TV/STREAMING . . .
Dancing With the Stars' Missing Pro Dancers Speak Out: Sharna Burgess and Artem Chigvintsev Address Exits. Dancing With the Stars will be down a few fan-favorite pro dancers this season. Announced on Good Morning America on Wednesday, Aug. 21, the cast of season 28 includes the likes of The Bachelorette star Hannah Brown, Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek, The Office's Kate Flannery and Fifth Harmony singer Ally Brooke. The new celebs are paired with many returning dancers -- and a few newcomers -- but Sharna Burgess, last season's winning pro, and Artem Chigvintsev aren't dancing. In Instagram posts, both professional dancers opened up about missing out on season 28. "I am unbelievably sad to not be back!!! However, what I can whole heartedly tell you is that it's all good, ALL love and in this moment I can't help but be grateful for the time and the journey that I've had, the people I've met, the incredible talent I've shared the stage with and the memories I've made," Burgess said. "To say the lease... it's been epic." In her post, Burgess said she feels like she "grew up on the show." "I am going to truly miss creating, storytelling and performing for you all, I'll miss giving the transformative power of dance to the person in front of me, and I'll miss seeing my DWTS family every day and watching them work their craft in ways that inspire me," Burgess wrote. The pro dancer also alluded to exciting new things coming to fruition in her world and thanked her celebrity partners from throughout the years. "I have endless love and gratitude for all of you and for everyone at the show. For my fellow pros you light up the stage time and time again, you are what makes the show magical and I can't wait to watch you shine," she said. In his post, Chigvintsev said he wanted to share "how sad it makes me feel not to be part of season 28 of DWTS." "It's been 10 years since I have joined this absolutely, one of a kind, incredible show! It has given me recognition as a dancer, choreographer and a teacher. I have had so many beautiful memories with all of my celebrity partners! They all have shaped me into the person that I am today," he said. Chigvintsev thanked the behind-the-scenes team who bring the show to life every week and wished everyone well. He gave a special shout out to the fans who have supported him over the years. "Even though this is so hard on me, I will be DWTS #1 fan, cheering you all on every Monday night!" he said. Professional dancers this year include: Alan Bersten, Brandon Armstrong, Cheryl Burke, Daniella Karagach, Emma Slater, Gleb Savchenko, Jenna Johnson, Keo Motsepe, Lindsay Arnold, Pasha Pashkov, Peta Murgatroyd, Sasha Farber, Val Chmerkovskiy and Witney Carson. Dancing With the Stars season 28 premieres Monday, Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. on ABC. (Eonline)
The Internet Is Now Rooting for Derek Peth to Be the Next Bachelor. Derek Peth, will you accept Bachelor Nation's rose? Fans of the franchise started campaigning for Peth to star on the next season of The Bachelor after he captured their hearts on the current season of Bachelor in Paradise. For those who haven't been watching, Peth formed a connection with Demi Burnett right from the start. At one point, Burnett told Peth she had been dating a woman named Kristian Haggerty before coming on the show and that she felt torn between the two. Peth thanked Burnett for opening up to him and expressed his desire to continue their relationship. Still, Burnett remained conflicted. To help Burnett on her journey to find love, Chris Harrison brought Haggerty onto the show. After reuniting with her, Burnett knew she wanted to pursue a relationship with Haggerty and ended things with Peth. While Peth admitted he was hurt by the breakup, he expressed his desire for Burnett to find happiness. After watching the split, several viewers took to Twitter and claimed that Peth should be the next guy to hand out the roses. "@BachelorABC I have found your next bachelor...@PethDerek!" one fan tweeted. "He's handsome, sweet, loyal...and been royally screwed on this show multiple times. He deserves a happy ending!! #DerekForBachelor." "Not to be dramatic... but like if @PethDerek is not the Bachelor I will riot in the streets #BachelorInParadise #DerekforBachelor," added another. "@PethDerek for the next #bachelor," tweeted a third, "please and thank you. @BachParadise #BachelorinParadise." Even a few stars from the show supported the idea. "Please like and retweet if you agree this GEM should be the next #Bachelor #bachelorinpadadise @PethDerek," Chris Randone tweeted. Wells Adams also posted a tribute video of Peth along with the hashtag #DerekForBachelor. Fans met Peth on JoJo Fletcher's season of The Bachelorette. He then went on to star on season four of Bachelor in Paradise, where he got engaged to Taylor Nolan. However, the two called it quits last year. ABC still hasn't announced who the next Bachelor will be -- and there are already several guys in the running for the position. Fan favorites Mike Johnson and Peter Weber are a few of the reported fan favorites. It looks like bachelor Nation will just have to wait an see how Peth's journey to find love ends. (Eonline)
