News

Exclusive: CBC has put a third season of time-bending anthology drama Plan B into production.

Kotv its returning to produce the season, which will feature a new lead cast of Carolina Bartczak (Painkiller, X-Men: Apocalypse), Arnold Pinnock (The Porter, Combat Hospital) and Ennis Esmer (Children Ruin Everything, Blindspot).

Additional casting includes Arianna Shannon making her screen debut, Jaeden Noel (Orphan Black: Echoes, Invasion), Carolyn Taylor (Baroness von Sketch Show, I Have Nothing) and Grace Lynn Kung (Sort Of, Fallout).

Production is now underway in Montreal, with six episodes planned. The show is an adaptation of the French-language drama series of the same name, which is now in its fourth season for Radio-Canada.

The season will follow Abigail Walker (Bartczak), the host of Canada’s top morning TV show, who is grappling with the devastating loss of her teenage daughter, Lucy (Shannon), to suicide. Tormented by grief and regret, Abigail uses...

Julia Lester and Antonia Gentry in Prom Dates Image: Hulu As far back as they can remember, Prom Dates’ Hannah (Julia Lester) and Jess (Ginny & Georgia’s Antonia Gentry) always wanted to have a spectacular senior prom. At 13, the two even went as far as to make a blood pact,...

Julia Lester and Antonia Gentry in Prom DatesImage: Hulu

As far back as they can remember, Prom Dates’ Hannah (Julia Lester) and Jess (Ginny & Georgia’s Antonia Gentry) always wanted to have a spectacular senior prom. At 13, the two even went as far as to make a blood pact, swearing...

Hulu has revealed the official trailer and poster for Prom Dates, the coming-of-age comedy film that will debut on the streaming service on Friday, May 3.

Prom Dates follows best friends Jess and Hannah, who made a pact at 13 to have the perfect senior prom. Despite the impending changes that college will bring over the next four years, the two are committed to honoring their prom pact.

But with only 24 hours left before the big event, everything falls apart when they break up with each of their dates. Jess and Hannah are left with one night to find new dates and live out their middle-school fantasies.

The film was directed by Kim O. Nguyen and written by D.J. Mausner (Baroness Von Sketch Show). It was produced by American High and Hartbeat.

The movie stars Julia Lester (High School Musical: The Musical: The Series), Antonia Gentry (Ginny & Georgia), Kenny Ridwan (The Goldbergs...

Exclusive: The cast for the American High and Hartbeat Hulu movie Prom Dates has been set with Chelsea Handler and Best in Show‘s John Michael Higgins, but also Julia Lester, Antonia Gentry, Kenny Ridwan, Jt Neal, Jordan Buhat, Zión Moreno, and Terry Hu. The movie will hit the service this spring.

The Kim O. Nguyen directed, D.J. Mausner scripted movie follows best friends Jess and Hannah (Gentry and Lester), who make a pact at 13 to have the perfect senior prom. Despite the impending changes that college will bring over the next four years, the two are committed to honoring their prom pact. But with only 24 hours left before the big event, everything falls apart when they break up with each of their dates. Jess and Hannah are left with one night to find new dates and live out their middle-school fantasies.

Producers are Jeremy Garelick, Will Phelps and Molle DeBartolo...

Canada’s media guild has reacted with shock following the announcement CBC/Radio-Canada will cut approximately 10% of its workforce and bring down its program spend by C$40M ($29.6M) to reduce a major budget shortfall.

The Canada Media Guild (Cmg) said that though it was braced for cuts, it was “shocked” by the depths of the plan and was “dismayed and frustrated by the enormous impact these budgetary cuts” on its members, who include producers, journalists, technicians and program production staff.

Around 600 union and non-union roles will be shed across CBC/Radio-Canada, while another 200 currently unfilled positions will be closed, with the organization forced to “manage approximately C$125M [$92M] in budget pressures forecast for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.”

Both the English-language CBC and French-language Radio-and Canada will eliminate around 250 roles, with most coming from Technology and Infrastructure and corporate positions, with some layoffs taking place immediately.

Furthermore, the corporation...

(L-r) Adrienne C. Moore and Meredith MacNeill, in Canadian crime TV series “Pretty Hard Cases: Season 3.” Courtesy of FreeVee

I must open with the disclaimer that I hadn’t seen the first two seasons of this Canadian cop/buddy comedy, “Pretty Hard Cases: Season 3” though I did watch several episodes to have some sense of ongoing character and plot backgrounds in these 10 hour-long episodes. I got much of it but would have understood everyone and everything better had I seen more from before. I recommend starting from the beginning for that reason. This show is right in the wheelhouse of those who enjoyed series like “Frankie Drake” or “Miss Fischer’s Murder Mysteries.” This one emphasizes the comic side even more than those others.

