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The Rookie star Arjay Smith has revealed a trailer for his new short film. The ABC procedural, created by Alexi Hawley of The Recruit, continues following John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and his LAPD career, after becoming the oldest rookie on staff. Since The Rookie season 3,Smith has portrayed James Murray, an advocate for his local community who is dedicated to reforming the criminal justice system. His romance with Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) has also become a significant storyline as the series progresses.

Outside The Rookie, Arjay Smith has many credits and recently shared the trailer for his upcoming short film Halfway. The video, posted on his Instagram, begins with Smith’s character being questioned about potential nerves ahead of meeting someone. It then focuses on a touching first encounter between him and another character portrayed by Tarik Lowe. Check out the trailer below:

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ABC’s The Rookie is not your average police procedural. First airing in 2018, the show follows John Nolan (Nathan Fillion), a 40-year-old man who becomes the oldest rookie in the LAPD. Inspired by a real-life story, the series mixes crime-solving drama with the challenges of late-in-life career reinvention. Over the course of seven seasons, The Rookie has evolved from Nolan’s rookie journey into a wider ensemble-driven narrative, diving into partnerships, department politics, and personal lives across the LAPD.

Created by Alexi Hawley (Castle), the series has been consistent with its blend of character-driven drama and procedural beats. From standoffs and stakeouts to romantic entanglements and internal affairs investigations, each season builds on the last, expanding the emotional depth and range of its characters. With Season 8 officially greenlit, there’s renewed interest in where the story is headed and who’s returning.

In this article, we’ll explore the show’s plot evolution,...

Angela asks the question we all want to know the answer to in the teaser for ABC’s The Rookie season seven episode 14. “Mad About Murder” will air on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 9pm Et/Pt.

The cast is led by Nathan Fillion as John Nolan. Season seven stars Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper, Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, Richard T. Jones as Sergeant Wade Grey, Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen, Eric Winter as Tim Bradford, Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune, Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers, and Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juarez. Deric Augustine and Patrick Keleher recur as Miles and Seth.

“Mad About Murder” Plot: Tim receives a strange message, launching a larger investigation into the dark web. Meanwhile, Celina works to take down a popular podcast, and Miles helps update the department’s training videos.

Alyssa Diaz and Eric Winter in ‘The Rookie’ season 7 episode 14 (Disney/Mike Taing) The Rookie Season 7 Details:

John Nolan,...

The RookieSeason 7, Episode 9 gave fans what they'd been asking for since Season 2 and Season 3, and that's for John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) to have a heartfelt reunion and a storyline that involves them working together again. Episode 9 centered around Harper's husband, James Murray (Arjay Smith), and the attack on the community center, where James and a volunteer, Kylie (Maria Zhang), were shot. The shoot-out was carried out by Connor's gang and resulted in James fighting for his life throughout the entirety of this episode. As police investigate the motive behind the shoot-out, Harper becomes a suspect after Nolan discovers that James and Kylie shared a kiss in Episode 8.

Clearing Harper's name became the objective for the characters in this episode, and James and Nyla's uncertain fate creates tension and leads to a heartfelt moment at the end of the episode. By the end, James survives,...

The teaser for ABC’s The Rookie season seven episode 10 shows Wade learning the hard way that you should never insist something can’t get more chaotic. It’s just inviting the world to prove you wrong. Episode 10, “Chaos Agent,” will air on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 9pm Et/Pt.

The cast is led by Nathan Fillion as John Nolan. Season seven stars Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper, Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, Richard T. Jones as Sergeant Wade Grey, Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen, Eric Winter as Tim Bradford, Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune, Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers, and Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juarez. Deric Augustine and Patrick Keleher recur as Miles and Seth.

“Chaos Agent” Plot: John, Lucy, and Angela investigate the suspicious stabbing of three teenage girls. Back at the station, the team experiences technical difficulties while managing a group of prisoners and a wild animal.

Tina Wonglu,...

Quick LinksThe Rookie Cast Rallies to Clear Harper's Name and Catch James's ShooterDespite Its Effect on the Plot, 'The Kiss' Doesn't Spend Enough Time on the ResolutionThis Rookie Episode Features Serveral Cases, and Gives None Their DueWhile 'The Kiss' Is a Solid and Emotional Episode, It Highlights a Familiar Rookie Problem

The following contains spoilers for The Rookie, Season 7, Episode 9, "The Kiss," now streaming on Hulu.

After a week's hiatus, The Rookiereturns to resolve a deadly cliffhanger from the previous episode while introducing myriad other investigations. As James Murray (Arjay Smith) fights for his life, an investigation into his wife, Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox), creates even more drama. Meanwhile, Celina Juarez (Lisseth Chavez) shows investigative initiative, while John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) clears Harper and a civil rights activist wanted by police.

This latest season presents a return to form for The Rookieas it balances the street-level stories this show does best with larger,...

