News

MyFree DirecTV offers more than 70 subscription-free streaming channels within the DirecTV app for phones, tablets and smart TVs. (Courtesy image)

DirecTV this week officially debuted their free, ad-supported streaming television platform with a curated portfolio of more than 70 content channels.

The service, called MyFree DirecTV, exists within the same app as DirecTV’s subscription streaming service, which is widely available on smartphones, tablets, smart TVs and other devices.

At launch, MyFree DirecTV includes dozens of channels from programmers and distributors like the E. W. Scripps Company, Lionsgate, A+E Networks and more. In a statement, the company said channels from Fremantle are expected to launch within the next few weeks.

“DirecTV is excited to bring a successful history of premium content aggregation and an elevated user experience to free TV for the first time,” Kent Rees, the General Manager of MyFree DirecTV, said on Wednesday. “The availability of MyFree DirecTV is...

From sitcoms and dramas to limited series and revivals, fall TV is officially back with more new shows than in the past. But who’s creating this content? Here, Variety highlights the showrunners behind some of the new, most highly anticipated series coming in the next few months.

Kevin Abbott

Writer and executive producer of “Happy’s Place,” Abbott has worked with Reba McEntire before, both as a writer on and produce on “Reba.” Previously, Abbott produced 160 episodes of “Last Man Standing” and worked on “My Name Is Earl,” “Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place,” “Roseanne” and “The Golden Girls.”

Produced by: Universal TV

Premiere: Oct. 18, NBC

Joe Barton

“Black Doves,” a spy thriller set in London at Christmastime, was created by Barton and is led by Keira Knightley. In the past five years, he created and produced “Giri/Haji,” “The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself” and “The Lazarus Project.

Exclusive: LA’s Micheaux Film Festival will officially run at The Culver Theater in Culver City from October 21 to October 27 with a selection of short and feature projects with talent such as Viola Davis and Morris Chestnut. Scroll down to see the featured lineup.

The festival, launched by Courtney L. Branch and Noel Braham to honor the legendary Oscar Micheaux, celebrates its sixth anniversary this year. The festival’s theme will be Champions, a celebration of “the resilience and determination of filmmakers who overcome countless obstacles to bring their visions to life.”

This year’s lineup includes more than 250 short films, feature films, and new media series with additional projects screening virtually. Titles include The Ebony Canal, a 46-minute feature on Black infant mortality rates narrated by Viola Davis. Also screening is The Origin, a project produced by Morris Chestnut, and Tea, a short project from filmmaker Blake Winston Rice featuring Michael Gandolfini.

The Oaks cul-de-sac in Holidazed on Hallmark+ [Image Hallmark Channel on YouTube]

Hallmark Media has announced a new, original limited series, Holidazed, set to air during the holiday season exclusively on Hallmark+.

The fun series features six diverse families living in one cul-de-sac and their varying holiday traditions. As in real life, not everything is perfect during the holidays as each family faces its own challenges. Read on to find out more about Holidazed and its fan-favorite cast members.

Hallmark+ to release new limited series Holidazed Six families living in the same cul-de-sac celebrate the holidays in Holidazed on Hallmark+[Image Hallmark Channel on YouTube]

As the undisputed leader in holiday content, Hallmark Media keeps growing its offerings. The latest is a new limited series Holidazed, starring a fan-favorite cast. The eight-episode limited series is set to air on Hallmark+ during the holidays and features the humor, love and family feelings between six families,...

Ever wondered how he went from being a doctor to narrating You’ve Been Framed!? Here’s your chance to ask the big-collared comedian, writer and TV host about Branston Pickle, badgers and his Blair rock opera

Originally a doctor and still a registered medical practitioner, Harry Hill cemented his career as a spectacle-wearing, large-collared standup by winning the Perrier Best Newcomer award at Edinburgh in 1992. More than 30 years on, and he’s just announced his New Bits & Greatest Hits tour, celebrating “60 years of fun” ahead of the milestone birthday next year.

Hill has written a novel, a collection of short stories and a (fictional) autobiography. His new book, How To Be Silly Every Day of the Year, is out in October. He’s co-written two musicals – I Can’t Sing! The X Factor Musical (2014) and Tony! – A Tony Blair Rock Opera (2021). He’s hosted a spoof podcast – Harry Hill’s Noise,...

Rick Astley made a guest appearance on BBC Radio 2’s Piano Room to perform a cover of Olivia Rodrigo’s 2021 hit, “drivers license.”

Accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra, Astley first ran through a mashup rendition of his beloved hit “Never Gonna Give You Up” with Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You.” He then performed the Rodrigo cover, made all the more stirring by Astley’s unmistakeable baritone and the orchestra’s dramatic swells. Watch Astley perform both “drivers license” and “Never Gonna Give You Up” below.

Astley is no stranger to covering his favorite songs. Just last year, Astley performed an entire set of The Smiths’ songs with the band Blossoms at Glastonbury, and they had previously covered The Smiths at a pair of shows in 2021. He also snuck in covers of Harry Styles’ “As It Was” and AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” during his solo performance at Glastonbury 2023. Throughout the pandemic,...

