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The 2020 Academy Awards will be hostless for the second year in a row, president of ABC Entertainment Karey Burke said on Wednesday.
Last year’s Oscars were the first to go hostless since 1989 after Kevin Hart stepped down due to backlash surrounding past homophobic tweets. This year, however, the decision is intentional for what Burke predicts will be a successful telecast.
“We expect that we’re going to have a very commercial set of nominations and a lot of incredible elements have come together that make us think we are going to have a very entertaining show again,” Burke said during ABC’s winter TCA press tour in Pasadena, Calif.
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Burke also reinforced ABC’s ongoing strategy of developing live, tentpole television. That includes a live episode of The Conners, which will incorporate the New Hampshire primary election on Feb. 11; Young Frankenstein, the network’s second foray into musicals after The Little Mermaid; and a new installment of Live in Front of a Studio Audience.
“I think those events have a level of entry, broad appeal… It’s a combination of looking for new properties that feel that they can thrive specifically on broadcast and cater to tens of millions of viewers,” Burke said.
Here’s everything else we learned during day two of winter TCA 2020:
Thirtysomething is getting a reboot
The classic ‘80s show from Marshall Herskovitz and Ed Zwick has received a pilot order on its original network, Burke revealed on stage.
Stars from the original series—Ken Olin, Mel Harris, Timothy Busfield and Patty Wettig—will reprise their roles in the revival. It’ll also include an ensemble cast portraying the original cast’s grown-up, 30-something children.
“Today’s ‘thirtysomethings’ are yesterday’s millennials, they are the first generation raised with the internet, all of which provides a stark contrast [to the original],” Burke said.
Greys Anatomy could last forever…kind of
Burke revealed that although Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo is currently contracted through season 17, there’s no intention to end the medical drama if interest is still at hand.
“Grey’s Anatomy will live as long as Ellen is interested in playing Meredith Grey,” Burke said.
The Bachelor is getting a musical spinoff
Only three days after launching season 24 of The Bachelor, ABC has announced a new addition in the franchise.
Described as an “evolution” of the flagship series, The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart will “unite music and love,” as 20 single men and women attempt to find love through music.
“Contestants will be talented musicians and people who work around music. It’s an attempt to capture what we all know, which is that love, emotion and music are inextricably intertwined,” Burke said.
There’s also the possibility of seeing familiar faces, Burke revealed, in the series premiering April 13.
“Think The Bachelor meets A Star is Born,” Burke said.
Jimmy Kimmel will host a celebrity version of Who Wants to be a Millioniare
Twenty years after its premiere, the late-night comedian will host the revival premiering April 8 on ABC. The new edition will feature celebrity contestants playing for charity with celebrities announced at a later date.
Viewers at home can also compete through a new, interactive app. The play-along opportunity allows anyone watching to compete for the same amount of money celebrities are playing for on the show.
Stay tuned for more coverage of the 2020 winter TCA press tour from Pasadena, Calif.
Tags: oscars 2020 winter tca 2020