SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

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A society page writer in 1895 Rhode Island witnesses a murder while attending a ball at the Vanderbilt mansion and is drawn into the investigation when her brother is arrested. Starring Ali Skovbye (Firefly Lane) and Danny Griffin (Fate: The Winx Saga). Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers, a new, original premiering Friday, February 2 (9 p.m. ET/PT), on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Hallmark Movies & Mysteries is coming back in 2024 with a fresh slate of all new mysteries. Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers takes viewers behind the scenes of the East Coasts high society. Introducing Hallmark's newest "family" members Ali Skovbye and Danny Griffin along with returning favorite Nathan Witte. This all-new mystery is set to become a network favorite with the period costumes and the mysterious ups and downs. Leading viewers to question who could possibly be responsible for this murder and will the suspect be found before they can strike again.

Following unprecedented success across its 2019-2020 programming slate, Crown Media Family Networks unveiled new casting announcements, Original movies, and renewals of hit series and movie franchises on its two flagship networks, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries for 2020-2021. The news comes 100 days prior to the launch of Christmas on Hallmark's channels, the most anticipated holiday program event on any network. Crown Media is working with some of its most compelling talent in a development capacity. The company is currently in development with network stars Ashley Williams and Kimberly Williams- Paisley on a two-part movie about real sisters, with each of them playing the lead in one of the films. In addition, the company is developing projects with Holly Robinson Peete and Tamera Mowry-Housley. Hallmark Channel's upcoming slate includes the return of seasonal events, Fall Harvest and Countdown to Christmas, as well as new seasons in the network's three scripted dramas and daily, lifestyle program, Home & Family. Additionally, Crown Media Family Networks has renewed Hallmark Channel's pet-centric specials, Kitten Bowl, American Humane Hero Dog Awards and American Rescue Dog Show.

With several more announcements in the coming weeks, Hallmark announced new talent joining the Hallmark family, including: Aaron Tveit, Alvina August, Janel Parrish, Jeremy Jordan, Krystal Joy Brown, Lucia Micarelli, Mallory Jansen, Marisol Nichols, Rochelle Aytes, and Ronnie Rowe. They join returning favorites that include Alexa & Carlos PenaVega, Alicia Witt, Candace Cameron Bure, Chaley Rose, Jesse Metcalfe, Jill Wagner, Julie Gonzalo, Lacey Chabert, Merritt Patterson, Rachael Leigh Cook, Rick Fox and Sarah Drew. And finally, returning for new seasons in 2021, are Hallmark Channel's three original scripted programs, which are some of the longest-running and highest-rated series on cable television. When Calls the Heart, Hallmark Channel's longest-running series, will soon go into production on Season 8. On the heels of its recently concluded successful sixth season, Good Witch has been greenlit for Season 7. Multi-generational family drama, Chesapeake Shores, is set to return for Season 5.

HBO Max announced a six-episode order for Untitled Michael Che Project (wt), an original sketch comedy series starring Michael Che (Saturday Night Live, Michael Che Matters). Each episode follows a theme or incident, (police brutality, unemployment, falling in love, etc.), and uses sketches and vignettes to illustrate what it feels like to experience this from a black vantage point. It's less about being "right" and more about being honest, even at the risk of being controversial. Untitled Michael Che Project is produced by Universal TV, a division of Universal Studio Group, and Broadway Video, with Che, Lorne Michaels, and Erin Doyle serving as executive producers. 

Comedy Central is rolling out the red carpet for the illustrious and multitalented film, television and stage star Alec Baldwin. The #1 brand in comedy announced that Baldwin will be this year's Roastee. The Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin (#BaldwinRoast) will take place in New York with the tape and airdate to be announced at a later date. The Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin will be executive produced by Joel Gallen from Tenth Planet Productions, who also served as Executive Producer and Director of the Comedy Central Roasts of Bruce Willis, Rob Lowe, Justin Bieber, James Franco, Charlie Sheen, and Donald Trump, as well as the Emmy(R)-nominated Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner. Christian McLaughlin is the Executive in Charge of Production and Jordan Ellner is the Talent Producer for Comedy Central.

Comedy Central gives audiences access to a world of super funny, personally relatable, culturally relevant, and provocative comedy that tells the funny truths of life, every day and everywhere. From award-winning late-night, scripted and animated series to stand-up specials, short-form and sketch, Comedy Central has it all. A subsidiary of Viacom, Comedy Central is available to more than 300 million households in over 150 countries across the globe.

