News

Plenty of big-name comics are on tour this year, and Variety figures you want to know how to buy tickets. But before you plunk down your hard-earned cash, you should do a little comparison shopping to see which shows provide the best value for your comedy dollar.

Here’s that list of upcoming stand-up tours, separated into cost-based tiers. Fire up that PayPal and let’s go buy some laughs…

The Bargain Basement $50 Tier

If there’s a no-brainer show on this list, it’s the wicked Wanda Sykes with tickets starting at only $53. She’s much funnier and more accomplished than several of the comics on this list — and what a bargain!

The $60 Glut Tier

There are more comedians in the $60 to $70 range than any other group on this list, including Shane Gillis, Brett Goldstein, Brian Reagan, Nate Bargatze, Jo Koy, Tom Segura, Patton Oswalt and the red-pilled Whitney Cummings.

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.

Comedians are taking the stage to embark on national tours and debut brand new material.

From Nikki Glaser, fresh off her headline-grabbing Golden Globes hosting gig , to Shane Gillis, currently midway through a nationwide tour, there are dozens of stand-up shows to see this year.

Below are the most anticipated comedians hitting the stage this year — and where to buy tickets.

Shane Gillis

When: Jan. 17 – Jun. 28

Where: U.S Tour

Price: Starting at $60

Buy Now: Shane Gillis Nikki Glaser

When: Jan. 30 – Sept. 6

Where: U.S Tour

Price: Starting at $120

Buy Now: Nikki Glaser Ricky Gervais

When: Jan. 21 – Dec. 4

Where: U.K + Tour

Price: Starting at $120

Buy Now: Ricky Gervais Kevin Hart

When: Jan. 17 – Apr. 13

Where: U.S Tour

Price: Starting at $120

Buy Now: Kevin Hart Theo Von

When: Feb.

Replacing the young contestants with celebrities, “Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?” cleverly reimagines its predecessor. At its core, the show is still about answering simple questions, but the unpredictable nature of its famous guests adds a sense of humor. This change not only entertains but also reflects how obsessed we are with celebrity culture.

Ten questions cover a range of grade levels, and the game’s goal is for contestants to move up a money ladder from $1,000 to $50,000. They get help from a changing group of five celebrities, who provide both comic relief and strategic advice. The inclusion of “cheats” like “Peek” and “Pop Quiz” creates a dynamic interaction that enhances the viewing experience.

The bright set design visually evokes late-night talk shows, luring viewers into a lively environment. Overall, the show captures the essence of how people watch TV today, blending competition with teamwork and reflecting our interest in celebrity and knowledge.

Travis Kelce might be known to football fans as the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, but his increased celebrity is no doubt thanks to his relationship with Taylor Swift. Taylor has experienced an incredible wave of success in the past year, touring the globe on her massive "Eras Tour." Her popularity and fame have reached levels very few could've imagined anyone reaching in 2024.

Travis' relationship with Taylor began last year in the midst of the whirlwind of her "Eras Tour." It would be difficult for her fame not to rub off on him. However, instead of fighting it or feeling threatened by it, Travis embraced it. He has appeared in commercials and will even act in an upcoming Ryan Murphy series. The football player is also set to be the new host of the latest game show spin-off, Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? This marks Travis' new foray into the world of reality television.

Fans of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will be excited to hear that the star is expanding his skill set. In addition to working hard on the football field, it seems that Travis is now branching out into the entertainment world as well. On top of his athletic accomplishments (and being known as Taylor Swift's boyfriend), Travis is also dipping his toes into the waters of reality TV, joining up with a beloved game show franchise.

That it, it was recently announced that Travis has been tapped to serve as the host for the beloved game show Are You Smarter Than A Celebrity? In the trailer for the show, fans get to see Travis putting his new hosting skills to the test. In the trailer, Travis dons his usual charm, buddying up to some famous faces and ensuring audiences a good time if they decide to tune in.

Travis Kelce is giving his first game show hosting gig everything he’s got in the trailer for Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?

Below is a first look at Prime Video’s spinoff of the classic Fox game show, which will have adult contestants answering sixth-grade level questions with the help of some famous faces.

The show is the first TV series gig booked by the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, who will also be starring in Ryan Murphy’s FX horror series Grotesquerie, which premiered last week. Amazon has ordered 20 episodes of the show hosted by the Super Bowl champ. The series will premiere Wednesday, Oct. 16 on Prime Video with three episodes, followed by one new episode weekly.

Here’s the trailer, which features Kelce seeming a bit unsure of what to do with his hands.

The celebrities in the show include comedians Nikki Glaser, Natasha Leggero, Nicole Byer...

