Netflix developing Catan TV series and films / Disney renews Project Runway / Suzanne Somers’ widower creates A.I. clone
PLUS: Stranger Things’ series finale may screen in theaters after all.
Netflix developing Catan TV series and films based on the hit board game
The streamer has won the rights to the Asmodee board game with plans for all kinds of projects, from scripted to unscripted, from live-action to animated. Netflix describes the potential projects as set in “a place where settlers must navigate bountiful and varied landscapes, shifting alliances and limited resources, while robbers roam the land.” “Anyone who has played Catan knows that the intense strategy at the core of the game has endless opportunities for some serious drama,” said Jinny Howe, Netflix’s head of scripted series, U.S. and Canada, in a statement. “We’re thrilled to partner across series, features, animation and games to bring this world to life for hardcore ‘Settlers’ and new fans alike.” Catan made its debut in Germany as The Settlers of Catan in 1995 as a game set on the fictional island where players must scramble for resources. Catan has sold more than 45 million copies globally.
Disney renews Project Runway for Season 22
Heidi Klum will return as host and judge, joined by mentor Christian Siriano and judges Law Roach and Nina Garcia for its second season on Disney.
Shrinking Season 3 premieres in January with an hour-long episode
Apple TV released the first look at the acclaimed comedy series’ third season starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford. Shrinking returns Jan. 28, 2026 for an 11-episode season (down from Season 2’s 12 episodes) that will be released weekly.
Warner Bros. Discovery publicly announces the exploration of a sale after rejecting a second offer Paramount Skydance
“After receiving interest from multiple parties, we have initiated a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives to identify the best path forward to unlock the full value of our assets,” Warner Discovery Chief Executive David Zaslav said in a statement this morning. The company didn’t disclose what interest it had received. The Wall Street Journal reports this morning’s announcement comes after Warner Bros. Discovery rejected a second offer from David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance earlier this week. According to Bloomberg News, Netflix and Comcast are among the companies interested in Warner Bros.’ movie and TV studios. According to The New York Times, “executives at Warner Bros. Discovery expect the streaming business to be attractive to a variety of buyers, including tech companies like Netflix, Amazon and Apple. Some analysts think that one or more of those companies could also jump in to bid on all of Warner Bros. Discovery because of Paramount’s interest.”
Stranger Things’ series finale may screen in theaters after all
In a Variety cover story published last week, creators Matt and Ross Duffer expressed interest in showing the series finale in theaters, with Matt saying: “People don’t get to experience how much time and effort is spent on sound and picture, and they’re seeing it at reduced quality. More than that, it’s about experiencing it at the same time with fans.” But Netflix chief creative officer Bela Bajaria shot down the idea, telling Variety: “A lot of people — a lot, a lot, a lot of people — have watched Stranger Things on Netflix. It has not suffered from lack of conversation or community or sharing or fandom. I think releasing it on Netflix is giving the fans what they want.” According to Puck News’ Matt Belloni, the series finale will be screened in theaters. “(The) Stranger Things finale *will* go to theaters: Remember last week when I suggested the recent talks between Netflix and AMC Theatres could lead to more theatrical partnerships beyond KPop Demon Hunters on Halloween? Now I can report that the two-hour Stranger Things series finale will debut in AMC and other theater chains on New Year’s Eve, the same day it drops on Netflix.”
Suzanne Somers’ widower has created an A.I. clone of his late wife two years after her death
Alan Hamel, Somers’ husband and partner of 55 years, shared a demo of the A.I. of the late Three’s Company star, who died of cancer in October 2023, at a conference earlier this year. “Obviously, Suzanne was greatly loved, not only by her family, but by millions of people. One of the projects that we have coming up is a really interesting project, the Suzanne A.I. Twin,” Hamel tells People. Hamel adds of the A.I. clone: “It was Suzanne. And I asked her a few questions and she answered them, and it blew me and everybody else away. When you look at the finished one next to the real Suzanne, you can’t tell the difference. It’s amazing. And I mean, I’ve been with Suzanne for 55 years, so I know what her face looks like, and when I just look at the two of them side by side, I really can’t tell which one is the real and which one is the A.I.”
HBO Max raises prices, effective immediately
HBO Basic with Ads has gone up $1 to $10.99 per month, or up $10 to $109.99 per year. HBO Max Standard has gone up $1.50 per month to $18.49, or up $15 to $184.99 per year. And HBO Max Premium has gone up $2 per month to $22.99, or up $20 to $229.99 per year. The prices are effective immediately for new subscriptions. Existing subscribers will get notice that their next bill on or after Nov. 20 will have the price increase.
