Apple TV+’s New Kristen Wiig Series ‘Palm Royale’ Reveals Premiere Date, First Looks (TV News Roundup)

Valerie Wu, Jaden Thompson and Caroline Brew

Apple TV+ has revealed first look images for the upcoming comedy series “Palm Royale” starring Kristen Wiig. The show, which is loosely based on Juliet McDaniel’s novel “Mr. and Mrs. American Pie,” is slated to debut on March 20.

The series’ description reads: “‘Palm Royale’ is a true underdog story that follows Maxine Simmons (Kristen Wiig) as she endeavors to break into Palm Beach high society. As Maxine attempts to cross that impermeable line between the haves and the have-nots, ‘Palm Royale’ asks the same question that still baffles us today: ‘How much of yourself are you willing to sacrifice to get what someone else has?’ Set during the powder keg year of 1969, ‘Palm Royale’ is a testament to every outsider fighting for their chance to truly belong.”

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The rest of the ensemble cast includes Laura Dern, Allison Janney, Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, Leslie Bibb, Amber Chardae Robinson, Mindy Cohn, Julia Duffy and Kaia Gerber. Bruce Dern and Carol Burnett also appear as special guest stars.

Abe Sylvia serves as writer, executive producer and showrunner for Aunt Sylvia’s Moving Picture Company. The series is produced for Apple TV+ by Apple Studios. Laura Dern and Jayme Lemons executive produce on behalf of Jaywalker Pictures, in addition to Kristen Wiig, Rock Shaink, Katie O’Connell Marsh, Tate Taylor and John Norris for Wyolah Films, Sharr White, and Sheri Holman and Boat Rocker. Taylor, Sylvia, Claire Scanlon and Stephanie Laing directed the series.

View some of the additional first look images below:

In other TV roundup news:

FIRST LOOKS

Season three of STARZ series “BMF” has released first-look images.

The latest season of the crime drama features new guest stars Saweetie, Dominique “Lil Baby” Jones and Cynthia Bailey. Saweetie stars as former college athlete Keeya, Jones stars as foot soldier Payne and Bailey stars as Gloria, the ex-wife of Detective Bryant (Steve Harris). The three join Ne-Yo and 2 Chainz as guest stars.

As per the press release, the third season continues the storyline of brothers Demetrius “Big Leech” Flenory (Demetrius Flenory Jr.) and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory (Da’Vinchi) as they build upon their criminal organization, the Black Mafia Family. Season three of “BMF” premieres on STARZ March 1, 2024.

See below for select first-look images.

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Peacock has released the trailer for Season 2 of the unscripted competition series “The Traitors,” premiering on Jan. 12.

The series’ description reads: “’The Traitors’ is a nail-biting psychological adventure in which treachery and deceit are the name of the game. Entertainment’s most competitive reality stars and famous faces play the ultimate murder mystery game. Hosted by award-winning actor Alan Cumming at an ancient castle set deep in the Scottish Highlands, contestants work together on a series of exhilarating missions to build a prize fund worth up to $250,000. Hidden amongst the Faithful are the Traitors, whose goal is to eliminate the Faithful and claim the prize for themselves.”

Some of the 21 contestants include Carsten “Bergie” Bergersen (“Love Island USA”), Deontay Wilder (FMR Boxing Heavyweight Champion), Maksim Chmerkovskiy (“Dancing with the Stars”), Peppermint (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”), Peter Weber (“The Bachelor”), Phaedra Parks (“Married to Medicine”) and Sandra Diaz-Twine (“Survivor”).

Executive producers include Stephen Lambert, Mike Cotton, Toni Ireland, Sam Rees-Jones, Tim Harcourt and Jack Burgess. The series is produced by Studio Lambert.

Watch the trailer below.

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Apple TV+ has revealed first look images for the upcoming limited true crime series “Manhunt,” which will debut on March 15. Tobias Menzies stars and Monica Beletsky created the series.

The series’ description reads: “Based on The New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-winning non-fiction book from author James L. Swanson, ‘Manhunt’ is a conspiracy thriller about one of the best known but least understood crimes in history, the astonishing story of the hunt for John Wilkes Booth in the aftermath of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.”

In addition to Menzies, the rest of the cast includes Anthony Boyle, Lovie Simone, Will Harrison, Brandon, Damian O’Hare, Glenn Morshower, Patton Oswalt, Matt Walsh and Hamish Linklater.

The series is produced by Apple Studios and co-produced by Lionsgate Television, in association with POV Entertainment, Walden Media, 3 Arts Entertainment, Dovetale Productions and Monarch Pictures. Executive producers include Beletsky, Franklin, Layne Eskridge and Kate Barry. Swanson, the author behind “Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer” is another executive producer in addition to Michael Rotenberg, Richard Abate, Frank Smith and Naia Cucukov.

View some of the first look images below:

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Prime Video’s animated adult musical comedy series “Hazbin Hotel” now has a trailer.

The eight-episode first season is created, directed and executive produced by Vivienne Medrano and based on her 2019 animated pilot on YouTube. Also executive producers are Joel Kuwahara, Dana Tafoya-Cameron and Scott Greenberg. A24 and Bento Box Entertainment co-produce.

The series description reads: “‘Hazbin Hotel’ follows Charlie, the princess of Hell, as she pursues her seemingly impossible goal of rehabilitating demons to peacefully reduce overpopulation in her kingdom. After a yearly extermination imposed by angels, she opens a hotel in the hopes that patrons will be “checking out” into Heaven. While most of Hell mocks her goal, her devoted partner Vaggie, and their first test subject, adult-film star Angel Dust, stick by her side. When a powerful entity known as the “Radio Demon” reaches out to assist Charlie in her endeavors, her crazy dream is given a chance to become a reality.”

The first four episodes premiere on Prime Video Jan. 19, 2024, with new episodes being released weekly until Feb. 2.

Watch the trailer below.

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BritBox’s 1950s historical drama series “Three Little Birds” has released a trailer.

“‘Three Little Birds’ narrates the adventures of gregarious sisters Leah and Chantrelle, who hail from the St Anne’s district of Jamaica, and their virtuous, bible-loving acquaintance Hosanna, as they board a ship heading for a new life in Great Britain,” reads the series description. The six-part show was written by executive producer Sir Lenny Henry (“Chef!”), who was inspired by his mother’s own journey leaving Jamaica for Great Britain.

Tiger Aspect Productions and BritBox International serve as co-producers. Diederick Santer, Lucy Bedford, Kate Crowe, Russell T. Davies, Charles McDougall and Angela Ferreira also executive produce with Henry. Stella Nwimo produces.

“Three Little Birds” debuted in the UK in October and is slated for a U.S. BritBox streaming release Feb. 1, 2024.

Watch the trailer below.

PROGRAMMING

TikTok has revealed that Disney+ and Hulu will stream highlights from its In The Mix music event as a one hour special, beginning Dec. 15. Audiences around the world will be able to view the Mesa, AZ concert featuring headliners Cardi B, Niall Horan, Anitta, Charlie Puth, Offset and Reneé Rapp.

“We are so excited to bring the For You feed to life beyond Mesa, AZ to millions of more fans around the world,” said Paul Hourican, TikTok’s global head of music partnerships and programming. “We wanted to make sure that if you couldn’t make it to Arizona or catch the global livestreams on TikTok, that our music-loving community would still have a way to watch In The Mix, and Disney+ and Hulu are making that a reality.”

The special will showcase various moments from the concert including Charlie Puth dueting with Jungkook, Anitta and Peso Luma performing their song “BELLAKEO” live for the first time, and a surprise appearance by Shaq. Host Josh “BRU,” a TikTok creator, offers inside looks into the event.

The In the Mix concert was held on Dec. 10 at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. It was co-produced by TikTok, Done+Dusted and GroupM Motion Entertainment. It was first broadcasted live on TikTok.

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The ad-free tier of streaming service Max will be available on Primetime Channels across the United States, according to a recent announcement from Warner Bros. Discovery and YouTube.

Beginning Dec. 15, YouTube customers can stream Max content on Primetime Channels. Primetime Channels is a YouTube platform that allows users to access content from streaming channels directly through YouTube.

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The CW has announced midseason dates for more returning series and specials:

Saturday, December 30: 4 p.m. — “2023 Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl”; 8 p.m. — “I Am Burt Reynolds”

Saturday, January 6: 8 p.m. — “I Am Chris Farley”

Sunday, January 7: 7 p.m. — “The Wedding Planner”

Thursday, January 11: 8 p.m. — “Son Of A Critch” (Original Episode); 8:30 p.m. — TBA; 9 p.m. — TBA; 9:30 p.m. — “Children Ruin Everything” (Season 3 Premiere)

Friday, January 12: 8 p.m. — “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” (Original Episode); 9 p.m. — “Masters Of Illusion” (Original Episode); 9:30 p.m. — “World’s Funniest Animals” (Original Episode)

Saturday, January 13: 8 p.m. — “I Am Paul Walker”

Sunday, January 14: 7 p.m. — 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards

Monday, January 15: 8 p.m. — “I Am Martin Luther King Jr.”

