TV DEBUT ON PBS THIS MONDAY 5/30 - MEMORIAL DAY

The documentary OF MEN AND WAR about American soldiers grappling with traumatic memories of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and their grueling recovery in a special treatment program, which first debuted at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, will have its national TV debut on the PBS series POV on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, 2016.

Troubled Veterans Recount War’s Horrors in POV Documentary ‘Of Men and War,’ Monday, May 30, 2016 on PBS

PTSD has left a profound mark on troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan; first-of-its-kind treatment center in California offers hope to soldiers haunted by their combat experiences

“This devastatingly raw documentary shows that for some the fighting may stop, but the suffering continues. . . . Empathetic and rigorous, [the film] burns low and slow.” 
—Jeannette Catsoulis, The New York Times

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, affects almost 30 percent of the 834,467 Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans treated through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Consumed by anger and traumatic memories long after their return, soldiers often resort to drugs or suicide to end their suffering.

Filmmaker Laurent Bécue-Renard provides a searing account of how the disorder has affected veterans and their families in Of Men and War, an unparalleled look at the enduring consequences of PTSD and the role treatment can play in helping soldiers reclaim their lives. The documentary, an Official Selection of the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, has its national broadcast premiere during the 29th season of POV (Point of View) on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, 2016 on PBS. American television’s longest running independent documentary series, POV is the winner of a 2013 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions.

The film, made between 2003 and 2014, begins with a scenic drive through California’s Napa Valley, where therapist and social worker Fred Gusman, who pioneered revolutionary PTSD programs at the Veterans Administration in the late 1970s, opened The Pathway Home residential treatment center in Yountville in 2008. The beauty of the surroundings stands in stark contrast to the intense inner turmoil suffered by the veterans arriving by van.

Bécue-Renard filmed the soldiers speaking for the first time about their experiences. “I leveled my weapon, led my target and I pulled the trigger,” one veteran recalls during a group therapy session, adding that when he tried to move the body, “a big chunk of his brain fell on my boot.” Tears gathering, he recalls that he was soon unnerved by one of the corpse’s open eyes. “He just kept looking at me.” 

The veterans’ anguished reactions to their own words and their descriptions of combat are unforgettable. One recalls being covered by a “mist” of blood after a fellow soldier was shot in the neck, while another describes smelling his own burning flesh. Their recollections are often punctuated by tears and fist-pounding, or long periods of stunned silence as they contemplate what they’ve just said. 

Survival in a war zone required a hardened attitude—“Rage and anger carried me through everything,” says one veteran—accompanied by alienation even from those in their units. “He was there and then he was gone,” a soldier says of a friend killed during their deployment together in Iraq. “It’s hard being close to anybody because you know they’re going to leave any time.” These attitudes did not disappear when combat tours ended. 

While deployed soldiers eagerly look forward to going home, they often take the war with them.

“The return to civilian life is not what they thought it would be,” says Gusman, The Pathway Home’s lead therapist. One veteran says that he “woke up mad” and “took things out” on loved ones. “When you come back you feel like you should have died over there. It would have been a hell of a lot easier to just fall down over there and not get back up.” Something as ordinary as driving can cause severe distress; in the combat zone, a soldier explains, an approaching vehicle was always seen as potentially carrying a bomb. That fear returns if a car pulls too close to his in traffic.

The war resurfaces in nightmares and panic attacks. A sudden noise might trigger a flashback. Other times, all it takes is a disagreement with a spouse or an ambiguous look from a stranger. Then the groundswell takes over—all that was buried from the war boils up, and the veteran lashes out. Some girlfriends and spouses understandably feel threatened. “The day I came home from Iraq was the last time I saw my daughter,” says one soldier. “I was given a restraining order.” The family has remained estranged ever since.

The film underscores another problem: Seeking help for PTSD can be a difficult step to take. “What we have is embarrassing,” a soldier says. It makes him feel “small” and “defective.” For their part, wives and girlfriends often feel helpless. “I’m scared he’s going to give up trying,” says one. Discouraged and adrift, many veterans spend countless hours playing video games, drinking or abusing drugs. 

While the immersive therapy at The Pathway Home is demanding, the film shows it can have positive results—and is sometimes the only hope for family survival. A veteran candidly explains that his wife “said if you don’t go to this program, she’s like ‘I’m going to divorce you.’ And we want to stay married. We’re working on it, but she’s not playing around, and I don’t blame her.”

Bécue-Renard says his camera performed a significant role in the soldiers’ therapy. “They came to perceive the filming itself as an additional glimmer of hope. Consciously or not, the veterans began to sense that voicing their brutal experiences might uncover deeper meaning: Their stories might contribute to a greater public consciousness of the hardships veterans confront long after the war’s end.”

Of Men and War shows that for many veterans, recovery will be a lengthy process. Although therapists cite the necessity of forgiveness, one soldier, who killed a colleague by mistake, responds, “I think it would be really selfish for me to learn to forgive myself.” 

“Of Men and War came out of a reflection on what was left unspoken by my grandfathers,” says Bécue-Renard. “They had died by the time I was born—but they had also staunchly refused to talk about their experiences from the First World War while they were alive. In my first film, War-Wearied (De guerre lasses), I broached this subject with three widows who survived the Bosnian war. In a sense, that film was a portrait of my grandmothers. All the while, the war experiences of my grandfathers continued to haunt me. Of Men and War is my way of honoring them.

“It took 11 years between my first idea for the film—when the Iraq war began in 2003—and its completion in May 2014. I spent 14 months in the therapy center and returned many times in the four years that followed.

“Filming therapy was a way of acknowledging people who had decided to move forward with their lives. Some days I’d leave the therapy room overwhelmed. How was I to make sense out of this mess? How could I communicate it to an audience? I became convinced that from all this mud, I could eke out rays of light. In doing so, I could find meaning for the protagonists in Of Men and War as well as for its viewers.”

About the Filmmaker:

Laurent Bécue-Renard, Writer/Director/Producer

Laurent Bécue-Renard is a French director and producer. In 1995 and 1996, while living in Sarajevo during the city’s siege, he served as editor-in-chief of the magazineSarajevo Online and published a series of short stories entitled “The Sarajevo Chronicles.” After the conflict, he began exploring war’s enduring impact on three widows at a rural therapy center. The documentary he wrote, directed and produced about them, War-Wearied (De guerre lasses), screened at dozens of festivals and received the Berlin International Film Festival’s Peace Film Award, among others.

Shifting focus to young men returning from battles in faraway lands, Bécue-Renard continues to explore war’s psychological aftermath with Of Men and War, the second volume in his trilogy, “A Genealogy of Wrath.”

Of Men and War is a production of Alice Films.

The warriors in Of Men and War have come home, but their minds remain on the battlefield. Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, consumed by anger and traumatic memories long after their return, often resort to drugs or suicide to end their suffering.

Credits:
Writer/director/producer: Laurent Bécue-Renard
Cinematographer: Camille Cottagnoud
Camera operators: Camille Cottagnoud, Laurent Bécue-Renard
Editors: Isidore Bethel, Sophie Brunet, Charlotte Boigeol
Sound designer: Cyril Bécue

Running Time: 86:46

POV Series Credits:
Executive Producers: Justine Nagan, Chris White
Vice President, Content Strategy: Eliza Licht
Associate Producer: Nicole Tsien
Coordinating Producer: Nikki Heyman

THE TALENT LINE-UP FOR THE FIFTH SEASON OF “THE HALF HOUR” STAND-UP SERIES BY COMEDY CENTRAL®

  • Set to Film in New Orleans at The Civic Theatre from Wednesday, June 1 Through Saturday, June 4 and Tickets to the Free Tapings May Be Requested at theblacklistnyc.com/nolahh
  • Series to Premiere Fall 2016 on Comedy Central

Comedy Central’s “The Half Hour” is heading to The Big Easy with a stellar talent line-up of the best up-and-coming stand-up comedians. The fifth season will feature sets from Cy Amundson, Erik Bergstrom, Ahmed Bharoocha, Matthew Broussard, Naomi Ekperigin, Nate Fernald, Noah Gardenswartz, Emily Heller, Martha Kelly, Joe Machi, Drew Michael, Aparna Nancherla, Jacqueline Novak, Mike Recine, Ramon Rivas II, Ali Siddiq, and Nick Turner.

“The Half Hour” is set to film 17 episodes at The Civic Theatre located at 510 O’Keefe Avenue in New Orleans from Wednesday, June 1 through Saturday, June 4 at 7:30pm and 9:30pm each night. Tickets to “The Half Hour” tapings are free and may be requested attheblacklistnyc.com/nolahh.
The stand-up series is scheduled to premiere fall 2016 on Comedy Central.

Comedy Central has previously filmed stand-up at The Civic Theatre including “Neal Brennan: Women and Black Dudes,” “Chris D’Elia: White Male. Black Comic.” and “Steve Rannazzisi: Manchild.”

  • Cy Amundson made his television debut as a comic on TBS’s “Conan,” followed by appearances on Comedy Central’s “This Is Not Happening” and “Adam Devine’s House Party.” As an actor, he co-starred in the feature “Break Point,” alongside J.K. Simmons and Amy Smart and has lent his voice to several characters in “Family Guy” and “American Dad.”
  • Erik Bergstrom is a comedian and cartoonist who lives and works in New York City. He has appeared on MTV, VH1, Fuse, Comedy Central, and has been featured by VICE and Buzzfeed. His cartoons have appeared in The New Yorker and in his book “Grimmer Tales” released by Penguin Books. In 2015, he was diagnosed with stage IV Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is in remission after a hard year of watching Netflix.
  • Ahmed Bharoocha was selected as a New Face in the Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival. His stand-up has been featured on Comedy Central’s “Adam Devine’s House Party,” VICELAND’s “Flophouse” and recently made his late-night television debut on “Conan.”
  • Matthew Broussard was born in New Jersey, raised in Atlanta, and, in 2012, was the winner of Houston’s Funniest Person. He has appeared on Comedy Central’s “Adam Devine’s House Party,” FX’s “The League” and NBC’s “The Mindy Project.” He was also featured as a New Face at the 2015 Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival.
  • Naomi Ekperigin is a stand-up comedian and writer from Harlem, New York who has been featured on VH1, MTV, and FX. She has worked as a staff writer on Comedy Central’s “Broad City” and Hulu’s “Difficult People.” In 2013, she was listed as one of the “7 Reasons Why SNL Should Hire a Black Woman” on Buzzfeed and one of “8 Black Comediennes Who are Ready for SNL” by Essence Magazine. She most recently guest starred on the TruTV series “Adam Ruins Everything” and the VH1 series “Barely Famous.”
  • Nate Fernald is originally from Chicago and lives in Los Angeles. He is currently a writer on CBS’s “The Late Late Show with James Corden.” In 2014, Fernald was named one of Comedy Central’s “Comics to Watch.”
  • Noah Gardenswartz is a comedian based out of New York who was most recently featured on Comedy Central’s “Adam Devine’s House Party.” In 2014, he was selected as one of the New Faces at the Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival and in 2015, was a semi-finalist on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” Gardenswartz also recorded his debut stand-up album with Comedy Central Records which will be available in fall 2016.
  • Emily Heller is currently a writer on TBS’s “People of Earth.” She has appeared on “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” “Conan” Comedy Central’s “The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail,” “John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show,” “Inside Amy Schumer” and “@midnight with Chris Hardwick.” Along with Lisa Hanawalt, she is also the co-host of the long-running podcast “Baby Geniuses” on the Maximum Fun Network.
  • Martha Kelly is a stand-up comedian based out of Austin, TX. She has been featured on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend,” “Last Comic Standing,” and “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.” Most recently, she landed her acting debut playing the role of Martha Brooks in FX’s “Baskets” which has been picked up for a second season.
  • Joe Machi has appeared on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.” He has become a regular on “Red Eye with Tom Shillue” on Fox News. Machi also won the 2013 New York Comedy Festival’s “Funniest Comedian Competition” and the 2010 New York Underground Comedy Festival’s “Emerging Comics Competition.”
  • Drew Michael was born and raised in Chicago and currently lives in New York City. In 2014, he was a New Face at the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival. In 2013, Michael released his first album “Lovely” which debuted at #1 on iTunes’ comedy charts. He also hosts a podcast called, “I Might Be Wrong.”
  • Aparna Nancherla started out doing comedy in her hometown of Washington, D.C. and now resides in New York City. She can be seen in the forthcoming seasons of Netflix’s “Love,” Comedy Central’s “Inside Amy Schumer” and Seeso’s “Night Train with Wyatt Cenac.” Other television appearances include Comedy Central’s “The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail” and “Adam Devine’s House Party.” Her TV writing credits include “Late Night with Seth Meyers” as well as being a regular correspondent/writer on FX’s “Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell.”
  • Jacqueline Novak is a stand-up comedian and the author of the new humorous non-fiction memoir “How to Weep in Public: Feeble Offerings on Depression from One Who Knows” (Three Rivers Press, 2016). In 2015, Jacqueline made her network television debut on CBS’s “The Late Late Show with James Corden” and was named one of Comedy Central’s “Comics to Watch.”
  • Mike Recine has performed stand-up on “Conan” and at Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival. In fall 2015, Recine released his second album, “Union Delegate with Comedy Dynamics.” He has also written for MTV’s “Video Music Awards” in 2013.
  • Ramon Rivas II is a stand-up comedian and eminent Latino from Cleveland, OH. He has appeared on “Doug Loves Movies” and was selected as a Comic To Watch by Comedy Central in 2015. His yearly AccidentalComedy.com Fest (Aug 26-28) continues to establish Cleveland as an emerging hotbed for comedy in the Midwest. This is Rivas’s first television appearance.
  • Ali Siddiq is stand-up comedian, public speaker and writer out of Houston. His unique style of stand-up began behind the walls of incarceration, an incubator for interesting experiences and good stories. People received their first taste of Siddiq when he appeared on HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam” and Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham.” In 2013, he was named Comedy Central’s “#1 Comic to Watch.” Siddiq recently impressed comedy enthusiasts by displaying his ability to captivate an audience with his “Mexican Got Boots On” tale, a descriptive storytelling of a prison riot on Comedy Central’s “This is Not Happening.”
  • Nick Turner is a Texas-born, Virginia-raised, New York-based comedian. He has performed stand-up on NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” and Comedy Central’s “John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show.” He has also appeared on VH1’s “Best Week Ever,” GSN’s “Lie Detectors” and TruTV’s “Almost Genius.”

“The Half Hour” is executive produced by John Bravakis and Neil Sheridan from Triage Entertainment. JoAnn Grigioni and Miro Terrell are the Executives in Charge for Comedy Central.

