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Talk about a star-studded WeWorkplace: Apple TV+ has given a series order to WeCrashed, a limited series starring Oscar winners Anne Hathaway and Jared Leto.

Based on the podcast of the same name, the drama explores “the greed-filled rise and inevitable fall of WeWork, one of the world’s most valuable startups, and the narcissists whose chaotic love made it all possible,” per the official synopsis. Lee Eisenberg (Little America) and Drew Crevello (The Long Dark) will serve as showrunners, with John Requa and Glenn Ficarra (This Is Us) directing.

More from TVLineTVLine Items: ABC Recasts Women, Solar Opposites Return...

The Conners star and executive producer Sara Gilbert, Rob Huebel (Childrens Hospital), Leland Orser (Brand New Cherry Flavor), Lyriq Bent (Four Brothers), J.R. Cacia (Infidel), Tate Donovan (Respect) and Kevin Dunn have been cast opposite Chris Messina in HBO Max pilot Verbatim, an anthology series from Brett Weiner, Ben Stiller’s Red Hour Films, Left/Right Productions and the New York Times.

Verbatim, based on the New York Times Op-Docs digital series, tackles actual events with all dialogue taken from primary sources and presented verbatim. The pilot episode follows the story of the 2019 college admissions scandal.

The roles are not being revealed. Messina is believed to be playing the scheme’s ringleader Rick Singer, Gilbert is likely Laura Smith, the lead FBI investigator on the case who also is narrating the pilot; Orser, Donovan and Dunn may be playing three of the wealthy parents charged in the bribing scandal.

Because of the series’ anthology nature, I hear that, except for Messina, who is expected to link the different cases throughout the series, the rest of the cast are guest stars for the pilot only.

Red Hour’s Nicholas Weinstock, Jackie Cohn and Stiller executive produce with Left/Right’s Ken Druckerman and Banks Tarver and Kathleen Lingo for the New York Times. Scott Lochmus and Michelene Starnadori will produce.

2020 HBO Max Pilots & Series Orders

Verbatim began as a short film that screened around the country including at the Sundance, South by Southwest and Telluride film festivals in 2014 and won the audience award at the Dallas International Film Festival. The New York Times expanded the film into a digital series that has garnered millions of views and was an official selection of the 2016 Sundance Film Festival Shorts Program with Verbatim: The Ferguson Case in 2016.

Gilbert is repped by Gersh and Management 360. Huebel is repped by UTA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman. Orser is repped by Gersh. Bent is repped by Buchwald, Luber Roklin Entertainment in the U.S. and The Associates Talent Agency and Seth Management in Canada. Cacia is repped by The Coronel Group. Donovan is repped by Gersh. Dunn is repped by Gersh and Gersh and Lighthouse Entertainment.

The HBO Max pilot “Verbatim” is rounding out its cast.

Sara Gilbert, Rob Huebel, Leland Orser, Lyiq Bent, Tate Donovan, J.R. Cacia, and Kevin Dunn have all joined the project. The exact details of their roles are being kept under wraps, but the pilot follows the story of the 2019 college admissions scandal. All dialogue is taken directly from primary sources and every word is presented verbatim. It was previously reported that Chris Messina would star in the pilot.

“Verbatim” is an anthology series based on Brett Weiner’s New York Times Op Docs Series that screened at Sundance in 2014 and 2016.

Gilbert is repped by Management 360 and Gersh. Huebel is repped by UTA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman. Orser is repped by Gersh. Bent is repped by Buchwald, Luber Roklin Entertainment in the U.S., and The Associates Talent Agency and Seth Management in Canada. Cacia is repped by The Coronel Group.

Sara Gilbert is headed to HBO Max to star in a pilot at the streamer.

Gilbert (The Conners) is one of seven actors to join the cast of Verbatim, a potential anthology series that dramatizes real events by taking dialogue from primary sources and presenting it verbatim. Rob Huebel (I Know This Much Is True), Leland Orser (Berlin Station), Lyriq Bent (Netflix’s She’s Gotta Have It), J.R. Cacia (Infidel), Tate Donovan (MacGyver) and Kevin Dunn (Veep) have also joined the project; Chris Messina was previously cast.

Verbatim is based on a New York Times Op-Docs series by Brett Weiner, which ...

Sara Gilbert is headed to HBO Max to star in a pilot at the streamer.

Gilbert (The Conners) is one of seven actors to join the cast of Verbatim, a potential anthology series that dramatizes real events by taking dialogue from primary sources and presenting it verbatim. Rob Huebel (I Know This Much Is True), Leland Orser (Berlin Station), Lyriq Bent (Netflix’s She’s Gotta Have It), J.R. Cacia (Infidel), Tate Donovan (MacGyver) and Kevin Dunn (Veep) have also joined the project; Chris Messina was previously cast.

Verbatim is based on a New York Times Op-Docs series by Brett Weiner, which ...

WWE announced Thursday that it is exiting its ThunderDome residency at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, and moving to Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay.

The new residency will begin with the episode of “SmackDown” airing Dec. 11 on Fox. Episodes of “Raw,” “SmackDown,” and WWE pay-per-views will now be filmed at Tropicana Field for the foreseeable future.

