Up In The Air
Major funding for today's blog is provided by....
The CW is starting to make decision about new series for the 2021-22 broadcast season. The network has picked up All American: Homecoming and Naomi to series.
It comes as the youth-skewing broadcaster had tough decisions to make over which projects to pick up.
Powerpuff, a live-action reboot of the hit cartoon, is being reworked and re-piloted off-cycle, while the Nancy Drew spinoff Tom Swift remains in consideration. Black Lightning spinoff Painkiller and Jennie Snyder Urman’s millennial nun dramedy Our Ladies of Brooklyn are not moving forward but are being shopped elsewhere.
The All American spinoff and Ava DuVernay’s superhero project join a reboot of classic sci-fi drama The 4400 straight-to-series. The CW is set to unveil its full fall schedule and midseason 2022 programming on Tuesday, along with the ultimate fate of Penn & Teller Fool Us, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and the greenlit reboot of Legends of the Hidden Temple.
Over to the Tiffany Network.
CBS today announced its 2021-2022 primetime programming lineup of CBS Originals, featuring the expansion of television's biggest franchises, the launch of a distinctive and highly "spirited" new comedy, plus bold scheduling moves on key nights.
The new schedule includes four new dramas, two new comedies, special event programming, and 22 returning series.
For 2020-2021, the Network finished #1 for the 13th straight season, winning 18 of the past 19 seasons. The three highly anticipated new dramas for fall with marquee value and built-in viewer appeal include new chapters in the Network's most successful brands: NCIS: HAWAI ' I, starring Vanessa Lachey as the first female Special Agent in Charge of the NCIS Pearl Harbor field office; FBI: INTERNATIONAL, from Emmy Award-winning producer Dick Wolf; and CSI: VEGAS, the sequel to the Network's global hit "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," with original cast members William Petersen and Jorja Fox joining forces with the new team lead by Paula Newsome.
Fall's distinctive new comedy is GHOSTS, based on the critically acclaimed BBC series, starring Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar as the new owners of a country estate inhabited by an eclectic group of deceased residents. The fall schedule also includes the return of #1 Series NCIS, #1 comedy YOUNG SHELDON, #1 new comedy UNITED STATES OF AL, #1 new series THE EQUALIZER, and the #1 news program 60 MINUTES. In addition, the groundbreaking reality show SURVIVOR returns with new editions in the fall and spring.
New series debuting later in the season include the medical drama GOOD SAM, starring Sophia Bush and Jason Isaacs; SMALLWOOD, a comedy based on professional bowler Tom Smallwood's life, starring Pete Holmes, Katie Lowes and Chi McBride; and the family competition series executive produced by LL COOL J and Chris O'Donnell, COME DANCE WITH ME, hosted by Philip Lawrence. Returning shows include the Emmy Award-winning UNDERCOVER BOSS, Emmy Award-winning THE AMAZING RACE (pending its return to production), and the action-adventure drama BLOOD & TREASURE.
Also this season, CBS will feature special-event programming, including THE ACTIVIST, a competition series aimed at bringing change to important world causes; and two CBS Original Movies: A CHRISTMAS PROPOSAL, starring Adam Rodriguez and Jessica Camacho; and CHRISTMAS TAKES FLIGHT.
"This season, we proved we could create a winning schedule against seemingly insurmountable odds," said Kelly Kahl, President, CBS Entertainment. "Next season, we aim to repeat that success with bold, strategic scheduling moves designed to strengthen nights and maximize flow across the week. We're expanding three of our biggest, globally popular franchises, returning 22 fan favorites while nurturing our newer rising hits, and adding a host of year-round original programming that will appeal to viewers and advertisers alike."
Over to the superstation......
TBS has renewed its rookie series Wipeout and Chad for second seasons, and fellow Turner cable net TruTV is going back for seconds on Fast Foodies.
The announcements were made during Turner’s upfront presentation today. Wipeout, the obstacle-course competition series that TBS revived this year, is hosted by John Cena and Nicole Byer, with Camille Kostek as the field host. It features new format twists and elements that test the willpower of each contestant pairing, while delivering more than a few epic fails.
