Small Screen: Apple TV+ Renews 'Hijack,' Dexter Darden To Play Muhammad Ali On Peacock’s 'Fight Night'
George Lopez and Maya Lopez - Lopez vs Lopez / NBC
Broadcast: Nico Santos (Crazy Rich Asians) will guest star in ABC’s Not Dead Yet. Additional guest roles will be played by Jesse Garcia (Quinceañera) and Cedric Yarbrough (Speechless). Adapted from Alexandra Potter’s book Confessions of a Forty-something F**k Up, the comedy series features Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin) as Nell Serrano, an obituary writer. Serrano’s clairvoyance allows her to communicate with the dead people she writes about, establishing a theme of comedic life lessons. Guest stars will play dead spirits, with Santos guest starring as Teddy, a Pasadena realtor killed by a bus. Teddy encourages Serrano to own both a house and the craziness of her life. Season two of Not Dead Yet premieres Wednesday, February 7th at 8:30 p.m. ET.
ABC’s Abbott Elementary welcomes new actors for season three. Josh Segarra (The Big Door Prize), Kimia Behpoornia (Abby’s), and Benjamin Norris (Never Have I Ever) will portray Philadelphia school district representatives. The series returns on February 7th, premiering the first two episodes of a 14-episode season. Segarra’s recent acting credits include Scream 6 and Marvel’s She-Hulk. Kehpoornia guest starred in Hacks, Reboot, and Atypical, while Norris was in the iCarly reboot and Superstore.
The Cleaning Lady cast Brandon Jay McLaren (Slasher, The Rookie) and JB Tadena (Kung Fu) for its third season. The Fox series stars Élodie Yung as Cambodian doctor Thony De La Rosa, who seeks medical treatment for her son in the United States. She discovers the U.S. system is not designed to protect her, so she dives into the Las Vegas crime scene to improve her financial predicament. McLaren plays the charming, intelligent Jeremy Dolan who instantly connects with De La Rosa, while Tadena portrays the funny, sexy Paolo Belleza, a friend of the De La Rosa family.
FBI: Most Wanted introduced Steven Williams (X-Files, 21 Jump Street) to the season five cast. Williams will play Ray Cannon Sr., the father of Ray Cannon (Edwin Hodge). Williams’ episode of the CBS procedural “Footsteps” airs Tuesday, February 20th at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Per the logline, multiple bombs seem to be targeting retired NYPD officers, prompting action from The Fugitive Task Force. Meanwhile, Ray advances his relationship with Cora (Caroline Harris). Showrunner David Hudgins shared that Williams will return for further episodes of FBI: Most Wanted. The first episode of season five premiers on February 13th at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
NBC set the premiere date for the second season of Lopez Vs. Lopez. The comedy will air back-to-back episodes on Tuesday, April 2nd at 8 and 8:30 p.m. George Lopez (George Lopez) stars as a working-class old-school Latino who lives with his Gen Z daughter, Mayan Lopez. George and Mayan are dysfunctionally argumentative as they reconnect and rebuild their relationship. Additional cast members include Selenis Leyva (Orange Is the New Black), Brice Gonzalez (Flamin’ Hot), Matt Shively (Father of the Year), and Al Madrigal (The Way Back). Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias (Mr. Iglesias) will guest star as George’s AA sponsor, while guest stars Diana-Maria Riva (Dead to Me) and Marshawn Lynch (80 for Brady) will play a sales negotiator and a sideline reporter, respectively.
Angela Beyincé - imbd
Cable: The Starz #TakeTheLead Writers’ Intensive revealed its season two participants. This initiative, presented by Starz, NewFilmmakers Los Angeles, and the National Association of Latino Independent Producers, allows contenders to actively learn from and connect with industry professionals across the television landscape. This year’s group is comprised of writers from a diverse collection of underrepresented communities. Finalists include Christopher Au, Xavier Burgin, Caroline Guo, Lyn Alicia Henderson, Diego Lanao, Eunice Levis, Tyler Miguel Mercer, Wesley Rodriguez, Vee Saieh, and Ora Yashar. These individuals will be guided by industry professionals, namely Starz President of Original Programming Kathryn Busby, Paramount Television Studios VP of Development Gary King, Echo Lake Entertainment Manager Kim Yau, writer Charla Lauriston, WME agent Daniela Federman, HBO showrunner Amy Aniobi, UTA TV literary agent Gina Reyes, Invention Studios President Nicholas Weinstock, TV writer and producer Ian Olympio, and producer Pete Corona.
NALIP executive director Diana Luna shared, “By providing these talented individuals access to a premier television network, we are not only bringing them to the forefront of the entertainment industry but also elevating the landscape of multicultural creativity.” Stage one of the initiative airs on February 16th, with four participants moving forward to stage two. During this second stage, writers will plan, write, and present a special episode script for a current Starz show. Program mentors will be there for support and advice.
Tyler Perry’s Sistas established Angela Beyincé as a series regular. As an actress and songwriter, Beyincé most recently starred in Perry’s If Loving You is Wrong. On Sistas she plays Pam, a comedic hair salon manager and devoted friend to salon owner Karen Mott. Beyincé was handpicked as an actor and consultant producer by Perry himself. The seventh season of Sistas aired January 3rd and new episodes are released every Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET on BET. Episodes are available on BET+, Hulu, and additional streaming platforms.
