There are two types of people who enjoy crime dramas: some prefer their shows to be brooding and dark, the gorier the better, while others tend to enjoy the mystery element mixed with a heartwarming comedy. Elsbeth is a sure-fire hit for the second group, but it's not the only show you might want to check out.
Here are 8 other shows that will give you as much pleasure as Elsbeth without having to wait weeks to see a new episode.
White Collar (2009-2014)
Starring Matt Bomer as charismatic con man Neal Caffrey, the show follows his journey to become a great detective after getting out of prison in exchange for helping the FBI's White Collar Crimes Unit. The show is light-hearted, yet features some of the best crime cases you will ever see on television. Plus, there is a chance that it will get a reboot soon enough!
Only Murders in the Building (2021-.
Here are 8 other shows that will give you as much pleasure as Elsbeth without having to wait weeks to see a new episode.
White Collar (2009-2014)
Starring Matt Bomer as charismatic con man Neal Caffrey, the show follows his journey to become a great detective after getting out of prison in exchange for helping the FBI's White Collar Crimes Unit. The show is light-hearted, yet features some of the best crime cases you will ever see on television. Plus, there is a chance that it will get a reboot soon enough!
Only Murders in the Building (2021-.
- 5/3/2024
- by virginia-singh@startefacts.com (Virginia Singh)
- STartefacts.com
The writers behind Late Night with Seth Meyers are taking their comedy to Washington D.C. this summer — Just don’t tell Seth.
“Don’t Tell Seth! An Evening with the Seth Meyers Writers” will come to the Kennedy Center on June 14-15, as part of its Comedy at the Kennedy Center programming.
Hosted by writers John Lutz and Peter Grosz, the variety show will feature standup comedy, sketches, audience interaction, and improv from Late Night scribes Matt Goldich, Jenny Hagel, Jeff Wright, Allison Hord, Ben Warheit, and Ian Morgan.
“Unshackled from the confines of network censors and what Seth thinks is ‘appropriate’ for his show,” the event description teases, “they are finally free to let loose!”
Seth’s writers are familiar faces on Late Night, often appearing on the program in sketches and desk segments like “Jokes Seth Can’t Tell.” But this isn’t the first time they...
“Don’t Tell Seth! An Evening with the Seth Meyers Writers” will come to the Kennedy Center on June 14-15, as part of its Comedy at the Kennedy Center programming.
Hosted by writers John Lutz and Peter Grosz, the variety show will feature standup comedy, sketches, audience interaction, and improv from Late Night scribes Matt Goldich, Jenny Hagel, Jeff Wright, Allison Hord, Ben Warheit, and Ian Morgan.
“Unshackled from the confines of network censors and what Seth thinks is ‘appropriate’ for his show,” the event description teases, “they are finally free to let loose!”
Seth’s writers are familiar faces on Late Night, often appearing on the program in sketches and desk segments like “Jokes Seth Can’t Tell.” But this isn’t the first time they...
- 4/9/2024
- by Nick Riccardo
- LateNighter
The sitcom “Girls5eva” follows the attempted comeback of a fictional girl group that peaked in the early 2000s, now reunited as middle-aged women. But headed into its third season, it’s “Girls5eva,” not just Girls5eva, that’s trying to start anew. After two critically acclaimed, if evidently little-watched, seasons on Peacock, the show has been resurrected by Netflix, which has bankrolled a fresh batch of episodes and made the entire back catalog available to its massive audience of over 260 million global subscribers — many of whom will encounter “Girls5eva” for the first time as a Netflix original.
Once upon a time, Netflix made a name for itself as a place where cult favorites could find the fan base they deserved, making its rescue of a previously canceled project a retro throwback in itself. “Arrested Development” got a second life as a poster child for the possibilities of TV’s new normal...
Once upon a time, Netflix made a name for itself as a place where cult favorites could find the fan base they deserved, making its rescue of a previously canceled project a retro throwback in itself. “Arrested Development” got a second life as a poster child for the possibilities of TV’s new normal...
- 3/14/2024
- by Alison Herman
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has unveiled the trailer for Season 3 of the comedy series “Girls5eva,” set to debut on the streamer on March 14.
This will be the first season of “Girls5eva” to debut since Peacock canceled the show and Netflix picked it up for third season. Netflix also acquired the non-exclusive rights to Season 1 and 2 of the UCP-produced series.
Series regulars Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Busy Philipps and Paula Pell star as the members of a one-hit wonder ’90s girl group who experience a resurgence of fame decades after their star has faded. Now in Season 3, the women have recorded a fresh album “Returnity,” and are ready to take their talents on the road for a comeback tour.
The synopsis for Season 3 reads, “With no plan, tour manager, or venues secured, the ladies pile into a van and hit the great unknown, doing their damnedest to promote their album and get back on top.
This will be the first season of “Girls5eva” to debut since Peacock canceled the show and Netflix picked it up for third season. Netflix also acquired the non-exclusive rights to Season 1 and 2 of the UCP-produced series.
Series regulars Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Busy Philipps and Paula Pell star as the members of a one-hit wonder ’90s girl group who experience a resurgence of fame decades after their star has faded. Now in Season 3, the women have recorded a fresh album “Returnity,” and are ready to take their talents on the road for a comeback tour.
The synopsis for Season 3 reads, “With no plan, tour manager, or venues secured, the ladies pile into a van and hit the great unknown, doing their damnedest to promote their album and get back on top.
- 2/15/2024
- by Jaden Thompson
- Variety Film + TV
Jenny Hagel is “obsessed” with giving people advice – whether people ask or not. “I’m sure it’s everybody’s least favorite thing about me, but I can’t stop,” she admits. “It’s like a facial tic, except in my personality.”
While this could be annoying in the hands of a lesser talent, Hagel happens to be a gifted comedian and writer with a talent for showmanship. Case in point, her Emmy-nominated work as a a writer and performer on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” where she is perhaps best known for a recurring segment called “Jokes Seth Can’t Tell” with her frequent collaborator Amber Ruffin. Because Ruffin is Black and Hagel is gay, they appear every so often to recite punchlines that are off-limits to the host. Hagel also served as head writer on “The Amber Ruffin Show,” where she frequently appeared as various characters – including Marjorie Taylor Greene...
While this could be annoying in the hands of a lesser talent, Hagel happens to be a gifted comedian and writer with a talent for showmanship. Case in point, her Emmy-nominated work as a a writer and performer on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” where she is perhaps best known for a recurring segment called “Jokes Seth Can’t Tell” with her frequent collaborator Amber Ruffin. Because Ruffin is Black and Hagel is gay, they appear every so often to recite punchlines that are off-limits to the host. Hagel also served as head writer on “The Amber Ruffin Show,” where she frequently appeared as various characters – including Marjorie Taylor Greene...
- 1/25/2024
- by Jenelle Riley
- Variety Film + TV
After Writers Guild of America waged a protest regarding the Television Academy‘s decision to move the outstanding writing for a variety series or special categories out of the upcoming Emmy telecast, the TV Academy has reversed course.
In a joint release sent out today, the Television Academy, Fox and the WGA said they were “happy to announce they have reached an agreement to include the Writing for a Variety Series category in the 75th Emmy Awards telecast airing live on Fox on January 15, 2024, at 8pm Est / 5pm Pst.”
Because this year’s Primetime Emmys has moved the variety special (live) category into the telecast (it was on the Creative Arts show last year), the TV Academy was likely looking to keep the telecast capped at 25 awards, so something had to fall out. And in this case, it was the variety writing field that originally got pushed to the Creative Arts ceremony.
In a joint release sent out today, the Television Academy, Fox and the WGA said they were “happy to announce they have reached an agreement to include the Writing for a Variety Series category in the 75th Emmy Awards telecast airing live on Fox on January 15, 2024, at 8pm Est / 5pm Pst.”
Because this year’s Primetime Emmys has moved the variety special (live) category into the telecast (it was on the Creative Arts show last year), the TV Academy was likely looking to keep the telecast capped at 25 awards, so something had to fall out. And in this case, it was the variety writing field that originally got pushed to the Creative Arts ceremony.
- 1/3/2024
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Peacock has released the first trailer for Season 2 of its original comedy series “Girls5eva,” which follows a ’90s girl group of the same name as they attempt to rise to pop star relevance once again.
The trailer picks up with the characters played by Sara Bareilles, Busy Phillips, Paula Pell and Renée Elise Goldsberry united behind a piano, ready to write an album that represents their own creative vision for the first time. The creative opportunity quickly shows that it has some strings attached, with a six-week deadline fast approaching.
“We wrote all the songs on the album, so that means, if everybody hates it, they hate you as a person on every level,” Phillips’ Summer tells her bandmates.
“We are officially in album mode,” Goldsberry’s Wickie announces.
The trailer also offers a peek at the bounty of guest stars joining the Peacock series for the upcoming season, which...
The trailer picks up with the characters played by Sara Bareilles, Busy Phillips, Paula Pell and Renée Elise Goldsberry united behind a piano, ready to write an album that represents their own creative vision for the first time. The creative opportunity quickly shows that it has some strings attached, with a six-week deadline fast approaching.
“We wrote all the songs on the album, so that means, if everybody hates it, they hate you as a person on every level,” Phillips’ Summer tells her bandmates.
“We are officially in album mode,” Goldsberry’s Wickie announces.
The trailer also offers a peek at the bounty of guest stars joining the Peacock series for the upcoming season, which...
- 4/12/2022
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Peacock announced the newest slate of guest stars joining its original musical comedy series “Girls5eva” for Season 2.
The guest stars include Amber Ruffin (“The Amber Ruffin Show”), Chad L. Coleman, Drew and Jonathan Scott (“Property Brothers”), Heidi Gardner (“Saturday Night Live”), Hoda Kotb, Tim Meadows, Grey Henson, James Monroe Inglehart (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), John Lutz, Judy Gold, Mario Cantone, Pat Battle (“NBC New York”) and Piter Marek. Previously announced new guest stars also include Amy Sedaris and Neil Flynn.
The new cast members will be joined by returning guest stars Andrew Rannels, Ashley Park (“Emily in Paris”), Daniel Breaker, Erika Henningsen (“Mean Girls the Musical”), Janine Brito (“Wine Country”), Jeremiah Craft, Jonathan Hadary and Julius Coneicao.
Season 2 of the comedy series follows a one-hit-wonder girl group from the 1990s that gets to give their dreams another shot. “Girls5eva” stars Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Paula Pell and Busy Philipps.
The...
The guest stars include Amber Ruffin (“The Amber Ruffin Show”), Chad L. Coleman, Drew and Jonathan Scott (“Property Brothers”), Heidi Gardner (“Saturday Night Live”), Hoda Kotb, Tim Meadows, Grey Henson, James Monroe Inglehart (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), John Lutz, Judy Gold, Mario Cantone, Pat Battle (“NBC New York”) and Piter Marek. Previously announced new guest stars also include Amy Sedaris and Neil Flynn.
The new cast members will be joined by returning guest stars Andrew Rannels, Ashley Park (“Emily in Paris”), Daniel Breaker, Erika Henningsen (“Mean Girls the Musical”), Janine Brito (“Wine Country”), Jeremiah Craft, Jonathan Hadary and Julius Coneicao.
Season 2 of the comedy series follows a one-hit-wonder girl group from the 1990s that gets to give their dreams another shot. “Girls5eva” stars Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Paula Pell and Busy Philipps.
The...
- 4/6/2022
- by Carson Burton
- Variety Film + TV
The guest cast for Girls5eva Season 2 just keeps getting better and better. Peacock has announced that Amber Ruffin (The Amber Ruffin Show), Chad L. Coleman (The Walking Dead), Drew and Jonathan Scott (Property Brothers), Grey Henson (Mean Girls the Musical), Heidi Gardner (Saturday Night Live), Hoda Kotb (Today), James Monroe Iglehart (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), John Lutz (30 Rock), Judy Gold (Better Things), Mario Cantone (And Just Like That), Pat Battle (NBC New York), Piter Marek (Ugly Betty), and Tim Meadows (Mean Girls) will guest star. They join previously announced new guest stars Amy Sedaris and Neil Flynn. Guest stars returning from Season 1 include Andrew Rannells, Ashley Park, Daniel Breaker, Erika Henningsen, Janine Brito, Jeremiah Craft, Jonathan Hadary, and Julius Conceicao. In the Emmy-nominated comedy from Meredith Scardino, the one-hit-wonder group from the 90s that was churned through the pop music machine has reunited to give their dreams another shot,...
- 4/6/2022
- TV Insider
Peacock’s girls group comedy “Girls5Eva” has lined up a host of guest stars for its second season, among them “Property Brothers” Drew and Jonathan Scott, and “Today” co-host Hoda Kotb.
Also set to appear in Season 2 are “The Wire” and “Walking Dead” alum Chad L. Coleman, “Saturday Night Live” comedian Heidi Gardner, and “And Just Like That …” star Mario Cantone. “The Goldbergs’” Tim Meadows is part of the guest star cast as are Amber Ruffin, Grey Henson from “Mean Girls the Musical,” James Monroe Iglehart (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), John Lutz (“30 Rock”), Judy Gold (“Better Things”), Pat Battle from NBC New York, and “The Blacklist’s” Piter Marek.
They join previously announced guest stars Amy Sedaris and Neil Flynn.
“Girls5Eva,” about a girl group who gets back together, stars Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Paula Pell and Busy Philipps.
Meredith Scardino is the showrunner and executive producer. Other EPs are Jeff Richmond,...
Also set to appear in Season 2 are “The Wire” and “Walking Dead” alum Chad L. Coleman, “Saturday Night Live” comedian Heidi Gardner, and “And Just Like That …” star Mario Cantone. “The Goldbergs’” Tim Meadows is part of the guest star cast as are Amber Ruffin, Grey Henson from “Mean Girls the Musical,” James Monroe Iglehart (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), John Lutz (“30 Rock”), Judy Gold (“Better Things”), Pat Battle from NBC New York, and “The Blacklist’s” Piter Marek.
They join previously announced guest stars Amy Sedaris and Neil Flynn.
“Girls5Eva,” about a girl group who gets back together, stars Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Paula Pell and Busy Philipps.
Meredith Scardino is the showrunner and executive producer. Other EPs are Jeff Richmond,...
- 4/6/2022
- by Jolie Lash
- The Wrap
Girls5Eva is adding to the band in season two.
The Peacock comedy has unveiled a slew of guest stars as it returns on May 5.
Guest stars will include Amber Ruffin Chad L. Coleman (The Wire), Grey Henson (Mean Girls the Musical), Heidi Gardner (Saturday Night Live), Hoda Kotb (Today), James Monroe Iglehart (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), John Lutz (30 Rock), Judy Gold (Better Things), Mario Cantone (Sex and the City), Pat Battle (NBC New York), Piter Marek (The Blacklist) and Tim Meadows (The Goldbergs) as well as Property Brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott.
They join previously announced guest stars Amy Sedaris and Neil Flynn, who have signed up to play the parents of Busy Phillips’ Summer.
Showrunner and executive producer Meredith Scardino told Deadline recently, “We have so many amazing guest actors that came by to help out this season.”
Girls5Eva stars Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Paula Pell...
The Peacock comedy has unveiled a slew of guest stars as it returns on May 5.
Guest stars will include Amber Ruffin Chad L. Coleman (The Wire), Grey Henson (Mean Girls the Musical), Heidi Gardner (Saturday Night Live), Hoda Kotb (Today), James Monroe Iglehart (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), John Lutz (30 Rock), Judy Gold (Better Things), Mario Cantone (Sex and the City), Pat Battle (NBC New York), Piter Marek (The Blacklist) and Tim Meadows (The Goldbergs) as well as Property Brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott.
They join previously announced guest stars Amy Sedaris and Neil Flynn, who have signed up to play the parents of Busy Phillips’ Summer.
Showrunner and executive producer Meredith Scardino told Deadline recently, “We have so many amazing guest actors that came by to help out this season.”
Girls5Eva stars Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Paula Pell...
