or


[04/03/03 - 12:00 AM]
Cable Upfront Presentations: Lifetime
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC)

CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- Lifetime, one of cable's most successful networks, will invest an unprecedented $800 million in programming over the next two years. That's just one of many announcements the network made in its 2003-04 season upfront presentation to advertisers. Two new scripted hours as well as three new reality series are in the works as Lifetime plans to expand its already winning Sunday night of originals into a second evening of original programming on Saturdays, beginning this summer. In total, the cable network plans to reach the highest number of original primetime hours ever in its 19-year history, with nearly 60% of the primetime lineup comprised of original programming.

Here's a rundown of the projects that were announced:

NEW ORIGINAL DRAMA SERIES

Joining "The Division" and "Strong Medicine," Lifetime will launch two new original drama series this August, selected from its four pilots in development:

1-800 MISSING -- starring Gloria Rueben as a female FBI agent and her unconventional partner, a young woman who has developed the psychic ability to find missing people

FOLLOW THE LEEDS (A.K.A. SUBURBAN SLEUTHS) -- starring Sharon Lawrence and Maria Pitillo as two suburban women who run a private investigation business with the help of their mother, played by four time Academy Award-nominee Marsha Mason

NICK AND SHELLY (A.K.A. SCREWBALL HOMICIDE) -- starring Julie Warner as a brilliant female detective who solves crimes with a very unusual partner -- her ex-husband, played by Adrian Pasdar, and joined by Robert Wagner ("Austin Powers," "Hart to Hart") as her ex-husband's father and Police Commissioner Sheldon Bennett Sr., who remains close to his daughter-in-law despite the break up

WILD CARD -- starring Joely Fisher as Zoe Busiek, a former Las Vegas blackjack dealer who assumes care of her sister's children and stumbles into a career as an insurance fraud investigator

The announcement of which series will get the greenlight to series is expected shortly.

NEW ORIGINAL ALTERNATIVE SERIES

Lifetime will also premiere new original reality series at 8:00/7:00 p.m. during the week:

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? (premieres April 14) -- This new series offers real-life solutions for real-life problems.

SECRET LIVES (premiere date T.B.A.) -- A limited-run series hosted by "Days of Our Lives" star Kristian Alfonso which reveals the shocking true stories of people who lead double lives or have a secret past.

MAKE ME OVER (premiere date T.B.A.) -- Hosted by Tanika Ray and set to air on Saturday mornings, the series allows two women who know each other well to surrender control to the other for a whole new look and makeover.

MERGE (pilot) -- Hosted by Lisa Rinna, the series helps newly married couples combine their individual belongings into one household has been piloted as a possible fourth new reality series.

RETURNING ORIGINAL ALTERNATIVE SERIES

LIFETIME'S SPEAKING OF WOMEN'S HEALTH -- This season television personality Florence Henderson joins news anchor and correspondent Juju Chang and emergency medicine physician Dr. Winnie King as host of "Lifetime's Speaking of Women's Health," the returning weekly Saturday morning health focused magazine show with the mission.

INTIMATE PORTRAIT -- The popular "Intimate Portrait" series returns with over 40 new installments, including profiles of First Lady Laura Bush, country music star Faith Hill and actress Lucy Liu.

ORIGINAL MOVIES

GOING FOR BROKE -- starring real-life husband and wife Delta Burke ("Dangerous Child," "Designing Women") and Gerald McRaney ("Mister Sterling," "Major Dad") in the true story of a wife and mother whose gambling addiction leads to embezzlement

DEFENDING OUR KIDS: THE JULIE POSEY STORY -- starring Annie Potts ("Any Day Now," "Designing Women") as a woman who goes underground on the Internet to save teenagers from online predators

BREAKING THROUGH -- executive produced by and starring Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning actress Diane Keaton ("Father of the Bride," "First Wives Club") as a mother who goes undercover for the FBI in a desperate attempt to save herself and her children from the dangerous world of drug dealing

SPECIALS AND EVENTS

The primetime line-up also features specials and documentaries such as a "Designing Women" reunion produced by co-creator Harry Thomason featuring all of the stars, Delta Burke, Dixie Carter, Annie Potts, Jean Smart, Mesach Taylor and creators/producer Linda Bloodworth Thomason, sharing their favorite and funniest moments, as well as a 90-minute Andrew Solt produced "Golden Girls" retrospective that unveils the stories behind the laughs and celebrates one of the greatest comedy series created. Also, on the roster are the fourth annual "Women Rock!" concert for breast cancer awareness which this year will celebrate the movies and "Weddings of a Lifetime" specials.

Also, as the centerpiece of the Lifetime's "Be Your Own Hero" campaign to raise self-esteem among girls and young women, now in its fourth year, the Network will premiere "Lifetime's Achievement Awards: Women Changing the World" to pay tribute to ordinary women who have done extraordinary things in their lives. Produced by Don Mischer, "Women Changing the World" premieres on May 22 from New York's Hammerstein Ballroom and salutes women from all walks of life who have made a positive impact on the lives of one or many around them -- in their families, communities and the world.





  [april 2003]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· ANY DAY NOW (LIFETIME)
· DANGEROUS CHILD (LIFETIME)
· DEFENDING OUR KIDS: THE JULIE POSEY STORY (LIFETIME)
· DIVISION, THE (LIFETIME)
· FOLLOW THE LEEDS (LIFETIME)
· GOING FOR BROKE (LIFETIME)
· MERGE (LIFETIME)
· MISSING (LIFETIME)
· MISTER STERLING (NBC)
· NICK & SHELLY (LIFETIME)
· ON THIN ICE (LIFETIME)
· STRONG MEDICINE (LIFETIME)
· WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? (LIFETIME)
· WILD CARD (LIFETIME)





[11/13/24 - 02:02 PM]
Hit Detective Drama, "Shetland," Returns December 11 for Season Nine on BritBox
A double missing person's case blurs the lines between the personal and the professional, as Calder and Tosh are drawn into a labyrinthine investigation.

[11/13/24 - 01:59 PM]
Dascha Polanco and Paige Hurd Each to Star in New "Ripped from the Headlines" Originals for Lifetime
The former stars in "Terror Comes Knocking: The Marcela Borges Story" on January 11; while the latter leads "Girl in the Garage: The Laura Cowan Story" on January 18.

[11/13/24 - 01:08 PM]
ESPN to Exclusively Present 2025 MLB Opening Day Doubleheader Featuring Both World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers and American League Champion New York Yankees
The doubleheader begins on ESPN at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 27 when Aaron Judge and the Yankees host Christian Yelich and the Milwaukee Brewers, who won the National League Central in 2024.

[11/13/24 - 11:30 AM]
"Doctor Odyssey" Series Premiere Swells +482% Over Live+Same Day Audience in Adults 18-49
Plus: "9-1-1" kicked off season eight with an action-packed three-episode story arc rising +156% in Total Viewers (12.64 million vs. 4.93 million) and +519% in Adults 18-49 (2.91 rating vs. 0.47 rating) over its initial Live+Same Day audience.

[11/13/24 - 11:12 AM]
ESPN NBA Schedule Update: Golden State Warriors Visit New Orleans Pelicans on November 22
This matchup replaces the previously scheduled Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks game.

[11/13/24 - 11:01 AM]
Video: "The Night Agent" Season 2 - Official Teaser - Netflix
Based on the novel by Matthew Quirk, "The Night Agent" is a sophisticated, character-based, action-thriller centering on a low level FBI Agent, Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso), whose efforts to save The President in Season 1 earn him an opportunity to become a Night Agent in Season 2.

[11/13/24 - 11:00 AM]
CBS Announces Winter Premiere Dates for 2024-25 Primetime Season
"Hollywood Squares," starring award-winning actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore as the center square, and hosted by Nate Burleson, premieres Thursday, January 9 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT).

[11/13/24 - 10:08 AM]
Video: Trailer and Key Art Debut - Hulu Exclusive "Family Guy" Holiday Special
The special episode premieres on Monday, November 25 only on Hulu as a part of the year-round "Family Guy" 25th Anniversary Celebration!

[11/13/24 - 10:01 AM]
Onyx Collective's Sexy Legal Drama "Reasonable Doubt" Renewed for Season Three on Hulu
"Reasonable Doubt" centers on Los Angeles-based high-powered criminal defense attorney Jacqueline "Jax" Stewart (Emayatzy Corinealdi) as she deals with past traumas, a struggling marriage, motherhood and a murder case, all while trying to keep her life together.

[11/13/24 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Say Nothing" - Official Trailer 2 - FX
FX's limited series is a gripping story of murder and memory in Northern Ireland during The Troubles.

[11/13/24 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Let The Games Begin! Prime Video Releases Official Trailer and Key Art for Holiday Special "Amazon Wish List Games"
All five episodes of the special are set to debut on Prime Video on November 20.

[11/13/24 - 09:01 AM]
Disney Channel's "Fa-La-La-Lidays" and Disney Jr.'s "Magical Holidays" Unwrap Festive Programming for the Whole Family
Highlights of "Disney Channel's Fa-la-la-lidays" include new animated holiday episodes of "Big City Greens" and "ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series."

[11/13/24 - 09:00 AM]
Video: "The Later Daters" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Six older singles shake off the dust and wade back into the dating pool with the help of their family and friends and a renowned relationship expert in this uplifting docuseries that proves it's never too late to find lasting love.

[11/13/24 - 09:00 AM]
CBS Presents "Blue Bloods: Celebrating a Family Legacy," An "Entertainment Tonight" Special, to Air Friday, Nov. 29
This one-hour special, celebrating 293 episodes of "Blue Bloods," includes new exclusive interviews with the stars and recurring guest stars who share favorite memories and behind-the-scenes moments from the past 14 years.

[11/13/24 - 09:00 AM]
Acorn TV to Debut "Acorn TV X TED: Transform Your Thinking"
The new series will consist of six episodes, each featuring five TED Talks with a common theme.