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Today’s Finales
NBC: Transplant at 10p
Showtime: The Best of All the Smoke With Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson

IN THE NEWS

NBCUniversal news executive Rashida Jones in February will take the reins as head of the company’s MSNBC cable news outlet. Longtime MSNBC president Phil Griffin, who’s been with the network since it launched 25 years ago, is expected to step down at the end of January. Jones’ star has been rising at the network. In April she took on a new role overseeing daytime content in addition to serving as senior VP of specials for NBC News and MSNBC. In a note to staff, Cesar Conde, chairman of the NBCU News Group, noted: “After the presidential election, Phil and I spoke about his desire to depart at a time of his choosing and when he felt confident about the strength of the network he loves.”

Days after announcing streaming service discovery+, Discovery CEO David Zaslav said the debut of the service is the culmination of the company holding on to its IP and “methodically” stockpiling content for when the time, and the technology, was right. “We’ve been committed to this. It’s why for the last five to six years we have not been selling content to third parties,” Zaslav said at a virtual conference presented by UBS. “The driving force was IP.”

“Out On Set,” an online database of LGBTQ2 film crew and creative talent across North America, is new from Inside Out and OUTtv. Industry professionals in the US and Canada will be able to search, post opportunities and message talent via the database, which is slated to launch in early 2021.

Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” is shutting down production due to positive Covid-19 tests. The series, produced by Evolution Media, had been filming its 11th season. News comes after star Kyle Richards revealed she and her daughter had tested positive for the virus.

NBC is developing drama “The A Word,” from writer Arika Mittman (“Paradise Lost”), Universal Television and Keshet Studios. Based on the Keshet Broadcasting and July August Productions’ series “Yellow Peppers,” written and created by Keren Margalit, series is one family’s emotional journey after their young son is diagnosed with autism. Showrunner Mittman also co-exec-produces the adaptation.

Also at NBC, “Blindspot” creator Martin Gero is developing “No Stone Unturned” with “The 100” scribe Drew Lindo. Based on the like-titled Steve Jackson book, series centers around an international investigation team comprising the scientists, specialists and behaviorists who solve “unsolvable” crimes. Gero and Lindo are both exec producers.

Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine acquired Sara Rea’s SKR Productions, and set Rea as the production house’s head of unscripted television. SKR, the company behind Amazon Studio’s Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn-hosted “Making the Cut,” also produced “Project Runway Threads,” “Project Runway Junior,” and “The Naked Truth.”

Margot Robbie and LuckyChap Entertainment signed a first-look television deal with Amazon. Under terms, Robbie and LuckyChap mates Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara will create projects to premiere exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. Brett Hedblom, LuckyChap VP of television, also will be involved in project development.

In his first role in a TV drama George Lopez series “Once Upon a Time in Aztlan” is in development at Amazon. Lopez will star in and exec-produce under his Travieso Productions banner alongside Javier Rodriguez, who created the series, a production between STXtv and Amazon Studios. Action tales place in the LA suburbs and follows a Chicano family’s coming to terms with the flaws of the American dream.

“Penn & Teller: Fool Us,” and “World’s Funniest Animals” will be back on the CW, thanks to series renewals for both. The former returns for an eighth season and is the network’s highest-performing unscripted series. The latter, a freshman clip show, saw its November 27 telecast log the best performance in the time slot in nearly two years.

Brain Power Studio optioned the screened adaptation rights to The Fallen Angels Book Club series from author R. Franklin James. Rhonda Baraka (?“Pride & Prejudice: Atlanta,” “Bobbi Kristina”)?, will write and exec-produce the crime drama along with Beth Stevenson and Nancy Yeaman at Brain Power Studio. Six-book series follows ex-felon paralegal Hollis Morgan, who lands in prison for her husband’s embezzlement.

Queen Latifah will exec-produce and star in Netflix thriller “End Of The Road,” to which Millicent Shelton is attached to direct. David Loughery (“Screen Gems,” “The Intruder”) wrote the screenplay, based on an original concept by Christopher Moore that follows a recently widowed woman who drives her family cross-country to start a new life – but becomes the target of mysterious killer.

Netflix also is reimagining ‘90s Aussie teen drama “Heartbreak High” as part of its deal with Fremantle Australia. The streamer greenlit a reboot, slated to debut in 2022 and co-produced by Fremantle with NewBe, which acquired the rights from Brian Abel, partner of the late Ben Gannon, who created and produced the original. All 210 episodes of the original series are now streaming on Netflix.

In more Netflix news, the streamer renewed semi-autobiographical dramedy “Feel Good” for a second and final season, slated to premiere in 2021. Created by Canadian comic Mae Martin and Joe Hampson and starring Martin, Charlotte Ritchie and Lisa Kudrow, final season will continue to spotlight protagonists Mae & George’s complicated love story.

Bryan Cogman, “Game of Thrones” and “Lord of the Rings” writer/producer, inked a multiyear overall deal with Entertainment One. Under the agreement, which follows his recent overall deal at Amazon Studios, he’ll develop scripted projects for eOne. First up is a series based on Akira Kurosawa’s “Yojimbo,” to be produced by Mark Gordon.

