‘Fam’ Starring Comedian Tone Bell Comedy Canceled By CBS
CBS will not be picking up a second season of freshman comedy series Fam, starring The Vampire Diaries alumna Nina Dobrev and Tone Bell.
The multi-camera comedy was launched without much fanfare in midseason. The series, which hails from creator Corinne Kingsbury, Kapital Entertainment and CBS Television Studios, had a quiet run, averaging a 1.2 adults 18-49 rating (Live+7).
In Fam, a young woman’s (Dobrev) dreams of an upstanding life with her new fiancé (Bell) and his family are dashed when her younger trainwreck half-sister comes to live with her to escape their trainwreck of a father.
Odessa Adlon, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Sheryl Lee Ralph also starred.
Kingsbury executive produced with Kapital Entertainment’s Aaron Kaplan and Dana Honor as well as Wendi Trilling via TrillTV. Kapital co-produced with CBS TV Studios.
Kingsbury’s other freshman series, the CW’s In the Dark, was renewed for a second season.
Source: Deadline
‘Happy Together’ Starring Damon Wayans Jr. Canceled By CBS
CBS’ freshman comedy Happy Together, headlined by Damon Wayans Jr., will not be coming back for a second season. The cancellation came within an hour or so of Fox pulling the plug on Lethal Weapon, starring Wayans’ father, Damon Wayans.
The writing was pretty much on the wall when the multi-camera Happy Together did not get a back order in the fall. Odds of a fall freshman series getting a renewal after failing to secure a back order are usually slim.
Happy Together, from writers Tim McAuliffe and Austen Earl, underperformed in the ratings but had a few things going for it. It starred a sought-after comedy talent in Wayans Jr. and came from Late Late Show with James Corden producer Fulwell 73 as well as pop star Harry Styles. What’s more, because of co-lead Amber Stevens West’s pregnancy, the series rushed production on the first six episodes. In Episodes 7 and 8, ratings went up a bit. Its season averages were a 1.0 demo rating in 18-49 and 5.26 million total viewers. In the end, that wasn’t enough.
Happy Together revolved around Peter (Wayans Jr) and Claire (West), a thirtysomething couple who are tired of their mundane life and start to reconnect with their younger, cooler selves when an emerging pop star (Felix Mallard), who is drawn to their super-normal suburban life, moves in.
The cast also includes Stephnie Weir and Chris Parnell.
McAuliffe and Earl executive produced with Ben Winston via Fulwell 73, Styles, and 3 Arts Entertainment’s Michael Rotenberg and Jonathan Berry.
Source: Deadline
FOX Cancels ‘Lethal Weapon’ After Three Seasons
Fox has canceled its troubled cop series “Lethal Weapon” after three seasons, Variety has learned.
The show originally starred Clayne Crawford and Damon Wayans as a buddy cop duo, however, Variety reported that the pair were far from friendly and fought regularly off-camera, leading to Crawford’s sacking. Season three continued with Seann William Scott replacing Crawford, however, Wayans announced he was quitting and show, and coupled with a steep decline in ratings, it’s no great surprise that Fox decided to pull the plug.
The show averaged a 0.71 rating in the key 18-49 demographic and just over 3 million total viewers per episode in Season 3, which was a significant dip from the season 2 average rating of 1.0 and average viewership of just over 4 million. Even those numbers represented a pretty substantial decline from season 1, which had an average rating of 1.57 and 6.5 million total viewers.
The one-hour Fox drama was an adaptation of the “Lethal Weapon” film franchise, which starred Danny Glover and Mel Gibson. Wayans led the series as Roger Murtaugh, while Crawford played Martin Riggs and Scott played Wesley Cole in season 3. The series also starred Keesha Sharp, Kevin Rahm, Jordana Brewster, Johnathan Fernandez, Dante Brown, Chandler Kinney, and Michelle Mitchenor.
“Lethal Weapon” was produced by Warner Bros. Television in association with Lin Pictures and Good Session Productions. Miller, Dan Lin, Jennifer Gwartz, and McG served as executive producers.
Fox also canceled freshman drama “The Passage” and comedy “The Cool Kids” Friday but previously renewed “Empire,” “9-1-1,” “The Resident,” “Family Guy,” “Last Man Standing,” “Bob’s Burgers” and “The Simpsons.” New series orders for the 2019-20 television season include dramas “Deputy,” “Next,” “Prodigal Son” and the Untitled Annie Weisman/Jason Katims series, live-action comedy “Outmatched” and animated comedies “Duncanville,” “The Great North” and “Bless the Harts.”
