The streaming service announced the renewal and ending news via a FaceTime-themed video, giving the woke comedy a full four-year college experience. Creator and co-showrunner Justin Simien will return, along with fellow co-showrunner Yvette Lee Bowser. “I’m so grateful my little indie-that-could has made it to four seasons at Netflix,” Simien said in a statement. “This show, along with the many talented storytellers it has brought into my orbit, has changed my life and I can’t wait to create a celebratory final volume befitting such a transformative experience.” Dear White People, based on Simien's 2014 film of the same name, premiered in April 2017.
# TOPICS: Dear White People, Netflix, Justin Simien, Yvette Lee Bowser, Cancelations, Renewals & Pickups
The New York Times reported Tuesday that President Trump, in private converations with aides on securing the border, "often talked about fortifying a border wall with a water-filled trench, stocked with snakes or alligators, prompting aides to seek a cost estimate." Well, during then-candidate Trump's visit to The Late Show in September 2015, Colbert suggested he build two borders walls with a moat between them filled with fire and fire-proof crocodiles. Colbert also joked about building a crocodile moat at the border in September 2018. In fact, it's been a long-running joke. In 2011, President Obama joked about Republicans wanting to build an alligator moat at the border, an idea that The Colbert Report's Stephen Colbert accused him of stealing. This morning, Trump responded to the Times report by tweeting: "Now the press is trying to sell the fact that I wanted a Moat stuffed with alligators and snakes, with an electrified fence and sharp spikes on top, at our Southern Border. I may be tough on Border Security, but not that tough. The press has gone Crazy. Fake News!"
# TOPICS: Stephen Colbert
Viewers were left wondering if Kimmel's awkward interview with the Joker star Tuesday night was a bit. But Phoenix's publicist seemed to confirm it was when he told EW that a sweary, uncomfortable Joker outtake that Kimmel "surprised" Phoenix with at the end of the interview was in fact a "joke outtake."
# TOPICS: Joaquin Phoenix
The studio behind Yellowstone is developing a drama about the rise and fall of the family behind Budweiser Beer. Under the Influence is based on the 1991 book Under the Influence: The Unauthorized Story of the Anheuser-Busch Dynasty by Peter Hernon and Terry Ganey. The book, telling the story of the German immigrants who started Anheuser-Busch, "covers five generations of the family's triumphs and tragedies, power struggles and unscrupulous dealings. The book delves into both the rise of the business and the family battles for control of the brewery — until a hostile takeover threatens to bring an end to the empire," according to The Hollywood Reporter. "To have the opportunity to tell the story of one of America’s most fascinating and influential families is a thrill,” says David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios, the studio behind Yellowstone and Under the Influence. “Peter Hernon and Terry Ganey’s riveting account of every aspect of Anheuser-Busch and its reigning family will be honored and refined in our overall vision of this phenomenal saga."
# TOPICS: Anheuser-Busch
Food Network regulars Katie Lee and Nacho Aguirre will be among the judges for the four-part Girl Scouts competition series that will premiere early next year.
# TOPICS: Alyson Hannigan
A professional photographer shot several images of Waller-Bridge smoking at Amazon's post-Emmys after-party at the Chateau Marmont last week. But Amazon reps stubbed out those photos, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The now-famous photo of Waller-Bridge smoking did, however, get out on the BBC's Fleabag Instagram account thanks to her friend Josh Cole, the head of comedy at the BBC, who first posted the picture to his account. "I'm sure people are upset that (Cole's) photo made it out," a source tells The Hollywood Reporter. "Smoking is always off-limits. But she was having fun and acting carefree." The Hollywood Reporter says the photo "may be the most talked about post-awards photograph since Faye Dunaway slipped into a silk robe and stilettos at the Beverly Hills Hotel."