[Warning: The below contains Major spoilers for The Rookie Season 7 Episode 9 “The Kiss.”] Talk about being stuck between a cop and a hard place! The Rookie‘s John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) found himself in a no-win situation this week as the LAPD dealt with the fallout from last week’s drive-by shooting that left Harper’s husband James (Arjay Smith) and community-center volunteer Kylie (Maria Zhang) clinging to life. With the cops scrambling to find the shooter — a local gang member named Connor (Levi Meaden) — Nolan was forced to reveal that he’d spotted James and Kylie in a clinch shortly before the crime, despite the fact that the information would have a two-fold impact: First, it meant telling his former T.O. and beloved colleague an awful truth about her marriage, and secondly, it could cast serious suspicion onto the devastated Nyla (the tremendous Mekia Cox), who had arrested Connor 18 months earlier. Had she perhaps hired ...

After taking a week off, The Rookie is finally addressing the tragedy that struck during Season 7, Episode 8, "Wildfire." The episode ended on a dramatic cliffhanger, with James (Arjay Smith) getting shot in a drive-by alongside community center volunteer Kylie (Maria Zhang). For Nyla Harper (Makia Cox), who just got a big win by nabbing her serial killer, it's a moment that threatens to derail the life she's constructed with her husband in more ways than one. Ahead of tonight's episode, Collider can share an exclusive sneak peek at the roller coaster of emotions ahead as James and Kylie are rushed to the hospital in critical condition while the veteran detective is shaken to her core.

Quick LinksWhere and When to Watch The Rookie Season 7, Episode 9, 'The Kiss'What to Expect From the Second Half of The Rookie Season 7

The following will contain spoilers for The Rookie, Season 7, Episode 8, "Wildfire," now streaming on Hulu.

The Rookie originally began with Nathan Fillion's John Nolan being the oldest rookie officer in the history of the LAPD. Since Season 5, The Rookie shifted that premise, making Nolan a training officer. However, he currently doesn't have his own trainee to guide, but there are still two new rookie officers with Deric Augustine's Miles Penn, a former police officer from Texas, and Seth Ridley, a nervous kid who makes terrible decisions.

Returning on March 11th after a week hiatus, The Rookie Season 7, Episode 9, "The Kiss" will pick up from the previous episode's cliffhanger ending where one of the regular characters' lives hangs in the balance. It promises to be a deeply emotional episode.

The Rookie isn’t about to devastate Nyla (Mekia Cox) just after she caught the serial killer, is it? Glasser (Seth Gabel), who she’d been keeping an eye on for a few episodes, is finally dealt with, but now, her husband James’ (Arjay Smith) life is hanging in the balance. The Rookie is not new on March 4 (due to Donald Trump’s address), meaning fans are left with the cliffhanger from Season 7 Episode 8 for another week. Episode 9, titled “The Kiss,” will air on March 11. Episode 8 left off with a major cliffhanger. During a wildfire (the episode was filmed before the California wildfires), James organized and ran the shelter for those who had to evacuate their homes. Kylie (Maria Zhang) came in to volunteer and shared that she hadn’t been at the center lately because she’d been going through a lot. James then intervened when he saw a guy,...

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for The Rookie Season 7, Episode 8.The Rookiehas officially aired the midseason finale of its seventh season, and it is a truly nailbiting and emotional installment. The episode delivers on a number of storylines that have been building up all season, in an explosive hour of television that ends on a massive cliffhanger. While the LAPD deals with a wildfire, a number of plotlines finally reach their tipping points. Liam Glasser (Seth Gabel), the serial killer who hurt Nyla (Mekia Cox) earlier this season, finally gets caught. James (Arjay Smith) gets shot after trying to help Kylie (Maria Zhang), a woman whom he met at the community center who witnessed a shooting at a club.

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for The Rookie Season 7, Episode 8.After Tim (Eric Winter) and Lucy's (Melissa O'Neil) breakup last season, The Rookieproved that no couple in the series was safe — that is, at least, for established married couples like Angela (Alyssa Diaz) and Wesley (Shawn Ashmore), and Nyla (Mekia Cox) and James (Arjay Smith). Sure, these couples are not without their problems, particularly this season. In a more trivial storyline, Wesley was jealous after learning through Blair London's (Danielle Campbell) tapes that Detective Graham (Ivan Hernandez) had a crush on Angela.

Quick LinksNyla Harper Is Fixated on Liam Glasser, and She Catches Him in the ActThe Fire Relit the Chenford Spark in a Big Way Fans Will LoveThe Rookie Turns an Infidelity Drama Storyline Into a Deadly Cliffhanger

The following contains spoilers for The Rookie, Season 7, Episode 8, "Wildfire" now streaming on Hulu. Find out more information on Los Angeles fire recovery efforts at the link.

It's a terribly relevant episode of The Rookieas the series sets a story in the middle of a Los Angeles wildfire. It began with a placard stating the episode was filmed before the devastating real-life fires in L.A., and it ended with a message directing viewers to support the American Red Cross efforts for survivors. Despite this bad timing, The Rookie delivered another excellent episode that expertly balanced the police work and the character drama fans love.

The suspected serial killer Liam Glasser (another Arrowverse...

