Land Of the Lost reboot in the works at Netflix / Streaming tops cable and broadcast TV for the first time / Chuck E. Cheese is getting an animated special
PLUS: The Oval star Derek Dixon sues Tyler Perry for $260 million, accusing the entertainment mogul of sexual harassment, assault and retaliation.
Land Of the Lost reboot is in the works at Netflix
The streamer is set to reboot another classic NBC series that premiered in fall 1974. Netflix has closed a deal with Legendary Television for a reboot of Sid and Marty Krofft’s 1974-1976 NBC sci-fi children's adventure show, according to Deadline. The news comes as Netflix is filming a reboot of Little House on the Prairie, which premiered on NBC four days after Land of the Lost in September 1974. As Deadline's Nellie Andreeva notes, "Land of the Lost centers on a father, Rick, and his two children who accidentally go through a portal and find themselves trapped in a world inhabited by dinosaurs, including a Tyrannosaurus rex they nickname Grumpy; primate-like people named Pakuni, one of whom, Cha-Ka, they befriend; and reptilian humanoids called Sleestak. Land of the Lost originated as a children’s series which aired on NBC Saturday mornings for three seasons from 1974 to 1976, with CBS giving it a summer run in 1985 and 1987. Despite its relatively short run, Land of the Lost achieved cult status, keeping the title relevant. That led to a 1991 series remake, which aired for two seasons on ABC, and a 2009 feature film starring Will Ferrell. Sid and Marty Krofft produced both."
The Oval star Derek Dixon sues Tyler Perry for $260 million, accusing the entertainment mogul of sexual harassment, assault and retaliation
Dixon, who stars as Dale on Perry's White House-set BET series, filed suit Friday in Los Angeles, accusing Perry of creating "a coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic" between them while he was starring on the filmmaker's shows The Oval and Ruthless, on which Dixon starred as a character named Dale. The complaint accused Perry of "initially promising him career advancement and creative opportunities, such as producing his pilot and casting him in his show, only to subject him to escalating sexual harassment, assault and battery, and professional retaliation when Mr. Dixon did not reciprocate Mr. Perry's unwanted advances." Matthew Boyd, Perry's attorney, responded in a statement: "This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam. But Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail."
Tom Cruise, Dolly Parton and Debbie Allen will receive honorary Oscars — but not as part of the Academy Awards ceremony
The trio, along with production designer Wynn Thomas, will receive honorary Oscars at the 2025 Governors Awards on Nov. 16. In addition, Parton will receive the Academy’s Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. The honorary Oscars used to be part of the Oscars telecast up until 2008. The Governors Awards are not televised, but winners are traditionally briefly recognized during the Oscars ceremony. The recipients' speeches will be posted to YouTube.
Food Network chef Anne Burrell dies at 55
The Secrets of a Restaurant Chef host, co-host of Worst Cooks in America and Iron Chef America regular died today. No cause of death was given. “Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered,” her family wrote in a statement. “Anne’s light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world. Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.”
Streaming tops cable and broadcast TV for the first time, thanks to older viewers
"The streaming future is now the streaming present," says The New York Times' John Koblin. "Americans watched more television via streaming services than they did through cable and broadcast networks in the month of May, Nielsen said in a report on Tuesday. It is the first time that has happened over a full month. Nielsen began comparing streaming viewership with traditional network and cable television in 2021. At that time, even with streaming on a rapid ascent, the gap between the two was huge: Nearly two-thirds of all TV time was spent watching cable and broadcast, and just 26 percent was with streaming. That lead has now collapsed." Koblin adds: "It’s no surprise that younger viewers were the first to jump to streaming. But another group has since made the leap as well: viewers over the age of 65. Older viewers watch a lot of television, more than any other cohort — one-third of all viewing comes from this group. And they have been moving to streaming in droves in the last few years — particularly to platforms that are free and require no subscription. For instance, since 2023, viewers over 65 are the fastest-growing age group for watching YouTube off a television set." ALSO: YouTube and Netflix alone command almost as much viewing time as over-the-air networks in May.
Amazon to tackle Joseph of Egypt with The Chosen creator
The Chosen creator Dallas Jenkins is reteaming with Amazon MGM Studios on a series centered on the Biblical figure Joseph and his time in Egypt. According to the official logline, “Betrayed by jealous brothers, Joseph defies all expectations and rises to incredible power in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. But when his past catches up with him, he is confronted with the ultimate test.” As Variety's Joe Otterson notes: "In the Book of Genesis, Joseph is the son of Jacob and Rachel who is sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers. But his ability to successfully interpret the Pharaoh’s dreams, which saves Egypt from a terrible famine, earns him favor and position. His story has been told onscreen numerous times, while the story also serves as the basis for the iconic musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
The Mortician becomes HBO's most-watched docuseries in more than 5 years
With 2.6 million cross-platform viewers in the U.S., the three-part The Mortician beat out other high-profile docuseries, including Pee-wee as Himself, Chimp Crazy, Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God and more. "This is certainly a strong performance for the series, likely aided by the vote of confidence from HBO to place it in the network’s marquee 9 p.m. Sunday night slot, following on the heels of The Last of Us, The White Lotus and The Gilded Age," says Deadline's Katie Campione. "That generally has signaled to viewers that a series should be on their radar and thus can be a force for driving engagement."
