FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news
ON TELEVISION (THURSDAY 2/9/23)
NBC: NFL Honors at 9pm
FOX NATION: Presidential Pooches with Dana Perino (Premiere)
HULU: Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence (Premiere)
MTV: Ex on the Beach: Couples (Premiere) at 9pm
NETFLIX: My Dad the Bounty Hunter (Premiere)
NETFLIX: You (Premiere)
TBS/ TRU TV: Impractical Jokers (Premiere) at 10pm
TV ONE: Asking for a Friend (Premiere) at 8pm
FOX: Hell’s Kitchen (Finale) at 8pm
A reorganization at Disney will include three segments: Entertainment, run by Dana Walden and Alan Bergman; ESPN; and Parks, Experiences and Products. “Our new structure is aimed at returning greater authority to our creative leaders, and making them accountable for how their content performs financially. Our former structure severed that link, and must be restored,” said Iger.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Amid shifting economic winds, Warner Bros. Discovery has adjusted its plan to completely merge streaming services HBO Max and discovery+. Instead, discovery+ will remain available along with a new, higher-priced combination of the services debuting in the spring. According to reports, WBD grew concerned that consumers might not want to pay a higher price for a combined service.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Antonia Gentry (“Ginny & Georgia”) and Haley Lu Richardson (“The White Lotus”) have been named Ambassadors for the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®. Gentry and Richardson will present on the show and provide viewers with behind-the-scenes access to the ceremony. The Ambassadors will also participate in various SAG Awards pre-show events. The awards will be broadcast live on Netflix’s YouTube channel on Sunday, February 26 at 8p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Over 400 writers – Tina Fey, Alan Zweibel and Adam McKay among them – have signed a petition asking for MSNBC to negotiate a “reasonable first contract” with the WGA East for the news net’s writers and producers. “Our colleagues are fighting for what we all need – meaningful protections set forth in a collective bargaining agreement,” reads the petition. “We call on management to recognize the contributions of the Guild-represented employees at MSNBC by agreeing to a fair contract that includes the pay and protections they deserve.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Marketing partners for Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl XIX,” simulcast for the first time across Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, TBS, HBO Max and discovery+ on Sunday, February 12 at 2p, include Pooch Perks, Bark Social, Val Pak, Southwest Airlines®, Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co., and Georgetown Cupcake. Additionally, Multi-Platform collaborations include opportunities for Puppy Bowl fans to interact with Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” WeRateDogs, Georgia Aquarium and LA-based animal shelter Paw Works.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis will star in a series based on Patricia Cornwall’s Kay Scarpetta books. Executive producing will be Cornwell, Curtis through her Comet Pictures and Kidman and Per Saari through Kidman’s Blossom Films, with Blumhouse’s Jason Blum, Chris McCumber and Jeremy Gold.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Apple TV+ has renewed “Tehran” for a third season and added Hugh Laurie (“House”) to the cast. Also boarding the Israeli spy thriller are Sasson Gabai, Bahar Pars and Phoenix Raei.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Conspiracy thriller “The Madness” scored a series order from Netflix.The drama from Chernin Entertainment stars Colman Domingo (“Selma”). “’The Madness’ is a fresh take on the conspiracy thriller — turning the genre on its head with its multi-layered characters, propulsive action and swift pace,” said Peter Friedlander, VP of Scripted Series, Netflix, US and Canada. “We are proud to have such a powerhouse team assembled to bring this dynamic story to life for Netflix viewers around the world, and to continue producing great entertainment with team Chernin.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Prime Video has ordered an animated series based on the Wytchescomic books, by Scott Snyder and Jock, from Plan B Entertainment, Project 51 Productions and Amazon Studios. “’Wytches’ fuses nail biting horror and evocative drama while unearthing the dark lore surrounding an ancient burrow of witches,” said Melissa Wolfe, Head of Animation, Amazon Studios. “Given the haunting and intimate nature of Scott and Jock’s well regarded comic series, we are looking forward to delivering their creative vision to our global audience and expanding our growing roster of animated series.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Creation Entertainment Media and Magic Frame announced that writing and directing duo Tim Clague and Danny Stack will write for new kids’ animated series, “BuddyBots.” The show follows a group of robots and two teen protagonists chronicling their adventures in a sci-fi animated world.
(Source: Cynopsis)
INSP began production this month on an original series, “Elkhorn,”about Theodore Roosevelt’s time in the West. “This show is perfectly on-brand for INSP,” said Doug Butts, EVP of Programming for INSP. “As the leader in Western and Western-adjacent programming, we tell stories about people who brave the frontier to carve out a life and legacy, often with nothing more than grit and determination.” The series, produced for INSP by Morningstar Entertainment, is slated to premiere in 2023.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Kelly Hu (“The Orville”) has been added to the cast of CBS drama “East New York” in a recurring role.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Netflix action thriller “The Night Agent” kicks off March 23. The 10-parter focuses on a low-level FBI agent tasked with working to uncover a dangerous conspiracy.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“Houses with History” returns for a new season on Tuesday, March 7 at 10p on HGTV. The premiere episode will feature the restoration and renovation of an 1800’s historic home that was originally a potting shed.
(Source: Cynopsis)
WE tv docuseries “Grown & Gospel,” following five career-driven childhood friends searching for success in the Detroit gospel scene, makes its debut Thursday, March 16 at 9p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Discovery’s “Homestead Rescue” is back Tuesday, February 28 at 8p. In the season premiere, Marty Raney attempts to help a family in Wyoming resurrect an inherited homestead with a tragic legacy, while unraveling the mystery of an unfinished well.
(Source: Cynopsis)
In a new custom branded content series hosted by retired boxing champion Laila Ali, Ancestry® and The History Channel profile women who made an outsized impact on history. The cross-platform content series is rolling out over the course of the month. “Our collaboration with Ancestry is especially fulfilling because it seamlessly marries each partners’ efforts to illuminate lesser-known history,” said Niki Mandell, VP Ad Sales Marketing Partnerships, A+E Networks.
(Source: Cynopsis)
TV One dating show “The One,” led by celebrity power couple Kirk and Tammy Franklin, will help singles struggling to find that special someone. The series joins TV One’s Date Night Thursdays on May 18 at 8p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Season two of INSP’s “Into the Wild Frontier” premieres Wednesday, February 15 at 10p. This run focuses on Kit Carson.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Short-form series “El Colapso” (The Collapse), an adaptation of the French dystopian miniseries “L’Effondrement,” will premiere Friday, February 10 on ViX. The eight-parter explores the societal consequences of a complete collapse of a city’s financial, technological, political, and environmental systems.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Having run through Lust, Envy, Wrath and Greed, Lifetime continues its movie anthology series with “Pride: A Seven Deadly Sins Story.” Executive produced by T.D. Jakes, Derrick Williams and Shaun Robinson, and inspired by actual events, the movie centers on the story of a famous bakery owner and reality TV star, Birdie Moore (“Stephanie Mills”), whose past secrets threaten the success she has achieved. The film premieres Saturday, April 8 at 8p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Allen Media Group’s “Byron Allen Presents the Comedy and Music Superfest” will be broadcast Saturday, February 11 at 8p on NBC. The two-hour special was taped in front of a live audience, with Rickey Minor as musical director. “It’s time to bring superstars back to prime-time network television on a regular basis,” said Byron Allen, Founder/Chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group. “Celebrating and amplifying iconic comedy and musical entertainers is from the golden age of television, and long overdue for the whole family to enjoy together.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Comedy Central has set dates for the next five guest hosts of “The Daily Show”: Hasan Minhaj the week of February 27; followed by Marlon Wayans; Kal Penn; Al Franken and the week of March 37, John Leguizamo.
(Source: Cynopsis)
FOX News Books will release its sixth title, The Love Stories of the Bible Speak, by “FOX News Sunday” anchor Shannon Bream, on March 28. The third installment of Bream’s biblical franchise, “The Love Stories of the Bible Speak,” will reveal new dimensions of the golden rule of Christianity: to love God and your neighbor.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“Coming Out for Love,” an LGBTQ dating competition series, will host a live event watch-party for viewers on Valentine’s Day. The official series run will begin on Saturday, February 18 with the re-airing of episode 1. “COFL” is distributed via a new referral model funneled through global streaming platform Lesflicks.com.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Turner Classic Movies announced that the fourth annual Robert Osborne Award, recognizing an individual who has helped keep the cultural heritage of classic film alive for future generations, will be presented to Donald Bogle. He’ll receive the award at the 2023 TCM Classic Film Festival prior to a screening of1954s “Carmen Jones,” the film that ignited his fascination and analysis of Black artists in the movies.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Peacock is launching “Watch With,” a new product experience that allows fans to watch special episodes alongside talent, with real time reactions, live commentary, and Q&A. Directly following the season two premiere of “Bel-Air,” “Watch With” officially launches with Jabari Banks + Olly Sholotan on February 24 at 9p. The feature will soon extend to “Eurovision” with two-time Olympian and NBC correspondent Johnny Weir, and “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip” with Candiace Dillard Bassett and Marysol Patton.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Sixty-four percent of Americans plan on watching the commercials during the Super Bowl broadcast, according to a survey from Big Village. Additional findings from the report include:
· 67% of Americans usually do what they can to avoid commercials during normal television viewing, but make a special exception to watch Super Bowl advertising.
· 63% of Americans look forward to the ads during the Super Bowl broadcast more than the game itself.
· 61% of Americans like to seek out the ads after the game via YouTube and other social media platforms.
(Source: Cynopsis)
On the heels of Google’s introduction of its search conversational bot Bard, built in AI, came Microsoft’s announcement that it has partnered with ChatGPT maker OpenAI to add more advanced AI conversation models to power updates to Bing and the Edge browser. The company unveiled the new technology at an event at its headquarters in Redmond, WA, during which Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella noted, “It’s a new day in search.” The latest version of the Bing search engine will use an updated ChatGPT technology known as the Prometheus Model.
(Source: Cynopsis)
President Biden’s State of the Union Address on Tuesday delivered 23.4 million viewers, according to early Nielsen data, down from 32.3 million last year. Fox News drew the most viewers in all of television for its coverage, averaging 4.57 million viewers from 9-10:30p on Tuesday. ABC placed second with 4.41 million, followed by 3.78 million for NBC. ABC was tops in the 25-54 demo.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Syfy had its most-watched premiere in two years with “The Ark,” which delivered 1 million total viewers in Live+3 Nielsens. The sci-fi series also drew the largest A18-49 audience since “Chucky” arrived in 2021.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Keely's Korner 