FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news
ON TELEVISION (FRIDAY 3/27/20)
PBS: Somewhere South (Premiere) at 9pm
SYFY: Vagrant Queen (Premiere) at 9pm
WE TV: Mama June: From Not To Hot (Premiere) at 9pm
COMEDY CENTRAL: This Week at the Comedy Cellar (Finale) at 11pm
HGTV: My Lottery Dream Home (Finale) at 9pm
NICKELODEON: The Crystal Maze (Finale) at 7pm
OXYGEN: Dateline: Secrets Uncovered (Finale) at 7pm
(SATURDAY 3/28/20)
ID: Fatal Florida (Premiere) at 8pm
NICKELODEON: Danger Force (Premiere) at 8pm
OXYGEN: The Forgotten West Memphis Three (Premiere) at 8pm
(SUNDAY 3/29/20)
ADULT SWIM: Three Busy Debras (Premiere) at 11:59am
ID: 20/20 on ID (Premiere) at 9pm
PBS: Call The Midwife (Premiere) at 8pm
SHOWTIME: Vice (Premiere) at 8pm
SCIENCE CHANNEL: Curse of the Bermuda Triangle (Finale) at 10pm
An inter-network crossover will have Tracy Spiridakos guest star as her Chicago P.D. character, Hailey Upton, on FBI. On Wednesday’s episode of Chicago P.D., which airs on NBC, Upton was sent to temporarily serve on the New York bureau of the FBI. On March 31, she’ll pop up on CBS’s FBI. “Tracy’s character is a fan favorite, and I’m extraordinarily happy to be shining an even greater light on her and gaining new fans along the way before she returns to Chicago P.D.,” said Dick Wolf, exec producer of both the Chicago and FBI franchises.
(Source: Cynopsis)
NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell told employees he has tested positive for COVID-19. “I have managed to work remotely in LA and am improving every day,” wrote Shell, saying people will have to work from home “for some time” to limit the spread of the virus. However, “Given the vital public service role of NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, Telemundo and our local stations, many of our colleagues need to go into the office so we can tell the world what is going on,” he noted. “Their courage has been an inspiration and has made us all proud to work at this company.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
While streaming viewing is on the rise with housebound viewers, premium cable networks are seeing surges too. Between March 17-23, HBO, HBO2, Showtime, Showtime 2, Starz and Starz Encore saw more than double the average time spent watching programming versus the same period in 2019, according to Samba TV. Starz/Encore rose 216%, Showtime 2 was up 168%, HBO2 increased 130%, Showtime had a 114% lift, Starz rose 48% and HBO jumped 44%.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The CW is shifting spring premiere dates to fill the gaps left by production shutdowns prompted by the coronavirus. The series debut of DC’s Stargirl is moving to May 19 from May 12, while the season two launch of In the Dark moves up to April 16 from May 28 to replace Legacies, which will go on hiatus until production resumes.
(Source: Cynopsis)
ViacomCBS and Meredith Corporation announced an early multi-year deal to renew affiliation agreements for all seven of its CBS Affiliates, including three top 25 market affiliates, WGCL in Atlanta, GA; KPHO in Phoenix, AZ; and KMOV in St. Louis, MO. The seven markets combined reach 7%of the US audience serving more than 7.6 million television households.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The entertainment industry was among those hardest hit when the Department of Labor announced a record 3.28 million unemployment claims for the week ending March 21, as layoffs due to COVID-19 took effect. The US had 215,000 new claims the same week last year; the existing record had been 695,000 in 1982.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The Peabody Awards, slated to take place on June 18, have been postponed due to the coronavirus crisis. “Peabody is monitoring the situation to determine a more appropriate time to host the ceremony,” said the organization. The timeline for announcements about nominees and winners is also under review.
