ON THIS DAY – Tuesday, January 21, 2020
The western “Alias Smith and Jones,“ headlined by Peter Duel and Ben Murphy, debuted on ABC in 1971. Midway through season two, Peter Duel, 31, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and his role of Joshua Smith was recast with Roger Davis (who had provided narration for the series). It lasted one additional season after the casting change…
Celebrity Birthdays: Country singer Mac Davis is 78; singer Bill Ocean is 70; British comedian Benny Hill is 69; actress Geena Davis is 64.
Did You Know?
From 1974 to 1976, Mac Davis hosted his own television variety show on NBC, “The Mac Davis Show.” He made his feature film debut opposite Nick Nolte in the football film, “North Dallas Forty,” in 1979.
RATINGS BOX
Fast Affiliate Ratings
Friday 1/17/20: Click here
Saturday 1/18/20: Click here
Sunday 1/19/20: Click here
Live+Same Day Data
Monday 1/13/20: Click here
Tuesday 1/14/20: Click here
Wednesday 1/15/20: Click here
Thursday 1/16/20: Click here
Source: Nielsen Media Research
NEW PROGRAM ANNOUCEMENTS
HBO Max Orders Documentary Series “The Event”
Hulu has ordered eight episodes of “The Event,” an unscripted documentary series. The logline: Viewers will be given an unprecedented look behind the scenes of the extraordinary events created by Wolfgang Puck Catering and legendary restaurateur Wolfgang Puck. From Renegade 83, each one-hour episode will follow various members of Puck’s team as they strive to amaze clients and surpass even the highest expectations. With events like the Academy Awards Oscars Party to the 10,000 guest Adobe MAXBash under their belts, the sky’s the limit for this impressive team.
“Wolfgang is one of the most accomplished chefs of our time and for decades has been the go-to restaurateur and caterer for the biggest names and events in Hollywood and across the country,” said Kevin Reilly, chief content officer HBO Max, president TNT, TBS, and TruTV. “This series will usher viewers into a world of opulence and luxury and showcase the unpredictable challenges he and his team encounter while executing the biggest and most exclusive A-list events we all wish we were invited to.”
SERIES RENEWALS AND CANCELLATIONS
Apple+ Renews “Mystic Quest: Raven’s Banquet” for Season Two
Apple has announced that “Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet” has been renewed for a second season ahead of its global premiere on February 7 on Apple TV+. The series follows a team of video game developers as they navigate the challenges of running a popular video game. In addition to Rob McElhenney, who stars as the fictional company’s creative director, Ian Grimm, the ensemble cast also includes Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham, Danny Pudi, Imani Hakim, Charlotte Nicdao, David Hornsby, Ashly Burch and Jessie Ennis.
All nine, half-hour episodes of the live-action comedy, co-created by Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day and Megan Ganz, will be available to stream in their entirety exclusively on Apple TV+ beginning Friday, February 7.
The series joins a list of recently renewed Apple originals set for a second season, including “Little America”; soon-to-premiere “Home Before Dark”; and “Dickinson,” “See,” “Servant,” and “For All Mankind.”
YouTube Renews “Liza on Demand” for Season Three
YouTube has greenlight half-hour sitcom “Liza on Demand” for a third season. The series, created by and starring Liza Koshy, centers on “the chaotic misadventures of Koshy’s eponymous character as she takes on various tasks and odd jobs, as she tries to get ahead in the gig economy.
DIGITAL
Streaming Wars Update: NBCUniversal Unveils Programming Details for Upcoming Peacock – Click here
TV UPDATES
Fox Television Stations Acquire “Central Ave”
Following the recent test-run, Fox Television Stations, Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury and producer Will Packer (“Girls Trip”) are teaming up to bring back pop culture-themed newsmagazine “Central Ave” next September. The series, hosted by Julissa Bermudez (“106 & Park”) and former Olympic track star Sanya Richards-Ross, will be air as two weekly half-hour episodes in first-run syndication.
The logline: With diverse and underserved voices coming to the forefront of society, Will Packer has taken an entirely new approach to the magazine genre with “Central Ave” by lending an authentic voice to the pop culture, hip-hop and urban worlds. He created and serves as an executive producer of the new magazine series in a quest to blaze trails and set trends by delivering relevant entertainment and pop culture through a provocative, socially conscious and diverse lens.
Co-Creator Monique Chenault will serve as showrunner of “Central Ave” and, together with Packer and Will Packer Media’s Kelly Smith, executive producer. Will Packer Media and distributor Debmar-Mercury co-produce the series.
Apple Inks Deal with Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Apple TV+ has signed an overall deal with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, where she will develop new projects exclusively for Apple TV+ as both an executive producer and star. The deal marks her first-ever overall deal with a streaming service.
Louis-Dreyfus is best known for her roles in “Saturday Night Live,” “Seinfeld,” “The New Adventures of Old Christine” and “Veep.” She has broken records with multiple Emmys, Golden Globes, SAG and Critics Choice Awards for her work as an actress and producer, and is a recipient of the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
Louis-Dreyfus will be seen in Fox Searchlight’s upcoming “Downhill”, where she stars alongside Will Ferrell. The biting comedy, for which she also serves as a producer, is directed by Jim Rash and Nat Faxon, and is inspired by the 2014 Swedish film “Force Majeure.”
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2020 – And the Winners Were…Click here
Play the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards Pick’Em Game
With the “62nd Grammy Awards” taking place Sunday, January 26, 2020 on CBS, here is your chance to predict who will win via the Programming Insider Grammy Awards Pick’Em Game. To participate, click here
PI Podcast – Click here
35 of the Most Memorable Commercials in TV History – Click here
Network Executives Turned Producers: A Growing Trend in this Era of “Peak TV” –Click here
“The Joker” Leads the Academy Awards Nominations – Click here
SPORTS
2020 Australian Open Tennis TV Schedule on ESPN Networks
Oxygen will debut two-hour documentary “Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project” on Sunday, April 5 at 7 p.m. ET. The logline: With 2.2 million men and women behind bars in the United States, more than any other country, Kim Kardashian West is making it her personal mission to address the criminal reform crisis and make an impactful change. This documentary is an inside look at Kim’s efforts to secure freedom for Americans who she believes have been wronged by the justice system.
EPIX will premiere limited series “Belgravia” from Carnival Films on Sunday, April 12. The logline: Belgravia is a story of secrets and scandals amongst the upper echelon of London society in the 19th Century. When the Trenchards accept an invitation to the now legendary ball hosted by the Duchess of Richmond on the fateful eve of the Battle of Waterloo, it sets in motion a series of events that will have consequences for decades to come as secrets unravel behind the porticoed doors of London’s grandest neighborhood.
Documentary series “Dear…,“ executive produced by R.J. Cutler, will make its global debut on Apple TV+ on June 5. The logline: Inspired by Apple’s “Dear Apple” spots, “Dear… ” takes an inventive and cinematic approach to biographies of the most iconic figures in society today by using letters written by those whose lives have been changed through their work.
