This is a busy time for TV changes, ranging from Tyra Banks to Daniel Tiger (shown here). That includes:
– TYRA TAKES OVER: Tyra Banks will be the new “Dancing With the Stars” host.
Tom Bergeron is leaving after hosting all 28 seasons. Also leaving is Erin Andrews, who was a contestant (finishing third) and then co-hosted for six years.
Banks will also be a producer, a double-duty she’s used to. She hosted and produced a talk show for five years and “America’s Next Top Model” for 24 seasons.
– TIGER IS TOPICAL: When “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” opens its new season Aug. 17, it will have a timely special. “Won’t You Sing Along With Me?” (shown here) is a sing-along, linked to the COVID era.
That probably shouldn’t surprise us, because the show – on PBS and the PBS Kids digital channel – is from the Fred Rogers company, spinning off a character from “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.” The late Rogers was always big on music and on topical shows.
– CHRISTMAS ISN’T CANCELED: Lest we worry, there’s word that Christmas will be big again on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. The channels will have 28 new Christmas films and lots of rerunS, which it will start airing Oct. 23 – before Halloween or Thanksgiving.
The list includes the usual stars – Candace Cameron Bure, Lacey Chabert, Sarah Drew, Rachael Leigh Cook, etc. There are two with Holly Robinson Peete and one with Tamera Mowry; both have also signed production deals with Hallmark, which historically has been short of Black stars and producers.
Another production deal involves a project long pushed by Ashley and Kimberly Williams. Each sister will star in related movies, playing characters who are sisters.
– MORE ON DIVERSITY: Other networks have also faced their shortfalls of black characters and producers. CBS has just set a deal with the NAACP, to create shows for the network, its cable channels and others.
– “SURVIVOR” ON HOLD: As I mentioned earlier, “Survivor” fans will have to wait a while. For the first time in its 20-year, 40-episode existence, the show is on hold.
Producers “are continuing to work with officials in Fiji on the appropriate time to start production,” due to COVID shutdowns, CBS said in a statement.
The network had planned to put its two reality pioneers back-to-back this fall, with “Survivor” at 8 p.m. and “The Amazing Race” at 9. Now “Race” slides down to the 8 p.m. slot and “SEAL Team” slides to 9. That leaves the 10 p.m. slot for “SWAT,” which was originally going to wait for mid-season.
“Race” was also delayed, but it had a season to spare.
The 33rd race had already started, then was suspended because of the pandemic. However, the 32nd one – completed late in 2018 – still hadn’t aired. CBS had planned to run it this summer, then delayed it until fall … when it will be responsible for starting Wednesday nights.