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A14 PEOPLE / ARTS
Tuesday 11 July 2023

James Spader bids farewell to an intriguing criminal mastermind

as ‘The Blacklist’ finale approaches

By MARK KENNEDY who could make an amaz-
AP Entertainment Writer ing frittata with just a toast-
NEW YORK (AP) — Ray- er oven and who collected
mond “Red” Reddington sabers from the Crimean
is finally hanging up his fa- War. He was not good, cer-
mous black fedora and tainly, but not bad, either.
fitting for a manipulative “He’s a scary monster and
genius he’s doing it on his people like him,” Spader
own terms. says.
“The Blacklist” ends its 10- Reddington is deeply cul-
year NBC run Thursday with tured, a man able to con-
a two-hour send-off, and verse about Cary Grant,
star James Spader says the the Piazza del Campo in Si-
cast and crew relished the ena or Kai Tak Airport. Nick-
chance to take their time named “The Concierge of
saying goodbye. Crime,” he said deeply pro-
“I was very, very glad we found things like, “Not every
were able to end it exactly answer is worth knowing”
the way we wanted to end and “I can only lead you to
it. It was deliberate and we the truth. I can’t make you
weren’t taken by surprise in believe it.”
terms of when the ending “He inhabits the whole
was going to come,” he world, he really does. He
tells The Associated Press. This image released by NBC shows James Spader as Raymond Reddington in a scene from “The lives in it and he really loves
“You’ll see that the end- Blacklist.” it. And he loves life,” says
ing has conviction and we Associated Press Spader, a three-time Emmy
commit to it.” winner. “I guess one would
The end of “The Blacklist” is ters went overseas for the tain both his interest and about a show that was ei- understand the value of life
a swan song for Redding- finale. “The Blacklist” ends the viewer’s for more than ther just a drama or a show if one has to take it every so
ton, one of the most intrigu- in Spain. 20 episodes a season, or in that was just a comedy,” often.”
ing and delicious charac- “I really felt like this was his words, create a “limitless he says. “I felt that it was Even when laying low, Red-
ters on television. A master complete and I loved how landscape.” sort of nice that this show dington shone. In the fifth
of brokering shadowy deals it really completed a cir- The pilot introduced Red- was very, very intense and season, he was reduced
for criminals, he offered cle, in a way,” he says. “It dington as an fugitive crimi- brutal at times and then, at to living in a motor lodge,
his help to the FBI track- wasn’t just an unbroken line nal whose enterprises were other times, very irreverent hanging poolside wearing
ing down the world’s most from point A to point Z, but worldwide, checking one and sometimes very emo- a baseball cap, but rose
dangerous criminals. it was a circle of sorts.” box for the actor. Spader tional.” again. In federal prison, he
Spader reveals that the The show attracted Spad- was also looking for a show Reddington, infused with managed to drink little bot-
show filmed mostly in New er all those years ago be- that was fluid in tone, which Spader’s elliptical charm, tles of smuggled-in cham-
York City with an embrace cause he was looking for the pilot also delivered. was a stylish addition to pagne. Reddington was
of international charac- something that would sus- “I would not be as curious network TV, a character fearless.q

Madonna says she’s ‘on the road to recovery’ following ICU stay,

postpones North American tour dates

By MARIA SHERMAN who bought tickets for my Live Nation confirmed the
AP Music Writer tour. I also didn’t want to postponement. “Resched-
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ma- let down the people who uled dates will be an-
donna says she is focused worked tirelessly with me nounced as soon as pos-
on her health and getting over the last few months to sible. Fans are encouraged
back on stage after a “se- create my show.” to hold onto their tickets as
rious bacterial infection” “My focus now is on my they will be valid for the new
that led to her hospitaliza- health and getting stron- dates once announced,” a
tion in an an intensive care ger and I assure you, I’ll be statement read.
unit for several days last back with you as soon as I According to her manager
month. can,” she continued. Guy Oseary, on June 24,
“I’m on the road to recov- The North American leg of Madonna “developed a
ery and incredibly grate- her career-spanning Cel- serious bacterial infection
ful for all the blessings in ebration Tour, originally which led to a several-
my life,” the pop superstar scheduled to kick off July day stay in the ICU,” as he
wrote on Instagram. “My 15 in Vancouver and run wrote on Instagram a few
first thought when I woke through October 8 in Las days later. “Her health is im-
up in the hospital was Vegas, has been post- proving, however she is still
my children. My second poned. Her tour will now under medical care. A full Madonna appears at the 30th annual GLAAD Media Awards in
thought was that I did not start on October 14, at Lon- recovery is expected.”q New York on May 4, 2019, in New York.
want to disappoint anyone don’s O2 Arena. Associated Press