Apple TV Releases Trailer for ‘Severance’; Disney Plus ‘The Proud Family’ Revival (TV News Roundup)

Smithsonian Channel has shared a clip promoting “One Thousand Years of Slavery,” a new docuseries that aims to tell the global story of slavery.The four-part series features interviews and discussions with notable Black actors, celebrities and leaders, who will dive into their own family connections to slavery and unpack the legacy it has left today. Some of the people interviewed for the series include Debbie Allen, Valerie Jarrett, Lorraine Toussaint, Soledad O’Brien, CCH Pounder, Senator Cory Booker, Marc Morial and Dulé Hill.The series is executive produced by Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance’s Bassett Vance Productions, with Vance narrating every episode.

Gabrielle Union andZach Braff as Zoe and Paul Baker. After blending their two families, the couple has to navigate a hectic home life while simultaneously managing their family business.

Apple TV Plus has revealed the first look for it’s upcoming spy thriller series “Slow Horses,” premiering on the platform April 1.Based on the popular CWA Gold-Dagger award-winning novels by Mick Herron, “Slow Horses” stars Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb, a British intelligence officer who leads “Slough House,” an MI5 team composed of agents who made career-ending mistakes. The ensemble cast is rounded out by Jonathan Pryce, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jack Lowden and Olivia Cooke.“Slow Horses” is adapted for television by “Veep” writer Will Smith, who executive produces alongside Graham Yost, Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Gail Mutrux, Douglas Urbanski and James Hawes.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorIn today’s podcast roundup, Cate Blanchett is launching a podcast about the climate-change crisis with Audible; Marvel and SiriusXM explore the origins of “Black Panther’s” T’Challa; Julie Bowen and Chad Sanders team up for “Quitters”; Snoop Dogg joins Shondaland Audio’s drama “#Matter”; and more.Audible, Amazon’s premium audio storytelling arm, has commissioned two seasons of original podcast “Climate of Change With Cate Blanchett and Danny Kennedy” from Blanchett’s Dirty Films production shingle (in association with StoryHunter). The show is co-created and co-hosted by Blanchett (“Don’t Look Up,” “Nightmare Alley”) and climate entrepreneur and activist Kennedy, CEO of nonprofit New Energy Nexus and managing director of the California Clean Energy Fund.

Wilson Chapman editorPeacock has unveiled the official trailer for its new miniseries “Joe vs. Carole,” starring John Cameron Mitchell and Kate McKinnon.Based on the Robert Moor-hosted Wondery podcast “Joe Exotic,” “Joe vs. Carole” focuses on the bitter rivalry between big cat zookeeper Joe Exotic (Mitchell) and animal sanctuary CEO Carole Baskin (McKinnon), which was immortalized in the first season of the popular Netflix docuseries “Tiger King.” In addition to Mitchell and McKinnon, the miniseries also stars Kyle MacLachlan, Brian Van Holt, Sam Keeley, Nat Wolf, Marlo Kelly, William Fichtner, Dean Winters and David Wenham.The trailer depicts McKinnon and Mitchell in character, as Baskin and her husband (MacLachlan) set out to take down Exotic for his abuse of his animals and breeding of big cats for profit.

Killing It,” streaming this April.Created by “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” producers Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici, “Killing It” stars Craig Robinson (“The Office,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”) as Craig, a man who competes in a state-sponsored python hunt in his quest to achieve the American Dream. The series co-stars Stephanie Nogueras as Craig’s ex-wife Camille, Jet Miller as his pre-teen daughter Vanessa and Rell Battle as his younger brother Isaiah. Claudia O’Doherty, Scott Macarthur and Wyatt Walter round out the cast.“We love all the ambitious, challenging, thematically-rich series that populate the current peak-TV landscape,” said Goor in a statement.

Sasha Urban editorNetflix announced Tuesday that it will be premiering Ali Wong’s new comedy special, “Don Wong,” on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14.The special is Wong’s third with Netflix, following 2016’s “Ali Wong: Baby Cobra” and “Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife” in 2018.

WarnerMedia Kids and Family announced plans to expand its partnership with children’s book author, illustrator and playwright Mo Willems — including a slate of originals for HBO Max and Cartoon Network. With Stampede Ventures as producing partner, Willems signed a multi-year deal with WarnerMedia Kids and Family to create live-action “Storytime Specials,” as well as multiple animated and live-action series based on his children’s books. “Mo Willems and The Storytime All-Stars Present: Don’t Let the Pigeon Do Storytime!” and “Mo Willems Story Time Shorts!” are now available to stream on HBO Max.

