Pandemic News

• British network ITV has postponed (canceled) this year season of “Britain’s Got Talent” and the show will presumably return in 2022 once the pandemic is under control. If I was a network executive I would cancel America’s Got Talent, American Idol, Worlds of Dance, Dancing with Stars in any other such reality competition series until after the pandemic. AGT and Idol last year I thought were disasters. Dancing With The Stars wasn’t too bad but still list family members in the audience and it took something away from the show.
• A wide variety of film and TV productions in Great Britain including “Fantastic Beasts 3” have been shut down because of the British pandemic shutdown.
• Niecy Nash will serve as temporary guest host for “The Masked Singer” because Nick Cannon has Covid 19
• Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic has been pushed back to 2022

> NBC announced the new season of “New Amsterdam” will premier March 2.

Renewals, Coming Soon, and Casting News

• “Tehran” spy drama has been renewed for season 2 by Apple TV+
• NBC has renewed “The Blacklist” for season 9.
• NBC’s new sci-fi series “Debris” about debris from an alien spacecraft falling to earth will premier March 1 at 10 PM.
• The much anticipated Zack Snyder directors cut of “Justice League” will premier on HBO Max March 18
• Upcoming guest hosts of Jeopardy will be Anderson Cooper, Savannah Guthrie, and Dr. Oz
• Blue Sky Studios the CG animation company responsible for the “Ice Age” franchise “The Peanuts Movie” and other animated films is being closed down in April by its new owner Disney. It was acquired through the merger with Fox.
• Netflix has renewed “On My Block for 1/4 final season.
• A movie version of Broadway hit “Dear Evan Hansen” is scheduled to be in theaters September 24.
• Ryan Seacrest announced he will no longer post “E!’s Live from the Red Carpet” after 14 years.
• The Rogers and Hammerstein musical “Cinderella” with Brandy and Whitney Houston will be coming to Disney+ February 12. I kind of like the original version with Leslie Ann Warren from back in 1960s.

Politics and Showbiz

• Fox News has canceled Lou Dobbs’ nightly business show. Dobbs is one of several people named in a defamation lawsuit by voting machine companies after he and other Fox personnel questioned their accuracy.

Miscellaneous News

• WGN America cable channel is being rebranded “NewsNation” and will shift to five hours of nightly news programming as part of its restructuring after Nexstar acquired Tribune Media. They hope to compete as a prime time news alternative to CNN, Fox, and MSNBC.
• A bankruptcy judge has approved liquidation Weinstein Company liquidation after its value with its founder Harvey Weinstein faced multiple sexual assault charges and a 23 year sentence for rape and assault.
• The Television Academy’s decision to merge late-night talk shows and sketch comedy shows interest single category is drawing file from NBC, ABC, CBS, Comedy Central, HBO and Showtime. They have petitioned the Academy to reverse the decision announced in December.
• Netflix announced that “Bridgerton” which has already been renewed for season 2 has set a record as the biggest series ever on Netflix with 82 million viewers who watched some if not all of the series.
• “Fear The Walking Dead” will return with new episodes April 11
• Tony Bennett and his family have revealed he has been battling Alzheimer’s.
• Rockstar Marilyn Manson has been dropped from “American Gods” and “Creepshow” following allegations of abuse by actress Evan Rachel Wood.
• “Mayans MC” season 3 will return to FX March 16.
• Chiwetel Ejiofor will play the alien in “The Man Who Fell to Earth” coming to Paramount+ streaming. David Bowie played the role in the original version.
• “Wynonna Earp” will end it’s run on Syfy at the end of season 4.
• CW has given a straight series order for a reboot of the sci-fi series “The 4400”. The original ran in 2004 on USA Network.
• NBC has announced “Superstore” series finale will be

In Memoriam

• Cloris Leachman who on an Oscar and 8 Emmy awards. Age 94.
• Cecily Tyson Emmy-winning, Oscar-nominated actress and social justice crusader. Age 96
• Hal Holbrook Tony award winner and five-time Emmy-winner. Age 95.
• Christopher Plummer legendary Oscar, Emmy, and Tony award winner. Age 91
• Mary Wilson Motown legend and cofounder of “The Supremes” age 76
• Gregory Sierra known for roles in “Sanford and Son” and “Barney Miller”. Age 83 cancer
• Bruce Kirby character actor who appeared in “Colombo” and “LA Law” age 95.
• Maria Harmon 1940s Western movie actress and mother of rockstar Cherie Currie . Age 97.
• Mitchell Krauss CBS News correspondent who was wounded during the 1981 assassination of Egyptian Pres. Sadat. Age 90.
• Hilton Valentine guitarist school 60s pop group “The Animals” who played memorable guitar riff in “House of the Rising Sun” age 77
• Alan Burns TV producer cocreator “The Munsters” and “Mary Tyler Moore Show”, age 85.
• Dustin Diamond Star of 90s high school comedy “Saved by the Bell” age 44 cancer
• Jim Weatherly songwriter of “Midnight Gender Georgia” and other 70s hits. Age 77
• Haya Harareet Israeli actress starred in and 1959’s “Ben Hur”. Age 89.
• Mike Henry football player turned actor who appeared in “Smokey and the Bandit” age 84.
• Former heavyweight boxing champion Leon Spinks Jr. once defeated Mohammed Ali. Age 67. Cancer.

Links of Interest

• Matt’s Inside Line: Get The Resident Scoop, Plus WandaVision, Chicago Fire, MacGyver, 9-1-1: Lone Star and More
• Neil Gaiman’s ‘The Sandman’ Casts Tom Sturridge, Gwendoline Christie, Vivienne Acheampong, Boyd Holbrook, Charles Dance, Asim Chaudhry And Sanjeev Bhaskar
• The CW Renews The Flash, Walker, Batwoman, Riverdale Plus 8 Others
• Matt’s Inside Line: Scoop on TWD, WandaVision, Flight Attendant, All Rise, Charmed, Chi Fire, Rookie and More
• The Expanse EP Daniel Abraham Hails Naomi’s ‘Intimate, Epic’ Finale Moment