PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT
It’s always summer at HGTV – at least on Sundays. The lifestyle net, drawing over 4 million viewers per week for its beach series, added an additional 96 sand-and-surf episodes of shows like Mexico Life, Caribbean Life, Beach Hunters and Beachfront Bargain Hunt, allowing HGTV to premiere 3 hours of beach programming every Sunday for 52 weeks, now through 2018. “HGTV’s beach programming has delivered consistent gains in viewership, so keeping our pipeline filled with fresh episodes in this genre is a solid programming strategy for the foreseeable future,” said Allison Page, GM, U.S. programming and development for HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network, Cooking Channel, Travel Channel and Great American Country.
The same day President Trump rescinded DACA came word that CBS put in development Welcome to Maine, centered on a Maine family and a recent immigrant and his daughter who work in the same rural town. Workplace family comedy comes from Austen Earl (The Great Outdoors), and Greg Garcia (My Name Is Earl) and his Amigos de Garcia Productions.
Linda Perry is thinking big for upcoming TV show, All Girl Band. “We’re looking for the female Rolling Stones,” says the Grammy nominated songwriter and producer. But it’s not just the “badass” band that’s got Perry excited – she’s anticipating a talent search with massive marketing and distribution potential. Perry shares her vision in a new Cynsiders.
Kate Mara (House of Cards) will star in and exec produce a drama following the first female undercover reporter, Nellie Bly. The project in development comes from Entertainment One, Danjaq and the Frederick Zollo Company.
Former head of drama at CBS Christina Davis and Michael Seitzman (Code Black) are teaming for a new TV production company, Maniac Productions, with an overall deal with ABC Studios. Davis and Seitzman will develop projects for broadcast, streaming and cable.
Fox ordered a comedy pilot from Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney and Glenn Howarton (It’s Always Sunny in Philadephia). Cool Kids centers on three male friends in a retirement community whose lives are upended by a rebel female newcomer.
NEW & RETURNING SERIES
Fans eager for the first look at season 11 of Fox’s The X-Files can catch early footage at New York Comic-Con on Sunday, October 8, announced Twentieth Century Fox Television. The event also includes a panel with series creator Chris Carter and stars David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson and Mitch Pileggi. Series goes linear in January, 2018.
A sneak peek at ABC midseason crime drama Deception will also be on the slate at Comic-Con. A pilot screening followed by conversation with cast and producers takes place Sunday, October 8.
The pandemic of mass shootings is explored in Showtime documentary series Active Shooter: America Under Fire, from the perspectives of survivors, families of victims and first responders. Eight-parter launches Friday, September 29 at 9p.
Add former NFL star Terrell Owens to the season 25 competitors on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars. He’ll be partnered with pro Cheryl Burke – which doesn’t seem to faze him. “If I can handle Bill Parcels, I can handle Cheryl,” said Owens. Also confirmed for the season so far is Property Brother Drew Scott; full cast will be announced on Good Morning America today.
Same times, new date: The premieres for Viceland’s The Trixie & Katya Show and Most Expensivest have moved from November 1 at 10p and 10:30p, to Wednesday, November 15.
Season 3 of Sex & Violence launches Sunday, September 17 at 10p on Canada’s OUTtv. Series follows a social worker, victims’ advocate and police officer trying to support victims of violence.
Butter + Brown debuts on Aspire on Tuesday, October 3 at 8p. Lifestyle culinary series is adapted from the web series offering creative ways to prepare food and cocktails with ingredients viewers are likely to have on hand.
Jeopardy! is back for season 34 on Monday, September 11. The syndicated game show, which has collected over a million players for its Skill for Amazon Alexa, will also be launched as a console game from Ubisoft in late 2017.
Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda will voice the theme song for The Magic School Bus Rides Again, a Netflix revival of the PBS kids series Magic School Bus. Lily Tomlin will return as Professor Frizzle, and SNL’s Kate McKinnon hops aboard as Fiona Frizzle, starting Friday, September 29.
VIDEO IN SHORT
Comedy Central’s The Laura Clery Project, featuring the “trying to flirt” YouTube star, are now available on Comedy Central’s Snapchat Discover channel, cc.com and the CC app.
Next-generation news net Newsy is launching a 5-episode series investigating the opioid crisis. Newsy and the Scripps Washington Bureau teamed for Getting a Fix, looking at solutions to the epidemic. “Together, we’ve created a series we hope will further our audience’s understanding of one of the most prevalent issues impacting people across the country toda,” said Ellen Weiss, VP and Washington Bureau chief.
DIGITAL DATA
Arts net Ovation launched is first TV Everywhere app, Ovation Now. The app is available to Ovation subscribers on Roku devices.
Amazon Prime members now have access to Brown Sugar, the SVOD service featuring African-American movies. Prime customers can receive a 7-day free trial, then continue for $3.99/month.
GOING GLOBAL
Banijay’s All Against 1 hit a ratings high on Denmark’s DR1, scoring a 39.5% share and outperforming the primetime slot by 39%.
9 Story Distribution International and China’s Magic Mall Entertainment have teamed for animated children’s series Luo Bao Bel. Created and Produced by Magic Mall with Cloth Cat Animation in Wales commissioned for production, 9 Story Distribution International has acquired global distribution and merchandising rights, excluding China.
CASTING
Chris Pine (Wonder Woman) will star as Robert F. Kennedy in a Hulu limited series based on the biography, Bobby Kennedy: The Making of a Liberal Icon. Project comes from Todd E. Kessler (The Good Wife), Overbrook Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television. Pine will also exec produce.
Megan Carpentier (It) landed a lead opposite Frances O’Connor in Hulu drama Locke & Key, adapted from the IDW comic.
