'UnREAL' Season 3 Set to Premiere February 26 on Lifetime

Lifetime's critically-acclaimed series UnREAL from A+E Studios makes its highly-anticipated return on Monday, February 26, 2018 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Caitlin FitzGerald (Masters of Sex, Rectify) takes the reins as Everlasting's female "suitress," Serena. Determined to have her pick of eager male suitors, Serena will face off with Everlasting's queen bees, producers Rachel Goldberg (Shiri Appleby) and Quinn King (Emmy-nominee Constance Zimmer) who are shaking things up, all for the sake of ratings. The ladies will be tempted more than ever when they're surrounded by hot new suitors including Bart Edwards (Peep Show, Fantastic Beast), Alex Hernandez (Chicago Med), Adam Demos (Aboriginal Heart, Cooped Up) and Alex Sparrow (Russia's Bachelor, Dancing with the Stars).

In following Lifetime's Broad Focus initiative, season three of UnREAL has an impressive roster of female directors including Appleby and co-creator Sarah Gertrude Shapiro returning and Zimmer making her directorial debut. Hanelle M. Culpepper (Empire, Quantico) and Sheree Folkson (Decoy Bride, Doctor Who) also join as directors.

Watch the Season 3 trailer below.

Lifetime Renews 'UnREAL' For Fourth Season & Announces Fall Movie Premieres

Lifetime has given new season greenlights to the critically-acclaimed drama series UnREAL for a fourth season and freshman drama Mary Kills People for a season two, it was announced today by Liz Gateley, EVP and Head of Programming for Lifetime. The renewal of UnREAL comes ahead of its much-anticipated third season, which will debut in early 2018 alongside Mary Kills People. Lifetime's scripted fare also includes the straight-to-series psychological thriller from Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble, YOU, starring Penn Badgley and Elizabeth Lail, which begins production this August. In line with Lifetime's Broad Focus initiative, more than 50% of directors for these series are female, and are predominately produced and written by women.

With three original cable movies ranked in the top four in women 25-54* this year, Lifetime furthers its supremacy in long form storytelling with greenlights of Faith Under Fire and The Simone Biles Story (working title). Grammy winner Toni Braxton, whose Lifetime biopic Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart was the #1 rated cable movie of 2016**, makes her return to the network to star as Antoinette Tuff, a clerical worker who talks down a school shooter in Faith Under Fire from Sony Pictures Television. America's most decorated gymnast with 19 Olympic and World Championship medals, Simone Biles also signs on for a Lifetime biopic revealing the sacrifices and dedication it took her to become one of the greatest and most celebrated athletes in the world.

'UnREAL' Preview: An Overnight Date on 'Everlasting'

Kim Matula stars in Season 2 of UnREAL. Photo by James
Dittiger Copyright 2016

Season 2 of Lifetime primetime soap opera UnREAL continues Monday night at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

In "Infiltration," Coleman takes his relationship with Rachel to the next level when he invites her to attend the Impact Awards to rub elbows with Hollywood elite. Coleman and Quinn continue to fight for control of Rachel’s loyalty. Quinn finds an ally when she is introduced to the new owner of the network. Darius has a big decision to make on Everlasting, as he faces an overnight date with one of the contestants. Jeremy’s relationship with Rachel continues to cause problems on set.

From Co-Creators Marti Noxon and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, and starring Shiri Appleby and Constance Zimmer, the provocative drama gives a fictitious behind-the-scenes glimpse into the chaos surrounding the production of a dating competition program.

Set against the backdrop of the hit dating competition show Everlasting, Season 2 of UnREAL is led by flawed heroine Rachel Goldberg (Appleby), who returns as supervising producer, renowned for her skills manipulating her relationships with, and among, the contestants to get the vital dramatic and outrageous footage that the program’s dispassionate executive producer, Quinn King (Zimmer), demands. What ensues once again is an eye-opening look at what happens in the outrageous world of unscripted television, where being a contestant can be vicious andbeing a producer is a whole other reality.

