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Tuesday August 17, 2021

Today’s Finales
A&E: Invisible Monsters: Serial Killers in America at 9p
CW: Superman & Lois at 9p

IN THE NEWS

Discovery+ ordered a two documentary specials following Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes on a live tour of their podcast, “SmartLess.” “Jason, Sean and Will are three absolute legends who have accomplished so much in this industry – from comedy to drama, on the stage and to our screens,” said Lisa Holme, Group SVP of Content and Commercial Strategy for Discovery, Inc. “As they are now conquering the world of podcasts, we’re excited to show an entirely new side of them.” The untitled specials are slated to premiere in 2022. Amazon acquired distribution rights to the popular podcast earlier this summer.

ViacomCBS struck a deal to sell landmark building 51 West 52nd Street, aka Black Rock, for $760 million to management company Harbor Group International. “This agreement follows the previously announced strategic review of non-core assets that we completed shortly after our merger,” said ViacomCBS CFO Naveen Chopra. “The use of proceeds from this transaction will remain consistent with our previously discussed capital allocation strategy, allowing us further financial flexibility to invest in our strategic growth priorities, including streaming.” The building, which CBS occupied since it opened in 1964, was put on the block in 2019, but a sale was delayed due to the pandemic.

Fox News’ request that a defamation lawsuit filed by attorney Michael Avenatti be dismissed was granted by a Delaware Circuit Court of Appeals judge. Avenatti was seeking $250 million over FNC’s reporting that he had been arrested and accused of domestic violence. Noted the judge, “Avenatti dislikes how Fox News covered his arrest. But he cannot overcome the truthfulness of the gist of Fox’s coverage — he was, after all, arrested for suspected domestic violence.” Responded the network, “Today’s ruling is a victory for journalists everywhere, who should not be intimidated into silence when bullies like Michael Avenatti file baseless multimillion-dollar lawsuits.”

The Foxtel Group has inked an expanded multi-year partnership with A+E Networks that will see popular content from Crime & Investigation, The History Channel, A&E and Lifetime Movie Network power Foxtel and BINGE. The expanded deal makes series such as “Pawn Stars,” “Court Cam,” “Forged in Fire” and “Cold Case Files” available to Foxtel, Foxtel Now and BINGE subscribers.

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Peacock handed a straight-to-series order to “Field of Dreams,” based on the 1989 baseball film starring Kevin Costner. Michael Schur (“The Good Place”) will executive produce via his Fremulon, along with Gordon for The Gordon Company, David Miner and former Morgan Sackett. The studio is Universal Television.

Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios have set an exclusive, multiyear cross-studio overall deal with producer, writer, and performer Wyatt Cenac. The agreement calls for Cenac to develop and produce original animated programming at both WBA and CNS intended for a variety of audiences and platforms, as well as external outlets and services. Currently, Cenac has two projects in active development at the studios, an animated longform movie and adult animated series, in addition to assisting on other series in development.

Production has begun on Genius Brands “Shaq’s Garage,” which is set to air in 2Q22. NFL-er Rob Gronkowski is onboard as co-executive producer and the voice of the “Gronkmobile.”

Stone Canyon Entertainment has acquired Daniel Gordis’ nonfiction book Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn, to adapt as a docuseries. “While rife with conflict and setbacks, Israel’s transformation from the poor, food-rationing young country of my father and grandparents to the high-tech, biomedical, and ecological powerhouse of today is a story that will transfix and inspire the world,” said the project’s creator/director Matthew Mishory.

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Casting notes: Dagmara Domi?czyk (“Succession”) and Don Harvey (“The Deuce”) landed series regular roles in HBO limited series “We Own This City,” based on Baltimore reporter Justin Fenton’s book, We Own This City: A True Story of Crime, Cops and Corruption….Mira Sorvino (“Hollywood”), Dan Bakkedahl (“Veep”), Joseph Mazzelo (“Bohemian Rhapsody”), Blair Underwood (“Quantico”), Kevin Pollak (“Mom”) and Patrick Fischler (“The Right Stuff”) will recur in FX’s “Impeachment: American Crime Story,” from Ryan Murphy.

Licensing and animation studio Ferly and Scotland’s Wild Child Animation inked a co-development deal for new animated adult comedy series, “Butthole Biscuits.” The project, part of Wild Child’s Creative Scotland development slate fund, looks at society through the eyes of the broken and unwanted biscuits left behind at the bottom of the biscuit barrel.

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

It was discovery+’s turn to shine at TCA on Monday, which meant a slew of announcements from the streamer. Among them was the launch date for limited docuseries “Last Chance Transplant,” from executive producer Robin Roberts. The show debuts Wednesday, September 22, offering an insider look at the race to save lives with organ donation.

