Re: TV news for March 2-9, 2024

On 3/9/24 2:25 PM, Robin Miller wrote:

     ABC news
  Tim Allen To Headline ABC Comedy Pilot From Mike Scully & Julie Thacker Scully  (March 6)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/tim-allen-star-abc-comedy-pilot-from-julie-thacker-scully-mike-scully-1235847524/
 ("Shifting Gears centers on Matt (Allen), a stubborn, widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop. When Matt’s estranged daughter and her teenage kids move into his house, the real restoration begins.")

Commence gnashing of teeth from the commies on Reddit.
(Sidenote: From what I have heard, Tim Allen is not a good guy. But the reason to oppose him and his endeavors should be that, not that he may or may not be a "conservative".)

     CBS news
  CBS Studios NAACP Venture To Develop New Daytime Drama For CBS Called ‘The Gates’  (March 6)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/cbs-studios-naacp-venture-developing-new-daytime-drama-cbs-the-gates-1235847660/
 (the show "would follow the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community")

NBC did the previous soap opera with an AA-focus - it was called... "Generations". Kelly Rutherford was on it!! It went off the air on 1991.

CBS Orders ‘Young Sheldon’ Georgie & Mandy Spinoff Series Starring Montana Jordan And Emily Osment  (March 5)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/cbs-orders-young-sheldon-georgie-and-mandy-spinoff-series-1235846411/

Hard pass.

Justin Hartley Series ‘Tracker’ Gets Early Season 2 Renewal By CBS (March 4)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/tracker-justin-hartley-renewed-season-2-cbs-1235845019/

For Adam!!

‘NCIS: Origins’ Finds Its Young Gibbs: Austin Stowell To Star In CBS Prequel Series  (March 4)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/ncis-origins-casts-austin-stowell-young-gibbs-prequel-1235845156/

Pass.
P.S. Reddit had fun with this, noting that Stowell looks nothing like young Mark Harmon, and has brown eyes instead of blue!, etc.

     CW news
  ‘The Librarians’ Christian Kane To Reprise Jacob Stone Role In CW Spinoff ‘The Next Chapter’  (March 4)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/christian-kane-jacob-stone-the-librarians-the-next-chapter-spinoff-1235845221/

I'm sayin' I beat Robin!! :)

     Fox news
  ‘Baywatch’ Reboot Lands At Fox With Sizable Commitment  (March 4)
 https://deadline.com/2024/03/baywatch-reboot-fox-1235844073/

Bad idea - a "Baywatch"-inspired show is a lot more likely to do well than a straight "reboot". This show was very much a product of its time, and can't be duplicated again.

Fox Summer Premieres: When To Expect Return Of ‘I Can See Your Voice,’ ‘Food Stars,’ ‘Masterchef’ & More  (March 4)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/fox-summer-premiere-dates-2024-game-shows-gordon-ramsay-1235845044/

Exactly why no one watches the nets in the summer!

‘Doc’: Omar Metwally, Amirah Vann & Scott Wolf Among 6 Cast In Fox Medical Drama Series  (March 4)
 https://deadline.com/2024/03/doc-fox-drama-series-cast-1235844871/
 ("Based on the popular Italian series Doc ­Nelle tue mani, which has a male protagonist, the Fox drama centers on the hard-charging, brilliant Dr. Amy Larsen (Molly Parker), Chief of Internal Medicine at Westside Hospital in Minneapolis. After a brain injury erases the last eight years of her life, Amy must navigate an unfamiliar world where she has no recollection of patients she’s treated, colleagues she’s crossed, the man she loves, or the tragedy that caused her to push everyone away. She can rely only on her estranged 17-year-old daughter, whom she remembers as a 9-year-old, and a handful of devoted friends, as she struggles to continue practicing medicine despite having lost nearly a decade of knowledge and experience.")

OK, good cast, and I actually like the premise a lot. If this gets picked up, I may even give it a look.

     NBC news
  June Diane Raphael To Headline ‘Bewitched’-Inspired Comedy In Works At NBC, Teaming With ‘Dickinson’ Creator  (March 6)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/june-diane-raphael-alena-smith-bewitched-something-wicked-comedy-nbc-1235847939/

Dickinson was decent, but this is one where it go wrong in a thousand different ways...

     Cable channel news
  Owen Teague, Dominic Colón & Margarita Levieva Join Brad Ingelsby’s HBO Task Force Drama  (March 8)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/owen-teague-dominic-colon-margarita-levieva-join-brad-ingelsby-hbo-drama-1235849476/
 ("A crime drama ["Untitled Brad Ingelsby Task Force Project"] based on an original idea from Mare of Easttown creator Ingelsby, the show is set in the working class suburbs outside of Philadelphia, where [Mark] Ruffalo’s FBI agent heads a Task Force to put an end to a string of drug-house robberies led by an unsuspecting family man.")

