TV shifts from coronavirus to protest coverage

In the 12 days since the video of the death of George Floyd at the hands of police horrified the nation, TV’s attention has shifted from the COVID-19 crisis to covering peaceful protests calling for criminal justice reform as well as riotous demonstrations.

ABC pre-empted its regular programming Tuesday night for “America in Pain: What Comes Next?” and this weekend CNN and “Sesame Street” team up for a onehour special for children, “Coming Together: Standing up to Racism” (10 a.m. Saturday). “PBS NewsHour” premiered the special “Race Matters: America in Crisis on Friday, and local religious broadcaster WPCB-TV will air “Real Life: Special Edition on Faith, Race & Reconciliation” (12:30 p.m. Saturday).

Actor Griffin Newman (“The Tick”), a former “Blue Bloods” guest star, called on actors who have played police officers to donate to social justice reform organizations. The cast and executive producers of NBC’s “Brooklyn NineNine” made a $100,000 donation to the National Bail Fund Network.

Producer Dick Wolf fired a writer from an upcoming “Law & Order” spinoff for controversial Facebook posts about looters and curfews.

Channel surfing

Disney+ renewed “Diary of a Future President” for a second season . ... YouTube canceled dance drama “Step Up,” but Starz picked up the show for a new season . ... Turns out The CW will not recast Kate Kane after the departure of “Batwoman” star Ruby Rose, instead creating a new character who will don the Batwoman cowl.

Tuned In online

This week’s TV Q&A column on the blog responds to questions about “Wynonna Earp,” “The Drew Carey Show,” Cinemax originals and KDKA-TV. This week’s Tuned In Journal includes posts on “Dirty John.” Read online-only TV content at http://communityvoices.post-gazette.com/ arts-entertainment-living/ tuned-in.