ABC Eyeing Summer 2021 Return For 'Bachelor In Paradise'

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorLinsey Davis and Whit Johnson have been named co-anchors of the weekend broadcasts of ABC News “World News Tonight,” filling roles in the wake of the departure of anchor Tom Llanas.In a memo sent to ABC News staffers Monday, James Goldston, the unit’s outgoing president, said Johnson will anchor Saturdays, while Davis will anchor Sundays. They will commence their new duties this weekend.

Before WWE Universe embarked on the road to Wrestlemania 37, we had the epic Royal Rumble 2021 to give us company and what a night of wrestling it was for diehard fans. Before the main festivities, the Kickoff match saw Women's Tag Team Champions Asuka and Charlotte defending their titles against Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorJames Goldston, the president of ABC News, will leave the Walt Disney-backed unit at the end of March, the latest in a recent series of changes among top national news executives.“It’s a really tough decision,” Goldston said in a memo to staffers.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is set to receive a series of Hello Kitty influenced items, via a partnership with US retailer Target.The collaboration, in the form of Amiibo Cards, was previously released in Europe and Japan, and is now coming to the US on the March 26.Nintendo of America tweeted the announcement on January 26, confirming the pack will be able to be used with Animal Crossing: New Horizons.The Animal Crossing Sanrio Collaboration Pack comes to the US for the first time on 3/26,

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorTom Llamas, the ABC News anchor who leads the unit’s weekend “World News Tonight” broadcast and is its chief national affairs correspondent, is jumping from the Disney operation to NBC News.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentBetween Clare Crawley and Tayshia Adams’ switch-up as leads on “The Bachelorette” and shooting seasons at sequestered resorts, Bachelor Nation has endured a fair amount of drama lately — but tonight, the new episode of “The Bachelor” will bring, yet again, another unprecedented shakeup.For the first time ever, a limo full of five new women competing for Matt James’ heart will be introduced mid-way through the season.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorFans of big NBC sports franchises like the NHL and Premier League will have to follow them to a new home.NBCUniversal will shutter its NBCSN sports network, and move some of its top sports properties to the USA network in a maneuver executives believe will boost the economics of the general-entertainment cable outlet at a time when new streaming-video hubs are luring bigger audiences.

Danielle Turchiano Senior Features Editor, TV“Saturday Night Live” is set to return with its first episode of the new year on Jan. 30, with John Krasinski as host and Machine Gun Kelly as the musical guest.NBC also announced the hosts and musical guests for the Feb.

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterAMC Networks has acquired six-part revenge thriller “The Beast Must Die,” produced in partnership with BritBox UK, New Regency Television International and Ridley Scott’s Scott Free.The series, based on the novel by Nicholas Blake, centers on a grieving mother who infiltrates the life of the man she thinks murdered her son.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentWith constant social media trends and chatter that lights up the pop culture zeitgeist, “The Bachelor” continues to be a phenomenon, despite lower ratings this season.Though the 25th season of ABC’s dating show has been leading Monday nights, topping other networks in the key 18-49 demo, fewer viewers are tuning in this season than ever before, with an overnight audience of under 5 million for the past two weeks, though those numbers are surely expected

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorDue to the ongoing Covid‐19 pandemic, the producers of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell have decided to postpone this year’s event until the fall. Jazz Fest 2021 is scheduled for October 8‐17.Quint Davis, Producer/Director of Jazz Fest, said, “We are all ready to get together again and share that special spirit that lives at Jazz Fest.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorABC News named Cecilia Vega and Jonathan Karl to new senior roles in its Washington operations, naming Vega the Disney news unit’s chief White House correspondent and Karl its chief Washington correspondent, as well as a co-anchor of the Sunday public-affairs program “This Week.”In a memo to staffers Tuesday, ABC News President James Goldston also named Mary Bruce a senior White House correspondent and MaryAlice Parks a weekend White House correspondent.

Stars of ABC’s classic daytime dramas All My Children, One Life to Live and General Hospital will reunite next month to present a streaming concert of their past musical performances benefitting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

EXCLUSIVE: In a move that is sure to rock the Marvel Cinematic Universe, sources tell Deadline that Chris Evans is cleaning the dust off his Captain America attire as he expected reprise the role in the MCU in some form. Still vague if deal as completely closed but insiders say its headed in that direction for Evans to return as Steve Rogers aka Captain America in at least one Marvel property with the door open for a second film.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior Correspondent“Bachelor In Paradise” was a television casualty of 2020. With production halted across the industry in the height of the pandemic, ABC’s fan-favorite summer dating show wasn’t able to shoot its seventh season last year.Now, with coronavirus numbers surging once again, TV shows and film productions are shutting down, once again, and non-essential travel is discouraged.

Danielle Turchiano Senior Features Editor, TVPaleyFest LA will once again return this spring, and the first pieces of programming announced for the television festival are a “Six Feet Under” reunion and panel discussions for ABC’s “Big Sky” and CBS’ “The Late Late Show With James Corden.”Due to ongoing health and safety precautions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 PaleyFest event will once again be held virtually, with all programs available to view at once, on March 23 for Paley members

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIn an announcement that reflects Dr.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSouth by Southwest Conference and Festivals has announced that legendary singer-songwriter Willie Nelson will keynote this year’s virtual event, along with an initial lineup of featured speakers and over 230 conference sessions.SXSW Online, taking place March 16–20, 2021, will feature conference sessions, music festival showcases, film festival screenings, and more.“No individual has had the cultural impact on, or been more synonymous with the creative vibrancy of