Adult Swim is aiming at its millennial audience with the development of new original series that serve both linear TV and digital platform viewers, the network said Thursday in advance of its May 18 upfront presentation.

Adult Swim has greenlit several new on-air shows, including a new Robot Chicken special -- Robot Chicken: The Walking Dead Special -- as well asMillion Dollar Extreme: World Peace, a live action series that follows the exploits of sketch comedy troupe Million Dollar Extreme; Brad Belman’s Dinner in America, which follows comedian Belman as he explores race relations across the country; a new pilot project from Dan Harmon dubbed Art Prison; and the return of classic Cartoon Network series Samurai Jack, network officials said

On the digital side, Adult Swim will launch several weekday shows including Stupid Morning Bullshit, Williams Street Swap Shop, Call of Karaoke and Development Meeting, the network said.

“Adult Swim is a one of a kind destination that simply knows its audience,” said Christina Miller, president and general manager, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang in a statement. “Mike Lazzo and his team have always found new and interesting ways to produce and distribute content that can’t be found anywhere else.”

A list of original series and specials include:

Montana James

In this half-hour live-action special, adventure has one name, Montana James. Follow our feathered-cap-wearing explorer on another one of his rip-roaring syndicated television odysseys. This time Montana is on the hunt for the coveted Holy Grail Cup, but watch out Montana, the Order of the Red Arm Band is on your tail again! Created by Nick Corirossi and Charles Ingram, and produced by Funny Or Die.

Mr. Neighbor's House

Mr. Neighbor's House is a half-hour, live-action children's show hosted by Brian Huskey (Childrens Hospital, Veep). He's like any other host of kids programming, except that he is barely able to contain the suppressed rage boiling underneath his quiet demeanor. From the safe confines of his home, he throws to various "educational" vignettes: puppets, animation, stop motion, spoken word and mixed medium elements that all blend together into one half-hour special… that is NOT for kids. Mr. Neighbor's House was created by Huskey, Jason Mantzoukas (Childrens Hospital, The League), and Jesse Falcon, who also serve as executive producers with Rob Corddry (Childrens Hospital, Hot Tub Time Machine).

Dream Corp, LLC

Dream Corp, LLC is an absurd workplace comedy set in a neglected dream therapy facility. Each week, viewers will watch as a rotating cast of desperate patients have their dreams recorded and analyzed by Dream Corp's absent-minded professor, Dr. Roberts (Jon Gries), and his team of unremarkable scientists. Dream Corp, LLC is created by Daniel Stessen (The Gold Sparrow) and executive-produced by alums of both American and British versions of The Office, John Krasinski and Stephen Merchant, as well as Krasinski's Sunday Night partner Allyson Seeger.

Brad Neely's Harg Nallin' Sclopio Peepio

A new quarter-hour animated sketch show created by Brad Neely (China, IL), Harg Nallin' Sclopio Peepio features a collection of frenetic one-off bits, shorts and songs, all filtered through Neely's signature visual style. Beware however, as this show hates you. Neely and Daniel Weidenfeld serve as executive producers, with Dave Newberg as co-executive producer and Titmouse, Inc. producing.

Decker: Unclassified

A successful web series and an action-packed powerhouse, Decker: Unclassified follows Agent Jack Decker as he subverts terrorist plots against his beloved America. Joined by ally and master code breaker Agent Jonathan Kington, the two navigate evils both foreign and domestic threatening a once great nation. The series was created by and stars Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington, and is produced by Abso Lutely Productions.