- 4/6/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
John Lutz is very frank about the fact that the short-form series he co-created, “Mapleworth Murders,” came about because of writer’s block. “I was trying to come up with an idea for myself and I just couldn’t come up with anything. Then my wife, who’s also a writer and an actress said, well, why don’t you write something for Paula Pell,” he tells us in our recent webchat (watch the video above). This led to him going off, brainstorming several ideas and then landing on a spoof of the iconic mystery series, “Murder, She Wrote.” “It just clicked and then it was like, you could immediately see Paula in an outfit, walking around Cabot Cove, solving all these crimes and then I asked Paula and fortunately she said yes.”
After netting seven Emmy nominations as a writer for “Saturday Night Live” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers,...
After netting seven Emmy nominations as a writer for “Saturday Night Live” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers,...
- 8/24/2021
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
J.B. Smoove is very understanding that a short format show like “Mapleworth Murders” can leave you wanting a lot more, but also says that it leads to a bigger question. “You know, you almost wish it was longer. I almost wish it was longer, but in wishing it was longer, is it as effective,” he asks in our recent webchat (watch the video above). He likened it to a comedian doing a killer five-minute set but then being asked to do more and that material not measuring up. “This right here, it’s very calculated, very precise in the joke writing, very precise in their performances, which resonates more with you and you remember more.”
Smoove received his first career Emmy nomination for Best Actor in a Short Form Series for his performance as Chief Billy Bills in “Mapleworth Murders.” The short-form series was originally created for Quibi but is...
Smoove received his first career Emmy nomination for Best Actor in a Short Form Series for his performance as Chief Billy Bills in “Mapleworth Murders.” The short-form series was originally created for Quibi but is...
- 8/23/2021
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
One of the most unusual quirks of this year’s Emmy nominations was the fact that Quibi managed to land eight of them — quite a feat, given that the streamer doesn’t actually exist anymore.
Quibi shut down in December, less than a year after its much-heralded launch. The Jeffrey Katzenberg-Meg Whitman startup and its promise of delivering “quick bite” content to users exclusively on their phones became a bit of a punchline in the industry. But the programming itself was rather solid, attracting top Hollywood producers and stars. Clearly TV Academy voters found it Emmy-worthy: Last year, Quibi won two Emmys (for “#FreeRayshawn”).
This year’s three nominated Quibi shows — “Die Hart,” “Mapleworth Murders” and “Reno 911!” — live on via Roku, which acquired the Quibi programming slate earlier this year for its Roku Channel. Here’s the awkward thing: The Television Academy still lists the network for those shows as Quibi,...
Quibi shut down in December, less than a year after its much-heralded launch. The Jeffrey Katzenberg-Meg Whitman startup and its promise of delivering “quick bite” content to users exclusively on their phones became a bit of a punchline in the industry. But the programming itself was rather solid, attracting top Hollywood producers and stars. Clearly TV Academy voters found it Emmy-worthy: Last year, Quibi won two Emmys (for “#FreeRayshawn”).
This year’s three nominated Quibi shows — “Die Hart,” “Mapleworth Murders” and “Reno 911!” — live on via Roku, which acquired the Quibi programming slate earlier this year for its Roku Channel. Here’s the awkward thing: The Television Academy still lists the network for those shows as Quibi,...
- 8/18/2021
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Roku is betting its fire-sale pickup of the shows from Quibi, Jeffrey Katzenberg’s short-lived, short-form startup, will continue to pay off for the streaming platform.
On Aug. 13, the company will premiere 23 new Roku Originals (each of them from Quibi’s library) exclusively on the Roku Channel to stream for free with ads. It’s the second tranche of Quibi shows coming to the Roku Channel, after Roku bowed 30 titles in May.
The new shows coming to the Roku Channel include “Mapleworth Murders,” a “Murder She Wrote” spoof that nabbed three 2021 Emmy acting nominations for Paula Pell, John Lutz and J.B. Smoove. Also on the slate are four previously unreleased Quibi titles: “Eye Candy” hosted by Josh Groban, a competition series in which contestants attempt to identify outrageous edible creations that look like everyday objects; cleaning competition “Squeaky Clean” hosted by Leslie Jordan; Season 2 of money-giveaway reality show “Thanks a...
On Aug. 13, the company will premiere 23 new Roku Originals (each of them from Quibi’s library) exclusively on the Roku Channel to stream for free with ads. It’s the second tranche of Quibi shows coming to the Roku Channel, after Roku bowed 30 titles in May.
The new shows coming to the Roku Channel include “Mapleworth Murders,” a “Murder She Wrote” spoof that nabbed three 2021 Emmy acting nominations for Paula Pell, John Lutz and J.B. Smoove. Also on the slate are four previously unreleased Quibi titles: “Eye Candy” hosted by Josh Groban, a competition series in which contestants attempt to identify outrageous edible creations that look like everyday objects; cleaning competition “Squeaky Clean” hosted by Leslie Jordan; Season 2 of money-giveaway reality show “Thanks a...
- 8/9/2021
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
The Roku Channel will be premiering a fresh batch of its original shows on Aug. 13, the company announced Monday. The new slate of 23 shows — all stemming from Roku’s acquisition of Quibi’s library earlier this year — will include a new season of “Thanks a Million,” the pay-it-forward series from executive producer Jennifer Lopez.
The new season of “Thanks a Million” will include guest stars Matthew McConaughey, Chris Rock, Vanessa Hudgens and Lana Condor, among others, Roku said. Other titles coming soon to Roku includes “Mapleworth Murders,” the Emmy-nominated show starring Paula Pell, John Lutz and J.B. Smoove. The comedy-mystery series was first available on Quibi last August and is produced by “SNL” head honcho Lorne Michaels and Seth Meyers.
Other shows coming to Roku that haven’t been seen on Quibi previously are: “Eye Candy,” a game show hosted by Josh Groban that is based on the popular Japanese series “Sokkuri Sweets,...
The new season of “Thanks a Million” will include guest stars Matthew McConaughey, Chris Rock, Vanessa Hudgens and Lana Condor, among others, Roku said. Other titles coming soon to Roku includes “Mapleworth Murders,” the Emmy-nominated show starring Paula Pell, John Lutz and J.B. Smoove. The comedy-mystery series was first available on Quibi last August and is produced by “SNL” head honcho Lorne Michaels and Seth Meyers.
Other shows coming to Roku that haven’t been seen on Quibi previously are: “Eye Candy,” a game show hosted by Josh Groban that is based on the popular Japanese series “Sokkuri Sweets,...
- 8/9/2021
- by Sean Burch
- The Wrap
Roku will add 23 more titles from the Quibi library to the Roku Channel this Friday, including the the Emmy-nominated Mapleworth Murders, a spoof of Murder She Wrote starring Paula Pell, J.B. Smoove and John Lutz.
Four of the shows will be new series that never aired on Quibi before the shortform video app shuttered in late 2020, including a cleaning competition show hosted by Leslie Jordan, Squeaky Clean, and another competition series hosted by Josh Groban, Eye Candy, where celebrities must determine if an everyday object is real or actually made out of cake.
A 10-part docuseries directed by Marina Zenovich,...
Four of the shows will be new series that never aired on Quibi before the shortform video app shuttered in late 2020, including a cleaning competition show hosted by Leslie Jordan, Squeaky Clean, and another competition series hosted by Josh Groban, Eye Candy, where celebrities must determine if an everyday object is real or actually made out of cake.
A 10-part docuseries directed by Marina Zenovich,...
Roku will add 23 more titles from the Quibi library to the Roku Channel this Friday, including the the Emmy-nominated Mapleworth Murders, a spoof of Murder She Wrote starring Paula Pell, J.B. Smoove and John Lutz.
Four of the shows will be new series that never aired on Quibi before the shortform video app shuttered in late 2020, including a cleaning competition show hosted by Leslie Jordan, Squeaky Clean, and another competition series hosted by Josh Groban, Eye Candy, where celebrities must determine if an everyday object is real or actually made out of cake.
A 10-part docuseries directed by Marina Zenovich,...
