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The Writers' Strike Is Over.... NOW WHAT?! |
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When SAG-AFTRA resumes bargaining with the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers on Monday, the talks will be held at the union's headquarters on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles rather than the AMPTP's offices in Sherman Oaks, as they had been before the guild went on strike in July. Deadline reports that SAG-AFTRA officials have insisted on a venue change because they weren't happy with the AMPTP's setup where contract negotiations for all the guilds and unions have historically been set. The AMPTP headquarters had been the site for the studio rep's ongoing conversations with the Writers Guild; the two reached a tentative agreement Sunday night that ended the WGA's strike at 148 days as of 12:01 a.m. PT today. SAG-AFTRA walked out July 14, two weeks after their contract expired on June 30. The union approved its strike authorization vote – by a 98% margin – on June 5. It marked the first actors strike against the film and TV industry since 1980." According to the guild, scribes can return to work while the ratification process plays out. If, on the off chance that members reject the tentative agreement that was worked out on Sunday, the strike will start back up again. At 148 days, the strike will be just a few days short of being the guild's longest ever — the strike of 1988 lasted 153 days. The tentative agreement to end the strike, which was reached Sunday night, was approved today by the WGA West Board and the WGA East Council, which also voted to lift what the guild calls a "restraining order" to end the strike "at a certain date and time, to be determined, pending ratification. This would allow writers to return to work during the ratification vote but would not affect the membership's right to make a final determination on contract approval," the guild says. The tentative deal now goes to the guilds' members for final ratification. Details of the agreement haven't been made public yet, but after the deal was reached with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the guild's Negotiating Committee told members that "this deal is exceptional – with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership." Key strike issues included wages, streaming residuals, protections against the abuse of Artificial Intelligence, and minimum staffing and duration of employment in TV writers' rooms. The WGA posted a link to the 96-page memorandum of agreement on its website, and also provided a brief summary of the most important details of the deal. Artificial intelligence was one of the most heavily-scrutinized issues on the bargaining table, and the WGA explains how the new contract protects writers from A.I. Under the new contract, A.I. cannot "be used to undermine a writer's credit or separated rights." Additionally, companies must inform writers if material has been generated by A.I., and if a company uses a writer's material to train A.I. models, the WGA is allowed to deem that training as unlawful. Writers also cannot be forced by their employers to use A.I. Another important issue on the table was streaming residuals, which had previously been notoriously difficult to come by for writers. Streaming services now must share statistics about streaming data with the WGA, and writers will be compensated with significant residual bonuses for shows and movies that are viewed by 20 percent of a streaming service's subscribers within 90 days. Additionally, the new contract increases minimum pay rates, improves provisions for health care, expands residual payments for streaming, and ensures longer minimum periods of work for writers in development rooms and post-greenlight rooms. The WGA had also hoped to expand the minimum number of writers in a writers' room to six plus one more for every two episodes, but conceded to three writer-producers, plus an an additional two to three writers if the season has seven or more episodes. |
posted 9/28/2023 |
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Hulu Got to Get Out |
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Hulu has ordered 10 episodes of a new social experiment series from Glenn Hugill, producer of "Deal or No Deal," "The Mole" and "Puzzling." The competition series, currently titled "Got to Get Out," will "test the loyalties of a group of strangers vying for a major payday," according to the official logline. Participants will live in a mansion together for 10 days as they compete for a cash prize that increases by $1 per each second that the contestants are there. A total of $1 million is at stake as physical and mental challenges add even more cash to the prize. Throughout the competition, "participants can stick together and take an equal share of the prize money at the end of their stay – or they can choose to go rogue and attempt to steal the full pot of money for themselves," per the logline. To win the full pot, participants have to exit the mansion through its one and only exit — though getting through is not as easy as it sounds. "At various times, both day and night, the gate will open and a getaway car will arrive, presenting an opportunity for cast members to betray their comrades and make off with the cash," per the logline. "However, competitors can block each other's run for the money via a red button that immediately closes the gate. Temptations, including secret escape intel, taunt players at every turn, upending strategies and threatening allegiances." Produced by Wheelhouse's Spoke Studios, executive producers for "Got to Get Out" include Brent Montgomery, Ed Simpson, Glenn Hugill, Pam Healey and Liz Fine and Charles Wachter, who also serves as showrunner. |