FLCL

Created in 2000, FLCL told the tale of Naota, a 12-year-old boy who met a woman that would forever change his life…whether he liked it or not. Sixteen years later, Adult Swim and legendary animation studio Production I.G (Ghost in the Shell) are creating two new six-episode seasons to continue the tale, which will premiere in Adult Swim's Toonami block. In the new season of FLCL, many years have passed since Naota and Haruhara Haruko shared their adventure together. Meanwhile, the war between the two entities known as Medical Mechanica and Fraternity rages across the galaxy. Enter Hidomi, a young teenaged girl who believes there is nothing amazing to expect from her average life, until one day a new teacher named Haruko arrives at her school. Soon enough, Medical Mechanica is attacking her town and Hidomi discovers a secret within her that could save everyone, a secret that only Haruko can unlock. Back for the new season is FLCL series creator Kazuya Tsurumaki, serving as supervisor with director Hideto Iwai (Last Dinner).

Adult Swim pilots in development include: 

Lazor Wulf

This quarter-hour animated pilot follows a wolf who carries a laser on his back and believes that love has no limit, that wearing do-rags gives you power and that Gawd is a lie. It was created by Henry Bonsu and written/executive-produced by Bonsu and Daniel Weidenfeld (China, IL).

Chuck Deuce

A half-hour animated masterpiece written by Lars Kensethk, Chuck Deuce is about a Northern California slacktivist/surfer who paddles out to carve mavericks, when a giant wave crushes him. Three weeks later, he walks ashore with no idea where he's been, how he survived, or why his brain is now ravaged by hallucinations – everything from conjoined CIA agents, talking sex dolls, and sock puppet headed freaks. Like his herpes, Chuck ignores it and returns to his daily grind of violating nudity bans, protesting decency laws and skirting home-yak-milking statutes in his native Santa Cruz. But the question persists, what happened to Chuck out there... and is it really over? Chuck Deuce is executive produced by creator Chioke 'Stretch' McCoy and Matt Iles, with Jenn Tolman serving as producer.

TV One’s acquisition of the cable rights to Fox broadcasting’s hit series Empire is a “game changer” for the 12-year old network, TV One president Brad Siegel said during the network’s Thursday morning upfront breakfast event.

As part of the network’s major deal with 20th Century Fox Television, the African-American targeted network in May will air every episode from the current season of Empire leading up to the sophomore series’ May 18 finale on Fox.

In addition, TV One will run episodes from the first and second seasons of the music-themed drama starring Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson throughout the summer, according to Siegel.

The deal, terms of which were not disclosed, is the biggest acquisition for the 12-year old network, which is known mostly for its original docu-series such as Unsung as well as classic sitcoms such as Sanford & Son. Siegel told Multichannel News that the network had been negotiating with series producer 20th Century Fox Television for two months before landing the deal.

“For TV One, to be the home for the number one drama on television that coincidently happens to be centered around an African-American family and has the largest African American audience, is a game changer,” said Siegel. “There’s no more perfect show for TV One.”

The Empire deal was one of several programming announcements made during TV One’s upfront presentation. On the original movie front, the network will air 26 tele-films in 2016, including 14 straight weeks of original films from Memorial Day to Labor Day, according to D’Angela Proctor, TV One senior vice president of original programming and production. 

The network will also launch several new reality series including Sneaker Pawn, which follows 17-year old entrepreneur Chase Reed’s New York-based sneaker business; and Family Bond, a docu-series that follows a family-owned bail bonding company.

TV One will also jump into the game show genre with The Dating Games, in which groups of families and friends compete against each other to correctly answer questions about the actions of two people on a date, Proctor said.

UPDATE:Upfronts 2016: Brad Siegel: TV One 'Empire' Acquisition a 'Game Changer'

TV One has acquired the exclusive cable rights to Fox broadcasting’s hit drama series Empire, the network announced prior to its Thursday morning upfront presentation in New York.

The music-themed drama starring Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson will launch on the African-American targeted TV One this spring following Empire’s season two finale on Fox next month, network officials said. Financial terms were not disclosed by the network, owned by Radio One and in about 57 million homes. 

“We are ecstatic to partner with 20th Television and Imagine in showcasing one of the biggest hits in television history,” said TV One president Brad Siegel. “Empire dominates the media landscape with a first-rate cast, original music content, engaging plots and celebrity guests. TV One is proud to be the exclusive cable network home for the series as it represents our brand promise to defy expectations.”

