Jason Sarlanis: Last News

Oscar winner Octavia Spencer is set to executive produce Feds (working title), a six-part docuseries about the FBI, for ID and discovery+. The project is the second to be announced as part of Spencer’s multi-part deal with ID and discovery+, with her Orit Entertainment and October Films.

This post contains details from the first four episodes of ID’s documentary series Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.

Investigation Discovery has greenlit a new, fifth episode of docuseries Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV that will delve deeper in into the toxic and dangerous culture behind some of the most iconic kids’ television shows of the late 1990s and early 2000s, including allegations of abuse, sexism and racism. 

Emily Longeretta For the first time, the so-called toxic environment at the cable channel Nickelodeon in the late ’90s and early aughts is being exposed on screen, in ID’s “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” docuseries. For years, directors Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz worked to make sources comfortable with the idea of talking about their experiences, sharing allegations of abuse, sexism, racism and inappropriate dynamics on sets — mostly under creator Dan Schneider.

Investigation Discovery has named Kathryn Vaughan to the post of senior vice president, head of production. Vaughan will be based in New York and report to Jason Sarlanis, president of Turner Networks, Investigation Discovery and HLN, linear and streaming.

That twist at the end of the Natalia Grace docuseries? That was all too real!

BreAnna Bell TBS has set the premiere date for its “Friday Night Vibes” revival for Jan. 5 at 8:00pm ET/PT.

EXCLUSIVE: Investigation Discovery is getting into the topical space with a dark twist.

It was one of the most tragic hate crimes to rock North America.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large As Amazon Freevee’s hoax reality series “Jury Duty” is currently garnering huge amounts of attention, the format originator is staging a comeback. TBS is set to announce Wednesday that it has ordered a revival of “The Joe Schmo Show,” which will air next year on the cabler. The original “Joe Schmo” premiered in 2003 on Spike TV, with a follow-up in 2004 and then a third season revival in 2013. Created by Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese (both of whom went on to a successful screenwriting career, including the “Deadpool” films), “Joe Schmo” made waves when it first debuted for parodying the then-relatively new and white-hot reality competition genre.

BreAnna Bell Jason Momoa will lead Discovery Channel’s Shark Week as it returns for its 35th year, as the master of ceremonies. The network shared the announcement as part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s Upfront’s appearance on Wednesday. “As the host of Shark Week, I am beyond excited to take you along on this journey,” said Momoa. “This project means more to me than a week of talking about sharks. It’s a chance for me to learn and share my connection to these amazing creatures. My love of sharks came long before my time as Aquaman – it began several generations before me.” Over the course of Shark Week, Momoa will set up the jaw dropping events, epic journeys, first-time revelations, and groundbreaking scientific findings that make up the summer spectacle. WBD promises that fans can expect adrenaline-inducing original hours of sharks from new and continuously explored destinations, all captured on-camera by Discovery’s dedicated science and research field teams.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is set to launch its third live show on the TNets, with the company set to debut “AEW: Collision” in June. The announcement was made as part of the Warner Bros. Discovery upfront presentation at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. “Collision” will launch on June 17. The two-hour show will air every Saturday night thereafter and will feature AEW talent like Miro, Samoa Joe, Thunder Rosa, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Andrade El Idolo. “We’re doubling-down on wrestling with ‘AEW: Collision,’ which gives fans two more hours every week,” said Jason Sarlanis, president of the Turner Networks, ID and HLN, linear & streaming. “AEW’s roster of talent has expanded so quickly that we felt it needed another night to bring our audience the epic rivalries, unforgettable matches and stars they love to watch. Adding ‘Collision’ to our programming mix on TNT will allow us to satisfy the massive demand we’ve felt from our hardcore fanbase and be the ultimate complement to ‘AEW: Dynamite’ on TBS.”

J. Kim Murphy Investigation Discovery has partnered with Michael Bay, with the filmmaker slated to executive produce a new true crime documentary series for the network. Kathleen Finch, chairman and chief content officer for the U.S. Networks Group at Warner Bros. Discovery, made the announcement Wednesday morning during the company’s Upfront presentation. The series is set to premiere in 2024 and will “expose a terrifying, yet little known, true crime story.” “When Michael Bay first approached us to collaborate on a true crime project, we instantly knew we wanted to join forces,” Jason Sarlanis, president of crime and investigative content for linear and streaming at ID, said in a statement. “Michael Bay is an incredibly dynamic filmmaker and producer whose vision and storytelling appeals to audiences far and wide. This partnership will be the perfect addition to our blockbuster nights on ID.” 

Investigation Discovery is getting into the Michael Bay business.

The Joe Schmo Show has been in the cultural lexicon in recent months following the successful launch of Amazon Freeve prank show Jury Duty.

TNT is launching a second night of professional wrestling with AEW: Collision, a live, two-hour, in-ring show, which will debut June 17 and air Saturdays. The announcement was made Wednesday by Kathleen Finch, Chairman and Chief Content Officer, US Networks Group, Warner Bros. Discovery, during the company’s 2023 Upfront presentation at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

EXCLUSIVE: Investigation Discovery (ID) is bringing back two of its latest true-crime docuseries.

TBS has expanded its All Elite Wrestling franchise by greenlighting AEW: All Access, a documentary featuring the league’s biggest stars.  The new series is slated to premiere this March.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has set up a new unscripted series at TBS. The announcement was made by AEW CEO, GM, and head of creative Tony Khan on Wednesday’s episode of “Dynamite.” The series is titled “AEW: All Access” and is expected to debut on TBS in March. It will follow some of the company’s biggest stars, including Adam Cole, Dr. Britt Baker, Sammy Guevara, Tay Conti, The Young Bucks, Saraya, Wardlow, and Eddie Kingston along with Khan. Each episode will follow them week-to-week as they seek to remain at the top of the company while also exploring rivalries between them. The show will also detail the lead up to major AEW events and pay-per-views

Armie Hammer's ex-wife Elizabeth Chambers will host her own series on 'toxic and traumatic' relationships, after her own explosive split from the shamed actor.The TV personality, 40, filed for divorce from Hammer, 36, in July 2020 after ten years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences - months before Hammer was accused by multiple women of sexual assault and of having violent kink fantasies involving cannibalism.Chambers has now signed a development deal with Investigation Discovery - with her first true crime show 'exploring the complexities of toxic and traumatic relationships.'Chambers will host and co-executive produce the series which features 'interviews and firsthand accounts of survivors that shed light on long-held secrets, generational trauma, and deep-rooted psychological issues', reports the network.The series also 'aims to empower victims with control of their own narratives.

TV host and journalist Elizabeth Chambers is set to headline a series about toxic and traumatic relationships for Investigation Discovery as part of a development deal with the network.

“We’re going to put 2022 behind us and focus on the future,” said Kathleen Finch, Chairman and Chief Content Officer of Warner Bros. Discovery’s U.S. Networks Group.