With one problem out of the way, The Rookie throws a fresh one at Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox). She finally caught her serial killer, Liam Glasser (Seth Gamble), in Episode 8, "Wildfire," but another problem was developing elsewhere. A woman, Kylie, with ties to organized crime, expressed her feelings for Nyla's husband, James (Arjay Smith), with an unreciprocated kiss. Nolan (Nathan Fillion) was unlucky enough to catch a few seconds of it and lacked the full context. Later, a driveby shooting left James' life at risk, and in The Rookie Season 7, Episode 9, "The Kiss," Nyla's life comes tumbling down. Salt is added to injury when she learns of the kiss, according to a sneak peek of the March 11 episode. Below is the official logline.

The Rookie Season 7, Episode 7's cast has some familiar guest stars as Thomas Forbes-Johnson, Dylan Cornique, and Arjay Smith make their return. 

The new episode of ABC's much-talked-about police procedural series, "The Mickey," sees Officer John Nolan dealing with illegal gun dealers while thinking about his marriage with Bailey who is still not talking to him after their huge fight. 

Elsewhere, Officer Lucy Chen gets worried after her rookie, Seth, goes rogue in an undercover operation. 

Read full article on The Direct.

Quick LinksThe Chenford Resurgence Keeps Moving Forward as Tim Keeps 'Doing the Work'The Rookie Resolves the Nolan and Bailey Marital Fight With an Important StoryIn 'The Mickey' the Two Police Work Stories Are Resolved in Unexpected WaysThe Rookie Has Found Its Groove in Season 7 With Fresh and Familiar Faces

The following contains spoilers from The Rookie, Season 7, Episode 7, "The Mickey" and contains discussion about domestic abuse. If you are struggling help is available by calling 1-800-799-safe (7233) or clicking here.

After a Valentine's Day episode with romance and heartbreak, The Rookiereturned with a surprising episode continuing to focus on character over action. John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) are tasked with babysitting two criminals. Meanwhile, Lucy Chen (Melissa O'Neil) and her rookie Seth Ridley (Patrick Keleher) go undercover. It was a surprising and fun episode showing the series has hit its stride.

Just a few seasons ago,...

The promo for ABC’s The Rookie season seven episode seven has fans suggesting that Tim better start following his own advice. Episode seven, “The Mickey,” will air on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 9pm Et/Pt.

The cast is led by Nathan Fillion as John Nolan. Season seven stars Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper, Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, Richard T. Jones as Sergeant Wade Grey, Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen, Eric Winter as Tim Bradford, Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune, Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers, and Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juarez. Deric Augustine and Patrick Keleher recur as Miles and Seth.

“The Mickey” Plot: On Celina’s last day as a rookie, John gives her one final test. Meanwhile, Bailey makes a new friend, and Lucy places her faith in Seth for an undercover assignment.

Nathan Fillion and Eric Winter in ‘The Rookie’ season 7 episode 7 (Disney/Mike Taing) The Rookie Season 7 Details:

John Nolan,...

The Rookie Season 7 is heavy on Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox). She is engaged in a cat-and-mouse game with a serial killer and is convinced she has the right guy. She's struggling with the potential havoc the serial killer could wreak if not put behind bars as soon as possible. Her private life is not going well, too, as her relationship with James (Arjay Smith) hits turbulent waters. Cox told TV Insider that the couple will "be tested a lot" in the upcoming episodes. When Valentine's arrives on The Rookie Season 7, Episode 6, "The Gala," “there is a relationship that comes to a head surrounding the two of them," teased Cox. These comments by the actress echo similar sentiments she expressed when she told Collider's Therese Lacson:...

Chenford fans are so excited about what’s in store on ABC’s The Rookie season seven episode six after watching the promo. The teaser for the Valentine’s Day-themed episode gives Chenford shippers hope that a reunion is in store for the fan-favorite couple.

Episode six, “The Gala,” will air on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 10pm Et/Pt.

The cast is led by Nathan Fillion as John Nolan. Season seven stars Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper, Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, Richard T. Jones as Sergeant Wade Grey, Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen, Eric Winter as Tim Bradford, Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune, Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers, and Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juarez. Deric Augustine and Patrick Keleher recur as Miles and Seth.

“The Gala” Plot: It’s Valentine’s Day, and Lieutenant Grey gives Tim and Lucy an unromantic assignment, while John and Celina track down a missing girl.

This week’s “The Rookie” brings a new complication for Bradford (Eric Winter) and Chen (Melissa O’Neil), just as their post-break up relationship is making its way back to lighthearted banter — and playful bets.

Speaking of bets, Jasmine Matthews is back in tonight’s new episode, “Out of Pocket,” as Rachel Hall. If you need a refresher, no big surprise, a lot has changed since we last saw the character! Rachel was last seen about five years ago in Season 2, when she had a romance with Tim. The pair met in the episode “The Bet,” after Chen made a bet with her then-t.O. Bradford that she could find a good match for him. She won that bet when Bradford and Rachel hit it off, sparking a relationship that spanned several episodes until her surprising exit.

A friend of Chen’s from college, Rachel was Bradford’s first big romance...

Bailey’s return with Jason (Steve Kazee) still on the loose has John on high alert on ABC’s The Rookie season seven episode three. “Out of Pocket” will air on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 10pm Et/Pt.