The Africa Channel will launch 13 new series as part of its new slate of original content, network officials said Tuesday.

The network on April 18 will expand its popular morning show Expresso to four hours with a new series dubbed Afternoon Express that will look at cooking, fashion, finance and well-being trends.

Along with the new series, the network will launch two new programming blocks featuring content from Nigeria, as well as programming targeting families. The network beginning April 18 will launch “Nollywood Night,” a Monday night block of Nigerian-based content which includes such shows as Before 30, which follows the lives of four 20-something Nigerian girlfriends; Gidi Up, about four close friends and their struggles to achieve their dreams; as well as films created in Nigeria, said network officials.

Africa Channel’s “Family Fun Zone,” launching weekend mornings starting April 23 will feature wildlife themed docu-series Siyaya: Come Wild With Us, and cooking-themed series Little Big Cook Off.  

Other new series set to premiere on The Africa Channel are:

·         Durban Beach Rescue: Lifeguards take action during the height of the holiday season. (Reality)

·         Bukas & Joints: Food and travel through Nigeria. (Food)

·         Tales from the Bush Larder: Culinary adventure through East Africa. (Food)

·         Long Miles Coffee Project: High stakes investment for an American couple and Burundi coffee farmers.  (Reality)

·         Making of a Mogul: African-born entrepreneurs share their secrets to success. (Lifestyle)

·         Death in Paradise: Caribbean police unit solves crime with fish out of water British detective. (Comedy)

·         Room 9: Paranormal police occult unit hunts down perpetrators of evil. (Drama)

"This is our most ambitious programming rollout ever, in keeping with our objective of making 2016 a breakout year for our network,” said Karen Juve, vice president of programming and acquisitions for Africa Channel in a statement. “These new series bring the very best of food, lifestyle, family and general entertainment programming from Africa to our viewers in the U.S. and Caribbean."

The announcements come as Africa Channel recently reached business deals with ad sales company HotHouse Media, distribution company T Media Sales, and African content creators AfricaXP.

Freeform will look to reach its young millennial audience beyond primetime with its first ever late night show, one of several news series, movies and specials announced as part of its 2016-17 programming slate, the network said in advance of its New York upfront presentation Thursday.

Three months after changing its name and brand from ABC Family, Freeform officials said it plans to offer new original content that reaches young viewers to air alongside its lineup of existing shows like Pretty Little Liars,Young & Hungry, Baby Daddy, Shadowhunters and Switched at Birth.

“Freeform is a brand built for the fresh taste of a modern generation who value open-mindedness, fluidity, immediacy and who don’t like to be fenced-in,” said Freeform president Tom Ascheim in a statement. “As we continue to evolve and deliver on our brand promise, it’s important that we put our audience at the center of everything we do and connect with them in all the places they are and in the ways they prefer – on our cable network, in the digital space and with ‘Freeform Fest’ IRL (in real life).”

Among the new shows the network will look to roll out over the next few months is Later Bitches, a half-hour comedic talk show focusing on pop culture featuring as yet named female hosts. The Daily Show producers Jennifer Flanz and Elise Terrell will consult on the series, which is described as late-night talk meets Sex and the City.

Freeform will team with Marvel Comics to develop a new series Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger, which chronicles two teenagers involved in an interracial romance who find themselves burdened and awakened to newly acquired superpowers while falling in love. Other new shows include Famous In Love, starring Bella Thorne as an ordinary college student who has to deal with a new life after getting a big role in a Hollywood blockbuster; and Issues, which takes a behind the scenes look at a women’s magazine based on the life of Cosmopolitan editor in chief Joanna Coles.

On the non-scripted series front, the network in August will launch Cheer Squad, which follows the World Cheerleading Champion Great White Sharks cheerleading squad; and Freeform Presents: Snapshot,” a two one-hour documentaries focusing on big pop culture moments from the producers of “30 for 30” and ESPN Films.