Meredith MacNeill and Adrienne C. Moore star as Toronto police detectives who follow genre tradition by hating each other at first, before bonding over time as partners and then becoming besties.

Hulu has picked up “Prom Dates,” a coming-of-age comedy film produced by Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat as well as American High.

“Prom Dates” follows best friends Jess and Hannah, who made a pact at 13 to have the perfect senior prom. Despite the impending changes that college will bring over the next four years, the two are committed to honoring their prom pact. But with only 24 hours left before the big event, everything falls apart when they break up with each of their dates. Jess and Hannah are left with one night to find new dates and live out their middle-school fantasies.

The movie, which has already been shot, was directed by Kim O. Nguyen, repped by 3 Arts, from a script written by D.J. Mausner (“Baroness Von Sketch Show”). Producers include Jeremy Garelick, Will Phelps and Molle DeBartolo for American High; Kevin Hart, Bryan Smiley and Luke Kelly-Clyne for Hartbeat; and...

Exclusive: Netflix on Monday morning unveiled Verified Stand-Up, a new series featuring short sets from 10 comedians that’s set to premiere globally on November 28. Rising comedians that perform in the two-parter, filmed at Webster Hall in New York City, include Asif Ali, Dulcé Sloan, Gianmarco Soresi, Isiah Kelly, Leslie Liao, Nimesh Patel, Robby Hoffman, Rosebud Baker, Sabrina Wu, and Vanessa Gonzalez.

News of Netflix’s new stand-up series comes following its announcement of Improv: 60 And Still Standing, a comedy special celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Improv comedy clubs, which is set to premiere November 7th. Top comics dropping in for short sets as part of that project included Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, Bert Kreischer, Craig Robinson, Deon Cole, Fortune Feimster, Jeff Dunham, Kevin Nealon, Mark Normand, Jo Koy, and Whitney Cummings.

Linda Mendoza directed Verified Stand-Up, with Anne Harris serving as executive producer.

Previously seen on Disney+’s WandaVision and The Mandalorian,...

Here is a wrap-up of all the news you need to know from Wednesday, October 18, 2023.

MGM+ has unveiled the official trailer for its highly-anticipated series, Beacon 23.

The sci-fi drama will debut on Sunday, November 12, on MGM+ at 9:00 p.m. Et/Pt with the first two of eight episodes.

Zak Penn created the series and executive produced along with Glen Mazzara.

It is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by High Powey.

"Beacon 23 takes place in the farthest reaches of the Milky Way and follows Aster (Lena Headey), a government agent, and Halan (Stephan James), a stoic ex-military man, whose fates become entangled after they find themselves trapped together inside one of many Beacons that serve as a lighthouse for intergalactic travelers," according to the logline.

"Every Beacon is run by one highly trained human and a specialized Artificial Intelligence. Aster mysteriously finds her way to the lonely Beacon-keeper Halan,...

It all started in 1988 with an obsession: Canadian comic Carolyn Taylor, now known as one of the stars and co-creators of “Baroness Von Sketch Show,” was a “closeted 15-year-old” watching Olympic figure skating in her aunt’s living room. She recalls Katarina Witt performing a free skate to “Carmen” in an iconic red costume. At the very end, Witt performatively lay down on the ice — and Taylor just wanted to lie next to her.

“It was one of those foundational moments,” Taylor tells Variety. “But then I went on with my life, and didn’t pursue skating or Olympics in any capacity.”

Fast forward to 2016. Taylor was driving in the car with her girlfriend when Whitney Houston’s 1992 song “I Have Nothing” came on the radio. “It was as if I had heard it for the first time,” she recalls. She had a vision of “a professional pairs, gold medalist skating routine,...

ABC’s former star of The Bachelorette, Gabby Windey, has exciting news. While her relationship with Erich Schwer didn’t work out, she announced she’s officially dating a woman. So, who is Gabby Windey’s girlfriend, Robby Hoffman? Here’s what to know.

Who is Gabby Windey’s girlfriend, Robby Hoffman?

Gabby Windey’s new girlfriend, Robby Hoffman, is making headlines for dating The Bachelorette star. Windey joined the ABC series in the hopes of finding a man to get engaged to. At the end of the season, she and Erich Schwer were engaged and planning their wedding, but they didn’t last. Fans long wondered if Windey would arrive on Bachelor in Paradise to pursue love once more, but it seems she found love elsewhere.

So, who is Robby Hoffman? Hoffman is an American-Canadian writer and comedian originally born in Brooklyn. She began her career in Toronto, Canada,...

Now in its fourth season, Liquid Courage is an award-winning podcast where host Amanda Pereira interviews creative folks she admires (and is a little intimidated by!) with the help of some 'liquid courage' in the form of her guest's favourite drink.

