Colin Davis Joins Sony Pictures TV as Comedy Head, as Brian Tannenbaum Takes Over Scripted at Roku

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large In the 1950s, the motion picture industry wanted nothing to do with the young medium of television — but Jack Warner soon realized that was a losing battle. Warner Bros. was among the first to dive into TV production, when ABC approached the studio about acquiring a theatrical film package. But instead of just running films on TV, the result was “Warner Bros. Presents,” an umbrella series that debuted in 1955 and comprised programs based on existing intellectual property including “Casablanca” and “Cheyenne.” The success of “Cheyenne” ush- ered the era of the Western to televi- sion, as Warner Bros. (initially under Warner’s son-in-law, William T. Orr) brought a movie studio approach to the small screen. “There’s a spirit of independence and innovation that’s so much a part of the legacy of the studio,” says Warner Bros. TV chairman Channing Dungey. Other early Warner Bros. TV hits included “Maverick” and crime dramas such as “Hawaiian Eye” and “77 Sunset Strip.” That legacy continued with “The F.B.I.” and in the 1970s, sitcoms like “Alice” and “Wel- come Back, Kotter,” the Lynda Car- ter-led genre hit “Wonder Woman,” actioner “The Dukes of Hazzard” and the landmark miniseries “Roots.”

EXCLUSIVE: Zarna Garg is bringing her comedy chops to Prime Video.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large NBC’s “Today Show” has earned an Institutional Award from Peabody, the org announced Wednesday. The 71-year-old morning news program was selected by the Peabody Board of Jurors for this year’s honor, which “recognizes institutions and organizations, as well as series and programs, for their enduring body of work and their iconic impact on both the media landscape and the public imagination.”  “For nearly three quarters of a century, ‘Today’ has been a morning staple for millions of Americans and a consistent cultural touchstone for deeply moving human stories, groundbreaking news, and daily joy,” Peabody executive director Jeffrey Jones said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to recognize the program, not only for their decades of stellar reporting and storytelling, but also for their undeniable impact on culture and an informed public.”

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large “The Late Late Show with James Corden” only has 12 episodes left before the show ends its run at the end of April — and they’re making it count. For the next three weeks, there will be one “Carpool Karaoke” segment per week, plus one final “Crosswalk the Musical” segment. Corden will also participate in a “Take a Break” segment featuring the Kardashian family. The news was revealed Sunday evening on stage at “The Late Late Show with James Corden” panel at the PaleyFest LA. Held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, the event included Corden, exec producer Ben Winston and exec producer Rob Crabbe. Also on stage: Reggie Watts and the “Late Late Show” Band, who kicked off the night.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large “Abbott Elementary” will finally reveal Janine’s mother on the ABC comedy’s April 12 episode, and even though it’s April Fool’s Day, we’re not (Cookie) Lyon: It’s “Empire” star Taraji P. Henson, who will play Vanetta on the hit comedy series. The casting of Henson was revealed Saturday at the Paley Center for Media’s annual PaleyFest LA event, where an “Abbott Elementary” panel featured stars Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter, Tyler James Wiliams and William Stanford Davis in person, as well as Janelle James and Chris Perfetti via Zoom from New York. Pre-taping a message was star and executive producer Quinta Brunson, who wasn’t able to attend — as she’s hosting tonight’s installment of “Saturday Night Live.”

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Pedro Pascal and Katee Sackhoff are among the additional names who will appear at this year’s PaleyFest LA, which kicks off on Friday night with a panel and screening devoted to Disney+’s “The Mandalorian.” The Paley Center for Media’s 40th annual PaleyFest LA takes place this year between Friday, March 31, through Tuesday, April 4, and features seven current TV series representing a wide variety of genres: Disney+’s “The Mandalorian,” ABC’s “Abbott Elementary,” Paramount Network’s “Yellowstone,” ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” CBS’ “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” Showtime’s “Yellowjackets” and Amazon Prime Video’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” The PaleyFest will mark the end of “Late Late Show” and “Maisel” during those respective panels.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large SPOILER ALERT: Do not read ahead if you have not watched the Season 9, episode 7 of “The Masked Singer,” which aired March 29 on Fox. Everyone knows George Wendt’s name — well, at least Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg does. “Cheers” star Wendt was one of the two more celebrities who were revealed on Wednesday’s edition of “The Masked Singer.” Also unmasked: “Selling Sunset” star Christine Quinn. For Moose, panelist Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg got it right with George Wendt. Robin Thicke went with Jon Lovitz, Nicole Scherzinger named Ed O’Neill and Ken Jeong guessed John Goodman.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Bob Odenkirk could find himself in the rare Emmy air this year. AMC will submit Odenkirk’s new series, “Lucky Hank,” in comedy categories for this year’s Emmy competition, Variety has confirmed. Of course, AMC is also submitting the final episodes of Odenkirk’s “Better Call Saul” in the drama fields. Should Odenkirk be nominated in both the best drama actor and best comedy actor races, he would become the first performer in history to be nominated in both genres in the same year. Several performers have been nominated and even won Emmys as both drama and comedy leads — but never at the same time. It’s a possibility: Odenkirk has been nominated five times in the best drama actor category for “Better Call Saul,” and this will be his final opportunity to compete in that race for “Saul” (which has received 46 nominations through its run, but has yet to win a single Emmy). Meanwhile, Odenkirk has been known first and foremost as a comedy performer, making him a real contender in the comedy race this year for “Hank.”

