Here is a wrap-up of all the news you need to know from Thursday, October 3, 2019.
There’s good news for fans of Florida Girls.
Pop TV has handed out a second season renewal to its hit comedy series, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The series will return for more episodes in 2020.
It follows a group of young women who are determined to live life to the fullest … even if they can barely scrape together the funds to pay for their bills.
“Whether getting your GED, throwing an epic island party or dealing with an unruly customer on the job at Barnacles, the women of Florida Girls showed us that you don’t need a lot of money to have fun and feel good about yourself. Just some great, loyal friends,” said Justin Rosenblatt, executive vp original programming and development at Pop.
Related: One Day at a Time SAVED by Pop TV
“We’re thrilled this series struck such a chord with our audience. Laura Chinn has created an honest show that mixes smart social commentary with hard comedy, and we couldn’t be more excited to see how she, Melanie, Patty and Laci evolve in season two.”
Over in the world of NatGeo, it has been announced that Cynthia Erivo has been cast as the legendary Aretha Franklin in the next installment of Genius.
Genius: Aretha will be a retelling of the star’s life story. Many of Franklin’s catalog of hits will make their way to the production.
Related: The Birch Trailer: Facebook Watch Goes Dark!
On top of that, fans will be treated to archival footage of Franklin in performance.
“Aretha Franklin has been a source of inspiration for me since I was a little girl,” Erivo said in a statement.
“Her strength, passion and soul are evident in her everlasting legacy, not only as a transcendent artist, but as a humanitarian and civil rights icon.
To have the opportunity to bring her legacy to life and show the fullness of her being, her humanity, and brilliance, is an honor.
Related: The Walking Dead Season 10 Review: A Breathtaking Return to Form
What I know and have learned about what my voice, as an artist, can do, and the power in it has been highly influenced by Franklin.
I feel privileged and excited to be a part of the sharing of her genius.”
Added Franklin’s niece Sabrina Owens, “For Genius to honor Aretha is a great affirmation of her legacy, and Cynthia Erivo is an extraordinary talent with an amazing voice!”
As for Sesame Street, the popular series is officially on the move.
It will leave its HBO home in favor of a move to the streaming world. It’s joining HBO Max’s roster of original programming when it launches in 2020.
But if you’re worried about losing your fix of the iconic series, then you will still be able to watch it on PBS Kids, months after it launches on HBO Max.
“The scope of our partnership with Sesame Workshop is unprecedented,” HBO Max chief content officer Kevin Reilly said in a statement.
“The beloved Sesame Street characters and these incredible new shows will be ambassadors for our service and the cornerstone of HBO Max’s extensive kids’ offering.”
Related: Empire: Coming to an End!
Empire may be ending, but Fox is looking to keep Nicole Ari Parker under its roof.
According to Deadline, the network has ordered a script for Opus, a drama series in which Parker would star in and executive produce.
The pilot will be penned by Felicia D. Henderson, and follows Willie Mae Gray (Parker), “Europe’s most celebrated and only African American conductor, suddenly returns to Baltimore to reinvent her hometown’s crumbling symphony orchestra, while attempting to rebuild the relationship with her teenage son, an underground MC on the rise.”
Parker first joined the cast of Empire during its fourth season and was promoted to a series regular for its fifth season.
The series is currently airing its fifth and final season.
Paul Dailly is the Associate Editor for TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter.