TV News Wrap-Up: ‘Virgin River’ Renewed for Season 3, ‘Lizzie McGuire’ Reboot Not Moving Forward, ‘All American’ Spinoff Eyed By The CW

There are only a few weeks left in 2020, and finally, some good things are starting to happen where TV is concerned.  While the last several months have been riddled with cancellations and projects that are no longer moving forward, this week has given us a lot to look forward to.

There are some surprise second seasons in the works and a few casting announcements that have left us excited for future seasons. 

However, it is not without some disappointment as well with two series not moving forward. 

Take a look at some of the highlights from this past week with our TV news wrap-up. 

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HBO Max renews The Flight Attendant for Season 2.

• The renewal comes a day after the Season 1 finale, The Flight Attendant Season 1 Episode 8, “Arrivals and Departures,” aired on HBO Max. 
• According to Deadline, The Flight Attendant was supposed to be a limited series, but executive producer Steve Yockey knew there were more strings he could pull upon. 
• The new series ranked #1 on the new streamer since its debut and saw week-to-week growth over its run.
• The series stars Kaley Cuoco, Michiel Huisman, Rosie Perez, Zosia Mamet, Michelle Gomez, T.R. Knight, Colin Woodell, Merle Dandridge, Griffin Matthews, and Nolan Gerard Funk

ABC is eyeing an L.A. Law sequel featuring Blair Underwood.

• According to Deadline, the new series will be written and produced by Arrow and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow co-creator/executive producer Marc Guggenheim and Arrow/Legends writer Ubah Mohamed. The sequel will also be directed and executive produced by Emmy winner Anthony Hemingway.
• The sequel will focus on, “the venerable law firm of McKenzie Brackman reinvents itself as a litigation firm specializing in only the most high-profile, boundary-pushing and incendiary cases. Underwood reprises his role as Rollins, who has gone from idealistic to more conservative as he clashes with millennial JJ Freeman to decide the best path forward for the firm to effect political and legal change.”
• The original series ran for eight seasons from 1986 to 1994 and dealt with many hot-button issues including capital punishment, abortion, racism, homophobia, sexual harassment, HIV/AIDS, and domestic violence. 
• Underwood joined the series in the second season and stayed through the series run, earning a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Rollins.
• L.A. Law has an impressive history including 15 Emmy wins. Four of which were for Outstanding Drama Series.

An All American spinoff is being eyed at The CW.

• The potential spinoff series is slated to be introduced during a regular episode of the upcoming third season. 
• TVLine reports that the series will be set at a historically Black university and follow Geffri Maya‘s college-bound Simone Hicks.
• Reps for The CW and Warner Bros. Television declined to comment. 

A Superstore spinoff following Bo and Cheyenne is in the works at NBC.

• TV Line reports that the series which will star Nichole Sakura and Johnny Pemberton is in early development. 
• It will follow the pair as they “balance their big dreams with the harsh realities of being a blue-collar family in America.”
• Word of the spinoff came two weeks after NBC announced the series would end next year. 

Netflix renews Virgin River for Season 3 and adds two to the cast.

• The new season will consist of ten episodes.
• Deadline also reports that Zibby Allen will join the cast as a new series regular, and Stacey Farber has been tapped for a recurring role. 
• Allen has been cast as Brie, “Jack’s (Martin Henderson) sister. Brie is a lawyer who is smart, hard-charging, ballsy, and a whole lot of fun.”
• Meanwhile, Farber has been cast as Tara Anderson, “Lilly’s (Linda Boyd) daughter, who we finally meet this season since she is helping her with Baby Chloe while her three other siblings are living away from home.”

There could be a new version of Little House on the Prairie on the way.

• Deadline reports the one-hour drama series adaptation is the work of Anonymous Content, Paramount Television Studios, and Friendly Family Productions.
• The original series, based on the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder aired on NBC for nine seasons between 1974 and 1982 and starred Michael Landon, Melissa Gilbert, Karen Grassle, and Melissa Sue Anderson.
• The series then aired with the new title Little House: A New Beginning from 1982-83 television season, following the exit of Landon and Grassle.
• NBC’s streaming service, Peacock, announced earlier this week that all nine seasons of the original series would be available on the platform.
• Blanche Hanalis has been recruited to write the teleplay for a two-hour pilot.
• Friendly Family Productions asked Landon to direct the pilot and he agreed on the condition that he could also play the lead character, Charles Ingalls.