COMEDY CENTRAL® ANNOUNCES THE TALENT LINE-UP FOR THE THIRD SEASON OF “THIS IS NOT HAPPENING”

Comedy Central’s raucous storytelling series hosted by Ari Shaffir, “This Is Not Happening,” is back at it again with a killer line-up of the best true-life, long-form storytellers. The third season will feature stories from Sofiya Alexandra, Gastor Almonte, Louie Anderson, Maria Bamford, Greg Behrendt, Lavell Crawford, Joey Diaz, Greg Fitzsimmons, Sean Flannery, Al Jackson, Pete Johansson, Andy Kindler, Bert Kreischer, Joe List, Julian McCullough, Bonnie McFarlane, Big Jay Oakerson, Russell Peters, Brian Regan, Dave Ross, Rory Scovel, Scruncho, Ryan Sickler, Steve Simeone, Doug Stanhope, Dan St. Germain, Nick Thune,Liza Treyger, Sal Vulcano, Andrew W.K. and more!

“This Is Not Happening” is set to film 10 new episodes in front of a live audience at Cheetahs in Hollywood from Sunday, May 22 through Wednesday, May 25 at 7:30pm and 9:30pm each night. Tickets to “This Is Not Happening” tapings are free and may be requested athttp://www.theblacklistnyc.com/tinh. The stand-up series is scheduled to premiere fall 2016 on Comedy Central. “This Is Not Happening” originally debuted as a digital series on cc.com which will continue to feature exclusive digital stories throughout the run of the new season this fall.

“This Is Not Happening” is executive produced by Shaffir, Jeff Tomsic, who directs, Eric Abrams, who also serves as Showrunner, and Avalon’s Sam Saifer. Anne Harris and Ryan Moran are the Executives in Charge for Comedy Central.

Comedy Central is the home for the biggest names in stand-up including one-hour specials from top comedians Amy Schumer, Kevin Hart, Tracy Morgan, Jim Gaffigan, Hannibal Buress, Natasha Leggero, Chris Hardwick, David Spade, Gabriel Iglesias, Patton Oswalt, Aziz Ansari, Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, and more. Comedy Central stand-up series include “Adam Devine’s House Party,” “This Is Not Happening,” “The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail,” and “The Half Hour.”

For clips, trailers, and other behind-the-scenes content visit www.cc.com/stand-up.

FOX ANNOUNCES NEW PRIMETIME SERIES FOR 2016-2017 SEASON

 

SCHEDULE OF NEARLY 90% ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING,

MOST EVER IN NETWORK HISTORY

THREE NEW COMEDIES, SIX NEW DRAMAS,

TWO NEW EVENT SERIES AND TWO NEW REALITY SERIES JOIN SCHEDULE

DRAMAS “LETHAL WEAPON” AND “THE EXORCIST” AND

COMEDY “SON OF ZORN” TO DEBUT IN FALL 2016

“THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW”

TO AIR IN OCTOBER 2016

“24: LEGACY” BEGINS ITS TWO-NIGHT PREMIERE EVENT,

FOLLOWING “SUPER BOWL LI” ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, AND

CONTINUES MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6

DRAMAS “STAR,” “PITCH” AND “APB”

TO PREMIERE MIDSEASON

2017 MARKS THE RETURN OF “PRISON BREAK,”

AND THE PREMIERES OF EVENT SERIES “SHOTS FIRED”

AND COMEDIES “THE MICK” AND “MAKING HISTORY”

SURVIVAL COMPETITION “KICKING & SCREAMING” AND

CELEBRITY COOKING SERIES “MY KITCHEN RULES”

ALSO SLATED FOR MIDSEASON

Dana Walden and Gary Newman, Chairmen and CEOs, Fox Television Group, today will unveil the FOX primetime slate for the 2016-2017 television season to the national advertising community during its annual Programming Presentation at the Beacon Theatre.

 

“Next season on FOX, we’ll have more original programming across our schedule than ever before,” said Walden and Newman. “We’ll use our strong established hits in the fall and SUPER BOWL LI in winter to launch a diverse slate of shows that are unmistakably FOX. We’re proud of our new series, directed and created by some of the most celebrated talent in the entertainment industry. And, we are pleased to be returning to our schedule many of our most beloved shows, including broadcast’s No. 1 series, EMPIRE!”

 

The new dramas joining the schedule this fall are THE EXORCIST and LETHAL WEAPON. Widely regarded as the greatest horror movie ever made, Academy Award-nominated “The Exorcist” terrified audiences around the world. Now, more than four decades later, THE EXORCIST returns as a contemporary psychological TV thriller following two very different priests tackling one family’s case of terrifying demonic possession. Directed by Rupert Wyatt (“Rise of the Planet of the Apes”), the series stars Alfonso Herrera (“Sense8,” “The Chosen”), Ben Daniels (“Flesh and Bone,” “House of Cards”) and Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Geena Davis (“Commander in Chief,” “Thelma & Louise”).

 

Based on the hit movie franchise of the same name, LETHAL WEAPON follows iconic cop duo Riggs and Murtaugh, as they work a crime-ridden beat in modern-day Los Angeles. From the moment the brash and impulsive MARTIN RIGGS (Clayne Crawford, “Rectify”) meets prudent, by-the-book ROGER MURTAUGH (Emmy Award nominee Damon Wayans, Sr., “My Wife and Kids,” “In Living Color”), it seems as if this partnership is doomed. But after their first case together, both realize this arrangement might just work out after all – if only Riggs doesn’t get them killed first.

 

The new comedy joining the Sunday night lineup this fall is hybrid live-action/animated family comedy SON OF ZORN. Featuring the voice of Jason Sudeikis (THE LAST MAN ON EARTH, “Horrible Bosses,” “We’re the Millers”), SON OF ZORN follows an animated warrior from a faraway island in the Pacific Ocean, who returns to Orange County, CA, to win back his live-action ex-wife (Cheryl Hines, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) and teenage son (Johnny Pemberton, “21 Jump Street”).

 

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, a brand-new reimagining of the cult-classic midnight movie 40 years in the making, is set to air October 2016. Sweethearts JANET (Victoria Justice, “Victorious”) and BRAD (Ryan McCartan, “Liv & Maddie,” “Heathers the Musical”) stumble upon flirtatious mad scientist DR. FRANK-N-FURTER’s (Emmy Award-nominated actress Laverne Cox, “Orange is the New Black”) bizarre abode during his annual Transylvanian science convention. The two-hour event also features Emmy Award nominee Tim Curry, the original Frank-N-Furter.

 

In 2017, additional new series joining the schedule include dramas 24: LEGACY, STAR, PITCH and APB; event series PRISON BREAK and SHOTS FIRED; comedies THE MICK and MAKING HISTORY; and reality competitions KICKING & SCREAMING and MY KITCHEN RULES.

 

The clock ticks again with the next evolution of the Emmy Award-winning “24.” 24: LEGACY debuts with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Feb. 5 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/7:00-8:00 PM PT), following SUPER BOWL LI, and continuing with its time period premiere on Monday, Feb. 6(8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The series chronicles an adrenaline-fueled race against the clock to stop a devastating terrorist attack on United States soil – in the same real-time format that has propelled this genre-defining series. Starring Corey Hawkins (“Straight Outta Compton”), Miranda Otto (“Homeland”) and Jimmy Smits (“Sons of Anarchy”), 24: LEGACY reunites the original series’ award-winning producing team of Howard Gordon, Brian Grazer, Manny Coto and Evan Katz; director Stephen Hopkins; and “24” star Kiefer Sutherland, who all serve as executive producers.

 

From Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee Lee Daniels (EMPIRE) and Tom Donaghy (“The Whole Truth”) comes STAR, a new drama headlined by Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award, Grammy Award and Golden Globe winner Queen Latifah (“Bessie,” “Bringing Down The House”) and Emmy Award nominee Benjamin Bratt (“24: Live Another Day,” “Law & Order”). Three talented singers (newcomers Jude Demorest, Ryan Destiny and Brittany O’Grady), desperate for a new start and with ambitions of stardom, navigate the cut-throat music business on their road to success. With a soundtrack of original music and stunning music performances, the series also features guest star and Grammy Award winner Lenny Kravitz (“Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” “The Hunger Games”).

 

 

From executive producer Dan Fogelman (“Crazy, Stupid, Love.”), PITCH is the dramatic and emotional story of GINNY BAKER (Kylie Bunbury, “Under The Dome”), who becomes the first woman to play Major League Baseball – under the glare of a white-hot media spotlight. The inspiring series also stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar (“Franklin & Bash,” “NYPD Blue”), Ali Larter (“Legends,” “Heroes”), Mark Consuelos (“Kingdom,” “All My Children”) and Dan Lauria (“The Wonder Years”).

 

Inspired by true events, APB is a new police drama with a high-tech twist from executive producer/director Len Wiseman (LUCIFER, “Underworld”) and executive producer/writer Matt Nix (“Burn Notice”). After billionaire engineer GIDEON REEVES (Emmy Award and Golden Globe nominee Justin Kirk, “Tyrant,” “Weeds”) witnesses his best friend’s murder, he takes over Chicago’s troubled 13th District and reboots it as a private police force, challenging the district – including an ambitious, street-smart cop (Natalie Martinez, “Kingdom,” “Under the Dome”) – to rethink everything about the way they fight crime.

 

In the next action-packed chapter of PRISON BREAK, original series stars Wentworth Miller, Dominic Purcell, Sarah Wayne Callies, Amaury Nolasco, Robert Knepper, Rockmond Dunbar and Paul Adelstein are reunited for an all-new adventure spanning the globe. When clues surface that suggest a previously thought-to-be-dead MICHAEL SCOFIELD (Miller, “The Loft”) may be alive, his brother, LINCOLN BURROWS (Purcell, “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”), reunites with Michael’s wife, SARA (Callies, “Colony,” “The Walking Dead”), and Fox River State Penitentiary’s most notorious escapees to engineer the series’ biggest breakout ever.

 

SHOTS FIRED is a compelling event series examining the dangerous aftermath of racially charged shootings in a small Southern town. The timely series stars Sanaa Lathan (“The Perfect Guy”), Stephan James (“Race,” “Selma”), Academy Award-, Emmy Award- and Golden Globe-winning actress Helen Hunt (“As Good As It Gets,” “The Sessions”), Academy Award- and Golden Globe-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss (“Jaws,” “Madoff”) and Stephen Moyer (“The Bastard Executioner,” “True Blood”).

 

Two new comedies – THE MICK and MAKING HISTORY – also are set to debut in midseason. THE MICK is a no-holds-barred single-camera comedy that follows MACKENZIE, aka “MICKEY” (Kaitlin Olson, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”), a brash, two-bit hustler from Rhode Island who must assume guardianship of her sister’s three high-maintenance children. As irresponsible as Mickey has been her entire life, she may discover that responsibility isn’t the buzzkill she always thought it would be.

 

Produced by Phil Lord and Chris Miller (THE LAST MAN ON EARTH, “Lego Movie,” “21 Jump Street”), and written by Julius “Goldy” Sharpe (FAMILY GUY), the new comedy MAKING HISTORY follows three friends from two different centuries as they try to balance the thrill of time travel with the mundane concerns of their everyday lives. The wildly original series stars Adam Pally (“The Mindy Project,” “Happy Endings”), Leighton Meester (“Gossip Girl”) and Yassir Lester (“Girls,” “Key and Peele”).

 

KICKING & SCREAMING is a new competition series that teams 10 expert survivalists with pampered partners to face the toughest challenges of their lives. From executive producer Matt Kunitz (“Wipeout,” “Fear Factor”), and hosted by Hannah Simone (NEW GIRL), the series drops these unlikely duos into a tropical jungle in Fiji, where they must overcome dangerous animals, raging rivers, hunger and extreme weather. To win the competition, the experts will have to drag their partners, KICKING & SCREAMING, to the finish line.

 

Also slated for midseason is MY KITCHEN RULES, a reality cooking series that will pit celebrity duos against each other as they cook and critique each other’s food in Hollywood homes. Professional chefs Curtis Stone (“Top Chef Masters”) and Cat Cora (“Iron Chef America”) will judge the wannabe chef celebrities, including TV host and *NSYNC member Lance Bass, R&B recording artists Brandy and Ray J, comedian Andrew Dice Clay, country superstar Naomi Judd and reality TV star Brandi Glanville, all competing for the right to claim MY KITCHEN RULES.

 

Additional FOX series and special include: BOB’S BURGERS, BONES, BROOKLYN NINE-NINE, COUPLED, EMPIRE, FAMILY GUY, GOTHAM, HELL’S KITCHEN, HOME FREE, HOTEL HELL, THE LAST MAN ON EARTH, LUCIFER, MASTERCHEF, MASTERCHEF JUNIOR, MEGYN KELLY presents, MISS UNIVERSE, MISS USA, NEW GIRL, ROSEWOOD, SCREAM QUEENS, THE SIMPSONS, SLEEPY HOLLOW, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: THE NEXT GENERATION, SUPERHUMAN, TEEN CHOICE 2016, WAYWARD PINES and YOU’RE BACK IN THE ROOM (wt).

 

Additional schedule information to be announced.

