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 . Later, in a conversation with the aforementioned elite baseball player, Damon Sims more on him in a minute Simone is all too aware of the heavy tennis competition shes facing, and Damon encourages her to use that as motivation. In need of a break from Bringston University mainly Damon Sims (Peyton Alex Smith) Simone heads back to see her friends and boyfriend on the west coast for fall break on the latest episode of All American. To me, Jordan holds that significance because he always saw her for who she was supposed to be and wanted to be. Thats what makes us the best.Thea to Simone. Here's a complete guide to the cast and characters of All American: Homecoming. How worried should we be about what Simone's Homecoming journey means for her and Jordan? 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? No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. 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. Michael and I were both in our heads about the breakup scene because we know how pivotal the characters are. 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. 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. Executive producers: Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, David Madden, Robbie Rogers. Nate (Rhoyle Ivy King) and Keisha (Netta Walker) welcome Simone back to Bringston with open arms. 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." That Simone and Damon, dormmates and fast friends, are headed toward romance seems inevitable, even if Simons technically still attached to her All American boyfriend Jordan (Michael Evans Behling); whats more college than gradually letting go of the high-school sweetheart in favor of the cutie who lives just down the hall? He graduated college in 2016 with a Bachelor's degree in Media & Public Communication, with a minor in Media Production. Simone is a young adult now and she's gone through mental health issues in terms of her anxiety and panic attacks, which she has to tackle. While she initially wasn't considering attending the school, her time at Bringston made a big impact on Simone. On top of that, she's experiencing big girl things when it comes to jobs, handling her emotions, making adult decisions. PMC Entertainment. I was super emotional. When they arrive, the room is empty except for a few male students playing video games, Keisha, and Nate. We don't know what's going to be in store for Jordan and Simone's futures, whether together or apart. 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. How would you say this visit changes Simone? The " All American " universe expanded with the debut of spinoff " All American: Homecoming " on Monday night, which follows Simone (Geffri Maya) as she attempts to launch her tennis . Damon is seemingly a good inspiration for her to just be her best self. To explore Black families, especially Black motherhood and sisterhood is important. John Marshall Jones has previously appeared inFor All Mankind,Big Little Lies, andBosch. He helped get her there and allowed her to push through to be better, stronger, and wiser. Why do you think Simone ultimately decides breaking up is the right choice? She is queen-bee sophomore that gives off slight mean girl tendencies. At the end of the day, that's how you grow pressure. Mitchell Edwards reprises his role fromAll American, but viewers might also know him fromSpinning Out. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. There's a nice dynamic between the two and they'll be able to teach other things. Viewers might recognize Kelly Jenrette from her roles inMixed-ish andGrandfathered. What was your reaction to Cam (Mitchell Edwards) coming to All American: Homecoming? From your point of view, what do you think they see in one another? Camille Hyde as Thea Mays - Thea Mays is Simone's biggest tennis rival at Bringston who wants to proudly represent the Black community in athletics. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity. If you like TVLine, you'll LOVE our email news alerts! At least, if Im reading their dance-floor makeout sesh correctly, that is. The college years are a door opener to the real world, and it's not always going to be pretty. Simone Hicks has fallen in love with Bringston University in the backdoor pilot for, Geffri Maya as Simone on 'All American: Homecoming.'. 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. Hopefully,All American: Homecoming does the work to continue developing Simones character to a fuller extent. Her parents paid for the facility and if anyone had a choice they wouldnt choose to hang out with her. The biggest thing I took away from the bonfire scene is remembering when I first stepped foot on Clark Atlanta University's campus. Mitchell Edwards as Cam Watkins- Cam Watkins is Spencer James' former rival and an excellent football player. Marcus is a former professional baseball player who had his career ended by an injury. A backdoor pilot for the spinoff wasincluded in season 3that set up Simone for her college adventure. Simone wants to find Coach Loni but Thea knows the coach has seen enough today. The chemistry is definitely there. Simone has a rough start, but there was the fun at the bonfire. The one where EW follows up with the cast. New episodes of All American air Mondays at 8/7c on The CW and the franchise is expanding via All American: Homecoming, a Simone-centric spinoff that was ordered to series at the. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Amidst new obstacles, Simone Hicks discovers the makings of a found family in the. 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. Thea doesnt have any friends as the girls from the team only tolerate her. The most challenging [thing] was definitely the tennis, because I am learning tennis now. He's a fantastic talent and being on All American since season 1, it's a testament to remaining diligent and dedicated to your craft to be take his character into this new space. Everyone loves a frenemy situation and this takes it to another level. How are you feeling about getting to tell the story of a Black tennis player? Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. PMC Entertainment. Thea (Camille Hyde) and Simone have a frosty reunion. 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. A warm and likable spin on the college experience. And again, I had a great scene partner. 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. John Marshall Jones as Leonard Shaw- Leonard Shaw is the former Bringston baseball coach who finds a new job at a rival school. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. She is Simone's aunt and a journalism teacher at Bringston University. Returning from Los Angeles single, Simone mourns her relationship on the newest episode of All American: Homecoming. 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. 