Neil Patrick Harris, Tituss Burgess and Ellie Kemper to star in TV shows based on Mo Willems books
‘The Pigeon Show! Starring The Pigeon’ and ‘The Elephant & Piggie Show!’ cast announcements. (Paramount+)
The pigeon gets a TV show.
Paramount+ has announced the main voice cast for its upcoming two new TV series based on children’s books by Mo Willems.
Neil Patrick Harris is set to portray The Bus Driver in The Pigeon Show! Starring The Pigeon. The series follows the day-to-day struggles of a pigeon who wants someone to listen to him. Additionally, he’ll be your best friend if you have a bus and let him drive it.
Other characters from Willems’ books, including the Duckling who always seems to get what she wants, will appear in the show. New characters will also appear, such as The Pigeon’s 150-million-year-old pterodactyl grandmother, Nana-Dactyl, and his best wing-pals, Ima Pigeon and Doug Pigeon.
Former Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt co-stars Tituss Burgess and Ellie Kemper are going to voice Elephant Gerald and Piggie in The Elephant & Piggie Show! The upcoming series is meant for pre-K children and follows “the messy and joyful art of friendship,” according to an official synopsis.
Both shows are set to arrive to Paramount+ in 2027. Paramount+ announced it had greenlit the programs back in December 2025.
Willems is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, known for children’s books like Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. He started his career as a writer on Sesame Street, where he earned six Emmy Awards.
Taylor Frankie Paul stars as the lead of ‘The Bachelorette’ season 22. (Disney/Michael Kirchoff)
Taylor Frankie Paul is ready to embrace her authentic self in the first promo for The Bachelorette season 22.
The star of Hulu’s reality series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives takes on the role of The Bachelorette in the upcoming season, which premieres March 22 on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu.
The minute-long teaser finds Paul strutting through a hallway that displays many phone screens with news headlines about her life and comments displayed under videos she has made.
Taylor Swift’s reputation track “Look What You Made Me Do” plays as Paul says in a voice-over, “People say I do it all for attention. Millions of likes, and I didn’t like myself.”
We then see clips of Paul navigating the aftermath of her relationship with her ex-partner Dakota Mortensen.
“I have trouble admitting that I deserve better. He cheated. I’m angry at myself because I knew he was lying,” Paul says. “Am I worthy of love? Is it even possible? As a single mom, I want to better myself.”
The trailer ends with Paul breaking a phone screen with her high heel, before stepping through the screen in an outfit of sweatpants, a cropped long sleeve shirt and red Crocs.
“Maybe all I need to do is be my own true self and have a little faith,” Paul says.
A brand-new poster for the upcoming season was also released. It finds Paul emerging from the cellophane of what resembles a Barbie box. She holds a red rose and is outfitted in the same red dress from the teaser. The box includes accessories, such as red Crocs, children’s blocks that spell out the word “MOM” and a book that says “The Book of More Men” on its cover.
The poster features the tagline, “if you don’t fit the mold, break it.”
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The Oscars on ABC and Hulu, hosted by Conan O’Brien (Disney)
The Oscars are always gold, but this year, they’re going to be “Golden.”
“Golden,” the KPop Demon Hunters hit that’s nominated for best original song, will be performed on the telecast by the voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami.
Also performing will be Sinners star Miles Caton: He’ll sing the best original song nominee “I Lied to You,” along with one of the song’s co-writers, Raphael Saadiq. They’ll be joined by a host of other artists in what a press release describes as “an homage to the film’s singular visual style.” Those artists include Shaboozey, Alabama Shakes singer Brittany Howard, blues legends Bobby Rush and Buddy Guy and ballerina Misty Copeland.
In addition, Josh Groban, whose forthcoming album will feature him singing famous songs from movies, will perform with the Los Angeles Master Chorale.
The other best original song nominees are “Dear Me,” written by Diane Warren and performed by Kesha, from the documentary Diane Warren: Relentless; “Train Dreams,” from the movie of the same name, written and recorded by Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner; and “Sweet Dreams of Joy,” from Viva Verdi!, written by Nicholas Pike and recorded by Ana Maria Martinez.
The 98th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, air Sunday, March 15 at 7 p.m. on ABC and stream on Hulu.
‘The Bachelorette’ star Taylor Frankie Paul speaks with ABC News’ Lara Spencer in an interview on ‘Good Morning America’ on March 18, 2026. (ABC News)
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul says she is going through a “heavy time” as she faces a domestic violence allegation while promoting her new season of The Bachelorette.
“It’s been a heavy time to see the headlines, especially during this time of The Bachelorette being released,'” Paul said in a live interview Wednesday on Good Morning America. “It’s supposed to be a really exciting time.”
She continued, “I’m a person that will always speak my truth. That’s what I’m known for. So when the time is right, I will be.”
Paul is reportedly facing a domestic violence allegation involving ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen.
Paul, a mother of three, shares one child with Mortensen.
According to People, a spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department in Utah said earlier this week that there is an “open domestic assault investigation” involving Paul and Mortensen, and that “allegations have been made in both directions.”
Police told People that “contact was made with involved parties” back on Feb. 24 and 25.
ABC News has reached out to Mortensen for comment.
When asked for details on the investigation, the Draper Police Department shared a statement with ABC News, saying, “The Draper Police Department respects the rights and privacy of all citizens. Without an immediate impact to public safety, it is the practice of the department not to release details related to active investigations.”
Paul confirmed to Good Morning America that production on season 5 of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has been halted for the time being, saying, “As of now I have gotten word that it also has been paused.”
She added, “As far as I know it was, but I don’t know for how long.”
The reality star said it was “hard to say” what her future on the show might look like.
“It’s hard to see past this, I’m not going to lie. In this moment, it’s just so heavy,” she said.
She continued, “When your life is broadcasted out there in these headlines, it’s like the end of the world. That’s what it feels like.”
Despite the circumstances, Paul shared a glimmer of optimism, saying, “I’ve been here before and I got through it.”
Paul was announced as the next Bachelorette for season 22 of the reality TV show back in September.
The reality star spoke with GMA on Wednesday about her decision to join the show, offering perspective on her position as a mother of three and sharing that seeing other women on Secret Wives of Mormon Wives pursue their dreams inspired her to take a shot at the dating game.
“For me, dating as a mom of three is extremely difficult,” she said, adding that The Bachelorette offered a chance “to go out, get away from my toxic cycle here in Utah, go date and then also have my kids come out and visit me.”
“You don’t realize how … it can be exhausting too, but you’re finding the love of your life, that’s what you’re striving for,” she said.
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