or


[01/13/04 - 12:00 AM]
TCA Winter Press Tour: The Wb
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- The Television Critics Association continued its winter press tour this week in which the various broadcast and cable networks talk about their upcoming plans to the nation's top critics and entertainment reporters.

Here's a breakdown of the highlights of The WB's presentation (via press release):

THE WB TO ENTER THE MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE WORLD

TANA NUGENT JAMIESON, WHO DEVELOPED THE #1-RATED BASIC CABLE MOVIE OF ALL TIME FOR TBS, IS NAMED TO HEAD NEWLY CREATED DEPARTMENT

The WB Network is adding Made-for-Television movies to its program repertoire and has tabbed successful industry veteran Tana Nugent Jamieson as Senior Vice President, Programming, Made-for-Television Movies. The announcement was made today at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour by The WB's Co-CEO, Jordan Levin. Ms. Jamieson, who will also consult on drama development, will report to Carolyn Bernstein, Executive Vice President, Drama Development.

The first film on Ms. Jamieson's docket will be an adaptation of the Samantha character from the "American Girls" series.

"Broadcast television has largely abandoned the long-form genre to cable, particularly with content directed at younger viewers," Mr. Levin said. "We have had success with theatrical presentations and have decided that this would be a great time to expand into original production."

Ms. Jamieson comes to The WB from TBS, where she was Vice President, Original Programming/Movies. She is credited with developing "Red Water," the highest-rated basic cable movie in history. Other credits include a John F. Kennedy, Jr. biopic. She has worked with actors such as Billy Zane, Tom Skerrit and Brian Cranston.

"We are fortunate to be able to get someone with the successful experience that Tana has," Mr. Levin continued. "Not only does she have a great creative instinct, she brings with her a tremendous institutional knowledge of the inner-workings of the television movie world."

Prior to working at Turner, Ms. Jamieson was a producer. Her credits include "Peter Benchley's �The Beast," "Sweet Dreams" and "Friends Till the End."

CHRISTOPHER REEVE RETURNS TO "SMALLVILLE"

REEVE'S CHARACTER, DR. SWANN, PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN THE SUPER SERIES' MYTHOLOGY

Christopher Reeve will return to SMALLVILLE, it was announced today at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour. The big screen Clark Kent/Superman will reprise his role of Dr. Swann in an episode that will air on Wednesday, April 14 at (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET) on The WB.

Just as he did in his first appearance on the hit drama last season, Reeve's Dr. Swann will help advance the Superman mythology. As Lionel Luthor (John Glover) closes in on Clark Kent's (Tom Welling) secret, he approaches Dr. Swann for information. Concerned for Clark's safety, Dr. Swann warns him that Lionel is getting closer to the truth. Last season, Dr. Swann came into contact with Clark and filled him in on his origins and home planet of Krypton. The episode was one of the highest-rated in the history of the hit series.

Reeve, who brought the Clark Kent/Superman character to life in four "Superman" motion pictures, was paralyzed in a horseback-riding accident, and is continuing to fight to walk again. With his wife Dana, he continues his work as an advocate for paralysis research. Together, the Reeves opened The Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center, the nation's first facility devoted to teaching paralyzed people to live more independently.

SMALLVILLE was written and developed by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar based on the DC Comics characters. Gough and Millar serve as executive producers, along with Greg Beeman, Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola and Ken Horton. The series is produced by Tollin/Robbins Productions and Warner Bros. Television. SUPERMAN was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster.

NEW SERIES MARCH ONTO THE WB'S SCHEDULE

"THE HELP" PREMIERES FRIDAY, MARCH 5 AND "HIGH SCHOOL REUNION" PREMIERES SUNDAY, MARCH 14

Irreverent comedy THE HELP and the second installment of reality series HIGH SCHOOL REUNION will make their debuts on The WB in March, it was announced today at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour. THE HELP will premiere on Friday, March 5 (9:30-10:00 p.m. ET) and HIGH SCHOOL REUNION will debut on Sunday, March 14 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET).

