ABC talks with Hall, strikes Smith deal

ABC is developing a daytime talkshow with presenter Tamron Hall and has agreed an overall deal with new Black-ish co-showrunner Kenny Smith via its production arm.

Tamron Hall

Hall, who has worked on news network MSNBC and hosted Deadline: Crime with Tamron Hall for Investigation Discovery, is developing the daytime show for syndication.

Janice Marinelli, president of global content sales and distribution, direct-to-consumer and international at ABC parent Disney, said the programme would be a “fresh, new daytime talkshow to stations across the country” that would showcase Hall’s “enormous talent and dynamic personality.”

Meanwhile, Smith has signed a three-year overall deal with ABC Studios that will see him creating and developing projects for ABC Studios and its streaming-focused division ABC Signature Studios.

He will remain co-showrunner on Black-ish with Jonathan Groff, with the deal following the exit of the ABC comedy’s former showrunner Kenya Barris, who is reportedly joining Netflix.