posted 9/28/2023 |
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"Sushi Master" Orders Second Helping |
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There's more sushi being served at Roku. The streamer has ordered a second season of Morimoto's Sushi Master. The series, which is the first-ever competition series focused on the art of sushi-making, will return for six more episodes. It launched in June. The series comes from Ample Entertainment, which is behind Netflix's Kangaroo Valley and HBO's The Invisible Pilot. It features icon Chef Masaharu Morimoto as head judge and executive producer as he puts chefs to the test as they compete in challenges that not only honor the skill, ingredients, delicacy, and talent needed to perfect the art of sushi-making, but also break the rules along the way. |
posted 9/28/2023 |
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"Pros vs. Joes" to Reboot |
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The Joes are dusting off their sports kits for the first time in 13 years. Pros Vs Joes, the Noughties physical gameshow is being rebooted in the U.S. and brought to Europe for the first time, after Belgian formats distributor Glow Media took on the format. Glow plans to showcase the show at Mipcom next month, with original series creator My Entertainment also involved in the relaunch. Originally broadcast on Viacom owned Spike (now Paramount Network), Pros Vs Joes aired for five seasons between 2006-2010 produced Michael Yudin's My Enterainment. It pitted ordinary 'Joes' with love and skill for multiple sports again famous sport stars. The most successful Joe would be crowned the winner. |
posted 9/28/2023 |
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WEDNESDAY: Steady Survivor |
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In the latest TV show ratings, America's Got Talent's season finale just barely led Wednesday in total viewers, while Survivor's season opener dominated the night in the demo. NBC's AGT ended its season with 5.2 million total viewers and a 0.4 demo rating, down week-to-week and versus Tuesday's performance finale. Suffice it to say, the show will return next summer. Compared to their year-ago premieres, CBS' Survivor (5.1 mil/0.8) was up 6% in audience and steady in the demo, but The Amazing Race (2.6 mil/0.3) was down 14% and two tenths. Note: Both shows are airing 90-minute episodes every week! Fox's The Masked Singer (3.1 mil/0.5) was down a tick from its year-ago premiere. Snake Oil retained 1.8 mil and a 0.4. All with season premieres, ABC's Celebrity Jeopardy! drew 3.4 mil/0.4, followed by Celeb Wheel's 2.8 mil/0.4 and Pyramid's 2.3 mil/0.3. |
posted 9/28/2023 |
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"Ink Master" Plots Return |
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Ink Master, the Joel Madden-hosted tattoo competition that first launched in 2012, is ready to bring back some color to Paramount+. The streamer announced that the 15th season of the series from MTV Entertainment Studios and Truly Original will premiere Nov. 1 with three episodes. Subsequent episodes will drop weekly. Joining the judging panel this season is three-time Ink Master champion DJ Tambe. He'll join returning judges Ryan Ashley, the first female tattoo artist to win the competition, and Nikko Hurtado, a premier color realism artist. In the new season, 15 artists will compete for the $250,000 prize and the title of Ink Master. Ink Master is EPed by Glenda Hersh, Steven Weinstock and Andrea Richter for Truly Original. Daniel Blau Rogge serves as EP and Ivanna Palance as exec in charge of production for MTV. |
posted 9/28/2023 |
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The briefcase is in new hands! Joe Manganiello ("True Blood," "Magic Mike") is set to host "Deal or No Deal Island," a spin on the classic game where 13 players are transported to the elusive Banker's private island to compete for cash in a season-long, fully immersive competition. The series will combine thrilling challenges, mind-bending dilemmas and the classic game of "Deal or No Deal" as contestants try to beat the banker. Manganiello will guide them throughout - leading the game play, relaying the banker's tempting offers and helping them through the toughest decisions of their lives. "The role of 'Deal or No Deal' host has always been held by someone charming, hilarious and devastatingly handsome," said Corie Henson, Executive Vice President, Unscripted Content, NBCUniversal Entertainment. "When we took the show out of the studio and transported the game to the Banker's island, Joe was the obvious choice. He loves all kinds of games, lives for adventure and isn't afraid to stare down a snake or two to help players win a life-changing payday and, hopefully, beat the Banker at his own game." The iconic briefcases are back and are hidden on the island with millions in prize money split between them. In each episode, players vie to get their hands on the highest-value briefcase for a chance to gain immunity and choose a fellow player to enter "The Temple," where they must play a high-stakes game of "Deal or No Deal." The devious Banker is always watching and will raise the stakes with tests of strategy and greed. At the end of the season, the last player standing will face the Banker to potentially win the biggest prize in "Deal or No Deal" history. "Deal or No Deal" first launched in the Netherlands in 2002 and has been commissioned in more than 80 territories worldwide with more than 350 productions. Produced by Endemol Shine North America "Deal or No Deal Island" is an exciting new competition format that has been reimagined from the original Banijay format, "Deal or No Deal." Executive producers are Matt Kunitz, Matt Apps, Sarah Happel Jackson, Howie Mandel and Endemol Shine North America's Sharon Levy, DJ Nurre and Sean Loughlin. |
