How these creepy infants impact HBO horror-comedy series ‘The Baby’

EXCLUSIVE: Apple TV+’ murder mystery comedy The Afterparty has made another high-profile cast addition for its upcoming second season. Actor-comedian Ken Jeong is set as a new series regular on the hit show from Oscar winners Chris Miller and Phil Lord.

In a further expansion of their kids and family programming slate, HBO Max and Cartoon Network are teaming on new live-action coming-of-age comedy series, Home Sweet Rome, from Emmy-nominated Hannah Montana and That’s So Raven creator Michael Poryes, for premiere in 2023.

“Hacks,” the divine comedy from creators Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky.

With the past two decades of TV primarily dedicated to difficult male anti-heroes, “Physical” is the kind of show that’s flipping the script. The dark comedy series set around the 1980s fitness explosion earned plaudits from critics for its empathetic focus on female insecurities.

Netflix has unveiled the first trailer from “God’s Favorite Idiot”, a high-concept comedy series from husband-and-wife team Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy.

It’s lovely to see former “Happy Days” star and Emmy-winner Henry Winkler in a full-blown renaissance period, just thriving as an outstanding comedic character actor on shows like “Arrested Development” and Bill Hader‘s hit HBO hitman comedy “Barry.” Winkler won the Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series at the 70th Emmy Awards for his work on “Barry,” and it’s clear that HBO wants to keep staying in the Winkler business as they’re looking to reunite for a new true-crime series at the prestigious television studio.

Clayton Davis Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official awards predictions for the upcoming Oscars and Emmys ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis; Awards Circuit Column, a weekly analysis dissecting the trends and contenders by television editor Michael Schneider (for Emmys) and Davis (for Oscars); Awards Circuit Podcast, a weekly interview series with talent and an expert roundtable discussion; and Awards Circuit Video analyzes various categories and contenders by Variety's leading awards pundits. Variety's unmatched coverage gives its readership unbeatable exposure in print and online, as well as provide inside reports on all the contenders in this year's awards season races.

EXCLUSIVE: Luke Macfarlane (Brothers & Sisters), Tre Hale (Love and Monsters), Carla Gallo (Neighbors) and Andrew Lopez (Blockers) round out the ensemble cast of Apple’s Platonic, joining Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen in the comedy series from Nick Stoller, Francesca Delbanco and Sony TV.

This Joka, executive produced by Will Smith, will not be returning for a second season.Streaming service Roku confirmed to Deadline that the show will not be renewed for another season, and says it has “nothing to do with the Oscars incident” in which Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage.The show featured comedians including Baron Vaughn, Megan Gailey, Punkie Johnson, Sean Patton, Rosebud Baker, Shane Torres, Clayton English, Christi Chiello, Vanessa Gonzalez, Martin Urbano, Sam Tallent, David Gborie, Jackie Fabulous, and Chris Estraded.This Joka explored “the nature of comedy” and the way it can bring people together, featuring equally up-and-coming, established and legendary comedians together.Roku apparently didn’t have an option to renew the show as it aired after the possibility had passed the deadline to analyse the viewing data.A number of projects involving Smith were put on pause in light of the Oscars controversy. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix has quietly halted production on thriller film Fast And Loose following the incident.

Oscar and Emmy winner Allison Janney has been tapped to star alongside Kristen Wiig in Apple comedy series Mrs. American Pie, executive produced by Laura Dern. Based on Juliet McDaniel’s book, Mrs. American Pie hails from creator Abe Sylvia (The Eyes of Tammy Faye) and director Tate Taylor (Breaking News in Yuba County). Dern also is eyeing a “key role” in the series.

EXCLUSIVE: This Joka, a stand-up comedy series exec produced by Will Smith, will not be returning for a second season on Roku.

topped 120 million hours viewed with in its first three days. The latest episodes saw John Kreese (Martin Kove) bring “Karate Kid III” bad guy Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) back into the Cobra Kai dojo.

Pete Davidson has something new in the works!

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPeacock has given a straight-to-series order to a semi-autobiographical comedy series starring Pete Davidson, Variety has learned.The series, title “Bupkis,” was first reported as being on the market back in March, with Peacock acquiring it in a competitive situation. Davidson serves as a writer and executive producer on the show in addition to starring. The half-hour comedy is described as a heightened, fictionalized version of Davidson’s real life.

EXCLUSIVE: Kill the Orange-Faced Bear starring Damon Wayans Jr. will not be going forward at TBS. The cast and crew were just told about the decision, which comes a week before the comedy series was scheduled to begin production on its 10-episode order in Vancouver. I hear the project, which has a filmed pilot, will be shopped to other outlets by the producers.

EXCLUSIVE: Zoe Lister-Jones’ comedy series Slip has rounded out its cast.

Can Coach Lasso go back to back at the Emmys? Jason Sudekis easily won the Lead Actor in a Comedy Series trophy in 2021 for “Ted Lasso.” This year, he arguably has more competition from “Barry”‘s 2018 and 2019 winner Bill Hader, “Atlanta”‘s 2017 winner Donald Glover and “Only Murders in the Building”‘s comedy legend Steve Martin.

If there is any category that is ripe for a major Emmys upset it may be Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Last year’s winner, Jean Smart (“Hacks”), should easily earn a repeat nomination.

Clayton Davis Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official awards predictions for the upcoming Oscars and Emmys ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis; Awards Circuit Column, a weekly analysis dissecting the trends and contenders by television editor Michael Schneider (for Emmys) and Davis (for Oscars); Awards Circuit Podcast, a weekly interview series with talent and an expert roundtable discussion; and Awards Circuit Video analyzes various categories and contenders by Variety's leading awards pundits. Variety's unmatched coverage gives its readership unbeatable exposure in print and online, as well as provide inside reports on all the contenders in this year's awards season races.

EXCLUSIVE: Coming off a series regular role on the second season of HBO Max’s Love Life, Chris Powell, also known as Comedian CP, is set to headline his own potential comedy series for the streamer. HBO Max landed the project, My Father’s Son, in competitive situation.