‘Red Table Talk’ Inks Overall Deal With iHeartMedia To Launch Podcast Audio Network

Jada Pinkett Smith, her daughter, Willow, and her mother, Adrienne Banfield Norris, are returning to their iconic round table for another installment of the Emmy-winning Facebook Watch series on Sept. 15, with new episodes streaming weekly.The trio's return is marked by a special premiere episode starring superstar comedian Tiffany Haddish and  star Yvonne Orji.

ViacomCBS and MTV Entertainment Studios have struck an exclusive overall deal with Emmy-nominated actor David Oyelowo and his wife, actress, writer and producer Jessica Oyelowo, for original scripted and unscripted series via their Yoruba Saxon productions. 101 Studios will serve as production partner on all projects.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDavid and Jessica Oyelowo have signed a TV overall deal with ViacomCBS and MTV Entertainment under their Yoruba Saxon production banner, Variety has learned.Under the deal, David is attached to star in and executive produce a series about legendary Old West lawman Bass Reeves. Reeves was known as the greatest frontier hero in American history and is also believed to be the inspiration for The Lone Ranger.

EXCLUSIVE: Cobra Kai creators, executive producers and showrunners Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg and Josh Heald have signed a big new four-year overall deal with the studio behind the hit Karate Kid sequel series, Sony Pictures Television.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNkechi Okoro Carroll has renewed her overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group, where she has been based since 2018.In addition, Okoro Carroll has formed a new production company called Rock My Soul Productions.

EXCLUSIVE: Amazon Studios has signed an overall deal with TV scribe and playwright Brian Otaño.

EXCLUSIVE: Universal Studio Group has entered a new multi-year television overall deal with producer, director and Academy Award and Emmy award-winning writer Jordan Peele and Monkeypaw Productions, headed by President Win Rosenfeld.

“Hacks” co-creators Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs have signed a multiyear overall deal with Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. Television Group has signed an overall deal with Emmy-nominated Hacks co-creators Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs and their production company Paulilu Productions after a competitive situation. This marks the first overall deal for Paulilu with WBTVG.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs have signed an overall deal with Warner Bros.

EXCLUSIVE: Adrienne Warren, star of Women of the Movement, has signed a one-year development deal with Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment, which produces the civil rights movement limited series. Under the pact, Warren will collaborate exclusively with Kapital on the development of ongoing and limited series.

EXCLUSIVE: The Wire writer/producer George Pelecanos, who has had an informal home at HBO for nearly two decades, has made it official with a recently signed two-year overall deal. Under the pact, Pelecanos will develop and produce original content for the network.

EXCLUSIVE: Writer and producer Lauren Ashley Smith (A Black Lady Sketch Show) is expanding her relationship with CBS Studios, signing an overall deal with the studio. Under the pact, Smith will be creating comedies for network/streaming on all platforms.

Director-producer DeMane Davis (Queen Sugar, Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam CJ Walker) is expanding her relationship with Warner Bros. Television Group with an overall deal. Terms were not disclosed, but WBTVG confirms it is an exclusive, multiyear agreement.

Boat Rocker, the entertainment company behind American Rust, Dino Ranch, and Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, has struck a multi-genre development deal with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, the esteemed author and scholar behind How To Be An Antiracist. The deal will help launch the bestselling author’s new production shingle, Maroon Visions, with Boat Rocker’s backing, and develop projects with the company’s scripted, unscripted, and kids & family divisions.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorIn today’s podcast news roundup, Westbroook’s “Red Table Talk” inks an overall podcast pact with iHeartMedia; Season 3 of Payne Lindsey’s popular “Up and Vanished” series investigates an unsolved disappearance in Montana; Crooked Media pop-culture podcast hosted by Jason Concepcion gets a launch date; and more.“Red Table Talk,” the Facebook Watch talk show from Westbrook hosted by Jada Pinkett Smith alongside her daughter Willow and her mother Adrienne “Gammy”

The Witcher creator Lauren Schmidt Hissrich is expanding her relationship with Netflix with a multi-year overall deal. Under the pact, Schmidt Hissrich will write and produce scripted series content and other creative projects for the streaming giant. The deal was announced during Netflix’s TCA session Thursday.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Witcher” showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich has signed a multi-year overall deal with Netflix.Under the deal, Schmidt Hissrich will write and produce scripted series content and other creative projects for the streaming service.“I am so thrilled to have found my home at Netflix, and can’t wait to continue what’s been an incredibly fulfilling creative partnership,” Schmidt Hissrich said.

EXCLUSIVE: Superstore and American Auto creator Justin Spitzer has signed a big new four-year overall deal with the studio behind the NBC comedy series, Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

EXCLUSIVE: Writing duo Jordan Reddout and Gus Hickey (Mixed-ish, Grown-ish) are expanding their relationship with ABC Signature. The longtime writing partners have signed a multi-year overall deal with ABC Signature and have sold their first project under the pact — half-hour comedy Significant Others to ABC.