LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- Lifetime has slated three original movies and the return of three of its drama series for its summer schedule, announced today via press release. In addition, fellow cable channel Spike TV has released the complete details about the upcoming second season of its reality series "The Joe Schmo Show."
Lifetime Television's Summer Programming Lineup Features Original Movies Starring Mary-Louise Parker, Dana Delany and Kathleen Quinlan, Returning Popular Dramas 'Strong Medicine,' 'Wild Card' and 'Missing,' Season Finale of 'The Division'
- Fifth Season of 'Strong Medicine' Includes Series' 100th Episode -
This summer, kick back your high heels,
dance beneath the stars and enjoy a savory Lifetime Television programming
barbecue featuring such tasty treats as original movies starring Mary-Louise
Parker ("Miracle Run"), Dana Delany ("Baby for Sale") and Kathleen Quinlan
("Perfect Romance"), and drama series showcasing Vivica A. Fox, Caterina
Scorsone and Mark Consuelos ("MISSING"), Joely Fisher, Chris Potter and
Loretta Devine ("Wild Card"), Rosa Blasi and Patricia Richardson ("Strong
Medicine"), along with Bonnie Bedelia and Nancy McKeon ("The Division").
The warm weather extravaganza also includes mouth-watering specials
celebrating TV movie superstars from Meredith Baxter, Cheryl Ladd to Jane
Seymour, television's greatest sidekicks like Bea Arthur, Penny Marshall and
Valerie Harper, and the institution of marriage as the cameras follow one
couple from proposal to the altar - with a makeover in between.
Following are highlights of Lifetime's 2004 summer schedule:
Lifetime Original Movies
"Perfect Romance," June 7 at 8PM ET/PT -- Academy Award and Golden Globe
nominee Kathleen Quinlan ("Apollo 13," "Breakdown") stars in "Perfect
Romance," a romantic comedy about a divorced woman who is convinced that her
daughter has terrible taste in men. She secretly goes online searching for
her daughter's "Mr. Right," finding a man she thinks will be the perfect mate
and striking up a cyber friendship. What she couldn't have anticipated is
that he may be her "perfect romance," while her daughter's perfect match has
been under their noses all along. "Perfect Romance" is produced by
Alexander/Enright and Associates in association with Lucky Crow Clarity
Pictures for Lifetime Television. Executive producers are Don Enright and Les
Alexander ("Sex and the Single Mom," "Family Pictures"), Andrea Baynes ("Sex
and the Single Mom," "Oklahoma City: A Survivor's Story"), Kerry David ("Agent
Cody Banks," "Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London"), and Allison Burnett
("Red Meat," "Autumn in New York") who also wrote the original teleplay
directed by Doug Barr ("Beautiful Girl," "Sex, Lies and Obsession").
"Baby For Sale," July 12 at 8PM ET/PT -- Emmy Award winner and Golden
Globe nominee Dana Delany ("China Beach," "Presidio Med," "A Time to
Remember") stars in "Baby for Sale," inspired by the true story of an innocent
couple who becomes embroiled in a dangerous sting operation to bust a baby-
selling ring when they realize that the baby girl they are adopting is being
auctioned off to the highest bidder. "Baby for Sale" is produced by Christal
Film Productions in association with Muse Entertainment and distributed by
Lions Gate Television Inc. for Lifetime Television. Leslie Greif ("Word of
Honor," "Walker, Texas Ranger") and Judy Polone ("Infidelity," "Lucky 7") are
the executive producers. John Wierick ("The Matthew Sheppard Story," "Crossed
Over") is the writer.
"Miracle Run," Summer -- Golden Globe and Tony Award winner Mary-Louise
Parker ("Angels in America," "Proof," "The West Wing") stars in "Miracle Run,"
the inspirational true story of how a mother's love and determination allows
her twin autistic sons to flourish in a society expecting them to fail.
"Miracle Run" is produced by Patriarch Pictures for Lifetime Television. Tom
Patricia ("Homeless to Harvard," "RFK") is executive producer. Mike Maples
("The Ugly Little Boy") is the writer of the teleplay.
Original Dramas
"Strong Medicine," June 13th at 9 PM ET/PT- One of cable television's
highest-rated original dramas, "Strong Medicine," starring Rosa Blasi and
Patricia Richardson, returns for a fifth season with Tamera Mowry joining the
cast. This season features its 100th episode - airing in October -- only the
second original cable drama ever to reach this milestone.
In July, freshman hits "Wild Card," starring Joely Fisher, Chris Potter
and new addition Loretta Devine ("Boston Public"), and "MISSING," starring
Caterina Scorsone and new cast member Vivica A. Fox ("Kill Bill, Vol. 2"),
return to the network's weekend primetime lineup. Both series averaged 2.1
million viewers during their first seasons.
