Tuesday February 16, 2021

Today’s Finales
CW: “Two Sentence Horror Stories” at 8:30p, “Trickster” at 9p
TLC: “7 Little Johnstons” at 8p, “My Big Fat Fabulous Life” at 9p

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Chris Harrison is pressing pause on his role as host of “The Bachelor,” following controversial remarks he made during an “Extra” interview with former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay. Harrison had excused the racial insensitivity of a contestant on “The Bachelor” who was photographed at an antebellum plantation-themed fraternity formal in 2018, shared QAnon conspiracy theories in posts, and “liked” Confederate flag-related TikToks. “The historic season of The Bachelor should not be marred or overshadowed by my mistakes or diminished by my actions,” wrote Harrison on Instagram, referencing the current Bachelor, Matt James, who is the first Black male lead. “To that end, I have consulted with Warner Bros. and ABC and will be stepping aside for a period of time and will not join for the ‘After the Final Rose’ special. I am dedicated to getting educated on a more profound and productive level than ever before.” Harrison also apologized to the Black and BIPOC community, giving thanks “to those who have reached out to help me on my path to anti-racism.”

Fox News Media’s Maria Bartiromo, Jeanine Pirro and former host Lou Dobbs filed separate motions to dismiss last week in response to the defamation lawsuit by electronic voting company Smartmatic. Fox News Media’s had filed a motion to dismiss on Monday, February 8. “Not only has Smartmatic failed to identify anything that could form the basis of a defamation (or disparagement) claim against Bartiromo; it has failed even to adequately plead actual malice,” said the Bartiromo filing.

Fox Corp. will hold a virtual upfront on Monday afternoon, May 17, with AVOD Tubi in the mix. WarnerMedia has scheduled its event the morning of May 19, in addition to its kids-and-family upfront on February 17. Disney and Discovery previously announced May 18 upfronts. NBCUniversal and The CW have not announced upfront dates, but NBCU is planning “One21,” highlighting capabilities across Comcast, NBCU and Sky.

Analyst firm LightShed Partners has formed venture investment company LightShed Ventures, focused on early-stage tech, media and telecom startups. LightShed Ventures Fund I will invest $75 million principally in the Seed and Series A rounds of category-defining private companies across the TMT ecosystem. The company was co-founded by general partners Richard Greenfield, Walter Piecyk and Brandon Ross, who formed LightShed Partners in 2019, and Jamie Roberts Seltzer, most recently at Waverley Capital. “LightShed Partners will serve as the foundation for what we do at LightShed Ventures,” said Greenfield. “Our unique, thematic research remains our life blood. The principles behind our research will underpin our investments. But the research itself is just the start of our flywheel. Everyone knows we have one of the biggest megaphones in TMT to amplify our ideas and strengthen our brand and mindshare.”

“Chappelle’s Show” is back on Netflix. The streamer pulled the sketch series off the air at the request of Dave Chappelle, who was displeased about Comedy Central and ViacomCBS licensing the show, which originally ran from 2003-2006, without additional payment to him. During an Instagram post, Chappelle thanked fans for refusing to watch. “You made that show worthless because without your eyes, it’s nothing. And when you stopped watching it they called me. And I got my name back. And I got my license back, and I got my show back, and they paid me millions of dollars. Thank you very much,” said Chappelle, who also thanked Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, and gave a shout-out to Chris McCarthy, President, ViacomCBS’ MTV Entertainment Group for “making things right.”

Comcast reported it holds a 9.3% stake in sports-first streamer FuboTV, worth over $300 million. While a number of programmers took FubotTV stock as party of their carriage agreements, AMC Networks reported it no longer owns any shares.

Kantar used its AI-powered creative evaluation tool, Link AI, to determine which Super Bowl ads and themes resonated most with viewers. The creative themes that drove the most impact included the ads that:
· Were rooted in relatable human insights (i.e. McDonald’s “TY for Driving Thru,” Baby Huggies “Welcome to the World, Baby” and Okios “Proface)
· Spoke to a brighter future versus the difficulties of the past (Bud Light Seltzer “Last Year’s Lemons” and Old Spice “Winner”)
· Offered solutions to people’s real-world problems (Microban “Keep Killing 24H,” Dexcom “Rant” and Hellman’s “Fairy God Mayo”)
· Celebrated the potential of the individual (Sam Adams “Horses,” Rockstar “Engery Spotlight” and Under Armour “Under the Armour”)

“Bridgerton” star Regé-Jean Page makes his debut as host of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” on February 20. Bad Bunny will be the musical guest.

