or


[04/03/03 - 12:00 AM]
Cable Upfront Presentations: Lifetime
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC)

CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- Lifetime, one of cable's most successful networks, will invest an unprecedented $800 million in programming over the next two years. That's just one of many announcements the network made in its 2003-04 season upfront presentation to advertisers. Two new scripted hours as well as three new reality series are in the works as Lifetime plans to expand its already winning Sunday night of originals into a second evening of original programming on Saturdays, beginning this summer. In total, the cable network plans to reach the highest number of original primetime hours ever in its 19-year history, with nearly 60% of the primetime lineup comprised of original programming.

Here's a rundown of the projects that were announced:

NEW ORIGINAL DRAMA SERIES

Joining "The Division" and "Strong Medicine," Lifetime will launch two new original drama series this August, selected from its four pilots in development:

1-800 MISSING -- starring Gloria Rueben as a female FBI agent and her unconventional partner, a young woman who has developed the psychic ability to find missing people

FOLLOW THE LEEDS (A.K.A. SUBURBAN SLEUTHS) -- starring Sharon Lawrence and Maria Pitillo as two suburban women who run a private investigation business with the help of their mother, played by four time Academy Award-nominee Marsha Mason

NICK AND SHELLY (A.K.A. SCREWBALL HOMICIDE) -- starring Julie Warner as a brilliant female detective who solves crimes with a very unusual partner -- her ex-husband, played by Adrian Pasdar, and joined by Robert Wagner ("Austin Powers," "Hart to Hart") as her ex-husband's father and Police Commissioner Sheldon Bennett Sr., who remains close to his daughter-in-law despite the break up

WILD CARD -- starring Joely Fisher as Zoe Busiek, a former Las Vegas blackjack dealer who assumes care of her sister's children and stumbles into a career as an insurance fraud investigator

The announcement of which series will get the greenlight to series is expected shortly.

NEW ORIGINAL ALTERNATIVE SERIES

Lifetime will also premiere new original reality series at 8:00/7:00 p.m. during the week:

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? (premieres April 14) -- This new series offers real-life solutions for real-life problems.

SECRET LIVES (premiere date T.B.A.) -- A limited-run series hosted by "Days of Our Lives" star Kristian Alfonso which reveals the shocking true stories of people who lead double lives or have a secret past.

MAKE ME OVER (premiere date T.B.A.) -- Hosted by Tanika Ray and set to air on Saturday mornings, the series allows two women who know each other well to surrender control to the other for a whole new look and makeover.

MERGE (pilot) -- Hosted by Lisa Rinna, the series helps newly married couples combine their individual belongings into one household has been piloted as a possible fourth new reality series.

RETURNING ORIGINAL ALTERNATIVE SERIES

LIFETIME'S SPEAKING OF WOMEN'S HEALTH -- This season television personality Florence Henderson joins news anchor and correspondent Juju Chang and emergency medicine physician Dr. Winnie King as host of "Lifetime's Speaking of Women's Health," the returning weekly Saturday morning health focused magazine show with the mission.

INTIMATE PORTRAIT -- The popular "Intimate Portrait" series returns with over 40 new installments, including profiles of First Lady Laura Bush, country music star Faith Hill and actress Lucy Liu.

ORIGINAL MOVIES

GOING FOR BROKE -- starring real-life husband and wife Delta Burke ("Dangerous Child," "Designing Women") and Gerald McRaney ("Mister Sterling," "Major Dad") in the true story of a wife and mother whose gambling addiction leads to embezzlement

DEFENDING OUR KIDS: THE JULIE POSEY STORY -- starring Annie Potts ("Any Day Now," "Designing Women") as a woman who goes underground on the Internet to save teenagers from online predators

BREAKING THROUGH -- executive produced by and starring Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning actress Diane Keaton ("Father of the Bride," "First Wives Club") as a mother who goes undercover for the FBI in a desperate attempt to save herself and her children from the dangerous world of drug dealing

SPECIALS AND EVENTS

The primetime line-up also features specials and documentaries such as a "Designing Women" reunion produced by co-creator Harry Thomason featuring all of the stars, Delta Burke, Dixie Carter, Annie Potts, Jean Smart, Mesach Taylor and creators/producer Linda Bloodworth Thomason, sharing their favorite and funniest moments, as well as a 90-minute Andrew Solt produced "Golden Girls" retrospective that unveils the stories behind the laughs and celebrates one of the greatest comedy series created. Also, on the roster are the fourth annual "Women Rock!" concert for breast cancer awareness which this year will celebrate the movies and "Weddings of a Lifetime" specials.