Netflix Casts Christian Serratos As Selena in New Series. Netflix has likely found its Selena. Vulture reports that Christian Serratos, who is of Mexican and Italian heritage and currently stars as Rosita on The Walking Dead, will star as Selena Quintanilla-Perez in the streaming site's upcoming series about the singer. THR reports that the casting is currently in negotiations over scheduling issues with the AMC drama, which shoots in Atlanta. The Selena series will begin shooting in Mexico in the next month. The two-part limited series, which was originally announced in December, will be developed alongside and executive produced by Selena's family. Per Netflix, the series is "a coming of age story following Selena as her dreams come true and all the heart-wrenching and life-changing choices she and her family have to make as they navigate success, family, and music." It's executive produced by Moises Zamora. Serratos, 28, is currently best known for TWD, but she's also known for role as Angela in the Twilight movies, Raven on The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Suzie Crabgrass on Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, and guest appearances on American Horror Story, Hannah Montana, 7th Heaven, and Zoey 101. So basically, Serratos is taking her already iconic career to a whole new level of iconic. Selena was known as the Queen of Tejano music and was one of the biggest Latin crossover artists in the world. She was murdered when she was 23 by Yolanda Saldivar, a business manager-turned-agent, who shot her after a confrontation over Saldivar having Embezzled money from Selena's fan club and boutiques. "Selena will always have a lasting place in music history and we feel great responsibility to do justice to her memory. With this series, viewers will finally get the full history of Selena, our family, and the impact she has had on all of our lives. We are excited to partner with Campanario and Netflix to give fans a never-before-seen glimpse at our story and highlight why Selena will remain a legend for generations to come." Suzette Quintanilla, sister of Selena Quintanilla, said in a statement when the series was announced. Jennifer Lopez famously played Selena in the 1997 movie Selena. No release date for the series has been announced. Netflix has not yet commented on the casting. (Eonline)
The good news for 2 couples on the upcoming season of 'Marriage Boot Camp' is they've already proved they have each other's backs -- unfortunately they proved it during a knockdown, drag-out fight. Sources close to production tell TMZ ... they had to stop shooting this week after a huge fight erupted over ex-'Love & Hip Hop' star Hazel-E's Instagram. We're told the issue was a racially-charged post from way back in 2017. We're told Shanda Denyce, wife of Day26 singer Willie Taylor, confronted Hazel about her comments insulting darker-skinned black women ... and then all hell broke loose. Our sources say Shanda and Hazel-E started brawling first, tearing down a set of drapes in the 'Boot Camp' house in the process. Meanwhile ... we're told Hazel-E's BF, model Devon B, and Taylor started rumbling and got completely out of control. It took several security guards and crew members to break them up ... but not before a marble table was cracked and several chairs were destroyed. Once the dust settled, our sources say producers put the cast on lockdown -- and then had an emergency producers-only meeting. We're told they've resumed shooting, and all the couples are still there. We'll see if they can keep the peace -- either way, it'll make for great TV. (TMZ)