The cast is led by Nathan Fillion as John Nolan. Season seven stars Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper, Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, Richard T. Jones as Sergeant Wade Grey, Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen, Eric Winter as Tim Bradford, Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune, Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers, and Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juarez. Deric Augustine and Patrick Keleher recur as Miles and Seth.

“Out of Pocket” Plot: Ahead of Bailey’s return home, John looks for clues to locate Jason Wyler. Then, Tim and Lucy swap rookies, a friendly face resurfaces at the station, and Wesley feels unsettled over Angela.

Melissa O’Neil and Eric Winter in ‘The Rookie’ season...

Nyla (Mekia Cox) and James' (Arjay Smith) relationship has always had a fundamental flaw: both parties hold different values. Nyla believes that good can come from her work as a police officer, but after years of dealing with the actions of bad policing, James is not as convinced. Their feelings about policing, especially within Black neighborhoods, are wildly different, and while they tried to separate them from their marriage, the center can't hold anymore. In The Rookie Season 7, Episode 2, "The Watcher," the couple is confronted with this reality, presenting a huge conflict for them in Season 7. "A primal part of our storytelling this season with them is this sense that they do deeply love each other and they are happy in their lives outside of this, but they can't keep having the same conversation over and over. So, what does that look like?" showrunner Alexi Hawley told TV Guide about the characters' arcs this season.

The following contains spoilers from the Jan. 14 episode of ABC’s The Rookie.

Fans of The Rookie‘s Nyla/James romance are understandably on edge in the wake of Season 7’s second episode, in which one half of the duo had to wonder aloud “if we got married too fast.”

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The Day After Tomorrow has found success on Netflix's global top 10 chart after 20 years. Hitting theaters in 2004, director Roland Emmerich's The Day After Tomorrow chronicles the onset of a devastating new planetary Ice Age with a story that follows paleoclimatologist Jack Hall (Dennis Quaid) as he treks from Washington D.C. to New York City to rescue his stranded son, Sam (Jake Gyllenhaal). The film, which also stars Emmy Rossum, Ian Holm, Sela Ward, and Arjay Smith, was a box office hit, grossing $552.6 million worldwide.

Now, two decades later, new data from Netflix reveals that The Day After Tomorrow ranks as the sixth most popular movie on the streamer globally for the week of September 9 15. The film pulled in an impressive 11.6 million hours viewed and 5.6 million views in total. Though The Day After Tomorrow falls short of titles like Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019), The Deliverance...

Quick Links Tamara Colins Is Lucy Chen's First 'Rookie Puppy' Tamara Was One of Many Characters Meant to Shift The Rookie's Focus Why Lucy Decided to Help Tamara and Not as a Police Officer Why The Rookie Made Tamara Colins a Recurring Character

Despite the title referring specifically to Officer John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) at first, The Rookie has always been an ensemble series. Considering it's set in a Los Angeles Police Department precinct, it also makes sense that the ensemble was almost primarily cops. The episode when Nolan's fellow rookie Lucy Chen (Melissa O'Neill) first meets Tamara Colins (Dylan Conrique) is about expanding the cast to other people who live and work in the community. The first two seasons of The Rookie heavily focused on the beat cop experience, though with far more thrilling and deadly adventures than wha is representative of real life. The show established its...

Will Trent joins the list of greatest TV detectives with his great back story and complex crimes. Based on a novel series of the same name by Karin Slaughter, the series follows the titular Gbi Special Agent as he solves some very dark and disturbing crimes but being dyslexic makes that a bit hard. Will Trent has a very troubled past which still haunts him to this day. Will Trent stars Ramon Rodriguez in the titular role with Erika Christensen, Jake McLaughlin, Sonja Sohn, and Iantha Richardson starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved Will Trent here are some similar shows you could watch after finishing the series.

The Mentalist (Max & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – CBS

One of the best procedurals ever made which also had a highly intelligent protagonist like Will Trent is The Mentalist. Created by Bruno Heller, the CBS series follows the story of Patrick Jane,...

The team takes time off from work to help John and Bailey celebrate on ABC’s The Rookie season six episode two. “The Hammer” will air on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at 9pm Et/Pt.

Season six stars Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper, Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen, Eric Winter as Tim Bradford, and Richard T. Jones as Sergeant Wade Grey. Shawn Ashmore plays Wesley Evers, Alyssa Diaz is Angela Lopez, Lisseth Chavez is Celina Juarez, Jenna Dewan is Bailey Nune, and Tru Valentino is Aaron Thorsen.

“The Hammer” Plot: The team comes together to celebrate John and Bailey’s wedding. Meanwhile, Celina discovers a discrepancy in her case, leading to a new discovery. Elsewhere, Lucy and Tim’s relationship is put to the test.

Lisseth Chavez, Tru Valentino and Melissa O’Neil in ‘The Rookie’ season 6 episode 2 (Disney/Raymond Liu)

Series Description, Courtesy of ABC:

John Nolan,...

The following contains spoilers from The Rookie Season 5, Episode 22, "Under Siege," which debuted Tuesday, May 2 on ABC.

