#elwood reid critical

[whateverthedragonswant]

Just finished reading your latest Big Sky posts, and I agree with everything you said. Season 3 is such a far departure from what this show was when it first started, and I hate how they’ve sidelined Cassie this season. I thought it would’ve gotten better when the focus shifted toward the campsite, yet the focus is still on Beau and Jenny. I’ve also noticed how Kylie’s barely featured in Big Sky’s social media posts to the point that you wouldn’t even know that she’s the main protagonist of this show! I know you’ve touched on this before, but I would love to hear your thoughts on how Cassie’s been treated this season. And I’d like to know whether you’re going to watch the final 3 episodes of the season (especially after reading what Elwood shared in his latest interview)

Hey, Anon! My first Big Sky ask, thank you! =D Thank you so much for checking out my posts! I apologize for the delay in my response. I will admit, I was frustrated with this show, Elwood, and the writers after watching 3x10 and reading the interview you mentioned (thank you for letting me know about it!), so I wanted to wait to let that pass before replying. So this way my answer to you could be as objective as possible while giving my opinion but not containing any of that frustration (aka basically me going WTF the whole time lol) if that makes sense.

Let me start out by saying that I 100% agree with everything you said here. Full transparency, I still haven't seen season 2 (only 2x01 and 2x18 at this point) but I know the highlights, and compared to season 1, the writing for season 3 definitely feels like a departure from the story that the show set up from the very beginning like you said. I know they were attempting a new format this season but Elwood/the writers have consistently demonstrated that they really cannot handle the weekly stories alongside the big one of the season as well as an ensemble cast that rotates weekly guest stars. They're struggling to juggle too many stories, from big to small, and it shows. It was the wrong direction for them to go in though I give them points for at least attempting it.

Like you, I also hoped that once Cassie's and Beau & Jenny's stories started to intertwine that things would indeed get better. Instead, it only got worse. To the point where I as a viewer didn't even care that we got a little Beau and Cassie time in 3x10 (and I love the dynamic between those two). They were purposely throwing Beau and Cassie together into a few scenes and intentionally giving her a little more time this episode to hook more viewers for their return next year. Not even to set the story up and what's coming for 3B but as a hook. That's all it was. And what's even sadder about this is that while it's been made obvious what they're doing to the point where it's showing through the story itself, Elwood and the writers aka the creatives don't really seem to care. They're moving full steam ahead and that's that. Okay, yes, we all know how executives work in this industry, but for a supposed creative like Elwood, that's really concerning and almost kind of heartbreaking.

I'm going to get into how I feel Cassie has been treated this season in a moment but I do want to talk about the Beau/Jenny thing first because I feel it's a very big contributing factor as to what happened to her. Probably a lot more than some people realize.

Beau/Jenny has become Big Sky's meal ticket so to speak. It's not what every single fan of the show wants, but it's what the loudest and most engaging section of the viewers want aka #AcklesNation. This particular section not only engages with the cast (when they're with Jensen or they post about Jensen) but also regularly engages with the Big Sky social media accounts, they make content on here and other platforms, and they are guaranteed to tune into each episode as long as Jensen is on the show. They've become invested in not only Beau and his story line, but also into the "romance" of Beau/Jenny. The media picked up on it due to this overwhelming interest from this section (as they have with other things Jensen has said in public, i.e. Deadpool in the last month for example) and now they bring it up in each interview with either Elwood or the cast. (not to mention these questions are approved/guided by the show's PR team when submitted for approval so if they didn't want Elwood or the cast talking about Beau/Jenny for example, the question wouldn't be able to be asked) Why is this important? Simple, because it relates to my point below:

You brought up the social media (and lack of Cassie/Kylie in it), Anon, and you hit the nail on the head. Because it all relates. When you look at their twitter page for example, it is literally the Jensen Ackles, Beau, and Beau/Jenny show. And that's not a dig at Jensen or either character; it's just stating facts. We only get Dedee when she's with Jensen, we barely get any Poppernak. And even then we get more of them than we do Cassie (the main protagonist like you pointed out) or Kylie like you said. Not to mention, whoever is running that account is repeatedly engaging #AcklesNation, posted a tweet in the beginning of the season of how they were going to suck up to #AcklesNation by using Poppernak's and Beau's interaction from 2x18 as a segue to make this point, and they consistently interact with The Boys Twitter account (which I suspect is run by possibly Kripke himself, not sure though) over Jensen. While whoever is doing this job is doing it well as far as that's concerned, it literally has become the Jensen Ackles show (and for all you Jensen Ackles fans out there, I am not saying anything critical about Jensen nor am I blaming him - this is not his fault obviously and I'm just stating facts). So this is now a big factor in how the decisions were made for the story this season that Elwood has made obvious himself not only in interviews but also in the show itself.

Back in September, Elwood and the main cast did their usual round of interviews to promote the new season. We saw things like this:

While they obviously had to squeeze in for this shot, there is no reason Jensen should be in the back. They could have easily fit him into the shot. Or Reba should be sitting in Elwood's chair and vice versa. But they did this seating this way for two reasons: 1) "Beau" is in the middle between "Cassie" and "Jenny" while not stealing the spotlight from the two leads (from fans of the show before Jensen was cast) & 2) Reba is one of the big names being pushed/used.

And then we heard things like this:

(Elwood - TV Guide - that quote up above btw is hilarious because it has been shown that Jenny has been doing the modern version of swooning over Beau ever since 3x01 - this is why we can't trust anything this guy says, either he's very incompetent at his job and believes what he's selling or he doesn't care because he's only focused on getting the ratings up)

Elwood purposely said before the season premiered that he was playing it down the middle between Beau, Cassie, and Jenny. He said it was going to be a slow burn and he didn't want people to think of Beau and Cassie's relationship as "romantic" but he also kept talking about how Beau and Jenny were a "team" and "professional". Kylie herself made it pretty clear that she viewed Beau and Cassie as almost having a sibling type of banter (x). Anytime Katheryn was asked about Jensen's casting/Beau, she would mention how Jenny and Beau made a great team at solving crime who also had great banter but that was all she would say. When asked about the romanctic chemistry between Beau and Jenny, she would answer with a sort of non-answer (which turned out to be its own answer): “Well, they did cast Jensen. How can there not be when you, when you cast someone like that? If there’s something that maybe manifests or doesn’t manifest, you don’t really know. I don’t know yet.”

