FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news
ON TELEVISION (WEDNESDAY 4/21/21)
BET: Survivors Remorse (Premiere) at 10:30pm
DISCOVERY: Deadliest Catch: Bloodline (Premiere) at 11pm
FX: Snowfall (Finale) at 10pm
Apple is biting into the podcast subscriptions service business, launching Apple Podcast Subscriptions in May in 170 countries. The service will enable enthusiasts to sign up for premium subscriptions to podcasts and provide access to additional content or early and exclusive access to new series. Yesterday’s announcement did not include any news that the company would be moving into original audio programming, as competitors such as Spotify and Pandora have done. Launch partners for the podcast service include Tenderfoot TV, Pushkin Industries, Radiotopia from PRX, QCode, The Los Angeles Times, The Athletic and Sony Music Entertainment.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Netflix missed its projected subscriber target of 210 million and reported 208 million global subscribers as of the end of the first quarter. The streamer, which blamed issues around the Covid-19 pandemic, still beat Wall Street projections, with earnings per share of $3.75 a dollar. Revenue of $7.16 billion also topped financial analyst targets.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Former Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. president Phil Berk has been shown the door by the organization. The HFPA yesterday expelled Berk from its membership after an email Berk sent to members on Sunday referring to Black Lives Matters as a “racist hate movement” was leaked to the Los Angeles Times. Berk’s email was the latest in a string of controversies surrounding the organization behind The Golden Globes in recent months. Among other issues, the HFPA recently confirmed it hasn’t had a Black member in two decades. The organization previously said it will reveal its blueprint to address its issues on May 6.
(Source: Cynopsis)
SAG-AFTRA launched a Spanish-language version of its website. The move is part of a broad organizational effort to increase engagement with its Spanish-speaking members, who number in the thousands. As well as disseminating content from its English-language counterpart, the new website will also support the union’s organizing efforts in the growing Spanish-language market.
(Source: Cynopsis)
ESPN is out in front with 54 network nominations and 42 network group noms, and CBS’ Super Bowl LV leads in program nominations for the 42nd Sports Emmys. In other stats for the awards, presented by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, NFL Network was second among nets with 27 nominations, followed by Fox (26) and CBS (22). Statuettes will be handed out during a virtual livestreamed ceremony June 8 at 8p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Trevor Noah, Megan Thee Stallion and “Ratatouille: The Tik Tok Musical” are among nominees for this year’s Webby Awards, the 25th incarnation of the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences’ ceremony. A virtual show will be held Tuesday, May 18, hosted by Jameela Jamil of “The Good Place” and “Legendary.” Internet fans can begin casting votes through Thursday, May 6.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Michael Cuesta (“Homeland”) will direct and exec-produce ABC’s generation-spanning drama pilot “Promised Land.” The series, which centers on two Latinx families vying for wealth and power in California’s Sonoma Valley, will star John Ortiz, Cecilia Suarez and Mateo Sandoval. ABC Signature is the studio.
