HBO Max Signs Four-Series Deal with Ellen DeGeneres
09.27.2019
Ellen DeGeneres is the latest talent to come on board WarnerMedia's upcoming subscription streaming service, HBO Max, with a four-series deal. Three of those are straight to series and one is a docuseries.
The talk-show host announced the deal Friday on her eponymous series, also giving everyone in the audience that day a two-year subscription to HBO Max, which will premiere in spring 2020.Â
The three series are Ellen's Home Design Challenge, First Dates Hotel and an animated series called Little Ellen. In development is docuseries Finding Einstein.
"I'm very excited to bring my new shows to HBO Max," said DeGeneres on her show. "I don't know who Max is, but I can't wait to work with him."Â
"Ellen is a singular talent, and a powerhouse, creative triple-threat that we are lucky to have no bringing her talents to bear on behalf of HBO Max," said Kevin Reilly, chief content officer, HBO Max and president, TNT, TBS and truTV. "Ellen's flair for home design and matchmaking will most certainly inspire and delight -- but HBO Max is full service, so as not to leave the kids out she's bringing them back to the hilarious misadventures of her childhood in an imaginative animated series."
Ellen's Home Design Challenge will see eight designers push their creativity to the limit. DeGeneres herself will be on hand to judge the results of each challenge and provide her own brand of humorous commentary. The series is produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted & Alternative Television and A. Smith & Co. Productions in association with Telepictures and DeGeneres' own A Very Good Production, with DeGeneres, Jeff Kleeman and Arthur Smith serving as executive producers.
Little Ellen is a 2D animated kids' show that explores the world through the eyes of a 7-year-old DeGeneres growing up in musical New Orleans. The 40-episode quarter-hour series is produced by Warner Bros.' Animation and Ellen Digital Ventures. DeGeneres, Kevin A. Leman II and Sam Register serve as executive producers. Jennifer Skelly is co-executive producer and Jason Blackman is a producer.
First Dates Hotel is based on the hit UK format from Twenty Twenty Productions, Ltd. It's a dating series set in a boutique hotel where singles from all generations gather for a tailor-made romantic experience. After first dates held at the hotel with their potential matches, each single gets to decide whether or not to stick around for a second. First Dates Hotel is produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted & Alternative Television in association with Shed Media, A Very Good Production and Twenty Twenty Productions Limited. DeGeneres, Jeff Kleeman, Pam Healey and Dan Peirson will serve as executive producers. Previous seasons of both First Dates and Twenty Twenty's original First Dates Hotel also will be available on HBO Max.Â
Finally, Finding Einstein is a docuseries, approved by the Einstein estate, that will seek out a new generation of geniuses to take up Einstein's mantle. The series is executive produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted & Alternative Television in association with Telepictures and A Very Good Production. DeGeneres, Kleeman and Todd Goldman are executive producers.
​[Image courtesy of Michael Rozman/Warner Bros.]