Jersey Shore franchise to end after 300+ episodes and 17 years / Abbott Elementary renewed for Season 6 / Kaley Cuoco joins HBO Max's How to Survive Without Me
PLUS: History Channel orders shows hosted by Kevin Bacon, Ted Danson, Tom Selleck and Dolph Lundgren.
Jersey Shore Family Vacation to end, concluding the MTV reality franchise after more than 300 episodes spanning 17 years
The Jersey Shore spinoff will say goodbye with an 18-episode ninth and final season that premieres March 7 in what MTV is calling “the culmination of a franchise that entertained millions with major life milestones, laugh-out-loud chaos, and the unfiltered chemistry that defined an era of reality television.” Angelina Pivarnick, Deena Cortese, DJ Pauly D, Jenni “JWOWW” Farley, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola and Vinny Guadagnino will all be back for one-last round of Jersey Shore-style memories. Jersey Shore premiered in December 2009, airing for 71 episodes through 2012. In April 2018, Jersey Shore was revived for sequel series Jersey Shore Family Vacation, which has aired 218 episodes so far. “The farewell season marks the end of one of reality TV’s most influential franchises — a series that has chronicled fist-pumping highs, headline-making lows and every chaotic milestone in between,” says People’s Dave Quinn. “Since its debut in 2009, the Jersey Shore universe has grown into a pop-culture force, spanning nearly 300 episodes and multiple spinoffs. Viewers have watched the roommates grow up in real time, navigating relationships, marriages, sobriety, parenthood and career reinventions — all while maintaining the chemistry that first made them famous. Notably, the iconic cast has stayed the same since they first burst onto TV screens nearly 20 years ago.” Watch the trailer.
Abbott Elementary renewed for Season 6
“ABC is keeping the tradition going, handing flagship comedy Abbott Elementary an early Season 6 renewal for 2026-27,” says Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva. “This marks the fourth consecutive year that the network has kicked off renewals with Abbott Elementary as the first series to secure a spot on the schedule for the following season. Also per tradition, Abbott Elementary‘s renewal got a special announcement, this time by Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph) with an outgoing message on her voicemail.”
Kaley Cuoco joins Ray Romano and Joshua Jackson on HBO Max pilot How to Survive Without Me
Cuoco will star as Kate, described as “the eldest daughter who inherited her mother’s perfectionism, elegance, and organizational prowess,” per Variety. “Balancing her own marriage and motherhood, along with a fulltime job as an interior designer, Kate presents an immaculate image to the world — but her perfect facade masks deeper wounds she’s never fully addressed.”
CBS News is expected to keep Nate Burleson with Gayle King on CBS Mornings
Last December, the New York Post reported there was talk that Burleson and King will both exit the CBS morning show. But with King’s announcement that she has signed a new CBS News contract, CBS News president Cibrowski appeared to indicate that the show will stand by Burleson as well. He called the duo “fantastic partners,” adding: “We are excited to continue to evolve CBS Mornings and can’t wait for what’s to come.”
History Channel orders shows hosted by Kevin Bacon, Ted Danson, Tom Selleck and Dolph Lundgren
History’s Strange Fortunes with Kevin Bacon will recount some of the oddest financial stories in U.S. history, Extraordinary Origins with Ted Danson delves into the back stories behind several significant inventions, Crime and Justice with Tom Selleck will take deep dives into some of the more consequential criminal cases in American history and History’s Greatest Machines with Dolph Lundgren will follow the former chemical engineering student as he explores the impact of machines on history.
PBS Masterpiece’s Miss Scarlet renewed for a seventh and final season
The British period drama series starring Kate Phillips as the titular Eliza Scarlet, Victorian London’s first female private investigator, is ending after Season 7. “What a journey this has been,” said Phillips in a statement. “Miss Scarlet has been one of the greatest joys of my career, and I will forever be grateful to Rachael New for creating such a witty, sharp, and delightful character in Eliza. It’s been a privilege to work on a show crafted with so much love and dedication and as we prepare to say goodbye, I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved and the memories we’ve made. Thank you to everyone who has supported us — I can’t wait to share the farewell Miss Scarlet deserves.”
