FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news
ON TELEVISION (WEDNESDAY 4/29/20)
HULU: Normal People (Premiere)
NAT. GEO.: Drug Lords: The Next Generation (Premiere) at 10pm
NETFLIX: Extracurricular (Premiere)
NETFLIX: Nadiya’s Time To Eat (Premiere)
NETFLIX: Summertime (Premiere)
PBS: Spy In The Wild: A Nature Miniseries (Premiere) at 8pm
TRAVEL CHANNEL: Destination Fear (Premiere) at 10pm
E!: The Funny Dance Show (Finale) at 11pm
FXX: Dave (Finale) at 10pm
LIFETIME: Bride & Prejudice: Forbidden Love (Finale) at 10pm
VH1: Black Ink Crew (Finale) at 8pm
It certainly appears Discovery Inc.’s plan to rebrand its DIY Network as Magnolia Network will bear fruit. Sunday’s four-hour Magnolia Presents: A Look Back & A Look Ahead stunt on DIY drew 2.3 million viewers, a +195% improvement over the net’s prior six-week average and a +402% increase over year-ago levels. Among W25-54, the numbers are even more impressive: the show was up +303% over the prior six weeks and up +647% over last year. The four episodes rank as four of the top five telecasts in DIY’s history among P25-54 ratings. Magnolia Network had been set to launch October 4, but production stoppages due to the health crisis forced a postponement.
(Source: Cynopsis)
NBC and the Paley Center for Media are collaborating on “The Paley Center Salutes Parks and Recreation,” scheduled to air Thursday, April 30 at 8p, ahead of the net’s Parks and Rec social distancing special. “There has been an incredible response since we announced the all-new A Parks and Recreation Special and that’s truly a tribute to what this show means to people,” said Doug Vaughan, EVP, Special Programs, NBC Entertainment. “It’s a testament to the cast and producers that Parks remains such a touchstone and beloved comedy for its millions of fans around the world.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Films opening on streaming services and VOD can qualify for Oscar contention this year, even if they didn’t first appear for a theatrical qualifying run, ruled the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, as the coronavirus upends film distribution. The Oscars show remains scheduled for Sunday, February 28, 2021 on ABC.
(Source: Cynopsis)
An attorney for Fox News host Sean Hannity is demanding an apology and retraction from the New York Times for three stories he claims illustrate the Times’ “ongoing campaign to personally attack Mr. Hannity by mischaracterizing and making false statements.” Hannity has “extensively and truthfully covered the virus and the seriousness of the pandemic,” wrote attorney Charles Harder in a letter to the Times, threatening a lawsuit if no action was taken. “The columns are accurate, do not reasonably imply what you and Mr. Hannity allege they do, and constitute protected opinion,” responded the paper’s legal counsel, David E. McCraw.
(Source: Cynopsis)
With production of One Day at a Time on hold due to COVID-19, Pop TV announced an election-themed animated special, produced remotely and premiering this spring. The cast will all voice their own characters and will be joined by celebrity guests. Color Norman Lear surprised. “In my 97 years, I’ve never known of a multicam comedy to animate a single episode as a special,” said the legendary producer. “Even this I get to experience.” The series premiered on Pop TV in March and has grown its ratings week-over-week, setting a new season high with its fourth episode on April 14. The mid-season finale of aired Tuesday.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Oprah Winfrey will deliver the commencement address for #Graduation2020: Facebook and Instagram Celebrate the Class of 2020. In addition to Winfrey’s speech on May 15 at 2p, Awkwafina, Jennifer Garner, Lil Nas X, Simone Biles, and more will share words of wisdom, and Miley Cyrus will do a special performance of her hit song, “The Climb.” The ceremony will acknowledge high schools and colleges in the US by name, including photos and videos of the class of 2020 and messages from deans and principals across the country. Graduates can also host their own virtual graduation ceremony and party via Facebook, with special features including a virtual graduation hub, custom filters, family and friends celebrations enabled by Messenger Rooms.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Also honoring grads, Her Campus, media brand for college women, announced the line-up for its “I’m Still Graduating” virtual graduation ceremony that will be digitally broadcast on May 15 at 12p. Liam Payne, Eva Longoria, Austin Mahone, Jesse McCartney, Tamron Hall, Billie Jean King, Margaret Cho, Andrew Yang, Brooke Baldwin, Lauren Akins, Jaime King, Alisyn Camerota, Alec Benjamin and Drax Project will be among those honoring the Class of 2020.