The Rookie's Season 5 finale is action-heavy and plot-heavy from its opening minutes. "Under Siege" often and only offers vignettes of the characters impacted by the violence, namely Aaron Thorsen and Celina Juarez -- and briefly, Nyla Harper, James Murray and their daughter Leah. The episode walks a line between a jubilant tone and an eerie one as Angela Lopez and Wesley Evers welcome their daughter in circumstances that parallel the ones in which they welcomed their son Jack, whom they named after their dearly departed friend Jackson West. Therefore, The Rookie re-energizes interest in the characters' personal lives with those emotional snapshots that fit around the plot that seemingly sets up Season 6.

Whether it be the aforementioned character beats or how Chenford, once again, levels up their partnership or how John Nolan and Bailey Nune team up,...

A heat wave sets off a crime wave on ABC’s The Rookie season five episode 13, “Daddy Cop.” Directed by Anne Renton from a script by Fredrick Kotto, episode 13 will air on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at 10pm Et/Pt.

Nathan Fillion leads the cast as John Nolan. Eric Winter plays Tim Bradford, Melissa O’Neil is Lucy Chen, Alyssa Diaz plays Angela Lopez, and Richard T. Jones is Wade Grey. Mekia Cox is Nyla Harper, Shawn Ashmore plays Wesley Evers, Tru Valentino is Aaron Thorsen, and Jenna Dewan returns as Bailey Nune. Lisseth Chavez guest stars as Celina Juarez.

“Daddy Cop” Plot: In the midst of a heatwave and a citywide blackout, Officer John Nolan and Aaron follow increasingly large leads after they discover criminals hiding at the station. While on duty, Officer Chen makes an alarming discovery after being called to a scene where a pungent smell has wreaked havoc. Meanwhile,...

The New York Television Festival has named its 2018 independent pilot competition selections to be screened for industry executives and fans at the 14th annual Nytvf running from July 14 to July 20. A total of 59 television and digital pilots were chosen spanning a range of themes and topics, from demons to beer.

This year, a record 72% of the selected projects include persons of color above the line, an increase from 56% at the 2016 festival. Additionally 70% of the pilots feature a woman in an executive creative role, with 53% created by women. This number marks the highest number of women in creator roles in the festival’s history, up from last year’s 50%.

The pilots will compete in multiple categories, including best comedy and best drama, judged by a mix of Nytvf screening committee members and Nytvf-hrts Next Generation committee members. The jury will crown the winners at a closing awards brunch on July 20.

Talent...

The premise of the new comedy “The Guest Book” is an exciting one: a quiet, unassuming cottage at a cozy mountain getaway plays host to a number of weekend travelers with something to work out or something to hide. Each of them relate their wacky adventures in the room’s guest book, using a few pages to write a confession, an alibi or a farewell. It’s the kind of “if these walls could talk” setup that makes you wonder why TV hasn’t taken advantage of hotel-adjacent stories more often.

There’s a certain flexibility that comes with getting to reinvent a show’s character list every episode. Like its new motel counterpart “Room 104,” each episode of the first season of “The Guest Book” focuses on a different set of occupants: These vacationers range from scientists to quarreling spouses to parents with misplaced preoccupations.

Read MoreHow Squeaky Clean Kellie Martin Wound Up on Greg Garcia’s Quirky Cable Comedy ‘The Guest Book’ — Turn It On Podcast

But the problem with cycling so many of these performers in and out of the world of the show is that creator Greg Garcia has essentially made 10 different pilots. Rather than treating these individual chapters like short stories, there’s an unspoken effort to squeeze a season’s worth of quirks and angst into a twenty-minute window.

Over the course of his work on “My Name is Earl” and “Raising Hope,” Greg Garcia shepherded shows that presented unconventional family dynamics and disjointed inner circles of friendship. But, despite their collective shortcomings, the offbeat characters of those series worked together to create something built on love, appreciation, and understanding. To see so many episodes of “The Guest Book” tinged with cynicism and frustration seems like a misstep that doesn’t play to his strengths as a writer and observer of human tendencies. The humor here often seems forced, both in its writing and the physicality of the performances it asks of its actors.

It’s all the more frustrating when some episodes seem to strike the ideal tone that the others strive for. Episodes 4 and 5 are probably the strongest efforts of this first season, the latter of which stars Jenna Fischer as a scientist uncovering some unexpected memories of an Alzheimer’s patient left in her care. Some of those developments are legitimately shocking, but it doesn’t have the same manufactured chaos that plagues so many of the other installments.

“The Guest Book” boasts an impressive roster of guest stars, including Michaela Watkins, Danny Pudi, Lauren Lapkus, Stockard Channing Tommy Dewey, and Michael Rappaport. But the actors who have worked in previous Garcia shows seem to be the only natural fits for this new venture. Jamie Pressly, a bright spot on “My Name is Earl,” instantly finds the heart a character that in lesser hands could have been an episode-length punchline. Same goes for Shannon Woodward, who finds some an extra emotional layer in a character that could easily be a fodder for sight gags.

