TriStar TV, Banner Behind ‘Lucky Hank’ and ‘The Afterparty,’ Shut Down by Sony
Brian Welk
Belt-tightening and cost-cutting continues across Hollywood as the Peak TV era has come to a close, and another legacy TV brand is being shuttered as a result.
Sony Television is shutting down its TriStar Television banner, which recently has been responsible for series like “Lucky Hank” (AMC), “The Afterparty” (Apple TV+), “On Becoming a God in Central Florida” (Showtime). In its heyday, TriStar TV produced and distributed “The Nanny,” “Mad About You,” and many more series.
A source says the decision is part of a larger shift around Sony Pictures Television’s boutique labels, not unlike the shuttering of the Gemstone brand several years ago, and that the hope is to weave all of TriStar’s values and goals into the bigger studio.
As THR first reported, TriStar TV’s active productions will be absorbed into the larger Sony Television operation, and the two executives in charge at TriStar, executive vice president Jennifer Turner and senior vice president of development Nicole Norwood, are both exiting the company. TriStar series will now be overseen by Sony TV’s drama department.
Sony declined to comment.
Turner has led TriStar TV since January 2022 and was previously at Sony Pictures Television working on shows such as “The Boys,” “The Blacklist,” and “The Good Doctor.” Norwood joined in November 2022 and reported to Turner.
“The Afterparty” was canceled by Apple after two seasons and “Lucky Hank” with Bob Odenkirk was canceled by AMC after just one season.
Sony made news this week when Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO Tony Vinciquerra said Sony intends to use AI to reduce costs and produce film and TV more efficiently.
“The agreements that came out of last year’s strikes and the agreements that come out of the IATSE and Teamsters [negotiations] will define roughly what we can do with AI,” Vinciquerra said.
The TriStar news may not be the end of the consolidation if Sony and Apollo’s offer to acquire Paramount goes through. Paramount directors recently gave their support to a new offer from Skydance, which puts the ball back in controlling shareholder Shari Redstone’s hands to make a decision on what to do with the corporation.
THR first reported the news.