Produced by Endemol Shine North America, Wipeout premiered in April as the No. 1 unscripted series on cable, Turner said.
Fast Foodies features Top Chef winners Kristen Kish and Jeremy Ford and Iron Chef winner Justin Sutherland competing to perfectly re-create and then skillfully reimagine a celebrity guest’s favorite fast-food dish. Season 1 featured celebrity guests Joel McHale, James Van Der Beek, Bobby Lee, and Andy Richter. The series is produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Shed Media.
Elsewhere at the Turner upfront today, TruTV announced the new competition series Backyard Bar Wars, which will premiere at 10:30 p.m. July 8, following the midseason return of Impractical Jokers at 10.
Also at the summr hit machine known as the Alphabet network......
American Idol will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2022 — and also air its 20th season then.
ABC has renewed Idol for the 2021-22 season, along with long-running unscripted series America’s Funniest Home Videos (season 32) and Shark Tank (season 13) 2020-21 newcomers Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and Supermarket Sweep, both of which are getting second seasons. American Idol will air its fifth season on ABC and 20th overall (the first 15 ran on Fox).
The five shows join the previously renewed Dancing With the Stars, The Bachelorette and Holey Moley as part of ABC’s 2021-22 unscripted slate.
As has been the case several times during Idol‘s tenure on ABC, host Ryan Seacrest and judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie aren’t yet signed for next season. In the past two years new deals have closed shortly before taping on the following season begins. Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter all four are expected to return.
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, hosted by Pat Sajak & Vanna White, ABC’s star-studded spin on the iconic game show, ranked as the No. 1 program in the Thursday 8 p.m. hour in Total Viewers during its nine-week run earlier this year. The show is executive produced by three-time Daytime Award winner and 17-time nominee Mike Richards. It’s produced by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company. Wheel of Fortune is distributed by CBS Television Distribution.
Hosted and executive produced by SNL‘s Leslie Jones, Supermarket Sweep follows three teams of two as they battle it out using their grocery shopping skills and knowledge of merchandise to win big cash prizes. Produced by Fremantle, Jennifer Mullin is also executive producer. The original format aired on ABC from 1965 to 1967 and on various outlets from 1990 to 2003 and went on to become a global sensation. It was adapted in 13 international territories and, most recently, relaunched in the UK.
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and Supermarket Sweep will be part of a Sunday lineup that also includes longtime stalwart America's Funniest Home Videos.
Missing from the list of renewals are The Bachelor, Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, Match Game and freshman Pooch Perfect. According to sources, ABC is prioritizing pickups for series that will air this summer and fall, and all of the four shows above are for midseason 2022 consideration.
Craig Erwich, who is now President of ABC Entertainment and Hulu Originals, told Deadline that he was pretty hot on Bachelor in Paradise, which is airing this summer, and back-to-back seasons of The Bachelorette, one in June and one in fall. But he didn’t comment on the status of the lynchpin of The Bachelor universe. “We’ll have more to share on The Bachelor itself soon enough,” he told Deadline.
One of the issues may be host Chris Harrison, who departed the shows for an undisclosed time period amid controversy over comments he made during an Extra interview, in which he defended contestant Rachael Kirkconnell, who had posted photos that she attended an antebellum plantation-themed fraternity formal..
Then tehre's Discovery.
Discovery, a day after announcing a landmark, $43 billion merger with AT&T’s WarnerMedia, delivered its first upfront presentation in two years to tout 2021-22 programming. The virtual presentation promises a record investment in content for the company’s linear and digital outlets, including recently launched streaming service Discovery+. In taking the wraps off the WarnerMedia deal Monday, Discovery CEO David Zaslav said the combined company will be spending $20 billion a year on programming. Today’s upfront news didn’t come with a specific budget attached.
Under the terms of the agreement, which is structured as an all-stock, Reverse Morris Trust transaction, AT&T would receive $43 billion (subject to adjustment) in a combination of cash, debt securities, and WarnerMedia's retention of certain debt, and AT&T's shareholders would receive stock representing 71% of the new company; Discovery shareholders would own 29% of the new company.