Viewers are getting into the Christmas spirit this July with Hallmark Channel's "Keepsake Christmas" (Friday, July 12 - Saturday, July 27) and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries' "Gold Crown Christmas" (Friday, June 28 - Sunday, July 14). Along with two all-new Christmas movies premiering in the month of July on both networks, Christmas movies featuring fan-favorite stars including Candace Cameron Bure, Lacey Chabert, Jill Wagner and Christina Milian will air throughout the programming events and are sure to put audiences in the holiday spirit. Two all-new movies are Christmas Camp on Sunday, July 7 at 9pm/8c on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries starring Lily Anne Harrison and Bobby Campo and A Merry Christmas Match on Saturday, July 13 at 8pm/7c on Hallmark Channel starring Ashley Newbrough and Kyle Dean Massey.

Hallmark Channel Original Christmas Movies that will air throughout "Keepsake Christmas" (Friday, July 12 - Saturday, July 27): A Shoe Addict's Christmas starring Candace Cameron Bure and Luke Macfarlane; Pride, Prejudice, and Mistletoe starring Lacey Chabert and Brendan Penny; Christmas at Graceland starring Kellie Pickler and Wes Brown; Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa starring Jill Wagner, Mark Deklin, Holly Robinson-Peete, Barbara Niven, Andrew Francis and Ashley Williams; Mingle All the Way starring Jen Lilley, Brant Daugherty and Lindsay Wagner; and Entertaining Christmas starring Jodie Sweetin and Brendan Fehr.

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Original Christmas Movies that will air throughout "Gold Crown Christmas" (Friday, June 28 - Sunday, July 14): Memories of Christmas starring Christina Milian and Mark Taylor; A Veteran's Christmas starring Eloise Mumford and Sean Faris; Once Upon a Christmas Miracle starring Aimee Teegarden and Brett Dalton; and Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas starring Josh Henderson and Megan Park.

Hallmark Channel, the worldwide leader in celebrations, announces the 10th anniversary of America's favorite, most-watched holiday tradition, "Countdown to Christmas" at the bi-annual Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour. Hallmark Channel will honor the 10th anniversary of "Countdown to Christmas" with the biggest holiday season yet, featuring a programming extravaganza of a world record number of original premieres, celebrated talent, holiday specials and more! Currently, the network is in production on its first original holiday movie, The Christmas Song, starring Kristin Chenoweth, Scott Wolf and directed by Eric Close. Among the other MANY items they announced: Hallmark Channel will add "Countdown to Summer" to its lineup of programming events celebrating the seasons and special occasions with three new, original movie premieres in the month of May. As temperatures around the country begin to rise and people yearn for the longer days ahead, the network will offer a fresh slate of movies designed to transport viewers to the upcoming carefree days of summer and whet their appetites for the sun, sand and romance that populate the warmer months. This newest addition joins Hallmark Channel's popular "Winterfest," "Countdown to Valentine's Day," "Spring Fever," "June Weddings" "Fall Harvest" and the event that started it all, "Countdown to Christmas.

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries announces it will launch Signature Mystery, the premiere Sunday night destination on television for thrilling mysteries featuring a slate of all-new mystery franchises and the return of the network's highest-rated mystery series. On the heels of successful ratings in Q4, the network unveils plans for new installments of returning, popular mystery franchises including Garage Sale Mysteries, starring Lori Loughlin; Aurora Teagarden Mysteries starring Candace Cameron Bure; Hailey Dean Mysteries, starring Kellie Martin and based on the books by Nancy Grace; and Morning Show Mysteries, starring Holly Robinson Peete and Rick Fox and based on the books by Al Roker and Dick Lochte. The returning hit franchises will be joined by all-new mysteries, Chronicle Mysteries, starring Alison Sweeney, Crossword Mysteries starring Lacey Chabert and Brennan Elliott and inspired by Will Shortz, crossword editor of The New York Times; and Picture Perfect Mysteries (wt) starring Alexa PenaVega and Carlos PenaVega.

The Emmy(R)-winning comedy series Veep kicks off its seven-episode, seventh and final season Sunday, March 31 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, exclusively on HBO. The show stars Emmy(R) and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer, who is hitting the campaign trail as she runs for president. The series is also available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and partners' streaming platforms. The ensemble cast of the show also includes two-time Emmy(R) winner Tony Hale as Gary, her devoted bodyman; Emmy(R) nominee Anna Chlumsky as Amy, her right hand; Emmy(R) nominee Matt Walsh as Mike, her former spokesperson; Reid Scott as the ultra-ambitious Dan; Timothy C. Simons as Jonah Ryan, a former hanger-on turned congressman; Kevin Dunn as Ben, her campaign manager; Emmy(R) nominee Gary Cole as analyst Kent; Sam Richardson as staffer Richard; and Sarah Sutherland as Catherine, Selina's daughter.

From the minds of fresh, exciting talents Julio Torres and Ana Fabrega, alongside Fred Armisen and Lorne Michaels of Saturday Night Live, comes the primarily Spanish-language comedy series Los Espookys, which begins its six-episode season this June on HBO. The half-hour series follows a group of friends who turn their love for horror into a peculiar business, providing horror to those who need it, in a dreamy Latin American country where the strange and eerie are just part of daily life. Starring Bernardo Velasco, Cassandra Ciangherotti, Ana Fabrega, Julio Torres and Fred Armisen, Los Espookys was created by Fred Armisen & Ana Fabrega & Julio Torres, and executive produced by Fred Armisen, Lorne Michaels and Andrew Singer.

Renaldo (Bernardo Velasco), a horror and gore enthusiast, assembles his friends to form Los Espookys. Noble, kind, naïve, and always running out of cellphone minutes, he's joined by Ursula (Cassandra Ciangherotti), a tough, calm and collected dental assistant who handles the logistics and execution of Los Espookys' work, like making sure they get paid for their spooks. Also in the group is Ursula's sister, Tati (Ana Fabrega), who constantly juggles several odd jobs, such as breaking in other people's shoes and counting people's steps. She acts as Los Espookys' test dummy. Rounding out Los Espookys is Renaldo's best friend, Andres (Julio Torres), a dark and mysterious heir to a chocolate empire who longs to unlock the secrets to his past and avoid his beautiful boyfriend. Meanwhile, Renaldo's reliable uncle, Tico (Fred Armisen), is living his dream of parking cars as a prodigious valet driver in LA.

MTV's Fear Factor returns with celebrity episodes on Tuesday, July 17 at 10PM ET with a two-hour premiere. Hosted by Ludacris, the series will include ten, one-hour celebrity episodes filled with new stunts inspired by urban legends, popular scary movies and viral videos from today's cultural zeitgeist. The celebrity contestants will confront their fears, be pushed beyond their comfort zones and take action against some of their biggest stressors. Episodes include:

Hip Hop Battle: Tyga, Lil' Yachty, Kodie Shane and Chanel West Coast; Hip Hop Sibling: Ayo and Teo, Rae Sremmurd; MTV Star Battle: Terrence J, Romeo Miller, Cara Maria, Chris 'C.T.' Tamburello, Tori Deal and Jordan Wiseley; Thrill Seeker Throwdown: The Dolan Twins, Jake Miller, Chris Pontius and Bam Margera; Reality TV Royal Rumble: Abi-Maria Gomes, Sierra Dawn Thomas, Cody Calafiore, Zach Rance, Brendon Villegas, Rachel Reilly and Caleb Reynolds; For the Love of Fear: Corinne Olympios, Rachel Lindsay, Vanessa Grimaldi, Alexis Waters and Danielle Maltby; Breaking The Internet: KWAY, La La, Tyler Oakley, JC Caylen and SSSniper Wolf; Battle of The Bands: Misterwives; The Shoredown: Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Paul "Pauly D" Delvecchio,"Deena Nicole Cortese, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, Jeremiah Buoni, Nilsa Prowant, Aimee Hall and Kirk Medas; Music Star ShowDown: Timeflies, Bea Miller and Drake Bell.

Following the success of last year's programming event, Lori Loughlin is back as Jennifer Shannon the curious sleuth with a knack of discovering not only garage sale treasures but foul play. Hallmark Movies & Mysteries unravels four new original Garage Sale Mysteries every Sunday in August starring Lori Loughlin (When Calls the Heart, Fuller House), Sarah Strange (Men in Trees, Life as We Know It), Steve Bacic (When Calls the Heart), Eva Bourne (When Calls the Heart) and Kevin O'Grady (You Me Her). Hallmark Movies & Mysteries premiered four new original Garage Sale Mysteries movies in August 2017, making the network the number one ad-supported cable network across the four Sundays.

