LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The cable portion of the TCA's summer press tour began yesterday in which the networks outlined their plans for the 2004-05 season and beyond.

Here's the breakdown of Trio's presentation (via press release):

SARAH SILVERMAN, DAVID CROSS, ANDY DICK, SAM SEDER STAR IN TRIO'S FIRST ORIGINAL COMEDY SERIES PILOT SEASON

Mockumentary Comedy Series Kicks Off TRIO's New Season of "Brilliant, But Cancelled" Programming: Both Launch on Monday, September 6

Los Angeles/New York, July 22, 2004 - TRIO - pop, culture, tv - launches its first original comedy series Pilot Season, starring Sarah Silverman (School of Rock), David Cross (Arrested Development), Andy Dick (News Radio), Jon Benjamin (Home Movies, Beat Cops) and director/writer Sam Seder (Beat Cops), on Monday, September 6. The series complements the launch of the second season of TRIO's signature programming strip "Brilliant But Cancelled" � critically acclaimed series that were cancelled before their time � which also launches on September 6, it was announced by Lauren Zalaznick, president, TRIO.

Filmed "faux-verite" style as a documentary, this half-hour improvisational comedy series, airing in six episodes, tracks the anxieties, strained relationships, posturing and hysteria that's characteristic of the intensely competitive time of year in the television industry known as pilot season.

"Pilot Season's mockumentary look at the making and selling of television goes perfectly with our 'Brilliant But Cancelled' franchise," said Ms. Zalaznick. "We take a look at the great shows that were 'killed' with 'Brilliant But Cancelled' and then, in a humorous way, how they get 'executed' with Pilot Season."

Pilot Season stars Sam Seder (also the director and co-writer of the series) as Max Rabin, manager at the Los Angeles-based Big Management Company which represents his former girlfriend and actress Susan (Sarah Silverman). Also featured in the cast are Andy Dick (as sleazy manager Jason Reemer), Jon Benjamin (as shady entertainment lawyer Ken Fold), David Cross and David Waterman (portraying down-on-their-luck actors Ben and Earl, respectively). The series is a sequel to the independent film Who's the Caboose? (1997), which featured many of the same cast members. The film will have its world premiere on TRIO on Sunday, September 5 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT.

Executive produced by Seder and Charles Fisher (also co-writer of the series), the series is produced by Michael Shea and Ivan Victor, Pilot Season, premieres on Monday, September 6 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT and airs with two 30-minute episodes each night thereafter. {Episodes #1 & #2 air on Monday, September 6; episodes #2 & #3 air on Tuesday, September 7, etc.} Pilot Season is preceded each night by "Brilliant, But Cancelled," airing weeknights at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT.

TRIO is an entertainment cable television channel reflecting pop culture TV: film, music, fashion, television and stage in its programming. TRIO is available to over 20 million households via digital cable and satellite services. For more information about TRIO, visit www.triotv.com or call 1-877-GET-TRIO.

TRIO is a program service of NBC Universal Cable, a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience.

EZ STREETS, THE INVISIBLE MAN, DEADLINE, PARENTHOOD AND JOHNNY STACCATO JOIN 'BRILLIANT, BUT CANCELLED' NEW SEASON LINEUP IN SEPTEMBER

Leonardo DiCaprio, Hope Davis, David Arquette, Joe Pantoliano, Lili Taylor and Oliver Platt Star in Critically Acclaimed "Brilliant, But Cancelled" Series

Los Angeles/New York, July 22, 2004 - TRIO - pop culture tv - brings back its signature series "Brilliant, But Cancelled�" for a second season beginning Monday, September 6 featuring critically-acclaimed shows from producers Ron Howard, Dick Wolf, and Steven Bochco and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, David Arquette and Oliver Platt, among others, it was announced by Lauren Zalaznick, President, TRIO.

"It's hard to believe that such innovative shows with beloved stars like Leo DiCaprio barely made it through one season in primetime. Viewers who become attached to great TV shows that are yanked off the air too soon can take heart. TRIO is here to give TV lovers what they want � another chance to see their short-lived favorites," said Ms. Zalaznick.

"Brilliant, But Cancelled" airs weeknights at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT, followed by the 9 Sharp, documentary block, which presents world and U.S. premiere films including: Cinemania, Biggie & Tupac, DeLorean, Madonna: Truth or Dare, Wilco: I am Trying to Break Your Heart, The True Meaning of Pictures, and then Classic Dave, the ever-popular Late Night with David Letterman episodes, at 10:00 p.m., ET/PT. During the week of September 6, TRIO's first original comedy series Pilot Season airs in the 9:00 p.m. ET/PT time slot.

PILOT WEEK: The second season of the "Brilliant But Cancelled" strip begins one hour earlier at 7:00 p.m., ET/PT during the week of September 6 and features a different series pilot each night. On Monday, September 6 and Tuesday, September 7, TRIO presents the two-hour pilots of EZ Streets and The Invisible Man, respectively. On Wednesday, at 7:00 p.m., ET/PT, TRIO presents the pilot of Parenthood at 7:00 p.m., ET/PT, followed by another episode of the series. On Thursday, the pilot of Johnny Staccato airs in that time slot followed by three more episodes of the half-hour series. On Friday, the pilot of Deadline airs at 7:00 p.m., ET/PT followed by another episode of the one-hour series. In subsequent weeks, the series - Deadline, EZ Streets, The Invisible Man, Parenthood and returning favorite Johnny Staccato - will be stripped in during the regular 8:00 p.m. block. Pilot Season, starring Sarah Silverman (School of Rock), David Cross (Arrested Development), Andy Dick (News Radio), Jon Benjamin (Home Movies, Beat Cops) and director/writer Sam Seder (Beat Cops) and filmed faux verit� style as a mockumentary immediately follows "Brilliant But Cancelled" during the week.

Following are the "Brilliant But Cancelled" fall season program synopses:

DEADLINE (2000/NBC)
TRIO presents all 13 episodes of this one-hour drama series starring Oliver Platt as Wallace Benton, a hardboiled Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist in New York City who also has his own incendiary newspaper column "Nothing But the Truth" in the New York Ledger. With a little help from his editor, three ex-wives and his Columbia journalism students, he has all the help he needs to keep the politicians and bureaucrats in line.

As long as he's working against a deadline, New York has a conscience and justice has a champion. Executive produced by Dick Wolf, the series originally aired on NBC in October 2000 but was pulled after only five airings, though it was briefly revived on Bravo in the fall of 2002. Cast: Oliver Platt, Christina Chang, Tom Conti, Hope Davis, Damon Gupton, Bebe Neuwirth, Lili Taylor.

EZ STREETS (1996-97/ABC)
TRIO presents all nine, one-hour episodes (plus the two- hour pilot) of this critically acclaimed crime show which took a unique approach to an over-mined genre by telling a singular story from three different perspectives over the course of the season. Cameron Quinn (Ken Olin) is the police detective in a small northern town who is trying to clear his name after being charged as a �dirty cop' whose main target in the underworld is Jimmy Murtha (Joe Pantoliano), who was rising rapidly through the ranks of the mob. Jimmy's main competition is Daniel Rooney (Jason Gedrick) who has just gotten out of prison for a crime he didn't commit. Each of the men's stories are organically intertwined in this complex series that some critics deemed "simply too good for TV." The series was named "Program of the Year" in 1997 by the Television Critics Association and earned an Emmy for best theme music. Cast: Ken Olin, Joe Pantoliano, Jason Gedrick, Debrah Farentino.

THE INVISIBLE MAN (1975/NBC)
TRIO presents all fourteen episodes of this one-hour drama series produced by Harve Bennett and Steven Bochco. Based on the classic H.G. Well's story, the series follows Dr. Daniel Westin (David McCallum), a scientist working with government think-tank the KLAE Corporation, who was rendered invisible by a formula he concocted that was intended for use in matter transformation. Upon discovering the federal government's plan to use his invisibility formula for warlike purposes, Westin destroys it. Unfortunately, Westin has no way to become visible again. Wearing a very realistic facemask and hands, he becomes an agent for KLAE, fighting crime and battling saboteurs, while simultaneously working in KLAE's laboratory with wife Kate to rediscover his formula. Cast: David McCallum, Melinda O. Fee, Craig Stevens.

