PBS Kids launches ‘Ocean Friends Forever’ with ‘Splash and Bubbles’ series to celebrate World Oceans Day

June 5, 2017

The following is a press release from the Jim Henson Company:

PBS KIDS SERIES SPLASH AND BUBBLES
(Photo courtesy of the Jim Henson Company)

The Jim Henson Company, Herschend Studios and PBS Kids are kicking off “Ocean Friends Forever,” a social media and community engagement initiative with multiple PBS station events across the country the week of June 1-8, to coincide with the internationally celebrated World Oceans Day on June 8. The effort is themed around the new PBS Kids series “Splash and Bubbles,” which encourages children to explore ocean science and marine biology. “Splash and Bubbles” airs daily on PBS stations nationwide and is available for free on PBS Kids digital platforms.

Awareness of the ocean and its diverse inhabitants continues to be an important necessity for us all. Few people realize how much we have left to discover about the animals, plants and unique habitats under the sea. In fact, a recent online omnibus study* of 1,000 adults provided some surprising results. Over thirty-seven percent of respondents believed that more than half of the world’s ocean has been explored, but scientists and researchers estimate that only 5 percent of the ocean has been explored! When asked if they know where most of the white sand on the world’s beaches comes from, only 6 percent of respondents knew the surprising fact: parrotfish poop. Parrotfish ingest dead coral and break it down into sand, which they then excrete. (Nearly two-thirds of respondents thought that white sand beaches are mostly comprised of rocks. Thirty percent answered glass.)

PBS stations across the country are gearing up to educate their community about the vast underwater world, with “Ocean Friends Forever” activities and materials for their summer events including screenings, activity pages, hands-on investigations, Splash and Bubble character appearances and more! Activity pages and hands on investigations are also available on PBS Parents/SplashandBubbles.

Event Dates:

6/3/2017  

Birch Aquarium at Scripps (KPBS – San Diego)

6/3/2017  

WFSU Studio (WFSU – Tallahassee)            

6/3/2017       

WFSU Studio (WFSU – Tallahassee)                           

6/3/2017      

NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher/Kure Beach, NC (UNCTV – Raleigh/Durham             

6/8/2017    

Challenger Learning Center (WFSU – Tallahassee)

6/8/2017 

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (WOSU – Columbus)

6/8/2017    

Bayou County Children’s Museum (LPB – Louisiana)

6/8/2017  

Children’s Museum of Acadiana (LPB – Louisiana)

6/8/2017  

Children’s Museum of Lake Charles (LPB – Louisiana)

6/8/2017  

Louisiana Children’s Museum (LPB – Louisiana)

6/10/2017 

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (WHUT – Washington D.C.)    

6/13/2017    

Webster Public Library (WXXI – Rochester)

6/27/2017  

Charlotte Library Branch (WXXI – Rochester)

Additionally, “Help Our Kelp,” a new digital game at pbskids.org/SplashandBubbles, will encourage kids to help a kelp forest stay healthy by cleaning invasive species, like sea urchins and clams, from the environment. The game will be available online and on the free PBS Kids Games app later this week.

PBS Kids series “Splash and Bubbles” encourages children to explore the natural undersea world and features endearing and humorous characters on fun-filled adventures. Utilizing the dynamic CG animation technology of the Henson Digital Puppetry Studio, each episode introduces kids ages 4–7 to the adventures of its title characters – Splash, a yellowback fusilier fish, and his friend Bubbles, a Mandarin dragonet.  Splash migrated all over the ocean before settling down with his family in Reeftown.  Now, he and Bubbles explore the world’s ocean, meet wildly diverse marine animals and discover otherworldly undersea habitats with their friends Dunk (a pufferfish) and Ripple (a seahorse). Together, they bring back what they’ve learned to share with their neighbors.

“Splash and Bubbles” is a production of The Jim Henson Company and Herschend Studios. The series is executive produced by Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford of The Jim Henson Company, Julie Phillips and Merrill Puckett-Miller of Herschend Enterprises, as well as John Tartaglia, Michael Shawn Lewis and Jill Shinderman. The series is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Food Network debuts new ‘Dessert Games’ and ‘Texas Cake House’

June 1, 2017

Duff Goldman and Guy Fieri (Photo courtesy of Food Network)
Duff Goldman and Guy Fieri (Photo courtesy of Food Network)
The following is a press release from Food Network:
Monday nights just got a little sweeter with Food Network’s double dose of primetime programming, beginning on Monday, July 10, 2017. First, at 8 p.m. ET/PT Duff Goldman turns the Triple-G Flavortown Market into Sweet City on “Dessert Games.” Then, the fun continues at 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ET/PT as owners of Sideserf Cake Studio, Natalie and Dave Sideserf, push the boundaries of cake design with their remarkable, realistic cake creations on the premiere of “Texas Cake House.”
“Mondays hit the spot with decadent desserts on “Dessert Games” and crazy custom-made cakes on “Texas Cake House,” said Courtney White, SVP Programming, Scripps Networks Interactive. “Duff Goldman, a baking trailblazer, kicks off the night with his signature charm as the perfect host of the fun and fast-paced dessert-focused competition. Then, audiences get a behind-the-scenes look as Natalie and Dave Sideserf create extraordinarily detailed cake sculptures that defy the ingredients they are made of in how realistic they look!”
Guy Fieri has handed the keys to his grocery store over to dessert master Duff Goldman and given Duff carte blanche to remodel the store, restock the shelves and sugarcoat his grocery games. Each week Duff will test the skills of a new batch of four pastry chefs as they race the aisles shopping, preparing, and plating confectionary creations in three rounds of epic baking challenges. From desserts using savory ingredients, to store-bought treat makeovers, and to the classic dessert imposters, the contestants’ must use shopping shortcuts and food-hacks to rise to the top. The one that impresses a rotating panel of judges with their baking talents to cream the competition with their desserts will earn a grand prize of $10,000!
Dave and Natalie Sideserf (Photo courtesy of Food Network)
Dave and Natalie Sideserf (Photo courtesy of Food Network)
Natalie Sideserf has created incredibly lifelike and elaborate works of edible art that have taken the internet by storm. Quickly becoming overwhelmed with customer orders, Dave, her husband, decided to quit his day job to help her manage the operation. With business booming, this young married couple is committing themselves to creating the most amazing cakes ever baked, which is no easy feat with unique client requests. From detailed and lifelike animal cakes that could be mistaken for the real thing to cakes that fly and dance, this duo settles for nothing less than out-of-the-box, awe-inspiring cakes that will take their business to the top-tier.
Fans craving more can visit FoodNetwork.com/DessertGames for competition highlights, and can get to know Duff Goldman and the panel of judges. They can also test their sweets IQ and share the results using #DessertGames. And for an extra taste of Natalie’s and Dave’s life, fans can visit FoodNetwork.com/TexasCakeHouse for show highlights and baking tips at. They can also weigh in on their favorite cake creations using #TexasCakeHouse.

 

Ina Garten debuts ‘Barefoot Contessa: Cook Like a Pro’

May 25,  2017

Ina Garten
Ina Garten (Photo courtesy of Food Network)

The following is a press release from Food Network:

Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, will launch a new show on Food Network on Sunday, May 28th at 11am ET/PT.   Each of the all-new eight episodes were shot on-location at Ina’s home in East Hampton, New York.  In Cook Like a Pro, Ina will help viewers bring their cooking to the next level, by sharing foolproof recipes and tips for delicious food made easy. Special guests include José Andrés on eggs, April Bloomfield on weeknight dinners, Mario Batali on pasta, and Yotam Ottolenghi on roasting vegetables.

“I’m so excited about the show, and I’m looking forward to sharing the many things I’ve learned professionally that will help you cook at home with confidence,” said Garten. “It’s going to be lots of fun!”

Episodes include (all times ET/PT):

Premiering Sunday, May 28 at 11am 

“Cook Like a Pro: Chicken”

It’s all about chicken as Ina shares her kitchen tips and professional strategies for Roasted Chicken with Radishes, from trussing the bird to carving it. Then, there’s a delicious twist on a classic with Chicken and Spinach Waldorf Salad, featuring juicy roasted chicken breasts. Finally, the volume is turned right up on Truffled Chicken Liver Mousse.

Premiering Sunday, June 4 at 11am

“Cook Like a Pro: Weeknight Dinners”

Ina’s got weeknight dinners covered, pro-style! There are Roasted Salmon Tacos with Avocado Salsa and a super quick slaw, then Cider Roasted Pork Tenderloin. Garlic and Herb Roasted Shrimp are a one-pan wonder, then chef April Bloomfield reveals her go-to, off-duty weeknight dinner: an Oven-Baked Three Cheese Sandwich. Finally, Ina makes five-minute Lemon Capellini.

Premiering Sunday, June 11th at 11am

“Cook Like a Pro: Pasta”

Ina is tackling pasta like a pro, first in Crusty Baked Shells and Cauliflower, then in a classic Italian soup,16 Bean Pasta e Fagioli. She makes a delicious lemony salad of Herbed Orzo with Feta and special guest Mario Batali shares his top three pasta tips. Finally, Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel takes all-in-one pasta meals to a whole new level.

Premiering Sunday, June 18 at 11am

“Cook Like a Pro: Fearless Food”

Ina is tackling daunting dishes with easy techniques, from a perfectly risen Soufflé a L’Orange to overcoming pastry fears with her totally professional-looking Anna’s Tomato Tart. Super chef José Andrés has an amazing trick for separating eggs, then there’s foolproof caramel for irresistible Caramel Salted Nuts.

Premiering Sunday, June 25 at 11am

“Cook Like a Pro: Eggs”

It’s eggs all the way in an incredible master class, featuring them both soft boiled and in the dressing of a fantastic Caesar Salad with Blue Cheese and Bacon. Egg whites are whipped to perfection for a Pavlova Fruit Tart, then there’s foolproof Truffled Scrambled Eggs. She makes Eggs Benedict with an Easy Hollandaise Sauce just like a pro, and super chef José Andrés reveals the secret of his perfectly fried eggs.

Premiering Sunday, July 2 at 11am

“Cook Like a Pro: Make-Ahead Desserts”

Ina’s cutting straight to sweet with delicious make-ahead and very professional fruit desserts. There’s a twist on a classic with Apple Pie Bars, then pure comfort meets wow factor in Chocolate Banana Cream Pie. Easy and elegant Stewed Rhubarb and Red Berries make a perfect summer dessert, with ideas for amping things up with fruit liqueurs. Finally, there’s a Sparkling Grapefruit Granita with Pink Fizz that’s guaranteed to impress.

Premiering Sunday, July 9 at 11am

“Cook Like a Pro: Chocolate”

Ina shares professional tips for chocolate, starting with an off-the-scale delicious Chocolate Ganache Cake, complete with a chevron frosting tutorial. Then Chocolate Creme Brulee is taken to dazzling new dessert heights and Ina shows her tricks to tempering chocolate for Peanut Rocky Road Bark. Beyond-decadent Frozen Hot Chocolate completes the line-up.

Premiering Sunday, July 16 at 11am

“Cook Like a Pro: Roasted Vegetables”

Ina, the queen of roasted vegetables, spills the beans on how to roast like a pro, starting with Butternut Squash Hummus. Then, British-based restaurateur and chef Yotam Ottolenghi gives the lowdown on picture-perfect Roasted Baby Vegetables with Sumac and Yogurt. Next, two delectable Spanish recipes: Roasted Vegetable Paella and chef Jose Andres Roasted Escalavida Catalana. Finally, Ina makes Roast Potato and Fennel Soup and her ultimate side dish: Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower.

2017 IDCon: Joe Kenda, Tony Harris, Chris Hansen, Candice DeLong and other ID stars greet fans, share stories

May 20, 2017

by Carla Hay

Investigation Discovery show host Lt. Joe Kenda ("Homicide Hunter") was a popular personality at IDCon 2017.
Investigation Discovery show host Lt. Joe Kenda (“Homicide Hunter”) was a popular speaker at IDCon 2017. (Photo by Carla Hay)

Aficionados of true crime got an unforgettable experience at Investigation Discovery’s second annual fan event IDCon, which took place at the Altman Building in New York City on May 20, 2017.  ID show hosts Joe Kenda, Tony Harris (who was IDCon 2017’s lively and humorous emcee), Paula Zahn, Tamron Hall, Chris Hansen, Candice DeLong, Garry McFadden, Maria Elena Salinas, Graham Hetrick, Michelle Ward and Rod Demery all participated in the event, and most of them did meet-and-greet sessions with fans. The event kicked off with a greeting from Henry Schleiff, group president of Investigation Discovery, American Heroes Channel, and Destination America. He thanked the fans for making ID the top-rated U.S. cable network for women. IDCon 2017 also premiered sneak preview footage of the upcoming ID scripted movies “Final Vision” (about the Jeffrey MacDonald murder case) and “The Dating Game Killer” (about serial killer Rodney Alcala).

Investigation Discovery show host Tony Harris (“Scene of the Crime”) emceed IDCon 2017. (Photo by Carla Hay)

The event space expanded this year to include a downstairs lounge area. The lounge had an ID Addict Truth Booth where fans can videorecord their ID Addict confessions, some of which could be televised or posted on ID’s social media.

IDCon 2017 attendees could confess their ID channel addiction in the ID Addicts Truth Booth and have their confessions videorecorded for possible airings on the network. (Photo by Carla Hay)

Other new activations this year the “Liar! Liar! Liar!” polygraph demonstration; a competitive “Be an Eyewitness” photo competition game; an “Evidence Board” to break down the facts behind the unsolved murder of Chandra Levy; and an exclusive photo booth where attendees can “Become the Notorious Headline” by having their photos imposed on mock crime-magazine covers.

IDCon 2017 attendees could participate in the Liar! Liar! Liar! polygraph test demonstration. (Photo by Carla Hay)

IDCon 2017 attendees were served free samples the first three wines from the recently announced ID Wine Club (which is available as of June 1). There was also plenty of ID merchandise for purchase. The items included a black T-shirt that has the IDCon 2017 logo and a gray T-shirt that says “I’d Rather Be Watching ID.” (The T-shirts come is sizes S, M, L and XL.) There were also thermoses and mason jars with Kenda’s signature catch-phrase “My My My.”

All proceeds for IDCon will be donated to New York’s Silver Shield Foundation, an organization which provides educational support to families of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty. ID Addicts unable to make the trip to New York can watch select panels via the network’s Facebook Live streams, or go to network’s social handles at Twitter, Instagram, and SnapChat for behind-the-scenes coverage.

ID host Tony Harris (pictured at right) gets a live polygraph exam at IDCon 2017.(Photo by Carla Hay)

A few fans at IDCon who were posting on social media and using the hastag #IDCON2017 during the event were randomly selected to win prizes, such as selfie sticks. Attendees also had the opportunity to answer trivia questions sent via text messages to win a grand prize of a trip for two on the Kenda Cruise, a partnership with Princess Cruises. Kenda announced the winner at the end of the event.

Here were some of the highlights of IDCon 2017 panels:

Missing From the Headlines

IDCon 2017
“Missing From the Headlines” panel, at IDCon 2017. Pictured from left to right: Investigation Discovery senior vice president of production Sara Kozak (panel moderator), Tamron Hall, Chris Hansen, Maria Elena Salinas and Paula Zahn. (Photo by Carla Hay)

Moderated by ID senior vice president of production Sara Kozak, this panel of TV journalists—Hansen, Zahn, Hall and Salinas—discussed some of the crime cases (usually murders) that they have brought to their ID shows.

Hall mentioned that in an upcoming episode of her show “Deadline: Crime,” Tyler Perry will be featured, and he donated $100,000 toward solving the crime. She elaborated, “Tyler saw the story on the local news … And he agreed for the first time to do a sit-down, on-camera interview about this case.”

Even when cases are solved, there is often a messy aftermath that doesn’t always equal a happy ending. Zahn mentioned the case of John Purvis, who was wrongly convicted of murder and freed nine years later, as an example of a case that stands out for her. Tragically, Purvis’ mother, who was his strongest supporter in the ordeal, died before he was released from prison. And a police officer risked his job and reputation to prove that Purvis did not commit the crime. “Even after they had proven [Purvis’ innocence] through DNA technology, this cop with still dealing with people who were doubting his testimony.”

Salinas also discussed an upcoming episode of “The Real Story” about the June 2016 mass murder at the predominately gay Pulse nightclub in Orlando. She said that Omar Mateen, the shooter who was killed by police officers , may not have been motivated by terrorism but rather homophobia. Salinas said one of the people interviewed in the episode is a man who claims he was one of Mateen’s gay lovers and says the reason for the Pulse shooting was “[Mateen] wanted to get back at some men he had one-night stands with who told him they were HIV-positive.”

All of the panelists agreed that one of the most important aspects of their jobs is having crime victims’ families tell their stories on the shows. Hansen mentioned that an upcoming episode of “Killer Instinct” is about the 1997 murder of Susannah Chase, a 23-year-old in Boulder, Colorado. Her killer was tried and convicted 12 years after the murder. Hansen, who interviewed Chase’s brother and sister, noted:”When they sit down and talk about their sister 20 years after [the murder] happened, it’s almost like the first time.”

Salinas added about families affected by murders and other violent crimes, “They have something to say … We have to remember that in a crime, it’s not just the deceased who are the victims, it’s the family that’s the victim. Sometimes it’s two separate families—also the family of the perpetrator. They sometimes provide details that we didn’t know before.”

People Magazine Investigates

“People Magazine Investigates” panel at IDCon 2017: Pictured from left to right: People deputy editor Dan Wakefield (panel moderator), People senior editor Alicia Dennis, People staff writer Caitlin Keating and People senior writer Christine Pelisek. (Photo by Carla Hay)

People magazine’s senior editor Alicia Dennis, senior writer Christine Peliseck and  staff writer Caitlin Keating gathered for a panel moderated by deputy editor Dan Wakeford to discuss the ID series “People Magazine Investigates,” which explores true crime stories that were covered by People. The panelists talked about how it was a relief that ID respectfully handles the recreations on the show because one of their biggest concerns before the TV show began was the real people in the magazine’s crime stories would be recreated for television. The panel also discussed the series’ first episode about the Long Island serial killer (who still hasn’t been caught) and the bizarre twist of how Mari Gilbert, the mother of one of the victims, was stabbed to death by her other daughter, according to prosecutors for the crime. Gilbert’s interviews for the show were among the last she ever did.

