FIRST LOOK
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ON TELEVISION (FRIDAY 5/15/20)
AMAZON: The Last Narc (Premiere)
CW: Masters of Illusion (Premiere) at 8pm
DISCOVERY: Bering Sea Gold (Premiere) at 8pm
DISNEY+: It’s a Dog’s Life with Bill Farmer (Premiere)
HULU: The Great (Premiere)
NETFLIX: Inhuman Resources (Premiere)
NETFLIX: The Unremarkable Juanquini (Premiere)
ABC: Shark Tank (Finale) at 8pm
HGTV: My Lottery Dream Home: Scratch Offs (Finale) at 9:30pm
NBC: The Blacklist (Finale) at 8pm
(SATURDAY 5/16/20)
FOOD NETWORK: Barefoot Contessa: Cook Like a Pro (Premiere) at 12:30pm
NETFLIX: The Queen and the Conqueror (Premiere)
OWN: Fear Not With Iyanla Vanzant (Premiere) at 9pm
OWN: Girlfriends Check In (Premiere) at 10pm
(SUNDAY 5/17/20)
SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL: An American Aristocrat’s Guide to Great Estates (Premiere) at 9pm
STARZ: Hightown (Premiere) at 8pm
TNT: Snowpiercer (Premiere) at 9pm
ABC: American Idol (Finale) at 8pm
CW: Batwoman (Finale) at 8pm
CW: Supergirl (Finale) at 9pm
EPIX: Belgravia (Finale) at 9pm
ESPN: The Last Dance (Finale) at 9pm & 10pm
FOX: The Simpsons (Finale) at 8pm
FOX: Duncanville (Finale) at 8:30pm
FOX: Bob’s Burgers (Finale) at 9pm
FOX: Family Guy (Finale) at 9:30pm
PBS: Call the Midwife (Finale) at 8p
On the day that was supposed to be its Upfront presentation, The CW announced it will launch its 2020-21 season in January. Series orders will remain the same; rather than end in May, the season will stretch into July and August, with 2021-22 season premieres returning to the net’s usual October slot. All American and Black Lightning are set for Mondays; The Flash and new show Superman & Lois take up the Tuesday time periods; Riverdale and Nancy Drew team for Wednesdays; new drama Walker and Legacies air Thursdays; Penn & Teller: Fool Us and two episodes of Whose Line Is It Anyway? are paired on a new night, Friday; and Batwoman and relocated-from-Friday Charmed take up Saturdays.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The CW also ordered a second season of anthology series Two Second Horror Stories to run in the fourth quarter along with already filmed acquisitions The Outpost, Pandora, Tell Me a Story, Swamp Thing, Coroner and Dead Pixels. As for advertising, “Timing may be different from years past but people are getting ready,” said Rob Tuck, EVP National Ad Sales. “They’re getting ready to figure out their plans for the 2020-21 season. There will be some clients who need to slow down. There are some clients whose businesses weren’t really that affected and they’re able to move quicker.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
As networks look to fill scheduling gaps left by the coronavirus production shutdown, NBC headed north to acquire medical series Transplant, a hit on Canada’s CTV network. Since its February 26 premiere, Transplant has become the most-watched Canadian series among total viewers this broadcast year, seeing ongoing week-over-week audience growth. The 13-episode series centers on a Syrian doctor with battle-tested skills in emergency medicine who fled his country with his younger sister.
(Source: Cynopsis)
CBS ordered a fifth season of The Good Fight. The fourth season, intended to be 10 episodes but cut short by the production shutdown, will wrap with episode 7 on Thursday, May 28. “It’s been weird to not be able to finish the fourth season,” said creators Robert and Michelle King. “It left the story in even more absurd a place than usual. So we’re thrilled that CBS All Access wants to bring The Good Fight back for an additional season, and we know what story we’re planning to tell. It’s like getting the answers to the SAT ahead of time.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
The largest pay-TV providers in the US shed nearly 2.1 million video subscribers in 1Q20, the highest level of cord-cutting ever, reported Leichtman Research Group. While the coronavirus pandemic was an issue, cord-cutters didn’t have as big an impact on subscriptions as the increasing number of cord-nevers who aren’t signing up for pay-TV at all. On the flip side, the top eight cable companies added over 1.23 million high-speed internet customers in 1Q20. Charter Communications led the group with 582,000 additional customers, followed by Comcast with 477,000.