Magnolia Network has added three new titles to its roster of original unscripted programming: “The Katie Button Project” (wt), with f Chef Katie Button; anthology series “An American Story,” and “In With the Old,” following the transformation of abandoned structures while preserving their historical integrity. All are slated to premiere this fall on discovery+ and the Magnolia app.

Also on the way to discovery+ is true crime docuseries “Curse of the Chippendales.” Set to premiere Friday, September 24, the four-parter explores the dark side of the 1980s male striptease dance troupe.

Season two of discovery+ series “Well Done with Sebastian Maniscalco” kicks off Tuesday, November 16. The show “is a perfect example of the ongoing success we’ve had in making content with A-list talent who have a genuine passion for food,” said Courtney White, President, Food Network and Cooking Channel. “In these next episodes, Sebastian finds inspiration in relatable questions about kids’ menus, high end dog food and the proper way to shake a cocktail that sets him on hilarious half-hour journeys.”

WarnerMedia Kids & Family is offering a new approach to preschool programming with the launch on Monday, September 13 of the Cartoonito preschool block. Airing on HBO Max and Cartoon Network, the slate celebrates individuality and originality, while championing creativity, compassion and inclusion. On HBO Max, Cartoonito programming will be presented as a dedicated page featuring a collection of new preschool shows including “Little Ellen” and the second season of the “The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo,” and more. Cartoonito on Cartoon Network will be available Monday-Friday (6a-2p).

FETV has acquired “Leave it to Beaver,” “The Beverly Hillbillies,” “The Real McCoys,” “Mannix” and “Wagon Train” for its fall slate. “We look forward to adding even more comedies, dramas and westerns as we curate and deliver the best-in-class lineup for our viewers,” said Jaclyn Rann Cohen, EVP Content Acquisitions and Strategy.

America’s past, present and future involvement in the Middle East will be the subject of “Influence and Power in the Middle East,” a series from civic media organization A Starting Point. Hosted by Texas congressman Will Hurd, the six-parter will air on the organization’s web site.

Esports Business Summit on October 18-20 in Las Vegas brings together executives across the entire industry ecosystem to connect, learn, and discover the opportunities their business needs to capitalize on for the highest return on their business. The program features sessions like The Power of Esports Fashion, The Future of UGC Platforms, Diversity Hiring, and so much more. Register before August 26 to lock in the lowest rates available!

Playing Games: The International Olympic Committee and Rocket Sports, the sports marketing company co-founded by Elton John, debuted a new Olympic Channel original series, “From the Top: Olympians and Rockstars.” Executive produced by the “Rocket Man” singer, the series introduces an Olympic athlete to a musical artist. The two will spend the day together, sharing what it takes to be successful in each of their respective fields. The first of five athlete/artist pairings is Britain’s youngest-ever Olympic medalist, skateboarding phenom Sky Brown, and genre-twisting British singer-songwriter Yungblud.

Season four of “Frankie Drake Mysteries” will have its US premiere on Saturday, October 2 at 7p on Ovation TV. Concert special “Frankie Drake Mysteries: Music at Midnight,” filmed on the set of the show, airs Saturday, September 25 at 7p.

COMING UP

CBS will celebrate 50 years of daytimer “The Price Is Right” with a primetime special on Thursday, September 30at 9p. The two-hour show will look back at the biggest winners, outtakes and offer a salute to Bob Barker, who hosted the game show for its first 35 years.

Andy Cohen sits down for a two-part reunion of the cast of Bravo’s “Shahs of Sunset” on Sunday, August 22 and 29 at 9p.

Among the cases getting hearings on Court TV in the months ahead are Wisconsin v. Kyle Rittenhouse, focused on the 17-year-old charged with killing two people during protests that followed the police shooting of Jacob Blake last summer, and Georgia v. Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael, William Bryan, centered on three white men accused of murder in the death of Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed Black man who was shot while jogging. Court TV will work with court officials to install its cameras in the courtroom.

“The Icon” Sting will return to wrestle on TNT this Wednesday in a new episode of “AEW: Dynamite.” It’s Sting’s first official match on TNT after a two-decade absence.

TECH TALK

Sleight of hand? Amazon’s plan to collect consumers’ palm prints, which would enable people to pay for merchandise in stores, is raising concerns about privacy among lawmakers. In a letter to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, Senators Amy Kobuchar (D-Minnesota), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) and Jon Ossof (D-Georgia) wrote, “Amazon’s expansion of biometric data collection through Amazon One raises serious questions about Amazon’s plans for this data and its respect for user privacy, including about how Amazon may use the data for advertising and tracking purposes.”

