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 30-Day Archives |
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Telemundo is sticking with proven franchises for its 2025-26 programming slate, which includes the El Señor de los Cielos spinoff, Dinastía Casillas, a new season of La Casa de los Famosos, and the FIFA World Cup 2026. The network says it has wrapped its first quarter of 2025 as the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast network in prime time among total viewers. Growth for Telemundo is across digital platforms like the Telemundo App, FAST channels, Peacock, YouTube, and social media platforms. Telemundo has focused on making appointment television with its slogan, “Estás en vivo. Estás en Telemundo,” which translates to, “You’re live. You’re on Telemundo.” The strategy has paid off, as it leads Monday-Sunday prime in total viewers (959,000) and is the most-watched network in weekday afternoons (1-5pm) among adults 18-49 (126,000) and total viewers (542,000), according to Nielsen. Much of the driving force behind their social media interaction stems from their reality TV shows like La Casa de los Famosos, an adaptation of the Celebrity Big Brother format, that invites audience participation, voting for their favorite housemates each week. The network is also set to launch Miss Universe Latina: El Reality, with the winner competing in the Miss Universe pageant as the first-ever Latina delegate. NEW 2025-2026 FALL SERIES: |
posted 5/7/2025 |
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It's More Than Just Cake... It's Super Mega Cakes |
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Legendary chef and artist Duff Goldman has been battling top-tier opponents his whole career, but the new series Super Mega Cakes pushes his skill and talent to the next level. In the six-episode series, Team Duff goes up against six teams of the country's best cake artists over the course of four days - all at once. With themes from Superman and Architectural Wonders to Classic Cartoons, the results are mind-blowingly realistic pieces of edible art with intricate details and interactive elements. Each episode focuses on one head-to-head build to impress judges Sherry Yard and Amaury Guichon who will determine each week's most successful cake - while Duff must juggle all six projects at the same time. Special guests joining the judging panel include Eric Bauza, Beck Bennett, Paul de Gelder, Jack Osbourne, Drew Scott and Jacques Torres. In the end, the finalist cakes are presented and tasted by a 50-person audience who will name the grand champion. Super Mega Cakes premieres on Monday, June 16th at 9pm ET/PT on Food Network and streaming the next day on MAX. "These life-sized sweet creations are unlike anything anyone has ever seen - there are cakes with holograms, cakes that float, even cakes that have cameras inside," said Betsy Ayala, Head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery. "Duff and these incredible cake artists pushed culinary limits in every episode, and we cannot wait for our viewers to see each masterpiece."” |
posted 5/8/2025 |
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Prime Looks at 2 "Beast Games" |
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Amazon appears to be moving forward with additional seasons of Beast Games. Deadline understands that the streamer is casting for Season 2 and, though there hasn’t been an official renewal announcement, we hear there’s talk of a two-season order for the MrBeast-fronted series. Head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios Mike Hopkins seemed to confirm that Wednesday during a panel at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles. “We’re going to do a couple more seasons of that, I think, soon,” he said of the series while describing the success the company has had so far dipping its toes into the creator economy. MrBeast, otherwise known as Jimmy Donaldson, gave away $25 million in prize money on his Prime Video competition series, which debuted in December. He seemed eager to hand out even more cash during a recent conversation for Deadline’s Contenders TV, teasing that “another 10 seasons could happen.” However, at the time, he remained coy about the show’s prospects, adding: “[Sean] Klitzner is kind of my boss in this regard, and he told me I wasn’t allowed to speak about that subject during this interview.” |
posted 5/8/2025 |
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Thursday Lightning Round |
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MTV Back Up to "The Challenge" |
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On the heels of the monumental 40th season of The Challenge, MTV today announced that TV's longest running reality competition series has been renewed for a 41st season. The Challenge season 41 returns this summer featuring fan favorite veterans Aneesa Ferreira, Leroy Garrett, and CT Tamburello. Full cast and theme to be announced at a later date. The series that invented the reality competition genre continues to be a ratings juggernaut for MTV with The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras delivering the biggest share in the last 4 years, up 16% from last season. The Challenge season 41 full cast list and premiere date are to be announced at a later date. Follow The Challenge on Instagram, TikTok, X, and Facebook, subscribe to The Challenge on YouTube, and use #TheChallenge41 to join the conversation! The Challenge was created for MTV by Bunim/Murray Productions, part of Banijay Americas. Julie Pizzi, Justin Booth and Jacob Lane serve as Executive Producers for Bunim/Murray, with Diego Amson and Brad Tiemann serving as Co-Executive Producers, Joe Awgul as Supervising Producer and Margaret Morales as Producer. Dan Caster and Leanne Mucci serve as Executive Producers with Angela Liao serving as Executive in Charge of Production for MTV. |
posted 5/7/2025 |
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"Masked Singer" Renewed.... But.... |
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After “The Masked Singer” wraps up its “Lucky Season 13” on Wednesday night, Fox is giving the show a bit of a breather. The network is set to unveil a fall schedule on Monday that won’t include the hit singing competition for the first time in several years — saving Season 14 until January 2026. The news will also be revealed on Wednesday night’s finale. Per a network statement, “Among Fox’s most enduring signature shows is The Masked Singer with a truly devoted fanbase. This juggernaut will return next year for Season 14 as it takes midseason by storm with a spectacular, super-charged new season.” The network added that the decision to hold off on the new season until January “is a strategic move to give ample runway for America’s favorite guessing game. and allow us to creatively look at enhancing the show with the biggest names at the center of it.” |
posted 5/7/2025 |
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More "Funny" Coming |
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What does a long-running game show have to do to get another two-year renewal? Funny You Should Ask. Byron Allen‘s Allen Media Group has ordered Seasons 9 and 10 of its nationally syndicated comedy game, taking the daily half-hour strip through 2026-27. Hosted as always by Jon Kelley, Funny You Should Ask features a panel of professional stand-up comics who interact with contestants for cash, prizes and laughs. The stakes increase in every episode as contestants ask the comedians questions, with the comics giving humorous replies. “Funny You Should Ask is the perfect comedy game show for the entire family,” said Allen, founder, chairman and CEO of Allen Media Group. “We are very proud of this series because the world can never have enough laughter.” |
posted 5/7/2025 |
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Following the debut of Genius Game last week with episodes airing on Wednesday and Thursday, the release schedule for the remainder of the series has been changed. While it was originally intended that episodes would air on both days each week at 9pm, they will now only air at that time on Wednesday, with the series switching to a weekly rollout. This means the show will now run over seven weeks rather than four, with Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? celebrity specials taking the show's place on a Thursday, at least for this week and next. When approached for comment by RadioTimes.com about the move, a spokesperson for ITV said: "Genius Game remains in the peak schedule on ITV1 at 9pm on Wednesdays and is available to view on ITVX." |
posted 5/6/2025 |
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Wednesday Lightning Round |
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Host Ariana Madix returns for Season 7 of the hit cultural phenomenon LOVE ISLAND USA, which premieres exclusively on Peacock beginning Tuesday, June 3 at 6pm PT/9pm ET with new episodes every day - except Wednesdays. Fan favorite comedian Iain Stirling will reprise his role as the iconic narrator for the new season. Season 7 will introduce a brand new roster of singles, new additions to the vibrant Fiji villa, and the return of the infamous Casa Amor. Temptations will rise and drama will ensue as Islanders face brand new couples' challenges, jaw-dropping twists and turns, and even a few surprise guests. Once again, viewers will be able to vote for their favorite couples via the Love Island USA app to determine which Islanders will recouple, who will remain in the villa, and who goes home heartbroken. Season 7 of LOVE ISLAND USA is part of Peacock's growing roster of Love Island content, which includes recently announced LOVE ISLAND: BEYOND THE VILLA, USA Seasons 4-6, Season 1 of LOVE ISLAND GAMES, UK series LOVE ISLAND: ALL STARS, and multiple seasons of LOVE ISLAND SOUTH AFRICA and LOVE ISLAND SPAIN. |
posted 5/6/2025 |
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Comcast's SpinCo Spins a New Name |
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We won’t have SpinCo to kick around any longer. The name of the parent company for the cable networks and other assorted media assets that will be spun off from NBCUniversal and Comcast later this year will be Versant Media. Mark Lazarus, CEO of the new company, announced the name to staffers in a memo on Tuesday, “We would be foolish to expect everyone to love the name of our new company immediately. There were certainly some others that we could have gotten behind, but after sitting with VERSANT for a couple of weeks now, I believe it will suit us well, evoke a sense of energy, and underscore our role in driving progress,” Lazarus said. Versant (pronounced like “conversant”) will house TV networks including MSNBC, CNBC, USA and E! along with other media properties. There is an expectation that Versant will seek to build upon its portfolio by acquiring other properties. Comcast spun off the assets in a bid to focus NBC on broadcast and streaming, while giving the rest of its media assets a chance to eke out a new existence. Executives have been working on devising a name for the new company since December. The name was meant to evoke the future strength and forward movement, and the company hired three different branding agencies and narrowed a list down to 12 names, then three. “There were many considerations for a suitable name,” Lazarus said. “Our internal team of incredibly skilled and experienced brand marketers, designers and media tacticians took into account our overarching goal to influence culture, connect communities and signify a unified direction forward.” |
posted 5/6/2025 |
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Tuesday Lightning Round |
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3 The Force will be with LEGO Masters, thrillifyingly, when Season 5 unspools on Fox. Ahead of the bricktacular competition series’ return on Monday, May 19 at 8/7c, TVLine has secured an exclusive first look at a promo, above, which features host and executive producer Will Arnett’s Season 5 ‘stache… Brickmasters Amy Corbett and Jamie Berard not once containing their surprise or amazement… and first looks at three, big, IP-themed challenges. Season 5, as Rebel-spied in the video above, will feature challenges themed to Star Wars (it appears the teams must design a planet that later gets exploded, Alderaan-style #TooSoon), the blockbuster movie Wicked, and your favorite Caped Crusader and mine, Batman (whom Arnett is more than a bit familiar with). Accompanying each of those challenges will be surprise guest appearances by characters from the franchises. MEET THE 11 COMPETING DUOS HERE: LEGO Masters airs Mondays at 8/7c on FOX and the Next Day on Hulu!. |
posted 5/5/2025 |
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Jenny Daly Joins A. Smith as President |
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A Smith & Co. Productions, the company behind NBC’s American Ninja Warrior and Fox’s Hell’s Kitchen has a new President. The company has hired Jenny Daly, President of Critical Content, in the role. It’s a surprising move for Daly, who has been at the Catfish producer since selling her T Group Productions business in 2018. Arthur Smith will remain Chairman and CEO of the company with Daly overseeing development, production, sales and operations. During her time at Critical Content, she has been behind Netflix’s Sylvester Stallone documentary Sly, E!’s Celebrity Game Face and Netflix’s Get Organized with The Home Edit, which was produced with Reese Witherspoon and Emily Sims. She was also exec producer of Netflix drama Ginny & Georgia. |
posted 5/5/2025 |
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Monday Lightning Round |
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Actress and comedian Ruth Buzzi, who rose to fame in the 1968 to 1973 NBC variety/sketch comedy Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, died on May 1. She was 88. “Ruthie left us while peacefully sleeping yesterday evening at home. She’d been in hospice care, disabled from a stroke in 2022 following a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s ten years earlier,” read a message from her family on Facebook. Born July 24, 1936 in Westerly, Rhode Island, Ruth Buzzi’s first job in show business was at age 19, traveling with singer Rudy Vallee in a live musical and comedy act during her summer break from college. She moved to New York City after graduation and was hired for a lead role in an off-Broadway musical revue, the first of 19 in which she performed around the East Coast. Buzzi debuted on television in variety series The Garry Moore Show in 1964, and she was a member of the ensemble on the The Entertainers in 1965. Following a guest spot on sitcom The Monkees in 1967, she landed the recurring role of Margie “Pete” Peterson on the Marlo Thomas comedy That Girl. Other guest appearances followed, including Night Gallery, Here’s Lucy and Love, American Style until her big break came with Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-in. Following Laugh-In, Buzzi appeared opposite Jim Nabors in the Saturday morning comedy The Lost Saucer from Sid and Marty Krofft from 1975 to 1976. In 1979, she co-starred on the Canadian children’s comedy show Whatever Turns You On. And she was active both as a guest star and a voice actor in dozens of TV series (including CHiPs, Alice, Days of Our Lives, Trapper John, M.D., The Carol Burnett Show, Saved by the Bell, Alvin and the Chipmunks, The Berenstain Bears and The Pink Panther). In game shows, Buzzi featured on episodes of Almost Anything Goes, Celebrity Bowling, All Star Secrets, Let's Make a Deal, I've Got a Secret, Letters to Laugh-In, and The Hollywood Squares. In 1993, Buzzi joined the cast of Sesame Street as shopkeeper, Ruthie, as part of the Around the Corner set expansion. She also voiced Suzie Kabloozie and her pet cat, Feff in animated inserts that were shown on the show from 1994 to 2008. Buzzi also appeared in numerous TV commercials, including Clorox 2, Clairol and Ban roll-on deodorant, and she voiced Granny Goodwitch for Sugar Crisp cereal. She had a nightclub act across the United States, including at The Sahara and MGM Grand hotels in Las Vegas. She appeared eight times on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. And her film resume included Chu Chu and the Philly Flash, Freaky Friday, The North Avenue Irregulars and The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again. Memorial arrangements will be made by Lacy Funeral Home on Stephenville, Texas. with the details to be announced. The family requests donating to Alzheimer’s research (www.alz.org) in lieu of flowers. |
posted 5/2/2025 |
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AGT at 20 |
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America’s Got Talent is celebrating 20 seasons and 20 years of discovering talent, and the celebratory trailer showcases some of the acts from the past. The NBC talent show premieres on Tuesday, May 27 at 8 p.m. ET, and the preview gives a nod to some of the winners, like ventriloquist Terry Fator (Season 2), singer Kodi Lee (Season 14), singer Grace VanderWaal (Season 11), ventriloquist Darci Lynne (Season 12), singer Richard Goodall (Season 19), among many others. “Two minutes could change your life,” judge Simon Cowell says in the trailer. “We’re still here 20 years later, who knows what’s going to happen next.” For the 20th season, judge Howie Mandel says, “We want bigger, better than we’ve ever seen before.” Returning for Season 20, singer Jessica Sanchez returns to the AGT stage to showcase her talent once again, to which judge Sofía Vergara says, “This was a very special moment.” The trailer also shows the first look at Mel B’s return to the judging panel, taking over the chair for Heidi Klum. Mel B first joined the show in Season 8 alongside Howard Stern, Mandel, and Klum and remained a judge until Season 13. The epic celebration 20 seasons in the making, is hosted by Terry Crews. The Got Talent format has had more than a billion global viewers since it began airing in 2006 in America and has aired in 194 territories worldwide. Got Talent holds the Guinness World Records title as the Most Successful Reality Television Format, with more than 70 local versions produced across Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. Furthermore, Got Talent has seen success with several global brand extensions, including “Champions,” “All-Stars” and “Fantasy League.” |
posted 5/1/2025 |
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Thursday Lightning Round |
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Critics Choice Real TV Awards: And the Nominees Are... |
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The Critics Choice Association has revealed its nominees for the 2025 Critics Choice Real TV Awards: The Traitors, once again, led the nominations. The show earned six nominations overall, including best competition series, best ensemble cast in an unscripted series and best show host for Alan Cumming. At last year’s awards show, The Traitors was the big winner, taking home four trophies. Dancing with the Stars and Top Chef followed with four nominations each. “We are proud to once again recognize the best of the best in unscripted programming,” Critics Choice Association TV branch president Ed Martin says. “The Traitors once again leads nominees after sweeping last year’s awards ceremony with an impressive four wins. Dancing with the Stars rose toward the top with breakout star Stephen Nedoroscik and host Julianne Hough both nominated, while Top Chef continues to be a top choice for foodies and fans alike. The incredible range and depth of our nominees for the seventh annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards reflects the impact of the ever-growing genre.” The Critics Choice Real TV Awards were formed in 2019 to recognize “excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms.” Winners will be announced online on CriticsChoice.com on May 20 at 9 a.m. PT. BEST COMPETITION SERIES BEST COMPETITION SERIES: TALENT/VARIETY BEST CULINARY SHOW BEST GAME SHOW BEST TRAVEL/ADVENTURE SHOW BEST BUSINESS SHOW BEST RELATIONSHIP SHOW BEST LIFESTYLE SHOW: HOME/GARDEN BEST LIFESTYLE SHOW: FASHION/BEAUTY BEST ENSEMBLE CAST IN AN UNSCRIPTED SERIES BEST SHOW HOST MALE STAR OF THE YEAR FEMALE STAR OF THE YEAR |
posted 5/1/2025 |
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ABC announced its summer premiere dates, which includes the highly anticipated return of "Bachelor in Paradise," alongside a slate of high-stakes, fan-favorite game shows including a new iteration of "Match Game" hosted by Martin Short. Kicking off the summer, the 10th season of "Bachelor in Paradise" begins MONDAY, JULY 7, featuring cast members from across the franchise including Goldens joining the beach for the first time. "Celebrity Family Feud" has been renewed for season 11 and premieres THURSDAY, JULY 10, with host Steve Havey, followed by new episodes of "Press Your Luck," featuring Elizabeth Banks. Jimmy Kimmel hosts "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire," beginning WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, followed by the revival of "Match Game" hosted by comedy legend Martin Short. BACHELOR IN PARADISE (July 7): Breakout fan favorites from "The Bachelor" franchise are heading to a new paradise in Costa Rica for a second (or third) shot at love, hoping to turn a summer fling into something real. With Jesse Palmer returning as host, Wells Adams mixing drinks as bartender, and Hannah Brown heading up Paradise Relations while bringing the bubbly from the all-new Champagne Lounge, this season is raising the bar on romance, with every detail perfectly shaken, stirred and sparkling. Plus, in a series first, fan favorites from the Golden seasons are joining the fun, proving once again that age is just a number as they bring their experience, and a little extra spice, to show the younger crowd how it's done. "Bachelor in Paradise" is produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon. Scott Teti serves as executive producer. Follow "Bachelor in Paradise" (#BachelorInParadise) on Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube and Facebook. CELEBRITY FAMILY FEUD (July 10): Hosted by stand-up comedian, actor, author and Emmy® Award winner Steve Harvey, the iconic game show features celebrities, along with their family members or their extended TV families, going head-to-head in a contest to name the most popular responses to survey-type questions posed to 100 people for a chance to win $25,000 for a charity of their choice. "Celebrity Family Feud" is produced by Fremantle. Myeshia Mizuno is the showrunner and executive producer. Follow "Celebrity Family Feud" (#CelebrityFamilyFeud) on Instagram, X and Facebook. MATCH GAME (July 23): Hosted by Martin Short, "Match Game" features four contestants each week vying for the chance to win $25,000 as they attempt to match the answers of six celebrities in a game of fill-in-the-blank. "Match Game" is produced by FremantleMedia North America (FMNA), with Martin Short and Alycia Rossiter serving as executive producers. Follow "Match Game" (#MatchGame) on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and TikTok. PRESS YOUR LUCK (July 10): Hosted by Elizabeth Banks, "Press Your Luck" is a game of wits, strategy and high stakes as contestants compete for a chance at life-changing cash and prizes. During each game of "Press Your Luck," three contestants battle each other, answering questions to earn spins on the Big Board. Contestants then use their spins to win cash and prizes while trying to avoid the WHAMMY, which could take all their winnings and leave them with nothing. The winning contestant then moves on to the bonus round to face the WHAMMY in a final battle for the chance to win $1 million. "Press Your Luck" is produced by Fremantle. The show is executive produced by Elizabeth Banks, Max Handelman and John Quinn, who also serves as showrunner. Follow "Press Your Luck" (#PressYourLuck) on Instagram, X and Facebook. WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE (July 23): Hosted by late-night's Jimmy Kimmel, "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" features pairs of celebrity contestants playing together in the hopes of winning $1 million for the charity of their choice. "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" is executive produced by Michael Davies and Jimmy Kimmel. The series is produced by Sony Pictures Television's Embassy Row and Kimmelot. Follow "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" (#WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire) on Instagram, X and Facebook. |
posted 5/1/2025 |
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Celebrities Get Puzzled |
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Celebrity Puzzling, a weekly quiz show will air in hour-long slots across eight episodes 5 today announced. Hosted by Jeremy Vine with team captains, actress Sally Lindsay and presenter Carol Vorderman, will each week welcome a new celebrity guest to their respective teams. Together, they tackle a range of fun and fiendish puzzles – testing logic, lateral thinking and problem-solving – all vying for the ultimate prize: bragging rights as the best puzzle-solvers in showbiz. Jeremy Vine: “It’s amazing to do a quiz that’s so simple and yet feels so fresh in every way. Celebrity Puzzling is one of those shows where, from the very first edition, everything fell into place with our amazing 5 team, with Carol and with Sally, and we just had the greatest fun in the studio. Not to mention burning through quite a few brain cells as we all tried to solve those beastly puzzles!" The host of famous faces joining the teams each week include Stephen Bailey, Miles Jupp, Shaun Williamson, Les Dennis, Gareth Malone, John Thomson, Dom Joly, Russell Kane, Melvin Odoom, Paul Sinha, David James, Ore Oduba, Scarlett Moffatt, Dr Ranj Singh, Sam Quek and Rav Wilding. Sally Lindsay: “I was honestly a bit nervous about this challenge as I’m more your general knowledge type but even though it was really competitive at times I surprised myself on some rounds! If you love a puzzle you will love this!” Carol Vorderman: “I’m so excited to be a team captain on Celebrity Puzzling. Finally, all those years of loving numbers, words and brainteasers are about to pay off! Well, I hope that they are. Joining forces with my brilliant and really good mate Sally Lindsay, and with the ever-clever Jeremy Vine keeping us all in line, it’s going to be a battle of brains… and I’m going to be fighting all the way, of course!” The series was filmed at Enfys Studios in Cardiff, Wales, and will be available to watch and stream on 5 this year. Produced by Potato (part of ITV Studios), and Wheelhouse (UK division). |
posted 5/1/2025 |
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Fan-favorite game shows return WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, to ABC and next day on Hulu, kicking off with new episodes of Pat Sajak's "Final Spin" as host of "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune" (8:00-9:00 p.m. EDT), followed by the 2025 "Jeopardy! Masters" tournament featuring an expanded lineup of contestants (9:00-10:01 p.m. EDT). Hosted by pop-culture legends Pat Sajak and Vanna White, "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune" welcomes celebrity contestants to spin the world's most famous Wheel and solve puzzles for a chance to win $1 million for the charity of their choice. The all-star lineup for Sajak's "Final Spin" as host includes Cameron Brink, Josh Gad, Tiffany Haddish, Regina Hall, Rachael Harris, Ellie Kemper, Justin Long, Joe Manganiello, Katharine McPhee, Oscar Nuñez, Randall Park, Andrew Rannells, Sam Richardson, Matt Walsh and Rainn Wilson. "Wheel of Fortune," produced by Sony Pictures Television and executive produced by Bellamie Blackstone, is one of the most successful syndicated programs in the history of television. Hosted by "Jeopardy!" G.O.A.T. Ken Jennings, the third annual "Jeopardy! Masters" 2025 tournament will feature an expanded lineup of the top-ranked current "Jeopardy!" contestants, each competing in two action-packed games per hourlong episode for the grand prize of $500,000. Contestants will include reigning champion Victoria Groce, returning finalist Yogesh Raut, 2025 Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions winner Neilesh Vinjamuri, TOC finalists Adriana Harmeyer and Isaac Hirsch, 2025 Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament champion Matt Amodio, and JIT finalists Roger Craig and Juveria Zaheer. Additionally, this tournament marks the return of Brad Rutter, one of the biggest winners in "Jeopardy!" history, who will step back onto the Alex Trebek Stage for the first time since 2020's "Jeopardy!: The Greatest of All Time" event. Produced by Sony Pictures Television, this is the largest "Jeopardy! Masters" event to date. "Jeopardy! Masters" is executive produced by Michael Davies. |