Also in July, "The Division," starring Bonnie Bedelia, Nancy McKeon, Lisa
Vidal, Amy Jo Johnson, Taraji P. Henson and Jon Hamm, concludes its fourth
season.
Non-Scripted Programming
June 4th Weekend -- To celebrate June, the month of love and weddings,
Lifetime has created a very special weekend, hosted by Lisa Rinna, beginning
on Friday, June 4, with a romantic extravaganza featuring one couple's journey
to the altar. In "Merge," "Head 2 Toe" and "The 'I Do' Diaries: Instant
Wedding," viewers follow Ryan Fiege and Shellia McNatt of Los Angeles, on a
romantic extravaganza, featuring a bride-to-be makeover, surprise proposal,
six-hour engagement, dream wedding and incredible home redesign. Romantic
movies are also sprinkled throughout the weekend along with surprise proposals
and wacky Las Vegas weddings.
"Lifetime's Speaking of Women's Health," June 5t h at 11:30AM ET/PT -
Marks the beginning of the fourth season of the popular series which explores
all aspects of women's health, hosted by Florence Henderson, joined this
season by Rachel Campos.
"What Should You Do?," June 18th at 10 PM ET/PT - The series returns for a
second season with new host Leeza Gibbons ("Entertainment Tonight," "Extra"),
featuring dramatizations of true stories followed by experts demonstrating
ways to tackle real-life challenges with real-life solutions. From a wide-
range of common emergencies, such as a child choking, to potentially dangerous
situations like a home invasion, Gibbons guides viewers through life-saving
scenarios. Returning as an expert for a second season is Candice DeLong, a
20-year veteran of the FBI and best-selling author of Special Agent: My Life
on the Front Lines as a Woman in the FBI.
"The TV Movie Superstars: Women You Love," July -- For the first time
ever, favorite television movie superstars come together to share the stories
behind their most memorable roles on "TV Movie Superstars: Women You Love."
The special includes Meredith Baxter, Delta Burke, Cheryl Ladd, Judith Light,
Kellie Martin, Donna Mills, Markie Post, Annie Potts, Stephanie Powers, Connie
Sellecca, Jane Seymour and Jaclyn Smith, along with endearing leading men such
as Barry Bostwick, Stephen Collins, Michael Nouri, Jack Scalia and Jack
Wagner.
TV's Greatest Sidekicks, August -- The special celebrates "women
supporting women" as sidekicks on TV through memorable clips and lively,
on-stage interviews. Many of the original stars of classic sitcoms will
gather together again for a rare reunion with their sidekick. They may have
not worked together for many years, but once re-united, it will seem as if
time has stood still as they reminisce and share "war" stories and rare
behind-the-scenes anecdotes.
LIFETIME is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated
basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, LIFETIME is
committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information
programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their
families. Launched in 1984, LIFETIME serves 88 million households nationwide.
In 1998, LIFETIME launched Lifetime Movie Network, now in more than 41 million
homes, and in 2001, Lifetime Real Women. LIFETIME Television, Lifetime Movie
Network, Lifetime Real Women, Lifetime Radio for Women, Lifetime Home
Entertainment and Lifetime Online are part of LIFETIME Entertainment Services,
a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company,
as is Lifetime magazine, which debuted in April 2003.
'Joe Schmo 2' Premieres on Spike TV Tuesday, June 15 10:00 PM, ET/PT - New Details
The Schmo Must Go On......
Spike TV's Hit Series 'Joe Schmo' Returns With All New 'Faux' Reality Fun Spoofing Popular Relationship Shows
New Season Features Daring Twist of a Joe and Jane Schmo
DVD Release 'The Joe Schmo Show: Season One Uncensored' Hits Retail Stores June 22
Spike TV's hit series returns in
hilarious form with "Joe Schmo 2," premiering Tuesday, June 15 (10:00-11:00
PM, ET/PT). Season one introduced American audiences to the next wave of
reality programming, the "faux-reality" series where only one contestant was
real. "Joe Schmo 2" not only features a "Joe Schmo," but in a daring twist,
a "Jane Schmo" as well. Aside from "Joe" and "Jane," everyone else on the
show, from the host to the other 'players,' are actors following a pre-
determined storyline.
How will our two reality 'contestants' react to encountering a show filled
with every outlandish element of reality TV? With so many reality shows out
there, there is a wealth of stereotypes to choose from. How far can producers
push this 'reality' a second time, and now with more than one "Schmo?" It's
twice the fun, but twice the trouble. Will the actors be convincing enough?
We saw from the first season that under pressure the actors sometimes fail to
remember their fictitious life histories. Will our unsuspecting "contestants"
figure it all out, and if they do, how will they react?