A list of new Freeform series appears below:

Drama

The Deep

In the mermaid-obsessed sea town of Bristol Cove, everyone’s lives will change when actual mermaids come ashore, causing sides to be taken, loyalties to be tested and a war between man and mermaid to begin.  Executive producers include Eric Wald, Dean White, Brad Luff, RD Robb and Nate Hopper.

Hunted

From executive producer Mila Kunis, “Hunted” centers on Valerie who escapes prison to prove she did not murder her husband. While the police hunt for her and attempt to prove her family helped her escape, Valerie fights to exonerate herself – but is she really innocent?  Along with Kunis, Ed Bernero and Hugh Sterbakov executive-produce.

Lore

A sci-fi drama from executive producer McG, “Lore” tells the story of the lone survivor of an ancient race of paranormal beings who is abducted and forced to put his extraordinary abilities to work for the government. When an old nemesis resurfaces, this arrangement turns into an uneasy alliance, and the only hope for survival in a dangerous world of mystery and magic. The series is written by Zack Stentz (“Thor”) and executive-produced by McG, Mary Viola, Zach Stentz, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Marcy Ross.

Misfits

A drama based on a hit British series, a group of twenty-somethings are exposed to a mysterious chemical, and subsequently develop peculiar superpowers. The series is from ABC Signature Studios and executive-produced by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage.

New People

Executive-produced by Joel Silver and writer/director Don Roos, in association with Lionsgate, this dramedy focuses on a middle class family who adopted identical twin boys at birth. One is all boy, one grew up trans. The series is inspired by the book “Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family.”

Nine Years Under

From executive producer Will Packer, “Nine Years Under” tells the story of a law school grad who blows off the bar exam to take a job at a funeral home after the sudden death of her mother.  Along with Packer, Korin Huggins executive-produces. 

Rising

Executive-produced by Selena Gomez, Mandy Teefey and Aaron Kaplan, this drama is set in a low-income Latino neighborhood, and is told through the eyes of an 18-year-old girl destined for greatness. Ana Cobarrubias will be a consultant on the project. 

Comedy

Alone Together

From The Lonely Island’s Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer, two misfits from different backgrounds try to make their way into the vain and status-obsessed culture of Los Angeles. Along the way, they find salvation in their male/female, strictly platonic friendship.

Made in LA

From executive producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, along with Mila Kunis, “Made in LA” is a half-hour comedy set in the world of fashion, centering on two friends who join their different skill sets to become fashion entrepreneurs. The series is loosely inspired by the creators of fashion label Juicy Couture and the authors of “The Glitter Plan.” The series is from ABC Signature Studios.

Paige One

Elizabeth Banks executive-produces this single-camera comedy that follows the insulated life of a children’s book author who hates children. Her life is turned upside down when her brother shows up on her door with his two young daughters.  The show comes from Warner Horizon TV, and executive producers Banks, Max Handelman and Susan Jaffee. 

Young & Hungry Spinoff

A spinoff of the network’s popular sitcom “Young & Hungry” executive produced by and starring Ashley Tisdale as Logan Rawlings.

Movies

Greek: The Reunion

The characters from “GREEK” return to Cypress Rhodes University for their five-year reunion. It will be executive-produced by Shawn Piller, Lloyd Segan and Patrick Sean Smith.

Angry Angel

From executive producer Will Gluck, a disgruntled angel tries to make it back into heaven after being kicked out.

Short-Form Development Projects

Just Josh

This docuseries follows professional dancer Josh Horner as he gives unconventional crash courses in dancing for special events.

My Boyfriend is a Robot

A romantic fish-out-of-water comedy centering on the relationship between a girl and her boyfriend – who happens to be a robot. The project is from executive producers Deb Spera and Maria Grasso.