posted 4/30/2025 |
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Match Game is back, once again, this time with Martin Short as host. ABC is bringing the evergreen gameshow back for a new season, four years after it last aired on the Disney-owned network. Alec Baldwin hosted the last reboot of the show, which launched in 1962 and has aired on CBS, NBC and ABC as well as on syndication. That most recent version of the show ran for five seasons, starting in 2016 with the final batch of episodes airing in summer of 2021. The series features four contestants each week vying for the chance to win $25,000, as they attempt to match the answers of six celebrities in a game of fill-in-the-blank. It is produced by FremantleMedia North America with Short and Alycia Rossiter, who has exec produced series including ABC’s Generation Gap and Supermarket Sweep, serving as executive producers. Deadline reports that Sarah Jessica Parker had been in talks to be involved in the reboot of the show but a deal wasn’t closed. Baldwin’s version of the show regularly aired on Sunday nights alongside Celebrity Family Feud and The $100,000 Pyramid on ABC’s Sunday Fun and Games strand but it’s not clear where this new iteration will be scheduled. That version was also filmed in New York, where the original 1960s show had filmed, but this new version will be shot in Montreal, Canada. It will sit alongside other unscripted shows on ABC’s schedule including a second season of The Golden Bachelor, Bachelor in Paradise, which returns this summer, Dancing with the Stars, which is heading into its 34th season and the return of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. |
posted 4/30/2025 |
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Costa Rica = Paradise |
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“Bachelor in Paradise” is getting a change of scenery, as the ABC dating spinoff heads from Mexico to Costa Rica for its upcoming 10th season, due summer 2025. Jesse Palmer returns to host the series alongside Wells Adams as bartender, joined by Hannah Brown, who will be “bringing the bubbly to rose ceremonies in the all-new Champagne Lounge,” per the announcement. Plus, as previously revealed, contestants from “The Golden Bachelor” and “The Golden Bachelorette,” ABC’s spinoffs geared toward senior citizen suitors, will hit the beach this year. The cast includes: Leslie Fhima (“The Golden Bachelor”), Gary Levingston (“The Golden Bachelorette”), Zoe McGrady (“The Bachelor” Season 29), Hakeem Moulton (“The Bachelorette” Season 21) and Jonathon Johnson (“The Bachelorette” Season 21). Former Bachelorette star Hannah Brown is coming back for Season 10 of Bachelor in Paradise. But this time, she’s not coming to bring the drama to the cast, but is joining the guest relations team to help take care of the new cast of hopefuls coming to look for love. AD Hannah will be joining host Jesse Palmer, who is also returning for the new season, and Wells Adams, who will be returning as bartender. Hannah will be bringing her own brand of bubbly fun to the all-new Champagne Lounge. And she’s very excited about her new role. |
posted 4/30/2025 |
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Bobby Flay Challenges Two Newbies |
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“BBQ Brawl” is returning this summer with two new chefs leading the competition against Bobby Flay, TheWrap can exclusively announce. Chefs Maneet Chauhan and Antonia Lofaso will be the new captains of the upcoming Season 6, which will return on June 1 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network. “BBQ Brawl” will also be available to stream the following day on Max. The cooking competition show takes place at the Star Hill Ranch in Austin, Texas, and follows three culinary heavyweights as they lead their respective teams. As they mentor some of the country’s most respected barbeque pitmasters, those teams will have to go head-to-head in a series of grilling challenges. Prepare for everything from live fire cooking to an all-night cook in what’s being described as the “most primal” season of “BBQ Brawl” to date. This season will feature twists the series has never seen before, including a Brawlers vs. Captains battle and global grilling challenge that will use cooking apparatuses from around the world. Can Bobby Flay defend his title? Or will one of these newcomers overtake the grill? |
posted 4/30/2025 |
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Cursed Villages? Japanese Comedians? Insults? Let's Play! |
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The trailer and first-look stills for Netflix's upcoming Japanese unscripted comedy Welcome, Now Get Lost have been released, offering audiences a sneak peek into the hilarity and chaos that awaits. This expanded Netflix special follows comedians as they navigate a hilariously cursed village, enduring relentless taunts from angry villagers. To survive, there's only one rule: comedians must withstand the villagers' jabs without losing their temper. Those who falter face elimination. Who can transform the hostility into humor and make their escape? Hosted by Koji Higashino and created by Nobuyuki Sakuma - the mastermind behind Last One Standing and LIGHTHOUSE - Welcome, Now Get Lost is inspired by the popular "BATOUMURA" project from Sakuma's YouTube channel, NOBROCK TV, which has garnered over 15 million views. Watch these comedians attempt to lift the village's curse in Welcome, Now Get Lost, premiering on May 13, only on Netflix. |
posted 4/30/2025 |
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Germany Dominates |
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German broadcaster RTL has commissioned a local version of primetime gameshow Domination from Keshet International’s Munich-based unscripted prodco Tresor. Based on Keshet Broadcasting’s original format produced for Keshet 12 in Israel, the German adaptation is called Schlauer als Alle – Schlägst du Deutschland?. The quiz format sees a single player attempt to outsmart the rest of the nation using knowledge and strategy. The contestant goes head-to-head with groups of randomly selected people – from doctors to supermarket cashiers – who have answered trivia questions in advance. In each round, the contestant selects a group to compete against in a specified category. With every round won, the time limit shrinks and the game gets tougher. If the contestant makes it to the grand finale, they can choose to walk away with a guaranteed €20,000 (US$22,732), or risk it all and play against the elite team for €100,000. RTL has commissioned Tresor to make two 90-minute episodes of the show, directed by Frank Lieberich and exec produced by Tobias Cullmann and Axel Kühn. It will premiere on May 19. Keshet International distributes the format globally. |
posted 4/30/2025 |
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Big Bad Wolf... |
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French gameshow format Werewolves (aka Loups-Garous) is being adapted by ITV Studios for German public broadcasters BR and ARD. Originally airing on French pay TV broadcaster Canal+, Werewolves is based on a 20-year-old French card game called Les Loups-Garous De Thiercelieux (The Werewolves of Millers Hollow). The game was itself based on a Russian deduction game called Mafia. Created by Dreamspark, Presque Prod, JAAD Productions and Canal+, the Werewolves TV format has already proved popular in France, and worldwide sales began at Mipcom last year. Now the format has crossed the border into Germany, where ITV Studios’ local production arm will adapt it for the two public broadcasters and streamer ARD Mediathek, with filming taking place at the format’s French production hub. The news was announced yesterday at the Paris Unscripted Showcase (PUSH). “Dreamspark is proud to distribute the format in Germany and to partner on the production of this first international version,” said Dreamspark CEO Moe Bennani. “This would have never happened without [JAAD CEO] Arnaud Chautard’s trust, talent and connection with [Werewolves hosts] Fary & Panayotis, and without the amazing people at Canal+. This is just the beginning for Werewolves internationally.” |
posted 4/30/2025 |
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The channel has confirmed that there are no plans to make more episodes of Mel Giedroyc's game show based on the popular Mattel drawing game due to disappointing viewing figures. An ITV spokesperson said: "There are no plans at this stage to make any more 'Pictionary'." The series aired from December 2024 until February this year and featured celebrity guests such as Denise Van Outen, Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen and Brian Conley as well as cash prizes and holidays for the winners. A source told The Sun newspaper: "So many quiz shows have been inspired by beloved board games and the assumption was 'Pictionary' would become an instant hit. "Sadly the ratings were poor and celebrity-led panels require a budget, which in this case wasn't deemed worth expanding." Mel had previously spoken of her excitement at getting to host 'Pictionary', which has proved popular in the US as it is already in its third season. The 56-year-old star said: "Everyone is familiar with 'Pictionary', and I am so excited to help bring the game to life on television. It is such a pleasure to be a part of and I know people will love the show." |
posted 4/28/2025 |
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Wednesday Lightning Round |
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True? False? LIVE! |
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Hard Rock Digital and Playtech have launched a dedicated live trivia game show on the Hard Rock Bet platform in New Jersey. The customisable live trivia game show from Playtech is the first of its kind in New Jersey and gives players the opportunity to win prizes for correctly answering question in real time, with the game hosted by live gameshow presenters. “Our partnership with Hard Rock Digital has been built around a unified vision to drive innovation and deliver exceptional customer experiences,” said Jonathan Doubilet, VP of US business operations at Playtech. “We are proud to celebrate this milestone with the launch of our Live Trivia Game Show on the Hard Rock Bet platform, bringing a new level of entertainment to their players.” Grant Williams, SVP of casino at Hard Rock Digital, added: “We’re thrilled to be the first in New Jersey to offer Playtech’s Live Trivia Game Show, and continue to elevate the player experience with cutting-edge, innovative content. “This exclusive experience will truly stand out in the market and uniquely engage players with our top-rated platform by testing their knowledge, competing for rewards, and enjoying interactive, real-time entertainment like never before.” |
posted 4/29/2025 |
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Tuesday Lightning Round |
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Drag performer Bianca Castro-Arabejo, who was known as reality television star Jiggly Caliente on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” died Sunday at age 44, days after her family reported hospitalization for a serious infection. Castro-Arabejo, who became a judge on “Drag Race Philippines” in 2022, scrapped plans to appear on the upcoming season after a recent hospitalization for a “severe infection” and a leg amputation surgery, her family said in a statement on her Instagram page. She died early Sunday, her family said in another statement. “A luminous presence in the worlds of entertainment and advocacy, Jiggly Caliente was celebrated for her infectious energy, fierce wit, and unwavering authenticity,” her family said Sunday. “She touched countless lives through her artistry, activism, and the genuine connection she fostered with fans around the world.” Castro-Arabejo competed on the fourth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and later on “RuPaul’s Drag Race Allstars.” “Her talent, truth, and impact will never be forgotten, and her legacy will continue to slay — always,” said a statement from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” posted on X. “We’re holding her family, friends, and fans close in our hearts during this difficult time.” Born in the Philippines, Castro-Arabejo immigrated to New York. She started working in drag about 20 years ago, appearing in competitions and pageants. She noted the influence of her upbringing in her work and its importance for representation in the industry. In 2018, she released a hip-hop album called “T.H.O.T. Process,” including a track where she raps in Tagalog. During a 2023 episode of reality show “Bring Back My Girls,” which reunites different performers from the “Drag Race” franchise, Castro-Arabejo said her work as a judge was important because of her heritage. “When it comes to my culture, I live and breathe that I am Filipina,” she said. “I am a proud immigrant woman.” She publicly came out as transgender in 2016 on a podcast, partly because she said she received letters from fans who were struggling with their own gender identities. “I wanted to come out because I was ready to come out. I have been living as a trans woman for so long, but I just never told the audience and the fans that,” she said in a 2018 Billboard interview. “I was actually transitioning while I was on the show, I just never talked about it. I didn’t want it to be my storyline, because being a trans woman is not what defines me.” |
