Television

In a milestone move, Sony Pictures Television has unveiled “La Academia,” its first Spanish-language scripted series filmed in Spain for Prime Video and 3Cat. “La Academia” is produced for Sony by Brutal Media, commissioned out of Sony Pictures Television’s international production group. SPT is distributing the series worldwide. A scripted young adult drama series which

“A True Novel,” directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, manga-inspired “Issak,” written by Itaru Mizuno (“Double Booking”) and “4 Blocks” Richard Kropf, look like potential highlights at this year’s Co-Pro Pitching Sessions, the centerpiece at Series Mania’s Forum, as its projects expand ever more their geographic compass, here welcoming their first titles co-produced by Japan.   They are joined by

Slovakia’s explosive political drama “Our People” will head to Series Mania’s Forum Co-Pro Pitching Sessions in March.  Produced by Jakub Viktorín and Tomáš Hrubý for nutprodukcia and written by Miro Šifra, it will be directed by Tereza Nvotová.  The miniseries, inspired by tragic real events, depicts the killing of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his

Amsterdam-based Big Blue is set to produce the upcoming series “Kiss My Feet,” alongside Finnish company Helsinki-filmi.   Selected for Series Mania’s Forum Co-Pro Pitching Sessions, the six-episode drama is created by Daan Gielis and Mark Van De Grift, loosely based on their own experiences.  In the show, successful marketer Max finds himself in a spiritual

Fremantle’s Norwegian banner Monster, behind hit TV shows “Exit,” “Furia” and “Pørni,  will be bringing to Series Mania Forum’s Co-Pro Pitching Sessions ‘The Odesa Wrestlers’, which has received development coin from Norwegian pubcaster NRK. Celebrated Norwegian podcaster Joachim Førsund and star actor Thorbjørn Harr (“Vikings”, “22 July”, “Sex”) are making their debut as co-creators, with

Jack McCoy is officially done in the courtroom. Sam Waterston appeared in his final episode of “Law & Order” on Thursday, Feb. 22. Following a conviction and going against the mayor’s wishes to not question his son, he revealed to ADA Nolan (Hugh Dancy) that he was resigning. “I’ve been thinking about this for a

SPOILER ALERT: Do not read ahead if you have not watched Season 3, Episode 2 of “Ghosts,” titled “Man of Your Dreams,” which aired Feb. 22 on CBS. “Ghosts” just revealed a game changer of a storyline that could help give Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar) more interaction with the show’s spirits. In the Season 3, Episode

Brandi Glanville — a former cast member of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” and “Ultimate Girls Trip” — has accused Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live” host and “Real Housewives” executive producer Andy Cohen of sexual harassment in a lengthy letter from her legal representation. Glanville sent a letter from her lawyer Bryan Freedman to

Netflix’s live-action adaptation of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” premieres on Thursday, Feb. 22, and fans of the original animated show have been patiently waiting to see their favorite characters faithfully brought to life after the “Last Airbender” 2010 film. The original “Avatar: The Last Airbender” debuted on Nickelodeon in 2005 and ran for three seasons,

Troy Kotsur has joined Season 3 of “Foundation” at Apple TV+. The role will mark a return to Apple for Kotsur, who previously starred in the film “CODA,” which was distributed by the streaming arm of the tech giant. In “Foundation,” Kotsur will appear in the role of Preem Palver, described as “the leader of

Ian Ousley, the actor who plays Sokka in Netflix’s live-action remake of “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” is assuring fans the series is “not trying to take out anything” they loved about the animated series. “Airbender” fans became outraged on social media last month after Ousley and his co-star Kiawentiio (who plays Katara) told Entertainment Weekly

Count Amazon among the streamers getting ready to court advertisers during the May week typically reserved for TV networks entering the industry’s “upfront” market. Just as Netflix did last year, Amazon Prime Video will hold a showcase for Madison Avenue during the May period once reserved mainly for traditional TV networks. During the “upfront,” U.S.

