Weekend edition

Weekly Lede Stories

A weekly look at current entertainment news and the latest developments across Bell Media.

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Go Gaga for YAGA Production has begun on Crave’s first ever half-hour drama series, YAGA, starring Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix), Noah Reid (SCHITT’S CREEK), Clark Backo (LETTERKENNY), and Hudson Williams (HEATED RIVALRY). Written and executive produced by Kat Sandler, YAGA reimagines the myth of Baba Yaga, a terrifying figure in Slavic folklore, as a contemporary mystery thriller set in a small coastal town. Speaking of the red-hot Williams and the smash hit HEATED RIVALRY, Sophie Nélisse, who plays Rose, was the subject of a feature article this week in The Hollywood Reporter, in which she discusses not only what drew her to HEATED RIVALRY, but also what to expect in the upcoming fourth and final season of YELLOWJACKETS, in which she plays the teenage Shauna.

30 Rock Solid The new sitcom THE FALL AND RISE OF REGGIE DINKINS, which stars Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe, hits its stride on Monday with the second episode airing on CTV (it drops the next day on Crave, which is where the first episode is already available). Morgan plays the title character, an ex-professional football player who is trying to rebuild his reputation through a documentary directed by Radcliffe’s character. Intriguingly, THE FALL AND RISE OF REGGIE DINKINS reunites Morgan with the 30 ROCK creative team led by Tina Fey, and the show exists loosely in the 30 ROCK universe, so die-hard fans can watch for some clever callbacks and cameos from Fey’s EMMY®-winning sitcom. But Morgan isn’t giving anything away: “It’s got to be a pleasant surprise. I want you to get the popcorn and the Goobers and watch.”

‘Weird Spectral Phantoms’ Daniel Radcliffe first became famous as a young actor when he got the lead role in the Harry Potter films. But on the subject of HBO’s upcoming HARRY POTTER television series, Radcliffe made a specific plea in a recent interview. “When these kids got cast (in the new series), there was a whole thing around the internet being like, ‘we have to look after these kids,’” Radcliffe said. “If you really mean that, then one of the things you can do is, don’t ask about us – me, Emma (Watson, who played Hermione), and Rupert (Grint, who played Ron) – all the time. I would like not to be weird spectral phantoms in these children’s lives. Just let them get on, it’s going to be a new, different thing. I’m sure Dominic (McLaughlin, the new Harry) is going to be better than me.”

No Time For Losers A brief new promo video sets the stage heading into Season 29 of THE VOICE: coaches John Legend, Adam Levine, and Kelly Clarkson all take their turns singing Queen’s classic anthem “We Are The Champions,” and it couldn’t be more appropriate. The new season of the iconic singing competition series – which premieres Monday on CTV, and streams the next day on Crave – is subtitled BATTLE OF CHAMPIONS, as Legend (one win), Levine (three wins), and Clarkson (four wins) lock horns. “I’m the first coach ever to win the show,” Levine bragged, to which Clarkson shot back, “but I have won the most!” This season marks the first time in the history of the series that there are only three coaches competing, rather than the traditional four.

Batter Up Producer Chuck Lorre has chosen to be very honest with himself about the “big swing” he’s taking with his latest spinoff of THE BIG BANG THEORY. Titled STUART FAILS TO SAVE THE UNIVERSE, it’s an HBO “science fiction action adventure comedy” that will focus on the Stuart character, played by Kevin Sussman. There have already been two spinoffs of THE BIG BANG THEORY: first came YOUNG SHELDON, which led to GEORGIE & MANDY’S FIRST MARRIAGE. But those are all sitcoms. As Lorre explained, “I just wanted to do something that challenged me. Most of my career has been two people sit on a couch and talk. I wanted to try and do something with all the extraordinary computer graphics available now, and see if it could be funny. I think it will be revered or reviled. I’m not sure which.”

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