TV Talk: Pittsburgh native celebrates ‘Jaws @ 50;’ Apple TV+ show seeks extras

This 50th anniversary summer since the release of Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws,” which ushered in the box office blockbuster era, got the attention of local theatergoers last month with Barebones Productions’ “The Shark Is Broken,” a stage play set behind the scenes during the making of “Jaws.”

And “Jaws” content remains plentiful on TV and streaming. In addition to the 1975 film getting a prime-time airing on NBC last month, the original “Jaws,” along with its 1978, 1983 and 1987 sequels, streams on Peacock.

Next week, National Geographic Channel debuts the 90-minute documentary “Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story” (9 p.m. July 10, NGC; streams July 11 on Disney+ and Hulu), part of NGC’s annual “Sharkfest” that kicks off Saturday, a prelude to Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week,” which begins July 20.

With the participation of Pittsburgh native director/makeup effects artist Greg Nicotero (“The Walking Dead,” “Creepshow”) as an interviewee on-screen and a consulting producer behind the scenes, “Jaws @ 50” chronicles the history of Spielberg’s film adaptation and Peter Benchley’s novel.

“Jaws @ 50” trailer to embed:

“Jaws @ 50” includes a new interview with Spielberg, who describes how all the challenges of making the film — the film’s mechanical shark was, indeed, often broken — led to a better movie. Spielberg says he leaned into Alfred Hitchcock’s power of suggestion.

“It was dawning on me things were scarier without (seeing) the shark than with (seeing) the shark,” Spielberg says.

“Jaws @ 50” producer/director Laurent Bouzereau (“Music by John Williams”) said he was first introduced to Nicotero decades ago after Greg’s uncle, Sam Nicotero, interviewed Bouzereau for a radio program about Bouzereau’s 1993 book, “The Hitchcock Quote Book.” Sam introduced Bouzereau to Greg.

“We hit it off because we’re both ‘Jaws’ fanatics and movie fanatics,” Bouzereau said. “We’ve been friends ever since. When this project came about, I was really trying to … find people who came to ‘Jaws’ in different ways and found inspiration (from the film) in different ways. Greg definitely checked a massive box.”

Not only did “Jaws” help inspire Greg Nicotero’s career, in recent years, Nicotero restored one of the mechanical sharks used in filming “Jaws.” It now hangs from the ceiling of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.

In making “Jaws @ 50,” Bouzereau said he was surprised to learn how difficult the project was for Spielberg even though it became a hit.

“He was having PTSD and all kinds of anxiety for many years,” Bouzereau said. “He thought (making ‘Jaws’) would destroy (his career) and instead it made him.”

Other new “Sharkfest” programs include NGC’s “Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory” (8 p.m. July 5), featuring the Nat Geo Explorer filming cage-free with sharks off the coast of South Africa; “Super Shark Highway” (10 p.m. July 5), about a research team exploring Australia’s busiest shark migration routes; and “Sharks of the North” (10 p.m. July 12), about the rise of shark sightings on Canada’s Atlantic coast.

The highlight of Discovery’s “Shark Week” is the cheekily titled “Dancing With Sharks” (8 p.m. July 20), hosted by Tom Bergeron (“Dancing With the Stars”). Five divers compete to put together an underwater routine with their fintastic partners.

Other “Shark Week” highlights include “Air Jaws: The Hunt for Colossus” (9 p.m. July 20), about the search for a Great White that went missing 10 years ago from South Africa’s waters; “How to Survive a Shark Attack” (9 p.m. July 21), featuring shark attack survivor Paul de Gelder provoking a shark to attack him again; and Discovery’s own “Jaws” tie-in, “Surviving ‘Jaws’ ” (8 p.m. July 24), featuring marine biologists who reexamine Spielberg’s movie.

Apple TV+ show seeks extras

The new Apple TV+ crime thriller based on novels by Lars Kepler that’s filming in Pittsburgh this month needs extras. (Mosser Casting is calling the show “Parallax” although production company A&E Studios says the series remains untitled.)

The production seeks background actors of all ages for filming from July 21 to Dec. 19. For details and to apply, visit nancymossercasting.com.

In addition to stars Liev Schreiber (“Ray Donovan”), Zazie Beetz (“Atlanta”) and Stephen Graham (“Adolescence”), Bill Camp, who previously filmed the first season of “American Rust” in Pittsburgh, will be back in town for a role in the series alongside Rory Culkin, who’s also been cast in the show.

New Judge Judy show

Judge Judy Sheindlin explores whether courts got it right in past landmark cases in the eight-episode “Justice on Trial,” streaming July 21 on Amazon’s Prime Video.

Renewed/canceled

HBO’s cult comedy “The Comeback,” starring Lisa Kudrow, will return in 2026 for a third and final season.

FX’s “The Bear” will return for a fifth season in 2026.

Netflix renewed the comedy “Tires” for a third season.

ABC’s “The Bachelor” will be back for a 30th round during the 2025-26 TV season.

Amazon’s Prime Video renewed docuseries “Shiny Happy People” for a second season (July 23) that moves on from the Duggar Family to chronicle Evangelical pop culture in the ’90s.

NBC canceled “Grosse Pointe Garden Society” after a single season (and it won’t move to Peacock for a second season).

“Doctor Odyssey” will not set sail again on ABC.

Channel surfing

Disney Channel’s “Zombies” franchise returns next week with the movie “Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires” (7 p.m. July 10, Disney Channel, streaming July 11 on Disney+). … Box office hit “Sinners” streams on Max July 4 and arrives on linear HBO July 5 (8 p.m.). … This fall, the creator of Amazon Prime Video’s “House of David” will launch Wonder Project, a faith-based streaming service that will be available through Prime for $9 per month. “House of David” will debut its second season on Wonder Project when the service launches and stream on Prime at a later date. … Johnny Knoxville will be the host of “Fear Factor: The Next Chapter” when it debuts on Fox during the 2025-26 TV season. … Paramount+ with Showtime, a $13-per-month, ad-free package, has been renamed Paramount+ Premium. … Pittsburgh-based Fred Rogers Productions received a $1.4 million grant from PNC Foundation to support its PBS Kids series “Alma’s Way” and initiatives like Be My Neighbor Day.