Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, Kal Penn’s Holiday Films to Premiere in December on Comedy Central (TV News Roundup)
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Comedy Central announced its annual 31-day holiday extravaganza, featuring two new movies: “A Clüsterfünke Christmas,” debuting Dec. 4, and “Hot Mess Holiday,” premiering Dec. 11.
Both of these movies will air at 7 p.m. The network will announce additional titles for its”31 Days of Going Home for the Holidays” programming slate at a later date.
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“A Clüsterfünke Christmas” stars Vella Lovell, Cheyenne Jackson, Ryan McPartlin, Nils Hognestad, Rachel Dratch and Ana Gasteyer and follows the story of real estate executive Holly who heads to a small town to buy the quaint Clüsterfünke Inn and transform it into a resort. While meeting the owners, Holly finds herself distracted by their handsome nephew Frank. It is a parody of more traditional holiday rom-coms.
Anna Dokoza directs “A Clüsterfünke Christmas,” which was written by Dratch and Gasteyer, who also executive produce alongside Meghan Hooper, Trevor Rose, Josh Van Houdt, Danielle von Zerneck, Jamie Goehring and Shawn Williamson. It comes from MTV Entertainment Studios, Lighthouse Pictures and Wishing Floor Films.
“Hot Mess Holiday” chronicles the tale of a finance executive who is dumped by her cheating fiancé during the Diwali holidays, and her best friend is determined to help her have a wild holiday, chaotically coming into possession of a multi-million dollar diamond along the way. The film stars Surina Jindal, Melanie Chandra, Kal Penn, Tituss Burgess, Chris Parnell, Punam Patel, Richa Moorjani, Nik Dodani, Kunal Dudheker, Chris Geere, Aparna Nancherla, Ravi Patel, Lilly Singh, Desmond Chiam and Ritesh Rajan.
“Hot Mess Holiday” is written by Sameer Gardezi and directed by Jaffar Mahmood. Mahmood, Van Toffler, Floris Bauer, Sameer Gardezi, Surina Jindal, Melanie Chandra, Penn, Justin Rosenblatt, Andrew Lutin, Janée Dabney, David Gale and Barry Barclay serve as executive producers. MTV Entertainment Studios, Gunpowder & Sky produce.
Also in today’s TV news roundup:
FIRST LOOKS
Peacock debuted a trailer for “Siwas Dance Pop Revolution,” which will premiere with three episodes on Nov. 4. The five remaining episodes will drop weekly. In the competition series, pop star JoJo Siwa and her mother and manager Jessalyn will host 11 fans as they complete a series of performances and challenges with JoJo as choreographer and mentor. The winner will get the chance to join XOMG Pop, a new group that will be managed by Jessalyn and serve as an opening act for JoJo. “Siwas Dance Pop Revolution” is produced by Evolution Media. The Swias, Alex Baskin, Douglas Ross, Brian McCarthy, Sean Rankine, Bryan Stinson, Lindsay Weiglein and Caryn Sterling executive produce. See the trailer below.
DATES
VH1 will offer its first “Naughty or Nice” holiday programming with new movies “Adventures in Christmasing,” “The Bitch Who Stole Christmas,” “Hip Hop Family Christmas,” “Let’s Get Married” and “Miracles Across 125th Street.”
The lineup begins Nov. 29 at 9 p.m. with “Adventures in Christmasing,” which stars Kim Fields, Adrian Holmes, Kel Mitchell, Eva Marcille and Jonathan Silverman and is executive produced by Fields, Art Rutter, Timothy Johnson, Meghan Hooper, Josh Van Houdt and Janée Dabney. This holiday film follows talk show host Parker Baldwin as she finds her Christmas plans upended when her network convinces her to spend three days in the wild with television survivalist Finn Holt.
“The Bitch Who Stole Christmas” airs Dec. 2 at 9 p.m., chronicling a fashion journalist who is sent to a Christmas-obsessed small town to dig up a story and finds herself in the middle of cut-throat housewives and a high stakes Christmas competition. The film stars RuPaul, Krysta Rodriguez, Andy Ridings, Michelle Visage, Ginger Minj, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Peppermint, Jan Sport, Jaymes Mansfield, Latrice Royale, Gottmik, Morgan McMichaels, Porkchop, Carson Kressley, Ross Mathews, Chad Michaels, Heidi N Closet, Kelly Mantle, Kimora Blac, Laganja Estranja, Manila Luzon, Mayhem Miller, Pandora Boxx, Raven, Rock M. Sakura, Kylie Sonique Love, Kim Petras, Charo and Anna Maria Horsford. Randy Barbato, Fenton Bailey, Tom Campbell, Don Scardino, Nina L. Diaz, Hooper, Van Houdt, Samantha Schles, Marcia Lansdown and Dabney executive produce.
“Hip Hop Family Christmas” premieres Dec. 6 at 9 p.m. and stars Keri Hilson, Ne-Yo, Terrence J, Serayah, MC Lyte, Redman, Valarie Pettiford, Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, Demetrius Shipp Jr., Billy Sorrells, Jonathan Kite, B. Simone, Jess Hilarious, Niatia “Lil Mama” Kirkland, Vena E., Vanessa Simmons and Tank. This holiday film follows a famous family who agrees to participate in a live Christmas television special to address negative press and soften their image. It is executive produced by Jamie Foxx, Datari Turner, Greg Carter, Hooper, Van Doudt, Mychael Chinn, Trevor Rose and Dabney.