posted 9/27/2023 |
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In the latest TV show ratings, NBC's The Voice topped Tuesday both in total viewers and in the demo. The Voice opened the night with 6.4 million viewers and a 0.6 rating, matching Monday's season premiere numbers. Part 1 of the America's Got Talent season finale (5.4 mil/0.5) was down a tick week-to-week. After streaming Season 31 exclusively on Disney+, ABC's Dancing With the Stars returned to 4.3 million viewers and a 0.5 demo rating — matching and hitting franchise lows. Fox's Name That Tune (1 mi/0.2) dropped a handful of viewers from last week's season opener. The CW's Inside the NFL (310K/0.1) added some eyeballs, and The Swarm (360K/0.1) was steady. |
posted 9/27/2023 |
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Chris Coelen Responds to "Insulting" Allegations |
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When "Love Is Blind" made its debut on Netflix in 2020, the series introduced a completely new way for people to find love, without all the rules of usual dating. On the show, the single contestants begin dating individuals through a wall, unable to see what the person on the other side looks like. Throughout the process, they can't meet until they get engaged. Those who do then come face to face, move in together and decide whether they want to go through with their commitment. In 2022, Season 2 participant Jeremy Hartwell sued Netflix and production company Kinetic Content, citing "inhumane working conditions." A year later, Season 2's Nick Thompson and Danielle Ruhl alleged a lack of mental health support in a report by Insider. While Kinetic Content has broadly denied the allegations from both the lawsuit and the report, its CEO Chris Coelen says the cast is both physically and mentally protected — from the moment they join the experiment to long after the cameras stop rolling. One of the most shocking claims made by a past contestant were those by Ruhl — who got married in Season 2 — as she alleged that she disclosed past suicidal ideations before filming began, but was cast anyway. "These are very serious issues that she describes, and if her recent allegations about her mental health history are true, unfortunately she didn't disclose this before filming," Coelen says of the allegation. Following his response, Variety reached out to Ruhl. "It wasn't something I specifically noted in the application itself," she says now. "I had conversations with producers. I had conversations with therapists, but to their point, it was nothing that had been written down, so whether or not something had been communicated to them, I don't know," she says. "I will admit that, at the time of filming, I did say that I was in a really good mental space." |
posted 9/27/2023 |
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Max Goes Full Frontal... Literally. |
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It's like being on Tinder, but so much worse. One of the U.K.'s most infamous dating shows was quietly added to the Max streaming service last week. The streamer has imported six seasons of Naked Attraction, a game show that promises to "start where a good date often ends — naked." In each episode, a single "chooser" critiques and eliminates six potential dates standing on a stage by scrutinizing their fully nude bodies, which are gradually revealed one part at a time (faces are revealed last). When only two potential dates remain, the chooser strips out of their own clothes too, giving the remaining two contestants the opportunity to critique them. The final couple then go out on a date, with their clothes on. The episodes on Max are uncensored, but have added a warning at the beginning of each: "The following series is intended only for mature audiences. It contains full frontal nudity, course language, and graphic discussions about the human body. Viewer discretion is advised." Naked Attraction can come across as rather jaw-droppingly brutal in the contestants' graphic analysis and dismissal of people based on their most private of parts with contestants being dismissed for every superficial reason you can imagine ("I don't like her feet" … "His member is too small," etc). At the same time, each episode contains interstitials of informative sex education, and the show clearly tries to promote body confidence and positivity amid all the "hot or not" judgements. The show also includes contestants of diverse sexual orientations. |
posted 9/27/2023 |
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The Challenge Searches for a New Champion October 25 |
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MTV today announced that the all-new season of The Challenge: Battle for a New Champion will premiere on Wednesday, October 25th at 8PM ET/PT and is set to roll out globally across MTV's international networks in over 165 countries in the coming months. |
posted 9/27/2023 |
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Australia Brings Back "Gladiators" |
