The television world moves so fast that by the time you learn of a show’s premiere, it could already be canceled. It’s hard to keep track of the constant stream of television news, so Flavorwire is here to provide a weekly roundup of the most exciting — and baffling — casting and development updates. This week: NBC picks up three new sitcoms, Broad City was renewed for a third season, and Amazon’s Bosch gets a premiere date.
USA canceled legal comedy Benched, despite the series being pretty much the best thing the network has going right now. Now, USA only has two comedies: Sirens and Playing House. [THR]
This week, NBC picked up three comedy pilots. An untitled multi-camera series from Hot in Cleveland creators “chronicles how things backfire for recent empty-nesters when their children and their parents move back home.” How We Live is a single-camera show about, sigh, a blogger who blogs about the married lives of his suburban neighbors. Finally, Superstore is another single-camera comedy, about employees at a big-box store. [Deadline]
Mike Myers signed an overall deal with HBO that includes TV exclusivity for two years, so I am crossing my fingers for at least five more Shrek movies. [HBO]
ABC ordered a prank show inspired by a recurring sketch on Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show, Ellen. Titled Repeat After Me, the prank show will involve celebrities interacting with everyday people in hidden-camera situations. [EW]
WGN’s Salem improved last season when it decided to go for batshit insanity, and it seems the series will keep this up in Season 2, considering it was recently announced that Lucy Lawless (Xena) and Stuart Townsend (The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) have joined the cast. Lawless will play Countess Marburg, “one of the last remaining survivors of the legendary line of ancient German witches” while Townsend will play Samuel Wainwright, “a doctor looking to uncover the secrets of Salem. Also joining the cast are Joe Doyle and Oliver Bell. [WGN]
Adorable reality show MasterChef Junior has been renewed for a fourth season by Fox. (The series is currently in its third; its second ended last month.) Pastry chef Christina Tosi has signed on to be one of the judges, replacing Joe Bastianich. [Deadline]
Yesterday, just ahead of its Season 2 premiere, Comedy Central renewed Broad City for a third season, so we can all breathe easy and enjoy the current season. [TIME]
ABC Family renewed The Fosters for a third season! If you haven’t been watching it, now is the time to start; it’s on Netflix. [EW]
Amazon Studios announced that its first drama series, Bosch, starring Titus Welliver, will premiere February 13. All ten episodes of the first season will be available to view on Amazon Prime Instant Video. [Amazon]
Suzanne Cryer (Two Guys, A Girl, and a Pizza Place) has joined the cast of HBO’s Silicon Valley, basically doubling the amount of women on the show. [Deadline]
Both Tara Reid and Ian Ziering will return for Sharknado 3, which will find the deadly shark attack/weather phenomenon hitting Washington, DC. The movie premieres on Syfy in July. [Variety]