Bobby Rivers, who hosted shows on local and network TV, died December 26 in Minneapolis. He was 70 and had battled cancer. 

Robert Bennett Rivers Jr. was born in Los Angeles in 1953. He grew up in South-Central Los Angeles and graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee. 

Rivers got his start on TV on Good Morning Milwaukee in 1979. He was an entertainment reporter at WISN Milwaukee, and contributed to PM Magazine. 

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel called Rivers the city’s first Black TV and film critic. 

Gino Salomone, former WISN entertainment reporter, told the Journal Sentinel: “He was one of the most talented people but people didn't know what to do with him. He grew frustrated with agents and news directors, you know, a Black gay man was not something they knew what to do with. And it's just a shame because he was so fast and so entertaining. And quick and accurate."

Rivers shifted to VH1, where he was a VJ starting in 1985 and hosted the celeb talk show Watch Bobby Rivers, which premiered in 1988.  

In the 1990s, Rivers was an entertainment reporter at WNBC and WNYW New York, appearing on Weekend Today in New York and Good Day New York, respectively. 

In the 2000s, he hosted Top 5 on Food Network and was a film critic on Lifetime’s Lifetime Live. He also worked in morning radio with Whoopi Goldberg from 2006 to 2008, according to Rivers’s bio on his BobbyRiversTV blog. 

The bio reads, “Bobby Rivers interviewed Paul McCartney in London, had a cocktail with Lucille Ball in her home, got a soundbite from Bette Davis and hugs from Tom Hanks.”

Rivers also played a reporter in bit parts on The Sopranos. 

Goldberg shared on Instagram, “All hail this pioneer Bobby Rivers … He brought SO much to the table. R I P Bobby.”

As the television industry continues to deck the halls with more than 130 original holiday-themed films, this year’s slate has more of a diverse and inclusive feel as people of color continue to influence holiday images and storylines on the screen and behind the camera. 

An unprecedented number of this season’s holiday films have persons of color in leading roles or as executive producers, eager to reach audiences who over the years have felt underserved or unseen in movies from this genre, according to industry observers.

Paramount’s BET Plus and VH1, for example, will offer 14 original Christmas-
themed films featuring predominantly African-American casts, up from 11 a year ago. Lifetime will deliver 15 holiday originals featuring actors of color in starring roles.

Hallmark Channel, Netflix, UPtv and Great American Family also are featuring movies with inclusive casts and high-profile talent to help ring in the holidays. Entertainers of color such as Rita Moreno (Lifetime's Santa Bootcamp), Freddie Prinze Jr. (Netflix’s Christmas With You), Gladys Knight (Great American Family’s Someday at Christmas), Mario Lopez (Lifetime's Stepping Into the Holidays) and Loretta Devine (VH1’s All I Didn’t Want for Christmas) are starring in holiday-themed films through the end of December.

Just as impressive, celebrities such as Jamie Foxx (VH1’s Hip Hop Family Christmas Wedding), Toni Braxton (Lifetime’s A Christmas Spark), Robin Givens (BET Plus’s The Christmas Clapback) and Idris Elba (VH1’s A New Diva’s Christmas Carol) have taken the directorial and executive producer reins in an effort to deliver more authentic holiday stories. 

The holiday programming genre needs to make more room for unique portrayals of how people of color (who are major consumers of entertainment) experience the festive season in order to remain viable and attractive to an increasingly diverse population, network executives said.

Authentic, Inclusive Fare

“I think it’s important for us to maintain authenticity and inclusiveness when focusing on the holidays,” Lifetime executive VP of movie, limited series and original movie acquisitions Tanya Lopez said. “Just looking at an image and saying, ‘that person is my skin color,’ is not enough.”

Of Lifetime’s 26 new original holiday movies, 60% feature a person of color either in front of or behind the camera. Lopez said the network’s holiday films over the years have consistently featured inclusive casts, and this year the network offered more films with directors of color.  

Lifetime’s lineup of holiday films directed and executive-produced by people of color includes A New Orleans Noel, executive-produced by actress Keshia Knight Pulliam, and Kirk Franklin’s The Night Before Christmas, executive-produced by the gospel songwriter. 

“It’s been part of our DNA for so long that we haven’t seen it as a big pivot at all,” Lopez said. “We want to show as many holiday family traditions, no matter what that looks like.”

Holiday stories told from a different perspective give viewers a glimpse of life that doesn’t revolve around the tropes typically associated with seasonal films, said Knight Pulliam, who played Rudy Huxtable in the 1980s sitcom The Cosby Show. A New Orleans Noel, starring Tim Reid and Patti LaBelle, showcases some of the holiday traditions of African-American families in the Crescent City.  

“Oftentimes [traditional holiday] movies won’t culturally reflect who we are as African-American people, and we have a culture that’s all our own and specific to us,” Knight Pulliam said during a virtual press event for the movie before it premiered on December 3. “Seeing that … opens up windows to people to show what’s possible and opens up windows to empower people. When you start from a real and authentic place, you can’t go wrong.”  

Hallmark Channel’s Christmas at the Golden Dragon — in which a beloved Chinese restaurant closes on Christmas Eve, forcing patrons and workers to reevaluate the importance of family and friends around the holidays — showcases the holiday season from the perspective of its Taiwanese writer/producer Emily Ting. Ting said the story is based on her family’s desire to experience a traditional Christmas after coming to the U.S. from Taiwan. 

“I had such high expectations only to realize that, sometimes, eating Chinese takeout with your family on Christmas is all you need to celebrate the holidays,” Ting said.

Hallmark executive VP of programming Lisa Hamilton Daly said movies like Christmas at the Golden Dragon and the Asian-American themed A Big Fat Family Christmas help the network attract a more diverse audience by allowing storytellers to tell stories that are familiar to one segment of the audience while exposing different traditions to others. Also on Hallmark’s holiday movie list is The Holiday Stocking, produced by Hallmark’s African-American targeted Mahogany content production brand.

Holidays Are for Everyone

“On the most basic level, the holiday season is for everybody,” Daly said. “We really want to make sure that we are including the broadest range of holiday traditions and people that we can. As we get better at this, we’re seeing bigger and broader audiences.”  

UP Entertainment VP of content strategy and acquisition Hector
Campos said that the network has seen an early ratings bump for UPtv’s lineup of 17 original Christmas-themed films — seven of which feature diverse lead characters. 

“It’s important to us that our audience sees themselves reflected authentically on the screen, and we have actors from all backgrounds in starring roles,” Campos said. “Through our second week of Christmas premieres the response from viewers so far has been great.”

TV analyst Marc Berman said the popularity of holiday-themed movies is only enhanced by providing original movies targeting diverse groups, which has the benefit of delivering new viewers and advertisers.

“We live in a diversified world, and as a distributor you need to show the world as it is,” Berman said. “There’s been a lot of discussion about the lack of diversity in media, and these outlets are beginning to understand that if they don’t represent the world as it is, their brands are going to ultimately pay the price. Advertisers realize that they have to represent brands that represent the world, and I think these outlets realize that, whether it’s scripted dramas or holiday movies.” ■

Cable networks and streaming services are entering the last phase of its nearly three-month run of original holiday films, with more than 50 movies scheduled to debut over the next 25 days from such cable services as Lifetime, Hallmark Channel, VH1, Great American Family and UPtv as well as streaming services BET Plus, HBO Max and Shudder.

Below is a partial list of remaining holiday-themed movies debuting on cable and streaming services, along with their premiere dates.

December 1 

Rolling into Christmas (BET Plus)

Serving Up the Holidays (Lifetime)

A Hollywood Christmas (HBO Max)

December 2 

Christmas with the Campbells (AMC Plus)

A Big Fat Family Christmas (Hallmark Channel)

Cloudy With a Chance of Christmas (Lifetime)

Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (Netflix)

Christmas in the Wilds (Uptv)

December 3

Christmas on Candy Cane Lane (Great American Family)

A Fabled Holiday (Hallmark Channel)

A New Orleans Noel (Lifetime)

The Great Holiday Bake War (OWN)

The Holiday Stocking (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)

Christmas on the Slopes (UpTV)

December 4

B&B Merry (Great American Family)

Undercover Holiday (Hallmark Channel)

Merry Textmas (Lifetime)

Christmas on the Rocks (UPtv)

December 8

A Miracle Before Christmas (BET Plus)

Scentsational Christmas (Lifetime)

December 9

Aisle Be Home For Christmas (Great American Family)

The Most Colorful Time of the Year (Hallmark Channel)

A Recipe for Joy (Lifetime)

Something From Tiffany’s (Prime Video)

Christmas Bloody Christmas (Shudder)

December 10

Kirk Franklin’s The Night Before Christmas (Lifetime)

A Prince For the Holidays (Great American Family)

Christmas Class Reunion (Hallmark Channel)

The Gift of Peace (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)

A Christmas Fumble (OWN)

A Royal Christmas Match (UPtv)

December 11

The Holiday Sitter (Hallmark Channel) 

Single and Ready To Jingle (Lifetime)

Santa’s Got Style (UPtv)

A Christmas Prayer (TV One)

December 12

A Nashville Country Christmas (Paramount Network)

December 15

A Blackjack Christmas (BET Plus)

Record Breaking Christmas (Lifetime)

December 16

Holiday Heritage (Hallmark Channel)

A Christmas to Treasure (Lifetime)

The Apology (Shudder)

December 17

A Brush With Christmas Romance (Great American Family)

Five More Minutes: Moments Like These (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)

The Holiday Dating Guide (Lifetime)

Sappy Holiday (UPtv)

December 18

The Art of Christmas (Great American Family)

Hanukkah on Rye (Hallmark Channel)

Wrapped Up in Love (Lifetime)

A Vintage Christmas (UPtv)

December 19

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (Hallmark Channel)

December 21

Fuhgeddabout Christmas (VH1)

December 22

A Christmas Gift (BET Plus)

December 24

The Snowball Effect (UPtv)

December 25

Christmas in Wolf Creek (UPtv)

BET Media Group will take over the operations of cable network VH1 as parent Paramount Global looks to continue its business transformation, according to a company memo from Paramount Global president and CEO Bob Bakish obtained by Multichannel News.