The Boards of Directors of both AT&T and Discovery have approved the transaction.
The companies expect the transaction will create substantial value for AT&T and Discovery shareholders by:
- Bringing together the strongest leadership teams, content creators, and high-quality series and film libraries in the media business.
- Accelerating both companies' plans for leading direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming services for global consumers.
- Uniting complementary and diverse content strengths with broad appeal - WarnerMedia's robust studios and portfolio of iconic scripted entertainment, animation, news and sports with Discovery's global leadership in unscripted and international entertainment and sports.
WarnerMedia properties include its flagship studio, HBO, HBO Max, TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, and DC Comics. Discovery's properties include the flagship network and all spinoffs, as well as HGTV, TLC, Food Network, OWN, Magnolia, Science, and ID.
Zaslav hosted the event along with Jon Steinlauf, Discovery’s Chief U.S. Advertising Sales Officer. Jim Keller, EVP of Digital Ad Sales and Advanced Advertising, presented Discovery’s Advanced Audience Solutions, a combination of advanced ad products and cross-platform measurement capabilities. The goal of those tools is to optimize audience reach beyond the usual metrics of age and gender.
Lisa Holme, Group SVP, Content and Commercial Strategy, is highlighting Discovery+ originals. Kathleen Finch, Chief Lifestyle Brands Officer, is covering Discovery’s lifestyle brands, including the top three networks for women, HGTV, TLC and Food Network. Nancy Daniels, Chief Brand Officer, Discovery and Factual, is introducing shows for Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and Science Channel. Here are new originals, with descriptions provided by Discovery:
Weekend Getaway with Michelle Buteau (new series premieres June 10, Discovery) – Michelle Buteau is a hilarious comedian, talented actor, accomplished author, and loving wife and mother of twin toddlers – and she hasn’t had a moment to herself in years. In Weekend Getaway with Michelle Buteau, executive produced by Queen Latifah, she takes a break from home life and hits the road for a few weekends of much-deserved fun, food and wild times with her comedian pals. In each episode, Michelle and a friend take a no-judgment, potentially debaucherous journey to locales across the country, from the gulf coast of Mississippi with Tig Notaro to New Orleans with Sasheer Zamata to Malibu with Chelsea Peretti.
Who Wants to Be an Astronaut? (w/t, Discovery+) – Have you ever looked up at the sky and wondered what it would be like to travel to space? Discovery has ordered Who Wants to Be an Astronaut?, produced by Boat Rocker Studios through Matador Content and BoomTown Content. This one-of-a-kind series offers ordinary people the chance to do something extraordinary – travel from Earth into space where they’ll live aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for eight days. The 8-part competition series, set for 2022, will be the first of its kind to feature the real-life adventures of space tourism.
Battle on the Beach (new series premieres July 11, HGTV) – HGTV’s newest competition series, Battle on the Beach, will feature network stars Taniya Nayak (Restaurant Impossible), Ty Pennington (Rock the Block), and Alison Victoria (Windy City Rehab) as they each mentor three teams of up-and-coming flippers while they renovate identical beachfront properties. The mentors will put their reputations on the line each week while star judges Mike Holmes (Holmes + Holmes) and Mina Starsiak Hawk (Good Bones) will choose which team wins the featured weekly challenge. The team who adds the most value to their home will walk away with a $50,000 grand prize to use towards their next flip, and their mentor will have ultimate bragging rights. The new episodes of Battle on the Beach also will be available to stream the same day on discovery+.
BBQ Brawl (new season premieres June 14, Food) – The Brawl is back and bigger than ever! The brightest and most-buzzworthy BBQ minds in America are ready to battle for the coveted title of Master of ‘Cue. Bobby Flay and Michael Symon face off again and this time they’re joined by a third team captain, Eddie Jackson, who’s ready to take the competition to a whole new level. In this high-stakes battle, a captain could lose his entire team and get knocked out before the finale, so they’re ready to do everything they can to stay in the game.