“The Tampa Bay Rays are excited to welcome WWE to Tropicana Field for this residency and shine a spotlight on the Tampa Bay area for WWE fans around the world,” said Matt Silverman, Tampa Bay Rays president. “The ballpark will be transformed to host the spectacle of WWE ThunderDome, allowing fans to enjoy this wildly popular experience virtually.”

The sports entertainment company’s ThunderDome set up was first established in August after WWE staged shows, including “WrestleMania,” with no fans for months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The ThunderDome features large LED screens...

Paul “Triple H” Levesque says WWE did indeed look into having this year’s SummerSlam on a boat, as had been reported, and that the crazy/awesome idea actually “had about as much chance as all the other options.”

But: “As you can imagine, things on a boat aren’t quite so easy,” Levesque told TheWrap on a Wednesday conference call ahead of the latest “Nxt” weekly episode. “Even just the motion of the water.”

Here’s the former WWE Superstar’s full answer to our SummerSlam-on-a-boat question: “So every option was looked into… I think that option had about as much chance as all the other options. Everything was looked into across the board, of any way that we can come back to doing what we do safely and in the best way possible. As you can imagine, things on a boat aren’t quite so easy, I would imagine.

WWE Monday unveiled a new virtual experience called WWE ThunderDome with fans cheering real time on video boards, pyrotechnics and other bells and whistles as the company continues to transition during Covid-19.

ThunderDome interactive events will launch from the Amway Center in Orlando this Friday to kick off SummerSlam Weekend on Fox.

As of tonight, fans can purchase tickets for upcoming events including USA Networks Monday Night Raw, Friday Night SmackDown and pay-per-view bouts. (Tonight’s Raw will still originate in the Full Sail arena).

WWE will virtually bring fans into the Amway Center via live video on giant LED boards through proprietary technology from The Famous Group

“WWE has a long history of producing the greatest live spectacles in sports and entertainment, yet nothing compares to what we are creating with WWE ThunderDome,” said Kevin Dunn, WWE executive VP, Television Production. “This structure will enable us to deliver an...

WWE is taking up residency at Orlando’s Amway Center — or, as WWE has dubbed it, “WWE ThunderDome.” And with the move comes fans’ ability to grab a “virtual” seat.

The set up will allow WWE to “virtually bring fans into the arena via live video on massive LED boards” for every “Monday Night Raw,” “Friday Night SmackDown” and WWE pay-per-view event, all productions that have been taping at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando since mid-March. “Nxt,” which airs every Wednesday on USA Network, will continue filming at its long-time home Full Sail Arena.

Per WWE, the transformed Amway Center (which is the home of the NBA’s Orlando Magic) will feature “a state-of-the-art set, video boards, pyrotechnics, lasers, cutting-edge graphics and drone cameras.” The first taping at ThunderDome will be this Friday’s “SmackDown,” followed by the highly anticipated “SummerSlam” pay-per-view event Sunday.

Also Read: Man Arrested for...

WWE is setting up shop at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida for the foreseeable future.

The sports entertainment brand is establishing a residency at the arena with a new set that they have dubbed ThunderDome. It will feature large LED screens that will virtually bring fans into the arena via live video, in conjunction with the Famous Group and its proprietary technology. The strategy is similar to that currently being used by the NBA to give people the feeling of being at a live event while maintaining social distancing.

Per WWE, ThunderDome will also feature pyrotechnics, lasers, graphics, and drone cameras. The first show to be filmed at the new location will be “SmackDown Live” on Fox this Friday, Aug. 21. The upcoming “Summerslam” pay-per-view, airing Aug. 23, will also originate from the Amway Center. Fans can register to be part of the events on WWE’s website and social channels.

Palm Springs Intl. ShortFest has announced a slate of 332 films in its official selection that will be eligible for jury award consideration, including “I Lost My Mother’s Ashes,” starring Mandy Moore; Kevin Dunn in “Josiah”; and Maya Rudolph, Jay Ellis and Laroyce Hawkins in “Thirsty.”

ShortFest will screen a portion of the selected films beginning June 16 and will be available to stream on its website for free through June 22.

“We’re proud to share all the work filmmakers have put into making their films and all of the work our staff has put into making ShortFest happen,” said artistic director Lili Rodriguez. “No one ever imagines launching a film festival during a pandemic, let alone launching one during such politically charged and urgent times. We remain firm believers that movies are empathy machines and stay committed to sharing cinema from different parts of the world, from different and diverse perspectives.

E! has picked up a sixth season of docuseries Total Bellas, which follows the lives of WWE stars Nikki Bella and Brie Bella.

The NBCUniversal cable network will launch the next run of the show later this fall.

Season 5 of the show, which ends tonight, June 11, featured Nikki and Artem’s French engagement and the twins finding out they’re both expecting and due within weeks of each other.

The upcoming season will highlight the birth of their babies as Nikki navigates the joys of parenthood for the first time and Brie becomes a mom of two.

The fifth season is averaging around 1M viewers, with 604K in the total 18-49 demo with nearly three quarters of these viewers women. This average is up 10% from last season and the show consistently ranks among the top ten shows in primetime across ad-supported cable nets.

Total Bellas is produced by WWE and...