Rick Astley offered a surprisingly poignant cover of Olivia Rodrigo’s hit “Drivers License” for BBC Radio 2’s Piano Room over the weekend. Performing with the BBC Concert Orchestra and a pair of back-up singers, Astley showcased the 2021 single with some serious emotional gravity.

Astley also performed his own 1987 mega-hit “Never Gonna Give You Up,” which he and the orchestra mashed up with Ed Sheeran’s “Shape Of You.” The set was recorded live at the BBC’s Maida Vale Studios in London.

Astley’s most recent LP, Are We There Yet?,...

Rick Astley has released his ninth studio album, Are We There Yet?, via BMG. Stream it via Apple Music or Spotify below.

The English singer wrote, recorded, played, and produced the follow-up to 2018’s Beautiful Life at his home in London. Preceded by the singles “Dippin My Feet” and “Never Gonna Stop,” Are We There Yet? was influenced by the likes of Bill Withers, Al Green, and Marvin Gaye, as well as the live instrumentation of the famed R&b scene in Muscle Shoals. Pick up your physical copy here.

In support of the album, Astley will play a handful of UK shows, including a pair of gigs at London’s Royal Albert Hall. He will return to the road in early 2024 for a UK and Ireland arena tour, featuring Belinda Carlisle, The Lottery Winners, and Scouting for Girls opening on select dates. See the schedule below, and tickets are available here.

Ebony Media Group, the company behind Ebony Magazine, has teamed up with Lionsgate to announce the launch of their joint venture, Ebony TV by Lionsgate.

With access to Lionsgate’s expansive library of titles, the Fast channel will be available on Samsung TV Plus starting on Oct. 11 with programming that includes popular titles such as “The Great Debaters,” starring Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker; “Snitch,” featuring Dwayne Johnson; “Dear White People,” starring Tessa Thompson; “If Beale Street Could Talk”; Tyler Perry’s “I Can Do Bad All by Myself”; and “Jackie Brown,” starring Pam Grier. The channel will also feature shows such as “Are We There Yet?” and “Kevin Hart: What the Fit.”

By the end of the month, Ebony TV will become available on The Roku Channel, Tubi, and Amazon Freevee.

“Ebony has long been an outlet our culture could count on for news and entertainment,” said Ebony CEO Eden Bridgeman Sklenar.

Lionsgate is teaming up with Ebony Media Group to launch a new free, ad-supported streaming television (Fast) channel focused on the African-American point of view.

The offering, which will feature award-winning films and popular series that celebrate Black culture, will officially launch on Oct. 11 via Samsung TV Plus (channel 1054), followed by additional platforms including The Roku Channel, Tubi, and Amazon Freevee by the end of the month.

Ebony TV by Lionsgate’s programming will include the Golden Globe-nominated drama “The Great Debaters,” starring Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker; the Dwayne Johnson starrer “Snitch;” “Dear White People,” starring Tessa Thompson;” “If Beale Street Could Talk,” starring KiKi Layne; Tyler Perry’s “I Can Do Bad All by Myself,” starring Taraji P. Henson; and Quentin Tarantino’s “Jackie Brown,” starring Pam Grier. The channel will also feature shows such as “Are We There Yet?” and “Kevin Hart: What the Fit.”

“Ebony has...

Ebony Media Group has partnered with Lionsgate to launch Ebony TV by Lionsgate, a new Fast channel geared to Black audiences.

Channels targeting Black viewers make up just 2% of all available Fast channels in the U.S., even though African Americans represent 14% of the U.S. population. Starting tomorrow, Ebony TV will be available on Samsung TV Plus (channel 1054), followed by additional platforms including The Roku Channel, Tubi, and Amazon Freevee by the end of the month.

Some of the programming planned for Ebony TV that’s been curated from Liongate’s 18,000-title library includes The Great Debaters starring Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker; the Dwayne Johnson starrer Snitch; Dear White People with Tessa Thompson; If Beale Street Could Talk, starring KiKi Layne; I Can Do Bad All by Myself, starring Taraji P. Henson; and Jackie Brown, starring Pam Grier. The channel will also feature shows such as Are We There Yet?...

We all like to think of ourselves as the world’s most active, attentive and award-worthy parents, but let’s face it: we sometimes rely on some good old-fashioned screentime to keep the children entertained while we, you know, Actually Get Stuff Done.

But if you’ve watched so much Hey Duggee and Bluey that you’ve started to get a complex that a cartoon dog is doing a better job of looking after the kids than you, maybe it’s time to look for some new kids’ TV shows over on Netflix.

The streaming giant is famous for classics like Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol, but what are the other best kid-friendly TV shows on the Children section? Let’s take a look:

For Pre-School Kids Cocomelon

Cocomelon is utterly terrifying, but thankfully not for the kids. This animated musical show started as a YouTube channel but now has...

Amazon Freevee has teamed with MGM and Warner Bros. Discovery in a deal to add 23 Fast Channels.

Over the next few months., Freevee will launch 12 MGM channels, including single-title channels The Pink Panther, Stargate, Green Acres and The Outer Limits, alongside branded channels such as MGM Presents, MGM Presents: Action and MGM Presents: Sci-Fi, which will be programmed with premium movies and series including Capote and Red Dawn. They will join Paternity Court, In the Heat of the Night, The Addams Family and Teen Wolf, all of which are currently available on Freevee.

