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Sony Pictures Television is hiring a dedicated executive to guide its franchise strategy.

Jennifer Rogers Doyle, a long-time Disney executive, has joined Sony Pictures TV in the newly created post of executive vp franchise management. She’ll oversee the franchise strategy, with an eye toward maximizing revenue, on studio properties including The Boys, Outlander, Cobra Kai, For All Mankind, Bewitched and the upcoming kids’ animated series Messi and the Giants. Rogers Doyle will report to Sony Pictures TV Studio president Katherine Pope.

“With our ever-expanding series universes, we are focused on enhancing fan engagement, growing potential audiences and driving the long-term value of our IP,” Pope said in a statement. “Jennifer’s expertise in creating opportunities to build and extend franchises makes her a perfect fit for this new role. We are thrilled to have her join the team.”

Said Rogers Doyle, “Sony Pictures has an amazing portfolio of classic and new IP.

Sony Pictures Television has named former Disney executive Jennifer Rogers Doyle as its new executive vice president of franchise management.

Based in the studio’s Culver City lot, Rogers Doyle will be responsible for leading and overseeing the franchise strategy and maximizing revenue opportunities for IP such as “Cobra Kai,” “For All Mankind,” “The Boys,” “Outlander,” “Messi and the Giants” and “Bewitched” among others.

She will report to Sony Pictures Television Studios President Katherine Pope.

“With our ever-expanding series universes, we are focused on enhancing fan engagement, growing potential audiences, and driving the long-term value of our IP,” Pope added. “Jennifer’s expertise in creating opportunities to build and extend franchises makes her a perfect fit for this new role. We are thrilled to have her join the team.”

During her over 20-year tenure at the Walt Disney Company, Rogers Doyle was responsible for building and managing Disney Entertainment Television’s Franchise Management division,...

Sony Pictures Television has hired Disney TV exec Jennifer Rogers Doyle for the newly created position of executive vice president of franchise management.

In this role, which Rogers Doyle begins effectively immediately, the Disney vet will lead and oversee the franchise strategy of valuable intellectual properties (IP), collaborating closely with various teams to maximize revenue opportunities for IP, per the company’s TV division. These include Sony’s “Cobra Kai,” “For All Mankind,” “The Boys,” “Outlander,” “Messi and the Giants” and “Bewitched,” among others.

She will be based on the Culver City lot and report to Sony Pictures Television Studios President Katherine Pope.

Rogers Doyle comes over from Disney, where she most recently served as senior vice president of Disney Entertainment Networks franchise, licensing and integrated planning. This includes projects across Disney Branded Television, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, 20th Television & Animation, FX, and ABC for original content streaming across Hulu...

Sony Pictures Television is figuring out its franchise strategy.

The company has hired Disney’s Jennifer Rogers Doyle to oversee its television franchise business as series such as Cobra Kai, The Boys and Outlander continue to eye spinoffs.

Rogers Doyle has been named EVP, Franchise Management. Starting today, she will based on the studio’s Culver City lot and report to Sony Pictures Television Studios President Katherine Pope.

It comes as The Boys, which was renewed for a fifth and final season, has a number of spinoffs including Gen V, which was renewed for a second season, and animated anthology Diabolical; Outlander spinoff Blood of my Blood is set to arrive later this year on Starz and the team behind Cobra Kai are keen to tell a Mr. Miyagi spinoff.

Jennifer Rogers Doyle (Sony)

Rogers Doyle has spent over 20 years at The Walt Disney Company, where she was most recently SVP,...

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Project Runway star Tim Gunn found fame later in life when he knew how to appreciate his income. When he joined the reality TV show, he worked as a teacher and college administrator at Parsons School of Design, where he was a self-described “pauper educator.” He admits he was so unaware of typical reality TV stardom that he had no idea he was supposed to be paid for his time.

“I really did think, 'If I lose my job, What am I going to do? Move in with my sister?'” he explained on the Living Not So Fabulously podcast.

Appearing on the So Money podcast and reported by Refinery29, Tim revealed he was unpaid for the first two seasons of Project Runway. He only realized his error when an agent walked up to him at a GLAAD event one night and...

Disney Channel has launched the careers of several young actors who are still working in the industry today. Disney stars like Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, and the Jonas Brothers began their careers in popular Disney Channel shows like Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place, or the iconic film Camp Rock, before becoming international superstars. Yet sometimes, child stars have a hard time growing up in the entertainment industry or maintaining the same level of success in their different projects throughout time.

Disney Channel has many original movies and TV shows that have won over audiences worldwide and taken its stars to new levels of popularity. With the success of Disney Channel projects, the stars in these shows and movies gained popularity and big fandoms as well. Frequently, this can lead to more opportunities for these Disney stars or new roles outside the network. While some Disney Channel stars have moved...

And at last, Tangled has seen the greenlight…for a live-action remake.

Disney is kickstarting development for a reimagining of the hit 2010 animated movie. Michael Gracey, the director of the musical hit The Greatest Showman and the upcoming Robbie Williams biopic Better Man, is being tapped to direct the film, with Thor: Love and Thunder screenwriter Jennifer Kaytin Robinson providing the script, according to Variety.

Casting has yet to be announced.

Tangled retells the Brothers Grimm story of Rapunzel, a princess isolated in a tower before an outlaw named Flynn Rider sets her on a life-changing adventure. Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, and Donna Murphy lead the voice cast.

Walt Disney Animation Studio’s 50th animated feature gained $592.5 million at the box office. However, it is also the most expensive animated film with a $260 million budget that brought to life its groundbreaking animation, mixing computer-generated animation with non-photorealistic rendering.

However, its...

Quick ViewMelissa Rauch’s Net Worth: How Much Did She Earn From The Big Bang Theory?How Much Did Melissa Rauch Make From Her Lead Role In Night Court?Melissa Rauch’s Net Worth Compared To Other Tbbt Stars

Melissa Rauch made her debut on The Big Bang Theory in its third season as Bernadette Rostenkowski. Rauch initially appeared in a recurring role before the audience’s appeal for her character forced the creators to make her a series regular. With her terrifyingly sweet performance and unique voice, which is very different from her original voice, it was no wonder that she quickly became a fan favorite.

Melissa Rauch and Simon Helberg in a still from The Big Bang Theory | Credits: CBS

Rauch played the love interest and later wife of Howard Wolowitz. She began the series as Penny’s co-worker at the Cheese Cake Factory and later went on to become a high-earning microbiologist.

Disney+ is expanding its recently launched Streams feature with four new live channels of themed content rolling out to the service’s premium subscribers.

The offerings include “Hallowstream,” a seasonally themed collection of content across the streamer’s catalog for Halloween; “Hits & Heroes,” a compilation of action-packed stories from the Disney, Marvel and Star Wars brands; “Throwbacks,” a destination for always-on nostalgic pop culture content; and”Real Life,” a line up of traditional documentaries, biopics and true stories.

On Sept. 4, Disney+ launched ABC News Live within the service for all of its subscribers, as well as Disney+ Playtime, which includes kids programming such as “Bluey,” “Sofia the First,” “The Lion Guard,” “Puppy Dog Pals,” and “Minnie’s Bow-Toons.” The two channels have driven over 10 million streaming hours from U.S. subscribers and resulted in “early signs of overall engagement lift” amongst the subscribers who watch them, according to the company.

Here...

Wayne Brady lived out one of his dreams during his trip to the Magic Kingdom with his family, enjoying the moment nearby.

The “Core Four” includes Brady, his ex-wife and best friend, Mandie Taketa, their daughter, Maile Brady, and Mandie’s boyfriend, Jason Michael Fordham.

They’ve appeared on Freeform in their reality TV series, Wayne Brady: The Family Remix.

The show premiered in late July and recently aired its eighth episode, which included some time at the Magic Kingdom.

During their trip, footage recorded Brady joining a famous singing group, The Dapper Dans, as his family watched them perform.

Despite his dream of performing with the Dapper Dans, it was not Brady’s first performance at a Disney theme park.

Wayne lives his dream with Dapper Dans at Magic Kingdom

While at the Magic Kingdom, Wayne Brady picked up a hat he recognized lying on one of the park benches.

Disney is bringing back Sofia to the network. A sequel to Sofia the First, titled Sofia the First: Royal Magic, is set to air on Disney Junior and Disney+ in 2026. Ariel Winter will return to voice Sofia for the sequel series and additional casting will be announced later.

The original series aired for four seasons before ending in September 2018. The animated series follows a young girl who becomes a princess after her mother marries a king. Other cast members include

Wayne Brady, Darcy Rose Byrnes, Zach Callison, Tyler Merna, Nicolas Cantu, Sara Ramirez, Travis Willingham, Tim Gunn, and Jess Harnell.

Read More…...

Disney Jr. has given the green light to Sofia the First: Royal Magic, a continuation of the Emmy and Humanitas Award-winning Sofia the First, which premiered in 2012 with the animated television movie Sofia the First: Once Upon A Princess and remains one of the most successful global preschool franchises for The Walt Disney Company.

The Sofia the First series still holds the record for the Top 3 cable TV telecasts for Girls 2-5 and, lifetime to date, has garnered over 755 million views on Disney Junior YouTube. From Disney Branded Television, the new series is currently in production and is slated for a 2026 premiere on Disney Jr. and Disney+.

Aimed at preschoolers and their families, the sequel is created and executive produced by Emmy Award winner Craig Gerber. Ariel Winter (Modern Family), who voiced the role of Sofia, Disney’s first little girl princess, in the original series, is set to reprise her role.

Disney’s youngest princess is heading back to school in a new series.

