TAGGED AS: Comedy Central, Netflix, Starz
This week in TV news, Ryan Murphy and friends’ touching Pulse memorial, Jessica Williams strikes out on her own, Lost in Space gets a relaunch, and more!
TV producer Ryan Murphy (Glee, Scream Queens, American Horror Story) recruited 49 stars from his own TV shows along with many others to create an all-star memorial video that honors the victims of the horrific June 12 shooting at Pulse, an Orlando LGBT night club. As a co-production with the Human Rights Campaign, each of the 49 stars involved delivers a personal tribute to each one of the victims in the very moving 18 minute video. Performers include Lady Gaga, Connie Britton, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, Denis O’Hare, Emma Roberts, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lea Michele, and so many more. Also included is a promotion of the HRC’s new Stop the Hate campaign, aiming to “put a stop to hate violence” and “show the world that love conquers hate.”
It was announced today that Lionsgate will acquire Starz for a combination of cash and stock totaling $4.4 billion, creating a global content powerhouse positioned to capitalize on growth opportunities worldwide. Although the deal was long expected, the price was higher than investors anticipated. Starz CEO Chris Albrecht will continue to run the operation.
In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jessica Williams announced that she’ll be leaving The Daily Show this week in order to focus on creating her own scripted series on Comedy Central. “I feel like I’m growing up and graduating,” Williams told EW. When she joined The Daily Show back in 2012, Williams was the youngest correspondent and also the first black female to join the cast.
Netflix has ordered a 10-episode reimagining of the beloved series Lost in Space. The 1960s sci-fi classic from Irwin Allen will be helmed by Prison Break’s Zack Estrin. Estrin who will serve as showrunner, is spearheading the project with feature writing duo Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless (Dracula Untold, Last Witch Hunter). Taking cues from the original series, the reboot will follow the Robinson family, who are forced to come together when they end up light years away from their original destination. As Dr. Smith would say, “You bubble-headed booby, you realize what you’ve done!?”… it seems Netflix does, and the family drama and sci-fi adventures will ensue when the series has its worldwide premiere in 2018.