Freevee will launch 11 Wbd channels such as Cake Boss, Extreme Couponing, Ghost Brothers, Paranormal Lockdown, Say Yes to the Dress and Long Lost Family.

“Fast Channels offer Freevee viewers an always-on, 24/7, lean-back viewing experience that immediately connects them to a selection of TV shows, movies, and unscripted programming such as news, sports, and music,” said Ryan Pirozzi,...

MGM and Warner Bros. Discovery channels are coming to Amazon Freevee, adding to the free ad-supported streamer’s growing slate of programming.

The studio will launch 12 Fast channels focused on individual titles including “The Pink Panther,” “Stargate,” “Green Acres,” and “The Outer Limits,” alongside branded channels such as “MGM Presents,” “MGM Presents: Action,” and “MGM Presents: Sci-Fi,” which will be programmed with premium movies and series including “Capote” and “Red Dawn.” The MGM Fast channels join “Paternity Court,” “In the Heat of the Night,”“The Addams Family” and“Teen Wolf,” which are already live on Freevee.

Meanwhile, Warner will launch 11 Fast channels in June featuring Discovery and Wbd studio content such as “Cake Boss,”“Extreme Couponing,” “Ghost Brothers,”“Paranormal Lockdown,” “Say Yes to the Dress,”and “Long Lost Family.”

Also Read:

Amazon Plans to Launch Ad-Supported Prime Video Tier (Report)

Freevee has rapidly expanded its Fast offerings over the last...

To celebrate the first week of Max, we are sending seven days of curated thematic Max Highlights. Earlier this week we sent the best programming to watch over Memorial Day Weekend and the worlds to explore on Max. Today we showcase kids and family series and movies.

Max brings a more prominent kids and family experience, introducing a default Kid’s Profile for new subscribers along with accompanying Parental Controls, including the ability to limit content by ratings, lock access to adult profiles, and prevent children from exiting a kid’s profile.

Max offers an expansive offering of kids content, including dedicated hubs for Cartoon Network programming and Sesame Workshop. Max is the home of other iconic and beloved kids and family brands and franchises, including Scooby-Doo!, Looney Tunes, select films from the Studio Ghibli catalog, and more. With a breadth of content from classics to next generation Max Originals,...

Rainn Wilson travels for a purpose — to find the happiest places on Earth. In the new Peacock docu-series “The Geography of Bliss,” the intrepid traveler traverses the globe in a humorous search for meaning. Based on Eric Weiner’s New York Times bestselling book, “The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World,” Wilson explores some of the happiest and unhappiest places on earth — from Iceland to Bulgaria to Ghana — in a profound and funny way that unpacks the science of happiness. All five episodes of the series will be available during Mental Health Awareness Month, beginning on May 18.

Watch the trailer for “The Geography of Bliss”:

Also arriving on the streaming service next month, Pete Davidson, Edie Falco, and Joe Pesci will star in “Bupkis,” a semi-autobiographical series about Davidson’s life. The show mixes reality and absurdity to capture the complexities...

Maryam Basir is an American actress and model. She is best known for her roles in Lace (2021), A Boy. A Girl. A Dream. (2018) and To Live and Die and Live (2023).

Maryam Basir Biography: Age, Early Life, Family Education

Maryam Basir was born on February 12 in Detroit, Michigan, and was raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Information regarding Basir’s family has not been made publicly known. After graduating from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, she moved to New York City.

Maryam Basir Biography: Career

In an exclusive interview with uInterview, Basir revealed how she got started with acting. “I was in New York, just at a bank, and this security guard at the bank was like ‘Are you an actor? Or a model?’” Basir laughed. “And I was like, ‘No.’ And he was like, ‘Well you should be!’ So from that, it kind of put...

Essence Atkins and Tetona Jackson have signed on to star in the untitled CBS comedy pilot starring Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr., Variety has learned. In addition, Andy Ackerman has signed on to direct the pilot.

The multi-cam pilot was first announced at CBS in February. Per the official logline, “Legendary talk radio host and happily divorced ‘Poppa’ (Wayans) has his point of view challenged at work when a new female co-host (Atkins) is hired, and at home where he finds himself still parenting his adult son (Wayans Jr.), a brilliant dreamer who is trying to pursue his passion while being a responsible father and husband.”

Atkins character is named Dr. Ivy Reed. She is further described as “intelligent, savvy, and bold” and hosts the radio show “Ask Dr. Reed,” where she gives “helpful advice to listeners with a modern approach on life” before she is brought in as Poppa’s new co-host.

Terry Crews is back in uniform. The Brooklyn Nine-Nine vet is set to star in and executive-produce the CBS comedy pilot Jumpstart, our sister site Deadline reports.

The project is based on the popular comic strip that debuted in 1989 and portrayed a young Black couple’s everyday experience. Crews will play Joseph L. Cobb, a Philadelphia police officer who tries to be perfect in every facet of his life. The potential series follows Joseph and his wife, Marcy, a nurse, and Joe’s partner Crunchy.

