Editorial Staff
Animaniacs
Hulu, Amblin Television and Warner Bros. Animation have confirmed an “Animaniacs” revival, with a two-season straight-to-series order kicking off on Hulu in 2010.
SANTA MONICA, CA (January 4, 2018) – Hulu, Amblin Television and Warner Bros. Animation today announced a new deal to create and premiere a brand-new version of the iconic family friendly cartoon franchise Animaniacs. Under the two-season straight-to-series order, Steven Spielberg will return as executive producer of the series, with Sam Register, President, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Digital Series, and Amblin Television Co-Presidents Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank also serving as executive producers. The series marks the first Hulu Original made for families, and with the legacy of these beloved characters, is intended to provide a co-viewing opportunity and experience for families to enjoy together. New episodes are set to premiere on the premium streaming service in 2020.
The Warner brothers, Yakko and Wakko, and the Warner sister, Dot – three inseparable, irascible siblings – have a great time wreaking havoc and mayhem in the lives of everyone they meet. They have been locked away in the Warner Bros. water tower for a very long time, but they have found a way to escape. And escape they do – every day! Causing chaos and comic confusion, Yakko, Wakko and Dot run loose in the city, turning the world into their personal playground. And fan-favorite characters Pinky and the Brain will also return to make appearances in each episode.
In addition to announcing the new series, Hulu and Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution also inked a new pact that makes Hulu the exclusive streaming home to the complete library of all 99 episodes of the original Animaniacs, as well as Pinky and the Brain, the subsequent Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain, and the complete Tiny Toon Adventures collection. As of today, Hulu subscribers can watch, catch up and relive their favorite moments from the original series with the whole family.
“We cannot wait to work with Steven Spielberg and the entire Amblin and Warner Bros. teams to bring more sketches, catchphrases, songs and laughs from the Animaniacs to kids and adults everywhere,” said Craig Erwich, SVP of Content, Hulu. “Now one of the most beloved, inventive and funny animated franchises in history, Animaniacs and its cast of witty characters can live on, on Hulu. This marks yet another big move for us as we continue our efforts to be the #1 streaming destination for premium animated content.”
“I am so pleased and proud that Animaniacs will have a home at Hulu,” said Executive Producer Steven Spielberg. “Together with Warner Bros., we look to bring new audiences and longtime fans into this wild world of Yakko, Wakko, and Dot. I am also excited that the full library of Animaniacs and Tiny Toon Adventures episodes are included in the deal.”
“Yakko, Wakko and Dot have been waiting impatiently inside the water tower, and now their hilarious brand of animated chaos will be unleashed – again! We’re incredibly excited to be partnering with Amblin and Hulu for new episodes of Animaniacs, filled with endless laughs – and ongoing plots for world domination by Pinky and the Brain,” said Sam Register, President, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Digital Series. “Parents who grew up with the cartoon now have new episodes to share with their own families.”
The original Animaniacs made its television debut in 1993 and went on to become one of the most popular animated series for children. Since its premiere, the series has launched spin-offs and characters including Pinky and the Brain, and has set the record for most Daytime Emmy Awards in the field of Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for any animated series, winning three times.
With its balance of humor, education and pop culture references, Animaniacs also garnered a large adult fan following. Award-winning songs including “Yakko’s World” and “Wakko’s America” continue to educate audiences and remain fan favorites among both adults and children, and the series continues to remain popular among online fanbases.
The new show will become the first Hulu Original Series for families and will join the Hulu Kids library alongside full libraries of exclusive kids programming including Teen Titans Go!, Curious George, The Powerpuff Girls, Doozers, Adventure Time, Doc McStuffins, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and more.
Animaniacs is produced by Amblin Television in association with Warner Bros. Animation.
Game of Thrones
HBO announced today that “Game of Thrones” will return for its six-episode, eighth and final season in 2019.
Directors for the new season are David Benioff & D.B. Weiss, David Nutter and Miguel Sapochnik. Writers for the new season are David Benioff & D.B. Weiss, Bryan Cogman and Dave Hill.
New Girl
FOX has announced that the final season of “New Girl”, which will feature guest appearances from JB Smoove and Tig Notaro, will premiere Tuesday, April 10.
The seventh and final season of the critically acclaimed and award-nominated NEW GIRL will premiere Tuesday, April 10 (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. The eight-episode final season will have a special one-hour finale on Tuesday, May 15 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT).
Ensemble comedy NEW GIRL takes a modern look at friendship and romance, as a group of five friends attempt to find their respective places in the world, while begrudgingly accepting the responsibilities of adulthood – with often hilarious results. The series stars Zooey Deschanel as Jess Day; Jake Johnson as Nick Miller; Max Greenfield as Schmidt; Lamorne Morris as Winston Bishop; and Hannah Simone as Cece Schmidt.
As the series’ sixth season came to a close, Jess told Nick of her true feelings for him. Also, Winston and Aly (guest star Nasim Pedrad) got engaged, and Cece and Schmidt received news that they are expecting. When the series returns for its final season, a three-year time jump will have occurred. Jess and Nick are happily together and returning from a whirlwind European book tour; stay-at-home dad Schmidt and working mom Cece are raising their daughter, Ruth; and Winston and Aly are married, with a child on the way.
In addition to Nasim Pedrad, the final season will feature the return of many of the series’ notable guest stars, including Damon Wayans, Jr., Dermot Mulroney, David Walton, Nelson Franklin, Sam Richardson, Jamie Lee Curtis and Rob Reiner. JB Smoove (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) and Tig Notaro (“One Mississippi”) also will make their series debuts in guest-starring roles.
Premiering on Sept. 20, 2011, NEW GIRL has been nominated for five Emmy Awards and five Golden Globe Awards. In its debut season, the series earned a Writers Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Television – New Series, and more recently received a nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Television – Episodic Comedy.
NEW GIRL is produced by Chernin Entertainment in association with 20th Century Fox Television. The series was created by Elizabeth Meriwether. Meriwether, Brett Baer, Dave Finkel, Jake Kasdan, Peter Chernin, Katherine Pope and Erin O’Malley are executive producers, with Meriwether, Baer and Finkel serving as co-showrunners/writers and Kasdan and O’Malley directing multiple episodes of the series.
“Like” NEW GIRL on Facebook at facebook.com/NewGirlonFOX. See photos and videos on Instagram at @NewGirlonFOX. Follow the series on Twitter @NewGirlonFOX and join the discussion using #NewGirl.
The Gifted
FOX has renewed “The Gifted”, the family adventure series set in Marvel’s “X-Men” universe, for a second season.
In the all-new, two-hour season finale of “The Gifted”, “eXtraction/X-roads,” airing Monday, Jan. 15 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX, Dr. Campbell (guest star Garret Dillahunt) attends the Humanity Today summit, attempting to take the Hound program national, while some of the team at Mutant HQ go on a dangerous mission to stop his efforts. Then, the Mutant HQ comes under attack. With everything to lose, alliances shift and relationships are put to the test.