The 37-year-old VH1, which initially launched as a music video service but is now home to unscripted reality programming — including the Emmy-winning competition show RuPaul's Drag Race — will be folded into the BET Media Group, led by Scott Mills, which also includes networks BET, BET Plus, BET Studios, BET Her and BET Digital, according to the memo.

The move to the African-American-targeted BET Media Group makes synergistic sense given that VH1 draws a strong African-American viewership with such shows as the Love & Hip Hop and Black Ink Crew franchises, the memo said.

Also: Plunging Paramount Defends Streaming Strategy

“This strategic alignment will ensure that VH1 — a leader in multi-cultural programming and the second-largest U.S. cable network for Black viewership — is best positioned for future success as a key part of the powerful BET ecosystem under the leadership of Scott Mills,” Bakish said in the memo.

The alignment will allow the BET Media Group to “build an interconnected set of leading platforms — linear, streaming, digital and studios — centered around the Black community, Black culture and content.”

The move follows the October folding of premium network Showtime into the Paramount Media Networks Group under group CEO Chris McCarthy.

The full Bob Bakish memo reads as follows:

Team,

"As we take further steps to accelerate the transformation of our business and maximize the full strength of Paramount, I’m excited to share that VH1 will move into the BET Media Group, which includes BET, BET+, BET Studios and BET Digital.

This strategic alignment will ensure that VH1 − a leader in multi-cultural programming and the second largest U.S. cable network for Black viewership − is best positioned for future success as a key part of the powerful BET ecosystem under the leadership of Scott Mills.

Scott and his team continue to drive the evolution and growth of BET by building an interconnected set of leading platforms – linear, streaming, digital and studios – centered around the Black Community, Black Culture and Content.  Their ability to create hit programming and experiences, invest in new talent and storytellers, leverage our capabilities in streaming and original production, and expand and deepen relationships with key commercial partners make them ideally suited to take on this brand and business.

I’d also like to recognize the MTV Entertainment Studios team under the leadership of Chris McCarthy and Nina L. Diaz, who, for the past five years, have rebuilt the VH1 brand and produced powerful hit franchises from Black Ink Crew and Love & Hip Hop to RuPaul’s Drag Race. Their work has helped VH1 score nearly 40 Emmy Awards while establishing it as an industry champion in driving diversity both in front of the camera and behind the screens.  As Chris and his team continue to focus on integrating SHOWTIME and globalizing the Media Networks Group, they’ll also partner with the BET teams to continue producing several of the existing hit shows on VH1.

We are working through the details of that transition now and will share updates as we have them. In the meantime, as we look forward to this successful next chapter of VH1, please join me in congratulating Scott and the BET organization, and thanking Chris and the MTV Entertainment team for their ongoing contributions." ■

Paramount Global’s MTV Entertainment Studios is getting into the fourth-quarter spirit with six new holiday films that will air across VH1, Comedy Central and Paramount Network. 

The films come from executive producers including Gabourey Sidibe, Idris Elba, Jamie Foxx, Justina Valentine, and Tanya Tucker and star  Ashanti, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Loretta Devine, Niecy Nash-Betts, Ne-Yo, Shad “Bow Wow” Moss, Thomas Lennon, Vivica A. Fox and Wendi McLendon-Covey.

At a time when media companies are being Scrooge-like in their spending on original programming for traditional cable networks, the new films will help Paramount’s networks compete with holiday-happy channels including Hallmark Channel, Great American Family, Lifetime, Freeform and AMC. 

“Last year we broke the traditional mold of holiday films in a big way,” said Nina L. Diaz, president of content and chief creative Officer, Paramount Media Networks & MTVE Studios, and head of unscripted entertainment & adult animation, Paramount Plus. “As we look toward this new slate, with the depth of our powerful producers coupled with the diversity of our amazing talent, we will continue to take the classic holiday genre head on by providing something different for our viewers to enjoy.” 

VH1’s films include Hip Hop Family Christmas Wedding, premiering on Nov. 30 with Keri Hilson, Ne-Yo, Terrence J, Serayah, Cassie, MC Lyte, Redman, Valarie Pettiford, Shad “Bow Wow” Moss, produced by MTV Entertainment Studios with Foxx Hole Productions and Nexus films; All I Didn’t Want for Christmas, premiering Dec. 7 with Gabourey Sidibe, Loretta Devine, Kel Mitchell, Karen Knox, Andrew Bushell, produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and Blue Ice Productions; A New Diva’s Christmas Carol, premiering Dec. 14 with Ashanti, Vivica A. Fox, Eva Marcille, Robin Givens, Mckenzie Small, and Mel B, produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, Green Door Pictures and Blue Ice Pictures; and Fuhgeddabout Christmas, premiering Dec. 21 starring Justina Valentine, DC Young Fly, Conceited, Vinny Guadagnino, Vincent Pastore, Renee Graziano, Perez Hilton, Teresa Giudice, Fetty Wap and Sway, with Nick Cannon, preoduced by MTV Entertainment and Justina Valentine Presents.

Comedy Central will debuts Reno 911!: It’s a Wonderful Heist in December, starring Thomas Lennon, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Cedric Yarbrough, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Niecy Nash-Betts, Carlos Alazraqui, Mary Birdsong, Ian Roberts, Joe Lo Truglio, produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and High Sierra Carpeting.

A Nashville Country Christmas will premiere on Paramount Network in December. It stars Tanya Tucker, Keith Carradine, Ana Ortiz and Olivia Sanabia, and was produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, Principle Productions, Off Camera Entertainment and Synthetic Cinema International. ■

VH1 has renewed its Emmy-winning reality competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race for a 15th season.

The network has also picked up a new season of Drag Race after-show RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked, which will air each week after a brand new episode of Drag Race, said network officials. The new season, which will introduce a new group of participants competing to become the next drag superstar, will also include the show’s landmark 200th episode.

The RuPaul Drag Race franchise, which also includes RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars,  earned 11 2022 Emmy Award nominations.

RuPaul's Drag Race executive producer RuPaul will return as host of the show alongside resident judges Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, and Ross Mathews. Both series are produced by World of Wonder.

"When I hear season 15 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, I have to pinch myself – I just won’t tell you where," RuPaul said in a statement. "We never take for granted the opportunity we’ve been given to showcase drag excellence and tell authentic queer stories. Thank you to the fans, World of Wonder, VH1, our cast and crew, and most of all, our brave and beautiful queens." ■

The debut of Caught in the Act: Unfaithful gave VH1’s “Level Up Mondays” lineup a boost.

At a time when cable viewing is shrinking, Caught in the Act delivered VH1’s best series performance with women 18-49 in three years, improving the time slot by 33%. The show's audience was 17% bigger than its Basketball Wives lead-in. 

VH1 has already renewed the series, which is hosted by former Basketball Wives and The Real World star Tami Roman.

Basketball Wives had its second-highest rated episode of the season, out performing its season-to-date average by 20%.

On the night, VH1’s rating was up 37/% from the prior four-week average and the highest in nearly a year.

The gains follow up on VH1 having its best second quarter in three years. ■

Super Bowl week features a number of high-profile series and movie premieres leading into the big game.

Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 13) will serve as the premiere date for the debut of streaming service Peacock's new drama series Bel-Air. The dramatic reimagining of NBC's original series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is executive produced by Will Smith and stars Jabari Banks.  

Also debuting on Peacock is the original movie Marry Me, starring Jennifer Lopez and Maluma. The film premieres February 11 on both the streaming service and in theaters. 

