GeekWire Founder Launches Ad-Supported, ‘American Asian’-Focused Platform JoySauce Network (EXCLUSIVE)

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterChip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network has ordered four new original series as part of its Summer/Fall 2022 slate, including a new edition of “Fixer Upper: Welcome Home” set at the couple’s Cottonland Castle in Waco, Texas and a baking competition hosted at their own Silos Baking Co., Variety has learned exclusively.Additionally, the Magnolia Network, which is a co-venture with Warner Bros. Discovery, has picked up a renovation series starring Annie Hawkins and Brittany Baker, a Casey Corn-hosted family-recipe docuseries and new seasons of “The Lost Kitchen,” “Restoration Road With Clint Harp” and “Zoë Bakes.”While “Silos Baking Competition” is the only food competition on the new lineup, Variety is told it is planned as the first of many at Magnolia Network with more coming later this year.

It's been two months since Joe Buck jumped from Fox to ESPN. It wasn’t until Monday that the gravity of moving into the “Monday Night Football” booth hit him.Buck and Troy Aikman made their first trips to ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut, to meet with executives and future co-workers who are preparing for the upcoming season.“It literally dropped out of the sky.

EXCLUSIVE: LeBron James may have lost an attorney, but gained a law firm in the end.

Selome Hailu In a memo obtained by Variety on Thursday, Warner Bros. Discovery’s head of HR Adria Alpert Romm reiterated to staffers that they’d be required to work from the office three days per week beginning June 1.Discovery’s acquisition of WarnerMedia was completed on April 8. On April 26, Deadline reported the company’s first memo mentioning the 3-day requirement.The news comes amid a series of high profile executive exits at Warner Bros.

Joey Bada$$ has announced details of his new album ‘2000’, alongside a host of North American tour dates.The rapper’s third album, his first full-length effort in five years, will arrive on June 17 via Columbia Records. It was announced by Bada$$ on his Instagram, alongside a short trailer and the caption “Back on the set like I never left…”The announcement of ‘2000’ follows the release of new single ‘THE REV3NGE’ earlier this year, which came with a cinematic music video directed by child.It features dark footage of Bada$$ driving through a city at night, slinging guns and smoking cigarettes, as well as shots of the rapper in a church with cloaked disciples.The single came just weeks after Bada$$ revealed during an Instagram Live that his third album is “dropping this year for sure”.“I ain’t gonna say exactly when though cause there’s certain rappers who be on my heels. So imma just — it’s coming though.”A post shared by BADMON (@joeybadass)In an XXL interview earlier this month, Bada$$ spoke about what to expect from the new album.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer“Somebody Feed Phil” has been renewed for Season 6 at Netflix ahead of its fifth season premiere, Variety has learned exclusively.The five-episode “Somebody Feed Phil” Season 5, which debuts May 25, was filmed back to back with Season 6, which also consists of five episodes.“We filmed 10 episodes in the sweet spot between Delta and Omicron. Remember that? So from August to January, we pretty much filmed everything,” Rosenthal told Variety.

EXCLUSIVE: Tom Ascheim is leaving his post as President Of Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classic two years after he joined WarnerMedia and a month after that company’s merger with Discovery was completed. He is one of two senior programming executives on the WarnerMedia side of the company who are departing after their positions have been eliminated following the merger, along with Brett Weitz, General Manager of TNT, TBS and TruTV. Both will stay on for a brief transition period.

Selome Hailu HBO Max and Cartoon Network has greenlit and acquired several projects for their kids and family live action slate, Variety has learned exclusively. The slate includes two specials based on Mattel’s American Girl franchise and a supernatural romance starring Peyton List.The first American Girl special has the working title “American Girl: Corinne Tan,” inspired by the doll brand’s 2022 girl of the year and the first doll of Chinese descent.

EXCLUSIVE: Jeffrey Schlesinger, who was previously President, Warner Bros Worldwide Television Distribution, has set up his own consultancy shingle.

SPOILER ALERT – Do not continue reading if you don’t want to know what happened during the finale of American Song Contest!

