FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news
ON TELEVISION (THURSDAY 6/8/23)
DISNEY: Hailey’s On It! (Premiere) at 8pm
HISTORY: Alone (Premiere) at 9pm
NETFLIX: Tour de France: Unchained (Premiere)
NETFLIX: Never Have I Ever (Premiere)
PEACOCK: Based on a True Story (Premiere)
E!: Celebrity Prank Wars (Finale) at 10pm
“It didn’t work out,” Warner Bros. Discovery President and CEO David Zaslav told staffers in a call on Wednesday, letting them know Chris Licht, Chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide for just over a year, had just stepped down. “It’s really unfortunate, and ultimately that’s on me. And I take full responsibility for that,” he added. In a memo, Zaslav acknowledged, “The job of leading CNN was never going to be easy, especially at a time of huge disruption and transformation, and [Licht] has poured his heart and soul into it.” In the meantime, Zaslav wrote, “While we know we have work to do as we look to identify a new leader, we have absolute confidence in the team we have in place.” That team includes Amy Entelis, EVP of Talent and Content Development, Virginia Moseley, EVP of Editorial, and Eric Sherling, EVP of US Programming, as well as David Leavy, COO. Licht’s exit came days after a blistering profile in The Atlantic titled “Inside the Meltdown at CNN,” as well as a controversial town hall with Donald Trump and plummeting ratings.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Amazon is considering taking a page from Netflix and Disney+ and creating an ad tier for Prime Video, reports The Wall Street Journal. Encouraged by enthusiasm from advertisers who want greater access to buzzy content that is now ad-free with a subscription to Amazon Prime, the company is in early talks to generate more revenue from its entertainment content, as it does with sports coverage. The move makes sense to David Cohen, CEO, IAB. “Advertising works in streaming environments,” he tells Cynopsis. “Amazon has validated this with its Freevee service, and with the potential addition of an ad-supported Amazon Prime Video tier, consumers, advertisers, and creators will have even more opportunity to reach their desired audience. This helps create stronger consumer experiences and is ultimately good for consumer choice and the bottom line.” WSJ also said Amazon is having talks with Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global about adding the ad-based tiers of their streaming services through Prime Video Channels.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Picketing was canceled in NYC for WGA members on Wednesday due to an Air Quality Red Alert caused by Canadian wildfires. Picketers were, however, in place in LA.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Netflix ordered an Italian edition of its rap competition “Rhythm + Flow,” to be produced by Fremantle. The format, which searches for emerging performers, has been a hit in the US and France.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Prime Video greenlit a documentary from NASCAR Studios that will chronicle NASCAR’s special “Garage 56” entry at the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. “We’re proud to partner with our friends at NASCAR Studios to bring this incredible story of innovation and determination to our Prime Video customers,” said Matt Newman, Head of Prime Video Original Sports Content. “The 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the most exciting and grueling competitions in sports, and the work that goes into preparing for a moment like this is something we think audiences will find equal parts entertaining and inspiring.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Acorn TV’s “Signorina Volpe,” starring Emilia Fox as a British spy in Italy, has been renewed for a second season. Route 24 is producing.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Canadian comedian Bruce McCulloch has joined the voice cast of Lakeside Animation’s new animated adult comedy, “Paralegal.” The series follows Jerry, an eager to please junior lawyer, who teams up with Luther, a recently deceased super-slick attorney to create a law firm catering to ghosts. McCulloch will voice Jerry’s nemesis Marlon Brisk, a local crime lord and spirit medium.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Bonnie Langford, who first played Melanie Bush on the BBC’s “Doctor Who” in 1986 and was companion to the Sixth and Seventh Doctors, will reprise the role with the Fifteenth Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa. “I am absolutely thrilled to be bringing Melanie Bush back,” said Langford. “To be part of the exceptional cast, crew and production team led by the force of nature that is Russell T Davies is a career highlight. I’m so privileged and proud to have been a member of the Doctor Who family since the classic era and to be included in the new generation is phenomenal.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
The CW has set its summer slate, starting Friday, July 7 with the season two premiere of “Family Law” and the debut of “Moonshine.” Saturday, July 8 brings the premiere of “Greatest Geek Year Ever,” with new series “Down to Earth with Zac Efron” and “Fantastic Friends” arriving Tuesday, July 18. Monday, July 24 brings double shots of “Son of a Critch” and “Children Ruin Everything.” “FBoy Island” has its broadcast debut on Thursday, August 3, and “Great Chocolate Showdown” is back for season four on Saturday, August 5, followed by newcomer “Recipe for Disaster.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
“Star Wars: Ahsoka” lands on Disney+ on Wednesday, August 23. Set after the fall of the Empire, the series stars Rosario Dawson in the title role.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Season two of Apple TV+ murder mystery comedy “The After Party,” introducing a new mystery and new characters, premieres Wednesday, July 12.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Also returning for a second season this summer is Starz travel docuseries “Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham.” The action kicks off Friday, August 11 at 9:30p on Starz.
