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THE FRIDAY FIVE: Top 5 TV News Stories of the Week Ending 10/2/20

Here's a look at this week's Top 5 TV news stories!

#1 - ALL STAR CAST ADDED TO APPLE TV+ MUSICAL COMEDY
This is a story I'm excited about, but it probably wouldn't be the #1 story in a busier week. It just happened to be a pretty slow TV news week. Anyway, an all star cast was named for the upcoming Cecily Strong musical drama coming to Apple TV+ in 2021. The untitled project, produced by Lorne Michaels among others, is a parody of sorts on the musical Brigadoon as it is centered on a couple who stumbles on a town where they all act like they are in a 1940s musical. Joining Strong in the cast is Keegan-Michael Key, Alan Cumming, Kristin Chenoweth, Jane Krakowski, Dove Cameron, Ariana DeBose, Fred Armisen, Jaime Camil and Ann Harada. I'm excited for this project!


#2 - PEACOCK ANNOUNCES "SAVED BY THE BELL" PREMIERE
One of Peacock's big entries in the scripted world - the reboot/revival of Saved by the Bell will premiere on November 25. The series, which will feature original cast members Elizabeth Berkley and Mario Lopez as regulars and others in guest appearances, was originally planned as part of the Peacock launch. However, the pandemic shut down production which delayed the series. It will be interesting to see if this can help Peacock make some nice in the scripted area because nothing they've launched has landed yet.

#3 - "REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER" RENEWED FOR TWO MORE SEASONS
HBO continues to firm up its late night shows for years to come. After recently renewing Last Week Tonight with John Oliver through 2023, the premium channel has ordered two more seasons of Real Time with Bill Maher, which will bring it at least through 2022. These will be the 19th and 20th seasons for the long-running and occasionally buzzy show. Maher has recently returned to the studio with a minimal audience, one of the first talk shows to actually have an audience. Other renewals this week included a fifth and final season for Netflix's F is For Family and a sixth season for Billions on Showtime.

#4 - "THE WALL" RENEWED FOR SEASON FOUR
NBC has renewed The Wall for a fourth season. The game show is the show that just won't die. Despite airing very sporadically and in very random timeslots, it continues to do well enough to get renewed. Season three will wrap up over the next couple weeks while there's know airdate for season four though next spring/summer seems likely.

#5 - PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED
I could care less about the People's Choice Awards, but as I said, it was a slow week. The nominees were announced this week with the awards airing on E! on November 15. Topping TV nominations were This is Us, Grey's Anatomy, Riverdale and Outer Banks. So vote now! I guess....

Check back on Monday for a new week of blog posts!
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