‘Jim Henson Idea Man’ Director Ron Howard Imagines the Muppets’ Future Had Their Creator Lived Longer

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 The next time you see Dan Harmon on Instagram doing something other than writing the “Community” movie, please don’t yell at him to get back to work. It’s happening, Harmon promises, but there are so many moving parts that there has never been a precise timeline. “When you see me making fart videos on the Internet, don’t worry that it means I’ve given up making the movie,” Harmon tells Variety.

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 Those of us who grew up with “Sesame Street” still remember Guy Smiley, the stereotypical game show host as originally voiced by Jim Henson. Guy was loud, boisterous and the host of everything from “Here Is Your Life” and “Beat the Time” to “Name That Sound!” Guy Smiley served a purpose for “Sesame Street,” and so did real-life game show hosts. It was a very specific (and also, very non-diverse) group: Bob Barker, Monty Hall, Jack Berry, Bill Cullen, Wink Martindale, Bob Eubanks, Richard Dawson, Gene Rayburn, Alex Trebek and many more.

William Baldwin starred in three projects with Donald Sutherland, the Emmy- and honorary Oscar-winning actor who died Thursday at age 88 after a seven-decade Hollywood career.

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 If you haven’t noticed, we’re in the middle of a media apocalypse. Newspapers are dying, websites that filled that void with top-notch journalism have gone away and the outlets that are left still struggle to attract audiences and make a difference as social media and bad-faith cable networks pollute the public discourse. Thank goodness for the late-night talk shows, many of which are giving us some of the best news analysis and criticism out there — better than any of the hopelessly misguided news outlets that are still trying to report on politics like things are normal.

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.

Ethan Shanfeld Throughout the three-season run of his HBO docuseries, John Wilson has walked into some of the strangest places in New York with nothing but a camera. But Wilson says the scariest moment while filming the series happened down in Florida, when he showed up uninvited to the home of Jack Owoc, the CEO of Bang Energy. In the Season 2 episode, titled “How to Appreciate Wine,” Wilson walks straight into a baby shower and immediately approaches Owoc, donning a collared black robe and Bang Energy gold chain.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Former NBCU exec Frances Manfredi, who most recently was president of content acquisition and strategy at Peacock, has joined indie TV studio Future Shack Entertainment as partner and head of distribution and content strategy. The hire was announced Monday by Future Shack Ent. founders Jeff Wachtel, Sam Michaels and Yusik Choi.

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 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.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large As The CW has changed its financial model under new owners Nexstar, entertainment president Brad Schwartz has relied more on international co-productions from countries like Canada. Speaking on Tuesday at the Banff World Media Festival, Schwartz — who hails from Canada — acknowledged that in the past, Canadian acquisitions on U.S. networks have often been seen in a lesser light.

EXCLUSIVE: The cast for ESX Entertainment’s horror title The Necklace keeps mushrooming with Nip/Tuck and Pretty Little Liars actress Roma Maffia joining.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large The fate of CBS owner Paramount Global remains way up in the air, and the future of broadcast TV in general remains a big question mark. But as CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach said on Tuesday at the Banff World Media Festival, that’s not stopping her from plotting her primetime development plans way into the future.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large “Reservation Dogs” ended its three-season run back in September, so we’ve had time to accept the sad truth that we won’t be seeing any new stories about this group of Indigenous teens in Oklahoma anytime soon. I would have truly enjoyed another season, and when I get on a Zoom call with series star Paulina Alexis — who played the outspoken Willie Jack — it’s clear she’s also still a bit disappointed that the show has wrapped. “I feel like I could have went way longer, but not my choice,” she says.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large It’s probably not the right time for a new version of “The West Wing,” but never say never, Warner Bros. TV Group chairman Channing Dungey told an audience on Monday at the Banff World Media Festival.