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ATAS
2026 Emmys: And the Nominees Are...
New Faces, Familiar Spaces Dominate the List
From various sources
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TV’s Big Morning is here. The Television Academy on Wednesday revealed nominations for its 78th annual Primetime Emmy Awards.
Overall, last year’s Drama Series champ The Pitt leads all nominees this morning with 25, followed by the final season of Hacks on the comedy side with 24 — a record for nominations in a single season for a comedy.
Dancing with the Stars waltzed off with its first Emmy nomination in a decade. The ABC series landed a nomination in the Outstanding Reality Competition Program category and will take on CBS’ Survivor, Bravo’s Top Chef, Peacock’s The Traitors and MTV’s RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Ariana Madix scored her first Emmy nomination for hosting Peacock‘s Love Island USA. It was revealed Wednesday morning that she was nominated for best host for a reality or reality competition program. Other nominees in the stacked reality host category included RuPaul Charles for RuPaul’s Drag Race, Alan Cumming for The Traitors, Kristen Kish for Top Chef and Jeff Probst for Survivor. Madix rose to fame with her role on Bravo‘s reality series Vanderpump Rules, where she starred for 11 seasons, and later reached the mainstream in 2023 due to the infamous “Scandoval” season that ultimately brought about the end of Madix’s era of Vanderpump Rules. The series rebooted with a new cast two seasons after the scandal broke.
After years of growing popularity among audiences and critics alike, Dropout — the indie streamer formerly known as CollegeHumor — has still yet to earn its first Emmy nod. Despite its outsider status, Dropout has been here the whole time. The indie streamer submitted in 11 Emmy categories this year — its most concerted awards push yet — putting forward two flagship series: the comedy panel game show “Game Changer” and the improvisational interview series “Very Important People.”
Winners of the 2026 Emmy Awards will be feted on Monday, September 14 — shifting from the usual Sunday slot because of an NFL game on NBC. The ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles will be hosted by network icon Mariska Hargitay, who begins her 28th season as star of Law & Order: SVU in the fall.
AND THE NOMINEES ARE...
OUTSTANDING REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM
- Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
- RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)
- Survivor (CBS)
- Top Chef (Bravo)
- The Traitors (Peacock)
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW
- Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)
- Jeopardy! (ABC/Syndicated)
- The Price Is Right (CBS)
- Wheel of Fortune (ABC/Syndicated)
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (ABC)
OUTSTANDING HOST FOR A REALITY OR REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM
- RuPaul Charles - RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)
- Alan Cumming - The Traitors (Peacock)
- Kristen Kish - Top Chef (Bravo)
- Ariana Madix - Love Island USA (Peacock)
- Jeff Probst - Survivor (CBS)
OUTSTANDING HOST FOR A GAME SHOW
- Steve Harvey - Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)
- Ken Jennings - Jeopardy! (ABC)
- Colin Jost - Pop Culture Jeopardy! (Netflix)
- Jimmy Kimmel - Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (ABC)
- Martin Short - Match Game (ABC)
Outstanding Production Design for a Variety or Reality Series
- Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
- RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)
- Saturday Night Live (NBC)
- The Traitors (Peacock)
Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program
- The Amazing Race (CBS)
- Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
- RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)
- Survivor (CBS)
- Top Chef (Bravo)
Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming
- The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny (NBC)
- 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (CBS)
- The Oscars (ABC)
- RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)
- Wicked: One Wonderful Night (NBC)
Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program
- The Amazing Race (CBS)
- Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
- Survivor (CBS)
- The Traitors (CBS)
- Welcome to Wrexham (FX/Hulu)
Outstanding Directing for a Reality Program
- The Amazing Race (CBS)
- Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
- RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)
- Top Chef (Bravo)
- The Traitors (Peacock)
Outstanding Picture Editing for a Structured Reality or Competition Program
- The Amazing Race (CBS)
- RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)
- Survivor (CBS)
- The Traitors (Peacock)
- The Voice (NBC)
Outstanding Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program
- America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Netflix)
- Deadliest Catch (Discovery)
- Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
- RuPaul's Drag Race Untucked (MTV)
- Welcome to Wrexham (FX/Hulu)
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program
- The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny (NBC)
- Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
- RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)
- Saturday Night Live (NBC)
- Wicked: One Wonderful Night (NBC)
Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Series
- Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
- Saturday Night Live (NBC)
- The Voice (NBC)
Outstanding Makeup for a Variety, Nonfiction or REality Program
- Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
- The Oscars (ABC)
- Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Outstanding Structured Reality Program
- Antiques Roadshow (PBS)
- Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food)
- Love Is Blind (Netflix)
- Queer Eye (Netflix)
- Shark Tank (ABC)
Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program
- America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Netflix)
- Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
- RuPaul's Drag Race Untucked (MTV)
- Summer House (Bravo)
- Welcome to Wrexham (FX/Hulu)
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Reality Program
- The Amazing Race (CBS)
- Deadliest Catch (Discovery)
- RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)
- The Voice (NBC)
- Welcome to Wrexham (FX/Hulu)
Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork for a Series
- The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
- Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
- Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Nominations by program...