posted 4/28/2025 |
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Gretchen Wilson Hits "The Road" |
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GRAMMY(R) Award winner and accomplished country music artist Gretchen Wilson joins THE ROAD in the special role of "tour manager." As "tour manager," Wilson will provide support and guidance to the emerging musicians while they make their way across America, ensuring the tour's success while sharing her own expertise and experiences on the road as a touring artist. Wilson also takes to the stage to deliver a performance of her own as part of the show. "Stepping into the role of 'tour manager' for THE ROAD has allowed me to take everything I've learned over all of my years of touring and pour it right back into these emerging musicians. Helping them sharpen their talents to capture the attention of these crowds across America, and guiding them through the real and raw grind of life on the road, has been a highlight of my career," says Wilson. "Working with Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Taylor Sheridan and the rest of the team and our incredible crew was absolutely amazing. It was an honor to be a part of this team and I can't wait for the world to watch!" THE ROAD is set to premiere in fall 2025 on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. |
posted 4/28/2025 |
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Game Called... |
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Fifteen years after it first debuted, sports panel show A League of Their Own is set to end on Sky with its 20th and final season. The new episodes, which will see host Romesh Ranganathan, team captains Jamie Redknapp and Jill Scott, and series regular Micah Richards all return, start filming in Manchester this August, in front of its largest live audiences to date. Phil Edgar-Jones, executive director of original unscripted at Sky, said of the news: "Series 20 is the perfect opportunity to celebrate everything A League of Their Own has achieved and to give it the send-off it truly deserves. "We’re incredibly proud of the show – it’s been a cornerstone of Sky’s entertainment line-up for 15 years and has delivered endless laughter, heart, and unforgettable moments. "Huge thanks to the brilliant team at CPL Productions and to our fantastic on-screen line-up – Romesh, Jamie, Jill and Micah – who continue to bring such energy and chemistry to the show." It has been said that the new season will "celebrate everything that has made the show such a hit", featuring more games, surprise guests and sporting chaos. A League of Their Own comes from CPL Productions, with the company's creative director, Murray Boland, saying in a statement: "The first episode of A League of Their Own was broadcast in March 2010. "The idea we’d still be making the show in 15 years’ time, having also made nine series of ALOTO Road Trips and won two BAFTAs would’ve sounded totally impossible. "It’s been an incredible journey. We would like to thank all the amazing performers, guests and sports stars for all the laughs and inspiration. "We’d also like to thank all the brilliant people who’ve worked so hard on the production team and crew. Thank you to Sky for allowing us the privilege of making the show and a huge thank you to the fans who have watched and supported the show over the years." The show was originally hosted by James Corden, while previous team captains and regulars on the series have included Freddie Flintoff, Georgie Thompson, John Bishop, Jack Whitehall and Mo Gilligan. A League of Their Own season 20 will arrive on Sky Max and NOW later this year. |
posted 4/28/2025 |
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Monday Lightning Round |
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Fox has set summer premiere dates for its new and returning series including Gordon Ramsay’s new series Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service on May 21 and Jeff Jefferies-hosted The Snake on June 10. Returning series Lego Masters will be back for its fifth season on May 19. MasterChef‘s 15th season will debut on May 21, The Quiz With Balls on June 2 and The 1% Club with new host Joel McHale on June 10. Ramsay will take over primetime Wednesdays beginning May 21 with the Season 15 premiere of MasterChef: Dynamic Duos at 8 pm, followed by the debut of his new series Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service at 9 pm. Additional summer programming to be announced. |
posted 4/24/2025 |
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Thursday Lightning Round |
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Snoop Dogg DEals with NBCUniversal |
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Snoop Dogg is returning to The Voice Season 28 and reclaiming his spot as coach for the NBC talent competition this fall. The rapper joined the reality TV singing competition in Season 26 alongside Michael Bublé, Gwen Stefani, and Reba McEntire. In his first year as coach, Snoop helped Jeremy Beloate reach the finale, where he ended up in fifth place overall. Following his first year as coach on The Voice, Snoop stepped down for Season 27. The season, which is currently airing on NBC, features John Legend, Michael Bublé, Kelsea Ballerini, and Adam Levine as coaches. The Voice rotates its coaches to keep the reality TV competition hosted by Carson Daly fresh, airing two times a year. Snoop is the first coach confirmed for Season 28, which is set to air this fall on NBC. NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios entered a new multi-year creative partnership with Snoop Dogg, and his Death Row Pictures production company. The deal reps a major expansion between the entertainment conglom and the Hip Hop branded artist across film, television, sports entertainment, and streaming. Death Row Records is now expanding with Death Row Pictures with a new era of innovative onscreen storytelling in the works. Death Row Picture’s upcoming slate of projects includes the Snoop Dogg biopic about his rise to fame. That pic will be written by Joe Robert Cole and produced by Snoop, Brian Grazer and Death Row Pictures President Sara Ramaker. |
posted 4/23/2025 |
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Boulet Brothers Deal with Shudder |
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Shudder has renewed Emmy-nominated “The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula” for a seventh season. The renewal is part of drag stars Dracmorda and Swanthula Boulet’s new multi-project deal with the streaming service. Shudder also announced that the reality competition series’ all-star spinoff, “The Boulet Brothers Dragula: Titans,” has been renewed for Season 2 while it has also greenlit a new holiday special, “The Boulet Brothers’ Holiday of Horrors,” featuring “Late Night with the Devil” star David Dastmalchian as co-host. Production began this week on “Titans” Season 2, which will be the first to premiere later this year on Shudder and AMC+. No premiere dates have been announced for “Dragula” or “Holiday of Horrors.” “We’re positively enthralled to extend our unholy alliance with Shudder and AMC+ through this multi-season pact,” the Boulet Brothers said in a joint statement Wednesday morning. “It ensures the underworld stays wide open for many years to come — welcoming fresh souls, darker tales, and even more monstrous mayhem. We’re especially excited to be writing and directing the ‘Holiday of Horrors’ anthology special alongside some of our dearest friends and fresh new blood of the horror genre. Together, we’re summoning something truly diabolical — and this is only the beginning of the nightmares to come.” AMC Networks’ EVP of linear and streaming products, Courtney Thomasma, said, “We’re thrilled to expand our partnership with The Boulet Brothers, who bring their iconic and passionate flair to every project they’ve ever touched and continue to push boundaries in the reality competition space. We can’t wait to see where Drac and Swan’s vision takes the audience next.” “The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula” and “The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans” are executive produced and directed by the Boulets. David Sigurani serves as executive producer of both series. |
posted 4/23/2025 |
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Wheel of Fortune Goes Live |
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Sony Pictures Television and Right Angle Entertainment have announced that Wheel of Fortune LIVE!® will be hitting the Vegas Strip with an extended engagement at the Paris Las Vegas starting July 11. Hosted by actor, television personality and game show host Mark L. Walberg, everyone’s favorite TV game show will come to life LIVE on stage giving fans the chance to spin the famous Wheel, solve puzzles and win fantastic prizes! Fans of Wheel of Fortune® will also be able to audition on-site for the chance to appear as a contestant on a future episode of the TV show alongside hosts Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White! Tickets for Wheel of Fortune LIVE! Las Vegas will go on sale Friday, April 25 and will be available by calling the box office at 855-234-7469, visiting the box office in person, or through Ticketmaster. VIP Packages will also be available to give fans early access, premier seats, pre-show lounge access and photo opportunities to spin the wheel. At Wheel of Fortune LIVE!, audience members will be randomly selected to come up on stage to solve puzzles just like they do on the hit TV show by spinning the Wheel, buying vowels and choosing consonants, and ultimately vying for great prizes including dream vacations or cash prizes up to $10,000. As part of the 2025 Wheel of Fortune LIVE! tour, everyone who attends will be able to submit an application and audition video directly to the television show’s producers. "We’ve been looking for ways to expand the Wheel of Fortune brand and create opportunities for our fans to engage in new and exciting ways," said Suzanne Prete, President, Game Shows for Sony Pictures Television. "This live show is a fun, interactive first for enthusiasts to play a version of their favorite game show in their hometown. Our collaboration with Paris Las Vegas will give Wheel Watchers and Las Vegas tourists a chance to spin, win and solve puzzles, just like they see on TV." Las Vegas will be the first stop on a planned 60-city U.S. tour throughout the fall of 2025. Tour dates, cities and local ticket information will be announced in May and available on the tour’s website, www.wheeloffortunelive.com. "We are thrilled to bring Wheel of Fortune LIVE! to Paris Las Vegas this summer," said Ken Ostempowski, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Paris Las Vegas. "A game as energetic and fun as Wheel of Fortune LIVE! is perfectly suited for the Las Vegas Strip, and we know our guests are going to love experiencing this iconic show from the beautiful Paris Theater." |
posted 4/23/2025 |
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Celebrities Try to Beat the BRidge |
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Ross Kemp presents the high-stakes quiz where the celebrities all face the Bridge, choosing who faces each crossing, depending on the question category. Each Bridge crossing has 32 potential steps, including 22 truths and ten lies. They must cross the Bridge by stepping on the truths and avoiding the lies, earning money for each correct answer. Step on a lie, and the Bridge will halve their money. Step on three lies, and they are out of the game. There is always a safe path across the Bridge. They just have to find it. Once they have each faced the Bridge on their own, those who have been successful will join forces to face the final crossing for a chance to take home the cash for their chosen charities. Appearing throughout the new series will be Gladiators Apollo, Dynamite, Sabre and Nitro, Mark Chapman, Jeannette Kwakye, Beth Tweddle, JJ Chalmers, Gordon Smart, Tyler West, Sara Davies, Nikki Fox, Jay McGuiness, Cheryl Baker, Snoochie Shy, Faye Tozer, Les Dennis and Fiona O'Carroll. Plus Jordan Banjo, Rachel Riley, Simon Rimmer Desiree Burch, Angela Rippon, Craig Doyle, Kola Bokinni, Kerry Godliman, Greg McHugh Rina Lina, Jason Mohammad, Sunetra Sarker, Steve Backshall, Natasha Raskin Sharp, Charlotte Hawkins, Kaye Adams, Ade Adepitan and Matt Allwright. Celebrity Bridge Of Lies returns Saturday 3rd May on BBC One.. |
posted 4/23/2025 |
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Silence! |
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A new game show is making its way to TV screens, and there's just one thing you can't do: laugh. Hosted by Dermot O'Leary, Silence Is Golden sees £250,000 up for grabs for a studio audience to share between themselves - but they have to ensure they remain silent. Sounds easy, right? Well, they have to try all that while a group of comedians do everything they can to make them laugh. The hilarious new series is coming to U and U&Dave on Monday 5th May at 9pm. Throughout the series, O'Leary will be joined by three returning comedy captains, Katherine Ryan, Seann Walsh and Fatiha El-Ghorri. Dermot O'Leary said of the show: "I'm so looking forward to Silence Is Golden. When a show like this falls into your lap, you can’t quite believe your luck. "Looking forward to having lots of fun with the audience, our comedians and assorted cast of regulars, all trying to make the audience laugh, gasp and giggle." |
posted 4/23/2025 |
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Meet the New "Golden Bachelor" |