 

Following are the FOX fall 2016 primetime schedule and FOX midseason 2016-2017 primetime schedule, as well as social media information for and synopses of the new series:

 

FOX FALL 2016 SCHEDULE

(All Times ET/PT)

 

MONDAY

8:00-9:00 PM                          GOTHAM  

9:00-10:00 PM                        LUCIFER

 

TUESDAY

8:00-8:30 PM                          BROOKLYN NINE-NINE

8:30-9:00 PM                          NEW GIRL

9:00-10:00 PM                        SCREAM QUEENS

 

WEDNESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM                          LETHAL WEAPON (new)

9:00-10:00 PM                        EMPIRE

 

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 PM                          ROSEWOOD

9:00-10:00 PM                        BONES

 

FRIDAY

8:00-9:00 PM                          HELL’S KITCHEN

9:00-10:00 PM                        THE EXORCIST (new)

 

SATURDAY

7:00-10:30 PM                        FOX SPORTS SATURDAY: FOX COLLEGE FOOTBALL

 

SUNDAY

7:00-7:30 PM                          NFL ON FOX

7:30-8:00 PM                          THE OT / BOB’S BURGERS

8:00-8:30 PM                          THE SIMPSONS

8:30-9:00 PM                          SON OF ZORN (new)

9:00-9:30 PM                          FAMILY GUY

9:30-10:00 PM                        THE LAST MAN ON EARTH

 

 

FOX MIDSEASON 2016-2017 SCHEDULE

(All Times ET/PT)

 

MONDAY

8:00-9:00 PM                          24: LEGACY (new) / GOTHAM (spring)    

9:00-10:00 PM                        APB (new) / LUCIFER (spring) 

 

TUESDAY

8:00-8:30 PM                          NEW GIRL / BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (spring)   

8:30-9:00 PM                          THE MICK (new)

9:00-10:00 PM                        KICKING & SCREAMING (new) / PITCH (new; spring)

 

WEDNESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM                          LETHAL WEAPON / SHOTS FIRED (new; spring) 

9:00-10:00 PM                        STAR (new) / EMPIRE (spring)

 

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 PM                          ROSEWOOD

9:00-10:00 PM                        PRISON BREAK (new)

 

FRIDAY

8:00-9:00 PM                          MASTERCHEF JUNIOR

9:00-10:00 PM                        SLEEPY HOLLOW

 

SATURDAY

8:00-10:00 PM                        FOX SPORTS SATURDAY

 

SUNDAY

7:00-7:30 PM                          ANIMATION ENCORES

7:30-8:00 PM                          BOB’S BURGERS

8:00-8:30 PM                          THE SIMPSONS

8:30-9:00 PM                          MAKING HISTORY (new)

9:00-9:30 PM                          FAMILY GUY

9:30-10:00 PM                        THE LAST MAN ON EARTH

 

 

EDITOR’S NOTE: Photos from the new and returning series are available at www.foxflash.com. Additionally, embeddable promotional video from the new series will be posted to www.foxflash.com at the conclusion of the FOX 2016 Programming Presentation shortly after 5:00 PM ET today.]

 

 

FOX 2016-2017 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

24: LEGACY

24FOX

@24fox / #24Legacy

APB

APBonFOX 

@APBonFOX  / #APB

THE EXORCIST

The Exorcist FOX

@TheExorcistFOX / #TheExorcist

KICKING & SCREAMING

Kicking & Screaming

@KickScreamFOX / #KickingScreaming

LETHAL WEAPON

Lethal Weapon FOX

@LethalWeaponFOX / #LethalWeapon

MAKING HISTORY

Making History

@MakingHistory / #MakingHistory

THE MICK

The Mick

@TheMickFOX / #TheMick

MY KITCHEN RULES

MyKitchenRulesFox

@KitchenRulesFOX /  #MyKitchenRules

PITCH

Pitch

@PitchonFOX / #Pitch

PRISON BREAK

Prison Break

@PrisonBreak / #PrisonBreak

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE

SHOW

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

@RockyHorrorFOX / #RockyHorror

SHOTS FIRED

Shots Fired

@ShotsFiredFOX / #ShotsFired

SON OF ZORN

Son of Zorn

@SonOfZorn / #SonOfZorn

STAR

STAR

@STAR / #Star

 

 

FOX 2016-2017 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

NEW SERIES SYNOPSES

 

The following new dramas will debut this fall on FOX:

 

THE EXORCIST

Widely regarded as the greatest horror movie ever made, “The Exorcist” broke box office records and terrified audiences around the world. Now, more than four decades after the Academy Award-nominated film, THE EXORCIST returns as a TV series. Directed by Rupert Wyatt (“Rise of the Planet of the Apes”), THE EXORCIST is a propulsive psychological thriller following two very different priests tackling one family’s case of horrifying demonic possession. FATHER TOMAS ORTEGA (Alfonso Herrera, “Sense8,” “The Chosen”) is the new face of the Catholic Church: progressive, ambitious and compassionate. He runs a small but loyal parish in the suburbs of Chicago. He has no idea that his quiet life is about to change forever. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, another priest finds himself locked in a life-and-death struggle with evil. FATHER MARCUS BRENNAN (Ben Daniels, “Flesh and Bone,” “House of Cards”) is a modern-day Templar Knight, an orphan raised since childhood by the Vatican to wage war against its enemies. Father Marcus is everything Father Tomas is not: relentless, abrasive and utterly consumed by his sacred mission. Caught in the middle is the RANCE family, members of Tomas’ parish. On the surface, they’re a normal, suburban family, but all is not as it seems in this household. The patriarch, HENRY RANCE (guest star Alan Ruck, “Spin City,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”), is slowly but surely losing his mind. Eldest daughter KATHERINE (Brianne Howey, SCREAM QUEENS) has become a recluse who refuses to leave her room. Her younger sister, CASEY (Hannah Kasulka, “The Fosters”), thinks she’s hearing strange noises coming from inside the walls.  And mother ANGELA (Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Geena Davis, “Commander in Chief,” “Thelma & Louise”) has been plagued by recurring nightmares, each more frightening than the last. Angela believes there is something in the house, a demonic presence, growing stronger by the day. Desperate, she begs Father Tomas for help, unwittingly setting the naïve young priest on a collision course with Father Marcus. Separately, each faces an insurmountable task, but together they become the only hope against an evil force that has been mobilizing for centuries.

 

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20th Century Fox Television, Morgan Creek Productions

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Jeremy Slater, Rolin Jones, James Robinson, Barbara Wall, David Robinson, Rupert Wyatt, Roy Lee

WRITER: Jeremy Slater

DIRECTOR: Rupert Wyatt

CAST: Alfonso Herrera as Father Tomas Ortega, Ben Daniels as Father Marcus Brennan, Geena Davis as Angela Rance, Brianne Howey as Katherine Rance, Hannah Kasulka as Casey Rance, Kurt Egyiawan as Brother Bennett

 

LETHAL WEAPON

Combining action and drama with friendship and humor, LETHAL WEAPON reboots the hit movie franchise, as it follows classic cop duo Riggs and Murtaugh, who are working a crime-ridden beat in modern-day Los Angeles. Grief-stricken after the loss of his young wife and unborn child, ex-Navy SEAL-turned-detective MARTIN RIGGS (Clayne Crawford, “Rectify”) moves to California to “start over” at the LAPD. He’s paired up with ROGER MURTAUGH (Emmy Award nominee Damon Wayans, Sr., “My Wife and Kids,” “In Living Color”), who’s just coming back to the job after a near-fatal heart attack. Riggs’ penchant for diving headfirst into the line of fire immediately clashes with Murtaugh’s prudent, by-the-book technique. It’s clear from the moment they meet, this partnership could be lethal. But during their first case together, Riggs drags Murtaugh on a high-speed chase culminating inside the Long Beach Grand Prix and into a seaport shootout with drug dealers – and despite his protests, the older cop feels more alive than he has in years. Meanwhile, Riggs gets a glimpse of why Murtaugh is so determined to get home safely at the end of each day – he’s got a family and a newborn baby of his own. By the time their investigation ends, Riggs realizes he may have found something worth living for – a partner and friend like Murtaugh. And even Murtaugh figures this arrangement might just work out after all. If only Riggs doesn’t get them killed first…

 

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: Warner Bros. Television, Good Session Productions, Lin Pictures

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Matt Miller, McG, Dan Lin, Jennifer Gwartz

WRITER: Matt Miller

DIRECTOR: McG

CAST: Damon Wayans, Sr. as Roger Murtaugh, Clayne Crawford as Martin Riggs, Jordana Brewster as Dr. Maureen “Mo” Cahill, Kevin Rahm as Captain Brooks Avery, Keesha Sharp as Trish Murtaugh

 

 

The following new comedy will debut this fall on FOX:

 

SON OF ZORN

Featuring the voice of Jason Sudeikis (THE LAST MAN ON EARTH, “Horrible Bosses,” “We’re the Millers”), SON OF ZORN is a new hybrid live-action/animated comedy about an animated warrior from a faraway island in the Pacific Ocean – where everything and everyone is animated – who returns to Orange County, CA, to win back his live-action ex-wife and teenage son. ZORN (Sudeikis), the Defender of Zephyria, Conqueror of the tribes of Agon, decapitator of the dark herdsmen of Grith, has fought in countless epic battles throughout his life, but may find the greatest challenge of all when travels back to suburbia to reconnect with his family. Once there, Zorn finds himself estranged from his son, ALANGULON or just “Alan” (Johnny Pemberton, “21 Jump Street”), a 17-year-old with a mellow, P.C. attitude; and Alan’s mother, Zorn’s ex-wife, EDIE (Cheryl Hines, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”), a former wild child now living the life of an upper middle class mom. Zorn’s efforts to win them back are complicated by the fact that Edie is now engaged to CRAIG (Tim Meadows, “Saturday Night Live”), an online psychology professor and a stable presence in their lives. Nevertheless, to be a good dad, Zorn commits to remaining in Orange County for the long haul, renting an apartment and even working in the exciting field of industrial soap sales under his boss, LINDA (Artemis Pebdani, “Scandal,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”), who likes his passion, but just wants him to rein it in at the office. As he adjusts to life in the suburbs, Zorn is the classic fish out of water, navigating his way through fatherhood, divorce and a boring office job. Sure, as an overlord of pain, he defeated glombeasts, wolf-bats and bloodthirsty arachnobots, but now he’ll go toe-to-toe with a new set of enemies: meter maids, dress codes and the DMV.

 

PRODUCTION COMPANY: 20th Century Fox Television

 

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Seth Cohen, Reed Agnew, Eli Jorne, Sally McKenna, Eric Appel

WRITERS: Reed Agnew, Eli Jorne

DIRECTOR: Eric Appel

CAST: Jason Sudeikis as Zorn, Johnny Pemberton as Alan, Cheryl Hines as Edie, Tim Meadows as Craig, Artemis Pebdani as Linda

 

 

The following new musical event will debut this October on FOX:

 

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW

FOX is doing the Time Warp, with a brand-new production of the 1975 cult classic THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, set to air Fall 2016. A reimagining of the original movie, the two-hour event follows sweethearts JANET (Victoria Justice, “Victorious”) and BRAD (Ryan McCartan, “Liv & Maddie,” “Heathers the Musical”), who stumble upon DR. FRANK-N-FURTER’s (Emmy Award-nominated actress Laverne Cox, “Orange is the New Black”) bizarre abode. Frank-N-Furter, a sexually ambiguous, flirtatious mad-scientist, is holding an annual Transylvanian science convention to showcase the birth of ROCKY HORROR – a muscle-bound specimen created solely to fulfill Frank’s desires. Actor and singer Staz Nair (“Game of Thrones”) will star in the role. Also featured in the event are AMERICAN IDOL alum Adam Lambert as EDDIE, Reeve Carney (“Penny Dreadful,” “Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark”) as RIFF RAFF, Tony Award winner Annaleigh Ashford (“Sylvia,” “You Can’t Take It With You,” “Masters of Sex”) as COLUMBIA, Christina Milian (“Grandfathered”) as MAGENTA, Ivy Levan as USHERETTE, Tony Award winner Ben Vereen (“Pippin”) as DR. EVERETT SCOTT and Emmy Award nominee Tim Curry, the original Frank-N-Furter, as the show’s CRIMINOLOGIST NARRATOR. Celebrating 40 years of theatrical distribution – longer than any other film in history – “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is one of the most popular films of all time, and still plays in movie theaters around the world. THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is executive-produced by Lou Adler (Grammy Award winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and executive producer of the original “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”), Gail Berman (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” former President of Fox Broadcasting) and Kenny Ortega (Emmy Award-winning director and choreographer, “High School Musical” franchise, “This Is It,” “Descendants,” “Hocus Pocus,” “Newsies”).  THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is based upon the original screenplay by Jim Sharman and Richard O’Brien with lyrics and music by Richard O’Brien.

 

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: Fox 21 Television Studios, Ode Sounds and Visuals, The Jackal Group

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Lou Adler, Gail Berman, Kenny Ortega

DIRECTOR: Kenny Ortega

CAST: Laverne Cox as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Tim Curry as Criminologist Narrator, Victoria Justice as Janet Weiss, Ryan McCartan as Brad Majors, Reeve Carney as Riff Raff, Christina Milian as Magenta, Annaleigh Ashford as Columbia, Adam Lambert as Eddie, Staz Nair as Rocky Horror, Ben Vereen as Dr. Everett Scott, Ivy Levan as Usherette

 

 

The following new dramas will debut in midseason on FOX:

 

24: LEGACY

The clock ticks again with 24: LEGACY, the next evolution of the Emmy Award-winning “24.” From Emmy Award-winning executive producer Howard Gordon (“Homeland,” “24: Live Another Day”), Academy Award- and Emmy Award-winning executive producer Brian Grazer (“A Beautiful Mind,” “24”), writers and executive producers Manny Coto and Evan Katz (“24,” “24: Live Another Day”), director and executive producer Stephen Hopkins (“24”) and executive producer and original series star Kiefer Sutherland, 24: LEGACY chronicles an adrenaline-fueled race against the clock to stop a devastating terrorist attack on United States soil – in the same real-time format that has propelled this genre-defining series. Six months ago in Yemen, an elite squad of U.S. Army Rangers, led by Sergeant ERIC CARTER (Corey Hawkins, “Straight Outta Compton”), killed terrorist leader Sheik Ibrahim Bin-Khalid. In the aftermath, Bin-Khalid’s followers declared a fatwah against Carter, his squad and their families, forcing them into federal witness protection. But a recent attempt on Carter’s own life makes it clear to him that his team is now exposed. To thwart further attacks, Carter enlists REBECCA INGRAM (Miranda Otto, “Homeland”), who quarterbacked the raid that killed Bin-Khalid. She’s a brilliant and ambitious intelligence officer who has stepped down from her post as National Director of CTU to support her husband, SENATOR JOHN DONOVAN (Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Jimmy Smits, “NYPD Blue,” “The West Wing”), in his campaign for President of the United States. Decades of sleepless nights and missed anniversaries landed her at the top. With the White House within their grasp, can she truly embrace a new role as First Lady? Or will her love of the action draw her back in? Together, in this fast-paced thrill ride, Carter and Ingram uncover a sophisticated terrorist network that will force them to ask: “Who can we trust?” As they battle Bin-Khalid’s devotees, they are forced to confront their own identities, families and pasts.

