‘Walker,’ ‘Flash,’ ‘Riverdale’ Among 12 CW Shows to Score Early Renewals

BBC in recent days. He has now taken to Twitter with a photograph of his test results to explain where he has been.Huw said he was relieved to have had his jabs completed."Been feeling rough but on the mend now - imagine what it could be like without the 3 jabs for protection," he exclaimed to his followers."Back at work soon.

Jeremy Clarkson.Few could have anticipated that motor-racing trophy winner Kelvin would swap life in the fast lane for the simple life in the country, or indeed that the former soap star would swap Emmerdale's farm for a real life one - but naysayers were proved wrong on both counts when he scored his own TV show.One of the biggest problems facing Kelvin and Liz in their bid to be taken seriously as newbie farmers were the comparisons to Jeremy's Amazon hit show Clarkson's Farm.Kelvin has a message to those who believe there's a similarity: "Watch our show [first] and then make your conclusions yourself."Talking on Netmums Sweat, Snot and Tears podcast, he clarified: "We did get a lot of suggestions that we just ripped it off, or copied it."[However] we were three months into production when Clarkson's show came out."People forget that there's a formal development process , there's a picture process, a commission process - we're three months down the line into filming and then Clarkson's arrives at summertime."He added: "I'm not copying anyone, I've got no need to! We are very confident in who we are."Other differences include age - Kelvin and Liz are a generation younger than Jeremy's at just 38, and the pair recently announced they are expecting twins.Not only will Liz soon be "breastfeeding two babies", but the pair are also learning how to nurture baby animals too.He revealed on the podcast that the pair recently attended a lambing show to teach themselves "lambing as newbies".The comparisons to 61-year-old Top Gear presenter Jeremy might relate to both men being passionate about motorsport.However, Kelvin was quick to clarify: "What we represent is just us."All we are being is ourselves - the mistakes we make are

Scottish stand-up comedian Jane Godley, 61, took to Twitter today to share an optimistic message with her 248,500 followers.The star is suffering from cancer but has admitted she is “grateful” that she didn’t contract the illness in her younger years.Janey was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in November 2021 after suffering from stomach pain, frequent urination, bloating and a sore back.On Twitter, she wrote: “Every day I wake up and instead of thinking ‘I have cancer’ and dreading my day…“I make a quick list of what I am grateful for and I suppose I am grateful I didn’t get cancer as a young woman, I got it at 60 years old.“I have to be grateful for all the support I have,” she continued.“I have to be grateful for all the support I have and the fact that chemotherapy isn’t a hateful punishment but a cure to flush out any cancer left behind.“I am grateful for pals on here who have never stopped supporting me and, of course, to my family.”Janey’s fans flooded the comments section with messages of support.Catriona Lawson wrote: “Thank you for your posts; it's so helpful that you've been honest about this awful thing you're going through. Every success and comfort to you.”Christina1 added: “You sharing your story is also helping me appreciate the smaller things and not to take my health for granted.So thank you x.”Anne Colyer commented: “A brilliant and inspiring way of coping, Janey, sending lots of love and hugs.”While Phillip penned: “We’re all here for you Janey! You’re such a strong human being.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIn what may be a case of unfortunate timing, Kendrick Lamar will appear in an extended Spotify podcast series that examines his classic 2015 album “To Pimp a Butterfly” — premiering Wednesday (Feb. 16).

William Earl Brent Lang has been promoted to Executive Editor of Variety.In his new role, Lang will help guide the venerable showbiz brand’s editorial operations across digital and print platforms. He will continue to oversee Variety’s film, media and theater coverage, and he serves as leader of the New York bureau. “There’s an infinite number of words I would use to describe Brent Lang and my admiration for his breadth of genius, talent and skills as a journalist,” said Claudia Eller, Variety Editor-in-Chief. “He is also one of the most trustworthy, thoughtful and collegial people I’ve ever worked with and it’s a joy to watch him continue to flourish.”Lang most recently served as Executive Editor of Film and Media and New York Bureau Chief.

Ben Croll To follow-up his 2016 debut “Marija,” Swiss filmmaker Michael Koch set his sight skyward, fixing his vision on a remote Alpine farming community both untouched and victim to time. The filmmaker immersed himself in that world, working with village locals, collecting stories and living off the land, and would then channel those experiences into his sophomore feature.Now premiering in competition in Berlin, “A Piece of Sky” follows a taciturn farmhand, Marco (Simon Wisler), and a single mother, Anna (Michèle Brand), who find strength in each other as they build a life in the punishing Alpine range.

