Scandal Season 4 Preimier: Plot Summary

The season focuses on Olivia's return to Washington, D.C., after spending two months relocated on an island off the coast of Zanzibar with Jake, and how her absence has affected the people around her.
The first half of the season focuses on Jake's arrest for the death of Jerry Grant after Rowan forces Tom to name Jake as the operator. Rowan continues to try to make everyone believe Jake is guilty, which inspires Olivia to find out the truth for herself. After forcing Tom to reveal Rowan as his operator, Fitz, Jake, and Olivia make a plan to arrest Rowan. Unfortunately, the plan fails, causing Rowan to shut down B613 and start eliminating B613 agents. Olivia tries to kill Rowan when she confronts him, but he manages to flee.
The season also focuses on how Olivia Pope & Associates has been closed, which has led Abby, Huck, and Quinn to seek alternative employment.
Abby is now the White House Press Secretary, and is struggling with gaining the respect of Cyrus and Fitz, because they choose to demean her by calling "Red" instead of Abby. Later in the season, Abby finds herself stressed even more by the presence of her abusive ex-husband, who has been nominated for Virginia State Senator, and she enlists Leo Bergen to help ruin his campaign. Huck is working at an electronic shop and is refusing to come back to the firm, but he eventually does. In the past two months, he has been watching his estranged family, but he has not been allowed by his former wife Kim to see his son, Javi. However, much to Kim's dismay, Huck and Javi begin to form a friendship by playing video games together.
Quinn has been stayed in contact with both Abby and Huck, in addition to trying to find Olivia. During the first part of the season, Quinn works on a case for Olivia's friend, Catherine, from law school, in which Catherine's daughter ends up murdered and Catherine's grief-stricken husband commits suicide. The case takes an unexpected twist when Quinn discovers that the killer of Catherine's daughter, Kobiak, has been working with both the head of the RNC, Elizabeth North, and Vice President Andrew Nichols. Their plan is revealed as an attempt to start a war in West Angola. Elizabeth North and Andrew Nichols then engineer the kidnapping of Olivia, anticipating that Fitz will do anything to save her.
Mellie struggles with the death of her son, Jerry. She finally comes in terms with her loss after finding out that Jerry was murdered due to being deliberately exposed to bacterial meningitis rather than contracting the disease naturally, and she chooses to form an alliance with Elizabeth North.
Cyrus starts sleeping with Michael, a male prostitute, who is in the pay of Elizabeth. After finding out that Michael has been leaking information from Cyrus to Elizabeth, Cyrus calls Olivia for help. When pictures of Cyrus and Michael are leaked, the couple come up with a plan to get married as a way of handling the crisis.

-Wiki

“Philomena”: The nuns stole her baby, 50 years ago

Steve Coogan and Judi Dench are the year's most potent odd couple in the subtle and heart-wrenching "Philomena"

Judi Dench and Steve Coogan in "Philomena" (Credit: Alex Bailey)

I feel considerable resistance, in theory, to a movie like “Philomena,” a classic work of fall-season awards-friendly cinema whose every move seems strategically plotted. It pairs one of the most beloved figures in world cinema (Judi Dench) with an acidic British star who’s never broken through in America and is looking to reboot his career (Steve Coogan). You get exactly one guess as to which member of this odd couple is the guileless innocent who needs a bit more steel in her spine and which one is the hard-boiled cynic who lacks a heart. Furthermore, “Philomena” also represents the latest comeback effort for English director Stephen Frears, who’s been cranking out workmanlike pictures since his 1980s heyday with only intermittent success. (“The Queen” and “Dirty Pretty Things” would be his best movies of this millennium.)
Fortunately, if and when you’re able to shovel those contextual questions to the back of your mind and watch the movie, “Philomena” turns out to be a subtly told tale of tragedy and redemption, with much of the sentimental payoff you’re expecting but several intriguing plot twists along the way. This is Coogan’s project, to a significant extent. He produced the film and co-wrote the screenplay (with Jeff Pope), which is based on a real-life tabloid story (ultimately a book, “The Lost Child of Philomena Lee”) that mesmerized the British public. But he understands where the heart of the film lies, nicely underplaying the role of Martin Sixsmith, a one-time star journalist and political apparatchik who has been ousted in a government scandal and is seeking both a payday and a way to relaunch his career. Martin has a bit in common with Coogan himself, a huge comedy star in British TV whose boundlessly insincere persona has never translated to the big screen.
Source-Salon

INTERVIEW: Actress Nse Ikpe-Etim Talks About Marriage, Passion and Career

Popular Actress, Nse Ikpe-Etim talks about her passion, marriage and career.

