Television

In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, Amazon Studios presents its newest “Voices” virtual event, highlighting the many contributions to entertainment from the native community, as well as Hollywood’s complicity in the ongoing erasure and whitewashing of indigenous stories. With the intent of celebrating the heritage, diversity and beauty of Native American communities, plus evaluating

In early April, when Netflix and Shondaland announced that Regé-Jean Page, everyone’s favorite duke, wouldn’t be returning for the second season of “Bridgerton,” the news caused an explosion of grief on the internet. “Bridgerton,” after all, was a sensation as soon as it hit Netflix on Christmas Day 2020, and a significant number of the

The U.K.’s Independent Film Trust and U.S.-based Roadmap Writers have revealed a new transatlantic initiative to empower under-represented writers on both sides of the pond. Called Creative Corrider, it will run from November to December and unite five writers from underrepresented groups in each country to collaborate and explore new film and television projects that

“Heels” has been renewed for Season 2 at Starz. Production on the second season will begin in 2022. In addition, Trey Tucker and Robby Ramos have been promoted to series regulars for Season 2. Tucker stars as Bobby Pin while Ramos stars as Diego Cottonmouth. Mike O’Malley will also return as showrunner in addition to

Following Jon Petrie’s appointment as the BBC’s director of comedy in July, he has now revealed his commissioning team, including the newly-created role of head of comedy talent development. Tanya Qureshi (“I May Destroy You”) stays on as head of BBC comedy alongside commissioning editor Gregor Sharp (“Starstruck”) and assistant commissioner in the norther Hannah

SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not watched the Nov. 2 episode of “The Bachelorette.” Last week, Jamie Skaar received a one-on-one date and a rose from titular “Bachelorette” Michelle Young. His newfound confidence allowed him to bring her a rumor he started, where he questioned her relationship with fellow contestant Joe Coleman.

Eric Adams has been elected mayor of New York City. The former New York City Police Department captain is the second Black mayor in the history of the nation’s largest city. Adams, 61, who at present is Brooklyn borough president, prevailed out of a crowded field in the race to succeed Bill de Blasio, who

Twelve of the U.K.’s biggest broadcasters will today pledge to use their content to educate audiences about the climate crisis at COP26, the ongoing United Nations climate change conference at Glasgow. CEOs from BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Sky and STV will gather on Wednesday to promote climate story-telling on screen. The Climate Content Pledge, which

“Pose” co-creator Steven Canals was honored at The Norman Lear Center’s 2021 Sentinel Awards for the series’ accurate depiction of the HIV/AIDS epidemic amongst the LGBTQ community. “This is a story about the Black and Brown LGBTQ+ community living and dying of HIV/AIDS,” Canals said. With four Emmy wins, “Pose” follows New York City’s African

The fact-based story about former U.S. Army sergeant Charles Robert Jenkins’ four decades of living in North Korea is to be produced as an English-language limited TV series. Peter Landesman (“Concussion,” “Parkland,” “Kill the Messenger”) will direct the series for South Korean financing and production company Moving Pictures Company (Netflix music drama “Wish You,” WeTV

“Inventing Anna” — the first show Shonda Rhimes has written for Netflix, and the first show she’s created since “Scandal” made its debut in 2012 — will premiere in February. “Inventing Anna” follows the massive success of “Bridgerton,” which Rhimes and her company Shondaland executive produced. Season 2 of “Bridgerton” will also premiere in 2022.

An attorney for Danny Masterson’s accusers argued on Tuesday that they should not have to take their civil claims to a religious arbitration proceeding run by the Church of Scientology. Masterson, a longtime member of the church, is awaiting a criminal trial on multiple rape charges that could send him to prison for 45 years

The Patricia Arquette-led Apple comedy series “High Desert” has added six new cast members, Variety has learned. Matt Dillon (“Wayward Pines,” “Crash”), Rupert Friend (“Homeland,” “Death of Stalin”), Weruche Opia (“I May Destroy You”), Brad Garrett (“Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Fargo”), Bernadette Peters (“Mozart in the Jungle,” “The Good Fight”) and Christine Taylor (“Search Party,” “Zoolander”) will

The round-table show “The Five” has proven to be one of Fox News Channel’s most durable properties. And yet, after a decade on air, the late-afternoon program can still surprise even the most veteran executive at the Fox Corp. cable-news outlet. “The Five,” which these days relies largely on a trio of regulars and two

Some of the most-watched sketches featuring cast members of “Saturday Night Live” aren’t taking place on NBC’s venerable late-night show. Several of “SNL’s” popular players have in recent months started showing their stuff on a decidedly different stage. Kenan Thompson, who has been with “SNL” since 2003, recently began holding amusing conversations with talking kitchen

