
30-Day Archives |
ABC Footing "Lucky 13" Bill
Bankrupting Game Show to Pay Off Prizes
From Deadline |
In a highly unusual situation, ABC is preparing to foot a bill worth more than $460,000 to ensure that contestants on game show Lucky 13 receive the winnings they are owed. Even though it is under no legal obligation to do so, the Disney-owned network is close to finalizing an agreement under which Lucky 13 winners will receive their prize pots after the messy demise of the series hosted by Shaquille O’Neal and Gina Rodriguez.
Lucky 13 was lucky by name, but not lucky by nature for those involved in the making of the show, which aired on ABC last year under a novel greenlight model. UK producer Studio 1 pre-funded Lucky 13 in return for a share of ABC’s advertising and product placement sales, but revenue fell well short of projections and the show was not renewed for a second season.
Lucky 13 Holdings and Studio 13 Entertainment, the special purpose companies Studio 1 set up to house Lucky 13, effectively declared bankruptcy, leaving contractors — including hosts O’Neal and Rodriguez — out of pocket by at least $500,000.
Studio 1 was also responsible for paying winnings to contestants, but Deadline understands that participants have not received their cash prizes amid the financial strife.
Thirteen people walked away from Lucky 13 with prizes totaling $461,500. The biggest prize won on the show was $125,000, while the smallest was $3,750. Sources said contestants should have been paid within 120 days of their appearance. The final episode of the series aired on September 19, which was 138 days ago.
Disney is now stepping in to right this wrong, even though it was only the domestic licensee for the show. The company has been in talks over payment and is confident a deal will be agreed soon.
Deadline
PopCulture.com
People
Newsbreak |
posted 2/5/2025 |
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CBS/Jerry Bruckheimer TV
Bigger Cast! More Twists! New Locations!
CBS Releases Names of Season 37 Amazing Racers
From the Futon Critic
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Meet the 14 new teams that will embark on the journey of a lifetime when the 37th season of the CBS Original series THE AMAZING RACE, hosted by Phil Keoghan, kicks off Wednesday, March 5 (9:30-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*.
The "season of surprises" features the largest cast ever in the history of the Race. The new teams will encounter game-changing twists in every episode, including the classic game pieces the Fast Forward and U-Turn - and the additions of new ones, such as a Fork in the Road, which Racers will confront on the first leg in Hong Kong. When teams arrive at the Fork in the Road, they will have to choose which direction and route they want to take to the Pit Stop, creating two parallel races where two teams will be eliminated.
"This season 14 teams will embark on an unforgettable adventure," said Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri, co-creators and executive producers of THE AMAZING RACE. "Traveling around the globe for a stop in Osaka, Japan, where they will experience a modern-day bullet train in a thriving city and then immerse themselves in a 12,000-year-old tradition, performing with a taiko drum group. They will feel the adrenaline rush of skydiving over Dubai's breathtaking cityscape contrasted with another stop, for the first time on THE AMAZING RACE, in the countryside of Bulgaria, where they will participate in a traditional folk dance. Adding a new city this season, teams will visit the medieval village of Strasbourg, France, which will feel like stepping into a fairytale. For our season of surprises, there is no end to the drama, twists and turns until we see who the winners are!"
Following are the teams competing on the upcoming season of THE AMAZING RACE:
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Alyssa Borden (31, nurse anesthetist) and Josiah Borden (32, nurse anesthetist) Married nurse anesthetists Philadelphia
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Bernie Gutierrez (31, personal trainer) and Carrigain Scadden (33, spa educator) Friends Dallas and Denver.
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Brett Hamby (36, acrobat) and Mark Romain (37, dancer/model) Married Vegas performers Las Vegas
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Carson McCalley (28, game streamer) and Jack Dodge (27, game streamer) Best friends and gamers Brooklyn, N.Y.
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Courtney Ramsey (33, registered nurse) and Jasmin Carey (34, nurse practitioner) Dating nurses Leland, N.C.
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Ernest Cato (59, retired chief, Chicago Police Department) and Bridget Cato (28, account supervisor) Father and daughter Chicago and Sommerville, Mass.
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Han Nguyen (26, former energy consultant) and Holden Nguyen (22, Stanford student) Siblings Los Gatos, Calif.
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Jackye Clayton (51, talent acquisition architect) and Lauren McKinney (61, corporate event strategist) Sisters Waco, Texas
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Jonathan Towns (42, software developer) and Ana Towns (35, stay-at-home mom) Married parents Pomona, Calif.
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Mark Crawford (63, retired firefighter) and Larry Graham (59, retired firefighter) Best friends Watertown, Tenn., and Bartlett, Tenn.
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Melinda Papadeas (66, administration) and Erika Papadeas (32, client engagement specialist) Mother and daughter Chandler, Ariz., and Englewood, Colo.
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Nick Fio (32, entrepreneur and podcaster) and Mike Fio (28, entrepreneur and podcaster) Brothers Brooklyn, N.Y.
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Jeff "Pops" Bailey (65, lumberjack) and Jeff Bailey (36, lumberjack) Father and son St. Louis, Mo.
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Scott Thompson (47, physician assistant) and Lori Thompson (49, stay-at-home mom) Married parents of eight sons Salt Lake City, Utah
The Futon Critic
TV Line
TV Line
The Wrap
Variety
TV Insider |
posted 2/5/2025 |
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East Meets West in "KPOPPED"
PSY, Megan Thee Stallion to Host Global Music Mashup Competition
From the Futon Critic |
Apple TV+ announces new K-pop song battle series "KPOPPED," starring PSY and Megan Thee Stallion East meets West as stars face off in collaborative song battles in this new series from legendary executive producer Lionel Richie and Miky Lee, produced by CJ ENM and Eureka Productions.
Today, Apple TV+ announced "KPOPPED," an all-new eight-episode song battle series from executive producer Lionel Richie, starring PSY, the international chart-topper who helped bring K-pop to the world with his global sensation "Gangnam Style," and three-time Grammy award-winning superstar and executive producer Megan Thee Stallion, who also performs her hit song "Savage."
In each episode, western icons reimagine one of their biggest hits, collaborating with top-tier K-pop idols to deliver spectacular battle performances, with a live Seoul-based audience picking the winner of the best new K-popped song.
The series is executive produced by Moira Ross, Richie, Miky Lee, Megan Thee Stallion and Greg Foster, alongside Harry H.K. Shin and Jake Hong, with producer Ki-woong Kim for CJ ENM Co., Ltd., with its unparalleled expertise in music variety shows and content production. Chris Culvenor, Paul Franklin, Wes Dening and David Tibballs executive produce for Eureka Productions (a Fremantle company), alongside Bruce Eskowitz.
The Futon Critic
DEadline
The Wrap
Variety
The Hollywood Reporter |
posted 2/5/2025 |
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No Actual Bears Were Harmed in the Making of This Show
Catch Celebrity Bear Hunt" on NEtflix
From The Wrap |
Netflix UK has assembled twelve top-tier British celebrities, who have subjected themselves as prey for a Bear hunt.
While it may not be a grizzly bear sniffing around for them, it may be worse. Edward Michael “Bear” Grylls, a British adventurer, TV personality and former British Special Forces soldier, will be on the hunt for the celebrity talent attached to the reality competition series.
Holly Willoughby hosts the Netflix show set in the Costa Rican jungle, where 12 celebrities, including Spice Girls alum Mel B and tennis legend Boris Becker, become prey for the legendary survival expert. Each of the stars must prove how strong their sense of survival truly is as they navigate a brutal game of cat and mouse and are hunted down by Bear himself.
The Wrap
Yahoo! |
posted 2/5/2025 |
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Coming Back Home to "Deb's House"
WeTV, ALLBLK Renew Talent Competition
From the Futon Critic |
Today, We TV announced the renewal of the wildly popular competition series, Deb's House. Heading into its sophomore season, music industry icon Deb Antney shifts her focus from rap to R&B as she embarks upon a nationwide search for the next chart-topping, female R&B superstar. The eight episode, hour-long reality series, is currently filming in New York and New Jersey and slated to premiere this summer, airing exclusively on We TV and streaming exclusively on ALLBLK.
In Deb's House Season 2, produced by TeamSheed Productions, Deb Antney continues her mission to shape the future of music, this time seeking soulful, powerful voices in the world of R&B. With the help a new arsenal of celebrity guests, judges and industry pros, Ms. Deb will identify ten up-and-coming female vocalists to move into Deb's House. The aspiring artists will compete to become Ms. Deb's next R&B protégé - and this will require hard work. Deb's House will not only test the vocal abilities of these up-and-coming stars, but challenge their resilience, work ethic and ability to navigate the pressures of the music industry. As Ms. Deb mentors and evaluates their growth, the artists will face intense eliminations and personal revelations, ultimately leading to the crowning of a new R&B sensation.
"R&B has always held a special place in my heart," stated Deb Antney. "This season is all about capturing the nostalgia of the golden era of R&B, while forging a new path for future stars. The real competition Is You Vs. You, but those who stand out will have the chance to work with me and make their dreams come true."
"We are delighted to welcome Deb Antney, a true music industry pioneer, back for another incredible season of Deb's House," said Brett Dismuke, Head of Content, ALLBLK & We TV. "R&B is a classic genre defining generations with its captivating and authentic sound. As Ms. Deb begins her journey to find the next R&B superstar, with the help of some of the most influential voices in the industry, we are confident this will be a must-see season."
Deb's House is Executive Produced and Created by Deb Antney for Tag Multimedia and Rasheed J. Daniel for TeamSheed Productions, with Vanessa Phillips serving as Co-executive Producer. Angela Molloy, SVP, Development & Original Production, Unscripted, LeAnn Scrimmager, Manager Development & Original Production, Unscripted and Sean Charles, Manager Development & Original Production, Scripted & Unscripted Executive Produce for We TV and ALLBLK.
The Futon Critic |
posted 2/5/2025 |
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Way to Extend That Franchise, Bravo
"Real Housewives" Coming to "Love Hotel"
From Deadline |
Bravo is getting ready to have a group of The Real Housewives stars check in to the Love Hotel.
The dating series will feature Real Housewives of New York City‘s Luann de Lesseps, The Real Housewives of Orange County’s Shannon Beador, and The Real Housewives of Potomac’s Gizelle Bryant and Ashley Darby.
“The Housewives have checked in,” reads the teaser with music in the background that sounds similar to Darby’s single “Coffee & Love.”
RHOP‘s Bryant teased Love Hotel last year, telling Deadline that co-star Beador was an “acquired taste.”
“I love her. I’ve talked to Shannon a couple times since we left, and Shannon’s a lot of fun. Shannon was the one that was a bit more emotional than the rest of the ladies, and that was, uh… different for me,” Bryant added. “I’m not that emotional. Neither is Ashley. She was our emotional girl. We had to protect her to make sure she was okay.”
Love Hotel finished filming and made headlines last year when host Joel Kim Booster called out Beador for allegedly mistreating production throughout the show’s filming.
Booster would later apologized to Beador, saying, “I’ve had a lot of time to think and process about this, and I wish I could say that I was not the guy who posted those statements on Instagram, but the fact is that I am. I let an onset conflict cloud my judgment and accessed the darkest, ugliest part of myself and said things I don’t stand by or even believe, and I am deeply sorry that allowed my worst self to cloud my judgment.”
Deadline |
posted 2/5/2025 |
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Wednesday Lightning Round
... or "Whose Idea Was This Anyway?" |
- Channel 4 distances itself from social posts by contestants from a show that they should probably distance themselves from as well. (Deadline)
- Travis Kelce jokes about doing cartwheels on set (Us) while being honored to play in front of the most powerful person in the world... no, not her, sadly (Deadline)
- Howie Mandel apologizes to Bill Burr about interview drama (Variety)
- Drew Carey talks about mental health five years after his girlfriend was taken from us (Us Weekly)
- Richard McKerrow leaves "Great British Baking Show" producer (Deadline)
- A FEW GOOD MINUTES with Rob Lowe (TV Insider)
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posted 2/5/2025 |
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Rolling Stone
Idol Introduced Artist in Residence
Jelly Roll Set for Season 23
From the Wrap
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Jelly Roll has joined “American Idol” Season 23 as the competition series’ first-ever Artist in Residence.
The four-time Grammy nominee, who previously appeared as a guest mentor in Season 22, will provide contestants with first-hand advice during their journey on the “American Idol” stage.
The rapper and singer-songwriter celebrated his new role in a video message. “I’m ‘American Idol’s’ Artist in Residence’!” Jelly Roll exclaimed. “I feel like I’m giving them the energy they need. I’m uplifting and trying to get ’em going!”
This marks Jelly Roll’s official return to the singing competition series after he served as a guest mentor and performer during Season 22. He appeared on the show when it visited Disney’s Aulani resort in Hawaii. His debut as the first-ever Artist in Residence will kick off during “American Idol’s” Hollywood Week.
“American Idol” Season 23 will start on Sunday, March 9 on ABC. A special preview of the season will air following “The Oscars” on Sunday, March 2 on ABC. The season will stream the next day on Hulu.
The Wrap
Variety
The Hollywood Reporter
Entertainment Weekly |
posted 2/4/2025 |
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"Physical: 100" Evolves
MAnny Pacquiao Joins "Physical Asia"
From The Futon Critic |
The hit survival reality competition show Physical: 100, which dominated Netflix's Global Top 10 TV Series (Non-English) rankings for two years in a row, is back with a monumental twist. Now titled Physical: Asia and premiering in the fourth quarter of this year, the series scales up its quest for the ultimate physique beyond individual matchups - unleashing a full-blown national showdown where pride, survival, and teamwork collide.
From "100" to "Asia" In previous seasons, 100 elite competitors fought to outlast each other in a grueling individual tournament. This time, Physical: Asia transforms the battleground into a high-stakes team competition featuring top-tier athletes representing their respective countries. If a single teammate falls, the entire squad is eliminated - raising the stakes and drama to unprecedented heights.
A legendary contender enters the ring In a first for the franchise, living boxing legend Manny Pacquiao joins Physical: Asia as the Philippine representative. Pacquiao, revered worldwide as the only boxer in history to acquire titles in eight weight divisions, brings his formidable talent and indomitable spirit to this team-based clash of champions. His participation signals the show's expanded ambition: a fierce face-off among Asia's finest, with national pride on the line.
