Matlock star David Del Rio fired over co-star's sexual assault allegation / Clue scripted series is in the works / Parents TV Council files for bankruptcy
PLUS: Christopher Briney goes from The Summer I Turned Pretty to Hacks.
Matlock star David Del Rio fired after co-star Leah Lewis accused him of sexual assault
Del Rio, who played first-year associate Billy Martinez on the CBS legal drama, “has abruptly exited the hit CBS legal drama following an investigation into a sexual assault allegation,” reports Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva. According to sources, Andreeva reports that “the alleged incident occurred Sept. 26 and involved fellow Matlock series regular Leah Lewis,” who plays first-year associate Sarah Franklin. “A report of the incident triggered immediate action by the series’ producers and CBS Studios, which is behind Matlock,” reports Andreeva. “Following an internal investigation by the studio, Del Rio was fired and escorted off the (Paramount Studios) lot the same day the alleged assault was reported, which we hear was Oct. 2. According to sources, Matlock executive producer Eric Christian Olsen was among those who led him away. Filming on Matlock continued after Del Rio’s firing. Matlock is set to go on a pre-planned hiatus next week after wrapping half of the new season this week, with production slated to resume after Thanksgiving. Given the sudden nature of Del Rio’s departure, the Matlock creative team will have to rework scripts to write his character off.” Del Rio has yet to comment on his firing.
Clue scripted series is in the works
One day after Netflix greenlighted a Clue reality competition series, Deadline reports Sony Pictures Television and Hasbro Entertainment are developing a scripted adaptation of the classic murder mystery board game. “The hourlong Clue, from writer/executive producer Dana Fox (Wicked) and director/executive producer Nicholas Stoller (You’re Cordially Invited), was just taken out and has started garnering interest, sources said,” reports Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva. “To get prospective buyers in the spirit, the pitch material was sent to them in Clue‘s signature manila envelope and was accompanied by a copy of the board game, I hear.” Clue, which was launched in 1949, was adapted as a 1985 hit movie. But this wouldn’t be the first Clue series. “A five-part Clue limited series with a young ensemble cast ran on The Hub, Hasbro’s joint venture with Discovery Communications, in 2011,” says Andreeva. “An animated Clue series with Story as executive producer was in development at Fox several years ago; it didn’t move forward.”
Christopher Briney goes from The Summer I Turned Pretty to Hacks
The Conrad actor is joining Season 5 of the HBO Max comedy. Details of Briney’s role haven’t been revealed, but a photo was released of him and Jean Smart’s Deborah Vance together having a laugh.
Parents TV Council files for bankruptcy
The conservative watchdog that launched in 1995 and was known for going after shows like South Park and Family Guy in the 2000s has filed for liquidation, noting it had $92,000 worth of assets and $285,000 in liabilities. Founded by conservative activist L. Brent Bozell III, “the PTC was a powerful force in the culture war. Its press releases criticizing the latest risqué scenes on broadcast and basic cable TV routinely generated media headlines — as did its deep-dive studies showing an increase of more adult content,:” says The Hollywood Reporter’s James Hibberd. “The organization’s tagline was ‘Because Our Children Are Watching,’ which seemed to strike a chord among some parents as broadcast channels pushed the envelope in terms of adult content to compete with the more grown-up vibe of ascendant basic cable channels like FX and AMC, and basic cable channels strove to compete with the R-rated vibe of premium cable channels HBO and Showtime. Once streaming services entered the fray — which were free from worries of government regulators or advertisers — TV entered a post-censorship era where the likes of Netflix can offer both children’s cartoons and hard R-rated films in the same app, with hardly an eyebrow raised.” Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane once said of the PTC: “That’s like getting hate mail from Hitler. They’re literally terrible human beings.”
See the first photo of Shemar Moore and his S.W.A.T Exiles cast
In the S.W.A.T. spinoff, Moore’s Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson “is pulled out of forced retirement to lead a last-chance experimental SWAT unit made up of untested, unpredictable young recruits. Hondo must bridge a generational divide, navigate clashing personalities, and turn a squad of outsiders into a team capable of protecting the city and saving the program that made him who he is.” In a statement, Moore said: “Get ready for S.W.A.T. 2.0!” Moore said. “After eight incredible years of defying the odds and entertaining the world, we’re about to take the franchise to a whole new level—bigger, better, and edgier. With a fresh cast and a darker, more intense Hondo, we’re ready to bring this story to life and show you what we’ve created together. Thanks to the fans and Sony for keeping us alive, you won’t want to miss what’s next!”
The Summer I Turned Pretty’s Rain Spencer to star in another Amazon MGM Studios YA series: E. Lockhart’s Genuine Fraud
Written by TSITP writer Sinead Daly, Genuine Fraud centers on a social chameleon (Spencer) who reinvents herself as the best friend of a wealthy heiress, then assumes her “friend’s” life when she goes missing.
