Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
STARS ON SCREEN
What is a renewal?:
Don’t worry, game show fans — two of the most venerable series aren’t going anywhere any time soon. Both “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy!” have been renewed for through 2023, and with the length of time they’ve both been on the air, there’s really no way to tell just how long they’ll keep going.
Of course, part of what makes both shows so entertaining is their endearing hosts, and all three of those hosts have also signed new deals that keep them on as the faces of their respective shows for the next few years. “Wheel of Fortune” hosts Pat Sajak (“Airplane II: The Sequel,” 1982) and Vanna White (“Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult,” 1994) have both been with the show since the early 1980s when it was still a network series and have served continuously as hosts since the show went into syndication in 1983.
Over on the “Jeopardy!” side of things, Alex Trebek (“FCU: Fact Checkers Unit”) has signed on to keep posing questions in the form of answers to contestants until at least 2022, a position he’s held since 1984.
That’s a big chunk of time for all three hosts, and it’s hard to imagine either show without them. Together, the two series have won 39 Daytime Emmys, and both have spawned regional adaptations in countries all around the world.
Watching “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy!” has long been a daily ritual for many, and with the latest renewals, neither the game shows nor their hosts are going anywhere any time soon. Both air nightly on ABC-affiliated channels.
Blanchett comes to television:
Hollywood movie star Cate Blanchett is bringing a piece of history to television. The two-time Oscar winning star of “The Aviator” (2004) and “Blue Jasmine” (2013) is a rare presence on the small screen, and for her new project, she’s diving in head first, serving as both star and executive producer.
“Mrs. America,” a nine-episode limited series, is in the works at FX with an anticipated premiere date sometime next year. A gripping true story about the decades-old movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and get it enshrined in the Constitution, “Mrs. America” details events that are as relevant today as they were when the battle was being fought in the public sphere.
In addition to her executive producer role, Blanchett will play conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly, one of the key figures in the history of the Equal Rights Amendment. The story will be told through her eyes, and through those of the era’s second-wave feminists, including Gloria Steinem, Bella Abzug and Shirley Chisholm — none of those roles have yet been cast.
The Equal Rights Amendment was a major battleground in the culture wars of the 1970s, and the effects of that battle are still being felt today. The push for a constitutional amendment may sound dry on paper, but the skirmishes around it are anything but. Watch for Cate Blanchett’s return to television in “Mrs. America” sometime next year on FX.
Feeling ‘Blue’:
ABC is considering bringing back one of its classics. “NYPD Blue” ran for 12 seasons on the alphabet network, and throughout its original run, it was praised by audiences and critics alike for its gritty portrayal of the struggles faced by big-city detectives.
More than a decade after the procedural went off the air, ABC has placed a pilot order for a potential sequel series. “Chicago P.D.” co-creator Matt Olmstead and former “NYPD Blue” executive producer Nicholas Wootton are both writing the script and serving as executive producers, hopefully ensuring that the sequel series will still have the gritty feel that made the original such a hit. The project is still very early in its pre-pilot planning stages, and no casting announcements or potential premiere dates have been made.
“NYPD Blue” ran from 1993 to 2005 and starred a shifting ensemble cast throughout its run, including Dennis Franz (“Die Hard 2,” 1990), Gordon Clapp (“Chicago Fire”), Kim Delaney (“Army Wives”), James McDaniel (“Malcolm X,” 1992) and Bill Brochtrup (“Major Crimes”).
Reboots and sequels are definitely in demand right now, and police procedurals are an established genre. Of course, “NYPD Blue” isn’t just any old cop show: the original series raked in 20 Primetime Emmys with hundreds more nominations in a variety of categories. The series has consistently been ranked by publications as one of the best TV shows of all time, and that kind of ready-made fan base is the sort of thing that gets TV executives salivating.
It may only have an order for a pilot episode, but even the possibility of a sequel to “NYPD Blue” is cause for excitement. Expect more news about the project as 2019’s pilot season approaches.