Bill Engvall is a well-known American comedian and actor, most recognized for his work in stand-up comedy and his role in the Blue Collar Comedy Tour alongside Jeff Foxworthy, Ron White, and Larry the Cable Guy but what is his net worth? Engvalls successful career is built on his relatable humor about everyday life, extending his popularity throughout television, in shows like Last Man Standing, film, and music. He's come a long way since his Blue Collar Comedy Tour days, hosting game shows like Lingo and even writing a book, Just a Guy: Notes from a Blue Collar Life.

Born William Ray Engvall Jr. in Galveston, Texas, the comedian attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, though he dropped out before graduating. He worked a series of odd jobs, including being a tour guide and DJ, before deciding to test out his comedy material, hitting up open mic nights in Dallas...

Super Bowl Champion Travis Kelce won’t just be making moves on the football field this fall.

The Kanas City Chiefs player is extending his career beyond football as he takes on the role of game show host.

Travis has no plans to quit playing the game he loves anytime soon.

However, that doesn’t mean he isn’t preparing for life after the NFL.

One of the ways Travis is doing that is by dipping his toe into show business.

Along with making his acting debut soon, more on that later, Travis will host the game show Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? this fall.

Here’s everything we know about Travis Kelce’s game show Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?

If the name of the game show sounds familiar, that’s because it’s a spin-off of the Jeff Foxworthy hit show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?...

So you got that master’s degree in English literature and you’re ready to embark on your career as a children’s author?

Forget it, Shakespeare. No matter how entertaining your prose, publishers have no interest in anyone authoring children’s books other than comedians. Are the books any good? “Hey, they’re kids books — how bad can they be?” seems to be the prevailing industry wisdom.

Here are seven dumbass examples of comedians moonlighting as children’s authors in search of a quick buck…

1 Jay Leno

Whether it’s shilling for LifeLock or Cool Ranch Doritos, Leno never turns away an opportunity to make a buck. When he’s not turning old Tonight Show bits like Headlines into books, he’s telling tales of L’il Jay trying to figure out how to get a bite of roast beef. Amazon says: “The story sometimes seems to sputter — albeit...

Chris Sacca caused a stir on Shark Tank with Mark Cuban, proving his points about technology and wealth. Sacca's behind-the-scenes struggle to look rich on film showcased his humble lifestyle. Sacca's fame soared after the show, revealing surprises and educational growth from his experience.

Throughout the many season of Shark Tank, few managed to rattle Mark Cuban the way Chris Sacca did. And let's be honest, Sacca made some good points during heated debates between the two. Who can forget when Sacca and Cuban debated the technology involved with Toor. Cuban called it innovative, while Sacca downplayed it, stating it was already being used. Sacca even questioned Cuban's net worth during their debate. Although Sacca came across as a villain, he was right in the end, as Toor didn't last, and the technology of lock boxes in the real estate world wasn't groundbreaking either.

Sacca made several reveals both...

When we talk about great movie comedies, seldom does the name “Larry the Cable Guy” come up. Apart from the Cars franchise, Larry the Cable Guy’s filmography is mainly limited to forgettable turds, such as Delta Farce, as well as straight-to-video sequels to movies that starred less affordable action stars.

After all, who better to replace Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Arnold Schwarzenegger than Larry the Cable Guy, star of Tooth Fairy 2 and Jingle All the Way 2.

Weirdly, one of Larry the Cable Guy’s contributions to the world of cinema straight-up used a character from an earlier, highly-acclaimed film that in no way involved Larry the Cable Guy.

In 2008, Mr. the Cable Guy made a movie called Witless Protection, about a small-town deputy who takes off with an FBI witness, believing that the agents involved in the case are actually baddies. Amazingly, it managed to earn a 4 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Travis Kelce has already succeeded on the football field and might soon achieve more success on his TV show.

According to an inside source, the Kansas City Chiefs star could surprise fellow game show hosts with how well he does hosting one.

Earlier this year, Monsters and Critics reported about Kelce’s upcoming game show, Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? headed exclusively to Amazon Prime.

It’s a spinoff of the popular Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? game show, which viewers have enjoyed on various networks over the years.

Kelce is venturing into that role and others as he enjoys additional popularity and connections due to his relationship with singer Taylor Swift.

Based on the insider’s remarks, Kelce seems comfortable in the role, is an “awesome host,” and could “shock” other game show hosts.

Travis Kelce had the ‘perfect training’ for hosting a new game show...

Some of the biggest SiriusXM hosts — plus athletes, comedians, actors, and more — are taking over the airwaves and hand-curating music just for you.

Guest DJsHear their picks on the SiriusXM appListen Now

Listen Now

During these exclusive Guest DJ specials, hear Howard Stern, James Corden, Ashley Flowers, Kevin Hart, Jeff Lewis, Kate Hudson, Maxx Crosby, and more pick and share their favorite songs on the channel of their choosing.

Experience all this and more during the 70+ new Guest DJ specials, playing on-air now and available to stream in full anytime on the SiriusXM app.

Country The Highway Chase Elliott The Highway Hannah Brown The Highway Joel Osteen Willie’s Roadhouse Ryan Blaney Y2Kountry Adam Wainwright

Decades 70s on 7 Amy Nicholson 70s on 7 Carnie Wilson 70s on 7 Marilu Henner 70s on 7 Tig Notaro 80s on 8 Dorinda Medley 80s on 8 Jeff Lewis 80s on 8 Lisa Whelchel 90s on 9 Jameela Jamil 90s...

Does your Apple TV+ membership come and go with new seasons of “Ted Lasso”? [Jeff Foxworthy Voice:] Then you might be a “Show-Chaser.”

Serial churners are so 2023 — 2024 is the year of the show-chaser, according to research firm Antenna. These folks currently may be out hunting baby reindeer. In its first four days of availability, “Baby Reindeer” was viewed 2.6 million times, according to Netflix. The following week, its first full one, the limited series from (and starring) Richard Gadd exploded to 13.3 million views — more than a five-fold increase. That tally nearly doubled the next week to 22 million views.

“Baby Reindeer” is a sensation fueled by word of mouth — and by word on TikTok — the type that could singlehandedly bring Netflix some new subscribers. But these hypothetical members are not very likely to stick around; they’re show-chasers, an (at least) semi-undesirable subset of serial churners.

A show-chaser may be an Apple...

Some 5th Grader questions are tougher than others, proving adults need a refresher on elementary knowledge. Tech jargon like Usb can stump contestants, as they struggle to remember what the acronym stands for. Challenging game show questions highlight specific facts, requiring contestants to think outside the box.

Some Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? questions are harder than others. Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? is a trivia game show that premiered on Fox in 2007, hosted by Jeff Foxworthy, with John Cena hosting a 2019 reboot of the game show on Nickelodeon. The series, co-created by Mark Burnett, who also created Shark Tank, features a contestant answering 11 questions taken from elementary school textbooks, with each successive correct answer earning them more money up to the $1 million final prize.

Also answering the questions is a panel of five 5th grade students who can help the contestant. Adults are asked questions...

Travis Kelce is following in the footsteps of Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan by hosting a game show that features celebrities.

With that recent news, Strahan seems ready to assist Kelce in preparing him to host the new game show.

Kelce is reportedly adding that to his accomplishments, which include winning several Super Bowl rings with the Kansas City Chiefs, appearing on Saturday Night Live, and dating Taylor Swift.

After spending his career with just one team, the New York Giants, Strahan moved into various business ventures and television projects.

Those TV gigs include his work as an analyst on Fox NFL Sunday, co-anchor on ABC’s Good Morning America, and host of ABC’s rebooted The $100,000 Pyramid.

With that experience in hosting, he might be able to provide valuable insight to Kelce for his upcoming gig.

Travis Kelce to host a spinoff of a popular game show...

If you thought you were excited for the release of Taylor Swift’s “Tortured Poets Department,” just wait until you hear what boyfriend Travis Kelce has lined up for the off-season.

Prime Video announced Tuesday that the reigning Super Bowl champ will host Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?, a reimagining of the long-running game show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? The spinoff will offer a “fun, new twist” on the original premise, as an adult contestant relies on “a classroom full of celebrities from stage, screen and sports to help them answer 11 questions on a range of subjects,...

Travis Kelce’s next gig: game show host.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end has booked his first TV series job and it’s hosting a spinoff of the Fox game show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? for Amazon’s Prime Video.

The new show is titled Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?, and it will have adult contestants answering sixth-grade level questions with the help of some famous faces. Amazon has ordered 20 episodes of the show hosted by the Super Bowl champ.

“I grew up loving game shows, and I’m excited to be following in the footsteps of so many TV icons by hosting my very first one with Are you Smarter Than a Celebrity,” Kelce said. “The original show is a great success, so to be bringing a new format with everyone’s favorite celebrities to the screen, will definitely be entertaining. I’m just...

Recently, Sister Wives fans started to piece together some clues that point to Kody and Robyn Brown knowing each other sooner than the show discusses. Although they supposedly saw each other in a “chance” encounter, now fans think that wasn’t the case.