Jensen even jokes that he's the "potato" that adds to the "Cassie-and-Jenny" stew that Kylie refers to. And we know potatoes help to thicken stew.

So the show purposely sold it as a slow burn that would be a sort of 'who will Beau end up for falling for' type of vibe between the two leading ladies. So at this time, Kylie's/Cassie's involvement not only in the general story line but also Beau's was going to be neck and neck with Jenny's.

Then we also get:

The question wasn't about Jensen, Reba, or the cast. It wasn't even about the characters. It was about this new format he's introducing. Only after he talks Jensen up does he briefly mention Reba, then goes back into Beau/Jenny (sell, sell, sell!), and then talks about the new format and how challenging it was. And what does he end it with? "...and we've got some amazing guest cast coming in this year." He's made it very apparent what the focus of this season actually is: the big names they're pulling in. Jensen, Reba, Beau/Jenny (and Beau himself), and the other big names are the main draw to this little show and he knows it.

This also shows how the story is taking a backseat this season to the actual selling of the product. This is the season where they might possibly have their last hurrah, where they've pulled in all of these big names (aka stunt casting) so they can promote the hell out of them and the show, and they've changed up the format. It's like a sales team came in and changed up all of the advertising, the look of the product, and even changed the slogan, in order to repackage it and get it out to buyers as a last bid to try to turn a profit after the product initially failed to sell well. That is literally what's happening here. And when that happens, that means shortcuts are taken, corners are cut, and you're no longer getting top quality of that product.

In this answer, he is basically admitting that he/they came up with the weekly format not only to alter the pace of the narrative of the show, but it was also done so Beau and Jenny could go solve weekly crimes together, something he didn't do until Jensen was locked in for the season. While Beau is not supposed to be a lead character, from Elwood's answer here he is basically stating that Beau is now a lead which is why we get: "...and a guy who has done 15 or 16 seasons as a series lead, so he's a guy I've always wanted to work with." Translation: Beau is intended as a lead this season and they're already starting to push the Beau/Jenny factor.

And the breakdown of what we've gotten so far has been this:

3x01 - playing down the middle between Beau & Jenny/Cassie: Cassie and Beau have a friendship that developed over in between seasons & Beau/Jenny start solving crimes - ends with the movie night scene of the three of them

3x02 - playing down the middle again: Beau and Cassie go to talk to Sunny while Jenny has to go with Tonya - ends with ranch scene where Cassie is having a basic housewarming

3x03 - playing down the middle again but slightly less: Beau and Jenny solve crimes though Cassie is mentioned in convo by Jenny & we see a convo between Beau and Cassie in her office though it turns towards Jenny who is mentioned by Beau

3x04 - more Beau/Jenny - less Cassie - no more down the middle

3x05 - dun dun dun, big Beau/Jenny push - less Cassie

3x06 - Beau/Jenny push - less Cassie

3x07 - Beau/Jenny push - a little more Cassie

3x08 - Beau/Jenny push - same amount of Cassie

3x09 - Beau/Jenny push - a little more of Cassie

3x10 - big Beau/Jenny push - a little more of Cassie - we even get a few minutes of Beau and Cassie

That's literally how it plays out.

And now in December we have:

(Elwood - TV Insider)

The fact that the interviewer has to ask how Beau feels is a big indicator that the story is not being told well, especially given Elwood's answer here.

Then we get a whole big thing (aka sales pitch) on Beau and Jenny:

Cassie?:

Not so much expounding upon Cassie herself, barely a blip about the Cassie/Cormac romance itself, and a bit on the actual plot. A bit weird given that Cassie is the main protagonist of this show, right?

Because Cassie has been pushed aside in favor of pushing the Beau (Jensen) and Beau/Jenny narrative. They literally tossed her aside, sprinkle her into the narrative here and there to still be able to claim "oh, we're still having Cassie be important to the story, look!", and gave her a throwaway romance so not only could they parallel it to the Beau/Jenny relationship but also to keep Cassie busy so we get more time with Beau but remove any possibility of Cassie being a potential romantic rival for Jenny (so Jenny can confidently go after Beau) and so like Elwood said, two women don't fight over a guy (which again is hilarious because the only thing keeping Jenny from going all schoolyard this season is because Cassie is interested in Cormac).

This is why Kylie/Cassie has reduced time this season compared to the last two. This is why Kylie/Cassie are not being featured/pushed on social media. This is why you can barely find any Cassie scenes from this season on YouTube unless it features Cormac or Beau/Jenny. Because the Elwood and the show see the response they got once it was announced Jensen would be in 2x18 and what kind of response they got after it aired. Then they even saw the response to the announcement that Jensen had joined Season 3 as a regular. They see the consistent engagement from #AcklesNation on social media (which unfortunately is what counts these days in this industry; I don't care for Cocoa Brown myself but she said it best in that IG Live she did), something like Jensen has over 10M Instagram followers, and the desire for Beau/Jenny from that crowd (which is because Jenny is being used as self-insert for a lot of them and it's being accommodated by Jenny's characterization drop this season but that's a conversation for another time). Jensen and Katheryn do have chemistry but it's nowhere near what it should be for this type of "romance" to take place successfully. You combine that with poor writing/development and....well, you need to do other things to compensate, like moving the main protagonist to the back burner.

Saying all of this, now we look at that latest interview and it makes more sense why we see less of Cassie and read things like this:

"I think the modus is to go right to giving the audience what they want" What a statement to make about the direction one of your leads' stories is going in, especially when you are responsible for not only making that decision but you are helming the show itself. This show lives and dies with him.

If I hadn't seen/read everything I listed above and only saw this one interview, I would immediately know that this show no longer worth my time, not while it's under this guy. I get that he has to keep the show on the air but when you make it obvious that you're just a salesman who is saying whatever he has to in order to sell the product, then the product isn't really being given the attention it's not only due but deserves.

Imho, that one line says it all. It covers what their actual goal is, what their intention has been all along, and how things are operating behind the scenes.

And to break it down even further:

"I think the modus" - this word automatically makes one think of 'modus operandi' which is defined as: a particular way or method of doing something, especially one that is characteristic or well-established. Well, frankly speaking, this whole Beau/Jenny "romance" is not characteristic or well-established, but it's obvious this is how they chose to go about it. We've only seen the build-up from Jenny's side, never Beau's. And they purposely threw Cassie into the mix in the beginning and kept the mention of her as a device to not only keep those viewers (aka Cassie fans) hooked but also because of what Elwood says later in the interview.