Streaming: Kevin Fredericks’s new series Churchy will premiere on the BET+ streaming service. Associated with Lebron James’s Springhill Entertainment, Churchy follows Corey Carr Jr. (Fredericks) as he establishes his own ministry in a small Texas town. Carr Jr.’s unorthodox approach to spirituality proves as hilarious as it is meaningful. Fredericks (The Crossover) is joined by Anthony Elfonzia, Lexi Allen (Workplace Drama the Play), London Solomon (Innocence), Mark JP Hood (Love You Right: An R&B Musical), and Shani Shockley (Save A Life). The show originated as a social media series Fredericks launched, which transformed with the help of Springhill and KevOnStage Studios.
Apple TV+ renewed Hijack for a second season. The limited series stars Idris Elba (Luther) as expert negotiator Sam Nelson, whose skills are tested when terrorists hijack his plane. The real-time storyline cultivates an unmatched suspense. Archie Panjabi (Departure), Christine Adams (Black Lightning), Max Beesley (Mad Dogs), and Ben Miles (Napoleon) join Elba on screen. Season one received positive feedback from viewers.
“I was floored by the overwhelming audience response after Season 1,” Elba shared. “It’s top secret what new situation unfolds for Sam Nelson, but I can assure you we will bring the high octane back!”
Peacock’s Fight Night will star Dexter Darden (The Maze Runner) as Muhammad Ali. The previously announced cast includes Kevin Hart (Jumanji: The Next Level), Samuel L. Jackson (Django Unchained), and Terrence Howard (Empire). Created and directed by Shaye Ogbonna (God’s Country), this limited series is based on a podcast of the same name. Audiences will learn of the notorious armed robbery that occurred the evening of Ali’s 1970 redemption fight, which sent ripple effects through Ali’s life and the city of Atlanta. Hart will executive produce alongside Bryan Smiley (Lift) of Hartbeat Productions and Will Packer (Ride Along) of Will Packer Media.
Taraji P. Henson (The Color Purple), Don Cheadle (Crash), and Myles Bullock (White Men Can’t Jump) will also join the Fight Night cast. Henson plays a mistress doubling as a “savvy businesswoman.” She previously collaborated with Howard and director Craig Brewer on hit projects Hustle & Flow and Empire. Cheadle plays JD Hudson, a trailblazing Black detective in Atlanta assigned to Ali’s security team and the robbery. Details of Bullock’s character are yet to be disclosed.
Netflix is discussing a Top Boy spin-off with creator Ronan Bennett. In conversation with Nihal Arthanayake at BBC, Bennett divulged that the spin-off would follow Jaq Lawrence (Jasmine Jobson). Talks surrounding this project involve Netflix, Bennett, Cowboy Productions, and executive producer Drake. Bennett expressed that Netflix may not be happy with him for sharing this news, especially because nothing is set in stone.
“You just never know if they’re going to get made,” he added. “And in fact, most shows that are developed actually don’t get made. You can write the script and, for whatever reason, they don’t get made. So you end up looking like a bit of a fool for mentioning it. But I have hopes that this will work.”
Bennett believes there is abundant content potential in the world of Top Boy, sharing that creative conversations have flirted with ideas of a prequel, movie, or stage musical. As one of Netflix’s most successful British shows, Top Boy’s journey has not been easy. Channel 4 canceled the series after two seasons, but the show was revived by Netflix and Drake. Seasons three, four, and five received significant praise and high ratings.
Landman added Paulina Chávez (Fate: The Winx Saga) as a series regular. The new Paramount+ series from Taylor Sheridan takes place in West Texas, dipping into the lucrative world of oil rigs. Audiences will follow both the common man’s and the billionaire’s role in a boom that shifts the climate, economy, and geopolitics. Chavez will play a young mom who suffers misfortune at the hands of the oil boom.
Nnamdi Asomugha joins The Savant. Asomugha (Sylvie’s Love) will star opposite Jessica Chastain (The Help) in this eight-episode limited series on Apple TV+. The Savant follows a secret investigator, nicknamed the Savant, who takes down online hate groups to catch the violent men behind the screens. This true story was published in Cosmopolitan by Andrea Stanley. Chastain will play the Savant, while Asomugha plays her husband.
Naveen Andrews will star in the second season of Paramount+’s Last King Of The Cross. The next installment of the Australian drama series follows John Ibrahim (Lincoln Younes), a Sydney nightclub kingpin, and his brother Sam (Claude Jabbour). Andrews (Lost) will portray Ray Kinnock, a potential enemy of John. Additional newcomers include Luke Arnold (Scrublands, INXS: Never Tear Us Apart) and Matuse (The Fall Guy, Furiosa) who will play drug lords aspiring to partner with John’s clubs. Season two recently began filming in Sydney.
Industry: U.K. broadcaster Sky cut 1,000 jobs amid a shift toward streaming. Layoffs at this Comcast-owned company are concentrated among technicians responsible for Sky equipment installations. The Financial Times reported Sky currently has 27,000 employees, meaning this recent cut reduces the staff by four percent. This change was largely induced by Sky’s 2021 introduction of Sky Glass, a wireless TV that only requires an internet connection for installation. Satellite dishes and cable boxes are deemed unnecessary, eliminating the need for technicians. Sky Glass serves as a centralized location for different streaming services, including Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and more. This innovation allows audience members to continue shows that jump streaming services between seasons due to licensing issues. Sky also recently launched Sky Stream, which provides content via WiFi and no longer requires a technician. This shift toward streaming is industry-wide, with public broadcaster Channel 4 and the BBC experiencing similar layoffs and funding gaps. However, the upcoming Sky Studios Elstree launch is expected to create at least 2,000 jobs to offset this layoff.
Allen Media Group’s upfront presentation for advertisers will take place Wednesday, April 24th in New York City. The Weather Channel, Local Now, Pattern, The Weather Channel en Espanol, TheGrio, and HBCUGo are among the media brands on display. AMG is one of the largest producers, distributors, and sellers of advertising for syndicated broadcast programming in the industry. Their holdings include cable TV networks, streaming platforms, movie distribution companies, and 28 broadcast TV stations. AMG is under a recent deal with VideoAmp, a software company that provides audience measurement via digital technology and consumer data. Meanwhile, AMG still uses Nielsen to establish syndicated and local programming deals.
Research found almost half of U.K. film and TV freelance jobs are struggling financially. The Film & TV Charity (FTVC) surveyed more than 2,000 freelance workers. Its Money Matters report stated that 40% of those surveyed felt they could not survive longer than a month without a steady income. This speaks to the 42% of workers who reported their savings dipped below £1,000 ($1,270). When asked about their future, more than 70% felt financially pessimistic and 35% reported running out of money on a weekly or monthly basis. The FTVC found those with a disability or health condition are at a particular financial disadvantage. Some of these statistics can be attributed to a rising cost of living, U.S. union strikes, and recent unemployment. More than 25% of those surveyed stated they lost work due to the U.S. strikes. FTVC CEO Marcus Ryder reflects on the charity’s findings.
“Currently, behind the scenes workers are asked to navigate an industry prone to boom and bust cycles, to deal with structural shifts and respond and pivot to meet the needs of changing business models,” Ryder said. “In too many cases, they’re asked to do so without any of the safety nets afforded to other workers, despite being at the heart of a multi-billion pound pillar of the UK economy.”
A24 reached an agreement with UTA to produce scripted and unscripted television under UTA’s Civic Center Media. A24 will provide development and production resources and, according to UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer, Civic Center Media will “provide a great experience for writers, actors, directors, and IP holders”. UTA and A24 will continue to work with other agencies and studios respectively.
WME signed with Maya Erksine. The actress, writer, director, and producer acted alongside Donald Glover in Prime Video’s Mr. and Mrs. Smith, which is set to release on February 2nd. Erskine created and starred in Hulu’s award-winning PEN15, and she is currently adapting the novel The Perfect Nanny for a limited series on HBO. The Perfect Nanny will star Erskine and Nicole Kidman. The narrative represents Erskine, Anne Hong, and Emily Rose at Mosaic, and Melissa Fox at Hansen Jacobson.
Independent Artist Group signed Tasha Smith. IAG’s representation covers Smith as a producer, actor, and director. Her recent production credits include Mayor of Kingstown, Bel-Air, and BMF, while her acting credits include Survival of the Thickest, Why Did I Get Married?, and For Better or Worse. She has directed When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story, and episodes of 9-1-1 and Black Lightning.
Jessica Alba launched a new production company, Lady Spitfire. Her company aims to work with diverse filmmakers and artists to create female and Latino stories that are high-quality, innovative, and culturally rich. Partnered with producer Tracey Nyberg (Lessons in Chemistry), Alba (Fantastic Four) demonstrated her filmmaking proficiencies on 25+ feature films, which earned a collective box office total of over $800 million. Alba penned the New York Times bestseller The Honest Life, co-wrote the A Bear to Share children’s book, and founded the consumer goods brand The Honest Company. Lady Spitfire is spearheading the second season of the home improvement show Honest Renovations at Roku.
“Reimagining and redefining how women and minorities show up in the world through great stories is my passion,” said Alba. “I believe that my children and the next generation shouldn’t have to face the same barriers as I have.”
Nielsen expanded their Out-of-Home TV Viewing Measurement Panel. The media company uses portable people meters, previously used by viewers located in 50 of the biggest television markets (65% of the country). Post expansion, meter-wearing panelists will be in all 50 states, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Increased coverage will contribute to greater OOH data, specifically higher sports ratings. Nielsen began accounting for OOH viewers in its national ratings in 2020, though they’ve documented OOH viewing in airports, hotels, bars, and restaurants for 10 years. Chief Product Officer Deirdre Thomas stated that the company strives to cover “the full landscape of television consumption.” Namely, this refers to the measurement of streaming, specifically sports programming on streaming platforms.
