Dan Harmon Says ‘Rick and Morty’ Fans Have Accepted the New Voices: ‘We’re Past It. It Worked, We Transitioned to a New Era’

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large The Morpho machine is shutting down. Apple TV+ has canceled “The Big Door Prize” after two seasons, Variety has confirmed. The series, from Skydance Television and CJ ENM/Studio Dragon, ended its Season 2 run on June 12.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large The early results are in, and CNN appeared to be the biggest winner from Thursday’s train wreck of a presidential debate. According to the news cabler’s report of Nielsen Fast National data, a combined 47.9 million total viewers watched the CNN Presidential Debate on TV across all networks, including its competitors. And in the key news demo of adults 25-54, an average of 12.6 million viewers watched.

Community is still a fan-favorite show!

Childish Gambino has confirmed the release date of his next new single ‘Lithona’ from his forthcoming album ‘Bando Stone & the New World’.The rapper-actor-comedian, real name Donald Glover, took to Instagram Live last night (June 26) to announce that the new single is set for release on Tuesday (July 2) and opened up about his annoyance with the streaming service Audiomack for allegedly leaking it ahead of time.“‘Lithonia’ is coming out July 2nd,” he said (transcribed by Hiphopdx). “That got leaked. It kinda pissed me off, to be honest.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Another “Frasier” alum is about to return to the series’ new revival: Harriet Sansom Harris, who originally played Frasier Crane’s agent, Bebe Glazer, is back for a guest role in Season 2. Joining her will be “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” star Rachel Bloom, who will play Bebe’s daughter, Phoebe Glazer.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large “ER” alum Gloria Reuben has joined the cast of Prime Video‘s upcoming series “The Better Sister,” which also stars Jessica Biel, Elizabeth Banks, Corey Stoll and Matthew Modine. Based on the novel by Alafair Burke, “The Better Sister” stars Biel as Chloe, a woman whose life is upended when her husband Adam (played by Stoll) is brutally murdered — and the prime suspect shocks the family and exposes secrets. Banks plays Chloe’s sister, Nicky, who “hustles to make ends meet while trying to stay clean.” Reuben will play Michelle Sanders, described as “a respected lawyer who has made a career of standing up when she’s told to sit down.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large AMC Networks has staked its claim for more “Anne Rice’s Interview With the Vampire.” The series has been renewed for Season 3 on AMC and streaming outlet AMC+, the outlets announced Wednesday. News comes just days before the show’s Season 2 finale (which airs June 30).

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large To paraphrase a long-running network slogan, “It’s Not Max. It’s HBO.” HBO and Max content CEO Casey Bloys is changing the delineation between what an “HBO show” and a “Max show” is, moving most of Max’s upcoming big-budget, tentpole Warner Bros. IP projects to under the HBO umbrella.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Jamie Kellner, who made his name as the only exec ever to create two broadcast networks — Fox and The WB (both of which also achieved profitability under his watch), died Friday at his home in Montecito, Calif. He was 77.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large The Hollywood Creative Alliance has ended its defamation lawsuit against the Critics Choice Association, as both sides announced Friday that they had reached an “amicable agreement.” In a joint announcement between CCA CEO Joey Berlin and HCA CEO Scott Menzel, the two sides said that the Critics Choice Association will once again allow its members to also be a part of the Hollywood Creative Alliance. Also, Berlin has joined HCA’s advisory committee to “provide guidance on the best practices in awards show production and not-for-profit organization management,” and HCA has agreed to advise CCA on “best accessibility practices at its events.” In January, the Hollywood Creative Alliance (which was formerly known as Hollywood Critics Association) sued the Critics Choice Association after that org told its members that they had to resign from the HCA in order to stay members of the CCA.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Todd Harthan has been tapped as the new showrunner and executive producer of ABC’s “High Potential,” starring Kaitlin Olson. Harthan was previously executive producer/showrunner of Fox’s “The Resident,” which ran for six seasons and recently was a hit off-net for Netflix. Harthan replaces previous showrunner Rob Thomas, who departed the project earlier this month.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large My colleague Emily Longeretta had a Variety scoop recently that was such a perfect sign of the times. As she reported, FX’s Emmy-winning series “The Bear” — about to premiere its third season at the end of June — finally had its premiere on FX at the start of the month, via a four-night marathon of Season 1 episodes. “Hit FX Series to Finally Premiere on FX,” we joked should be the headline.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Writer/directors Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, who were behind the recent critically acclaimed FX limited series “A Murder At the End of the World,” have struck a deal with indie production shingle Sister to develop, write and produce original film and television projects. The deal, described as a “multi-year creative partnership,” reunites Marling and Batmanglij with Cindy Holland, the global CEO of Sister.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Former Berlanti Prods. exec Ryan Lindenberg, who played a hand in the creation of hits such as The CW’s “All American,” Netflix’s “You” and NBC’s “Blindspot,” has joined 5X Media as a scripted partner/producer.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Longtime AMC PR head Marnie Black, whose tenure included overseeing consumer media relations, brand messaging, special events, talent relations and awards campaigns on hit series including “Mad Men,” “Breaking Bad,” “Better Call Saul” and “The Walking Dead” universe, is departing the company after 13 years. Black will exit at the end of the month to explore the next chapter of her career.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large I think I can say this on behalf of the entire collective of reporters who cover television: Nothing makes us groan more than when a series star or producer refers to the setting as another “character” in their show. (Actually, I take that back, something else causes even heavier eye rolls: When a performer says their co-stars are “like a family.”) And yet, I may have to temper my cynicism.

Selena Kuznikov “Palm Royale” showrunner Abe Sylvia relied on his “guru” Joni Mitchell (via her song “People’s Parties”) when figuring out the tone for his Apple TV+ comedy: “Laughing and crying are the same release.” “Our show took itself really seriously even as it went absurd,” Sylvia said. “It’s a gay ‘Fantasia,’ right? It’s tone is maximalist gay.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Perhaps the toughest takeaway from Ron Howard’s documentary “Jim Henson Idea Man” is the fact that his sudden death in 1990, at just age 53, robbed us all that “The Muppets” creator might have created in the computer age. Henson was already experimenting with technology before he died — and we can only imagine what he might have done with the tools we now have. “It would have been fantastic,” Howard says.

Angelique Jackson SPOILER WARNING: This story discusses plot developments from “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” now streaming on Amazon’s Prime Video. “You really want me to ruin this shit for you?” Donald Glover asked at an FYC panel on Tuesday, just hours after he and “Mr.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large HBO’s “The Last of Us” scored two prizes from this year’s 2024 Rockie Awards International Program Competition, as announced Tuesday at the Banff World Media Festival. “The Last of Us” won for drama series: English language, and also picked up the Grand Jury Prize, which is selected from the top-scoring programs across the entire field of nominees.