Four of the shows will be new series that never aired on Quibi before the shortform video app shuttered in late 2020, including a cleaning competition show hosted by Leslie Jordan, Squeaky Clean, and another competition series hosted by Josh Groban, Eye Candy, where celebrities must determine if an everyday object is real or actually made out of cake.
A 10-part docuseries directed by Marina Zenovich,...
In Mapleworth Murders, Paula Pell plays a murder-mystery novelist in a quaint small town who takes it upon herself to solve the many real murders taking place all around her. If the premise brings to mind Murder, She Wrote — the CBS series starring Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher, a small-town mystery novelist who also solves murders — that’s on purpose. Pell and co-creator and co-star John Lutz reveal it was a shared love for the long-running crime drama (and a mutual admiration for each other) that sparked their parody, which originally aired in 2020 on Quibi and is now ...
In Mapleworth Murders, Paula Pell plays a murder-mystery novelist in a quaint small town who takes it upon herself to solve the many real murders taking place all around her. If the premise brings to mind Murder, She Wrote — the CBS series starring Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher, a small-town mystery novelist who also solves murders — that’s on purpose. Pell and co-creator and co-star John Lutz reveal it was a shared love for the long-running crime drama (and a mutual admiration for each other) that sparked their parody, which originally aired in 2020 on Quibi and is now ...
“Girls5eva” fans who expected to see the Peacock comedy earn multiple nominations on Tuesday were left asking Emmy voters, “What are you waiting five?” The show was nominated just once, for best writing in a comedy series. But in a twist, one of the show’s stars did receive some long-awaited Emmy recognition.
Paula Pell, a legendary writer for “Saturday Night Live” and 10-time writing nominee at the Emmy Awards, scored her first-ever acting nomination on Tuesday — not for her go-for-broke “Girls5eva” performance, but rather a Quibi show. Pell was singled out in the Outstanding Actress In A Short Form Comedy Or Drama Series for the “Mapleworth Murders,” a short-form comedy that streamed on the now-defunct Quibi platform.
All told, “Mapleworth Murders” received three acting nominations. In addition to Pell, actors John Lutz and J.B. Smoove were also nominated. Despite not existing in its original form, Quibi did pretty well on Tuesday.
Paula Pell, a legendary writer for “Saturday Night Live” and 10-time writing nominee at the Emmy Awards, scored her first-ever acting nomination on Tuesday — not for her go-for-broke “Girls5eva” performance, but rather a Quibi show. Pell was singled out in the Outstanding Actress In A Short Form Comedy Or Drama Series for the “Mapleworth Murders,” a short-form comedy that streamed on the now-defunct Quibi platform.
All told, “Mapleworth Murders” received three acting nominations. In addition to Pell, actors John Lutz and J.B. Smoove were also nominated. Despite not existing in its original form, Quibi did pretty well on Tuesday.
- 7/14/2021
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
Reno 911!, Die Hart and Mapleworth Murders, which all began as original series on the ill-starred Quibi and now stream as Roku Originals, collected a total of eight Emmy nominations.
The tally was higher than seasoned Emmy regulars like Showtime and Paramount+ (née CBS All Access), which had six apiece. Fox, with seven, also had fewer, though the pool is different for short-form fare.
Die Hart, which Roku has renewed for a second season, stars Kevin Hart as a comedian looking to break through as an action movie star. It scored acting noms for Hart, John Travolta and Nathalie Emmanuel.
Reno 911!, the long-running Comedy Central spoof that was rebooted by Quibi, was recognized in two categories. It is up for Short Form Comedy, Drama Or Variety Series as well as Kerri Kenney-Silver’s performance as Deputy Trudy Wiegel.
Mapleworth Murders got three nominations in short-form comedy, two for actors...
The tally was higher than seasoned Emmy regulars like Showtime and Paramount+ (née CBS All Access), which had six apiece. Fox, with seven, also had fewer, though the pool is different for short-form fare.
Die Hart, which Roku has renewed for a second season, stars Kevin Hart as a comedian looking to break through as an action movie star. It scored acting noms for Hart, John Travolta and Nathalie Emmanuel.
Reno 911!, the long-running Comedy Central spoof that was rebooted by Quibi, was recognized in two categories. It is up for Short Form Comedy, Drama Or Variety Series as well as Kerri Kenney-Silver’s performance as Deputy Trudy Wiegel.
Mapleworth Murders got three nominations in short-form comedy, two for actors...
- 7/13/2021
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Quibi is dead — long live Quibi!
The Jeffrey Katzenberg-led mobile premium video service flamed out last year about six months after launching. But three of its pricey original series just picked up a total of eight 2021 Emmy Awards nominations — “Reno 911!”, “Die Hart” and “Mapleworth Murders” — the first two of which are currently streaming for free on the Roku Channel.
From beyond the grave, Quibi got more Emmy nominations than Fox (which had seven), Paramount Plus (six) or Showtime (six). To be fair, Quibi’s nods were in the less-competitive short-form categories
Related: Emmy nominations breakdown by platform, network and studio.
Quibi’s reboot of Comedy Central series “Reno 911!” received a nomination in the Emmys short-form comedy, drama or variety series category. It will face off against Apple TV’s “Carpool Karaoke: The Series” with James Corden; the “Late Night With Seth Meyers: Corrections” series on YouTube; “The...
The Jeffrey Katzenberg-led mobile premium video service flamed out last year about six months after launching. But three of its pricey original series just picked up a total of eight 2021 Emmy Awards nominations — “Reno 911!”, “Die Hart” and “Mapleworth Murders” — the first two of which are currently streaming for free on the Roku Channel.
From beyond the grave, Quibi got more Emmy nominations than Fox (which had seven), Paramount Plus (six) or Showtime (six). To be fair, Quibi’s nods were in the less-competitive short-form categories
Related: Emmy nominations breakdown by platform, network and studio.
Quibi’s reboot of Comedy Central series “Reno 911!” received a nomination in the Emmys short-form comedy, drama or variety series category. It will face off against Apple TV’s “Carpool Karaoke: The Series” with James Corden; the “Late Night With Seth Meyers: Corrections” series on YouTube; “The...
- 7/13/2021
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Keke Palmer and Pete Davidson are teaming up to not die in Audible’s new narrative podcast, “Hit Job.” And in the first clip below, you can hear how the two come to work together, which Olsen twin is the real entrepreneur, and how Pete Davidson’s character just wants to have friends.
The synopsis per Audible: “‘Hit Job’ follows Brynn Morris (Palmer), an aspiring artist desperate for a job to help her ailing grandmother. As a last resort, she takes a job as an administrative assistant at a company with the motto: “Do Bad Things for Good Reasons.” Joining forces with her awkward tech nerd of a coworker Geo (Davidson), she unexpectedly gets swept up in a company-wide contest that forces her to question her morals. Having a killer job suddenly takes on a whole new meaning.”
The 12-episode podcast is produced by Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video Enterprises and...
The synopsis per Audible: “‘Hit Job’ follows Brynn Morris (Palmer), an aspiring artist desperate for a job to help her ailing grandmother. As a last resort, she takes a job as an administrative assistant at a company with the motto: “Do Bad Things for Good Reasons.” Joining forces with her awkward tech nerd of a coworker Geo (Davidson), she unexpectedly gets swept up in a company-wide contest that forces her to question her morals. Having a killer job suddenly takes on a whole new meaning.”
The 12-episode podcast is produced by Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video Enterprises and...
- 4/21/2021
- by Kristen Lopez
- Indiewire
Audible is punching up its scripted comedy podcast lineup with two new shows from Broadway Video: “Hit Job,” a high-concept workplace comedy starring Keke Palmer and “Saturday Night Live” cast member Pete Davidson, and “Hot White Heist,” a queer action comedy featuring “SNL’s” Bowen Yang and directed by Alan Cumming.
Broadway Video, which struck a multiyear deal with Audible in 2019, has eight other comedy projects in development for the Amazon-owned audio platform. Those include podcasts from Fred Armisen; Drew Tarver and Gilli Nissim; Chloe Fineman, Dan Robert and Starlee Kine; Chris Redd and Will Stephen; Max Silvestri and Leah Beckmann; and Billy Kimball.
All of the Broadway Video shows will be available as part of Audible Plus, the subscription service that starts at $7.95/month and provides unlimited access to thousands of audio titles.
The 12-episode “Hit Job” is set to premiere April 22. The show is created and written by...
Broadway Video, which struck a multiyear deal with Audible in 2019, has eight other comedy projects in development for the Amazon-owned audio platform. Those include podcasts from Fred Armisen; Drew Tarver and Gilli Nissim; Chloe Fineman, Dan Robert and Starlee Kine; Chris Redd and Will Stephen; Max Silvestri and Leah Beckmann; and Billy Kimball.
All of the Broadway Video shows will be available as part of Audible Plus, the subscription service that starts at $7.95/month and provides unlimited access to thousands of audio titles.
The 12-episode “Hit Job” is set to premiere April 22. The show is created and written by...
- 2/24/2021
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
John Mulaney spent several years writing for “Saturday Night Live” when Seth Meyers was a cast member. Now he will spend some time writing for Meyers’ late-night program.
Mulaney has joined NBC’s “Late Night,” which Meyers hosts, as a staff writer, according to a post on Twitter from Mike Shoemaker, the show’s executive producer. Meyers’ show has attracted a number of comedians with strong resumes, including John Lutz, a writer who had a stint on “30 Rock,” and Michelle Wolf. Meyers has given his writers some of the spotlight, sharing sketches with Amber Ruffin and Jenny Hagel, among others. Ruffin now hosts her own program on Peacock, the NBC streaming-video service.
Both “Late Night” and “SNL” are executive produced by Lorne Michaels, and Mulaney has kept ties to his universe of programs. He has hosted “SNL” four times in the past three years, demonstrating a knack for lending...
Mulaney has joined NBC’s “Late Night,” which Meyers hosts, as a staff writer, according to a post on Twitter from Mike Shoemaker, the show’s executive producer. Meyers’ show has attracted a number of comedians with strong resumes, including John Lutz, a writer who had a stint on “30 Rock,” and Michelle Wolf. Meyers has given his writers some of the spotlight, sharing sketches with Amber Ruffin and Jenny Hagel, among others. Ruffin now hosts her own program on Peacock, the NBC streaming-video service.
Both “Late Night” and “SNL” are executive produced by Lorne Michaels, and Mulaney has kept ties to his universe of programs. He has hosted “SNL” four times in the past three years, demonstrating a knack for lending...
- 11/13/2020
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
In today’s TV news roundup, VH1 revealed a first look at “RuPaul’s Drag Race: Vegas Rescue,” and Netflix released a trailer for Season 2 of “Trinkets.”
Dates
The third season of “Big Hero 6: The Series” will premiere Sept. 21 on Disney Xd and DisneyNow. The new season will feature two 11-minute stories and follow the Big Hero 6 team as they face off against Noodle Burger Boy, in order to save San Fransokyo. The Emmy-nominated series is voiced by K-pop stars Nichkhun Horvejkul and Jae Park, as well as guest stars Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Nichole Bloom. It is produced by Disney Television Animation.
Spectrum Originals announced the second season of “L.A.’s Finest” will premiere Sept. 9, and the eight-part crime drama “Temple” is set to premiere Oct. 26. In the new season of “L.A.’s Finest,” Syd Burnett (Gabrielle Union) mourns the loss of her friend, while Nancy McKenna (Jessica Alba) must...
Dates
The third season of “Big Hero 6: The Series” will premiere Sept. 21 on Disney Xd and DisneyNow. The new season will feature two 11-minute stories and follow the Big Hero 6 team as they face off against Noodle Burger Boy, in order to save San Fransokyo. The Emmy-nominated series is voiced by K-pop stars Nichkhun Horvejkul and Jae Park, as well as guest stars Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Nichole Bloom. It is produced by Disney Television Animation.
Spectrum Originals announced the second season of “L.A.’s Finest” will premiere Sept. 9, and the eight-part crime drama “Temple” is set to premiere Oct. 26. In the new season of “L.A.’s Finest,” Syd Burnett (Gabrielle Union) mourns the loss of her friend, while Nancy McKenna (Jessica Alba) must...
- 8/13/2020
- by Janet W. Lee
- Variety Film + TV
The cast and crew of 30 Rock have lifted the lid on the NBC comedy’s reunion special.
30 Rock: A One Time-Special, which airs tonight on NBC as well as a number of NBCUniversal’s other networks, was shot under quarantine guidelines, both outside observing health and safety protocols and in the actors’ homes.
Creator and star Tina Fey, Robert Carlock and director Oz Rodriguez spoke about the reunion as part of NBC’s “Creativity Summit,” which happened in place of the company’s traditional upfronts. They were joined by stars of the show.
“When NBC asked if we could write a reunion episode, to pinch hit for the upfronts this year so they could happen, it made sense to us because the world of 30 Rock always blended commerce and comedy,” Fey said “I would say we have a level of understanding of marketing and advertising that matches the...
30 Rock: A One Time-Special, which airs tonight on NBC as well as a number of NBCUniversal’s other networks, was shot under quarantine guidelines, both outside observing health and safety protocols and in the actors’ homes.
Creator and star Tina Fey, Robert Carlock and director Oz Rodriguez spoke about the reunion as part of NBC’s “Creativity Summit,” which happened in place of the company’s traditional upfronts. They were joined by stars of the show.
“When NBC asked if we could write a reunion episode, to pinch hit for the upfronts this year so they could happen, it made sense to us because the world of 30 Rock always blended commerce and comedy,” Fey said “I would say we have a level of understanding of marketing and advertising that matches the...
- 7/16/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s TV News Roundup, Amazon announced the premiere date for Season 3 of “Absentia,” and Netflix released a trailer for George Lopez’s upcoming stand-up special.
Dates
Amazon has announced that Season 3 of “Absentia” will premiere on Prime Video on July 17. New episodes will follow Emily Byrne (Stana Katic) as the final days of her FBI suspension are upended by a new international criminal case. “Absentia” is produced by Bizu Productions, in association with Sony Pictures Television’s Gemstone Studios. Watch a trailer for the new season below.
ABC has announced its new comedy series “United We Fall” will premiere with back-to-back episodes on July 15 at 8 p.m. The series follows parents of two young kids trying to live as a functional family. The series comes from Sony Pictures Television and ABC Studios. Julius “Goldy” Sharpe, Seth Gordon and Julia Gunn serve as executive producers.
TNT has moved the...
Dates
Amazon has announced that Season 3 of “Absentia” will premiere on Prime Video on July 17. New episodes will follow Emily Byrne (Stana Katic) as the final days of her FBI suspension are upended by a new international criminal case. “Absentia” is produced by Bizu Productions, in association with Sony Pictures Television’s Gemstone Studios. Watch a trailer for the new season below.
ABC has announced its new comedy series “United We Fall” will premiere with back-to-back episodes on July 15 at 8 p.m. The series follows parents of two young kids trying to live as a functional family. The series comes from Sony Pictures Television and ABC Studios. Julius “Goldy” Sharpe, Seth Gordon and Julia Gunn serve as executive producers.
TNT has moved the...
- 6/18/2020
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Paul Rudd stars in a new Audible comedy series titled Escape From Virtual Island, out Thursday. The cast also includes Jack McBrayer, Paula Pell, Amber Ruffin, Jason Sudeikis and others.
Set in 2038, Rudd stars as Derek Ambrose, an heir to his mother’s empire, the Pengalaman Island Resort and Virtual Reality Theme Park. “He’s a kind of uninspired, lazy dude who doesn’t do much,” Rudd tells Rolling Stone.
His character particularly excels at cooking spinach frittatas, something Rudd has also been doing while under quarantine. “I’m pretty good,...
Set in 2038, Rudd stars as Derek Ambrose, an heir to his mother’s empire, the Pengalaman Island Resort and Virtual Reality Theme Park. “He’s a kind of uninspired, lazy dude who doesn’t do much,” Rudd tells Rolling Stone.
His character particularly excels at cooking spinach frittatas, something Rudd has also been doing while under quarantine. “I’m pretty good,...
