Monday, July 30, 2018
TCA Summer 2018 Press Tour: Lifetime and Hallmark Channel
Lifetime, the #1 cable network with original movies with the top four titles* this year and the only basic cable network to earn a 2018 Emmy nomination in the limited series or movie category for Flint, announces an expanded programming slate spanning movies, scripted series and unscripted programming. Continuing the tradition of creating award-winning and culturally-relevant movies, Lifetime will increase the overall number of movies to 75 for 2019. As part of the expansion, Lifetime signs a major production deal with one of the most trusted names in news, Robin Roberts, for a series of movies and documentaries under the banner, Robin Roberts Presents to debut next year.
Additionally, the network is in development on several book franchises, including the previously announced Jane Green three picture deal. The first movie, Tempting Fate, stars Alyssa Milano and is directed by Kim Raver and Manu Boyer, who also executive produce the trio of films. Other books being made into Lifetime Original Movies include the Seven Deadly Sins anthology by Victoria Christopher Murray. Lifetime has re-teamed with T.D. Jakes and has commissioned the first three books - Lust, Envy and Greed - to debut next year. V.C. Andrews' beloved novels also join Lifetime's 2019 lineup, with five book series about the twisted relationships of the Casteel Family being turned into movies. The first of the movies, V.C. Andrews' Heaven, stars Annalise Basso, Julie Benz, Chris William Martin, and Chris McNally. Additionally, Lifetime has completed production on Somebody's Someone, starring Ginnifer Goodwin and Angela Fairley, based on the memoir of Regina Louise, detailing her life as a young black girl who was denied adoption by the one woman who loved her the most, simply because she was white.
Penn Badgley stars as Joe Goldberg in Lifetime's new scripted series, YOU, from Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble. Ahead of the first season debut of the psychological thriller YOU on September 9, from Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble, Lifetime has renewed the series for a second season. Season two will follow Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) as his search for love takes him to Hollywood where dreams can be made or shattered. Based on Caroline Kepnes' follow up novel Hidden Bodies, season two of the series is expected to begin production in Los Angeles later this year.
Hallmark Channel, the country's leading provider of family-friendly entertainment, stakes its claim as the weekend destination for all-new, original programming every Saturday and Sunday for the remainder of 2018. The new offering features six autumnal-themed premieres as part of the network's highly rated "Fall Harvest" event, as well as 22 new, original holiday movies premiering during the #1 "Countdown to Christmas" slate. "Fall Harvest" kicks off Saturday, September 22, and features celebrated favorites including the third installment of the All of My Heart movie series starring Lacey Chabert (Mean Girls, Party of Five) and Brennan Elliott (Unreal). The season culminates with the network's longest-running movie franchise Good Witch Halloween starring Catherine Bell (Army Wives, JAG), Bailee Madison (The Fosters) and James Denton (Devious Maids, Desperate Housewives). The network's highly rated "Countdown to Christmas" franchise features 22 movies, including network debuts by world-renowned country artists LeAnn Rimes and Kellie Pickler. As cable's #1 holiday destination, Hallmark Channel will continue to bring holiday cheer and the spirit of the season to families across the nation.
Hallmark Channel is in development on an all-new, one-hour special Christmas in America from Executive Producer Candace Cameron Bure, which will premiere during Countdown to Christmas in 2018. Cameron Mathison joins Debbie Matenopoulos as the new co-host for Home & Family leading up to season seven. Home & Family, currently in its sixth season, is a three-time Daytime Emmy(R)-nominated lifestyle series with new, original episodes Monday through Friday (10a.m. ET/PT, 9C - 12p.m. ET/PT, 11C) on Hallmark Channel. Home & Family returns for season seven this September on Hallmark Channel with all-new DIY events celebrating Fall Harvest and Hallmark's most wonderful time of the year, Countdown to Christmas. And finally, Rebecca Romijn will serve as the network's ambassador of Adoption Ever After. The network's corporate pet initiative, Adoption Ever After, is committed to educating the public about the many rewards of pet adoption in hopes of inspiring viewers to open their homes and hearts to shelter pets.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, January 22
Shifting Gears - "Job" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Riley, desperate for work, reluctantly takes a job at Matt’s shop. Meanwhile, Gabriel and Stitch secretly stray from Matt’s vision on a high-stakes restomod project.
Abbott Elementary - "Strike" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
City buses have stopped running due to a strike, resulting in many students being absent from school. The teachers at Abbott try to find creative solutions and adapt to hybrid learning. Meanwhile, Gregory and O’Shon strike up a friendship.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 20)
Wednesday, January 22
- Lucy Liu (Joey/Pearl) - Watch Lucy on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. She also chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Utkarsh Ambudkar (Ghosts/White Famous), Betsy Sodaro (Ghosts/Duncanville/Disjointed/Animal Practice) and Punam Patel (Ghosts/Return of the Mac/Kevin from Work) - Utkarsh, Betsy and Punam are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) - Morris talks about Watson on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am, on CBS Mornings Plus in the 9am hour, and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) and Nick Kroll (Big Mouth/The League/Cavemen) - Andrew, Nick and Lin-Manuel Miranda are chatting with Drew about their Broadway show All In: Comedy About Love on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. They're also talking to Drew about parenting advice, how they were raised and how comedy brings people together.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
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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