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Australia, are you ready? One of the most exciting and iconic sports entertainment gameshows in the world, Gladiators, is making a triumphant return to Australian screens. Premiering in 2024, a new tribe of 21st century superhumans – the Gladiators – will wrestle, rumble, and battle brave Aussie Contenders from all walks of life, in the ultimate test of speed, strength, stamina, agility and power. In true David vs Goliath fashion and against the breathtaking backdrop of a brand-new gladiatorial arena, the Gladiators and Contenders' skills will be tested like never before, as they take part in a series of brand-new events, alongside classic challenges including fan-favourites; Hang Tough, Duel, The Wall, Power Ball, Pyramid and The Eliminator. Welcoming a new generation of fans to the spectacle of Gladiators with charm, wit, and sporting expertise, are iconic sporting heroes and our hosts, Liz Ellis and Beau Ryan. Fresh from being crowned the 2023 Queen of the I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! jungle, Liz said: "I am super pumped to be hosting Gladiators with Beau who is in the gym as we speak trying to match it with our Gladiators. "It's an iconic franchise and I'm excited about the reboot. It is set to showcase some of my favourite Gladiator challenges from the original series as well as throw up a few new ones for us to fall in love with!" On hosting the epic battle series, Beau said: "I am beyond excited to be hosting Gladiators alongside the great Liz Ellis. Liz is a national treasure, and we are going to have a lot of fun. I grew up watching and loving Gladiators and can't wait to get into it. It's going to be spectacular." Gladiators is made for Network 10 by Warner Bros. International Television Production and executive produced by Johnny C. Ferraro and Barry Poznick. The original Gladiators series was created by Johnny C. Ferraro and Dan Carr and produced in association with Flor-Jon Films. Gladiators is distributed by Amazon MGM Studios Distribution. |
posted 9/27/2023 |
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Wednesday Lightning Round |
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David Walliams Sues Fremantle |
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David Walliams has filed suit against "Britain's Got Talent" producer Fremantle after he was accused last November for allegedly making sexually explicit comments about a contestant. The data protection suit was filed last week. Walliams parted ways with the show, which airs in the U.K. on ITV, last November after transcripts were leaked to The Guardian newspaper in which he reportedly made a number of derogatory comments about contestants. The Guardian claimed to have reviewed the transcripts. The newspaper said Walliams had made the comments in the presence of fellow judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon. There is no suggestion the other judges heard or responded to Walliams' comments. Cowell's spokesperson confirmed to Variety last year he had not heard the comments. At the time, ITV told Variety in a statement, ITV: "We do not condone the language outlined in these allegations, and we have spoken to the producers of 'Britain's Got Talent.' Duty of care towards all participants on any of our programmes is always of paramount importance and we have protocols and guidelines in place for all our production partners." Walliams, who was a judge on the show for ten years, was replaced three months after the controversy by "Dancing With the Stars" judge Bruno Tonioli. In the U.K. Tonioli was also a judge on "Strictly Come Dancing." Fremantle declined to comment on the lawsuit. |
posted 9/26/2023 |
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"Barmageddon" Returns for a Second Shot |
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USA Network's wild celebrity game show "Barmageddon" is back for another round when season two premieres Monday, Nov. 13 at 11 p.m. ET/PT. Buddies Blake Shelton and Carson Daly star in and executive produce the fun-filled celebrity game show where everyone lets loose and anything goes. Television personality and Wresting Hall of Famer Nikki Garcia brings the heat as host. The superstar trio goes all in on a good time as they head to Nashville and invite the audience into Blake's bar, Ole Red, for a front row seat as their celebrity friends compete in over-the-top bar games. This season's iconic celebrity competitors are: With Carson behind the bar and Blake taking the stage with his house band for live music sing-alongs, these icons and celebrity favorites show a new side to themselves in this anything but ordinary game show where everyone is invited to the party. The pair offers words of encouragement - and plenty of heckling - to their friends, occasionally stepping in to show off their own skills. A naturally competitive spirit who once dominated the wrestling ring, Nikki sets the stakes as celebrity friends go head-to-head in a series of classic bar games with a fun twist, including returning favorites Air Cannon Cornhole, Keg Curling, Drunken Axe Hole, Sharts ("Shelton Darts") and more. A new set of outrageous bar games thrown into the mix include Fool's Ball, Tic Tac Throwdown and Talk Derby to Me. The games are big, the antics are loud and the competition is ludicrous in the best way. |
posted 9/26/2023 |
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MONDAY: And We're Off! |
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In the latest TV show ratings, NBC's The Voice season opener led Monday's non-sports fare in both total viewers and in the demo. ABC's share of Monday Night Football coverage averaged 8.8 mil and a 2.2 — or, closer to 11 mil and a 2.8 if you only count actual game time. After a nine-year break, Fox's Kitchen Nightmares (understandably) returned to what sure looks like series lows (1.5 mil/0.3); Special Forces: WTT (1.4 mil/0.3) hit and tied series lows with its Season 2 opener. CBS's "NCIS Day" mini-thon did 3.2 mil/0.2… 2.7 mil/0.2… and then 2.2 mil/0.2. The CW's Son of a Critch (330K) was up, Run the Burbs (180K) and Children Ruin Everything (160K) were down. |
posted 9/26/2023 |
