FIRST LOOK
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ON TELEVISION (FRIDAY1/27/23)
E!: Nikki Bella Says I Do (Premiere) at 9pm
HULU: The 1619 Project (Premiere)
HULU: Killing County (Premiere)
MTV: Jersey Shore: Family Vacation (Premiere) at 8pm
NETFLIX: Daniel Spellbound (Premiere)
PARAMOUNT+: Wolf Pack (Premiere)
PEACOCK: Poker Face (Premiere)
Warner Bros. Discovery will host its Upfront the morning of Wednesday, May 17, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. “This year’s Upfront will shine a spotlight on how WBD’s best-in-class programming and products connect brands with highly engaged audiences,” said Jon Steinlauf, Chief U.S. Advertising Sales Officer at Warner Bros. Discovery. Guests will also hear new details about the ad-lite tier of the company’s enhanced streaming service, as well as new measurement and currency solutions.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“Bob Hearts Abishola” has made it to season five. CBS renewed the comedy, currently averaging 5.99 million viewers on Mondays, for the 2023-24 season.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Penske Media Eldridge has acquired Dick Clark Productions. The deal is part of a strategic alliance with Eldridge expanding its existing partnership with Penske Media’s entertainment media brands and SXSW. “I have long admired dcp’s portfolio of iconic and prominent live entertainment brands,” said Penske Media CEO and founder Jay Penske, “and look forward to growing dcp’s footprint and legacy for future audiences across all platforms.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Former Fox News employee Laura Luhn is suing Fox News over alleged abuse by the late CEO Roger Ailes, who stepped down from the company in 2016 amid charges of sexual misconduct by other women. Luhn is suing Fox News for unlawful discrimination and negligence, and former FNC co-president Bill Shine for aiding and abetting Ailes.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Anna “Delvey” Sorokin, the focus of “Inventing Anna,” now has a series of her own. Reality show “Delvey’s Dinner Club,” from Courtney White (formerly of Food Network) and Butternut, will film in Sorokin’s NYC apartment, where she’s under house arrest. “There’s nothing like the experience of bringing together a curated group of friends to share life stories and enjoy a great culinary experience,” said Sorokin.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Krista Vernoff is stepping down as EP and showrunner of ABC’s Shondaland dramas “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Station 19” at the end of the season. “Her voice has been pivotal to the success of these beloved series,” said Craig Erwich, President, ABC Entertainment, Hulu & Disney Branded Television Streaming Originals. “It takes a formidable leader to run two shows simultaneously and Krista has done so effortlessly. Her creative force has left an indelible mark and thanks to her, our viewers will continue to be invested in these dynamic and cherished characters for many years to come.” Vernoff will continue to develop projects through her company, Trip the Light Productions.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Just ahead of the debut of “Extraordinary,” Disney+ ordered a second season. The UK-set comedy following a 25-year-old woman searching for her superpower made its Hulu debut on Wednesday.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Roku has ordered three adventure series: Social experiment “Fight to Survive,” from Tollbooth Television; zoo-set “Reptile Royalty,” from Leftfield Pictures; and “UFO Cowboys,” from American Chainsaws.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Chicken Soup for the Soul Television Group ordered a pilot for “Mutual Aid Brigade,” co-hosted and executive produced by “Will & Grace” star Debra Messing and author/activist Shelly Tygielski. In the reality show, viewers will be able to participate in charitable activities, and see the results of their efforts.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“Any claims of serious injury are untrue,” said Netflix and producers Studio Lambert and The Garden over reports that freezing conditions on “Squid Game: The Challenge” in the UK led to a contestant being carted off in a stretcher. According to The Sun, at least one player during a game of Red Light, Green Light – which called for people to remain motionless for hours – was carried out. “We care deeply about the health and safety of our cast and crew, and invested in all the appropriate safety procedures,” said the companies.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Critical Role (“The Legend of Vox Machina”) landed an exclusive overall deal with Amazon Studios. The agreement calls for Critical Role to produce an animated series based on its livestream campaign “Mighty Nein,” exec produced by Tasha Ho, Sam Riegel and Travis Willingham alongside Metapigeon and Amazon Studios. Critical Role will also develop its own TV shows under its Metapigeon banner.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Casting notes: Bill Camp (“The Queen’s Gambit”) and Elizabeth Marvel (“The Dropout”) have joined the cast of Apple TV+ limited series “Presumed Innocent,” inspired by the 1987 Scott Turow book….Jess Salgueiro (“Y: The Last Man”) will star opposite Kelsey Grammer in Paramount+’s sequel to “Frasier.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Hulu and Adult Swim have cut ties with “Rick & Morty” and “Solar Opposites” co-creator Justin Roiland after he was charged with domestic violence. Roiland resigned from video game developer Squanch Games, which he co-founded in 2016.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Oxygen’s “Cold Justice” returns Saturday, February 25 at 8p. So far, the true crime series has helped bring about 22 convictions and 56 arrests.
