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John Mulaney’s wildly chaotic six-episode run of Everybody’s In LA featured old punks, phone-ins and just about every top comedian in the states.

But the show, which ran for six episodes around the Netflix Is A Joke Festival between May 3 and May 10, was originally designed as a variety show. “I wanted everyone to go make what they wanted and I will put it on. We can’t get renewed. We should actually be a variety show,” he said.

Mulaney was asked why he wanted to make a show that was largely difficult? He said that Netflix approached him as they wanted to do something live across the comedy festival but weren’t entirely sure what. “One idea they had was stand-up at the Geffen Theater. Only with only David doing stand-up, just Laura Nyro stories. He had a tight hour,” Mulaney joked. “I liked that it was an...

On June 6, the 2024 IndieWire Honors ceremony will celebrate 13 creators and stars responsible for some of the most stellar work of the TV season. Curated and selected by IndieWire’s editorial team, the event is a new edition of previous IndieWire Honors ceremonies, this time focused entirely on television. We’re showcasing their work with new interviews leading up to the Los Angeles celebration.

John Mulaney is talking about Marcia Clark.

To fans of the comedian, this shouldn’t come as a surprise — the former O.J. Simpson prosecutor has been a guest on his “Oh, Hello” Broadway show, the trial popped up in his stand-up, and Clark recently appeared on Netflix’s hilarious talk series “John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in LA.”

“The O.J. Simpson trial was just an all-consuming experience for me as a kid, and I could talk about it for hours and hours,” Mulaney told IndieWire during a recent interview.

If John Mulaney proved one thing with Everybody’s in L.A., his experimental live talk show that ran last week on Netflix, it’s that he’s a master of chaos. And not the ordered kind.

Between his nightly themes, top-tier musical guests, viewer call-ins, and an embarrassment of late-night legends (see: David Letterman and Jon Stewart), Mulaney had a lot going on. Fortunately, there was one reliable narrator amidst the competing sources of noise: an ongoing series of lower-third captions that identified the show’s various players in a bevy of entertaining ways.

While some of these captions could easily be planned for—at one point, the host himself was identified as being “in a single episode of The Bear,” while Letterman was described as someone who “also had a weird talk show”—others were more spur-of-the-moment. When Bill Hader showed up with a rather prominent eye infection,...

Throughout the six-episode run of Netflix’s Everybody’s in L.A., John Mulaney’s comedian guests kept trying to find ways to describe the live talk show’s chaotic-bordering-on-surreal atmosphere. “I feel like this entire show is a Banksy!” a confused Jon Stewart suggested. Nikki Glaser perhaps explained it best, by telling Mulaney, “It’s like an inside joke that only you are in on.”

That line applies just as well to Mulaney’s delightful 2019 Netflix special John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch. Both then and now, the...

You know John Mulaney’s six-part comedy special is gonna be really star-studded when Netflix’s PR team writes, “There will be more guests as well but we are tired of listing them. We have given you enough information already,” in their pitch email.

On Tuesday, the streaming service announced a new cohort of celebrity guests — including musical ones such as Weezer, Los Lobos, St. Vincent, Flea, and Beck — that will join Mulaney during his Everyody’s in L.A. run of live shows early next month. Also making appearances...

Tamron Hall, the nationally syndicated Emmy Award-winning daytime talk show, has been renewed for a sixth season (2024-2025) by ABC-owned television stations and leading broadcast groups, including Hearst, Scripps, Nexstar, Tegna, Gray, and Amg.

The ABC-owned stations carrying Tamron Hall are Wabc-tv New York, Kabc-tv Los Angeles, Wls-tv Chicago, Wpvi-tv Philadelphia, Kgo-tv San Francisco, Ktrk-tv Houston, Wtvd-tv Raleigh-Durham, and Kfsn-tv Fresno.

The daily eponymous series, hosted and executive produced by two-time Emmy winner Tamron Hall, delivered a strong surge in viewership this season, season to date delivering 8.9 billion minutes viewed across linear television with P2 + (Total Viewers). Tamron Hall currently ranks No. 3 out of the nine one-hour syndicated talk shows.

In addition, the show has enjoyed significant growth in its digital presence and audience engagement, with a 25% increase in followers season over season and a 148% increase in content engagement. Tamron Hall has become the second longest-running talk show produced by Disney,...

Syndicated talk strip “Tamron Hall” has been picked up for a sixth season, ABC News was set to announce on Monday. The show, distributed nationally by Disney Entertainment, airs on the ABC-owned TV stations, as well as on stations owned by groups including Hearst, Scripps, Nexstar, Tegna, Gray and Amg. The news keeps “Tamron Hall” on the air through the 2024-2025 TV season.

“Tamron and team are a singular force in daytime because the show gets to the core of humanity through meaningful connection and thoughtful conversations whether covering the most-talked-about issues of the day or interviewing the newsmakers shaping our world,” ABC News president Kim Godwin said in a statement. “We and the Tam Fam can rejoice because ‘Tamron Hall’ is back for another must-watch season of fun and fearlessness.”