Netflix announced that a new Michael Che stand-up special will premiere globally Nov. 16. The special is titled “Michael Che: Shame the Devil.” This special follows his 2016 Netflix special “Michael Che Matters” in which the comedian discussed topics ranging from Black Lives Matter to gentrification. “Michael Che: Shame the Devil” is directed by Kristian

Former Entertainment One TV CEO John Morayniss has reunited with several of his former colleagues to launch Blink Studios, a new independent studio launched with the backing of Endeavor Content. Morayniss will serve as CEO of the company, which will be based in Toronto with an office in Los Angeles. Morayniss is forming Blink with

European media giant Antenna Group has appointed veteran European TV executive Bert Habets, a former CEO of Germany’s RTL Group, as its CEO. In his new role, Habets will oversee the free- and pay-TV, OTT, content, radio, digital, music, publishing and education divisions on all platforms for the group, which has operations in North America,

2021 has been a rollercoaster year for Will Poulter. In fewer than 12 months, the actor has morphed from a, in his words, “morally pretty reprehensible” Oxycontin salesman in “Dopesick” to a quintessential 1930s English gent in Agatha Christie thriller “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?” to a synthetic apex of human evolution, superhero Adam Warlock,

Carole Baskin is suing Netflix for using footage of her in the upcoming “Tiger King 2” series. Baskin and her husband, Howard Baskin, filed suit in Tampa, Fla. on Monday against the streamer and production company Royal Goode Productions. According to the documents, obtained by Variety, Baskin alleges that Royal Goode Productions has breached contract by

The “Law & Order” revival at NBC has cast Jeffrey Donovan in a lead role, Variety has learned. Details are under wraps as to the nature of Donovan’s character on the show, other than the fact that he will be playing an NYPD detective. It was announced in September that the hit procedural would be returning

First Lady Jill Biden and Trisha Yearwood aim to launch the holiday season with an exclusive look at the First Family’s Thanksgiving traditions and favorite recipes. The special, titled “A White House Thanksgiving,” debuts Nov. 20 at noon on Food Network and Discovery Plus, the streaming-video hub of the cable outlet’s parent company Discovery. The

John Skipper and Dan Le Batard’s Meadowlark Media has signed a multi-year first-look deal with Apple. Under the deal, Meadowlark will produce documentary and unscripted series for the streamer. Meadowlark was launched in January, with the company at that time announcing an initial focus on sports content. However, they have previously stated that they will

When PBS launched “Frontline” in 1983, the docuseries was considered the “the last best hope for broadcast documentaries.” While these days the longform investigative-journalism series is certainly not the only hope for docus looking for a home on the small screen, the program remains one of the cornerstones of not only PBS’ documentary efforts, but

If you’ve been struggling to come up with gift ideas this year, look no further: Oprah Winfrey, as always, has come to the rescue. As part of her annual tradition, she has released a comprehensive list of her Favorite Things of 2021, and this year’s edition includes gift ideas for foodies, techies, travelers and more.

Ava DuVernay has one message for viewers who tune into “Colin in Black & White,” the new Netflix series she co-created with Colin Kaepernick. “I hope people don’t leave thinking that it’s just a show about Colin,” DuVernay told Variety at the show’s premiere on Thursday at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. “I hope

“The Bachelor” is back on Monday nights this winter, as the dating show enters a new era with a new host. “The Bachelor,” which will be hosted by Jesse Palmer, will premiere on Jan. 3 at 8 p.m., returning the flagship show to its normal and coveted time slot. The franchise has been airing on

Lifetime announced a two-picture deal with Sarah Drew, who will star, write and executive produce “Reindeer Games” and star in “Stolen Hearts: The Lizbeth Meredith Story” for the channel’s “It’s A Wonderful Lifetime” holiday film slate. “I’ve absolutely loved working with Lifetime over the past few years and couldn’t be more thrilled to continue my

Showtime has promoted Jessie Dicovitsky to the role of senior vice president of original programming. “Jessie Dicovitsky has been a tremendous asset to our dynamic original programming team,” said Amy Israel, Showtime’s executive vice president of scripted programming, to whom Dicovitsky reports. “Her incisive development and production skills, her feel for what will resonate with

Dan Levy’s production calendar just keeps exploding. The latest project for the multi-hyphenate, cooking competition series “The Big Brunch,” which also comes from Boardwalk Pictures, has been ordered at HBO Max with a 2022 targeted premiere. Levy created and will host the series that centers around celebrating inspiring but still undiscovered culinary voices from all