Kody And Robyn Brown’s Chance Meeting

As the story goes, Kody and Robyn Brown first met when Robyn was visiting her cousin, Reba. At the time, Reba went to the Brown’s church. During Robyn’s visit, she remembers having an embarrassing response when seeing Kody. She explains, “I’m not exaggerating when I say I felt as though I’d been shot through with a bolt of lightning.” Furthermore, Robyn writes how the encounter stuns her. However, some Sister Wives fans aren’t buying this storyline.

Kody Brown And Robyn Courtship – Sister Wives TLC Fans Pick Up On Clues It May Not Just Be “Chance” Bringing Them Together

On Reddit,...

Travis Kelce could score a new hosting position. He already has his own podcast with his brother, Jason Kelce. Travis is in talks to host a reboot of a popular game show. Keep on reading to learn more.

Taylor Swift’s – Boyfriend Keeps Scoring

It’s good to be Taylor Swift’s boyfriend. Travis Kelce has gotten more opportunities during their time together. The couple started dating around July 2023 but weren’t public until September.

Travis has appeared in many ad campaigns in the past year alone, including some for Pfizer, Subway, and DirectTV.

Travis has scored another gig. He’s reportedly in talks to become the new host of the rebooted game show, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? Comedian Jeff Foxworthy was the original host of the series. A new celebrity version of the game show could stream on Amazon Prime.

Travis is still in talks with the platform.

Travis Kelce could be adding TV game show host to his résumé very soon!

The 34-year-old Kansas City Chiefs football player is in talks to become the host of an Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? reboot.

Travis has previously displayed his personality as the guest host of Saturday Night Live and on his reality show Catching Kelce.

A new report states that Travis will be teaming up with a major streaming service for the new reboot of the classic game show.

Keep reading to find out more…

Amazon Prime Video is in the works on the reboot of the Fox game show. Instead of featuring children, the new version of the show will rely on celebrity guests, according to Variety.

Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? was originally hosted by Jeff Foxworthy on Fox and a new version aired on Nickelodeon hosted by John Cena.

No word...

Travis Kelce is considering how to gain yards on a new field of play.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end is in discussions to host a celebrity-focused reboot of the long-running game show “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” that would stream via Amazon Prime Video, according to two people familiar with the matter. The deal, if signed, would represent the football great’s latest move toward general entertainment after appearances on “Saturday Night Live,” the reality series “Catching Kelce” and a podcast he hosts with his brother, Jason.

Amazon Prime Video declined to make executives available for comment, and CAA, the agency that represents Kelce, could not be reached for immediate comment. There are some questions, according to the people familiar with discussions, about how much of a commitment Kelce could make to the venture if he continues playing football.

The new version of the program, originally hosted...

One of the ghostwriter’s most valuable skills is getting their subjects to talk. So, when I gathered L.A.’s most successful ghostwriters at the Formosa Cafe to gossip, they knew all my tricks. In desperation, I went with the most transparent of all reporting techniques — buying them all fruity cocktails.

A reputation for discretion is not only how they get work, but how they avoid getting sued; they sign nondisclosure agreements for every memoir they write. But even if they revealed nothing scandalous about their famous clients — or at least nothing that couldn’t be discovered with a Google search — I learned a lot about the curious craft of ghostwriting and the types of personalities drawn to help famous people tell their life stories. Also, I learned why I am far too egotistical to do their job.

Sitting around the table were Neil Strauss (who has written memoirs for Rick Rubin,...

Warning: The following contains spoilers about Season 3, Episode 7 of Ted Lasso.

Sam’s dad is a sight for sore eyes when he finally arrives in Wednesday’s Ted Lasso — an episode that sees Sam’s sunny disposition challenged like never before.

More from TVLineWas Ted Lasso's Rebecca Just 'Struck by F--king Lightning' in Amsterdam?Ted Lasso: What Does Zava's Abrupt Exit Mean Moving Forward?Truth Be Told Cancelled at Apple

The midfielder barely bats an eye when Simi fills him in on Brinda Barot’s anti-refugee rhetoric. He suggests that “someone could try and speak to the the better angels...

On the debut episode of Real Time’s 21st Season on Friday, Bill Maher had a lot of lost time to make up for and a lot of low-hanging fruit to grab after weeks of being away.

“We’ve got a new Republican House,” Maher began. “It took them 15 ballots. I think the last time it happened was 1823 or something.”

Then he put an exclamation point on it: “Fifteen ballots to elect Kevin McCarthy.”

By contrast, he noted, “Oscar nominations come out Tuesday. I know Washington likes to look down their nose at Hollywood and I would agree: Awards shows are pointless virtue signaling. But we don’t need 15 ballots to get it done, ok?

“Apparently it looks like they’re saying the big odds-on favorite to win [Best Picture] is this movie — I don’t know if you’ve seen it — Everything Everywhere All At Once,” Maher said before waiting a...

