“Moonlighting,” the Emmy-nominated 1980s television series that gave Bruce Willis his breakout role, will stream for the first time ever on Oct. 10 on Hulu. All five seasons, consisting of 67 episodes, will be available to watch on the platform. The show, created by Glen Gordon Carron, also features Al Jarreau’s Grammy-nominated title track.
Cybill Shepherd stars in the show alongside Willis, Allyce Beasley and Curtis Armstrong.
The show’s description reads: “When former fashion model Maddie Hayes goes broke and finds that one of her few remaining assets is ownership of the Blue Moon Detective Agency, she’s tempted to liquidate it until she meets the quirky employees and gets involved in their even quirkier cases.”
The episodes have been remastered in HD from their original film source. “Moonlighting” originally aired from 1985 to 1989 on ABC.
In other TV roundup news:
CASTING
Courtesy of NBC
Joe Manganiello, known for “True Blood” and “Magic Mike,” will host “Deal or No Deal Island,” a twist on the classic game. In this series, 13 players will be transported to the elusive Banker’s private island to compete for cash.
Through thrilling challenges, mind-bending dilemmas and the classic “Deal or No Deal” game, Manganiello will lead the game play, relay the banker’s offers and guide players as they grapple with the toughest decisions of their lives.
“When we took the show out of the studio and transported the game to the Banker’s island, Joe was the obvious choice,” said Corie Henson, executive vice president of unscripted content at NBCUniversal Entertainment, in a statement. “He loves all kinds of games, lives for adventure and isn’t afraid to stare down a snake or two to help players win a life-changing payday and, hopefully, beat the Banker at his own game.”
The island will contain the iconic briefcases with millions in prize money split between them. Players in each episode will try to get the highest-value briefcase for a chance to gain immunity and choose a fellow player to enter “The Temple,” where a high-stakes game of “Deal or No Deal” will take place. The last player standing by the end of the season will face off against the banker to potentially win the biggest prize in “Deal or No Deal” history.
Since “Deal or No Deal” first launched in the Netherlands in 2002, it has been commissioned in more than 80 territories worldwide, with over 350 productions.
The series is produced by Endemol Shine North America. Howie Mandel executive produces the series, along with Matt Kunitz, Matt Apps, Sarah Happel Jackson, Howie Mandel and Endemol Shine North America’s Sharon Levy, DJ Nurre and Sean Loughlin.
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Alex Rodriguez has signed on to cohost Bloomberg Media’s new original podcast and video series “The Deal” with Jason Kelly, chief correspondent of Bloomberg Originals. The video and audio limited series will contain 12 episodes, debuting in 2024.
“The Deal” will follow the stories, strategies and challenges behind some of the biggest business moves from athletes, entertainers and executives across various industries. Each podcast episode will be accompanied by a video companion airing on Bloomberg Originals and Bloomberg Television.
Rodriguez is a 14-time Major League Baseball All-Star and 2009 World Series Champion with the New York Yankees. He is also the chairman and Chief Executive Officer of A-Rod Corp and Owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx.
“Dealmaking in sports, media and entertainment requires a strategic vision and nuanced execution to compete in such a crowded space,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “Jason brings his experience as a seasoned journalist and I share what I’ve learned from the best in sports and business. Our show will welcome iconic figures to provide insights that you won’t hear anywhere else.”
“The Deal” joins Bloomberg Original programming on the business of sports, such as “Power Players” and “Next in Sports.”
Bloomberg podcasts are available on Bloomberg’s website, Apple Podcasts, the iHeartRadio app, Spotify and everywhere podcasts are heard. Bloomberg Originals stream on Bloomberg.com and the Bloomberg app, which is on several Connected TV devices. They are also available on Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, Amazon’s news app on Fire TV, Tubi, Sling, Xfinity and VIZIO WatchFree+. The programming also broadcasts on Bloomberg TV and BTV+.
DATES
Paramount+ has announced a Nov. 1 premiere date for Season 15 of the reality tattoo competition series “Ink Master.” Three episodes will be released on the streamer followed by one episode every week.
The series is hosted by artist, entrepreneur and singer Joel Madden. Three-time “Ink Master” champion DJ Tambe will join the panel of judges this season alongside Ryan Ashley and Nikko Hurtado. Ryan Ashley is the first female tattoo artist to win the competition and Hurtado is considered one of the industry’s best color-realism tattoo artists.
Season 15 will follow 15 new artists competing in Flash Challenges and Elimination Tattoos in the hopes of winning $250,000 and earning the title of “Ink Master.”