Well, I liked Levieva a lot (a decade ago!)...

‘Nine Bodies In A Mexican Morgue’ Greenlit By MGM+; Eric McCormack To Star In Anthony Horowitz Limited Series  (March 6)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/nine-bodies-in-a-mexican-morgue-mgm-plus-eric-mccormack-star-limited-series-anthony-horowitz-1235848030/
 ("Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue follows the tale of nine strangers who find themselves lost in a remote Mexican jungle after their small plane traveling from Guatemala to the U.S. crashes. One by one, the survivors are murdered, leaving the remaining passengers to solve the terrifying mystery before they too fall victim to the killer")

Too bad nobody gets MGM+

Freeform Announces New Unscripted Series ‘Grand Cayman: Secrets In Paradise’ & ‘Wayne Brady: The Family Remix’  (March 6)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/freeform-new-unscripted-series-grand-cayman-secrets-in-paradise-wayne-brady-the-family-remix-1235847587/

Freeform is *dead*!

Candace Cameron Bure Drops Next Movie In Her Eponymous Series on Great American Family; ‘Just In Time’ To Premiere This Month  (March 5)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/candace-cameron-bure-presents-next-movie-great-american-family-1235846138/

Zzzzzzzzz...

Ewan McGregor Debuts As Count Rostov In ‘A Gentleman In Moscow’ Trailer [Showtime]  (March 5)
 https://deadline.com/video/a-gentleman-in-moscow-trailer/
 ("The series, an adaptation of Amor Towles’ novel of the same name, follows Count Alexander Rostov (Ewan McGregor), who, in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, finds that his gilded past has placed him on the wrong side of history. Spared immediate execution, he is banished by a Soviet tribunal to an attic room in the opulent Hotel Metropol and threatened with death if he ever sets foot outside again.")

And they want to make a *series* about this?!!

‘House Of The Dragon’ Season 2 To Debut In June, Says Warner Bros. Discovery’s JB Perrette [HBO]  (March 4)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/house-of-the-dragon-season-2-to-debut-in-june-says-warner-bros-discoverys-jb-perrette-1235845562/

What, only 2+ years later?!

Colman Domingo On The Reason Behind ‘Euphoria’s Season 3 Delay [HBO] (March 2)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/colman-domingo-reason-euphoria-season-3-delay-1235843963/

The smart money is betting it never happens...

     Streaming service news--Apple TV+
  Matt Bomer Joins Keanu Reeves, Jonah Hill And Cameron Diaz In Apple’s ‘Outcome’  (March 7)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/matt-bomer-keanu-reeves-jonah-hill-cameron-diaz-outcome-1235848230/
 ("Co-written by Jonah Hill and Ezra Woods, Outcome follows Reef (Keanu Reeves), a damaged Hollywood star who must dive into the dark depths of his past to confront his demons and make amends after he is extorted with a mysterious video clip.")

OK, it's a movie! Cool! I'm probably in!!

     Streaming service news--Hulu
  ‘Grey’s Anatomy’: All Seasons Now Streaming On Hulu — Watch Video Highlights  (March 8)
 https://deadline.com/2024/03/greys-anatomy-streaming-hulu-video-1235850202/

Grey's!!

Jon Bon Jovi Hulu Docuseries ‘Thank You, Goodnight’ Unveils Official Trailer Which Chronicles Band’s 40-Year History – Update  (March 7)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/jon-bon-jovi-hulu-thank-you-goodnight-docuseries-not-a-vh1-puff-piece-watch-trailer-1235820586/

Series? No. I would have maybe watched a docufilm on this...

Hulu Orders Amanda Knox Limited Series From KJ Steinberg; Margaret Qualley To Star  (March 7)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/hulu-orders-amanda-knox-limited-series-margaret-qualley-star-1235847992/
 ("Margaret Qualley (Maid) will play Knox, who was wrongfully convicted for the murder of her roommate Meredith Kercher. The limited series, which was first reported by Deadline in January, will cover her 16-year odyssey to set herself free. The series will consist of eight, one-hour episodes.")

Why, oh why are we covering the well-trod ground again?!

     Streaming service news--Netflix
  Madeline Brewer To Star In Netflix’s ‘You’ For Fifth & Final Season (March 8)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/madeline-brewer-cast-netflix-you-season-5-1235850299/

Well that's an upgrade, first one since Elizabeth Lail left the show!

‘Forever’: Karen Pittman & Wood Harris Join Mara Brock Akil’s Netflix Series  (March 7)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/karen-pittman-wood-harris-forever-mara-brock-akil-netflix-series-1235849443/
 ("A reimagining of Judy Blume’s influential — and controversial — 1975 novel Forever… for a new generation, the series adaptation tells the epic love story of two Black teens, Keisha Clark (Simone) and Justin Edwards (Cooper Jr.) exploring romance and their identities through the awkward journey of being each other’s firsts, set in Los Angeles, 2018.")

So, failing to just remake the book?! How shocking...  [roll]

Sofia Carson To Topline Netflix Rom-Com ‘The Life List’; Kyle Allen, Sebastian De Souza & Connie Britton Also Set  (March 5)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/the-life-list-movie-sofia-carson-netflix-1235845345/

She seems to have buried herself deep into making rom-coms at The 'Flix!

‘Ripley’ Trailer: Andrew Scott Plays Grifter Tom Ripley In Netflix Limited Series  (March 4)
 https://deadline.com/2024/03/ripley-trailer-andrew-scott-netflix-1235844462/
 ("Based on Patricia Highsmith’s bestselling Tom Ripley novels, Scott portrays the titular character, a grifter scraping by in early 1960s New York. Ripley is hired by a wealthy man to travel to Italy to try to convince his vagabond son to return home. Ripley’s acceptance of the job is the first step into a complex life of deceit, fraud and murder. ... Ripley also stars Dakota Fanning as Marge Sherwood and Johnny Flynn as Dickie Greenleaf. The cast also includes Eliot Sumner, Maurizio Lombardi, Margherita Buy and John Malkovich.")

What?! It's not an "Alien"-based TV series?!?!!  ;p

     Streaming service news--Paramount+
  ‘Happy Face’: James Wolk Joins Paramount+ Series From Robert & Michelle King  (March 8)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/happy-face-james-wolk-paramount-plus-series-cast-1235850470/
 ("James Wolk (Ordinary Joe) has been tapped as a lead opposite Annaleigh Ashford and Dennis Quaid in Paramount+ upcoming drama series Happy Face. Quaid will play the titular role of the real-life serial killer notoriously called 'Happy Face' because of the smiley faces he drew on evidence where he bragged about his crimes. Ashford stars as his daughter, Melissa.")

I've already seen the 2014 Lifetime movie starring David Arquette.

‘Mean Girls’ Sets Streaming Premiere Date At Paramount+  (March 4)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/mean-girls-streaming-premiere-date-paramount-plus-1235845015/
 ("Based on the Tony-nominated Broadway musical and the beloved 2004 film that inspired it, Mean Girls watches as new student Cady Heron (Angourie Rice) is welcomed into the top of the social food chain by the elite group of popular girls called “The Plastics,” ruled by the conniving queen bee Regina George (Reneé Rapp) and her minions Gretchen (Bebe Wood) and Karen (Avantika).")

Already watched it!

     Streaming service news--Peacock
  Joel McHale Says ‘Community’ Movie Will Shoot This Year; Peacock “Working Around” Donald Glover’s Schedule To Set Start Date  (March 4)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/community-movie-update-joel-mchale-confirms-shoot-this-year-1235845133/

I'll believe it when I see it...

     Streaming service news--Prime Video
  ‘Upload’ Renewed For Fourth & Final Season By Prime Video  (March 6)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/upload-renewed-final-season-4-robbie-amell-1235846940/

Well, at least they'll be able to properly close it out...

‘The Idea Of You’ Trailer: Anne Hathaway Falls For Styles-ish Nicholas Galitzine In New Romantic Dramedy [Prime Video]  (March 6)
 https://deadline.com/2024/03/idea-of-you-trailer-1235847253/

Uh.... Maybe?

‘Expats’ Star Brian Tee Among Four Joining Prime Video’s ‘Reacher’ For  Season 3  (March 6)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/brian-tee-prime-video-reacher-season-3-cast-1235847453/

Reacher!!

‘We Were Liars’: Mamie Gummer, Caitlin FitzGerald & Candice King To Star In Amazon Series Based On Book  (March 5)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/we-were-liars-mamie-gummer-caitlin-fitzgerald-candice-king-star-amazon-1235845792/
 ("We Were Liars is a tragic love story and an amnesia thriller set on a privately owned island off the coast of Massachusetts. It centers on the wealthy, seemingly perfect Sinclair family, who spend every summer on their private island. Gummer, FitzGerald and King play the three Sinclair sisters.")

I have to say, I'm kind of intrigued by this. Sounds like PLL (bitches!) for adults...