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):

February 7 – Love & Hip Hop: Lineage to Legacy (special) – VH1

February 7 -- Angela Black (drama) -- Spectrum 

Also: 'Angela Black,' British Thriller Starring Joanne Froggatt, is on Spectrum 

February 7 – One Thousand Years of Slavery – The Untold Story (miniseries) – Smithsonian Channel

February 9 – Fairview (animation) – Comedy Central

February 10 – The Girl Before (drama) – HBO Max

February 10 – Kimi (drama) – HBO Max

February 10 – Real Husbands of Hollywood More Kevin, More Problems (comedy) – BET Plus

February 11–Dollface (comedy) – Hulu

February 11- everything is gonna be all white (docuseries) – Showtime

February 11 – I Want You Back (comedy) – Prime Video

February 11 – The In Between (drama) – Paramount Plus

February 11 – The Sky Is Everywhere (drama) – Apple TV Plus

February 11 – Inventing Anna (drama) – Netflix

February 11 – Love Is Blind (reality) – Netflix

February 12 – Profiled: The Black Man (documentary) – Discovery Plus

Miracles Across 125th Street, a Nick Cannon film about a rapper returning to his family’s church on Christmas Eve to confront his past, premieres on VH1 December 20. Cannon wrote, directed and stars in the film. 

Also in the cast are Lil Kim, Chrisette Michele, Kierra Sheard-Kelly, Tommy Davidson and Bruce Church. 

“I’m excited to bring all the uplifting elements of gospel, hip-hop and comedy together with such an inspiring and talented cast,” said Cannon.

He executive produces Miracles Across 125th Street with Michael Goldman, Benjamin Sumpter, Mike Elliott, Joe Genier, Nina L. Diaz, Donny Hugo Herran, Dara Cook, Trevor Rose and Janee Dabney.

MTV Entertainment Studios, Ncredible Entertainment and Capital Arts produce the project. 

Cannon is the host of an eponymous daytime show. ■ 

With 12 days left before Christmas, cable networks are rolling out the last of this season's long list of holiday-themed films. Networks such as Lifetime, Hallmark Channel and OWN, along with streaming service Paramount Plus, continue to offer original movies through Christmas Day.

Below is a partial list of remaining holiday-themed movies debuting on cable and streaming services, and their premiere dates: 

Dec. 13 

Let’s Get Merried (VH1)

Maps and Mistletoe (Lifetime)

Dec. 14

Ghosts of Christmas Past (Lifetime)

A Christmas Stray (OWN)

Dec. 15

The Enchanted Christmas Cake (Lifetime)

Dec. 16

Christmas by Chance (Lifetime)

A Christmas Wish (BET Plus) 

Dec. 15

The Enchanted Christmas Cake (Lifetime)

Mistletoe in Montana (Lifetime)

Dec. 18

Toying With the Holidays (Lifetime)

The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls (Hallmark Channel)

Christmas for Keeps (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)

Dec. 19

Under The Christmas Tree (Lifetime)

‘Tis the Season to be Merry (Hallmark Channel)

Joy for Christmas (GAC Family)

Christmas Takes Flight (Paramount Plus)

Dec. 20

Miracles Across 125th Street (VH1)

Candy Cane Candidate (Lifetime)

Dec. 21

The Christmas Ball (Lifetime)

Song & Story: Amazing Grace (OWN)

Dec. 22

It Takes a Christmas Village (Lifetime)

Dec. 23

Rebuilding a Dream Christmas (Lifetime)

Dec. 24

Hot Chocolate Holiday (Lifetime)

Dec. 25

Writing Around the Christmas Tree (Lifetime)

Also: 'A Christmas Proposal' Sees CBS Back in Holiday Movie Game

VH1 is getting into the holiday sprit with holiday films from big-name directors that will put a unique spin on Christmas under a “Naughty or Nice” banner.

The ViacomCBS cable channel has movies coming executive produced by Eva Longoria, Jamie Foxx, Nick Cannon, Randy Barbato and Fento Bailey, and Kim Fields.

Titles like The Bitch Who Stole Christmas and Hip Hop Family Christmas deliver the message that this miracle is taking place north of 34th Street.

“With our ‘Naughty or Nice’ film slate, VH1 is reimagining the holidays with modern, fresh takes,” said Nina L. Diaz, CCO and president of content for MTV Entertainment Group. “Working together with Eva, Jamie, Kim, Nick as well as our long-standing partners Randy and Fenton has truly been a gift that keeps on giving.”

The films will start appearing on Nov. 29, starting with Adventures in Christmas-ing, from MTV Entertainment Studios, Johnson Production Group and K-Lab Studios, executive produced by Kim Fields, Art Rutter and Timothy Johnson; Meghan Hooper, Josh Van Houdt and Janee Dabney. It’s about a talk show host who winds up stranded for the holiday when her network persuades her to spend three days in the wild with a television survivalist. Fields stars with Adrian Holmes, Kel Mitchell, Eva Marcille and Jonathan Silverman.

The Bitch Who Stole Christmas premieres Dec. 2 from MTV Entertainment Studios and World of Wonder, executive produced by Randy Barbato, Fenton Bailey, Tom Campbell, Don Scardino; Nina L. Diaz, Meghan Hooper, Josh Van Houdt, Samantha Schles, Marcia Lansdown and Janee Dabney. Starring RuPaul, the film is about a fashion journalist sent to a small town where she finds herself in the middle of a cut-throat Winter Ball Competition. Also starring are Krysta Rodriguez, Andy Ridings, Michelle Visage, Ginger Minj, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Peppermint, Jan Sport, Jaymes Mansfield, Latrice Royale, Gottmik, Morgan McMichaels, Porkchop, Carson Kressley, Ross Mathews, Chad Michaels, Heidi N Closet, Kelly Mantle, Kimora Blac, Laganja Estranja, Manila Luzon, Mayhem Miller, Pandora Boxx, Raven, Rock M. Sakura, Kylie Sonique Love, Kim Petras, Charo and Anna Maria Horsford.

"There are 1000 Christmas movies this year, but only one with Drag Queens! Christmas will never be the same,” said Barbato.

Hip Hop Family Christmas gets unwrapped Dec. 6 from MTV Entertainment Studios, Foxxhole and, Nexus Films, with Jamie Foxx, Datari Turner, Greg Carter; Meghan Hooper, Josh Van Houdt, Mychael Chinn, Trevor Rose and Janee Dabney executive producing. It features hip hop’s most famous family participating in a live Christmas television special. It stars Keri Hilson, Ne-Yo, Terrence J, Serayah, MC Lyte, Redman, Valarie Pettiford, Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, Demetrius Shipp Jr, Billy Sorrells, Jonathan Kite, B. Simone, Jess Hilarious, Niatia ‘Lil Mama’ Kirkland, Vena E., Vanessa Simmons and Tank.

Let’s Get Married premieres Dec. 13 from MTV Entertainment Studios, UnbeliEVAble Ent and Blue Ice Pictures, with Eva Longoria, Adriana Martinez Barron and Ben Spector; Lance Samuels, Meghan Hooper, Josh Van Houdt, Andrew Lutin, Trevor Rose and Marcia Lansdown executive producing. The film is set during bachelorette weekend at a Christmas-themed adventure park. It stars Mishel Prada, Xosha Roquemore, Tahj Mowry, Nicolette Pearse, Nicole Power and Savannah Basley,

Miracles Across 125th Street arrives Dec. 20 from MTV Entertainment Studios, Ncredible Entertainment and Capital Arts, executive produced by Nick Cannon, Michael Goldman; Benjamin Sumpter, Mike Elliott, Joe Genier; Nina L. Diaz, Donny Hugo Herran, Dara Cook, Trevor Rose and Janee Dabney. The movie is about a Harlem rapper who, after battling drug addiction, returns to his family’s church to confront his past on Christmas Eve. Nick Cannon, Lil Kim, Chrisette Michele, Kierra Sheard-Kelly, Tommy Davidson, Bruce Church aka “Bruce Bruce,” Luenell Campbell aka “Luenell,” Fred Hammond, Karen Clark Sheard, Akon, Cameron J. Wright, Vena "Pretty Vee" Excell, Marsha Warfield, Ashley Adair, Bobb’e J. Thompson, Santwon McCray, Airean Josiah aka AJ Boogie, Jarun Jones aka YM, Connor Finnerty and Golden Cannon star.

“I’m excited to bring all the uplifting elements of gospel, hip-hop and comedy together with such an inspiring and talented cast,” said Cannon.

Laura Nelson, a media veteran who has led communications operations at industry powerhouses like Nielsen, Comedy Central, VH1 and MTV for nearly three decades, died Aug. 20 after a battle with cancer. She was 55 years old.

A Boston College graduate, Nelson got her start in the PR business with Dan Klores Associates in New York, but was best known as one of the top communications professionals in the media business, leading PR efforts at various networks like Comedy Central, Oxygen, VH1 and MTV between 1993 and 2007. She joined The Gilbride Group, a strategic integrated marketing company focusing on non-profit and media clients, working with clients like the Gates Foundation, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the United Nations, as managing director in 2007, and in 2012 she moved to Current TV, where she headed up that company's communications efforts.

