'All American' Spinoff: The CW Eyes Simone Series Starring - TVLine It is going to be a huge test of the genuine friendship that we believe Thea and Simone have created with each other. Sylvester Powell as Jessie 'JR' Raymond - Jessie Raymond is a longtime friend of Damon's thanks to youth baseball. 'All American' Spinoff a Go at CW Simone to Be Focus - TVLine of unsupervised early adulthood at a prestigious historically Black college. Their foundation has always been friendship, and a lot of times you need that before love in the first place. RELATED STORIES Their match is live-streamed and Damon proudly watches Simone. 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. I realized I don't really like Simone : AllAmericanTV - Reddit 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. 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!) Thea arrives having heard about the party. Airdate: 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21 (The CW) Peyton Alex Smith did appear inAll American: Homecoming's backdoor pilot, but viewers also might recognize him from his recurring role onLegacies asRafael Waithe. Thats what makes us the best.Thea to Simone. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. Everything was always about someone else and in that moment Damon supports her in doing what she wants. The most important factor is that the boundaries of Jordan and Simone's relationship is definitely going to be tested and I don't only mean romantically, I mean in terms of growing up. 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. Damon praises her though Thea snips at her for going off-script. 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. Simone and Thea head to the party together where Thea agrees to feign surprise. Beyond his role in theAll American universe, audiences might also know Michael Evans Behling for his role inGrey's Anatomy andA Cinderella Story: Starstruck. 'All American: Homecoming': Recap of Spinoff Series About Simone | TVLine When he isnt writing about or watching new releases, Cooper is a fantasy football obsessive and looking to expand his Blu-Ray collection because physical media is still king! 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.. 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 . But as a character notes a couple of episodes into its brand-new spinoff, All American: Homecoming, college is a different ballgame, honey. 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. From your perspective, what is going through Simone's head? The dancers and our choreographers, Nico and Rhapsody, were amazing. As we know from the show's official . 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. She gestures to a parking garage where a car is parked. Jordan, then her pregnancy. All American: Homecoming star Geffri Maya on Simone's eventful All Follow Cooper on Twitter @MovieCooper. At the end of the episode, Simone breaks up with Jordan in a letter after an emotional conversation where the young couple is very honest about how they've grown apart. All American airs Mondays at 8 p.m. And baseball! Yay! The next day in class, Simone, Damon, and Theas presentation goes well and the class claps for Simone's speech. Cory Hardrict is also set to play a major role inAll American: Homecoming, as he returns as Marcus Turner. A current Bringston student named Keisha (relative newcomer Netta Walker) gives Simone and Olivia a tour of campus, and Simone meets the schools tennis star, Thea (Katy Keenes Camille Hyde), who absolutely knows how good she is. Her parents paid for the facility and if anyone had a choice they wouldnt choose to hang out with her. The 50 greatest TV and movie detectives of all time. "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. ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What was it like to return to All American and reunite with the cast? To explore Black families, especially Black motherhood and sisterhood is important. Yes, absolutely. It would be beautiful to be able to see that unfold and see their relationship take a turn. The different experiences and backgrounds of the characters make this melting pot of stories about people who deserve to be represented, ultimately. She visited Bringston University for the weekend with Jordan, Spencer, and Olivia Baker. On top of that, she's experiencing big girl things when it comes to jobs, handling her emotions, making adult decisions. New Romance Brewing on Superman, Fox News 8 pm Viewership Down Sharply Since Tucker Carlson's Ouster, Stephen Amell Doesn't Think He's Done Playing Green Arrow. 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. She calls Simone out for not scheduling the time sooner or showing Coach Loni her dedication. It makes me happy to support him as an artist and a dear friend. Only the best woman will win the spot. All American: Homecoming Cast & Character Guide - Screen Rant All American: Homecoming star Geffri Maya breaks down Simone's rough Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, and director Rob Marshall share the tale behind making their underwater musical with a groundbreaking Disney princess. That's what growing up really is, it's making certain decisions that are going to benefit you in the long run. What was shooting the backdoor pilot like? Yellowstone's Kelly Reilly Offers Explanation For Her PaleyFest Absence, American Idol's Top 10 Revealed Live, Following Pair of Brutal Eliminations, Morning Show Renewed for Season 4 Plus, Find Out When Season 3 Will Air, Time100: The World's Most Influential People, Felicity Dj Vu on The Diplomat? Amara and Simone talk about Simone's mom a few times. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. This seemed to be a clear move to set up Simone going off on her own forAll American: Homecoming. The description ofAll American: Homecoming teases Simone's story focusing on pursuing her tennis career again, attending a historic Black college, and the expected young adult drama troubles (including romantic ones). Bring excellence, or dont play at all, Thea tells her. What happened to Layla's dad? Did the 'All American' actor get recast? 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. Whether it be coming from her panic attacks or a tennis match, she's really discovered what type of athlete she wants to be. [Amara] serves as an inspiration as a woman, a Black woman, an educated Black woman. It'll be exciting to see how they both navigate [Bringston] together and apart. They've had several rough patches recently but are still committed to making the relationship work. Simone deserved to be more included inAll Americans fourth season to give more insight into her character leading up to attending Bringston University and how her tennis game is improving. Damons storyline needed to be set up and understood going into a new show. Taja Simpson got a main role on Tyler Perry's The Oval so she was no longer available. 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. How worried should we be about what Simone's Homecoming journey means for her and Jordan? What can you share about what's next for them? The series premieres Monday on the CW. She's going to learn work-life balance and tackle what it means to be an adult and to make certain decisions, but also what it means to dedicate yourself fully, because tennis is something we gave up and now she's deciding she is taking tennis very seriously. And later, while speaking to Aunt Amara, Simone expresses concern that her mom wont want her to apply to Bringston, and Amara reminds her niece to put herself first when making these decisions, so that she can be the best version of herself for her loved ones. Follow Cooper on Twitter @MovieCooper. 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. Fox Says Battle With Parkinsons Disease Keeps Getting Tougher: Im Not Going to Be 80, Channel Your Inner Queen Charlotte with This Star-Loved British Brands Exclusive Skincare Kit, Naomi Watts Just Wore These Under-$100 PJs from Two Star-Loved Brands And Theyre the Perfect Mothers Day Gift for Stylish Travelers, The Best Signet Rings for Adding a Red Carpet-Ready Touch to Your Jewelry Stack, The Best Gifts New Moms Really Want, From Cozy Robes to Virtual Escapes, James Gunns Guardians: How Chris Pratt and His Marvel Castmates Rescued Their Directors Career, The Whispers Behind NBCUniversals Jeff Shell Firing, Diane Keaton: Youre Gonna Pray to Get Off This Call, The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. The love is still there. The girls pole dance at a dance studio while Simone watches.[3]. During the worst of her stress, Simone takes her aunts advice to point to examples of Black excellence and see what is possible, taking inspiration from the real HBCU alums whose portraits hang in the hallways, like Their Eyes Were Watching God author Zora Neale Hurston. 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. She'll play Nhani Rivers, a confident, fun, and energetic student at South Crenshaw High. All American: Homecoming can do more with her character than the original series had the opportunity to, and should use that chance to create meaningful storylines and relationships for her. Season 1. She is portrayed by Camille Hyde. The CW's 'All American: Homecoming': TV Review 'All American' Casts Kyanna Simone; Daniel Di Tomasso Joins 'The The whole marriage thing for me was also crazy they are young and barely were together for a long time. 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 . Jordan was like the wind beneath her wings. Is emotional cheating a thing and is that a thing you have to apologize for? By the end of the episode, Simone has the beginnings of a strong tribe. Everyone needs a tribe, and I think they're part of each other's tribe outside of everything else. Damon and Coach Marcus are thrown a bigger curve ball than they were anticipating. OnceAll Americanrevealed their marriage, though, it's difficult not to think about what it means for Simone's spinoff. Simone arrives late to her court time, but the player there isnt interested in her excuses. At the moment, Simone is working on herself, but I am curious what can you say about how she'll navigate Damon and Thea's budding relationship? Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action Little Mermaid with a new generation's Ariel. Advertisement More from Distractify Everything You Need to Know About the New Cast Members of 'All American' 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. In class, Thea is assigned to Damon and Simone for an assignment in English literature. Simone was a student at Beverly Hills High School and upon graduating, moved to Atlanta to attend Bringston University. Even if Bringston is a fictional university, the representation at the end of the day matters most. 