Starz has announced that “Amadeus,” its new adaptation of Peter Shaffer’s 1979 play of the same name (which also inspired the Oscar-winning film), will premiere on May 8.
New episodes will be available to stream in the U.S. every Friday on the Starz app, as well as on all Starz streaming and on-demand platforms. On the linear Starz channel, “Amadeus” premieres on Friday, May 8 at 8 p.m. ET, which subsequent episodes airing Fridays at 9 p.m. ET.
The logline reads, “When twenty-five-year-old Amadeus arrives in bustling 18th-century Vienna, no longer a child prodigy and craving creative freedom, his world collides with two pivotal figures: his fiercely loyal future wife, Constanze Weber, and devoutly religious court composer, Antonio Salieri. As Amadeus’ brilliance continues to flourish in spite of his personal demons, a questionable reputation and scepticism from the conservative court, Salieri becomes increasingly tormented by this apparent divine gift. Amadeus is a threat to all that he holds dear in life: his talent, his reputation, even his faith in God. Salieri vows to bring him down. What begins as professional rivalry turns into a deeply personal obsession spanning 30 years, culminating in a murder confession and a desperate attempt to entwine himself with Mozart’s legacy forever.”
Alongside Will Sharpe as Mozart and Paul Bettany as Salieri, “Amadeus” stars Gabrielle Creevy as Constanze Weber, Rory Kinnear as Emperor Joseph and Jonathan Aris as Leopold Mozart. The cast also includes Lucy Cohu, Ényì Okoronkwo, Jessica Alexander, Hugh Sachs, Paul Bazely, Rupert Vansittart, Anastasia Martin, Nancy Farino, Olivia-Mai Barrett, Viola Prettejohn and Jyuddah Jaymes.
“Amadeus” is produced by Two Cities Television (part of STV Studios) in association with Sky Studios. The series is executive produced by John Griffin and Rupert Lord. Megan Spanjian and Paul Gilbert serve as executive producers for Sky, and Michael Jackson and Stephen Wright serve as executive producers for Two Cities Television. “Amadeus” is written by Joe Barton. Julian Farino and Alice Seabright serve as directors. Barton, Sharpe, Bettany and Farino also serve as executive producers. Seabright serves as co-executive producer. NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution oversees international sales of the series on behalf of Sky.
PROGRAMMING
David Brancaccio will transition to a new role as a special correspondent for “Marketplace” by American Public Media following the end of his tenure as the host of “Marketplace Morning Report” on April 10. In the new role, Brancaccio will cover “future effects and economic decisions made now that shape our long term futures,” per an official statement.
Brancaccio’s tenure at “Marketplace” began in 1989. Prior to stepping into his new role, Brancaccio had hosted the morning report since 2013.
“We are so appreciative of the work David has done over the past 13 years to become such an important part of our listeners’ mornings,” said Neal Scarbrough, vice president and general manager of marketplace, in a statement. “But we are even more excited about how David will help our audiences understand the ways a brighter economic future for all is possible as long as we do not repeat the economic mistakes of the past.”
The week of April 6 will be Brancaccio’s final as the “Marketplace Morning Report” host. Regular fill-in hosts will include “Marketplace” correspondents Sabri Ben-Achour and Amy Scott ahead of the announcement of a permanent host in the coming weeks.
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Sketch comedy television show “Studio C” returns for its Season 22 premiere, streaming for free on the BYUtv app and BYUtv.org on April 6, before airing on April 9 at 6:30 p.m. PT on the BYUtv channel.
Rainn Wilson (“The Office”) is set to make a special guest appearance in the Season 22 opener. Past “Studio C” guest stars include Terry Crews, Jack McBrayer, Kenan Thompson, Jon Heder, Will Forte, Josh Peck, Steven He and Pierson Wodzynski.
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Vice TV will premiere Vice Studios’ “Soccer’s American Dream,” chronicling America’s relationship with the sport, on May 5 at 9 p.m. ET.
Per the show’s synopsis, “From failed leagues and financial freefalls to the rise of the women’s game and their fight for legitimacy, the six-part docuseries tracks the sport’s long road to relevance in the U.S., culminating in a historic moment: America hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil for the first time in over 30 years.”
