Television audiences first met Geffri Maya as a high schooler portraying Maya Bennett on . 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. Mitchell Edwards reprises his role fromAll American, but viewers might also know him fromSpinning Out. Then her seeing a different dynamic between Layla and Jordan, because before she left, Layla was her maid of honor and Jordan was the love of her life. Amara faces the consequences of her actions. The most challenging [thing] was definitely the tennis, because I am learning tennis now. Related:All American Season 4 News & Updates: Everything We Know. American Idol viewers took to the American Idol Reddit community asking if they could "please" get new judges. When are friendships too close? 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. It was encouraging. 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. The CW is officially expanding its All American universe. 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. 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. Simone outmatches everyone on the court and makes it to the last match against Thea. "which is why you brought us to this ugh. Sylvester Powell previously appeared onCriminal Minds. Returning from Los Angeles single, Simone mourns her relationship on the newest episode of All American: Homecoming. 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. Simone and Thea head to the party together where Thea agrees to feign surprise. 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. This includes reconnecting with a variety of people she met during her visit to Bringston University inAll American season 3. The different experiences and backgrounds of the characters make this melting pot of stories about people who deserve to be represented, ultimately. As we know from the shows official logline, Homecoming will follow Geffri Mayas character at a historically Black college, where she and an elite baseball player from Chicago (played by Legacies Peyton Alex Smith) contend with the high stakes of college sports. All Rights Reserved. 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. Thea drills Simone to hit ten in a row and refuses to move on until she does. (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.). It has to be earned. Simone Hicks (Geffri Maya) had a hell of a trip back to Los Angeles. Shes in a relationship with Michael Evans Behlings Jordan (and hes smitten! I grew up as a dancer. All American airs Mondays at 8 p.m. Camille Hyde, who plays Thea, was actually a tennis player when she was younger, which I thought was so inspirational, just hearing her stories and the things she had to experience. It'll be exciting to see how they both navigate [Bringston] together and apart. Everyone's driven and ready to bring Bringston Univeristy to life and bring the characters to life. It was such a beautiful experience because it was so genuine. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. They might not be married anymore, but Jordan and Simone's relationship is as strong as ever heading into her spinoff show. Keisha and Nate are such a huge part in the ebb and flow of [Simone's] college life because they are good friends and sophomores. Televisions favorite dad Bob Saget dies at age 65, Kevin Hart is the latest celebrity to make a guest appearance on Shark Tank, followed the question of if the duo could succeed in a long-distance relationship, The Siren of Sussex is the gorgeous historical romance we've all been waiting for, My Fine Fellow is a fresh retelling filled with food, fun, and romance, Emily in Paris renewed at Netflix for two more seasons, The Morning Show renewed for a third season. What do you remember about shooting that scene? 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 . Season 2 . And this is just the beginning, because All American: Homecoming has received a series order. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. The CW'sAll American universe expands with a Simone-focused spinoff, and here's a guide to the cast and characters ofAll American: Homecoming. 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. 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. But as a character notes a couple of episodes into its brand-new spinoff, All American: Homecoming, college is a different ballgame, honey. 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. GeffriMaya. 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. We spoke to the All American: Homecoming star about Simone's first days at Bringston, what we can look forward to in its debut season, and what the show means to her. Laura let Simone in her house to stay with them with Laura knowing the baby was not even Jordan's . Tennis is such a beautiful sport that I have respect for. Simone's new life at college is whereAll American: Homecoming begins its story. Those discussions continue in the writers rooms for both series. As we know from the show's official . Simone's mother has a story. While many expected Jordan and Simone to break up duringAll American season 4 then, the series has not gone in that direction. 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. She is queen-bee sophomore that gives off slight mean girl tendencies. I cannot wait until this is normalized and we're simply sharing what the world looks like, and what Black excellence looks like. Derek Rivera as Santiago Reyes- Santiago Reyes isanother baseball playerfor Bringston's team, where he plays catcher. Read on for EW's interview with Maya about returning to All American, that emotional scene with Damon, the big breakup, and more. It reminds you that you made the right decision; and I remember when I went to Clark Atlanta and I saw people celebrating Black excellence and the legacy of fraternities and sororities. Rebecca Iannucci / The CW is officially expanding its All American universe. Simone Hicks (Geffri Maya) heads to Bringston University for a fun weekend and ends up finding the place where she belongs. 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. How are you feeling about getting to tell the story of a Black tennis player? A beautiful friendship has been born, one that is meaningful and deep. 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. 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. Not just to each other's arcs, but to All American. 2023 TVLine Media, LLC. Simone is raised in Beverly Hills, she comes from a well-off family, and goes to a great school. 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? There's a nice dynamic between the two and they'll be able to teach other things. Coach Loni believes in actions and not words, but Simone plans to show it to her every day to prove shes an asset. Cooper Hood is a news and feature writer for Screen Rant. It makes me happy to support him as an artist and a dear friend. Taja Simpson got a main role on Tyler Perry's The Oval so she was no longer available. College kids are messy. If you like TVLine, you'll LOVE our email news alerts! If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. 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 next day in class, Simone, Damon, and Theas presentation goes well and the class claps for Simone's speech. All American: Layla's Season 4 Move Could Set Up Jordan Romance. 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. Simone arrives late to her court time, but the player there isnt interested in her excuses. She visited Bringston University for the weekend with Jordan, Spencer, and Olivia Baker. What was shooting the backdoor pilot like? 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. Cory Hardrict is also set to play a major role inAll American: Homecoming, as he returns as Marcus Turner. To explore Black families, especially Black motherhood and sisterhood is important. 