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WWE to A&E: "LFG"
Competition Series to Launch in 2025
From the Wrap

WWE LFG is coming to A&E in early 2025. The cable network announced the new series, which will join WWE Rivals on the network.

WWE’s Greatest Moments is also set to premiere on the network in the new year.

A&E revealed more about the new arrivals in a press release.

“A&E and WWE today announced an expansion of its programming partnership which will include the debut of “WWE LFG (Legends & Future Greats),” a new competition series that features in-ring matches along with a behind-the-scenes look at rising talent vying for a coveted WWE contract while being mentored by WWE Legends such as Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Undertaker, Shawn Michaels and Booker T.

"Additionally, WWE & A&E will launch “WWE’s Greatest Moments,” a series that will provide fans a front-row seat to relive the iconic events that have shaped WWE history. A new season of the hit-series “WWE Rivals” will also complement this winter’s WWE programming slate on A&E, which will add more than 180 hours of original content over the next three years.

“Literally filled with blood, sweat, and tears, there’s never been a series that combines in-ring action, behind-the-scenes reality, high-stakes drama, and some of WWE’s greatest icons all in one package. From total unknowns to legends, ‘LFG’ will give viewers a raw, ground-up, 360-degree view of what it truly takes to make it in the WWE,” said Rob Sharenow, President of Programming, A+E Networks. “Our collaboration with WWE has clearly struck a chord with audiences, and we’re excited to continue producing premium content that resonates with a diverse viewership.”

“A&E has proved to be an excellent home for WWE content, and we’re excited to partner with their fantastic team on these new show concepts and the latest season of WWE Rivals,” said WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque.

“WWE LFG” will offer viewers an inside look at the rigorous training process, featuring iconic WWE Legends such as Paul “Triple H” Levesque and Shawn Michaels and weekly regular coaches Undertaker, Booker T, Mickie James and Bubba Ray Dudley as they mentor a new generation in weekly matches on their quest to become the next WWE Superstars. Executive producers for WWE are Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Lee Fitting, Ben Houser, Shawn Michaels and Jeremy Borash. Elaine Frontain Bryant and Brad Abramson serve as Executive producers for A&E.

The Wrap
TV Series Finale

posted 12/5/2024


NBCUniversal/Fremantle
KABIR SINGH: 1985-2024
"America's Got Talent" Season 16 Semifinalist
From People

Comedian Kabir Singh, a semifinalist on season 16 of America's Got Talent, has died. He was 39 years old. Singh died on Wednesday, Dec. 4, his fiancée confirms with PEOPLE, adding a broken heart emoji.

TMZ was first to report. A toxicology was conducted to determine how he died, per the outlet. Insiders told TMZ that Singh had been dealing with health concerns and authorities suspect he died of natural causes. The comic was said to be in San Francisco at the time of his death.

Singh's friend, Jeremy Curry, mourned the loss on Facebook Thursday, Dec. 5. He shared a picture of the two smiling together and wrote that the late comedian "passed away peacefully in his sleep."

Curry also told fans Singh's funeral services will be held on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 14, in Hayward, Calif. He continued by asking for thoughts and prayers for Singh's loved ones and his fiancée, ending his tribute with, "I Love you bro."

Aside from appearing on America's Got Talent in 2021, Singh was also featured on Comedy Central, Family Guy and the BBC, per his Instagram bio. His profile also noted he was still performing standup, as recently as Nov. 2, in Manteca, Calif.

People
TMZ
NBC News
Deadline
Soap Opera Digest
ABC News

posted 12/6/2024

A Bridge to the Gates
"The Price Is Right" to Air Reruns from December 19
From Deadline

It will be a hard goodbye for The Talk when the CBS talk show airs its series finale Dec. 16. While departing daytime talk shows whose finales air in May often stay in repeats through the summer until they are replaced in the fall, that won’t happen with The Talk.

CBS will run repeats of its daytime staple, game show The Price Is Right, in The Talk’s time period (2:00-3:00 PM, ET; 1:00-2:00 PM) for two months, until the slot is taken over by the network’s new daytime soap Beyond the Gates, set to premiere Feb. 24.

The Talk is ending its run after 15 seasons and 2,993 episodes. The Price Is Right, hosted by Drew Carey, is currently in its 53rd season.

Beyond the Gates, currently in production in Atlanta, is set in a leafy Maryland suburb just outside Washington, D.C., one of the most affluent African American counties in the United States.

Deadline

posted 12/5/2024

And The Post-Oscar Goes to...
"American Idol" to Offer Preview After Awards Show
From the Hollywood Reporter

ABC will once again use the Oscars to give a platform to one of its regular series.

The network has scheduled a preview of American Idol to air after the Academy Awards on March 2, a week ahead of the show’s official season premiere on March 9. The preview will air at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT following the live Oscar telecast. It will not, however, be a full-blown episode of Idol, which usually run two hours. Instead, the half-hour preview will give viewers a first look at new judge Carrie Underwood — whose season four victory on Idol kickstarted her music career — and a few of the auditions from the early rounds of the competition.

Underwood is taking the judge’s seat vacated by Katy Perry, who departed Idol at the end of last season after seven years (the show’s entire run on ABC to that point). Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie are returning as judges, and Ryan Seacrest continues as host.

The Hollywood Reporter

posted 12/5/2024

TUESDAY: The Feds Come a-Knockin'
CBS Wins over Live "The Voice"
Fromthe Programming Insider

Without Dancing with the Stars in the mix, CBS dominated the primetime lineup on Tuesday.

CBS (5.343m viewers; 0.4/5 in the demo) offered up the original FBI (6.7m/0.4), then International (5m/0.4), then Most Wanted (4.4m/0.3).

Coming in second were NBC (3.148m/0.3/4) with St. Denis Medical (2.7m/0.3), Night Court (2.3/0.3), The Voice (4.5m/0.3), and The IRrational (2.4m/0.2).

ABC (2.5m/0.2/3) loaded up on special CMA Country Christmas (3.9m/0.3) and Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (2.1m/0.2).

Fox slotted in an entire night devoted to Accused (1.364m/0.2/2).

Rounding out the night on the CW was WWE NXT (593k/0.1/2).

On cable...
- Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown (Food): 605k/0.09


Deadline
The Programming Insider

posted 12/4/2024

MONDAY: Holiday Game Night
NBC Wins with Live "The Voice"
Fromthe Programming Insider

Out of everyone not watching Bo Nix give the Browns what for on MNF, NBC's The Voice was the top draw.

NBC (4.5m viewers/0.4/4 in the Demo) lined up the semifinals of The Voice (5.4m/0.4) and Brilliant Minds (2.8m/0.3) .

CBS (4.4m/0.3/4) narrowly came in second with THe Neighborhood (4m/0.4), Poppa's House (3.4m/0.3) NCIS (5.6m/0.4), and NCIS Origins (3.8m/0.3).

ABC (2.1m/0.2/3) went all-in on holiday game shows with special episodes of Celebrity Family Feud (3.1m/0.3) and Press Your Luck (1.8m/0.2).

Fox (1.7m/0.2/2) aired 9-1-1 Lone Star (2.6m/0.2) and TMZ's Merry Elfin' Christmas (791k/0.1).

Rounding out the night on the CW was the series finale of Superman & Lois (507k/0.1) and a special Trivial Pursuit (284k/0.0).

On cable...
- Holiday Baking Championship (Food): 904k/0.14
- Kids Baking Championship (S/Food): 505k/0.06


Deadline
The Programming Insider

posted 12/4/2024

Rai Commissions 99 to Beat
Italy to Get Version of Belgian Game
From C21Media

Italian broadcaster Rai has greenlit a local version of the popular Belgian gameshow format 99 to Beat. The Italian adaptation, titled 99 da Battere, will debut on Rai2 in January 2025 as a six-episode series produced by Endemol Shine Italy.

Originally created by Belgian networks VRT and De Chinezen, 99 to Beat has travelled to 10 international markets since its 2018 premiere on VRT. The show’s premise sees contestants trying to avoid finishing last in a series of 99 games to stay in the competition.

The format has already been adapted in Germany (Sat.1), the Netherlands (SBS), Norway (Warner Bros Discovery), Sweden (Kanal 5) and Poland (TTV). Upcoming versions are also set to launch in the UK (ITV1) and France (M6) in 2025.

Simone de Pruyssenaere, director of sales and acquisitions at the format’s Belgian distributor Primitives, said: “We are thrilled to bring 99 to Beat to the Italian audience with Endemol Shine Italy. This collaboration continues the format’s incredible international journey and success.”

C21 MEdia

posted 12/5/2024

Thursday Lightning Round
... or "What Had Happened Was..."


posted 11/25/2024


MTV

Rate-A-Queen Returns
Meet the Season 17 Contestants
From the Futon Critic

MTV today ru-vealed the cast for Season 17 of the Emmy(R) Award-winning global phenomenon, RuPaul's Drag Race, which returns Friday, January 3rd at 8:00 PM ET/PT with 90-minute episodes. This season, 14 dazzling new queens enter the Werk Room to compete for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar" and a cash prize of $200,000 for the winner, sponsored by TodayTix, the theater ticket app.

In the premiere episode, the new cast of queens will compete in "Drag Queens Got Talent" and this season will bring back the gag-worthy "Rate-A-Queen" scoring system, but with an all-new twist.

RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked, the Emmy(R) award-winning aftershow, will premiere immediately following at 9:30 PM ET/PT on MTV. Untucked gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the backstage drama as the queens anxiously await their fate in the competition. Today, fans will be able to "Meet the Queens" more in-depth on the RuPaul's Drag Race YouTube channel, with individual interviews from each new queen and the official Season 17 images.

"RuPaul's Drag Race" sponsors include ViiV Healthcare.

The 14 new queens include:
- Acacia Forgot - Los Angeles, CA | @acaciaforgot
- Arrietty - Seattle, WA | @arrietty_theelf
- Crystal Envy - Asbury Park, NJ | @thecrystalenvy
- Hormona Lisa - Chattanooga, TN | @hormona_lisa
- Jewels Sparkles - Tampa, FL | @thejewelssparkles
- Joella - Los Angeles, CA | @thejoelladynasty
- Kori King - Boston, MA | @koriking
- Lana Ja'Rae - New York, NY | @lanajarae
- Lexi Love - Louisville, KY | @mslexilove
- Lucky Starzzz - Miami, FL | @theluckystarzzz
- Lydia B Kollins - Pittsburgh, PA | @foreheadbrows
- Onya Nurve - Cleveland, OH | @onyanurve
- Sam Star - Leeds, AL | @samstarqueen
- Suzie Toot - Fort Lauderdale, FL | @suzie.toot


The Futon Critic
Deadline
TV Line
The Wrap
Entertainment Weekly

posted 12/4/2024

Byron Allen's Multibillion Dollar Lawsuit Going to Trial
"Funny You Should Ask" Creator Alleges
From Variety

A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit filed by media entrepreneur Byron Allen seeking $10 billion alleging racial discrimination by fast food giant McDonald’s can proceed to trial.

United States District Judge Fernando M. Olguin found in what he termed a “close call” that Allen’s claims that the fast-food chain promoted “racial stereotyping” by not advertising with Black-owned media ought to be addressed by a jury.

“At a minimum, this is the type of case where the ‘trial court is permitted, in its discretion, to deny even a well-supported motion for summary judgment, if it believes the case will benefit from a full hearing,’” Olguin said in a 25-page order.

Allen had alleged that his Entertainment Studios and Weather Channel were denied ad dollars spent by McDonald’s as part of its large budget for general-market advertising and instead relegated to an “African American tier” that vies for consideration with a significantly smaller much smaller ad budget, denying the media outlets millions of dollars in potential annual revenue.

“We have overwhelming evidence against McDonald’s — who has been sued by its Black executives, Black franchisees, and their global head of security — for racial discrimination,” Allen said in a statement. “It is time for the McDonald’s Board of Directors, stockholders, and civil rights organizations nationwide to call for the resignation of CEO Chris Kempczinski, who was caught sending racist text messages about Black and Hispanic people.”

McDonald’s said in a statement that In a statement that the decision reflected the fact that neither side met the high standard for dismissal at this stage of the proceedings.

“We are prepared to show that this case is utterly baseless. McDonald’s invested in media properties that aligned with the company’s business strategy and, like any other rational business, declined to invest in those that had low ratings or failed to reach the company’s target audiences,” McDonald’s said.

