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Plot: Frasier Crane is in the next chapter of his life after he returns to Boston to face new challenges, forge new relationships and—with hope— finally fulfill an old dream or two. The sophomore season will see Dr. Frasier Crane return to his radio roots at Kacl in a Seattle-themed episode. The series is filmed in front of a live studio audience at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles.

Review: While many of you may feel that Frasier is too old school, we love the series here at JoBlo.com. The revival of the Cheers spin-off was a refreshingly retro sitcom filmed in front of a studio audience that, while familiar, was better than many other recent series returning to the airwaves. After a ten-episode first season knocked any dust off the character of Frasier Crane, the season two run jumps right into the screwball shenanigans that have always made the...

The latest episode of Paramount+’s “Frasier,” entitled “Blind Date,” followed as Kelsey Grammer’s titular character competed with his son Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scott) for the affections of a woman named June (June Diane Raphael) in a 22-page-long scene.

Director Kelly Park told TheWrap that filming the sequence was “one of the highlights” of her career.

“It really allowed me to prove to myself that I am a technical director,” she said. “Kelsey Grammer was wonderful because he collaborated with me and was with me all the way. It was really divine… they just let me play, let me create, and allowed me to delve into what Frasier used to be and bring it back home.”

But directing a multi-camera comedy in front of a live studio audience is no easy feat.

“In the multi-cam world, traditionally what we do is we have two days of taping. There’s a...

“Station 19” star Danielle Savre went through vigorous training before landing her first directing job on the ABC drama series. Still, she admits to having sleepless nights while working to make the episode as perfect as it read on the page.

“It was daunting at first when I read the script, because the scope of the script is huge,” Savre told TheWrap. “It’s a huge incident. Everyone has big emotions, and huge story points are being told that are going to play out in the next two episodes after mine. So if I didn’t get this right, I basically was not helping set up the [finale]… But I do very well under pressure.”

Thursday’s new episode, titled “Dirty Laundry,” follows as the Station 19 crew responds to a tragic pileup accident on a busy road. Meanwhile, Andy (Jaina Lee Ortiz) hopes to convince Natasha (Merle Dandridge) to not...

Exclusive: Christina Anthony (Mixed-ish), Ray Santiago (Ash vs. Evil Dead) and Melanie J. Newby (Halt & Catch Fire) are set as series regulars opposite Amber Ruffin in NBC comedy pilot Non-Evil Twin from Universal Television.

Written by Ruffin and Kenny Smith, the multi-camera pilot stars Ruffin playing the dual roles of twin sisters Angie and Amber. Angie is the ruthless CEO of AngieCorp, who is as heartless as she is rich. Angie instills fear in everyone she meets, except her caring sister, Amber, who only sees the good in her. Amber—a pushover when it comes to Angie—is forced to step in as the leader of AngieCorp, a Fortune 500 company, despite knowing little about business and even less about the way her sister has been running the corporation.

Anthony will play Christina, Angie’s assistant/acolyte who believes she’s the smartest person in the room and easily annoyed by others.

Ryan Michelle Bathé is set as a lead opposite Terry Crews in JumpStart, CBS’ multi-camera comedy pilot based on Robb Armstrong’s long-running comic strip, Deadline has confirmed.

Based on the popular comic strip that debuted in 1989, JumpStart is set in Philadelphia and follows Joseph L. Cobb (Crews), a cop, his wife Marcy (Bathé), a nurse, and Joe’s partner Crunchy. Joe and Marcy are young, hip, urban parents with old school values who are willing to sacrifice for their kids and have some laughs while doing it!

Bathé’s Marcy is a hard-working nurse who is naturally maternal and wise beyond her years. She and Joe share a close bond and are supportive of one another even when they don’t agree. The two have a good life in their middle-class Philly neighborhood with their two teen kids — meeting all challenges, and enjoying their share of goofy times as well.

Exclusive: Dexter Darden (Chang Can Dunk), Chloe Bridges (Maggie) and Robert Buckley (One Tree Hill) have joined the cast of Amber Ruffin and Kenny Smith NBC comedy pilot, Non-Evil Twin.