The Liquid Courage Podcast is a casual interview-style show where Amanda aims to build a genuine connection with her guests while celebrating the heck out of them! The conversations are full of laughter, vulnerability and lots of yummy beverages. Our guests span disciplines including actors, directors, writers, interior designers, content creators, radio hosts, talent agents and managers, comedians, bakers, cinematogrophers and more.

Liquid Courage has been featured in Elizabeth Banks' WhoHaHa "Podcasts we love", The Toronto Star's list of "five funny podcasts that will brighten your lockdown life", and won Outstanding Debut of a Series at the Canadian Podcast Awards.

Previous guests include Aurora Browne (Baroness Von Sketch Show...

Marblemedia has wrapped production on the upcoming half-hour teen comedy series “Davey & Jonesie’s Locker,” Variety confirms.

The 10-episode, single-camera series filmed in Toronto and has been co-commissioned by Prime Video in Canada, Australia and New Zealand and Hulu in the U.S.

“Davey & Jonesie’s Locker” hails from showrunner Evany Rosen and follows two best friends, Davey and Jonesie, who feel “out of step with their peers and the banal backdrops of their high school existence.” When they discover their locker is actually a portal to a multiverse, they set off on new adventures. The joke? Those adventures entail alternate versions of their high school, with offbeat iterations of their classmates.

“Fortunately, these audacious and creative besties are ready to make the most of this vacation from reality by leaving their mark on every universe they visit… even if it means choosing interdimensional chaos while they’re at it,...

HighballTV has released a first-look photo for its musical feature film Mother of All Shows, starring Emmy-nominated actress Wendie Malick (Young Sheldon, Hot in Cleveland, Bojack Horseman).

The film is directed by and also stars Melissa D’Agostino (Tactical Girls), as well as cast members Ann Pornel (Baroness Von Sketch Show), Darryl Hinds (Overlord and the Underwoods), Juan Chioran (Sneakerella) and Phil Luzi (Bad Blood), Tara Consoli (Kim’s Convenience), Michael Miranda (Murdoch Mysteries) and Trevor Martin (Six Guns for Hire).

Written by D’Agostino and David James Brock, Mother of All Shows follows Liza (D’Agostino) as a woman coping with the impending death of her estranged mother. In her mind, she retreats to a 70’s variety show where the all-powerful host is Liza’s own mother, Rosa (Malick), who leads an all-singing, all-dancing cast of players from Liza’s past and present. Scene by scene, song by song, Liza works...

Exclusive: Sheila McCarthy, who can currently be seen in Sarah Polley’s Oscar-nominated film Women Talking, has signed with Atlas Artists for management.

McCarthy appears opposite Frances McDormand, Claire Foy, Judith Ivey, Rooney Mara, Jessie Buckley, and Ben Whishaw in Women Talking, nominated for two Oscar nominations including Best Picture. For her role as Greta, McCarthy was awarded the Career Achievement Award at the 2022 Denver Film Festival and shares in the Film Independent Spirit Awards’ Robert Altman Award, given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast.

Over a four-decade career, the Toronto-born McCarthy is a two-time Canadian Screen Award winner for I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing and Lotus Eaters. She also received two Canadian Television Awards for Sesame Street and Emily Of New Moon, among other honors.

McCarthy recently wrapped her first short film in the director’s chair, Russet Season, and starred in Little Black Dress,...

Exclusive: Carlo Mendez will take over Alvaro Orlando’s role in the indie The Legend of Jack and Diane, following Orlando’s departure due to a scheduling conflict.

He joins a cast led by Tom Sizemore, which also includes Robert Lasardo, David Timlinson and newcomer Lydia Zelmac, with production currently underway in and around the Los Angeles area.

The film directed by Bruce Bellochi is a revenge thriller, which takes its name from John Mellencamp’s classic song “Jack & Diane.” It centers, of course, on Jack (Tomlinson) and Diane (Zelmac), who decide to leave Indiana for a new life in Los Angeles. When the pair discover secrets about the death of Diane’s mother, their worst fears are confirmed, and they are forced to run. On the way to Los Angeles to confront evil, they create a hit list to exact revenge on everyone involved.

Mendez will play Detective Stanley Montana,...

Exclusive: CBC has set Rakhee Morzaria (Note to Self), Zoriah Wong (Nancy Drew) and Roman Pesino (Odd Squad) as part of the main cast of Run The Burbs, the upcoming family comedy from Kim’s Convenience alum Andrew Phung and The Secret Marathon‘s Scott Townend. The series is currently in production in and around Toronto and Hamilton.

Also joining the cast are Ali Hassan (CBC’s Laugh Out Loud), Julie Nolke (Explaining the Pandemic to my Past Self), Jonathan Langdon (Utopia Falls), Simone Miller (Detention Adventure), Samantha Wan (Second Jen), Candy Palmater (The Candy Show), Chris Locke (Workin’ Moms) and Aurora Browne (Baroness von Sketch Show).

