Tiana’s Palace Coming to Disneyland Park in 2023—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Dreams Do Come True in New Orleans: Tiana’s Palace Coming Soon to Disneyland Park

Yes, it’s true: French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square at Disneyland Park will soon be reimagined into Tiana’s Palace, our friends at the Disney Parks Blog announced earlier this week. Located on Orleans Street, the quick-service style restaurant will feature peach walls and green wrought-iron balconies, as well as opulent fixtures and appointments inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios’ The Princess and the Frog.

Tiana’s Palace will offer authentic New Orleans flavors inspired by Tiana’s friends and adventures. While not a character dining location, guests may indeed find Tiana in New Orleans Square! The menu at Tiana’s Palace will expand on many of the current favorites served in the location, explore lots of delectable seasonal flavors, and, of course, offer delicious New Orleans classics.

Walt Disney Imagineers are partnering with artists from The Princess and the Frog to bring this story to life at Disneyland Park—a fitting reunion, as animation artists were inspired by the exterior of the original French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square when designing the film’s restaurant.

To begin this exciting transformation, French Market Restaurant (and Mint Julep Bar) will be closed starting February 17. It will reopen as Tiana’s Palace (alongside the popular Mint Julep Bar, with its famous mint juleps and Mickey beignets) later this year.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm®

So what can you expect this lovely weekend in January, streaming to your favorite device from around the worlds of Disney? Why not get ready for The Wonderful World of Disney’s presentation of Finding Nemo this Sunday night by bingeing all manner of Pixar favorites? See what we recommend right here.

Jon Landau (left) and James Cameron (right) are seen bending down and leaning on a long red carpeted footstool above two boxes full of cement that are both labeled with signs reading “TCL Chinese Theatre.” A poster for “Avatar: The Way of Water” is seen behind them. Landau is wearing a print button-up shirt; Cameron is wearing a dark suit. Both are smiling and looking toward the camera.

James Cameron and Jon Landau Honored at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX® in Hollywood

With Avatar: The Way of Water delighting moviegoers around the world, its director James Cameron and producer Jon Landau were honored this week with a truly iconic celebration: a Handprints and Footprints Ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX® in Hollywood! Among the attendees at the ceremony, during which Cameron and Landau put their handprints and footprints in cement in the legendary movie palace’s forecourt, were Avatar: The Way of Water cast members Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang.

This honor comes hot on the heels of the duo’s nomination by the Producers Guild of America (PGA) for producing Avatar: The Way of Water, the most successful worldwide release of 2022—and the seventh highest-grossing film of all time worldwide! The film has also been nominated for six Critics Choice awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and was nominated two Golden Globe® awards. Additionally, it’s been selected as one of the year’s top films by the AFI and National Board of Review.

Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, Avatar: The Way of Water also stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, and Kate Winslet.

All the Winter TCA Press Tour News That’s Fit to Post…

This week, D23 has been lucky enough to attend the Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour, finding out the latest and greatest about linear and streaming programs from across The Walt Disney Company. Find out what you can soon expect from ABC, Freeform, Disney Television Studios, Disney Branded Television, FX, and more by clicking here.

Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Chip and Dale, Pluto, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and Goofy are all seen wearing their Spring Festival finest and standing in front of Enchanted Storybook Castle at Shanghai Disneyland, celebrating the Year of the Rabbit at Shanghai Disney Resort.

Shanghai Disney Resort Celebrates the Year of the Rabbit

Are you ready to hop into the Year of the Rabbit? Shanghai Disney Resort sure is, with a month-long lineup of special celebrations from now until Friday, February 10!

During these special festivities, guests are encouraged to bring family, friends, and loved ones for a fun and unique Spring Festival vacation. Not only can guests continue to enjoy the season-long Disney Winter Frostival, but they will also experience festive new décor, delightful entertainment, deliciously comforting food, and unique merchandise that all pay tribute to timeless Chinese traditions in signature Disney style.

Known as one of the Chinese zodiac’s most happy-go-lucky animals, the auspicious rabbit brings its fun spirit to every corner of the resort this Spring Festival. And to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit, guests will be treated to a range of opportunities to encounter their favorite bunnies. Case in point: From Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Zootopia, Judy Hopps will join the Spring Festival celebrations!

As one of the park’s beloved rabbit characters, Judy will receive her very own mosaic among the 12 zodiac signs in the Garden of the Twelve Friends. Echoing the year’s optimism and her “try everything” attitude, the mosaic depicts Judy cheerfully heading to the metropolis of Zootopia by train as the landmark skyline awaits, brimming with adventure. Additionally, Judy will appear in the popular shows returning to Mickey Avenue this year, and guests will be able to catch her at selfie spots on Mickey Avenue, complete with a cheerful new overlay for the holidays that will make these photos a unique souvenir for the Year of the Rabbit.

Guests will also have the chance to be among the first to dine at Donald’s Dine ‘n Delights in Disneytown, scheduled to open in mid-January. Sure to charm its way onto every food lover’s list this winter, with its cozy dining environment and rich storytelling, Donald’s Dine ‘n Delights will serve up seasonally inspired Western cuisine with Asian touches.

For more information about Shanghai Disney Resort’s incredible Spring Festival celebrations, visit ShanghaiDisneyResort.com.

Don’t Miss the Latest Disney Parks Announcements!

It was a huge week for news from our pals over at Disney Parks—from an opening date for TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort, to Park Hopper ticket updates at Disneyland Resort, and so much more. Take a gander at D23’s handy-dandy rundown of the announcements, and start planning those vacations!

In a promo image for Adventures by Disney’s 2024 River Cruise Itineraries, a family—a mom (left), a child (middle), and a dad (right)—are seen walking along the waterfront in a European city, laughing and smiling and holding hands. The mom wears a purple top and jeans; the child wears a dark sweater, yellow shirt, and patterned skirt; and the dad wears a gray sweater, purple shirt, and gray jeans. Majestic buildings and hills are seen in the background.

Adventures by Disney Announces 2024 River Cruise Itineraries

The good folks over at Adventures by Disney recently announced their return to three of Europe’s most iconic rivers for the 2024 travel season. With 22 river cruise departures planned, Adventures by Disney guests will once again experience the unparalleled beauty of European landscapes and vibrant culture with sailings on the Rhine River, the Danube River, and the Seine River. Each itinerary will offer Disney’s signature storytelling with the convenience of hassle-free travel and attention to detail provided by a team of Disney-trained Adventure Guides. Sounds pretty spectacular to us…

Headlining the 2024 lineup is the new Danube River Cruise: Magical Holidays departure, which marks the first time the guided group travel company will offer a themed river cruise voyage during the New Year’s holiday! Guests will sail on the Danube River in a beautifully designed river cruise ship; ring in the new year with a celebration and champagne toast; and explore famous and picturesque sites and landmarks across Germany, Austria, and Hungary.

Returning favorites also join the 2024 lineup, including the seasonal Oktoberfest and Christmas Markets river cruises and the popular Food and Wine sailings, featuring delectable meals, desserts, and beverages local to the region.

Bookings open to the public on January 20, 2023. More details can be found at AdventuresByDisney.com.

Disney Imagineers Connect with FIRST Robotics Teams for the 2023 Season

The 2023 FIRST Robotics Competition season recently kicked off for tens of thousands of students around the world. What’s FIRST, you may ask? It’s a community that brings students together and prepares them for the future through team-based robotics competitions and mentorship. A “sport for the mind,” FIRST combines the fun and thrill of competition with the mental dexterity of science and technology.

Several Walt Disney Imagineers will once again serve as mentors this year and are proud to continue to support the organization, as they have done since its inception more than 30 years ago. The teams and their mentors can be seen in action in the video above.

“So many of the things they do with FIRST translate directly to what we do here at WDI,” Imagineer Greg Johnson recently said. “And not just the technical skills, but the interpersonal and teamwork skills that have direct parallels to how we complete projects.”

Teams will begin by learning the parameters for this year’s competition and start brainstorming how to solve the challenge. They’ll build their robots over the course of about two months before entering a series of regional competitions. As teams advance through the regionals, their goal is to compete for the international FIRST Championship, set for April 19-22 in Houston, Texas. Keep your eyes peeled for more news from FIRST as the competitions continue…

ICYMI: Award Season Is Officially Underway!

Yes, it’s awards season once again… and earlier this week, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association awarded The Walt Disney Company nine Golden Globes®—more than any other entertainment company! In case you missed the ceremony, see the winners right here at D23.com. But that’s not all: Disney also just earned 19 nominations for the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®; check out the list here. And congrats to all!

Disney Branded Television Releases Official Trailer for Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur

By Jessica Benda

Disney Branded Television today released the official trailer for the new animated series Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, which follows the adventures of 13-year-old super-genius Lunella Lafayette (aka Moon Girl) and her 10-ton T-Rex partner, Devil Dinosaur.

And you won’t have to wait much longer for the eagerly anticipated series. Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur will premiere on Friday, February 10, on Disney Channel, with the first six episodes available on Disney+ on Wednesday, February 15.

Check out the official trailer here:

Disney Branded Television also released a new poster for the series, seen above.

After Lunella accidentally brings Devil Dinosaur into modern-day New York City, they team up as the Lower East Side’s new protectors. The series stars Diamond White as Lunella/Moon Girl; Fred Tatasciore as Devil Dinosaur; Alfre Woodard as Lunella’s grandmother, Mimi; Libe Barer as Lunella’s best friend and manager, Casey; Sasheer Zamata as Lunella’s mom, Adria; Jermaine Fowler as Lunella’s dad, James Jr.; Gary Anthony Williams as Lunella’s grandfather, Pops; and series executive producer Laurence Fishburne in the recurring role of The Beyonder, a curious and mischievous trickster. Guest-starring as Season 1 villains are Jennifer Hudson (Mane) and Daveed Diggs (Rat King).

Vibrant animation is backed by music from three-time Grammy® Award-winner Raphael Saadiq, available for pre-save on Spotify and Apple Music here. The soundtrack drops on February 10.

From Disney Television Animation, Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is executive produced by Fishburne’s and Helen Sugland’s Cinema Gypsy Productions (black-ish, grown-ish) and Emmy Award®-winner Steve Loter (Kim Possible). Emmy Award-winner Rodney Clouden (Futurama) is supervising producer, Jeffrey M. Howard (Planes) and Emmy Award-winner Kate Kondell (The Pirate Fairy) are co-producers and story editors, and Pilar Flynn (Elena of Avalor) is producer.

Every Major Announcement from Disney at the 2023 Winter TCA Press Tour

By Andie Hagemann

For four days, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club is attending the Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour to discover what the future of linear and streaming looks like for The Walt Disney Company. Read on to learn more about new series The Company You Keep, Will Trent, Not Dead Yet, The Watchful Eye, American Born Chinese, as well as returning programs Jeopardy! Masters, Claim to Fame, Abbott Elementary, Grey’s Anatomy, General Hospital, grown-ish, How I Met Your Father, The Bear, Dave, and many more!

ABC, Freeform, and Disney Television Studios presented on Wednesday, followed by FX on Thursday. Disney+, Disney Branded Television, and National Geographic, will present on Friday, while Hulu and Onyx Collective will present Saturday. Below is a chronological recap of the presentations. Keep checking back as more announcements are made.

ABC

ABC has picked up an elite-level iteration of Jeopardy! Masters, produced by Sony Pictures Television. Hosted by Ken Jennings, the primetime series will feature the six highest-ranked current Jeopardy! contestants—Matt Amodio, Sam Buttrey, Andrew He, James Holzhauer, Mattea Roach, and Amy Schneider—who will face off in a Champions League-style event to win the coveted title of Jeopardy! Masters Champion. The series is executive produced by Michael Davies.