The docuseries features stories from players, coaches, and team executives, and is narrated by “Saturday Night Live” alum Alex Moffat.
‘Soccer’s American Dream’ tells the story of a sport that refused to fail in America,” said Vice TV president Pete Gaffney. “At a time when the country is preparing to host the 2026 World Cup, this series looks back at the players, pioneers, and risk-takers who turned long odds into lasting impact – and asks what it will take for the U.S. to truly compete at the highest level.”
“Soccer’s American Dream” is produced by Vice Studios for Vice TV. Joe Ingham serves as executive producer, alongside Meghan Payne, executive producer for Vice TV. New episodes will air weekly through June 9.
EXECUTIVE NEWS
Darren Abbott has been named president of Hallmark Media, the company announced Tuesday.
In this role, Abbott will be responsible for “shaping, operationalizing and driving the ever-evolving business into the future, while continuing to oversee the ways in which consumers interact with Hallmark’s widely beloved content, products and experiences,” per a statement from Hallmark Media.
Most recently, Abbott was the company’s chief brand officer, where he oversaw programming, creative product development, marketing and PR, licensing and brand partnerships experiences.
“Darren is a deeply admired and respected leader with a proven track record of creating moments and opportunities that are uniquely and distinctly Hallmark. From fostering each brand touchpoint to elevating how we work with advertisers, distributors, and all external partners who help us deliver on our brand promise, Darren is uniquely suited to build a future where Hallmark continues to bring joy, positivity, and connection to fans and consumers everywhere,” Hallmark president/CEO Mike Perry said in a statement.
EVENTS
Disney Branded Television has announced the “Disney Branded Television Discovers Voice Talent Search,” a nationwide talent hunt for emerging voice actors, with a focus on animation.
Ten voice actors will be chosen to participate in the free, week-long workshop designed to provide hands-on experience in voice acting, character development, and collaborative storytelling. Taking place at the Disney Television Animation studios in Glendale, Calif., the participants will have the opportunity to learn from industry professionals and then be featured in an original, 11-minute animated short that will debut on Disney platforms.
Submissions are open through April 14 to “U.S. residents eligible to work, aged 18 and older, with strong comedy, music and improv skills” via the submission link.
“Extraordinary performers are already out there — it’s our responsibility to discover them,” said Brenda Kelly Grant, senior vice president of casting and talent relations at Disney Branded Television. “By intentionally widening our search, creating direct connections with our casting and creative teams, and investing in meaningful training, we’re ensuring that distinctive new voices will continue to define Disney storytelling for years to come.”
“Our goal is to find the best voices, and shorts are the perfect experimental canvas to help us do that,” added Gino Guzzardo, vice president of multiplatform content at Disney Branded Television. “Over the course of the week, they’ll learn from our seasoned storytellers, get experience in the recording booth, and see their performances evolve as we use improvisation techniques to create characters. We’ll end the week with proof-of-concept character shorts, the best of which will be featured in a fully produced shorts variety special — a tangible example of what happens when new talent is given the space and support to find their voice.”
TRAILERS
Prime Video has released the trailer for the upcoming feature-length documentary “Jerry West: The Logo,” set to release on April 16.
Produced by Propagate and Khalabo Ink Society, the documentary follows the life and career of NBA player Jerry West, whose “lifelong pursuit of winning was paved in sacrifice and loss.”
“Black-ish” creator Kenya Barris directed the doc. “Jerry West: The Logo” features West’s final interviews with him opening up about his private struggles with depression, his failed marriage, complicated relationship with fatherhood, and “the persistent feeling of being an outsider.”
The documentary includes interviews with former and current NBA stars Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and Shaquille O’Neal, NBA commissioner Adam Silver, and West’s own wife and several of his children.
The film is executive produced by Mychelle Deschamps and Hale Rothstein for Khalabo Ink Society; Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, Drew Buckley, Isabel San Vargas, and Linh Le of Propagate; and Steven Leckart and E Brian Dobbins. Jamie Nelsen and Susana Santiago also serve as producers.
