Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Donnie Wahlberg Set First-Look Unscripted TV Deal With Lionsgate

Joe Otterson TV Reporter HBO Max has given a straight-to-series order to a new comedy series from Chuck Lorre and Nick Bakay with Sebastian Maniscalco set for the lead role, Variety has learned. The single-camera show is titled “How to Be a Bookie.” HBO Max has given it an eight-episode order. Per the official logline, “A veteran bookie (Maniscalco) struggles to survive the impending legalization of sports gambling, increasingly unstable clients, family, co-workers, and a lifestyle that bounces him around every corner of Los Angeles, high and low.” Lorre and Bakay serve as co-writers and executive producers on the show. Maniscalco will executive produce in addition to starring, with Judi Marmel also executive producing. Warner Bros. Television is the studio. Chuck Lorre productions is currently under an overall deal at WBTV. The show marks Lorre’s first series at HBO Max.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Anders Holm has joined the cast of the live-action Godzilla and the Titans series at Apple in a recurring role, Variety has learned exclusively. Holm is the latest addition to the the series, joining previously announced cast members Anna Sawai, Ren Watabe, Kiersey Clemons, Joe Tippett, Elisa Lasowski, Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell and Mari Yamamoto. Character details are being kept under wraps. The show hails from Legendary Television and is a part of the company’s growing Monsterverse franchise. Per the official description of the series, “Following the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that leveled San Francisco and the shocking new reality that monsters are real, the untitled series will explore one family’s journey to uncover its buried secrets and a legacy linking them to the secret organization known as Monarch.”

If it couldn't get much worse for Stephen Reid considering he's turned to murder to keep his money troubles a secret, he now looks set to suffer more setbacks in Coronation Street. Todd Boyce, who plays the troublesome character, has been pictured filming as Stephen heads for more honest ways of making money.

EJ Panaligan editor Apple announced the premiere date and shared a first look (pictured above) of “Echo 3,” the 10-episode action-thriller from Mark Boal and starring Luke Evans and Michiel Huisman, alongside Jessica Ann Collins. The show will premiere with the first three episodes on Wednesday, November 23, followed by one new episode weekly every Friday through January 13, 2023. The action series, filmed in Colombia with English and Spanish dialogue, follows Amber Chesborough (Collins), a young scientist who is the emotional heart of a small American family. When she goes missing along the Colombia-Venezuela border, her brother, Bambi (Evans), and her husband, Prince (Huisman) – two men with deep military experience and complicated pasts – struggle to find her against the backdrop of a secret war.

“Echo 3,” the action thriller series from “Hurt Locker” producer Mark Boal, and starring Luke Evans, Michiel Huisman and Jessica Ann Collins, will premiere this November on Apple TV+.The upcoming Apple TV+ drama will debut with three episodes on Wednesday, Nov. 23, with new episodes dropping every Friday through Jan.

EXCLUSIVE: Jeff Frost, who recently left his post as President of Sony Pictures Television Studios, has set up a production company, Bristol Circle Entertainment, and has signed a first-look TV production deal with the indie studio. Under the pact, Frost is executive producing the high-profile new series from Breaking Bad creator and Better Call Saul co-creator Vince Gilligan, starring Rhea Seehorn, which just landed at Apple TV+ with a big, two-season straight-to-series order.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter The “Time Bandits” TV series at Apple from Taika Waititi has found its main cast, Variety has learned. Joining the series are: Lisa Kudrow (“Friends,” “The Comeback” as Penelope; Kal-El Tuck (“Unseeing Evil,” “Band in the Sand”) as Kevin; Charlyne Yi (“Knocked up,” “Paper Heart”) as Judy; Tadhg Murphy (“Conversations with Friends,” “Black Sails”) as Alto; Roger Jean Nsengiyumva (“You Don’t know Me,” “Tomb Raider”) as Widgit; Rune Temte (“The Last Kingdom,” “Captain Marvel”) as Bittelig; Kiera Thompson (“Martyrs Lane,” “Salisbury Poisonings”) as Saffron; and Rachel House (“Heartbreak High,” “Thor Ragnarok”) as Fianna.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor True-crime podcaster John Allen — better known to fans as MrBallen — is bringing his show exclusively to Amazon Music. Starting Nov. 1, Amazon Music will be the exclusive home to all new and existing episodes of the “MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark and Mysterious Stories.” Amazon Music also inked a first-look deal with Ballen Studios, the content company Allen recently formed, for all new content spanning film, TV, games, consumer packaged goods, audio content and more. “The Strange, Dark and Mysterious community is the only reason I have the platform that I do today,” MrBallen, who has more than 9 million follows on social media, said in a statement. “I will always be dedicated to bringing them the best, and continually raising the bar with the art of storytelling. Working with Amazon Music allows us to do just that… We’re just getting started.”