Additionally, competition series Claim to Fame—hosted by Kevin and Frankie Jonas—along with fan-favorite game shows Celebrity Family Feud and Press Your Luck received new season pickups.

Dust off your dictionaries and grab that hairbrush microphone! Today, ABC announced Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong, the fifth installment of its successful Singalong franchise, with Emmy®-winning television host Ryan Seacrest, airing Wednesday, February 1, from 8-9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong will be available to stream the next day on Hulu and at a later date on Disney+. The special transports viewers back to school, where they’ll enjoy beloved Schoolhouse Rock hits that are as educational as they are catchy, all in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the iconic series.

Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong includes performances by Black Eyed Peas (“Three Is a Magic Number”), Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert (“Figure 8”), Jason Biggs and Jenny Mollen (“I’m Just a Bill”), Julianne Hough (“Interplanet Janet”), The Muppets & Fortune Feimster (“Unpack Your Adjectives”), NE-YO (“Verb: That’s What’s Happening”), Raven Symoné and Kal Penn (“Interjections”), Retta (“Ready or Not, Here I Come”), Shaquille O’Neal and Boys & Girls Club of Atlanta (“Conjunction Junction”), and stars from Disney’s Broadway and touring productions (“A Noun is a Person, Place or Thing”).

The performance of “A Noun is a Person, Place or Thing” highlights Disney’s Broadway stars Michael Maliakel (Aladdin), Bonita Hamilton (The Lion King), Mduduzi Madela (The Lion King), Marcus M. Martin (Aladdin), Kara Lindsay (Newsies), and Charity Dawson (Hercules)

Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong is produced by Done+Dusted in association with Walt Disney Television Alternative. Executive producers include RJ Durell, Ashley Edens, Nick Florez, and Katy Mullan.

As one chapter closes, a new one opens: Grey Sloan Memorial celebrates Meredith Grey, portrayed by Disney Legend Ellen Pompeo, as she says farewell to Seattle, when Grey’s Anatomy returns Thursday, February 23, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

In the episode entitled “I’ll Follow the Sun,” it’s Meredith’s last day at Grey Sloan Memorial and the doctors plan a goodbye surprise, while Nick confronts her about the future of their relationship. Elsewhere, the interns compete to scrub in on Maggie and Winston's groundbreaking partial heart transplant procedure, and Richard asks Teddy an important question. “I’ll Follow the Sun” is written by Krista Vernoff and directed by Debbie Allen.

Grey’s Anatomy also stars Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens Jr. as Richard Webber, Kevin McKidd as Owen Hunt, Caterina Scorsone as Amelia Shepherd, Camilla Luddington as Jo Wilson, Kelly McCreary as Maggie Pierce, Kim Raver as Teddy Altman, Jake Borelli as Levi Schmitt, Chris Carmack as Atticus “Link” Lincoln, Anthony Hill as Winston Ndugu, Alexis Floyd as Simone Griffith, Harry Shum Jr. as Benson “Blue” Kwan, Adelaide Kane as Jules Millin, Midori Francis as Mika Yasuda, Niko Terho as Lucas Adams, and Scott Speedman as Nick Marsh.

Grey’s Anatomy was created and is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes. Krista Vernoff serves as showrunner and executive producer. Betsy Beers, Mark Gordon, Meg Marinis, Zoanne Clack, Allen, and Pompeo are executive producers. The series is produced by ABC Signature, a part of Disney Television Studios.

On the heels of its three wins at Tuesday night’s Golden Globe® Awards ceremony, ABC has renewed hit comedy series Abbott Elementary from Warner Bros. Television and 20th Television for a third season. It was announced today by Craig Erwich, president, ABC Entertainment, Hulu & Disney Branded Television Streaming Originals.

Season 2 is currently airing on ABC and available to stream the next day on Hulu. New episodes air Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

Abbott Elementary stars Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues, Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie, Janelle James as Ava Coleman, Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa Schemmenti, Chris Perfetti as Jacob Hill, William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson, and Emmy® Award winner Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard.

Brunson created the series and also serves as executive producer alongside Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker, of Delicious Non-Sequitur Productions, and Randall Einhorn.

Steamy new drama The Company You Keep, starring Milo Ventimiglia and Catherine Haena Kim, debuts Sunday, February 19, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

A night of passion leads to love between con man Charlie (Ventimiglia) and undercover CIA officer Emma (Kim), who are unknowingly on a collision course professionally. While Charlie ramps up the “family business” so he can get out for good, Emma’s closing in on the vengeful criminal who holds Charlie’s family debts in hand—forcing them to reckon with the lies they’ve told so they can save themselves and their families from disastrous consequences. The series is based on the Korean Broadcasting System series My Fellow Citizens.

Watch a sneak peek below:

The Company You Keep also William Fichtner as Leo, Tim Chiou as David, Freda Foh Shen as Grace, James Saito as Joseph, Sarah Wayne Callies as Birdie, Felisha Terrell as Daphne, and Polly Draper as Fran.

Executive producers and co-showrunners are Julia Cohen and Phil Klemmer, Milo Ventimiglia and Russ Cundiff (DiVide Pictures), Jon M. Chu and Caitlin Foito (Electric Somewhere), and Todd Harthan and Lindsay Goffman (Gratitude Productions). Deanna Harris (DiVide Pictures) is a producer. The series is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios.

ABC’s daytime drama General Hospital will celebrate its 60th anniversary on Saturday, April 1, 2023. To honor the milestone, the network is set to present the cast and crew with a stage dedication on the Prospect Studios lot, permanently commemorating the show’s legacy.

The show will kick off its anniversary programming at the end of March with a special episode honoring the late Sonya Eddy, who played head nurse Epiphany Johnson on the series since 2006. Then, the beloved Nurses Ball—a fictional glamorous charity event complete with red-carpet fashion and musical performances from the illustrious citizens of Port Charles, all dedicated to HIV/AIDS awareness—returns starting the week of April 3. This marks the first time the Nurses Ball has aired since 2020. The festivities will then continue as icons of Port Charles unite to stop a legendary threat from the past. ABC also announced Jane Elliot is set to reprise her role as the legendary Tracy Quartermaine in April.

General Hospital stars Genie Francis, Maurice Benard, Finola Hughes, Kristina Wagner, Nancy Lee Grahn, Rebecca Herbst, Kelly Monaco, Laura Wright, Kirsten Storms, Dominic Zamprogna, Maura West, Chad Duell, Roger Howarth, Donnell Turner, Michael Easton, Eden McCoy, Cynthia Watros, Katelyn MacMullen, Sofia Mattsson, Amanda Setton, Brook Kerr, Nicholas Chavez, Avery Kristen Pohl, Cameron Mathison, Charles Shaughnessy, Tajh Bellow, Tanisha Harper, Tabyana Ali, Robert Gossett, Josh Kelly, Gregory Harrison, and Evan Hofer.

General Hospital was created by Frank and Doris Hursley. Frank Valentini serves as the executive producer and showrunner. Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor are co-head writers. The series is produced by ABC.

The cast and creatives of ABC’s Will Trent pose on the red carpet at the 2023 Winter TCA Press Tour. 

Based on Karin Slaughter’s New York Times bestselling book series of the same name, Will Trent follows Special Agent Will Trent (Ramón Rodríguez) of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), who was abandoned at birth and endured a harsh coming-of-age in Atlanta’s overwhelmed foster care system. But now, determined to use his unique point of view to make sure no one is abandoned like he was, Trent has the highest clearance rate in the GBI. Will Trent airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

Watch a sneak peek of next week’s episode, airing Tuesday, January 17:

Will Trent also stars Sonja Sohn as Amanda Wagner, Erika Christensen as Angie Polaski, Iantha Richardson as Faith Mitchell, and Jake McLaughlin as Michael Ormewood. Liz Heldens, Daniel Thomsen, Oly Obst, and Slaughter serve as executive producers; Rodríguez is a producer. The series is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios.

Angela E. Gibbs, Rick Glassman, David Windsor (Co-Showrunner, Executive Producer), Gina Rodriguez (Executive Producer), Casey Johnson (Co-Showrunner, Executive Producer), Hannah Simone, Dean Holland (Executive Producer), Lauren Ash, and Josh Banday sit in chairs onstage during the 2023 Winter TCA Press Tour.

ABC’s newest addition to its comedy roster, Not Dead Yet starring and executive produced by Gina Rodriguez, makes its highly anticipated series debut with a two-episode premiere on Wednesday, February 8,starting at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

The series follows Nell Serrano (Rodriguez), a broke and newly single self-described disaster, working to restart the life and career she left behind five years ago. When she lands the only job she can find―writing obituaries―Nell starts getting life advice from some unlikely sources, the dead people whose lives she’s writing about. Joining previously announced Martin Mull as Nell’s ghostly visitors is a star-studded roster, including Ed Begley Jr., Mo Collins, Deborah S. Craig, Telma Hopkins, Don Lake, Rhea Perlman, Paula Pell, Tony Plana, Brittany Snow, and Julia Sweeney.

Not Dead Yet also stars Hannah Simone as Sam, Lauren Ash as Lexi, Rick Glassman as Edward, Josh Banday as Dennis, and Angela Gibbs as Cricket. Casey Johnson and David Windsor are creators and executive producers. Also executive producing is Dean Holland and Wonderland Sound and Vision’s McG, Mary Viola, and Corey Marsh. The series is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios.

The key art for ABC’s A Million Little Things depicts the cast standing on a grassy hill and looking over their shoulder in front of a city skyline.

As Rome Howard says, “Life isn’t just about the moments; it’s about who you share them with.” And as the fifth and final season of the beloved ABC drama series A Million Little Things unfolds, viewers will watch through laughter and tears as the incredible journey reaches its conclusion. Along the way, viewers will explore the depths of friendship, love, and sorrow as we bid adieu to this special family of friends, once again proving that friendship really is a million little things. The celebratory farewell season of A Million Little Thingsbegins Wednesday, February 8, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

Below is a preview of the final season:

The series stars David Giuntoli as Eddie Saville, Romany Malco as Rome Howard, Allison Miller as Maggie Bloom, Christina Moses as Regina Howard, Grace Park as Katherine Kim, James Roday Rodriguez as Gary Mendez, Stephanie Szostak as Delilah Dixon, Tristan Byon as Theo Saville, Lizzy Greene as Sophie Dixon, and Chance Hurstfield as Danny Dixon.

DJ Nash is the creator and executive producer; Terrence Coli, Aaron Kaplan and Brian Morewitz are executive producers; Terrence Coli serves as the showrunner; ad Joanna Kerns serves as co-executive producer on the series from ABC Signature/Kapital Entertainment. ABC Signature is a part of Disney Television Studios.

Freeform

Freeform has picked up Love Trip: Paris, an unscripted dating show filmed entirely in Paris, to series. In Love Trip: Paris, four American girls—Caroline, Rose, Lacy, and Josielyn—unlucky in love in their own country, move into a penthouse in the middle of Paris to find a floor of French suitors waiting to date them. Is this love trip to Paris their one-way ticket to romance, or are they headed for heartbreak in another language? The series debuts Tuesday, February 14, at 9 p.m. ET/PT with a two-episode premiere and will air weekly at 10 p.m. ET/PT thereafter.

Freeform shared a sneak peek at the new series:

Love Trip: Paris comes from FOX Alternative Entertainment and AH Production/Satisfaction Group, who originated the format, and is executive produced by Susan House. The show is narrated by Matt Rogers.

In a scene from Freeform series grown-ish, actor Marcus Scribner portrays Junior. Sitting on a wooden coffee table, he wears a colorful tie-dye shirt and blue sweatpants.