     International series news
  BBC Buys Viaplay’s ‘Rebus’ Reboot Ahead Of Scandi Streamer’s UK Exit; Australia’s SBS Also Boards Scottish Crime Drama  (March 6)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/bbc-buys-viaplay-rebus-reboot-ian-rankin-1235847169/
 ("Set in Edinburgh, the series stars Richard Rankin (Outlander) in the title role, playing a young John Rebus as a detective sergeant, who is drawn into a violent criminal conflict that turns personal when his brother Michael, a former soldier, crosses the line into criminality.")

Apparently, this is YA remake, as there was already a "Rebus" series with John Hannah and Ken Stott in the 2000s.

     Series in development
  JonBenét Ramsey Limited Series From MTV Entertainment Studios & 101 Studios Eyes Green Light  (March 7)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/jonbenet-ramsey-limited-series-mtv-entertainment-studios-101-studios-paramount-1235849177/

Another well-worn event that doesn't need another look...

‘John Wick’ & ‘Twilight’ TV Series To Be Shopped By Lionsgate Television    (March 5)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/john-wick-twilight-tv-series-lionsgate-television-animated-1235846773/

OK....?

Liza Mundy’s ‘The Sisterhood’ Series Adaptation In Works At Lionsgate TV With Scott Delman Exec Producing  (March 5)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/liza-mundy-the-sisterhood-series-adaptation-lionsgate-tv-scott-delman-1235846030/
 ("The series revolves around a newly trained female CIA officer who is sent on a counter-terrorism operation. She winds up enlisting the help of legendary female predecessors and learns about a “sisterhood” of unsung female spies who’ve spent decades safeguarding the free world by fighting communism, terrorism and the toxic culture of their own renowned spy agency.")

Gawd, that sound promising until it took a big left turn into "female empowerment" tropes! Just tell a fricking story!!!

Clémence Poésy & Emily Beecham Board CBS Studios’ ‘King & Conqueror’ (March 5)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/clemence-poesy-emily-beecham-cbs-studios-king-conqueror-james-norton-nikolaj-coster-waldau-1235845862/
 ("The show, which has already sold to the BBC in the UK, tells the story of a clash that defined the future of a country – and a continent – for a thousand years, the roots of which stretch back decades and extend out through a pair of interconnected family dynasties, struggling for power across two countries and a sea. ")

Sounds promising. Where would it air over here?...

     Ratings
  Joe Biden’s State Of The Union Address Draws 32.2 Million Viewers, Up 18% Over Last Year  (March 8)
 https://deadline.com/2024/03/2024-state-of-the-union-ratings-1235850488/

Gawd, why?! Why does anyone care about politics these days?!!

‘Shogun’ Debuts To Promising Global Streaming Viewership Across Disney+ & Hulu  (March 6)
 https://deadline.com/2024/03/shogun-premiere-streaming-viewership-fx-1235847360/

Good.

     The business of TV
  Casting Directors React To Complaints About Fewer Roles: “I’m A Major Therapist Now. All My Friends Are Actors And They’re Panicked”  (March 8)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/casting-directors-address-contraction-lack-of-actor-jobs-hollywood-1235850326/

Peak TV is over. And I think TV (and movie) production will keep declining for a while - the "bubble" has burst.

Lionsgate Says Studio To Start Split From Starz In April  (March 5)
 https://deadline.com/2024/03/lionsgate-studio-starz-split-1235846643/

Why is Starz even still around?!

Paramount Will Be “Diligent” Exploring Alternatives, CFO Promises, As Management Focused On Turnaround  (March 6)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/paramount-global-cfo-diligent-exploring-alternatives-streaming-turnaround-1235847272/

They're hosed!!

Hollywood Contraction: How Fewer Jobs & The Threat Of Another Strike Is Pushing BTL Workers To The Brink  (March 5)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/hollywood-contraction-below-the-line-jobs-crew-workers-1235845150/

See above.

IATSE, Teamsters & Hollywood Basic Crafts Begin Contract Talks With Studios: Here’s What To Expect  (March 4)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/iatse-teamsters-contract-talks-what-to-expect-1235844497/

I smell... another strike!

     Other News
  ‘9-1-1’ Trial Is On: Rockmond Dunbar’s Case Against ABC & 20th TV Over Vaccine Mandate Axing Gets Big Leap Forward – Update  (March 8)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/rockmond-dunbar-sues-disney-9-1-1-vaccine-mandate-1234956056/

Interesting...

‘Rust’ Armorer Guilty Of Involuntary Manslaughter In Fatal Shooting Of Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins; Defendant Not Guilty Of Evidence Tampering, Jury Says  (March 6)
  https://deadline.com/2024/03/rust-movie-armorer-guilty-shooting-death-1235847983/

Now, let's get Alec Baldwin!!