LOS ANGELES — Remember award-show hosts – the ones who soar or sputter while working live?
They’re increasingly hard to find. Chris Collier, head of the Fox network, said there will be no host this year for the Emmys; that comes after the no-host Oscars.
Collier said the Emmy decision was spurred partly by wanting time for tributes to several departing shows. He considered some hosts, but “that’s 15-20 minutes we can’t” use for farewells. Read more…
Monica Lewinsky has a new role in life: She’s been hired as a producer of “Impeachment,” the Bill Clinton mini-series that will debut in September of 2020.
And yes, she’ll also be a character in it. Beanie Feldstein – who plays the chubby virgin-turned-vampire on FX’s “What We Do in the Shadows” — will play Lewinsky (who is shown here with Clinton). Read more…
The gaps have been gaping, but now “Alanta” fans can quit worrying:
Yes, there will be a third season. And, for that matter, a fourth. Each will be eight episodes, with the back-to-back filming beginning next spring. Read more…
LOS ANGELES – ABC is brushing off a long-dormant notion – big-deal mini-series.
The network once soared with “Roots” and more, but in recent years all of the broadcast networks have mostly avoided movies and minis. Now ABC president Karey Burke has announced:-
– “Little Mermaid,” becoming the network’s first live musical. Auli’i Cravalho (shown here) of “Moana” has the title role, with Queen Latifah as Ursula and Shaggy as Sebastian.
— An ongoing anthology, “Women of the Movement.” That starts next season with Mamie Till, who became active after the murder of her son, a civil-rights activist. By the end of that mini, she’ll meet Rosa Parks (which she did in real life, Burke said), who will be the subject of a mini the following season. Read more…
LOS ANGELES — Two notions from TV’s glory days, “All in the Family” and live television, will return – twice.
Jimmy Kimmel announced Monday that he’ll produce two more specials next season for ABC, one at Christmastime, the other next spring.
This season, Kimmel linked with Norman Lear and Will Ferrell to produce a live special using old scripts from “All in the Family” (shown here with Woody Harrelson and Marisa Tomei) and “The Jeffersons.” Those could be the shows included again – both are produced by Lear, 97 – but “everything isn’t tied down yet.” Read more…
LOS ANGELES — The old gang seems to be breaking up at the CW network.
Then again, the new shows will be a lot like the ones that are leaving.
Three of the network’s most-praised series — “iZombie,” “Jane the Virgin” and “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” — ended their seasons this year. Two more, “Arrow” and “Supernatural,” have already said the coming season will be their last.
And now comes one more: “The 100” — which wraps ends its current season Tuesday – will also make next season its last, said CW chief Mark Pedowitz. Read more…
LOS ANGELES — “Fleabag” — a handmade British show, filled with charm and regret – is the year’s big winner in the Television Critics Association awards.
The TCA gave it the top award for comedy and also named it program of the year. In addition, Phoebe Waller-Bridge – its creator and star — won the individual comedy award. (She’s shown here in the show.)
The drama awards went to “Better Call Saul” and to “Fosse/Verdon” star Michelle Williams, with “Russian Doll” named best new show and “Chernobyl” winning for best movie or mini-series. Read more…
LOS ANGELES — Just as CBS is renewing “Love Island,” its other summer reality show faces fresh scrutiny.
“We have heard things about (‘Big Brother’) that we are not comfortable with,” Kelly Kahl, the network president, confirmed.
One of the show’s producers has already been chastised for prompting a contestant to give outspoken soundbites, he said, and will be talked to after the season. And all of the network producers get training in facing “unconscious bias.” Read more…
LOS ANGELES — We now know that octopuses are very intelligent.
The proof involves one of them, named Heidi: Her favorite TV show was “The Big Bang Theory.” Read more…
LOS ANGELES — In a TV world filled with regime change, PBS’ Paula Kerger is the exception.
Already the longest-lasting head of a major network, Kerger announced today (July 29) that she’s signed for five more years as the network’s president and CEO
.That’s not what she expected when she started the job 13 years ago, Kerger said. “I thought, ‘Five years, maybe.’” Read more…
