Keely's Korner

CBS showed confidence in its freshman class with a season two renewal for Evil, and full-season orders for remaining first-years All Rise, Carol’s Second Act, The Unicorn, and Bob Hearts Abishola. “These terrific new series have attracted a passionate base of viewers and consistent ratings while delivering entertaining, inclusive and relevant storytelling every week,” said Kelly Kahl, president of CBS Entertainment. “They’re off to strong starts and are still being discovered on the many catch-up and playback options available to our viewers today.” In Live+7 viewing, Evil is earning a 1.1 rating among A18-49 and 6.3 million viewers; The Unicorn has drawn 1.1 in the demo and 6.8 million viewers; Bob Hearts Abishola is delivering a 1.0 rating and 6.7 million viewers; All Rise has scored 0.9 and 7.5 million; and Carol’s Second Act is drawing 1.0 and 6.5 million.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Ronan Farrow is partnering with Pineapple Street Studios for The Catch and Kill Podcast with Ronan Farrow, set to launch next month. Podcast will expand on the reporting in Farrow’s book, Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators. “Catch and Kill is full of incredibly compelling men and women and this podcast will give you the opportunity to hear their voices directly, in intimate, candid conversations with me,” Farrow told Variety. “We’ll provide a deeper understanding of the plot that unravels in the book and feature brand new details and pieces of evidence directly from the investigation.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

A merged Viacom and CBS will have no trouble holding its own with competitors like Walt Disney and Netflix, according to Shari Redstone, President of holding company National Amusements. “We can compete with the best of them – not only do we create a quantity of content, we actually create content people actually want to watch,” she said at the WSJ Tech Live Conference. Noting that the company combo has 22% of TV viewership in the US, Redstone added, “I don’t think we’re given credit for what our future is.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

The “must have” digital basic networks among total cable subscribers were ranked in a new Beta Research study. On percent with high scores on  being a “must have” channel, the top ranked digital basic networks among total adults were FX Movie Channel (27%), NFL Network (24%), Hallmark Movies & Mysteries (23%), Cooking Channel (21%), BBC America (20%) and Nat Geo WILD (20%), all of which were among  the top six nets in the 2018 and 2017 surveys. On mentions as a favorite digital  basic network among potential cord cutters, the top ranked nets were FX Movie Channel (21%), Cooking Channel (18%) Hallmark Movies & Mysteries (18%), NFL Network (17%), Disney XD (16%), and Nat Geo WILD (15%); all of them also made the cut in the 2018 survey. And on average perceived value among viewers, the top ranked digital basic networks were: NFL Network ($2.01), Nick Music ($1.87),  Disney XD ($1.85), FYI ($1.81), MTV2 ($1.80),  and American Heroes ($1.78) ; NFL Network and Nick Music also ranked 1st and 2nd in the 2018 survey, while rankings significantly increased for MTV2, FYI and American Heroes.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Disney Channel ordered live-action time travel series Sulphur Springs,from writer and executive producer Tracey Thomson (The Young and the Restless). Chuck Pratt (STAR) will serve as showrunner and EP for the show, starting production in New Orleans in 2020.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Meanwhile, Disney Junior reports production has begun on The Chicken Squad, a new animated series for preschoolers and their families slated to debut in 2020.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Telemundo announced start of production for romantic comedy 100 Dias Para Enamorarnos (100 Days to Fall in Love), the second series to be filmed at Telemundo Center’s new Miami studio.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Movie theater operator AMC Entertainment is jumping into the streaming pool with its own on-demand channel. AMC Theaters On Demand allows viewers to watch movies for $2-$20, depending on whether they rent or buy, no subscription required; users can accrue points to use in AMC theaters.
(Source: Cynopsis)

HBO Max is getting more animated – the upcoming streamer ordered four Adventure Time specials. “The enchanted world of Adventure Time has mesmerized viewers and critics alike as Finn and Jake right wrongs and battle evil,” said Sarah Aubrey, head of original content at HBO Max. “The addition of these specials to the HBO Max kids and family programming lineup is sure to make kids everywhere say ‘Slam-bam-in-a-can.’” First two installments of Adventure Time: Distant Lands will debut in 2020.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Disney+ could nab upwards of 8 million worldwide subscribers “out of the gate” in 2019, and 18 million by the end of 2020, estimates MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson. The number takes into account Disney’s new deal with Verizon that gives Verizon wireless and broadband subscribers a free year of the service, launching November 12.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Seth Meyers’ first Netflix stand-up special drops Tuesday, November 5. In Seth Meyers: Lobby Baby, the SNL alum “touches upon family, fatherhood, and why you should never take your girlfriend to Paris for her birthday.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

