Show promos are a staple of TV advertising, helping networks to soak up excess ad inventory and ensuring a drumbeat of viewer awareness for current and upcoming series. But TV screens are just one way to reach audiences — as people spend more time in front of their computers and phones, networks are leveraging social video as well. 

Using insights from Tubular Labs and iSpot.tv, we examined three shows — Clarice, Rock the Block and Genius: Aretha — that networks have recently been promoting on TV to see how they’re being advertised on social video.

Clarice, the new CBS series based on the novel The Silence of the Lambs, is the No. 1 TV show promo so far in 2021, with 2.8 billion TV ad impressions, 449.5 million of which have occurred in March, per iSpot. CBS has taken a multi-pronged approach on social video: The show has its own Twitter and Facebook accounts, and CBS has also promoted it through the parent account. 

The initial promotions for Clarice came from the main CBS YouTube account, with two videos uploaded on May 19, 2020: “First Look at the New 2020-2021 CBS Primetime Schedule,” with just a brief mention of the show, while “Clarice - New Drama Coming Soon to CBS,” featured co-creators and executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet talking about the genesis of the series. But most of the action is taking place on the Clarice-specific accounts.

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Twitter has been the main vehicle for official promotional videos around the show, with 99 posted so far. The first Twitter video to go live was the same version of the teaser that was posted to YouTube. Leading up to the premiere, the Clarice Twitter account posted additional short clips, all highly stylized to give a creepy vibe, much in line with the show’s aesthetic. 

The most-viewed Twitter video, with 4.3 million views, was a Jan. 11 clip encouraging users to like the tweet for a reminder about the Feb. 11 premiere, while the second-place Twitter video by views (1.3 million), was a much more traditional promo akin to what you see on TV. Since then, Clarice has released short clips from the show, as well as cast and crew commentary, on Twitter.

In the cable world, HGTV has been putting major muscle behind season two of Rock the Block, which premiered March 8. It’s appeared in iSpot’s Promo Mojo ranking each week so far this month. 

According to iSpot, Rock the Block promos have racked up 686 million TV ad impressions in March alone, making it the No. 2 most-seen TV promo for the month overall.

HGTV has also uploaded 19 season two-related Rock the Block videos to its parent account on Facebook. The first, posted on Oct. 6, revealed the talent lineup with a typical COVID-era virtual video call. It’s generated 94.8K views, almost all of which occurred in the first week, according to Tubular. The next Facebook video, which went up on Feb. 13 and has 38.2K views, feels more like a traditional TV promo, complete with the lower-third promoting the premiere date. 

In March, HGTV used Facebook to reveal sneak peeks, advertise the premiere, engage fans and share clips from the show. The most-seen Facebook video for season two is “Rock the Block: Team Brian and Mika,” with 263K views, 231K of which occurred in the first week, per Tubular.

Finally, a look at National Geographic’s Genius: Aretha, which premiered on March 21 and is the third in the network’s Genius anthology. According to iSpot, TV promos for the limited series racked up 588.7 million TV ad impressions in March, and 844.7 million in total so far this year. 

Nat Geo has taken a somewhat modest approach on social video, with a few videos uploaded across YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. YouTube has the most clips (eight), and the most-viewed one is the initial trailer, posted June 25, 2020, with 653K views, nearly all of which occurred in the first month, per Tubular.

Of the top five most-watched Genius: Aretha YouTube videos, four are trailers with view counts ranging from 110K to 653K, while No. 5 is a behind-the-scenes look posted in August, with 73.7K views.

A recent video takes a different route: In mid-March, Nat Geo uploaded “All Hail the Queen: HBCU Band Tribute,” hosted by Lance Gross and presented by Genius: Aretha. 

B&C has partnered with always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company iSpot.tv to bring you a weekly chart we call Promo Mojo: exclusive data showing the top five TV promos ranked by ad impressions. Our data covers the seven-day period through March 21.

On the strength of 273.9 million TV ad impressions, a two-minute episode of Disney Channel’s comedy short series Random Rings — that doubles as a promo for Big City Greens — takes first place. Cable networks dominate our chart, with Disney joined by National Geographic, which hypes its Genius anthology series in second place; Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, which gives some love to Mystery 101 in fourth; and HGTV, which builds excitement for Rock the Block in fifth.

CBS, the sole traditional broadcaster in our ranking this time, promotes the 2021 NCAA Basketball Tournament in third place.