"Is to go right to" - had Beau/Jenny had an organic build-up, then yes I could buy that they've been planning this from the start. And tbf to them, it is possible they chose to do this once Jensen was cast as a season regular after they saw how loud the purported #AcklesNation was in wanting not only more of Jensen/Beau but also Beau/Jenny like I mentioned above. This is exactly what they're looking for (hence the SPN Easter eggs thrown in as well). More proof? Having Travis step out at the same time Beau steps in doesn't make sense for Jenny's character development, especially when they made sure to mention in the episode that Beau was still in love with his ex-wife, Jenny lets Travis go so he can find the girlfriend he can't let go of, and she barely gets a breather in between. She literally is between two guys who have the same issue, just different circumstances. That is such bad writing (and bad character development for Jenny) that I can't help but think they didn't intend a Beau/Jenny "romance" at that time, especially since it wasn't announced that Jensen was locked in for season 3 yet. So this gives more credence to the belief that the Beau/Jenny thing wasn't an actual thing until they saw the response to 2x18 and locked Jensen in. Especially given the two very different interactions Beau has with Jenny and Cassie in that same episode. Had Beau/Jenny been the plan, Beau and Jenny's introduction would have played out very differently and the end of Travis and Jenny's story would have been changed up.

"giving the audience what they want" - talk about specific wording. This isn't something they necessarily want or that he himself wants but it's the audience that wants it. And they're giving it to them. This line makes absolute sense with what he says in the interview about Beau and Jenny needing to earn that "physicality". He and the writers could have given it to the audience in the beginning of the season, if that's what they really wanted to do but they didn't. Instead, Elwood says this: "I think it all goes towards earning those looks, earning any kind of physicality that may occur in the back half of the season, really earning it, and making the audience want to be there for it." They made it a "slow burn" so they could lock in viewers each week, that's it. While Elwood talks about earning it (and he's right, when it comes to actual character and relationship development, things have to be earned before they happen or else it doesn't make sense and feels off-kilter to the audience), the main reason they're having it happen in 3B is because they're trying to guarantee a viewership for as long as they can which they're hoping gets them renewed for season 4. So they consistently bait the hook with whatever they need to i.e. the stroking of Jenny's face out of nowhere (which bless Jensen, he was the one that made that even work as slightly as it did), the Beau and Cassie scenes, and the cliffhanger with Buck vs Cassie. In order to keep people coming back to watch so they don't get cancelled. (The Winchesters is actually doing this same thing btw; I don't know if you follow this show or not but if you look it up, you'll see they're doing the exact same thing - their bait is the earned Jary kiss in the fall finale, casting an SPN actor in the mid-season premiere in January, promising fans payoff in the season finale - it's the name of the game for these two shows because they're trying their hardest to ensure another season)

Bottom line: they don't care about the story; they only care about numbers. If the rumors of this show being on the chopping block last season are true (which after all of this, seems like a pretty good bet that they are), then that explains everything. It explains their consistent appealing to #AcklesNation online, the content they choose to repeatedly focus on which alienates the other characters and cast members (and their fans), and why they're giving "the audience" what they want. They're fighting to stay on the air. Which makes sense especially if you look at this season's casting compared to the casting of the last two seasons (when comparing household names I mean). They really stepped up their game. We have Reba, Rex Linn, Jensen, Jamie-Lynn Sigler (who was also made a season regular for this season), Rosanna Arquette, Henry Ian Cusick, Lyle Lovett, Darius Rucker...it's quite the lineup.

So that is why I feel Cassie has been pushed aside as much as she has. It's all about the numbers. And Cassie isn't producing numbers/ensuring ratings as much as Beau and Beau/Jenny are. And Jenny is perfect self-insert for a lot of people when it comes to Beau...and that's all I'll say about that (though I'm sure you get what I'm saying).

As for how I feel about it, I am just beyond disgusted, disappointed, and angry on Cassie's behalf. Disgusted because the story is literally being hijacked for numbers, and boy does it show. Disappointed because while Jensen/Beau was my gateway to this show, I did actually enjoy the show for itself after bingeing season 1 and falling in love with Cassie and her friendship with Jenny. Angry because they are literally not only moving Cassie to the back in favor of this bs but they're literally having a WOC prop up the white leads. Even though the WOC is the main protagonist and a lead herself. And I hate to say it but Beau has literally replaced Cassie, not just in Jenny's story but also in the main narrative of the show. He gets more screen time than Cassie does every single episode (which again is for the numbers). Not to mention, they literally used Cassie to help along the Beau/Jenny bs. She was used to make Jenny jealous (both romantically and emotionally), to help Beau open up to get him into position to be able to open up to Jenny, and to ease the way for Beau and Jenny in their own dynamic. And that is just so beyond wrong, I don't even know where to begin. For comparison's sake, check out the new show Alaska Daily. It's only half a season in but in those few episodes, they're handling the format of weekly cases vs the big case in the background way better and they're not sacrificing POC/WOC to do it. Eileen (Hilary Swank) is the main character but Roz is never pushed to the side or run over in favor of the white lead or to sell something for Eileen's story within the narrative. Roz is not used as a device by the writers to account for any incompetency or inconsistency or to solve a problem for them. The difference between the two is quite striking though they're literally on the same network lol.

But, back to Big Sky and Elwood, talk about ringing the death knell of what could have been a decent show. Anytime you see a showrunner doing fanservice like this (with the addition of making it obvious that you're only doing the fanservice for the numbers) rather than what actually serves the story and/or the characters, it's pretty much a done deal. Imho, it will only be a matter of time before this runs into the ground and completely disintegrates. Especially when romance is not supposed to be the focus of a show like this.

So I'm not going to continue to watch the show once it returns after the holidays. I truly have no interest. I think Reba, Jensen, and the cast are doing a phenomenal job trying to give life to these characters and give their stories their due, and the show has only lasted as long as it has due to the incredible work of the existing cast that the newbies got added onto. But seeing how little the showrunner actually cares about the story of the show based on not only the final product he's putting out but also his own responses and his moving the goal posts on certain parts of the narrative at large...no thank you. My time and energy can go to another show that tells a better story and gets it right, where the showrunner actually cares about the story and its characters.

After the season ends, I might binge it just to see the end because I don't like to say never and I don't like to leave things unresolved like that for myself, but I have to be honest, I highly doubt it. I love Cassie, I love Beau, and I do love Jenny, but it isn't worth it imho. And I feel super bad saying that because I do love Reba, Jensen, Kylie, Katheryn, Dedee, and the cast, and the work they do but even they can't make me forget the horrific and lackadaisical writing I'm witnessing.

I hope I was able to adequately answer your ask, Anon. I hope in somewhere in that long novel I made some sense lol. Sorry it took so long for me to reply! And thank you again for sending me my first Big Sky ask. =) I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day!!! <3

[justjensenanddean]

Justin Hartley Says Jensen Ackles Brings Tracker to the 'Next Level' as They Reunite for Season 2

Ackles will appear on the second episode of 'Tracker' season 2, airing on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 8:30 p.m. ET on CBS

The brothers are back together!

In PEOPLE's exclusive photo from the upcoming episode of season 2 of Tracker, Justin Hartley and Jensen Ackles reunite in their roles as siblings.

After first working together in season 1 with Hartley as Colter and Ackles as his estranged brother Russell, the longtime friends are coming together once again — but it isn’t without drama.

“Jensen and I have known each other for a long time, we just never had a chance to work together,” Hartley, 47, tells PEOPLE in a statement. “Jensen is the perfect guy to play Russell. It’s such a well fleshed out character in the book and even more so with what we’ve done on the show.” “And then Jensen just brings to it the next level,” he adds.

Episode 2 of season 2, titled “Ontological Shock” airs Sunday, Oct. 20, and sees Colter disappear while searching for a missing father. Reenie (played by Fiona Rene) then calls in Russell to help track him down in the intense hunt for the survivalist.

Hartley first teased Ackles’ return to the series during the Summer Television Critics Association 2024 Press Tour in July. Fans went wild seeing the two together at the end of Tracker season 1 when the Supernatural star made a guest appearance and they have been anticipating seeing him again.

“We got him, he’s coming back,” Hartley said at the time. “We’re having fun with that. It’s a great story.”

Although the This Is Us alum said “I don’t know” when asked how many episodes would feature Ackles, showrunner Elwood Reid assured viewers it would be for "more than one" episode. 

"It’s like family: when we text him [he says], ‘Tell me where and tell me when,’ and he shows up," explained Reid, who previously worked with Ackles on Big Sky. "He’s just that kind of guy.”

[jensenackles-daily]

At the Television Critics Association press tour on July 13th, 2024, Justin Hartley and Elwood Reid confirmed that Jensen Ackles will return to Tracker in more than one episode even after booking Countdown (x)

[whateverthedragonswant]

☝️ Just another thing fanboy Elwood is ruining this season in favor of the most ridiculous fanservice ever recorded.

this is such a small fandom that I don't wanna bring negativity to it but I am soooooooooooo frustrated with how little screentime Cassie and Jenny have on the show now. Their relationship has always been the heart of the story and I don't want to watch them work cases separately, I want to watch them TOGETHER. It feels like now we only get to see them interact for a couple minutes at a time. It just sucks. LET ME SEE EPISODES ALL ABOUT THEM AND THEIR OLD MARRIED COUPLE ENERGY THAT IS ALL I AM ASKING

[blogger360ncislarules]

Good news “Tracker” fans, Jensen Ackles will return for Season 2.

After the CBS procedural series introduced the “Supernatural” star during the inaugural season, Ackles is set to return for Season 2 for more than one episode, star and EP Justin Hartley and showrunner Elwood Reid revealed during the Television Critics’ Association’s summer press tour.

“We got him, he’s coming back,” Hartley told journalists on Saturday during the CBS drama’s presentation. “We’re having fun with that, it’s a great story.”

The news comes after fan speculation that Ackles, who plays the estranged brother of Hartley’s Colter Shaw, might not be able to return for another installment of “Tracker” amid his casting in Prime Video’s thriller series “Countdown.”

Elwood, who also serves as an EP on the series, confirmed Ackles would appear in more than one episode. While the producers are keeping the upcoming storyline under wraps until the Season 2 premiere this fall, Elwood said he was “particularly excited” about the plot to come.

“I’ve worked with Jensen previously and Justin’s friends with him,” Elwood said, referencing his time as showrunner on ABC’s “Big Sky.” “It’s like family — when we text him [he says], ‘tell me where and tell me when,’ and he shows up. He’s just that kind of guy.”

Ahead of the Season 2 debut of “Tracker” on Sunday, Oct. 27, Elwood teased the forthcoming installment will include some “surprises.”

“This season is going to be … even better [and] more fun,” Elwood said. “We’ve got some big surprises coming up this season, I know everyone says that but we truly do.”

In Prime Video’s “Countdown,” Ackles stars as LAPD officer Mark Meachum, who is recruited to join a secret task force of undercover agents from all branches of law enforcement to investigate a suspicious murder committed in broad daylight.

[lol-jackles]

https://x.com/deansbestie_/status/1785233308269580622

In my opinion it just seems that Jensen only get work through friends and not because of talent or merit, even if AAs deny it, that's exactly what it seems, it's not the first time something like this has happened What do you think?

Elwood Reid was the showrunner of Big Sky in season 2 & 3 as well as it's writer/executive producer. The Elwood Reid Inc is one of the production companies behind Tracker. Therefore, your theory tracks.

With that said, networking is critical in any serious business venture, especially in the industry with a 96% unemployment rate on a good day. 

[sammysnaughtygirl]

Jensen Ackles to return for “Tracker” season 2: 'We got him,' says star Justin Hartley

Soldier Boy might be frozen, but Russell Shaw is wide awake and ready for action.

Jensen Ackles is set to return as the estranged elder brother to Justin Hartley’s Colter Shaw in season 2 of Tracker. During the show’s panel at the Television Critics Association 2024 Press Tour in Pasadena, Calif., Hartley and executive producer Elwood Reid confirmed that they weren’t yet finished exploring the family drama between the two siblings, and would delve deeper when Ackles returned for a multi-episode arc the second season.

"We got him,” Hartley said of Ackles. “He’s coming back.”

As for how many episodes Ackles would return for, Hartley was unable to say but Reid did confirm that it would be “more than one.”

A representative for Ackles didn't immediately respond to Entertainment Weekly's request for comment.

Ackles guest-starred in the penultimate episode of the first season, reuniting Colton with his brother just in time to prod at buried family history ahead of the finale. Reid also hinted that more family drama lies on the horizon, teasing the return of Manifest actress Melissa Roxburgh as Colter’s younger sister, Dory per TVLine.

The CBS series centers on Hartley’s Colter Shaw, an experienced survivalist and talented tracker who travels the country in his RV, using his skills to help civilians and law enforcement solve crimes and find missing people. When Colter last teamed up with Russell, his brother sought his help to find a missing army buddy.  Tracker isn’t the only series that the Supernatural alum is expected to return to. Ackles previously appeared in season 3 of The Boys, the satirical superhero series from Supernatural creator Eric Kripke that is currently gearing up for its fifth and final season. Though his stint as Solider Boy — a filthy-mouthed World War II-era, Captain America-esque supe — ended with his being taken out of commission, Kripke previously told EW that he was purposefully leaving the door open for Ackles to return.

Ackles has since reprised Soldier Boy for a cameo in spinoff series Gen V but his return to the mothership-series is much anticipated thanks to the promise of a full-blown Winchester family reunion. Ackles’ Supernatural dad Jeffrey Dean Morgan recently joined the show for its fourth season and Kripke has teased the increasing likelihood of Sam Winchester himself, Jared Padalecki, landing a spot on the show as well.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.

[hologramcowboy]

https://www.thewrap.com/tracker-jensen-ackles-season-2-return/

After the CBS procedural series introduced the “Supernatural” star during the inaugural season, Ackles is set to return for Season 2 for more than one episode, star and EP Justin Hartley and showrunner Elwood Reid revealed during the Television Critics’ Association’s summer press tour.

“We got him, he’s coming back,” Hartley told journalists on Saturday during the CBS drama’s presentation. “We’re having fun with that, it’s a great story.”

“I’ve worked with Jensen previously and Justin’s friends with him,” Elwood said, referencing his time as showrunner on ABC’s “Big Sky.” “It’s like family — when we text him [he says], ‘tell me where and tell me when,’ and he shows up. He’s just that kind of guy.”

Season 2 debut of “Tracker” on Sunday, Oct. 27, Elwood teased the forthcoming installment will include some “surprises.”

I am very happy about this because I love Tracker. However, this makes it clear Jensen's Countdown is an ensemble show that will focus on way more characters than just him.

[may064]

Oh that hologramcowboy person re-blogged me and blocked me! Good riddance! I can finally not see their shit!

I was tired of seeing them parading around as a Jensen fan and spouting absolute bullshit. This person is not-in-the-know or whatever. If they are, bring some proof, anything! Oh! even better! They’re in the know as much as Goob is! So, good for them, I guess ;).

But, if they were so in-the-know and so confident of themselves why couldn’t they bring any proof of literally anything they said? They have got a million theories and a tight philosophy about how good of an actor Jensen is NOT. But they couldn’t answer for Kylie and Katherine. Why their storyline ALSO sucks this season and not just Jensen’s. If Jensen changes the script so much and doesn’t understand his character (which is, bs honestly. No director or production team will give the actor so much control that he can change his character’s entire arc. (Also, Jensen has eidetic memory and can remember lines very well and can understand his characters very well. This is a known fact. He goes slowly through the script when he first gets it just to understand the character’s motivations and where they’re coming from. Therefore, another lie debunked.) So, rest assured that whatever’s happening it’s happening with the consent of the producers and the development team.) I’m sure the production team is there to point out any mistakes that don’t go with the character? Or does Jensen have them all tied up with ropes or has people holding guns to their head? And even after he’s said that he can accept any criticism? Elwood Reid is there, he’s not going to get starry eyed at Jensen. He can surely tell him when he’s going wrong and I’m sure does when it happens. Alos, there’s a thing such as fucking bad writing? And it has been going on since season 2, before Jensen came in? If the writing’s bad, even the best actor in the world can’t do anything?

So, this bullshit is just anti-behaviour. If not, then bring proof. Any proof. Also, super fun if anybody doesn’t agree with you or cheer you for hating Jensen or doesn’t want him to retire, they’re automatically an AA. Great, in that case, sure!

[whateverthedragonswant]

Full disclosure, I still have not seen past 3x10 but that pic of Jensen and Kylie from bts that was posted - even that STILL picture has chemistry emanating from it. And that's just them posing for a photo. HOW DID YOU MISS THIS SO BADLY, ELWOOD????

[justjensenanddean]

Big Sky: Season 3: Cast, Premiere Date, Trailer, and Everything Else to Know

We're one week away from the premiere of Big Sky Season 3, and there's plenty to look forward to. The crime drama has a new name — it's now dubbed with the byline "Deadly Trails," likely a hint to what Katheryn Winnick's Jenny Hoyt and Kylie Bunbury's Cassie Dewell will follow in this season — and two new series regulars.

Country legend Reba McEntire joins as Sunny Brick, "the mercurial matriarch of the Brick Family" and a "successful backcountry outfitter with a secret history of missing customers," which sounds suspicious AF. Season 3 will take us on one of Sunny's hiking expeditions that goes awry and proves to be Jenny and Cassie's most formidable mystery yet.

There is of course also Jensen Ackles' Beau Arlen, who we met in the Season 2 finale. The Supernatural and The Boys actor is confirmed as a series regular in Season 3, and Ackles will continue as the newly appointed sheriff who is Jenny's boss.

At ABC's Television Critics Association summer press tour panel on Sept. 14., McEntire and Ackles talked about what drew them to Big Sky. "We couldn't refuse," McEntire said. "To get to come on the show with such wonderful characters already established, and then with great storylines and things that I am looking forward to every time I get a script to see what happened — that's when I know the audience is going to be entertained."

"When my initial conversation with Elwood [Reid] took place, he mentioned shaking some stuff up for Season 3 and I thought, well I can shake," Ackles said. He also joked: "I feel like I'm getting a little typecasted just being a guy from Texas who wears boots, because I'm literally wearing boots right now and I'm from Texas."

Ackles was also asked about previous roles he has played, including Soldier Boy in The Boys, and whether he's particularly drawn to characters who enforce their versions of justice. "I think there's a certain aspect of these characters that I feel like I would probably watch and find entertaining myself," Ackles said. "Which I think then, by default, makes me enjoy playing them and succeed in doing so."

Here's everything we know about Big Sky Season 3.

TV GUIDE

[blogger360ncislarules]

The brothers are back together!

In PEOPLE's exclusive photo from the upcoming episode of season 2 of Tracker, Justin Hartley and Jensen Ackles reunite in their roles as siblings.

After first working together in season 1 with Hartley as Colter and Ackles as his estranged brother Russell, the longtime friends are coming together once again — but it isn’t without drama.

“Jensen and I have known each other for a long time, we just never had a chance to work together,” Hartley, 47, tells PEOPLE in a statement. “Jensen is the perfect guy to play Russell. It’s such a well fleshed out character in the book and even more so with what we’ve done on the show.”

“And then Jensen just brings to it the next level,” he adds.

Episode 2 of season 2, titled “Ontological Shock,” airs Sunday, Oct. 20, and sees Colter disappear while searching for a missing father. Reenie (played by Fiona Rene) then calls in Russell to help track him down in the intense hunt for the survivalist.

Hartley first teased Ackles’ return to the series during the Summer Television Critics Association 2024 Press Tour in July. Fans went wild seeing the two together at the end of Tracker season 1 when the Supernatural star made a guest appearance and they have been anticipating seeing him again.

“We got him, he’s coming back,” Hartley said at the time. “We’re having fun with that. It’s a great story.”

Although the This Is Us alum said “I don’t know” when asked how many episodes would feature Ackles, showrunner Elwood Reid assured viewers it would be for "more than one" episode. 

"It’s like family: when we text him [he says], ‘Tell me where and tell me when,’ and he shows up," explained Reid, who previously worked with Ackles on Big Sky. "He’s just that kind of guy.”

Hartley’s Colter is an experienced survivalist and tracker who offers his skills to both civilians and law enforcement while also dealing with his own complicated personal life. In the season 1 finale, Colter uncovered some secrets about his father and siblings — a storyline that is carrying on into season 2. 

Tracker was an instant hit, renewed for a second season only a few episodes into its debut. It was also revealed to be CBS’s most-watched show since Young Sheldon’s premiere in 2018 and the No. 1 show on cable since its premiere, according to Nielsen.

The season 1 finale saw Colter learn a few things about his father — and his siblings. And the new season will pick up a few months later.

[sammysnaughtygirl]

Jensen Ackles Joins "Tracker" Season 2: Justin Hartley Confirms

When "Tracker" returns for its second outing, Jensen Ackles will return, bringing more family dynamics with him. This was confirmed during the Summer Television Critics Association 2024 Press Tour in Pasadena, California on July 13 by Justin Hartley who stars and is an executive producer.

We got him, he’s coming back," Hartley said. "We’re having fun with that. It’s a great story." Colter Shaw (Hartley) is an expert tracker and survivalist protagonist of 'Tracker.' He puts to good use his unique abilities to help out both regular civilians and law enforcement alike as well as manage his complicated personal life.

In season one, Ackles had starred as Russell Shaw- Shaw’s long-lost brother-in the penultimate episode. When asked how many episodes will feature Ackles in season 2, Hartley, 47, admitted, "I don't know." Showrunner Elwood Reid also couldn't specify but assured that Ackles' role would extend beyond a single episode.

"It’s like family: when we text him [he says], 'Tell me where and tell me when,' and he shows up," Reid shared. Reid has previously collaborated with Ackles on "Big Sky," further strengthening their working relationship.

Reid also confirmed to TVLine that Melissa Roxburgh will be back as Dory, Colter's younger sister from "Manifest." Her return adds another layer to the familial theme of the season. "Tracker" became CBS's most-watched show since "Young Sheldon" debuted after Super Bowl LVIII in January 2024.

Born Joseph John Hartley Jr., Justin has played popular characters on NBC’s "This Is Us," "Passions," "Smallville," and Adam Newman on CBS' "The Young and the Restless," which earned him a Daytime Emmy nomination. Jensen Ackles, who has spent 15 seasons performing in "Supernatural," has continued to build his career with appearances in "The Boys" and "Big Sky".

He was recently named the protagonist of Prime Video’s upcoming show "Countdown." "Tracker" premieres on October 27, CBS’s new number one show since "Young Sheldon" debuted after Super Bowl LVIII. This announcement comes just days after news broke that Jensen Ackles had signed onto the series.

[whateverthedragonswant]

Omg I'm dying laughing rn though I'm really trying hard to stop. I'm rewatching certain Jenny scenes in 3x11 for writing purposes and what do I see?

Not only is Jenny more affectionate while Beau is giving her a hug like Poppernak just did but when Beau gets the call about Avery, he looks to Cassie first then Jenny, telling them an officer spotted him. Jenny tells him "Go", he nods then looks to Cassie who tells him "Yeah, we got this." THEN he leaves.

As he's leaving, he bumps into Poppernak literally and then he passes right by Jenny who moves out of his way but puts a hand on his shoulder, and tells him to call her later. He says yeah, never stopping to look at her, and walks out the door.

THEN when Jenny says she knows where they can start looking for the people who took Gigi, there is a shot of Cassie getting up and throwing a pen into a coffee cup.

Remind you of anything?

This episode is all about parallels while bringing back some good ol' Cassie and Jenny working together goodness (which is why it's such a great episode for writing fuel), it allows Katheryn to shine as well as Jensen in their performances among some of the other cast members, it allows Cassie back into the lead she's supposed to be for once, we get back to the roots a bit of what is really the heart of this show (the 2 ladies), and gives us more of a closer look into Beau's story as well.

So while Beau deals with Avery who is trying to steal 15 million that has put his daughter and her mother in danger, Jenny is dealing with the fallout of Gigi grifting the wrong people that she stole 30K from Jenny to try to fix that now has mother and daughter in danger. Parallels.

This episode has such potential and I actually would argue is one of the more decent ones we've seen all season. Maybe that's due to Ryan's involvement in writing the episode, I'm not sure, but it's fantastic all around.

But here's what cracks me up when I think just how badly they fudged this season up and how hard the actors had to work to try to offset some of these bad story decisions. Why the parallel between Beau and Cassie?

Would Cassie have become the new sheriff had the series continued and Beau actually stayed in character, following Carla and Emily back to Houston? Not likely, given Cassie has staunchly refused to go back into policing and still has her PI business. Not to mention that would be a huge disservice to her character as well as Jenny's.

Is it a romantic parallel? Nope. The show runner made it pretty clear that Beau supposedly only sees Jenny in that light.

To set up a romantic parallel between Beau and Jenny? While I wouldn't put it past them to actually do that and think they accomplished something there, that doesn't seem to be what's happening here either, especially since Jenny is not the one tossing the pen and given Beau's pilot mode responses to her physical contact.

So why the parallel? Why have Cassie sitting like Beau was, throwing the pen into a coffee mug as they got up? When Jenny and Poppernak were present in both scenes, with Jenny knowing where to go and leading the way? With a phone call happening to Beau both times?

Well, let's look at who wrote this episode: Ryan and Christine Roum. And let's look at the title of the episode "Super Foxes". Jenny leads Cassie to see Tanya and Donno in the next scene where Jenny has to ask beg for Tonya's help to find her mom, none of her disgust for Tonya present. Tonya eventually agrees to help.

Now let's go back to 3x02. Who wrote that episode? Kyle Long and Christine Roum. What's the title? "The Woods Are Lovely, Dark and Deep" Not a parallel to foxes at all, in fact it's a line from a popular Robert Frost poem.

But in this episode what do we have? Beau is trying a sandwich from Tonya and Donno's diner The Blue Fox when Beau calls Jenny over to try it. She flat out refuses (we saw the previous episode how much she can't stand that Tonya isn't in jail) and goes on a rant with Tonya appearing behind her. Beau dashes off to help Cassie while telling Jenny to help Tonya. Jenny begrudgingly does while taking Poppernak with her. This case leads to the pen scene later on, where they're leaving to head to Tonya's house to save Paul.

This is the parallel. They literally did this to not only set up the Jenny and Tonya scene after to show Jenny's change but also to call back to 3x02. The pen parallel was the best they could do rather than pour everything they had into the Jenny and Tonya scene (which Katheryn and Jamie-Lynn were the ones to make it work btw) to wrap it up and make it more meaningful for Jenny's character which was at the forefront of this episode. They used Cassie again in order to focus on Jenny, sidelining how important Cassie actually is to the story itself. (Let's not forget y'all, she's the main character from the books this show is based on)

And then they did it to her again with Beau in the same damn scene! Even in an episode that's not about the AA-led campaign for Beau/Jenny kiss kiss tag team for once (though they still keep it in your face in their separate stories by the whole Emily and Carla scenes). Beau looks to Cassie again before Jenny like he had in 3x02 and 3x01 because he "still isn't ready to let Jenny in yet". So they literally use Cassie yet again to further someone else's story, one who isn't even one of the main characters. (Listen, I love Beau but that's the cold hard truth, it's not a slight against the character or Jensen)

And they even continuously used Poppernak for the Beau and Jenny push as well. Granted, he's not a main character but he has become a pillar in Jenny's world so to speak. Plus, the way J. Anthony Pena played him, there was SO much potential there with his character.

Literally both POC characters were pushed aside for the White characters to set up a romance that they didn't even commit to in the end (that ending scene is not romantic, sorry not sorry - Beau still can't look at her or tell her what happened in Houston without imbibing more alcohol, she settled for handhold). Just cold hard facts. And again, crappy writing.

THIS is why this show failed. Because of ridiculous story decisions like this. No wonder the cast had to work so hard to try to make things make sense when it came to marrying their performances with the writing. Because when you strip this down and look at the whole thing, what on earth do you see? A gift of a great story (from the books) and a David E. Kelly production that put an exciting twist on the whole thing was given to Elwood Reid and his writers and they completely ruined it. They literally took it and smashed it into pieces in a trash compactor then presented it to us and were like "See this masterpiece I made?"

I won't lie, I'm a huge Katheryn Winnick fan and to me it was sad to read an interview she gave back when she was first on the show, doing press. She was supposed to take a sabbatical after Vikings but got this offer, saw it was a David E. Kelly production, and knew she couldn't pass it up. So she went in full steam ahead. Anyone who has read/heard Katheryn talk knows how incredibly creative she is, knows she puts her heart and soul into the stories she tells. Not to mention Jenny Hoyt was a great character they created and it was the perfect marriage between Jenny and Katheryn on the screen. Whatever David's reasons for stepping away after season 1, Elwood was clearly the wrong choice to take over and lead this team of writers. They made some good decisions here and there like Beau and his storyline, Reba's casting, the Cassie and Jenny moments that were the heart of season 2, etc, but they really took the polished gem of potential David gave them and collectively ran over it with their cars.

I love the story of the books and I love the overall story of the show between the two women (what a smart twist to switch Cody for Jenny, to flesh out Jenny's character more, and split it down the middle between Cassie and Jenny in the storyline - that's David E. Kelly for you). This show had so much potential had they changed up either the showrunner or some of the writers or even both, but sadly they chose to do...that.

And examples like this one are proof in the pudding of how badly they missed the mark. If only they had done things differently perhaps we would have a season that pulled together better and actually made sense for all characters involved, rather than showing the desperation to stay on the air and sucking up to a section of one actor's internet fan base. We still might not have gotten a season 4 due to what's happening in Hollywood right now, but the characters would have been in a much better position by the end of the season in their storylines, then the equivalent of an apathetic wrap job in old newspaper with Scotch tape to "close things up".

So sad.

Eli Jorne and his writers told a better story in 6 episodes than Elwood and his writers did in 2 seasons (31 episodes). And Elwood was handed the world from David E. Kelly. Eli was given access to the TWD universe but had to completely create his own corner of it.

Sad.

[blogger360ncislarules]

Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) is back on the case. After Tracker debuted earlier this year as the most-watched new show on network television, the hit CBS drama, about a lone-wolf survivalist who uses his expert tracking skills to help solve mysteries across the country, will return for a supersized second season of 22 episodes, promising to answer the burning questions raised in the final minutes of the first season.

When viewers last caught up with Colter, he learned a devastating secret from Lizzy (Jennifer Morrison), a close family friend whose missing daughter he had just tracked down. Lizzy told Colter that, shortly before his father Ashton died under mysterious circumstances, he had an affair with Lizzy's mother. After her mother's death, Lizzy found a box of Ashton's research papers and journals in a box under her bed. Lizzy sent that box to Colter's sister, Dory (Melissa Roxburgh), who neglected to mention, during her last encounter with Colter, that she had their father's belongings.

The revelation is enough to throw Colter for a loop, and he is now forced to question everything he thought he knew about his father's death and how much he could trust his surviving family members. But rather than opening the new season with Colter "spinning out" about his father's affair (and his mother's possible knowledge of his infidelity), executive producer and showrunner Elwood Reid wanted to throw the protagonist into a big personal case that has been a thorn in his side.