# TOPICS: Phoebe Waller-Bridge
In August, the 34-year-old Waller-Bridge said she had a "fantasy" of bringing back Fleabag in her 50s. She explained why last night on Late Night with Seth Meyers. “I like the idea of coming back to her, well me, when I’m 50,” she said. “Because I feel like she would have had more life then, and god knows what she would’ve gotten up to.” Waller-Bridge insisted that Fleabag shouldn't come back anytime soon: “Seeing a character like that in a later stage of life is exciting but I think for now, she’s been through enough," she said. "We gotta let her go.”
# TOPICS: Phoebe Waller-Bridge
The Fleabag star will apparently host Saturday Night Live this week with her three Emmys.
# TOPICS: Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Perry and Young Dylan made the announcement on Wednesday's Ellen DeGeneres Show, where the rapper has made several appearances. "Dylan is an incredibly talented 10-year-old who at heart is a relatable kid making his dreams happen," said Perry. "We know kids are going to love watching Dylan, and we can't wait to introduce him and his new show to our audience."
# TOPICS: Tyler Perry
“I’m not hopeful at all,” the former Bachelorette tells Us Weekly. “That’s why I keep talking about it because maybe it’ll start the conversation and maybe it’ll change.”
# TOPICS: Rachel Lindsay
MSNBC, CNN and Fox News have all seen their ratings improve by double digits since the impeachment inquiry was announced last week.
# TOPICS: Trump Presidency
ABC acclaimed drama Emergence saw its total viewership fall 12% from its series premiere, matching the lowest numbers The Rookie performed in the same timeslot last year.
The Food Network star has written books about cooking. But Celadon Books announced she'll write her memoir, scheduled to be released in 2023.
# TOPICS: The Barefoot Contessa
Paul found it hard to leverage his Breaking Bad success into a film career. “I was so spoiled at the height of Breaking Bad,” he tells Vulture. “I was being offered everything.” He starred in the race-car drama Need for Speed and Ridley Scott's Exodus: Gods and Kings following Breaking Bad's series finale. When it became clear that he wasn't a box office draw, the fallout was immediate. “You do one commercial film that’s not the success they think it’s going to be, and you’re damned," he says. From 2016 through 2018, Paul starred in Hulu's The Path. But he found the cult-set drama unsatisfying. “I love everyone on that show,” he says. "But story-wise, I don’t know if we knew the direction it was going.” In early 2018, Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan met with Paul in his office and gave him the script for El Camino: A Breaking Bad Story. "When I flipped the last page, I just laid there in silence," says Paul. "But I was also thinking, My God, what is this gonna look like, revisiting this guy?” Turns out, it was easy to slip back into the Jesse Pinkman role -- Paul shot every scene without rehearsal. After wrapping the movie, Paul joined the cast of Westworld, where he found himself overwhelmed by HBO's elaborate sets. “You walk on and you’re like, My God, they have a lot of money. Holy sh*t.” He's also starring in the Apple crime series Truth Be Told, as well as wrapping up his voice role on Netflix's BoJack Horseman. Paul says he's decided that he'd rather pursue TV than another megamovie. “I can’t live with that pressure on me, nor will I," he says. "I’m happy.”
# TOPICS: Aaron Paul, BoJack Horseman, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, The Path, Truth Be Told, Westworld
Wayans starred on ABC's hit comedy My Wife and Kids, which he created with Don Reo, for five seasons from 2001 to 2005. Wayans and Reo are now reteaming on another family comedy, titled Let's Stay Together, in which the actor plays a single father who finds out it’s hard to get rid of millennial kids, and their kids. According to Deadline part of the storyline was inspired by Wayans' life. Wayans is planning his sitcom comeback after three turbulent seasons on Fox's Lethal Weapon.
# TOPICS: Damon Wayans, ABC, Let's Stay Together, My Wife and Kids, Don Reo, In Development
The Pop TV comedy is the latest show to try an immersive fan experience. This winter, fans will be able to immerse themselves in Schitt’s Creek locations including the Tropicale Cafe, Rose Apothecary and the Rosebud Motel. “We are constantly asked by fans if Schitt’s Creek is a real place they can visit, and it is beyond exciting to finally be able to say ‘Yes!'” says Pop TV president Brad Schwartz. “It is the perfect way to kick off our final season and say one big final thank you to the best fans in the world that have made all this possible.”