- RuPaul's Drag Race - 9
- The Traitors - 6
- The Amazing Race - 5
- Dancing with the Stars - 5
- Survivor - 5
- Top Chef - 4
- The Voice - 3
- Celebrity Family Feud - 2
- Jeopardy! - 2
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire - 2
- Love Is Blind - 1
- Match Game - 1
- Pop Culture Jeopardy! - 1
- The Price Is Right - 1
- Shark Tank - 1
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Page Six |
posted 7/8/2026 |
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Paramount/Netflix/Warner Bros. Discovery
WBD/Paramount Will Not Close Before July 22
Paramount to Concede to Gain EU Approval
From Variety
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Paramount has agreed to not close its pending $110 billion merger before July 22.
The updated timeline comes as Oregon AG Dan Rayfield is seeking a court order that would delay the deal from closing for 60 days while the state reviews the David Ellison-led media giant’s records. In a statement, Rayfield’s office claimed that Paramount had previously agreed that it would not close the deal before July 16, but didn’t commit to hold off any longer after that.
“We’re not going to let Paramount Skydance play hide the ball so they can rush through their massive merger,” Rayfield said. “Oregonians have a real stake in this deal – in our film industry, in our economy, in the choices they’ll have as consumers. Paramount had every opportunity to hand over records and answer a few basic questions. Instead, it is trying to run out the clock and evade scrutiny. We’re asking the court to make sure Oregonians get the answers they’re owed before this deal closes, not after.”
ODOJ presented its motion in person in Multnomah County Court on Wednesday afternoon. The state’s request asks the court to require Paramount to fully comply within three days of an order and to bar the company from closing the WBD deal for 60 days from the date it substantially complies.
A hearing on the matter has been scheduled for next Monday at 10 a.m.
Paramount has offered concessions in a bid to smooth over European Commission concerns about its $111 billion deal for Warner Bros Discovery.
The European Commission on Wednesday confirmed a filing in which Paramount made its pledges, which the Ellison-family owned company believes will lead to approval and remove one of the final hurdles in the way of the mega-merger.
Furthermore, a “new provisional deadline” a decision has been set for July 22, extended from the previous July 7.
The EC doesn’t outline the specifics of such pledges, per its policies.
Last week, reports emerged that Paramount believed exiting the United International Pictures pact would be enough to gain favor from the European Commission, with theater operators concerned over the resulting concentration of power.
Paramount didn’t specify its concessions today but said in a statement it was “confident that this remedy directly and comprehensively addresses any concerns expressed in the European Commission’s preliminary assessment and support the path for timely clearance.”
The British government has signalled that it is likely to intervene in Paramount Skydance’s proposed $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discover, citing concerns about maintaining media plurality.
Lisa Nandy, the U.K.’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said in a written statement to Parliament on Tuesday, “Following engagement with the parties and independent research, my department has today written to the current and proposed owners of Warner Bros. Discovery on my behalf to inform them that I am minded to intervene.”
It will decide whether to refer the merger to a Phase 2 investigation by Aug. 7. The move comes after the CMA launched a public comment period for interested parties to express their views on the impact the merger could have on competition in the UK, which concluded on April 27.
