Notizie

Author and naturalist Bradley Trevor Greive will appear as an animated globetrotting wildlife expert on Netflix in October via Kapow Pictures and Mission Control Media’s Adventure Beast.

Produced with the streamer’s unscripted department, the series stars a 2D version of the Penguin Bloom co-author that travels the world, getting into zany misadventures while imparting weird and wonderful nature factoids.

Greive voices the character and is also a writer alongside Kapow co-founder Mark Gravas, who also directs. There are further voice contributions from Danice Cabanela and Josh Zuckerman.

Executive producing are Mission Control Media’s Michael Agbabian and Dwight D. Smith, alongside Gravas, fellow Kapow co-founder Sandra Walters, Greive, and Brian Frange. Brent Burnette is co-executive producer.

The idea originated in 2014, when Gravas made some animated shorts featuring a costumed Greive talking about his animal encounters and lesser-known wildlife facts.

Gravas told If the concept was an opportunity for Kapow,...

In today’s TV news roundup, HBO Max announced the release date for its new dark comedy, “Made For Love,” and Disney greenlit “Zombies 3.”

Dates

“Made For Love,” a dark comedy adapted from Alissa Nutting‘s novel of the same name, will debut on HBO Max with the first three episodes on April 1. The show follows Hazel Green (Cristin Milioti), a 30-something woman escaping a toxic marriage to tech billionaire Byron Gogol (Billy Magnussen), who has implanted a futuristic monitoring device in her brain. Dan Bakkedahl, Noma Dumezweni, Augusto Aguilera, Caleb Foote and Ray Romano also star in “Made For Love,” which is executive produced by Nutting, showrunner Christina Lee, Patrick Somerville, Dean Bakopoulos, Liza Chasin and Sj Clarkson. Paramount Television Studios is the studio. The series is directed by Alethea Jones and Stephanie Laing, who also serves as co-executive producer. Watch a trailer below.

Comedy Central has announced that...

Mattel Television is developing a small-scale reality competition series for one of the world’s biggest fashion icons: Barbie.

The studio is co-producing “Barbie Fashion Battle,” a reality competition show centered around designing clothes for Barbie, along with “Hollywood Game Night” production company Mission Control Media.

Per Mattel, “Barbie Fashion Battle” features 12 up-and-coming adult designers who will be divided into two separate fashion houses, each headed by a celebrity fashion icon. The designers will then create miniature high-fashion collections for Barbie that are presented in cinematic reveal sequences. The winner will receive a cash prize as well as the opportunity to design a line of Barbie doll fashions for Mattel Creations, an e-commerce and content platform that features curated items for sale and highlights creator collaborations past and present.

Mattel Television’s Adam Bonnett will lead the project for the studio, with Dwight D. Smith and Michael Agbabian executive producing for Mission Control Media.

Mattel expands its television program slate with the development of Barbie Fashion Battle. The iconic toy brand has teamed with Mission Control Media for the competition show centered amed at discovering the next generation of designers.

Barbie Fashion Battle features 12 up-and-coming adult designers who will be divided into two separate fashion houses, each led by a celebrity fashion icon. The contestants will create miniature high-fashion collections for Barbie. The winner will receive a cash prize as well as the opportunity to design a line of Barbie doll fashions for Mattel Creations.

The fashion competition series adds to Mattel’s entertainment slate inspired by popular toy franchises. This year Mattel announced the animated musical Barbie Princess Adventure and will launch Barbie & Chelsea The Lost Birthday. Barbie Fashion Battle also joins other unscripted projects in development including game shows based on Uno and Whac-a-Mole.

Adam Bonnett, Executive Producer, Mattel Television will lead...

NBC is bringing gametime back to primetime this weekend. The net will air the first of five new Hollywood Game Night episodes at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Jane Lynch, who won back-to-back Emmys in 2014-15 for hosting the show, will return to welcome celebrity friends to her summer beach house for more challenges and games. The new episodes are left over from last year’s Season 6, which premiered in July.

On each episode of Hollywood Game Night, two teams of four players each — three celebrities and one contestant — play a series of games for a chance to win up to $25,000. Special guests this season include Twitch, Carson Kressley, Amber Riley, Kal Penn, Miranda Cosgrove, Bill Nye, Yvette Nicole Brown, D’Arcy Carden, Susan Kelechi Watson and Jon Huertas.

The series is produced by Hazy Mills Productions, Mission Control Media and Universal Television Alternative Studio. Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner, Michael Agbabian, Dwight D. Smith...

“The Soup” is headed back to E!, with the new reboot hosted by comedian and actress Jade Catta-Preta set to premiere in February.

A new iteration of the long-running “Talk Soup” franchise, Catta-Preta’s new version of “The Soup” follows the Joel McHale-led iteration, which ran on E! for 12 seasons between 2004 and 2015.

It will feature clip highlights and recurring segments riffing on “hilarious moments across TV and entertainment, including the latest competition series, daytime and late-night talk shows, reality favorites like “The Real Housewives” and “The Bachelor,” award shows, popular scripted series, sports programming, and everything in between.”

Also Read: 'The Soup' to Return to E! in Early 2020

Catta-Preta is a Brazilian-born comic and actress working in Los Angeles, New York and Brazil. She performs at comedy clubs all over the country both in English and Portuguese. Her credits include MTV’s “Girl Code” and “Punk’d,” Comedy...

Quibi has given a green light to Floored, a comedic dance competition series with a moving dance floor, hosted and executive produced by Liza On Demand star Liza Koshy.

In each episode of Floored, produced by Mission Control Media, two teams of skilled dancers take on an insane dance floor with a life of its own. Dancers try their best to perform a pre-rehearsed routine on a floor that actually lifts, tilts, drops, shakes and spins in time to the music. Additionally, the dancers will have to dodge obstacles that are unexpectedly thrown their way.

“As someone who hosts dance parties of one in their living room, I am more than ready to host this one. I’m so excited to celebrate and scream for the fearless, the focused and the flexible as they step up to the plate… or floor,” said Koshy.

In addition to Koshy, Floored is executive...

