Yahoo News Is This Freeform’s Future Without Scripted?
What is the future of Freeform once it wraps both of its scripted series?
That question has been top of mind since the Disney-owned network announced that its remaining scripted series were ending this year and now the cabler is offering a hint of what’s to come.
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Freeform on Wednesday announced that two Hulu unscripted series, Grand Cayman: Secrets in Paradise and Wayne Brady: The Family Remix, will air first on its linear platform before launching the following day on the streamer. Both series were previously announced as Hulu originals and mark a shift in strategy as Freeform originals traditionally air the following day on Hulu. This is the first time a program announced for Hulu will have its linear debut ahead of its streaming bow.
Grand Cayman: Secrets in Paradise is described as a “docusoap that follows a group of uber-rich and on-the-rise locals and expats navigating the rocky waters of their relationships, friendships and careers.” The show will bow Tuesday, April 9 at 10 p.m. before shifting to its standard 9:30 p.m. slot with back-to-back episodes the following week.
Wayne Brady: The Family Remix will launch in the summer on Freeform and follows the actor, comedian, host and singer’s home life as he is at a “sudden crossroads in his life.” Brady, who came out last year as pansexual, stars alongside his ex-wife and business partner, Mandie Taketa, their 21-year-old daughter, Maile Brady, and Taketa’s life partner Jason Fordham and their son.
The pair of programs join Freeform’s growing unscripted slate that also includes Chrissy & Dave Dine Out, as well as the upcoming Royal Rules of Ohio and Sasha Reid & The Midnight Order.
Freeform’s scripted roster has dwindled in the past two years. The cabler this week said farewell to Good Trouble after five seasons and will wrap Black-ish spinoff Grown-ish starting with its final run of episodes March 27. Freeform canceled Good Trouble and Cruel Summer in December, with sources at the time telling The Hollywood Reporter that executives including executive vp programming and content strategy Simran Sethi, wanted to bring back both shows but the ratings for both Good Trouble and Cruel Summer didn’t justify the costs of doing so — especially as Disney looks to cut costs by another $2 billion — and as most viewers watch the network’s programming on Hulu.
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