Notorious Headlines

“Notorious Headlines” panel at IDCon 2017: Pictured from left to right:producer Steph Watts (panel moderator), Candice DeLong, Beth Karas,Sgt. Derrick Levasseur, Dr. Kris Mohandie and producer Tim McConville. (Photo by Carla Hay)

Moderated by producer and reporter Steph Watts, this panel featured hosts and producers of ID shows that covered famous crimes. The panel included FBI profiler Candice DeLong (host of “Deadly Women”); legal analyst Beth Karas (“An American Murder” mystery specials on Casey Anthony and JonBenét Ramsey); police sergeant Derrick Levasseur and forensic psychologist Kris Mohandie (commentators, “Is OJ Innocent? The Missing Evidence”); and showrunner Tim McConville (“An American Murder Mystery”/”American Scandal”).

DeLong, who was one of the few people who has interviewed Unabomber serial killer Ted Kaczynski, said he was the only “evil genius” she ever met. DeLong also recalled that one of the strangest aspects of their conversation was that he gave her advice on “how to boil turnips on an open stove” after she had asked him what it was like to live in a remote, rural area. “It was the worst date I’ve ever been on, ” she joked. DeLong also said after interviewing him as an FBI profiler and reading his journals, her opinion of Kaczynski is that he only cared about two things: “his quarter-acre of land with a shack on it and the other was killing people.”

For the still-unsolved murder of college student Chandra Levy, Karas said that Washington politics and the high-profile aspect of the case played a big role in hindering the police investigation. “You have to have press conferences constantly, you’re under scrutiny … It’s a headache, but the public has a right to know, so it’s a delicate balancing act. They made mistakes along the way.” Gary Condit, a U.S. Congressman who later admitted to having an affair with Levy, was a person of interest for years, but Karas believes that Condit (who was cleared from the investigation) “had nothing to do with the disappearance [of Chandra Levy]” and that the reason why he fell under public suspicion so quickly was “bad timing for him” in a world where the media had obsessively covered the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

In 2016, several JonBenét Ramsey TV specials (including one from ID) aired within weeks of each other. McConville said that “time” is the biggest challenge when there is race to bring these competing specials on the air. “The pressure is to work fast. It was a race to get out there to find contributors. We were aware of the other specials coming out, but I don’t think we let that knowledge influence the way we were thinking of telling the story.”

For the ID special “Is OJ Innocent? The Missing Evidence,” Mohandie said in addition to getting the cooperation of the families of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson, it was important for the investigative team to get interviews with former Los Angeles Police Department investigator Tom Lange to directly address accusations that the police planted evidence in the OJ Simpson case. Mohandie said that other key witnesses that were interview coups for the special included Allan Park (the limousine driver who arrived at Simpson at home on the night of the murders) and witness Jill Shively, whose was dropped by the prosecution after she gave a tabloid interview. “She saw something very important that night. Whether she sold her story to a tabloid is irrelevant, in my mind. She had been blamed by the prosecution for losing the case, and  [interviewing her’ gave us a chance to tell her that she had nothing to do with the loss of this case.” Levasseur added, “We were really focusing on Jason Simpson [O.J. Simpson’s oldest son] and that theory [that he might have been involved in the murders].”

The Case That Keeps Me Up at Night

“The Case That Keeps Me Up at Night” panel at IDCon 2017: Pictured from left to right: Dr. Michelle Ward (moderator), Rod Demery, Joe Kenda, Garry McFadden and Graham Hetrick. (Photo by Carla Hay)

Moderated by criminal psychologist Dr. Michelle Ward, this panel talked about cases solved by investigators/ID hosts Kenda (“Homicide Hunter”),  Demery (“Murder Chose Me”), McFadden  (“I Am Homicide”) and Hetrick (“The Coroner: I Speak for the Dead”) .

ID’s long-running “Homicide Hunter” is one of the network’s highest-rated series, so Kenda got the biggest cheers from the audience. When asked which case haunts him the most, Kenda and the other panelists gave a similar answer: “I don’t have a single case,” said Kenda, who added, “I did not solve 31 murders. All 31 haunt me to this day. Why didn’t I solved them? I solved 356 of them. People often ask me, “What was the most horrible case you’ve ever seen?”

Kenda and McFadden, who were on an IDCon panel together in 2016, mentioned many of the same things they talked about on that year’s panel, such as how their police work affected them and their personal lives. McFadden talked about a homicide victim’s daughter whom he eventually began to treat as if she were his own daughter.

One of the most interesting questions asked of the panelists was whether or not they think the worst murderers are created by nature or by nurture. Given that most serial killers and other murderers have siblings who do not become murderers too, the panelists said they believe that murderers’ disorders can be explained by “nature,” i.e., something to do with what’s going on inside the individual’s body, whether it is mental illness, a psychological defect or the effects of long-term substance abuse.

Ultimately, Demery said that murderers and other criminals “make a choice” to commit the crimes, and they should be held responsible for their choices. McFadden noted, “We all have the ability [to murder], but we may not act on it.” Hetrick added, “I think the study of environment is very important, and I think it’s important that we look at physical things ….certain pathologies of the brain. They’re all very important. They’re not as important from a personal standpoint as much as they are to understand how we can [help] society.”

2017 IDCon: Preview event attended by ID stars; stage, activations, panels revealed

May 19, 2017

by Carla Hay

IDCon
A view inside IDCon 2017 at the Altman Building in New York City (Photo by Carla Hay)

Investigation Discovery’s second annual fan event IDCon is set to take place at the Altman Building in New York City on May 20, 2017. But on May 19, select members of the media were invited to a sneak preview of the event. (IDCon is sold out, but most of the event will be streamed on Facebook Live.) The event space was still being set up during the preview, but most of the participating talent was hanging out and doing some interviews. They included ID show hosts Joe Kenda, Chris Hansen, Candice DeLong, Tony Harris (who will emcee IDCon 2017), Garry McFadden, Graham Hetrick and Rod Demery. As previously reported, Paula Zahn, Tamron Hall, Maria Elena Salinas and other ID stars are expected to attend.

In addition to the panel lineup (listed below), attendees will have be able to go to two separate meet-and-greet sessions throughout the day.  IDCon 2017 will also premiere sneak preview footage of upcoming ID show episodes.

The event space has expanded this year to include a downstairs  lounge area. The lounge has an ID Addict Truth Booth where fans can videorecord their ID Addict confessions, some of which could be televised or posted on ID’s social media.

A view inside IDCon 2017 at the Altman Building in New York City (Photo by Carla Hay)

Other new activations this year include the “Liar! Liar! Liar!” polygraph demonstration; a competitive “Be an Eyewitness” photo competition game; an “Evidence Board” to break down the facts behind the unsolved murder of Chandra Levy; and an exclusive photo booth where attendees can “Become the Notorious Headline” by having their photos imposed on mock crime-magazine covers.

ID Wine Club
ID Wine Club (Photo courtesy of Investigation Discovery)

IDCon 2017 attendees will be able to sample the first three wines from the recently announced ID Wine Club (which is available as of June 1). There will be plenty of ID merchandise for purchase. The items include a black T-shirt that has the IDCon 2017 logo and a gray T-shirt that says “I’d Rather Be Watching ID.” (The T-shirts come is sizes S, M, L and XL.) There are also thermoses and mason jars with Kenda’s signature catch-phrase “My My My.”

All proceeds for IDCon will be donated to New York’s Silver Shield Foundation, an organization which provides educational support to families of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty. ID Addicts unable to make the trip to New York will be able to watch select panels via the network’s Facebook Live streams, and follow the network’s social handles at Twitter, Instagram, and SnapChat for behind-the-scenes coverage. Attendees are encouraged to share their experience and photos at IDCon on social media using #IDCon2017 with highly-engaged fans winning exclusive giveaways.

Here are some sneak-preview photos of IDCon 2017:

A view inside IDCon 2017 at the Altman Building in New York City (Photo by Carla Hay)

Here is the full IDCon 2017 panel lineup:

 Missing from the Headlines with esteemed news journalists including Tamron Hall (“Deadline Crime”), Chris Hansen (“Killer Instinct”), Maria Elena Salinas (“Real Story”) and Paula Zahn (“On the Case”). Moderated by ID senior vice president of production Sara Kozak, this panel digs into the cases that have compelled these journalists to bring these stories to a national platform on ID.

People Magazine Investigates featuring People Magazine’s award-winning slate of crime reporters—including senior editor Alicia Dennis,  senior writer Christine Peliseck and staff writer Caitlin Keating—and moderated by executive editor Dan Wakeford. This panel unpacks the intersection of television and print, and discusses how the magazine chooses which stories to bring to life on ID.