Freeform also shared that grown-ish has been picked up for Season 6. The series returns for the second half of its fifth season on Wednesday, January 18, at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, and will be available to stream the next day on Hulu.

grown-ish follows Andre Johnson Jr. (Marcus Scribner), aka Junior, as he finishes his first year at Cal U, transitioning from Zoey’s little brother to big man on campus. The series also stars Yara Shahidi, Trevor Jackson, Diggy Simmons, and Daniella Perkins. Kenya Barris, Zakiyyah Alexander, Courtney Lilly, Craig Doyle, Shahidi, Disney Legend Anthony Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland, E. Brian Dobbins, and Michael Petok serve as executive producers. grown-ish is produced by ABC Signature.

The cast from Freeform series The Watchful Eye pose in a promotional still.

Freeform released the trailer for the upcoming mystery The Watchful Eye, from Ryan Seacrest Productions. The series follows Elena Santos (Mariel Molino), a young woman with a complicated past, maneuvering her way into working as a live-in nanny for an affluent family in Manhattan. She quickly learns that everyone in the mysterious building has deadly secrets and ulterior motives. What they don’t know, however, is that Elena has some shocking secrets of her own.

The Watchful Eye is created by Julie Durk, who also serves as consultant. Emily Fox is showrunner and executive producer. Ryan Seacrest, Nina Wass, Andrea Shay, and Jeffrey Reiner serve as executive producers, with Reiner directing the pilot. The series is produced by ABC Signature, a part of Disney Television Studios. The Watchful Eye premieres Monday, January 30, at 9 p.m. ET/PT with a two-episode premiere and will air weekly at 10 p.m. thereafter, and will be available to stream the next day on Hulu. 

In a scene from Freeform series Good Trouble, actor Maia Mitchell portrays Callie Adams-Foster. She holds a gray coat over her arm, and wears a black, long-sleeved T-shirt and blue denim pants.

Good Trouble returns for a fifth season this spring, following the twenty-something residents of Los Angeles’ The Coterie. The roommates will face their toughest obstacles yet as they’re confronted with evolving relationship challenges and new career opportunities. Through highs and lows, romance and heartbreak, The Coterie crew will lean on each other while they navigate the next stage of adulthood. The series stars Cierra Ramirez, Tommy Martinez, Emma Hunton, Sherry Cola, Zuri Adele, Josh Pence, Bryan Craig, and Booboo Stewart. It is executive produced by Joanna Johnson, Christine Sacani, Greg Gugliotta, Jennifer Lopez, Benny Medina, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, and Cierra Ramirez. Johnson also serves as showrunner. Good Troublereturns to Freeform on Thursday, March 16, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, and the next day on Hulu, with fan-favorite Maia Mitchell returning to reprise her role as Callie Adams-Foster. 

A promotional image depicting the cast from Freeform series Single Drunk Female in front of an orange background

The second season of the critically acclaimed comedy Single Drunk Female will debut on Wednesday, April 12, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, with the entire 10-episode second season available on Hulu and on-demand platforms the next day, April 13.

In Season 2, with a year and a half of sobriety under her belt, Samantha Fink (Sofia Black-D’Elia) finally feels like she has a life worth celebrating. However, she quickly learns that sometimes life has other plans for her. Sam must figure out how to effect change where she can, sit in her discomfort when she can’t, and maybe even enjoy the ride.

Single Drunk Female also stars Ally Sheedy, Sasha Compere, Lily Mae Harrington, Garrick Bernard, and Ian Gomez. Busy Philipps and Ricky Velez will recur as new people in Sam’s life, and Charlie Hall will once again recur as Sam’s ex, Joel. As previously announced, Molly Ringwald will guest star as Carol’s sister-in-law Alice. The series comes from 20th Television and is executive produced by Jenni Konner, Daisy Gardner, Simone Finch, John Riggi, Phil Traill, Nora Silver, and Leslye Headland.

The cast from Season 2 of Freeform series Cruel Summer pose in a promotional image. 

Cruel Summer, the highest-rated series in Freeform history, will return for its second season in Summer 2023. The anthology series features a brand-new cast and mystery. Set in an idyllic waterfront town in the Pacific Northwest, the next chapter of Cruel Summer follows the rise and fall of an intense teenage friendship. Approaching the story from three different timelines surrounding Y2K, the season twists and turns as it tracks the early friendship between Megan, Isabella, and Megan’s best friend Luke; the love triangle that blossomed; and the mystery that would impact all of their lives going forward.

The series stars Sadie Stanley, Lexi Underwood, Griffin Gluck, KaDee Strickland, Lisa Yamada, and Sean Blakemore; Paul Adelstein will recur. Cruel Summer comes from studio Entertainment One (eOne) and was created by Bert V. Royal. Elle Triedman serves as showrunner. Executive producers include Triedman, Bill Purple, Tia Napolitano, and Iron Ocean Productions’ Jessica Biel and Michelle Purple. The series is distributed internationally by eOne.

FX

The cast of FX series DAVE pose in front of a pink tour bus parked in the desert.

FX announced the premiere dates for several new and returning series coming in early 2023, including the next batch of documentary films under The New York Times Presents banner, the third season of the comedy series DAVE, and the docuseries Dear Mama.

These series join the previously announced premiere of the sixth and final season of Snowfall on Wednesday, February 22, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FX, streaming the next day on Hulu.

The New York Times Presents: Sin Eater, a two-part documentary about infamous Hollywood P.I. Anthony Pellicano, premieres Friday, March 10, at 10 p.m. ET/PT simultaneously on FX and Hulu with the two parts airing back-to-back. Comedy series DAVE from rapper and comedian Dave Burd, will premiere Wednesday, April 5, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FXX and stream the next day on Hulu.

FX’s The New York Times Presents: The Legacy of J Dilla, a documentary feature about prolific musician, producer, and visionary J Dilla, premieres Friday, April 7, at 10 p.m. ET/PT simultaneously on FX and Hulu. The five-part docuseries Dear Mama, exploring the lives and legacies of mother and son Afeni and Tupac Shakur will debut Friday, April 21, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FX and be available the next day on Hulu.

Disney Branded Television

The Disney Original Movie Prom Pact, a heartwarming romantic comedy set during the emotion and excitement of high school prom season. It’s the height of prom season, and high school senior Mandy Yang (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) and her best friend and fellow outsider Ben (Milo Manheim) are surrounded by over-the-top ‘80s-themed Promposals. However, Mandy keeps her eyes focused on a different goal: her lifelong dream of attending Harvard. When she finds out that she has put on the waitlist, she is determined to do whatever she can do to get herself accepted, even if that means asking for help from the one person she abhors—popular all-star jock Graham Lansing (Blake Draper), whose father is a powerful senator and Harvard alum. Once Mandy becomes Graham’s tutor, she begins to realize there’s more to him than she thought and perhaps something more to life than Harvard.

The film stars as Mandy, as Ben, newcomer Blake Draper as Graham, Monique Green as LaToya, Margaret Cho as Ms. Chen, Arica Himmel as Zenobia, Jason Sakaki as Charles, David S. Jung as Tom, and Wendi McLendon-Covey as Alyssa. Anya Adams directed Prom Pact and is also an executive producer along with Jake Kasdan, Melvin Mar, Julie Bowen, and Rachael Field.

Disney Channel shared first look images at the upcoming movie below:

Prom Pact premieres Thursday, March 30, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel and the next day on Disney+.

Debuting this spring, American Born Chinese, based on the graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang is a genre-hopping action comedy that tells the story of Jin Wang (Ben Wang), an average teenager juggling his high school social life with his home life. When he meets a new foreign student on the first day of the school year, even more worlds collide as Jin is unwittingly entangled in a battle of Chinese mythological gods.

Below is a sneak peek at the upcoming series:

American Born Chinese also stars Michelle Yeoh, Yeo Yann Yann, Chin Han, Jim Liu, Ke Huy Quan, Sydney Taylor, and Daniel Wu.

Disney Channel also shared a first look at the new series The Crossover. Based on the critically acclaimed best-selling novel in-verse by Kwame Alexander, The Crossover, from Disney Branded Television, introduces teen brothers Josh and Jordan Bell, widely considered basketball phenoms. Through his lyrical poetry, an adult version of Josh, aka Filthy McNasty, narrates the story of his and his brother’s coming of age, on and off the court, as their former professional basketball player father adjusts to life after basketball and their mother finally pursues lifelong dreams of her own.

Narrated by Daveed Diggs, the series stars Jalyn Hall as Filthy, Amir O’Neil as Jordan, Sabrina Revelle as Crystal, Derek Luke as Chuck, Skyla l’Lece as Alexis, Trevor Raine Bush as Vondie, and Deja Monique Cruz as Maya.

The animated children from the Disney Junior series Firebuds each stand on the roof of a first responder vehicle and raise an arm in the air. The vehicles, from left to right, are a blue police car, a red firetruck, and a blue and white ambulance, each with eyes in their windshields and smiles on their grills.

Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, announced that Disney Junior has ordered second seasons of Firebuds, SuperKitties, and Pupstruction, during the Disney Branded Television presentation on Friday.

“Firebuds, SuperKitties, and Pupstruction all encompass what Disney Junior does best,” Davis said. “Each of these series embrace signature Disney qualities of imagination, adventure, and heart, with music you can sing along to and fun, energetic characters that embody positivity, optimism, and the power of teamwork.”

Disney+ has given the greenlight to the feature-length music docu-special Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming, with Dave Letterman, in which Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville captures Dave Letterman on his first visit to Dublin to hang out with Bono and The Edge in their hometown, experience Dublin, and join the two U2 musicians for a concert performance unlike any they’ve done before. Disney Branded Television President Ayo Davis made the announcement today, unveiling a first-look teaser of the docu-special.

“Bono and The Edge are the force behind one of the most prolific and influential acts in the history of rock and roll, and we are honored to bring this truly intimate look at their beginnings, friendship, and creative process to a global audience on Disney+,” said Davis.

Letterman added, “Recently, I won a radio contest. Winner gets to visit Dublin with Bono and The Edge (radio contest part not true, but I feel like a winner). They showed me around, introduced me to their musician friends, and performed some of their greatest songs in a small theater. It’s a great tour. Get in touch with them―I’m told there are still availabilities. I’m the luckiest man on the planet. (There are no availabilities.)”

Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming, with Dave Letterman, from Disney Branded Television, is set to premiere globally on Disney+ on St. Patrick’s Day, Friday, March 17, coinciding with the release of U2’s highly anticipated album Songs of Surrender―a collection of 40 seminal U2 songs from across the band’s catalog, re-recorded and reimagined.

Davis also announced that Dan Povenmire, co-creator and executive producer, has agreed to a new overall deal with Disney Branded Television that includes production of 40 all-new episodes of Phineas and Ferb, a second season renewal of the animated superhero series Hamster & Gretel, and the development of live-action projects.

“Dan is renowned for his ability to create universally beloved stories and characters with both heart and humor,” Davis said. “We couldn’t be happier to continue our collaboration with him and bring back the iconic Phineas and Ferb in a big way.”

Meredith Roberts, executive vice president, Animation, Disney Branded Television, added, “Dan is a true mastermind, and his brilliant brand of storytelling has always been infused with a kind-spirited and optimistic sense of humor which continues to strike a perfect chord with audiences the world over. On behalf of everyone at Disney Television Animation, we’re so pleased to continue our association with Dan and his inspiring creative team―visionary producers, writers, animators, song composers, and directors who have entertained and connected with generations of viewers.”

