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PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT
CBS is developing “Manner of Death,” a drama series from writer and exec producer Emily Silver. The series centers on a by-the-book medical examiner who, while fleeing her mysterious past, butts heads with a maverick sheriff and ignites a complex professional and personal relationship as they work together to solve murders.
A Christina Aguilera feature doc is in the works from Time Studios in partnership with Roc Nation. Ting Poo, who directed the 2021 documentary “Val,” will helm the project—the second partnership between Time Studios and Roc Nation on the heels of their Megan Thee Stallion film.
Mandy Moore will topline and exec-produce “Twin Flames,” a series inspired by the Wondery podcast of the same name in development at Hulu. The project reunites Moore with former “This Is Us” showrunners Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger, and hails from 20th Television, where Moore re-upped a deal for her Roll With The Punches Productions.
“Good Night, And Good Luck,” the 2005 film directed by and starring George Clooney, is headed to the small screen. AMC Networks is developing a series based on the movie with Jonathan Glatzer, writer/producer on series including AMC’s “Better Call Saul” and HBO’s “Succession,” leading the writers’ room and serving as showrunner. The black-and-white film centered on the battle between CBS journalist Edward R. Murrow and Sen. Joe McCarthy over the latter’s anti-Communist actions.
Judy Blume novel “Forever” is in the works as a series for Netflix. The series is helmed by showrunner and exec producer Mara Brock Akil and is the first project under her overall deal with Netflix. Akil is reimaging the groundbreaking 1975 novel and its love story for a new generation, centering on two Black teens exploring romance and their identities.
What’s cooking, Roku? The streamer ordered up a sushi competition series from Masaharu Morimoto Sushi and a Michael Strahan-produced cupcake documentary. Six-ep “Moritmoto’s Sushi Master,” hosted by Lyrica Okano (“Marvel’s Runaways”), will feature eight sushi chefs competing to impress Morimoto and other judges. “The Cupcake Guys” follows former professional NFL players Michael Griffin and Brian Orakpo and their business partner Bryan Hynson at their cupcake shop Gigi’s Cupcake in their hometown of Austin.
Guinness World Records’ GWR Studios inked a content partnership with WeShort, an on-demand service for short-form films. The two companies will create new short-form series to stream on the platform in 2023, and WeShort will become the home of 10-part short-form series “Guinness World Records,” which features stories behind the record attempts of people around the world.
Hulu handed a second-season renewal for Chris Estrada-toplined comedy series “This Fool.” Season two of the ABC Signature-produced comedy set in South Central LA, which has drawn critical praise since it debuted three months ago, will comprise another 10 episodes.
Hunter King (“The Young and the Restless”) inked a multi-picture deal with Hallmark Media. King made her Hallmark debut earlier this year in Hallmark Channel original movie “Hidden Gems,” and has followed up with several roles for the company, including in “A Royal Corgi Christmas,” premiering Friday, November 25.
Amazon Studios snagged film rights to New York Times bestseller “The Beatryce Prophecy” and tapped Brad Copeland (“Arrested Development)” to pen the TV adaptation. Gil Netter will produce the story, billed as a fantastical meditation on fate, love and the power of words.
Casting: Sandra Oh (“Killing Eve”), Kieuh Chinh (“Dynasty”) and Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen (“Paris By Night”) scored recurring roles in A24 drama “The Sympathizer”… Kimberly Brooks, Matthew Mercer, Ashly Burch, Sumalee Montano, Pil Lamarr, Keston John, Josh Keaton and Zehra Fazal are in as voice cast members of “Dragon Age: Absolution,” which debuts Friday, December 9 on Netflix… Imani Pullum (“Emancipation”) will star in Amazon Freevee’s untitled Kagiso Lediga project… David Iacono (“The Flight Attendant”) has been tapped for a key recurring role in HBO Max’s “Dead Boy Detectives.”
NEW & RETURNING SERIES
“Qatar Latino, Rumbo Al Mundial,”a four-part series debuting Saturday, November 12 at 7:30p on Discovery en Espanol, showcases how four Latinos rebuilt their lives in a foreign city, and how an unexpected companion has helped ease their transition: soccer. The series is a partnership between Publicis Media’s APX Content Ventures and Cocina Media.
Season 5 of “Yellowstone”rides back onto Paramount Network with back to back eps Sunday, November 13 at 8p.
