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Cover Story A second term ‘Madam Secretary’ soars into its sophomore year on CBS By Shona Dustan made her even more of a house- characters lack a work-life bal- TV Media hold name. Last year, almost ance, but McCord has a solid two decades since her last tele- support system in her family — ne of last year’s best new vision stint, she returned to her a refreshing take on the career- Odramas returns this week roots once more as Elizabeth driven modern woman. with more star power than ever. McCord. McCord’s husband, Henry, is CBS is the master of proce- A strong and intelligent for- played by another television dural drama, so it was no sur- mer CIA operative, McCord is veteran, Tim Daly. Daly has prise that its foray into the pulled out of a relatively quiet spent much of his career on TV world of politics, “Madam life when the secretary of state — he starred in the doctor dra- Secretary,” did well when it pre- is killed in a very suspicious ma “Private Practice” for five of miered last fall. The story fol- plane crash. When she’s asked its six seasons, and even recent- lows a fledgling secretary of by the president to step into the ly guest-starred as Mindy’s state as she navigates the chal- role of secretary of state, she (Mindy Kaling) love interest in lenges of her new position. The finds she cannot refuse, and “The Mindy Project.” But it was consistently engaging plot and dives headlong into a life of po- his starring role in the beloved an impressive cast have served litical intrigue and dangerous comedy series “Wings” that CBS well, and the series was terror plots. “I’ve always really catapulted him to fame. Daly’s quickly picked up for another enjoyed [playing] a lively fish ability to play strong, wise and year. The sophomore season of out of water and pretty much by kind men is impeccable, which “Madam Secretary” premieres about page 2 of the script, I is perfect for playing Henry, who Sunday, Oct. 4. knew that’s what this was going is a former marine, professor of theology and a doting father Critics and fans alike knew to be,” Leoni told “The and husband. Henry and the series had promise right out Hollywood Reporter” last year. Elizabeth McCord have been of the gate due to some major Leoni plays McCord with equal married for 25 years as the se- talent both in front of and be- parts gravitas and vulnerability, ries opens, a fact that’s easy to hind the camera. Front and cen- embodying the character’s com- believe, thanks to the great tre is Téa Leoni (“Tower Heist,” plexities seamlessly. chemistry between Daly and 2011), who stars as Elizabeth And McCord is a beautifully Leoni. McCord, a professor of political complex character, any actor’s A host of excellent character science and former CIA analyst dream. It’s exciting to see her actors fills out much of the se- who is thrust into the role of U.S. fight the good fight at work, ries. Bebe Neuwirth (“Cheers”), secretary of state when her pre- then head home, where she’s a Zeljko Ivanek (“Heroes”) and decessor dies in a plane crash. comfortable, capable home- body, a loving mother to her Keith Carradine (“Dexter”) — The series follows McCord as playing McCord’s chief of staff, she deals with endless internal three children and one half of a very supportive and functional the White House chief of staff drama while working tirelessly marriage. Frequently, televi- and the president of the United to thwart the efforts of those sion’s States, respectively — who wish to harm the American power- have been television people. ful fe- staples for decades. Leoni got her start on televi- male Theirs are faces every- sion with a role in the soapy one will recognize, “Santa Barbara,” but quickly transitioned into a strong film Tim Daly and career. Six years later, she re- Téa Leoni as turned to TV with a starring role seen in in “The Naked Truth,” which “Madam Secretary” 2 Feature Story Back in a ‘Flash’ CW’s speedy superhero is back for a second season By Jacqueline threat from his recurring role in the multiverse (a universe with Spendlove the series as scheming jerk multiple and alternate realities TV Media Sebastian Smythe — a some- and timelines) — anything is what less heroic character than possible. Showrunner Andrew the one he currently plays. In Kreisberg hinted at San Diego’s ith the summer’s late sun- “The Flash,” Barry, a crime Comic-Con International: “We