Povenmire wrote and co-wrote some 500 songs for Phineas and Ferb, Milo Murphy’s Law, and Hamster & Gretel, many of which have continued to trend on social media platforms.

“It has been the greatest pleasure of my career to see how an entire generation of kids and parents have embraced the characters and the humor of Phineas and Ferb,” Povenmire said. “I’m eagerly looking forward to diving back into the show for them and for a whole new generation.”

In a colorful poster for the animated television series Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Lunella Lafayette, aka Moon Girl, wearing red goggles and a blue and yellow helmet, rides through the streets on New York’s Lower East Side atop Devil Dinosaur, a 10-ton T. Rex. The pair appear to be galloping at the camera, and Lunella is yelling Watch Me Shine. The logo for the show is at the top of the poster, while the logos for Disney Channel and Disney Plus are at the bottom, along with the debut dates for each: February 10 for Disney Channel and February 15 for Disney Plus.

On Friday, Disney Branded Television shared the official trailer for Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, which premieres Friday, February 10, on Disney Channel and shortly thereafter on Disney+.

Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur follows the adventures of 13-year-old super-genius Lunella Lafayette (aka Moon Girl) (voiced by Diamond White) and her 10-ton T-Rex partner, Devil Dinosaur (voiced by Fred Tatasciore). After Lunella accidentally brings Devil Dinosaur into present-day New York City, the duo works together to protect the city’s Lower East Side from danger.

The series also includes the voices of Alfre Woodard as Lunella’s grandmother, Mimi; Libe Barer as Lunella’s best friend and manager, Casey; Sasheer Zamata as Lunella’s mom, Adria; Jermaine Fowler as Lunella’s dad, James Jr.; Gary Anthony Williams as Lunella’s grandfather, Pops; and series executive producer Laurence Fishburne in the recurring role of The Beyonder, a curious and mischievous trickster. Season 1’s star-studded guest cast includes Jennifer Hudson and Daveed Diggs as villains Mane and Rat King, respectively.

Fans can click here to pre-save the show’s music from executive music producer Raphael Saadiq. The soundtrack will be available on the date of the premiere.

National Geographic

Live onstage, National Geographic Content President Courteney Monroe announced two brand-new unscripted anthology franchises have been greenlit: One Day in America and a currently untitled franchise that will forensically explore the biggest natural disasters in recent history. The two anthology series exemplify National Geographic’s commitment to delve into contemporary history with unparalleled depth and complexity.

“These new documentary franchises exemplify our aim to be the brand of record for events that forever changed the shape of history,” Monroe said. “Weaving together never-before-seen archive and powerful first-person testimony, these powerful and riveting series will serve as the definitive stories of these momentous events.”  

The One Day in America franchise, from 72 Films, comes on the heels of the Emmy® Award-winning documentary series 9/11: One Day in America, a six-part series about the events of September 11, 2001, which used archive and first-person testimony from first responders and survivors.

The new series franchise greenlights include the following:

One Day in America

JFK: One Day in America (72 Films)

This is the story of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the president of the United States, told in real time by those who were there. The three-part series will capture how in November 1963, the American president was shot, a search ensued, a policeman was killed, and the assassin was then murdered. Using archive footage of the investigation, police radio recordings, live broadcasts, and footage from dozens of television crews, viewers will be fully immersed into the events as they unfold. New and archival interviews with eyewitnesses who were there will give a unique perspective on what really happened, their version of events, and how they think these experiences shaped them and the wider world. The series marks 60 years since the assassination of JFK, and they are the last surviving witnesses to these extraordinary events. The executive producers are David Glover, TJ Martin, and Dan Lindsay.

The Cult: One Day in Jonestown (72 Films)

The three-part series follows the story of the largest mass murder-suicide in America, told in real time by those who were there, and will capture how on November 18, 1978, over 900 people died during a mass suicide at a cult temple run by Jim Jones. Providing insight and context into this cult, discover how Jim Jones started a progressive society based on Marxist ideals, helping marginalized people who were excluded from society, and how his vision became marked by paranoia and fear, leading him to create a colony in the Guyanese jungle—all leading up to the final shocking order of mass suicide to his followers. The series taps into a staggering archive, including the Jonestown death tape, the 44-minute live audio that records the entirety of the fatal mass suicide, and the harrowing military footage of the soldiers sent to clear up.  The series will also feature an extensive collection of films by the Jonestown survivors themselves from the months leading up to the tragedy, allowing a rare look into Jones’ secretive cult.

The only voices viewers will hear are of those who were there on the day and can be seen in the archival footage. There will be archival interviews and first-hand testimony from witnesses giving a unique perspective on what really happened, their version of events, and how they think these experiences shaped them and the wider world. The executive producers are Glover, Martin, and Lindsay.

Natural Disaster Franchise

Tsunami (Working Title) (Blast Films)

On December 26, 2004, the world witnessed the worst-ever natural disaster: the Indian Ocean Tsunami. More than 230,000 people lost their lives, while 3 million people across 14 countries were caught up in the unfolding tragedy. Thousands clung to trees, buildings, and floating wreckage in a bid for survival. Many were rescued through acts of astonishing bravery carried out by strangers from all over the world―neighbors and friends, tourists and first responders. The four-part series will provide the most comprehensive and immersive minute-by-minute account of the tsunami’s seven-hour trail of destruction across two continents, 14 countries, and 5,000 miles. For the first time, the voices of those caught in the disaster will be combined with the never-before-seen footage to shine a light on the resilience, kindness, and bravery that human beings are capable of in the most extreme and difficult circumstances. The executive producers are Danny Horan, Tanya Winston, and Daniel Bogado. The series is set to premiere in 2024, timed to the 20th anniversary.

Katrina (Working Title) (Lightbox)

From Lightbox, the Oscar® and Emmy-winning producers behind LA92, this five-part premium series tells the definitive story of Katrina from a period of two decades of hindsight, with everything we can now see clearly for the first time. As such, the series will offer a layered and nuanced narrative that has not previously been possible. It will foreground the cataclysmic events of the weeks of the disaster in forensic detail while also contextualizing this narrative by pulling together the threads of seemingly unrelated events that played out years, and sometimes even decades, prior to the catastrophe that is vital in understanding not just how Katrina unfolded in the way it did, but why. Told from the perspectives of key characters―both people on the ground and those in positions of power―and hundreds of hours of visceral archival footage which will drive every aspect of our narrative, Katrina (working title) will show how the floodwaters of America’s worst natural disaster tore through not only the Gulf States but also the very fabric of society. In doing so, it will raise searing questions about race in America, many of which remain unanswered―yet still highly relevant―two decades later. Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn are the executive producers. The series is set to premiere in 2025, timed to the 20th anniversary.

Monroe also announced the greenlight of Underdogs, an unconventional natural history series that will tell the story of the heroic underdogs of the natural world―the good, the bad, and the frankly ugly. The 10-part series is co-produced by Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort and Wildstar Films.

The series was unveiled with a tongue-in-cheek teaser video narrated by Reynolds, during Nat Geo’s TCA session. Reynolds will narrate the entire 10-episode series, bringing his distinctive voice and humorous take to the natural world through a groundbreaking partnership that bakes humor into the storytelling from the ground up. From their hidden talents to their bold hygiene choices, unsavory courtship rituals, devious camouflage techniques and “tough love” parenting skills, Underdogs will celebrate and champion the unique and unpredictable behaviors of a little known and surprising cast of animal characters. These overlooked superstars come in all sizes, shapes, and smells. They’re the outcasts and the troublemakers, brash, unsophisticated, flatulent, incontinent, and often unhinged. But they’re also warriors, team players, and evil geniuses. They’re out there 24-7 giving it maximum effort, keeping the natural world in working order for all those showboating polar bears, sharks, and gorillas.

“Underdogs represents an entirely fresh take on the natural history genre that is sure to delight and inform audiences of all ages,” Monroe said. “With Ryan and Maximum Effort’s irreverent spirit and Wildstar’s award-winning expertise in wildlife storytelling, we have assembled the perfect team to tell the entertaining stories of nature’s unsung heroes with both humor and heart.”

Reynolds added, “I love nature series and I love making things my kids can actually watch. We’re already having a lot of fun trying to bring a new voice to animal docs. Wildstar has the expertise, experience, and cutting-edge film tech to help us chew up that healthy National Geographic budget. We’ll deliver a show that is entertaining, surprising and will do justice to animals usually stuck as supporting cast.”

In a surprise appearance at the Winter TCA Press Tour, executive producer and National Geographic Explorer-at-Large James Cameron made the trip to Pasadena to join Monroe onstage.

During the Secrets of the Elephants panel, it was revealed that Natalie Portman will narrate the upcoming Earth Day series, premiering Friday, April 21. Then, Cameron shared new installments of his award-winning National Geographic Earth Day franchise series Secrets of with Secrets of the Bees and Secrets of the Penguins. Previously announced, next year’s special will be Secrets of the Octopus.

“On the Avatar films, we’re creating a fantasy view of nature but, thematically, underneath all that is this idea of the interconnectedness not only of nature itself but of us with nature, as inhabitants of nature,” Cameron said. “In the Secrets series, we try to forge an even more intimate and emotional connection with nature―to illuminate how these amazing creatures think, how they feel, how they communicate, how they function as complex societies and cultures.”

Monroe added, “With an over 135-year-old legacy in natural history content, we’re just as passionate about who’s telling our stories as the stories we tell. Whether it be our onscreen scientists in Secrets of the Elephants, our narrators like Natalie Portman, or our filmmakers like Jim Cameron, we have become a port-of-call for best in class talent who want to tell meaningful stories that inspire a deeper connection to our world. Our Secrets of franchise reinforces our commitment at National Geographic to remaining the leader in natural history storytelling.”

Cameron also shared a clip of his upcoming National Geographic special Titanic: 25 Years Later with James Cameron. The special will air on Sunday, February 5, at 9 p.m. ET/PT leading into Titanic’s remastered theatrical release on Friday, February 10. An update of Titanic: 20 Years Later with James Cameron, the new documentary features the surprising story of how the long-lost ship was found, explores historical questions about how the Titanic sank, and digs into the debate about whether additional lifeboats on board would have saved more lives. In a new segment, Cameron adds a postscript to his fictional retelling of the tragedy. After hearing fans continue to insist Jack didn’t have to die that night, he gathers hypothermia experts and mounts tests to determine, once and for all, whether both Jack and Rose could have fit on the raft and survived.

Premiering this spring on National Geographic and Disney+, the limited series A Small Light tells the remarkable story of a 20-something secretary, Miep Gies (Bel Powley), who didn’t hesitate when her boss, Otto Frank (Liev Schreiber), asked her to hide him and his family from the Nazis during World War II. For the next two years, Miep; her husband, Jan (Joe Cole); and several other everyday heroes watched over the eight souls hiding in the secret annex. It was Miep who found Anne Frank’s diary and preserved it so that she and Otto could later share it with the world.

A new featurette (below) debuted during the series’ panel:

The series’ title comes from something Gies said late in her life: “I don’t like being called a hero, because no one should ever think you have to be special to help others. Even an ordinary secretary or a housewife or a teenager can turn on a small light in a dark room.”

A Small Light is produced by ABC Signature in partnership with Keshet Studios for National Geographic. Executive producers and writers Joan Rater and Tony Phelan serve as showrunners, and Susanna Fogel directs multiple episodes, including the pilot. The executive producers are Peter Traugott and Lisa Roos for Keshet Studios, Alon Shtruzman for Keshet International, and Avi Nir for Keshet Media Group.