Billy Zane boards Stick for Season 2
Zane will have a recurring role on the Apple TV golf comedy, but his character is being kept under wraps.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 2 adds Lucy Boynton, Babou Ceesay and Peter Mullan
Boynton will play Lady Rohanne, Ceesay will take on the role of Ser Bennis and Mullan has been cast as Ser Eustace Osgrey.
President Trump bought Netflix debt amid battle for Warner Bros.
“As Paramount sought to pry Warner Bros. away from the streaming giant, Trump was adding more Netflix bonds to his personal portfolio, financial disclosures released by the White House on Wednesday show,” says The Hollywood Reporter’s Alex Weprin. “The disclosures show that President Trump bought between $600,000 and $1.25 million worth of Netflix debt in January, adding to the $500,000 to $1 million in Netflix bonds that he purchased in December, shortly after Netflix’s megadeal for Warners was announced.”
Cartoon Network classics joined Tubi early this week: Are they already “leaving soon”?
A slew of Cartoon Network series, from Ed Edd ‘n Eddy to The Powerpuff Girls, joined Netflix on March 1. According to ComicBook.com’s Evan Valentine, “online animation fans are noting that many series have arrived on a Tubi section labeled ‘Leaving Soon.’ While this hasn’t confirmed when we can expect the Cartoon Network entries to depart from Tubi, it might mean that this partnership between the streaming service and the cable network isn’t long for this world. As of the writing of this article, Tubi has yet to release an official statement on whether the animated shows are leaving the site in the near future or if this is possibly a technical issue. With the recent Paramount/Warner Bros merger confirmed, there could be reason to believe that WB might be bringing its series home.”
Ryan Gosling mistakenly thinks he’s joining the Five-Timers’ Club in SNL promo for his fourth hosting stint
“Oh my god, it’s just four. I’m sure someone’s made this mistake before,” says Gosling, who will be joined by musical guest Gorillaz this Saturday. ALSO: Behind the scenes of Connor Storrie’s “The Gentleman’s Code” sketch.
Megan Keller flew via private plane from after her hockey game in Ottawa Saturday night to make her SNL cameo
The U.S. women’s hockey team captain, who is the captain of the PWHL’s Boston Fleet, played in Ottawa vs. the Ottawa Charge on Saturday night just hours before Saturday Night Live was set to air. “Of course the game goes to overtime and a shootout,” Keller, who played nearly 30 minutes in her team’s 2-1 victory, tells The Athletic. After the game, there was a private plane waiting for Keller at the Ottawa airport that took her right to New York City. Keller was able to make dress rehearsal, which she found difficult because the crowd for Heated Rivalry star Connor Storrie was so loud. When it came time for the actual broadcast, featuring her and teammate Hilary Knight joining Quinn and Jack Hughes on stage with Storrie, Keller was so nervous she said she was “shaking in my boots.” She remembers the big cheer. “It was so loud,” Keller said. “That’s something that I’ll remember forever.” Keller says SNL “was the ‘what is going on, what just happened,’ moment for me. That is a show that you watch growing up and even now watching their skits, seeing them on social media, like (SNL) was definitely on my dream list. So it was pretty cool to be able to experience that with Hilary.”
A&E announces docuseries on Scott Peterson, John Gotti, Jim Belushi and Johnny Cash
Scott Peterson: The New Evidence will chronicle the Los Angeles Innocence Project’s (not affiliated with the Innocence Project) push to overturn Peterson’s conviction. A&E has also ordered The Gotti Files, Johnny Cash: The Man Comes Around and K9 PD with Jim Belushi.
Landman leads Nielsen’s 2026 multiplatform viewership, followed by High Potential
With CBS’ main shows on hiatus, ABC had the most shows in the Top 20, including Will Trent, The Rookie and 9-1-1.
Did James Talarico win because he received a “Colbert bump”?
The Texas state representative’s interview with The Late Show host Stephen Colbert on Feb. 16 has drawn more than 9 million views on YouTube after Colbert alleged that CBS wouldn’t allow it to air because of a new FCC mandate. The controversy may have helped him beat Rep. Jasmine Crockett in Tuesday’s primary.
