Today’s Premieres
Apple TV+: Pinecone & Pony
HBO: A Black Lady Sketch Show at 11p
Hulu: Woke
Netflix: Dirty Lines; Barbie: It Takes Two; Elite; Green Eggs and Ham
Paramount+: iCarly
PBS: Chamber Music Society Returns at 10p

Today’s Finale
CBS: Undercover Boss at 8p

Saturday’s Premieres
CW: Would I Lie to You? at 8:30p; Masters of Illusion at 9p
Discovery: Louisiana Law at 8p
Discovery+: The Repair Shop
Netflix: Our Blues; My Liberation Notes
Travel Channel: Portal to Hell at 10p

Sunday’s Premieres
AMC: 61st Street at 10p
HGTV: Building Roots at 9p
ID: Evil Lives Here: Shadows of Death at 10p

Sunday’s Finales
BBC America: Killing Eve at 8p
Showtime: Billions at 9p; Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber at 10p
TLC: 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days at 8p

IN THE NEWS

David Zaslav, future CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, announced his post-merger executive leadership team. Bruce Campbell, Kathleen Finch and JB Perrette all scored bigger roles, with Campbell in the new role of Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer, Finch overseeing all networks in the new role of of Chairman and Chief Content Officer, US Networks Group, and Perrette overseeing streaming as CEO and President, Warner Bros. Discovery Global Streaming and Interactive Entertainment. “We are so excited to bring the heritage and legacies of these two great companies together by creating Warner Bros. Discovery, and I am proud that our new executive management team blends world-class leaders from both organizations as we take our first step toward one single cohesive, collaborative culture,” said Zaslav.

Additionally, Casey Bloys continues as Chief Content Officer of HBO & HBO Max, Channing Dungey continues as Chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group, Gunnar Wiedenfels will continue as CFO, Adria Alpert Romm will serve as Chief People and Culture Officer and David Leavy will be Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. Toby Emmerich continues as Chairman, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, Chris Licht will serve as Chairman & CEO of CNN Global, as previously announced, Lori Locke will serve as Chief Accounting Officer, Savalle Sims will continue as General Counsel and Gerhard Zeiler will serve as President, International. The company plans to name a new Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at a later date.

In with the new: ABC announced a slew of summer premiere dates, renewals and specials, not long after it canceled a bunch of titles including Alec Baldwin-fronted “Match Game” and “The Hustler.” Coming soon are “The Great American Tag Sale with Martha Stewart,” which finds the influencer parting ways with pieces from her collection of furniture, art and housewares through a series of cocktail party previews for celebs and neighbors; and “The American Rescue Dog Show,” hosted by Rob Riggle and Joe Tessitore and featuring categories like Best In Underbite and Best In Snoring. Both shows debut Wednesday, May 25. Also due, on July 7, is the long-awaited game show “Generation Gap,” from Jimmy Kimmel and Mark Burnett, hosted by Kelly Ripa. ABC also announced renewals for “Bachelor In Paradise” and “Judge Steve Harvey.”

The DGA has formed a committee to address set safety, in the wake of the accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounding of director Joel Souza on the set of “Rust” last October. DGA president Lesli Linka Glatter appointed a new safety committee “to ensure that safety concerns remain at the forefront of our guild.”

Three quarters of US homes (76 percent) now have a smart TV, and smart TVs account for more than half (57 percent) of all TV sets, according to Hub Entertainment Research’s fourth annual Connected Home study. Among other findings:
* In 2022, 86 percent of smart TV homes regularly stream shows through a smart TV’s built-in capability, an increase from 2020’s 75 percent.
* 52 percent of all homes own a smart speaker
* 48 percent own at least one smart home device such as a smart thermostat, smart doorbell or smart lightbulb.

CYNOPSIS SPORTS CMO EXCHANGE

Tuesday, May 24, 2022 @ 1:00pm ET

Sessions include executive and brand roundtables, leveraging lifestyle, and a conversation with league CMO’s.

Check out the agenda and join us!

PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Tom Hiddleston will navigate “The White Darkness” in a starring role for the Apple limited series based on the David Grann nonfiction book. Developed by Soo Hugh and co-showrun by Hugh and Mark Heyman, the project is inspired by the true life account of Henry Worsley, who embarks on an epic journey crossing Antarctica on foot.

“Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” has been a slam-dunk for HBO and now the network has ordered a second season of the drama series, which is set to end its first run Sunday, May 8. Based on the book “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s” by Jeff Pearlman, it chronicles the professional and personal lives of the ‘80s LA Lakers, a team that defined an era both on and off the court.

