Slow Horses boss Will Smith to exit / South Park is taking this week off / Netflix renews Untamed for Season 2
PLUS: Tracy Spiridakos to lead USA drama series Anna Pigeon.
Slow Horses’ Emmy-winning boss Will Smith to exit after Season 5
Smith, who won an Emmy for drama writing last year by dropping a joke about the other Will Smith, announced he'll step down as Slow Horses’ head writer after the end of the upcoming fifth season. "Smith (who technically serves as showrunner, although that title does not exist in U.K. productions), set the tone and kept the bar high for the faithful screen adaptation of Mick Herron’s series of spy novels, and has shepherded Slow Horses all the way from its inception," says Deadline's Antonia Blyth. Smith admitted “there were certainly some private tears” as Season 5 production came to a close. Smith was nominated for his second Emmy for drama series writing earlier this month. He previously won two Emmys with Veep's outstanding comedy series wins. Smith will pass the baton to Gaby Chiappe for Season 6 and Ben Vanstone for Season 7, but he won't be involved in Slow Horses in any capacity after Season 5. “Series 5, it doesn’t end things by any means,” he says, “but it concludes certain story arcs that started in Season 1, so it felt like a good moment to hand over the show.”
South Park is taking this week off, teases Trump groping Satan’s leg on next week’s episode
In a promo released today, South Park teased more Trump and the Devil and the devil antics, plus Cartman as conservative activist Charlie Kirk, when it returns Aug. 6. It's not unusual for South Park to take a week off during a season.
Tracy Spiridakos to lead USA drama series Anna Pigeon
The former Chicago P.D. star will play the title role, Anna Pigeon, "a former city slicker who became a park ranger after a devastating loss changed the trajectory of her life forever," per Deadline. "While Anna tries to outrun her demons, her focus turns to solving crimes that have taken place within national park grounds, no matter who or what gets in her way. The series is based on the novels by Nevada Barr." Rookie Blue vet Morwyn Brebner will serve as showrunner, while Lea Thompson will direct and executive produce.
Netflix renews Untamed for Season 2
The Eric Bana-led National Parks Service mystery thriller has been picked up for a second season 12 days after its series premiere. “I am absolutely thrilled that we get the chance to bring another season of Untamed to life,” Bana said in a statement. “The response to season 1 has been a testament to the incredible effort by our crew to deliver something truly unique. I can’t wait to take Kyle on his next journey. Massive thanks to Netflix, John Wells Productions, Warner Bros. Television and our fans.”
An NFL employee is recovering after he was struck by a bullet during Monday's shooting at the league’s New York City offices
In a note to colleagues, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said that other than the one employee who was injured everyone is "safe and accounted for, and the building has nearly been cleared" in Monday's shooting incident that resulted in the deaths of four people, including an off-duty NYPD officer. According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, "Craig Clementi, an employee in the league’s finance department was struck in the back by a bullet during Monday night’s shooting. There is a belief that the bullet may have ricocheted before hitting him. Remarkably, the man, who had recently welcomed a new baby, was on the phone with other NFL employees at the time, warning them to stay safe and evacuate the building. He continued to make calls even while he was taken to the hospital by ambulance and Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a memo to league employees that their colleague is in stable condition."
George Stephanopoulos was late to Good Morning America this morning because he was stuck in an elevator
The FDNY rescued Stephanopoulos, who was stuck in an elevator for more than an hour.
NBC will celebrate the opening of Universal Orlando Resort’s Universal Epic Universe with a Joe Manganiello-hosted star-studded special
The Aug. 20 Inside the Worlds of Epic Universe will feature Bowen Yang, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jon M. Chu, Mason Thames, Matt Rogers, Michelle Yeoh, Nico Parker, Vin Diesel and Warwick Davis, plus an extended interview with Steven Spielberg.
Say Nothing sued for defamation by former Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteer Marian Price
Price, who was portrayed by Hazel Doupe in the FX series, has filed suit in Dublin High Court against Disney for defamation over the FX limited series after making threats to sue last December. Her lawsuit singles out Say Nothing’s ninth and final episode for erroneously portraying her “as having carried out the execution-style murder” of a Belfast mother of 10 in the series by shooting her in the back of the head, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which adds: "Price is calling for damages and an injunction preventing defendants Disney and Minim UK Productions Limited “from further publishing the same or similar defamatory statements.” The complaint also calls for Disney to remove a pivotal sequence in the ninth episode of the series that shows Price, who is now known by her married name Marian McGlinchey, carrying out the execution."
Netflix's Pride and Prejudice adaptation reveals its full cast, including Rufus Sewell and Fiona Shaw, and first photo
Joining the previously announced Emma Corrin, Jack Lowden and Olivia Colman are Rufus Sewell as Mr. Bennet, Freya Mavor as Jane Bennet, Jamie Demetriou as Mr. Collins, Daryl McCormack as Mr. Bingley, Louis Partridge as Mr. Wickham, Rhea Norwood as Lydia Bennet, Siena Kelly as Caroline Bingley and Fiona Shaw as Lady Catherine de Bourg, plus Hopey Parish and Hollie Avery in their screen debuts as Mary and Kitty Bennet.