Nelson joined ratings measurement giant Nielsen as chief communications officer in 2014, a position she continued to hold at the time of her death. 

She is survived by her husband James A. Kremens, and two children Charles H. Kremens and Annabelle D. Kremens, all of Westport, Connecticut, as well as three siblings: Gina Wilcox (Brady) of Old Lyme, Connecticut; Paul F. Nelson (Julie) of Wilmette, Illinois; and Andrew Nelson (Meghan) of Cincinnati, Ohio.

According to her obituary, a mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, Aug. 27, at 11 a.m. at The Church of the Assumption in Westport.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Cancer Couch Foundation. A fund to help finance metastatic breast cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering and Dana-Farber Institute has been set up to honor Nelson, and the Cancer Couch Foundation has pledged to match 100% of donations.

Disney Plus’ Jungle Cruise premiere highlights an otherwise slow schedule of show debuts for the last week in July.

The high-profile adventure film starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt debuts July 30 in theaters as well as on Disney Plus Premier Access for $29.95.

Other debuts this week include the return of VH1’s music documentary series Behind the Music. Now on Paramount Plus, the series will debut July 29 and will feature profiles of such musical artists as L.L. Cool J, Rickey Martin and Jennifer Lopez.

Also Read: Ricky Martin, LL Cool J Kick off 'Behind The Music' on Paramount Plus

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting the week of July 26 to Aug. 1 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

July 28 -- Chip ‘N’ Dale: Park Life (animation) -- Disney Plus

July 28 -- Turning the Tables With Robin Roberts (talk) -- Disney Plus

July 29 -- Jellystone! (animation) -- HBO Max

July 29 -- Dr. Death: The Undoctored Story (documentary) -- Peacock

July 29 -- The Immortal (movie) -- HBO Max

July 30 -- The Pursuit of Love (drama) -- Prime Video

July 30 -- Watch the Sound with Mark Ronson (music documentary) -- Apple TV Plus

VH1 Friday said it would debut two specials revolving around its Black Ink Crew franchise in March leading to the April debut of the Black Ink Crew: New York series.

The specials for the franchise -- which follows the exploits of African-American owned tattoo parlors in Harlem, Chicago and Compton -- include the two-part Black Ink Crew: Secrets Unlocked (premieres March 15), which brings together fan favorites from all three cities virtually to celebrate almost 10 years of the franchise.

The three-part Black Ink Crew: Confessions special debuts March 29, and features the casts of all three series as they fill in the gaps and update fans on what has happened since last filming their respective seasons, according to VH1.  

Read also: Parsing Paramount Plus

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 Jan. 3.

On the strength of 453.8 million TV ad impressions, a VH1 promo for RuPaul’s Drag Race takes first place.

Traditional broadcast networks grab the next three slots in our ranking, with NBC hyping Ted Danson vehicle Mr. Mayor in second, Fox promoting Mayim Bialik sitcom Call Me Kat in third, and ABC giving some love to The Bachelor in fourth. Closing out the top 5: a TBS promo for Go-Big Show, an unconventional talent competition featuring Snoop Dogg, Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Nettles and Cody Rhodes as judges.

Notably, the Kat spot 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) RuPaul's Drag Race, VH1

Impressions: 453,823,103

Interruption Rate: 3.66%

Attention Index: 106 (6% fewer interruptions than avg.)

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

In-network Value: $3,564,334

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $781,175

2) Mr. Mayor, NBC

Impressions: 416,648,344

Interruption Rate: 1.67%

Attention Index: 114 (14% fewer interruptions than avg.)

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

In-network Value: $5,204,024

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $1,648,261

3) Call Me Kat, Fox

Impressions: 353,972,365

Interruption Rate: 1.34%

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

Imp. Types: National 86%, Local 12%, VOD/OTT 2%

In-network Value: $3,342,336

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $2,191,814

4) The Bachelor, ABC

Impressions: 294,970,489

Interruption Rate: 1.32%

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

Imp. Types: National 89%, Local 10%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $4,160,434

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $955,606

5) Go-Big Show, TBS

Impressions: 294,234,121

Interruption Rate: 2.14%

Attention Index: 107 (7% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 96%, Local 3%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $3,239,602

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $3,466,717

*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).

Cable networks and streaming services will ring in the new year with several Emmy-winning and nominated returning series. 

On New Year’s Day VH1 will bring back its 2020 Emmy-winning competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race for a 13th season, while Emmy-nominated series Cobra Kai will make its third-season debut on Netflix. The first two seasons of the drama series, based off of The Karate Kid movie franchise, streamed on YouTube.

Also Read: Season 13 of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ on VH1 New Year’s Day

History's Vikings series will shift to Prime Video for the drama series' 10 episodes on Dec. 30.

Also Read: Amazon Prime Gets Final Ten Episodes of ‘Vikings’ First

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting the week of Dec. 28 to Jan. 3 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

Dec. 30 -- Yearly Departed (comedy) -- Prime Video

Dec. 31 -- Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (returning series) -- Netflix

Jan. 1 -- Doctor Who: Revolution of the Daleks (special) -- BBC America

Jan. 1 -- Insomnia (sci-fi) -- Crackle

Jan. 3 -- The Watch (sci-fi/comedy) -- BBC America

For the season 13 launch of RuPaul’s Drag Race, VH1 has upped its social media.

Using Instagram reels, carousels and stories, TikTok duets, YouTube stories, shorts community posts and livestreams, Facebook video and stories, Twitter moments, fleets, threads, lists and video and stories and spotlights on Snapchat, VH1 garnered 29 million views with 13.8 million engagements.

The activity--70 different bits of content in all--was designed to drum up support for the new season and introduce the show’s crop of contestants. 

Season 13 starts Jan. 1.

Views are up 250% versus last year’s “RuVeal, and engagements are up 420%. A Meet the Queens YouTube livestream trended as No. 1 on the social video service. 

"RuPaul's Drag Race has among the most passionate and loyal fan bases of any franchise, and our team is focused on engaging that fandom on social all year long," said Rory Brown, head of digital for the MTV Entertainment Group. "2020 has been the year of short-form video, with the growth of Instagram Reels, TikTok, Twitter Fleets and more. For the season 13 RuVeal, we leaned into that trend with an emphasis on platform intentionality, creating 70 pieces of custom content designed for specific short-form placements. The response to that approach was overwhelmingly positive.”

Season 12 was RuPaul’s Drag Race’s highest-rated season, up 26% from season 11. It also won six Emmy Awards.

In season 13, “fabulous queens” will vie for the title of America’s Next Drag Superstar and a cash prize of $100,000, VH1 said.

Season 13 of RuPaul’s Drag Race begins on VH1 Friday, Jan. 1. Thirteen “fabulous queens,” in VH1’s words, vie for the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar” and $100,000. 

“Competing safely and fiercely, our 13 queens proved that it takes more than a global pandemic to keep a good queen down,” said host and executive producer RuPaul. 

RuPaul’s Drag Race will offer a “Meet the Queens” livestream on YouTube at 1 p.m. ET on Dec. 9. The contestants include Denali of Chicago, Elliott with 2 Ts of Las Vegas and Gottmik of Los Angeles. 

After-show RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked will air following Drag Race. 

RuPaul’s Drag Race won six Emmys this year. 

RuPaul’s Drag Race has been greenlit for a 13th season on VH1. Hosted by RuPaul, the show "will welcome a new batch of drag queens ready to prove why they’re 'America's Next Drag Superstar,'" said VH1.

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars will be back for season six, and after-show Untucked will follow the new seasons of both series. 

“Drag queens have been on the frontlines of many challenging times in our history,” said RuPaul, who is an executive producer.  “RuPaul’s Drag Race 13, All Stars 6 and new seasons of Untucked will offer more opportunities for our queens to rise to the occasion and spread the love.”

Jaida Essence Hall won season 12 of RuPaul’s Drag Race and Shea Couleé won season five of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. 

RuPaul’s Drag Race, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars and Untucked are produced by VH1 and World of Wonder. 

RuPaul’s Drag Race: Vegas Revue, about six legendary drag queens in a Las Vegas residency, begins Aug. 21 on VH1. 

Season five of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars premieres June 5 on VH1. The “last queen standing,” in the network’s words, gets $100,000 and a spot in the Drag Race Hall of Fame.

VH1 said the impact of COVID-19 “resulted in various scheduling and programming adjustments,” so Drag Race All Stars will air on VH1 instead of Showtime.

"For All Stars 5, we've come up with a new twist that is so twisted it's guaranteed to twist your twisted minds," said RuPaul, who is an executive producer.

The 10 contestants are Alexis Mateo, Blair St. Clair, Derrick Barry, India Ferrah, Jujubee, Mariah Paris, Mayhem Miller, Miz Cracker, Ongina and Shea Coulee.