Locke & Key renewed for Season 3 ahead of the Season 2 premiere. 

• According to TVLine, production on the second season is scheduled to wrap in December with eyes on a 2021 premiere date. 
• Production on the recently greenlit third season will begin in the new year as well.
• “We have some incredible adventures in store for the Locke family in Season 3 and could not be more excited to continue telling our story with our great partners at Netflix,” said Brian Wright in a statement obtained by TVLine. 
• Locke and Key premiered with its first season on February 7th with a renewal for Season 2 coming in March. 

HBO Max series Peacemaker adds four to cast.

• According to Deadline, the cast list has grown to include one regular and three recurring cast members. 
• Chukwudi Iwuji will play Clemson Murn, a regular role. 
• Recurring characters include Lochlyn Munro as Larry Fitzgibbon, Annie Chang as Detective Sophie Song, and Christopher Heyerdahl as Captain Locke.
• They join the previously announced cast members John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Chris Conrad, Jennifer Holland, Steve Agee, and Robert Patrick.
• The series will be written by James Gunn, who will be writing all eight episodes of the Suicide Squad spinoff series and directing several including the premiere episode. 

The Lizzie McGuire series is, unfortunately, not moving forward at Disney+. 

• Hilary Duff wrote an emotional Instagram post to fans, breaking the news that the revival would not be happening.
• “I’ve been so honored to have the character of Lizzie in my life. She has made such a lasting impact on many, including myself. To see the fans’ loyalty and love for her, to this day, means so much to me. I know the efforts and conversations have been everything trying to make a reboot work, but sadly [and] despite everyone’s best efforts, it isn’t going to happen. I want any reboot of Lizzie to be honest and authentic to who Lizzie would be today. It’s what the character deserves. We can all take a moment to mourn the amazing woman she would have been and the adventures we would have taken with her. I’m very sad, but I promise everyone tried their best and the stars just didn’t align. Hey now, this is what 2020’s made of,” said Duff.
• According to TVLine, the reboot was originally announced in August 2019. Terri Minsky later departed the series over creative differences with production ultimately shutting down for good. Duff reportedly asked Disney to move the series to Hulu in order to authentically represent who Lizzie would be today, but the request fell on deaf ears. 
• The reboot was also set to reunite numerous original cast members including Adam Lamberg as Gordo, Hallie Todd as Lizzie’s mom Jo, Robert Carradine as Lizzie’s dad Sam and Jake Thomas as Lizzie’s brother Matt.

Apple has renewed Servant for Season 3.

• According to Deadline, this marks the third series on the platform to receive an early Season 3 renewal, joining the likes of For All Mankind, Dickinson, and Ted Lasso.
• Servant follows a couple in mourning after an unspeakable tragedy creates a rift in their marriage and opens the door for a mysterious force to enter their home.
• Following the suspenseful Season 1 finale, Season 2 takes a turn with a darker future for all as Leanne returns to the brownstone and her true nature is revealed.
• Season 2 will debut globally with the first episode on Friday, January 15, followed by one new episode every Friday exclusively on Apple TV+.

A.P. Bio is getting a fourth season at Peacock. 

• The streaming service confirmed the renewal on Thursday, announcing an 8-episode fourth season.
• Peacock saved the series after it was canceled by NBC after two seasons. The third season premiered on the platform in September. 
• “Everyone involved is so excited to do more episodes,” creator/writer/executive producer Mike O’Brien said in a statement obtained by Deadline. “We’re so thankful to Peacock and everyone who watched! Season 3 was the most fun we’ve had. I want to dig even deeper into the main characters and also keep messing with the sitcom format.”

Empire spinoff starring Taraji P. Henson is not moving forward at Fox but is being shopped around. 

• The spinoff in question would center around Cookie Lyon (Henson).
• Deadline reports that part of the reason for the decision was the price tag attached to the project.
• “A spinoff of such a successful series comes with a high price tag, which is hard for a broadcast network to cover, especially when it is not affiliated with the studio as is the case with Fox and 20th TV, which became separated by the Disney-Fox acquisition toward the end of Empire‘s run,” explains the article. 
• In short, Fox Entertainment currently has no ownership of the spinoff, but that means it can be shopped around to Disney outlets such as ABC and Hulu. 

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