A new video starring Will Arnett (embedded below with new photos) explains what viewers can expect from Netflix’s Murderville season one. Described as a procedural crime comedy, Murderville stars Will Arnett as Terry Seattle, a homicide detective who’s joined by celebrity guests to figure out the hows, whats, and whys of specific murder cases.
The celebrities willing to improvise their way through season one episodes include Conan O’Brien, Ken Jeong, ex-NFL star Marshawn Lynch, Sharon Stone, Annie Murphy, and Kumail Nanjiani. Joining Arnett as series regulars are Haneefah Wood as Chief Rhonda Jenkins – Seattle, Lilan Bowden as Medical Examiner Amber Kang, and Phillip Smithey as Detective Darren ‘Daz’ Phillips.
The six-episode season is set to premiere on February 3, 2022.
Murderville‘s based on the award-winning BBC3 series Murder in Successville and is executive produced by Arnett, Marc Forman, Jonathan Stern, Peter Principato, Brian Steinberg. Tom Davis, Andy Brereton, and James De Frond. Krister Johnson writes, executive produces, and serves as the showrunner, with Anna Drezen, Chadd Gindin, Craig Rowin, Jack Kukoda, Marina Cockenberg, Kerry O’Neill, Hannah Levy, and Adriana Robles also writing the first season’s episodes. Iain Morris and Brennan Shroff directed.
Murderville is an Electric Ave, Abominable Pictures, Artists First, and Sony Pictures Television production.
Netflix released the following synopsis for season one:
“Meet Senior Detective Terry Seattle (Arnett), Homicide Division. For Terry, every day means a new murder case and a new celebrity guest star as his partner. But here’s the catch: each episode’s guest star isn’t being given the script. They have no idea what’s about to happen to them.
Together, the guest star and Terry Seattle will have to improvise their way through the case… but it will be up to each celebrity guest alone to name the killer. Join them as they punch a one-way ticket to Murderville.”
Production’s begun on the second season of Netflix’s popular fantasy series Shadow and Bone and today the streaming service announced the addition of four series regulars to the cast. Anna Leong Brophy is set to play “Tamar Kir-Bataar” and Patrick Gibson’s on board to play “Nikolai Lantsov.” The new additions also include Jack Wolfe as “Wylan Hendriks” and Lewis Tan as “Tolya Yul-Bataar.”
The newcomers join a cast that includes Jessie Mei Li as “Alina Starkov,” Archie Renaux as “Malyen Oretsev,” Freddy Carter as “Kaz Brekker,” Amita Suman as “Inej,” Julian Kostov as “Fedyor,” Sujaya Dasgupta as “Zoya,” and Kit Young as “Jesper Fahey.” Ben Barnes reprises his role as “General Kirigan” for the much-anticipated second season.
In addition, returning cast members Danielle Galligan (“Nina Zenik”), Daisy Head (“Genya Safin”), and Calahan Skogman (“Matthias Helvar”) have been promoted to series regulars.
According to Netflix, the second season will consist of eight one-hour episodes – just like season one.
Shadow and Bone is based on Leigh Bardugo’s bestselling book series and Bardugo remains involved in the series as an executive producer. Eric Heisserer and Daegan Fryklind serve as writers, executive producers, and co-showrunners. Additional executive producers include Shawn Levy, Josh Barry, Dan Levine, and Dan Cohen for 21 Laps Entertainment along with Pouya Shahbazian (Loom Studios), and Shelley Meals.
Second season directors include Bola Ogun (episodes 1 and 2), Laura Belsey (episodes 3 and 4), Karen Gaviola (episodes 5 and 6), and Mairzee Almas (episodes 7 and 8).
A Look Back at Season 1, Courtesy of Netflix:
“Based on Leigh Bardugo’s worldwide bestselling Grishaverse novels, Shadow and Bone finds us in a war-torn world where lowly soldier and orphan Alina Starkov has just unleashed an extraordinary power that could be the key to setting her country free. With the monstrous threat of the Shadow Fold looming, Alina is torn from everything she knows to train as part of an elite army of magical soldiers known as Grisha. But as she struggles to hone her power, she finds that allies and enemies can be one and the same and that nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. There are dangerous forces at play, including a crew of charismatic criminals, and it will take more than magic to survive.”