And although many of the recurring side players in the town surrounding the cottage are little more than means for advancing the handful of season-long throughlines, Garret Dillahunt is an exception. As Andrew, a local doctor whose marital foibles and parenting misadventures pop up across the season, Dillahunt gets another much-deserved chance to show off his comic chops. The shifting dynamic between Andrew and Kellie Martin’s Officer Kimberly hints at an alternate foundation for the show that might not be as formally innovative, but would make for a more satisfying series.

Read MoreThe 20 Best TV Comedies of the 21st Century, Ranked

The stealth stars of “The Guest Book” might just be Arjay Smith and John Milhiser as two office co-workers who serve as the show’s “Previously On” Greek chorus. Reorienting audiences at the start of each episode, their changing 15-second banter is one of the show’s best bits of character development. That they make such an impression in short snippets is a testament to Garcia’s ability to find some fun developments with a repeatable framework, but it also emphasizes that the constant cast list churn of check-ins and check-outs is rarely the part of this show that’s most engaging.

With a handful of drug-fueled benders and neuroses-driven montages, “The Guest Book” gets the chance to match its changing cast list with a few visual switch-ups. Some split-screen episode bookends and some inventive camera placements keep the cottage from getting too familiar. But those occasional touches can’t replace the fact that the show lives and dies on the strength of its episode-to-episode stories. A few of them are entertaining enough, but a show that’s still in search of its strengths still keeps it from being a reliable trip worth taking every week.

Grade: C+

“The Guest Book” airs Thursday nights at 10 p.m. on TBS.

Sign UpStay on top of the latest film and TV news! Sign up for our film and TV email newsletter here. Related stories'Full Frontal with Samantha Bee' Aired a Positive Segment About Donald Trump, World Still Confirmed to Be Spinning -- WatchHow Squeaky Clean Kellie Martin Wound Up on Greg Garcia's Quirky Cable Comedy 'The Guest Book' -- Turn It On Podcast'Manhunt: Unabomber' Review: Discovery's First Scripted Drama Intrigues as It Evokes Empathy in a Madman...

Arjay Smith (Perception) has been tapped for a recurring role on TNT drama series Major Crimes. Smith, repped by Global Artists and More/Medavoy Management, will play Dennis Price. Best known for playing Max Lewicki on TNT’s Perception, he also recurred on Sons Of Anarchy and recently guest starred on CSI. Daniel Zovatto (It Follows) has signed on to the USA Network pilot Brooklyn Animal Control, based on the Idw Publishing comic created by Jt Petty. It follows the inner…...

Network: TNT

Episodes: 39 (hour)

Seasons: Three

TV show dates: July 9, 2012 -- March 17, 2015

Series status: Cancelled

Performers include: Eric McCormack, Rachael Leigh Cook, Arjay Smith, Kelly Rowan, and LeVar Burton.

TV show description:

This TV show revolves around Doctor Daniel Pierce (Eric McCormack), an eccentric and brilliant neuroscience professor. Unfortunately, his mind is also damaged and he suffers from paranoid schizophrenia.

Pierce struggles with hallucinations and paranoid delusions brought on by his schizophrenia. Oddly though, he considers some of his hallucinations to be a gift. They occasionally allow him to make connections that his conscious mind can't yet process. At other times, the hallucinations become Pierce's greatest curse, leading him to behave in irrational, potentially dangerous ways.

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Last year, viewership for Perception dropped 28% when compared to the first season's ratings. Will the numbers continue to fall, hold steady, or grow? Will this TNT TV show be cancelled or renewed for a fourth season? Stay tuned!

Perception follows Doctor Daniel Pierce (Eric McCormack), a talented and schizophrenic neuropsychiatrist, as he assists his former student, FBI Special Agent Kate Moretti (Rachael Leigh Cook), solve complex cases. Other castmembers include Kelly Rowan, Arjay Smith, LeVar Burton, and Scott Wolf.

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The axe keeps flying over at TNT. The cable channel already cancelled Dallas and Franklin & Bash and now, they've cancelled Perception as well. There won't be a fourth season.

Perception follows Doctor Daniel Pierce (Eric McCormack), a talented and schizophrenic neuropsychiatrist, as he assists his former student, FBI Special Agent Kate Moretti (Rachael Leigh Cook), solve complex cases. Other castmembers include Kelly Rowan, Arjay Smith, LeVar Burton, and Scott Wolf.

The show is currently in its third season. Ten of the season's 15 episodes have aired so far and have averaged 2.78 million viewers with a 0.6 rating in the 18-49 demographic. That's down about 10% when compared to season two.

While Perception certainly isn't TNT's biggest series, it's been a respectable performer. It seems that the cancellation is at least in part due to the cable channel's desire to...