“The Walking Dead” actor Josh McDermitt is set to star opposite Steven Amell in NBC’s “Suits” spinoff, “Suits: LA.” The new series sees Amell star as Ted Black, a former federal prosecutor from New York who built an L.A. law firm, Black Lane Law, specializing in criminal and entertainment law. The official logline reads, “His

Hulu has ordered the half-hour comedy series “Chad Powers” from Glen Powell and Michael Waldron, Variety has learned. Powell will star in the series in addition to co-creating and co-writing the pilot with Waldron, with both serving as executive producers. The show is based on the Chad Powers character created by Eli Manning for his

A “Wings of Fire” animated series based on the books of the same name is in development at Amazon MGM Studios, Variety has learned exclusively. Fans of the books by author Tui T. Sutherland will no doubt rejoice, as this is now the second attempt to adapt the books for the screen. Netflix had previously

Week 4 of Joey Graziadei’s season of “The Bachelor” brought major drama — and major viewership along with it. The episode’s initial airing on ABC on Feb. 12 averaged 3.5 million viewers according to Live + Same Day data from Nielsen — a series high, up 9% from the week before — and with three

Olivia Munn is set to star opposite Jon Hamm in the upcoming Apple TV+ series “Your Friends and Neighbors,” Variety has learned. The drama series was originally ordered at Apple in December. It is based on an original idea by Jonathan Tropper. Hamm will star in the series as Coop, described as “a recently divorced

“True Detective” has been renewed for Season 5 at HBO. Issa López, the creator of “True Detective: Night Country,” will helm the fifth season under her new overall deal with HBO. The renewal comes as little surprise, given the success of “Night Country,” which saw Jodie Foster and Kali Reis star in the fourth installment

And the award for trying to sell top-priced advertising in a format that may no longer be as valuable as it once was to Madison Avenue goes to….ABC. Executives at the Disney-backed broadcast network are still working to sell commercials for the 96th Oscars, slated to air on Sunday, March 10, according to three people

Cheers to Paramount+‘s “Frasier” revival, which has just landed a Season 2 order at the streamer. The new “Frasier,” which stars Kelsey Grammer in the role he first made famous on “Cheers,” and then on the original “Frasier” (1993-2004), premiered in October with 10 episodes. Last November, Grammer expressed his desire to keep the new

“Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light,” formats “Upside Down” and “Shaolin Heroes” and premium doc feature “Front Row,” offering a novel take on the Ukraine War, are potential highlights on Banijay’s powerhouse lineup at what promises to be one of the biggest presentations at next week’s London TV Screenings.  Mixing third-party pick-ups and Banijay

Ever since its premiere nearly two decades ago, “Avatar: The Last Airbender” has been a fan favorite animated franchise. Co-created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the original series garnered critical acclaim and spawned an extended universe. That’s why there was much to anticipate when Netflix announced a “reimagined” live-action “Avatar” television series, helmed

We don’t talk much anymore about live+same day ratings, since it’s the earliest measurement of a long tail that now includes time-shifted, streaming and more viewership. But if we look at good ol’ fashioned linear live viewing for the week of February 12, CBS has quite the story to tell. Thanks to the halo effect

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has denied ABC’s bid to dismiss the COVID vaccination wrongful termination case filed by a father and son who ran the construction and special effects department for ABC’s “General Hospital.” James Wahl and his son Timothy Wahl sued ABC in 2021, asserting they were fired from the long-running daytime

Sony Pictures Entertainment communications chief Robert Lawson has been promoted to head of all corporate communications for its Tokyo-based parent Sony. The choice to move Lawson, who joined Sony amid the infamous cyber attack and email leaks at the entertainment group in 2014, into the top corp comms role is indicative of Sony’s significant focus

The new Apple TV+ series “Constellation” is a space drama, a category in which its deep-pocketed platform has developed something of a preoccupation. (There’s also “For All Mankind,” “Foundation” and, technically, the most recent season of “The Morning Show.”) But the show also exemplifies a type of series so recognizable it’s become practically a genre

The Los Angeles City Ethics Committee has voted down a proposed settlement by the city with former CBS Corp. head Leslie Moonves for “aiding and abetting the disclosure of confidential information and inducing or attempting to induce the misuse of a City position.” In a unanimous 4-0 vote, committee president Jeffery J. Daar, VP Manjusha

Jay Pharoah, known for “Saturday Night Live” and “The Blackening,” will host “The Quiz with Balls,” a new Fox game show. Each episode will feature two families competing for $100,000 in a “battle of the balls,” combining a high-stakes quiz show with a large-scale physical competition. “When I got hit up about hosting an epic

Roku Channel has released a teaser trailer for the upcoming series “The Spiderwick Chronicles,” after it acquired the show after Disney+ chose not to move forward with it. All eight episodes will be available to stream on April 19. Adapted from the book series by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, “The Spiderwick Chronicles” follows a

Mindy Kaling‘s new Netflix comedy series set in the world of pro basketball has added five new cast members, Variety has learned. The new cast members are: Fabrizio Guido (“Good Burger 2,” “Perry Mason,” “Mr. Iglesias”), Toby Sandeman (“Power Book III: Raising Kanan,” “The Game,” “Love Is_”), Chet Hanks (“Your Honor,” “Shameless,” “Empire”), Keyla Monterroso