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Apple TV+ has quickly become the place where you find peak TV, and to achieve that status, they have to leave some shows behind and support the shows with potential. 2024 has been a pretty good year for Apple TV+ as it saw the premieres of some great new shows like The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin and Sugar, but we also have some shows that didn’t make it out of the chopping block. So, let’s find out if your favorite Apple TV+ original series makes the cut or not.

Canceled Schmigadoon! (Cancelled After Season 2) Credit – Apple TV+

Schmigadoon! is a musical comedy series created by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. The Apple TV+ series was beloved by both the critics and the audiences for its great songs and unique way of storytelling. Schmigadoon! came out...

TikTok star Charli D’Amelio is joining the company of the Broadway musical & Juliet.

She will take on the role of Charmian, a dance-heavy ensemble part, starting Oct. 29 at the Sondheim Theatre, for a three-month run through Jan. 19. D’Amelio has more than 155 million followers on TikTok, making her one of the most popular accounts on the social media app.

Before launching her TikTok career, D’Amelio was a competitive dancer. She also won the 31st season of Dancing With the Stars. The role in & Juliet will mark her Broadway debut.

“I’m beyond excited to join the Broadway community — it’s a dream I’ve had since I was a little girl,” D’Amelio said. “To be able to make my Broadway debut, especially in the cast of & Juliet, is truly a dream come true, and I can’t wait to share this experience with everyone.”

& Juliet opened on Broadway...

Tony Award nominee Betsy Wolfe, who originated the role of Anne Hathaway in the Broadway production of & Juliet, will play her final performance on October 20, she announced today on Instagram.

“I knew this day would eventually come and it would be a hard one. It is with a heavy, but full heart that I announce my final show at & Juliet will be October 20th, 2024,” she wrote.

“Playing Anne in & Juliet has been a lifelong dream come true. Before this show people would ask “what’s your favorite role” and I’d often say “it hasn’t been written yet.” Then I read the hilariously moving script by David West Read and the rest is history.

I perform every single night with a grateful heart knowing how blessed I am to play the incomparable Anne, alongside my amazing castmates, current and past, and for so long.

I’ve been a part...

Netflix Releases “Cobra Kai” Season 6 Part 1 Trailer

Enter the dojo for one final season. Netflix has released the official trailer for its highly anticipated final season of “Cobra Kai.”

“The Karate Kid” sequel spinoff series, which stars Ralph Macchio and William Zabka reprising their franchise-leading roles, will return for its sixth and final season on Thursday, July 18, with the first batch of episodes in a super-sized season.

In Season 6, per the official description, the Cobra Kai senseis and students must decide if and how they will compete in the Sekai Taikai, the world championships of karate after they are eliminated from the Valley.

Watch the trailer for “Cobra Kai” Season 6 Part 1 below:

The series also stars Martin Kove, Xolo Maridueña, Jacob Bertrand, Mary Mouser, Tanner Buchanan, Peyton List, Gianni DeCenzo, Courtney Henggeler, Vanessa Rubio, Dallas Dupree Young, Yuji Okumoto, Alicia Hannah-Kim, Griffin Santopietro, and Oona O’Brien, among others.

The first...

The Morpho machine is shutting down. Apple TV+ has canceled “The Big Door Prize” after two seasons, Variety has confirmed. The series, from Skydance Television and Cj Enm/Studio Dragon, ended its Season 2 run on June 12.

“The Big Door Prize” comes from writer David West Read (“Schitt’s Creek”) and is based on the M.O. Walsh novel of the same name. The whimsical series earned solid nods in Season 1, which aired in spring 2023 and starred Chris O’Dowd, Gabrielle Dennis, Josh Segarra, Ally Maki, Djouliet Amara, Sammy Fourlas, Crystal Fox and Damon Gupton.

The series centers on the residents of Deerfield, a small town that is upended when a mysterious machine appears in the general store, promising to reveal each resident’s true life potential.

Read serves as showrunner and executive producer, alongside David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Matt Thunell for Skydance Television, Miky Lee, Jey-hyun Kim and Hyun Park for Studio Dragon,...

Chris O’Dowd and the residents of Deerfield will not be back for new adventures after Apple TV+ opted not to renew the series for a third season, Deadline has confirmed.

The series, which received an early Season 2 pick-up in April 2023, comes from David West Read. It tells the story of a small town that is forever changed when a mysterious machine appears in the general store, promising to reveal each resident’s true life potential.

Starring O’Dowd as Dusty Hubbard, a seemingly content, cheerful family man and high school teacher, who watches everyone around him reevaluate their life choices and ambitions — based on the machine’s printouts — and is forced to question whether he is truly as happy as he once thought.

While he remains skeptical of the machine, his wife, Cass (Gabrielle Dennis), indulges in the dream that there’s something bigger out there for her. Like many of Deerfield’s residents,...

