A&E will examine the music and cultural legacy of entertainer James Brown in its new documentary series James Brown: Say It Loud, premiering February 19. 

The two-night documentary series, executive produced by music legends Mick Jagger and Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson, looks at the life of the Godfather of Soul and delves into the musical and cultural impact of the entertainment icon, according to A&E.  

Series director Deborah Riley Draper says the series goes beyond Brown’s contributions to music to focus on his legacy as one of the most influential cultural forces in the 20th Century. Draper, who most recently directed OWN’s The Legacy of Black Wall Street docuseries, added that Brown’s influence on music and culture can still be felt today. 

“He is the history of a lived experience that stretches from the depression to the announcement of Barack Obama running for president,” Draper said. “His contributions and what he was able to see, experience is definitely a record — not a vinyl record, but a record of the passage of time and experience that was important to look at, study and learn from.” 

Click below to listen to the interview with Draper on the latest episode of the "Content Spotlight" podcast. 

Iconic entertainer James Brown will be the focus of a new A&E documentary series debuting in February.

The two-night James Brown: Say It Loud documentary will air February 19 and 20, and will examine Brown's innovative and influential life through interviews, never-before-seen archival footage and his music catalog, according to A&E. 

Executive produced by Mick Jagger and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, the series traces the trajectory of Brown’s life and career from a 7th grade drop-out to an entertainment legend whose groundbreaking talent and unique perspective catapulted him to become a cultural force, said the network. Featured throughout the documentary are interviews with Bootsy Collins, LL Cool J, The Rev. Al Sharpton, Chuck D, Dallas Austin, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

Along with Jagger and Thompson, James Brown: Say It Loud is executive produced by Tariq Trotter, Peter Afterman, David Blackman, Victoria Pearman, Bruce Resnikoff, Shawn Gee, Zarah Zohlman, Charlie Cohen, and Mari Keiko Gonzalez.

Reelz will distribute an additional 90 episodes of its On Patrol: Live police documentary series. 

The series' third season will continue to document in realtime the everyday work of police officers on patrol, said the network, according to Reelz. The network last February greenlit a similar 90-episode order for the show's second season.  

“We are thrilled to renew the program for another year and to see viewers come together on Friday and Saturday nights as On Patrol: Live chronicles police on patrol in communities across America,” Reelz CEO Stan E. Hubbard said in a statement.

Added Abrams, who hosts the series alongside Sgt. Sean “Sticks” Larkin (ret.), Deputy Sheriff Curtis Wilson and other guest experts: “There would be no OPL without #OPNation – more than just a dedicated audience interested in the work of law enforcement, these engaged viewers often reach out to help with the show’s ‘Missing’ and ‘BOLO’ (“Be on the Lookout”) segments and they make real contributions in aiding communities and families. It’s one of the most gratifying parts of working on On Patrol: Live and we’re so glad the show will continue.”

On Patrol: Live is produced by Big Fish Entertainment's Half Moon Pictures division, with Abrams, Dan Cesareo, John Zito, Lucilla D’Agostino, Paul Gordon and Joe Venafro serving as executive producers. 

On Patrol Live's third season announcement comes six months after a U.S. District Judge dismissed a motion brought by Big Fish Entertainment to dismiss an A&E copy infringement lawsuit against Big Fish and Reelz over whether On Patrol: Live mirrors A&E's Live PD series, which the network ended in 2020.

A+E Networks is looking to liven up its traditional cable TV channels with live cut-ins during primetime.

Last month, A+E’s A&E Network started airing live Thursday night cut-ins during Crack the Case featuring Tony Harris, the journalist and host of History’s The Proof Is Out There. The segments are designed to appeal to fans of A&E’s crime and investigative programming.

This week, Harris will also begin appearing in UnXplained Now segments on Fridays that tie into History Channel’s programming about paranormal phenomena.

Starting October 4, Keshia Knight Pulliam will appear in special segments with live polling Wednesday nights tied to Lifetime’s Married at First Sight, a show with a devoted following. Knight Pulliam has already been appearing in Married at First Sight: After Party, which recaps the series and returns next month (October 18) after the season premiere of Married at First Sight on October 11.

“We really value the linear platform and we want to keep it as fresh and healthy as possible,” Rob Sharenow, president of programming at A+E Networks, told Broadcasting+Cable.

“We were looking for creative ways to engage the audience,” Sharenow said. “We all kind of fell in love with this as a way to super-serve fans and really differentiate us in the marketplace by doing something that others aren’t.”

 The segments are shot at A+E’s studios by its production unit, which enabled the company to get the segments up and running quickly. Most are televised live, but some of Knight Pulliam’s segments are recorded when she has other commitments.

The segments air live to give viewers a reason to tune in real time rather than watching on-demand or playing the show back on a DVR, creating an experience that you’ll have to be there for or you’ll miss it.

“That’s one of the things that has been challenging for all broadcast platforms and this is one of the ways we’re sweetening the pot for our core fans,” he said.

The segments are also designed to boost length of tune, keep viewers during commercial breaks and build community among A+E audiences.

“People have responded to it right out of the gate,” Sharehow said. “We’ve seen great retention and growth out of the segments on A&E, something we weren’t expecting to see so quickly.”

Tailored for Each Network

Each network has its own unique approach to the live cut-in idea, tailored to genres in which their viewers are already interested.

“It’s making our linear unique and fresh,“ Sharenow said. ”It’s also a great fan engagement tool.” 

The segments can be interactive. They have polls, ask viewers to help solve cases and urge them to send in evidence of supernatural activity to UnXplained Now.

“The timing couldn’t be better because there are so many stories breaking about UFO investigations,” Sharenow said. “The segments keep the viewer and lover of that content current while they’re consumer the shows they love in and around that subject.”

The timing also couldn’t be better for A+E’s distributor partners, who have watched most programmers remove their best content from their linear channels in order to grow their direct-to-consumer streaming services.

“We’re very careful about making sure that our premier content is first and foremost for our linear audiences,” Sharenow said. ”That’s where we are all very aligned with our affiliate and advertising partners in this mission.

“Making this kind of effort harmonizes with what they want to see,” he said. “We want to make sure they’re valuing our platform and this is viewed a positive, something that is really unique to their environment.”

Eventually, the live segments could be sponsored, but A+E hasn’t gone down that road yet. “We see this as content and I wouldn't shut the door on them becoming their own pieces of content,” Sharenow said.

A&E will chronicle the exploits of a Houston-based, all-Latin homicide unit in a new documentary series, The Chicano Squad.

The four-hour series will follow the groundbreaking team of bilingual patrol officers who were promoted to detectives dedicated to tackling Houston’s soaring rate of Latin homicide cases in 1979, said A&E officials.

According to the network, decades of disregard and corruption inside the Houston Police Department led to widespread police brutality and hundreds of unsolved homicides in the city’s Latin neighborhoods. One officer, Jim Montero, had a vision to form a unit uniquely designed to solve them, so he and five bilingual Mexican American department rookies were given 90 days to solve all open Latin murder cases, regain the trust of the community and assist in any new crimes involving Spanish-speaking people.

“The Chicano Squad were a groundbreaking ground breaking group of law enforcement officers who broke down barriers and served their community with distinction,” A&E executive VP and head of programming Elaine Frontain Bryant said in a statement. “This documentary will tell the untold story of the Chicano Squad, from their humble beginnings to their trailblazing work building trust between the police and the communities they served.”

The Chicano Squad is executive produced by Patrick Reardon, Brian Nashel, Eric Wetherington, Lawrence Bender, Kevin Kelly Brown, Sergio Selvera, Nancy De Los Santos and Mario Diaz.  

A&E will continue to explore the legacy of Playboy and those that it affected in the second season of its original docuseries, Secrets of Playboy, which debuts July 10.

Following the early 2022 run of the docuseries’ first season, which drew more than 18 million viewers according to A&E, season two of the series will examine the ripple effects for those that were involved with Playboy and its founder Hugh Hefner during the company’s heyday, according to the network. 

Given the appeal of the first season, series director and executive producer Domini Hofmann said she was surprised at the divisiveness the first season produced among some who viewed it. 

“I was surprised by the very strong, divisive reactions,” Hofmann, who was not involved in the production of the series' first season, said. “People were either in solidarity with season one or unhappy with it. What I learned through the process is just how strong people’s feelings and opinions are about Playboy, about Hugh Hefner and, most importantly, about nude women.”