Darden plays Marcus, a contemporary nerd and tech developer for exercise equipment. He’s a good guy, but no fan of confrontation, which makes it hard for him to do the right thing at times. Bridges plays Robin, the CEO of Dandee Sports Apparel and Angie’s (Ruffin) corporate nemesis. She’s a self-described woman of faith who’s a shark in the boardroom. Buckley plays Samson, Angie’s not-so-bright lawyer who, in addition to providing legal counsel, provides Angie with anything she needs…be it copious amounts of rosé or sex.

The multi-camera pilot stars Ruffin playing the dual roles of twin sisters Angie and Amber. Angie is the ruthless CEO of AngieCorp, who is as heartless as she is rich.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine alum Terry Crews has been tapped as the lead and also will executive produce JumpStart, CBS’ multi-camera comedy pilot based on Robb Armstrong’s long-running comic strip. Wayne Conley (The Best Man) penned the TV adaptation for the project from Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment, Wendi Trilling’s TrillTV and CBS Studios. Phill Lewis will direct and executive produce the pilot, replacing Kelly Park due to changes in the production schedule; Park is directing NBC’s comedy pilot Non-Evil Twin instead.

Based on the popular comic strip that debuted in 1989, JumpStart is set in Philadelphia and follows Joseph L. Cobb (Crews), a cop, his wife Marcy, a nurse, and Joe’s partner Crunchy.

Crews’ Joe Cobb is a devoted husband, son, father and Philadelphia police officer. He is also a proud Black man and often feels pressured to be flawless in each of his roles, especially in light of controversies surrounding cops.

Exclusive: Kelly Park has been tapped to direct the pilot for Non-Evil Twin, while Ruben Fleischer will helm the pilot for St. Denis Medical, both for NBC.

Non-Evil Twin is written by and stars Amber Ruffin. Kenny Smith will co-write the pilot and serve as executive producer, along with Ruffin and Jenny Hagel through Straight to Cards, and Seth Meyers and Mike Shoemaker through Sethmaker Shoemeyers. Straight to Cards’ Olivia Morris and Sethmaker Shoemeyers’ Jason Carden serve as co-executive producers.

The multi-camera pilot stars Ruffin as a woman who is forced to step in to her sister’s role as the leader of a Fortune 500 company despite knowing little about business and even less about the way her sister has been running the corporation. It’s the first pilot for Ruffin, who signed an overall deal with Universal Television with her writing partner Hagel.

Related: 2023 NBC Pilots & Series Orders

Park...

Exclusive: Kelly Park has been tapped to direct and executive produce CBS multi-camera comedy pilot JumpStart, based on Robb Armstrong’s long-running comic strip. Wayne Conley (The Best Man) penned the TV adaptation for the project, which hails from Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment, Wendi Trilling’s TrillTV and CBS Studios.

Based on the popular comic strip that debuted in 1989, JumpStart is set in Philadelphia and follows Joe, a cop, his wife Marcy, a nurse, and Joe’s partner Crunchy. Joe and Marcy are young, hip, urban parents with old school values who are willing to sacrifice for their kids and have some laughs while doing it!.

Related: 2023 CBS Pilots & Series Orders

Conley executive produces with Kaplan and Melanie Frankel of Kapital Entertainment, Trilling for TrillTV and Armstrong’s producer Bridget McMeel, who brought the property to Hollywood, for Andrews McMeel Entertainment. Armstrong co-executive produces. Jessie Abbott is Kapital’s creative executive on the project.

NBC’s comedy pilot “Lopez vs. Lopez” starring George Lopez and his daughter Mayan Lopez has been ordered to series.

The multi-cam is described as a working-class family comedy about dysfunction, reconnection and all the pain and joy in between. In April, Variety learned exclusively that Selenis Leyva, Brice Gonzalez and Matt Shively would also star, with Laci Mosley and Kiran Deol in recurring roles. Additionally, Kelly Park was announced as director.

Debby Wolfe serves as writer and executive producer of “Lopez vs. Lopez” on behalf of via Mi Vida Loba. Bruce Helford supervises and executive produces under his Mohawk Productions banner. George will executive produce via Travieso Productions, with Mayan producing. 3 Arts’ Katie Newman and Michael Rotenberg also executive produce. Universal Television is the studio.

Leyva stars as Rosie, Mayan’s mother and George’s ex-wife, described as “a ball of energy who’s barely overbearing” and the self-proclaimed best insurance agent in town.

