FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news
ON TELEVISION (THURSDAY 8/4/16)
MTV: Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out (Premiere) at 10pm
MTV: Joking Off (Premiere) at 10:30pm
HISTORY: Ice Road Truckers (Premiere) at 10pm
ID: Unraveled (Premiere) at 9pm
ABC: Greatest Hits (Finale) at 9pm
FOX: Home Free (Finale) at 8pm
TLC: Skin Tight: Transformed (Finale) at 10pm
Following uproar over the exits of 40+ year Sesame Street residents Bob McGrath, Emilio Delgado and Roscoe Orman, Sesame Workshop CEO Jeffrey D. Dunn apologized for a “misunderstanding” about their roles, and said the trio might return. “In our latest season, the story lines written did not include appearances by these three actors and we certainly could have done a better job of communicating with them about our ongoing episode plans,” said Dunn, adding that he is working out how to “best adapt their talents to the current content needs,” and new half-hour format. The iconic children’s show started airing on HBO in January after 45 years on PBS.
(Source: Cynopsis)
In the Fox earnings call Wednesday, co-executive chairman Lachlan Murdoch dove right into the circumstances under which his father, co-executive chairman Rupert Murdoch, has taken over Fox News following the exit of Roger Ailes, who left under a cloud of sexual harassment accusations. “Throughout this process we have moved quickly and decisively to protect the business, to protect its employees, and to protect the unique and important voice Fox broadcasts,” said the younger Murdoch. “There is no one more dedicated or more able to transition Fox News to new leadership than its founder. As acting CEO he joins an existing team that is extraordinarily strong and equally devoted to its success.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
ESPN’s Tom Jackson is retiring after 29 years. “I have been blessed in my adult life to work for two companies, the Denver Broncos and ESPN, to do two things that I love play football and talk about football,” said Jackson, whose assignment covering the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement this weekend will be his last for the sports net.
(Source: Cynopsis)
On his way in to the ESPN family is Jordan Rodgers, winner of season 12 of ABC’s The Bachelorrette. Rodgers, a former Vanderbilt QB and brother of Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rogers, will offer football commentary for the SEC Network, covering the Southeastern Conference. ESPN SVP Stephanie Druley said it was his “intelligence and passion for the game” that won Rodgers the job, not his scoring the final reality show rose.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Dark days are over for Dish and the NFL Network. Dish dropped the NFL Network and NFL RedZone in mid-June in a carriage dispute, but the two have reached a multi-year agreement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
(Source: Cynopsis)
USA canceled Donny! after one season. In its premiere following an episode of Chrisley Knows Best last November, the comedy series starring ad exec/TV personality Donny Deutsch lost two-thirds of its lead-in.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Music Choice has launched a “Watch the Vote” campaign encouraging fans to vote for their favorite artists to make the list of its Music Choice 100. The hit list features the top performing music videos of the year based on views from October 2015 – October 2016 across Music Choice On Demand, musicchoice.com and on the app as determined by ComScore/Rentrak.
(Source: Cynopsis)
NBC is easing new viewers into returning comedy Superstore with an original show following the first night of the Olympics that serves as a “bonus stand-alone episode,” not tied to the season one cliffhanger. The storyline picks up when the official season two premieres Thursday, September 22.
(Source: Cynopsis)
NBC’s Blindspot, moving from 10p to 8p for season two, will be a little more family friendly. “We’re not going to shoot anyone in the head anymore,” promised creator Martin Gero. And season one plot twists will be tied up in a way that makes the show accessible to new viewers. Not only will Jane Doe’s name be revealed in episode one, but the audience will learn “what the plan is and who the real Jane is,” said Gero.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Archie Panjabi, joining Blindspot for its sophomore year, was tight-lipped about rumored bad blood on The Good Wife set. “I loved playing the role of Kalinda,” said Panjabi of her time on the legal drama. “I had such a great time…In terms of anything that happened on The Good Wife, I think it’s only respectful to let it stay on The Good Wife. It was time for me for many reasons to unzip the boots and step into another show.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Harry Connick Jr. has apparently been taking notes during his years as a talk show guest. The musician, who is awaiting the run of his own talker, Harry, on 17 Fox-owned stations nationwide, told TCA attendees he’s hoping to skip the usual pre-interview of guests as much as possible. “There’s this undercurrent of rehearsal or pre-planning that happens,” explained Connick Jr. “I tell all of the publicists and all of the people that are going to be on the show, man, if you don’t want to do a pre-interview, it’s my job to know everything there is to know about you.” Eric Strangle, an EP on Harry who was a head writer on Late Show with David Letterman, said Connick Jr.’s just preaching what he’s practiced: “You could tell when he would be sitting up here on late night television, you could see that he was thinking and reacting, not following the pre-interview.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Up viewers can catch 153 straight hours of Gilmore Girls during Thanksgiving week. Seasons 1-7 will air Friday, November 18 at 6p through Friday, November 25 at 3a, along with trivia pop-ups and commentary. That’s just in time for Netflix’ four-part follow-up, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, premiering November 25.
