or


[09/12/05 - 12:00 AM]
I Pity the Fool Who Doesn't Watch TV LanD...

[via press release from TV Land]

"I Pity The Fool" Who Doesn�t Watch TV Land�

Network Strikes Deal With Lions Gate Television For Reality Pilot Starring Mr. T

New York, NY, September 12, 2005 � TV Land today announced a deal with Lions Gate Television to produce a reality TV pilot starring the one and only Mr. T, entitled I Pity The Fool (working title). The pilot is expected to begin production in October and features Mr. T in the unlikely role of social scientist as he dishes out advice in classic �T� style to fans in need.

I Pity The Fool blends the conventions of a makeover show with fish-out-of-water conflict, resulting in a humorous twist on the format. Starring Mr. T in the role of motivational guru, the program focuses on specific concepts associated with personal or professional success, such as teamwork or determination. Those themes will be illustrated by hilarious anecdotes from Mr. T�s own life, followed by real world situations in which he becomes the catalyst for change.

�We are very excited to work with Mr. T and Lions Gate on I Pity The Fool,� states Sal Maniaci, Vice President of Development and Production, TV Land and Nick at Nite. �By putting Mr. T in an unfamiliar environment, viewers will have the experience of seeing him back up his famous words and attitude with concrete actions. Exposing our viewers to celebrated personalities that they love in formats that are new and unique is exactly the kind of original programming that TV Land is creating.�

�We believe Mr. T�s larger-than-life personality, disarming style and unique perspective on life will be a breath of fresh air in reality television,� said Kevin Beggs, president, programming and production, Lions Gate Television. �TV Land has shared our enthusiasm about this project from the beginning and we�re delighted to be in business with the network.�

I Pity The Fool is produced by Lions Gate Television in association with Left/Right Films and Remag Guerilla. Stephen Belafonte (Thank You for Smoking, Never Die Alone, Prison Ball), Ken Druckerman (Growing Up Gotti), and Banks Tarver (Growing Up Gotti) are executive producers.

The deal for Mr. T was brokered by The Buchwald Agency.

Lions Gate Television is the television production and distribution arm of Lions Gate Entertainment (NYSE: LGF). With a total of five series currently on the air, the company is continuing its strategy of being an important supplier of content to cable and broadcast networks. Lions Gate Entertainment is the premier independent producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library is a valuable source of stable and recurring revenue and serves as a foundation for the continued growth of the Company�s core businesses. The Lions Gate brand name is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

TV Land and Nick at Nite and all related logos and titles are trademarks of Viacom International, Inc.

Now seen in over 85 million U.S. homes and throughout Canada, TV Land presents popular dramas, sitcoms, westerns, Retromercials and original programming, all packaged in a unique, award-winning on-air environment. The network celebrates all things Classic TV with a specific viewer in mind: the first generation of people to grow up watching television. Known for its celebrated line-up of Classic TV ranging from I Love Lucy to Little House on the Prairie, TV Land has made its mark with clever, critically-acclaimed original programming, developed by TV Land Productions, which was created in 2003. Original programming includes such hits as the annual TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV; an original special that reunited the cast of The Brady Bunch in 2004's Emmy-nominated Still Brady: After All These Years; Chasing Farrah, which follows the real-life happenings of iconic actress and sex symbol, Farrah Fawcett; as well as several other series and specials that enhance the overall Classic TV viewing experience. For more information about TV Land's originals, visit www.tvland.com.

MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, mtvU, VHI, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, MTV INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 12 digital services, all of which are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.





  [september 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· I PITY THE FOOL (TV LAND)





[04/10/25 - 02:00 PM]
Culinary Titan Gordon Ramsay Goes Undercover to Rescue America's Filthiest Restaurants in FOX's All-New Unscripted Series "Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service"
In a Gordon Ramsay series first, Chef Ramsay will venture into struggling restaurants under the cover of night.

[04/10/25 - 12:28 PM]
Video: Lifetime Releases Trailer for Highly Anticipated Documentary Event "The Judd Family: Truth Be Told"
Profiling one of the greatest country music families of our time, the doc examines Naomi Judd's complicated bond with her daughters, Wynonna and Ashley, that both tied them together and drove them apart.

[04/10/25 - 12:05 PM]
Lifetime Greenlights New "Ripped from the Headlines" Movie "Kidnapped by a Killer: The Heather Robinson Story" Starring Steve Guttenberg, Jana Kramer and Rachel Stubington Premiering June 7
The film is based on the true story of Heather Robinson who was abducted as a baby and raised by the family of a serial killer who was convicted of murdering her mother.

[04/10/25 - 12:00 PM]
Video: "Jessica Kirson: I'm the Man" - Official Trailer - Hulu
Take it like a man and brace yourself an hour of raw and revealing comedy in Jessica Kirson's new stand-up special that goes all. the. way.

[04/10/25 - 11:16 AM]
Official Date Announcement: Meet the Players of "Summer of 69"
Directed by Jillian Bell, the film - debuting May 9 on Hulu - features an ensemble cast including Chloe Fineman, Sam Morelos, Charlie Day, Paula Pell, Liza Koshy, Nicole Byer and more.

[04/10/25 - 10:12 AM]
A Whirlwind Romance, Suspicious Deaths, A Questionable Will and Outright Fraud Lead to a Mighty Reckoning in Oxygen True Crime's "Southern Fried Lies"
The two-hour special "Southern Fried Lies" premieres Sunday, April 27 at 6 p.m. ET/PT on Oxygen and will be available to stream on Peacock on April 29.

[04/10/25 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Releases Official Trailer and Premiere Date for "SkyMed" Season Three
All nine episodes will be available for binge viewing on streaming and on demand on Thursday, May 15, exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., Latin America and Brazil.

[04/10/25 - 09:45 AM]
Paramount+'s New Hit "MobLand" Surges with 8.8 Million Global Viewers; Biggest Series Launch Ever on the Service Up +298% from Premiere Day
The new global crime series premiered Sunday, March 30, exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australia and will be coming to other P+ international markets soon.

[04/10/25 - 09:31 AM]
TNT Sets Two-Night Premiere Event for Highly Anticipated New Adventure Series "The Librarians: The Next Chapter" Starting May 25
Produced by Electric Entertainment, "The Librarians: The Next Chapter" centers on Vikram Chamberlain (Callum McGowan), a "Librarian" from the past who time traveled from 1847 and now finds himself stuck in the present.

[04/10/25 - 09:08 AM]
A New Season of "Conan O'Brien Must Go" Premieres May 8 on Max
He's lost in translation.

[04/10/25 - 09:01 AM]
Emma Corrin, Jack Lowden and Olivia Colman Will Star in a New "Pride and Prejudice" Adaptation at Netflix
The six-part limited series is written by Dolly Alderton.

[04/10/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: "Criminal Minds: Evolution" - Season 18 Teaser Trailer - Paramount+
Six months after prisoners attack the notorious Sicarius Killer, Elias Voit, his restless followers on the dark web begin wreaking havoc all over the country.

[04/10/25 - 08:15 AM]
New Documentary Series to Follow Birmingham City Football Club's Promotion in Defining Season
Birmingham City's promotion to the EFL Sky Bet Championship will be the subject of a brand-new, behind-the-scenes documentary to launch on Prime Video worldwide in Summer 2025.

[04/10/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Forever" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Reunited as teens, two childhood friends fall deeply in love, experiencing the joy and heartache of a first romance that will change their lives forever.

[04/10/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Superboys of Malegaon" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
The film is based on the life of Nasir Shaikh, an amateur filmmaker from the town of Malegaon.