# TOPICS: Schitt's Creek, Pop TV, Brad Schwartz, Marketing
Kendall's "L to the OG" is a "bonkers rap" that might have been Succession's cringiest moment yet, says Miles Surrey, who's watched the rap with the dialogue removed about three dozen times. "Technically, 'L to the OG' is over in less than two minutes—it does, however, feel like it stretches on for an eternity," says Surrey. "Its impact is certainly life-altering." He adds: "Like all great art, (the rap) is challenging, thought-provoking, and begs for trenchant analysis."
# TOPICS: Succession, HBO, Jeremy Strong, Music and TV
"Reading that first script was a true shock — the way reading the pilot was," he says. "Our writers keep doing it over and over and over again. I was floored, once again floored by the This Is Us writers."
# TOPICS: Chris Sullivan, NBC, This is Us
Armando Iannucci, who exited the HBO comedy after its fourth season, was asked about the series finale, in which Selina Meyer's state funeral in the future is knocked from the headlines by Hanks' death. "Yes! I was more sad for Tom Hanks," he responded to The Hollywood Reporter. "I think they had to ask his permission. But he sent me a very nice letter, which was badly typed on an old-fashioned typewriter, saying how much he liked the show. What was great, because I wasn't involved in the last couple of seasons, is that I genuinely didn't know what was going to happen next, so I was able to watch it as a normal viewer."
# TOPICS: Tom Hanks, HBO, Veep, Armando Iannucci
Fitzgerald designed the title sequences for more than 500 movies, from The Graduate to Sixteen Candles to The Godfather series. He also designed numerous TV title sequences, including Maverick, 77 Sunset Strip, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The McLaughlin Group, Knots Landing, The Bold and the Beautiful, Matlock, NewsRadio and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.
# TOPICS: Dallas (1978 series), The Dick Van Dyke Show, NewsRadio, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Wayne Fitzgerald, Obits, Opening Credits
Johnson is joining the Peacock sequel series pilot to reprise her character, also named Cherie Johnson, who was Punky's best friend on the 1980s NBC sitcom. On the Punky Brewster reboot, Soleil Moon Frye's Punky is a single mother of three trying to get her life back on track when she meets a young girl who reminds her of herself. According to Deadline, "Johnson will once again play Cherie, best friend of Punky since they were kids. In fact, they’re more like sisters. To Punky’s kids, she’s Aunt Cherie. Her life-long friendship with Punky inspired her to become a social worker, helping orphaned kids." Johnson, now 43, continued acting after Punky Brewster, including a recurring role on Family Matters.
# TOPICS: Punky Brewster, Peacock, Cherie Johnson, Soleil Moon Frye, In Development, Pilots, Revivals
NBC was No. 1 in total and demo viewership last week. This is the first year NBC has been No. 1 in total viewers during premiere week since 2001. CBS was No. 2 in total viewers, followed by Fox and ABC.
“It’s old-school in the best way. Old-school This Is Us,” executive producer Isaac Aptaker tells EW of tonight's episode, adding: “We knew we wanted to take a really big swing with our season premiere and introduce all of these new characters — and in a way, do something reminiscent of the pilot where there was a big twist at the end as to how everything connects. But we also know how much people love the Pearsons and the Big Three in our regular cast. So it was always probably the plan to have the next episode be a real return to form for us. And we’re doing that in a very big way.”
