or


[06/28/05 - 12:00 AM]
Reba Is the First Show Picked Up for the WB's New Afternoon Block

[via press release from The WB]

�REBA� IS THE FIRST SHOW PICKED UP FOR THE WB'S NEW AFTERNOON BLOCK

Burbank, CA June 28, 2005

THE WB MAKES TWO-YEAR DEAL WITH TWENTIETH TELEVISION AND TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX TELEVISION FOR OFF-NETWORK RIGHTS TO DOUBLE RUN �REBA� IN THE 4:00-5:00 PM HOUR, BEGINNING IN FALL 2006

The off-network broadcast rights to REBA, the hit Friday night sitcom on The WB, have been sold by Twentieth Television and Twentieth Century Fox Television to The WB as the first show picked up for the network's new afternoon programming block. Under terms of the two-year agreement, beginning in Fall 2006, The WB will double-run REBA, starring Reba McEntire, as an off-net strip from 4:00-5:00 p.m. on over 200 affiliated stations throughout the United States. The announcement was made jointly today by Garth Ancier, Chairman of The WB, David Janollari, President, Entertainment, The WB, Bob Cook, President and COO of Twentieth Television, and Gary Newman, President of Twentieth Century Fox Television.

As a primetime series, REBA is still growing, which bodes well for the afternoon runs. REBA recently completed its fourth season, during which, for the fourth consecutive year, it ranked as The WB's number one Friday night program, as well as its top comedy in viewers, households, adults 18-34, adults 18-49 and viewers 12-34. This season REBA returned to the 9:00 p.m. time period and posted its best season ever in adults 18-49 and women 18-49 and also vastly improved over the prior season's (`03-`04) 9:00 p.m. time period average (primarily �Grounded for Life�), generating a 42% increase in households and 53% improvement in women 18-49.

�The afternoon block is designed to greatly increase our affiliates� 3:00-5:00 p.m. young adult ratings with programming that is compatible with The WB brand, making REBA the perfect show for us to run in our new afternoon programming block,� said Ancier. �We couldn't be happier to have made this deal with Twentieth The show has been a big hit for us for four years, and in that time we have come to know that Reba McEntire is not only a phenomenal actress and singer, but also a wonderful person and a class act in every way.�

�REBA will give our affiliates a great lead-in to their prime access blocks and an excellent promotional vehicle for our primetime line-up,� said Janollari. �The WB has had tremendous success in syndicating our dramas. This deal recognizes our long-term goals of making comedies on The WB as profitable for producers and studios as our dramas.�

Regarding the announcement, Cook stated, �We are very pleased to be the first studio to provide The WB with quality programming that appeals to its target demo for this very important block. REBA has been a proven commodity for The WB with strong crossover appeal for four seasons. Scheduling this comedy as a strip provides the network with a natural bridge to retain viewers from early fringe into access and, ultimately, primetime.�

Newman added, �We are so proud of this fantastic family comedy starring the amazing Reba McEntire, which has performed so well since its very first broadcast. We're gratified that The WB has chosen this quality series to launch its new comedy afternoon schedule, and believe this added exposure will bring even more viewers to its Friday night network runs.�

In the series, McEntire portrays a real estate agent and divorced mother of three who is juggling the demands of her career, being both a parent and grandparent, dealing with her ex-husband and the occasional date in between. The program was named Best Family Friendly Show over two consecutive years by the Parents Television Council. Last year, McEntire garnered a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series � Musical or Comedy.

One of the country's true entertainment treasures, Reba McEntire is a multi-platinum and critically-acclaimed recording artist who has sold more than 48 million albums, won multiple Grammy Awards, 14 American Music Awards and eight People's Choice Awards, including Favorite Actress in a New TV Series for �Reba.� Additionally, her immense popularity crosses over into feature films and television movies; publishing, with the New York Times best-selling novels �Reba: My Story� and �Comfort from a Country Quilt;� and on Broadway, where McEntire lit up the stage with a universally renowned run as the title character in the Irving Berlin musical �Annie Get Your Gun.�

Returning for its fifth season on The WB, the series stars Reba McEntire, Christopher Rich, Melissa Peterman, JoAnna Garcia, Steve Howey, Scarlett Pomers and Mitch Holleman. Kevin Abbott, Mindy Schultheis, Michael Hanel and Matt Berry serve as executive producers. Chris Case, Pat Bullard, Reba McEntire, Patti Carr & Lara Runnells and Don Beck are co-executive producers on the series produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television and Acme Productions.

