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THE FRIDAY FIVE: Top 5 TV News Stories of the Week Ending 4/16/21

Here's a look at my Top 5 TV news stories of the week!

#1 - "BRIDGERTON" RENEWED FOR SEASONS 3 & 4
Netflix has renewed its smash hit Bridgerton for two more seasons. After its buzzy premiere on Christmas Day, it was renewed for a second season back in January. Now that production is underway on the second season, it has gotten two additional seasons which is impressive coming from Netflix, a streamer that keeps many shows to three seasons or less. There are eight books in the book series the show is based on so we'll see if the series can make it that far. This was more positive news for the show after the bombshell that Season 1 star Rege-Jean Page won't return for Season 2. Though he was never supposed to be a major part of the second series (his character is not a major player in the second book), it became an issue after Page was the breakout star of the first season. Even without Page, expect the second season to draw a ton of attention when it rolls around.

#2 - CBS RENEWS FIVE DRAMAS (PLUS "TOUGH AS NAILS")
CBS was the king of renewals this week as five dramas got picked up for next season. Leading the pack was NCIS, which was renewed for a 19th season and will bring star Mark Harmon back despite rumblings that Harmon was ready to be done. I wouldn't be surprised to see it be the final season or to see Harmon in less episodes. Also renewed was Blue Bloods for a 12th season (and I can't imagine that has too many seasons left either), Bull for a sixth season, S.W.A.T. for a fifth season and Magnum P.I. for a fourth season. CBS also renewed the reality show Tough As Nails for two more seasons. Still waiting for renewals are NCIS: Los Angeles, All Rise, SEAL Team, Clarice, B Positive, The Unicorn and United States of Al. I feel good about Los Angeles, All Rise and SEAL. I think Clarice and Unicorn are done and I could see either B Positive or Al getting renewed but not both.

#3 - AARON RODGERS ON "JEOPARDY"
Aaron Rodgers ends his two week stint as the Jeopardy guest host tonight and has been getting lots of positive notices. Rodgers seems pretty seriously interested in the permanent job even as he continues to play football and he seems to have a shot at it based on comments by executive producer (and fellow interim host) Mike Richards. As a Packers, Rodgers and Jeopardy fan, I am not sure that I think Rodgers has been the strongest guest host - he's a little stiff at times - but I'm intrigued by the idea because I think he could grow into it.

#4 - NBC ORDERS PILOTS FOR 2021-22
We are starting to get the first pilot orders for 2021-22 as the industry starts to get back on schedule following over a year of disruptions. NBC was the first to make a couple announcements with a few intriguing concepts: a wedding island hostage drama and a bank heist thriller as well as a comedy executive produced by and starring Demi Lovato. These are the first of many!

#5 - "WARRIOR" RENEWED & MOVING TO HBO MAX
The last Cinemax show standing, Warrior, has been renewed and is heading to HBO Max. This means Cinemax is officially out of the scripted business. I think we'll see more and more cable and premium networks heading that way as streaming continues to take over. They will fall before broadcast networks will.

Check back next week for a new week of blog posts!

rodgers hosting jeopardy?
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