More from TVLineTrue Lies Sneak Peek: Matthew Lillard Shows Up as Helen's Work Husband,...

Brooklyn Nine-Nine alum Terry Crews has been tapped as the lead and also will executive produce JumpStart, CBS’ multi-camera comedy pilot based on Robb Armstrong’s long-running comic strip. Wayne Conley (The Best Man) penned the TV adaptation for the project from Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment, Wendi Trilling’s TrillTV and CBS Studios. Phill Lewis will direct and executive produce the pilot, replacing Kelly Park due to changes in the production schedule; Park is directing NBC’s comedy pilot Non-Evil Twin instead.

Based on the popular comic strip that debuted in 1989, JumpStart is set in Philadelphia and follows Joseph L. Cobb (Crews), a cop, his wife Marcy, a nurse, and Joe’s partner Crunchy.

Crews’ Joe Cobb is a devoted husband, son, father and Philadelphia police officer. He is also a proud Black man and often feels pressured to be flawless in each of his roles, especially in light of controversies surrounding cops.

Terry Crews will star in the CBS comedy pilot based on the “JumpStart” comic strip, Variety has learned.

The multi-cam pilot was originally ordered at CBS in February. The official logline states that the show “follows Joe (Crews), a cop, his wife Marcy, a nurse, and Joe’s partner Crunchy. Joe and Marcy are young, hip, urban parents with old school values who are willing to sacrifice for their kids and have some laughs while doing it!”

The character Joe is further described as “a devoted husband , son, father and Philadelphia police officer. He is also a proud Black man and often feels pressured to be flawless in each of his roles, especially in light of controversies surrounding cops. He is a charming and exuberant role model in his community. Joe loves his wife and family, but does come up short in hilarious and endearing ways that keep audiences cheering for him.

Ice Cube might have started out in the world of music. But the rapper has also become quit the established actor over the years, appearing in more than two dozen movies. In fact, Ice Cube reportedly carries a net worth of $160 million. However, early on, the rapper never thought he had a chance at landing a role in his film debut, the Oscar-nominated drama Boyz n the Hood.

‘Boyz n the Hood’ was Ice Cube’s first major breakthrough movie

The 1995 film Friday arguably established Ice Cube as a big-screen leading man. After all, he carried top billing on that hit comedy, which also catapulted Chris Tucker to stardom. And since then, he’s appeared in countless hits, including two Friday sequels, the Barbershop franchise, 21 Jump Street and its sequel, Ride Along and its sequel, and most recently, 2020’s The High Note.

But 1991’s Boyz n the Hood was something special.

Horror delights, rom-coms and a new sci-fi series starring Christoph Waltz are just a few of the highlights arriving on Amazon Prime Video in February. This month sees the debut of the second and final season of “Carnival Row” on Feb. 17, while Feb. 24 is when “The Consultant” – a “Severance”-like thriller series starring Waltz and directed by “WandaVision’s” Matt Shakman – drops.

In terms of new original Prime Video movies, on Feb. 10 there’s “Somebody I Used to Know,” a romantic comedy starring Alison Brie who co-wrote the script with her husband Dave Franco (who serves as director).

And you’ll find last year’s buzzy horror hit “Smile” on the streaming service on Feb. 21, while “Mad Max: Fury Road” filmmaker George Miller’s “Three Thousand Years of Longing” arrives on Feb. 17.

That’s not to mention noteworthy library additions like “A.I.,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and “Almost Famous.

It feels just like last month we were complimenting Hulu on its true crime offerings. Well, with its list of new releases for February 2023, Hulu is staying in the true crime lane. Suppose that’ll happen when you push back the release date of a series or two.

February sees the arrival of three notable true crime series on Hulu. Taiwan Crime Stories premieres on Feb. 1 and presents four true tales from Taiwan’s criminal “dark underbelly.” That will be followed by ABC News Studios’ Killing County on Feb. 3. That three-episode series ponders the question “what happens when police kill?” The most interesting true crime offering premieres on Feb. 9. That’s when Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence College shares its four-episode saga of Larry Ray and the young college students he victimized.

As far as non true crime offerings go, the third and final season of Hulu...

February is the shortest month of the year but Prime Video is paying that no mind with its jam-packed list of new releases for February 2023.

This really is an uncommonly stuffed month on the Amazon streamer and it all starts with a handful of Amazon Originals. Amazon’s original offerings kick off with the release of Dave Franco-directed romcom Somebody I Used to Know on Feb. 10. That is followed by Carnival Row season 2 – a gritty fantasy crime drama is set in a world of steampunky fairies. The show stars Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevigne and this batch of episodes will be its swan song. Meanwhile The Consultant on Feb. 24 is a dark comedy workplace thriller starring Christoph Waltz.

The biggest hits this month, however, might just be some recent cinema faves. If February is for lovers, Amazon didn’t get the memo as there are quite a few horror movies of note here.

More family-friendly comedy from The Upshaws is coming your way.

The half-hour sitcom has been renewed for Season 3 at Netflix, our sister site Variety reports. New episodes will arrive sometime in early 2023.

