Extra! Extra! Top TV News Stories of The Week: Twilight TV Series, ‘White Lotus’ Fave Returns, ‘Lupin’ Part 3 Sets Date, Brie Larson Teases ‘Chemistry’
Belinda Has Entered The Suite
It’s Friday and I’m recapping TV’s greatest news hits of this past week. New premiere dates for old series, new trailers and teasers for beloved books turned series…and oh, there’s a new show brewing in Anne Rice’s cauldron we need to talk about.
Let’s start stirring the pot! 👩🍳
Top 5 TV News Stories of the Week!
‘Ted Lasso’s’ Hannah Waddingham To Host Musical Holiday Special At Apple TV+
There’s no “shame” in her holiday 🎄 game. Hannah Waddingham who plays boss lady Rebecca on the hit Apple series Ted Lasso (also unforgettable as the “shame” nun in Game of Thrones) is getting her own holiday special! Hannah Waddingham: Home For Christmas will premiere this winter on Apple TV+. The Emmy-winning and Olivier-nominated actress will showcase her musical talents alongside a big band in front of a live studio audience at the London Coliseum. The special will be produced by Done + Dusted, the group behind Apple TV+’s other popular holiday special — Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas. Waddingham will be joined by special guests who have yet to be announced. Stay Tuned!
The Duffer Brothers New Supernatural Series At Netflix Is Giving Me ‘Cocoon’ Vibes
In a change of generations, The Duffer Brothers (the minds behind Stranger Things) will produce a chilling new series at Netflix centering on a group of senior citizens. Plot: “In a seemingly picturesque retirement community in the New Mexico desert, a group of unlikely heroes must band together to stop an otherworldly threat from stealing the one thing they don’t have…time.” The series will be 8 episodes long and so far a premiere date has not yet been announced.
Ewan McGregor To Star In Spy Series At Amazon Prime
Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Ewan McGregor has just signed on to produce and star in a new series at Amazon Prime about a small-town car salesman turned FBI informant. The true-life series based on an online article by Andrew Dubbins takes place in 1977 and centers around Lou (McGregor) who becomes embroiled in organized crime after a member of the mafia offers to buy his entire Cadillac dealership. Over the new few years, Lou works with a crime family fronting a multimillion dollar operation, becomes a surrogate son, and is the first to take down a crime boss. Currently in early development.
Anne Rice Series #3 In Development At AMC+
First Vampires, then Witches, now….Talamasca? The Anne Rice universe continues as AMC+ is developing a new series, not based on any single book, but a secret society that is mentioned in multiple Anne Rice novels. The Talamasca is a secret society known as “The Order of the Talamasca” made up of psychic detectives. Their duty is to research, watch over and keep track of the paranormal which spans witches, spirits, werewolves, and vampires. This secret society is mentioned in both “The Vampire Chronicles” and “The Mayfair Witches” books (both of these adapted series on AMC+ have been renewed for a second season). John Lee Hancock, writer of The Blind Side will act as writer/showrunner.
Charlie Sheen and Chuck Lorre To Reunite For Comedy Series At HBO Max
Did hell freeze over 👿 ? Looks like Charlie Sheen will finally reunite with Two and a Half Men creator Chuck Lorre for a new comedy, How To Be A Bookie. The two had a falling out over 12 years ago, but looks like the olive branch has been extended as Sheen is said to have a recurring role in Lorre’s new comedy for HBO Max. No deets yet on Sheen’s role, but he will star alongside comedian Sebastian Maniscalco who plays a bookie in Los Angeles who has to deal with the changing times and the legalization of sports betting while also having to juggle unstable clients, family and co-workers.
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Save The Date! 🗓️
Oct 5 - Lupin: Part 3 to premiere on Netflix
May 22 - Happy Valley: Season 3 premieres on AMC+/Acorn TV/BBC America
June 2 - With Love: Season 2 premieres on Amazon Prime
June 5 - Cruel Summer: Season 2 premieres on Freeform
June 9 - Tribunal Justice premieres on Amazon Prime
June 15 - Star Trek: Strange New Worlds premieres on Paramount+
June 28 - Grown-ish : Season 6 premieres on Freeform
July 21 - Praise Petey, new animated comedy series starring Schitt’s Creek Annie Murphy premies on Freeform
Streaming Platform News 📺
AMC+ to add ad-supported streaming option later this year - The new pricing option has not been disclosed, but currently the monthly rate is $8.99 for no ads.
Spiderman and Venom universe to stream on Disney+ - Sony has struck a deal with Disney+ to stream Spider-Man movies alongside Marvel movies. Fans can start streaming the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man films April 21 as well as Andrew Garfield’s The Amazing Spider-Man. Tom Holland’s Spider-Man:Homecoming will premiere May 12 on Disney+ as well as Venom starring Tom Hardy.
Amazon Prime adds Dialogue Boost via AI technology - In response to recent studies where more than 50% of viewers use subtitles to stream movies and TV shows, Amazon Prime is launching Dialogue Boost which it claims it will allow you to raise the volume of dialogue relative to background music and effects. The boost feature is only available on some titles now until the rollout completes — Jack Ryan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Harlem, The Big Sick, Being The Ricardos, and Beautiful Boy.
Netflix to start charging for sharing passwords - The long honeymoon is over. In the coming months Netflix will start charging for all additional users not within the same household. While new pricing has not been disclosed it could be as much as $6.99 per add-on. Currently the pricing is Netflix’s Basic with Ads is $6.99 per month; ad-free it’s $9.99. Netflix’s Standard plan, which currently allows for downloading and same-time usage on two devices, is $15.49 per month, while the Premium tier that offers downloading on six devices and simultaneous usage on four devices along with enhanced audio and visuals, is $19.99.
