This Week in TV News: A New Star Wars Xbox Ad and Spongebob Gets a New Series

This week we’re talking about impeachment ratings, Ciara’s new hosting gig and a new “Star Wars” inspired ad.

Impeachment hearings get solid ratings. Thirteen million people tuned in for the opening of the House Select Committee on Intelligence questioning on Wednesday. Fox News led the pack with about 2.9 million viewers, according to Nielsen, with MSNBC closely behind at 2.7 million viewers. The hearings were held between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., outside of primetime hours. (WSJ)

Spongebob is back. Nickelodeon is making a “SpongeBob SquarePants” spinoff for Netflix, part of a deal in which Nickelodeon will create and produce original animated feature films and television series based on its characters. (The New York Times) 

Musicians tapped to host music awards. Specifically, Alicia Keys will host the 62nd Grammy Awards, and Ciara will host the 2019 American Music Awards. Keys hosted the Grammys this year and brought friends on stage with her throughout the night, including Michelle Obama, Jennifer Lopez, Jada Pinkett Smith and Lady Gaga. She was the first woman to host since 2005. (CBS News)

215 McCann’s new ad for a “Star Wars” Xbox game. The Xbox One edition of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order has a new live-action spot, “Become a Jedi,” which tells the story of a teen hanging out at her dad’s construction site and imagining that she’s a jedi. See the ad on Adweek). The newest installment of J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars movies, “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” comes out next month. 

Read last week’s TV news.