YouTube star and comedian Liza Koshy will preside over a dance-competition reality series coming to Quibi — a kind of mashup of “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Wipeout.”

In “Floored,” two opposing teams of skilled dancers will try their best to perform a routine while the dance floor itself actually lifts, tilts, drops, shakes and spins in time to the music. The dancers also will have to dodge objects that will thrown their way.

“As someone who hosts dance parties of one in their living room, I am more than ready to host this one,” Koshy said in a statement. “I’m so excited to celebrate and scream for the fearless, the focused and the flexible as they step up to the plate… or floor.”

It’s the latest in a steady stream of programming-deal announcements from Quibi, the ambitious and untested short-form mobile subscription service led by Jeffrey Katzenberg and CEO Meg Whitman.

E! is set to revive its talk show comedy roundup series “The Soup” with Brazilian-born comedian Jade Catta-Preta. It’s set to premiere early next year as a weekly half-hour series.

The enduring franchise that began on E! as “Talk Soup” in 1991 features a comedic take on outrageous highlights from daytime talk shows, reality TV series and now viral Internet videos. The series helped turn former hosts Greg Kinnear and Joel McHale into TV stars.

“We’re excited to bring this beloved franchise back to the network, with a new take on an old favorite,” said Rod Aissa, head of production and development for Oxygen and E!. “Jade’s quick wit and keen observations will provide a much-needed voice in today’s pop culture landscape delivered in a way that only ‘The Soup’ can.”

Catta-Preta is billed as a busy comedian based out of Los Angeles who performs in English and Portuguese.

After a four-year break, The Soup is coming back. E! announced tonight during its telecast of the People’s Choice Awards that its signatures franchise will return with actress-comedian Jade Catta-Preta as host. (watch the Flashdance-influenced promo below)

Premiering in early 2020, the “reimagined” and “supercharged” new version of The Soup will continue to skewering pop culture.

“We’re excited to bring this beloved franchise back to the network, with a new take on an old favorite,” said Rod Aissa, Evp, Production and Development, Oxygen & Production, E!. “Jade’s quick wit and keen observations will provide a much-needed voice in today’s pop culture landscape delivered in a way that only The Soup can.”

E! most recently canceled The Soup at the end of 2015, ending the franchise’s 22-year run after a total of 3329 episodes.

The show premiered in 1991 as Talk Soup and famously launched the career of original host Greg Kinnear,...

Get ready for a fresh serving of “The Soup.”

The pop culture commentary show is returning to E! in early 2020 with host Jade Catta-Preta.

Catta-Preta is a Brazilian-born comic and actress working in Los Angeles, New York and Brazil. She performs at comedy clubs all over the country both in English and Portuguese. Her credits include MTV’s “Girl Code” and “Punk’d,” Comedy Central’s “@Midnight” and guest roles on “Modern Family” and “The Jim Gaffigan Show.”

A description for the returning series reads:

“Premiering in early 2020, the evolved and supercharged series will feature Catta-Preta’s irreverent sense of humor and sharp point-of-view on the entertainment world. From the hottest new series, to the latest O-m-g reality tv moments, to the best viral videos, plus everything in between, Catta-Preta is a “souper” fan who will catch viewers up on what they’ve missed and offer hilarious commentary on the most talked-about pop culture moments.

Exclusive: Let the games begin in the UK. Viacom’s Channel 5 is remaking long-running U.S. entertainment show Hollywood Game Night.

The British commercial broadcaster has ordered a UK version of the NBC Universal format from Monkey Kingdom, the Made In Chelsea and Newlyweds producers that it owned by the Hollywood studio. The UK version will have a different title.

In the U.S., the summer show is hosted by Glee star Jane Lynch and is in its sixth season.

The show features two contestants who are transported from their everyday lives into a night of fun as they step beyond the velvet rope and rub shoulders with some of their favorite stars and compete for the chance to win up to $25,000. The network said the upcoming season will feature new challenges and the return of the supersized backyard games.

In the UK, the show will feature two teams...

TruTV has unveiled its 2018-19 programming slate ahead of the Turner upfront presentation next week, including renewals for “Adam Ruins Everything” and “Hack My Life,” and new projects from Ken Jeong and “Super Troopers” duo Kevin Heffernan and Steve Lemme.

The network has given a series order to “Tacoma Fd,” which will see Heffernan and Lemme reunite as firefighters who spend most of their time tackling the less glamorous elements of the job. The new show is set to premiere with 10 episodes in 2019.

Two pilots have also been picked up, a medical advice show from “Dr. Ken” alum Ken Jeong, and an animated family comedy from comedian Jo Koy.

Also Read: Doj Argues At&T Should Sell DirecTV or Turner if Time Warner Deal Goes Through

In addition to “Adam Ruins Everything” and “Hack My Life,” truTV has also picked up 12 additional episodes of the stand-up comedy show “Laff Mobb’s Laff Tracks,” which will air in the fall.

See the complete list of premiere dates and full descriptions for the new shows below, all of which are in truTV’s own words.

Also Read: Time Warner Tops Q1 Earnings Forecasts Despite Rising TV Costs

New Series & Projects in Development

“Tacoma Fd” (wt) – 10 Scripted Half-Hour Episodes – Series Greenlight

On the heels of the breakout theatrical release of “Super Troopers 2,” co-creators and stars Kevin Heffernan and Steve Lemme will be donning new uniforms in “Tacoma Fd,” a new half-hour comedy set in a firehouse in the wettest city in America. Light on blazes that need extinguishing, they are fire fighters who are always ready to fight fires… but in this wet city, they find themselves tackling the less glamorous elements of the job. Leading the fire house crew are Chief Terry McConky (Heffernan) and Captain Eddie Penisi (Lemme). The series, which will go into production later this year and will debut in 2019, is co-created and executive produced by Heffernan and Lemme alongside David Miner and Greg Walter from 3 Arts Entertainment and Kyle Clark from Silverscreen Pictures.

“Untitled Ken Jeong Project” (wt) – New Unscripted Pilot

When it comes to medical questions, real life doctor turned comedian, Ken Jeong, is your first, second and funniest opinion. In this half-hour, comedic medical advice show, Jeong dispenses his expertise while also performing related comedy bits in front of a studio audience. Jeong and his team of correspondents tackle all aspects of health and wellness, from general medicine to that weird rash that’s starting to really burn. Created by Jeong, the series is produced by Hazy Mills Productions and Mission Control Media, with Jeong, Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner, Dwight D. Smith, Michael Agbabian and Brett Carducci serving as executive producers. Jeong is represented by ICM and Carducci of Aligned Entertainment.

“This Functional Family” (wt) – New Animated Series in Development

At the center of a fractured, patched-up, multi-racial, dysfunctional family is comedian Jo Koy: a guy who just wants to be a good son, a better dad, a decent brother, and a solid ex-husband. Oh, and maybe get his career and dating life on track if his family would just leave him the hell alone. Drawing upon real-life experiences and characters featured in Koy’s popular stand-up tour, this half-hour animated scripted series asks: what if the most real family on television was also a pretty weird cartoon? Created by Koy and Kirk Rudell, “This Functional Family” (wt) will be produced by Stun with Koy, Rudell, Jeremy Colfer, Mark Feldstein, and Brad Roth serving as executive producers.

Also Read: 'Billy on the Street' to Leave TruTV

Returning Series and Premiere Dates

“The Carbonaro Effect” – 16 Episodes – Season Four Premieres May 17 at 10:00 p.m. Et/Pt

Magician by trade but prankster at heart, Michael Carbonaro performs ingenious tricks on unsuspecting people, all caught on hidden camera. Whether posing as a coffee shop barista, museum curator or seemingly unremarkable store clerk, Carbonaro’s effect on people leaves fans laughing out loud with his bewildering and thrilling illusions. The series is produced by Fields Entertainment with Simon Fields and Carbonaro serving as executive producers.

“Paid Off with Michael Torpey” – 16 Episodes – Series Premieres July 10 at 10:00 p.m. Et/Pt

The student loan crisis is ridiculous, so comedian Michael Torpey (“Orange is the New Black”) is solving it in the most ridiculous way possible – a comedy game show. “Paid Off with Michael Torpey” gives three lucky college grads – all saddled with student debt – the chance to test the depth of their degrees with fun, fast paced trivia questions. In the end, one lucky winner will get the chance to have their student debt paid off. The series is co-created by Torpey and Cowboy Bear Ninja, who also produces. Michael Melamedoff and Adrian Selkowitz serve as executive producers for Cowboy Bear Ninja alongside executive producers Torpey, Ethan Berlin and Leigh Hampton.

“Hack My Life” – 10 Episodes – Season Four Premieres July 10 at 10:30 p.m. Et/Pt

In “Hack My Life,” hosts Kevin Pereira and Brooke Van Poppelen provide comedic step-by-step instructions for eye-popping shortcuts and cheats guaranteed to save today’s busy adults a lot of time, effort, and money. The series is produced by Truly Original with Glenda Hersh, Steven Weinstock, Todd Hurvitz and Shari Ortner serving as executive producers.

“Bobcat Goldthwait’s Misfits & Monsters” – 8 Episodes – Series Premieres July 11 at 10:00 p.m. Et/Pt

From the Sundance award-winning writer-director, “Bobcat Goldthwait’s Misfits & Monsters” is a genre-hopping scripted anthology comedy series. Each standalone episode delivers a satire of the world we live in and exploits the awkwardness of its flawed characters to tell socially-relevant stories with imaginative twists. Guest stars throughout the season include Michael Ian Black, Bridget Everett, Dave Foley, Seth Green, Melissa Joan Hart, David Koechner, Danny Pudi and more. The series is produced by Left/Right with Goldthwait, Banks Tarver, Ken Druckerman, Olivia Wingate and Michele Armour serving as executive producers.

“Impractical Jokers” – New Episodes Return with Season 7 Mid-Season Premiere in Summer 2018

Earlier this year, truTV announced a significant extension of its wildly-successful “Impractical Jokers” franchise with a commitment for an eighth season of the top-rated series, plus the production on the brand’s first-ever feature-length film directed by Chris Henchy and produced by Funny Or Die. One of cable’s longest-running and top-rated original comedies, “Impractical Jokers” centers on James “Murr” Murray, Brian “Q” Quinn, Joe Gatto and Sal Vulcano – collectively known as The Tenderloins – four lifelong friends and comedians who compete to publicly embarrass each other with a series of hilariously outrageous hidden-camera dares and punishments. “Impractical Jokers,” which is a top-5 cable comedy among adults 18-34 and 18-49, is produced by NorthSouth Productions with Charlie DeBevoise, Pete McPartland Jr., Gatto, Murray, Quinn, and Vulcano serving as executive producers. The series will premiere new episodes from its seventh season this summer, with an eighth season slated for premiere in 2019.

“Laff Mobb’s Laff Tracks” – 12 Additional Episodes – Season One Continues in Fall 2018

Prolific DJ and comedian Cipha Sounds hosts “Laff Mobb’s Laff Tracks,” an inventive series that flips stand-up comedy on its head and introduces viewers to the next generation of great comedians. In each half-hour episode, Cipha welcomes a rotating cast of comedians who perform hilarious stand-up routines. In a playful reinvention of the standard stand-up format, each joke is heightened with actors bringing them to life in over-the-top visual recreations. At the end of each episode, Sounds introduces the “Joke of the Night,” with one final comedian bringing down the house with the biggest laughs of the episode. The series, which premiered on truTV earlier this year, will return this fall for an additional 12 episodes of its first season. It is produced by Rotten Science with executive producers Matthew Vaughan and Eric Abrams, along with Laff Mobb Entertainment’s Bob Sumner and Arthur Spivak.

“Adam Ruins Everything” – 10 Episodes – Season Three Premieres in Fall 2018

In “Adam Ruins Everything,” creator and host Adam Conover embarks on a comically inventive and relentlessly factual quest to reveal the hidden truths about everything we know and love. Tackling a broad range of topics in the upcoming third season, Conover delivers both fun facts and compelling information, encouraging viewers to see the world in a whole new way. Created by Conover, the series is produced by Big Breakfast, an Electus company, with Conover, Sam Reich, Jon Cohen, and Jon Wolf serving as executive producers.

