She is someone who gives herself the permission to be herself, which is all Simone ultimately wants to do and be at the end of the day. Black women are judged on everything the moment they set foot on a court, Thea says, and Simone cant get psyched out so easily if she wants to be a serious contender. Simone has still only been a supporting character inAll American, although her excellent tennis abilities and desire to be a positive voice within the Black community have come to be defining parts of her story. In the meantime, the two leads balance academics, athletics and the squishier project of self-discovery with the help of new friends and adult mentors, and in defiance of unfriendly teammates or disapproving parental figures. Professor Corte decides to go with Simones ideas, and Thea attempts to take credit but he cuts her off. At the end of Simones time on All American, she left Beverly Hills High and her boyfriend, Jordan (Michael Evans Behling), behind. What types of obstacles will she face as an athlete? They might not be married anymore, but Jordan and Simone's relationship is as strong as ever heading into her spinoff show. From your perspective, what is going through Simone's head? This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity. Simones storyline remained entwined with Jordans. From your perspective, why does she make that choice? Sylvester Powell as Jessie 'JR' Raymond - Jessie Raymond is a longtime friend of Damon's thanks to youth baseball. What do you think Simone thinks of Damon by the end of the episode? We talk about it in our writers room, the boundaries around friendships, Carroll says. Warning: This article contains spoilers about the series premiere of All American: Homecoming. Thats why theyre the best. Since Simone's introduction inAll American season 2, she's been an integral part of Jordan Baker's story. Simone's mother has a story. We know people love Jordan and Simone together and everything they have overcome. Thea has no choice but to show up now that everyone knows, but Simone convinces her to show up so they can celebrate her. As Damon shares his decision during an on-campus press conference, he states his intention to bring integrity back to Bringstons baseball program and though Damons mother looks less than thrilled to hear the news, Simone finds Damon after the presser and notes that he finally looks at peace. That tennis match seems to rattle Simone for much of the weekend, even as she starts to consider applying to Bringston instead of just visiting for fun. The different experiences and backgrounds of the characters make this melting pot of stories about people who deserve to be represented, ultimately. Simone's relationship with Amara is different from what we've seen from her family. Freevee (fka IMDB TV) A sub-site of Amazon (formerly IMDB), Freevee has transitioned to an app-only format that requires an Amazon sign-in. This seemed to be a clear move to set up Simone going off on her own forAll American: Homecoming. Shes in a relationship with Michael Evans Behlings Jordan (and hes smitten! She's so consumed in [tennis], and Simone will offer her balance as she tries to have a life, be a mom and succeed in tennis. Love, friends, happiness, and joy. Every year Cooper looks forward to seeing the latest blockbusters from the likes of Marvel, DC, and Star Wars, but also loves the rush to catch up on Oscar films near the end of the year. I was super emotional. ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Simone has a rough start to life at Bringston. Still, it seemed that Simone and Jordans story could have been preparing for an eventual breakup to give them each a chance to start fresh when they go to college. Simone admits she made a mistake by projecting her birthday wishes onto Thea, instead of listening to her wishes. John Marshall Jones has previously appeared inFor All Mankind,Big Little Lies, andBosch. Simone arrives late to her court time, but the player there isnt interested in her excuses. When is it just a friendship?. Simone Hicks (Geffri Maya) has made it to Bringston University! On the flip side, storylines involving the faculty like Amara and Marcus trying to figure out what exactly president Allen (Leonard Roberts) isnt telling them about the schools budgetary woes are progressing at too slow a burn to hold much interest, at least at this early point in the series. Corte offers Simone a job working with the alumni office. Youre 18, youre in college, and 18-year-olds are messy. How are you feeling about getting to tell the story of a Black tennis player? Even through her tough breakup, Simone still wins her tennis match. What do you remember about shooting that scene? Thats what makes us the best.Thea to Simone. The writer notes that for years, shes had conversations with her friends about different types of emotional relationships, friendships and boundaries. Or is that just a really good friend whos there for you? she asks. As we all know from the mothership show All American, Simone had a baby at a very young age, and she gave the baby up for adoption and decided to stay in the baby's life. In the morning, Simone begins tennis practice and Thea warns them theyll be there for a while. Mitchell Edwards reprises his role fromAll American, but viewers might also know him fromSpinning Out. Welcome to Bringston University: All American: Homecoming is bringing the HBCU experience back to TV, Meet Your Maker: All American: Homecoming creator Nkechi Okoro Carroll shares her inspirations, How All American explores the experiences of Black youth in America, Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter. Although she has never been as central to the plot as the other main characters, knowing she was set to lead the spinoff series should have been a reason to give her a more substantial storyline before leaving. It's been time, so I'm grateful and honored for the opportunity. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. After a heart-to-heart with Spencer, in which Spencer tells Damon that his next career move should be forhim and not his mother, Damon makes a major announcement the next day: He wont be participating in the MLB draft, and will instead commit to playing baseball at Bringston. Coopers love for movies began by watching Toy Story and Lion King on repeat as a child, but it wasn't until The Avengers that he took an invested interest in movies and the filmmaking process, leading him to discover the world of film journalism. This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity. She welcomes her niece's crew as family. Damon praises her though Thea snips at her for going off-script. Although this proved to not be the case, Jordan and Simone fell in love and the two have had a strong relationship ever since. Simonebecame a slightly more central character inAll American season 3, partially due toThe CW's plans to give her a spinoff show. Camille Hyde as Thea Mays - Thea Mays is Simone's biggest tennis rival at Bringston who wants to proudly represent the Black community in athletics. These aren't bad attachments, but now Simone has finally decided to make choices for herself and see what that looks like for her. Related:All American Season 4 News & Updates: Everything We Know. Simone gives Loni her clearance note from President Allen, making it in time for Queen of the Court. As we head to the season finale, what can you share about Simone's journey in terms of tennis in the final episodes? She gives props when due.[2]. The girls square off with Simone scoring the first point. What were exploring is what friendship between members of the opposite sex look like and when that starts to get complicated. What was shooting the backdoor pilot like? All American season 3 reveals Jordan Baker and Simone Hicks got married in Las Vegas, and that adds a huge twist to the story ahead of Simone's spinoff show, All American: Homecoming. Leonard Roberts as President Zeke Allen- Zeke Allen is the president at Bringston University and trying to keep the school afloat amid budgetary concerns. That storyline will also be analyzed in a bit of a different way. Follow Cooper on Twitter @MovieCooper. It's engulfing in a way and she's put in a place where she never expected to be so attached to spiritually. Simone's All American spinoff was clearly set up through her story in this episode. All American season 3 reveals Jordan and Simone got married in Las Vegas, and here's what their marriage means for Simone's spinoff show. He's now attempting to keep Bringston's baseball program relevant so the school can't cut its funding. The dichotomy between Nate and Keisha is the calm and the storm, and you need that balance in order to navigate new transitions in life. Cory Hardrict is also set to play a major role inAll American: Homecoming, as he returns as Marcus Turner. A warm and likable spin on the college experience. And later, while speaking to Aunt Amara, Simone expresses concern that her mom wont want her to apply to Bringston, and Amara reminds her niece to put herself first when making these decisions, so that she can be the best version of herself for her loved ones. All Americans third season is currently airing Mondays at 8/7c; theres no word yet on when the plantedHomecoming pilot will debut. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Sorry. While many expected Jordan and Simone to break up during All American season 4 then, the series has not gone in that direction. Spooorts baa-aar". Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. All American: Homecoming will air on the CW next season. February 1 2021, 11:00 AM PST. It's no secret that Las Vegas special episodes always make up for excitement and simultaneously, worries because of the city's reputation. Camille Hyde previously appeared onAmerican Vandal and played the Pink Dino Charge Ranger inPower Rangers Dino Charge. Yellowstone's Kelly Reilly Offers Explanation For Her PaleyFest Absence, American Idol's Top 10 Revealed Live, Following Pair of Brutal Eliminations, Morning Show Renewed for Season 4 Plus, Find Out When Season 3 Will Air, Time100: The World's Most Influential People, Felicity Dj Vu on The Diplomat? People love to hate Cam, but people are going to be excited and surprised by his journey. July 5 2021, 6:00 PM PDT. When he isnt writing about or watching new releases, Cooper is a fantasy football obsessive and looking to expand his Blu-Ray collection because physical media is still king! Follow Cooper on Twitter @MovieCooper. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. In need of a break from Bringston University mainly Damon Sims (Peyton Alex Smith) Simone heads back to see her friends and boyfriend on the west coast for fall break on the latest episode of All American. It takes an emotional ceremony with Nathaniel Hardin (Rhoyle Ivy King) for Simone to begin working through her breakup. However, Damon also has a little-known connection to the HBCU, as his birth parents attended the university before giving him up for adoption. Even if Bringston is a fictional university, the representation at the end of the day matters most. Netta Walker as Keisha McCalla -Keisha McCalla is the unofficial mayor of Bringston University and one of Simone's closest friends at Bringston. Thea drills Simone to hit ten in a row and refuses to move on until she does. It has to be earned. Executive producers: Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, David Madden, Robbie Rogers. When you're meeting new people, you don't know how [they] are going to take your truth. The 50 greatest TV and movie detectives of all time. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. The big question around Simone and Damon (Peyton Alex Smith) is if there's romantic future, but whatever comes next, they do have a connection. As she, Olivia, Spencer and Jordan prepare to leave campus and return home, Jordan notes that his wife looks happy though when Simone gets in the car, Jordans now the one looking anxious about his and Simones future. The whole marriage thing for me was also crazy they are young and barely were together for a long time. Now he's decided to give back to his community and his spot in a different way. Is emotional cheating a thing and is that a thing you have to apologize for? Read on for EW's interview with Maya about returning to All American, that emotional scene with Damon, the big breakup, and more. Rhoyle Ivy King has made multiple uncredited appearances in TV shows, includingPose. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Related:All American Season 3 Ending Explained. She is portrayed by Camille Hyde . WGA Tells Members to Get Ready to Picket If a Deal Isnt Reached, Saint X Review: Hulus Adaptation of Acclaimed Alexis Schaitkin Novel Comes Up Short, Love & Death Review: Elizabeth Olsen and David E. Kelley Struggle to Shed Fresh Light on the Candy Montgomery Case, Mrs. The dancers and our choreographers, Nico and Rhapsody, were amazing. New Romance Brewing on Superman, Fox News 8 pm Viewership Down Sharply Since Tucker Carlson's Ouster, Stephen Amell Doesn't Think He's Done Playing Green Arrow, All American Spinoff, Naomi Adaptation Snag Series Orders at The CW, All American Spinoff Adds Legacies' Peyton Alex Smith, 5 Others to Cast. New Romance Brewing on Superman, Fox News 8 pm Viewership Down Sharply Since Tucker Carlson's Ouster, Stephen Amell Doesn't Think He's Done Playing Green Arrow. We spoke to the All American: Homecoming star about Simone's first days at Bringston, what we can look forward to in its debut season, and what the show means to her. The one where EW follows up with the cast. Instead, Simones part inAll American is reduced drastically. He helped get her there and allowed her to push through to be better, stronger, and wiser. They've had several rough patches recently but are still committed to making the relationship work. The series premieres Monday on the CW. A tennis prodigy, she takes her responsibility for representing the Black community in the sport very seriously. There's an emotional scene where Simone and Nate have a ceremony to help Simone mourn the end of her relationship. Mondays episode of the CW drama doubled as the pilot for All American: Homecoming, a Simone-centric spinoff that was officially ordered to series in May. WithAll American: Homecoming set to premiere on Monday, February 21, it would have made sense that Simone would have been a more significant focus inAll Americans fourth season. EW spoke to the All American: Homecoming star about honoring Black athletes, getting to tell Simone's story on the new show, what's next for her character's relationship with husband-to-be Jordan, and much more. This is years of working with this person, depending on him and supporting each other through the emotional trials of acting. Her mother refuses to pay for housing, so she moves in with her aunt, Amara Patterson (Kelly Jenrette), and a night of partying costs her a strong start to her collegiate tennis career. In the lead-up toAll American: Homecoming, it seemed the best way to set up the next chapter in Jordan and Simone's stories would be to endtheirrelationship, but the show didthe exact opposite. Simone is raised in Beverly Hills, she comes from a well-off family, and goes to a great school. These Black athletes all have stories and come from different backgrounds. They are different, and a lot of the times, what we need to do is not always comfortable. Everyone needs a tribe, and I think they're part of each other's tribe outside of everything else. But even as the series stumbles into the occasional rough patch, Homecomings dependable north star is its generosity of spirit. But in Mondays backdoor