Source: Variety
The Steve Harvey Daytime Talk Show To Come To An End
Steve Harvey’s syndicated daytime talk show “Steve” will end its run in June.
The writing was on the wall for the show last September year when NBC cut a deal with Kelly Clarkson for a talk-variety hour to launch in the fall. “The Kelly Clarkson Show” will move into the prime daytime slots occupied on NBC O&Os by Harvey’s show for the past seven seasons.
“Steve” taped its final episode on Thursday. Originals will air through June and the show will remain on the air in reruns through September.
The demise of “Steve” raises the question of whether Harvey’s show was a casualty of animosity between NBCUniversal and Endeavor’s IMG Original Content over IMG’s takeover of the show two seasons ago.
Harvey’s entry into the daytime talk arena began in 2012 with “The Steve Harvey Show,” co-produced by Endemol Shine North America and NBCUniversal and distributed by NBCUniversal Television Domestic Television Distribution. That show was taped in Chicago and featured Harvey more in the Oprah Winfrey/Phil Donahue host mode, albeit with his signature humor. The show was one of the few new entries in daytime to deliver solid, if not spectacular, ratings. This season, it has averaged about 1.8 million viewers a week, putting it at No. 5 among syndicated talk shows behind “Dr. Phil,” “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “Live with Kelly and Ryan” and “Maury.”
After his initial five-year deal with Endemol ended, Harvey in 2016 opted to cut a deal with IMG Original Content to produce a new version of the show, renamed “Steve,” that relocated to Los Angeles starting with season six in fall 2017. The new show put more emphasis on celebrity guests and comedic segments. IMG offered Harvey a much larger ownership stake in the show, a higher salary and more creative control over the production. The deal commanded attention in the industry because IMG is a corporate sibling of WME, which represents Harvey, raising the specter of conflict of interest as IMG became Harvey’s production partner.
NBCUniversal executives were furious at losing their stake in Harvey’s show after the transition to IMG, even though it remained the distributor of “Steve.” The new version of the show also remained in its time slots on the NBC O&Os in crucial major markets, but it was no surprise when NBC moved to develop a high-profile new show to replace “Steve.”
A rep for Endeavor, the corporate parent of IMG, declined to comment. A rep for Harvey could not immediately be reached for comment. A source close to the situation asserted that Harvey has no regrets about making the shift to IMG. “Steve took a shot,” the source said. “He still made more money than he would have under the old deal.” An industry observer unconnected to the show noted that the tussle reflected the strain between talent with clout trying to exert more control, with help from nontraditional partners such as agency-affiliated production entities and private equity backers, and the renewed focused by the largest media conglomerates on owning the vast majority of the content carried on their networks.
IMG spent the past few months looking for new stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and other major markets to keep Harvey on the air in syndication. “Steve” was also shopped to cable and digital buyers. The show has ramped up the production of digital content in recent months, and there’s chatter that Harvey may establish a digital platform, possibly with Facebook, to showcase the kind of comedic and topical segments that have proven popular on the daytime show.
Despite the demise of “Steve,” Harvey will continue to be a regular presence on TV. He’s the host of syndicated game show “Family Feud,” from Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury, and he is in demand as an emcee for numerous specials including the annual Miss Universe pageant and Fox’s “New Year’s Eve with Steve Harvey: Live From Times Square.”
Source: Variety
New Kenan Thompson Comedy Series Ordered to Series at NBC
Kenan Thompson is finally heading to primetime.
Saturday Night Live‘s longest-tenured cast member has just gotten the call from NBC that his scripted comedy pilot — The Kenan Show — has been ordered to series.
The single-camera comedy, exec produced by SNL mastermind Lorne Michaels, stars the comedian as a newly widowed dad who is determined to be everything for his kids while begrudgingly letting his persistent father-in-law (played by Andy Garcia) become more involved in their lives.
Insiders say Thompson — who is closing out his record 16th season on SNL — is expected to return to the sketch comedy next year, though it remains unclear in what capacity. Others note that The Kenan Show may have been picked up with a short-order for midseason, meaning he could film the series during SNL‘s hiatus. That would be similar to what fellow SNL star Aidy Bryant did with her Hulu comedy, Shrill. (Bryant will do the same this year and film Shrill season two during her SNL hiatus this summer.)
What’s more, Thompson is also set to serve as a judge NBC’s comedy competition series Bring the Funny. A premiere date for that series has not yet been determined.
