Day: May 5, 2022

Freeform plans a scripted summer

As the broadcast networks launch their summer line-ups – even before summer starts – scripted shows are scarce.
Not to worry; cable and others are filling the gap. Freeform has set June or July starts for four of them – one new, two starting its season, one returning for the season’s second half ..,. and “Motherland: Fort Salem” starting its final season.
Some networks have been in a hurry to get their summer shows in place. ABC installed a games-and-reality night on Tuesday, May 3; Fox returns “So You Think You Can Dance” – for the first time in three years – on Wednesday, May 18.
But scripted shows are another matter. The Freeform summer has: Read more…

Week’s top-10 for May 9: a busy time for music

1) “American Song Contest” finale, 8-10 p.m. today, NBC. This began with 56 acts — one from each state and territory; now it has its top 10. That includes two Michael Bolton (Connecticut) and two people who were reality-show finalists back in 2015: Jordan Smith (Kentucky) was the “Voice” winner; Riker Lynch (shown here, Colorado) was the “Dancing with the Stars” runner-up. Others are from Alabama, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Samoa.
Read more…

Best-bets for May 7: “SNL” has a Strange host

1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. After two weeks of reruns, “SNL” is ready for the season’s final burst of new shows. Tonight’s host, Benedict Cumberbatch, might not seem like a funny chap in “The Power of the Dog” or the “Doctor Strange” (shown here) movies, the latest of which opened Friday. But he’s British, he was clever in “Sherlock” films and he’s hosted “SNL” twice before. Arcade Fire is the music guest. Read more…