The team behind the Southlake podcast are debuting a new NBC News Studios series, Grapevine, set to debut on Oct. 4.
19.09.2023 - 11:45 / variety.com
Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor It’s easy to envision Robin Roberts sitting down for an in-depth interview with a hard-to-nab celebrity or landing a “get” with an inspirational newsmaker. How about Robin Roberts helping to solve a mystery ripped from the headlines? Such a notion is a distinct possibility thanks to a new ABC News Studios production unit that Roberts will lead.
The move is the latest by ABC News to increase the number of projects it creates not just for the Disney broadcast network, but for streaming outlets such as Hulu and Disney+ “The creation of this unit offers a unique opportunity to tell new and compelling stories in a wide range of formats, and we’ll also explore genres people might not expect from me,” Roberts tells Variety via e-mail. ABC News has steadily ramped up its production efforts in recent months, launching ABC News Studios in a bid to increase work in new content areas, including documentaries and unscripted programming.
Last year, ABC News and George Stephanopoulos tested “Power Trip,” a program that focused on young journalists tracking the 2022 midterm election, with the veteran anchor serving as a sort of eminence grise. But other outlets are doing the same — and often empowering top talent to create a range of projects that don’t always have much to do with traditional TV.
NBCUniversal struck a deal with MSNBC host Rachel Maddow that calls for podcasts and film projects, as well as a once-a-week program on the cable-news outlet (and other appearances as news warrants). Her colleague Chris Hayes is taking up similar duties, and ceding his Monday-night responsibilities on the network to a new program led by Jen Psaki.
The team behind the Southlake podcast are debuting a new NBC News Studios series, Grapevine, set to debut on Oct. 4.
Manchester United are ready to "listen to offers" for ousted forward Jadon Sancho - according to reports.
Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Kasie Hunt left a fast-track career at NBC News in 2021 to dip her toes into digital waters at CNN. Two years later, she’s just starting to find out whether she might sink or swim. On Wednesday, Hunt will launch “State of the Race,” a new hour-long weekday show for CNN’s international service focused on U.S.
Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Deborah Roberts is taking up co-anchor duties at ABC News’ “20/20,” the latest in a line of distinguished anchors that includes Barbra Walters, Hugh Downs, Diane Sawyer, Connie Chung and Elizabeth Vargas who have led the long-running newsmagazine. Roberts is no stranger to the series’ rhythms. She has been contributing to it for 28 years, ever since she joined ABC News in 1995, recruited by Barbara Walters.
Selome Hailu After 146 days, the Writers Guild of America is close to heading back to work. The WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) resumed bargaining on Wednesday and reached a tentative deal on Sunday. Final language for the parties’ contract is still being finalized.
Angelica Ross isn’t holding back.
Kerry Washington is getting candid.
Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor A major transition at the top of a big company typically spells significant change. Just ask anyone who has worked for CNN while parent company WarnerMedia passed along to AT&T and then the new Warner Bros. Discovery.
Kerry Washington is getting candid about her mental health.
The “Scandal” alum revealed that she contemplated suicide at the height of her eating disorder.“I could feel how the abuse was a way to really hurt myself, as if I didn’t want to be here,” Washington, 46, told Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts in a sit-down preview, which aired on Thursday. “It scared me that I could not want to be here because I was in so much pain.”When asked if she considered suicide, she replied: “Yeah.
Veteran news executive and producer Mary Noonan has joined UTA. She will serve as an agent in the News & Broadcasting division based in UTA’s New York office and will report to Partner and News & Broadcasting Head Peter Goldberg.
Emma Roberts is facing the brunt of toxic workplace and transphobia accusations from “American Horror Story” co-star Angelica Ross.
posted Wednesday on X (formerly Twitter). The Post reached out to Roberts and FX for comment.
Naman Ramachandran iHeartPodcasts and The Meteor are launching “In Retrospect,” a pop culture podcast by Emmy-winning journalist Susie Banikarim and New York Times editor Jessica Bennett. Each week on “In Retrospect,” Banikarim and Bennett revisit a pop culture moment from the 80s and 90s that shaped them, to try to understand what it taught them about the world and a woman’s place in it.
Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Dan Abrams, one of the founding anchors in NewsNation’s primetime lineup, aims to continue his work at the Nexstar Media-backed outlet. Abrams and NewsNation reached a “multi-year” pact that will extend his work there, where he hosts “Dan Abrams Live” at 9 p.m.
Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts will lead a new production unit for ABC News Studios, with a dedicated staff and plans to produce nonfiction specials, series and documentaries for the network, Hulu and Disney+.
Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor “Monday Night Football” was for many years a staple of ABC’s Monday-night line-up before it moved to ESPN in 2006. This fall, it will be so again. ABC will air ten more “MNF” games than previously expected this season, simulcasting then with Disney TV sibling ESPN in a move that will help the broadcast network as the industry grapples with ongoing strikes by WGA and SAG-AFTRA.
Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor NBC News may trump its rivals when it comes to interviewing a certain former Commander-in-Chief. David Muir, Lesley Stahl, John Dickerson, Chris Wallace, Bill O’Reilly, Kaitlan Collins and Jim Acosta have all tried their hand at interviewing Donald Trump; lobbing questions at him; or moderating a debate or event in which his participation was key. Some have drawn blood and others have been bloodied (and some others left agog as Trump walked out unexpectedly).
ABC News Live will debut new hours of weekday programming on Monday, with Kayna Whitworth anchoring from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET.
Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor The popular sitcom “Modern Family” is picking up some new real estate — while keeping its other homes. Warner Bros. Discovery’s TBS cable network will start showing a three-hour block of the landmark comedy, which ran on ABC for 11 seasons between 2009 and 2020.