FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news
ON TELEVISION (FRIDAY 1/24/25)
CW: Penn & Teller: Fool Us (Premiere) at 8pm
CW: Masters of Illusion (Premiere) at 9pm
DISNEY+: Shared Custody (Premiere)
DISCOVERY: Harpoon Hunters (Premiere) at 9pm
HULU: The Best Heart Attack of My Life (Premiere)
NETFLIX: Shafted (Premiere)
NETFLIX: The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call (Premiere)
PARAMOUNT+: Star Trek: Section 31 (Premiere)
WE TV: Toya & Reginae (Premiere) at 9pm
(SATURDAY 1/25/25)
BBC: Planet Earth: Asia at 80 (Premiere)
CNN: Kobe: The Making of a Legend (Premiere) at 9pm
(SUNDAY 1/26/25)
CBS: Watson (Premiere) at 10pm
CNN is laying off about 200 employees, or 6% of the workforce, as it moves to expand its digital and streaming offerings. “Our objective is a simple one: to shift CNN’s gravity towards the platforms and products where the audience themselves are shifting,” wrote CEO Mark Thompson in a memo to staff. Thompson said the organization is expected to add enough new jobs in the first half of 2025 that headcount shouldn’t “fall much this year, if at all.” CNN parent company Warner Bros. Discovery is investing $70 million in CNN’s digital plans, which include a new streaming service. On a linear note, Jim Acosta’s 10a show is being replaced by “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown”; Audie Cornish will be getting her own morning show; and Jake Tapper’s “The Lead” is moving to 5p from 4p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Tubi has partnered with iHeartMedia to bring syndicated radio show and podcast “The Breakfast Club” to Tubi viewers. The Hip-Hop/R&B morning show is now available on demand, with a dedicated FAST Channel launching next month. “‘The Breakfast Club’ transcends morning shows with honest conversations at the heart of culture,” said Adam Lewinson, Chief Content Officer, Tubi. “At the core of our partnership with iHeartMedia is a shared interest in content that reflects culture and a passion to bring this influential and entertaining show to Tubi’s massive audience for even more fans to discover.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Big moves at NBCUniversal ahead of parent company Comcast’s cable spinoff:Pearlena Igbokwe has been elevated to Chairman, Television Studios, NBC Entertainment & Peacock & Scripted, while Frances Berwick becomes Chairman, Bravo & Peacock Unscripted. Chief Business Officer Liz Jenkins will now oversee Content Strategy, TV Acquisitions, Strategy and Business Operations across the Entertainment and Studio Groups, and Jenny Storms becomes Chief Marketing Officer, NBCUniversal Television & Streaming. Corie Henson, EVP, Unscripted Content, Competition and Game Shows, NBCUniversal Entertainment is leaving the company amid the restructure.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“This new structure will bring together our Television Studios, NBC Entertainment, Bravo and Peacock programming as one cohesive organization, bolstered by fully integrated Marketing and Content Strategy teams,” said Donna Langley, Chief Content Officer and Chairman, NBCUniversal Studio Group. “It is designed to enhance collaboration, streamline decision making, and amplify our ability to deliver world-class television experiences to audiences everywhere.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
CBS’ primetime version of “Hollywood Squares” is getting a promotional push with a limited daytime run. Encore episodes of the game show hosted by Nate Burleson – with Drew Barrymore in the center square – will air the week of January 27 at 2p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Nationally syndicated “Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien” will conclude its tenth and final season in August. The show is produced by HMPG and distributed by Sony Pictures Television. “The ‘Matter of Fact’ team, led by Executive Producer Rita Aleman, had a tremendous 10-season run and is going out on top,” said HMPG President Frank Biancuzzo. “We have new projects in development with Soledad and are looking forward to what’s ahead in continuing our successful partnership.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Also coming to an end is HBO’s “The Righteous Gemstones.”Season four, kicking off in March, will be its last. “The Lord spoke to me and said it’s time to wrap this sucker up,” said star and series creator Danny McBride. “The story this season made the themes, ideas, and characters in ‘The Righteous Gemstones’ feel whole and complete. I have loved every second of working with this team for the past eight years, and there are some incredible payoffs, twists and turns in store over the course of this wild final season.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
“Sky High,” a docuseries about the Pennsylvania student who filed a lawsuit against his high school for allegedly spying on him when he was accused of selling drugs, has been ordered by Prime Video. Mark Wahlberg is executive producing through his Unrealistic Ideas banner. The four-part series will start streaming in April, after its debut at SXSW.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Fox can’t get enough of Joel McHale (“Animal Control,” “Crime Scene Kitchen”) – he’s been named the new host of “The 1% Club,” which has been renewed for a second season. The series from the international format is produced by BBC Studios Los Angeles Productions and Magnum Media. It originally premiered on Prime Video in the US and Canada and will move exclusively to Fox for its new season, airing in 2025-26.