Disney Jr., the pre-school division of the Walt Disney Company, has greenlit a sequel to the popular children’s television show Sofia the First, The Hollywood Reporter has exclusively learned.

Sofia the First: Royal Magic is a continuation of the show that premiered in 2012 and ran until 2018. The sequel series follows Sofia, a young girl who becomes a princess overnight when her mother marries the king, continuing her adventures as she attends The Charmswell School for Royal Magic, an academy for princes and princesses to further their magical and royal education.

Modern Family actress Ariel Winter returns to voice Sofia. The 26-year-old actress voiced the role throughout the show’s initial run. Additional casting is slated to be announced at a later date. The show’s original cast included Wayne Brady, Tim Gunn, Sara Ramirez, Eric Stonestreet and Kieran Shipka,...

Live news from ABC and a preschool content-focused channel will come first, and will be followed by four other playlists later this fall.

The news that Disney+ and its corporate siblings Hulu and ESPN+ will be raising prices in October was met with predictable backlash from observers, as 2024 will mark the third year in a row that Disney hiked subscription rates for its streamers. The company did try to soften the blow slightly by announcing a new feature that will be introduced on Disney+ in the coming weeks: continuous playlists that allow viewers to lean back and watch a steady flow of shows and movies rather than forcing audiences to constantly choose what’s next.

Key Details: Continuous playlists will function much the same as Fast channels, but they’ll only be available to paid subscribers. ABC News Live and a preschool-themed playlist will be the first selections introduced, and will be followed by others.

Disney will hike the price of most streaming plans as of October 17, the company said today, about a year after its last increase in the fall of 2023.

Disney reports earnings tomorrow morning. Media companies across the board have been waging regular streaming price increases over the past several years as the Dtc landscape rationalizes and there’s a push to turn profitable.

Here’s what’s changing:

The new prices will see Disney+ with ads rise to $9.99 from $7.99 a month. Ad-free will cost $15.99, from $13.99.

The Duo Basic with Disney+ and Hulu goes up $1 to $10.99. The Duo Premium is the one plan that stays the same, at $19.99.

Hulu with ads rises from $7.99 to $9.99. Without ads, it goes up a buck to $18.99.

ESPN+ with ads also rises by $1 to $11.99.

Hulu + Live TV with adds rises from $76.99 to $82.99. No ads will cost $95.99, up from $89.99.

Disney’s other bundled offering, a trio with Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+,...

Disney+ will offer its U.S. subscribers access to continuous playlists beginning Sept. 4, but the streamer is also raising prices this fall.

The feature will make ABC News Live and a playlist focused on preschool content, including “Sofia the First,” “The Lion Guard,” “Puppy Dog Pals,” and “Minnie’s Bow-Toons,” available to all subscribers at launch.

Additionally, the streamer will roll out four other curated playlists to Premium subscribers this fall, with content that will be refreshed monthly. They include:

Seasonal Content – a collection of seasonal-themed content from across the Disney+ catalog Epic Stories – a compilation of action-packed stories from marquee brands and franchises, including Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars Throwbacks – a destination for nostalgic pop culture content Real Life – a lineup of traditional documentaries, biopics, and true stories

“Playlists are the latest example of how we’re providing the best value and experience for our subscribers every time they open...

Here comes another round of “streamflation”: Disney is raising the prices for all stand-alone tiers of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ in the U.S. this fall, as well as for most of its bundles.

The higher prices, which go into effect Oct. 17, are of course aimed at boosting Disney’s top-line streaming revenue and, ideally, their profitability. For now, the pricing for the recently introduced Disney+/Hulu/Max combo offered in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery will remain unchanged, and the Disney+/Hulu Premium no-ads bundle will stay at $19.99/month.

Disney, in announcing the price hikes Tuesday, said that beginning Sept. 4, Disney+ subscribers will have access to the ABC News Live streaming channel and a playlist focused on preschool content. Disney+ Premium (no ads) subs will have access to four additional curated playlists later in the fall.

“With this growing offering, and new ways to enjoy your favorite Disney+ content,...

Singer Sabrina Carpenter was seen out on a date with Irish actor Barry Keoghan just a week after her music video led to a scandal in the Catholic Church.

The Diocese of Brooklyn was horrified at the music video Carpenter filmed in a 160-year-old Catholic Church in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Released in time for Halloween, the bloody music video to the single “Feather” was directed by Mia Barnes and begins with interior shots of the 19th-century Catholic Church. Through the song, the camera follows Carpenter around as men harass her – and are met with instant karma.

As Carpenter sings lyrics like, “I feel so much lighter like a feather with you off my mind,” cat-callers are run over by a truck, gym bros fight each other to the death and a creepy photographer dies in an elevator shaft.

In the end, Carpenter dances around the church in a short black dress,...

This article contains spoilers for "Wish."

What does it mean to be a Disney Princess? This could be a question regarding corporate decisions, as the Walt Disney Company has a specific classification for their "Princess Line" media franchise and toy line, but it's also a bit existential. Does a character have to be canonically royal to be considered a Disney Princess, or are they something else entirely? As it turns out — there are rules to be considered an official Princess, with Disney currently recognizing 13 characters with the distinction. She must play a central role, cannot be introduced in a sequel, must be royal by birth or marriage (or perform a heroic deed), must be human/human-appearing, and the film can't be a flop or unbelievable hit.

Elsa and Anna are both so popular that they are not lumped in together with the Princesses, and heroine figures like Alice (of Wonderland...

The cast of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem recorded their scenes together, creating great humor and chemistry between the Turtles. Voice actors in animation usually work alone, but Seth Rogen had the Turtles' cast improvise together, resulting in hilarious jokes and onscreen chemistry. Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, and Brady Noon voice the Turtles in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and their performances are impressive.

The cast of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem got to record their scenes together, which greatly improved the film's humor and the chemistry between the Turtles. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem arrived in theaters on August 2 and serves as a reboot of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film series. The film recreates the iconic Turtles in a unique new animation style and sees them turning to heroism in hopes of earning acceptance. One aspect of the film that has...

The 2014 Mr. Peabody & Sherman is a modern adaptation of the famed segment from The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends and stars a voice cast of well-known actors. Like the animated show, Mr. Peabody & Sherman follows Mr. Peabody, an anthropomorphic genius dog, and his adopted son, Sherman as they go back in time to learn about history. This time around, Mr. Peabody and Sherman must deal with time-jumping hijinks as well as their own complex father-son relationship. Mr. Peabody’s aptitude to be a father is called into question and a child protection agent is called to separate the pair, for good.

Like any good Mr. Peabody & Sherman story, the two historians travel through multiple periods in history and meet a variety of legendary and original figures from the past. The movie was directed by the prolific Rob Minkoff whose vaunted filmography includes directing The Lion King and Stuart Little.

Jenna Ortega has undergone a remarkable transformation. She first began doing national commercials as a kid before making the leap into TV, initially scooping up bit parts on network television. Slowly, those roles got bigger and bigger until her first break came with landing young Jane in The CW's "Jane the Virgin." She suddenly had everyone's attention, and she then entered her Disney era with roles in "Elena of Avalor" and "Stuck in the Middle." Eventually, Ortega was ready to break away and do other things, but worried she would be put into only one box. 

"There's a stigma that that's all you could do, or you're just not a serious actor," she told Nylon. "There were multiple times where I was seriously considering quitting and stopping. Nobody tells you this until you get there, but there's an awkward phase in your life where you're going through puberty and there's...

There are more stories from Sofia the First coming to Disney Junior. A spinoff series from creator Craig Gerber is in development as part of his overall deal with Disney Branded Television.

The studio announced Thursday that Gerber has extended his overall deal, which will now include the spinoff series set in Royal Prep Academy, a school for princes and princesses in the fictional kingdom of Enchancia.

Gerber also has a previously announced series in development at Disney with Kris Wimberly about a time-traveling treasure hunter who recovers lost family treasures. The series is created by Wimberly and will be executive-produced by both Wimberly and Gerber.

“Craig’s commitment to representing diverse characters and stories with messages of compassion, leadership and resilience is a throughline in his career. His ability to tell entertaining, heartfelt and meaningful stories that resonate with both children and adults alike is unmatched,...

Click here to read the full article.

Disney Branded Television is keeping one of its key creators in the fold.

Craig Gerber, the creator of Sofia the First, Elena of Avalor and Firebuds, has extended his overall deal with the kids and family-focused arm of Disney. As part of the extension, Gerber is developing a potential spinoff of Sofia the First, which ended its run in 2018.

“Craig’s commitment to representing diverse characters and stories with messages of compassion, leadership and resilience is a throughline in his career,” said Alyssa Sapire, senior vp development, series and strategy at Disney Junior. “His ability to tell entertaining, heartfelt and meaningful stories that resonate with both children and adults alike is unmatched, and I look forward to continuing our partnership for many, many years to come.”

Said Gerber, “I am excited to be continuing my creative partnership with both Alyssa and Disney Branded Television.

While not everyone finds the lives of royalty interesting, many others do, as evidenced by the many successful TV shows made in the subgenre. Television shows about royalty and royal families have become very popular in recent years and there are a plethora of ways to go about telling the story.

Some writers attempt to stay true to reality, like The Crown, while others create fictional royal families loosely inspired by their real-life counterparts. There are shows about royals in past lives, and even Disney shows that present royalty in a kid-friendly way. One thing is for certain; the genre isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Updated on November 13th, 2022 by Danielle Bruncati: With the Queen of England's passing, the world's interest in royalty, both real and fictional, seems to be on the uptick yet again. The Crown is headed into its fifth season, House of the Dragon just wrapped its first season,...