National Geographic also shared premiere dates for the follow series: Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller(Season 2 now airing on National Geographic), Restaurants at the End of the World (debuting Tuesday, March 21, on National Geographic), Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper (debuting Saturday, June 17, on Nat Geo Wild), and Never Say Never with Jeff Jenkins (debuting Sunday, July 9, on National Geographic). All these series will be available to stream on Disney+ at a later date. The National Geographic Documentary Films Fire of Love, Retrograde, The Territory, and The Flagmakers are all available on the streaming service now.

Disney Television Studios

How I Met Your Father stars Hilary Duff, Christopher Lowell Francia Raisa, Suraj Sharma, Tom Ainsley, and Tien Tran and executive producers Isaac Aptaker, Elizabeth Berger, and Pamela Fryman participate in a Q&A on the set of the series.

On Wednesday, Disney Television Studios invited reporters to the set of the hit series How I Met Your Father for a Q&A with stars Hilary Duff, Christopher Lowell, Francia Raisa, Suraj Sharma, Tom Ainsley, and Tien Tran and executive producers Isaac Aptaker, Elizabeth Berger, and Pamela Fryman, where they teased what to expect in Season 2.

Watch the Season 2 trailer below:

Hulu

On Saturday, January 14, Hulu presented first looks at the upcoming original series History of the World, Part II; Up Here; Tiny Beautiful Things; and Saint X.

Actor Nick Kroll sits in a black leather chair onstage at the 2023 Winter Television Critics Association panel for History of the World, Part II.

After waiting over 40 years, there is finally a sequel to the seminal Mel Brooks film History of the World Part I, with each episode of History of the World, Part II featuring a variety of sketches that take us through different periods of human history.

The series stars Mel Brooks, Wanda Sykes, Nick Kroll, and Ike Barinholtz—as well as many more guest stars! Brooks also serves as a writer and executive producer on the series along with Kroll, Sykes, Barinholtz, and David Stassen. Kevin Salter, David Greenbaum, and Christie Smith are executive producers. Alice Mathias, Stassen, Kroll, and Lance Bangs directed the eight-episode season.

The first two episodes of History of the World, Part II premiere Monday, March 6, kicking off a four-night event with two new episodes launching each day.

In a scene from Up Here, actors Carlos Valdes as Miguel and Mae Whitman as Lindsay walk hand in hand down a path surrounded by evergreen trees.

Up Here follows the extraordinary story of one ordinary couple, Lindsay (Mae Whitman) and Miguel (Carlos Valdes), as they fall in love and discover that the single greatest obstacle to finding happiness together might just be themselves—and the treacherous world of memories, obsessions, fears, and fantasies that lives inside their heads.

The series also stars Katie Finneran, John Hodgman, Andréa Burns, Sophia Hammons, Emilia Suárez, and Scott Porter.

Up Here is written by Steven Levenson and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel with songwriting duo Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez writing original songs. Thomas Kail directs and executive produces the series alongside Levenson, Sanchez-Witzel, Anderson-Lopez, Lopez, and Jennifer Todd. 20th Television serves as the production company alongside Kail’s Old 320 Sycamore Productions.

All eight episodes will launch Friday, March 24, exclusively on Hulu.

Cheryl Strayed, Liz Tigelaar, Kathryn Hahn, and Quentin Plair sit in black leather chairs during a panel for Tiny Beautiful Things at the 2023 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour.

Based on the best-selling collection by Cheryl Strayed, Tiny Beautiful Things is about a woman—Clare (Kathryn Hahn)—who becomes a revered advice columnist when her own life is falling apart. When we first meet Clare, her marriage to her husband Danny (Quentin Plair) is on its last leg. Her daughter, Rae, will barely talk to her. And her once-promising writing career is non-existent... so, when an old writing friend suggests she take over as the advice columnist Dear Sugar, she thinks she’s the last person for the job. But after reluctantly agreeing, she realizes that she might just be completely qualified. As the letter writers force Clare to revisit her most pivotal moments, she excavates the beauty, struggle, and humor in her own life to show us that we are not beyond rescue, that it’s our stories that can ultimately save us, and maybe even bring us back home.

Liz Tigelaar serves as creator, showrunner, and executive producer, alongside executive producers Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Lauren Neustadter, Stacey Silverman, Jayme Lemons, Strayed, and Hahn. The series is from ABC Signature and Hello Sunshine. 

All eight episodes of Tiny Beautiful Things will be available to stream Friday, April 7.

Adapted from Alexis Schaitkin’s novel of the same name, the series Saint X—told via multiple timelines—explores and upends the girl-gone-missing genre as it explores how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth. 

The series stars Alycia Debnam-Carey, Josh Bonzie, West Duchovny, Jayden Elijah, Bre Francis, Kenlee Anaya Townsend, Betsy Brandt, and Michael Park.

Leila Gerstein wrote and will executive produce, with Dee Rees directing and executive producing. Stephen Williams will also executive produce with David Levine and Zack Hayden for Anonymous Content, Aubrey Graham pka Drake, Adel “Future” Nur, and Jason Shrier for Dreamcrew Entertainment, Alexis Schaitkin, and Steve Pearlman. Saint X is a production of ABC Signature. 

The first three episodes launch Wednesday, April 26, with new episodes debuting weekly thereafter.

Onyx Collective

Onyx Collective continues to expand its slate of premium programming by creators of color and underrepresented voices. Below are the panels and announcements from the TCA sessions on Saturday, January 14.

In a scene from series UnPrisoned, actors Kerry Washington and Delroy Lindo hug.

Original dramedy UnPrisoned, executive produced and starring Kerry Washington and Delroy Lindo, is set to premiere Friday, March 10, on Hulu, with all episodes streaming at once. From creator Tracy McMillan, the eight-episode series is produced by ABC Signature and will stream exclusively on Hulu in the U.S., Star+ in Latin America, and Disney+ in all other territories.

Inspired by McMillan’s life, UnPrisoned is a half-hour dramedy about a messy but perfectionist relationship therapist and single mom whose life is turned right-side-up when her dad gets out of prison and moves in with her and her teenage son.

The highly anticipated six-part limited docuseries The 1619 Project, an expansion of “The 1619 Project” created by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and The New York Times Magazine, paneled at the 2023 Winter TCA session. The series is set to premiere the first two episodes exclusively on Hulu on Thursday, January 26, with two episodes releasing weekly on Hulu subsequently, as previously announced.

The 1619 Project seeks to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the very center of our national narrative. The episodes—“Democracy,” “Race,” “Music,” “Capitalism,” “Fear,” and “Justice”—are adapted from essays from the recently published book, The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story, and examine how the legacy of slavery shapes different aspects of contemporary American life.

The series, hosted and executive produced by Hannah-Jones, is a Lionsgate Production in association with One Story Up Productions, Harpo Films, and The New York Times. Also serving as executive producers are Roger Ross Williams, Caitlin Roper, Kathleen Lingo, and Disney Legend Oprah Winfrey. Shoshana Guy is the showrunner and executive producer.

Onyx Collective also announced the pilot pickup of 1266 (working title), a scripted comedy from 20th Television starring Gabourey Sidibe, as well as a straight-to-series order greenlight for the three-part docuseries Black Twitter (working title), directed by Prentice Penny.  Based on Jason Parham’s WIRED article “A People’s History of Black Twitter,” this three-part series charts the rise, the movements, the voices, and the memes that made Black Twitter an influential and dominant force in nearly every aspect of American political and cultural life.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm®

By Andie Hagemann

This weekend, cancel your plans and curl up on the couch for a Pixar marathon leading into The Wonderful World of Disney’s presentation of Finding Nemo on Sunday night. We have assembled here a list of four beloved Pixar films available to binge on Disney+. And don’t forget to look out for Finding Nemo Easter eggs!

In a scene from Pixar’s Ratatouille, a young man wears a white chef’s coat and holds a gray rat in his outstretch right palm. They stand in front of a large window depicting the Paris skyline.

Ratatouille—Available to Stream on Disney+
Remy (voiced by Patton Oswalt) dreams of becoming a great chef despite his family’s wishes—and the fact that he’s a rat. When fate places Remy in Paris, he finds himself ideally situated beneath a restaurant made famous by his culinary hero, Auguste Gusteau (voiced by Brad Garrett). Determined to fulfill his dream, Remy forms an unlikely partnership with Linguini (voiced by Lou Romano), the garbage boy, who inadvertently discovers Remy’s amazing talents. They strike a deal, ultimately setting into motion an exciting chain of extraordinary events that turns the culinary world of Paris upside down. Meanwhile, Remy finds himself torn between following his dream and his previous existence with his rat family.

In a scene from Pixar’s Inside Out, characters Panic, Joy, and Disgust stand at a control panel and look at papers flying in the air.

Inside Out—Available to Stream on Disney+
Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it is no exception for Riley (voiced by Kaitlyn Dias), who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father gets a new job in San Francisco. Riley is guided by her emotions—Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler), Fear (voiced by Bill Hader), Anger (voiced by Lewis Black), Disgust (voiced by Mindy Kaling), and Sadness (voiced by Phyllis Smith). The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley’s mind, where they help advise her through everyday life. As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to her new life in San Francisco, chaos ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley’s main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate her new surroundings.

In a scene from Pixar’s Monsters Inc., Mike, a short, green, rotund monster, walks with Sulley, a tall monster with blue and purple fur, through a large warehouse structure.

Monsters, Inc.—Available to Stream on Disney+
Monsters, Incorporated is the largest scare factory in the monster world, and James P. “Sulley” Sullivan (voiced by Disney Legend John Goodman) is one of its top Scarers. Sully is a huge, intimidating monster with blue fur, large purple spots, and horns. His Scare Assistant, best friend, and roommate is Mike Wazowski (voiced by Disney Legend Billy Crystal), a green, opinionated, feisty, little one-eyed monster. Accidentally visiting from the human world is Boo (voiced by Mary Gibbs), a tiny girl who goes where no human has ever gone before. The star-studded voice cast also includes James Coburn as Henry J. Waternoose, Jennifer Tilly as Celia, Steve Buscemi as Randall Boggs, John Ratzenberger as Yeti, and Bonnie Hunt as Ms. Flint.

In a scene from Pixar’s Finding Dory, three Royal Blue Tang fish hug.

Finding Dory—Available to stream on Disney+
Dory (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres) embarks with her friends Nemo (voiced by Hayden Rolence) and Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) on a search for answers about her past. Who are her parents? Where did she learn to speak Whale? The film also features the voices of Ed O’Neill as Hank, Kaitlin Olson as Destiny, Ty Burrell as Bailey, Eugene Levy as Charlie, and Diane Keaton as Jenny.

In a scene from Pixar’s Finding Nemo, a large great white shark smiles and looks at a Royal Blue Tang fish and Clownfish swimming next to it.

The Wonderful World of Disney: Finding Nemo—Sunday, January 15, from 8-10 p.m. ET/PT
Nemo (voiced by Alexander Gould), an adventurous young clownfish, is unexpectedly taken from his Great Barrier Reef home to a dentist’s office aquarium. It’s up to his father, Marlin (Brooks), and the friendly but forgetful regal blue tang fish Dory (DeGeneres) to bring Nemo home. Along the way, the duo encounter an eclectic group of characters including vegetarian sharks, surfer dude turtles, hypnotic jellyfish, and hungry seagulls, to name a few.

Are You a Disney Expert? Try This Week’s Trivia Challenge!

As a member of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, you know your magic! This week we’re putting your Star Tours knowledge to the test to see if you are the ultimate Disney fan.

On what day did Star Tours open at Disneyland Resort in 1987?

Correct! Wrong!

Star Tours opened at Disneyland Resort on January 9, 1987.