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. Thea (Camille Hyde) and Simone have a frosty reunion. All Rights Reserved. What was shooting that emotional scene about Simone and Jordan's relationship with Michael like? Simone's All American spinoff was clearly set up through her story in this episode. It's been time, so I'm grateful and honored for the opportunity. 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. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. TheAll American: Homecoming cast also includes the return of Michael Evans Behling as Jordan Baker. She doesnt get what Simone is trying to do. There has not been any confirmation that actorMichael Evans Behling is part of Simone's spinoff. 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. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. While many expected Jordan and Simone to break up duringAll American season 4 then, the series has not gone in that direction. Damon was going to the MLB and had a whole different journey planned for him by his mother. And now for something completely different onAll American: tennis! She wants to start a new life in pursuit of her tennis dreams. Still, Simone has been involved inAll American since season 2. 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. One thing I love about Thea is no matter how she comes off, she wants the same thing we want. Simone finds Thea later that evening and apologizes as she wanted to celebrate with her friends. As long as Jordan and Simone stay together, though, the odds of Jordan appearing inAll American: Homecoming remains fairly high. All Rights Reserved. Amara Patterson | All American Wiki | Fandom Titled All American: Homecoming, the spinoffs pilot will air as an episode of All Americans current third season (aka a backdoor pilot). February 1 2021, 11:00 AM PST. All American season 3 reveals Jordan Baker and Simone Hicks got married in Las Vegas, and that adds a huge twist to the story ahead of Simone's spinoff show, All American: Homecoming. Did you play her differently, given her growth at Bringston? 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. Rebecca Iannucci / Amara is in journalism because she has a powerful palette and mind, which Simone is inspired by. By the end of the hour, though, Simone is surrounded by what looks like will be her college tribe. Simone gives Loni her clearance note from President Allen, making it in time for Queen of the Court. I was nervous because I've never danced on camera before, but it was fun because I had Samantha [Logan] to support me and we truly had such a good time. Spooorts baa-aar". There's a beautiful history that stands firm on a foundation of strength, perseverance, art, music, and creativity. At least, if Im reading their dance-floor makeout sesh correctly, that is. Simone, as we saw on All American, was always attached to something. 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. Read on for EW's interview with Maya about returning to All American, that emotional scene with Damon, the big breakup, and more. Whether they are friends, love interests, or foes,All American: Homecoming's cast includes plenty of recognizable characters from the backdoor pilot. When it was time to decide if she wanted to adopt baby Shay, she had to consider her parents. This revelation came as a huge surprise as nothing else in season 3 indicated their relationship advanced to this level. 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. 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. Jordan is one of the main characters ofAll American andhas continued to be involved in the show's fourth season. At the end of Simones time on All American, she left Beverly Hills High and her boyfriend, Jordan (Michael Evans Behling), behind. Initially she says she's fine and tries to push through, but the heartbreak has an impact on most areas of her life, including tennis. This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity. 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. The thing about collegiate athletes is they just have a different level of responsibility put on them to be perfect at what they do, especially being a Black athlete. Actress: Private Practice. He graduated college in 2016 with a Bachelor's degree in Media & Public Communication, with a minor in Media Production. The one where EW follows up with the cast. How are you feeling about getting to tell the story of a Black tennis player? Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Welcome to Bringston University: All American: Homecoming is bringing the HBCU experience back to TV, Meet Your Maker: All American: Homecoming creator Nkechi Okoro Carroll shares her inspirations, How All American explores the experiences of Black youth in America, Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter. Shes in a relationship with Michael Evans Behlings Jordan (and hes smitten! College kids are messy. All American: Simone deserved a bigger part in season 4 - Culturess While telling a story about college life is very different than that of high school, the drama remains as does the romance. Simone takes Thea to Amara's for family dinner. Related:All American Season 3 Ending Explained. 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. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Simone joinedAll American's story during season 2 when she tricked Jordan into believing that he was the father of her soon-to-be child. 