Open Roads

Focusing on nonprofit organization Open Roads, which provides filmmaking wilderness camps for high school students, this docuseries follows campers’ experiences in the wild, making documentaries, and creating new relationships. Viewers will also get to see completed documentaries from the Open Roads campers.

Untitled Punam Patel Project

Comedienne Punam Patel hosts this unconventional interview-based show. Each episode finds Punam tucking in a celebrity/person of influence into bed, using children’s stories as a launching pad for fun and personal conversation topics. 

Rio Squad (working title)

In a collaboration with ESPNW, “Rio Squad” (working title) highlights four uniquely powerful female athletes who have dedicated their lives to being the best at their sport. It follows these women as they pursue their dreams, prepare for the Summer Games, and demonstrate that a female hero doesn’t have to take the shape of a princess.

School of Doodle

A series of short videos acquired from School of Doodle, an organization that creates inspiring content for girls and women. This series will celebrate the arts and provide the audience the tools to turn creative potential into success. 

TLC is the latest non-fiction network to join the scripted series ranks, greenlighting a new drama series from prolific writer/producer Tyler Perry.

The series, Too Close To Home, follows a woman who returns to her small town after being involved in a political scandal is the first scripted series for TLC, which has had to recently weather controversies surrounding two of its big hits Here Comes Honey Boo Boo and 19 Kids and Counting.

The series is also the first for Perry since developing scripted content with TLC sister service OWN.

TLC and Discovery Life president Nancy Daniels admitted that the network’s move to scripted is a “big swing,” but added that the series fits within the network’s brand.

Along with the scripted series, the network later this year will move back into the property space with Married To The Design: Nate & Jeremiah, starring design couple Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent; Project Playhouse and Hidden Money Makeover.

Other new non-fiction shows on the docket include OutDaugthered, Meet The Putmans, Sweet 15:Quinceanera; 90-Day Fiancé:After the 90 Days and Ink Ink Shop.

Along with the new shows, the network this summer will launch a new brand campaign and tagline “I AM” that will include on-air spots featuring TLC talent including the cast of Sister Wives, Little Big People and Big World, according to the network.

 “We have long celebrated the differences that make us each unique, and this summer our new “I AM” marketing campaign will engage our viewers like never before,” Daniels said. “This year we’re also making a big move into the scripted space with Tyler Perry and bringing back our beloved property programming with big names like Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent. We’re beyond excited to introduce our audience to new content and refresh a genre that TLC dominated for years.”

National Geographic Channel will take viewers on a live ride to all seven continents during a two-hour special Earth Live, one of several new shows the network announced Tuesday during its upfront presentation in New York.

Earth Live!, slated to air later this year, will feature an in studio host that will cut to live wildlife action across seven continents as it events take place, according to Courteney Monroe, chief executive officer of National Geographic Global Networks.

“No one has ever attempted to do this on such a large scale, and only National Geographic has the ability to do so,” Monroe said.

Other new shows include National Geographic Channel will expand its signature franchise Explorer into a host-driven, docu-talk series starring Richard Bacon. Explorer, which the network resurrected last year after a five-year hiatus, will serve as a weekly magazine-talk hybrid that drives the conversation on current events and topics that matter most to the planet, said network officials.

The network unveiled new plans for its six part miniseries Mars, which will combined a scripted story about the colonization of Mars with real-life documentary commentary. Mexican filmmaker Everado Gout (Days Of Grace) will direct the documentary, which will be produced by Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Michael Rosenberg of Imagine Entertainment.

Other series slated to debut on the network in 2016-17 include Origins, hosted by Jason Silva which will take viewers back through history via visual and musical mastery;  Chain Of Command, a 10-part series that will feature inside access to the U.S. military’s mission in Afghanistan as it unfolds over one full year; Lawless Oceans,  a six-part investigative series which follows special investigator Karsten von Hoesslin as he attempts to solve the mystery of a murder at sea caught on video; and Deep Freeze, which follows leading scientists on thier Antarctica-based missions.

