Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort Channel has partnered with Paul Fusco, the creator of the hit ’80s sitcom “ALF,” to create new content starring the wisecracking alien. The show, which aired from 1986 to 1990, starred the titular character ALF, or “Alien Life Form,” as he lives with a human family in suburbia.
Maximum Effort and Fusco have revived ALF, along with Shout! Studios, to premiere new sponsor-driven content premiering Saturday, July 29. Advertising messages will be interegrated throughout “ALF” episodes for various companies including Mint Mobile, Fubo, Hims, MNTN and Ring. Dubbed “Maximum Moments,” this sponsored content will feature new storylines featuring ALF.
“At Maximum Effort, we love taking risks and blurring the lines between shows and sponsorship because we believe both can be equally entertaining,” Reynolds said. Both “Maximum Moments” and “ALF” episodes can be viewed starting July 29 on Maximum Effort Channel, which is available to watch on Fubo, Amazon Freevee, LG Channels, Plex, Sling Freestream, Tubi, VIDAA, Vizio Watchfree+ and Xumo Play.
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In other TV roundup news:
TRAILERS
Netflix has debuted a teaser trailer for its upcoming dark animated fantasy “Castlevania: Nocturne,” which is set to premiere on Sept. 28.
Set amid the height of the French Revolution, the counter-revolutionary aristocracy has joined forces with the daunting Vampire Messiah, “who promise to ‘eat the sun’ and unleash an army of vampires and night creatures to crush the revolution and enslave humanity. Annette, a sorceress from the Caribbean, seeks out Richter Belmont, the last descendant of the long-fabled family of vampire hunters, to lead the resistance,” per the show’s official logline.
“Castlevania: Nocturne” stars Edward Bluemel, Thuso Mbedu, Pixie Davies, Sharon D. Clarke, Richard Dormer, Iain Glen, Sydney James Harcourt, Elarica Johnson, Nastassja Kinski, Zahn McClarnon, Aaron Neil, Franka Potente and Sophie Skelton.
Clive Bradley created the series and serves as showrunner alongside Kevin Koldge. Bradley and Koldge, too, executive produced with Fred Seibert and Adi Shankar.
Watch the teaser trailer below.
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The season two trailer for the Apple TV+ original sci-fi series “Invasion” has just been unveiled. The second season follows up on the worldwide alien invasion that the first season explored, in which five people across different continents grappled with the chaos of living on a planet under attack.
The new trailer reveals that the second season picks up 121 days after the invasion began, as the protagonists attempt to figure out how to fight back against the aliens. “We have suffered. We have sacrificed. Lives. Loved ones,” the narration says. Both somber moments and action sequences are plentiful in this sneak peek at humanity’s struggle to maintain control of Earth.
“Invasion” season two stars Golshifteh Farahani, Shioli Kutsuna, Shamier Anderson, India Brown, Billy Barratt, Azhy Robertson, Paddy Holland and Tara Moayedi. Enver Gjokaj, Nedra Marie Taylor and Naian González Norvind join the cast this season as regulars.
“Invasion” was created by Simon Kinberg and Davin Weil. The first episode of the second season will premiere August 23 on Apple TV+, and moving forward one episode will air every Wednesday through October 25.
Watch the trailer below.
Max has set the date for upcoming stand-up comedy special “Tracy Morgan: Takin’ it Too Far,” which will debut August 17 on the streamer. The trailer for the Emmy-nominated comedian’s special was also released, and features cuts from Morgan’s live set at Boston’s Wilbur Theater.
The special’s official logline reads: “Grateful and hyped, the comedian owns his set and unabashedly tackling topics such as dating in his 50s (along with the unexpected side effects that comes with it), his dysfunctional family, attempting to reverse gentrification in Brooklyn, and the very public 2014 car accident that left him with multiple broken bones, a traumatic brain injury, and a substantial settlemen.”
“Takin’ it Too Far” was executive produced by Rikki Hughes and Morgan, and was directed by Marcus Raboy. Watch the trailer below.
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Get ready for Gayle: Peacock has unveiled the trailer for upcoming comedy special “Chris Fleming: Hell.” Best known for his YouTube comedy series “Gayle,” Fleming gets a one-hour segment all to himself in the special.
According to Peacock’s official synopsis, “Chris Fleming lights up Dynasty Typewriter as he explores the unique hell of performance anxiety through musical comedy, anecdotes about Phil Collins, and everything in between. His surreal take on the plight of being a live performer is accompanied by absurdist sketches depicting the artist’s journey through Hollywood and the mystical nature of live theater.”
“Chris Fleming: Hell” is set to premiere on August 18. The special was directed by Cat Solen and produced by Morgan Howard and Michaela Ford alongside Jax Media.
Watch the trailer below.
