Today’s Finale
ID: Homicide City at 9p

IN THE NEWS

Checkmate: with 62 million households in the game during its first 28 days, chess drama “The Queen’s Gambit” is the biggest scripted limited series to date on Netflix. The Scott Frank adaptation of the 1983 Walter Tevis book has been in the streamer’s top 10 in 92 countries, from Russia and Hong Kong to Australia.

Netflix is boosting its presence in New Mexico by expanding its ABQ Studios and committing to an additional $1 billion in production spending. Move will render ABQ Studios one of the largest high-tech and sustainable film production facilities in North America.

Through new prosocial initiative The Gift of a Lifetime, Lifetime will partner with charities to identify five women and their families to receive brand partnership donations. The 2020 charities, which also will receive donations from A+E Networks/Lifetime, are Save the Children, #FirstRespondersFirst, Bob Woodruff Foundation, the Pink Agenda and the LA Fire Department Foundation. Marie Osmond, co-founder of the Children’s Miracle Network and star of “The Christmas Edition,” will present the gifts to each of the families, whose stories will be captured by Canyon Road Films.

Early Bird is over but we still want your entries for our annual Best of the Best Awards. The final deadline is December 3 to get entries in for your team’s outstanding efforts of the past year in programming, initiatives, campaigns, and more. Don’t miss out on the chance to include your org’s hard work. Get started here.

Oscar winner Glenda Jackson won best actress for her BBC dementia drama “Elizabeth Is Missing” and Billy Barratt won best actor for his role in “Responsible Child” at yesterday’s virtual International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences ceremony. “Responsible Child,” the true story of a 12-year-old boy put on trial for murder, also took home the prize for best TV movie/miniseries.

Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman are the new chiefs of the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts. President Crowe and VP Kidman will oversee the AACTA, the organization that awarded them their first prizes in 1991 and 1987, respectively.

A crime drama based on the true-life experiences of professional medium Tina Powers is in the works at Fox, from Michael Alaimo, Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment and Tracy Katsky’s KatCo. Untitled project, penned and exec-produced by Alaimo, spotlights a quirky TV news crime reporter who starts listening to the voices she hears from beyond the grave in order to help solve crimes in Miami.

Cynopsis’ Measurement & Data Conference is now available on-demand! You’re just a few steps away getting access to all the mission-critical content presented this year at the leading conference focused on measurement & data. Check it out: https://events.accessintel.com/event/measurement-data-conference-2020/

NBC is developing Finding Forrester, a drama series based on the 2000 Gus Van Sant film. Project, from “The Chi” co-exec producers TJ Brady and Rasheed Newson, director Tim Story, NBA star Stephen Curry and his Unanimous Media and Sony Pictures Television, reimagines the mentor character from the film and follows the relationship between two gifted black writers: A 16-year-old orphan who leverages his basketball skills to land at an elite boarding school, and a reclusive lesbian author.

The life and work of Sam Palmer—the former electrician who moved into Aaron and Candy Spelling’s LA mansion after he became engaged to Formula One heiress Petra Ecclestone—is the subject of a new docuseries in development at Renowned Films. Palmer now runs concierge service Staffing Properties.

Action sci-fi movie “Boss Level,” starring Frank Grillo, Naomi Watts and Mel Gibson landed at Hulu after the streamer struck an eight-figure deal for US distribution rights. Film will debut as a Hulu Original in 2021.

Music superstar Shawn Mendes is launching a TV and film production company with his longtime manager Andrew Gertler. Permanent Content will develop scripted and documentary projects centered on issues that impact today’s youth community. New Netflix Original doc “In Wonder,” directed by Grant Singer, which chronicles Mendes’ meteoric rise, is the first project.

Showtime is developing “New Money,” a comedy series about Black women with financial independence. From Gabrielle Union, Jemele Hill, journalist Kelley Carter & Sony Pictures Television, project is based on a story from Hill and Carter about Black women who, having solidified their careers and financial independence, deal with the repercussions their “new money” brings.

Aaliyah Williams, exec producer of Netflix drama “Gentified,” inked a first-look deal with CBS Studios. Under her Just A Rebel production company, Williams will continue to elevate stories centering on Black women.