# TOPICS: This is Us, NBC, Isaac Aptaker
Kevin Can F**k Himself is an apparent response to Kevin James' Kevin Can Wait, told from the sitcom wife's point of view. "It looks to break television convention and ask what the world looks like through her eyes," according to Deadline. "Alternating between single-camera realism and multi-camera comedy, the formats will inform one another as we imagine what happens when the sitcom wife escapes her confines, and is full of rage." Kevin Can F**k Himself was created by Valerie Armstrong with Rashida Jones and her producing partner Will McCormack serving as executive producers. 61st Street, from The Night Of's Peter Moffat, follows Moses Johnson, a promising, black high school athlete, who is swept up into the infamously corrupt Chicago criminal justice system," per Deadline. "Taken by the police as a supposed gang member, he finds himself in the eye of the storm as police and prosecutors seek revenge for the death of an officer during a drug bust gone wrong. Timely and provocative, 61st Street is set against the systemic abuse happening in some of our country’s most vulnerable communities."
# TOPICS: Kevin Can F*** Himself, AMC, 61st Street, Kevin Can Wait, Rashida Jones, Valerie Armstrong, Will McCormack
The Eva Longoria-produced summer drama, which wrapped its first season on Sept. 9, averaged 2.8 million viewers.
# TOPICS: Grand Hotel, ABC, Cancelations, Renewals & Pickups
Netflix has posted an image from the space comedy from The Office's Greg Daniels. Carell stars as General Mark R. Naird, who's in charge of creating a sixth branch of the armed services called Space Force.
# TOPICS: Steve Carell, Netflix, Space Force, Trailers & Teasers
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, an executive producer on the ABC midseason drama, will recur as "a tough, long-term inmate who has been newly transferred to Bellmore prison."
# TOPICS: Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, ABC, For Life
Emmy winner Place and Orange Is the New Black's Rodriguez will guest on multiple Season 10 episodes of the Showtime series.
# TOPICS: Shameless, Showtime, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Mary Kay Place
Watch the cast's Nov. 1 date announcement for the coming-of-age series' third season.
# TOPICS: Atypical, Netflix, Trailers & Teasers
Burke had to exit last night due to her partner Ray Lewis' foot injury. “I’ve been on the show for 22 seasons so, I think everything that you could possibly imagine has happened to me,” Burke says, noting that she's had to drop out due to partner injuries before. “Wayne Newton had to bow out around this time (in Season 5) and Tom DeLay fractured both his feet and had to bow out (in Season 9) and now, this. It happens. It’s sad. It’s too soon.” Burke says she might serve as a mentor, but she'd really like to serve as a judge.
# TOPICS: Cheryl Burke, ABC, Dancing with the Stars, Reality TV
The "31 Nights" event, kicking off today, will include a 90-minute special 31 Nights of Halloween Fan Fest tribute to Hocus Pocus and The Addams Family that airs Saturday. "31 Nights" concludes on Halloween with five airings of Hocus Pocus.
# TOPICS: Halloween, Freeform, Holiday Programming
"I never really thought I’d get to meet #Superman in person... Gotta say, it’s all it’s cracked up to be!" Superman Returns star Routh wrote on Instagram, in a photo with the Legends of Tomorrow star.
# TOPICS: Brandon Routh, The CW, Arrow, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Tyler Hoechlin
Brian Wood and Riccardo Burchielli’s DC Comics series, depicting a second Civil War between the United States of America and secessionist Free States of America, is in the works at the WarnerMedia streaming service. Westworld and Sons of Anarchy veteran producer Roberto Pattino will serve as showrunner, writer and executive producer, while DuVernay will direct and executive produce. The pilot is scheduled to begin filming in early 2020. According to HBO Max's official description, DMZ “chronicles the harrowing journey of a fierce female medic who saves lives while desperately searching for her lost son. But as she contends with the gangs, militias, demagogues and warlords that control this lawless no man’s land, she becomes the unlikely source of what everyone here has lost: hope.”
# TOPICS: Ava DuVernay, HBO Max, Brian Wood, Riccardo Burchielli, DC Comics, In Development, Pilots
Ending the Niecy Nash-led Florida noir drama was a mutual decision between TNT and the creative team, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Claws has been a solid and steady performer for TNT. "For the past three seasons, Claws has handled delicate and culturally relevant themes like race, class, gender, age and sexual orientation with grace and humor via superb storytelling,” said Brett Weitz, general manager of TNT, TBS and TruTV. “Fans cherish the over-the-top Clawsian moments that have defined its run, and we will do them justice as we wrap up the tale of Desna (Nash) and her crew."