Bigger stage, higher stakes Season after season, Physical: 100 has captivated viewers around the globe, blazing a trail as Netflix's first Korean unscripted series to clinch the top spot on the Global Top 10 (Non-English) list. With the newly minted Physical: Asia, the spectacle grows even bigger. Competitors - regardless of age, gender, or weight class - will unite under their national flags for the toughest, most pulse-pounding missions yet.
Catch up on the first two seasons of Physical: 100, now streaming on Netflix. Stay tuned for more updates on Physical: Asia - the ultimate test of teamwork, endurance, and raw physical power.
The Futon Critic |
posted 2/4/2025 |
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Food Network Sharpens "Knives"
Scott Conant to Host "House of Knives"
From The Futon Critic |
Food Network welcomes a roster of top-tier chefs to the ultimate culinary arena in the epic new series House of Knives, where talented, innovative and ruthless contenders must use their cooking, strategy and survival skills to make it to the throne. Led by host Scott Conant and esteemed Culinary Council members Judy Joo and Marcus Samuelsson, the eight-episode competition names a weekly ruler based on challenges that reflect the contenders' personal stories, food influences and cultures, while the least successful chefs are banished. There are always six players in the game, so eliminations are followed with a dramatic reveal: a brand-new legendary chef entering the arena. House of Knives premieres Tuesday, March 18th at 9pm (all times ET/PT) on Food Network and streaming next day on MAX and in the final chapter on Tuesday, May 6th at 9pm, only one chef will claim the throne and win the $100,000 grand prize.
"The House of Knives arena is all about extreme talent and gameplay - only the strongest contenders have a chance at the crown," said Betsy Ayala, Head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery. "Our viewers are in for a unique experience watching these chefs fight for their name by showcasing their personal food style and stories."
Chefs competing for the House of Knives throne over the season include Anne Burrell, Shirley Chung, Kelsey Bernard Clark, Poppy O'Toole, Viet Pham, Jonathon Sawyer, Martel Stone, John Tesar and Claudette Zepeda.
The Futon Critic
Deadline |
posted 2/4/2025 |
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The Zenith of Talent?
ITV to Develop French-Canadian Format
From Deadline |
Could ITV‘s next big gameshow be coming in from Canada?
The UK commercial broadcaster is understood to be in early-stage development on a version of Zenith, an X Factor-style French-Canadian format in which singers from different generations perform songs to a live audience. Masked Singer UK producer Bandicoot is forging the ITV version.
In Zenith, the audience in the arena-style building is made up of 100 judges all grouped by generation, split between Boomer, Gen X, Millennial and Gen Z. Over 13 weeks, 24 singers (six per generation) sing old and new hits via splashy performances and are judged by the audience. The end goal is “to crown a winner at the end of the season: an artist who has been able to captivate all generations, a singer whose timeless voice suits all styles, genres, and eras,” according to the show’s synopsis.
Deadline |
posted 2/4/2025 |
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"Flip Off" Flips Records
HGTV's Highest-Rated Freshman Series Premiere Since September 2022
From The Futon Critic |
HGTV's highly anticipated new competition series The Flip Off, starring former Flip or Flop stars and exes Tarek El Moussa and Christina Haack, delivered HGTV's highest-rated freshman series premiere among Adults 25-54 since September 2022, attracting 4.0 million total viewers across linear and streaming when it premiered on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Garnering a .56 live plus three-day rating among Adults 25-54, the episode posted impressive triple-digit gains of 180 percent over the previous six weeks and 107 percent over year-ago levels for the demo in its Wednesday timeslot.
HGTV's highly anticipated new competition series The Flip Off, starring former Flip or Flop stars and exes Tarek El Moussa and Christina Haack, delivered HGTV's highest-rated freshman series premiere among Adults 25-54 since September 2022, attracting 4.0 million total viewers across linear and streaming when it premiered on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Garnering a .56 live plus three-day rating among Adults 25-54, the episode posted impressive triple-digit gains of 180 percent over the previous six weeks and 107 percent over year-ago levels for the demo in its Wednesday timeslot.
The Flip Off also attracted a large upscale audience, delivering a .59 L3 rating among both Upscale Adults 25-54 and Upscale Women 25-54. The ratings garnered respective triple-digit increases of 122 percent and 102 percent over previous six-week levels in the key demos. In addition, The Flip Off helped HGTV rank as the #2 non-news/sports cable network among Women 25-54 for the night, and the episode ranked as the #2 non-news/sports cable program among Women 25-54 and as a top 5 non-news/sports cable program among Adults 25-54 and Men 25-54.
Fans are highly engaged with The Flip Off content on HGTV's digital platforms, delivering 20 million impressions and 17 million video views on HGTV's Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, TikTok and Threads in January alone.
The Futon Critic |
posted 2/4/2025 |
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Tuesday Lightning Round
... or "Theme Nights!" |
- "Masked Singer' to salute Shrek, Ghostbusters (Variety)
- James May says the BBC didn't need to fire Jeremy Clarkson (NEwsbreak)
- Ken Jennings wants Kate McKinnon to play him on SNL (LADBible)
- CASTING COUCH: Flip Side looking for season 2 players in Hotlanta (WANF Atlanta)
- Matt James backed up in his split with Rachael Kirkconnell (Reality Tidbit)
- Marcus Jordan arrested for cocaine possession & resisting (Entertainment Weekly)
- Valerie Bertinelli doesn't remember the 80s (Entertainment Weekly)
- How The Voice reunited Adam Levine & Blake Shelton (TV Line)
- FIRST LOOK: Extracted (Fox, February 10) (The Futon Critic)
- Michael Strahan felt "hopeless" after daughter's cancer battle (The Hollywood Reporter)
- A FEW GOOD MINUTES with Bob the Drag Queen (The Wrap)
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posted 2/4/2025 |
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"Got Talent" Turns 20
Mel B to Rejoin Panel as Heidi Klum Departs
From TV Line |
America’s Got Talent is about to celebrate a major milestone: The NBC competition series has been renewed for Season 20 and will premiere with a two-hour episode on Tuesday, May 27 at 8/7c.
The upcoming season will also see singer/songwriter Mel B return to the judges table alongside Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara and executive producer Simon Cowell. Terry Crews also returns as host.
Heidi Klum will be sitting out Season 20. The supermodel judged alongside Mel B in Seasons 8-13 before both stepped away for Season 14. Klum made her comeback in Season 15 when she joined Vergara on the panel.
“It is absolutely brilliant to be able to announce this year as our 20th season,” Cowell said in a statement. “Over the years, we have seen some amazing acts and met some truly incredible people. It’s true that two or three minutes can change your life. I want to thank every contestant, all the fans who have supported the show every year and to NBC for believing in this show. And of course, the amazing team, past and present, who make the show so special. Now as always, I am really excited to meet the contestants this year.”
Auditions are currently underway for the new season.
TV Line
The Futon Critic
Variety
Deadline
The Hollywood Reporter
Variety |
posted 2/3/2025 |
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"What's My Line?" at 75
A Celebration of a Classic
From Remind |
Seventy-five years ago, on February 2, 1950, the first mystery guest was revealed on the premiere episode of What’s My Line? Do you remember who it was? … Times up, it was New York Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto.
Over the run of the series, mystery guests ran the gamut from Hollywood stars like Gary Cooper and Elizabeth Taylor, to music icons like Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne, among many others.
An early classic from prolific game show producers Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, this program featured celebrity panelists questioning contestants in order to determine their occupation. Most of these contestants were from the general public, but each week, there was a celebrity mystery guest for whom the panelists were blindfolded.
Journalist John Charles Daly hosted the original version of the show, which ran for 17 years on CBS. Among the notable regular celebrity panelists who appeared quite a bit during this time were actress Arlene Francis, journalist Dorothy Kilgallen, and writers Bennett Cerf and Hal Block.
Reboots were hosted by Wally Bruner & Larry Blyden.
During the course of its run, "What's My Line?" won three Emmys for Best Quiz/Audience Participation Show in 1952, 1953, and 1958, and a Golden Globe for Best TV Show in 1962.
Spinoffs include "I've Got a Secret", a non-occupational series played mostly for laughs, "That's My Line", a short-lived reality series, and "What's My Line? Live on Stage", a stage version based out of the ACME Comedy Theatre in Los Angeles.
Remind |
posted 2/3/2025 |
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"Wipeout" Wipes Out
TBS Cancels Reboot, "The Cube"
From TV Line |
The Wipeout revival has wiped out.
And The Cube has melted. Those two cancellations were quietly revealed on Monday by Jason Sarlanis, President of TNT, TBS, TruTV, ID & HLN, Linear and Streaming at Warner Bros. Discovery, during a keynote session at the Realscreen Summit in Miami.
As reported by Deadline, Sarlanis indicated that the cost of the two series was not in keeping with the TNets’ new programming strategy, “Those are very much in the realm of what we do,” he acknowledged. “Wipeout is inherently comedic and a joy to watch. But I think what we’re what we’re looking at is being realistic in terms of the entire environment. We have to recalibrate.”
Sarlanis also noted that the Sarah Silverman-hosted Stupid Pet Tricks, based on the infamous David Letterman talk show segment, “did very nicely for us” in Season 1, but has yet to be renewed.
The Wipeout revival, which debuted in April 2021 and was hosted by John Cena and Nicole Byer, featured “updated courses that are bigger and wetter than ever,” with each episode sending contestants “racing their way through water, slime, mud, and the series’ iconic big red balls for the chance to win a grand prize of $25,000.” Camille Kostek provided interviews and commentary from the sidelines of the three main courses: The Qualifier, The Gauntlet, and The Wipeout Zone.
Wipeout‘s second (and final) season kicked off in November 2023 and ran for five weeks… took a year-long hiatus… and most recently aired on Jan. 26 of this year; “a few more episodes” reportedly have yet to air.
The Cube, hosted by three-time NBA champion Dwyane Wade, followed contestant pairs who had to demonstrate skill, nerve and determination as they endured seemingly simple physical and mental tasks – all while confined in the titular glass box, which possessed its own mind and attitude. Season 2 premiered in May 2023.
TV Line
Awful Announcing
Forbes
Deadline |
posted 2/3/2025 |
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Amanda Holden Heads to "The Inner Circle"
BBC Eyes "Traitors"-like Format
From MSN |
TV and radio presenter Amanda Holden is to host a new quiz show for BBC One called The Inner Circle.
Production is under way in Glasgow for the game, which involves a series of rounds designed to test contestants’ general knowledge and strategic thinking.
There will be 25 episodes across the series and a further six celebrity specials featuring famous faces who will join forces with a member of the public trying to win the cash prize.
Episodes featuring members of the public will air during the week and celebrity specials will be shown on Saturday’s in the teatime slot.
Britain’s Got Talent judge Holden, 53, said: “I’m so excited to be part of this thrilling new quiz that challenges contestants and entertains viewers in equal measure.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to bring something fresh and fabulous to weekday afternoons and Saturday night TV, and I can’t wait to see the audience reactions.” Rob Unsworth, head of BBC daytime and early peak, and Kalpna Patel-Knight, head of entertainment at the BBC, said: “We’re delighted to be joining forces to bring viewers a gripping new quiz that, for the first time, they’ll be able to play along with not only during the week, but on a Saturday teatime too.
“Getting the answers right on this show is only half the battle – contestants also need to decide who they trust enough to keep in the game, all under the watchful eye of the brilliantly mischievous Amanda Holden.”
MSN
Wales Online
Hello!
Digital Spy
TV Zone
TElevisual
Prolific North
Entertainment Focus |
posted 2/3/2025 |
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Getty Images
Liam Payne's Music Competition to Resume
Netflix Moves Forward with "Building the Band"
From Deadline
|
Liam Payne, who died last year after falling off the balcony of a hotel, will still likely be seen as guest judge in upcoming Netflix talent contest Building the Band.
Netflix unscripted chief Brandon Reigg said at the streamer’s Next on Netflix event that the company was in touch with Payne’s family as it pushes on with Building the Band, in what was the former One Direction star’s last major TV appearance.
Payne was guest judge on Building the Band alongside Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland and Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger. Produced by Banijay-backed Remarkable Entertainment, the show is a Love is Blind-style talent contest in which singers form their own band without being able to see each other. The series culminated in three live shows that were filmed in late August in front of an audience at Aviva Studios in Manchester. Payne’s fans flocked to watch the recording, with some posting on social media about meeting the singer.
Netflix greenlit and wrapped the show prior to Payne’s death and had faced a dilemma over whether to proceed when he died last October. However, Building the Band was confirmed on the streamer’s 2025 slate.
In a few weeks’ time, the Brit Awards is understood to be planning a tribute to 31-year-old Payne, with reports speculating that the remaining members of One Direction could reunite on stage for the first time since their split a decade ago.
Payne died after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires. Five people have been charged in connection with his death.
Deadline
Vulture
Rolling Stone
The Hollywood Reporter |
posted 1/30/2025 |
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Paramount Global
Now Comes Discovery... and No, Not the Network.
Lawsuit Demands Answers to "Corporate Wrongdoing"
From TV Newscheck
|
A judge has granted the Employees’ Retirement System of Rhode Island (ERSI) request to obtain books and records from Paramount Global related to its pending $8 billion merger with Skydance Media.
In May, the pension fund, which owns Paramount stock, asked the Delaware Court of Chancery to order the media giant to turn over documents and communications related to the two parties’ discussions, citing concerns that controlling shareholder Shari Redstone and her holding company National Amusements had “usurped Paramount’s corporate opportunities.” At the time, ERSI said the inspection would investigate for “potential wrongdoing, including whether to seek equitable relief to ensure Shari Redstone and NAI do not profit from their wrongdoing.”
Variety
Deadline
The Wrap |
posted 1/30/2025 |
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Fawesome Gets Into the Game
Streamer Plots "Southern Food Truck Wars", "Family Game Show"
From Deadline |
Free streamer Fawesome has dropped a pair of original series, including its first competition show.
Southern Food Truck Wars and Fawesome Family Game Show have been added to the ad-supported service, which offers family-friendly content.
Southern Food Truck Wars is a six-episode series that takes place in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where food trucks compete for the title of Southern Food Truck Champion. Celebrity chef Jay Ducote is host as chefs battle over their signature dishes to impress the judges on three key criteria: presentation, taste and execution. The panel of judges includes Ducote, along with Joshua K. Carpenter, Tameeka Stewart and Darrell Freeman. The overall winner takes home $1,000 and a $5,000 advertising package.