(Source: Cynopsis)
PopSugar experiential event Play/Ground, which was to take place June 13-14 in NYC, will also be getting a new date. “We have decided it is in the best interest of all of our community to postpone Play/Ground and we look forward to announcing headline talent later this summer,” said PopSugar Founder and President, Lisa Sugar.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Comcast is ending in-home installations for new customers. Instead, a technician will perform the outside work necessary, and leave a package with equipment and detailed activation instructions. “We are staying consistent with the advice of our government and public health officials and limiting contact as much as possible, including when technicians entering customer homes,” says the cable operator’s web site. Comcast will send a technician to existing customers, if issues cannot be resolved using the company’s support tools. Last week, a Comcast technician died from coronavirus complications after making service calls in Bloomfield, NJ.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Quibi and The Dodo announced the format for their new original daily series, All the Feels: stories about animals that provide different emotional content experiences tailored to what people need to feel each week. “With so much negativity out there, All the Feels offers a kind of emotional antidote – a positive, uplifting content experience audiences can find relief in,” said The Dodo’s Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Izzie Lerer. “Animals have a unique ability to create joy and inspiration, and we’re thrilled Quibi tapped us to help tell stories that satisfy what viewers are craving as they navigate their week.” First up: Motivation Monday, with a wobbly lamb that taught herself to run. Series premieres along with the short-form service on April 6.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Veteran talk show producer Bill Geddie (The View) has left freshman talker Tamron Hall after reportedly clashing with the host. Candi Carter exited The View to take over as Tamron Hall showrunner. The syndicated show, which has been averaging a 1.0 Live+SD national rating, has been renewed for a second season.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Facebook Watch ordered a new series from Kin, Just a Sip, starring Karrueche Tran (Deputy) offering lifestyle tips. Kin is also debuting 9 to Wine, following Kaitlyn Bristow’s (The Bachelor) love life and passion for food, wine and travel, this spring. 9 to Wine will run on YouTube and IGTV as well as Facebook Watch.
(Source: Cynopsis)
ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live returns Monday, March 30 with episodes produced remotely. Kimmel started sharing “quarantine minilogue” online videos after production on late-night shows came to a halt due to coronavirus concerns. CBS’s The Late Show announced Wednesday that original episodes, produced remotely, will return starting Monday.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Showtime’s late-night series Desus & Mero will also return to air with new episodes, filmed remotely from the hosts’ homes in New Jersey and the Bronx, starting Monday, March 30 at 11p. The show will continue to air new episodes on Monday and Thursday nights.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Back to Kimmel: The comedian’s Comedy Central puppet show (created with Adam Carolla and Daniel Kellison), Crank Yankers, returns Wednesday, April 1 at 10:30p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Season eight of AXS TV’s The Big Interview with Dan Rather will kick off on Wednesday, April 15 at 8p with a sit-down with rocker Huey Lewis.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Nordic psychological thriller Sanctuary makes its Sundance Now debut on Thursday, April 23. Story centers on an identical twin trapped in a facility that studies psychopaths.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Almost Paradise, starring Christian Kane (The Librarians) as a former DEA agent pulled back into a dangerous world in the Philippines, launches on WGN America on Monday, March 30 at 10p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles is back for season 12 with a 75-minute premiere on Tuesday, May 5 at 10p. Prepare for drama when bi-coastal agent Fredrik Eklund, of Million Dollar Listing New York, jumps into the fray.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Also coming up on Bravo: The season five launch of The Real Housewives of Potomac, at 8p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Poker Central’s direct-to-consumer OTT subscription service, PokerGO, is launching with two new original series. The Championship Run will be on demand today at 12p, while Run it Back with Remko dropped Thursday evening. Both programs feature commentary on legendary poker cash games and tournaments as poker stars break down key hands and strategic gameplay. PokerGO is currently offering a 30-day free trial to fans using promo code WATCHPARTY upon checkout.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Tech companies are joining with health organizations for a hackathon, #Build for COVID19, to help battle the coronavirus pandemic. Teams from Facebook, Microsoft, Slack, Pinterest, Twitter, TikTok and more will help build tools to address “the health, economic and community challenges coming from the outbreak,” wrote Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a post.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Crown Media Family Networks is offering new users a free 30-Day free trial to the company’s SVOD platform, Hallmark Movies Now. The service, which is doubling up on its popular Christmas movie offerings, features hundreds of hours of Hallmark series and movies. Additionally, Hallmark is following up its “We Need a Little Christmas” stunt with another holiday movie event, starting today and running through Sunday, March 29, while Hallmark Movies & Mysteries is offering a “Miracles of Christmas Movies” marathon this weekend.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Verizon is expanding its efforts to aid consumers dealing with work-from-home and shelter-in-place realities with the More at Home…on Us program. The initiative includes learning tools from Quizlet, Epic, Bookful and Chegg, as well as entertainment content. “Connectivity is incredibly important during times of crisis,” said Ronan Dunne, CEO Verizon Consumer Group. “We know customers are staying home and trying to manage the new normal, so we’re giving them more ways to learn and watch at no added cost.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
DIRECTV and U-verseTV subscribers will be provided free access to EstrellaTV for 60 days, effective immediately, if not already in their programming package. “This will provide more people with access to our extensive local and national newscasts, as well as our exclusive entertainment programming,” said Peter Markham, CEO of Estrella Media. “We are committed to serving the community and ensuring our viewers have the critical information they need during this pandemic.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Outdoor Sportsman Group’s subscription-based streaming service, MyOutdoorTV, is offering an extended 30-day period of free service when consumers subscribe between now and April 15. “We want to give all interested consumers of hunting, fishing, and outdoor adventure programming the opportunity to watch and experience great entertainment on MOTV, especially our loyal enthusiasts who find themselves stuck inside more than they would like to be,” said SVP & General Manager of MOTV, Sean Luxton.