The lawsuit was initially filed in 2021.

Variety
The Hollywood Reporter
Vibe

posted 12/4/2024


SKy News

Gregg Wallace Steps Down from "MasterChef UK"
BBC Pulls Christmas Episodes
From Variety

The BBC is pulling its “MasterChef” Christmas specials following the allegations made against presenter Gregg Wallace, the latest escalation in an episode that has dominated U.K. headlines.

Wallace stepped aside from presenting the U.K. edition of the cookery show last week following a BBC News investigation in which numerous allegations of historic inappropriate sexual comments and inappropriate behavior were made against him. His lawyers have denied he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature, while Banijay — which produces “MasterChef” — has launched an investigation.

The BBC’s decision to remove the Christmas specials from its programming marks a U-turn for the broadcaster, after it said on Monday that all “Masterchef” episodes — including two festive editions — would air as planned.

“The celebrity Christmas specials are obviously a different type of show and in the current circumstances we have decided not to broadcast them,” a spokesperson said on Tuesday.

On Monday, Wallace apologized for comments made over the weekend that sparked further controversy. In a video posted to his Instagram account on Sunday, he said the accusations came from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age.” His response was condemned by many, including the British government, with an unnamed Downing Street spokesperson describing them as “inappropriate and misogynistic.”

“I want to apologize for any offense that I caused for my post yesterday and any upset I may have caused to a lot of people,” Wallace said in a video on his Instagram Story. “I wasn’t in a good head space when I posted it. I’ve been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion. I felt very alone, under siege yesterday when I posted it. It’s obvious to me I need to take some time out now while this investigation is underway. I hope you understand and I do hope that you will accept this apology."

John Torode has described the recent allegations of historical misconduct involving his MasterChef co-host Gregg Wallace as “truly upsetting”. Shared this afternoon on Instagram, Torode said in his statement that he hadn’t spoken publicly about the allegations until now because he had been “away filming MasterChef overseas.”

Torode’s statement added: “The thought of anyone who has appeared on our show not having a brilliant experience is awful to hear.

Torode continued to write that he would not speak any further about the matter as the official investigation into Wallace continued.

Deadline
Deadline
The Wrap
The Wrap
BBC News
The Hollywood Reporter
Variety
The Wrap
Deadline
Variety
Deadline

Deadline

posted 12/4/2024


Sony Pictures TV

More on "Pop Culture Jeopardy!"
Catch It on Prime Video December 4
From THe Futon Critic

Today, Prime Video released the official trailer and key art for the highly-anticipated new series Pop Culture Jeopardy!, which will premiere Wednesday, December 4 on Prime Video with three episodes, followed by three new episodes weekly. The 40-episode Amazon MGM Studios Original series, hosted by Colin Jost, will be available exclusively on Prime Video in the US, UK, Mexico/LATAM, Spain, Australia, and New Zealand. The new show will be part of Prime Video's Winning Wednesdays programming, joining a fun-filled lineup that includes Are You Smarter Than A Celebrity?, Buy It Now, and Amazon Wish List Games.

Pop Culture Jeopardy! Is a brand-new twist on the classic quiz show's "answer-and-question" format that combines the academic rigor of Jeopardy! with the excitement and unpredictability of pop culture. Contestants, playing in teams of three, will need to be experts in categories from Alternative Rock to The Avengers; Broadway to MMA; Gen Z to Zendaya as they compete in a tournament-style event for the grand prize of $300,000 and ultimate bragging rights.

Pop Culture Jeopardy! is produced by Sony Pictures Television for Prime Video. Eight-time Emmy(R) Award winner, Michael Davies, serves as executive producer. FOLLOW PRIME VIDEO Social Media Instagram, Threads, X, TikTok, Facebook: @PrimeVideo Follow Pop Culture Jeopardy! on Instagram: @popculturejeopardy #popculturejeopardy

THe Futon Critic
TV Insider
UPI
Gold Derby
PopCulture
Rolling Stone
TV Insider
Billboard
The India Times
The Ringer
TV Insider
USA Today
BRUTALLY HONEST REVIEW: USA Today

posted 12/4/2024


CBS Media Ventures

"Pictionary UK" Sets Holiday Preview
ITV to Air Two Christmas Specials
From TV Zone

The celebrity captains joining Mel Giedroyc for the brand new series of ITV’s Pictionary have been announced, alongside afirst-look at what audiences can expect.

Produced by Whisper North, for ITV1 and ITVX, Pictionary (25x30) will feature two Christmas specials set to air in December with captains Denise Van Outen vs Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and captains Jeff Brazier vs Scarlett Moffat, perfect for festive family viewing.

The brand-new series will then launch in January with more celebrities competing across the series. Taking on the role of team captains throughout the series run are television presenter Angela Scanlon, actor and comedian Brian Conley, Dancing on Ice skating professional Dan Whiston, actress and singer Denise Van Outen. Plus comedian and Strictly Come Dancing star Eddie Kadi, actress Hayley Tamaddon, former Olympian and broadcaster Jeanette Kwakye, TV presenter Jeff Brazier, TV personality Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and TV favourite Scarlett Moffatt.

Inspired by Mattel’s popular board game of quick-fire sketches and hilarious guesses, each episode will see two celebrity team captains lead their team of contestants on a mission to draw images that match a word or phrase from a specific category. Meanwhile, their teammates will have to guess correctly to score with the chance to win an incredible prize.

Mel Giedroyc says: “I’m so delighted to be kicking off the festive season by bringing a family favourite to ITV with the incredible celebrity team captains. Filming the series was a barrel of laughs throughout, even more so when things got competitive. I really hope viewers laugh and play along - we had so much fun making the series!”

TV Zone

posted 12/4/2024


CBS Studios

Hello Stars!
Lineup Revealed for Hollywood Squares
From the Futon Critic

CBS today announced winter premiere dates for new and returning series on the 2024-25 primetime schedule, including new series HOLLYWOOD SQUARES and WATSON, fan favorites SURVIVOR and THE AMAZING RACE, plus the return of THE PRICE IS RIGHT AT NIGHT, RAID THE CAGE and NCIS: SYDNEY.

THE PRICE IS RIGHT AT NIGHT (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), hosted by Drew Carey, and RAID THE CAGE, hosted by Damon Wayans Jr. and Jeannie Mai (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT), return to launch a night of games on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.

HOLLYWOOD SQUARES, starring award-winning actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore as the center square, and hosted by Nate Burleson (co-host of CBS MORNINGS and analyst for THE NFL TODAY), premieres Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT). The classic game show features two contestants playing tic-tac-toe with celebrity guests to win money and prizes. Celebrity guests will be announced at a later date.

HOLLYWOOD SQUARES moves to Wednesdays (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) as part of CBS Game Night, beginning on Jan. 29 as original Thursday episodes of CBS scripted series return to the lineup beginning Jan. 30.

HOLLYWOOD SQUARES announced celebrity guests appearing on CBS' new classic game show including Tyra Banks, Julie Bowen, Yvette Nicole Brown, Drew Carey, Whitney Cummings, Akbar Gbajabiamila, Tiffany Haddish, Oliver Hudson, Pete Holmes, Gabriel Iglesias, Jo Koy, Jay Leno, Thomas Lennon, Justin Long, Kevin Nealon, RuPaul, Andrew Rannells, Kristen Schaal, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Sheryl Underwood and Jimmy O. Yang. More celebrity guests will be announced at a later date.

SURVIVOR, hosted by Jeff Probst, returns for season 48 with a two-hour premiere on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT), followed by 90-minute episodes throughout the season. The 37th season of THE AMAZING RACE, hosted by Phil Keoghan, premieres with 90-minute episodes beginning Wednesday, March 5, 2025 (9:30-11:00 PM, ET/PT) The annual special SUPER BOWL GREATEST COMMERCIALS returns with everyone's favorite commercial moments from past Super Bowl games on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT).

The Futon Critic
The Wrap
Spoiler TV
The Hollywood Reporter
TV Line
Hollywood Outbreak
TV Series Finale
The Futon Critic
TV Line
Forbes
Entertainment Weekly
Parade
TV Series Finale
Monsters & Critics

posted 12/4/2024

Wednesday Lightning Round
... or "Winking at 91"

  • Wink Martindale celebrates his 91st birthday (Newscenter Maine)

  • Gleb Savchenko back with Brooks Nader (TMZ)

  • Katie THurston officially off the market - "Bachelorette" engaged to Jeff Arcuri (Us Weekly)

posted 12/4/2024


ITV Studios America

Peacock, ITV Trying for Three
Is a Third Spinoff Coming?
From Deadline

Peacock is in conversation with ITV America over a third Love Island spin-off, David George has revealed.

The boss of ITV America said chatter about another new version of the popular reality series demonstrates the importance of the Peacock brand following Comcast’s move to spin off a number of its cable nets and news networks. ITV America already makes Love Island Games and Love Island: All Stars for Peacock, along with the original U.S. version, which has been airing on the streamer since 2022 and previously ran on CBS.

ITV Studios created the original Love Island, which has sold around the world and still airs in the UK.

George said the Comcast split shows that “Peacock is the future,” further evidenced by the fact Comcast is holding on to Bravo, which “supplies tonnes of content into Peacock.” “We are keeping a close eye on it,” he added. He didn’t elaborate further on the Love Island spin-off but the Games and All Stars versions have been performing well for the streamer. Peacock declined comment on the third spin-off.

Deadline
Variety
The Hollywood Reporter

posted 12/3/2024

"Shout" Out
Joel Dommett's "In with a Shout" Silenced After 2 Seasons
From TV Zone

ITV have shelved Saturday night gameshow In With A Shout, where contestants are challenged to shout at the TV to win a fortune, for a third series, TV Zone understands. The series will not air in its usual Spring slot next year, but could be back in the future.

The fast paced game show saw see two families battle against each other in a game with a uniquely challenging twist. With an impressive prize of a whopping £20,000 (US$25,200), the contestants will have to answer questions hidden within a montage of moving images.

To win the cash, the contestants have to shout the answers displayed on TV screens. For every category that they get right they move further up the money ladder but the pressure is on, as the families will have to bank as much cash as possible and avoid crashing out altogether.

With the chance to quadruple their prize pot, the stakes are high for the winning family who will have just 60 seconds to successfully answer questions correctly to turn off the TV’s. If they fail to turn off all ten tellies within the timeframe, they walk away with nothing.

TV Zone
FEmale First

posted 12/3/2024

Tuesday Lightning Round
... or "Pop Stage"


posted 12/3/2024

Fox Gets "Extracted"
New Survival Series Begins February 10
From Deadline

Fox is sending more contestants into the wild.

The network has handed Extracted, a survival competition series, a midseason premiere date and has launched the show’s first trailer.

The show will launch on Monday February 10 at 8pm, the day after the Super Bowl, which will air on Fox, and leading in to Rescue: HI-Surf, which was set to air after the big game but has been since replaced by The Floor.

Watch below for the trailer for the show, which unlike Fox’s other survival series Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, features civilian contestants rather than celebrities.

It features 12 untrained competitors attempting to survive extremely grueling conditions, perilous terrain, and the threat of fearsome predators in the unforgiving Canadian wilderness.

Meanwhile, some miles away, their family members are locked down at a secluded headquarters watching them navigate their dangerous surroundings alone via a 24/7 live feed. The fate of each untrained contestant in the wilderness lies in the hands of their family members back in HQ. Each amateur survivalist’s family has the power to decide whether their loved one has what it takes to brave the elements and fight to be the last one standing, or whether the family will push the ominous “Extract” button and remove their loved one and their whole family from the competition.

Extracted asks the question: how far will their loved ones let them go for a chance for their family to win $250,000?

It comes from Sony Pictures Television’s B17 Entertainment, Sylvester Stallone’s Balboa Productions and Fox Alternative Entertainment. Rob Buchta, exec producer of Running Wild with Bear Grylls, serves as showrunner and exec produces alongside Rhett Bachner, Brien Meagher, Sylvester Stallone, Braden Aftergood, Lauren Taylor Harding and Dan Bree.