Grill of Victory (new series premieres June 21, Food) – Sabin Lomac hosts a thrilling competition that brings America’s best backyard grillers to the ultimate backyard grilling arena as hardcore home cooks with a passion for barbecue go head-to-head to prove their talents over three rounds of intense cooking battles. A rotating panel of judges, including Susie Bulloch, Darnell Ferguson, Tregaye Fraser and Christian Petroni, will help determine who grilled their way to the top. In the end, one home cook will take home the ultimate culinary prize – a customized, outdoor kitchen and entertaining space of their dreams designed by Cristy Lee.
Chopped: Alton’s Maniacal Baskets (new tournament premieres June 22, Food) – Alton Brown, returns to the Chopped judges’ table to confound sixteen bright-eyed chefs with the zaniest and brainiest baskets ever in the new five-part tournament Chopped: Alton’s Maniacal Baskets. Hosted by Ted Allen, each episode features Alton harnessing the power of his broad social media following, as he joins forces with his fans to come up with maniacal ingredients the competitors must utilize to create unique and delicious dishes over three rounds – appetizer, entrée, and dessert. Joining Alton at the judges’ table are Maneet Chauhan and Marcus Samuelsson to determine which chef goes home with the $50,000 prize.
Buddy vs. Duff (new season premieres this summer, Food) – In this epic competition, the two biggest titans of cake – Buddy Valastro, the “Cake Boss” and Duff Goldman, the “Ace of Cakes” – are back for the ultimate tie-breaker season and the stakes have never been higher. It’s a new battle and a new battle ground to see who ultimately will be named the “King of Cake.”
Buddy vs Duff: Bakers Battle (new series premieres this summer, Food) – When Duff and Buddy are away…their teams will play. For this exciting new battle, the famed bakers’ teams will take over their bakeries and compete in their own fierce but fun competition..
Over to the spanish thing known as Univision.
Univision released its programming slate for the 2021-22 TV season today, as part of its “Grow with Us”-themed upfront presentation. The Spanish-language broadcaster has set a mix of new and returning scripted and reality series and live “event” programming, along with news and sports.
“Univision is the gateway to U.S. Hispanics and represents an untapped opportunity for brands to deliver current and future growth,” said Donna Speciale, the net’s president of Advertising Sales and Marketing. “According to Nielsen, brands not active in Spanish-language are leaving an incredible 39 percent of ad spend return on the table and are missing out on a key opportunity to speak to the consumers that are the main growth driver in these major categories. Nobody understands this audience like Univision.”
Univision expanded its portfolio this year with the launch of PrendeTV, the only streaming service created exclusively for the U.S. Hispanic audience featuring free, premium Spanish-language programming. The service has 1 million active users who spend an average of two hours a week, and it’s on pace for 5 million users by year’s end, the network said.
Among the highlights...
Nuestra Belleza Latina (Our Latin Beauty), Season 12
Univision’s most popular and longest-running reality competition will pursue its most diverse season yet, as it continues its mission to build and train talented women to become the next Univision star. Looking for 360 beauty, the show will continue evolving conventional notions of beauty and discovering top Hispanic female talent. Hosted by Alejandra Espinoza, the show will explore the contestants’ fears and joys, as they represent Latinas’ real beauty, both inside and out. TV host, model, and former Miss Colombia Daniella Alvarez, who is the face of resilience and an inspiration to women across the world, will join “NBL” for the first time as a judge. (Sunday Primetime – Univision – Univision Studios).
Univision’s Domingos en Familia (Family Sundays)
Univision’s Family Sundays is the leading destination on Spanish-language television during one of the week’s most competitive nights. The family-friendly block will feature the return of hit reality competition shows “Pequeños Gigantes” (Little Giants), “Mira Quién Baila” (Look Who’s Dancing), “Tu Cara Me Suena” (Your Face Sounds Familiar), and “¿Quién es La Máscara?” (The Masked Singer), to offer some of the most engaging, live viewing experience on Sunday nights. (Primetime – Univision – Endemol Shine Boomdog, a division of Banijay, and Televisa).
Desafío the Box (Challenge the Box) Coming off the heels of the successful Colombian reality show “Desafío: Súper Regiones,” which aired earlier this year on UniMás, this mega-production will take place in the jungle of Tobia, Cundinamarca in Colombia. In its 17th season, 44 participants representing 11 regions will face mental and physical challenges. It’s an individual competition where one man and woman will win the final cash prize; however, they will have to compete with their team and avoid elimination to get there. (Primetime – UniMás – Caracol).