Returning to the network is Year of Living Dangerously, which looks at the effects of climate change through such celebrity correspondents as Jack Black, Ty Burrell, James Cameron, David Letterman, Don Cheadle and Arnold Swchwarzenegger.

Coming off its best ratings year ever, GSN will look to continue its momentum with the greenlighting of several new series including a spinoff of its most popular franchise Skin Wars, the network announced Tuesday during its upfront presentation in New York.

The network later this year will debut Skin Wars: Fresh Paint, hosted by entertainer RuPaul Charles in which new artists will compete in body painting challenges to win a $10,000 prize, said network officials. The series is a spinoff of the Rebecca Romijn-hosted Skin Wars, which launches its third season later this year.

Other new shows slated for GSN’s lineup include Winsanity, hosted by comedian/actor Donald Faison and features contestants who attempt to rank 10 facts in numerical order, from highest to lowest, to win prizes for both the contestant and the studio audience, and Window Warriors, a competition series which looks at the creativity of storefront window dressing, said network officials.

GSN has also ordered pilots for new shows Breaking App, which follows app inventors to see who can create the next great mobile application, and The Investigation, a one-hour crime-solving game set in a realistic police location with multiple departments.

GSN executive vice president of programming and development Amy Introcaso-Davis told Multichannel News that the new shows, along with returning shows like Idiotest and the newly-renewed Hellevator, have brought in younger viewers and helped evolve the network’s brand into a “fun” place for viewers and families to watch.

Donald Trump for months has been viewed inside the Beltway as engaging political theater, a party “renegade” and a gift to pundits on both sides of the aisle.

But after his Super Tuesday delegate haul — not a sweep, but a strong showing that solidifies his front-runner status — “President Trump” is no longer a laugh line.

Well, almost.

A Washington-based telecommunications lawyer, no fan of the candidate, was still taking the suggestion with a healthy dose of arch humor last week in responding to a request for input on what the telecom policy bent of a Trump administration would be.

Actual Trump Statement: “We’re going to build a great wall on the border with Mexico and the Mexicans will pay for it!”

Translation to Telecommunications Policy: Disband the FCC’s International Bureau and require any licensee with even 1% foreign ownership to leave the country (that means you, Sprint and T-Mobile).

Actual Trump Statement: “We have to stop all Muslims from entering the U.S. until we can figure out what the hell is going on!”

Translation to Telecommunications Policy: Block all Internet traffic originating from Turkey, Indonesia, Egypt, and every other majority Muslim country.

Actual Trump Statement: “I had a lousy earpiece.”

Translation to Telecommunications Policy: Ban NPR.

A President Trump, arguably the first thin-skinned elephant in captivity, might want to ban the media in general. He has called them “horrible” people and said as president he would try to make it easier to apply libel laws to penalize journalistic “hit” pieces.

Despite his media antipathy though, he remains a TV hit: Early Nielsen numbers showed that March 3’s Republican debate on Fox News Channel tallied 16.9 million viewers, making it the highest-rated debate of 2016 and the second-highest-rated telecast in Fox News’s almost 20-year history.

— John Eggerton

Azteca America Brings Its Upfront to Buyers

Last May, executives at Azteca America, like their counterparts at other U.S. Hispanic networks, held an upfront event in New York where they talked up programming plans and partied with ad buyers. Some of the net’s executives even performed in a “Chicago”-style number at the event.

This year, the network, owned by Mexican broadcaster TV Azteca, is ditching the song-and-dance routine for four smaller meetings and parties with clients in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and … New York.

“Rather than waiting for all the clients to come to this hectic week in New York, we decided to take the upfront to them beforehand,” CEO Manuel Abud told The Wire.

But don’t media buyers expect a big production and enjoy the bustle of Hispanic Upfront Week in New York? “Honestly I’m not sure that’s the case,” he said. “If you look at the schedule, there’s a lot of people trying to do that, and we think it’s going to be better for the businesses to take the upfront to them. I guess we’ll see.”