Notably, the Mystery 101 spot has the highest iSpot Attention Index (124) in our ranking, meaning viewers were on average highly likely to watch it all the way through (vs. interrupting it by changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV).

1) Random Rings/Big City Greens, Disney Channel

Impressions: 273,880,086

Interruption Rate: 5.23%

Attention Index: 103 (3% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 99%, Local 0%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $2,130,988

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

2) Genius: Aretha, National Geographic

Impressions: 269,635,349

Interruption Rate: 1.46%

Attention Index: 111 (11% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 88%, Local 11%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $1,226,535

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $766,871

3) 2021 NCAA Basketball Tournament, CBS

Impressions: 224,227,457

Interruption Rate: 2.75%

Attention Index: 75 (25% more interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 81%, Local 18%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $577,559

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $2,273,138

4) Mystery 101, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Impressions: 212,111,306

Interruption Rate: 4.18%

Attention Index: 124 (24% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 98%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $1,096,368

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

5) Rock the Block, HGTV

Impressions: 208,998,416

Interruption Rate: 1.31%

Attention Index: 118 (18% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 98%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $832,742

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $154,382

*Data provided by iSpot.tv, TV Ad Measurement for Disruptive Brands*

Impressions - The total impressions within all US households including National Linear (Live & Time-shifted), VOD+OTT, and Local.

Attention Score - Measures the propensity of consumers to interrupt an ad play on TV. The higher the score, the more complete views. Actions that interrupt an ad play include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV.

Attention Index - Represents the Attention of a specific creative or program placement vs. the average in its respective industry. The average is represented by a score of 100, and the total index range is from 0 through 200. For example, an attention index of 125 means that there are 25% fewer interrupted ad plays compared to the average.

Imp. Types - Impression types tracked include National (Live + Time-shifted), Local, VOD & OTT. See below for further details.

In-network Value - Estimated media value of in-network promos.

Out-of-network Spend - The estimated amount spent on TV airing time for this promo's spots during a given date range.

National: Live - A national promo which was viewed during live linear television broadcast or same day, via DVR or on-demand.

Local - A promo that was aired during a local ad break slot.

VOD - This includes promos that run in on-demand content past three days (i.e. do not contain the linear promo load)

OTT - On-demand streaming content (i.e. Hulu, Roku, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast).

B&C has partnered with always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company iSpot.tv to bring you a weekly chart we call Promo Mojo: exclusive data showing the top five TV promos ranked by ad impressions. Our data covers the seven-day period through March 14.

On the strength of 305.5 million TV ad impressions, a CBS promo for the 2021 Grammys takes first place — though that promotional push failed to sufficiently motivate audiences; ratings for the big show (which normally airs in January) were way down. Fox, the other traditional broadcaster in our chart, takes second place to promote the America’s Most Wanted reboot.

Rounding out the ranking: HGTV in third place, to build excitement for Rock the Block; Disney Channel in fourth, with a general network spot titled “Use Your Voice” that tells the inspiring story of ballet dancer Misty Copeland; and National Geographic in fifth, to hype the latest edition of its Genius anthology series focusing on the life of Aretha Franklin. 

Notably, the Rock the Block promo has the highest iSpot Attention Index (121) in our ranking, meaning viewers were on average highly likely to watch it all the way through (vs. interrupting it by changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV).

1) 2021 Grammys, CBS

Impressions: 305,484,857

Interruption Rate: 1.48%

Attention Index: 108 (8% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 90%, Local 8%, VOD/OTT 2%

In-network Value: $3,280,932

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $730,916

2) America's Most Wanted, Fox

Impressions: 229,026,088

Interruption Rate: 1.07%

Attention Index: 115 (15% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 86%, Local 11%, VOD/OTT 3%

In-network Value: $1,486,036

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $1,354,201

3) Rock the Block, HGTV

Impressions: 215,375,524

Interruption Rate: 1.18%

Attention Index: 121 (21% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 98%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $1,368,736

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $330,733

4) Use Your Voice, Disney Channel

Impressions: 207,948,252

Interruption Rate: 5.70%

Attention Index: 104 (4% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 97%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 2%

In-network Value: $2,967,109

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

5) Genius, National Geographic

Impressions: 186,541,337

Interruption Rate: 1.85%

Attention Index: 102 (2% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 91%, Local 7%, VOD/OTT 2%

In-network Value: $1,499,866

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $2,559,349

*Data provided by iSpot.tv, TV Ad Measurement for Disruptive Brands*

Impressions - The total impressions within all US households including National Linear (Live & Time-shifted), VOD+OTT, and Local.