EXCLUSIVE: Roku is promoting a number of execs in its originals team following a shakeup last week.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large “Grease” fans hungry for a cool slider (a cool, cool, cool, cool slider) or hopelessly devoted to fries will have a chance to indulge via a pop-up version of the film franchise’s Frosty Palace on Thursday, April 6, and Friday, April 7. Paramount+ has partnered with Popsugar to take over Mel’s Drive-In on Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood for the promotion, timed to the upcoming launch of the new series “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies.” It’s unclear whether Danny Zuko’s preferred order (a double Polar Burger with everything and a cherry soda with chocolate ice cream) will be available, but the two-day interactive event will include 1950s-era music and decor, as well as “twists on familiar diner fare” and photo moments. “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” merchandise will also be given away and customized on site.

EXCLUSIVE: Roku has quickly found its new scripted boss.

EXCLUSIVE: Colin Davis, Head of Scripted Originals for the Roku Channel, is leaving Roku’s free ad-supported streaming service to join Sony as EVP of Comedy Development at Sony Pictures Television Studios. Davis, who starts May 1, will oversee development of comedies for all platforms, reporting to Jason Clodfelter, Co-President of Sony Pictures Television Studios.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large On Sunday, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” appeared to be everything, everywhere, all at once. The film, of course, dominated the 95th Oscars with seven wins — including best picture. Virtually all the stars (except Stephanie Hsu — hey Daniels, can you spare one of your SIX Oscars and share one with her??) received wins, on what was truly a historic night. And an emotional one. As the opening clips of this week’s Variety Awards Circuit Podcast illustrates, family was on the minds of this year’s winners. Listen to our Mega Roundtable edition, in which Clayton Davis, Jenelle Riley, Jazz Tangcay and myself (that’s me, Michael Schneider) recount the show and dissect the winners — from Jimmy Kimmel’s excellent monologue to how every single category panned out:

Nope‘s Keke Palmer is set to produce and star in the feature comedy The Backup in development at Universal Pictures, which also has Kevin Hart on board to produce, Deadline can confirm.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large SPOILER ALERT: Do not read ahead if you have not watched the Season 9, episode 5 of “The Masked Singer,” which aired March 15 on Fox. Two more celebrities were unmasked on Wednesday’s edition of “The Masked Singer”: Actor/comedian Malin Akerman and social media star Lele Pons were revealed to be Squirrel and Jackalope, respectively. For Squirrel, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg got it right, naming Malin Akerman. Robin Thicke guessed Heather Graham. Ken Jeong thought it was Katherine Heigl. Nicole Scherzinger picked Kate Hudson. Guest panelist Jennifer Nettles said Anne Hathaway.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Well all right, all right, all right! “True Detective” and “EDtv” buddies Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are reuniting on screen once again, this time for a new Apple TV+ comedy from creator David West Read (“The Big Door Prize”). And this time, McConaughey and Harrelson are actually playing versions of themselves. In Read’s untitled 10-episode half-hour comedy, McConaughey and Harrelson — along with their families — attempt to live together on McConaughey’s Texas ranch. And of course, those close confines puts this storied friendship to the test. In the logline, Apple TV+ calls the new show “a heartfelt odd couple love story revolving around the strange and beautiful bond between Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson.”

has “Lupin” headliner Omar Sy attached to star.The crime action thriller followed a top-tier mob assassin named Jeffrey, who decides to retire after he accidentally blinds a nightclub singer who gets caught in the crossfire of one of his hit jobs. Before quitting his beloved profession, he takes one last job to pay for her sight-restoring operation, only to be double-crossed.

“Masked Singer” host did not attend the 95th Academy Awards on Sunday night but gave TMZ his feedback on Kimmel’s opening monologue, which included a joke about him and his12 offspring. “Disney spent $2 billion on this movie, and just to break even, all of Nick Cannon’s kids had to see ‘Avatar’ four times,” Kimmel, 55, joked about theOscar-winning“Avatar: The Way of Water.”“It’s hilarious,” Cannon told the outlet while leaving the Avra Beverly Hills restaurant.“I created ‘Wild ‘n Out,'” he added about his longtime improv, comedy TV series.

American music star Chris Brown is entertaining thousands of fans in Manchester this week at his three huge AO Arena gigs. And after the opening night show on Thursday, he decided to continue the party at one of the city's swankiest celeb haunts.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large It all comes down to this weekend. Variety’s Clayton Davis, Jazz Tangcay, Jenelle Riley and Michael Schneider dissect the Oscar categories one last time and share final predictions on this week’s edition of the award-winning Variety Awards Circuit podcast. It’s a Mega Roundtable of the podcast, as the team goes through every category and offers up their final thoughts. Will “Everything Everywhere All at Once” sweep the night? Or are some surprises in store? Listen along as you fill out your office Oscars pool: Here are some of the potential wins that the team is rooting for: