September 15, 2021

Here's the Scoop...

Norm Macdonald died Tuesday after a private battle with cancer. Macdonald's manager, Marc Gurvitz, confirmed the comedian's death to USA Today and the firm Brillstein Entertainment confirmed to Deadline. Macdonald was 61.

A standup comedian, Macdonald was a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1993 - 1998. He replaced Kevin Nealon as the host of Weekend Update in 1994.

SNL made Colin Quinn the host of Update in 1998 and fired Macdonald at the end of the '97-98 season. Macdonald returned to host the show on Oct. 23, 1999.

Macdonald appeared in Adam Sandler's film Billy Madison in 1995. He got his own movie, Dirty Work, released in the summer of 1998 following his SNL departure.

Macdonald would cameo in Rob Schneider's Deuce Bigelow movies and The Animal. He co-starred with Dave Chappelle and Danny DeVito in 2000's Screwed and voiced Lucky the Dog in the Dr. Dolittle films.

Fellow comedians Patton Oswalt, Jim Carrey and Steve Martin shared remembrances of Macdonald.

"My dear friend Norm MacDonald passed after a brave 10 year battle. He was one of our most precious gems. An honest and courageous comedy genius. I love him," Carrey tweeted.

Macdonald had two television sitcoms. Norm lasted three seasons and A Minute with Stan Hooper lasted one.

He launched the podcast Norm Macdonald Live in 2013 and hosted a Netflix talk show in 2018. In between, he appeared on televised poker tournaments and was a judge on NBC's 2015 season of Last Comic Standing.

Be Well,
Steve

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FOX Nation revives reality show 'COPS'

FOX Nation announced Monday it has ordered Season 33 of the docu-series, COPS.

The unscripted show will kick off on the FOX News streaming service with four fresh episodes Oct. 1.

Subsequent installments will debut Friday nights.

"COPS is one of the most iconic brands on television with an incredibly passionate fan base. We wanted to show our appreciation to all first responders by combining the launch with a free one-year subscription to give back in a small way to those who place their lives on the line every day to keep us safe," Jason Klarman, president of the subscription streaming service, said in a statement.

The show initially ran on the FOX television network 1989 to 2013 after which it moved to Spike TV, which was later re-branded as the Paramount Network.

Paramount canceled the series in June 2020 in the aftermath of George Floyd's death at the hands of a police officer.

"COPS is not on the Paramount Network and we don't have any current or future plans for it to return," the network said at the time the show was taken off of its schedule.

'Luther' to return as Netflix film starring Idris Elba, Andy Serkis

Popular BBC crime drama Luther will return as a new film at Netflix.

The streaming service said Monday that Idris Elba will reprise John Luther in a feature film written by series creator Neil Cross.

Cynthia Erivo and Andy Serkis will join Elba in the new film. Erivo will play a detective who is Luther's nemesis, while Serkis will play a new villain, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Luther has aired for five seasons on BBC One thus far. The series follows the titular John Luther, a brilliant Detective Chief Inspector who is willing to break rules and go down dark paths in the course of his work.

The Luther film hails from Netflix and the BBC. Jamie Payne, who directed Luther Season 5, will direct the movie. The project begins filming in November.

Elba and Cross will produce with Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping and David Ready.

Elba is also known for playing Heimdall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He most recently played Robert DuBois, aka Bloodsport, in the DC Extended Universe film The Suicide Squad.

'Only Murders in the Building': Hulu renews mystery-comedy series for Season 2

Only Murders in the Building will return for a second season on Hulu.

The streaming service confirmed Tuesday on Twitter that it renewed the mystery-comedy series for Season 2.

"Well, looks like we'll be dealing with this trio for another season. I'm sure MOST of you are thrilled! #OnlyMurdersOnHulu," the post reads.

Selena Gomez, who plays Mabel Mora on the show, confirmed the news on her own account.

"@OnlyMurdersHulu is officially coming back for Season 2!" she wrote.

Only Murders in the Building is created by Martin and John Hoffman. The series premiered in August and is four episodes into its eight-episode first season.

Only Murders in the Building follows Mabel (Gomez), Charles-Haden Savage (Martin) and Oliver Putman (Short), three true crime podcast fans and residents of a New York City apartment building who investigate a murder.

"Everyone in our amazing Building worked with such love and expertise through extraordinary times -- and with incredible support from Disney, Hulu and 20th TV -- to create a first season that might live up to our legendary cast, our beloved New York City, and to make a show about connection," Hoffman said in a statement. "To feel we've connected with our audience and hit the mark enough already to have the chance to continue -- and to carry on our show's wild ride of of mystery-comedy-empathy -- is too exciting for words. So I'll shut up now -- and just say a huge thanks to all and I can't wait for more!"

Hulu said Only Murders in the Building had the highest premiere day tune-in for any comedy series in the history of its platform. The series marks Martin's first regular role in a scripted show.

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'Succession' Season 3 coming to HBO on Oct. 17

HBO drama series Succession will return with its third season on October 17.

HBO made the announcement on Monday alongside a new poster for the upcoming season that features the show's cast staring one another down.

"Make Your Move. October 17," reads the tagline.

Succession, created by Jesse Armstrong, follows the wealthy Roy family of media moguls who backstab one another to gain power.

Brian Cox stars as Logan Roy with Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy, Sarah Snook as Shiv Roy, Kieran Culkin as Roman Roy, Alan Ruck as Connor Roy, Nicholas Braun as Greg Hirsch, Matthew Macfadyen as Tom Wambsgans and J. Smith-Cameron as Gerri Kellman, among others.

Adrien Brody, Alexander Skarsgård, Sanaa Lathan, Linda Emond, Jihae Kim, Hope Davis, Dasha Nekrasova and Ella Rumpf will also appear in Season 3.

Season 2 was wrapped up in October 2019.

"Ambushed by his rebellious son Kendall at the end of Season 2, Logan Roy begins Season 3 in a perilous position, scrambling to secure familial, political and financial alliances. Tensions rise as a bitter corporate battle threatens to turn into a family civil war," reads the synopsis.