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After a historic first season, "The Golden Bachelor" is set to return to ABC and Hulu. Mel Owens, the 66-year-old former NFL veteran-turned-lawyer, is gearing up to make his next big play as the second Golden Bachelor. Born and raised in a close-knit Midwestern family in Detroit, Owens' athleticism shone through from an early age. After graduating from the University of Michigan, he was selected as the ninth overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft by the LA Rams. Following his retirement from football, Owens transitioned into a career in law and moved to Orange County, California, dedicating himself to helping others - particularly those seeking justice for sports-related injuries. It was during this time that he met his first love, and together they had two sons. While life took an unexpected turn with the passing of his father and the end of his marriage, Owens channeled his energy into being the best father he could be, focusing on raising his sons and coaching their extracurricular sports teams. Now, after several years as a devoted dad, Owens is ready to rediscover a love rooted in the simple joys of companionship - sharing life's everyday moments, making plans for the future, and growing stronger together as a couple. As the Golden Bachelor, he's eager to meet someone who shares this vision and finally find that perfect teammate he's been waiting for in his golden years. The inaugural season of "The Golden Bachelor" averaged 10.4 million viewers after the first 35 days across platforms, making it the strongest average for any season of an ABC unscripted series since "The Bachelor" during the 2019-2020 season (P2+, MP35). It also hit a 2.88 rating among P18-49, the highest-rated ABC unscripted series since "The Bachelorette" in fall 2020. "The Golden Bachelor" is produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon. A premiere date will be announced at a later date. |
posted 4/23/2025 |
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Japanese actor Takashi Yamaguchi, best known as the host of Quiz Time Shock, has died. Yamaguchi passed away of lung cancer at an elderly care facility on Friday, his management agency announced, according to The Sankei Shimbun. He was 88. For nearly a decade, Yamaguchi appeared on TV screens across Japan as the host of Quiz Time Shock. The hit Japanese game show premiered in 1969 and tasked contestants, who were raised to the top of an on-set clock set piece, to answer a series of questions in 60 seconds. Their winnings increased with each correct answer. Yamaguchi joined the show in 1978, taking over hosting duties from original Quiz Time Shock host Jiro Tamiya. He hosted the series for eight years through 1986. Outside of his storied career as a game show host Yamaguchi was also an actor. Originally from Hyogo Prefecture, the star embarked on his acting career after dropping out of the Faculty of Education at Waseda University. He attended the NHK Actor Training School and went on to become an in-demand actor for dramas and movies as “traditional handsome man,” according to Sponichi Annex. He is well-remembered for his role as Tokugawa Yoshimune in the TBS period drama Ooka Echizen, a role he held for more than 30 years beginning in 1970. It was while he was starring in NHK’s historical drama Berabou that he was diagnosed with cancer. The actor was urged by family and friends to see a doctor after he developed a hoarse voice, Yamaguchi reportedly initially saying, “Maybe I have a cold.” He was later diagnosed with lung cancer. Yamaguchi entered a nursing home earlier in April and was said to have been in good spirits. A source from his agency said the actor told them, “I’ve still got a lot of life left,” while visiting him. However, Yamaguchi’s health deteriorated in the days proceeding his death, and he passed away with his oldest son Taro by his side. A wake for the late actor is scheduled to be held Friday, with a funeral set to take place in Tokyo the following day. |
posted 4/23/2025 |
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Wednesday Lightning Round |
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Jimmy Kimmel will be back in the hot seat after ABC renewed Who Wants To Be A Millionaire for a new season. The show has been renewed for a fourth season since its return in 2020, some 18 years after it previously aired on the Disney-owned network. It marks the second time that Kimmel will be hosting the show in front of a live studio audience after the first two seasons of the reboot were produced under Covid protocols. The series will once again feature pairs of celebrity contestants playing together in the hopes of winning $1 million for the charity of their choice. Last season, celebrities included Reggie Watts & Ron Funches, Gillian Jacobs & Danny Pudi, Ray Romano & Brad Garrett, Jason Ritter & Natasha Leggero, Zach Braff & Donald Faison, Ike Barinholtz & Alan Barinholtz, Dave Burd & GaTa, Kelly Osbourne & Jack Osbourne, Sophia Bush & Alex Edelman, Jeff Ross & Kimmel’s Cousin Sal, Nicole Byer & Sasheer Zamata, John Stamos & Dave Coulier, Rosie O’Donnell & Lisa Ann Walter, Sebastian Maniscalco & Omar J. Dorsey, John Mulaney & Nick Kroll and Kenan Thompson & Kel Mitchell. It’s not clear when the fourth season of the show will premiere but season three premiered in July and the eight-part series ran through to the end of August. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire is produced by Sony Pictures Television’s Embassy Row and Kimmelot with Kimmel and Michael Davies serving as exec producers. |
posted 4/22/2025 |
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Crikey, Dancing With the Stars is about to get wild. The long-running ABC dance competition is officially returning for season 34 this fall, and they've already announced their first celebrity contestant. On Tuesday, the network announced that Robert Irwin, the son of beloved Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, will join the hunt for the Mirrorball Trophy. Robert follows in the fancy footsteps of his sister, Bindi, who was crowned the champion of season 21 alongside professional partner Derek Hough (now a judge on DWTS) in 2015. Irwin's professional partner and the additional contestants won't be announced until closer to the season 34 premiere. The 21-year-old, much like his father, is a conservationist and TV personality. He currently is the co-host of Australia's version of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here. From 2018 to 2022, he starred on reality series Crikey! It's the Irwins alongside sister Bindi and mom Terri. The premiere date and more information for season 34 will be announced in due course. The show will air simultaneously on ABC and Disney+. |
posted 4/22/2025 |
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Another Snake Slithers Into the Game Show Realm |
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FOX has ordered all-new, wholly owned "social survival of the fittest" competition series, The Snake, and has tapped comedian Jim Jefferies to host the show, it was announced today by Michael Thorn, President of FOX Television Network. For this unmatched battle of plotting, scheming and strategy, The Snake assembles 15 masters of manipulation from various persuasive professions with unique skill sets to compete in an outrageous array of challenges and twists - all of which help contestants move toward becoming that week's Snake, the most powerful position in the game and ultimate decider of who stays and who goes. The Snake is set to premiere this summer on FOX and will stream next day on Hulu. The Snake is social survival of the fittest, where each contestant must leverage their unique skills, training and powers of persuasion as they face a multitude of challenges designed to showcase the traits needed to be successful in the game. The winner of each challenge becomes The Snake, earning control of The Saving Ceremony, an explosive, chain reaction elimination where it's not about who wants you gone, but who is willing to save you. The Snake doesn't just hinge on winning challenges - it's about winning people over. The social aspect of the game never stops - connections are everything whether you're making friends, faking friends, or sparking romantic connections. Promises are put to the test during the Saving Ceremony as players do everything in their power to avoid being picked last by The Snake, hoping to escape elimination. Every week is a fresh start with a new gauntlet and a new Snake. In the end, only one contestant will get within striking distance of the $100,000 grand prize. Befriend, Betray, or Be Gone. "SallyAnn brings her uniquely original voice to FOX with this fresh take on the strategy competition series and a universally appealing concept that will captivate audiences," said Thorn. "Trust Me ... The Snake lives up to its name." "I'm thrilled to be hosting The Snake! A show about making friends and faking friends," said Jefferies. "I've been training for this job my whole life. Growing up In Australia, and now living in Hollywood, I've been around plenty of snakes. " The Snake is wholly owned by FOX Entertainment and produced by 495 Productions. SallyAnn Salsano (Jersey Shore, Joe Millionaire: For Richer or Poorer) serves as executive producer and showrunner. Frank Miccolis and Kim Green also serve as executive producers. |
posted 4/22/2025 |
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CBS Razes "The Summit" |
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CBS has canceled Poppa’s House and The Summit after just one season apiece. Poppa’s House brought Damon Wayans (My Wife and Kids, The Last Boy Scout) and his son Damon Wayans Jr. (New Girl, The Other Guys) together. The senior Wayans played talk-radio host “Poppa” who “has his point of view challenged at work when a new female co-host is hired, and at home where he finds himself still parenting his adult son, a brilliant dreamer who is trying to pursue his passion while being a responsible father and husband,” as the logline reads. Wayans Jr. played Junior, Essence Atkins played Ivy, Poppa’s new co-host, and Tetona Jackson played Nina, Junior’s wife; Poppa’s House was produced by CBS Studios. Reality competition The Summit set 16 strangers on a journey through the New Zealand Alps in an attempt to reach the peak of a distant, giant mountain within just two weeks. There was danger at every turn and an equal share of $1 million in everyone’s backpacks — the full prize went to the winner. The Summit was hosted by Manu Bannett and produced by Endemol Shine North America. Executive producers were Kevin Lee, Tina Nicotera and Endemol Shine North America’s Sharon Levy and Michael Heyerman. The series is based on a format by Endemol Shine Australia and Nine. We will get a full picture of CBS' fall plans come May 7. We know for certain that Survivor, Amazing Race, and Hollywood Squares are set to return. |
posted 4/22/2025 |
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Kanopy Lines Up "America's Next Great Author" |
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Time to find America’s next bestselling author! A new literary competition series hosted by No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander (C-Note: No relation) is in the works. America’s Next Great Author comes from Libby and Kanopy and will follow six amateur writers as they compete for a book deal with a cash advance. "The world is divided. Stories connect us," Alexander tells PEOPLE in an exclusive statement. "We all have a story to tell. In fact, 81% of Americans say they want to write a book! America’s Next Great Author is here to tap into the massive audience of people – from BookTokers to Boomers – who love books and authors." He adds that the streaming series "is a show about making dreams come true as we inspire and develop storytellers who are not typically given a seat at the table." Alexander speaks highly of the impact books — and by association, authors — can have on readers. "Libraries are temples of imagination, and librarians are the gatekeepers. Writers, when they are doing their job, have the capacity to open up a world of possibilities. That is sacred work, in my opinion," he says. Co-created by literary agent Arielle Eckstut and author David Henry Sterry, the show will see the writers move into a "House of Dreams" for 30 days. There, the writers will be tasked with writing 50,000 words while participating in a variety of challenges and critiques from judges. Some of the quirky challenges will include performing in front of middle schoolers and doing an elevator pitch in an actual elevator. "It’s not your typical elimination show — contestants are encouraged to push through roadblocks and grow as writers, with one winner getting a coveted book deal and cash advance," Alexander says. America’s Next Great Author is set to go into production later this year. It will premiere in 2026. The show will be Kanopy’s first original television series. Eckstut and Sterry are also known for creating Pitchapalooza under their Book Doctors company, which has been dubbed "the American Idol for books." |
posted 4/22/2025 |
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More on "The Devil's Plan: Death Room" |
