NBCUniversal unveils huge originals slate for cable and streaming

Making It

NBCUniversal has unveiled a wide-ranging new slate, with dozens of new titles and recommissions announced for its cable portfolio, alongside a rapidly-expanding unscripted offering on streaming service Peacock.

Following a slew of other unscripted commissions this week, Peacock has ordered four more shows, including spin-offs for some of its existing titles. The streamer will now also exclusively air the previously announced Joe Exotic scripted series, starring Kate McKinnon.

NBCUniversal had originally planned to show the series, focused on the subject of Netflix docuseries Tiger King, across its platforms, but it will now air solely on Peacock.

The streamer’s new unscripted commissions include Baking It, which comes from Amy Poehler and Nicolle Yaron, the creators of Making It. The six-part holiday event series following two talented home bakers who compete with their most delectable savoury and sweet edible creations.

The series is produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio, in association with Paper Kite Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment. Amy Poehler, Nicolle Yaron, Pip Wells, Kate Arend and Dave Becky serve as executive producers.

American Ninja Warrior Junior

Top Chef Family Style expands on the Top Chef franchise, with the culinary competition featuring talented young chefs who each team up with an adult family member to compete for a chance to be crowned champions. Chef Marcus Samuelsson will serve as head judge, while music star Meghan Trainor will host.

The series is produced by Magical Elves, with Casey Kriley, Jo Sharon, Hillary Olsen and showrunner Claire Kosloff serving as executive producers.

Peacock has also made a 15-episode order for a third season for American Ninja Warrior Junior. The show, which pits junior athletes against challenging obstacles, is produced by A. Smith & Co. Productions, with Arthur Smith, Kent Weed, Frank Sinton and Jackson Nguyen serving as executive producers. Sharalynn Cornwall serves as co-executive producer.

Below Deck Down Under, meanwhile, extends the Below Deck series by heading to Australia for a behind-the-scenes look at life upstairs and downstairs on a working super-yacht.

The series is produced by 51 Minds, with Nadine Rajabi, Mark Cronin, Courtland Cox, Cristina Lopez and Tania Hamidi, Christian Sarabia and Zachary Klein serving as executive producers.

These new commissions join previously announced Peacock Original franchise extensions, such as Real Housewives Of Miami and Vanderpump Dogs.

Psych 2: Lassie Come Home

Scripted sequel & Moonbug deal

Peacock has also ordered Psych 3: This Is Gus, a third feature-length follow-up to crime comedy series Psych, from UCP, in association with Thruline Entertainment.

Series creator Steve Franks will serve as executive producer and director, with Chris Henze executive producing for Thruline, while stars James Roday Rodriguez and Dulé Hill will also executive produce, while Franks and Rodriguez will co-write.

The special follows Shawn (Rodriguez) and Gus (Hill) as they go rogue in an attempt to track down Selene’s (Jazmyn Simon) estranged husband, while Lassiter (Timothy Omundson) grapples with the future of his career.

The streamer has also acquired a slew of new kids’ series from Moonbug Entertainment, with Arpo, Gecko’s Garage, Go Buster, Playtime With Twinkle, Supa Strikas, T-Rex Ranch and Ring-A-Tangs all set to land on Peacock, which already streams Moonbug shows such as Blippi and Little Baby Bum.

“While each of our programs are unique in their own way, they are all focused on engaging and inspiring stories and have the ability to make kids laugh, learn something new and stay entertained,” said Andy Yeatman, MD of the Americas for Moonbug Entertainment.

Cable commitment

NBCUniversal Television and Streaming has also meanwhile significantly bolstered its investment in its cable portfolio with 33 new unscripted series and more than 30 returning shows, with a focus on scripted.

Heading to Bravo are shows including Sharp Entertainment’s ballroom dance docuseries Life Is A Ballroom and Kinetic Content’s dating show Love Without Borders, as well as franchise spin-offs such as Shed Media’s yacht-based Below Deck Adventure and Truly Original’s reality series Summer House Winter Charm.

New Oxygen shows include Shed Media’s emergency services doc 911 Crisis Center, RIVR Media’s Alaska Man Murders (working title) and four new Snapped Notorious specials from Catalina Content.

Nash Bridges

E! is getting music competition series Clash Of the Cover Bands from Universal Television Alternative Studio and exec producer Jimmy Fallon’s Electric Hotdog, and Lion Television’s Jason Biggs Cash At Your Door, fronted by the Orange Is The New Black star.

Syfy has picked up Cartel and HiTide Studios zombie drama Day Of The Dead, Blue Ice Pictures ‘s monster series Astrid & Lilly Save The World and Shout! Studios and Blue Ice Pictures’ slasher classic reimagining Slumber Party Massacre, while both it and USA Network have taken UCP’s killer doll horror Chucky from exec producer Don Mancini, with the latter channel also getting a Nash Bridges movie with original cast members Don Johnson and Cheech Marin, from Village Roadshow Television.

“A key driver of success at NBCUniversal’s cable networks is our ability to tap into the scope and scale of our collective portfolio while leveraging each brand’s distinct audience to build unrivaled fan destinations across our networks and on Peacock,” said Frances Berwick, chairman of entertainment networks, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming.

“Our cable networks represent a vital part of our business and we will continue to invest in our brands and IP in innovative ways, whether that be through mixing live sports and big event series on USA, introducing a new host to E!’s flagship Red Carpet, or bringing our addictive Bravo shows to life with fan experiences, our networks remain the home of culture-defining television.”