Attention Score - Measures the propensity of consumers to interrupt an ad play on TV. The higher the score, the more complete views. Actions that interrupt an ad play include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV.

Attention Index - Represents the Attention of a specific creative or program placement vs. the average in its respective industry. The average is represented by a score of 100, and the total index range is from 0 through 200. For example, an attention index of 125 means that there are 25% fewer interrupted ad plays compared to the average.

Imp. Types - Impression types tracked include National (Live + Time-shifted), Local, VOD & OTT. See below for further details.

In-network Value - Estimated media value of in-network promos.

Out-of-network Spend - The estimated amount spent on TV airing time for this promo's spots during a given date range.

National: Live - A national promo which was viewed during live linear television broadcast or same day, via DVR or on-demand.

Local - A promo that was aired during a local ad break slot.

VOD - This includes promos that run in on-demand content past three days (i.e. do not contain the linear promo load)

OTT - On-demand streaming content (i.e. Hulu, Roku, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast).

Broadcasting + Cable's Kent Gibbons and Mike Malone chat about the hit films premiering on streaming, NewsNation finding its voice, and Genius: Aretha in the March installment of Busted Pilot.

National Geographic and Disney Plus will roll out highly-anticipated, scripted drama series during a week that features several marquee new shows and movies.

Nat Geo on March 21 will debut Genius: Aretha, it’s eight-part series based on the life of R&B soul singer Aretha Franklin. The third installment in the network’s Genius franchise will air across four consecutive nights.

March 19 will mark the premiere of Disney Plus’ Marvel-based series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The series stars Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan reprising their respective roles from the Marvel Avengers films. The six-episode series will stream weekly.

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting the week of Feb. 22-Feb. 28 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

March 15 -- Bloodlands (drama) -- Acorn TV

March 16 -- Mayans MC (returning series) -- FX

March 17 -- Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal (documentary) -- Netflix

March 18 -- Zack Snyder’s Justice League (movie) -- HBO Max

March 19 -- Calls (anthology drama) -- Apple TV Plus 

March 19 -- Cypher (drama) -- Roku

March 19 -- Country Comfort (comedy) -- Netflix

March 19 -- Formula 1: Drive to Survive (sports reality) -- Netflix

March 21 -- Q: Into the Storm (documentary) -- HBO Max

March 21 -- The Gloaming (drama) -- Starz

National Geographic continues its Genius franchise with a focus on the life of R&B music legend Aretha Franklin.

Much like its first two Genius projects about Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso, Genius: Aretha is defined by the excellent performance of its lead star, Cynthia Erivo. It doesn’t take long for Erivo to embody the look and aura of the legendary singer. It also doesn’t take long for Erivo to deliver her well-established musical vocals to Aretha’s biggest and well-known hits, opening the series with a rendition of Franklin’s “Chain of Fools” during a live 1967 concert performance. 

The series also doesn’t wait long in delving into Franklin’s personal life, which has been mostly private and undisclosed to most observers. In just the first episode, viewers will learn of Franklin’s initial experiences with racism as a child; her complicated relationship with her father, the Rev. C.L. Franklin (Courtney B. Vance), a well-known Detroit Baptist minister nicknamed “The Man with the Million Dollar Voice;” her often-turbulent early marriage; and her experiences as a young mother.

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Viewers will also get a glimpse of Franklin’s grit and determination to be a star, as well as her natural musical abilities. Franklin was a self-taught pianist, and in one scene depicting a recording session, she explains to a group of musicians her vision of how a song should sound not through intricate musical terminology but through her own language and vibe. The mostly white musicians quickly pick up on Franklin’s cues, resulting in one of her biggest hits. 

The eight-episode series will take viewers through Franklin’s life and career, from her chart explosion and literal coronation as the “Queen of Soul” at a concert, to her unabashed support for the Civil Rights Movement, to her awkward but eventually successful transition through several changes in musical styles and trends. Fans of Franklin as well as of the Genius franchise will certainly not be disappointed in Genius: Aretha. 

National Geographic will air all eight episodes of Genius: Aretha across four consecutive nights beginning March 21.

New Disney Plus Superhero Series Is Marvel-ous

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, a Marvel Studios project with Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, aka the Falcon, and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes and The Winter Soldier, premieres March 19 on Disney Plus. 