Created by Phung and Townend, Run the Burbs follows stay-at-home dad – Andrew Pham (Phung) – living and loving with his entrepreneurial, executive wife and two kids. The Phams are a young, bold Vietnamese-South Asian-Canadian family taking a different approach to living life to the fullest,...

Exclusive: Showtime has put into development Rivkah, a comedy from comedian and writer Robby Hoffman (The Chris Gethard Show) and A24.

Written by Hoffman, the project is inspired by her real life and focuses on two worlds — the idyllic contemporary life Hoffman lives as a genderqueer woman on the Eastside of L.A., and her childhood growing up as a closeted girl named Rivkah with nine siblings set in the world of the Hasidic community in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights. Hoffman would play the adult version of the character, should it go to series.

Hoffman, Alli Reich, Hallie Sekoff, Ravi Nandan and Jordan Tilzer are executive producers.

2020-21 Amazon Prime Video Pilots & Series Orders

Hoffman wrote for the Catherine Reitman comedy Workin’ Moms (Netflix), Baroness Von Sketch Show (IFC), and The Chris Gethard Show (TruTV). She won a Daytime Emmy for her work on the PBS children’s show Odd Squad.

The Banff World Media Festival has revealed the full list of nominees for its 2021 Rockie Awards International Program Competition.

In the English comedy category, contenders include FX’s “Better Things,” HBO Max’s “The Flight Attendant,” Hulu’s “The Great,” FX’s “What We Do In The Shadows,” Hulu’s “Woke” and Sky One’s “Brassic.” English-lingo drama nominees include AMC’s “Gangs of London,” HBO/BBC’s “His Dark Materials,” BBC America’s “Killing Eve,” BBC’s “Noughts + Crosses” and Bell Media’s

“Transplant.”

BBC Studios leads all producers, with 28 nominations, followed by HBO, with nine. Among countries, the United States was tops with 50 nods, then United Kingdom with 47.

“We’re ecstatic with the range of high-profile international and Canadian programs that entered and are nominated for the 2021 Rockie Awards,” said Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director of the Banff World Media Festival. “This year’s nominees are a showcase of the spirit,...

This weekly feature is in addition to TVLine’s daily What to Watch listings and monthly guide to What’s on Streaming.

With nearly 500 scripted shows now airing across broadcast, cable and streaming, it’s easy to forget that a favorite comedy is returning, or that the new “prestige drama” you anticipated is about to debut. So consider this our reminder to set your DVR, order a Season Pass, pop a fresh Memorex into the Vcr… however it is you roll.

More from TVLineWhat's New on Netflix'Missing' Shows, Found! The Latest on 30+ SeriesThe Mighty Ducks' Lauren Graham Reveals Her Big Problem With Sports,...

No, really.

I'm not kidding this time.

We really are coming to the close on the incredibly funny Canadian import, Baroness von Sketch Show.

Airing on IFC, Baroness von Sketch Show is, you guessed it, a sketch comedy show that takes everyday situations and shows you how absurdly funny the world can be.

If you enjoyed Seinfeld, you have nothing to lose by watching Baroness von Sketch Show.

Four incredibly funny women make up Baroness von Sketch. Meredith MacNeill, Carolyn Taylor, Aurora Browne, and Jennifer Whalen.

They work in front of and behind the camera to make all of the magic happen.

If there's something you've stumbled over in real life, you can bet that it's come to their minds too, and they're ready to show you the humor in it.

In this exclusive clip of tonight's all-new episode, they ponder whether you can call listening to an audiobook reading.

Originating on CBC Television in 2016, “Baroness Von Sketch Show” has seen us through the chaos of the last five years. The Canadian sketch comedy series is created by Carolyn Taylor, Meredith MacNeill, Aurora Browne and Jennifer Whalen, a dynamic foursome whose varying talents combine into comedic gold. A smash hit in their native Canada, the series earned a cult following in the U.S. when sketches began making the rounds on YouTube, earning fans in Reggie Watts and Lea Delaria, who shared early videos. IFC brought the series to American audiences in 2017, and will debut the fifth and final season (which premiered in Canada in the fall) on February 24.

“Baroness” always — and proudly — skews feminist, though the comedy is always queen. The humor is a deeply satisfying blend of broad slapstick with sharp satire. Many of the sketches combine a shrewd social criticism, whether of diet culture or parenting double standards,...

This weekly feature is in addition to TVLine’s daily What to Watch listings and monthly guide to What’s on Streaming.

With nearly 500 scripted shows now airing across broadcast, cable and streaming, it’s easy to forget that a favorite comedy is returning, or that the new “prestige drama” you anticipated is about to debut. So consider this our reminder to set your DVR, order a Season Pass, pop a fresh Memorex into the Vcr… however it is you roll.