(Source: Cynopsis)
And it’s a trend. “Below Deck Down Under” is back for a sophomore run on Monday, July 17 at 8p. Beginning July 24, two new episodes will air back-to-back each week.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Lifestyle series “At Home with Genevieve” premieres Friday, June 23on Crackle. Hosted by expert celebrity interior designer Genevieve Gorder, the series is presented by PetSmart through a branded partnership agreement with the company’s advertising division, Crackle Connex.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The first of ten new episodes of TLC’s “Dr. Pimple Popper” premieres Wednesday, June 21 at 9p, an installment titled, “My Demon Bumps.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Nat Geo’s “Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge” returnsSunday, July 9 at 9p. Guests put to the test this season include Russell Brand (“Get Him to the Greek”); Bradley Cooper (“A Star Is Born”); Benedict Cumberbatch (“The Power of the Dog”); Daveed Diggs (“Hamilton”); Cynthia Erivo (“Genius: Aretha”); Troy Kostur (“The Mandalorian”); Tatiana Maslany (“Orphan Black”); and singer-songwriter Rita Ora.
(Source: Cynopsis)
HBO Original documentary film “Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music,” produced and directed by filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman (“Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice”), debuts Tuesday, June 27 at 9p on HBO.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“Xernona Clayton: A Life in Black and White” will spotlight the first Black woman in the South to have her own TV show, helped write the blueprint to de-segregating hospitals in the South and convinced a KKK Grand Dragon to renounce the organization. The special airs on Bounce TV this Juneteenth at 9p. Following the airing, the special will also be available on Bounce TV SVOD Brown Sugar.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The second episode of new Peacock series “Bupkis,” starring “Saturday Night Live” alum Pete Davidson, Edie Falco and Joe Pesci and produced by Lorne Michaels, will air after NBC’s “SNL” rerun this weekend. The episode is also available on YouTube.
(Source: Cynopsis)
NewsNation special “We Are Not Alone: The UFO Whistleblower Speaks” airs Sunday, June 11 at 9p.
Julianne Hough (“Potus”) and Skylar Astin (“Spring Awakening”) will host Pluto TV’s live pre-show “The Tony Awards: Act One,” starting at 6:30 on Sunday, June 11. The Tony Awards presentation starts at 8p on CBS.
Forty-six percent of US sports fans (18+) oppose the LIV-PGA alliance,while 28% support it (the rest are unsure or have no opinion), according to Kantar Sports Monitor’s 2023 Fan Engagement study. Among PGA Tour fans, 42% support the merger, and 41% are opposed.
Gow Companies announced the launch of Pokatok, a festival bringing together nations, teams, athletes, communities, brands, innovators, and fans for the “world’s fair for sports.” The four-day event will be held in Houston, Texas, on April 4-7, 2024.
Ally Financial and the Charlotte Sports Foundation announced the “Ally Tipoff,” a tipoff game to the 2023-24 women’s college basketball season featuring 2023 Final Four teams, Iowa and Virginia Tech. The game will take place November 9 at the Spectrum Center (home to the Charlotte Hornets), and will be broadcast on ESPN Platforms.
FOX Sports debuts interview series “Big Noon Conversations,” featuring FOX Sports’ lead college football analyst Joel Klatt, on Monday, June 12. First up: new Colorado head coach Deion Sanders.
International Wrestling Syndicate has joined the FITE+ SVOD platformwith both live and archived events, as well as its weekly show “Bloodstream.” Founded in 1998, IWS is known for being the first Canadian promotion to broadcast in both French and English, as well as for its hardcore style of wrestling.
CNN’s Sunday night town hall event with Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley drew 562,000 total viewers and 136,000 among A25-54. That’s down from 3.31 million/781,000 for the net’s May 10 event with Donald Trump.
Hallmark Channel’s June Weddings programming event this past weekend helped propel the network to be #1 across entertainment cable in Weekend Total Day and Weekend Primetime among key demos. The stunt kicked off with original movie premiere “Wedding Season,” which was the #1 most-watched entertainment cable program on Saturday among Households, Women and Persons 18+, and Total Viewers. Over on the network’s sister channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, “The Dancing Detective: A Deadly Tango” premiered as the #2 most-watched entertainment cable program on Friday among Households and #3 among Women and Persons 18+.
Keely's Korner 