FX has dropped the official trailer for “What We Do in the Shadows” Season 5, which is set to premiere with two episodes on July 13 at 10 p.m. on FX and be available to stream on Hulu.
According the official press release the fifth season picks up after “Nandor feels his familiar (and sometimes friend) Guillermo slipping away as he seems to be spending much more time with Laszlo. Nadja, suffering the effects of a previously-undiagnosed supernatural hex, reconnects with her family — or at least, a family — from the Old Country. Colin pursues the path of so many energy vampires before him by running for political office and The Guide tries to figure out where she fits in as the relative newcomer to this tightly-knit group.
The show returns with stars Kayvan Novak as Nandor, Matt Berry as Laszlo, Natasia Demetriou as Nadja, Mark Proksch as Colin, Harvey Guillén as Guillermo and Kristen Schaal as The Guide. The series is based on the feature film of the same name from Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi who both serves as executive producers on the series, alongside Paul Simms, Sam Johnson, Garrett Basch and Eli Bush.
Watch the trailer below.
TRAILERS
Dropout has released the official trailer for “Dimension 20: Dungeons and Drag Queens,” its gaming show, set to premiere on June 28.
“Dungeons and Drag Queens” will spotlight modern drag superstars Bob the Drag Queen, Monét X Change, Jujubee and Alaska as they battle it amongst one another. Per the show’s official logline, “through fierce undead battles, fumbling encounters with mythical creatures, and heartfelt moments of self-discovery, these queens leave an indelible mark on the underworld, weaving a tale of empowerment, acceptance, and the transformative power of drag.”
Brennan Lee Mulligan, creator and Game Master of Dimension 20, will host the new series. The season will premiere exclusively on the Dropout streaming service in addition to the first episode being accessible for free on YouTube.
Watch the official trailer below.
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AMC has released the first official trailer for Season 2 of its thriller series “Dark Winds,” set to premiere on Sunday, July 30 at 9 p.m.
The series stars Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon and Jessica Matten. A Martinez and Joseph Runningfox join the cast for Season 2, while series veterans Deanna Allison and Elva Guerra return previously announced returnees Jeri Ryan and Nicholas Logan.
Per the show’s official logline, Season 2 will see “Lt. Joe Leaphorn (McClarnon) reunites with Jim Chee (Gordon), his former deputy turned private eye when their separate cases bring them together in pursuit of the same suspect. They find themselves in the high desert of Navajo Country chasing a killer who’s turned his sights on them to protect a secret that rips open old wounds and challenges Leaphorn’s moral and professional code. With the help of Sgt. Manuelito (Matten) and Valencia County Sheriff Gordo Sena (Martinez), Leaphorn and Chee must thwart their would-be assassin and restore balance not only to their own lives, but to the reservation that depends on them.”
“Dark Winds” is based on the book series of the same name by Tony Hillerman. The adaptation was created by Graham Roland with John Wirth serving as showrunner. The series is executively produced by Roland, Wirth, McClarnon, Robert Redford, George R.R. Martin, Anne Hillerman, Chris Eyre, Vince Gerardis and Tina Elmo.
See the official trailer below.
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“Euphoria” actor Colman Domingo stars in the trailer for AMC’s upcoming travel series ”You Are Here.” As host of the show, Domingo shares personal and national stories as he takes viewers through four American cities: Savannah, Philadelphia, New York and Chicago. The first two episodes premiere on June 19 at 7 p.m. ET.
Domingo is an award-winning actor, writer and director. He has directed episodes of “Fear of the Walking Dead” and starred in the 2021 “Candyman.” “You Are Here” is produced by Domingo’s Edith Production and ZeroPointZero, and it was created in partnership with Johnnie Walker.
Watch the trailer below.
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Jake Johnson and Ophelia Lovibond are back in the saddle-stitching in the trailer for “Minx” Season 2. The new season of the raunchy workplace comedy is set to premiere July 21 on Starz.
“Set in 1970s Los Angeles, ‘Minx’ centers around Joyce (Ophelia Lovibond), an earnest young feminist who joins forces with a low-rent publisher (Jake Johnson) to create the first erotic magazine for women. In Season 2, Doug, Joyce and the entire Bottom Dollar crew grapple with Minx’s explosive success, which takes them all to thrilling new places and brings more money, fame and temptation than anyone knows how to handle,” said the synopsis.
The show returns with stars Idara Victor, Jessica Lowe, Lennon Parham, Oscar Montoya and Elizabeth Perkins. “Minx” premiered on HBO Max and was renewed for a second season on the streamer, but was picked up by Starz in 2023 after HBO canceled the show.
