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 90-Day Archives |
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SAG-AFTRA Extends Negotiations to Next Week |
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SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP announced today that they have agreed to extend negotiations into next week, the week of March 9. This is the final extension for the current block of talks between the two sides as they will be bumping against the planned April 16 start of negotiations between the AMPTP and the WGA. If the actors and the studios cannot reach an agreement next week, SAG-AFTRA will have to go to the back of the line and wait for its turn to resume talks with the AMPTP in June, after the studios have gone through their scheduled contract negotiations with the WGA and the DGA. SAG-AFTRA's current contract expired on June 30. Both the AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA have adhered to a media blackout they imposed on their negotiations from the start. According to sources, the two sides have made progress, which would explain why they have agreed to extend talks into next week instead of putting a pin in them for now. While there has been a good amount of movement, there are still some wide chasms on a few key issues, sources caution. We hear the two sides may be exchanging proposals today that could help bridge some of the outstanding gaps and determine whether next week could lead to a deal or not. |
posted 3/6/2026 |
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Brazil Drops the Boom |
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Keshet International has confirmed a new licensing agreement with the Brazilian production company Boxfish to adapt its hit gameshow format "Boom!" for RECORD. This 15-episode season, consisting of 90-minute installments, marks the 23rd international version of the high-stakes trivia show. Hosted by renowned entertainer Tom Cavalcante, the Brazilian adaptation features a head-to-head competition between two teams. Each group is led by a celebrity contestant playing alongside friends or family members for a grand prize of R$100,000. The show is scheduled to premiere on RECORD on March 8. Marcelo Silva, artistic vice-president at RECORD, states: "'BOOM!' is an international phenomenon, celebrated for blending knowledge, suspense, and entertainment in a thrilling and irresistible way for audiences. With the charismatic Tom Cavalcante leading the show, we are confident that this new adaptation will be one of the major highlights of our lineup and is set to captivate viewers across the entire country." Originally created by Ido Rosenblum and Keshet Broadcasting for Keshet 12, the format requires contestants to solve trivia questions by cutting colored wires on a "bomb" before the clock runs out. To date, "Boom!" has seen successful runs in the United States, Spain, Italy, Colombia, and Vietnam, among other territories. Notably, the Spanish version produced for Antena 3 holds two Guinness World Records, including the largest prize pot in game show history. |
posted 3/6/2026 |
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Two former contestants of The Amazing Race have filed a lawsuit against CBS and the show's producers, alleging that the series waged a "smear strategy" against them with its editing. Jonathan and Ana Rivera Towns, a married couple who competed in season 37 of the globetrotting reality competition series, filed their lawsuit Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, according to Deadline. The outlet reports that the pair are representing themselves against named defendants CBS, parent company Paramount, and producers ABC Signature and Jerry Bruckheimer Films. CBS and Paramount did not immediately respond when Entertainment Weekly reached out for comment. As viewers may remember, the couple was often shown bickering during their journey, with Jonathan, a software developer, seemingly unloading his frustrations on Ana, a stay-at-home mom. Jonathan was even reprimanded more than once for his name-calling and demeaning attitude towards Ana. The duo made it all the way to the finale, ultimately finishing in third place. The suit alleges that the defendants presented "a constructed, false, and highly damaging portrayal" of Jonathan, in ways "that were applied to no other participant in the production." It continues: "The resulting broadcast, disseminated to tens of millions of viewers on a nationally distributed television network, falsely portrayed Jonathan Towns, a private individual with no antecedent public profile, as a morally depraved, brutal and abusive spouse." The suit also claims that, following a "meltdown" and "clear emotional anguish" by Jonathan during the 2024 shooting of the Phil Keoghan-hosted series, he was diagnosed as having autism spectrum disorder. Instead of helping the contestant, the complaint alleges that show producers convinced the couple not to quit the show and assured them there was nothing underhanded occurring with their depiction. The filing claims show producers deliberately painted a portrait of Jonathan as someone engaging in "intentional emotional abuse toward his spouse." The couple is seeking $8 million in damages, as well as a public apology and a re-edit of their season with "appropriate disclaimers" of Jonathan's diagnosis. |
posted 3/6/2026 |
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Happy Friday Lightning Round |
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Paramount+ Feels Like "Making Love" |
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Paramount+ announces MAKING LOVE (W/T), a new unscripted relationship series from Kinetic Content to debut on the service in 2027. Can you find the person you've always dreamed of? From the producers of Love Is Blind and Married at First Sight comes a bold new relationship experiment, where singles take their destiny into their own hands and attempt to turn their desires into a lifetime of love. Chris Coelen, CEO of Kinetic Content, created and will Executive Produce the series. Kinetic Content is part of Peter Chernin's North Road Company, which is being acquired by Mediawan, the leading independent European studio. "We are thrilled to add MAKING LOVE (W/T), a bold, modern take on relationship experimentation to our upcoming content slate." said Jane Wiseman, Head of Originals at Paramount+. "This series speaks to the kind of premium, pop culture-driving unscripted storytelling audiences love. As we continue to grow our reality offering, we're especially excited to reintroduce this format to Paramount+ in a fresh and unexpected way." "MAKING LOVE (W/T) is an amazing and completely original opportunity for our participants to find the love they've longed for." said Chris Coelen, Executive Producer and CEO of Kinetic Content. "We're so excited to partner with the team at Paramount+ and can't wait to share this show, and some truly incredible love stories, with the world." MAKING LOVE (W/T) joins a long enduring slate of original unscripted shows on Paramount+ including Survivor, The Challenge, Big Brother and many more. |
posted 3/5/2026 |
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Roku Trivia |
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Roku is launching a new trivia game-like experience called "Roklue," which will give users an interactive offering for Oscar season with more iterations to come throughout the year — all aimed at spurring them to stream more content. The company describes Roklue as "a new on-platform game designed to immerse users in the culture of the moment and help them discover new entertainment in an engaging way." The first edition, "Roklue: Awards Season," will launch Saturday, March 7, and feature "clues inspired by Hollywood's biggest award show moments and celebrated films." Future versions of Roklue rolling out this year will be tied to music festivals, the Emmys and holidays. |
posted 3/5/2026 |
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Extra "Love Is Blind Sweden" Features Reactions |
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The wait for Love is Blind: Sweden is almost over and this year fans can expect a new surprise for the third installment. Following the launch of each batch, Netflix will also release an extra episode rolling out on service. The episodes will feature six influencers talking about and reacting to the recorded episodes from the iconic pods - a brand new format for this show. The influencers and celebrities participating in the extra episodes are Kaeli Abdi and Filip Dikmen, Carolina Gynning and Fanna Ndow Norrby, Emil Henrohn and Sofia Dalén. Batch one and the first reaction episode of Love is Blind: Sweden launches on Thursday, March 12, only on Netflix. New format: 10 episodes + 3 extra episodes |
posted 3/5/2026 |
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ITV Reports Revenue of $4.6 Billion |
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U.K. media giant ITV has posted full-year 2025 results the company said beat market expectations, with strong performances from its studios arm and streaming platform ITVX offsetting a decline in linear advertising revenues – even as talks continue with Sky over a possible sale of its Media & Entertainment business. Group external revenue rose 1% to £3.511 billion ($4.68 billion) for the twelve months ended Dec. 31, 2025, while total group revenue was broadly flat at £4.121 billion ($5.49 billion). Group adjusted EBITA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, and Amortization) came in at £534 million ($711.1 million), down 1% year-on-year, with cost management largely absorbing the impact of softer advertising demand. Chief executive Carolyn McCall said the results demonstrate the scale of ITV's transformation. "ITV delivered a good performance in 2025, ahead of current market expectations and against a challenging market backdrop," she said. "With a strong digital platform, we have successfully capitalised on growth opportunities, delivered resilient profits and generated good levels of cash." McCall added that two-thirds of ITV's revenues now come from ITV Studios and its digital Media & Entertainment business – a milestone the company had set as a key strategic goal. McCall also mentioned that Paramount and WBD are back in business as commissioners after agreeing their merger deal. Paramount-Skydance has been busy battling Netflix for Warner Bros. Discovery and having beaten Netflix to the punch is back in buying mode. "WB, and interestingly for us, Paramount, now that they have stability in terms of their ownership and their ambition, they've actually opened up business in a way they weren't open before." |
posted 3/5/2026 |
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South African actor, presenter, director, comedian and entertainment star Soli Philander has died at the age of 65. The Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, said in a social media post on Thursday, that Soli played an essential role in the South African democracy. He also praised his unique ability to use humor to reflect South African society and remind citizens of their shared humanity. "For decades, Soli Philander brought laughter, insight and warmth to audiences everywhere in our country. Whether performing on stage, presenting on television, or sharing his always-ready humour through radio or public speaking, he possessed the rare gift of making people laugh by reminding us who we are," McKenzie said. "Actors like Soli play a role in our democracy. They help us reflect on our society, find common ground, and remind us of our shared humanity," he said. Philander's most famous TV role was as presenter of the Afrikaans music quiz show "Liriekeraai" for several seasons, as well as the game show "Vat 'n Kans". ESAT news reports that on "the SABC screens" Philander appeared in a number of roles, including starring in Off The Record, a series satirising election politics and in the multi-lingual drama series Reflections. "He did a two-year, daily stint for 567 Capetalk Radio presenting his talkshow Airborne, which followed a very successful start with Punt Geselsradio on his Afrikaans show Gorrelpunt." |
posted 3/5/2026 |
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Thursday Lightning Round |
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The Squid Game universe expands as it welcomes a group of celebrities to take on a Squid Game: The VIP Challenge on Netflix. Eight VIPs will enter the challenge, which includes Spice Girls star Mel B, The Traitors alum Dylan Efron, NBA star Tristan Thompson, and Real Housewives of Atlanta alum Kim Zolciak-Biermann. Other celebrities joining the competition are The Bachelor's Hannah Goodwin, content creator Kristy Sarah, Owning Manhattan's Ryan Serhant, and Viper, a Squid Game: The Challenge alum voted in by fans. They will have a fierce competitor in Viper, a New York-based DJ and SoulCycle coach who was "Player 152" in last season's The Challenge. Speaking to Netflix's Tudum, he revealed his intention to cause "total chaos" in the game upon his return for season 3: "I did learn that every single decision should be considered in great detail. I will surely use a microscope with every choice I make." Squid Game: The Challenge features contestants entering the ultimate test of strategy, alliances, and endurance as they compete for a life-changing prize. The competition is inspired by the original series and sees players face elimination at every turn, but only one can emerge victorious. Squid Game is the Korean drama that quickly became a cultural phenomenon and Netflix's most popular show ever. The show created by Hwang Dong-hyuk revolves around a secret contest where 456 players, all of whom are in deep financial hardship, risk their lives to play a series of children's games that result in death if eliminated, for the chance to win a cash prize. |
posted 3/4/2026 |
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Bringing Down the House |
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Rock the Block has officially been renewed for Season 7, and the new episodes will feature a brand new, star-studded twist. Set in Las Vegas, the show's latest batch of episodes will see some of HGTV's biggest stars pair up with celebrities who share their passion for home renovation and design. "With the stakes at an all-time high, each team will have just seven weeks and a budget of $275,000 to transform identical cul-de-sac builds boasting one-level living, private courtyards, multi-generational suites and RV garages into luxurious Sin City homes that reflect their signature vision and stunning design style," the season's description reads. "The lucky team who earns the highest appraised property value will hit the jackpot, winning Rock the Block bragging rights and a street named in their honor." Ty Pennington will return as the show's host. "Rock the Block is back, and we're going all in Vegas style with a bold new lineup of teams," he said in a press release statement. "The stakes are higher than ever, and these duos are betting on great design in hopes of hitting the renovation jackpot." The show will return with a two-hour season premiere on Monday, April 13, at 8/7c. For the show's latest round of competition, Renovation Resort Showdown's Scott McGillivray will team up with singer, TV personality, and design firm owner Brooke Hogan. Battle on the Beach's Taniya Nayak will join forces with singer, actor, and TV star Drew Lachey, while Good Bones' Mina Starsiak Hawk will compete alongside Super Bowl champion and actor Vernon Davis. Season 7's final duo will be Why the Heck Did I Buy This House? host Kim Wolfe and her close friend, Survivor alum and Bravo star Chelsea Meissner. |
posted 3/4/2026 |
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Broken Records? Call It "Fates" |
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Supernatural reality competition "Battle of Fates" has shattered viewership records on Disney+ in Korea, overtaking the platform's previous all-time premiere benchmark set by "Moving" in 2023. Judged by audience figures accumulated within the first 12 days of release, the show also ranked as the top-performing new series of 2026 across Disney+'s Asia Pacific footprint. The streamer has confirmed that work on local versions for additional markets is now underway. The series, which debuted Feb. 11, draws its cast from practitioners of Korea's rich tradition of spiritual and predictive arts – including fortune-tellers, tarot readers and shamans – who face off in a structured competition testing the precision of their readings. Contestants draw on a broad arsenal of techniques and instruments to outperform their rivals and stay in the game, with the weakest performers eliminated each round. The season wrapped earlier this week when the finale, available exclusively on Disney+, was crowned Korea's top fate reader from the original field of 49 contestants. "Battle of Fates" streams internationally on Disney+ and on Hulu in the U.S. |
posted 3/4/2026 |
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LOL UK 2 Sets Lineup |
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Coming to Prime Video on March 19 Amazon's Prime Video has released the trailer for the second series of Last One Laughing, The series stars comedians Alan Carr, David Mitchell, Diane Morgan, Romesh Ranganathan, Amy Gledhill, Maisie Adam, Mel Giedroyc, Alan Carr, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Sam Campbell and returning champ Bob Mortimer all trying to make each other laugh while maintaining a straight face themselves. Jimmy Carr returns as host with Roisin Conaty as his deputy. The first three episodes will launch on March 19, with episodes four and five launching on March 26 and the final episode airing on April 2. |
posted 3/4/2026 |
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Wednesday Lightning Round |
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Richard Osman's House of Games will be getting a new name after its current host announced he is leaving the BBC quiz show. "It will no longer be Richard Osman's House of Games. It will be somebody else's House of Games," the presenter revealed on his podcast, The Rest is Entertainment. "And I gladly hand over the keys," he added, pointing out that he had done more 800 episodes since the show began in 2017, and confirming that the BBC had agreed to continue the program following his departure. Osman, who met his wife Ingrid Oliver on the show when she appeared as a contestant in 2022, said he would do "one final week where I will hand over to the new host", but didn't say who his replacement would be. The general knowledge quiz airs on BBC Two on weekdays. Osman told his listeners: "I've loved it. And of course I met my wife through it as well." He is otherwise best known for his best-selling books including the Thursday Murder Club, which was made into a Netflix series starring Dame Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan. The presenter and novelist explained: "It's just with the writing, there comes a point, you know, where you have to hand it over. "I've loved doing it so much and I'll be gutted when I don't do it any more." Osman also thanked "everyone for their kind words" in an Instagram post, saying it had been an "amazing nine years". In a statement, Rob Unsworth, the BBC's head of daytime and early peak commissioning, said: "Richard Osman has established House of Games as one of our best-loved shows. His contribution to its success is impossible to overstate, and we couldn't be more grateful for his work over the last nine years. "But as we wish him even more success in the future, we also look forward to sharing with viewers who the House of Games's next resident will be - and will have more on that soon." The BBC said the current ninth series was attracting about 1.6 million viewers including catch-up and on-demand viewing over a seven-day period. Osman was previously co-host of another popular BBC quiz show, Pointless, alongside Alexander Armstrong, who is still at the the helm. As well as his career as a writer, Osman has been hosting his podcast alongside journalist Marina Hyde since 2023. |
posted 3/3/2026 |
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A New Home for the Old Board |
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A piece of game show history now calls downtown Rochester home. The puzzle board used on "Wheel of Fortune" arrived Monday at The Strong National Museum of Play, following a six-day trip across the country. Vanna White used the board until 1997, hand-turning the letters before the show switched to digital screens. Strong said the board is so big, part of the museum wall needed to be opened to get it inside. The board will be housed in the upcoming Beyond the Buzzer exhibit, which will explore the history and impact of American game shows. "It has been a fixture of so many families' evenings, sitting around, yelling the answers at the contestants," said Christopher Bensch, the museum's vice president for collections. "It is going to be the centerpiece of our 2028 exhibit about game show history, and we could not be more thrilled to have it here in Rochester." |
posted 3/3/2026 |
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Tuesday Lightning Round |
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Today, Netflix announced a new student competition series, SCHOOLED!, hosted by pioneering creator and former NASA engineer Mark Rober. Executive produced by Daniel Calin, Mark Rober & Scott Lewers for CrunchLabs, and Jimmy Kimmel and Scott Lonker for Kimmelot, SCHOOLED! is where teams of student tinkerers compete in creative and explosive science challenges, set in a fully gamified school. Mark Rober is on a mission to discover the next generation of Inventors, Makers, and Engineers. Winners take home a life-changing prize. "I couldn't be more stoked to team up with Netflix and Jimmy Kimmel to bring SCHOOLED! to life," says Rober. "Our series is about giving kids a stage big enough for their ideas. This will be the ultimate playground for science, creativity, and competition to come together. I'm so pumped to see what these students come up with. My expectations are high. I'm ready to be blown away." "Mark Rober is a master of the 'wow' moment, and we've seen firsthand how much our members love his unique brand of science-fueled spectacle, added John Derderian, Netflix Vice President of Animation Series + Kids & Family TV. "We're taking that energy to the next level with SCHOOLED!. It isn't just a competition; it's a celebration of creativity and engineering. It's exactly the kind of co-viewing experience that brings families together, and we can't wait to see what these young makers and tinkerers create in the halls of CrunchLabs Academy." Casting is now open. Filming location and premiere date to be announced at a later date. SCHOOLED! joins Rober's expanding library on Netflix including Mark Rober's CrunchLabs, which earned over 12M views in just two months following its debut on the Netflix service in November 2025 with more episodes launching on March 16. He also co-starred in Elmo & Mark Rober's Merry Giftmas special and was featured on Skyscraper Live on Netflix. |
posted 3/2/2026 |
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Monday Lightning Round |
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Netflix's Monopoly bake-off has been completed and Studio Lambert has emerged victorious. The company behind Peacock hit The Traitors landed the right to produce a reality competition game show based on the iconic board game alongside Hasbro Entertainment. Studio Lambert is continuing its hot streak in the U.S.; in September, the company won its second consecutive Emmy for Traitors, which aired its Season 4 finale on the NBCUniversal streamer Thursday, and it is preparing a civilian version of the celebrity-led reality competition for NBC that is due out later this year. The company also recently scored a reality version of Fallout at Amazon, similar to its work on Squid Game: The Challenge, which was picked up for a third season by Netflix, and it is hoping to sell The Golden Elevators into the U.S. The All3Media-backed business has done a lot of business with the streamer over the years including with shows such as The Circle, Dance 100 and Surviving Paradise. It beat out Endemol Shine North America and Wheelhouse for Monopoly after the bake-off was whittled down to a final three. The bake-off was the talk of the unscripted town last summer with around 50 companies understood to have submitted creative ideas for the adaptation, with around 30 pre-approved by the streamer. Deadline hears that Netflix was pleased with the level of originality it received across the process. Netflix struck a deal for the rights to Monopoly from Hasbro Entertainment last year. At the time, Netflix's VP unscripted series Jeff Gaspin told Deadline that the success of Monopoly Go!, the mobile board game from Scopely that came out in 2023, inspired him to buy the project. "There's a gameplay in Monopoly Go! that I think really will resonate with gameplay in an unscripted series," he said. The idea for the bake-off was not only to get the right creative for Monopoly, but to also open doors for companies that have either not worked with Netflix before or haven't made such a big show for the streamer. |
posted 2/27/2026 |
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The planning for Survivor 50 has been in the works for over two years and it has seemingly paid off. The premiere episode of the evergreen reality series helped CBS to its most-watched Wednesday night in four years, since the finale episode of Season 42 on May 25, 2022. The three-hour opener (yes, three hours) was the night's number one show in both total viewers and adults aged 25-54, averaging 5.06M viewers. It peaked with 6.18m viewers in its first half-hour but held on to at least 90% of its audience each subsequent half-hour, per Nielsen. It was up 26% from its fall 2025 premiere in total viewers and up +19% from its spring 2025 premiere. CBS said that its total viewership on the night was 81% higher than second-place NBC. The 50th iteration of the Jeff Probst-fronted show featured some of the show's best-known stars over the years including The White Lotus creator Mike White. Below is a first look at the season 50 tribes, along with a full cast photo capturing the scope of the landmark returnee season. Cila Tribe ("to shine" in Fijian): Joseph "Joe" Hunter, Savannah Louie, Christian Hubicki, Cirie Fields, Ozzy Lusth, Emily Flippen, Rick Devens and Jenna Lewis-Dougherty Kalo Tribe ("spirit" in Fijian) Jonathan Young, Dee Valladares, Mike White, Kamilla Karthigesu, Charlie Davis, Tiffany Ervin, Benjamin "Coach" Wade and Chrissy Hofbeck Vatu Tribe ("rock/stone" in Fijian) Colby Donaldson, Genevieve Mushaluk, Rizo Velovic, Angelina Keeley, Q Burdette, Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick, Kyle Fraser and Aubry Bracco |
