TCA Summer Press Tour News

By MCN Staff -- Multichannel News, 8/1/2011 12:01:00 AM

Lifetime Original Movie ‘Five’ Tackles Breast Cancer

LOS ANGELES — Lifetime will debut a new original movie in October revolving around breast-cancer awareness, one of several telefilms slated for the 2011-12 season.

The movie, Five, debuts Oct. 10 and showcases the lives of five women and the impact breast cancer has on their lives, said network officials. The five short stories within the movie were directed by well-known actresses Jennifer Aniston and Demi Moore; singer/songwriter Alicia Keys; and directors Patty Jenkins and Penelope Spheeris. The cast includes actresses Jeanne Tripplehorn and Patricia Clarkson (pictured below during the Lifetime panel session at the Television Critics Association summer tour last Wednesday).

“It’s a sincere honor to be affiliated with Five,” Lifetime president and general manager Nancy Dubuc said during the panel discussion. “This may be the most important film we’ve ever done.”

The movie is part of an aggressive slate of original movies for Lifetime. The women’s targeted network has 24 original Lifetime movies slated for the 2011-12 season, Dubuc said.

On the scripted front, the network has commissioned a new series pilot dubbed Modern Love, which will weave actual stories about love and romance optioned from the hit The New York Times Sunday column.

Also on Lifetime’s scripted docket is Against the Wall, a drama that follows a young police detective who gets her big break working for Internal Affairs, which ruffles the lives of her father and two brothers who are all on the police force. The show joins Army Wives, Drop Dead Diva and freshman series The Protector on Lifetime’s scripted-series list.

Hallmark Hopes to Sizzle With New Emeril Cooking Series

LOS ANGELES — Hallmark Channel has cooked up a new series for its daytime programming block that will star popular chef Emeril Lagasse.

The series, Emeril’s Table, will debut Sept. 26 at 11 a.m. and will feature Lagasse sharing his love of food with five guests seated at his chef’s table, network officials during Hallmark’s presentation at the TCA summer tour last week.

Emeril’s Table will join sophomore cooking series Martha Bakes, starring Martha Stewart, which also debuts Sept. 16 at 11:30 a.m.

Hallmark Channel’s “Home” block will also feature the return of Stewart’s Martha Stewart Show, as well as all new seasons of Mad Hungry and Petkeeping, said Bill Abbott, president and CEO of Crown Media Networks.

Also, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel will debut 18 original movies from now until the end of the year, and additional six Hallmark Movie Channel original premieres in 2012, Abbott said.

GMC To Launch Monthly Original Movie Package

LOS ANGELES — GMC will launch a series of monthly family-targeted original films beginning with the Aug. 21 premiere of Trinity Goodheart.

The 50-million subscriber network will also air at least one gospel-themed play a quarter beginning in September, GMC vice chairman Brad Siegel said during the network’s inaugural TCA tour panel presentation last Wednesday.

The first film on the docket is Trinity Goodheart, which stars Grammy-nominated singer Eric Bonet and James Hong (Kung Fu Panda) and follows a young girl’s decision to reunite her broken family after being visited by an angel.

Other original movies slated for GMC include A Mile In His Shoes, a story about a 17-year-old farm boy with Asperger’s Syndrome and a live fastball who is recruited by a minor-league baseball scout, network officials said.

While similar in tone to Hallmark Channel’s family friendly original movies, Siegel said his network is hoping to draw younger viewers with its movies through a mix of inspirational and faith-based family friendly fare.

The network will also bring to TV at least one gospel-themed stage play per quarter, according to Siegel. GMC will debut on Sept. 17 The Love You Save, which chronicles the often negative consequences that come when kids grow up without a father in the home.

History Sets New Series, Including ‘Vietnam in HD’

LOS ANGELES — Coming off a record second-quarter ratings performance, History will launch several new series this fall, the network announced during its TCA summer tour presentation last Wednesday.

Among the new series slated to launch over the next few months include Around The World In 80 Ways, a 10-part series produced by Thom Beers that follows the exploits of Robert “Boston Rob” Mariano (Survivor) and Gravedigger creator Dennis Anderson as they employ 80 different forms of transportation to travel the world without repeating any vehicle; and Vietnam in HD, a six-hour docudrama that tells the stories of the Vietnam War through uncensored footage transferred to high definition.

The network will also commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with several 9/11 documentaries, including a commercial-free, global simulcast of History’s Emmy-award winning series 102 Minutes That Changed America, officials said.

The new series and specials come as the network enjoys a major ratings boost due mostly to the strong performances of such shows as Pawn Stars and American Pickers. History is coming off its most watched second quarter in all key demos in the network’s history, averaging 2.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen.

ESPN To Debut High School Renovation Series

LOS ANGELES — ESPN will debut a new reality series that chronicles the renovation of four high school athletic facilities, network officials announced last Wednesday at the TCA tour.

The four-part Rise Up series, hosted by ESPN college-football analyst Chris Spielman, will highlight from start to finish the rebuilding of gyms at Ohio’s Wellston High School, Boston’s Dorchester Education Complex; Washington’s Ingraham High School and Chicago’s Walter Dyett High School.

Along with the actual renovation, the show will also focus on giving students advice, training and tools that they can use to become better athletes, said network officials.

The series is an offshoot of a Sept. 10 ESPN Rise Up special, in which McMain Secondary High School in New Orleans was renovated.

“We have to recognize that there are parents and teachers around the country who are doing a lot with a little, and this is our way of giving back,” said Joan Lynch, vice president of content development for ESPN during the panel session.

The sports network also announced a new slate of ESPN Films following the conclusion of its 30 for 30 series. The films will launch Sept. 27 with Catching Hell — which revolves around Chicago Cubs baseball fan Steve Bartman’s infamous interference of Cubs outfielder Moises Alou’s catch during the 2003 National League Championship Series — and run on consecutive Tuesdays. Other 30 for 30 entries include The Real Rocky, chronicling the life of former heavyweight contender Chuck Wepner; Renee, about transgender tennis player Renee Richards; and The Dotted Line, an in-depth look at what it takes to be an agent in majorleague sports.

Also scheduled are Unguarded, about the troubled life of Massachusetts high school basketball superstar Chris Herren; Charismatic, which follows the tragic story of thoroughbred horse Charismatic; and Roll Tide/War Eagle, about the Alabama/Auburn college football rivalry.

— R. Thomas Umstead