This upcoming Netflix show is being hailed the next 'Gilmore Girls'. This sounds very familiar. Is there a Gilmore Girls-shaped hole in your life? If you've been missing the cult TV series, with its quick quips and pop culture-rich script, fret not - there might just be a way to soothe the separation anxiety thanks to a new show that's being hailed as a perfect replacement. Dubbed the next Gilmore Girls, new Netflix series Ginny & Georgia has a lot of similarities to our much-missed show (that go way beyond the alliterative Gs), and the streaming giant has reportedly ordered ten episodes to start with. But can Ginny and Georgia ever replace Lorelai and Rory? The comparisons are definitely there. The plot of the new series is based around two characters - 15-year-old Ginny Miller (newcomer Antonia Gentry) and her 30-year-old mother, Georgia (Brianne Howey). So far, so similar. The mother-daughter dynamic forms the core of the show in the same way as our beloved Gilmore Girls, with the character of Ginny described as an awkward teen who often feels more mature than her young and 'irresistible' mum. Hmm, where have we heard that before... ? For Ginny & Georgia, the story begins with the pair finally settling down in picturesque New England after years of being on the run, looking to start a more stable, normal way of life - including a fancy new school and, of course, plenty of love interests. Is it just us or does this feel a little like Déjà vu? It's no wonder social media users are already making comparisons between the shows, suggesting it's the new Gilmore Girls but 'edgier' and 'with a twist' - as it's been revealed the women's new lives may not run smoothly, when Georgia's past threatens to catch up with her. Consider us intrigued. It's not a complete carbon copy, though. Biracial Ginny also has a younger brother, Austin. Other characters include a bad boy across the street (obviously), played by Felix Mallard, as well as Joe, the owner of a local farm to table restaurant who has his eye on the town's new arrival, Georgia - and who is described, brilliantly, as 'granola in a manly way, not a man bun way. The new show is in production now and will debut next year, so we'll have to wait and see whether it can match up to the original GG - and if not, we can always switch back to our favorites list and watch it all over again. (British Glamour)
Sky to Launch True Crime, Comedy Channels. Crime content will come from Oxygen and HBO, while the comedy network will be "the home of premium scripted U.S. comedy from HBO, NBC and Showtime," along with U.S. talk shows and 'Saturday Night Live.' European pay TV giant Sky, owned by Comcast, said Wednesday that it will launch two new entertainment channel brands focused on true crime and comedy, respectively. They will feature content from key U.S. providers and add to Sky's programming offers at a time the company continues to boost its original content spending. Sky recently launched Sky Studios, a new Europe-wide development and production arm that will allow the company to more than double its investment in original content over the next five years. Sky Crime will launch in October, while Sky Comedy will kick off in February 2020. Both will be available to all Sky customers at no extra charge in linear and on-demand form. Both channels will also become available on Sky streaming service Now TV as part of the Now TV Entertainment pass. Sky Crime will be "the home of premium U.S. true crime from Oxygen and HBO and the dedicated home of quality first-run content from Jupiter and Woodcut," the company said. Key programming will include I Love You, Now Die and The Disappearance of Susan Cox Powell. "Additionally, famous headline cases from the U.S. and U.K., like Kemper on Kemper and Britain's Most Evil Killers and the In Defense Of series, will bring new insight into some of the most notorious killers of modern times." Sky Comedy will be "the home of premium scripted U.S. comedy from HBO, NBC and Showtime, including brand new acclaimed comedies like Mrs. Fletcher, starring Kathryn Hahn; The Righteous Gemstones, starring John Goodman, Adam DeVine and Danny McBride; A.P. Bio and Sunnyside." The comedy network will also air all new seasons of hit U.S. shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm and Ballers, starring Dwayne Johnson, as well as feature U.S. talk shows like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Last Week Tonight With John Oliver along with Saturday Night Live. The channel promises to round out its offerings with an "enviable library of favorites like Will & Grace and Parks and Recreation." Said Zai Bennett, managing director of content at Sky: "Sky Crime and Sky Comedy are fantastic additions to our entertainment portfolio, providing our customers with two new destinations for their favorite shows. Sky Crime, the home of premium true crime, will complement Sky Witness perfectly, while Sky Comedy is an exciting new proposition for Sky customers, offering them a daily dose of the best U.S. comedy, which will sit alongside our expanding slate of Sky original comedy on Sky One. By investing in the best of the U.S. as well as doubling our investment in original drama and comedy, we are making Sky an unbeatable destination for the best range of premium TV." Sky's entertainment channel portfolio in the U.K. and Ireland now includes six core brands: Sky One, Sky Atlantic, Sky Witness, Sky Arts, Sky Crime and Sky Comedy. In addition, it offers the Sky Cinema and Sky Kids services. (Hollywood Reporter)