THE HELP is an outrageous satire that centers on the class warfare between a group of servants and their employers, the wealthy Ridgeway family. As the unfortunate workers at the beck and call of the demented and dysfunctional family quickly discover, there's not only a class struggle between those who live upstairs and those who toil downstairs, there's also a war for survival of the fittest among "The Help."

THE HELP stars Mindy Cohn ("Facts of Life"), Camille Guaty ("What I Like About You," "The Brothers Garcia"), Brenda Strong ("Everwood"), Keri Lynn Pratt ("America's Sweethearts"), Al Santos ("Grosse Pointe"), newcomer Graham Murdoch, newcomer Marika Domincyzek, Antonio Sabato Jr. ("Melrose Place") and special guest stars Tori Spelling ("Beverly Hills, 90210") and David Faustino ("Married...with Children").

Now beginning its second season on The WB, HIGH SCHOOL REUNION is a dramatic reality series focusing on the intense personal connections that begin in high school and live on past graduation and into adulthood. Seventeen former classmates whose lives, loves and dreams were once intertwined are reunited at a Round Rock (Texas) High School reunion that takes place on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The classmates resolve old rivalries and romances and, in the process, discover if past relationships still have the power to change the future.

THE HELP is from executive producers Ron Leavitt ("Married...with Children," "Unhappily Ever After") and Marty Adelstein in conjunction with Original Productions and Warner Bros. Television Production Inc.

Created by executive producer Mike Fleiss, HIGH SCHOOL REUNION is co-executive produced by Mike Nichols and Jason Carbone and produced by Next Entertainment in association with Telepictures Productions.

(SUR)REALLY BIG RATINGS

"THE SURREAL LIFE" IS TELEVISION'S NEWEST HIT DEBUT OF THE WB'S REALITY/COMEDY SHOW SETS NEW TIME PERIOD RECORDS FOR A SERIES ON THE WB IN SEVERAL KEY DEMOS, INCLUDING ADULTS 18-34 AND PERSONS 12-34

The WB's SURREAL LIFE got off to a phenomenal start on Sunday as it SET TIME PERIOD RECORDS FOR A SERIES ON THE WB IN FIVE KEY DEMOS, INCLUDING ADULTS 18-34 AND PERSONS 12-34, according to fast nationals released by Nielsen Media Research, Inc.

The series, which gives viewers an up-close-and-personal look at six celebrities, and unlikely roommates � Tammy Faye Messner, Ron Jeremy, Erik Estrada, Rob Van Winkle, a.k.a. "Vanilla Ice," Trishelle Canatella and Traci Bingham � attracted 5.3 million viewers, which is the fourth-highest total in the 9:00-10:00 p.m. time slot for a series on The WB.

THE SURREAL LIFE also set time period records in adults 18-34 (3.2), persons 12-34 (2.9), adults 18-49 (2.8), women 18-49 (3.2) and men 18-49 (2.4). The reality comedy also scored the second-highest rating for a series in the time period in women 18-34 (3.7) and men 18-34 (2.6).





  [january 2004]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· BEVERLY HILLS, 90210 (FOX)
· EVERWOOD (WB)
· GROSSE POINTE (WB)
· HELP, THE (WB)
· HIGH SCHOOL REUNION (TV LAND)
· RED WATER (TBS)
· SAMANTHA: AN AMERICAN GIRL HOLIDAY (WB)
· SMALLVILLE (CW)
· SURREAL LIFE, THE (VH1)
· WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU (WB)





[11/21/24 - 09:08 AM]
Food Network's After-Hours Culinary Poker Game "Wildcard Kitchen" Raises the Stakes with Brand-New Season of All-Star Battles
In the season premiere on Tuesday, January 7, Vegas big spenders Jet Tila and siblings Michael and Bryan Voltaggio up the ante by bringing double the cash to the table, while serving up delectable dishes and lots of trash talk to determine who will be crowned king of the high-stakes kitchen.

