Television

SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not watched the Dec. 14 episode of “The Bachelorette.” After Rodney Matthews was eliminated, three men remained to compete for Michelle Young’s heart on “The Bachelorette.” Brandon Jones, Joe Coleman and Nayte Olukoya all joined Michelle in Mexico, where they anticipated their overnight fantasy suite dates —

On Monday morning, the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. (HFPA) announced the nominations for the 79th annual Golden Globe Awards — and what followed was near radio silence. In the days leading up to the Golden Globe nominations, it was unclear what impact the announcement would have — and in the near 12 hours since the

Sandra Bullock is back on Netflix, and this time, it isn’t blindfolded in a post-apocalyptic horror (a la 2018’s “Bird Box”). Her latest feature flick on the streamer, “The Unforgivable,” directed by Nora Fingscheidt, debuted at No. 1 globally on Dec. 10 and generated 85.86 million hours of subscriber viewership. In the film, Bullock stars

Ashley Nicole Black, the Emmy-winning writer, actor and producer who has worked on multiple talk and sketch series, has sealed an exclusive, multi-year overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group, the studio announced on Tuesday. Black will create and produce original programming for all platforms, including WarnerMedia’s HBO Max, other streaming services, cable, and broadcast

Richard Leibner, the long-serving agent who has backed some of the best-known news anchors in the U.S., is making some headlines of his own: He’s retiring after decades on the job. The veteran talent representative intends to step away from his role as partner at United Talent agency at the end of the year, according

Shakira is taking the social media dance craze to a whole new level. Partnering with NBC, the international star is heading a new dance challenge series titled “Dancing with Myself.” Inspired by Shakira’s own passion for dance, “Dancing with Myself” is a family-friendly competition that aims to bring out the performer in everyone. Every week

Viewers are raving for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, as two of his starring feature vehicles — Netflix’s “Red Notice” and Disney Plus’ “Jungle Cruise” — topped Nielsen’s Top 10 SVOD Movies list and Top 10 SVOD Programs list for the second week of November. “Red Notice,” a heist comedy co-starring Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot,

Fox is developing the “Cliffhanger” novels by TJ Middleton (real name Tom Binding) as a one-hour drama series. The series is described as a darkly comedic one-hour drama following the quirky exploits of rideshare driver Audrey Greenwood, who emerges from the pandemic with a startling realization: she never wants to see her husband Al’s face again.

Brooke Bowman has been promoted to executive vice president of drama development and programming at Fox Entertainment. She succeeds Charlie Andrews in the role, with Andrews exiting the company. The parting with Andrews is said to be on good terms, with his contract simply coming to an end. Bowman was previously senior vice president in

To keep its Erika Girardi-fueled momentum going, Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” began filming its 12th season earlier this fall, without the usual months-long break between seasons. But now, COVID-19 has sidelined several of its cast members. Though Bravo would not confirm who’s sick for privacy reasons, Garcelle Beauvais posted to her social

Spain’s Atresplayer Premium unveiled a slate of new and returning programs on Monday evening in a live presentation streamed from Madrid’s famed Gran Via, hosted by the streamer and featuring some of the most recognizable faces behind its impressive lineup of original local programming. 2021 was a banner year for Atresplayer, which closed agreements with

Screenwriter Elyse Hollander has signed with APA for representation, Variety has learned exclusively. She continues to repped by Bellevue Productions and Hansen Jacobson. Hollander started her career as an assistant to Alejandro González Iñárritu on the set of “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” before breaking out with her Black List topping screenplay “Blonde Ambition”

Wilmer Valderrama is attached to star in and executive produce a live-action “Zorro” series that is in development at Disney Branded Television. In “Zorro,” Valderrama would star as Don Diego de la Vega and his swashbuckling alter ego, the masked horseman known as Zorro, in the days of Spanish California. The show is a reimagining

For years, CBS’ WWJ-TV Detroit held the dubious distinction of being the only major network owned-and-operated station without a news department. But that’s about to change: 20 years after eliminating its news presence, WWJ (Channel 62, branded as “CBS 62”) will launch a news department in 2022, as part of an ambitious plan to create

SPORTS Global sports streaming service DAZN and leading Spanish broadcast group Movistar Plus have acquired the audiovisual rights to the country’s top soccer division, LaLiga, from the 2022/23-2026/27 seasons at a total cost of €4.95 billion ($5.6 billion). The deal represents a slight increase – around €10 million ($11.30 million) or 1% per season –