Notorious Headlines delves into the most provocative cases that have captivated our attention, from the Unabomber, O.J. Simpson, Chandra Levy, and Casey Anthony. Moderated by producer and reporter Steph Watts, this panel features personal insight from former FBI profiler Candice DeLong (host, “Deadly Women”), legal analyst Beth Karas (“An American Murder” mystery specials on Casey Anthony and JonBenét Ramsey) police sergeant Derrick Levasseur and forensic psychologist Kris Mohandie (commentators, “Is OJ Innocent? The Missing Evidence”), and showrunner Tim McConville (“An American Murder Mystery”/”American Scandal”).

The Case That Keeps Me Up at Night Moderated by criminal psychologist Dr. Michelle Ward, this panel unearths the cases that haunt ID’s own crime-solving superheroes and explains how killers leave a wake of destruction in their path for all that encounter the crime. The panel features Rod Demery (“Murder Chose Me”), Graham Hetrick (“The Coroner: I Speak for the Dead”) Joe Kenda (“Homicide Hunter”), and Garry McFadden (“I Am Homicide”).

2017 TV Upfronts: The CW announces 2017-2018 schedule; see photos and videos

May 18, 2017

by Carla Hay

Nathalie Kelley and Grant Show in “Dynasty” (Photo by Mark Hill/The CW)

The CW officially announced its 2017-2018 schedule during the network’s upfront presentation at the New York City Center in New York City on May 18, 2017. Most of the existing shows had previously been announced as renewed. However, the upfront presentation made it official that the following shows have been cancelled: “The Vampire Diaries,” “Reign,” “Frequency” and “No Tomorrow.” The end of “The Vampire Diaries” had been announced a year before it happened.

New scripted shows include  the drama “Valor,” a new version of the iconic 1980s soap opera “Dynasty,” the comedy “Life Sentence” and the superhero drama “Black Lightning,” which is based on the DC Comics character.

Fall premiere dates will be announced at a later time. Please note that shows picked up but not listed on the schedule below will debut later in the 2017-18 season. These shows include “The 100,” “iZombie” and “The Originals.”

The following is an excerpt from a CW press release:

The CW FALL 2017-18 SCHEDULE

All times listed are Eastern/Pacific Time.

MONDAY

8-9 p.m.  “Supergirl”
9-10 p.m. “Valor”

TUESDAY

8-9 p.m.  “The Flash”
9-10 p.m. “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”

WEDNESDAY

8-9 p.m.  “Riverdale”**
9-10 p.m. “Dynasty”

THURSDAY

8-9 p.m.  “Supernatural”
9-10 p.m. “Arrow”**

FRIDAY

8-9 p.m.  “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”
9-10 p.m. “Jane the Virgin”

**=new night

NEW DRAMA SERIES

“VALOR”

Matt Barr and Christina Ochoa in “Valor” (Photo by Jordon Nuttall/The CW)

An elite unit of U.S. Army helicopter pilots called the Shadow Raiders are sent on a top secret mission to Somalia, a mission that goes terribly awry. Only two members of the team return safely: Warrant Officer Nora Madani (Christina Ochoa), one of the unit’s first female helicopter pilots, and her commanding officer, Captain Leland Gallo (Matt Barr), while the whereabouts of their comrade Jimmy Kam (W. Tre Davis) are unknown. Now back in the U.S., Madani and Gallo are the only ones who know the truth about what really went wrong in Somalia. Nora’s boyfriend, First Lieutenant Ian Porter (Charlie Barnett), suspects she’s not telling him the full story, and Jess Kam (Corbin Reid), Jimmy’s wife and Nora’s friend, is frustrated and furious at being kept in the dark. Meanwhile Thea, (Melissa Roxburgh) the enigmatic CIA officer charged with investigating the failed mission, has her own suspicions about what occurred. With Nora still recovering from a gunshot wound suffered during the mission, the commander of the Shadow Raiders, Col. Robert Haskins (Nigel Thatch), grounds her from flying. But when it’s discovered that Jimmy is alive and being held captive by a group of ruthless terrorists, Nora is determined to join Gallo back in the cockpit to rescue their friend. As preparation and training intensify, Nora and Gallo grow closer, and soon find themselves torn between duty, honor and desire as they wonder who they can trust, and whether the secrets they’re hiding will help save Jimmy—or put them all in terrible danger.

“Valor” stars Matt Barr (“Sleepy Hollow”), Christina Ochoa (“Animal Kingdom”), Charlie Barnett (“Chicago Fire”), W. Trè Davis (“Shades of Blue”), Corbin Reid (“How to Get Away With Murder”), Nigel Thatch (“Selma”) and Melissa Roxburgh (“Star Trek Beyond”). From CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Bill Haber (“Rizzoli & Isles”), Anna Fricke (“Being Human”), Kyle Jarrow (“Lost Generation”) and Michael Robin (“Nip/Tuck”).

“DYNASTY”

Nathalie Kelley and Grant Show in “Dynasty” (Photo by Mark Hill/The CW)

Fallon Carrington (Elizabeth Gillies) is charismatic, cunning, and poised to become the new COO of her father’s global energy empire – or so she thinks. When her father, Blake Carrington, (Grant Show) summons Fallon and her brother, Steven, (James Mackay) home to the family compound in Atlanta, Fallon is horrified to learn that the reunion isn’t to announce her promotion—but rather to make the acquaintance of their stepmother-to-be, Cristal (Nathalie Kelley). Cristal is stunning—and almost as young as Fallon, as Fallon is quick to point out—but she isn’t just some flimsy gold-digger to be scared off. Cristal is driven, principled, a savvy publicity maven at Carrington Atlantic, and she truly loves Blake. However, the wealth and privilege of the Carringtons’ world proves challenging to her, as she clashes with the staff, including Blake’s butler Anders (Alan Dale), as well as Fallon, who all make it very clear Cristal doesn’t belong. Family dynasties flow through blood, and Fallon would sooner draw blood than call Cristal “Mom.” Fallon asks Culhane (Robert Christopher Riley), the family’s chauffeur—and Fallon’s secret lover—to help expose Cristal for the fraud Fallon thinks she is. But when that backfires, and Blake chooses Cristal over his own daughter, Fallon sidles up to Blake’s biggest rival, Jeff Colby (Sam Adegoke), mixing business and pleasure to seek her revenge—leaving a jealous Culhane to watch from the sidelines. While the Carringtons’ rocky relationships prove the theory that family sticks together no matter what, Cristal is reminded of exactly that when her nephew, Sammy Jo (Rafael de la Fuente), arrives with a suitcase full of secrets from Cristal’s past. Now Cristal’s carefully concealed history could bring her future crashing down – and who knows who else she might take down with her.

“Dynasty” stars Grant Show (“Melrose Place”), Elizabeth Gillies (“Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll”), Nathalie Kelley (“UnReal,” “The Vampire Diaries”), James Mackay (“The Leftovers”), Alan Dale (“The O.C.”), Sam Adegoke (“Murder in the First”), Robert Christopher Riley (“Hit the Floor”), and Rafael de la Fuente (“Empire”). From CBS Television Studios in association with Fake Empire, with executive producers Josh Schwartz (“Gossip Girl), Stephanie Savage (“Gossip Girl”), Sallie Patrick (“Revenge”), Esther and Richard Shapiro (the creators of the original “Dynasty”) and Brad Silberling (“Jane The Virgin”).

“BLACK LIGHTNING”

Cress Williams in “Black Lightning” (Photo courtesy of J Squared Photography/The CW)

Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams) is a man wrestling with a secret. As the father of two daughters and principal of a charter high school that also serves as a safe haven for young people in a New Orleans neighborhood overrun by gang violence, he is a hero to his community. Nine years ago, Pierce was a hero of a different sort. Gifted with the superhuman power to harness and control electricity, he used those powers to keep his hometown streets safe as the masked vigilante Black Lightning. However, after too many nights with his life on the line, and seeing the effects of the damage and loss that his alter ego was inflicting on his family, he left his Super Hero days behind and settled into being a principal and a dad. Choosing to help his city without using his superpowers, he watched his daughters Anissa (Nafessa Williams) and Jennifer (China Anne McClain) grow into strong young women, even though his marriage to their mother, Lynn (Christine Adams), suffered. Almost a decade later, Pierce’s crime-fighting days are long behind him—or so he thought. But with crime and corruption spreading like wildfire, and those he cares about in the crosshairs of the menacing local gang The One Hundred, Black Lightning returns—to save not only his family, but also the soul of his community. Based on the characters from DC,

“Black Lightning” is from Berlanti Productions and Akil Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (“Arrow,” “The Flash”), Salim Akil & Mara Brock Akil (“Being Mary Jane,” “The Game,” “Girlfriends”), and Sarah Schechter (“Arrow,” “The Flash”). The Black Lightning character was created by Tony Isabella with Trevor Von Eeden.