(Source: Cynopsis)
HITN has launched an effort to provide Hispanic families with resources to help them navigate through the pandemic. The efforts are led by HITN’s health and wellness brand, Vida y Salud, and include information on its website, daily television block, newsletters and social media accounts.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Lawyers for Full House star Lori Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli are seeking to have the college bribery case against the couple dismissed, on the grounds that “extraordinary government misconduct” threatens the integrity of the proceeding. Loughlin and Giannulli, set to go to trial in early October, have claimed the $500,000 they gave William Singer were “legitimate donations”; their attorneys say the feds pressured Singer to implicate them in a scam.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The series finale of NBC’s Will & Grace is set for Thursday, April 23 at 9p. Preceding the episode, a retrospective hosted by Eric McCormack (Will) will air at 8:30p, highlighting memorable moments, as well as reactions from the comedy’s superfans.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Documentary special Lost Ships: The Hunt for the Kaiser’s Superfleet, about an underwater search to find the location of a fleet of infamous German battleships sunk in 1914 off the Falklands Islands, will air on Smithsonian Channel in the UK and US. Five years in the making, special from TVT Productions follows Falklands-born underwater archaeologist Mensun Bound as he attempts to locate the vessels, which were sunk by the British Navy during one of the first great sea battles of World War One.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Star Stable Entertainment, creator of digital games, original music and fantasy books for girls, is hosting a live and free concert on Instagram today, Friday, March 27 at 4p. There will be live chats with Star Stable personalities, so concert-goers can connect with each other while watching a live performance.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Disneynature film Elephant, narrated by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, premieres on Disney+ on April 3, alongside previously announced Dolphin Reef, in celebration of Earth Day. Penguins will also make its Disney+ debut on April 3.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Starz is offering an Earth Day: Honoring Mother Nature marathon starting at 10a on April 22. Starz Kids & Family programming that day will include Two Brothers, Bears, African Cats and Planet Ocean.
(Source: Cynopsis)
National Geographic is commemorating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with two specials. Born Wild: The Next Generation, hosted by ABC News’ Robin Roberts and featuring Chris Hemsworth, premieres April 22 at 8p on Nat Geo and Nat Geo WILD. The next chapter of Dr. Jane Goodall’s life’s work unfolds in Jane Goodall: The Hope, at 9p on Nat Geo, Nat Geo WILD and Nat Geo MUNDO.
(Source: Cynopsis)
PBS and American Masters are streaming Terrence McNally: Every Act of Life, a documentary that first aired June 14 on PBS, through April 1. McNally died of coronavirus complications on March 24.
(Source: Cynopsis)
WE tv spin-off Life After Lockup achieved season high ratings for its March 20 season 2 finale episode with more than 1.4 million total viewers in Nielsen Live+3 ratings. It was also the highest performing episode among key demos, delivering 622,000 W25-54 and 883,000 A25-54, since its mid-season finale of season 2.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The series finale of Univision’s Ringo reached 3.3 million total viewers 2+ who tuned in to all or part of the one-hour telecast, and averaged 2.2 million total viewers, 904,000 A18-49 and 405,000 A18-34.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Cable TV pioneer JR Shaw died March 24 in his sleep. The founder of Shaw Communications was 85. “JR was an icon in the industry, and he was extraordinarily passionate in delivering connectivity and customer service to millions of Canadians. His vision and insight combined with his warmth of character created a magic touch among everyone who knew and worked with him,” said Paul Pew, lead director of Shaw Communications.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Actor Mark Blum died due to complications of the coronavirus. He was 69. In addition to stage and film roles, Blum had roles on TV series including NYPD Blue, The Sopranos, Succession, You and Billions, among others.
(Source: Cynopsis)
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Today’s Jackpot is $107 million
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POWERBALL
Saturday’s Jackpot is $160 million.
Powerball is played in 43 states.
Keely's Korner 