Over only a relatively small number of feature films, Italian filmmaker Alice Rohrwacher has established herself as one of the most interesting working today. And it doesn’t appear that she’s going to be stopping anytime soon, as she is already in the middle of filming her latest feature, “La Chimera.” According to Variety, Alice Rohrwacher has started production on “La Chimera,” her newest feature, which will star Josh O’Connor, Isabella Rossellini, Carole Duarte, Alba Rohrwacher, and Vincenzo Nemolato.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Tooning Out the News” has been renewed for Season 2 at Paramount Plus.As part of the renewal, the show is being rebranded as “Stephen Colbert Presents Tooning Out the News.” The second season will debut on March 4 with a half-hour special to coincide with the rebrand of CBS All Access to Paramount Plus. The second season will then continue on March 8 with new segments available to stream daily, culminating in a weekly full episode, exclusively on the streamer.“We are so excited for season two of ‘Tooning Out the News,’ which will feature even more incisive questions, unrelenting egomania, Freudian projection, shameless brand integration, tasteful nudity, unapologetic slander, and flat out lying,” said Colbert.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO Max has given a two-season order to a reboot of adult animated series “Clone High,” as well as a series order to a standalone series about “Scooby-Doo” character Velma Dinkley, who will be voiced by Mindy Kaling.The announcements were part of a larger adult animation slate revealed by HBO Max on Wednesday. The streamer also picked up the series “Fired on Mars” starring Pete Davidson and a Season 2 and 3 renewal for JG Quintel’s “Close Enough.” Season 2 of “Close Enough” will debut on Feb.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe CW has made a number of orders for the 2021-2022 season, including a pilot order for the live-action “Powerpuff Girls” series.In total, The CW announced three pilot orders and one straight-to-series pickup, with the latter being a reboot of the USA Network series “The 4400.” The other two pilots are for the DC project “Naomi” from Ava DuVernay and Jill Blankenship and an untitled religious dramedy from Claire Rothrock and Ryann Weir. All of the projects are created by women.The “Powerpuff Girls” live-action series was first announced as being in development back in August.

The CW has announced that 12 shows have been handed early renewal orders!

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe nominations for the 78th annual Golden Globes are officially out and clear frontrunners in the film and television categories have emerged.When looking over the full list of nominees, “The Crown” scored the most nods of any television show with six. That includes nominations for best drama series and for best actress in a drama series for Emma Corrin, who broke out as Princess Diana this season.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe upcoming Amazon anthology series “Solos” has lined up a star-studded cast.Academy Award-winning actors Morgan Freeman, Anne Hathaway and Helen Mirren, Emmy Award-winning actor Uzo Aduba, Nicole Beharie, Anthony Mackie, Dan Stevens, and Constance Wu will all star in the series.“Solos” is a seven-part anthology series that is described as exploring the deeper meaning of human connection, as explored through the lens of the individual. It will tell stories, each from a different perspective and moment in time, that illuminate that even during our most seemingly isolated moments, in the most disparate of circumstances, we are all connected through the human experience.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe Netflix dramedy “The Chair” is rounding out its cast.Bob Balaban, Nana Mensah, David Morse, and Everly Carganilla have all been cast in series regular roles, Variety has learned. In addition, Ji Yong Lee, Mallory Low, Marcia DeBonis, Ron Crawford, Ella Rubin, and Bob Stephenson have all been cast in guest starring roles.They join the previously announced cast memebers Sandra Oh, Jay Duplass and Holland Taylor.

A reimagining of the long-running series Walker, Texas Ranger is off and running for The CW.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterABC has picked up three comedy pilots for the 2021 pilot season.Two of the pilots — a reboot of “The Wonder Years” and “Maggie” — are single-cams and will be produced by 20th Television. The third, an untitled multi-cam from Regina Hicks, is produced by ABC Signature.The “Wonder Years” reboot was originally announced as being in development back in July.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe HBO Max pilot “Verbatim” is rounding out its cast.Sara Gilbert, Rob Huebel, Leland Orser, Lyiq Bent, Tate Donovan, J.R. Cacia, and Kevin Dunn have all joined the project.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe upcoming Netflix series “Pieces of Her” has added five to its cast, Variety has learned.Jessica Barden, Omari Hardwick, Joe Dempsie, David Wenham, and Jacob Scipio have all been cast opposite previously announced stars Toni Collette and Bella Heathcoate.The series is based on the best-selling book of the same name by Karin Slaughter. In a sleepy Georgia town, a random act of violence sets off an unexpected chain of events for 30-year-old Andy Oliver (Heathcoate) and her mother Laura (Collette).

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAn animated “Game of Thrones” series is in the very early development stages at HBO Max, Variety has confirmed with sources.There are no details available about what the focus of the potential series would be and no writers or talent are currently attached to the project.HBO Max declined to comment.Variety exclusively reported last week that a series based on George R.R. Martin’s “Tales of Dunk and Egg” is in the works at HBO.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“State of the Union” has been renewed for Season 2 at SundanceTV.The second season of the short form series will star Brendan Gleeson, Patricia Clarkson, and Esco Jouléy. In the season, liberal campaigning Ellen (Clarkson) drags her traditional, self-made husband Scott (Gleeson) out of his comfort zone and into a hipster Connecticut coffee shop, where they have ten minutes before their marriage counseling session to drink a coffee, gather their thoughts and argue about everything from Quakerism to pronouns.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJamie Dornan has been cast in the lead role of the upcoming limited series “The Tourist.” In addition, HBO Max has boarded the project and will co-produce along with Two Brothers Pictures as well as serve as the show’s streaming home in the U.S.Alongside Dornan, the six-episode series will star Danielle Macdonald, Shalom Brune-Franklin, and Hugo Weaving. Filming is set to begin soon in Australia.