- 4/2/2020
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
As the entertainment landscape dwindles in the wake of Covid-19, it’s time to seek out alternative forms of fun — and Audible has rounded up a group with a strong comedy pedigree with their latest audio drama, “Escape From Virtual Island.”
The audio series comes from John Lutz, who’s worked on “30 Rock,” “Saturday Night Live” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and follows Derek Ambrose (voiced by Paul Rudd). Ambrose lives in the year 2038 as the owner of a lush island resort where everyone’s fantasies can be achieved through virtual reality. Think “Fantasy Island” — the original at least. But when a high-profile guest goes missing, it’s up to Derek to assemble his team and enter various virtual realities — from a Western saloon to a Central Park-set romantic comedy — in order to find him. Complicating matters further is the sentience of the computer itself.
More from IndieWire'The...
The audio series comes from John Lutz, who’s worked on “30 Rock,” “Saturday Night Live” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and follows Derek Ambrose (voiced by Paul Rudd). Ambrose lives in the year 2038 as the owner of a lush island resort where everyone’s fantasies can be achieved through virtual reality. Think “Fantasy Island” — the original at least. But when a high-profile guest goes missing, it’s up to Derek to assemble his team and enter various virtual realities — from a Western saloon to a Central Park-set romantic comedy — in order to find him. Complicating matters further is the sentience of the computer itself.
More from IndieWire'The...
- 3/17/2020
- by Kristen Lopez
- Indiewire
In today’s TV news roundup, Paramount Network revealed its new recurring cast members joining “Coyote” and Audible announced the debut of “Escape from Virtual Island”
Casting
Paramount Network revealed a dozen recurring cast members for the upcoming drama series “Coyote.” Mark Feuerstein, Kelli Williams, Daniel Mora, Emy Mena, George Pullar, Amy Forsyth, Ross Phillips, Romina D’ugo, Natalia Cordova-Buckley, Bobby Daniel Rodriguez, Jose Pablo Cantillo and Drew Powell are joining the drama series, which stars Michael Chiklis as a retired United States Border Patrol agent. The show is scheduled to premiere on Paramount Network in the summer.
Dates
The new scripted comedy series, “Escape from Virtual Island,” is coming Apr. 2, Audible announced. The audio series follows Derek Ambrose (Paul Rudd) as he runs an island resort in 2038 where the wealthy come to live out their wildest fantasies in virtual reality. The all-star ensemble also includes Jack McBrayer, Paula Pell, Amber Ruffin,...
Casting
Paramount Network revealed a dozen recurring cast members for the upcoming drama series “Coyote.” Mark Feuerstein, Kelli Williams, Daniel Mora, Emy Mena, George Pullar, Amy Forsyth, Ross Phillips, Romina D’ugo, Natalia Cordova-Buckley, Bobby Daniel Rodriguez, Jose Pablo Cantillo and Drew Powell are joining the drama series, which stars Michael Chiklis as a retired United States Border Patrol agent. The show is scheduled to premiere on Paramount Network in the summer.
Dates
The new scripted comedy series, “Escape from Virtual Island,” is coming Apr. 2, Audible announced. The audio series follows Derek Ambrose (Paul Rudd) as he runs an island resort in 2038 where the wealthy come to live out their wildest fantasies in virtual reality. The all-star ensemble also includes Jack McBrayer, Paula Pell, Amber Ruffin,...
- 2/6/2020
- by Klaritza Rico
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Paul Rudd, Jack McBrayer, Amber Ruffin and Paula Pell will lead the cast of Escape from Virtual Island, a new scripted Audible Original comedy series from SNL vet John Lutz and Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video. Scott Adsit, Jane Krakowski, Seth Meyers, Jason Sudeikis, Kenan Thompson, Olivia Wilde and Henry Winkler round out the ensemble cast. Escape From Virtual Island is set to premiere April 2 on the Amazon-owned audio platform.
Written by Lutz, in Escape from Virtual Island, Derek Ambrose (Rudd) runs an island resort in 2038 where the wealthy come to live out their wildest fantasies in virtual reality. With the help of his assistant Beasley (McBrayer), lead computer scientist Faith (Ruffin), and head of security Ramona (Pell), the island has been running smoothly since Derek inherited it from his mother. When a high-profile guest suddenly goes missing inside a computer simulation,...
Written by Lutz, in Escape from Virtual Island, Derek Ambrose (Rudd) runs an island resort in 2038 where the wealthy come to live out their wildest fantasies in virtual reality. With the help of his assistant Beasley (McBrayer), lead computer scientist Faith (Ruffin), and head of security Ramona (Pell), the island has been running smoothly since Derek inherited it from his mother. When a high-profile guest suddenly goes missing inside a computer simulation,...
- 2/6/2020
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s TV news roundup, Ali Wong gets two new Netflix comedy specials and Bet releases the first look at Lena Waithe’s “Twenties” series.
Casting
Michael Beach (“ER”), Anne-Marie Johnson (“For The People”) and Kellee Stewart (“Guess Who”) have been cast in Ava DuVernay’s romantic anthology series, “Cherish The Day.” They join Xosha Roquemore, Alano Miller and Emmy-award winner Cicely Tyson. Also, Blitz Bazawule, Aurora Guerrero (“13 Reasons Why”) and Deborah Kampmeier (“Queen Sugar”) join Tanya Hamilton (“Vampire Diaries”) as directors.
Joel McHale will return to host the 2020 second season of ABC’s “Card Sharks,” a competition series with two players facing off in a head-to-head elimination race. McHale is repped by UTA and Ziffren Brittenham Llp. Scott St. John and Jennifer Mullin executive produce “Card Sharks.”
Juan Pablo Raba (“Narcos”), Adriana Paz, Kristyan Ferrer, Octavio Pisano, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams (“Nashville”) and Julio Cedillo (“Sicario”) have been...
Casting
Michael Beach (“ER”), Anne-Marie Johnson (“For The People”) and Kellee Stewart (“Guess Who”) have been cast in Ava DuVernay’s romantic anthology series, “Cherish The Day.” They join Xosha Roquemore, Alano Miller and Emmy-award winner Cicely Tyson. Also, Blitz Bazawule, Aurora Guerrero (“13 Reasons Why”) and Deborah Kampmeier (“Queen Sugar”) join Tanya Hamilton (“Vampire Diaries”) as directors.
Joel McHale will return to host the 2020 second season of ABC’s “Card Sharks,” a competition series with two players facing off in a head-to-head elimination race. McHale is repped by UTA and Ziffren Brittenham Llp. Scott St. John and Jennifer Mullin executive produce “Card Sharks.”
Juan Pablo Raba (“Narcos”), Adriana Paz, Kristyan Ferrer, Octavio Pisano, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams (“Nashville”) and Julio Cedillo (“Sicario”) have been...
- 12/3/2019
- by LaTesha Harris
- Variety Film + TV
Jb Smoove and Hayley Magnus are set as series regulars and more than 20 others will recur or guest on Mapleworth Murders, Quibi’s shortform comedic murder-mystery from former Saturday Night Live writers John Lutz and Paula Pell.
Written by and starring Pell and Lutz, Mapleworth Murders centers on Abigail Mapleworth (Pell), a murder-mystery writer who solves homicides in her quaint small town of New Woodstream. Each episode of the comedic crime procedural will feature guest victims and suspects as we answer the bigger question of the series: Why the hell are there so many murders in one small town?
Executive producers include SNL vets Lorne Michaels and Seth Meyers.
Among the actors set to recur on the series from Universal Television are a trio former SNL castmembers Fred Armisen, Tim Meadows and Maya Rudolph. Also cast as recurrings are Patton Oswalt, Jack McBrayer, D’Arcy Carden, Pam Murphy, Ben Warheit, Annie Mumolo,...
Written by and starring Pell and Lutz, Mapleworth Murders centers on Abigail Mapleworth (Pell), a murder-mystery writer who solves homicides in her quaint small town of New Woodstream. Each episode of the comedic crime procedural will feature guest victims and suspects as we answer the bigger question of the series: Why the hell are there so many murders in one small town?
Executive producers include SNL vets Lorne Michaels and Seth Meyers.
