“Making the Band” to Return on MTV; Sci-fi drama “Pandora” Debuts on The CW

Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) July 16, 2019 – ON THIS DAY Late fringe talk show “Into the Night Starring Rick Dees” debuted on ABC in 1990. It lasted one season…The “Stargate SG-1” spin-off “Stargate: Atlantis,” which chronicled the exploits of a team that was dispatched from Earth to explore Atlantis, made its debut on the Sci-Fi (now Syfy) Channel in 2004. It aired through January 9, 2009, producing 100 episodes…Celebrity Birthdays: Will Ferrell is 52; actor Corey Feldman is 48; “Glee” star Jayma Mays is 40.

-Did You Know?:
Corey Feldman’s first regularly scheduled TV series role was in the small screen version of “The Bad News Bears.” He was eight years old at the time and it aired for two half-seasons on CBS from 1979 to 1980.

Percent Change Vs. the Comparable Year-Ago Week:
Fox: + 6, ABC and CBS: + 5 each, NBC: – 6, CW: -11

Ratings Breakdown:
It was an easy Monday overnight victory for ABC, with healthy “The Bachelorette” topping the night at a 4.8 rating/ 9 share in households from 8-10 p.m. Comparably, the first hour of “The Bachelorette” squashed the Monday 8-9 p.m. time period premiere of “Love Island” on CBS (#4: 1.4/ 3). This was a series low for “Love Island,” which dipped by 44 percent from the two repeat installments of sitcom “The Neighborhood” last week (avg. 2.5/ 4 on July 8).

On NBC, “American Ninja Warrior” was on the overnight map with a 3.0/ 5 from 8-9 p.m. That led into a dominant 2.8/ 5 for newsmagazine “Dateline” at 10 p.m., which bested competing “Grand Hotel” on ABC  (#3: 2.3/ 4) by 22percent. Not so grand, is it?

For the remainder of the analysis for Monday, July 15, click here

Live + Same Day Ratings
Monday 7/08/19: Click here
Tuesday 7/09/19: Click here
Wednesday 7/10/19: Click here
Thursday 7/11/19: Click here
Friday 7/12/19: Click here

Live+7 Day Ratings – Week of June 24: Click here

Source: Nielsen Media Research

Cartoon Network Orders Comedy “The Fungies!”
Cartoon Network has greenlit a prehistoric animated comedy “The Fungies!” from Stephen Neary, which will explore Fungietown through the whimsical quests of Seth, one of the town’s young mushroom inhabitants. The logline: In his search for the ultimate adventure, Seth often stirs up trouble for Fungietown’s colorful inhabitants, but as he comes up with solutions, he always finds a newfound emotional understanding. “The Fungies!” is expected to debut next year.

Cartoon Network, additionally, has announced the renewals of season three of “Craig of the Creek” and season two “Victor and Valentino.”

“Making the Band” to Return on MTV
MTV and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs have announced the return of reality competition “Making the Band” in 2020. The series originated on ABC, airing from 2000 to 2001, and it moved to MTV in 2002 and stayed there until 2009 where artists like O-Town, Danity Kane, Da Band, and Day26 were introduced.

“MTV and I are back together again!! Making the Band is coming back bigger, bolder and more cutting edge,” Combs said in a statement. “MTB on MTV was the pioneer of reality TV. We’re going to bring that supernatural energy back to the format and bring the world its next global superstars.” The Super Team that revolutionized reality competition TV is back by popular demand

Global casting for the return of “Making the Band” has begun across all major social media platforms.

ABC Orders Holiday Movie “Same Time, Next Christmas”
ABC has picked up a special holiday movie “Same Time, Next Christmas” set to air in December 2019, from Freeform Studios. The movie stars former “Glee” star Lea Michele as Olivia Henderson, a young woman who met her childhood sweetheart during her family’s annual Christmas visit to Hawaii. After being separated by distance and years, the two reunite at the same Hawaii resort years later and the old chemistry between them flares up anew – but circumstances conspire to keep them apart.

In addition, Lea Michele is set to release her first Christmas album this coming holiday.

“Same Time, Next Christmas” is executive produced by EveryWhere Studios’ Tom Mazza and David Culvert Jones, while Stephen Herek (“Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors,” “Mr. Holland’s Opus and “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”) is set to direct. The movie is produced by Freeform Studios for ABC.

The PBS Online Film Festival Has Returned 
PBS announced that the PBS Online Film Festival has returned for an eighth year (through July 26), featuring 25 short-form independent films from multiple public media partners and PBS member stations. According to the press release, “this year’s selection of films amplifies compelling stories from resilient communities including strong women, LGBTQ voices and young adults, and grapples with everything from love, values, citizenship, purpose and family turmoil.”

The PBS Online Film Festival is part of a multi-platform initiative to increase the reach and visibility of independent filmmakers, and to provide a showcase for diverse storytelling that both inspires and engages. The Festival will be available via PBS and station digital platforms, including PBS.org. As in previous years, films will also be available to stream on YouTube and Facebook. For more information, click here

Debuting Yesterday in 1968: Classic ABC Daytime Soap “One Life To Live – Click here

Quality or Quantity? If you had a choice of the following two options, which one would you choose? – Click here

Linear or Digital…or Both – Click here

“Live Rescue,” A&E’s live original documentary series, is moving to Thursday nights, with new episodes premiering on July 18 from 9-11pm ET. Hosted by veteran journalist Ashleigh Banfield with analysis from first responders, “Live Rescue” follows first responders from across the country as they bravely put their lives on the line responding to emergency rescue calls.

Film “Lindsay Vonn: The Final Season,” which recounts the iconic skier’s last competitive campaign while looking back on her transcendent career, from child prodigy to decorated Olympian to global superstar, debuts on HBO on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 10 p.m. ET. The film will also be available on HBO on Demand, HBO NOW, HBO GO and partners’ streaming platforms. The logline: “Lindsay Vonn: The Final Season” traces Vonn’s story from her childhood in Minnesota, all the way to the World Championships in Are, Sweden this past February as she earned bronze in her final event. Teton Gravity Research, widely recognized as one of the premier documentary production companies in the outdoor action, adventure, and exploration space, had a camera crew embedded with Vonn throughout the winter months, capturing the final, intimate moments of her skiing journey.

“Unexpected” on TLC will return for a third season on Sunday, August 4 at 10 p.m. ET. Returning to the series this season are McKayla (18) and Caelan (20) who are expecting their second child, and Chloe (17) and Max (19), who are adjusting to their new life as first-time parents while simultaneously trying to maintain their relationship, despite Chloe’s parents’ disapproval. For a sneak peak, click here

Dark comedy “On Becoming a God in Central Florida,“ starring Kirsten Dunst, will launch on Showtime on Sunday, August 25 at 10 p.m. ET.  The 10-episode series is a story about the cult of free enterprise and one woman’s relentless pursuit of the American Dream. For a look at the trailer, click here