Jimmy Fallon isn’t surprised that it took a prisoner swap with Russia to secure the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner this week. The late night host joked that “Prisoner Swap” is actually a very popular reality show under President Vladimir Putin.

On Thursday, it was announced that Griner would be released and sent home to the States, after almost a year of being detained in Russia. In exchange for her release, the U.S. released Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, known as the “merchant of death.” Bout was serving a 25-year sentence after conspiring to sell weapons meant to be used against Americans.

It was a controversial decision, drawing some backlash from those who worry it wasn’t a fair trade. But, Fallon wasn’t shocked at all, joking that it probably made for good television in Russia.

“Putin is no stranger to prisoner swaps. In fact, ‘Prisoner...

Mark Burnett has formally resigned from his top leadership role at MGM, a move that comes 10 months after Amazon closed its 8.5 billion acquisition of the studio.

Burnett’s departure from the MGM fold is not a surprise. The producer, known for enduring unscripted hits including CBS’ “Survivor,” NBC’s “The Voice” and ABC’s “Shark Tank,” has not served as a conventional TV executive during his nine years with MGM and was not expected to stick around after the sale.

Moreover, as a significant equity holder in MGM, Burnett profited handsomely from the Amazon deal. In the nine years since he first sold his One Three Media production banner to MGM, Burnett has reaped an estimated 900 million.

In a memo to MGM staffers, Burnett said he intended to pursue new ventures as a producer. He also emphasized that he worked hard to ensure that MGM TV’s roughly 150 staffers were...

(from left) Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), Tom Hanks as Geppetto, and Figaro in Disney’s live-action Pinocchio. Photo: Disney Enterprises Contrary to the beliefs of social media lurkers unhappy with equivocating reviews of their favorite intellectual property, Disney does not pay critics, but the studio does frequently—and...

“Caroline’s Comedy Hour” is set to return to TV with fresh episodes under a licensing deal that comedy maven Caroline Hirsch has set with Scott Koondel’s Sox Entertainment.

Sox has licensed 100 episodes of the standup comedy showcase series that ran on A&e Network in the early 1990s. Those will be collected with new installments that Hirsch and Sox Entertainment will produce. Sox has also reached a deal with the New York Comedy Festival for access to select performances across that celebration of standup that is set to unfold its 18th edition Nov. 7-13.

Hirsch is marking the 40th anniversary this year of her influential comedy club on Broadway in the heart of the theater district. Hirsch also was the driving force behind the NY Comedy Festival. Notable names featured in the episodes to be sold include early appearances by Marc Maron, Denis Leary, Jon Stewart, Richard Belzer,...

A popular standup TV franchise is making a comeback. Scott Koondel’s Sox Entertainment has acquired global rights to Caroline’s Comedy Hour, which ran on A&e Network from 1989-96. Koondel, former CBS Chief Content and Licensing Officer, plans to produce new installments, which he will shop alongside 100 library episodes from the show’s original run as a lower-cost comedy programming alternative for cable networks and streamers.

Koondel was retained to distribute the package of new and old episodes by Caroline’s owner Caroline Hirsch.

The A&e series was hosted by Carol Leifer, Colin Quinn and Rich Jeni and featured acts appearing at Hirsch’s New York comedy club, including Marc Maron, Bill Hicks, Joy Behar, Denis Leary, Jon Stewart, Louis Ck, Richard Belzer, Judy Tenuta, Susie Essman, Mario Cantone, Ray Romano, Colin Quinn, Larry Miller, Jeff Foxworthy, Lewis Black, George Lopez, Al Franklin, Kevin James, Norm MacDonald,...

Shark Tank casting goop—err, scoop!

Oscar-winning actress (and goop founder) Gwyneth Paltrow is one of two new guest Sharks joining Season 14 of ABC’s Shark Tank, Deadline reports. An airdate for her debut has not yet been disclosed.

More from TVLineStation 19 Season 6 Key Art Hints at Whether Jack Is Really Gone for GoodGrey's Vets Defend Ellen Pompeo's Decision to Go Part-Time in Season 19Grey's Anatomy Star Shares First Look at Season 19's Surgical Rookies

Also new to the Tank is DoorDash CEO and co-founder Tony Xu. Both Paltrow and Xu will appear alongside Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner,...

A year after announcing his farewell tour, comedian Bill Engvall is ready to reveal how he’ll wrap things up: With one final stand-up comedy special. Comedy Dynamics has partnered with Engvall to produce his final stand-up comedy special, which will take place in Salt Lake City at Eccles Theater on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, 2022.

“It’s always great to work with a longtime comedy veteran like Bill, because you know the end product is going to be smart, funny, and an entertaining piece for his dedicated fans worldwide,” said Brian Volk-Weiss, founder and CEO of Comedy Dynamics.