The series is executive produced by Glenda Hersh, Steven Weinstock and Andrea Richter on behalf of Truly Original. Daniel Blau Rogge also serves as executive producer and Ivanna Palance is executive in charge of production at MTV Entertainment Studios.
FIRST LOOKS
Netflix has released the trailer for their upcoming action-comedy series “Obliterated,” set to be released on Nov. 30.
From the creators of Netflix’s “Cobra Kai,” “Obliterated” will consist of eight 60-minute episodes.
The series logline reads: “Obliterated is a high octane action-comedy that tells the story of an elite special forces team who thwarts a deadly threat to Las Vegas. After their celebratory party, filled with booze, drugs and sex, the team discovers that the bomb they deactivated was a fake. The now intoxicated team has to fight through their impairments, overcome their personal issues, find the real bomb, and save the world.”
The series stars Shelley Hennig, Nick Zano, C. Thomas Howell, Kimi Rutledge, Paola Lázaro, Terrence Terrell, Alyson Gorske and Eugene Kim.
The showrunners, writers and directors are Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg and Josh Heald. Hurwitz, Schlossberg and Heald also serve as executive producers alongside Dina Hillier.
“Obliterated” is produced by Sony Pictures Television.
Watch the trailer below.
Netflix has released the trailer for its upcoming Morgan Freeman-narrated series “Life on Our Planet,” which brings extinct species to the small screen in an exploration of the lives of Earth’s past inhabitants. The series is set to premiere on Oct. 25.
Per the series logline, “This is the story of life’s epic battle to conquer and survive on planet Earth. Today there are 20 million species on our planet, yet what we see is just a snapshot in time — 99% of earth’s inhabitants are lost to our deep past. The story of what happened to these dynasties — their rise and their fall – is truly remarkable.”
The series is executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Alastair Fothergill, Keith Scholey, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey. Dan Tapster, Keith Scholey and Fothergill serve as series producers.
Watch the trailer below.
PROMOTIONS
Hungry? A food truck will be roaming the streets of Los Angeles to promote the premiere of Amazon Prime Video’s “Gen V,” a spin-off of “The Boys.”
The Vought-A-Burger food truck will be at the USC campus on Sept. 28 and at the UCLA campus on Sept. 29. Attendees will be able to step into the world of “The Boys” with themed packaging and menu items such as Liquid Death (sold as “Turbo Rush Energy Drink”). The event will also offer giveaways, including SheerGear handbags, custom t-shirts and Astroglide products. Prime Video will also team up with iHeart Radio to spread the news to listeners across Los Angeles.
“Gen V” will premiere on Sept. 29, following a set of characters at Godolkin University as they train to be the next generation of heroes. The cast features Jaz Sinclair, Chance Perdomo, Lizze Broadway, Shelley Conn, Maddie Phillips, London Thor, Derek Luh, Asa Germann, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sean Patrick Thomas and Marco Pigossi. Guest stars include Clancy Brown and Jason Ritter, in addition to appearances from Jessie T. Usher, Colby Minifie, Claudia Doumit and P.J. Byrne, reprising their roles from “The Boys.”
Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters serve as the series’ showrunners. Additionally, Eric Kripke, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Neal H. Moritz, Ori Marmur, Pavun Shetty, Ken Levin, Jason Netter, Garth Ennis, Darick Robertson, Craig Rosenberg, Nelson Cragg, Zak Schwartz, Erica Rosbe and Michaela Starr also executive produce the show.
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In celebration of ABC’s “The Golden Bachelor” premiere on Sept. 28, several businesses are turning themselves gold and offering special promotions.
The locations participating include Randy’s Donuts and Pink’s Hot Dogs in Los Angeles, offering special deals and treats during the last week of September. Additionally, Best Friends Animal Society, Popcornopolis and Pinot’s Palette will be holding promotions in honor of the premiere at their various locations.
Retirement communities across the country will also receive golden watch party kits in preparation for the premiere. Starting on Sept. 28, several brands will offer Golden Discounts, including Alfred, Joann’s, Uber Eats and Fandango.
Some already experienced the fun with promotions that took place last week. Food trucks popped up across Los Angeles and New York City, offering a variety of golden treats, such as golden turmeric lattes, gold-dusted macarons and gold-fashioned lemonade popsicles. John Legend’s concert at the Hollywood Bowl on Sept. 23 adorned its seats with golden cushions and showcased Gerry Turner, the leading man of “The Golden Bachelor,” on its 28 screens. Players and fans who attended USA Pickleball’s National Indoor Championship in Atlantic City, New Jersey, got to experience golden integrations, honoring Turner’s favorite pastime.