Tim Walsh is this season's "Joe Schmo." A resident of Washington, DC, Tim
is true to his Irish roots -- a bartender with entrepreneurial aspirations to
open his own bar. He's athletic, witty, outgoing and an overall genuine guy.
Ingrid Wiese is our first ever "Jane Schmo." Also a resident of our nation's
capitol, Ingrid is the classic girl-next-door meets woman-of-the-world. She's
intelligent -- with a dream of becoming the next Madeline Albright someday --
strong-willed, and thankfully, up for anything.
Tim and Ingrid believe they are participating in a new series entitled
"Last Chance for Love" and vying with other contestants for $100,000. "Last
Chance for Love" parodies elements from many of the romance/relationship shows
currently found on television ("The Bachelor/Bachelorette," "Average Joe,"
"For Love or Money," "Meet My Folks"), including over-the-top eviction
ceremonies, cutthroat competitions, and many shocking twists.
Our two "Schmos" are again surrounded by stereotypical reality show
contestants -- "The Bachelor & Bachelorette," "The Playah," "The Drunk," "The
Gotta-Be-Gay Guy," "The Heir," "The Moron," "The Bitch," "The Weeper," and
"The Stalker." Ralph Garman, who portrayed the smarmy host of the original
"Joe Schmo," returns this season in disguise as Derek Newcastle, a pompous but
randy British reality show host.
Like many reality shows on television, "Last Chance for Love" features
over-the-top competitions for cheesy rewards -- either "one-on-one time with
the bachelor/bachelorette" eating strawberries out by the pool, a "hot tub
date" under the stars, or a "romantic dinner date" away from the other
competitive suitors. No reality show would be complete without shocking
revelations, and on "Last Chance for Love," these come in the form of "Falcon
Twists," where a falcon flies in to reveal surprise twists, culminating with
the host saying "The Falcon has spoken." Some of the competitions include:
* Strike A Pose - An endurance game where players must stay in
challenging, seductive, and uncomfortable positions for as long as
possible. Downward-facing-dog never burned so bad.
* Professions Of Love - Contestants profess their love to "Mr. & Ms.
Right" by showcasing a special talent, performed beneath a Romeo-
and-Juliet-style balcony.
* Bound By Love - Contestants are chained together to learn a number
of dances to impress the bachelor and bachelorette.
As with most reality shows, there must be elimination ceremonies. "Last
Chance for Love" takes these to a whole new level of cheesiness. Our host
begins the proceedings with "Love...it's why we're all here..." Then the
Bachelor or Bachelorette send away one of their romantic suitors, either via a
"Pearl Necklace" ceremony for the women or a "Flame of Love" ceremony for the
men. How will Tim and Ingrid act and react in this entire absurd scenario?
Viewers will have to tune in to a new season of faux fun with "Joe Schmo 2"
this summer to find out.
In addition to it's weekly premiere on Tuesdays at 10:00 PM, ET/PT, "Joe
Schmo 2" episodes encore on Fridays (1:00-2:00 AM, ET/PT); Sundays (9:00-10:00
PM, ET/PT)); Mondays (11:05 PM - Midnight, ET/PT) immediately following WWE
live RAW telecast and Tuesdays (9:00 -10:00 PM, ET/PT).
On Tuesday, June 22, Paramount Home Entertainment releases "The Joe Schmo
Show: Season One Uncensored!," a 3-disc DVD box set with all 8 original
broadcast episodes from the first season, including over 7 hours of
entertainment, with special features that even Spike TV couldn't show. The
DVD box set contains uncensored special features including audio commentary on
the shocking season finale, by a series executive producer Rhett Reese and
Matt Kennedy Gould ("Joe Schmo"); five deleted scenes; extended cast
interviews; an extended and unblurred "Chocolate Sauce on Models" and "The
Making of the Meal" -- The Gross Food Stunt competitions.
"Joe Schmo 2" was created by Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, who also serve
as writers and executive producers with David G. Stanley, Scott A. Stone and
Anthony Ross. The series is exclusively produced for Spike TV by Stone
Stanley Entertainment in association with Reese Wernick Productions. Peilin
Chou, Spike TV's Vice President of Original Series serves as the Executive in
Charge of Production.
Spike TV, the first network for men, is available in 87 million homes and
is a division of MTV Networks. MTV Networks owns and operates the cable
television programming services MTV: Music Television, MTV2, Nickelodeon/Nick
at Nite, TV Land, VH1, CMT: Country Music Television, and Spike TV, as well as
The Digital Suite from MTV Networks, a package of thirteen digital services,
all of which are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks also operates and
offers joint ventures, licensing agreements and syndication deals whereby its
programming can be seen worldwide.
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