posted 2/27/2026 |
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Neil Sedaka, one of pop's most enduring songwriters, whose career extended from after World War II to the countercultural days of Elton John, died Friday at age 86, his family said. Sedaka was the writer behind hits such as "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do," "Love Will Keep Us Together" and dozens of other hits. His cause of death was not clear. "Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka," his family said in a statement to NBC News. Sedaka, who was also a performer himself, had three No. 1 hits, nine Top 10 hits, and 30 songs on the Billboard singles chart, according to Billboard. He wrote songs and collaborated with Connie Francis, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, Elton John and Clay Aiken. Sedaka was born in New York City's Brooklyn borough and grew up in its Brighton Beach section. He was the son of a taxi driver, who was the son of Turkish Jewish immigrants. Sedaka's mother was of Polish-Russian Jewish descent, according to a bio from the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In a 2010 interview with Billboard, Sedaka said he had a grandmother who spoke Spanish. He said he was influenced, in part, by Tito Puente, whose performances at New York City's legendary Palladium club he took in as a youth. "I still have that in my blood," he said. "Plus, my grandmother spoke Spanish in the house, so I can speak." Sedaka got his start in high school, performing with a doo-wop group, the Tokens, that recorded two well-received singles. Collaboration with his young neighbor, Howard Greenfield, led to a songwriting partnership that lasted a half-century and resulted in 40 million records sold between 1959 and 1963, according to his official bio. The partnership with Greenfield, with the two working out of New York City's songwriting factory known as the Brill Building, helped put the Brill Building sound on the map, according to the bio. Connie Francis recorded the duo's "Stupid Cupid," putting them on the music industry map in 1959. "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do," from 1962, epitomized Sedaka's career at the time. The single he co-wrote with Greenfield features Sedaka's clear, easy-to-listen-to voice over a traditional song structure at a time of tumult in music, when rock 'n' roll was transforming the landscape and starting its domination of radio. Sedaka never quit and found a way to fit in as music evolved and the counterculture of the late 1960s and 1970s changed the rules and ushered in harder rock, disco, and a new reign of Black music from the likes of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. "I always make a conscious effort to write different styles and moods," he told Billboard in 2010. "What I tried to do is write different moods." A version of "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do," re-recorded by Sedaka in the mid-1970s was nominated for song of the year at the Grammy Awards in 1977 but was beat, ironically, by "I Write the Songs," which was performed, but not written, by Barry Manilow. Polished structure, a keen sense of melody and clean lyrics helped sell millions of records, but these elements of Sedaka's brand couldn't earn him a Grammy Award. He was nominated five times. Sedaka was reintroduced as a performer to music fans by Elton John and his label, Rocket, which released "Sedaka's Back" in 1974 and "The Hungry Years" in 1975, according to the bio. In 1995, he leaned on his classical training at Juilliard, where he learned about music at its preparatory division for children at age 8, to release "Classically Sedaka," according to his bio and a bio from the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame. In 2007, Sedaka was joined on stage by Connie Francis, Dion, Paul Shaffer, Natalie Cole, Clay Aiken, Renee Olstead, and Captain and Tennille for a celebration of his music, "Neil Sedaka: 50 Years of Hits," at Lincoln Center to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation. He later appeared as a guest judge on television's "American Idol." Other game show appearances include "Don't Forget Your Toothbrush", "I've Got a Secret", "Star Search", and "Juke Box Jury". He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Sedaka married his wife, Leba, in 1962. They had two children, daughter Dara, a TV and radio vocalist; and son Marc, a screenwriter; and three grandchildren, according to his bio. "A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed," his family said in Friday's statement. |
posted 2/27/2026 |
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The Bachelorette: Meet the Men |
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The time has come to meet the 22 men who will be vying for Taylor Frankie Paul's heart on the upcoming season of The Bachelorette. As the breakout star of Hulu's The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Paul has already shared a pretty unfiltered picture of her life as a single mom of three. Now, she'll get another shot at romance in Season 22 of the stalwart ABC dating series when it debuts March 22. Per her ABC bio, she's looking to lead with "humor, resilience and a fearless openness" to inspire others to "embrace life's chaos and own their story." This marks the first time that The Bachelorette will be led by a woman who was not previously part of the franchise in some capacity. However, there is a precedent for choosing a lead from outside the franchise, when Matt James was selected to lead The Bachelor without any prior association to the series. Paul is now the third Mormon Wives star who will appear on an ABC franchise this fall, since Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt were both cast on Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars. |
posted 2/27/2026 |
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Special Delivery From Japan |
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The distribution arm of European production group Fremantle has added Japanese gameshow format Special Delivery to its sales slate. Fremantle has picked up the international rights outside Japan to the new comedy gameshow format, co-developed by Blue Circle (a Fremantle company) and leading Japanese broadcaster TBS and is shopping the show at this week's London TV Screenings. The show sends comedians on hilarious missions to attempt to deliver anything, anywhere, anyhow. Contestants must take the job seriously; but the job does not return the favour, as everything conspires against them. Commissioned for TBS in Japan, Special Delivery launched this January, when its debut episode ranked number one in its time slot and achieved a 28% audience share. In Japan, the show is played by celebrities, but it can be adapted to suit different casting approaches worldwide. Vasha Wallace, exec VP of global acquisitions and development, global entertainment at Fremantle, said: "Partnering with TBS to co-develop Special Delivery has been a fantastic collaboration. As a broadcaster known for bold, inventive comedy, TBS has been an exceptional creative partner, and together we've shaped a format that harnesses the originality of Japanese entertainment into something with clear global potential. There is a strong appetite worldwide for big, visual, laugh-out-loud comedy, and Special Delivery has all the ingredients to travel and connect with audiences beyond Japan. |
posted 2/27/2026 |
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Happy Friday Lightning Round |
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Nearly five years after his controversial exit as the host of the "Bachelor" franchise, Chris Harrison is making his return to reality TV. Fox Nation has greenlit a new dating series for people seeking a "traditional marriage" with Harrison as host and an expected premiere in 2027. Before Fox Nation's involvement was known, Harrison posted a casting call for the project on Instagram, saying the show was looking for single men and women age 21 and older "who want a traditional, marriage-minded partnership built on commitment and shared values. We're looking for singles who believe in clear roles, long-term commitment, and building a life together — and who are dating with real intention." The official logline for the series reads, "Several women will embark on a relationship journey designed for individuals seeking lasting commitment. Blending romance, real-world compatibility tests and emotionally charged eliminations, the series reimagines modern dating through the lens of shared values, authenticity and the goal of marriage." Harrison isn't the only "Bachelor" alum working on the currently untitled series. Other previous "Bachelor" producers on board include Louis Caris as executive producer, Elan Gale as consulting producer, Linday Liles as casting director and Michael Shea as director. Executive producers also include Harrison's wife, Lauren Zima, plus Lionsgate Alternative Television executives Nicholas Caprio and Tom Huffman. Harrison hosted "The Bachelor" and all of its spinoffs beginning in 2002, when the iconic reality dating series premiered. In 2021, he left the franchise after making racially insensitive comments while defending former contestant Rachael Kirkconnell, who was receiving online backlash over photos circulating online of her attending an antebellum plantation-themed party as a college student. Variety reported at the time that, after Harrison took a temporary hiatus from hosting when the controversy began, his team became outraged with the dragging-out process" surrounding his return "and was unhappy with the network and studio not publicly supporting Harrison." |
posted 2/25/2026 |
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Fremantle Sends "Hitster" to Three Markets |
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Fremantle's is scaling "Hitster," scoring its first format sales on new music TV game show of the same title, based on the party game which has burst onto the scene, proving a top seller in Northern Europe, Spain and Canada. The game also ranked in retailer charts over Christmas in the U.S. and U.K. In the first global territory commissions, Amsterdam-based Blue Circle, a Fremantle company, and NewBe will produce eight episodes for RTL4 in the Netherlands. Historic German production powerhouse UFA, also part of Fremantle, is set to produce six episodes for RTL Deutschland. Meanwhile, in Canada, Attraction and Productions Déferlantes will produce two seasons in collaboration with Quebecor Content. After Fremantle Australia and Amsterdam-based NewBe teamed to create the Netflix hit "Heartbreak High" reboot, Fremantle Netherlands and NewBe led the creative development of the "Hitster" TV format together with Jumbo Group. Holding international production and distribution rights, beyond announcing its first three territory orders, Fremantle has shared in exclusivity with Variety a brand new image from the set of "Hitster." Invented by Stockholm-based Markus Carleson, "Hitster" was first played by Carleson at a dinner party in his kitchen on June 24, 2019. "I had some colleagues over and I figured I needed some sort of dinner entertainment," Carleson has recalled. "This was a very competitive crowd so I figured I needed some sort of competitive element and why not combine that with music. But I needed it to be lightweight and very inclusive so instead of having to guess some facts about the song I decided to go with timeline mechanics," he added. |
posted 2/26/2026 |
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Robert Carradine, who rose to fame in the "Revenge of the Nerds" film franchise and later played Hilary Duff's dad on "Lizzie McGuire," has died at the age of 71. Carradine reportedly struggled with bipolar disorder for years and took his own life. His family released a statement: "It is with profound sadness that we must share that our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother Robert Carradine has passed away. In a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon of light to everyone around him. We are bereft at the loss of this beautiful soul and want to acknowledge Bobby's valiant struggle against his nearly two-decade battle with Bipolar Disorder. We hope his journey can shine a light and encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness. At this time we ask for the privacy to grieve this unfathomable loss. With gratitude for your understanding and compassion." Carradine's early acting credits included an episode of his brother David Carradine's series "Kung Fu." He then appeared in films like "Mean Streets," "Coming Home," and "The Long Riders" before starring as nerd Lewis Skolnick in the 1984 college comedy "Revenge of the Nerds." It became a hit, spawning three sequels, with the final two airing as TV movies. Carradine reunited with his "Nerds" co-star Curtis Armstrong to host the TBS reality competition "King of the Nerds," which premiered in 2013 and ran for three seasons. In 2001, Carradine took on the role of Lizzie's dad Sam on the Disney Channel series "Lizzie McGuire," starring a young Hilary Duff as Lizzie. He reprised the role in 2003's "The Lizzie McGuire Movie," and was set to return for a Disney+ revival, but that was scrapped in 2020 before making it to air. His other TV credits include guest roles on "ER," "NYPD Blue," and "The Practice." "This one hurts," Duff wrote on Instagram. "It's really hard to face this reality about an old friend. There was so much warmth in the McGuire family and I always felt so cared for by my on-screen parents. I'll be forever grateful for that. I'm deeply sad to learn Bobby was suffering. My heart aches for him, his family, and everyone who loved him." Carradine is survived by his wife Edith Mani, his children Ever (of "The Handmaid's Tale" & "Marvel's Runaways"), Marika & Ian, and at least three grandchildren. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Text MHA to 741741 to connect with a trained Crisis Counselor from Crisis Text Line.
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posted 2/26/2026 |
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Thursday Lightning Round |
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More on "The Greatest Average American" |
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Are you average? Well, it's time to find out. A new game show hosted by Nate Bargatze is nixing impossible trivia questions and intense challenges. Instead, the winner just has to prove they're the "Greatest Average American." Some game shows test our trivia skills. Some fire up the heat in the kitchen, push the boundaries of survival, or simply put our luck to the test. There is just about every type of game show you can imagine, and now, there's a new one, with one simple premise: celebrating being perfectly average. This is "The Greatest Average American." Here's how the game works: contestants compete in trivia and challenges designed to test how well they understand the habits, opinions and lifestyles of everyday Americans. "So we come out, we have three contestants, and the first round is questions from America," says Bargatze, "They get four questions, and they guess what they think the average American would say." Then the second round is on Nate himself - he has to performa challenge, and the players have to beat the over/under. The finale round is betting on the audience. The prize? $67,920 - the average annual salary in the U.S. "The Greatest Average American," hosted by Nate Bargatze, premieres Wednesday, February 25 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC. |
posted 2/25/2026 |
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"Idol" Tops "The Voice" in Hollywood Week |
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American Idol moved Hollywood Week from Los Angeles to Nashville, Tennessee and it has seemingly paid off. The move helped ABC's talent competition land its best ratings night since its premiere and was up more than a quarter over last season's equivalent episode. It also rated higher than NBC's The Voice, which will clearly please those within the Mouse House. The episode earned 5.52M total viewers and a 0.45 rating among Adults 18-49 in Live+Same Day ratings, per Nielsen. This was its best audience since the premiere episode and a 16% increase in total viewers from last week. ABC was quick to note that it also outperformed the season premiere of The Voice on NBC. The Voice got 3.84M viewers, albeit in a 9pm-11pm timeslot, rather than 8pm-10pm, which is where Idol lives. The network stressed that Idol "scored its largest margin of victory ever in total viewers over The Voice during its nine-season run on ABC". |
posted 2/25/2026 |
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Banijay Laughs All the Way to the Bank |
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Banijay Entertainment has struck a partnership with Yoshimoto Kogyo, one of Japan's largest entertainment groups and the creator behind global phenomenon "LOL: Last One Laughing," to acquire global format rights to long-running comedic challenge series "You Laugh You Lose." Under the deal, Banijay Entertainment will lead adaptations across its 23 territories, with Yoshimoto retaining distribution responsibilities everywhere else. The show, which has been on Japanese screens since its 2006 debut on Nippon TV, puts a group of comedians through a grueling 24-hour challenge set inside an immersive real-world environment. Each participant plays a character as the day's situations grow progressively more elaborate – but the one rule that never changes is that nobody is permitted to crack a smile. Do so, and a comedic forfeit kicks in immediately. Unannounced celebrity guests and a steady stream of increasingly absurd scenarios keep the stakes – and the suppressed laughter – ratcheting up until the very end. |
posted 2/25/2026 |
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Lauren Chapin, who portrayed the precocious Kathy "Kitten" Anderson on the iconic 1950s TV series Father Knows Best, has died. She was 80. Chapin, who said she was molested as a child before dealing with drug abuse, jail sentences, several miscarriages and divorce after her show ended, died Tuesday after a battle with cancer, her son, Matthew, reported on Facebook. Following appearances on a 1952 episode of CBS' Lux Video Theatre and in the Judy Garland-starring A Star Is Born (1954), Chapin was hired for Father Knows Best when she was 9. She said she got the job in part because she bore a strong resemblance to one of star Robert Young's four daughters, also named Kathy. (Norma Jean Nilsson had played the part on the preceding NBC Radio version.) Chapin's older TV siblings were Betty "Princess" Anderson (Elinor Donahue) and James "Bud" Anderson Jr. (Billy Gray), and their mom was the level-headed homemaker Margaret Anderson (Jane Wyatt). Young played Jim Anderson, an insurance salesman. Father Knows Best ran for six seasons, from October 1954 through May 1960, with two stints at CBS sandwiched around one at NBC. Reruns then aired for another couple of years in primetime on ABC and for decades in syndication, and the cast reunited for a pair of TV specials in 1977. In game shows, Chapin appeared on episodes of "To Tell the Truth" and "Super Password". Chapin was born in Los Angeles on May 23, 1945. Her older brothers, Billy Chapin (The Night of the Hunter) and Michael Chapin (It's a Wonderful Life), were child actors as well. She was signed to a contract at Columbia Pictures and studied with choreographers Gower and Marge Champion and famed French mime Marcel Marceau. When she was about 6, her mom, Marguerite, whom she said was an alcoholic, took her brother Billy to New York to build his stage career, and she was left with her father, William, whom she said molested her. By age 11, she said was a "manic depressive personality" and once attempted suicide. "It was very difficult to understand how Kathy Anderson could be loved and protected and Lauren Chapin lived a whole different kind of life," she said during a 1989 appearance on Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee. "I didn't understand how God could let me suffer." Five months after Father Knows Best ended, Chapin appeared on an installment of General Electric Theater alongside Steve Allen and Jayne Meadows, but that would mark her final acting appearance for 16 years. She dropped out of Pasadena High School as a junior, and on the Regis and Kathie Lee program, she said got married at 16 and divorced at 18; another marriage was annulled after she discovered her husband was still married. Another man she was involved with turned her into a call girl and on to heroin, which she said she did for seven years until she was 25. Along the way, she lost eight children to miscarriages. She said she also had to sue her mother to claim a portion of the money she had earned from Father Knows Best. After achieving sobriety in the 1970, Chapin worked as a minister and as a talent manager; on her website, it was noted that actress Jennifer Love Hewitt "got her start in show biz" through Chapin. She also published a memoir, 1989's Father Does Know Best, and appeared on a 2016 YouTube series, School Bus Diaries. |
posted 2/25/2026 |
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Wednesday Lightning Round |
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More on "That Thrifting Show" |
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"That Thrifting Show with Lara Spencer" premieres Thursday, March 19, at 9 p.m. EDT on Freeform, with the first six episodes available to stream on Hulu the next day. In the 12-episode series, vintage design expert Lara Spencer presents two designer duos with identical rooms. With limited time and budget, teams must treasure hunt for vintage and thrift store finds to design their way to beautiful, layered, finished rooms. It's style and sustainability in a race against the clock. Style experts Robert Hartwell, Dani Klaric and Preston Konrad will judge the thrifted designs. The series is produced for ABC News Studios by Butternut, a division of Wheelhouse Entertainment, and Envisionary Productions. Lara Spencer serves as executive producer, alongside Courtney White and Cheryl Wayne for Butternut, Jon Rosen for Envisionary Productions, and Melia Patria and senior executive producer David Sloan for ABC News Studios. |
posted 2/24/2026 |
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New Season of Junior Baking Show Scheduled |
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Roku Channel has scheduled the new season for "The Great British Baking Show Juniors". A trailer has been released. Harry Hill hosts the junior version of The Great British Baking Show, welcoming a group of talented young bakers to the iconic white tent. Judges Liam Charles and Ravneet Gill take on the tough task of crowning Britain's best junior baker. Season 8 begins March 13 on the Roku Channel. |
posted 2/24/2026 |
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Katherine Short, one of the three children adopted by Only Murders in the Building star & Match Game host Martin Short and his late wife, actress Nancy Dolman, has died. She was 42. "It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short," a rep for Martin Short said in a statement. "The Short family is devastated by this loss and asks for privacy at this time. Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world." Law enforcement sources told TMZ that she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, with the LAPD responding to her Hollywood Hills home shortly after 6:40 p.m. on Monday. Survivors include her younger brothers, Henry and Oliver. Born on Dec. 3, 1983, Katherine Short received a bachelor's degree in psychology and gender sexuality studies from NYU in 2006 and her master's in social work from USC in 2010. According to her website, she later worked at UCLA's Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital and for the dual-diagnosis outpatient program Camden Center. She was said to be involved in a charity called Bring Change 2 Mind, which aims to "empower young people to build connected, empathetic and supportive school communities where conversations about mental health are welcome and stigma-free." Short is on a two-man comedy and music tour with Steve Martin, and a show scheduled for Friday at the Miller High Life Theatre in Milwaukee and two shows set for Saturday at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis have been postponed. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Text MHA to 741741 to connect with a trained Crisis Counselor from Crisis Text Line. |
posted 2/24/2026 |
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Tuesday Lightning Round |
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Acclaimed comedian, actor and entrepreneur Druski will serve as a special commentator for NBC's "The Voice: Battle of Champions." The eventized 29th season premieres Monday, Feb. 23 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and streams next day on Peacock with host Carson Daly and powerhouse coaches Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Adam Levine, who form the only panel in the show's history comprised entirely of "Voice" winners. Druski joins the four-time Emmy Award-winning musical competition series as its first-ever commentator, drawing from his love of music to offer unique takes on the coaches' strategy as they vie for the win. This includes tracking the "Triple Turn Competition" and "Super Steal" among the coaches. Taking inspiration from sideline reporting greats, Druksi's signature style invokes both humor and heart. nevA string of NBA superstars will also join him throughout the competition. Hailing from Atlanta, Druski ascended to national prominence on social media with his "Coulda Been Records" YouTube sketches and Instagram Lives that became must-watch content, culminating in collaborations with superstars such as Drake, Kevin Hart, Timothee Chalamet, Justin Bieber, J. Cole, Snoop Dogg and more. He's since self-produced hit shows, including "Could Been Love" (now in its second season) and "Coulda Been House," along with selling out his first-ever comedy and music festival "Coulda Fest," and completed a national headlining comedy tour and more. Over the course of his career, Druski has received a wide range of honors, being crowned by Complex as the No. 1 "Funniest Person on the Internet Right Now" for two straight years and named to Forbes' prestigious 30 Under 30 List and Top Creators List. He was also highlighted on The Hollywood Reporter's Creator A-list and recognized by Rolling Stone on the publication's annual Most Influential Creators list. Season 28 of "The Voice" has reached over 32 million total viewers across platforms. On Peacock, season 28 of "The Voice" delivered its best season ever, growing +28% from season 27. (Through 35 days) |
posted 2/23/2026 |
