PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT
Barry and Silicon Valley were renewed for a second and sixth seasons, respectively, on HBO. “While Barry has delighted audiences with its deft interplay of comedy and drama, Silicon Valley remains as brilliantly and frighteningly prescient as ever,” said Amy Gravitt, EVP, HBO Programming. “We’re thrilled that these two smart, funny shows are returning for another season.
HBO also ordered pilot Run, a romantic comedic thriller from Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, Killing Eve) and Vicky Jones, with Waller-Bridge set for a recurring role. Series centers on ex-lovers who impulsively disappear together.
ITV and PBS series Grantchester was picked up for a fourth season, which will be the final one for star James Norton. The actor is heading to BBC-AMC drama McMafia.
Norman Lear, Will Gluck and his Olive Bridge Entertainment, and Global Road Entertainment are teaming with Rain Pryor, daughter of the late Richard Pryor, to develop Fried Chicken and Latkes, reports Variety. The semi-autobiographical comedy begins with the half African-American/half Jewish Pryor as a preteen trying to find her place in the 1970s world of Beverly Hills.
USA Network greenlit four pilots. Projects include Treadstone, a drama that delves into the CIA black ops program, known as Operation Treadstone; Erase, a crime thriller starring Denis Leary; Briarpatch, based on the Ross Tom novel; and Dare Me, a drama based on Megan Abbott’s book that delves into the cutthroat world of competitive high school cheerleading.
BBC One ordered a 60-minute documentary from Mentorn Media, reports Deadline. The project investigates the direction Russia is taking following the recent presidential election, which handed Putin another six-year term.
Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories optioned Allison Pearson’s new novel, How Hard Can It Be?, for an upcoming TV project. The sequel to I Don’t Know How She Does it picks up Kate Reddy’s story as she approaches her 50th birthday.
NEW & RETURNING SERIES
FX set Sunday, June 2 at 9p for the debut of Pose. Set in the 1980s, the dance musical series explores the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in New York and features TV’s largest cast of transgender actors.
The Split bows Wednesday, May 23 at 10p on SundanceTV. Six-part drama is set in the fast-paced world of divorce law.
TNT’s Claws and the women of the Nail Artisans of Mantee County are back for a second season on Sunday, June 10 at 9p.
Food Network released premiere dates for four shows: Giada on the Beach makes its series premiere on Sunday, May 20 at 11:30a; Baked in Vermont is back Saturday, May 5 at 10:30a; Best Baker in America bows Monday, May 7 at 9p; and Iron Chef America debuts Wednesday, May 16 at 9p.
Docu-series Black Love returns to OWN on Saturday, May 12 at 10p. The show’s second season features Sterling K. Brown and wife Ryan Michelle Bathe, Niecy Nash and husband Jay Tucker and more.
A new whodunnit unfolds in East Peck with the sophomore season debut of NBC’s Trial & Error: Lady Killer on Thursday, July 19 at 9p and 9:30p. Kristin Chenoweth is set to star.
COMING UP
Smithsonian Channel airs Million Dollar American Princesses: Meghan Markle on Sunday, May 13 at 9p. Special chronicles Markle’s life from her child in California to blossoming acting career and romance with Prince Harry.
48 Hours investigates the disappearance of 6-year-old Etan Patz and the case that haunts the detectives who spent over three decades trying to find him in “The Lost Boy,” airing Saturday, April 14 at 10p.
Oxygen Media debuts The Turpin 13: Family Secrets Exposed on Saturday, April 28 at 6p. The two-hour special investigates the Turpin family and their parents, David and Louise, who have been charged with keeping their children shackled and starved within their Perris, California home. Soledad O’Brien hosts.
DISTRIBUTION
Vivicast Media finalized a multi-year deal with MAVTV Motorsports Network. Agreement includes OTT and alternative technologies distribution rights for the U.S. and Caribbean markets.
Television Dominicana acquired the U.S. rights to Vale por Tres, a weekly entertainment Dominican program. Produced by Roberto Angel Salcedo, the show premieres Saturday, April 14 at 6p.
CASTING
Susan Sarandon is returning to Showtime’s Ray Donovan as a series regular in Season 6.
DIGITAL DATA
Spotify has acquired Loudr, a company that helps content creators and music providers track and pay royalties to music publishers. Loudr will provide “select services to its publishing and aggregator partners, while contributing to Spotify’s continuing efforts towards a more transparent and efficient music publishing industry for songwriters and rights holders,” said Spotify, which has been under fire for its royalty and licensing payments.
Martin Scorsese is set to direct an untitled original comedy special for Netflix. The project explores the legacy of sketch comedy show SCTV. Netflix also ordered a third season of Marvel’s Jessica Jones. The renewal comes a few weeks after its second season launch on March 8.
Despite Netflix’s high profile (and high priced) originals, 80% of its viewing in the U.S. comes from licensed content, according to data from 7Park Data. Top licensed shows for the 12-month period that ended in September included Breaking Bad, Grey’s Anatomy, How I Met Your Mother and The Office.
ESPN launched streaming service, ESPN+, on Wednesday. Although it doesn’t give subscribers access to ESPN, it does offer additional lives events, including a game a day from Major League Baseball, and a game a day from the National Hockey League, starting next season.
AT&T AUDIENCE Network picked up original comedy Loudermilk for a second season, which will be written by TV vets Peter Farrelly and Bobby Mort and premiere this fall.
Sundance Now bows five original documentaries, curated as part of TAKE 5: The Shadow of ISIS, on Thursday, April 19. Focuses on ISIS and its impact on the lives of civilians.
Hulu’s The Looming Tower finale streams Wednesday, April 18.
Amazon will stream two new series from DreamWorks Animation Television. The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle is expected to go live Friday May 11 in the U.S., UK, Germany India and Japan. Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny will make its global debut later this year.