Wednesday, January 17: 8 p.m. — “Wild Cards” (Series Premiere); 9 p.m. — “Family Law” (Season 3 Premiere)

Thursday, January 25: 8 p.m. — “Son Of A Critch” (Season 3 Premiere); 8:30 p.m. — TBA; 9 p.m. — TBA; 9:30 p.m. — “Children Ruin Everything” (Original Episode)

Tuesday, February 20: 8 p.m. — “Crime Nation” (Series Premiere)

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Martial arts org One Championship has partnered with European sports broadcaster Sky Sports to air One content on its broadcast and digital platforms across the United Kingdom and Ireland. The partnership starts with “One Fight Night 18: Superlek vs. Mahmoudi,” which will air live on Saturday, January 13 at 1 a.m. GMT.

“For years, our UK fans have been clamoring for ONE to be broadcast on one of the region’s major networks,” said Chatri Sityodtong, One Championship chairman and CEO.. Today, I’m excited to announce a new partnership with Sky Sports, the premier broadcaster for live sports in the UK and one of the most well-known sports networks in the world. This deal marks an important milestone for the celebration of martial arts and the continued expansion of One Championship’s global footprint.”

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“Season of Light: Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir” starring Tony Award-winning Broadway star Lea Salonga (“Mulan,” “Miss Saigon”) and stage actor Sir David Suchet (“Agatha Christie’s Poirot”) will premiere on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS and, followed by Sunday, Dec. 17 on BYUtv (as well as those outlets’ websites and apps). Here’s a first look:

SYNDICATION

NBCUniversal Syndication Studios and NBC Owned Television Stations, which are part of NBCUniversal Local, have renewed “Dateline” for an eighth season in national broadcast syndication. Sean O’Boyle, executive vice president of syndication sales, NBCUniversal Syndication Studios, announced the renewal.

At present, the syndicated version of “Dateline” airs on weekdays from broadcast groups like NBCUniversal Local, Tegna, FOX, Gray,  COX Media Group, Scripps, Nexstar, Hearst and Sinclair, among others.

“‘Dateline’ in syndication is a sustained and proven ratings success, consistently placing among the top-rated programs in daytime with remarkable continued growth, making it a perfect station offering for the new realities of our business,” O’Boyle said.  “’Dateline’s’ compelling storytelling and high-quality, recognizable brand, continues to appeal to local news viewers and is the perfect program to attract top tier advertisers.”

“‘Dateline’ delivers compelling, best-in-class content in the ever-popular true crime genre,” said Therese Gamba, chief marketing officer & executive vice president of acquired programming, NBCUniversal Local. “We are delighted to extend our partnership and to continue to bring ‘Dateline’ to audiences across our markets.”

DATES

New OWN series “First-Time Buyer’s Club” will premiere on Dec. 30 with its first two episodes.

The 10-episode half-hour unscripted series follows realtor Amina Stevens as she guides potential homeowners along the journey of buying a house. The series is filmed across the Tampa Bay area in Florida and features a different client each episode.

Stevens’s goal with the series is to dismantle the myths and intimidation surrounding the current housing market, as well as reduce housing disparities in the Black community. The first episode will center on Loretta, a grandmother of four, hoping to buy her first home for retirement, while the second episode will see Stevens mentoring young couple Teeka and Sundai as they decide what kind of home is best for them.

DEVELOPMENT/PRODUCTION

Kitao Sakurai is set to direct and executive produce the first two episodes of Amazon’s Prime Video series “Butterfly.”

Sakurai is known for co-creating, directing and executive producing all six seasons of Adult Swim’s “The Eric Andre Show.” He also directed and co-wrote the 2021 Netflix comedy film “Bad Trip.”

The “Butterfly” series logline reads: “’Butterfly’ is a character-driven spy thriller that explores complex family dynamics within the treacherous world of global espionage. It’s centered on David Jung, an enigmatic, highly unpredictable former US intelligence operative living in South Korea, whose life is blown to pieces when the consequences of an impossible decision from his past come back to haunt him, and he finds himself pursued by Rebecca, a deadly, sociopathic young agent assigned to kill him.”

“Butterfly” is based on the graphic novel series created by Arash Amel, written by Amel and Marguerite Bennett, and illustrated by Antonio Fuso and Stefano Simeone. The series is a co-production between Daniel Dae Kim’s 3AD and publisher BOOM! Studios, with Kim attached to star in the lead role of David Jung.

