FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news
ON TELEVISION (TUESDAY 2/7/23)
BRAVO: The Real Housewives of New Jersey (Premiere) at 9pm
BRITBOX: Make It at Market (Premiere)
FOOD NETWORK: Superchef Grudge Match (Premiere) at 9pm
HISTORY: History’s Greatest Heists with Pierce Brosnan (Premiere) at 10pm
NAT GEO: The 7 Toughest Days on Earth (Premiere) at 10pm
REELZ: MLW Underground Wrestling (Premiere) at 10pm
Is Paramount hit “Yellowstone” roping in a new lead? Star Kevin Costner’s limited availability has prompted co-creator Taylor Sheridan, Paramount Global and Paramount Network to ponder replacing the series with a spin-off starring Matthew McConaughey, reports Deadline. “We have no news to report. Kevin Costner is a big part of ‘Yellowstone’ and we hope that’s the case for a long time to come,” responded a Paramount Network rep – who didn’t exactly repudiate a McConaughey connection. “Thanks to the brilliant mind of Taylor Sheridan, we are always working on franchise expansions of this incredible world he has built. Matthew McConaughey is a phenomenal talent with whom we’d love to partner.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Disney is exploring licensing more of its films and series to Disney+ rivals to raise cash, reports Bloomberg. That would be a shift from the company’s stance since it launched its streaming service in 2019, and continues a trend as companies are challenged with streaming losses.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Eighty percent of those surveyed in a poll by Cint plan to watch the ads during the Super Bowl this year. Of those planning to watch, 56% agree that it’s likely an ad running during the Super Bowl will change their perception of the brand and another 62% say they will impact their purchasing decisions. And 57% of consumers who saw Super Bowl ads were inclined to discuss them after the game, 48% liked to rewatch the ads on YouTube and other social media platforms and 40% were likely to share the ads they liked with friends and family.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Showtime handed a straight-to-series order for “The Department” (wt), a political thriller based on the French series “The Bureau” to be directed by George Clooney. Clooney and Grant Heslov will executive produce through their Smokehouse Pictures with MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios set to produce. The series “will follow in the great tradition of ‘Homeland,’ one of the most successful and brand-defining shows at Showtime,” said Chris McCarthy, President/CEO, Showtime and Paramount Media. “Just as ‘Homeland’ elevated global espionage to new heights, ‘The Department’ will take viewers even deeper into a world of intrigue and subterfuge.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Showtime also has spin-offs in the works. “Dexter” prequel “Dexter: Origins” (wt) scored a straight-to-series order. The network is also developing a new version of “Dexter: New Blood,” depicting the emergence of Dexter’s son, Harrison. Potential “Billions” extensions (all working titles) include “Billions: Miami,” set in the world of private aviation; “Billions: London”; “Millions,” centered on moguls-in-training; and “Trillions,” focused on titans in conflict. All projects are exec produced by “Billions” showrunners Brian Koppelman and David Levien.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Gina Rodriguez (“Jane the Virgin”) has inked an overall deal with 20th Television, the studio behind her ABC series “Not Dead Yet,” premiering Wednesday. Rodriguez will develop, direct and executive produce new series across all platforms through her production company I Can & I Will, run by executive Molly Breeskin.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Added to the voice cast of Peacock animated comedy “In the Know” are Caitlin Reilly (“Loot”), Charlie Bushnell (“Diary of a Future President, “), J. Smith-Cameron (“Succession”), and Carl Tart (“Grand Crew”). Mike Judge (“Beavis and Butt-Head”), Zach Woods (“Silicon Valley”) and Brandon Gardner will co-create and executive produce with Judge and Woods both starring.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Corus Studios is continuing their partnership with Pamela Andersonwith two new greenlights. “Pamela’s Garden of Eden” is currently in production on season 2, continuing the renovation of her family’s property on Vancouver Island. Anderson’s presence in the lifestyle space expands with the food-focused series, “Pamela’s Cooking With Love” (wt) beginning production this summer and scheduled to premiere in 2024 on Food Network Canada. Both series are produced by Fireworks Media Group.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Twelve new participants have joined Nickelodeon’s annual Writing and Artist Programs, back in person at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank for the first time since 2020. The Writing Program enters its 23rd year, while 2023 marks the 12th year for the Artist Program. Both programs are overseen by the Paramount Office of Global Inclusion and aligned with the company’s Content for Change initiative.