Thompson recently made his first appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, during which he addressed his future on SNL and noted that he can’t see himself walking away from what he called “the best job in the world.” (Watch that clip, below.) That’s a change from when the comedy was originally put in development, which would have seen Thompson — who won his first Emmy last year for SNL — exit the late-night staple.
As for The Kenan Show, Jackie Clarke (Superstore) penned the script and exec produces alongside Thompson, Michaels and his Universal TV-based Broadway Video topper Andrew Singer. Chris Rock directed the pilot and will exec produce the series.
The Kenan Show is NBC’s sixth overall series order of the season and second comedy, joining Mike Schur-produced Kal Penn vehicle Sunnyside.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Raven-Symoné ‘s ‘Raven’s Home’ Sets A Premiere Date!
The season premiere dates of two popular comedy series for kids and families—”Raven’s Home” and “BUNK’D”—have been set for MONDAY, JUNE 17 (8:00-8:30 p.m. EDT/PDT), and THURSDAY, JUNE 20 (8:00-8:30 p.m. EDT/PDT), respectively, on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW.
In the third season of “Raven’s Home,” its star and executive producer Raven-Symoné will make her television directing debut. The season is also highlighted by guest stars Jaleel White (“Me, Myself and I,” “Family Matters”), Jonathan McDaniel (“That’s So Raven”) and Charles Robinson (“Night Court,” “K.C. Undercover”). The stories pick up with Raven Baxter, her family and friends pursuing their creative dreams. Booker, Nia and Tess form a music group, The Chi-Lective, with Levi as their music video director, Raven is determined to launch her fashion line, while Chelsea has finally found her niche as a life coach. “Raven’s Home” stars Raven-Symoné (“That’s So Raven”), Issac Ryan Brown (ABC’s “black-ish” and Disney’s “Kim Possible”), Navia Robinson (“Being Mary Jane”), Jason Maybaum (Disney’s “Freaky Friday”), Sky Katz and Anneliese van der Pol (“That’s So Raven”). Additionally, Johnno Wilson (“You Kiddin’ Me”) guest stars this season as Levi’s dad, Garrett.
In the fourth season premiere of the hit summer camp comedy “BUNK’D,” former counselor Lou Hockhauser takes the mantle as camp director as she and her veteran campers, Destiny, Finn and Matteo, welcome three new Camp Kikiwaka members—Noah (an upbeat actor from Hollywood), Ava (a tenacious counselor from the big city) and Gwen (who has spent her entire life living off the grid). “BUNK’D” stars Miranda May (“The Heartbreak Kid,” “Samantha Who?”), Raphael Alejandro (“Once Upon a Time”), Will Buie Jr. (“Daytime Divas”), Mallory James Mahoney (Disney’s “Adventures in Babysitting”), Shelby Simmons (“Andi Mack”), Scarlett Estevez (“Daddy’s Home”) and Israel Johnson (“Schooled”).
ABC Renews ‘How To Get Away With Murder’ Along With ‘Grey’s Anatomy’!
ABC has renewed record-breaking series “Grey’s Anatomy” for two additional seasons (Seasons 16 and 17). In addition, ABC has renewed “Station 19” for a third season and “How to Get Away with Murder” for a sixth season. Executive producer and showrunner Krista Vernoff will helm both “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Station 19,” giving fans two hours of feels on Thursdays and providing a seamless crossover narrative on both series.
“I’m thrilled to continue at the helm of ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ and I’m honored and energized by the opportunity to run ‘Station 19,’ as well. To expand upon the world Stacy McKee created, and further merge it with the world of ‘Grey’s,’ is an exciting challenge,” said Krista Vernoff, executive producer and showrunner for “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Station 19.”
“Everyone at Shondaland is thrilled that our fans’ commitment to TGIT continues,” said Shonda Rhimes and producing partner Betsy Beers in a joint statement. “We are so proud of Krista and Pete and the work they do. Making the choice to have Krista oversee ‘Station 19’ was easy — the creativity she brings to the ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ universe continues a tradition of storytelling we hold dear.”
Powered by strong delayed-viewing gains, TGIT’s most recent crossover event (on 5/2/19) drove ABC to win the Thursday 8:00-10:00 p.m. time slot among Adults 18-49 after three days of TV playback, with “Grey’s Anatomy” matching a 5-week high and “Station 19” soaring to its 2nd highest-rated telecast ever.
In the 2018-2019 season, “Grey’s Anatomy” became the longest-running prime-time medical drama ever. The show continues to perform as Thursday’s No. 1 series this season among key Women and ranking as the No. 1 program in Thursday’s 8 p.m. hour with Adults 18-49.
“Grey’s Anatomy” was created and is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes. Betsy Beers, Mark Gordon (“Saving Private Ryan”), Krista Vernoff (“Shameless”), Debbie Allen, Zoanne Clack, Fred Einesman, Andy Reaser and Meg Marinis are executive producers. “Grey’s Anatomy” is produced by ABC Studios.
“Station 19” follows a group of heroic Seattle firefighters as they put their lives and hearts on the line. The latest series from the executive producers of “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal” and “How to Get Away with Murder” takes us inside the tough, tight-knit and sometimes heartbreaking world of the city’s bravest first responders.
The drama is produced by ABC Studios. Krista Vernoff (“Grey’s Anatomy”) serves as showrunner and executive producer. Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers serve as executive producers. Paris Barclay (“Pitch” and “Sons of Anarchy”) serves as the producing director and executive producer of the series.
Vernoff is an Emmy®-nominated, Golden Globe®– and WGA Award-winning writer. Having worked in television for two decades, her credits include “Shameless,” “Law & Order” and “Wonderfalls.”
“How to Get Away with Murder” has been a constant in ABC’s TGIT programming block since its premiere in 2014. In this Philadelphia-based drama, murder, deception, fear and guilt are the ties that bind Professor Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) to her associates and students. Over the last five seasons, “How to Get Away with Murder” has used thought-provoking storytelling to bring societal issues to light, such as the right to a fair trial, racial inequalities in the justice system and mental illness. The Season 5 finale of the hit series left viewers searching for answers about the fate of fan-favorite characters, and Season 6 returns this fall with explanations for those Season 5 cliffhangers.
During its fifth season, ABC’s “How to Get Away with Murder” ranked as the No. 1 program in Thursday’s 10 o’clock hour among Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.
With a diverse cast featuring characters of different races, backgrounds and sexual orientation, “How to Get Away with Murder” has been praised for its on-screen inclusivity. Over the course of the last five seasons, the series has been awarded numerous accolades including an American Film Institute Award for Television Program of the Year, a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series and a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Drama Series. Viola Davis has been honored with an Emmy Award, two SAG Awards, a People’s Choice Award and a NAACP Image Award for her portrayal of Annalise Keating. Viola Davis’ 2015 Primetime Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series cemented her name in history as the first woman of color to win an Emmy Award in the category.
Shondaland’s “How to Get Away with Murder” is created and executive produced by Peter Nowalk (“Scandal,” “Grey’s Anatomy”). Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers and Stephen Cragg also serve as executive producers. The show is produced by ABC Studios.
Simone Missick Lands In New CBS Drama Along With Several Other New Pickups
CBS kicked off its 2019-20 series orders with a bang Thursday with a whopping seven pilots ordered to series.
Two of the biggest grabs see former Luke Cage stars Simone Missick and Mike Colter reunited on the broadcast network. The orders include All Rise, a legal drama series toplined by Missick, and a psychological mystery drama that stars Colter.
Here’s more about the six new series and the Black talent (denoted in bold) in them. (the seventh series, comedy series Broke does not have any Black series regulars):
All Rise (fka Courthouse)
Photo: CBS
Description: All Rise, led by Simone Missick, is a drama that “pulls back the curtain on the court system and follows the dedicated, chaotic, hopeful, and sometimes absurd lives of the judges, assistant district attorneys, and public defenders as they work with bailiffs, clerks, cops and jurors to bring justice to the people of Los Angeles.” J. Alex Brinson, Jessica Camacho, Lindsay Mendez, Marg Helgenberger, Ruthie Ann Miles and Wilson Bethel also star.
Evil
Photo: CBS
Description: From the makers of The Good Wife and The Good Fight, Evil is a psychological mystery that examines science vs. religion and the origins of evil. The series focuses on a skeptical female forensic psychologist who joins a priest-in-training and a carpenter to investigate and assess the Church’s backlog of supposed miracles, demonic possessions and unexplained phenomena. Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, Aasif Mandvi, Brooklyn Shuck, Dalya Knapp, Maddy Crocco, Michael Emerson and Skylar Gray star.
FBI: Most Wanted
Photo: CBS
Description: Originally introduced as a backdoor pilot in its parent series, FBI, members of the FBI’s Fugitives Department to track down a person wanted for murder who is also on America’s top 10 most wanted list. Alana de la Garza, Julian McMahon, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Hana Gibson, Kellan Lutz, Nathaniel Arcand and Roxy Sternberg star.
