or


[02/25/09 - 12:49 PM]
TV One and A. Smith & CO. Productions Announce Deal for Eight New Episodes of Top-Rated Bio Series "Unsung"
The series "celebrates the lives and careers of successful artists or groups who, despite great talent, over the years have been under-recognized or under-appreciated."

[via press release from TV One]

TV ONE AND A. SMITH & CO. PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCE DEAL FOR EIGHT NEW EPISODES OF TOP-RATED BIO SERIES "UNSUNG"

-- Series that examines and celebrates talented artists who are under-appreciated will feature Melba Moore, Minnie Riperton, and six others beginning in summer 2009 --

Silver Spring, MD and Los Angeles, CA - TV One and A. Smith & Co. Productions announced the production of eight new episodes of Unsung, the acclaimed series of one-hour biographies that celebrates the lives and careers of successful artists or groups who, despite great talent, over the years have been under-recognized or under-appreciated. The episodes will be executive-produced by Arthur Smith, Kent Weed and Frank Sinton of A. Smith & Co. Productions. Mark Rowland will serve as Co-Executive Producer.

A. Smith & Co. produced for TV One four episodes of Unsung featuring DeBarge, Donny Hathaway, Phyllis Hyman and the Clark Sisters, that aired in fall 2008. The four Unsung premieres were viewed by a total 1.1 million people, and the Phyllis Hyman premiere was TV One's highest-rated original program in 2008 and ranked number one in its time slot among ad-supported cable networks for both African-American households and for African-American adults 25-54.

Melba Moore and Minnie Riperton are among those who will be featured in the new episodes, which are expected to begin airing on TV One in June 2009. Unsung will reveal the multiple factors that kept these artists from achieving the iconic commercial status they deserved. And, in the process, these specials will "sing" the praises and celebrate the artistry that has kept fellow artists and fans talking about them for years. Featuring exclusive interviews, musical clips and archival footage, each episode will investigate the stories of these pivotal artists, their journey through music and their perhaps unexpected influence on the music of today.

"Unsung really resonates with our audience. When it first aired, we may have gotten more comments and positive feedback about it than any other entertainment program since we aired the 30th anniversary telecast of Roots," said TV One Senior Vice President of Original Programming Toni Judkins. "There are so many more remarkable artists who have had the raw talent of Diana, Aretha or Stevie, but whose circumstances have prevented them from attaining that iconic status. We are delighted to be teaming up again with A. Smith to be bringing our viewers more of those incredible, real-life stories."

"The opportunity to tell great stories is a key factor in all of the shows we produce and those that Unsung focuses on are truly exceptional," said Frank Sinton. "There are many artists whose stories have not yet been told, which leads to not only compelling television, but also gives these incredible talents a platform for which their stories and music can be showcased."

About TV One

Launched in January 2004, TV One (www.tvoneonline.com) serves more than 47 million households (Nielsen March 2009 estimate), offering a broad range of lifestyle and entertainment-oriented original programming, classic series, movies, fashion and music designed to entertain, inform and inspire a diverse audience of adult African American viewers. TV One's investors include Radio One [NASDAQ: ROIA and ROIAK; www.radio-one.com], the largest radio company that primarily targets African American and urban listeners; Comcast Corporation [NASDAQ: CMCSA and CMCSK; www.comcast.com], the leading cable television company in the country; The DirecTV Group; Constellation Ventures; Syndicated Communications; and Opportunity Capital Partners.

About A. Smith & Co. Productions

Founded by Arthur Smith and Kent Weed in 2000, A. Smith & Co. Productions generates some of the most innovative, highly-rated and high quality unscripted programming for the domestic and international television marketplace. Since its launch the company has created over 500 hours of programming and developed and produced the number one show in America an astonishing 12 times and a top 5 show over 50 times. The company's current production slate includes the Emmy� nominated hit show Hell's Kitchen as well as Kitchen Nightmares with Chef Gordon Ramsay, I Survived a Japanese Game Show, Trading Spaces with host Paige Davis, the critically acclaimed documentary series American Gangster and UFC Countdown.





  [february 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· UNSUNG (TV ONE)





[10/07/26 - 10:33 AM]
Lifetime Greenlights Procedural "Murder in Cold Country," Starring Jennifer Beals and Katheryn Winnick to Debut in 2027
Beals and Winnick play detectives brought together by tragedy, bound by duty and forced to confront a killer whose crimes hit terrifyingly close to home.

[10/07/26 - 10:08 AM]
ESPN Studio Shows Continue Record Run with Strong September Audiences
Across ESPN's studio programming, average September viewership increased 7% year over year, continuing the strong audience trends seen throughout 2026.

[10/07/26 - 09:20 AM]
Video: "Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger" - Official Trailer - Hulu
Relive the event.

[10/07/26 - 09:01 AM]
Some Secrets Can't Stay Hidden: Netflix Renews "The Hunting Wives" for Season 3
Season 2 is set to release on November 26, 2026, exclusively as a Netflix-branded series in nearly all countries where Netflix is available.

[10/07/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Date, Key Art, Trailer Debut - Hulu's "All's Fair" Season Two
"All's Fair" season two premieres November 4th with three episodes on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the US and on Disney+ internationally.

[10/07/26 - 09:01 AM]
BritBox Debuts First Look Images of Upcoming Drama Series "The Cadburys"
Filming recently concluded in Birmingham, and the series will launch on BritBox in 2027.

[10/07/26 - 09:00 AM]
USA Network Renews "Anna Pigeon" for Season Two
Following its debut, "Anna Pigeon" became USA Network's highest-rated original scripted series premiere in nearly eight years, with an average of 2.35 million total viewers within the seven days following the premiere.

[10/07/26 - 08:31 AM]
"Instadocs: AI Gone Wild" to Release on Netflix October 12
"Instadocs" is Netflix's quick-turn documentary series that moves at the speed of the story and arrives at the height of the conversation.

[10/07/26 - 08:30 AM]
"Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2027" to Simulcast Live on ABC and Disney+ for the First Time Ever
Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" will welcome award-winning comedian and actor Druski as the Chicago co-host.

[10/07/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: Official Season 4 Trailer #2 - "Reasonable Doubt"
After a brutal attack leaves Jax's family and newly minted law firm shaken, nothing feels certain, especially their future.

[10/07/26 - 08:00 AM]
Disney+ to Stream Super Bowl LXI, Joining ESPN and ABC to Give Fans More Ways to Watch
In addition to Super Bowl LXI, two "Monday Night Football" regular-season games will be available to Disney+ subscribers in the lead-up to the big game.

[10/07/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "North of North" Season 2 - Official Trailer - Netflix
Recharged and ready for her next chapter, Siaja leans on Ice Cove's tight-knit community to level up her life and build a future on her own terms.

[10/07/26 - 06:31 AM]
Video: "On Behalf of My Son" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After losing her son - a bus driver - in an accident, Vicentina seeks out the families of all the victims, determined to ask for forgiveness while grappling with her own grief.

[10/07/26 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "The Empress" Season 3 - Official Trailer - Netflix
With her marriage and the empire facing new hardships, Elisabeth is drawn down a path that will forever alter her life and the future of Europe.

[10/06/26 - 07:02 PM]
Video: Prime Video Releases Official Trailer for Hit Comedy Competition "LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines" Season 2
The new season premieres October 30, 2026, exclusively on Prime Video.