Four women band together to leave their seemingly happy lives as housewives in “La Rebelion,” debuting on Vix+ on Thursday, November 17.
“The Bermuda Triangle: Into Cursed Waters,” which launches on The History Channel on Tuesday, November 22 at 10p, packs a big news punch. While filming, divers discovered a 20-foot segment of the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger in the waters off the coast of Florida, a finding confirmed by NASA.
Morgan Freeman narrates “Our Universe,” a six-part series that takes viewers on an exploration of the connections that drive our natural world. Debuting Tuesday, November 22 on Netflix, the series examines everything from the birth of the Sun to the birth of a sea turtle, using modern camera and CGI technology to deliver up close and personal accounts.
“¡Que Delicioso!,” Roku’sinaugural Spanish-language original series, premieres Friday, November 25. Chefs Marcela Valladolid and Chris Valdes will both host and judge the seven-ep competition that celebrates Latin cuisine.
“My So-Called High School Rank” debuts Tuesday, November 29 at 9p on HBO. Produced and directed by Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg, the doc chronicles the creation of a musical theater production at a Sacramento high school inspired by students’ stories of the pressures to get ahead in the college admissions process.
Todrick Hall and HGTV designer Kim Myles (“High Design”) will find the flashiest, most outrageous home in the US in new HGTV series “Battle of the Bling,” premiering Friday, December 9 at 10p.
Amazon Freevee’s America’s Test Kitchen: The Next Generation,” hosted by Jeannie Mai Jenkins, debuts Friday, December 9. The 10-ep food competition series will bring home cooks inside America’s Test Kitchen (ATK) studio.
“Litvinenko,” a four-part drama based on the story of the police investigation into the poisoning of the Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, debuts on AMC+ and Sundance Now on Friday, December 16.
COMING UP
ABC News’ “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts scored the broadcast network an exclusive interview with former first lady Michelle Obama, which will air as a one-hour primetime “20/20” special Sunday, November 13 at 10p.
Pat Benatar, Duran Duran, Dolly Parton and Lionel Richie are among the musical luminaries feted during the “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony,” which HBO will air Saturday, November 19 at 8p.
INSP original film “County Line: All In,” the sequel to “County Line,” starring Tom Wopat, Kelsey Crane and Patricia Richardson, debuts Saturday, November 19 at 8p.
FETV gives thanks with a “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” marathon on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, from noon-6p. Thanksgiving eps of the ‘90s drama on the schedule feature guest stars Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Kristin Davis and more.
OWN is gifting viewers with a pair of holiday movies. “The Great Holiday Bake War,” the story of how sparks fly when a professional baker and her old flame meet again as contestants on a TV holiday baking competition, airs Saturday, December 3 at 9p, followed by “A Christmas Fumble” on Saturday, December 10 at 9p.
Mariah Carey is back to spread holiday cheer with a two-hour primetime concert special. “Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to All!” airs on CBS on Tuesday, December 20 at 8p. The special was filmed at NY’s Madison Square Garden and features performances of Carey’s holiday hits.
AARP The Magazine will host the 21st annual Movies for Grownups Awards in Beverly Hills on Saturday, January 28. The awards, which recognize TV, films and filmmakers of 2022, will be broadcast Friday, February 17 at 9p on PBS.
STREAMING NEWS
Fuse Media is teaming with OUTtv to launch FAST channel OUTtv Proud. Set for a 2023 launch, OUTtv Proud aims to superserve LGBTQ+ audiences with original programming developed with the support of former Logo executives.
TECH TALK
YouTube Music and YouTube Premium are on a roll. The services soared to more than 80 million paid subscribers combined, up 30 million from the 50 million the company announced last September.
An electronic program guide and picture-in-picture are among features included in Vizio’s newly redesigned WatchFree+ user experience.
SPORTS
Roku is rolling out a new hub within its streaming interface designed to help fans follow sports programming action. The company says the goal is to reduce the friction of toggling between separate apps in order to track various sporting events.
Sports broadcaster Fred Hickman, who anchored news and highlights programs for CNN, the YES Network and ESPN during more than 40 years on the air, died Wednesday, November 9. He was 66. Hickman was diagnosed with cancer in February, soon after he had retired to write a book and launch a podcast.
GOING GLOBAL
Production expenditure on Australian scripted content soared to a record high of $1.47 billion between June 2021 and June 2022, according to Screen Australia’s annual drama report. A record $977 million went to Australian titles and $503 million to foreign productions.
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