According to Disney, “Tamron Hall” ranks No. 3 out of the nine one-hour daytime syndie talk shows. The series, which is based in New York,...

Updated: Richard Kind will serve as announcer for “John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in L.A.” The guest lineup includes David Letterman, Nate Bargatze, seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones, Weezer, Jerry Seinfeld, Citizens for L.A. Wildlife Representative Tony Tucci, Jon Stewart, hypnotherapist Kerry Gaynor, Flea, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Marcia Clark, Ray J, Mae Martin, Los Lobos, John Carpenter, Warren G., Earthquake, Patton Oswalt, Stavros Halkias, helicopter journalist Zoey Tur, Sarah Silverman, Joyce Manor, Ronny Chieng, Tom Segura, Bill Hader, St. Vincent, Cassandra Peterson, Luenell, Hannah Gadsby, Cedric The Entertainer, Dr. Emily Lindsey of the La Brea Tar Pits and Beck.

Previously: Netflix has set “John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in L.A.,” a six-episode show featuring field pieces and special guests that will stream live during the Netflix Is a Joke comedy festival.

Per the logline, the show follows Mulaney as he “explores the city of Los Angeles during a week when every funny person is in it.

The biographical documentary is a genre that lends itself to a reliable storytelling formula. First, we look back on the origins of the subject; we are introduced to some of the key figures that helped them along the way; we are shown the beginning of their career all the way to the end, and are then left to contemplate their legacy.

Due to the predictability of this format, these documentaries can often come off as by-the-numbers, taking us on a telegraphed emotional journey intended as a crowdpleaser. But every once in a while, there’s a subject who is so unique that their story elevates the formula. Allee Willis is one such subject, with a life story that’s energetic, colorful and invigorating to witness. Director Alexis Manya Spraic crafts a documentary that strives to be just as fascinating as its subject.

The World According to Allee Willis, which premiered at SXSW earlier this month,...

Hacks has a premiere date for its third season. In addition to the returning cast, viewers will see Helen Hunt, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Hendricks, Dan Bucatinsky, George Wallace, and Tony Goldwyn join the Max dark comedy series in guest-starring roles.

Starring Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Jane Adams, Christopher McDonald, Kaitlin Olson, Paul W. Downs, Poppy Liu, Rose Abdoo, Mark Indelicato, Meg Stalter, Angela E. Gibbs, Luenell, Johnny Sibilly, Joe Mande, Ally Maki, and Lorenza Izzo, the Hacks series' return was delayed in 2023 due to Smart having a heart procedure.

Read More…...

“The White Lotus” Season 3 Announces New Cast Members

Rooms at “The White Lotus” are filling up!

The acclaimed HBO series created by Mike White has announced six new cast members for its highly anticipated third season. Joining the previously announced Natasha Rothwell, who will reprise her role of Belinda, Leslie Bibb, Dom Hetrakul, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey, and Tayme Thapthimthong are joining the series for its junior season.

The upcoming season will be set in Thailand, with production scheduled to begin next month. Plot details are being kept under wraps but will follow a new group of guests at the White Lotus property.

Watch the trailer for “White Lotus” Season 2 below:

The cast of Season 2, which was set in Sicily, was led by F. Murray Abraham, Jennifer Coolidge, Adam Dimarco, Meghann Fahy, Beatrice Grannò, Jon Gries, Tom Hollander, Sabrina Impacciatore, Aubrey Plaza, Michael Imperioli, Theo James, Will Sharpe,...

Season 3 of the Max comedy series “Hacks” starring Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder is debuting soon.

The third season of the critically-acclaimed series will premiere this spring. The news was announced on the official “Hacks” Instagram account on Thursday. No official date has been set at this time.

Stream 'Hacks' On Max $9.99/Month

Season 1 of “Hacks” introduces young comedy writer Ava Daniels (Einbinder), who is hired to update the act of aging comedy legend Deborah Vance (Smart). While initially at odds, Deborah serves as a mentor to Ava and the two form an unlikely bond. The series also stars Carl Clemons-Hopkins as Marcus, Deborah’s advisor and the COO of her company.

The recurring cast includes Kaitlin Olson, Christopher McDonald, Jane Adams, Paul W. Downs, Poppy Liu, Rose Abdoo, Mark Indelicato, Meg Stalter, Angela E. Gibbs, Luenell, Johnny Sibilly, Joe Mande, Ally Maki and Lorenza Izzo. Season 2 introduced new faces...

Hacks will soon be back.

The show announced this morning on social media that Season 3 of Max/Universal TV hit comedy will premiere this spring.

Production on the new season was halted in May due to the writers strike. The Emmy-winning series centers on an aging comedian Deborah Vance (Smart) and an up-and-coming writer Ava Daniels (Einbinder) who are writing together. 

Hacks was created by Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky, who serve as showrunners.

