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March 20 - 26, 2023 Page 3 By Dana Simpson S ince 2018, the designer-clad, private-jet-setting Roy family has graced HBO with its particular brand of sardonic humor and drama. Now, after five years of media mayhem, Jesse Armstrong's ("Peep Show") witty business masterpiece returns for a fourth and final season. "Succes - sion" premieres its closing install- ment Sunday, March 26, on HBO. The highly acclaimed series, which was nominated for 25 awards at the 2022 Emmys and took home a win for Outstand- ing Drama Series, follows the Roy family as its potential heirs wage a semi-private battle for the position of Waystar Royco CEO. All children of media mag- nate Logan Roy (Brian Cox, "Troy," 2004) — a Rupert Murdoch-type businessman — Kendall (Jeremy Strong, "The Trial of the Chicago 7," 2020), Siobhan, a.k.a. Shiv (Sarah Snook, "An American Pickle," 2020) and Roman Roy (Kier - an Culkin, "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," 2010) have been oscillating between union and division in the name of (you guessed it) succession since the very first episode. There is also, as viewers know, one more Roy child who often goes overlooked. Connor Roy (Alan Ruck, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," 1986), Logan's eldest and the only child from his first mar- riage, flits in and out of family affairs while chasing his main goal: the American presidency. Despite his dream of running the country rather than his fa- ther's empire, Connor still often manages to complicate matters for his family on the way to the top of the political sphere. Amid the turmoil, scandal, politics and petty familial affairs, Logan is still running the show heading into Season 4 — something that somewhat shocked actor Cox, considering the original plan for the series. "I was supposed to die at the end of the first series," Cox said of the show's inaugural season. "But I think they [the writ- ers] realized that Logan is the centrifugal force of the piece. Everything has to spin off him, and the kids' vices are all about their father." That said, come Season 4, anything could happen. Regard- less, series creator Armstrong has stated his intention to deliv- er on the promise set out in the show's title. "There's a promise in the title of 'Succession,' Armstrong confirmed in February 2023. "The end has always been kind of present in my mind." Armstrong did, however, hint in an interview with The New Statesman that there would be "a very definite mo- ment when [the] story is over," leading to much speculation that Logan will finally take his last breath, if not in life then certainly in business, by the series finale. The question then remains: who will ascend to the Roy family throne? ACROSS 1. actor on "Home Economics" (2) 9. Blue 10. "a guy walks into __ __…" (joke open- ing) 11. andorra's continent: abbr. 13. Nudges 15. Egypt's capital 17. Role on "The Rook- ie" (2) 18. Smallest of 50: abbr. 20. Prefix for form or pay 21. "__ Got a Secret" 23. Jones or Welling 24. "Major __" 25. "This Is Us" network 26. "__ Officer and a Gentleman"; Gere/ Winger film 29. Foreign affirmative 30. Wagner & Lohan 34. airport in chicago 36. Writer __ Boothe Luce 38. "__ andreas"; Dwayne Johnson movie 39. Metwally of "Big Sky" 42. "Grounded __ Life" 43. Role on "Fire coun- try" (2) DOWN 1. Mayo container 2. "american __" 3. Gender: abbr. 4. Initials for Kerr's "The King and I" costar 5. casual farewell 6. Part of a foot 7. Harness strap 8. "Days of __ Lives" 9. Tracy __ of "chica- go P.D." 12. actress on "Ghosts" (2) 14. "__ South" (1994- 99) 16. Start of a vowel list 19. __ Ortiz; "FBI: Most Wanted" role 20. Lowe & Estes 22. Ralph Kramden's neighbor 23. Dolly Parton's state of birth: abbr. 27. Forest tree 28. Skinny Olive 30. actress Turner 31. Marquee light gas 32. Farmland unit 33. "__ House"; 2012 film for Denzel 35. Easter entrée, per- haps 37. Role on "alaska Daily" 40. "__ Wife and Kids" 41. Pacino's initials CoverStory The identity of the featured celebrity is found within the answers in the puzzle. In order to take the TV challenge, unscramble the letters noted with asterisks within the puzzle. InFocus Next in 'Succession': Backstabbing, banter and business continue in final season The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song 2023 (PBS — new special, March 31) Legendary singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell is honored as the re- cipient of the Library of congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. This tribute concert celebrates the artist who set a new standard of marrying music and lyrics. With songs such as "Both Sides, Now," "chelsea Morning," "Big Yellow Taxi," "Woodstock" and "The circle Game," Mitchell became a household name and left a distinct impression on both american culture and internation- ally, drawing from jazz, classical and rock as she crossed various Solution is on page 2.

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