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. They originally planned to elope in secret, but Spencer and Olivia attended the ceremony in the end. Related:All American Season 4 News & Updates: Everything We Know. 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. Geffri Maya's character joined the show in season 2 and theHomecoming spinoff was set up with a backdoor pilot in season 3. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. I trained with Debbie Allen at the Alvin Alley Dance Academy, so. 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. On this team, things wont be handed to her, it has to be earned. Sylvester Powell previously appeared onCriminal Minds. What I loved about the bonfire scene is the camaraderie. Simone admits she made a mistake by projecting her birthday wishes onto Thea, instead of listening to her wishes. Simone is determined to be an effective mother to baby Shay and to embark on this new journey. Simone is practicing tennis on the court when Thea and her friend intervene. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action Little Mermaid with a new generation's Ariel. 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. 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. Simone insists shes only spending the weekend to see her aunt but the school clearly grows on her while shes there, too. She is someone who gives herself the permission to be herself, which is all Simone ultimately wants to do and be at the end of the day. Sorry. They are different, and a lot of the times, what we need to do is not always comfortable. 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. Homecomings sprawling cast allows it to approach the college experience from all angles, some inevitably more compelling than others. Rebecca Iannucci / Thea Mays is a main character in "All American: Homecoming". It really did feel like a breakup. While many expected Jordan and Simone to break up during All American season 4 then, the series has not gone in that direction. The CW is plotting a spinoff of its football-themed high school drama series All American . 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. But, instead, she receded to the background. Black women are judged on everything the moment they set foot on a court, Thea says, and Simone cant get psyched out so easily if she wants to be a serious contender. "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. In the morning, Simone begins tennis practice and Thea warns them theyll be there for a while. How All American Season 3 Set Up Simone's Spinoff - Screen Rant Professor Corte decides to go with Simones ideas, and Thea attempts to take credit but he cuts her off. The chemistry is definitely there. She leaves, feeling humiliated by the event. It's a testament to something [creator Nkechi Okoro Carroll] wanted to talk about, because she is young and trying to figure herself out. All American: Homecoming - Season 1 - IMDb Simone wants to get back to practicing, so Thea reminds her that real practice starts tomorrow and since the NCAA limits coaches hours, shell be running the drills, and her opinion does matter. This is years of working with this person, depending on him and supporting each other through the emotional trials of acting. During the series premiere of All American: Homecoming, we saw that Simone has a tough start to life as a college student. It's a great question. Thea makes a point of telling Simone that four other girls are striving for a spot on her team. Monday's episode of the CW drama doubled as the pilot for All American: Homecoming, a Simone-centric spinoff that was officially ordered to series in May. Those discussions continue in the writers rooms for both series. When are friendships too close? John Marshall Jones has previously appeared inFor All Mankind,Big Little Lies, andBosch. It's not easy at all. Hopefully,All American: Homecoming does the work to continue developing Simones character to a fuller extent. It has to be earned. Simone hears about the event and everyone's aversion to throwing a party for Keisha. 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. These aren't bad attachments, but now Simone has finally decided to make choices for herself and see what that looks like for her. 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. He's now attempting to keep Bringston's baseball program relevant so the school can't cut its funding. Derek Rivera previously appeared in13 Reasons Why. 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. 2023 TVLine Media, LLC. Things looked relatively positive for Simone and Jordan as the previous season ended, even knowing that her spinoff was coming. The big question around Simone and Damon (Peyton Alex Smith) is if there's romantic future, but whatever comes next, they do have a connection. The most challenging [thing] was definitely the tennis, because I am learning tennis now. TheAll American spinoff sees Simone go to Bringston University for a chance to attend a Historic Black College University, where she's attempting to make it back on the tennis team. Thea doesnt have any friends as the girls from the team only tolerate her. 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. John Marshall Jones as Leonard Shaw- Leonard Shaw is the former Bringston baseball coach who finds a new job at a rival school. 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.