In Development
Park Row. Gail Berman, the ex-entertainment president of FOX is developing a new drama for the network set in the newspaper world of 1890s New York when sensational and exaggerated “yellow journalism” reigned supreme. Based on actual events and moving “from Gilded Age palaces and yachts to filthy streets and dark alleys”, it pits Joseph Pulitzer vs. William Randolph Hearst. (THR)
Jekyll & Hyde. ITV’s 10-part action adventure has cast Tom Bateman (Da Vinci’s Demons) as the title character while Richard E. Grant (How to Get Ahead in Advertising, Girls) will play the head of a secret government department and Natalie Gumede (Coronation Street) will play the woman who comes between them. The show starts production in February, and it’ll probably come to the US eventually. (Deadline)
Continuing Series
The Simpsons. Lena Dunham will provide a voice in the series’ season 27 premiere “Every Man’s Dream” in which Homer is diagnosed as a narcoleptic. Instead of getting his medication, he buys booze and comes home drunk. He and Marge decide on a trial separation during a visit to a marriage counselor and Homer begins dating Candace, a 20-something voiced by Dunham. (EW)
Jane the Virgin. Spanish pop star David Brisbal will appear as himself on the hit CW show in an upcoming episode. Jane returns January 19. (TVLine)
Returning Shows
The Golden Globes. The list of presenters grows: Jack Black, Benedict Cumberbatch, David Duchovny, Colin Farrell, Katie Holmes, Jared Leto, Melissa McCarthy, Sienna Miller, Clive Owen, Paul Rudd, Naomi Watts and Oprah Winfrey. (TVByTheNumbers)
New Shows
The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore. Steven Colbert’s Comedy Central replacement has announced a few of the correspondents who will be helping him making us laugh: Bollywood actress Shenaz Treasury (MTV Asia) and stand-ups Ricky Velez (one of Comedy Central’s Comics to Watch) and Mike Yard (Def Comedy Jam). (EW)
The Lizzie Borden Chronicles. Lifetime is increasing the length of its fictionalized limited series (continuing from its original movie Lizzie Borden Took an Ax) from six episodes to eight. Christina Ricci (Monster, The Ice Storm) and Chlea DuVall (Argo) return as Lizzie and her sister Emma. The mini premieres in April 2015. (TVByTheNumbers)
Invisible Sister and Further Adventures in Babysitting. Disney has greenlit a couple of TV movies and cast the with a few of their stars: Sabrina Carpenter (Girl Meets World), Rowan Blanchard (Girl Meets World), Paris Berelc (Mighty Med) and Sofia Carson (Descendant). Carpenter and Carson will star in the spinoff of the 1987 Elizabeth Shue flick Adventures in Babysitting while Blanchard and Berelc will headline Invisible Sister. (TVByTheNumbers)
Specials
Key & Peele Super Bowl Special. Comedy Central is teaming up with the NFL for this one-hour sketch-comedy from Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele. According to the press release, “The special will feature Key and Peele anchoring the ultimate Super Bowl comedy event, using the ubiquitous sports news-desk format to celebrate professional football, its most beloved personalities and the grandest day on its calendar: Super Bowl Sunday… the special will include sketch-comedy vignettes featuring to-be-announced NFL players and a possible Super Bowl edition of the popular ‘East-West Bowl’ sketch from Key & Peele. The special will air two days before the big game on Friday, June 30th. (TVByTheNumbers)