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VH1, Jesse Collins Entertainment and global entertainment company, Hartbeat, today announced the launch of "Celebrity Squares," a modern twist on the classic game show format featuring Black pop culture trivia. Hosted by actor and comedian DC Young Fly, the series will bring cultural icons together for 20 fun and spontaneous half-hour episodes. Celebrity guests include Babyface, Bobby Brown, Tiffany Haddish, Kirk Franklin, Bresha Webb, Luenell, Taye Diggs, and many more. "Celebrity Squares" premieres Tuesday, October 17, at 8 PM ET/PT on VH1. "Celebrity Squares" will bring two contestants together to play Tic-Tac-Toe, banking cash, and prizes along the way. The player with the most money in their bank at the end of the game will move on to the bonus round for a chance to win a $10,000 cash prize. "We're thrilled to announce our partnership with Hartbeat and Jesse Collins Entertainment for this exciting new project," said Tiffany Lea Williams, Executive Vice President, of Unscripted Programming and Development of BET. "This show offers a fresh interpretation of the iconic Hollywood Squares format, with a focus on celebrating black pop culture. With DC Young Fly's laugh-out-loud humor, it promises to deliver a fun and exhilarating viewing experience. We look forward to bringing it to our audience." "DC Young Fly is an extraordinary comedian and we are thrilled to team up with him once again to lead this project," stated Bryan Smiley, Chief Content Officer of Hartbeat. "We look forward to continuing our partnership with BET and Jesse Collins Entertainment as we bring an exciting, fresh spin to this iconic game show format." "It was a pleasure to work with Hartbeat, BET and DC Young Fly again," said Dionne Harmon, President, Jesse Collins Entertainment. "We hope the audience enjoys watching this series as much as we enjoyed making it." Additional celebrity guests include: Affion Crockett, Alesha Renee, Amanda Seales, Amin Joseph, Ashley Darby, B Simone, Big Freedia, Bobby Lytes, Brandee Evans, Brian Jordan Jr., Carl Anthony Payne, Chico Bean, Christian Keyes, Crystal Hayslett, D-Nice, Deon Cole, Desi Banks, Devale Ellis, Earthquake, Eva Marcille, Evelyn Lozada, Flau'Jae Johnson, Funny Marco, Jasmin Brown, Jason Lee, Jess Hilarious, Kamillion, K Michelle, Karlous Miller, Karrueche, Kel Mitchell, Kendra G, Keshia Knight-Pulliam, Kevin Frazier, Kevonstage, KJ Smith, Kym Whitley, Lance Gross, Lil Duval, Lil Fizz, Loni Love, Malcolm Barrett, Mark Tallman, Marlo Hampton, Moniece, Na'im Lynn, Nene Leaks, Niena Drake, Pretty Vee, Princess Love, Ray J, Safaree, Saucy Santana, Skyh Black, Shay Johnson, Sinqua Walls, Spice, Spice Adams, Sukihana, Tamar Braxton, Tami Roman, Terrance J, Tisha Campbell, Tommy Davidson, Yandy Smith-Harris and Zellswag. Based on the "Hollywood Squares" format created by Merrill Heatter & Bob Quigley and owned by Paramount Global, "Celebrity Squares" is Executive Produced by Kevin Hart, Bryan Smiley and Thai Randolph for Hartbeat and Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, Madison Merritt and Elaine Metaxas for Jesse Collins Entertainment. Nile Evans serves as the game show's showrunner. Tiffany Lea Williams, Angela Aguilera, Mimi Blanchard and Raye Dowell serve as executives for BET. DC Young Fly is represented by Innovative Artists and Fox Rothschild. Join the conversation on social media by logging on to multiple VH1 social media platforms by using the hashtag #CelebritySquares. |
posted 9/26/2023 |
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Netflix is weighing a staggered release strategy for Squid Game: The Challenge as it attempts to build a buzz around the ambitious spin-off series. The reality recreation of Korea's blockbuster drama will premiere on November 22, but Netflix — which pioneered binge viewing — is giving serious consideration to holding back some episodes for a later release date. Netflix declined to comment. Netflix has previously deployed the batch release strategy on other reality shows, including Too Hot to Handle and The Circle. Physical: 100, the Korean reality series, was released in batches of two episodes every Tuesday. Based on the hit Korean drama that set Netflix viewership records with its September 2021 release, and then went on to earn 14 Emmy nominations, Squid Game: The Challenge recruits 456 players to compete for $4.56 million by playing games inspired by the original series as well as some new ones (such as Battleship). Thankfully, though, the losing players won't be targeted by snipers and such, as they were in the original Squid Game. "The stakes are high, but in this game, the worst fate is going home empty-handed," the official press release has assured us. When the reality spinoff was first announced, some criticized the concept for trivializing a deadly serious and violent drama that exposed the ugly underbelly of capitalism. But Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk defended the competition series to reporters in last year's Emmys press room, saying, "Even though our show does carry quite a heavy message… when you take things too seriously, that's really not the best way to go for the entertainment industry… I hope that this is going to be a great new direction for the industry overall." |
posted 9/26/2023 |