“Minx” was created by Ellen Rapoport, who serves as showrunner and executive producer alongside Paul Feig, Dan Magnante, Ben Karlin and Rachel Lee Goldenberg. Johnson serves as co-EP.
Watch the trailer below.
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Justina Machado stars in the new trailer for Prime Video’s “The Horror of Dolores Roach,” an eight-episode series based on the Spotify podcast of the same name. The show is set to premiere on June 7.
The official synopsis calls it a “contemporary Sweeney Todd-inspired urban legend of love, betrayal, weed, cannibalism, and survival of the fittest.” It tells the story of Dolores Roach (Machado) who is recently released from a 16-year, unjust prison sentence. Dolores returns to her hometown, reunites with old friends, but soon finds her new-old life to be more tumultuous than she’d foreseen.
The show also stars Alejandro Hernandez, Kita Updike, and K. Todd Freeman.
“Dolores Roach” was executive produced by Aaron Mark, creater of the original podcast, along with Dara Resnik, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Jason Blum, Chris McCumber, Jeremy Gold, Chris Dickie, Dawn Ostroff, Mimi O’Donnell, Justin McGoldrick, Gloria Calderón Kellett and Roxann Dawson. Reskin and Mark served as series showrunners.
Watch the trailer below.
AWARDS
Broadcaster Stu Lantz has been named by the Television Academy as the recipient of the 75th Los Angeles Area Emmy Governors Award and will receive the honor on July 22 at the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire.
Selected by the Los Angeles Area Governors Award committee, the award is presented to the honoree who has made an innovative and visionary achievement in the arts, sciences or management of television to the greater Los Angeles area.
Lantz, a former professional basketball player for the Rockets, Piston, Jazz and Lakers, began his radio and TV career in 1987 and for over 30 years has become the voice of the Los Angles Lakers, calling games played by Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Anthony Davis Lantz.
“For 36 seasons, Stu has served Los Angeles and Lakers fans across the globe with his vast knowledge, skill and passion for basketball,” said Frank Scherma, chair of the Television Academy. “His long career in broadcasting is a testament to both his professionalism and immense popularity, and we are thrilled to recognize him for his contributions to our television community.
FIRST LOOKS
Mel Gibson and Mishel Prada appear in the first look images for “The Continental: From the World of John Wick.” The three-part event premieres Sept. 2023 on Peacock and also stars Colin Woodell, Ben Robson, Hubert Point-Du Jour, Nhung Kate, Jessica Allain, Ayomide Adegun, Jeremy Bobb and Peter Greene.
Basil Iwanyk, executive producer of “The Continental” said in a statement, “Easter eggs that will excite the hardcore Wick fans. And what I love the most: a vision of ‘70s New York that embodies the sexiness, edginess, and visceral style that the franchise is known for. This show will look/sound/smell cooler than any show out there.”
Albert Hughes, director and executive producer for the show, added, “Early on in our process we wrote the words ‘Disco Noir’ on the wall. It was emblematic of the experience we wanted to create. Music filled our work room and became the heartbeat of this show as we took turns sharing our favorite tracks from our youth. Each song is more distinct from the next as we come from different worlds, creating a soundtrack featuring the most eclectic mix of needle drops.”
See the first look images below.
EXECUTIVE NEWS
The Independent Streaming Alliance officially formed on Friday, bringing together companies like Allen Media Group, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Cineverse, Future Today, FrndlyTV, kweliTV, Revry, Scripps, Tastemade, Trusted Media Brands and Vevo.
Comprising ISA are three working groups: measurement, distribution and demand. Together, these departments will help track growth of alliance members and ad partnerships, posit methods for growing audiences and ensure that members’ advertising is available for seamless purchase. “Most of the members of the ISA were early adopters of FAST and played a major role in its initial growth and adoption,” said Cameron Saless, chief business officer at TMB.
“As this industry matures and consolidates, we believe that we can play an important role in helping our peers and partners solve some of the important challenges around content discovery, data privacy, and demand transparency, while also ensuring independent programming does not get left out of the equation,” Saless said.
In total, ISA founding companies have over 2,200 streaming touchpoints.
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Chechu Lasheras has been named Canela Media’s new chief strategy officer. The technology company, Canela Media, announced Monday that Lashera will spearhead the company’s corporate strategy, by increasing the company’s growth and identifying new opportunities.
“Canela Media has established itself as a dynamic force in the streaming industry, offering a truly unique experience for Latino audiences and advertisers seeking to connect with this vibrant community,” said Lasheras.
Lasheras previously served as chief digital revenue officer at Grupo Prisa, where he developed innovative monetization strategies and business development initiatives, including the creation of Prisa Content Studio and Prisa Programmatic & Data Hub. Additionally, Lasheras served as executive director at Miami Dade Colleges and an advisor to Canela Media since its inception.