NEW COMEDY SERIES

“LIFE SENTENCE”

Lucy Hale in "Life Sentence" (Photo by Jordon Nuttall/The CW)
Lucy Hale in “Life Sentence” (Photo by Jordon Nuttall/The CW)

“Life Sentence” follows Stella (Lucy Hale), a girl who has spent the last eight years living like she was dying (because she was). Just like the “manic pixie dream girl” heroines in her favorite sappy cancer movies, Stella traveled the world, faced her darkest fears and found true love on a whirlwind trip to Paris. But when Stella finds out that her cancer has been cured, she is suddenly forced to face the long-term consequences of the “live in the moment” decisions she made, including marrying a total stranger. And if that’s not enough, she also finds out that her “perfect family” isn’t so perfect after all. Turns out, because she was dying, everyone in her life hid their problems from her. But, now that she’s well, all bets are off. Stella is shocked to learn that her parents, Peter (Dylan Walsh) and Ida (Gillian Vigman), have fallen out of love, partly because Peter spent their retirement helping Stella make the most of her final days, and partly because Ida has fallen in love with her best friend (Stella’s godmother), Poppy. Also, it turns out Stella may be responsible for the fact that her sister, Elizabeth (Brooke Lyons), gave up her own dreams to take care of Stella and start a family with her husband Diego (Carlos PenaVega), just to give her parents something positive to focus on. Then there’s Stella’s often overlooked brother, Aiden (Jayson Blair), who’s pushing 30 and still lives above the garage, sells Adderall to soccer moms and uses Stella’s cancer to guilt them into sleeping with him. And, of course, there’s her husband Wes (Elliot Knight), a handsome Londoner who she agreed to spend the rest of her life with, thinking that would only be six to eight months, tops. Now that their forever just got a whole lot longer than they were expecting, Wes begins to worry that he can’t continue to pretend to be her perfect husband for the rest of his life. With a real future suddenly in front of her, Stella’s cinematic life snaps into reality, and instead of living like she’s dying, she will have to learn to live like she’s living, and help her family and friends do the same. This multi-generational, coming-of-age story proves that we all end up living somewhere between our dreams and reality… and maybe that’s okay.

“Life Sentence” stars Lucy Hale (“Pretty Little Liars”), Elliot Knight (“Once Upon A Time”), Dylan Walsh (“Nip/Tuck”), Gillian Vigman (“The Hangover”), Jayson Blair (“Whiplash”), Brooke Lyons (“The Affair”) and Carlos PenaVega (“Big Time Rush”). From Doozer Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios, with executive producers Erin Cardillo (“Fuller House,” “Significant Mother”) Richard Keith (“Fuller House,” “Significant Mother”), Bill Lawrence (“Scrubs,” “Cougar Town”), Jeff Ingold (“Ground Floor”), Oliver Goldstick (“Pretty Little Liars”) and Lee Toland Krieger (“The Age of Adaline,” “Riverdale”).

2017 TV Upfronts: CBS announces 2017-2018 schedule; see photos and videos

May 17, 2017

by Carla Hay

Iain Armitage and Zoe Perry in “Young Sheldon” (Photo by Robert Voets/CBS)

CBS officially announced its 2017-2018 schedule during the network’s upfront presentation at Carnegie Hall in New York City on May 17, 2017. Most of the existing shows had previously been announced as renewed. However, the upfront presentation made it official that the following shows have been cancelled: ‘Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders,” “The Great Indoors,” “Hunted” and “The Odd Couple.”

New scripted shows include “SEAL Team,” “S.W.A.T.,”‘Wisdom of the Crowd,” “9JKL,” “Me, Myself & I,” “Young Sheldon” (which is a prequel of sorts to “The Big Bang Theory”), “Instinct” and “By the Book.” Some of actors starring in these shows are known for starring in past long-running hit shows. David Boreanaz (“SEAL Team”) previously starred in “Bones.” Shemar Moore (“S.W.A.T.”) is a former star of “Criminal Minds.” Jeremy Piven (“Wisdom of the Crowd”) is best known for his Emmy-winning role on “Entourage.” Mark Feuerstein previously headlined “Royal Pains,” while his “9JKL” co-star Linda Lavin had her most famous role in the sitcom “Alice.” Bobby Moynihan, Jaleel White and John Larroquette (“Me, Myself & I”) are best known for their stints on, respectively, “Saturday Night Live,” “Family Matters” and “Night Court.” Alan Cumming of “Instinct” previously starred in “The Good Wife.”

Premiere dates will be announced at a later time for the following renewed shows: “Code Black,” “Elementary,” “Man With a Plan,” “The Amazing Race” and “Undercover Boss.” Please note that shows picked up but not listed on the schedule below will debut later in the 2017-18 season.

The following is an excerpt from a CBS press release:

CBS FALL 2017-18 SCHEDULE

All times listed are Eastern/Pacific Time.

MONDAY

September 25  to October 23, 2017:

8-8:30 p.m.   “The Big Bang Theory”
8:30-9 p.m.    “Young Sheldon”
9-9:30 p.m.    “Kevin Can Wait”
9:30-10 p.m.  “Me, Myself & I”
10-11 p.m.         “Scorpion”

As of October 30, 2017:

8-8:30 p.m.   “Kevin Can Wait”
8:30-9 p.m.    “9JKL”
9-9:30 p.m.    “Me, Myself & I”
9:30-10 p.m.  “Superior Donuts”
10-11 p.m.         “Scorpion”

TUESDAY

8-9 p.m.        “NCIS”
9-10 p.m.      “Bull”
10-11 p.m.     “NCIS New Orleans”

WEDNESDAY

8-9 p.m.        “Survivor”
9-10 p.m.      “SEAL Team”
10-11 p.m.     “Criminal Minds”

THURSDAY

September 28 – October 26, 2017

8-11 p.m.       “NFL Football”

As of November 2, 2017

8-8:30 p.m.   “The Big Bang Theory”
8:30-9 p.m.   “Young Sheldon”
9-9:30 p.m.   “Mom”
9:30-10 p.m. “My Life in Pieces”
10-11 p.m.        “S.W.A.T.”

FRIDAY

8-9 p.m.        “MacGyver”
9-10 p.m.      “Hawaii Five-O”
10-11 p.m.     “Blue Bloods”

SATURDAY

8-9 p.m.        Repeat episode of a show to be announced
9-10 p.m.      Repeat episode of a show to be announced
10-11 p.m.     “48 Hours”

SUNDAY

7-8 p.m.       “60 Minutes”
8-9 p.m.      “Wisdom of the Crowd”
9-10 p.m.     “NCIS Los Angeles”
10-11 p.m.    “Madam Secretary”

NEW DRAMA SERIES

“SEAL TEAM”

David Boreanaz, Neil Brown Jr. and Max Theriot in SEAL Team (Photo by Skip Bolen/CBS)
David Boreanaz, Neil Brown Jr. and Max Theriot in SEAL Team (Photo by Skip Bolen/CBS)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKMPAOGIA7I

“SEAL Team” stars David Boreanaz in a military drama that follows the professional and personal lives of the most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan and execute the most dangerous, high stakes missions our country can ask of them. Deployed on clandestine missions worldwide at a moment’s notice, and knowing the toll it takes on them and their families, this tight-knit SEAL team displays unwavering patriotism and fearless dedication, even in the face of overwhelming odds. Ben Cavell, Ed Redlich, Chris Chulack, Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly are executive producers for CBS Television Studios. Emmy Award winner Chulack directed the pilot.

“SEAL Team” stars David Boreanaz as Jason Hayes, Max Thieriot as Clay Spenser, Neil Brown Jr. as Ray, A.J. Buckley as Sonny, Toni Trucks as Diaz and Jessica Paré as Mandy Ellis.

“S.W.A.T.”

Shemar Moore in “S.W.A.T.” (Photo by Michael Yarish/CBS)

Inspired by the television series and feature film, “S.W.A.T.” stars Shemar Moore as a locally born S.W.A.T. sergeant newly tasked to run a specialized tactical unit that is the last stop in law enforcement in Los Angeles. Torn between loyalty to the streets where he was raised and allegiance to his brothers in blue, former Marine Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson (Moore) has everything it takes to successfully bridge the divide between his two worlds and excel at leading his dedicated team of brave men and women as they risk their lives to protect the community. Aaron Thomas, Shawn Ryan, Justin Lin, Neal Moritz, Marney Hochman, Danielle Woodrow and Pavun Shetty are executive producers for Sony Pictures Television in association with CBS Television Studios. Lin directed the pilot.

“S.W.A.T.” stars Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, Stephanie Sigman as Jessica Cortez, Alex Russell as Jim Street, Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay, Lina Esco as Christina “Chris” Alonso, Kenny Johnson as Dominique Luca and Peter Onorati as Mumford.