Under a Phase 1 review, the CMA would have 40 working days to decide whether the merger needs a more in-depth review. If it finds concerns with the merger, it will give the merging businesses five days to propose remedies to address its concerns.
The CMA would then have up to 5 more working days to consider the remedies. If none are offered or it does not accept them, the merger would be referred to a Phase 2 review. If if decides to accept remedies provisionally, it would publicly consult on them and consider any responses, with a deadline of 50 working days to make a decision.
If the review moves to Phase 2, an independent “inquiry group,” which consists of 3 to 5 people with a range of business, finance, economic and legal experience, would lead the investigation and makes the final decision within 24 weeks. In special circumstances, a Phase 2 investigation can be extended by up to eight additional weeks.
The inquiry group would then either clear the merger, consider remedies such as asset divestitures or a legal commitment from the merging businesses to behave in a certain way, or block the merger.
In addition, Paramount has slammed rival Netflix in a letter to the Department of Justice for campaigning against the Warner Bros. Discovery merger amid regulatory review of the deal with the David Ellison company.
“As Paramount pushes forward with its ‘content-first’ growth strategy, firms like Netflix, Amazon MGM, Disney, Universal, Sony, Lionsgate, A24, Apple, and many others will need to respond in kind, presumably by enhancing their own content creation strategies. (Indeed, Netflix’s panic level response and scorched-earth campaign to try and poison regulators and other stakeholders against the Transaction shows just how seriously Netflix takes Paramount as a scaled competitor.),” Makan Delrahim, Par’s Chief Legal Officer, wrote in a letter to the DOJ’s Antitrust Division.
The letter didn’t detail specific actions by Netflix or others. In a statement to Deadline, a Netflix spokesperson disputed the characterization. “These claims from Paramount Skydance are absurd. We walked away from this deal months ago and remain focused on our own business, not theirs. Ultimately, it’s up to the regulators to approve this deal and determine if it is in the best interest of the industry and all concerned,” the streamer said.
Paramount said today that competition authorities in Australia and New Zealand, as well as Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Serbia and North Macedonia have approved its pending merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. Foreign direct investment authorities in Germany, Slovenia, Belgium, Czechia, New Zealand, Italy, France and Romania are also on board, the David Ellison-run company said in an SEC filing..
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posted 7/8/2026 |
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Will "Bake Off" Head Back to the BBC?
Talks in Place for C4 Hit
From Deadline |
Could The Great British Bake Off once again rise at the BBC? That’s a possibility after BBC director general Matt Brittin revealed that the UK broadcaster is in talks with Channel 4 to host its content on iPlayer.
Giving evidence to UK Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Wednesday, Brittin said that the BBC has had an approach from Channel 4 about a streaming partnership. The former Google executive said striking a deal would be in Channel 4’s interests because the commercial broadcaster “looks very subscale” in a world in which Sky and ITV are merging.
“All of these mergers are driven by the need to have scale. Channel 4 looks very subscale. One opportunity for them would be, in partnership with the BBC, having content on iPlayer that continues to be ad-funded,” Brittin explained. “There are an array of commercial, audience, public service, and technical issues, but what we’ll do is explore that as quickly as we are able, because I think that’s something that’s going to be important for public service media.”
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posted 7/8/2026 |
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Optum Golf Channel Games to Return
Catch It on December 16!
From the Futon Critic |
Golf Channel has announced that the Optum Golf Channel Games - the innovative, rapid-fire golf competition featuring Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler that debuted in December 2025 - will return to Golf Channel and USA Network live in primetime Wednesday, December 16, and be staged under the lights in Jupiter, Fla.
Scheffler and McIlroy - the No. 1 and No. 2 men's players in the world - will return as playing team captains at the 2026 Optum Golf Channel Games, following Team Scheffler's narrow victory over Team McIlroy last year. Optum will return as the title sponsor for the 2026 Golf Channel Games.
