July 20 - 26, 2019 AUTO Demián Bichir and Roselyn Sanchez star in “Grand Hotel” HOME FLOOD LIFE WORK 101 E. Clinton St., Roseboro, N.C. 910-525-5222 [email protected] Five-star television We ought to weigh well, See What Your Neighbors Are Talking About! what we can only once decide. Complete Funeral Service including: Traditional Funerals, Cremation For all your Pre-Need-Pre-Planning flooring Independently Owned & Operated needs! Since 1920’s Butler Funeral Home 401 W. Roseboro Street 2 locations to Hwy. 24 Windwood Dr. Roseboro, NC better serve you Stedman, NC 910-525-5138 910-223-7400 www.clintonappliance.com 591-592-7077 401 NE Blvd., Clinton, NC 910-525-4337 (fax) 910-307-0353(fax) Page 2 — Saturday, July 20, 2019 — Sampson Independent On the Cover Hot stuff: ABC’s ‘Grand Hotel’ puts the sizzle in summer By Kyla Brewer TV Media ith its stunning hotels, sizzling- Whot beaches and even hotter nightlife, Miami is a haven for peo- ple looking for a taste of the high life. Yet, life in Miami isn’t all fun in the sun, and a new series set in a posh hotel explores the dark side of the sunshine state. Academy Award nominee Demián Bichir (“A Better Life,” 2011) stars as Santiago Mendoza, the owner of Miami Beach’s last family- run hotel, in “Grand Hotel,” airing Monday, July 22, on ABC. Inspired by the popular Spanish TV series “Gran Hotel,” the drama offers viewers a modern take on the classic upstairs- downstairs story as it follows the lives of the Mendozas and their wealthy guests, along with those of their loyal working-class staff. The original Spanish series was a period drama, but ABC has updated the American version of the show and set the action in multicultural Miami, an area brimming with Latin Ameri- can culture. While the gorgeous hotel pro- vides a luxurious setting for the se- ries, it was quickly revealed in the June 17 pilot that the Mendoza’s business was in trouble. The family has been plagued by escalating debt and scandals, not to mention explo- sive secrets. A welcome respite from a sum- mer schedule laden with reality TV shows, “Grand Hotel” is a prime- Denyse Tontz as seen in “Grand Hotel” time soap for today’s discerning TV appears in a series of flashbacks. Her self-obsessed Carolina (Feliz that Danny has been secretly investi- its. Meanwhile, an affair between El the show’s inaugural season pulled fans, rife with a mysterious disap- family had owned the Riviera Grand Ramirez, “Bull”) and the decidedly gating the disappearance of his sis- Rey and another character causes in more than three million live view- pearance, an unexpected pregnancy Hotel for generations, and the busi- more awkward Yoli (Justina Adorno, ter, Sky (Arielle Kebbel, “The Vampire friction in the Mendoza family, and a ers per night, though those numbers and maybe even murder. Eva Longo- ness was passed down to her hus- “Seven Seconds”). Diaries”), one of the hotel’s line scandal threatens to derail an em- are expected to rise when DVR view- ria (“Desperate Housewives”) — band after she died. According to of- Hotel manager Mateo (Shalim cooks who went missing after a run- ployee’s career. ers are taken into account. who executive produces, directs and ficial records, Beatriz died of a heart Ortiz, “Heroes”) bridges the gap be- in with Gigi. Meanwhile, pregnant Critical response to the series has For fans of prime-time soap op- appears in the series — has prom- attack, but “Grand Hotel” plot tween the affluent “upstairs” char- hotel housekeeper Ingrid (Anne been mixed so far. In a June review, eras like “Dynasty” and Longoria’s ised that the new show will deliver Variety’s Caroline Framke called former prime-time hit “Desperate plenty of summertime drama. twists soon cast doubt on that con- acters and the staff members. While Winters, “13 Reasons Why”) lies clusion. he serves as Santiago’s right-hand about her unborn child’s paternity. “Grand Hotel” an “easy, breezy Housewives,” her new series may be “’Grand Hotel’ is going to have a summer watch.” Early ratings re- worth a look. Check out a new epi- lot of twists and turns — big twists, In addition to Bichir, the main cast man, he also secretly works for the The show also boasts an impres- includes a bevy of beautiful, talented hotel’s creditors. Helen Parker (Wen- sive roster of recurring actors, in- ports have been modest for a sum- sode of “Grand Hotel,” airing Mon- big turns, big surprises — almost ev- mer series. The first two episodes of day, July 22, on ABC. ery episode,” Longoria said in an of- performers. Roselyn Sanchez dy Raquel Robinson, “The Steve cluding Jencarlos Canela (“Tele- ficial ABC Q&A video. “What will (“Without a Trace”) plays Santiago’s Harvey Show”), known as “Mrs. P” novela”) as rapper El Rey, Adrian keep people coming back is falling in second wife, Gigi, who also hap- to her colleagues, is the hotel’s no- Pasdar (“Heroes”) as Felix, Katey love with the journeys of each of pened to have been Beatriz’s best nonsense head of staff. Sagal (“Sons of Anarchy) as Teresa, these characters and really caring friend. She butts heads with Alicia As for the “downstairs” crew, the and Freddie Stroma (“Time After about their arcs and where they’re (Denyse Tontz, “The Fosters”), Beat- dutiful hotel staff is portrayed by a Time”) as Oliver. going, and then also discovering riz and Santiago’s adult daughter, diverse group of up-and-coming ac- In true prime-time soap opera who they were. Some of them will who recently returned to the hotel tors. Mrs. P’s son, Jason (Chris War- style, “Grand Hotel” features plenty have a past that catches up to after graduating with an MBA from ren, “High School Musical,” 2006), of romance, notably a forbidden dal- them.” Cornell. Alicia’s brother, Javi (Bryan works at the hotel as a waiter. He liance between Danny and Alicia, Longoria guest stars as Beatriz Craig, “General Hospital”), is the befriends Riviera newbie Danny which blossoms despite Mrs. P’s Mendoza, Santiago’s first wife and hotel’s resident playboy. In Gigi’s (Lincoln Younes, “Home and warnings to Danny that the hotel the original owner of the hotel, who camp are her twin daughters: the Away”). What Jason doesn’t know is owner’s family members are off lim- Sampson Independent — Saturday, July 20, 2019 — Page 3 Sports This Week SATURDAY 9:00 p.m. ESPN UFC UFC Rafael dos WRDC Ring of Honor Wrestling 10:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1h) 7:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1h) nament. 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