Keely's Korner

FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news

ON TELEVISION (TUESDAY 4/8/25)
HULU: The Handmaid’s Tale (Premiere)
ID: All Access PD: Grand Rapids (Premiere) at 10pm
NETFLIX: The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox (Premiere)
NETFLIX: Kian’s Bizarre B&B (Premiere)
NETFLIX: How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast) (Premiere)
NETFLIX: My Next Guest Needs No Introduction (Premiere)
PRIME VIDEO: Spy High (Premiere)
PRIME VIDEO: Mobile Suite Gundam GQuuuuuuX (Premiere)

Sunday’s season three finale of “The White Lotus” attracted 6.2 million US cross-platform viewers, up 30% from the week prior and the third consecutive week of record highs. The episode was 51% higher than the season two closer, and achieved 2.5x growth from the season debut.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Ahead of its upfront event tomorrow, AMC Networks announced big plans for horror streamer, Shudder, including a new partnership with the Sphere in Las Vegas; the launch of an ad-supported version of the service; and an order for unscripted competition “Guts & Glory,” from Greg Nicotero (“The Walking Dead”). “We are bringing horror to our partners like never before,” said Kim Granito, CMO for AMC Networks. “Horror is a massive entertainment genre with a highly engaged fan base that we are uniquely able to deliver to marketing partners.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

SAG-AFTRA and the Joint Policy Committee, which represents advertisers, have extended the expiration of current contracts for commercials, from last Friday to April 11, as they negotiate new agreements. Talks between the two sides began on February 20.
(Source: Cynopsis)

AMC Studios is at work on an anthology series for AMC celebrating the American spirit – and first up is a John Steinbeck classic. “For more than a year we have been searching for the perfect story to launch our next big television franchise, and we found it in The Grapes of Wrath, which is as timely and relevant today as it was when first published in 1939,” said Dan McDermott, President of Entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks. “Our country is built upon so many unforgettable historic and dramatic moments, tales of bravery and courage, classic novels, short stories, and chronicles well known and never-before-told. As a network that began its life as American Movie Classics, this is the franchise we’re destined to bring to the screen.” Rolin Jones (“Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire”) is attached to adapt the first season of the new series and then manage the franchise.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Production on the second season of “The Chicken Sisters” begins this week in Vancouver, with David James Elliott (“JAG”) jumping aboard in a recurring role. Season one premiered exclusively on Hallmark+ in September 2024, and had its Hallmark Channel premiere on March 30. The season will continue through May 18.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Acorn TV has greenlit “Allie & Andi,” a crime drama from creator/writer Robin Bernheim, starring and executive produced by Brooke Shields. The six-parter, following a bestselling novelist who forms an unlikely alliance with an aspiring writer to find the killer of a close friend, will go into production this fall and premiere in 2026.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Season two of Apple TV+ animated adventure “WondLa”premieres Friday, April 25. The voice cast includes Jeanine Mason (“Roswell, New Mexico”), Brad Garrett (“Everybody Loves Raymond”), Gary Anthony Williams (“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows”), and more. 
(Source: Cynopsis)

“The Bakersfield 3: A Tale of Murder and Motherhood” premieres Sunday, May 11at 8p. The three-part true crime series follows three mothers who band together after their children’s 2018 disappearances.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Let the sabotage begin! “Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out” features culinary challenges meant to test four chefs on their cooking prowess, strategic thinking, and ability to innovate under pressure. The nine-episode series premieres Tuesday, May 13 at 9p on Food Network.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Streaming platform MyOutdoorTV has launched 35 new hunting, fishing, and outdoor adventure shows as part of its SpringFest. Among the offerings are “Dead Meat,” “Fishing University” and “Predator Pursuit.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

A new season of New Zealand crime drama “The Brokenwood Mysteries” debuts Monday, April 2 on Acorn TV. 
(Source: Cynopsis)

“Wild Game Kitchen” is back for a new season on Saturday, May 3 at 9p as part of the Home.Made.Nation multi-platform lifestyle programming block. In each episode, Andrew Zimmern demystifies preparing game meat and fish.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Under the title “The Dark Money Game,” HBO announced premiere dates for two films, both directed by Alex Gibney (“Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos”). “Ohio Confidential,” centered on the shooting of a political lobbyist that leads to the exposure of a massive conspiracy, premieres Tuesday, April 15 at 9p. The following day brings “Wealth of the Wicked,” exploring the stealth influence of religious groups and the reciprocity between well-funded special-interest groups and the political process.
(Source: Cynopsis)

BEN & JERRY’S FREE CONE DAY
https://www.benjerry.com/scoop-shops/free-cone-day

MEGA MILLIONS
Today’s Jackpot is $54 million.
(One ticket costs $5.00 as of April 2025)

You can now play in 43 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

NYLottery.NY.gov

CELEBRITY NEWS: APRIL 7, 2025
http://www.imdb.com/news/celebrity

David Otunga (Wrestler, Lawyer, Jennifer Hudson’s Ex-Fiancé and Son’s Father) – 45 years old
Tiki Barber (former NFL Player) – 50 years old
Ronde Barber (former NFL Player) – 50 years old
Bill Bellamy (Comedian) – 60 years old
Russell Crowe (“Gladiator”) – 61 years old
Grace Hightower (“Precious”/ Robert De Niro’s Ex-Wife) – 70 years old
Jackie Chan (“Rush Hour” movies) – 71 years old
John Oates (Hall & Oates) – 77 years old
Francis Ford Coppola (Director) – 86 years old

FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news

ON TELEVISION (MONDAY 4/7/25)
ACORN TV: The Chelsea Detective (Premiere)
NETFLIX: Blippi’s Job Show (Premiere)
TLC: 90 Day Diaries (Premiere) at 9pm

