The Critics Choice Association (CCA) announced that Taye Diggs and Nicole Byer will co-host the 27th annual Critics Choice Awards, which air on The CW and TBS on Jan. 9, 2022 at 7 p.m.
Diggs is known for starring as Sam Bennett in the ABC medical drama “Private Practice.” Other prominent credits include appearing in the film “Brown Sugar” and the original Broadway production of “Rent.” Currently, he stars on The CW drama “All American.”
Byer first broke out with her appearance on MTV’s “Girl Code” and has since become known for hosting the competition series “Nailed It!” and “Wiped Out!,” the podcast “Why Won’t You Date Me?,” and appearing in supporting and recurring roles in comedy series such as “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “Tuca & Berie.” Most recently, she debuted her Netflix comedy special “Nicole Byer: BBW (Big Beautiful Weirdo).” Up next, she stars on NBC’s “Grand Crew.”
“This is definitely going to be the best Critics Choice Awards show ever,” said CCA CEO Joey Berlin. “Imagine Taye and Nicole up in front of a big, beautiful room full of all the biggest stars in film and television — all dressed to kill, drinking champagne and hoping to win. It’s going to be a blast!”
The show will be produced by Bob Bain Productions and Berlin Entertainment. The CCA is repped by Dan Black of Greenberg Traurig.
Also in today’s TV news roundup:
DATES
National Geographic announced that new unscripted series “The ‘80s: Top Ten” will premiere on Jan. 1, 2022 at 9 p.m. Rob Lowe hosts the series, which features different elements of 1980s pop culture in six top 10 countdowns: water cooler moments, streetwear, fast food, commercials, gadgets and toys. The countdowns were decided by a panel including author and financial educator Alvin Hall, pop culture biographer Brian Jay Jones, pop culture critic and author Jen Chaney, TV host Katie Puckrik, music professor Jason King, senior editor of Adweek and author Robert Klara, chef and TV host Carla Hall and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. Lowe executive produces alongside Nutopia’s Jane Root, Matt Edmonds, Nicola Moody and Sara Brailsford.
HBO announced that upcoming unscripted series “Chillin Island” will debut on Dec. 17 at 10:30 p.m. The series follows New York rap personalities Alec “Despot” Reinstein, Ashok “Dap” Kondabolu and Aleksey “Lakutis” Weintraub, who invite their friends to join them in nature sites such as deserts and swamps to “reveal unknowable truths from the dream state of the shared human existence.” Guest appearances include Young Thug, Lil Yachty, Rosalía, Gunna, Killer Mike, Ski Mask the Slump God, Lil Tecca, Coi Leray and Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koening. Executive producers include Alec Reinstein, Sebastian Bear-McClard, Josh Safdie, Oscar Boyson, Adel ‘Future the Prince’ Nur, Jason Shrier, Anthony Gonzales and Spotify’s Dawn Ostroff, Courtney William Holt and Liz Gateley. Dave Laven and Matte Babel co-executive produce. The series is narrated by Steven Wright and directed by Xander Robin, Samuel Shainberg, John Paul Lopez-Ali and Audrey Turner. Christopher Messina is director of photography with original music by E.vax. See a trailer below.
Roku, Inc. announced “The Now” will premiere all 14 episodes of the series on Dec. 10. “The Now” follows Ed Poole after a tragic event in his life causes him to rethink his outlook, forcing him to cherish those around him and pursue what he loves. The dark comedy stars Dave Franco, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Jimmy Tatro and Daryl Hannah. Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly direct, and Steve Golin and Jeff Okin serve as executive producers. The series is produced by Anonymous Content.
CBS announced that the comedy “How We Roll” will premiere March 31, 2022 at 9:30 p.m. and will also be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount Plus. The series is based on the real-life story of professional bowler Tom Smallwood who gets laid off from a car assembly line and makes the decision to provide for his family by becoming a professional bowler. “How We Roll” is produced by CBS Studios. Mark Gross, David Hollander and Brian d’Arcy James are the executive producers. Mark Cendrowski directed the pilot.
FIRST LOOKS
Variety has obtained an exclusive sneak peek of Showtime’s next episode of “Vice,” airing on Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. In the episode, Vice News’ Alice Hines meets with neuroscientists and tech pioneers to discuss the increasing push to implant electronic devices into the human body and brain. In the clip, Synchron CEO Dr. Thomas Oxley breaks down their company’s brain-computer interface and upcoming human trials. Watch the clip below.