Those characters, and actors, are well-known in the Marvel movie universe, appearing in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Endgame. (What they weren’t in — 1985 espionage movie The Falcon and the Snowman.) 

“Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan are spectacular actors and we felt like we hadn’t explored their stories or their backstories or their personal stories enough as Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes,” said Kevin Feige, president, Marvel Studios and chief creative officer, Marvel. “So it was always the thought that we wanted to learn more about both of them.”

The characters “team up on a global adventure that tests their abilities,” said Disney Plus, “and their patience.”

Feige has long sought to put the characters center stage. “We thought if we ever had that opportunity, we’d watch a whole show with the two of them,” he said. “And Disney Plus finally gives us that opportunity.”

Nat Geo Remembers the Queen of Soul 

On March 21, National Geographic begins Genius: Aretha. It is the third installment of Genius, after series dedicated to Einstein and Picasso, and Nat Geo was eager to showcase a woman. “This felt the most exciting to us,” said Carolyn Bernstein, executive VP of global scripted content at Nat Geo. “Aretha [Franklin] embodies all the different elements of what we look for in a show.”

That includes a body of work that any reasonable person would consider genius, and an array of “obstacles and pressures and conflict,” said Bernstein. 

There are eight episodes. The series explores “Franklin’s musical genius and incomparable career, as well as the immeasurable impact and lasting influence she has had on music and culture around the world in the first-ever, definitive and only authorized scripted limited series on the life of the universally acclaimed Queen of Soul,” according to Nat Geo. 

Suzan-Lori Parks is the showrunner, and executive produces alongside Anthony Hemingway. Fittingly, Parks has received a MacArthur grant, known as a “Genius” grant. Brian Grazer and Ron Howard of Imagine Entertainment exec produce as well. 

Cynthia Erivo plays Franklin, who died in 2018. Courtney B. Vance plays her father, C.L. 

Bernstein feels Erivo nailed the challenging role. “She delivers both incredible musicianship and first rate acting chops,” she said. “She brings a tremendous amount of soul to the project.”

Vance wasn’t bad either. “He’s just spectacular,” Bernstein said.

As the nation continues to celebrate Black History Month, a number of television distributors are making sure that the recognition of African-American contributions to the country echo loudly on the small screen beyond February.

National Geographic on Feb. 10 said it will mark the 100th anniversary of the devastating Tulsa, Oklahoma massacre in which white racists burned down a thriving Black community in the city. The documentary, Red Summer, recounts the two-day massacre that left as many as 300 Black people dead and more than 10,000 homeless and displaced. The documentary will air in June as part of Nat Geo’s celebration of Juneteenth, when the last African-American slaves in the U.S. learned of their emancipation. 

Until recently, this dark period in the United States was all but buried in the history books. National Geographic Global Television Networks president Courteney Monroe revealed during her TCA Winter Tour opening remarks that she had only recently become aware of the incident. “This tragedy was the most visible during a period in the early 20th century when Jim Crow laws were at their height and the [Klu Klux Klan] was resurging across the nation,” she would add. 

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Nat Geo will also pay homage to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, through its March limited series Genius: Aretha. It’s the third installment of the network’s Genius franchise, built around prominent and creative historic figures, and the first featuring an African-American legend. Nat Geo will follow up Franklin with a Genius focused on Martin Luther King Jr. 

HBO in March will sing the praises of a legendary female R&B singer, Tina Turner, in Tina. The documentary charts the singer’s career of more than five decades, recounting her early fame, her personal and professional struggles, including her tumultuous marriage to Ike Turner, as well as her even more improbable resurgence as a global star in the 1980s. Also in March, Lifetime will air a movie chronicling the life of iconic gospel singer Mahalia Jackson — the first of four films the network will develop with Good Morning America host Robin Roberts. 

Making Awards History

African-American images and stories are teeing up history in the upcoming awards season as Black actors and projects garnered a record-setting number of nominations. For example, four of five SAG Awards best film nominations are led by people of color — three of them with predominately African-American casts: Netflix’s Da 5 Bloods and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Amazon Video’s One Night in Miami. 

Other Black historically themed shows, like HBO’s Lovecraft Country — which weaves the negative history of the 1950s Jim Crow period within an equally scary sci-fi tale — Hulu’s The United States vs. Billie Holiday and Judas and the Black Messiah, which focuses on the government’s infiltration of the Black Panther Party in the 1960s, drew multiple nominations in major categories across nominations for Screen Actors Guild and Critics Choice Awards.

