Netflix-BBC disability program / Mark Twain Prize on Netflix / Skybound "VAKA" deal / Dornan joins "Undertow"

Plus today's calendar, "Real Time" renewed, Netflix's German TV and film slate, Quibi's "Stranger" returns, and more

Inside Streaming For March 14, 2024

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Thanks once again for opening today's Inside Streaming brief. Take it from me, a long-time Peacock subscriber... You're going to want to check out "Girls5eva" now that it has ported over to Netflix. This was one of the original gems that made signing up for Peacock worthwhile. It's got that same zany spirit as EP Tina Fey's previous shows like "30 Rock" and "Kimmy Schmidt," while remaining a bit less joke-a-minute and more character-focused and sincere. Plus Sara Bareilles and whoever helps her put the original music together absolutely nails it. All of the songs are catchy and funny and feel weirdly right for a cheesy early '00s girl group. It's worth going back and catching up with the first two seasons, if you haven't seen it. Lon p/lon-harris

1 No actual shows have yet emerged from a 2021 Netflix and BBC project, designed to develop and produce content from disabled talent and creators. More than half of the project's proposed five-year timespan has passed since it was first announced at the 2021 Edinburgh TV Festival. More: Deadline investigated the partnership and its results after prompting from a number of disabled creators and communities in the UK. The program was unveiled after writer Jack Thorne ("Help") delivered a "blistering" address at the Edinburgh festival, calling out the UK TV industry for "totally and utterly" failing disabled people. In the aftermath of his remarks, BBC and Netflix vowed to collaborate on shows from deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent creators. In the Summer of 2022, Netflix and BBC released a joint statement, indicating that some of these shows were already in development, but there have been no further updates.

2 Through a new deal with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Netflix will stream the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor award ceremony. This year's event -- the prize's 25th anniversary -- honors Kevin Hart for his contributions to comedy; the ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 24, and comes to Netflix in May. More: The show's May 11 Netflix premiere is timed to coincide with the streamer's "Netflix is a Joke" comedy festival in Los Angeles. Performers at this year's ceremony will include Dave "Lil Dicky" Burd, Dave Chappelle, Jimmy Fallon, Tiffany Haddish, Regina Hall, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, and J.B. Smoove. In the past, the ceremony has aired on Comedy Central, PBS, and CNN. Last year's prize went to Adam Sandler.

