TCA Summer 2013 Press Tour: Cable Day 1 - Hallmark Channel, TV One, Adult Swim, NatGeo

Thursday, July 25, 2013

TCA Summer 2013 Press Tour: Cable Day 1 - Hallmark Channel, TV One, Adult Swim, NatGeo

The TCA Summer 2013 press tour has begun and yesterday was day one for cable networks. First up were Nat Geo, Hallmark, ESPN, TV One, and Turner networks. We'll cover the notable news information from day one today. Hallmark Channel announced a lot of movies and even some original series productions. A privileged society lady is a true pioneer woman in the World Premiere of When Calls the Heart, a Hallmark Channel Original Primetime Series, premiering October 5 at 9pm ET/PT with a two-hour special extended pilot of Hallmark Channel's second original primetime series, premiering January 2014. Based on Janette Oke's bestselling Canadian West book series, the two-hour pilot stars three-time Emmy(R) Award-winner Jean Smart (Designing Women), Lori Loughlin (Full House), Maggie Grace (Lost), Stephen Amel, Daniel Sharman and newcomer Poppy Drayton. Erin Krakow (Army Wives) and Daniel Lissing (Last Resort) star in the original primetime series set to premiere January 2014. Smart and Loughlin have the possibility to reprise their roles when the series returns in January. Another possible series: Two best friends and unlikely business partners team up, using their talent for detection and unorthodox ways to solve crimes in Hallmark Channel's The Mystery Cruise. The World Premiere of the two-hour backdoor pilot and the network's newest potential primetime series, is Saturday, October 19 at 9pm ET/PT and will air on the network in 2014, should the pilot be greenlit to series.

Then, a whole bunch of Hallmark Channel movies were announced with many stars on board. Some movies include: Tricia Helfer stars as a single mother who finds Christmas romance when an online home exchange brings a new man into her life in the World Premiere of Christmas Share, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie premiering Holiday 2013. Sarah Lancaster (Chuck) stars as a marketing exec turned reluctant Christmas tree peddler in Fir Crazy, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere for Holiday 2013. Eric Johnson (Rookie Blue) and Colin Mochrie also star in this holiday film, part of Hallmark Channel's Countdown to Christmas, the #1 most treasured holiday destination by television viewers. Next, an ambitious development executive is sent from sunny Arizona to frigid Maine to overhaul a charming old lodge, never expecting a warm Christmas welcome will melt away her frosty attitude in the World Premiere of Let It Snow, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie premiering Holiday 2013. The film stars Candace Cameron Bure (Full House), Emmy(R) nominee Alan Thicke (Growing Pains) and Jesse Hutch. There will be many other movies to air as well that we are not listing that has stars like Victor Garber, James Brolin, Chyler Leigh and Catherine Bell.

NatGeo highlighted the upcoming Killing Kennedy movie they are doing, airing in November. Starring Rob Lowe as JFK, Ginnifer Goodwin as Jacqueline Kennedy, Will Rothhaar as Lee Harvey Oswald and Michelle Trachtenberg as Marina. TV One will go into the morning news game with News One Now starting in September, hosted by Roland S. Martin. And for Turner, it was Adult Swim presenting giving reporters a preview of its new animated comedy Rick and Morty, set to premiere in December. The show was created by Justin Rioland and Dan Harmon (Community). Rick and Morty is a show about a sociopathic scientist who drags his unintelligent grandson on insanely dangerous adventures across the universe. Spencer Grammer (Greek) and voice actress Kari Wahlgren star.

And that's a wrap for day one, stay tuned for more coverage tomorrow for day two.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, March 12

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "A Big Birthday and Tequila Shots" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Mandy struggles to celebrate Georgie’s 21st birthday after hitting a rough patch in her career.

Ghosts - "St. Hetty’s Day 2: The Help" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
A St. Patrick’s Day staffing emergency gives Hetty the chance to step into an unlikely role at the restaurant as she regains her once-a-year ability to be seen and heard by the living. Meanwhile, Kyle returns to watch over the ghosts and finds himself caught in an amusing supernatural dynamic.

Animal Control - "Squirrels and Fat Cats" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Frank uncovers Emily and Shred's secret romance during a break-in at city supply; Victoria and Patel confront his daughter's school bully.

Going Dutch - "Tinker, Tailor, Colonel, Spy" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Rick takes a sabbatical from the CIA and returns to the base, hoping to rekindle his strained relationship with Capt. Maggie; paranoia runs high when a mole is suspected to be operating inside the base.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 9)

Thursday, March 12

Will Forte (The Four Seasons/HouseBroken/MacGruber/The Last Man on Earth/The Cleveland Show) - Catch Will on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Minnie Driver (Emily in Paris/Speechless/About a Boy) - Minnie is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Robert Smigel (Let's Be Real) - Robert stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Kristin Chenoweth (Stumble/Trial & Error/Kristin) - Kristin is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Jennifer Tilly (Out of Practice) - Andy Cohen interviews Jennifer on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10pm on Bravo.
Nathan Lane (Mid-Century Modern/Only Murders in the Building/Modern Family/Charlie Lawrence/Encore! Encore!/One of the Boys) - Nathan talks about Broadway's Death of a Salesman with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Ariana DeBose (Schmigadoon!) - Ariana joins Tamron to talk about her fashion evolution and her role in the all-star cast of the new series Scarpetta on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Lauren Graham (The Z-Suite/M.Y.O.B./Conrad Bloom/Townies/Good Company) - Lauren talks about Reminders of Him on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - NBC's Today catches up with Valerie in the 10am hour.
Phil Rosenthal (Creator of Everybody Loves Raymond) - Phil and Lily Rosenthal join Drew for a taste test of weird foods and talk about their children's book Just Try It! Someplace New! (A Phil & Lil Book) on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.