Deadline

The Futon Critic

posted 12/2/2024

Roku Clashes with Cookbooks
"Clash of the Cookbooks" to Drop DEcember 6
From the Futon Critic

Join comedian Phoebe Robinson and cookbook author and culinary historian Max Miller as they put cookbook-obsessed chefs to the test with legendary cookbook-inspired challenges. Cookbooks are the cornerstone of how the average person has learned to cook for hundreds of years, testing the technical and creative skills of home cooks. In this competition, chefs from across the country take recipes from the page to the plate by cooking from history's greatest and the world's toughest cookbooks.

Premiering on Roku December 6, "Clash of the Cookbooks" is produced by ITV. Executive Producing are Jonty Nash, Christopher Potts, Jordana Hochman, Alyssa Hastrich, and Phoebe Robinson.

The Futon Critic

posted 12/2/2024

Proud to Be a Voice
"The Voice" Spins Off LGBTQIA+ Edition in Thailand
From Deadline

Thailand will launch The Voice Pride in 2025, the first LGBTQ+ edition of the global talent competition The Voice.

Aimed at celebrating the diversity and artistry of the LGBTQ+ community, the show is set to premiere during Pride Month in June 2025.

The Voice Thailand has also been renewed for a 10th season and will air on Thailand’s Channel One HD in 2025.

The Voice Pride is commissioned by Exit365, which also produced previous seasons of The Voice Thailand.

Deadline

posted 12/2/2024

Putting the "Sing" in Singapore
"I Can See Your Voice Singapore" to PRemiere on Channel 5
From Channel News Asia

We listen and we don't judge. Unless you're a contestant in Mediacorp's upcoming music game show I Can See Your Voice that is. The highly anticipated programme is an adaptation of the popular South Korean show of the same and now, we know when it will air.

Mark your calendars for Jan 13, 2025, and join resident celebrity detectives Benjamin Kheng, Gurmit Singh, Najip Ali and Xixi Lim every Monday as they determine the good and bad singers out of 60 mystery contestants.

Hosted by Joakim Gomez and Munah Bagharib, I Can See Your Voice features 60 mystery singers – both good and bad – having to prove their singing prowess or conceal their lack of vocal talent every week. Celebrity contestants must deduce the mystery singers’ musical capabilities and weed out the bad singers across multiple rounds, working towards the ultimate goal of retaining a good singer as the last person standing.

Regardless of the outcome, the final mystery singer will walk away with a S$10,000 (US$7,430) cash prize. All 10 winning mystery singers throughout the season will also stand a chance to drive away in a brand-new Nissan Leaf car.

Channel News Asia

posted 12/2/2024

"Project Runway" Is In.... Africa
Pan African Edition to Launch in 2025
From the Hollywood Reporter

Africa is getting its own Project Runway. A new edition of the hit fashion design competition show, Project Runway Africa, is set to launch next year, showcasing emerging African designer talent from across the continent.

Takeout Media and What Network will produce the African version of the show through their single-purpose vehicle Take Two Media, which licensed the format from global producer and distributor Fremantle.

“This isn’t just a television show, it’s a cultural moment,” said Project Runway Africa co-executive producer Chichi Nwoko, saying the show would highlight Africa’s rapidly evolving fashion ecosystem and present designers with an opportunity for expert mentorship.

“Africa’s fashion industry is one of the fastest-growing in the world, fueled by a dynamic, young audience and rich cultural influences,” said Nwoko. “With Project Runway Africa, we’re creating a platform that celebrates the continent’s boundless creativity, empowering designers to bring their visions to life and share their unique voices with viewers across Africa and beyond.”

Added co-executive producer Elijah Affi: “We’re creating a platform to showcase how African designers reimagine global fashion through their unique perspectives and cultural richness. This is more than television; it’s about amplifying African voices in the global fashion conversation and creating pathways for our talented designers to reach new heights.”

The competition will be open to African designers aged between 21 and 40. Details of the first season, including the shooting location, are being kept under wraps. For further details, visit www.projectrunway.com.r.

The Hollywood Reporter

posted 12/2/2024

Monday Lightning Round
... or "Wheel Gets Buzzed"

  • Wheel of Fortune makes it debut on the Buzzfeed Arcade app (Buzzfeed)

  • The Bachelor's Cassie Randolph gets engaged! (People)

  • Joey Graziadei says the one thing you shouldn't say after winning the Mirrorball (Us Magazine)

  • Mark Ballas recalls being comforted by his bestie Derek Hough after wife's miscarriage (CONTENT WARNING: Loss) (Entertainment Weekly)

  • Nikki Garcia recalls her divorce (Entertainment Weekly)

  • Stephen Mulhern collapses at pizza place, recovering while Sally Lindsay hosts The Big Soap Quiz (LEeds Live)

posted 11/25/2024


Sony Pictures TV Studios

Game Show Network at 30
Cable's First Channel Devoted to the Medium Celebrates an Anniversary
From various sources

"What's My Line?" That was the first show ever broadcast on a new cable network on December 1, 1994. That network was the Game Show Network, a project of Sony Pictures Television, owner of the Griffin, Stewart, Barry & Enright, and Barris libraries. Thirty years of history - both bad and... well, dark - later, it's time to celebrate as television's first all-game-show channel marks its 30 year anniversary.

Game Show Network, a project of Sony and United Video Satellite Group, was first announced as "Game Show Channel" in May 1992. Later that year, Sony acquired the Barry/Enright library and secured a 10-year licensing deal with Mark Goodson Productions for their library of over 20,000 episodes. Two years later, at 7pm ET on December 1, the inaugural schedule of game show classics began running. Over time, it expanded its acquired library rights to such franchises as Let's Make a Deal, Hollywood Squares, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Deal or No Deal, and, starting in 2025, The Wall.

The objective was always to be profitable enough to create its own productions, which it did starting with interactive playbreaks and branching out to originals like Super Decades, Burt Luddin's Love Buffet, Extreme Gong, Inquizition, Hollywood Showdown, and Throut & Neck. They would later spin off their own unit, Game Show Enterprises, which would serve as both an in-house production house and a clearinghouse for syndication with series like Flip Side, People Puzzler, and America Says. than a month after Sony whacked CBS with a breach of contract lawsuit over blockbuster game shows Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, the soon to be Skydance-owned broadcaster is slamming Sony as a bad actor looking to snag the shows for next to nothing.

Currently, Game Show Network offers Split Second, Switch, Beat the Bridge, Flip Side, America Says, Catch 21, Master Minds, Common Knowledge, Chain Reaction, and People. Coming in 2025 are new-to-network series The Wall and original series Tic Tac Dough.

The Programming Insider
TV Insider
Tiktik @Game_Show_Network

posted 12/1/2024


Getty Images
WAYNE NORTHROP: 1947-2024
"Days of Our Lives" Actor Played Games
From the Hollywood Reporter

Wayne Northrop, the actor known for roles on Days of Our Lives and Dynasty, has died. He was 77.

Northrop died Friday at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, publicist Cynthia Snyder told The Hollywood Reporter. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s six years ago.

“He took his last breath in the arms of his family,” Northrop’s wife and fellow soap star, Lynn Herring Northrop, said in a statement. “We wish to thank the most caring and amazing place, the Motion Picture and Television Home, for taking such great care of him. Wayne touched so many people with his sense of humor and wit. A husband for 43 years, the best dad ever to his two boys, Hank and Grady, and a rancher who loved his cows and was a friend to many.”

Northrop appeared on more than 1,000 episodes of Days of Our Lives, first as Detective Roman Brady and then as Dr. Alex North. On Dynasty, he played Michael Culhane, chauffeur of oil tycoon Blake Carrington. On Port Charles, he portrayed the manipulative Rex Stanton.

Northrop also appeared on such other series as L.A. Law, Hotel, You Are the Jury and Cold Case.

In game shows, Northrop appeared on episodes of Go, Just Men!, and the Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour.

Survivors also include his stepmother, Janet.

The Hollywood Reporter
Variety
TV Line
Deadline
Soap Opera Digest
ABC News

posted 12/1/2024

TUESDAY: Going Out with a Bang
"Dancing with the Stars" Finale Scores Highest Audience in 4 Years
From the Futon Critic

"Dancing with the Stars" concluded its spectacular season 33 as the top program of the night, delivering record-breaking audience in both Total Viewers (6.36 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.14 rating) - the best Total Viewer audience since the show's season 29 finale on 11/23/20 and the best Adults 18-49 audience since the season 29 premiere on 9/14/20.

In addition to wins among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, the extravagant three-hour finale, in which Joey Graziadei and his partner, Jenna Johnson, took home the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, swept additional key demographics including Adults 18-34 (1.27 rating), Women 18-49 (1.61 rating), Women 18-34 (1.90 rating) and Men 18-34 (0.65 rating), among others, while also pushing ABC to a win for the night.

"Dancing with the Stars" delivered double-digit gains in both Total Viewers (+16% - 6.36 million vs. 5.50 million) and Adults 18-49 (+70% - 1.14 rating vs. 0.67 rating) compared to its year-ago season finale (12/5/23), turning in its best Adults 18-49 season finale performance in 7 years - since 5/21/18.

"Dancing with the Stars" led its closest broadcast competitor, NBC's "The Voice," by +226%, more than tripling its Adults 18-49 performance (1.14 rating vs. 0.35 rating).

Additionally, the season 33 finale was the highest-rated Adults 18-49 regularly scheduled entertainment telecast in primetime since NBC's "This Is Us" finale (1.28 rating on 5/24/22).

Season to date, "Dancing with the Stars" stands as the No. 1 entertainment series among Adults 18-49 (0.77 rating) - the first time for the show to take the top spot for the broadcast season in its entire history.

The show once again broke voting records, garnering over 32 million votes for the teams during the very competitive finale.

The Futon Critic
Deadline
TV Line

posted 12/1/2024

Weekend Lightning Round
... or "The Talent Bowl"

  • Lindsey Stirling gets cut off by NBC, AGT fans let the network have it (Deadline)

  • Nick Cannon diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder (The Wrap)

  • LIST ABUSE: Mikey Day's best cake moments (Reality Blurred)

posted 12/1/2024


Game Show Network
CHUCK WOOLERY: 1941-2024
From the AP

Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, has died. He was 83.

Mark Young, Woolery’s podcast co-host and friend, said in an email early Sunday that Woolery died at his home in Texas with his wife, Kristen, present.

“Chuck was a dear friend and brother and a tremendous man of faith, life will not be the same without him,” Young wrote.

Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty banter, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978. In 1983, Woolery began an 11-year run as host of TV’s “Love Connection,” for which he coined the phrase, “We’ll be back in two minutes and two seconds,” a two-fingered signature dubbed the “2 and 2.” In 1984, he hosted TV’s “Scrabble,” simultaneously hosting two game shows on TV until 1990. “Love Connection,” which aired long before the dawn of dating apps, had a premise that featured either a single man or single woman who would watch audition tapes of three potential mates and then pick one for a date.

Other career highlights included hosting the shows “Lingo,” “Greed” and “The Chuck Woolery Show,” as well as hosting the short-lived syndicated revival of “The Dating Game” from 1998 to 2000 and an ill-fated 1991 talk show. In 1992, he played himself in two episodes of TV’s “Melrose Place.”

Woolery became the subject of the Game Show Network’s first attempt at a reality show, “Chuck Woolery: Naturally Stoned,” which premiered in 2003. It shared the title of the pop song in 1968 by Woolery and his rock group, the Avant-Garde. It lasted six episode and was panned by critics.

Woolery began his TV career at a show that has become a mainstay. Although most associated with Pat Sajak and Vanna White, “Wheel of Fortune” debuted Jan. 6, 1975, on NBC with Woolery welcoming contestants and the audience. Woolery, then 33, was trying to make it in Nashville as a singer. “Wheel of Fortune” started life as “Shopper’s Bazaar,” incorporating Hangman-style puzzles and a roulette wheel.

After Woolery appeared on “The Merv Griffin Show” singing “Delta Dawn,” Merv Griffin asked him to host the new show with Susan Stafford. “I had an interview that stretched to 15, 20 minutes,” Woolery told The New York Times in 2003. “After the show, when Merv asked if I wanted to do a game show, I thought, ‘Great, a guy with a bad jacket and an equally bad mustache who doesn’t care what you have to say — that’s the guy I want to be.’”

NBC initially passed, but they retooled it as “Wheel of Fortune” and got the green light. After a few years, Woolery demanded a raise to $500,000 a year, or what host Peter Marshall was making on “Hollywood Squares.” Griffin balked and replaced Woolery with weather reporter Pat Sajak.