PARENTHOOD (1990/NBC)
TRIO presents all thirteen episodes of this half-hour comedy series produced by Ron Howard and Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer). This complicated series based on the 1989 Steve Martin movie of the same name, took no less than six executive producers, including Ron Howard, to get it off the ground. It tackles the tricky subject of parenting and offers an honest look at complicated family life. With an all-star cast and a series of heavy hitting producers, this show looked like a surefire hit, but was met with weak ratings. NBC tried rescheduling the show in several time-slots, but it never took off and production was halted after one season. Cast: David Arquette, Ed Begley Jr. Leonardo DiCaprio, Thora Birch, Maryedith Burrell, Jayne Atkinson

JOHNNY STACCATO (1959-60/NBC/ABC)
TRIO presents all 27 episodes of this half-hour drama series. Set in NYC, this "Brilliant, But Cancelled" series centers on Johnny Staccato, a private detective who supplemented his meager income by working as a jazz pianist. An important background for many episodes is "Waldo's," a small jazz club in Greenwich Village where Johnny spends much of his spare time and meets most of his clients. This series was shot in black and white and features the Pete Candoli jazz combo, which included Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne, Red Mitchell, Red Norvo and Johnny Williams, who perform the score by Oscar-winning composer Elmer Bernstein. Cast: John Cassavetes, Eduardo Ciannelli.

TRIO is an entertainment cable television channel reflecting pop culture TV: film, music, fashion, television and stage in its programming. TRIO is available to over 20 million households via digital cable and satellite services. For more information about TRIO, visit www.triotv.com or call 1-877-GET-TRIO.

TRIO is a program service of NBC Universal Cable, a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience.

'KING OF POP' MICHAEL JACKSON REIGNS IN TRIO'S LATEST EPISODE OF PARKING LOT

Michael Jackson Edition Of TRIO's Critically Acclaimed Original Series Parking Lot Premiering on September 13

Los Angeles/New York, July 22, 2004 - From the Santa Barbara courthouse to the Neverland Ranch, TRIO - pop, culture, tv - uncovers the mystery behind why Michael Jackson fanatics are unwavering in their support of the "King of Pop" even in his darkest hours. The newest installment of the channel's critically acclaimed original series Parking Lot captures the passionate support and adoration of Michael Jackson fans in the months leading up to his trial, and follows his fans as he tackles the latest accusation of child molestation charges. The 30-minute world premiere episode of Parking Lot: Michael Jackson airs on TRIO Monday, September 13, coinciding with the first day of Jackson's court date, it was announced by Lauren Zalaznick, president, TRIO.

"Pop culture fans are drawn to the spectacle that Michael Jackson's life has become," said Ms. Zalaznick. "Now with the looming trial date, and the level of fascination reaching a fevered pitch, TRIO and the Parking Lot crew are going directly to his most devoted fans to get their spin on the charges their idol faces, his guilt or innocence and how far they'll go to support him."

As one of the most controversial artists and performers of our time, Michael Jackson's life has been under a microscope since his early years as a child star. This special edition of Parking Lot: Michael Jackson, produced for TRIO by radical.media (Fog of War, Some Kind of Monster), turns the cameras on the fans and explores fandom through their point-of-view and without passing judgment.

The Parking Lot crew records first person accounts of MJ fans describing their own obsession, capturing their complex reactions as their idol faces indictments on a series of charges of impropriety with a young boy. Obsession, delusion, disillusionment, outrage and despair are among the many conflicting emotions of MJ's diehard fans and most ardent detractors, many of whom camp outside the Santa Barbara courthouse where the criminal proceedings take place and hold candlelight vigils outside Jackson's Neverland Valley Ranch home. One fan in MJ gear protests that "Love is all that matters...and a lot of people don't understand him [Michael Jackson]...people are afraid of what they can't understand."

Some arrive to express their support and love, some come to catch a glimpse of this pop icon, and some to scream their outrage in his direction. As the "Gloved One" exits the courthouse after pleading not guilty to the charges, throngs of paparazzi snap photos and fans scream proclaiming his innocence.