What about Fox?
Charlie Collier, CEO, FOX Entertainment, today will unveil the FOX primetime slate for the 2021-2022 television season to the national advertising community during its virtual Upfront Presentation. FOX, television's #1 network for the second year in a row, is adding four new dramas, two new comedies, four new unscripted series and one new animated comedy to its lineup, tapping into themes such as renewal, second chances and reinvention. As FOX goes broad, its free, AVOD streaming service, Tubi, is going deep with 140+ hours of original programming next season that speaks to viewers' passions. Tubi's original programming will include original documentaries from FOX Alternative Entertainment; animated titles from Bento Box Entertainment; and premium independent-minded titles across Black Cinema, thriller, horror, sci-fi, romance and western genres.
"We are presenting a fall lineup that builds upon FOX's legacy of bold stories and truth-telling-characters; stories that meet and reflect the cultural moment. FOX believes it's a time for series that offer hope and to speak to American audiences with themes of reinvention and second chances," Collier said. "Alongside our programming focus, we are forging ahead with a clear, 100% ad-supported vision. FOX's acquisition of free-ad-focused Tubi has allowed us to expand our broadcast offering, bringing scale across both linear and streaming, all without any paywalls or subscriptions. This is a strategy that deepens FOX's relationship with our audience and advertising partners, and it will continue to set FOX apart."
Among the highlights...
- ALTER EGO (Fall): From FOX Alternative Entertainment and executive-produced by Matilda Zoltowski ("Dancing with the Stars," "World of Dance"), ALTER EGO is an all-new original singing competition where lost dreams and second chances are reignited when singers from all walks of life become the stars they've always wanted to be. However, these contestants won't perform as themselves. Rather, they'll be given the chance to show how they've always wanted to be seen, creating their dream avatar ALTER EGO to reinvent themselves and perform like never before.
- NEXT LEVEL CHEF (Midseason): Gordon Ramsay is back with NEXT LEVEL CHEF, the next evolution in cooking competitions. Produced by FOX Alternative Entertainment and Studio Ramsay, the series features a one-of-a-kind culinary gauntlet - which Chef Ramsay designed -- set on an iconic stage like you've never seen. Over three stories high, each floor contains a stunningly different kitchen. From the glistening top floor to the challenging bottom of the basement, the ingredients will match the environment, because Ramsay believes the true test of a great chef is not only what they can do in the best of circumstances, but what kind of magic they can create in the worst! With a level playing field, Chef Ramsay has opened up the competition and scoured the country for the very best line cooks, home chefs, social media stars, food truck owners and everything in between, all competing against one and other with the goal of finding the food world's newest superstar. Joined by two elite names in the food world, chefs Nyesha Arrington and Gino D'Acampo, Ramsay and his co-mentors will leave no stone unturned, as they each recruit a group of the talented young chefs and take them under their wings. Ramsay and his friends will attempt to bring out the very best in their cooks, as they all try to find "the one."
- DON'T FORGET THE LYRICS! (Midseason): Emmy Award nominee Niecy Nash hosts the all-new version of the popular game show DON'T FORGET THE LYRICS!, challenging contestants' musical memory, as they get one song closer to winning $1 million if they DON'T FORGET THE LYRICS! Contestants will choose songs from different genres, decades and musical artists, then they'll take center stage to sing alongside the studio band as the lyrics are projected on screen - but suddenly the music will stop, and the words will disappear. Will the contestants belt out the correct missing lyrics, or freeze under pressure? If they sing nine songs correctly, they are presented with a No. 1 hit and sing the final missing lyrics for the top prize of $1 million. It's that simple: 10 songs, some missing lyrics, $1 million.