Billie Piper, 'Succession' Writer Lucy Prebble Team for Sky Drama 'I Hate Suzie'. The show follows a star on the wane whose life is upended when her phone is hacked. European pay TV giant Sky -- now part of the Comcast family -- appears to be making good on a recent commitment to boost its investment in original programming (which has recently included the likes of 19-time Emmy-nominated Chernobyl). The company unveiled Wednesday that BAFTA nominee Billie Piper (Collateral, Doctor Who) is set to lead the cast of new Sky drama I Hate Suzie, written by British playwright Lucy Prebble, co-executive producer and writer on the hit HBO show Succession, and co-created by Piper. The eight-part series -- due to air on Sky in 2020 -- is described as "bold, bracing, funny drama about the moment in life when the mask slips, asking if any us can survive being well and truly 'known.'" Piper will play Suzie Pickles, a star on the wane, who has her whole life upended when her phone is hacked and a photo of her emerges in an extremely compromising position. "It's taken years to finally get Lucy, my long-term GF and favorite writer in London, to work with me again," said Piper. "We feel we've created something timely and not for the faint-hearted. If you too suffer with anxiety, shame, compulsive lying but like a laugh, please tune in at some point." Added Prebble: "At last I get to make my best friend Billie Piper do terrible things onscreen again. It is all I live for." Made by Bad Wolf, behind the upcoming big-budget HBO/BBC His Dark Materials adaptation and led by former Doctor Who producers Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter, I Hate Suzie was commissioned by Zai Bennett, managing director of content at Sky, and Cameron Roach, director of drama, Sky Studios. Liz Lewin is the commissioning editor for Sky and the series is co-created and executive produced by Prebble and Piper. Gardner is executive producer and Andrea Dewsbery is producing, both for Bad Wolf. Sky Vision will handle the international distribution. "We couldn't be more excited about I Hate Suzie -- a truly unique show, from the brilliant, long-standing creative partnership of Lucy Prebble and Billie Piper," said Roach. "Lucy's scripts promise a vital, moving and darkly funny portrayal of the thirty-something woman, and the prospect of Billie bringing Suzie to life is thrilling. Following in the footsteps of Patrick Melrose, Save Me and Chernobyl, I Hate Suzie's commission underlines our belief in backing truly original drama and Sky Atlantic as the home for the most innovative storytelling and ideas." Added Bad Wolf's Gardner: "Jane Tranter and I loved traveling time and space with Billie as the original Bad Wolf, and know that her talent and fearlessness will make I Hate Suzie very special. Lucy Prebble's blistering and provocative scripts take Suzie on a raw, rollercoaster ride full of upheaval and self-discovery. We can't wait to get started!" Upcoming Sky originals include Temple starring Mark Strong, Catherine The Great starring Helen Mirren; a second series of Jez Butterworth's Britannia and a second series of Save Me starring Lennie James and Suranne Jones. (Hollywood Reporter)
The Internet Is Now Rooting for Derek Peth to Be the Next Bachelor. Derek Peth, will you accept Bachelor Nation's rose? Fans of the franchise started campaigning for Peth to star on the next season of The Bachelor after he captured their hearts on the current season of Bachelor in Paradise. For those who haven't been watching, Peth formed a connection with Demi Burnett right from the start. At one point, Burnett told Peth she had been dating a woman named Kristian Haggerty before coming on the show and that she felt torn between the two. Peth thanked Burnett for opening up to him and expressed his desire to continue their relationship. Still, Burnett remained conflicted. To help Burnett on her journey to find love, Chris Harrison brought Haggerty onto the show. After reuniting with her, Burnett knew she wanted to pursue a relationship with Haggerty and ended things with Peth. While Peth admitted he was hurt by the breakup, he expressed his desire for Burnett to find happiness. After watching the split, several viewers took to Twitter and claimed that Peth should be the next guy to hand out the roses. "@BachelorABC I have found your next bachelor...