Television

I had the pleasure of recently interviewing one of the most dynamic figures of our time, Amanda Gorman, who is one of our five Power of Women honorees this year. I had two sit-downs with the 23-year-old poet-activist, and so much wound up on the cutting room floor that I felt was worth sharing. First,

There is a “woeful” lack of diversity within senior positions and key decision makers, a five-year study commissioned by U.K. media regulator Ofcom has found. According to the body’s “Five-Year Review: Diversity and Equal Opportunities in U.K. Broadcasting” study, published on Wednesday, if the broadcasting industry continues on the same path, the proportion of TV

SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not watched the Sept. 28 episode of “Bachelor in Paradise.” Ivan Hall had a rough time in Paradise. He first pursued Jessenia Cruz, before she left him for another contestant. His relationship with Kendall Long was short-lived after she exited not over her ex. And as the

Jesse Palmer will step into Chris Harrison’s shoes to hand out roses on ABC’s “The Bachelor,” as Variety has learned that Palmer has been named the new host of the hit dating show. Palmer, a television broadcaster and former NFL quarterback, starred as “The Bachelor” himself in Season 5, which aired in 2004. Palmer has

A day after a New York Times article revealed that Ozy Media chief operating officer Samir Rao impersonated a YouTube executive on a call with potential Goldman Sachs investors, the company has announced that the exec will take a leave of absence. Also as part of the news, Ozy’s board of directors has hired a

The original “Law & Order” will return to NBC with new episodes for season 21, nearly a dozen years after the series signed off after a 20-year run. Rick Eid will serve as showrunner of the new iteration of the series from Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television. “Law & Order” creator Dick Wolf has worked

“Archer” has been renewed for Season 13 at FXX. The news comes as the adult animated comedy is currently airing its twelfth season. The current season is slated to end its run on Oct. 6. Season 13, which will consist of eight episodes, will debut in 2022. Like Season 12, new episodes will debut on

AMC Networks chief operating officer Ed Carroll is stepping down after 34 years with the company. Carroll will stay through year’s end. He’s the latest executive to leave the company that is seen as a prime acquisition target at a time of consolidation in media. Carroll oversaw all business operations for the company and recent

Production on David Simon and George Pelecanos’ new HBO series, “We Own This City,” has been temporarily shut down due to a COVID-19 case onset, Variety has learned. “Production will be paused on ‘We Own The City’ this week due to a COVID event and is scheduled to resume with the usual shooting cadence next

Apple has ordered a series adaptation of the “Amber Brown” books by Paula Danzinger, Variety has learned. Bonnie Hunt is set to write, executive produce, and serve as showrunner on the adaptation. Carsyn Rose (“The Rookie,” “Cousins for Life”) will star in the title role, with Sarah Drew (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Cruel Summer”), Darin Brooks (“Blue Mountain

Ozy Media CEO Carlos Watson has informed the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences that he will no longer host the documentary portion of the 42nd News & Documentary Emmy Awards on Wednesday night. Watson’s decision to step down comes following a New York Times report on Monday questioning the validity of Ozy’s various

Gina Atwater, best known for her work on “Westworld” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” has inked a multi-year overall deal with Netflix. Atwater will create, produce, direct and write new prestige series and other projects at Netflix that put traditionally underrepresented characters at the forefront of the narrative. For her first project for the

Sam Riddle, the famous Los Angeles DJ of the 1960s and producer of long-running talent show “Star Search,” died at his home in Palm Desert, Calif, on Monday, a representative confirmed to Variety. He was 83. Riddle had been suffering from Lewy Body Dementia. Starting his career as a radio jock, Riddle was recognized as one of

HBO announced that comedy series “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” starring Larry David, returns for its 11th season on Oct. 24. The Emmy and Golden Globe-winning series will premiere ten episodes this season, with new episodes airing subsequent Sundays at 10:30 p.m. ET. The newly released teaser opens on an image of earth seen from space, the

“The Mysterious Benedict Society” has been renewed for Season 2 at Disney Plus. Based on the YA book series of the same name by Trenton Lee Stewart, the series follows four gifted orphans who are recruited by the eccentric Mr. Benedict (Tony Hale). Along with Hale, the show stars Kristen Schaal, MaameYaa Boafo, Ryan Hurst,

When director Cherien Dabis was prepping to helm the near-silent seventh episode of Hulu comedy “Only Murders in the Building,” actor James Caverly, who is deaf, steered her toward the 2007 documentary “Through Deaf Eyes” as research. In it, there is a clip that offers an example of what a person on the spectrum of

