Here's a look at the Top 5 TV news stories of the week!
It was a pretty quiet week for TV news as you'll see from the items making the list this week. One of the more notable stories was that CBS is ending Bull after six seasons this spring. It coincides with the end of star Michael Weatherly's contract but could also have just been a mutual decision after lots of behind the scenes issues with the show. Bull launched in 2016 to strong ratings and a ton of promotion as a new cornerstone for CBS's dramas following Weatherly's long run on NCIS. But it eventually became a show that CBS kept on the air despite objections from many after Weatherly was accused by guest star Eliza Dushku of inappropriate workplace behavior. Unlike many who have lost their jobs in the #MeToo era, Weatherly managed to hang on but the show became one that CBS kept around due to decent ratings and international sales while trying to not draw too much attention to it. It also dealt with the departures of showrunner Glenn Gordon Caron and co-star Freddy Rodriguez due to "workplace misconduct." That's why I wouldn't be surprised if the actual reason for this ending is CBS not wanting to renew Weatherly's contract and instead call of quits, no matter how they frame it to the press.
There has been a lot of news about the second season of The White Lotus in recent weeks. The series was intended to be a limited series but will now be an anthology series after its renewal. While Season 1 took place at a White Lotus resort in Hawaii, Season 2 will take place in a White Lotus resort in Sicily, Italy. Jennifer Coolidge will be returning after her breakout role that has already earned her a slew of awards nominations. Other cast members announced recently include Michael Imperioli, F. Murray Abraham, Adam DiMarco, Tom Hollander and Haley Lu Richardson. But the most exciting casting was Aubrey Plaza, who seems tailor-made for a Mike White series. I was a big fan of the first season of The White Lotus and while I will miss the Season 1 characters, I am excited for Season 2.
It was not a good week to be a bubble unscripted show on the networks as several series that were in limbo were officially announced as cancelled. NBC cancelled Ellen's Game of Games after four seasons while Small Fortune and Pooch Perfect were both cancelled after one season by NBC and ABC respectively. ABC also announced that Who Wants to Be A Millionaire? will be put on the back burner for now. While it isn't cancelled, there won't be any new episodes ordered for awhile. But it wasn't all bad news for the reality shows: the CW renewed Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Masters of Illusion and World's Funniest Animals. There are many reality shows still in limbo but that number got a little shorter this week.
#4 - "STAR TREK" UNIVERSE NEWS
If you're a Star Trek fan (which I am not), there was a lot of news for you this week courtesy of Paramount+. The flagship series Star Trek: Discovery has been renewed for a fifth season while Star Trek: Picard will premiere its second season on March 3, 2022 (more than two years since the first season premiered). Also, the newest series (and prequel to the original) Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will premiere on May 5.
#5 - SCRIPTED PREMIERES THIS WEEK
Here's a look at this week's scripted premieres!
Today: Netflix drops the first part of the long awaited fourth and final season of Ozark. The Emmy-nominated series released its third season in March 2020 so it was one of the early pandemic binges for many people. Apple TV+ has the premiere of the third season of Servant. The drama has already been renewed for a fourth and final season. Amazon releases As We See It, an autism dramedy from Friday Night Lights and Parenthood's Jason Katims.
Sunday: Showtime has the premiere of the sixth season of Billions, which will continue on without one of its stars, Damian Lewis, who departed the show after five seasons.
Monday: On a busy Monday, HBO premieres the long awaited The Gilded Age, which has been in development for a decade. ABC has the premiere of the soapy wine country drama Promised Land. TNT has the third season premiere of Snowpiercer, which has already been renewed for a fourth season. TBS has the 19th, yes 19th, season premiere of American Dad!
Wednesday: Syfy has the second season premiere of Resident Alien, which gained its share of fans with its first season last year. It is paired with new comedy Astrid & Lilly Save the World.
My pick for the week:
That would be The Gilded Age, a show I've been excited about for years and one I hope doesn't disappoint. I'm also ready to see more Ozark. I'm not quite as enamored with it as some but it did earn seven nominations at my 2020 Benjamonster Awards. I'm also curious about As We See It since I have liked a lot of things from Jason Katims.
Check back next week for a new week of blog posts!
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