Amazon Prime Video canceled UK paranormal comedy “Truth Seekers” after one season. “It’s a massive kick in the willy,” said Nick Frost, who co-wrote the series, on Instagram. “If you liked the show, thank you. And if you didn’t, are you happy now?”.

White House Deputy Press Secretary TJ Ducklo is out, after Vanity Fair reported he had threatened to “destroy” a Politico reporter who was working on a story about his relationship with an Axios reporter. “We accepted the resignation of TJ Ducklo after a discussion with him this evening,” said White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Saturday. “We are committed to striving every day to meet the standard set by the President in treating others with dignity and respect, with civility and with a value for others through our words and our actions.”

Dean Reynolds, veteran journalist and national political correspondent for WGN America’s “NewsNation” newscast, has exited at the end of his six-month contract. News Director Sandy Pudar stepped down earlier this month, ahead of the net’s rebrand to NewsNation on March 1.

Booted from Apple and Google app stores and Amazon’s web hosting service after the January 6 riots at the Capitol, social networking site Parler announced it will be back this week. The site, blamed for being used by Donald Trump supporters to help plan the attack, said it is now “built on sustainable, independent technology and not reliant on so-called ‘Big Tech’ for its operations.” Said interim CEO Mark Meckler, “When Parler was taken offline in January by those who desire to silence tens of millions of Americans, our team came together, determined to keep our promise to our highly engaged community that we would return stronger than ever…Parler is being run by an experienced team and is here to stay. We will thrive as the premier social media platform dedicated to free speech, privacy and civil dialogue.”

The Best of the Best and Rising Stars finalists have been named. Now it’s time for the winners to claim their trophies. Register now to watch the winners named live at our virtual gala on Thursday, February 25 at 1 PM ET.

The search is on for the best and brightest in sports media and we need your help. Be a part of putting together the industry’s most recognized list of the best in sports media.

APPLY TO JUDGE

Showtime is taking a closer look at the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show

in “The Show,” a 90-minute feature documentary focused on the challenge of pulling off a massive musical production during unprecedented times. “The pressure to deliver an iconic, memorable and entertaining performance is felt well beyond the artist, as there are a number of people – behind the scenes – who are vital to its success,” said Todd Kaplan, VP of Marketing, Pepsi. “We are taking fans on the emotional and thrilling journey of what it takes to make the biggest show of the year – with the added complexity of doing so amidst a global pandemic.”

With Hulu documentary “Framing Britney Spears” making headlines, Netlfix has another project in the works about the pop star, from filmmaker Erin Lee Carr (“How to Fix a Drug Scandal”), reports Bloomberg. The news outlet said Carr’s doc began filming before “Framing” was released on February 5.

Fox Entertainment is developing an animated series with Hasbro’s content studio eOne and Fox’s Bento Box Entertainment based on the board game Clue. “We’re thrilled to team up once again with our great partners at Fox and also work with Bento Box on this exciting new series,” said Pancho Mansfield, eOne’s President of Global Scripted Programming. “Clue is an iconic whodunit property that exudes mystery and intrigue, and has fans all over the world.”

The CW is not proceeding with “Wonder Girl,” centered on a Latina Dreamer who learns she’s a superhero. “Wish I could’ve shared the world I created, but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be,” tweeted executive producer/showrunner Dailyn Rodriguez.

Donald Glover (“Atlanta”) and Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag”) will create and star in “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” an Amazon series based on the 2005 New Regency film. Glover and Waller-Bridge will also serve as executive producers, with co-creator and executive producer Francesca Sloane (“Atlanta”), who will serve as showrunner, and executive producers Yariv Milchan and Michael Schaefer (New Regency), and Jenny Robins (Wells Street Films). “Talk about the dream team! Donald and Phoebe are two of the most talented creators and performers in the world. It’s truly a dream for us, as it will be for our global audience, to have these two forces of nature collaborating as a powerhouse creative team,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios.

Casting notes: Roselyn Sánchez (“Devious Maids”), Sylvia Sáenz (“Betty en NY”) and Jeimy Osorio (“La suerte de Loli”) will join previously announced Kate del Castillo (“La Reina del Sur”) in the upcoming Peacock Original “Armas de Mujer, premiering later this year…Hannah Ware (“The First”) will star in Netflix sci-fi series “The One,” set to drop Friday, March 12…Joshua Malina (“Scandal”) has joined the eleventh and final season of “Shameless” in a recurring role…Also landing a recurring role is Beth Triffon (“Ten Days in the Valley”), on season eight of “The Goldbergs.”