OBITUARIES
James Arthur Roach, 92, of Woodland Hills, Calif., passed away at the Motion Picture and Television Fund Home on Wednesday, July 19. Roach was born on March 7, 1931, to James A. and Georgia Ellie Roach in Ft. Oglethorpe, GA and raised in Buffalo, NY. He graduated from Kenmore High School in 1949, then joined the Air Force, serving during the Korean War with the 3rd Shoran Beacon Squadron. Following this he went on to study Accounting and Business Administration at Michigan State University where he graduated with a B.A. degree in 1958.
Following graduation, Roach worked at the accounting firm of Ernst & Ernst then made the trip out west to Hollywood where he began his career in entertainment, beginning at CBS in 1961. He worked at Paramount, MCA, Sunn Classic Pictures, New World Pictures, Viacom International, Aaron Spelling Productions and Steven Bochco Prods., where he retired as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 2002. (He was also VP and CFO at Spelling.) Roach and his wife Diane then moved from their residence in Glendale, Calif., and retired to Indian Wells, Calif., where they enjoyed her remaining years together.
Roach is survived by six of his children: Jeannine (Bryce Doucette), Michael (Anthony Gonzalez), Colleen, John (Shanti Cabinaw), Kathleen (Andrew Vournas) and Kevin (Gwen) as well as nine grandchildren, Megan, Kelly, Taryn, Zachary, Adriana, Delaney, Ella, Brady and Jackson and nephew Greg Von Schleh. Roach was preceded in death by his parents as well as spouses Diane, Jane and Phyllis, his sister June, son Peter, granddaughter Brittany, nieces and a nephew.
Services will be held at the Mission San Fernando Rey de España at the San Fernando Mission, 11160 Stranwood Ave., Mission Hills, Calif., on Saturday, August 5, at 10 a.m.
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“60 Minutes” and “CBS News” producer Katie Spikes died on July 25 after five years battling cancer. She was 53.
Katharine Alma Spikes worked for CBS for 30 years, serving the network in a myriad of producing positions. For “60 Minutes,” she served as senior story editor and was behind the booking of many prominent interview subjects. Such guests included Former President Barack Obama, author Michael Lewis, actor Joaquin Phoenix, and Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps. Additionally, Spikes was one of the founding senior producers for “60 Minutes Sports.” She received an Emmy in 1997 for her contributions to CBS News’ coverage of Princess Diana’s death. Moreover, Spikes was known as a mentor who helped younger reporters and producers along their career paths at CBS.
“Katie Spikes was a talented producer, a fearless newsroom diplomat and an irreplaceable and unwavering friend,” correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi said.
Spikes was born in New York City on October 26, 1969. She was raised in Larchmont, New York and later lived in Westfield, New Jersey. She is survived by her loving husband Donald Furrer, her sons James Joseph Furrer and Owen Doolin Furrer, her stepson Brandon Scott Furrer, her parents Judith Doolin Spikes and Dr. James L. Spikes, and her sister Sarah Spikes.
Donations can be made in her memory to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
DATES
“The Victoria’s Secret World Tour,” a new docuseries from Victoria’s Secret & Co. and Prime Video, will make its debut on the streamer on Sept. 26, the company announced Thursday.
“The Tour” will be a hybrid fashion event documentary, showcasing behind-the-scenes videos and stories of VS20 — a group of creatives tasked with creating four fashion curations inspired by the cities of Bogota, Lagos, London and Tokyo.
“We are delighted to continue to expand our relationship with Amazon,” said Greg Unis, brand president of Victoria’s Secret and PINK. “This collaboration creates an unparalleled viewing experience, bringing the magic of The Tour directly to audiences far and wide. Through this collaboration, we are reinforcing our commitment to delivering captivating content that celebrates our heritage and resonates with our customers.”
Following the series’ Sept. 26 release, a collection inspired by “The Tour” will be available for purchase across Victoria’s Secrets official website and its Amazon storefront.
Pulse Films, the production company behind “Beyoncé: Lemonade” and Harry Styles’ “Music for a Sushi Restaurant” music video, produced “The Tour” while Sunshine executive produced.
Partel Olivia helms as director with film direction by Lola Raban-Oliva, Cristina Sanchez, Korty, Margot Bowman, Umi Ishihara, styling in partnership with Camilla Nickerson, cinematography by Ari Wegner, production design by Joseph Bennett and post-production Parallax. Davuud Karbassioun executive produced through Pulse.
EVENTS
The break is over! Warner Bros. Discovery is launching its second annual “Friends Fan Week” starting on July 24. The event will celebrate Chandler, Monica, Joey, Rachel, Phoebe and Ross with new products, programming, events and giveaways throughout the week.