More from TVLineCrown Star 'Disappointed' by 'Fellow Artistes' Condemning Netflix Series: 'The Vast Majority Know It's a Drama'The Lincoln Lawyer Adds Lana Parrilla in Recurring Role for Season 2Netflix Animated Comedy Bad Crimes, With Nicole Byer and Lauren Lapkus, Cancelled Midway Through Production

Created by Regina Hicks and Wanda Sykes (who also serve as showrunners), the series centers on Bennie Upshaw (played by Mike Epps), a well-meaning mechanic...

Much has been made of titles being quietly removed from HBO Max over the last few week, but while the number of films departing the service in September is substantial, at least subscribers have a heads up.

As is the case every month, various movies are due to leave HBO Max in September, and below we’ve got the full list of which films are leaving and when so you can prioritizing some viewing options. Noteworthy removals include the 2021 Warner Bros. thriller “The Little Things” starring Denzel Washington (leaving Sept. 16), the 2020 “Freaky Friday” horror riff “Freaky,” Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” films, the “Lethal Weapon” franchise, “Super 8,” “Tootsie” and the Nancy Meyers classic “The Holiday.”

Check out the full list of what’s leaving HBO Max in September below.

September 4

Meet the Patels, 2014

September 5

Turner Classic Movies: Follow the Thread, 2022

September 8

Teen Titans Go! To The Movies, 2018

September 9

Horrible Bosses 2,...

Nichelle Nichols, who broke down barriers with her portrayal of translator and communications officer Lt. Nyota Uhura in the original Star Trek TV series and later in its film franchise, died Saturday night in Silver City, N.M. She was 89 years old.

Nichols’ death was confirmed by Gilbert Bell, her talent manager and business partner of 15 years.

A popular part of the principal players on Star Trek, Nichols shared one of the first interracial kisses in television history with costar William Shatner.

Nichols also played Lt. Uhura by voicing her on “Star Trek: The Animated Series,” and appeared in the first six “Star Trek” films. She became a lieutenant commander in “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” and then a full commander in “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.” Throughout, she was a powerful symbol for African Americans and a fan favorite in the various projects.

NASA later employed Nichols...

YouTube is upping its play for cord-cutters: The video platform has released dozens of full seasons of about 100 TV shows — nearly 4,000 episodes in all — available to stream for free with ads.

The free TV shows are available only to YouTube users in the U.S. The lineup includes Gordon Ramsay’s “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Kitchen Nightmares,” “Andromeda,” “Heartland,” “Scream Queens,” “Unsolved Mysteries,” “Sanctuary,” “Hidden Palms,” “21 Jump Street,” “Iron Chef,” “Brewster Place” and “Are We There Yet?”

YouTube’s addition of the licensed TV shows marks a bigger move to compete with free, ad-supported television (Fast) rivals like Paramount’s Pluto TV, Fox’s Tubi and Amazon’s IMDb TV.

The new lineup of free TV shows on YouTube comes in addition to a selection of free movies also available to stream for free with ads. Currently, the platform provides more than 1,500 movies from partners including Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution,...

Tony Todd (Candyman), Lydia Hearst (Z Nation), Bai Ling (Red Corner), Teala Dunn (Are We There Yet?), and Robert Picardo (Star Trek: Voyager) have joined the cast of Werewolf Game, an upcoming horror mystery from emerging genre directors, Jackie Payne and Cara Brennan.

Written by Payne, Werewolf Game is based on the party game of social deduction invented by Dimitry Davidoff in 1986. In the film, twelve strangers are kidnapped by a social media company and forced to play a game where they vote on who amongst them to murder.

Todd commented, “My roots as an actor are grounded in theater, which is why my iconic character in Werewolf Game strongly appeals to me, much like Immortal (2020), my first collaboration with Margolies.”

The project hails from Different Duck Films founder Rob Margolies (Bobcat Moretti), who will produce along with Gretel Snyder. Margolies discovered the screenplay and awarded it a production deal,...

Today marks the start of Black History Month, with the broadcast and cable networks and streamers planning a slew of TV series, movies, news programming, documentaries, specials and more to roll out over the course of February to celebrate, educate and entertain.

Deadline has compiled a list of programming highlights that touches on some of the myriad ways outlets are commemorating the occasion, from live coverage of the NAACP Image Awards on BET to the documentary series Lincoln’s Dilemma on Apple TV+ and everything in between.

Check out below for some of the content (all times Et) and keep checking back as we add to the list.

ABC News/ABC

ABC News is presenting two primetime specials February 3 from its Soul of a Nation series. Soul of a Nation Presents: Screen Queens Rising, explores how Black actresses, a historically overlooked and under-valued group in Hollywood,...

Dl Hughley is developing a sitcom at Fox that is based on his life, Variety has learned.

Hughley will star in the untitled multi-cam comedy in addition to serving as executive producer, writer, and co-creator. Owen Smith is the other co-creator as well as writer and executive producer. Fox has given the project a script commitment with a penalty attached.

In the show, unfiltered, unapologetic, and opinionated radio host Dl Hughley is free at work but under siege at home as he navigates life as a husband and father to an LGBTQ+ daughter, a son on the autism spectrum whose white girlfriend lives with them, and another daughter who can’t leave his credit card alone.