Steve Harvey stars in ABC’s unscripted courtroom comedy ‘Judge Steve Harvey’ (ABC/Danny Delgado)
Steve Harvey lays down the law in ABC’s new unscripted series Judge Steve Harvey which premiered on January 4, 2022. Harvey serves as executive producer and stars in the courtroom comedy that finds real people presenting their cases and agreeing to accept whatever verdict he hands down. The fact Steve Harvey doesn’t have a legal background doesn’t matter; Harvey relies on common sense when dishing out decisions.
Harvey joined showrunner and executive producer Myeshia Mizuno for ABC’s virtual TCA winter presentation and talked about the origin of his new series which airs on Tuesdays at 8pm ET/PT.
“I came up with this idea about 12 years ago and I just never told anybody. I’ve never sat in a pitch room about it. I never met with a network about it. I never discussed it with my team, my production company. Nothing. I just had this idea,” explained Harvey. “We were on a Zoom call during COVID with ABC and it was about, I guess, eight execs from ABC and they were very high-level people. They had got on the phone to pitch a scripted show for me, a sitcom. They got through talking and it was a great idea, but I wasn’t that enthusiastic about doing a sitcom anymore. And so the president of ABC said to me, ‘Well, Steve, what would you like to do if you could do anything?’”
“I said, ‘Well, I always wanted to be a judge on TV.’ The Zoom got kind of quiet because they went like, ‘A judge?’ Everybody’s looking at me, trying to figure out where that came from. And when I told them I wanted it to be funny…I wanted to be insightful…I wanted it to be not about the verdict but about the story…the next day they greenlit it,” said Harvey.
The next step was to find an executive producer for the project, and a friend of Harvey’s suggested Myeshia Mizuno. Harvey reached out to Mizuno and after speaking with her for 15 minutes, he knew he’d found the right person to guide the series as showrunner.
“Once she talks, you have to listen,” said Harvey. “And I was paying attention because it was like talking to my sister. She reminds me a lot of my sister. She’s very authoritative and when she got through with that conversation, I started and ended the search right there. I never interviewed another person. I never talked to another executive producer. I never took another meeting. I knew that she was the one, and I was 100% correct and here she is.”
Mizuno believes the role of judge is a natural progression for Harvey. “One of the wonderful things about Mr. Harvey is him being able to speak on so many things and being able to relate to all types of people. And that’s why we know this show is going to be a success – the combination of what Mr. Harvey brings and just the plethora of stories that real people have,” said Mizuno.
“You know, reality is stranger than fiction and we see that coming into the courtroom with so many stories and the things these people say and believe and understand or think. And it’s all very relatable,” added Mizuno. “The biggest thing is, I think, people can enjoy watching it and watching it as a family and relate to the stories, relate to the people, see themselves or Aunt Becky or Uncle Bob or whomever in these litigants.”
Asked about his favorite case thus far, Steve Harvey said he’s intrigued by every case that’s been presented before him on the series. “There’s a level of excitement with all of them. I think the two things that stick out for me are when family comes to court and when friends come to court. That’s always kind of like, ‘Wow.’ I become fascinated and caught up in the how we got here.
And that’s the crazy part of this show because I think that’s what makes it different from most shows. I’m so intrigued by the story that I allow the litigants to say things that I know no other court show would allow them to say. ‘That has nothing to do with it.’ Well, to me, it has everything to do with it, so let’s hear it,” said Harvey.
Steve Harvey and Myeshia Mizuno attend the ‘Judge Steve Harvey’ winter TCA panel via Zoom (ABC)
Mizuno’s vast experience as a producer on legal series includes working on Judge Judy, Divorce Court, Paternity Court, and Couples Court. She also created Money Court for CNBC, so when Mizuno claims court is in her blood, you can believe it’s true. Mizuno knows how to present a court show and explained it begins with a good case.
“You need the litigants who have a good story and you want someone to have a defense. I think the difference here is, as Mr. Harvey said, allowing them to tell their story. Something like Judy, Judy doesn’t care about your story. She wants the facts – get to the point and get out. And that’s what makes her Judy.
Here, the difference is we take the time to understand the story which I think a lot of times explains why these people get into the situations they get into it. And that, along with Mr. Harvey being able to weave how they’re telling the story and then come to a summation and verdict, is what’s going to set Judge Steve Harvey apart from everything else,” explained Mizuno.
The format and the fact it’s a primetime network show also set Judge Steve Harvey apart from other unscripted courtroom series. “It’s never been done before. We do three cases in an hour, never been done before. But we’re able to hold your attention, and each case has something different. So, it’s a fun hour for everybody to watch,” said Mizuno.
