Jerrod Carmichael: NBC ‘Took a chance and a risk’ with Our Bill Cosby-Themed Episode

Jerrod Carmichael: NBC “took a chance and a risk” with our Bill Cosby-themed episode

“We get away with murder!” The Carmichael Show star says of the special episode on the Cosby rape controversy, adding that The Cosby Show network did indeed set boundaries. “They did it with caution, wanting to protect the network but also  knowing this could be good television and trusting me enough to get it the right way,” he said. Meanwhile, NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke said of delving into the controversy, “you can’t be afraid of talking about things like that, as long as they’re handled correctly.” PLUS: Malcolm-Jamal Warner says the yanked Cosby Show reruns are “literally taking money out of my pocket.”

ABC announces a slew of early renewals

Fresh Off the Boat, The Goldbergs, Once Upon a Time and Quantico will all be back next season. PLUS: The Bachelor will return for Season 21, according to creator Mike Fleiss. UPDATE: ABC has renewed 15 shows, including Grey’s Anatomy, Black-ish, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Quantico.

Entertainment Weekly apologizes to Alejandro G. Iñárritu for Oscar clapping snafu

In a Vine clip sent out by EW, The Revenant director was shown not clapping when costume designer Jenny Beavan won an Oscar for Mad Max: Fury Road, which set off a viral firestorm. In another clip, though, Iñárritu can be seen clapping while Beavan goes up on stage.

Former Bachelor Jesse Palmer testifies in Erin Andrews case

The ESPN college football personality, and Andrews’ former colleague, says Andrews was more reserved after the Peep Hole tape went viral.

David Alan Grier is not KFC’s new Colonel Sanders

“There is no new Colonel Sanders,” KFC’s chief marketing officer says.

Jordana Brewster joins Lethal Weapon pilot

The Fast and the Furious star will play a brand-new character on the Fox reboot, an LAPD hostage negotiator/in-house therapist.

CMT’s new slate includes a Billy Ray Cyrus sitcom and a 1950s Memphis rock and roll drama

Still the King and Million Dollar Quartet are among new CMT program, in addition to a Concert of the Summer series.

Jason O’Mara to play an LAPD officer on USA’s 1992 L.A. Riots series

The Complications star will play a “good cop” with questionable views of race on The Infamous. PLUS: Late Night with Jimmy Fallon alum Bashir Salahuddin joins Hulu’s Crushed, and Fringe’s Georgina Haig joins CW Mars pilot.

TV Land renews Teachers, orders The First Wives Club and Kyle Richards pilots

A TV series based on the 1996 movie and a drama inspired by The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star’s real-life upbringing are in the works at TV Land.

CBS’ Star Trek Reboot Recruits Gene Roddenberry’s Son and Trevor Roth

Rod Roddenberry, currently president of Roddenberry Entertainment, will join his COO Trevor Roth as executive producers on the new Trek series for CBS All Access.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s Tituss Burgess is coming out with his own Pinot Noir

Pinot By Tituss will be available starting March 14.