Among the actors set to recur on the series from Universal Television are a trio former SNL castmembers Fred Armisen, Tim Meadows and Maya Rudolph. Also cast as recurrings are Patton Oswalt, Jack McBrayer, D’Arcy Carden, Pam Murphy, Ben Warheit, Annie Mumolo,...
- 12/3/2019
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Quibi has added a slew of comedians, including “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star J.B. Smoove and Maya Rudolph — among several other former “Saturday Night Live” cast members — to its upcoming comedic murder-mystery series produced by Lorne Michaels and Seth Meyers, the company shared on Tuesday morning.
“Mapleworth Murders” will star Paula Pell as Abigail Mapleworth, a murder-mystery writer who solves homicides in her quaint small town of New Woodstream. Each episode of the series will feature guest victims and suspects as they answer the bigger question of the series: “Why the hell are there so many murders in the small town of New Woodstream?” The series was created by Pell and John Lutz, who will also star in the show.
Smoove and Hayley Magnus (“Sick Girl”) are joining in supporting roles.
Also Read: Kendall and Kris Jenner to Produce Quibi Parody Series on 'Fraternal Twin' Kirby Jenner
Rudolph will join the show in a recurring role,...
“Mapleworth Murders” will star Paula Pell as Abigail Mapleworth, a murder-mystery writer who solves homicides in her quaint small town of New Woodstream. Each episode of the series will feature guest victims and suspects as they answer the bigger question of the series: “Why the hell are there so many murders in the small town of New Woodstream?” The series was created by Pell and John Lutz, who will also star in the show.
Smoove and Hayley Magnus (“Sick Girl”) are joining in supporting roles.
Also Read: Kendall and Kris Jenner to Produce Quibi Parody Series on 'Fraternal Twin' Kirby Jenner
Rudolph will join the show in a recurring role,...
- 12/3/2019
- by Sean Burch
- The Wrap
The cast of Quibi's murder-mystery comedy The Mapleworth Murders could double as a Saturday Night Live reunion.
A host of former castmembers from the NBC late-night institution — including Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey, Fred Armisen and Tim Meadows — have signed onto the project, created by and starring SNL veterans Paula Pell and John Lutz. The show also counts Lorne Michaels and Seth Meyers among its executive producers.
Regulars from 30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Good Place are also on board.
The Mapleworth Murders is a send-up of small-town crime shows (think Murder, She Wrote) that stars Pell (Wine ...
A host of former castmembers from the NBC late-night institution — including Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey, Fred Armisen and Tim Meadows — have signed onto the project, created by and starring SNL veterans Paula Pell and John Lutz. The show also counts Lorne Michaels and Seth Meyers among its executive producers.
Regulars from 30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Good Place are also on board.
The Mapleworth Murders is a send-up of small-town crime shows (think Murder, She Wrote) that stars Pell (Wine ...
- 12/3/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Saturday Night Live veterans Paula Pell, John Lutz, Lorne Michaels and Seth Meyers are teaming on Mapleworth Murders, a comedic murder mystery series for Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman’s short-form video platform Quibi. Universal TV is the studio.
Written by and starring Pell and Lutz, Mapleworth Murders centers around Abigail Mapleworth, played by Pell, a murder-mystery writer who solves homicides in her quaint small town of New Woodstream. Each episode of the comedic crime procedural will feature guest victims and suspects as we answer the bigger question of the series: why the hell are there so many murders in one small town?
Mapleworth Murders is produced by Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video and Sethmaker Shoemeyers. Broadway Video’s Michaels and Andrew Singer executive produce with Sethmaker Shoemeyers’ Meyers and Mike Shoemaker. Hilary Marx and Jason Carden co-executive produce.
Pell wrote on SNL for 20 years and scripted Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s feature Sisters.
Written by and starring Pell and Lutz, Mapleworth Murders centers around Abigail Mapleworth, played by Pell, a murder-mystery writer who solves homicides in her quaint small town of New Woodstream. Each episode of the comedic crime procedural will feature guest victims and suspects as we answer the bigger question of the series: why the hell are there so many murders in one small town?
Mapleworth Murders is produced by Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video and Sethmaker Shoemeyers. Broadway Video’s Michaels and Andrew Singer executive produce with Sethmaker Shoemeyers’ Meyers and Mike Shoemaker. Hilary Marx and Jason Carden co-executive produce.
Pell wrote on SNL for 20 years and scripted Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s feature Sisters.
- 6/25/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Quibi keeps shelling out cash for content: Jeffrey Katzenberg’s richly funded startup has ordered a short-form murder-mystery comedy written by and starring former “Saturday Night Live” writers Paula Pell and John Lutz, and executive produced by Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video alongside Seth Meyers and Mike Shoemaker.
In “Mapleworth Murders,” Pell (pictured above) is Abigail Mapleworth, a murder-mystery writer who solves homicides in her quaint small town of New Woodstream. Each episode will feature guest victims and suspects in search of answering a bigger question: Why are there so many murders in one small town?
The series is one of dozens of shows — designed for on-the-go mobile viewing in sub-10-minute episodes — coming to Quibi, which is slated to launch in April 2020 at $5 monthly with ads and $8 without ads.
Led by former DreamWorks Animation chief Katzenberg and CEO Meg Whitman, Quibi has raised $1 billion from investors including major Hollywood studios...
In “Mapleworth Murders,” Pell (pictured above) is Abigail Mapleworth, a murder-mystery writer who solves homicides in her quaint small town of New Woodstream. Each episode will feature guest victims and suspects in search of answering a bigger question: Why are there so many murders in one small town?
The series is one of dozens of shows — designed for on-the-go mobile viewing in sub-10-minute episodes — coming to Quibi, which is slated to launch in April 2020 at $5 monthly with ads and $8 without ads.
Led by former DreamWorks Animation chief Katzenberg and CEO Meg Whitman, Quibi has raised $1 billion from investors including major Hollywood studios...
- 6/25/2019
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
As high-profile series “The Big Bang Theory,” “Game of Thrones” and “Veep” come to an end with finale episodes that received mixed reviews from fans and critics alike, it becomes that much more apparent that the more invested someone is with a piece of programming, the more personally they will take the goodbye — for better and for worse.
Wrapping up multiple seasons of complex characters in heightened worlds that have provided escapism, or even more simply comfort and reflection, to millions around the world is no easy feat. But over the years there have been a special selection of series that more than stuck their landing, sending their stories off on a high note and raising the bar for others who were following behind. Here, Variety selects the best series finales through the years.
“30 Rock” (NBC)
“The Last Lunch” (Originally aired January 2013)
What made this series-ender so satisfying was...
Wrapping up multiple seasons of complex characters in heightened worlds that have provided escapism, or even more simply comfort and reflection, to millions around the world is no easy feat. But over the years there have been a special selection of series that more than stuck their landing, sending their stories off on a high note and raising the bar for others who were following behind. Here, Variety selects the best series finales through the years.
“30 Rock” (NBC)
“The Last Lunch” (Originally aired January 2013)
What made this series-ender so satisfying was...
- 5/21/2019
- by Danielle Turchiano
- Variety Film + TV
It’s the holidays and “Late Night with Seth Meyers” has given us the greatest gift of all: another edition of Joke Bucket. What began as a goofy, tongue-in-cheek deconstruction of how a late-night monologue joke gets written has morphed and mutated into one of the most bizarre running segments on any nightly comedy show.
Each segment starts off the same way, with Meyers “explaining” how the writing staff comes up with the nightly one-liners that make up the monologue, matching jokes to punchlines instead of the other way around. He cycles through a series of options before landing on one that fits. Before finalizing the process, Meyers then sets off a labyrinthine process of stapling, stamping, and bell-ringing. Then, things gets weird. Take this early example from late 2016:
Two years later, even those jokeless punchlines act like an unofficial time capsule. (Remember when Samsung phones were exploding all the time?...
Each segment starts off the same way, with Meyers “explaining” how the writing staff comes up with the nightly one-liners that make up the monologue, matching jokes to punchlines instead of the other way around. He cycles through a series of options before landing on one that fits. Before finalizing the process, Meyers then sets off a labyrinthine process of stapling, stamping, and bell-ringing. Then, things gets weird. Take this early example from late 2016:
Two years later, even those jokeless punchlines act like an unofficial time capsule. (Remember when Samsung phones were exploding all the time?...