Season four episode 12 of NBC’s New Amsterdam found Helen making the right decision about her second in command while Max connected with patients in need of his services. After a fairly upbeat episode, the promo for episode 13 – “Family” – teases the death of someone Max, Helen, and the New Amsterdam team hold dear. But who is it? We won’t discover the answer until episode 13 airs on January 18, 2022.
The cast of season four is led by Ryan Eggold as Medical Director Max Goodwin. Janet Montgomery returns as Dr. Lauren Bloom, Freema Agyeman stars as Dr. Helen Sharpe, Jocko Sims plays Dr. Floyd Reynolds, and Tyler Labine is Dr. Iggy Frome. Michelle Forbes guest stars as Dr. Fuentes.
“Family” Plot: Max and Helen adjust to sharing their lives and their problems, including the challenge of Helen’s mother. Bloom and Reynolds treat a family after their horrific car accident lands them in the ED. Iggy and Trevor reach a new understanding in their business relationship.
The Season 4 Plot, Courtesy of NBC:
After a turbulent year of sacrifice and hardship, Medical Director Max Goodwin and the team at New Amsterdam begin a well-deserved new chapter in their lives. The opening episode, titled “More Joy,” reflects both the drive of characters and the tone of season four. More joy: How can we find it, and how can we hold on to it?
For Max that means acknowledging and surrendering to his long-simmering feelings towards Dr. Helen Sharpe. While this new relationship brings its own set of challenges, Max continues his optimistic – and quixotic – quest to improve our nation’s healthcare system.
Continuing to navigate their own personal journeys – including Dr. Bloom’s relationship with Dr. Leyla Shinwari, who is now her resident, Dr. Frome’s new career and Dr. Reynolds’ personal entanglements – the doctors will strive to embrace the joy and successes in their lives.
But there is a surprise in store for our heroes. Dr. Veronica Fuentes is joining the New Amsterdam team to help turn around the overburdened and underfunded hospital. Her first order of business will be to tear down every progressive program Max has erected. Max will have his work cut out for him if he is going to outwit this calm, poised and fearless fixer.
Ryan Eggold as Dr. Max Goodwin in ‘New Amsterdam’ season 4 episode 13 (Photo by: Heidi Gutman/NBC)Freema Agyeman as Dr. Helen Sharpe and Jenny Jules as Serwa Sharpe in season 4 episode 13 (Photo by: Heidi Gutman/NBC)Sandra Mae Frank as Dr. Elizabeth Wilder and Garrett Young as Adam Wilder in the “Family” episode (Photo by: Zach Dilgard/NBC)Jocko Sims as Dr. Floyd Reynolds and Shiva Kalaiselvan as Leyla in season 4 episode 13 (Photo by: Eric Liebowitz/NBC)Freema Agyeman as Dr. Helen Sharpe and Jenny Jules as Serwa Sharpe in season 4 episode 13 (Photo by: Heidi Gutman/NBC)Jocko Sims as Dr. Floyd Reynolds in season 4 episode 13 (Photo by: Barbara Nitke/NBC)Sandra Mae Frank as Dr. Elizabeth Wilder, Connor Marx as Ben and Tyler Labine as Dr. Iggy Frome (Photo by: Barbara Nitke/NBC)
ABC’s American Idol panel at the virtual 2022 winter TCA press conference included the debut of a special sizzle reel celebrating the singing competition’s 20th season. The two-minute video kicks off with a look at past contestants who’ve gone on to success including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Adam Lambert, Gabby Barrett, and Jennifer Hudson. After a brief look back, the video teases some of what’s in store for the show’s new season.
The sizzle reel also revealed a new twist in support of the show’s 20th anniversary. A “Platinum Ticket” will be awarded to one contestant at each of the three audition cities – Los Angeles, Austin, and Nashville – with the recipient earning a pass straight to Hollywood Week.
Season 20 will once again feature Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie as judges, with Ryan Seacrest back to guide each episode as host.
The 20th overall season marks the fifth season of ABC as the American Idol network.
The new season will kick off on Sunday, February 27, 2022 at 8pm ET/PT, and during the TCA panel, the American Idol talent confirmed they’re hopeful this season will be shot in front of a live audience. However, they’ll be playing it by ear and ready to adjust at any time in response to the ongoing (never-ending) pandemic.
The Fremantle and Industrial Media’s 19 Entertainment production is executive produced by showrunner Megan Wolflick, Fremantle’s Jennifer Mullin and Trish Kinane, and 19 Entertainment’s Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman.