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A new group of celebrities are gearing up to take on Celebrity Jeopardy! when it returns on Wednesday, September 27, and we now know more famous faces who are taking part, as well as some of the first-round match-ups. The new names joining the line-up include The Office alum Brian Baumgartner, CSI: Miami actor Adam Rodriguez, former NBA star Shane Battier, The Talk co-host Sheryl Underwood, Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Melissa Fumero, sportscaster Peter Schrager, and Nurse Jackie alum Peter Facinelli. They will join the previously announced Christopher Meloni, Lisa Ann Walter, Mark Duplass, Sherri Shepherd, Dulé Hill, Mira Sorvino, Timothy Simons, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Steven Weber, Emily Hampshire, and Katie Nolan. In the first episode, Ghosts' Ambudkar, The Morning Show's Duplass, and Schitt's Creek's Hampshire will go head-to-head to represent their desired charities. The episode is part one of the Quarterfinals, as players compete in rounds until the final three competitors have been determined. |
posted 9/22/2023 |
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Tuesday Lightning Round |
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David McCallum, the Scottish actor who portrayed the enigmatic Russian-born U.S. secret agent Illya Kuryakin on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and the chief medical examiner Donald "Ducky" Mallard on NCIS, died Monday. He was 90. McCallum died of natural causes surrounded by family at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, a spokesperson for CBS announced. McCallum also starred opposite Joanna Lumley for four seasons on the 1979-82 British sci-fi series Sapphire & Steel (she was Sapphire, he was Steel) — a show many see as a precursor to The X-Files — and played a British prisoner of war on the acclaimed 1972-74 BBC drama Colditz. McCallum was married to British actress Jill Ireland from May 1957 until she left him for brawny actor Charles Bronson a decade later. McCallum rebounded quite nicely, though, quickly marrying model Katherine Carpenter in 1967, and his wife of 56 years survives him. The boyishly handsome actor spent all 20 seasons and appeared on more than 450 episodes on NCIS as Ducky, the bowtie-wearing autopsy expert with a psychological degree earned from the University of Edinburgh. Studying for his role on the ratings-grabbing CBS drama about Navy crime fighters, McCallum learned how to perform actual autopsies and attended conventions for medical examiners. He became such an expert in forensics that series creator Donald P. Bellisario considered him knowledgeable enough to serve as a technical adviser on NCIS. "I am known for being somewhat obsessive," the actor said in a 2010 interview with The Scotsman newspaper. Said NCIS executive producers Steven D. Binder and David North said in a statement: "For over 20 years, David McCallum endeared himself to audiences around the world playing the wise, quirky, and sometimes enigmatic, Dr. Donald 'Ducky' Mallard. But as much as his fans may have loved him, those who worked side by side with David loved him that much more. "He was a scholar and a gentleman, always gracious, a consummate professional, and never one to pass up a joke. From day one, it was an honor to work with him, and he never let us down. He was, quite simply, a legend. He was also family and will be deeply missed." Baby Boomers connect with McCallum thanks to his four-season stint as Kuryakin on NBC and MGM Television's The Man From U.N.C.L.E., which aired from 1964-68. He received a pair of Emmy nominations for playing the intellectual, introverted spy. On television, he had a sixth finger on each hand on a memorable 1963 episode of ABC's The Outer Limits; starred as Dr. Daniel Westin, a crime-fighting government agent, on NBC's The Invisible Man, created by Harve Bennett and Steven Bochco; provided the voice of C.A.R. on the Disney Channel's The Replacements; and recurred on CBS' The Education of Max Bickford. In game shows, McCallum was on the panel on "Juke Box Jury", "You Don't Say!", "Oh My Word", and "I'll Bet". McCallum had three sons with Ireland — Paul; Jason, who died from an accidental drug overdose in 1989; and Val, a guitar player who has worked with Jackson Browne, among others — and two children, Peter and Sophie, with Carpenter. Survivors also include grandchildren Julia, Luca, Iain, Stella, Gavin, George, Alessandro and Whit. A celebration of life service will being planned. Donations can be made to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. |
posted 9/25/2023 |
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Jody Kelly, who at 71 in 2010 competed in the 16th season of CBS' The Amazing Race along with her 22-year-old granddaughter Shannon, died Sept. 5 in Bemidji, Minnesota, where she was attending a Spanish language immersion camp. She was 85. A resident of Austin, Texas, her death was reported by the Austin American-Statesman. The paper reported that Kelly died suddenly but peacefully. Josephine "Jody" Kelly was born on January 21, 1938 in Opelika, Alabama, and was raised in Gainesville, Florida, with one year in Wiesbaden, Germany at the end of World War II. After earning a Ph.D. in English Literature from Duke University in 1974, Kelly taught English at the University of Louisiana for sixteen years. She would later teach computer science, work as a technical writer and develop an interest in health-related topics and lifestyles, publishing such books as Feeling Good: Strength Training with Your Significant Elder. She wrote two dozen sports- and health-related articles for Austin Fit Magazine, according to the American-Statesman. After retiring, Kelly continued her interest in health, strength training, and triathlons, and in 2010 participated The Amazing Race. She teamed with her granddaughter Shannon Foster (they made it to the second elimination round). After The Amazing Race, Kelly started the business StrengthMobile, providing physical training for the elderly, and in her 70s became a world-class athlete, competing in triathlon, aquathlon, and duathlon. She represented Team USA at Worlds in Budapest (2010), London (2013), Cozumel (2016), and Pontevedra, Spain (2019). She survived breast cancer in 2018, and then joined Paddles with a Purpose, the breast cancer survivor boat team. Kelly is preceded in death by parents Bruce William Kelly and Faye Lucius Kelly, and is survived by children Kate Leith, Kelly Foster, Christy Izmirian (Doug), and Bruce Moore (Jayne), eleven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and brother Bill and his wife Lynda. |