“I’m Sorry” – 10 Episodes – Season Two Premieres in Late 2018

Created by and starring Andrea Savage, the half-hour scripted comedy “I’m Sorry” follows seemingly confident comedy writer, wife and mom Andrea who comically exposes her inner immaturity and neuroses through unexpected life situations. Delivering consistent ratings growth, social buzz and critical praise in its premiere season, the breakthrough series – which also stars Tom Everett Scott and Olive Petrucci – was 2017’s fastest growing ad-supported cable comedy. “I’m Sorry” is executive produced by Savage, Joey Slamon, A24’sRavi Nandan, Gloria Sanchez’s Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, and Lonely Island’s Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer.

“Jon Glaser Loves Gear” – 10 Episodes – Season Two Premieres in Late 2018

Actor and comedian Jon Glaser (“Parks and Recreation”) still loves gear – and this one-sided love affair continues with the debut of the second season of this half-hour comedy. Season two picks up where season one left off, as Jon conquered his demons and unraveled the meaning of what gear truly meant to him. Thankfully there’s an endless amount of new gear out there for Jon to love, all while being supported by his real family, his fake family, his phone, and his ‘Spurt. The series is produced by Pffr with Vernon Chatman, John Lee, and Alyson Levy executive producing alongside Glaser, Dave Becky, Richard Korson and David Miner.

“Those Who Can’t” – 13 Episodes – Season Three Premieres in Late 2018

Later this year, truTV’s first scripted series “Those Who Can’t” returns for a third season that is more unhinged and hilarious than the last. Denver-based comedy troupe The Grawlix (Adam Cayton-Holland, Andrew Orvedahl and Ben Roy) return as three trouble-making teachers who, joined by librarian Maria Thayer, are more inept than the kids they teach and are out to beat the system as they struggle to survive each day on their own terms. The series is executive produced by Tracey Baird and Krysia Plonka of Thank You, Brain! Productions; Michael Rotenberg and Josh Lieberman of 3 Arts Entertainment; Richard Korson, and Andrew Weinberg, who also serves as this season’s show runner.

Read original story TruTV Renews ‘Adam Ruins Everything,’ Orders ‘Tacoma Fd’ Series From ‘Super Troopers’ Pair At TheWrap...

TruTV is out with its 2018-19 programming slate, highlighted by a series pickup for its Tacoma Fd pilot from two of the Broken Lizard guys, a pilot greenlights for a new comedic medical advice show from Ken Jeong and an animated project in development from stand-up comic Jo Koy. The moves were announced during the net’s upfront presentation in New York.

The scripted Tacoma Fd, created by and starring Kevin Heffernan and Steve Lemme, co-writers and stars of the Super Troopers movie franchise, was greenlighted to pilot on January. It’s set in a firehouse in the wettest city in America, which is light on blazes that need extinguishing. The crew always is ready to fight a fire — but in this wet city, they find themselves tackling the less glamourous elements of the job. Exec produced by Heffernan and Lemme alongside David Miner and Greg Walter and Kyle Clark,...

Let's hear it for the writers!

The Writer's Guild of America held their annual awards show on Sunday night at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, where Barry Jenkins' Moonlight, The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Donald Glover's breakout series, Atlanta were among those recognized for their achievement of the written word.

Read on below to see the full list of winners.

More: John Legend, Justin Timberlake and Lin-Manuel Miranda Among 2017 Oscars Performers

Film Winners

Original Screenplay

Moonlight, Screenplay by Barry Jenkins, Story by Tarell Alvin McCraney; A24

Adapted Screenplay

Arrival, Screenplay by Eric Heisserer; Based on the Story “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang; Paramount Pictures

Documentary Screenplay

Command and Control, Telescript by Robert Kenner & Eric Schlosser, Story by Brian Pearle and Kim Roberts; Based on the book Command and Control by Eric Schlosser; American Experience Films

Television And New Media Winners

Drama Series

The Americans, Written...

The Writers Guild Awards and the Academy writing nominees always don’t line up; many films are ineligible. This year, those included Oscar-writing nominees “Lion” and “The Lobster.”

This year, the WGA and the Academy differed dramatically. While the WGA deemed “Moonlight” and “Loving” as Original Screenplays, the Academy considered both as Adapted; only “Moonlight” landed a nomination.

At the WGA, as at the BAFTAs, Barry Jenkins’ script for “Moonlight” competed for the Original Screenplay Award against both Kenneth Lonergan’s “Manchester by the Sea” and Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land.” Unlike the BAFTAs, Jenkins emerged the winner over Lonergan, a sign of strength for “Moonlight,” which is nominated for eight Oscars.

Read More: Yes, Damien Chazelle’s ‘La La Land’ Really Will Win Director and Picture Oscars — Here’s Why

However, in the Oscars’ Original Screenplay contest, lauded playwright and Oscar-nominated screenwriter Lonergan (“You Can Count On Me,...

Unscripted production company Mission Control Media (Hollywood Game Night, Face Off) has hired veteran television executive Nicholas Oakley-Tilley as Senior Vice President, Development. Oakley-Tilley will be responsible for ramping up and overseeing Mission Control's growing development slate and will report to Co-Presidents Michael Agbabian and Dwight D. Smith. “Nick brings a unique talent for both finding and creating fresh, inspired material along with a determination…...

The Writers Guild of America has just announced the nominations for their annual awards for Best Screenplays (by writers who are guild signatories). That’s right, before you get nervous thinking that your favorite may have been left off the list, you must remember that the WGA is the group that is not all-inclusive and leaves out several of the top contenders each year due to them not being part of the guild or not following their very specific rules. For this reason, you won’t see Inside Out, The Hateful Eight, and Ex Machina in the Original Screenplay category or Room, Brooklyn, or Anomalisa in the Adapted screenplay category.

Taking a look at what’s left over for the nominations, we find many that were expected to make a showing, including Spotlight and Bridge of Spies for Original Screenplay, though they apparently had to sink to really low depths...