STREAMING

El Rey Network programming starts streaming today on The Roku Channel. “With El Rey’s transition into the streaming space, we are thrilled to partner with Roku on an exclusive window for the channel,” said El Rey founder Robert Rodriguez. “This partnership reinforces our commitment to diverse voices and authentic and inclusive storytelling that can be accessed on a free ad-supported basis.”

“Hotel Transylvania: Transformia,” the fourth film in what has been a lucrative franchise for Sony Pictures Animation, may skip theaters and go straight to Amazon, reports Variety. With COVID cases surging and young theatergoers unable to get vaccinated, Sony has been exploring an alternative release for the film, which had been scheduled to open in theaters October 1.

Spectrum Networks announced the launch of its first digital-only local news platform in a non-Spectrum News linear TV market, in Maine, via the Spectrum News App. “Spectrum Networks has a long tradition of covering local news and the stories that matter to communities,” said Sam Singal, VP Editorial and Content. “As a Bangor native and proud Mainer, I know first-hand the integral role community and local connections play in making Maine a great place to live and work. Now, Spectrum customers in my home state can be even more connected and engaged with their neighbors and communities.”

GOING GLOBAL

HBO Max has announced the beginning of filming for the Brazilian version of survival reality show “The Bridge Brazil.” The series first launched in Spain in 2017 and aired for two seasons on Movistar+’s #0 where it is known locally as “El Puente”. The Max Original is produced by WarnerMedia Latin America in partnership with Endemol Shine Brasil.

Add new territory to “Drag Race” country, with “Drag Race Philippines.” World of Wonder (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”) will stream the new iteration, produced by Fullhouse Asia Production Studios in conjunction with WOW, on WOW Presents Plus globally.

Things are looking up for production Down Under. Lakeside Studio and Penrith Lakes Development Corporation are developing a purpose-built film studio and production training facility in Western Sydney. The state-of-the-art Lakeside Studio complex, incorporating next-generation technology to produce motion pictures and television series, will be set over 96 acres.

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CYNOPSIS 2021 RESOURCE CENTER

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The “Stellar Gospel Music Awards” on August 1 was the #1 program for the night on all TV for Black viewers P2+ excluding sports with, 867,000 total viewers during premiere night (Live+3, simulcast across BET and BET Her). On BET alone the “Stellar Awards” scored a .243 P18-49 rating, and 798,000 total viewers P2+, up 104% year-over-year.

Shareablee Top 10 Streaming Shows for the week of August 9
Program, Platform, Total Actions, Total Content, Actions per Content, Fans & Followers
Gossip Girl (HBO Max), 848k, 70, 12,116, 16.2m
Never Have I Ever (Netflix), 623k, 20, 31,155, 867k
Get Organized With The Home Edit (Netflix), 344k, 41, 8,380, 5.8m
Netflix is a Joke (YouTube), 295k, 40, 7,374, 2.4m
Nanatsu No Naizai (Netflix), 247k, 71, 3,477, 917k
Julie and the Phantoms (Netflix), 204k, 1, 204,363, 1m
Trailer Park Boys (Netflix), 196k, 30, 6,519, 3m
The Boys (Amazon Prime), 195k, 9, 21,669, 1.5m
Grace and Frankie (Netflix), 182k, 17, 10,710, 914k
The Witcher (Netflix), 154k, 5, 30,733, 1.9m

Broadcast Nielsen Ratings for Friday, August 14
Show, P2+ 000s, (A18-49)
ABC: Shark Tank 2.72 (0.4), 20/20 2.73 (0.5),
CBS: Secret Celebrity Renovation 2.92 (0.4), Love Island 1.81 (0.4), Blue Bloods 2.34 (0.3)
CW: Burden of Truth 0.65 (0.1), Dynasty 0.54 (0.1)
FOX: WWE Friday Night Smackdown 2.50 (0.6)
NBC: American Ninja Warrior 1.99 (0.4), Dateline NBC 2.59 (0.4)
Telemundo: Exatlon Estados Unidos 0.86 (0.2), Hercal: Armor y Venganza 1.24 (0.4), Cafe Aroma du Mujer 0.72 (0.2)
Univision: Disenando Tu Amor 1.42 (0.4), Si Nos Dejan 1.431 (0.4), Hija del Embajador 1.34 (0.4)
Source: Nielsen live + same day time period averages

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
On which sitcom did Thomas Haden Church recur while he was working on “Wings”?(1990-97)? “Flying Blind” (1992-93). Kudos to: Lauren Zweifler-NBCU/NYC; Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NYC; Louis Lewow/NYC; Synda Kollman-Charter Marketing Group/Boca Raton, FL; David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA/Burbank; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA

Today’s Trivia Question
Who was the first host of the 1990 revival of “Let’s Make a Deal”? (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.)