Thea has no choice but to show up now that everyone knows, but Simone convinces her to show up so they can celebrate her. The court time is booked solid by Thea, leading to Simone confronting her. She wants to start a new life in pursuit of her tennis dreams. At Bringston, Simone has an instant connection with Damon (Peyton Alex Smith) so, what does that mean for her and Jordan? 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. The most pertinent details: Simone is an ambitious tennis player from Beverly Hills starting her freshman year at Bringston, a historically Black university in Atlanta, with support from her journalism-professor aunt Amara (Kelly Jenrette) but against the wishes of her Ivy League-obsessed parents. With All American: Homecoming set to premiere on Monday, February 21, it would have made sense that Simone would have been a more significant focus in All American's fourth season. Jordan, then her pregnancy. You want your relationship with your scene partner to be secure enough to depend on that person, and having that moment with [Peyton] really secured our positions. All American season 3 reveals Jordan and Simone got married in Las Vegas, and here's what their marriage means for Simone's spinoff show. When is it just a friendship?. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. We'll definitely see a little shift in Simone in terms of how she processes and navigates the new relationships she has with all of these people. To explore Black families, especially Black motherhood and sisterhood is important. ET. From your point of view, what do you think they see in one another? Cooper Hood is a news and feature writer for Screen Rant. All American Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. And this is just the beginning, because All American: Homecoming has received a series order. 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. The 'All American' spinoff follows a tennis player from Beverly Hills to her first year at a historically Black university in Atlanta. 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. What do you remember from filming that scene? At the end of the day, that's how you grow pressure. All American: Homecoming -- "Start Over" -- Image Number: AHC101a_0258r.jpg -- Pictured: Geffri Maya as Simone Hicks -- Photo: Ser Baffo/The CW -- (C) 2021 The CW Network, LLC. PMC Entertainment. She's carefree, self-fulling in mind, body, and spirit, she's diligent to her dream and to her voice. Professor Corte decides to go with Simones ideas, and Thea attempts to take credit but he cuts her off. 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What was your reaction to Cam (Mitchell Edwards) coming to All American: Homecoming? Corte offers Simone a job working with the alumni office. OK, your turn. "All American: Homecoming" follows Geffri Maya as Simone Hicks, a teen mother and tennis star from Los Angeles who heads to Atlanta to begin college. Her parents paid for the facility and if anyone had a choice they wouldnt choose to hang out with her. Simone's relationship with Amara is different from what we've seen from her family. It'll be exciting to see how they both navigate [Bringston] together and apart. 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. It's not easy at all. One thing I love about Thea is no matter how she comes off, she wants the same thing we want. I can easily say the most challenging part of the tennis, but I want to honor the sport, my form, train, take care of my body. PMC Entertainment. Titled All American: Homecoming, the spinoffs pilot will air as an episode of All Americans current third season (aka a backdoor pilot). Simone was a student at Beverly Hills High School and upon graduating, moved to Atlanta to attend Bringston University. I was able to connect with so many Black people from many different walks of life. And again, I had a great scene partner. There's a nice dynamic between the two and they'll be able to teach other things. There has not been any confirmation that actorMichael Evans Behling is part of Simone's spinoff. Can you speak to Jordan's significance to Simone and how big a part of her journey he is? ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Simone has a rough start to life at Bringston. [Rhoyle Ivy King, who plays Nathaniel Hardin] is an amazing partner because you want someone you can be vulnerable with. 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. Did you play her differently, given her growth at Bringston? America So She Could Breastfeed Privately, Michael J. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. His future with theAll American universe seems to be with the main show, as he has dreams of continuing his football career. Why do you think it's the right way to begin her college journey? These Black athletes all have stories and come from different backgrounds. Yes, absolutely. Although she has never been as central to the plot as the other main characters, knowing she was set to lead the spinoff series should have been a reason to give her a more substantial storyline before leaving. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action Little Mermaid with a new generation's Ariel. Simone outmatches everyone on the court and makes it to the last match against Thea. WithAll American: Homecoming set to premiere on Monday, February 21, it would have made sense that Simone would have been a more significant focus inAll Americans fourth season. However,All American season 3 concluded with a reversal of Jordan and Simone's marriage. Since Simone's introduction inAll American season 2, she's been an integral part of Jordan Baker's story. Follow Cooper on Twitter @MovieCooper. When are friendships too close that its disrespectful to the relationship youre in? Viewers might recognize Kelly Jenrette from her roles inMixed-ish andGrandfathered. Airdate: 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21 (The CW) As we all know from the mothership show All American, Simone had a baby at a very young age, and she gave the baby up for adoption and decided to stay in the baby's life. All American Season 4 News & Updates: Everything We Know, All American: What [SPOILER]'s Survival Means For Season 4, return of Michael Evans Behling as Jordan Baker, All American: What Jordan & Simone's Marriage Means For Her Spinoff. 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. What was shooting the backdoor pilot like? Bring excellence, or dont play at all, Thea tells her. July 5 2021, 6:00 PM PDT. 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. As we head to the season finale, what can you share about Simone's journey in terms of tennis in the final episodes? "Everyone's driven and ready to bring Bringston Univeristy to life and bring the characters to life.". Leonard Roberts has also been inThe MagiciansandMajor Crimes. 2023 TVLine Media, LLC. All of this tough love seems to resonate with Simone, who seems more certain about applying to Bringston and pursuing tennis by the end of the episode. In addition to being part of theAll American universe, viewers might recognize Geffri Maya from her time onBlack-ish andSnowfall. Sylvester Powell previously appeared onCriminal Minds. Thea makes a point of telling Simone that four other girls are striving for a spot on her team. Cory Hardrict is also set to play a major role inAll American: Homecoming, as he returns as Marcus Turner. 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. They decided to stay together and try a long-distance relationship, despite the pressures theyre both facing. Its storylines tend to revolve around the ways its characters come through for each other while trying to become better people themselves, whether that means guiding someone through a panic attack, opening up about their true fears or simply apologizing when theyve failed to listen to someone elses needs. If she is meant to be an exciting draw for the spinoff, as a character fans know well, thenAll American should have given her a bit more to do in preparation for her to lead a brand new series. All Rights Reserved. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. So why was her perspective not at the forefront? I had a really good time. Back in Beverly Hills, Jordan seems to have a growing connection with Layla (Greta Onieogou), with whom hes been friends for years. Thats what makes us the best.Thea to Simone. 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. She is queen-bee sophomore that gives off slight mean girl tendencies. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. "which is why you brought us to this ugh. Though Simone works to maintain a cool and composed faade, Maya lets her anxiety show in subtle facial expressions that grow gradually more drawn. Thea admits that shes always watching, showing her a series of text messages in which Loni admonishes Simone for sloppy footwork and unacceptable training. Amara and Simone talk about Simone's mom a few times. Simone, as we saw on All American, was always attached to something. Feb 21, 2022, 09:00 AM EST | Updated Jul 20, 2022. Rebecca Iannucci / Those discussions continue in the writers rooms for both series. 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. By Thea Mays is a main character in "All American: Homecoming". Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Once the semester officially starts, Coach Loni breaks down the schedule for the tennis players. On the flip side, storylines involving the faculty like Amara and Marcus trying to figure out what exactly president Allen (Leonard Roberts) isnt telling them about the schools budgetary woes are progressing at too slow a burn to hold much interest, at least at this early point in the series. They've had several rough patches recently but are still committed to making the relationship work. Instead, Simones part inAll American is reduced drastically. She is portrayed by Camille Hyde. But as a character notes a couple of episodes into its brand-new spinoff, All American: Homecoming, college is a different ballgame, honey. Theyre both exceptional actors is such a dream to work with and have so much natural chemistry, teases showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll about whats to come between Simone and Damon. He's now attempting to keep Bringston's baseball program relevant so the school can't cut its funding. It was beautiful because it allowed Peyton and I to continue to build out a relationship where [we] can depend on each other as actors. The girls square off with Simone scoring the first point. Simone is raised in Beverly Hills, she comes from a well-off family, and goes to a great school. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. They might not be married anymore, but Jordan and Simone's relationship is as strong as ever heading into her spinoff show. 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. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. 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. But, instead, she receded to the background. When are friendships too close? He graduated college in 2016 with a Bachelor's degree in Media & Public Communication, with a minor in Media Production. The pressure explodes in a very emotional scene with Damon. Whether it be coming from her panic attacks or a tennis match, she's really discovered what type of athlete she wants to be. Damon and Coach Marcus are thrown a bigger curve ball than they were anticipating. Also, with Nate being non-binary, the door is open for that community to be showcased, supported and loved. Simone gives Loni her clearance note from President Allen, making it in time for Queen of the Court. The biggest thing I took away from the bonfire scene is remembering when I first stepped foot on Clark Atlanta University's campus. I can't say much without giving it away. ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What was it like to return to All American and reunite with the cast? 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. This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. American Idol viewers took to the American Idol Reddit community asking if they could "please" get new judges. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. While many expected Jordan and Simone to break up duringAll American season 4 then, the series has not gone in that direction. From the surface, her mother comes off as harsh and a little smothering, but she could just come off that way because people don't necessarily understand her off hand. There are even some additional returning characters from the mainAll American show. 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. The former assistant coach for Bringston's baseball team finds himself learning how to be a head coach in the series after the previous coach was fired for an academic scandal. 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. (And in a plot twist, Marcus, the teams assistant head coach, was the one to tip off Amara about the cheating in the first place, sacrificing his job in the name of integrity.). So her coming back to the world of All American and experiencing home and Jordan in a different way plays a big part. What do you remember about shooting that scene? Damons storyline needed to be set up and understood going into a new show. The CW is plotting a spinoff of its football-themed high school drama series All American . Even if Bringston is a fictional university, the representation at the end of the day matters most. ), At first, Bringstons president is content to sweep the cheating under the rug; since these ghost classes were offered to everyone, and not just student athletes, the NCAA likely wont penalize the school for giving athletes exclusive advantages. The girls pole dance at a dance studio while Simone watches.[3]. 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 network confirmed on Monday that it's moving forward with a potential spinoff of the football drama, to be focused on Geffri Maya . She challenges Simone to be her warm-up partner, and though Simone does get a couple of balls past Thea, Thea dominates most of the game. 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. "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. The significance of Jordan in Simone's life is getting her to this point of being able to celebrate herself and making decisions for herself. Things looked relatively positive for Simone and Jordan as the previous season ended, even knowing that her spinoff was coming. I remember being extremely emotional and just channeling loss and [what] it means to lose something. (L-R): Geffri Maya as Simone and Michael Evans Behling as Jordan The CW. Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. Spooorts baa-aar". 