UPDATED: Apple TV Plus announced that “Servant,” the psychological thriller series from M. Night Shyamalan, has been renewed for a fourth season. Shyamalan later tweeted that the show would end with Season 4. “Happy to announce (in my very fitting Jericho t-shirt) that@Servant is greenlit for its 4th & final season,” he wrote. “I set

Showrun by Oscar-nominated Danish director Lone Sherfig, “The Shift” will battle it out with Series Mania top winner “Blackport” and Canneseries winner “Countrymen” for 2022’s 6th Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize. Also in contention are Finnish crime drama “Transport” and psychological thriller “Vi y Villa,” an early show from Sweden’s Discovery Plus. All five

Count marketing analytics firm 605 among the number of firms that hope to fill in some of the gaps in measuring video audiences as more companies press for alternatives to the current standard, Nielsen. The company, founded by Kristin Dolan and backed by Dolan Family Ventures, the investment arm of the family long associated with

Pater Salmon, executive chair Banijay U.K., will step down from his role at Easter 2022. The Banijay group took over Endemol Shine in a $2.2 billion deal, which was finalized in 2020. Salmon’s departure comes as the U.K. integration process has been completed. A replacement for Salmon is expected to be named imminently. Salmon served

BBC Studios has upped its 25% stake in “Brexit: The Uncivil War” producer House Productions to take full ownership of the London-based production company. Launched in 2016 by the former head of Film 4 Tessa Ross (pictured, right) and Working Title TV boss Juliette Howell (left), the company specializes in both film and TV with

SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not watched the Season 3 finale of HBO’s “Succession.” And just like that, “Succession” Season 3 has come to an end. Though it didn’t feature any deaths (Peloton-related or otherwise), the Roy family has been shaken up, with some new alliances formed and trust completely broken between

“General Hospital” star Ingo Rademacher sued ABC on Monday, arguing that the company’s COVID vaccine mandate is unconstitutional and amounts to religious discrimination. Rademacher, who played Jasper “Jax” Jacks on the soap for nearly 25 years, was fired last month after refusing to get vaccinated. According to his lawsuit, Rademacher sought a religious exemption from

A “Gotham Knights” TV series is in the works at The CW from three “Batwoman” writers, Variety has learned. The project hails from writers Natalie Abrams, James Stoteraux, and Chad Fiveash. Stoteraux and Fiveash are executive producers on the show, with Abrams co-executive producing. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and David Madden of Berlanti Productions will also

During the most recent season of MTV’s competition program “The Challenge,” subtitled “Spies, Lies & Allies,” the competitors initially had to work in pairs, despite major language barriers among them. In these games, veteran players from past seasons of “The Challenge” compete against vets of other series including “Survivor,” “Big Brother” and “Love Island” from

Alex Kurtzman’s production company, Secret Hideout, has named Aaron Baiers president of television. He will succeed Heather Kadin in the role, with Kadin announcing her departure from the CBS Studios-based pod to pursue other opportunities. “In the ten years we’ve worked together, day in and day out, Aaron has proven himself to be a problem

HBO had no input into the viral “And Just Like That” Peloton ad that was released over the weekend. Neither did series creator Michael Patrick King. So says Ryan Reynolds, who spearheaded the ad through his Maximum Effort marketing company. “We hope HBO and all involved see this for what it was — a fun

Eman Varoqua was named executive producer of “Nightline,” the latest in a series of moves by ABC News President Kim Godwin to fill some of the top positions in the news division. Varoqua has been with ABC News since 2018, most recently working as senior broadcast producer for the late-night news show that launched with

Logan Roy did it again. The media baron’s checkmate vs. his kids had fans buzzing following Sunday night’s Season 3 finale, and it paid off in initial viewing. According to HBO, the episode, “All the Bells Say,” delivered 1.7 million viewers across all platforms in same-day viewing. That’s a new series high for the show,

The increased focus on female butt-kickers on TV has been a positive step for feminism and in trouncing stereotypes. Series as vastly different in tone as AMC’s “The Walking Dead” zombie franchise to the martial arts-tinged “Cobra Kai” on Netflix and the CW’s “Kung Fu”to Disney Plus’ Marvel Cinematic Universe spinoffs like “Hawkeye” and Starz’s

Sippin’ on Globes and juice, Snoop Dogg was the surprise presence at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s early morning Golden Globes announcement on Monday. Entering a subdued Beverly Hilton ballroom, Snoop and HFPA president Helen Hoehne announced this year’s nominations a bit like it was business as usual. But it was clearly not. Many of