Fans of the show can purchase an exclusive collector’s edition “Friends” Polly Pocket compact, a “Friends”-inspired Uno game, or a “Friends” Little People “The Television Series” set or enter to win a free coffee at Central Perk and free tickets to OGX’s The “Friends” Experience.
“Friends” next year is set to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its 1994 debut.
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Five comedic alum from Paramount’s CBS Showcase have joined the 2023 “New Faces” lineup at Montreal’s Just For Laughs festival. The event is know for launching the comedic careers of Ramy Youssef, Ali Wong, Quinta Brunson, Jimmy Fallon and the like.
Evan Mills (2023 Showcase), Sahana Srinivasan (2022 Showcase), Morgan Jay (2021 Showcase), Sahib Singh (2021 Showcase) and Carl Foreman Jr. (2020 Showcase) join Just For Laughs’ large class of up and coming comedians.
“New Faces” is part of the four-day ComedyPro event of the festival and runs from July 26 to 29.
PROGRAMMING
Ryan Seacrest returns to his spot as host of ‘American Idol’ for Season 22 along with judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry. The live virtual audition tour, coined ‘Idol Across America,’ returns to all 50 states starting August 2, where singers will get the chance to proceed to the judge audition round of “Idol.”
Auditions begin with the ‘First 700 VIP Event’ and move to Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina on August 4. It then moves on to Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, Washington, D.C.,Rhode Island, Vermont and Massachusetts on September 6. For the first time, contenders can audition under their genre during open calls hosted throughout the tour.
Season 22 is set to return in to ABC in Spring 2024, marking its seventh season on the network.
PARTNERSHIPS
Mattel has renewed its licensing partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products. In maintaining the partnership, Mattel will continue to serve as licensee for toy categories including preschool, plush, dolls, vehicles, games, and novelty toys. They will create and market products for a myriad of Warner Bros. Discovery brands and franchises including DC Universe, Harry Potter, “Friends” and “Ted Lasso.”
“Mattel is incredibly proud of our two-decade long partnership with Warner Bros. to create products for fans featuring their favorite Warner Bros. characters and storylines,” said Nick Karamanos, Senior Vice President of Entertainment Partnerships at Mattel.
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ESPAT TV & Studios has partnered with Washington, D.C.’s Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) to develop video game-themed programming, marking a first-of-its-kind government agreement. ESPAT and OCTFME will share a joint D.C.-based space at the former BET Studios.
“The dynamic partnership between OCTFME and ESPAT TV brings an unprecedented level of
excitement to our DCE streaming network, providing diverse immersive media content
opportunities,” said OCTFME director LaToya Foster in a statement. “We are investing in emerging industries partnerships, which include technology and gaming, that not only enhance the entertainment landscape of Washington, D.C., but also contribute to the growth of our local creative economy, which is critical to our mission.”
OCTFME and ESPAT have said that concept programming is already in development and expect to announce further details in the coming months.
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Latino-owned entertainment company Fuse Media has announced that Fuse+ will now be available on Amazon’s Prime Video. This expands an existing partnership in which viewers could watch Fuse FAST channels including Shades of Black, Backstage, Latino Vibes, and OutTV Proud on Amazon Freevee.
Fuse+ was launched in 2021 and offers more than 500 hours of scripted and unscripted programming, including the DEI-focused series “Made from Scratch,” “Shine True” and “Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce.”
“To continue our partnership with Amazon bringing Fuse+ to Prime Video subscribers is another testament to Fuse Media’s appeal to young, culturally diverse viewers eager for vibrant, authentic representations of their own lives on any screen they watch,” said Fuse Media Chairman & CEO Miguel Roggero.
DEALS
The NASCAR Xfinity series has found a new home on the CW network, which is set to broadcast races beginning in 2025 through the 2031 racing season. With this new seven-year broadcast agreement, the CW plans to air 33 live races each year including weekend practice and qualifying events, along with hosting additional content on the CW’s digital platform.
“Landing the NASCAR Xfinity Series is a game changer for The CW and our CW Sports division and represents another important building block in our programming strategy,” said Dennis Miller, the CW president, in a statement. “In addition, by creating a singular home for NASCAR Xfinity Series races, fans will be able to quickly find their favorite racing entertainment each weekend. Ultimately, bringing NASCAR Xfinity Series racing to The CW is a win-win for everyone — fans, drivers, teams, sponsors and affiliates. We can’t wait for the green flag to begin flying on The CW in 2025.”
Each of NASCAR’s second-tier races garner about a million viewers, according to both NASCAR and the CW. The Xfinity series comes as an addition to the broadcast network’s live sports roster, which currently includes “Inside the NFL,” ACC college football and basketball, LIV Golf and docuseries “100 Days to Indy.”