The Bella twins are coming back for more.

E! has officially renewed “Total Bellas” for a sixth season, right on cue for the end of season 5.

The series follows the lives of WWE superstars, authors and entrepreneurs Nikki Bella and Brie Bella. Season 6 is set to premiere later this fall.

Season 5 of the docuseries, which concluded tonight, featured several milestones in the sisters’ lives, including Nikki and Artem’s romantic French engagement and the twins finding out they’re both pregnant and due within weeks of each other.

The current fifth season of “Total Bellas” averaged nearly 1 million total viewers after seven days of delayed viewing, as well as 598,000 viewers in the key 18-49 demographic and 444,000 viewers among women aged 18-49. Per the network, that represents increased of 9%, 7% and 15% in the three metrics from the previous season. Season 5 is currently the highest-rated season all key in two years.

Season 6 will...

Coming of age is always a lot less fun when you’re already grown up, a truth astutely understood in “Standing Up, Falling Down.”

Chronicling a stand-up comedian’s disgraceful return home after failing to make waves in Hollywood, director Matt Ratner targets the humiliation, disappointment and awkwardness of failing at a youthful dream while suggesting that those feelings only keep going — and only incrementally get easier — no matter how old you get. Ben Schwartz and Billy Crystal make a solid pair of intergenerational pals in this pleasantly diverting comedy-drama.

Schwartz (“Sonic the Hedgehog”) plays Scott, a comedian we first see halfheartedly warming up a crowd next to the bathroom in a coffee shop. Like too many other dreamers, he headed West hoping to stake a claim as the next great stand-up, but now he’s moving back to live with his parents in Long Island, tail tucked between his...

Sometimes your dream isn’t much of a dream at all. Maybe reality sets in after you’re already well along the path taken in error. Perhaps the epiphany arrives before you’ve sacrificed the correct choice in order to choose wrong. Ask Scott Rollins (Ben Schwartz) and he’ll probably tell you it can even be both at once if you happen to have two dreams vying for your attention. For him it was a career in stand-up comedy and the woman (Eloise Mumford’s Becky) he saw himself building a life beside. The former invigorated him while the latter instilled a debilitating fear. So what did he do? Packed up a suitcase, flew to Los Angeles, and left everything else behind in New York. And now, four years later, he’s back.

Which was the mistake, though? Pursuing success? Or saying goodbye—itself a metaphor considering he didn...

Directed by Matt Ratner, Standing Up, Falling Down centers on Scott Rollins (Ben Schwartz), a struggling comedian who leaves Los Angeles and moves back home with his parents. Scott’s unlikely friendship with a dermatologist (Billy Crystal) helps give him a bit of clarity regarding his own life and career. Eloise Mumford [...]

The post Director Matt Ratner Reflects On Landing Billy Crystal For ‘Standing Up, Falling Down’ appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

Ultimately pleasant if slight, “Standing Up, Falling Down” arrives at that modest impact despite the fact that the major characters here insist on behaving in ways that are meant to be funny, but too often land more in the “obnoxious” zone. This seriocomedy, with Ben Schwartz as a failed comedian and Billy Crystal as a wacky dermatologist he befriends, is actually stronger in its middleweight dramatic departments than it is in convincing us that these newly-met buddies are really good-hearted charmers — as opposed to tactless misanthropes who’ve quite understandably alienated most of those around them.

A different movie might have actually explored that second, rather bleak reality. But “Standing Up” wants to be cute and heartwarming. That it eventually succeeds, more or less, pays testament to producer turned first-time feature helmer Matt Ratner’s adept handling, and a cast that does their considerable best with iffy material. The screenplay...

"I don't really have a life..." Shout Factory has debuted a trailer for an indie dramedy titled Standing Up, Falling Down, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last year. The film is described as a comedy about the unlikely friendship that kindles between a struggling stand-up comedian from Los Angeles, forced to move back home to Long Island with his tail between his legs, and a tragically flawed, but charming and charismatic, alcoholic dermatologist. Discovering to be kindred spirits, each helps the other find healing, in addition to the confidence to face the "failures" in their lives. Ben Schwartz co-stars with Billy Crystal, they're joined by Eloise Mumford, Grace Gummer, Nate Corddry, Debra Monk, and Kevin Dunn. This looks like your typical cliche indie, with lost loves and all the usual struggles everyone deals with in life. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Matt Ratner's Standing Up, Falling Down,...

Julia Louis-Dreyfus and HBO’s Veep came into the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards looking like a front-running candidate to make history but in the end the Academy voters elected to go in a different direction by making Fleabag the victor.

Veep and Louis-Dreyfus were shockingly shut-out in favor of a scruffy newcomer with populist charms: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the executive producer, creator, writer and star of Fleabag, was the unexpected winner in the category of best actress in a comedy series, which denied Louis-Dreyfus a chance to make history as the first performer to win nine Emmys.

Louis-Dreyfus instead remains tied with Cloris Leachman for the most career Emmy wins (eight) by any performer. Fleabag also won the prize for best comedy and Waller-Bridge grabbed a third statuette for best writing, which left Veep looking like a latter-day Walter Mondale.

Veep closed out its seventh and final season in May with...

It’s been a very long journey through this Emmy season, but it’s now at the conclusion. Watch our live exciting post-show at approximately 11:05 p.m. Et; 8:05 p.m. Pt following the 2019 Emmy Awards on Fox. Gold Derby editors Matt Noble and Riley Chow will be co-hosting a rollicking discussion of the shockers, surprises, winners and losers. Joining them will be editors Joyce Eng and Daniel Montgomery, plus contributor Tom O’Brien.

SEE2019 Emmy winners: Full list of nominees and winners in all 27 categories [Updating Live]

Marcus Dixon and I were on the red carpet and in the press room Sunday bringing you exclusive videos. You can also follow our Twitter feed and participate in our exciting forums thread for more coverage. How did we do predicting winners on our pre-show before the ceremony (watch it here)?

For this 71st annual event, presenters revealed the winners in seven drama categories,...

Gold Derby is backstage in the Emmys 2019 press room and can now reveal the complete ceremony rundown in the show order for all 27 categories. A full list of presenters is also listed below. Pop star Halsey will be performing for the In Memoriam segment. The 71st annual Emmy Awards air live on Fox at 8:00 Et; 5:00 Pt. Don Mischer Productions and Done+Dusted are the producers. The ceremony will have no host this year.

SEE2019 Emmy winners: Full list of nominees and winners in all 27 categories [Updating Live]

Homer Simpson with Show Opening

1. Comedy Supporting Actor

2. Comedy Supporting Actress

3. Comedy Writing

4. Comedy Directing (Jane Lynch Luke Kirby)

5. Comedy Actor

6. Comedy Actress

7. Competition Program (Kardashians)

Game of Thrones reunion

8. Limited Series Supporting Actress (Game of Thrones cast)

9. Limited Series Directing

10. Limited Series Supporting Actor

11. Limited Series Writing

12. Limited Series Actor

13. TV Movie (James Corden)

Veep cast reunion

14. Limited Series Actress

15. Limited Series...

While the celebrities are making their grand entrances on the 2019 Emmy Awards red carpet (actually purple carpet this year), Gold Derby presents our annual tradition of a live pre-show. Watch our two-hour program above at 6:00 p.m. Et; 3:00 p.m. Pt and make your own comments below about our final predictions and analysis for all 27 categories.

Gold Derby editors Matt Noble and Riley Chow will be co-hosting. Joining them will be editors Joyce Eng and Daniel Montgomery, plus contributors Charles Bright, Sam Eckmann, Luca Giliberti, Zach Laws and Tony Ruiz.

See Emmys 2019 exclusive: Ceremony seat cards secretly show which nominees are attending and 2 Oscar winners who are not

Marcus Dixon and I will be on the red carpet and in the press room Sunday bringing you exclusive videos. You can also follow our Twitter feed and participate in our exciting forums thread for more coverage. We’ll also...

The full and final list of presenters has been revealed for Sunday’s 2019 Emmy Awards ceremony. This group of names includes Tim Allen, James Corden, Jharrel Jerome, Hugh Laurie, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Catherine O’Hara and Marisa Tomei. Pop star Halsey will be performing for the In Memoriam tribute.

Gold Derby visited the Microsoft Theater on Thursday morning and viewed the seat cards scattered throughout the room. Based on those, we were already able to add the four guest acting winners from this past weekend — Cherry Jones, Jane Lynch, Luke Kirby and Bradley Whitford — to the presenters roster. Others unveiled yesterday were Nick Cannon, Adam Devine, Jon Hamm, Timothy Hutton, Ken Jeong, Regina King, Randall Park, Jimmy Smits, Brittany Snow and Kerry Washington.

SEECreative Arts Emmys 2019 (Sunday): 5 exclusive press room interviews with Luke Kirby, Cherry Jones, Jane Lynch, Chris O’Dowd and Bradley Whitford [Watch]

The full set of show presenters...

Pop star Halsey has been tapped to perform during the Emmy Awards on Sunday, while comedians Adam Devine and Thomas Lennon will also contribute to the telecast.

With no Emmy host this year, producers Don Mischer Prods. and Done+Dusted are relying more on presenters and other contributors to keep the show moving, Halsey, whose hits include “Now or Never,” “Bad At Love” and “Without Me,” will “perform a rendition of a classic song for the In Memoriam tribute.”

DeVine, whose credits include “Workaholics” and “Adam DeVine’s House Party,” will “perform a musical tribute to variety programming,” while Lennon will serve in a new role as “Emmy Awards commentator.”

Meanwhile, the Television Academy has also announced a third round of presenters, including most of the performers who won the guest actor and actress Emmys at the Creative Arts awards last weekend: Cherry Jones (“The Handmaid’s Tale”), Luke Kirby...

The third wave of presenters is now unveiled for Sunday’s 2019 Emmy Awards ceremony. Although not officially announced yet, Gold Derby visited the Microsoft Theater on Thursday morning and viewed the seat cards scattered throughout the room. We can confirm that the four guest acting winners from this past weekend — Cherry Jones, Jane Lynch, Luke Kirby and Bradley Whitford — will be presenting on this Sunday’s show.

Other seat cards with the “presenter” tag that have not been previously announced: Nick Cannon, Halsey, Jon Hamm, Timothy Hutton, Ken Jeong, Regina King, Adam Levine, Randall Park, Jimmy Smits, Brittany Snow and Kerry Washington.

SEECreative Arts Emmys 2019 (Sunday): 5 exclusive press room interviews with Luke Kirby, Cherry Jones, Jane Lynch, Chris O’Dowd and Bradley Whitford [Watch]

The full set of show presenters announced so far:

Anthony Anderson

Ike Barinholtz

Angela Bassett

Cedric the Entertainer

RuPaul Charles

Stephen Colbert

Viola Davis

Michael Douglas...

Tony Hale is on his sixth Best Comedy Supporting Actor Emmy nomination for playing Gary Walsh on “Veep,” the loyal bag man to Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Hale hopes to win his third Emmy for the role, and this year has submitted the series finale, aptly called “Veep.”

The episode largely takes place at the Democratic National Convention, where Selina is trying to garner enough delegates to become her party’s presidential nominee. The beginning of the episode sees a lot of meetings and negotiations. For most of those scenes, Gary is in the background, reacting to the developments and offering snarky remarks; he says Amy (Anna Chlumsky) reminds him “more of a childless aunt” to Selina.

In a low moment, Gary offers to help Selina, who screams at him, and he comically collapses to the floor. When Ben (Kevin Dunn) has a heart attack, Gary rushes to help.

At the end of the episode,...

The Television Academy is now revealing a second set of presenters for the Emmy Awards ceremony slated for September 22. On stage for Sunday’s event, watch for the casts of “Veep” and “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” plus Emmy winners RuPaul Charles, Bill Hader, Gwyneth Paltrow, Amy Poehler and Ben Stiller. Others added are Anthony Anderson,Ike Barinholtz, Cedric the Entertainer, Maya Rudolph, Lilly Singh and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

SEEJulia Louis-Dreyfus Interview: ‘Veep’

“Veep” has won three times as Best Comedy Series and is nominated again this year. Cast members reuniting for one final time are winners Julia Louis-Dreyus and Tony Hale plus nominee Anna Chlumsky and Gary Cole, Kevin Dunn, Clea DuVall, Sam Richardson, Reid Scott, Timothy Simons, Sarah Sutherland and Matt Walsh.

SEEBilly Porter Interview: ‘Pose’

The first wave of presenters announced last week:

Angela Bassett (“9-1-1”)

Stephen Colbert (“Late Show with Stephen Colbert”)

Viola Davis (“How to Get Away with Murder...

A “Veep” reunion is on tap this Sunday on the Emmy stage, as producers reveal the second round of presenters at this year’s ceremony.

Emmy nominee Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who’s poised to make history on Sunday if she wins (giving her the title for most Emmy wins ever by a performer), will be joined on stage by her fellow “Veep”-mates Anna Chlumsky, Gary Cole, Kevin Dunn, Clea Duvall, Tony Hale, Sam Richardson, Reid Scott, Timothy Simons, Sarah Sutherland and Matt Walsh.

Other casts presenting include the “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” trio of Kim Kardashian West, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner.

Also tapped to present at this year’s 71st Emmy Awards: Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”), Ike Barinholtz (“Bless the Harts”), Cedric the Entertainer and Max Greenfield (“The Neighborhood”), Bill Hader (“Barry”), Gwyneth Paltrow (“The Politician”), Amy Poehler (“Duncanville”), Maya Rudolph (“The Good Place”), RuPaul (“RuPaul’s Drag Race...

Mike McMahon Aug 18, 2019

The entire structure of Nxt could change if WWE moves the show to USA Network against Aew ...

WWE's Nxt brand, at its core, works with hardcore wrestling fans because it's inherently different from WWE's big brands of Raw and SmackDown. The show tapes from Full Sail University, a smaller and much more intimate setting compared to WWE's large arena productions for its "main roster" shows.

Nxt airs on WWE Network and is one-hour long. Oftentimes, the biggest stars on the brand don't even appear on the show weekly. If they do, they rarely wrestle. Nxt is a throwback to when pro wrestling was booked at a much slower pace, and it was built around the big shows.

All of that is about to change.

According to multiple reports, including from Dave Meltzer at The Wrestling Observer, WWE is considering taking its Nxt show off of the WWE Network,...

City on a Hill, starring Kevin Bacon and Aldis Hodge, is to return for a second season at Showtime. The premium broadcaster has handed the crime drama another run ahead of its season one finale.

Showtime said that the Sunday night drama was reaching 3.5M viewers per week. The announcement was made by Gary Levine and Jana Winograde, Presidents of Entertainment, Showtime Networks, at the TCA summer press tour.

Created, written and executive produced by Chuck MacLean (Boston Strangler) and based on an original idea by Affleck, City on a Hill is set in early 1990s Boston when the city was rife with violent criminals emboldened by local law enforcement agencies in which corruption and racism was the norm, until it suddenly all changed. The drama is a fictional account of what was called the “Boston Miracle.” Driving that change is assistant district attorney Decourcy Ward (Hodge), who comes from...

