UTA has signed “The Bachelor” alum and “The Viall Files” host Nick Viall for representation in all areas. The multi-hyphenate personality is best known for starring in the 21st season of ABC’s “The Bachelor,” after participating in three prior seasons of the franchise. Recently, Viall’s podcast “The Viall Files” has received acclaim, being named the
Television
After its no so greatest debut ever, “The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons — Ever!” came in even with its second episode, as NBC won the night overall. “The Bachelor” highlights shows scored a 0.4 rating among adults 18-49 and drew 2.2 million total viewers, down a fraction from the 2.4 million viewers who tuned in
NBC is making it 2006 again, through science or magic: “30 Rock” is returning to the Peacock next month for a new, original remotely-produced event that will also double as an upfront special for the NBCUniversal properties. The special, which will air Thursday, July 16 at 8 p.m. on NBC, will feature the return of
Starz is developing a new comedy series titled “East Wing” with Debra Messing attached in the lead role, Variety has learned. The series hails from writers and creators Ali Wentworth and Liz Tuccillo, with Wentworth also set to star alongside Messing. The show is inspired by Wentworth’s mother, who who served as Social Secretary in
HBO will air the filmed version of the Broadway show “David Byrne’s American Utopia,” directed by Spike Lee, later this year. The announcement was made on Tuesday by HBO’s executive VP of programming Nina Rosenstein. “‘David Byrne’s American Utopia’ is a uniquely transformative experience and a perfect example of how entertainment can bring us together during
Diego Buñuel, the former head of documentaries at Canal Plus and Netflix in EMEA, has joined the French public broadcaster France Televisions as head of programming. Starting on June 22, Buñuel will be spearheading the programming for the group which is presided by Delphine Ernotte and comprises six free-to-air channels. “(Buñuel)’s vision (and) track record
Topic, the US streaming service of First Look Media, has acquired a pair of high-profile Nordic series, “Peacemaker” and “Sex” for North America. Both premium series are represented in international markets by Copenhagen-based REInvent Studios, the outfit launched by Rikke Ennis, the former CEO of TrustNordisk. “Sex,” which had its international at the Berlinale Series,
Canada’s Lark Productions has acquired the exclusive television rights to Image Comics’ sci-fi graphic novel series “Descender,” and its sequel “Ascender,” created by New York Times bestselling author Jeff Lemire (“Black Hammer”) and artist Dustin Nguyen (“Batman: Streets of Gotham”). “Fortunate Son” producer Lark, which is part of NBCUniversal International Studios, will develop and produce
Spanish-language broadcaster Univision plans to offer live sports and scripted series in coming months, as the network’s company strives to woo ad dollars from English competitors while being sold to a new company in the not-too-distant future. Univision plans to unveil 11 new scripted series, the result of a long production pipeline that readies series
Former “SpongeBob SquarePants” storyboard artist John Trabbic III had just gotten a greenlight from Nickelodeon for his own animated series, “Middlemost Post,” about a rain cloud that just wants to make everyone happy, when the coronavirus pandemic hit, forcing Nick to close the studio’s doors and send all its artists home. But instead of putting
Philo wants to get more dough from its over-the-top TV subscriber base, adding Epix and Starz as premium options — the first add-ons for the cheap, entertainment-oriented service. Subscribers to Philo’s $20 monthly bundle of 58 entertainment, lifestyle and nonfiction networks can add MGM’s Epix for an extra $6 per month and Lionsgate’s Starz for
Apple has signed on to co-produce the upcoming espionage thriller series “Tehran.” The show tells the story of a Mossad agent who goes deep undercover on a dangerous mission in Tehran that places her and everyone around her in dire jeopardy. The series stars Niv Sultan, Shaun Toub, Navid Negahban, Shervin Alebani, Liraz Charh, and
On Monday, Liana Stewart’s short “My First Time,” featuring testimonies from people who recall the first time they were racially abused, aired on U.K. broadcaster Channel 4, its streaming service All 4 and its social channels. It drew just under a million viewers, according to Danny Horan, head of factual for Channel 4. Stewart’s film
When the night first starts to go south, Arabella (Michaela Coel) chalks it up to a mistake she’s made before. After promising herself that she’d stay sober, get productive and be good, she gives in to her restlessness and goes out for “just one drink.” Some time later — impossible to tell how much —
A tribute album to Adam Schlesinger being released today on Bandcamp includes cover songs by two actors who collaborated with the late songwriter on projects, Rachel Bloom and Sarah Silverman, as well as contemporaries of Schlesinger’s from the rock world like Kay Hanley, Nada Surf and Tanya Donnelly. “Saving for a Custom Van,” which takes
