Hi all, here’s your Morning Update for Wednesday, April 27, 2016:
SCRIPTED NEWS:
Paramount TV Options ‘All the Single Ladies’ From Writer Rebecca Traister
Paramount Television has picked up the rights to develop author Rebecca Traister’s book “All the Single Ladies: Unmarried Women and the Rise of an Independent Nation.” Published by Simon & Schuster, the book investigates the sexual, economic, and emotional lives of women in 21st-century America. Serving as the lead studio, Paramount Television will produce the project with Anonymous Content through its first-look development deal with the company. Anonymous’ Jeff Okin and Kerry Roberts will produce with Abby Ex. http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/paramount-tv-options-all-the-single-ladies-from-writer-rebecca-traister-1201761139/
Wet Hot American Summer: Netflix Orders New Edition Set Ten Years Later
Wet Hot American Summer is headed back to the future. Netflix has ordered a second iteration of the raunchy comedy franchise, this one set in 1991 — 10 years after the original film. Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later will consist of eight 30-minute episodes, and is set to bow in 2017. http://tvline.com/2016/04/27/wet-hot-american-summer-season-2-netflix-10-years-later/
Kerry Washington Signs Overall Deal with ABC Studios
ABC is building on their relationship with one of their biggest stars, as “Scandal’s” Kerry Washington has inked an overall deal with ABC Studios and ABC Signature Studios. Under the new pact, Washington will be expanding her behind-the-camera work, developing broadcast, cable and digital projects exclusively for ABC Studios and ABC Signature. Sharla Sumpton Bridgett (“Coach Carter”) has been brought on as a development executive and producing partner at Simpson Street. http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/kerry-washington-abc-studios-overall-dea-1201760910/
Gordon Ramsay Partners with All3Media to Launch Studio Ramsay
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has partnered with All3Media to launch Studio Ramsay, a new entity that will develop and produce unscripted and scripted programs. Studio Ramsay will function as an independent company wholly owned by Ramsay. The focus will be on creating new formats and programming, including a scripted arm devoted to projects with food-related themes. http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/gordon-ramsay-all3media-studio-ramsay-1201760886/
(opinion) TV Insider: Which Network Shows Will Be Coming Back for Another Season?
In a year when new comedies have largely struggled, freshman shows The Real O’Neals and Ken Jeong’s Dr. Ken look like a safe bet to get the nod for Season 2. However, the future of critical and award-show darling American Crime, which hasn’t been able to attract a broad audience, is unclear, as is that of Galavant and Marvel’s Agent Carter. http://www.tvinsider.com/article/87243/which-network-shows-will-be-coming-back-for-another-season/
(opinion) TVBTN: NBC Renew/Cancel standings, week 31: Game over for ‘Game of Silence’
“Game of Silence” has fallen into the same pattern as another NBC spring drama, “Heartbeat”: A decent premiere following an episode of “The Voice” followed by an immediate and substantial drop when it moves to its regular time period. In the span of just 10 days, the show retreated from a 1.4 in adults 18-49 for its post-“Voice” preview to half that number (0.7) for its second regular episode. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/04/26/nbc-renewcancel-standings-week-31-game-over-for-game-of-silence/
(ratings) Wrap: TV Ratings Winners and Losers: Let’s Call It Early
Congrats, CBS: We can just pretty much just crown you now. Barring a minor miracle for another network, the Les Moonves-led broadcaster will win the traditional September-May TV season this year. When it happens, it will end NBC’s two years atop the key 18-49 demographic. Part of the reason? CBS aired the Super Bowl. Here are the current demo ratings, standings and percent-changes versus this time last year.