Season 12 of RuPaul’s Drag Race airs Fridays on VH1 followed by RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race and Untucked.

RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars and RuPaul’s Drag Race are produced by World of Wonder Productions, with Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, Steven Corfe, Mandy Salangsang and RuPaul Charles the executive producers. Tim Palazzola also exec produces.

ViacomCBS has teamed with the Ad Council to create a national campaign promoting social distancing in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

The campaign, #AloneTogether, is a national social and talent-led campaign that educates audiences on the importance of social distancing through entertainment, according to company officials.

The move comes as the US is in the grips of the coronavirus pandemic. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has advised against gatherings of 50 people or more for the next eight weeks to curb the spread of the disease, while President Trump has advocated for avoiding gatherings of more than 10 people.

MTV, Comedy Central, Paramount Network, CMT and VH1 will drive the #AloneTogether campaign, which will feature video content -- including self-shot video and live takeovers from music and celebrity talent showing how they are spending their time at home -- that will be shared collectively to their more than 500 million social media followers, according to ViacomCBS. The campaign will also be tailored and supported by all ViacomCBS platforms, including Nickelodeon, BET, CBS and CBS All-Access, Awesomeness, Pluto TV and Showtime.

ViacomCBS and the Ad Council will also develop a toolkit of core creative assets so that #AloneTogether messaging can be used and expanded upon by other cable, broadcast, digital, social and audio companies.

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting the week of Feb. 24 to March 1 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

Feb. 24 -- Black In Space: Breaking the Color Barrier (documentary) -- Smithsonian Channel

Feb. 26 -- I Am Not Okay With This (comedy/drama) -- Netflix

Feb. 27 -- Altered Carbon (returning series) -- Netflix

Feb. 28 -- RuPaul’s Drag Race (returning series) -- VH1

Feb. 28 -- Shop Class (competition series) -- Disney+

Feb. 29 -- Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan (comedy) -- Nickelodeon

March 1 -- Dispatches From Elsewhere (drama) -- AMC

 VH1 will spin off its Emmy-winning RuPaul Drag Race franchise with RuPaul’s Celebrity Drag Race, set to debut in 2020.

The four-episode event series will feature 12 sickening celebrities as they compete for the first-ever title of “America’s Next Celebrity Drag Superstar," according to VH1.  Celebrity participants and a premiere date for the series will be announced soon, according to network officials.

RuPaul's Drag Race won four 2019 Emmy Awards last month. 

“Doing drag does not change who you are, it reveals who you are,” said RuPaul Drag Race  host and Executive Producer, RuPaul Charles in a statement. “I can't wait for the world to see what happens when our celebrity contestants get all up in drags!”

World of Wonder Productions will produce RuPaul’s Celebrity Drag Race, with is produced Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, Steven Corfe, Mandy Salangsang, San Heng and Charles serving as executive producers. 

USA Network’s premiere of Suits spinoff drama series Pearson and Netflix's reality series Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee lead the list of new and returning shows debuting this week.

Pearson, which premieres July 17, stars Gina Torres as lawyer Jessica Pearson, who moves to Chicago to work for that city’s mayor after being disbarred in New York, according to USA Network.

The series’s debut follows the premiere of the ninth and final season of Suits.

Also premiering this week is the new season of Netflix’s reality series Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee, starring Jerry Seinfeld and featuring appearances by Eddie Murphy, Seth Rogen, Ricky Gervais and Jamie Foxx.

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting this week on cable networks and streaming services:

July 15 -- Girl Cruise (reality series) -- VH1

July 16 -- Behind Closed Doors (documentary) -- HBO

July 16 -- Human Discoveries (animation/comedy) -- Facebook Watch

July 16 -- Frankenstein’s Monster’s Monster, Frankenstein (comedy series) -- Netflix

July 19 -- All of Nothing: Carolina Panthers (reality sports) -- Prime Video

July 19 -- Killjoys (returning series) -- Syfy

July 19 -- Queer Eye (returning series) -- Netflix

July 21 -- Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted (reality series) -- Nat Geo

Several high-profile scripted and reality series will launch new seasons this week as the halfway mark of the summer Tv season approaches.

VH1 will bring back the off-MTV horror series Scream:Resurrection for its third season on July 8. The six-part series, based on the popular Scream horror film series, will air over three consecutive nights, according to VH1.

FX will debut the third season of its drama series Snowfall on July 10. The series, co-created and executive produced by the late John Singleton, chronicles the 1980s crack epidemic in Los Angeles. 

On the reality side, MTV’s Jersey Shore Family Vacation returns for its third season July 11, while BBC America debuts the 27th season of reality car series Top Gear on July 14.

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting this week on cable networks and streaming services:

July 9 -- I Love You, Now Die (docuseries) -- HBO

July 10 -- Family Reunion (comedy series) -- Netflix

July 10 -- Florida Girls (comedy series) -- POP

July 10 -- Harlots (returning series) -- Hulu

July 11-- Escape the Night (returning series) -- YouTube

July 12 -- Point Blank (drama series) -- Netflix

July 12 -- Shangri-La (docuseries) -- Showtime

July 14 -- Sweetbitter (returning series) -- Starz

VH1 will expand its Love & Hip Hop franchise to Wednesday nights with the Jan. 2 sophomore season premiere of Love & Hip Hop Miami, the network said Wednesday.

The fourth installment of the Love & Hip Hop franchise – following Love & Hip Hop: New York,Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta and Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood – was VH1’s highest rated reality series launch since 2014 when it premiered on New Year’s Day 2018, according to the network. 

Deep State has begun on Epix. The drama centers on Max (Mark Strong), an ex-spy whose past comes back to haunt him when he’s summoned from his new life in the Pyrenees by the head of a covert operation, who convinces Max to return to the field to avenge the death of his son.

Michael Wright, Epix president, said Deep State is “elevated” and “entertaining,” with the smart, high-quality vibe of a premium cable series.

Deep state is defined as “a body of people, typically influential members of government agencies or the military, believed to be involved in the secret manipulation or control of government policy.” It’s a phrase that’s picked up in popularity since President Donald Trump moved into the White House.

Trump factors into Deep State, at least per the Boston Herald. “If Donald Trump produced 24, it would look like Deep State,” it said. “Epix’s new conspiracy thriller might be the first drama with the president squarely in mind — and as it turns out, a significant character, albeit off-screen.”

The show “speaks to the notion of people who work behind the scenes who may not have the same agenda as our elected officials,” Wright said.

Just as Deep State takes off, RuPaul’s Drag Race is heading toward its fizzy finale. The reunion special happens June 21, and the season ten closer is June 28. Host RuPaul Charles promised a season where the “shenanigans are off the mother-tucking charts,” and has pretty much delivered.

The show shifted from Logo to VH1 last season. Drag Race is on pace for its highest ratings yet, said Pamela Post, senior VP of original programming, MTV, VH1 and Logo. “I’m constantly surprised by the audience and how it responds year in and year out,” she said. “It’s been a bit of a phenomenon.”

RuPaul’s Drag Race used to emulate pop culture, Post said, but now pop culture emulates Drag Race, evident in the show’s catchphrases — say, sashay away, or shade — popping up in conversation and on t-shirts. “It all becomes part of current-day language,” Post said.

RuPaul’s Drag Race was nominated for eight Emmyslast year, including outstanding realitycompetition series. RuPaul won for hosting.

Which contestant stands out in season 10? Post said they all do, including Eureka, who left season nine due to injury; Aquaria, who started watching the show as a kid; Kameron, “a force to be reckoned with”; and Asia, who “all around delivers the goods.”

How many more seasons for Drag Race? “Hard to say,” said Post. “Ru is going strong. We haven’t seen the show slow down, we’ve only seen it grow.”

Last night’s WWE Monday Night Raw episode on USA Network drew nearly 3 million social media interactions, said Nielsen.

The show averaged 2.8 million Facebook, Instagram and Twitter interactions to top all television shows on Monday, according to Nielsen's daily Social Content Ratings report.

ABC’s American Idol finished second with 739,000 interactions, followed NBC’s The Voice, Fox’s Lucifer and VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.

TNT drew more than 1 million interactions for its Miami Heat-Philadelphia 76ers (1.7 million interactions) and its San Antonio Spurs-Golden State Warriors (1.4 million) NBA Playoffs telecasts, besting all live TV sports telecasts, according to Nielsen. 

USA’s WWEMonday Night Raw and NBC Sports’ Winter Olympic coverage dominanted social media traffic for television shows on President's Day, according to Nielsen.

Raw averaged 1.2 million Facebook, Instagram and Twitter interactions last night, topping all entertainment-based shows, said Nielsen’s Daily Social Content ratings chart. ABC’s The Bachelor was second, followed by VH1’s Love & Hip Hop and Love & Hip Hop Miami. PBS’ Independent Lens rounded out the top five.

NBC Sports drew 1.6 million social media interactions for its combined Winter Olympics coverage on CNBC, NBC and NBCSN to lead all live sports programming for the night, according to Nielsen.

