NETworks News

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! First, we'd like to wish a happy opening night to the company of True West!

WGN America, Sony Pictures Television's networks, and Canada's CTV announced today the renewal of the comedic procedural series Carter for a second season, starring Jerry O'Connell (Billions), Sydney Poitier Heartsong (Chicago P.D.) and Kristian Bruun (Orphan Black). Andy Berman(Psych, Rosewood) joins Carter as Showrunner and Executive Producer for its sophomore season, which will return to North Bay, Ontario to commence production this spring. Series creator Garry Campbell (Kids in The Hall, MADtv) returns as an executive producer and writer on the series.

FX's highly-anticipated Fosse/Verdon limited series will premiere Tuesday, April 9 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FX, it was announced today by Chuck Saftler, President, Program Strategy and COO, FX Networks.

CBS Studios International and M6 today announced a licensing agreement in France for the new fall drama FBI.

On the heels of the Golden Globe® winning film Green Book, Smithsonian Channel is taking a deeper look into the real story of The Negro Motorist Green Book during the Jim Crow era and beyond. THE GREEN BOOK: GUIDE TO FREEDOM tells the story of Victor H. Green's eponymously named travel guide that allowed African Americans to safely tour the country during a time of severe institutionalized racism. The film features a wide array of experts delving into the history of The Green Book – historians, business owners and individuals who experienced first-hand the phenomenon of “traveling while black” in pre-civil rights America. Written and directed by acclaimed documentarian Yoruba Richen, the filmmaker behind The New Black, THE GREEN BOOK: GUIDE TO FREEDOM looks at the daily realities that African Americans faced on the road – the struggles, indignities and dangers, but also the opportunities and triumphs that were won along the way. THE GREEN BOOK: GUIDE TO FREEDOM premieres Monday, February 25 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel and will also be available to stream on the Smithsonian Channel app starting on February 18.

Art Falco and Gina Vernaci announced today the promotion of Patricia Gaul to executive vice president and general counsel, and the promotions of Tim Birch, David Greene, Autumn Kiser and Michelle Ryan Stewart to senior vice president. All are effective January 28, 2019.

Finding Neverland, the enchanting Broadway musical, will be making its way to Akron's E.J. Thomas Hall on March 5 and 6, 2019 as part of the 18-19 Broadway in Akron Series.

Urban Movie Channel (UMC) and RLJ Entertainment (NASDAQ: RLJE) will release the romantic film WHEN IT COMES AROUND on DVD on February 5, 2019.  Directed by Dan Garcia (“Bronx SIU,” Falling in Love Again), the film stars Jackée Harry (“Sister, Sister,” “Everybody Hates Chris”), Brad James (“Superstition,” “For Better or Worse”), Shanica Knowles (“The Young and the Restless”) Denyce Lawton (“Tyler Perry's House of Payne”, “Castle”) and Chico Benymon (Ali, “Half & Half”).  WHEN IT COMES AROUND quickly became one of the channel's most viewed titles on UMC in 2018.  UMC and RLJ Entertainment will release WHEN IT COMES AROUND on DVD for an SRP of $27.97.

With a sonic explosion of power chord dubstep, INF1N1TE & Woofax thrash their way to the front on their wobbling New Noise debut “Headbanger.”

The new Court TV has added five seasoned journalists, four of whom are lawyers who have successfully have blended television and legal careers, to its growing on-air news team as the network builds to its launch in May: Seema Iyer and Julie Grant will join Vinnie Politan at the Court TV anchor desk, Chanley Painter has been named legal correspondent and veteran crime and justice journalists Ted Rowlands and Julia Jenaé have been tapped as field producers and reporters.

Finding Neverland, the enchanting Broadway musical set to soar on tour this fall, will be making its Sarasota debut at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Tuesday, February 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, February 20 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at VanWezel.org, the Box Office, or by calling (941) 953-3368.

The national director of ASSITEJ SA, Yvette Hardie, has been awarded a prestigious international award in recognition of her global contribution to the development of theatre for young people.

Bob Greenblatt, who will soon bring a live staging of the musical Hair to NBC in May, will accept the Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award at the 16th annual NATPE (National Association of Television Program Executives) Conference in Miami, where other honorees include Byron Allen, Mara Brock Akil, Rita Moreno, Betty White and Henry Winkler. Greenblatt recently signed off as the entertainment chairman of NBC, and seems to be focusing on producing for now.

EVERYBODY LOVES COUNTRY! Country music has been a staple of American entertainment for more than 60 years! Now imagine seeing six of the biggest country artists of all time in one great performance! We're talking about the Legends in Concert Tribute Artists: Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw, Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn, Shania Twain, and Johnny Cash! You can see these incredible tributes all together in one truly unique entertainment experience, LEGENDS OF COUNTRY, produced by the world-famous Legends in Concert!

The Motion Picture Sound Editors Guild has announced the nominees for its 66th annual Golden Reel Awards, which honor sound artists and their contributions to the past year's most outstanding feature film, TV, animation and computer entertainment productions.

The Blackhouse Foundation proudly announces Facebook will serve as a Premier Sponsor of its presence and programming at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival January 25-28 in Park City, UT. This continues a longstanding relationship between the organization and the leading social network. 

Showtime Documentary Films dives deeper into the music documentary space with the acquisition of North American rights to WU-TANG CLAN: OF MICS AND MEN, a four-part limited docuseries from filmmaker Sacha Jenkins (BURN MOTHERF*CKER, BURN!) that transcends the music documentary genre by creating a new lane that merges music, socio-cultural commentary and intimate family portrait. The first two episodes of the series will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on Monday, January 28, and the full series will air on SHOWTIME later this spring. WU-TANG CLAN: OF MICS AND MEN is a Mass Appeal production in association with Endeavor Content. Peter J. Scalettar, Peter Bittenbender and Chris Gary serve as executive producers. 

Rockbottom is a powerful, topical new dance theatre solo from Stuart Waters which starts its spring 2019 tour at Edge Hill Arts Centre in Lancashire on February 12th.  Combining bold story-telling with highly physical choreography, Rockbottom is a deeply moving portrait of one man's journey through depression and addiction. 

In 1993, creative Broadway talents combined some of the most beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein songs from their hugely successful career and created 'A Grand Night for Singing'. It was nominated for two Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and featured future Tony award winners. Now, the Sandhills Repertory Theatre is bringing this exciting show to the Sandhills. 'I have loved Rodgers and Hammerstein shows all my life, and their music speaks to our humanity, with some of the most beloved music and lyrics of all time. It is a privilege to bring this beautiful show to the Sandhills', says Michael Pizzi, Artistic and Producing Director.