Parking Lot episodes are shot documentary-style and cover the latest obsession by devotees all across America's parking lots. Previous episodes include events from 50 Cent and Cher concerts to Sci-fi and tattoo conventions. TRIO's Parking Lot series is a spin-off of Heavy Metal Parking Lot, the 15-minute cult film created by Jeff Krulik and John Heyn where they first documented beer guzzling-teens in acid washed jeans outside a Judas Priest concert in Maryland.

TRIO is an entertainment cable television channel reflecting pop culture TV: film, music, fashion, television and stage in its programming. TRIO is available to over 20 million households via digital cable and satellite services. For more information about TRIO, visit www.triotv.com or call 1-877-GET-TRIO.

TRIO is a program service of NBC Universal Cable, a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience.

TRIO 'COMES OUT' SEPTEMBER 18 AND LAUNCHES GAY PROGRAMMING BLOCK: THE OUTZONE

Gods & Monsters, Cult hit Velvet Goldmine, and telecasts of Vanessa Williams 1983 Miss American Pageant Win and Anita Bryant as Runner-Up In 1958

Los Angeles/New York, July 22, 2004 - TRIO - pop, culture, tv - 'comes out' with The OUTzone, the channel's new weekly gay programming block which launches on Saturday, September 18. Anchoring the new block will be the U.S. premiere of season two of the Australian hit comedy series Kath & Kim, along with music specials, films, series and documentaries for and about gay people, it was announced by Lauren Zalaznick, President

The premiere week of The OUTzone block will feature the TRIO premiere of the Oscar winning film Gods & Monsters starring Ian McKellen, Lynn Redgrave, Brendan Fraser; Todd Haynes' cult hit Velvet Goldmine starring Ewan McGregor and Christian Bale; a Dame Edna marathon, and TRIO's original program Parking Lot: Cher.

In addition, to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the first telecast of the Miss America Pageant, TRIO will air the 1958 Miss America Pageant featuring runner-up Anita Bryant, an outspoken anti-gay activist, who later attained success as an actress and Broadway star, and the 1983 pageant featuring Vanessa Williams who won the swimsuit and talent competition and became the first African-American Miss America. Despite having to step down as Miss America over questionable photos, she continued to perform her duties until her reign ended in 1984.

"Trio has always been drawn to the cutting edge of culture and the kitschy-cool sensibility that is so associated with the gay community. OUTzone creates a regular viewing experience where our viewers can go to find both overtly gay programming and programming that has captured the imagination of gay audiences," said Ms. Zalaznick.

TRIO will also feature returning favorites such as the Australian hit comedy series Kath & Kim. In September, fans can relive the complete first season, and in October, TRIO will present the U.S. premiere of season two of Kath & Kim. In season two, Kath and Kim return as the foxy mother and daughter team of Fountain Gate who give suburban domestic life another shot. Newlyweds Kath Day-Knight (Jane Turner) and her "hunk o'spunk" husband start their lives together. Her pouting princess daughter, Kim (Gina Riley) reconciles with her husband and renovates their home to prepare for the birth of their first baby. Shot in jerky hand-held style, Kath & Kim is the #1 rated sitcom in Australia, spawning tea towels and oven mitts emblazoned with, "I'm Not A Housewife, I'm A Hornbag."

Subsequent weeks of The OUTzone will feature a variety of programming with gay sensibility such as music specials, including artists Elton John, the Pet Shop Boys, and David Bowie; films including Madonna: Truth or Dare; mini-series including Brideshead Revisited; special programs including Dame Edna; and documentaries including Gianni Versace: Tragedy and Triumph, Portrait of a Photographer: David LaChapelle, The Legend of Leigh Bowery, 101 Rent Boys and Ladies Please.

TRIO is an entertainment cable television channel reflecting pop culture TV: film, music, fashion, television and stage in its programming. TRIO is available to over 20 million households via digital cable and satellite services. For more information about TRIO, visit www.triotv.com or call 1-877-GET-TRIO.

TRIO is a program service of NBC Universal Cable, a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience.