FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news
ON TELEVISION (THURSDAY 12/19/24)
CBS: Nate Bargatze’s Nashville Christmas (Premiere) at 9pm
NBC: Barry Manilow’s A Very Barry Christmas (Premiere) at 10pm
ABC: Manhunt: Luigi Mangione and the CEO Murder (Premiere) at 10pm
NAT GEO: Lost Treasures of the Bible (Premiere) at 9pm
PRIME VIDEO: Beast Games (Premiere)
MAX: Fast Friends (Premiere)
PEACOCK: Laid (Premiere)
Paramount+ has renewed “Mayor of Kingstown,” starring Jeremy Renner, for a fourth season. The series, co-created by Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon and produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, 101 Studios and Bosque Ranch Productions, reached 8.8M global households during its season three run, making it the #1 series on the platform.
(Source: Cynopsis)
FX’s “The Old Man,” starring Jeff Bridges, has been canceled after two seasons. The drama, which premiered in June 2022, was based on the similarly titled book by Thomas Perry and followed the story of Dan Chase (Bridges), a vet/former CIA operative, who went into hiding following a home invasion.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“Girls5Eva” has been canceled for the second time. The musical comedy, which starred Renée Elise Goldsberry (“Hamilton”), Busy Phillips (“Freaks and Geeks”), Sara Bareilles (“Waitress”) and Paula Pell, streamed on Peacock from 2021-2022. When it was canceled, Netflix renewed the show for a third season, which aired in March 2024.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Warner Bros. Discovery announced the new leadership structure for its US Networks business, which will be run by Channing Dungey, Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Television Group, following the retirement at the end of the year of Kathleen Finch, Chairman and CEO, U.S. Networks. Brett Paul will serve as Chief Operating Officer for US Networks. Howard Lee has been elevated to Chief Creative Officer of US Networks and will also continue to serve as President and Head of Content for TLC and Discovery. “Building on the foundation that Kathleen established, I am excited to announce the core U.S. Networks leadership team who will drive a new creative vision and distribution plan that best serves our audiences, our partners, and our business,” said Dungey. “This powerful group will work to redefine the role of the U.S. Networks by fortifying our linear business while continuing to develop a content engine that feeds Max and creates shows that smartly leverage and promote our unparalleled IP.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
VA Media has officially announced the launch of BLK Screen Central, a free channel dedicated to Black voices and content creators. BLK Screen Central’s 181-title catalogue showcases genres including horror, drama, fantasy, romcom, documentary and comedy. Mark Ashbridge, CEO of VA Media shared, “We are proud to add BLK Screen Central to our ever-expanding owned and operated channel line-up. Our goal is to provide the broadest range of viewing options possible with the curated content audiences desire. Tapping into consumer needs to create mutually beneficial results with and for our partners is a key driver to our continued growth and success.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Olivia Williams has joined the Season 3 cast of Prime Video’s “The Wheel of Time.” The actress, who is currently appearing in HBO’s “Dune: Prophecy,” will play Morgase Trakand, the Queen of Andor, and joins fellow series newcomers Luke Fetherston, Callum Kerr and Nuno Lopes. “The Wheel of Time” returns on March 13, 2025.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Bell Media announced that it will develop and produce an original scripted television series for the Canadian market from Point Grey and Lionsgate. The new project, made through Lionsgate’s first-look TV deal with Point Grey, will be available on all Bell Media platforms, including Crave and CTV. Point Grey is helmed by Vancouver natives Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, and James Weaver. “Canada is the greatest country on Earth and deserves the greatest content on Earth. To honor the country from coast to glorious coast and every square kilometer in between, we promise to work diligently with our partners at Lionsgate and Bell Media to ensure our new deal results in creatively exciting and financially lucrative work that flows forth from our alliance like syrup from a well-tapped maple tree,” said Rogen, Goldberg, and Weaver.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“Shtisel”, the Israeli series about the drama within a close orthodox Jewish family, is getting a prequel. “Kugel” will premiere in 2025 on the Israeli network, Yes, and global streamer, Izzy. “Shtisel” originally launched in 2013 on Yes, and became an international hit after Netflix aired it from 2018-21. Prime Video acquired all three seasons earlier this year. The new series is being co-produced by production house Abot Hameiri, Fremantle, Izzy and Yes.
(Source: Cynopsis)
OWN reality dating series “Ready to Love” will return for season 10 with a new cast of 20 singles in Philadelphia looking to couple up. The show, hosted by Thomas “Nephew Tommy” Miles, ranked as the top-rated cable program in its time period with African-American women for the seventh consecutive year, according to OWN. “This season, we’re on a mission to find singles in Philadelphia who are serious candidates for meaningful, real connections that are both healthy and productive – in leading to love and happiness,” said Miles. “Watching these singles turn the City of Brotherly Love into the city of romantic love is one of the best joys I can imagine.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
“A Thousand Blows,” from Steven Knight (“Peaky Blinders”) premieres February 21. The six-episode series takes place in the high-stakes world of competitive boxing in 1880s Victorian London and is based on real-life characters with memorable stories. Look for it on Hulu domestically and Disney+ internationally.
(Source: Cynopsis)
In a series first, reality franchise “The Challenge” will pair fan-favorite rivals to compete in “The Challenge All Stars: Rivals,” starting Wednesday, January 29 at 8p on MTV. On the same day, MTV’s Official Challenge Podcast, hosted by former competitors Da’Vonne Rogers and Devyn Simone, will return, with new episodes dropping every Thursday.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“The Price is Right at Night” will air a special “Holiday Heroes” episode on Tuesday, December 24 at 9p on CBS. First responders, police officers and firefighters will have the opportunity to “come on down!”, meet host Drew Carey and play to win family vacations, luxury cars and cash prizes up to $250,000.
ABC News is presenting “The Year: 2024”, hosted by “Good Morning America” regular Robin Roberts. The two-hour special, airing Tuesday, December 26 at 9p, will look back at memorable moments of the year, including historic news events, social trends, celebrities, breakout stars and more.
On January 1, AXS TV will serve up “Hangover From Hell,” a marathon featuring 16 episodes of “Hell’s Kitchen.” Featuring the most memorable and heated moments from the kitchen, the culinary chaos begins at 12p.
LatiNation Media is kicking off 2025 with a new health and wellness show, “Esencia: Latina Wellness.” Hosted by Katherine Castro, the special debuts Wednesday, January 1 at 8p on linear network, LATV, and digitally on LatiNation Digital and LATV FAST Channel.
Sony’s Beyond Sports is collaborating with ESPN, Disney, and the NBA for “Dunk the Halls,” the first-ever animated alternate presentation of an NBA game. The special presentation, which will air during the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs game on December 25 at 12p, will use data processing and real-time visualization technology from Beyond Sports, as well as optical tracking technology from Hawk-Eye Innovations, to insert Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Chip and Dale into the game action using 3D animation. “Dunk the Halls” will be presented on ESPN2, ESPN+, and on Disney+.
TNT Sports’ networks will exclusively present Discover NHL Winter Classic on Tuesday, December 21 at 5p. Coverage for the game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues will begin with the final installment of “Road to the NHL Winter Classic” presented by Enterprise® at 3:30p and continue with an hour-long “NHL on TNT Face Off presented by Verizon” at 4p, hosted by Liam McHugh, with analysts Wayne Gretzky, Paul Bissonnette and Anson Carter.
Gray Media will simulcast 15 regular season Atlanta Braves games in 2025 alongside FanDuel Sports Network, the Braves’ rightsholder partner. The 15 games will be spread across the season. Additionally, Gray will exclusively produce and air 10 spring training games. “We are thrilled to partner with Gray Media to offer our fans more opportunities to watch a simulcast of certain games and access our content all across the Southeast,” said Atlanta Braves President-CEO Derek Schiller. “This partnership makes Braves baseball even more accessible, allowing fans throughout Braves Country the ability to watch in a way that best suits them, whether that is on cable, local TV, or streaming.
“Landman” hasbecome the #1 Paramount+ original, series or movie, ever for the service with 14.9 million households through its four weeks. The Taylor Sheridan drama is set in modern day West Texas.
NBCUniversal’s Thanksgiving Day programming netted record-breaking viewership, ranking as the #1 destination for audiences, with 109M total viewers across platforms and 1 in 3 households. Viewers tuning into the parade were 97% more likely to search for brands advertised than viewers of competitive broadcast networks that day, reported NBCU. The annual “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” on December 4 was a hit on NBC, as well as Telemundo with its inaugural broadcast, “Navidades en Rockefeller Center.” Across NBC, the special drove +8% brand memorability, +17% brand search engagement, and +33% likeability versus competitive broadcast prime programming.
Keely's Korner 