ESPN’s NFL Monday Night Football dominated African-American viewing for the week of Nov. 6 to Nov. 12 – one of four programs from the sports network to finish in the top 10, according to Nielsen. 

ESPN’s Nov. 6 coverage of the Green Bay Packers-Detroit Lions game drew 1.7 million African-American viewers, topping all cable shows for the week. ESPN’s Nov. 11 Alabama–Mississippi State college football game finished 6th for the week, while its two Nov. 8 live NBA game telecasts finished in the 8th and 9th spot respectively, according to Nielsen.

Bravo’s Nov. 12 episode of Real Housewives Of Atlanta was second for the week, followed by VH1’s Nov. 6 Love And Hip Hop show and OWN’s Nov. 7 episode of If Loving You Is Wrong.

Bravo’s freshman series Xscape Still Kickin It finished fifth with its Nov. 12 episode. OWN’s Nov. 8 Queen Sugar show finished in 7th place, and TNT’s Nov. 9 NBA basketball telecast rounded out the top 10, according to Nielsen.

Highly touted Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball won’t play his first nationally televised regular season National Basketball Association game until Oct. 19. But 8 million Facebook Watch users already know who Ball is — along with his loquacious father, LaVar, and his talented siblings — after they tuned in last month to the first episode of the social media site’s new sports reality series, Ball in the Family.

That makes Ball only the latest face both on the court and in a unique content sub-genre. Active and former professional athletes are scoring on the basic cable, reality docuseries field through popular, social media-friendly unscripted shows that focus on the often-unpublicized personal lives of players.

Series such as VH1’s long-running series Basketball Wives — which follows the wives, ex-wives and girlfriends of star NBA players — and E!’s Total Divas, which chronicles the out-of-ring exploits of pro wrestling outfit WWE’s female Superstars, are shining a rare, off-the-field spotlight on famous athletes that’s usually reserved for pop entertainment stars and celebrities.

Related: The Unscripted TV Issue >‘Live PD’ Draws Viewers, and Not All Watch Live

Network executives and show producers said such shows offer a one-two viewing punch by delivering female viewers attracted to the often salacious drama created between athletes and their significant others, and men who want to see their favorite players in a different light.

“We’ve seen tons of reality shows featuring celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton, and their celebrity families, but to actually go behind the scenes of an athlete’s life and see what they go through is different,” said Jeff Jenkins, co-president of entertainment and development for Bunim/Murray Productions, which produces Total Divas. “They are trying to support their family; they’re trying to have romantic relationships; they’re trying to advance their careers — rarely do you see that side of them on the screen.”

Glimpse at an Athlete’s Home Team
Indeed, most sports-themed docuseries follow the lives of athletes as they pertain to the on-field action, whether its preparing for a big fight, competing in the heat of the action or basking in the glow of victory or the anguish of a loss. But for most sports-reality series, the field of play is a backdrop to the interactions athletes have with their spouses, girlfriends and families, far away from the bright lights of the stadium.

“Most people just see the athletes when they perform, but there’s a lot of interest in their personal lives,” said Amber Mazzola, president of Machete Productions, responsible for E!’s reality series franchise WAGS (Wives and Girlfriends of Sports Stars). “You see athletes like Tom Brady and [his wife] Gisele [Bündchen] in newspapers in the gossip section — people just love to hear about them on and off the court.”

Related: Reality Joins TV’s Revival Movement

E!’s WAGS L.A. series, which returns for a third season Nov. 1, has spawned two other series — WAGS Miami and WAGS Atlanta — and all of them follow the personal lives of such players as NFL stars Antonio Gates and Julius Peppers and UFC fighter Tito Ortiz. Mazzola said the show has found its niche with E!’s female-skewing fans, and male viewers enjoying a different glimpse at the players. 

“Our audience is still predominantly female, and I don’t think guys are really tuning into the drama of what these wives are going through, but I do think that the fact that these athletes are actually on the show is a draw,” Mazzola added. “I think that a lot of guys tune in because they want to see Julius Peppers or to see Antonio Gates because for them that’s really cool.”

Related: Women Get in the Game

Ball in the Family executive producer and Bunim/Murray Productions vice president of current programming Farnaz Farjam also said that the series, which launched on Facebook Sept. 1, has generated equal amounts of viewer feedback from men and women, although she would not offer up specific gender breakdown numbers.

She did say the first episode of the series drew 8 million streams, which exemplifies the growing audience interest in and fascination for the Los Angeles-based Ball family, much of which has been driven by the often-outlandish comments of father LaVar Ball regarding the talents of his three basketball-playing kids.

Bringing Fans to the Games
Such sports reality shows can turn more female viewers on to live sports content, Farjam said, adding that women may want to extend their experience with the series by watching the star athletes on the field of play.

“Of course guys will watch the games, but if their girlfriends are watching the series, then they’ll be more inclined to watch the Lakers because they’ve fallen in love with ’Zo,” she said.

Related: Spin It to Win It: Cable Networks Find Ratings Gold in Reality-Series Offshoots

Total Divas also generates strong co-viewing numbers for E!, as the cast of female WWE Superstars attract predominately male pro-wrestling fans as well as the network’s core female audience, according to Bunim/Murray’s Jenkins. Nearly four in 10 viewers (38%) of Total Divas' audience are male, the highest male composition across any of E!’s original franchises. Total Divas spinoff series Total Bellas has the second highest male compositon on the network with 32%, according to network officials.

The network will launch season seven of Total Divas on Nov. 1, with the season finale marking the show’s 100th episode.

E! hopes the upcoming season can match or surpass last year’s average 1 million viewers in Nielsen live-plus-3 ratings.

Other entertainment networks are looking to jump into the sports reality arena. Hallmark Channel will launch its first-ever, personality-focused reality series with the 2018 debut of Meet the Peetes, which focuses on the lives of former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete and his wife, actress Holly Robinson-Peete.

“When we think about programming that makes people feel good, celebrates the human spirit and family by telling a great story, Meet the Peetes fits all of those criteria,” Hallmark Network executive VP of programming Michelle Vicary said. “It is a family story about a father who was an NFL football player and a mom that’s an actor, but its also a family story that focuses on a mom and a dad that have an autistic son and have made it their life’s work to bring awareness around autism.”

Hallmark also hopes the series will add male viewers to its normally female-skewing audience. Along with the series, Rodney Peete will be involved in the network’s annual Super Bowl counterprogramming special, Kitten Bowl, according to Vicary.

“Rodney Peete is much beloved by sports fans, so I hope that men who are fans of his will come with their wives and sit and watch the series,” she said.

Bunim/Murray’s Jenkins believes that more networks are beginning to see the appeal of athlete-based reality series and will look to develop future series in the genre. One issue that could sack the genre’s forward momentum is whether athletes — as well as the organized sports they play for — will be willing to risk tarnishing their respective brands by airing an athlete’s potentially controversial personal life on television.

“I think if the individual athletes and the individual athletic organizations make themselves open to it, absolutely viewers, buyers and production companies want to do more of this type of programming,” Jenkins said, adding that the company is working on a potential reality docuseries with a retired Los Angeles Lakers player, although he would not reveal specifics.

“The fine line for those athletes and for those other organizations, however, is whether they can balance the image and brand and still allow a documentary crew to follow the ups and downs of a particular individual and organization.”

That, of course, would mean athletes and teams experiencing the kind of “winning” or “losing” only reality stars know about.

VH1’s realty series T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle ended its six-season run on a high note, averaging more than 2 million viewers for its May 29 finale, said the network. 

The series, which followed the lives of actor/rapper T.I. and his wife Tameka “Tiny” Cottle-Harris, drew 2 million viewers and 1.3 million adult 18-49 viewers (Nielsen live+3 ratings) for its series finale, said network officials. Overall, the series’ sixth and last season averaged 2.2 million viewers, according to the network.

“VH1 is incredibly proud of this long running series and our partnership with Tip and Tameka,” said  Nina L. Diaz, EVP, Head of Unscripted, VH1 and MTV. “For six years, they have opened their home and shared countless family moments with us.”

VH1 shines a light on the often humorous, ugly and catty behind-the-scenes exploits of a daytime talk show in its new scripted series Daytime Divas.

Video: Watch the 'Daytime Divas' Trailer

Based on former The View cohost Star Jones’ novel Satan’s Sisters, Divas stars Vanessa Williams as Maxine Robinson, the leader of five on-air cohosts of fictional women’s talk show The Lunch Hour. The roster also includes comedian Mo (Tichina Arnold), outspoken conservative voice Heather (Fiona Gubelmann), former child star/recovering addict Kibby (Chloe Bridges) and journalist Nina (Camile Guaty).

RELATED: Tichina Arnold talks about her role in Daytime Divas as well as her successful television career [subscription required]

The soap opera-esque show focuses much of its attention on the off-screen drama between the backstabbing ladies, revealing several inappropriate relationships, backroom deals and dirty secrets that threaten to derail the popular series. When one of the hosts falls ill, the remaining, power-hungry ladies look to grab a greater share of the spotlight.

