Small Screen: SAG-AFTRA Strike and Daytime TV, Renewals Announced
Wolé Parks - Jon Kopaloff / Stringer
Broadcast: The CW has passed down decisions on Superman & Lois, All American: Homecoming, and Gotham Knights. The network renewed Superman & Lois and Homecoming for 2023-4, and canceled Gotham Knights after just one season. Superman and Homecoming’s renewals mean that The CW will carry over four scripted series from the 2022-3 lineup — they will join All American, the parent show of Homecoming, and Walker. Both of the renewed series will have shorter runs on their next seasons, with Superman & Lois running 10 episodes, down from 13 this year, and Homecoming running 13 for its third season, down from 15 in its second. The CW’s new ownership Nextar is seeking to cut costs with shorter orders, hoping to make The CW profitable for the first time in history by 2025.
Superman & Lois’ Wolé Parks has been dismissed from the show’s upcoming fourth season on The CW. The dismissal was tied to budget cuts. Superman & Lois was renewed for a fourth 10-episode season but dismissed six other series regulars in addition to Parks. Dylan Walsh, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Erik Valdez, Inde Navarrette, Wolé Parks, Tayler Buck and Sofia Hasmik were all ousted from the season, though some hope to guest star or recur in role reprisals. Superman & Lois, though popular with audiences, is an expensive show for the network due to its heavy reliance on effects. It’s likely that the series will shy away from those effects and lean into its aspect as a family drama in the next season as part of the cost-cutting measures.
Paulina Alexis, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Lane Factor, AND K. Devery Jacobs - Reservarion Dogs / Hulu / FX
Cable: The Hulu series Reservation Dogs will make its linear TV debut on FX later this month. FX will air two episodes of the series every Monday at 10 PM ET/PT for one month, finishing two weeks ahead of the Season 3 Hulu premiere on August 2. The linear premiere of Reservation Dogs is the latest in a series of “reverse windows” for FX Productions. Other series to have “reversed,” or gone from a streaming platform to a linear network, including Under the Banner of Heaven, which aired on FX nine months after its streaming run on Hulu, and The Patient, which aired on FX in April after running on Hulu in the fall of 2022. Reservation Dogs follows a group of Indigenous teens, played by Devery Jacobs, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Paulina Alexis and Lane Factor, living on an Oklahoma reservation. Season 1 saw the death of Daniel, a friend of the group, and the friend’s efforts to live out Daniel’s dream of going to California. The show has won two straight AFI Television Programs of the Year Awards, a Peabody Award, two Spirit Awards, and much critical acclaim.
Velma - Max
Streaming: Max has announced it will renew Velma, Mindy Kaling’s adult animated Scooby Doo spinoff. The series tells the origin story of Velma Dinkley, played by Kaling. The star-studded production also features Constance Wu, Sam Richardson, Glenn Howerton, Jane Lynch, Wanda Sykes, Russell Peters, Melissa Fumero, Stephen Root, Gary Cole, Ken Leung, Cherry Jones, Frank Welker, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Fortune Feimster, Yvonne Orji, Sarayu Blue, Nicole Byer, Ming-Na Wen, Shay Mitchell, Debby Ryan, Kulap Vilaysak, and Karl-Anthony Towns. Max also announced Keeping Up With The Joneses and Uptown Bodega had moved beyond production, and released a Season 2 trailer for Ten Year Old Tom. Ten Year Old Tom follows an “average kid” who receives offbeat guidance from the adults in his life. Max additionally released a first-look photo for 2D animated series Young Love, created by Matthew A. Cherry. The series will be based on the Oscar-winning short film Hair Love, featuring many of the same characters.
NCIS: Sydney has established a main cast. The debut international spinoff of the storied franchise will star Olivia Swann as NCIS Special Agent Michelle Mackey and Todd Lasance as Sergeant Jim “JD” Dempsey. Also appearing are Sean Sagar of The Covenant as Special Agent DeShawn Jackson, Tuuli Narkle of Bad Behaviour as AFP Liaison Officer Constable Evie Cooper, Shantaram’s Mavournee Hazel as AFP Forensic Scientist Bluebird “Blue” Gleeson, and Total Control’s William McInnes as AFP Forensic Pathologist Dr. Roy Penrose. NCIS: Sydney, produced by Endemol Shine, is currently in production in Australia and will premiere at a yet-to-be-announced date on Paramount+ and Network 10. The series follows a team of American NCIS agents and the Australian Federal Police as they are drafted into an international task force against naval crimes. Paramount Australia and New Zealand Head of Drama Rick Maier said of the series,
“One of the best-loved franchises in the world is in the hands of one of our best production companies. NCIS: Sydney is exciting for all of us at Paramount and we hope one of the most eagerly anticipated commissions of the year.”