- DOMINO MASTERS (Midseason) Hosted by multi-Emmy-Award-winning actor and comedian Eric Stonestreet ("Modern Family"), DOMINO MASTERS brings imagination and creative ingenuity to life when teams of domino enthusiasts cp go head-to-head in a toppling tournament to create mind-blowing masterpieces, with infinite possibilities and thousands of tiles and unique kinetic devices. Stonestreet is joined by a panel of judges, including best-selling author and actress Danica McKellar ("Matchmaker Mysteries"), NFL Pro-Bowler and Super Bowl Champion Vernon Davis ("The Challenge") and professional domino artist Steve Price, as 16 skilled teams compete against each other in ambitious building challenges to be crowned the country's most talented amateur domino topplers. In each episode, the teams will be given a bold theme and exciting custom elements to incorporate into their topple. The competing pairs who most impress the judges will progress to the next round, until the finale, during which the top teams will face off for a cash prize, the ultimate trophy and the grand title of DOMINO MASTERS.
I Can See Your Voice, hosted by The Masked Singer panellist Ken Jeong, is returning for a second season with The Masked Singer back for season six.
But the network has a number of decisions to make across its unscripted schedule. It has a number of series airing this summer including season four of Beat Shazam, season 20 of Hell’s Kitchen, season two of Lego Masters, season two of Mental Samurai, season 11 of MasterChef and new series Crime Scene Kitchen. It now needs to figure out if any of these will return after their current seasons as well as shows such as Game of Talents and Name That Tune, as well as make official decisions on Ultimate Tag, Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back and Cherries Wild.
But hold your horses, we got NBC too.
Capitalizing on a year with huge audience drivers, including two Olympics and the Super Bowl, NBC heads into the 2021-22 season with a winning year-round programming strategy that highlights dominant dramas in the fall, doubles down on comedies in midseason and pairs powerhouse unscripted shows with big tentpole event programming.
"Our program strategy for NBC is singularly focused on driving growth by capturing audiences with can't-miss event television and keeping them on the network with immersive scripted series," said Frances Berwick, Chairman, Entertainment Networks, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. "We are leaning into pieces of the legacy that work, but not being precious about experimenting with things that can benefit from a change."
"NBC is the flagship network in our portfolio and we wanted to treat it as such, shining a light on some of our most beloved shows and introducing a broad range of dynamic new programming," said Susan Rovner, Chairman, Entertainment Content, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. "Honoring our fans is a major focus this year and we're delivering on favorites with more 'Law & Order' and 'AGT' as well as big send-offs for award-winning shows 'This Is Us' and 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine.' We have all of our amazing returning shows, and we're launching what I believe will be fan favorites of the future - strong dramas like 'La Brea,' 'Ordinary Joe,' and 'The Thing About Pam,' laugh-out-loud comedies 'American Auto' and Grand Crew,' and big new unscripted shows such as 'American Song Contest.'"
Unscripted series continue the family fun with all new shows and returning favorites that kick-off in January and will populate the schedule throughout midseason and summer. These include "AGT: Extreme," the high-octane, stunt-filled spinoff of hit franchise "America's Got Talent," and for the first time, an adaptation of the biggest music competition in the world, Eurovision Song Contest, with "American Song Contest." This all-live event series features original musical performances, representing all 50 states, five U.S. territories and our nation's capital, competing to win the country's vote for the Best Original Song in a grand spectacle.
New game show "The Wheel," based on a smash hit UK format, features contestants aiming to win big with the help of celebrity guests playing on a giant, spinning wheel. Jimmy Fallon heads to the primetime schedule as the executive producer and host of "That's My Jam."
NBC will finish the current season with the #1 most-watched alternative program "The Voice," the #1 comedy with "Saturday Night Live" and the #1 drama with "This Is Us." The network had two of the most successful comedies of the season in "Young Rock," which scored NBC's best comedy debut in the 18-49 demo in nearly four years, and "Mr. Mayor," which premiered as NBC's best Thursday comedy launch in total viewers in nearly five years.
Returning shows for the 2021-22 schedule include "The Blacklist," "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," "Chicago Fire," "Chicago Med," "Chicago P.D.," "Dateline NBC," "Kenan," "Law & Order: Organized Crime," "Law & Order: SVU," "Mr. Mayor," "NBC Sunday Night Football," "New Amsterdam," "This Is Us," "The Voice," "The Wall," "Transplant," "Weakest Link" and "Young Rock."