Variety exclusively reported last year that Engvall was signing off with the farewell stand-up tour “Here’s Your Sign, It’s Finally Time,” which launched at the end of last summer and continued into this year.

The comedian/actor/author, who’s also a Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum selling recording artist, is...

NBC and the Television Academy announced jointly today that Kenan Thompson will host the 74th Emmy(R) Awards. The three-hour, coast-to-coast live telecast from the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 12 and begins at 8 p.m. Et/5 p.m. Pt on NBC and will stream live for the first time on Peacock. “Being a part of this incredible evening where we honor the best of the television community is ridiculously exciting, and to do it on NBC – my longtime network family – makes it even more special,” Thompson said. “Like all TV fans, I can’t wait to see the stars from my favorite shows.” Jen Neal, Executive Vice President of Live Events for NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, said, “Kenan is well-regarded as one of funniest, likeable and accomplished performers of the last two decades and his tenure on ‘Saturday Night Live’ speaks for itself.

It came down to the wire — the Emmys are next month, after all — but NBC and the Television Academy have finally found a host for this year’s ceremony: “Saturday Night Live” star Kenan Thompson.

Thompson, the longest-running cast member in “SNL” history, was named after a lengthy search by NBC, the Academy and Emmys producers Done+Dusted and Reggie Hudlin to find an A-list name that might shake things up. It turns out, the A-lister was in their own backyard. The telecast will air live Sept. 12 on NBC, and stream on Peacock as well.

“Being a part of this incredible evening where we honor the best of the television community is ridiculously exciting, and to do it on NBC – my longtime network family – makes it even more special,” Thompson said in a statement. “Like all TV fans, I can’t wait to see the stars from my favorite shows.

The wait for “Bridgerton” Season 2 is over at last. As usual, Netflix has a robust lineup of new movies and shows streaming in March, including the return of the lusty Shondaland Regency romance series that left audiences swooning after Season 1 debuted in December 2021.

Other new shows on Netflix this month include the thriller series “Pieces of Her” starring Bella Heathcote and Toni Collette as a mother-daughter duo contending with the mother’s past after a shocking act of violence uncover long-hidden secrets. Also debuting this month is the “Big Mouth” spinoff “Human Resources,” which “pulls back the curtain on the daily lives of the creatures – Hormone Monsters, Depression Kitties, Shame Wizards, and many more – that help humans journey through every aspect of life from puberty to childbirth to the twilight years.”

In the realm of new Netflix Original movies, “The Adam Project” is the sci-fi film from “Stranger Things” and...

Jeff Foxworthy is known for his “You might be a redneck if…” jokes. (One payoff: “You run out of beer and call 9-1-1.”) But, says the Georgia native, “I’m more of a storyteller.” He proves it in his first solo act in two decades with Netflix‘s The Good Old Days. Your golden years are not what you expected, which you mine for laughs. Jeff Foxworthy: What sets you up is these commercials: the couple retiring and out on a sailboat. It never happened [for me]! But I wouldn’t trade my 60-year-old mind and soul for my 30-year-old body. (Credit: Courtesy of Netflix) Why did you call this The Good Old Days? My father-in-law was always talking about things being better then. I started listing things — toilets, beds, kitchens — and asking, “How is it now? How was it then?” How did you pick the jokes to put in the special?...

“WWE Evil,” the first WWE original series for Peacock, will premiere March 24, the streaming service announced Thursday.

Created and hosted by WWE wrestler and actor John Cena, the eight-part docuseries examines the stories of notable “heels,” or villains, in the WWE’s history. Each episode dives into the career of a different heel, including Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Sasha Banks and Roman Reigns.

The trailer previews all of the episodes of the series, showcasing both archival footage of notable events in the various performers’ WWE history, as well as interviews that dive into the psychology behind the people playing the heels.

“I’m not playing the character, I am the character,” Roman Reigns says during a talking head interview included in the trailer.

Cena executive produces “WWE Evil” with Micah Brown, who directs and showruns. Additional executive producers include Vince McMahon and Kevin Dunn for WWE Studios and Julie Pizzi,...

Netflix brings one of its biggest shows back to the streaming service in March with the return of “Bridgerton.” The second season of the 2021 Emmy Award nominee for Best Drama series debuts on March 25. But there are loads of other original shows and movies coming to Netflix in March 2022 – including the Ryan Reynolds blockbuster “The Adam Project” – plus legacy titles such as “Shrek,” “Top Gun,” “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” and “Dunkirk.” Here’s everything coming to Netflix in March 2022 and what’s leaving the service in March as well.