Saddle up, it's time to give you the most noteworthy news from this past weekend for the TCA 2018 Winter Press Tour for many cable networks. IFC announced that horror-comedy series Stan Against Evil has been picked up for a third season slated to air in Fall 2018. Created by Dana Gould (The Simpsons, Parks and Recreation) and starring John C. McGinley (Scrubs) and Janet Varney (You're the Worst), Stan Against Evil has grown its dedicated fan base since originally debuting in 2016, with The New York Times calling it a "gruesome, deadpan delight." IFC's critically acclaimed comedy Brockmire is returning for its second season on Wednesday, April 25 at 10PM. Starring Critics' Choice Awards nominee Hank Azaria (The Simpsons) as Jim Brockmire, the boozy baseball announcer trying to make a comeback in the major leagues, Brockmire is produced by Funny Or Die and written and developed by Joel Church-Cooper (Undateable). Returning to star alongside Azaria are Tyrel Jackson Williams (Lab Rats) and Amanda Peet (Togetherness). Season 2 will consist of eight episodes, airing weekly on Wednesday nights.

AMC made a number of announcements related to The Walking Dead, including the series is being renewed for a ninth season, to premiere in late 2018. FOX and National Geographic announced the highly anticipated return of the Emmy Award-winning worldwide phenomenon Cosmos, from executive producer/writer/director Ann Druyan (who won an Emmy Award for writing the 2014 series and a Peabody Award for producing it) and executive producers Seth MacFarlane, Brannon Braga and Jason Clark. Neil deGrasse Tyson, the famed pop-culture icon, astrophysicist and host of the Emmy Award-nominated StarTalk, returns as host of the series, scheduled to premiere globally in Spring 2019. SundanceTV announced that it has picked up the acclaimed modern day psychological thriller Liar for a second season. Golden Globe(R)-winner Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey) and BAFTA's Sian Phillips Award recipient Ioan Gruffudd (Fantastic Four) will both return for season two of Liar.

On to Hallmark Channel, Good Witch returns for more magical adventures in the bucolic burb of Middleton when season four premieres Sunday, April 29 (9 p.m. ET/PT), on Hallmark Channel. Hallmark Channel announced it has renewed the network's hit, original series Chesapeake Shores for a third season. Airing on Sunday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT, Chesapeake Shores was one of Hallmark Channel's most-watched original series. Production on 10 episodes for season three is scheduled to commence this year for a season three premiere Summer 2018. Hallmark Movies & Mysteries network further solidifying the network's compelling mystery line-up with the addition of Psych, long-running dramedy starring James Roday, Dule Hill, Timothy Omundson, Corbin Bernsen and Maggie Lawson. The series follows young police consultant Shawn Spencer (Roday) who solves crimes with powers of observation so acute that Santa Barbara PD detectives think he's psychic. Beginning today (Monday, January 15), three episodes air every weekday from 6-9 p.m. ET/PT, leading out of three episodes of Monk.

Finally, Pop went yesterday. The Demons of Dorian Gunn, Pop's supernatural comedy pilot executive produced by Krysten Ritter and JAX Media, will star Jeffery Self (Search Party), Chrissie Fit (Pitch Perfect films), H. Jon Benjamin (Archer), Lateefah Holder (Disjointed, Transparent) and Kyle Harris (Stitchers, High Maintenance). The pilot follows disgraced New York socialite Dorian Gunn who discovers he’s descended from a long line of demon hunters and is forced to abandon his life of leisure to protect humanity from monsters as they emerge from the gates of hell. Pop also announced a Wednesday, April 18, 2018 premiere date for the second season of Hollywood Darlings starring Jodie Sweetin, Christine Lakin and Beverly Mitchell. In addition, the network also unveiled a trailer for the one-hour scripted drama Clique from the creative team behind the cult smash hit Skins, as well as a season two pick-up of the provocative series. A co-production between Pop and the BBC in the U.K., Clique will premiere on Pop in Summer 2018. The series will go into production on its second season this Spring.

Lifetime ups its premium scripted content with new season greenlights of the critically-acclaimed drama series UnREAL for a fourth season and freshman drama Mary Kills People for a season two. The renewal of UnREAL comes ahead of its much-anticipated third season, which will debut in early 2018 alongside Mary Kills People. Lifetime's scripted fare also includes the straight-to-series psychological thriller from Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble, YOU, starring Penn Badgley and Elizabeth Lail, which begins production this August. In line with Lifetime's Broad Focus initiative, more than 50% of directors for these series are female, and are predominately produced and written by women.