Black History Month has arguably taken on greater significance this year in light of the social justice movement ignited by the death of George Floyd last May. TV One president Michelle Rice said that the continued proliferation of content created about, by and for African-Americans will help ensure that the history, stories, images and messages resonate throughout the year. 

“Even though TV One targets black people and we feel like we get that message out to our audience every day, I think it’s also important to get that message out to consumers who are not Black,” she said. “When you talk about this whole anti-racism movement, it’s really about educating and getting people to understand that our stories are part of the fabric of this country.”

National Geographic has set a March 21 date for the debut of its Genius: Aretha mini-series profiling the life of legendary R&B singer Aretha Franklin.

The eight-episode series stars Cynthia Erivo as the Queen of Soul. Nat Geo will air two episodes each week over four consecutive nights beginning March 21, with episodes appearing on Hulu the day after airing. All episodes will be available for streaming on March 25, Franklin’s birthday. 

The network also announced four new unscripted projects from Free Solo producers Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin.

The deal includes two feature documentaries, a 10-part series and a one-hour pilot. The projects includes the feature documentary Thai Cave Rescue that chronicles the 2018 rescue of a boys’ soccer team trapped inside a flooded cave in Thailand. Another project profiles conservationist Kristine Tompkins, while Into the Unknown focuses on elite athletes, and Photographer profiles Nat Geo photographers. 

“Chai and Jimmy are masterful storytellers who bring unparalleled artistry and distinctive vision to everything they do,” said Carolyn Bernstein, EVP of scripted content and documentary films for National Geographic in a statement. “We are proud to continue our partnership with them to tell these profound stories in an authentic yet innovative way.”

A biography series on the life and career of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, debuting this fall on National Geographic will build on other networks’ successes with scripted movies and limited series profiling African-American musical artists.

From Lifetime’s April biopic The Clark Sisters, chronicling the award-winning gospel group, to BET’s series American Soul, about Soul Train creator and host Don Cornelius, networks have drummed up big ratings for scripted programming content showcasing African-American performers.

“Music docupics are a real equalizer,” Lifetime executive VP of movies, limited series and original movie acquisitions Tanya Lopez said. “Music resonates on all levels to all cultures, so you really get a peek into how the music came to be.”

Lifetime has hit the right notes with a series of biopics tailored to its female-targeted audience. Its April 11 movie The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel averaged 2.7 million viewers, making it the network’s most-watched original movie of the year so far. It was Lifetime’s biggest audience for an original movie since 2016, when Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart, about the popular R&B singer, drew 3.6 million viewers.

“We’re super-serving an underserved audience,” Lopez said. “I don’t think the audience for these movies is strictly African-American, but that’s a huge component of its success, because these artists are known and revered in the African-American community but may not have the same exposure outside of it.”

TV One VP of original programming and production Robyn Greene Arrington said movies such as The Bobby DeBarge Story also offer content that features lead African-American actors and actresses playing artists that have created iconic and identifiable music that resonates with the African-American community. The 2019 film about the lead singer of 1970s funk and R&B band Switch was TV One’s most-watched original movie that year, averaging 1.2 million viewers.

“Black people have a certain affinity to music, and those artists are part of our life,” Arrington said. “Music is the soundtrack of the important events in our lives, so we almost see those people intimately in our world, even more so than an actor or an actress.”

The beat goes on for the genre as several new movies and series are in development. Along with Nat Geo’s Genius: Aretha — starring Harriet actress Cynthia Erivo, it was moved to the fall from May after the pandemic shut down production — Lifetime in 2021 will air a bio movie focusing on 1980s R&B rap group Salt-N-Pepa, according to Lopez.

On the series front, BET is in development on Uptown, a three-part miniseries about the 1986 R&B/rap record label founded by Andre Harrell. Uptown follows the network’s sophomore series American Soul.

“These biopics take a character that you may know and make them relatable in terms of their struggles and journeys,” BET executive VP of specials, music programming and music strategy Connie Orlando said. “The world is finally catching onto what we always knew, and that is that our stories are not only important but have mainstream appeal.” 

Walt Disney Television Studios said it has postponed production of Grey’s Anatomy, Genius: Aretha and essentially its entire pilot slate for at least three weeks, due to the continued spread of the coronavirus.

