In the 2025 TV lineup, the second season of Elsbeth is nearing its end. However, the finale with the main character in jail might be so captivating that it outshines her catwalk moment from the Season 1 finale. This popular CBS drama has managed to attract some of the most prominent guest stars from over two dozen episodes to meet Elsbeth in prison. The finale will even feature a musical number reminiscent of Chicago. I recently talked with star Carrie Preston and executive producer Jonathan Tolins about the finale, and they shared why top-tier stars make time for Elsbeth.
In my opinion, I’m really looking forward to the Season 2 finale airing on May 8 at 9 p.m. ET and available for streaming the next day with a Paramount+ subscription. The episode is titled “Ramen Holiday,” where I find myself in the same prison as some of the killers I helped put behind bars. One of these killers will meet their end, making my situation even more complicated while my friends work tirelessly to secure my release from prison. Interestingly enough, the roster of killers was revealed prior to news breaking about my incarceration, and it’s packed with an impressive lineup of talent!
Approximately a month and a half ago, CBS announced that Stephen Moyer, formerly known for his role as Elsbeth’s first murder suspect guest star, will reappear as theater director Alex Modarian. Additionally, Retta will return as matchmaker Margo Clarke, Gina Gershon as plastic surgeon Dr. Vanessa Holmes, Elizabeth Lail as tech CEO Quinn Powell, Arian Moayed as bar owner Joe Dillon, André De Shields as fashion designer Matteo Hart, Alyssa Milano as mafia princess Pupetta Del Ponte, and Mary-Louise Parker as Freya Frostad.
If you share similar sentiments as mine, it was quite significant when Elsbeth managed to capture those stars initially, and even more so when she persuaded them to rejoin the cast for a climactic ensemble of murderers in a later phase! In an exclusive interview with TopMob, Jon Tolins discussed the show’s innovative strategy in featuring the leading lady behind bars for a grand, melodious, and distinctively Elsbeth finale.
The final episodes are tough due to the desire to create something extraordinary. From early on in Season 2, we thought it would be entertaining to stage a murder within a prison setting and involve some of our prior guest stars as inmates. As soon as production began for Season 2, this idea was already on our minds, serving as a potential finale. We were uncertain if anyone would agree to return, but eventually someone suggested, “Why not include Elsbeth as a prisoner too?” And that’s when we thought, “Let’s put her behind bars to make it truly spectacular.
It wasn’t simple to plan a grand finale like “Ramen Holiday” given its scale, but it appears that Tolins and the Elsbeth team had a head start by starting work on it during the early stages of Season 2 planning. While it was disheartening to see Elsbeth in such distress at the end of the second-to-last episode, this sorrow might be justified if the finale turns out to be as entertaining as suggested by the promotional material. The showrunner added:
We had an idea for something unique, and many suggested a musical performance. “Cell Block Tango” seemed fitting because it resonated with us. Additionally, portraying Elizabeth in prison brought to mind Roxie Hart from the film Chicago, where she experienced hallucinations of fellow prisoners and musical interludes.
If you’re familiar with the musical adaptation of Chicago, featuring Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta Jones, it won’t surprise you that “Cell Block Tango” was a suitable choice for the finale of Elsbeth Season 2. A sneak peek shows Retta playing Margo Clarke, Gina Gershon as Vanessa Holmes, Alyssa Milano as Pupetta Del Ponte, Elizabeth Lail as Quinn Powers, and Mary-Louise Parker as Freya Frostad performing in the CBS version of this scene.
It seems there’s something special about the character of Elsbeth that attracts major actors to join and rejoin the series. As per the Executive Producer, much of this can be attributed to Carrie Preston’s performance in the role. He mentioned:
What we aimed for was achieved, thanks in part to good fortune that numerous individuals were eager and flexible enough to accommodate us within their busy schedules. This was largely due to their enthusiasm to collaborate with Carrie once more, as well as our efforts to create an environment where top-tier actors desire to contribute a guest role.
I must say, it’s evident that the Elsbeth team has hit upon a winning formula for attracting exceptional guest stars. Their latest musical prison event promises to bring an exciting conclusion to Season 2. If you haven’t caught the sneak peek yet, here it is:
[Insert Preview]
Don’t forget to catch CBS this coming Thursday, May 8th at 9 p.m. Eastern Time, as we reach the end of Season 2 for the hit show Elsbeth. Before that, at 8:30 p.m. ET, wrap up Season 4 of Ghosts. Luckily, “Elsbeth” has been renewed for a third season a few weeks back. Even though the finale might leave us hanging, the team will return in the fall… except maybe Kaya. Keep an eye out here on TopMob for more insights from the star and showrunner following the finale. You can stream the series using Paramount+.
Read More
- Solo Leveling Season 3: What You NEED to Know!
- Rachel Zegler Claps Back at Critics While Ignoring Snow White Controversies!
- OM PREDICTION. OM cryptocurrency
- Oshi no Ko Season 3: Release Date, Cast, and What to Expect!
- Captain America: Brave New World’s Shocking Leader Design Change Explained!
- Oblivion Remastered: The Ultimate Race Guide & Tier List
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Meta launches ‘most capable openly available LLM to date’ rivalling GPT and Claude
- How to Get to Frostcrag Spire in Oblivion Remastered
- Fantastic Four: First Steps Cast’s Surprising Best Roles and Streaming Guides!
2025-05-09 03:52