Bob Hearts Abishola
Photo: CBS
Description: After having a heart attack, a middle-aged sock businessman from Detroit unexpectedly falls for his cardiac nurse, a Nigerian immigrant, and sets his sights on getting her to give him a chance. Barry Shabaka Henley, Billy Gardell, Christine Ebersole, Folake Olowofoyeku, Maribeth Monroe, Matt Jones, Shola Adewusi and Travis Wolfe Jr. star.
Carol’s Second Act
Description:After raising her two children and retiring from teaching, Carol Chambers embarks on a unique second act: pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor. Bonnie Dennison, Ito Aghayere, Jean Luc Bilodeau, Kyle MacLachlan, Patricia Heaton and Sabrina Jalees star.
The Unicorn
Photo: CBS
Description: A tight-knit group of friends and family help a widower move on following the most difficult year of his life, which includes being an ill-equipped but devoted single parent to his two daughters, and taking the major step of dating where, to his shock, he’s a hot commodity. Makenzie Moss, Maya Lynne Robinson, Michaela Watkins, Omar Benson Miller, Rob Corddry, Ruby Jay and Walton Goggins stars.
Look for first trailers for most of these shows to drop next week either before or shortly after CBS’ Upfronts presentation.
Source: Shadow & Act
Kenya Barris And Rashida Jones To Star In Netflix Family Comedy Series ‘Black Excellence’
Kenya Barris is not wasting any time getting to work for Netflix.
The Black-ish creator is teaming with Parks and Recreation grad Rashida Jones for single-camera comedy Black Excellence. Barris and Jones will both star in and exec produce the series, which marks the former’s first project since moving his overall deal from ABC Studios to Netflix last year.
Netflix describes the series as being inspired by Barris’ irreverent, highly flawed, unbelievably honest approach to parenting, relationships, race and culture. The comedy looks to pull back the curtain and reboot the family sitcom in a way viewers have never seen before. An episode count and premiere date have not yet been determined.
Hale Rothstein (Black-ish and Freeform spinoff Grown-ish) will exec produce alongside Barris and Jones. The series hails from Barris’ Netflix-based Khalabo Ink Society banner.
Black Excellence arrives after Barris departed ABC following a string of blows, including multiple pilot passes and having a politically themed episode of hit Black-ish pulled from the schedule. He negotiated an early exit from his ABC Studios deal not long after, and detailed the experience in a very forthcoming Hollywood Reporter cover story written by Executive TV Editor Lacey Rose.
In addition to Black Excellence, Barris has multiple other projects in the works on the film side for Netflix, including a Shaft reboot. The order arrives days after Barris nabbed a series order at ABC for Black-ish prequel Mixed-ish, about a teenage version of Tracee Ellis Ross’ Rainbow. He’s repped by Artists First and attorney Gregg Gellman.
For Jones, meanwhile, the Netflix comedy arrives the morning after TBS canceled Angie Tribeca, the comedy in which she starred from her former Office star Steve Carell. Her credits include co-directing Netflix documentary Quincy, producing the Emmy-nominated documentary Hot Girls Wanted and exec producing TNT’s Claws. The latter, like NBC’s A to Z and feature Celeste and Jesse Forever, hailed from her Le Train Tran production company. Next up, Jones will star opposite Bill Murray in Sofia Coppola’s On the Rocks. Jones is with UTA.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
‘Angie Tribeca’ To End After Four Seasons On TBS
“Angie Tribeca” is coming to an end after four seasons, Variety has learned.
The show, which was created by Steve and Nancy Carrell, starred Rashida Jones as the titular LAPD detective. The series launched as part of TBS’ push to become a home for an edgier brand of cable comedy, along with shows like “Search Party.”
Jones recently wrote and directed the documentary “Quincy” about her father, music legend Quincy Jones. She also recently set up the project “Kevin Can F— Himself” at AMC alongside her producing partner Will McCormack and Valerie Armstrong. That project revolves around the secret life of a sitcom wife, examining the trope of the beautiful woman married to a “caveman-like husband” from her POV.
Hayes MacArthur, Jere Burns, Deon Cole, Andree Vermeulen, and Bobby Cannavale all also starred alongside Jones in “Angie Tribeca.” The zany cop spoof series was executive produced by both Carells, along with Ira Ungerleider, who served as showrunner.
Season 4 of “Angie Tribeca” was released in its entirety back in December. Notable guest stars on the show included Bill Murray, Lisa Kudrow, Keegan Michael-Key, and Natalie Portman. For a period, the series ranked as one of cable’s top 10 comedies across all key demos.
Photo: CBS
Photo: CBS
Photo: CBS
Photo: CBS