[Warning: The below contains Major spoilers for The Big Door Prize Season 2 finale “Deercoming.”] Each stage of the Morpho machine just leaves us with more questions, and the latest now leaves us really needing The Big Door Prize to be renewed for Season 3. Dusty (Chris O’Dowd) and Cass (Gabrielle Dennis) reach a breaking point in their marriage following their selfploration this season. Hana (Ally Maki) goes looking for answers after starting to wonder if she should have used the Morpho machine at the bar in which she worked before coming to Deerfield. And Dusty’s determination to get answers from the Morpho machine, using the Guide card (Colton’s) leaves him in quite the position at the end of the season. Below, the stars and creator David West Read break down the key moments from the Season 2 finale and ponder what could be ahead if the series is renewed. Where Is Dusty at the End of Season 2? Dusty,...

The musical & Juliet announced the recoupment of its $17 million capitalization.

The show, which is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet set to a score of pop hits, recouped as of April 14, said producers Max Martin, Tim Headington, Theresa Steele Page, Jenny Petersson, Martin Dodd, and Eva Price. & Juliet opened at Broadway’s Stephen Sondheim Theatre on Nov. 17, 2022 and is the first new musical of the 2022-2023 season to announce recoupment.

The show has played 673 performances with an average capacity of 95.5 percent and an average paid ticket price of $144.44 across its run, according to the production, and maintained healthy grosses throughout its run.

The musical joins this season’s Merrily We Roll Along, An Enemy of the People and Gutenberg! The Musical in announcing recoupment. Musicals such as Six and Mj announced recoupment from the 2021-2022 season. However, it’s been a tough climate for many on Broadway as costs have...

& Juliet, the playful, pop-infused musical that gives Shakespeare’s lovestruck heroine a second chance at life, has recouped its $17 million capitalization, the first new musical of the 2022-23 to do so, and only the fourth new musical to become profitable since the Covid pandemic shutdown.

“We’re so proud to be part of a show that brings so much joy to so many people,” the producers of & Juliet said in a joint statement. “It’s exciting to be part of the theater industry’s continuing recovery, and join a growing list of musicals that have recouped post-pandemic, which is further proof that nothing compares to live theater and the shared experience of human connection. We’re thrilled to continue to share our story of second chances with audiences across the globe.”

The three other new musicals to recoup post-pandemic are Moulin Rouge, Six and Mj. When the Neil Diamond musical...

The Big Door Prize is back for its second season with all of its fantastical and human elements. Created by David West Read, the Apple TV+ series is based on a 2020 novel of the same name by M.O. Walsh and it is set in a small where a mysterious Morpho machine suddenly appears in a supermarket that tells the residents of the town their true potential.

Season 2 of The Big Door Prize is ramping things up with more drama and human moments while dealing with the consequences of the decisions that the residents took because of the machine. If you are loving every episode in Season 2 here are the dates for every upcoming The Big Door Prize episode.

The Big Door Prize Season 2 – Episode Guide (When Will The New Episodes Air?) Credit – Apple TV+

The Big Door Prize Season 2 consists of ten episodes in total. The second season of the...

The door is back open for Deerfield’s mystery machine! Led by Chris O’Dowd (“The It Crowd”), Apple TV+’s ensemble comedy series “The Big Door Prize” is for its Season 2 premiere and its small-town residents are readying themselves for the “next stage”… whatever that may be. “The Big Door Prize” Season 2 will premiere on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, April 24 with three new episodes. You can watch The Big Door Prize: Season 2 with a 7-Day Free Trial of Apple TV+.

How to Watch ‘The Big Door Prize’ Season 2 Premiere When: Wednesday, April 24, 2024 Where: Apple TV+ Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Apple TV+. 7-Day Free Trial$9.99+ / month apple.com About ‘The Big Door Prize’ Season 2 Premiere

Created by David West Read (“Schitt's Creek”) and based on M.O. Walsh’s novel of the same name, Apple TV+’s “The Big Door Prize” is set in a small town...

Exclusive: Veteran producer and executive Becky Sloviter has been named President of Miramax Motion Picture Group, Deadline can exclusively reveal.

The news follows Miramax’s announcement three weeks ago that Jonathan Glickman had been officially appointed as CEO, taking over from the exiting Bill Block.

An Emmy and Golden Globe nominee, Sloviter launched her production company, A Dare To Be Great Situation, in 2022 and has most recently been under a first-look overall deal with ABC Signature. Prior to that, she served as Head of Funny Story Films, a division of MRC Film, there producing upcoming titles including the road trip comedy The Inheritance from Emmy winner Ashley Nicole Black and the Annie Murphy starrer Witness Protection, from screenwriters David West Read and Rupinder Gill, alongside Alloy Entertainment.

In addition to the acclaimed Andy Samberg rom-com Palm Springs, which won the Critics’ Choice Award...