Before you started acting professionally, were you not afraid of the Genevieves and Omotolas?
Everyone is cautious when they enter into a new world, but I wouldn’t go so far as to use the word ‘afraid’.
There is the initial trepidation, but that comes more out of a worry of not succeeding as opposed to a fear of the competition.
I have a deep respect for everyone who paved the way for the rest of us. You cannot take anything away from Genevieve or Omotola, they are fantastic actresses.
What stands you out among other actresses?
Well, I think my fans will be more suited to answer this particular question. I do not get a chance to watch a lot of my work, so at best, I can only guess.
What do you miss most about being not popular?
I miss being anonymous. I miss not having to be so guarded. Fame is a heavy cross, yes the perks make it pleasurable but the demands on you and the loss of privacy are sometimes difficult to live with. However, I chose this career, so I deal with the consequences; good or bad.
What was your first movie role and how did you get it?
My first movie was called Venom Of Justice. It was right after I graduated from the university. It was such a long time ago and I can hardly remember the details of how I got it. But I do know that I was very excited to be acting. This was of course before my very long hiatus.
You worked in a radio station, bank and clothing store, at what point in your life did acting find you?
I actually dabbled into acting before I went into broadcasting, banking or retailing. My stint was very short, it was right after I graduated from the university. Most people assume Reloaded was my first movie but it was in fact, my comeback.
I got that role when Emem Isong insisted I had to play the character, Omoze. I did not want to at first and after a whole lot of coercing and yanking my chain, I caved in, look where it got me (smiles).
How did growing up shape you to be the person you have become?
Our past has a great deal to do with our present and future. The values I hold dear, I imbibed them as a child and young lady. I’m the eldest child, so I grew up with a fair deal of responsibility placed on my shoulders early on. I think this helped keep me grounded.
What is your definition of style?
Style is simply being comfortable in your own skin.

Tell us how are you coping as a wife and as an actress?
Women have been working and married for several years now. It can be challenging, especially when it comes to time management, but the important thing is to have a firm grip on your priorities. I know what is important to me and I always strive to keep that in focus.
What were the most challenging periods of your growing up years?
Asides losing my dad, growing up was fairly uneventful.
You said your mum was your mentor. What are those things that make you always remember her?
My mother is the strongest woman I know. She was a rock for my siblings and I, she still is. She was always there for us, no matter the situation ,you knew you could always run to mum.
As an actress, one can be so caught up with work, what are your favourite relaxing spots?
I don’t really go out. My schedule doesn’t give me a lot of downtime. So, when I do get some time off, I spend it with family, sleeping or reading a good book.
You seem to be savouring your marriage, what has been the most romantic gesture from your husband?
That’s because I married my best friend. There are many romantic gestures to pick from. Perhaps, one day, I’ll write a book and tell it all. But until then. it’s my secret.
You once said your husband is the definition of true love, what is true love?
Being with someone or people who love you completely and never judge you. That is true love. There is a bible passage that deals extensively with the subject of love. True love is all that and more.
Between Ghanaian actors and Nigerian actors, who would you describe as more romantic in movies?
I think the romance an actor portrays depends on the character they’re playing or the request of the director. I doubt it has anything to do with the country that an actor is from. Acting is universal and anyone can play a romantic role.
What is the inspiration behind your signature hairdo?
I had experimented with all sorts. At one point I was blonde. Nothing really, I guess I just decided that if the hair I was born with was good enough for my ancestors, then I might as well give it a try. I do sport weaves when the roles call for it, but when I’m Nse, this is the hair I’m comfortable with.
How much would it take to have you shave your hair for a movie role?
There are implements and fashion accessories that mimic a shaved head very well. I would rather use that than shave my hair. In Hollywood, very rarely do you hear that an actor had to go bald to pull off a look.
How does your hubby feel when you kiss other actors in movies?
Same way I imagine every spouse who is married to an actor should feel. But he understands that this is my job and if a script calls for kissing, then it is work. However, there are different ways to show affection, you must not lock lips to show your feelings for a loved one. Skilled actors can show this without resorting to kissing.
Are you getting fulfilled as an actress?
Yes I am. I have been blessed and I’m thankful for every day I have spent chasing this dream. Of course, there are challenges, but nothing good comes easy.
Asides acting, what else do you do? Is that not enough? Bankers work as bankers and engineers work as engineers.
It is a full-time job and sometimes it is even more demanding than a nine to five job.
You are no doubt good looking, young and homely, and cannot avoid male fans, who has been the most adamant male fan you have ever had.. and what was the experience with him?
Thank you for these lovely compliments. I think I’ve been lucky in the crazy fan department. My fans are very respectful of my space and marital status, I don’t have any horror stories to share.
At what point in your life would you rest on your oars as an actress?
When I’m dead; acting for me is like breathing. I’m most alive when I’m pursuing my passion, which is acting. If I were to quit doing this, then it would be for very strong reasons.
What is your greatest indulgence? If I said my husband, would that be allowed? I don’t have an addictive personality, so there really isn’t anything that I indulge in regularly.
What is that thing that would make you spend millions of naira?
It wouldn’t be a thing, it would have to be a person.
The woman in the movie, Mr and Mrs was passion driven and pained, could it have been an experience earlier in life?
I am a passionate person, friends and family can attest to this. But I have only been married once, so it wasn’t the result of any early experience.
For that role, I tried to imagine myself as a woman who loved her husband immensely and wanted to fight for her marriage. And as soon I found that reserve, it was a question of tapping into it.
Funniest thing you have read in the news about you? This is a tricky question.
Yes! There have been so many, but I don’t pay much attention to what is in circulation about me.
You love to cook, don’t you think you should pursue that passion too?
I will, there are plans in the works to explore this part of me publicly, but as soon as I have something concrete, you will be the first to know.

