Peter White Television: Last News

Peter White Television EditorName That Tune is returning to screens with Jane Krakowski hosting a rebooted series for Fox.Former American Idol judge Randy Jackson is set as band leader for the show, which will premiere on January 6 after The Masked Singer. It comes from Fox Alternative Entertainment, Prestige Entertainment, which owns the rights to the show, and Holey Moley producer Eureka Productions.

Peter White Television EditorRebecca Drysdale has exited as head writer of The Tonight Show.This comes just over six months after she was named head writer on the NBC late-night show and follows a busy week for the Jimmy Fallon-hosted show, which saw showrunner Gavin Purcell leave, replaced by Jamie Granet-Bederman and Fallon himself extend his contract with the network.Drysdale, in a private Facebook post first picked up by The Chicago Sun-Times, said that the decision to leave was mutual. “They made it clear that I was not a good fit for the show, and I did not disagree.

Peter White Television EditorCBS is exploring a range of options and timelines to get the next season of Survivor up and running.Production on season 41 of the long-running reality competition series was postponed in March – on the day that the WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. The team had hoped to get back into production in May for a fall premiere but various challenges posed by COVID-19 have stalled this.The show traditionally films in Fiji but entry to the country is generally restricted, posing problems for a show that has a large crew.

Peter White Television EditorJimmy Kimmel is returning to his late-night talk show following his stint hosting the Emmys with his show also heading back into its usual location of the El Capitan Entertainment Centre.Kimmel returns from his summer break on Monday September 21 and Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be back in the studio, having filmed from Kimmel’s home and at an AirBnB in West Hollywood over the past six months.The show will resume its regular one-hour format on Kimmel’s return.Kimmel’s return to the El Capitan Entertainment Centre, which was formerly known as the Hollywood Masonic Temple, comes as the majority of late-night talk shows have returned to their studios, or at least to their studio buildings.

Peter White Television EditorIman Benson, who stars as Drea Barris in Netflix comedy #BlackAF, has signed to UTA.The actor has signed with the agency in all areas.Benson’s character Drea is the moral center and narrator of Kenya Barris’ series; her university application documentary is the framing device for the show, which centers around a Black family living in Los Angeles and is loosely based on Barris’ own life. It was recently picked up for a second season.Benson has also starred in USA Network’s Suits, Shonda Rhimes’ ABC drama Station 19, Netflix teen comedy Alexa & Katie and ABC’s Uncle Buck remake.

Peter White Television EditorEXCLUSIVE: Gregory Diaz IV, who is starring in Jon Chu’s upcoming Warner Bros feature musical In The Heights, has signed with UTA.The 15-year-old actor previously appeared on Netflix’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and NBC’s New Amsterdam.Diaz made his name on Broadway with his performance as Bruce in Matilda the Musical in 2016 and also performed Off-Broadway in Pedro Pan, Zurich and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.He plays Sonny de la Vega in In the Heights, which is based on the musical by Quiara Alegria Hudes and Lin-Manuel Miranda. The film is set to be released in June 2021.

Peter White Television EditorSuperman and Batman could be set to take on the podcast world after Spotify struck a deal with Warner Bros. and DC.The multi-year deal will see the three companies produce and distribute an original slate of narrative scripted podcasts.