FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news
ON TELEVISION (FRIDAY 5/14/21)
AMAZON: The Underground Railroad (Premiere)
DiISNEY JR.: Chicken Squad (Premiere)
FX: Pride (Premiere) at 8pm
NETFLIX: Halston (Premiere)
NETFLIX: Haunted (Premiere)
NETFLIX: Move to Heaven (Premiere)
NETFLIX: Alma Matters: Inside the IT Dream (Premiere)
OWN: Black Love (Premiere) at 10pm
CBS: Blue Bloods (Finale) at 10pm
(SATURDAY 5/15/21)
BBC AMERICA: China: Nature’s Ancient Kingdom (Premiere) at 8pm
DISCOVERY+: The Undateables (Premiere)
DIY: Restoration Road (Premiere) at 8pm
NBC: Saturday Night Live – Host: Keegan-Michael Key, Musical Guest: Oliva Rodrigo at 11:30pm
(SUNDAY 5/16/21)
BRAVO: Shahs of Sunset (Premiere) at 8pm
EPIX: Fall River (Premiere) at 10pm
FACEBOOK WATCH: Thick House (Premiere)
HALLMARK CHANNEL: Good Witch (Premiere) at 9pm
STARZ: Run the World (Premiere) at 8:30pm
STARZ: Death and Nightingales (Premiere) at 10pm
TV ONE: Uncensored (Premiere) at 8pm
ABC: The Rookie (Finale) at 10pm
FOX: Family Guy (Finale) at 9:30pm
NBC: Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (Finale) at 9pm
SCIENCE: If We Built It Today (Finale) at 10pm
Numbers guy Steve Kornacki, breakout star of election coverage on NBC News and MSNBC, has a few new beats. After seven years of news reporting, Kornacki will now also bring his geek-tastic analysis to entertainment, sports and streaming networks at NBCU, including producing and hosting a game show, and contributing to Olympics, NBA, NHL, MLB and NFL coverage. “Steve brings so much passion and genuine enthusiasm to his work, on top of his encyclopedic knowledge base, that it’s just impossible as a viewer not to share his interest and excitement,” said NBCUniversal News Group chairman Cesar Conder.
(Source: Cynopsis)
ABC is getting real with unscripted renewals. “Shark Tank” scored a season 13 renewal, and “America’s Home Videos” will be back for season 32. Also returning to ABC are game shows “Wheel of Fortune” and “Supermarket Sweep” for second seasons, and singing competition “American Idol” for a fifth season (or 20th, counting its run on Fox).
(Source: Cynopsis)
Disney+ reached 103.6 million global subscribers its second fiscal quarter, up from 94 million the previous quarter, but lower than analysts’ expectations of 110 million. Disney’s media and entertainment distribution unit posted revenue of $12.44 billion, under estimates of $12.64 billion. Operating income of $2.87 billion beat expectations. “We’re pleased to see more encouraging signs of recovery across our businesses,” said Bob Chapek, CEO, The Walt Disney Company. “This is clearly reflected in the reopening of our theme parks and resorts, increased production at our studios, the continued success of our streaming services, and the expansion of our unrivaled portfolio of multiyear sports rights deals for ESPN and ESPN+.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
The number of addressable TV homes (not including CTV, smart TV or OTT platforms) will continue to decline in 2021, according to eMarketer, dipping 4.7%, to 57.6 million. However, linear addressable TV revenue, from targeted home-by-home TV ads, is expected to increase 33% this year, to $2.85 billion.