Checking In! Natasha Rothwell Returns To The White Lotus For Season 3 🧘♀️
It’s been confirmed that Natasha Rothwell who played Belinda, the spa manager on the first season of The White Lotus will return for Season 3. Rothwell, also known for her role as Kelli on HBO’s Insecure, will star in upcoming episodes of the Emmy-winning series. However, details are still under wraps as to who else will be checking into the swanky fictional chain of hotels, but we do know that they will reportedly take place in Thailand. Now, who’s ready for a massage that will change your life?
Fun Fact: Natasha Rothwell was also a writer on Insecure and on Saturday Night Live!
Renewed/Canceled Shows
Dear Edward has been canceled after one season at Apple TV+
Bling Empire and its spinoffs have been canceled at Netflix
The Rookie has been renewed for Season 6 at ABC
Will Trent has been renewed for Season 2 at ABC
The Good Doctor has been renewed for Season 7 at ABC
Reasonable Doubt has been renewed for Season 2 at Hulu
Perfect Match has been renewed for Season 2 at Netflix
Station 19 has been renewed for Season 7 at ABC
Trailer of the Week 📺 : Michelle Yeoh in ‘American Born Chinese’ (Disney+)
More Trailers Dropping Hot! 🔥
Arnold Schwarzenegger Returns in ‘Fubar’ at Netflix
The Geography Of Bliss (Peacock)
High Desert (Apple TV+)
Reality (HBO)
Looniversity (HBO Max)
City on Fire (Apple TV+)
From Book To Stream 📚 🔜 📺 :
Teaser: ‘Lessons in Chemistry’ starring Brie Larson (Apple TV+)
Teaser: All The Light We Cannot See (Netflix)
‘Twilight’ TV Series In Development At Lionsgate
The vampire book series from Stephenie Meyer and the multi-billion dollar film franchise is being made into a TV series from producer Sinead Daly (Tell Me Lies). This is all just buzz 🐝 now, so not a lot of details, but the word is Meyer will be involved in the project.
‘Unscripted’ Is The Next Succession-Like Series You’ll Want To Watch
The nonfiction bestselling novel “Unscripted: The Epic Battle for a Media Empire and the Redstone Family Legacy” by James B. Stewart and Rachel Adams that was just published by Penguin Random House in February has been optioned by producer Steven Paul. This book has been all the buzz which details the rise in power of Viacom and CBS.
HBO Max To Turn Bret Easton Ellis’ Series Killer Novel Into A Drama Series
From the author of “American Psycho” and “Less Than Zero” comes another tales-from-eighties story as a serial killer takes to the streets of 1981 Los Angeles, a little too close to the privileged teens at Buckley prep school. Ellis will write the series with Nick Hall (The White Lotus) and Brian Young (The Runaways) producing.
That’s A Wrap! And Just Like That: Season 2 Wraps Filming in NYC 🎥
Could Season 2 be near? Stay Tuned!
Happy Birthday! 🎉 🥳
April 21
Sophie Rundle, 34 - stream Peaky Blinders on Netflix, Gentleman Jack on HBO Max
James McAvoy, 43 - stream Split on FX Now, His Dark Materials on HBO Max
Andie MacDowell, 64 - stream Maid on Netflix, Four Weddings and a Funeral on Pluto TV.
Robbie Amell, 34 - stream Upload on Amazon Prime, The Witcher on Netflix
Nicole Sullivan 52 - Stream Family Guy on Hulu, The Sex Lives on College Girls on HBO
Anthony Quinn (1915-2001) - stream Lawrence of Arabia on HBO Max
Patti LuPone, 73 - stream Hollywood on Netflix, Penny Dreadful on Showtime
Tony Danza, 71 - stream Who’s The Boss on Philo TV
Charles Grodin (1935-2021) - stream The Great Muppet Caper on Disney+
Bridget Everett, 50 - stream Somebody, Somewhere on HBO Max
My Mom (Happy Birthday Mom! Love you!!! xoxo) 💕
April 22
Jack Nicholson, 85 - stream Witches of Eastwick on HBO Max
Amber Heard, 36 - stream Aquaman on HBO Max
Jeffrey Dean Morgan, 56 - stream The Walking Dead on AMC+
John Waters, 76 - stream Cecil B. Demented on Freevee
Sheryl Lee, 55 - stream Twin Peaks on Showtime
Natasha Marc, 36 - stream The Mayor of Kingstown on Paramount+
Charlotte Rae (1926-2018) - stream The Facts of Life on Tubi
April 23
John Cena, 45 - stream The Peacemaker and Suicide Squad on HBO Max
Dev Patel, 32 - stream Slumdog Millionaire on HBO Max, Lion on Freevee
Jaime King, 43 - stream Hart of Dixie on Freevee, Blow on HBO Max
Kal Penn, 45 - stream House on Amazon Prime, Van Wilder on Freevee
Valerie Bertinelli, 62 - stream One Day At A Time on Pluto TV
Shirley Temple (1928-2014) - stream The Little Princess on Freevee
John Hannah, 60 - stream Sliding Doors on HBO Max
Lee Majors, 83 - stream The Fall Guy on Amazon Prime
Judy Davis, 67 - stream The Dressmaker on Amazon Prime, Ratched on Netflix
Sandra Dee (1942-2005) - stream The Reluctant Debutante on HBO Max
Joyce DeWitt, 73 - stream Three’s Company on Pluto TV
Gigi Hadid, 27 - stream Ocean’s Eight on HBO Max
George Lopez, 61 - stream George Lopez on Peacock
Michael Moore, 68 - stream Sicko and Bowling For Columbine on Pluto TV
That’s All Folks 🐰