Guy Ritchie’s “Mobland” had a killer opening, ranking as the biggest Paramount+ global series launch ever on premiere day with 2.2 million global viewers. “’Mobland’ is yet another proof point for the power of our differentiated model – fewer, bigger, breakthrough series that can cut through the clutter and also builds on our 2024 record success where we finished as the #2 SVOD for original series time spent viewing,” said Chris McCarthy, Paramount Co-CEO and President and CEO, Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios. 
(Source: Cynopsis)

Warner Bros. Discovery arrives at NAB this week with a healthy handful of syndicated shows cleared in at least 90% of the country. In addition to first-run shows “Jennifer Hudson” and “Extra,” sitcoms “The Big Bang Theory,” Young Sheldon,” “Bob Hearts Abishola,” “Two and a Half Men” and “Friends” have hit the 90% mark. Library episodes of “The People’s Court” and “Judge Mathis” made it to 85%. “We are delighted with the performance of our shows and the results they deliver to our television station partners,” said David Decker, President, Content Sales, Warner Bros. Discovery. “Syndication remains an important way to reach our loyal fans.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

The WGA has ratified a new 3-year contract with CBS News that includes 3% annual raises and key AI protections. These include enhanced severance for AI-related layoffs, regular consultations on AI use, advance notice of new AI tools, and indemnification for employees using AI per company policy.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Video tech platform Vimeo is launching Vimeo Streaming, enabling video creators to more easily launch and monetize their own services. “We are giving creators more ways to connect with and gain a deeper understanding of their audiences, more ways to monetize their content, and higher grade security,” said Philip Moyer, CEO of Vimeo. “Vimeo is also breaking down language barriers for creators with our new AI services. We believe creators should be in control of their work and how they are paid; so we’re taking the technologies that are usually only afforded by the biggest platforms and putting it in the hands of our customers, at a fraction of the cost.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

Prime Video street racing series “Motorheads” drops Tuesday, May 20. The show follows a group of outsiders who form an unlikely friendship over a mutual love of automobiles.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Season seven of “The Wizard of Paws” kicks off Thursday, April 10 at 5p on BYUtv. Derrick Campana’s dog Rosie jumps aboard this go-round.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Road trip comedy “Wish You Were Queer” premieres Thursday, May on OUTtv. The docuseries follows best friends Michael Henry and Tim Murray hitting the road across Middle America, meeting locals, and diving into queer culture.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Discovery’s “Gold Rush: White Water” is back for a new run on Friday, April 25 at 8p.
(Source: Cynopsis)

MeTV’s The Month of Mayberry, a month-long celebration of “The Andy Griffith Show” and related series and specials, kicks off Sunday, May 4 at 4p with “The Danny Thomas Show” episode “Danny Meets Andy Griffith.” The original backdoor pilot for “The Andy Griffith Show” is followed by the official first episode of the series, “The New Housekeeper,” at 4:30p.
(Source: Cynopsis)

“Wolf Man” starts streaming Friday, April 18 on Peacock. The Universal Pictures film offers a modern take on the classic monster story.
(Source: Cynopsis)

HBO Original film “Mountainhead,” written, directed, and executive produced byJesse Armstrong (“Succession”), debuts Saturday, May 31 at 8p. The film, following a group of billionaire friends who get together against the backdrop of a rolling international crisis, marks Armstrong’s feature directorial debut.
(Source: Cynopsis)

The newest attempt by X to boost revenue: selling inactive usernames to Verified Organizations starting at $10,000 with the price tag climbing as high as $500,000, reports TechCrunch. Reverse Engineer Nima Owji notes the changes went live on the web app April 2. The notion of selling inactive usernames is not new to X – back in 2023, then Twitter, explored setting up an auction.
(Source: Cynopsis)

It’s official: As of Monday April 7, Meta will no longer have any fact-checkers in the US. The shift in policy comes three months after a January announcement where the social behemoth loosened content moderation rules. “The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point towards once again prioritizing speech,” Zuckerberg said in a video announcing the moderation changes.
(Source: Cynopsis)

The Women’s Final Four was down big from record heights, but still ranked as third-best in the ESPN era. Friday’s NCAA women’s basketball national semifinals averaged 3.9 million viewers across the ESPN networks, per Nielsen fast-nationals — trailing only the past two years as the highest average since ESPN began carrying the event exclusively in 1995.
(Source: Cynopsis)

“Unconventional” has become LGBTQ+ streaming network Revry’s most-watched original scripted series. The nine-episode comedy claimed the #1 spot for VOD programming in February. 
(Source: Cynopsis)

Weekly releases are gaining ground on the Netflix “binge model.” This past week saw “The White Lotus”, “Reacher” and “1923” hold the top three spots in the Samba TV Weekly Wrap streaming Top 10, marking yet another week with Netflix NOT on the podium.
(Source: Cynopsis)

New England sports network NESN’s Opening Day cross-platform total audience increased by more than 100% from 2024’s Opening Day, while total viewership minutes increased by more than 140%. On linear, NESN registered a 4.62 household rating, up 148% from 2024 and its highest on Opening Day since 2021. Powering that growth was an expanded, younger demographic with adults aged 25-54 increasing 155%.
(Source: Cynopsis)

POWERBALL
Today’s Jackpot is $54 million.
(One ticket costs $2.00)

Powerball is played in 43 states.

NYLottery.NY.gov

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
A Minecraft Movie – $157 million
A Working Man – $7.3 million
The Chosen: Last Supper Part 2 – $6.7 million
Snow White – $6.1 million
The Woman in the Yard – $4.5 million
(Source: Box Office Mojo)