“What the **** are you?” asks an infuriated Tom James (Hugh Laurie) of Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) in his expletive-filled final scene in the series finale of “Veep.” Laurie, who joined the cast of the three-time Emmy-winning Best Comedy in the recurring role of former senator and Selina’s flame in the fourth season, plays a particularly prominent role in the final seven episodes of the show as one of Selina’s most formidable rivals for their party’s nomination for President.

Despite his increased presence in the farewell season, Gold Derby’s combined odds currently have Laurie far afield from a Comedy Supporting Actor nomination. Based on Laurie’s performance and his track record at the Emmys, though, we may be underestimating his prospects for a “Veep” farewell bid. Indeed, Laurie’s simultaneously charming, smug, and slimy performance as Tom is one of the many highlights of the show’s last batch of episodes,...

Ding, ding, ding: E! has renewed WWE Superstars and twin sisters Nikki and Brie Bella’s reality series “Total Bellas” for a fifth season.

The upcoming season’s 10 hour-long episodes will premiere in 2020. Shot way in advance, “Total Bellas” Season 5 will see Nikki newly single after a split from John Cena, and new mom Brie balancing work and baby with her husband Daniel Bryan. In this installment, the Bella Twins are also working to return to the ring for WWE’s first-ever women-only pay-per-view, “Evolution.” That took place back in October.

“Nikki and Brie have never shied away from revealing every aspect of their lives to our viewers,” said Amy Introcaso-Davis, executive vice president pf development and production at E! “They’re strong women who are incredibly relatable and connect deeply with our audience.”

“We’re at a really exciting point in our lives, and can’t wait to take the Bella Army on this journey as we continue to work hard and inspire them to live their dreams,” said Brie Bella.

“We’re looking forward to sharing our triumphs and challenges with our fans this season, and hope they all have as much fun as we’re having along the way,” added Nikki Bella.

“Total Bellas” is produced by WWE and Bunim/Murray Productions with Gil Goldschein, Russell Jay and Farnaz Farjam Chazan serving as executive producers for Bunim/Murray Productions, and Kevin Dunn and Chris Kaiser serving as executive producers for WWE. Nikki Bella and Brie Bella are also executive producers.

Read original story ‘Total Bellas’ Renewed by E! for Season 5 At TheWrap...

E! has picked up a fifth season of its hit series Total Bellas. The network has ordered ten hour-long episodes of the docuseries, which follows the lives of WWE Superstars Nikki Bella and Brie Bella, for premiere in early 2020.

Season four of Total Bellas featured Nikki exploring life as a newly single woman, Nikki and Brie expanding their brands, Brie and husband WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan juggling work and parenthood, and the Superstar twins’ return to the ring leading up to WWE’s first-ever all women’s pay-per-view event, Evolution.

“Nikki and Brie have never shied away from revealing every aspect of their lives to our viewers,” said Amy Introcaso-Davis, Executive Vice President, Development and Production, E! “They’re strong women who are incredibly relatable and connect deeply with our audience.”

The fourth season of Total Bellas ranked as a Top 3 program for E!, with an average of 783K total viewers.

An early episode of Showtime’s new Nineties-set Boston drama City on a Hill opens with two characters discussing the classic children’s book Make Way for Ducklings (set in Boston Public Garden) and the city’s 1980s school-busing controversy. The only way the series — produced, of course, by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, along with creator Chuck MacLean and the Oz duo of Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson — could more loudly declare its geographic bona fides would be for one of them to mention the time his buddy Sully...

As it sometimes does with new shows, Showtime has posted the first episode of its Kevin Bacon-Aldis Hodge period drama City on a Hill online for free. The series premieres June 16 on the premium cable net, but you can watch it above.

Created, written and executive produced by Chuck MacLean and based on an original idea by Ep Ben Affleck, the 10-episode City on a Hill is set in the early 1990s Boston, rife with violent criminals emboldened by local law enforcement agencies in which corruption and racism was the norm. It centers on Assistant District Attorney Decourcy Ward (Hodge), who arrives from Brooklyn and forms an unlikely alliance with a corrupt yet venerated FBI veteran Jackie Rohr (Bacon). Together, they take on a family of armored car robbers from Charlestown in a case that grows to involve, and ultimately subvert, the entire criminal justice system of Boston.

Before cameras start rolling, Julia Louis-Dreyfus is in tears. It’s around 8:30 a.m. on December 18, 2018 — the final day of shooting for HBO’s Emmy-winning political satire, “Veep” — and the team led by showrunner David Mandel has already run through rehearsals and made some last-minute tweaks to the script. The early morning run-through was what sent Louis-Dreyfus, the series’ star and executive producer, back to hair and makeup for touch-ups, but now it’s time: the beginning of the end.

“A lot of emotions today,” producer and writer Frank Rich says, standing in the writers’ offices at Paramount Studios. Morgan Sackett, a fellow producer, writer, and episode director, walks up and the pair briefly reminiscence over what brought them here, to this day and this ending: Finding a fitting end to “Veep” was hard enough, but after breaking the final season during summer 2017, the writers were informed of Louis-Dreyfus’ cancer diagnosis.