# TOPICS: Claws, TNT, Brett Weitz, Niecy Nash, Cancelations, Renewals & Pickups
“I did a stunt for a very extended amount of time — for like seven hours — and we thought I broke a rib or just fractured a rib and that was 6-12 weeks of healing,” the actress told Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, detailing the stunt injury she recently disclosed. “So, then, I had 6-12 weeks of chronic pain and just kept assuming that was what it was until I kept seeing the doctors and they’re like, ‘It’s your neck, it’s your neck. It just radiates into these places because of nerve endings.'" Rose says she also couldn't feel her arm for "a long time," adding of learning about her two herniated discs broke the protective layers of her spine and threatened to make her paraplegic: “It was really terrifying. I was like, ‘At least I don’t have an option.’ You know what I mean? I have to do it.” ALSO: Rose says she found inspiration in Vin Diesel in learning to lead the Batwoman set.
# TOPICS: Ruby Rose, The CW, NBC, Batwoman, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night, TV Stunts
Fox's Prodigal Son was the highest-rated new show of premiere week, with 4.61 million viewers. Last night it was watched by 4.67 million. NBC's Bluff City Law went from 4.05 to 4.1 million. CBS' Bob Hearts Abishola and All Rise, meanwhile, each saw a slight drop in their viewership in Week 2.
# TOPICS: Prodigal Son, CBS, FOX, NBC, All Rise, Bluff City Law, Bob Hearts Abishola, Ratings
Hillary and Chelsea Clinton visited The Late Show last night to promote their new children's book, but the former presidential candidate also discussed the impeachment inquiry against President Trump.
# TOPICS: Hillary Clinton, CBS, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Chelsea Clinton, Late Night, Ratings
The 30-second promo featured a voiceover announcer saying the new series is "not just House Hunters with a classier announcer." The promo was filmed before former House Hunters host and narrator Whang died last month.
# TOPICS: Suzanne Whang, HGTV, House Hunters, What You Get for Your Money
The Black Panther star will play a youth basketball coach and former star player in the drama series based on the NBA star Durant's experiences in youth basketball.
# TOPICS: Winston Duke, Apple TV+, Swagger, Kevin Durant, In Development
The untitled series that The Daily Show host is developing with Quibi will follow him on a tour to the far corners of the country and beyond. “Trevor will give Quibi’s audience an unprecedented peek at his candid interactions with the people he meets and the incredible places he visits along the way," according to the untitled show's description. "We’ll learn how these moments influence his unique point of view and affect his stand up in each city.”
# TOPICS: Trevor Noah, Quibi, Untitled Trevor Noah Quibi Series, In Development
The Bunheads alum will play Iris, "a young neuroscientist who gets drawn into the transactional world of the Girlfriend Experience, only to be drawn deep into the uncanny valley with the relationships she creates," per The Hollywood Reporter. Season 3 will be set in London's tech scene.
# TOPICS: The Girlfriend Experience, Starz, Julia Goldani Telles
Season 2 of Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend kicks off on Monday.
# TOPICS: Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, Conan O'Brien, David Letterman, Ellen DeGeneres, Paul Rudd, Tina Fey, Podcasts
Forensic Files reruns have become a staple of HLN's programming, yet a new episode hasn't been made in eight years. “They stopped making it in 2011, and we have been speaking with the original producers and the original rights holders for some time,” says CNN's Ken Jautz, who oversees HLN. “We are very pleased that the rights holder recognized what huge fans we are of the series and has entrusted us to continue with it.”
