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CBS is recoupling with ITV Entertainment for a second season of its dating reality show, Love Island.
CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl and SVP of Programming Thom Sherman made the announcement at CBS’ portion of the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour in Beverly Hills, Calif. The series will return in summer 2020.
“After its first season, the U.K. version exploded via word of mouth and social media to become a huge hit, and its viewership has grown every year,” Kahl said in a statement. “We believe first season U.S. fans are just as passionate and engaged and we look forward to building on that foundation with another fun season next summer.”
The reality series has expanded CBS’s summer audience, outpacing Survivor, Big Brother and The Big Bang Theory as the network’s most-streamed show. In particular, it’s resonated with a young, female audience, which is atypical for CBS, Kahl stated.
“Love Island has demonstrated a really solid, consistent core audience comprising people who don’t typically watch CBS. Last night, we won the hour in women 18‑34. That doesn’t happen a lot on our schedule.”
This fall, CBS is touting a more diverse programming slate with more people of color on-and-off camera, the duo declared. Sherman stated that 53 percent of the network’s writers are women or people of color, while 50 percent of directors will be women or people of color.
“We’re proud of the work that we’re doing in inclusion and diversity, but we know that that work must continue. And it will continue as we look to evolve culturally, creatively, and commercially,” Sherman said.
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Here’s more of what we learned from CBS’ summer press tour:
Big Bang Theory Alum Kaley Cuoco to Return as Producer
Months after wrapping Big Bang Theory, Cuoco will return to the network as a producer of a single-camera comedy called Pretty. The series, co-written by comedian Santina Muha, will follow “a ballsy, passionate women who moves from Jersey to L.A. to pursue her dreams of love and her dream of becoming the next Oprah,” Kahl said.
The Unicorn Will Offer a New Side of Walton Goggins
Walter Goggins—best known for his “strange” roles in Justified, Django Unchained, Sons of Anarchy and more—is taking a 180 in his new dramedy premiering this fall, The Unicorn.
Goggins portrays a recently widowed dad who returns to dating one year after his wife’s death. It’s a role he finds “liberating” and “grounding,” he said.
“This is closer to me than anything I’ve ever played. This is what I’ve always wanted to play. I have this similar relationship with my son and group of friends. It was nice to step outside of hiding behind something,” he said.
Evil Will Focus on More Than Demons and Exorcisms
Robert and Michelle King, the producing duo behind The Good Wife and CBS All Access’ The Good Fight, are taking a dark turn when Evil premieres Sept. 26 on CBS.
But despite its name and exploration of evils’ origins, the series will chronicle the intersection of science and religion, a common topic between the married executive producers.
“We want to avoid an exorcism of the week,” Robert King said. “The second episode is about miracles…It’s about those question marks in life where you don’t know what happened.”
“We’ve been writing for the past year and researching it for the last 30 years,” Michelle King said. “You’re looking at the result of a conversation we haven’t stopped having.”
Carol’s Second Act Proudly Addresses Ageism
The sitcom follows a 50-year-old woman (Patricia Heaton) who pursues her dreams of becoming a doctor after raising her kids and getting divorced. Age is a big factor for the executive producers and cast, who are proud to tackle an issue that’s often not addressed, they say.
“This is an idea and a project very close to our hearts. It lets us put women front and center in funny roles with an idea we love: the idea that a person can reinvent themselves at any time,” said executive producer Emily Halpern.
“Our youngest writer is 24 and our oldest writer would be mad if I said how old she is,” said executive producer Sarah Haskins.
Bob♥Abishola to Spotlight Immigration
Executive producer Chuck Lorre (Big Bang Theory, Mom) says that the series extends beyond chronicling an interracial relationship. It’s about the “greatness of first-generation immigrants.”
“In a way this is a love story for all of us….it’s not a political show, there’s no reason to view it as politics, it’s about people,” he later added.
All RIse Aims to Bring Humanity to Justice System
The new courtroom drama starring Simone Missick will “bring a new lense to judicial system,” says executive producer Greg Spottiswood.
“We look at the people who enter the judicial with an empathetic sense,” he later added.
Missick also notes that judges are normally seen in the back of the legal system; however, her central character, Lola Carmichael, will offer a never-before-seen side the traditionally stoic role.
“What we see with Lola is someone with a real moral bearing but who can also goof around. It’s important to see the arbiters of our justice system as real human beings,” said series star Wilson Bethel.
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