(Source: Cynopsis)
A marathon of Japan’s Ninja Warrior, precursor to NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, will air on Esquire Saturday, September 3 at 7a through Tuesday, September 6 at 4a, 10 years after it originally premiered on G4. All-new Sasuke tournaments will air for the first time in the U.S. on Esquire in 2017.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Suits was renewed for a 16-episode season 7 by USA, to premiere in 2017. The legal drama is three episodes into season 6, averaging 3 million total viewers and 1.1 million P18-49 in Live+3.
(Source: Cynopsis)
ABC daytime talker The View returns for season 20 on Tuesday, September 6. GMA pop news anchor Sara Haines has been named co-host, joining Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Candace Cameron Bure, Paula Faris and Raven-Symone. Primetime behind-the-curtain special The View: 20 Years In the Making gets the party started Tuesday, August 23 at 10p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Season two of A&E’s Behind Bars: Rookie Year launches Thursday, August 25 at 10p. Docu-series is set in the notoriously dangerous New Mexico Corrections Department.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Producer and rapper Safaree Samuels joins the cast of VH1’s Love & Hip Hollywood: Hollywood for season three, launching Monday, August 15 at 8p. Last fall the reality show ranked as the number one cable series on Monday nights, averaging 2.3 million viewers P2+, up 7 percent overall from season one.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Season 42 of PBS music series Austin City Limits opens October 1 with Paul Simon. It’s the “Still Crazy After All These Years” artist’s first time on the show. Check local listings.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Haylie Duff travels the country for new Cooking Channel series, Haylie’s America. The actress and “Real Girl’s Kitchen” blogger will explore trendy hotspots and old school mainstays starting Thursday, September 8 at 10p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Syfy drama Incorporated, “set in a near future where corporations have unlimited power,” premieres Wednesday, November 30 at 10p. Futuristic thriller counts Matt Damon and Ben Affleck among its exec producers. Earlier arrivals include Van Helsing, bowing Friday, September 23, and Channel Zero: Candle Cove and Aftermath debuting on Tuesday, September 27.
(Source: Cynopsis)
USA supernatural thriller Falling Water premieres Thursday, October 13 at 10p, followed three days later by crime thriller Eyewitness at 10p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Discovery Family is expanding its home and food programming next month. Cameron Mathison (All My Children) leads renovators in Game of Homes, premiering Tuesday, September 6 at 9p, followed on Wednesday, September 7 at 9p by grocery game show The Incredible Food Race.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Sean Hayes (Will & Grace) will play dress shop owner Mr. Pinky and Rosie O’Donnell the gym teacher in NBC musical Hairspray Live!. Cast for the show, airing December 7, also includes Harvey Fierstein, Ariana Grande, Kristin Chenoweth, Martin Short, Jennifer Hudson and Derek Hough.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Karolina Wydra (True Blood) and Pej Vahdat (Bones) will recur on upcoming Amazon drama Sneaky Pete, about a con man who leaves prison and assumes the identity of his cellmate.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Denyse Tontz (The Fosters) landed a series regular role on aforementioned new Syfy drama Incorporated.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The first-ever Disney Junior museum exhibit opens Saturday, August 6 at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. “Doc McStuffins: The Exhibit,” based on the series and designed to model care and compassion for kids age 2-7, will travel to other museums around the country in 2017.
(Source: Cynopsis)
ABC’s Bachelor in Paradise on Tuesday rose by 27 percent among A18-49 and 1.0 million viewers year to year, to 1.1/4 and 3.9 million viewers. The reality show tied its highest-rated premiere in the demo.
(Source: Cynopsis)
NBC’s Running Wild With Bear Grylls delivered a best-ever 5.3 million viewers and second-best A18-49 rating, 1.4/5 on Tuesday.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Azteca America finished July as the fastest growing Spanish-language network in prime time among key demos for the third consecutive month, including total viewers (up 28 percent), A18-49 up 44 percent) and A18-34 (up 50 percent), according to Nielsen. In its sixth consecutive month of year-over-year growth, the network also delivered its highest July ratings since 2012 across total viewers, A18-49 and A18-34.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Keely's Korner 