Are You a Disney Expert? Try This Week’s Trivia Challenge!
You are the ultimate Disney fan!
Looks like you are a Disney expert! Thank you for participating in this week’s Trivia Challenge. We’ll see you next week for your chance to uphold your title as the ultimate Disney fan!
Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming!
Thank you for participating in this week’s Trivia Challenge! These questions are tricky, so don’t stop swimming yet. We’ll see you next week for your chance to earn the title of the ultimate Disney fan!

Everything to Eat, See, and Do at the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts

By Andie Hagemann

This week, the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts presented by AT&T returns to celebrate visual, culinary, and performing arts. Running between Friday, January 13, and Monday, February 20, 2023, the festival includes performances by Broadway’s biggest stars, awe-inspiring artwork, mouthwatering dishes (that are not only delicious but also works of art), and so much more! Read on to discover everything to eat, see, and do.

The DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series returns to the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts now through Feb. 21, 2022 at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. During three shows nightly, Broadway stars perform cherished songs from more than 25 years of award-winning stage productions. (David Roark, photographer)

The beloved DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series is back! Throughout the festival, three times each evening guests will be able to watch star-studded performances from more than 25 years of award-winning Disney on Broadway stage productions.

Here’s the full lineup of performers:

  • January 13, 15, 16, 19, 20: Kara Lindsay (Newsies) and Kevin Massey (Tarzan)
  • January 14, 17, 18, 21, 22: Arielle Jacobs (Aladdin) and Adam Jacobs (Aladdin)
  • January 23, 25, 26, 29, 30, and February 2, 3: Patti Murin (Frozen) and Robert Creighton (Frozen)
  • January 24, 27, 28, 31, and February 1, 4, 5: Mandy Gonzalez (AIDA) and L. Steven Taylor (The Lion King)
  • February 7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 18, 19: Kissy Simmons (The Lion King) and Josh Strickland (Tarzan)
  • February 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 17: Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins) and Michael James Scott (Aladdin)
  • February 20: Special, extended finale performance featuring Brown, Scott, Simmons, and Strickland

Visit ArtfulEPCOT.com for dining packages to pair with concert performances.

In addition to the DISNEY ON BROADWAY concert series, don’t miss daily performances by renowned musical artists in the World Showcase Plaza. Don Black (saxophone), Victor Espinola (harp), Dominic Gaudious (didgeridoo), and Nicholas Marks (guitar), are among the featured musicians. Check the My Disney Experience app for daily showtimes.

The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts will also highlight new artists who will immerse guests in stunning artwork filled with color, expression, and soul. In all, more than 100 Disney and visiting artists will participate. Some of the new and returning talent include Larissa Marantz, Yesenia Moises, Ryan Riller, Joe Ledbetter, and Kahran and Regis Bethencourt.

Express your artistic side by visiting the Animation Academy in the America Gardens Theatre, where guests can learn how to draw a Disney character in a session led by an animation artist. From 12:30–1 p.m. daily, the sessions will be taught by one of these artists: Will Gay, Lon Smart, Ron Cohee, Matthew Dewater, Brian Blackmore, Sarah Schmidt, David Holbrook, Michael Montgomery, Alex Maher, and Andy Quiles.

Visit the Expression Section booth to pick up paint, a brush, and an assigned number to contribute to the enormous paint by numbers mural. This opportunity is available from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. daily.

Strike a pose in the picturesque step-in frames around the park honoring iconic works of art. Disney PhotoPass photographers will be on hand at each site to capture the magic and your entire party. Find the step-in frames at the locations below:

  • International Gateway: Luncheon of the Boating Party (Pierre-Auguste Renoir)
  • The American Adventure: Washington Crossing the Delaware (Emanuel Leutze)
  • Between the Italy and Germany Pavilions: Mona Lisa (Leonardo da Vinci) and The Scream (Edvard Munch)
  • Mexico Pavilion: An homage to Frida Kahlo
  • Bridge to World Showcase: Peter Pan Storybook and Café Terrace at Night and Sunflowers (Vincent van Gogh)
  • Italy Pavilion Courtyard: Birth of Venus (Sandro Botticelli)

Kids can create their own chalk-art masterpiece near the bridge to the World Showcase Plaza. This experience is available from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. daily.

Guests can bring home Figment with the Fruity Fig Bar Figment Disney Munchling, the Figment Premium Popcorn Bucket (now with a new EPCOT 40th anniversary strap), and other Figment-inspired festival merchandise including a Spirit Jersey, a Figment Chalkboard Framed Mug, and a Figment CORKCICLE Tumbler.

The young and young at heart can help Figment learn about art with Figment’s Brush with the Masters scavenger hunt around the World Showcase. To get started, purchase a map and stickers (while supplies last) for $9.99 plus tax at one of the following stores: Creations Shop, Port of Entry, and World Traveler.

As guests stroll the World Showcase, they can search for Figment hiding inside art inspired by famous works at each World Showcase Pavilion—look for the Figment-themed picture frame. Each time you find Figment, add the corresponding sticker to the Pavilion on your map. After you complete your journey, return your map to Disney Traders or World Traders for a small keepsake.

No festival is complete without delectable bites and sips! Our friends at the Disney Parks Blog compiled a scrumptious food guide detailing all the offerings available throughout the park, including the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine offerings.

Take your tastebuds on a tasty trek around EPCOT with seven vibrant dishes—and one technicolor treat to enjoy at the end of your journey. Use the Festival Passport to look for the specifically noted items and track your progress by collecting a stamp after each purchase. Once you’ve had at least five of the seven dishes—and collected the stamps—bring your stamped Festival Passport to the Deco Delights food studio to receive a complimentary Artist Palette Cookie.

Pop Eats (Near Port of Entry)

  • Tomato Soup with grilled cheese
  • Tomato Soup with pimento cheese, bacon, and fried green tomato grilled cheese (New)
  • Almond Frangipane Cake layered with raspberry jam and Belgian chocolate (Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine Item)
  • Brooklyn Brewery Pulp Art Hazy IPA
  • Bleu Spectrum: Blanc de Bleu Cuveé Mousseux with boba pearls

The Deconstructed Dish (Near Port of Entry)

  • Deconstructed BLT: Pork belly, soft-poached egg, onion bread pudding, watercress espuma, and tomato jam
  • Deconstructed French Onion Soup: Beef broth ravioli, gruyère cream, onion bread pudding, and onion textures
  • Deconstructed Key Lime Pie: Flexible Key lime curd, “Key lime” mousse, graham cracker cake, and meringues (Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine Item)  
  • Deconstructed Apple Pie à la Mode: Apple-cinnamon gelato, cinnamon apple cider, apple pie filling, and streusel (Non-Alcoholic)
  • Wicked Weed Brewing Blank Canvas Belgian Blonde Witbier

Deco Delights (Near Port of Entry) 

  • Dulce Chocolate Mousse with chocolate crémeux and dark chocolate truffle
  • Decadent Valrhona Chocolate with dark chocolate mousse, chocolate brownie, and cassis mousse
  • Orange Mousse with Lemon Cake and Raspberry Meringues (Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine Item)
  • 3 Daughters Brewing Strawberry Blonde Nitro
  • 81Bay Brewing Co. Vanilla Porter
  • Playalinda Brewing Co. Milk Stout
  • Espresso Martini featuring Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka (New) 
  • Neapolitan Beer Flight

The Craftsman’s Courtyard (Near Creations Shop)

  • Beef Wellington: Mushroom duxelles, prosciutto, and puff pastry with red wine demi-glace and baby vegetables
  • Cast Iron-roasted P.E.I. Mussels with sautéed tomatoes, garlic, and fresh herbs
  • BrewDog Jet Black Heart Nitro Oatmeal Stout (New)
  • Cold Fashion Coffee Cocktail

Refreshment Outpost

  • Plant-based Bratwurst with spicy turmeric aïoli, coffee barbecue jackfruit, and slaw (Plant-based item)
  • Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie
  • Soft-Serve Waffle Cone: DOLE Whip, salted-caramel soft-serve, or swirl
  • Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. Berries & Cream Sour Berliner (New)
  • Left Hand Brewing Co. Wook Bait IPA (New)
  • Central 28 Beer Company Wall Art Brown Ale

Pastoral Palate (Germany) 

  • Red Wine-braised Beef Short Rib with parsnip purée, broccolini, baby tomatoes, and aged balsamic
  • Wild Boar Cassoulet with duck confit, ham hock, and wild boar sausage
  • Black Forest Cake: Chocolate Mousse with morello cherries and Chantilly cream (New)
  • 3 Daughters Brewing Rosé Hard Cider
  • 81Bay Brewing Co. Rosé Blonde Ale
  • Frozen Rosé
  • A Play on Rosé Flight
  • Marietta Old Vine Rosé 

The Artist’s Table (The American Adventure)

  • Three-Meat Meatloaf with “Peas and Carrots”: Green pea pudding, carrot ketchup, shaved carrot salad, and snap peas (New)
  • Duck and Dumplings: Smoked duck breast, ricotta dumplings, petite vegetables, and duck jus (New)
  • Hummingbird Cake: Banana cake with pineapple, coconut, pecans, and cream cheese frosting with banana sorbet (New)
  • Sipping Chocolate Flight: White, milk, and dark chocolates (Non-Alcoholic)
  • Boulevard Brewing Co. Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale (New)
  • Parish Brewing Co. South Coast Session Amber Ale (New)
  • Brewery Ommegang Three Philosophers Belgian Quad (New)
  • Lange Estate Winery Pinot Noir
  • Symphony in Chocolate Flight: Mozart Chocolate Liqueurs paired with sipping chocolates
  • Beer Flight

Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina (Morocco)

  • Carrots Three Ways: Chermoula-spiced grilled carrots, pickled carrots, and carrot ginger purée (Plant-based item) (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly)
  • House-Made Crispy Almond Phyllo Pockets with white chocolate pomegranate and milk chocolate orange
  • Chai Tea Mint Sparkler featuring Twinings Chai Tea with Sprite (Non-Alcoholic)
  • Stem Ciders Flockstar Hard Cider
  • Blake’s Hard Cider Co. Mule de Pomme: Pomegranate, ginger, and lime hard cider
  • 3 Daughters Brewing Chai Hard Cider
  • Chai Tea Mint Mimosa featuring Twinings Chai Tea with Key lime sparkling wine and mint
  • Cider Flight

Vibrante & Vívido: Encanto Cocina (Between Morocco and France) 

  • Chorizo and Potato Empanada with turmeric aïoli and annatto aïoli (Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine Item)  
  • Spicy Ajiaco Soup with guajillo and árbol chili-spiced chicken, potato, avocado, corn, and crème fraîche (Gluten/Wheat Friendly)
  • Passion Fruit Mousse with dragon fruit jam (Gluten/Wheat Friendly)
  • Coconut and Passion Fruit Smoothie (Non-Alcoholic)
  • Frozen Piña Colada
  • Passion Fruit Daiquiri

Refreshment Port (Near Canada)

  • Gnocchi Poutine with red wine-braised beef, cheese curds, basil, and burrata
  • Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie
  • Soft-serve Waffle Cone: DOLE®Whip Strawberry, DOLE Whip Lemon, or swirl
  • Blood Orange Cosmo: Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka with blood orange, cranberry, and lime
  • Boulevard Brewing Co. Quirk Blueberry Lemon & Lavender Hard Seltzer (New) 

Gourmet Landscapes (Canada) 