More from TVLineWhat's New on NetflixBlack History Month Specials, Movies and DocumentariesTVLine Items: Snowpiercer Adds Panjabi, WandaVision Doc and More

This week,...

It's a big week, TV Fanatics.

There's a mix of old and new programming heading your way, and one of those shows will have you throwing it all way back to the '80s.

Punky Power is back! When Calls the Heart is bringing an end to an epic cliffhanger, and Superman & Lois flies onto The CW. Scroll down for all the shows we recommend for the coming week.

Sunday, February 21

90 Day Fiance: The Single Life (Discovery+)

Yes, the franchise is still expanding, but this new series is probably the most unique spin-off yet.

Featuring the likes of Big Ed Brown, Molly Hopkins, and Brittany Banks, it focuses on these singles as they navigate new relationships.

We’ve watched the first episode, and it’s fun!

8/7c Batwoman (The CW)

Gotham's getting crowded as the art of "Jack Napier" (aka The Joker) becomes significant in the search for Kate.

Alice's...

Maude Apatow, William Hurt, Corey Stoll, and Lara Pulver have all joined the cast of the upcoming AMC animated drama “Pantheon,” the network announced Thursday as part of the Television Critics Association winter press tour.

Apatow, Hurt, Stoll and Pulver will be joining a voice cast that is jam-packed with diverse celebrity talent. Those previously announced “Pantheon” stars include Daniel Dae Kim, Katie Chang, Paul Dano, Rosemarie DeWitt, Aaron Eckhart, Taylor Schilling, Ron Livingston, Chris Diamantopoulos, Raza Jaffrey, Scoot McNairy, Anika Noni Rose, Grey Griffin, SungWon Cho, Kevin Durand, Samuel Roukin and Krystina Alabado.

In tandem with the “Pantheon” casting announcement, AMC Studios also confirmed that series creator and showrunner Craig Silverstein has inked an exclusive, multi-year overall deal with the network to develop and produce new series for AMC Networks’ Entertainment Group as well as other content companies. Silverstein was the creator and showrunner for AMC Network’s period drama “Turn: Washington’s Spies.

BBC America has set a U.S. premiere date for the salvaged “Doctor Who” serial “Fury From the Deep,” AMC Networks announced Wednesday.

The six animated episodes were produced by BBC Studios last year using audio tracks from the original installments starring Patrick Troughton as The Doctor. (The original 1968 versions are among the classic “Doctor Who” episodes that are famously missing from the BBC archives.) The updated animated versions, which aired in the U.K. back in September, will get their U.S. debut on BBC America on Sunday, March 21.

The announcement came along with a slew of other new premiere dates for AMC’s various networks and streaming platforms, including BBC America, IFC, the flagship AMC linear network, Shudder and Acorn TV.

See the full list of dates below.

AMC

“Ride with Norman Reedus” Season 5

Premieres Sunday, March 7 at Midnight Et/11c on AMC and AMC+

Early access begins Sunday,...

At this point, we’re almost legally obligated to start off TV roundups with some variation on this idea that there’s a lot of TV out there, but it really is impossible to keep up with everything. And calling attention to it doesn’t make it any less true!

So, given that TV time is reaching astronomical heights in 2020, how does one find something to watch, let alone focus on just the best of the best? That’s where we come in.

Keeping track of the dizzying amount of television we’ve reviewed so far in 2020 is a task in and of itself, so we’ve tried to make it as easy as possible. Below, we’ve gathered each of our 2020 TV reviews, each with a season number and the network/service where the new episodes first aired for U.S. audiences. Hopefully, this will help you decide what...

Mae and George’s complicated, yet Feel Good romance is getting another chapter. Netflix has renewed the British dramedy for a second and final season.

According to the streamer’s official Season 2 description, Mae (Baroness von Sketch Show‘s Mae Martin) struggles to come to terms with “the ghosts from her past,” while George (Call the Midwife‘s Charlotte Ritchie) tries to reinvent her present. What will these two very different agendas mean for the couple? Viewers will have to wait until its 2021 premiere to find out.

More from TVLineVirgin River EP Hints at 'Fantastic' Arc for Another Couple in...

The diversity of late-night writers rooms is not a new topic of conversation.

For years, these shows have been accused of being too white and too male, and while that still might be the case, there has been improvement across the board both in terms of gender and ethnicity. Progress is being made, slowly, in the right direction.

So, it was nice to see, earlier this week, that the new team behind the scenes at NBC’s A Little Late with Lilly Singh was incredibly inclusive.

Chelsea Davison, taking over from Sean O’Connor, leads a gender-balanced and diverse writing team of Vannessa Jackson, a former writing apprentice on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert; Sabeeh Jameel, who was a researcher on The Opposition with Jordan Klepper; Romen Borsellino, co-creator of Freeform’s Kal Penn Approves This Message; Nimesh Patel, a former writer for Saturday Night Live who was discovered by Chris Rock; Nelu Handa,...

This weekly feature is in addition to TVLine’s daily What to Watch listings and monthly guide to What’s on Streaming.

With more than 530 scripted shows now airing across broadcast, cable and streaming, it’s easy to forget that a favorite comedy is returning, or that the new “prestige drama” you anticipated is about to debut. So consider this our reminder to set your DVR, order a Season Pass, pop a fresh Memorex into the Vcr… however it is you roll.

More from TVLineHallmark's 'Countdown to Christmas' Movie Schedule'It's a Wonderful Lifetime' Movie ScheduleBlue Bloods, MacGyver and Magnum:...

How many of you have taken me up on my numerous plugs to watch Baroness von Sketch Show?

We have an exclusive clip for you from tonight's episode.

Even better, it's an entire sketch, so this will give you an idea of what you've been missing.

Four incredibly funny women make up Baroness von Sketch.

Meredith MacNeill, Carolyn Taylor, Aurora Browne, and Jennifer Whalen work in front of and behind the camera to make all of the magic happen.

They take everyday situations and turn them on their head, and they're not afraid to touch on hot-button topics, either.

With their deft touch, they prove that you don't have to be divisive to make a point or be funny.

I mean, who wants to leave people out of the fun? Not the wonderful team at the Baron von Sketch Show.

Another hint, they hail from Canada. You know, it's the...

Since its premiere in 2016, “Baroness Von Sketch Show” has consistently delivered smart, unexpected, rip-roaring comedy on a range of topics rarely addressed by typical sketch shows. Whether it’s the absurdist escalation of Red Wine Ladies’ Night, or the anti-misogynist virtue signaling of a Queer Theory Reading Group, “Baroness Von Sketch Show” took advantage of under-explored scenarios to produce hilarity that resonated with the everywoman. In its excellent fifth season, the group continues to make good on that promise with no sign of slowing down. Produced by the CBC and airing on IFC in the U.S., “Baroness Von Sketch Show” not only proves Canadian humor translates just fine, but when it comes to sketch comedy, they reign supreme.

The troop consists of Carolyn Taylor, Meredith MacNeill, Aurora Browne, and Jennifer Whalen, all executive producers and writers of the series. Each bringing unique talents to the variety of characters they play,...

This weekly feature is in addition to TVLine’s daily What to Watch listings and monthly guide to What’s on Streaming.

With more than 530 scripted shows now airing across broadcast, cable and streaming, it’s easy to forget that a favorite comedy is returning, or that the new “prestige drama” you anticipated is about to debut. So consider this our reminder to set your DVR, order a Season Pass, pop a fresh Memorex into the Vcr… however it is you roll.

More from TVLineWhat's New on Netflix in October — Plus: Disney+, HBO Max and OthersFall TV 2020: Your Handy...

Autumn is the best.

The crisp scent of changing leaves that crunch under your feet make way for candy, pumpkin pie, and All Kinds Of Scary Programming!

Horror is right at the top of my favorites list year around, so this month with movies and series premiereing left and right to scare us silly is right up my alley. Check out what we recommend this week.

Saturday, October 10

9/8c My Best Friend's Bouquet (Hallmark)

Josie Hughes (Chaley Rose) is a hopeless romantic who believes in the kind of romance in black-and-white movies where the leading lady finds her one true love and gets swept off her feet.

She also believes the wedding bouquet always finds its way to the right person when tossed by the bride, as proven time and again at weddings dating back to her childhood.

But single Josie ends up with the bouquet at her friend Emma...

Despite production disruptions from the deadly 'Covid-19’ virus plague unleashed on an unsuspecting world, the TV industry is determined to get back on track, scheduling October 2020 premiere dates for new series and new seasons of returning shows including "Monsterland", "Pandora", "The Mandalorian" and a whole lot more:

October 1:

Gangs of London

The Salisbury Poisonings

A World of Calm (HBO Max, new unscripted series)

Oktoberfest Beer & Blood

The Split

October 2:

Undercover Boss

Emily in Paris (Netflix, new comedy series)

Monsterland

Warrior (Cinemax, Season 2)

Tiny World (Apple TV+, new documentary series)

October 3:

Lucky Dog

Innovation Nation

October 4:

Pandora

The Good Lord Bird (Showtime, new drama limited series; moved from August 9)

The Comedy Store

The Walking Dead: The World Beyond (AMC, new drama series)

Britannia (Epix, Season 2; U.S. premiere)

First Ladies

Girl Meets Farm

October 5:

Soulmates

Big Hero 6

Tell Me More with Kelly Corrigan

Hea Strikes Back (TLC,...

The past is coming back to haunt Rob Lowe on 9-1-1: Lone Star, which will host a mini West Wing reunion when Lisa Edelstein (House) recurs during the upcoming Season 2 of the Fox drama, our sister site Deadline reports.

Edelstein will play Gwyneth, the lawyer ex-wife of Lowe’s Capt. Owen Strand. She comes to Austin from New York City to be with her son T.K. (Ronen Rubinstein) following the shooting incident that left him hospitalized in the Season 1 finale. 9-1-1 Lone Star is currently slated to return for Season 2 at midseason.

More from TVLineThe TVLine-Up: What's New,...

ABC is developing a comedy with an LGBTQ couple at its center.

The multi-camera project comes from Disney’s 20th Television comedian and writer Sabrina Jalees (Harley Quinn, Search Party). It centers on first-time parents Sam and Bertie, whose lives take a turn when Alex, their spontaneous biological donor-daddy, pays them a visit and becomes part of their lives.

Jalees will executive produce with Sam Saifer (Broad City, Alternatino With Arturo Castro).

Jalees’ on-camera credits include Carol’s Second Act on CBS, Netflix’s stand-up showcase The Comedy Lineup and IFC’s Baroness Von Sketch Show, where she was also a contributing writer....

ABC is developing a comedy with an LGBTQ couple at its center.

The multi-camera project comes from Disney’s 20th Television comedian and writer Sabrina Jalees (Harley Quinn, Search Party). It centers on first-time parents Sam and Bertie, whose lives take a turn when Alex, their spontaneous biological donor-daddy, pays them a visit and becomes part of their lives.

Jalees will executive produce with Sam Saifer (Broad City, Alternatino With Arturo Castro).

Jalees’ on-camera credits include Carol’s Second Act on CBS, Netflix’s stand-up showcase The Comedy Lineup and IFC’s Baroness Von Sketch Show, where she was also a contributing writer....

In today’s Global Bulletin, Sky reports its latest Diamond diversity data, Abacus Media sells “Trickster” abroad, Channel 4 commissions a new home remodeling format and Pier 21 announces two executive appointments.

Diversity

Sky in the U.K. has released its latest Diamond diversity data, reporting progress towards diversity targets for original U.K. productions. The Diamond system was created by the TV industry’s Creative Diversity Network (Cdn) to allow broadcasters to collect and use data to track representation across a wide range of characteristics.

Updated numbers show that 25% of Sky’s on-screen talent now comes from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (Bame) backgrounds, surpassing the broadcaster’s initial 20% target. Sky has also reported improved minority representation in senior production roles, reaching 10% for the first time ever. Among writing positions, Bame representation in drama and comedy reached 17%, 9 points up from Sky’s full-year report shared earlier this summer.

Results come...

Pier 21 Films, the company behind CTV’s Canadian political satire series The Beaverton is beefing up its development team.

The company has hired former CBC executive Karen Tsang to the role of Vice President of Development and promoted Bill Lundy to Senior Vice President of Development.

Lundy and Tsang will report to Pier 21 Films’ Chief Operating Officer Nicole Butler and will work across its development slate and its search for new IP.

This development slate includes new half-hour projects from the likes of The Beaverton’s Emma Hunter and Kim’s Convenience’s Andrew Phung.

Before joining Pier 21 Films, Tsang spent eight years working in scripted content at the CBC, where she worked on shows including Baroness von Sketch Show. Lundy joined Pier 21 Films in 2018 as VP of Development. Previously, he worked at Bell Media developing and producing comedic series for the broadcaster including Letterkenny.

“Karen has an...

Hulu is hungry for more Taste the Nation: The streamer has renewed the culinary travel series, hosted and executive-produced by Padma Lakshmi, for Season 2.

The show explores “the rich and diverse food culture of various immigrant groups, seeking out the people who have so heavily shaped what American food is today,” per the official description. “From indigenous communities to recent immigrant arrivals, Padma breaks bread with Americans across the nation to uncover the roots and relationship between our food, our humanity and our history — ultimately revealing stories that challenge notions of identity, belonging, and what it means to be American.

Fleabag, Chernobyl and Gentleman Jack were among the winners of Banff’s Rockie Awards International Program Competition.

Brits dominated the virtual event taking home 14 awards, compared with 11 awards for U.S. shows and seven for Canadian shows. Last year, U.S. shows picked up nine awards, British shows scored eight and Canadian shows grabbed seven.

It comes as the Banff World Media Festival became a virtual event after Covid-19 forced organizers to cancel the annual shindig. It was hosted by Aurora Browne, Carolyn Taylor and Jennifer Whalen of Canadian sketch comedy Baroness von Sketch Show and was streamed live.

The full list of awards, which included 128 nominations from 35 countries, is below.

International Program Competition

Drama Series: English Language

Gentleman Jack

BBC, HBO, Lookout Point

Comedy Series: English Language

Fleabag

All3media, BBC Three, Two Brothers Pictures (UK)

Limited Series

Chernobyl

HBO, Sister, Sky Atlantic, The Mighty Mint, Word Games...