@PethDerek!" one fan tweeted. "He's handsome, sweet, loyal...and been royally screwed on this show multiple times. He deserves a happy ending!! #DerekForBachelor." "Not to be dramatic... but like if @PethDerek is not the Bachelor I will riot in the streets #BachelorInParadise #DerekforBachelor," added another. "@PethDerek for the next #bachelor," tweeted a third, "please and thank you. @BachParadise #BachelorinParadise." Even a few stars from the show supported the idea. "Please like and retweet if you agree this GEM should be the next #Bachelor #bachelorinpadadise @PethDerek," Chris Randone tweeted. Wells Adams also posted a tribute video of Peth along with the hashtag #DerekForBachelor. Fans met Peth on JoJo Fletcher's season of The Bachelorette. He then went on to star on season four of Bachelor in Paradise, where he got engaged to Taylor Nolan. However, the two called it quits last year. ABC still hasn't announced who the next Bachelor will be -- and there are already several guys in the running for the position. Fan favorites Mike Johnson and Peter Weber are a few of the reported fan favorites. It looks like bachelor Nation will just have to wait an see how Peth's journey to find love ends. (Eonline)
Netflix Casts Christian Serratos As Selena in New Series. Netflix has likely found its Selena. Vulture reports that Christian Serratos, who is of Mexican and Italian heritage and currently stars as Rosita on The Walking Dead, will star as Selena Quintanilla-Perez in the streaming site's upcoming series about the singer. THR reports that the casting is currently in negotiations over scheduling issues with the AMC drama, which shoots in Atlanta. The Selena series will begin shooting in Mexico in the next month. The two-part limited series, which was originally announced in December, will be developed alongside and executive produced by Selena's family. Per Netflix, the series is "a coming of age story following Selena as her dreams come true and all the heart-wrenching and life-changing choices she and her family have to make as they navigate success, family, and music." It's executive produced by Moises Zamora. Serratos, 28, is currently best known for TWD, but she's also known for role as Angela in the Twilight movies, Raven on The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Suzie Crabgrass on Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, and guest appearances on American Horror Story, Hannah Montana, 7th Heaven, and Zoey 101. So basically, Serratos is taking her already iconic career to a whole new level of iconic. Selena was known as the Queen of Tejano music and was one of the biggest Latin crossover artists in the world. She was murdered when she was 23 by Yolanda Saldivar, a business manager-turned-agent, who shot her after a confrontation over Saldivar having Embezzled money from Selena's fan club and boutiques. "Selena will always have a lasting place in music history and we feel great responsibility to do justice to her memory. With this series, viewers will finally get the full history of Selena, our family, and the impact she has had on all of our lives. We are excited to partner with Campanario and Netflix to give fans a never-before-seen glimpse at our story and highlight why Selena will remain a legend for generations to come." Suzette Quintanilla, sister of Selena Quintanilla, said in a statement when the series was announced. Jennifer Lopez famously played Selena in the 1997 movie Selena. No release date for the series has been announced. Netflix has not yet commented on the casting. (Eonline)
The good news for 2 couples on the upcoming season of 'Marriage Boot Camp' is they've already proved they have each other's backs -- unfortunately they proved it during a knockdown, drag-out fight. Sources close to production tell TMZ ... they had to stop shooting this week after a huge fight erupted over ex-'Love & Hip Hop' star Hazel-E's Instagram. We're told the issue was a racially-charged post from way back in 2017. We're told Shanda Denyce, wife of Day26 singer Willie Taylor, confronted Hazel about her comments insulting darker-skinned black women ... and then all hell broke loose. Our sources say Shanda and Hazel-E started brawling first, tearing down a set of drapes in the 'Boot Camp' house in the process. Meanwhile ... we're told Hazel-E's BF, model Devon B, and Taylor started rumbling and got completely out of control. It took several security guards and crew members to break them up ... but not before a marble table was cracked and several chairs were destroyed. Once the dust settled, our sources say producers put the cast on lockdown -- and then had an emergency producers-only meeting. We're told they've resumed shooting, and all the couples are still there. We'll see if they can keep the peace -- either way, it'll make for great TV. (TMZ)