Another drama has bit the dust at TNT. The Turner-owned cable network has opted to cancel veteran drama Perception after three seasons, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. The drama centered on Dr. Daniel Pierce (Will & Grace's Eric McCormack), an eccentric neuroscience professor with paranoid schizophrenia who is recruited by the FBI to help solve complex cases. Rachael Leigh Cook, Arjay Smith, LeVar Burton and Kelly Rowan co-stared in the ABC Studios drama. The series will air its remaining season three episodes in February. The news comes days after TNT — under new president Kevin Reilly — canceled veteran

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Sons of Anarchy, "What a Piece of Work is Man,” begins with Jax (Charlie Hunnam) steeling himself for an inevitable confrontation with the Indian Hills after killing Jury, and his ongoing dealings with August Marks (Billy Brown).

Sons of Anarchy Recap

Upon learning that Bobby (Mark Boone Junior) was further mutilated after he didn’t give Marks everything he wanted, Jax needs to rethink how he’s going to deal with him. Jax reasons that he can use the compromising video of the pastor as blackmail against Marks. Grant (Arjay Smith) points out to Jax that his previous blackmail plan hadn’t worked out so well. In fact, hardly any of Jax’s plans have gone all that well lately.

When Tyler (Mo McRae) shows up, Jax asks him to set up a meeting with Marks or Moses (Mathew St. Patrick) to show them he’s ready to give them...

Some quickie TV news you can use, that wasn't previously mentioned on this blog: - First, Marsha Stephanie Blake (who's appeared in TV series like "Girls," "Elementary," and "Law & Order") has joined the cast of Netflix's hit drama series "Orange Is the New Black," in a recurring role as a new corrections officer. She will make her debut on the series during its third season. - Arjay Smith has joined the cast of FX’s "Sons Of Anarchy" for the seventh and final season. He's signed up to play a Grant McQueen, who's described as "a good, street smart kid who is trying to protect his mother." - Shonda Rhimes'...

As the body count continues to grow on “Sons of Anarchy,” so does the cast of the bloody FX biker drama. Arjay Smith, who plays Max Lewicki on the TNT drama “Perception,” has signed on for the seventh and final season of “Sons of Anarchy,” which premiered Tuesday. Also read: ‘Sons of Anarchy’ Star Theo Rossi Talks Juice's Fate and His ‘Quite Nude’ Final Season Smith will play Grant McQueen, who's described as a loyal son and devout churchgoer who is caught between an Oakland Gangster, his heroin-addicted mother and his perverse, deceased pastor step-father's secrets. McQueen is forced to make an.

Last year, TNT's Perception started out strong in the ratings but then fell over the course of the season. Will the numbers grow this time or continue to fall? Cancelled or renewed for season three? Stay tuned to find out.

Perception airs on Tuesday nights and there are 14 episodes this time (vs 10 last year). The cast includes Eric McCormack, Arjay Smith, Kelly Rowan, LeVar Burton, and Rachael Leigh Cook.

Below are the TV show's ratings for the Summer 2013 season, the best way to tell if the show will be cancelled or renewed for another season. These figures will be updated as the weeks progress so you can check on how it's doing.

Update: Perception has been renewed for a third season 15 episodes.

Final season averages: 0.6 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 3.06...

TNT‘s Perception has returned for season two, and the series continues from the first season finale in brilliant fashion. The show threw out some big events, opening the door for a variety of next steps, and many that might leap to mind would not seem to continue things in a way that embraces the heart of what we followed in the series up to that point. Such is the talk of the initiated and nervous anyway.

The show stars Eric McCormack as Dr. Daniel Pierce, a genius neuroscience professor who works with the FBI, via agent Kate Moretti (Rachel Leigh Cook) to help solve the most outlandish cases. The spin here is that Dr. Pierce is a paranoid schizophrenic prone to delusions and hallucinations when he’s off his meds, and he’s also prone to not taking his meds… or imagining that he took them.

As the show...

Last summer introduced viewers to the wondrous world of Dr. Daniel Pierce (Eric McCormack), a neuropsychiatrist working as a professor at Chicago Lake Michigan College and in his spare time as an expert consultant for the FBI. Paired with his former student, Special Agent Kate Moretti (Rachael Leigh Cook), they delve into the mysteries of the mind and the criminals that may or may not be afflicted by neuropsychiatric disorders. However, as was revealed fairly quickly, Dr. Pierce struggles himself each day with distinguishing what is real and not real. Diagnosed as a highly-functioning schizophrenic, Dr. Pierce uses his unusual medical condition to perceive realities and truths that a normal functioning brain may not; and so perceptionally-enhanced, Dr. Pierce and Agent Morreti make a phenomenal crime-solving team.

Yet even the most brilliant mind has a few flaws. Daniel’s ability to perceive how crimes may or may not be committed,...

Fans know Beth Riesgraf as Parker on TNT’s Leverage. Now Perception plans to leverage the actors to gain some more fans of their own.

If you thought Homeland‘s Carrie Mathison, acted by Claire Danes was crazy, then wait until you get a load of Eric McCormack in the role of Dr. Daniel Pierce, a schizophrenic neuropsychiatrist who helps the FBI with some of their most complex cases. He’s the star of Perception, a little crime drama that TNT launches last summer, which is produced by ABC Studios.

