TNT and TBS are ‘pausing’ their scripted series content in development as they, as well as the non-scripted truTV, are being evaluated by new parent company Warner Bros. Discovery according to Variety.
CEO David Zaslav has promised to find $3 billion in cost savings across the new company in the post-merger era and the WarnerMedia-run cable channels could be in his sights as they are no longer developing new scripted content.
TNT and TBS have been pumping out original scripted programming for over two decades with some major cable hits including “The Closer”/”Major Crimes” franchise, “Search Party,” “Leverage,” “The Last Ship,” “The Librarians,” “Southland,” “Saving Grace,” “Rizzoli & Isles,” “Falling Skies,” “Perception,” “Murder in the First” and the two “The Alienist” mini-series.
Both have significantly pared down their scripted offerings in recent years with only a handful of shows left. TNT has two – “Animal Kingdom” which ends this Summer, and “Snowpiercer” which is about to air a third season and has already been renewed for a fourth which is proceeding as planned.
TBS has four – “The Last OG” which aired a fourth season late last year and hasn’t been renewed as yet, “Chad” which airs a second season later this year, “Miracle Workers” which has ordered a fourth season, and “American Dad” which was renewed for two more seasons in December.
Insiders for the trade say leadership is currently evaluating the strategy for all of the networks, but it appears the first victim has already been taken as the Damon Wayans Jr.-led TBS comedy series “Kill the Orange-Faced Bear” has been axed one week before it was scheduled to begin production on a ten-episode first season. The project will now be shopped to other outlets by the producers.