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3 DAILY CALENDAR THURSDAY, MARCH 14 APPLES NEVER FALL: Limited mystery-drama series based on the book by "Big Little Lies" author Liane Moriarty. Annette Bening stars as seemingly happy matriarch Joy Delaney, whose disappearance forces her husband and family to reassess their history and lives together. Sam Neill, Jake Lacy, Alison Brie, Conor Merrigan-Turner, and Essie Randles co-star. [Peacock] INVINCIBLE: The adult animated superhero comedy-drama series -- based on the comics by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley -- returns for the second half of its second season. It centers on teen Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun), a descendant of an aggressive alien race who decides to use his powers for humanity's benefit. [Prime Video] FRIDA: Spanish-language documentary profile of groundbreaking artist Frida Kahlo, revisiting her life through a combination of animation and her own writings and interviews. "RBG" editor Carla Gutierrez directs. The film premiered at this year's Sundance. [Prime Video] GIRLS5EVA: The musical comedy series from "Kimmy Schmidt" vets Meredith Scardino, Tina Fey, and Robert Carlock moves to Netflix from Peacock for its third season. Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Busy Philipps, and Paula Pell co-star as members of a '90s girls pop group who reunite in the present day. (Seasons 1 and 2 both hit Netflix today along with the new Season 3 episodes.) [Netflix] BARBIE AND STACIE TO THE RESCUE: This original Barbie animated movie for kids, the franchise's 43rd overall entry, is the first to center on Barbie's sister Stacie. [Netflix] 24 HOURS WITH GASPAR (24 JAM BERSAMA GASPAR): 2023 crime drama feature from Indonesia, starring Reza Rahadian as a detective investigating the disappearance of his childhood friend, who stumbles into an underground human trafficking operation. It's based on a novel by Sabda Aramandio. [Netflix] FROM DREAMS TO TRAGEDY: THE FIRE THAT SHOOK BRAZILIAN FOOTBALL (O NINHO: FUTEBOL E TRAGÉDIA): Three-episode docuseries from Brazil looking back at the 2019 fire at the Ninho do Urubu training facility in Rio, which claimed the lives of 10 young people. The film features never-before-seen footage of the incident, along with re-enactments and recollections from witnesses and survivors. [Netflix] ART OF LOVE (ASK SANATI): 2024 romantic thriller from Turkey about an Interpol officer who discovers that the art thief she's been chasing is a former boyfriend. Esra Bilgiç, Birkan Sokullu, and Ushan Çakir co-star; Recai Karagöz ("My Name is Farah") directed. [Netflix] RED OLLERO: MABUHAY IS A LIE: Stand-up special in which the Filipino comedian discusses fast food, bad sex, and his current status, on the cusp of fame. [Netflix] THE GIRLS ON THE BUS: Debut political drama series co-created by Amy Chozick, inspired by her 2018 memoir, "Chasing Hillary." It chronicles the lives of four female journalists as they follow a group of presidential candidates on the campaign trail. Melissa Benoist, Natasha Behnam, Christina Elmore, Brandon Scott, and Carla Gugino co-star. "Vampire Diaries" vet Julie Plec co-created. [Max] JUSTICE, USA: Six-episode docuseries taking an intimate look at the criminal justice system in Nashville, Tennessee, with insights into topics like incarceration, addiction, and mental illness from inmates, deputies, lawyers, judges, and others. Actor and rapper Common executive produced along with "The Last Dance" vet Mike Tollin. [Max] THE STONES AND BRIAN JONES: 2023 documentary feature from "Biggie & Tupac" filmmaker Nick Broomfield, profiling musician, songwriter, and original Rolling Stones frontman Jones, who died soon after being dismissed from the band in 1969. Broomfield narrates. [Hulu] DELICIOUSLY TWISTED CLASSICS: In this unscripted series from A&E, a panel of celebrity chefs discuss unexpected, chaotic modern spins on classic dishes, such as a Nashville Hot Chicken-flavored Bloody Mary, or a Philly cheesesteak eggroll. Season 1 aired last year on cable and hits Hulu today. [Hulu] HOAX: THE KIDNAPPING OF SHERRI PAPINI: 2023 scripted true crime drama feature, produced for the Lifetime Network. Jaime King stars as young married mother Papini, who publicly claimed she'd been abducted and abused in order to cover up a tryst with an ex-boyfriend. Matt Hamilton and Josh Collins co-star. [Hulu] TRUE CRIME STORY: SMUGSHOT: Six-part true-crime docuseries from SundanceTV, profiling criminal suspects who come from privileged or wealthy backgrounds. Amy Bandlien Storkel and Bryan Storkel ("The Pez Outlaw") created the series and direct the episodes. [AMC+ / Sundance Now]

4 Skybound Entertainment and Amazon struck a unique deal for the Swedish dystopian thriller series "VAKA." The show will stream on Prime Video in Nordic territories, while Skybound retains worldwide distribution rights. More: Amazon could theoretically grab more international rights for the series from Skybound, but they will also be available to other networks and streamers. "VAKA" centers around a deadly insomnia epidemic that starts in Stockholm; it co-stars Aliette Opheim and Jonas Karlsson. Skybound was founded by "Walking Dead" creator Robert Kirkman and his producing partner, David Alpert; the company produces AMC's "Walking Dead" series, along with "Invincible" for Prime Video, and more.

5 Jamie Dornan signed on for a dual role in the Netflix crime drama series "The Undertow." The show is based on a Norwegian original, called "Twin." More: Dornan will play estranged twin brothers Adam and Lee, whose sudden and unexpected reunion wrecks havoc on both of their lives. Mackenzie Davis co-stars as Nicola, Adam's wife; Iain de Caestecker and Gary Lewis also make regular appearances. The series goes into production later on this year. Dornan currently stars in the BBC drama "The Tourist," which streams on Netflix in the US.

