or


[02/01/13 - 08:20 AM]
USA Network Launches Characters Unite Month to Combat Hate, Intolerance and Discrimination
Highlights include the 2nd annual "NFL Characters Unite" documentary, premiering next Friday, February 8 at 7:00/6:00c.

[via press release from USA]

USA NETWORK LAUNCHES CHARACTERS UNITE MONTH TO COMBAT HATE, INTOLERANCE AND DISCRIMINATION

Campaign Features Original Programming, Including Episodes of Hit Series SUITS and NECESSARY ROUGHNESS and Documentary on NFL Superstars Larry Fitzgerald, Jameel McClain, Troy Polamalu and Justin Tuck Fighting Bigotry

USA Will Present a Special Commercial-Free Presentation of Academy Award-Winning "Schindler's List," as Part of Quarterly Characters Unite Film Series

New PSA and Social Media Campaign, Along with Cross-Country Bus Tour, to Encourage Americans to Share the Forms of Prejudice and Discrimination They Won't Stand For

NEW YORK - February 1, 2013 - Today, USA Network, along with a diverse coalition of partners, kicks off the third Characters Unite Month with a range of multiplatform initiatives that aim to shine a light on the intolerance and discrimination that exist today; encourage candor and dialogue around tough issues like racism, gender inequality, homophobia and bullying; and inspire people to say "I won't stand for ..." it anymore.

"Characters Unite Month is growing exponentially this year because there is still an immense need in this country for greater tolerance, respect and acceptance," said Toby Graff, USA's senior vice president, Public Affairs. "We're extremely proud to increase awareness and inspire action to address all forms of discrimination, whether it's based on a person's race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or ability."

USA is working with partners including the NFL, leading Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (MVPDs), and more than 20 leading nonprofit organizations such as the Southern Poverty Law Center, American Association of People with Disabilities, National Council of La Raza, NAACP, GLSEN, Human Rights Campaign, National Council of Women's Organizations and others.

Highlights of Characters Unite Month include:

"I Won't Stand For..." Campaign

· Public Service Announcements (PSAs): A new PSA campaign that features diverse characters -including USA Network stars Matt Bomer of WHITE COLLAR, Peter Gallagher of COVERT AFFAIRS, Dulé Hill of PSYCH, and Sarah Rafferty and Gina Torres of SUITS - engaging in a conversation about the need to no longer stand idly by in the face of hate, bullying and discrimination. These and other celebrities and athletes will also share what they "won't stand for" in short spots that will air throughout the month.

· On-the-Ground Activities: Kicking off Super Bowl weekend, the "I Won't Stand For..." tour will make stops in New Orleans, Denver, Nashville, Atlanta, Cleveland and Chicago, where PSYCH's Dulé Hill will be on hand. In addition, "I Won't Stand For" activities will be part of The Henry Ford Museum's National Day of Courage in celebration of Rosa Parks' 100th birthday, in Dearborn, MI.

At each stop, people can create their own "I Won't Stand For..." t-shirts, photos and videos. "I Won't Stand For..." t-shirts can now also be purchased through the NBCUniversal Experience Store, with a portion of proceeds benefitting the Characters Unite nonprofit partners.

· Digital Campaign: A newly created Facebook App and hashtag #IWontStandFor will allow people across the country to share what they won't stand for. Through the app, people can customize a photo and become part of an interactive gallery on Facebook and on charactersunite.com.

Additionally, dozens of people - actors, athletes, students, elected officials, advocates and everyday Americans - will share what they won't stand for and why in short videos featured on charactersunite.com, the Characters Unite YouTube channel, and through social media sites.

charactersunite.com will also feature a live, running tally of the number of people participating.

"NFL Characters Unite" Documentary

On Friday, February 8 at 7/6c, USA will premiere the 2nd annual "NFL Characters Unite" documentary, in partnership with the National Football League and narrated by NBC Sports' Cris Collinsworth. This year, the documentary shares the journeys of Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl MVP wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jameel McClain, Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu and New York Giants Pro Bowl defensive end Justin Tuck, who describe how they overcame prejudice and discrimination. Each player also talks about helping a young person facing similar adversity.

The documentary, created by The Hochberg Ebersol Company and executive produced by company co-founders Charlie Ebersol and Justin W. Hochberg, was produced by Paul Pawlowski and P3 Entertainment and directed by Ezra Edelman (HBO's "Magic and Bird: A Courtship of Rivals").

USA Original Series

USA is incorporating Characters Unite-themed storylines into episodes of its hit series, including:

· NECESSARY ROUGHNESS (Feb. 13 and 20, 10/9c) - a star member of the New York Hawks reveals he is gay and faces intense scrutiny from his coaches, teammates and the media.

· SUITS (Feb. 7 and 14, 10/9c) - Pearson Hardman fights a gender discrimination class action suit and unearths prejudices that impact women in the workplace.

The episodes will be followed by PSAs directing viewers to charactersunite.com for more information and resources.

Quarterly Film Series

On February 23 at 8/7c, in its basic cable premiere, USA will air a special, commercial-free presentation of "Schindler's List," a film which tells an extraordinary true story of courage and faith that continues to inspire, as part of the Characters Unite quarterly film series.

Characters Unite Awards

USA and its Multichannel Video Programming Distributor (MVPD) partners will launch the Characters Unite Awards to honor extraordinary individuals who have made significant efforts to champion civil and human rights in their communities. The program kicks off with an on-air spot featuring SUITS' Patrick J. Adams calling for nominations. Winners will be featured on-air and online and will receive a $5,000 grant to continue their work. Please visit http://www.charactersunite.com/ for more information on the initiative and what you can do to make a difference.

