AJW Landscaping 910-271-3777 Clearing the way for Santa and all season long! Mulching-Raking-Mowing-Pruning December 29, 2018 - January 4, 2019 Weatherizing Plants - Salting- Shoveling Licensed – Insured Reaching for the stars 910 276 7474 | 877 829 2515 Adrianne Palicki stars 12780 S Caledonia Rd, Laurinburg, NC 28352 in “The Orville” serving Scotland County and surrounding areas We Deliver! Pricing Plans Available Refer a friend programs available Joy Jacobs, Store Manager 234 E. Church Street Laurinburg, NC 910-277-8588 www.kimbrells.com Page 2 — Saturday, December 29, 2018 — Laurinburg Exchange A new kind of sci-fi: Fox’s ‘The Orville’ mixes comedy, drama and more By Kyla Brewer 2017) have snagged roles this TV Media season, but little information has been released about it. hen it comes to television, Season 1 boasted a roster of Wscience fiction fans can be a high-profile guest stars that in- fickle bunch. As loyal as they are cluded Charlize Theron (“Mon- to the series they adore, they can ster,” 2003), Rob Lowe (“Parks also be highly critical of those that and Recreation”), Jeffrey Tambor don’t live up to their expectations. (“Transparent”), Holland Taylor However, a sci-fi series turned the (“The Practice”) and Liam Neeson genre on its head last season and (“Schindler’s List,” 1993), so won over skeptics. viewers may want to keep their Seth MacFarlane (“Family eyes peeled for notable guest Guy”) returns as Capt. Ed Mercer, stars in season 2. commanding officer of a mid-level With any luck, “The Orville” exploratory spaceship, in the spe- will continue to defy the critics in cial two-hour season premiere of season 2 and prove it’s more than “The Orville,” airing Sunday, Dec. a collection of sci-fi cliches. De- 30, on Fox. This season comes spite naysayers, the first season with a slew of new challenges for earned a number of accolades him and his crew as they embark and won a Saturn Award for Best on another mission to explore the Science Fiction Television Series, a universe. surprise win against such popular Combining classic science fic- series as “Doctor Who,” “The X- tion with comedy, drama and Files” and “Colony.” even romance, “The Orville” is a While many sci-fi shows offer departure for MacFarlane, who’s viewers a dreary look at the fu- not only the series star but also its ture, MacFarlane’s series takes a creator. He’s best known for his Seth MacFarlane in a scene from “The Orville” more lighthearted, optimistic ap- work in animation as the creator “He has delivered a series full of friend, Lt. Gordon Malloy, the planet, and as a result has super- reported that Szohr’s fellow “Gos- proach. Find out what the uni- and star of Fox’s “Family Guy,” as optimism, drama and his trade- ship’s helmsman, who’s known human strength. Lt.-Cmdr. John sip Girl” alum Leighton Meester verse has in store for Mercer and well as co-creator of “American mark humor. We want to thank for his juvenile pranks. Penny LaMarr (J. Lee, “Family Guy”) was and up-and-coming actor Chris his colleagues when “The Orville” Dad!” and “The Cleveland Show.” him and the rest of the talented Johnson Jerald (“The Larry Sand- promoted from navigator to chief Johnson (“47 Meters Down,” returns Sunday, Dec. 30, on Fox. A true renaissance man, MacFar- cast, as well as the producers and ers Show”) stars as the ship’s engineer last season. The crew’s lane is also a singer, writer and crew, for an incredible first sea- chief medical officer, Dr. Claire science and engineering officer, filmmaker. son. We can’t wait to see where Finn. Lt.-Cmdr. Bortus (Peter Ma- Isaac (Mark Jackson, “Pepper- “The Orville” marks his first the Orville travels in the second.” con, “Supernatural”) serves as mint,” 2013), is a member of a leading-man role in a live-action Mercer and his crew are in for the ship’s second officer. Hailing non-biological race from Kaylon-1 prime-time comedy, and he’s been an exciting sophomore season as from Moclus, he and his mate, who’s using his post to study hu- mostly well received by viewers as they encounter new aliens and Klyden (Chad Coleman, “The man behavior. Mercer. The show got off to a face off with their old adversaries, Walking Dead”), welcomed a Jessica Szohr (“Gossip Girl”) rough start with TV critics when it the Krill. They’ll make first contact baby last season. The Orville’s joins the regular cast as new crew premiered on Sunday, Sept. 10, with a brand new civilization, an young chief of security, Lt. Alara member Talla in season 2, though 2017, but it soon won over audi- exciting prospect for a crew of Kitan (Halston Sage, “How to details about her character have ences with its unique mix of com- space explorers. Fans of the show Rock”), comes from a high-gravity been kept under wraps. It’s been edy and drama. Despite criticism may also recognize a familiar that the series was a blatant spoof planet from season 1 as the U.S.S. of the iconic sci-fi series “Star Orville revisits Moclus. Trek,” millions of fans tuned in On a personal level, Mercer’s BREEDEN’S each week to witness the antics of relationship with ex-wife Kelly MacFarlane and his cast, leading Grayson (Adrianne Palicki, “Mar- QUALITY MEATS to an early renewal for another vel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”) takes season of the show. Season 2 was a turn this season. They broke up CLIPS announced in November 2017, when Mercer found out she’d had HAIRCUTS FOR MEN before the first season had even an affair with an alien, and he was finished airing. surprised to discover she had Fox executive Michael Thorn been assigned as his first officer 1305 Scotland Crossing Dr. had high praise for MacFarlane aboard the Orville at the begin- Fresh made sausage, hand cut steaks, and his cohorts when the network ning of season 1. What he doesn’t Corriher Country ham, local honey, spices and rubs. Laurinburg, NC 28352 announced the show had been re- know is that Grayson lobbied his Since 1926 (336) 309-9413 newed for a second season. superiors to give him the com- “Once again, Seth has struck a mand. 133 Broad St | Bennettsville, South Carolina 29512 powerful chord with viewers,” The crew also includes Scott Jennifer Ryder - Stylist Thorn said in an official release. Grimes (“ER”) as Mercer’s best (843) 479-3481 Laurinburg Exchange — Saturday, December 29, 2018 — Page 3 8:30 p.m. FSS NCAA Basketball St. 8:00 p.m. ESPN2 Cornhole ACL College 7:30 p.m. ESPN NCAA Football North 8:40 p.m. ESPN College Football Bowl 6:00 p.m. ESPN2 H.S. Football All-Ameri- John’s at Seton Hall. Newark, N.J. (2h) and Pro Invitational National College Carolina State vs. Texas A&M. Gator (10m) (Live) ca Game. (3h) (Live) (Live) Championship. Myrtle Beach, S.C. (2h) Bowl. Jacksonville, Fla. (3h30) (Live) ESPN2 College Football Bowl Game GOLF PGA Golf Round 1 Tournament of Sports 9:30 p.m. FSSE Hornets Live! Post- (Live) 8:30 p.m. FSSE Hornets Live! Post- Pre/ Post Studio (10m) (Live) Champions. 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