A physical comedy game show will join ABC’s unscripted summer lineup. “The Final Straw,” from B17 Entertainment (“History of Swear Words”) features four teams of contestants facing off to combat gigantic tipping towers filled with objects ranging from basketballs to kitchen appliances.

Fox has renewed “The Cleaning Lady” for a second season. One of the top 5 new broadcast dramas of the current season, the series follows a whip-smart doctor who comes to the US to seek medical treatment for her son and becomes a cleaning lady for the mob in order to best a failed system that forces her into hiding.

At sister FX, the pilot of an untitled half-hour comedy written by Lauren Ludwig (“American Auto”) got an order. Touted as a metaphysical comedy about a group of queer 20-somethings who must confront their generational anxieties and emotional baggage, the series is from Ludwig and Chris & Paul Weitz (“About a Boy”) under their Depth of Field banner.

Laura Dern and Liam Hemsworth will topline Netflix feature romance “Lonely Planet,” written and directed by Susannah Grant (“Unbelievable”). Grant is also producing alongside Sarah Timberman and Liza Chasin for 3dot Productions.

Apple TV+ ordered six-part limited series “The Big Cigar,” which will star Andre Holland as Black Panther boss Huey Newton. From Janine Sherman Barrois, Don Cheadle, Jim Hecht & Warner Bros. Television, the series centers on the ways Newton was able to elude a nationwide FBI manhunt and escape to Cuba while being pursued. The show is based on the Playboy magazine article from Joshuah Bearman, who will also serve as an exec producer along with Jim Hecht.

John Cena-starring action comedy project “Officer Exchange” is in the works at Amazon Studios. Written by Ben Zazove and Evan Turner, the story follows a cop who teams up with an Indian police officer to take down a diamond smuggling ring in India. Peter Safran and John Rickard (“Peacemaker”) are producing; Cena is exec-producing.

Peacock ordered unscripted original series “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning,” created by Scout Productions (“Queer Eye”) and Amy Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions. Based on the best seller by Margareta Magnusson, the hourlong transformation series features people who are at a major crossroads and need to get their houses and lives in order.

Whoopi Goldberg is onboard to play Bird Womanopposite Malachi Kirby and Delroy Lindo in “Anansi Boys,” Neil Gaiman’s series adaptation for Prime Video of his fantasy novel. The six-episode series spans space and time as a young man’s life changes drastically after his father dies and he learns secrets about his own destiny.

Crown Media Family Networks signed Jonathan Bennett (“Mean Girls,” “The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls”) to a multipicture overall deal. Bennett reunited with “Mean Girls” co-star Lacey Chabert in the Hallmark Channel original movie “Elevator Girl” in 2010, and more recently had roles in “Station 19” and “Potato Dreams of America.”

Christina Hall, real estate and design expert, mom of three and star of HGTV’s “Flip or Flop,” will share a new Tennessee adventure in docuseries “Christina in the Country” (working title). HGTV greenlighted the six-episode series just weeks after the network picked up additional eps of Hall-starrer “Christina on the Coast.”

Cuban baseball doc “The Last Out,” from “St. Louis Superman” director Sami Khan and Michael Gassert, has been acquired by PBS’ POV. Both English- and Spanish-language versions of the feature film will premiere as part of POV‘s 35th season in October, timed to coincide with Hispanic Heritage Month and the start of the MLB postseason.

CNBC ordered 12 new episodes of its longest-running primetime original series, “American Greed,” now in its 15th season. Narrated by Stacy Keach, the series covers stories that expose how far some people will go for money. New fall eps will tackle the rise and fall of the founder of semitruck company Nikola and a dating app scammer who wooed well-to-do women.

Ireland will be wooing big-budget productions with a new $327 million studio complex under construction now and backed by Hackman Capital Partners. The new Greystones Media Campus aims to open its doors in 2024 with a state-of-the-art film and TV studio located 15 miles south of Dublin.

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

Four-part HBO Max original doc “Not So Pretty,” from filmmakers Kirby Dick & Amy Ziering, debuts Thursday, April 14. Narrated by Keke Palmer, the project promises the first comprehensive large-scale investigative expose of the trillion-dollar cosmetics, beauty and personal care industry… Also from the platform, the 10-ep fifth season of “The Great Pottery Throw Down” will be available to stream Thursday, April 14, as 12 of Britain’s best home potters compete to become champion.

Deserted locations with curious pasts are center stage in “Mysteries of the Abandoned,” which returns for a new season to Discovery on Tuesday, April 14 at 8p and Science Channel on Tuesday, April 19 at 9p. A once luxurious skyscraper in the center of Bangkok and an enormous war machine on the beach in Dagestan, Russia are among explorations.