6 HBO renewed Bill Maher's late-night chat series "Real Time" for two additional seasons. This will take the show through at least 2026. More: "Real Time" has aired on HBO for 22 seasons, starting in 2003, after Maher exited his ABC panel discussion series, "Politically Incorrect." Maher has also done 12 comedy specials for HBO over the years. In a statement, Maher called the decision to keep producing "Real Time" a "no-brainer."

7 At a special event in Berlin, Netflix unveiled a new slate of 17 German films and shows. Returning series getting new seasons include the period spy drama "Kleo," the royal biographical drama "The Empress," contemporary crime drama "How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)," and the reality spinoff "Too Hot to Handle: Germany." More: The first new series from the list to premiere will be "Crooks," about two thieves on the run across Germany after a major heist; it arrives in April. The reality series "Kaulitz & Kaulitz" follows Tokio Hotel frontmen and twin brothers Bill and Tom Kaulitz as they go on tour. The sci-fi drama feature "Cassandra" centers on a robotic smart home that awakens after being in sleep mode for 50 years to enthusiastically serve a new resident. The fantasy drama feature "Brick," debuting in 2025, stars Matthias Schweighöfer and Ruby O. Fee as a couple who suddenly find their apartment entirely surrounded by a mysterious brick wall.

8 QUICK HITS Meowtel is where convenience meets quality cat care. Personalized, in-home cat sitting for true cat enthusiasts.* The Quibi thriller series "The Stranger" has been recut into a feature film, which will stream on Hulu starting April 15; Maika Monroe stars as a rideshare driver who picks up a fare (Dane DeHaan) with a dark secret. A new study from Entertainment Research found that around half of streaming users can't identify which platforms have the rights to the most popular licensed shows, including "Friends," "The Office," "The Big Bang Theory," and "South Park." European media conglomerate and Fremantle owners RTL Group received a major boost in revenue to its streaming operations in the second half of 2023, up 72.6% from the previous year; the company's streamers include RTL+ in Germany and Hungary, and M6+ in France. The Prime Video Western sci-fi series "Outer Range" returns for a second season on May 16; Josh Brolin stars as a Wyoming rancher who discovers a mysterious black hole with strange properties on his land. YouTube updated its app for TVs; a new alternate view shrinks the video down slightly to make room for additional interactive features, such as chapter lists, comment threads, and text descriptions. Mary Lynn Rajskub, Jay Ryan, and Braeden Clarke joined the cast of Netflix's upcoming comedy series "North of the North"; Anna Lambe and Keira Cooper co-star as an Inuk mother and daughter living in a small Arctic town where everyone knows everyone else. Gwyneth Paltrow told People that she hopes to bring more Goop-branded wellness shows over to Netflix, telling the magazine "we're still working on ideas." Zosia Mamet, Michael Angarano, and Tommy Martinez joined the cast of Peacock's upcoming comedy series "Laid"; the show is based on an Australian original, and stars Stephanie Hsu as a woman revisiting her past relationships after a number of former flames die mysteriously. At its Season 3 premiere, held at New York's Paris Theater, the cast of "Girls5eva" chatted with THR about moving the show over to Netflix. "Call My Agent" and "Drops of God" vet Quoc Dang Tran signed a two-year overall deal to create and produce content for HBO. Jump start DevOps with DoiT & AWS. Accelerate your workloads & release pipelines while increasing automation & reliability. Get started.* *This is sponsored content

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Lon Harris Writer Lon Harris is the writer and editor of Inside Streaming and was the very first person to ever write an Inside newsletter. He lives in Los Angeles, California, and also writes about TV and film for Fandom, Screen Junkies, Rotten Tomatoes, Gamma Ray and others. Plus he has a Game of Thrones podcast called "Casterly Talk" and competes on The Movie Trivia Schmoedown as "The Professor." This newsletter was edited by Lon Harris

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