NEW + RETURNING SERIES

“On Pointe,” a six-part docuseries that captures a season in NY’s School of American Ballet, premieres Friday, December 18 on Disney+. Series features unprecedented access to the famed ballet institution.

Season 3 of “The Fall” debuts on Ovation TV during the network’s “Mystery Alley” programming block on Saturday, January 2 at 7p. Gillian Anderson returns as Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson in the new season.

A new season of home renovations, Ben and Erin Napier style, debuts on HGTV Sunday, January 3 at 8p with the return of “Home Town.” In addition to airing on HGTV, each Sunday the new “Home Town” ep will drop on discovery+, the streaming service that launches January 4.

Also at discovery+, Food Network stars Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis embark on an adventure to eat and drink their way through Italy in new series “Bobby and Giada in Italy,” available for streaming Monday, January 4… and “Battlebots: Bounty Hunters” also launches on the streaming service at launch on January 4. The competition series sees top robots from across the country battling it out against a BattleBots legend.

Discovery Family Channel has new series on tap for the new year. “Cake Hunters” premieres Tuesday, January 5 at 8p, while “Rev Run’s Sunday Suppers” drops into daytime on January 3 at 2p. Series follows father of six Rev Run, who finds his true joy in family, good friends and great food.

“The Big Interview with Dan Rather” heads back to AXS TV in January with four new eps. Jane’s Addiction’s front man Perry Farrell is in the spotlight Wednesday, January 6, followed by country musician Luke Combs on January 13. Conversations with Oscar winner Regina King and country trailblazer Randy Travis round out the season.

COMING UP

Holiday special “Silent Night—A Song for the World,” airs Thursday, December 10 at 8p on The CW.

Spoof doc “Death To 2020” is Netflix’s first project with “Black Mirror” creators Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones. Project will combine real footage with fictitious “experts” offering commentary on what took place this past year. Featured talent includes Samuel L. Jackson, Hugh Grant, Lisa Kudrow, Kumail Nanjiani, Tracey Ullman, Samson Kayo, Leslie Jones and more.

A special episode of Showtime’s “Desus & Mero” featuring the pair talking with former President Barack Obama, will air Sunday, December 13 at 11:05p. Beginning December 14, the ep also will be available for free on YouTube, Showtime.com and Sho.com.

Country lifestyle net Circle Network will air Brandy Clark-hosted special “Christmas from Here, There and Everywhere” on Tuesday, December 22 at 10p.

The second of two special Euphoria episodes will debut Sunday, January 24 on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. Directed by Sam Levinson and titled “F*ck Anyone Who’s Not A Sea Blob,” the ep follows Jules (Hunter Schafer) over the Christmas holiday as she reflects on the year.

TECH TALK

CBS All Access has been added to Comcast’s Xfinity X1 pay-TV offering. Xfinity earlier this year had integrated the subscription streaming service to its Flex broadband video bundle.

Audible also formed the Emerging Voices Advisory Board, comprising artists, podcasters, producers, and writers who will develop and advise on talent opportunities. Board members include Lena Waithe, Emmy-winning writer and actor; Malcolm Gladwell, author and “Revisionist History” host; and Marshall Lewy, chief content officer at Wondery… the company also launched the Audible Podcast Development Program to commission original podcasts from emerging storytellers around the globe. The program will source material through both direct outreach to creators and project submissions, with original podcasts expected to begin releasing in summer 2021.

Serena Williams is teaming with Nintendo to promote the new Nintendo Switch gaming system in a series of spots.

STREAMING SNIPPETS

New OTT channel Hallmark Movies & More is launching on Xumo, marking parent Crown Media Family Networks’ first AVOD partnership. Hallmark Movies & More features a lineup of 120-plus titles from the company’s archive of original content.

AMC streaming service Shudder picked up rights to British supernatural drama “The Power” for North America, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Film is the feature directorial debut of writer/director Corinna Faith (“The Innocents”) and is set in ‘70s London during a period of blackouts.

Sony Canal, the new ad-supported streaming service from Sony Pictures Television for Spanish-speaking viewers in the US, is adding Spanish-language dramas, comedies and reality competition shows to its lineup. “Los Caballeros Las Prefieren Brutas?,” “Quien Manda a Quien?” (“Who’s the Boss?”) and “Ruleta Rusa” (“Russian Roulette”) are among the newbies.

CASTING

Tony winner Christian Borle (“Little Shop of Horrors”) and Michael Potts (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”) will recur opposite Michael Sheen and Tom Payne on season 2 of Fox drama “Prodigal Son”… Chelsea Alden (“13 Reasons Why”) will join the 11th and final season of Showtime’s “Shameless” in a recurring role.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
What had been Gary’s college major on “Veep” (2012-19)? Hotel management. Kudos to: Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NY; Synda Kollman-Charter Marketing Group/Boca Raton, FL; Charles Lore/NY; Rusty Merchant-Lamar Advertising/Pensacola, FL; Rev. Mark Wajda/Clermont, FL; Andy Pittman-TAMU/College Station, TX; David Garber-Loyola Marymount University/Playa Vista, CA; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; David Westberg-SAG•AFTRA Credit Union/Burbank

Today’s Trivia Question
What short-lived series was inspired by the same two undercover NYC detectives who inspired “Starsky & Hutch” (1975-79)? 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.)