Celebrities Get Animated on Animal Planet; Freeform Drama Pilot Underway

Monday, July 16, 2018

Celebrities Get Animated on Animal Planet; Freeform Drama Pilot Underway

Whether it's on set, at home or far from civilization, the animated accounts of unexpected and surprising encounters between animals and the celebrities who lived to tell their stories are featured in Animal Planet's new series, Celebrity Animal Encounters which premieres Friday, July 27 at 10PM ET/PT. The series, which launched a handful of episodes in a limited run on Facebook Watch, drew almost four million views. All-new stories and all-new celebrity animal run-ins will be featured throughout the season.

In each episode of Celebrity Animal Encounters, actors, musicians, athletes and influencers share their personal encounters with animals which led to loveable, crazy, shocking, dangerous and outright hilarious moments that forever changed their lives. Kristen Bell explains the true story behind her now famous encounter with a sloth; Al Roker describes what it was like to be trapped in a tent by a bear who was desperate for his food; Whitney Cummings will keep audiences on the edge of their seats as she recounts her experience of battling a crew of coyotes who camped out in her yard, fixated on her newly adopted dog; and Danny Trejo reveals he truly has a heart of gold when he rescues a very lost and wayward dog who was in desperate need of love and a home. These are just some of the true stories featured in the new animated series. Other episodes will feature stories from Justin Hartley, Moby, Kate Micucci, Danny Trejo and Judy Greer, among others.

Freeform

Freeform announced that principal photography began on the Motherland (working title) pilot, a one-hour drama from executive producers Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Kevin Messick. The pilot, created by Eliot Laurence, has started in Vancouver, Canada. Set in an alternate America where witches ended their persecution 300 years ago by cutting a deal with the U.S. government to fight for their country, Motherland (working title) follows three young women from basic training in combat magic into early deployment at Fort Salem. In this world, the traditional roles of gender and power are flipped with the more dominant women on the front lines fighting looming terrorist threats that are familiar to our world, but with supernatural tactics and weapons.

Taylor Hickson (Deadpool) portrays Raelle, a reluctant recruit with major authority issues, whose mother recently died in the line of duty. Kelcey Mawema (To All the Boys I've Loved Before) portrays Abigail, an unquestionably alpha, smart, driven and courageous witch who hails from the upper echelons of military witch society and is excited to be joining the ranks of the witches' army. Jessica Sutton (The Kissing Booth) portrays Tally, a kind, strong-willed and curious witch who enlisted despite her mother’s passionate disapproval. Amalia Holm (Alena) rounds out the young witch recruits, playing Scylla, a playful yet dark and mischievous recruit who is not what she appears to be. Also joining the ranks is Demetria McKinney (Tyler Perry's House of Payne) who plays Anacostia, an articulate, tough, wryly humorous staff sergeant whose chief concern is keeping the young recruits alive through basic training.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, April 2

The Conners - "Fame, Flying Fists and Cold Feet" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The Conners get a taste of fame when their family restaurant is featured in a reality TV show, which inspires Becky to become an influencer. Meanwhile, Jackie and Dan meet with a lawyer, and Darlene connects with someone at The Lobo Lounge.

Abbott Elementary - "Ava Fest: Tokyo Drift" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
The Abbott teachers turn their open house into a carwash to help raise money for the school.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 31)

Wednesday, April 2

Adam DeVine (The Righteous Gemstones/Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin/Workaholics/Modern Family) - Watch Adam on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Michael B. Jordan (The Assistants) - Michael appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. He also talks about Sinners on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) - Hannah stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Rob Delaney (Bad Monkey/Catastrophe) - Rob appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Sasheer Zamata (Home Economics/Woke/Robbie) and Greta Titelman (Fantasmas/Search Party/Los Espookys) - Sasheer and Greta are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda appears on Everybody's Live with John Mulaney at 10pm on Netflix.
Jennifer Lopez (South Central) and Jamie Foxx (Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!/The Jamie Foxx Show) - E! News has interviews with Jennifer and Jamie at 11pm on E!.
Chris Perfetti (Abbott Elementary) - Chris talks about Abbott Elementary on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Jenny Slate (The Great North/Big Mouth/Married/Bob's Burgers) - Jenny talks about Dying for Sex with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Judy Greer (Kidding/Married/Mad Love/Miss Guided/Arrested Development) - NBC's Today catches up with Judy in the 9am hour.
Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Glen Powell (Scream Queens) and Kristin Davis (And Just Like That.../Bad Teacher/Sex and the City) - NBC's Today catches up with Glen and Kristin in the 10am hour.
Tasha Smith (Survival of the Thickest/Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse/The Tom Show/Boston Common) - Tasha, who stars in Netflix's Surival of the Thickest, joins Tamron Hall to discuss how she found her freedom by sharing her story on her own terms and learning to embrace self-love, so check your local listings.
Gabourey Sidibe (Difficult People/The Big C) - Gabourey talks about starring in the new Lifetime movie Give Me Back My Daughter on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Seth Rogen (The Studio/Platonic/Undeclared) - Seth is joining Drew to tell her all about his new show The Studio on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.