ABC has announced the midseason premiere dates for the return of original drama series “A Million Little Things” and “Big Sky.”“A Million Little Things” is back with new episodes of its fourth season starting Feb. 23 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

Wilson Chapman editorPresident Joe Biden will be one of many guests for the upcoming primetime special “Celebrating Betty White: America’s Golden Girl,” NBC announced Thursday.The special, a tribute to the iconic comedic actress Betty White, will feature a taped tribute from Biden commemorating the late White, who passed away last December. NBC also announced several other stars who will appear in the special, including: Drew Barrymore, Valerie Bertinelli, Cher, Bryan Cranston, Ted Danson, Ellen DeGeneres, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Ana Gasteyer, Goldie Hawn, Vicki Lawrence, Jane Leeves, Jay Leno, Anthony Mackie, Wendie Malick, Joel McHale, Tracy Morgan, Jean Smart and Mary Steenburgen.

Showcase” event.“Showcase,” an annual variety comedy show spotlighting up-and-coming performers, has served as a launching pad for the careers of numerous stars, such as Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”), Tiffany Haddish (“Girls Trip”), Ego Nwodim (“Saturday Night Live”), Nico Santos (“Superstore”), Drew Tarver (“The Other Two”) and Nicole Byer (“Nailed It!”). Formerly a live theatrical production attended by executives, casting directors and talent agents across the entertainment industry, this year’s Showcase will be a pre-filmed hour of sketch comedy shot on location in Los Angeles.

Sasha Urban editorBest Ever Channels and The Stand Group announced Tuesday the launch of a new FAST (free ad-supported streaming TV) comedy channel Witz. Featuring stand-up comedy specials, talk shows and curated library programming, the channel is set to launch later this year.FAST channels are designed to mimic live television with ads, as opposed to on-demand subscription-based services like Netflix and Hulu.

Say hello (again) to the Proud family!

Guillermo del Toro has reimagined the classic tale of Pinocchio! Netflix dropped on Monday a teaser for the Academy Award-winning filmmaker’s “whimsical, stop-motion musical,” which is scheduled to be released on the streamer this December. First look at Sofia Vergara in her new Netflix seriesEwan McGregor voices Sebastian J. Cricket in the film.

EXCLUSIVE: Tommy Davidson, the actor, writer, producer, stand-up comic and author who is currently reprising his role as patriarch Oscar Proud in Disney+’s Proud Family reboot The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, has signed with APA for representation in all areas.

Wilson Chapman editorNetflix has ordered “Survival of the Thickest,” an eight episode scripted comedy starring stand-up Michelle Buteau.Based on Buteau’s 2020 essay book of the same name, “Survival of the Thickest” stars Buteau as Mavis Beaumont, a Black, plus-size woman navigating life after she finds herself newly single. The series was created by Buteau and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel, who will serve as the showrunner for the series.

Zack Sharf Guillermo del Toro fans had to wait four years in between his best picture winner “The Shape of Water” and his newest release “Nightmare Alley.” The wait for his next project won’t be as long. Netflix has announced the director’s stop-motion, musical adaptation of “Pinocchio” is set for release in December 2022.

Holly Jones Avoiding the heady and idyllic world of adolescent coming-of-age tales ever-familiar to viewers, Spanish writer-director Carlota Pereda presents a brazen look into the psyches of youth; their faults, rage, and insecurity. In this award-winning short-turned-feature, Pereda, known for nudging the boundaries of genre, delivers a roundhouse kick, annihilating them.“Piggy” (“Cerdita”) is set in a serene but suspect rural town, Extremadura, where our anti-heroine Sara (Laura Galán) emerges, wrought with anxiety and crippling trauma from the abuse she endures at the hands of her hostile and popular peers. Untamed cruelty ensues and, with each heartbreaking take, the viewer becomes Sara and all of those mixed-up emotions she holds tightly inside.

Yesterday, Paramount Pictures delayed both “Mission: Impossible 7” and “Mission: Impossible 8” films again, pushing the two action films led by Tom Cruise further down the road. Well, those now freed up “Mission: Impossible” dates now mean a domino effect for Paramount, who have decided to adjust their entire schedule following the ‘MI’ film delays.

Supernatural,” titled “Supernatural Then and Now,” is set to launch Jan. 24.Hosted by Richard Speight, Jr. and Rob Benedict (who played the angel Gabriel and God in the series), “Supernatural Then and Now” will feature behind-the-scenes stories with cast, crew and producers of “Supernatural” — from favorite memories on set to conversations about mythology in the writers’ room.“We are incredibly grateful for the support the fans of ‘Supernatural’ have given us over the years.