In its pilot installment, CBS’s new drama “Evil” delves into that which may lie beyond the rationally explicable. And the show itself represents something almost supernatural by 2019 standards, too: A well-made hour fueled by chemistry between its leads and a strong idea of itself. On the basis of its debut outing, which screened at
Television
“Free Solo,” “Queer Eye,” “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and “Saturday Night Live” were among the big winners Saturday after the first night of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles. “Free Solo,” the National Geographic feature documentary that already claimed the Oscar earlier this year, lead the field on the
The producers and cast of “Mixed-ish” are not out to tell a singular black and white story — but one that showcases and celebrates all shades in between. “It’s important for me across the board in all of my work to talk about ‘otherness’ and identity and real, grounded characters,” showrunner Karin Gist told Variety
“Saturday Night Live” showrunner Lorne Michaels has yet to comment on the racist and homophobic remarks made by newly hired cast member Shane Gillis, but comedians and actors are expressing their condemnation on social media, some even asking that he be fired from the show. Footage of Gillis’s podcast, “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast,” was
If you’re holding your breath for a “Friends” reboot, 25 years is a good time to stop holding onto hope. The creators of the beloved NBC sitcom firmly put the kibosh on any possibility of a revival series or reunion special, during a panel celebrating the show’s milestone anniversary. “We will not be doing a
James Corden took aim at Bill Maher’s recent “fat-shaming” comments with a rebuttal delivered on Thursday’s edition of CBS’ “The Late Late Show.” Maher, host of HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher,” joked about obesity on his show last week, saying “Fat isn’t a birth defect” and “Nobody comes out of the womb needing to
September 13, 2019 3:00PM PT CBS has given a pilot production commitment to a multi-camera comedy set at a family-run funeral home. Currently titled “Fun,” the series centers on a life-long love story between a brother and a sister, who always encourage each other to have fun – no matter what hardship life is currently
For months, industry insiders have been growing increasingly concerned about what appeared to be a cash-flow issue at independent studio Sonar Entertainment. Multiple sources report that Sonar has been late on payments for writers on scripts and to talent agencies for packaging fees. The slowdown in the payment schedule has raised questions about Sonar’s ability
Bobby Moynihan has been cast in the upcoming LA mayor comedy series that hails from Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, Variety has confirmed. Moynihan joins previously announced series lead Ted Danson. Danson will star as a wealthy businessman who runs for mayor of Los Angeles for all the wrong reasons. Once he wins, he has to
“Silicon Valley” co-creators John Altschuler and David Krinsky are poised to tackle another tech-related subject. The duo’s adaptation of the novel “The Players Ball: A Genius, a Con Man, and the Secret History of the Internet’s Rise” about the origins of the dating website Match.com has received a pilot script order at TBS, Variety has
The parents of slain Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich prevailed in an effort to sue Fox News Channel over allegations that employees of the network helped promote unproven theories the young man’s death was tied to a leak of emails from the DNC to WikiLeaks in 2016. The Court of Appeals for the Second
It only took a few hours after “Saturday Night Live” announced its new cast members for one of them to come under fire. As per his own podcast and YouTube videos, new hire Sean Gillis has a history of cracking racist “jokes” about minorities that are so astonishingly nasty that I won’t repeat them here.
Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira’s planned adaptation of the novel “Americanah” has received a straight-to-series order at HBO Max, Variety has learned. HBO Max has given the limited series a 10-episode order. Nyong’o will star in the series, with Gurira writing the pilot and serving as showrunner. Based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s best-selling novel, “Americanah” tells the
September 13, 2019 11:34AM PT CNN and The New York Times will co-host and moderate the fourth debate among Democratic Oval Office hopefuls, the Democratic National Committee announced Friday. The event, to be held at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, is scheduled to take place on October 15 – and the following day, if needed.