pilot, we watched as Simone still a senior in high school remained uncertain about where to apply to college, all while realizing her tennis game needs work, too. What all of them take seriously is that their friend group is extraordinary. If she is meant to be an exciting draw for the spinoff, as a character fans know well, thenAll American should have given her a bit more to do in preparation for her to lead a brand new series. Thea praises Simone, and they shake hands. That's what makes us the best. Simone, in the pilot and you'll see throughout the series will have a different expectation put on her as a Black athlete, especially as a woman. She is queen-bee sophomore that gives off slight mean girl tendencies. Amara is responsible for revealing the truth about Bringston's former baseball coach and the academic scandal. And baseball! Advertisement More from Distractify Everything You Need to Know About the New Cast Members of 'All American' She's going to learn work-life balance and tackle what it means to be an adult and to make certain decisions, but also what it means to dedicate yourself fully, because tennis is something we gave up and now she's deciding she is taking tennis very seriously. The love is still there. Coach Loni believes in actions and not words, but Simone plans to show it to her every day to prove shes an asset. The significance of Jordan in Simone's life is getting her to this point of being able to celebrate herself and making decisions for herself. After spending time with her Aunt Amara (Kelly Jenrette), a journalist and professor at the university, and meeting elite high school baseball player Damon Sims (Peyton Alex Smith), Simone leaves the campus with a sense of purpose and knowing where she wants to go next. ), At first, Bringstons president is content to sweep the cheating under the rug; since these ghost classes were offered to everyone, and not just student athletes, the NCAA likely wont penalize the school for giving athletes exclusive advantages. Though it certainly doesnt hurt to go back and catch up on the backdoor pilot that aired as part of All American last year, Simone (Geffri Maya) the Homecoming protagonist who links the two shows recaps everything a new viewer really needs to know in the first few minutes of the new series. "All American: Homecoming" follows Geffri Maya as Simone Hicks, a teen mother and tennis star from Los Angeles who heads to Atlanta to begin college. Beyond his role in theAll American universe, audiences might also know Michael Evans Behling for his role inGrey's Anatomy andA Cinderella Story: Starstruck. As great of a person as Jordan is and has been to Simone, it's just different. I had a really good time. So why was her perspective not at the forefront? What I loved about the bonfire scene is the camaraderie. Thea commends her for trying. Simone Hicks has fallen in love with Bringston University in the backdoor pilot for, Geffri Maya as Simone on 'All American: Homecoming.'. Rebecca Iannucci / When it was time to decide if she wanted to adopt baby Shay, she had to consider her parents. Nate (Rhoyle Ivy King) and Keisha (Netta Walker) welcome Simone back to Bringston with open arms. It's an important aspect of her life because she's going to have to incorporate [baby Shay] and the decision to be in his life eventually. Taja Simpson got a main role on Tyler Perry's The Oval so she was no longer available. A successful journalist-turned-journalism professor, Amara is Simone's aunt and the most popular professor on campus. She gestures to a parking garage where a car is parked. Thea's birthday is approaching, with Keisha McCalla making a gift bag for her as she does with all the girls in the dorm. GeffriMaya is known for Private Practice (2007), WTF, Baron Davis (2019) and Loco (2020). This is [Simone] walking into a new realm and she's going to feel that pressure, and ultimately she'll shine in it. At the end of the episode, Simone breaks up with Jordan in a letter after an emotional conversation where the young couple is very honest about how they've grown apart. Jordan supported her in all the ways, from being a mother to making a decision about going to a school she felt brought her joy, courage, and strength. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Real-life inspiration notwithstanding, The CWs All American seemed to fit pretty squarely into the template of high school dramas set in ultra-posh neighborhoods. Grade it in our poll below, then drop a comment with your full reviews! This is especially true considering there have been no signs that Jordan is moving toAll American: Homecoming. Thats what were really exploring with them, but again, theyre also 18 and super attractive people and life is messy. Also, how much fun was that big dance sequence to shoot? She'll play Nhani Rivers, a confident, fun, and energetic student at South Crenshaw High. The " All American " universe expanded with the debut of spinoff " All American: Homecoming " on Monday night, which follows Simone (Geffri Maya) as she attempts to launch her tennis . More:All American: What Jordan & Simone's Marriage Means For Her Spinoff. Amidst new obstacles, Simone Hicks discovers the makings of a found family in the. Davis Review: Betty Gilpin Brings Badass Wit to Peacocks Mind-Bending Thrill Ride, The CW Guts Development, Current Departments in Latest Shift Away From Scripted Originals (Exclusive), 'All American' Renewed in First Pickup for New CW Owners Nexstar, John Oliver Mocks Matthew McConaugheys Five-Hour Virtual Motivational Seminar, The Morning Show Snags Early Season 4 Renewal at Apple TV+, Barry Star Sarah Goldberg on Sallys Point of No Return: Its the Final Nail in the Coffin, Succession Director on Filming That Surprise Cameo and Tying Up Her Kendall Trilogy, Melanie Lynskey Says Cate Blanchett, Sarah Paulson Lent Their Trailers on Mrs. Simone joinedAll American's story during season 2 when she tricked Jordan into believing that he was the father of her soon-to-be child. Simone, who was introduced inAll Americans second season, is currently a senior at Beverly High. (And in a plot twist, Marcus, the teams assistant head coach, was the one to tip off Amara about the cheating in the first place, sacrificing his job in the name of integrity.). Damon and Coach Marcus are thrown a bigger curve ball than they were anticipating. Not just to each other's arcs, but to All American. On top of that, she's experiencing big girl things when it comes to jobs, handling her emotions, making adult decisions. Simone finds Thea later that evening and apologizes as she wanted to celebrate with her friends. Returning from Los Angeles single, Simone mourns her relationship on the newest episode of All American: Homecoming. Its teammate versus teammate in a series of single-elimination matches. In addition to making All American season 4, the network also began developing a . The most challenging [thing] was definitely the tennis, because I am learning tennis now. A beautiful friendship has been born, one that is meaningful and deep. "It was just an exciting feeling to know Peyton and I are at the helm of this show and are able to see that and really fulfill a vision of bringing a universe together with so much love and so much fun," Maya says, looking back on filming the episode. TheAll American spinoff sees Simone go to Bringston University for a chance to attend a Historic Black College University, where she's attempting to make it back on the tennis team. One user there wrote: "Between their terrible saves, their constant praise of mediocrity, and standing for every act (I've never seen judges more guilty of this than these Idol judges), I think it's time for a change." ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How do you feel about getting to take Simone on this new journey? I know people are waiting for the mess, but I appreciate the question because outside of that aspect what Damon and Simone have in common is redefining their identity. She's coming into her own and I really would like to say she's going to find it and tackle it all head on. GeffriMaya. Televisions favorite dad Bob Saget dies at age 65, Kevin Hart is the latest celebrity to make a guest appearance on Shark Tank, followed the question of if the duo could succeed in a long-distance relationship, The Siren of Sussex is the gorgeous historical romance we've all been waiting for, My Fine Fellow is a fresh retelling filled with food, fun, and romance, Emily in Paris renewed at Netflix for two more seasons, The Morning Show renewed for a third season. Simones journey of self-reflection is echoed in other subplots involving the younger characters, like Damon trying to gel with the teammates who are understandably less than thrilled at the constant reminders he gave up the majors for them, or their RA Keisha (Netta Walker) working up the courage to inform her dad shes switching majors from premed to dance. Thea doesnt have any friends as the girls from the team only tolerate her. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Simone deserved to be more included inAll Americans fourth season to give more insight into her character leading up to attending Bringston University and how her tennis game is improving. Initially she says she's fine and tries to push through, but the heartbreak has an impact on most areas of her life, including tennis. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. December 18, 2020 4:03pm. The idea of living on my own and making new friends and being in a totally different state was exciting. Camille Hyde, who plays Thea, was actually a tennis player when she was younger, which I thought was so inspirational, just hearing her stories and the things she had to experience. But all of this scheming comes to a halt when Amara is tipped off about a cheating scandal within the athletics department: Bringstons head baseball coach has been knowingly enrolling his players in paper classes, or courses that dont actually exist, so they can remain academically eligible to play baseball at the school while acing their classes. (Several similar scandals have happened in real life, most notably at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She challenges Simone to be her warm-up partner, and though Simone does get a couple of balls past Thea, Thea dominates most of the game. All American and All American Homecoming air Mondays at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., respectively, on The CW.