Characters Unite Partners

USA's nonprofit partners in the year-round Characters Unite public service campaign include: American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), Children's Defense Fund (CDF), Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Human Rights First (HRF), Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), National Association of Counties (NACo), National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), National Council of La Raza (NCLR), National Council of Women's Organizations (NCWO), National Education Association (NEA), National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), and General Board of Church & Society, United Methodist Church.

The #1 network in all of basic cable for seven consecutive years, USA Network is seen in over 102 million U.S. homes. USA is a leader in scripted programming with a powerful stable of originals, spectacular live television and is home to the best in blockbuster theatrical films, a broad portfolio of acquired series and entertainment events. Viewers come to USA to find television's best in critically-acclaimed and award-winning original programming, such as BURN NOTICE, ROYAL PAINS, WHITE COLLAR, COVERT AFFAIRS, PSYCH, SUITS, NECESSARY ROUGHNESS and WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW, as well as the highest-rated acquired originals, including HOUSE, NCIS, LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT and CSI. A trailblazer in digital innovation and storytelling, USA is defining, driving and setting the industry standard for Social TV. USA is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal. The award-winning website is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.





  [february 2013]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· NECESSARY ROUGHNESS (USA)
· SUITS (USA)





[02/11/25 - 11:08 AM]
Karl Ravech, David Cone, Eduardo Perez and Buster Olney Return for Fourth Season as ESPN "Sunday Night Baseball" Broadcast Team
The 36th season of "Sunday Night Baseball" begins on March 30, when the San Diego Padres host the Atlanta Braves at 7 p.m. ET.

[02/11/25 - 11:04 AM]
Paramount+ to Exclusively Premiere "Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party" on Tuesday, March 11
The news marks the first time the fully restored version of the classic '80s documentary from legendary and Academy Award-winning director Cameron Crowe will be widely available to a global audience.

[02/11/25 - 11:01 AM]
"The Day of the Jackal" Becomes Peacock's Most-Watched New Original Drama Series
Viewership of the series in its first 75 days has surpassed that of any other original drama series in the same timeframe.

[02/11/25 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Starz Releases Gripping Trailer for Season Four of Its Hit Series "Power Book III: Raising Kanan"
Season three of "Power Book III: Raising Kanan" averaged over 9M viewers per episode, hitting a high compared to the prior season.

[02/11/25 - 10:00 AM]
"Beyond the Gates: Welcome to the Neighborhood," An "Entertainment Tonight" Five-Part Behind-the-Scenes Special, to Air Monday, Feb. 17 Through Friday, Feb. 21 on CBS
The five-part news special, hosted by Kevin Frazier and comedian and television host Sheryl Underwood, airs in the week leading up to the series premiere, Monday, February 24 (2:00-3:00 PM, ET; 1:00-2:00 PM, PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+.

[02/11/25 - 09:39 AM]
First Look and Date Announcement: "Jessica Kirson: I'm the Man"
The special will premiere on Friday, April 25 and is the sixth original special in Hulu's new stand-up comedy initiative, Hularious.

[02/11/25 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "Deli Boys" - Official Trailer - Hulu
When their convenience store-magnate father suddenly dies, a pair of pampered Pakistani American brothers (Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh) lose everything and are forced to reckon with their Baba's secret life of crime as they attempt to take up his mantle in the underworld.

[02/11/25 - 09:31 AM]
Dave Chappelle Named President's Award Recipient for "56th NAACP Image Awards"
Previous recipients include Usher, Gabrielle Union-Wade, Dwyane Wade, Rihanna, LeBron James, Kerry Washington, Spike Lee, Muhammad Ali, Jesse Jackson, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Shawn "JAY-Z" Carter, and Ms. Lauryn Hill.

[02/11/25 - 09:18 AM]
Showtime Original Series "Dexter: Resurrection" Adds Emmy and Golden Globe Winner Peter Dinklage
Dinklage will play the series regular role of Leon Prater, a billionaire venture capitalist.

[02/11/25 - 09:04 AM]
AXS TV Partners with Azuki's Anime.com to Present the All-New Original Series "Anime.com Hour," Premiering February 13 at 10P ET
The series puts the spotlight on two of the genre's most popular offerings, airing episodes of Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] and My Hero Academia [Season 1-2].

[02/11/25 - 09:04 AM]
Video: Official Trailer - "Doctor Odyssey" Returns Thursday, March 6 on ABC
The series returns with a two-part jaw dropping event!

[02/11/25 - 08:43 AM]
HGTV Hit Series "Married to Real Estate" Starring Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson Returns for a New Season on Wednesday, March 12, at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Home renovation power couple Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson will keep it fun and prove working with your spouse is never boring in 12 new episodes.

[02/11/25 - 07:46 AM]
Video: Disney-ESPN's Andscape Debuts Trailer for New Feature, "Memes & Nightmares," A Tribeca Film Festival Selection
"Memes & Nightmares" is a hilarious and insightful satirical film that dives into the vibrant world of NBA Twitter.

[02/11/25 - 07:29 AM]
True Crime Docuseries "The Case of Iwona Wieczorek" Makes Exclusive US Debut Thursday, February 27, 2025 on Viaplay
The true-crime documentary series delves into one of the most famous disappearances and unsolved mysteries in recent Polish history - a 19-year-old woman who went missing without a trace on a summer night near her seaport home.

[02/11/25 - 07:00 AM]
Video: "Picture This" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
In this heartfelt rom-com, struggling photographer Pia (Simone Ashley) receives a prediction: true love and career success await her in the next five dates she goes on.