'UnREAL' Season 2 Premieres Tonight; 'The Bold and the Beautiful' Star Kim Matula Debuts

Jessica Sipos, Denee Benton, Monica Barbaro and Kim Matula (ex-Hope,
The Bold and the Beautiiful star in Season 2 of Lifetime’s hit drama
UnREAL. Photo by Sergei Bachlakov Copyright 2016

Season 2 of Lifetime primetime soap opera UnREAL premieres tonight at 10 p.m. ET/PT>

From Co-Creators Marti Noxon and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, and starring Shiri Appleby and Constance Zimmer, the provocative drama gives a fictitious behind-the-scenes glimpse into the chaos surrounding the production of a dating competition program.

Set against the backdrop of the hit dating competition show Everlasting, Season 2 of UnREAL is led by flawed heroine Rachel Goldberg (Appleby), who returns as supervising producer, renowned for her skills manipulating her relationships with, and among, the contestants to get the vital dramatic and outrageous footage that the program’s dispassionate executive producer, Quinn King (Zimmer), demands. What ensues once again is an eye-opening look at what happens in the outrageous world of unscripted television, where being a contestant can be vicious andbeing a producer is a whole other reality.

Lifetime Renews 'UnReal' For Season Three

Photo by Michelle Faye

Days before UnREAL’s second season premiere, Lifetime has greenlit a third season of its critically acclaimed scripted drama, UnREAL with a 10-episode order, it was announced by Liz Gateley, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming for Lifetime. UnREAL’s third season is set for a 2017 release.

UnREAL has been recognized with numerous awards and nominations to date including a Peabody, an AFI honor as a Television Program of the Year, and a Critics’ Choice Award for Constance Zimmer’s performance.

Airing on Mondays, beginning June 6th at 10pm ET/PT, UnREAL is Lifetime’s youngest scripted series ever with a median age of 43. Season one averaged 3.7 million views per episode across all platforms.

Co-created by Marti Noxon and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, UnREAL gives a fictitious behind- the-scenes glimpse into the chaos surrounding the production of a dating competition program, Everlasting. Having already tackled relevant matters of gender politics, the series, starring Shiri Appleby and Constance Zimmer as producers Rachel Goldberg and Quinn King, will stir up the drama in season two when Everlasting casts its first-ever African American suitor.

Returning as series regulars are Craig Bierko as Everlasting’s creator, Chet, who is on a quest to reclaim his full power on set; Josh Kelly as Jeremy, Rachel’s ex-boyfriend and Everlasting’s director of photography; and Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman as Jay, a field producer whose ambitions run far beyond the show. Everlasting’s new suitor Darius Hill, an All-American football star, will be played by B.J. Britt.

UnREAL is produced by A+E Studios. Noxon and Shapiro executive produce UnREAL, along with Carol Barbee, Robert M. Sertner, Sally DeSipio, Stacy Rukeyser, Peter O’Fallon and Adam Kane. In following the mission of Lifetime’s Broad Focus initiative, this season of UnREAL also features four female directors including Shapiro, Appleby in her directorial debut, Janice Cooke and Nzingha Stewart.

Former 'The Bold and the Beautiful' Actress Kim Matula Joins 'UnREAL' Season 2

Kim Matula

Former The Bold and the Beautiful star Kim Matula has joined the cast of Lifetime drama UnREAL for the show's upcoming second season. According to Variety, Matula and Meagan Tandy have been cast as series regulars who will play two of the ladies vying for the heart of Darius Hill (BJ Britt), the new suitor of UnREAL's fictional dating show Everlasting.

Matula — who’s best known for her starring role as Hope Logan on B&B — will portray Tiffany, a hot, smart and rich all­-American girl who’s the daughter of a professional football team owner. She hopes that Everlasting will help her step out of her father’s shadow.

Tandy (Teen Wolf, Survivor’s Remorse) will play Chantal, a Southern debutante who’s elegant, beautiful, polished and believes she’s destined to marry Hill, after the tragic loss of her fiancé.

The two actresses join previously announced cast members Denée Benton and Monica Barbaro who will both play other Everlasting contestants, and Michael Rady who’ll play a filmmaker and Gentry White who will take on the role of Darius’ cousin.

Season 2 of UnREAL will center around a new season of Everlasting with a new suitor in Darius Hill, a drop-dead gorgeous professional quarterback with a million-dollar smile, sweetness and swagger. With him being cast on the reality show, producers Quinn (Constance Zimmer) and Rachel (Shiri Appleby) land a huge win with him being the first African-American on the show. Hoping to find his way out of a PR scandal, Darius has no idea that the ride he’s about to take on will change his life forever.

NEWS: Amanda Peterson, Kelly Rowland, Matt Dallas, Colleen Zenk, Corbin Bleu, Adan Canto, 'Queens of Drama'

Amanda Peterson

A Year in the Life actress Amanda Peterson dead at 43
Amanda Peterson, a TV and film actress best remembered for playing the love interest of Grey’s Anatomy‘s Patrick Dempsey in 1987’s Can’t Buy Me Love, has died at age 43.

Though a cause of death has not been confirmed, Peterson’s family tells TMZ that she recently suffered from several medical issues, including pneumonia, sleep apnea and sinusitis. Her body was discovered on July 5.

Peterson’s most notable television work was as on NBC’s A Year in the Life, which started as a 1986 miniseries before being turned into a drama series the following year.

Adan Canto joins ABC primetime soap Blood and Oil as series regular, replaces Yani Gellman
Blood and Oil follows Billy (Chase Crawford) and Cody Lefever (Rebecca Rittenhouse) who dream of a new life beyond their working-class roots and move to The Bakken in North Dakota, booming after the biggest oil discovery in American history. They’re soon pitted against a ruthless tycoon who forces them to bet big and put everything on the line, including their marriage.

Canto will play AJ Menendez, and take over the role previously played by Yani Gellman (The Young and the Restless) in the pilot.

Kelly Rowland joins Season 2 of Empire
The 34-year-old R&B singer will play Lucious Lyon's mother in a flashback.

'Queens of Drama' returning for second season?
The show released a casting call for two name soap actresses of any ethnicity in their early 20s-early 60s to join Donna Mills (Madeline, GH) and the cast on Pop's "reality" series. The show is scheduled to begin filming in mid to late fall for 6-10 episodes, and the pay rate is listed at approximately $40,000.

Colleen Zenk, Corbin Bleu, Randy Brooks among best in Dayton’s 2014-15 Theater Season
Bleu (One Life to Live) was nominated as Best Leading Actor in a Play for his work in "Family Shots," while Zenk (As the World Turns) and Brooks (The Young and the Restless, Another World) were nominated for their work playing Bleu's parents.

Orange is the New Black filming fourth season in Rockland County, New York
According to reports, the hit Netflix series is already shooting episodes for season 4 at the abandoned Rockland Children's Psychiatric Center in Orangeburg.

Amazon and Netflix pass on picking up Hannibal
Executive producer Bryan Fuller tweeted the news this afternoon, adding: "We're still investigating possibilities."

Lifetime renews UnREAL for second season
Lifetime has renewed its critically acclaimed primetime serial for a 10-episode second season.

Matt Dallas and Blue Hamilton. Photo via Instagram

Kyle XY star Matt Dallas marries musician Blue Hamilton
The 32-year-old actor broke the news on Instagram with the caption, "Introducing Mr. & Mr. Dallas."

Mr. Robot gains viewers with second episode
The USA drama's second episode shot up 13% over its premiere.

Whoopi Goldberg and Raven-Symoné are still sticking up for Bill Cosby, despite his Quaaludes admission
On The View this morning, Goldberg, one of Cosby’s "most vigorous defenders," and former Cosby Show star Raven-Symoné said their minds weren’t changed by Cosby’s revelations from a 2005 deposition.

FBI raids Subway spokesman Jared Fogle's home as part of a child porn investigation
FBI investigators and Indiana State Police served warrants on Fogle early this morning. Earlier this year, the executive director of Fogle’s Jared Foundation was arrested in a child pornography case.