Kimiko Glenn (“Orange Is the New Black”) and H. Michael Croner (“Craig of the Creek”) have been cast as voice-over co-stars in Disney Branded Television’s upcoming animated series “Kiff,” which will premiere in 2023 on the Disney Channel. Scroll down for a first look at the series.

Glenn will play Kiff, described as “an optimistic squirrel whose thirst for life takes her on countless adventures through her town.” Croner will voice Barry, a bunny that Disney calls Kiff’s “naive and lovable bestie.” South Africa-based creators Lucy Heavens and Nic Smal are behind “Kiff,” which was set to be unveilved, with casting news and teaser trailer, on Thursday at New York Comic-Con.

According to Disney, “Kiff” was inspired by Heavens’ and Smal’s experiences growing up in Cape Town, South Africa, and its people and places. Each half-hour episode will be comprised of two 11-minute stories.

“Set in a world...

Spooky season is now officially here and Disney+ is celebrating with a very special Marvel horror presentation.

Highlighting Disney+’s list of new releases for October 2022 is Werewolf by Night. Inspired by the Marvel comic character of the same name, this one-off special is designed to be a Halloween treat for MCU fans. Composer Michael Giacchino directed this black and white feature that brings Marvel’s resident werewolf to life. Gael García Bernal stars as Jack Russell, the aptly-named schmoe who will howl at the moon. The special premieres on Oct. 7.

Read more TV Are She-Hulk’s Guest Stars a Real Problem for the Show? By Don Kaye TV She-Hulk: Who’s the Big Boss Behind the Wrecking Crew? By Gavin Jasper

That’s not the only Marvel offering Disney+ has this month. Thursday, Oct. 13 sees the release of the She-Hulk: Attorney-at-Law finale. After nine episodes of exploring the legal implications of superheroes,...

Sadly, some classic movies and one popular show in particular are leaving Netflix in October to make room for a spooky slate full of fright. “Schitt’s Creek” fans have until Oct. 2 to binge all six seasons before the show heads to Hulu for streaming. Any “After” fanfiction readers have until Oct. 8 to watch where the story begins between Hardin (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) and Tessa (Josephine Langford).

Other favorite films leaving the streamer in October include “Footlose,” “The Notebook” “Bridget Jones’ Diary,” “8 Mile,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Miss Congeniality,” and most of those titles depart on Halloween. TV shows leaving include “Naruto” Seasons 1-9, “Sofia the First,” “Hemlock Grove” Seasons 1-3, and of course all six seasons of “Schitt’s Creek.”

Here’s a full list of what’s leaving Netflix in October and the dates that each title leaves:

Also Read:

New, Older Netflix Subscribers Are More Likely to...

We’re officially entering the spooky season and while Disney+ already dropped a few scary things in September, they’re doubling down in October. One of their most Halloween-centric offerings on display is “Werewolf By Night,” which audiences first learned about just a few weeks ago during Disney’s splashy Marvel and LucasFilm panel at the D23 Expo.

Directed by longtime Pixar collaborator, and acclaimed composer, Michael Giacchino, “Werewolf By Night” is the first Marvel Halloween special. The trailer was shown during D23 Expo and looked like a beautiful tribute to old school horror films, but also heavy on the (possibly implied) gore and scares. Filmed in black and white, the special feels a complete throwback to the old-school Universal frights of the past; think “Bride of Frankenstein” or “The Invisible Man.” The special follows Gael García Bernal as a man with the ability to become a werewolf, and explores...

Disney Branded Television has set a celebrity voice cast for its upcoming animated musical series “Firebuds” including Padma Lakshmi, Melissa Rauch, Oscar Nuñez, José Andres, Pamela Adlon and “Weird Al” Yankovic. The series will premiere on Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney+ on Sept. 21.

“Firebuds,” from “Sofia the First” and “Elena of Avalor” creator Craig Gerber, follows a group of friends who are the children of first responders who work and play with talking vehicles to help their community. Declan Whaley stars as Bo, a boy whose best friend is a fire engine named Flash (Terrence Little Gardenhigh). Also among the lead voice cast are Vivian Vencer as Violet, Lily Sanfelippo as Axl, JeCobi Swain as Jayden, and Caleb Paddock as Piston. Lou Diamond Phillips and Yvette Nicole Brown also star as co-fire chiefs, Chief Bill Bayani and Chief Faye Fireson, respectively.

The newly announced cast members include Lakshmi as Chef Pavani,...

Exclusive: Emmy winner Loretta Devine, Sheila E. and Misty Copeland round out the voice cast of Eureka!, Disney Jr.’s upcoming animated preschool series, joining previously announced leads Ruth Righi, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Lil Rel Howery and Javier Muñoz. Also cast in recurring roles are Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Jack McBrayer (30 Rock), Ryan Michelle Bathé (The Endgame) and Wendell Pierce (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan.) Disney also has released a trailer for the upcoming series. You can watch it below.

Set in the fantastical prehistoric world of Rocky Falls, Eureka! follows the story of Eureka (Righi), a young girl inventor who is way ahead of her time. She designs inventions and contraptions in the hopes of making the world a better place and moving her prehistoric community into a more modern era.

Goldsberry and Howery voice Eureka’s parents Roxy and Rolle, and Muñoz portrays her teacher, Ohm.

Exclusive: Modern Family star Ariel Winter has been tapped as the lead of NBC’s multi-camera comedy series Hungry. She succeeds Demi Lovato who had been attached to the project for almost a year but stepped down from acting duties Thursday for scheduling reasons just as the pilot was about to start production.

NBC remained high on the project, opting for a swift recasting so the pilot stays on schedule with the rest of the cast in place. With Winter on board, production is moving forward this coming week, starting with a table read on Tuesday. Lovato, along with their manager Scooter Braun, remain executive producers.

Written and executive produced by Suzanne Martin and to be directed by James Burrows, Hungry follows a group of friends who belong to a food-issues group helping one another as they look for love, success and the perfect thing in the fridge that’s...

Sony Pictures Television has named kids programming vet Joe D’Ambrosia has been named EVP & General Manager of its Silvergate Media subsidiary.

Starting on April 1, D’Ambrosia will be based at the Sony lot in Culver City, CA and also spend time with Silvergate’s teams in New York and London. Sony acquired Silvergate in 2019.

Reporting to Ravi Ahuja, Chairman Global Television Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment Corporate Development, D’Ambrosia will take over for Silvergate CEO Waheed Alli, who will step down this summer. Alli, a co-creator of Survivor, is an established figure in the worlds of media and politics is a member of the House of Lords in the UK.

Prior to Silvergate, D’Ambrosia spent a decade at Disney, most recently at Disney Junior, where he was SVP of original programming and general manager. He oversaw all extensions of the Disney Junior brand, on-and-off screen, plus development and...

Joe D’Ambrosia has been named executive vice president and general manager of Silvergate Media, Sony Pictures Television said Friday.

In his new role, D’Ambrosia will be the creative and strategic business leader, overseeing day-to-day operations of the company, which develops, produces and licenses top children’s programming.

He will step into his new position April 1, taking over for Silvergate CEO Waheed Alli, who will be stepping down this summer.

“I am thrilled to be joining Sony Pictures Television and Silvergate at such an exciting and pivotal time in kids’ entertainment,” D’Ambrosia said in a statement. “In my 10 years at Disney Junior, I have had the good fortune of working alongside one of the best teams in the business. This is the ideal next step to be collaborating with Ravi and the incredibly innovative and creative teams at Sony and Silvergate to produce world-class storytelling for kids and families around the globe.

Disney Junior exec Joe D’Ambrosia has been hired as executive vice president and general manager of Sony Pictures Television’s Silvergate Media. D’Ambrosia will be taking over for Silvergate founder Waheed Alli, who is stepping down from his post as CEO this summer.

In his new role at the Sony-owned children’s programming producer, D’Ambrosia will serve as Silvergate’s creative and strategic business leader, overseeing day-to-day operations of the company. He will work closely with the Silvergate team to drive continued growth and maximize opportunities to expand the company’s position in the market.

D’Ambrosia will report to Ravi Ahuja, chairman of global television studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment corporate development. He will begin at Silvergate Media on April 1 and be based in Spt’s Culver City, California headquarters, while also spending time with the company’s teams in New York and London.

Alli founded...

Exclusive: Oscar and Golden Globe winner Mercedes Ruehl, Nolan Gould and Will Peltz have signed on to star in The Nana Project, a mockumentary-style comedy from actor-director Robin Givens, which is scheduled to enter production in the Atlanta area in January.

The film is set primarily in Timeless Acres Retirement Home and follows feisty chess master Helen “Nana” Lewis (Ruehl) and her estranged grandsons, Andrew (Gould) and Cody (Peltz). With the support of Nana’s resident friends, the family embarks on a road trip to support her rise to state championships.

Givens’ latest feature was written by Eric Ulloa, Anthony Del Negro (The Girl in the Window) and 12-time Tony Award winner Carl Moellenberg (Wakefield). The latter is also producing on...

“Encanto” is a lively, lovely, lushly enveloping digitally animated musical fairy tale. It’s the 60th animated feature produced by the Walt Disney company, and to borrow a phrase from the old Disney TV series, it’s set in a wonderful world of color — a rapturously imagined, rainbow-gorgeous village tucked inside the misty green mountains of Colombia, where the members of the Madrigal family lead a magical existence. The ornate designer tiles of La Casa Madrigal, their idyllic mansion, turn into a synchronized army of domestic helpers, and each family member is endowed with his or her own superhuman gift. Actually, one of them has no gift. That would be the heroine, Mirabel (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz), who is just like us — which means, within her family, that she’s the odd girl out.

Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard (the co-writer and co-director of “Zootopia”), with Charise Castro Smith as co-director,...

Exclusive: Jonah Platt (Being the Ricardos), Chrissie Fitt (I Know What You Did Last Summer), Will Peltz (13 Minutes) and Zach Reino (Brews Brothers) have joined Halston Sage, Christian Navarro and Gregg Sulkin in the cast of The List, the indie comedy from director Melissa Miller Costanzo.

The film written by Rob Lederer and Steve Vitolo centers on Abby (Sage), a woman who is about to get married, for whom everything is perfect. Until she finds out her fiancé Matt (Platt) has slept with a celebrity from his “free pass” list. To get her mind off things, Abby and her best friend Chloe (Fit) come up with a crazy idea: Abby should pursue a celebrity from her own list. But things become complicated when she meets Jake (Navarro), a sweet and charming waiter at a neighborhood cafe, who gives her a fresh perspective.

Peltz is portraying Avon, an LA-based rapper/pop...

Disney Junior has greenlighted an animated comedy-adventure about first responders that hails from Craig Gerber, who also created and exec produced the network’s hit series Sofia the First and its spinoff, Elena of Avalor.

Like those two shows, Firebirds, set to premiere next year on Disney Junior and Disney+, is filled with music. The show follows team of young kids who are the children of first responders, along with their talking-vehicle sidekicks, as they embark on adventures together and learn what it truly means to be a hero.

This marks Gerber’s first series to debut under his Disney Branded Television overall ...

Disney Junior has greenlighted an animated comedy-adventure about first responders that hails from Craig Gerber, who also created and exec produced the network’s hit series Sofia the First and its spinoff, Elena of Avalor.

Like those two shows, Firebirds, set to premiere next year on Disney Junior and Disney+, is filled with music. The show follows team of young kids who are the children of first responders, along with their talking-vehicle sidekicks, as they embark on adventures together and learn what it truly means to be a hero.

This marks Gerber’s first series to debut under his Disney Branded Television overall ...

Disney Branded Television President and Chief Creative Officer Gary Marsh is stepping down after 33 years with the company. He will launch his own production company, which has a deal with Disney.

Under that pact, Marsh will make two new “Descendants” movies and a “Beauty and the Beast” prequel, as well as series “Tink,” “School for Sensitive Souls” and “Witch Mountain.” Marsh, who departs Disney proper at the end of 2021, will create content for all of Disney’s many platforms, including Disney+, Hulu, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, ABC, National Geographic, Freeform and FX.

While you might not know Gary Marsh’s name, you know his work. Marsh developed and shepherded iconic Disney shows like “High School Musical,” “Hannah Montana,” “Lizzie McGuire,” “The Descendants” and “That’s So Raven,” among many others. And parents owe him a debt of gratitude — it was Marsh who launched Disney Junior Channel and shows like “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,...

Last Year’s Winner: “Rick and Morty”

Still Eligible: No.

Hot Streak: The Best Animated Program category hasn’t seen a repeat winner since the category was divided into “One Hour or Less” and “More Than One Hour” divisions, and “South Park” took home the latter prize in 2008 (for its “Imaginationland” episodes) and the former in 2009 (for “Margaritaville”). That being said, “Rick and Morty” has won both times it was nominated (in 2018 and 2020), so one could argue it’s a dominant force whenever it’s eligible.

Fun Fact: “The Simpsons” and “South Park” are the only two programs to win more than two trophies in this category. The iconic Fox series has 11 wins (most recently in 2019) while Comedy Central’s landmark program has five wins (with the last coming in 2013). With one more win, still-active shows like “Bob’s Burgers” and “Rick and Morty” could become the third to join these elite ranks.

Grey’s Anatomy alumna Sara Ramírez has been tapped to star alongside Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis in And Just Like That …, HBO Max’s upcoming Sex and the City sequel series, from executive producer Michael Patrick King.

And Just Like That… follows Carrie (Parker), Miranda (Nixon) and Charlotte (Davis) navigating the journey from the complicated reality of life and friendship in their 30s to the even more complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s. The 10-episode, half-hour series is scheduled to begin production this summer in New York.

Ramírez will play new character Che Diaz (they/them), a non-binary, queer stand-up comedian who hosts a podcast on which Carrie Bradshaw is regularly featured. Che is a big presence with a big heart whose outrageous sense of humor and progressive, human overview of gender roles has made them and their podcast very popular.

2020-21 HBO Max...

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and so, too, is a very special birthday for Disney Junior, the Mouse House’s home for content targeting younger children: It’s turning 10.

Disney Junior first came to be on Feb. 14, 2011, as a programming block on Disney Channel, anchored by the premiere of “Jake and the Neverland Pirates.” A year later, it became its own 24-hour channel, home to such hits as “Pirates,” “Doc McStuffins,” “Sofia the First,” “Elena of Avalor,” “The Lion Guard,” “Muppet Babies,” “T.O.T.S.,” “Puppy Dog Pals” and “Mira, Royal Detective.”

“Disney Junior has always been about embracing emotional, character-driven storytelling featuring age-appropriate lessons for preschoolers, combined with a touch of Disney magic that the whole family can enjoy together. We’re proud of the diverse series and characters that we’ve built over the last 10 years, including the groundbreaking ‘Doc McStuffins,’ introducing Disney’s first Latina princess...

A day after Nancy Kanter’s last day at Disney, Netflix announced an overall deal with the former EVP, Content and Creative Strategy for Disney Channels Worldwide, who launched and built Disney’s preschool TV channel Disney Junior.

Under the pact, Kanter will develop and produce animated and live-action projects — both feature films and series — targeted at kids and families through her company Available Light Productions.

For Netflix, brining on board Kanter, one of the most respected executives in the kids and family space, is part of a big push in family entertainment as the streamer is taking on the leading SVOD player in the space, Disney+.

“We’re very fired up about catching them in family animation — maybe eventually passing them, we’ll see, a long way to go just to catch them — and maintaining our lead in general entertainment that’s so stimulating,” Netflix’s founder and co-ceo...

Former Disney Channels Worldwide executive Nancy Kanter has signed an overall deal with Netflix.

Under the deal, Kanter and her Available Light Productions banner will develop and produce animated and live action projects, both feature films and series, for kids and families audiences on Netflix.

“Throughout my career I’ve challenged myself to think differently, imagine bigger and aim higher,” Kanter said. “I am delighted at this opportunity to partner with the innovative creators and executive team at Netflix who value those same aspirations, and I look forward to working with them to create new stories that will inspire the minds and touch the hearts of kids and families everywhere.”

Kanter worked at Disney for 20 years, but her departure was announced last April. She most recently served as executive vice president of content and creative strategy for DIsney Channels Worldwide. She established the Disney Junior brand in her time at the company,...

Former Disney executive Nancy Kanter has signed an overall deal at Netflix, the streamer announced Monday.

The agreement will see Kanter, via her Available Light Productions banner, develop and produce new animated and live-action kids and family content for Netflix, including both films and series.

Kanter exited Disney last month after a 20-year run, most recently serving as executive vice president of content and creative strategy at Disney Channels Worldwide. Kanter is credited with launching the Disney Junior brand and shepherding series such as “Doc McStuffins,” “Sofia the First” and “Elena of Avalor.”

Kanter announced plans to step down from her position at Disney last April.

“Throughout my career I’ve challenged myself to think differently, imagine bigger and aim higher,” Kanter said in a statement. “I am delighted at this opportunity to partner with the innovative creators and executive team at Netflix who value those same aspirations, and I...

Fox has ordered the unscripted series “Game of Talents” with Wayne Brady set to host.

Based on the Spanish format, “Game of Talents” pits two teams of contestants against each other as they attempt to figure out the hidden talents of the mystery performers based on first impressions and a series of clues. The series is currently in production in Los Angeles and will debut on Fox in 2021.

“’Game of Talents’ represents everything we here at Fox endeavor to bring to viewers,” said Rob Wade, president of alternative entertainment and specials for Fox Entertainment. “It’s a chance for families to gather for magnetic gameplay, a fun peek into extraordinary skills of ordinary people and a friendly, spirited variety competition.”

Hosting the show keeps Brady in the Fox fold, as he most recently won Season 2 of the network’s hit music competition series “The Masked Singer.” Brady is a multiple Emmy nominee,...

“I have a full-time job as an accountant,” Savannah, 23, lipsyncs, looking very un-accountant-like in black lipstick and a curve-skimming maxi dress. “Nobody asks you questions when you say you’re an accountant.” The caption of the video: “When you’ve made $150,000 off of [OnlyFans] in less than 4 months but you don’t want your family to know.” In a follow-up TikTok, she shows the “receipts”: her earning statistics on OnlyFans, a platform that connects content creators directly to fans by allowing them to sell exclusive content to them.

Savannah...

Exclusive: Nancy Kanter, Evp, Content and Creative Strategy, Disney Channels Worldwide, who launched and built Disney’s preschool TV channel Disney Junior, will leave the company at the end of January 2021 after two decades.

Gary Marsh, President and Chief Creative Officer for Disney Channels Worldwide, with whom Kanter has worked side by side for her entire tenure, just announced Kanter’s pending departure in a company email (You can read it below the post.)

The two agreed on a long transition to allow Marsh time to put together a comprehensive plan for the future at Disney Channels. Kanter is not expected to retire. After two decades at Disney Channels, shepherding content for kids and families, the well regarded executive felt she was ready for something new.

In his memo to staff, Marsh highlighted some of Kanter’s biggest accomplishments.

“Without a doubt, paramount among her many achievements is building one...