Today’s Premieres
Freeform: The Watchful Eye at 9p
GSN: Switch at 7p
History: History’s Greatest Mysteries at 9p
Netflix: Cunk on Earth; Princess Power
The Africa Channel: African Royale at 9p

IN THE NEWS

HBO has renewed “The Last of Us” for a second season. Episode 2 of the drama drew 5.7 million viewers across HBO Max and linear telecasts in the US, adding more than 1 million new viewers vs. the series premiere. The 22% jump marks the largest week two audience growth for any HBO Original Drama Series in the history of the network.

“Somebody Feed Phil” scored a season seven order from Netflix. The docuseries follows Phil Rosenthal (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) on culinary adventures around the world.

CBS affiliates were notified on Friday that they if they opt out of Paramount Global’s new carriage deal with FuboTV, they’ll be replaced on Fubo with a CBS network feed without local programming at 5p today. In response, the CBS affiliate board sent an email to members saying, “CBS Affiliates initially allowed the former CBS Corporation to control this distribution for a short period of time to facilitate the quick launch of nascent vMVPDs. Unfortunately, this initial support of vMVPDs has led to a broken system through which Paramount today seeks to control the retransmission on Fubo (and the other vMVPDs) of all CBS Affiliates’ signals.” Affiliates who opt out will still have the opportunity to negotiate with FuboTV directly.

CNBC has canceled “Jay Leno’s Garage” after seven seasons as the network focuses on business-related reality shows like “Shark Tank.” Also out is “Money Court,” which premiered in 2021. In more Leno news, the car enthusiast, who spent nine days in the hospital in November after his car burst into flames, got knocked off his motorcycle on January 17 and broke a collarbone and two ribs.

ABC and “Good Morning America” have cut ties with co-anchors T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach. The couple’s last appearance on “GMA3” was December 2; they were taken off the air pending the results of an internal review over reports of a romantic relationship. “After several productive conversations with Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes, about different options, we all agreed it’s best for everyone that they move on from ABC News,” said ABC News spokesperson on Friday. “We recognize their talent and commitment over the years and are thankful for their contributions.”

EXPIRING TOMORROW:

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PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Nicole Kidman and Maya Erskine (“Pen15”) will star in HBO limited series “The Perfect Nanny,” created and written by Erskine and based on the book by Leila Slimani about a nanny who is not what she seems. Kidman and Per Saari EP for Kidman’s Blossom Films; Erskine executive produces alongside Pascal Caucheteux for Why Not Productions, and Philippe Godeau for Pan-Européenne. Legendary is co-studio with HBO.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag”) is writing a TV series for Amazon Studios that is part of a future “Tomb Raider” franchise. The project is part of a muti-platform universe that is to include games and a possible film.

Liz Garbus (“Harry and Meghan”) is onboard to direct and exec produce a Hulu project inspired by the true story of a family who adopts a girl they believe has a rare form of dwarfism, but soon suspect she may not be who she says she is. The drama from ABC Signature will star Ellen Pompeo (“Grey’s Anatomy”), who is also executive producing through her Calamity Jane banner.

Despite a straight-to-series order, comic book adaptation “Dead Day,” from Universal Television, is not moving forward at Peacock. The series is being shopped elsewhere, reports Deadline.

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

BET and CBS News are teaming on a new monthly primetime newsmagazine show. “America in Black,” featuring investigative reports, interviews, human interest stories and celebrity profiles, premieres Sunday, February 19 on BET and VH1.

PBS Kids series “Work It Out Wombats!”, introducing computational thinking concepts via a trio of marsupials, premieres February 6.

Two survivalists from overseas fight to become the first foreigners to endure 21 days on US soil in the upcoming season of Discovery’s “Naked and Afraid,” and four competitors who tapped out in previous challenges – and have deep regrets about their decisions – seize their last chance to prove their resolve. The action starts Sunday, February 19 at 8p.

Irish crime thriller “Bloodlands” returns for season two on Acorn TV on Monday, February 6 with two episodes, followed by two episodes per week on Mondays through February 20.

COMING UP

“Sam & Kate,” starring Jake Hoffman and Schuyler Fisk playing the children of characters played by their real-life parents, Dustin Hoffman and Sissy Spacek, respectively, starts streaming exclusively on Peacock on February 1.

Tan France (“Queer Eye”) shares his mission to take down the beauty trend of skin lightening in “Beauty and the Bleach,” the latest installment of the Fuse Docs franchise, premiering Wednesday, March 1 at 9p on Fuse and Fuse+. The premiere coincides with the United Nations’ Zero Discrimination Day.

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired rights worldwide to “A Little Prayer,” directed by Angus MacLachlan, following its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. Starring David Strathairn, Jane Levy, Dascha Polanco, Will Pullen, Anna Camp, and Celia Weston, the film follows a man who tries to protect his daughter-in-law when he discovers his son is having an affair.

First Look 2023: OTT Virtual Conference

OTT demand continues to skyrocket

The OTT sector is projected to experience a boom through 2032, with big players such as Netflix, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, and YouTube being thrown into the mix. To learn more about recent developments in the market, read the full press release from Digital Journal here.

RATINGS

The second episode of new Hallmark Channel series “The Way Home” was the #1 most-watched program on Sunday and #2 most-watched of the week (behind Hallmark Channel’s Saturday night movie premiere, “The Wedding Veil Journey”). Season to date, the show has reached 3.5 million unduplicated viewers.

The January 22 series premiere of FOX drama “Accused” delivered more than 11 million multi-platform viewers and a 2.3 rating among A18-49 in Live + 3, ranking as television’s highest-rated and most-watched debut in nearly two years.

Food Network’s “Girl Meets Farm” posted a .6 P18+ / .8 W18+ Live+3 rating, up +14 and +16%, respectively, from prior six-week timeslot benchmarks, and ranked as the #1 non-news/sports cable program among P/W 18+ and #1 overall among W25-54.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Brian Wieser has left his position of Global President, Business Intelligence at WPP and GroupM after four years. Weiser had handed day-to-day operations to his successor, Kate Scott-Dawkins, late last year. “I am incredibly thankful for the time I was able to spend improving existing products, constructing new frameworks of understanding and broadening my views of the business in collaboration with thousands of WPP colleagues and clients,” said Wieser. Of Scott-Dawkins, Wieser praised, “She’ll elevate these efforts to even higher efforts than I ever took them.”

Chad Campbell has joined Viaplay Group as Head of Public Relations for North America. Campbell previously spent 15 years leading domestic and international publicity for Acorn TV.

IN MEMORIAM

College basketball broadcaster Billy Packer died January 26 of kidney failure. He was 82. Packer covered 34 Final Fours for CBS and NBC. “In true Billy fashion, he analyzed the game with his own unique style, perspective and opinions, yet always kept the focus on the game,” said Sean McManus, chairman of CBS Sports.

This Day in History
1661 –Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, was executed for regicide two-and-a-half years after his death.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
What color is the teddy bear that appears throughout season 2 of “Breaking Bad” (2008-2013)? Pink. Kudos to: Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NYC; Linda Walker-Smith-Comcast Cable/Orlando, FL; Art Salisch-SMRC/NJ; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Misha Leister-Warner Bros. Discovery/NYC; David Chill-Chill Research/LA; Don Cowser-Icon Media Direct/Sherman Oaks, CA; Lorrie Shilling/El Segundo, CA

Today’s Trivia Question
How many years were there between seasons one and two of HBO’s “The Comeback”? (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.)

Cynopsis Team