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Crossing The... uhhh.... Water Hazard |
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Ant and Dec are to host a new golf-themed game show. Part of their "golden handcuffs" deal with ITV Studios, the Britain's Got Talent presenters' own Mitre Studios company and BGT producers Fremantle are working on a new take of US program Holey Moley, which sees contestants take on a giant crazy golf course to win cash prizes. A source told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: "This would be the ideal show for Ant and Dec. "It would see contestants on a giant crazy golf course, mixing putting skills with physical challenges. "It's fresh, fun, and sees players battle it out for a cash prize. The lads would have a real laugh making it." The show - which comes from producer Chris Culvenor & basketball great Stephen Curry - will give the presenters - who have worked together since they starred on Byker Grove in 1990 - a chance to spend more time together because the pair previously admitted they launched their new podcast because they were "not hanging out as much" as they used to. |
posted 2/23/2026 |
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Maxi Shield, a Sydney-based star of Australia's RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under, died over the weekend six months after announcing a throat cancer diagnosis. She was 51. Shield, who offstage also used her birth name Kristopher Elliot, chronicled the cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment on Instagram. Her passing, which some reports indicate occurred on Saturday, February 21, was announced today by World of Wonder, producer the RuPaul's Drag Race franchise. "We are heartbroken to announce the passing of Kristopher Elliot AKA Maxi Shield," the company wrote on Instagram. "A part of our Down Under legacy, her electrifying presence on and off the stage will inspire us forever, and our deepest condolences go out to her friends and family. RIP, we love you Maxi." A cause of death was not specified. In her most recent Instagram post on January 30, Shield wrote, "Weekly update-ish. We are stronger we think! This is my 29th day since my last treatment. As you know, the first few weeks were tough. It's probably the worst I've felt over this whole experience. But each day I'm feeling a little better..Seeing a tiny light at the end of the tunnel really has lifted my spirits..[T]o anyone out there going through this or even recently being diagnosed, you are stronger than you know, this is just a moment in an incredible life you have left to live… you can do it." News of the death also was shared by friend and Down Under co-star Vanity. "It's with the heaviest of hearts that we share the news that our dearest sister, Maxine, has passed away," Vanity wrote on her Wigs By Vanity page. "We are all mourning the loss of an incredible icon, friend, and our beloved sister. Thank you for the laughs, the cackles, and the magic you brought into our lives. I will cherish every second of our 30 year friendship and I'm so grateful that I was apart of your chosen family. You will be forever loved and deeply missed. I love you old girl." Shield, who competed in 2021 on the inaugural season of the Australian edition and came in sixth, also starred in the 2023 Australian comedy thriller The Winner Takes It All and was a regular performer in Sydney's LGBTQ+ venues. She developed a devoted following for her candor in discussing her illness, her hard-won sobriety and childhood physical abuse. "I loved this queen," wrote Drag Race Down Under judge Michelle Visage on Instagram today. "A glorious human on the inside and out. Your love, heart, talent and energy will be missed…. @maxishield rest in power, my angel, you were truly one of a kind." Born in Ballina, New South Wales on June 1, 1974, Shield performed at the 2000 Olympic Games closing ceremony and opened the Gay Games in 2002. In 2022 she appeared at RuPaul's DragCon LA in Los Angeles. |
posted 2/23/2026 |
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Monday Lightning Round |
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CLUE: THIS WORLD-FAMOUS QUIZ SHOW FEATURES KEN JENNINGS WELCOMING HOLLYWOOD'S BIGGEST AND SMARTEST NAMES CORRECT RESPONSE: What Is 'Celebrity Jeopardy! All-Stars'? Hosted by Ken Jennings, "Celebrity Jeopardy! All-Stars" features the best and brightest celebrity players from the first three seasons returning to the Alex Trebek Stage to battle for $1 million for a charity of their choice. "Celebrity Jeopardy! All-Stars" premieres FRIDAY, MARCH 13 (8:00-9:00 p.m. EST), and streams on Hulu the next day. The All-Stars lineup includes all three prior "Celebrity Jeopardy!" champions - Ike Barinholtz (S1), Lisa Ann Walter (S2), and W. Kamau Bell (S3) - who will attempt to defend their titles against 18 of their most competitive fellow stars. These three champions will be seeded directly into the tournament semifinals. The competing stars include Margaret Cho, Macaulay Culkin, Rachel Dratch, Mark Duplass, Sean Gunn, Mina Kimes, Cynthia Nixon, Katie Nolan, Patton Oswalt, Andy Richter, Mo Rocca, Ray Romano, Tim Simons, Mira Sorvino, Robin Thede, Jackie Tohn, Steven Weber and Roy Wood Jr. The "Celebrity Jeopardy! All-Stars" Tournament will air across 10 hourlong episodes consisting of six quarterfinals, three semifinals and one final. "Celebrity Jeopardy! All-Stars" is produced by Sony Pictures Television and executive produced by Michael Davies. |
posted 2/20/2026 |
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Happy Friday Lightning Round |
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CJ ENM, TBS Synch Up |
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Leading entertainment company CJ ENM is bringing a new non-scripted survival format, Synchro Game, to MIP London, marking its latest co-production with TBS. Synchro Game is a survival game show where brainpower and physical strength must operate as one system. When the sharpest minds are paired with the strongest bodies, survival becomes a test of perfect synchronization. The best "Brains" and Physicals" form teams and face challenges that push both intellect and endurance to the limit. Winning isn't about being smarter or stronger—it's about which team can combine their strengths, adapt faster than the rest, and outlast the competition. Produced by Nam Kyung-mo, in collaboration with Takehisa Mizuno, a producer from Global IP Studio of TBS, the show features a standout cast representing Korea's top intellectuals and physical competitors. Since launching their partnership in 2021, CJ ENM and TBS have steadily deepened their creative collaboration. Their first jointly produced non-scripted format, MUGEN LOOP (Infinite Loop), aired in Korea and Japan in 2025 and earned a nomination for Best Studio-Based Gameshow Format at the International Format Awards 2025. Building on this momentum, Synchro Game signals the next evolution of their cross-border partnership. Sebastian Kim, Head of CJ ENM's Content Distribution Business Unit, commented, 'Developed in partnership with Japan's top broadcaster, TBS, Synchro Game reflects a shared approach to building a well-made format from the ground up. Presenting the show at MIP London marks an important opportunity to position the format for international audiences'. Jun Fukai, Director of Global Business Development of TBS added: 'We are honored to once again collaborate with CJ ENM, one of the world's leading content companies. We are excited to see Synchro Game, with its truly distinctive and original world-building, expand globally just as our first co-development, Infinite Loop, has done'. Synchro Game will premiere with two episodes on February 23 and 24, and will be presented at MIP London as part of CJ ENM's expanding slate of non-scripted formats. |
posted 2/19/2026 |
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Canada's Drag Race Makes Her-story |
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The Drag Race universe is expanding with Canada's Drag Race: All Stars, which will feature the first-ever all-drag judging panel in her-story. Brooke Lynn Hytes will serve as host and resident judge alongside judges Priyanka (Canada's Drag Race Season 1 winner) and Jimbo (RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars Season 8 winner). The series will premiere later this year on the WOW Presents Plus streaming platform, with the full cast set to be announced at a later time. Canada's Drag Race: All Stars will consist of six one-hour episodes and will welcome back queens with unfinished business to compete for the title of Canada's Ultimate All-Star and a $100,000 cash prize. Canada's Drag Race: All Stars is World of Wonder's fourth series collaboration with Blue Ant Studios and Crave, in a list that includes Canada's Drag Race, Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. The World and Slaycation. |
posted 2/19/2026 |
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"Millionaire" Pays Dividends |
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The London company that controls the rights to Who Wants to be a Millionaire has delivered a jackpot of its own, paying a £20 million dividend from profits generated by the hugely successful quiz show. Latest accounts for Paddington based Sony Pictures Television UK Rights reveal that the program - known for its "phone a friend" and 50/50 lifelines - remains a formidable money spinner nearly 30 years after it first hit TV screens in Britain. The format, in which contestants answer questions with increasingly valuable prizes up to the £1 million jackpot, still generates 82% of Sony Pictures Television UK Rights revenues, according to latest accounts for the year to 31 March 2025 filed this month at Companies House. The £20 million dividend was the first paid by the company since the £15 million distribution in 2021. It is paid to the company's immediate parent Columbia Pictures Corporation, which is ultimately owned by the Japanese entertainment and electronics giant. Revenues increased 8.2% to £12.3 million during the year but the the expansion came with a surge in costs, driving down pre-tax profits by 31% to £5.2 million. The Millionaire format was broadcast in 45 territories around the world last year, including 17 opened up during an aggressive expansion over recent years. Since launch in 1998 it has been shown in more than 120 countries and has inspired the multi Oscar winning movie Slumdog Millionaire, and the play and ITV drama Quiz, about the "coughing major" Charles Ingram. The rights to the high stakes general knowledge TV quiz have been owned by Sony since 2008 when it paid £137.5 million to buy Dutch production company 2waytraffic. It had in turn bought the worldwide rights to the show two years earlier from Celador, the British production company co-founded by comedian Jasper Carrott. Celador created the format to the show which became an overnight success when it debuted on ITV in 1998 with Chris Tarrant as the host, instantly making famous catchphrases such as "Is the your final answer?". He was succeeded by Jeremy Clarkson in 2018. Since Sony took over the show, its UK TV rights subsidiary has paid it a total of £258.6 million in dividends, giving the studio almost double its money back. Millionaire Hot Seat, a spin-off series hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, launched last month and the accounts reveal that Sony has identified "opportunities in adding services such as in-show interactivity and off-air exploitation of rights to the core TV format licensing proposition." |
posted 2/19/2026 |
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Thursday Lightning Round |
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A Rat Has Appeared |
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Scabby the Rat appeared in an unusual place on Wednesday. With dozens of union staff picketing, the inflatable rodent — a near-universal symbol used by trade unions across the U.S. to call out employers for union-busting practices — was swaying in the wind on the corner of 3rd Street and Fairfax Avenue in L.A., right outside the Writers Guild of America West headquarters. The Writers Guild Staff Union, which represents about 115 of the 160 guild employees, went on strike this week after repeatedly accusing WGAW management of unfair labor practices as the group sought to negotiate its first contract, including unlawfully firing a member of the organizing committee. The union staff organized last spring and have been bargaining their first contract with management intermittently since September. |
posted 2/18/2026 |
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The 1% Club Expands |
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Magnum Media's hit quiz show The 1% Club has clocked up two more international sales, to Sweden's SVT and Italy's Mediaset, taking it to 15 territories worldwide. Created by Magnum's Andy Auerbach and Dean Nabarro, the show tests how contestants' brains work through a series of questions based on a scientific survey of the general public. Gameplay starts with the questions answered correctly by the largest number of the survey sample and progresses through to a final challenge which only the cleverest 1% answered correctly. The quiz debuted in the UK, where it airs on ITV and is currently midway through its fifth season, with international format sales handled by BBC Studios – the broadcaster's global production and sales business. Fox has renewed the US version for a third season; the German edition has so far aired for four seasons; Spain's Antena 3 has aired two seasons; in France the local version hit a new high of 3.3m viewers for its fourth season; and Israel has commissioned its third season. Beyond TV the brand has launched a digital extension on Smart TV platform Game.City and a Nintendo Switch version is coming soon while in the UK The Telegraph newspaper recently launched a daily game of The 1% Club for its subscribers. |
posted 2/18/2026 |
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Street Smarts |
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ITV Studios has unveiled a London TV Screenings slate spanning entertainment formats fronted by Graham Norton and Claudia Winkleman and scripted projects from the producers behind I May Destroy You and It's a Sin. Among the formats on offer is The Neighbourhood, produced by Lifted Entertainment and The Garden for ITV and hosted by Norton. It sees families and households compete in a street-sized reality game, battling it out for the chance to take home a life-changing cash prize. |
posted 2/18/2026 |
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Wednesday Lightning Round |
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Jeopardy has reportedly been axed by ITV after two series and fans are not best pleased about it… The British version of the American game show first aired on ITV in 2024. Hosted by Stephen Fry, it quickly became a hit with fans. Jeopardy's last series aired in 2025 but fans hoping for a new series might be disappointed as it's been claimed that the show is not coming back to screens. Jeopardy! has been around for decades. The show first launched on NBC in 1964 and has been running pretty much consistently ever since on US TV. The show is different from usual quiz shows, as it sees a contestant given clues to a question in the form of an answer. They must identify the person, place, thing, or idea that the clue describes, by phrasing it in the form of a question. In 1983, a UK edition launched on Channel 4, before coming to an end in 1984. Between 1990 and 1993 it aired on ITV, before being cancelled. Between 1995 and 1996, it aired on Sky One, before, again, being cancelled. It was then brought back in 2024 with Stephen Fry at the helm. However, after two series it has now been reported that Jeopardy is not coming back to screens. As TVZone reports the program has been axed and there are currently no plans for a third series. |
posted 2/17/2026 |
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FOX today announced its Spring 2026 premiere dates, unveiling a dynamic slate of bold event programming, high-octane adventure and the return of proven hits. From high-stakes game shows and iconic culinary battles to heartfelt romance, immersive adventure, and epic event series, the spring lineup delivers must-watch programming anchored by familiar favorites and all-new original programming. Rob Lowe returns as host of The Floor with a special two-hour season five premiere Wednesday, Apr. 8 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), where contestants compete in dynamic head-to-head battles of trivia and strategy. Brains and the big yellow balls are back starting Monday, April 13 with host Joel McHale testing the nation's wits on The 1% Club (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), followed by the high-stakes, sink-or-swim quiz show The Quiz with Balls (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) hosted by Jay Pharoah. The iconic culinary series MasterChef takes the competition worldwide as it returns for Season 16 Wednesday, Apr. 15 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), celebrating international cuisine with award-winning chef and executive producer Gordon Ramsay as host and judge, alongside renowned restaurateur Joe Bastianich and acclaimed chef and entrepreneur Tiffany Derry. Then, The Floor will make its time period premiere that evening (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). |
posted 2/17/2026 |
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Brain Age |
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French broadcaster M6 has ordered a primetime quiz show format from Banijay-owned producer DMLS TV. How Old Is Your Brain? (aka Quel Est L'âge de Votre Cerveau?) brings 200 contestants into a studio, where they face 50 questions across logic, memory and math that become increasingly difficult. Contestants compete to prove their mental agility for a chance to win €50,000 ($59,234.69), with former Fort Boyard host Olivier Minne lined up to lead the French version. Mathieu Vergne, chief exec at DMLS TV, described the show as "a thrilling, high-energy challenge" that will encourage co-viewing. "It's the kind of format that brings generations together, sparking laughter and competition," he said. "Whether you're 15 or 75, you'll find yourself playing along with your whole family and putting your brain to the test." James Townley, chief content officer of development at Banijay Entertainment, added that the show was a "cerebral showdown built for co-viewing and packed with international potential. "With DMLS TV's proven expertise in creating hit entertainment formats, How Old Is Your Brain? is poised to become a flagship show for M6 and we're confident it will get audiences hooked," Townley said. The format will be rolled out to international buyers at the London TV Screenings next week. |
posted 2/16/2026 |
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Monday Lightning Round |
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Disney is leaning into the recent resurgence of Dancing with the Stars. The network is eyeing a spinoff series focused on finding the series' next pro dancer. Deals are still in the works, but Season 34 winner Robert Irwin is in talks to host the new series, currently titled Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro. Longtime pro Mark Ballas and his mom Shirley Ballas, also a pro ballroom dancer and head judge on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, are in talks to serve as judges. There will be a third judges slot, expected to be filled with a rotating judge each week — likely including many from the DWTS family. DWTS: The Next Pro is expected to air this summer and stream on Hulu. The winner would then appear on Season 35 of the flagship series, which generally premieres in September. ABC declined to comment. This marks the first major expansion of the Dancing with the Stars since it premiered in 2005. Over the years, the series has gone through dozens of pro dancers, many of whom returned for last season's 20th anniversary celebration. Ballas has been with DWTS on and off since 2007, most recently dancing with Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt for Season 34. Dancing with the Stars exploded in popularity last season, raking in its largest audience in years driven by interest from younger viewers. In November, Season 34 posted the show's highest-rated finale in nearly a decade. |
posted 2/12/2026 |
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The community has come together in a big way following the death of James Van Der Beek. The actor died at 48 on Feb. 11, following a battle with colorectal cancer. Shortly after the news broke, his friends started a GoFundMe account, asking for help for his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek and their six children. On Feb. 12, the account reached $1 million. The goal was originally set at $250,000 but increased throughout the day on Wednesday to $1.3 million. "Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning," his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, said in a statement. "He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend." The father of six kids, Van Der Beek announced in November 2024 that he had "been privately dealing with this diagnosis" — it was Stage 3 — since August 2023. During two summer hiatuses from his hit series, Van Der Beek starred as the principled Texas high school quarterback Jonathan "Mox" Moxon in the Brian Robbins-helmed Varsity Blues (1999) and as the hedonistic Sean Bateman in the Bret Easton Ellis adaptation The Rules of Attraction (2002), written and directed by Roger Avary. The good-natured Connecticut native also played versions of himself in 2001's Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back (in the movie within the movie) and in 2019's Jay & Silent Bob Reboot and for two seasons of the 2012-13 ABC sitcom Don't Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, where he had the self-assurance to portray an actor on the decline. Van Der Beek had been directed by Edward Albee on a New York stage and had played a bully in the coming-of-age film Angus (1995) when he was hired as a Steven Spielberg wannabe on Dawson's Creek, created by Kevin Williamson for Columbia TriStar Television. (He was 20 portraying a 15-year-old.) The oldest of three kids, Van Der Beek was born on March 8, 1977, in Cheshire, Connecticut, a bucolic town of white picket fences, not unlike Capeside. His father, Jim, pitched with the Albuquerque Dukes, then the Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate, before working for decades as a telephone executive. His mother, Melinda, attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, danced on Broadway and ran her own gymnastics tumbling school in Cheshire for 27 years. "In eighth grade, we were asked to write a letter to ourselves about where we would be in five years," he said in an interview with Teen Machine. "I wrote that I either wanted to be a pro baseball player like my father or I wanted to be a physical therapist. Acting wasn't anywhere near my mind." After he was banned from playing football in junior high for a year because of a concussion, he turned to acting and was cast as Danny Zuko in a community theater production of Grease. When he was 15 and attending the prestigious Cheshire Academy prep school as a do-no-wrong student on a scholarship, he got his mom to take him to Manhattan to secure representation — and landed an agent and manager on his first trip. Still, it took about a half and a half of auditioning without success — that included making six-hour trips back and forth between Cheshire and New York — before he was cast as a drummer on a December 1993 episode of Nickelodeon's Clarissa Explains It All. A few months later, Van Der Beek played a swimmer in an off-Broadway production of Albee's Finding the Sun, with The New York Times in its review calling him "refreshingly un-self-conscious as a teenager yet to suffer the inevitable 'tarnish'." Still in high school, he made his film debut in Angus, then appeared as another aggressive kid in the romantic drama I Love You, I Love You Not (1996). He attended Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, as an English major and sang in an all-male a cappella group called 36 Madison Avenue but quit college when Dawson's Creek came calling. After the series was rejected by NBC and Fox, the three-year-old WB gave it a green light, and shooting began in Wilmington, North Carolina. Holmes, Jackson and Williams had all been cast before Van Der Beek was. He competed on Dancing With the Stars in 2018 and The Masked Singer last year. He would further extend his game show cred with appearances on "The $100,000 Pyramid", "25 Words or Less", and "Match Game". It was announced in May that he would recur in Elle, a Legally Blonde prequel set up at Prime Video. The show, which got an early season two renewal last month, is set to premiere in July. In addition to his father and Kimberly, whom he married in August 2010, survivors include their children, Olivia, 15; Joshua, 13; Annabel, 12; Emilia, 9; Gwendolyn, 6; and Jeremiah, 4; his brother, Jared; and his sister, Juliana. His first wife was actress Heather McComb (Profiler, Party of Five); they were married from 2003 until their 2009 divorce. The family has set up a GoFundMe to help with expenses following his cancer battle: "The costs of James's medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds. They are working hard to stay in their home and to ensure the children can continue their education and maintain some stability during this incredibly difficult time. The support of friends, family, and the wider community will make a world of difference as they navigate the road ahead." In December 2024, Van Der Beek, Anthony Anderson and NFL players Taye Diggs and Chris Jones were among those stripping to raise awareness for prostate, testicular and colorectal cancer testing in the Fox special The Real Full Monty. He was all set to appear in September at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York to participate in a live reading of the Dawson's Creek pilot script with Holmes, Williams, Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, Busy Philipps and other castmembers in a benefit for the nonprofit F Cancer organization. However, he couldn't make it from his home in Austin, citing "two stomach viruses" as the reason. "Despite every effort … I won't get to be there," he wrote on Instagram. "I won't get to stand on that stage and thank every soul in the theater for showing up for me, and against cancer, when I needed it most." Looking gaunt, he also recorded a video that played to cheers in the theater. His wife and kids were there, however, and everyone lined up to sing the Dawson's Creek theme song, Paula Cole's "I Don't Want to Wait."
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posted 2/12/2026 |
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Traitors Lights Up Season 4 |
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The Traitors is sneakily becoming Peacock's next reality hit. The competition series ranked as Nielsen's top streaming original reality title for four consecutive weeks following its Season 4 premiere on January 8, per the latest data, provided by NBCUniversal. The Traitors amassed 3.2B minutes viewed on Peacock from its Season 4 premiere through February 1, Nielsen's data shows. Nielsen doesn't separate viewing by season, so this is the tally for all available episodes of the series thus far. That said, the chatter around Season 4 does appear to be the driving force here. Considering tensions have only continued to heat up since, it is likely the ongoing season will continue driving gains as it heads toward the finale. Via first party data, NBCU also touts that Season 4 is seeing 66% growth over Season 3 in its average minute audience through the first 27 days of an episode. Contributing to this success is likely it's high co-viewing rates. The Traitors ranks as Peacock's top unscripted title for co-viewership with 56% of season 4's audience watching with someone else, Nielsen says. In its fourth season, The Traitors has seen the Faithful once again try to uncover the Traitors, which are Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Lisa Rinna, Real Housewives of Potomac alum Candiace Dillard Bassett, and Love Island USA alum Rob Rausch. |
posted 2/12/2026 |
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Thursday Lightning Round |
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Dean Franklin, a former contestant on The Voice UK, has died just weeks after he was diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer. He was 36. The singer-songwriter, from London, died on Saturday, Feb. 7, his mother Marie confirmed in a Facebook post. "As a family, we are truly heartbroken to announce that our precious boy, Dean Franklin who fought so courageously over 8 weeks and 3 days passed over at 21.39pm last night," Marie wrote on Feb. 8, alongside a photo of Franklin in a hospital bed. "He was surrounded by love." She continued, "I have been getting MSG's from people this morning and wanted as his ma to manifest my son's courage to share with you all. As a family, we will post in more length when we are able." "Until then, please know that the love you gave to our Dean and all of us has meant so very much ����❤️," Marie concluded. Franklin revealed to fans that he had been diagnosed with cancer in an emotional video shared on Instagram in December. The father of one routinely posted health updates in the weeks after, with the last shared on Jan. 30. "Over the last few weeks, my life has changed very fast," said Franklin on Instagram at the time. "What started as esophageal cancer ended up spreading aggressively to my liver and weirdly, I had almost no symptoms from the esophagus itself." Having then candidly described his health challenges, he continued, "Sometimes cancer doesn't shout where it starts. Sometimes it whispers and shows itself somewhere else." "Right now, I'm in palliative care while still continuing treatment. I've chosen to keep fighting with chemo even though it has been incredibly tough," said Franklin. "Some days have been harder than others, especially the nighttime." He concluded by expressing gratitude for everyone supporting him, saying, "Every bit of love, I feel every single piece of it." "If there's one thing that I'd ask is please listen to your body, push for answers, don't ignore changes and early checks really, really do matter," said Franklin. The street performer impressed the judges during the blind auditions of the 2016 season of The Voice UK, leading Paloma Faith to mentor him. "You are so brave xxx," Faith, 44, commented on a Jan. 25 health update he shared on Instagram. A GoFundMe page Franklin set up before his death has almost achieved its $48,000 goal. The singer wrote in the fundraiser's description that he needed financial support while unable to work because of his cancer treatment and to support his daughter. "This is not about giving up. It is about giving me peace of mind," Franklin wrote. "Knowing that my daughter will be supported, and that practical worries will not take away from the time I have now." |
posted 2/11/2026 |
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The Price is Right is celebrating two upcoming holidays in a major way. In the coming weeks, the game show will ring in Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras, and St. Patrick's Day. On Friday, Feb. 13 on CBS, couples will team up to compete in crush-worthy games. Host Drew Carey acts as Cupid as the duos compete for romantic getaways, cars, cash, and more. On Tuesday, Feb. 17, a New Orleans spirit takes over the studio as the show rings in Mardi Gras. Carey acts as Grand Marshal, with the audience wearing purple, green, and gold. Contestants can win cash and prizes like a luxury New Orleans vacation. On Tuesday, March 17, The Price is Right celebrates St. Patrick's Day. Carey, as well as models Alexis Gaube and James "Leprechaun" O'Halloran, asks fans to play games such as Lucky Seven and Golden Road. Contestants can win cash, luxury vehicles, and a trip to Ireland. Produced by Fremantle, The Price is Right airs on CBS and Paramount+ at 11 AM EST. Serving as executive producer is John Quinn. |
posted 2/11/2026 |
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Wednesday Lightning Round |
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Fans of Dancing With The Stars will get a chance to mix and mingle with pros and former contestants when the competition stages its first-ever fan convention and live show this summer. Set for July 31 to August 2 at the Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, California, the DWTS Con, announced today on Good Morning America, will be a three-day immersive experience featuring live dance performances, panels, Q&A sessions, interactive photo opportunities, exhibits and exclusive merchandise inspired by the ABC competition show, which recently marked 20 years on air. Among the 17 pro dancers and 14 celebrity contestants taking part are pros Brandon Armstrong, Lindsay Arnold, Rylee Arnold, Alan Bersten, Hailey Bills, Sharna Burgess, Witney Carson, Val Chmerkovskiy, Sasha Farber, Jenna Johnson, Daniella Karagach, Pasha Pashkov, Jan Ravnik, Gleb Savchenko, Emma Slater, Ezra Sosa and Britt Stewart. Former contestants and winners at the convention will include Hannah Brown, Danielle Fishel, Xochitl Gomez, Joey Graziadei, Elaine Hendrix, Rashad Jennings, Amanda Kloots, Whitney Leavitt, Phaedra Parks, Jojo Siwa, Johnny Weir, Rumer Willis, Kristi Yamaguchi and Ginger Zee. Judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli also will attend. More guests will be announced soon. "It's really cool because it's never been done before," DWTS pro Witney Carson said on GMA. "You're going to have access to pros and celebrities, which is really fun, and we're just really excited to see you guys there." The weekend will kick off on Friday with a welcome event featuring appearances from pros and a game show–style experience. On Saturday, fans can attend behind-the-scenes panels featuring concersations and Q&As. A live dance performance directed by Mandy Moore is scheduled for Saturday evening, and Sunday will feature additional panels, a matinee performance, a mock competition and a special farewell to close out the weekend. |
posted 2/10/2026 |
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From the Island to the Casa |
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Love Island USA's Kenny Rodriguez is the latest celebrity confirmed to star in Telemundo's La Casa de los Famosos Season 6. Rodriguez starred in Season 6 of the Peacock dating series and was one of the breakout stars that year, making it to the final and finishing in third place, coupled with Jana Craig. Following the success of Love Island USA, Rodriguez was also part of the inaugural season of the streamer's spinoff series Love Island: Beyond the Villa. For his next stint on reality TV, the New York City-born Rodriguez, who has Dominican roots, will keep it in the NBCUniversal family and trade the villa for a house full of Latino celebrities for La Casa de los Famosos. Rodriguez will join other celebrities announced for Season 6, which includes Laura Zapata, Lupita Jones, Yina Calderón, Kunno, Jailyne Ojeda, and Caeli. More stars will be announced in the coming days, with the full cast reveal on premiere night. La Casa de los Famosos is produced by EndemolShine Boomdog, part of Banijay Americas company. The format is based on Celebrity Big Brother, in which a group of celebrities live under 24/7 surveillance and are completely cut off from the outside world as they compete for a cash prize. Who advances in the competition and the winner of the series are determined by votes from the viewing public. Hosted by Jimena Gállego and Javier Poza, La Casa de los Famosos Season 6 premieres on Tuesday, February 17 at 7 p.m. ET on Telemundo and stream on Peacock. |
posted 2/10/2026 |
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Tuesday Lightning Round |
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He started his journey in radio as an air personality at radio stations in Atlantic City, N.J., before launching a Top 40 radio success story at stations including WAEB-FM in Allentown during its "Laser 104" era and, later, at WNVZ "Z104" in Norfolk. From summer 1990 through today, the individual known to listeners as "Doc Holliday" became a household name in the Orlando market, thanks to memorable roles at "XL106.7" and, until 2010, the Cox Media Group Country station serving Central Florida. Now, the host whose legal name is Jeffrey Duncan is being mourned. As "Doc Holliday," Duncan found an audience at stations that include Malrite Communications' WEGX "Eagle 106" in Philadelphia in an era when Tiffany and Debbie Gibson were competing against New Kids on the Block for teen pop supremacy. By the time Ghost hit theaters and "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers had resurfaced as a chart hit, Duncan was at a newly rechristened Contemporary Hit Radio station that had been WHLY "Y106" and, for a brief moment, WCAT "The Cat." This was WXXL, which relocated from Leesburg, Fla., to become "XL106.7" and challenge WBJW "BJ 105," today WOMX "Mix 105.1." That effort worked, as "XL" was a success — in part to Doc Holliday's afternoon shift. By February 1991, he shifted to mornings to team with another icon of Central Florida radio — Johnny Magic. Magic continues today as XL 106.7 morning host at the helm of Johnny's House. For Duncan, a 17-year pairing ended when he and fellow "XL" talent Grace Vaquez headed across town to WWKA "K92.3" in 2007. There, Mark Hlavin, who shared the news of Holliday's passing with the radio industry early Monday, served as Executive Producer. "Doc Holliday" left K92.3 in 2010. Aside from his time on the radio, Duncan was also the stadium announcer for the Orlando Predators Arena Football League team and in 1992 served as the announcer for the Nickelodeon series Family Double Dare. Duncan was 64 years of age and in more recent years was an instructor at a Connecticut School of Broadcasting branch in Central Florida. |
posted 2/9/2026 |
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"The Floor" won't be empty anytime soon: Fox has renewed the primetime game show hosted by Rob Lowe for two more seasons, through Season 7, TVLine has confirmed. (The Ankler first reported the news.) Based on a Dutch game show, "The Floor" pits contestants against each other in head-to-head trivia duels while they stand on a giant floor of light-up squares. The goal is to gain control of more squares on the floor, with the winner of each duel claiming the loser's squares for themselves. Debuting in 2024, "The Floor" returned for Season 4 in September. (It previously earned another two-season renewal last May, through Season 5.) "From day one, 'The Floor' has fit the very definition of Fox's bold, high-energy approach to entertainment, becoming a true fan favorite and TV's No. 1 game show," Fox Entertainment president Michael Thorn told The Ankler in a statement. |
posted 2/9/2026 |
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Monday Lightning Round |
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NBC's 2026 celebration of its first hundred years kicks off this weekend with a new "NBC100" tagline and promo spots that will launch during the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony and the Super Bowl. "This is an anniversary for all of us," NBCUniversal TV & Streaming chief marketing officer Jenny Storms says of the Peacock network's 100th anniversary tagline, "A Century Together." "This is an anniversary for everyone that enjoys and watches NBC. We are celebrating them and us together." Storms says before introducing the centennial spots, NBC execs had to first decide how and why the network would tout its anniversary. " I think when any company comes up to a milestone, if you're going to talk about it publicly to consumers, you ask yourself, 'why is this something that we would want to share?' Why would we be sort of outwardly talking about it, other than just saying that you've been around for a certain amount of time? I think what's special about celebrating how long NBC has been around is that it's about celebrating how long we've been with people, and it's really about the collective us, the collective memories we've created in generational viewership." That includes the legacy IP both past and present — among them, the origin of "Today" in the 1950s, "Star Trek" from the 1960s, "Saturday Night Live" from the 1970s, "Cheers" for the 1980s, "Friends" and "Seinfeld" and "ER" from the 1990s, "Law & Order" and then this century's "The Office," "30 Rock," "This Is Us," "The Good Place" and more. That, of course, leaves a lot of NBC history that didn't make the spots — a quick montage of "Tonight Show" hosts, for example, omits Jack Paar and Conan O'Brien. A through-the-years morphing of NBC logos missed the "NBC snake" from the 1960s and "NBC trapezoid" from mid 1970s. But Storms said there will be time to represent more NBC history in future spots. "Keep in mind, this is the beginning, and it provides us an opportunity throughout the entirety of the year, to now go into different parts of our history, whether it is comedy, sports, entertainment, film, and go deeper, depending on time period and who we're talking to," she said. "There's a lot more to come." "NBC100" will play a role on events the company has planned for the coming year; besides the Super Bowl and the Olympics, that includes the 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, FIFA World Cup on Telemundo, NBA and WNBA, Sunday Night Football, Big Ten, Ryder Cup, U.S. Open Golf Championship, Emmys, MLB, Kentucky Derby and Macy's 4th of July Fireworks. ADVERTISEMENT Then there's the planned "NBC100" special set to air later this year. |
posted 2/6/2026 |
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Happy Friday Lightning Round |
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CBS continues to put a distance between the May upfront week and its own fall schedule reveal and upfront events. The network, in its first year following Skydance's acquisition of parent Paramount Global, plans to announce its 2026-27 primetime schedule on April 15. That is significantly earlier than the last three years (May 10, May 2, May 7) and four weeks ahead of the day CBS had held its upfront presentations for decades, Wednesday of Upfront week. Like the last two years, the unveiling of CBS' schedule by CBS executives will be followed by a red carpet party that evening on the Paramount Studio lot featuring talent and producers from new and returning series. The rest of the major broadcast networks are still set to present their fall schedules during Upfront week. The move is not entirely surprising. CBS has been steering away from the traditional development cycle, shifting to long-term development about two years ago. The network's new drama series for the 2026-27 have been known for months — Einstein, starring Matthew Grey Gubler, which was originally ordered for 2025-26, and Robert and Michelle King's Cupertino, which received a full writers room order at CBS' 2025-26 schedule reveal last May followed by a series greenlight in October. CBS also had two comedy pilots, Eternally Yours and Regency, picked up by end of 2025. Both are expected to be filmed and ready for 2026-27 schedule consideration before April 15. There are no plans for further pilot orders targeting next season until then, I hear. The network also already renewed the bulk of its lineup for next season, with drama Watson and comedy DMV the only current series left on the bubble. CBS is expected to make renewal decisions on Watson, DMV and most — if not all — of its midseason entries, FBI offshoot CIA (debuts Feb. 23), Yellowstone spinoff Marshals (March 1), as well as the unscripted Culinary Cup (March 4), by April 15. |
posted 2/5/2026 |
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"Love Is Blind" Comes to The Netherlands |
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Famous Dutch celebrity couple Nicolette van Dam and Bas Smit will host the Dutch edition of the popular reality dating series Love Is Blind. Netflix announced the news today. Love Is Blind debuted in the United States in 2020 and quickly grew into a global phenomenon, with local versions in countries including Brazil, Japan, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, Mexico, Love Is Blind: Habibi, and Argentina. In this social experiment, participants search for true love based solely on emotional connection, without ever seeing each other. Love Is Blind: Netherlands is set to premiere on Netflix later this year. Nicolette van Dam and Bas Smit: "When we were asked to host the very first Dutch version of Love Is Blind, we felt incredibly honored!" Bas: "Hosting a TV show was never my ambition, but Love Is Blind is hands down our entire family's favorite program. It's a beautiful, sincere show about real love. In a time when everyone is endlessly swiping based on looks, there's nothing more powerful than watching people fall in love with who someone truly is, without seeing them. That's what made me say yes immediately, as Nicolette's sidekick." Nicolette: "Love Is Blind is about genuine love and real connection. It's not about looks, status, or expectations, but about who you truly are. Getting to host a dream show like this together with the love of my life is unbelievably special." In Love Is Blind, single men and women set out to find real, lasting love, without seeing each other. They date in so-called "pods" - rooms separated by a thin wall - where they build emotional connections over a short period of time. If the bond is strong enough, it can even lead to a proposal, before they ever meet face to face. Only after getting engaged do they finally see each other and begin life outside the pods. They move in together, plan their wedding, and discover whether their emotional connection can survive in the real world. In the end, at the altar, they must make the ultimate decision: do they say 'I do' and prove that love truly is blind - or do they choose to walk away and go their separate ways? |
posted 2/5/2026 |
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Thursday Lightning Round |
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The Ultimate Bachelorette Reunion |
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Today, it was announced that "The Bachelorette: Before the First Rose," a special preview of "The Bachelorette," will debut following the live telecast of "The Oscars(R)," SUNDAY, MARCH 15, on ABC and Hulu. Ahead of the new season, 18 former Bachelorettes look back on their unforgettable journeys, share juicy behind-the-scenes stories, and offer heartfelt advice to the franchise's newest leading lady, Taylor Frankie Paul. Featured Bachelorettes include Trista Sutter, Meredith Phillips, DeAnna Pappas, Ali Fedotowsky-Manno, Ashley Hebert-Rosenbaum, Emily Maynard-Johnson, Desiree Siegfried, Andi Dorfman-Hart, Kaitlyn Bristowe, JoJo Fletcher, Rachel Lindsay, Becca Kufrin, Hannah Brown-Woolard, Tayshia Adams, Katie Thurston, Rachel Recchia, Charity Lawson and Joan Vassos, the Golden Bachelorette. The new season of "The Bachelorette" premieres SUNDAY, MARCH 22 (8:01-10:02 p.m. EDT/PDT), and streams next day on Hulu. Taylor Frankie Paul, the 31-year-old Utah native who ignited "#MomTok" and went viral for pulling back the curtain on Salt Lake's soft-swinging scene in Hulu's Emmy(R) Award-nominated series "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," is a TikTok powerhouse whose comedic, heartwarming and bitingly honest content has earned her a massive following. As a single mother of three, Paul shares the highs and lows of her life with unfiltered candor. As previously announced, Emmy Award-winning television host, writer, producer and comedian Conan O'Brien will host "The Oscars," which will air live coast to coast SUNDAY, MARCH 15 (7:00-10:30 p.m. EDT/4:00-7:30 p.m. PDT), on ABC and Hulu. The telecast will also be rebroadcast in the Pacific time zone in primetime after the live presentation. |
posted 2/4/2026 |
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Double the Voice All the Time |