(Source: Cynopsis)
USA Network, in an ongoing shift from scripted to unscripted and event programming, canceled The Purge after two seasons, and Treadstone after one. A third USA drama, Dare Me, was canceled at the end of April.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation announced the winners of the 45th annual Gracie Awards, recognizing programming created by, for and about women in radio, television, and interactive media. Honorees in TV categories included Alex Duda, showrunner for The Kelly Clarkson Show; Angela King, showrunner for The Walking Dead; actress Catherine Reitman (Workin’ Moms); CNN International reporter Clarissa Ward; Killing Eve director Fiona Shaw; Michelle Williams (Fosse/Verdon); Niecy Nash (2019 Black Girls Rock); Lifetime movie Patsy & Loretta; and the cast of Superstore, among others.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Maurice Fayne, who appeared on season 8 of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, has been charged with bank fraud after using money from a COVID-19 relief loan for jewelry. Fayne had certified that loan proceeds would be used to make payments to keep his business afloat, then allegedly spent over $1.5 million of the funds for a Rolex watch and a 5.73 carat diamond ring, among other trinkets. An attorney for Fayne attributed the situation to “considerable confusion” over guidelines for the Paycheck Protection Program.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Peacock announced its opening slate, available when it launches nationally on July 15. Among the offerings are drama Brave New World, based on the Aldous Huxley novel; conspiracy thriller The Capture; comedies Intelligence, set in the UK’s Government Communications Headquarters, and Psych 2: Lassie Come Home; and sports shows In Deep with Ryan Lochte and Lost Speedways, hosted by Dale Earnhardt Jr. “Our variety of Peacock Originals at launch demonstrates how we deliver timely and timeless content – no matter the genre or format,” said Bill McGoldrick, President of Original Content. “We’re proud to establish our voice and are excited to build on our strategy to attract a wide audience.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Cake Boss Buddy Valastro judges some of the country’s best bakers in Big Time Bake, bowing Monday, June 8 at 9p on Food Network.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Anne and Marie Antoinette and their roles in historical events are explored in PBS’s Lucy Worsley’s Royal Myths & Secrets, a three-part miniseries launching Sunday, June 21 at 8p (check local listings).
(Source: Cynopsis)
Season five of Roadkill Garage, helping weekend mechanics get wrecks on the road for cheap, premieres Wednesday, May 20 on the MotorTrend app.
(Source: Cynopsis)
HBO Europe’s Czech espionage drama The Sleepers will be available to US viewers starting Monday, May 18 on HBO Go, HBO Now and partners’ streaming platforms. The six-parter is set at the end of 1989 in Czechoslovakia, when the Soviet Empire was crumbling.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Sherman’s Showcase will return on Friday, June 19 with a one-hour “Black History Month Spectacular” premiering at 10p on AMC, followed by an 11p premiere on IFC.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Season five of Netflix’s Queer Eye revival drops Friday, June 5, with the Fab Five lending a hand to the hopelessly unhip.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Pop TV’s animated One Day at a Time special has a debut date – and Lin-Manuel Miranda. The remotely-produced show premieres Tuesday, June 16 at 9:30p, with the Hamilton star joining a family fight over politics.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Bosom Buddies is coming to Decades TV starting Monday, May 18 at 4:30p. The sitcom starring Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari aired on ABC from 1980-82.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The Voice coaches Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, John Legend and Blake Shelton will perform in the live two-hour season finale of The Voice on Tuesday, May 19 at 9p. Shelton will be joined by Gwen Stefani, who has served as a coach on four seasons and is Shelton’s real-life partner. Also featured will be the Jonas Brothers with KAROL G, Bon Jovi and Lady Antebellum.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Hulu is being accused of throttling the quality of video service on web browsers to push subscribers to other devices. A suit filed in LA Superior Court, reported by Variety, alleges “defendants prefer that users use the Hulu applications because, compared to computer browsers, applications provide more direct access to consumers’ personal data.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
DirecTV has added a free year of HBO Max to its deal for a free year of HBO for new subscribers. HBO Max will also be free for DirecTV subscribers paying for HBO.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Feature film Clouds, directed and produced by Wayfarer Studios co-founder Justin Baldoni (Five Feet Apart) will premiere exclusively on Disney+ this fall. The film tells the true story of a musically gifted 17-year-old living with a rare bone cancer. “I fell in love with Zach’s infectious joy and spirit seven years ago when I made a short documentary about his life. Just before he passed, I made a promise to him that I would do whatever I could to make sure the world heard his music,” said Baldoni. “In the age of COVID-19, with the future of the theatre business up in the air, it was extremely important to me to ensure Zach’s message of hope, faith and triumph in the face of adversity truly had the opportunity to touch as many hearts around the world as possible.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Court TV, rebooted last May, has arrived on SiriusXM, available on channel 793 through the SiriusXM app on smartphones and other connected devices and online.
(Source: Cynopsis)
VOD discovery, live distribution and monetization management platform Glewed TV announce its partnership with Crackle Plus to distribute two exclusive series on Crackle’s Homeschool Channel: Elf Learning for Kids and Travel with Kids TV. “During a time when parents have become teachers, they are looking for any and all help they can get with educational content,” said Melody Wolff, Chief Marketing Officer of Glewed TV. “This channel is a great way for us to share our exciting and useful original content with Crackle viewers.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
TikTok is being accused of failing to abide by commitments it made to the Federal Trade Commission to protect children’s privacy. To settle charges last year, the video-sharing app agreed to get parents’ permission before collecting kids’ data, as well as to delete personal information and videos of any child under 13. Now, in a complaint filed with the F.T.C., consumer groups including the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood and the Center for Digital Democracy say TikTok continues to flout the law. “We take privacy seriously and are committed to helping ensure that TikTok continues to be a safe and entertaining community for our users,” said TikTok in a statement.
(Source: Cynopsis)
CBS’s Survivor hit a 2 ½ year high 1.6 rating among A18-49 and 7.95 million viewers on Wednesday’s season finale.
(Source: Cynopsis)
MEGA MILLIONS
Today’s Jackpot is $266 million
You can now play in 43 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
POWERBALL
Saturday’s Jackpot is $86 million.
Powerball is played in 43 states.
Keely's Korner 