Michael Schneider: Last News

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeNetflix’s limited series “Maid” was a hit for the streamer, as one of its top ten shows of all time and most-watched limited series ever. Star Margaret Qualley, for one, is amazed at the reception.“Mind blowing,” she tells Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast. “I mean, it’s so gratifying, truly mind blowing for me.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeFox’s reality hit “The Masked Singer” has always touted itself as family-friendly escapist fare, the kind of mass-appeal, broad-based hit that is the antidote to these troubled times. That became especially true during the pandemic, when viewers were looking for a show to take their mind off real-world chaos.That promise of a fun, stress-free show, devoid of mean-spiritedness or snark, is a key selling point for “The Masked Singer,” and why the show remains delightful for millions of fans. They’re watching to see wild, amazing costumes, a wide range of musical performances, the guessing game of who’s under the mask, and the playful banter between the show’s panelists.That’s why I still have a hard time believing Wednesday’s ‘Masked Singer’ report on Deadline.com, which claimed that former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani is set to be unmasked on an upcoming episode.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeJon Brockett has been tapped to serve as executive producer of the Screen Actors Guild Awards this year, joining returning EP Kathy Connell at the helm. Brockett had previously served as a producer on the show, and has been a part of the SAG Awards since its fifth show, while Connell has been with the ceremony since it began in 1995.Brockett and Connell are a part of this year’s production team, which the SAG Awards announced on Thursday. Not returning are Hazy Mills Productions’ Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner, who served as EPs with Connell of the in-person 2019 and 2020 events, as well as last year’s pre-taped virtual special.For 2022, as previously reported, the SAG Awards are shaking things up by moving venues, to Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeCBS is finally confirming its celebrity-driven, “Survivor”-style reality series “Beyond the Edge,” which premieres March 16 at 9 p.m. ET. News of the show first leaked in December, including a list of most of the nine stars who had signed on to participate and compete in Panama.The nine celebrities in “Beyond the Edge” are country singer Lauren Alaina, Super Bowl MVP Ray Lewis, country artist Craig Morgan, NBA champion Metta World Peace, supermodel Paulina Porizkova, NFL legend Mike Singletary, actress Jodie Sweetin (“Full House,” “Fuller House”) and television personalities Colton Underwood (“The Bachelor”) and Eboni K.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeYour eyes aren’t deceiving you. In Episode 2 of Hulu’s “Pam & Tommy,” that indeed is Tommy Lee, played by Sebastian Stan, having a deep, honest conversation with his talking penis — voiced by Jason Mantzoukas.It’s unlike anything that has ever been seen on television. Granted, it’s something that couldn’t have ever been seen on over-the-air television, at least without a hefty FCC fine and the threat of losing a broadcast license.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeJennifer Caserta is exiting AMC Networks after nearly two decades at the company, most recently as its chief transformation and people officer. As Caserta departs, Aisha Thomas-Petit has been named chief people and diversity officer at the company.Caserta had served as chief transformation/people officer since 2018; prior to that, she spent 14 years at IFC TV, including as president and GM.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large**********KEVIN BRAY Succession, “Retired Janitors of Idaho” (HBO)MARK MYLOD Succession, “All the Bells Say” (HBO)ANDRIJ PAREKH Succession, “What It Takes” (HBO)ROBERT PULCINI & SHARI SPRINGER BERMAN Succession, “Lion in the Meadow” (HBO)LORENE SCAFARIA Succession, “Too Much Birthday” (HBO)LUCIA ANIELLO Hacks, “There Is No Line” (HBO Max)MJ DELANEY Ted Lasso, “No Weddings and a Funeral” (Apple TV Plus)ERICA DUNTON Ted Lasso, “Rainbow” (Apple TV Plus)SAM JONES Ted Lasso, “Beard After Hours” (Apple TV Plus)MIKE WHITE The White Lotus, “Mysterious Monkeys” (HBO)BARRY JENKINS The Underground Railroad (Amazon Prime Video)BARRY LEVINSON Dopesick, “First Bottle” (Hulu)HIRO MURAI Station Eleven, “Wheel of Fire” (HBO Max)DANNY STRONG Dopesick, “The People vs. Purdue Pharma” (Hulu)CRAIG ZOBEL Mare of Easttown (HBO)Get the full list here.**********“Cobra Kai” (Netflix) – Seasons 3 and 4“Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO) – Season 11“Hacks” (HBO Max) – Season 1“Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu) – Season 1“Ted Lasso” (Apple TV Plus) – Season 2“Dopesick” (Hulu)“Mare of Easttown” (HBO)”The Underground Railroad” (Amazon Prime Video)“WandaVision” (Disney Plus)“The White Lotus” (HBO)See the rest of the nominees here.**********Without fail, the Academy Awards always winds up as one of the top 10 most-watched telecasts of the year in primetime.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThe Television Academy just added two more heavy hitters to its executive committee. Channing Dungey, the chairman of Warner Bros.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large“We Baby Bears” — the origins story of “We Bare Bears” brothers Grizz, Panda, and Ice Bear — is returning for a second season. WarnerMedia Kids & Family has renewed the prequel series for a second season, which will air on HBO Max and Cartoon Network.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeCBS will utilize this Sunday’s AFC championship game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals to unveil a new fan-centric marketing campaign tied around the theme “Get Into Something Good.”And here’s the unique angle to the spots that viewers will see on Sunday: They don’t actually include clips from the shows. Instead, they focus on the superfans behind series like “Survivor,” the “FBI” franchise and freshman comedy sensation “Ghosts.”“We’re trying to really break some norms and look at things differently,” said CBS president and chief marketing officer Mike Benson.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThough he’s been an acclaimed actor for five decades, earned four Oscar nominations and starred in several blockbusters, Willem Dafoe will take on a new challenge this weekend when he hosts “Saturday Night Live” for the first time Jan. 29.The announcement was met with massive enthusiasm online, with many people expressing disbelief Dafoe had never hosted before.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeCall it now: “Succession” will win the DGA Award this year for drama. That’s because it’s the only nominee this year for drama: Five episodes of the series’ third season filled all five nominated slots for this year’s DGA Awards category for dramatic series.The “Sucession” sweep comes as the Directors Guild of America has revealed this year’s TV nominees for its 74rd annual DGA Awards, including achievement in drama, comedy, limited/TV movie, variety, reality, children’s and commercials.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeReach Michael on Twitter @franklinavenue or email mschneider@variety.com******************************************************************************************A tally of the year’s most-watched TV networks seems wildly incomplete in the 2020s without Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney Plus or HBO Max in the mix. But with no real apples-to-apples way of comparing viewership on the streaming platforms to linear consumption, we’ll continue to measure them in different ways, at least for now.In the land of the linear, sports continue to save the day, helping stabilize viewership this year for at least two of the four major broadcast networks.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeReality producers have a new favorite network: ID, the true crime-centric channel formally known as Investigation Discovery. ID topped the list of networks that producers most like to work with, according to a new survey released Monday by NPACT — the trade association for non-fiction production companies doing business in the U.S.NPACT has resumed its annual survey of unscripted, documentary and reality series producers after last year’s hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