From showrunner and executive producer David West Read and based on M.O. Walsh’s novel, “The Big Door Prize” season two follows the residents of Deerfield as the Morpho machine readies them for the mysterious “next stage.” As everyone’s potentials are exchanged for visions, new relationships form and new questions are asked. Dusty (Chris O’Dowd) and Cass (Gabrielle Dennis) decide to take time apart while Trina (Djouliet Amara) and Jacob (Sammy Fourlas) learn that they can shed their old labels. Giorgio (Josh Segarra) and Izzy (Crystal Fox) each find romance while Hana (Ally Maki) and Father Reuben (Damon Gupton) attempt to discover the purpose of the machine. The small town is once again left questioning what they thought they knew about their lives, relationships, potentials, and about the Morpho itself.

We chat to cast members Chris O’Dowd, Josh Segarra, Ally Maki and Gabrielle Dennis about the duality of...

Apple TV+ has unveiled the trailer for the second season of ‘The Big Door Prize,’ the critically acclaimed and character-driven comedy from Emmy Award-winning creator David West Read (“Schitt’s Creek”).

Based on M.O. Walsh’s novel, season two follows the residents of Deerfield as the Morpho machine readies them for the mysterious “next stage.” As everyone’s potentials are exchanged for visions, new relationships form and new questions are asked.

Dusty (Chris O’Dowd) and Cass (Gabrielle Dennis) decide to take time apart while Trina (Djouliet Amara) and Jacob (Sammy Fourlas) learn that they can shed their old labels. Giorgio (Josh Segarra) and Izzy (Crystal Fox) each find romance while Hana (Ally Maki) and Father Reuben (Damon Gupton) attempt to discover the purpose of the machine. The small town is once again left questioning what they thought they knew about their lives, relationships, potentials and about the Morpho itself.

“The Big Door Prize...

Today, Apple TV+ unveiled the trailer for the second season of The Big Door Prize, the critically acclaimed and character-driven comedy from Emmy Award-winning creator David West Read (Schitt’s Creek).

The 10-episode second season will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, with three episodes, followed by one new episode every Wednesday through June 12, 2024.

Based on M.O. Walsh’s novel, the second season of The Big Door Prize follows the residents of Deerfield as the Morpho machine readies them for the mysterious “next stage.” As everyone’s potentials are exchanged for visions, new relationships form, and new questions are asked.

Dusty (Chris O’Dowd) and Cass (Gabrielle Dennis) decide to take time apart while Trina (Djouliet Amara) and Jacob (Sammy Fourlas) learn that they can shed their old labels. Giorgio (Josh Segarra) and Izzy (Crystal Fox) each find romance, while Hana (Ally Maki) and Father Reuben (Damon Gupton) attempt to...

Having charmed audiences with season one in 2023, Apple TV+ has released a new trailer for the second season of their acclaimed comedy series “The Big Door Prize” Emmy-winner Chris O’Dowd (“Bridesmaids“). Audiences can watch the first three episodes when the streaming series premieres later this month on April 24. The critically acclaimed and character-driven comedy from David West Read (“Schitt’s Creek“) has a 10-episode count.

Continue reading ‘The Big Door Prize’ Season 2 Trailer: Acclaimed Chris O’Dowd Comedy Returns To Apple TV+ On April 24 at The Playlist.

Following a years-long development process, Apple will officially make a TV series based on William Gibson’s acclaimed sci-fi novel Neuromancer.

The tech giant and streamer has handed out a 10-episode series order to the drama based on the 1984 cyberpunk novel that launched Gibson’s career and the so-called Sprawl trilogy that also includes novels Count Zero (1986) and Mona Lisa Overdrive (1988).

Dark Winds creator Graham Roland and J.D. Dillard (The Twilight Zone) created the series for television. The series, a co-production between Skydance Television and Anonymous Content, will see Roland serve as showrunner with Dillard on board to direct the pilot.

Apple says Neuromancer revolves around a “damaged, top-rung super-hacker named Case who is thrust into a web of digital espionage and high stakes crime with his partner Molly, a razor-girl assassin with mirrored eyes, aiming to pull a heist on a corporate dynasty with untold secrets.”

“We’re incredibly...

Apple Original Films is in talks to pick up a package for the dramatic thriller The Lost Bus that has star Matthew McConaughey and director Paul Greengrass circling.

Brad Ingelsby (Mare of Easttown) wrote the script for The Lost Bus based on Lizzie Johnson’s 2021 fact-based book Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire that takes place amid California’s Camp Fire in 2018, which became the deadliest blaze in the state’s history. The film’s story follows bus driver Kevin McKay and teacher Mary Ludwig, who heroically helped lead a school bus full of students through the wildfire that devastated the town of Paradise.

The Lost Bus hails from Jamie Lee Curtis’ Comet Pictures and Jason Blum’s Blumhouse. Producers include Ingelsby and Greg Goodman, while Johnson and Amy Lord serve as executive producers.

The movie kicked off after Curtis heard Johnson on NPR and took the project to Blumhouse,...