(Source: Cynopsis)
New game show “Scrambled Up!”, from Keller/Noll, Playing Field Entertainment and Crazy Legs Productions, will shoot in Atlanta this summer. The show, which will task players with unscrambling word puzzles, is headed for syndication this fall.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Yon Gonzalez (“Chicas del Cable”) will star alongside Samantha Siqueiros (“Señora Acero”) in Telemundo’s “Velvet” (w/t), set in NYC’s fashion world. Velvet” is an original format created by Ramon Campos and Gema R. Neira, produced by Bambú Producciones for Atresmedia Televisión.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Melissa Joan Hart continues her partnership with Lifetime with upcoming thriller, “Killing the Competition,” debuting Saturday, March 1 at 8p. Hart stars in and executive produces with her company Hartbreak Films. The film is inspired by actual events of an overbearing mother who descends from meddling to menacing after her daughter is cut from the dance team of her own high school alma mater.(Source: Cynopsis)
Some of the worst murders in the Big Apple’s history are covered in season three of “New York Homicide,” premiering Saturday, February 1 at 9p on Oxygen.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Season four of MGM+ drama “Godfather of Harlem” debuts Sunday, April 13, as Bumpy (Forest Whitaker) continues his quest for control of Harlem against New York’s Mafia families.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Husband-and-wife renovation duo Tristyn and Kamohai Kalama return for season two of HGTV’s “Renovation Aloha,” kicking off Tuesday, February 18 at 9p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
True crime docuseries “Burden of Guilt,” following a woman’s quest to solve the mystery of what or who killed her 4-month-old baby brother, premieres on Paramount+ on Tuesday, February 4. The three-parter is based on the podcast of the same name.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Culinary talk series “Dinner with Gavin Rossdale” launches Thursday, February 13 on Vizeo’s WatchFree+. “I had a very simple idea about a tv show where I cook dinner for an inspiring guest,” said the Bush frontman. “We get to see these amazing people up close and no one held back.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
“The Takedown: American Aryans” debuts Thursday, February 6 on Max. The docuseries from ID explores the cult-like world of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas from the late 2000s to the present day.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“Someone Like You” streams exclusively on Pure Flix starting Thursday, February 20 8p, then premieres on Great American Family on Saturday, February 22 at 8p. The film is the first novel-to-screen adaptation from bestselling author Karen Kingsbury’s Karen Kingsbury Productions.
(Source: Cynopsis)
AXS TV is serving up aWhole Lotta Love lineup for Valentine’s Day, starting Friday, February 14 at 8a with “The Big Interview With Dan Rather: Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Husband-and-wife Donnie Wahlberg and Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg co-host ID’s spinoff special “Very Scary Lovers” on Sunday, February 2 at 10p. The show follows the season finale of “Very Scary People” at 8p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The Super Bowl has become a multi-platform experience, with almost 70% of Americans utilizing an average of 2+ additional media platforms to engage in related content, according to Adtaxi’s “2025 Super Bowl Survey.” More stats:
· Super Bowl ads reign supreme for pre-game anticipation (but you already knew that), capturing the interest of 68% of adults, surpassing both the game and the halftime show.
· 77% of respondents will watch, listen, or follow the event, half of which will tune in using CTV or streaming services.
· Two-thirds of adults anticipate spending under $200 when placing bets on this year’s game, and nearly half will bet under $50.
(Source: Cynopsis)
FOX Sports Films and NASCAR Studios announced the premieres of two documentaries marking the start of the 2025 NASCAR season. “The Madhouse: NASCAR’s Return to Bowman Gray Stadium” debuts Monday, January 27 at 7p on FS1, while “So Damn Close: Atlanta,” focused on the closest three-way finish in NASCAR history, premieres Thursday, February 13 at 10p on FS1.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Manchester City inked a new multi-year partnership with Veritran, the Club’s Official Fan Identity Partner. Veritran’s technology will integrate with the Club’s existing infrastructure, enhancing processes and transactions for fans across areas such as registration, memberships, and ticketing.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The Women’s National Football Conference has teamed up with Victory+ and Dove to broadcast at Super Bowl Media Center Powered By Verizon on February 4-8. Coverage includes a show titled “Coach O’s Couch,” hosted by Hall of Fame running back, the winningest head coach in women’s tackle football history, and the Founder/CEO of the WNFC, Odessa Jenkins.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Perry Ellis International, the National Hockey League Players’ Association and the NHL announced a 4 Nations Face-Off official US partnership. The NHL and NHLPA will host the tournament, featuring NHL players from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the US from February 12-20. The Bell Centre in Montreal and TD Garden in Boston will serve as the host venues and cities for the seven-game tournament.
(Source: Cynopsis)
MOVIES
Flight Risk – Michelle Dockery, Mark Wahlberg, Topher Grace, Leah Remini, Monib Abhat, Paul Ben-Victor
Presence – Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, Callina Liang, Julia Fox, West Mulholland, Lucas Papaelias
Inheritance (Limited Release) – Phoebe Dynevor, Rhys Ifans, Ciara Baxendale, Kersti Bryan, Daniel Joey Albright, Bryan Clohessy
MEGA MILLIONS
Today’s Jackpot is $28 million.
You can now play in 43 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
POWERBALL
Saturday’s Jackpot is $46 million.
Powerball is played in 43 states.
Keely's Korner 