LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- As long rumored, the WB made it official today as the network has opted to relocate its new fall drama "The Mountain" to Wednesday nights at 9:00/8:00c following "Smallville." The move puts the freshman series out of direct competition with the similarly young-audience targeted "The O.C." on FOX.
"Blue Collar TV" and "Drew Carey's Green Screen Show," which were originally announced to run in the hour, will now open the Frog's Thursday night schedule.
The news was announced via press release this afternoon:
THE WB MAKES FALL SCHEDULE CHANGE
"BLUE COLLAR TV" AND "DREW CAREY'S GREEN SCREEN SHOW" WILL MOVE TO THURSDAYS AT 8:00 AND 8:30 P.M. RESPECTIVELY
"THE MOUNTAIN," THE NEW DRAMA FROM McG STARRING OLIVER HUDSON, WILL MOVE TO WEDNESDAY NIGHTS AT 9:00 P.M.
The WB Network announced today that "Blue Collar TV," starring Jeff Foxworthy, Larry The Cable Guy and Bill Engvall, will air on Thursday nights at 8:00 p.m. this fall, followed by "Drew Carey's Green Screen Show" at 8:30 p.m. Simultaneously, the network announced that "The Mountain," the new young adult drama from McG and Warner Bros. starring Oliver Hudson, will air Wednesday nights at 9:00 p.m. this fall, following "Smallville." "Blue Collar TV" will get a summer launch as has been previously announced.
SAID JORDAN LEVIN, CEO, THE WB:
"In such a fluid programming environment, you have to effectively counter-program the competition and remain agile to be competitive. These moves will make us stronger on both nights, given the opportunities created by other network's recent scheduling moves, and thus just made a great deal of sense for our viewers, advertisers and affiliates."
Foxworthy, Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy starred in the "Blue Collar Comedy Tour" one of the most successful comedy tours of all time, grossing more than $15 million. Foxworthy, who starred in "The Jeff Foxworthy Show" for two seasons, has sold more comedy albums than any other performer in history, with sales surpassing 13 million. Engvall also starred in "The Jeff Foxworthy Show" and both he and Larry the Cable Guy have had hugely successful comedy albums. Fax Bahr and Adam Small ("The Jamie Kennedy Experiment," "Mad TV") have been set to executive produce the series that will be shot in Atlanta, Georgia and also feature an ensemble cast. The show was created by Jeff Foxworthy, Bahr and Small. Bahr, Small, Foxworthy and Williams will serve as executive producers. Foxworthy, Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy are managed by J.P. Williams of Parallel Entertainment. Their agent is John Ferriter of William Morris and their attorney is John Moonves.
"The Mountain" chronicles the larger-than-life saga of the Carvers, whose colorful patriarch founded the town and its internationally famous ski resort after winning the land in a poker game. When this legendary man unexpectedly dies, his choice of an heir sends shockwaves throughout the community. Free-spirited David Carver, Jr. (Oliver Hudson, "Dawson's Creek"), left home years ago to pursue his dream of becoming a world-class motocross racer, while his older brother Will (Anson Mount, "Tully," "Crossroads"), diligently attended business school with every expectation of taking over the family empire. No one, least of all the brothers themselves, expected David to inherit the Mountain. Now, David finds himself saddled with a responsibility he never wanted and a brother who rightly feels betrayed. On top of this, he is torn between two women and suddenly immersed in a power struggle with a neighboring family. David just wants to run, until he realizes his grandfather may have had bigger things in mind. Through the episodes to come, David will begin to reconnect with his mother Gennie (Barbara Hershey, "Hannah and Her Sisters," "Beaches") and teenage sister Shelley (newcomer Tara Thompson), and he will uncover long-buried secrets about his co-workers, his town and even his own family mythology. A Warner Bros. Television Production Inc. in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision. Executive producers are McG ("The O.C," the "Charlie's Angels" blockbusters and the upcoming film "Superman"), Stephanie Savage ("The O.C.") and Shaun Cassidy ("American Gothic"). David Barrett ("Fast Lane") directed.
In "Drew Carey's Green Screen Show," Drew Carey ("The Drew Carey Show," "Whose Line Is It, Anyway?") and his comic friends have a clever plan to shake up the concept of live improv comedy. The performers will act out quirky ideas suggested by the audience ("You're getting married underwater and are attacked by a giant squid"), but that's just a jumping-off point. The real fun begins with the technique known as green screen, which Drew's behind-the-scenes team will use to animate the skits, creating an actual improvised movie that brings to life the details going on in their vivid imaginations. This series promises to be a fun and lively marriage of improv and animation - a concept only Drew Carey could pull off. A Garden Suite Production with Executive Producers Drew Carey and Ron Diamond.
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