‘The Amazing Race’ Team Breaks Down Fall Surprises: Expanding to 13 Teams, Swapping Seasons and More (EXCLUSIVE)

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Fox’s “The Masked Singer” is taking to the streets next Saturday, Sept. 23, in Los Angeles, offering up freebies throughout the city. Dubbed “Masked Mania,” the show has partnered with ten businesses to offer up free food and other items, as well as the opportunity to see some of the show’s costumes up close.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large As “The Masked Singer” panelist Nicole Scherzinger returns to London’s West End this month, starring as Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard, the show has found a suitable substitute: Singer/songwriter Rita Ora. Ora, who is no stranger to the format as a panelist for “The Masked Singer UK,” will take the U.S. “Masked Singer” panelist chair alongside Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg and Robin Thicke throughout Season 11, now shooting (and set to air in midseason).

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Here we are, just days away from the start of the 2023-24 television season… and the major networks still aren’t 100% sure what they’re doing. Just last week, several broadcasters scrambled to make even more last minute schedule changes — on top of other recently announced tweaks. The fall lineups that viewers tune into later this month will be remarkably different than the ones first announced in May.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Three of the “Strike Force Five” are taking their show on the road. Late night hosts Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel will host a one-night-only event, dubbed “Strike Force Three,” at the Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas on Saturday, September 23 — marking the first time the trio have been on stage together at the same time. Colbert, Fallon, Kimmel, John Oliver and Seth Meyers recently launched the podcast “Strike Force Five,” as a way to help support the staffs of their respective shows.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Strong Global Entertainment has acquired branded short form content company Unbounded Media Corporation, which will now operate as a part of Strong Studios. Under the deal, Strong Studios is aiming to get into the production services business in addition to its work developing content for film and TV (“Safehaven,” “Flagrant,” “Inside the Black Box”).

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Southern California Public Radio president/CEO Herb Scannell has announced his plans to retire after four years at the organization, which operates KPCC-FM (“LAist 89.3”), LAist.com and LAist Studios. Scannell, the Nickelodeon vet who later ran BBC Worldwide North America and Mitú, will remain in the role until a new successor is named. The SCPR board has started a search for Scannell’s replacement.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large “Dancing with the Stars” is waltzing permanently to Tuesday nights this fall, as the competition series makes its return to ABC (while continuing to simulcast on Disney+). The series’ Season 32 premiere airs on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 8 p.m.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large SPOILER ALERT: Do not read ahead if you have not watched the Season 10 season premiere of “The Masked Singer,” which aired Sept. 10 on Fox. “The Masked Singer” kicked off its 10th season on Sunday night with a special episode — and a lotta Lovato. Demi Lovato as “Anonymouse” was the first celebrity unmasked this season — although there’s an asterisk there.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Warner Bros. TV has suspended overall deals with more of its A-list, marquee producers, which is believed to include Greg Berlanti, Bill Lawrence, John Wells, Chuck Lorre and Mindy Kaling, as well as J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot shingle.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large The CrimeCon Clue Awards will return for a second year with a new streaming partner — Law&Crime’s YouTube, Facebook and TikTok accounts — on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 9 p.m. ET.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large CBS just smiled and gave us a Vegemite sandwich. “NCIS: Sydney,” previously announced as a Paramount+ Australia original and the first international edition of CBS’ “NCIS” procedural franchise, is making it to the U.S. shores as well.

Ellise Shafer The stars were out in Venice for Variety and the Golden Globe Awards’ party on Thursday night, featuring Chase Stokes, Kelsea Ballerini, Lukas Gage and Pablo Larraín. Presented by Iervolino and Lady Bacardi Entertainment, the event celebrated breakthrough talent and excellence in Italian filmmaking, handing out several awards under the moonlight.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large This is it! This year’s Emmy voting is over, ending what was a rather muted Phase 2. We’ve noted the limited number of Phase 2 FYC events due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes (as well as the inability of nominated talent to participate in any press that they hadn’t already completed pre-strike).

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Variety legend Tim Gray, who first joined Hollywood’s dominant trade publication in 1981, has departed after 42 years to start a new chapter with the Golden Globes organization as executive vice president. Gray, who will also serve on its board, will work closely with Golden Globes president Helen Hoehne to evolve the entity — which was formed in June, when Dick Clark Prods. and Eldridge Industries acquired the Golden Globes’ assets, rights and properties from the now-defunct Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has tapped broadcast journalist icon Dan Rather, as well as veteran network correspondents John Quiñones and David Martin to be inducted into its annual Gold Circle honor society. NATAS’ 2023 Gold and Silver Circle inductees will be recognized at the 44th Annual News & Documentary Emmys on Sept.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Because I doubt even Netflix saw this coming. “Suits,” which starred Patrick J. Adams, Gabriel Macht and Gina Torres as lawyers who filed suits while wearing stylish suits, was always a solid player for USA.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large The Hollywood Critics Association, which had recently been hit with allegations of malfeasance and accused of harboring a hostile membership environment, has completed an organizational restructuring that it believes will address those issues. The HCA was set to reveal those plans to its 180 members this afternoon, including a new name: The Hollywood Creative Alliance.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Mary Lou Belli knows she’s the longshot to win the Emmy for outstanding comedy director, and that’s fine with her. After all, she’s up against some marquee names, including Tim Burton (“Wednesday”), Bill Hader (“Barry”) and Amy Sherman-Palladino (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”).

Sophia Scorziello editor Los Angeles-based pubcaster KCET has revealed its student finalists and episode line up for the 24th season of Fine Cut Festival of Films, an annual showcase and celebration of Southern California’s young filmmakers. The series of six, one-hour blocks on KCET will broadcast collections of short films from the student finalists beginning at 10 p.m. PT on Sept.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large CNN news anchor Wolf Blitzer and Oscar-winning director/producer Barbara Kopple are this year’s recipients of the 44th annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards lifetime achievement honors, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences was set to announce on Tuesday. The News & Doc Emmys take place over two days next month in New York: Blitzer will receive his honor at the news ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 27, and Kopple’s Emmy will be presented at the documentary ceremony on Thursday, September 28.