The Writers Guild of America announced some of its nominees for its 2015 awards on Thursday, including television, new media, and radio, and among the TV nominees are series both new and old, and all beloved.

In the comedy series category, freshman Netflix show "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" scored a nomination for best series, as well as an overall best new series nod. "The Last Man on Earth" also landed in that latter category, and was singled out for its pilot episode writing, too.

On the drama side of the equation, lauded "Breaking Bad" spinoff "Better Call Saul" also got best series and best new series nominations, in addition to a an episode writing nod. Newly-minted Emmy winner "Game of Thrones" also scored a best drama citation, as well as an episodic writing nomination.

The full list of nominees released this week are below. Nominations in the theatrical and documentary categories will...

The first-ever furniture design competition series is readying to hit small screens... Framework is coming to Spike TV. Hip-hop artist, actor, and author  Common will host the non-scripted, 10 one-hour episode series created by Dwight D. Smith and Michael Agbabian. The series follows 13 aspiring furniture designers over the course of 10 weeks as they compete in a series of challenges for $100,000 and the chance to have their work sold by a major manufacturer. A contestant will be eliminated each episode by a panel composed of Common and successful names in the furniture industry, Nolen Niu and Brandon Gore. Smith and Agbabian will...

While it probably won’t come as a surprise, Syfy announced that Face Off will be back for a seventh season that will kick off in July. Here’s a look at the official press release that also reveals that a new judge will be joining the special effects make-up competition:

“After a bold and extreme season of competition, three artists remain in the fight for the title of season 6 Face Off champion – George Schminky of Walnut Creek, CA by way of Puerto Rico; Rashaad Santiago of Bronx, NY; and Tyler Green of Litchfield, Ct. For their final challenge, they will each create a pair of rival alien races, all of whom will be performing in an electrifying dance performance for world famous music producer and DJ, Rusko. The season 6 finale episode of Face Off airs Tuesday, April 22 at 9Pm Et/Pt on Syfy.

Syfy also confirms that the critically-acclaimed...

‘Bittersweet’ is the perfect word for the news that the final season of Warehouse 13 premiere date has been announced. It will only be half a season, six episodes, but it is wonderful that the show will be given a chance for a suitable series finale.

In purely happier news, we now also have premiere dates for the third season of Continuum, new series comics-based Metal Hurlan Chronicles (with James Marsters!), new competition Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Challenge, and more. Bookmark this page and/or check our calendar so that you can continually plan your life around your favorite shows.

Syfy’S 2014 Spring Lineup Includes Original Series Premiere Of Jim Henson’S Creature Shop Challenge Plus Farewell Season Of Beloved Warehouse 13 March Features Original Specials Carvers, My Big Fat Geek Wedding And Foxy & Co.

New York – February 14, 2014 – The debut of the new reality series Jim Henson’s Creature...

Face Off is back tonight, and it hits the ground running. Last season’s Pros vs Rookies was a great theme and hard to beat, but we are promised that Season 6 will be a “season of extremes,” and I can’t wait. Tonight gets us off to a great start; wait until you see the wigs on the Foundation Challenge.

Though you’ll see the fabulous house in which they’re staying during the competition, all you’ll be hearing about is how great the house is. No strategizing, no trash talk. It’s a terrific, informative, inspiring competition show, and as I often say, the only one I follow.

Get a taste of all the tension and talent and the near-complete lack of whining and back-biting in the trailer and clip below:

Trailer: Face Off – Season 6

Clip: Face Off – Season 6: Episode 1

Syfy’s smash hit and acclaimed unscripted series,...

In an valiant and temporarily successful effort to divert our attentions from some show’s anniversary, Syfy today released its January premiere schedule, including the series premieres of Helix and Bitten and the return of Being Human (which we told you about yesterday), Lost Girl, Face Off, and Ghost Hunters.

Check out the full info in the press release below, including synopses of each series:

Syfy Kicks Off January 2014 With Seven New And Returning Original Series Including… Helix From Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica) First Weekly Live Series Broadcast Opposite Worlds, A “Past vs. Future” Competition Reality Program Supernatural Drama Bitten Joins All-new Seasons Of Being Human And Lost Girl Mondays 8-11Pm Season Six Of Reality Hit Face Off Plus New Episodes Of Ghost Hunters

New York – November 22, 2013 – Syfy will kick off 2014 with seven new and returning original series in January including Helix from Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore...

This season of Face Off has been the best ever. The challenges have been inspired, the contestants ridiculously talented, and the concept of Vets vs Rookies has been a great twist. Happily, Syfy has agreed, today announcing the pickup of a sixth season, as well as two specials that will air next month in the weeks after the November 5th Season 5 finale.

One of the specials, Face Off: Naked and Painted, is of course in support of new series Naked Vegas, the body painting show, but adding in McKenzie Westmore as host of the special gives it a definite bump in coolness. The second special, Face Off: Judges’ Favorites, is the one I’m really looking forward to; some of the creations over the five seasons have been absolutely astounding and it should be terrific seeing them all together in one special.

Here are all the deets:

Syfy...

Syfy is expanding its growing slate of reality programming with new competition reality series Camera Ready from Mission Control Media (Face Off). Ten visionary costume designers will compete in challenges to create works of costume art for film, television and music videos, incorporating non-traditional materials and technology – such as fiber optics – into some pieces. The contestants will be judged by a panel that includes Oscar-winning costume designers, cutting-edge directors and avant-garde fashionistas – with one designer ultimately taking home the $100,000 grand prize. Dwight D. Smith, Michael Agbabian and Derek Atherton serve as executive producers.

The premiere of Season 5 of Syfy’s Face Off, the excellent special eeffects makeup competition series, is just around the corner. To help kick it off, Syfy will be airing a two-hour special next Tuesday, August 6. Read all about that and the very cool return of contestants from previous seasons, in the press release. Alana! Tate! Eric A! Frank! Laura, who almost won! Rj! And good ol’ Roy!