(Source: Cynopsis)
No wankers allowed. Apple TV+ set Friday, July 23 for the season 2 premiere of its hit comedy series “Ted Lasso.” It also unveiled a first peek at the new season during yesterday’s Apple “Spring Loaded” event. The Jason Sudeikis starrer, which has been heavily lauded during awards season, is already renewed for a third season.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Hulu landed US rights to “Homeroom,”a feature doc from Peter Nicks that was an official selection at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Exec-produced by Ryan Coogler, “Homeroom” is the final chapter in a trilogy of films examining the relationship between health care, criminal justice and education in Oakland, CA. Nicks previously directed 2012’s “The Waiting Room,” set in a public hospital, and 2017’s “The Force,” about the Oakland Police Department—both also aired on Hulu.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Ava DuVernay’s animated adaptation of the “Wings of Fire” fantasy book series is lifting off at Netflix. The streamer greenlit 10 40-minute eps of the series, from DuVernay and her Array Filmworks, and Warner Bros. Animation. Written by Tui T. Sutherland, the series is centered around a generations-long war between the dragon tribes who inhabit the epic world of Pyrrhia.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Emilia Clarke (“Game of Thrones”) is in final talks to join Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn in “Secret Invasion,” the upcoming Marvel project for Disney+, according to Variety. The series will see Jackson and Mendelsohn reprising their characters Nick Fury and the Skrull Talos, respectively, who first met in Captain Marvel.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Alan Taylor is set to helm a TV adaptation of Jim Dodge’s fantasy novel “Stone Junction” for Starlight Media, the production company behind “Crazy Rich Asians.” The adaptation is being written by “The Man in the High Castle” and “Electric Dreams” writers Kalen Egan and Travis Sentell.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Dakota Johnson will star in Netflix and MRC Film’s “Persuasion,” a modern lens on the Jane Austin classic. Directed by Carrie Cracknell, the reboot centers on Anne Elliot, a woman with modern sensibilities who’s living with her haughty family who are on the brink of bankruptcy.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Nina West (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”) and Bobby Berk (“Queer Eye”) are working on a children’s variety show, “Nina’s Treehouse,” for Stoopid Buddy Stoodies. Created and penned by West, the series aims to create a space where all children feel accepted and inspired to be creative and embrace what makes them unique.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Psychological thriller “Chloe,” from Mam Tor Productions, will air on Amazon Prime Video in more than 240 global territories, and on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK. From creator and writer Alice Seabright, the six-ep series centers on a mystery that touches on obsession, deceit, identity and grief. Cast includes Erin Doherty (“The Crown”), Billy Howle (“The Serpent”), Pippa Bennett-Warner (“Gangs of London”) and Jack Farthing (“Poldark”).
(Source: Cynopsis)
Truly Original optioned Benjamin Lorr’s latest nonfiction book, “The Secret Life of Groceries: The Dark Miracle of the American Supermarket,” for a docuseries on the “mindbogglingly complex” grocery industry.
(Source: Cynopsis)
European mega-producer Banijay scooped up French animation studio Monello Productions for an undisclosed fee. Founded in 2013, Monello is currently producing a CGI series based on Hello Kitty. Other shows include “When I Was Your Age” and “Street Football Season 4, a co-production with Banijay imprint Zodiak Kids.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Principal Media, the content licensingand channel distribution company, partnered with Abode Entertainment to help finance additional seasons of Adobe series “Million Dollar House Hunters” and “United Plates of America.” “Million Dollar House Hunters” just completed production on its fifth season; “United Plates of America” wrapped its fourth season.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Factual producer RIVR Media partnered with HGTV co-founder and former Discovery exec Bob Baskerville to launch RIVR Studios in Knoxville, TN. Baskerville will serve as head of the studio, which opens this summer and will provide a new resource to the TV, film and commercial production industry.
(Source: Cynopsis)
After a four-season run on Starz, BET and BET Her will air the first season of “Survivor’s Remorse” beginning today (April 21) at 10:30p. The half-hour scripted series is produced by LeBron James and centers around the lives of Cam Calloway and his family after he signs a pro-basketball contract and moves his family to Atlanta.
(Source: Cynopsis)
French Canadian Mafia crime drama “Various Facts” will return for its second season on Wednesday April 28 at 11:30p on TV5MONDE USA.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The Smollett siblings return to Cleo TV for season 2 of “Living By Design With Jake and Jazz” on Saturday, May 1, at 9p. The duo will continue to create home makeovers and celebrate the renovation completion with tasty bites.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Season 3 of FX drama series “Pose” returns to the runway on Sunday, May 2 at 10p. The network will will premiere the first two episodes of the season, with one ep airing every subsequent Sunday until the series finale June 6.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Wanda Sykes’ “The Upshaws” premieres Wednesday, May 12 on Netflix. Co-created by Sykes and Regina Hicks, the comedic series stars Mike Epps as the well-intentioned head of a Black working class family in Indianapolis, who after a life of bad decisions is trying his best to step up and care for his blended family—with loads of determination but no blueprint for success.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Hulu dropped key ary for “Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K.”, which debuts on the streamer Friday, May 21. The series centers on megalomaniacal supervillain M.O.D.O.K. (Patton Oswalt), who’s long pursued his dream of one day conquering the world but first must deal with a series of personal and professional issues he’s brought upon himself.
