Larry Busacca/Getty ImagesBIll Cosby is ready to get his gleek on!
NBC bosses Robert Greenblatt, Jennifer Selke and Paul Telegdy took the stage at the 2014 Summer TCA Press Tour to drop a whole bunch of news on their line-up, including the renewal of three of their popular reality series. But has NBC quietly canceled Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice?
Plus, they revealed that a Glee star is teaming up with Bill Cosby, who is set to star in a new sitcom, and that they are in talks to bring back Maya Rudolph's variety show...
BIll Cosby Gleeks Out: Mike O'Malley, who plays fan favorite father Burt Hummel on Glee, is set to serve a producer and writer on comedy legend Bill Cosby's sitcom and may also appear in front of the camera as well. Centering on Cosby as a father "with three daughters and husbands and children," Selke revealed, "We hope to have Mike O'Malley to play one of the spouses."
And viewers missing an old-school, feel-good TV show will be happy to hear Selke's description of the series: "It's just a classic, big, extended family sitcom," with Cosby "dispelling classic wisdom on relationships and parenthood." But you may have to wait a while to actually watch the show: "It's not going to be on before this coming season is over, I don't believe," Greenblatt said, adding that "it could be next summer...it could be summer or fall."
Celebrity Apprentice Canceled?: Nope! Though the cast has yet to be announced, the network has already finished filming the next season of the Celebrity Apprentice...they just don't currently have any plans to air it. "We have produced the season…there's no update about its schedule," Telegdy said. "In terms of actually scheduling the current season, it's partly we have a wealth of new material..as yet, we haven't figured out the perfect place for the Celebrity Apprentice to go." Sorry, Donald! At least you haven't actually heard the words "You're Fired!" yet?
More Maya: After The Maya Rudolph Showspecial debuted to "impressive" ratings, Telegdy said they are in "active creative discussions" with Rudolph to bring the variety show back. "It was a show we're really proud of…we really enjoyed the experience," he said, adding that they are talking to executive producers about "what the show would look like were we to bring it back at midseason or beyond."
Reality Renewals: NBC renewed three summer reality TV series: Last Comic Standing, America's Got Talent and America Ninja Warrior.
(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)