"The maiden voyage of the Optum Golf Channel Games showed that the best players in the world love to compete - period," said Tom Knapp, Golf Channel EVP and GM. "Adding the stressful element of 'shot-making' under the pressure of a running clock produced an amazing amount of energy both on the golf course and within the telecast. That's what we were after. We're excited to be back in 2026 and we want to thank our friends at Optum for partnering with us once again."
"We're thrilled to continue supporting the Optum Golf Channel Games alongside the PGA TOUR and Rory McIlroy, an Optum Health ambassador," said Optum CEO Dr. Patrick Conway. "At Optum, we're focused on building a health system that helps people live healthier lives by connecting care, experiences and well-being across physical, mental and social needs. Golf is a powerful example of that - bringing people together, supporting lifelong wellness and making health more accessible and engaging for everyone."
The Optum Golf Channel Games debuted to critical acclaim in 2025 as McIlroy and Scheffler led two four-man teams in timed and strategy focused challenges under the pressure of the clock and the primetime lights, including events such as the 14-Club Challenge and the Team Relay.
For the second consecutive year, the Optum Golf Channel Games will also be simulcast live in primetime on USA Network. More details regarding the 2026 Optum Golf Channel Games - including full list of team competitors and challenges - will be announced later this year.
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posted 7/8/2026 |
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EndemolShine North America/CBS
Big Brother Promises "Biggest Season Ever"
Let's Meet the Houseguests!
From the Futon Critic
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What do a game show host, a rocket scientist, an MMA fighter, a RuPaul's Drag Race All-Star, two Survivors, and an American Idol hopeful & daughter of an 80s pop star have in common? They're all... in the House.
BIG BROTHER announced today on its YouTube channel's "Broveal" the 14 Houseguests set to move into the house during the 90-minute premiere Thursday, July 9 (8:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT), on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Additional surprise Houseguests will be revealed on air.
This season's cast includes an MMA fighter, rocket scientist, game show host, daughter of an '80s pop star, and a DRAG RACE All Star, among others. This new group of Houseguests is stepping into a summer where nothing is as it seems, where every twist rewrites the rules, and where time becomes the ultimate twist.
Viewers can catch every unfiltered moment with BIG BROTHER Live Feeds when they open Friday, July 10 at 9:00 PM, ET/6:00 PM, PT on Paramount+* and Pluto TV and, for the first time, available on the show's official YouTube channel for a limited time after every BIG BROTHER and BIG BROTHER: UNLOCKED episode.
The following are the 14 Houseguests competing this summer:
- Ashley Trail (24; Alton, IL/Chicago; bartender)
- Barrett Pfeiffer (27; Benton, AR; Austin; jumbotron engineer)
- Chuk Anyanwu (27; Dallas; supply chain analyst)
- Drew Campbell (22; Temecula, CA; surgical dental assistant)
- Haley Thogmartin (29; Neosho, MO/Wildwood, MO; telemedicine executive)
- Jason De Puy (35; San Francisco/West Hollywood, CA; drag queen "Salina EsTitties")
- Kamuela "Kamu" Kirk (32; Phoenix; MMA fighter)
- LaTrice Verrett (57; Kankakee, IL/Maplewood, NJ; boutique salesperson)
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Lyric Medeiros (25; Honolulu, HI; attorney - her father is singer Glenn Medeiros)
- Mallory Aurichio (24; Washington Township, Bergen County, NJ; rocket scientist)
- Melody Morris (24; Thornton, CO/Maricopa, AZ; corporate game show host)
- Rome Seymour (28; Traverse City, MI; Delray Beach, FL; pickleball coach)
- Taylor Brown (27; Deerfield Beach, FL; elementary school counselor)
- Yash Patel (24; Monroe Township, NJ; financial analyst)
"Survivor 50" coin-flipper Rick Devens is also entering the "Big Brother" house, EW reports. And Devens is not the only former "Survivor" castaway that will be competing this summer. The outlet confirms that a second former castaway will also be vying for the grand prize, but the identity of that second person remains under wraps.
In addition, the charcuterie-loving Angela Murray from "BB26" is returning for her second shot at the $750K, reports Men's Journal. The Utah-based real estate agent finished in sixth place two summers ago, becoming one of the season's biggest and most polarizing personalities.