Along with Hughley and Smith, Michael Rotenberg and Dave Becky of 3 Arts will also executive produce, as will Sheila Ducksworth, the president of the NAACP/CBS Studios joint partnership. The NAACP and CBS Studios...

Exclusive: Former Revolution Studios CEO Vince Totino and former Orion Pictures President John Hegeman are opening the doors to Wayward Entertainment, a multi-platform studio which will focus on producing and distributing low budget genre and alternative content.

Wayward Entertainment will kick things off partnering with Nick Frost and Simon Pegg’s Stolen Picture to produce the horror feature Svalta which they previously worked on together when Hegeman was at Orion.

Svalta, written by Nick Frost, follows a family on their summer vacation to a remote island where they discover a serial killer is on the loose. Unfortunately for them the locals have no interest in helping the stranded family. The title is taken from the name of the fictional island.

Totino and Hegeman stated “Wayward is focused on working with creative people with something interesting to say and share. We couldn’t think of another project or partnership that would...

While the other streaming services set up recurring franchises, Hulu has opted to get a bit more experimental with its original offerings in August 2021.

Hulu’s list of new releases this month is highlighted by three original series concepts with promise. Reservation Dogs premieres on August 9. Co-created by Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok), this story will follow four indigenous teenagers in Oklahoma as they stave off boredom and adulthood. Next up is Nine Perfect Strangers on August 18. This miniseries, based on a book of the same name, is produced by David E. Kelley and features staggering cast of Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Luke Evans, Samara Weaving, and more.

Only Murders in the Building is likely the biggest thing to look forward to in August though. Premiering on August 31, this comedy stars Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez as three true crime-obsessed friends who stumble into a true crime of their own.

Exclusive: We have learned that Henry Simmons and Joy Bryant are set to star in season 2 of OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network’s and Ava DuVernay’s anthology drama series Cherish the Day.

Production on the Array Filmworks, Harpo Films and Warner Bros. Television production will begin this month in New Orleans with the new season set to air in 2022.

Cherish the Day chronicles the relationship of one couple, with each episode spanning a single day. In season two, the rekindling of a romance is told — the love story of Ellis (Henry Simmons) and Sunday (Joy Bryant), who fell in love in high school but find themselves reunited in beautiful New Orleans. Ellis is a former basketball player who is now a single father of two, and Sunday is a vegan celebrity chef on the cusp of fame.

Refresh for updates: Universal had not one, but two wide release previews last night as they head into the four-day Independence Day weekend, and both DreamWorks Animation’s The Boss Baby: Family Business, and Blumhouse’s The Forever Purge grossed $1.3M apiece.

Those looking for more technicality: Boss Baby 2 took in $1.31M at 2,700 theaters from shows which began at 4Pm, while Forever Purge grossed $1.33M from 2,550 from shows that started at 7Pm. Boss Baby 2 will expand to 3,640 theaters and is eyeing a $15M+ start, while Forever Purge at 3,051 is hoping for at least $10M+ over three days. July 4th will not be a good day at the box office, so looking for a down of a Sunday as people make their way to holiday celebrations, barbeques, etc.

Together with the second weekend of F9, which is looking to make around $28M, Universal will own the top three spots at the...

Usually, the weekend before the release of a Marvel film would be devoid of any box office newcomers. But in this post-covid Fourth of July weekend, Universal is taking the polar opposite strategy by releasing not one but two films — DreamWorks’ “The Boss Baby: Family Business” and Blumhouse’s “The Forever Purge” — alongside the second weekend of “F9.”

It’s just the latest distribution experiment in a year full of them, and it could lead to some rare sights on this weekend’s charts. Universal notes that if its three current releases take the top three spots on the July 4 charts — and that is very likely considering both new releases are projected for openings of over $10 million — it would become the first studio since 2005 to do a podium sweep of the box office. The last to do so was Sony Pictures with “Hitch,” “Boogeyman,” and “Are We There Yet?” during a light February release period.

Jack Black is in talks to star with Ice Cube in Sony Pictures’ comedy Oh Hell No, to be directed by cutting-edge comedy director Kitao Sakurai. Matt Tolmach is producing through Matt Tolmach Productions with Black and Roz Music.

Story follows Sherman (Black), who falls in love with Will (Cube) mom, who has only one thing to say about that, “Oh hell no.”. Scot Armstrong, Tracy Oliver, Jessica Gao and Rodney Rothman wrote the script. Brittany Morrissey is overseeing for the studio. Film bows July 1, 2022.

Well known in the comedy world for directing and executive producing The Eric Andre Show for Adult Swim, Sakurai most recently directed and co-wrote Netflix’s No. 1 comedy movie Bad Trip, starring Eric Andre and Tiffany Haddish. He also recently directed episodes of Season 2 of Dave and Bj Novak’s untitled upcoming series on FX.

Cube starred in the box office hit Ride Along and its sequel,...