Nick Cannon knew exactly where he wanted to be. On Feb. 19, the multi-hyphenate comedian, TV and radio host, rapper, producer, entrepreneur and activist gathered with a small group of Debmar-Mercury executives in New York to discuss plans for the daytime syndicated talk show that Cannon will launch in September with the Lionsgate-owned distributor. The
Just three years after claiming she was blocked from the ABC reality TV series, Kaitlyn Bristowe’s Mirrorball trophy dreams are finally coming true. The former star of dating franchise “The Bachelorette” will be joining the next batch of foxtrotting famous folk on “Dancing With the Stars.” Announced after ABC’s new clip show, “The Bachelor, the
NBC has renewed “Manifest” for a third season. Sources have also confirmed to Variety that freshman series “Sunnyside,” “Bluff City Law” and “Indebted” have all been canceled by the network. “Manifest” centers around the crew and passengers of Flight 828 who disembark after a turbulent flight to find the world has aged five-and-a-half years and their friends, families
“For Life” has been renewed for a second season at ABC, Variety has learned, while “The Baker and the Beauty” has been canceled after one season. Inspired by the life of Isaac Wright Jr., “For Life” is a fictional serialized drama about an imprisoned man, Aaron Wallace (Nicholas Pinnock), who becomes a lawyer litigating cases for
The HBO series “Insecure” excels at bringing seismic breakups to the screen, but season four’s Issa-Molly rancor took things to “the next level,” says music supervisor Kier Lehman, reflecting on the past 10 episodes. “I was like, ‘Okay, another season, how are they going to develop these storylines and keep it interesting,’ ” he recalls.
In today’s film news roundup, UTA promotes agents Chelsea McKinnies and Emerson Davis, “A Deadly Legend’ finds a home and the Black Life Film Fest is unveiled. PROMOTIONS United Talent Agency has promoted veteran agents Chelsea McKinnies and Emerson Davis to partner status. “As champions of powerful and unique voices, Chelsea and Emerson have been integral
Communications executive Michelle Slavich is exiting Warner Bros. Pictures for a top role at Netflix, Variety can report exclusively, where she will oversee strategy for all content verticals. Slavich has been named the streamer’s vice president of publicity, where she will lead efforts for series, film and documentary programming in the United States and Canada.
In today’s TV news roundup, HBO Max released the Season 3 trailer for “Search Party,” and Syfy ordered “Devil May Care” and three pilots. FIRST LOOKS HBO Max has released the Season 3 trailer of “Search Party.” The comedy-thriller follows a group of twenty-somethings whose search for a missing friend leads them down a dark
With the season two finale of NBC’s “Songland” just hours away, hitmaker and star mentor Ester Dean is not ready to say goodbye to her Monday night showcase. “I want to do more TV,” she says. “I love TV, and if TV coincides with my songwriting, I don’t have to give up one kid for
Amazon has given out a series order to Jason Katims’ adaptation of the Israeli series “On the Spectrum.” The untitled series is described as a comedic drama about three 20-something roommates on the autism spectrum, striving for the same things that we all desire: To get a job, keep a job, make friends, fall in love,
Star Wars Celebration has been canceled for the first time in the event’s history due to the coronavirus pandemic. The gathering was scheduled to take place from Aug. 27 through Aug. 20 in the Anaheim Convention Center in California. Organizers confirmed the Star Wars Celebration will resume in two years, and is expected to run
U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 has confirmed the first tranche of short films commissioned as a response to the killing of George Floyd. The five shorts explore the impact of the killing on Black Britons and are by Black British filmmakers. The films, under the series title “Take Your Knee Off My Neck,” will air weeknights
Jessica Chastain’s Freckle Films, Kristen Campo, and Endeavor Content have acquired the television rights for Alice Feeney’s new novel “His & Hers.” The novel tells the story of DCI Jack Harper and BBC newsreader Anna Andrews, whose paths cross for the first time following their divorce when a woman is found murdered in their hometown.
“Anthony,” a commissioned 90-minute drama about Anthony Walker, a Black teenager who was murdered in a racist attack in Liverpool in 2005, will air on BBC One. Inspired by conversations with Anthony’s mother Gee Walker, “Anthony” is written by Jimmy McGovern, BAFTA-winner for “The Street” and “Hillsborough.” The drama looks at what Anthony’s life could
The 2021 Oscars will go on — just not on Feb. 28. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Monday that the 93rd Academy Awards telecast has been postponed by two months to April 25, 2021. Variety was the first to report in mid-May that the Academy was considering delaying the big