“Both Chuck and Susie did a fine job, and ‘Wheel’ did well enough on NBC, although it never approached the kind of ratings success that ‘Jeopardy!’ achieved in its heyday,” Griffin said in “Merv: Making the Good Life Last,” an autobiography from the 2000s co-written by David Bender. Woolery earned an Emmy nod as host.

Stafford posted the following statement...

“Chuck Woolery was without doubt the Real Deal. He was an original. There was no one like Chuck. Our 7 years as the original host and hostess on Wheel of Fortune were like magic.

“Our deep friendship continued after our time on the show. He was an original. There was no one like Chuck. He had so much energy and was the same warm caring genuine person offstage as he was on. He was very spiritual and we shared a true love for God which made it even more worthwhile. So grateful to know I will see him again.“

Born in Ashland, Kentucky, Woolery served in the U.S. Navy before attending college. He played double bass in a folk trio, then formed the psychedelic rock duo The Avant-Garde in 1967 while working as a truck driver to support himself as a musician. The Avant-Garde, which tourbed in a refitted Cadillac hearse, had the Top 40 hit “Naturally Stoned,” with Woolery singing, “When I put my mind on you alone/I can get a good sensation/Feel like I’m naturally stoned.”

After The Avant-Garde broke up, Woolery released his debut solo single “I’ve Been Wrong” in 1969 and several more singles with Columbia before transitioning to country music by the 1970s. He released two solo singles, “Forgive My Heart” and “Love Me, Love Me.” Woolery wrote or co-wrote songs for himself and everyone from Pat Boone to Tammy Wynette. On Wynette’s 1971 album “We Sure Can Love Each Other,” Woolery wrote “The Joys of Being a Woman” with lyrics including “See our baby on the swing/Hear her laugh, hear her scream.”

After his TV career ended, Woolery went into podcasting. In an interview with The New York Times, he called himself a gun-rights activist and described himself as a conservative libertarian and constitutionalist. He said he hadn’t revealed his politics in liberal Hollywood for fear of retribution. He teamed up with Mark Young in 2014 for the podcast “Blunt Force Truth” and soon became a full supporter of Donald Trump while arguing minorities don’t need civil rights and causing a firestorm by tweeting an antisemitic comment linking Soviet Communists to Judaism.

“President Obama’s popularity is a fantasy only held by him and his dwindling legion of juice-box-drinking, anxiety-dog-hugging, safe-space-hiding snowflakes,” he said. Woolery also was active online, retweeting articles from Conservative Brief, insisting Democrats were trying to install a system of Marxism and spreading headlines such as “Impeach him! Devastating photo of Joe Biden leaks.”

During the early stages of the pandemic, Woolery initially accused medical professionals and Democrats of lying about the virus in an effort to hurt the economy and Trump’s chances for reelection to the presidency. “The most outrageous lies are the ones about COVID-19. Everyone is lying. The CDC, media, Democrats, our doctors, not all but most, that we are told to trust. I think it’s all about the election and keeping the economy from coming back, which is about the election. I’m sick of it,” Woolery wrote in July 2020.

Just days later, Woolery changed his stance, announcing his son had contracted COVID-19. “To further clarify and add perspective, COVID-19 is real and it is here. My son tested positive for the virus, and I feel for of those suffering and especially for those who have lost loved ones,” Woolery posted before his account was deleted. Woolery later explained on his podcast that he never called COVID-19 “a hoax” or said “it’s not real,” just that “we’ve been lied to.” Woolery also said it was “an honor to have your president retweet what your thoughts are and think it’s important enough to do that.”

In addition to his wife, Woolery is survived by his sons Michael and Sean and his daughter Melissa, Young said.

AP News
TMZ
The New York Times
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Variety
The Hollywood Reporter
Rolling Stone
TV Insider
KHOU Houston
People
UPI
PopCulture
Los Angeles Times
WFAA Dallas/Fort Worth
Legacy
Hollywood Life
OK!
TV Overmind
Military.com

posted 11/27/2024


Sony Pictures TV Studios

CBS to Sony: Right Back At You!
Countersuit Alleges Acting in Bad Faith
From Deadline

Less than a month after Sony whacked CBS with a breach of contract lawsuit over blockbuster game shows Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, the soon to be Skydance-owned broadcaster is slamming Sony as a bad actor looking to snag the shows for next to nothing.

“Sony is attempting to obtain in court what it could not get at the bargaining table: the rights to the Series for free, by finding any excuse it can muster,” CBS’ outside lawyers Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP put it to now defendants Sony Pictures TV Studios, Jeopardy Productions and Califon Productions in a cross-complaint filed Tuesday.

In other words: Think hard before you try to pull out of these deals and mess with us.

It’s worth noting that CBS in its first response to Sony’s October 31 suit cited the “billions of dollars of revenue” its long-standing deals for Wheel and Jeopardy! generated for the company. Billions of dollars will surely be the mantra for this case going forward, on both sides.

Today, CBS painted Sony as simply too heavy handed, and too greedy.

“Needless to say, CBS is disappointed by Sony’s decision to turn its back on the Parties’ longstanding relationship, to attempt to renounce the decades’ worth of efforts that CBS has invested into distributing and arranging for the distribution of the Series, and to attempt and escape the bargain it willingly made,” reads the complaint that went into the Los Angeles Superior Court docket today.

“Therefore, through these claims, CBS seeks to hold Sony to the Agreements, and CBS remains committed to continuing to occupy its mantle as Sony’s trusted partner and distributor of the Series for the next four decades and beyond.”

As expected in a case like this, CBS is seeking a variety of damages from Sony. CBS also wants a court order explicitly saying that Sony “cannot terminate the Agreements based on any alleged breach of the best effort clause and covenant of good faith and fair dealing.”

On the flip side, it is that very notion of fairness that Sony said back on October 31 pressed it to take CBS to court.

“CBS’s failures and pattern of financially self-interested behavior — which at bottom come down to putting its own business interests over its contractual obligations to Sony Pictures — are straightforward breaches of the agreements’ express best-efforts clauses and the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing,” the 19-page jury-seeking complaint that kicked off the court battle said last month.

The Hollywood Reporter
BEnzinga
PopCulture
Courthouse News Service
TV Tattle
Variety
Deadline
Giant Freaking Robot
Deadline
BNN Bloomberg

Variety

The Hollywood Reporter

posted 11/27/2024


AMazon MGM STudios

More on "Beast Games"
Catch It on Prime Videos December 19
From THe Futon Critic

MrBeast thinks safety concerns about his Amazon Prime Video series were overstated.

The YouTube behemoth, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, said claims that contestants were exposed to unsafe conditions and sexual harassment were “blown out of proportion.”

MrBeast made the comment on X (formerly Twitter) after Prime Video released a teaser trailer for Beast Games, which premieres on December 19. Commenting on the trailer, an individual asked him: “Is this the same one where a lot of contestants complained of terrible conditions?”

MrBeast replied: “We have tons of behind the scenes dropping when the show does to show how blown out of proportion these claims were. Just can’t release it now because it would spoil the games.”

The allegations against Beast Games first surfaced in a New York Times investigation in August. The publication spoke with more than a dozen contestants, who said there was inadequate food or medical care on the game show and that some competitors suffered injuries during physical challenges.

The Times report was followed by a class-action lawsuit against MrBeast and Amazon, which claimed that Beast Games “subjected the contestants to unreasonable, unsafe, and unlawful employment conditions.” It featured allegations of sexual harassment and said contestants were hospitalized.

The series is set to debut weekly on Thursday, December 19th on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. From the groundbreaking mind of MrBeast comes a new, record-breaking competition series.

A staggering 1,000 players compete in nail-biting, physical, mental, and social challenges, for a chance to win a whopping $5 million dollar cash prize. Week by week, players will use their strength and wit to stay in the game, with the hope of being the multi-million-dollar winner.

Beast Games is hosted by co-creator and executive producer, Jimmy Donaldson (aka MrBeast), alongside co-creators and executive producers Tyler Conklin, Sean Klitzner, and Mack Hopkins, in addition to executive producers Michael Cruz, Matt Apps, Charles Wachter, Keith Geller, Joe Coleman, Rachel Skidmore, Chris Keiper, and Joshua Kulic.

THe Futon Critic
Variety
Gold Derby
UNILAD
STuff

Deadline

Kotaku

BBC News

posted 11/26/2024


Getty Images
EARL HOLLIMAN: 1928-2024
Veteran Actor Played "Pyramid"
From Deadline

Earl Holliman, an actor with scores of credits spanning a half-century that ranged 1950s films Forbidden Planet and Giant to Police Woman and popular ’70s and ’80s TV dramas and starred the first episode of The Twilight Zone, died Monday in Los Angeles after a short illness. He was 96.

His niece, Theresa Mullins Harris, announced the news on social media, writing in part: “His dream at 5 years old of becoming a movie star came true, more than he ever could have imagined.”

Holliman got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame won a Supporting Actor Golden Globe for 1957’s The Rainmaker and was nominated for the short-lived early-’90s ABC sitcom Delta, starring Delta Burke. He was a series regular on the latter, playing the understanding owner of a bar where aspiring country singer Delta Bishop (Burke) worked while trying to make it.

Born on September 11, 1928, Holliman began his screen career with roles in 1950s movies including the sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet and James Dean’s final film Giant among many others. He co-starred opposite Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn in The Rainmaker as Jim Curry, the randy brother of Hepburn’s spinster Lizzie.

Holliman had done several guest-starring roles on 1950s TV before making history as the focus of the first episode of The Twilight Zone, Rod Serling’s landmark anthology series that put ordinary people in extraordinary situations. The October 1959 episode “Where Is Everybody?” opened with Holliman’s Mike Ferris wandering in a deserted town, which appears to be populated — coffee is boiling, a jukebox is playing, a cigar is burning — but no one is seen. The unsettling scenario continues to build to a wildly unexpected climax that would be the still-loved series’ signature.

Around that time, Holliman landed his first starring role on the CBS western Hotel de Paree. He toplined as Sundance, who accidentally had killed a man in Colorado town but returned after a long prison term. When he got back to town, the hotel was being run by two of his victim’s relatives (Jeanette Nolan and Judi Meredith). Sundance got a job as a strongarm and peacekeeper. Among his stocks in trade were shiny discs in his hatband that could blind any rivals. The series failed to catch on in a three-network universe where half of the Top 20 series were westerns, and it aired just one season min 1959-60.

Holliman continued to guest on TV before landing a second series-regular role on Wide Country, starring as a champion bronc buster who made the rodeo-circuit rounds while trying to keep his younger brother (Andrew Prine) from following in his footsteps. The NBC western also lasted a single season in 1962-63.

After that show ended, Holliman toured the U.S. as lead Curly McLain in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma! He also would appear in numerous local and touring stage productions into the 1980s, including in such beloved shows as A Streetcar Named Desire, A Chorus Line and Arsenic and Old Lace. Holliman returned to guesting on such popular 1960s and ’70s dramas as Bonanza, The Virginian, The Fugitive, Marcus Welby M.D., It Takes a Thief, Ironside, The Rookies, Medical Center, The F.B.I., The Streets of San Francisco. and Police Story. The latter led to his signature role.

Holliman was cast to star opposite Angie Dickenson in Police Woman, NBC’s 1974-78 drama centered on LAPD undercover cop Sgt. Pepper Anderson and her vice squad team that reported to Holliman’s Lt. Bill Crowley. The show was an initial hit, finishing in the Primetime Top 15 in 1974-75, but couldn’t hold that momentum and ended in 1978.

Holliman continued to work in films and TV during the 1980s, notably playing a Georgia gubenatorial candidate in the 1981 Burt Reynolds-directed and -led actioner Sharkey Machine alongside Charles Durning, Bernie Casey and others.

He would land a fourth TV-regular gig in 1991, this time co-starring in CBS’ P.S. I Luv U. Connie Sellecca and Greg Evigan played ex-NYPD partners-turned-fake spouses in a witness-relocation program in Palm Springs. The “couple” worked for a private-security firm run by Holliman’s Matthew Durning — the only person who knew their true identities. The drama also lasted just a single season, ending in 1992.