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The Voice: Battle Of Champions will be getting more exposure in Season 29. NBC's hit singing competition series will air in a two-hour timeslot for the entire spring cycle from 9 pm to 11 pm, beginning with its premiere on Feb. 23. Brilliant Minds, which airs at 10 pm Mondays, has been pulled from the schedule and will air its remaining six episodes later this season or in the summer, NBC said Wednesday. The revamped season marks the return of judges Kelly Clarkson, John Legend and Adam Levine, who will reunite for the first time since Season 16. Season 29 is promising an updated format for the new season, which the network said will be "infused with fast-paced, competitive elements" inspired by NBC Sports, which has Super Bowl LX, the Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games and the NBA All-Star Game all on the docket this month. There will be four rounds with the coaches competing against each other in a "Triple Turn Competition" – essentially vying for the most three-chair turns – with the winner gaining a special advantage in the next round. The coach with the most three-chair turns automatically earns a "Super Steal" for the battles rounds, which can only be used once and trumps any other coach's attempt to steal, guaranteeing a win. In the knockouts, each coach brings back two fan-favorite artists from their teams in previous seasons to compete in an "In-Season All-Star Competition" and the coach with the most sing-off wins is guaranteed a second finalist in the finale. OG Voice coach CeeLo Green will determine the winner. The semifinal and finale week will kick off with a Top 9 semifinal and culminate in a Top 4 finale, and for the first time a new voting block comprised of super fans and past Voice artists will be involved. Coaches will also enter the competition with 10 artists per team. |
posted 2/4/2026 |
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Wednesday Lightning Round |
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Beginning March 30, "American Idol" will stream live on Disney+, alongside its traditional broadcast on ABC, expanding the reach of the franchise and connecting with new audiences. The "'American Idol' Official Podcast" also debuts on Disney+ and Hulu, coinciding with the start of the "American Idol" live shows. Each week, the podcast will dive deeper into America's most iconic music competition series, exploring the performances everyone's talking about, and offering exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes insights, and expert analysis of the judges' critiques · "American Idol" airs live Mondays at 8:00 p.m. on ABC, streams next day on Hulu and, beginning March 30, will also stream live on Disney+ in addition to ABC in local time zones. "American Idol" returned for a new season jumping to 8.27 million Total Viewers and a 1.04 rating among Adults 18-49 after three days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms. In multiplatform viewing, the show rose +20% among Total Viewers versus the previous season premiere (8.27 million vs. 6.88 million) and +7% in Adults 18-49 (1.04 rating vs. 0.97 rating), with the show's best premiere performance among Total Viewers in four years - since 2/27/22. On linear over three days, the "American Idol" season premiere was the No. 1 show of the night on broadcast and cable among both Total Viewers (7.23 million) and Adults 18-49 (0.72 rating), also earning its best premiere performance among Total Viewers in four years - since 2/27/22. The "American Idol" Season 9 premiere drove more video views than any other premiere episode in the 2025-2026 TV season. |
posted 2/3/2026 |
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TV Choice Awards: And the Winners Were... |
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Adolescence, The Traitors and Gavin & Stacey were among the winners at the 2026 TV Choice Awards. Headline-making Netflix show Adolescence, which sparked a national conversation around online safety, took home Best New Drama at the awards ceremony. It comes after the show, about a teenage boy arrested for the murder of a classmate, won four Golden Globes in January and a number of Emmys last year. Meanwhile, hit game show The Traitors took home the award for Best Reality Show after its dramatic fourth UK season came to an end in January. Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, the recent season saw two deceitful traitors, Rachel Duffy and Stephen Libby, claim the win as a team – a first for the series – after the pair had decided to form an alliance at the very start of the game. The series beat ITV's I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and the BBC's Race Across The World and its celebrity spin-off. Strictly Come Dancing won Best Talent Show, beating Channel 4's The Great British Bake Off, ITV's The Masked Singer and Britain's Got Talent and the BBC's The Great British Sewing Bee. Meanwhile Channel 4's Gogglebox won Best Entertainment Show award, and ITV's The 1% Club named Best Game Show. |
posted 2/3/2026 |
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Tuesday Lightning Round |
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Bravo's Emmy, James Beard and Critics Choice Award-winning series "Top Chef" returns Monday, March 9 from 9:00-10:15 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo with host Kristen Kish, head judge Tom Colicchio and perennial judge Gail Simmons as they venture south to the Carolinas. Season 23 will be centered in the emerging and eclectic culinary hub of Charlotte, N.C., with several episodes in Greenville, S.C. Fans can get a head start on the new season with early access to the premiere episode, available beginning Tuesday, March 3 on Peacock, Bravo's YouTube channel and VOD. Beginning Monday, March 16, the series will move to its regular timeslot at 9:30 p.m. with episodes available the next day on Peacock. All episodes of season 23 will be supersized to 75 minutes. Produced by Magical Elves, the highly lauded cooking competition series highlights 15 rising star chefs as they put their skills to the ultimate test, competing for the coveted title of "Top Chef." The chefs must showcase their culinary expertise, originality, and endurance as they face off in pressure-filled challenges showcasing the regional history, diverse cultural flavors, and rich agricultural bounty across the Carolinas. For the first time in the show's history, the cheftestants include life partners who co-own and operate a restaurant and a pair of highly competitive identical twin brothers vying for the ultimate title. The winner will take home the grand prize of $250,000 provided by Graza Olive Oil, a feature in Food & Wine magazine, an appearance at the annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, 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. Along the way, the chefs will have the chance to win immunity, advantages in the competition or cash prizes with more than $150,000 in total up for grabs. MEET THE CHEFTESTANTS |
posted 2/2/2026 |
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"Wheel Slots" Celebrates 30 |
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IGT, a global gaming leader, announces the 30th anniversary of the wildly popular Wheel of Fortune Slots game. Famous for awarding players $1 million-plus life-changing jackpots and the familiar "WHEEL-OF-FORTUNE!" chant that can be heard across a casino floor, Wheel of Fortune Slots is credited for changing the casino experience as the gaming industry's first licensed slots game. To recognize this monumental milestone, IGT kicked off a multi-month celebration that includes new product launches, coast-to-coast in-casino celebrations, contests run via Instagram and Facebook, slots influencer collaborations, a new creative campaign, a week of integrations to be featured on "Wheel of Fortune," and more. "For three decades, IGT's Wheel of Fortune Slots have captivated slots players around the world and earned a reputation for delivering world-class entertainment combined with huge jackpots in casinos and online," said Hector Fernandez, IGT Incoming CEO. "Through our relationship with Sony Pictures Television and Carnival Cruise Line®, IGT created a robust campaign for 2026 that honors the legacy of Wheel of Fortune Slots, while rewarding players and delivering value to our customers worldwide." A highly anticipated element of the campaign is IGT's "Spin and Sail Cruise." Presented in partnership with Carnival Cruise Line, IGT's Spin and Sail Cruise empowers select casinos across the U.S. to reward players with eight-day cruises aboard the Carnival Jubilee®, where travelers will compete in a slot tournament with a $1 million prize pool. Players also have the chance to win a seat aboard the November Spin and Sail Cruise via contests run on the IGT Jackpots Facebook and IGT Gaming North America Instagram pages. "Our longstanding relationship with IGT has been a remarkable success, and we're thrilled to continue building on that momentum as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of IGT's Wheel of Fortune Slots," said Suzanne Prete, Sony Pictures Television, President, Game Shows. "Much like our Wheel of Fortune game show, IGT's Wheel of Fortune Slots is a category leader that resonates with a wide audience, and we value IGT 's enduring commitment to the franchise." |
posted 2/2/2026 |
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More on "Love Is Blind" Season 10 |
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The pods are back, this time in Ohio, with a brand-new group of singles dating sight unseen. Will they be able to see love from a new perspective? Love is Blind Season 10 premieres February 11, only on Netflix. Starting February 11, new episodes of Love Is Blind will roll out each Wednesday across 12 episodes, as these singles embark on their journey of romance and self-discovery: Creator Chris Coelen executive produces for Kinetic Content alongside Ally Simpson, Morgan Harris, Eric Detwiler, and Brian Smith. |
posted 2/2/2026 |
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Going Up... |
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The Traitors producer Studio Lambert and John de Mol's Talpa Studios are on the rise. The pair has teamed to bring psychological quiz format The Golden Elevators to the U.S. and UK after Talpa's creative team developed the show. Talpa has international format rights. Strengthening the Traitors link, Talpa Studios' Chief Creative Officer Jasper Hoogendoorn is a co-creator of the original Dutch format De Verraders. He worked with Studio Lambert to adapt the format for the BBC in the UK and NBC in the U.S. into what became market-changing remakes. The Golden Elevators is billed as a "high-stakes" quiz show in which ten contestants begin together in the lobby of a spectacular skyscraper with the aim of reaching the top floor and securing a $100,000 prize. They compete in several rounds of trivia questions where there are only two possible answers, each one linked to a different, iconic elevator. They collectively decide on the answer, with the right one ascending the elevator upwards and the other plunging it down and eliminating all the players in a single swoop. The format will be made out of Netherlands-based Talpa's international production hub in Belgium, where the likes of The Floor, The Quiz with Balls and Caught in the Middle are made. "The last time we collaborated with Jasper the result was the U.S. and UK versions of The Traitors, which have been spectacularly successful on both sides of the Atlantic," said Studio Lambert CEO Stephen Lambert. "We think we have lightning in a bottle for the second time with The Golden Elevators, a show that combines the joy of a quiz with a psychological drama of trust and betrayal. We can't wait to find the right home for it in America and Britain." "This outstanding new format combines quiz and strategy elements with a gripping psychological layer and a strong, simple visual identity," added Hoogendoorn. "Add our hub strategy and the reunion with Stephen and his team, and you're truly aiming for the top. John, Stephen and I all believe in deceptively simple ideas that create genuine psychological depth and global appeal, and this powerful collaboration provides a strong platform to bring the format to the international market." Hoogendoorn has previously adapted several Studio Lambert formats for the Dutch market, most notably Race Across the World. In January last year, we revealed Hoogendoorn had joined Talpa Studios from IDTV, the Dutch production house that like Studio Lambert is part of All3Media. IDTV had teamed with Pos Film and RTL's creative unit to develop The Traitors. Last week, Hoogendoorn's Traitors co-creator, Pos, revealed he is working on a secretive reality format titled Project M in an interview with The Telegraph newspaper. In the same article, it was reported The Traitors had been turned down between 30 and 40 times before getting the greenlight at RTL4. De Mol set up Talpa Studios after leaving his ITV-owned production business Talpa Media in 2019. The company is behind the likes of The Floor, which was remade for Fox in the U.S. and Million Dollar Island, which NBC remade but shelved before its broadcast. Talpa is now working with Fox Entertainment Studios on The House of Hide & Seek, which is set to launch on RTL4 this year. |
posted 2/2/2026 |
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After Midnight (CET) |
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German network ZDF Neo has commissioned a local adaptation of Paramount-owned comedy panel gameshow After Midnight. The new Constantin Entertainment-produced version, titled Neo Social Club, will premiere on ZDF Neo on February 5. The eight-episode first season is hosted by German podcaster and content creator Laura Larsson, who will challenge German media personalities as they unpack pop culture trends of the day. This marks the first international adaptation of the After Midnight format, which is sold internationally by Paramount Global Content Distribution. The German market has proven to be fertile ground for Paramount-controlled formats, with streamer RTL+ commissioning local versions of Are You the One? and Ex on the Beach. Are You the One? was recently greenlit for seasons 13 and 14, while Ex on the Beach will return for a seventh season. In addition, Germany's Next Top Model has long been a key part of ProSieben's schedule, with the series returning for its 21st season later this month. |
posted 2/2/2026 |
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Ifunanya Nwangene, a rising singer who appeared on season 3 of The Voice Nigeria, has died after suffering a snake bite. She was 26, according to BBC Africa. Music director Sam C. Ezugwu with Amemuso Choir, which Nwangene participated in, confirmed her "sudden" death in a statement shared on Facebook on Sunday, Feb. 1. Nwangene died "due to a snake bite" at a Nigerian hospital on Saturday, Jan. 31, according to the statement. "Amemuso Choir [regrets] to announce the sudden demise of our beloved soprano," the choir wrote. "A rising star, Ifunanya was on the cusp of sharing her incredible talent with the world. Her voice and spirit will be deeply missed." Nwangene, originally born in Enugu, was bitten by a snake in Abuja, where she lived, according to BBC Africa. The outlet spoke with several of her fellow choir members, including Hillary Obinna, who shared more details about the fatal bite. The Voice Nigeria alum — who was also an architect — was asleep when "the snake bite woke her up," Obinna told BBC Africa. He also claimed to the outlet that two snakes were later discovered in her home. Footage circulating on social media shows a snake handler taking one of the reptiles from the residence, according to the outlet. The soprano singer attempted to get treatment for the snake bite at a nearby clinic, but no antivenom was available, so she sought further assistance at a hospital, according to BBC Africa. Lula Lahfah Ezugwu identified the hospital as Federal Medical Center in his post announcing her death. The Nigeria Police Force did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Sunday. Nwangene first gained a following after turning two chairs on The Voice Nigeria's third season with her rendition of Rihanna's "Take a Bow." The official YouTube video for her audition has more than 80,000 views. The late singer shared covers — including more Rihanna — and original music on her YouTube channel, and her final Instagram post teased a "new project" with another Nigerian musician, who goes by Tbrass. Following her death, Tbrass revealed that Nwangene had been at his studio on Jan. 28, recording a feature for his next album. He wrote a tribute to the late artist alongside a video of her singing into a microphone. "An irreplaceable loss to the Abuja music society and Nigeria at large��," the artist wrote of Nwangene. "My hand and heart feels very heavy writing this, because it is unimaginable [losing] such a young promising great, talented music artist who touched so many lives, it is very heartbreaking — especially in Nigeria where music runs deep in our souls and connects us all." |
posted 2/2/2026 |
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Monday Lightning Round |
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Demond Wilson, who starred alongside Redd Foxx and answered to "Hey, Dummy" for six seasons on the wildly popular 1970s NBC sitcom Sanford and Son, has died. He was 79. Wilson died Friday of complications from cancer at his home in Palm Springs, his son Demond Wilson Jr. told TMZ. On the strength of his performance on the 1971 All in the Family episode "Edith Writes a Song" — he and Cleavon Little are burglars from Harlem who hold the Bunkers hostage in their home — Wilson was hired as Lamont Sanford, the son of aging widower Fred G. Sanford, proprietor of Sanford and Son Salvage at 9114 South Central Ave. in Watts. "After learning about the series format, I was doubtful about my involvement in the project. I thought about it long and hard and decided to take a chance," Wilson says in the 2011 book Black and Blue: The Redd Foxx Story. "Redd and I thought we could grab some quick cash, plus notoriety, then move on to the next project." Developed by All in the Family executive producer Bud Yorkin and based on the British TV comedy Steptoe and Son, the show debuted on Jan. 14, 1972, as a midseason replacement for the Robert Conrad-starring The D.A. Airing Friday nights at 8 p.m., Sanford and Son was soon clobbering CBS' The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour and ABC's The Brady Bunch in the ratings. It reached No. 2 in 1972-73 and 1974-75 and was a top-10 hit in each of its last five seasons. In 1974, Wilson kept the show humming after Foxx walked off in a salary dispute (the writers sent Fred to St. Louis to attend the funeral of his cousin). However, Foxx was gone for good after the 1976-77 season, quitting to host his own (short-lived) ABC variety show. Wilson turned down an offer to go it alone, then signed what he called a "million-dollar contract" to star in CBS' Baby … I'm Back. In another midseason replacement, he played a man who abandons his family but returns seven years later when he discovers his wife (Denise Nicholas) is about to remarry (Kim Fields played one of their kids). That sitcom, however, lasted just 13 episodes. Wilson then starred as Oscar Madison opposite Ron Glass as Felix Unger on The New Odd Couple, but the 1982-83 remake was gone after 18 episodes. In the '80s, Wilson beat an admitted cocaine problem, sold his home in Beverly Hills and was ordained as an interdenominational minister. "I love preaching the gospel more than anything I've ever done," he said in 1985. "I'm so happy now. I feel honored to be chosen. Even when you've got everything — clothes, jewelry, nice house — you don't feel happy. I was like Jonah, running from the Lord." Grady Demond Wilson was born on Oct. 13, 1946, in Valdosta, Georgia. He grew up in Harlem, appeared on Broadway at age 4 with William Marshall and Ossie Davis in a revival of the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Green Pastures and danced at the Apollo Theater at 12. He studied acting at the American Community Theater and at Hunter College but was drafted and then wounded in Vietnam while serving in the 4th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army. When his 13-month tour ended in 1968, he appeared in several off-Broadway plays. The year 1971 was a big one for him: In addition to All in the Family, he appeared in the Sidney Poitier as Virgil Tibbs film The Organization and on an episode on Mission: Impossible. Demond Wilson (left) and Redd Foxx of 'Sanford and Son.' NBC/Photofest CBS, in business with Yorkin and partner Norman Lear with All in the Family, had first crack at Sanford and Son, but network entertainment president Fred Silverman passed, figuring he already had a show about a bickering father and son. Incredibly, Silverman said he was never told that Sanford and Son was about a Black family. "It was one of the stupidest things I did at CBS," he said. With Lamont and Fred now residing in Arizona, or so the story went, NBC tried to keep things going after the end of Sanford and Son with Sanford Arms, featuring supporting players Whitman Mayo, LaWanda Page and others. It was canceled after four episodes. Foxx was back as Fred in 1981 on a new NBC series titled Sanford, but Wilson and Lamont were missing, and it was done after a season. Later, Wilson played Kenneth Miles, the father of Persia White's character, on UPN's Girlfriends and wrote a 2009 book, Second Banana: The Bitter Sweet Memories of the Sanford & Son Years. In game shows, Wilson was in episodes of Hollywood Squares and It's Your Bet. He married stewardess turned model Cicely Johnston in May 1974, and they had six children.
