Monday November 20, 2023

Today’s Finale
History: Kennedy at 9p

IN THE NEWS

Elon Musk has threatened to sue watchdog group Media Matters and others amid an advertising boycott on X. Musk drew fire last week for endorsing an antisemitic post on X, and Media Matters published research that indicated the platform has posted ads next to pro-Nazi posts. Companies including Disney, Apple, NBCU, Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery and more have since suspended advertising. “The split second court opens on Monday, X Corp will be filing a thermonuclear lawsuit against Media Matters and ALL those who colluded in this fraudulent attack on our company,” posted Musk on Saturday. Responded Media Matters President Angelo Carusone, “Far from the free speech advocate he claims to be, Musk is a bully who threatens meritless lawsuits in an attempt to silence reporting that even he confirmed is accurate. Musk admits the ads at issue ran alongside the pro-Nazi content we identified. If he sues us, we will win.”

Just weeks before its scheduled January 7 air date, the Golden Globes have found a broadcast home. The awards show will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on January 7, following an NFL doubleheader. This is the first ceremony since Globes assets, rights and properties were acquired by Dick Clark Productions and Eldridge from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, and its first airing on CBS since 1982. “Live entertainment and sports have, and always will be, a hallmark of CBS, and the Golden Globes adds an exciting new dimension to our first quarter schedule this year,” said network President and CEO George Cheeks. “The January timing also provides the added benefit of yet another signature platform to promote the return of CBS’ new primetime schedule in February.”

The “Dukes of Hazzard” gang is back together. Series stars John Schneider, Catherine Bach and Tom Wopat reunited with Byron Cherry, Jeff Altman and Rick Hurst at Gallatin Comic Con 2023 and discussed a possible reboot of the comedy series. And? “As far as a ‘Dukes’ reunion, anything is possible,” teased Bach (Daisy Duke).

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PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

A docuseries based on the alleged crimes of Anthony Farrer is in the works. Wonderland Sound and Vision will develop the series about the watch dealer and influencer who ran Timepiece Gentleman, a Beverly Hills consignment store. Farrer was arrested on November 7 on suspicion of wire fraud, with an arraignment scheduled for December 14.

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

Looks like a third season of HBO’s “Big Little Lies” is in the offing. Said Nicole Kidman during a Q&A at an LPGA event on Friday, “I loved ‘Big Little Lies.’ We will be bringing you a third one, just FYI.”

“The Dynasty: New England Patriots” premieres February 16. The 10-part docuseries from Apple TV+ provides access inside the organization with past and present Patriots players, coaches and executives, including former quarterback Tom Brady and Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick and others.

Apple TV+ celebrates the holidays with “The Velveteen Rabbit.” Based on the classic children’s book by Margery Williams, the new kids and family live action special premieres globally Wednesday on the streamer.

“Love After Lockup: Innocent After Lockup” premieres with a three-episode special. The limited series, following exonerees falsely accused and convicted of crimes they did not commit, premieres December 15 at 10:30p on WE tv. Every episode follows a different exoneree who spent between 15-22 years in a maximum-security penitentiary and was subsequently proven innocent.

HGTV’s “Married to Real Estate” premieres Thursday, December 28 at 9p. Last season’s run attracted over 15.6 million viewers.

COMING UP

Emma Stone is set to host NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” on December 2, with musical guest Noah Kahan. The appearance will mark Stone’s entry into SNL’s Five-Timers Club – she previously hosted in 2010, 2011, 2016 and 2019.

NBC’s “Countdown to Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” airs live on Wednesday. On the eve of the parade, viewers can enjoy an all-access look at the Macy’s Parade Studio to discover what it takes to create the floats and balloons prior to their journey through the streets of New York. For the second consecutive year, the special will be hosted by Amber Ruffin, with “Today” anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker joining in on the celebration.

STREAMING

“Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain” is now available exclusively on Peacock. The John Goodman-narrated film follows the adventures of three childhood friends turned deadbeat co-workers who fend off obstacles in the hopes of finding a treasure. Produced by Judd Apatow and Jimmy Miller, the film is written, executive produced by and starring Martin Herlihy, John Higgins and Ben Marshall – the trio known as Please Don’t Destroy with digital shorts on “Saturday Night Live” – and directed by Paul Briganti.

Blumhouse and Universal Pictures’ “The Exorcist: Believer” drops on Peacock next month. The latest in the franchise, the film centers on Victor, whose daughter and her friend return from a three-day disappearance with missing memories. The film premieres on the platform on December 1.

“Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People” is available through The National Educational Telecommunications Association. “The power of storytelling is ingrained in Cherokee culture, and there’s something truly remarkable and powerful in having the opportunity to tell our own story in a way that connects people to their very core,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “It is wonderful that now people across the United States can join us in experiencing that same overwhelming sense of belonging the show offers while celebrating our history, language, culture and values.”

SPORTS ROUNDUP

Peacock has launched its “Catch Up With Key Plays” across all NFL and Big Ten football games. First introduced with Premier League matches this summer, this interactive, feature is now available for NFL and Big Ten fans to catch up on the biggest moments from the games or revisit their favorite plays, all through easy-to-use player controls. The feature automatically appears when fans join a game that has been in-progress for at least five minutes.

“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” takes the cake. With the highest six-week average in key demographics, the late-night talkie delivered a 0.15 rating among A18-49 during the week of November 6, tying it for first place with “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” according to Nielsen. The show is averaging a 0.19 demo rating, 12% above Fallon’s 0.17 and 27% above “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”

FOX News Digital closed out last month reaching 3.4 billion total multiplatform minutes, 1.8 billion total multiplatform views and 92 million multiplatform unique visitors.

OutKick delivered nearly six million multiplatform unique viewers in October. The multimedia sports platform also saw 24 million total multiplatform views, up 13% versus the month prior, and 23 million total multiplatform minutes, up 14% versus the prior month, according to Comscore.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Cris Abrego is the new chairman of the Television Academy. The Board of Governors elected the reality producer for a two-year term, beginning January 1, 2024. Abrego succeeds Frank Scherma.

Disney Entertainment and ESPN’s technology team elevated two executives. Arora will serve as SVP of commerce, growth and identity, and Lehman has been elevated to SVP of ad platforms.

Milojo Productions promoted Michael Halpern to VP of Development and Production. Halpern joined the company in 2016.

IN MEMORIAM

Actress Suzanne Shepherd has died at age 89. She was best known to TV audiences for her role as Carmela’s mother on “The Sopranos.”

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Who was the second person to host the daily syndicated version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” (2002-19)? Cedric the Entertainer. Kudos to: Justin Pierce-JP Consulting Group/LA, Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./New York, Eric Dunefsky-Crossmedia/NYC, Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA, John Kukla-KDFW FOX 4/Dallas, David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Credit Union/Burbank, CA

Today’s Trivia Question
What song does the Peanuts gang sing on the way to turkey dinner on “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” (1973)? (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.)

Cynopsis Team