Two-hour Special Face Off: The Vets Strike Back Airs Tuesday, August 6 At 9 P.M. Et/Pt On Syfy Season 5 of Face Off Premieres Tuesday, August 13 With An Exciting Twist: Veterans Vs. Newcomers

New York – July 31, 2013 – Syfy sets the stage for the anticipated Season 5 premiere of its hit competition series Face Off with the two-hour special Face Off: The Vets Strike Back, Tuesday, August 6 at 9 p.m. Et/Pt. In a Face Off first, Season 5 features eight contestants from past seasons who will battle eight newcomers.

Summer used to be the time that we’d see Warehouse 13, Haven, and – sigh – Eureka return with new seasons, but that’s all changed. Warehouse 13 returns for the second half of its giant 20-episode season on Monday, Haven is now a fall series, and Eureka… well, you know.

But chin up! We have Season 2 of Continuum and standalone seasons of Sinbad and Primeval: New World coming our way, along with the return of Face Off, Ghost Hunters, and many other competition and nonscripted series, not to mention a Twilight Zone marathon, a Roger Corman marathon, and more Original Movies with excellent titles. Check em all out below; series broadcast info will be updated on the SciFiMafia.com Spring and Summer Primetime TV Schedule.

Syfy Launches A Summer Of Imagination And Adventure Premieres Of Reality Series Joe Rogan Questions Everything, Cosworld, Notorious Hauntings And Exit All-new Episodes Of Face Off,...

Exclusive: More than a dozen actors have signed on to appear on Hollywood Game Night, NBC’s new game show series executive produced by Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner and hosted by Jane Lynch that features celebrities hanging out and playing games with fun-loving non-celebrity contestants in a cocktail party atmosphere. Set to do the series so far are Amy Poehler, Matthew Perry, Jason Bateman, Kristin Bell and fiance Dax Shephard, Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen, Minnie Driver, Kal Penn, Martin Short, Ellie Kemper, Kristen Chenoweth, Cheryl Hines, Molly Shannon and Max Greenfield, with more expected to join. The series, which has an eight-episode order, is based on Hayes’ real-life “game nights,” featuring A-list celebrities hanging out and living it up in a cocktail party atmosphere. In each episode, two contestants will be treated to a night of fun and celebration where they get to rub shoulders with the celebrity crowd.

Fans of the Syfy make-up competition series, Face Off, will be happy to know that the series has been officially renewed for a fifth season:

“Syfy’s critically-acclaimed hit reality competition series Face Off will return for a fifth season of mind-blowing special effects ingenuity, offering a new group of rising SFX make-up artists with the opportunity to compete and showcase their imagination and creativity. Production on the new season begins April 2013 in Los Angeles for a Summer 2013 premiere.

“Face Off continues to prove itself as a ratings hit, earning critical and viewer accolades alike, and we are proud to bring the series back for another stunning season,” said Mark Stern, President of Original Content, Syfy, and Co-Head of Original Content, Universal Cable Productions.

Season four of Face Off currently airs Tuesday nights at 9Pm Et/Pt on Syfy. In its fourth season, Face Off is averaging 1.6 million viewers 18-...

Press Release:

March 18, 2013

Syfy Renews Acclaimed Competition Series Face Off For A Fifth Season Season Four Currently Airs Tuesday Nights At 9Pm Et/Pt on Syfy

New York – March 18, 2013 – Syfy’s critically-acclaimed hit reality competition series Face Off will return for a fifth season of mind-blowing special effects ingenuity, offering a new group of rising SFX make-up artists with the opportunity to compete and showcase their imagination and creativity. Production on the new season begins April 2013 in Los Angeles for a Summer 2013 premiere.

“Face Off continues to prove itself as a ratings hit, earning critical and viewer accolades alike, and we are proud to bring the series back for another stunning season,” said Mark Stern, President of Original Content, Syfy, and Co-Head of Original Content, Universal Cable Productions.

Season four of Face Off currently airs Tuesday nights at 9Pm Et/Pt on Syfy. In its fourth season, Face Off is...

Syfy is bringing Face Off back for a fifth season this summer, the network announced today. The competition/elimination series explores the world of special-effects make-up artists and the imagination that allows them to create works of living art. “Face Off continues to prove itself as a ratings hit, earning critical and viewer accolades alike, and we are proud to bring the series back for another stunning season,” said Mark Stern, President of Original Content, Syfy, and Co-Head of Original Content, Universal Cable Productions, in a statement Monday. Production on Season 5 will start next month with a summer 2013 premiere planned. In its fourth season, Face Off is averaging 1.6 million viewers 18-19 and 2.7 million total viewers in Live+7. The show’s Season 4 finale is scheduled to air March 26. Face Off is a production of Mission Control Media with Dwight D. Smith, Michael Agbabian and Derek Atherton serving as executive producers. Related: Syfy,...

Glee co-star Jane Lynch has been named as host of NBC’s Hollywood Game Night, a new game show series executive produced by Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner that features A-list celebrities hanging out and playing games with fun-loving non-celebrity contestants in a cocktail party atmosphere. “With Jane Lynch on board as our host, we now have a key component in place that will further enliven the sheer fun of a raucous Hollywood party that will include real everyday people,” said NBC’s president of alternative Paul Telegdy. The hour-long game show series is based on Hayes’ real-life “game nights,” showcasing popular celebrities enjoying themselves in a cocktail party environment. Hollywood Game Night — which has an eight-episode order — brings both players and viewers into the exclusive world of Hollywood royalty as celebrities gather for a fun, pop-culture based game night. The series is produced by Hazy Mills Prods., Mission Control Media and Universal TV.

Syfy has just announced its programming schedule for Winter 2013, with a number of new and returning shows bowing in January.

Among the most notable premieres: the final season of "Merlin" begins January 4; "Being Human" and Canadian import "Lost Girl" return for their third seasons on Jan. 14; special effects makeup competition "Face Off" returns for Season 4 on Jan. 15, and "Robot Combat League" premieres on Feb. 26. Also making its debut is time-travel police drama "Continuum," premiering on Jan. 14 before "Being Human."

For a full list of Syfy's winter premieres and summaries for their new seasons, read on.