 

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: Twentieth Century Fox Television, Imagine Television, Teakwood Lane

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Howard Gordon, Brian Grazer, Evan Katz, Manny Coto, Stephen Hopkins, Kiefer Sutherland

WRITERS: Manny Coto, Evan Katz

DIRECTOR: Stephen Hopkins

CAST: Corey Hawkins as Eric Carter, Miranda Otto as Rebecca Ingram, Jimmy Smits as Senator John Donovan, Teddy Sears as Keith Mullins, Dan Bucatinsky as Andy Shalowitz, Anna Diop as Nicole Carter, Ashley Thomas as Isaac Carter, Charlie Hofheimer as Ben Grimes, Coral Pena as Mariana Stiles, Sheila Vand as Nilaa

 

STAR

Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee Lee Daniels – creator and executive producer of broadcast’s No. 1 series, EMPIRE – partners with Tom Donaghy (“The Whole Truth”) to pull back the curtain on music’s gritty and dark reality in STAR. Featuring a soundtrack of original music and stunning music performances, STAR follows three talented singers, desperate for a new start and with ambitions of stardom, as they navigate the cut-throat music business on their road to success.  Meet STAR (newcomer Jude Demorest), a tough-as-nails young woman, who came up in the foster care system and decides one day to take control of her destiny. Star tracks down her sister, SIMONE (newcomer Brittany O’Grady), and her Instagram bestie, ALEXANDRA (newcomer Ryan Destiny), and together, the trio journeys to Atlanta to become music superstars. Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award, Grammy Award and Golden Globe Award winner Queen Latifah (“Bessie,” “Bringing Down The House”) plays CARLOTTA, a surrogate mother to the young crew. Emmy Award nominee Benjamin Bratt (“24: Live Another Day,” “Law & Order”) rounds out the cast as JAHIL, a down-on-his-luck talent agent looking to revitalize his career, who’s taken a certain shining to Star. The series will also feature guest star and Grammy Award winner Lenny Kravitz (“Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” “The Hunger Games”). Reality soon dawns on the girls’ fantasies, and they start to learn that ambition often comes at a cost. And sometimes that cost is too high.

 

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20th Century Fox Television, Lee Daniels Entertainment

CO-CREATORS/WRITERS: Lee Daniels, Tom Donaghy

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Lee Daniels, Tom Donaghy, Charles Murray, Pamela Oas Williams, Effie Brown

DIRECTOR: Lee Daniels

CAST: Queen Latifah as Carlotta Brown, Benjamin Bratt as Jahil Rivera, Jude Demorest as Star Davis, Ryan Destiny as Alexandra, Brittany O’Grady as Simone Davis

 

PITCH

From executive producers Dan Fogelman (“Cars,” “Crazy, Stupid, Love.”) and Rick Singer (“Younger,” “American Dad”), PITCH is the dramatic and inspirational story of a young pitcher who becomes the first woman to play Major League Baseball. A beautiful, tough and gifted athlete, GINNY BAKER (Kylie Bunbury, “Under The Dome”) is vaulted into instant fame when she’s called up by the San Diego Padres to make her Major League debut. Like any rookie, Ginny must prove herself to her teammates. Foremost among them is MIKE LAWSON (Mark-Paul Gosselaar, “Franklin & Bash,” “NYPD Blue”), the team’s ruggedly handsome star catcher. There’s instant chemistry between them, although neither dares admit it. After all, Mike is captain of the team and a few of his players don’t even want Ginny on the field. One of the players watching Ginny’s back is center fielder BLIP SANDERS (Mo McRae, “Sons of Anarchy”), an old friend from the minor leagues. Guiding her is her agent/confidante AMELIA SLATER (Ali Larter, “Legends,” “Heroes”). Amelia saw Ginny’s star potential early on and left her previous job as a Hollywood publicist to concentrate on the young phenom. Although groomed for this moment by her demanding father, BILL BAKER (guest star Michael Beach, “Sons of Anarchy”), the end of Ginny’s improbable journey is the beginning of an almost impossible one: representing her gender as she embarks on a successful baseball career under the glare of the white-hot media spotlight. It’s a goal hard enough for anyone to achieve – except this player is also a woman, who happens to be the most important historical figure in sports since Jackie Robinson. This season, Ginny Baker will be the other woman trying to break into one of the oldest, most exclusive men’s clubs in the country.

 

PRODUCTION COMPANY: 20th Century Fox Television

WRITERS: Dan Fogelman, Rick Singer

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Dan Fogelman, Rick Singer, Kevin Falls, Tony Bill, Helen Bartlett, Jess Rosenthal, Paris Barclay

DIRECTOR: Paris Barclay

CAST: Kylie Bunbury as Ginny Baker, Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Mike Lawson, Ali Larter as Amelia Slater, Mark Consuelos as Oscar Arguella, Dan Lauria as Al Luongo, Mo McRae as Blip Sanders, Meagan Holder as Evelyn Sanders, Tim Jo as Eliot

 

APB

Police work isn’t rocket science. It’s harder. Inspired by true events, APB is a new police drama with a high-tech twist from executive producer/director Len Wiseman (LUCIFER, “Underworld”) and executive producer/writer Matt Nix (“Burn Notice”). Sky-high crime, officer-involved shootings, cover-ups and corruption: the over-extended and under-funded Chicago Police Department is spiraling out of control. Enter billionaire engineer GIDEON REEVES (Emmy Award and Golden Globe nominee Justin Kirk, “Tyrant,” “Weeds”). After his best friend is murdered in a botched attempted robbery, and the killer remains at large, Gideon demands justice. Putting up millions of dollars of his own money, he makes an unprecedented deal to take over the troubled 13th District – and reboot it as a private police force: better, faster and smarter than anything seen before. With cutting-edge technology created by Gideon himself, this eccentric yet brilliant outsider challenges the city’s police force to rethink everything about the way they fight crime. But the near-overnight transition to the city’s most advanced police district doesn’t sit well with all of its members. Gideon knows if he’s going to change anything, he needs an ally, whom he finds in OFFICER THERESA MURPHY (Natalie Martinez, “Kingdom,” “Under the Dome”), an ambitious, street-smart cop who is ready to embrace Gideon’s technological changes. With the help of Gideon’s gifted tech officer, ADA HAMILTON (Caitlin Stasey “Reign”), he and Murphy embark on a mission to turn the 13th District – including a skeptical SGT. NED CONRAD (Ernie Hudson, “Grace and Frankie,” “Ghostbusters”), and determined OFFICERS NICHOLAS BRANDT (Taylor Handley “Vegas,” “Southland”) and TASHA GOSS (Tamberla Perry “Boss”) – into a dedicated crime-fighting force of the 21st century.

 

PRODUCTION COMPANY: 20th Century Fox Television

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Len Wiseman, Matt Nix, Dennis Kim, Todd Hoffman, Robert Friedman

WRITER: Matt Nix

DIRECTOR: Len Wiseman

CAST: Justin Kirk as Gideon Reeves, Natalie Martinez as Theresa Murphy, Ernie Hudson as Sgt. Ned Conrad, Taylor Handley as Officer Nicholas Brandt, Caitlin Stasey as Ada Hamilton, Tamberla Perry as Officer Tasha Goss, Eric Winter as Scott Murphy

 

 

The following new event series will debut in midseason on FOX:

 

PRISON BREAK

PRISON BREAK is back and ready for its biggest escape yet. In the thrilling new event series PRISON BREAK, original series stars Wentworth Miller, Dominic Purcell, Sarah Wayne Callies, Amaury Nolasco, Robert Knepper, Rockmond Dunbar and Paul Adelstein are reunited for an all-new adventure spanning the globe and featuring the signature thrills and cliffhangers that were hallmarks of the original series when it aired on FOX from 2005-2009. The original action drama centered on MICHAEL SCOFIELD (Miller, “The Loft”), a young man determined to save his convicted brother, LINCOLN BURROWS (Purcell, “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”), from death row by hatching an elaborate plan to escape from prison. In the all-new event series, filmed on location in Morocco, clues surface that suggest a previously thought-to-be-dead Michael may be alive. Lincoln and SARA (Sarah Wayne Callies, “Colony,” “The Walking Dead”), Michael’s wife until he was assumed dead, reunite to engineer the series’ biggest escape ever, as three of Fox River State Penitentiary’s most notorious escapees, SUCRE (Nolasco, “Telenovela”), T-BAG (Knepper, “Heroes”) and C-NOTE (Dunbar, “The Mentalist”), are pulled back into the action. “Prison Break” was an immediate critical and ratings hit when it premiered on FOX in the fall of 2005, garnering Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Television Series – Drama and Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama (Miller). The original producing team, including series creator Paul T. Scheuring, Neal Moritz, Marty Adelstein and Dawn Olmstead, will return to executive-produce the new series, with Scheuring serving as showrunner/writer.

 

PRODUCTION COMPANY: 20th Century Fox Television

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Paul T. Scheuring, Neal Moritz, Marty Adelstein, Dawn Olmstead, Vaun Wilmott, Michael Horowitz

WRITER: Paul T. Scheuring

DIRECTOR: Nelson McCormick

CAST: Wentworth Miller as Michael Scofield, Dominic Purcell as Lincoln Burrows, Sarah Wayne Callies as Sara Tancredi, Amaury Nolasco as Sucre, Robert Knepper as T-Bag, Rockmond Dunbar as C-Note, Mark Feuerstein as Jacob Anton Ness, Augustus Prew as Whip, Rick Yune as Ja, Inbar Lavi as Sheba, Paul Adelstein as Paul Kellerman

 

SHOTS FIRED

Examining the dangerous aftermath of racially charged shootings in a small Southern town, SHOTS FIRED is a dramatic new event series that is a “why done it?” and a “who done it?” From Gina Prince-Bythewood (“Beyond the Lights,” “The Secret Life of Bees,” “Love & Basketball”) and Reggie Rock Bythewood (“Beyond the Lights,” “Notorious”), the 10-hour event series is an explosive look at the criminal justice system. When an African-American police officer kills an unarmed white college student, a small town in North Carolina is turned upside-down. Before the town has a chance to grapple with this tragedy, the neglected murder of an African-American teen is brought to light, re-opening wounds that threaten to tear the town apart. Leading the Department of Justice’s inquiry into these shootings is seasoned investigator ASHE AKINO (Sanaa Lathan, “The Perfect Guy”) and a young Special Prosecutor, PRESTON TERRY (Stephan James, “Race,” “Selma”), both of whom are African-American. As they start to pull back the layers of both cases, they suspect a cover-up that may involve some of the state’s most powerful people, including fiercely political North Carolina Governor PATRICIA EAMONS (Academy-, Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actress Helen Hunt, “As Good As It Gets,” “The Sessions”). She’s in a tough re-election fight, and the recent shootings in her state are making it even tougher. Meanwhile, real estate mogul and owner of a privatized prison ARLEN COX (Academy- and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss, “The Goodbye Girl,” “Jaws,” “Madoff”), is pulled into the case, as LT. ERIC BREELAND (Stephen Moyer, “The Bastard Executioner,” “True Blood”), a seasoned veteran in the town’s Sheriff’s Department, gets caught in the middle of the investigation. SHOTS FIRED tackles the racial divide from all perspectives. As Ashe and Preston navigate the media attention, public debate and social unrest that come with such volatile cases, they learn that everybody has a story, and that the truth is rarely black and white.

 

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20th Century Fox Television, Imagine Television, Undisputed Cinema

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Gina Prince-Bythewood, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Brian Grazer, Francie Calfo

WRITERS/CREATORS: Gina Prince-Bythewood, Reggie Rock Bythewood

DIRECTOR: Gina Prince-Bythewood

CAST: Sanaa Lathan as Ashe Akino, Stephan James as Preston Terry, Helen Hunt as Governor Patricia Eamons, Richard Dreyfuss as Arlen Cox, Stephen Moyer as Lt. Eric Breeland, Tristan Wilds as Dep. Joshua Belk, Aisha Hinds as Pastor Janae James, Will Patton as Sheriff Daniel Platt, Conor Leslie as Sarah Ellis, Clare-Hope Ashitey as Kerry Belk, DeWanda Wise as Shameeka Campbell

 

 

The following new comedies will debut in midseason on FOX:

 

THE MICK

THE MICK is a no-holds-barred single-camera comedy that gives new meaning to the phrase “dysfunctional family.” MACKENZIE aka “MICKEY” (Kaitlin Olson, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) is a brash, two-bit hustler from Rhode Island who has spent her entire life shirking any semblance of responsibility. Lacking any drive, but in constant search of the next easy payday, Mickey is not without her charms. She’s smart, she’s fun, and despite all appearances, her head’s always in the game. She just needs a big win. That win kinda, sorta comes true when, looking for a handout, Mickey visits her estranged sister and billionaire brother-in-law in Greenwich, CT, but gets more than she bargained for, as this absurdly rich couple flees the country to escape federal fraud charges. In a surprising turn of events, Mickey must assume guardianship of their three high-maintenance and ill-parented children: SABRINA (Sofia Black D’Elia, “The Messengers,” “Gossip Girl”), an ambitious, 18-going-on-30-year-old who is a worthy adversary to Mickey; CHIP (Thomas Barbusca, “The New Normal,” “Grey’s Anatomy”), 13, an arrogant, entitled neo-con-in-the-making with an extremely punchable face; and BEN (newcomer Jack Stanton), seven, an adorably fragile nerd. The life that Mickey has wanted for so long now is within her reach – the mansion, the convertible, the swimming pool, the walk-in closet full of designer clothes. But as Mickey is well aware, nothing in life is free. The price? Transforming these outrageously spoiled children into honest, hard-working, decent members of society – something this foul-mouthed, debaucherous and completely out-of-her-element woman knows absolutely nothing about. Being a mother was never in Mickey’s game plan, but these kids desperately need a parent. And as irresponsible as Mickey has been her entire life, she may discover that responsibility and motherhood aren’t the buzzkill she always thought they would be.

 

PRODUCTION COMPANY: 20th Century Fox Television

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: John Chernin, Dave Chernin, Nick Frenkel, Oly Obst, Randall Einhorn

CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Kaitlin Olson

WRITERS: John Chernin, Dave Chernin

DIRECTOR: Randall Einhorn

CAST: Kaitlin Olson as Mackenzie, Sofia Black-D’Elia as Sabrina, Thomas Barbusca as Chip, Jack Stanton as Ben, Carla Jimenez as Alba, Susan Park as Liz

 

MAKING HISTORY

Produced by Phil Lord and Chris Miller (“Lego Movie,” “21 Jump Street”), and written by Julius “Goldy” Sharpe (“The Grinder,” FAMILY GUY), the new comedy MAKING HISTORY follows three friends from two different centuries as they try to balance the thrill of time travel with the mundane concerns of their present-day lives. Two shows in one, it’s both a rollicking historical adventure, and a contemporary comedy about love, friendship and trying to fit in to an increasingly complex and impersonal world. DAN CHAMBERS (Adam Pally, “The Mindy Project,” “Happy Endings”), a computer science professor at a small Massachusetts college, recently discovered time travel and has been transporting himself back to the 1700s to spend time with the colonial woman he’s fallen for. In the present, Dan is an unpopular nerd. But by claiming song lyrics, lines from movies and stand-up bits as his own in the 18th century, he’s absolutely hilarious – he gets the girl and makes friends. But Dan’s actions in the past are messing up the present. That woman he’s dating is not just any woman. She’s Paul Revere’s daughter, DEBORAH (Leighton Meester, “Gossip Girl”), and Dan’s meddling in the past causes her father to delay his famous ride, which may have altered the outcome of the entire American Revolution. To set matters right, Dan enlists the help of his colleague, CHRIS PARISH (Yassir Lester, “Girls,” “Key and Peele”), a brilliant, polished and popular history professor, who’s now given the incredible opportunity to actually live the history he teaches. Can Dan, Chris and Deborah save America as we know it? Can a woman from 1775 adapt to life in 2016? Can the three intrepid time travelers improve the past, help the helpless, fight for justice and get rich?

 

PRODUCTION COMPANY: 20th Century Fox Television

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Julius “Goldy” Sharpe, Seth Cohen

WRITER: Julius “Goldy” Sharpe

DIRECTOR: Jared Hess

CAST: Adam Pally as Dan, Leighton Meester as Deborah, Yassir Lester as Chris

 

 

The following new reality series will debut in midseason on FOX:

 

KICKING & SCREAMING

KICKING & SCREAMING is a new competition series that teams 10 expert survivalists with pampered partners to face the toughest challenges of their lives. From executive producer Matt Kunitz (“Wipeout,” “Fear Factor”), in association with Lionsgate Television, and hosted by Hannah Simone (NEW GIRL), the series drops these unlikely duos into a tropical jungle in Fiji, where they must overcome dangerous animals, raging rivers, hunger and extreme weather. While these no-nonsense survivalists are accustomed to fending for themselves, there’s one thing for which none of their previous expeditions have prepared them: their nature-phobic partners, who think “glamping” is roughing it. To win the competition, and a cash prize of $500,000, the experts will have to drag their partners, KICKING & SCREAMING, to the finish line.

 

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: Lionsgate Television, Pulse Creative

CREATORS: Matt Kunitz, David Shumsky, Mark Harris

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Matt Kunitz, Anthony Dominici

CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: David Shumsky, Mark Harris, Rebecca Shumsky Quinn

HOST: Hannah Simone

 

MY KITCHEN RULES

The No. 1 show in Australia for five years running is coming to FOX. The unscripted cooking series will pit celebrity duos against each other as they cook and critique each other’s food, in Hollywood homes. The teams will take turns hosting intimate dinner parties with a menu designed to impress their rival competitors and two professional chef judges, Curtis Stone (“Top Chef Masters”) and Cat Cora (“Iron Chef America”). Celebrities featured on the series include Lance Bass, Brandy & Ray J, Andrew Dice Clay, Brandi Glanville and Naomi Judd. With escalating rounds of competition, the celebrity duo with the lowest score at the end of each round will be eliminated. The last two teams standing will battle it out in the final round for a pressure-cooker evening during which they will prepare and present their ultimate dining menu. In the end, only one team will survive the heat, the drama and the right to claim MY KITCHEN RULES.

 

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 7 Beyond for Seven Productions

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Brad Lyons, Rikkie Proost, Conrad Green, Kenny Rosen, Therese Hegarty

CHEF JUDGES: Curtis Stone, Cat Cora

Carmichael Show is back on NBC, with 3rd season! #LWDYK

@Lapacazo — What Do You Know? I know about comedy and what’s fresh on #NBC!

It's round three for the NBC comedy The Carmichael Show which was renewed for a new, full 13 episode season. Inspired by the life and comedy of stand-up Jerrod Carmichael, the series follows Jerrod and his opinionated southern family as they reluctantly deal with modern-day America knocking at their front door.

The comedy also stars David Alan Grier, Loretta Devine, Amber Stevens West, Rel Howery and Tiffany Haddish. Known for sharp comedy, unexpected honesty and frank conversation The Carmichael Show is co-produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television and Universal Television.

Here is an official tweet from the funny man himself — now you know What, I know!

https://twitter.com/notoriousrod/status/731922208918933506

FOX ORDERS “MY KITCHEN RULES,” THE COOKING FACE-OFF WITH CELEBRITY DUOS THROWING THE ULTIMATE HOLLYWOOD DINNER PARTIES

FOX has ordered MY KITCHEN RULES, an eight-episode unscripted cooking series that will pit celebrity duos against each other as they cook and critique each other’s food in Hollywood homes. The teams will take turns hosting intimate dinner parties with a menu designed to impress their rival competitors and two professional chef judges, Curtis Stone (“Top Chef Masters”) and Cat Cora (“Iron Chef America”). The celebrity duos include TV host and *NSYNC member Lance Bass, R&B recording artists Brandy and Ray J, comedian Andrew Dice Clay, country superstar Naomi Judd and reality TV star Brandi Glanville.

The series will feature escalating rounds of competition, in which the celebrity duo with the lowest score at the end of each round will be eliminated. The last two teams standing will battle it out in the final round for a pressure-cooker evening, during which they will prepare and present their ultimate dining menu. In the end, only one team will survive the heat, the drama and the right to claim MY KITCHEN RULES.

The Celebrity Teams:

TV Host and *NSYNC member Lance Bass and his mother, Diane Bass - @LanceBass

Beyond his fame as a member of the phenomenally successful group *NSYNC, Lance Bass has expanded his accomplishments into multiple entertainment mediums, including starring on Broadway in “Hairspray,” publishing the memoir “Out of Sync” and dancing his way to the finals on “Dancing with the Stars.” Among many other projects, Bass currently can be seen on “The Meredith Vieira Show” as a contributing panelist. He recently wrapped up a successful five years on SIRIUS XM, hosting “Dirty Pop with Lance Bass” and “Pop2K Countdown.” Bass will team with his mother, Diane Bass, a retired middle school mathematics, English and career discovery teacher.

Grammy Award Winner Brandy and her brother, R&B recording Artist Ray J -@4everBrandy and @RayJ

Brandy is a multi-Platinum, Grammy Award-winning singer, song-writer and actress. She was one of the most successful multi-media stars of the 1990s, with a constant presence on pop and R&B charts, the hit sitcom “Moesha” and the TV movie phenomenon “Cinderella.” Her additional film and TV credits include horror film “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer,” TV series “The Game” and “America’s Got Talent.” Most recently, Brandy made her Broadway debut as “Roxie Hart” in the Tony Award-winning musical “Chicago.”

Ray J is an R&B singer, actor, reality star, host and entrepreneur. He has produced music hits such as “One Wish” and “Sexy Can I.” Additionally, he starred in his own reality dating show, “For the Love of Ray J,” as well as “Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business.” Most recently, he hosted reality game show “Bad Girls All-Star Battle,” and hosted and executive-produced “Driven to Love.” Also, he still can be seen on the hit reality show “Love and Hip Hop: Hollywood.” 

Comedian Andrew Dice Clay and wife, Valerie Silverstein - @TheRealDiceClay

Andrew Dice Clay is proud to be America’s most controversial and outrageous comic of all time. Clay’s rise to fame was meteoric, selling out arenas from coast to coast, starring in numerous feature films and TV series and releasing best-selling DVDs. Clay most recently starred in “Dice,” a semi-autobiographical scripted series and can be seen in Martin Scorsese’s series, “Vinyl.” Clay will team with his wife, Valerie Silverstein, a make-up artist and hairstylist.

Reality TV Star Brandi Glanville and her best friend, Dean Sheremet - @BrandiGlanville

Brandi Glanville spent 17 years as a high fashion, top runway and print model. On television, she is best known for starring in “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” Glanville is also a two-time New York Times best-selling author for “Drinking and Tweeting: and Other Brandi Blunders” and “Drinking and Dating: Social Media is Ruining Romance.” She recently launched her award-winning Chardonnay, Unfiltered Blonde. Glanville will team with her best friend, Dean Sheremet, who previously trained to be a chef, but is now a full-time wellness coach.

Country Superstar Naomi Judd and husband, Larry Strickland - @TheNaomiJudd

Naomi Judd first charmed the world performing with her daughter, in the mother-daughter duo, The Judds. They sold more than 20 million records, scored 14 No. 1 hits and received more than 60 industry awards, including seven Grammy Awards and seven consecutive CMA Awards. While music and mentorship remain her two deepest passions, Judd is also a New York Times best-selling author, veteran talk show host and versatile actress. Judd will team with her husband, Larry Strickland, a music industry veteran who’s worked with numerous recording artists, including Elvis Presley and Presley’s famed backup vocalists, The Stamps Quartet. 

The Professional Chef Judges:

Curtis Stone - @CurtisStone

Curtis Stone is a chef, restaurateur, author, media personality and businessman. Stone trained in Australia and Europe for 12 years, eight of which were under renowned chef Marco Pierre White. After working his way to Head Chef of Pierre’s revered restaurant Quo Vadis, Stone was given his first television exposure, which sparked his successful television career in the U.K., Australia and the United States, most notably on “Take Home Chef,” “Top Chef Masters,” “Celebrity Apprentice” and “All-Star Academy.” In 2014, Stone opened his first solo restaurant, Maude, in Beverly Hills, and currently is partnering with his brother, Luke, on Gwen, a specialty butcher shop and restaurant, which will open in Hollywood this summer. He is a New York Times best-selling cookbook author and runs Stone’s Food Inc., his culinary-focused consulting, content and partnership company. Stone is married to actress Lindsay Price and they have two sons. 

Cat Cora - @CatCora

Cat Cora is a world-renowned figure in the culinary world. Cora is an accomplished author, restaurateur, contributing editor, television host, avid philanthropist, lifestyle entrepreneur and proud mother of four. She became the first female Iron Chef on “Iron Chef America” in 2005 and has since been featured extensively on a number of television shows. She has been recognized for her achievements and was the first female to be inducted into the Culinary Hall of Fame. Cora grew up in an intimate Greek community in Jackson, MS, where she developed a passion for the culinary arts. She left Mississippi for New York to study at the Culinary Institute of America and continued her culinary education in Europe alongside two three-star Michelin chefs. She eventually traveled west and launched Cat Cora’s Kitchen in many locations around the U.S. In addition, she opened Ocean by Cat Cora, an award-winning restaurant in Singapore. Cora continues to be a leader in her industry as she masterfully synchronizes her award-winning talents with mainstream accessibility, all while she evolves into a space beyond the culinary world.

“My Kitchen Rules” is currently the No. 1 entertainment show in Australia, and has been for five consecutive years. The 2015 and 2016 finales ranked as the highest-rated entertainment events of their respective years. The series has been sold in more than 141 countries.

MY KITCHEN RULES is a Seven Productions format produced for FOX by 7 Beyond – a joint venture between Seven Network Australia and Beyond International. The series is executive-produced by Conrad Green and Kenny Rosen. “Like” MY KITCHEN RULES on Facebook at  MyKitchenRulesFOX. Follow the series on Twitter @KitchenRulesFOX and join the conversation using #MyKitchenRules. See photos and videos on Instagram @MyKitchenRulesFOX/.

About Seven

Seven is Australia’s most-watched broadcast television platform and the biggest creator and producer of new and original programming in the country. The network is expanding its presence in media, driving its leadership in the creation of content and delivering that content anywhere, anytime to the biggest audiences. The company is expanding its presence in the further delivery of its video and publishing content beyond its digital broadcast channels and across an array of platforms, including the live-streaming of its broadcast channels to any connected device.  Seven has also secured a major presence in subscription video on demand through its Presto joint venture with Foxtel. Seven is now creating more content than at any time in its history and is expanding its presence in international content production with the formation of two new international production companies: 7Wonder and 7Beyond. 7 Beyond is a joint venture between Seven and Beyond International, focusing on the creation of new content for the U.S. market.

Homer Simpson Appears LIVE on The Simpsons, this Sunday, May 15, on FOX

For the First Time on Television, Homer Simpson Appears LIVE, In Episode’s Final Three Minutes!
Homer will answer questions via phone call to 888-726-6660 on Sunday May 15th from 8:00 to 8:30 p.m. ET and 8:00 to 8:30 p.m. PT.  You can also join the conversation with #HomerLive.

Al Jean, Executive Producer of THE SIMPSONS, talked to us, on behalf of the May 15th episode. Here are the excerpts from the conversation

Art: Hi, Al.  How are you?

Al: Good.  I just want to say, too, I don’t want to sound like I’m taking a victory lap.  I understand it hasn’t happened.  This is all presuming it goes well, which I hope it will.  The excitement of it is it may not be perfect and we’re trying something different.

Art: That’s sort of cool.  I think interactive story telling is definitely big in the future.  You’re already doing it.  I’m sure it’s going to do great.  First I want to congratulate you.  I personally am a big fan.  You’re an amazing, amazing storyteller.  I personally loved The Critic.

 Al: Thank you.

Art: I’m a big fan.  It stinks that we don’t get to see more of that but again you’re the Steve Jobs of entertainment.  You’ve got back to FOX and you’re kicking a** on The Simpsons.  So cool. 

The question is on that same line.  Recently in a lot of awards and festivals and all that we’re seeing a lot of interactive storytelling, VR and these kinds of things coming.  A storyteller will start taking a lot of ideas and making wonderful stories through new mediums of entertainment.  This is a great start but what do you foresee this particular show going more into that kind of medium in the future?  Any other projects yourself with the interactive storytelling, VR and immersive storytelling kind of things?

Al: We’ve actually met with several different people regarding VR and I’ve tried it.  I think it’s got enormous potential.  I think that we will do something for it at some point and maybe in the near future. I think about Google Glass and we did a show about it and it was something that was supposed to be the wave of the future and it really didn’t take off.  You have to be careful judging what the medium is going to be of choice in the future but there’s no question the different media that arise will be part of them.  We actually do an episode about VR this fall where Burns wants a family so he hires everybody in the Simpson family except Homer to be the voices of his family and lives in this artificial world.  We’re certainly interested in the issue.

 What I thought when I put it on was a couple of things when I was doing VR was you wanted more.  You wanted to be able to go more places in the world which I think requires a lot more memory which isn’t to say that can’t be done soon.  I think people really look stupid when they’re doing it.  Like somebody else wearing it, it really isn’t pretty.

 Art: Yes and could be dangerous, too.

 Al: Yes.  Exactly.

 Art: That’s awesome.  As I said, I’ve been a fan of your work and you’re a wonderful storyteller and a great entertainment business person and of course producer as well.  At least I would say, I don’t see as much, of course I’m sure you have a lot of creative control, but see you writing.  What’s your personal passion, the producing aspect of it, the writing?  What excites you more?  Would we see more of you doing writing for The Simpsons or other shows?