For a full list of participating brands, visit ABC’s website here.
STREAMING
Live streaming channel HSN has joined Sling Freestream’s streaming platform, becoming the second shopping channel behind QVC to be added to the program.
The channel expands Sling Freestream’s slate of video commerce programming, narrowing in on exclusive products and top brand names in health, beauty, jewelry, home/lifestyle, fashion/accessories and electronics. Top HSN programs include “Gotta See G by Giuliana Rancic” and “The List with Debbie D.”
“HSN offers a fun and engaging livestream video shopping experience to Sling Freestream, an entertaining new FAST service created by one of the leaders in streaming TV,” said David Apostolico, SVP of streaming experience and distribution for vCommerce Ventures at Qurate Retail Group. “We look forward to welcoming new customers to HSN via Sling Freestream, while providing our existing customers with yet another convenient way to access their favorite HSN personalities, products and programming.”
HSN’s addition to Sling Freestream goes hand in hand with its strategy to build on vCommerce experience through digital partnerships and collaborations.
RENEWALS
Roku has renewed its sushi-making competition series “Morimoto’s Sushi Master” for a second season on the Roku Channel.
The series, headed by Chef Masaharu Morimoto, sees chefs compete in challenges that honor the skill, ingredient, delicacy and talent it takes to make sushi, but all the while challenging them to “break the rules along the way.”
“We’re proud to continue partnering with our amazing collaborators at AMPLE Entertainment and the icon himself, Chef Masaharu Morimoto, to serve up another season of this first-of-its-kind competition series for audiences to savor,” said Brian Tannenbaum, head of originals at Roku Media. “‘Morimoto’s Sushi Master’ gives viewers an addictive competition that honors a rich food culture while encouraging culinary innovation worthy of being crowned Sushi Master.”
“Morimoto’s Sushi Master” is produced by AMPLE Entertainment. Morimoto serves as executive producer alongside Ari Mark, Phil Lott and Kathryn Vaughn.
“I am honored and excited to be a part of ‘Morimoto’s Sushi Master’ for another season,” said Morimoto. “The show not only celebrates the artistry of sushi, but also creativity and innovation. I look forward to seeing what the talented chefs bring to the sushi table this time around.”
EXECUTIVE NEWS
Apple TV’s UK team has tapped Johanna Devereaux to join its scripted development team, the company announced Friday.
Devereaux previously served as VP of scripted content and DE&I strategy for Disney+ EMEA, where she developed content strategy across the region while creating and executive producing original series for the streamer.
She’s launched over 40 titles, including “Wedding Season,” “Extraordinary,” “Culprits,” “Playdate,” “Renegade Nell” and “The Good Mothers.”
Devereaux will work under Jay Hunt, creative director of Europe, Apple TV+, based out of London.
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National Geographic has announced the appointment of Tulani André as vice president, social media and Soo-Jeong Kang as vice president, head of visuals. André and Kang join the National Geographic Content team helmed by president Courteney Monroe.
André previously worked at Prime Video, where she was global lead of social and editorial. Kang previously served as executive director of programming for The New Yorker at Condé Nast.
National Geographic executive vice president and general manager David Miller made a statement on the hiring of André and Kang: “As we build on Nat Geo’s more than 135-year legacy, I’m honored and excited to have Tulani and Soo-Jeong join us, bringing such a wealth of industry experience in their respective fields to our brand. Working closely with Pam Levine [Head of Marketing, Disney Branded Television and National Geographic] and the content marketing teams, we will continue innovating and excelling as a media industry leader under their leadership, driving new and cutting-edge approaches to our storytelling.”
EVENTS
Early badges are on sale now for ATX TV Festival Season 13, which will run from May 30-June 2 in Austin.
The current badge options available are the Camp Badge for $535, which grants highest level access to programming, marquees, exclusive events and more. The GP badge, which costs $335, grants access to all general programming taking place between 10 am and 5 pm every day, and includes 3 Fast Passes and non-priority seating to marquee programming.
Those who purchase the first 100 badges will be given an “Early Bird” discount of $100 off for a limited time; this discount applies to both Camp and GP badges.
ATX TV will also be opening submissions for their annual “The Pitch Competition,” presented by Canva, on Oct. 16. “The Pitch Competition” offers up-and-coming TV writers the support, tools and community needed to move forward in the industry.
Visit atxfestival.com/attend to learn more about the festival.
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