The NCIS franchise launched two decades ago, and has since expanded to versions across the United States and the world, including Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Hawaii.
Mexican animator Jorge R. Gutiérrez has announced plans for a new Netflix series set in the universe of his 2021 series Maya and the Three and his 2014 feature The Book of Life. This new project will be the third under an overall deal between the Emmy- and Annie-award-winning animator and the streamer. His previous project Maya and the Three was a “feminist spin on Mesoamerican mythology” that saw a warrior princess on a journey to fulfill and ancient prophecy and save society from spiteful gods. The animated feature was released in the summer of 2021 to overwhelmingly positive feedback. The Book of Life, which featured voice acting from Diego Luna, Zoe Saldana, and Channing Tatum, was also a major success, eventually leading to Gutiérrez’s deal with Netflix. Gutiérrez is also developing his first adult animation series, I, Chihuahua!, which he describes as “basically a Street Fighter movie about a little Mexican Chihuahua dog who wants to be a Mexican wrestler.” He continued,
“It’s about this underdog Chihuahua who enters the World Cup tournament for fighters, and there’s going to be fighters from all over the world, he’s going to fight tigers and panthers and cheetahs and jaguars and he’s just this little dog. It’s about the underdog that is Latin America competing with the world.”
The animator has revealed few details about his next Netflix series beyond its setting in the Mesoamerican universe of Maya and the Three and The Book of Life, saying only that it will feature “a lot of reincarnated characters.”
Speaking to a group of animation students at an Annecy animation festival workshop, the animator discussed the many hurdles on the road to success, the support of his wife and creative partner Sandra Equiha, and his late autism diagnosis. He said,
“The reason I was diagnosed was because when my son was very little, when he was two and a half, he was diagnosed autistic and my parents in Mexico said ‘What? He can’t be artistic! He’s exactly like you when you were his age.’ That’s when I started getting tested and then sure enough I found out I am on the spectrum [and] I realized, I’ve been studying people my whole life. You know, it’s been great for animation [because] I’ve been mimicking people. I started to realize, that maybe 50 percent, 50 percent is my estimate, of people in animation that I’ve worked with are on the spectrum.”
He ended his talk with a call to action, urging students in the audience to be strengthened rather than torn down by obstacles. He said,
“Every single director you guys admire was once a student like you. They graduated, they were terrified. Of not getting a job. Of losing that job. I remember thinking losing a job would be the end of the world. Now I’ve lost maybe 30 jobs. You just get better. You just have to stick to it. Persistence is more important than talent. And I think if you help others, if you help those who can’t help you, it will come back to you in a good way. Don’t worry, you’re gonna make it.”
AMC’s streamer AllBlk has renewed Double Cross, Terror Lake Drive, Hush, and Wicked City. Double Cross, returning for its fifth season, sees Ashely A. Williams and Jeff Logan reprising their starring roles as crime-stoppers Erica and Eric Cross. The duo fight child trafficking, investigating a mysterious school bus disappearance and the kidnapping of Eric’s own son. Hush, in its second season, stars Joyful Drake as Dr. Draya Logan, a renowned marriage and sex therapist, TV personality, and author. Logan becomes involved in a “web of lies, sex, and murder” that threaten her career and personal life, and will fight in Season 2 to clear her name. Terror Lake Drive: Summer Purge follows a Georgia family who inherits a luxury lake home at the haunted Freeman Lakes. The series is in its third season, which resumes 5 years after the events of Season 2. Wicked City’s second season will follow five Black witches who “attract dangerous enemies.” Brett Dismuke, Head of Content, AllBlk & WE tv said of the renewals,
“AllBlk’s long-time originals Double Cross and Terror Lake Drive and new originals Hush and Wicked City premiered with strong, positive responses from our viewers. Naturally, our goal is always to give the viewers what they want. The renewal of these fan-favorite series continues to prove AllBlk’s commitment to creating provocative thrilling content, for Black audiences and from Black creatives, that keeps our viewers on the edge of their seats and of course, wanting more.”
The streamer has also announced the winners of their 2023 Shoot Your Shot casting call, Ashanti Harris and Zing Ashford. Harris landed the starring role in AllBlk’s upcoming Involved, and Ashford was also offered a role in the series. Series co-creator Omarion was excited about the “substantial talent” of the pool, saying that Ashanti “truly embodied the essence” of her character.
Mayan Mended and George Lopez - Cindy Ord / NBCUniversial
Renewals: Despite the writers’ strike taking place in Hollywood. There is positive news related to the scripted television series being renewed for another season. Below we outline 55 series starring people of color or featuring a very diverse main cast that has been renewed for another season.
HBO
The Last of Us (renewed for Season 2)
Hulu
Reasonable Doubt (renewed for Season 2)
NBC
Chicago Fire (renewed for Season 12)
Chicago Med (renewed for Season 9)
Chicago PD (renewed for Season 11)
Law & Order: Organized Crime (renewed for Season 4)
Lopez vs. Lopez (renewed for Season 2)
Netflix
The Diplomat (renewed for Season 2)
Ginny & Georgia (renewed for Seasons 3-4)
Mo (renewed for Season 2)
The Night Agent (renewed for Season 2)
Wednesday (renewed for Season 2)
Paramount+
Star Trek: Lower Decks (renewed for Season 5)
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (renewed for Season 3)
Transformers: Earthspark (renewed for Season 2)
Peacock
Bel-Air (renewed for Season 3)
Days of Our Lives (renewed for Seasons 59 & 60)
Prime
Citadel (renewed for Season 2)
The Peripheral (renewed for Season 2)
Roku
Die Hart 2: Die Harter (renewed for Season 3)
Starz
BMF (renewed for Season 2)
Power Book II: Ghost (renewed for Season 3)
Syfy
The Ark (renewed for Season 2)
Reginald the Vampire (renewed for Season 2)
ABC
Abbott Elementary (renewed for Season 3)
Grey’s Anatomy (renewed for Season 20)
The Rookie (renewed for Season 6)
Will Trent (renewed for Season 2)
Apple TV+
Acapulco (renewed for Season 3)
The Big Door Prize (renewed for Season 2)
Silo (renewed for Season 3)
Tehran (renewed for Season 3)
AllBlk
A La Carte (renewed for Season 2)
Double Cross (renewed for Season 5)
Hush (renewed for Season 2)
Wicked City (renewed for Season 2)
Terror Lake Drive (renewed for Season 3)
BET+
Kingdom Business (renewed for Season 2)
Bounce
Johnson (renewed for Season 3)
CBS
Bob ♥️ Abishola (Renewed for Season 5)
CSI: Vegas (renewed for Season 3)
NCIS (renewed for Season 21)
NCIS: Hawai’i (renewed for Season 3)
The Neighborhood (renewed for Season 6)
S.W.A.T. (renewed for Season 7)
The CW
All American (renewed for Season 6)
All American: Homecoming (renewed for Season 3)
61st Street (renewed for Season 2)
Fox
Accused (renewed for Season 2)
Alert: Missing Persons Unit (renewed for Season 2)
The Cleaning Lady (renewed for Season 3)
9-1-1 (renewed for Season 7 at ABC)
9-1-1: Lone Star (renewed for Season 5)
Freeform
Grown-ish (renewed for Season 6)
MeKai Curtis
Industry: MeKai Curtis, the star of Power Book III: Raising Kanan, has signed with APA for representation. Power Book III, part of the Power crime show franchise executive produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, follows the life of drug dealer Kanan Stark. The third season has just concluded, with Starz expected to renew it for a fourth. MeKai Curtis began his career at the age of 5 with an appearance on Sex in the City, and went on to become a Disney star. Following his appearances in Disney films and series, he was cast in Raising Kanan as Stark, who he has played since.