(Source: Cynopsis)
At long last, we have a premiere date for HBO Max’s “Friends” reunion special: Thursday, May 27. “Friends: The Reunion” will feature guests including David Beckham, Justin Bieber, BTS, James Corden, Cindy Crawford, Cara Delevingne, Lady Gaga, Elliott Gould, Kit Harington, Larry Hankin, Mindy Kaling, Thomas Lennon, Christina Pickles, Tom Selleck, James Michael Tyler, Maggie Wheeler, Reese Witherspoon and Malala Yousafzai. The pandemic-delayed special was supposed to launch with the introduction of streamer HBO Max last year, but will mark its first anniversary instead. Leading up to the reunion special, TBS is airing every episode of the show, weekdays from 10a-4p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
A sequel to “Enola Holmes,” centered on Sherlock’s rebellious teen sister, is on the way to Netflix, with Millie Bobbie Brown and Henry Cavill reprising their roles. Legendary’s Mary Parent, Alex Garcia and Ali Mendes will produce, along with Brown and Paige Brown through their PCMA Productions. Legendary’s Joshua Grode, Michael Dreyer, Bradbeer and Thorne are executive producing.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Netflix is back in business with “Emily in Paris” creator Darren Star.The streamer ordered eight episodes of MTV Studios-produced “Uncoupled,” from Star and Jeffrey Richman. The romantic comedy focuses on a gay man finding himself suddenly single in New York City. “We couldn’t hope for a more perfect home for ‘Uncoupled’ than Netflix,” said Star and Richman. “A romantic comedy with a gay leading man; it is a passion project for us that feels both personal and universal.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
NBCUniversal unveiled a programming slate for its cable portfolio which will add 33 new unscripted shows or specials, bring back over 30 shows with more pick-ups to come, launch five scripted series and air three original movies in addition to multiple live events. “A key driver of success at NBCUniversal’s cable networks is our ability to tap into the scope and scale of our collective portfolio while leveraging each brand’s distinct audience to build unrivaled fan destinations across our networks and on Peacock,” said Frances Berwick, Chairman, Entertainment Networks, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. “Our cable networks represent a vital part of our business and we will continue to invest in our brands and IP in innovative ways, whether that be through mixing live sports and big event series on USA, introducing a new host to E!’s flagship Red Carpet, or bringing our addictive Bravo shows to life with fan experiences, our networks remain the home of culture-defining television.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
NBCU’s Peacock is expanding three linear franchises with orders for streaming spin-offs. Amy Poehler, executive producer/host of NBC’s “Making It,” will EP holiday event series “Baking It,” from Universal Television Alternative Studio, in association with Paper Kite Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment. In Bravo extensions, Grammy winner Meghan Trainor will host “Top Chef Family Style,” from Magical Elves, and 51 Minds will produce “Below Deck Down Under.” Additionally, “American Ninja Warrior Junior” will move from Universal Kids to Peacock for season three, and a third “Psych” movie, “Psych 3: This Is Gus,” is in the works.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“The Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon has several projects in the works at NBCUniversal, through an overall deal with his Electric Hot Dog. A kids’ version of “The Tonight Show” is set at Universal Television Alternative Studios, as well as “Clash of the Cover Bands” for E!. DreamWorks Animation is producing a series based on Fallon’s pre-school books, Your Baby’s First Word Will Be Dada, and Everything Is Mama, while another children’s show based on Fallon’s writing, “5 More Sleeps ‘til Christmas,” is being produced for NBC by ShadowMachine. “We continue to be in awe of all things Jimmy,” said Susan Rovner, chairman entertainment content at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. “Who else could run “The Tonight Show,” executive produce and host brand new formats, and adapt his own bestselling books? Jimmy does them all with his signature style.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
“The Game” isn’t over yet. After running from 2006-09 on The CW, then moving to BET from 2011-15, the series landed a ten-episode reboot order from Paramount+, with Wendy Raquel Robinson (“Insecure”) and Hosea Chanchez (“Black Lightning”) reprising their roles. Devon Greggory (“American Soul”) will serve as showrunner and writer, and exec produce with series creator Mara Brock Akil, Salim Akil and original executive producer Kelsey Grammer and Tom Russo of Grammnet NH Productions. “From the moment it debuted, ‘The Game’ was a groundbreaking series that used humor, heart and memorable characters to explore real issues involving race, gender and, of course, football,” said Julie McNamara, EVP and Head of Programming, Paramount+. “What better time for Devon and the whole team to reunite for a fresh look at a world that has only become more at-the-center of the cultural conversation today.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Dan Lindsay and T.J. Martin (“Tina”) have formed an exclusive one-year first look deal with Imagine Documentaries to develop and executive produce non-scripted content. Imagine Documentaries currently has a first look deal with Apple TV+ as well as a multi-picture deal with IMAX for large-format content.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Swedish-French Director Charlotte Brändström (“Outlander,” “The Witcher”) has joined the creative team of Amazon Studios forthcoming “The Lord of the Rings” TV series, currently filming in New Zealand, to direct two episodes.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Casting notes: Dan Stevens (“Legion”) and Betty Gilpin (“Glow”) have joined the cast of Starz “Gaslit,” as Watergate figures John and Maureen Dean…Eric Roberts (“Runaway Train”), Eric Andre (“The Eric Andre Show”) and Jason Schwartzman (“Mozart in the Jungle”) will recur on season two of HBO’s “The Righteous Gemstones.”…Apple TV+ limited series “Five Days at Memorial” has added Cherry Jones (“24”) in a starring role alongside Vera Farmiga.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The seventh and final season of Amazon detective series “Bosch” kicks off Friday, June 25. Amazon’s IMDbTV has a spin-off set to go into production later this year.
(Source: Cynopsis)
HGTV’s “Hot Mess House” returns for a new season on Thursday, June 17 at 8p. Organization expert Cassandra Aarssen helps clients declutter, and update rooms with customized renovations to keep things clean.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Three-part “Inside the Met” launches Friday, May 21 at 9p on PBS. The docu-series takes viewers behind the scenes at NYC’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.
(Source: Cynopsis)
PBS has also acquired US domestic broadcast and digital rights to FilmRise’s six-episode original series “Icon: Music Through The Lens,” produced in partnership with Universal Music Group’s Mercury Studios. PBS will present each of the six episodes weekly as part of its summer prime-time lineup.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Discovery goes wild again with “Serengeti II,” returning to the plains of Tanzania to witness the animals who live there. Lupita Nyong’o (“12 Years a Slave”) narrates.
(Source: Cynopsis)
What happens when the reality show experiment is over? Self-shot footage tells the story when Lifetime’s “Married at First Sight: Couples Cam” returns for a new season Wednesday, June 2 at 8p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Kevin Smith’s new CG-animated series, “Masters of the Universe: Revelation,” arrives on Netflix Friday, July 23. Voice cast includes Mark Hamill as the evil Skeletor, Sarah Michelle Gellar (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) as Teela, Chris Wood (“The Vampire Diaries”) as Prince Adam / He-Man, and Lena Headey (“Game of Thrones”) as Evil-Lyn.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Food Network serves up a frontier wedding when Ree Drummond’s daughter Alex marries her college sweetheart. The love story is told in a Food Network special on Saturday, June 26 at 11a, and on discovery+.
(Source: Cynopsis)
MOVIES
Spiral: Saw – Chris Rock, Samuel L. Jackson, Max Minghella, Marisol Nichols, Morgan Davide Jones
Finding You – Rose Reid, Jedidiah Goodacre, Katherine McNamara, Tom Everett Scott, Vanessa Redgrave, Patrick Bergin, Judith Hoag, Saorise-Monica Jackson, Fiona Bell
Those Who Wish Me Dead – Angelina Jolie, Finn Little, Jon Bernthal, Aidan Gillen, Nicholas Hoult, Tyler Perry
Profile – Valene Kane, Shazad Latif, Christine Adams, Amir Rahimzadeh, Morgan Watkins, Anna Erelle, Brittany Poulton, Olga Kharina
MEGA MILLIONS
Today’s Jackpot is $430 million.
You can now play in 43 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
POWERBALL
Saturday’s Jackpot is $183 million.
Powerball is played in 43 states.