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 was a collaborative effort, which is honestly the most fun for me, especially as a dancer and especially with art. Simonebecame a slightly more central character inAll American season 3, partially due toThe CW's plans to give her a spinoff show. Still, it followed the question of if the duo could succeed in a long-distance relationship, followed by her absence at prom to compete in a tennis competition. Season 1. While there's a chance he could spend time as a recurring character on both shows, that could get complicated quickly. Jordan supported her in all the ways, from being a mother to making a decision about going to a school she felt brought her joy, courage, and strength. Cast: Geffri Maya, Peyton Alex Smith, Kelly Jenrette, Cory Hardrict, Sylvester Powell, Camille Hyde, Mitchell Edwards, Netta Walker Even through her tough breakup, Simone still wins her tennis match. I was classically trained in that part, and once you're a dancer, it doesn't go anywhere, especially if you keep up with it. I give so much love and support to these athletes, especially Black athletes who constantly have to raise their bar every single time that they play. Why do you think Simone ultimately decides breaking up is the right choice? How worried should we be about what Simone's Homecoming journey means for her and Jordan? Netta Walker as Keisha McCalla -Keisha McCalla is the unofficial mayor of Bringston University and one of Simone's closest friends at Bringston. (And Jordan might have good reason to worry, because Damon Sims is clearlyvery interested in his girl.). A tennis prodigy, she takes her responsibility for representing the Black community in the sport very seriously. 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. She leaves, feeling humiliated by the event. Rebecca Iannucci / Set against the backdrop of the historically Black college and university (HBCU) experience, All American: Homecoming follows a young tennis hopeful from Beverly Hills (Maya) and an elite baseball player from Chicago as they contend with the high stakes of college sports, all while navigating the highs and lows (and sexiness!) This is years of working with this person, depending on him and supporting each other through the emotional trials of acting. GeffriMaya. All American: Layla's Season 4 Move Could Set Up Jordan Romance. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. The next day, Thea finds Simone practicing on the campus tennis courts, and though Theas still got a serious catty streak, she gives Simone some advice on how to perfect her form. 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. It has to be earned. Leonard Roberts as President Zeke Allen- Zeke Allen is the president at Bringston University and trying to keep the school afloat amid budgetary concerns. As for Damons baseball career, that storyline actually makes up the bulk ofHomecomings pilot, with Damons MLB prospects suddenly in jeopardy when hes spotted practicing with Bringstons baseball team. Check out our daily must-see picks plus news, celeb interviews, trivia, and more on EW's What to Watch podcast. Simones journey of self-reflection is echoed in other subplots involving the younger characters, like Damon trying to gel with the teammates who are understandably less than thrilled at the constant reminders he gave up the majors for them, or their RA Keisha (Netta Walker) working up the courage to inform her dad shes switching majors from premed to dance. Talk to me a bit about their bond and relationship. It's just a journey, it's college. More:All American: What Jordan & Simone's Marriage Means For Her Spinoff. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Beyond his role in theAll American universe, audiences might also know Michael Evans Behling for his role inGrey's Anatomy andA Cinderella Story: Starstruck. Kyanna Simone (Chambers) is joining the Season 3 cast of the CW's All American as recurring. Still, it seemed that Simone and Jordans story could have been preparing for an eventual breakup to give them each a chance to start fresh when they go to college. This is [Simone] walking into a new realm and she's going to feel that pressure, and ultimately she'll shine in it. I know people are waiting for the mess, but I appreciate the question because outside of that aspect what Damon and Simone have in common is redefining their identity. WGA Tells Members to Get Ready to Picket If a Deal Isnt Reached, Saint X Review: Hulus Adaptation of Acclaimed Alexis Schaitkin Novel Comes Up Short, Love & Death Review: Elizabeth Olsen and David E. Kelley Struggle to Shed Fresh Light on the Candy Montgomery Case, Mrs. Simone is confused as Thea said Loni couldn't be on the field. Follow Cooper on Twitter @MovieCooper. Simone has a rough start, but there was the fun at the bonfire. OnceAll Americanrevealed their marriage, though, it's difficult not to think about what it means for Simone's spinoff. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. It's no secret that Las Vegas special episodes always make up for excitement and simultaneously, worries because of the city's reputation. How would you say this visit changes Simone? Her challenges are built not from dramatic developments but from the compounding burdens of relatively minor setbacks a housing snafu, a disappointing practice, a keen bout of homesickness. 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. The writer notes that for years, shes had conversations with her friends about different types of emotional relationships, friendships and boundaries. 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. 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 . By the end of the episode, Simone has the beginnings of a strong tribe. The male lead of theAll Americanspin-off Homecoming is Damon Sims, played by Peyton Alex Smith.

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