Streaming is on the rise, with the average American subscribing to multiple services. But there is concern that as viewers emerge from lockdown, and/or start looking to cut costs, subscription models will experience a downtick. In Cynsiders,
Navdeep Saini, Co-founder and CEO of free, ad-supported streaming TV network DistroTV, explains the importance of thinking FAST.

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

A new season of “Secrets of the Viking Stone” premieres on Science Channel Sunday, February 21 at 10p, as the archaeological team edges closer to the mystery of Kensington Runestone.

Cue the gender reveals! UPtv’s “Bringing Up Bates” is back for season 10 on Thursday, April 8 at 9p.

Showtime docu-series “Supervillain: The Making of Tekashi 6ix9ine” examines manufactured celebrity through the lens of 6ix9ine, aka Daniel Hernandez, an NYC deli clerk who turned himself into a viral hip hop sensation. Narrated by Giancarlo Esposito (“Better Call Saul”), the three-parter premieres Sunday, February 21 at 10p.

“Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World” (wt) follows the teen environmental activist as she meets leading climate scientists, and witnesses the consequences of climate change. PBS and the BBC will co-produce. All three episodes air Earth Day, April 22 from 8p-11p on PBS, followed by encore airings April 28-May 12 (check local listings).

“VH1 Couples Retreat,” a six- episode series celebrating Black love, premieres Monday, March 29 at 8p. During a week-long vacation, cast members will take part in conversations about how celebrity couples navigate love, heartache and communication.

Competition series “Moonshiners: Smoke Ring” explores the underground world of southern barbeque, starting Tuesday, March 9 on discovery+.

Andy Cohen hosts and exec produces “For Real: The Story of Reality TV,” exploring themes like celebreality dating and makeover series, with revelations from industry execs responsible for the genre. The seven-parter premieres Thursday, March 25 at 9p.

With student debt on the rise thanks in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, Crackle’s “Going From Broke,” focused on helping millennials deal with financial struggles, has updated its format. Episodes in the upcoming season will be shot over a six-week period and premiere in May, revealing which cast members succeeded in achieving better financial health, but “minisodes” will drop on Crackle and social media platforms earlier, with conversations conducted across platforms about the financial turmoil of the pandemic. “This awesome production model brings viewers inside the transformation process,” said executive producer Ashton Kutcher. “‘Going From Broke’ is the first makeover show that invites the audience to engage with the cast, financial experts and each other across social media while watching the process unfold ‘live.’”

COMING UP

The Series Mania Festival, scheduled for May/June dates, has been moved to August 26-September 2 in Lille, France and the Hauts-de-France region. Series Mania Digital, the online platform which initially launched in March of last year, will complement the live event.

“Attack of the Murder Hornets” premieres on discovery+ on Saturday, February 20. The doc examines the invasive species that can measure up to two inches long.

Expectant parents Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in a Harpo Productions special airing Sunday, March 7 at 8p. The couple announced on February 14 that they are having a second child.

When hiring entry level candidates, which college majors do you look for? Share your thoughts with Cynopsis in this quick, 3-question community poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7Q6BZWK.

GOING GLOBAL

Beyond Rights has closed deals for some of its engineering series, as well as for newer acquisitions in the genre, including “Massive Engineering Mistakes,” “Abandoned Engineering,” “Extreme Ice Machines,” and “How Did They Build That?”.

Media Ranch has optioned several formats in Europe and the US, including “Fish Bingo,” weight loss reality format “Big Love,” “Back to the 9th Grade,” healthy lifestyle format “Miracle Habits,” “Celebrity Identity,” and “Project Rembrandt.”

Please take a minute to answer our 3-question community poll.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7Q6BZWK

Thank you in advance!

CBS’s reboot of “The Equalizer” drew 7.98 million viewers and 0.9 among A18-49 on Sunday, while the season debut of ABC’s “American Idol” led the night in the demo with 1.1, and delivered 6.69 million viewers.

The week of February 1, HGTV was the #1 non-news cable network in Prime and Total Day among HHs and P2+, fueled by 40 telecasts (19 different programs) that each averaged at least 1.0M P2+. Corporate sib Discovery was the #2 non-news/sports cable network in Primetime among P25-54 and M25-54, and TLC was the #1 network on cable on Tuesday night among W18-49/18-34, driven by “My Big Fat Fabulous Life.”