Fans of VH1’s drama-filled reality series should find Daytime Divas entertaining.

Veteran actress Tichina Arnold is doing double duty on the small screen, playing the co-host of a fictional women’s talk show on VH1’s new series Daytime Divas as well as a feisty mom to a pro basketball superstar in Starz’s comedy series Survivor’s Remorse.

Arnold, also known for her now-familiar roles in such classic comedy series as Martin and Everybody Hates Chris, recently spoke to Multichannel News programming editor R. Thomas Umstead about her current TV projects and the issue of diversity on television. An edited transcript follows.

Related > MCN Review: VH1's 'Daytime Divas'

MCN:As a veteran of the television industry, do you believe we are in a golden age with regard to multicultural images and themed stories on the small screen?
Tichina Arnold: I think we are. There’s an amazing movement for people of color right now — there’s an amazing platform, because what it’s done is open doors for people to really tell their stories and to call people to task for not telling the truth. This world involves so many cultures and so many types of people in all walks of life, and social media has forced us to be inclusive and to be aware of different people and different walks of live. The television networks are now being forced to do it because there is demand for people to see what they don’t know and what they don’t look like.

MCN:Is this golden age more of a trend or one that will become a permanent fixture on the television scene?
TA: I’m hoping that we’re not in a trend. I’ve been part of trends quite a few times — they’d put all the black shows on back to back on the same night to build up the brand, and then once they built the network, they’d get rid of the shows. I don’t want to see that again.

MCN:Having starred in several hit TV shows, what drew you toDaytime Divas?
TA: I received the script from my agency, and it was the first time I read a script and laughed hysterically. My character is one that could be played by anybody. I like being able to go after a role where people can see me in a different light than my previous roles and it doesn’t pigeonhole me. I can play a superhero and save the world. Roles written specifically for black women are rare, but the upside of it is if we get the opportunity to play other roles that are not written for black women. It opens up more doors for us because it shows we can do anything, which we can.

Video > Watch the 'Daytime Divas' Trailer

MCN:Are you surprised by the success ofSurvivor’s Remorse— now headed into its fourth season — and the popularity of your character Cassie Calloway?
TA: I am not surprised by the success of Survivor’s Remorse. I always knew that it was an amazing show — [series executive producer] Michael O’Malley put his heart and all into the show and it’s a passion for him to make it right, and he allows us as actors to give our opinions and our input which is important because we have to convey these characters. To be able to be such a part of such an iconic show is great. I love playing Cassie — I’ve formed Cassie into being a woman that I think a lot of women will be able to understand and live vicariously through.

VH1’s May 8 special Dear Mama: An Event To Honor Moms drew 1.2 million viewers in its premiere, according to Nielse

The special, hosted by Anthony Anderson and La La Anthony and featuring celebrity tributes for their moms from such stars as Halle Berry, Gladys Knight, Jodeci, Taraji P. Henson and Robin Thicke, garnered 1.7 million viewers including replays, according to VH1.

This year’s Dear Mama special, produced by Queen Latifah’s Flavor Unit and Jesse Collins Entertainment, posted a 36% ratings increase over last year’s inaugural special, according to the network.

Tyra Banks, creator of America’s Next Top Model, will return as host when the show begins production on VH1 this summer.

Banks and Ken Mok are executive producers of the show, which ran on UPN and The CW for 22 cycles, with Banks as host.

Rita Ora hosted one season.

“Tyra has always been the heart and soul of the franchise and her absence was deeply felt by our fiercely loyal fans who missed their Queen of the Smize," Mok said

Read more at broadcastingcable.com.

Maggie Malina has been named senior vice president and head of scripted for MTV and VH1.

Malina, who had been head of scripted for VH1 only, will continue to report to Amy Doyle, general manager of MTV, VH1 and Logo Group, and will continue to work out of New York.

In her previous role at VH1, Malina launched some of the network’s biggest successes including Hit the Floor, Single Ladies and CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story. She’s also responsible for its critically acclaimed new hit series The Breaks and the upcoming Daytime Divas starring Vanessa Williams.

Malina’s history with Viacom started at MTV where she oversaw original movies. She later was executive producer for MTV’s first original movie trilogy My Super Psycho Sweet 16.

“Maggie is an exceptional creative with an ability to predict pop culture hits,” Doyle said. “Her expertise in producing seminal young adult stories will serve as the perfect complement to our robust slate of live and unscripted content.”

Read more at broadcastingcable.com.

VH1 executive Amy Doyle Tuesday (Jan. 24) was promoted to general manager of MTV, VH1 and Logo Group.

Doyle, formerly executive vice president at VH1, will partner with group president Chris McCarthy to oversee the overall creative management of the group, according to company officials. That includes oversight of the Group’s tentpole events, including the MTV Video Music Awards, as well as specials, network/celebrity talent and VH1 scripted programming.

“Through her strong creative instincts and talent relationships, Amy has built countless brand-elevating events and initiatives throughout her career, and I’m excited for her to partner with me in this vital leadership role across the group,” said McCarthy, who was elevated to the Group president position this past October.

Added Doyle: “I am excited to expand my collaboration with Chris to encompass the MTV brand that was my home for so many years. We are ready to leverage the best and most diverse world-class events, development and talent teams across each of the brands to help us transform MTV for today’s youth culture and continue VH1 and Logo’s growth trajectory.”

VH1 and Freeform have acquired rights to the first five seasons of The Mindy Project as part of a deal between the networks and NBCUniversal.

The series, created and starring Mindy Kaling, will appear on both VH1 and Freeform as well as their respective online apps beginning in October, said network officials. The fifth season of The Mindy Project will air on Hulu beginning Oct. 4.

The Mindy Project previously aired on Fox broadcasting network.

“We are pleased that VH1 and Freeform recognize the value of The Mindy Project for their viewers,” stated Frances Manfredi, President, NBCUniversal Television and New Media Distribution.  “VH1 and Freeform are great partners and The Mindy Project will be a great addition to their strong programming.”

VH1 said it has hired veteran development executive Lily Neumeyer as senior vice president, development, overseeing the Viacom-owned network's unscripted development slate and strategy. She will report to executive vice president and head of reality Nina L. Diaz. Most recently, Neumeyer was at A&E, where she developed and executive produced the biggest reality series in TV history, Duck Dynasty, as well as dozens of other projects including The Wahlburgers and the series Rodeo Girls in collaboration with the Weinstein Company. 

Neumeyer began her career at MTV, where she co-created and executive produced My Super Sweet Sixteen alongside Diaz and developed and executive produced MTV’s Juvies, the youth precursor to the Lockup series. Neumeyer spent years as part of MTV News, overseeing documentaries, live news shows and red carpet events. After MTV News, Neumeyer led a team to launch the largest youth bilingual brand of its time, MTV Tres, and developed a string of culture-defining hits.

"Lily is a brilliant development executive with a stellar track record of hit making," Diaz said in a release. "I am thrilled to be partnering again with such a creative force."

VH1 currently has 7 of the Top 25 reality shows for P18-49, more than any other network.

VH1’s music-themed shows struck a chord with Twitter users last night.

The network’s Hip Hop Honors: All Hail The Queens music special was the most tweeted entertainment show of the day, generating 484,000 tweets, according to Nielsen’s daily Twitter TV ratings report. VH1’s Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta finished second with 146,000 tweets, according to Nielsen.

USA’s WWE Monday Night Raw, ABC’s The Bachelorette and Freeform’s The Fosters rounded out the top five most tweeted shows for the day.

ESPN’s 2016 T-Mobile Home Run Derby telecast was the most social live sports event of the day, garnering 306,000 tweets, according to Nielsen.

The made-for-TV couple from this season’s edition of The Bachelor — Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell — will be getting the hottest and most buzzworthy wedding gift that television can give: a spinoff series.

Their new series Ben and Lauren: Happily Ever After — premiering this fall on Freeform, sister cable network to The Bachelor’s home of ABC — will join a multitude of spinoffs from successful reality series franchises across the cable dial. In many cases, these off shoots perform as well or better than their parent shows in the ratings.

More than one-third of cable’s top 30 reality shows for the period of June 1, 2015, to May 31, 2016, were reality franchises and their respective extension shows, according to Nielsen. Such extensions, which can potentially cannibalize viewers from their parent series, were once considered a risky play for networks. Now, they are sought-after content with built-in brand recognition and an audience base that can be lured in without a great deal of marketing effort.

“Spinoffs are so big these days because it’s so hard to launch new series today … there’s so much content to choose from and it’s so hard to reach people with new ideas and a new series,” Shari Levine, executive vice president of production for Bravo, said. “When you are doing a spinoff you’re delivering a show to a ready-made viewer that’s somewhat susceptible. You don’t have to explain the concept to them. Half of the marketing is done for you.”

