Small Screen: Expansions In Streaming, New Series
IMDB I Nippon TV
Network: Award-winning actress, and icon Diahann Carroll died of cancer in Los Angeles Friday. From being on network television shows like Julia, and Dynasty, Carroll had a storied career and paved the way for many other Black actors behind her. Some of her more recent work includes the USA Network show, White Collar where she played June, and Dr. Burke’s mother, Jane Burke on Grey’s Anatomy.
CBS announced their development of drama series, Repeat based on the award-winning book of the same namesake by Kurumi Inui. The book was adapted into a series initially in 2018 airing on Yomiuri Television in Japan. Masi Oka and Sabrina Wind will executive produce the show, and isn’t too off from Heroes, and NBC show also produced by Oka. Repeat tells the story about a group of strangers given the power to travel back in time and repeat moments in their lives for the better.
TNT
Cable: After some mystery about the future of the TNT show, Claws the network announced a renewal for season four, which will also be its last season. Notable faces like Niecy Nash who plays Desna Simms as well as Carrie Preston, Judy Reyes, Jenn Lyon, and Karrueche Tran who co-star. “Claws has handled delicate and culturally relevant themes like race, class, gender, and sexual orientation with grace and humor via superb storytelling,” said Brett Weitz, the General Manager for TNT.
Pop TV renews comedy series Florida Girls for a second season. Inspired by the life of creator and star Laura Chinn, Florida Girls is about a group of friends making the most out of life while living in poverty in Clearwater, Florida. When their friend moves to follow her dreams, the rest of the group come to terms with their own stalled lives, navigating situational problems in the process.
Streaming: In the Long Run, a UK comedy series by Idris Elba has been picked up by Starz and will air the first two seasons of the show as well as a holiday special. The storyline is semi-autobiographical to Elba’s real childhood, following the Easmson family who live in London in 1985. Co-starring in the series, Bill Bailey, Kellie Shirley, Jimmy Akingbola, and Mattie Boys. Season one is set to premiere on November 1.
The 2019 Asian Film Market is expanding into television and streaming services, with a new team led by producer Tcha Sung Jai, and critic, Oh Dongjin. Going into its 14th year, the Asian Film Market covers aspects of the film industry from production to distribution. The organization will start taking steps to grow into sectors of TV and streaming beginning with the launch of the Asia Content Awards.