Thus far, he said, buyers seem to like the approach — two days of client meetings with a party at the end, on a smaller scale than last year’s Best Buy Theatre production.

How did last year’s upfront sales do? “OK, not as great as I wanted us to do but we had decent growth,” Abud said — another reason to change things up a bit.

By the time the week of May 16 rolls around, and Univision and MundoMax (who’ve already announced plans) and others are doing their upfronts in New York, Abud and company will have wrapped their gatherings in Los Angeles (March 30), Chicago (April 5), New York (April 13) and Dallas (April 21).

Abud, who joined as CEO in May 2014, said the Azteca America pitch revolves around Mexican soccer and a primetime schedule of a game show at 7 p.m., a reality show at 8, a newsmagazine at 9 and an action series at 10. “It’s working. It’s a good combination, it’s a good alternative.”
— Kent Gibbons

Get more coverage of the upfronts here.

Nickelodeon at its upfront said it was adding two new sports-themed series from production partners Rob Dyrdek and Shane Nickerson: Crashletes, a viral sports clip series hosted by New England Patriots Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski; and Jagger Eaton’s Mega Life (working title), a docu-series about 15-year-old skateboarding phenom Eaton as he skates around the world and hangs out with his idols. Both series will be in production for 20 episodes each and will premiere later this year, the Viacom-owned kids' programmer said.

Nick also said at its Alice Tully Hall upfront presentation, at Lincoln Center, that it will have 650 episodes of new and returning series to work with this year. 

“Nick has a long history in kid reality beginning with game shows like Double Dare and Legends of the Hidden Temple,” Cyma Zarghami, president, Viacom Kids and Family Group, said in a release. “Crashletes and Jagger Eaton allow us to connect the audience via real and authentic people and a different kind of storytelling that is fresh and exciting.” 

“Partnering with Nickelodeon allows me to share my passion for sports and pop culture with kids and families in creative and innovative ways,” Dyrdek added in the release. “With Gronk’s fun, big personality and Jagger’s relatable, youthful insight, Crashletes and Mega Life will resonate with sports fans and kids alike.”

For Nick, Dyrdek and Nickerson previously created and executive produced Wild Grinders, inspired by Dyrdek’s real-life experiences, airing in the NickSports TV block on Nicktoons.

In advance of its March 2 upfront presentation in New York, Nickelodeon has greenlit a live-action TV movie inspired by its 90s game show Legends of the Hidden Temple.

The movie, starring Isabela Moner (100 Things to Do Before High School), will begin production in March and will follow three siblings who embark on a high-stakes, life-or-death mission, according to the network.

The kids-targeted network also said it has greenlit a two-part, animated movie based on the 90s Nickelodeon series Hey Arnold! The movie, set to debut in 2017, will be written and executive produced by the series’ original creator, Craig Bartlett.

“The greenlights for the Legends of the Hidden Temple and Hey Arnold! TV movies are terrific examples of how we are bringing our beloved content back to life both for new audiences and the generation that grew up on them,” said Cyma Zarghami, president, Viacom Kids and Family Group. “These TV movies will keep the spirit and essential themes of the original source materials intact, while branching out in new ways that will speak to and captivate today’s kids.”

Crown Media is planning an upfront event for the Hallmark Channels on March 30 at New York’s Famed Rainbow room.

In the last few years, Crown has sat down with buyers on a more individual basis and held press events to publicize its upcoming programming.

Also planning an upfront event this year after several years of smaller meetings is Comedy Central, with an event scheduled for March 31, while A+E Networks, which has held upfront events in early May the last few years, this season plans to pitch its networks at meetings and dinners with individual agencies.

Upfront events kick off Wednesday with Nickelodeon presenting at Lincoln Center in New York.

Read more at broadcastingcable.com.