(Source: Cynopsis)
While suspicious minds may wonder if Matthew McConaughey is joining the “Yellowstone” universe, there’s no question about the “Interstellar” star’s participation in Netflix’s “Agent Elvis.” McConaughey will voice Elvis Presley the animated series following the King of Rock and Roll in his secret role as a government spy.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“Abbott Elementary” stars Quinta Brunson and Tyler James Williamswill voice DC superheroes Hawkman and Hawkgirl in Valentine’s Day special “Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special,” premiering February 9 on HBO Max.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“Sex Pod,” featuring experts answering questions about sex – alongside visual demonstrations from a couples who have agreed to have their most intimate moments filmed – premieres February 14 on Fuse+.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Warner Bros. Discovery’s U.S. Hispanic division launched a new, original limited series for Discovery en Español’s GO app. Pedigree is taking an integrated position in the series, expanding on its Total Market deal with Animal Planet for the upcoming annual Puppy Bowl. Three-part series “Adóptame” unites architect/interior designer Erik Millán with adoption expert Tamara Ibarra to upgrade deserving animal adoption centers to their fullest potential, while also helping puppies find their fur-ever homes. Puppy Bowl sponsor Pedigree is also sponsoring Discovery en Español’s linear and Go App Spanish-language simulcast of Puppy Bowl, airing Super Bowl Sunday, on Feb 12.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Season five of Fuse’s “Made from Scratch” launches Wednesday, February 8. First in the kitchen is Dominican singer Natti Natasha.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Episode 5 of HBO’s “The Last of Us” will be available two days early on HBO Max, on Thursday, February 10 at 9p. That’s two days ahead of its debut on HBO on Super Bowl Sunday.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Kids Industries is hosting a conference in London to launch insights from its Global Family Study, on March 16. The event will focus on attitudes and media habits of families around the world; fandom; building brand love, and future challenges.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Great American Family and the producers of the “To The Rescue” are teaming up to raise money for animal rescue organizations via Forever Family Rescue Foundation, with its first annual “To The Rescue Pup-A-Thon 2023.” Featuring dogs that are available for adoption around the country, the event will be broadcast live Sunday, February 12 from 12p-4p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Documentary “Don’t Leave Me Behind: Stories of Young Ukrainian Survival” premieres commercial-free on MTV Tuesday, February 21 at 10p in recognition of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Filmmaker Nathaniel Lezra chronicles the lives of Ukrainian teenage refugees as they process the trauma of being displaced from their country.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Vision Films has acquired action crime film “Crossfire.” The feature will have a day-and-date limited theatrical run with the transactional VOD release across the US and Canada on May 12.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Paramount+ has debuted its first Valentine’s Day-inspired collection, Peak Romance. The new collection is made up of over 200 rom-coms and love stories across an assortment of movies and seasonal episodes.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” ranks as the most-watched Marvel film premiere on Disney+ globally, based on hours streamed in its first five days.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Tom Brady will start calling the shots as a Fox broadcaster during the 2024 NFL season, he told Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd. Why the year off? “Decompression’s important,” Brady explained.
(Source: Cynopsis)
NASCAR champion Kevin Harvick is joining the FOX NASCAR broadcast booth full-time to call NASCAR Cup Series races following his retirement, beginning with the 2024 season. Harvick will partner with FOX Sports play-by-play announcer Mike Joy and former NASCAR teammate and analyst Clint Bowyer.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Major League Baseball has formed an economic study committee that will meet next week amid concerns about a possible bankruptcy for Diamond Sports Group, according to the Associated Press. The subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group owns local broadcasting rights to 14 of the 30 MLB teams.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Fox officially sold out its Super Bowl ad inventory the week of January 23, according to Fox Sports EVP of Ad Sales Mark Evans. The price for a 30-second spot averaged between $6 million and $7 million.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Street League Skateboarding has revealed the first details of its 2023 calendar. SLS will open the 2023 SLS Championship Tour in the Windy City at Wintrust Arena on April 29. The 2023 SLS season will consist of three SLS tour events, then culminate with the Super Crown World Championship. SLS Chicago will host the first stop, with the remaining three events taking place in marquee international cities on three different continents. More location details will be announced in the coming weeks.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Things are looking up – again – for “The Last of Us.” Episode four of the drama hit a series high 7.5 million viewers across HBO and HBO Max. That’s up 17% from week three, and up 60% versus the first episode’s same-day audience.
(Source: Cynopsis)
CBS’ broadcast of the Grammy Awards on Sunday drew 12.4 million viewers, according to preliminary Nielsen numbers, up 30% from last year’s least-watched-ever ceremony but significantly below the 18.7 million viewers who tuned in in 2020.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Actor Charles Kimbrough died January 11. He was 86. The Tony Award winner was best known to TV audiences for his role as Jim Dial on “Murphy Brown.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
MEGA MILLIONS
Today’s Jackpot is $31 million.
You can now play in 43 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Keely's Korner 