Farewell, President Selina Meyer.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ brilliantly monstrous Commander-in-Chief signed off last night in the excellent Veep series finale, going out the way she came in: making a nation gasp in horror. In one last hilarious power grab for the White House, she sells out every principle she ever pretended to have. With the FBI closing in on the illegal activities of her Meyer Fund, Selina decides to toss them a fall guy: her most devoted attendant, Tony Hale’s Gary. At the end, we see her funeral, years in the future.

[Editor’s Note: The following review contains spoilers for “Veep” Season 7, Episode 7, “Veep” — the series finale.]

In the end, President Selina Meyer did the impossible. It wasn’t that the power-hungry politician managed to recapture the White House (for one unsuccessful term), but how she managed to wreak more havoc than Drogon in doing so. In the final season, Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ ex-vp showed her true colors, eviscerating everything and everyone around her; just when it felt like even Selina wouldn’t stoop that low, she found a new bottom — again and again again… until Gary.

Poignant yet unflinching, hilarious and heartbreaking, the series finale of “Veep,” written and directed by David Mandel, sees Armando Iannucci’s original intent through to the bitter end: The American political system is a bloody mess made bloodier by the self-serving “public servants” at its center. Years of roasting them over a spit has only appeared to make them stronger, but the intent of such vicious satire is change rather than...

Spoiler Alert: This article contains details of tonight’s Veep series finale. Plus this article contains language inappropriate for almost anyone, but that’s Veep, isn’t it?

Game of Thrones doesn’t end until next week, but tonight’s series finale of Veep showed a very different way to snare another type of Iron Throne with maybe even more bane and acerbity on the floor.

In the past few weeks, there’s been a plethora of declarations of a “satisfying” ending by series regular Reid Scott and others on the Julia Louis-Dreyfus-led scathing HBO political satire. But there is no way that you saw the well played concluding twist, which is a welcome mat on the way out to the “mind fuck” to quote party chairman Roger Furlong (Dan Bakkedahl), that the frequently verbally and otherwise bawdy Armando Iannucci-created and David Mandel-showrun comedy excelled in.

Coming...

President Selina Meyer leaves a legacy of political fallout as Veep ends an era of satiric genius.

This Veep review contains spoilers.

Veep Season 7 Episode 7

Veep season 7, episode 7, "Veep," finishes out the term of President Selina Meyer with a frightening message. Everyone who even thinks about getting into politics is horrible but it is only the truly heinous who claim the top prize. Washington has never been played so openly dirty and with such eternal immediacy. The political cycle moves very fast and a lot of satirical work gets washed over by reality, but Veep has always been able to veer far enough into the netherworld to remain shocking and effective. This season life caught up with art and the imitations blurred into allegorical genius of comically nightmarish proportions.

HBO has a history of making anti-heroes into beloved figures going back at least to Tony Soprano on The Sopranos. Everyone...

At the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, a legend got his due. Yes, Billy Crystal, at long last, has a role worthy of his talents. He’s certainly been terrific in the past, but it’s been more than a hot minute since we’ve seen that on the big screen. That changes here. Standing Up, Falling Down blesses Crystal with a compelling and three dimensional character play, one that’s equal parts empathetic and hilarious. One of Tribeca’s most enjoyable works this year, Crystal is brilliant worthy of some awards consideration for this role. Yes, he’s just that good here. This is one to definitely look out for, beyond the festival circuit. The movie is a comedy as well as a bit of a coming of age tale. Scott (Ben Schwartz) is a struggling stand-up comic who has been forced by failure to move back home to the eastern...

Selina Meyers gets no peace from the campaign trail in international waters as Veep Season 7, episode 6, brings her to "Oslo."

This Veep review contains spoilers.

Veep Season 7 Episode 6

Having laid waste to most of the American political climate, Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is off to Europe to sully the good name of the Nobel Peace Prize in Veep season 7, Episode 6, "Oslo." Selina is at the Nobel Summit Awards in Oslo, Norway. She's not exactly getting the Nobel Peace Prize, but a summit award from the world summit of peace laureates, the Nobel Peace Prize Junior.

The Nobel Peace Prize, created by an arms manufacturer, is an almost sacrosanct honor. Luckily nothing is sacred to Veep, which seats murderous dictators at the better tables than Tibetan monks and treats the reception like a flea market for political favors. Murman Shalikashvili (Eugene Alper), who won the country of Georgia's first democratic election...

In a Gold Derby exclusive, we have learned the category placements of the key Emmy Awards contenders for AMC, BBC America, IFC and Sundance. For this season, the network group has returning dramas “Better Call Saul” (Bob Odenkirk), “Killing Eve” (Sandra Oh) and “The Walking Dead” (Danai Gurira), comedy “Brockmire” (Hank Azaria), variety sketch series “Documentary Now” (Fred Armisen) and limited series “The Little Drummer Girl” (Alexander Skarsgard) as part of their 2019 campaign.

Below, the list of AMC Networks lead, supporting and guest submissions for their comedy, drama and limited series. More names might be added by the networks on the final Emmy ballot. Also note that performers not included on this list may well be submitted by their personal reps.

SEEBob Odenkirk Interview: ‘Better Call Saul’

“The Adulterers” (Sundance)

Short Form Series

Short Form Actress – Tonya Glanz

Short Form Actor – Chris Roberti

“Better Call Saul” (AMC)

Drama Series

Drama...