Fawesome Family Game Show is billed as ‘a lively quiz show hosted by LaTangela Fay, where two teams compete in fast-paced, reimagined classic games.” These include games inspired by Pictionary, Scrabble and Boggle, word chains and Family Feud-style guessing. The winner takes home $1,000 each episode. Aaron L. Williams of Digital Media Studios and Joshua K. Carpenter of Global Content are the creators. The show is directed by Williams, who produces with Carpenter. Vikrant Mathur and Alok Ranjan are executive producers. The series comprises six episodes.
“These shows represent a fresh take on beloved competition formats,” Williams said. “With Southern Food Truck Wars, we’re celebrating the rich culinary traditions of the South through the lens of modern food truck culture, while Fawesome Family Game Show brings a dynamic, new energy to classic games that families already love. Bringing these two shows to life has been a rewarding journey, and there is no better home for them than Fawesome.”
“Our data shows that families are shifting dramatically to streaming, these original series create the perfect environment for advertisers to connect with engaged family audiences,” said Mathur, who is co-founder of Fawesome parent Future Today. “We’re offering advertisers a unique opportunity to reach the primary purchasing decision-makers in brand-safe and premium environments that prove to drive results.”
Fawesome began making original shows last year through Greenwood Rising: The Rise of Black Wall Street and The Peanut Man, a pair of feature films that dropped late in 2024. The service offers a library of free movies such as The Reader, The Pianist and Midnight in Paris in English and Spanish.
Deadline
MEdia Play News
Worldscreen |
posted 1/30/2025 |
 |

Skating Club of Boston
DICK BUTTON: 1930-2025
Figure Skating Legend Judged "Skating with the Stars"
From CNN |
Dick Button was more than the most accomplished men’s figure skater in history. He was one of his sport’s greatest innovators and promoters.
Button, winner of two Olympic gold medals and five consecutive world championships, died Thursday, said his son, Edward, who did not provide a cause. He was 95.
As an entrepreneur and broadcaster, Button promoted skating and its athletes, transforming a niche sport into the showpiece of every Winter Olympics.
“Dick was one of the most important figures in our sport,” Scott Hamilton said. “There wasn’t a skater after Dick who wasn’t helped by him in some way.”
Button’s impact began after World War II. He was the first U.S. men’s champion — and his country’s youngest at age 16 — when that competition returned in 1946. Two years later, he took the title at the St. Moritz Olympics, competing outdoors. He performed the first double axel in any competition and became the first American to win the men’s event.
“By the way, that jump had a cheat on it,” Button told the U.S. Olympic Committee website. “But listen, I did it and that was what counted.”
That began his dominance of international skating, and U.S. amateur sports. He was the first figure skater to win the prestigious Sullivan Award in 1949 — no other figure skater won it until Michelle Kwan in 2001.
In 1952, while a Harvard student, he won a second gold at the Oslo Games, making more history with the first triple jump (a loop) in competition. Soon after, he won a fifth world title, then gave up his eligibility as an amateur. All Olympic sports were subject to an amateur/professional division at the time.
“I had achieved everything I could have dreamed of doing as a skater,” said Button, who earned a law degree from Harvard in 1956. “I was able to enjoy the Ice Capades (show) and keep my hand in skating, and that was very important to me."
Button also featured in the game show realm. Button’s Candid Productions, formed 1959, also produced such made-for-TV programs as “Battle of the Network Stars" and "The Superstars". He was also on an episode of "I've Got a Secret" and judged the short-lived "Skating with the Stars".
He also dabbled in acting, but the rink was his realm.
“Dick Button created an open and honest space in figure skating broadcasting where no topic or moment was off-limits,” said Johnny Weir, the three-time U.S. champion and current NBC Sports figure skating analyst. “He told it like it was, even when his opinion wasn’t a popular one. His zingers were always in my mind when I would perform for him, and I wanted to make him as happy and proud as I would my coaches.
“I think that is something very special about commentating figure skating. As an athlete, we rarely have an opportunity to speak, and we rely on the TV voices to tell our story for us. Nobody could do it like Mr. Button.”
CNN
Newsday
The Washington Post
NBC Sports |
posted 1/30/2025 |
 |

Getty Images/ABC
MARIANNE FAITHFULL: 1946-2025
Singer/Actress Featured on Games
From the AP |
Marianne Faithfull, the British pop star, muse, libertine and old soul who inspired and helped write some of the Rolling Stones’ greatest songs and endured as a torch singer and survivor of the lifestyle she once embodied, has died. She was 78.
Faithfull passed away Thursday in London, her music promotion company Republic Media said.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of the singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull,” a company spokesperson said in a statement. “Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family. She will be dearly missed.”
The blonde, voluptuous Faithfull was a celebrity before turning 17, homeless by her mid-20s and an inspiration to peers and younger artists by her early 30s, when her raw, explicit “Broken English” album brought her the kinds of reviews the Stones had received. Over the following decades, her admirers would include Beck, Billy Corgan, Nick Cave and PJ Harvey, although her history would always be closely tied to the Stones and to the years she dated Mick Jagger.
“I am so saddened to hear of the death of Marianne Faithfull,” Jagger wrote on Instagram. “She was so much a part of my life for so long. She was a wonderful friend, a beautiful singer and a great actress.”
One of the first songs written by Jagger and Keith Richards, the melancholy “As Tears Go By,” was her breakthrough hit when released in 1964 and the start of her close and tormented relationship with the band.
She and Jagger began seeing each other in 1966 and became one of the most glamorous and notorious couples of “Swinging London,” with Faithfull once declaring that if LSD “wasn’t meant to happen, it wouldn’t have been invented.” Their rejection of conventional values was defined by a widely publicized 1967 drug bust that left Jagger and Richards briefly in jail and Faithfull identified in tabloids as “Naked Girl At Stones Party,” a label she would find humiliating and inescapable.
Her interests extended to theater, film and television. Faithfull began acting in the 1960s, including an appearance in Jean-Luc Godard’s “Made In U.S.A.” and stage roles in “Hamlet” and Chekhov’s “Three Sisters.” She would later appear in such films as “The Girl on a Motorcycle,” “Marie Antoinette” and “The Girl from Nagasaki,” and the TV series “Absolutely Fabulous,” in which she was cast as — and did not flinch from playing — God.
In game shows, Faithfull was featured on episodes of Juke Box Jury, British Song Contest, Call My Bluff, Thank Your Lucky STars, and Countdown.
Faithful was married three times, and in recent years dated her manager, Francois Ravard. Jagger was her most famous lover, but other men in her life included Richards (“so great and memorable,” she would say of their one-night stand), David Bowie and the early rock star Gene Pitney. Among the rejected: Bob Dylan, who had been so taken that he was writing a song about her, until Faithfull, pregnant with her son at the time, turned him down..
AP
CBS News
US Magazine
TV Insider
ABC News |
posted 1/30/2025 |
 |
Second Run
BBC Orders Season 2 of "The Answer Run"
From Televisual |
BBC Daytime has commissioned season two of quiz show The Answer Run, for BBC One and iPlayer.
Created and made by BBC Studios Entertainment Productions, comedian Jason Manford will return to host show.
The program format sees three pairs of contestants battle it out in a “fast paced, quick-thinking” general knowledge quiz show.
Filming for the new series (25×45’) will take place in Glasgow this March.
In each round of the 50/50 quiz, contestants are given the choice of two possible answers. Questions fly down The Run and players must swipe towards the answer they think is correct.
“Under time pressure will they make the right decision?” Jason Manford said, “I’m delighted to be back on BBC One with a second series of The Answer Run. As predicted, it’s become an addictive TV quiz show that the whole family can get involved in, shouting at the telly. I can’t wait for the new series to air later this year with you lot sat watching at home thinking you could do better. And if that is the case, why not apply to take part in this series – filming starts in March – the contestants really are the stars of the show!”
Rob Unsworth, Head of Commissioning for BBC Daytime comments, “We’re delighted to welcome Jason back to The Answer Run after its debut series was such a hit with viewers. It’s a brilliantly play-along format – you can’t resist shouting your answers at the telly as it builds to a real edge-of-the-seat finish.”
Creative Director and Executive Producer for BBC Studios Entertainment Productions, Pete Ogden said: “We’re incredibly proud of the first series so it’s great news that its returning to screens for a second time. Jason is the perfect host for The Answer Run and we can’t wait for audiences to watch and play along again when it airs this year.”
Season 2 of The Answer Run will air later in the year.
Televisual
The Irish Sun
BBC Media Centre |
posted 1/30/2025 |
 |
Thursday Lightning Round
... or "His Greatest Challenge" |
- Dwyane Wade reveals surgery to remove cancerous tumor on his kidney (ESPN)
- Bob the Drag Queen to host the Queerties (The Wrap)
- Clare Crawley claims to have asked not to date Matt James (Swooon), who, according to Rachael Kirkconnel "really f----ed up" (Reality TV World)
- How Blake Shelton got Adam Levine to return to "The Voice" (TV Insider)
- MOMENT OF AWESOME: Inside the prize redemption of "The Price Is Right Nigeria" (Brand Times)
|
posted 1/30/2025 |
 |

CBS/MGM Television
The Survivor 48 18
Catch It on CBS February 26
From the Futon Critic
|
SURVIVOR announced today the 18 new castaways who will compete against each other when the Emmy(R) Award-winning series premieres its 48th edition with a two-hour episode, on Wednesday, Feb. 26 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. The trailblazing reality series, which shifts to 90-minute weekly episodes beginning Wednesday, March 5 at 8:00 PM, returns with a bold new group of competitors, inspired gameplay and momentous tribal councils. The show, which is also available to stream on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs), is hosted by Emmy Award winner Jeff Probst.
Nearly 25 years since it first premiered, SURVIVOR continues to be the ultimate test of stamina and will as a fresh group of castaways begins the adventure of a lifetime when they're stranded on the picturesque islands of Fiji. This latest group of players must form a new society and nimbly adapt to their surroundings while contending with unforeseen obstacles and navigating an increasingly complex social game. The participants will be divided into three tribes of six and face a season to remember from the moment they step on the beach. Even the strongest competitors will be tested and forced to dig deep mentally and physically to ensure their torch stays lit.
The players competing on the 48th season are diverse competitors armed with fresh perspectives and a fervent passion for the game, with the same ultimate goal: to claim the title of Sole Survivor and win the $1 million prize.
The following are the 18 new castaways competing this fall:
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Stephanie Berger Age: 38 Hometown: New York City, N.Y. Current Residence: Brooklyn, N.Y. Occupation: Tech product lead
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Shauhin Davari Age: 38 Hometown: East Bay, Calif. Current Residence: Costa Mesa, Calif. Occupation: Debate professor
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Eva Erickson Age: 24 Hometown: Eagan, Minn. Current Residence: Providence, R.I. Occupation: PhD candidate Name:
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Kyle Fraser Age: 31 Hometown: Roanoke, Va. Current Residence: Brooklyn, N.Y. Occupation: Attorney
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Mitch Guerra Age: 34 Hometown: Waco, Texas Current Residence: Waco, Texas Occupation: P.E. coach
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Saiounia "Sai" Hughley Age: 30 Hometown: Philadelphia Current Residence: Simi Valley, Calif. Occupation: Marketing professional
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Joe Hunter Age: 45 Hometown: Vacaville, Calif. Current Residence: West Sacramento, Calif. Occupation: Fire captain
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Kamilla Karthigesu Age: 31 Hometown: Toronto, Canada Current Residence: Foster City, Calif. Occupation: Software engineer
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David Kinne Age: 39 Hometown: Long Beach, Calif. Current Residence: Buena Park, Calif. Occupation: Stunt performer
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Thomas Krottinger Age: 34 Hometown: The Woodlands, Texas Current Residence: Los Angeles Occupation: Music executive
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Kevin Leung Age: 34 Hometown: Fremont, Calif. Current Residence: Livermore, Calif. Occupation: Finance manager
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Cedrek McFadden Age: 46 Hometown: Colombia, S.C. Current Residence: Greenville, S.C. Occupation: Surgeon
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Charity Nelms Age: 34 Hometown: Monroe, Mich. Current Residence: St. Petersburg, Fla. Occupation: Flight attendant
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Justin Pioppi Age: 29 Hometown: Winthrop, Mass. Current Residence: Winthrop, Mass. Occupation: Pizzeria manager
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Bianca Roses Age: 33 Hometown: West Orange, N.J. Current Residence: Arlington, Va. Occupation: PR consultant
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Chrissy Sarnowsky Age: 55 Hometown: Chicago Current Residence: Chicago Occupation: Fire lieutenant
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Star Toomey Age: 28 Hometown: Monrovia, Liberia Current Residence: Augusta, Ga. Occupation: Sales expert
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Mary Zheng Age: 31 Hometown: Montgomery Village, Md. Current Residence: Philadelphia Occupation: Substance abuse counselor
The Futon Critic
Deadline
TV Line
Variety
TV Insider
REality TV World |
posted 1/29/2025 |
 |
Two Fox First Run Games Canceled
"Pictionary", "Person Place or Thing" to End Runs This Spring
From TV Newscheck |
Fox First Run is not renewing three of its first-run shows — Dish Nation, Person, Place or Thing and Pictionary — after this season, a spokeswoman confirmed on Tuesday.
Fox First Run is the first-run development arm of Fox, working in conjunction with the Fox Television Stations.
The decision comes in a year where daytime ratings have dipped below a sustainable financial level for many syndicated shows, forcing station groups to make some hard choices.
Fox has many other first-run shows on its stations — including Warner Bros.’ Jennifer Hudson, Extra and True Crime News; Fox’s TMZ and TMZ Live; Debmar-Mercury’s Sherri and Trifecta’s Crime Expose with Nancy O’Dell. While Sherri, TMZ and TMZ Live look safe, everything else on that list is considered to be on the bubble.
Fox’s decisions have ramifications for stations all across the nation because it is the group that clears shows through the country’s three largest markets: New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Canceling those three shows — and potentially more — means there will definitely be shelf space available in daytime, and station groups and producers are looking at ways to creatively fill those holes.
Going forward when programming daytime, stations are expected to move almost exclusively to shows that can generate revenue streams across multiple platforms and/or be run multiple times a day. Thus far, only two new first-run strips have been announced for next fall and both are games: CBS Media Ventures’ Perfect Line, hosted by Deborah Norville, and Scrambled Up!, which comes from Keller/Noll, Playing Field Entertainment and Crazy Legs Productions.
TV Newscheck |
posted 1/29/2025 |
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The Challenge All-Stars Heads to the Mothership
New Season Premieres on MTV
From Variety |
How do you follow up the epic 40th season of MTV’s “The Challenge“? Bring back one of the most popular themes for “The Challenge: All Stars.” That’s exactly what the series will do when Season 5 debuts on Wednesday, Jan. 29. Plus, it’s moving back to the original home of “The Challenge,” MTV. (It previously streamed on Paramount+.)