Exclusive: While it will continue to have a deal with Skydance Media for tent pole live action film and TV fare, Apple is parting ways with Skydance Animation, the company run by former Pixar chief John Lassiter. Their multi-year deal has come to a conclusion, and Apple is making other kinds of films, notably this weekend’s opener Killers of the Flower Moon, which opens globally Friday.

Skydance Animation will land in a new deal quickly, and Apple will give back to the company the project Spellbound, which had been set at Apple TV+ but will not move forward.

Skydance and Apple will remain partnered on a number of upcoming feature film and TV series, but mutually agreed the animated feature was not the best fit for Apple Original Films’ expanding narrative film slate. Apple is still in the animation game, coming off an Oscar win for Best Animated short The Boy,...

David West Read, the showrunner of the new Apple TV+ series Big Door Prize, discussed the challenges of the production and the cast in his new uInterview.

“Well, the series is based on a book by M.O. Walsh called The Big Door Prize, which has this great premise of like, what if there was a machine that could tell you your life’s potential?” he told uInterview at SXSW. “Just seemed like such a fun jumping-off place for a series where you can get into all these different characters who have totally different experiences with the machine, and it really makes everyone reevaluate their lives. It’s like a whole town going through a midlife crisis.”

As showrunner, Read, who was responsible for overseeing the production of each episode, explained what he found the most challenging.

“I mean, I think it’s just the responsibility of you know hundreds of...

It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Pedro Pascal playing Joel Miller in HBO’s live-action adaptation of The Last of Us, but one of the early names up for the role was Matthew McConaughey.

While speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, The Last of Us co-showrunner Craig Mazin confirmed that he did have talks with Matthew McConaughey about starring in the series. “I did talk to Matthew. I can’t say that it was a series [of conversations]. It was more of a, ‘Hey, here’s something to talk about,’” Mazin said. “Pedro was on our list from the start. We were told he was unavailable, and then as we were floundering about a little bit, I got a call from his agent who said, ‘You know, he actually might be available.’“

Although I’m sure Matthew McConaughey would have done a great job with Joel Miller, I think...

Josh Segarra has been consistently working in film and television and earning a living as an actor for well over a decade. And while he insists he’s “just trying to stay busy,” his career received a shot of adrenalin over the past year that found him cast as a regular on three series: the comedy “The Other Two” on Max, the first-year Marvel Universe superhero drama “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” on Disney+ and the freshman comedy “The Big Door Prize” on Apple TV+. That’s in addition to his having a role in this past spring’s “Scream VI” horror flick. Does Segarra feel like he’s broken through to a new level? “It’s very nice and very flattering to hear that,” he says, “but honestly I’m not thinking about that. I’m just having a ball playing in the world I’m playing in right now,...

Tony Awards nominations were announced on Tuesday, May 2 by Lea Michele and Myles Frost. While the nominations for the 76th annual Tony Awards were determined by 40 theatre professionals, winners were decided by over 750 members of the Broadway community.

A whopping 38 shows were eligible for consideration by the nominating committee. On the play side, there were 17 original works and six revivals in the running for nominations. Over on the musical side, nine new tuners were in contention for bids as were six musical revivals. The cutoff date for eligibility was April 27.

The Tony Awards are set for June 12 at United Palace Theatre in Washington Heights and will be hosted for the second year in a row by Oscar winner Ariana DeBose. The earlier “Act One” ceremony will be hosted by Julianne Hough and Skylar Astin.

Musicals

Best Musical

& Juliet

X — Kimberly Akimbo

New York, New York

Shucked

Some Like It Hot...

Tony winner Lena Hall is set to star in a new Broadway-aimed musical from the & Juliet writing and directing team and featuring the hit songs of rock & roll pioneer Roy Orbison.

In Dreams, written by David West Read and directed by Luke Sheppard will have out-of-town tryouts at Leeds Playhouse in the UK and the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto before an expected transfer to Broadway.

The story revolves around the former lead singer (Hall) of a country rock band who, at a critical moment in her life, throws a party in a family-run Mexican restaurant to reconnect with old friends, while keeping her deeper motivations a secret.

Casting for the Leeds production (July 3-August 5) will include Oliver Tompsett, who appeared in the West End production of & Juliet. He’ll play a drummer from the Hall character’s past.

Hall is...

Lea Michele and Myles Frost hosted ‘The 76th Annual Tony Award Nominations (Photo by Jenny Anderson / Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

Funny Girl‘s Lea Michele and Tony Award winner Myles Frost had the honor of announcing The 76th Annual Tony Awards. Some Like It Hot earned the most nominations with 13, including Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical, and two in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical category.

Shucked, & Juliet, and New York, New York picked up nine nominations each. Kimberly Akimbo and Sweeney Todd earned eight, followed by Ain’t No Mo’, A Doll’s House, Into the Woods, Parade, and Leopoldstadt with six.

Oscar winner Ariana DeBose (West Side Story) returns to host the live Tony Awards show airing on June 11, 2023 at 5pm Pt / 8pm Et. This year’s ceremony will be broadcast on CBS and will stream live on Paramount+.

On Tuesday, performers Lea Michele and Myles Frost presented the nominees for the 76th annual Tony Awards live on “CBS This Morning” before finishing the list from the heart of Broadway at the Sofitel New York.

Recognizing the best in live theatre, the Tony Awards cap off a strong year for Broadway, which bounced back during the 2022-2023 season with a number of acclaimed and groundbreaking productions. In total, there were 38 eligible shows, including 17 original plays and nine new musicals as well as six play revivals and six musical revivals.

Earning the most of any production, Some Like It Hot came out on top, with a total of 13 nominations. The most nominated play, meanwhile, is Ain’t No Mo’, which garnered six. Additionally, Sweeney Todd and A Doll’s House were the two most recognized revivals of the year, collecting eight and six nominations, respectively.

When it comes to the acting prizes,...

The 2023 Tony Awards nominations were announced on Tuesday, May 2 by Lea Michele and Myles Frost. The reveal of the roster of contenders was carried on the Tonys YouTube channel. While the nominations for the 76th annual Tony Awards were determined by a few dozen theater professionals, winners will be decided by upwards of 800 members of the Broadway community.

A whopping 38 shows were eligible for consideration by the nominating committee. On the play side, there are 17 original works and six revivals in the running. Over on the musical side, nine new tuners were in contention as were six musical revivals. The cutoff date for eligibility was April 27.

The Tony Awards are set for June 12 at United Palace Theatre in Washington Heights and will be hosted for the second year in a row by Oscar winner Ariana DeBose.

The 2023 Tony Awards nominations list below includes all 26 competitive categories.

Musicals

Best Musical

& Juliet

Kimberly Akimbo

New York,...

Djouliet Amara never thought she would become an actor. That wasn’t really part of the plan. But three years into her acting career, the Winnipeg, Ontario native finds herself as a regular on a series (the quirky comedy/sci-fi/mystery “The Big Door Prize” on Apple TV+) that’s already been renewed for a second season. And she’s drawing raves for her work, with one critic calling her “a real revelation.” “It’s strange to think I get to play pretend all day and get paid for it. That’s really what it feels like. I’ve followed what my heart has told me to do, and the universe has kind of rewarded me. It’s honestly such a blessing.” Watch the exclusive video interview above.

“The Big Door Prize” comes from David West Read, an Emmy-winning exec producer on “Schitt’s Creek,” and tells the story of a...

Josh Segarra could be Hollywood’s biggest fan. The actor, who has been working steadily for the past 15 years — first with day gigs like a scene in the Homeland pilot shortly after his graduation from NYU, later with recurring roles on Chicago P.D. and Orange Is the New Black — is effusive, bordering on glowing, about the business. He remembers details about every guest spot he’s ever done, every executive or star who’s helped him to where he is today. Claire Danes was “so sweet and kind” and did crossword puzzles on set; John Leguizamo was “awesome”; Kevin Bacon offered some banter about the New York Giants to calm some nerves. “It hasn’t been lost on me when somebody can tell I’ve got stars in my eyes and takes the time to give me a hug,” he says. “It’s why I’ll never stop being a fan of this business.

The Drama League today announced the nominations for the 2023 Drama League Awards. Honoring achievements on and Off-Broadway, the nominations were announced this morning by Roger Bart (“Back to the Future: The Musical”) and Justin Guarini (“Once Upon A One More Time”) at the New York Library for the Performing Arts. Winners will be revealed at the 89th Annual Drama League Awards ceremony at the Ziegfeld Ballroom on Friday, May 19, 2023.

“I don’t think I’ve experienced a theater season in New York ever like this one,” noted Artistic Director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks. “There’s been a range, a breadth, an expansion of possibility that has been truly astonishing to witness. Theater makers have inspired not only with their creativity, but also with their drive and determination to serve audiences with vision and talent. These nominees reflect the promise and greatness inherent in the work of theater folk, and I can’t help but be deeply proud.

Matthew McConaughey revealed just last week that there’s a chance he could actually be related to his good friend Woody Harrelson. While appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Woody Harrelson supported the theory that Matthew McConaughey and himself might be brothers.

“I’ll just say there is some veracity to that thought,” Woody Harrelson said.”We talked to Ma Mac, Matthew’s legitimate mother, and she let us know one time… I mean, this is crazy. We were in Greece, we were watching the U.S. team win the World Cup, and I don’t know, I mentioned something about regrets. And I said, ‘You know, it’s odd that my father has no regrets.’” When Matthew McConaughey’s mother stated that she “knew” Harrelson’s father, they both made note of her tone. “It was the ellipses I found a little troubling,” Harrelson said. “Or interesting.

Deadline’s Contenders Television photo studio hosted talent on April 15 at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles. Cast and creators stopping by include Natasha Lyon and Rian Johnson of Poker Face; Betty Gilpin, Damon Lindelof and Tara Hernandez of Mrs. Davis; Dominique Fishback and Janine Nabers from Swarm; Steven Yeun and Ali Wong from Beef; Evan Peters and Niecy Nash-Betts from Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and many others.

