Television

From books and docuseries to podcasts and big-screen thrillers, true-crime tales are everywhere. Much of it is thinly researched retreads of well-worn cases and subjects that feel exploitative in the end. “Born in Synanon” is none of those things. The four-part documentary, directed by Geeta Gandbhir, that premiered in December on Paramount+, is a richly

What if crisis-whammies Nordic drama producers would now tap into other European stories instead of staying in the Nordic bubble and self-sufficient eco-system of mixed national and regional private and public coin? Would it be payback time for European partners who until now have bought into the Nordic Noir, without some form of reciprocity? The

Finland’s Tekele has announced that a second season of YLE original youth series “The Short Fuse” is in the works.  Directed by Jani Ilomäki, also behind police series “Roba,” it will be written by Pilke Salo, Milla Tuokkola and Janne Vanhanen and shot over June-July 2024, eyeing a 2025 release on YLE Areena. Starring are

SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers for “Backstab and Betrayal,” the sixth episode of “The Traitors” Season 2, now streaming on Peacock. Not once in his two-season run on CBS’ “Big Brother” did legendary player Dan Gheesling see his name written down for eviction. More than a decade later, it is still an impressive feat in the

“True Detective: Night Country” is the first season of the HBO anthology series not created by Nic Pizzolatto, who up until now had a writing credit on every episode across the show’s first three seasons. The show’s fourth season, “Night Country,” hails from Issa López, whose 2017 horror movie “Tigers Are Not Afraid” served as

HBO has cut Miloš Biković from the cast of “The White Lotus” Season 3 following a callout from Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs — a move that Biković says “can create a disturbing precedent shadowing the essence of artistic freedom.” “We have decided to part ways with Miloš Biković and the role will be recast,”

Pamela Anderson … mogul? The “Baywatch” icon has taken an ownership stake in a soon-to-launch free ad-supported streaming channel on Pluto TV dedicated to environmental-themed content. EarthDay 365 channel makes its debut on Feb. 5 exclusively on the leading free streaming TV service in the “Animals + Nature” category. The channel marks a partnership between Anderson

Carl Weathers, who starred as Apollo Creed in the first four “Rocky” films opposite Sylvester Stallone, died Thursday, his manager Matt Luber confirmed to Variety. He was 76. Weathers also starred in 1987’s “Predator” and had a memorable role in Adam Sandler’s “Happy Gilmore.” He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest

District Attorney Jack McCoy is out. Sam Waterston is exiting “Law & Order” after more than 400 episodes. His last episode will air on Thursday, Feb. 22. Tony Goldwyn, best known for his role as Fitz in ABC’s “Scandal,” has been cast as the new district attorney. Waterston joined the Dick Wolf mothership series in

The series adaptation of the upcoming novel “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” has landed a straight-to-series order at Apple TV+ in a competitive situation. Elle Fanning will lead the series alongside Nicole Kidman, with David E. Kelley attached to write and showrun. A24 is the studio. The novel, written by Rufi Thorpe, is due to be

Catherine O’Hara has been cast in “The Last of Us” Season 2 at HBO, Variety has learned. Details on the character O’Hara will be playing are being kept under wraps. She joins returning series leads Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in the hit series alongside new cast members Isabela Merced as Dina, Young Mazino as

After avoiding the spotlight for several months, the talk show TV host and New York City icon Wendy Williams has returned in the Lifetime two-part series, “Where is Wendy Williams?” Produced by Williams, this emotional look inside her current life just dropped the first trailer for the two-part, Lifetime documentary. The footage follows Williams from

On her new series, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” Maya Erskine plays a character her fans may not have seen her inhabit before — a grown woman. “I was so used to playing a 13-year-old with a bowl cut where no one would even glance my way,” says Erskine, speaking from the L.A. home she shares

George R.R. Martin wrote a bleak new post on his personal blog in which he shared that he had no interest reflecting on the last year because it was such a nightmare. From war in Ukraine and Gaza to hate rising across America, Martin wrote that it’s ugly to experience the news and even talk

Sheryl Lee Ralph fronts Disney Entertainment Television’s new Black History Month campaign. Variety has the exclusive first look at the launch of the Giving Flowers initiative, a video spot featuring Ralph, Chandra Wilson, Glynn Turman, Emayatzy Corinealdi and Prentice Penny. “Flowers never truly die,” Ralph says in the video. “They are as strong as the

