FIRST LOOK
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ON TELEVISION (THURSDAY 12/7/23)
ALLBLK: Hush (Premiere)
BET+: The Black Hamptons (Premiere)
BRAVO: Southern Hospitality (Premiere) at 9pm
BRITBOX: Archie (Premiere)
CBS: Ghosts UK (Premiere) at 9pm
MAX: Boom Boom Bruno (Premiere)
NETFLIX: High Tides (Premiere)
NETFLIX: My Life with the Walter Boys (Premiere)
NETFLIX: World War II: From the Frontlines (Premiere)
NETFLIX: Analog Squad (Premiere)
NETFLIX: Hilda (Premiere)
PARAMOUNT+: The Envoys (Premiere)
PRIME VIDEO: Coach Prime (Premiere)
SUNDANCE NOW: The Lovers (Premiere)
ABC: Bachelor in Paradise (Finale) at 8pm
Legendary television producer Norman Lear died December 5 at age 101. Lear’s sitcoms – from “All in the Family,” to “Maude,” to “The Jeffersons” and two iterations of “One Day at a Time,” among others – broke barriers by covering social issues like abortion, rape and racism. “It’s hard to reconcile that at 101 years old, Norman Lear is gone too soon,” wrote George Clooney. “The entire world of reason just lost its greatest advocate …. A giant walked in his shoes.” CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX and The CW simulcast an on-air in memoriam card last night in honor of Lear.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Freevee heist drama “Leverage: Redemption” has been renewed for a third season, and this time around it will be available on Prime Video. “Fans have been devoted to ‘Leverage: Redemption’ since the series premiered on Freevee,” said Lauren Anderson, head of AVOD, unscripted and targeted programming, Amazon MGM Studios. “As we embark on our next chapter, we are thrilled to be able to share the show with our Prime customers and continue to offer the exclusive ‘Leverage’ FAST channel to our Freevee customers.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Also renewed for a third season is Prime Video comedy “Harlem.” The series follows four best girlfriends in Harlem, NYC.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Studios issued a statement after 78.33% of SAG-AFTRA members voted to ratify a new deal. “The AMPTP member companies congratulate SAG-AFTRA on the ratification of its new contract, which represents historic gains and protections for performers,” wrote the studio group. “With this vote, the industry and the jobs it supports will be able to return in full force.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Emmy winners in the juried categories from Animation, Costume, Hairstyling, Makeup and Motion Design were announced by the Television Academy. Among the trophy takers: Fox’s “The Simpsons” for Character Animation; Disney+’s “Ms. Marvel” for Motion Design; and double winners “We’re Here” (HBO Max) and “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration” (ABC). The awards will be presented during the Creative Arts Emmy Awards taking place January 6 and 7; FXX will air an edited presentation of the ceremonies on Saturday, January 13.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Santa is the “ultimate influencer,” according to a survey from Samsung Ads focused on holiday advertising. While discounts are the top reason viewers favor ad content (88%), capturing the holiday season (67%) was second, and was twice as effective as a celebrity endorsement during the holidays (25%).
(Source: Cynopsis)
The HBO and Max brands announced a multiyear pay-1 U.S. output deal with A24 that brings the entertainment company’s theatrical film slate exclusively to Warner Bros. Discovery’s HBO, Max and Cinemax. Among the movies included in the agreement are “Dicks: The Musical,” “Priscilla,” “Dream Scenario,” “Civil War,” and more. The agreement also extends the companies’ existing film library deal.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Dr. Phil McGraw’s Merit Street Media cable TV network has found a distributor in Trinity Broadcasting Network. The network, anchored by nightly “Dr. Phil Primetime,” is slated to launch on February 26.
(Source: Cynopsis)
HGTV has greenlit four new series for its 2024 programming slate:Renovation competition “Battle on the Mountain,” premiering in early 2024; spin-off series “Farmhouse Fixer: Camp Revamp,” debuting in summer; docuseries “Divided by Design” (w/t), and real estate show “Lakefront Empire,” debuting in the spring. “The formats we’re investing in, such as competition series and celebrity-led programs, are proven crowd-pleasers,” said Loren Ruch, Head of Content, HGTV. “Adding them to the HGTV lineup will be a catalyst for strong ratings and viewership throughout 2024.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Production is underway on a new three-hour docuseries about cult Canadian television series, “Degrassi.” The as-yet-untitled show commissioned by Wildbrain is being produced in partnership with Peacock Alley.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Alexander Skarsgard, Eiza Gonzalez, Sarah Paulson, Sharon Horgan,Ron Perlman, Billy Campbell and Ursula Corbero have been added to the guest cast of Prime Video series “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” The reimagining of the 2005 film stars Donald Glover and Maya Erskine.