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A post shared by Hacks (@hacks)

Production on Season 3 of Hacks, which started shortly after Thanksgiving of 2022 and resumed after the holiday break in January of 2023, was previously paused in February when Smart underwent a successful heart procedure. It resumed in mid-March before shutting down again in May because of the work stoppage.

Hacks has been a commercial hit and awards juggernaut, amassing 32 Emmy nominations and 6 wins for its first two seasons,...

Chris Rock, David Letterman, Jerry Seinfeld, Hannah Gadsby, Seth Rogen, and Tom Brady (yes, that Tom Brady) are among the comedians and non-comedians set to appear at the 2024 Netflix Is a Joke festival.

Kevin Hart, John Mulaney, Ali Wong, Chelsea Handler, Maya Rudolph, Nate Bargatze, Nick Kroll, Kumail Nanjiani, Tim Robinson, Sebastian Maniscalco, and Patton Oswalt are just some of the dozens of A-list comics also on the bill when the fest hits venues across Los Angeles between May 2 and 12.

Despite all the comic legends, the name that stands out the most is Brady’s,...

Netflix is bringing back its “Netflix Is a Joke Fest,” which so far has lined up more than 300 live events across 35 venues in Los Angeles. The event, last held in 2022, will include Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Gaffigan, Nate Bargatze and Sebastian Maniscalco in a night of comedy at the Hollywood Bowl; also holding stand-up shows there are Bill Burr, John Mulaney, Seth Rogen, Matt Rife, Kevin Hart, Trevor Noah and a joint show with Taylor Tomlinson, Sarah Silverman, Nikki Glaser and Michelle Buteau.

Netflix produces the festival with Live Nation; this year’s event will take place from May 2 to May 12, 2024. Besides the Bowl, other venues on tap include The Greek, The Dolby, The Forum, The Palladium, Orpheum Theatre and The Wiltern, as well as well as comedy venues including The Hollywood Improv, Largo, Laugh Factory and The Comedy Store.

“This is a special time for comedy, both for Netflix and the genre at large,...

You know the game, but you’ve never seen it played like this before! The series premiere of “Celebrity Squares” is coming to VH1 on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. Et, bringing audiences a new twist on one of their favorite game shows. Hosted by comedian DC Young Fly, “Celebrity Squares” will see contestants try to win a Tic-Tac-Toe game by picking celebrities to answer trivia questions about Black Pop Culture. You can watch VH1 with a 7-Day Free Trial of Philo. You can also watch with Directv Stream, Sling TV, Hulu Live TV, Fubo, or YouTube TV.

How to Watch 'Celebrity Squares' Series Premiere When: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 8:00 Pm Edt TV: VH1 Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Philo. 7-Day Free Trial$25+ / month philo.com About 'Celebrity Squares' Series Premiere

It’s a good bet that you’ve played Tic-Tac-Toe in your life, but have you...

Exclusive: Netflix on Thursday morning unveiled Improv: 60 and Still Standing, a comedy special celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Improv comedy clubs, which will premiere globally on the streamer November 7th.

For six decades, The Improv has stood as a trailblazer in the realm of live comedy, serving as one of the primary platforms for both up-and-coming and veteran comedians. In honor of its anniversary, 10 globally acclaimed comedians will light up the stage in Hollywood for a special evening at The Improv, alongside never-before-seen archival footage from today’s household names.

The comics dropping in for short sets include Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, Bert Kreischer, Craig Robinson, Deon Cole, Fortune Feimster, Jeff Dunham, Kevin Nealon, Mark Normand, Jo Koy, and Whitney Cummings. Among those featured in rare archival footage, who arrived at The Improv as “young newcomers,” per Improv CEO Robert Hartmann, and emerged as “major stars,” are Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld,...

The Writers Guild of America went on strike on May 2, and work on all television and film projects was stopped immediately by guild members. Production was able to continue on some projects that already had completed scripts, but since the nature of late-night talk shows requires timely jokes, they have all been off the air for exactly five months.

But, thanks to last week’s deal between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), all of the late-night shows will return to the air on Monday, Oct. 2 with brand new episodes. As The Streamable noted last week, because these types of shows are generally day-to-day operations, they are able to get back to airing new episodes almost immediately.

That being said, the shows will still have to contend with the fact that they will not be able to have actors on as guests in order...

Everyone is happy that Jimmy Kimmel Live is returning for its first show in 150 days. Except maybe for one person. Hint: It’s not Guillermo, who seems to be enjoying himself.

See the video for details.

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live returns on Monday, October 2, with his first all-new show since May 1. Arnold Schwarzenegger will kick off the week, with additional guests Kathy Griffin, Wanda Sykes, and Dax Shephard and throughout the week.

Jimmy Kimmel Live airs weeknights at 11:35/10:35c on ABC.

The following episodes are scheduled to air the week of Oct. 2-6 (subject to change):

Monday, Oct. 2 (Season Premiere)

Arnold Schwarzenegger 2. Musical Guest Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Tuesday, Oct. 3

Kathy Griffin 2. Luenell 3. Musical Guest Glen Hansard

Wednesday, Oct. 4

Wanda Sykes 2. Cassidy Hutchinson 3. Musical Guest Lany

Thursday, Oct. 5

Dax Shepard 2. Nicole Avant 3. Musical Guest BoyWithUke

Friday, Oct. 6

Tbd...