# TOPICS: HLN, Forensic Files, Ken Jautz
The Democratic presidential candidate described his TV-watching habits with The Hollywood Reporter, saying he usually catches a TV show before bed but rarely binges. "Usually Family Guy or Rick and Morty is on as I’m drifting off," he said. "I'm trying to get into Succession but I’m struggling. I need a character to root for and I haven't decided if any of them are good people." Buttigieg added that he considers Game of Thrones the best show about politics and relates to Tyrion the most. Asked if he relates to anybody on Veep, Buttigieg responded: "You don't really want to identify with anybody on that show. The only character with any kind of moral purity to them is Gary, the body guy. But it's not like you really want to be him."
# TOPICS: Pete Buttigieg, HBO, Game of Thrones, Succession, Veep
“He is the greatest,” said the Dancing with the Stars competitor of her boyfriend of 13 years, Chris Haston. “We met on The Office! He’s an NBC photographer. I’m so lucky, I have amazing support.” Flannery reveals they even got to dance together during Dwight and Angela’s wedding in the series finale.
# TOPICS: Kate Flannery, The Office (US), Retro TV
The New Girl alum and the Property Brothers star shared some pda while sitting in the audience for last night's taping.
# TOPICS: Zooey Deschanel , ABC, Dancing with the Stars, Jonathan Scott, Reality TV
On Monday, the family of Amari Allen, a black girl in the 6th grade who claimed three white boys attacked her and cut off her dreadlocks, admitted that she had lied about the alleged incident. When Instagram account The Shade Room responded to the story by joking "Jussie really is a trendsetter," the former Empire star issued a response in the comments section. "With all due respect brother, y'all can clown me all you want but my story has actually never changed and I haven't lied about a thing," Smollett wrote. "Y'all can continue to be misinformed, internalized sheep, who believe what actual proven liars feed you or you can read the actual docs. Either way, Imma be alright. I know me and what happened. You don't. So carry on. All love."
# TOPICS: Jussie Smollett, Empire
Following Van Ness' HIV revelation, an old Fab Five video made the Twitter rounds over the weekend: "And Ronald Reagan, could he be bothered to mention HIV/AIDS? No. But he could be bothered to put some gel in his hair," Van Ness joked in the video. Van Ness addressed the video on Monday, tweeting: "For y’all bringing this video up. These are tongue & cheek and meant to not be taken so seriously. I bring up Reagan’s inaction on HIV/AIDS and as a comedian I do joke sometimes. This video is almost 2 years old and again a joke." ALSO: Van Ness broke down the stigma surrounding HIV on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
# TOPICS: Jonathan Van Ness, NBC, Netflix, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Queer Eye, Late Night
Oddly enough, it took 26 years for the Murder, She Wrote star to hear the classic reggae song from Chaka Demus and Pliers. “That’s very funny,” she said when a CBC DJ played it for her. “Oh, I’m thrilled to be a part of reggae, of course... Wow, that’s great!"
# TOPICS: Angela Lansbury, Murder, She Wrote, Retro TV
The Naked Brothers Band alum is the latest addition to the CBS All Access series. He'll play a petty criminal who becomes fiercely loyal to Alexander Skarsgård's Randall Flagg, the Dark Man.
# TOPICS: The Stand, CBS All Access, Nat Wolff, In Development
Full Circle officially moves from Facebook Watch to CNN's app starting later today. Fans of the show wanted Full Circle to be less politics-driven compared to CNN's Anderson Cooper 360.
# TOPICS: Anderson Cooper Full Circle, CNN, Facebook Watch
Watch the Mr. Robot star play, "Can Christian Slater Spot His Co-Star from 30 Years Ago?"
# TOPICS: Christian Slater, CBS, The Late Late Show with James Corden, Late Night
The popular dating app's "micro series" will have its characters making choices on how they'd spend their last few hours of their lives at the end of the world.
# TOPICS: Tinder, Swipe Night, In Development, Trailers & Teasers
A lot of time and effort went into Eilish's "Bad Guys" performance that was inspired by Fred Astaire's wall and ceiling dance in the 1951 film Royal Wedding.
# TOPICS: Billie Eilish, NBC, Saturday Night Live, Fred Astaire