FIRST LOOK
Sundance TV has released the first image of Nicole Kidman in the upcoming installment of Jane Campion’s “Top of the Lake: China Girl” (above). The Australian actress will play Julia, a mother whose story will intersect with Detective Robin Griffin (Elisabeth Moss). The miniseries is produced by See-Saw Films in association with BBC First in Australia, and SundanceTV and Hulu in the United States. “Top of the Lake” is set to premiere on Sundance TV in 2017.
DATES
“Underground,” WGN America’s critically acclaimed scripted series, will return for a second season on Wednesday, March 8, at 10 p.m. The network also released a teaser trailer for the season, featuring a first-look at actress Aisha Hinds’ portrayal of abolitionist Harriet Tubman. Executive producer and Grammy Award-winning musician John Legend will also be featured in the new season in a guest role as Frederick Douglass. Watch the trailer here.
DEALS
Hulu has acquired the U.S. rights to U.K. series “National Treasure,” set to stream as a Hulu Original starting Wednesday, March 1. Written by Jack Thorne (“Skins”) and produced by Forge Entertainment, the four-part drama series centers on the fallout of public figure Paul Finchley (Robbie Coltrane) following allegations of sexual misconduct. The series also stars Julie Walters (“Harry Potter”), Andrea Riseborough (“Nocturnal Animals”) and Tim McInnerny (“Game of Thrones”).
SPECIALS
A plethora of new artists have been added to this year’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2017.” New performers include Alessia Cara, G-Eazy featuring Bebe Rexha, Flo Rida featuring Macy Kate, Martin Garrix also with Bebe Rexha, John Legend, Mike Posner and Hailee Steinfeld. As previously announced, singer Fergie will host and perform at the event, with toher performances by Fifth Harmony featuring Kid Ink and Ty Dolla $ign, Niall Horan, Lukas Graham, Shawn Mendes and Emeli Sande. The special will begin airing at 8/7c on Saturday, Dec. 31.
EXECUTIVES
Fox execs Terence Carter and Suzanna Makkos have re-upped their deals at the network, Variety has confirmed. Carter, the network’s head of drama, will add oversight of events to his responsibilities, gaining the new title of EVP drama programming, development and event series. He will continue to oversee drama development and current series. Makkos, Fox’s head of comedy, will keep her same title of EVP comedy development and programming, continuing to oversee comedy development and current series.
Both Carter and Makkos — whose contract re-negotiations were first reported by Deadline — will continue to report to David Madden, Fox Entertainment President. With Carter’s added events role, Rachel Rusch, VP event series, will now report to Carter on event series, while still continuing to report to Madden on live scripted events.
RATINGS
The Critics’ Choice Awards on Sunday drew a meager audience of 549,000 viewers for A&E, with just 154,000 of those viewers falling in the 18-49 age range, and only 185,000 in the 25-54 demo. The audience for 2015’s ceremony, the first telecast on the cable net, was 1 million total viewers.