After 22 weeks without late night, the biggest hosts on television have returned. Late night shows are back following the conclusion of the WGA strike.

After the announcement on Tuesday night that writers were allowed to return to work, HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” became the first late night show to return Friday with guest Ron DeSantis. But Maher isn’t the only one jumping back on the air with a splashy big name. From Neil deGrasse Tyson to Matthew McConaughey, the kings of the 11:35 p.m. and 12:35 p.m. blocks aren’t holding back when it comes to their returns.

Below is the most complete list so far of guests expected to appear on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “Real Time with Bill Maher” in the week to come.

(Note:...

There’s more late-night bookings now that the writers strike is over.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel Live! have unveiled their lineups for next week – their first since May.

Kimmel is kicking off the season with Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has a new book on parenting Be Useful: Seven Tools For Life out soon, and musical guest Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit.

On Tuesday, comedians Kathy Griffin and Luenell join the show with musical guest Glen Hansard. Wednesday has Wanda Sykes and former Trump aide Cassidy Hutchinson alongside musical guest Lany, and Thursday is Dax Shepard and Nicole Avant with BoyWithUke.

On The Late Show, deGrasse Tyson kicks off the season. Bandleader Louis Cato is the musical guest. John Oliver joins on Tuesday with a musical performance from boygenius, Anderson Cooper joins on Wednesday with Japanese Breakfast as the musical guest and Bob Odenkirk rounds out Thursday.

VH1 is bringing back the classic game show Hollywood Squares for a rebooted version titled Celebrity Squares, hosted by actor and comedian DC Young Fly. The new version with a modern twist on the classic format will focus on Black pop culture trivia, and comes with a new name according to Deadline, who broke the story. From Jesse Collins Entertainment and Kevin Hart‘s Hartbeat, Celebrity Squares takes elements of the former favorite and presents them in a new and exciting way for an updated audience. The series will bring together cultural icons for “20 fun and spontaneous half-hour episodes.” Among the celebrity guests set to feature are Babyface, Bobby Brown, Tiffany Haddish, Kirk Franklin, Bresha Webb, Luenell, Taye Diggs, and many more. The show is set to debut on VH1 beginning Tuesday, October 17 at 8/7c. Celebrity Squares brings two contestants together to play Tic-Tac-Toe, as they work to collect cash and prizes along the way.

Exclusive: A new take on the classic Hollywood Squares game show is headed to VH1. The network has teamed with Jesse Collins Entertainment and Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat on Celebrity Squares, a modern twist on the classic format featuring Black pop culture trivia.

Hosted by actor and comedian DC Young Fly, “the series will bring cultural icons together for 20 fun and spontaneous half-hour episodes,” per VH1. Celebrity guests include Babyface, Bobby Brown, Tiffany Haddish, Kirk Franklin, Bresha Webb, Luenell, Taye Diggs and more. Celebrity Squares premieres at 8 p.m. Tuesday, October 17, on VH1.

Celebrity Squares will bring two contestants together to play Tic-Tac-Toe, banking cash and prizes along the way. The player with the most money in their bank at the end of the game will move on to the bonus round for a chance to win a $10,000 cash prize.

“We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Hartbeat and...

Exclusive: Netflix has set a Halloween global premiere for Ralph Barbosa: Cowabunga, its first special from rising star comic Barbosa, which was shot in August as part of his ongoing North American tour. The hour-long special, taped at The Kessler Theater in Barbosa’s hometown of Dallas, TX, premieres globally on Tuesday, October 31st.

At Netflix, Barbosa joins the likes of Matt Rife, Jamie Demetriou and Luenell, comics who have likewise closed deals for forthcoming specials with the streamer. The latter’s special, Chappelle’s Home Team- Luenell: Town Business, exec produced by Dave Chappelle as part of an ongoing series, is slated to premiere September 26th.

The impending arrival of Barbosa’s special is just the latest in a whirlwind year for the comic, who made his debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in January. His new hour offers a glimpse into the world of...

Luenell is making her Netflix comedy special debut this month.

Chappelle’s Home Team- Luenell: Town Business will premiere on the streamer on September 26, it was announced on Wednesday.

Shot during her set at Yoshi’s in her hometown of Oakland, California, Town Business sees Luenell expose all of the absurdities of air travel, the importance of keeping the window shade up, and why she has appointed herself the unofficial air marshal of the skies.

Dave Chappelle executive produced the special as part of his Chappelle’s Home Team series, which features a series of stand-alone comedy specials from comedians chosen and spotlighted by Chappelle. Earthquake was the first comedian to be featured in his special, Legendary, which debuted in February of 2022.

Town Business was directed and executive produced by Stan Lathan. Rikki Hughes also executive produced.

Dave Chappelle wrapped his four-show stint in New York City to celebrate his 50th birthday with famous friends, including John Mayer, Busta Rhymes, Common, T.I. and Pete Davidson, who said he just finished rehab.

Davidson and fellow comedian Michael Che, both New Yorkers, took in the thrill of performing for a sold-out crowd at the famed Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. Both said they were proud of the moment and proud to celebrate Chappelle, whose birthday was Thursday.

Davidson won over the audience with his jokes, saying he arrived in NYC on Saturday after completing a stint in rehab. The Saturday Night Live star joked about his drug use, saying doing drugs as a 30-year-old — he hits the milestone in November — would no longer be cute.

Other comedians to hit the stage before Chappelle performed included Che, Ronnie Chung, Michelle Wolf and Jeff Ross. Mike Tyson sat in...

Hey, TV fans. We're back in your faces to let you know what the major networks: ABC, Fox, NBC and CBS will be serving up in their primetime TV show slots tonight, August 1, 2023. Let's do it. ABC primetime schedule for August 1, 2023: Celebrity Wheel of Fortune repeat episode 9 of season 3 titled, "Paul Scheer, Luenell and Mary Lynn Rajskub." ABC's official description for it: "Paul Scheer plays for Selah Neighborhood Homeless Coalition, Luenell plays for Make-a-Wish and Mary Lynn Rajskub plays for Harvest Home LA." 7pm to 8pm central standard time. Jeopardy! Masters repeat episode 3 of season 1 titled, "Games 5 & 6." ABC's official description for it: "The top six highest-ranked current "Jeopardy!" contestants, Amy Schneider, Matt Amodio, Mattea Roach, Andrew He, Sam Buttrey and James Holzhauer, continue the race to win the grand prize." 8pm to 9pm central standard time.

Hey, TV fans. We're back to let you know what the major networks: CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox are serving up in their primetime slots tonight, June 19, 2023. Let's go. ABC is airing repeat episodes of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, The Wonder Years and a new Music Special. The Celebrity Wheel of Fortune repeat is episode 9 of season 3 titled, "Paul Scheer, Luenell and Mary Lynn Rajskub." ABC's official description for it: "Paul Scheer plays for Selah Neighborhood Homeless Coalition, Luenell plays for Make-a-Wish and Mary Lynn Rajskub plays for Harvest Home LA." It's airing from 7pm to8pm central standard time.

Exclusive (Updated with Jen Statsky’s comments): Filming on Season 3 of HBO Max/Universal TV hit comedy series Hacks, starring Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, has been halted due of the writers strike, Deadline has learned. According to sources, production will be on pause for the duration of the work stoppage.

It is hard for any scripted series to shoot without writing showrunners on set. This is especially true for Hacks as writing is at the heart of the show — it centers on an aging comedian Deborah Vance (Smart) and an up-and-coming writer Ava Daniels (Einbinder) who are writing together. Hacks was created by Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky, who serve as showrunners. According to WGA rules, members cannot provide any writing services, including script revisions during filming, while a strike is going on.

Update: Statsky, who won an Emmy alongside Downs and Aniello for writing the Hacks pilot episode,...

Production on Hacks‘ third season has officially been paused following star Jean Smart‘s recent and successful heart procedure, TVLine has learned.

The actress posted about her recovery on Instagram Thursday, but did not disclose specifics.

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“February is American Heart Month – a time when the nation spotlights heart health, so it feels...

Updated: Hacks star Jean Smart has taken to social media to reveal she’s recovering from a recent successful heart procedure.

Production on Season 3 of HBO Max/Universal TV hit Hacks, which started in early January, has been paused as Smart is healing. It is expected to resume on or around March 13.

“February is American Heart Month – a time when the nation spotlights heart health, so it feels important to share with all of you that I am recovering from a recent successful heart procedure,” she wrote on instagram. “I am fortunate to have excellent care and support from family and friends while I continue to recuperate. Please listen to your body and talk to your doctor – I’m very glad I did!”

Smart did not specify the type of heart procedure she underwent. No additional information has been provided.

“We are so happy that our beloved Jean Smart’s...

On the eve of final-round Emmy voting kicking off, the cast and executive producers of HBO Max’s “Hacks” gathered at Avalon Hollywood for a hilarious table read of the Season 2 finale, titled “The One, The Only.” Sitting front and center were Jean Smart, who stars as legendary comedian Deborah Vance, and Hannah Einbinder, who plays young writer Ava. Both ladies are once again nominated for Emmys for these roles, with Smart hoping to repeat on her Best Comedy Actress victory from last year.

Also in attendance were the Emmy-nominated writers of the episode, showrunners/executive producers Jen Statsky, Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs. Downs has a supporting role on the show as Deborah and Ava’s agent, Jimmy. Guest star nominee Christopher McDonald, who plays casino CEO Marty, also sat on the dais, as did Mark Indelicato as Damien, Johnny Sibilly as Wilson, Ming-Na Wen as Janet, Angela E. Gibbs as Robin,...

Click here to read the full article.

Starting in 1995, The Comedy Store in Hollywood turned over a small room on a struggling night to Guy Torry and let him program many of the Black comedians who, for whatever reason, weren’t getting space on the club’s main stage on its busiest nights. The weekly event, dubbed Phat Tuesdays, helped reinvigorate midweek at The Comedy Store and launched countless careers.

Phat Tuesdays lasted for a decade and was essential to bridging a difficult time for The Comedy Store, but a recent five-hour premium cable documentary about the venue didn’t even mention the showcase.

“Honestly, it was a blessing, because why should we settle for 10 minutes in another documentary? We had three hours, easy, of story to tell. So let us tell our story in full,” says Reginald Hudlin, executive producer and director of Prime Video’s new three-part docuseries Phat Tuesdays,...

Deborah and Ava will be back for another round. HBO Max has renewed the Hacks TV show for a third season. The second season of eight episodes finished airing on June 2nd.

A comedy-drama series, the Hacks TV show stars Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Jane Adams, Christopher McDonald, Kaitlin Olson, Paul W. Downs, Poppy Liu, Rose Abdoo, Mark Indelicato, Meg Stalter, Angela E. Gibbs, Luenell, Johnny Sibilly, Joe Mande, Ally Maki, and Lorenza Izzo.The show revolves around the relationship between legendary Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance (Smart) and young and entitled writer Ava (Einbinder). The second season saw the pair go out on tour. Laurie Metcalf, Martha Kelly, Ming-Na Wen, Susie Essman, Margaret Cho, and Devon Sawa guested.

Here's the HBO Max renewal announcement:

HBO Max Renews Emmy Award-Winning Comedy Series Hacks For...

Exclusive: Deadline has a pair of exclusive tracks from composer Carlos Rafael Rivera’s Season 1 soundtrack for HBO Max’s Peabody and multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy series Hacks, which is set for digital release tomorrow via Lakeshore Records.

Renewed for a third season just this morning, the series explores the evolving, dark mentorship between legendary Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and her young, entitled writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder).

Rivera’s evocatively melodic score for Hacks revolves around its character themes for Ava and Deborah, also heard in Season 2. “Other than having the privilege to score themes for the amazing Hacks duo that is Deborah Vance and Ava Daniels, played respectively by the incredibly talented Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, it is great to collaborate with one of the best comedy writing teams in Jen Statsky, Lucia Aniello, and Paul W. Downs,” says the composer of his experience on the series.

Jean Smart's thrilling comedy series, Hacks, is sticking around.

HBO Max on Thursday confirmed a third season renewal.

The streaming service cites a new daily high for the series on the day of its Season 2 premiere.

It was 125 above its series premiere, which is a great sign that new people found the show in-between seasons.

Growth in viewership is crucial to the success of any series, and if the critical acclaim and awards love continues, it could continue to grow.

The series won Emmy AFI, Peabody, Critics Choice, DGA, SAG®, WGA, and GLAAD awards.

The second season, which explores the evolving dark mentorship between legendary Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and her young, entitled writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder), premiered to critical acclaim on May 12 and is streaming now on HBO Max.

Hacks stars Jean Smart, an Emmy®, SAG Awards®, and Critics Choice Awards winner, along with Hannah Einbinder,...

Click here to read the full article.

HBO Max is going back to Vegas — and presumably, L.A.

The Warner Bros. Discovery-backed streamer has renewed the Emmy-winning comedy series Hacks for a third season. The series starring Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder recently wrapped its critically praised sophomore run and is currently working the Emmy FYC campaign beat.

“We congratulate Hacks’ extraordinarily gifted executive producers and cast, and our partners at Universal Television. We are overjoyed at the audience and press response to the new season, and glad to give viewers more of this gorgeous, hilarious, moving show,” said Sarah Aubrey, who heads originals for HBO Max.

Smart earned an Emmy win for her role as an aging Vegas comedian who teams with an unlikely 30-something writer as they both look to reinvent themselves. The series, from Comcast-backed Universal Television, hails from fellow Emmy winners Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky.

“Hacks” has been renewed for Season 3 at HBO Max.

The news comes two weeks after the Season 2 finale, which debuted on the streamer on June 2. Season 2 debuted on HBO Max on May 12. The first season consisted of 10 episodes while the second consisted of eight.

“We congratulate ‘Hacks’’ extraordinarily gifted executive producers and cast, and our partners at Universal Television,” said Sarah Aubrey, head of original content at HBO Max. “We are overjoyed at the audience and press response to the new season, and glad to give viewers more of this gorgeous, hilarious, moving show.”

“Hacks” stars Jean Smart as legendary Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance and explores the mentorship that forms between her and a young comedy writer named Ava (Hannah Einbinder). The cast also includes Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Jane Adams, Christopher McDonald, Kaitlin Olson, Paul W. Downs, Poppy Liu, Rose Abdoo, Mark Indelicato, Meg Stalter, Angela E. Gibbs, Luenell, Johnny Sibilly,...

