TV Bits: ‘The Killing’, ‘Arrested Development’, ‘Pushing Daisies’, ‘Dexter’, ‘Hannibal’, Frank Sinatra
We have a particularly murderer-heavy edition of TV Bits today, with news aboutDexter,Hannibal, andThe Killing. After the jump:
… Oh, all right. Here are a few more details: TNT hasDallasset for a 15-episode third season to premiere in early 2014, while HBO’sVeepwill return with ten new episodes for its third season next year. Meanwhile, freshman dramasRectifyandOrphan Blackhave each received orders for ten-episode sophomore seasons, from Sundance Channel and Syfy, respectively.
In addition, The CW has just announced that it is renewingBeauty and the BeastandHart of Dixie. Not only that, it’s decided it likesThe Vampire Diariesso much it’s ordering a spinoff calledThe Originals. The new series, which was set up in an episode earlier this year, follows Klaus to New Orleans. [Variety]
Based on the teasers we’ve seen so far forDexterSeason 8, our killer protagonist already has plenty to deal with in the next few episodes. But now Showtime’s tossing another new character into the mix.Julian Sands(24) has been cast as Miles Foster, described only as “a wealthy international businessman.” (Which just makes me think ofthis.)Dexter’s final season beginsJune 30. [TV Guide]
The cloistered world ofDownton Abbeyjust got a little more diverse. Brit actorGary Carrwill play the series' first black character, a “charming and charismatic” jazz singer named Jack Ross. [Deadline]
Jon Stewart’staking the summer off, butThe Daily Showisn’t.John Oliverwill take over as host starting June 10 until September 3, at which point Stewart will return to the desk. It sounds like Oliver’s stint will get off to a good start —Seth Rogen,Armando Iannucci,Mavis Staples, andFareed Zakariaare lined up as guests for the first week. [Vulture]Bryan Fuller’sdreamsof Kickstarting aPushing Daisiesmovie sequel haven’t come true quite yet, but he’s already got some ideas in mind for when they do.
Fuller added that they’d be fast (as opposed to slow) zombies “because it’s thePushing Daisiesrules so Chuck is, you know, alive.” [Den of Geek]
In other Fuller news: For a network show,Hannibalcan get pretty gory and gruesome, and at least one NBC affiliate has had enough of it. Salt Lake City’s KSL TV has announced that they will stop airing the show, “[a]fter viewing the past few episodes, as well as receiving numerous complaints from viewers.”
This is the same Church of Latter Day Saints-owned station that previously dropped racyThe Playboy Cluband the gay-friendlyThe New Normal. But cannibal-loving Salt Lakers needn’t fear:Hannibalis expected to make its way instead to the local CW affiliate. [EW]
Fans of AMC’sThe Killingstill haven’t forgotten the disappointment that came with the end of Season One, when the drama failed to bring the Rosie Larsen case to a satisfying conclusion. But if it’s any comfort, the show has no plans to make that mistake again. “In season 3, the story lends itself to one season,” says showrunnerVeena Sud. “We’re going to solve it at the end.”
The new show will pick up fifteen months after the end of Season 2, and will reunite Linden and Holder, who “have not seen each other since that day that Sarah walked out of the car and walked down the street and out of her old life,” explains Sud. For more details, click over toEW.The KillingreturnsJune 2.
Get ready to see the terrifying Sasquatch in a whole new light. FX has begun developingBigfoot, an animted comedy series based onGraham Roumieu’s graphic novelsIn Me Own Words,Me Write Book, andI Not Dead.
The show, which is being written byMatt McKennaand executive produced bySeth RogenandEvan Goldbergamong others, will portray the misunderstood mythological creature as “a bipolar hopeless romantic that lacks the ability to properly express himself, living in both the human and animal world of Pine Falls but not quite fitting in to either one.” Sounds like someone could use a hug. [Deadline]
Pain & Gainco-starsMark WahlbergandDwayne Johnsonare preparing to team up again, this time for HBO. The premium cable channel has given a pilot order to half-hour dramedy starring Johnson, about active and retired athletes living in Miami.Peter Bergwill direct the episode, as well as executive produce with Johnson and Wahlberg. Production is scheduled to begin this fall. [Deadline]
Famed documentary filmmakerAlex Gibney(Taxi to the Dark Side,We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks) is jumping over to TV for his next project. Gibney has signed on to direct and produce a four-hour miniseries documentary aboutFrank Sinatrafor HBO.
Described as “an up close and personal examination of Sinatra, his life, his music and the legendary career that stands alone as unquestionably the most celebrated of the century,” the film will feature never-before-seen footage including home movies and videos of private and professional performances." [Coming Soon]
Arrested DevelopmentSeason 4 won’t hit for another few weeks, but in the meantime fans can relive the last six years of Bluth fandom withThe Arrested Development Documentary Project. The long-in-the-works film hits iTunes and Amazon Instant Video tomorrow,May 5.
Or, if you’d rather focus on looking ahead, there are also six more stills from the new season below fromEW.
