TV News Roundup: OWN Orders Celebrity Relationship Series ‘#LoveGoals’

By LaTesha Harris

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – In today’s TV news roundup, OWN orders a new unscripted relationship series and Disney Channel orders new seasons of “The Owl House” and “Sydney to the Max.” 

DATES

ABC will live broadcast the “2020 NCAA Gymnastics Championship Final” on April 18. The semi finals will air the day before at 1 and 6 p.m. ET. ESPN networks will feature over 50 hours of gymnastics coverage during the 2020 session

DEVELOPMENT

OWN
ordered an unscripted relationship series titled
“#LoveGoals
,
”
premiering
March 2020
. In the series,
Spirit
, renowned family and relationship therapist, counsels five celebrity couples:
Benzino
and
Althea Heart
(“Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta”); former NFL wide receiver and rapper
Dwayne Bowe
with wife
Theresa Bowe
;
Sundy Carter
(“Basketball Wives”) with
Breyon Williams
;
Dee Dee Roper
of Salt-N-Pepa with
Quenton Coleman
; and
Coolio
with
Mimi Ivey
. 

Disney Channel
ordered a second season of
“”
ahead of the Jan. 10 series premiere. Created and executive-produced by
Dana 

Terrace (“DuckTales”), the series follows teenaged mortal Luz (voiced by
Sarah Nicole-Robles
of “Boss Baby”) as she apprentices under a witch, Eda (voiced by Emmy Award-nominee
Wendie Malick
), in a magical realm. “The Owl House” will be on Disney Channel and DisneyNow. 

Disney Channe
l also ordered a third season of
“Sydney to the Max”
ahead of the 2020 Season 2 premiere. The series follows middle schooler Sydney who lives with her single father, Max, and her unconventional grandmother, Judy. The show is created and executive produced by “Frasier” showrunner
Mark Reisman.

EXECUTIVE NEWS

Endemol Shine North America
named Scott Shillet as executive director of licensing. “I am thrilled to have Scott join me in building a world-class licensing team here at Endemol Shine. His vast experience in entertainment licensing, his passion for our properties and his deep relationships within our industry will make him an asset to the entire Endemol Shine Group global licensing team,” Amber Sheppo, senior vice president of licensing, said. Endemol Shine Group is behind global hit series like “Black Mirror” and “Peaky Blinders.” 

PBS
promoted
Susanne Simpson
to executive producer of
“Masterpiece
.
”
“It’s an incredible honor to be taking over a series with “Masterpiece”’s unique history — one that has created a devoted audience for British drama,” Simpson said. Additionally Rebecca Eaton 

has been promoted to executive-producer-at-large.