"What we built in is he has a case that's been his bugbear for 10 years. It's been the thing that's haunted him. He never solved the case, and we're going to meet a woman who he's involved with related to that case," Reid told TV Guide at the Television Critics Association press tour in July. "You're going to see the way that he processes the grief and the mystery of not being able to solve that case, in the first episode. He doesn't outwardly deal with his emotions all the time, and it comes out in a different way, and I think that's the trick and the challenge of writing this character."

Executive producer Ken Olin — who developed this series, based on Jeffrey Deaver's The Never Game, from the ground up with Hartley — said the creative team has always wanted to portray Colter as a classic male hero with "a very contemporary psychological backstory" that makes him feel more emotionally accessible.

"One of the things I'm just realizing is so cool about Colter, as he's evolved or been delineated by Elwood, is we gave him a really complicated dysfunctional family," Olin said. "What Elwood's done is create a character who is not inclined towards self-examination. It's sort of in that classic film [way]. He's not a character who self-examines, and yet he's obviously a character that cares. He has all these skills that he's trying to put somewhere. He uses these skills to help people, [whereas] his father's inclination was to just get off the grid [and not trust anyone]."

Titled "Out of the Past," the Season 2 premiere will find Colter investigating the disappearance of a missing family whose car was found abandoned on the side of the road in the backwoods of Arkansas — and this investigation will pull him into the world of organized crime. At the same time, Hartley said, the character is "going to take a little more time to figure out what his next move is" after feeling betrayed by his own flesh and blood. "It's a weird game that he's got to play whilst having all of these jobs that he's on," Hartley said.

Justin Hartley and Jensen Ackles, Tracker Sergei Bachlakov/CBS

The second episode will see the return of Colter's brother, Russell (Jensen Ackles), who is recruited by Reenie (Fiona Rene) after Colter goes missing on a case. (Reid confirmed the Supernatural star will continue to recur in the series for as long as he is available.)

Hartley noted that Colter's discovery of new information will shift the strained dynamics in the Shaw family going forward. "The interesting thing about that is Colter felt a certain way about his mother and his father, and he really didn't have anyone to talk to about it. Now, he kind of has someone that he might be able to bounce things off of, right?" Hartley said, alluding to Russell. "Granted, Russell's not particularly tight with their mom, although we did reveal that he does talk to their sister every once in a while — more than Colter does, perhaps. You'll start to realize, 'Well, maybe Colter is the most estranged one of the whole bunch. He's constantly on the road, constantly running from his past, chasing other things.'"

Reid also confirmed that there won't be many flashbacks (if any) this season unless he can find a way to incorporate Hartley into those kinds of scenes. Instead of relying on flashbacks to tell different versions of the Shaw siblings' childhood, the audience will be able to recognize the contrast between the way Russell and Dory reminisce about their childhood and the way Colter remembers it.

"Their mother is this big thing that we're going to pick up this season, and [we'll ask]: What does it mean? Was she lying to [Colter]? Was she protecting him? Was she doing a little bit of both, or was she actively using him for something? I think Colter is a guy that thinks about those things, but he doesn't talk about them with people," Reid said.

"You saw him with Jensen's character, Russell, who deals with it in a completely different way. He's like, 'Ah, f*** it. Move on.' And I don't think Colter can do that," the showrunner continued. "I think what makes him accessible and human and interesting is watching him wrestle with: Should I deal with this, or should I do what my sister and brother are telling me and just move on with my life? I think the answer to that, ultimately, is going to be he's going to pick it up, but in a way that's very distinctive."

Where does Hartley think that unwavering desire to search for the truth comes from? "I think it drives someone like Colter crazy when he's being lied to or manipulated, or people think they're manipulating him, because that's his game," the actor responded. "He doesn't really get manipulated, but he was a kid and he's just kind of taken on [this belief that] this is what happened [to his father]. It's what he was told, and now he's got to figure out: What are they covering up? Why does everybody seem to know all the information except him? That's kind of the opposite of what he's used to."

Although he had previously expressed an interest in directing an episode of Tracker, Hartley, who cut his teeth behind the camera on Smallville and This Is Us, said he has decided not to take on that additional role this season.

"I thought about it for about half a second, and then I was like, 'That would be taking away from my acting,'" he explained. "It's too much right now to do. I think as we flesh these other characters out and maybe give them more of a storyline, and it's not just me in every frame, maybe I'll have a little more time to direct. But for me to direct an episode of Tracker where I'm in every frame is like … What is that, ego? What am I doing? How can I watch it? I'm in it!'"

Abby McEnany, Tracker Sergei Bachlakov/CBS

"The Velma character is going through some difficult stuff at home, and she's going to find sort of a new purpose in life by helping Reenie open up her own business," Reid said. "Reenie is taking on some risks by opening up her own business, and we're also going to explore some of Reenie's romantic past, which is hinted at a lot. It was hinted at in the pilot and in other places, and [we'll see] how Colter reacts to that."

Although he has certainly had dalliances, Colter's nomadic life as a "lone wolf survivalist" doesn't particularly lend itself to forming long-lasting relationships. Hartley agreed that his character has more pressing concerns than a romantic relationship right now: "I don't think traveling around the country to save people and finding missing people with your girlfriend in an Airstream is very practical, so I think where the lone wolf [label] kind of fits him for now."

As the world of Tracker continues to expand, there will be opportunities to introduce new characters — and Hartley already has some in mind.

"I don't think [the Shaws] had a lot of family friends, but certainly, you have neighbors or people that knew family members from the past," said Hartley. "We don't have anything in there yet, but I always thought it'd be cool to reacquaint with someone that Colter knew from his childhood, from his early teen years — maybe a friend that he hasn't spoken to in 20, 30 years, and then he comes back into the fold and maybe he needs something. And then the friend's reminding him of something from his past, and [Colter's] going, 'What do you mean? I don't remember what you're talking about. I was a kid.' There are just so many avenues to explore on the show."

Hartley has already enlisted Ackles, one of his oldest friends in the industry, to play his brother. Could he recruit another one of his past costars to play a role like the family friend he was just talking about? Maybe a certain actor who has played Superman?

"I love Tom [Welling]," Hartley said of the man who played Clark Kent opposite his Oliver Queen on Smallville. "We'd have to find something for Tom, though — something that he'd be really excited about doing. If I read something and I'm like, 'Oh man, that's got Tom Welling written all over,' I would love nothing more than that, and that'll be the first call I make."