Sam Fender has sold out his upcoming show at Finsbury Park, which will be the singer’s biggest gig to date.The London event, which is set for Friday (July 15) will feature performances from Fontaines D.C., Declan McKenna, Beabadoobee, Goat Girl, Nilüfer Yanya, Rachel Chinouriri, Stone, Heidi Curtis and Kay Greyson.The North Shields singer-songwriter will be following in the footsteps of the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Queens Of The Stone Age, Pulp and Liam Gallagher in headlining Finsbury Park.“Holy shit, this is absolutely fucking ridiculous!” Fender said.

Later… With Jools Holland is set to return to BBC Two this Saturday (May 14), with all the musical guests in the same room for the first time since lockdown.Jools Holland made the announcement via his Instagram, though the full line-up is yet to be announced.“I’m very excited that my tv show returns on BBC Two on Saturday nights from the 14th of May,” he wrote in the caption.“The first time all the musical guests are in the same room as one another since lockdown. Wooooohoooo.

Sam Fender fan has got a scannable Spotify code for the singer’s album ‘Hypersonic Missiles’ tattooed on their leg.The North East singer-songwriter’s debut album was released in 2019, and Fender today (April 27) shared a video sent to him by a fan that shows a tattoo of an official Spotify Code.The codes are used like QR Codes, and scanned into phones to bring up a particular song, album or playlist on the streaming service.In the video, a fan with Spotify open goes up to his friend’s leg and scans the tattoo, before ‘Hypersonic Missiles’ suddenly shows up on his phone.Sharing the video, Fender branded the fans “legends”.

Sam Fender has shared dates for an upcoming North American headline tour, which is set to kick off this July in Toronto.The new round of shows comes after the announcement that Fender will be supporting select dates of Florence + The Machine’s US tour, including a stop at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on September 16.The headline tour is also set to stop in New York City on August 9 and in Los Angeles on August 15. See the full list of dates below and view ticket details here.He’s also set to play this year’s Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago and Quebec’s Osheaga festival.The singer had previously teased the US tour announcement, posting a photo on social media of a ‘Seventeen Going Under’ billboard in the middle of the desert that read ‘on tour this summer’.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterNBCUniversal Television and Streaming has promoted Orit Blankrot to senior vice president of entertainment business and legal affairs, Variety has learned exclusively.In her new role, Blankrot, who most recently served as vice president of entertainment business and legal affairs for NBCU’s TV and streaming arm, has increased oversight of business and legal affairs for NBCUniversal’s syndication studios. This includes Stamford (Conn.) Media Center’s first-run programming, E! News and co-productions for distribution on both internal and external platforms.As SVP of the department, she will report to Inge Van Herle, the head of entertainment business and legal affairs for NBCUniversal Television and Streaming.

A lengthy cross examination of Johnny Depp in his $50 million defamation trial against Amber Heard concluded on Monday morning with the actress’s attorney again focusing on a series of the actor’s violent words in texts as well as audio of their arguments.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterAfrican American-founded, faith-based channel Impact Network is making a big push into entertainment and lifestyle content with the ramping up of its Saturday programming slate, the hiring of a new chief creative officer and executive producer of original content, and the launch of a 6,000-foot production facility in Detroit with a music division, Variety has learned exclusively.The privately owned Impact Network has a reach of 80 million homes and distribution deals with DirecTV, Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum, Verizon Fios, Frontier, Cable Bahamas, Cox and Altice USA. Founder and CEO Bishop Wayne T.

Sam Fender has announced details of an intimate charity show that he’ll play in Newcastle next month.The ‘Seventeen Going Under’ artist will return to his native north east on May 24 for a special gig at Newcastle’s O2 City Hall, marking the first time that he will have played live at the 2600-capacity venue.The show will raise money for North East Homeless, who provide support to those who are vulnerable and homeless in the north east of England, as well as food and emergency equipment at street outreach sessions.Fender, who is a patron of the charity, dedicated his BRIT Award for Alternative/Rock Act to the organisation back in February.This is going to be next level. Newcastle get ready, I’m coming to you for a special intimate gig at the @O2CityHall on 24th May.