By Rick Gables
Katie Thurston and Michelle Young have been named the next stars of the 17th and 18th seasons of The Bachelorette, respectively. After appearing in the landmark 25th of season The Bachelor, both women emerged as fan favorites among Bachelor Nation, with viewers all over America rooting for their happily ever afters. Katie’s season 17 journey is set to premiere on ABC Monday, June 7, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Michelle’s season 18 journey will premiere in the fall of this year.
CBS will air the 43rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, June 6, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The 43rd class to receive this lifetime artistic achievement recognition include choreographer and actress Debbie Allen; singer-songwriter and activist Joan Baez; country singer-songwriter Garth Brooks; violinist Midori; and actor Dick Van Dyke. “The Kennedy Center Honors serves as a moment to celebrate the remarkable artists who have spent their lives elevating the cultural history of our nation and world,” said Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein. The center’s entire campus will come alive with small, in-person events and re-envisioned virtual tributes. Programs for each event will encompass performances and speaking tributes for the honorees.
The CW will premiere its new series The Republic of Sarah on Monday, June 14, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The drama takes place in the town of Greylock, New Hampshire. When an incredibly valuable mineral used by tech is discovered under the town, state-backed mining company Lydon Industries swoops in with plans to extract the mineral that include wiping Greylock off the map. With her friends and family in danger of losing their homes, rebellious high school teacher Sarah Cooper (Stella Baker) vows to stop Lydon’s bulldozers, which will not be easy. Leading the Lydon Industries efforts is Sarah’s estranged brother, Danny Cooper (Luke Mitchell).
Sarah enlists her friends for the fight, like fellow teacher Corinne Dearborn (Hope Lauren), police officer Amy “AJ” Johnson (Nia Holloway), and diner manager Grover Simms (Ian Duff). Most intriguing is Sarah’s proposed solution. She believes Greylock could declare independence. Citing various historical maps, she explains that the land on which Greylock sits was never properly claimed by the United States. If they can convince the town to vote for independence, Greylock would gain international sovereignty and could protect its land for good.