NBC pulled the plug Friday on Eva Longoria's "Telenovela," a comedy spoof of the Spanish-language soap operas, after only a few months on the air.
It was one of five series cancellations made by the network, as it clears the deck for a new schedule to be announced on Sunday.
With the broadcasters all presenting next season's schedules to advertisers next week, there's been a flurry of pink slips delivered in Hollywood, along with the happier news that pilots are being picked up for the schedule. Between ABC, Fox and CBS, more than a dozen prime time shows were axed on Thursday.
"Telenovela" debuted in December. The comedy "Undateable," which lasted longer than many thought it would, also was canceled. It premiered as a summer series in 2014 and earned two other seasons – the most recent one with the gimmick that the show aired live.
Three other NBC series that were barely around long enough for many people to know they existed learned they wouldn't come back for second seasons. They are "Crowded," a sitcom featuring a couple whose empty nest is filled again by adult children; "Game of Silence," a drama that debuted last month featuring five friends who tried to keep a long-ago secret; and "Heartbeat," about a female heart transplant surgeon working in a male-dominated field.
Meanwhile, NBC has ordered new comedies "Great News," a Tina Fey-produced series about a young news producer whose mother comes to work at her television station; and "Marlon," which stars Marlon Wayans and is loosely based on his life.
NBC has also ordered the new drama "Midnight, Texas," based on the book series by Charlaine Harris.
CBS ordered four new dramas and two comedies for inclusion on next year's schedule. They include a TV remake of the film "Training Day"; the medical drama "Pure Genius"; a remake of the TV series "Macgyver"; and "Bull," a drama inspired by Dr. Phil McGraw and his trial consulting business.
The comedies are "Man With a Plan," starring Matt LeBlanc of "Friends" as a dad taking care of his kids while his wife works, and "The Great Indoors," with Joel McHale as an adventure writer learning how to deal with an office full of millennials.
Canada orders TikTok’s Canadian business to be dissolved but won’t block app
Canada announced Wednesday it won't block access to the popular video-sharing app TikTok but is ordering the dissolution of its Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind it.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said it is meant to address risks related to ByteDance Ltd.'s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.
"The government is not blocking Canadians' access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content. The decision to use a social media application or platform is a personal choice," Champagne said.
Champagne said it is important for Canadians to adopt good cybersecurity practices, including protecting their personal information.
He said the dissolution order was made in accordance with the Investment Canada Act, which allows for the review of foreign investments that may harm Canada's national security. He said the decision was based on information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada's security and intelligence community and other government partners.
A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the shutdown of its Canadian offices will mean the loss of hundreds of local jobs.
"We will challenge this order in court," the spokesperson said. "The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive."
TikTok is wildly popular with young people, but its Chinese ownership has raised fears that Beijing could use it to collect data on Western users or push pro-China narratives and misinformation. TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company that moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2020.
TikTok faces intensifying scrutiny... Read More