 Al: To be honest, my main job is a writer.  I’m the head writer.  Most of my days are spent writing.  Honestly, the rewarding part of my day is writing.  When I’m doing budgets or editing or dealing with notes or whatever that’s also part of the job but how I got here is as a writer and even though it doesn’t say written by me on that many—whatever, I’ve written 20 scripts, which is not too [indiscernible].  Honestly, I have contributions to over 500 of them that have aired.

 TV is like a really collaborative medium.  The written by a credit on a script is a very specific thing.  It means the money for the person.  It’s usually who thought of the idea of the show but not always, but everybody here collaborates.  It’s a real group effort.

 Art: Can you tell me a little bit about the writing process?  I’m a writer myself.  A wonderful show like that that’s been going on for 27 years, how’s the writers’ room like for a show like this and how do you guys come up with ideas to work collaboratively with each other?  How’s the writing process like for The Simpsons?

 Al: We have two rooms.  Once a year we pitch all our ideas to Jim and Matt and me.  The ideas that go over well are written up into outlines and then stories.  Then the rooms just over the scripts again, again and again until we get to a table read with the cast.  Then it’s rewritten again and recorded and rewritten several times before it finally airs.

 Art: Wow.  It seems like a lot of hard work but that’s incredible.  Thanks a lot.  I look forward to seeing more of The Simpsons and other works from you.  I’m a big fan of other things that you have done.  Hopefully I get to see more of you.

 Al: Thank you very much.  Never count The Critic out.  It’s been on four different networks.

Art: Yes, absolutely!

-----------------------

HOMER TRIES IMPROV TO OVERCOME A CASE OF STAGE FRIGHT, ON AN ALL-NEW “THE SIMPSONS” , SUNDAY, MAY 15, ON FOX

After butchering a speech in front of all of his friends at work, Homer turns to improv comedy to gain back his confidence in his public speaking skills.  Meanwhile, Marge decides to rebuild Bart’s lackluster treehouse, but tensions rise when Bart questions her building skills. Also, in the episode’s last three minutes, Homerappears LIVE for the first time on television (both for East and West Coast broadcasts) to answer fan questions in the all-new “Simprovised” episode of THESIMPSONS airing Sunday, May 15 (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) on FOX. 

Homer will answer questions via phone call to 888-726-6660 on Sunday May 15th from 8:00 to 8:30 p.m. ET and 8:00 to 8:30 p.m. PT.  You can also join the conversation with #HomerLive.

MEGYN KELLY TO SIT DOWN WITH EMMY-NOMINATED ACTRESS LAVERNE COX DURING “MEGYN KELLY presents,”

AIRING TUESDAY, MAY 17, AT 8:00 PM ET/PT, ON FOX

On “MEGYN KELLY presents,” airing Tuesday, May 17 (8:00-9:01 PM ET/PT) on FOX, FOX News Channel (FNC) anchor Megyn Kelly will interview Laverne Cox, the Emmy Award-nominated actress who will appear as “Dr. Frank-N-Furter” in this fall’s THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW event on FOX.  Cox, the first trans woman of color to have a leading role on a mainstream scripted television show, is best known for portraying the groundbreaking role of transgender inmate “Sophia Burset” on “Orange is The New Black.”

As previously announced, the special also will feature Kelly’s first extensive sit-down interview with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, as well as interviews with Academy Award-winning actor Michael Douglas and LegalZoom.com founder and famed defense attorney Robert Shapiro. Shapiro was notably part of the “Dream Team” that successfully defended O.J. Simpson in what has been dubbed the “trial of the century,” and this is his first television interview since the debut of the FX series, “The People V. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story.”  

Kelly anchors “The Kelly File” (weekdays, 9:00-10:00 PM/ET) on FNC, the second most-watched program in cable news, averaging more than two million viewers. She has landed some of the most coveted guests in the television news business for the nearly three-year-old program, including the Duggar family, Bill Ayers, Charles Koch and Michael Moore.

Television veteran Bill Geddie serves as the Executive Producer of “MEGYN KELLY presents.”

For additional information about FOX, please visit www.fox.com. 

Follow Megyn Kelly on Twitter @MegynKelly and “like” her FOX News program, “The Kelly File,” on Facebook.com/TheKellyFile.

 

SETH MacFARLANE TO CREATE, EXECUTIVE-PRODUCE AND STAR IN a live-action comedic drama series

We have all heard Seth MacFarlane, in more than one voice. And we have all loved, all, or at least some of those voices.  My personal favorite is Stewie Griffin. But the wonderful Seth MacFarlane won't be just a voice on American TV anymore, he would be the "new face" as well. FOX has ordered 13 episodes of a new hour-long, live-action comedic drama series created and executive-produced by the Emmy Award winner Seth MacFarlane (FAMILY GUY, “Ted”), who is also set to star. The series is being targeted for the 2017-2018 television season, it was announced today by Dana Walden and Gary Newman, Chairmen and CEOs, Fox Television Group.

“I've wanted to do something like this show ever since I was a kid, and the timing finally feels right,” said MacFarlane. “20th and FOX have been good to me for many years, and of course, Dana and Gary have been fantastic bosses and true pals, so it was a no-brainer to come to them with the project. I think this is gonna be something special.”

“For almost two decades, we’ve enjoyed an incredible collaboration with our partner and friend Seth MacFarlane,” said Newman and Walden. “He’s one of the smartest, funniest and most talented people we’ve ever had the pleasure of working with – a great guy who’s also had such an impact on both television and popular culture. Seth has one of the most original voices – in every sense of the word – and we’ve been waiting for him to bring us a project as special as this one.  It’s classic Seth – fresh and funny, incredibly smart, wickedly subversive and undeniably FOX.”

From 20th Century Fox Television, the UNTITLED SETH MacFARLANE PROJECT, is a comedic drama set 300 years in the future. It follows the adventures of the Orville, a not-so-top-of-the-line exploratory ship in Earth’s interstellar Fleet. Facing cosmic challenges from without and within, this motley crew of space explorers will boldly go where no comedic drama has gone before.

Seth MacFarlane is familiar to FOX audiences as the creator, executive producer and voice actor on the long-running and Emmy Award-winning animated comedy series FAMILY GUY, currently in its 13th season. The series has been renewed through the 2016-2017 television season. FAMILY GUY has garnered MacFarlane Emmy Awards for Outstanding Music and Lyrics (2002) and Outstanding Voice-Over Performance (2000). He received a 2015 Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance, in addition to his 2014 nomination in the same category. Along with FAMILY GUY, MacFarlane serves as co-creator, executive producer and voice actor on “American Dad!,” and he serves as an executive producer on the network’s animated series BORDERTOWN.  MacFarlane is also an executive producer on the cable comedy BLUNT TALK, starring Patrick Stewart and written by Jonathan Ames. Additionally, he executive-produced FOX’s critically acclaimed documentary series “COSMOS: A SPACETIME ODYSSEY,” which garnered a Peabody Award, two Critics’ Choice Television Awards and 13 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.  

MacFarlane made his feature film directorial debut in 2012 with the highest-grossing original R-rated film of all time, “Ted.” Starring Mark Wahlberg and MacFarlane as the voice of the lovable, foul-mouthed teddy bear, the buddy comedy was also co-written and produced by MacFarlane. Fresh off the success of “Ted,” MacFarlane hosted the 85th Academy Awards in 2013 and was also nominated for the film that same year, in the category of Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song, for “Everybody Needs a Best Friend.” The sequel, “Ted 2,” was released last summer. In May 2014, MacFarlane's western-comedy, “A Million Ways to Die in the West,” was released. He wrote, produced, directed and starred in the movie, which featured an ensemble cast that included Charlize Theron and Liam Neeson, among others.  MacFarlane has released three successful albums and his most recent album, “No One Ever Tells You,” debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes jazz charts this past October. He has traveled the world to sing with renowned orchestras, such as the BBC Proms, the National Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles and New York Philharmonic, lending his baritone voice to the hidden gems of the ’40s and ’50s swing era. In December 2016, MacFarlane will voice “Mike,” a small mouse with a big, Sinatra-esque voice and an arrogant attitude in Illumination Entertainment’s animated musical family film, “Sing.”

The UNTITLED SETH MacFARLANE PROJECT will be produced by 20th Century Fox Television. Seth MacFarlane wrote the pilot episode and serves as executive producer and creator of the series.

Series Targeted for the 2017-2018 Season. So we will have to wait a little!

WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR “2016 AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS”

  • LUKE BRYAN NAMED ARTIST OF THE YEAR
  • Reba McEntire Honored Longtime Friends Brooks & Dunn With 2016 NASH Icon Award Presented By Ford F-Series 
  • Toby Keith Performed Touching Tribute to Country Legend Merle Haggard, Introduced by Academy Award® Winner Matthew McConaughey

Winners have been announced for the star-studded 2016 AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS, which aired LIVE tonight on FOX from The Forum in Inglewood, CA. Luke Bryan and Sam Hunt each picked up two awards: Bryan was named Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist Of The Year, while Hunt received Breakthrough Male Of The Year and Digital Album Of The Year. Other winners included Kelsea Ballerini (Breakthrough Female Of The Year), Garth Brooks (Touring Artist Of The Year), Florida Georgia Line (Group/Duo Of The Year), Chris Stapleton (Album Of The Year) and Carrie Underwood (Female Artist Of The Year). For a complete list of winners, please see below.

The two-hour broadcast featured 14 performances, including Kelsea Ballerini (“Dibs”), 2016 NASH Icon Award presented by Ford F-Series recipients Brooks & Dunn (“Red Dirt Road”), Luke Bryan (“Huntin’, Fishin’ And Lovin’ Every Day”), Cam (“Mayday”), Dan + Shay (“Nothin’ Like You”/“From The Ground Up”), Florida Georgia Line (who premiered “H.O.L.Y.,” a song from their new album due out this summer), Sam Hunt (“Make You Miss Me”), Chris Janson (“Buy Me a Boat”), Martina McBride (“Reckless”), Thomas Rhett (“Die A Happy Man”), Cole Swindell (“You Should Be Here”) and Carrie Underwood (“Church Bells”).

Three of country music’s leading ladies — Martina McBride, Jennifer Nettles and Cam — kicked off the evening with a performance of McBride’s No. 1 hit anthem “This One’s For the Girls,” while legendary duo Brooks & Dunn performed their 2013 megahit “Red Dirt Road,” after receiving the 2016 NASH Icon Award Presented by Ford F-Series. The award, which celebrates an iconic artist whose extraordinary talent has influenced generations of musicians, was presented by longtime friend and 2014 NASH Icon recipient Reba McEntire. Academy Award® winner Matthew McConaughey introduced Toby Keith’s tribute to his friend Merle Haggard, with Haggard’s longtime band, the Strangers, featuring Haggard’s son, Ben. 

Presenters at the second annual show included Paula Abdul, Chase Bryant, Terry Crews, Cat Deeley, Sara Evans, Trent Harmon, Jana Kramer, Chris Lane, Maddie & Tae, McConaughey, Scotty McCreery, McEntire, Jennifer Nettles, Michael Ray, Canaan Smith, Luke Wilson and Dwight Yoakam.

Following is the list of winners in the 12 categories for the 2016 AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS: 

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Luke Bryan

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Luke Bryan

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Carrie Underwood

GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR

Florida Georgia Line

BREAKTHROUGH MALE OF THE YEAR

Sam Hunt

BREAKTHROUGH FEMALE OF THE YEAR

Kelsea Ballerini

BREAKTHROUGH GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR

Old Dominion

SONG OF THE YEAR

“Die A Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

“Traveller” – Chris Stapleton

DIGITAL SONG OF THE YEAR

“Girl Crush” – Little Big Town

DIGITAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

“Montevallo” – Sam Hunt

TOURING ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Garth Brooks

The AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS is based on country music’s longest-running radio countdown show (43 years), “American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks,” and honors country music’s biggest stars, based on album sales and radio airplay. Finalists and winners for all categories are based on radio airplay charts, sales and streaming data from April 1, 2015 to March 28, 2016 provided by BuzzAngle Music. Touring data is from Pollstar “The Concert Hotwire.” 

The AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS is produced by dick clark productions. Allen Shapiro (CEO, dick clark productions), Mike Mahan (President, dick clark productions), Mark Bracco (Executive Vice President, Programming and Development, dick clark productions), Richard Godfrey and Tom Forrest are executive producers.

About dick clark productions

dick clark productions (dcp) is the world’s largest producer and proprietor of televised live event entertainment programming, with the “Academy of Country Music Awards,” “American Country Countdown Awards,” “American Music Awards,” “Billboard Music Awards,” “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,” “Golden Globe Awards,” “Hollywood Film Awards” and the “Streamy Awards.” Weekly television programming includes SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, from 19 Entertainment, a division of CORE Media Group and dcp. dcp also owns one of the world’s most unique and extensive entertainment archive libraries, with more than 55 years of award-winning shows, historic programs, specials, performances and legendary programming. For additional information, visit www.dickclark.com. 

About Cumulus Media

A leader in the radio broadcasting industry, Cumulus Media (NASDAQ:CMLS) combines high-quality local programming with iconic, nationally syndicated media, sports and entertainment brands to deliver premium content choices to the 245 million people reached each week through its 454 owned-and-operated stations broadcasting in 90 U.S. media markets (including eight of the top 10), more than 8,200 broadcast radio stations affiliated with its Westwood One network and numerous digital channels. Together, the Cumulus/Westwood One platforms make Cumulus Media one of the few media companies that can provide advertisers with national reach and local impact. Cumulus/Westwood One is the exclusive radio broadcast partner to some of the largest brands in sports and entertainment, including the NFL, the NCAA, the Masters, the Olympics, the GRAMMYs, the Country Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards and Miss America. Additionally, it is the nation's leading provider of country music and lifestyle content through its NASH brand, which serves country fans nationwide through radio programming, NASH Country Weekly magazine, concerts, licensed products and television/video.

For more information, visit www.cumulus.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION:

Cheat Tweet:  Congrats to the winners of this year’s #ACCAs! See the full list of @ACCAs winners here: bit.ly/ACCAs16Winners

ARIEL MALONE, A COUNTRY CLUB CHEF FROM HACKENSACK, NJ, NAMED “HELL’S KITCHEN” SEASON 15 WINNER

The 15th season of HELL’S KITCHEN came to an exciting end as host and Head Chef Gordon Ramsay announced Ariel Malone the winner during tonight’s season finale on FOX. Malone, 27, a country club chef from Hackensack, NJ, earned herself a Head Chef position at BLT Steak at Bally’s Las Vegas, a total prize value of $250,000.

“I’m living proof that hard work and believing in yourself can make dreams come true” said Malone. “Winning HELL’S KITCHEN is an unbelievable honor and I’m happy that I get to make a living doing what I love. With this opportunity, I’m excited to create a better life for my present and future family.”