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. Layla put up these walls because she doesnt trust people anymore, with the exception of Jordan, who just bullied his way into their friendship. Ser Baffo/The CW. They play for different reasons, their fight is different reasons, so I'm excited to maybe even tap into a little bit of that. There's a beautiful history that stands firm on a foundation of strength, perseverance, art, music, and creativity. Simone arrives late to her court time, but the player there isnt interested in her excuses. They've had several rough patches recently but are still committed to making the relationship work. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Simone's rough start includes getting on the tennis team. Thea is the reigning Queen and schools the uninitiated. In addition to being part of theAll American universe, viewers might recognize Geffri Maya from her time onBlack-ish andSnowfall. Simone Hicks (Geffri Maya) heads to Bringston University for a fun weekend and ends up finding the place where she belongs. People love to hate Cam, but people are going to be excited and surprised by his journey. Thea knew that no one would show at her party and thats why she didnt want one. Cooper Hood is a news and feature writer for Screen Rant. Still, Simone should have had some room to develop onAll American before crossing over toAll American: Homecoming. What are you hoping Homecoming explores about Simone's family? Amara is unapologetic in her desire to report the truth, which puts her at odds with the administration. The CW is officially expanding its All American universe. That's what makes us the best. 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. More:All American: Layla's Season 4 Move Could Set Up Jordan Romance. It shows how far they can really go, not just romantically but platonically as well. So her coming back to the world of All American and experiencing home and Jordan in a different way plays a big part. Simone Hicks (Geffri Maya) has made it to Bringston University! "Everyone's driven and ready to bring Bringston Univeristy to life and bring the characters to life.". Now he's decided to give back to his community and his spot in a different way. 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. More:All American: What Jordan & Simone's Marriage Means For Her Spinoff. It's pretty exciting. Simone is excited to move into her dorm, but her past choices present unexpected setbacks. But all of this scheming comes to a halt when Amara is tipped off about a cheating scandal within the athletics department: Bringstons head baseball coach has been knowingly enrolling his players in paper classes, or courses that dont actually exist, so they can remain academically eligible to play baseball at the school while acing their classes. (Several similar scandals have happened in real life, most notably at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Season 1. 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. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. From your perspective, what is going through Simone's head? 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. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Leonard Roberts has also been inThe MagiciansandMajor Crimes. 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 . Rhoyle Ivy King as Nathaniel- Nathaniel is a loyal friend to Simone at Bringston who always watches out for her. Jordan was like the wind beneath her wings. 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. We talk about it in our writers room, the boundaries around friendships, Carroll says. 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 series premieres Monday on the CW. Also, how much fun was that big dance sequence to shoot? 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). Grade it in our poll below, then drop a comment with your full reviews! Damons storyline needed to be set up and understood going into a new show. It'll be exciting to see how they both navigate [Bringston] together and apart. Related:All American: What [SPOILER]'s Survival Means For Season 4. What do you remember from filming that scene? But, instead, she receded to the background. Simone outmatches everyone on the court and makes it to the last match against Thea. Follow Cooper on Twitter @MovieCooper. Jordan is one of the main characters ofAll American andhas continued to be involved in the show's fourth season. And now for something completely different onAll American: tennis! When you're meeting new people, you don't know how [they] are going to take your truth. Real-life inspiration notwithstanding, The CWs All American seemed to fit pretty squarely into the template of high school dramas set in ultra-posh neighborhoods. Thea praises Simone, and they shake hands. After spending time with her Aunt Amara (Kelly Jenrette), a journalist and professor at the university, and meeting elite high school baseball player Damon Sims (Peyton Alex Smith), Simone leaves the campus with a sense of purpose and knowing where she wants to go next. Thea's birthday is approaching, with Keisha McCalla making a gift bag for her as she does with all the girls in the dorm. The idea of living on my own and making new friends and being in a totally different state was exciting. ET on The CW. Mondays 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. Damons adoptive mother who wants Damon to have a pro baseball career way more than Damon himself does quickly finds a silver lining when Damon is caught practicing with the Lions, theorizing that the MLB will want him evenmore if they think Damons considering playing for a college team instead of getting drafted. In class, Thea is assigned to Damon and Simone for an assignment in English literature. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Simone, as we saw on All American, was always attached to something. All American season 3 gave us a . The original football drama based on Spencer Paysinger's pre-NFL careerhas become an incredibly popular series for The CW, as a wider continues to find it on Netflix. I can honestly say All American's cast and crew from the moment I stepped foot into the makeup trailer made me feel loved and supported. But Homecoming seems to know what Simone doesnt: that that very capacity for growth and change can be the core of a winning identity. The one where EW follows up with the cast. She gives props when due.[2]. 2023 TVLine Media, LLC. Derek Rivera as Santiago Reyes- Santiago Reyes isanother baseball playerfor Bringston's team, where he plays catcher. 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. 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. Its hard finding something that fits who I am when I feel like Im a work in progress, minus the progress, Simone sighs to her friends while picking out school outfits in the second episode.
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