“WISDOM OF THE CROWD”

Jeremy Piven and Richard T. Jones in “Wisdom of the Crowd” (Photo by Diyah Pera/CBS)

“Wisdom of the Crowd” stars Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Jeremy Piven as a visionary tech innovator who creates a cutting-edge crowdsourcing app to solve his daughter’s murder, and revolutionizes crime solving in the process. Inspired by the notion that a million minds are better than one, Silicon Valley entrepreneur Jeffrey Tanner (Piven) develops “Sophe,” an online platform for publicly shared information, and recruits the original cop who searched for his daughter’s killer, Det. Tommy Cavanaugh (Richard T. Jones), to work with him. As Tanner taps into the “wisdom of the crowd,” his unexpected success fuels his determination to solve even more cases than just the one that’s personal to him. Ted Humphrey; Adam Davidson (pilot); Avi Nir, Alon Shtruzman, Peter Traugott, Rachel Kaplan (Keshet Media Group); and Dror Mishani and Shira Hadad are executive producers for CBS Television Studios in association with Universal Television. Davidson directed the pilot. Based on the Israeli format of the same name.

“Wisdom of the Crowd” stars Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Jeremy Piven as Jeffrey Tanner, Richard T. Jones as Det. Tommy Cavanaugh, Natalia Tena as Sara Morton, Blake Lee as Josh Novak, Jake Matthews as Tariq Bakari and Monica Potter as Alex Hale.

“INSTINCT”

“Instinct” stars Alan Cumming as a former CIA operative who is lured back to his old life when the NYPD needs his help to stop a serial killer. Dr. Dylan Reinhart (Cumming) is a gifted author and university professor living a quiet life teaching psychopathic behavior to packed classes of adoring students. But when top NYPD detective Lizzie Needham appeals to him to help her catch a serial murderer who is using Dylan’s first book as a tutorial, Dylan is compelled by the case, comes out of retirement and taps into his old skill set. Though Dylan and Lizzie initially clash, when it comes to catching killers, they realize they will make an ideal team if they both trust their instincts. Based on the soon to be published James Patterson book. Michael Rauch, Marc Webb, Alex Kurtzman and Heather Kadin (Secret Hideout), James Patterson, Bill Robinson, Leopoldo Gout and Alan Cumming are executive producers for CBS Television Studios. Webb directed the pilot.

“Instinct” stars Alan Cumming as Dr. Dylan Reinhart, Bojana Novakovic as Lizzie Needham, Daniel Ings as Andy, Naveen Andrews as Julian Cousins and Khandi Alexander as Lt. Monica Ford.

NEW COMEDY SERIES

“9JKL”

Elliott Gould, Linda Lavin, David Walton, Liza Lapira and Mark Feuerstein in “9JKL” (Photo by Cliff Lipson/CBS)

“9JKL” stars Mark Feuerstein in a family comedy inspired by his real life. Josh Roberts (Feuerstein) is a new divorcé and actor between projects who moves home to New York to regroup, living in an apartment sandwiched between his doting, meddlesome parents on one side and his competitive brother, sister-in-law and their new baby on the other. As Josh’s family literally comes at him from both sides, he realizes he desperately needs to establish some personal boundaries, because his loving family is always going to be right there for him. Always. Dana Klein, Mark Feuerstein, Aaron Kaplan, Wendi Trilling, Dana Honor and Pam Fryman are executive producers for Kapital Entertainment in association with CBS Television Studios. Fryman directed the pilot.

“9JKL” stars Mark Feuerstein as Josh Roberts, Linda Lavin as Judy, Elliott Gould as Harry, David Walton as Andrew, Liza Lapira as Eve and Matt Murray as Nick.

“BY THE BOOK”

“By the Book” is a comedy about a modern day man at a crossroads in his life who decides to live strictly in accordance with the Bible. Chip Curry (Jay R. Ferguson) is the film critic for a New York newspaper and a soon-to-be father who wants to be a better man following the loss of his best friend. As he begins his sincere spiritual journey toward a more moral life with the help of his wife and friends, he wonders if he’ll be able to take a page – or every page – out of the Good Book, and if the effect will be of Biblical proportions. Based on The New York Times bestselling book “The Year of Living Biblically” by A.J. Jacobs. Patrick Walsh, Johnny Galecki, Andrew Haas, Spencer Medof and multiple Emmy Award winner Andy Ackerman (pilot) are executive producers for Alcide Bava Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios. Ackerman directed the pilot.

“By the Book” stars Jay R. Ferguson as Chip, Lindsey Kraft as Leslie, Ian Gomez as Father Gene, David Krumholtz as Rabbi Ableman, Tony Rock as Vince and Camryn Manheim as Ms. Meadows.

“ME, MYSELF & I”

Jack Dylan Grazer, Bobby Moynihan and John Larroquette in “Me, Myself & I” (Photo by Neil Jacobs-Robert Voets/CBS)

“Me, Myself & I” stars Bobby Moynihan in a comedy about the defining moments in one man’s life over three distinct periods: as a 14-year-old in 1991, at age 40 in present day and at age 65 in 2042. During these pivotal periods of yesterday, today and tomorrow, Alex always finds a way to move forward with determination and humor, knowing his life story isn’t defined by the bad things that happen to him, but instead by how he chooses to deal with them. Dan Kopelman, Aaron Kaplan, Dana Honor and Randall Einhorn (pilot only) are executive producers for Kapital Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios. Einhorn directed the pilot.

“Me, Myself & I” stars Bobby Moynihan (Alex, present day), Jack Dylan Grazer (Alex, 1991), Brian Unger (Ron, 1991, present day), Jaleel White (Darryl, present day), Kelen Coleman (Abby, 2042), Skylar Gray (Abby, present day), Christopher Paul Richards (Justin, 1991), Mandell Maughan (Maggie, 1991), Reylynn Caster (Nori, 1991), with Sharon Lawrence (Eleanor, 2042) and John Larroquette (Alex, 2042).

“YOUNG SHELDON”

Iain Armitage in “Young Sheldon” (Photo by Robert Voets/CBS)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR-jIhwIfIw

For 9-year-old Sheldon Cooper (Iain Armitage), it isn’t easy growing up in East Texas. Being a once-in-a-generation mind capable of advanced mathematics and science isn’t always helpful in a land where church and football are king. And while the vulnerable, gifted and somewhat naïve Sheldon deals with the world, his very normal family must find a way to deal with him. “The Big Bang Theory’s” multiple Emmy Award winner Jim Parsons narrates as Adult Sheldon. This single-camera, half-hour comedy gives us the chance to meet Sheldon in childhood, as he embarks on his innocent, awkward and hopeful journey toward the man he will become. Chuck Lorre and Steve Molaro created the series and executive produce along with Jim Parsons and Todd Spiewak for Warner Bros. Television. Jon Favreau directed the pilot.

“Young Sheldon” stars Iain Armitage as Sheldon, Zoe Perry as Mary, Lance Barber as George Sr., Raegan Revord as Missy and Montana Jordan as Georgie Jr. “The Big Bang Theory’s” multiple Emmy Award winner Jim Parsons narrates the comedy as Adult Sheldon.

2017 TV Upfronts: ABC announces 2017-2018 schedule; see photos and videos

May 16, 2017

by Carla Hay

Freddie Highmore in “The Good Doctor” (Photo courtesy of ABC)

ABC officially announced its 2017-2018 schedule during the network’s upfront presentation at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall in New York City on May 16, 2017. Most of the existing shows had previously been announced as renewed. However, the upfront presentation made it official that “Toy Box” has been cancelled.

ABC is also reviving its Emmy-winning comedy “Roseanne” for eight episodes in 2018, with all of the show’s original stars back on board: Roseanne Barr, John Goodman, Sara Gilbert, Laurie Metcalf, Michael Fishman and Lecy Goranson. Sarah Chalke, who played the character Becky in later seasons, will also appear in another role.

New scripted shows include “Alex, Inc.,” “The Crossing,” “Deception,” “For The People,” “The Good Doctor,””The Gospel of Kevin,”  “Marvel’s Inhumans,” “The Mayor” and “Splitting Up Together,” “Ten Days in The Valley.” New reality shows are  “American Idol,” “The Bachelor Winter Games” and “Dancing With the Stars Junior.” Some of actors starring in these shows are known for being in past long-running hit shows. Kyra Sedgwick of “Ten Days in the Valley” formerly starred in “The Closer.” Freddie Highmore (“The Good Doctor”) previously starred in “Bates Motel.” Zach Braff (“Alex, Inc.”), who used to star in “Scrubs,” returns to a starring role on a TV series. Jenna Fischer (“Splitting Up Together”) is best known for being on the U.S. version of “The Office.” Jason Ritter (“The Gospel of Jason”) was a co-star of “Parenthood.”

There will be two new live musical event specials: “The Wonderful World of Disney: The Little Mermaid Live!’  and “Rolling Stone 50.”

Fall premiere dates will be announced at a later time. Please note that shows picked up but not listed on the schedule below will debut later in the 2017-18 season.

The following is an excerpt from an ABC press release:

ABC FALL 2017-18 SCHEDULE

All times listed are Eastern/Pacific Time.

MONDAY

8-10 p.m.        “Dancing with the Stars”
10-11 p.m.      “The Good Doctor”

TUESDAY

8-8:30 p.m.        “The Middle”
8:30-9 p.m.        “Fresh Off the Boat”**
9-9:30 p.m.        “Black-ish”***
9:30-10 p.m.       “The Mayor”
10-11 p.m.              “The Gospel of Kevin”

WEDNESDAY

8-830 p.m.        “The Goldbergs”
8:30-9 p.m.        “Speechless”
9:30-10 p.m.       “Modern Family”
9:30-10 p.m.       “American Housewife”***
10-11 p.m.              “Designated Survivor”

THURSDAY 

8-9 p.m.        “Grey’s Anatomy”
9-10 p.m.       “Scandal”
10-11 p.m.      “How to Get Away with Murder”

FRIDAY 

8-9 p.m.        “Once Upon a Time”***
9-10 p.m.      “Marvel’s Inhumans”
10-11 p.m.      “20/20”

SATURDAY 

8 p.m.        “Saturday Night Football”

SUNDAY 

7-8 p.m.        “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
8-9 p.m.        “To Tell the Truth” ***
9-10 p.m.      “Shark Tank”***
10-11 p.m.     “Ten Days in the Valley”

** = new time period

*** = new day and time period

NEW DRAMA SERIES

“THE CROSSING”

Sandrine Holt, Steve Zahn and Natalie Martinez in “The Crossing” (Photo/Bob D’Amico/ABC)

Refugees from a war-torn country seek asylum in a small American fishing town, only the country these people are from is America—and the war they are fleeing hasn’t happened yet. As the government tries to uncover the truth behind this mysterious migration only one thing is certain: The lives of the people here—both the townspeople and these newcomers—will never be the same.  Writers Dan Dworkin & Jay Beattie executive produce with Jason Reed.

“The Crossing” stars Steve Zahn as Jude Miller, Natalie Martinez as Reece, Sandrine Holt as Emma Ren, Rick Gomez as Nestor, Jay Karnes as Craig Lindauer, Marcuis Harris as Caleb, Simone Kessel as Rebecca, Kelly Missal as Hannah, Rob Campbell as Paul, Grant Harvey as Roy, Bailey Skodje as Leah, Jon D’Leo as Will, Luc Roderique as Bryce and Tommy Bastow as Marshall.

The pilot is directed by Rob Bowman. The series is from ABC Studios.

“DECEPTION”

Jack Cutmore-Scott in "Deception" (Photo by Giovanni Rufino/ABC)
Jack Cutmore-Scott in “Deception” (Photo by Giovanni Rufino/ABC)

When his career is ruined by scandal, superstar magician Cameron Black has only one place to turn to practice his art of deception, influence and illusion—the FBI. Using every trick in the book and inventing new ones, he will help the government catch the world’s most elusive criminals while staging the biggest illusions of his career.  The series is from writer/executive producer Chris Fedak (“Chuck”) and executive producers Greg Berlanti, Martin Gero and Sarah Schechter.  Illusionist David Kwong (“Now You See Me”) will co-produce.

“Deception” stars Jack Cutmore-Scott as Cameron Black/Jonathan Black, Ilfenesh Hadera as Kay Daniels, Lenora Crichlow as Dina Clark, Amaury Nolasco as Mike Alvarez, Justin Chon as Jordan Kwon, Laila Robins as Special Agent Deakins and Vinnie Jones as Gunter Gustafsen.

The series is from Berlanti Productions and Quinn’s House in association with Warner Bros. Television. “Deception” is directed by David Nutter, who is also executive producer.

“FOR THE PEOPLE”

Susannah Flood, Ben Rappaport and Rege Jean Page in “For the People” (Photo by Eric McCandless/ABC)

Set in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, aka “The Mother Court,” this new Shondaland drama follows brand-new lawyers working for both the defense and the prosecution handling the most high-profile and high-stakes federal cases in the country – all as their lives intersect in and out of the courtroom. The series is created by Shondaland’s Paul William Davies and is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers.

The series, from ABC Studios, stars Ben Rappaport as Seth Oliver, Susannah Flood as Kate Littlejohn, Wesam Keesh as Jay Simmons, Regé-Jean Page as Leonard Knox, Ben Shenkman as Roger Gunn, Hope Davis as Jill Carlan, Vondie Curtis-Hall as Judge Nicholas Byrne and Anna Deavere Smith as Tina Krissman.

“THE GOOD DOCTOR”

Freddie Highmore in “The Good Doctor”(Photo by Liane Hentscher/ABC)

Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore, “Bates Motel”), a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, relocates from a quiet country life to join a prestigious hospital’s surgical unit. Alone in the world and unable to personally connect with those around him, Shaun uses his extraordinary medical gifts to save lives and challenge the skepticism of his colleagues. The series is from David Shore (“House”), and “Lost” and “Hawaii Five-O” star Daniel Dae Kim.

The series stars Freddie Highmore as Dr. Shaun Murphy, Antonia Thomas as Dr. Claire Brown, Nicholas Gonzalez as Dr. Neal Melendez, Chuku Modu as Dr. Jared Kalu, Beau Garrett as Jessica Preston, Hill Harper as Dr. Marcus Andrews and Richard Schiff as Dr. Aaron Glassman.

The series is from Sony Pictures Television and ABC Studios. David Shore is writer and executive producer. Daniel Dae Kim, David Kim and Sebastian Lee are also executive producers. Seth Gordon directed the pilot and is also an executive producer.

“THE GOSPEL OF KEVIN”

Jason Ritter in “The Gospel of Kevin” (Photo by Ryan Green/ABC)

Kevin Finn (Jason Ritter, “Parenthood”), a cluelessly self-serving person, is on a dangerous path to despair. In a downward spiral, Kevin returns home to stay with his widowed twin sister (JoAnna Garcia Swisher, “Once Upon a Time”) and niece.  On his first night there, an unlikely celestial being named Yvette appears to him and presents him with a mission: to save the world.  A light drama from executive producers Michele Fazekas & Tara Butters (“Marvel’s Agent Carter,” “Resurrection,” “Reaper”).

“The Gospel of Kevin” stars Jason Ritter as Kevin Finn, JoAnna Garcia Swisher as Amy, J. August Richards as Nate, Chloe East as Reese, Dustin Ybarra as Tyler and India de Beaufort as Kristin.

The pilot is directed by Paul McGuigan. The series is from ABC Studios.

“MARVEL’S INHUMANS”

Eme Ikwuakor, Ken Leung, Anson Mount, Serinda Swan, Isabelle Cornish and Iwan Rheon. (Photo by Michael Muller/ABC)

“Marvel’s Inhumans” explores the never-before-told epic adventure of the royal family including Black Bolt, the enigmatic, commanding King of the Inhumans, with a voice so powerful that the slightest whisper can destroy a city. After the Royal Family of Inhumans is splintered by a military coup, they barely escape to Hawaii where their surprising interactions with the lush world and humanity around them may prove to not only save them, but Earth itself. The legendary comic book series will be brought to life in a way that has never been done before, as a version of the first two episodes will be shown globally in IMAX theaters for a two-week period beginning September 1, 2017. ABC will then air the entirety of the series on the network, with additional exclusive content that can only been seen on ABC.

“Marvel’s Inhumans” stars Anson Mount as Black Bolt, Iwan Rheon as Maximus, Serinda Swan as Medusa, Eme Ikwuakor as Gorgon, Isabelle Cornish as Crystal, Ken Leung as Karnak, Ellen Woglom as an undisclosed character, Sonya Balmores as Auran and Mike Moh as Triton.

The series is executive produced by Scott Buck, along with Marvel’s Jeph Loeb and Jim Chory with Buck serving as showrunner.  Roel Reiné will direct the first two episodes. This series is a Marvel and IMAX project and is co-produced by Marvel Television and ABC Studios.

“TEN DAYS IN THE VALLEY”

Kick Gurry, Kyra Sedgwick and Erika Christensen in “Ten Days in the Valley” (Photo by Eric McCandless/ABC)

“Ten Days in the Valley” stars Kyra Sedgwick as Jane Sadler, an overworked television producer and single mother in the middle of a separation whose life is turned upside down when her young daughter goes missing in the middle of the night. Just like her controversial police TV show, everything is a mystery, everyone has a secret and no one can be trusted.

“Ten Days in the Valley” stars Kyra Sedgwick as Jane Sadler, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as John Bird, Kick Gurry as Pete Greene, Erika Christensen as Ali Petrovich, Felix Solis as David Gomez, Josh Randall as Tom Petrovich, Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Matt, Abigail Pniowsky as Lake and Francois Battiste as Gus.

“Ten Days in the Valley” is from Skydance Television. It is created and written by Tassie Cameron. Executive producers are Tassie Cameron, Kyra Sedgwick, Jill Littman, Dana Goldberg, David Ellison and Marcy Ross.

NEW COMEDY SERIES

“ALEX, INC.”

Audyssie Jame,, Elisha Henign, Tiya Sircar, Zach Braff, Hillary Anne Matthews and Michael Imperioli in “Alex, Inc.” (Photo by Craig Sjodin/ABC)

Based on the podcast StartUp, Alex Schuman (Zach Braff, “Scrubs”) is a brilliant radio journalist, husband and father of two who is about to do something crazy – quit his job and start his own company. He quickly discovers it’s going to be a lot harder than he thought. Zach Braff stars, directs and is executive producer with Matt Tarses (“Scrubs”) and Davis Entertainment (“Dr. Ken,” “Blacklist”).

Matt Tarses is writer and executive producer. Zach Braff is director and executive producer. John Davis and John Fox are executive producers of the series, from Davis Entertainment, as are Alex Blumberg, Chris Gilberti  and Matt Lieber (Gimlet Media) in association with Sony Pictures Television and ABC Studios.

“THE MAYOR”

Brandon Micheal Hall, Yvette Nicole Brown, Bernard David Jones, Marcel Spears and Lea Michele in “The Mayor” (Photo by Craig Sjodin/ABC)

Young rapper Courtney Rose (Brandon Micheal Hall) needs his big break. For years he’s toiled away in a small inner-city apartment, making music in his junk-filled bedroom closet. Tired of waiting for opportunity, Courtney cooks up the publicity stunt of the century—running for mayor of his hometown in California to generate buzz for his music career. Unfortunately for Courtney, his master plan goes wildly awry, ending in the most terrifying of outcomes: an election victory. With the help of his mother (Yvette Nicole Brown, “Community”) and friends, including Valentina (“Glee’s” Lea Michele), Courtney will have to overcome his hubris if he wants to transform the struggling city he loves.

The series stars Brandon Micheal Hall as Courtney Rose, Lea Michele as Valentina, Bernard David Jones as Jermaine Hardaway, Marcel Spears as TK and Yvette Nicole Brown as Dina.

From executive producer Daveed Diggs (Tony winner for Broadway’s “Hamilton”), writer/executive producer Jeremy Bronson (“Speechless,” “The Mindy Project,” “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”) and executive producer Jamie Tarses (“Happy Endings”), the series is from ABC Studios. The pilot is directed by executive producer James Griffiths (“black-ish”).

“SPLITTING UP TOGETHER”

Van Crosby, Jenna Fischer, Sander Thomas, Oliver Hudson and Olivia Keville in “Splitting Up Together” (Photo by Craig Sjodin/ABC)

Based on the Danish series, “Splitting Up Together” is the story of a couple (Jenna Fischer, “The Office,” Oliver Hudson, “Scream Queens”) whose marriage is reignited by their divorce. Emily Kapnek (“Suburgatory”) writes and serves as executive producer of this new comedy, along with Ellen DeGeneres.

The series stars Jenna Fischer as Lena, Oliver Hudson as Martin, Bobby Lee as Arthur, Diane Farr as Maya, Lindsay Price as Camille, Olivia Keville as Mae, Van Crosby as Mason and Sander Thomas as Milo.

Jeff Kleeman, Mette Heeno, Mie Andreasen and Hella Joof are also executive producers of “Splitting Up Together,” which is based on the original series created by Heeno. It is produced by A Very Good Production and Piece of Pie Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. Dean Holland directed the pilot.

NEW ALTERNATIVE SERIES

“AMERICAN IDOL”

ABC is bringing back “American Idol.” The network, along with producers FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment, a division of CORE Media Group, will revive television’s most successful and recognized music competition series for the 2017-2018 season, bringing back the fan-favorite and making more dreams come true. A host and judges will be announced at a later time.

“American Idol”‘s profound effect on the music industry is far-reaching and continually growing, launching the careers of superstars Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Katharine McPhee, Adam Lambert and Chris Daughtry, among many others.  “American Idol” contestants have sold more than 60 million albums, resulting in more than 80 Platinum records and 95 Gold records. Its participants have generated more than 450 Billboard No. 1 hits and sold more than 260 million digital downloads.

“American Idol” is produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment, a division of CORE Media Group. Executive producers include FremantleMedia North America’s Trish Kinane and Jennifer Mullin. FremantleMedia International distributes the series worldwide.

“THE BACHELOR WINTER GAMES”

America’s favorite participants from past seasons of “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette,” from arch rivals to villains, will take competitive dating to a chilling new level. In an ode to the Winter Olympic Games and slated to premiere in February 2018, “The Bachelor Winter Games” will reunite the all-stars at a luxurious winter resort, where they will go head-to-head in winter-themed athletic challenges, including the toughest sport of all—love.

“The Bachelor Winter Games” is a production of Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Unscripted Television. Mike Fleiss and Martin Hilton to executive produce.

“DANCING WITH THE STARS JUNIOR”

A fresh new take on an established favorite, “Dancing with the Stars Junior” will pair celebrity kids and kids of celebrities with professional junior ballroom dancers to perform choreographed routines, which will be judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts, to be announced at a later date.

Slated to debut in Spring 2018, “Dancing with the Stars Junior” is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions.

NEW SPECIALS

“THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY: THE LITTLE MERMAID LIVE!”

In a two-hour special event, ABC will take the iconic “The Little Mermaid” animated feature film and intertwine it with show stopping LIVE musical performances via cutting-edge technology for an explosive evening honoring one of Walt Disney’s most celebrated classics. Fans of “The Little Mermaid” and Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s Oscar-winning songs will enjoy this never-before-seen live action/animation hybrid television experience featuring a soon-to-be announced roster of some of their favorite celebrity artists, whose performances will weave seamlessly throughout the original animated film.

“The Wonderful World of Disney: The Little Mermaid Live!” is set to premiere on Tuesday, October 3. The special is produced by Done + Dusted with Hamish Hamilton, Ian Stewart, David Jammy, Katy Mullan, and Richard Kraft, of Kraft-Engel Productions, serving as executive producers.

“ROLLING STONE 50”

For half a century, Rolling Stone has remained an iconic and important voice in American music, culture and politics. Now, the people who have told their stories through the Rolling Stone lens are coming together to reflect on the last 50 years. “Rolling Stone 50” will pay homage to the brand’s influence and impact through a curated journey of its most seminal moments. Live from New York City, the three-hour special television event, set to debut Wednesday, February 7, 2018, will showcase live performances, short films, iconic on-stage moments, never-before-seen musical pairings, and celebrities that have shaped pop culture, music and politics.

The special is a production of Done + Dusted and Wenner Media. Jann Wenner and Gus Wenner of Wenner Media and Ian Stewart, David Jammy and Katy Mullan of Done + Dusted serve as executive producers.

2018 Academy Awards: Jimmy Kimmel returns as host

May 16, 2017

Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel (Photo by Jeff Lipsky/ABC)

The following is a press release from ABC:

For a second consecutive year, late-night talk show favorite Jimmy Kimmel will return to host the Oscars telecast, and Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd will produce, Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs announced today. The 90th Academy Awards will air live on the ABC Television Network and broadcast outlets worldwide on Oscar® Sunday, March 4, 2018.

“Jimmy, Mike and Jennifer are truly an Oscar Dream Team,” said Boone Isaacs. “Mike and Jennifer produced a beautiful show that was visually stunning. And Jimmy proved, from his opening monologue all the way through a finale we could never have imagined, that he is one our finest hosts in Oscar history.”

“Hosting the Oscars was a highlight of my career and I am grateful to Cheryl, Dawn and the Academy for asking me to return to work with two of my favorite people, Mike De Luca and Jennifer Todd,” said Kimmel.  ”If you think we screwed up the ending this year, wait until you see what we have planned for the 90th anniversary show!”

“It’s not often you get two chances to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience and even more rare to be handed the keys to a party 90 years in the making,” said De Luca and Todd. ”We always thought the idea that anything can happen on the Oscars was a cliché until we lived it.”

“Our Oscars team this year delivered a show that hit every high note,” said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson. “Jimmy brought back the essence and light touch of the greatest hosts of Oscars’ past. Mike and Jennifer’s love of movies is infectious and touched every aspect of the show. This is the perfect team to lead us into the ninth decade.”

“After just one year, we can’t imagine anyone else hosting The Oscars. Jimmy’s skillful command of the stage is invaluable on a night when anything can happen—and does,” said Channing Dungey, president, ABC Entertainment. “With Mike and Jennifer at the helm, we’re ready for another unforgettable show that will dazzle, delight and, most importantly, honor 90 years of Hollywood’s most prestigious award.”

Kimmel serves as host and executive producer of the Emmy®-winning “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” ABC’s late-night talk show. Now in its 15th season, “JKL” has earned six Emmy nominations in the Outstanding Variety Series Talk category, the Writing for a Variety Series category, and the Variety, Music or Comedy Series category.

De Luca earned Best Picture Oscar nominations for producing “Captain Phillips,” “Moneyball” and “The Social Network.”  He is credited on more than 60 films, including the “Fifty Shades of Grey” trilogy, “Blow,” “Magnolia,” “American History X” and “Boogie Nights.”  He is a former president of production at Columbia Pictures, DreamWorks and New Line Cinema.

Todd is currently president of Pearl Street Films, the production company founded by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, where she produced “Live by Night” and executive produced last year’s “Jason Bourne.”  Her other credits include such films as “Alice through the Looking Glass,” “Celeste and Jesse Forever,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Across the Universe,” “Prime,” “Memento,” “Boiler Room” and the “Austin Powers” films.  Todd earned an Emmy nomination for her work on the HBO television movie “If These Walls Could Talk 2.”

The 90th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. EDT/4 p.m. PDT. The Oscars also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

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