Stephen Colbert jokingly teases his next possible gig: podcasting
"I'm going to need a gig soon, so sell me on podcasting. Is it fun?" The Late Show host asked Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers, whose Las Culturistas podcast was last week named to Time's 100 all-time best podcasts list. Rogers joked that Las Culturistas likely landed at the bottom spot on the prestigious list, telling Colbert: "You start one, we're getting bumped. Like almost certainly," according to People. Yang had an idea for what Colbert could do with a podcast, pitching a series where he goes on dates with wife Evelyn "Evie" McGee Colbert and then recapping them. "Dates with each other, right?" Colbert asked, prompting Yang to clarify, "That's up to you." "That sounds really sweet to me," Yang added. Colbert then asked Yang if he'd produce it and let the show join "the Las Culturistas empire." ALSO: Stephen Colbert roasts the Paramount-Skydance merger with pee jokes: "I predict PSKY will become synonymous with number one.”
Days Of Our Lives issues a rare statement debunking internet rumors that mainstay Suzanne Rogers is leaving
Rogers, who has played Maggie Horton Kiriakis on Days since 1973, is not going anywhere, the Peacock soap announced Tuesday. “Maggie and Suzanne are integral to the show’s history, present storylines, and now, on the heels of our pick-up, the future!” according to a DOOL statement, first provided to Soap Opera Digest. “Neither are going anywhere.”
Presumed Innocent taps Jack Reynor to star opposite Rachel Brosnahan in Season 2
The Perfect Couple vet will co-lead Season 2 of the Apple TV+ series, based on Jo Murray’s upcoming debut legal thriller Dissection of a Murder. His role is being kept under wraps.
ABC moves up premiere dates for Grey's Anatomy, 9-1-1 and 9-1-1: Nashville by one week
Season 22 of Grey's, Season 9 of 9-1-1 and the series premiere of 9-1-1: Nashville are now scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 9.
Dolly De Leon joins Apple TV+'s Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed
The Nine Perfect Strangers and Triangle of Sadness will join Jake Johnson and Tatiana Maslany as a detective in the darkly comedic thriller about a newly divorced mom who falls down a dangerous rabbit hole of blackmail, murder and youth soccer.
Rupert Everett alleges he was fired from Emily in Paris Season 5
Everett appeared last season in one episode as Giorgio Barbieri, the owner of a global interior design firm based in Rome. “I did a scene in the latest season, and they told me, ‘Next year we’ll speak,’” he told Vanity Fair “I waited for them to call me—but ultimately, it never came, and they just fired me. Show business is always very difficult, from the beginning to the end. When they write the screenplay, they think they want you—but then things change, and they lose your character. I don’t know why. For me, it was a tragedy. I was in bed for two weeks because I couldn’t get over it.” A source close to the production tells Vanity Fair that Everett was hired as a guest star, and his character’s story came to a conclusion. Netflix declined to comment on Everett’s version of events.
Worst Cooks In America pays tribute to Anne Burrell
At the end of Monday's episode, the Food Network show shared a smiling photo of Burrell alongside the message: “In Memoriam, Anne Burrell, 1969-2025.”
The Daily Show releases Jon Stewart's “Go f*ck yourself!” performance as a digital single
The 2-minute, 38-second track from last Monday night in support of Stephen Colbert featuring the “Go F*ck Yourself Choir” is now available to stream or purchase on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon Music and the iHeartRadio app.
The Pitt adds Lawrence Robinson to its Season 2 cast
The Sistas vet will recur as Brian Hancock, a sweet, charming, and kind-hearted patient who turns a soccer injury into a possible meet-cute with one of the doctors.
TNT Sports to feature the Savannah Bananas
Starting Aug. 18, TNT Sports will showcase eight consecutive weeks of exclusive Banana Ball coverage featuring the Savannah Bananas, according to Deadline, which adds: "The fast-growing, fast-paced, goofy exhibition league games with choreographed team dances and over-the-top walk-ups by batters and scoring celebrations, will air on truTV and be simulcast on HBO Max for U.S. subscribers."
Chad Rook joins My Life With The Walter Boys
The former Joe Pickett star will recur in at least four episodes of Season 3.
3 Body Problem adds Claudia Doumit and Ellie De Lange
The Boys' Dounmit and Arcadia's De Lange will be series regulars on the Netflix sci-fi drama's second season.
Brooke Hogan pays tribute to estranged father Hulk Hogan
“When he left this earth, it felt like part of my spirit left with him. I felt it before the news even reached us,” Hogan wrote of her dad and Hogan Knows Best co-star, who died last week at age 71, in a lengthy Instagram tribute, adding: "I know he’s at peace now, out of pain, and in a place as beautiful as he imagined. He used to speak about this moment with such wonder and hope. Like meeting God was the greatest championship he’d ever have." Brooke Hogan has been estranged from her family for years.