“It was a long, long, long walk down memory lane and then talking to everybody to see what’s been happening since other seasons,” showrunner Emer Harkin tells Variety of Season 5, which features 13 teams of two. “It was really about authentic rivalries and a real and meaningful entry point. It’s such a fan favorite season so we just want to do it justice."
The “Rivals” theme first debuted in 2011, with “Rivals II” airing in 2013, followed by the third in 2016. This time around, some players are teamed up with new rivals (full team list here!) — like Steve Meinke and Adam Larson, who had a falling out on “All Stars” Season 4 — while others are paired with decade-long opponents, like Veronica Portillo and Katie Doyle, who came to blows on 2004’s “The Inferno.” And then there’s exes Ashley Kelsey and Dario Medrano, who were once in love… and haven’t spoken in years.
VAriety |
posted 1/29/2025 |
 |
One More Question...
Claudia Winkelman's Quiz Show Revived After "Traitors" Success
From Lancashire Live |
Claudia Winkleman is set to front a new series of Channel 4's quiz show One Question after another successful stint as host of The Traitors for the BBC.
The popular presenter, aged 53, will be back on our screens soon, offering contestants the chance to win a hefty cash prize in a game that hinges on one pivotal question.
With a format that challenges players to choose the correct answer from 16 possibilities to bag £100,000, the show promises high stakes and intense gameplay.
The upcoming series kicks off on Friday, February 14, with Leeds flatmates Yuz and Scott, as well as Grace and Darren, a married couple from London, trying their luck. One Question made its debut on Channel 4 in 2022 but has only seen one series so far.
Lancashre Live
Surrey Live
Metro |
posted 1/29/2025 |
 |

MGM Television/NBC
RYAN WHYTE MALONEY: 1981-2025
"The Voice" Contestant
From People |
The Voice alum Ryan Whyte Maloney has died. He was 44.
The Clark County Coroner in Las Vegas confirmed the death to People on Tuesday, Jan. 28. Whyte Maloney died by suicide, with the cause of death listed by the coroner as a gunshot wound to the head.
On Monday, Jan. 27, the musician had posted a video to his Instagram Stories while at what appeared to be a bar.
"Nine fine Irishmen for a private party tonight, and we will be rocking," he said in the clip, flexing a rock hand gesture.
Born in Traverse City, Mich in 1981, Whyte Maloney grew up playing the guitar, violin, cello, and drums. Eventually, he landed as the frontman of the prog-rock outfit Indulge and recorded the album Tomorrow's Another Day in 2005. After 10 years of touring with the band, he began working on solo material.
Later, he recorded his debut solo album Where I've Been, which was produced by Sean O'Dwyer (The Black Crowes, Roger Waters, Pink Floyd).
Throughout 2010 to 2013, he performed throughout the country as his original songs "Hillbilly", "Michigan Moonlight" and "Living with No Directions" were played on country radio in Michigan, Nevada, Colorado and California.
In 2014, Whyte Maloney appeared on The Voice, where he performed "Lights" by Journey in a blind audition and received a four-chair turn. Whyte Maloney joined Blake Shelton's team where he endured two Battle rounds and became one of the country star's top 5 finalists. While on The Voice, he recorded four hit singles including "Lights" by Journey, Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do with It", "Easy" by Rascal Flatts and "Second Chance" by Shinedown.
He eventually returned to perform during the season finale.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.
People
PArade
The Wrap
Rolling Stone
TV Line |
posted 1/29/2025 |
 |
Wednesday Lightning Round
... or "All the World & Time" |
- Greg Lee, Kevin Shinick team for graphic novel (Bleeding Cool)
- Jinkx Monsoon has words (Variety)
- Eddie Evelyn-Hall joins Tuesday's Child (DEadline)
- Which game does Drew Carey rank as the hardest? (TV Insider)
- A FEW GOOD MINUTES with Damon Wayans Jr. & Jeannie Mai (KMAX Sacramento)
|
posted 1/29/2025 |
 |

CBS Media Ventures/Sony Pictures TV
It's Time for Madness
Details on the Tournament of Champions
From TV Insider
|
The Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions has set an official date for its 2025 return! The most impressive Jeopardy! contestants of the past year will face-off in the prestigious event beginning on Monday, January 27.
As previously announced, this year’s contestant field will include the players who won the most games since 2024’s Tournament of Champions, which concluded on March 19, 2024, along with the winner and runner-up from the Champions Wildcard tournament, which is currently airing. Lisa Ann Walter, the winner of Celebrity Jeopardy!, was also initially supposed to be part of the group, but had to drop out due to a scheduling conflict with Abbott Elementary.
The competition will begin with the quarterfinal rounds, which conclude on Monday, February 3. The three winningest contestants from the year — Adriana Harmeyer, Isaac Hirsch, and Drew Basile — earned byes that allow them to bypass the quarterfinals and begin the competition in the semifinals. Once the quarterfinals conclude, the semifinals will air from Tuesday, February 4, to Thursday, February 6, with the finals kicking off on Friday, February 7. The first player to win three games in the finals will take home the $250,000 prize, making the last possible date of the tournament Monday, February 17 (although it could end by Tuesday, February 11, if someone wins three in a row).
Full schedule:
- Monday, January, 27:
Quarterfinal 1 Alison Betts, a five-game champion originally from San Jose, California; Will Wallace, a four-game champion from Austin, Texas; Rishabh Wuppalapati, a three-game champion from Vernon Hills, Illinois
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Tuesday, January 28: Quarterfinal 2 Amy Hummel, a five-game champion from Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Grant DeYoung, a four-game champion from Prescott, Arizona; David Erb, a three-game champion from Seattle, Washington
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Wednesday, January 29: Quarterfinal 3 Greg Jolin, a five-game champion from Raymond, New Hampshire; Weckiai Rannila, a three-game champion from Albuquerque, New Mexico; Neilesh Vinjamuri, a three-game champion from Lionville, Pennsylvania
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Thursday, January 30: Quarterfinal 4 *Champions Wildcard contestant TBA; Ryan Manton, a four-game champion from Columbus, Ohio; Will Stewart, a three-game champion originally from Nashville, Tennessee
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Friday, January 31: Quarterfinal 5 Mark Fitzpatrick, a five-game champion from Riverside, Connecticut; Allison Gross, a three-game champion from Cleveland, Ohio; Kevin Laskowski, a three-game champion from Falls Church, Virginia
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Monday, February 3: Quarterfinal 6 *Champions Wildcard Contestant TBA; Amar Kakirde, a four-game champion from Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey; Lucas Partridge, a three-game champion from Las Vegas, Nevada
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Tuesday, February 4: Semifinal 1
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Wednesday, February 5: Semifinal 2
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Thursday, February 6: Semifinal 3
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Friday, February 7: Finals Game 1
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Monday, February 10: Finals Game 2
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Tuesday, February 11: Finals Game 3
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Wednesday, February 12: Finals Game 4 (if needed)
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Thursday, February 13: Finals
Game 5 (if needed)
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Friday February 14: Finals Game 6 (if needed)
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Monday, February 17: Finals Game 7 (if needed)
In addition, TuneIn, the world's leader in live audio, announced today in collaboration with Sony Pictures Television the premiere of the Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions Exhibition Game premiering exclusively on TuneIn for free. TuneIn will host an exhibition game featuring the top three seeded Jeopardy! champions from the past season ahead of their appearances in the highly-anticipated 2025 Tournament of Champions. The exhibition game will stream live on Jeopardy! Radio on TuneIn on Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. ET and will be available on demand after the premiere.
The Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions Exhibition Game features this tournament's top champions, Adriana Harmeyer (15 wins), Isaac Hirsch (9 wins) and Drew Basile (7 wins), who will all be seeded directly into the semifinal round of the Tournament of Champions. The players will battle it out for bragging rights in the exhibition game before going up against the other players in the tournament.
"The Tournament of Champions is always full of surprises, so this matchup gives this season's top-ranked champions a chance to face off and test their skills against each other ahead of the tournament,” said Sally Umsted, Vice President of Consumer Products and Licensing for Sony Pictures Television. "By teaming up with TuneIn, fans can experience even more of the excitement around the tournament and hear some of their favorite players compete for fun.”
In addition to premiering the new exhibition game, Sony Pictures Television and TuneIn are extending their partnership to continue exclusive distribution of fan favorites, Jeopardy! Radio and Jeopardy! Radio Classic, through TuneIn. Jeopardy! Radio is a stream curated by the show's producers that features the greatest and most memorable episodes of Jeopardy! and a Jeopardy!-style quiz game that allows listeners to test their knowledge. Jeopardy! Radio Classics is another 24/7 stream that covers nearly 40 years of gameplay that lets listeners play at home and on the go to see how they stack up against contestants from decades past. Fans can enjoy commercial-free access to Jeopardy! Radio and Jeopardy! Radio Classics with TuneIn Premium.
TV Insider
The Manila Times
TV Insider
The Mirror |
posted 1/28/2025 |
 |

Magical Elves/NBCUniversal
Top Chef: Northern Treasures
Meet the Season 22 Contestants
From TV Insider
|
Bravo's "Top Chef" makes Destination Canada the backdrop for Season 22 with host Kristen Kish, head judge Tom Colicchio, and perennial judge Gail Simmons who hails from Canada. The series premieres Thursday, March 13 on Bravo with an entire season of supersized episodes airing every Thursday night from 9 - 10:15 p.m. Episodes will be available next day on Peacock.
The Emmy, James Beard, and Critics Choice Award-winning series produced by Magical Elves, brings a new crop of chefs together for the ultimate culinary showdown. This season, 15 rising star chefs will compete for the highly sought-after title, across the diverse and vibrant culinary scenes and ingredients of our neighbors to the north, highlighting Toronto, Calgary, Montreal and Prince Edward Island for a chance to win the largest grand prize package in "Top Chef" history. The winner will take home the grand prize of $250,000 provided by Saratoga(R) Spring Water, the official water of "Top Chef"; Delta SkyMiles(R) Diamond Medallion(R) Status and a $125,000 flight credit to spend on travel with Delta Air Lines; a feature in Food & Wine magazine, and an appearance at the annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. And for the first time ever, the winner will headline their own exclusive dinner at the historic James Beard House in New York and have the opportunity to present at The James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards in Chicago, IL.
Throughout the season, the chefs will also have the opportunity to win a cash prize at every Quickfire Challenge and select Elimination Challenges with more than $150,000 in total up for grabs.
MEET THE CHEFTESTANTS
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Anna "Anya" El-Wattar - San Francisco, CA
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Paula Endara - Lexington, KY
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Tristen Epps - Houston, TX
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Corwin Hemming - Brooklyn, NY
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Katianna Hong - Los Angeles, CA
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Lana Lagomarsini - Harlem, NY
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Henry Lu - Houston, TX
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Vincenzo Loseto - St. Helena, CA
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Zubair Mohjir - Chicago, IL
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César Murillo - Chicago, IL
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Massimo Piedimonte - Montreal, QC
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Bailey Sullivan - Chicago, IL
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Kat Turner - Los Angeles, CA
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Shuai Wang - North Charleston, SC
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Mimi Weissenborn - Portland, ME
For more information on the cheftestants, please visit Bravotv.com/top-chef.
The cheftestants must show off their creativity and skills as they battle it out in a range of challenges across our northern neighbor, showcasing Canada's tapestry of flavors and diverse landscapes from the nation's boreal forests, sun-drenched deserts and windswept prairies to the icy tundra, rugged coastlines and serene farmlands. From creating a dish best served cold in honor of the nation's favorite sport, hockey, to embracing Toronto's vibrant mosaic of cultures, the chefs are put to the test and must be at the top of their game to stay in the kitchen. The judges' expectations are at an all-time high when guest judges, including Canadians such as Michael Cera stop by the "Top Chef" kitchen for a fun trivia game where the chefs have to earn their ingredients and Sarah Levy lends her palate as they put their spin on poutine, the nation's beloved dish, and signature ingredient maple syrup.
The cheftestants also are tasked with creating a dish featuring a stunt. Before they hit the kitchen, however, they will have to perform a stunt of their own as they climb to new heights and face their fears atop Canada's National Tower, the architectural icon also known as the CN Tower. The competition's signature challenge, Restaurant Wars, is back but with a twist, as Kristen and the judges set guardrails on overused concepts they don't want to see in hopes of sparking fresh and out-of-the-box ideas.
Later in the season, the chefs head to Calgary, home of the Calgary Stampede, the world's largest outdoor rodeo, then travel to Canmore, at the foothills of Banff National Park. The chefs must lay it all out on their plates in order to win the honor of being named Top Chef. Throughout the season, "Top Chef" winners, finalists and favorites return to lend their guidance and expertise, including Richard Blais, Sara Bradley, Nina Compton, Danny Garcia, Ali Ghzawi, Gregory Gourdet, Nicole Gomes, Buddha Lo, Dale McKay and Spike Mendelsohn.
The distinguished rotating team of judges include Andrea Aprea, Denia Baltzer, Daniel Boulud, Jeremy Charles, Ilona Daniel, Greg Tarzan Davis, Connie DeSousa, Wylie Dufresne, Sheila Flaherty, Eden Grinshpan, Brenda Holder, Punkie Johnson, Jet Lee, Susur Lee, Hunter Lewis, Tracy Little, Antonio Park, Clare Reichenbach, Amy Schnieder, Dwight Smith, Clare Smyth, Mattea Roach, Paul Rogalski, David Zilber and Janet Zuccarini.
Directly after the premiere, the digital aftershow "The Dish with Kish," presented by Saratoga(R) Spring Water and hosted by Kristen Kish, returns. Kish will be joined each week by a "Top Chef" alum. The pair will break down all the culinary action from the latest episode while creating a new dish inspired by the biggest culinary questions from the episode, revealing new insights into the creativity and techniques behind challenge-winning dishes. Joining her in the kitchen to talk about the culinary action and give a look behind-the-scenes are "Top Chef" winners, finalists and fan favorites Sara Bradley, Joe Flamm, Gregory Gourdet, Mei Lin, Amar Santana, Michael Voltaggio and Brooke Williamson.
The Futon Critic
Entertainment Weekly |
posted 1/27/2025 |
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Netflix Studios
Love Is Blind Celebrates 5 with 10
Netflix Hit Renewed
From the Futon Critic
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Netflix has officially renewed its unscripted dating series Love Is Blind through Season 10!