AMC Networks is in the midst of rebranding Umc, or Urban Movie Network, the SVOD service founded by BET founder Robert L. Johnson in February of 2015. Now titled Allblk, the streaming platform features “urban-themed” series and movies, including the channel’s library of live stand-up performances by Kevin Hart, Jamie Foxx and Charlie Murphy, as well documentary films, reality series and stage plays. A direct competitor to the more recognizable BET+, chief content officer Brett Dismuke is hoping a new slate of original programming will help position Allblk as the “premiere streaming destination for black creators and storytellers.”

Speaking to the virtual Ctam Winter 2021 Press Tour on Thursday, Dismuke said he hoped a renewed industry support for Black creatives and stories would usher in renewed excitement for Allblk. “While we’ve updated our brand, what remains unwavering is our commitment to representation and identifying new and emerging talent both in...

Just as the Super Bowl traditionally inhibits studios from releasing new titles to theaters, there were few fresh films available on home platforms. As a result, four titles — all previously ranked #1 on multiple charts — took the top spots again. The exception was Netflix, which debuted “Malcolm & Marie” February 5. Starring Zendaya and John David Washington, it immediately became the streamer’s most-watched film.

Long-running, still-Premium VOD titles “Greenland” and “News of the World,” along with $5.99 rentals “Tenet” and “Let Him Go,” are this week’s chart toppers. “News” and “Tenet” made all four lists (as did “The War with Grandpa”). “Let Him Go” failed to make Spectrum’s top 10, with its price reduction coming too late to impact the list.

There were a few surprises. Why is “2067,” an Australian science-fiction film starring Ryan Kwanten and Kodi Smit McPhee, available for $0.99 at Apple? (It’s more expensive elsewhere.) “Promising Young Woman,...

Umc, the AMC Networks-backed streamer, has found the cast for it multi-camera comedy Millennials.

Kyle Massey (That’s So Raven), Keraun Harris (Insecure), Philip Bolden (Are We There Yet?), Aaron Grady (Everybody Hates Chris) and Teresa Celeste (Wild N’ Out) will lead the cast of the series, which follows four twentysomething roommates and their neighbor across the hall as they navigate the chaos of being young and finding success in L.A.

Massey plays Omar, a business student with dreams of taking over the corporate world. Harris is Jaheem, a personal trainer who’s attractive clientele doubles as his pool of dating conquests. Bolden plays Travis, an insecure YouTuber who thrives on public attention. Grady plays Todd, a college dropout who struggles with his sense of responsibility and remaining gainfully employed. Celeste is Mercedes, an aspiring actress from Atlanta who often serves as the only voice of reason for guys.

Matteo De Cosmo, a New York-based art director who worked on several ABC Studios projects including Marvel’s “The Punisher,” died on April 21 of coronavirus-related complications. He was 52.

De Cosmo was best-known for serving as the art director for ABC television shows “Emergence,” “Luke Cage” and “The Punisher.” De Cosmo began his career as a set designer, assistant art director and even a costume designer on films such as “Circus Lives,” “Arresting Gena,” “Louis & Frank” and “Spring Forward.”

Though he continued to work on films such as 2019’s “21 Bridges” starring Chadwick Boseman, De Cosmo focused more on television later in his career. He served as art director for “Chappelle’s Show,” “Are We There Yet?,” “Alpha House,” “Madam Secretary,” “The Affair” and “Wu Tang: An American Saga,” in addition to his work with ABC Studios.

Most recently, De Cosmo was working on the pilot for new ABC series “Harlem’s...

David N. Weiss, a past WGA West VP and writer of Shrek 2 and The Smurfs and Rugrats movie and TV franchises, has been chosen to receive the WGA West’s 2019 Animation Writers Caucus Animation Writing Award. The honor will be bestowed tonight at the annual Awc awards ceremony and member meeting at the guild’s Los Angeles headquarters.

Weiss’ credits on the film side also include Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, The Rugrats Movie and Rugrats in Paris: The Movie and The Smurfs and Smurfs 2. To date, the box office cume for Weiss’ combined work exceeds $2.3 billion worldwide.

Working with his writing partner J. David Stem, Weiss served as head writer on Nickelodeon’s Rugrats TV series. The duo’s other credits include Cybill, Mission Hill and The Downtowners, along with the features Daddy Day Care, Are We There Yet? and Clockstoppers.

They are writing a remake of Jimmy Stewart...

In today’s film news roundup, David N. Weiss is honored, Rin Tin Tin is getting a modern movie and “The Shasta Triangle” finds a home.

Weiss Honored

David N. Weiss will receive the animation writing award from the Animation Writers Caucus of the Writers Guild of America West.

The award will be presented by Weiss’ writing partner J. David Stem on Thursday at WGA West’s headquarters at the caucus’ annual meeting.

Weiss has credits on “Shrek 2,” “Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius,” the first two “Rugrats” movies, “Smurfs” and “Smurfs 2.” Stem and Weiss served as head writers on the “Rugrats” TV series, “Cybill,” “Mission Hill,” “Are We There Yet?,” “Clockstoppers” and the upcoming remake of “Harvey” for Netflix.

Project Launch

Warner Bros. is developing a modernized version of the German Shepherd Rin Tin Tin, who appeared as a heroic dog in more than two dozen films for the studio in the 1920s.

From Arnold Schwarzenegger to Dwayne Johnson, macho actors who have wanted to take a break from intense action movies have frequently turned to family-friendly comedies that also allows them to reach a more mainstream audience. But starring with a child co-star a third your age and size means you’ll have to wear a tutu or dance like a doofus, maybe fall in something slimy or gross. Wrestler turned action star John Cena is the latest to make this pivot with “Playing With Fire,” opening this weekend. Here are some other examples of this genre of tough guys babysitting kids.

“Kindergarten Cop” (1990) – Arnold Schwarzenegger

“Kindergarten Cop” was not the first (or the last) goofy comedy Arnold Schwarzenegger would make, but only in this one does he berate at a classroom full of toddlers, play with a ferret and teach kids the basics about human anatomy. I would also argue that...

Exclusive: Writer-producer-director James Vanderbilt, producer William Sherak, and finance/business operations executive Paul Neinstein have formed Project X Entertainment, an independent production/financing company that launches with a multi-year first look and co-development television deal with Spyglass Media Group.

Project X will co-develop and co-finance episodic content with Spyglass, as Project X endeavors to make film and TV product for streaming, broadcast, cable TV and other distribution platforms. Spyglass chairman/CEO Gary Barber and Spyglass Television president Lauren Whitney made the deal with the Project X principals.

Spyglass launched as a partnership between former MGM chief Barber with Lantern Entertainment Co-Presidents Andy Mitchell and Milos Brajovic after the latter took possession of the assets of The Weinstein Company in bankruptcy. The company has backing from Warner Bros. Pictures, Italy’s Eagle Pictures and global exhibitor Cineworld Group.

“We built Project X because we believe that smart content can be commercial...

Santa Monica, CA – The fear goes deeper in this thrilling, must-see underwater sequel when 47 Meters Down: Uncaged arrives on Digital 4K Ultra HD October 29 and on Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital), DVD, and On Demand November 12 from global content leader Lionsgate. Starring Sophie Nélisse (The Great Gilly Hopkins), Corinne Foxx (Beat Shazam), Brianne Tju, Sistine Rose Stallone (Entertainment Tonight), Khylin Rhambo, Nia Long, Brec Bassinger (Bella and the Bulldogs), and John Corbett (The Silence), the terrifying, claustrophobic film has everything you could want from a killer shark movie.

Directed by Johannes Roberts and written by Roberts and Ernest Riera, 47 Meters Down: Uncaged follows the diving adventure of four teenage girls exploring a submerged Mayan city. Once inside, their rush of excitement turns into a jolt of terror as they discover the sunken ruins are a hunting ground for deadly great white sharks. With their air supply steadily dwindling,...

After bringing plenty of submerged scares to the big screen in 47 Meters Down in 2017, Johannes Roberts takes viewers back underwater for another round of eerie underwater encounters (this time in a cave system) in 47 Meters Down: Uncaged, and if you missed it in theaters, you can take the plunge into shark-infested waters this fall when Lionsgate unleashes the sequel on home media.

47 Meters Down: Uncaged will come to Digital 4K Ultra HD on October 29th, followed by a Blu-ray, DVD, and VOD release on November 12th via Lionsgate.

We have the official press release with full release details for below, and in case you missed it, read Heather Wixson's review of the film as well as her interview with co-writer/director Johannes Roberts.

Press Release: Santa Monica, CA – The fear goes deeper in this thrilling, must-see underwater sequel when 47 Meters Down: Uncaged arrives on Digital 4K Ultra HD October...

If you’ve already binged your way through the latest season of “Handmaid’s Tale” and all of “Catch-22,” worry not because Hulu is here to cure your mid-vacation content slump with a whole new slate of titles coming to the streamer this July.

Watch Kristen Bell reprise her role as the titular character in Season 4 of “Veronica Mars,” dropping July 1. Or if you aren’t in the mood to return to the seaside town of Neptune as Mars investigates a mysterious string of bombings and murders, you can relax with Ice-Cube’s hilarious one-liners in Steve Carr’s family comedy “Are We Done Yet?” and his spin-off series “Are We There Yet?”

Alongside classic favorites — all five “Rocky” movies, “King Kong,” and “The Polar Express” are among some notable additions — the streaming service also came through with both brand-new and returning original shows. Watch the series premiere of “Four Weddings and a Funeral,...

Essence Atkins stars as Amara Hughes in Ambitions.Anticipation is building for the premiere of the Jamey Giddens-penned and Will Packer-produced primetime soap opera Ambitions, which debuts on Tuesday, June 18 at 10 p.m. Et on Own. Ambitions is a multigenerational family saga centered around one woman who, having recently relocated and intent on revitalizing her marriage, finds herself going head to head with some of the most powerful and deceitful players in the city. Essence Atkins stars as Amara Hughes, a lawyer in the U.S. Attorney's Office who has newly arrived in Atlanta with her husband, Titus (Kendrick Cross). Originally from Texas, she is quickly gaining attention from the U.S. Attorney’s Office as a diligent investigator and prosecutor.

The all-star cast also includes Robin Givens as Stephanie Carlisle, the wife of Atlanta Mayor Evan Lancaster (Brian J. White), whose true loyalty is to her own family's...