TV News Wrap-Up: ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Gets Final Season Premiere Date, Annie Ilonzeh Departing ‘Chicago Fire,’ HBO Max Orders ‘The Shining’ Offshoot, and More
How long has it been? A solid month? And what an interesting month it’s been in the television landscape.
Shows have started to air their unplanned finales and that is bringing up questions about where the shows plan to go in their new seasons.
On the bright side, there are still networks and streamers debuting new content and acquiring more shows.
Take a look at some of the highlights in TV news this week below.
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The trailer for HBO’s Perry Mason remake has dropped. The miniseries, based on the characters created by author Erle Stanley Gardner, will star Matthew Rhys (The Americans) as a private detective living paycheck to paycheck as a low-rent private investigator in 1931 Los Angeles. Check out the trailer below. The miniseries premieres Sunday, June 21 at 9/8c on HBO.
Freeform has canceled the Party of Five reboot after one season. TV Line reports that the immigration-themed reboot debuted at 442,000 viewers and then steadily declined over the first season run. The finale drew in 143,000 total viewers and a 0.05 demo rating.
HBO Max has ordered The Shining offshoot, Overlook, to series. According to TV Line, the horror-thriller series from J.J. Abrams Bad Robot will reopen the doors of the Overlook Hotel. The official description of the series says, Overlook “explores the untold, terrifying stories of the most famous haunted hotel in American fiction.” TV Line also reported that HBO Max has ordered a series from J.J. Abrams based on the Justice League Dark series.
9-1-1 and 9-1-1: Lone Star have been renewed by Fox. The announcement was made by Michael Thorn, President of Fox Entertainment. 9-1-1 will now go. into its fourth season and 9-1-1: Lone Star will receive a second season. Read more about the renewals right here.
CBS has canceled God Friended Me after two seasons. The decision was apparently made early enough to allow the creators enough time to craft a proper ending for the series. The series about an atheist who receives a friend request from a God Account will come to an end with a two-hour final on Sunday, April 26th at 8/7c. Deadline reports, “While never a strong demo draw, the supernaturally themed God Friended Me had attracted sizable audiences. It was a breakout, ranking as one of the top three most-watched new series last season with 10 million viewers and improving its Sunday time period significantly to earn a Season 2 renewal.”
Lucifer Season 6 is in jeopardy after an apparent contract dispute. Series headliner Tom Ellis has apparently rejected the studio’s latest offer. According to TV Line, sources said that Warner Bros, TV execs have apparently gone back and “sweetened the pot” multiple times but a limit has been reached. Reps for all parties have declined to comment further.
NBC’s streaming service Peacock has released trailers for several of their original series including the new Saved By The Bell. Take a look at this twitter thread to see the trailers for the reboots of Saved By The Bell, Punky Brewster, Psych 2, Brave New World, and A.P. Bio.
Time out! Who's psyched to see the first #SavedByTheBell teaser!? Check out this flock of first looks from #PeacockTV originals streaming soon. Threaded for your viewing pleasure! pic.twitter.com/XdIZ7BN9tV
— Peacock (@peacockTV) April 16, 2020
Annie Ilonzeh won’t be returning to Chicago Fire Season 9. TV Line reports that the actress won’t return to the Dick Wolf drama for the upcoming ninth season. The scene was set for her departure in the makeshift season finale when it was revealed that Emily wanted to go back to med school and had even applied at Northwestern. The last episode did not provide a clear answer to whether or not Emily had been accepted into Northwestern, and it is unclear if she Ilonzeh will return to reprise her role and wrap up Emily’s storyline.
ABC has set a premiere date for the final season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The Marvel universe series will debut its final season on Wednesday, May 27th at 10/9c. The final season wrapped last July, weeks after it was formally announced the series would be ending. TV Line reports that knowing the series will end in advance gave the creators time to create an ending that would satisfy fans.
CHLOE BENNET, CLARK GREGG, MING-NA WEN
And speaking of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D‘s farewell run, they’ll also be getting a visit from someone on Agent Carter. TV Line reports that Enver Gjokaj, who played Strategic Scientific Reserve (SSR) Agent Daniel Sousa on Agent Carter, will make an appearance during the farewell run of the Marvel series.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt will be returning to Netflix with an interactive special. TV Line reports that the special entitled Kimmy vs. The Reverend will be available for fans to watch and control on May 12th. Viewers will guide Kimmy in a choose-your-own-adventure style format across three states with explosions and more as she tries to get to her wedding on time.
Empire may get a proper series finale after all. According to TV Line, co-creators, Lee Daniels and Danny Strong expressed hope on Tuesday, prior to the penultimate episode airing that there would be a light at the end of the tunnel at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel and the series might get a proper finale. Daniels said, “I think there’s more to do with these characters, and I’m heartbroken we aren’t getting to shoot the finale we wanted — at least not yet.”
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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.