ANAHEIM, Calif. — When it was announced that 1990s series Quantum Leap, which ran for five seasons on NBC, would be rebooted, expectations were high. The original series, while ratings challenged, was a beloved cult favorite.

Still, it looks like the reboot — which airs its season 1 finale on April 3 and was quickly renewed for a second season — has more than met the challenge.

“I don’t like ‘reboot’ or any of these terms,” said executive producer Dean Georgaris on March 25 at the show’s panel at WonderCon in Anaheim, Calif. “2022 needs Quantum Leap. That’s why it’s back.” ...
https://currently.att.yahoo.com/att/quantum-leap-reboot-pays-homage-to-original-but-sets-it-own-course-055316385.html

Caitlin Bassett named Grand Marshal for Myrtle Beach Military Appreciation Days Parade

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) - A star from NBC’s “Quantum Leap” will serve as Grand Marshal for this year’s Military Appreciation Days Parade in Myrtle Beach.

The city announced Wednesday that Caitlin Bassett will serve in the role for the parade, set to take place May 27.

Bassett, who plays Addison Augustine on “Quantum Leap,” is an Army veteran herself, having served seven years as an intelligence analyst and completed three combat deployments while attaining the rank of staff sergeant.

She also worked at the National Security Agency before being honorably discharged in 2015. After earning a degree in legal studies and heading to law school, she moved to New York and later pursued acting.

Bassett’s father, a Vietnam War veteran, lives in Myrtle Beach and will also sing live during the scheduled picnic at Valor Memorial Garden.

“I’m so excited to be included in this wonderful memorial alongside my father,” Caitlin said. “I’m incredibly honored to have the opportunity to join the Military Appreciation Days celebrations with the great community of Myrtle Beach.”
https://www.wmbfnews.com/2023/04/12/caitlin-bassett-named-grand-marshal-myrtle-beach-military-appreciation-days-parade/

This is FRESH AIR. I'm David Bianculli, professor of television studies at Rowan University, in for Terry Gross. "Schmigadoon!" the TV series that is a loving parody of stage and screen musicals of a bygone era, returns for Season 2 next week. I'll have a review of it later in the show. But first, let's listen to Terry's 2021 interview with Cinco Paul, who wrote all the songs for "Schmigadoon!" He also co-created and co-wrote the series. Along with his writing partner Ken Daurio, he wrote the animated films "Despicable Me," "The Secret Life Of Pets" and the Dr. Seuss adaptations "Horton Hears A Who" and "The Lorax."

"Schmigadoon!" streams on Apple TV+. It stars Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key as a couple who try to repair their relationship by taking a hike in the woods. They get lost, cross over a bridge and suddenly find themselves in a small town called Schmigadoon, which looks like a stage or movie set from the early 20th century. The women are wearing prairie dresses with long petticoats, and the men are dressed like they're in a barbershop quartet. It turns out that in this town, life is a musical. People sing their feelings and dance, too...

https://www.npr.org/2023/03/31/1166808020/schmigadoon-co-creator-says-series-was-onspired-by-a-love-affair-with-musicals

This is FRESH AIR. I'm TV critic David Bianculli. We've just heard from songwriter Cinco Paul about collaborating on the first season of "Schmigadoon!" Next Wednesday, "Schmigadoon!" returns on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes of a new six-part second season. As in Season 1, Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key star as Melissa and Josh, a modern couple who find themselves transported to a mythical musical land in which everyone tends to break into song and dance. Last season echoed the setting, feeling and music of classic midcentury musicals, like "Oklahoma!" and, of course, "Brigadoon." For Season 2, the tone is inspired by musicals of the '60s and '70s, and it's a lot darker. Once again, this gives Cinco Paul and company the chance to salute or parody some very familiar musical theater classics. But this time the supporting players from last season get to return as entirely new characters, like the ensemble cast members of "American Horror Story" get to do in that anthology series...

https://www.npr.org/2023/03/31/1166803692/season-2-of-schmigadoon-is-bursting-with-enthusiasm-and-broadway-talent

Ron DeSantis' $100m for Florida "Private Army" Raises Questions
BY JAMES BICKERTON ON 3/10/23 AT 6:28 AM EST

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is requesting $98 million in funding this year to boost the Florida State Guard, which one critic has branded "a private army", according to local network News 7.

DeSantis revived the Florida State Guard (which was originally created for home defense during World War II) in 2022, and is now seeking to expand it from 400 soldiers to 1,500, saying it is needed to help with emergency response measures and to back up the Florida National Guard.

Unlike the Florida National Guard, which can be called up by the President, the State Guard cannot..


However, the move proved controversial with Florida Democrats, with state Senator Annette Taddeo accusing DeSantis of establishing a "vigilante militia" under his command. Representative Charlie Crist went even further, comparing the plan to a "handpicked secret police." ...

https://www.newsweek.com/ron-desantis-100m-private-florida-army-raises-questions-1786877