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posted 1/31/2026 |
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Catherine O'Hara, a gifted comedic actress and two-time Emmy winner, has died. O'Hara died Friday at her home in Los Angeles after a brief illness, her reps at CAA confirmed. She was 71. A native of Toronto, O'Hara was part of the SCTV ensemble that also helped launch the careers of John Candy, Eugene Levy, Rick Moranis and others. She's arguably best known for playing Kevin's (Macaulay Culkin) mother, Kate, in the Home Alone movies and had a career renaissance in the past 10 years with Schitt's Creek — winning an Emmy for her role as a faded soap opera actress opposite old friend Levy — and The Studio, for which she earned an Emmy nomination last year. She won an Emmy in 2020 for playing Moira Rose in Schitt's Creek. She also earned an Emmy for her work on SCTV Network in 1982 and was nominated eight other times for acting and writing awards. O'Hara was a double nominee in 2025, scoring anod best guest actress in a drama series for HBO's The Last of Us along with her comedic turn in The Studio. O'Hara was born March 4, 1954, and grew up in Toronto. She joined the city's Second City company at age 20, first serving as an understudy to Gilda Radner and moving up to the main cast when Radner left to become part of the original Saturday Night Live ensemble. In 1976, the troupe launched SCTV, a sketch comedy show that originally aired on Canada's Global network. The show's initial cast, all of whom were writers as well, featured a murderer's row of comic talent in Candy, Joe Flaherty, Levy, Andrea Martin, O'Hara, Harold Ramis and Dave Thomas; Moranis joined later in the show's run, as did Martin Short. NBC later picked up the show to run in the United States. O'Hara would go on to play the overbearing Delia Deetz in Tim Burton's Beetlejuice (a role she reprised in the 2024 sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) before being cast in 1990's Home Alone, the now holiday classic where she plays Kate McCallister, a mother who races back from a Paris Christmas trip after realizing the family left their 8-year-old son, Kevin (Culkin), behind. She played Kate once more in the sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. She became part of Christopher Guest's regular ensemble in the films Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003) and For Your Consideration (2006). O'Hara earned an Emmy nomination for her supporting role in HBO's 2010 film Temple Grandin. With Schitt's Creek, co-created by Eugene Levy and son Dan, O'Hara won a new generation of fans for her role as Moira, who rails at the formerly wealthy Rose family's diminished circumstances. The show swept the comedy categories at the 2020 Emmys, winning best comedy series and acting honors for O'Hara, Dan Levy, Eugune Levy and Annie Murphy. The show became a breakout hit in its later seasons on Canada's CBC, Pop TV in the U.S. and streaming on Netflix, in addition to its awards haul. "There's so many projects that get a ton of attention right at the beginning, maybe before they're even quite ready for it, and then it's kind of downhill attention-wise from there," O'Hara told The Hollywood Reporter after her 2020 nomination. "We're so lucky to do the show we wanted and, apparently, leaving people wanting more. I'm happy to be a late bloomer, I always have been in my life and I'm grateful for it." What turned out to be O'Hara's final series role came in The Studio, Apple TV's Hollywood satire in which she played deposed studio head Patty Leigh, who alternately relishes in and sympathizes with her replacement Matt Remick's (Seth Rogen) struggles. She had been set to continue her role in the show's second season, which began filming in mid-January. In game shows, O'Hara appeared on episodes of Face Off, Celebrity Poker Showdown, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and Whose Line Is It Anyway?. O'Hara is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, sons Matthew and Luke, along with siblings Michael O'Hara, Mary Margaret O'Hara, Maureen Jolley, Marcus O'Hara, Tom O'Hara and Patricia Wallice.
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posted 1/30/2026 |
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The Ultimate Baking Champion Is Coming to Food Network |
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Sixteen elite pastry chefs push their innovation and execution skills to the limit in the new series The Ultimate Baking Championship, premiering Monday, March 9th at 9pm ET/PT on Food Network and streaming the next day on HBO Max and discovery+. In each episode, host Jesse Palmer tests the competitors on the core techniques that outstanding pastry chefs must master, from laminated dough and pâte à choux to chocolate work and sugar artistry. Duff Goldman is joined every week on the judging panel by a baking legend to determine who has the skill, vision and endurance to rise above the rest and who will leave the competition. Guest judges include Bryan Ford, Amaury Guichon, Shinmin Li, Jacques Torres, Sherry Yard, Molly Yeh and Zac Young. In the end, only one pastry chef will be named the Ultimate Baking Champion and win the $50,000 grand prize. "The pastry chefs competing are the best of the best - they are true artists whose desserts are mind-blowingly beautiful and delicious," said Betsy Ayala, Head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery. "The Ultimate Baking Championship chefs elevate pastry technique and artistry to the highest level we've ever seen." The competitors are: Julian Belon (Miami, Florida); Florencia Breda (San Luis Obispo, California); Molly Coen (Monterey, California); Rochelle Cooper (Washington DC); Sarah Craichy (Lake Tahoe, Nevada); Adalberto Diaz (Salt Lake City, Utah); Casey Doody (Chicago, Illinois); Arlety Estévez (Atlanta, Georgia); Robert Gonzalez (Boston, Massachusetts); Juan Gutierrez (Chicago, Illinois); Clement Le Deore (San Diego, California); Oralia Perez (Houston, Texas); Lasheeda Perry (Fort Walton Beach, Florida); Cesar Ryan Sajulan (Brooklyn, New York); Christopher Teixeira (Chicago, Illinois) and Steven Weiss (Martinsburg, West Virginia). |
posted 1/30/2026 |
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Happy Friday Lightning Round |
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Guy Fieri Brings "Food Fight" to Flavortown |
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Mayor of Flavortown Guy Fieri will welcome the world to the tastiest place on earth in the new Food Network series Flavortown Food Fight premiering Wednesday, March 4 at 9 p.m. ET/PT and streaming the next day on HBO Max(R) and discovery+. Long referred to but never before seen, the mythical and delicious Flavortown will be the setting for this multi-round, culinary competition. In each episode, Fieri will welcome three chefs to Flavortown where skills and cooking chops can earn advantages and ultimately a win. Competitors will choose their own adventure as they compete in authentic food establishments ranging from street food carts to neighborhood spots to fast casual eateries and the finest fine dining restaurants in the world. The chefs must be quick on their feet as their culinary knowledge, technical skills, and overall cooking acumen are tested round after round. With restaurant names inspired by Guy's life, the series will deliver everything fans have ever dreamed Flavortown could be. The winner of each episode has a chance to score up to $20,000 in prize money and will return to defend their title against two new chefs the following week. "For the first time in television history, we're opening the gates of Flavortown and inviting some of America's most talented chefs to showcase their skills in a never-ending list of off-the-hook restaurants that you'll only find here," said Fieri. "We've been building out this universe for years and I'm stoked to finally invite everybody in!" In each episode competitors will first complete the skills challenge, followed by two rounds of cooking challenges to earn their "paycheck," but the catch is that only the final winner will get to take home the cash in this winner-takes-all game. Winners of the skills challenge will select the first restaurant kitchen where competitors will work to tackle real world menu-based challenges such as "Mexican Street Food" or "Five Star Fine Dining." Guy as the Mayor of Flavortown will declare the theme of each episode and present each challenge with Hunter Fieri also stopping by Flavortown to present the menu for some of the cooking challenges. Two guest judges determine who moves on and who goes home. Episode winners have the chance to win up to $20,000 across the challenges and will return to face two new competitors the following week with no limit to the amount of wins they're able to achieve. "After years of hearing Guy talk about it, we are so excited to finally give fans a chance to see Flavortown in all its glory,"said Betsy Ayala, Head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery. "We know viewers will love this fresh take on the competition format, and the endless variables will make it one of our most exciting and unpredictable series yet." Over on Food Network's social pages, Guy will lead an exclusive all-access tour through the Flavortown for the first time ever! Plus, fans can see what the judges are up to behind the scenes as they play hilarious games and attempt tricky food challenges. Also, check out exclusive photos from Flavortown, stay up to date on the competition and more via FoodNetwork.com. Flavortown Food Fight is produced by Knuckle Sandwich and Lando Entertainment for Food Network. |
posted 1/29/2026 |
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A Third Lap for The Answer Run |
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Popular quiz show The Answer Run with Jason Manford, created and made by BBC Studios Entertainment Productions, is to for a third series on BBC One with applications now open. The innovative program format sees three pairs of contestants battle it out in a fast paced, quick-thinking general knowledge quiz show, where contestants are always one swipe away from banking the cash or crashing out. Families watching at home can also play along and test how they would fair when facing The Run! In each round of this addictive 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? Answer categories will range from "Ariana Grande or Taylor Swift" to "Jupiter or Mars" and everything in between. Teams will be eliminated throughout the show, until one pair remains. They will then face The Final Run to attempt to take home all the money they've banked. The Answer Run is available now on BBC iPlayer and here in the states on the BBC Game Shows Channel. |
posted 1/29/2026 |
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"Love Is Blind" Returns to Sweden |
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Today, Netflix announced the premiere date for the third installment of Love is Blind: Sweden. A new group of singles will enter the pods in the search of love and testing the premise of Is Love Truly Blind? Without ever having seen each other, they will form connections, get engaged and meet for the very first time. In the following week, they will move in together, plan their wedding and attempt to add a physical connection to their emotional bond - embarking on a journey of romance and self-discovery. Viewers will once again be reunited with Jessica Almenäs who will host the reality dating show. The 10-episode series will premiere globally on Netflix on March 12, 2026 - with episodes rolling out each Thursday. Love is Blind is a social experiment where singles, who want to be loved for who they are on the inside, will date without ever seeing each other. When they get engaged, they'll meet for the very first time. Over the next 5 weeks they'll move in together, plan their wedding, and attempt to add a physical connection to their emotional bond. When their wedding day arrives, will they marry the person they fell blindly in love with? Or have the physical realities and external factors sabotaged their relationship? Hosted by Jessica Almenäs, this addictive 10-episode series will uncover whether looks, race, or age do matter - or if love really is blind. Starting March 12, 2026, new episodes of Love is Blind Sweden will roll out each Thursday across 10 episodes, following the singles' journeys for love. Batch 1 - March 12, 2026 at 08.00 CET (4 episodes) |
posted 1/29/2026 |
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Thursday Lightning Round |
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Head to Head... to Head |
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The latest game show ratings for the week ending January 4 have seen a change at the top of the chart as Wheel of Fortune has taken a slight lead over the usual frontrunner, Jeopardy! According to Nielsen ratings, Wheel of Fortune finished No. 2 among syndicated shows (behind only ESPN's NFL coverage), averaging 8,124,000 total viewers for the week of December 29. This was up over a million viewers from the week prior, which averaged 7,061,000 viewers. The Ryan Seacrest-hosted game show also increased its demo average to 2.51 in the key 18-49 demographic, up from the week prior's 2.19. In comparison, Jeopardy! averaged 8,009,000 viewers, only 100,000 viewers behind its game show rival. This number was also up on the week prior, which scored 7,193,000 million viewers. The Ken Jennings-fronted show ranked No. 3 among syndicated broadcasts. During the period in question the show was featuring its Second Chance Tournament. Jeopardy! was also up in the demo compared to the week before. For the week of December 29, the show averaged 2.48 in the 18-49 demo, up from the 2.23 from the previous week. While the numbers have been close for months, this marks only the second time Wheel has topped Jeopardy! in both viewers and demo since the shows kicked off new seasons last September. Jeopardy regularly remained on top throughout the fall, as it did last summer. However, for the week beginning September 29, Wheel averaged 7,595,000 million viewers and 2.35 in the demo, compared to Jeopardy's 7,513,000 viewers and 2.33 in the demo. Another game show faring well is the Steve Harvey hosted Family Feud, which finished as the No. 4 syndicated broadcast for the week of December 29 to January 4. The show averaged 7,876 million viewers, only 200,000 viewers away from beating Jeopardy and 300,000 from Wheel. |
posted 1/28/2026 |
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The Great British Bake Off is hoping Nigella Lawson can rise to the occasion as its new judge. Lawson, a fixture of British TV cooking for decades, known for her comforting and often sumptuous recipes, is to replace Prue Leith, who announced she was leaving the Bake Off tent last week. Lawson will join Paul Hollywood in presiding over contestant bakes on the hit series, which streams on Netflix in the U.S. under the title The Great British Baking Show. In a statement, Lawson said: "I'm uncharacteristically rather lost for words right now! Of course it's daunting to be following in the footsteps of Prue Leith and Mary Berry before her, great dames both, but I'm also bubbling with excitement. "The Great British Bake Off is more than a television programme, it's a national treasure – and it's a huge honour to be entrusted with it. I'm just thrilled to be joining the team and all the new bakers to come, I wish the marvellous Prue all the best, and am giddily grateful for the opportunity." Leith posted on Instagram in the past hour saying, "now feels like the right time to step back," adding: "I'm 86 for goodness sake!" "There's so much I'd like to do, not least spend summers enjoying my garden," she added. "Whoever joins the team, I'm sure they'll love it as much as I have. I feel very lucky to have been part of it." Leith said she has judged more than 400 challenges on the hit baking show across nine years. She first joined Bake Off when it was audaciously poached by Channel 4 from the BBC, replacing Mary Berry. She has since worked alongside fellow judge Paul Hollywood and hosts Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond, and before them Matt Lucas and Sandi Toksvig. Leith was known for her frank responses, warm demeanor and trademark "delicious" response when enjoying a treat cooked by one of the many contestants who enters the Bake Off tent. |
posted 1/28/2026 |
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100 Choices: Into the Aquaverse |
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Sony Pictures Television has secured an option agreement with Thailand's TV Thunder and Columbia Pictures' Aquaverse to develop "100 Choices," SPT's unscripted entertainment format, with production set to take place at the Columbia Pictures-themed water park in Thailand. The comedy family format challenges contestants to answer a single question with 100 possible answers for a large cash prize. Given the near-impossible nature of the questions, participants compete in five physical challenges that allow them to eliminate potential answers based on their performance in each round. The game show combines strategy, physical prowess and teamwork as contestants work to narrow down their options. Thunder will adapt and produce the local version, customizing the format for a large-scale waterpark environment. Columbia Pictures' Aquaverse, located in the seaside town of Bangsaray, near Pattaya, will serve as the production's home base. The arrangement aims to engage family audiences while driving visibility for the theme park, which features rides and attractions based on Hollywood franchises including "Ghostbusters," "Jumanji," "Bad Boys" and "Hotel Transylvania." |
posted 1/28/2026 |
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Wednesday Lightning Round |
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More on "America's Culinary Cup" |
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AMERICA'S CULINARY CUP announced today 16 of the nation's most decorated chefs who will compete on the new high-stakes culinary competition series, including six Michelin-starred chefs - an honor held by fewer than 1% of restaurants worldwide - two Bocuse d'Or medalists, two James Beard Award winners, 14 James Beard Award nominees and recipients of numerous other top-tier culinary honors. These standout chefs will battle through a season of signature challenges for the biggest cash prize in culinary television history - $1 million. The ultimate culinary showdown premieres with a 90-minute episode following SURVIVOR 50 on Wednesday, March 4 (9:30-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Hosted and executive-produced by Emmy(R) Award-nominated food expert Padma Lakshmi, with acclaimed chefs Michael Cimarusti and Wylie Dufresne serving as judges, the competition will test these elite chefs against the series' 10 culinary commandments - meat, vegetables, sauces, dessert, innovation, flavors, sustainability, world cuisine, consistency, culinary science and technology. Lakshmi, Cimarusti and Dufresne will evaluate taste, creativity, presentation and technique to decide who advances, who is eliminated and who ultimately masters the commandments to claim America's Culinary Cup. Introducing AMERICA'S CULINARY CUP chefs: |
posted 1/27/2026 |
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More on "Wheel of Fortune India" |
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Akshay Kumar is bringing Wheel of Fortune to Indian television. The game show, which has been adapted in over 60 countries since the 1970s, gets its Indian version starting next week. The makers have locked the premiere date and time slot for what could be one of the bigger launches this season. The show follows the classic format where contestants spin a giant wheel, win prize money and solve word puzzles. Akshay Kumar takes on hosting duties after his earlier television appearances on Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi and MasterChef India. The latest promos show him explaining the three ways to play: spin, buy and solve. Prize money ranges from one rupee to a crore. Wheel of Fortune India starts on January 27, 2026 with fresh episodes Monday to Friday at 9 PM. Viewers who prefer watching online also have the option to stream it on OTT platform. The channel has positioned it as a family-friendly game show that works across different age groups. Special episodes around festivals and celebrity participation are also planned. The Indian edition will use locally relevant word puzzles, familiar phrases and culturally rooted themes to connect with audiences here. |
posted 1/27/2026 |
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Netflix's reboot of Star Search won't be worrying the broadcast networks after all, it seems. The talent competition failed to hit Netflix's global top 10 charts in its first week and it scored fewer than 2.3 million views on the service with its opening two episodes. The show was, however, able to crack the top 10 in the U.S. It came in at No. 5 behind His & Hers, Skyscraper Live, Free Bert and Agatha Christie's Seven Dials and above WWE's Raw. South Africa was the only other country where it reached the top 10, coming in at No. 9. The result will be a disappointment for the streamer, which was hoping that Star Search could give it a splashy entry into the world of broadcast-style entertainment formats, rivaling the likes of NBC's The Voice, Fox's The Masked Singer or ABC's American Idol. It wasn't for lack of star power; the series is hosted by Anthony Anderson and features a judging panel of Sarah Michelle Gellar, Chrissy Teigen and Jelly Roll. The show, which runs over five weeks, launched on Tuesday, January 20, with its second episode on Wednesday. |
posted 1/21/2026 |
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Singer Guy Hovis, known for his appearances on "The Lawrence Welk Show," died Thursday at the age of 84. Ralna English, Hovis' ex-wife, announced his death on social media, saying he died after spending the last few weeks in the hospital. "As it has for me, this will come as a shock to many of you," she posted. "Guy has been in the hospital for several weeks. I spoke briefly with him on Monday and was deeply concerned. He took a turn for the worse and it hurts me to tell you, but he died peacefully last night. "Needless to say, this time we are all devastated and simply trying to cope with this tragic loss. Thank you for your prayers for Julie and Sis and Guys entire family." Hovis, a native of Tupelo, Mississippi, recorded 15 albums over his career, which he started by singing in church at age 5. According to his biography, he graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in accounting and spent two years with the Army. Entertainment Weekly reported that Hovis met English, who was already with "The Lawrence Welk Show," and the two began performing together on the show in 1969. They also married that year and ended up performing on the show "dozens of times over the following decade." Hovis and English also performed on episodes of Tattletales and Beat the Clock. Hovis and English continued to perform together even after their divorce in 1984.
