FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news
ON TELEVISION (MONDAY 12/17/18)
ABC: The Great Christmas Light Fight (Finale) at 8pm
FOOD NETWORK: Holiday Baking Championship (Finale) at 9pm
FOOD NETWORK: Christmas Cookie Challenge (Finale) at 10pm
INSP: State Plate (Finale) at 12pm
MTV: Teen Mom OG (Finale) at 9pm
MTV: Teen Mom: Young and Pregnant (Finale) at 10pm
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: Mars (Finale) at 9pm
Kevin Reilly has been tapped to oversee creative for WarnerMedia’s upcoming streaming platform. Reilly, the President of TBS and TNT and Chief Creative Officer of Turner Entertainment, adds heading Direct-to-Consumer to his purview. Reilly will continue to report to Turner President David Levy while also reporting to WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey on direct-to-consumer issues.
(Source: Cynopsis)
An investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct against former CBS CEO Les Moonves, as well “cultural issues at all levels” at CBS, uncovered a confidential $9.5 million settlement with actress Eliza Dushku, reported the New York Times. Dushku said she was written off Bull for complaining about inappropriate comments from series star Michael Weatherly. Weatherly said in a statement to the paper, “During the course of taping our show, I made some jokes mocking some lines in the script. When Eliza told me that she wasn’t comfortable with my language and attempt at humor, I was mortified to have offended her and immediately apologized. After reflecting on this further, I better understand that what I said was both not funny and not appropriate and I am sorry and regret the pain this caused Eliza.” The actor received words of support from former NCIS co-stars, including Pauley Perrette, who tweeted, “This man…I love, respect, trust and I KNOW. TWO decades of friendship and respect.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Meanwhile, CBS announced the recipients of the $20 million in grants to advance programs to create safe and equitable workplaces for women, including “me too.” Movement and Time’s Up Entertainment, among others. In a joint statement, the organizations/initiatives said, “We know these funds will help us create and expand a range of important programs that advance our collective mission and help many individuals get justice. We thank CBS for these donations. We also recognize these funds are not a panacea, nor do they erase or absolve decades of bad behavior.” The $20 million was deducted from the exit package of Les Moonves.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Time’s Up Entertainment was quick to announce how it will spend its $500,000 grant from CBS: a new initiative, “Who’s in the Room,” aimed at increasing the presence of people of color and diverse economic and social backgrounds in the producing and executive ranks.
(Source: Cynopsis)
ABC ordered two additional episodes of black-ish, and one each of The Goldbergs, The Kids Are Alright and Single Parents, for the 2018-2019 season.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The Television Academy tweaked some rules regarding Emmy eligibility. Among the changes: In the outstanding TV movie category, entrants now have to be a minimum of 75 minutes in length to compete; a category was added for outstanding music composition for a documentary series or special; choreography was split between reality and scripted entries; and a new vetting procedure was put in place to identify Emmy-competitive entries in short-form categories.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Netflix responded to Viacom’s lawsuit accusing it of violating the contract of Momita Sengupta by hiring her as VP of physical production of original series. The streamer accused Viacom of trying to “stymie employee mobility” and noted that Sengupta’s contract did not comply with California law and was therefore unenforceable. Viacom responded to Netflix’s response with the statement, “We think Netflix should be required to play by the same rules as every other company doing business in California, and we are taking the steps necessary to ensure they do. Nothing in their response changes that view.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Andi Mack grandpa Stoney Westmoreland was fired by Disney Channel after he was arrested in Salt Lake City for allegedly using the internet to entice a minor to have sex. “Given the nature of the charges and our responsibility for the welfare of employed minors, we have released him from his recurring role and he will not be returning to work on the series which wraps production on its third season next week,” said the net.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Ryan Kadro, who created CBS This Morning almost nine years ago, is stepping down as executive producer, effective January 4. “I couldn’t shake the feeling in my gut that I need a new challenge (and a serious nap),” said Kadro in a memo to staff. “It’s the natural course of things.” Kadro, whose contract runs out at year’s end, said he had been in talks with CBS News President David Rhodes since September.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Food Network inked a new deal with celebrity chef Ina Garten that includes new seasons of Barefoot Contessa as well as several seasonal specials. “Our audience adores Ina – she is truly a culinary legend and embodies everything Food Network viewers crave,” said net President Courtney White.
(Source: Cynopsis)
DHX Media will develop and produce new Peanuts content for Apple. The deal includes series, specials and shorts based on the Charles M. Schulz characters.
(Source: Cynopsis)
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman was renewed for a second season by Netflix. Six-episode sophomore run bows in 2019.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Candace Cameron Bure announced the launch of Candy Rock Entertainment, in collaboration with her management firm, Redrock Entertainment. The company will create, develop and produce scripted TV projects, docu-series, lifestyle programming and films with an emphasis on family-friendly content.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Antenna TV will air “Auld Lynde Syne,” a Paul Lynde Show New Year’s Eve marathon beginning on New Year’s Eve starting at 6p. On New Year’s Day, Antenna TV’s “New Year Kickoff with Coach Marathon” starts at 5a.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Dierks Bentley, Halsey, Marshmello and Bastille, Panic! At The Disco, and season 14 winner Brynn Cartelli are among the performers on the live two-hour Tuesday, December 18, season finale of NBC’s The Voice. The finale will also feature musical collaborations with the top four finalists.
(Source: Cynopsis)
NBC and Litton announced that Earth Odyssey with Dylan Dreyer, featuring the NBC News meteorologist, will join three-hour Saturday-morning programming block, “The More You Know,” starting January 5.
(Source: Cynopsis)
HBO movie Brexit, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Dominic Cummings, the brains behind the Vote Leave campaign, premieres Saturday, January 19.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Antiques Roadshow will have a new look when it returns for its 23rd season on PBS on Monday, January 7, at 8p, set on the grounds of iconic destinations. “It’s an exciting refresh to set our appraisals against backdrops so rich in history,” said exec producer Marsha Bemko.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Comedy Russian Doll, starring Natasha Lyonne and created by Lyonne, Amy Poehler and Leslye Headland, premieres Friday, February 1, on Netflix. Eight-parter follows a woman at a party one night in NYC.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Season six of Cinemax action series Strike Back premieres Friday, January 25. Jamie Bamber (Battlestar Galactica) and Yasemin Kay Allen (Water and Fire) join the cast for the new run.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Opposite football on Fox, CBS’s Murphy Brown was the top entertainment show in its time slot, but fell to a season low 0.7 among A18-49. NBC’s Superstore fall finale also slipped to a season low, to 0.7.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Telemundo is on track to end the broadcast year with an average 681,000 A18-49, according to Nielsen, ranking among the top five broadcast networks with NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX. The network also had the highest composition of A18-34 out of total viewers and lowest median age among all broadcast networks.
(Source: Cynopsis)
WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse – $35.4 million
The Mule – $17.2 million
Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (2018) – $11.6 million
Ralph Breaks The Internet – $9.6 million
Mortal Engines – $7.5 million
(Source: Box Office Mojo)
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