Monday January 25, 2021

IN THE NEWS

Tom Brokaw is retiring from NBC News after 55 years. “During one of the most complex and consequential eras in American history, a new generation of NBC News journalists, producers and technicians is providing America with timely, insightful and critically important information, 24/7,” said the 80-year-old former anchor of “NBC Nightly News.” “I could not be more proud of them.” Brokaw co-anchored “Today” from 1976-81, and “NBC Nightly News” from 1982-2004. More recently, he has served as a senior correspondent.

TV and radio personality Larry King died January 23 at age 87. The long-time CNN host, whose “Larry King Live” won a Peabody in 1992, was an easygoing interviewer whose guests included wide range of people, including every sitting president from Gerald Ford to Barack Obama. Known for listening carefully to his guests, King said, “I’ve never learned anything while I was talking.”

Let the Games begin: Japanese officials denied reports that the Olympic Games in Tokyo, postponed until summer 2021 due the pandemic, could be cancelled. The reports are “categorically untrue,” said a statement from the Government of Japan, adding that it is working with the International Olympic Committee to prepare for the Games, and will “implement all possible countermeasures against Covid-19.” The event is scheduled to take place July 23-August 8, and air on NBC.

AMC renewed “Eli Roth’s History of Horror” for a third season. Among the episodes included will be Sinister Psychics, Holiday Horror and Sequels That Don’t Suck.

Coming back for an 8-episode second season is HGTV’s “Help! I Wrecked My House,” premiering in late 2021. The renovation show’s debut run attracted over 16 viewers.

Sports channel NBCSN is shutting down by the end of the year. “We have decided that the best strategic next step for our Sports Group and the entire Company is to wind down NBCSN completely, with key elements of NBCSN’s programming moving to USA Network and, in some cases, Peacock for 2022 and beyond,” wrote NBC Sports Chairman Pete Bevacqua in an internal memo. “This will make USA Network an extraordinarily powerful platform in the media marketplace, and gives our sports programming a significant audience boost.” NBCSN was launched in 1995 as the Outdoor Life Network.

Food Network dropped all content related to season 20 of “Worst Cooks in America” after the winner, Ariel Robinson, was charged along with her husband of in the death of their adopted 3-year-old daughter. The season aired last year.

Colin Elzie has been promoted to head writer for NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” Elzie, who joined the show in 2016, replaced Rebecca Drysdale, who exited on November.

Brie Larson (“Captain Marvel”) will star in and executive produce “Lessons In Chemistry,” which landed at Apple TV+ with a straight-to-series order. “Lessons,” from Susannah Grant (“Unbelievable”) and based on the upcoming novel by Bonnie Garmus, follows a woman in the early 1960s who becomes host of a TV cooking show when her dreams of a career in science are dashed.

NPACT, the trade association for non-fiction production companies, is skipping its annual network-ranking survey and instead released the results of a one-question survey that went out to NPACT members. Producers were asked to name the top three buyers that made the best partners during the COVID-19 crisis. Of the 32 networks/streamers cited, the top four (in alphabetical order) were Bravo, Discovery, HBO Max and Netflix.

Kenneth Branagh(“Tenet”) will play British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Sky drama “This Sceptred Isle.” The five-part series will trace the impact on Britain of the pandemic. “Our series weaves together countless true stories – from Boris Johnson in Number 10 to front line workers around the country – chronicling the efforts of scientists, doctors, care home workers and policy makers to protect us from the virus,” said Michael Winterbotton, who co-wrote and will direct the project.

“Saturday Night” will be back with five consecutive new shows starting January 30. Booked as hosts/musical guests for the first three shows are John Krasinski with Machine Gun Kelly; Dan Levy with Phoebe Bridges; and Regina King with Nathaniel Rateliff. It’s a make-good for Krasinski, who had been scheduled to host a show in March that was canceled due to the pandemic.

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New developments prompted discovery+ to greenlight an additional episode of limited series “Onision: In Real Life.” The true crime docuseries profiles Greg Jackson, one of YouTube’s most controversial stars, and the allegations of grooming and predatory behavior that have followed him for years. On January 19, one day after the final episode dropped, YouTube sent a notice to Jackson that three of his YouTube channels would no longer be monetized, propelling him to retire from a career on the platform. The episode will be available to stream in spring of 2021.

Disney XD picked up season five of “Beyblade Burst,” following a new cast of characters along with some familiar faces. Two new episodes debut Saturday, February 20 at 8a,

Season two of Bravo’s “Below Deck Sailing Yacht” launches Monday, March 1 with a super-sized episode from 9-10:15p. The reality show’s first run ranked as the #3 new series on cable among P18-49 and P25-54.

The full season of Magnolia Network original series “The Lost Kitchen” drops on discovery+ on Tuesday, January 26. The reality series follows a renowned restaurant in Maine grappling with the challenges of the pandemic. Magnolia Network’s original launch date last October was pushed to 2021 due to the pandemic.

Fox is reviving “America’s Most Wanted” in March, with a new host, Elizabeth Vargas (“20/20”). Fox Alternative Entertainment is producing. “I am so excited to hear ‘America’s Most Wanted’ is coming back and I support its return,” said original host John Walsh. “God bless.” The show first ran on Fox from 1988-2011, then on Lifetime until 2013.