Day 2 continued on April 16th with cast members of buzzworthy TV shows stopping by including Adam Scott, Ken Marino and Zoë Chao from Party Down; David West Read, Chris O’Dowd, Gabrielle Dennis, Josh Segarra from The Big Door Prize, Quinta Brunson, Lisa Ann Walter, Sheryl Lee Ralph for Abbott Elementary; Brett Goldstein, Jason Segel, Christa Miller, Jessica Williams for Shrinking; Al Yankovic for Weird: The Al Yankovic Story; Kerry Washington and Delroy Lindo for UnPrisoned; Rosie Perez and Bryan Cranston...

The Big Door Prize showrunner David West Read and stars Chris O’Dowd, Gabrielle Dennis, and Josh Segarra joined Deadline’s Contenders TV event Sunday to discuss the minutiae of their characters, inspiration for the series, the balance between comedy and drama and a glimpse of season two.

The Apple TV+ comedy series based on M.O. Walsh’s 2020 novel follows the residents of the small town of Deerfield, whose lives are forever changed when a magical machine appears in their grocery store. The machine promises to uncover everyone’s potential, leading people to second-guess their relationships and beliefs. Djouliet Amara, Ally Maki, Sammy Fourlas and Damon Gupton also star.

Related: Deadline Contenders Television 2023 Day 2 Arrivals & Panels Gallery: Adam Scott, Quinta Brunson, Elle Fanning, Brett Goldstein & Helen Mirren

As the middle-aged adults try to come to terms with learning their life’s potential from the machine, their inner struggles and mid-life crises are exacerbated.

Deadline’s Contenders Television, where the top networks and streamers are showing off their wares and Emmy hopefuls, continues Sunday with 20 more panels after a chock-full Saturday featuring some of the best and brightest series this awards season.

Click here to register for and watch the livestream.

After the likes of Riley Keogh, Patrick Stewart, Steven Yeun, Natasha Lyonne, Marc Maron, Wanda Sykes, Kathryn Hahn and Joel McHale took the DGA Theater stage in Los Angeles, Sunday’s lineup is slated to feature appearances by Helen Mirren, Adam Scott, Quinta Brunson, Maya Rudolph, Taron Egerton, Jason Segel, Bryan Cranston, Weird Al Yankovic, Kerry Washington, Elle Fanning, Paddy Considine and many more.

The studios and streamers participating this weekend at our panel extravaganza: Peacock, Prime Video, National Geographic, Apple TV+, Netflix, Hulu, CBS Studios, Showtime, Fox Entertainment, Paramount+, AMC/AMC+, HBO Max, Starz, Sony Pictures Television, ABC, Roku, Onyx Collective and Disney+.

Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are great friends… but is it possible that they could actually be related?

While appearing on Kelly Ripa’s Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast, Matthew McConaughey revealed that his mother let it slip that she had known Woody Harrelson’s father, perhaps even intimately. “In Greece a few years ago, we’re sitting around talking about how close we are and our families,” McConaughey said. “And my mom is there, and she says, ‘Woody, I knew your dad.’ Everyone was aware of the ellipses that my mom left after ‘knew.’ It was a loaded K-n-e-w.“

McConaughey did some digging into his family’s history and discovered that it could be possible. “We went on to unpack what this ‘knew’ meant and did some math and found out that [Harrelson’s] dad was on furlough at the same time that my mom and dad were in their second divorce,...

Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson announced in March they will be reuniting onscreen after “EDtv” and “True Detective” in a new Apple TV+ comedy from creator David West Read. The 10-episode series will star the actors as fictionalized versions of themselves as they bring their families under the same roof on a Texas ranch. McConaughey recently announced on Kelly Ripa’s “Let’s Talk Off Camera” podcast that the series is titled “Brother From Another Mother.”

While the series’ title evokes McConaughey and Harrelson’s real-life friendship over decades, McConaughey let it slip to Ripa that he’s actually questioning whether Harrelson is actually related to him. It all stems from the revelation that McConaughey’s mother knew Harrelson’s father, perhaps intimately.

“You know, where I start and where he ends, and where he starts and I end, has always been like a murky line,” McConaughey said. “And that’s part of our bromance,...

Jodie Foster is channeling her Clarice Starling.

More than 30 years after starring in “Silence of the Lambs,” Foster is back tracking down a serial killer in “True Detective” Season 4. The latest installment in the anthology series is executive produced by Oscar winner Barry Jenkins and written by Issa Lopez, who also serves as showrunner.

Titled “True Detective: Night Country,” the season will take place in Alaska, with Foster playing Detective Liz Danvers. The official synopsis cites that when the long winter night falls in Ennis, Alaska, the six men that operate the Tsalal Arctic Research Station vanish without a trace. To solve the case, Detectives Liz Danvers and Evangeline Navarro (Kali Reis) will have to confront the darkness they carry in themselves, and dig into the haunted truths that lie buried under the eternal ice.