Shareablee Top 10 TV Shows for the week of February 8
Program, Network, Total Actions, Total Content, Actions per Content, Fans & Followers
Riverdale (The CW Network), 5M, 42, 117,997, 16.8M
The Daily Show (Comedy Central), 3.5M, 141, 24,651, 27.6M
Ellen Degeneres (WB/Syndicated), 2.8M, 56, 50,728, 206.3M
Today Show (NBC), 2.5M, 975, 2,600, 13.8M
Hannity (Fox News), 2.5M, 283, 8,705, 10.3M
Entertainment Tonight (WB/syndicated), 1.7M, 690, 2,529, 9.2M
Good Morning America (ABC), 1.6M, 971, 1,693, 14.3M
Fox & Friends (Fox News), 1M, 47, 22,310, 4.6M
Saturday Night Live (NBC), 995.5K, 59, 16,873, 14.2M
The Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC), 837.7K, 67, 12,504, 13.3M

Shareablee Top 10 Streaming Shows for the week of February 8
Program, Platform, Total Actions, Total Content, Actions per Content, Fans & Followers
Cobra Kai (Netflix), 1.3M, 32, 40,122, 2.8M
Bridgerton (Netflix), 1.1M, 24 ,44,426, 911K
Get Organized With The Home Edit (Netflix), 635.5K, 36 17,654, 5.4M
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Netflix), 622.3K, 9, 69,146, 2.8M
Julie and the Phantoms (Netflix), 297.6K, 2, 148,819, 900K
Nanatsu No Naizai (Netflix), 252.7K, 59, 4,283, 716.7K
Netflix is a Joke (YouTube), 247.5K, 71, 3,485, 2.3M
One Piece (Funimation), 190.1K, 5, 38,021, 3.4M
Trailer Park Boys (Netflix), 184K, 28, 6,571, 3M
The Wilds (Amazon Prime Video), 152.6K, 26, 5,870, 131K

Broadcast Nielsen Ratings for Friday, February 11
Show, P2+ millions, (A18-49)
ABC: “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” 5.57 (0.8), “The Chase” 4.26 (0.6), “The Hustler” 2.56 (0.5)
CBS: “Young Sheldon” 7.59 (0.9), “B Positive” 5.17 (0.7), “Mom” 5.45 (0.7), “The Unicorn” 4.05 (0.6), “Clarice” 4.0 (0.5)
CW: “Walker” 1.73 (0.2), “Legacies” 0.63 (0.2)
FOX: “Hell’s Kitchen” 2.50 (0.7), “Call Me Kat” 2.05 (0.5), “Last Man Standing” 2.25 (0.4)
NBC: “Mr. Mayor” 2.75 (0.5), “Superstore”1.93 (0.4), “Law & Order: SVU” 2.26 (0.3), “Dateline” 2.63 (0.3)
Telemundo: “Exatlon Estados Unidos” 1.13 (0.3), “La Suerte de Loli”1.06 (0.3), “Buscando a Frida” 0.96 (0.3)
Univision: “Vencer al Desamor” 1.74 (0.5), “Te Acuerdas de Mi” 1.29 (0.3), “Dulce Ambicion” 1.30(0.4)
Source: Nielsen live + same day time period averages

IN MEMORIAM

Five-time “Jeopardy!” champion Brayden Smith died unexpectedly February 5, at age 24. His family told a local CBS station he died from complications from surgery. “The ‘Jeopardy!’ family is heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brayden Smith,” read a “Jeopardy!” Twitter post. “He was kind, funny and absolutely brilliant.”

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Which talk show host created and produced medical drama “Strong Medicine” (2000-2006)? Whoopi Goldberg. Kudos to: Marni C. Gold/Hawthorne, NJ, Synda Kollman-Charter Marketing Group/Boca Raton, FL, Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NYC, Sandy Spiegel-WTTW/Chicago, Matt Fera/Milwaukee, Andy Pittman-TAMU/College Station, TX, Paul Blutter-Walk and Talk Production Rentals/Burbank, David Garber-Loyola Marymount University/Playa Vista, CA, Lorrie Shilling/El Segundo, CA, Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA

Today’s Trivia Question
On which TV movie did Martin Landau and Barbara Bain, married at the time, perform together for the last time? (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.)