CASTING

Actress, singer, and songwriter Charlotte Gainsbourg will join Amazon’s upcoming Prime Video series “Étoile.” She replaces Camille Cottin, who departed the show due to scheduling conflicts, the streamer said.

Gainsbourg (“The Pale Blue Eye”) stars opposite previous announced cast members Luke Kirby, Gideon Glick, Simon Callow, Lou de Laâge and David Alvarez. The series, picked up for two seasons, comes from creators Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino.

EXECUTIVE NEWS

Mike Spruill has been promoted to vice president and general manager of Nexstar Media Group’s broadcast and digital operations in Nashville. He will oversee WKRN-TV (ABC), wkrn.com and their related social media channels. Spruill will continue to report to Mike Vaughn, senior vice president and regional manager for Nexstar.

“I am extremely grateful to Nexstar for giving me this opportunity to return to Nashville and work alongside the talented and experienced staff at WKRN-TV and wkrn.com—both of which have a rich legacy of serving the community. Nexstar’s commitment to local content both on-air and on-line, coupled with the unique and customized advertising and marketing solutions we offer creates a distinct advantage for our viewers and advertisers. I am excited by what lies ahead and can’t wait to get to work,” Spruill said in a statement.

Most recently serving as vice president and general manager for Nexstar’s KRBK-TV (FOX), KOZL-TV (MyNet), and Ozarksfirst.com in Springfield, Miss., Spruill has over 30 years of experience in broadcast television marketing and sales. During his leadership of KRBK-TV and KOZL-TV, Spruill and his team expanded evening news on KRBK-TV by five hours per week and launched new local sports and lifestyle programs.

“Mike is the ideal executive to lead Nexstar’s broadcast and digital operations in Nashville,” Vaughn said in a statement. “He has had a great run in Springfield and is a highly qualified broadcasting professional who has generated strong results everywhere he has worked for more than three decades. Most important, he knows the Nashville market and what resonates with its viewers and advertisers.”

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Stéfanie Gelinas has been named executive VP of global formats & development at Critical Content. She will report to Critical Content president Jenny Daly.

A veteran television executive and consultant, Gelinas was previously at Zodiak Americas as senior vice president, where she led an international team and founded a creativity and innovation unit. In her new role as EVP of global formats and development at Critical Content, Gelinas will manage the production studio’s relationships with co-producers and across global markets.

“Stéfanie’s massive track record and comprehensive insight into the global content market is second to none,” says Jenny Daly, president of Critical Content. “Already, she has carved out invaluable opportunities that have scaled our business domestically and globally. She’s a motivational leader who, by nature, inspires creativity in everything she touches and everyone around her.”

PARTNERSHIPS

In a new partnership, Film Independent and FX have launched the Film Independent Imaginar TV Incubator for Fearless Latinx Creators with the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP).

The Incubator is a program that will support six Latine creatives as they navigate the industry. According to the press release, participants will workshop their drama pilots, learn about the FX development process and pitch an original drama concept to FX executives. The six individuals will also each receive a $3,000 grant along with travel grants.

“We are excited to partner with Film Independent to create the Imaginar TV Incubator,” said Gina Balian, president of FX Entertainment.  “By combining Film Independent’s innovative writer programs and knack for finding the next generation of creators with FX’s brand of fearless storytelling, we have been able to create a new program to engage Latinx creators in our search for the next hit series for FX.”

Applications for the Film Independent Imaginar TV Incubator for Fearless Latinx Creators are open now until Feb. 2, 2024 (with an extended application deadline of Feb. 9, 2024 for Film Independent members), and can be found at filmindependent.org.

AWARDS

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has announced the performers and presenters for the 50th annual Daytime Emmy Awards, taking place live on Friday, Dec. 15 on CBS, and streaming on Paramount+.

Shemar Moore will present the lifetime achievement honor to Susan Lucci in a reunion of sorts, as Moore presented Lucci with first Daytime Emmy in 1999 for her role as Erica Kane in “All My Children,” after being nominated 19 times.

Additionally, Jennifer Nettles will perform the song “Life is Sweet” during the In Memoriumsegment of the show.

In addition to Moore, other presenters for the evening include Lauralee Bell, Peter Bergman, Michael Damian, Don Diamont, Mary Beth Evans, Akbar Gbajabiamila, Drake Hogestyn, Finola Hughes, Amanda Kloots, A Martinez, John McCook, Melody Thomas Scott, Heather Tom, Donnell Turner, Kym Whitley and Laura Wright. Maury Povich and Connie Chung will also appear to present the Gold and Silver Circle honorees and the In Memorium tribute, respectively.

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