Holliman worked steadily through the 1990s, guesting on episodes of the smash Angela Lansbury drama Murder, She Wrote, recurring on NBC’s Lea Thompson sitcom Caroline in the City and appearing as himself on Garry Shandling’s revered late-night talk-shop sendup The Larry Sanders Show. He would land a final series-regular role on the syndicated NightMan in 1997. He starred opposite Matt McColm, whose Johnny Domingo becomes the title superhero after a lightning strike. Holliman played his ex-cop dad who appeared in two dozen episodes before being killed off in the Season 2 premiere.

Holliman also was a regular presence on TV game shows including The Hollywood Squares and multiple interations of the Pyramid game. He made more than a dozen appearances as a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and visited several other talk shows hosted by Mike Douglas, Dinah Shore, John Davidson and Chuck Woolery, who died over the weekend.

Holliman also had a brief side career as a singer in the late ’50s and early ’60s. That included a label deal with Capitol Records in 1958, where he covered “I’m in the Mood for Love” and other songs, but none hit the national charts.

Deadline
The Hollywood Reporter
Variety

The Wrap

posted 11/18/2024


Yahoo!
HELEN GALLAGHER: 1926-2024
"Ryan's Hope" Matriarch Played "Pyramid"
From Deadline

Helen Gallagher, who won Tony Awards for Pal Joey and No, No, Nanette before starring as Maeve Ryan in all 13 seasons of daytime soap Ryan’s Hope, died November 24. She was 98.

Playbill confirmed the news on social media.

Born on July 19, 1926, in New York City, Gallagher already was a singing, dancing and acting veteran of numerous Broadway shows when she was cast as Gladys Bumps in the Chicago-set 1952 musical Pal Joey. Starring opposite Harold Lang and Vivienne Segal, she won the Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

She went on to appear in such Golden Age Broadway musicals as The Pajama Game, Mame, Finian’s Rainbow and Sweet Charity, earning a second Featured Actress Tony nom for playing Mickie alongside Gwen Verdon and Ruth Buzzi.

She also performed in revivals of such classics as Guys and Dolls and Brigadoon. In 1970 she was cast as the original Lucille Early in Broadway’s No, No, Nanette, earning a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. The show ran from January 1971-February 1973 at the 46th Street Theatre (now the Richard Rodgers Theatre).

She returned to Broadway in the 1972-73 production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing before landing her biggest screen role.

Gallagher was cast as the patriarch of an American Irish family in New York City in the ABC soap opera Ryan’s Hope, which debuted in July 1975. Her Maeve Ryan and husband Johnny (Bernard Barrow) owned Ryan’s Bar across from a hospital and had five children. They were the cornerstone of the daytime drama that wrapped in early 1989, with Gallagher singing “Danny Boy” in the final episode, as she had many times before on the show.

She won back-to-back Daytime Emmys as Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series in 1976 and 1977 and added a third 11 years later. She also scored two other nominations in the category in 1979 and 1981.

Gallagher guested in episodes of several other daytime dramas including Another World, All My Children and One Life to Live.

Her other TV credits include Law & Order, The Cosby Mysteries, several episodes of The Ed Sullivan Show, talk shows including The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and variety and game shows including Pyramid and Stump the Stars.

Gallagher also appeared on the big screen in 1960’s Strangers When We Meet, alongside Kirk Douglas, Kim Novak, Ernie Kovacs, Barbara Rush and Walter Matthau, and later in director James Ivory’s Roseland (1977) and the Manhattan-set Neptune’s Rocking Horse (1997).

She also was a longtime member of the faculty at Herbert Berghof Studio in Manhattan.

Deadline
TV Line
Extra
The Hollywood Reporter

posted 11/26/2024

Christmas on the BBC
"Wheel" Won't Return, But These Favorites Will...
From MSN/Daily Mail

The BBC has snubbed a popular TV show as the broadcaster revealed its Christmas 2024 schedule with no sign of the star-studded program. Michael McIntyre's The Wheel game show will not air on BBC One on Christmas Day. In 2020, The Christmas Wheel aired on December 27, before it was bumped up the schedule to air on Christmas day for 2021. But in 2022 and 2023, it was knocked off the prime time Christmas day spot, airing on December 29 instead.

While "The Wheel" will not return, these favorites will...
- Weakest Link: New episodes will continue through the holidays including two celebrity games and a Strictly special.
- Blankety Blank: In this festive addition, joining the panel this week are Jane McDonald, Joel Dommett, Jonathan Ross, Oti Mabuse, Sara Pascoe, The Vivienne.
- Richard Osman's Festive House of Games: In these special festive editions, famous faces go head-to-head testing their general knowledge skills in a variety of fun trivia-based games in Richard Osman’s Festive House of Games. The celebrity contestants - Jennie McAlpine, Gareth Malone, Desiree Burch and Jon Richardson - will take on a series of quiz rounds selected by the host, quiz legend, Richard Osman.


MSN/Daily Mail
TV Zone

TV Zone

TV Zone

posted 11/26/2024

"The Traitors" Goes Live in London
Live Experience Set for 2025
From Variety

An immersive experience based on hit game show “The Traitors” is set to open in London next year.

“The Traitors: Live Experience” will enable fans to take a seat at The Round Table, have a go at missions and attempt to uncover the Traitors in their midst.

Tickets cost £29.50 per person ($37) and will go on sale in early 2025 with the experience set to open in the spring. “In this high-stakes game of deception, strategy, and teamwork, players will find themselves at the centre of the experience, sitting at ‘The Round Table’, collaborating on missions and forming alliances – but the question is, who can they trust?” promises the synopsis for the event. “Guided by a dynamic live host, players will work to uncover the Traitors hidden amongst them with thrilling missions that are guaranteed to deliver an unforgettable experience complete with intrigue, competition, and camaraderie.”

Varietyl

posted 11/26/2024

Tuesday Lightning Round
... or "Stop Talking"

  • "The Talk" lines up its final episode for December 20 (The Futon Critic)

  • Remember when Gleb Savchenko & Brooks Nader broke up? ... Apparently they don't (Reality TV World)

  • Sasha Farber seemingly confirms dating rumors (Swooon)

  • Gwen Stefani almost rejected Blake Shelton (Swooon)

  • Joey Graziadei almost cried before the Dancing finalet (TMZ)

  • LIST ABUSE: gifts for the reality show fan according to... (Reality Blurred)

posted 11/25/2024

FAST & Free on DirecTV
Fremantle Licenses Channels for MyFree DirecTV
From Mediaplay

Television content producer Fremantle Nov. 25 announced that it is licensing a line-up of free ad-supported game show and reality TV content to DirecTV’s new branded curated streaming platform, MyFree DirecTV.

While Fremantle has long been known for producing television shows such as “America’s Got Talent,” “The Price Is Right,” and “Family Feud,” the company also continues to tap into the growing demand for streaming content by launching and managing its own dedicated channels.

“This new collaboration underscores Fremantle’s [goal] to expand its reach across new digital platforms in the ever-evolving streaming landscape,” Trey Durst, VP of U.S. Distribution, International, Fremantle, said in a statement.

Channels coming to the platform include:
- “BUZZR” featuring a line-up of classic game shows providing viewers with a nostalgic journey through TV history.
- “The Price Is Right: Drew Carey” showcases television’s longest running game show by revisiting classic moments with host Carey.
- “The Price Is Right: Bob Barker” honors the late Barker’s 35-year tenure as host of the game show.
- “Let’s Make A Deal” features host Wayne Brady, costumed audience members competing for cash and prizes as they make deals while trying to avoid the dreaded Zonks.
- “Supermarket Sweep” finds contestants racing through grocery aisles, answering trivia questions and competing in high-energy shopping challenges.


MEdiaplay
ADvanced Television

posted 11/25/2024

FRIDAY: CBS Swims with Sharks
Dramas Take the Night, Fox Takes the Demo
From TV Line

In the latest TV show ratings, CBS easily won the night in total viewers thanks to its drama lineup.

The Eye had the top three programs in linear broadcast with SWAT (4.6m viewers/0.4 in the demo), Fire Country (4.7m/0.4), and the soon-to-conclude Blue Bloods (5.1m/0.3).

ABC took the silver with Shark Tank (2.9m/0.3) and 20/20 (2.7m/0.3).

NBC took home the bronze with its combination of Happy's Place (3.1m/0.2), Lopez vs. Lopez (1.8m/0.2), and Dateline (1.9m/0.2).

Fox's coverage of B1G football (Purdue st Michigan State) combined with pregame coverage (1.8m/0.4) to take the demo crown.

Rounding out the night on the CW were reruns of Bob <3 Abishola (282k/0.1).

TV Line
The Programming Insider

posted 11/25/2024

THURSDAY: Don't Call It A Comeback
NBC Wins Night
From TV Line

In the latest TV show ratings, NBC dominated anything not named Thursday Night Football.

Linearly, NBC was the most-watched network with increased numbers for Law & Order (3.8m viewers/0.3 in the demo), SVU (4.2m/0.4), and Found (2.3m/0.2).

ABC came just under with increases for 9-1-1 (4.6m/0.4), Doctor Odyssey (3.1m/0.3), and Grey's Anatomy (2.3m/0.2).

CBS sunk to third special holiday film Nugget Is Dead? (2m/0.2), followed by reruns of George & Mandy and Ghosts.

Fox's Hell's Kitchen (1.7m/0.3) and Crime Scene Kitchen (1.1m/0.2) were steady.

Rounding out the night on the CW were Scrabble (405k/0.1) and Trivial Pursuit (403k/0.1).

On cable...
- Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking (Food): 519k/0.10
- Christmas Cookie Challenge (Food): 474k/0.08
- House of Villains (E!): 151k/0.04


TV Line
The Programming Insider

posted 11/25/2024

Monday Lightning Round
... or "Second Time Around"

  • Zach Shallcross makes it official with Kaity Biggar.... again (Reality TV World)

  • Farmer Wants a Wife's Mitchell Kolinsky & Sydney Errera celebrate one year (Swooon)

  • Michelle Buteau tapped to host 2025 Billboard Music Awards (Deadline)

  • Jenn An sues... whatever Kanye West is going by this week (CONTENT WARNING: SA) (The Wrap)

  • Ron Ely died of end-stage heart disease per report (TMZ)

  • A FEW GOOD MINUTES with Jonathan Bennett (The WRap)

posted 11/25/2024


NBCUniversal/Studio Lambert

More on "The Traitors" Season 3
Catch It on Peacock January 9
From THe Futon Critic

Peacock released a first look at Season 3 of the Emmy Award(R)-winning competition reality series The Traitors.

Returning January 9 and hosted by the impossibly stylish and devastatingly witty Alan Cumming, the next 21 contestants participating in Season 3 are:
· Bob Harper (The Biggest Loser)
· Bob The Drag Queen (RuPaul's Drag Race)
· Britney Haynes (Big Brother)
· Carolyn Wiger (Survivor)
· Chanel Ayan (The Real Housewives of Dubai)
· Chrishell Stause (Selling Sunset)
· Ciara Miller (Summer House)
· Danielle Reyes (Big Brother)
· Dolores Catania (The Real Housewives of New Jersey)
· Dorinda Medley (The Real Housewives of New York City)
· Dylan Efron (Down to Earth with Zac Efron)
· Gabby Windey (The Bachelorette)
· Jeremy Collins (Survivor)
· Lord Ivar Mountbatten (British Royal)
· Nikki Garcia (WWE Hall of Famer)
· Rob Mariano (Survivor & Deal or No Deal Island)
· Robyn Dixon (The Real Housewives of Potomac)
· Sam Asghari (Actor & Model)
· Tom Sandoval (Vanderpump Rules)
· Tony Vlachos (Survivor)
· Wells Adams (Bachelor in Paradise)

The Traitors is produced by Studio Lambert with Stephen Lambert, Mike Cotton, Sam Rees-Jones, Rosie Franks, Jack Burgess and Tim Harcourt serving as executive producers.

THe Futon Critic
TV Line
Deadline
TV Series Finale

The Hollywood Reporter

posted 11/22/2024


Getty Images

CNN's "News" Gets Another Season
More Episodes of "Have I Got News For You" ORdered
From THe Futon Critic

CNN has renewed Have I Got News For You for a second season that will air early next year as part of CNN's Saturday primetime lineup. The American version of the long-running UK comedy series is hosted by Roy Wood Jr. along with team captains Amber Ruffin and Michael Ian Black. Produced by Hat Trick Productions for CNN Originals, Have I Got News for You concludes its ten-episode freshman season on Saturday, November 23 at 9pm ET/PT on CNN.