Music industry legends and all-star judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie, along with Emmy-winning producer and host Ryan Seacrest, were on hand when ABC’s “American Idol” kicked off judge city auditions for the upcoming 20th season overall (ABC/Eric McCandless)
Kudos to whoever wrote the press release for Netflix’s new animated series Human Resources. The show’s premiere date announcement, teaser, and news on additional voice cast members was delivered in the form of an official-looking memo from a Human Resources department, although most HR memos don’t include CC’s to “All Hormone, Shame, Anxiety, Love, Logic, Hate, Addiction, and Ambition Employees.” They also don’t include warnings not to have sex in the lunchroom.
Human Resources is a spinoff of the popular adult animated series Big Mouth and will premiere on Netflix on March 18, 2022. The series is co-created and executive produced by Kelly Galuska, Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Jennifer Flackett, and Mark Levin.
Netflix’s updated recurring guest cast list includes:
New Creatures:
o Petra the Ambition Gremlin (voiced by Rosie Perez)
o Keith From Grief (voiced by Henry Winkler)
• Familiar Creatures:
o Mona the Hormone Monstress (voiced by Thandiwe Newton)
o Simon Sex (voiced by Jemaine Clement)
o Tito the Anxiety Mosquito (voiced by Maria Bamford)
o Gavin the Hormone Monster (voiced by Bobby Cannavale)
The streaming service’s announcement teased we’ll get to know the following creatures better in Human Resources:
• Maury the Hormone Monster (voiced by Nick Kroll)
• Connie the Hormone Monstress (voiced by Maya Rudolph)
• Emmy the Lovebug (voiced by Aidy Bryant)
• Pete the Logic Rock (voiced by Randall Park)
• Rochelle the Lovebug (voiced by Keke Palmer)
• Walter the Lovebug (voiced by Brandon Kyle Goodman)
• The Shame Wizard (voiced by David Thewlis)
• Sonya the Lovebug (voiced by Pamela Adlon)
From the inventive minds that brought us the award-winning adult animation favorite Big Mouth comes the even edgier and adult-ier Human Resources. The spin-off pulls back the curtain on the daily lives of the creatures – Hormone Monsters, Depression Kitties, Shame Wizards and many more – that help humans journey through every aspect of life from puberty to parenthood to the twilight years. It quickly becomes clear that though the protagonists are creatures, they have a lot of humanity themselves.
Featuring an all-star voice cast — including Nick Kroll, Maya Rudolph and David Thewlis reprising their Big Mouth roles as well as Aidy Bryant, Brandon Kyle Goodman, Keke Palmer, and Randall Park among others — Human Resources is not your normal day at the office.
Samuel L. Jackson in “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey,” premiering globally March 11, 2022 on Apple TV+.
Apple TV+’s released the first two official photos from the upcoming six-episode limited series The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey. The first-look photos feature series star Samuel L. Jackson as the titular character.
Based on Walter Mosley’s bestselling novel, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey is described as a “gripping series about family, memory and legacy.” Mosley adapted his book for the series and was also involved as an executive producer.
Joining Oscar nominee Samuel L. Jackson in bringing Mosley’s book to life are BAFTA Award nominee Dominique Fishback (Judas and the Black Messiah), Cynthia Kaye McWilliams (Coyote), Damon Gupton (Black Lightning), Marsha Stephanie Blake (I Am Your Woman), Walton Goggins (The Unicorn), and Omar Miller (Ballers).
Jackson and Mosley executive produces with Diane Houslin, Ramin Bahrani, Eli Selden and David Levine for Anonymous Content, and LaTanya Richardson. The Apple Original limited series is set to premiere on Friday, March 11, 2022 with the release of the first two episodes. New episodes will follow on subsequent Fridays.
Samuel L. Jackson and Dominique Fishback in ‘The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey’ (Photo Credit: Netflix)
Apple TV+’s official synopsis:
Hailing from Apple Studios, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey stars Jackson as Ptolemy Grey, an ailing man forgotten by his family, by his friends, and by even himself. Suddenly left without his trusted caretaker and on the brink of sinking even deeper into a lonely dementia, Ptolemy is assigned to the care of orphaned teenager Robyn (Fishback). When they learn about a treatment that can restore Ptolemy’s dementia-addled memories, it begins a journey toward shocking truths about the past, present and future.
Magnum and Higgins help out a nun on CBS’s Magnum P.I. season four episode 11, “If I Should Die Before I Wake.” Directed by Lin Oeding from a script by Gene Hong and Andrew Jackson, season four episode 11 will air on Friday, January 14, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT.
