“Big Brother” host Julie Chen Moonves and “Love Island” host Arielle Vandenberg and narrator Matthew Hoffman announced during a Clubhouse conversation that their respective reality series will return on July 7. CBS Wednesday night will begin with “Big Brother” at 8 p.m., followed by “Love Island” at 9:30 p.m.
The news announcement on Clubhouse marked the first of several “Big Brother”-“Love Island” Clubhouse events set for the summer, which will come to feature series talents, alumni, insiders and experts. There will be plenty to discuss, with “Big Brother” airing Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, beginning July 11. “Love Island,” which is set this season in Hawaii, will air Tuesdays through Fridays after its first week, during which it will air Thursday, Friday and Sunday. This summer will be the first time that CBS regularly airs three hours of reality programming on Sundays.
Also in today’s TV news roundup:
DATES
Disney Plus announced that the feature documentary “Wolfgang” will premiere on the streaming platform June 25 following its worldwide premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 12. The film will depict the inspiring true story of Wolfgang Puck, a man who survived a troubled childhood filled with a series of challenging obstacles and whose perseverance led him to become one of the most prolific chefs of our time and household name. As Puck changed the perception of what it means to be a chef, this film showcases the power and strength of the human spirit. David Gelb serves as director and producer, Brian McGinn is producer and screenwriter and Jason Sterman serves as producer.
Amazon Prime Video announced that the final season of “Bosch” will premiere on June 25. All eight episodes will launch at once. based on the best-selling Michael Connelly novels, the show has been the streamer’s longest running series so far. The new season kicks off when a 10-year-old girl dies in an arson fire, prompting Detective Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) to risk everything to bring her killer to justice despite opposition from powerful forces. The cast also includes Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino, Madison Lintz and Lance Reddick. “Bosch” is executive produced by Welliver, Elle Johnson, Pieter Jan Brugge, Henrik Bastin, Michael Connelly and Eric Overmyer.
FIRST LOOKS
Apple TV Plus released a trailer for Season 2 of “Home Before Dark,” premiering on June 11. Inspired by real-life investigative journalist Hilde Lysiak, the series’ second season follows reporter Hilde Lisko (Brooklynn Prince) as she investigates a mysterious explosion at a local farm. The series also stars Jim Sturgess, Abby Miller, Kylie Rogers, Aziza Scott, Michael Weston, Joelle Carter, Jibrail Nantambu, Deric McCabe and Rio Mangini. “Home Before Dark” is executive produced by showrunner Dana Fox, Jon M. Chu, Joy Gorman Wettels, Howard Deutch, Dara Resnik, Russel Friend, Garrett Lerner, and Sharlene Martin. It was co-created by Dana Fox and Dara Resnik.
DMX recalls how flirting with Aaliyah almost got him in trouble with his ex-wife in a clip from TV One’s upcoming “DMX Uncensored” special, obtained exclusively by PvNew. The late rapper and his wife at the time, Tashera Simmons, discuss the time when he was getting a little too touchy with the R&B singer on the set of the “Back In One Piece” music video. (DMX and Aaliyah co-starred in the 2000 movie “Romeo Must Die” and teamed up on “Back In One Piece” for the film’s soundtrack.) This is the final interview DMX gave before he passed away in April of this year.Part 2 of “DMX Uncensored” will air on May 17 at 10 p.m. on TV One with a special tribute titled “DMX the Icon.” Watch the clip below.
PROGRAMMING
Through The CW/Warner Media cross-network partnership, The CW, TBS, TNT and truTV announced that they will be giving an extra promotional boost to three of their new tentpole series: The CW’s “Superman and Lois,” truTV’s “Big Trick Energy” and TBS’ “The Cube.”
TNT will air a catch-up marathon of the first five episodes of “Superman and Lois” on May 15 from 12-5:30 p.m. Returning from a brief hiatus to complete its first season, the show will return to The CW on May 18 at 9 p.m. Developed by Greg Berlanti and Todd Helbing, the superhero series stars Clark Kent a.k.a. the Man of Steel (Tyler Hoechlin) and Metropolis’s award-winning journalist Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch) balancing their work-life with raising their two teenage twin sons Jonathan Kent (Jordan Elsass) and Jordan Kent (Alexander Garfin). “Superman and Lois” also stars Erik Valdez, Inde Navarrette, Wolé Parks, Adam Rayner, Dylan Walsh and Emmanuelle Chriqui. Berlanti and Helbing serve as executive producers along with Sarah Schechter, Lee Toland Krieger and Geoff Johns.