This Valentine's Day marks the 5th anniversary of the beloved series, coinciding with the highly anticipated premiere of Season 8.
Debuting on February 14, 2025, Season 8 introduces a new group of singles from Minneapolis, Minnesota, embarking on personal journeys of love and self-discovery. Look back at the unforgettable moments, viral memes, and heartwarming love stories that made you fall in love in the Official Teaser.
Singles who want to be loved for who they are have signed up for a less conventional approach to modern dating, and will choose someone to marry without ever meeting them. Over several weeks, the newly engaged couples will move in together, plan their wedding, and find out if their physical connection matches their strong emotional bond developed in the pods. When their wedding day arrives, will real-world realities and external factors push them apart, or will they marry the person they fell blindly in love with? Hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey, this addictive series will uncover whether looks, race, or age do matter - or if love really is blind.
The hit reality series is back for an eighth season, following a new set of singles from Minnesota - all ready to cut through the static of modern dating and forge authentic relationships, sight unseen. This season, the singles form deep and immediate connections, setting the stage for an unexpected journey full of twists, turns, and shocking revelations that will test each relationship well after the participants leave the pods for the real world.
The Futon Critic
The Wrap
Variety
TV Line
Deadline
Swooon
The Futon Critic
Entertainment Weekly
Variety
The Futon Critic |
posted 1/28/2025 |
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Tuesday Lightning Round
... or "The Couple That Plays Together..." |
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posted 1/28/2025 |
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A $10,000 Scramble
Keller/Noll to Shop New Series for Fall 2025
From Forbes |
Move over Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, Family Feud and 25 Words or Less.
There is another new first-run syndicated game show, Scrambled Up!, vying for station clearances for fall 2025. From Keller/Noll (Flip Side, Chopped, and America Says), and Playing Field Entertainment and Crazy Legs Productions (who produce Cutlers Court), Scrambled Up! features four contestants who solve jumbled up words and phrases that unscramble right before their eyes in a competition to win the grand prize of $10,000. As the tiles unscramble, the clues get easier.
Specifically, colorful tiles slowly rearrange themselves while players are given clues to the answer. A wrong answer means that player can no longer guess while the first player with the right answer wins the points.
Scrambled Up! is the second new game show vying for station clearances for next season. The first, The Perfect Line, is from CBS Media Ventures and features Inside Edition’s Deborah Norville hosting this trivia game of questions about world events, pop culture, sports, science and other topics. Contestants are given a category and then arrange events, items or people to create “the perfect line.”.
Forbes
TV Newscheck |
posted 1/27/2025 |
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More on "WWE LFG"
Catch It on A&E February 16
From Entertainment Weekly |
WWE‘s new competition series officially has a premiere date at A&E.
“WWE LFG,” short for “Legends & Future Greats,” will launch on Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. ET. on A&E. It will be followed by the debut of “WWE’s Greatest Moments” at 9:30 p.m. and the return of “WWE Rivals” at 10:30. Both “LFG” and “Greatest Moments” were announced in December as an expansion of WWE’s A&E content offerings.
In “LFG” 16 contestants will compete for a spot in NXT, WWE’s developmental brand. They will be trained during the show by WWE legends like The Undertaker, Booker T, Mickie James, and Bubba Ray Dudley. In addition, WWE Hall of Famers Paul “Triple H” Levesque, WWE’s Chief Content Officer, and Shawn Michaels, WWE’s Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative, will help guide the competitors as they earn points for their performances.
Variety |
posted 1/27/2025 |
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Chris Culvenor, Paul Franklin Spin-Off Eureka Studios with Fremantle
Rikkie Proost to Lead Eureka Productions
From DEadline |
Eureka Productions bosses Chris Culvenor and Paul Franklin have created a new company that’s got a deal in place with Fremantle, the production giant that owns their previous biz, Eureka Productions.
Fremantle, which has a majority stake in The Mole maker Eureka Productions, has struck a three-year deal with Culvenor and Franklin’s new creative venture, Eureka Studios. Though both companies will use the Eureka brand, only Eureka Productions sits inside the Fremantle fold as Eureka Studios is not owned by the RTL-backed producer and distributor.
Rikkie Proost is being promoted from Chief Creative Officer to CEO of Eureka Productions following the move. However, Culvenor and Franklin will “remain actively involved in current productions and closely associated with the Eureka Productions slate”.
Eureka Studios launches with a three-year deal with Fremantle. The company will devise and develop new content that Fremantle and its subsidiary producers, including Eureka Productions, will produce and sell. Focus will be on unscripted formats, developing original ideas in gaming, sports-adjacent content and scripted shows, all of which Fremantle will distribute internationally.
Deadline
Variety |
posted 1/27/2025 |
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The Wheel Is Gonna Get France
Sony Reboots "La Roue de la Fortune" for France's M6
From the Pinnacle Gazette |
La Roue de la Fortune, one of France's most beloved game shows, is set to make its triumphant return to the small screen on M6 starting Monday, January 27, 2025, at 17:30. Originally airing on TF1 between 1987 and 2012, this iconic show has been revitalized with fresh twists and features, promising to delight both old fans and new viewers.
Hosted by the charismatic Éric Antoine, known for his role on another beloved show, Le Juste Prix (the French version of "The Price Is Right"), the new version of La Roue de la Fortune retains many elements of the beloved original. Each episode employs the classic format where three contestants face off over five rounds to solve word puzzles—participants spin the wheel, earning money for consonants and having to pay for vowels.
And what’s new? The show introduces several exciting twists to keep things interesting. Contestants will have the chance to return as champions to the next episode, allowing them to accumulate winnings over multiple days, reminiscent of popular shows like N’oubliez pas les paroles.
The famed wheel will now feature extra segments, including ‘L’échange’, where contestants can swap their current total with one of their opponents, and ‘Le diviseur’, which allows players to halve their rival’s earnings. Another fun addition is ‘La mini-roue’, which Éric Antoine himself spins, offering various surprises and magical moments to the game. The stakes remain high, with contestants vying for prizes including €20,000 or idyllic vacations.
The Pinnacle Gazette |
posted 1/27/2025 |
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Welcome to Paradise
Scott Teti Named Showrunner
From Deadline |
There’s change happening in The Bachelor universe.
Deadline reports that Bachelor in Paradise will have a new showrunner for Season 10.
Scott Teti, who has exec produced series such as ABC’s Claim to Fame and Bravo’s Summer House in addition to various Married At First Sight spinoffs, is taking over showrunner duties for the upcoming season.
This comes as the show is set to return this summer for its tenth season after having not been on the air last year. ABC, instead, focused on The Golden Bachelorette, which aired last fall, following the 2023 launch of The Golden Bachelor, as well as new seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. The Bachelor returns for Season 29 on Monday.
Deadline |
posted 1/27/2025 |
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Monday Lightning Round
... or "Himself" |
- Paul Reubens posthumously comes out in new HBO doc (The Hollywood Reporter)
- Stephen Fry finds himself in jeopardy... on "Millionaire" (LADBible)
- Jamie Kern Lima goes from "Big Brother" to "Shark Tank" thanks to a $1.2 billion sale (Reality Blurred)
- Shirley Chung taped "GGG" before being diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer (Reality Blurred)
- Boston Rob Mariano talks to Probst about Survivor 50 (TV Insider) ... and hosting the DOND Island aftershow (TV Insider)
- Ali Fedotowsky's husband diagnosed with cancer (Entertainment Weekly)
- The Bachelor In Paradise bartender Wells Adams thinks Jesse Palmer would excel on "The Traitors" (Entertainment Weekly)
- Kelly Clarkson apologizes to the cast of "The Rookie" for being "an idiot on that set" (DEadline)
- Jonathon Johnson is happy for Jenn Tran after getting it twisted (Swooon)
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posted 1/21/2025 |
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BBC Studios LA
1% Club 100% Renewed
Fox to Take the Reins While Joel McHale Tapped as Host
From Deadline
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The 1% Club has been renewed for a second season at Fox, with Amazon taking a step back.
The game show premiered on Prime Video in 2024, with Fox as a broadcast partner. Fox now will air the show exclusively for its 2025-26 season, with Joel McHale taking over hosting duties from Patton Oswalt.
“Joel’s outstanding comedic timing and hosting charm already make him a standout talent here at Fox, and now — building on The 1% Club’s strong first year on the network — we’re bringing his unrivaled energy, irreverence, and charisma to Season 2,” said Michael Thorn, President of Fox Television Network.
McHale already hosts Crime Scene Kitchen for the network and stars in the comedy Animal Control, with Season 3 currently airing on Fox. “I am 1,000,000% excited to be partnering with Fox to host The 1% Club,” McHale said. “I absolutely love the show and love the gameplay to the 10 and guarantee my hair, makeup and wardrobe will look great at least 68% of the time.”
The 1% Club is an international format produced by BBC Studios Los Angeles Productions and Magnum Media. The game show features 100 contestants competing for the chance to win up to $100,000. Contestants are tested on how their brain works through a series of questions that all have a correct answer but can also lead to a series of wrong answers.
“99% of us are unfortunately not as funny as Joel McHale, which makes him the perfect host for The 1% Club,” Ryan O’Dowd, President of Unscripted at BBC Studios Los Angeles Productions, said. “His unmatched approach to comedy is innately unpredictable and will take audiences on a thrill ride as they watch him in action with our contestants, striving to put their wits to the test.”
Deadline
TV Line
The Futon Critic
The Hollywood Reporter
Variety
Deadline
The AV Club
PopCulture.com |
posted 1/24/2025 |
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The Traitors UK Crowns Third Winner
Record Audience Recorded
From Deadline |
The BBC’s hit reality TV show The Traitors’ third season has gone out with a bang.
The murder mystery game set in a Scottish castle won an audience of 7.4million viewers, according to BARB audience figures supplied by overnights.tv. This is well up on last year’s finale, which drew an audience of 6.9million.
The show, made by production company Studio Lambert, debuted in 2022 and sees a group of participants (producers prefer the word “players” over “contestants”) holed up in a Scottish castle. A small number are selected by producers as Traitors who must try to bump off their housemates to secure a prize of up to £120,000. Meanwhile, the others, deemed Faithfuls, must use their time to try to identify the Traitors among them. The show is hosted by Claudia Winkleman, who also fronts the BBC’s biggest entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing.
Deadline
Variety |
posted 1/24/2025 |
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Spring Baking Championship Returns March 10
Catch It on Food Network & Max
From the FUton Critic |
Food Network's seasonal baking competition, Spring Baking Championship, returns to make the springtime sweeter with a whimsical season full of magic and creativity. Premiering Monday, March 10th at 8pm ET/PT and streaming on Max, host Jesse Palmer transforms the baking studio into The Little Shop of Spring Magic, where anything is possible - from rainbow cheesecakes to dessert deceptions that look like dinner. For the first time ever, a baker's dozen of 13 contestants will embark on a wonderous journey to make the impossible possible and win over judges Duff Goldman, Nancy Fuller and Kardea Brown. At the end of the competition, only one baker will take the cake and earn $25,000, a feature in Food Network Magazine and the title of Spring Baking Champion.
"Skilled bakers create magic in the kitchen with their incredible creations, so it was fitting to celebrate and highlight those skills with a new spring season with a magical theme," said Betsy Ayala, Head of Content, Food. "The creativity of the bakers and their edible works of art will leave viewers astounded and wanting more as the competitors pull out all the stops in their journey to be Spring Baking Champion."
The Futon Critic |
posted 1/24/2025 |
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CBS Studios
Working Blue in the Daytime!
"Hollywood Squares" to Inherit 8p Slot, Run Encores for a Week
From Deadline
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Following its successful primetime launch, CBS will present a special daytime run of HOLLYWOOD SQUARES with encore episodes of the reimagined classic game show featured Monday, Jan. 27-Friday. Jan. 31 (2:00-3:00 PM, ET; 1:00-2:00 PM, CT/PT).
Starring award-winning actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore in the center square and hosted by Nate Burleson (co-host of CBS MORNINGS and NFL analyst), HOLLYWOOD SQUARES showcases a unique lineup of celebrity guests in every episode. Celebrity guests take turns answering questions while contestants determine the legitimacy of their responses to score points and win exciting prizes.
In primetime, HOLLYWOOD SQUARES original episodes air Thursday, Jan. 23 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT). As announced yesterday, beginning Wednesday, Jan. 29, CBS Wednesday game nights will kick off with original episodes of HOLLYWOOD SQUARES (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), followed by THE PRICE IS RIGHT AT NIGHT (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) and then RAID THE CAGE (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT). HOLLYWOOD SQUARES is available on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+*.
On Wednesday, Feb. 5, Super Bowl Greatest Commercials will air a one-time-only special episode. The Wednesday game night schedule will resume the following week.
Deadline
PopCulture.com
The Futon Critic
The Futon Critic
Soap Opera Network
The Hollywood Reporter
Variety
Deadline |
posted 1/23/2025 |
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It's the S***r B**l of Baking!
"The Great American Baking Show" to Play One-Off with Celebrities for the Big Game
From Deadline |
Five sports stars step into the iconic Baking Show tent, ready to bake up a sweat for game day! Two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf, actor Amy Smart, defensive end Arik Armstead, Emmy-winning sports commentator Katie Nolan, and NFL legend Tony Gonzalez tackle three game day baking challenges officiated by Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. Who will emerge victorious and claim the Star Baker trophy?
"The Great American Baking SHow: Celebrity Big Game", will stream for free on the Roku Channel February 3, with hosts Casey Wilson & Zach Cherry and judges Prue Leith & Paul Hollywood on deck.
The Futon Critic |
posted 1/23/2025 |
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Thursday Lightning Round
... or "Space RANGER!" |
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posted 1/23/2025 |
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Speaking of Tournament of Champions
Food Network Loads Up Season 6 March 2
From the Futon Critic |
Guy Fieri's fiercest culinary event, Tournament of Champions, is back for a sixth season on Sunday, March 2 at 8pm ET/PT on Food Network and streams on Max. Pressure is amped up and emotions run high as chefs face wild challenges doled out by the Randomizer, face unknown opponents, and kitchen skills and abilities are pushed to the limit as successive rounds get more intense in the sudden-death culinary competition. For the first time ever, all four former champions of the series will hang up their knives for new, on set assignments. After eight weeks and 31 grueling head-to-head battles, one talented chef will win it all and be crowned champion, taking home the coveted Tournament of Champions belt and a $150,000 cash prize.