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posted 7/8/2026 |
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Wednesday Lightning Round
... or "Second Try" |
- Ben Higgins, Jessica Clarke expecting second child (Reality TV World)
- Frankie Grande, whose sister got hit in the face with a hockey puck, gets hit in the face with a prop from Titanique (TV Insider)
- BTS: How 25 Words or Less went live this summer (TV Tech)
- DDG, who is allegedly a rapper, has some thoughts about men watching Love Island and ... seriously dude? (Reality Tea)
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posted 7/8/2023 |
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Sony Pictures TV/Amazon MGM Studios/ABC
Guest Sharks Lined Up for Season 18
MrBeast, Mindy Kaling, JJ Watt to Sit on the Panel
From the Futon Critic
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"Shark Tank" features the Sharks - tough, self-made, multimillionaire and billionaire tycoons - as they invest in America's best businesses and products.
This season's all-star lineup of guest Sharks includes:
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Jimmy Donaldson (aka MrBeast), creator of the YouTube channel MrBeast and founder of Beast Industries, and Jeffrey Housenbold, chief executive officer of Beast Industries
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Mindy Kaling, award-winning writer, producer, director, actor and author
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J.J. Watt, founder of the Justin J. Watt Foundation and former NFL defensive lineman
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Erin Foster and Sara Foster, co-founders of Favorite Daughter, producers and entrepreneurs
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Steven Bartlett, entrepreneur, investor, Dragon on "Dragons' Den" (the U.K. version of "Shark Tank") and host of "The Diary of a CEO," the second-largest podcast in the world
Additionally, Kendra Scott and Rashaun Williams have been elevated to permanent Sharks, joining Barbara Corcoran, Robert Herjavec, Lori Greiner, Daymond John, Daniel Lubetzky and Kevin O'Leary. · Season 18 of "Shark Tank" will air Wednesdays this fall on ABC and stream on Hulu. The premiere date will be announced at a later date.
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posted 7/7/2026 |
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This Is Not a Repeat from 2014
Netflix to Launch "Let's Marry Harry"
From the Futon Critic |
Harry Jowsey is ready to find a lasting love connection.
After appearing on Netflix’s Too Hot to Handle and Perfect Match in 2021 and 2024, respectively, the podcaster, 29, is now set to headline his own reality dating series on the streaming service.
Let’s Marry Harry is set to premiere next month and will follow Jowsey as he puts “his situationship era” behind him and searches for true love among 20 potential suitors.
As Netflix admitted, the unscripted series is The Bachelor meets Too Hot to Handle. Instead of using just his own judgment, however, Jowsey will rely on the opinions of his close friends — Amanda Kloots (Dancing With the Stars), Georgia Hassarati (Too Hot to Handle), and abstract artist Sonny Henty — to sway his romantic decisions.
The show’s official synopsis reads, “After years of dating in the spotlight — and getting it wrong — his closest confidants are stepping in to make the tough calls. From a carefully selected pool of potential matches, they’ll decide who stays and who goes, guiding Harry toward what he truly wants: authentic love and marriage.”
Let’s Marry Harry will release eight episodes this summer — the first seven on Aug. 5, and the finale on Aug. 12. Each installment is an hour long.
The show is produced by Unwell, with executive producers Alex Cooper, Matt Kaplan, Mina Lefevre, and showrunner David Friedman. Cooper, of Call Her Daddy fame, also produced the recent Hulu series Love Overboard.
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posted 7/7/2026 |
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This Is Not a Repeat from 2009
Ian Ziering to Host "Great American Road Rally" for CW
From the Futon Critic |
The Great American Road Rally(TM), an all-new celebrity-driven television event hosted by Ian Ziering, will premiere this fall on The CW, airing Wednesdays at 9:00 PM ET/PT from September 2 through November 25, 2026.
Premiering during the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Route 66 and the 250th Anniversary of the United States, the series takes audiences on a high-energy journey across America's most iconic highway, combining adventure, competition, entertainment, community celebration, and philanthropy.