Season one of CNN's Have I Got News For You was declared by The Telegraph as "cheerfully competent" and "nowhere near the embarrassment it might have been." Always relevant and topical, the series serves up a smart and edgy take on the news of the week, as the comic trio led by host by Wood Jr. guides a rotating collection of guests through an array of comic games and quick-witted panel conversations that test their knowledge of current events.

"For its inaugural season, Have I Got News For You has been a welcome and lively extension of the CNN brand, and our viewers continue to show enthusiasm for comic relief on Saturday nights" said Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent, CNN Originals and creative development. The series premiered on September 13 and joined CNN's encore presentation of Real Time With Bill Maher as part of the network's revitalized Saturday primetime offering, marking CNN's investment into topical entertainment programming.

"We're thrilled that Have I Got News For You has made an impact with the CNN audience and can't wait to come back next year," said Executive Producer Jimmy Mulville. "I think we'll have plenty of news to poke fun at!

Notable guests from season one of Have I Got News For You included Robin Thede, Andy Richter, Mark McKinnon, Ana Navarro, Larry Wilmore, Adam Kinzinger, Anthony Scaramucci, Bomani Jones, Representative Tim Burchett, and more. Journalist and host Kara Swisher will join as guest in the finale of season one this Saturday, November 23.

Have I Got News For You is executive produced by Jim Biederman, Jimmy Mulville and Richard Wilson for Hat Trick Productions.

THe Futon Critic
Variety
Deadline

posted 11/21/2024


ABC

Unlucky 13 Gets Even Unluckier
ABC Cancels "Lucky 13" Due to Unique Acquisition Model
From DEadline

Lucky 13 has proved unfortunate for those involved in making the ABC game show.

Several sources said hosts Shaquille O’Neal and Gina Rodriguez — as well as equipment and services firms and individuals who worked on the series — are cumulatively owed at least $500,000.

Deadline revealed last week that Lucky 13 would not be renewed for a second season after its unusual financing model turned sour. UK producer Studio 1 pre-funded Lucky 13 in return for a share of ABC’s advertising and product placement sales, but revenue fell well short of projections. Studio 1 is now being chased for the unpaid cash after effectively going bankrupt.

An ABC source said the Disney-owned network is working to ensure O’Neal and Rodriguez, who doubled as executive producers, receive payment. A rep for the presenters has been contacted for comment. ABC had no comment.

Contractors out of pocket include Funicular Goats, which has worked on projects such as Disney’s Elton John Live, and UK production management firm Nest Productions. Others impacted include kit firm Luna Remote Systems and Suite, a post-production company. All declined to comment.

Two sources told Deadline that the money owed could be closer to $1M, though this was downplayed by others familiar with the matter. Either way, contractors have been chasing payment for months. The series wrapped in June and contractors would usually expect to be paid within 30 days.

“It’s a nightmare,” said the founder of one company impacted by the issue. Another added: “We’ve been strung along quite a bit by the producers. They’ve told us over the past couple of months that payment was coming and they were picked up for Season 2. The story we got was that one of the financiers dropped out and they were reconnecting with a new source of financing.”

Sources said Studio 1 pulled together a number of financiers for Lucky 13. A person who worked on the show said it was an audacious “gamble” that has not worked out for Studio 1, which was founded by the team that developed Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

Lucky 13 Holdings and Studio 13 Entertainment, the special purpose companies Studio 1 set up to house Lucky 13, are subject to an administration process in the UK as creditors chase their debts. UK accountancy company Menzies is overseeing the administration. Menzies said it was too early to comment on the process. Studio 1 declined to comment.

Deadline
TV Line
TV Newscheck
Forbes

TV Series Finale

Deadline

posted 11/14/2024

A Show for Those Who Didn't Wanna Grow Up
Fox Working on Toys "R" Us Competition
From Deadline

Toys “R” Us is getting into the reality television business.

The toy store is developing a competition series Toys “R” Us Family Faceoff – with Fox Alternative Entertainment.

The company is working on the project via its Toys “R” Us Studios division and has teamed up with Known Originals, which is behind Netflix’s Jeen Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy and Amazon’s McDonald’s All-American Games as well as the unscripted production arm of Fox Entertainment Studios.

The series will seek families competing inside a “larger-than-life” toy store and will integrate a range of nostalgic and popular trending toys and games from classic toy brands.

Deadline

posted 11/21/2024

Second Deal
Season 2 of "Wildcard Kitchen" Drops January
From the Futon Critic

The bets are bigger and the stakes are higher in the ten-episode return of Wildcard Kitchen, Food Network's exclusive late-night culinary card game where all-star chefs bet, bluff and backstab for cold hard cash and bragging rights. In each episode, host Eric Adjepong welcomes three chefs who know each other well to the test kitchen after-hours for three hands of his underground poker game. With scores to settle and lots of smack talk, each chef brings $5,000 to the game where the luck of the draw determines dishes and cooking time - while Eric throws his own unexpected challenges into the mix.

"Anyone who has ever wondered what it's like to hang out with their favorite Food Network chefs for an outrageous late-night card game can experience it on Wildcard Kitchen," said Betsy Ayala, Head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery. "Eric really amps up the gameplay this season with bigger stakes, bigger challenges and bigger twists to keep both his guests and the audience guessing at every turn."

Chefs also playing against each other include food legends Alex Guarnaschelli, Rocco DiSpirito and Andrew Zimmern; culinary titans Michael Symon, Esther Choi and Marcel Vigneron; James Beard-award winners Karen Akunowicz, Stephanie Izard and Jonathan Sawyer; Chopped judges Tiffani Faison, Amanda Freitag and Geoffrey Zakarian; competition sharks Tiffany Derry, Mei Lin and Brian Malarkey; comfort food connoisseurs Eddie Jackson, Damaris Phillips and Molly Yeh; frenemies Carlos Anthony, Kelsey Bernard Clark and Crista Luedtke; restaurant queens Antonia Lofaso, Ayesha Nurdjaja and Claudette Zepeda and a top-secret trio of returning Wildcard winners.

Viewers can follow Food Network's social pages to get Eric's exclusive cocktail recipes and join him on set as he plays Truth or Dare with the chefs. Plus, fans can check out each judge's Wildcard food hacks using the trickiest cards from the show.

The FUton Critric

posted 11/21/2024


Whitney Cummings

More on "Fast Friends"
Catch It on Max December 19
From Cosmopolitan

It's been (wait for it!) 30 years since Friends first premiered and while we've already gotten to celebrate the show's legacy with a reunion back in 2021, HBO and Max are giving us the next best thing: the chance to prove how much of a superfan we are. Some lucky contestants were chosen to be a part of Fast Friends, a brand new competition series that will put their knowledge of the show to the ultimate test.

"Max is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the global phenomenon Friends with the premiere of Fast Friends, a Friends fan challenge special hosted by comedian Whitney Cummings. Filmed at The Friends Experience: The One in New York City, Fast Friends takes place in the celebrated series’ iconic sets in a fast-paced competition event," Max revealed to Cosmopolitan. "From racing through Rachel and Monica’s apartment to darting across Joey and Chandler’s bachelor pad and grabbing a coffee at Central Perk, fans will re-live their favorite moments while being put to the test with trivia, puzzles, and games that will keep even the most die-hard Friends fans on their toes. The quickest team will win the title of Ultimate Fast Friends Champion."

Comedian Whitney Cummings, who is also a Friends fan herself, will be hosting the show and she even has some special advice to the contestants. "I’m so excited to be hosting Fast Friends! This is your chance to time travel to a world before social media," she exclusively told Cosmopolitan.

"I suggest everyone tuning in, learn all of Phoebe’s songs and wear sneakers...you’re gonna need them!" The four-episode special premieres Thursday, December 19 on Max. New episodes will debut weekly through January 9.

Cosmopolitan
TV Line

posted 11/21/2024

TUESDAY: Another Recordbreaker
"Dancing" Sets Season Mark with Semifinal
From Deadline

Dancing with the Stars Season 33 sashayed its way to a ratings win ahead of the finale.

Audiences are clearly chomping at the bit to see which of the five remaining stars will take home this year’s mirrorball trophy, because Tuesday night’s semifinals grew over the 500th episode celebration the week prior to reach a season-high 5.2M same-day viewers, according to Nielsen data.

That’s also up from the 5.1M who tuned in to last season’s semifinals, which is certainly a win for the series, which returned to ABC last year after a one-season exclusive run on Disney+.

In terms of the key demos, the Dancing with the Stars semifinals were the top program of the night among adults 18-49 with a 0.75 rating, as well as among all key Women demos including Women 18-34 (1.10 rating), Women 18-49 (1.04 rating) and Women 25-54 (1.27 rating).

CBS was the overall winner with its combination of FBI (6.6m/0.4), International (5.2m/0.3), and Most Wanted (4.8m/0.3).

NBC offered a new St. Denis Medical (3.1m/0.3), the season premiere of Night Court (2.5m/0.3), The Voice (3.7m/0.3), and Defying Gravity: Wicked (1.7m/0.2).

Fox served up Murder in a Small Town (2m/0.2) and Accused (1.3m/0.1).

Rounding out the night on the CW was WWE NXT (672k/0.4).

On cable...
- Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown (Food): 471k/0.06


Deadline
The Programming Insider

posted 11/21/2024

Thursday Lightning Round
... or "Hamtaro's Revenge"


posted 11/21/2024


NBCUniversal

Comcast to Spin Off Cable Assets
Mark Lazarus to Head New Unit
From THe Futon Critic

Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA) today announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company comprised of a strong portfolio of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets including Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow and Sports Engine, through a tax-free spin-off. The well-capitalized independent company ("SpinCo") will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content.

SpinCo will be an industry-leading news, sports and entertainment cable television business with a focused strategic direction. SpinCo's stable of marquee brands will provide a diverse and differentiated content offering that will reach approximately 70 million U.S. households.

"When you look at our assets, talented management team and balance sheet strength, we are able to set these businesses up for future growth," said Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Comcast. "With significant financial resources from day one, SpinCo will be ideally positioned for success and highly attractive to investors, content creators, distributors and potential partners."

The planned spin-off will also strategically position NBCUniversal with its leading broadcast and streaming media properties, including NBC entertainment, sports, news and Bravo - which all power Peacock - along with Telemundo, the theme parks business and film and television studios.

"This transaction positions both SpinCo and NBCUniversal to play offense in a changing media landscape," said Mike Cavanagh, President of Comcast. "Taken together, the entirety of NBCUniversal will be on a new growth trajectory, fueled by our world-class content, technology, IP, properties and talent - all working in concert with each other as an integrated media company."

As a global media and technology company, Comcast will be well-positioned to continue to invest in its strategic core growth businesses across its Content & Experiences and Connectivity & Platforms businesses, including residential broadband, wireless, business services, streaming, studios and theme parks. The transaction is expected to be accretive to revenue growth at Comcast and approximately neutral to Comcast's leverage position. The company does not anticipate any change to its credit profile or ratings as a result of this transaction.”

Deadline
Variety
The WRap
The Futon Critic

Deadline

Deadline

Deadline

posted 11/20/2024


CW

The CW in 2025
Penn & Teller to Return January 24
From Deadline

The CW has announced its midseason premiere dates for new and returning scripted and unscripted series.

We’ll see a special sneak peek of All American Season 7, starring Michael Evans Behling, Greta Onieogou and Bre-Z, on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 8 pm, before the hit series moves to its regular 8 pm timeslot on Monday, Feb. 3. According to the official logline: “Season 7 is taking it back to where it all began: Beverly Hills High and South Crenshaw High. It’s the same heart, same NFL dream, same crosstown rivalry, same messy hormones, ushered in by a new generation of LA teens, a new Beverly Coach and our OG vortex fam, who are surprised to find they’re supposed to be the responsible adults now.”

Wild Cards, starring Vanessa Morgan and Giacomo Gianniotti, returns for a second season on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 8 pm.

The new comedic drama series Good Cop/Bad Cop premieres Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 9 pm. Leighton Meester and Luke Cook star as sibling detectives who don’t always see eye-to-eye, working together to solve crimes – and the strained relationship with their police chief father (Clancy Brown).

Police 24/7 returns for Season 2 on Thursday, Jan. 23 at 8 pm, followed by the Season 2 premiere of true crime series Crime Nation at 9 pm, from Candle True Stories.