Chelsea Handler is returning to stand-up with a new comedy special for the streaming service HBO Max.

In the special, which will be Handler’s first in six years, the comedienne shares “about her family, friendships, and her first foray into therapy — where she was able to unearth why everyone on this planet annoyed her so much.”

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HBO Max launches next Wednesday, May 27; Handler’s program does not yet have a premiere date.

The end is in sight for all-female sketch series Baroness Von Sketch Show. Co-creators Carolyn Taylor, Meredith MacNeill, Aurora Browne and Jennifer Whalen announced today that their acclaimed series will return for its fifth and final season this fall. The series’ eight-episode final season was filmed in Toronto last fall. The series airs on IFC on the U.S.

The co-creators shared the following statement on their decision:

After five fantastic years, we have decided that Season 5 of Baroness von Sketch Show will be our last. We are so grateful to have been given the opportunity to share our deepest embarrassments, existential angst and daily observations with you, our fans. We hope you’ll enjoy Season 5 of Baroness von Sketch Show.

Love,

Carolyn, Meredith, Aurora and Jennifer.

“Baroness von Sketch Show broke new ground with their cutting edge sketch comedy, capturing audiences and acclaim in Canada and the U.S.

Carol’s Second Act has flatlined: CBS has cancelled the Patricia Heaton-led medical comedy after one season, TVLine has learned.

Through its 18-episode freshman rotation, Carol’s Second Act averaged a 0.63 demo rating and 5 million total viewers (in Live+Same Day numbers), down 25 and 17 percent from what CBS’ Murphy Brown revival did in the time slot the season prior. Among the eight sitcoms CBS has aired this season, it ranks a distant last in both measures.

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Want to visit Hershel's farm or take a trip back to Terminus (without the risk of being eaten)? Pluto TV has teamed up with AMC and is now streaming some of the network's most popular shows for free, including seasons 1–5 of The Walking Dead in English and Spanish:

Press Release: New York, NY – AMC Networks announced today that Pluto TV, the leading free streaming television service in the Us, will launch a suite of original AMC Networks channels on May 1, including Stories by AMC, Slightly Off by IFC, All Reality We tv, and The Walking Dead en Español. The launch of these dedicated channels will give Pluto TV customers access to a wide variety of popular and critically acclaimed AMC Networks content, including AMC’s The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead, Halt and Catch Fire, and Into the Badlands; IFC’s Portlandia, Documentary Now! and Brockmire; and We tv...

Pluto TV, the ad-supported streaming service owned by ViacomCBS, has added four new channels derived from AMC Networks programming, including The Walking Dead en Español.

Effective Friday, the 22-million-plus active viewers of Pluto will get access to the Spanish-language Twd offering, which features early seasons of the original series as well as spinoff Fear the Walking Dead. Also on tap are Stories By AMC (including past seasons of Twd), Slightly Off By IFC and All Reality We TV. Select programming from the four will also be made available on demand via Pluto.

Pluto’s approach to streaming has been to present viewers with an experience resembling the traditional television one, with live feeds, a programming grid and a large menu of channels. With an editorial team, it creates curated versions of programming available elsewhere, enabling it to largely steer clear of friction with pay-tv operators paying companies like ViacomCBS to carry linear networks.

The walkers are about to descend on Pluto TV — but they’re going to be even moldier than usual.

AMC Networks inked a licensing deal with ViacomCBS’s Pluto TV free-to-watch streaming platform, under which Pluto TV is launching a suite of four dedicated channels on Friday, May 1, stocked with library content including past seasons of “The Walking Dead.”

That will include a range of the cabler’s programming, including AMC’s hit show “The Walking Dead” (seasons 1-5) and later “Fear the Walking Dead” (seasons 1-3); the full series runs of “Halt and Catch Fire,” and “Into the Badlands”; IFC’s “Portlandia,” “Documentary Now!” and “Brockmire”; and We tv’s “Kendra on Top” and “Mary Mary.” Select programming will also be available on demand on Pluto TV.

For AMC Networks, the pact — making Pluto TV the exclusive free, ad-supporting streaming partner for its programming — is another way for it to monetize library content.

Exclusive: Quibi has handed a series order to Doomlands (working title) an adult animated comedy from Josh O’Keefe, Josh Bowen (Gary and His Demons) and Look Mom! Productions, a Blue Ant Studios company that specializes in original animated programming for teens and adults.

Created and directed by O’Keefe, in Doomlands (wt), the infamous Danny Doom and aspiring bartender Lhandi sling beers across a hellish wasteland in their mobile subterranean pub: The Oasis. In order to survive, all the crew needs to do is not kill each other.

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Doomland pays homage to O’Keefe’s Australian upbringing and love for “Ozploitation” film. O’Keefe began the project through a successful Kickstarter campaign. It was picked up by Look Mom!