Also, as the centerpiece of the Lifetime's "Be Your Own Hero" campaign to raise self-esteem among girls and young women, now in its fourth year, the Network will premiere "Lifetime's Achievement Awards: Women Changing the World" to pay tribute to ordinary women who have done extraordinary things in their lives. Produced by Don Mischer, "Women Changing the World" premieres on May 22 from New York's Hammerstein Ballroom and salutes women from all walks of life who have made a positive impact on the lives of one or many around them -- in their families, communities and the world.





  [april 2003]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· ANY DAY NOW (LIFETIME)
· DANGEROUS CHILD (LIFETIME)
· DEFENDING OUR KIDS: THE JULIE POSEY STORY (LIFETIME)
· DIVISION, THE (LIFETIME)
· FOLLOW THE LEEDS (LIFETIME)
· GOING FOR BROKE (LIFETIME)
· MERGE (LIFETIME)
· MISSING (LIFETIME)
· MISTER STERLING (NBC)
· NICK & SHELLY (LIFETIME)
· ON THIN ICE (LIFETIME)
· STRONG MEDICINE (LIFETIME)
· WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? (LIFETIME)
· WILD CARD (LIFETIME)





[12/10/25 - 04:01 PM]
Video: "Cashero" - Official Trailer - Netflix
An ordinary man who inherits super strength discovers a greater evil out to steal his power. The one catch? Every use drains money from his wallet.

[12/10/25 - 03:16 PM]
Peacock to Exclusively Stream National Coverage of Baltimore Ravens at Green Bay Packers on Saturday, Dec. 27, at 8 P.M. ET
Ravens-Packers marks the fourth Peacock exclusive NFL game.

[12/10/25 - 02:59 PM]
FOX NFL Scores Massive Week 14 Viewership
28 million viewers watched FOX Sports' Week 14 "America's Game of the Week," featuring the Green Bay Packers divisional win over the Chicago Bears.

[12/10/25 - 01:06 PM]
Paramount Sends Letter to Warner Bros. Discovery Shareholders
The letter "reiterates why Paramount's offer will deliver WBD shareholders with superior value and a faster, more certain path to completion than the Netflix transaction."

[12/10/25 - 12:08 PM]
NBCU's November to Remember Showcases the Power of Company's Programming
"All Her Fault" became the most-watched original series launch in Peacock history with 46 million hours.

[12/10/25 - 11:06 AM]
"LA Firestorm" Presents the Harrowing Heartbreaks and Heroics From Battles Against the Blazes that Burned Through Los Angeles Like a Blowtorch
The series premieres Sunday, February 1, 2026 at 8pm ET/5pm PT with all three parts airing back-to-back.

[12/10/25 - 11:01 AM]
Introducing - For the First Time in "The Masked Singer" History - America's Insider!
Singer, actress, dancer and social media personality Kylie Cantrall is unmasking pre-premiere and bringing fans along for the insane ride behind-the-scenes on the all-new season.

[12/10/25 - 10:03 AM]
All-New Season of "Moonshiners" Premieres Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery Channel
This season, history repeats itself as liquor prices skyrocket and trade wars cripple the legal market.

[12/10/25 - 10:01 AM]
"The Lincoln Lawyer" Season 4 - First Look & Date Announcement
Netflix's hit drama series returns for its fourth season on Thursday, February 5, 2026.

[12/10/25 - 10:01 AM]
Revisit the Beloved Classic Films from Academy Award-Winning Writer/Director/Producer James L. Brooks, Ahead of 20th Century Studios' Release of "Ella McCay," Coming to Theaters Friday
"Broadcast News," "Big," "Say Anything," "The War of the Roses," and "How Do You Know" are all available on Hulu.

[12/10/25 - 10:00 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "Music Box: Happy and You Know It" Debuts December 25
The film explores the underestimated and wildly popular genre, delving behind the scenes to tell the origin stories of some of the top names in the field.

[12/10/25 - 10:00 AM]
Celebrate Christmas Morning with "Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade," Thursday, Dec. 25, on ABC, Disney+ and Hulu
This year's special features performances by Gwen Stefani, Lady A, Bebe Rexha, Nicole Scherzinger, and more.

[12/10/25 - 09:54 AM]
ABC Unwraps Holiday Presentations of Fan Favorite Shows
"Dancing with the Holidays" was the top-performing holiday-themed special across the broadcast networks among Adults 18-49 in two years.

[12/10/25 - 09:07 AM]
Candace Cameron Bure, Aaron Ashmore, and Robin Dunne Star in, "Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker," Streaming Exclusively on Great American Pure Flix, January 1
In the latest installment, Ainsley McGregor thought craft markets and book clubs, not corpses, would define her new life back home in Sweet River.

[12/10/25 - 09:02 AM]
Video: "Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Boxing disruptor Jake Paul challenges heavyweight powerhouse Anthony Joshua live in a career-defining super fight from Most Valuable Promotions.