sets and balmy evenings W scene investigator with a tragic have a multiverse on the show behind us for another year, we past, develops superhuman that anyone who has died can can finally go back to parking speed when a particle acceler- still be on the show.” So any ourselves in front of the TV in ator malfunctions and he’s character, dead or alive, can the evening relatively guilt- struck by lightning in the ensu- make an appearance, as can free. Premiere season is upon ing storm. After a nine-month different versions of the same us — in fact, we’re right in the coma, he awakens to discover character — a real thick of it. his remarkable new abilities, “Terminator”-esque mind As you’re getting reac- which he uses to fight bad guys bender. quainted with the shows that in Central City — primarily As for the heretofore socially were deemed worthy of re- other “metahumans” who, like awkward Barry, Gustin hopes newal, keep an eye out for him, were affected by the acci- that this season will see him “The Flash.” The superhero se- dent and the storm it caused. growing more into his superhe- ries got off to a strong start last The season 1 finale left off ro role. “I want to be able to, year and was consistently well with a cliffhanger that saw next year, get a little more received by critics and audienc- Barry zipping into a black hole cocky with it and confident es alike. Check out the second to try to stop it from destroying with the super powers,” he season of “The Flash” when it the city and, ultimately, the said at The CW’s 2015 upfronts debuts Tuesday, Oct. 6, on CW world (he’s also kind of respon- back in May. “I want to be a lit- and CTV. sible for it, but that’s neither tle bit closer to the Flash from With the current glut of su- here nor there). It’s probably the comics.” perhero movies and TV series, safe to assume that he does Some more characters from “The Flash” is certainly holding get the situation under control, the comics will also be joining its own. When the “Arrow” spi- since a show about a world the show for season 2. The ter- noff premiered last year, it — obliterated by a black hole ribly mysterious Zoom (Tony pardon the pun — hit the wouldn’t be very entertaining, Todd, “Candyman,” 1992) will ground running. With 4.8 mil- but that’s not to say it doesn’t be this season’s primary lion viewers, the pilot episode cause a whole mess of trou- antagonist, sending was the second-most-watched ble first. villains aplenty from series premiere ever for The The black hole formed alternate worlds to CW. The series held strong after Barry jaunted kill The Flash. Among throughout its freshman sea- through time to save these will be Killer son, averaging 3.8 million U.S. his mother, who Frost, a dark version of viewers per episode and nab- died when he Caitlin Snow (Danielle bing the People’s Choice was a lad. Things Panabaker, “Time Award for Favourite New TV don’t work out Lapse,” 2014) from an Drama. as planned, but alternate reality. We got The show provides an origin now that we’ve a brief glimpse at her story for the DC Comics charac- got time travel through the wormhole in ter The Flash, a.k.a. Barry Allen, on the table — the season 1 finale. played by Grant Gustin. “Glee” not to mention Grant Gustin stars in fans will recognize the triple the concept of “The Flash” 4 CrosswordTV Westerns actor Mr. Calhoun (b.1922 - d.1999) 6 Shade tree 7 Hawaiian island 8 Actor who played the henchman Jaws in James Bond movies: 2 wds. 9 Latin hymn: “Dies __” 10 Mindy of “The Facts of Life” 11 “Orinoco Flow” songstress 16 “American __ __: Hotel” on FX 17 Business name abbr. 22 Boston Celtics org. 23 Certain ISP 24 Stage actress Ms. Hagen 26 ‘Speed’ suffix 27 Also ACROSS 22 Pacific island mother Constance 28 “The __ Sothern 1 “The __ Diary” republic MacKenzie on Show” (2011) starring 25 Stand-up comedi- ‘60s series 30 Home city for the Johnny Depp an Ms. Rudner “Peyton Place”: 2 A’s of baseball 4 Word in the title of 29 Common injection wds. 34 Head topper Gene at the dermatolo- 46 Hertz Rent _ __ 35 Buddhist who has Roddenberry’s gist’s office 47 “__ Flux” (2005) attained Nirvana famous space 30 Ancient theater 48 “Making Plans for 36 Where Apia is the series 31 Banned orchard Nigel” lettered capital in the 8 Musicals lyricist Tim spray band South Pacific 12 ‘Brooklyn’ suffix 32 Ohio city 49 Be dependent 37 Purim’s month 13 Greeting in 33 Woodstock per- 50 Jazz trumpeter Mr.