(Source: Cynopsis)
New series “Womp & Co.” premieres Friday, January 27 at 10p on FailArmy’s streaming channel. The workplace comedy follows a crew of puppet characters.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Season two of AppleTV+ docuseries “Make or Break” debuts with its first four episodes on February 17. The series follows elite surfers competing for the World Championship title.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Sixteen of the greatest competitors from Bravo’s “Top Chef” return for the cooking competition’s 20th season, kicking off Thursday, March 9 at 9p. The All-Stars installment features winners and finalists, representing 11 different “Top Chef” versions around the world. Brand partners include Anolon Cookware, BMW of North America, Delta Air Lines, Finish Dishwasher Detergent and Additives, Mastercard, Morton Salt, RITZ Crackers, Saratoga® Spring Water, Universal Pictures’ “Fast X” and Vrbo.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Apple unveiled its spring lineup of content for kids and families. The new programming will kick off on Friday, March 31 with the animated series “Eva the Owlet,” inspired by the bestselling book series. “Jane,” from Emmy Award winner J.J. Johnson, Sinking Ship Entertainment and the Jane Goodall Institute, launches April 14 and “Frog and Toad,” based on Arnold Lobel’s beloved characters of over five decades, launches April 28.
(Source: Cynopsis)
HBO stand-up comedy special “Marc Maron: From Bleak to Dark”debuts Saturday, February 11 at 10p. In the comedian and podcaster’s first HBO comedy special, he explores such universal topics as getting older, antisemitism and faith, and the superiority of having cats over children.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Oscar-nominated documentary “All That Breathes” premieres Tuesday, February 7 at 9p on HBO. The film follows two brothers who devote their lives to the quixotic effort of protecting the black kite, a majestic bird of prey essential to the ecosystem of New Delhi that has been falling from the sky at alarming rates.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Documentary “When You’re Strange,” airs Wednesday, February 1 at 9p on AXS TV. Narrated by Johnny Depp, the 2009 film uncovers historic footage of rock band The Doors.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Yvette Nicole Brown (“Dreamgirls”) will return as host for the 27th Annual Art Directors Guild Awards, taking place Saturday, February 18 in LA.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Fox special “TMZ Investigates: Lisa Marie Presley: Unending Tragedy”premieres Monday, January 30 at 8p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
During its premiere week, Telemundo’s “El Señor de los Cielos” ranked as the #1 Spanish-language series in weekday primetime with a premiere week average of 821,000 viewers A18-49 and 309,000 A18-34. At 9p, the series was the #1 broadcast program, regardless of language, among A18-49, in markets including LA, New York, Miami, Houston, Dallas and Chicago. In addition, since its launch, Season 3 of “La Casa de los Famosos” ranks as the most-watched premiere week in the franchise’s history, delivering an average of 482,000 A18-49.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The January 12 episode of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” delivered a 0.98 rating among A18-49, the highest of the season, and a second-highest (after Steve Martin and Martin Short’s show) 4.8 million total viewers. Aubrey Plaza was host, joined by musical guest Sam Smith.
(Source: Cynopsis)
In syndication, two magazines hit their best marks of the syndicationyear the week of January 9. “Entertainment Tonight” (new season high 2.4, up 4%) moved into a first-place tie with “Inside Edition” (2.4, unchanged) and “Extra” (new season high 0.7, up 17%) tied “TMZ” (0.7, unchanged). “Extra” has risen 40% in the past two weeks.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Among this season’s top syndication newcomers, “Sherri” (0.7, up 17%) returned to original episodes after three weeks of reruns, while “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (0.6, steady and up 50% among W25-54 in the demo) blew by some of the year-ago ratings recorded by “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” which it replaced in several markets, including rising 60% in Birmingham, Alabama.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The premiere of Fox Business Network’s “The Bottom Line” drew 251,000 viewers, marking it the highest-rated 6p hour for FBN in 2023, growing the timeslot by 49% compared to its average in 2022.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Actor Lance Kerwin died January 24 at age 62. No cause of death was given. Kerwin starred in miniseries “Salem’s Lot,” and played the title character in NBC coming of age drama “James at 15.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Keely's Korner 