  • Blood Orange-braised Beet Tartare with mustard vinaigrette, pickled clamshell mushrooms, and golden beets (Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine Item) (Plant-Based Item) (Gluten/Wheat Friendly)
  • Roasted Bone Marrow with onion marmalade, pickled mushrooms, and petite lettuce
  • Wild Mushroom Risotto with aged Parmesan, truffle shavings, and zinfandel reduction
  • Whole Hog Brewery Raspberry Chéret Double Radler
  • Schlumberger Cuvée Klimt Brut
  • The Meeker Vineyard Winemaker’s Handprint Merlot
  • Frozen Rusty Nail Cocktail

Moderne (Near Test Track)

  • Compressed Watermelon Tataki with pickled watermelon rind, yuzu pearls, watermelon foam, and wasabi (New) (Plant-Based Item)
  • Angry Crab: Whole crispy soft-shell crab with green papaya salad, mango-sriracha fluid gel, and coconut-lime foam with pomegranate and mango crush pearls (New) 
  • Pan-seared Scallops with vanilla-butternut squash purée, brown butter cauliflower purée, and lime foam (Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine Item)
  • The Tropics: Lilikoi mousse, guava cake, coconut crémeux, compressed pineapple, and mango gel (New)
  • Watermelon Mary featuring Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka (New)
  • Lohr Riesling (New)

Figment’s Inspiration Station at the Odyssey: Art, Food, and Little Sparks of Magic

  • Fruit Pizza: Watermelon, compressed cantaloupe, berries, and berry balsamic (New) (Plant-Based Item) (Gluten/Wheat Friendly)
  • Pop’t Art: Sugar Cookie with blueberry filling (Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine Item)  
  • Rainbow Cake with freeze-dried SKITTLES bite sized candies
  • Figment Premium Popcorn Bucket with rainbow popcorn (Limit 2 Per Person)
  • Grape Smoothie with freeze-dried SKITTLES bite sized candies (Non-Alcoholic) (New)
  • 3 Daughters Brewing Black Cherry Hard Cider (New)
  • 3 Daughters Brewing Blood Orange Hard Cider (New)
  • 3 Daughters Brewing Passion Fruit Hard Cider (New)
  • Rainbow Cider Flight (New)
  • 81Bay Brewing Co. Green with Envy Blonde Ale (New)
  • 81Bay Brewing Co. Blue Butterfly Lager (New)
  • Urban Artifact The Gadget Raspberry & Blackberry Midwest Fruit Tart (New)
  • Rainbow Beer Flight (New)

Connections Café 

  • Figment Liege Waffle (New)

Connections Eatery

  • Dusk ‘Til Dawn: Three Olives Blueberry Vodka, lemonade, and orange juice with cotton candy

L’Art de la Cuisine Française (France)

  • Crème de Brie en Petit Pain: Warm creamy brie in a house-made bread bowl
  • Croissant à la Truffle Noir d’Hiver: Black winter truffle croissant
  • Mille-Feuille de Betteraves aux Herbes et Noix de Cajoux: Plant-based napoleon with beets, cashew-herb filling, pepper-pine nut sauce, and balsamic vinegar caviar (New) (Plant-Based Item)
  • Moelleux aux Noisettes et Chocolats Valrhona: Molten chocolate and hazelnut cake with pure origin Valrhona chocolates and passion fruit-mango sauce
  • Frozen French Martini: Grey Goose Vodka, vodka, Chambord liqueur, pineapple, orange, and grape juices with lemon-lime foam
  • Charles Lafitte, Brut Rosé Prestige, Méthode Traditionnelle Champenoise, French Rosé Sparkling Wine
  • Domaine Raphaël Sallet, Mâcon-Uchizy Les Maranches 2020, Chardonnay, Mâconnais, Burgundy (New)
  • Cîroc Sunset Citrus Vodka Spritz (New)

El Artista Hambriento (Mexico)

  • Carne Asada: Chipotle-marinated beef sirloin, sweet potato purée, and crispy-fried onions (New)
  • Huarache de Champiñones: Guajillo chile and corn masa huarache with pinto beans, oyster mushrooms, Nopales, queso fresco, and pea tendrils (New)
  • Flan de Coco: Coconut flan, guava sauce, and whipped cream (New) (Gluten/Wheat Friendly)
  • Mexican Craft Beer: Cielito Lindo Artisanal Mexican Craft Beer
  • Bombon Margarita “Marshmallow”: Ilegal Mezcal Reposado, marshmallow cordial, lime juice, agave nectar and a hint of coffee and elderflower served with a toasted marshmallow (New)
  • Las Californias: Tromba Blanco Tequila, strawberry-lime purée, and Las Californias Citrus Mexican Gin (New)

Goshiki (Japan)

  • Rainbow Katsu Sando: Pork cutlet sandwich with tangy tonkatsu sauce and cabbage in rainbow sweet bread (New)
  • Sushi Donut: Donut-shaped sushi featuring salmon, tuna, shrimp, cucumber, and sesame seed over a decorated plate of wasabi aïoli, sriracha aïoli, and eel sauce
  • Ichigo Daifuku: Mixed berry mochi, sweet azuki bean paste, and mascarpone (New)
  • Sui Sui Watercolor Lager (New)
  • Masu Sake in a traditional personalized wooden cup
  • Purple Yuzu Sake Lemonade: Sake cocktail infused with butterfly pea flower and yuzu lemonade (New)

The Painted Panda (China)

  • General Tso’s Chicken Shumai
  • Char Siu Pork Bun
  • “Panda” Bubble Milk Tea with black tea, milk, chocolate, and tapioca boba pearls (Non-Alcoholic)
  • Lucky Foo Pale Ale
  • Silk Road Hard Lemonade with Smirnoff Vodka, lavender-coconut syrup, and lemonade (New)
  • Sea Butterfly: Butterfly Pea Flower-infused cocktail with Smirnoff Vodka, light rum, lychee syrup, and magic boba pearls

L’Arte di Mangiare (Italy)

  • Mozzarella Fritta: Flash-fried breaded fresh mozzarella with artist palette condiments (New)
  • Ravioli ai Funghi, Perle Tartufate: Wild mushroom-stuffed pasta with truffle butter and truffle pearls (New)
  • Budino al Cioccolato: Chocolate pudding with colorful chocolate décor (New)
  • Peroni Pilsner
  • Chianti
  • Prosecco
  • Italian Sangria Red or White
  • Italian Margarita with tequila and limoncello
  • Amaretto Bellini: DISARONNO Originale Liqueur, white peach purée, and prosecco 

Funnel Cake

  • Mocha Funnel Cake: Mini Funnel Cake with cappuccino ice cream topped with chocolate whipped cream and M&M’S® chocolate candies (New)

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

World Discovery (Near Mission: SPACE) 

  • Amber Frost: An artistic blend of frozen lemon ice, a splash of Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, blood orange, and orange popping boba pearls (New)(Alcoholic Version Available with Grey Goose Vodka)

Near Canada

  • Magenta Frost: An artistic blend of frozen lemon ice, a splash of Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, dragon fruit, and dragon fruit popping boba pearls (New) (Alcoholic Version Available with Grey Goose Vodka)

Showcase Plaza (Near Disney Traders) 

  • Jade Frost: An artistic blend of frozen lemon ice, a splash of Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, green apple, and green apple popping boba pearls (New)(Alcoholic Version Available with Grey Goose Vodka)

The American Adventure 

  • Cerulean Frost: An artistic blend of frozen lemon ice, a splash of Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, blue raspberry, and blueberry popping boba pearls 6.39 (New)(Alcoholic Version Available with Grey Goose Vodka)

(Note: All offerings are subject to change and availability.) 

Disney Earns 19 Screen Actors Guild Awards® Nominations

By Zach Johnson

Nominations for the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® were revealed Wednesday, with The Walt Disney Company receiving 19 nods across 12 categories.

Disney earned nominations in the following categories:

Colin Farrell and Barry Keoghan sit in a dimly lit bar. They are seated at a table. Two half-full pints of beer and an ashtray are placed on the table before them.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Colin Farrell, The Banshees of Inisherin

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Brendan Gleeson, The Banshees of Inisherin
Barry Keoghan, The Banshees of Inisherin

Angela Bassett wears an ornate black headpiece; a large square, gold earring; and a black cloak. She stands along the coast and stares off into the distance.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Kerry Condon, The Banshees of Inisherin

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
The Banshees of Inisherin

Lo’ak holds the fin of a tulkun in the open water.

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
Avatar: The Way of Water
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Steve Carell sits in bed against a brick wall. To the left of him is a large lamp. Carell’s hair is white and his beard is white and full. He is wearing eyeglasses, a chunky green sweater, khaki pants, and brown dress shoes. He is writing on a yellow legal pad.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
Steve Carell, The Patient

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
Amanda Seyfried, The Dropout

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Jeff Bridges, The Old Man

Disney Legend Steve Martin wears brown rimmed eyeglasses, a green and brown striped sweater, and a white dress shirt. He is holding a cell phone in his hands. Behind him is a corkboard with photos of potential murder suspects and other notes.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
Jeremy Allen White, The Bear

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
Only Murders in the Building

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
Andor

Screen Actors Guild Award winners will be announced on Sunday, February 26.

The Walt Disney Company Wins 9 Golden Globe® Awards

By Zach Johnson

It was a golden night, all right! 

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association awarded The Walt Disney Company nine Golden Globes® on Monday—more than any other entertainment company. The accolades spanned multiple content brands and studios: ABC Entertainment, Disney Television Studios’ 20th Television, FX, FX Productions, Hulu Originals, Marvel Studios, Searchlight Pictures, Searchlight Television, and Walt Disney Studios. Searchlight Pictures’ The Banshees of Inisherin and ABC and 20th Television’s Abbott Elementary were the evening’s big winners, earning three awards each during the glitzy ceremony.

Join us in congratulating all of Disney’s Golden Globe winners: 

Brendan Gleeson is sitting outside on the Irish coastline. In front of him is a nearly empty pint of beer. Rolling green hills are in the distance, while the backside of a horse is seen just behind him. The weather is overcast. Gleeson is wearing a brown corduroy vest, a long-sleeved blue shirt, and corduroy pants. His hair is slicked back. 

The Banshees of Inisherin (Searchlight Pictures)

  • Best Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy)
  • Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy) – Colin Farrell
  • Best Screenplay – Martin McDonagh

Tyler James Williams smiles and clasps his hands together. He is wearing a black zip-up polo, a black cardigan with a gray trim, and a blue lanyard that reads “Willard R. Abbott Elementary” in a white serif font. The lanyard holds his school ID. Williams is standing in a classroom, with blurred books, a globe, and more behind him.

Abbott Elementary (ABC/20th Television)

  • Best Television Series (Musical/Comedy)
  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series (Musical/Comedy) – Quinta Brunson
  • Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical-Comedy or Drama Television Series – Tyler James Williams

Jeremy Allen White sits on a somewhat dirty steel countertop in an industrial kitchen. He is wearing a white T-shirt, exposing multiple tattoos on each arm. The tattoos include Cupid, a snail, slot machine numbers, and more. White is wearing a blue apron over his shirt. His curly blond hair is messy, and he appears exasperated.

The Bear (FX)

  • Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series (Musical/Comedy) – Jeremy Allen White

A close-up of Angela Bassett shows her wearing cream and white funeral attire. She stands on the coastline with trees in the background and the sun shining.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel Studios)

  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture – Angela Bassett

Amanda Seyfried sits alone in a row of wooden chairs—the first of several rows. Her messy blond hair is pulled back into a loose ponytail. She wears a black blazer over a black turtleneck, as well as smudged red lipstick and heavy black eyeliner.

The Dropout (Hulu Originals/20th Television/Searchlight Television)

  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television – Amanda Seyfried

Every Amazing Disney Parks Announcement from This Week!