Jon Stewart’s response to No Kings protests was The Daily Show at its best
It was “gut-busting comedy that skewered false idols,” says Bill Carter, noting that SNL “passed on the opportunity” to tackle the No Kings protest last weekend. While Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon also addressed the No Kings protests (Jimmy Kimmel is on vacation this week), “Stewart’s segment was classic Daily Show—grabbing the news by the horns and riding it hard,” says Carter. “He showed footage of peaceful protests across major cities and mocked Republican efforts to smear them as ‘hate rallies,’ cutting to clips of people in inflatable costumes singing ‘This Land Is Your Land.’”
Stephen Colbert thanks CBS for allowing him to show President Trump’s “disturbing” A.I.-generated response to No Kings protests
“There it is: King Trump crapping on America,” said The Late Show host on Monday’s show, per The Daily Beast. “Which is insane, though I will grant: factually accurate.” He added: “I want to take a second here to thank CBS for letting us show that video on television. Some networks are not showing that video because it’s so disturbing. There’s rational reasons to not show that video, but I think we’re way beyond rationality at this point. So thank you, CBS. Thank you.”
Disney is planning a 24-hour Fourth of July 2026 broadcast to celebrate America’s 250th birthday
“The Independence Day telecast will air across Disney+, Hulu, ABC, ESPN, Freeform, FX and National Geographic, ending with a fireworks broadcast from Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort,” says Variety’s Ethan Shanfeld. “The coverage will be led by World News Tonight anchor David Muir alongside hosts and personalities from ABC News, ESPN and National Geographic.” As Disney CEO Bob Iger explains: “At its heart, America’s story is one of imagination, ambition, and possibility — the same ideals that have guided Disney since the beginning. This celebration honors both a nation and a spirit that never stop dreaming about what’s next.” As part of the 250th anniversary celebration, National Geographic will launch an “America in Superlatives” show and ESPN will premiere a new segment on SportsCenter titled “America’s Team,” a search to find out which team most embodies the United States.
Black Thought: Jimmy Fallon essentially stalked The Roots until we agreed to be his Late Night house band
The Roots singer Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter tells Rolling Stone that Fallon was persistent in his efforts in trying to get the popular Questlove-led band as his house band, spending a year before the launch of his Late Night show in March 2009 lobbying the band. “I’m thinking about doing the Late Night show, and I need a band. Would you guys be interested in doing it?’” Black Thought recalled Fallon saying. “We thought it was bullsh*t until he kept coming around...We would show up at a gig, and he’d be in our dressing room, like, ‘Hey, hey, what’s up? I was serious about what we talked about.’ He was dedicated.”
One Piece shares the first look at Giants Brogy and Dorry
The new characters will make their debut in Season 2.
Ken Jennings quits his Omnibus podcast after eight years
“I’m so proud of the eight years (John Roderick) and I spent unearthing weird oddities of the past on our podcast OMNIBUS,” the Jeopardy! host wrote on Instagram. “But my travel schedule is making it harder and harder to keep up with the show, so we’re bringing in a cavalcade of guest hosts to help out.” Jennings’ final show is Nov. 8.
Fox went too far cutting to an ad during the ninth inning of Game 7 of the ALCS
During one of the most tension-filled moments of last night’s game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners, “Fox did something inexplicable. It began airing a Capital One advertisement,” says Awful Announcing’s Drew Lerner. “Imagine going to watch a James Bond movie in theaters, and right when 007 is about to confront his adversary, he tries to sell you Coca-Cola. This is essentially what Fox just did to millions of people watching the final inning of Game 7. Frankly, the decision was unacceptable. The ninth inning of a winner-take-all Game 7 to earn a spot in the World Series should be sacred. The only priority should be delivering the best possible game broadcast. Period.”
Lamorne Morris and Hannah Simone find a new home for their New Girl rewatch podcast
Their rewatch podcast The Mess Around will move to podcast network Headgum as it begins tackling Season 4 of the Fox comedy series.
Love Is Blind’s Cameron Hamilton and Lauren Speed-Hamilton welcome their first baby
The couple have been together since meeting on Season 1 of the Netflix dating reality show.
Netflix unveils the trailer for Selena y Los Dinos: A Family’s Legacy
Premiering Nov. 17, the documentary film dives deep into the life of the late Selena Quintanilla with never before seen footage.