While the first season dove into the often controversial history of Playboy and Hefner, Hofmann said the second season will focus more on the cultural legacy of the Playboy empire. The series will look at how the Playboy experience continued to affect women’s lives long after they finished posing for the magazine through never-before-seen interviews with Playmates and Playboy models. 

“The first season really talked a lot about things that happened within the company and at the Playboy Mansion,” she said. “We certainly talk about all of that, but we really broadened the lens and dive into what has gone on outside the mansion and outside the nucleus.” 

Hofmann said she’s not concerned about comparisons between the two seasons, nor is she worried about potential criticisms surrounding the upcoming season. “You can’t make everybody happy all of the time,” she said. “I’d rather focus on letting the women share their stories as they happen versus worrying about what people may think of those stories.” 

Along with Hofmann, Eli Holzman, Aaron Saidman, Devon Graham-Hammonds, Rebekah Fry and Matt Shanfield are executive producers of Secrets of Playboy, which is produced by The Intellectual Property Corp.

Former WWE Superstar ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin participates in fun challenges and jobs as part of A&E’s new reality series Stone Cold Takes on America, premiering April 30. The series follows Austin as he hits the road to accept challenges from fans to take on everyday tasks as he looks to experience things he missed during his more than two-decade wrestling career. 

Stone Cold Takes on America executive producer and showrunner Mike Nichols talks about the series as well as his experiences in working with the WWE legend as part of an interview with Multichannel News. Here’s what Nichols and A&E want you to know about Stone Cold Takes on America. 

‘Stone Cold Takes On America’ primarily focuses on Steve Austin’s life and experiences post-WWE: “Steve wanted to do something very different in the series. He had this great, rich experience [with WWE], but he missed out on a lot of stuff that everybody else got to do as regular people. So in this series he’s saying, I want to try some things that I missed out while I was living my dream. We’ve seen him wrestle, host shows and do some fun, scripted stuff, but with this series he just wanted to hang out with people. He looks like a hard ass, but in fact he wants everybody around him to be comfortable. He has a terrific sense of humor which we did not see coming and that just made for a fun, lively series.”

Steve Austin steps out of his comfort zone to participate in unique challenges: “He does things you wouldn’t believe that Stone Cold Steve Austin would be doing, and some of the tasks are really tough, physical challenges. He rides trophy trucks and drives dune buggies, which can be dangerous. But then he’s also doing the live weather reports in Reno, and he’s operating a drive through window at a fast food restaurant. Sometimes it’s really adventurous and sometimes it’s very comedic, but it’s his willingness to do those things and put himself out there that makes it fun to watch.”  

Viewers don’t have to be familiar with Steve Austin to watch the series: “If you’re a fan of Steve Austin you will love the series because it’s going to confirm what you were hoping to see. If you’re not a fan of his, you don’t need to be one to like the show, because he’s just fun to watch. He brings this fun energy to everything he does — he’s a guy you want to have a beer with. We would go to different cities and people would be nervous to meet him, but within 10 seconds they were like old friends. He appeals to people whether they know him or not.”

Paramount Plus’s reboot of the 1987 movie Fatal Attraction movie tops the list of shows premiering this week across cable and streaming services.

Fatal Attraction premieres April 30 and is a retelling of the  thriller movie starring Michael Douglas, Glenn Close and Anne Archer. The eight-episode Paramount Plus series stars Alyssa Jirrels, Lizzy Caplan and Joshua Jackson. 

Also debuting April 30 is A&E’s reality series Stone Cold Takes on America featuring WWE legend “Stone Cold” Steve Austin taking on jobs and activities performed by everyday people, according to the network.

Here are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting the week of April 24-30 on cable networks and streaming services. (For some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

April 25: Family Legacy (reality series), Paramount Plus  

April 26: Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens (returning series), Comedy Central

April 26: Saint X (drama), Hulu

April 27: Firefly Lane (returning series), Netflix

April 27: Love & Death (drama), HBO Max

April 28: Citadel (drama), Prime Video

April 28: Clock (movie), Hulu

April 28: Couples Therapy (returning series), Showtime

Lifetime and A&E will chronicle the career of 1990’s top-selling female R&B trio TLC in a new documentary airing June 3.

Lifetime and A&E will simulcast the premiere of the two-hour documentary, TLC Forever, which looks at the lives and careers of the Atlanta-based group’s members, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas and the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes as they broke boundaries, influenced an entire generation and survived against all odds, according to network officials.

Surviving group members Watkins and Thomas will discuss the group’s journey along with other music industry colleagues. TLC sold more than 85 million records worldwide and won more than 35 major awards including four Grammy Awards, according to the network.

The TLC Forever documentary is the latest music project for Lifetime, which last month announced a Janet Jackson: Family First documentary following the Grammy-winning singer debuting later this year.

The A+E Networks will team with a bevy of top celebrities including Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, Janet Jackson and Anthony Anderson for major television projects, the company announced Wednesday during its upfront presentation.

History Channel will partner with Costner on a new eight-episode series The West, which will capture the diverse, complex character and untold stories that defined the “Wild West” and that continue to shape our country today, according to the network.

Also: A+E Promises Advertisers at Upfront It Will Deliver Peak Content 

Freeman will helm the upcoming documentary Black Patriots: The 761st Battalion, which will tell the true story of the 761st Tank Battalion, the first Black tank unit to serve in combat during WWII. Bradley Cooper will executive produce FDR, a three-night documentary debuting on Memorial Day that will provide a portrait of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The network is also developing projects with Dan Aykroyd and Michael Imperioli.

Lifetime will again partner with Janet Jackson on a new documentary airing on both Lifetime and A&E that focus on her new concert tour and reunion with the Jacksons, said the network. Also simulcasting on both networks is TLC Forever, a documentary celebrating one of the top-selling female groups of all time. 

A&E will follow actors Anderson and Cedric the Entertainer on a new 10-episode documentary series, Kings of BBQ, in which the two actors will work together to build their own barbeque product empire.

"Our goal within this media evolution is to meet audiences wherever and however  they consumer content, by working with great worldwide storytellers to develop and execute their vision," A+E Networks Group President and Chairman Paul Buccieri said in a statement. "Over the last four years, we have been on a journey to expand our production capabilities in both scripted and factual, and we've established key relationships in the talent management space as well as continued creating compelling content across our brands to further meet the needs of our valued partners and viewers." ■ 

A&E will once again tag team with WWE on a documentary series, this one featuring iconic company superstar “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. 

The 10-part series, Stone Cold Takes On America debuts April 30 and follows the former WWE wrestler as he takes on challenges from fans that push him out of his comfort zone as he celebrates and learns from new experiences, according to network officials. 

Prior to the Stone Cold Takes On America premiere, A&E will launch the second second season of docuseries WWE’s Most Wanted Treasures, which uncovers the stories behind some of the most memorable items in WWE history.

The two series will follow the February 19 A&E debut of Biography: WWE Legends, i.n its third season, and the sophomore campaign of docuseries WWE Rivals. ■

A+E Networks has filed suit in federal court against Big Fish Entertainment, Half Moon Pictures and ReelzChannel over the series On Patrol Live, charging a “brazen theft” of its rights to the TV series Live PD.

A+E took the high-rated series off the air after George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020. Live PD was one of many shows highlighting law enforcement officers that were cancelled at the time. 

In June, the Reelz cable channel said it would launch On Patrol: Live in July, produced by Big Fish with Live PD hosts Dan Abrams, Sean “Sticks” Larkin and Curtis Wilson reprising their roles and incorporating many other Live PD features.

The suit is seeking to recover actual damages, the profits generated by the new show, and punitive damages. It also wants the defendant enjoined from continuing to reproduce and distribute the show.

ReelzChannel said it "has not been served with nor had an opportunity to review the Complaint in detail, and thus has no comment at this time beyond denying liability and expressing its ongoing commitment to On Patrol: Live."

A spokespersons for Big Fish had not responded to requests for comment as of when this story was posted.

In its suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, A+E said it is the sole and exclusive owner of any and all rights to Live PD, which aired on A&E between 2015 and 2020.

“Without any authorization from AETN, Big Fish (the show’s former producer) created a clone of Live PD featuring the same primary hosts, content, format, segments, and more, and sold that virtually identical show to Reelz, a cable network seeking its first breakout hit, which then aired the show over AETN’s repeated and vociferous objections,” the suit said.