Penn& Teller: Fool Us is back for Season 11 on Friday, Jan. 24 at 8 pm followed by the Season 11 premiere of Masters of Illusion at 9 pm.

The new documentary series The ’90s Boy Band Room debuts on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 8 pm.

Deadline
TV Line
The Programming Insider

posted 11/20/2024

Amazon Wish List Games Delivered
Catch IT on PRime Video
From the WRap

Prepare for some gamified corporate synergy — Prime Video’s newest game show “Wish List Games” debuts Wednesday.

The five-episode holiday special event is hosted by Nick Cannon, who has proven his hosting chops on shows like “Wild ‘n Out,” “The Masked Singer” and “America’s Got Talent,” and Lele Pons, the YouTuber, actress and singer who currently has over 18 million subscribers.

Each episode of the special will feature real Amazon customers competing for items from their actual Amazon Wish Lists. Prizes can range from everyday household items to aspirational purchases, and contestants have the opportunity to win up to $25,000 in goods from Amazon. Players will be pulled from the studio audience and asked to play in a rotating series of games that have yet to be disclosed.

Then, in the final round, one contestant will play a game where, if they win, everyone in the audience will be able to take home a prize.

Alycia Rossiter (“The Bachelor”) serves as the showrunner and executive producer for “Amazon Wish List Games.” Other EPs include Cannon, Amy Powell, Sean Kelly, Steve Hughes, Jessie Binkow and Susan Janis-Mashayekhi.

The move continues a trend for Prime Video, which has been expanding more into the unscripted space. The streamer already premiered its first game shows this year with the Travis Kelce-hosted “Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?” and the JB Smoove-hosted entrepreneurial reality show “Buy It Now.”

The Wrap
Reality Blurred

posted 11/20/2024

Kids Baking Championship Is About to Get Wild
Catch It on Food January 6
From THe Futon Critic

Animal inspiration abounds in a new season of the Emmy-nominated Kids Baking Championship, which returns to Food Network on Monday, January 6th at 8pm ET/PT, and streams next day on Max. Hosts and judges, Duff Goldman and Kardea Brown, welcome a new field of talented kid bakers to the kitchen for challenges inspired by creatures big and small, including a few fluffy, furry and feathery friends who drop in to the kitchen for live appearances over the course of the season. From sea creatures to jungle dwellers to farm animals and more, the twelve kid bakers must craft creative and delicious animal-themed treats for a chance at winning the grand prize.

"Kids Baking Championship is a celebration of the amazing things kids can do in the kitchen, not only with their baking and decorating skills but also in how they support each other even while competing," said Betsy Ayala, Head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery. "With animals as the inspiration the creations are adorable, and the kids are exceptional in the most heartwarming way."

THe Futon Critic

posted 11/20/2024

We Wish You a Merry LEGO...
Catch It on Fox December 10
From THe Futon Critic

Host Will Arnett returns alongside Brickmasters Amy Corbett and Jamie Berard as judges for the third installment of the holiday-themed event special LEGO Masters: Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular, airing Tuesday, Dec. 10 and Tuesday, Dec. 17 @ 8:00-10:00PM ET/PT on FOX. The two-night event series, airing over two weeks, will coldly go where no snowman has gone before, with unpredictable twists and surprises. Special celebrity guests include Sophia Bush (One Tree Hill, Chicago P.D.), Holly Robinson Peete (Queens Court, Meet the Peetes), Eric McCormack (Will & Grace, The Other Black Girl) and Lil Rel Howery (Get Out, Harold and the Purple Crayon) pairing up with fan-favorite former contestants - Christine Blandino (Season 3), Stephen Joo (Season 3), Aaron Newman (Season 1) and Corey D. Samuels (Season 1) - to compete in jaw-dropping holiday-themed challenges for charities of their choice. In the end, one team will earn the title of LEGO Masters: Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular champions and leave with the coveted trophy. Raise a glass and make a mistle-toast to the holiday season!

Fans of LEGO Masters can watch anytime on Hulu, Fox.com, On Demand and FOX Entertainment's streaming platform, Tubi. On Demand episodes are available for customers of Cox Contour TV, DIRECTV, DISH, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Optimum, Spectrum, Verizon FiOS, XFINITY, YouTube TV and many more.

THe Futon Critic

posted 11/20/2024

The 1% Club to Return.... to ITV
Catch IT on ITV1
From Radio Times

Quiz fans, get ready, because The 1% Club is returning for four brand new episodes next month, before the show gears up for its Christmas special.

The episodes will air nightly from Monday 9th through to Thursday 12th December at 9pm on ITV1, so fans have plenty of Lee Mack's hilarious presenting duties to bask in.

The quiz show has proven a success among viewers, with the series scooping the award for Best Quiz Game Show at the 2023 National Television Awards.

Radio Times
Liverpool Echo

posted 11/20/2024

Wednesday Lightning Round
... or "Sundowning Jankie?"

  • Alison GRodner, Rich Meehan address bringing JANKIE back (Entertainment Weekly)

  • What's John Carpenter doing 25 years after his big score? (TV Insider)

  • Jaleel White recalls the day he switched from hitched-up jeans to khakis because... well... (Entertainment Weekly)

  • Julianne Hough, Alfonso Ribeiro to host "Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular" (The Futon Critic)... while Julianne looks for love (Reality Tidbit)

  • Joan Vassos is strangely chill about easing on down the aisle (Reality tV World)

  • A FEW GOOD MINUTES with Josh MArtinez (TV Insider)


posted 11/20/2024


NBCUniversal

NBC in 2025
Adam Levine to Return to "The Voice"... Among Other Highlights
From the Futon Critic

Following another Premiere Week win and a strong fall, NBC heads into 2025 with the launch of new dramas, including the highly anticipated "Suits LA" from creator Aaron Korsh; "The Hunting Party," starring Melissa Roxburgh ("Manifest"); and "Grosse Pointe Garden Society," a soapy mystery from Jenny Bans and Bill Krebs, as well as the launch of the spectacular new 10-part special event nature documentary "The Americas," narrated by Tom Hanks with music by Oscar winner Hans Zimmer.

Returning to the NBC lineup, to the excitement of its immense fan base, is #OneChicago, TV's highest-rated drama franchise. The Windy City trifecta begins Wednesday, Jan. 8 with "Chicago Med" at 8 p.m., following by "Chicago Fire" and "Chicago P.D." Reba McEntire's "Happy's Place," one of the new hits of the fall season, and "Lopez vs. Lopez" continue to bring the laughs on Friday, Jan. 3 at 8 and 8:30 p.m., respectively.

Funny business continues Tuesday, Jan. 14 with freshman sensation "St. Denis Medical," starring Wendi McLendon-Covey, David Alan Grier and Allison Tolman, and "Night Court," starring Melissa Rauch and John Larroquette, at 8 and 8:30 p.m., respectively.

Rock superstar and longtime coach Adam Levine returns to his swiveling red chair, to be joined by country phenom Kelsea Ballerini, Michael Bublé and John Legend, when the new season of "The Voice" returns Monday, Feb. 3. The show remains a reality juggernaut and is the most-watched alternative series for the sixth consecutive fall.

The Futon Critic
TV Inisder
Deadline

posted 11/19/2024

Jeopardy! TOC Format Revealed
Plus A Player Drops Out!
From TV Insider

Jeopardy! has unveiled the lineup and format for its iconic Tournament of Champions. It features a twist borrowed from 2022: the top three players automatically advance into the semifinals, all three-day champs in the mix like 2024, and something blue (the set). The stage is set for what fans expect to be a buzzworthy showdown.

Producer Sarah Foss and (retired) champion Sam Buttrey announced the 2025 ToC details on Monday’s Inside Jeopardy! podcast. They prefaced that Lisa Ann Walter, who won Celebrity Jeopardy! and was expected to compete like Ike Barinholtz, is out because of scheduling conflicts with Abbott Elementary. “A bit of disappointing news,” Foss shared. “But we have extended the invite for next year.”

The 2025 ToC will consist of 21 players, the top 20 champs from last April until December, and the winner of a 15-contestant Champions Wildcard. Also, like in past years, the ToC will immediately follow a Second Chance Competition for non-winners and a Wildcard for brief winners who didn’t make the cusp.

The postseason airs in one chunk starting on December 30, 2024 until early February, 2025. The ToC will premiere on January 27, 2025, and last around two and a half weeks.

Like the 2022 ToC, the top three players, Adriana Harmeyer, Isaac Hirsch, and Drew Basile, will be seeded directly into the semifinals, with the dynamic trio also playing an exhibition game that airs on TuneIn Radio.

“We will have six quarterfinal matchups, those winners and the three seeded players will go onto our semifinals, that will give us nine players, Foss shared. “They will each play one of three semifinal games. One will advance and that will give us our finals.”

Once more, the finals will be a first-to-three wins format. The prize is $250,000 and a berth into Jeopardy! Masters.

TV Insider

posted 11/19/2024

Beast Games Finally Has a Date
Catch It on Prime Video December 19
From The FUton Critic

Today, Prime Video announced the release date of the highly-anticipated series, Beast Games. The competition series is set to debut weekly on Thursday, December 19th on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

From the groundbreaking mind of MrBeast comes a new, record-breaking competition series. A staggering 1,000 contestants compete in nail-biting, physical, mental, and social challenges, for a chance to win a whopping $5 million dollar cash prize. Week by week, contestants will use their strength and wit to stay in the game, with the hope of being the multi-million-dollar winner.

Beast Games is hosted by co-creator and executive producer, Jimmy Donaldson (aka MrBeast), alongside co-creators and executive producers Tyler Conklin, Sean Klitzner, and Mack Hopkins, in addition to executive producers Michael Cruz, Matt Apps, Charles Wachter, Keith Geller, Joe Coleman, Rachel Skidmore, Chris Keiper, and Joshua Kulic.

The Futon Critic

posted 11/19/2024

Netflix Favorites Go Global
Physical:100 Expands, Love Is Blind Heads to France
From the Hollywood Reporter

Netflix shared what’s coming next in terms of its global offerings, with the company highlighting its diverse slate at its first international showcase held Monday morning at its Los Angeles office. The streaming giant used the showcase to reiterate its strategy behind original global content, and also took the opportunity to announce a slew of new titles and significant renewals.

“Many people assume that the easiest way to program for such a huge audience is to make global hits that everyone can enjoy,” Netflix’s chief content officer Bela Bajaria told the audience.

“Once in a rare while, that’s the goal, but mostly it’s not,” Bajaria continued, emphasizing that Netflix’s goal remains making films and shows that resonate with the content’s home country first. International success is still very much part a secondary focus — Bajaria shared that more than 70 percent of all viewing on Netflix is either done with subtitles or dubbed audio.

The U.S., a notoriously hard market to break into for non-local content, saw an uptick in the success non-English content. Netflix says that last year more than 13 percent of hours viewed on the platform in the U.S. were non-English titles, with content from Korea, Spain and Japan brining in the biggest audiences.

Korean content has proven to be an all-around heavy hitter for the platform globally. Minyoung Kim, Netflix’s VP of content in Asia, shared that over 80 percent of the platform’s members around the world consume Korean content, whether it be films, scripted series or unscripted series. Kim announced that hit Korean competition show Physical 100 had been renewed for a third season, which will feature contestants from across Asia for the first time. The show was Netflix’s first non-English unscripted show to hit the top spot on its global top 10.

Love is Blind, the reality dating show which Netflix has spun off in 10 countries, added France to its country lineup, Netflix’s VP of India content Monika Shergill announced. Love is Blind: France, which started production in October, is slated to be released on the platform sometime in 2025. The streamer emphasized that each version of the show has been changed to fit different cultures.

The Hollywood Reporter
Variety
Deadline
The Futon Critic

posted 11/19/2024

Bet on a Reboot
Holly Willoughby, Stephen Mulhern to Bring Back British Favorite
From Radio Times

ITV has confirmed that the reboot of iconic challenge show You Bet! will air its first episode on Saturday 7th December at 8:15pm.

Presenting duo Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern will reunite to host the show, which is the first of two specials previously revealed in August.

Based on the original format Wetten Dass?, the show sees members of the public use their unique abilities to pull off the most outrageous challenges imaginable, all for the chance of winning a whopping cash prize.

The studio audience and a celebrity panel are given the chance to predict if each contestant can complete the extraordinary challenges they are faced with, with points added to the celebrities' scores if they guess correctly.

RAdio Times

posted 11/19/2024


Fox

Fox Slots 2025
The Floor Gets the Coveted Post-Super Bowl Slot
From Deadline

This is a rare last-minute switch of the Super Bowl lead-out program. In announcing its midseason premiere dates this morning, Fox revealed that The Floor Season 3 premiere will follow Fox Sports’ presentation of Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9. It is taking over the slot assigned in May to freshman lifeguard drama Rescue HI-Surf.

Because of the late timing, the special post-Super Bowl episode of the John Wells-produced Rescue HI-Surf already has been produced. It will now air the following night, Feb. 10, in the drama’s regular Monday 9 PM berth after substantial promotion during the Big Game.

The Floor‘s viewership has been similar to Rescue Hi-Surf‘s with stronger pull in younger demos and family audiences, which Deadline's ears-on-the-ground Nellie Andreeva hears played a role in the Super Bowl decision as did host/executive producer Rob Lowe’s clout at Fox. Lowe, also star and exec producer on Fox’s outgoing drama 9-1-1: Lone Star, has a deal with the network and has emerged as one of its top talents — active both on and off-screen, including on the promotional circuit. Additionally, The Floor is fully owned by Fox; Rescue HI-Surf comes from Warner Bros. TV, which is co-producing with Fox Entertainment.

Ultimately, Fox brass decided the Super Bowl would be a better platform to launch the new season of The Floor, trying to bring in untapped family viewers to the show while keeping Rescue HI-Surf‘s regular schedule.

Fox has announced the rest of its midseason premiere dates, which includes the series finale of “9-1-1: Lone Star.” It was reported in September that “Lone Star” would be ending with its fifth season at Fox. Now, that season is scheduled to resume on Jan. 20 at 8 p.m. ET followed by “Rescue: Hi Surf.” “Lone Star’s” series finale will then air on Feb. 3 at 9 p.m. ET.

Fox’s midseason launches will officially kick off on Jan. 2 with the return of “Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen” at 8 p.m. ET. That is followed by the Season 3 premiere of the Joel McHale comedy “Animal Control at 9 p.m. and the new Denis Leary military workplace comedy “Going Dutch” at 9:30 p.m. ET, establishing a new Thursday comedy block at the broadcaster.

On Jan. 7, the new Fox medical drama “Doc” will premiere at 9 p.m. following “Kitchen Nightmares: Road to Super Bowl LIX.” “Doc” was originally ordered to series at Fox in 2023.

Fox will then debut Season 3 of the reality competition series “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” on Jan. 8, airing from 8-10 p.m. Fox will air Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9, with the official broadcast beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET. That will kick off what is being dubbed “Fox’s Super Week.”

Season 13 of “The Masked Singer” will debut on Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. That will be followed by the time period launch of “The Floor” at 9 p.m. Finally, on Feb. 13 Gordon Ramsay launches Season 4 of “Next Level Chef” at 8 p.m., followed by “Animal Control” and “Going Dutch.”.

Deadline
Variety
The Hollywood Reporter
The Wrap
Awful Announcing

TV Series Finale

TV Series Finale

Spoiler TV

posted 11/19/2024

Daytime's Biggest Lineup Gets Even Bigger
TPIR, LMAD Post Yearly Gains
From the Futon Critic

CBS, the ratings leader for decades in daytime television, has opened the 2024-25 broadcast season with audience growth across its daytime dramas and game shows in L+7 viewing, according to VideoAmp data.

CBS will further expand the daytime audience with BEYOND THE GATES, the new daytime drama series and debut project from the CBS Studios/NAACP Venture, which premieres Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, and will air weekdays (2:00-3:00 PM, ET; 1:00-2:00 PM, PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+. This marks the first-ever one-hour Black daytime soap and the first daytime drama to premiere since "Passions" in 1999.

THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT has also retained its #1 status with a 16% increase in total viewers vs. last year.

#1 Daytime Network Line Up with the Top Three Shows
· CBS Daytime is delivering 3.83 million total viewers
· #1 THE PRICE IS RIGHT
· #2 THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (also the #1 daytime drama)
· #3 THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (also the #2 daytime drama)

CBS Daytime Broadcast Audience Growth
· THE PRICE IS RIGHT up +4% delivering 5.38 million total viewers
· THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS up +5% delivering 5.09 million total viewers
· THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL up +5% delivering 4.13 million total viewers
· LET'S MAKE A DEAL up +4% delivering 3.34 million total viewers

The Futon Critic
Soap Opera News
Soap Opera Network
Paramount Press Express
Daytime Confidential

posted 11/19/2024

THURSDAY: Fly Eagles Fly!
CBS Wins Night
From TV Line

In the latest TV show ratings, CBS dominated anything not named Thursday Night Football.

CBS was the most-watched broadcast network with its combination of Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage (6.4m viewers, 0.5 demo rating), Ghosts (5.4m/0.4), Matlock (6.2m/0.4), and Elsbeth (4.3m/0.3).

ABC and NBC fought tooth and nail for second with ABC edging out thanks to 9-1-1 (4m/0.3), Doctor Odyssey (2.6m/0.2), and Grey's Anatomy (2.1m/0.2).

NBC's combo of Law & Order (3.4m/0.3), SVU (3.3m/0.3), and Found (2m/0.2) held steady.

Fox's Hell's Kitchen (1.7m/0.3) and Crime Scene Kitchen (1.1m/0.2) were steady.

Rounding out the night on the CW were Scrabble (378k/0.1) and Trivial Pursuit (353k/0.01).

On cable...
- Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking (P/Food): 671k/0.14
- Christmas Cookie Challenge (Food): 453k/0.09
- House of Villains (E!): 110k/0.03

Food Network's Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking kicked off the network's holidays in spectacular fashion with ratings worth celebrating. The new series launched on Thursday, November 14th, and posted a 0.57 P25-54 / 0.74 W25-54 L3 rating, more than doubling prior six-week benchmarks (+148% and +124% respectively) and is on pace to be Food Network's highest rated freshman series of the year. It ranked as the #2 non-news/sports cable program of the night among both P/W 25-54 and drove the network to its highest Thursday night prime rating since 2021, with the two-hour premiere already reaching more than 5.2 million total cross platform viewers (across linear, Max and discovery+).

TV Line
The Programming Insider
The Futon Critic
Deadline

posted 11/19/2024

Tuesday Lightning Round
... or "Another One..."

  • Mor Ilderton becomes the second player to leave "The Voice" this season (Deadline)

  • Terry Crews signs with CAA (Deadline)

  • Jay Leno hits his head on a rock (TV Insider)

  • Valerie Bertinelli has a panic attack (Entertainment Weekly)

  • Rose Matafeo to headline a special for Max (THe Futon Critic)

  • MasterChef Ukraine kitchen damaged due to missile strike (Deadline)


posted 11/19/2024

Super-Supersized Survivor
Season Finale to Cover Two Weeks
From TV Line

How’s this for a “Survivor first”: The Season 47 finale will not only be a two-parter, but will air over two weeks, TVLine has confirmed.

Part 1 of the Survivor 47 closer will run two hours and is set to air Dec. 11 at 8/7c on CBS. But in order to find out who wins, you’ll also have to tune in the following Wednesday, Dec. 18 — same time, same place, same episode length.

Like all of the other seasons in the new era, the crowning of the new champ will immediately be followed by an aftershow that was filmed directly after the votes were read on location.

Survivor’s recent supersizing trend began with Season 45 when its episodes were expanded from 60 to 90 minutes, partly due to the simultaneous actors’ and writers’ strikes of 2023. Since then, the show maintained its XL format, with the occasional two-hour episode sprinkled in throughout. However, never has the finale stretched to four hours and two weeks, which means this season will run for a total of 14 weeks versus its typical 13.

In the latest installment, former Lavo tribe member Sol was blindsided by a plan masterminded by his former ally Genevieve. He became the second member of the jury, leaving nine players still in the running for the million dollars and title of Sole Survivor: Gabe Ortis, Teeny Chirichillo, Rachel LaMont, Sam Phalen, Andy Rueda, Caroline Vidmar, Kyle Ostwald and Sue Smey.

EW was first to report the news.

TV Line
DEadline
Entertainment Weekly

posted 11/18/2024

FRIDAY: Knocking Out My Signal
CBS Wins Broadcast, Netflix Bout Riddled with Viewers, Glitches
From The Programming Insider

"60 million households around the world tuned in live to watch Paul vs. Tyson! The boxing mega-event dominated social media, shattered records, and even had our buffering systems on the ropes." So sayeth the streamer on its X formerly known as Twitter.

CBS was the most-watched broadcast network with its combination of SWAT (4.1m viewers/0.3 in the demo), Fire Country (4.3m/0.02), and Blue Bloods (4.7m/0.2).

ABC took the silver with Shark Tank (2.7m/0.2) and 20/20 (2.5m/0.2).

NBC reloaded on St. Denis Medical in the middle of the night. Meanwhile bookends Happy's Place (2.9m/0.2), Lopez vs. Lopez (1.6m/0.2), and Dateline (1.3m/0.1).

Fox encored an episode of Rescue: HI-Surf before seguing into their Big Ten coverage (UCLA vs. Washington (1.3m/0.2).

Rounding out the night on the CW were rerun premieres of Bob Hearts Abishola (268k/0.0).

On cable...
- Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking (P/Food): 671k/0.14
- Christmas Cookie Challenge (Food): 453k/0.09
- House of Villains (E!): 110k/0.03


TV Line
The Programming Insider

posted 11/18/2024


Sony Pictures TV/CBS Media Ventures
BRUCE SEYMOUR: 1946-2024
"Super Jeopardy!" Champion
From TV Line

Former Super Jeopardy! winner Bruce Seymour, who won a total of $305,989 on the iconic game show, has died. He was 77.

According to a Legacy.com obituary, Seymour passed away on September 18, 2024, following a seven-week battle with a COVID infection. He was described as been in “excellent health” prior to his infection. Long-time Jeopardy! fans will remember Seymour for his appearance on the show back in 1987, where he won four consecutive games. He later returned for the 1988 Tournament of Champions, losing in the quarter-finals.

He appeared again in 1990 for Super Jeopardy!, a one-time summer-long tournament involving 36 former champions. Seymour won the Super Jeopardy! championship prize of $250,000. This victory brought his overall Jeopardy! prize money winnings to a massive $305,989, which, at the time, was the most any contestant had won.

The prize money allowed Seymour to research his interest in the life of 19th-century stage performer Lola Montez. After traveling the world in pursuit of that research, Seymour released a book, Lola Montez, A Life, in 1996.

He also wrote several articles on travel and opera for various publications.

Born in Indianapolis, Seymour attended Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, where he was editor-in-chief of The Lawrentian and assistant general manager of the college radio station. He graduated with a major in political science in 1968 before enlisting in the Air Force, where he served as a supply officer at Malmstrom AFB, Great Falls, Montana. He received an early discharge in 1972 at the end of the Vietnam War and began traveling the world.

He returned to the U.S. in 1973, where he started law school at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. He graduated and was admitted to the California bar in 1977. Seymour briefly practiced law with his brother before setting off on a driving journey around the U.S. to visit the graves and libraries of every president.

After returning to California, he accepted an offer from an old law school classmate and his wife to become a live-in jack of all trades at their newly purchased 70-year-old home in Piedmont.

In 2007, Seymour moved on to the Peace Corps, where he was assigned a position in Ukraine. He was medically discharged by the Peace Corps after developing cataracts.

Seymour returned to San Francisco and worked as an attorney for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services until he retired in 2016 and continued his passion for traveling the world

. “Throughout his life and wherever he traveled, Bruce made many friends with whom he continued to communicate until his death,” the obit reads. “Although he never married, perhaps disappointing some of his lady friends, he realized that his desire to continue traveling as long he was able, at the lowest cost and with the fewest possible belongings were unsuited to any stable commitment. He was determined to do it his way, and he did until the end.”

Seymour is survived by his older brother, James, and his wife, Carol King; his younger sister, Katherine, and her husband, Scott Ward; his family, Bruce, Ellen, Brian, and Emily Gilmore; Brian’s wife, Leslie, and their five children; and many, many friends throughout the world.

TV Insider
Legacy
KTEN Ada

posted 11/18/2024

Monday Lightning Round
... or "Our Betty Gets Stamped"


posted 11/18/2024

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