TV News Wrap-Up: ‘Katy Keene’ and ‘Nancy Drew’ Ordered to Series, ‘The Rook’ Gets June Premiere Date, College Admissions Scandal Series in the Works
It’s a jungle out there this week. Just the last twenty-four hours alone have brought us fourteen cancellations and several renewals. We also go word of several new series pick-ups and casting news.
Since there have been so many cancellations and renewals recently, they have their own roundup this week. You can check it out in our cancellation and renewal wrap-up here.
But this certainly won’t be the last of the renewal and cancellation bloodbath. Take a look at the new summer TV premieres, casting announcements, and series orders.
Teases and Premieres
Beverly Hills, 90210 revival has a premiere date and an official promo. The six-episode event series stars Jason Priestley, Jennie Garth, Ian Ziering, Gabrielle Carteris, Brian Austin Green, Tori Spelling as heightened versions of themselves trying to get a 90210 revival on the air. The event series will premiere August 7th at 9/8c on Fox.
The Rook sets June premiere date on Starz. The series is based on Daniel O’Malley’s 2012 novel of the same name and stars Emma Greenwell (Shameless) as Myfanwy Thomas, who wakes up in the rain beside London’s Millenium Bridge with no memory of who she is and no way to explain the circle of dead bodies around her, until she discovers that she is a high-ranking official in Checquy, a secret organization for people with paranormal abilities. Thomas then has navigated the secret world to uncover who wiped her memory. The Rook premieres Sunday, June 30 at 8/7c.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWOKuq9MhmQ
Pilot Pick-Ups and Passes
Kenan Thompson’s new comedy has received a series order at NBC. According to TV Line the comedy entitled The Kenan Show, follow’s Thompson as a single father of two adorable girls as he tries to balance his job and relationship with his father-in-law. Oscar nominee Andy Garcia will play the aforementioned father-in-law who tries to “help” in inappropriate ways. The series will also star newcomers Dani and Dannah Lockett who will play Thompson’s young daughters.
Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist has scored a series order at NBC. The series stars Jane Levy as Zoey Clarke, a whip-smart computer coder who is forging her way in San Francisco. TV line reports, “Following an unusual event, Zoey starts to hear the innermost wants and desires of the people around her… through songs. At first, Zoey questions her own sanity, but soon realizes this unwanted curse may just be an incredibly wonderful gift.”
Katy Keene and Nancy Drew have both landed series orders at The CW. TV Line reports Katy Keene is a Riverdale spinoff that takes place sometime after the events of the series, while the Nancy Drew update takes place the summer after the teen sleuth graduates from high school. The CW also ordered Arrowverse offshoot Batwoman to series this week.
Jane the Novella will not be moving forward at The CW after all. According to TV Line, The CW has passed on the Jane the Virgin spin-off which would have been based on the novels of Jane Gloriana Villanueva with Gina Rodriguez serving as narrator. Each season would have been based on a different book with the first season set in a Napa Valley vineyard where family secrets don’t stay buried. The series was supposed to set to star Marcia Cross, Hunter Parrish, and Ivonne Coll, playing a different role than Jane’s grandmother, Alba.
The college admissions scandal will be turned into a scripted series. Variety reports that a limited series is in development at Annapurna TV based off the book Accepted by Melissa Korn and Jennifer Levitz.
A private-eye series starring Cobie Smulders’ has been ordered to series by ABC. The private-eye drama is based on the Stumptown Graphic novel and stars Smulders as a whip-smart army veteran with a complicated personal history and only herself to rely on. The series was created by Jason Richman, who also serves as executive producer.
Casting News
Grey’s Anatomy has promoted three actors to series regulars ahead of Season 16. Chris Carmack, Jake Borelli and Greg Germann will officially become series regulars at Grey-Sloan Memorial. Germann and Borelli joined the series last year as Dr. Thomas Koracick and Levi Schmitt, Carmack who plays Dr. Atticus Lincoln joined the series early in Season 15. Showrunner Krista Vernoff said in a statement, “Chris, Jake, and Greg have been recurring for us as guest stars and have popped as fan favorites. We are excited to continue revealing their characters and we are beyond thrilled to welcome them to the Grey’s Anatomy family.
GIACOMO GIANNIOTTI, CHRIS CARMACK
Erin McCormack has been cast on a recurring role in Atypical Season 3. The Netflix dramedy follows Sam Gardner, an 18-year-old on the autism spectrum who is searching for love and independence. According to a TV Line, McCormack will play Professor Shinerock who loves to challenge and inspire his students. He’ll join Sara Gilbert, previously cast in a recurring role as Professor Judd, a professor of Ethics.
Scott Wolf will be replacing Freddie Prinze Jr. as Nancy Drew’s dad. The Hollywood Reporter, who broke the story, says, “Sources say producers wanted to go on a different direction and the split was amicable. Recastings are increasingly common this time of year as networks review audience testing and refine casts based on those results and newly available talent whose pilots did not go to series.”
Hilary Swank has been cast in Jason Katims’ Netflix astronaut drama Away. According to TV Line, “The series focuses on Emma Green (Swank), an American astronaut with a husband and teen daughter. Emma is the commander of an international space crew that undertakes a very dangerous mission.”
Ashleigh Murray will exit Riverdale following Katy Keene series order. Murray has played Josie McCoy on all three seasons of Riverdale, but the pickup of Katy Keene means that it’s time for Josie to grow up. According to TV Line, Murray will continue to play Josie, but several years in the future, but will leave her series regular role to do so.
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What is your favorite bit of TV news this week? Share the series you’re most excited for or the most devestating cancellation in the comments below.
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Lauren Busser
Lauren Busser is an Associate Editor at Tell-Tale TV. She is a writer of fiction and nonfiction whose work has appeared in Bitch Media, Popshot Quarterly, Brain Mill Press Voices, and The Hartford Courant.