(Source: Cynopsis)
True crime series “Between Black and Blue” debuts on Sundance Now and AMC+ Tuesday, May 25. Four-part series uncovers a shocking tale of murder whose protagonists include crooked cops, a mafia Godfather, an alleged public poisoning, Elvis Presley and a cocaine-addicted newspaper editor.
(Source: Cynopsis)
An American version of competition series “The Cube” will premiere Thursday, June 10 at 9p on TBS. Based on the UK megahit and hosted by NBA All-Star Dwayne Wade, the high-octane series spotlights contestant pairs who must demonstrate skill, nerve and determination as they endure seemingly simple physical and mental tasks – all while confined in a glass box with its own mind and attitude.
(Source: Cynopsis)
PBS unveiled its summer lineup. Among nonfiction series, “Mysteries of Mental Illness” premieres Tuesday, June 22; “The Latino Experience” debuts Tuesday, July 6; “In Their Own Words” drops Tuesday, July 20; “Expedition With Steve Backshall: Unpacked” premieres Wednesday, August 25; and “Lucy Worsley’s Royal History’s Myths & Secrets” debuts Sunday, August 29.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Vice President Kamala Harris joined the one-hour climate special “Action Planet: Meeting the Climate Challenge,” airing on Earth Day, April 22 at 9p, on NowThis, discovery+, Discovery Channel, Science Channel, and OWN. Others to be interviewed for the program include Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, Former Vice President Al Gore and Dr. Anthony Fauci.
(Source: Cynopsis)
HBO’s two-part Alex Gibney doc“The Crime of the Century,” debuts on the network and HBO Max on Monday, May 10 at 9p. The special provides a searing investigation into the inner workings of the multibillion-dollar industry behind the opioid epidemic.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Nathalie Kelley (“The Baker & The Beauty”), Colin Donnell (“Chicago Med”) and Patti Murin (“Chicago Med,” “Chicago Fire”) star in “To Catch a Spy,” an original movie premiering Sunday, June 20 at 8p on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Action centers on a grand hotel reopening in Malta, where the protagonist witnesses someone falling to their death.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The Kate Winslet-starring limited series “Mare of Easttown” drew 1 million viewers Sunday across HBO and HBO Max. The series’ debut matched the premiere-night performances of HBO hits “Succession” and “Euphoria” in the 10p Sunday time slot, according to HBO.
(Source: Cynopsis)
New HGTV series “No Demo Reno” delivered a series best 0.71 Live+3 rating among A25-54 and a 0.93 L3 rating among W25-54 on Thursday, April 15, at 8p. Attracting more than 3.4 million Total Viewers, the episode also delivered a 0.91 L3 rating among upscale A25-54 and a 1.15 L3 rating among upscale W25-54.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The fifth season premiere ep of Bounce series “Saints & Sinners” was seen by more than 1 million viewers P2+ across its initial burst of telecasts. The 9p telecast on April 11 scored 389,000 Total Viewers, up 42 percent over the time period and the three airings Sunday night were seen by 812,000 Total Viewers.
(Source: Cynopsis)
In syndication, “Jeopardy” led all of syndication in the session ending April 11—its first go-round with Green Bay Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers at the podium. “Family Feud,” which had topped the chart for the previous three weeks, was next, edging “Wheel of Fortune.” “Judge Judy” crushed the courtrooms for a record 1,281 consecutive weeks and ruled daytime in this, its 25th and final season.
(Source: Cynopsis)
POWERBALL
Today’s Jackpot is $90 million.
Powerball is played in 43 states.
