News

Against larger Hollywood trends towards embracing cultural identity, Jewish characters on TV are still depicted as hiding or playing down their Jewishness, according to a new study from USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center’s Media Impact Project.

The study, undertaken with the support of the Jewish Institute for Television and Cinema Hollywood Bureau, also confirmed that “Jewface” really does exist, noting that only about half of Jewish characters are played by confirmed Jewish actors. It also pointed out that Jewish actresses are 21 percent less likely to be cast as Jewish characters than their male counterparts are.

The study is the first of its kind to focus on Jewish representation since 1999 and predates the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and ensuing war in Gaza, which has led to an explosive 60 percent increase in antisemitic hate crimes. Still, incidents of antisemitism rose in the period covered by the study, which analyzed 108 Jewish...

Peacock has announced the lineup of movies, TV shows, and live sports that will be available on the streaming service in October. The Peacock October 2024 schedule includes the streaming premieres of The Mouse Trap and Blackwater Lane, as well as the debut of the terrifying Peacock Originals Teacup and Hysteria!

Peacock has something for everyone, from frightful favorites like I Know What You Did Last Summer and The Fly and spine-chilling thrillers like The Craft and Jennifer’s Body to films to scare up fun for the whole family, such as the Harry Potter franchise, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, and more.

Hysteria!

October also brings a taste of early noughties nostalgia with the exclusive streaming premiere of Didi and a royal reality check when Queens Court returns for season 2. Get on your dancing shoes for the premiere of Reggaeton: The Sound That Conquered the World, and don...

In today’s roundup, Hallmark announces its “Countdown to Christmas” lineup, including a first look at “A Christmas Love Story,” and Nickelodeon announces a premiere date for “The Loud House” spin-off “The Casagrandes.”

First Looks

Kristin Chenoweth and Scott Wolf star in Hallmark Hall of Fame‘s upcoming holiday film, “A Christmas Love Story,” and Variety has exclusively obtained some first look images of them in their roles. The project, which premieres Dec. 7, also stars Keith Robinson and Kevin Quinn.

Dates

Hallmark announced its full “Countdown to Christmas” lineup, featuring 16 new original movies to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the special programming block. This year, it begins Oct. 26 with the new film “Christmas Wishes & Mistletoe Kisses,” starring Jill Wagner, Matthew Davis and Donna Mills. Other new projects on the schedule include “Merry & Bright,” starring Jodie Sweetin, Andrew Walker and Sharon Lawrence, premiering on Nov. 2; “A Christmas Scavenger Hunt,...