Discovery Plus’ Magnolia Network Announces Four New Original Series (TV News Roundup)

Magnolia Network, Discovery, Inc.’s multiplatform media joint-venture with Chip and Joanna Gaines, announced “Magnolia Network: A Look Ahead Vol. 2,” a TV special that will preview 10 original series slated for summer when the network launches.

In the preview special, the Gaineses will introduce four newly announced series coming to Magnolia this summer, including “Art in Bloom with Helen Dealtry,” which focuses on studio-based painting “The Artisan’s Kitchen,” which sees baker Bryan Ford tackling classic recipes, “Jean Stoffer Design,” (working title) which follows the acclaimed interior designer, and “Making Modern with Brooke and Brice,” a builder-designer married duo that take on home renovation.

Previously announced series that will also debut this summer include “Homegrown,” “Mind for Design,” “Ranch to Table,” “Self Employed,” “Van Go” and “Zoë Bakes.”

“Magnolia Network: A Look Ahead Vol. 2” is produced by the Gaineses company Blind Nil. Magnolia Network is set to launch digitally this summer on July 15 exclusively on Discovery Plus.

Also in today’s TV news roundup:

DATES

FX announced that Season 2 of “Dave” will premiere on June 16. The first two episodes will air on FXX and be available for streaming on FX on Hulu the following day. “Dave” features Dave Burd playing himself as he navigates his relationship and the hip-hop world to become rap superstar Lil Dicky. Burd stars alongside Taylor Misiak, GaTa, Andrew Santino, Travis “Taco” Bennett and Christine Ko. Season 2 will also guest star Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, Benny Blanco, Kyle Kuzma, Doja Cat, J Balvin, Rae Sremmurd (Swae Lee & Slim Jxmmi), CL, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lil Yachty, Lil Nas X, Kevin Hart and more. “Dave” is co-created and executive produced by Burd and Jeff Schaffer. Saladin K. Patterson, Ben Sinclair, Luvh Rakhe, Kevin Hart and Hartbeat Produtions, Scooter Braun, Greg Mottola, Marty Bowen, Mike Hertz and SB Projects’ James Shin and Scott Manson also executive produce.

Amazon Prime Video announced that the original anthology series “Solos” will premiere on May 21. Created by David Weil, the seven-part series spans the present and future and explores what it means to be human. Each episode centers on a different character in a new environment. They are played by Morgan Freeman, Anne Hathaway, Helen Mirren, Uzo Aduba, Nicole Beharie, Anthony Mackie, Dan Stevens and Constance Wu. “Solos” is executive produced by Weil and Laura Lancaster with Pixie Wespiser serving as a producer. Weil makes his directorial debut alongside directors Zach Braff, Tiffany Johnson and Sam Taylor-Johnson, who also executive produces two episodes.

Netflix announced that “Love, Death & Robots” will return with Volume 2 on May 14. “Love, Death & Robots” is presented by creator Tim Miller and director David Fincher, and Volume 2 consists of eight animated shorts that range from four to 15 minutes in length and feature explorers seeking new planets, aliens running amok and a dog-walking robot. The shorts, which are animated in such studios as Passion Pictures, Blink Industries, Axis Animation and Miller’s own Blur Studio are “Automated Customer Service,” “Ice,” “Pop Squad,” “Snow in the Desert,” “The Tall Grass,” “All Through the House,” “Life Hutch” and “The Drowned Giant.” Miller and Fincher executive produce alongside Jennifer Miller and Joshua Donen. Jennifer Yuh Nelson joins Volume 2 as a supervising director.

EXECUTIVE NEWS

Condé Nast Entertainment announced the appointment of Sarah Amos to vice president, development and production (non-fiction TV, documentaries). The new poisition is part of CNE’s prioritization of a global entertainment strategy and growing film, TV and audio business. Amos will report to Helen Estabrook, head of CNE’s film and television division. Previously, Amos served as the VP of development and production for Marvel Entertainment’s New Media division.

Fox News Channel has signed KTTV investigative reporter Bill Melugin as a national correspondent. He will begin on May 3 and will work in FNC’s Los Angeles offices. Melugin is a two-time recipient of the Golden Mike Award for best investigative journalism and was awarded a local Emmy for his investigative work in 2019.

LATE NIGHT

Michael Strahan, Tig Notaro and Emmy Blotnick will appear on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” while Riz Ahmed and Andra Day will be on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Anthony Hopkins, Florian Zeller and Sen. Mazie Hirono will appear on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert”; Catherine Zeta-Jones, Wyatt Russell and Emmanuelle Caplette will be on “Late Night With Seth Meyers”; “The Late Late Show With James Corden” will feature Ron Funches and Karol G, and Nick Offerman will be on “A Little Late With Lilly Singh.”

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