Jimmy Kimmel: Aziz Ansari was given a head’s up on Riyadh Comedy Festival grilling
At the Bloomberg Screentime conference, Kimmel was asked if he gave Ansari a head’s up about his headline-making Monday interview pressing him on his recent Riyadh Comedy Festival appearance. “Yes. You know how talk shows are...There’s an understanding of what you’re going to talk about. Sometimes, it veers off into various directions. But they always know what the topics are going to be.” ALSO: YouTube executive: Jimmy Kimmel’s return from suspension viewership on ABC “paled in comparison” to YouTube viewership.
Grey’s Anatomy promotes Trevor Jackson, adds Jade Pettyjohn and Anita Kalathara
Jackson will become a series regular after guest-starring on the last two episodes of last season. Season 22 will also introduce new characters played by Pettyjohn and Kalathara in guest-starring roles.
Turning Point USA announces its own “All American Halftime Show” to counter Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show
The conservative nonprofit co-founded by the late Charlie Kirk hasn’t revealed the entertainment for its Super Bowl halftime alternative. But under “What Music genres would you like to be featured?,” one of the options is “Anything in English.” ALSO: Lee Greenwood: “I would make a great performer for any Super Bowl show.”
Amazon: The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 was up 65% over Season 2
About 70 million people worldwide watched Jenny Han’s Prime Video YA series in the span of 70 days after its July 16 Season 3 premiere, Amazon says.
Amazon psychological thriller series Malice gets a November premiere date
David Duchovny, Carice van Houten and Jack Whitehall star in Malice, which will drop all six of its episodes on Nov. 15. In Malice, created by Rev. creator James Wood, Whitehall stars as Adam, a charismatic tutor who charms his way into the life of the wealthy Tanner family while they’re on holiday in Greece. “When the family’s nanny falls dangerously ill, Adam orchestrates his way into their London home, and his true vengeful nature begins to emerge,” the official logline reads. Adam starts to turn Duchovny’s Jamie Tanner and van Houten’s Nat Turner against each other and secretly plots to bring down the entire family, and those who dig into Adam’s past find themselves playing a dangerous game.
Fox omits Mark Sanchez from its Week 6 NFL game lineup
With only five Fox games this weekend, one of the broadcast teams was going to be off. Sanchez was part of the NFL on Fox’s No. 6 team. Yet Sanchez’s usual play-by-play partner, Adam Amin, will be working.
Language-learning app Duolingo is launching its own anime series
The company has produced a five-episode, short-form series in collaboration with Titmouse, the L.A.-based animation studio known for its work on Big Mouth, Metalocalypse, Star Trek: Lower Decks and The Legend of Vox Machina. Watch the trailer.
ESPN reveals Inside the NBA’s regular season schedule
The iconic TNT pregame show will live on at ESPN with 20 episodes this NBA season.
Apple TV+’s Drops of God reveals Season 2 first-look images and premiere date
The French-Japanese drama returns for an eight-episode second season on Jan. 26, 2026.
Megyn Kelly to lead her own SiriusXM channel
The former Fox News and NBC News star has thrived on SiriusXM. Now, she’ll have her own Megyn Kelly Channel, which will feature shows from Glenn Beck, Nancy Grace and Dr. Laura Schelssinger.
Winter is coming for Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg in HBO’s A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms teaser
The half-hour Game of Thrones prequel series premieres Jan. 18, 2026.
It’s Jeremy Renner vs. Edie Falco in Mayor of Kingstown’s Season 4 trailer
Falco joins the Paramount+ series as Anchor Bay’s new prison warden in the fourth season, premiering Oct. 26.
Rhea Seehorn’s character has a line to the White House in Pluribus’ official teaser
The 45-second teaser for Vince Gilligan’s new Apple TV+ series features Seehorn speaking to somebody at the White House.
Watch Elsbeth’s Season 3 trailer
Carrie Preston’s Elsbeth Tascioni returns to CBS on Oct. 12.
The Vince Staples Show reveals its Season 2 premiere date and trailer
“In the wake of a tragic death, Vince embarks on a wild journey in search of inner peace,” reads the logline for Vince Staples’ genre-bending Netflix comedy, which returns for Season 2 on Nov. 6.
Michael Shannon stars as soon-to-be-assassinated President Garfield opposite Matthew Macfadyen in Netflix’s Death by Lightning trailer
Betty Gilpin and Nick Offerman also star in the period drama series, premiering Nov. 6.
Netflix’s Breathless gets a premiere date and trailer
The Spanish medical drama returns Oct. 31.
Amazon unveils the trailer for The Mighty Nein
The Critical Role animated series premieres Nov. 19.