This upcoming Netflix show is being hailed the next 'Gilmore Girls'. This sounds very familiar. Is there a Gilmore Girls-shaped hole in your life? If you've been missing the cult TV series, with its quick quips and pop culture-rich script, fret not - there might just be a way to soothe the separation anxiety thanks to a new show that's being hailed as a perfect replacement. Dubbed the next Gilmore Girls, new Netflix series Ginny & Georgia has a lot of similarities to our much-missed show (that go way beyond the alliterative Gs), and the streaming giant has reportedly ordered ten episodes to start with. But can Ginny and Georgia ever replace Lorelai and Rory? The comparisons are definitely there. The plot of the new series is based around two characters - 15-year-old Ginny Miller (newcomer Antonia Gentry) and her 30-year-old mother, Georgia (Brianne Howey). So far, so similar. The mother-daughter dynamic forms the core of the show in the same way as our beloved Gilmore Girls, with the character of Ginny described as an awkward teen who often feels more mature than her young and 'irresistible' mum. Hmm, where have we heard that before... ? For Ginny & Georgia, the story begins with the pair finally settling down in picturesque New England after years of being on the run, looking to start a more stable, normal way of life - including a fancy new school and, of course, plenty of love interests. Is it just us or does this feel a little like Déjà vu? It's no wonder social media users are already making comparisons between the shows, suggesting it's the new Gilmore Girls but 'edgier' and 'with a twist' - as it's been revealed the women's new lives may not run smoothly, when Georgia's past threatens to catch up with her. Consider us intrigued. It's not a complete carbon copy, though. Biracial Ginny also has a younger brother, Austin. Other characters include a bad boy across the street (obviously), played by Felix Mallard, as well as Joe, the owner of a local farm to table restaurant who has his eye on the town's new arrival, Georgia - and who is described, brilliantly, as 'granola in a manly way, not a man bun way. The new show is in production now and will debut next year, so we'll have to wait and see whether it can match up to the original GG - and if not, we can always switch back to our favorites list and watch it all over again. (British Glamour)
Sky to Launch True Crime, Comedy Channels. Crime content will come from Oxygen and HBO, while the comedy network will be "the home of premium scripted U.S. comedy from HBO, NBC and Showtime," along with U.S. talk shows and 'Saturday Night Live.' European pay TV giant Sky, owned by Comcast, said Wednesday that it will launch two new entertainment channel brands focused on true crime and comedy, respectively. They will feature content from key U.S. providers and add to Sky's programming offers at a time the company continues to boost its original content spending. Sky recently launched Sky Studios, a new Europe-wide development and production arm that will allow the company to more than double its investment in original content over the next five years. Sky Crime will launch in October, while Sky Comedy will kick off in February 2020. Both will be available to all Sky customers at no extra charge in linear and on-demand form. Both channels will also become available on Sky streaming service Now TV as part of the Now TV Entertainment pass. Sky Crime will be "the home of premium U.S. true crime from Oxygen and HBO and the dedicated home of quality first-run content from Jupiter and Woodcut," the company said. Key programming will include I Love You, Now Die and The Disappearance of Susan Cox Powell. "Additionally, famous headline cases from the U.S. and U.K., like Kemper on Kemper and Britain's Most Evil Killers and the In Defense Of series, will bring new insight into some of the most notorious killers of modern times." Sky Comedy will be "the home of premium scripted U.S. comedy from HBO, NBC and Showtime, including brand new acclaimed comedies like Mrs. Fletcher, starring Kathryn Hahn; The Righteous Gemstones, starring John Goodman, Adam DeVine and Danny McBride; A.P. Bio