(Source: Cynopsis)
ABC News reporter Will Reeve (Christopher Reeve’s Son aka “Superman”) appeared on Good Morning America reporting from his home yesterday, accidentally positioned so the audience could see him dressed in a jacket and button-down shirt…and shorts. After being called out by amused viewers for the fashion faux pas, Reeve tweeted, “I have ARRIVED, in the most hilariously mortifying way possible.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Scholastic Entertainment, Sony Pictures Television, and Neal H. Moritz’s Original Film are teaming to develop a new live-action Goosebumps series based on the best-selling books by R. L. Stine, published by Scholastic. Executive Producers include Scholastic Entertainment President and Chief Strategy Officer Iole Lucchese and SVP & General Manager Caitlin Friedman as well as Original Film’s Neal H. Moritz and Original’s Head of Television Pavun Shetty.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Playground and wiip partnered for screen right to Adults, by Emma Jane Unsworth. The novel, about a thirtysomething woman learning how to fall back in love with herself, will be adapted for TV with Unsworth, Colin Callender, Paul Lee and Nne Ebong executive producing.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Netflix renewed Queen Sono for a second season. “The first season of Queen Sono marked the beginning of our journey to introduce the world to exciting stories that are made in Africa.,” said Dorothy Ghettuba, head of African originals at Netflix. “It was an unprecedented representation of a strong female black lead in African television.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
AccuWeather has launched virtual educational series AccuWeather Schools, drawing upon its meteorologists to teach science lessons remotely while students are sheltering at home. The content is developed and produced in concert with the 24/7 national AccuWeather Network channel and is available across many digital AccuWeather platforms.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Gobal anime content provider Funimation, a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Television, is teaming with VR software platform Bigscreen to program a slate of anime films for Bigscreen’s virtual reality audience. To kick off the launch, Funimation and Bigscreen have programmed special weekend screenings of films starting May 1 with fan favorite Your Name. “Anime has always been built around community and shared experiences,” said Colin Decker, General Manager of Funimation. “Enabling fans to connect through the magic of VR is a natural expression of our commitment to connect fans with the art and culture of Anime through innovative experiences.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Season two of Amazon’s Homecoming arrives Friday, May 22, with Janelle Monae jumping onboard as Jackie, who wakes up adrift on a boat with no idea how she got there or who she is. Stephan James reprises his role as Walter Cruz, a man trying to build a new life following the traumas of war and the Homecoming Initiative, when he begins to realize that there’s an even more insidious version of the program underway.
(Source: Cynopsis)
No Mercy, No Malice with Professor Scott Galloway launches on Vice TV on Thursday, May 7 at 10p. The weekly business show pulls back the curtain on the decisions and players driving the economy, hosted by author, tech entrepreneur and NYU business professor Galloway.
(Source: Cynopsis)
An adult summer camp is the setting for Bravo’s Camp Getaway (“when the campers are 21+ and the booze never stops flowing, it’s a 24/7 party in the woods!”), premiering Monday, May 4 at 10p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The second half of the fifth and last season of Fuller House lands on Netflix on June 2. Original cast members Bob Saget, Dave Coulier and John Stamos will join Candace Cameron Bure, Jodie Sweetin and Andrea Barber to say goodbye.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Eddie Jackson is back with decadent dishes when season two of Cooking Channel’s Yum and Yummer premieres Thursday, May 14 at 10p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The Paper Girls Show, aimed at girls 6-8, launches today, April 29 on YouTube. The animated series tells the story of two best friends who invent creative solutions to everyday problems.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Starz has a lineup of films and series for Teacher Appreciation Month. From May 1-31, available titles include The Nutty Professor, Accepted, Kindergarten Cop, Friday Night Lights and more.
(Source: Cynopsis)
NBC will air the 2020 Beverly Hills Dog Show Presented by Purina on Sunday, May 17 at 8p. The special, which was taped on February 29, was previously postponed due to post-production delays.
(Source: Cynopsis)
FX comedy Better Things will celebrate its season 4 finale with a mini-marathon featuring six of Pamela Adlon’s favorite episodes from the series’ first three seasons. The stunt begins at 7p on Thursday, April 30, leading up to the tenth and final episode of season 4 at 10p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
HGTV viewers voted for 100 Day Dream Home as the subject of the “Fan Favorite Friday” marathon on May 1. The stunt will air from 6a-12p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
ABC’s World News Tonight was the #1 program in America across all of broadcast and cable television in Total Viewers for the week of April 20 with its Monday (11.146 million) newscast. The program also ranked #2 with its Wednesday (11.006 million) airing and #4 with on Tuesday (10.830 million). For the first time in 24 years, it was the #1 newscast in Total Viewers, A25-54 and A18-49 season to date.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The April 23 episode of WE tv’s Growing Up Hip Hop was the highest performing episode among Women and Adults 25-54 in Nielsen Live+3 and ranked as the #1 cable program of the night among African American Women 18-49 and 25-54. The current season is outpacing the previous one by double-digits across all key demos, growing its audience by 23% in total viewers.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Beat The Chasers debuted in the UK to an overnight audience of 5.7 million viewers and a 28.7% share, easily winning its time slot. The game show is a spin-off of The Chase.
(Source: Cynopsis)
In syndication, after one week as the #1 game show, Family Feud (7.2 Live+SD national Nielsen rating, down 3% from the week before) was joined at the top of the category by Jeopardy (7.2, up 1%) the week of April 13. Among talk shows, Live with Kelly and Ryan (2.2, down 4%) won for the fourth week in a row as usual leader Dr. Phil (2.0, down 5%) again ran into pandemic preemptions.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Fox Business Network wrapped April with a new record in Business Day viewers and delivered double-digit year-over-year growth, according to Nielsen. As viewers anticipated the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the markets, FBN’s Business Day programming drew 293,000 total viewers, the net’s highest rated Business Day in history, and saw double-digit audience increases of 80% year-over-year in total viewership.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The premiere of Univision’s Como Tú No Hay 2 reached 3.6 million Total Viewers 2+ who tuned in to all or part of the one-hour telecast. The romantic comedy averaged 2.1 million Total Viewers 2+, 941,000 A18-49 and 326,000 A18-34, propelling Univision to the number one broadcast network ranking regardless of language among A18-49 and A18-34 during the premiere.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Ashley Ross, who starred in Little Women: Atlanta, died April 27 of injuries from a car accident. She was 34. Ross was an original cast member of the Lifetime reality show.
(Source: Cynopsis)
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