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The Most Anticipated TV Series Of 2015 – Part 2
5. Humans
Official Synopsis: The U.K.’s Channel 4 and AMC join together to present a world where synthetically designed humans are available to be bought by anyone tired of doing stuff around the house. No more washing floors, doing the dishes, and no more babysitters. Your new “family member” will do whatever you ask of it.
Why I Want To See It: Co-production with U.K.’s Channel 4 is one reason I’m interested, besides the premise itself which is a favorite topic of mine. Many British TV shows are a level above American TV. If we are lucky, they can present something very close to the reality of our near future in a way only they can. A perfect example of that is the incredible Dark Mirrors which gives a hauntingly real look into the dangers of current and future technologies. William Hurt is a great actor known for picking interesting science fiction roles his whole career from Altered States to Children Of Men.
Airdate: June 28 at 9 pm on AMC.
4. The Brink
Official Synopsis: A geopolitical crisis in the Middle East causes the Secretary of State, a Foreign Service officer, and a Navy fighter pilot to come together to attempt to stop World War III.
Why I Want To See It: “Created by “Weeds” writer Roberto Benabib, this comedy has a chance of putting a great spin on the world of Foreign Policy. Jay Roach‘s involvement with other HBO productions like Game Change and the election drama Recount makes me think this has a chance to be really good. They’ve put together a talented cast of actors like Tim Robbins, Jack Black and Daily Show vet Aasif Mandvi, all known for sharp political projects and quality comedy.
Airdate: June 21st 2015
3. Childhood’s End
Official Synopsis: Written by Arthur C. Clarke and hailed as a revolutionary work of science fiction since its publishing in 1953, Childhood’s End follows the peaceful alien invasion of Earth by the mysterious Overlords whose arrival begins decades of apparent utopia under indirect alien rule, at the cost of human identity and culture.
Why I Want To See It: Mike Vogel plays Ricky Stormgren, a farmer whose life is changed forever when he is chosen to be the human ambassador to the Overlords. Charles Dance of Game of Thrones fame plays Karellen, the ambassador of this unseen alien race. Julian McMahon, who I loved in his long running role on Nip/Tuck, plays Rupert Boyce, an aggressive American businessman that might know more than he says he does. Akiva Goldsman ( I Am Legend) and Mike De Luca (The Social Network) are attached as executive producers.
Airdate: Late 2015 on SyFy
2. The Player
Official Synopsis: The Player is the story of a former military operative-turned-security expert who is drawn into a high-stakes game where an organization of wealthy individuals gamble on his ability to stop the biggest crimes imaginable.
Why I Want To See It: After a long time away film, Wesley Snipes has tried to get back into the groove, like his recent role in Expendables 3. Like any smart actor, Wesley might be ready for a consistent role that will let him shine in the action TV format. His co-star is Philip Winchester who I’ve grown to appreciate in the well-executed Cinemax original series Strike Back. Even through I think Snipes will play a smaller part of the story’s focus, I do like the characters backstory which gives Snipes a layered complex role to play. With the same team behind The Blacklist at the helm, the Vegas playground should offer the perfect backdrop for high stakes corruption by the rich and famous.
Airdate: Late 2015 on NBC
1. Mr. Robot
Official Synopsis: A young hacker is pulled into a collective to take down the powerful CEOs that run the world in this techno-thriller.
Why I Want To See It: OK, so I loved the trailer and I saw the preview available to watch on YouTube. While watching, two words came to mind over and over again; Holy Shit! I love this fucking show! There are very few times I can say that something blew me away immediately and this is one of those times. I consider myself an unpublished writer and this is a show I wish I had stashed somewhere. Every once in awhile I watch or read something that feels like its been ripped from my mind. There are several direct quotes from this show that I have thought to myself as I observe the world around me. The pilot episode was so good, I really hope they can keep the level of quality going for a full season. Director Niels Arden Oplev (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) does a incredible job of capturing the solitude you can feel being one among millions NYC. Rami Malek stars along with Christian Slater. This is easily my most anticipated series so far and I can’t wait till it premieres.
Airdate: Wednesdays at 10pm beginning June 24 on USA
Almost every year for the past 6 years and on the same day, I’ve posted the same pic of me in the hospital during my temporary and untimely demise in 2015. A few weeks after I was back to “normal”, I asked Eric “Why’d you take the pics?” And he said, “I knew you would want to write about it if you lived.” Eric was right. Eric was often right and Eric always had my best interest at heart. I am going to miss my friend.
You ever meet someone and become friends immediately?! Well this was not the case with Eric. Before he was my manager at Morgan Stanley, I would often see this 6’4″, giant white guy walk up to the only black woman at work, say something then walk away without any hint of human emotion. Naturally I thought he was a jerk until I asked her “Yo, is that dude bothering you?” She laughed and proceeded to tell me he was a great person, which I ultimately got to experience first hand. Little did I know this Italian from Staten Island was more Brooklyn than most Brooklynites.
Eric was not with the shits!! If there were ever someone who lived their life in direct, honest and no uncertain terms, that would be Eric. He would ask me questions at work like “Why are the other consultants making more money than you?” I knew the answer to that question and so did he. Eric then proceeded to increase my salary by 15K. After arguing with all our managers that “You need to hire Alfred!”, they eventually did 1 year prior to the 2015 incident. In the hospital, one of my friends asked me, “What if you didn’t have health insurance when this happened?” I would be in debt for the rest of my life is the obvious answer. I still am in debt for the rest of my life but at least, it is to those who made sure I had a more enjoyable life and for that, I will gladly repay.
My mom loved to tell me the story of how she met Eric. After they told her I was going to be in the ICU for some time, she told the doctor “Well I’m not going anywhere.” She then hears a voice from that back of the room that says “Well I’m not going anywhere either!” That was Eric and in true form, he was at that hospital every single day until I was discharged.
Eric passed away in December 2021 of stage 4 cancer. After feeling faint on his way to my bbq, he went to get checked out and was diagnosed. During the past 5 years, Eric lost his mom, twin brother and dad. I can’t even begin to imagine what that must have felt like but I’m glad that pain he was feeling is no more.
From being my manager to my business partner, writer, book editor, artistic director, and most importantly, my friend, I am going to miss you MC Krispy E a.k.a “Enrique Pollazo!” And although you told me Enrique means Henry in Spanish and not Eric, it was too late!
Sidebar. The day I was discharged, while everyone was deciding what was best for me, no one had remembered that I would need clothes in order to leave the hospital. Eric shows up (unasked) with all the clothes I had on the day I coded, laundered and ready to go. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve friends like this but i need to keep doing it! Sidebar complete.
Rest in Peace Eric. “Be Good.”
I had the distinct pleasure of participating in a panel discussion on writing your first book, presented by the Harlem chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Alongside Jim St. Germain, Author – A Stone of Hope: A Memoir and Dr. Keneshia Nicole Grant, Author – The Great Migration and the Democratic Party: Black Voters and the Realignment of American Politics in the 20th Century. We opined on pain points, benefits and strategies regarding our inaugural voyages into authorship. Feel free to watch for your self and I hope this provides some insight to all those looking to make the same voyage. Enjoy!