The fifth season of “Selling Sunset” heads to Netflix on Friday, April 22. Viewers can expect new loves, old foes and a fresh face on the scene in the red-hot LA luxury real estate market.

It’s back to high drama for Bravo, which will debut season 12 of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” on Wednesday, May 11 at 8p. Returning are housewives Kyle Richards, Lisa Rinna, Erika Jayne, Dorit Kemsley, Garcelle Beauvais, Sutton Stracke and Crystal Kung Minkoff, who are joined by newbies Diana Jenkins and Sheree Zampino. Resident socialite Kathy Hilton will also be back as a friend of the pod.

The action returns to the aisles as “Supermarket Stakeout” debuts a new season Tuesday, May 17 at 10p on Food Network. Hosted by Alex Guarnaschelli, each hour-long episode features outdoor cooking battles as chefs persuade unsuspecting customers to sell their groceries as they attempt to turn the ingredients into themed culinary delights. Guarnaschelli also takes on some of the toughest carts from prior seasons in “Supermarket Stakeout: What Would Alex Make?” with new eps beginning Tuesday, May 31 at 11p.

“TMZ” spinoff “TMZ Hip Hop” will debut on Fox-owned stations in 10 major markets and digital network Fox Soul on Monday, April 11. The show will have a four-week run.

COMING UP

Discovery and Science Channel will bring viewers the launch of the Axiom Space Ax-1 mission from Kennedy Space center live today (April 8) with the launch set for 11:17a. The mission, which will use a SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft onboard a Falcon 9 rocket, is the first completely privately funded and crewed mission to the International Space Station.

“Mysteries From The Grave: The Titanic” debuts today (April 8) on Tubi and explores one of the world’s most epic disasters to understand how the unsinkable ship was lost, along with 1,500 people. The doc features interviews with the descendants of passengers.

The 2022 CMT Music Awards added more performers to its inaugural broadcast on CBS, Monday April 11 at 8p. Jason Aldean will perform with Bryan Adams, while Jimmie Allen and Monica will join up with the previously announced Little Big Town. Walker Hayes and Thomas Rhett will also croon alongside Riley Green.

PBS Kids is celebrating spring with an “Explore the Outdoors”-themed lineup, airing April 18 to May 13 and featuring new specials and eps aimed at helping “grow” kids’ curiosity and understanding about the environment and sustainability. One-hour movie “Elinor Wonders Why: A Wonderful Journey” and “Cyberchase: Buzz and the Tree” are among featured content.

John Wayne Gacy, an aspiring politician, beloved local contractor and part-time clown-for-hire who murdered 33 young men between 1972-76, is the subject of a three-part Netflix doc. “Conversations With a Killer: the John Wayne Gacy Tapes,” slated to debut Wednesday, April 20, is the second installment in an ongoing series from filmmaker Joe Berlinger.

Actors Rafael Amaya, Jacqueline Bracamontesand Cristian de la Fuente will host the 2022 “Latin American Music Awards,” to be broadcast live on Telemundo on Thursday, April 21 at 7p. The event pays tribute to today’s most influential and iconic Latin artists, as voted by fans.

“Oprah + Viola,” a sitdown featuring the queen of talk and actress Viola Davis discussing Davis’ new memoir Finding Me, premieres on Netflix Friday, April 22. From Harpo, the special will find Davis sharing memories of her childhood marked by poverty, disturbing abuse and “all the things that cause you pain.”

Several specials are on tap for Earth Day. “Explorer: The Last Tepui” features Alex Honnold (“Free Solo”) alongside climber Mark Synnott, and a climbing team led by National Geographic Explorer as they embark on a grueling mission in the Amazon. “The Biggest Little Farm: The Return,” the follow-up to the doc, revisits John and Molly Chester on their 10-year journey to breathe life back into a dried up farm. Both debut Friday, April 22 on Disney+. Paramount+ will feature new carousel “Earth Through Different Lenses” on its homepage April 18-26, comprising documentaries highlighting the work being done by environmentalists all around the world.

TECH TALK

Lego Group and “Fortnite” parent Epic Games are partnering to create a metaverse experience that’s safe for kids and families. Under a new long-term partnership, the companies will build an “immersive, creatively inspiring and engaging digital experience” that will give kids tools to become “confident creators… in a safe and positive space.”

Streamer Vidgo added FOX Weather to its lineup, bolstering its roster of news, sports and live content.

CASTING

Krysta Rodriguez (“Halston”) and Lauren Lapkus (“Good Girls”) will topline CBS’ multi-camera comedy pilot “Sober Companion”… Maya Erskine (“PEN15”) is now in to headline Prime Video’s “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” with Donald Glover. She succeeds Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who was attached in the role before departing last fall.

Carla Woodcock and Callum Kerr will star in the pilot for Hulu’s musical drama “History Of A Pleasure Seeker”… Talisa Garcia (“Baptiste”) has been cast in Disney+ series “Willow”… Jayden Elijah (“School’s Out Forever”) joined the cast of Hulu series “Saint X”… Lydia West (“It’s A Sin”) will star alongside Patricia Clarkson in espionage thriller “Gray” for AGC Studios… Angela Bassett joined the cast of Netflix feature “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” alongside Millie Bobby Brown.

MEASUREMENT & DATA CONFERENCE

June 7th @ Edison Ballroom, NYC

There’s still time to book your seat at this renowned conference. Get the tools you need to effectively take on today’s cross platform challenges. Join us!

BOOK MY SPOT

RATINGS

Driven by popular series and returning programs from the “Gold Rush” and
“Street Outlaws” franchises, Discovery Channel had more Top 10 unscripted series than any other cable network among M25-54 (6) and was the No. 1 ad-supported cable network for the demo during 1Q22.

Broadcast Nielsen Ratings for Wednesday, April 6
Show, P2+ 000s, (A18-49)
ABC: “The Kardashians” 2.84 (0.5) “The Wonder Years” 1.97 (0.3) “Home Economics” 1.67 (0.3) “A Million Little Things” 1.85 (0.3)
CBS: “Survivor” 5.58 (0.9), “Beyond the Edge” 2.55 (0.3), “Good Sam” 1.87 (0.2)
CW: “Flash” 0.57 (0.1), “Kung Fu” 0.43 (0.1)
FOX: “The Masked Singer” 3.97 (0.7), “Domino Masters” 1.65 (0.3)
NBC: “Chicago Med” 6.61 (0.7), “Chicago Fire” 7.39 (0.8), “Chicago PD” 5.71 (0.7)
Telemundo: “Exatlon” 0.89 (0.3), “Hercai: Amor” 1.15 (0.3), “Pasion Gavilanes 0.69 (0.2)
Univision: “Soltero Con Hijas” 1.32 (0.4), “Mi Fortuna es Amarte” 1.55 (0.5), “Madre” 1.79 (0.5)
Source: Nielsen live + same day time period averages

EXECUTIVE MOVES

MRC Live & Alternative named Stephen Hill and Rob Bagshaw as EVPs of Creative. Former BET programming president Hill has been a creative consultant with MRC Live & Alternative since April 2021, where he has led creative efforts around the 2021 “Billboard Music Awards” and the 2021 “American Music Awards,” among others; Bagshaw most recently served as EVP for Kids & Family Group, ViacomCBS.

A+E Networks Global Content Sales appointed Dr. Kerstin Guhne, PhD as VP of Global Content Sales, EMEA. Gühne joins A+E Networks following a 15-year tenure at Sony Pictures Television, where she served as Managing Director then Senior Vice President of Sales and Distribution.

The BFI has named Louise Ortega as Senior Production and Development Executive for its film fund. Ortega has had roles at companies including See-Saw Films, Vertigo Films and Slim Film and Television.

Digital media company Recurrent Ventures appointed Alex Vargas as COO. Vargas most recently served as COO of Bleacher Report.

Sharese Bullock-Bailey is the new festival director and the first-ever Chief Innovation Officer at Urbanworld, which showcases narrative features, docs, short films, web originals, spotlight screenings and more that feature storytellers of color. Bullock-Bailey most recently was Chief Strategist and Partnership Officer at Ghetto Film School.

Film at Lincoln Center named film industry veteran Sarah Eaton as VP of marketing and communications. Eaton is joining from the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation.

This Day in History
1986 – Clint Eastwood was elected mayor of Carmel, CA.

Friday Fun Fact:
Honey bees fly at a speed of around 25 kilometers per hour and beat their wings 200 times per second.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Who recurred as delivery boy Frankie on “Benson” (1979-86)? Jerry Seinfeld. Kudos to: Gary Arlen-Arlen Communications/Bethesda, MD; Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NY; Marni C. Gold/Hawthorne NJ; Louis Lewow-FITE/Atlanta; Charles Lore, NY; Andy Pittman-TAMU/College Station, TX; Sandy Spiegel/Chicago; Dan Whitford-WTTW/Chicago; David Garber-Loyola Marymount University/Playa Vista, CA; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA; David Westberg-SAG*AFTRA Credit Union/Burbank

Today’s Trivia Question
Who guested as a South Korean doctor on two episodes of the second season of “M*A*S*H” (1972-83)? 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