Dee Harris-Lawrence, co-showrunner of CBS’ “All Rise,” signed an overall deal with Warner Bros., home to the legal drama. Harris-Lawrence, who’s also showrunner of OWN’s “David Makes Man,” will continue with her existing shows and also develop dramas, comedies and longform projects.

Production is a go in Queensland, Australia on “Young Rock,” upcoming on NBC and inspired by the life of Dwayne Johnson. The series, from Universal Television, chronicles Johnson’s formative years; Johnson is set to appear in each episode.

Ahmet Zappa’s Monsterfoot Productions acquired the rights to develop and create shows and media based on the classic ‘60s Weird-Ohs monster hot rod model kits. Monsterfoot Productions previously developed and produced feature film “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” for Walt Disney Pictures and created the “Star Darlings” franchise for Disney Channel. Zappa also co-hosts the “Rocktails” series on Sirius XM.

Writers/showrunners Emma Frost and Matthew Graham formed UK-based production company Watson & Essex, with an initial slate of 10 projects. The team, whose credits include “Ashes to Ashes,” “The Spanish Princess,” “Doctor Who” and “The Man In The High Castle,” will partner with Legendary Entertainment’s television division; Christine Healy will serve as COO of the new venture. In development are “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea,” based on Irwin Allen’s ‘60s series.

Anthony Mackie is set to produce and star in action film “The Ogun,” for Netflix. Story centers on a father who takes his teenage daughter to Nigeria to find a cure for a rare cancer.

ITV Studios and Nippon TV entered a co-development deal to create a new international format. The two companies will create and produce new series in their respective territories. Nippon TV will subsequently manage the distribution of the new format across Asia, with ITV Studios representing the show globally.

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

“True Beauty,” which follows a high schooler who sees her social standing skyrocket as she masters the art of makeup from YouTube, will debut exclusively in the US on streaming service Rakuten Viki on Wednesday, December 2.

MTV is plating “Deliciousness,” a spinoff of “Ridiculousness” hosted by “Dinner at Tiffani’s” host Tiffani Thiessen (“Alexa & Katie,” “Beverly Hills 90210”) on Friday, December 18 at 7p. From food blunders to restaurant fails to kids in the kitchen, series celebrates all things food and drink. “Ridiculousness” returns with 10 new holiday-themed eps beginning December 18 at 6p.

“7 Little Johnstons” returns to TLC with new episodes Tuesday, December 29 at 8p. Series continues with new adventures from one of the world’s largest-known little families.

The third season of “True Conviction” drops on Investigation Discovery on Wednesday, December 30. In 20 new eps the series, starring Brooklyn homicide prosecutor Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi, explores the real-life stories of how homicides are solved on the street and won in the courtroom.

COMING UP

Following its debut on HBO Max, special “Between the World and Me” will be available to stream on HBOMax.com November 25-30. Adaptation of the best seller by Ta-Nehisi Coates and the Apollo stage performance reimagines the story against the backdrop of the killing of Breonna Taylor and global protests for Black lives.

Also at the WarnerMedia company, The Art of Political Murder debuts Wednesday, December 16 at 9p on HBO and to stream on HBO Max. Story, based on Francisco Goldman’s book and exec-produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov, follows the 1998 murder of Guatemalan human rights activist Bishop Juan Gerardi.

Country stars will take the stage for “CMA Country Christmas,” airing Monday, November 30 at 9p on ABC. Hosted by Thomas Rhett and his wife, author Lauren Akins, the 11th annual special will feature holiday performances by Kelsea Ballerini, Lady A, Tim McGraw, and Darius Rucker with Lindsey Stirling.

Nature doc “A Reindeer’s Journey,” narrated by Donald Sutherland, debuts on AVOD streamer Crackle Tuesday, December 1. Film follows Ailo, a newborn reindeer who embarks on an odyssey in the Scandinavian mountains with the help of his mother.

A new “Doctor Who” holiday special, slated to air throughout the holiday season on BBC America in the US and BBC in the UK, will see John Barrowman reprising his role as Captain Jack Harkness.