Naij

'The Mentalist' reaction: Red John revealed?

The Mentalist, “The Great Red Dragon,” featured Patrick Jane exposing Red John to the world. Red John is revealed to be … CBI Director Gale Bertram (Michael Gaston)! The case against Bertram seems pretty conclusive. He was on Jane’s list, he’s one of the law enforcement officers with the three-dots tattoo, survived last week’s explosion and even tried to kill Jane in the hospital. So Bertram is Red John … right? Once again, tonight’s action-packed hour ditched the show’s bill-paying murder-of-the-week format to focus exclusively on the Red John storyline. The CBI team scrambled to track down the remaining suspects in the wake of last week’s explosion. One, Agent Reede Smith (Drew Powell), was captured and is apparently not Red John. Another, Bertram, is on the run and now wearing sinister black sunglasses (whaaaat, no farewell moment for Malcolm McDowell’s Scientology-esque cult leader Bret Stiles? He was the interesting one!). We also learned the corrupt three-dots cops are all members of a group called “The Blake Association.” Then the FBI moved in and shut down the CBI, with Agent Dennis Abbott (Rockmund Dundar) taking charge of the Bertram hunt and literally cleaning house. Highlights: Jane interviewing a corrupt cop and getting all his answers non-verbally, gut-shot Agent Smith’s “Having Fun in Sacramento” T-shirt, Bertram coolly murdering a bartender, and Jane getting depressed over losing his favorite tea cup. Also: This week’s title, “The Great Red Dragon,” is a reference to the Blake Association’s mascot, artist William Blake (which itself is a nod to one of The Mentalist’s likely influences, Thomas Harris’ Red Dragon). The stretches: How were half the people in a confined space “burnt to a crisp” beyond recognition by a big explosion while the other half survived largely unscathed? Why would crafty law enforcement members of a secret criminal conspiracy all get incriminating matching tattoos? Should Jane trust his instincts that Reede is being truthful about not being Red John when he has no clue which of his suspects has been deceiving him this whole time? Is the easiest way to escape the city really by calling SWAT teams to your location? And most of all: Why does shutting down the CBI involve immediately confiscating its office furniture (surely that couch doesn’t solve crimes on its own)? What did you think of this week’s hour? Is Bertram really Red John? Take the poll below. Teasing up next week: The episode is titled, simply, “Red John.” It contains a scene that is, I kid you not, the most searing and memorable in the show’s history. If you’ve ever been a Mentalist fan, this is an episode you need to watch. After next week’s hour, we’ll post an interview with both creator Bruno Heller and star Simon Baker talking about the episode. SOURCE:EW