“True Detective: Night Country” is the first season sans creator Nic Pizzolatto, who parted ways...

Here is a wrap-up of all the news you need to know from Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

The Big Door Prize has landed an early renewal at Apple TV+.

The news of the Season 2 pickup comes a week after its series premiere.

Starring an ensemble cast led by Chris O'Dowd, the 10-episode half-hour comedy is now streaming on Apple TV+, and new episodes of The Big Door Prize premiere weekly, every Wednesday.

"We are so grateful to the audiences around the world who have already embraced the weird little hopes and dreams of our Deerfield residents, and we could not be more excited about where we plan to take them in season two," said creator David West Read.

Showtime announced today it will air Ghosts of Beirut, a four-part spy drama based on one of the greatest espionage stories of modern times: the manhunt for Imad Mughniyeh, the elusive Lebanese terrorist who...

The Big Door Prize starring Emmy winner Chris O’Dowd (State of the Union) has been renewed by Apple TV+ for season two. The renewal comes a week after the comedy’s March 29, 2023 premiere.

“We are so grateful to the audiences around the world who have already embraced the weird little hopes and dreams of our Deerfield residents, and we could not be more excited about where we plan to take them in season two,” said Emmy Award-winning creator David West Read (Schitt’s Creek). “Thanks to our partners at Apple TV+ and Skydance, we have an incredible opportunity to keep building the magic and mysteries of The Big Door Prize with this truly remarkable ensemble cast.”

In addition to Chris O’Dowd, the 10-episode first season stars Gabrielle Dennis, Ally Maki, Josh Segarra, Damon Gupton, Crystal Fox, Djouliet Amara, and Sammy Fourlas. Read is the showrunner and executive produces along with Bill Bost,...

On the heels of last week’s critically acclaimed and celebrated global premiere of “The Big Door Prize,” Apple TV+ today announced an early season two renewal for the new character driven comedy from Emmy Award-winning creator David West Read. Starring an ensemble cast led by Chris O’Dowd, the 10-episode half-hour comedy is now streaming on Apple TV+, and new episodes of “The Big Door Prize” premiere weekly, every Wednesday. Produced by Skydance Television, the second season of “The Big Door Prize” is now in production. An official SXSW selection, “The Big Door Prize” quickly rose to Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh status following its global premiere to rave reviews on Apple TV+, and has been hailed as “thought-provoking,” “hilarious,” and “one of the best comedy debuts in years.” “We are so grateful to the audiences around the world who have already embraced the weird little hopes and dreams of our Deerfield residents,...

Apple TV+ must see The Big Door Prize‘s full potential, because the streamer has handed the Chris O’Dowd dramedy a speedy Season 2 renewal.

The pickup comes just one week after the series’ March 29 debut; Episodes 1-4 are now streaming, with one new episode dropping every Wednesday through May 17.

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Apple TV+ has renewed “The Big Door Prize” for a second season, the streamer announced on Wednesday.

According to the official description, “The Big Door Prize” follows the story of a small town that changes after a mysterious machine appears in the local general store, promising to reveal each resident’s true life potential.

Christopher O’Dowd stars as Dusty Hubbard, a seemingly content, cheerful family man and high school teacher, watches everyone around him reevaluate their life choices and ambitions based on the machine’s printouts which leaves him questioning his own happiness. Though he remains skeptical of the machine, his wife Cass (Gabrielle Dennis) starts to dive into the idea that she could have something bigger in store for her. Up until the arrival of the Morpho machine, the couple lived a seemingly easy and safe life. But all of that changes when the community is forced to take...

Chris O’Dowd and the residents of Deerfield will be back for more adventures.

Apple TV+ has officially renewed The Big Door Prize for a second season. The second season has been in production in Atlanta, Georgia for the last few months.

The news comes comes ahead of the fourth episode of season one.

The series, which comes from David West Read, tells the story of a small town that is forever changed when a mysterious machine appears in the general store, promising to reveal each resident’s true life potential.

Starring O’Dowd as Dusty Hubbard, a seemingly content, cheerful family man and high school teacher, who watches everyone around him reevaluate their life choices and ambitions — based on the machine’s printouts — and is forced to question whether he is truly as happy as he once thought.

While he remains skeptical of the machine, his wife, Cass (Gabrielle Dennis...

The Big Door Prize is the latest streaming series to score a rapid renewal.

Apple has handed out a second-season pickup to the comedy series starring Chris O’Dowd. The series, based on the book of the same name, launched its first three episodes on the streaming platform March 29. The 10-episode series debuts new installments every Wednesday for the rest of its run.

“We are so grateful to the audiences around the world who have already embraced the weird little hopes and dreams of our Deerfield residents, and we could not be more excited about where we plan to take them in season two,” said creator David West Read. “Thanks to our partners at Apple TV+ and Skydance, we have an incredible opportunity to keep building the magic and mysteries of The Big Door Prize with this truly remarkable ensemble cast.”

O’Dowd leads a cast that also includes Gabrielle Dennis,...

At first glance, Apple TV+’s “The Big Door Prize” may resemble Adam Sandler’s “Click” or even the streamer’s own “Severance,” but this soft sci-fi comedy from “Schitt’s Creek” writer and producer David West Read is far less entrenched in the practical mysteries of its novum than either of those titles.

History teacher Dusty Hubbard (Chris O’Dowd) is perfectly content with his existence, but everyone around him, including his wife and highschool sweetheart, Cass (Gabrielle Dennis), can’t resist looking toward broader horizons. While stopping for coffee on the morning of his 40th birthday, Dusty notices something strange in Mr. Johnson’s (Peter Kerr) general store: a glowing cubicle of unknown origin that will reveal your life’s potential for a few quarters. His initial reaction is one of passive annoyance, but when friends, family, and neighbors begin altering their lives in dramatic ways, Dusty desperately tries to...

Apple TV+”s The Big Door Prize comes armed with a deceptively simple elevator pitch. Based on a book of the same name by M.O. Walsh, this 10 episode series ponders “if a nondescript machine in a corner store promised to tell you your ultimate destiny, would you want to know it?”

At first, you might be thinking “sure, why not?” That concept is not markedly different from what a psychic or boardwalk fortune teller might guarantee. And in the case of the butterfly-branded “Morpho machine,” receiving your reading would actually be far cheaper at only $2. It’s all just fun and games, now who has four quarters?

But what if seemingly everyone in your small American town who utilized the Morpho machine appeared to be fundamentally changed by the experience? What if dozens of your peers completely rearranged the details of their lives to better fit its ultimate vision for them?...

The Big Door Prize is a new comedy show launching this week on Apple TV+ and to mark the occasion, we had the pleasure in speaking to leading stars Chris O’Dowd and Gabrielle Dennis, as well as the showrunner David West Read.

With the former duo we discuss the notion of potential, and whether they ever think about what they are capable of – while we ask what it is really like to turn 40. Meanwhile, Read speaks about the allure of small-town set sitcoms, having been a force behind the scenes of Schitt’s Creek. Be sure to watch both interviews in their entirety below.

Chris O’Dowd & Gabrielle Dennis

David West Read

Synopsis

A small town is forever changed when a mysterious machine appears, promising to reveal everyone’s true potential; soon, residents start changing jobs, rethinking relationships and questioning long-held beliefs.

The Big Door Prize launches on Apple TV+ on...

There’s an interpretation of the beloved comedy Schitt’s Creek wherein the town of Schitt’s Creek is actually Purgatory — a metaphysical proving ground in which the Rose family faces a series of banal and repetitive tasks meant to test their respective souls and determine whether or not they’re worthy of salvation.

It’s not a perfect interpretation: There’s maybe a little more coming and going from Schitt’s Creek than behooves the theory; plus when you open a theological door to ponder whether, in this scenario, Chris Elliott’s Roland is God or something, nobody is likely to be satisfied. But for approximately 90 percent of the show, you can absolutely accept Schitt’s Creek as limbo. If you choose to.

The truth, though, is that some shows are designed to be treated as allegory and other shows are designed to resist allegorical readings — to be ongoing, slice-of-life shows, treated literally if not seriously.

Is knowledge power, or is ignorance bliss? That central question drives Apple TV+’s “The Big Door Prize” through its first 10 episodes — although if you’re expecting a concrete answer, you may be disappointed.

When the half-hour(ish) comedy debuts its first three episodes on March 29, it presents the residents of a small American town called Deerfield grappling with that very problem. A mysterious machine called the Morpho has landed in the town store, promising to reveal everyone’s life potential in exchange for a couple of bucks, fingerprints and social security numbers.

Although no one knows where the machine came from, the residents are (mostly) happy to line up for their personalized cards, which range from dancer to royalty to meteorologist. And that’s when the existential crises begin. Although most residents are delighted when their innermost selves come to light on these cards, other answers are ambiguous and — in some cases — demoralizing.

What happens when small-town folks are offered a peek at their destinies… and find that their current lots in life are lacking? That’s the question at the center of The Big Door Prize, Apple TV+‘s whimsical, optimistic new dramedy dropping Wednesday, March 29. Like Schitt’s Creek by way of J.J. Abrams and filmed by Wes Anderson after he binged Ted Lasso, the series is blessed with an immensely likable cast and an instantly fascinating hook: A mysterious machined emblazoned with the name Morpho suddenly appears in a cozy hamlet’s general store. Soon enough, all of the locals line up for tiny envelopes from the machine containing “their life’s potential” — all except for Dusty (Chris O’Dowd), a happy-go-lucky high-school teacher who is both skeptical and shaken by the machine’s ability to assess his neighbors’ personalities. In honor of The Big Door Prize‘s premiere, ...