The Four Seasons sets Season 2 premiere date, releases first-look photos
The comedy series starring Tina Fey, Will Forte, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Marco Calvani, Erika Henningsen and Colman Domingo will return to Netflix with an eight-episode Season 2 on May 28.
Lifetime orders its first microdrama series with Taye Diggs’ Tides of Temptation
The vertical series Tides of Temptation, which will be mobile-only, will exist in the same cinematic universe as Love of a Lifetime original movie Terry McMillan Presents: Paradise with You.
NBC announces Jason Benetti will be Sunday Night Baseball’s play-by-play caller, but he won’t have a full-time analyst
Instead, NBC Sports announced Benetti “will be paired with analysts with connections to each participating team.” According to Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, NBC Sports’ decision may alienate viewers. “Fans want to build a connection with a broadcast crew, no matter the sport. Sports fans also like consistency,” says Traina. “I’m not a fan of playing ‘guess the announcer’ every week. If you miss the opening segment of Sunday Night Baseball this season, more often than not, you’re going to have no idea who the analysts are unless you recognize the voice of your local broadcaster. The flip side is that fans like to hear their local broadcasters. This is especially true in the postseason. National guys come in and just don’t know the team nearly as well as the analyst who has been there all year calling more than a hundred games.”
British detective series Lovejoy is getting a revival
Slow Horses production company See-Saw Films has “landed the rights to adapt the Lovejoy detective novels for TV, which were made into a popular BBC series in the late 1980s and early 1990s starring Ian McShane,” says Deadline’s Max Goldbart. “Lovejoy will be more than familiar to fans of British detective television. Adapted by Ian La Frenais, the BBC show ran for eight years, totaling 70 episodes, and made a star of McShane, who played the eponymous lead. No word yet on whether McShane is returning for the remake, which isn’t yet attached to a network or streamer. The show also starred Chris Jury, Dudley Sutton, Phyllis Logan and Celia Imrie. Blue Sky acquired rights in 2019 but that adaptation didn’t get made.”
Canadian TV makes a satirical comedy series on disgraced Olympics sprinter Ben Johnson
Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story, which will air on GameTV and Paramount+ in Canada, is a six-part “satirical sports comedy series is starring Shamier Anderson as controversial sprinter Ben Johnson, who won gold at the 1988 Olympic Games in what became known as ‘the dirtiest race in history’ before he was caught in a doping scandal and disqualified,” per Deadline. Watch the trailer.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom blames “Fox derangement” for amplifying a negative perception of his state
Jimmy Kimmel calls California “the best state.” But Newsom tells him that Fox News has focused only on “what’s wrong” with California because “our success runs completely contrary to their entire world view.” ALSO: Josh Meyers’ “Gavin Newsom” presents Gavin Newsom with a “FIFA Cup O Peace” on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
The Brady Bunch house becomes a historic landmark
In a 13-0 vote Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved a recommendation by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission to add the Studio City property at 11222 W. Dilling St. to the city’s list of historic-cultural monuments.
NBA on NBC’s Throwback Tuesday earns raves
“The NBA on NBC has leaned into nostalgia for their grand return this season after a 20-year-plus hiatus,” says Awful Announcing’s Matt Yoder. “And while the network has carefully threaded the needle when it comes to mixing the old with the new with the likes of Roundball Rock and their new broadcast team, they went all the way in with their Throwback Tuesday broadcast. The first half of NBC’s Coast to Coast Tuesday doubleheader featured the San Antonio Spurs playing at the Philadelphia 76ers. And calling the game was a who’s who of the original stars of the glory days of the NBA on NBC. Bob Costas, who recently returned to the network he called home for decades, worked the play-by-play. He was joined by Doug Collins and Mike Fratello as game analysts.”
HBO’s Lanterns teaser looks like a Green Lantern show, despite having hardly any Green Lanterns
The 2-1/2-minute teaser follows veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and new recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) across a dusty landscape.
Netflix’s Age of Attraction unveils its cast and trailer
Hosted by Nick Viall and Natalie Joy, the new dating series will ask if age truly matters when there’s a real connection, featuring contestants ranging from 22 to 60 years old.