In a move aimed at addressing the paucity of Afro-Latino content, Sony Pictures TV (SPT) Latin America has announced a TV series project in development with Colombian producer-director Diana Bustamante, who most recently produced Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s “Memoria,” starring Tilda Swinton, winner of the Cannes Jury Prize this year. Titled “Sanyu,” the original bilingual

The TV industry, long measured by Nielsen, continues to offer up new yardsticks to Madison Avenue. ViacomCBS said it would take a more active role in the TV industry’s ongoing quest to develop new audience-measurement alternatives by teaming up with data company VideoAmp and developing a new means of tracking the reach of advertising among

Fremantle has promoted Andrea Scrosati, expanding his current group COO role with the additional role of CEO for continental Europe, increasing the markets he will be in charge of within the growing RTL-owned production and distribution giant. Scrosati will continue reporting to Jennifer Mullin, who is Fremantle’s group CEO. He will now have the added

As media companies throw more of their firepower into new streaming-video behemoths, some of them still maintain a fondness for good ol’ TV networks. Discovery and home-renovation gurus Chip and Joanna Gaines are moving ahead with the planned launch of their Magnolia Network, which will replace cable’s DIY on January 5, 2022 at 9 p.m.

Season two of Leticia Dolera’s award-winning dramedy series “Perfect Life” (“Vida Perfecta”) will stream on Movistar Plus by November 19, said Movistar exec Susana Herreras who recited a list of European territories where the series would be available. “Perfect Life” was among the three new series that kicked off the Iberseries Platino Industria showcase in Madrid.

BTF Media and Madrid-based IP management company TheMadMediaCo announced on Tuesday, as Iberseries Platino Industria geared up in Madrid, that they are teaming to co-develop and co-produce Argentine true crime non-fiction novel “Magnetized” (“Magnetizado”). In an instance which shows how IP deals are scaling up, the adaptation will be made across a range of media,

Channel 4 and BBC alumna Babita Bahal is joining Fremantle in the newly created role of group head of diversity, equity and inclusion, reporting to group HR director Nicky Gray. Bahal was head of creative diversity at U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 where she was instrumental to key projects including the channel’s recent “Black to Front”

The planned spinoff of “The Boys” has officially been ordered to series at Amazon, Variety has confirmed. In addition, Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters will take over as showrunners following the exit of Craig Rosenberg. Rosenberg is an executive producer on “The Boys” but departed the spinoff over creative differences. Set at America’s only college exclusively

After almost a two-year hiatus, the Tony Awards came back, but the siren song of Broadway’s biggest and best wasn’t enough to draw a large TV audience. The 9-11 p.m. portion of the Tony Awards that aired on CBS tanked, drawing only 2.62 million viewers per Nielsen’s time-adjusted and corrected Live+Same Day fast overnights and

Eva Amurri is the latest addition to the cast of the upcoming Fox country music drama series “Monarch.” Amurri has been cast as the younger version of Dottie Cantrell Roman, who will be played in the present day by Susan Sarandon, Amurri’s mother. Amurri will make her debut in the premiere episode. She joins previously

HBO Max announced that the cast of “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin” now includes Sharon Leal, Elena Goode and Lea Salonga as series regulars and Zakiya Young and Carly Pope in recurring roles. Previously announced cast members of the “Pretty Little Liars” reboot include Chandler Kinney, Bailee Madison, Maia Reficco, Malia Pyles, Zaria, Mallory Bechtel,

Hannah Waddingham has signed with CAA for representation in all areas, Variety has learned exclusively. She continues to be repped by manager Nick Todisco at Atlas Artists, U.K. agent Peter Brooks at CAM, and publicist Annick Muller at Wolf Kasteler PR. Waddingham currently stars in the critically-acclaimed Apple comedy series “Ted Lasso” in the role of

Netflix has ordered a spinoff of the YA comedy series “On My Block.” The new series, titled “Freeridge,” hails from “On My Block” co-creators Lauren Iungerich, Eddie Gonzalez, and Jeremy Haft along with “On My Block” co-producer Jamie Uyeshiro and “On My Block” co-executive producer Jamie Dooner. All are credited as co-creators and executive producers

Ahead of the Tuesday night premiere of NBC’s latest drama, “La Brea,” the cast and crew shed more light behind the mysterious sinkhole in Hollywood. The adventure series opens with fast-paced action when a massive sinkhole suddenly opens in the La Brea area of Los Angeles, pulling scores of people, plus cars and buildings, into