FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news
ON TELEVISION (THURSDAY 1/18/24)
ALLBLK: Double Cross (Premiere)
E!: Botched (Premiere) at 10pm
MAX: On the Roam (Premiere)
MAX: Sort Of (Premiere)
NBC: Law & Order (Premiere) at 8pm
NBC: Law & Order: SVU (Premiere) at 9pm
NBC: Law & Order: Organized Crime (Premiere) at 10pm
NETFLIX: Kubra (Premiere)
OXYGEN: Dateline: Unforgettable (Premiere) at 8pm
CNN CEO Mark Thompson outlined a new vision for the company that includes a “true multimedia strategy.” In a memo to employees, Thompson wrote, “Like so many other news players with a broadcast heritage, CNN’s linear services and even its website can sometimes have an old-fashioned and unadventurous feel as if the world has changed and they haven’t.” Executive changes to bring this new vision to life include the combining of the leadership of international, domestic and digital news operations, with Virginia Moseley appointed as Executive Editor of CNN and Mike McCarthy as Managing Editor. Alex MacCallum, who left as interim head of digital operations in 2022, returns as EVP of Digital Products and Services. “As we enter this new chapter in CNN’s storied history, I’d encourage you to take a leaf out of Ted Turner’s book,” wrote Thompson. “Let’s build with confidence. Let’s fulfill our mission. Let’s learn some new tricks. Let’s look after each other. Let’s have some fun.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
ABC and CNN have canceled the Republican primary debates that had been scheduled for today and Sunday, respectively, after Nikki Haley said she would not participate if Donald Trump was a no-show. “Our intent was to host a debate coming out of the Iowa caucuses, but we always knew that would be contingent on the candidates and the outcome of the race,” said an ABC News spokesperson. CNN said it will “continue to pursue other opportunities as the campaign season progresses through 2024, including candidate Town Halls this week.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
HGTV has picked up a new eight-episode season of “Fix My Frankenhouse,” featuring renovations of hodge-podge properties. New episodes are slated to premiere in early 2025.
(Source: Cynopsis)
CBS has ordered a US version of “The Summit,” a reality adventure competition hosted by Manu Bennett (“Spartacus”). The series, produced by Endemol Shine North America, is based on an Australian format.
(Source: Cynopsis)
BlackBox Multimedia has optioned the yet-to-be-released thriller novel Bad Tourists by Caro Carver, and will adapt the book into a TV series. The story follows three women and their desperate search for justice on a remote island.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Forest Whitaker (“Godfather of Harlem”) will star in MGM+ series“Emperor of Ocean Park,” based on Stephen L. Carter’s best-selling novel, from executive producer/writer Sherman Payne (“Shameless”), John Wells Productions and Warner Bros. Television. The series begins production in Chicago this month and is scheduled to premiere on MGM+ this summer.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Build-A-Bear Entertainment, Foundation Media Partners, and Laughing Dragon Studios are partnering for new animated series, “KABU,” inspired by classic Build-A-Bear characters. The 10-episode series is primarily for kids 7-11.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Amazon MGM Studios and Tastemade struck a first-look deal to produce unscripted lifestyle content. As part of the partnership, Amazon MGM Studios and Tastemade will bring 15 new shows to Prime Video and Amazon Freevee audiences over the next few years. First up: “Dish It Out,” hosted Matilda “Tilly” Ramsay, daughter of Gordon Ramsay. The series has received a 32-episode order and production will begin in 2024 in Tastemade’s London studios.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“CMT Giants: Alabama” will salute the career and music of the country group. The two-hour special, filming at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville, will air later this year.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The first series to land a straight to order series order from the collaboration between Amazon MGM Studios and The Wonder Project is “House of David,” for Prime Video. The show follows King Saul as he falls victim to his pride. “We’re setting the stage for a series of compelling, values-driven movies, and TV shows,” said Jon Erwin of The Wonder Project. “This is a milestone for The Wonder Project, and we’re thrilled to be working with a company that understands and supports our mission and our audience in such a groundbreaking way.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Apple TV+ comedy-adventure series “The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin,” starring Noel Fielding (“The Mighty Boosh”), premieres Friday, March 1 with the first two episodes, followed by a new episode every Friday through March 29.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Crime drama “Blue Ridge: The Series” makes its debut Sunday, April 7 at 8p on Cowboy Way channel. Johnathon Schaech reprises his role from the 2020 film, “Blue Ridge.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Peacock’s “The Tattooist of Auschwitz” premieres Thursday, May 2. The series, inspired by the real-life story of Jewish Holocaust survivors, stars Harvey Keitel and Melanie Lynskey.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Also headed to Peacock is season two of “Vigil.” All six episodes will be released Thursday, February 15.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“Mickey Mouse Funhouse” launches Friday, February 23 on Disney Junior at 9:30a and Disney Channel at 10:30a, and will begin rolling out on Disney+ later this year.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Jason Alexander (“Seinfeld”), Alessia Cara (“The Willoughbys”), and Isabela Merced (“Dora and the Lost City of Gold”) will guest on animated series “Rock Paper Scissors,” premiering Monday, February 12 at 5:30p on Nickelodeon.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Jason Alexander is also onboard “The Thread,” debuting on YouTube on Monday, March 4. Alexander is among the roster of personalities – which also includes Gloria Estefan, Martin Sheen, The Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Lewis, New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast, Katie Couric, and Sen. Mitt Romney – who share their personal life stories.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Late-night show “Pica y Se Extiend” kicks off Sunday, January 21 at 10p on Telemundo. Hosted by Carlos Adyan and Veronica Bastos, the show will explore the week’s trending entertainment stories.