Isaiah Hill, star of Apple TV+’s sports drama Swagger, has signed with APA for representation. The series, created by Reggie Rock Blythewood, follows Kevin-Durant-inspired character Jayce Carson as he plays on the AAU circuit before hitting it big in the NBA. The series also stars O’Shea Jackson Jr., Shinelle Azoroh, Tessa Ferrer, Quvenzhané Wallis, Caleel Harris, James Bingham, Solomon Irama, Ozie Nzeribe, Jason Rivera-Torres and Tristan Wilds.
Strike Watch: Adele Lim, Kara Brown, and Elan Mastai spoke at the Banff World Media Festival about the WGA strike and looming SAG-AFTRA work stoppage. As the WGA work stoppage drags into its second month, screenwriters have set their sights on a “comprehensive and uncompromising” labor contract in negotiations with the AMPTP. Adele Lim of Crazy Rich Asians told a panel at the Festival that the WGA “means business,” saying,
“We’re not going to take [a separate deal for Hollywood actors under threat of a SAG work stoppage] as the pattern for what we need to accept with the SAG contract.”
Banff’s screenwriters implored the benefits of aligning with Hollywood unions and simultaneously seeking the best deal for writers. Co-executive producer of I’m a Virgo Kara Brown said that the WGA would reap benefits from solidarity with other unions and guilds, though it would have to create its own deal in the end in order to solve its specific issues. She said,
“We want everyone to get what they need, but we’re not going to change what we want or give in to something because they’ve (producers) made a deal with other unions.”
Writer of This is Us Elan Matsai said that the issue at hand was a “simple business disagreement,” saying that reaching a deal is crucial to get everyone back to work.
“On a very fundamental level, this is just a business situation, right? The guild contract comes up every three years. We’ve accommodated for a number of cycles, we’ve made small gains. But what we’re saying very loudly is this isn’t working for us.”
Screenwriters at the Festival lambasted the idea of mini-rooms and the AMPTP’s counter on residuals. They also discussed the proposed increased wage floor and protections against artificial intelligence. Matsai emphasized the importance of the very profession itself:
“I always want to tell people in these decision-making positions that, however much money you think you’re saving by cutting back on writing, you are going to blow so much money by all the screw-ups that will lead to wasted time, excess on set, not to mention problems that could be solved on set rather than later in post-production.”
With late-night shows grinding to a halt in the wake of the WGA strike, audiences may expect daytime dramas to follow suit if SAG-AFTRA strikes on July 1. But SAG-AFTRA’s film and TV contract, which expires on June 30, is not applicable to members working on soap operas. If the guild votes to strike, those cast members will continue to work; indeed, the four daytime dramas The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, and General Hospital continue to produce scripts amid the WGA work stoppage using non-member writers. Despite SAG-AFTRA’s membership voting nearly unanimously for strike authorization ahead of the union’s negotiation with the AMPTP, these soaps will likely continue production in the immediate future. Soap actors are employed under the SAG-AFTRA National Code of Fair Practice for Network Television Broadcasting, also known as Network Code, which is separate from the film and TV agreement under negotiation between SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP. In addition to soaps, the Network Code covers morning news, talk shows, variety, reality, game shows, sports, and promotional material. The current Code agreement holds through July of next year. Daytime shows also film in advance, which allowed them to continue releasing new episodes for weeks after the lockdown in 2020 shut down Hollywood production. Days of Our Lives, for example, tapes six months ahead, creating a “stockpile” of available episodes in the event of strikes or unforeseen circumstances that could devastate other types of scripted programming. Soaps also remain in production nearly constantly, generating new scripts written primarily by financial core (fi-core) writers who are not official members of the Guild. In certain cases, producers, assistants, and executives also have a hand in script writing. During the WGA’s last strike in 2007-8, 28 writers went fi-core, the majority of them writing for daytime dramas. During that work stoppage, eight soaps were able to continue as normal. The WGA lists four writers as fi-core this year, three of whom are writers for daytime shows. Head writer of Days of Our Lives and striking WGA member Ron Carlivati said from the picket line,
“The shows don’t stop. They replaced us in 2007 when I worked at One Life to Live, and I can only assume they’re replacing us right now. I’m being replaced on day one by other people.”
He said that DOOL would run out of pre-written scripts in a matter of weeks. As negotiations get underway, all daytime dramas with the exception of TYATR are taking extended summer breaks or going on production hiatus in June and July. After the SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP negotiations, cast will be expected to return to work, regardless of the outcome.