Apple TV+ renews Foundation for Season 4 / Paramount Skydance is preparing a bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery / Joel Kinnaman to lead Amazon's Bishop
PLUS: South Park's recent episode mocking Charlie Kirk pulled from Comedy Central but remains on Paramount+.
Apple TV+ renews Foundation for Season 4
The sci-fi series based on Isaac Asimov's Foundation series of stories has been picked up for a fourth season ahead of Friday's Season 3 finale. “There is no series quite like Foundation and we feel lucky and honored to be carrying the torch forward as co-showrunners into season four,” co-showrunners Ian Goldberg and David Kob said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing the epic, emotional, storytelling that defined the first three seasons of the show, and to be working alongside some of the most talented, passionate creative partners in the business.” As Gizmodo's Cheryl Eddy notes, "we can only assume that means cliffhangers galore in tomorrow’s finale, as is Foundation tradition—but we’re so happy with the announcement, we don’t even care (too much)!" In a statement, Matt Cherniss, Apple TV+'s head of programming, praised Foundation. “It’s been fantastic to watch Foundation become such a global phenomenon, with fans tuning in from every corner of the world,” he said. “With each new season, the excitement around this trailblazing sci-fi epic just keeps building due to the bold storytelling and collective artistry of this extraordinarily talented cast and creative team. We’re excited to keep exploring this universe together in season four.”
Paramount Skydance is preparing a bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery
The Ellison family "bid will be for the entire company, including its cable networks and movie studio," reports The Wall Street Journal's Jessica Toonkel. "Warner said late last year it planned to restructure into two operating divisions, one focused on the legacy cable-television business and the other on streaming and studios. Such a deal would be a big swing. Warner Bros.’s nearly $33 billion market capitalization is more than double that of Paramount Skydance. A bid hasn’t yet been submitted and the plans could still fall apart. Warner shares were up 26% after The Wall Street Journal’s report on the potential bid. Paramount Skydance shares were up 9.1%. By preparing a play for the company before Warner’s planned split, Paramount Skydance is attempting to pre-empt a potential bidding war for the studio and streaming unit that could include deep-pocketed technology companies such as Amazon.com and Apple. If successful, such a deal would bring together two of Hollywood’s most storied studios and the parent companies of streaming services HBO Max and Paramount+." As Toonkel points out, "the scale of the potential combination could bring antitrust and regulatory scrutiny." There has been talk of a Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger going back two years.
Joel Kinnaman to lead Amazon thriller series Bishop
From creators Little Marvin and Tony Saltzman, Bishop stars Kinnaman as brilliant, battle-scarred homicide detective Bishop Graves who "will put all of his skills to the test in the hunt for an elusive killer targeting San Francisco’s moneyed class," per the official description. "As this increasingly audacious killer develops a devoted following among the city’s powerless, Bishop becomes convinced these murders connect back to SF’s most powerful man, his own father, Lincoln Graves."
South Park's recent episode mocking Charlie Kirk pulled from Comedy Central but remains on Paramount+
Comedy Central has canceled reruns of the Aug. 6 "Got a Nut" episode, which used Cartman to make fun of right-wing activist, who was killed in an assassination on Wednesday. The episode remains available to stream on Paramount+.
The View hosts decry political violence in response to Charlie Cook assassination
“I don’t even know how to start this,” Whoopi Goldberg said at the top of the ABC daytime talk show today, “because this is just beyond devastating. Our hearts, of course, go out to the family of Charlie Kirk who was shot and killed yesterday on a college campus in Utah.”
