Take the wheel
Roku orders John Cena-led talk show
Take the wheel: Actor/ executive producer/former WWE champion John Cena (“Fast X,” 2023) is ready to make his first foray into the TV talk show world.
Cena is set to host the new celebrity talk series “What Drives You,” which has been greenlit by Roku. In each of the eight (initial) episodes, Cena hits the road to interview a different guest, in a vehicle that holds a special meaning to them. Viewers can expect an interesting conversation that will cover personal and professional highlights, as well as some deeply personal topics, as they drive around.
And not unlike “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,” the vehicle featured in each episode will get its fair share of attention, too, as each guest shares a special memory or two about their ride.
“The car you drive and where you drive it can say a lot about who you are, from your personality type to what you value and prioritize the most,” Cena said in a statement. “‘What Drives You’ is all about tapping into this and each guest’s unique connection to their car, and a destination close to their heart, as the crux of a candid and wide-ranging conversation. It’s a great opportunity for me to ride shotgun and learn from some of the world’s most entertaining and inspiring individuals.”
“We’ve always felt that John’s quick wit, sincere curiosity and charm would make him a terrific host for a talk format, and ‘What Drives You’ is the perfect vehicle (sorry) to showcase his talent and genuine obsession with all things automotive,” added Shawn Witt, president of ITV America’s Leftfield Pictures, which is producing the series. “We’re stoked to bring this series to life with him and our partners at Roku.”
“What Drives You” is the latest collaboration between Roku and Cena, who had a role in the Roku Original comedy “Die Hart 2: Die Harter” and is the executive producer of the upcoming “WWE Superstars of Tomorrow” docuseries, in which he will also be featured.
A moving tale: If you’ve been looking forward to seeing Julianne Moore (“Still Alice,” 2014) putting on a British accent and wielding influence in the court of King James I, know that the psychodrama “Mary & George” is coming soon — but don’t look for it on AMC.
AMC Networks had held the exclusive distribution rights, but the seven-part series has now moved over to Starz, where this rebranded Starz Original series has a non-specific premiere date of “2024.” No official reason was given for the move, but AMC has been making some cost-cutting moves, canceling shows such as “Invitation to a Bonfire” and axing new seasons of such series as “Pantheon.”
A co-production with British broadcaster Sky, “Mary & George” was created by D.C. Moore (“Killing Eve”) and finds Moore playing one-half of a scheming mother-and-son duo who will stop at nothing to conquer the Court of England. Moore stars as Mary Villiers, Countess of Buckingham, who, in 17thcentury England, moulded her son George (Nicholas Galitzine, “Red, White & Royal Blue”) to seduce King James VI of Scotland and I of England, allowing them to become the richest and most influential members of the court.
The script is said to be inspired by the (nonfiction) book “The King’s Assassin” by Benjamin Woolley.
Out with a bang: CBS announced that “Young Sheldon” will return with a new season on Thursday, Feb. 15, but it also revealed that the “Big Bang Theory” prequel’s seventh season will be its last.
More bad news: Season 7 will be shorter than previous ones, as Hollywood productions scramble to catch up following the nearly six-month-long writer and actors’ strikes.
“As a prequel to one of the biggest comedies, ‘Young Sheldon’ proved lightning can strike twice,” Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment, said in a statement. “It set itself apart with a remarkable cast that felt like a family from the first moment we saw them on screen and brought characters to life with unique, heartfelt stories that drew audiences in from the start. We extend a sincere thank you to executive producers Chuck Lorre, Steve Molaro and Steve Holland and the entire writing and producing teams for six wonderful seasons. We look forward to seeing their final season unfold and giving it a proper send-off with the best episodes yet for their fans to enjoy.”
Not long after the announcement, the cast of “Young Sheldon” acknowledged the series’ end on social media. Most notably, Iain Armitage, who plays the now-teenage titular character, struck a hopeful tone as he thanked the cast and crew, writing, “We will make the best seventh season we can possibly make. And behind the scenes, there will be lots of laughter and lots of tears because I love all of these people so much.”
The fact that a new season’s worth of episodes, even if it’s a somewhat truncated run, should come as some consolation to fans, who will undoubtedly be making plans to tune in to the one-hour finale on May 16.