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posted 1/27/2026 |
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Tuesday Lightning Round |
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Scott Rogowsky still remembers getting the call to audition for a game show hosting gig. It was 2017 and Rogowsky was working as a comic, auditioning for commercials and television shows, and hosting Running Late with Scott Rogowsky, a live talk show he held at various venues in New York and Los Angeles. "On the phone, I thought nothing of it," Rogowsky, now 41, tells PEOPLE of that fateful call to audition. "I went in for the audition and booked it. I probably went on 20-ish auditions in 15 years ... and the one thing I got was the thing that changed my life and changed the world." That "thing" was HQ Trivia, an app and trivia game that launched in August 2017 and quickly developed a cult following. Via the HQ app, users could participate in daily, live, trivia games in which they could win or split prize money — with prize pots that sometimes went over $100,000 thanks to corporate sponsorships. As Rogowsky recalls, the popularity of the app and the game he hosted seemingly came overnight. "It was so fast," he says. "We officially launched August 26th, 2017. We went from 50 people on that first show to a million people by New Year's Day 2018." The app grew viral thanks to media coverage ad social media. Once the "whole internet found out about it," Rogowsky says, his life changed. "It was wild," he says. "Even that first Halloween, there were people sending photos in on Twitter, people dressing as me. I thought, 'Oh my gosh, are you kidding me?'" he says. "And then I would get recognized. It was so fast and so sudden that I kind of wasn't really prepared for it. People were stopping on the street for photos all the time. I couldn't really go out of my apartment without getting stopped, and it got a little weird sometimes .... nothing violent or anything, but just, you know, a lot of persistent fans." Rogowsky left HQ in 2019 and began hosting a sports program on streaming platform DAZN. The company behind the HQ app has since been mired in controversy due to allegations of a toxic workplace environment and reported financial issues and the app has not hosted an official game since November 17, 2022. But the live game show formula of HQ Trivia — which saw thousands of people coming together to participate — was always in the back of his mind. Now, Rogowsky has brought it back but in a different way, with Savvy, his new live, interactive mobile game show app (currently in beta, with a wide rollout planned for February 1). "It is very familiar to those who played HQ — the idea of seeing me on their phone, hosting a game show, giving away money — the twist is that it's not trivia, because in the age of AI, trivia is unfortunately killed," he says. Savvy's first offering and flagship show, TextSavvy, challenges players to solve increasingly difficult word puzzles before time runs out. "It's essentially a version of Wordle," Rogowsky says of the Savvy game he's hosting. "We put our own spin on a word puzzle game similar to Wordle and Connections." The twist, however, is that Rogowsky will be playing, too. "That's another wrinkle — that the host plays the game," he says. "So I'm playing the same word puzzle that you are. And if you beat me, then you win. "But it's still live like HQ was — no AI, live hosts, real people." Those savvy enough to beat the host are eligible to earn in-game rewards and cash prizes. The app is launching with the one game, though Rogowsky says the plan is to expand much larger. "Essentially, the goal is to do what HQ never did, which is actually make good on the promise of being the future of television," he says. "A network of interactive content. Ideally, down the road, years from now, we'll have shows going almost around the clock with different hosts, different formats, and they'll all be interactive, with the host playing against you." |
posted 1/26/2026 |
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Yvonne Lime, who starred alongside Michael Landon in I Was A Teenage Werewolf, recurred on Father Knows Best, had dozens of other screen credits and later devoted her life to philanthropy, died Friday. She was 90. Childhelp, the nonprofit she co-founded in 1959 that is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse, announced her death but offered no details other that she "passed away peacefully." "We are blessed to share her legacy, and we're grateful to have been part of her life," a post on the group's Facebook page reads in part. "As our hands and hearts find strength in our memories of Yvonne and her generous spirit, may all our hearts find comfort in the faith she treasured and the brilliant legacy of love she leaves behind." Born on April 7, 1935, in Glendale, CA, Lime's screen career took off in 1956, when she guested on several TV series and landed a role opposite Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn in the Depression-set 1956 drama The Rainmaker. That year she also started a multi-season recurring role as Dotty on Father Knows Best, the long-running sitcom starring Robert Young and Jane Wyatt. Lime appeared on more than a dozen episodes from Season 2-6 in 1956-59. She appeared on more television shows the following year and also had probably her best known role, second-billed as the girlfriend of Landon's title character in the popular sci-fi horror pic I Was a Teenage Werewolf. Around that time, Lime also had an unbilled role in Loving You, which was Elvis Presley's first major starring role. Lime would get top billing in the 1958 bikers-vs.-car club pic Dragstrip Riot, which also starred Gary Clark, Fay Wray, Connie Francis and others, and also as the new girl in school in the movie High School Hellcats that same year. Her final big-screen role was a co-lead opposite her Hellcats co-star Brett Halsey in the 1958 car-racing drama Speed Crazy. After that, Lime focused solely on TV work. Her lone series-regular role was on the NBC sitcom Happy, starring with Ronnie Burns as a young married couple who run a posh motel. Their infant son Happy who reacted to the goings-on with facial expressions and an off-camera voice. It ran for one season in 1960-61. In game shows, Lime appeared on episodes of Tattletales with her husband, My Three Sons & Family Affair producer Don Fedderson, who died in 1994. In 1959, Lime co-founded International Orphans Inc, later renamed Childhelp, with Sara Buckner, whom she'd met while working on Ozzie & Harriet. The nonprofit grew into one of the world's largest child abuse prevention and treatment organizations, and in 2004, the co-founders published Silence Broken: Moving From a Loss of Innocence to a World of Healing and Love, which told the story of one little boy helped by their group. The book was developed into the 2005 Lifetime TV movie For the Love of a Child. Information of survivors or a memorial service was not immediately available. |
posted 1/26/2026 |
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Survivor and The Price Is Right are to link up for a new collab. Survivor host Jeff Probst is set to cohost an upcoming episode of The Price Is Right At Night alongside long-time host Drew Carey to celebrate 50 seasons of the reality show. There are also time changes on the way for the show. On February 4, the season finale, Probst and Carey team up to give away exotic trips inspired by Survivor locations. The entire audience will be filled with Survivor fans, who all have the chance to win trips to French Polynesia, Australia, Samoa, the Cook Islands, and Thailand. The showcases will be filled with "adventure-packed destinations," according to a press release. Contestants can win all of this and more and they don't even have to survive outside and seek shelter. Before Survivor fans tune in to the finale, the January 28 episode is set to have an $80,000 jackpot in the game, It's In The Bag. Players also compete for luxury trips to Spain, Japan, and Bali. Plus, the fan-favorite game, Spelling Bee, gets an unexpected twist that surprises a lucky player. The last two episodes, beginning January 28, are moving from 9/8c to 8/7c on CBS. Hollywood Squares is taking its old time slot at 9/8c. |
posted 1/26/2026 |
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Monday Lightning Round |
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The temperature is rising in the Warner Bros Discovery chase, with key figures at Netflix and Paramount ridiculing the other companies' merger proposals. Netflix, running what might be termed Operation Reassure Wall Street, has recently made Co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters available to consumer media outlets with sizable finance and entertainment audiences. The pair also spent much of last Tuesday's fourth-quarter earnings interview stumping for their company's pending $82.7 billion offer to acquire WBD's studios-and-streaming division. In the latest messaging, via Financial Times (which came a week after Sarandos spoke to The New York Times), Peters amped up the rhetoric a bit. He said Paramount's hostile bid for WBD "doesn't pass the sniff test" because of the "crazy" amount of debt it would entail. Gerry Cardinale, head of major Paramount backer RedBird Capital, hit back, dismissing the streaming giant's proposal as "smoke and mirrors." David Ellison is still angling to win support from Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders for Paramount Skydance's rival acquisition bid for the entire company, continuing his unlikely quest to derail Netflix's deal for WB. But the Ellisons — for now — are not signaling that they're willing to pony up more cash in the M&A fight. On Thursday, Paramount Skydance said it was extending the deadline for its $30/share all-cash offer for WBD until Feb. 20. Paramount's previous tender offer expired Jan. 21. Paramount filed preliminary proxy materials with the SEC to solicit shareholders of Warner Bros. Discovery to vote against WBD's amended transaction with Netflix at a special meeting of stockholders expected to be held in April. Warner Bros. Discovery fired back at the latest salvo from David Ellison's Paramount Skydance, saying that more than 93% of its shareholders have rejected Paramount's "inferior scheme" in favor of the $83 billion sale of WB to Netflix. |
posted 1/23/2026 |
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"Idol" to Test Live Voting Waters |
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ABC is ruining the narrative that long-running reality competition series are declining, highlighted by the recent success of Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars. American Idol also received a huge boost with its last season; Season 23 of the show (the eighth season to air on ABC after it moved from Fox) received 26 million votes in its finale, breaking its own record and more than doubling the previous season's finale. The talent competition is now exploring new ways to exploit this and has come up with a new way for fans to vote: using social media. This comes on top of a number of other changes planned for the upcoming season, which moves to a new night on ABC, eschewing Hollywood for Nashville and introducing a new round set in Hawai'i. During the middle of Season 23, as the show is opening up auditions for next season, showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick sat down with her team to figure out what's next. "There's always an immense amount of pressure regarding how we level up. What do we do that's different? We don't know who is going to come across our door, but we want to use the momentum of last season to bring in new people and fire them up," she told Deadline. Michaels Wolflick said that she has wanted to do social media voting for the last five years, something that no other major entertainment show has done. "We have to meet the audience where they are. Back in 2002 when the show began, texting was the new hot thing. We also have to meet the technology where it is, as well. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to vote for their favorites, weigh in from their couch with their second screen, in real time," she said. Part of it is reaching a younger crowd. "If we can get Gen Alpha and Gen Z to weigh in a little bit more in the easiest way possible, that's very exciting. It could tip the scale. Trends are always different," she added. ABC and Fremantle, which produces the show in association with Sony Pictures Television's 19 Entertainment, are still finalizing some of the specific details around the logistics of social voting. For now, there'll still be text and phone voting. "Maybe in three years' time, we'll have a conversation where we're just doing social voting. But right now, you want to ease the audience into something new," she said. |
posted 1/23/2026 |
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Making the Trip to Netflix |
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Colin Jost is moving to Netflix. The Saturday Night Live star has officially confirmed that he will host the second season of Pop Culture Jeopardy! after it made a shock move from Amazon to Netflix. Netflix picked up the second season in October and Jost was in talks to return but those talks have now ended in a signed deal. The spinoff of the iconic game show comes from Sony Pictures Television's Game Show Division. Michael Davies, who serves as showrunner of Jeopardy!, exec produces Pop Culture Jeopardy!. Bari Jean Dorman will co-exec produce. It launched on Amazon in December 2024 as part of a game show block – Winning Wednesdays – that also featured the Travis Kelce-hosted Are You Smarter Than A Celebrity?, JB Smoove-fronted Buy It Now and Wish List Games. It will air its second season on Netflix later this year. |
posted 1/23/2026 |
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Happy Friday Lightning Round |
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CBS announced today that it has renewed 10 additional series for the 2026-2027 broadcast season. The renewed CBS Original series include: Previous series orders for the 2026-2027 season include: This brings the total number of series ordered for the 2026-2027 season to 16. Additional series orders and renewals will be made at future dates. SOURCE: Nielsen Season-to-Date Most Current (9/22/25-1/11/26). CBS shows are available 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 Survivor renewal comes ahead of Season 50 of the Jeff Probst-hosted show, which will debut on February 25. It will now also come back for Season 51. The Amazing Race, which is hosted by Phil Keoghan, will return for Season 39 after it recently wrapped up the European adventures of Season 38.. |
posted 1/22/2026 |
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More on "Physical 100 Mexico" |
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Netflix has half a dozen new projects coming out of Mexico including a doc on boxing star Saúl 'Canelo' Álvarez, a local version of the Physical 100 reality competition format, and coverage of Supernova: Genesis, a live event where influencers, celebrities, YouTube stars and comedians compete in boxing matches. There is also a new movie and a CBS Studios-produced series on the slate, as well as fresh casting news on other projects. Netflix boss Ted Sarandos said last year that the streamer will splash $1B on Mexican originals over four years. We can now see where some of that cash is going. The Canelo Álvarez feature-doc follows the fighter preparing for a defining fight against Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin, and as he faces doubts, criticism and pressure to reaffirm his place in Mexican boxing history. Supernova: Genesis, meanwhile, comes after the Supernova Strikers amateur boxing event, which saw celebs and streamers squaring up. Coverage of Supernova: Genesis will mark the first time Netflix has shown a live event out of Latin America. It will take place in front of 22,000 spectators. Per the above, pugilism is to the fore, but is not the only sports-flavored news on the streamer's Mexican slate. Netflix fleshed out the cast for México 86, the Diego Luna starrer about how the country landed the soccer World Cup. Karla Souza, Daniel Giménez Cacho, Álvaro Guerrero will join Luna in the Gaumont USA-produced movie. Not sports as such, but certainly getting physical, Endemol Shine Boomdog will make Physical 100: Mexico, a local version of that hit show. |
posted 1/22/2026 |
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Crime Scene Zero to Return |
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Hit crime-solving show "Crime Scene Zero" will return on Netflix for a new season, the global streaming service announced Tuesday. "Crime Scene Zero," a reboot of "Crime Scene" (2014-2017), is a role-playing mystery game show in which players take on the roles of suspects and detectives to uncover the culprit among them. The original cast and signature sequence were brought back to "Crime Scene Zero" when the show was rebooted and launched globally on Netflix in September last year. "It took some time to gather the courage to do it again, but with Netflix's unwavering support, we will continue to create a great season with the keywords 'original intention' and 'evolution,'" said producer Yoon Hyun-joon. "I thank the fans who have supported us and provided active feedback every season, and I ask for your continued interest and support." The first season of "Crime Scene Zero" received widespread acclaim, earning high reviews and entering the Netflix Global Top 10 rankings upon its September 2025 release. |
posted 1/22/2026 |
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Tournament of Champions VII: And Then There Were Four |
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Guy Fieri's Tournament of Champions will return with its seventh season premiere on Sunday, March 1 at 8 p.m. ET/PT and stream the following day on HBO Max(R) and discovery+. Thirty-two of the nation's best chefs including proven warriors and fierce new challengers are ready to battle, but nothing will prepare the chefs for the competition's biggest surprise ever. This season, top-seeded chefs in every division will be food world icons, four of the most powerful opponents to ever compete on the series, but their identities will remain a secret until the moment they enter the arena. Every battle will be head-to-head; every spin of the randomizer will keep competitors on their toes and viewers on the edge of their seats, and every dish is make-or-break. 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. Because there are more incredible chefs than spots left in the bracket, Tournament of Champions: The Qualifiers, will return on Sunday, February 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT where 16 chefs will fight for the final eight positions in the main Tournament of Champions bracket across a series of head-to-head battles. Before they enter the main arena and the culinary clashes 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 VII: The Bracket Reveal on Sunday, February 22 at 10pm ET/PT. "Year after year, chefs up their gameplay and strategy, so we need to constantly raise the stakes to keep the competition next level," said Fieri. "This year, we put four industry icons in the top seed, immediately putting targets on their backs for the win-hungry competitors. And that alone is the secret ingredient for the most epic season yet." This season's competing chefs include Adam Greenberg, Adam Sobel, Britt Rescigno, Bryan Voltaggio, Carlos Anthony, Claudette Zepeda, Dale Talde, David Viana, Jet Tila, Joe Sasto, Jonathon Sawyer, Kaleena Bliss, Karen Akunowicz, Kevin Lee, Lee Anne Wong, Marcel Vigneron, Nini Nguyen, Sara Bradley, Shirley Chung, and Tobias Dorzon. Plus, four surprise culinary icons and eight additional winners from the qualifier tournament. "Tournament of Champions has been Food Network's top-rated series for five years running and each season we up the ante making the competition more intense than the last," said Betsy Ayala, Head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery. "With the surprises we have in store this season and the extraordinary level of talent competing, we can't wait to share this next-level, high-adrenaline competition with viewers." 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 continues his role as Judges' Correspondent, getting the judges' takes on why a dish won or lost. Season VI winner Antonia Lofaso, double winner of Season II and V Maneet Chauhan, Season IV champion Mei Lin, and inaugural TOC champion Brooke Williamson will join celebrated judges Alex Guarnaschelli, Cat Cora, Curtis Stone, David Chang, Dominique Crenn, Geoffrey Zakarian, Hubert Keller, Judy Joo, Ken Oringer, Marcus Samuelsson, Michelle Bernstein, Nancy Silverton, Rocco DiSpirito, Scott Conant, and Susan Feniger. The final battle on Sunday, April 19 at 8 p.m. ET/PT will determine the brand-new winner who will join the elite group of TOC champions. |
posted 1/22/2026 |
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Thursday Lightning Round |
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Japanese freelance television announcer Hiroshi Kume, known for hosting the popular music show "The Best Ten" and news show "News Station," died of lung cancer on Jan. 1, it was learned Tuesday. Kume joined Tokyo Broadcasting System Television in 1967 and gained attention hosting the quiz show "Pittashi Kan Kan." From 1978, he hosted "The Best Ten" with actor Tetsuko Kuroyanagi. The two's quick repartee became popular. Kume left TBS the following year, but he hosted the show until 1985. After turning freelance, he hosted several shows such as Nippon Television Network's show "Hiroshi Kume's TV Scramble" with comedian Yasushi Yokoyama and talk show "Oshare." At TV Asahi's "News Station" from 1985, he broke the newscaster stereotype with his witty delivery, which brought the show high ratings. As a huge fan of professional baseball team Hiroshima Toyo Carp, based in Hiroshima, Kume once declared on the show that he would shave his head if the Tokyo-based Yomiuri Giants beat Carp, and to his audience's surprise, he kept his word. Sometimes Kume's outspoken comments raised controversy, but he said on the show's final edition in 2004 that "it was only because of the harsh criticism that I was able to continue." On that note, he poured himself a beer and bid his viewers, "Sayonara." Aside from TV, Kume also had a radio program from 2006 to 2020, on which he spoke freely about current affairs and the media. In recent years he had been focusing on video streaming. |
posted 1/21/2026 |
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Wednesday Lightning Round |
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Villains on the Move |
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"House of Villains" season three premieres Thursday, Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. PT/ 9 p.m. ET with the first three episodes available to stream on Peacock. Beginning Thursday, March 5, episodes will drop weekly on Thursdays at 6 p.m. PT/ 9 p.m. ET. Hosted by Joel McHale, the hit comedy competition series brings together 11 reality all-stars who must scheme, strategize and shade each other in different challenges for a chance to win $200,000 and the title of "America's Ultimate Supervillain." As previously announced, the villains include: Former villains Johnny Bananas, Victoria Larson, and Kandy Muse crash the iconic lair and host epic challenges. Seasons one and two of "House of Villains" are available to stream on Peacock. "House of Villains" is produced by Irwin Entertainment. John Irwin, Dave Kuba, Justin Rae Barnes, Joel McHale, David Mills and Jessica O'Byrne executive produce. |
posted 1/19/2026 |
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JIT2026: And the Players Are... |