The CW will air back-to-back encore presentations of the first two episodes of truTV’s magic prank show “Big Trick Energy” on May 24 at 9 p.m. The series follows four master magicians and best friends of over 10 years, Chris Ramsay, Wes Barker, Eric Leclerc and Alex Boyer as they venture into the real world to both shock and awe unsuspecting spectators — and each other — with their unique brand of magic. “Big Trick Energy” is executive produced by Tony DiSanto, Nick Rigg and Tommy Coriale for DIGA Studios, along with Ramsay, Ian Frisch and Mark Efman.
Additionally, The CW will broadcast an encore presentation of the premiere episode of TBS’ competition series “The Cube” on June 16 at 9 p.m. Hosted by NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade, the series spotlights contestant pairs who must endure seemingly simple physical and mental tasks — all while confined in the titular intimidating glass box, in the hope of winning a major cash prize. Working on their own or as a team, each pair has nine lives to complete seven games that are worth an increasing amount of money as they inch closer to taking home the $250,000 jackpot. “The Cube” is executive produced by Wade and his production company 59th & Prairie Entertainment, as well as Layla Smith and Jilly Pearce for Objective Media.
PARTNERSHIPS
The ATX Television Festival announced the additions of HBO’s upcoming new series “The White Lotus” and “In Treatment,” as well as HBO Max’s new comedy “Hacks,” a Season 3 discussion of “Titans” and a theme panel entitled “New Voices: Launching a First Series” to its 2021 lineup. “The White Lotus” will be the festival’s closing night programming event, with a screening and panel, while “In Treatment’s” event will be an official Emmy FYC co-presentation featuring moderator Dr. Siri Sat Nam, co-showrunners Jennifer Schuur and Joshua Allen, and cast members Uzo Aduba, Anthony Ramos, Quintessa Swindell, John Benjamin Hickey and Liza Colón Zayas. The “Hacks” panel will welcome co-creators and co-showrunners Lucia Aniello, Jen Statsky and Paul W. Downs, who also acts in the series, as well as stars Hannah Einbinder and Carl Clemons-Hopkins. “New Voices: Launching a First Series” will include Konrad Kay and Mickey Down from HBO’s “Industry,” Crystal Moselle from HBO’s “Betty,” and Christina Lee from HBO Max’s “Made for Love.” This year’s ATX Television Festival is taking place virtually from June 11 to 20.
Nickelodeon has partnered with iHeartRadio for the creation of two new podcasts based on “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “SpongeBob SquarePants.” Hosted by original series voice actors Janet Varney and Dante Basco, “Avatar: Braving the Elements” will explore the Avatarverse, breaking down key themes and battles in every episode and discussing behind-the-scenes trivia. Premiering on June 22, the 40-episode podcast will feature special guests including cast members and producers. Premiering later this year, “SpongeBob BingePants” is hosted by super-fans Frankie Grande and Hector Navarro, who will dive into Bikini Bottom and recap every episode and never-before-heard secrets about the beloved sea sponge. This one will also consist of 40 episodes.
INITIATIVES
MPAC Hollywood Bureau and the Blackhouse Foundation announced its participants for its screenwriting program for Black Muslim writers. The participants are Maram Ahmed, Desha Dauchan, Aiman Mimiko, Thembisa S. Mshaka, Malikah A. Shabazz, Maria Warith Wade, Nadra Widatalla and Sekinat Jumai Yusuf. The program runs May 17 to June 4 as an opportunity for the participants to gain the tools and experience needed to advance their careers as TV writers. It aims to help the writers tell authentic, intersectional stories with nuanced depictions of Black Muslims — a sector that makes up 20 percent of the American Muslim population, but remains underrepresented on screen. Walt Disney TV creative talent development and inclusion vice president DMA; writer, actress and producer Fanshen Cox; director and editor Qasim Basir and director-producer-writer Hanelle Culpepper will serve as instructors.
ViacomCBS and USC Annenberg have partnered to create a new scholarship for HBCU graduate students pursuing a master’s degree in journalism. The scholarship’s goal is to advance newsroom diversity and the pipeline for Black journalists to enter and lead newsrooms. It is supported by a $1-million endowment that will cover yearly tuition costs for one or more students.
LATE NIGHT
“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” will have on Keegan-Michael Key, Zoey Deutch and Conway the Machine featuring Ludacris & J.I.D, while Chris Rock, Samira Wiley and Morray will appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” will feature Seth Rogen, Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert and Jon Randall, and Anthony Mackie and Jean Smart will be on “Late Night With Seth Meyers.” Ben Platt will appear on “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” and Natalie Wynn will be on “A Little Late with Lilly Singh.”