OWN’s “Behind Every Man” returns Saturday, January 30 at 10p, with stories of strong Black women who have supported the famous men in their lives, while carving a path to their own success.

“Invincible,” a new, hour-long, adult animation series from Robert Kirkman, makes its debut Friday, March 26 on Prime Video. Voice cast includes Steven Yeun as Mark Grayson (aka Invincible) and J.K. Simmons as Nolan Grayson (aka Omni-Man), among others.

Insight TV and Outdoor Channel are teaming to co-produce “Backyard Ballistics,” a 10-part series hosted by inventor and YouTube star Joerg Sprave and creative technician Cheyanne Ruether. Zig Zag Productions is producing.

COMING UP

AMC+ marks Black History Month with a collection dedicated to “Black Stories & Storytellers” available all month, featuring documentaries “The Stand,” “Lynch: A History” and “A Ballerina’s Tale”; dramas “Memphis,” “Our Song” and “Medicine for Melancholy”; and series including SundanceTV’s “Brick City,” AMC’s “Hip Hop: Songs that Shook America,” IFC Original “Sherman’s Showcase: Black History Month Spectacular” and Shudder Original Documentary “Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror.”

A two-part reunion of Bravo’s “Southern Charm” airs Thursdays, January 28 and February 4 at 8p, with the Charmers airing grievances and addressing viewers’ questions.

GOING GLOBAL

Google warned it would make its search engine unavailable in Australia if plans to make tech companies pay for news content goes forward. “If this version of the code were to become law, it would give us no real choice but to stop making Google search available in Australia,” Mel Silva, the Managing Director of Goolge Australia and New Zealand, told senators. “That would be a bad outcome not only for us, but also for the Australian people, media diversity, and the small businesses who use our products every day.” Unfazed, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, “We don’t respond to threats.”

Swedish label Jarowskij announced an 8-part adaptation of Banijay Rights format, “SAS: Who Dares Wins” for TV4. The new version will see 18 civilian volunteers participate in a Special Forces training camp.

START THE SURVEY

The CW’s “Walker” premiered to 2.43 million total viewers and 0.4 among A18-49, the net’s most-watched Thursday since March 2018.

Spectrum News reports its coverage of the Inauguration on January 20 recorded an 82% household ratings increases across all 10 of its metered markets.

TLC was the #1 non-news/sports network on cable the week of January 10 among W25-54/18-49/18-34, driven by the #1 non-sports cable program of the week, “90 Day Fiancé.” It was also the #2 program on all of TV Sunday night with key women demos while “Unexpected” hit a season high among W18-49/18-34.

Broadcast Nielsen Ratings for Thursday, January 14
Show, P2+ millions, (A18-49)
ABC: “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” 7.84 (1.17), “The Chase” 5.45 (0.86), “The Hustler” 3.29 (0.59)
CBS: “Young Sheldon” 4.42 (0.56), “B Positive” 3.12 (0.42), “Mom” 2.95 (0.36), “The Unicorn” 2.25 (0.28), “Star Trek: Discovery” 1.50 (0.16)
CW: “World’s Funniest Animals” 0.74 (0.11), “World’s Funniest Animals” 0.67 (0.09), “Legacies” 0.29 (0.06)
FOX: “Hell’s Kitchen” 2.67 (0.70), “Call Me Kat” 2.84 (0.55), “Last Man Standing” 2.84 (0.49)
NBC: “Mr. Mayor” 3.73 (0.53), “Superstore” 2.51 (0.48), Law & Order: SVU” 3.83 (0.64), “Dateline” 3.29 (0.43)
Telemundo: “Domo del Dinero” 0.86 (0.2), “Todo Por Mi Hija” 1.71 (0.5), “Falsa Identidad” 0.97 (0.3)
Univision: “Vencer al Desamor” 1.66 (0.5), “Imperio de Mentiras” 1.35 (0.4), “Dulce Ambicion” 1.19 (0.3)
Source: Nielsen live + same day time period averages

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Jennifer Jones has been named Head of Global Business Affairs and Operations at Conde Nast Entertainment. Jones had been Disney+ VP of Business Affairs. The new job reunites Jones with Agnes Chu, who joined CNE as President in September from Disney+.

Blake Bryant has taken the role of Head of Communications for Warner Bros. Global Brands and Experiences. Previously, Bryant was SVP, Worldwide Marketing and Publicity, Warner Bros. Unscripted Television.

Fox Corp. appointed Varun Narang as Chief Product Officer. Narang had held the same job at Disney+Hotstar.

IN MEMORIAM

Actor Gregory Sierra died January 4 of cancer. He was 83. Sierra was best known to TV audiences for his roles in “Sanford and Son” and “Barney Miller.”

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
What was Jennifer Lopez’s first US series regular acting role? “Second Chances” (1993-1994). Kudos to: Charles Lore/NYC, Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NYC, Anthony Salerno-Horizon Media/NYC, Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA, Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA, David Garber-Loyola Marymount University/Playa Vista, CA, David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Credit Union/Burbank

Today’s Trivia Question
On which sitcom did Bob Newhart guest star as his “The Bob Newhart Show” (1972-78) character, Dr. Bob Hartley? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: a limit of four answers per time zone.)