was like the wind beneath her wings. Her mother refuses to pay for housing, so she moves in with her aunt, Amara Patterson (Kelly Jenrette), and a night of partying costs her a strong start to her collegiate tennis career. The dichotomy between Nate and Keisha is the calm and the storm, and you need that balance in order to navigate new transitions in life. Actress: Private Practice. He's a fantastic talent and being on All American since season 1, it's a testament to remaining diligent and dedicated to your craft to be take his character into this new space. All American: Homecoming makes its debut Monday, Feb. 21.The spin-off series will take viewers into Simone's (Geffri Maya) college years at Bringston University. Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, and director Rob Marshall share the tale behind making their underwater musical with a groundbreaking Disney princess. Simone asks how she wants to celebrate the rest of her day, and Thea just wants food. What was your reaction to Cam (Mitchell Edwards) coming to All American: Homecoming? Season 2 . This episode was well set up on All American Season 3 Episode 16 as Simone, Jordan, Spencer, and Olivia sought to escape their personal drama by taking a college tour as many high school seniors do. One user there wrote: "Between their terrible saves, their constant praise of mediocrity, and standing for every act (I've never seen judges more guilty of this than these Idol judges), I think it's time for a change." It takes an emotional ceremony with Nathaniel Hardin (Rhoyle Ivy King) for Simone to begin working through her breakup. Offers may be subject to change without notice. GEFFRI MAYA: The most exciting aspects of this journey is that we're able to see Simone and finally able to get a chance to know her for who she truly is, and who she's becoming. Thea (Camille Hyde) and Simone have a frosty reunion. There's an emotional scene where Simone and Nate have a ceremony to help Simone mourn the end of her relationship. Jock Zonfrillo Dies: 'MasterChef Australia' Judge And Acclaimed, Damar Hamlin's Charity Sponsor, the Giving Back Fund, Embroiled, Even Without Barry, 'Barry' Is Delighted with Its Own Misery, Malaysia's 'Abang Adik' Wins Udine Festival's Golden Mulberry, Editor's Choice: I Purchased This TikTok-Viral Walking Pad and I, TVLine is a part of Penske Media Corporation. The potential new series slated to be introduced during a regular episode of All American 's upcoming third season (aka a backdoor spinoff) would be set at a a historically Black . The whole marriage thing for me was also crazy they are young and barely were together for a long time. This revelation came as a huge surprise as nothing else in season 3 indicated their relationship advanced to this level. ET on the CW. To me, Jordan holds that significance because he always saw her for who she was supposed to be and wanted to be. A lot of the time when you film things that require so much vulnerability, no matter how close you are with someone, it's scary because you're unzipping your emotions and thoughts. Airdate: 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21 (The CW) Cast: Geffri Maya, Peyton Alex Smith, Kelly Jenrette, Cory Hardrict, Sylvester Powell, Camille Hyde, Mitchell Edwards, Netta . Amara is responsible for revealing the truth about Bringston's former baseball coach and the academic scandal. ET. Televisions favorite dad Bob Saget dies at age 65, Kevin Hart is the latest celebrity to make a guest appearance on Shark Tank, followed the question of if the duo could succeed in a long-distance relationship, The Siren of Sussex is the gorgeous historical romance we've all been waiting for, My Fine Fellow is a fresh retelling filled with food, fun, and romance, Emily in Paris renewed at Netflix for two more seasons, The Morning Show renewed for a third season. But Amara calls out his cowardice right away, and the prez swiftly moves to open an investigation, while the baseball teams coaching duo resigns immediately. What do you remember about shooting that scene? This is years of working with this person, depending on him and supporting each other through the emotional trials of acting. [Amara] serves as an inspiration as a woman, a Black woman, an educated Black woman. The next day in class, Simone, Damon, and Theas presentation goes well and the class claps for Simone's speech. PMC Entertainment. Can you speak to Jordan's significance to Simone and how big a part of her journey he is? She's so consumed in [tennis], and Simone will offer her balance as she tries to have a life, be a mom and succeed in tennis. "It was just an exciting feeling to know Peyton and I are at the helm of this show and are able to see that and really fulfill a vision of bringing a universe together with so much love and so much fun," Maya says, looking back on filming the episode. I was able to connect with so many Black people from many different walks of life. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action Little Mermaid with a new generation's Ariel. The love is still there. Returning from Los Angeles single, Simone mourns her relationship on the newest episode of All American: Homecoming. Amara and Simone talk about Simone's mom a few times. A successful journalist-turned-journalism professor, Amara is Simone's aunt and the most popular professor on campus. Thea doesnt have any friends as the girls from the team only tolerate her. More:All American: What Jordan & Simone's Marriage Means For Her Spinoff. Read on for EW's interview with Maya about returning to All American, that emotional scene with Damon, the big breakup, and more. She gives props when due.[2]. This included thinking he was the father of her baby, which led to them starting a relationship that continued even after the truth came out. In addition to makingAll American season 4, the network also began developing a spinoff for Simone Hicks. Being able to be exposed to an environment of people that look like her and come from different backgrounds opens her eye to life, to Black excellence. A tennis prodigy, she takes her responsibility for representing the Black community in the sport very seriously. Since Jordan is still heavily involved with the original show, it seemsAll American: Homecoming will mix Behling into the show using FaceTime primarily, although physical appearances by the actor can still happen. Simone, who was introduced inAll Americans second season, is currently a senior at Beverly High. It really did feel like a breakup. Also, with Nate being non-binary, the door is open for that community to be showcased, supported and loved. In class, Thea is assigned to Damon and Simone for an assignment in English literature. She wants to start a new life in pursuit of her tennis dreams. Whether they are friends, love interests, or foes,All American: Homecoming's cast includes plenty of recognizable characters from the backdoor pilot. Camille Hyde, who plays Thea, was actually a tennis player when she was younger, which I thought was so inspirational, just hearing her stories and the things she had to experience. We're just getting to know Simone as an athlete. This universe is just really special and I was coming home. Camille Hyde previously appeared onAmerican Vandal and played the Pink Dino Charge Ranger inPower Rangers Dino Charge. Simone is practicing tennis on the court when Thea and her friend intervene. While telling a story about college life is very different than that of high school, the drama remains as does the romance. Thea arrives having heard about the party. Why do you think it's the right way to begin her college journey? The trajectory we see with Simone from season 2 [of All American] to All American: Homecoming is a lot of her decisions have always been made with someone else in mind. Rebecca Iannucci / Simone's relationship with Amara is different from what we've seen from her family. It was nerve wracking for us because we're not going to working together as much anymore. She's coming into her own and I really would like to say she's going to find it and tackle it all head on. Simone hears about the event and everyone's aversion to throwing a party for Keisha. Follow Cooper on Twitter @MovieCooper. What types of obstacles will she face as an athlete? Simone chooses not to tell people about baby Shay. The network confirmed on Monday that it's moving forward with a potential spinoff of the football drama, to be focused on Geffri Maya . 2023 Variety Media, LLC. PMC Entertainment. The CW'sAll American universe expands with a Simone-focused spinoff, and here's a guide to the cast and characters ofAll American: Homecoming. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.
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