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The Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament (JIT) is one of the last tournaments held in the postseason. It is played immediately after the Tournament of Champions ends. Ken Jennings will host the tournament, as he does all of the other ones, but this competition is solely based on invitations by the game show's executive producers, Sarah Whitcomb-Foss and Michael Davies. Whitcomb-Foss and Davies announced the contestants on the Inside Jeopardy! podcast on January 19 and shared who declined. Some of those contestants include three participants from the previous Masters series, the two runners-up from the TOC, and other champions, but even they can decline if they simply can't participate. The pool is smaller this year. That year's TOC winner and JIT winner advance to Jeopardy! Masters, along with three contestants who were seeded in the last Masters. The winner of the JIT takes home $150,000. Who is competing in the 2026 JIT? Only 18 players will compete this season instead of the usual 27. Jeopardy! Masters contestants Season 41 post-season players Post-Season Players The JIT starts immediately after the Tournament of Champions ends. But the exact date is unknown because for the TOC, the first player to win three games wins the whole tournament, but that could happen in three games or seven games. The EPs warned that depending on how late the TOC goes, the JIT could start airing when the Olympics air (February 6 to 22). |
posted 1/20/2026 |
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Game Shows Get the iLottery Treatment |
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Scientific Games has launched Game Show Experience, a new omnichannel Linked Game that gives lottery players a chance to win prizes of up to $10 million. Released Jan. 6, the offering features three iconic television game shows: The Price Is Right, Family Feud and Press Your Luck. The promotion is designed to bring the excitement of these award-winning programs to lottery players across retail and digital channels, including iLottery platforms. By blending familiar TV brands with modern lottery formats, Scientific Games aims to drive player engagement and participation. Bringing classic TV game shows to modern lottery play Tina Hoover, vice president of licensing for Scientific Games, said the enduring popularity of these franchises makes them a natural fit for lottery players. "The lasting popularity of these classic television game shows makes Game Show Experience a natural fit for lottery players," Hoover said. "It captures the fun, excitement and big moments people associate with game shows, turning that feeling into a fresh kind of lottery promotion." |
posted 1/20/2026 |
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Tuesday Lightning Round |
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Back to the Island |
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Love Island: All Stars is back on schedule. The British reality series was forced to halt production with the villa evacuated as a result of wildfires in South Africa. However, the show has returned to production and has new premiere dates. Love Island: All Stars will launch in the UK on ITV on Thursday, January 15, and will on Peacock on Saturday, January 17. It was previously set to premiere on January 12 in the UK and air January 14 on the NBCU streamer. Host Maya Jama said in a social media post, "We're back up and running." The set was evacuated for the safety of the stars and crew. "Further to a production evacuation owing to ongoing wildfires in the area, our assessment of the location site has concluded that filming will need to be postponed," ITV said last week. "Health and safety is our greatest priority and will always come first, and therefore the transmission of Love Island: All Stars will be delayed until a date to be confirmed." The Islanders returning to the villa include Whitney Adebayo (Season 10), Millie Court (Season 7), Belle Hassan (Season 5), Helena Ford (Season 12), Jess Harding (Season 10), Leanne Amaning (Season 6), Ciaran Davies (Season 11), Jack Keating (Season 8), Sean Stone (Season 11), Tommy Bradley (Season 12), Charlie Frederick (Season 4), and Shaq Muhammad (Season 9). Season 3 of Love Island: All Stars was extended to six weeks, up from five. That will give Islanders one more week to make their connections and evade being dumped from the island. More Islanders will join the series as the show airs, with bombshells not too far off to stir things up in the villa. |
posted 1/19/2026 |
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A Second Second Chance |
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Jeopardy! contestant Stella Trout is getting another chance to compete after the bosses realized they made a mistake. As a result of the error, Trout will return to compete in the 2027 Tournament of Champions. During the January 19 Inside Jeopardy! episode, executive producers Sarah Whitcomb-Foss and Michael Davies shared that Trout found out about her second chance during the Jeopardy! Honors on January 18, where she won the Bounceback Award. In the finals of Champions Wildcard, Trout, a resident of Houston, Texas, went into game two against Cameron Berry and Jonathan Hugendubler with a lead after winning game one. During game two, she had the lead of $11,200 when she found the second Daily Double in Double Jeopardy and bet all of her money. The clue in "Making Conservation" was "Within the Department of the Interior, this is the country's oldest conservation agency." Trout answered, "What is the National Park Service?" which the game show dubbed as wrong. They said the correct response was the Fish and Wildlife Service. This caused Trout to drop down to $0 and eventually lose the game. Berry went on to win. "She gave us a response during that last Daily Double that made us think. We went back and looked at it, and we have decided that we ruled incorrectly. So, Stella, who was the alternate for this year's Tournament of Champions, is going to be the first competitor in Tournament of Champions 2027," he continued. However, the current season super champion, Harrison Whitaker, has already earned a spot in the 2027 ToC after he qualified one game too late in the 2026 season. Trout will join him. "She was delighted to hear," Davies said. |
posted 1/19/2026 |
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Couples Betting? |
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TelevisaUnivision is rounding out the cast of their new reality competition, ¿Apostarías por Mí? (Would You Bet on Me?), which is set to start on January 18. Alejandra Espinoza and Alan Tacher are the main hosts of the show, who will front the galas every night, and they will be joined by a trio of show analysts who will give their takes on all the drama unfolding on TV. Singer Lupillo Rivera has joined the reality series to share his opinions on the competition, as he is known for his strategic approach, having previously participated in La Casa de los Famosos. Host and actress Cecilia Galliano and Jorge Lozano H. will also join the panel of analysts. Espinoza and Tacher will also be joined by Roberto Hernández as co-host of the primetime shows. Given that ¿Apostarías por Mí? has a digital component, with the streaming platform Vix playing a large role in the show's 24/7 experience, it needs a couple of hosts. Arana Lemus and Lambda García have been tapped to co-host the pre- and post-shows, which will run as bookends to the main show. During the reality competition presentation, the latest couple was confirmed, with Salvador Zerboni joining the series alongside his partner Marcela Ruiz. Previously confirmed couples included Raúl "El Pelón" and Laura Molinar; Adrián Di Monte and Nuja Amar; Beta Mejía and Alejandra Jaramillo; Franco Tradardi and Breh Badassifier; René Strickler and Rubí Cardozo; Jim Velásquez and Alina Lozano; Gigi Ojeda and David Leal; Tibi Camacho and José Medina; and Lorenzo Méndez and Claudia Galván. The remaining two couples will be announced in the coming days. The show will have a 24/7 livestream on Vix with eight channels dedicated exclusively to ¿Apostarías por Mí? The show will have nightly galas starting on Sundays on Univision and weekdays on UniMás at 8 p.m. ET. ¿Apostarías por Mí? will have an international rollout, premiering simultaneously in México and Latin America, alongside the U.S. broadcast. TelevisaUnivision's Las Estrellas in México will premiere the competition on Sunday, January 18 at 9 p.m. on linear, with the weekly galas streaming on Vix. Latin American audiences will be able to watch the show exclusively on Vix. ¿Apostarías por Mí? is based on an Abot Hameiri Communication format distributed by Dori Media International and produced by Fremantle for TelevisaUnivision. |
posted 1/19/2026 |
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Monday Lightning Round |
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Traitors 4 Makes a Killing |
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The fourth season of The Traitors' U.S. version got off to the show's best start yet on Peacock. The back-stabbing competition series hosted by Alan Cumming drew 638 million viewing minutes for the week of Jan. 5-11, according to preliminary Nielsen streaming data (season four premiered Jan. 8). Final numbers, which could change a little, will be out in a few weeks. I f the early figure holds, the 638 million minutes will mark the best weekly total to date in the Nielsen streaming rankings for The Traitors. The previous high was 555 million minutes for the season three premiere in the same week of 2025 (in both cases, the season opened with three episodes); the early numbers for season four have it improving by about 15 percent year to year. It was also the most watched unscripted series on streaming platforms for the week. |
posted 1/15/2026 |
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Class War 3 |
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Netflix has officially confirmed Season 3 of its hit cooking competition series Culinary Class Wars - and this time, the competition shifts from individual chefs to a bold, team-based format. Building on two consecutive seasons of global success, Season 3 raises the stakes with four-person teams representing a single restaurant, transforming the competition into a collective fight for pride, reputation, and survival. Chef applications for Season 3 open via our social channels today. Teams must consist of four chefs currently working together at the same establishment. Individual applicants and teams formed across different restaurants are not eligible; however, restaurants operating under the same brand across multiple locations may apply as a single team. For the past two years, Culinary Class Wars has led Netflix's Global Top 10 Non-English Show rankings. Season 2, in particular, earned acclaim for its heightened tension, inventive rules, and escalating stakes - sharpening and evolving the franchise while preserving its core appeal. Season 3 reunites the original creative team from Studio Slam, including producer Kim Eun-ji and writer Mo Eun-seol, who played key roles in shaping the series' success. Producer Kim Eun-ji shared, "Thanks to the incredible support from viewers around the world through Season 2, we're grateful to move forward with Season 3. We'll do our best to deliver an even more exciting format and entertainment that lives up to expectations." |
posted 1/15/2026 |
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Fallout Spins Out |
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A popular streaming series set in a dystopian world has inspired a competition show based on that world. No, we're not talking about Squid Game: The Challenge. It's Fallout, Prime Video's series set in a post-nuclear world and based on the huge video game franchise. The competition show is called Fallout Shelter, and it will feature "a series of escalating challenges, strategic dilemmas, and moral crossroads [in which] contestants must prove their ingenuity, teamwork, and resilience as they compete for safety, power, and ultimately a huge cash prize." It will be set inside the bomb-proof Vault-Tec vaults seen in the series. Fallout Shelter will join a roster of competition shows at Prime Video that also includes Beast Games and 007: Road to a Million. There is, in fact, a connection to Squid Game: The Challenge with Fallout Shelter: Both are produced by Studio Lambert, the All3Media company that's also behind The Traitors). Studio Lambert and Fallout scripted series producer Kilter Films are producing Fallout Shelter in association with Amazon MGM Studios and Bethesda Game Studios, maker of the video game. Stephen Lambert, Tim Harcourt, Jack Burgess, Toni Ireland, Stephen Yemoh, Stephen Lovelock and Amina Badresingh executive produce Fallout Shelter for Studio Lambert; Abi Lambrinos is the executive in charge of production. Also executive producer are Kilter Films' Jonathan Nolan, Lisa Joy and Athena Wickham and Bethesda Game Studios' James Altman and Todd Howard. |
posted 1/15/2026 |
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Thursday Lightning Round |
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The CW Hits the Road |
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The CW is set to launch The Great American Road Rally: Celebrity Edition this spring. Hosted by Ian Ziering (Beverly Hills, 90210), the series will premiere Wednesday, May 13 from 9-10 PM, airing weekly on the CW, culminating in a live two-hour finale on Wednesday, July 22, from 8-10 PM. Set against a cross-country journey along iconic Route 66, the series blends competition, storytelling, and real-world impact as the country prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, the 100th Anniversary of Route 66, and other defining cultural moments in 2026, per The CW. The official description: The series features ten celebrity-driven vehicles, each aligned with a charitable cause, embarking on a cross-country journey to raise awareness, drive fundraising, and activate local communities—transforming competition into contribution and the open road into a force for good. Additional details, including celebrity participants, community events, and opportunities for fan participation, will be announced in the weeks ahead. |
posted 1/13/2026 |
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Tuesday Lightning Round |
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Veteran actor T.K. Carter, who appeared in the horror film "The Thing" and "Punky Brewster" on television, has died at the age of 69. Carter was declared dead Friday evening after deputies responded to a call regarding an unresponsive male in Duarte, California, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Police did not disclose a cause of death or other details, but said no foul play was suspected. Carter had been acting for years before a breakthrough role as Nauls the cook in John Carpenter's 1982 horror classic, "The Thing." He also had a recurring role in the 1980s sitcom "Punky Brewster." Other big-screen roles include "Runaway Train" in 1985, "Ski Patrol" in 1990 and "Space Jam" in 1996. Carter was featured with his wife on Tattletales in the 1980s. He is survived by his mother & children. |
posted 1/12/2026 |
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PGA Awards... And the Nominees Are... |
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It's been a busy week for awards nominations, and now the Producers Guild of America is out with its hopefuls for the PGA Awards spanning film and TV. The list is a who's-who of 2026 awards contenders, but includes one big surprise with the inclusion of Zach Cregger's well-reviewed horror hit Weapons, which hadn't popped up on any precursor Best Picture list before today. It also comes from Warner Bros, which — with One Battle After Another, Sinners and its distribution deal for Apple's F1 — has four of the 10 nominees. Award for Outstanding Producer of Game & Competition Television |
posted 1/9/2026 |
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Happy Friday Lightning Round |
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Drag Race: UK vs. The World 3 Ruveals Cast |
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BBC Three has confirmed the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs The World Season 3, which will see teen queens return to the Werk Room for their moment to shine. RuPaul will welcome standout Queens from across the global Drag Race Universe to battle it out against some of Drag Race UK's most celebrated drag talent. This competition spin-off takes the gameplay to the highest level with international pride on the line, a cash prize of L50,000 ($67,000) and the title of Queen of the Mothertucking World up for grabs. The 10 queens competing in RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs The World Season 3 are Fontana (Sweden), Gawdland (Thailand), Kate Butch (UK), Mariah Balenciaga (US), Melinda Verga (Canada), Minty Fresh (Philippines), The Only Naomy (Germany), Serena Morena (Mexico), Sminty Drop (UK) and Zahirah Zapanta (UK). RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs The World Season 3 will premiere on WOW Presents Plus in the US and select territories, day-and-date with its local airing on BBC Three and iPlayer in the UK. |
posted 1/8/2026 |
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Chef Elle Simone Scott, the first Black woman to appear as a regular host on PBS' America's Test Kitchen, who fought tirelessly for diversity and inclusion in the food industry, died January 5 from ovarian cancer. She was 49. Her death was announced by her friend and fellow chef Carla Hall on social media. "Chef Elle Simone Scott was a friend, a force, and a trailblazer," Hall wrote in a post Wednesday on Facebook. "She showed up with excellence, generosity, and deep love for food and community. "At America's Test Kitchen, Elle helped open doors that had long been closed—becoming one of the first Black women audiences saw in the test kitchen, and doing so with grace, authority, and joy," Hall continued. "She didn't just test recipes; she changed what representation looked like in food media. Her voice mattered. Her work mattered. She mattered." Born LaShawnda Sherise Simone Scott on Nov. 28, 1976, Scott grew up in Detroit, MI, and attended Eastern Michigan University, later attending the Culinary Institute of New York. First working as a social worker in Detroit, Scott did an internship with Food Network, then in 2016 she became the first Black woman to appear as a regular host on the PBS television show America's Test Kitchen. She was a test cook and food stylist and also developed videos for the show's online cooking school. 00:00 09:16 Simone founded SheChef, a for-profit mentoring and networking organization for women of color in the culinary field, in 2013. She was featured in a segment on NBC Boston's The Hub Today, and in 2019 hosted 28 Days of Edna, a monthlong America's Test Kitchen series focused on American chef and teacher Edna Lewis. Scott was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2016, at the age of 40. "Elle faced ovarian cancer with courage and honesty, using her platform to educate, advocate, and uplift even while fighting for her life. That kind of strength leaves a mark," Hall wrote. "We honor you, Elle," Hall continued. "Your legacy lives on in every kitchen you inspired and every cook who finally saw themselves reflected back. Rest well my sister." Scott was also featured on the Prime Video spinoff series "America's Test Kitchen: The Next Generation". |
posted 1/8/2026 |
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Richard Dimitri, who played twins on the Mel Brooks comedy When Things Were Rotten and other colorful characters in the films Johnny Dangerously and Let It Ride, has died. He was 83. Dimitri died Dec. 18 in Los Angeles after a decades-long battle with heart and lung illness, his family announced. A New Yorker of Assyrian descent, Dimitri also co-created the 1993 Fox sitcom Daddy Dearest, starring Richard Lewis and Don Rickles, and wrote for two other network comedies, CBS' House Calls, starring Wayne Rogers and Lynn Redgrave, and NBC's Going Bananas, starring the orangutan Roxana Banana. Dimitri had appeared three times on Broadway when he came to Los Angeles to play the twins Bertram (aide to the Sheriff of Nottingham) and Renaldo (one of the Merry Men) on the 1975 ABC series When Things Were Rotten, a spoof of Robin Hood that starred Dick Gautier. The show, however, lasted just 13 episodes. In Amy Heckerling's Johnny Dangerously (1984), starring Michael Keaton, Dimitri portrayed Roman Moronie, a nightclub owner and malapropist ("You lousy cork-soakers"), and he was the gambler known as Johnny Cheeseburger in Let It Ride (1989), starring Richard Dreyfuss and David Johansen. The youngest of two sons, Dimitri was born in Yonkers on June 27, 1942. His father, Jacob, abandoned the family when Richard was a toddler, and he was raised by his mother, Mary, and her father. After graduating from Yonkers High School and then the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1962, he played Bashir in the 1963 off-Broadway revival of The Immoralist. He made it to Broadway in 1968 in The Guide and Hal Prince's Zorba opposite Herschel Bernardi and in 1972 in Lysistrata alongside Melina Mercouri. In 1973, he began to teach acting at Queens College in New York before heading to L.A. He also showed up in Gene Wilder's The World's Greatest Lover (1977) and on episodes of such TV shows as Starsky & Hutch, Welcome Back, Kotter, Hawaii Five-O, Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Tracey Takes On … and Hearts Afire. In game shows, Dimitri appeared on episodes of "The Hollywood Squares" in 1975. On the side, he performed stand-up at The Comedy Store and other venues. After leaving show business in 1998 because of health issues, he began a second career as an art and antiques dealer, owning the gallery Engs-Dimitri Works of Art on on La Cienega Boulevard with his wife of 26 years, Christianne Engs. He sold John Deare's 1787 masterpiece, Venus Reclining on a Sea Monster With Cupid and a Putto, to the Getty museum. His son, John, who was born with a rare congenital heart defect, Hypoplastic-left-heart syndrome, died at age 19 in 2017. Donations can be made to The John Dimitri Research Foundation for Congenital Heart Disease. |
posted 1/8/2026 |
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Marcia Rodd, the Tony-nominated actress who starred opposite Elliott Gould in the Jules Feiffer black comedy Little Murders and originated the role of Bea Arthur's daughter in the pilot for Maude, died Dec. 27, her family announced. She was 87. Rodd's first love was the stage, and she portrayed the pot-smoking starlet Bobbi opposite Linda Lavin, James Coco and Doris Roberts in Neil Simon's 1969-71 hit Broadway comedy Last of the Red Hot Lovers. In his review in The New York Times, Clive Barnes wrote that Rodd supplied "a naive, little-girl charm to give an edge of innocence to her [character's] deprived depravity." She received her Tony nomination for best actress in a musical in 1973 for her turn as a deserted wife in the kooky Austin Pendleton-directed Shelter but lost out to Glynis Johns for A Little Night Music. In Little Murders (1971), directed by Alan Arkin, Rodd starred as the predatory Patsy Newquist, a New York interior designer with an eccentric family — Vincent Gardenia and Elizabeth Wilson play her parents, Jon Korkes her brother — who falls for a photographer (Gould) she first meets when he's getting mugged. (Barbara Cook had the part in the 1967 Broadway original.) In the second-season finale of Norman Lear's All in the Family that aired in March 1972 and served as the pilot for Maude, Archie (Carroll O'Connor) and Edith (Jean Stapleton) head to Tuckahoe, New York, for the wedding of Carol Findlay (Rodd), who has a son from a previous marriage and is set to marry a Jewish guy. (Arthur's ultra-liberal Maude Findlay is Edith's cousin.) But when Maude was picked up to series to begin its acclaimed six-season run the following September, Carol was played by Adrienne Barbeau, with Rodd reportedly unwilling to commit to a TV series. Rodd did change her mind about television in 1976 when she agreed to portray the sister of Geraldine Brooks' character in the Lear-developed, Coco-starring The Dumplings, but that NBC sitcom lasted just 11 episodes. She returned for another Lear comedy, co-starring as the best friend and neighbor of Eileen Brennan's character on ABC's 13 Queens Boulevard. That midseason show, however, aired just nine episodes. Rodd appeared on episodes of "Match Game", "Celebrity Sweepstakes", "To Tell the Truth", "What's My Line?", and "Rhyme & Reason" |
posted 1/8/2026 |
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Thursday Lightning Round |
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posted 3/5/2026
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