A leader in the domestic program production and distribution arena, Twentieth Television oversees the domestic sales of one of the most extensive libraries of off-net programming in the entertainment industry. In 2004, it successfully sold and launched the sitcoms �Yes, Dear� and �Malcolm in the Middle,� the highest rated off-net premiere for the 2004-05 season. Currently, the company is distributing the critically-acclaimed and award-winning drama �24,� starring Kiefer Sutherland, for a fall 2005 launch in off-net syndication. Also scheduled to make its off-net debut in fall 2005 is The Peabody Award-winning sitcom �The Bernie Mac Show.� Other programs being slated for future off-net launches include the multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy �Arrested Development,� starring Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Portia de Rossi and Jessica Walter, among others; �Still Standing,� with Jami Gertz and Mark Addy; David E. Kelly's critically-acclaimed drama �Boston Legal,� featuring James Spader and William Shatner; reality hit �The Simple Life�; and the animated comedy �Family Guy.�

First-run programs distributed by Twentieth Television include the news magazine �A Current Affair,� and the popular court show strips �Divorce Court� and �Texas Justice.� This fall, the company will debut the court strip �Judge Alex.�





  [june 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· 24 (FOX)
· ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (NETFLIX)
· BERNIE MAC SHOW, THE (FOX)
· BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
· CURRENT AFFAIR, A (SYNDICATION)
· DIVORCE COURT (SYNDICATION)
· FAMILY GUY (FOX)
· GROUNDED FOR LIFE (WB)
· JUDGE ALEX (SYNDICATION)
· MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE (FOX)
· REBA (CW)
· SIMPLE LIFE, THE (E)
· STILL STANDING (CBS)
· TEXAS JUSTICE (SYNDICATION)
· YES, DEAR (CBS)





[05/19/26 - 12:31 PM]
Bravo's "Summer House" First-Ever Three-Part Reunion Begins Tuesday, May 26 at 8 P.M. ET/PT
Uncensored and extended versions of all three parts will be available to stream next day on Peacock.

[05/19/26 - 12:01 PM]
Video: Paramount+ Releases Official Trailer for "Devotion: Obedience or Betrayal"
All three episodes will be available to stream at launch on Tuesday, June 2.

[05/19/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of May 11 - "The Roast of Kevin Hart" Heats Up to No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
True crime audiences also streamed the second season of "Worst Ex Ever," which rose to the No. 2 spot on the English TV list with 8.1 million views.

[05/19/26 - 11:46 AM]
Netflix Forges Creative Partnership with Powerhouse Animation Duo Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath
As part of the multi-year deal, the duo will develop animated series and films exclusively for Netflix, with first-look rights for live action projects.

[05/19/26 - 11:36 AM]
Tia Mowry Returns to Lifetime to Star and Executive Produce New "Ripped from the Headlines" Thriller "Single Black Tenant" Premiering on June 27
The movie, inspired by actual events, follows a woman who begins to suspect that the home she thought would save her may ultimately destroy her.

[05/19/26 - 11:03 AM]
TNT Sports' Exclusive 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Final Coverage to Begin Thursday, May 21 on TNT, truTV & HBO Max
On the call for the entire series will be Kenny Albert, along with commentary from Eddie Olczyk and Brian Boucher, and reporting from Jackie Redmond.

[05/19/26 - 11:00 AM]
Darius Rucker to Receive the Veterans Voice Award Presented by USAA's Honor Through Action at "The 52nd American Music Awards," Live, Monday, May 25 at 8:00 PM, ET, 5:00 PM, PT on CBS
The award recognizes artists who use their platforms to make meaningful, lasting change in the lives of those who served.

[05/19/26 - 10:56 AM]
Netflix Expands Consumer Products Footprint with Strategic Confectionery and Toy Partnerships
Highlights include naming Moose Toys as the master toy partner for the upcoming animated film "Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory" and musical preschool series "Young MacDonald."

[05/19/26 - 10:01 AM]
HBO Original Documentary Series "Bring Me the Beauties: A Model Cult" Debuts June 1
The three-part documentary series chronicles Hoyt Richards, who, at 16 years old, meets an enigmatic Manhattan socialite on a Nantucket beach and is pulled into his spiritual group, Eternal Values.

[05/19/26 - 10:00 AM]
AMC Global Media Invites Fans Deeper Into the World of "The Vampire Lestat" with New Companion Series, "The Vampire Lestat: After Dark"
Hosted by writer, producer and podcast host Lizzie Bassett, the after show will take fans behind the scenes of each weekly episode of "The Vampire Lestat," featuring interviews with series cast and producers.

[05/19/26 - 09:30 AM]
Video: Starz Debuts Jaw-Dropping Trailer for Fifth and Final Season of "Power Book III: Raising Kanan" Premiering on Friday, June 12
"Power Book III: Raising Kanan" is a prequel series in the "Power" universe that explores fan-favorite character Kanan Stark's entry into the drug business and his evolution from an innocent teenager into a ruthless kingpin, influenced by his mother's manipulation and deception.

[05/19/26 - 09:18 AM]
ESPN's Exclusive Presentation of the 2026 Stanley Cup Western Conference Final Presented by Geico Takes The Ice Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
ESPN's Western Conference Final coverage is a prelude to the network's exclusive Stanley Cup Final coverage on ABC.

[05/19/26 - 09:11 AM]
Video: "Voicemails for Isabelle" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A young woman's hilariously confessional voicemails to her late sister are unknowingly redirected to a stranger, who begins to fall in love from afar.

[05/19/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Peacock Releases Official Trailer for Season 3 of "Capture"
Don't believe everything you see.

[05/19/26 - 08:05 AM]
It's a Snoopy Summer! Apple TV Announces an All-New Slate of Peanuts Programming
Highlights include a second season of beloved musical "Camp Snoopy" to debut on Friday, June 26 and a brand new special, "Snoopy Presents: There's No Place Like Home, Snoopy," premiering on Friday, July 31.