Eric Church, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Maren Morris, Dolly Parton with for King & Country and Zach Williams, P!nk and Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban have been announced as the first group of performers for the CMA Awards, airing Wednesday, November 13 at 8p.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Culturally diverse fashion competition series Queen on 34^th is set to debut in Spring 2020 on ReachTV. Lisa Nicole Cloud (Married to Medicine) hosts.
(Source: Cynopsis)

The America Society of Cinematographers will celebrate the work of four cinematographers at the ASC Awards for Outstanding Achievement. Frederick Elmes, ASC will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award; Donald A. Morgan, ASC will be honored with the Career Achievement in Television Award; Bruno Delbonnel, ASC, AFC will be receive the International Award; and Don McCuaig, ASC is the recipient of the Presidents Awards. Awards will be handed out a gala on January 25.
(Source: Cynopsis)

The Paley Center for Media added “An Evening with Derek Hough and Julianne Hough” to its PaleyLive LA fall season. Program will take place on Thursday, December 5 at 7 at the Paley Center’s Beverly Hills location. Brother/sister dancers are hosting NBC special Holidays with the Houghs.
(Source: Cynopsis)

SiriusXM and Hallmark Channel announced today the return of Hallmark Channel Radio, slated to launch in conjunction with the net’s “Countdown to Christmas” programming event. Hallmark Channel Radio will feature Christmas music and carols introduced by the Hallmark Channel stars, starting Friday, October 25 and running through Saturday, December 28 via satellite on channel 70, through the SiriusXM app on smartphones and other connected devices, as well as online.
(Source: Cynopsis)

A&E is re-airing the October 21 episode of Live Rescue, documenting the efforts of California’s San Bernardino County Fire Department as they battled a wildfire. Encore is set for tonight, Thursday, October 24at 11p.
(Source: Cynopsis)

TV One holiday film Dear Santa, I Need a Date premieres Sunday, December 8 at 7p, followed by an encore at 9p.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Peter Coyote (Erin Brockovich) will play Robert Mueller in CBS Studios’ limited series based on former FBI director James Comey’s book, A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership. Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom) plays Comey…Sophia Bush (One Tree Hill) has joined the cast of Disney+ series Love, Simon in a recurring role…Noah Emmerich (The Americans) and Fred Willard (Modern Family) are onboard Space Force, Netflix’s workplace comedy…Freddie Prinze Jr. (Scooby Doo) will recur opposite Soleil Moon Frye in streamer Peacock’s Punky Brewster pilot…Zosia Mamet (Girls) landed a series regular role in HBO Max thriller The Flight Attendant.
(Source: Cynopsis)

AMC announced casting and the start of production in Madrid for its upcoming, untitled episodic anthology series that examines the nature of romantic love. Series will star Sarah Snook (Succession), David Costabile (Billions), and Sonya Cassidy (Lodge 49), among others.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Shudder, AMC Networks’ supernatural streaming service, has a hit in Creepshow. Since its premiere on September 26, 54% of all members on Shudder’s direct-to-consumer platforms have viewed an episode, and the series has set records for the streamer in terms of viewers, subscriber acquisitions and total minutes streamed.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Opposite the start of the 2019 World Series on Fox, ABC’s annual airing of It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown grew over its year-ago broadcast by 11% in total viewers (to 5.0 million) and by 9% with A18-49 ( to 1.2/6). Charlie Brown tied NBC’s The Voice as the #1 scripted program in the 8p half hour among A18-49 (1.2/6) . The net’s Toy Story of TERROR! also improved over its year-ago telecast by double digits in total viewers (+12% – to 3.7 million) and among A18-49 (+25% – to 1.0/4).
(Source: Cynopsis)

Television producer Al Burton died October 22. He was 91. Creator of Charles in Charge and Win Ben Stein’s money, Burton was involved in the production of numerous shows, among them The Jeffersons, Diff’rent Strokes, Facts of Life and One Day at a Time.
(Source: Cynopsis)