or


[04/03/03 - 12:00 AM]
Cable Upfront Presentations: Lifetime
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC)

CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- Lifetime, one of cable's most successful networks, will invest an unprecedented $800 million in programming over the next two years. That's just one of many announcements the network made in its 2003-04 season upfront presentation to advertisers. Two new scripted hours as well as three new reality series are in the works as Lifetime plans to expand its already winning Sunday night of originals into a second evening of original programming on Saturdays, beginning this summer. In total, the cable network plans to reach the highest number of original primetime hours ever in its 19-year history, with nearly 60% of the primetime lineup comprised of original programming.

Here's a rundown of the projects that were announced:

NEW ORIGINAL DRAMA SERIES

Joining "The Division" and "Strong Medicine," Lifetime will launch two new original drama series this August, selected from its four pilots in development:

1-800 MISSING -- starring Gloria Rueben as a female FBI agent and her unconventional partner, a young woman who has developed the psychic ability to find missing people

FOLLOW THE LEEDS (A.K.A. SUBURBAN SLEUTHS) -- starring Sharon Lawrence and Maria Pitillo as two suburban women who run a private investigation business with the help of their mother, played by four time Academy Award-nominee Marsha Mason

NICK AND SHELLY (A.K.A. SCREWBALL HOMICIDE) -- starring Julie Warner as a brilliant female detective who solves crimes with a very unusual partner -- her ex-husband, played by Adrian Pasdar, and joined by Robert Wagner ("Austin Powers," "Hart to Hart") as her ex-husband's father and Police Commissioner Sheldon Bennett Sr., who remains close to his daughter-in-law despite the break up

WILD CARD -- starring Joely Fisher as Zoe Busiek, a former Las Vegas blackjack dealer who assumes care of her sister's children and stumbles into a career as an insurance fraud investigator

The announcement of which series will get the greenlight to series is expected shortly.

NEW ORIGINAL ALTERNATIVE SERIES

Lifetime will also premiere new original reality series at 8:00/7:00 p.m. during the week:

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? (premieres April 14) -- This new series offers real-life solutions for real-life problems.

SECRET LIVES (premiere date T.B.A.) -- A limited-run series hosted by "Days of Our Lives" star Kristian Alfonso which reveals the shocking true stories of people who lead double lives or have a secret past.

MAKE ME OVER (premiere date T.B.A.) -- Hosted by Tanika Ray and set to air on Saturday mornings, the series allows two women who know each other well to surrender control to the other for a whole new look and makeover.

MERGE (pilot) -- Hosted by Lisa Rinna, the series helps newly married couples combine their individual belongings into one household has been piloted as a possible fourth new reality series.

RETURNING ORIGINAL ALTERNATIVE SERIES

LIFETIME'S SPEAKING OF WOMEN'S HEALTH -- This season television personality Florence Henderson joins news anchor and correspondent Juju Chang and emergency medicine physician Dr. Winnie King as host of "Lifetime's Speaking of Women's Health," the returning weekly Saturday morning health focused magazine show with the mission.

INTIMATE PORTRAIT -- The popular "Intimate Portrait" series returns with over 40 new installments, including profiles of First Lady Laura Bush, country music star Faith Hill and actress Lucy Liu.

ORIGINAL MOVIES

GOING FOR BROKE -- starring real-life husband and wife Delta Burke ("Dangerous Child," "Designing Women") and Gerald McRaney ("Mister Sterling," "Major Dad") in the true story of a wife and mother whose gambling addiction leads to embezzlement

DEFENDING OUR KIDS: THE JULIE POSEY STORY -- starring Annie Potts ("Any Day Now," "Designing Women") as a woman who goes underground on the Internet to save teenagers from online predators

BREAKING THROUGH -- executive produced by and starring Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning actress Diane Keaton ("Father of the Bride," "First Wives Club") as a mother who goes undercover for the FBI in a desperate attempt to save herself and her children from the dangerous world of drug dealing

SPECIALS AND EVENTS

The primetime line-up also features specials and documentaries such as a "Designing Women" reunion produced by co-creator Harry Thomason featuring all of the stars, Delta Burke, Dixie Carter, Annie Potts, Jean Smart, Mesach Taylor and creators/producer Linda Bloodworth Thomason, sharing their favorite and funniest moments, as well as a 90-minute Andrew Solt produced "Golden Girls" retrospective that unveils the stories behind the laughs and celebrates one of the greatest comedy series created. Also, on the roster are the fourth annual "Women Rock!" concert for breast cancer awareness which this year will celebrate the movies and "Weddings of a Lifetime" specials.