"Merlin" (Friday, January 4 at 10 p.m. Est)

With Queen Guinevere and the Knights of the Round Table at his side, Arthur has never felt stronger. But even as Camelot flowers, the seeds of its destruction are being sown. "Merlin" returns for its fifth and final season of 13 all-new episodes with its core cast of Colin Morgan,...

It’s true; no matter what certain networks may claim about their “winter finales,” winter doesn’t actually start until December 21, and isn’t over until March 20. Syfy, at least, understands this, and has announced their appropriately-titled winter schedule accordingly.

Happily this means that, starting on Monday, January 14, 2013, we will have some great television to get us through the cold months, including the return of Being Human and Lost Girl, and the premiere of Continuum, and later in the week, the return of Ghost Hunters and Face Off.

Here’s the schedule of premieres, along with series synopses:

Syfy’S 2013 Winter Programming Highlighted By Series Premieres Of Ghost Mine, Robot Combat League, Stranded And Continuum Season Returns Of Hits Being Human, Face Off, Total Blackout, Ghost Hunters, Lost Girl, Haunted Collector And Final Season Of Merlin

New York – December 4, 2012 – Syfy will kick off the New Year with a robust winter...

We know that some of our readers are fans of the Syfy make-up competition series, Face Off, and wanted to pass on the news that the series has officially been renewed for a fourth season:

Syfy has renewed its critically acclaimed hit competition series Face Off for a fourth season, it was announced today by Mark Stern, President, Original Content, Syfy and Co-Head, Original Content, Universal Cable Productions. Slated for a 2013 premiere, notable guest appearances on tap for season four include Bryan Singer and Lightstorm’s Jon Landau. Dwight D. Smith, Michael Agbabian and Derek Atherton of Mission Control Media will return as executive producers.

“Face Off has proven itself as a quality, signature series for Syfy,” said Stern. “The success the series has achieved in its three seasons – from both a critical and ratings standpoint — establishes a strong foundation as we continue to build the momentum for season four.

This is terrific news. Syfy‘s special effects makeup artist competition Face Off is one of the best competition shows currently on TV. Currently in its third season, Syfy has now picked it up for a fourth. Lacking most of the over-hyped drama of some other competition series, Face Off poses interesting weekly challenges and teaches us a great deal about the art of effects makeup. Plus it looks cool.

Syfy Orders Fourth Season Of Its Hit Competition Series Face Off Currently in its Third Season, Brian Grazer Appears in Next Week’s All-New Episode of Face Off, Tuesday, October 9 at 9 p.m. Et/Pt, Followed By Hot Set at 10 p.m. Et/Pt on Syfy

New York – October 8, 2012 – Syfy has renewed its critically acclaimed hit competition series Face Off for a fourth season, it was announced today by Mark Stern, President, Original Content, Syfy and Co-Head, Original Content, Universal Cable Productions.

Syfy has picked up Face Off for a fourth season. Currently in the middle of its third season, the unscripted series is averaging 986,000 viewers including Live + Same Day figures and 1.7 million total viewing. When counting Live + 7 numbers, the series is besting its second season by 5 percent among the key 18-49 demographic, and up 3 percent among total viewers and 8 percent among 18-34ers. The fourth season of the special-effects makeup artists series will feature guest appearances from Bryan Singer and Jon Landau, with Dwight D. Smith, Michael Agbabian and

read more...

Syfy has announced it’s renewing Face Off for a fourth season. Hosted by McKenzie Westmore, the competition/elimination series explores the world of special-effects make-up artists and the imagination that allows them to create works of living art. Judges for the competition include Ve Neill, special make-up effects artist Glenn Hetrick, and feature film creature designer Neville Page. Scheduled for guest appearances in the 2013 season are Bryan Singer and Lightstorm’s Jon Landau. Dwight D. Smith, Michael Agbabian and Derek Atherton of Mission Control Media will return as executive producers. Brian Grazer guests on tomorrow night’s episode offering tips to the six remaining artists for the week’s Dr. Seuss-themed challenge. It airs at 9 Pm. Season to date, Face Off has averaged 986,000 million viewers in the 18-49 demo and 1.7 million total viewers.

I’m not usually a fan of competition shows, but this one fascinates me. We’re given a terrific insight into the state of the art of special effects makeup, and the results are stunning. In the new season of Face Off we will lose judge Patrick Tatopolous after the premiere, as he goes off to work on the production design of 300: Battle of Artemisia.

His replacement, Neville Page, brings some exceptionally excellent credentials. Read about him, some of the very famous guest judges, some of the challenges, and all of the contestants, right here:

Syfy’S Hit Series Face Off Debuts Season Three On A New Night And Time Tuesday, August 21 At 9 Pm Et/Pt A New Group of Talented Special Effects Make-Up Artists Join Host McKenzie Westmore for an Exciting Season of Movie Make-up Magic Returning as Judges are Ve Neill and Glenn Hetrick, Joined by New...

The seemingly endless wait for the Syfy summer schedule is finally over! There is good news and bad, and one thing that is both good and bad. Let’s start with that: the Eureka Season Finale. We love Eureka, so every episode is good news; the fact that it’s a series finale, not so much. Mark your calendars – and have plenty of Kleenex in stock – for July 16 at 9/8c. Right after Comic-Con, which is early this year. We’ll see if that means a panel or not.

The good news: Warehouse 13 and Alphas return on July 23. The hmmm news is that Lost Girl will move to Fridays at 10 on July 20. Hey That’S Haven’S Spot. So Where The Heck Is Haven? Admittedly we had a head’s up that Haven would be pushed to fall when we learned that the DVDs for Season 2 weren’t being released until September but Argh.

Earlier today, reported on the news that Syfy would be adapting Stephen King’s The Eyes of the Dragon. Syfy has officially announced that project as part of their new development slate, which includes 28 new scripted and reality projects:

“New York – April 24, 2012 – Coming off Syfy’s most watched First Quarter ever in total viewers, Adults 18-34 and key women demos, Syfy and Chiller President Dave Howe today ignited the imagination of the advertising community by unveiling the next phase of the channel’s largest original programming slate in history. This will feature Syfy’s most original primetime hours ever, a record 28 scripted and reality development projects and the 2013 premiere of the highly-anticipated Defiance, the visionary transmedia experience that will unite television and Massive Multiplayer Online (Mmo) gaming for the very first time.