“Lasheras’ visionary approach and deep understanding of the media, tech and advertising ecosystem will be instrumental in charting our course to new horizons, capitalizing on opportunities, and solidifying our position as an industry leader in the media and multicultural space,” said Isabel Rafferty Zavala, CEO and founder of Canela Media.
GREENLIGHTS
Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment has greenlit a new sneaker, hip-hop hybrid series “Just for Kicks,” the company announced Monday.
Hosted by Don Benjamin, Wes Armstrong and Jadi Torres, the series will feature varying groups of guests to talk all things shoes and fashion. The new show hails from producer and director Rhyan LaMarr and entrepreneur Antoine Wade, and is set to feature a slate of stars including Allen Iverson, Jordan Clarkson, Rich the Kid, Bun B, Barton Fitzpatrick and more.
“We’re thrilled to bring Just for Kicks to audiences who love sneakers,” said Antoine Wade, producer. “There are no barriers, ethnic boundaries, or divisions when it comes to sneaker culture and fashion. A CEO can wear the same shoes as a kid from the inner city. That accessibility creates a universal love and appreciation for shoes beyond social classes. It starts with shoes and takes us all over the map, from music and fashion to inspirational stories and what’s happening worldwide.”
“Just for Kicks” will premiere later this summer on Crackle.
PARTNERSHIPS
Caring Across Generations and the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media and the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center’s Media Impact Project have partnered to generate two representation studies of caregiving in scripted series, the organizations announced Thursday.
The Institute is investigating how caregiving is represented in TV, while the Norman Lear Center is studying how audiences are responding to the depictions.
Following President Biden’s executive actions to provide support for caregivers, “Caring Across commissioned this research to help advise entertainment industry professionals on care-related storylines and ensure television and film more authentically and holistically represents aging and disability care.”
“As Hollywood strives for more diverse and inclusive storytelling, expanding care representation is inextricably a part of that,” said Lydia Storie, story consulting work lead at Caring Across. “These studies will help us measure the gap between people’s real-world care experiences and what we typically see on screen and identify opportunities for creators to bring richer portrayals of care on screen.”
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Amazon Freevee is expanding its FAST Channel in a new partnership with MGM and Warner Bros. Discovery that will see the addition of new channel selections, the streamer announced Monday.
The new slate of channels will span genres including originals, popular movies, food, game shows, classic TV, reality, news and sports. All channels are accessible via the Freevee app, as well as within Fire TV and Prime Video.
“FAST Channels offer Freevee viewers an always-on, 24/7, lean-back viewing experience that immediately connects them to a selection of TV shows, movies, and unscripted programming such as news, sports, and music,” said Ryan Pirozzi, head of Amazon Freevee. “MGM and Warner Bros. Discovery create content that appeals to a diverse fan base—action, comedy, drama, scripted, unscripted, and more. We are incredibly excited Freevee customers will have even more choice when it comes to what they can watch, whenever and however they choose.”
A few of the upcoming Freevee Fast Channels include MGM’s launch with single-title channels which will include “The Pink Panther,” “Stargate,” “Green Acres” and “The Outer Limits.” Additionally, Discovery and WBD studio content including “Cake Boss,” “Extreme Couponing,” “Paranormal Lockdown,” “Say Yes to the Dress,” and “Long Lost Family” will be accessible.
DATES
Oprah Winfrey Network’s upcoming original documentary series “Time of Essence” will premiere Friday, Aug. 18 at 9 p.m. ET, the network announced Wednesday.
The five-part series “Time of Essence” will celebrate the magazine and its contributions to the pop cultural landscape. OWN, too, has revealed a list of leaders, celebrities and influencers that will be featured in the series, including Taraji P. Henson, Gabrielle Union-Wade, Vanessa Williams, Sunny Hostin and Suzanne de Passe.
Previously announced, Beverly Johnson, Anansa Sims, Halle Berry, Whoopi Goldberg, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Regina Hall, Taye Diggs, Mikki Taylor, Susan L. Taylor and Caroline Wanga will additionally be apart of “Time of Essence.”
“‘Time of Essence’ will tell the story of how Essence has informed and reflected Black culture in America for over 50 years. Each episode explores a different decade – from the ’70s to today – and features first-hand commentary on that era’s biggest moments from the icons, trailblazers, staffers and leaders who lived and defined them. This candid commentary is coupled with never-before-seen footage and exclusive behind-the-scenes moments from the worlds of entertainment, sports, politics, fashion and beauty,” per the series’ official logline.