The suit also notes that when marketing the new series, the defendants said they were “bringing back” Live PD on a new network.

The suit includes a tweet from Abrams from June that says “the show will be back on Friday and Saturday nights sometime later this summer!”

“So far, defendants’ plan has worked as intended: the infringing series has single-handedly drawn millions of viewers to Reelz, which was the 89th ranked television network in total viewers in 2021,” the suit says. “Facing such a blatant rip-off, AETN brings this action against Defendants for copyright infringement under the Copyright Act and for trademark infringement and unfair competition under the Lanham Act and New York law.”

A+E Networks said in the suit that when production of the series — the highest-rated show on A&E — was suspended, it never “relinquished or assigned rights to create episodes of Live PD nor has it authorized anyone to prepare derivative programs based upon Live PD.”

A+E said it has sent cease-and-desist letter to the defendants warning them not to infringe on A+E’s intellectual property rights, but they went forward anyway with On Patrol: Live.

“On Patrol: Live copies nearly every aspect of Live PD: it covers the same, crime-related subject matter through the same format (i.e., a live series following police units around the country in real time, with hosts in studio curating and guiding the action, and pre-produced packages about cops/areas/hot cases during moments of quiet); it features the same primary studio host and co-host, who describe the unfolding action using the exact same catchphrases they used on Live PD while dressed as they often were dressed on Live PD; it has live feeds in multiple cities following several of the same police departments as Live PD and even some of the same individual officers; it utilizes similar percussive opening and closing music; it copies the same program segments (e.g., “Crime of the Week,” “Missing,” and “Wanted”); it displays the officers’ locations and their activity the same way; it transitions from scene to scene in the same way; episodes end in the same way, with footage of a police interaction continuing to play in the upper-middle part of a screen while credits flash underneath in white font, with police lights flashing in the background; and it even airs during the same time slots (Friday and Saturday nights from 9 p.m.-12 a.m.),” the suit claims.

A+E Networks is also seeking damages for the defendant using its trademarks. 

“As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ infringement of the Live PD series, including the Registered Episodes, AETN has been damaged by such infringement including, inter alia, through lost licensing revenue and other opportunities to exploit the Live PD series, and Defendants have profited and are continuing to profit from such infringement, all in an amount to be proven at trial,“ the suit said. “Accordingly, AETN is entitled to actual damages and any additional profits of Defendants.

“Because defendants are engaging in new acts of infringement on at least a weekly basis and such infringement is willful, AETN, at its election, as an alternative to an award of actual damages and Defendants’ profits, is entitled to recover the maximum amount of statutory damages available  … for each infringed work,” the suit said. “Because Defendants are engaging in new acts of infringement on at least a weekly basis, AETN is entitled to recover its costs, including its attorneys’ fees, in prosecuting this action,” the lawsuit said. ■

The former network home of Live PD will will jump back into the live crime genre as A&E debuts courtroom-themed series Court Night Live on August 10.

The series, produced by Live PD creators Big Fish Entertainment, will focus on civil cases from across the country litigate live from pop-up courtrooms in Philadelphia, Tampa and Chicago in front of a gallery of community members, according to the network.

Court Night Live comes two years after A&E cancelled Live PD – which followed law enforcement officers on patrol in real time – in the wake of protests against police brutality stemming from the death of George Floyd. Reelz last month debuted On Patrol: Live, an offshoot of Live PD.

Also: Stan Hubbard: Reelz's 'On Patrol: Live ' Won't Be a 'Woke' 'Live PD'

Court Night Live, hosted by Vinnie Politan and Judge Greg Mathis -- with analysis from retired Judge Vonda Evans -- will give viewers an opportunity to have their voices heard as they vote on the verdicts in select cases in real time via text message. A&E added that pending civil court cases have jumped over 30% over the last few years, with some people waiting over a year to get to trial.

“Court Night Live will combine the inherent drama of live civil court proceedings with context and expert legal analysis, elevating the traditional court shows that have been a staple of the television landscape for decades,” A&E executive vice president and head of programming Elaine Frontain Bryant said in a statement. “Court Night Live gives viewers a chance to experience public trials live in the virtual courtroom gallery on air.” ■

Reelz’s much publicized Friday night launch for its On Patrol: Live series was delayed for more than one hour due to technical issues, according to network officials.

The three-hour series, a reboot of A&E’s canceled series Live P.D., was supposed to debut at 9 pm (ET), but viewers who tuned in instead saw re-runs of another law enforcement-themed series, Jail: Las Vegas, as well as commercials promoting the network's upcoming programming.

On Patrol: Live was back on the air around 10:15 pm (ET), according to the network.

“On premiere night of On Patrol: Live, Reelz experienced a technical difficulty that delayed airing of the show at its scheduled time," the network said in a statement. "We are back up and running and will be airing tonight’s show in its entirety, from the beginning and commercial free. We apologize for the delay and hope everyone enjoys the debut of On Patrol: Live”!

Series executive producer and co-host Dan Abrams also confirmed in a Friday night tweet that the show would be shown commercial free in its entirety. “OK, so bad news we had nothing on air for 75 minutes or so … the good news is I’m told the show will be played in it entirety and commercial free!,” Abrams said in the tweet.

Also: Dan Abrams: The Time is Right for 'On Patrol: Live'

The three-hour live show, which follows several police departments from across the country on patrol in real time, airs on Reelz Fridays and Saturday nights. The series is co-hosted by Abrams, former Tulsa Police Department Sgt. Sean “Sticks” Larkin and Deputy Sheriff Curtis Wilson.

Also: Stan Hubbard: Reelz's 'On Patrol: Live' Won't Be a 'Woke' 'Live PD'

The live exploits of police officers from around the country return to television Friday (July 22) as Reelz launches On Patrol: Live, a series from the producers of the former A&E series Live PD.

As with Live PD, which was canceled by A&E in 2020 in the wake of protests against police brutality stemming from the death of George Floyd, ABC News chief legal affairs correspondent Dan Abrams will serve as executive producer and host of Reelz’s three-hour On Patrol: Live show. He‘ll be alongside former Tulsa Police Department Sgt. Sean “Sticks” Larkin and Deputy Sheriff Curtis Wilson. The series will follow the efforts of police officers on patrol across the country in real time. 

Reelz’s launch of On Patrol: Live adds to its lineup of controversial, police-themed shows such as Cops and Cops Reloaded.

Abrams, who is also founder of the Law&Crime Network and host of Dan Abrams Live on NewsNation, recently spoke to Multichannel News about his expectations for On Patrol: Live, his disappointment with A&E’s cancellation of Live PD and the current environment for unscripted, police-themed television programming. Here’s an edited version of the discussion. 

MCN: Do you think the political and social environment in the country surrounding law enforcement that helped lead to Live PD’s cancellation two years ago has changed heading into On Patrol’s launch? 

Dan Abrams: Yes, I do think the environment has changed. My perspective hasn't changed from the beginning, but I think that the perspective in the country has changed. I think that there is a recognition again about the challenges of being a police officer, and polls show that the vast majority of Americans support police in the country. I think that certainly helps a little, but I think an argument could have been made that it would have been nice if the show was on a year ago. 

MCN: How did On Patrol: Live end up on Reelz?

DA: We had been talking to a number of potential partners about a live police show, and Reelz just stepped up in a bigger way than others did. They just were more committed to the project and the fit was just better. Over the last couple of years, I've been approached by a number of networks about possibly doing a live police show, and this just ended up being by far the best fit.

MCN: How is the show similar to Live PD and how will it differ?

DA: Just like Live PD, this is a live police show that will be covering police departments in real time. It’s going to be different in the sense that we’re going to have citizen ride-alongs, which hadn’t been part of the [Live PD] show. We’re going to work with different [police] departments from those that were involved in Live PD. So it’s definitely going to be a new show, but I think the fans of Live PD are certainly going to enjoy it.

MCN: Given Live PD’s ratings success, how disappointed were you that A&E pulled the plug on the show?

DA: I was very disappointed that Live PD was pulled. I understand the decision on the part of A&E — I wasn’t angry at A&E, but I was very disappointed.

MCN: Having said that and given the uptick in crime across the country, are you approaching the production of On Patrol: Live any differently than you did Live PD?

DA: Look, I think policing is policing. I don’t think we’re gonna see sort of a fundamental difference in the amount of police activity. The people who appreciated Live PD, I think, wanted to watch the police in real time. I think that there were certainly a lot of people who supported the police and who wanted to watch the show from the police officer’s perspective, but I think there were also police critics who wanted to watch the show. There were elements on the show where things would happen and people would disagree with what the police did. I would expect that that will happen as well with this show, but I don't think there’s going to be a fundamental difference in terms of ‘policing’ that we see now rather than two years ago.

MCN: Beyond Live PD, how is Law&Crime faring in a very competitive television environment?

DA: Law&Crime is doing great. We have three arms to the business: the production arm, where we produce content for a whole host of networks; then there’s the website, lawandcrime.com; and there’s the live network, which is now available on Dish, Verizon and a number of major cable services, in addition, to all the major OTT platforms, and it’s really exploded. The business was going great, and then the [Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard defamation trial] happened, and that sort of catapulted things to a different level, especially in the YouTube world. That added a new element to things, so overall the business is thriving. ▪️

The first week in July offers a number of original show debuts, including a new Lifetime addition to the Flowers in the Attic franchise.

The four-part Flowers in the Attic: The Origin miniseries debuts July 9 and is a prequel to the original V.C. Andrews-created book and film. The series stars Max Irons, Jemima Rooper, Max Irons, Kelsey Grammer, Harry Hamlin, Kate Mulgrew and T'Shan Williams.  

Also: Five Spot: Tanya Lopez, Executive VP Scripted Content, Lifetime

On July 8, Apple TV Plus will debut crime thriller Black Bird. The series stars Taron Egerton as a criminal facing 10 years in jail who is given an option to enter a maximum-security prison for the criminally insane in an effort to gain a confession from a suspected serial killer. 

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for multiple shows debuting the week of July 5-10 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

July 6 — Maggie (comedy) — Hulu

July 7 — Moonhaven (sci-fi drama) — AMC Plus

July 8 — Boo, Bitch (comedy) — Netflix

July 8 — Modern Love: Hyderabad (drama) — Prime Video

July 8 — Trigger Point (drama) — Peacock

July 8 — The Sea Beast (animated movie) — Netflix

July 10 — Bridge and Tunnel (returning series) — Epix

July 10 — Supreme Team (documentary) — Showtime

July 10 — Women Who Rock (documentary) — Epix

 July 10 — Biography: WWE Legends (returning series) — A&E

 The Memorial Day holiday weekend features a number of highly-profile premieres, including the highly-anticipated debut of Disney Plus’ Star Wars spinoff Obi-Wan Kenobi and the return of Netflix’s horror series Stranger Things.

Obi-Wan Kenobi debuts May 27 and takes place10 years after after the events of the 2005 film Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith film in which the Jedi master suffers his greatest defeat, the downfall and corruption of his best friend and Jedi apprentice, Anakin Skywalker (Darth Vader.) Ewan McGregor reprises his film role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the six-part series.

Also on May 27, Netflix debuts the fourth season of its Emmy-winning horror/drama series Stranger Things, in which the series’ stars must battle a new supernatural threat. Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, FinnWolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin and Noah Schnapp all reprise their roles in the first of two parts slated for season four.  The second half of the season premieres in July. 

History will mark Memorial Day with the May 30 premiere of documentary series Theodore Roosevelt, while A&E debuts Biography: Bobby Brown.

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for multiple shows debuting the week of May 23 to May 30 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

May 23 – Prehistoric Planet (documentary) – Apple TV Plus

May 24 – Yo! MTV Raps (music programming) – Paramount Plus

May 26 – Look At Me: XXXTENTACION (music documentary) – Hulu

May 27 – Emergency (comedy movie) – Prime Video

May 27 – Shoresy (comedy) – Hulu

May 27 – We Feed People (documentary) – Disney Plus

May 30 – Origins Of Hip Hop (music documentary) – A&E

A&E will examine groundbreaking hip hop performers as part of a new documentary series set to debut on Memorial Day.

The eight-hour series, Origins of Hip Hop, unspools on May 30 and will focus on the lives and careers of such iconic rap artists as Grandmaster Flash, Ice-T, Busta Rhymes, Eve, Fat Joe, Ja Rule, Uncle Luke and Lil Jon, according to network officials.

Each hour of the series will delve into one of the genre’s biggest stars, tracing their path from where their stories began to their ultimate success, said the network.

“Origins of Hip Hop expands our boundary-pushing nonfiction programming slate and celebrates the artists and sounds that have helped define a genre and culture,” Elaine Frontain Bryant, executive VP and head of programming at A&E, said in a statement. “Alongside our partners at Mass Appeal, we are excited to elevate the voices and stories of this incredible group of artists who helped create and continue to shape the genre today.”

Also: A&E Greenlights Ol' Dirty Bastard Documentary

Origins of Hip Hop is executive produced by Peter Bittenbender and Slane Hatch, along with Bryant, Shelly Tatro and Brad Abramson. ■ 

A&E will develop a documentary on late hit hop icon Ol’ Dirty Bastard in collaboration with the artist’s estate. 

The two-hour documentary, Biography: Ol’ Dirty Bastard, will chronicle the life of the musician and founding member of hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. Featuring never-before-seen personal archive content shot by his wife, Icelene Jones, along with access to his closest friends and family, this documentary showcases ODB as a man, a father, and a husband, said the network. 

The documentary, co-directed by Sam and Jason Pollard, will center on ODB’s solo career, from his first album release in 1995 until his untimely passing from a drug overdose in 2004.

“A&E continues to be an industry leader in definitive documentary storytelling,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming for A&E in a statement. "Biography: Ol’ Dirty Bastard will present viewers with the untold story of the man and the musician who made an immense cultural impact across just a few short years.”

Pulse Films and Four Screens will produce Biography: Ol’ Dirty Bastard, with Sam Bridger, Diene Pettrle, Louis Mole, Messiah Jacobs, Nicole Beckett and Icelene Jones serving as executive producers, said A&E.

A&E will examine the life and career of the R&B music icon James Brown as part of a four-part documentary series executive produced by Mick Jagger and Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson. 

The four-part series, James  Brown: Say It Loud will explore the Godfather of Soul’s legacy as a musical force, cultural catalyst and dominant Black creative voice, said network officials. 

The documentary, which will air in 2023 and will be timed to what would have been Brown’s 90th birthday, details how Brown persevered through decades of personal demons, racial injustice and career setbacks to find redemption and become one of the most celebrated and influential artists of the 20th century.

 James Brown: Say It Loud will feature never-before-seen archival footage as well as exclusive interviews with friends, family, collaborators and proteges, said A&E.

Jagger and Questlove will serve as executive producers on the series along with Peter Afterman, David Blackman, Victoria Pearman, Tariq ‘Black Thought’ Trotter, Shawn Gee, Zarah Zohlman and Charlie Cohen. 

“A&E has a long legacy as a home for bold, insightful, and engaging storytelling that pushes boundaries and bring viewers deeper into the lives and worlds they thought they knew,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming for A&E in a statement. “We are honored to partner with executive producers Mick Jagger, Questlove, Black Thought, the teams at Inaudible Films, Jagged Films, Two One Five Entertainment, Polygram Entertainment, and director Deborah Riley Draper to continue this tradition with James Brown: Say It Loud to provide audiences with an in-depth look, not only into the extraordinary life of the Godfather of Soul, but also his immeasurable influence as a cultural force in American society.” 

Jagger said of Brown: “He was a brilliant performer who inspired me from the beginning and was deeply committed to the Civil Rights movement. I have always admired James and learned so much from him. I look forward to bringing  the series to life.”

The announcement comes on the heels of A&E and Lifetime's January Janet Jackson four-part documentary. It also follows a 2014 HBO documentary, Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown.■ 

AXS TV has acquired the rights to A&E's reality series Wahlburgers, which will launch on the service February 27, AXS TV said.

The series, which ran on A&E from 2014-2019, takes viewers behind the scenes of one of the country’s most high-profile restaurant chains, as chef Paul Wahlberg works to build a burger empire with the help of his own personal entourage led by his brothers Mark and Donnie, and their beloved mother Alma.

AXS TV will run four hours of the series each Sunday night beginning February 27.