“Let’s Get Merried” premieres Dec. 13 at 9 p.m. and stars Mishel Prada, Xosha Roquemore, Tahj Mowry, Nicolette Pearse, Nicole Power and Savannah. The film takes place at a Christmas-themed adventure park as a bachelorette decides to get married to a man she has yet to meet. Eva Longoria, Adriana Martinez Barron, Ben Spector, Lance Samuels, Hooper, Van Houdt, Andrew Lutin, Trevor Rose and Marcia Lansdown executive produce.
“Miracle Across 125th Street” debuts Dec. 20 at 9 p.m., chronicling a Harlem rapper who after battling drug addiction returns to his family’s church on Christmas Eve to confront his past. The holiday film stars Nick Cannon, Lil Kim, Chrisette Michele, Kierra Sheard-Kelly, Tommy Davidson, Bruce Church, Luenell Campbell, Fred HAmmond, Karen Clark Sheard, Akon, Cameron J. Wright, Vena Excell, Marsha Warfield, Ashley Adair, Bobb’e J. Thompson, Santwon McCray, Airean Josiah, Jarun Jones, Connor Finnerty, Golden Cannon, AJ Bernard, Destiny Renee Boyd, Cosme Flores, Rahja Fuller, Todrick Hall, DC Young Fly, Jim Jones, Rickey Smiley and Teyana Taylor. Cannon, Michael Goldman, Benjamin Sumpter, Mike Elliott, Joe Genier, Diaz, Donny Hugo Herran, Dara Cook, Rose and Dabney executive produce.
Bravo announced that the Season 6 reunion of “The Real Housewives of Potomac” will air in four parts, beginning on Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. with the remaining parts airing weekly the following Sundays. Additionally, in the final installment on Nov. 28, Nicki Minaj will appear to co-host with Andy Cohen, as was previously teased. The reunion, which follows the Season 6 finale on Oct. 31 at 8 p.m., will feature housewives Gizelle Bryant, Karen Huger, Ashley Darby, Robyn Dixon, Candiace Dillard Bassett, Dr. Wendy Osefo and Mia Thornton as well as friend Askale Davis. “The Real Housewives of Potomac” is produced by Truly Original. Andy Cohen, Steven Weinstock, Glenda Hersh, Lauren Eskelin, Lorraine Haughton-Lawson, Lauren Volonakis, Nora Devin and Eric Fuller serving as executive producers. Jackie Hebert and James Brangert serve as co-executive producers. See a teaser below.
Apple TV Plus announced that M. Night Shyamalan’s “Servant” will debut the first episode of its third season on Jan. 21, 2022, followed by one new episode weekly every Friday. “Servant” follows a Philadelphia couple in mourning after an unspeakable tragedy creates a rift in their marriage and opens the door for a mysterious force to enter their home. The ensemble cast returning for Season 3 includes Lauren Ambrose, Toby Kebbell, Nell Tiger Free and Rupert Grint, with new addition Sunita Mani. In addition to Shyamalan, the series is executive produced by Jason Blumenthal, Todd Black, Steve Tisch, Ashwin Rajan and Taylor Latham. Shyamalan, Carlo Mirabella-Davis, Dylan Holmes, Celine Held, Logan George, Kitty Green, Veronica Franz and Severin Fiala direct. Watch a teaser below.
Peacock announced that Joyelle Nicole Johnson’s debut comedy special “Love Joy” will premiere on Nov. 5. Shot on Johnson’s 40th birthday, the special sees her discuss family, relationship issues and why everyone needs to get therapy. Executive producers include Johnson, Todd Lubin, Jay Peterson, Jimmy Fallon, Jim Juvonen, Lauren Mandel and Tovah Silbermann. Electric Hot Dog and Boat Rocker’s Matador Content produce. See a trailer below.
ABC Owned Television Stations announced that “Being Blago,” a docuseries about former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, will premiere on Hulu on Nov. 5. In four parts, the series covers Blagojevich’s life and search for redemption after his time in prison for conspiring to sell the senate seat of Barack Obama when he became president. “Being Blago” is directed and executive produced by Justin Allen and Matt Knutson, with Barb Markoff as senior producer. See a trailer below.
CASTING
HBO Max announced that Angela Trimbur, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, Greta Titelman, Joe Castle Baker, Larry Owens, Michelle Badillo and Aparna Nancherla have been cast in recurring guest roles in Season 5 of “Search Party.” The thriller comedy follows a group of 20-somethings who end up on a dark path while searching for a missing college acquaintance, with Season 5 seeing Dory (Alia Shawkat) enter a business partnership with tech billionaire Tunnel Quinn (Jeff Goldblum) after a near-death experience. New characters Elodie Revlon (Trimbur), Pepper Southerland (Kuhlenschmidt), Leonora Hamsdale (Titelman), Marty Plushfeld (Baker), Ritchie Thinky (Owens) and Winnie Miranda (Badillo) are Dory’s disciples in her existential pursuit. Nancherla plays Benny Balthazar, Tunnel’s head scientist. Showrunners Sarah-Violet Bliss and Charles Rogers executive produce with Michael Showalter and Jax Media’s Lilly Burns and Tony Hernandez.
LATE NIGHT
Idris Elba, Keri Russell and Sabrina Carpenter will appear on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” while “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” will feature Trevor Noah and My Morning Jacket.
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