George Lopez and Mayan Lopez’s NBC comedy pilot “Lopez vs. Lopez” has cast Laci Mosley and Kiran Deol in recurring roles and set Kelly Park to direct, Variety has learned exclusively.

The multi-cam pilot starring the Lopezes is described as a working-class family comedy about dysfunction, reconnection and all the pain and joy in between.

Mosley will play Brookie, Mayan’s co-worker and best friend who always knows what’s trending (and sometimes it’s her feet pics). Deol will play Dr. Pocha, the veterinarian who employs Mayan and Brookie and is better at saving pets than talking to people.

Mosley stars in Paramount+’s “iCarly” reboot as Harper, and she was a member of the Season 2 cast of HBO’s “A Black Lady Sketch Show.” Her other screen credits include “Florida Girls” on Pop, “Single Parents” on ABC, “Better Call Saul” on AMC and “Insecure” on HBO, and...

The Sonoma International Film Festival celebrates its 25th edition from March 23 to 27 in the Northern California wine country town. More than 120 independent and international films will be screening, including 79 premieres. The festival will open with Sandra Bullock’s “The Lost City” and close with French film “The Butcher’s Daughter.” Jacqueline Bisset will be honored with the Cinematic Excellence award, while Jacques Pepin will be feted with the Culinary Excellence Award at a five-course dinner.

Head to Sonoma Film Festival’s website for more info.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr. and Daveed Diggs Reunite to Open SAG Awards

“Hamilton” trio Daveed Diggs, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Leslie Odom Jr. will reunite to open the 28th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sun. Feb. 27.

Following the Tony-winning blockbuster stage show, Diggs, Miranda and Odom Jr. have gone on to other major projects. Diggs stars in “Snowpiercer” and, last year, earned a SAG...

The DGA Women’s Steering Committee (Wsc) announces the second cycle of the Wsc Squad mentorship program with its second class of mentees and filmmakers.

Led by Wsc Squad co-chairs Amy J. Aniobi, Maureen Bharoocha, Lena Khan and Amber Sealey, the program supports other working directors to achieve their goals by pairing 10 mid-career directors with well-established mentors. The Wsc Squad is made up of a diverse community with the goal of preparing directors for the next step up, as well as forging a ‘sisterhood’ to create genuine connection, collaboration, and camaraderie within the DGA.

The Wsc Squad’s aim is to support and prepare the DGA Women’s Steering Committee members as they seek to advance their directing careers by providing valuable tools and information to strengthen their craft.

The co-chairs of The Wsc Squad select up to ten participants from a pool of applicants. Each participant is paired with one specially-curated-for-them mentor,...

A female-led reboot of the classic sitcom “The Honeymooners,” produced by Damon Wayans Jr., is in the works at CBS.

Written by “Black-ish” and “Mixed-ish” alum Lindsey Shockley, “The Honeymooners” is described as a bold, female-fronted reimagining of the iconic working-class comedy centered around new wife, Ruth, and her husband, Alex, who are determined to have a marriage where they are true equals in every way. But what happens when a marriage has two heads of household? Are they co-heads? Or no head at all?

The multi-cam project — currently in the development stage — hails from CBS Studios, and Wayans Jr. and Kameron Tarlow’s Two Shakes Entertainment, which has a pact with CBS Studios.

The reboot does not yet have cast members attached to it.

The original “The Honeymooners” ran from 1955 to 1956 on CBS. The sitcom was created by and starred Jackie Gleason, and was based on a recurring comedy...

Exclusive: A classic blue-collar comedy title from the CBS library is plotting a return. The network is developing The Honeymooners, a reimagining of the 1950s sitcom created by and starring Jackie Gleason. The multi-camera project with a feminist twist hails from Damon Wayans Jr. and Kameron Tarlow’s Two Shakes Entertainment and CBS Studios where the company has been based.

Written by Lindsey Shockley (Mixed-ish) and to be directed by Kelly Park (Country Comfort), The Honeymooners is described as a bold, female-driven reboot of the iconic working-class comedy centered around new wife Ruth and her husband Alex who are determined to have a marriage where they are true equals in every way. But what happens when a marriage has two heads of the household? Are they co-heads? Or no head at all?

Shockley and Park executive produce with Two Shakes Entertainment’s Wayans Jr. and Tarlow.