“Throughout the competition, Ariel demonstrated that she was both a leader and a true powerhouse in the kitchen,” said Ramsay. “She exemplified impressive culinary skills, and proved to be creative, ambitious and quick on her feet no matter what was thrown her way. I am thrilled to see her joining the team at BLT Steak at Bally’s Las Vegas.”

In one of the most dramatic seasons to date, Malone proved to be a consistent leader during dinner services. Her strong attention to detail and determined spirit earned her a spot in the finale, during which she went head-to-head with Kristin Barone, a line cook from Chicago. For the final challenge, both skillful contestants created their own menus, and lead a team of their past competitors through the most important dinner service of their lives. Although both contestants executed outstanding dinner services, in the end, it was Malone who was victorious. Her menu items included:

Appetizers:

  • Charred Octopus with Manchego Croquettes, Radish, Red Onion Salad, Chorizo Aioli and Tomato Jam
  • Red Romaine Salad with Candied Walnuts, Dried Cranberries, Picked Herbs, Point Reyes Blue Cheese, Grilled Asparagus, Wild Mushrooms, Basil and White Balsamic Vinaigrette
  • Savory Cheese Cake with Wild Mushrooms Frisée, Truffle Soy Vinaigrette, Black Trumpet Mushrooms and Pickled Radishes
  • Maine Lobster with White and Green Asparagus, Poached Crones, Roasted Romanesco and Lemon Vinaigrette

Entrees:

  • Grilled Hanger Steak with Garlic, Rosemary, Roasted Cipollini Onions, Fingerling Potatoes and Red Wine Sauce
  • Herb Garden Chicken with Carrot Purée, English Peas, Mint and Chicken Jus
  • Pan-Seared Sea Bass with Bacon-Braised Beet Greens, Roasted Red Beets, Shaved Fennel and Beet Salad and Tabasco Lemon Vinaigrette
  • Pan-Roasted Pork Chop with Potato Caramelized Onion Gratin, Roasted Apples, Black Pepper and Coriander Glaze

Desserts:

  • Espresso Panna Cotta with Lemon Zest, Micro Mint and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
  • Pistachio Sponge Cake with Currant Rum Caramel and Rum Raisin Ice Cream

HELL’S KITCHEN is produced by ITV Entertainment in association with A. Smith & Co. Productions. Arthur Smith, Kent Weed and Gordon Ramsay serve as executive producers. “Like” HELL’S KITCHEN on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hellskitchen and follow the series on Twitter at @hellskitchenfox and Gordon Ramsay at @GordonRamsay. Join the discussion using #hellskitchen.

To learn more about FOX NOW, please visit www.foxnow.com.

WHO WILL CLAIM THIS SEASON’S CULINARY CROWN?

Award-winning chefs Gordon Ramsay and Christina Tosi welcome 40 new home cooks into the MASTERCHEF kitchen for Season Seven, premiering Wednesday, June 1 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), on FOX. The contestants will not only have to impress Chefs Ramsay and Tosi, but throughout the season, will compete for the approval of culinary greats and special culinary guest judges, including Wolfgang Puck, Aarón Sánchez, Edward Lee, Kevin Sbraga and Richard Blais. 

Thousands of hopefuls auditioned at MASTERCHEF’s open casting calls in Austin, TX; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Jackson, MS; Las Vegas, NV; Los Angeles, CA;  Louisville, KY; Minneapolis, MN; New York, NY; San Diego, CA; and San Francisco, CA. However, only one talented home cook will join MASTERCHEF winners Claudia Sandoval (Season Six), Courtney Lapresi (Season Five); Luca Manfe (Season Four); Christine Ha (Season Three), the first-ever blind contestant; Jennifer Behm (Season Two); and Whitney Miller (Season One) in the elite group of MASTERCHEF titleholders. 

Representing 15 states across the country, this season’s 40 contestants – including a professional poker player, DJ, web designer, yoga instructor, pool lifeguard, investigator, three firefighters and more – take time away from their busy day jobs in hopes of turning their culinary dreams into reality.

In the season premiere episode, 40 of the best home cooks in America travel to Los Angeles to compete in the MASTERCHEF Battle of the Apron challenge, during which they will attempt the to earn a coveted white apron and move forward to compete for the MASTERCHEF title, a cookbook deal and the $250,000 grand prize. Judging the battle rounds will be Ramsay and Tosi, who will taste for flavor, creativity and presentation. In order to move to the next round of the competition, the home cooks must display culinary skills, as well as an immense passion for food, and be determined to out-cook their rivals.

Once the MASTERCHEF Battle for the Apron concludes, the top home cooks will be put through their paces in a series of challenges designed to test their palates, food knowledge, passion and culinary skills. Later in the season, the hopefuls set out to cook appetizers and entrees for a very special wedding of a previous MASTERCHEF contestant, steak dishes for over 100 veterans and a group of sweet 16-ers. They also will face the infamous MASTERCHEF tag team and restaurant takeover challenges. With each new challenge, the pressure will mount as the home cooks compete for the coveted MASTERCHEF title.

Below are the hometowns, names and professions of the Top 40 Home Cooks who participated in the MASTERCHEF Battle for the Apron:

MASTERCHEF is produced by Endemol Shine North America and One Potato Two Potato, and is based on a format created by Franc Roddam and Endemol Shine. Elisabeth Murdoch, Eden Gaha, Michael Brooks, Robin Ashbrook, Gordon Ramsay, Adeline Ramage Rooney, Patricia Llewellyn and Ben Adler serve as executive producers. “Like” MASTERCHEF on Facebook at facebook.com/MasterChef. Follow the series on Twitter @MASTERCHEFonFOX and join the discussion at #masterchef.

NETFLIX ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY FILM TEAM FOXCATCHER DEBUTS THIS FRIDAY APRIL 29

The incredible true and tragic story of world champion wrestler David Schultz, the centerpiece of a national wrestling training program, comes to life in the riveting new Netflix original documentary feature, Team Foxcatcher. 

The acclaimed film recently had its world premiere during the Tribeca Film Festival, ahead of its global debut on Netflix this Friday, April 29. Screeners and interviews are available now.

From director Jon Greenhalgh, Team Foxcatcher chronicles the paranoid, downward spiral of millionaire John E. DuPont that led to Shultz’s tragic murder on the DuPont property in 1996. This single event shook the international sports world to its core and cut short the life of a loving family man and one of the world’s top athletes. The film was produced by Neil Fazzari. Jeremy Bailer and Ben Hatta served as Executive Producers.

But before the tragedy, the film begins with the rise of Schultz: a remarkable sportsman who emerged as one of the world’s fiercest wrestling competitors.  Chasing his olympic dreams, Schultz and his family relocated to the seemingly idyllic Foxcatcher Farms and joined with DuPont - a benefactor with a vision for making the U.S. wrestling program a dominant global force.

Team Foxcatcher tells the story of descent into tragedy largely through the lens of Nancy Schultz, whose incredible footage chronicled her family’s time at Foxcatcher Farms. Archival home videos and first hand interviews show how the charismatic Schultz, an Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion, became the heart of the program and DuPont’s closest confidant. But on the fringes of this powerful partnership emerged a manic, mentally unstable DuPont, fueled by a disturbing obsession with power, wealth and influence.  The film builds to the tragic final hours at Foxcatcher Farms, the murder of Dave Schultz, and the two-day police standoff before DuPont was ultimately arrested and charged.

“I'm proud to be a part of this film that was six years in the making to honor the incredible legacy of David,” said Nancy Schultz. “With his ties to the wrestling community, we felt Jon Greenhalgh was the perfect filmmaker to tell this story and pay homage to the kind of man and athlete David was.”

On the 20th anniversary of the shocking events, Team Foxcatcher demystifies a story that gripped the nation and opens up a very private, opaque world where friendship, family, and the composition of national sports training programs were not what they appeared to be.  The result is a documentary that fills in new aspects of the story that formed the basis of the 2014 Hollywood feature film.

For more information please visit: media.netflix.com or http://www.tribecafilm.com/filmguide

Exclusive footage reveals the inner workings of the Foxcatcher wrestling facility and founder John du Pont's descent from philanthropist to murderer. Team Foxcatcher only on Netflix April 29.

MEGYN KELLY TO INTERVIEW DONALD TRUMP

  • Interview Will Air During Fox Broadcasting’s “MEGYN KELLY presents,” on Tuesday, May 17
  • Extended Portions of the Interview to Air on FOX News Channel’s “The Kelly File” Beginning Wednesday, May 18

FOX News Channel’s (FNC) Megyn Kelly will conduct her first sit-down interview with Republican presidential candidate and frontrunner Donald Trump since the August 2015 presidential debate. The interview will take place in New York and air on the upcoming Fox Broadcasting (FOX) special, “MEGYN KELLY presents” on Tuesday, May 17 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). Extended portions of the sit-down will air on “The Kelly File” (9:00-10:00 PM/ET) on FNC beginning Wednesday, May 18th.  

For the first time ever, Kelly will explore how events unfolded with Trump after the August debate as one of the most prominent voices covering the 2016 presidential campaign of the frontrunner. She will also examine Trump’s successful campaign for the White House to date and his role in one of the most historic presidential runs in modern times. 

In commenting on the interview, Kelly said, “Mr. Trump and I sat down together for a meeting earlier this month at my request. He was gracious with his time and I asked him to consider an interview. I am happy to announce he has agreed, and I look forward to a fascinating exchange — our first sit-down interview together in nearly a year.” 

In addition to the Trump interview, “MEGYN KELLY presents” will showcase Kelly’s renowned journalism skills in interviewing a wide variety of notable guests (to be announced) from the entertainment world and other spheres of human interest. FOX News Chairman & CEO Roger Ailes is the show’s senior executive producer, while broadcast veteran Bill Geddie serves as the executive producer.

Kelly serves as the anchor of “The Kelly File” (weekdays, 9:00-10:00 PM/ET) on FNC, the second most-watched program in cable news, averaging more than two million viewers. She has landed some of the most coveted guests in the television news business for the nearly three-year-old program, including the Duggar family, Bill Ayers, Charles Koch and Michael Moore.

During the current election cycle, Kelly co-moderated each of the network’s three Republican presidential primary debates, alongside Bret Baier and Chris Wallace. The first debate on August 6, 2015, which involved her exchange with Trump, delivered 24 million viewers, making it the highest-rated non-sports cable telecast of all time.

For more details, please visit www.fox.com.

FOX GIVES SERIES ORDERS TO NEW DRAMAS “24: LEGACY” AND “STAR” FOR THE UPCOMING 2016-2017 SEASON

Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) has given series orders to new dramas 24: LEGACY and STAR. Both series are scheduled to premiere in the upcoming 2016-2017 season.

24: LEGACY is the next chapter in the groundbreaking and award-winning action series from Emmy Award-winning executive producer Howard Gordon (“Homeland,” “24: Live Another Day”), Academy Award- and Emmy Award-winning executive producer Brian Grazer (“A Beautiful Mind,” “24”), writers and executive producers Manny Coto and Evan Katz (“24,” “24: Live Another Day”), director and executive producer Stephen Hopkins (“24”) and executive producer and original series star Kiefer Sutherland. STAR is a music-infused drama from Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee Lee Daniels (EMPIRE) and Tom Donaghy (“The Whole Truth”).

Starring Corey Hawkins (“Straight Outta Compton”), Miranda Otto (“Homeland”) and Jimmy Smits (“Sons of Anarchy”), 24: LEGACY chronicles an adrenaline-fueled race against the clock to stop a devastating terrorist attack on United States soil – in the same real-time format that has propelled this genre-defining series.

In STAR, three talented singers navigate the cut-throat music business on their road to success. Featuring three newcomers (Jude Demorest, Ryan Destiny and Brittany O’Grady) as the young singers, plus Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award, Grammy Award and Golden Globe Award winner Queen Latifah (“Bessie,” “Bringing Down The House”) and Emmy Award nominee Benjamin Bratt (“24: Live Another Day,” “Law & Order”), the series will feature original music, along with stunning musical fantasy sequences, as the girls dream of their future. The series will also feature guest star Lenny Kravitz (“Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” “The Hunger Games”).

24: LEGACY is a production of 20th Century Fox Television and Imagine Television in association with Teakwood Lane Productions. Howard Gordon, Brian Grazer, Manny Coto, Evan Katz and Kiefer Sutherland are executive producers. Coto and Katz wrote the pilot script, which was directed by Stephen Hopkins, who will also serve as executive producer on the pilot and series. The original series was created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran.

STAR is produced by 20th Century Fox Television. Lee Daniels (EMPIRE), Tom Donaghy (“The Whole Truth”), Pamela Oas Williams and Effie Brown serve as executive producers. Daniels and Donaghy wrote the pilot script, which was directed by Daniels.

COMEDY CENTRAL® TO FILM PETE DAVIDSON’S FIRST ONE-HOUR STAND-UP SPECIAL "PETE DAVIDSON: SMD" on April 30, to Premiere Fall 2016 on Comedy Central

One of stand-up comedy’s brightest rising stars, Pete Davidson is set to film his first one-hour stand-up special during two sold-out shows at the Skirball Center in New York City on Saturday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. ET. “Pete Davidson: SMD” is scheduled to premiere fall 2016 on Comedy Central.

At 21, Davidson is the youngest member of the current “Saturday Night Live cast,” as well as the first SNL cast member to be born in the 1990’s. Davidson was named by Variety as one of their “Top 10 Comics to Watch for 2014,” and made headlines as one of the featured Roasters on the “Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber” in 2015.

Davidson’s TV credits include Comedy Central’s “Adam Devine’s House Party” and “Comedy Underground with Dave Attell” and MTV’s “Guy Code” and “Wild ‘n Out,” along with a cameo in the box office hit “Trainwreck.”

The special is executive produced by Davidson, Tim Sarkes, and Joel Gallen, who will direct. Broadway Video will serve as consulting producers. Anne Harris and Miro Terrell are the Executives in Charge of Production for Comedy Central.

COMEDY CENTRAL’S "THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH" SET FOR A TWO-WEEK ROAD TRIP TO COVER THE 2016 REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTIONS

“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” is primed and ready to hit the road to cover the 2016 Republican and Democratic National Conventions, producing a special week of shows in each city. “The Daily Show’s” coverage of the 2016 RNC will be telecast from The Breen Center for the Performing Arts in Cleveland from Tuesday, July 19 through Friday, July 22 with coverage of the 2016 DNC telecast from the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia from Tuesday, July 26 through Friday, July 29. The two-week special convention coverage is scheduled to premiere nightly at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT on Comedy Central.