and Sunnyside." The comedy network will also air all new seasons of hit U.S. shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm and Ballers, starring Dwayne Johnson, as well as feature U.S. talk shows like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Last Week Tonight With John Oliver along with Saturday Night Live. The channel promises to round out its offerings with an "enviable library of favorites like Will & Grace and Parks and Recreation." Said Zai Bennett, managing director of content at Sky: "Sky Crime and Sky Comedy are fantastic additions to our entertainment portfolio, providing our customers with two new destinations for their favorite shows. Sky Crime, the home of premium true crime, will complement Sky Witness perfectly, while Sky Comedy is an exciting new proposition for Sky customers, offering them a daily dose of the best U.S. comedy, which will sit alongside our expanding slate of Sky original comedy on Sky One. By investing in the best of the U.S. as well as doubling our investment in original drama and comedy, we are making Sky an unbeatable destination for the best range of premium TV." Sky's entertainment channel portfolio in the U.K. and Ireland now includes six core brands: Sky One, Sky Atlantic, Sky Witness, Sky Arts, Sky Crime and Sky Comedy. In addition, it offers the Sky Cinema and Sky Kids services. (Hollywood Reporter)
Billie Piper, 'Succession' Writer Lucy Prebble Team for Sky Drama 'I Hate Suzie'. The show follows a star on the wane whose life is upended when her phone is hacked. European pay TV giant Sky -- now part of the Comcast family -- appears to be making good on a recent commitment to boost its investment in original programming (which has recently included the likes of 19-time Emmy-nominated Chernobyl). The company unveiled Wednesday that BAFTA nominee Billie Piper (Collateral, Doctor Who) is set to lead the cast of new Sky drama I Hate Suzie, written by British playwright Lucy Prebble, co-executive producer and writer on the hit HBO show Succession, and co-created by Piper. The eight-part series -- due to air on Sky in 2020 -- is described as "bold, bracing, funny drama about the moment in life when the mask slips, asking if any us can survive being well and truly 'known.'" Piper will play Suzie Pickles, a star on the wane, who has her whole life upended when her phone is hacked and a photo of her emerges in an extremely compromising position. "It's taken years to finally get Lucy, my long-term GF and favorite writer in London, to work with me again," said Piper. "We feel we've created something timely and not for the faint-hearted. If you too suffer with anxiety, shame, compulsive lying but like a laugh, please tune in at some point." Added Prebble: "At last I get to make my best friend Billie Piper do terrible things onscreen again. It is all I live for." Made by Bad Wolf, behind the upcoming big-budget HBO/BBC His Dark Materials adaptation and led by former Doctor Who producers Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter, I Hate Suzie was commissioned by Zai Bennett, managing director of content at Sky, and Cameron Roach, director of drama, Sky Studios. Liz Lewin is the commissioning editor for Sky and the series is co-created and executive produced by Prebble and Piper. Gardner is executive producer and Andrea Dewsbery is producing, both for Bad Wolf. Sky Vision will handle the international distribution. "We couldn't be more excited about I Hate Suzie -- a truly unique show, from the brilliant, long-standing creative partnership of Lucy Prebble and Billie Piper," said Roach. "Lucy's scripts promise a vital, moving and darkly funny portrayal of the thirty-something woman, and the prospect of Billie bringing Suzie to life is thrilling. Following in the footsteps of Patrick Melrose, Save Me and Chernobyl, I Hate Suzie's commission underlines our belief in backing truly original drama and Sky Atlantic as the home for the most innovative storytelling and ideas." Added Bad Wolf's Gardner: "Jane Tranter and I loved traveling time and space with Billie as the original Bad Wolf, and know that her talent and fearlessness will make I Hate Suzie very special. Lucy Prebble's blistering and provocative scripts take Suzie on a raw, rollercoaster ride full of upheaval and self-discovery. We can't wait to get started!" Upcoming Sky originals include Temple starring Mark Strong, Catherine The Great starring Helen Mirren; a second series of Jez Butterworth's Britannia and a second series of Save Me starring Lennie James and Suranne Jones. (Hollywood Reporter)
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