September 13, 2019 10:00AM PT Disney Plus has given a series order to a documentary series about the School of American Ballet from Imagine Documentaries and DCTV. “On Pointe” will follow a year in the life of students at the New York City school as they go through rigorous training, auditions and preparations for the
David S. Goyer, best known for penning Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy, is doubling down with Skydance. The writer-producer has signed an exclusive multi-year overall agreement with Skydance Television via his Phantom Four production company. Under the deal, Goyer will create, develop and produce original scripted series for the studio. He currently serves as showrunner
September 13, 2019 7:36AM PT Last night, Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Elizabeth Warren finally stood next to each other on the debate stage, after being separated during the multiple previous Democratic debates so far. ABC’s debate, which featured fewer candidates, fewer sounds bite moments of disagreement and a couple of protester interruptions, could
“Wolf Hall” producer Playground is developing a series for the BBC based on James Fenimore Cooper’s historical series of novels known collectively as the “Leatherstocking Tales,” which includes “The Last of the Mohicans.” Playground, run by former HBO exec Colin Callender, is working on a pilot script for the project, which is being set up
When Movistar Plus president Sergio Oslé moved into his office, there was a painting hanging on one of the walls. He’s replaced it with a dinky basketball hoop. Though born in Spain’s Bilbao, as Spanish newspaper El Mundo once noted, there’s something distinctly non-Spanish about Oslé, who’s worked in the U.K., Brazil, Australia, Malaysia and
Three years ago, Spain’s independent TV production sector was heading toward a crisis with ever lower profit margins. Cut to 2019, and Spain is enjoying a golden age of drama series production, while consolidating as a global production center. One major factor in the turnaround has been Movistar Plus, the pay TV unit of Telefonica.
September 12, 2019 9:24PM PT “Girls Trip” writer Tracy Oliver says she had a “dream situation” as the creator and executive producer of the new BET Plus comedy “First Wives Club.” “When I met with them I said, ‘I love the movie, but it’s not something I’m interested in if I can’t do it with
Shane Gillis, one of three new “SNL” cast members announced Thursday morning, can be seen using a racial slur in a resurfaced video posted to a YouTube channel called Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast. “Chinatown’s f—ing nuts,” Gillis says to comedian Matt McCusker in a segment of the longer YouTube video, which has been deleted.
John Lithgow has joined the cast of the upcoming FX drama pilot “Old Man” alongside previously announced lead Jeff Bridges, Variety has learned. In addition, “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and “Spider-Man: Far from Home” director Jon Watts has come onboard to direct the pilot and executive produce the series. Based on the bestselling novel of the same
September 12, 2019 2:13PM PT Ken Watanabe has boarded the “Tokyo Vice” drama series in the works at HBO Max. He joins Ansel Elgort who was cast in the lead role back in June. Watanabe will executive produce the series along with John Lesher, Emily Gerson Saines, J.T. Rogers and Elgort. The series is based on based on Jake
September 12, 2019 1:03PM PT CBS and Viacom leaders are looking for opportunities to create a “virtuous eco-system” for content that can prosper across the various platforms of the two companies that are set to merge by year’s end. That was the sentiment shared by David Nevins, chief creative officer of CBS and chairman-CEO of
Michael McKean has been cast in the upcoming HBO Max pilot “Delilah,” Variety has learned exclusively. Should the comedy project get ordered to series, McKean would be a series regular. He will star alongside previously announced series lead Jessica Rothe, who will play Delilah. McKean will play Tom Childs, Sr., a successful and charming car dealership owner
HBO’s untitled pilot about the Showtime Lakers of the 1980s has cast two key roles. Variety has learned that Quincy Isaiah has been cast as Earvin “Magic” Johnson, while Solomon Hughes will star as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the hour-long drama. The Johnson character is described as being as gifted in the game as he is
September 12, 2019 10:22AM PT HBO Max announced its first unscripted series orders on Thursday. The nascent streamer has picked up both “Legendary” and “The Greatest Space” straight-to-series with a 10-episode order for each. “Legendary” will feature contestants on voguing teams called “houses,” with the chance to win a cash prize in fashion and dance
“Queen Sugar” is coming back for more drama in the Deep South. OWN has renewed the series for a fifth season to air in 2020, Variety has confirmed. Series co-executive producer Anthony Sparks will continue as showrunner and executive producer on Season 5. The show is produced for OWN by Warner Horizon Scripted Television. Ava DuVernay
Comcast-owned European pay-TV giant Sky has created The Hive, a U.S.-based production services hub. Based in New York and Knoxville, the unit will work on programming coming out of Sky’s fledgling production arm, Sky Studios, which is setting out to be one of the biggest production outfits in Europe. It will also work with third-parties.