Jenny McCarthy has forged a successful career for herself over the last two decades and is happily married to Blue Bloods actor Donnie Wahlberg – but she's not the only star in her family.READ: Jenny McCarthy and Donnie Wahlberg heartbroken after family deathThe Masked Singer judge is related to none other than Hollywood A-lister Melissa McCarthy! Despite the two women sharing the same surname, many fans are unaware of their family connection because they don't make public appearances together.WATCH: Nicole Scherzinger dazzles in red hot dress on The Masked SingerAccording to Melissa, she and her cousin live in "opposite worlds", but it was, in fact, Jenny who got the Ghostbusters star her first acting job with a cameo on MTV's sketch series, The Jenny McCarthy Show.Melissa went on to find fame as Sookie St. James on Gilmore Girls and has starred in a string of blockbuster hits ever since, including 2011's Bridesmaids – which she won her first Oscar nomination for – and 2018's Can You Ever Forgive Me, which earned her a second Oscar nomination.SEE: Inside Jenny McCarthy and Donnie Wahlberg's impressive Illinois homeMORE: Melissa McCarthy's luxurious kitchen will leave you speechlessJenny has enjoyed success on the smaller screen, winning a new legion of fans thanks to her roles on The View and The Masked Singer.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Filming for the fourth season of the Sky Original series “Das Boot” wrapped in Malta last week, and the first look images have been released. NBCUniversal Global Distribution is handling international sales of the series, which is produced by Bavaria Fiction, on behalf of Sky Studios. In Season 4, which is coming to Sky’s premium channel Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW next year, the brutal submarine war in the Mediterranean Sea comes to a head, while intrigues and secrets spread through Berlin. Resistance to the Nazis grows within the Kriegsmarine’s own ranks. After a shared tragedy, the siblings Klaus (Rick Okon) and Hannie Hoffmann (Rosalie Thomass) find their way back to each other. Both fight for their cause. Klaus has returned to the German Reich from Portugal. As a submarine commander he travels to Naples on a secret mission to change the course of the war. Hannie wants to help the many orphans who have become victims of the war and uncovers infamous machinations of the Nazi Reich.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter A series version of the David Cronenberg film “Scanners” is in development at HBO, Variety has confirmed. Per the official description, the series is “set in the mind-bending world of David Cronenberg’s seminal film. Pursued by relentless agents with unimaginable powers, two women living on the fringes of modern society must learn to work together to topple a vast conspiracy determined to bring them to heel.” William Bridges (“Black Mirror,” “Stranger Things”) will serve as writer, executive producer, and showrunner on the series. Yann Demange (“’71,” “Lovecraft Country) will direct and executive produce via Wayward Films. Cronenberg, who wrote and directed the original film, will serve as an executive producer. Michael Ellenberg and Lindsey Springer will executive produce on behalf of Media Res Studio. Meredith Duff and Sarah Sullivan of Wayward Films will also executive produce along with René Malo and Fanny-Laure Malo, Pierre David, Clark Peterson, and Aaron Gilbert. The show is a co-production between HBO, Media Res Studio, and Wayward Films.