According to reports, Grey’s Anatomy had just wrapped production on episode 21 of its 25-episode season. It is aired on Disney broadcast network ABC. Genius: Aretha was slated to debut on Disney’s National Geographic network on May 25. The third season of the Emmy-winning anthology series stars Cynthia Erivo as singing legend Aretha Franklin.

In a statement, Disney said those series have postponed production for at least three weeks, as has essentially its entire pilot slate. Pilots that have postponed production are:

Adopted (ABC) single-camera comedy written by late night host Jimmy Kimmel. 

The Big Leap (Fox) Dramedy based on U.K. docuseries Big Ballet. 

The Big Sky (ABC) Cop drama from David E. Kelley. 

The Brides (ABC) Vampire Soap Opera from the team behind Riverdale.

Harlem’s Kitchen (ABC) Restaurant Drama starring Delroy Lindo. 

Home Economics (ABC) comedy series starring Topher Grace. 

Kids Matter Now (ABC) Multi-camera comedy from creator of Joey. 

My Village (ABC) Comedy pilot from creator of New Adventures of Old Christine. 

Ordinary Joe (NBC) Drama series.

Prospect (ABC) Western comedy series. 

Rebel (ABC) drama series based on the life of Erin Brockovich. 

Thirtysomething(Else) (ABC) sequel to 1980s family drama Thirtysomething. 

Untitled Kapnek/Holland (ABC) untitled comedy series from Splitting Up Together writer and director Emily Knapek and Dean Holland. 

Valley Trash (ABC) comedy set in an L.A. private school. 

Work Wife (ABC) a sitcom based on morning show hosts Kelly Ripa’s and Ryan Seacrest’s work partnership. 

Wreckage (ABC) drama series based on the Emily Bleeker novel of the same name. 

National Geographic previewed its Genius: Aretha series Sunday night during the Academy Awards, three months before the show's Memorial Day premiere. 

The eight-part series, the third installment in National Geographic's Genius anthology series, stars Cynthia Erivo as the Queen of Soul. Also starring in the series are Courtney B. Vance, Malcolm Barrett, Patrice Covington and Marque Richardson.

Emmy and Tony-winning actor Courtney B. Vance will join the cast of National Geographic’s Genius: Aretha series based on the life of Aretha Franklin, the network said Thursday.

Vance (The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story) will play Aretha’s father, civil rights activist C.L. Franklin, according to Nat Geo officials. In addition, Suzan-Lori Parks (Topdog/Underdog) will serve as showrunner and executive producer, while Anthony Hemingway (Power, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story) will executive produce and serve as the producing director for the upcoming season, said network officials.

“Courtney B. Vance is an actor whose work I’ve admired for so long,” said Parks in a statement. “To have him bring his award-winning talents to the role of C.L. Franklin, a man of great conviction who also had many flaws, is a beautiful dream come true.”

Genius: Aretha, the third installment of the Genius series that previously featured Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso, will debut in Spring 2020.

National Geographic announced an ambitious slate of non-fiction series featuring the return of factual series Brain Games, the network announced during Disney’s upfront presentation Tuesday morning.

Brain Games, which ran on Nat Geo from 2011-2016, will bring a Hollywood twist to the classic format in which celebrities look to realize their brain power through entertaining, interactive games, illusion and social experiments, according to the network. Actor/producer Keegan-Michael Key will host the series, which will feature as its first celebrities The first five celebrities confirmed are: Kristin Bell (The Good Place), Dax Shepherd (Bless This Mess), Drew Brees (QB, New Orleans Saints), Rebel Wilson (The Hustle), and Anthony Anderson (Blackish), according to Nat Geo. 

The network has also greenlit a new eight-part competition series Race to the Center of The Earth, in which four teams are pitted against one another in a nonstop sprint across the globe for a $1 million prize. The series is produced The Amazing Race producers Bertram Van Munster and Elise Doganieri.

Also, the network in 2020 will feature a live series that will take viewers to the Alaskan frontier. Alaska Live will utilize more than 25 cameras and 180 crew members to such Alaskan attractions as Kenai Fjords National Park, Prince William Sound, Katmai National Park, Bristol Bay and Tongass National Forest.

Other new series in development include China’s Hidden Kingdoms, Running Wild with Bear Grylls, Gordon Ramsay: Unchartered New Episodes, Lost Cities With Albert Lin, Trafficked With MAriana Van Zeller and Race to The Center of The Earth.

The shows join the previously announced scripted series Genius: Aretha, based on the life of R&B singer Aretha Franklin.