TECH TALK

Snap Inc. is adding a feature to Snapchat that promotes the posts it determines most “entertaining.” The social platform is encouraging users to adopt the new Spotlight feature by awarding $1 million a day through the end of 2020 to the top picks.

Author Ernest Cline partnered with Roblox to sweeten sales for Cline’s “Ready Player Two” sequel novel, which debuts today (November 24). A virtual “Ready Player Two”-themed treasure hunt that takes place inside seven experiences on the Roblox platform will award players virtual goods designed for the event, and a virtual Q&A with Cline and Roblox CEO Dave Baszucki will stream inside the virtual event December 1 at 10a.

National Geographic unveiled its Reimagining Dinosaurs AR activation on Instagram. The interactive feature enables people to see what dinosaurs looked like based on dozens of recent discoveries and is the first Nat Geo AR activation to take place underwater, with a deep dive into the Spinosaurus, the first known swimming dino.

STREAMING SNIPPETS

Hallmark Movies Now, Crown Media’s SVOD service, passed the 1 million subscriber milestone. Its annual holiday programming event Movies & Mistletoe, launched October 23, has seen a 128 percent increase in installs. Upcoming from Hallmark Movies Now is Season 7 of Hallmark Channel series, When Calls the Heart, with the first three episodes slated to drop on New Year’s Day.

Subscription streaming outlet AMC+ launched on Roku, bringing its $9/month bundle including programming from AMC, BBC America, IFC, Shudder, Sundance Now and IFC Films to the service.

Also at Roku, Estrella TV and Estrella News are now streaming on the Roku Channel. Both networks are operated by Estrella Media, the vertically integrated, multi-platform, Spanish-language media company.

Fox Nation, Fox News Media’s on-demand subscription streaming service, will debut its first holiday-themed original scripted production “Christmas in the Rockies” on Thursday, November 26. Film will feature cameos from “Fox & Friends” co-hosts Steve Doocy and Ainsley Earhardt.

ADVERTISING + BRANDS

ESPN bowed One App, One Tap, a new marketing campaign to herald the ESPN App during Sunday night’s “American Music Awards” on ABC. Featuring vocals by music artist Chika, the debuts comes on the heals of ESPN’s best-ever streaming month in September.

HBO partnered with Verizon Media to herald season 2 of “His Dark Materials” with an immersive AR ad campaign.

CASTING

Marianne Jean-Baptiste (“Blindspot”) joins the season 3 cast of Amazon Prime Video’s “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”… Actress and Grammy winner Alejandra Guzman, Laura Leon and Cristian de la Fuente are in for season 2 of Pantaya’s hit Spanish-language scripted series “El Juego de Las Llaves” (The Game of Keys).

GLOBAL GOINGS-ON

With a boost from international hits including “Chernobyl” and “His Dark Materials,” UK television exports grow 6 percent to a record high of $2 billion in the 12 months ending in March, according to a new report from trade org Pact.

Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Maggie Smith and Derek Jacobi are convening for a live Q&A on Zoom hosted by Kenneth Branagh on November 29 to benefit the UK’s theater community. Proceeds are earmarked for Acting for Others, the organization of which Dench is president that provides financial and emotional support for stage professionals.

Millennial-focused Insight TV signed its first distribution deal in Australia with the launch of four of its digital channels on Samsung TV Plus. In addition to its flagship lifestyle channel, Samsung TV Plus is featuring action-focused inTrouble, science/tech channel inWonder and nature channel InWild.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
On which sitcom was Redd Foxx starring when he died? “The Royal Family” (1991-92). Kudos to: Ted Linhart-NBCU/NY; Charlie Conner-KOKI/KMYT.Tulsa, OK; Brandi Nelson-Spectrum Reach/Dallas; Aaron Paquette-Screen Engine/ASI/Fort Worth, TX; Dan Whitford-WTTW/Chicago; David Garber-Loyola Marymount University/Playa Vista, CA; Jerry Jones/Walnut Creek, CA; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA; Michael Weaver-Dream Weaver Entertainment/Santa Monica; David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Credit Union/Burbank

Today’s Trivia Question
Who was the first female host of “Saturday Night Live”? (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.)