Produced by 7 Bridges Media Group (7BMG), The Great American Road Rally(TM) features celebrity participants from television, music, sports, comedy, and popular culture as they travel historic Route 66, visit legendary destinations, tackle unique challenges, share personal stories, and spotlight charitable organizations making a meaningful impact in communities across America.
At its core, the series is built around a simple idea: transforming competition into contribution.
Throughout the season, celebrity teams will represent and support ten charitable organizations serving families, children, veterans, first responders, community programs, and individuals in need. While the weekly road-trip adventures and celebrity challenges provide the entertainment, the larger mission is to elevate the organizations and people working every day to strengthen communities across the country.
Hosted by Ian Ziering, the series brings together recognizable personalities from television, music, sports, comedy, and popular culture whose careers span generations of American entertainment.
"The Great American Road Rally(TM) was created to celebrate the American spirit, the open road, the legacy of Route 66, and the power of entertainment to bring people together for something meaningful," says Ziering. "It's so much more than a road-trip series, it is a national celebration of community, generosity, American culture, and the charitable spirit that connects us all."
Each week, audiences will meet new celebrity participants, discover remarkable charitable organizations, and experience fresh challenges, destinations, and unforgettable moments, giving viewers new reasons to tune in throughout the entire season.
Unlike traditional competition programs, The Great American Road Rally(TM) is designed so that every cause benefits.
Viewers will also be invited to participate through community events, charitable initiatives, social engagement, public appearances, audience participation opportunities, and special announcements tied to the journey. Fans can follow the Rally from the earliest stages of production through the season finale with celebrity reveals, charity spotlights, behind-the-scenes content, filming updates, and community engagement opportunities released before and throughout the broadcast season.
Filming begins in August 2026, with production traveling from the Midwest to the Pacific Coast along historic Route 66 before culminating in a special season finale event during Thanksgiving week.
As America prepares to celebrate two historic milestones, the Route 66 Centennial and the nation's 250th Anniversary - The Great American Road Rally(TM) aims to deliver a shared national television experience rooted in adventure, nostalgia, entertainment, generosity, and the enduring spirit of the open road.
Additional celebrity participants, charitable partners, production updates, community events, sponsorship opportunities, and public engagement initiatives will be announced throughout the summer as the Rally begins its journey toward its September premiere.
For production updates, filming locations, celebrity announcements, charitable initiatives, sponsorship opportunities, and public participation information, visit: www.americanroadrally.com
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posted 7/7/2026 |
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LOUISE LASSER: 1939-2026
"Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" Actress Played Games
From Deadline |
Louise Lasser, whose pig-tailed braids, bangs and baby-doll gingham dresses took the nation by storm when they became her trademark look on Norman Lear‘s Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman in the 1970s, died Monday at her home in Manhattan. She was 87.
Her death was reported by her friend Susan Charlotte to The New York Times.
Initially making her name in early Woody Allen films — the two married in 1966 and divorced four years later — Lasser employed a droll, deadpan comic delivery to great effect not only in Allen’s Take the Money and Run, Bananas and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask) but in buzzy commercials for Comet, Excedrin and NyQuil (in the latter, she played a helpful wife to a sick and grateful husband: “I’m lucky to have you, Mildred,” the stuffed-up man says, to which Lasser’s benevolent and placid Mildred replies, “I know.”)
Early in her career she even briefly appeared on Broadway in 1962 as Barbra Streisand’s replacement in the musical I Can Get It for You Wholesale. But it wasn’t until January 1976 that Lasser shot to international stardom as the title character in Lear’s wildly offbeat soap opera parody Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.
As envisioned by Lear, Hartman was not only a soap parody but an actual soap, televised in syndication five days a week in half-hour installments. It aired in some markets during traditional daytime soap time slots and in others at 11 p.m. Both time periods were telling: The deadpan comedy and satirical bent was fitting in the post-primetime slots, while the faux melodrama of a working-class family in small-town Ohio (the fictional Fernwood) made for a clever addition to the afternoon sturm und drang that filled network hours.
While Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman lasted only until July 1977, the daily schedule meant that the cast churned out 325 episodes, a wearying tally especially for Lasser, who was the series’ constant throughout all the various storylines. In a season-ending episode that seemed all too real, her character suffered a nervous breakdown on national television, a heartbreaking scene that Lasser seemed to play all too well.
In game shows, Lasser appeared on episodes of Talent Scouts and Showoffs.
Following her breakout success on Hartman, Lasser continued working but never in anything nearly as high-profile as her signature role. In 1980 she made the first of three appearances in the hit comedy Taxi as Phyllis, the ex-wife of Judd Hirsch’s Alex Reiger, and that same year had an uncredited cameo in Allen’s Stardust Memories. Subsequent credits included Todd Solondz’s Happiness (1998) and Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream (2000) as well as TV shows including St. Elsewhere and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
A noted New York acting teacher, Lasser more recently was featured in three episodes of Lena Dunham’s HBO comedy Girls, playing, appropriately enough, a mostly forgotten artist who was newly revered by a younger generation.
Lasser is survived by her longtime partner, Michael Citriniti.
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posted 7/7/2026 |
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Tuesday Lightning Round
... or "This Is Your Job Opening" |
- Jeopardy! is looking for a clue-writer. Six figure salary offered! (New York Post)
- Peter Weber slams former "Bachelor" producer on detailing their situationship in a new tell-all (Reality TV World)
- Nick Viall, Natalie Joy welcome twins! (People)
- Love Island's Gabriel Garland speaks now about the stabbing case that cost him his place (Deadline)
- Katie Thurston is no tortured poet, turning "pain into purpose" (Reality TV World)
- Tiffany Ervin returns home and has a reputation for being used to not eating (People)
- A FEW GOOD MINUTES with Hannah Brown (Reality TV World)
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posted 7/6/2023 |
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Reuters
Sky to Acquire ITV's Broadcast/Streaming Assets
Comcast to Own Combined Company
From Deadline
|
Sky has finally sealed a £1.6 billion ($2.1 billion) deal to acquire ITV‘s television network operations.
ITV confirmed to shareholders on Monday morning that it will sell to its pay-TV rival, meaning a crown jewel of British broadcasting becomes part of the NBCUniversal entertainment empire.
As part of the deal, Reuters confirmed previous reporting that The Great British Bake Off producer Love Productions will be sold to ITV Studios.
The deal is for ITV’s Media & Entertainment arm, not its Studios production and distribution division, and it first emerged late last year.
In May, ITV followed up by saying it remained in “active discussions” with Sky. Reuters said it is now being finalized by lawyers and an announcement could be made in the next couple of weeks.
ITV Studios, which makes the likes of Love Island and Squid Game: The Challenge, will remain separate and will add Love Productions to its stable, a huge boon given the Great British Bake Off IP. Sky, a division of Comcast, bought 70% of Love in 2014 and the remainder in 2020. Founder Richard McKerrow exited last year.
ITV CEO Carolyn McCall was quick to speak up its indie production prospects and global scale on a call with analysts and journalists today amid persistent rumors over its future. With rivals such as Banijay and All3Media merging and the tech and streaming giants getting larger, market chatter has persisted that ITV Studios would need to merge with a rival such as Fremantle or could become another takeover target to gain scale.
“We are confident that ITV Studios will continue to succeed,” McCall said. “It has been a real success story in the past eight years. It has grown about 45% and it has the best shows in every genre.”
Chris Kennedy, ITV’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Finance Officer, added: “ITV Studios already has the scale to compete in the global market. It is one of the largest independent producers in the world, and more than half the revenue comes from outside the UK.”
He pointed to “a very successful strategy of bolt-on acquisitions” and claimed the company would have “sufficient cash to continue” in that vein. “We don’t see the need for a transformational acquisition of anything like this scale,” he added.
Deadline
The Wrap
Variety
Broadcast
Realscreen
Deadline
Variety
Deadline
Deadline
Deadline
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posted 7/6/2026 |
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"Naked and Afraid" Gets Shipwrecked
Catch It on Discovery August 2
From TV Zone |
In a high-stakes twist on the franchise, 12 Naked and Afraid all-stars are dropped into open water in the dark of night, finding themselves unexpectedly abandoned and fighting to survive in the all-new series NAKED AND AFRAID: SHIPWRECKED, premiering Sunday, August 2 at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery Channel.