Joe Biden visits the Reacher set
The former president and the Amazon series happened to be at the same Philadelphia location Monday. Biden had just finished eating breakfast as Reacher was filming at a nearby restaurant. "So our Reacher set got in the way of these legends," Reacher star Alan Ritchson posted on Instagram, accompanied by videos of him and Joe and Hunter Biden. "Was a privilege and honor to meet the Biden family. They couldn’t have been more lovely. Kind, joyful, gracious and present. We chatted briefly about simple stuff, like string theory and quantum entanglement. Then Joe beat me at arm wrestling. All in a day’s work."
Somebody Somewhere's Tim Bagley: SNL's Lorne Michaels "did not hire gay people, so I never got to audition"
“I was out as a gay man and people knew that they would not hire openly gay people,” the Somebody Somewhere and The Great North star said on SiriusXM Radio Andy’s The Julia Cunningham Show of auditioning for Saturday Night Live in the 1980s. “It was Lorne Michaels and Bernie Brillstein had kind of a thing where they did not hire gay people, so I never got to audition. All my friends did, and I was always kind of a standout at The Groundlings, but I was out, and so that’s the problem with being out back then was there were no guardrails. I mean, if somebody didn’t want to have you on their show, they just couldn’t, I don’t know. They weren’t trying to seek out, you know, LGBTQ people back then.” A source close to SNL denied to The Daily Beast Bagley's allegation. Michaels hired Terry Sweeney, SNL's first openly gay cast member, when he returned as executive producer after a five-year hiatus in 1985.
Kat Timpf returns to Gutfeld! after cancer battle and maternity leave
The Gutfeld! regular has been absent from the Fox News show since February, when she was announced she was diagnosed with Stage 0 breast cancer hours before giving birth to her first child. Timpf said her breast cancer journey isn't over. She still needs to have reconstructive surgery after undergoing a double mastectomy. “I didn’t get stretch marks,” she quipped, per LateNighter, “but I did cut my t*ts off. I am boob-free. I am cancer-free as well.”
Chuck E. Cheese is getting its first animated special for Christmas, starring Nathan Cress
The iCarly alum is set to lead the voice cast for The Chuck E. Cheese Christmas Special. The special, which does not currently have a streamer or network attached, “is not just a seasonal moment — it’s the beginning of a long-term vision to transform beloved characters into a storytelling universe for today’s kids and families," according to Chuck E. Cheese IP owner Chuck E. Cheese Entertainment.
President Trump's military parade was a big hit for Fox News
Fox News averaged 5.5 million viewers for last Saturday's evening parade, making it the most-watched non-NBA Finals broadcast of the week.
Comedian Desi Banks is developing a sitcom for BET Studios
The multi-camera comedy based on Banks' act will revolve around “a lovable yet stubborn comedian on the rise as he attempts to balance fatherhood, relationships, and the pursuit of his ever-present dream.” Banks and Malcolm “Champ” Heaggans are writing the comedy, and will also serve as executive producers.
Netflix is opening Netflix House theme parks in Las Vegas, Dallas and Philadelphia
The 100,000 square-foot, “first-of-their-kind, immersive story-driven experiences” will showcase games, experiences, merch, food, and other works centered around Netflix’s biggest shows and movies, all in a physical, brick and mortar (and indoor) venue. Netflix and chill isn’t just for your couch anymore.
Roy Wood Jr. to revisit the most iconic home runs in Roku's Going, Going Gone: The Magic of the Home Run
The Have I Got News For You host, who also hosted baseball podcast Road to Rickwood, is heading to different ballparks and other baseball landmarks across the country to revisit some of the most memorable home runs in history. Going, Going Gone: The Magic of the Home Run will air on The Roku Channel in July to celebrate the Home Run Derby.
BritBox and BBC's The Other Bennet Sister adds Richard E. Grant, Ruth Jones, Richard Coyle and Indira Varma
Jones and Grant will co-star as Mr and Mrs Bennet in the adaptation of Janice Hadlow’s novel, which tells the story of Mary Bennet — the seemingly unremarkable and overlooked middle sister in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Varma and Coupling's Richard Coyle will play Mr and Mrs Gardiner, Mary’s worldly aunt and uncle.
The Tonight Show will take Wednesday off as Jimmy Fallon promotes his new NBC business competition series in France
Fallon taped two shows Monday so that he could travel to France for the Cannes Lions International Festival to promote On Brand with Jimmy Fallon. While The Tonight Show will air a rerun Wednesday, Fallon will be back with a new show on Thursday.
Joel McHale reveals he's gotten four hair transplants
"Yeah, I'm fully bald. This is four transplants," McHale said on the We Might Be Drunk podcast, per E! News "I did it way back when it was a strip," Joel explained, referring to the hair transplant method that involves removing a strip of scalp. "Painful. Don't do a strip."
Who Wants to be a Millionaire to feature Severance, Community and The Office pairings, plus Matt Damon and Ken Jennings
Severance’s Tramell Tillman and Zach Cherry, Community’s Joel McHale and Jim Rash and The Office's Kate Flannery and Oscar Nuñez will be among the co-stars competing this summer.
ESPN announces a Fanatics Fest docuseries
Premiering July 7 on ESPN and ESPN+, Fanatics Fest: All Access will go inside the world’s largest arena for sports, collecting and culture.
The Sandman goes to Hell in second and final season trailer
Netflix has released a new trailer ahead of The Sandman's final season dropping in two volumes on July 3 and 31.