‘True Detective’ Season 4 in the Works at HBO From Issa López, Barry Jenkins

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Cleaning Lady” has been renewed for Season 2 at Fox.“This heart-pounding, emotionally driven story has captivated audiences across all platforms with its empowering, suspenseful narrative about an undocumented worker forced to navigate the criminal underworld to save her ailing son’s life,” said Michael Thorn, president of Fox Entertainment. “’The Cleaning Lady’ bravely and unapologetically takes on many of today’s most important social issues — something we’re proud to say is one of Fox long-time calling cards — and it’s all brought into sharp perspective by the powerful performance of our lead, Élodie Yung and the entire cast.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” has been renewed for Season 2 at HBO, Variety has learned.The news comes after the series has aired just five episodes of its 10-episode first season.“It’s been a thrill to bring ‘Winning Time’ to life with Adam McKay, Max Borenstein, our phenomenal producing team, and this incredible cast,” said Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of HBO Programming. “This series not only tells the riveting story of the Lakers’ rise, but is also a look back at a transformative era in basketball, celebrity, and the city of Los Angeles.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLauren Lapkus and Krysta Rodriguez are set for the lead roles in the CBS multi-cam comedy pilot “Sober Companion,” Variety has learned.Rodriguez will play Eliza, described as a fun-loving, quick-witted alcoholic who runs a bookstore/bar with her uncle in New Orleans. After one too many run-ins with the law, she is assigned a court-appointed Sober Companion who will force her to confront her demons, get her act together, and stay sober, all while driving her completely nuts.Lapkus will play Shelley, Eliza’s Sober Companion.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterGeorge Lopez and Mayan Lopez’s NBC comedy pilot “Lopez vs. Lopez” has added three new cast members, Variety has learned exclusively.Selenis Levya, Brice Gonzalez, and Matt Shivley will star alongside the Lopezes in the multi-cam pilot.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Sherlock Holmes” film universe is expanding into TV, with HBO Max currently in early development on two spinoff shows, Variety has learned from sources.The potential shows would be set in the world of 2009’s “Sherlock Holmes” and 2011’s “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” starring Robert Downey Jr. as the master detective and Jude Law as Dr. John Watson, which were inspired by the books of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNaomi Watts has signed on to star in the long-gestating second season of “Feud” at FX, Variety has confirmed with sources.The second season of the Ryan Murphy anthology series will be based on the book “Capote’s Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era” by Laurence Leamer. Watts will play famed socialite Barbara “Babe” Paley.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Drew Barrymore Show” has been renewed through the 2022-2023 season.The syndicated daytime talk show is produced and distributed by CBS Media Ventures (CMV) and shot in New York City. Barrymore hosts and executive produces, with Jason Kurtz and Chris Miller also executive producing.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA prequel to “It” is in development at HBO Max, Variety has learned from sources.The series, currently called “Welcome to Derry,” will begin in the 1960s in the time leading up to the events of “It: Part One,” the 2017 film based on the Stephen King horror novel. The story is also said to include the origin story of Pennywise the Clown.Andy Muschietti, who directed “It: Part One” and 2019’s “It: Part Two,” is attached to executive produce the series along with Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Snowpiercer” is changing showrunners going into the show’s fourth season.Paul Zbyszewski — whose past credits include “Lost,” “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” and “Helstrom” — will take the reins of the TNT series from Graeme Manson. Manson famously took over showrunning duties on the drama show after original series creator Josh Friedman and TNT parted ways over “creative differences” before Season 1.In addition, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” alum Clark Gregg and Michael Aronov are both joining the series in Season 4.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCharlotte Ritchie is set for a main role in Season 4 of “You” at Netflix, Variety has confirmed.Ritchie will appear opposite series stars Penn Badgley as Kate. The character is described as fearsomely smart, independent, suspicious, misses nothing.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Archive 81” has been canceled at Netflix after just one season.The eight-episode series debuted on the streamer back in January. The show followed archivist Dan Turner (Mamoudou Athie), who takes a job restoring a collection of damaged videotapes from 1994.

For The Underground Railroad creator and director Barry Jenkins, the WGA honorary Paul Selvin Award served as an “affirmation to to keep working the way I am.”

HBO is reportedly working on a fourth season of its crime-drama anthology series True Detective, tentatively titled True Detective: Night Country.Deadline broke the news of Night Country on Friday (March 18), claiming that Issa López and Barry Jenkins will steer production on the new season. It follows a similar report from last February, wherein HBO’s chief content officer, Casey Bloys, said he and his team were “working with a couple of writers to find the right tone and take” for a continuation of the True Detective format.Created by Nic Pizzolatto, the series first aired in 2014, with second and third seasons airing respectively in 2015 and 2019.

While there was “Sopranos” and Martin Scorsese’s “Boardwalk Empire” before it, and David Fincher’s participation in “House Of Cards” that paved the way for the streaming age, it’s hard to argue that the show that launched the current era of streaming Peak TV with auteur directors involved was anything other than HBO’s “True Detective,” directed by Cary Fukunaga.

HBO could be bringing back True Detective sooner rather than later.

HBO is working on a fourth iteration of True Detective.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” has cast Paul Wesley in the iconic role of James T. Kirk for the Paramount Plus show’s upcoming second season.“Strange New Worlds” is due to premiere on Paramount Plus on May 5. It was renewed for a second season back in January, with that season already in production.The show follows the adventures of Captain Christopher Pike prior to Kirk becoming captain of the Enterprise.

A federal guilty plea agreement was entered today by William Sadleir, the former chief executive of Aviron Pictures, who admitted that he applied for and received $1.7 million in loans under the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). That while the entire Aviron operation was being shuttered as a result of his prior embezzlement.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSPOILER ALERT: Do not keep reading if you have not finished Season 5 of “The Last Kingdom.”“The Last Kingdom” is coming to an end.Although a two-hour movie followup is currently filming, Season 5 of the Netflix historical drama wraps up the story of its central character, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, played by Alexander Dreymon, in a very satisfying way — as the sins of Uhtred’s past collide head on with his present and the future of England.Uhtred finds himself in an unusual place at the beginning of the season — unable to be with Aethelflaed (Millie Brady), the woman he loves and the Lady of Merica, he presides over a Mercian border town at her request. But strange things are in the air, as Brida (Emily Cox) is determined to have her vengeance once and for all and the enemies of the House of Wessex are gathering.