Thursday, March 05, 2015

Spike TV 2015 Upfront Brings Out Big Stars; Syfy Spring Premieres, Includes Return of Bitten with Laura Vandervoort

Spike TV

Spike TV had its annual upfront and we have some highlights from it. With a series of announcements including a new tagline and logo at an Upfront presentation to advertisers in New York City, Spike took a giant step further toward its mission of attracting a broader, gender-balanced audience. The tagline "Spike: The Ones To Watch" encompasses the network's strategic shift to a general entertainment network delivering compelling original entertainment with an edge and a distinctive point of view. It speaks to the network's bold personalities and a brand pushing the boundaries of the unexpected. With a dynamic multi-platform redesign, Spike's on-air look will reflect the brand's evolution. Among the stars who attended the Upfront presentation were Ben Kingsley, Dwayne Johnson, Jillian Michaels, Adam Carolla, Jon Taffer, Dave Navarro, John Krasinski, Stephen Merchant, LL Cool J & Chrissy Teigen.

Among the announcements Spike made today include: Spike TV has partnered with world-renowned entertainer, Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia's $7 Bucks Productions, for a development deal to create and produce compelling and impactful programming for the network. Johnson and Garcia will executive produce shows ranging from big live events, specials, sports and initiatives surrounding our troops and veterans. The goal is to tap into people's humanity and touch lives, inspiring the audience while entertaining them.
Spike TV has partnered with Legendary Pictures to develop an original scripted series, Emergency Broadcast, that features a group of government first responders who confront the planet's most fantastic crises and disasters. Based on an original idea by Thomas Tull, Chairman and CEO of Legendary, the project reteams Legendary with longtime collaborator Max Brooks, the best-selling and critically-acclaimed author (World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, Zombie Survival Guide), who serves as a Consultant on the project.
Spike TV has green lit an additional eight episodes of the highly-anticipated new, original series, Lip Sync Battle. The series is based on the cultural phenomenon of lip sync battling seen by millions on television and online. Featured performers for the new eight episodes include Emily Blunt, Anne Hathaway, Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, Queen Latifah, Justin Bieber, Will Arnett, Alison Brie, Mike Tyson, and Terry Crews.




Bitten Cast

Syfy announced its spring 2015 premieres, which will include a new series and a sophomore season of Bitten. Highlights include: the premieres of the 13-part, epic mythological drama Olympus (April 2) and ghost-seeking unscripted series Haunting: Australia (March 24); the new season returns of fan favorites Lost Girl (April 17) and Bitten (April 17), and the Original Movie Lake Placid vs Anaconda starring Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street) (April 25) will be among the highlights of Syfy's spring programming slate. Back to Bitten, Season 2 of the popular supernatural thriller kicks off with a special two hour premiere returning Laura Vandervoort as Elena, the world's only female werewolf; Greyston Holt as Elena’s passionate partner Clay Danvers, and Greg Bryk as the Alpha Pack leader Jeremy Danvers. Beginning April 24, Bitten will air Fridays at 9PM, followed by Lost Girl at 10.

As for Olympus, the 13-part mythological drama series takes viewers into the action-packed world of humans, Gods and monsters. Starring Matt Frewer (Max Headroom, Orphan Black), Sonita Henry (Star Trek, The Fifth Element), Cas Anvar (Argo, The Expanse) and Graham Shiels (Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor: Dark World), the gripping series captures the dangerous courage of a few brave men and women who banished the Gods to the realm of the unconscious - a place they called the Underworld or the Kingdom of Hades.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, December 26

Happy's Place - "Promises, Promises" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Emmett continues his nightly check-ins with Bobbie to ensure her safety, Isabella pays the price as she's kept up by their loud late-night chats, prompting her to tell Bobbie to advance their relationship or at least take it out of the house.

Stumble - "Media Day" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Courteney decides to use media day as a way to recruit new cheerleaders and to push her team to get right back on that mat; DiMarcus proves that not all Buttons are meant to be pushed.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 22)

Friday, December 26

  • Mila Kunis (Family Guy/That '70s Show) - Watch Mila on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Zooey Deschanel (Physical/New Girl) - Zooey appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Laura Dern (F Is for Family/Enlightened) - Laura is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Rose Byrne (Platonic/Physical) - Rose appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Jamie Kaler (My Boys) - Jamie is a guest on Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Dick Van Dyke (The Dick Van Dyke Show/The New Dick Van Dyke Show/The Van Dyke Show) - Dick discusses his new book with ABC News' Chris Connelly on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Patti LaBelle (Out All Night) - Patti cooks on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Lacey Chabert (Still the King/Baby Daddy/Family Guy) - Lacey talks about Loist in Paradise on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Ryan Reynolds (Two Guys and a Girl) - Ryan appears on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Sarah Paulson (Leap of Faith) - Sarah is a guest on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Phil Rosenthal (Creator of Everybody Loves Raymond) - Phil appears on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Mo'Nique (The Parkers) - Tamron Hall (repeat) has a DAYTIME EXCLUSIVE with Mo'Nique about her weight-loss journey and the launch of her new fitness brand, Mo'Niques Movement, as well as the emotional moment with her husband that changed it all, so check your local listings.
  • Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother/Star Raving Mad/Doogie Howser, M.D.) - NBC's Today has Cocktails and Mocktails with Neil and David Burtka on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Mario Lopez (Saved by the Bell/Saved by the Bell: The College Years) - Mario tells Sherri about his new holiday film The Christmas Spark on a repeat of Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Woody Harrelson (Cheers), Dave Franco (The Afterparty/Scrubs/Do Not Disturb), Isla Fisher (Wolf Like Me) and Ariana Greenblatt (Stuck in the Middle) - The Now You See Me: Now You Don't cast including Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher Jesse Eisenberg, Ariana Greenblatt, Justice Smith and Dominic Sessa join Drew to dish all about the third installment of the hit franchise on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD) St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series (DVD)
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two (DVD)
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season (DVD)
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2 (DVD)
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD)
10/14 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
10/28 - St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/04 - Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fifteenth Season (DVD)
11/11 - Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/02 - Tom and Jerry - The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958) (Blu-ray) (DVD)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


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