Christian Sarabia, Nicole Elliott, Raymond Garcia, Emmet Dennis, Sidra Smith, Stephanie “NöNe” Dunivan and Barkue Tubman-Zawolo serve as executive producers.
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The 2024 People’s Choice Awards will be held on Sunday, Feb. 18, live-streamed across NBC, Peacock and E! at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET. from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, CA, NBC announced on Wednesday.
The 2024 People’s Choice Awards are “the only awards show powered by the people [that] honor fan favorites across various categories in movies, television, music and pop culture.” This year’s ceremony will sport a slate of live performances and special guest appearances over its 2-hour run time. This will be the first time the event is broadcasted via Peacock.
“The mission of the ‘People’s Choice Awards’ continues to be about giving a voice to those whose opinions matter most – the people” said Cassandra Tryon, senior vice president of NBCUniversal Television and Streaming’s entertainment live events. “Moving the telecast to the heart of awards season and expanding our reach to Peacock’s audience creates a platform for the people’s voice to be heard louder than ever, giving stars and their fans an opportunity to celebrate together.”
The People’s Choice Awards expands to social platforms with “Backstage Live” bringing audiences at home behind the scenes, connecting popular stars with their biggest fans.
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Woody Harrelson, Tiffany Haddish and Pete Davidson return for Season 2 of Tubi’s “The Freak Brothers.” The animated comedy series premieres on June 25.
In this new season, “the Freaks and Kitty’s Mary Jane-fueled misadventures will take them from their high school reunion to matching wits with Mark Zuckerberg, settling old scores with Mitch McConnell, and battling Seth Rogen in a Pot Brownie Bake-Off contest,” said the official synopsis.
The cast also includes John Goodman, Adam Devine and ScHoolboy Q. The series is based on Gilbert Shelton’s comic series, “The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers,” which turns 55 this year. The television series is produced by WTG Enterprises.
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CBS has set a July 2 premiere date for the fifth season of its reality competition series “Tough As Nails,” the network announced Tuesday.
“Tough As Nails” is a competition series that spotlights “Americans who consider the calluses on their hands a badge of honor.” Season 5 will sport a special two-hour episode premiere on July 2 and Friday July 7 at 8 p.m. ET on the CBS Television Network.
The show joins CBS’ announced summer lineup, including “Secret Celebrity Renovation,” “Big Brother,” “Superfan” and “The Challenge: USA.” All series will be available to stream live and demand on Paramount+.
INITIATIVES
HBO has donated a total of $100,000 to a slate of LGBTQ+ organizations in connection with its Emmy-award-winning unscripted series “We’re Here,” the network announced Wednesday.
“We’re Here” has donated to said organizations including PFLAG Fort Worth, MS Capital City Pride, Pride of Southern Utah, TriVersity Pride Center, Equality Florida and Lambda Legal.
Season 3 of the series followed drag superstars Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O’Hara and Shangela as they traveled to varying cities across the U.S. to share their stories and promote awareness surrounding LGBTQ+ culture in each community. Upon each trip, queens take in a drag daughter which they train for a celebratory performance in each town to promote acceptance and cultivate awareness surrounding anti-LGBTQ+ laws and ideologies.
“We’re Here” is created and executive produced by Stephen Warren and Johnnie Ingram. directed and executive produced by Peter LoGreco serves as director and executive producer alongside Eli Holzman, Aaron Saidman and Erin Gamble. Caldwell Tidicue (Bob the Drag Queen), “Eureka” D. Huggard (Eureka O’Hara) and D.J. Pierce (Shangela) serve as series producers.
SPECIALS
Steven Weber of “Chicago Med” is set to host Project Angel Food’s “Lead with Love 4” on KTLA 5. The television special airs June 24 from 7 to 9 p.m. Weber will be filling in for “Will and Grace” star Eric McCormack, who is currently on Broadway.
“Since Eric is flitting about with theatre-folk, I am once again doing the heavy lifting in this relationship by hosting Lead with Love for Project Angel Food which Eric had hosted for the last three years,” said Weber in a statement. “I hope that the KTLA audience will feel that I do, if not a better job than Eric, a handsomer one.”
Confirmed guests include Carol Burnett, Cindy Crawford, Magic Johnson, Sarah Paulson, Niecy Nash-Betts, Martin Sheen, Mindy Sterling and Paula Abdul. “Lead with Love 4” will be hosted by Weber and KTLA’s Jessica Holmes along with co-hosts Loni Love and Alec Mapa.
Funds raised from the program will go directly toward the preparation and distribution of Project Angel Food’s medically tailored meals, which are free meals provided for 2,500 critically ill people in Los Angeles County each day.