Also, as the centerpiece of the Lifetime's "Be Your Own Hero" campaign to raise self-esteem among girls and young women, now in its fourth year, the Network will premiere "Lifetime's Achievement Awards: Women Changing the World" to pay tribute to ordinary women who have done extraordinary things in their lives. Produced by Don Mischer, "Women Changing the World" premieres on May 22 from New York's Hammerstein Ballroom and salutes women from all walks of life who have made a positive impact on the lives of one or many around them -- in their families, communities and the world.





  [april 2003]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· ANY DAY NOW (LIFETIME)
· DANGEROUS CHILD (LIFETIME)
· DEFENDING OUR KIDS: THE JULIE POSEY STORY (LIFETIME)
· DIVISION, THE (LIFETIME)
· FOLLOW THE LEEDS (LIFETIME)
· GOING FOR BROKE (LIFETIME)
· MERGE (LIFETIME)
· MISSING (LIFETIME)
· MISTER STERLING (NBC)
· NICK & SHELLY (LIFETIME)
· ON THIN ICE (LIFETIME)
· STRONG MEDICINE (LIFETIME)
· WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? (LIFETIME)
· WILD CARD (LIFETIME)





[01/10/25 - 12:01 PM]
"Saturday Night Live" Kicks Off 2025 with New Shows Beginning Jan. 18
Look for Dave Chappelle to host on January 18 followed by Timothée Chalamet on January 25.

[01/10/25 - 10:31 AM]
The "Doc" Is in with a Double Dose of FOX's Gripping New Medical Drama
The show's debut installment will rebroadcast this Sunday, January 12 and Monday, January 13.

[01/10/25 - 08:31 AM]
Cleveland Cavaliers Victory Over Oklahoma City Thunder on ESPN Averaged 1.87 Million Viewers
Wednesday's coverage peaked at 2.5 million viewers.

[01/10/25 - 07:06 AM]
"Puppy Bowl XXI" Returns Sunday, February 9 Across Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, Max and discovery+
The annual three-hour television event will feature 142 rescue puppies from 80 shelters across 40 states - and two countries - as they compete in the cutest competition of the year.

[01/10/25 - 05:31 AM]
Venu Sports Will Be Discontinued
Venu Sports, the proposed virtual MVPD service from ESPN, FOX and Warner Bros. Discovery, will be discontinued.

[01/10/25 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "My Family" - Official Teaser - Netflix
A terminally ill father prepares his chaotic family to care for his two young kids and face life without him - but they must put old quarrels to rest.

[01/10/25 - 01:23 AM]
Disney+ and Curious Films to Produce "Caroline (w/t)" Original Feature Length Documentary Film
The film will celebrate the life and career of one of the UK's most popular TV presenters Caroline Flack and follows Christine, Caroline's mother, as she seeks to understand the events in the final months of her daughter's life.

[01/09/25 - 01:54 PM]
Video: Hunting Down the Truth - "The Hunting Party" - Trailer - NBC
After an impossible breakout at a top-secret prison, one team must race against time to recapture escaped serial killers who are more dangerous than ever before.

[01/09/25 - 11:21 AM]
CBS Program Advisory: "Hollywood Squares" Premiere Moves to Next Thursday
In light of the ongoing tragic wildfires in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, tonight's premiere of "Hollywood Squares" will move to next Thursday, January 16.

[01/09/25 - 08:32 AM]
ESPN's College Football Bowl Viewership Reaches Record Highs for 2024-25 Season
The 33 non-College Football Playoff bowls averaged 2.7 million viewers, marking a 14 percent year-over-year increase and the largest audience since the 2019-20 season.

[01/09/25 - 08:25 AM]
"The American Revolution," A New Film from Ken Burns, to Premiere November 16, 2025
The new six-part, 12-hour documentary series that explores the country's founding and its eight-year War for Independence, will premiere on Sunday, November 16 and air for six consecutive nights through Friday, November 21st at 8:00-10:00 p.m. ET on PBS.

[01/09/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Lucca's World" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Determined to help her son, who has cerebral palsy, Bárbara takes her family to India for an experimental treatment. Based on the book of the same name.

[01/09/25 - 07:00 AM]
WWE "RAW" Wrestles Up 4.9M Global Views for Netflix Debut
The inaugural event on Netflix averaged 2.6 million households (Live+SD) in the US, according to VideoAmp, which is 116% higher than "RAW's" average 2024 US audience of 1.2 million households, and higher than any other "Monday Night RAW" broadcast in the past five years.

[01/09/25 - 06:00 AM]
Video: "Onside: Major League Soccer" - Official Trailer - Apple TV+
Off the pitch and on the record. An access-all-areas look at Major League Soccer.

[01/09/25 - 05:31 AM]
Video: "Sakamoto Days" - Final Trailer - Netflix
Once the greatest hitman of all, Taro Sakamoto retired in the name of love. But when his past catches up, he must fight to protect his beloved family.