Amazon Studios has closed a three-year first look film deal with Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell’s Safehouse Pictures.

Michael London, the Snowfall exec producer who runs Groundswell Productions, has cemented his relationship with Lionsgate.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Peacock has given a straight-to-series order to an adult animated comedy that will reunite “Silicon Valley” co-creator Mike Judge and series star Zach Woods. Titled “In the Know,” the new animated series is co-created and executive produced by Judge, Woods, and Brandon Gardner. Judge and Woods will also lend their voices to the series. The pickup of the show marks Peacock’s first adult animated series order. The show’s official logline reads, “Lauren Caspian is NPR’s third most popular host. He’s a well-meaning, hypocritical nimrod, just like you and me. He’s also a stop motion puppet. Each episode follows the making of an episode of Lauren’s show In the Know, in which Lauren conducts in-depth interviews with real world human guests. Lauren collaborates with a diverse crew of NPR staff. They are also puppets and nimrods.”

Is Chloé Zhao headed to the small screen? It looks that way, as the “Eternals” director has signed a multi-year first-look TV deal with Searchlight Television. The deal reunites Zhao and Searchlight after their super-successful “Nomadland,” which won Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress at 93rd Academy Awards.   READ MORE: Patton Oswalt Seemingly Confirms ‘Eternals 2’ In The Works With Chloe Zhao Returning To Direct The deal is Zhao’s first foray into television, quite a departure from her recent work in the MCU with “Eternals.” But Searchlight Television is a good spot for Zhao to spread her TV wings.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Chloé Zhao has entered into a multi-year first look TV deal with Searchlight Television, Variety has learned. Under the terms of the deal, Zhao will develop and produce scripted content for Searchlight TV across all platforms. It represents a homecoming for Zhao, with Searchlight having produced her Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning feature film “Nomadland.” “Chloe is a visionary filmmaker and, since the moment we finished ‘Nomadland,’ we have looked to find new ways to collaborate again,” said Searchlight presidents Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum. “We are inspired by the breadth of Chloe’s storytelling passions and are beyond happy to be able to link arms and expand the opportunities to support personal, powerful, and enduring stories.”

Multiple Oscar winner Chloé Zhao is making her foray into television with a first-look deal at Searchlight Television for exclusive series development. This marks a reunion for Zhao and Searchlight, the studio behind her Oscar-winning film Nomadland. The pact comes on the heels of Searchlight Television’s first production, The Dropout, winning an Emmy Award for Best Actress for Amanda Seyfried, and earning an additional 5 nominations.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter A+E Studios has signed a first-look deal with Foster Driver and Zoë Kent’s Driver+Kent Media. Under the deal, Driver+Kent will develop and produce projects for A+E Studios across all platforms for sale globally and domestically. “Foster and Zoë come to the table with an eye for stories that are relevant, speak to a global audience and showcase the complexities of the world we live in,” said Tana Nugent Jamieson, executive vice president of creative affairs for A+E Studios. “Their eclectic film and television backgrounds combined with their passion for vibrant and inclusive storytelling make them ideal partners for us at A+E Studios. We’re excited to be in business with Driver+Kent Media and look forward to what’s ahead.”

Joe Otterson TV Reporter The “Yellowstone” prequel series “1923” at Paramount+ has added Brandon Sklenar to the cast, Variety has learned. Sklenar is the latest addition the cast of the series, joining previously announced cast members Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren as well as Darren Mann, Michelle Randolph, James Badge Dale, Marley Shelton, Brian Geraghty, Aminah Nieves, and Julia Schlaepfer. Per the official description of the series, it will “introduce a new generation of the Dutton family and explore the early twentieth century when pandemics, historic drought, the end of Prohibition, and the Great Depression all plague the mountain west, and the Duttons who call it home.”

Lionsgate has signed a three-year first-look deal with Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg and Donnie Wahlberg to develop and produce unscripted/reality television, docs, and non-fiction podcasts through their newly-formed Work Baby Productions banner.