posted 9/25/2023 |
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SUNDAY: SNF Wins |
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In the latest TV show ratings, Fox's Krapopolis — nearly three-and-a-half years in the making! — debuted on Sunday night to 3.6 million total viewers and a 1.2 demo rating leading out of The OT, marking the top-rated (non-awards) entertainment telecast since Next Level Chef aired out of this year's Super Bowl. A second Krapopolis episode retained 1.9 mil and a 0.6 (per finals). NBC Sunday Night Football averaged 15.3 mil and a 4.3, up 11% in viewers but barely steady in the demo vs. last week's prelims. The CW's The Chosen hit a Season 2 audience high (353K). Over on CBS, a double pump of Yellowstone Season 1 reruns did 5.3 mil/0.4 and then 4.4 mil/0.3, down sharply from last week's pilot. Big Brother (2.7 mil/0.4) dipped to Sunday lows for this cycle. |
posted 9/25/2023 |
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Spain Gets "Finder$ Keeper$" |
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Family entertainment gameshow Finder$ Keeper$ is well on its way to becoming an international brand. Following the highly successful first season on VTM in Belgium earlier this year, the commission in Germany for RTL2 and the French Belgian version on air on RTL TVI, the format has now been commissioned by ETB in Spain and will launch this week. The initial Spanish season is produced by Mediapro company K2000, under the partnership between The Mediapro Studio and international distributor Be-Entertainment. In its home territory Belgium, a second season has been greenlit by the channel. The fun entertainment show sees a family turn their house upside down in the search of 100,000 euros in cash ($105,000), creatively hidden inside the home. How far will the family go in messing up their own home to discover all those crazy hiding places? Finder$ Keeper$ has already been commissioned in four territories since the format was introduced at MIPCOM last October, while production rights have been picked up across Europe as well as in the UK and the US. Finder$ Keeper$ is based on an idea from the award-winning Belgian format collective, Send in the Clowns, and produced by PIT. |
posted 9/25/2023 |
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"Big Brother" Returns to UK |
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The British version of the iconic reality TV series "Big Brother," which first launched 23 years ago, is set to return to ITV screens on Oct. 8. The show is hosted by AJ Odudu and Will Best and produced by Initial, part of Banijay U.K. "Big Brother: The Launch" will air on ITV1, ITV2 and streamer ITVX, while the remainder of the series will be available nightly at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX, except Saturdays. "Big Brother" will be followed each night by "Big Brother: Late & Live," hosted live by Odudu and Best from the site of the Big Brother house in front of a studio audience, where evictees will be interviewed. Following this, "Big Brother: Live Stream" will stream live footage seven nights a week on ITVX. The Banijay format is popular globally with some 500 seasons of the show having aired around the world in 64 countries and regions. In the U.K., "Big Brother" first aired on Channel 4 and ran for 11 seasons, plus seven seasons of "Celebrity Big Brother" and a final special edition season titled "Ultimate Big Brother." The show subsequently aired for a further eight seasons on Channel 5, with an additional 15 celebrity seasons, before going on hiatus in 2018. |
posted 9/25/2023 |
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Monday Lightning Round |
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Vanna White isn't ready to hang up her ballgowns just yet. Ryan Seacrest is happy to have Vanna White turning letters for him and showing him the ropes when he takes over at Wheel of Fortune. "This is such great news," Seacrest, 48, told Willie Geist in the "Sunday Sitdown" segment of his Sunday Today with Willie Geist. "Vanna has been such a staple on that show and in our living rooms for so many years. I have been very excited to work with her, but now that it's official I can say, 'Congratulations Vanna! I can't wait.' " Pat and Vanna made their debut on the nightly version of the syndicated show together on this day in 1983. And while Pat has rarely missed a taping during his tenure, Vanna has filled in for him on occasion. Once in 1996, she stepped in to host the bonus round when Pat's laryngitis prevented him from doing so, and again in November 2019 when the 76-year-old stepped back from his hosting duties to recover from emergency intestinal surgery. |
posted 9/22/2023 |
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Idiot Sandwich |
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One of Gordon Ramsay's most infamous insults is about to become its own TV series. The celebrity chef soon will start shooting Idiot Sandwich, a reality cooking contest inspired by Ramsay's appearance in a 2015 sketch on The Late Late Show With James Corden. As you might imagine, the new venture is "an amazing competition about who is an idiot sandwich," Ramsay told People, which first reported the news. He recalled how he, Corden and Big Brother host Julie Chen Moonves were "playing around" years ago on the late-night talk show while taping "Hell's Cafeteria," a skit based on Ramsay's popular culinary show Hell's Kitchen. "All of a sudden, we got these two slices of bread and, 'What are you?' 'Idiot.' 'Idiot what?'" he said. "'Idiot sandwich.' And so then, it just grew." Corden described the show as "a bit like the Hot Ones, but for idiot sandwich, where the winner will be crowned an idiot sandwich." (There's also a cash prize.) The series will start shooting in November in Las Vegas. |
posted 9/22/2023 |
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Happy Friday Lightning Round |
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Speaking of "Dancing"... |
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Dancing with the Stars is making sure late judge Len Goodman is forever remembered on the show in a very special way by renaming the Mirrorball trophy. "The Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy will now be lifted on Dancing with the Stars like the Vince Lombardi trophy is lifted at the Super Bowl," executive producer Conrad Green told USA Today on Wednesday. Green continued, "We wanted to make Len a permanent part of this show, to always remind people the importance he's had to Dancing with the Stars and how much he meant to all of us." "Len loves this show and will always be there, looking down on us," the executive producer added. Goodman died from bone cancer while in hospice care in Kent, England on April 22. He was 78. |
posted 9/21/2023 |
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More on "The Traitors" Season 2 |
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Peacock's hit competition-reality series The Traitors, produced by Studio Lambert, returns early next year with an all-new lineup of familiar faces, hosted by the deliciously witty Alan Cumming and his dog Lala, who is being introduced as his trusty sidekick. All 21 contestants participating in Season 2 are entertainment's most competitive reality stars and famous faces. The contestants are: The Traitors is produced by Studio Lambert with Stephen Lambert, Mike Cotton, Toni Ireland, Jack Burgess, Tim Harcourt, and Sam Rees Jones serving as executive producers. Olly Jenkin will serve as Production Executive while Gemma Scholes and Ellie Tyndall are Line Producers. |
posted 9/21/2023 |
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AGT Drafts for Fantasy League |
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Based on the popularity of "AGT: All-Stars" and "AGT: The Champions," NBC puts a fresh spin on the hit "America's Got Talent" franchise with new iteration "AGT: Fantasy League," premiering in 2024. Singer and songwriter Mel B returns to the "AGT" judges' desk alongside executive producer Simon Cowell, global fashion icon Heidi Klum and renowned comedian Howie Mandel. The dynamic Terry Crews returns as host. In "AGT: Fantasy League," similar to a fantasy sports draft, the judges will each choose a roster of their favorite acts picking from winners, finalists, viral sensations and fan favorites from "America's Got Talent" and "Got Talent" franchises around the world, all pre-selected by America in an initial vote. For the first time in show history, the judges will be competing alongside the contestants and will mentor and guide the acts throughout the competition with the hopes of earning bragging rights and seeing an act from their team crowned the champion of "AGT: Fantasy League." Following the "AGT" finale on Wednesday, Sept. 27, fans can suggest acts they want to see compete on "AGT: Fantasy League" by heading to the "AGT" app and nominating their favorite picks from more than 60 acts. A total of 40 remarkable acts will move forward to the "AGT" draft pool as the judges carefully make their selections and fill their fantasy teams with 10 showstopping acts compiled from singers, dancers, ventriloquists, comedians, aerialists, magicians and more. The Golden Buzzer will be back sending acts straight to the finals, but with a twist, as each judge can use their coveted Golden Buzzer for their own act or to steal an act from another judges' team. The audience will vote each week to determine which acts will advance to the finals and which judge will earn bragging rights as their act is crowned the "AGT: Fantasy League" champion. To be a part of the studio audience, fans can visit https://on-camera-audiences.com/shows/Americas_Got_Talent_Fantasy_League for free tickets. "America's Got Talent" is on pace to be the most-watched summer broadcast alternative series for 18 consecutive years. "AGT" recently surpassed 26 million subscribers on YouTube and this year has garnered over 3.8 billion video views to date. (including "AGT: All-Stars" and "AGT" Season 18 - PER SCR SOURCE) |
posted 9/21/2023 |
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Thursday Lightning Round |
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MORE NEWS GSNN 30-Day News Archive GSNN 3-Month News Archive |
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posted 9/27/2023
| Friday | |
Family Feud Funny You Should Ask The Great British Baking Show Jeopardy! Love Is Blind Person, Place or Thing Pictionary TMZ's Who the Bleep Is That? 25 Words or Less Wheel of Fortune |
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| 10a 3p |
Let's Make a Deal |
| 11a | The Price Is Right |
| 7p | Switch |
| 8p | Shark Tank |
| Saturday | |
| 8p | Great Chocolate Showdown |
| Sunday | |
| 7p | America's Funniest Home Videos |
| 9p | Halloween Wars |
| 10p | Big Brother Outrageous Pumpkins |
*times approximate after football
All times and editors eastern
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