[11/21/24 - 08:38 AM]
Video: WE tv Reveals Sneak Peek of "Toya & Reginae" Returning This January
The stakes are higher and the drama deeper for Toya Johnson Rushing and daughter, Reginae Carter, this season as the duo continue to juggle life, love, family, and their ever-growing careers in the spotlight... from different coasts.

[11/21/24 - 08:35 AM]
Video: Peacock Releases Official Trailer for Twisted Romantic Comedy Series "Laid"
A woman finds out her former lovers are dying in unusual ways and must go back through her sex timeline to confront her past in order to move forward.

[11/21/24 - 08:03 AM]
FOX Entertainment and Hulu Announce New Multi-Year Content Partnership Deal
Today's announcement renews the major program output deal between the two companies, as well as an agreement that allows Hulu to stream out-of-season episodes of key FOX unscripted programs.

[11/21/24 - 08:01 AM]
Max Original Drama Series "The Pitt" Debuts This January
The series is a realistic examination of the challenges facing healthcare workers in today's America as seen through the lens of the frontline heroes working in a modern-day hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

[11/21/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Black Doves" - Official Trailer #2 - Netflix
When a spy posing as a politician's wife learns her lover has been murdered, an old assassin friend joins her on a quest for truth - and vengeance.

[11/21/24 - 08:00 AM]
Hallmark Channel and Sixthman Celebrate the Spirit of Christmas with the Hallmark Christmas Cruise 2025
Fans, their loved ones, and friends both old and new will have a unique opportunity to create lasting traditions and unwrap unforgettable new memories.

[11/21/24 - 08:00 AM]
Rejoice in the Holiday Spirit at the "National Christmas Tree Lighting," Hosted by Four-Time Grammy Nominated Country Music Artist Mickey Guyton, Friday, Dec. 20 on CBS
This beloved American tradition, presented by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, will feature musical performances of holiday classics by Adam Blackstone, Muni Long, Stephen Sanchez, Trombone Shorty, James Taylor, The War And Treaty and Trisha Yearwood.

[11/21/24 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "XO, Kitty" Season 2 - Date Announcement - Netflix
Kitty is back! "XO, Kitty" Season 2 arrives on Netflix January 16.

[11/21/24 - 06:31 AM]
Video: "Polo" - Official Trailer - Netflix
From executive producers Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, comes an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the fast-paced and glamorous world of Polo.

[11/21/24 - 05:01 AM]
Video: "Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In this next installment, Gromit's concern that Wallace is becoming too dependent on his inventions proves justified, when Wallace invents a "smart" gnome that seems to develop a mind of its own.

[11/21/24 - 01:11 AM]
Isak Ferriz and Veronica Echegui Star "Ciudad de Sombras," The New Netflix Thriller Series
A gruesome crime has occurred in La Pedrera - Casa Milà: a burning body appears on the façade of Gaudi's emblematic building.

[11/21/24 - 12:26 AM]
Video: "Marry YOU" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A civil servant skeptical of marriage on a government team tasked with promoting marriage struggles to find a partner for a rural bachelor in order to escape the team.

[11/20/24 - 12:30 PM]
Slam Dunk! Disney, ESPN and the NBA Team Up to Present "Dunk the Halls" - the First Real-Time, Animated NBA Game: San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks on Christmas Day
"Dunk the Halls" will be presented on ESPN2, Disney+ and ESPN+.

[11/20/24 - 12:06 PM]
Australian Hulu Original Scripted Drama Series "The Artful Dodger" Is Back for Season 2
The eight-episode Season 2 has an all-star returning cast including Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Jack Dawkins aka The Artful Dodger, David Thewlis as Fagin, and Maia Mitchell as Lady Belle Fox.