TV Ratings (18-49)
1. CBS: 2.3 (-4.2%)
2. NBC: 2.2 (-12%)
3. Fox: 2.0 (Flat)
4. ABC: 1.8 (-18.2%)
5. CW: 0.8 (Flat)
http://www.thewrap.com/tv-ratings-war-cbs-nbc-fox-abc-cw-fall-season-super-bowl-olympics/
CASTING NEWS:
ABC’s Gay Rights Mini Enlists Michael K. Williams, Sets All-Star Guest Cast
Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie O’Donnell, Denis O’Hare and David Hyde Pierce will guest in Dustin Lance Black’s ‘When We Rise.’ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/abcs-gay-rights-mini-enlists-887779
Kingdom: Wendy Moniz Cast as Love Interest for Real-Life Hubby Frank Grillo
Wendy Moniz, recently seen in House of Cards Season 4, is joining DirecTV’s MMA drama as a major new love interest for her onetime GL squeeze (and current real-life husband) Frank Grillo. http://tvline.com/2016/04/26/kingdom-wendy-moniz-season-2b-frank-grillo/
Clarke Peters Joins Hulu’s Hugh Laurie Drama Series ‘Chance’
The Wire and Treme alum Clarke Peters has been cast in Hulu‘s drama series Chance, toplined by Hugh Laurieand Gretchen Mol. http://deadline.com/2016/04/clarke-peters-cast-hulu-hugh-laurie-chance-series-1201744736/
‘Sense8′: Aml Ameen Replaced By Toby Onwumere In Wachowskis’ Netflix Series
The Capheus character on the Wachowski siblings’ Netflixdrama seriesSense8will look a little different in Season 2. Aml Ameen, who played the role in Season 1, has abruptly left the show, and the role has been recast with Toby Onwumere. The circumstances behind Ameen’s exit are murky but sources indicate that there had been some sort of conflict between Ameen and Sense8 co-creator/executive producer/director Lana Wachowski that flared up at the Season 2 table read in Berlin and worsened as filming progressed in India. http://deadline.com/2016/04/sense8-aml-ameen-toby-onwumere-recasting-wachowski-netflix-series-1201744886/
NEW MEDIA NEWS:
Amazon in Talks to Create Virtual Reality Content
Amazon is in talks with virtual-reality companies about developing original virtual-reality content. The insiders characterized the talks as being in early stages. The meetings are being led by Amazon Studios. Amazon declined to comment. http://www.thewrap.com/amazon-in-talks-to-create-virtual-reality-content-exclusive/
NON-SCRIPTED / ALTERNATIVE NEWS:
TBS Orders Late Night Pilot ‘Rob Riggle’s Sportsbook’
TBS has given a pilot order to a weekly late night show hosted by Rob Riggle. Called Rob Riggle’s Sportsbook, the series will show “the humor in the 24-hour digital cycle of sports, talk, news and entertainment, anchored from the ‘sports and entertainment capital of the world’: Las Vegas.” http://splitsider.com/2016/04/tbs-orders-late-night-pilot-rob-riggles-sportsbook/
Michael Strahan Will Exit ‘Live!’ on May 13The co-host, who was originally set to exit this summer, will step down in May. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/michael-strahan-will-exit-live-887694
Billy Bush Exiting ‘Access Hollywood’ for NBC’s ‘Today’
An announcement about Bush’s new gig could come May 16 at NBC’s annual upfront. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/billy-bush-exits-access-hollywood-888032
Bill Simmons Talk Show ‘Any Given Wednesday’ Sets June 22 Premiere on HBO
HBO has set June 22 as the premiere date for Bill Simmons’ weekly talk show “Any Given Wednesday.” The show is described as a “sports media” talk show but topics will also encompass pop culture, entertainment, arts and technology. The series has a 20-episode initial order and stems from the wide-ranging pact that HBO set last year with the ESPN alum. Simmons is exec producing the show with Eric Weinberger, president of Bill Simmons Media Group, and former “Daily Show” exec producer Stuart Miller. http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/bill-simmons-hbo-june-22-premiere-talk-show-1201760951/
Skip Bayless Leaving ESPN in August, Reportedly Joining Fox Sports
First Take co-host Skip Bayless, an ESPN staple since coming on full-time in 2004, is leaving the network — allegedly for a new gig at Fox Sports. http://tvline.com/2016/04/26/skip-bayless-leaving-espn-fox-sports/
‘Top Gear’ Gets New Aftershow on BBC America
“Top Gear” will become the latest series to get its own aftershow when it returns for the new season in May, BBC America announced on Tuesday. “Extra Gear” will air immediately after the rebooted series and will be hosted by “Top Gear’s” Rory Reid. http://www.thewrap.com/top-gear-extra-gear-bbc-america/
EXECUTIVE / TALENT NEWS:
Sony TV Chief Marketing Officer Sheraton Kalouria Promoted To President
Sheraton Kalouria, Sony Pictures TV’s EVP and Chief Marketing Officer, has been promoted to president & CMO. He continues to report to SPT chairman Steve Mosko. http://deadline.com/2016/04/sony-tv-chief-marketing-officer-sheraton-kalouria-promoted-president-1201745043/
Fox Names Les Eisner as Senior VP, Corporate Communications
Veteran PR executive Les Eisner has joined Fox as SVP of corporate communications, it was announced Tuesday. Eisner, who will report to Shannon Ryan, EVP of marketing and communications, will serve as a liaison between the network and the press on corporate matters, including ratings performance, senior executive initiatives and industry-wide developments. http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/les-eisner-fox-svp-corporate-communications-1201761195/
Disney’s Pyne: TV remains indispensableDespite growth in alternative media, “TV remains the indispensable connective tissue,” that ties people together, according to Disney Media Networks distribution chief Ben Pyne.Despite a decline in linear TV viewing, overall viewing time for top shows is actually growing, added Pyne.“On-demand viewers spend 50% more time with episodes and are more likely to return to the next episode,” he said. “The content becomes more sticky and ultimately they come back for more.” http://tbivision.com/news/2016/04/disneys-pyne-tv-remains-indispensable/585042/
AWARDS NEWS:
‘Going Clear,’ ‘The Jinx,’ ‘What Happened, Miss Simone’ Named 2015 Peabody Awards Winners
HBO’s documentaries scored high marks from the annual Peabody Awards, winning nods for four of its efforts: the Scientology expose “Going Clear”; an intimate exploration of autism, “How to Dance in Ohio”; “Night Will Fall,” about the making of a Holocaust film; and the true crime phenomenon “The Jinx,” about Robert Durst. http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/going-clear-the-jinx-miss-simone-2015-peabody-awards-1201760300/
Danai Gurira, Martha Plimpton & Kate Whoriskey Are Among Lilly Awards Honorees
The Lilly Awards, named for Lillian Hellman and founded seven years ago to “celebrate women of distinction in American theater,” will honor Eclipsed playwright (and The Walking Dead star) Danai Gurira, never-out-of-work Steppenwolf actor Martha Plimpton, Ruined director Kate Whoriskey and National Asian American Theatre Company co-founder, artistic director and actor Mia Katigbak on May 23 at the Signature Theatre. http://deadline.com/2016/04/danai-gurira-martha-plimpton-kate-whoriskey-lilly-awards-1201744561/
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS:
Comcast in Talks to Buy DreamWorks Animation for $3 Billion-Plus
The move comes after CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg has tried for years to sell the company. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/comcast-talks-buy-dreamworks-animation-888070
AdAge: TV Business Targets Digital Viewership Claims With Proposed Measurement Standard
The Video Advertising Bureau, whose members include TV networks and pay-TV companies, is recommending that observers and advertisers use average audiences as the standard to compare traditional and digital platforms. "This is how TV has been evaluated for decades," said Adam Gerber, senior VP-client development and communications, ABC. "It the only fair way to make comparisons across channels." When putting TV up against 20 popular websites, including Facebook, Pandora and YouTube, TV accounts for 72% of adult audiences in any given minute, according to VAB. Facebook accounts for 10%, and Pandora and YouTube account for 5% each. http://adage.com/article/media/tv-industry-bust-digital-viewership-claims-measurement-standard/303721/
Wrap: Nielsen’s Blind Spot and the Fight for the Future of TV Ratings
Broadcasters and cable channels are struggling in the new TV economy, scrounging for every last viewer. And they insist that Nielsen is under-counting their true audiences by adhering to its continued focus on age and gender as well as its old ways of tabulating viewership. Networks charge that some shows are seriously under-counted as a result. If true, that could mean tens of millions of dollars in lost ad revenue. http://www.thewrap.com/comscore-nielsen-tv-ratings-cross-platform-total-audience/
The Morning Update 