Before the season begins, the cooking competition ups the stakes in Tournament of Champions: The Qualifiers, on Sunday, February 16 at 8pm ET/PT, where 16 chefs go head-to-head competing for the newly upped eight open slots in the tournament bracket, allowing four additional new chefs to compete against a returning 24. Before they enter the arena and the culinary battles begin, Fieri, Justin Warner and season III winner Tiffani Faison will preview all the twists and spins of the Randomizer, and reveal the details of this year's bracket in Tournament of Champions VI: The Bracket Reveal on Sunday, February 23 at 10pm ET/PT.
"One thing you can count on with TOC is that we're always upping the ante, making the competition even more intense and unpredictable," said Fieri. " With all four past champs putting down their knives for this round, it's anyone's game! So don't sleep on the qualifiers or anyone else as this year it's truly anyone's chance to grab that belt!"
This season's competing chefs will include Karen Akunowicz, Kaleena Bliss, Sara Bradley, Chris Cosentino, Rocco DiSpirito, Tobias Dorzon, Amanda Freitag, Stephanie Izard, Kevin Lee, Antonia Lofaso, Tim Love, Shota Nakajima, Nini Nguyen, Michael Reed, Britt Rescigno, Joe Sasto, Chris Scott, Adam Sobel, Dale Talde, Casey Thompson, Jet Tila, Fabio Viviani, Lee Anne Wong and Claudette Zepeda plus eight additional winners from the qualifier tournament.
"Tournament of Champions is consistently one of Food Network's highest-rated series, with over 16 million viewers tuning in last season and loving every minute of the action-packed competition," said Betsy Ayala, Head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery. "With the expanded number of slots up for grabs in Tournament of Champions: The Qualifiers, the stage is set for even more unexpected matchups and potential upsets. The bar has been raised, season six is sure to deliver for returning fans and newcomers alike."
Tiffani Faison joins Justin Warner as TOC sideline reporter to deliver real-time play-by-play as the action unfolds in front of a live audience. Hunter Fieri follows the action backstage, interviewing the winning chefs for their reactions to the competition, while Simon Majumdar takes on a new role as the Judges' Correspondent, getting the judges' takes on why a dish won or lost.
Double winner of Season II and V Maneet Chauhan, Season IV champion Mei Lin, and inaugural TOC champion Brooke Williamson will join legendary judges Scott Conant, Cat Cora, Susan Feniger, Alex Guarnaschelli, Mary Sue Milliken, Charlie Palmer, Wolfgang Puck, Marcus Samuelsson, Nancy Silverton, Martha Stewart, Michael Symon, Ming Tsai, Jonathan Waxman and Andrew Zimmern.
The finale battle on Sunday, April 20 at 8pm ET/PT will determine the brand-new winner who will join the elite group of Tournament of Champions.
The Futon Critic
Reality Blurred |
posted 1/22/2025 |
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A Ghost, Three Podcasters, and An American Walk Into the Caravan...
Channel 4 Announces "Taskmaster" Season 19 Cast
From NME |
The contestants for the 19th series of Taskmaster have been announced, with a new line-up of comedians and actors looking to fulfill host Greg Davies’ variety of obstacles.
The new show coincides with the 10th anniversary of the first series, which debuted in July 2015. Since then, the show has gone on to air in 120 countries, and found success on YouTube with 1.6million subscribers and 895million views since their official channel launched. It also opened Taskmaster: The Live Experience in London.
Hoping to win the Taskmaster trophy this year is...
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Fatiha El-Ghorri, a British stand-up comedian who has been featured on Live At The Apollo, The Jonathan Ross Show, and survival-based game show Outsiders with David Mitchell.
- Jason Mantzoukas, an American comedian, actor and podcaster familiar to TV fans from the animated show Big Mouth, sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and The Good Place.
- Matthew Baynton, best known for his performance as Deano from Gavin & Stacey, as well as being part of the casts of comedy Ghosts and Horrible Histories.
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Rosie Ramsey turned her podcast Shagged Married Annoyed with Chris Ramsey into a huge success, taking the show on an arena tour and taking part in the Strictly Come Dancing 2022 Christmas special. She appears solo on the show, after Chris appeared in series 13 in 2022.
- Stevie Martin, best known for her hit Edinburgh Fringe Show, as well as appearing on the comedy Starstruck with former Taskmaster contestant Rose Matafeo.
No official air date has been announced, although the statement said the series will be available on Channel 4 in the UK, as well as internationally via the Taskmaster YouTube Channel and Taskmaster SuperMax+, the show’s dedicated streaming service.
NME
Chortle |
posted 1/22/2025 |
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BetMGM Plays Feud, TPIR
IP Eyed for iGaming
From Casino.org |
BetMGM announced it procured intellectual property rights to use “Family Feud” and “The Price is Right” — two of the most legendary game shows — on its iGaming platform.
The gaming company landed those rights through an agreement with Fremantle, which creates, distributes, and produces entertainment content. Financial terms of the accord were not disclosed. The game shows will serve as themes for slots, table games, and “non-traditional casino games” on BetMGM.
"During select weeks throughout the upcoming seasons, BetMGM will be featured as a sponsor with exclusive, never-before-seen partnership integrations for ‘Family Feud’ and ‘The Price is Right,’” according to a statement. “Throughout 2025 BetMGM and Fremantle will reveal additional details on these planned partnership activations.”
Today, just seven states — Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia — allow internet casinos. That number could increase this year as roughly 10 states, maybe more, could consider iGaming legislation.
CAsino.org
World Casino News
Sportsbook Review
Gambling News
Gaming Intelligence
PlayUSA
ESports Insider |
posted 1/22/2025 |
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"After Midnight" Returns
CBS' Panel Game the First to Return to Production After Wildfires
From Deadline |
Taylor Tomlinson returned to CBS last night after a couple of weeks off as a result of the L.A. wildfires.
After Midnight, which films in LA, had been on pause since January 7, as the fires ravaged the city. Tomlinson opened the show with a call-out to the producers of the show, which is produced by CBS Studios, Stephen Colbert’s Spartina Industries and Funny Or Die with J.D. Amato and Jack Martin as co-showrunners.
“It is so good to be back on TV now that our city is just barely on fire,” she said. “I do want to say before we start, we were off all of last week, and the reason for that is the people who run our show are very great, great people who care about our staff and our crew, and I’m really grateful to them. It’s not something you always see in this business. So, I just wanted to say that to be like cheesy and personal. I really appreciate it. I also don’t know what games we would have played last week… ‘For our next game, we’re just gonna check Watch Duty again or our next game is called, How Many Fires Are There?’. I don’t know how we would have made that fun and cute, but the wildfire seemed to be finally under control.”
Deadline
Deadline
The Wrap
Variety
Cordcutters News
The Sun
Daytime Confidential
Soaps.SheKnows.com
Michigan's Thumb |
posted 1/22/2025 |
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Wednesday Lightning Round
... or "Ouch!" |
- Ryan Seacrest takes his first wild fall as host of "Wheel of Fortune" (New York Post)
- Darragh Ennis addresses taping "The Chase" after his father's death (The Mirror)
- BRUTALLY HONEST REVIEW: The Joe Schmo Show (TBS) (Reality Blurred)
- Sara Haines thinks her dad's hot (Entertainment Weekly)
- Tyra Banks loses home to the wildfires (Deadline)
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posted 1/22/2025 |
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Going Offline
Netflix Offers "Offline Love"
From the Futon Critic |
Can love still blossom in today's world without relying on being online? Japanese reality series Offline Love sets out to find out, premiering February 18. Unveiled today, the main trailer offers a sneak peek at the enchanting city of Nice, France, with its beautiful beaches and atmospheric old town. Participants navigate the city, relying on letters and promises to connect with their companions, as they strive to find their soulmate in a limited timeframe.
Following the success of popular reality romance series like The Boyfriend and Love Village, Offline Love offers a fresh take on dating reality shows. Ten men and women embark on a journey to find love in the picturesque city of Nice, without using digital devices. But there's a twist: they only have 10 days to meet and connect. Despite no guarantee of crossing paths, chance meetings and inevitable encounters suggest that they might be destined for love. Will the participants find their soulmates and experience true love?
The series features studio commentary from Kyoko Koizumi and the comedy duo Reiwa Roman, both making their debut as emcees for a dating reality show. Koizumi, a former idol turned singer, actor, and producer, reflects on the show's premise: "I never really connected with romance reality shows, but this concept is fascinating: in a foreign country and without digital devices, participants rely on letters, promises, and coincidences to find love. I grew up without a smartphone, and every moment felt precious." She brings her perspective as a member of the "offline love" generation, watching over the contestants' romantic adventures. "Meeting the two members of Reiwa Roman was also a delight! I hope everyone enjoys watching how things will unfold."
Reiwa Roman, composed of Kuruma Takahira and Kemuri Matsui, are known for their sharp wit, adding their unique humor to the show. Takahira shares, "It felt more like witnessing a grand social experiment rather than a dating show. In a foreign land, they experience the ultimate digital detox, with no complex rules - it's a series of surprises, realizing how such a lifestyle can transform someone's feelings. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and cuisine of Nice, Kyoko Koizumi's warm words, and Kemuri-sensei's beard." Matsui adds, "At 31 years old, I don't think I've ever experienced romance without social media, messaging apps, emails, or phone calls. It'll be interesting to watch the men and women lay their hearts bare as they cross paths. Koizumi's insightful commentary alongside our fun chatter is something you should also look out for. We hope you enjoy the show!"
It must be fate! Don't miss out on the drama that unfolds in Offline Love, streaming all 10 episodes on February 18 to warm audiences' hearts.
The Futon Critic |
posted 1/21/2025 |
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Another Song And Dance...
Smart Dog Media Teams with TV Asahi for Talent Show
From Variety |
TV Asahi, a leading commercial TV network in Japan, is partnering with Emmy-winning producers Craig Plestis and Clara Plestis and their production company, Smart Dog Media, to co-produce a new talent competition show, “Song vs. Dance.” The Smart Dog Media duo will serve as executive producers, with Takaaki Kitano overseeing production in Japan.
Their new show will have performers compete in head-to-head battles in a video game-inspired format, leaving only one winner and answering the question: Which is better, song or dance? The producers hope the show will be the next international variety hit.
Smart Dog Media and TV Asahi will be showcasing “Song vs. Dance” at the inaugural MIP London in February.
The show marks TV Asahi’s first co-production with a U.S.-based partner, as they join forces with Smart Dog Media to introduce the new format to Japanese audiences.
Variety |
posted 1/21/2025 |
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Catchphrase Lines Up More Celebrity Eps
SEason 10 Continues
From TV Zone |
ITV Saturday night favorite Catchphrase is set for a new run of celebrity specials as part of an eleventh series.
TV Zone reports there are still episodes as part of its tenth series set to air.
Each episode features three celebrities contestants all playing for charity. If the three celebrities can ‘say what they see’ they could get the chance to win £50,000 for their chosen charity. Transmission details for the new episodes, and celebrities taking part, will be announced in due course.
Meanwhile, Stephen Mulhern continues to present ITV's reboots of Deal Or No Deal, You Bet!, plus Dancing On Ice and new project The Accidental Tourist alongside Ant & Dec. However, one show which will not be returning is In For A Penny.
TV Zone |
posted 1/21/2025 |
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Alan Carr Slams Three
"Picture Slam" Renewed
From C21 Media |
BBC One has renewed Saturday evening family entertainment show Alan Carr’s Picture Slam for a third 6×45′ season, produced by Objective Entertainment, part of All3Media’s Objective Media Group.
The quizshow sees host Carr test contestants’ knowledge and speed in various fast-paced rounds as they try to identify as many pictures as they can to stand a chance of winning the £10,000 (US$12,200) jackpot.
Kalpna Patel-Knight, head of entertainment at the BBC, said: “This seemingly simple game turns up so many funny moments, and what’s great is that all the family can play along.”
C21 Media |
posted 1/21/2025 |
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Tuesday Lightning Round
... or "What Is Mount Rushmore?" |
- Ken Jennings reveals his Celebrity Jeopardy! Mount Rushmore (Monsters & Critics)
- Alex Horne addresses Dropout collab rumors... (Polygon)
- Carrie Underwood had a list of demands for the Inauguration (Total Pro Sports) ... and then the cold happened and she reportedly had a minor freakout (MSN)
- Colin Jost didn't make his NBC premiere on "Saturday Night Live" .... (Entertainment Weekly)
- Love Is Blind's Ashley ADionser, Tyler Francis split up (TV Insider)
- George Gray files for divorce (Monsters & Critics)
- LIST ABUSE: 20 game shows that actually existed (Yardbarker)
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posted 1/21/2025 |
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CBS Studios
Making Up for Lost Time
"Hollywood Squares" To Get Special Showcase After AFC Divisional Playoff
From Deadline
|
Three days after Hollywood Square reboot’s Jan. 16 premiere on CBS, the game show will get major exposure behind the network’s telecast of the AFC Divisional Playoff Game between Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills on Jan. 19.
There will be a familiar face for football fans as Hollywood Squares is hosted by NFL analyst (and CBS Mornings co-host) Nate Burleson. The game show features Drew Barrymore in the center square, joined by celebrity guests in every episode. New names added to the guest lineup include Jay Leno, Whitney Cummings, Pete Holmes, Chaka Khan, Thomas Lennon, Nelly, Patton Oswalt, Nicole Byer, Drew Carey, Jeff Dunham, Max Greenfield, Lil Rel Howery, Rita Moreno and JB Smoove.
Originally slated to premiere Jan. 9, Hollywood Squares‘ debut was pushed by a week due to the devastation from the L.A. wildfires. The show will air originals on Thursday Jan. 16 and Jan. 23 before moving to its regular Wednesday 10 PM time slot Jan. 29 as part of CBS Game Night. The special Jan. 19 airing also will be an original episode.
Broadcast networks regularly use big NFL games to platform new and returning series. CBS will also debut new drama Walker and NBC will debut The Hunting Party behind high-profile football matchups this month, while Fox has slated The Floor after the Super Bowl.
Thursday's premiere was the most watched TV show of the night in broadcast with 4.6m viewers total, with a 0.36/5 rating in the coveted adults 18-49 demo.
The Futon Critic
The Wrap
Spoiler TV
The Hollywood Reporter
TV Line
Hollywood Outbreak
TV Series Finale
The Futon Critic
TV Line
Forbes
Entertainment Weekly
Parade
TV Series Finale
Monsters & Critics
BRUTALLY HONEST REVIEW: MSN/Wall Street Journal
Instagram @HollywoodSquaresCBS
CBS News Chicago
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The Hollywood Reporter
Forbes
What to Watch
Deadline
Daytime Confidential
The Futon Critic
Blavity
Decider
TV Insider
What to Watch
The Programming Insider
WBOC Salisbury |
posted 1/20/2025 |
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Noel Fielding Plans to Return to "Baking Show"
Spokeswoman Speaks in Wake of AppleTV+ Show Cancellation
From Deadline |
Noel Fielding will return to host this year’s Great British Bake Off, according to his spokeswoman.
Questions had emerged over whether Fielding would present Channel 4‘s most popular show following the revelation last week that his Apple TV+ comedy The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin was being scrapped after Fielding pulled out around three-quarters of the way through the shoot. That show will not be salvaged and reports stated that Fielding had “failed to come to work.”
Fielding’s spokeswoman has since issued a statement saying: “There has been absolutely no discussion about Noel stepping down from Bake Off. We have been in contact with Channel 4 and Love Productions throughout all the speculation and his ‘stepping down’ has never been part of that dialogue. We can confirm he will be returning to co-host the next series of Bake Off.”
Deadline
The Mirror |
posted 1/20/2025 |
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John Bishop Gets Crowded
"Doctor Who" Veteran to Pilot "Wisdom of the Crowd"
From Radio Times |
Doctor Who star and stand-up comedian John Bishop is reportedly fronting a non-broadcast BBC pilot for a brand new quiz show titled Wisdom of the Crowd, which comes from the producers of The 1% Club.
Chortle reports that the format involves answering questions with "educated guesses", with Magnum Media comparing it to "a 'guess how many sweets are in a jar' competition, but on a big Saturday night TV show scale".
Further details, including rounds and prize money, are yet to be unveiled, but a not-for-TV pilot episode is expected to be filmed in Salford's MediaCity at the end of the month, with casting company SRO currently seeking contestants and audience members.
Radio Times
Broadcast
Chortle
British Comedy Guide
TV Zone |
posted 1/20/2025 |
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Argentina Gets Ballsy
"Quiz With Balls" to Get South American Treatment
From C21 Media |
Argentinian broadcaster Canal 13 has acquired the rights to adapt Netherlands-based Talpa Studios’ gameshow format The Quiz With Balls.
The adaptation will be produced at a production hub in Argentina operated by Kuarzo Entertainment, repeating the formula used for Canal 13’s adaptation of fellow Talpa format The Floor.
Like The Floor, the local version of The Quiz With Balls will be hosted by popular Argentinian actor and presenter Guido Kaczka.
The Quiz With Balls first aired on Dutch channel SBS6 in 2023. In the show, contestants have to answer a series of questions correctly to avoid being catapulted into a pool by giant yellow balls. Teams must remain as complete as possible for as long as possible, as the 10th and final question is worth a tidy cash prize.
The Argentinian version follows adaptations in countries including Spain (Antena 3), Germany (RTL) and the US (Fox).
C21 Media |
posted 1/20/2025 |
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Winner Winner
UK to Shoot "Winner Takes It All" from "Limitless Win" Creators
From TV Zone |
A new gameshow, titled The Winner Takes It All, is to record in Manchester early next month.
The show, from the makers of Ant & Dec's Limitless Win, will see contestants battle it out for a pile of epic prizes and staggering amounts of money, by answering questions, all of which are based on our exclusive and unique UK-wide survey.
A teaser states that the potentially life-changing show will be hosted by "two of Britain’s best-loved comedians and presenters", though their identities - as well as potential broadcaster - have not been revealed.
TV Zone |
posted 1/20/2025 |
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Monday Lightning Round
... or "Queens Give Back" |
- WILDFIRES: Drag Race organizes charity auction (CharityBuzz)
- Rachel Kirkconnell was blindsided, makes off references to cheating (Reality TV World)
- Would Mayim Bialik be open to hosting another game show? (Monsters & Critics)
- Andrew O'Keefe pops positive for meth (9News)
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posted 1/20/2025 |
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AMazon MGM STudios
"Beast Games" Breaks Prime Record
Game Show Attracts 50 Million in 25 Days
From Forbes
|
A gameshow from centimillionaire YouTube influencer MrBeast broke Amazon Prime Video's streaming record by racking up 50 million views in the 25 days after its Dec. 19 premiere, the streamer told multiple outlets, making it the platform’s most streamed unscripted show of all time and earning it several other accolades.
“Beast Games,” which made headlines when it was first announced for boasting the largest single prize of any television show in history, is set up similarly to the mega-popular influencer's YouTube channel and puts 1,000 contestants through a series of challenges in which they can be eliminated.
The show reached 50 million views when only five of its 10 episodes had been released, and hundreds of players are still in competition for the top prize.
In addition to the nonscripted streaming record, "Beast Games" also holds the title of the second best Prime Video series debut of 2024 and was the show responsible for the second most subscriber growth for the year, Amazon said—falling to "Fallout" in both categories.
Beast Games" airs in 240 countries and half of its audience is outside of the United States, according to Amazon, particularly in India, the U.K. and Mexico.
Forbes
The Hollywood Reporter
Variety
TV Line
Deadline |
posted 1/16/2025 |
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Food Network Conjures Up Second "Wizards of Baking"
Happy Potter Off-Shoot to Premiere New Season in Time for the Holidays
From the Futon Critic |
Food Network's Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking will have a second season, it was announced today by Betsy Ayala, Head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery. The series kicked off the network's holidays on Thursday, November 14 and concluded on December 19 ranked as the #1 non-news/sports cable program on Thursday nights for P25-54; averaging 0.50 P25-54 and 0.66 W25-54 L3 ratings (up +138% and +121% respectively vs. prior six-week metrics) and having reached more than 16.4 million total viewers across linear, Max and discovery+
"In collaboration with Warner Horizon and teams across all of WBD, Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking harnessed the fandom of Harry Potter and the power of Food Network as a holiday destination -- delivering visually breathtaking cakes set against the backdrop of the beloved Harry Potter film sets," said Ayala. "Viewers and Potter fans everywhere tuned in to see what these talented artists created each week, and we cannot wait to bring the audience an even more magical second season."
Capitalizing on the enduring love for Harry Potter - a global phenomenon that continues to captivate people of all ages around the world - the ground-breaking series, which was filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, amidst the backdrop of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter, blends legendary storytelling and fantastical edible creations in a never-before-seen competition that had audiences at the edge of their seats.
James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley) brought their exceptional charm and behind-the-scenes anecdotes as hosts of this most magical series, joined by esteemed, culinary judges, Carla Hall and Jozef Youssef. Across the six-episode season they were joined by special guests Warwick Davis (Professor Flitwick), Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood) and Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley) who helped to evaluate the competitors' showpieces and also shared their own film stories.
The Futon Critic
The Hollywood Reporter
Deadline |
posted 1/16/2025 |
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More on "Farmer Wants a Wife"
Catch It on Fox March 20
From The FUton Critic |
Dating competition series Farmer Wants a Wife, hosted by Kimberly Williams-Paisley, is back with four new rural romantics looking to sow love on the farm when Season Three premieres Thursday, March 20 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
Farmer Wants a Wife is the most successful dating show in the world, airing in 34 countries and resulting in 226 marriages and 565 children (with four on the way). Last season's farmers Mitchell Kolinsky and Nathan Smothers remain happily in love in their relationships with Sydney Errera and Taylor BeDell, respectively.
This season, four new farmers - Matt Warren, Jay Woods, John Sansone and Colton Hendricks - bring the heat as all-new daters look to leave behind city life for the charm of the country as they embark on an adventure that could change the course of their lives forever.
These farmers are the cream of the crop. Farmer Matt is the California heartthrob who uprooted his life in Austin to help save his brother and sister-in-law's avocado farm - he's our fairytale Prince Charming! Family, faith and football - that's Farmer Jay, the hometown hero who lost his football career to injury and put everything he had into rebuilding the legacy of his grandfather's farm in Alabama. Farmer John is an urban cowboy - a high-flying St. Louis law student who dreams of living in the tradition of his family's farm in rural Missouri with his sweetheart by his side, if he can find her of course! Our cheeky charmer with a witty sense of humor is Farmer Colton - a third generation Arkansas cattle rancher, recently divorced and a single dad to his 2-year-old son who is looking for a second chance at love. The third season will dive deeper into the beauty and trials of homegrown love, and new twists will put relationships to the ultimate test. Along the way, the farmers and their daters hit the road as they travel to Alabama for a speed dating event, Tennessee for a country ball and Texas for an overnight camping mixer. New this season, the final daters will bring their families back to the farms where their loved ones will experience first-hand what it is like living in the countryside. As the ladies immerse themselves in the realities of farm life, some will blossom while some will head out to pasture, and only time will tell if they have the patience, spirit and adaptability required to be a farmer's wife.
The Futon Critic |
posted 1/16/2025 |
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Beat the Chasers to Return for Season 7
Season 6 Launches Tonight
From TV Zone |
With the sixth series currently airing on ITV after two years on the shelf, Beat The Chasers is set to film a seventh series later this year, Chaser Anne Hegerty has revealed. Further details have not been announced by ITV.
Now in its sixth season, Beat The Chasers sees individuals take on all six Chasers - The Governess, The Vixen, The Menace, The Dark Destroyer, The Beast and The Sinnerman - in the hope of winning a huge cash prize.
To build a cash pot, the contestants have to answer multiple choice questions - get the first one wrong, and they are out, but answer one or more correctly and they get to face the Chasers, who offer time and money in order to take them on. If the contestants get all Cash Builder questions right, they are given a super offer to face all the Chasers for up to £600,000 - the endgame is a nail-biting head-to-head race against the clock.
Run out of time before the Chasers and the contestants go home with nothing, but if the Chasers run out of time before them, they will win the money for their nominated charities. With Bradley Walsh as our presenter, is anyone good enough to take on the greatest quiz team that ever lived?
TV Zone |
posted 1/16/2025 |
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Milwaukee Brewers
BOB UECKER: 1934-2025
"Mr. Baseball" Was a "Hollywood Square"
From the Hollywood Reporter |
Bob Uecker, who parlayed six laughable seasons as a light-hitting catcher into a second career in comedy highlighted by hilarious turns in the Major League movies, on The Tonight Show and in beer commercials, died Thursday. He was 90.
A member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Uecker was a popular play-by-play man for his hometown Milwaukee Brewers since 1971, and it was the team that announced his death.
On the 1985-90 ABC sitcom Mr. Belvedere, Uecker starred as sportswriter/sportscaster George Owens, who contends with the antics of his three kids (Rob Stone, Tracy Wells, Brice Beckham) and the title character, a sophisticated English butler (Christopher Hewitt) hired to bring order to a suburban Pittsburgh household.
As Harry Doyle, the eternally optimistic (and inebriated) play-by-play announcer for the beleaguered Cleveland Indians in Major League (1989), he tried to put an upbeat spin on the dismal play he was witnessing. When bespectacled rookie Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn (Charlie Sheen) threw a fastball several feet to the right of home plate, Doyle memorably described the pitch as “juuuuuuust a bit outside.” Uecker returned as Harry in Major League II (1994) and Major League: Back to the Minors (1998).
Before all this, Uecker was a catcher (and a backup one at that) in the big leagues, playing with the Milwaukee Braves in 1962-63, the St. Louis Cardinals (1964-65), the Philadelphia Phillies (1966-67) and the Atlanta Braves (1967). His career batting average was .200, and he hit just 14 home runs in 731 at-bats. Uecker led the National League in passed balls in his last season — all the more notable considering he caught only 59 games that year. He often was on the receiving end of Phil Niekro’s unpredictable knuckleball and liked to joke that the best way to catch this type of pitch was to wait for the ball to stop rolling and then pick it up.
“Anybody with ability can play in the big leagues,” he once said. “But to be able to trick people year in and year out the way I did, I think that was a much greater feat.”
The knack for finding humor in his woebegone baseball career turned out to be Uecker’s strongest talent, and after he hung up his chest protector, he entertained audiences as a paid speaker, making fun of his days on the diamond. One night in 1969, jazz trumpeter Al Hirt, who had opened a nightclub in Atlanta, coaxed Uecker up onstage. His spirited nature and natural joke-telling ability made him a hit, and Hirt convinced Johnny Carson to give Uecker a shot.
“So, I’m standing behind the curtain … my first time on The Tonight Show, and I had never been this nervous before,” Uecker recalled on David Feherty’s Golf Channel show in 2016. “Not that I wasn’t going to be funny. I knew I could be funny.
“So I go out. I do my thing with Johnny and he laughs. We have a good time. Now after the show is over, we’re all saying goodnight. As I’m walking away, I hear Johnny say to Ed [McMahon], ‘Did that guy really play baseball?’ And Ed says, ‘I think so.’ Neither one of them believed I played baseball. But they called me back. I actually did three shows in about six weeks.”
In fact, during Carson’s run on The Tonight Show, Uecker made about 100 appearances and was given the nickname “Mr. Baseball” by the host.
With his gregarious personality, he delighted viewers with his self-effacing observances. His jokes included: “I knew my career was over in 1965. My baseball card came out with no picture.”
“Sporting goods companies pay me not to endorse their products.”
“When I came up to bat with three men on and two outs in the ninth, I’d look over at the other dugout and the players would already be in their street clothes.”
When asked to cite a highlight of his career, he recounted the time he was intentionally walked by Dodgers great Sandy Koufax. (He actually homered off Koufax once.)
In the 1980s, Uecker was a member of ABC’s Monday Night Baseball team; hosted a syndicated TV series that showed wacky highlights and evolved into The Lighter Side of Sports; presided over Saturday Night Live; appeared as himself on Who’s the Boss? and in Robert Altman’s O.C. and Stiggs (1985); and worked several World Wrestling Federation events, most notably a big showdown between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant. He also made a splash with his clever 1982 book, Catcher in the Wry. In 2003, Uecker was honored with the Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for contributions to baseball broadcasting. Among those was his signature home run call: “Get up! Get up! Get outta here! Gone!” (For years before announcing Brewers games, he would pitch batting practice.) He also featured in episodes of "Hollywood Squares" From 1986.
His last game as an announcer in his 54th season with the Brewers came on Oct. 4 when the New York Mets rallied to eliminate Milwaukee in the playoffs with a shocking ninth-inning home run by Pete Alonzo off ace reliever Devin Williams. “I’m tellin’ ya, that one … had some sting on it,” he said on the radio.
