Wild NewsIt was only a matter of time, of course. In a post on his LiveJournal last week, Santa Fe author George R.R. Martin confirmed that another long-running book series he helped create, Wild Cards, is coming to television. Universal Cable Productions (producers of “Mr. Robot,” “Colony,” “12 Monkeys” and “Difficult People”) acquired the rights to the sci-fi/superhero anthology series with an eye toward debuting the series in “a year or two.” So far, over 20 books have been published in the “shared universe” series penned by more than 30 authors, many of whom (Martin, Daniel Abraham, Victor Milán, Ty Franck, John J. Miller, Melinda M. Snodgrass, Ian Tregillis, Walter Jon Williams) are local New Mexico writers. The series is set in an “alternate” post World War II universe in which an alien virus has created super-powered heroes and villains. Snodgrass, who edited many of the books and served as a story editor on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” will be the show’s executive producer. Martin will not be directly involved in the new series, as he has an exclusive development deal with HBO (which is working on the final seasons of “Game of Thrones” as well as a proposed “prequel” to the hit fantasy series).CrossedFOX sitcoms “New Girl” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” are teaming up for a crossover episode scheduled to air Oct. 11. The two sitcom casts will interact in back-to-back episodes set to take place in New York City. “The crossover episode has historically been the artistic high point of any show that has dared to attempt it,” said Elizabeth Meriwether, “New Girl” creator and executive producer, in a FOX press release. “Maybe you remember ‘Blackout Thursday’ on NBC, or even further back the infamous ‘Alf’/‘Gilligan’s Island’ crossover of the late 1980s. ‘New Girl’ and ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ will proudly and humbly go where few shows have gone since the 1990s. We know we have big shoes to fill, and we look forward to disappointing everyone. There’s a 50 percent chance Alf will also be in both episodes. But there’s also a 50 percent chance that is a lie.”Plus-Size HomerIn January FOX is promising to air its first-ever one-hour episode of “The Simpsons.” The double-sized episode will be a parody of FOX’s dramatic hit “Empire.” In it Mr. Burns tries to relive his glory days and crosses paths with a mysterious music mogul. After being conned and losing all his money, Burns seeks revenge with the help of Homer, Bar, rapper Jazzy James (guest voice Keegan-Michael Key) and the music mogul’s ex-wife, Praline (voiced by “Empire” star Taraji P. Henson).DoggystyleVH1 has given the greenlight to the unlikely chat show hybrid “Martha & Snoop’s Dinner Party.” In it celebrity homemaker and chef Martha Stewart and weed-loving rapper Snoop Dogg will invite celebrity friends over for an evening of cocktails, cooking and conversation. “At our dinner party, we will exemplify America’s fascination with food, entertaining and celebrity,” Stewart said in a press release. “My homegirl Martha and I have a special bond that goes back,” said Snoop in the same release. “I can’t wait to see how we roll together.” The show is expected to debut sometime this fall.
Idiot Box: Tidbits From Around The Dial
Tidbits From Around The Dial
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