 IN THE NEWS |
| NBC has pulled the plug on two series: “Brilliant Minds,” the medical drama that ran for two seasons, and “Stumble,” the cheerleading comedy that lasted just one. Neither show found an audience — “Brilliant Minds” had already been benched in February, bumped from the schedule to make room for an expanded run of “The Voice.”
Just one month after ESPN took control of NFL Network, the channel went dark on Comcast’s Xfinity service. “We proposed keeping these channels available while we continued good-faith negotiations, but unfortunately Comcast declined and took them down,” said ESPN owner Disney in a statement to Front Office Sports. Comcast responded that it is “in discussions” about future carriage.”
Amazon may be in early talks to bring back “The Apprentice” with Donald Trump Jr. stepping into his father’s hosting role, according to the Wall Street Journal, though Amazon’s Head of Unscripted and Documentary Television Jenn Levy said at the Reality TV Summit on Friday that the show is “not in active development.” Asked about his son taking over the role, President Trump said Don Jr. would probably be good. “He’s got a little charisma going. You need a little charisma for that sucker,” noted the president.
A small group of Paramount+ subscribers filed a lawsuit last week asking a federal judge to block the $110 billion Paramount deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery on antitrust grounds — the first legal effort to halt the merger, which has also drawn opposition from prominent Hollywood figures and warnings from California state officials. In a filing before the Northern District of California federal court, the plaintiffs argue the merger would “substantially lessen competition” and result in higher prices and reduced quality for consumers, among other harms.
The suit also raises concerns about Paramount gaining control of CNN, contending that CNN’s ownership was treated as a tool of political leverage, and it alleges that Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount last year was conditionally approved with the expectation that CBS News would realign its editorial direction to favor the Trump administration. The plaintiffs are asking the court to both block the Warner Bros. Discovery deal and require Skydance to unwind its earlier takeover of Paramount. Responded a Paramount spokesperson, “The combination of Paramount and WBD will create a stronger competitor that is well positioned to serve as a champion for creative talent and consumer choice.”
SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, the guild shared on its website. The deal — tentative until its approval by SAG-AFTRA members — was applauded by the DGA, which starts its own negotiations with the AMPTP on May 11. The agreement “reflects the significance of its members’ work and helps support stable, enduring careers,” said the directors guild.
Versant, spun off from NBCUniversal in January, has divested SportsEngine’s assets to PlayMetrics. Versant says the deal reflects its broader strategy of focused capital deployment as it concentrates on its four core growth areas: business news, politics, golf, and sports and genre entertainment.
Five more states — Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Vermont — have joined a coalition now totaling 13 states seeking to block the proposed $6.2 billion merger between station operators Nexstar and Tegna. “This is not controversial stuff — this merger is illegal and will give Nexstar and Tegna the ability to control and raise prices, fire journalists, and dominate the media landscape,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta in a statement. Calling the attorneys general “misguided,” Nexstar responded with a warning: “The alternative to this deal is not more independently owned outlets — it’s the demise of your local broadcast station.” |
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| NEW & RETURNING SERIES |
| FOX has set “Marriage Market” for its 2026–27 season. Hosted by Whitney Cummings (“Whitney”), the dating series invites singles fed up with endless first dates into an actual Marriage Market, where they hand over control of their love lives to family members. “’Marriage Market’ is a bold new format that reflects our strategy of creating distinctive IP that take the kind of big and culturally relevant risks that viewers love,” said Allison Wallach, Head of Unscripted, FOX Entertainment Studios. “We’ve taken a timeless idea and reimagined it in a modern, high-stakes way with the families in full control.”
“Love & Hip Hop” will wrap after 15 years with a six-part limited series premiering on VH1 the fall. In “Love & Hip Hop: The Final Chapter,” cast, creators, and cultural voices will look back at the impact and legacy of the reality show.
“This Is Poly,” a new reality show exploring polyamorous relationships, follows the lives of five very different polycules (interconnected groups of people in polyamorous relationships) starting Friday, May 29 at 9:30 p.m. |
Today’s Premieres
HBO Max: Margarita: Make Your Story Count
Netflix: Lord of the Flies; Dr. Seuss’s Horton! |
| PRODUCTION |
| ITV has ordered game show “Name That Tune,” based on the U.S. format, for ITV1 and ITVX. British television personality Alison Hammond is set as host.
VICE Studios has partnered with author Anika Jade Levy to bring her debut novel Flat Earth to the screen for television. “Flat Earth is fearless, biting, and darkly funny,” said Amy Powell, President of VICE Studios. “This is exactly the kind of bold, singular storytelling we want to champion.” Levy will serve as co-creator. |
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| COMING UP |
| Comedy special “Lisa Ann Walter: It Was an Accident” drops Friday, May 15 on Hulu. Per the logline, the show “takes on feral Gen-Xers, self-loathing, and navigating a backsliding America, via the no-filter lens of a grown-ass woman who has been paying attention.”