A&E Network is partnering with WWE Studios to produce five original two-hour documentaries under the award-winning “Biography” banner showcasing some of the most iconic WWE Superstars of all time, including “Macho Man” Randy Savage®, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Booker T®, Stone Cold Steve Austin® and Shawn Michaels®. Through these in-depth films helmed by some of the industry’s top directors and storytellers, “Biography” continues its focus on meaningful events and personalities as well as their impact on our culture. Through new and archival interviews and never-before-seen footage, each feature length film will give fans an in-depth look at the early lives, rise to fame and careers of some of the most influential stars in WWE history.

“We are thrilled for the tremendous opportunity to partner with WWE Studios to produce these special films that honor some of the most impactful personalities who have left a lasting imprint on pop culture,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant,...

The HBO comedy series Veep is back for its seventh and final season, with seven episodes that follow Selina Meyer (Emmy Award winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus) as she hits the campaign trail during her run for president. Navigating threats from primary challengers with the help of her band of misfits – including devoted bodyman Gary (Tony Hale), right hand Amy (Anna Chlumsky), campaign manager Ben (Kevin Dunn), analyst Kent (Gary Cole), unassuming staffer Richard (Sam Richardson) and daughter Catherine (Sarah Sutherland) – Selina will be dealing with adversaries and allies, on her road back to the Oval Office. During this 1-on-…...

Veep season 7 episode 3 makes a "Pledge" to go politically correct and non-negative, for about a minute.

This Veep review contains spoilers.

Veep Season 7 Episode 3

Veep season 7 episode 3, "Pledge," aims for higher ground, but gets fatigued on the way and winds up digging deeper into the black hole we call politics. Leading into the first debates, the party goes progressive and the presidential campaign gets progressively worse. The title refers to an impromptu election promise not to go negative we're positive will only hobble a highly charged race.

The episode opens with Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) disparaging the "Kemistry" of her former protégé, and current rival, United States Senator from New York Kemi Talbot (Toks Olagundoye). Kent Davison (Gary Cole) begins explaining the sociopolitical significance of protest candidates, and she puts up a hand and says "off." For a moment, it looks like the long-time logarithmic political advisor actually shuts down.

Selina Meyer's Discovery Weekend in Colorado finds everything but donors in Veep season 7, episode 2.

This Veep review contains spoilers.

Veep Season 7 Episode 2

Veep season 7 episode 2, "Discovery Weekend," begins at the 16th Annual Discovery Weekend Welcome Chuckwagon at the Old Barn in Aspen Colorado. Former President Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is square-dancing and Gary (Tony Hale) is monitoring the calls. Gary is more than a bagman for Selina. He is her calendar, Google, and Wilson the volleyball when she gets stranded. What appears to be an opening gag is merely a setup for a punch line and the theme of the episode. Selina breaks away from the echo chamber of horrors to tell Ben Cafferty (Kevin Dunn) she hates being told what to do.

The presidential exploratory is being thrown by Felix Wade, a closeted ex-record producer who is very influential on choosing the next president of the United States,...

Vulture Watch

Has Selina reclaimed the Oval Office? Is the Veep TV show cancelled or renewed for an eighth season on HBO? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of Veep season eight. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you?

What's This TV Show About?

An HBO comedy series, Veep stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Anna Chlumsky, Tony Hale, Reid Scott, Timothy Simons, Matt Walsh, Kevin Dunn, Gary Cole, Sarah Sutherland, and Sam Richardson. In the seven-episode seventh season, former VP and President Selina Meyer (Louis-Dreyfus) is campaigning to return to the Oval Office. Recurring guest stars this year include: Clea DuVall, Margaret Colin, Patton Oswalt, and Brian Huskey. Read More…...

Wrestling legends “Macho Man” Randy Savage, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Booker T, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels will be profiled in five two-hour documentaries under A&E Network’s Biography banner as part of a deal with WWE Studios.

The iconic WWE superstars will be profiled with new and archival interviews and never-before-seen footage, each providing an in-depth look at the early lives, rise to fame, and wrestling careers of some of the most influential stars in WWE history.

“We are thrilled for the tremendous opportunity to partner with WWE Studios to produce these special films that honor some of the most impactful personalities who have left a lasting imprint on pop culture,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, Evp and head of programming, A&E Network.

Susan Levison, Svp and head of WWE Studios, said the organization was happy to partner “with award-winning directors Billy Corben, Joe Lavine and George Roy...

A&E Network and WWE Studios are teaming up to produce five original two-hour documentaries about wrestlers under the “Biography” banner. The docs will dive into the lives and careers of former WWE Superstars “Macho Man” Randy Savage, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Booker T, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels.

Through new and archival interviews and never-before-seen footage, each feature-length film will give fans an in-depth look at the early lives, rises to fame, and careers of some of the most influential stars in professional wrestling history.

Macho Man’s, Piper’s and Booker T’s docs are currently in production. Directors and descriptions for each of those Spring 2020 docs are below.

We’ll get more info on the “Stone Cold” and Michaels’ “Biography” episodes at a later date. Fans will have to wait for 2021 for those two.

Also Read: WWE's Seth Rollins on How The Stomp Came Back and the...