What’s new on Netflix in March 2022

Coming soon

800 Meters

Tomorrow

March 1

The Guardians of Justice

Worst Roommate Ever

21

21 Bridges

A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Battleship

Christine

Coach Carter

Due Date

Freddy vs. Jason

Gattaca

The Gift

Redemption

The Replacements

Richie RichThe Shawshank Redemption

Shooter

Shrek

Shrek 2

Sorry to Bother You

Starship Troopers

Texas Chainsaw 3D...

“The Masked Singer” season 6 is making history in more ways than one. There is the introduction of the “Take It Off Buzzer,” which allows the judges to halt the performance if they are convinced they know the name of the famous face inside the mask. And this marks the first time that there is a costume that is a human, albeit an over-sized infant with one tooth.

The Baby is one of the two Wildcards who debuted on the second episode of the super-sized premiere. He replaces Mother Nature (Vivica A. Fox) who was sent packing at the start of the show on September 23. Before Baby sang a note, we thought Jack Black was hidden inside this elaborate costume but changed our mind when we saw him perform. Keep reading for all “The Masked Singer” spoilers, including the answer to the question “Who is Baby”?

Baby made his debut on...

Kevin Hart will take a dip in Shark-infested waters this fall.

The actor/investor/entrepreneur is one of four new guest Sharks joining Season 13 of ABC’s Shark Tank (premiering Friday, Oct. 8 at 8/7c), the network announced Thursday. He’ll appear in various episodes throughout the 2021-22 season, alongside Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John and Kevin O’Leary.

More from TVLineThe Conners Sets Live Premiere for Season 4, Unveils Puzzling New PosterDancing With the Stars Season 30 to Include First-Ever Same-Sex CoupleDancing With the Stars Adds JoJo Siwa, Suni Lee As Season 30 Contestants

The three other guest Sharks include Peter Jones,...

Bill Engvall is signing off. The comedian is set to announce Wednesday morning that he is saying goodbye to stand-up, launching the farewell tour “Here’s Your Sign, It’s Finally Time” later this summer and into next year.

The comedian/actor/author, who’s also a Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum selling recording artist, is best known for his “Here’s Your Sign” routine. Engvall decided to hang the microphone up after more than 40 years in the business, and plans to reveal the news to his fans at noon Et via a live chat on his Facebook page.

“I have been blessed with the greatest career anyone could ask for,” Engvall said. “Making people laugh is a dream job and has fulfilled my life in so many ways. I’m excited to focus on future opportunities in entertainment and spend more time with my family. I’m not going anywhere – just...

Exclusive: Thinkfactory Media, the TV production company behind hit reality franchises such as Marriage Boot Camp and scripted series including Emmy-winning Hatfields & McCoys, has signed with ICM Partners for global representation.

Run by CEO and veteran producer Adam Reed, Thinkfactory Media, an ITV America company, produces unscripted fare that spans a variety of genres and formats for broadcast, cable and streaming partners. Current and recent series include A&e’s What’s it Worth?, hosted by Jeff Foxworthy, We tv’s Marriage Boot Camp empire, encompassing flagship Reality Stars, alongside Family Edition and Hip Hop Edition, as well as We tv’s megahit Mama June: From Not to Hot.

Thinkfactory also recently announced a new unscripted project with Carole Baskin, the big cat activist of Tiger King fame, and her husband Harold Baskin, that will expose animal exploitation. The company currently has other unscripted projects set with History, TBS, Lifetime and TLC.

Peter McGuigan, who co-created the New York literary agency Foundry Literary + Media with Yfat Reiss Gendell, has launched a new agency dubbed Ultra Literary.

The move comes after the news last week that Gendell exited Foundry to form Yrg Partners, taking Foundry agents Tanusri Prasanna, Peter Steinberg and Adriann Ranta Zurhellen and their clients with her. That agency will focus on representing publishing rights for writers and consumer brands.

McGuigan’s client include Trevor Noah, Patrick deWitt, April Ryan, Ben Jealous, Bret Witter, Pamela Des Barres, Ellis Henican, Mike Massimino, Wesley Snipes, Andy Richter, Jeff Foxworthy, Robin Gaby Fisher and Frank Figliuzzi among others. His producer credits include adaptations of the No. 1 bestseller Dewey, as well as Stronger, Dopesick and others.

Foundry agent Kirsten Neuhaus, whose clients include Shark Tank shark Daymond John, is joining McGuigan and will be a part of the management team. Alička Pistek, who worked with McGuigan at Sanford J.