“As someone who knows almost nothing about how American politics works, I look forward to spending two weeks with people just like me,” said Trevor Noah.

Tickets for the tapings are free and only available through dedicated “Daily Show” convention ticket websites and not through the host venues. Tapings in Cleveland will take place from July 19-22 at The Breen Center for the Performing Arts located at 2008 West 30th Street and can be requested via dailyshow.com/RNCtickets. Tapings in Philadelphia will take place from July 26-29 at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania which is located at 3680 Walnut Street and can be requested viadailyshow.com/DNCtickets.

This marks the 5th time the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning series has gone on the road to cover the National Conventions and the 12th time the series has taken its critically-acclaimed election coverage on the road for a special week of episodes, having previously travelled to Philadelphia (2000 RNC), Los Angeles (2000 DNC), Boston (2004 DNC), Denver (2008 DNC), Minneapolis (2008 RNC), Tampa (2012 RNC) and Charlotte (2012 DNC) and to Washington, D.C. (2002), Columbus, OH (2006), Washington, D.C. (2010) and Austin, TX (2014) for special midterm election coverage.

“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” airs Mondays-Thursdays at 11:00 p.m. on Comedy Central and is available to stream the following day on thedailyshow.com and the Comedy Central App. Viewers can follow “The Daily Show” on Twitter (4.1 million followers), Instagram (309K followers) and Snapchat and by becoming a fan of “The Daily Show” on Facebook (5.3 million fans). Fans can follow Trevor Noah on Twitter (3.2 million followers), Facebook (3.0 million fans) and Instagram (803K followers).

“The Daily Show” is a 23-time Emmy® Award-winner (including a record ten consecutive wins for program) with a grand total of 60 Primetime Emmy® nominations. The series is also a two-time winner of the prestigious Peabody® Award for Excellence in Broadcasting.

Trevor Noah, Steve Bodow, Jen Flanz, Tim Greenberg, Jill Katz and Adam Lowitt are the Executive Producers of “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” with Ian Berger, Pam DePace, Justin Melkmann, Elise Terrell and Baratunde Thurston as Supervising Producers. Zhubin Parang is the Head Writer with Daniel Radosh as Senior Writer. The series is directed by Chuck O’Neil.

The University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Center has been the region’s leading multi-disciplinary performance venue for theatre, dance, jazz, world music, new music and children’s programming since its inception in 1971. The Annenberg Center’s curatorial vision emphasizes four primary values: artistic integrity, cultural diversity, curatorial balance and a willingness to take risks. By presenting world-renowned and cutting edge artists and companies that express adventuresome perspectives on contemporary issues, timeless ideas and diverse cultures, the Annenberg Center promotes critical thinking and dialogue among its audiences, creating a uniquely rewarding arts experience. The Annenberg Center has achieved national recognition for its outstanding Dance Celebration series (previously presented in partnership with Philadelphia’s Dance Affiliates), touring theatre series, and for its superior offerings for children, including both its Arts4Youth Series and the acclaimed 30 plus year Philadelphia International Children’s Festival, the oldest festival of its kind in the United States.

Available on-air, online and on-the-go, on Comedy Central (www.cc.com).

THE YEAR OF AMY SCHUMER CONTINUES WITH THE RETURN OF COMEDY CENTRAL’S® HIT SERIES “INSIDE AMY SCHUMER” ON THURSDAY, APRIL 21

  • Guest Stars Include Jake Gyllenhaal, Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Laura Linney, Lenah Dunham, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Hudson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Josh Charles, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Harvey Keitel and Patton Oswalt
  • Users Can Visit cc.com/Amy for Episode Highlights and a Digital Series Set in the “Inside Amy Schumer” Writers’ Room
  • Digital Box Set “Inside Amy Schumer Seasons 1-3 Uncensored” Now Available on iTunes, Microsoft Movies and TV and Vudu

The Emmy® and Peabody® Award-winning hit comedy show “Inside Amy Schumer” returns with a bang, continuing to push the limits of comedy. Schumer skewers everything from gender politics to human behavior in another season of sketch, stand-up comedy, and interviews. Nine new episodes begin on Thursday, April 21 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT as the series continues to explore topics revolving around sex and relationships, and delves into how you can never be too exposed.

In season four, Schumer meets a bad boy chef, gives birth at a tea party, and is elected president of the United States. This season also features a stellar lineup of guest appearances including Selena Gomez, Jake Gyllenhaal, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Liam Neeson, Harvey Keitel, Laura Linney, Jennifer Hudson, Lena Dunham, Julianne Moore, Josh Charles, Steve Buscemi, Michael Strahan, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Sam Rockwell, Amber Rose, Irina Shayk, David Spade, Julia Stiles, Patton Oswalt, Justin Long, Natasha Lyonne, Andy Cohen, Questlove, Mena Suvari, Jim Norton, Michael Ian Black, Anthony Bourdain, Chris Parnell, Amber Tamblyn, Rachel Dratch, Abby Elliott, Jessica Williams, Bridget Everett, Jon Glaser, Perez Hilton, Missi Pyle, Ralphie May, Tim Meadows, Jon Benjamin, Reg E. Cathey, Sarah Chalke, Jemaine Clement, Vernon Davis, Greg Olsen and F. Murray Abraham.

Amy Schumer has proven herself one of the entertainment industry’s leading forces as a stand-up comedian, actress, writer, producer and director. Her critically acclaimed series was given the 2016 Writers Guild Award for “Best Comedy/Variety Sketch” series. Last fall the show was honored with its first-ever Emmy® Award for “Outstanding Sketch Variety Series” and one for “Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics” for the song “Girl You Don’t Need Makeup.” Schumer was also nominated for “Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series” and “Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series.”  She also received honors for “Individual Achievement in Comedy” and “Outstanding Achievement in Comedy” from the Television Critics Association in 2015.  Additionally, she was awarded the 2015 Critics’ Choice Television Award for “Best Actress in a Comedy Series.” “Inside Amy Schumer” received the prestigious Peabody® Award in 2014.

Throughout the new season, fans can watch exclusive, uncensored highlight clips, as well as get an extended look at the series via the “Inside Amy Schumer” Web site at cc.com/amy. In addition, the “Inside Amy Schumer” Facebook page(facebook.com/InsideAmySchumer) will be updated multiple times a week with the latest content from the show including memes and gifs. Additionally, a new digital series will give viewers a look “behind the curtain” at the writers’ room to see the hilarious inner workings on the show. Fans can also follow Amy on Twitter (@amyschumer) and Instagram (instagram.com/amyschumer).

On April 21, episodes from season four of “Inside Amy Schumer” will also be made available on the Comedy Central App and cc.com.  The first episode of the season will be available with no login required.  Seasons 1-3 will be available (login required) on the Comedy Central App and cc.com in the two weeks leading up to the season four premiere on April 21. Episodes will be available for download day after air on iTunes, Amazon Video, Microsoft Movies and TV, Sony Entertainment Network, Vudu, Verizon Flexview, and Google Play. And in advance of the new season, a digital box set “Inside Amy Schumer Seasons 1-3 Uncensored” will be released on March 21 on iTunes, Microsoft Movies and TV and Vudu.

For more information, please visit Comedy Central (www.cc.com)

“TIME TRAVELING BONG” FROM “BROAD CITY’S” ILANA GLAZER, PAUL W. DOWNS AND LUCIA ANIELLO DEBUTS ON COMEDY CENTRAL ON 4/20 AT 10:30 P.M. ET/PT FOLLOWING THE SEASON THREE FINALE OF “BROAD CITY”

  • The 4/20 Special Will Air Over Three Consecutive Nights April 20, 21, 22 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT Parts One and Two Will Re-air on Friday, April 22 Starting at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT Leading Into the Premiere of Part 3 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT
  • “Time Traveling Bong” Stars Glazer and Downs and is Directed by Aniello, And Written and Executive Produced by Glazer, Downs and Aniello

Go on the trip of a lifetime with the premiere of the three-part mini-series “Time Traveling Bong.” The limited series from the minds of “Broad City‘s” Ilana Glazer, Paul W. Downs and Lucia Aniello will debut on 4/20 (of course) at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT following the season three finale of “Broad City” on Comedy Central. As part of a special, three-night event, “Time Traveling Bong” will roll out over three consecutive nights, April 20, 21, 22 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. Parts one and two will also re-air on Friday, April 22 starting at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT leading into the premiere of part 3 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. The series centers on cousins played by Glazer and Downs who discover that their bong has the ability to transport them through space and time.

In “Time Traveling Bong” Glazer and Downs play Sharee and Jeff, two mediocre, suburban cousins who live together in a condo left to them by their grandmother in New Jersey. Their mundane lives take a twisted turn when they find a bong that also serves as a time machine, which transports them to Salem, Massachusetts in the height of the witch trial era, the racially segregated South in the 1960s, ancient Greece and even the dystopian future, among other times and places. Their buzz is killed when the bong breaks and they are forced to bounce around the space time continuum, learning to appreciate that there’s no time like the present.

For additional content, fans can check out “After the Smoke Clears,” a digital only-series that revisits the characters Sharee and Jeff meet throughout their time travels and whose lives they have irrevocably altered, for better or worse. And for an in-depth look at the production of the show, fans can watch “Behind the Bong,” a behind-the-scenes digital-only series that shows how the cast and crew recreated Ancient Greece, small town America in the 1960s, Salem in the 1690s, and the not-too-distant-future and features interviews with Glazer and Downs. “After the Smoke Clears” and “Behind the Bong” will be available on cc.com/timetravelingbongand the Comedy Central App on 4/20. Highlights and footage from “Time Traveling Bong” will also be found during the season on the Comedy Central channel on Snapchat Discover.

“Time Traveling Bong” is executive produced and written by Glazer, Downs and Aniello, who also directed the series, and executive produced by Dave Becky of 3 Arts Entertainment and Sam Reich. Sarah Babineau and Samantha Schles are the Executives in Charge of Production for Comedy Central.

All three-parts of “Time Traveling Bong” will be available on the Comedy Central app and oncc.com on 4/20. The Comedy Central App is available for free for iOS on the App Store, for Android on the Google Play store, and on Chromecast and Xbox One. Each part of the mini-series will be available to download-to-own day after air on iTunes, Amazon Video, Microsoft Movies and TV, Verizon Multi-Screen, Vudu and Google Play.

Glazer is a Critics Choice Award nominated actress, comedian and writer based in New York City. Along with Abbi Jacobson, she is a creator, writer, executive producer and star of the original ECNY’s (Emerging Comic New York) nominated web series “Broad City;” Glazer also received an individual nomination for her stand-up that same year. In 2014 the cultural phenomena that is now “Broad City” debuted on Comedy Central to rave reviews and continues to receive critical acclaim. Now in its third season on Comedy Central and already pick-up for seasons four and five, “Broad City” was recently nominated by the Writers Guild of America for “Best Comedy Series.” For Glazer’s work on the series in 2014, she received a Critics Choice Television Award nomination.

Glazer has been a writer and actress in various indie projects, and is regularly featured in video content for ESPN, Asylum, VH1, and MTV. Her ECNY nominated live show “High School Talent Show” (which she co-created with her brother Eliot Glazer) ran at Upright Citizens Brigade Theater NY for over three years and had such guest stars including Zach Galifianakis. Glazer is a graduate of New York University, has trained at Upright Citizens Brigade NY and is originally from Long Island. Glazer was also recently seen in the film “The Night Before” opposite Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Downs is a comedian, writer and actor who plays Trey Pucker, Abbi’s boss on “Broad City.” Behind the camera, he serves as a writer and co-executive producer of the show. Downs can also be seen in his half hour comedy special on Netflix as part of its new series “The Characters” and in the upcoming indie feature “Ghost Team.” Aniello is a co-executive producer of Comedy Central’s “Broad City” for which she also writes and directs. Together Downs and Aniello are the comedy team Pauliu. They were recently hired to write a female spin-off of “21 Jump Street” and are currently in pre-production on an original motion picture feature for Sony titled “Move That Body,” which they co-wrote, with Aniello directing and Downs to co-star.

Available on-air, online and on-the-go, on Comedy Central (www.cc.com)

“THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH” TAPS COMEDIAN MICHELLE WOLF AS NEWEST CONTRIBUTOR AND WRITER ON COMEDY CENTRAL’S® LATE NIGHT FRANCHISE

“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” adds Michelle Wolf as an on-air contributor and writer, it was announced today by Trevor Noah, Executive Producer, Writer and Host of the program. Wolf is the latest contributor to join “The Daily Show’s” “The Best F#@ing News Team.”

Wolf (@michelleisawolf) is a New York-based writer and stand-up comedian who most recently worked as a writing supervisor on “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” where she also made her late-night television debut as a comic in July 2014. Wolf appeared regularly on “Late Night” in various bits and as the popular reoccurring character she created, “Grown-Up Annie.” She has also made numerous appearances on Comedy Central’s “@midnight.” Additionally, Wolf created and starred in two Comedy Central digital series, “Used People” and “Now Hiring.” She was named to Vulture’s list of “50 Comedians You Should Know in 2015; Time Out New York listed her as one of “The Top 10 Funniest Women in NYC;” Complex Magazine put Wolf on their list of “50 Funniest Comedians on Twitter;” and she was selected as one of the “New Faces of Comedy” for the 2014 Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal.

Wolf headlines comedy clubs and colleges all over the United States. She has performed at the Riot LA Comedy Festival and as part of the San Francisco Sketchfest Dozen. This past summer Wolf continued the festival circuit with performances at Moontower, Bonnaroo and the Dublin Comedy Festival.

“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 11:00 p.m. on Comedy Central and is available to stream the following day on thedailyshow.com and the Comedy Central App. Viewers can follow “The Daily Show” on Twitter (4.1 million followers), Instagram(299K followers) and Snapchat and by becoming a fan of “The Daily Show” on Facebook (5.3 million fans). Fans can follow Trevor Noah on Twitter (3.2 million followers), Facebook (2.9 million fans) and Instagram (782K followers).

“The Daily Show” is a 23-time Emmy® Award-winner (including a record ten consecutive wins for program) with a grand total of 60 Primetime Emmy® nominations. The series is also a two-time winner of the prestigious Peabody® Award for Excellence in Broadcasting.

Trevor Noah, Steve Bodow, Jen Flanz, Tim Greenberg, Jill Katz and Adam Lowitt are the Executive Producers of “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” with Ian Berger, Pam DePace, Justin Melkmann, Elise Terrell and Baratunde Thurston as Supervising Producers. Zhubin Parang is the Head Writer with Daniel Radosh as Senior Writer. The series is directed by Chuck O’Neil.

Available on-air, online and on-the-go, on Comedy Central (www.cc.com)