“Sam Bahadur,” a biopic of Indian war hero Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, is the latest feature from Meghna Gulzar. Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP Movies produced the film, which released theatrically in December 2023 and proved to be a box office success. The cast is led by Vicky Kaushal (“Dunki”) as Manekshaw and also includes Sanya Malhotra

Global streaming giant Netflix has made a significant ongoing commitment to production of original content from Southeast Asia and in the Chinese-language. For 2024, Netflix has unveiled a slate of four Chinese-language series, all hailing from Taiwan. From Thailand, it detailed seven series and one film. From Indonesia, it has committed to five films and

“Dave” is going on hiatus, as its co-creator and star Dave Burd, aka Lil Dicky, eyes other projects. FX Networks has not officially renewed the comedy series for Season 4. The third season aired from April-May in 2023. “After some back and forth, there are no current plans for a fourth season of ‘Dave’ right

Donald Glover is the new Brad Pitt, at least when it comes to Prime Video’s eight-episode “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” series. Glover stars in and co-created the reimagining of Pitt’s 2005 action-comedy, which famously paired the A-list actor with Angelina Jolie. “I’m not a big fan of remakes, so this was kind of a big

Julia Fox is set to host and executive produce “OMG Fashun,” a new design competition series at E!, with Law Roach co-hosting. The series premieres with two episodes on May 6 at 9 p.m. In each episode, three contestants are challenged to create “create a boundary-breaking look born of Fox’s beautifully bold brain using materials

Mindy Kaling‘s upcoming Netflix comedy series set in the world of pro basketball has added three new cast members, Variety has learned. Brenda Song, Scott MacArthur, and Drew Tarver are all joining the show alongside previously announced series lead Kate Hudson. The untitled series received a 10-episode order at Netflix in June 2021. The official

The “Suits” spinoff, “Suits: LA” has landed a pilot order at NBCUniversal. Production is scheduled to start in late March in Vancouver. The new iteration will follow Ted Black, a former federal prosecutor from New York, who has reinvented himself representing the most powerful clients in Los Angeles. “His firm is at a crisis point,

FX has ordered a limited series adaptation of the Patrick Radden Keefe book “Say Nothing,” Variety has learned. The nine-episode series explores The Troubles in Northern Ireland. Lola Petticrew (“Tuesday,” “Dating Amber,” “Bloodlands”), Hazel Doupe (“Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale,” “You Are Not My Mother,” “Smother’), Anthony Boyle (“The Plot Against America,” “Manhunt,” “Masters of the

Netflix will not be moving forward with a second season of “Obliterated,” Variety has confirmed. Hailing from “Cobra Kai” creators Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg and Josh Heald, the comedy followed a special forces team who — after believing they’d thwarted a deadly threat to Las Vegas —celebrates their victory accordingly with a party filled with

“Bar Rescue” has been renewed for its ninth season at Paramount Network, which is set to premiere on Feb. 25 at 10 p.m. Per the official logline, the series follows host Jon Taffer as he “travels the country saving some of the worst bars in America from failure and ruin. Along with his team of

Procedural drama series have been the backbone of television since the days of “Dragnet” and “Perry Mason.” Even as viewers are inundated with new, edgy and artsy programs, they’re embracing sturdy shows that blend potboiler tales and indelible characters like never before. Whether on broadcast TV — where procedurals were the first wave of scripted

“The Masked Singer” returns for Season 11 next month, and Fox is sharing a first look at this season’s new costumes. Among the characters: “Gumball,” “Lizard,” “Ugly Sweater,” “Goldfish,” “Starfish” and “Book.” Also new this time out: Singer/songwriter Rita Ora has joined the “Masked Singer” panel, filling in for Nicole Scherzinger (who was on stage

Larry David was forced to issue an apology on “Today” after he spontaneously attacked Elmo live on camera. The “Curb Your Enthusiasm” creator and the “Sesame Street” icon were separate interview guests on the NBC morning show, but they had a brief crossover moment when David crashed the set and groped Elmo’s face, much to

Matthew Macfadyen and Michael Shannon are set to star in a Netflix series that will examine the rise and eventual assassination of US President James Garfield, Variety has learned. The series is titled “Death by Lightning” and is based on the book “Destiny Of The Republic” by Candice Millard. The official logline states, “‘Death by

In a rare collab with another preschool brand, Sesame Workshop‘s “Sesame Street” and Moonbug’s “Blippi” are getting together for a series of videos in which Elmo and his pals interact with Blippi and his friends. The videos kick off on Saturday with the premiere of “Blippi and Meekah’s Birthday Surprise for Elmo.” (Yes, that happens