Jay Hernandez returns to lead the cast as Thomas Magnum. Season four also stars Perdita Weeks as Juliet Higgins, Zachary Knighton as Orville “Rick” Wright, Stephen Hill as Theodore “TC” Calvin, Tim Kang as Det. Gordon Katsumoto, and Amy Hill as Kumu.
Bobby Lee, Betsy Phillips, Leif Gantovoort, Lindsay Pulsipher, Ramon De Ocampo, and Jeanne Sakata guest star.
“If I Should Die Before I Wake” Plot: A nun hires Magnum and Higgins to investigate a mysterious and large cash donation made to a parishioner undergoing medical treatment at the church. Also, Jin’s (Lee) new dog walking business takes a dramatic turn, and Rick nervously prepares to reconnect with Suzy (Phillips).
Magnum P.I. is a modern take on the classic series centering on Thomas Magnum, a decorated former Navy SEAL who, upon returning home from Afghanistan, repurposes his military skills to become a private investigator. A charming rogue, an American hero and a die-hard Detroit Tigers fan, Magnum lives in a guest cottage on Robin’s Nest, the luxurious estate where he works as a security consultant to supplement his P.I. business.
The “majordomo” of the property is Juliet Higgins, a beautiful and commanding disavowed MI:6 agent whose second job is to keep Magnum in line, with the help of her two Dobermans. When Magnum needs back-up on a job, he turns to his trusted buddies and fellow POW survivors, Theodore “TC” Calvin, a former Marine chopper pilot who runs Island Hoppers, a helicopter tour business, and Orville “Rick” Wright, a former Marine door-gunner-turned-impresario of Oahu’s coolest nightclub and the most connected man on the island.
Suspicious of Magnum’s casual attitude and presence at his crime scenes, Detective Gordon Katsumoto finds that he and Magnum are more alike than either of them care to admit. One of Magnum’s biggest supporters is Teuila “Kumu” Tuileta, the unofficial “House Mom” and cultural curator of Robin’s Nest. With keys to a vintage Ferrari in one hand, aviator sunglasses in the other, and an Old Düsseldorf longneck chilling in the fridge, Thomas Magnum is back on the case!
Netflix just released the official trailer for the upcoming third season of the reality competition series Too Hot To Handle. Season three also just dropped a batch of photos featuring the contestants as they via for the grand prize.
The series is set to launch all 10 episodes on January 19, 2022.
Laura Gibson and Charlie Bennett developed Too Hot to Handle, with Amelia Brown, Saul Fearnley and Ros Coward for Thames Productions, and Jonno Richards for Talkback serving as executive producers.
Netflix’s official synopsis for season three:
“It’s a new year, and it might be snowing outside, but the third season of Too Hot to Handle is back and steamier than ever. It’s time to meet a brand new batch of horned-up hellraisers who have just arrived for what they think will be the sexiest vacation of their lives. But with Lana watching, will this wild cast be able to stick to the rules and abstain from any kind of sexual contact (or self-gratification) in order to form meaningful connections, and keep that prize money as high as their sex drives? The pressure’s on, because this season, the stakes are even greater… with the biggest prize fund on offer, ever.”
Too Hot to Handle season 3 cast (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)Too Hot to Handle season 3 cast (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)Too Hot to Handle season 3 cast (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)Season 3 cast (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)Season 3 cast (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)
ABC dropped a new trailer for their upcoming multigenerational family drama Promised Land during the network’s virtual Television Critics Association winter presentation. The trailer introduces the Sandoval family, led by John Ortiz as Joe Sandoval, who are huge in the wine industry.
The season one cast also includes Cecilia Suárez as Lettie Sandoval, Augusto Aguilera as Mateo Flores, Christina Ochoa as Veronica Sandoval, and Mariel Molino as Carmen Sandoval. Tonatiuh plays Antonio Sandoval, Andres Velez is Carlos Rincón, Katya Martín is Juana Sánchez, Rolando Chusan is Billy Rincón, and Bellamy Young stars as Margaret Honeycroft.
Matt Lopez writes and executive produces, with executive producer Michael Cuesta directing the first episode. The ABC Signature production is also executive produced by Adam Kolbrenner and Maggie Malina.
Promised Land premieres on Monday, January 24, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT. ABC also announced the first two episodes will be available to stream on Hulu on January 25th, making the new family drama the first series to release an episode on Hulu prior to its network debut.
Per ABC: “Promised Land is an epic, generation-spanning drama about two Latinx families vying for wealth and power in California’s Sonoma Valley.”