(Source: Cynopsis)
New anime series “Ninja Kamui” launches Saturday, February 10 at midnight on Adult Swim, as part of the Toonami programming block.
(Source: Cynopsis)
All five episodes of Nat Geo’s “A Real Bug’s Life,” inspired by Disney and Pixar’s “A Bug’s Life,” start streaming Wednesday, January 24 on Disney+. Awkwafina narrates.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Netflix comedy “The Vince Staples Show,” loosely based on rapper Staples’ life, premieres Thursday, February 15.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Reality show “The Family Stallone” returns Wednesday, February 21 on Paramount+. Season two focuses on the family’s move to the East Coast, and a trip to Italy.
(Source: Cynopsis)
AIM Tell-A-Vision® Group (“Raw Travel”) announced plans to premiere a four-part docuseries, “My Summer in Ukraine,” beginning Saturday, April 27, on broadcast syndication.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Google is laying off hundreds of employees on its ad sales team. “Every year we go through a rigorous process to structure our team to provide the best service to our Ads customers,” said the company in a statement. “We map customers to the right specialist teams and sales channels to meet their service needs. As part of this, a few hundred roles globally are being eliminated and impacted employees will be able to apply for open roles on the team or elsewhere at Google.” The layoffs come after Google laid off over a thousand employees in other divisions.
(Source: Cynopsis)
A judge in Georgia denied OpenAI’s motion to dismiss a defamation lawsuit by radio host Mark Walters, who alleged that ChatGPT provided false and malicious information about him to a journalist. “Although the technology behind ChatGPT may be new, plaintiff’s claims fail for reasons deep-rooted in settled defamation law: there was no publication, no actual malice, no listener who believed the alleged defamatory content, and thus no harm to any reputation,” OpenAI had argued in a November filing.
(Source: Cynopsis)
A special examining the recent controversies surrounding Ivy League schools debuts Friday, January 19 on Fox Nation. “Poison Ivy” explores the shift in America’s most prestigious universities, and will feature interviews with students, alumni, professors, and donors who have been disappointed by recent events on the campuses.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Best title of the week? FX’s “Spermworld,” set in the wild west of baby making, premieres Friday, March 29 at 10p. The film was inspired by the New York Times article, The Sperm Kings Have a Problem: Too Much Demand.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson will call Super Bowl LVIII on CBS. This will be the trio’s third time teaming for the game, taking place February 11 in Las Vegas.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Pluto TV announced the launch of a pop-up channel leading up to the Super Bowl. The channel will feature past Super Bowl games and specials 24/7, today through February 21.
(Source: Cynopsis)
HBO Sports Documentary film “The unbreakable Tatiaa Suarez” debuts Wednesday, January 31 at 9p. The doc chronicles the spirit and drive of mixed martial arts fighter Tatiana Suarez, as she prepares to reenter the cage after a nearly four-year injury layoff from the sport.
(Source: Cynopsis)
World Championship Sumo and Club Sumo events will be broadcastlive exclusively on TrillerTV Powered by FITE. The first ever Club Sumo Tournaments are scheduled for January 25 and February 8, leading up to the World Championship Sumo Tournament on Sunday, February 18 at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. All three events will stream live as an introductory free view on TrillerTV.
(Source: Cynopsis)
ESPN’s Super Wild Card Monday night finale between the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers generated more than 28.6 million viewers across ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+ and NFL+, making it ESPN’s second most-watched NFL playoff game in history. When the final audience is reported, Eagles-Buccaneers is expected to surpass 29 million viewers; last season’s record-setting game drew 31,201,000 viewers.
(Source: Cynopsis)
After seven days of viewing across linear and digital platforms, ABC’s “The Golden Wedding” grew to 7.13 million total viewers, and rose +105% among A18-49 viewers, to a 1.29 rating.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The CW’s broadcast of the Critics Choice Awards on January 14 drew more than one million total viewers, according to Nielsen, the ceremony’s largest audience on the network in four years, up +14% over last year. The show grew +50% year-over-year in A18-49 (202,000 viewers), +37% in A25-54 (239,000 viewers) and currently ranks as The CW’s third most-watched telecast of the season.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Fox’s telecast of the Emmy Awards telecast drew solid reviews, but record low ratings. Monday’s show – up against an NFL playoff game and coverage of the Iowa caucuses – delivered 4.3 million viewers, down from the previous low of 5.9 million in November 2022.
(Source: Cynopsis)
FOX News Digital closed out calendar year 2023 up 9% growth with views and 6% with minutes year-over-year, according to Comscore. For the year, FOX News Digital secured 20.2 billion multiplatform views, over 36.9 billion multiplatform minutes and averaged 93.7 million monthly multiplatform unique visitors.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Keely's Korner 