Watch the trailer here:
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Tubi has released the Season 2 trailer for “Big Mood.” Starring Nicola Coughlan and Lydia West, the show will return on the free, ad-supported platform on April 16 with all six episodes.
Written and created by Camilla Whitehill, Season 2 picks up a year since Maggie (Coughlan) and Eddie (West) last saw each other. “When Eddie suddenly returns for a wedding, she isn’t alone – Maggie has competition, in the form of an infuriatingly positive spiritual healer named Whitney (Hannah Onslow),” reads the official logline. “Can Maggie and her special brand of chaos find space in Eddie’s new life? Or will Maggie lose Eddie forever?”
In addition to Coughlan and West, Robert Gilbert, Eamon Farren, Niamh Cusack, Amalia Vitale, Luke Fetherston, Rebecca Lowman, Stephen Sobal and Kate Fleetwood all return for Season 2.
Lotte Beasley Mestriner returns to executive produce, along with Laurence Bowen and Chris Carey for Dancing Ledge Productions. Nadia Jaynes is producer. Season 2 is produced by Dancing Ledge Productions for Channel 4 and in co-production with Tubi.
Watch the trailer here:
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Prime Video has unveiled the official trailer for “American Gladiators,” complete with original music from Jelly Roll and the reveal of the new Gladiator names. The first three episodes of the competition series will premiere on April 17 on the streaming platform, followed by three new episodes releasing April 24 and the final four episodes releasing on May 1.
The trailer features “Rise Up,” the official series theme song by Jelly Roll. A reboot of the late 1980s show of the same name, the series will be hosted by Mike “The Miz” Mizanin and Rocsi Diaz, with Chris Rose as the commentator.
“Each episode of the fan-favorite competition features amateur male and female contenders from across the nation stepping into the Arena to face 16 powerful new American Gladiators,” reads the official logline. “Only one man and one woman will conquer the Arena, claim $100,000, and earn the title of ‘American Gladiator’ champion.”
See the full list of Season 1 gladiator names and the trailer here.
Abigail Lay – “Blaze”
Ayinde Warren – “Neon”
Dani Means – “Voltage”
Dani Speegle – “Crush”
Drew Aggouras – “Ace”
Emily Nelson – “Striker”
Eric Bugenhagen – “The Bull”
Fessy Shafaat – “Mayhem”
Jason Peele – “Eagle”
Jessica Roden – “Supernova”
Jessie Godderz – “Steel”
Joseph Hall – “Lightning”
Kailey Latimer – “Hurricane”
Lu Faustin – “Empire”
Michael Wardlow – “Fang”
Sydney Hunter – “Huntress”
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American Public Television has debuted the trailer for Season 8 of “Lucky Show,” PBS’ series following culinary expert Danielle Chang. The season will premiere on May 1 and will be available for free on PBS.org.
This season will have five episodes, each exploring how Asian culinary culture has rooted itself across the European continent. Episodes including “Copenhagen: Scandiasian,” “Italy: Chinese Italia,” “Berlin: Edible Art,” “London: Empire on the Plate” and “Paris: By Way of Vietnam.”
“Europe is often seen as the epicenter of culinary tradition, but never for the infusion of Asian cuisine. The diaspora runs deep and this season we explore how Asian culinary influences have taken root across Europe, sometimes in unexpected ways,” said host and creator Danielle Chang in a statement. “Whether it’s chefs reinterpreting heritage through a new lens or communities preserving traditions far from home, each story reflects the movement of people, culture and identity. Through food, we uncover the ways cultures evolve, intersect and ultimately bring us closer together.”
Watch the trailer here:
LAUNCHES
WebKyte, run by founder/CEO Olia Valigourskaia, has released a public demo at demo.webkyte.com for “KyteScan,” a new anti-piracy system that scans major user-generated video platforms to find copyrighted films and TV shows using video fingerprinting technology.
KyteScan utilizes a database of more than one billion video fingerprints to locate copies of content (even if titles are changed, languages differ or audio tracks are altered) and offers up real-time analytics showing where content is circulating, including upload dates, number of copies per platform, individual view counts and clip length.
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