The original Honeymooners was...

Tisha Campbell, Essence Atkins, Tahj Mowry, Isaiah Mustafa, and Beth Grant have all been cast in ABC’s multi-cam comedy pilot “Black Don’t Crack,” Variety has learned.

The group joins previously announced series star Sherri Shepherd. The show follows three former sorority sisters who lost touch after college and reunite during a pivotal point in their lives. The show marks a reunion for Mowry and Atkins, who previously starred together in the Disney series “Smart Guy.”

Campbell will play Tasha Marks, described as a hip and fabulous Atlanta restaurateur who starts trends instead of following them. She holds nothing back and is brutally honest (sometimes to a fault) with her friends, but has been avoiding a truth in her own life. She’s achieved the perfect professional life and insists that she needs no man in her life to interfere with the career she’s worked so hard to create.

Sherri Shepherd has boarded the ABC comedy pilot “Black Don’t Crack.” She is set to star and produce.

Shepherd will play Angela Wright, a native New Yorker who is somewhere between 45 and death. She’s a single mom who’s put aside her musical dreams to raise her son after her husband dies. She’s been holding it down alone for years, taking care of her family instead of herself. When she is confronted with a personal crisis, she reunites with her sorority sisters to recapture the passion, ambition and sisterhood of their college glory days.

The multi-cam project hails from writer and producer Regina Hicks. Viola Davis and Julius Tennon will executive produce via JuVee Productions, with Larry Wilmore supervising and executive producing via Wilmore Films.

Kelly Park is also set to direct the pilot. Her credits include Netflix’s “Country Comfort,” ABC’s “Call Your Mother” and Fox’s “Call Me Kat.

Sherri Shepherd is set to star in ABC’s multi-camera comedy pilot Black Don’t Crack. Kelly Park has been tapped to direct the pilot, from writer/executive producer Regina Hicks and exec producers Viola Davis & Julius Tennon and Larry Wilmore. Shepherd will produce. ABC Signature is the studio.

Black Don’t Crack (fka Untitled Regina Hicks) follows three former sorority sisters who lost touch after college reunite during a pivotal point in their lives. They realize sometimes it’s okay to crack and when you do, no one will be there for you like your friends.

Shepherd will play Angela Wright, a native New Yorker somewhere between 45 and death, but it’s hard to tell because “black don’t crack.” She’s a single mom who put aside her musical dreams to raise her son after her husband died. She’s been holding it down alone for years, taking...

Sherri Shepherd is headed back to ABC.

The former co-host of The View and 30 Rock alum will star in a comedy pilot at the network called Black Don’t Crack (formerly the untitled Regina Hicks pilot). The multicamera show comes from Insecure and The L Word: Generation Q writer and producer Hicks and counts Viola Davis and Larry Wilmore among its executive producers.

Kelly Park (ABC’s Call Your Mother, Netflix’s Country Comfort) has also signed on to direct the pilot.

Black Don’t Crack revolves around three sorority sisters who lost touch after college and reunite at a pivotal moment in their lives. Shepherd,...

Sherri Shepherd is headed back to ABC.

The former co-host of The View and 30 Rock alum will star in a comedy pilot at the network called Black Don’t Crack (formerly the untitled Regina Hicks pilot). The multicamera show comes from Insecure and The L Word: Generation Q writer and producer Hicks and counts Viola Davis and Larry Wilmore among its executive producers.

Kelly Park (ABC’s Call Your Mother, Netflix’s Country Comfort) has also signed on to direct the pilot.

Black Don’t Crack revolves around three sorority sisters who lost touch after college and reunite at a pivotal moment in their lives. Shepherd,...

Jeff Mitchell on Rue McClanahanI was working on a movie for Paramount called "The Fighting Temptations," directed by Jonathan Lynn and starring Cuba Gooding Jr. We were doing the New York casting. Rue McClanahan was pitched for it by her agent. She was doing a lot of television, but she wanted to do film very badly. We had her in to meet the director, who was British and didn't know her or understand she was a huge star in the United States. Rue took the material and she did her best. We knew what the scene was about and what the director wanted, but the communication between actor and director wasn't working properly. No matter what he was asking, he wasn't getting what he wanted. The casting director has to take a back seat when the director is running the casting session. Even though I thought I could be a...