Said Howe: “Syfy’s Upfront celebrates the power of Igniters, our influential audience who has the highly coveted...

Syfy is having its Upfront tonight, during which they present their schedule and slate of projects in development to potential advertisers, and the announcements are flowing. An adaptation of a Stephen King novel into a miniseries, a new Charlaine Harris weekly series, a great movie being adapted into a weekly series, and a whole load of new reality shows may be in our future. Where to begin? We’ll break this down into manageable bites, but have included the entire press release below for your study.

First up, new series! We’ve already told you about some of these, but now we’re getting official word. For scripted series, Syfy is now confirming that Defiance, the series that will affect and be affected by the game of the same name, will be coming in 2013.

All other new series on or soon to be on the schedule are unscripted/reality shows – eight of em!

So what's next for the channel that has given us plenty of things that have gone bump in the night along with more CG monsters than anyone could possibly keep up with? Read on for details of Syfy's "upfront" presentation.

As you'd expect from a network named Syfy, several of these projects are more sci-fi than horror, but we thought we'd pass on all the news anyway:

From the Press Release:

Coming off Syfy’s most watched first quarter ever in total viewers, Adults 18-34 and key women demos, Syfy and Chiller President Dave Howe today ignited the imagination of the advertising community by unveiling the next phase of the channel’s largest original programming slate in history. This will feature Syfy’s most original primetime hours ever, a record 28 scripted and reality development projects and the 2013 premiere of the highly-anticipated Defiance, the visionary transmedia experience that will unite...

After the initial success of Face Off’s second season, Syfy has announced that the special effects make-up competition will be renewed for season 3. We also have details about how you can submit an application to appear on the show:

“Syfy announces that its critically acclaimed reality competition series Face Off will return for a 10-episode third season of special effects competition, offering a new group of rising SFX make-up artists with the opportunity to showcase their imagination and creativity. Production on season three will commence this Spring for a Summer 2012 premiere.

Season two of Face Off currently airs Wednesdays at 10:00 p.m. Et/Pt and broke series records with its debut on January 11, transforming 2.5 million total viewers, 1.52 million Adults 18-49 and 1.31 million Adults 25-54 based on Live +7 data. Last week’s episode on February 1, including only Live + Same Day playback, delivered 1.175 million Adults 18-49 and a series-high of over two million total viewers.

And with excellent timing, too! We are really happy to see that Syfy has renewed their competition series Face Off for a third season, we like this one. Of course it has some of the nastiness that many competition shows have, but you can learn a lot about special effects makeup while you watch them nearly scratch each others’ eyes out. Ooo, there’s an idea for a challenge!

Tonight’s episode has more than one special guest, as you can see in our review earlier today, and in the press release below:

Syfy Renews Hit Competition Series Face Off For A Third Season

New York, NY – February 7, 2012 – Syfy announces that its critically acclaimed reality competition series Face Off will return for a 10-episode third season of special effects competition, offering a new group of rising SFX make-up artists with the opportunity to showcase their imagination and creativity. Production on...

Genre: Reality | Sci-Fi

Air Date/Time: February 8, 10/9c

Network: Syfy

Synopsis:

Face Off is a competition/elimination series exploring the world of special-effects make-up artists and the unlimited imagination that allows them to create amazing works of living art. Judging the Face Off competition are some of the most renowned names in the SFX world — three-time Academy Award winner Ve Neill, famed special make-up effects artist Glenn Hetrick and director/creature designer Patrick Tatopoulos. Together, they make a panel that is tough, smart and direct. Face Off is a production of Mission Control Media with Michael Agbabian and Dwight D. Smith serving as executive producers.

For this episode of Face Off‘s Foundation Challenge, the ten remaining contestants are tasked with creating an original trauma makeup featuring wounds that may have been inflicted by a werewolf. Sam Huntington brings his expert perspective to the challenge, having worn a tremendous amount...

On the heels of a very strong start for its current second season, Syfy’s reality hit Face Off has been given a 10-episode third-season pickup. Production on the second season of the special effects competition series featuring rising SFX make-up artists will begin in the spring for a summer premiere. The Jan. 11 Season 2 opener of Face Off posted a record-breaking 2.5 million total viewers & 1.52 million Adults 18-49 in Live +7. Last week’s episode delivered a series high of 1.175 million Adults 18-49 in Live+same day. Season 2 is currently tracking 51% higher than Season 1 in 18-49 and 56% in total viewers. Dwight D. Smith and Michael Agbabian of Mission Control will return as executive producers, with casting already underway.

As we reported to you last week, Syfy had its “Digital Press Tour” last week, and announced their winter lineup. We’ll be showing you clips from the shows’ upcoming seasons, but we thought you’d like to get the lineup and brief descriptions of everything first. Got your calendars ready? Here we go:

Syfy 2012 Winter Programming Lineup Features Return Of Hit Series Being Human, Face Off, Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters International And Merlin Plus Premieres Of New Series Monster Man And Lost Girl

Syfy will kick off 2012 by launching two new series, the reality show Monster Man and the supernatural drama Lost Girl – which will be paired with last year’s sensation Being Human to comprise Powerful Mondays – as well as the second season premiere of the hit Face Off along with the return of Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters International and Merlin.

Highlights of Syfy’s 2012 Winter Programming Schedule...

Exclusive: We’ve learned that the crew of Syfy’s competition reality series Face Off walked off the job yesterday in an effort to obtain a contract with Iatse, the union that represents film and TV crew members. Production on the series’ upcoming second season remained dark today. Syfy had no comment but Gemini 3, the company that employs the crew on the show, issued the following statement in response to our inquiry: “Gemini 3 is in the process of negotiating with IATSE in order to work out a resolution.” Face Off, which features up-and-coming SFX makeup artists competing in a series of challenges, was renewed in March after averaging 1.4 million viewers in its first season. Dwight D. Smith and Michael Agbabian of Mission Control are executive producing. The process of unionizing reality series has been slow and not always smooth. The biggest skirmish came last fall, when the crew of NBC...