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The highly anticipated second installment of the Korean mental strategy competition returns on May 6 with The Devil's Plan: Death Room, featuring even more sophisticated strategies and deadlier alliances. Directed by Jeong Jong-yeon, this series gathers players from diverse professional backgrounds for seven intense days of competition to determine the brightest mind. The main trailer showcases a complex web of alliances, betrayals, and the fierce drive to win that characterizes the competitors' journeys. Among the players, legendary Go master Lee Se-dol stands out, renowned for his strategic skill in high-stakes scenarios. Meanwhile, Seoul National University graduate Jeong Hyun-gyu, known for his exceptional intellect, emerges as a key figure in the unfolding drama. As alliances form and dynamics shift, the gameplay becomes increasingly unpredictable. Competitors, including Super Junior's Kyuhyun and news presenter Kang Ji-yeong, navigate a landscape rife with loyalty and deception. Actress and KAIST graduate Yoon So-hui faces potential betrayal, while others like Justin H. Min from The Umbrella Academy and Beef, and poker player 7high, are determined to outmaneuver their rivals and claim victory. With secrets unraveling and tensions rising, players respond with shock and determination, revealing a world where nothing is as it seems. Catch The Devil's Plan: Death Room premiering May 6, exclusively on Netflix, with episodes 1-4 available to stream in the first week, episodes 5-9 in the second week, and episodes 10-12 in the third week. |
posted 4/22/2025 |
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Wink Martindale, one of TV’s most beloved game show hosts whose name became virtually synonymous with the profession, died Tuesday in Rancho Mirage, CA. He was 91. The initial statement said the host of such classic game shows as Tic-Tac-Dough, High Rollers and Gambit as part of a 74-year career in radio and television was “surrounded by family and his beloved wife of 49 years, Sandra Martindale." Winston Conrad “Wink” Martindale was born on December 4, 1933, in Jackson, TN. He launched his career as a disc jockey in Jackson at the age of 17, then rising through the ranks at Memphis’ WHBQ, where, according to his family, on the evening of July 10, 1954, fellow DJ Dewey Phillips played Elvis Presley’s debut record, “That’s All Right,” on the radio for the very first time — playing the tune repeatedly while Martindale phoned Presley’s mother and asked if Elvis could come down to the radio station. “Elvis soon arrived at WHBQ for his first interview, and music was changed forever,” the family statement reads. Martindale also found his own success as a recording artist, performing the spoken-word song “Deck of Cards” in 1959, a track that went to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart and sold over 1 million copies. Later that year, Martindale moved to Los Angeles as the morning host of pre-“Boss Jock” KHJ-AM. The following year he joined the morning crew at archrival KRLA and moved to KFWB in 1962, replacing future Laugh-In announcer Gary Owens. He also had stints at KGIL-AM from 1968-71, KKGO-FM/KJQI and Gene Autry’s KMPC from 1971-79 and 1983-87, KABC in 1989 and KJQI from 1993-94. His additional radio credits include Hit Parade Radio and the syndicated programs Music of Your Life, 100 Greatest Christmas Hits of All Time, The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll, the three-hour Those Were the Days and recent recurring appearances on The Howard Stern Show. Among his most popular radio specials was The Elvis Presley Story in 1975. While he first found success in radio, the handsome Martindale found wider, national fame on television. Earlier in Memphis, he’d hosted a science fiction-themed kids series called Mars Patrol and then hosted Teenage Dance Party, where his new friend Presley made an appearance on June 16, 1956. But it wasn’t until 1964, when he landed his first game-show hosting job on NBC’s What’s This Song?, that Martindale found his niche. He followed the musical-contest show with NBC’s Words and Music, CBS’ Gambit and his biggest success Tic-Tac-Dough. Martindale hosted the popular and long-running Tic-Tac-Dough for its first seven seasons, leaving in 1985 to host Headline Chasers, which was the first show he produced and created, in association with Merv Griffin and syndication giant King World. Martindale also went on to host such popular game shows as High Rollers, The Last Word, The Great Getaway Game, Trivial Pursuit, Debt, Instant Recall and more. With his wide grin and bubbly air, Martindale rather personified the game hosts – and became a frequent target of The Tonight Show host Johnny Carson, who enjoyed skewering the genre and its famous faces. “A good host is a person who loves people,” Martindale said in a 2017 interview with the Television Academy Foundation. “If you’re a people person, you’re naturally going to be attracted to contestants, and it’s easy for you to be able to interact with those people.” In recent years, Martindale made appearances on such programs as Most Outrageous Game Show Moments, The Chase, and The Bold and the Beautiful, and appeared in commercials for Orbitz, KFC (alongside Rob Lowe) and more. Martindale also worked in local Los Angeles TV, hosting KTLA’s American Bandstand-influenced P.O.P. Dance Party on Saturdays from the old Pacific Ocean Park pier during the early 1960s. He also hosted dance shows for KCOP and KHJ-TV. By 1970, Martindale was so recognizable as a DJ and game show host that he merited a Cheech & Chong parody on the duo’s debut comedy album. Cheech Marin took on the role of “Wink Dickerson,” a smooth-talking but nerdy DJ at AM radio station KRUT. Tommy Chong played the stoner emcee of a multi-act concert who is tasked with introducing him – but can’t quite get the name right, saying, “I’m really not into AM, man.” When Chong’s character hits the stage, he calls him “Dink Winkerson from KRUD radio.” “Dink” proceeds to drop a bunch of period slang in an effort to ingratiate himself to the booing young crowd as he brings on the next act, Blind Melon Chitlin’. The LP reached the Top 30 and went gold, launching Cheech & Chong’s long career and cementing Martindale as one of the quintessential, best-known game show hosts of his generation. Martindale also supported numerous causes and produced and hosted annual telethons for Cerebral Palsy and St. Jude Children’s Hospital, among other charities. In 2006, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2024 he was honored with a Beale Street Note on Memphis’ Beale Street Walk of Fame – not far from where, in 2015, he was presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award by his alma mater, the University of Memphis. He also was one of the first inductees into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame and received the 1972 Gavin Radio Programming Award. In addition to his wife, Martindale is survived by sister Geraldine; daughters Lisa, Lyn and Laura; a large extended family of grandchildren and great grandchildren; and his “honorary son” Eric. |
posted 4/21/2025 |
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More on "Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing's" New Season |
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For the first time ever, fourteen elite survivalists will brave the treacherous Australian Outback, combating the harsh environment, venomous snakes and slithering rivals, when the toughest and most shocking season yet of NAKED AND AFRAID: LAST ONE STANDING premieres on Sunday, May 18 at 8:00PM ET/PT on Discovery Channel. Fan-favorite legends return to take on new challengers in an all-out battle of skill, innovation, and grit. The competitor who demonstrates the best bushcraft, ingenuity and stamina to outlast their opponents in head-to-head, multiphase challenges will earn the crown, a coveted perfect 10.0 Primitive Survival Rating and a $100,000 cash prize. This season, survivalists will face heartbreaking medical tap outs, legacy-defining moments, and the most shocking elimination ever seen in the franchise. The unforgiving Australian Outback was intentionally chosen to push these battle-tested survivalists - each of whom have completed at least two previous Naked and Afraid challenges - to their absolute limits. Competitors will enter the uninhabited Outback completely naked and without any food or water, facing the blistering heat during the day and freezing temperatures that threaten hypothermia at night. The brutal environment presents both deadly threats and game-changing opportunities - from the highly lethal taipan snake, whose bite has enough venom to take down 100 humans, to 250-pound wild boars that could provide an ample food source to skilled hunters. The survivalists fighting to become the next champion of NAKED AND AFRAID: LAST ONE STANDING include: |
posted 4/21/2025 |
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Monday Lightning Round |
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A California appeals court has paused a preliminary injunction issued by a lower court last week that gave Sony Pictures Television clearance to seek out better distribution deals for its game shows “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune.” The injunction is part of a lawsuit filed by Sony against Paramount Global and CBS Media Ventures last October, which argued the broadcaster breached its distribution contract by improperly licensing the shows to third parties, among other things. For years, CBS Media Ventures — which previously operated as CBS Television Distribution and King World, among other names — have licensed the two game shows to local television stations in the United States since the late 1990s as part of its broadcast syndication business. Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune attract some of the highest TV ratings among syndicated programs, with more than 8 million households tuning in to watch one or both game shows. In its lawsuit, Sony says CBS violated its contract by inking long-term syndication deals with broadcasters in Australia and New Zealand. Foreign syndication deals are limited to two years under its current contract, Sony affirmed, but CBS went beyond that term and refused to hand over its licensing commissions. The lawsuit comes at a time when Sony is hoping to explore additional distribution deals with other platforms, including streaming services, for both shows. |
posted 4/17/2025 |
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Padma Lakshmi Returns to the Kitchen |
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CBS announced today the new cooking competition series AMERICA'S CULINARY CUP (working title) from acclaimed Emmy(R) Award-nominated food expert Padma Lakshmi ("Top Chef," "Taste the Nation") has been ordered to series for the 2025-2026 broadcast season. Lakshmi serves as creator and host and will executive produce alongside Susan Rovner. CBS' new culinary showdown will feature an invitation-only cast of the nation's most decorated chefs as they embark on a one-of-a-kind competition designed to challenge their creativity, endurance, presentation, leadership and more. "We're inviting elite chefs from across the country to represent their unique culinary style and battle it out," said Lakshmi. "This competition echoes the thrill of sports and the American spirit as we cheer on our favorite chefs. I'm very excited to work with CBS and partner with Susan on AMERICA'S CULINARY CUP." AMERICA'S CULINARY CUP is produced by Padma Lakshmi for Delicious Entertainment and Susan Rovner for Aha Studios. |
posted 4/17/2025 |
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Love Island Goes "Beyond the Villa" |
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Peacock has announced LOVE ISLAND: BEYOND THE VILLA (WT), a first of its kind spinoff series from the original pop culture phenomenon, LOVE ISLAND USA. The new series, set to premiere in Summer 2025, follows everyone's favorite Season 6 Islanders around Los Angeles as they navigate new careers, evolving friendships, newfound fame and complex relationships outside of the Love Island villa. The cast of LOVE ISLAND: BEYOND THE VILLA (WT) will include JaNa Craig, Aaron Evans, Miguel Harichi, Leah Kateb, Kaylor Martin, Connor Newsum, Serena Page, Kenny Rodriguez, Olivia Walker and Kendall Washington, with appearances from other former Islanders. Season 6 of LOVE ISLAND USA was Summer 2024's #1 reality series in the US and was Peacock's most-watched original reality competition series in the platform's history. All episodes are currently available to stream on Peacock. LOVE ISLAND: BEYOND THE VILLA is executive produced by David George, Adam Sher, Sarah Howell, and Richard Bye for ITV America & Richard Foster and Chet Fenster for GroupM Motion Entertainment.. |
posted 4/17/2025 |
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Back to the (Other) Island |
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“Temptation Island” has been renewed for Season 2 at Netflix. The reality series debuted its first season on the streaming giant (and ninth season overall) on March 12. The show made the Global Top 10 list for one week and spent three weeks on the U.S. Top 10 TV list. The show originally aired on Fox from 2001-2003, and was then revived at USA Network in 2019 for five more seasons before it moved to Netflix. Season 2 of “Temptation Island” at Netflix is now casting. Mark L. Walberg will return as the host. The official series synopsis states: “In this brand new season of ‘Temptation Island,’ emotions will run high when four couples, each at a crossroads in their relationship, head to Temptation Island to put their love to the ultimate test as they agree to live separately with a group of singles of the opposite sex. Will the choices they make push the couples closer together or farther apart into the arms of a new lover?” David Goldberg and David Friedman serve as executive producers on the show, which is produced by Banijay Studios North America. |
posted 4/17/2025 |
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ITVBe Quizzing |