Related:'Deadliest Catch’ Hooks a Spinoff [subscription required]

For some cable franchises just one or two spinoff shows aren’t enough to satisfy the appetite of loyal viewers. Bravo’s Real Housewives franchise — which follows the lives of affluent housewives from various parts of the country — has branded a whopping nine separate series over the past decade.

GETTING HARDER TO ‘KEEP UP’

E! later this year will launch its limited reality series Rob & Chyna, focusing on the lives of celebrity couple Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna, another spinoff from the long-running series Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

VH1’s Love & Hip Hop, which chronicles the lives and relationships of hip hop and R&B musicians, has spawned three spinoff series: Love & Hip Hop: New York, Love & Hip Hop Atlanta and Love & Hip Hop Hollywood.

And the Atlanta version has spun off two series of its own, K Michelle: My Life and Stevie J & Joseline: Go Hollywood. And despite all the iterations from the original franchise, it seems viewers are singing the praises of virtually all of these series. Current seasons of Love & Hip Hop, Love & Hip Hop Atlanta and Love & Hip Hop Hollywood all finished among the top 15 most-watched reality series over the past year, according to Nielsen. The sixth season of parent franchise Love & Hip Hop averaged 3.3 million viewers (on a live-plus-7-day basis), topped only by the fourth season of Love & Hip Hop Atlanta, which drew 3.6 million viewers.

Brand recognition is paramount when trying to break through in crowded television marketplace, E! and Esquire Network president Adam Stotsky said. Once a brand is established with viewers, he said, the ability to extend it over a multitude of programs gives networks a leg up on the competition.

E!’s Kardashians empire remains strong and fertile, according to Stotsky. Flagship Keeping Up With the Kardashians is still among the most-watched shows on cable, averaging 2.9 million viewers over the past year, besting all of its franchise extensions, which include I Am Cait, Kim and Khloe Take the Hamptons and Dash Dolls, as well as new series Revenge Body With Khloe Kardashian, to launch later this year.

“Given that competitive landscape and the marketing challenges faced in launching new franchises and brands from scratch, working off an existing base where viewers know who these characters are and the world they live in is like makes for an easier entry point for consumers, and alleviates some marketing pressure for the networks,” Stotsky said.

Still, a franchise extension isn’t a slam dunk. Producers must still find a viable new setting, location or character around which to build a spinoff series.

“You have to listen to your audience because they vote with their thumbs on the remote controls everyday,” Stotsky added. “It’s a balancing act — on the one hand, the opportunity to extend versus the risk of cannibalization and oversaturation, and that’s something we monitor.”

Discovery Channel decided to bring back contestants from its popular survival-themed series Naked and Afraid, challenging them to endure a much longer and tougher survival challenge in the buff via sophomore spinoff series Naked and Afraid XL, Denise Contis, executive vice president of development and production for Discovery, said. The result was another hit series for the network, with Naked and Afraid XL garnering 3.8 million viewers during its freshman run, beating out its predecessor’s 2.7 million viewers.

“The spinoff is authentically motivated by the contestants themselves, who are looking to push themselves even further,” Joe Boyle, executive producer of both series, said. “Instead of just that process of learning to work with one other human being, they’re learning to survive and work with a number of other human beings and the ramifications of that. It gives us a much larger playing field in terms of character development.”

EXTENSIONS OF ANOTHER KIND

Other networks are doing more unconventional franchise extensions. AMC, which this July will debut the Stephen David-produced Making of the Mob: Chicago — a spinoff of last year’s Making of the Mob: New York — also looked to basic cable’s top-rated scripted series, zombie thriller The Walking Dead, to beget Talking Dead, the reality genre’s most-watched series over the past year. The live recap talk show, hosted by Chris Hardwick, drew 6.3 million viewers during the period, according to Nielsen.

TV One is doing the complete opposite of AMC: It’s spinning off an episode of Unsung, its unscripted docuseries on popular R&B artists, into an original telefilm. An Unsung episode on the 1990s R&B singer Miki Howard served as the basis for Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story. Its June 12 debut drew more than 2 million viewers across multiple viewings, setting a network ratings record for an original film, said D’Angela Proctor, head of original programming and production for the African-American-targeted TV One.

As long as networks are serving viewers with unique content that fits within the confines of a particular franchise, there’s no such thing as too many spinoff s, Bravo’s Levine said. Along with the Housewives franchise, Bravo has already built multiple shows around such franchises as Million Dollar Listing, Married to Medicine and Below Deck.

“As long as it’s working, there isn’t a limit, but I don’t think you know until you actually do it,” she said.

Chris McCarthy has been promoted to president of VH1 and Logo TV, Viacom Music & Entertainment Group president Doug Herzog announced Wednesday.

McCarthy, who has served as general manager of VH1 since August 2015 and Logo since 2014, will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of both companies, said network officials.

Prior to being named General Manager of VH1, McCarthy was the general manager of MTV’s digital networks from 2010 to 2016, where he oversaw Logo TV, MTV2 and MTVU.  

“Within a remarkably short time, Chris has driven record growth across all screens and done an incredible job of reinventing the VH1 brand, bringing the focus back to its rich pop culture heritage,” said Herzog in a statement.  “Chris is a smart and strategic leader who thinks from an ‘audience first’ perspective, leading to highly impressive results."

The shocking and untimely death of Prince has inspired more programmers to schedule tributes or specials related to the Purple Rain artist. 

READ MORE: Cable Networks, Fans, Celebs React to the Death of Prince | MTV Acknowledges Prince's Passing During Upfront

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network will re-air one of the music legend's most notable television interviews, from The Oprah Winfrey Show (pictured) in 1996, on Saturday, April 23, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on OWN.  In what was the first interview following his iconic name change, Oprah Winfrey chats with the artist about his musical genius, lifestyle, soul mate and future in music (video preview). She visits Prince’s personal recording studio at Paisley Park in Minneapolis, where Prince played a few bars of "Purple Rain" for her on his purple piano. 

TV One tonight (April 21) from 8-10 p.m. ET has secheduled a Roland Martin-hosted live program, A News One Now Special: Prince Remembered. “Prince is such an iconic figure in our community. There is no way we could not do a primetime special on this legendary musician,” Martin said in a statement. “I met, admired, and absolutely love his music. There is no better way to pay tribute to his life and legacy than with a News One Now special on TV One.” Scheduled guests include another legendary singer, Aretha Franklin (Chaka Khan had been previously announced but is no longer participating); Cedric The Entertainer; Londell McMillan, publisher (The Source) and attorney for Prince; Russ Parr, radio DJ, film director, writer, actor and television personality; Peter Himmelman, a singer-songwriter that came up with Prince in Minnesota; Cori Murray, entertainment director at Essence magazine; Full Force, the R&B group. TV One also will encore an episode of Unsung featuring Sheila E., Prince’s former protégé, collaborator and ex-fiancée, throughout the weekend.

VH1 -- sister network to MTV, which Thursday night paid tribute to the iconic performer at its upfront in New York -- kicked off on-air remembrances by airing Prince's iconic movie "Purple Rain" at 5:30 p.m. ET, the first of what will be several airings over the weekend. VH1 also planned a Prince music video block starting at 8 p.m. 

READ MORE: MTV Acknowledges Prince's Passing During Upfront.

AXS TV said it would celebrate the life and legacy of the genre-defying Prince with a tribute block on Saturday, April 23, featuring the Prince episode of AXS TV’s Rock Legends at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT, and the television premiere of the acclaimed documentary Slave Trade: How Prince Re-Made The Music Business at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.  The network noted that, with his inimitable style and fearless blending of rock, R&B, soul, funk, hip-hop, disco, pop and more, Prince cemented his position as one of music’s most innovative figures. Rock Legends: Prince will re-air Monday, April 25, at 7 p.m. ET and Tuesday, April 26 at 8 p.m. ET. Slave Trade will will be broadcast again on Monday, April 25, at 11 p.m. ET and Tuesday, April 26, at 9 p.m. ET.

Fuse will honor Prince during tonight’s special Dearly Beloved, premiering at 7 p.m. ET/PT and repeating at 11 p.m. ET/PT. This one-hour Prince music-video tribute takes viewers through music history with The Purple One who will never be forgotten, the network said. Dearly Beloved will air throughout Friday, April 22, as well. 

Singer/actress Vanessa Williams will play the lead role in VH1’s upcoming scripted series based on Star Jones’ book Satan Sisters: A Novel Oof Fiction, the network said Tuesday.

Williams will play the role of Maxine, creator and host of a popular, long-running TV talk show who fears she’ll soon be pushed out of her role as part of a power struggle among others involved in the show, according to the network.

Williams most recently starred in the final season of Desperate Housewives and has appeared in several series including Ugly Betty.

Jones will serve as executive producer of the series -- which will launch in 2017 -- along with Josh Berman (Drop Dead Diva) and Suzanne de Passe (Temptations), VH1 said.