“The Mystery of Richard Simmons: A Diane Sawyer Special,” chronicling the fitness guru’s rise to fame and cultural legacy, airs Tuesday, May 12 at 9 p.m. on CBS. After ten years out of the public eye, Simmons reached out personally to Diane Sawyer to tell his story. He sent her dozens of flowers with a note attached: “I Trust You.” But before the two could sit down together, news broke of Simmons’ sudden and unexplained death. The special now turns its lens on the mystery surrounding his final days. |
| IN MEMORIAM |
| Longtime entertainment publicist Audrey Beth Davis died May 1 at age 82. Davis worked on numerous shows, including “The Golden Girls,” “Empty Nest,” “The Love Boat,” “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and “Scarlett.” |
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This Day in History
1893 – Cowboy Bill Pickett invented bulldogging, a rodeo event that involves grabbing cattle by the horns and wrestling them to the ground.
Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
In “Bosom Buddies” (1980-82), which resident of the all-women hotel where the roommates lived knew their true identities? Their co-worker, Amy Cassidy. Kudos to: Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg- M and S Entertainment/LA; Justin Pierce-JP Consulting Group/LA; Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NYC; John Kukla-KDFW Fox 4/Dallas; Dan Whitford-WTTW/Chicago; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Joe Brucia/NYC; Julie Martinez-JDA.media/Dallas; Tom Boyd-WGN/Chicago; David Garber-Loyola Marymount University/Playa Vista, CA; Michael Goodman-Radio One/Atlanta
Today’s Trivia Question
The lead character in which aughts series was an underachiever who talked to items for sale at the gift shop where she worked? (Email your answer to trivia@cynopsis.com and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone – a limit of four answers per time zone.) |
EXECUTIVE >>
TBS INTERNATIONAL/LOS ANGELES, CA: Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of entertainment and media agreements, with a primary focus on unscripted television, format licensing, and intellectual property distribution. Handle development, production, and co-production agreements, including situations where TBS is designated as the production entity providing production services. More info HERE
PRINT TRAFFICKER AND TECHNICAL COORDINATOR >>
FILM FEST DC/WASHINGTON, DC: Coordinate direct communication between print sources and the festival to ensure the on-time inbound and outbound delivery of all film materials and work with venue staff to deliver and test each film and KDM. Request and collect KDMs for all encrypted DCPs and maintain a spreadsheet that contains all the aspects of the film. Full info HERE
MANAGER, MEMBER ENGAGEMENT AND ANALYTICS >>
TELEVISION ACADEMY/NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA:
Lead the execution of initiatives such as the Peer Circle program and Your Voice Matters, reviewing data to enhance program participation and ensure metrics are achieved; collaborate with the Senior Director of Engagement and Retention and stakeholders across marketing to manage delivery and optimization of the Member Benefits Perks newsletter. Full info HERE
BROADCAST ENGINEER >>
HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY/HIGH POINT, NC: Ensure high-quality production environments and provide technical leadership to faculty, staff, and students in live and recorded productions and play a role in supporting the school’s mission to provide industry-standard production experiences for students and will have opportunities to contribute to the development of emerging media technologies. More info HERE
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF THE PRACTICE, MULTI-EPISODE TELEVISION PRODUCING >>
BOSTON UNIVERSITY – COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION/BOSTON, MA: Develope, produce, and manage scripted and unscripted multi-episodic series for linear television and/or streaming. Qualified applicants will be distinguished multi-platform practitioners with a significant body of “boots on the ground” work in the TV and streaming industry. The position will require in-class instruction and on-set exercises. Full info HERE
PROFESSOR OF THE PRACTICE: STUDIO AND/OR FIELD DIRECTING; MULTIPLE CAMERAS >>
BOSTON UNIVERSITY – COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION/BOSTON, MA: We seek a colleague with a significant body of practical work in television directing using multiple cameras for linear television and/or streaming platforms. Familiarity with visual effects and AI-supported tools is considered a plus. This position includes teaching directing of scripted and/or unscripted content using multiple cameras at many levels. Full info HERE
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF THE PRACTICE: VERTICAL FILMMAKING/CONTENT CREATOR >>
BOSTON UNIVERSITY – COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION/BOSTON, MA: We seek a colleague with a professional track record in the creation and development of original short-form content aimed at promoting, activating, and motivating young people through social activism, experimentation, entertainment, brand building, and audience engagement across today’s leading content platforms and social media ecosystems. More info HERE