By Sarah Sterling

We’re only one full week into 2023 and there is already so much to look forward to at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort this year! The Disney Parks news has been non-stop the last few days—from attraction openings and new food locations, to lots of updates for Passholders and Magic Key holders.

“These changes are centered on creating a better experience for our guests and building a future where we are constantly introducing new stories and experiences across the globe,” Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro recently said.

Don’t worry: We’ve compiled everything you need to know in one convenient place. Here are all the announcements, updates, and news on what’s coming soon to Disneyland and Walt Disney World!

Walt Disney World Resort:

Promotional graphic for TRON LightCycle / Run at Walt Disney World. It features four guests on lightcycle bikes, two orange and two blue, racing along the futuristic Grid from the TRON franchise. On the left side of the image is the Walt Disney World logo in bright blue. Underneath is the TRON logo in white and the attraction’s opening date, 04.04.2023.

TRON Lightcycle / Run Opens April 4 at Magic Kingdom Park
The highly anticipated TRON Lightcycle / Run will open at Magic Kingdom Park on April 4, 2023.

The story of TRON Lightcycle / Run picks up after TRON: Legacy, and finds Kevin’s son, Sam Flynn, opening a second gateway into a digital realm called the Grid. The first of the portals he created is found at Shanghai Disneyland with the original TRON Lightcycle Power Run. Magic Kingdom Cast Members will be the first to enter the Grid during special previews before the attraction officially opens—but there will be additional preview opportunities for guests too, including Annual Passholders and eligible Disney Vacation Club Members.

A finale shot from Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom Park. Cinderella Castle is illuminated with bright projection-mapped images of Disney characters, including Mulan, Tarzan, Cinderella, Aladdin, Woody, Merida, and more. Fireworks illuminate the sky behind the castle.

Happily Ever After Returns to Magic Kingdom Park
Meanwhile, fan-favorite nighttime spectacular Happily Ever After returns to the Magic Kingdom on April 3, featuring all-new projections down Main Street, U.S.A. Plus, Disney Enchantment will be offered through April 2. We can’t wait to reach out and find our happily ever after again this Spring!

Guests stand against the railing at the World Showcase Lagoon at EPCOT. They stare out over the water with excited looks and smiles as they watch the show. Fireworks light up the sky above them.

EPCOT Forever Returns to EPCOT’s World Showcase Lagoon
An all-new nighttime spectacular is planned to debut at EPCOT later this year—but in the meantime, guests can enjoy EPCOT Forever as an interim show over the skies of World Showcase Lagoon starting April 3. A limited-time spectacle of lasers, lighting, special effects, and fireworks, EPCOT Forever returns with a collection of songs that offer both a trip down memory lane and a look toward the future. Harmonious will have its final performance on April 2.

Complimentary Self-parking When Staying at a Disney Resort hotel
Beginning this evening—yes, tonight, Tuesday, January 10—overnight self-parking will once again be offered complimentary to guests staying at Disney Resort hotels at Walt Disney World!

Relaxed Park Reservation Requirements
Beginning in the next few months, Walt Disney World Annual Passholders will be able to visit the theme parks after 2 p.m. without needing a park reservation, except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom Park. Pass block-out dates will continue to apply like they do today.

A collage of three images of guests at Walt Disney World using the Disney PhotoPass Lenses. The first image is a woman with a computer generated image of Grogu on her back. In the middle is a young man with Cinderella Castle behind him, but it has been transformed into the pink 25th anniversary “cake castle”. Finally, a woman with long brown hair takes a photo with a fake chef’s hat on her head. Inside the hat you can see an image of Remy from Ratatouille pulling on her hair.

Disney Genie+ Attraction Photo Downloads & Passholder Disney PhotoPass Lenses
Also beginning in the next few months, guests purchasing Disney Genie+ service will receive digital downloads of their Disney PhotoPass attraction photos taken in the park on the day of their purchase at no additional charge. Walt Disney World Resort Passholders will receive access to Disney PhotoPass lenses and one complimentary Cinderella Castle Mural of Memories experience (age restrictions apply). Visit Cinderella Castle Mural of Memories and Disney PhotoPass Lenses for details, restrictions, and other information.

Disneyland Resort:

A rendering of Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle decorated for the Disney100 celebration. There are iridescent banners hanging from each turret and a large banner over the gateway reading “Disney 100”. Two fountains flank the drawbridge and the banners are being held up by Flora, Fauna, and Merrywether from Sleeping Beauty.

Switch Between Parks Even Earlier with Park Hopper Tickets
Beginning February 4, 2023, guests who enter a Disneyland Resort theme park with a Magic Key pass or a Park Hopper ticket may begin crossing over between the parks two hours earlier—starting at 11 a.m. PT! This means even more magic and more fun for your day as you enjoy the best of what both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park have to offer.

Even More Opportunities to Visit with $104 Park Ticket
We’re happy to share that the Disneyland Resort reservation calendar will offer nearly two months’ worth of $104 park ticket dates throughout 2023—which means additional opportunities to enjoy our lowest one-day, one-park ticket price while creating moments destined to become memories. And with so many exciting new offerings, from the two new nighttime spectaculars—Wondrous Journeys at Disneyland and World of Color – One at Disney California Adventure—to Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, all opening January 27, plus returning favorite festivals, there’s so much to see and do coming up for guests to enjoy!

Complimentary Disney PhotoPass Digital Attraction Photos
Throughout the Disney100 celebration at the Disneyland Resort, Disney PhotoPass digital photo downloads will be complimentary for all ticketed park guests on the Disneyland app starting February 4. This includes any PhotoPass digital photo captured on any Disney PhotoPass available attraction during a park visit.

More Opportunities to Join the Magic Key program
Disneyland Resort will make select Magic Key passes available for new sales from time to time throughout 2023 as pass inventory becomes available. Continue to check Disneyland.com/MagicKey for pass on sale dates and availability.

Disneyland Resort Downtown Disney District: 

A sandwich, drink, and pile of chips from Earl of Sandwich. A large chicken sandwich with avocado, bacon, and lettuce sits next to a to-go cup featuring the Earl of Sandwich logo.

Downtown Disney District Welcomes Back Earl of Sandwich
Earl of Sandwich will return to the Downtown Disney District this February! Earl of Sandwich and table service options at Earl of Sandwich Tavern will both be temporarily located at the La Brea Bakery location. Keep your eyes peeled for Earl of Sandwich opening in the coming weeks.

Porto’s Bakery
Porto’s Bakery will be bringing their famous California-Cuban cuisine (we’re partial to their cheese rolls and potato balls) to the Downtown Disney District! Plans are underway to design and construct an all-new Porto’s location near the Esplanade on the footprint of the La Brea Bakery location. Look out for more details on these exciting plans coming soon.

Concept art of the upcoming Din Tai Fung restaurant coming to Downtown Disney. It features a round bar at the center of the restaurant under a beautiful, beaded centerpiece hanging from the ceiling. Individual tables and booth surround the bar and the entire restaurant is bathed in gold lighting.

Din Tai Fung
... And to end this Downtown Disney District update on one more delicious note, check out this exciting look at concept art for the Din Tai Fung restaurant, which will open on the west side of the district in the future. With so many delicious dining options coming to Downtown Disney, we don’t know which one we want to visit first!

Let’s not forget we also have Lunar New Year and the Food & Wine Festival to enjoy this Spring at Disney California Adventure, plus the opening of the reimagined Mickey’s Toontown and return of the Magic Happens parade at Disneyland Park! No matter which coast you frequent, there is endless magic to experience at Disney Parks this year. What tasty treat, nighttime spectacular, or Passholder perk are you looking forward to? Let us know on social media and keep an eye on D23.com for more updates on these projects at Disney Parks.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

By Andie Hagemann

From superhero kittens to treasure hunting, this week has something for every member of the family to enjoy. On Monday, mature audiences can watch the all-new animated series Koala Man, exclusively on Hulu. The paw-some new superhero series SuperKitties premieres Wednesday on Disney Channel and Disney Junior, followed by a new episode of The Conners airing that evening on ABC, as well as the latest installment of National Treasure: Edge of History on Disney+. Last but not least, new contestants test their wits on The Chase, airing Thursday on ABC.

In a scene from the Hulu animated series Koala Man, a man wears a koala mask; a blue blanket as a cape; a green, short-sleeved T-shirt; and blue jean shorts. He’s in a backyard fighting long green vines.

Koala Man—Monday, January 9, on Hulu
The all-new animated series—intended for mature audiences only—follows middle-aged dad Kevin (voiced by series creator Michael Cusack) and his not-so-secret identity as Koala Man, whose only superpower is passion for following rules and snuffing out petty crime. While it may seem like any other Australian suburb, Dapto has evil forces both cosmic and man-made brewing. However, Koala Man is ready to defeat criminal masterminds, supernatural horrors, and more. The voice cast also includes Sarah Snook and Demi Lardner, and guest stars Hugh Jackman, Jemaine Clement, Rachel House, Hugo Weaving, and Jarrad Wright.

In a scene from the Disney Channel animated series SuperKitties, kittens wear colorful super hero masks and uniforms and walk down a city sidewalk.

SuperKitties—Wednesday, January 11, at 10:30 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel and Disney Junior
The all-new series from Disney Branded Television introduces four adorable kittens who are ready to pounce into action. In the series premiere, the SuperKitties—Ginny (voiced by Luca’s Emma Berman), Sparks (voiced by Cruz Flateau), Buddy (voiced by JeCobi Swain), and Bitsy (voiced by Pyper Braun)—investigate who is stealing all the yarn in Kittydale. The second story follows the devious Lab Rat, who invents a giant boot to smash all the flowers at the Kittydale Flower Festival. In addition to the simulcast, an initial batch of episodes will be available to stream on Disney+.

In a scene from ABC series The Conners, actors William H. Macy as Smitty and Disney Legend John Goodman as Dan Conner stand over a wooden table and argue in a bar. Actor Katey Sagal as Louise sits on a wooden chair next to the table and looks at Macy. Macy wears a black turtleneck, a black blazer, and black pants, and holds a beer bottle down by his right leg. Goodman wears denim jeans and a red letterman’s jacket with tan leather sleeves. Sagal wears a black long-sleeved T-shirt.

The Conners—Wednesday, January 11, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
After a beloved high school teacher dies, former classmates of Dan (Disney Legend John Goodman) and Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) come to down to pay their respects and reminisce about the good old days. Elsewhere, Becky (Alicia Goranson) asks Darlene (Sara Gilbert) and Ben (Jay R. Ferguson) for a big favor. William H. Macy guest stars as Smitty.

In a scene from Disney+’s National Treasure: Edge of History, actor Lisette Olivera as Jess stands with her hands touching a large, wooden bookcase. She wears a cream long-sleeved T-shirt, a brown leather belt, and light blue denim jeans.

National Treasure: Edge of History—Wednesday, January 11, on Disney+
Jess (Lisette Olivera) works with Billie (Catherine Zeta-Jones) to decipher a hundreds-year-old clue that is tied to a famous 18th century landmark. Together, they plan a near-impossible heist during a historical reenactment to retrieve the next piece of the treasure map. However, things don’t go as planned—and Jess is face with a difficult decision. All episodes are available to binge on the streaming service.

In a scene from ABC competition series The Chase, Brandon Blackwell sits above a large digital screen that reads “$40,000.” He wears a black blazer; a white button-down shirt; and a purple and silver-striped tie.

The Chase—Thursday, January 12, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
Hosted by Sara Haines, the trivia competition series returns with three all-new contestants vying for the chance to take down the Chaser. Will the combined wits of a heavy metal music enthusiast, a high school teacher, and an oncologist be enough to take down Brandon “The Lightning Bolt” Blackwell? Tune in to find out!