Survivors include his wife, Judy, and his children, Bob Jr. and Sue Ann. Two other kids, Steven and Leeann, died in 2012 of lung disease and in 2022 of ALS, respectively.
Miller Lite tapped into Uecker’s popularity by featuring the former catcher in a series of TV spots. The one most fondly remembered is from 1984 that found him exclaiming, “I must be in the front row!” after he is escorted from his box seat by an usher. In the closing shot, he’s seen in the near-empty upper deck, enthusiastically challenging an umpire’s call. The Brewers now have a statue of Uecker that sits in the last row at American Family Field in Milwaukee.
“I can’t think of a better place to put it,” he said. “It’s great for the fans and even better for the pigeons.”
The Hollywood Reporter
TV Line
The Athletic
Rolling Stone |
posted 1/16/2025 |
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Thursday Lightning Round
... or "Laugh at My Pain" |
- Roy Wood Jr. to host WGA Awards from New York City (Deadline)
- Matt James, Rachel Kirkconnell lasted four years... (TV Line)
- Rich Fields reveals what Pat Sajak was like behind the scenes. (KHQ Spokane)
- A FEW GOOD MINUTES with Anne Robinson (MSN)
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posted 1/16/2025 |
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Atrium/Irish Times
TONY SLATTERY: 1959-2025
Comedian Featured on British Versions of "Whose Line?", "Trivial Pursuit"
From Deadline |
Tony Slattery, the comedian and actor best known for his improvizations on hit comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, died today following a heart attack two days’ ago. He was 65.
Slattery’s family confirmed his death to the BBC. A statement on behalf of his partner Mark Michael Hutchinson said: “It is with great sadness we must announce actor and comedian Tony Slattery, aged 65, has passed away today, Tuesday morning, following a heart attack on Sunday evening.”
Slattery was perhaps best known as regular on Whose Line Is It Anyway?, the Channel 4 improv show that he appeared on for its first seven seasons. Hosted by Clive Anderson, the show ran for well over 100 episodes and was remade in the U.S. on ABC then The CW.
Slattery also appeared in movies like The Crying Game, Peter’s Friends and How to Get Ahead in Advertising.
Born in 1959, he attended Cambridge University and joined the comedy Footlights group at the same time as contemporaries like Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie and Emma Thompson, eventually becoming president.
He broke into TV as a regular on O.T.T., Saturday Stayback and went on to appear on a number of panel shows before landing the Whose Line Is It gig in the late 1980s. Among the shows he participated on were Ready Steady Cook, Stars in Their Eyes, The Weakest Link, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Have I Got News for You, and Cluedo. He was also host of a short-lived version of Trivial Pursuit based on the Family Channel's 1993 verison.
As a dramatic actor he appeared in The Crying Game, To Die For, Peter’s Friends and The Wedding Tackle. He also earned an Olivier Award nomination for best comedy performance for his role as Gordon in Tim Firth’s Neville’s Island.
He had recently been touring a comedy show and hosting a podcast, Tony Slattery’s Rambling Club.
Slattery is survived by Hutchinson, his partner of more than three decades.
Deadline
Th eIndependent
The Standard
The Guardian
BBC News
TMZ
The Irish Times
Variety
Oh! My Mag |
posted 1/15/2025 |
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Sony Pictures TV/CBS Media Ventures
WGA Awards: And the Nominees Are...
Jeopardy! Up Against... Itself?
From Deadline
|
Anora, Challengers, A Complete Unknown, Nickel Boys and Wicked are among the feature film screenplay nominees for the 77th annual Writers Guild Awards, which revealed its nominees Wednesday to honor the year’s best in film, TV, new media, news, radio and promotional writing.
Winners will be announced February 15 during concurrent ceremonies in New York at the Edison Ballroom and Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton. That date is staying put for now amid several shifts in the awards-season calendar due to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles.
Today’s nomination comes after the WGA delayed its announcements from last week due to the impact of the devastating fires. Several groups also delayed their noms announcements in order to extend voting deadlines, including the Oscars, which is now planning to announce its noms January 23.
Up for Quiz/Audience Participation...
- Jeopardy!, Writers Marcus Brown, Michael Davies, John Duarte, Mark Gaberman, Debbie Griffin, Michele Loud, Robert McClenaghan, Jim Rhine, Steve Tamerius, Billy Wisse; ABC
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Pop Culture Jeopardy!, Writers Marcus Brown, Buzzy Cohen, Michael Davies, Chip Dornell, John Duarte, Mark Gaberman, Debbie Griffin, Michele Loud, Traci Mack, Amy Ozols, Louis Virtel, Billy Wisse; Amazon Prime
dEadline
The Wrap
WGA
TV Line |
posted 1/15/2025 |
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Sony Pictures TV/CBS Media Ventures
Now Streaming.... Soon....
Sony Looks for Partners to Stream Wheel, Jeopardy!
From various sources
|
What is… watching Jeopardy! from the comfort of your own couch?
The Ken Jennings-hosted daily quiz show will finally be available to stream, showrunner Michael Davies tells our sister site Rolling Stone.
Per Davies, 14% of the show’s viewership currently comes from people accessing episodes illegally uploaded to YouTube. In order to protect the series, “we have to expand,” Davies says. “We can’t just leave it exactly where it is. We mustn’t change the format… but we have to expand or it’s going to be in trouble.”
Sony will be shopping the next-day streaming rights for the series and presumably its companion "Wheel of Fortune" in the fall, but it remains to be seen who will pay the price and when it will start to be available online.
TV Line
Rolling Stone
The Streamable
Good Housekeeping |
posted 1/15/2025 |
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"Double" AND Nothing
Sue Perkins' Game Show Canceled
From Female First |
Sue Perkins' game show 'Double The Money' has reportedly been cancelled after one season.
The show debuted on Channel 4 last spring with 13 pairs of contestants competing to show off their business acumen to try and double their cash, with finalists having four weeks to convert £10,000 (about US$12,000) to £20,000 (about US$24,000). However, a source told The Sun newspaper's TVBiz column: "There are a number of big new and returning competition and reality shows on Channel 4 and E4 for 2025, so schedules are jam-packed.
“It means for now, 'Double The Money' has been shelved.
“But it may be revived down the line.”
The 55-year-old former 'Great British Bake Off' host has stayed busy despite the setback, with her travel documentary 'Sue Perkins' Big Adventure: Paris to Istanbul' hitting Apple TV+ late last year. The previous year, she travelled to Alaska for a Channel 5 show, and at the time she pondered what made a great TV presenter.
She told the i newspaper: "The role of the presenter is really just to be a sponge, not to know anything, but to go and talk to brilliant people who do know things, to have fun on viewers’ behalf, see things most never get to see, and be enthused and grateful about it."
When 'Double Your Money' was first reported, insiders suggested it was a "big prospect" for C4. A TV source told The Sun newspaper’s TV Biz column at the time: “On the face of it, this might have a whiff of a daytime TV show where people try to make money from small ventures. But this show is a big prospect for Channel 4.
“That’s reflected in the fact that they’ve signed up someone as well known as Sue as the presenter.
"And bosses are raising viewers’ expectations too, describing it as ‘breaking the mould of traditional game shows’.”
Female First
MSN |
posted 1/15/2025 |
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Wednesday Lightning Round
... or "Laugh at My Pain" |
- Roy Wood Jr. explains his opener to his comedy set (The Wrap)
- "The Traitors" respond to Scottish talent allegations (Deadline)
- Dr. Will Kirby thinks it's time to pass the torch to a new generation of reality show villain and I can't type this with a straight face either.(People)
- Tyler Crispen reveals a newborn daughter... AND a fiancee! Ta-da.... (Reality TV World)
- PROGRAMMING NOTE: The 1% Club, Millionaire set to return to the UK next week! (TV Zone)
- Steve Harvey nominated for an NAACP Image Award (Monsters & Critics)
- A FEW GOOD MINUTES with Keke Palmer (Deadline)
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posted 1/15/2025 |
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Meet Season 2's Love Island All-STars
Catch It on Peacock Wednesday
From Deadline |
Maya Jama is back as host of Love Island: All Stars Season 2 and will bring past Islanders looking to find love again, this time in South Africa.
The villa is set to open on January 13 on ITV2 and stream on ITVX in the UK. Peacock streamers in the US will have to wait until Wednesday to get their fix.
Islanders from the past 10 years of the dating competition series will return to see if they can make sparks fly and find a match. New bombshells will unexpectedly enter the frame, unlucky singletons will be dramatically dumped and, ultimately, one loved-up couple will be voted by fans to win the £50,000 (US$61,000) prize.
Comedian Iain Stirling is also returning as the narrator of the dating series.
Deadline
The Wrap
Deadline
The Futon Critic |
posted 1/13/2025 |
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A Bridge WAAAAAAAAY Too Far
STV Player to Play "Beat the Bridge"... AKA Bridge of Lies US
From ATV Today |
The show has become a huge hit since launching on BBC One in 2022, with three regular series, two celebrity series, and two more set to air later this year, but British fans of quiz show, Bridge of Lies, haven’t had the opportunity to enjoy its shiny American counterpart – until now.
From today, free streaming service STV Player will be the UK home of Beat the Bridge, the US version of the format which has gripped audiences across the pond since launching last summer.
And while our local version features EastEnders ‘hardman’ Ross Kemp on hosting duties in typical no-nonsense form, Beat the Bridge is fronted by model-turned-actor Cameron Mathison, best known to UK audiences for starring in Netflix Christmas films such as A Merry Christmas Wish and A Kindhearted Christmas.
The stateside version of the show features the same nail-biting gameplay that has made its UK cousin so popular. There’s an enormous interactive bridge that dares players to cross by stepping on the right answers to challenging trivia questions. Each step forward puts money in the team’s bank, with bonus money for each successful crossing. However, the team gets to keep the money only if it can “beat the bridge” by returning one of its players back across before time expires in an exciting end game.
Fifty episodes of Beat the Bridge are available to stream on STV Player now. They first aired on American channel, Game Show Network, last year, with a further 50 episodes set to broadcast later in 2025. The series is co-produced by Game Show Enterprises Studios and STV Studios, based on an original format created by the latter.
ATV Today
The Scottish Sun
Worldscreen |
posted 1/14/2025 |
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Tuesday Lightning Round
... or "Bears" |
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posted 1/14/2025 |
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NBCUniversal
"The Wall" Comes to GSN
Reruns of NBC Game Begin Tonight
From the Futon Critic
|
Game Show Network will run the entire first season of THE WALL, hosted by Chris Hardwick, weeknights at 8pm ET starting Monday January 13.
Executive produced by NBA star LeBron James, THE WALL is an unpredictable game show that gives two-person teams a chance to earn life-altering cash prizes by correctly answering a series of questions. With more than $12 million up for grabs each night, the contestants attempt to earn as much cash as they can from a four-story high wall that can dash hopes or make dreams come true. When contestants answer a question correctly, a green ball falls down the wall to add to their team's tally. Answer incorrectly, and a dreaded red ball drops to subtract from the total. Up to $3 million can be won or lost on a single nail-biting drop.
The Futon Critic |
posted 1/13/2025 |
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ABC/Getty Images
LESLIE CHARLESON: 1945-2025
1/3 of Peter, Paul & Mary Was on "What's My Line?"
From NPR |
Leslie Charleson, who played cardiologist Monica Quartermaine on the ABC daytime drama General Hospital for nearly five decades, died on Sunday. ABC confirmed Charleson's death to NPR in a statement.
"Her enduring legacy has spanned nearly 50 years on General Hospital alone and, just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaines, Leslie was a beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew," wrote General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini. "I will miss our daily chats, her quick wit and incredible presence on set."
While General Hospital is the longest-running scripted drama in the U.S., Charleson was one of its longest-tenured cast members. Born in Kansas City, Mo., in 1945, Charleson broke into show business at a young age. Her first gig? A car commercial alongside her mother, who dabbled in acting.
"All I had to do was just pretend to be asleep in the backseat," Charleson remembered during an interview with the New York City talk show Something to Offer. "I just remember my mother turning around and saying with a big smile, 'If you don't close your eyes, Leslie, you're never going to see 8 years old. Do it right now.'"
As she got older, Charleson's acting ambitions grew. In the 1960s and '70s, she appeared in dramas like A Flame in the Wind (later known as A Time for Us), As the World Turns and Love is a Many Splendored Thing before landing the role of Monica on General Hospital.
During a 2022 appearance on fellow actor Maurice Benard's podcast, Charleson said that her first day on set coincided with the death of Elvis Presley. "I remember tears coming down my cheeks as I was driving for the first time to the studio," she said.
Additionally, Charleson told Benard that she was originally disliked on-set because another actress playing Monica had been "rudely fired," and her hiring as the replacement did not go over well. However, Charleson thrived in her portrayal of Monica Quartermaine, a razor-sharp cardiologist with an embattled personal life full of marriages, divorces, heartbreak and affairs.
In the '90s, her character underwent a breast cancer diagnosis. In a 1994 interview with The Los Angeles Times, Charleson said she pitched the cancer storyline because she felt the show had a responsibility to tackle serious topics. Throughout her time on General Hospital, Charleson received four daytime Emmy nominations as outstanding lead actress in a drama series. She also appeared on shows like Dharma & Greg and Friends.
In game shows, Charleson appeared on episodes of "Family Feud".
In a statement to NPR, close friend and entertainment journalist Rosemary Rossi described Charleson as warm and genuine. "Her arms and heart were always open. Everyone who was ever in her orbit felt that," she said. "Yes, she was a soap opera icon, and she leaves that legacy. But her real legacy is the people she touched along the way. And heaven now knows, there were a lot of them."
NPR
People
Deadline
TV Line
The Wrap
Variety
The Hollywood Reporter |
posted 1/13/2025 |
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Monday Lightning Round
... or "Not a Political Post" |
- WILDFIRES: How to help reality staffers displaced (Reality Blurred)
- Rachel Lindsay tells all (Reality TV World)
- PROGRAMMING NOTE: President Biden to address the nation Wednesday night. Here's what that means for your favorite shows (TV Insider)
- Carrie Underwood to perform at the inauguration (TV Insider)
- The clock will run out on Universal Kids (DEadline)
- Jasper Hoogendoorn, who co-created The Traitors, to head creative at TAlpa (Deadline) while the show is accused of misleading on its Scootish roots (Deadline)
- Macy Gray throws her mask, hissy fit (Deadline)
- Caroline Flack to get a feature from Disney+ (Deadline)
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posted 1/13/2025 |
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