FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news
ON TELEVISION (WEDNESDAY 2/23/22)
DISNEY+: The Proud Family: Prouder and Louder
FX: Snowfall at 10p
FOOD NETWORK: Worst Cooks in America (Finale) at 9pm
Syndicated daytime talker “The Wendy Williams Show” will end with its current 13th season. “Sherri,” hosted by Sherri Shepherd (“The View”), will inherit the timeslot on the Fox Television stations. Williams has been out all season with health issues, with guest hosts – including Shepherd – filling in. “Sherri” comes from Debmar-Mercury, producer/distributor of “The Wendy Willams Show”; David Perler will continue in the role of EP and showrunner. “Since Wendy is still not available to host the show as she continues on her road to recovery, we believe it is best for our fans, stations and advertising partners to start making this transition now,” said Debmar-Mercury Co-Presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein. “We hope to be able to work with Wendy again in the future, and continue to wish her a speedy and full recovery.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
No hard feelings from Williams, according to her spokesperson. “She, more than anyone, understands the reality of syndicated television – you can’t go to the marketplace and sell a show that’s the ‘Maybe Wendy Show’,” said Howard Bragman.“She understands why this decision was made from a business point of view, and she has been assured by Debmar-Mercury that should her health get to a point where she can host again and should her desire be that she hosts again that she would be back on TV at that time.”
Source: Cynopsis)
AMC Networks has created “Avenue,” a division built to help advertising and marketing partners reach diverse and underrepresented audiences through association with AMC Networks’ programming, talent, relationships, reach and scale. “Connecting with, recognizing, celebrating and elevating these diverse audiences and communities is a focal point of so many of our conversations with partners today,” said Kim Kelleher, President of Commercial Revenue and Partnerships for AMC Networks. “We built ‘Avenue’ to maximize our partners’ impact as these conversations and our collective commitment and progress around representation and inclusion continue to expand.” A discussion series launched a year ago to create conversations is also being expanded as a full series that will be produced as part of the “Avenue” initiative. Hosted by Jordan Carlos, “Can We Talk About This?” will become a long-form series featuring talent, creators and cultural influencers.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Netflix has canceled space drama “Another Life” after two seasons. “I wish we could do more seasons but sadly it’s just not in the cards,” tweeted series star Katee Sackhoff.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Ninety-eight percent of consumers plan to make at least one purchase through social media in 2022, according to Sprout Social. Gen Zers anticipate using networks like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTOk, while older shoppers lean toward Facebook and Pinterest. DEI alert: Overall, 60% of those surveyed said they are more likely to purchase from brands that highlight inclusivity.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories and Kristen Campo have acquired the rights to Jean Hanff Korelitz’s upcoming novel The Latecomer to adapt as a limited series. Set to publish in May 2022 , the darkly comedic story follows a fractured family. Hanff Korelitz will executive produce alongside Papandrea and Made Up Stories’ Steve Hutensky, and Casey Haver and Campo in partnership with Endeavor Content.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Fred Rogers Productions has received grants from the Richard King Mellon Foundation and Heinz Family Foundation. The combined funding totals $350,000 to support onscreen programming and community outreach initiatives for “Alma’s Way” and “Donkey Hodie,” which launched in 2021 on PBS KIDS.
(Source: Cynopsis)
CBS News White House producer Fin Gómez has been named political director for CBS News. “As we look to the 2022 midterms and the 2024 election, we’re bringing together a powerhouse political team of correspondents, reporters and producers at CBS News who are committed to providing quality, comprehensive campaign coverage across our broadcast and streaming networks,” said President and Co-head of CBS News and Stations Neeraj Khemlani.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Former production associate Ashan Singh has been promoted to multi-platform reporter at ABC’s “Nightline.” Singh was most recently an on-air contributor and segment producer.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Casting notes: Michael Chiklis (“Gotham”) will star in the first episode of Fox crime anthology series “Accused”…Ashley Reyes (“How I Met Your Father”) has joined CW’s “Walker” as a series regular. The drama’s former female lead, Lindsey Morgan, left in December for personal reasons….Emmy Rossum (“Shameless”) landed the lead opposite Tom Holland and Amanda Seyfried in Apple TV+ anthology series “The Crowded Room.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Season two of “The Snoopy Show” hits Apple TV+ Friday, March 11. Peanuts specials on the way include “It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown” on Friday, April 15, and “To Mom (and Dad), With Love” on Friday, May 6.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Also coming back for a second season, on Friday, May 6, is “The Wilds.” The YA drama returns to Prime Video with the continuing tale of teens stranded on a desert island.
(Source: Cynopsis)
HLN’s “Forensic Files” is back for season three on Sunday, February 27 at 10p. “This season we feature some amazing advancements in DNA technology that are now being applied to crime solving, including a technique that was used to identify the victims of 9/11,” said Paul Duffy, SVP, Program Development at CNN. “The forensic tools featured in every episode are what differentiates ‘Forensic Files’ from all other crime shows.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Guilty pleasure “Siesta Key” returns for season five on a new night, Thursday, March 10 at 9p on MTV.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Angie Harmon (“Rizzoli & Isles”) stars in Lifetime movie series “Buried in Barstow,” premiering Saturday, June 4 at 8p. The first installment features Harmon as a single mother and former hit woman.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“Megaphone for Conspiracy: The Alex Jones Story” airs Sunday, February 27 at 9p on CNN. The special explores the far-right radio host’s rise from the fringes of public access television to a media empire.
(Source: Cynopsis)
In a “Hamilton” reunion, Daveed Diggs, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Leslie Odom Jr. will open the 28th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony, simulcast Sunday, February 27 at 8p on TNT and TBS.
(Source: Cynopsis)
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