Not surprisingly, a second-season order has been granted to the Hawaii-filmed family series, “Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.,” as first reported by Deadline.
The Disney+ series, starring Peyton Elizabeth Lee, follows the teen character’s criss-crossing challenges, as a medical doctor and as an adolescent high school student. The show is a reboot of “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” which made a youthful Neal Patrick Harris a media star after four seasons on TV.
“Doogie” also boasts a robust ensemble, featuring Jason Scott Lee, Kathleen Rose Perkins, Matthew Sato, Wes Tian, Emma Meisel, Mapuana Makia and Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman. The late Al Harrington had a recurring role, too, in his final acting assignment, a great credit for him and for the show.
The series was created and executive-produced by Kourtney Kang, with filming scheduled in the months ahead. Its half-hour format along with scripts and actors reflecting modern-day Hawaii, make it still the best locally-filmed TV show currently. …
‘Reginald the Vampire’
Hawaii actor Jacob Batalon – you know him best as Ned Leeds, sidekick to Tom Holland’s Peter Parker in the big screen “Spider-man” hits – soon will be on the small screen as a not-so-common vampire in “Reginald the Vampire.”
Amazon and Hulu have tapped the Syfy dramedy, now in the completing status, for airing territories this summer. Hulu has secured U.S. rights, with Amazon earning rights in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The show is based on Johnny B. Truant’s “Fat Vampire” novels, with Batalon portraying a hefty vampire in a world of fit, beautiful and vain vampires; he falls for a human girl he can’t have and dodges a vampire chieftain who wants him dead. But Reginald has some life-changing powers. …
Correction
We misstated, in an earlier mention, Miguel Cadoy III’s new position at Farrington High School. Cadoy, who directs the Farrington Performing Arts Academy’s musicals annually, will continue in that capacity.
But his new job will be as director for all the academies at Farrington –Creative Arts & Technology, Business, Engineering, Public Service, and Health – and will entail a more visible prominence within the community. …
Calendar notes
Richard Marx will perform his chart hits, “Hold on to the Night,” “Satisfied” and “Right Here Waiting,” in a Blue Note Hawaii gig at 8 p.m. June 23 and 24. Tickets are $125 and $95, available at www.bluenotehawaii.com or (808) 777-4890. …
Kumu Kahua launches Ryan Okinaka’s “Who You Again,” at 8 p.m. tomorrow (March 24), for a run through April 24. With its sensitive but a realistic theme – a family wrestles with the challenges of its matriarch with fading memory due to Alzheimer’s – so the theater is embracing an ambitious outreach program as part of the play’s run.
For instance, a post-show conversation will follow the March 25 performance, with participation by the playwright and Dr. Poki‘i Balaz, chair of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Aloha Chapter.
A Talk Back session will follow the April 1 performance, with participants Okinaka and Balaz.
A pre-show addition –music by Every Single Day, a trio – will be featured from 1 to 1:45 p.m. on the theater’s lanai on April 3 and 24.
Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, through April 24 (no matinee on April 17).
A digital offering will be available later.
Tickets: $5 to $25, at www.kumukahua.org or call (808) 536-4441.
And that’s Show Biz. …