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The new ITV Quiz channel will take over the broadcast slots of ITVBe on Freeview, Freesat, Freely, Sky, EE TV and Virgin Media A reshuffle of ITV’s linear digital channels will see the line blurring between streaming and traditional broadcast services this summer. ITV Quiz will arrive on all major TV platforms replacing ITVBe during June, building on the development of ITV’s quiz-themed streaming channels on ITVX. ITVBe’s reality shows will migrate to ITV2. It means The Only Way is Essex will return to its original home of ITV2, alongside other ITV reality shows including The Real Housewives of Cheshire. ITV2 favourites including Family Guy, Love Island and G’Wed will continue to feature on ITV2 as well as streaming on ITVX. ITVBe was set up back in 2014 to offer more scheduling opportunities for reality shows, which couldn’t all fit on ITV2’s schedule. That in turn allowed ITV2 to introduce other types of programmes. Until last spring, ITVBe also carried a strand of pre-school children’s programmes, which was quietly axed and moved online to ITVX. ITV2 has in recent years also experimented with showing re-runs of quiz and game shows, including Ant and Dec’s Limitless Win and Family Fortunes. They’ll now have a permanent new home on the new ITV Quiz channel. |
posted 4/17/2025 |
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You Know This Show's a Snake... |
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Channel 4 has ordered six episodes of The Snake for Channel 4.0. The new format from Strong Watch Studios combines competitive quiz with strategic gameplay as some of the players only win by getting the answers wrong. In each episode six creators start with a collective prize pot of £5000. Together they must navigate through a series of tricky multiple-choice questions in order to retain as much of the prize money as possible. What the group don’t immediately realise is that two of the creators are secretly ‘Snakes’, saboteurs whose goal is to manipulate, influence and mislead the group into submitting the wrong answers. Any money lost from the pot by getting the wrong answer can be won by the snakes instead. As the quiz unfolds ‘investigators’ work to identify and eliminate the Snakes. If both Snakes are caught the prize money is split between the honest players and the investigators, leaving the Snakes with nothing. Creators taking part in the first series include: Adeola Patronne, Chloe Burrows, Danny Aarons, Harry Pinero, Mariam Musa, Zeze Millz, Ava Hirons, Darkest Man, Eman SV2, Max Fosh, PK Humble, Whitney Adebayo, Expressions, Konan, & Tyrique Hyde. Evie Buckley, Digital Commissioning Editor & Channel 4.0 Lead, said, “As 4.0 celebrates 1 billion views we are incredibly excited to introduce Strong Watch Studio’s new and innovative quiz format to Channel 4.0. Channel 4.0 continues to grow and evolve, and 'The Snake' is a perfect example of how we are dedicated to creating fresh and engaging entertainment from British creatives in a way that is resonating with young audiences.” Executive Producer and co-founder of Strong Watch Studios, Ben Powell-Jones said, “We loved working with 4.0 to push the limits of what is possible in digital and continue to blur the line between TV quality production and formatting and digital efficiency and reach.” |
posted 4/17/2025 |
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Brand Recognition |
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NBC has greenlit "On Brand with Jimmy Fallon," an innovative unscripted series that follows what happens when Jimmy Fallon starts a premier marketing agency and fills it with the most creative, clever, and competitive go-getters he can find. The series will be hosted, executive produced and created by Fallon based on his experience and expertise working with an impressive list of his own global partnerships in the auto, insurance, apparel, gaming and technology industries. It will premiere later this year in collaboration with production company Electric Hot Dog. Among the household brands to be featured are Captain Morgan, Dunkin', KitchenAid, Marshalls, Pillsbury, Samsung, SONIC(R) Drive-In, Southwest Airlines and Therabody. Samsung will power the "On Brand Agency's" headquarters. Fallon recruited Bozoma Saint John as the On Brand Agency's Chief Marketing Officer, where she will mentor the creatives and evaluate their work. Saint John is a legendary marketing executive famous for pushing boundaries and who boasts an unmatched resumé of C-suite experience at the world's top brands, including Uber, Pepsi and Netflix. In each episode, the On Brand Agency creatives will work with a major brand in need of a big idea for a massive, high-priority campaign - from creating earworm jingles and unbelievable activations to producing the most quotable commercials and must-have merchandise. They will have unprecedented access to the client's businesses before pitching their vision to a brand representative, along with Saint John and Fallon, with only the best ideas moving on to proof of concept and the opportunity to see their campaign brought to life on the national stage after each episode. In a final big assignment, one visionary will be named the best in the business, given a cash prize and provided the experience of changing the cultural landscape. All the creatives will truly need to flex their innovative muscles to turn the unfinished into the unforgettable. The only rule? The best idea wins. "I love branding, I love marketing, I love the world of advertising, and I think there are a lot of people out there who do as well," said Fallon. "This show lets the audience and our contestants get a peek behind the curtain of how campaigns for some of the biggest brands come together and what goes into making them. It's exciting." The "On Brand" format will be licensed globally by NBCUniversal Formats, a division of Universal Studio Group. "On Brand with Jimmy Fallon" is produced by B17 Entertainment and Universal Television Alternative Studio, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Electric Hot Dog. Executive producers are Jimmy Fallon, Brien Meagher, Rhett Bachner, Pip Wells and Kelly Powers. Creative Artists Agency's (CAA) Media & Entertainment Partnerships division serves as a collaborative business partner with NBCUniversal to bring leading brands to the show. |
posted 4/16/2025 |
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ITVBe Gets Its Quiz On |
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ITV has announced that its ITVBe channel will close in June 2025, and be replaced by a new channel focusing on quiz and game shows. Launched in 2014, ITVBe has primarily been the home for reality and unscripted programmes, such as The Only Way Is Essex (Towie). The reality shows currently airing on the channel, including Towie and the Real Housewives franchise, will now move to ITV2, the broadcaster said. It has not been announced which programs will populate the schedule for ITV Quiz. However, the network said it planned to use the channel slot to "draw on ITV's popular, market-leading UK quiz and game shows". Popular quiz and game shows broadcast on ITV include The Chase, Tipping Point, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, The 1% Club, Deal or No Deal, Catchphrase and Jeopardy!. |
posted 4/16/2025 |
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You Were Warned... |
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Mickey Rourke is leaving the Celebrity Big Brother UK house after further use of inappropriate language. “Mickey Rourke has agreed to leave the Celebrity Big Brother House this evening following a discussion with Big Brother regarding further use of inappropriate language and instances of unacceptable behavior,” a spokesperson for CBB said in a statement. The latest incident involved a conversation between Rourke and fellow housemate and Love Island UK alum Chris Hughes after they disagreed during a task. Although the exchange didn’t involve a physical altercation, Rourke used “threatening and aggressive” language. Rourke had been warned earlier this week about using inappropriate language after he used a homophobic slur toward fellow housemate JoJo Siwa. Siwa nominated Rourke with a killer nomination, putting him on the block and at risk of leaving the house. The actor escaped eviction following the public vote, which opted to evict the controversial conservative politician Michael Fabricant instead. During his stay in the house and following reports of Rourke’s remarks about Siwa, former co-star Bella Thorne accused him of misconduct while filming the movie Girl. |
posted 4/16/2025 |
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Jimmy Carr Asks "AITA" |
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The notorious “Am I The A**hole?” subreddit is being turned into a gameshow for Comedy Central UK hosted by LOL: Last One Laughing UK’s Jimmy Carr. Jimmy Carr’s Am I The A**hole? will invite members of the public to come before the host and a panel of two other comedians to ask controversial questions. These questions will cover everything from jaw-dropping relationship disputes to the pettiest of family squabbles and stories of behaviors that are guaranteed to split opinion. The “Am I The A**hole?” sub-reddit is famous worldwide and uses the acronym AITA. The BBC mined Reddit in the past for its hit comedy Am I Being Unreasonable?, which is also a famous subreddit. Jimmy Carr’s Am I The A**hole? is being produced by STV Studios-owned Tuesday’s Child. The series will be filmed in late spring and is due to air later this year on Comedy Central UK. Carr said: “There are an impressive number of a**holes in our country and they’re finally getting the recognition they deserve on national television.” |
posted 4/16/2025 |
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The Floor Heads to Australia |
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Australia is set for a trivia experience like no other with the The Floor set to debut on Nine later this month. With $200,000 on the line, 81 contestants will face off in a thrilling battle of wits, hosted by Rodger Corser (Doctor Doctor, Underbelly). The high-stakes competition will be available to stream live on 9Now. Contestants begin with a single tile on the arena floor, representing their area of expertise. Their objective is simple: outsmart their opponents in head-to-head duels, claim more tiles, and make it to the final showdown for the life-changing prize. The game features an eclectic mix of contestants, from teachers to tradies, nurses to entrepreneurs, with familiar faces like Married at First Sight star Jules Robinson and popular MasterChef contestant Amina Elshafei joining the challenge. |
posted 4/16/2025 |
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Wednesday Lightning Round |
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E. Jay Krause, the Emmy-winning art director and set designer whose work has colored the golden age of variety television, died in Los Angeles, Calif. yesterday at the age of 98. Over the course of his three decade-spanning career from the 1950s through 1980s, Krause has designed sets for over 180 productions, earning acclaim for his inventive and elegant visual style. He was behind the look of TV specials featuring iconic performances by the likes of Bob Hope, Diana Ross, Mitzi Gaynor, the Jacksons and Rudolf Nureyev. His original sets for NBC‘s ’60s-era daytime game show The Hollywood Squares was immortalized at NBC Studios, while his ’70s-style psychedelic patterns emblematic of sketch comedy show Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In have cemented their place in the pop culture lexicon. He received two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Art Direction: one for Mitzi’s 2nd Special in 1970 and another for Diana! in 1972. In 1983, Krause founded Omega Cinema Props, which grew to become one of the industry’s largest independent prop houses, “offering an unlimited selection of residential, institutional and commercial props including furniture, accessories and lighting fixtures of all periods and styles,” per its website. Alongside his wife Doris, Krause spent more than three decades sourcing rare and distinctive set dressing from around the world, curating a collection that remains integral to film and television productions today. Known to friends and family simply as Jay, Krause was a native Angeleno. He served with distinction in the U.S. Navy during World War II, taking part in the harrowing 82-day Battle of Okinawa. After his military service, he pursued his passion for design at Pepperdine University and began his professional career at NBC in 1951. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Carson and Barry Pritchard, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. |
posted 4/14/2025 |
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Game Show Network, the leader in game show entertainment across multimedia, premieres two new weeknight shows beginning Monday, April 14. Brooke Burns will host an updated version of the classic TIC TAC DOUGH at 7PM ET, while Valerie Bertinelli hosts an all-new show, BINGO BLITZ, based on the free-to-play app Bingo Blitz, at 7:30PM ET. TIC TAC DOUGH is an update of NBCUniversal's classic format originally created by Robert Noah. The show is hosted by the incomparable Brooke Burns ("Master Minds", "The Chase"), who guides two contestants as they compete to place three of their marks in a row on the giant trivia board. After three rounds, the winning player moves on to face the dragon in the grand prize round, where the dragon moves strategically on the board to block the player's ability to make three-in-a-row and take home $10,000. Actress and Emmy(R)-nominated television host Brooke Burns began her career with breakout roles in "Ally McBeal," "Baywatch," and "Melrose Place." In 2002, she made her game show hosting debut on NBC's "Dog Eat Dog," and went on to host ABC's "You Deserve It" with Chris Harrison. From 2013-2015 Burns served as host of Game Show Network's Emmy(R)-nominated and wildly popular UK-adapted trivia show, "The Chase," where she was also nominated for an Emmy(R) as outstanding game show host. In 2020, she began hosting Game Show Network's "Master Minds," the exciting game of trivia, smarts and strategy. Burns has appeared in the films "Shallow Hal" and "Trial by Fire." She is known as well for her starring roles on the Hallmark and Lifetime Channels, for the original movie franchise "Gourmet Detective," and earlier films "A Sister's Revenge," "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," and "Christmas Connection." Based on the #1 Free-to-Play App of the same name, in the BINGO BLITZ game show on Game Show Network, two contestants compete in a dynamic blend of trivia and bingo. The ultimate game of knowledge, strategy and luck, contestants answer trivia to earn bingo balls and points. In addition to numbered bingo balls, players also receive gold balls they can strategically place on their cards to increase their chances of making a bingo. Bingos earn the players bonus points, and special 'power-ups' on the players' cards earn them extra points, bingo balls and prizes. After three rounds, the player with the highest score advances to the fast-action Blitz round, where making a bingo in 60 seconds or less awards them $10,000. Valerie Bertinelli is one of Hollywood’s most adaptable talents, and now she’s taking on a new role as host of Game Show Network’s Bingo Blitz. The new series combines bingo play with trivia challenges and offers a grand prize of $10,000 to the winners. Bertinelli has been in show business since she was just a child, with her first award-winning role in One Day at a Time coming when she was just a teenager. Since then, she’s made many different career moves, including hosting cooking shows for Food Network and being a brand ambassador, and Bingo Blitz is her latest pivot to something entirely new. Valerie Bertinelli's long and celebrated career includes being an equally beloved actress, Emmy(R) Award-winning host, New York Times best-selling author, spokesperson, and entrepreneur. A two-time Golden Globe(R) winner, Valerie landed her big break at age 15 as Barbara Cooper on One Day At A Time, Norman Lear's 1975 acclaimed series. She helped develop, produce, and star in many highly rated TV movies and mini-series and for six seasons starred as Melanie Moretti in TV Land's hit sitcom Hot in Cleveland. In August 2012, she received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Valerie has also written several best-selling memoirs and cookbooks and has hosted two of her own shows on the Food Network. Her best and favorite production is her son, Wolfgang, who achieved his own fame as the bassist for the legendary rock group Van Halen on its 2007-2008 North American Tour and for his own Grammy-nominated band, Mammoth WVH. In September 2024, Valerie joined The Drew Barrymore Show as a lifestyle expert. Valerie will soon be heard in Disney Jr's new animated series, RoboGobo. TIC TAC DOUGH is a Game Show Enterprises Studios production with Rane Laymance as executive producer and Sabrina Hybel Snow as co-executive producer. Village Roadshow Television (VRTV) serves as the studio with Harry Friedman and VRTV's Shannon Perry executive producing. BINGO BLITZ is a Game Show Enterprises Studios production with Rane Laymance as executive producer and Sabrina Hybel Snow as co-executive producer. Playtika Santa Monica, LLC serves as executive producer. Virtual studio technology is by GameChanger Ltd. with Yaron Yashinski, Nimrod Harel and Roy Even Tov serving as executive producers. |
posted 4/15/2025 |
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"Project Runway" Returns to Canada |
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Bell Media‘s Crave is reviving Project Runway Canada with a 10-episode order. The fashion competition has set Coco Rocha as host and judge, with Jeanne Beker joining the judging panel. Production for the reality TV series is in collaboration with Fashion at The Creative School, Toronto Metropolitan University. Filming is set to begin this summer, and the series will debut on Crave later this year. “Canada’s fashion culture and industry deserves to be celebrated, and this is the perfect moment to spotlight homegrown designers,” said Carlyn Klebuc, General Manager, Original Programming, Bell Media. “Project Runway is already an iconic franchise, and we can’t wait to give it a distinctly Canadian twist.” Michela DiMondo, EVP, International Distribution, Fremantle Canada, said: “We are delighted to be working with our partners at Bell Media to launch Project Runway Canada. Project Runway has had a profound effect on the fashion industry and is known globally for launching careers. We can’t wait to see Project Runway Canada open doors for some of the country’s most inspiring fashion designers in this international renowned fashion series”. Project Runway Canada is based on the Fremantle format created by Eli Holzman in 2004. The reality competition was first adapted for Canadian audiences in 2007 and last aired in 2009 after two seasons. |
posted 4/15/2025 |
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Tuesday Lightning Round |
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LeAnn Rimes, Sheryl Crow Go Mega |
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Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Sheryl Crow and internationally acclaimed superstar LeAnn Rimes will serve as mega mentors on season 27 of the four-time Emmy Award-winning musical competition series "The Voice," airing Mondays (8 p.m. ET/PT) on NBC and streaming next day on Peacock. Rimes, a coach on "The Voice UK" and "The Voice Australia," joins John Legend and Adam Levine while Crow joins coaches Kelsea Ballerini and Michael Bublé to mentor the remaining artists as each team prepares for the Playoffs, kicking off Monday, April 28. Each coach enters the Playoffs with five artists per team. Alongside the coaches, Crow and Rimes bring their distinct vocals, creative edge and deep industry experience to guide the artists into their most high-stakes performances yet. Coaches alone choose two artists from their team to advance to the Live Shows. Nine-time Grammy Award winner, singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023. Twenty-five years after winning her first Grammy, as well as Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "All I Wanna Do," Crow's career is filled with songs that defined the third wave of feminism. Her first nine studio albums have sold 35 million copies worldwide, seven charted in the Top 10 and five were certified for multi-platinum sales. The full-length documentary based on Crow's life and career, titled "Sheryl," premiered to critical acclaim at the 2022 SXSW Film Festival. Crow released her 11th full-length studio album, "Evolution," on March 29, 2024. LeAnn Rimes is an internationally acclaimed, multi-platinum-selling singer and an ASCAP award-winning songwriter. She has sold more than 48 million units globally and has won two Grammy Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, two World Music Awards, three Academy of Country Music Awards, two Country Music Association Awards, and one Dove Award. At 14, Rimes won Best New Artist, making her the youngest solo artist to take home a Grammy. At 15, she became the first country artist to win Artist of the Year at the Billboard Music Awards. Of the 65 singles she has released throughout her expansive career, Rimes' ballad "How Do I Live" holds the record as Billboard's Hot 100 all-time #1 hit by a female artist and currently ranks #6 on Billboard's Greatest of All Time: Hot 100 Songs list. Fifteen of her multi-genre singles are top 10 hits, including "Can't Fight the Moonlight," which went #1 in 11 countries. In 2024, Rimes achieved an unprecedented milestone by simultaneously serving as a coach on "The Voice Australia" and "The Voice UK." In 2023, Rimes received the prestigious ASCAP Golden Note Award, recognizing her extraordinary career achievements, and was inducted into the California Music Hall of Fame. Beyond her music, Rimes is a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, mental health and humanitarian causes. She has been honored with the Ally of Equality Award by the Human Rights Campaign, the 2019 HOPE Award for Depression Advocacy, and the ACM Humanitarian Award. Her podcast, "Wholly Human," brings her wellness blog, "Soul of EverLe," to life, reaching #2 on iTunes' Health & Fitness Chart. |
posted 4/14/2025 |
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Upstairs Downstairs co-creator and actress Jean Marsh has died aged 90, her agent has confirmed. The British screen and stage star won an Emmy for her portrayal of hard-bitten but ultimately kind-hearted maid Rose Buck in the 1970s TV drama about the class system in Edwardian England. Marsh also had roles in Hollywood films including Cleopatra, Willow and Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy and on TV in Doctor Who and the TV adaptation of 9 to 5. In a statement, Marsh's friend the film director Sir Michael Lindsay-Hogg paid tribute to her as "wise and funny... very pretty and kind, and talented both as an actress and writer", adding she died "peacefully in bed looked after by one of her very loving carers". In his statement, Sir Michael described almost daily phone conversations with Marsh over the past 40 years. She was, he said, an "instinctively empathetic person who was loved by everyone who met her". Marsh came up with the idea of a period drama involving the servants of a wealthy family while house sitting in France with her friend, the actress Dame Eileen Atkins, she later told the New York Times. The pair went on to create the series, which told the story of the Bellamy family and their servant staff who lived underneath them, alongside John Hawkesworth and John Whitney. The ITV show was a critical and popular success and also found a fond audience in the United States, where it aired on PBS. Upstairs Downstairs is said to have partly inspired the Downton Abbey series and was later revived and reimagined by the BBC in 2010. Marsh became the only original cast member to return, portraying the same role in five episodes. Asked by the Daily Telegraph in 2010 why viewers appeared to be so interested in master-and-servant dramas, Marsh said: "We still seem to want it because if you rose out of your class, you knew you had done well. And we like it because the past is not as worrying as the news." She teamed up again with Dame Eileen Atkins in 1991 to co-create the BBC costume drama The House of Eliott. Her other notable TV credits included roles in The Twilight Zone and Grantchester. In games, she featured on episodes of "To Tell the Truth", "Call My Bluff", and the original "MasterChef". Her stage credits include plays by Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw. But she was forced to scale back her acting commitments following a stroke in 2011. London-born Marsh was married for five years to actor Jon Pertwee, who later starred as Dr Who. In 2012, she was made an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) for services to drama. |
posted 4/14/2025 |
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Bigger "Bet" |
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ITV have confirmed that You Bet! will be returning for a full series later this year on ITV1 and ITVX, with major format changes following the two specials episodes which aired last year. It's still the show where ordinary people take on extraordinary challenges but this time ITV will be taking it on the road! Each of the seven episodes - including a Christmas special - will take place in a different iconic location around the country. ITV explains: "Free from the restrictions of the studio - our epic challenges are about to get a whole lot bigger. Watching on, our celebrity panel's job is simple; they must decide if each challenger will succeed - Yes or No. If they guess correctly, they'll be awarded points. The Celebrity with the most points at the end of the show will receive £5,000 for their chosen charity." Last year's reboot became ITV’s biggest Entertainment launch for younger viewers for over two years, consolidating to 3.2m, rising to 4.1m including repeats. This is ITV's biggest entertainment launch for 16-34s since The 1% Club launched in April 2022. Including repeats You Bet! has been watched by half a million (463,000) 16-34s. The new 6x60' series will air in Q3 of this year, with the Christmas special following in December. You Bet! is available now on ITVX. |
posted 4/14/2025 |
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Monday Lightning Round |
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Lucy Markovic, who starred in the 2015 season of Australia’s Next Top Model and went on to work for brands including Versace, has died. She was 27. Markovic’s death was confirmed on her Instagram page and by her agent Elite Model Management. The model had been battling arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a rare brain condition. “I regret to inform you that Lucy has passed,” said a statement on Markovic’s Instagram Stories. “She was at peace.” Elite Model Management added: “We are heartbroken to share that Lucy Markovic has passed away after a brave battle with a brain AVM. “Lucy was a bright shining light, and had an incredible dry sense of humor. Her smile and laughter could light up a room, and draw you closer to her. She loved to dance, she really shined.” Donatella Versace was among those who paid tribute to Markovic. “I am so sorry to hear about Lucy. Rest in peace, beautiful girl,” the Italian fashion designer wrote on Instagram. Model Cartia Mallan said: “Heartbroken to say the least. My beautiful friend Lucy sadly passed today after putting up a strong fight. I can’t even put into words how kind, radiant and caring she was as a human. Not to mention how insanely beautiful and talented she was.” Markovic spoke about her diagnosis with AVM, a tangle of blood vessels in the brain, as recently as last month. The model said her AVM was “the size of a golf ball” and had resulted in her suffering seizures. Marvokic appeared on Season 9 of Australia’s Next Top Model at the age of just 17. She finished in second place behind Brittany Beattie. |
posted 4/11/2025 |
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Happy Friday Lightning Round |
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| MORE NEWS GSNN 3-Month News Archive |
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posted 5/8/2025
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