“The Wahlbergs are one of entertainment’s most beloved families, amassing loyal fans across the realms of films, food, television, and music,” said Sarah Weidman, head of programming, development and multi-platform content for AXS TV in a statement. “Despite the success they have achieved, they are still the same humble boys from Boston at heart, and that undeniable charm shines throughout the hit Wahlburgers series. This show is the perfect complement to our programming roster, and I am confident our viewers are going to enjoy watching it on Sunday nights.” ■ 

The first week of February will feature a number of new drama/mystery series debuting on cable and streaming services.

Netflix on February 3 will debut Murderville, a dramedy series starring Will Arnett as a police detective who in each episode investigates murder cases with a new celebrity partner. Guest stars for the six-episode series include Sharon Stone, Ken Jeong, and Conan O'Brien.

Prime Video on February 4 will launch Reacher, an eight-part mystery series that follows the exploits of retired military police officer Alan Ritchson. The series is based on the Jack Reacher book series by Lee Child. The Jack Reacher film franchise starred Tom Cruise.

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for multiple shows debuting the week of January 31 to February 6 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

January 31 – Adults Adopting Adults (reality) – A&E

February 1 – Raising Dion (returning series) – Netflix

February 1 – Terry Bradshaw: Going Deep (sports documentary) – HBO

February 2 – Pam & Tommy (drama) – Hulu

February 2 – South Park (returning series) – Comedy Central

February 2 – The Tinder Swindler (documentary) – Netflix

February 3 – Double Cross (returning series) – ALLBLK

February 3 – Dragons Rescue Riders: Heroes of the Sky (returning series) – Peacock

February 3 – Raised by Wolves (returning series) – HBO Max

February 4 – Book of Love (dramedy movie) – Prime Video

February 4 – Phat Tuesdays (documentary) – Prime Video

February 4 – Suspicion (drama) – Apple TV Plus

February 4 – Sweet Magnolias (returning series) – Netflix

February 5 – Shenmue the Animation (anime) – Adult Swim

February 6 – Power Book IV: Force (drama) – Starz

February 6 – The Tuck Rule (sports documentary) – ESPN

R&B singer Bobby Brown will be the subject of two A&E-based programming events debuting in May.

Brown, a member of the musical group New Edition and ex-husband of the late Whitney Houston, will be chronicled in a two-night, A&E documentary series Biography: Bobby Brown, debuting May 30. The documentary will offer an up-close and personal look at Brown’s journey to stardom and the fallout from his personal struggles with sobriety and the tragic deaths of Houston and two of his children, A&E said. 

Biography: Bobby Brown will feature interviews with such music personalities as Usher, Jermaine Dupri, Keith Sweat, Babyface and New Edition’s Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe and Johnny Gill, as well as his family and  friends, according to the network.

On May 31, A&E will debut Bobby Brown: Every Little Step, a 12-part docuseries which will follow Brown as he focuses on new business ventures while performing with New Edition during the group’s 2022 reunion tour, said A&E representatives.

Brown was the subject of 2005 Bravo reality series Being Bobby Brown, as well as a 2018 BET scripted movie, The Bobby Brown Story. ■ 

HBO's costume drama The Gilded Age and Lifetime's documentary series on the Playboy empire highlight an otherwise light week for show premieres on cable and streaming services this week. 

The Gilded Age, from Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, debuts January 24 and follows events and characters surrounding the American Gilded Age in the late 19th century, according to the network. Cynthia Nixon, Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector star in the series.

Also premiering on January 24 is A&E's documentary series Secrets of Playboy. The 10-episode examines the Playboy empire and the far-reaching consequences it had on our culture’s view of power and sexuality, said the network. 

Also: What A&E Wants You to Know About 'Secrets of Playboy'

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting the week of January 24 to January 30 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

Jan. 24 – Snowpiercer (returning series) – TNT

Jan. 26 – Astrid & Lilly Save The World (comedy) – Syfy

Jan. 26 – Resident Alien (returning series) – Syfy

Jan. 27 – The Fallout (movie) – HBO Max

Jan 27 – Gomorrah (returning series) – HBO Max

Jan. 27 – grown-ish (returning series) – Freeform

Jan. 28 – The Afterparty (comedy) – Apple TV Plus

Jan. 28 – Home Team (family) – Netflix

Jan. 28 – Ice Age: Adventures of Buck Wild (animation) – Netflix

Jan. 28 – Janet Jackson (documentary series) – Lifetime

Jan. 28 – The Woman in the House Across The Street from the Girl in the Window (comedy) – Netflix

Jan 30 – We Need to Talk About Cosby (documentary series) – Showtime

A&E explores the mythology behind the Playboy empire as part of a new docuseries debuting January 24.

The 10-part series, Secrets of Playboy, examines life inside Playboy through interviews with Playmates, employees at all levels of the organization and other insiders, according to the network. The series delves into the complex world that Playboy founder Hugh Hefner created, and examines its far-reaching consequences on our culture’s view of power and sexuality. 

Secrets of Playboy director Alexandra Dean said the series – in development for two years – offers a different narrative about the Playboy empire and Hefner that most people don’t know and, in some instances, don’t necessarily want to hear about.

Here’s what Dean and A&E want you to know about Secrets of Playboy.

The series examines Playboy's cultural legacy through a modern day lens:  “I'm really looking for people to re-evaluate the legacy of Playboy in our culture. I think it's time for us to have another look, and I think that the way we do that is we listen to the women for the first time. The series does talk about the good stuff Playboy did, how progressive it was and how it championed women and people of color. It did liberate women in many ways to have fun with their sexuality, but it also had this dark underbelly that we as observers at the time didn't look at. We gave Playboy a pass because we wanted the mansion to be this Xanadu that we dreamed about.” 

The series raises questions about the complex life of Hugh Hefner: “You'll see a side to Hugh Hefner that he kept very well hidden; only people who were very, very intimate with him would see it. Hugh Hefner was a larger than life persona and he shaped who we thought was hot in our culture for 50 years, and he shaped what we thought was free and powerful sexuality for women. So he matters both for men and women. I think people would be really shocked at how his sexual appetites manifested, and what he found sexy. I think people would be really shocked to hear how he seemed to really feel about women.” 

Insider interviews offer a rare look into the Playboy culture: People were really, really scared to speak about Playboy. People who wanted to talk positively about Playboy were ready to talk all day, but people who wanted to talk about some of the more complicated experiences they’d had or the really bad stuff that had happened felt like they might have been in danger by doing so. I think that what people will find exciting about this series is that people who weigh in are real insiders. We talked to Hefner's main girlfriend when he was at the height of his powers in the seventies, and when he was really inventing who he would become with the multiple girlfriends and everything. She takes us back to the origin story of how Hef became Hef, and she also kind of takes us into the heart of darkness. ■   

A&E will take a look into the world of Hugh Hefner’s Playboy empire in a new documentary series set to debut in 2022, the network announced Tuesday during A+E Networks' TCA Summer Press Tour session.

The 10-part series, Secrets of Playboy, will explore the hidden truths behind the fable and philosophy of the Playboy empire through a modern-day lens, said network officials. The series features interviews with Hefner’s former personal valet Stefan Tetenbaum, the director of Playmate Promotions Miki Garcia, as well as members of Hefner’s staff and inner circle.

“The fantasy world of Playboy has been shrouded in secrecy for decades and we are proud to lift the veil on these long-hidden stories,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, executive VP and head of programming for A&E in a statement. “Breaking down barriers and exposing the truth, Secrets of Playboy is a masterful example of brave storytelling that takes an unflinching look at the personal affects of Hugh Hefner’s empire, while also exploring his legacy’s larger influence on our society and modern-day views of sexuality.”

Read Also: History Taps Morgan Freeman for New Series Showcasing Great Prison Escapes

 A&E Network has teamed with the WWE Studios to develop original Biography-branded documentaries showcasing several WWE Superstars.

The eight-episode, weekly Biography documentary series will launch April 18 and will feature profiles of such WWE superstars as "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Booker T, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Mick Foley and Ultimate Warrior, said the network. 

The biographies will chronicle the success of the WWE athletes and will explore their lasting mark both in sports entertainment and in popular culture, said A&E. 

Following each episode, A&E will premiere an episode of the original WWE’s Most Wanted Treasures series, in which WWE Superstars hunt for some of WWE’s most iconic missing memorabilia including Kane’s original mask, Ric Flair’s Butterfly Robe, Andy Kaufman’s neck brace and Andre The Giant’s passport. 

Read also: WWE Shares Get Slammed on Poor Q4 Earnings Report

“For more than two decades, Biography has been the home for premium non-fiction storytelling and we are excited to expand upon that with this all-encompassing partnership with WWE,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, A&E Network EVP and Head of Programming. “This one-of-a-kind collaboration gives viewers the ultimate ringside seat as we chronicle the journeys of these cultural icons and the memorabilia that follows.”

 The week leading into Labor Day features several high-profile launches as streaming services and cable networks gear up for the new television season.

Starz on Sept. 6 will debut its anticipated drama series Power Book II: Ghost (pictured) -- the first of four spinoffs from its hit series Power -- while Peacock on Sept. 4 debuts a new drama series Noughts + Crosses, based on an alternative world in which Africa has colonized Europe and controls its citizens. 

Sci-fi also takes center stage on Sept. 4 with the return of Prime Video’s superhero-themed series The Boys and Netflix’s Mars-themed series Away.  Also HBO Max on Sept. 3 debuts its fantasy-themed series Raised by Wolves.

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting the week of Aug. 31 to Sept. 7 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

Sept. 2 -- Tyler Perry’s House of Payne & Assisted Living (comedy) -- BET

Sept. 3 -- A.P. Bio (comedy) -- Peacock

Sept. 3 -- The Sounds (drama) -- Acorn TV

Sept. 3 -- Young Wallander (drama) -- Netflix

Sept. 4 -- Anthony (drama movie) -- Peacock

Sept. 4 -- Earth to Ned (talk) -- Disney Plus

Sept. 7 -- Biography: The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne (reality) --A&E

Sept. 7 -- Madagascar: A Little Wild (animation) -- Hulu/Peacock

The first week of August offers the premieres of new scripted shows from streaming services Quibi and CBS All Access along with several new reality shows.

Quibi on Aug. 3 will debut a new series version of the classic television series The Fugitive starring Keifer Sutherland and Boyd Holbrook, while iconic sci-fi series Star Trek gets its first animated treatment as CBS Access debuts Star Trek: Lower Decks on Aug. 6. Peacock jumps into the comedy crime genre with its new series Hitmen, premiering Aug. 6. 

On the unscripted front, Lifetime debuts it’s anticipated docu series Surviving Jeffrey Epstein on Aug. 9.

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for several other shows debuting the week of Aug. 3 to Aug. 9 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

Aug. 4 -- Extreme Unboxing (reality series) -- A&E

Aug. 5 -- True Life Presents: Quarantine Stories (reality) -- MTV

Aug. 6 -- An American Pickle (comedy) -- HBO Max

Aug. 7 -- Howard (documentary) -- Disney Plus

Aug. 7 -- Tales of Arcadia: Wizards (animation) -- Netflix

Aug. 9 -- YOLO: Crystal Fantasy (animation) -- Adult Swim 

What It’s Worth, a series about finding unique and valuable stuff buried in people’s homes, premieres Aug. 4 on A&E. Jeff Foxworthy hosts. 

“With people across the nation spending more time inside their homes than ever, this half hour series follows Jeff as he scours the country in search of truly unique possessions and collectibles with shocking dollar values—without ever leaving his Georgia man cave," said A&E. 

Gina Theesfield, Christie Hatman and Chris Childers are the goods experts on the show. 

Two episodes premiere Aug. 4. 

A&E is on board for 10 episodes. 

From their homes, Foxworthy and his experts examine trinkets and treasures to help their owners decide if they’re holding something valuable, or essentially worthless. 

Foxworthy is a comedian. He has the comedy special We’ve Been Thinking on Netflix and he was a judge on NBC’s Bring the Funny. 

After A&E decided to cancel its top-rated show, Live PD, in the wake of nationwide protests over police brutality, Sony Pictures Television has followed suit and asked TV stations to pull the show’s syndicated spin-off, Live PD Police Patrol, which SPT distributes. TV stations are taking the show off their air this week, a SPT spokeswoman confirmed.

Live PD Police Patrol premiered in syndication in fall 2019. In the week ended June 7, the most recent full week for which national household ratings are available, Live PD Police Patrol averaged a 0.9 live plus same day national household rating, according to Nielsen Media Research.

A&E made the decision to cancel Live PD on Wednesday, June 10. Besides general concern around police treatment of Black people, such as the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, Austin media outlets also had reported that the show had pulled, and then erased, video of the death of Javier Amblin, a Black man, during a police stop in March 2019. 

RELATED: A&E Cancels 'Live PD'

A&E had just renewed Live PD a month prior for 160 more episodes. Earlier last week, Paramount Network canceled Cops, which had been on the air for 33 seasons, airing on Fox for the first 25. 

Live PD was hosted by ABC legal analyst Dan Abrams, who up until Deadline reported that the show was officially canceled had been tweeting that the show was coming back. 

“Shocked & beyond disappointed about this. To the loyal #LivePDNation please know I, we, did everything we could to fight for you, and for our continuing effort at transparency in policing. I was convinced the show would go on,” Abrams tweeted last Wednesday.

The show followed police departments across the country in real time as they went out on patrol. Live PD was executive produced by Big Fish Entertainment, with executive producers Dan Cesareo, Lucilla D’Agostino and John Zito. 

A&E has cancelled Live PD, the high-rated documentary series that follows police from around the U.S. on patrol in real time.

The cancellation comes as protests against police brutality have swept the country, stemming from the death of George Floyd as he was in the custody of the Minneapolis Police Department on May 25.

“This is a critical time in our nation’s history and we have made the decision to cease production on Live PD,” A&E said in a statement. “Going forward, we will determine if there is a clear pathway to tell the stories of both the community and the police officers whose role it is to serve them. And with that, we will be meeting with community and civil rights leaders as well as police departments.”

The three-hour series, which follows police departments “on a typical Friday and Saturday night” across the country, is hosted by Dan Abrams, along with Tom Morris Jr. and Sgt. Sean “Sticks” Larkin providing analysis. The show uses dash cams, along with fixed rig and handheld cameras, to capture the work of a mix of urban and rural police forces.

Live PD’s cancellation came on the heels of Paramount Network’s axing of long-running law enforcement series Cops.

Big Fish Entertainment produced Live PD, which premiered in 2016, for A&E Network.

For its fourth season, Live PD drew 1.8 million viewers, per A+E, with some 672,000 of those watchers aged 18-49.

A&E Network has canceled Live PD, the network confirmed Wednesday.

The cancellation comes as protests against police brutality have swept the country, stemming from the death of George Floyd as he was in the custody of the Minneapolis Police Department on May 25.

“This is a critical time in our nation’s history and we have made the decision to cease production on Live PD," A&E said in a statement. "Going forward, we will determine if there is a clear pathway to tell the stories of both the community and the police officers whose role it is to serve them. And with that, we will be meeting with community and civil rights leaders as well as police departments.”

Related: Pluto TV Still Streaming ‘Cops’ After Paramount Network Cancellation

The series, which follows police departments "on a typical Friday and Saturday night" across the country, is hosted by Dan Abrams with Tom Morris Jr. and Sgt. Sean ‘Sticks’ Larkin providing analysis.

Live PD's cancellation came on the heels of Paramount Network's axe of long-running law enforcement series Cops.

Big Fish Entertainment produced Live PD, which premiered in 2016, for A&E Network.

Continuing protests across the country sparked by the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis while in police custody has spawned the creation of several cable network specials and a reassessment of some shows currently on cable and streaming service lineups.

Tonight (June 10), Discovery Network channels will air the second of a two-part special Where Do We Go From Here? A Conversation Led By Oprah, featuring Oprah Winfrey as she speaks directly with a large range of African-American thought leaders, activists and artists including writer/director Ava DuVernay, actor David Oyelowo and politician/activist Stacey Abrams about systematic racism and the current state of America, according to Discovery.

“I don’t recall a moment quite like this one, because we find our nation on a precipice and true tipping point,” Winfrey said during the opening of yesterday’s episode, which was simulcast across 18 Discovery Inc.-owned networks. “Is this the moment that will finally change the country, where people recognize systemic racism for the problem and evil that it is?”

The two-day special follows on the heels of A&E’s June 8 special, The Time is Now: Race and Resolution, which aired commercial free across A+E Networks-owned A&E, History, VICE TV, Lifetime, FYI and LMN, and generated a spirited discussion surrounding systemic racism, implicit bias, economic inequality, and cases of police brutality.

Law&Crime Network last Thursday launched two daily shows -- Justice & Peace and Keeping the Peace that cover issues from the perspective of protesters and law enforcement officers respectively, according to the network.

Meanwhile, BET is planning a June 19 Presidential Forum in which both President Donald Trump and Presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden have been invited to face Black America for the first time on national television to address their concerns. BET said both parties have been contacted but would not reveal if either has accepted.

Along with the content additions, some networks have also pulled shows in response to protests over Floyd’s death. Paramount Network has reportedly cancelled the reality series Cops after a more than three-decade run amid growing calls for law enforcement reform across the country.

In addition, A&E Wednesday cancelled its popular and most watched series Live P.D. -- which follows the actions of law enforcement officials in as many as eight cities. The network said in a statement: “This is a critical time in our nation’s history and we have made the decision to cease production on Live PD. Going forward, we will determine if there is a clear pathway to tell the stories of both the community and the police officers whose role it is to serve them. And with that, we will be meeting with community and civil rights leaders as well as police departments.”

Upstart streaming service HBO Max Tuesday reportedly removed the classic 1939 film Gone With The Wind after an Los Angeles Times op-ed piece by 12 Years a Slave writer John Ridley criticized the Academy Award-winning film -- which takes place on an Atlanta plantation -- as one that “glorifies the antebellum south.”

Undoubtedly additional programming will be created -- and some existing content will be examined and scrutinized --as the industry and the country come to grips with continuing reaction to George Floyd’s death at the hands of police, while attempting to outline a path forward toward finding a resolution to the issues and injustices raised in its aftermath. 

A+E has teamed with the NAACP and media company OZY to create a June 8 special focusing on race relations in America.

The special, The Time is Now: Race and Resolution, will air commercial free across A+E Networks-owned A&E, HISTORY, VICE TV, Lifetime, FYI and LMN, and will discuss issues regarding systemic racism, implicit bias, economic inequality, and cases of police brutality which have plagued our nation, according to the company.

Hosted by OZY CEO/co-founder Carlos Watson, the special will feature appearances from

NAACP president Derrick Johnson, NBA legend Kareem Abdul Jabbar, actress Yvette Nicole Brown, activist and Until Freedom co-founder Tamika Mallory, The Atlantic writer Jemele Hill and Houston Police Department chief Art Acevedo.

“In times like these, it is our responsibility to use our powerful platforms to inform and inspire positive change, said Paul Buccieri, president, A+E Networks Group. “We are proud to partner with the NAACP and OZY to bring this important program to audiences around the country.”

Fox News was the overwhelming choice of cable viewers during the month of May, topping both the primetime and total day charts for a month dominated by news of the COVID-19 virus and protests surrounding the death of George Floyd, according to Nielsen.

Fox News averaged 3.4 million viewers in primetime during the week of April 27-May 31, easily topping MSNBC, which finished the month with 1.9 million viewers and CNN, which had its best May ever with 1.6 million viewers, said Nielsen.

HGTV and TLC tied for fourth place with 1.2 million viewers, while History finished the month in fifth place with 970,000 viewers. TBS (967,000), A&E Network (938,000), Discovery Channel (857,000), and Hallmark Channel (844,000) rounded out the top 10 most watched networks for May.

Fox News topped the total day chart with 1.8 million viewers, followed by MSNBC (1.1 million viewers) and CNN (1 million), said Nielsen. 

Fox News continued to tighten its grip on the cable ratings charts this past week, sweeping both the primetime and total day charts among total viewers, according to Nielsen.

For the week of May 11 to May 17, Fox News averaged 3.4 million viewers in primetime to top all cable networks for the 17th straight week, reported Nielsen. Cable news networks MSNBC and CNN finished second and third for the week, averaging 2 million and 1.5 million viewers respectively.

HGTV and TLC tied for fourth place with 1.2 million viewers, followed by TBS with 1 million viewers. A&E (974,000 viewers), Discovery Channel (879,000) Hallmark Channel (867,000) and ESPN (843,000) rounded out the top 10 most watched networks for the week.

Fox News also topped the total day charts for the 19th straight week, beating MSNBC, CNN, HGTV and Food Network. Fox News also swept the primetime and total day charts among viewers 25-54 for the week, said Nielsen.

ESPN was the top choice among 18-49 year old viewers in primetime, topping TBS, TLC, Fox News and A&E Network, according to Nielsen. On the total day front in the demo, TBS narrowly beat out Fox News, Food Network, CNN and A&E for top honors. 

Coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to capture viewers as the three cable news networks remained at the top of the weekly cable ratings charts.

Fox News led all networks in primetime for the 16th consecutive week with 3.5 million viewers during the week of May 4 to May 10, according to Nielsen. MSNBC finished second with 1.8 million viewers followed by CNN’s 1.4 million viewers.

Among the entertainment networks, HGTV and TLC tied with 1.2 million viewers, followed by TBS (993,000), A&E (977,000), Food Network (869,000), ESPN (868,000) and History (863,000).

Regarding the total day chart, Fox News won for the 18th consecutive week with 1.8 million viewers, followed by MSNBC, CNN, HGTV, Food Network and Nickelodeon, according to Nielsen. 

Fox News was the big cable ratings winner in April, setting a network monthly primetime ratings record while leading a dominant performance by the three major cable news networks, according to Nielsen.

Fox News averaged a network record 3.6 million viewers in primetime for the period of March 30 to April 26, easily topping MSNBC’s 2 million viewers for the month, according to Nielsen. CNN finished third in primetime with 1.9 million viewers, giving the  major cable news networks the top three slots in primetime for two months in a row amid their continuing coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

HGTV and TLC finished tied for fourth place with 1.2 million viewers, followed by ESPN, History and TBS (tied with 1 million viewers). Hallmark Channel (985,000 viewers) and A&E Network (939,000) rounded out the top 10 most watched cable networks in primetime for April.

The three cable news networks also finished atop the total day ratings chart for April, led by Fox News’s 2.2 million viewers. CNN, MSNBC, HGTV, Food Network and Hallmark Channel all finished in the top five within the category, said Nielsen. 

Fox News continued its weekly ratings winning streak in both primetime and total day as all three cable news networks remain at the top of the charts.

Fox News averaged 3.7 million viewers in primetime for the week of April 13 to April 19 to lead all cable networks for the 13th week in a row, according to Nielsen. News networks MSNBC (2 million viewers) and CNN (1.9 million) finished second and third respectively, continuing the genre’s domination of the charts.

HGTV was the top-rated entertainment network in primetime with 1.3 million viewers, followed by TLC at 1.1 million viewers. Discovery Channel, A&E Network and TBS (all tied with 1 million viewers), along with Hallmark Channel (967,000 viewers) to round out the top 10.

Fox News averaged 2.3 million viewers to top the total day chart for the 15th consecutive week, followed by CNN, MSNBC, HGTV and Food Network, according to Nielsen. 

CBS Goes Crazy with Prince Special

Let’s Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince airs on CBS April 21. Maya Rudolph, who plays in a Prince cover band called Princess, will host. The special was filmed Jan. 28; its airing coincides with Prince’s death four years ago.

There’s a tribute concert done after the Grammys every year, but this one stands out, said Ken Ehrlich, executive producer. “I don’t know that we’ve had a more excited or involved audience,” he said. “They just never had a chance to settle.”

Foo Fighters play “Darling Nikki,” Common does “Sign o’ the Times,” John Legend performs “Nothing Compares 2U” and Chris Martin and Susannah Hoffs share “Manic Monday.”

“They do it very intimately,” Ehrlich said of the duet.

The pandemic might make people more eager for a special such as this. “There might be a thirst to see something with a live audience,” he said. “It’s uplifting.”

Potent Paranormal Premiere on Travel

Season two of Ghost Nation begins April 22 on Travel Channel. The season starts with a two-hour premiere, a first for the series, titled “The Witching Tree.”

“We wanted to have a really big kickoff for the season,” Travel Channel general manager Matt Butler said.

Ghost Nation sees Jason Hawes, Steve Gonsalves and Dave Tango check out paranormal situations. Travel promises bigger, more chilling mysteries. “More emphasis on story,” Butler added.

Audiences respond to the hosts because they are “skeptical believers,” said Butler, their doubtful nature often matching the viewer’s. “Their first instinct is to dismiss,” Butler said. “They challenge what is happening, and I think the viewer responds to that.”

‘Penny Dreadful’ Reboots in Vintage L.A.

And Penny Dreadful is back! Penny Dreadful: City of Angels premieres on Showtime April 26. Showtime calls it “a spiritual descendant of the original Penny Dreadful,” which was set in Victorian-era London.

City of Angels takes place in Los Angeles in 1938. A horrific murder shocks the city, and Detective Tiago Vega and partner Lewis Michener “become embroiled in an epic story that reflects the rich history of Los Angeles,” per Showtime. John Logan returns to executive produce.

Daniel Zovatto plays Vega and Nathan Lane plays Michener. Zovatto called City of Angels “a completely different world” from the previous Penny Dreadful. “That was more about a monster,” he said. “This is about the monsters that live within us.”

Mexican-American folklore flows throughout the series, which touches on how L.A.’s infamous freeways divided up the city and sectioned off poorer neighborhoods. “People get to see how the city was built, and how neighborhoods were gentrified,” said Zovatto.

Zovatto said working on the project was the best eight months of his life. “It’s one of those shows that’s able to capture you, and take you to a whole different world.”

Fox News carried its dominance of the weekly ratings charts into April, taking both the primetime and total day crowns for the first full week of April.

Fox News averaged 3.5 million viewers for the week of April 6 to April 12 to top all cable networks, according to Nielsen. MSNBC finished second with 1.9 million viewers, with CNN holding the third spot with 1.8 million watchers.

HGTV tied with TLC and History for fourth with 1.1 million viewers, said Nielsen. TBS and A&E network tied for seventh, while Hallmark Channel (948,000 viewers) and Food Network (905,000) rounded out the top 10.

On the total day side, Fox News averaged 2.2 million viewers to top all networks, followed by CNN, MSNBC, HGTV, Food Network and Hallmark Channel, said Nielsen. 

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting the week of April 6 to April 12 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

April 6 -- The Big Show (comedy) -- Netflix

April 6 -- Deadwater Fell (drama) -- Acorn TV

April 7 -- The Last O.G. (returning series) -- TBS

April 8 -- Liar (returning series) -- Sundance

April 9 -- The Good Fight (returning series) -- CBS All Access

April 9 -- Shaq Life (reality series) -- TNT

April 10 -- Brews Brothers (comedy) -- Netflix

April 11 -- The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel (movie) -- Lifetime

April 12 -- Belgravia (drama) -- Epix

April 12 -- Insecure (returning series) -- HBO

April 12 -- Killing Eve (returning series) -- BBC America/AMC

April 12 -- Run (dramedy) -- HBO (RELATED: 'Run' Review)

April 12 -- Willie Nelson: American Outlaw (documentary) --A&E

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting the week of April 6 to April 12 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

April 6 -- The Big Show (comedy) -- Netflix

April 6 -- Deadwater Fell (drama) -- Acorn TV

April 7 -- The Last O.G. (returning series) -- TBS

April 8 -- Liar (returning series) -- Sundance

April 9 -- The Good Fight (returning series) -- CBS All Access

April 9 -- Shaq Life (reality series) -- TNT

April 10 -- Brews Brothers (comedy) -- Netflix

April 11 -- The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel (movie) -- Lifetime

April 12 -- Belgravia (drama) -- Epix

April 12 -- Insecure (returning series) -- HBO

April 12 -- Killing Eve (returning series) -- BBC America/AMC

April 12 -- Run (dramedy) -- HBO

April 12 -- Willie Nelson: American Outlaw (documentary) --A&E

Fox News continues to dominate the weekly cable ratings charts as it blew away the competition during the week of March 16 to March 22, according to Nielsen.

Fox News averaged 2.4 million on a total day basis -- its best performance thus far in 2020 -- to top all cable networks for the week. The network was paced by Outnumbered Overtime, anchored by Harris Faulkner, which marked its highest-rated week in both total viewers and in the demo since the program's 2017 launch, according to Nielsen Research.

CNN finished second with 1.5 million viewers, followed by MSNBC at 1.4 million watchers.

Related: Cable News Leading Increase in TV Viewing, Comscore Says

On the primetime front, Fox News finished first for the 9th consecutive week, averaging 4 million viewers and nearly doubling second place MSNBC, 2.4 million viewers. CNN is third with 2 million viewers, followed by HGTV and TLC, which finished tied for fourth with 1.1 million viewers.

History, Hallmark Channel, Discovery Channel each averaged 1 million viewers, while TBS (979,000 viewers) and A&E Network (965,000) rounded out the top 10 most watched shows for the week, according to Nielsen. .

Fox News rode its coronavirus coverage to the top of the weekly cable ratings charts for the week of March 9 to March 15, according to Nielsen.

Fox News averaged 3.5 million viewers in primetime to top all cable networks for the eighth straight week, said Nielsen. CNN’s finished second with 2.8 million viewers, with MSNBC coming in third at 2.3 million watchers. HGTV finished fourth with 1.1 million viewers, while TBS, A&E, TLC, and History tied for fifth with 1 million viewers. Discovery Channel and TNT rounded out the top 10 most watched networks for the week.

Fox News averaged 1.9 million viewers on a 24-hour basis to lead CNN, MSNBC, HGTV and Nickelodeon in the category, according to Nielsen. 

Fox News was the most watched cable network last week as it continues to steamroll its cable network competition, according to Nielsen.

Fox News averaged 3.2 million viewers for the week of March 2 to March 8, which was more than 1 million viewers more than second place MSNBC (2 million viewers), according to Nielsen. The network was paced by its coverage of the March 3 Super Tuesday presidential primaries, averaging 3.5 million for its 6 pm to 12 am coverage.

CNN finished third with 1.3 million viewers, followed by HGTV’s 1.1 million viewers. Discovery Channel, ESPN, A&E Network, and History (all tied with 1 million viewers), along with TLC (993,000) and TNT (917,000) rounded out the top 10 most watched networks for the week.

On a 24-hour basis, Fox News Channel averaged 1.7 million viewers, topping MSNBC, CNN, HGTV, ESPN and A&E Network, said Nielsen. 

A&E Network will produce three April specials around country music legends Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, the network announced Wednesday.

The Willie Nelson: American Outlaw special debuts April 12 and pays tribute to Nelson’s seven-decade long career through on-stage performances, interviews and behind the scenes concert footage. The special also offers a look at the Willie Nelson tribute concert, which includes appearances from George Strait, Jimmy Buffett, Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews, Eric Church, Emmylou Harris, Jack Johnson, Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Norah Jones and The Little Willies, according to the network.

Also on April 12, the network will premiere Biography: Dolly, which will explore the life and five-decade career of the songwriter/performer who has influenced generations of country and pop artists. The special will feature interviews with Lily Tomlin, Chris Stapleton, Jane Fonda, Kylie Minogue and other friends and fellow musicians.

Biography: Kenny Rogers, premieres April 13 and follows his journey to country singer, actor and pop-culture icon, said the network. 

Fox News ended the month of February in impressive ratings fashion, blowing away the competition in the cable weekly primetime and total day rating races.

Fox News averaged 3.1 million viewers during the week of Feb. 24 to March 1, easily besting second place MSNBC, which averaged 1.8 million viewers, according to Nielsen. ESPN and CNN tied for third with 1.1 million viewers, while A&E, HGTV, History, and TLC finished in a tie for fifth place with 1 million viewers.

Discovery Channel (988,000 viewers) and TBS (971,000) rounded out the top 10 most watched cable networks in primetime during the week, said Nielsen.

Fox News averaged 1.7 million viewers on a 24-hour basis, topping MSNBC, CNN, HGTV and A&E Network in the category, according to Nielsen. The network has finished in first place every week in 2020 thus far on the total day chart, said Nielsen. 

A&E Network has renewed its freshman documentary series Kids Behind Bars: Life or Parole for a second season, the network said Thursday.

The series focuses on convicted juvenile offenders who received mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole. The second season will chronicle eight convicted offenders fighting for a second chance. It also gives voice to the families of their victims who must grapple with the possibility that they could soon be released due to a recent United States Supreme Court ruling that such sentences for minors are unconstitutional, according to network officials.

“A&E is proud to continue our legacy as a home of thought-provoking and timely non-fiction programming with season two of Kids Behind Bars: Life or Parole,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, Executive VP & Head of Programming for A&E in a statement. “The series shines a light on our nation’s criminal justice system to examine complex cases and their impact not only on those directly involved, but also on communities as a whole.”