Cook talks up Apple TV+ / WWE Network-Disney+ deal / "Dead Day" on Peacock / Showtime cancels 2 comedies

Plus the weekend calendar, "Space Force" S2, Bubba Wallace docuseries, "System Shock" series, and more

Inside.com Part of   Network January 28, 2022

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"Ted Lasso" Though Apple TV+ is not typically a focus of the company's earnings calls, CEO Tim Cook brought the service up multiple times while speaking with Wall Street analysts this week. Cook noted that Apple TV+ shows and films have earned nearly 200 awards and 900 total nominations so far, namechecking "Ted Lasso," "The Tragedy of Macbeth," "CODA," and "Swan Song" specifically. More: Cook added that Apple executives make purely financial decisions about the content, and opt for projects "that have a reason for existing and... have a good message, and they make people feel good at the end of it." Apple's revenue for Q4 2021 was up 11% to $123 billion, a new all-time record that was boosted largely by new iPhone sales. Since the platform's launch in November 2019, Cook has rarely made mention of Apple TV+ during earnings calls. DEADLINE

Disney and WWE Network reached a new international distribution agreement that could be the first of many similar deals. The WWE Network will now stream exclusively on the Disney+ Hotstar platform in Indonesia. More: WWE Network currently streams via Peacock in the US, as part of an overall $1 billion agreement between WWE and NBCUniversal. Under both the Peacock and Disney+ Hotstar agreements, WWE live events stream on the services with a standard subscription, at no additional cost. According to Deadline, Disney and WWE are currently in discussions about expanding the partnership to more countries and territories. Indonesian viewers will gain access to WWE Network on January 30, just in time for the Royal Rumble from St. Louis. DEADLINE

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WEEKEND CALENDAR FRIDAY, JANUARY 28 THE AFTERPARTY: Comic murder-mystery series from director/creator Christopher Miller, one half of the "Lord & Miller" team of "21 Jump Street" and "Into the Spider-Verse" fame. Each episode chronicles a murder at a high school reunion afterparty from the perspective of a different character, and in a different genre and style. The cast includes Tiffany Haddish, Sam Richardson, Zoë Chao, Ben Schwartz, Ike Barinholtz, Ilana Glazer, Dave Franco, Jamie Demetriou, and John Early. [Apple TV+] THE ICE AGE ADVENTURES OF BUCK WILD: This original animated comedy feature is the sixth entry in the "Ice Age" franchise, and shifts focus to thrill-seeking possum brothers Crash (Vincent Tong) and Eddie (Aaron Harris). While searching for a new home of their own, they accidentally tumble into the Lost World of the dinosaurs and encounter one-eyed, adventure-loving weasel Buck Wild (Simon Pegg). [Disney+] HOME TEAM: Sports comedy film, loosely inspired by actual events, starring Kevin James as New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. During a suspension from the NFL (due to his involvement in the Saints' "Bountygate" scandal), Payton reconnects with his son and his love of the game by coaching Pop Warner football. Taylor Lautner, Rob Schneider, Jackie Sandler, Chloe Fineman, and Isaiah Mustafah co-star; Adam Sandler produced through his Happy Madison banner. [Netflix] THE WOMAN IN THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE GIRL IN THE WINDOW: Dark comedy-suspense series sending up the psychological thriller genre, starring Kristen Bell as a depressed, homebound alcoholic who believes she witnesses a murder while spying on her new neighbors across the street. Tom Riley, Mary Holland, Shelley Hennig, Cameron Britton, and Michael Ealy co-star; "Mike Tyson Mysteries" vets Hugh Davidson, Larry Dorf, and Rachel Ramras co-created. [Netflix] GETTING CURIOUS WITH JONATHAN VAN NESS: Unscripted series, inspired by the podcast of the same name, in which the "Queer Eye" host investigates subjects of particular interest to him -- from snacks to wigs to skyscrapers -- with help and guidance from noted experts. [Netflix] IN FROM THE COLD: Action-thriller series starring Margarita Levieva as Jenny Franklin, a bio-engineered former Russian spy who's been hiding out under an assumed identity in suburban New Jersey for many years. When her cover is blown during a European vacation, Jenny finds herself forced back into the spy game. Cillian O'Sullivan, Lydia Fleming, Charles Brice, and Alyona Khmelnitskaya co-star. [Netflix] ANGRY BIRDS: SUMMER MADNESS: Debut animated series, based on the mobile game franchise, following Red, Chuck, Bomb, and Stella as they spend a fun-filled summer at Camp Splinterwood. [Netflix] ALL OF US ARE DEAD: Horror-drama series from Korea, based on a popular online comic, about a group of students who seek refuge in their high school during a viral outbreak that turns people into zombies. Yoon Chan-young, Park Ji-hoo, Cho Yi-hyun, Park Solomon, and Yoo In-soo co-star. [Netflix] THE ORBITAL CHILDREN: Original anime sci-fi series from writer/director Mitsuo Iso, best known for his animation work in "Ghost in the Shell" and "The End of Evangelion." It's set on an AI-operated commercial space station in the year 2045, where a group of young people finds themselves stranded with no hope of rescue following a massive accident. The first half of the series debuts today; Part 2 hits Netflix on February 11. [Netflix] FERIA: THE DARKEST LIGHT (LA LUZ MÁS OSCURA): Debut fantasy-horror series from Spain, set in an Andalusian village in the mid-1990s, about two sisters (Ana Tomeno and Carla Campra) who discover that their missing parents were responsible for a deadly and horrifying act that cost 23 victims their lives. Carlos Montero ("Elite") and Agustín Martínez ("La Caza: Monteperdido") co-created the series. [Netflix] THE LEGEND OF VOX MACHINA: Animated fantasy-comedy series for adults, based on a campaign from the popular "Dungeons & Dragons" watchalong series "Critical Role." The story follows the seven members of the Vox Machina team as they hunt down the evil Lord and Lady Briarwood, as payback for killing the town leaders of Whitestone. "Critical Role" cast members Matthew Mercer, Ashley Johnson, Travis Willingham, Laura Bailey, Liam O'Brien, Taliesin Jaffe, Marisha Ray, and Sam Riegel all reprise their roles for the new series. [Amazon] NEEDLE IN A TIMESTACK: 2021 sci-fi film from writer/director John Ridley ("12 Years a Slave"), based on a short story by Robert Silverberg. The story centers on various romances that are interrupted by a time traveler, who's desperately trying to set things right again. Leslie Odom Jr., Freida Pinto, Cynthia Erivo, and Orlando Bloom co-star. [Amazon] CHARLI XCX: ALONE TOGETHER: 2021 documentary feature chronicling the pop star's life during quarantine, as she rekindles her relationship with her ex, confronts her mental health struggles, and completes her album "How I'm Feeling Now" in collaboration with fans. The film comes from music video directors Bradley & Pablo. [Hulu] GROWN-ISH: Spin-off of the ABC sitcom "Black-ish," which airs on the cable network Freeform. Yara Shahidi stars as Zoey Johnson, who moves away from home to study at the California University of Liberal Arts (or Cal U for short). Trevor Jackson, Francia Raisa, Emily Arlook, Halle and Chloe Bailey, and Luka Sabbat co-star. The show's back for the second half of its fourth season. [Hulu] DOOMLANDS: Roku's first-ever original animated comedy series centers on two bartenders working in a mobile pub called The Oasis that travels across a hellish post-apocalyptic wasteland. The film started life as a crowd-funded animated short by creator Josh O'Keefe. [Roku] SATURDAY, JANUARY 29 STOP AND GO: Mallory Everton and Whitney Call co-wrote and star in this 2021 indie comedy as two sisters who embark on a raucous cross-country road trip to save their grandmother from a COVID-infested nursing home. [Hulu] THE FALLS: Taiwanese drama from writer/director Chung Mong-hong ("A Sun"), starring Alyssa Chia and Gingle Wang as a mother and daughter whose relationship becomes strained as they quarantine together in their apartment. "The Falls" premiered at last year's Venice Film Festival. [Netflix] SUNDAY, JANUARY 30 WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT COSBY: Four-part docuseries from writer/director W. Kamau Bell, looking at the sexual abuse allegations against Bill Cosby, and the cultural impact of his legacy and his crimes. The series features commentary from comedians, educators, journalists, and Cosby survivors. [Showtime] LOVE OFF THE GRID: Original reality dating series matching four homesteaders who live "off the grid" up with four city dwellers who are accustomed to all the conveniences of modern life. [Discovery+] SMALL ENGINE REPAIR: Dark comedy-drama feature from writer/director John Pollono, based on his play, about a reunion between three old friends that initially seems casual, but ultimately centers around a shocking hidden agenda. Pollono co-stars alongside Jon Bernthal and Shea Whigham. [Hulu] BURDEN OF TRUTH: Legal drama series from Canada, that originally aired on CBC, starring Kristin Kreuk as a Toronto corporate attorney who moves back to her Manitoba hometown. The fourth and final season -- which concerns the opening of a new mining project that divides the local community -- comes to Hulu today. [Hulu] GREAT CHOCOLATE SHOWDOWN: Baking competition series originally produced for Food Network Canada, which is airing on The CW in the US. 10 amateur home bakers face off in a string of chocolate-based challenges for a shot at a $50,000 grand prize. [CW]