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. Thea makes a point of telling Simone that four other girls are striving for a spot on her team. During the hour, Simone pays a visit to the (fictional) Atlanta-based school Bringston University, where her aunt Amara teaches a course on journalism and activism. All Rights Reserved. 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. A successful journalist-turned-journalism professor, Amara is Simone's aunt and the most popular professor on campus. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action. Hopefully,All American: Homecoming does the work to continue developing Simones character to a fuller extent. If you like TVLine, you'll LOVE our email news alerts! She gives props when due.[2]. A warm and likable spin on the college experience. Although this proved to not be the case, Jordan and Simone fell in love and the two have had a strong relationship ever since. While she initially wasn't considering attending the school, her time at Bringston made a big impact on Simone. 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. That night, Simone runs to the elevators as Thea passes. All American: Homecoming. Thea praises Simone, and they shake hands. Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, and director Rob Marshall share the tale behind making their underwater musical with a groundbreaking Disney princess. Simone, who was introduced inAll Americans second season, is currently a senior at Beverly High. She'll play Nhani Rivers, a confident, fun, and energetic student at South Crenshaw High. 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. Titled All American: Homecoming, the spinoffs pilot will air as an episode of All Americans current third season (aka a backdoor pilot). Even through her tough breakup, Simone still wins her tennis match. What do you remember from filming that scene? 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. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. Youre 18, youre in college, and 18-year-olds are messy. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Oh, and an important development for the mothership series: Spencer and Olivia are finally getting together, yall! If you or someone you know are experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741. Ser Baffo/The CW. Simone chooses not to tell people about baby Shay. The only thing I can and will always say is Black people should never be made to feel like they need permission to be who they are and to showcase their talents, dreams, and visions for themselves, and for their community. She wants to start a new life in pursuit of her tennis dreams. Their friend group is their family.. They might not be married anymore, but Jordan and Simone's relationship is as strong as ever heading into her spinoff show. The court time is booked solid by Thea, leading to Simone confronting her. As she, Olivia, Spencer and Jordan prepare to leave campus and return home, Jordan notes that his wife looks happy though when Simone gets in the car, Jordans now the one looking anxious about his and Simones future. The girls square off with Simone scoring the first point. Simone is practicing tennis on the court when Thea and her friend intervene. A backdoor pilot for the spinoff wasincluded in season 3that set up Simone for her college adventure. 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. Only the best woman will win the spot. Not that you need to have seen the original in the first place, since Homecomings determination to do its own thing extends to its plot. February 1 2021, 11:00 AM PST. The love is still there. 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. Geffri Maya's character joined the show in season 2 and theHomecoming spinoff was set up with a backdoor pilot in season 3. Simone, as we saw on All American, was always attached to something. 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. I was able to connect with so many Black people from many different walks of life. 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 trained with Debbie Allen at the Alvin Alley Dance Academy, so. 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. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. Did you play her differently, given her growth at Bringston? All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Sorry. One thing I love about Thea is no matter how she comes off, she wants the same thing we want. 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. They originally planned to elope in secret, but Spencer and Olivia attended the ceremony in the end. The pressure explodes in a very emotional scene with Damon. Simone was a student at Beverly Hills High School and upon graduating, moved to Atlanta to attend Bringston University. Simone sets up a surprise party for Thea when a girl arrives hoping to study. I don't think there's anything to worry about. Damons storyline needed to be set up and understood going into a new show. Thea doesnt have any friends as the girls from the team only tolerate her. She is Simone's aunt and a journalism teacher at Bringston University. July 5 2021, 6:00 PM PDT. (TVLine first broke the news in December that The CW was eyeing an All American offshoot centered on Mayas character.). To me, Jordan holds that significance because he always saw her for who she was supposed to be and wanted to be. Jordan was like the wind beneath her wings. He helped get her there and allowed her to push through to be better, stronger, and wiser. Netta Walker as Keisha McCalla -Keisha McCalla is the unofficial mayor of Bringston University and one of Simone's closest friends at Bringston. The last two women standing will battle to become Queen of the Court. It's engulfing in a way and she's put in a place where she never expected to be so attached to spiritually. 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. Simone gives Loni her clearance note from President Allen, making it in time for Queen of the Court. 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. Follow Cooper on Twitter @MovieCooper. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. Professor Corte decides to go with Simones ideas, and Thea attempts to take credit but he cuts her off. Amara is responsible for revealing the truth about Bringston's former baseball coach and the academic scandal. Instead, Simones part inAll American is reduced drastically. Or is that just a really good friend whos there for you? she asks. Simone's tennis journey is about her coming into her own. 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. 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. Simone wants to find Coach Loni but Thea knows the coach has seen enough today. It really did feel like a breakup. Mitchell Edwards as Cam Watkins- Cam Watkins is Spencer James' former rival and an excellent football player. All American Spinoff, Naomi Adaptation Snag Series Orders at The CW Beyond his role in theAll American universe, audiences might also know Michael Evans Behling for his role inGrey's Anatomy andA Cinderella Story: Starstruck. Also, with Nate being non-binary, the door is open for that community to be showcased, supported and loved. In the lead-up toAll American: Homecoming, it seemed the best way to set up the next chapter in Jordan and Simone's stories would be to endtheirrelationship, but the show didthe exact opposite. 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. That's what makes us the best. Simone knows shes messed up but she needs Loni to know shell never see Simone like that again. December 18, 2020 4:03pm. 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. ET on The CW. 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.
