Behind the Scenes Buzz

CHIP AND JOANNA GAINES EYE NETWORK: Chip and Joanna Gaines, of HGTV‘s Fixer Upper and Magnolia Homes fame, will front a direct-to-consumer streaming service, Discovery CEO David Zaslav said Tuesday. “We have a real vision for that in terms of going direct to consumer,” Zaslav said during the call with Wall Street analysts to discuss Discovery‘s fourth-quarter results. Discovery did the same thing with Oprah Winfrey, when it launched OWN in 2011.

SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY REBOOT IS ON: Fox Searchlight is lining up a reboot of Julia Roberts‘ 1991 megahit Sleeping With the Enemy. Fox is also taking on James Corden‘s play One Man, Two Guvnors, and plans to spin into cinematic form. Damian Jones (The Iron Lady) is slated to produce. No word yet on when we can expect to see them.

JERALDINE SAUNDERS DIES AT 96: The creator of The Love Boat has died. Jeraldine Saunders, creator of the hit ABC show died Monday night at her home in Glendale from complications stemming from kidney stone surgery, her rep Edward Lozzi tells The Hollywood Reporter. She was 96. The Love Boat ran from 1977-1986 and was based on the nonfiction book Love Boats, which she wrote by drawing on her experience as a cruise director. “Jeraldine was so happy this year and was basking in the limelight of the celebrations of her 40th anniversary of her TV deal and the first episodes of Love Boat,” Lozzi said. “Jeraldine was an active woman who never lost her interest in dancing, younger men, and the written word.”

NICOLLETTE SHERIDAN EXITS DYNASTY: The CW‘s Dynasty is bidding farewell to Nicolette Sheridan, who played the scheming Alexis Carrington. The role may be recast. “Nicollette Sheridan will be leaving DYNASTY in order to focus on some personal family responsibilities,” said CBS Television Studios and the CW in a statement obtained by Deadline. “She was a valuable asset to the show and we wish her continued success in the future.”