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The sports talk radio program “The Dan Patrick Show” has been renewed by iHeartMedia/Premiere Networks and NBC Sports with a multiplatform distribution agreement. Led by Dan Patrick and produced by “Dannettes” Paul Pabst, Patrick O’Connor, Todd Fritz and Marvin Prince, the show is hosted every weekday and features interviews, comedy, news, and commentary on the world of sports.
“I could not be more excited to extend each of my partnerships with NBC Sports/Peacock and iHeartRadio’s Fox Sports Radio Network for many years to come, and I am thrilled that this announcement is being made jointly,” Patrick said.
Patrick will also work alongside iHeartMedia to produce the Dan Patrick Podcast Network, which is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and features original content produced by Patrick, iHeartPodcasts and Workhouse Media, including “Dan Patrick Takes a Gamble” and “More To It with Marcellus Wiley.”
Under this deal, iHeartMedia’s Premiere Networks will continue to be the exclusive global digital and terrestrial audio distribution for Patrick’s show. Audiences can listen to the program 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on weekdays on more than 360 stations in the U.S. Fans can also stream the show during the same window Monday through Friday on Peacock.
EXECUTIVE NEWS
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. has appointed Tony Wells to its board of directors, filling the open spot created after Dennis Miller’s departure from the board in October 2022. Wells will serve as an independent director for the board’s compensation committee and is set to join fellow board directors for election at the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders.
“We are delighted to welcome Tony to the Board,” said Perry Sook, Nexstar Media Group founder, chair and CEO, in a statement. “His deep knowledge of the national and local advertising landscape developed over a career in which he deployed billions of marketing dollars for some of the country’s most high- profile brands, will benefit Nexstar as we grow our national assets of the CW, NewsNation and the Hill, and further leverage the largest local broadcasting footprint in the industry.”
Wells brings over three decades of marketing, advertising and business experience to Nexstar’s board, having previously held the roles of CMO for Verizon and CBO for USAA. He also currently serves on the Yelp Inc. and TripleLift boards.
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Hearst Television has tapped Michael Callahan to serve as the new vice president of production for Very Local, its local news streaming service.
Callahan previously served as senior director overseeing streaming production for Heart Television. He, too, held positions at Fox Sports, Yahoo! and Artists First throughout the duration of his career in production.
“Michael combines the special ability to lead and identify exceptional producers while maintaining his innate sense of creativity and collaboration,” said Michael J. Hayes, president of Hearst Television. “He brings the eye of an artist and the mind of an executive which we are blessed to have in our group.”
He first joined Hearst in 2014 as a development executive, developing and producing series before his jump to Heart Television in 2016 where he’s played a critical role in developing the brands’ digital voice. Callahan has co-created, developed and executive produced over two dozen original series and 200 half-hour unscripted series including “Blind Kitchen.”
“My partnership with Michael Callahan has truly been one of the highlights of my time at Hearst Television,” said Andrew Fitzgerald, senior vice president of streaming video services for Hearst Television. “His creativity and leadership have driven our video innovation time and again across numerous platforms. Michael is an incredible leader with a sharp creative mind for the development of new shows and concepts, and the team and studio he has built for Very Local is an unparalleled production unit.”
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Fox Corporation has appointed David Espinosa as president of distribution, succeeding Mike Biard, who recently stepped away from the position after over two decades at Fox to join NewsNation’s parent company Nexstar.
Espinosa moves into the new role from his previous position as executive vice president, distribution strategy and business affairs at Fox. In his new role as president of distribution, Espinosa will oversee content distribution across all brands including Fox Entertainment, News, Sports and Tubi, reporting to John Nallen, COO of Fox Corp.
Since joining Fox in 2006, Espinosa has held senior roles across the company. “It’s an honor to have the opportunity to lead such an impactful aspect of the Fox business,” said Espinosa in a statement. “The team and I look forward to continuing to work with our partners throughout the industry as we provide premium value through our defining news, sports and entertainment content as only Fox can.”
RENEWALS
Nickelodeon and Spin Master Entertainment’s hit preschool powerhouses “Paw Patrol” and “Rubble & Crew” have been renewed for an 11th and second season, respectively.
Currently celebrating its 10th anniversary season, “Paw Patrol” has been greenlit for its 11th season with a series order of 26 half-hour episodes. “Rubble & Crew,” a spinoff series inspired by original “Paw Patrol” characters, has been greenlit for Season 2 with an order of 26 half-hour episodes as well.
The news comes ahead of the first-of-its-kind “Paw Patrol” and “Rubble & Crew” television crossover event on Monday, July 31, while episodes of the series premiere at 11 a.m., back-to-back.
“Paw Patrol” follows a group of pups — Chase, Marshall, Skye, Rocky, Zuma, Everest and Tracker — as they embark on missions around Adventure Bay.