Season 1 pulled in around 4 million viewers each week and the best news is that season 2 will premier on June 25th. with returning cast members, Rachael Leigh Cook, Kelly Rowan, Arjay Smith and recurring actor LeVar Burton, TV Line has learned that Riesgraf will pop in as Daisy Brannen, “a fiercely loyal woman who is startled when Pierce and Moretti catch...

It made its online premiere in mid-September on Snag Films (the parent company of IndieWire), and is also available via several VOD platforms like iTunes, Amazon.com, Vudu, X-Box and others. Distributed by Snag Films, We Made A Movie, is an independent dramedy presented by Worldwide Pants Incorporated, B&B East Productions, Inc. and Bona Fide Productions. It centers on  graduating high school seniors with no prospects who decide to make a comedy movie, hoping that it'll make them famous enough to leave their depressing town. Their leader and director, LeBron (played by Arjay Smith) is so confident the movie will be a success, he gets some freshmen to...

On Perception, Doctor Daniel Pierce (Eric McCormack) is an eccentric neuroscience professor who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. As he helps solve complex cases for the FBI, Daniel sometimes sees things that aren't there. More importantly, TNT's hoping enough viewers will "be there" to give the series strong enough ratings to support a second season renewal.

Others in the TV show's cast include Rachael Leigh Cook, Arjay Smith, Kelly Rowan, and LeVar Burton.

The first season of Perception typically airs Monday nights and there are 10 episodes.

These figures will be updated as the weeks progress so be sure to bookmark and return to this page:

Final season averages: 0.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 4.24 million total viewers.

Episode 01-10: Monday, 09/17/12

0.6 demo rating (-25% change) with 3.49 million (-2% change).

Watch has announced that it will air Us drama Perception in the UK. The show, which has been renewed for a second season, stars Eric McCormack as an eccentric neuroscientist working for the FBI. UKTV's controller Emma Tennant has now announced at the Edinburgh International Television Festival that the show will be broadcast on Watch in the UK. Rachel Leigh Cook, Kelly Rowan and Arjay Smith are among the other (more)...

TNT is giving a second look to its crime drama "Perception."

The cable channel has renewed the series, which stars Eric McCormack as an eccentric neuroscientist (and paranoid schizophrenic) who consults with the FBI on cases, for a second season. The show has enjoyed strong ratings so far airing behind "The Closer" and will be paired with "Major Crimes" for the rest of the season.

"'Perception' has captured the imagination of TNT's audience of armchair detectives with wonderfully intricate cases, emotionally charged situations and, of course, a terrific cast led by Eric McCormack," TNT president and head of programming Michael Wright says. The cast also includes Rachael Leigh Cook, Arjay Smith and Kelly Rowan.

So far this season the show is averaging 7 million viewers per episode (including DVR viewing), with about a third of that audience falling in TNT's sweet spot of adults 25-54.

Season 2 of "Perception" will...

TNT has ordered a second season of "Perception," the drama starring Emmy winner Eric McCormack ("Will & Grace") and Former teen idol Rachael Leigh Cook ("She’s All That"). The drama centers on Dr. Daniel Pierce (McCormack), a professor of neuroscience professor with paranoid schizophrenia who is recruited by the FBI to help a former student-turned-agent named Kate Moretti (Cook) solve complex cases. The cast also includes Arjay Smith ("The Day After Tomorrow"), Kelly Rowan ("The O.C.") and LeVar Burton ("Star Trek: The Next Generation"). "'Perception' has captured the imagination of TNT's audience of armchair detectives with wonderfully intricate cases, emotionally charged...

TNT has ordered a second season of Perception, its freshman drama starring Eric McCormack. Perception, produced by ABC Studios, currently ranks second behind TNT’s just launched Closer spinoff Major Crimes among basic cable’s top new scripted series this year. The network has ordered 13 episodes for season two, which is slated to air in 2013. “Perception has captured the imagination of TNT’s audience of armchair detectives with wonderfully intricate cases, emotionally charged situations and, of course, a terrific cast led by Eric McCormack,” said TNT’s head of programming Michael Wright. Perception, which airs Mondays at 10 Pm, is averaging 7 million viewers (Live + 7), with 1.8 million adults 18-49 and 2.3 million adults 25-54. It centers on Dr. Daniel Pierce (McCormack), an eccentric neuroscience professor with paranoid schizophrenia who is recruited by the FBI to help solve complex cases. Rachael Leigh Cook stars as FBI agent Kate Moretti, Pierce’s former student who...

It's not often in our lives that our younger selves get to become magically older, like Tom Hanks did in Big or even receive the chance to revert from middle-age back to a teenager. And while Matthew Perry doesn't turn into Zac Efron here, Perception takes an interesting, albeit far-fetched, spin on the concept of time and being 17 again in this week's episode, "86'd."

Once again, Agent Kate Moretti's been stumped by her current FBI case and she eagerly seeks Dr. Daniel Pierce's astute and brilliant mind to solve the cold case that's been re-opened. I'm surprised he's not getting paid for his consults, but I'm sure that solving complex crimes is more than enough of a payoff for him.

Luckily the clues of the 1986 "Date Night" killer are in open sight, ranging from a leftover journal to a print that matches the old murders to the one victim that escaped with her life.