What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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T10 WHATS UP! July 1 - 7, 2018 Media, magazine editor Kitty Montgomery. Wickedly ambi- tious, Kitty is sucked into a terrifying news cycle when a feminist organization begins to target those around her. "Julianna is diabolically tal- ented and beautiful, which makes her perfect to play our Kitty," Noxon said. "I am genu- inely honored to have the op- portunity to work with her. She's a special human and a rare actor." The cast also includes Ta- mara Tunie ("Law & Order: Special Victims Unit") as Julia Smith, an Austen Media em- ployee who manages the beau- ty closet where they store all manner of makeup, lotions and fad-worthy products. However, Plum learns Julie has a hidden agenda as an op- erative for an underground feminist organization that wants to undermine the mes- sages of Austen Media's beau- ty magazines and those like them. On the flipside is Robin Weigert ("Deadwood") as Ver- ena Baptist, the fierce leader of a feminist collective who brings women into a place dubbed Calliope House, a place of acceptance. She hopes to deprogram Plum so she can reject beauty industry think- ing and accept herself for who she is now, not who she thinks she should be. Erin Darke ("Good Girls Re- volt") plays Leeta Albridge, who shakes up Plum's world when she tries to recruit her for Baptist, claiming that the leader will change her life. Baptist's other followers in- clude former sitcom star Mar- lowe Buchannan (Alanna Ubach, "Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce"), who lost her job when she gained a few extra pounds, and Sana (Ami Sheth, "Blindspot"), a disfigured art- ist who becomes a model of self-acceptance for Plum. Cal- liope House is also home to Rubi (Jen Ponton, "30 Rock"), a colorful, exuberant and very opinionated woman. Plum's love interest in the series is NYPD Det. Dominic O'Shea (Adam Rothenberg, "Ripper Street"), who be- comes attracted to Plum while investigating a hack at Austen Media. Dominic pals around with fellow cop and former partner, Bobby (Marc Blucas, "Underground"). British actress Rowena King ("Of Kings and Prophets") portrays no-nonsense news- caster Cheryl Crane-Murphy, who struggles to remain calm as she delivers macabre news sparked by the actions of a feminist terrorist group known only as Jennifer. Aus- ten Media titan Stanley Aus- ten (Campbell Scott, "Royal Pains") has been targeted by the anonymous feminist ter- rorists. Meanwhile, his wife, Abra (Kelly Hu, "The Scorpi- on King," 2002), has grown re- sentful of being regarded as merely Stanley's "trophy wife." Behind the scenes, Noxon serves as executive producer, writer and showrunner. She also directs several episodes, exploring issues such as patri- archy, misogyny and rape cul- ture in addition to critiquing unrealistic beauty standards. Filmed in New York City, the series tackles important is- sues and is likely to spark heated conversations among viewers. In fact, AMC is counting on it. The network has paired the series with an aftershow in the vein of "Talk- ing Dead," the companion se- ries to its mega-hit "The Walk- ing Dead." "Unapologetic With Aisha Tyler" airs imme- diately after each episode of "Dietland" as Tyler ("Whose Line Is It Anyway?") and her guests talk about the show and the issues it explores. While shows such as "Talking Dead" focus primarily on its compan- ion series, "Unapologetic" digs deeper as Tyler leads dis- cussions about broader "fe- male-centric" issues beyond the themes touched on in "Di- etland." The talk show fea- tures a mix of series stars and producers, celebrity fans, journalists, comedians, writ- ers and others. All in all, "Dietland" has been causing quite a stir in the television industry as Hollywood continues to move forward with the Me Too movement against sexual harassment and assault. Fol- low a beaten and distraught Plum as she takes cover in Calliope House, where she tries to come to terms with who she really is in a new epi- sode of "Dietland," airing Monday, July 2, on AMC, and stick around to check out "Unapologetic With Aisha Tyler." Tamara Tunie as seen in "Dietland" continued from page T2 Feminist television: AMC's biting satire 'Dietland' tackles big issues TV FEATURE