Deborah Vance and Ava Daniels will be back for more stand-up stories after HBO Max renewed Hacks for a third season.

The move comes less than two weeks after the critically acclaimed comedy series ended its second season on the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streamer.

Jean Smart’s Vance, a Las Vegas comedian who takes a new routing on the road in season two, [Spoiler] leaves Hannah Einbinder’s Daniels at the end of the sophomore run by firing her as her co-writer, following a successful stand-up special that she backed herself and initially sold via QVC, so that her young protégé could strike out on her own.

Cancellations/Renewals Scorecard: TV Shows Ended Or Continuing In 2021-22 Season

The series, which was created by Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky, who serve as showrunners, also stars Carl Clemons-Hopkins and Jane Adams as well as Christopher McDonald, Kaitlin Olson,...

Exclusive: The Juneteenth comedy Block Party is set for a wide theatrical release via Iconic Events Releasing on June 8, also having been picked up for linear and streaming by BET and BET+ starting June 16.

The film from director Dawn Wilkinson centers on Keke McQueen (Antoinette Robertson), a recent Harvard grad who is eager to ditch her hometown of Grand Rapids, Mi, for her dream job in Atlanta. But when Keke discovers that her once-super-sharp Grandma Janice (Academy Award nominee Margaret Avery) is showing early signs of dementia, she puts her career at stake in order to save Grandma’s renowned Juneteenth block party. In the process, Keke falls back in love with her hometown.

Block Party also stars Faizon Love, Luenell, Golden Brooks, Charlyne Yi, John Amos, Gary Anthony Williams, Brad William Henke, Birgundi Baker, Bill Cobbs, Terayle and Merle Dandridge. Branch Out Productions’ Lisa Mathis wrote the script and...

“I don’t think Marcus would have done anything differently,” Carl Clemons-Hopkins shares about how their character Marcus in HBO Max’s “Hacks” handled the events of the first season finale. In that episode, Marcus gets a promotion from stand-up comic Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) to become CEO of her empire, but his dedication to the job costs him his relationship with Wilson (Johnny Sibilly). “He had never dared that much before,” they say, adding that in Season 2 Marcus experiences “his first heartbreak.” Watch our exclusive video interview above.

In the second season, Deborah and her writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder) hit the road to develop a new act, leaving Marcus to run the business from her Las Vegas mansion. Although Marcus let loose in the first season when Deborah went away for a weekend, this season is different because “he’s lost without the connection he had with Wilson.” Clemons-Hopkins...

HBO Max dropped the official trailer for Season 2 of “Hacks,” which premieres on the streamer May 12 with two episodes, followed by two more each week until June 2. Picking up after stand-up legend Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) lost her Vegas residency, she and young comedian Ava (Hannah Einbinder) travel across the country to workshop her new act.

Additional cast includes Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Jane Adams, Christopher McDonald, Kaitlin Olson, Paul W. Downs, Poppy Liu, Rose Abdoo, Mark Indelicato, Meg Stalter, Angela E. Gibbs, Luenell, Johnny Sibilly, Joe Mande, Ally Maki and Lorenza Izzo. New recurring guest stars for Season 2 include Laurie Metcalf, Martha Kelly, Ming-Na Wen and Susie Essman, as well as guest stars Margaret Cho and Devon Sawa.

“Hacks” is created and showrun by Emmy winners Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky. Michael Schur executive produces via Fremulon, David Miner for 3 Arts Entertainment and Morgan Sackett. The studio is Universal Television,...

“Hacks” was among the most beloved series of summer 2021 when it premiered on HBO Max — and it remains one of the streamer’s strongest series. Emmy-winning showrunners and creators Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky took a darkly funny stance on the toils and tribulations of show business in Las Vegas, centering their half hour on approaching-over-the-hill stand-up act Deborah Vance, played by the inimitable Jean Smart. Ahead of the series’ return May 12 for a Season 2, watch the brand new trailer below.

Of course, the true center of it all is the hilarious mentorship between Deborah and her millennial protégé Ava (Hannah Einbinder). This time around, they’re on a road trip across the country to workshop Deborah’s new routine, as she’s hoping to evolve her act. And meanwhile, Ava is still reeling from the death of her father, whose funeral concluded the first season.

Smart won an Emmy,...

Jean Smart’s Deborah Vance is back on the road in the Season 2 trailer for the HBO Max series “Hacks,” and she’s got a new tour manager along for the ride.

“The Connors” star Laurie Metcalf plays the new addition to the team, revealing in the first few seconds of the trailer that she goes by “Weed,” a nickname given to her by rocker Pete Wentz.

Season 2’s trailer is full of hilarious moments of generational clashes between Deborah and her young writer, Ava, played by Hannah Einbinder. During one moment, Ava asks for some fridge space on the tour bus for her kombucha, and Deborah helps her out with that request — by tossing the drink out the window.

Here’s what Season 2 will focus on: “The dark mentorship between legendary Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and her young, entitled writer Ava continues to evolve as the...

Phat Tuesdays, a pioneering comedy night held at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles during the mid-1990s and early 2000s, helped pave the way for comedians including Chris Tucker, Nick Cannon and Tiffany Haddish.

The three-part Amazon Prime Video docuseries Phat Tuesdays: The Era of Hip Hop Comedy explores the history of the popular night, created by Guy Torry, and its impact on Hollywood, building comedy superstars and offering movie and TV opportunities to a slew of Black performers.

Contenders TV Docs + Unscripted — Deadline’s Complete Coverage

Director Reginald Hudlin said during the show’s panel at Deadline’s Contenders Television: Documentary + Unscripted event that the reach of Phat Tuesdays is global, with comedians from around the world and across the United States inspired by its success. “Phat Tuesdays definitely inspired a hundred of flowers to bloom. That said, there’s nothing like the original and I think you...

Lest anyone forget that HBO Max comedy “Hacks” scored Jean Smart her first-ever Emmy Award last year, the Season 2 trailer goes to great lengths to remind viewers of the show’s television academy success. “The Emmy Award-winning series returns,” the new trailer states loudly over clips of mayhem and strife from the second season.

Set to return on May 12 with two episodes weekly through its June 2 finale, “Hacks” Season 2 picks up after the events of the Season 1 finale with legendary comedian Deborah Vance (Smart) on the road with her young writing protege, Ava (Emmy Award nominee Hannah Einbinder).

Here’s the HBO Max synopsis:

“The dark mentorship between legendary Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and her young, entitled writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder) continues to evolve as the two travel across the country workshopping Deborah’s new stand-up act.”

“Hacks,” which won two additional Emmys aside from Smart, was...

HBO Max is bringing two of its most popular shows back in the coming weeks.

The streaming service has announced return dates for Hacks and Made for Love.

Made for Love is up first, with a two-episode premiere set for Thursday, April 28.

The series will then unspool two episodes each Thursday, with the finale set for May 19.

Based on the novel by Alissa Nutting, Made for Love is a humorous story of modern love and divorce.

Made for Love Season 1 followed Hazel Green (Cristin Milioti), a thirty-something woman on the run after ten years in a suffocating marriage to tech billionaire Byron Gogol (Billy Magnussen), as smart as he is insufferable.

After discovering that her husband implanted a monitoring device – the Made for Love chip – in her brain, allowing him to track her, watch her and know her "emotional data," Hazel fled to her desert hometown to take refuge with...

HBO Max has set a May premiere date for Season 2 of the Emmy-winning, critically acclaimed comedy series Hacks, starring Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder. The sophomore season will debut on Thursday, May 12 with two episodes. The eight-episode season continues with two new episodes a week, wrapping up on June 2, two days after the 2022 Emmy eligibility period ends. We’re also getting a first look at the new season in the teaser trailer (you can watch it above).

In season 2, the dark mentorship between legendary Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance (Smart) and her young, entitled writer Ava (Einbinder) continues to evolve as the two travel across the country workshopping Deborah’s new stand-up act.

Hacks is created and showrun by Emmy winners Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky.

Smart won an Emmy, SAG and Critics Choice Award for her performance in season one. Einbinder, Carl Clemons-Hopkins and Jane Adams...

Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) is making her own kind of music with a new stand-up set, and the world better watch out.

Emmy-winning HBO Max series “Hacks” returns May 12, with Smart reprising her Emmy-winning role as Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance who, with the help of millennial writer Ava (Hanah Einbinder), tries to evolve her act. Ava and Deborah embark on a cross-country tour to workshop their new material.

Showrunners Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky previously teased during Scad TVFest that Deborah will “keep bombing” her stand-up set on the road.

“It might be something novel and might be something exciting in the beginning, but someone like her who has fans that come to see her, and sells out a 2,000-seat theater in Vegas and crushes, what is it like when you’re on the road in small venues and not doing well?” Downs said. “What does that do to your spirit,...

“Hacks” Season 2 is closer than you think.

The Jean Smart-starring HBO Max series returns Thursday, May 12 with a two-episode premiere. In fact, two new episodes of the show will roll out each week, with Season 2 wrapping up on June 12.

“Hacks” stars Smart as legendary comedian Deborah Vance and Hannah Einbinder as her young writer Ava. Their relationship will continue to evolve in Season 2 as they travel the country workshopping Deborah’s new stand-up act.

HBO Max also dropped a brand new teaser trailer for Season 2 on Thursday, which you can watch above.

Alongside Smart and Einbinder, “Hacks” stars Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Jane Adams, Christopher McDonald, Kaitlin Olson, Paul W. Downs, Poppy Liu, Rose Abdoo, Mark Indelicato, Meg Stalter, Angela E. Gibbs, Luenell, Johnny Sibilly, Joe Mande, Ally Maki and Lorenza Izzo.

Season 2 recurring guest stars are Laurie Metcalf, Martha Kelly, Ming-Na Wen and Susie Essman. Guest stars for Season 2 are Margaret Cho and Devon Sawa.