'UnREAL' Is Best New Summer Series of 2015 (July Preview)

Josh Kelly, Siobhan Williams and Shiri Appleby star in UnREAL.
Photo by James Dittiger Copyright 2015

My favorite summer series of 2015 is Lifetime's new primetime serial UnREAL. From co-creators Marti Noxon and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, and starring Shiri Appleby and Constance Zimmer, UnREAL gives a fictitious behind-the-scenes glimpse into the chaos surrounding the production of a dating competition program.

Set against the backdrop of the hit dating competition show Everlasting, UnREAL is led by flawed heroine Rachel Goldberg (Shiri Appleby), a young producer whose sole job is to manipulate her relationships with and among the contestants to get the vital dramatic and outrageous footage that the program’s dispassionate executive producer, Quinn King (Constance Zimmer), demands. What ensues is an eye-opening look at what happens in the outrageous world of unscripted television, where being a contestant can be vicious and producing it is a whole other reality. Appleby and Zimmer are perfectly playing the many layers of their fascinating multi-dimensional characters.

UnREAL also stars Craig Bierko as Everlasting's eccentric creator, Chet, and Freddie Stroma as the dating show’s handsome and intelligent suitor, Adam Cromwell. Josh Kelly plays Jeremy, a cameraman who is Rachel's ex-boyfriend, while Siobhan Williams is Lizzie, Jeremy’s current fiancée and on-set makeup artist. Everlasting's contestants include Grace, portrayed by Nathalie Kelley, who immediately wins Adam’s heart; Anna, played by Johanna Braddy, who is classy and shrewd, with her eye on the prize; Faith, a sensitive and vulnerable tomboy from the South portrayed by Breeda Wool; and Mary, played by Ashley Scott, a gorgeous single mom who has been unlucky in love. Arielle Kebbel guest stars as Britney, a contestant who has no filter and isn’t on Everlasting to make any friends.

Below is a sneak peek at the four upcoming July episodes:

'UnREAL' Sneak Peek: Leave Your Conscience at the Door

The second episode of Lifetime's excellent new primetime serial UnREAL airs on Monday, June 8 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

In "Relapse," a family tragedy strikes Anna Martin (Johanna Braddy) when her father has a heart attack; Quinn (Constance Zimmer) offers a cash bonus to Jay (Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman), Shia (Aline Elasmar) and Rachel (Shiri Appleby) to create the season's villain out of the remaining girls; Rachel's old laptop falls into the wrong hands and threatens to expose intimate details of her past relationship with Jeremy (Josh Kelly).

Watch a sneak peek below:

Lifetime Drama 'UnREAL' Premieres June 1, Set Against Backdrop of Dating Competition Show

(L to R) Aline Elasmar (Shia), Jeffery Bowyer-Chapman (Jay), Constance
Zimmer (Quinn), Craig Bierko (Chet), Shiri Appleby (Rachel) and Josh
Kelly  (Jeremy) star in the all-new Lifetime scripted series UnREAL
premieres, Monday, June 1 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime. Photo by Joseph
Viles Copyright 2015

Lifetime's drama UnREAL, starring Shiri Appleby (Girls) and Constance Zimmer (House of Cards, Entourage), will premiere Monday, June 1, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Based on screening the first three episodes, it's a great new addition to the primetime serial lineup.

Set against the backdrop of the hit dating competition show Everlasting, UnREAL is led by flawed heroine Rachel Goldberg (Appleby), a young producer whose sole job is to manipulate her relationships with, and among, the contestants to get the vital dramatic and outrageous footage that the program's dispassionate executive producer, Quinn King (Zimmer), demands. What ensues is an eye-opening look at what happens in the outrageous world of unscripted television, where being a contestant can be vicious and being a producer a whole other reality.

UnREAL also stars Craig Bierko (Damages) as Everlasting's eccentric creator, Chet; and Freddie Stroma (Pitch Perfect) as the dating show's handsome and intelligent suitor, Adam Cromwell. Josh Kelly (One Life to Live) plays Jeremy, a cameraman who is Rachel's ex-boyfriend, while Siobhan Williams (Black Box) is Lizzie, Jeremy's current fiancée and on-set makeup artist.

Everlasting's contestants include Grace, portrayed by Nathalie Kelley (The Fast and the Furious), who immediately wins Adam's heart; Anna, played by Johanna Braddy (Shameless), who is classy and shrewd, with her eye on the prize; Faith, a sensitive and vulnerable tomboy from the South portrayed by Breeda Wool (Betas); and Mary, played by Ashley Scott (Jericho), a gorgeous single mom who has been unlucky in love. Arielle Kebbel (The Vampire Diaries) will guest star as Britney, a contestant who has no filter and isn't on Everlasting to make any friends.

If you can't wait until Monday, watch the first nine minutes of UnREAL below:

NEWS: Finola Hughes' 'The Bet' at FLIFF; Melody Thomas Scott; New EMMERDALE Farm; CHARMED and MURDER, SHE WROTE Reboots

GENERAL HOSPITAL star Finola Hughes' directorial debut, The Bet, part of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival starting tonight
“I loved the whole process,” Hughes said while ferrying her daughter to a dental appointment in Los Angeles. “Just the feeling of showing up on set and seeing these great people at work. Wow.”

“When I first started doing GH back in the ’80s that sort of sealed the deal because soaps were at their peak, and we had this big old spy story going on. It gave me a huge connection to so many people who would rush home from school to watch it. I was part of their youth, and I get great enjoyment out of that. Soap fans are so loyal and patient.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: Hughes will be at Cinema Paradiso 7 p.m. Friday and will attend additional screenings 3:30 Saturday at the Cinema Paradiso-Hollywood and then 6 p.m. at Muvico Pompano.

Melody Thomas Scott on being surprised by the twist that Dylan is Nikki's son on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
"Very surprised! I was so happy that the writers used existing history, with video of Doug and me from when we were in the cult over 30 years ago! That grounds the story and makes it very believable."

NEWS: ONE LIFE TO LIVE's Josh Kelly Books Lifetime Pilot; JWoww Apologizes; CARRIE DIARIES' Samantha Jones Poster

First Look at The Carrie Diaries' "Nasty" Poster With Young Samantha
THE CARRIE DIARIES' promo art for the new season, debuting Oct. 25 on the CW, includes a peek at Lindsey Gort playing an '80s-era Samantha Jones, the new, younger version of Kim Cattrall's iconic TV character.

The tagline: "Say hello to Samantha. Miss Jones if you're nasty!"

ONE LIFE TO LIVE star Josh Kelly books Lifetime pilot UNREAL
Kelly is set to co-star opposite Shiri Appleby in Lifetime’s drama pilot UNREAL, inspired by Sarah Gertrude Shapiro’s award-winning independent short Sequin Raze. The show goes behind the scenes of a hit competition dating show to follow the experiences of Rachel (Appleby), a young staffer whose sole job is to manipulate her relationships with (and among) the contestants to heighten the drama. Kelly will play Jeremy, a cameraman on the dating show who also is Rachel’s ex-boyfriend.

ONE LIFE TO LIVE's JWoww Sorry for Calling N.J. Gov. Chris Christie "Retarded," Still Finds Him "Disgusting & Judgmental
"Caught off guard last night and said things I normally don't say," the former JERSEY SHORE resident tweeted today after telling TMZ last night that she thought the New Jersey governor was "retarded."

NEWS: Gillian Wright Leaving EASTENDERS; Nia Peeples; CW Flash Series; Paul Wesley and Torrey DeVitto to Divorce; BREAKING BAD Exhibit

Gillian Wright leaving EASTENDERS
Wright is shooting her final scenes this week, with her last moments on screen due to air in October. Wright first appeared on the BBC soap as Jean Slater in late 2004, before being made a regular member in 2007.

The actress has won several awards for her portrayal of the bipolar disorder sufferer, including Best Actress at the 2012 Inside Soap Awards.

PRETTY LITTLE LIARS Mom, Nia Peeples, Reveals Her Ultimate Beauty Secret: Love Yourself
Peeples said she had seen too many women measure themselves against picture-perfect images of TV characters, and she felt compelled to change the conversation about beauty.