Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Thursday, March 6th, 2025:
SCOTT JENNINGS AND WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE 'NON-PARTISAN' CNN
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav and his primary advisor John Malone have argued since the WBD merger closed that CNN needed to be more "non-partisan." It was never quite clear what that meant, although based on decisions made at the cable news outlet, non-partisan appears to mean "hire some uber-conservatives to yell at CNN panelists.
Oliver Darcy's Status has a good look tonight at Jennings and his role at CNN, as he appears to be close to signing a new, upgraded contract with the network. And honestly, I couldn't said this better myself:
Honest people, however, don’t defend dishonest behavior. Yet, that’s exactly what Jennings does, night after night—and it is now what CNN will pay him to do more of. Whether it’s downplaying Trump’s assault on democracy, deflecting from his legal troubles, or framing his authoritarian rhetoric as mere political theater, Jennings consistently provides a veneer of respectability to a dangerous anti-truth movement. He offers CNN the illusion of “balance” while reinforcing Republican narratives that erode trust in democratic institutions.
His new deal is also emblematic of CNN’s broader shift toward “both-sides” commentary under its current leadership. Under the ownership of the David Zaslav-led Warner Bros. Discovery, the network has made a concerted effort to appear less adversarial toward Trump and his movement—giving significant airtime to figures who present themselves as reasonable conservatives while toning down loud criticism of him. In that context, Jennings isn’t just a commentator; he’s a strategic asset.
And so, in a year when CNN journalists have lost their jobs and continue to see their salaries trimmed down, a MAGA pundit is getting a hefty raise. It’s an indictment of the priorities of television news—where the demand for a commentator seen as a respectable Trump defender is on the rise, while those who produce fact-based reporting in an era saturated with disinformation are facing steep cuts.
EXTRAORDINARY WORLD WITH JEFF CORWIN
I always enjoy talking to people about shows that might be off the radar of the bigger publications and even most viewers. Sometimes it's a show produced overseas that isn't receiving a lot of attention in U.S. And sometimes it's just a lower profile show that you might not even realize is on the air.
Extraordinary World With Jeff Corwin is a show produced by Hearst Media Production Company which airs on CBS stations (along with some others) sometime on the weekend. Corwin is teamed with The Brady Hunter Foundation to "celebrate everyday heroes and highlights extraordinary efforts to protect vulnerable people and animals everywhere. Join the journey to see how small acts of compassion can create meaning impacts on local communities and the world."
I recently spoke with Corwin and Brady Hunter Foundation head Josh Fox about the show and the full interview will post on AllYourScreens.com on Friday. But ahead of that, here is a small piece of the conversation:
You know, Josh touched on the idea of small acts of kindness. And it strikes me that for a lot of people who love animals, the challenge just seems overwhelming. There's so many animals, there's so many needs, there's so many things that need to get done or should be done. And I think a lot of people just feel overwhelmed by it.
Jeff Corwin: Yeah, I think Josh touched it nicely. I think we are hardwired, we are innately empowered to want to make a difference. It's part of who we are as a species, this altruistic muscle that we need to exercise regularly.
Because we know when we make our world a better place, ultimately we're securing the welfare of ourselves and the people we care about. You know, you can be both. We call ourselves humankind, and you can be both.
You can be human, and you can be kind. And I think that is really the genesis of this series. Everyday human beings, and the challenges that we all face today in a very unforgiving world sometimes, in a tough, dark world, there is light and there is hope.
And we want to shine that light on these incredible folks that are doing amazing things and inspire our audience to get off the couch and make a difference.
TWEET OF THE DAY
ODDS AND SODS
* Netflix has renewed the Kate Hudson series Running Point for a second season.
* Prime Video has given a series order to Bloodaxe, a historical drama created, written and executive produced by Vikings creator Michael and Horatio Hirst and produced by MGM Television.
* CBS has canceled S.W.A.T. for the third time. And it appears it might stick this time.
* An upscaled 4K version of the 1990s NBC comedy A Different World was recently added to Netflix, but as this piece in Futurism notes, the AI used to make the conversion has turned various characters, signs and photos into weirdly misshapen bobs.
* Hallmark has renewed The Way Home for a fourth season.
* A new season of Say Yes To The Dress is premiering Saturday, April 5th on TLC.
* The five remaining Season 2 episodes of Gremlins: The Wild Batch will premiere Thursday, April 10th on Max.
* The Recruit has been canceled by Netflix after two seasons.
* Étoile, Amazon Prime's upcoming dance-world dramedy from Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, will premiere on Thursday, April 24th.
* Baywatch actress Pamela Bach died Wednesday at her home in Los Angeles. She was 61.
* Nearly a year-and-a-half after unionizing, production management staffers at Walt Disney Animation Studios have ratified their first labor contract.
WHAT'S NEW TONIGHT AND TOMORROW
THURSDAY, MARCH 6TH:
Beauty In Black Season One Part B Premiere (Netflix)
Deli Boys Series Premiere (Hulu)
Doctor Odyssey Spring Premiere (ABC)
Douglas Is Cancelled Series Premiere (Britbox)
Dylan's Playtime Adventures Series Premiere (Max)
For The Win: NWSL Series Premiere (Prime Video)
Grey's Anatomy Spring Premiere (ABC)
Jellystone (Max)
Larissa: The Other Side of Anitta (Netflix)
Lil Kev Series Premiere (BET+)
Love Is Blind: Sweden: After the Altar Season Premiere (Netflix)
9-1-1 Spring Premiere (ABC)
Picture This (Prime Video)
32nd Annual MovieGuide Awards (Great American Family)
FRIDAY. MARCH 7TH, 2025:
Chaos: The Manson Murders (Netflix)
Deadly Girls Trip (LMN)
Delicious (Netflix)
Formula 1: Drive To Survive (Netflix)
Nadaaniyan (Netflix)
Plankton: The Movie (Netflix)
Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season Four Premiere (Starz)
Visionaries Series Premiere (The Roku Channel)
When Life Gives You Tangerines Series Premiere (Netflix)
When No One Sees Us Series Premiere (Max)
SEE YOU ON FRIDAY!