Alex Gibney’s ‘The Crime of the Century’ to Premiere in May (TV News Roundup)

Haley Bosselman and Ethan Shanfeld
·5 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

HBO announced that “The Crime of the Century,” a two-part documentary about Big Pharma, will premiere May 10.

Directed by Alex Gibney, the film serves as an indictment of the pharmaceutical industry and the political operatives and government regulations that enable overproduction, reckless distribution and opioid addiction. With the help of whistleblowers, insiders, leaked documents, exclusive interviews and access to behind-the-scenes investigations, “The Crime of the Century” reveals that America’s opioid epidemic is not a public health crisis that came out of nowhere.

More from Variety

Also in today’s TV news roundup, Apple TV Plus announced that Jon Stewart’s upcoming series, debuting in the fall, will be titled “The Problem With Jon Stewart.” The show, which marks Stewart’s return to television since “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” ended in 2015, is a multiple season, one-hour, single-issue series that will explore topics currently part of the national conversation. With a companion podcast that will further the discussion, “The Problem With Jon Stewart” is the first project hailing from a multi-year partnership between Stewart and Apple TV Plus. Stewart executive produces through his Busboy Productions, along with showrunner Brinda Adhikari, James Dixon and Richard Plepler through EDEN Productions. Chelsea Devantez serves as head writer, and Lorrie Baranek is the executive in charge of production.

Netflix released a trailer for its upcoming superhero series “Jupiter’s Legacy,” premiering globally on May 7. The show follows the children of the first generation of superheroes, hungry to prove their worth but struggling to live up to their parents’ legendary public reputations. The cast features Josh Duhamel, Ben Daniels, Leslie Bibb, Elena Kampouris, Andrew Horton, Mike Wade, Matt Lanter and Ian Quinlan. Mark Millar, Frank Quietly, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, Dan McDermott, Steven S. DeKnight, James Middleton and Sang Kyu Kim executive produce.

The third season of “Tyler Perry’s Sistas” will premiere June 9 on BET. The one-hour drama will pick up right where the Season 2 finale left off, in the aftermath of Gary (Chido Nwokocha) being shot. The show follows a group of single Black women as they navigate love, careers and friendship in their 30s, with a cast that includes KJ Smith, Mignon, Ebony Obsidian, Novi Brown, DeVale Ellis, Nwokocha, Anthony Dalton II, Brian Jordan Jr., Kevin A. Walton, Trinity Whiteside and Crystal Renee’ Hayslett. Perry serves as writer and director and executive produces with Michelle Sneed.

Netflix released a trailer for “The Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness,” a docuseries that follows journalist Maury Terry’s investigation of the dangerous web behind David Berkowitz’s murders. Director Joshua Zeman draws on archival news footage, conversations with the people closest to the investigation and Terry’s own words and case files. Showrunner Sara Enright executive produces alongside Zara Duffy, Dave Sirulnick, Jon Kamen, Josh Braun, Dan Braun and Zeman. Watch the trailer below.

CBS’ reimagined “Kids Say the Darndest Things,” hosted by Tiffany Haddish, will premiere on May 5. The series will showcase Haddish’s comedic talents and unique perspective to interact with real kids from across the country in an honest, unpredictable and hilarious way. The show will feature new segments, like “Tiffany’s Life Lessons,” as well as old, like the “Linkletter Vault,” which honors its history and creator Art Linkletter by showing amusing past conversations with kids. “Kids Say the Darndest Things” is produced by CBS Studios in association with Anvil 1983 Entertainment and She Ready Productions. Eric Schotz, Tiffany Haddish, Bellamie Blackstone and Ruth Rivin executive produce.

Apple TV Plus released a trailer for “The Mosquito Coast,” which launches with two episodes on April 30 and is based on the novel of the same name by Paul Theroux. The new drama is created and executive produced by Neil Cross and follows Allie Fox (Justin Theroux), a brilliant inventor who uproots his family for Mexico when they suddenly finds themselves on the run from the United States government. The seven-episode season also stars Melissa George, Logan Polish and Gabriel Bateman. In addition to Cross and both Theroux men, Alan Gasmer, Peter Jaysen, Bob Bookman, Edward L. McDonnell and Rupert Wyatt, who directs the first two episodes, serve as executive producers.

E.W. Scripps Co. will expand the distribution of its streaming service Newsy as a linear multicast channel starting Oct. 1. The all-news channel, based in Atlanta, is aimed at millennial viewers. ABC News and Al Jazeera America alum Kate O’Brian has been tapped to lead the enhanced channel, which draws on the newsgathering resources of Scripps’ local TV stations in 41 markets. Scripps is billing Newsy as a free news option for cord cutters. “Scripps expects to capitalize on the growing and younger (over-the-air) audience by continuing to build a leading news brand that caters to a younger generation of active news viewers,” said Lisa Knutson, president of Scripps Networks.

Dennis Leary, Cristin Milioti and Rod Wave will be on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” while Luke Bryan and Katey Sagal will appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Leslie Odom Jr. and Michio Kaku will be on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” Kenan Thompson and Julien Baker will appear on “The Late Late Show With James Corden” and Amber Ruffin will be on “A Little Late With Lilly Singh.”

Best of Variety

Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.