Under the impression that they are entering a standard 35-day group challenge at dawn, the survivalists instead begin their insertion adrift at sea overnight. With emergency flares shooting overhead, the survivalists must grab whatever limited resources they can before making their way ashore.
Divided into four groups of three, the survivalists are stranded on a mysterious and isolated island on the lost coast of the Philippines, often described as the "Bermuda Triangle of Southeast Asia," due to its history of past shipwrecks and unexplained disappearances. The terrain offers both opportunities and risk, with a dense, resource-rich jungle that contains the remnants of those who came before. Teams work together to build shelters and tools from the wreckage, including a 300-foot primitive water aqueduct. In the surrounding seas, survivalists must contend with tiger and hammerhead sharks, stingrays, sea snakes and box jellyfish whose venom contains one of the ocean's most lethal toxins.
Far removed from civilization and with no food, no fresh water and no clothing, the survivalists must adapt quickly, relying not only on their individual skills but also on their ability to innovate and salvage whatever they can from the environment. With each team receiving only one piece of the challenge map, they must track down the others and combine pieces to rescue themselves from the island on Day 35.
The battle-tested survivalists that will be lost at sea include:
· Adam Kavanaugh - 61 Days Survived
· Ally Frueh - 21 Days Survived
· Ana Lis Pitter - 21 Days Survived
· Dani Beauchemin - 114 Days Survived
· Darrin Reay - 115 Days Survived
· Jamie Frizzell - 55 Days Survived
· Jarrell Banks - 21 Days Survived
· Jonny Yates - 21 Days Survived
· Malu Beyonce - 17 Days Survived
· Mandy Bublitz - 35 Days Survived
· Patrick French - 110 Days Survived
· Shawn Bretschneider - 21 Days Survived
In addition to watching NAKED AND AFRAID: SHIPWRECKED on Discovery Channel, viewers can join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #NakedAndAfraid and following Naked and Afraid on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
NAKED AND AFRAID: SHIPWRECKED is produced for Discovery Channel by Lionsgate Alternative Television.
The Futon Critic
TV Insider
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posted 7/6/2026 |
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More on "Chase Around the World"
Meet the Six Teams
From TV Zone |
Bradley Walsh and the Chasers swap the studio for Europe in ITV's new gameshow The Chase Around The World, with six teams competing for £100,000.
This brand-new six-part series sees six pairs of contestants attempt to track down the biggest brains in Britain - all six of The Chasers - in undisclosed locations around the globe. Unravelling puzzles along the way, the winning pair will pit their knowledge against The Chasers in order to win a life-changing prize pot.
The Chase Around the World commission builds on the global phenomenon of the most successful and enduring quiz show format, The Chase. Commissioned in 22 territories worldwide, including the US, with spin-off Beat The Chasers in 11, the series recently celebrated an incredible 17 years on ITV and has been the recipient of numerous awards.
MEET THE CAST
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Ashwin and Nikita
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Matt and Cerys
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Dilan and Emily
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Stephen and David
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Nicola and Madeleine
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Amy and Kati
The Chase Around The World begins Thursday 16th July on ITV1.
TV Zone
The Bristol Post
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posted 7/6/2026 |
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Monday Lightning Round
... or "The Life of a Showgirl's Newlywed" |
- Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift are evermore lovers (Variety)
- Taylor Frankie Paul needs to pass a drug test before spending more midnights with the kids (Reality Tea)
- Julie Chen Moonves recalls seeing red after being "kidnapped" last year (Entertainment Weekly)
- Love Island's Gabriel Garland speaks now about the stabbing case that cost him his place (Deadline)
- Katie Thurston is no tortured poet, turning "pain into purpose" (Reality TV World)
- Tiffany Ervin returns home and has a reputation for being used to not eating (People)
- A FEW GOOD MINUTES with Hannah Brown (Reality TV World)
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posted 7/6/2023 |
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