- 12/19/2018
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
The early Nineties were the era of the psycho thriller, particularly those of the sexually charged variety. One of the most well-known films of that genre was Single White Female, directed by Oscar nominee Barbet Schroeder. Adapted from John Lutz's novel "Swf Seeks Same," Single White Female starred Bridget Fonda (Allie) and Jennifer Jason Leigh (Hedy), and they're both incredible here. As it goes, Allie's husband-to-be Sam (Steven Weber) has cheated on her with his ex-wife and she can't bear to be around him. She kicks him out of her unbelievably spacious, rent-controlled New York City apartment in The Ansonia building (it gives The Dakota --- featured in Rosemary's Baby --- a run for its money) and decides to get a roommate. Enter Hedra/Hedy, the...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 11/9/2018
- Screen Anarchy
Written by two life-long friends and comedy TV veterans, Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, Most Likely To Murder is a fun-enough comedy with a few laughs that never quite comes together when it matters, offering up cheap ’90s nostalgia rather than the kind of observational humor that might help it rise above the harmless type of movie designed for Netflix/VOD consumption.
Adam Pally plays Billy Green. Formerly a star in high school, he’s since moved out to Vegas, and is working his way up in the club scene. But after years, he’s only ascended to the rank of janitor despite leaving babbling voices mails for his ex, Kara (Rachel Bloom), about how well he’s doing. On his way to Long Island for his first trip since Hurricane Sandy, he ends up in the suburbs on a bender at the local Irish pub with his buddy, Duane...
Adam Pally plays Billy Green. Formerly a star in high school, he’s since moved out to Vegas, and is working his way up in the club scene. But after years, he’s only ascended to the rank of janitor despite leaving babbling voices mails for his ex, Kara (Rachel Bloom), about how well he’s doing. On his way to Long Island for his first trip since Hurricane Sandy, he ends up in the suburbs on a bender at the local Irish pub with his buddy, Duane...
- 3/20/2018
- by John Fink
- The Film Stage
“30 Rock” was a show rich with odd and diverse sorts; its ensemble included a startingly large number of Academy Award winners/nominees (at least six! And don’t even get us started on the Emmy champs!). This odd collection of characters, in many respects, remain unforgettable even years after the show’s end. Ranking the characters who appeared in three or more episodes wasn’t easy. But by following the ethos established by the show, it also wasn’t hard.
56. Hazel Wassername
As fun as Kristen Schaal is in other roles, something about Hazel went too broad at the wrong times. “30 Rock” always danced on the line between reality and cartoon, but Hazel was basically CGI.
55. Alfonso Disparioso
Who was this mysterious, wordless musician with no rhythm (who might have born a slight resemblance to Tina Fey’s husband/show composer Jeff Richmond)? All we know is that he appeared...
56. Hazel Wassername
As fun as Kristen Schaal is in other roles, something about Hazel went too broad at the wrong times. “30 Rock” always danced on the line between reality and cartoon, but Hazel was basically CGI.
55. Alfonso Disparioso
Who was this mysterious, wordless musician with no rhythm (who might have born a slight resemblance to Tina Fey’s husband/show composer Jeff Richmond)? All we know is that he appeared...
- 10/11/2016
- by Liz Shannon Miller
- Indiewire
Donald Trump flubbed a Bible reference while speaking at a campaign event at Virginia's Liberty University on Monday - and the religious crowd was quick to call him out on it. "We're going to protect Christianity. I can say that. I don't have to be politically correct," the billionaire businessman said. "Two Corinthians, 3:17, that's the whole ballgame … is that the one you like?" Err, close. The verse, "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty," hails from what Christians refer to as "Second Corinthians" - not "Two Corinthians." Several students...
- 1/19/2016
- by Tierney McAfee, @tierneymcafee
- PEOPLE.com
Donald Trump flubbed a Bible reference while speaking at a campaign event at Virginia's Liberty University on Monday - and the religious crowd was quick to call him out on it. "We're going to protect Christianity. I can say that. I don't have to be politically correct," the billionaire businessman said. "Two Corinthians, 3:17, that's the whole ballgame … is that the one you like?" Err, close. The verse, "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty," hails from what Christians refer to as "Second Corinthians" - not "Two Corinthians." Several students...
- 1/19/2016
- by Tierney McAfee, @tierneymcafee
- PEOPLE.com
It's part of "30 Rock" lore that the episode "The C Word," in which Lutz (John Lutz) uses the titular terrible epithet in reference to Liz Lemon (Tina Fey), was inspired by an actual encounter between Fey and a previously-unnamed male writer on the "Saturday Night Live" staff. Now, Fey has revealed his identity, but says they've long since buried the hatchet over the offensive incident.
In an interview with Howard Stern in promotion of her new movie, "Sisters," Fey said that it was former Weekend Update anchor Colin Quinn who used that horrible word during a heated (and one-sided) phone call while she was the head writer on "SNL."
"I was trying to help him with a show that he was working on, and I think his anxiety about the writing of the show spilled over," Fey told Stern about the incident. "'Cause It was very random. I was like,...
In an interview with Howard Stern in promotion of her new movie, "Sisters," Fey said that it was former Weekend Update anchor Colin Quinn who used that horrible word during a heated (and one-sided) phone call while she was the head writer on "SNL."
"I was trying to help him with a show that he was working on, and I think his anxiety about the writing of the show spilled over," Fey told Stern about the incident. "'Cause It was very random. I was like,...
- 12/15/2015
- by Katie Roberts
- Moviefone
We all knew that the 30 Rock episode where Lutz calls Liz Lemon "the C-word" came from her own experience while she was the head writer of SNL, but we never knew who said it until now. It was former “Weekend Update” anchor Colin Quinn. “I love him so much,” Fey told Howard Stern, who, true to form, wanted her to name names. “I was trying to help him with a show that he was working on, and I think his anxiety about the writing of the show spilled over. It was very random. I was like, ‘What?!’ He left me a message and he said that.” Fey continued, “I couldn’t even guess why. Usually, if someone calls you that, you’re like, ‘I know what I did.'” But she says that they've since made up. "We've since reconnected, at the SNL 40th, actually, and we're good," she said.
- 12/14/2015
- by E. Alex Jung
- Vulture
There wasn't a telephone in sight. For the inaugural celebration of the goofy and good-hearted Red Nose Day in America, NBC invited seemingly everyone in Hollywood to hang out at New York City's own Hammerstein Ballroom for three hours in an attempt to "be funny for money" — and it didn't require a single participant to awkwardly answer a phone on stage in order to collect donations.
The British import (it was partially conceived of by director Richard Curtis, which means it's about as British as Love, Actually) brings together...
The British import (it was partially conceived of by director Richard Curtis, which means it's about as British as Love, Actually) brings together...
- 5/22/2015
- Rollingstone.com
Maybe it’s all that time he spent up at The Wall, but is Jon Snow a terrible dinner-party guest or what?
On Tuesday’s Late Night, the popular Game of Thrones character — portrayed by Kit Harington — was transplanted from Westeros to Manhattan to attend an intimate dinner party at Seth Meyers‘ home.
RelatedMay Sweeps Scorecard 2015: Weddings, Deaths, Breakups, Sex, Resurrections, Firings and More!
Though Meyers pulls Jon aside with some tips on how to make appropriate small talk, the conversation quickly turns into a retelling of events from the HBO series (which returns Sunday). The Red Wedding, Oberyn Martell’s eye-popping death,...
On Tuesday’s Late Night, the popular Game of Thrones character — portrayed by Kit Harington — was transplanted from Westeros to Manhattan to attend an intimate dinner party at Seth Meyers‘ home.
RelatedMay Sweeps Scorecard 2015: Weddings, Deaths, Breakups, Sex, Resurrections, Firings and More!
Though Meyers pulls Jon aside with some tips on how to make appropriate small talk, the conversation quickly turns into a retelling of events from the HBO series (which returns Sunday). The Red Wedding, Oberyn Martell’s eye-popping death,...
- 4/7/2015
- TVLine.com
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