Some of summer’s hottest days are about to happen. As you sit inside with the air conditioner keeping everything at a balmy 72 degrees, you may be wondering what to watch on television, shows that will have you in a deep dive on X (formerly Twitter) and ones your friends will want to dish about as they sit in their favorite air-conditioned spaces.
A great series to start with is one that’s already got a season or two (or six!) under its belt, so you have a weekend’s worth of binge TV to keep you cool. To help you get started, EBONY spoke with the stars of three returning shows to get you up to speed on their characters and why they are so irresistible to watch. And we’ve added a bonus new series just in case you’re looking for a show to start with on its day one. Here, the actors also give a little sneak peek at what to expect from their characters in the upcoming season.
Toni Trucks, SEAL Team (Returns August 11, Paramount+)
Toni Trucks on Seal Team. Image: Michael Moriatis/Paramount+.
“Lieutenant Lisa Davis is the Intel Officer for the elite special ops unit Bravo Team. My character is extremely driven in her job and also deeply tied to the SEAL Team she works to protect. She considers them to be her family. It’s this mix of breaking stereotypes and having these complicated relationships that make my character someone audiences get attached to watching. What initially grabs people’s attention is that my character is the only military woman working in the midst of this hardcore SEAL team. Being a Black woman in these spaces adds another vital layer. I have found that the stories of women (and especially women of color) in male-dominated military spaces are often overlooked on camera. I love that I get to bring one of these stories to light.
I find the ‘die-hard’ fans always come back to my on-again, off-again romance with Sonny, one of the guys on the SEAL Team. That kind of tension always keeps viewers hooked and is what fans always want to discuss if they stop me in the street.”
Jimmy Akingbola, Bel-Air (Returns August 15, Paramount+)
Jimmy Akingbola on Bel-Air. Image: Tyler Golden/Peacock.
“Geoffrey in Bel-Air is very different from the original O.G. Geoffrey from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In our show, he’s not a butler; he’s Uncle Phil’s “consigliere”—his brother-in-arms—and they are equals. His job and his brotherhood with Uncle Phil mean he knows and sees everything and yet shares nothing unless he must. Sometimes he has to challenge Uncle Phil, which has led to fights and disagreements between them. Geoffrey is a man of his word. He handles business and will do what is needed to protect the Banks family. In some ways, Geoffrey is also a mystery—he keeps his cards close to his chest. Like all of us, he is flawed and has sacrificed a lot. He loves the Banks family, and yet every beautiful moment he experiences with them makes him miss his own family, especially his son Frederick, who means the world to him. The audience loves G—a.k.a. Geoffrey—for many reasons, but mainly because he is the wild card of the show. We have replaced “one-liners” with him getting things #Handled or #Sorted. People also laugh and joke at the fact that we haven’t seen Geoffrey do any butler tasks in two seasons of Bel-Air. He’s intriguing and mysterious, and you never know what he will do next—G don’t play!
At the end of season two, we saw Geoffrey worried after receiving calls from an unknown number in London and being sent a surveillance photograph of him and his son Frederick eating lunch. Season three will see us exploring how Geoffrey’s past might be slowly catching up with him.”
Imani Pullum (Classified, Premieres August 22, Prime Video)
Imani Pullum. Image: Dana Patrick.
“Ella is a 15-year-old girl from Oakland, California. She’s an artist, activist and skateboarder. Ella’s biggest storyline arc is when she becomes an asset to her stepmom, Dianne, who is the C.I.A. station chief in South Africa. Ella has to make difficult choices as an asset and is faced with the challenge of deciding how far she’ll go for the sake of her mission.
Ella is definitely a character people will have a love-hate relationship with. She has a lot of admirable qualities: She’s brazen, intelligent and fiercely loyal to her family. But she’s young and in a very difficult situation for someone her age to navigate, so she makes some questionable choices along the way.”
Bentley Green, 61st Street (The CW)
Bentley Green. Image: Alan Karuku.
“This season, we’re seeing Joshua Johnson grow in ways we never thought we would see. The traumatic events experienced in the inner city of Chicago have redefined what success and growth mean to Joshua. This season is full of changing for the better, not just for his future but for his community. I think audiences will love Joshua because of his determination and survival instincts. Although he’s been through so many trials and tribulations, he still chooses the maintain his gratitude and righteousness. I think his empathy will reach the audience in ways that make them grow closer to him and his story.
The audience will love Joshua Johnson because of his determination and survival instincts. Although he’s been through so many trials and tribulations, he still chooses to maintain his gratitude and righteousness. I think his empathy will reach them in ways that will make them grow closer to him and his story.”
