SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

TV Land Announces New Primetime Block; Me-TV and Me-Too Fall Schedules for Chicago

TV Land has announced the launch of TV Land PRIME, a new primetime programming block designed to appeal to the attitudes, life stage and interests of people in their 40s and 50s, catering specifically to people in their mid-40s. Debuting Monday, October 6, this primetime destination will feature original programming such as TV Land hit franchises High School Reunion, She's Got The Look, Myths & Legends and the upcoming series The Cougar, acquired television series such as Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Scrubs, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Friends and That '70s Show and theatrical releases including Analyze This, Titanic, Ray, A River Runs Through It, Love Actually, Jerry Maguire and Independence Day.
Equipped with a new logo, color scheme and on-air graphics program, TV Land PRIME will air Monday through Saturday, 9pm to 12 midnight beginning October 6 on TV Land. TV Land PRIME's programming is defined as entertaining, engaging, escapist and most importantly -- targeted for this Adult demographic -- a dynamic group with unmatched purchasing power. Moving forward, all of TV Land's original programming, contemporary television series acquisitions and movies will premiere solely in this daypart.
Initially, the line-up will have Scrubs (Mon-Fri 9-10pm & Sat 11pm-12am), 3rd Rock from the Sun (Mon-Tues, Thurs 10-11pm), Season 2 of original series Myths & Legends (Wed 10pm & encores Sat 10-11pm), encores of High School Reunion (Wed 10:30-11:30pm), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (Mon-Tues & Thurs 11pm-12am, Wed 11:30p-12:30a, & Sat 8-10pm) and MovieLand movies (Fridays 10pm-12am)...all starting Monday, October 6. Sunday nights will remain classic TV in primetime.
Among the other off-network series coming are Friends (Sept. 2012) and That '70s Show (Sept. 2010). Friends could however come as early as Sept. 2011, as that is when its Nick at Nite deal starts and TV Land might just air it then if Nick at Nite decides not to or wants to share it then. That '70s Show will be shared with sister station The N, which currently airs the series everynight from 12-2am. Other sharings might include the sharing of Nick at Nite's Home Improvement and Roseanne as early as 2009...both could move to TV Land PRIME or air on both Nick and TV Land. Nick at Nite had acquired The Nanny for Spring 2009, but as with Friends, TV Land might just air it instead. However, as of now, TV Land has listed The Nanny for an April 2010 launch.
The original series for sure airing are Myths & Legends Season 2 (October), High School Reunion Season 2 (Early 2009), She's Got The Look Season 2 (Spring/Summer 2009), and new series The Cougar (2009). Each series will air for eight episodes, except Myths & Legends will have seven. No word on renewals yet for other TV Land originals like Family Foreman. TV Land also has seven pilots in development "for consideration." They have not been bought as a series yet, and not all of them will make it to series, but TV Land PRIME has the following in development to choose from:
* First Love/Second Chance -- This pilot gives long-lost sweethearts an opportunity to rekindle their romance -- years later. Whether it is unrequited love or a relationship that ended badly, the couples decide if there's still a romantic link after all these years and answer the question, "What could have been?"
* What's in the Box? -- TV Land PRIME's first game show pilot features individual contestants squaring off in the ultimate, fast-paced 20-question competition. Through a series of pointed yes or no answers to questions like, "Does it move?" or "Is it man-made?," the players must figure out what's in the box without giving their opponent the upper-hand -- all for a cash jackpot and a chance to win a fabulous grand prize.
* Make My Day -- This show provides a window into one day in the life of an unsuspecting participant. Hidden cameras capture the action as contestants are put through a series of weird coincidences, extraordinary situations and surprise appearances.
* I've Got Your Number -- This reality pilot based on a British format proves the theory that there is a 76% chance that you already have the number of the person you're going to marry in your cell phone.
* How Rich Are You? -- We've all driven by an enormous home and asked the question, "Who lives there?" This show unveils the truth about the people who occupy these homes, what else they own and reveals how they went from average Americans to mega-moguls.
* Now or Never -- Empty nesters are given the chance of a lifetime to open a new chapter in their lives by pursuing careers they always dreamed of, but never dared to pursue. In each installment, couples try out their dream jobs, a new place to live and a whole new social scene before making the gut- wrenching decision of which path to follow.
* Boomerangers -- TV Land PRIME explores the exploding occurrence of "boomerang kids," young adults who return home from college to live with their parents. Cameras capture the parents and kids who are, once again, together under the same roof. Cast contingent.
TV Land is trying to move away from the older-skewing series whose average median age on TV Land is over 60 such as The Andy Griffith Show. Currently TV Land's average median age is 55, and TV Land is trying to make it 45 or so and these newer series and original series will certainly help do that in primetime. Not to worry, you'll still see the classics in other dayparts like mornings, afternoons and late nights.
We'll certainly have more on this as it develops, but TV Land PRIME launches Oct. 6 airing 9pm-12am, six nights a week on TV Land. View the complete press release.

Me-TV Chicago and its spin-off station Me-Too have announced their Fall 2008 schedules! The schedule started yesterday but some series will be launched gradually in coming weeks. New to Me-TV Chicago on weekdays are dramas Hart to Hat, Dragnet, Police Woman and sitcoms Married...with Children, That '70s Show, Steve Harvey Show, and Happy Days. Batman will also air on Me-TV airing weeknights at 7pm in addition to its Saturday morning airings on Me-Too. While the early evening line-up on Me-TV from 5-7pm may seem a bit new, weekends will be all classics. Saturdays will see classic action series in Spanish in mornings, followed by police shows, then Star Trek at 6pm, followed by all-time sitcom classics from 7pm-1am with the likes of Mary Tyler Moore, Dick Van Dyke, The Honeymooners, I Love Lucy and All in the Family. Sundays on Me-TV will have more classics...in the mornings are more action-adventure series in Spanish, followed by an all-era sitcom block from 11am-7pm with shows such as One Day at a Time, Brady Bunch, Bewitched, Gilligan's Island, Family Ties and Who's the Boss. Following that is a primetime block starting at 9pm of classic '70s sitcoms like Good Times, The Jeffersons, Barney Miller and Sanford & Son. Later in the night are Love American Style McHale's Navy and Patty Duke.
As for sister station Me-Too, it is all about blocks...they will kick-off weekdays with a two-hour 80s sitcom block of Saved by the Bell, The Facts of Life, Diff'rent Strokes, and Webster from 9-11am. 11am-2pm will see classic '60s sitcoms such as Mister Ed, McHale's Navy and Gomer Pyle. Then it is time to saddle up for an afternoon of westerns from 2-5pm with the likes of Gunsmoke and Wild, Wild, West. Then its the all-time classics from 5-9pm with I Love Lucy, Dick Van Dyke, Bob Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore and the classic Me-Too Movie. Then its mystery and suspense from 9-11:30 with Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchock Hour and more. Late night comedy follows starting at 11:30 with Cheers & Carson's Comedy Classics. On Saturdays, start your Saturday mornings with classic superheroes! Batman, Adventures of Superman and Green Hornet from 9a-12p! From 12-6pm it is family-friendly stuff with Family Affair, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, My Three Sons and the family feature movie. Saturday nights get a makeover with a new block called "Saturday Night Black & White," with the likes of I Love Lucy, Perry Mason and Route 66. On Sundays, it is mystery Sunday staring at 10am through 7pm with Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew, It Takes a Thief, Mrs. Columbo, and the mystery movies.
View the full Me-TV Chicago and Me-Too Fall 2008 schedules.