With three original cable movies ranked in the top four in women 25-54 this year, Lifetime furthers its supremacy in long form storytelling with greenlights of Faith Under Fire and The Simone Biles Story (working title). Grammy® winner Toni Braxton, whose Lifetime biopic Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart was the #1 rated cable movie of 2016, makes her return to the network to star as Antoinette Tuff, a clerical worker who talks down a school shooter in Faith Under Fire from Sony Pictures Television. America's most decorated gymnast with 19 Olympic and World Championship medals, Simone Biles also signs on for a Lifetime biopic revealing the sacrifices and dedication it took her to become one of the greatest and most celebrated athletes in the world.

Lifetime also sets airdates for its fall movies: The Watcher in the Woods (Oct 21) starring Academy Award winner Anjelica Huston and directed and executive produced by Melissa Joan Hart; Flint (Oct 28) starring Queen Latifah, Jill Scott, Marin Ireland and Betsy Brandt from executive producers Neil Meron, Craig Zadan and Katie Couric; The Lost Wife of Robert Durst (Nov 4) starring Katharine McPhee and Daniel Gillies and I Am Elizabeth Smart (Nov 18) featuring Elizabeth Smart and starring Skeet Ulrich, Deirdre Lovejoy and introducing Alana Boden.

Crown Media Family Networks, home of Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries and cable's leading provider of family entertainment, announced today the introduction of a third linear cable offering, Hallmark Drama, which will launch October 1, as the company continues to register revenue and ratings growth across both its existing networks. Featuring a wholly distinct lineup from Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, Hallmark Drama's programming will evoke the rich legacy and spirit of Hallmark Hall of Fame, the most award-winning and longest-running primetime series in the history of television. In addition to spotlighting movies and series from Crown Media's vast library of original dramatic content, plans are underway for new, original programming to be produced exclusively for the network. More news certainly to come on this in the coming weeks!

Further solidifying its position as the ultimate destination for holiday entertainment, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries will light up audiences' homes with a record number of 33 new, original holiday world premiere movies in 2017. Hallmark Channel's annual, top-rated holiday event "Countdown to Christmas" and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries' beloved "The Most Wonderful Movies of Christmas" will gift viewers with more Christmas content than any other network. Along with 33 new, original movies across the two networks, holiday specials will also be part of the programing extravaganza including the "National Christmas Tree Lighting," "Holiday Homecoming with Jewel" and "A Very Happy Yule Log" featuring Happy the Cat and Dog. The annual round-the-clock holiday programming tradition begins Friday, October 27, 2017 and continues throughout the season until Monday, January 1, 2018. Stars include Rachel Boston, Catherine Bell, Candace Cameron, Danica McKellar, Alexa & Carlos PenaVega, Alison Sweeney, Lacey Chabert, Lori Loughlin, Jack Wagner, Julie Benz, Autumn Reeser and more.

Hallmark Channel has renewed its two-time Daytime Emmy(R) nominated, original lifestyle series Home & Family for a sixth season that will begin September 11, 2017. Home & Family will continue to air 260 original episodes this season, with new episodes premiering Monday through Friday at 10am. Season five of Hallmark Channel's original, primetime series When Calls the Heart returns with a two-hour sneak peek during the network's annual, popular programming event, "Countdown to Christmas." In February 2018, the saga of Hope Valley will continue with 10, one-our weekly episodes. In the wake of ratings growth in its third season that concluded July 2, Hallmark Channel has renewed its hit, original primetime series Good Witch for season four.

And finally, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries inks a development deal with award winning TV personality and author Al Roker. The mystery movie brings to life Roker's celebrated novel The Midnight Show Murders: A Billy Blessing Novel and will star famed actress Holly Robinson Peete (21 Jump Street). The movie is set to premiere in 2018. They also announced a development deal with world-renowned strategist and crisis communications specialist Judy Smith. The new mystery movie, The Adjuster, is loosely based off her real-life experiences and professional work. And the network's movie freanchies returns with new installments. Viewers will be treated to more of their favorite mysteries with new installments of Garage Sale Mystery starring Lori Loughlin; Aurora Teagarden starring Candace Cameron Bure and Marilu Henner; Gourmet Detective starring Dylan Neal and Brooke Burns; Signed, Sealed, Delivered starring Eric Mabius, Kristin Booth, Crystal Lowe and Geoff Gustafson; Hailey Dean Mysteries starring Kellie Martin and Fixer Upper Mysteries starring Grammy Award nominee Jewel and Colin Ferguson. News films include Darrow & Darrow (working title) from Emmy Award (R) Winner Phoef Sutton starring Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Tom Cavanagh and Wendie Malick.