discovery of human remains that were later confirmed to be that of Laundrie's, the FBI said further search of the area on Oct. 20 also turned up a backpack, a notebook and a gun. «A review of the notebook revealed written statements by Mr.

Wow, finally we get some closure — and it’s all thanks to that notebook…

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeMany of us first saw Louie Anderson on screen as a flower delivery man in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” a cameo role that comes late in the 1986 movie. But the first time he made an impression on me was in the late 1980s, when Anderson would fill in for Joan Rivers on her short-lived Fox talker “The Late Show.”He was funny, he was engaging and brought a real personality and humanity when he would show up to guest host.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeFormer Warner Bros. marketing and communication exec Scott Rowe is unveiling his own shingle. Rowe has launched SRowe2000 Media, which will focus on strategic communication, public relations, crisis communications, and social media counsel and execution.Initial clients include Premiere Digital, NATPE and a technology start-up set to be announced at a later date.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeJanuary isn’t even over, but believe it or not, it’s time to start thinking about the Emmys again. The TV awards season gets underway today — you read that right, today — as the Television Academy conducts its annual lottery to schedule For Your Consideration campaign events.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeShondaland has rounded out its new executive leadership team, promoting longtime development executive Alison Eakle to chief content officer, TV & film, while Chris DiIorio has been upped to chief marketing officer. Both of these are newly created roles at the company.“Both Alison and Chris have been integral to the growth and success of Shondaland and I am thrilled that they will be taking on new, expanded positions within the organization,” said CEO Shonda Rhimes.The promotions come following the appointment of Megha Tolia as Shondaland’s new president.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeNBC has pushed “American Song Contest,” its ambitious U.S. take on the legendary Eurovision Song Contest, back a month in order to give the production more time to handle COVID concerns when it comes to having a live audience.“American Song Contest” will now premiere on Monday, March 21 at 8 p.m. ET, and air there (in a two-hour slot, until 10 p.m.) for eight weeks, with a finale on May 9.