Primetime viewership for A&e Network has halved since the cable channel canceled “Live Pd” last month, bowing to pressure from groups who said the show glorified police. The scrapping of “Live Pd” came days after Paramount Network axed “Cops,” a cancellation that itself came days after George Floyd was killed by then-Minneapolis police office Derek Chauvin. A&e canceled “Live Pd” on June 10. From June 11 through July 19, a time period first looked into and reported on by the Wall Street Journal, A&e’s primetime viewership averaged 498,000 audience members, according to Nielsen. That was down a whopping 49% from the same weeks last year. “When you take one of the top series in cable off the network in the middle of a pandemic and only air mostly non-premiere programming, you’re obviously going to take a temporary hit in the ratings. It’s to be expected, but what has always set...

Peacock has officially taken flight! NBCUniversal's new streaming service has finally launched wide, which means you now have a great excuse to cancel all of your plans and enjoy some waffles and all the bacon along with your umpteenth binge of Parks and Recreation or start your day off right with

...

Read More >

Other Links From TVGuide.com Two and a Half MenSuperstoreThe King of QueensEverybody Loves RaymondThe Jeff Foxworthy ShowHouse, M.D.The AffairGeorge LopezRay DonovanLaw & Order: Special Victims UnitLaw & Order: Criminal IntentLaw & OrderAmerican Ninja Warrior...

MGM and Audio Up, the new podcast content production studio, platform and network, are teaming to launch an Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader podcast, hosted by original series host and executive producer Jeff Foxworthy.

The Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader podcast is a curated selection of the series’ best and most popular episodes culled from its library of more than 500 shows. The podcast will launch 20 episodes on June 25 across all podcast streaming platforms, with each featuring a celebrity contestant visiting the “classroom” to challenge the 5th graders in a game of grade school smarts. Celebrity guests will include Bethenny Frankel, Adam Corolla, Holly Robinson Peete, Brad Garrett, Chris Harrison, Dr. Drew, and more.

The Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader series, co-created and produced by MGM’s Worldwide Television Chairman Mark Burnett, ran for five seasons on Fox Primetime, followed by 300 original episodes for syndication,...

If someone asked you what recent pro wrestling superstar would probably win a major showbiz award first, your first thought might be Dwayne Johnson, who set aside his career as The Rock to become a movie star, arguably the most successful crossover ever from the WWE. But John Cena could actually beat him to the punch — or the body slam, as the case may be. He’s nominated for Best Game Show at the Daytime Emmys as an executive producer of Nickelodeon’s “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader,” which he also hosts.

A prime time version of “5th Grader” began in 2007 with comedian Jeff Foxworthy as host. It tested adults to see if they could answer questions taken from elementary school textbooks. Eventually the show transitioned to a daytime syndicated format. But it was off the air for several years before it was revived on the kids’ cable channel in 2019 headlined by Cena.

This has been a tough week in the middle of a tough year, so please allow me to distract you with the ridiculous fact that one of this week’s Labor of Love departing dudes literally pees on the house as he says his final goodbye.

See? Now you may not feel better, but at least a teeny part of you is intrigued. Read on for the highlights of “10 Things Kristy Likes About You.”

More from TVLineShould Blue Bloods Reflect Reality? Where Was Fuller House's Jesse? Glee Tell-All Movie, Please?! And More Qs9-1-1's Ryan Guzman Cites...

A+E Networks is to remain in the high-end scripted market and is looking for its next Hatfields & McCoys.

This comes after it emerged that two of History’s big-ticket dramas, Project Blue Book, and Knightfall, which marked Mark Hamill’s entry into live-action series television, would not return, coming as its flagship drama Vikings is ending after its next ten-part run.

However, A+E Networks Group President Paul Buccieri talked up the company’s upcoming scripted plans, its deep library of television movies for Lifetime and the launch of a PitchFest for producers in an interview with Deadline.

“When you talk about scripted on the A+E portfolio, we have never done as much scripted content as we have in the last couple of years. We’re very much in the scripted game,” he told Deadline. “We still want to be in the returnable series space and we’re...

A+E Networks says there is plenty of content in its production pipeline.

The company will renew its successful “Live Pd” franchise for an additional 160 episodes on A&e, while launching a live showcase led by comedian Jeff Foxworthy and a series featuring WWE wrestlers tracking the professional-wrestling organization’s memorabilia – a sign that many TV companies will likely rely on reality programming in weeks ahead as production is crimped by the coronavirus pandemic. And it will also unveil a spate of original movies for its Lifetime cable network, says Paul Buccieri, president of A+E Networks Group, in an interivew.

“We are in production 52 weeks a year, and have a long-term view,” says Buccieri The executive said the company has been able to continue post-production work on its array of unscripted series by moving staffers to work at home. The company has also been “pushing our scripted movies,” a staple of the company’s Lifetime network,...