SALES MANAGER – AP AD INSIGHTS HUB >>
ADVERTISER PERCEPTIONS/NEW YORK, NY: Drive direct sales of the platform offering, focusing heavily on new client acquisition. Reporting to and working closely with the GM of the Ad Insights Hub, this individual contributor will partner cross-functionally with Sales, Business Intelligence, Operations, and Client Services teams to build awareness and engagement with new clients. Full info HERE
SALES DIRECTOR – OMG
MOONBUG ENTERTAINMENT
NEW YORK, NY
Deliver and exceed sales revenue targets as well as build, manage and grow a strategic account list with a focus on Omnicom agencies and their clients directly, within the northeast. Ability to navigate holding company structure and negotiate strategic partnerships with key stakeholders (ratecards, preferred programmatic deals, content deals, etc.). More info HERE
DIRECTOR OF PERFORMANCE MARKETING >>
ATHLETE TO ATHLETE/SANTA MONICA, CA: Lead the performance marketing team across Meta Ads and new paid digital channels (TikTok, YouTube, Google, etc.) as well as build and execute a roadmap for channel expansion and profitable scale. Develop and run structured testing frameworks. Partner with Creative Strategist on ad briefs, testing priorities, and creative feedback loops. Full info HERE
NATIONAL SALES MANAGER>>
HEARST MEDIA PRODUCTION GROUP/CHARLOTTE, NC: Oversee daily sales pipeline operations focused on national sponsorships, integrations, and branded content tied to unscripted programming. Manage and coach the Business Development team, drive outbound activity, shape proposals and pricing, and lead CRM strategy, reporting, and optimizations via Salesforce. Full info HERE
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER >>
NTD/WASHINGTON, DC: Pitch story ideas and write scripts/segment outlines as well as research guests and interview topics. Book guests and coordinate interviews. Help with logistics and sometimes field production. Support shoots and ensure production runs smoothly. Review footage and work with editors to shape final episodes. Write headlines, teasers, and social posts. Full info HERE
DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES AND ADMINISTRATION >>
THE JIM HENSON COMPANY/HOLLYWOOD, CA: Responsible for all HR functions and oversight of administrative and management needs. This strategic role is charged with operating from a customer service driven viewpoint that prioritizes employee satisfaction as well as enforce legally compliant policies, increase efficiency by implementing administrative and record-keeping best practices. Full info HERE
SR. DIRECTOR OF SALES, KSTU & KUPX >>
THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY/SALT LAKE CITY: Leverage our suite of advertising solutions to unlock growth opportunities for local and national businesses. Play a role in driving the station’s revenue goals as well as serving as the home station for Utah’s new NHL team. Collaborate with our production team to create campaigns that connect our clients with their customers in meaningful ways. Full info HERE
DIGITAL MEDIA BUYER >>
FURMAN ROTH ADVERTISING/NY(HYBRID): Plan, launch, and optimize digital marketing campaigns across various paid media channels (including Display, Google products, Paid Social, CTV, and Programmatic, etc.) while managing budgets effectively. Support the execution of media plans across platforms, overseeing targeting, budget allocation, and performance tracking to drive campaign success. Full info HERE
ACCOUNT DIRECTOR; CTV BRAND PARTNERSHIPS – MID WEST/WEST COAST
FUTURE TODAY
REMOTE
Build, maintain and expand a pipeline of sales targets, contacts, and sales opportunities leveraging your relationships with a heavy focus on new business revenue. Build/nurture relationships with the investment, strategy, precision and digital agencies as well as clients. Also maintain an ongoing knowledge of the streaming media landscape. Full info HERE
DIRECTOR, AD MARKETING & SALES >>
THE SHADE ROOM/REMOTE: Develop and execute a revenue growth strategy to drive direct advertising, branded content, and sponsorship sales as well as lead the development of compelling advertising and branded content offerings tailored for TSR’s audience and cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key advertisers, media agencies, and brand partners. Full info HERE
PROFESSIONAL LECTURER OF COMMUNICATION/SPORTS BROADCASTING >>
MARIST UNIVERSITY/ POUGHKEEPSIE, NY: Teach studio and field broadcasting and new media courses in sports media and journalism as well as be able to teach a studio course on producing a newscast and help students live stream a podcast or produce short-form feature content suitable for social media streaming. Also demonstrate through their teaching, professional activity, and service. Full info HERE
SALES LEAD – AGENCY PARTNERSHIPS
UPWAVE
NEW YORK, NY
Build and manage relationships with our agency partners – mostly targeting media buyers and planners – and help them see the value of adding Upwave measurement to The Trade Desk campaigns. You will both leverage your existing network and open new doors to achieve aggressive but achievable sales targets. Full info HERE |
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