Decisions are yet to be made on "Debris," "Ellen's Game of Games," "Good Girls," "Manifest," and "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist."
As part of NBC's rolling pilot process this year, the following projects have been picked up to pilot with decisions yet to be made on series greenlights: "Dangerous Moms" "Getaway," "Hungry," "Night Court" "Someone Out There" and the Untitled Nick Wootton/Jake Coburn Project. With the NBC's 52-week scheduling strategy, these pilots could be possibilities for later in the 2021-22 season or could roll over to the 2022-23 season.
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It’s been two decades since fans saw a young Harry Potter get sorted into Gryffindor House on the big screen for the first time, and WarnerMedia is commemorating the pop culture occasion.
In honor of the 20th anniversary of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’s” theatrical debut, two new unscripted Wizarding World specials are flying to HBO Max, Cartoon Network and TBS later this year during a five-night event produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted Television. A “Harry Potter” fan quiz competition series and retrospective special will help find some of the biggest self-proclaimed Potterheads.
The new specials promise to deliver the whimsical spirit of the Wizarding World, challenging participants with hundreds of trivia questions and special guest surprises to discover who really knows J.K. Rowling’s intricately detailed universe like the backs of their wands. The limited quiz series will include four one-hour challenges followed by the film retrospective. A play-along component will allow viewers to don their Hogwarts robes and swish-and-flick at home. Casting is underway in the U.S. for fans who demonstrate bravery similar to that of a Triwizard Champion and are looking to put their ‘Harry Potter’ obsession to the test. Fans can visit wizardingworld.com to learn more about the show.
“To celebrate the dedicated fans old and new who have passionately kept the Wizarding World magic alive in so many forms for decades, these exciting specials will celebrate their ‘Harry Potter’ fandom in a must-see multiplatform TV event,” said Tom Ascheim, president of Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics, in a statement. “All Potter fans can gear up for this ultimate one-of-a-kind celebration by embracing their inner Hermione Granger and studying their Wizarding World knowledge. For fans who have always wanted to discover what it might be like to take the O.W.L. exams, this is as close as they are going to get!”
Robin Ashbrook and Yasmin Shackleton of theoldschool will produce the shows; Casey Patterson of Casey Patterson Entertainment (“VAX Live: The Concert to Reunite the World”) will executive produce; Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon will produce..
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HGTV star Ty Pennington (Rock the Block) and Alison Victoria (Windy City Rehab), joined by Food Network's Taniya Nayak (Restaurant Impossible), will mentor three skilled teams of up-and-coming flippers in the network's newest competition series, Battle on the Beach.
Premiering Sunday, July 11, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, the seaside home improvement clash will play out in picturesque Gulf Shores, Alabama, across three identical 1,500 square foot properties. Each week, the teams will execute a renovation challenge with results that impress star judges Mike Holmes (Holmes + Holmes) and Mina Starsiak Hawk (Good Bones). Ultimately, the team who adds the most property value will win a $50,000 cash prize earmarked for the champion's next flip.
In addition to airing on HGTV, each episode of Battle on the Beach will be available to stream on discovery+ early on Sundays beginning July 11.
"Taniya, Ty and Alison are no strangers to high-stakes renovations, so they are pumped to share their expertise with these promising flipping teams," said Loren Ruch, group senior vice president, programming and development, HGTV. "Plus, their work will be judged by their network peers Mike and Mina, which means the pressure is on to deliver blowout beach house renovations."
Launching with a kitchen reno challenge, the series premiere will showcase the teams as they improve the heart of their property's homes. Throughout the season, with guidance from their star mentors, teams David and Kerry Kersh of Comanche, Texas; Josh and Shonnie Thomas of Dallas, Texas; and Darryl and Sunjay Williams of Atlanta, Georgia, will overhaul living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, outdoor spaces, and more to reimagine tired sand shacks into enviable beachfront bungalows..
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Get Ready......Fight!
The Ultimate Fighter, the acclaimed UFC reality series, debuts Tuesday, June 1 at 9 p.m. ET, exclusively on ESPN+. The Return of The Ultimate Fighter(R): Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega - the 29th season of the iconic reality series - will see UFC(R) featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and No. 2 contender Brian Ortega coach men's bantamweights and middleweights for a coveted UFC contract.
Each Tuesday, ESPN+ will debut a new TUF 29 episode, followed by a new episode of After TUF, an original recap and discussion show hosted by ESPN's Charly Arnolt and analyst TJ Lavin, from reality show The Challenge, in his ESPN debut.
Following the series, the two coaches will prepare to square off for the featherweight title at a date that will be determined in the near future.
Watch TUF-related content across ESPN platforms:
· ESPN: The Return of The Ultimate Fighter: Launch Party, preview show co-hosted by Arnolt and Lavin, Tue., May 25 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN
· All 12 TUF 29 episodes will simultaneously be available with Spanish-language subtitles on ESPN+ · ESPN+ VOD: of All 28 seasons of TUF available Tue., May 25
· ESPN.com: · Everything you need to know about TUF 29, launching Tue., May 25
· How to watch The Ultimate Fighter on ESPN+ and other MMA Stories
· SOCIAL: @ESPNMMA Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can sign-up for ESPN+ at any time at ESPN.com, ESPNPlus.com, or on the ESPN App.
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The Chase is heading to the Czech Republic and Greece following deals between ITV Studios and local broadcasters TV Nova and MEGA Tv.
The deals mean local versions of the show are broadcast in a total of 17 countries, including Serbia – where the show has been recommissioned for a 9th series – and Croatia where HRT has ordered 156 episodes for its 10th season. In the US, a second series has been ordered following a very successful first season on ABC, and in Spain the quiz show is currently performing well on La1.
The quiz will launch later this year as a daily show in the Czech Republic, while Greek audiences will be able watch from early 2022.
Silvia Majeská, Program Director at TV Nova said: “We are happy that The Chase, a quiz competition with tremendous global success, will soon hit Czech TV screens too.
“We are especially thrilled that the show will be aired on TV Nova. The Chase combines entertainment and knowledge with excitement about how competitors will perform, and about who will take home marvellous winnings.”
Kostas Sousoulas, Chief content Officer MEGA Tv added: “The Chase is one of the most exciting quiz shows. We are happy to announce that MEGA Tv will present it to the greek audience in season 2021-2022. It is a real pleasure to work with the ITV Studios team on this project.”
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But we stop here for a Mistplay Game Break. Can you figure out the Netflix comedy special from its byline?
AFRAID OF THE DARK
We'll have the answer in a moment, but first, we check back in with JJ Barrows one last time as she hires a stage manager. Watch.
I can't wait to get there Friday and witness it all in person with the rest of the WWE Universe just after Smackdown to head straight to this event. But we got the answer:
Why is he afraid of the dark?
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One of the most successful talent competitions on TV today is The Voice. NBC has been airing it since 2011 and lucky for us, it continues to this day. From the blind auditions judging from their voices of hopefuls making it, to the battle rounds in which 2 singers try to outsing the other one to the knockout stages where somebody goes home and finally, the live shows where someone can be a champion. The coaches range from Pharell Williams to Blake Shelton to Kelly Clarkson, they use social media and the power to create winning teams and not only that, so many winners like Star Search alum Alisan Porter, Chris Blue and more people vying for $100,000 and a record deal from Universal Music Group. Even voice alums like the late Christina Grimmie and gospel superstar Koryn Hawthhorne tried their part on the show too. This proves that it takes a Voice.....to make it good.
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That's it for this week, today's consolation prize is WhoMe? Undies. Underwear you can wear even if you think it's not.
Don't forget to email me at kellypierre8@gmail.com, coppockonsports@yahoo.com, Pierre Jason Kelly on FB and @Johnny_Arcade on twitter. Also I'm on Snapchat as MisterGSN and Instagram as MrJackbox. We will return next Wednesday, and until we return, Play on playas.
Colbi: Game Show Live! is a presentation of The Vonbuskirk Company, Jackbox Media Services and Pluto TV distribution which may or may not be responible for the damage already done.
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