Williamson and Plec Peacock ordered a first season for the supernatural drama series "Dead Day," from "Vampire Diaries" vets Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec. The duo will both write the series and serve as co-showrunners. More: "Dead Day" is based on a comic book by creator Ryan Parrott, from publisher AfterShock. The story is set in a world in which the dead return for one night a year to complete their unfinished business on Earth. Plec is also developing an adaptation of author Richelle Mead's "Vampire Academy" book series for Peacock. TV LINE

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"Black Monday," "Work in Progress" Showtime canceled the comedy series "Black Monday" and "Work in Progress." "Work in Progress" aired for two seasons, while "Black Monday" had hoped to return for a fourth. More: "Work in Progress" showrunner Lilly Wachowski noted on social media that the cast's contracts had expired after two seasons, and the network would've had to renegotiate for their return. "Black Monday" actor Paul Scheer briefly discussed the show's cancellation on his Twitch series "Thursdays with Rob & Paul." Though Showtime still has a robust slate of drama series, this leaves the premium network with only a small roster of half-hour comedies, including "Back to Life," "Flatbush Misdemeanors," and the upcoming "The Curse" and "I Love That For You." Showtime also canceled the drama series "American Rust" this week. HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

"Space Force" S2 NEW TRAILERS SPACE FORCE: The workplace comedy series from "The Office" vets Greg Daniels and Steve Carrell returns for a 7-episode second season on February 18. The new episodes find Gen. Mark Naird (Carrell) and his team tasked with militarizing space within the span of just four months. John Malkovich, Ben Schwartz, Tawny Newsome, Diana Silvers, Jimmy O. Yang, and Don Lake co-star. [Netflix] RACE: BUBBA WALLACE: Six-part docuseries from filmmaker Erik Parker ("L.A. Burning") profiling the trailblazing NASCAR driver, with an intimate behind-the-scenes look at his 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season. Wallace is the only full-time Black driver in NASCAR; the series chronicles his decision to speak out about racial injustice in the sport. It arrives on February 22. [Netflix] CHARMED: The supernatural drama series -- a remake of the '90s series about sisters who discover they're good witches -- returns for a fourth season on March 11. The new episodes will introduce Lucy Barrett as the third Charmed One, replacing former series regular Madeleine Mantock. Rupert Evans, Jordan Donica, Mareya Salazar and Bethany Brown co-star. New episodes will debut on Friday on TV and hit the CW app and website the following day. [CW]

"Mortal Kombat" writer Greg Russo will write and direct an upcoming live-action series based on the "System Shock" video game franchise. The series will stream exclusively on the upcoming gaming-themed entertainment platform Binge. More: The first "System Shock" game is set in 2072, and centers on a hacker who awakens from a coma on board a cyberpunk space station, where he's confronted by homicidal robots, cyborgs, mutants, and an evil AI. Russo has previously scripted a number of video game adaptations, including a take on "Space Invaders" for New Line and Warner Bros., and an upcoming film based on "Saints Row." SLASHFILM

QUICK HITS With impact.com, you can partner with influencers, affiliates, content creators, and more to Drive more sales with partnerships.* "Succession" vet Juliana Canfield has been cast in the lead role in the upcoming Peacock crime drama series "The Missing," from creator/showrunner David E. Kelley. Actor Mel Rodriguez, who played Chief Medical Examiner Hugo Ramirez, will depart "CSI: Vegas" after a single season; his co-stars Jorja Fox and William Petersen also announced plans to exit the series this week. "Tiger King" star Joe Exotic (aka Joseph Maldonado-Passage) was resentenced by a federal judge to 21 years in prison on Friday, reducing his overall sentence by just one year. NBC ordered a pilot for a US remake of the Dutch drama series "A'dam & Eva," two years after the project was first put into development; Mike Daniels ("The Village") created the new series. A judge with California's Central District Court denied Netflix's motion to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought against the series "The Queen's Gambit" by chess master Nona Gaprindashvili; the series incorrectly implies that Gaprindashvili, unlike protagonist Beth Harmon, never faced male opponents in competition. John Larroquette will return to provide opening narration for Netflix's direct sequel to 1974's "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre"; the original marked the "Night Court" actor's first feature film appearance. YouTube permanently banned conservative commentator and Fox News Channel host Dan Bongino on Wednesday due to ongoing violations of the company's pandemic-related misinformation policy. The cast of "Scrubs" -- including Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke, John C. McGinley, Judy Reyes, Neil Flynn and Christa Miller -- will reunite for a live panel at this year's ATX Television Festival in Austin. Create immersive virtual, hybrid, and in-person event experiences for your audience, no matter where they are - View a Demo* *This is sponsored content

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." Editor Jonathan Harris is a writer for Inside.com. Previously, he wrote for The Huffington Post, TakePart.com, and the YouTube channel What’s Trending.

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