Big Little Lies Season 3 inches closer to a pickup with Mr. & Mrs. Smith co-creator Francesca Sloane tapped to write the first episode
Sloane, who co-created Mr. & Mrs. Smith with Donald Glover after working with him on Atlanta, will executive produce the new installment with series creator David. E. Kelley and stars Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith Season 2 delayed due to "cast issues"
"The mystery of who survived the gunfight in Mr. & Mrs. Smith Season 1 finale cliffhanger will remain unsolved for the time being," reports Deadline's Nellie Andreeva. "Production on Season 2 of Prime Video‘s popular series has been pushed, with its future uncertain, sources tell Deadline. The delay is due to cast issues, I hear. Anora‘s Mark Eydelshteyn and Yellowjackets‘ Sophie Thatcher were cast as Season 2’s eponymous Mr. and Mrs. Smith in December and February, respectively.”
Ricky Gervais returning to Netflix for adult animated “slacker sitcom” Alley Cats
Premiering in 2026, Alley Cats is described as a “slacker sitcom” following the trials and tribulations of a group of feral British cats from all walks of society, who seek companionship while ruminating on everyday life. He'll direct and voice one of the cats. He'll also reunite with some of his past TV colleagues, including Tom Basden, Andrew Brooke, David Earl, Kerry Godliman, Jo Hartley and Diane Morgan. It also features Natalie Cassidy and Tony Way.
Netflix and AMC extend their streaming partnership with The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, Orphan Black and more
Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire Season 2, Dark Winds” Season 3 and The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2, The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2 and Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches Season 2 will be made available on Netflix this fall. Meanwhile, Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order, premiering this fall, will debut on Netflix “sometime next year.” Additionally, Netflix will gain access to In addition to these currently airing TV series, Netflix is gaining access to the following AMC Networks library titles Orphan Black, Orphan Black: Echoes, Parish, This is Going to Hurt, NOS4A2 and Soulmates.
Brad Ingelsby's Task has a bigger HBO debut than his previous series Mare of Easttown
Task premiered Sunday to 3.1 million viewers in its first three days, up 36% from Mare of Easttown's debut in 2021 and good enough to be one of the Top 5 series debuts in HBO Max history.
CNN taps Elex Michaelson to host a 12 a.m.-2 a.m. late-night news show
Michaelson, who recently worked on Fox's Los Angeles station KTTV, is best known for his political coverage of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his acclaimed coverage of this year's Los Angeles wildfires. “I am so excited to join CNN and learn firsthand from some of the most talented journalists on the planet,” said Michaelson in a statement. “I’m especially grateful that CNN is expanding its investment in my hometown as the West Coast houses so many global leaders in politics, entertainment, technology, sports and more. This is truly a dream job.”
Apple TV+ renews German medical drama Berlin ER for Season 2
The pickup comes one day after Berlin ER won Best Drama Series and Best Cinematography at the German Television Awards.
Netflix lands the rights to Elsie Silver’s Chestnut Springs novels
Why Women Kill and The Waterfront vet Hannah Schneider will adapt Silver's five-book series described as "a series set against the breathtaking backdrop of small-town Canada, following siblings as they navigate their family-owned ranch and embark upon turbulent, emotional, and at times spicy, journeys toward finding love.”
Questlove to be honored with the Peabody Trailblazer Award
The Oscar- and Grammy-winning filmmaker, musician and Tonight Show bandleader will be honored Oct. 10 by Abbott Elementary star Quinta Brunson, a previous recipient of the Trailblazer Award.
CBS Sets Earth, Wind & Fire and Cyndi Lauper Grammy specials
A Grammy Salute To Earth, Wind & Fire Live: The 21st Night of September will air on Sunday, Sept. 21, featuring Stevie Wonder, Jonas Brothers, Jon Batiste and Janelle Monáe. A Grammy Salute To Cyndi Lauper: Live From The Hollywood Bowl will air Sunday, Oct. 5, featuring Joni Mitchell, Cher, Angelique Kidjo, John Legend, SZA, Mickey Guyton, Trombone Shorty and Jake Wesley Rogers, plus a video tribute from Brandi Carlile.
Bryan Cranston delivers his Emmy acceptance speech for The Studio on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Cranston was at a wedding in Minnesota last Saturday when he found out — from the bride's mom — that he won the award for best guest actor in a comedy series at the Creative Arts Emmys.