CBS Network spoke with entertainment reporters at Thursday’s Television Critics Association tour. Here are some highlights from the event, including the announcement of a New Years Eve special set in Nashville; a new 5 week competition featuring Usher and Julianne Hough from Global Citizen; the return of Big Brother Celebrity this winter. Plus, CBS execs say The Amazing Race is returning soon.
The Amazing Race will be back this season
“The Amazing Race will be back this season,” said Senior Executive Vice President, Programming, CBS Entertainment Thom Sherman during the network’s virtual TCA press tour.
The 32nd season of the show, which was filmed before the pandemic, premiered in October 2020. But the 33rd season of the show was forced to halt production in February 2020, having only filmed three episodes of the series.
According to Deadline, the series is currently in pre-production.
CBS will Ring in the New Year with ‘New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash’: Gabby Barrett, Jimmie Allen, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton and more
Originating from downtown Nashville across multiple locations, New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash will feature some of country music’s hottest stars.
First-announced performers include Jason Aldean, Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Dan + Shay, Elle King, Miranda Lambert, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Cole Swindell and Zac Brown Band, with additional artists to be announced at a later date.
The five-hour celebration will feature nearly 50 performances from locations across the city, including the mainstage in Nashville’s Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park anchored by headliners Dierks Bentley, Zac Brown Band and Dan + Shay. The broadcast will cross multiple time zones, with the traditional countdown at midnight ET, culminating with the renowned Nashville music note drop and fireworks at midnight CT.
The special will air on Friday, Dec. 31 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT, 11:30 PM-1:30 AM, ET/PT)
Usher, Julianne Hough, Priyanka Chopra to co-host Global Citizen Competition Series ‘The Activist’
CBS, Global Citizen and Live Nation announce that pop star and former The Voice coach Usher will host new CBS competition series The Activist, with actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas and former Dancing with the Stars pro and America’s Got Talent judge Julianne Hough serving as co-hosts. The five-week reality series premieres Friday, Oct. 22 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.
The Activist will feature six activists from around the world working to bring meaningful change to one of three urgent universal causes: health, education and the environment. The activists will compete in missions, media stunts, digital campaigns and community events aimed at garnering the attention of the world’s most powerful decision-makers, demanding action, now.
The competing activists’ success is measured via online engagement, social metrics and hosts’ input. The hosts will guide the activists through their journey, with plenty of surprises from high-profile public figures.
Big Brother: Celebrity Edition Season 3 to air Winter 2022
Big Brother: Celebrity Edition will return to CBS for season 3 in winter 2022, with an all-new group of celebrities living together in the Big Brother house outfitted with 94 HD cameras and 113 microphones, recording their every move 24 hours a day.
The upcoming winter edition will also be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+, where fans will also be able to watch the 24/7 live feed and find exclusive content throughout the season. Julie Chen Moonves returns as host. Celebrity house guests, air schedule and additional details will be announced at a later date.
Big Brother: Celebrity Edition previously aired in winter 2018 and 2019, and included television personalities Kandi Burruss, Omarosa Manigault Newman and Ross Matthews; Olympians Lolo Jones and Ryan Lochte; actors Shannon Elizabeth and Joey Lawrence; comedian Tom Green; and former White House director of communications Anthony Scaramucci. Actress Marissa Jaret Winokur and singer Tamar Braxton won season one and two, respectively.