(Source: Cynopsis)
New relationship series “Love & Translation” premieres Sunday, January 21 at 10p on TLC. The twist this time around: three American bachelors look for love among 12 women who don’t speak any English. “As a leader in love and relationship series, we wanted to break outside the mold of our day to day and experiment in a new type of setting,” said Howard Lee, President of Discovery Networks & TLC.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“The Power of Film,” a docuseries exploring some of the greatest American classic films from the past century, premieres Thursday, January 4 at 8p on TCM.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Season five of “Legacy List with Matt Paxton” debuts January 15 on public television (check local listings). “This season’s stories are more personal and emotional than ever,” said host Matt Paxton. “As more and more people from our parents’ generation choose to age in place, many of us are becoming caregivers. It’s inspiring to see people taking on these responsibilities with love and joy and an honor to get to know these awesome people and share their stories.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
French limited series “The Island of 30 Coffins” premieres Tuesday, January 2 on MHz Choice. In the six-parter, a woman who thought she lost her son at birth 15 years before receives a video suggesting he might not be dead.
(Source: Cynopsis)
ALL BLK’s “Double Cross” returns for season five on Thursday, January 18. Guest stars will include Eric Roberts and Zimzon Zion.
(Source: Cynopsis)
MeTV and Catchy Comedy remember the late Norman Lear with a retrospective special he hosted in 1979. “The 200th Episode Celebration of ‘All in the Family’” airs Sunday, December 10 at 6p on MeTV, and Friday, December 8 at 8p on Catchy Comedy.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television” premieres Monday, January 1 at 8p on Fox. The two-hour special features interviews with cast members Alan Alda, Gary Burghoff, William Christopher, Jamie Farr, Mike Farrell, Wayne Rogers and Loretta Swit and series executive producers Gene Reynolds and Burt Metcalfe, along with never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage, photos and stories.
(Source: Cynopsis)
MGM+ has acquired the two-part docuseries “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon,” which will premiere on the platform on March 17 and March 24 at 9p. Directed by Alex Gibney (“Going Clear”), the musical biography offers footage of Simon’s career, from Simon & Garfunkel to Simon’s smash solo album Graceland.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Property Brothers Drew and Jonatan Scott will host HGTV’s “White House Christmas 2023,” premiering Sunday, December 10 at 6p. The one-hour special features a tour of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue led by First Lady Jill Biden.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Season two of Just for Laughs VR stand-up comedy series “Surrounded” will kick off with six new episodes starting Friday, December 29 on Meta Horizon Worlds. With their Meta Quest VR headset, viewers are transported into the comedy show through Meta’s Comedy Night Market.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Max original comedy special “Gary Gulman: Born on 3rd Base” debuts Thursday, December 21. Gulman chronicles his childhood experiences with free school lunch programs and questionable dental care, and takes a few swipes at billionaires.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Spectrum is rekindling its annual Holiday Yule Log. From now through December 31, Spectrum TV customers can find a little holiday spirit in the Holiday Yule Log On Demand category, which features eight channels of seasonal ambiance, including festive fireplaces, warm piano sounds and presents under the tree.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Lifetime’s January movie slate begins with Ripped from the Headlines film, “Girl in the Video,” inspired by real events in the dark underworld of catfishing, on Saturday, January 13.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Unforgettable Gala, also known as UNFO, the Asian and Pacific Islander awards ceremony, is taking place December 16. The annual event highlighting API excellence and representation will expand globally for the first time, and broadcast nationwide as a live-to-tape special on the ChimeTV cable network.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“The Underdoggs,” a comedy film starring and produced by Snoop Dogg, will skip its planned January 26 theatrical release and premiere on Prime Video on that date. The film follows a former football star who is sentenced to community service coaching a pee-wee football team.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Need more Snoop? Snoop Dogg’s “Doggyland,” a musical and educational series, is now available on HappyKids. The 3D animated series created by Snoop Dogg, October London and Claude Brooks, features a diverse cast of singing and dancing dogs.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Hulu has been added as a vertical on the home screen of Disney+, as the “one-app experience” announced in November launches in beta. A full rollout of the combined app is expected next March.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Elon Musk’s AI start-up, X.AI, has raised nearly $135 million from four investors, and has filed with the SEC to raise up to $1 billion in an equity offering. Musk announced the start-up in July. Last month, Musk said investors in X would own 25% of X.AI.
(Source: Cynopsis)
On Tuesday night, a holiday promotion for Target, produced in partnership with ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, used Proto hologram technology on a television ad for the first time. In the stunt, sidekick Guillermo beamed via hologram to a Target aisle in a Proto M unit disguised as a toy in a box and interacted in real time with shoppers.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Eddie Murphy holiday movie “Candy Cane Lane” premiered as the number one film globally on Prime Video in its first three days of release, as well as the most-watched Amazon MGM Studios-produced movie debut ever in the US. It also ranks among the top ten worldwide film debuts ever on the service.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Viewership of the Taylor Swift themed episode of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” rose to 7.8 million after seven days of viewing, the show’s most-watched multi-platform telecast since the show’s September 2021 premiere.
(Source: Cynopsis)
ABC’s “The Golden Bachelor” keeps drawing viewers. The reality show’s finale attracted 6.95 million linear viewers in Nielsen Live+3 numbers, the biggest audience for the series since March 2020.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Driven by the first three days of “25 Days of Christmas,” Freeform scored its most-watched week of the year in Primetime and Total Day, and ranked as the number one cable entertainment network in Primetime December to date among A18-49, A18-34 and W18-34. 1990 classic “Home Alone” got things started, opening on Friday night as the top cable movie of the week in the A18-49 demo.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Keely's Korner 