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)





[02/04/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "War Machine" - Official Trailer - Netflix
On one last grueling mission during Army Ranger training, a combat engineer must lead his unit in a fight against a giant otherworldly killing machine.

[02/04/26 - 09:04 AM]
"The Bachelorette: Before the First Rose" to Air on ABC and Hulu Following "The Oscars"
Ahead of the new season, 18 former Bachelorettes look back on their unforgettable journeys, share juicy behind-the-scenes stories, and offer heartfelt advice to the franchise's newest leading lady, Taylor Frankie Paul.

[02/04/26 - 09:00 AM]
Alfie Allen Joins MGM+'s Thriller Horror Series "The Institute" for Season Two
He'll play Nolan Reeves, an eccentric European tech billionaire and one of the Institute's financial backers with an ambitious agenda all his own.

[02/04/26 - 08:31 AM]
Video: NBC Unveils Official Trailer and Megan Thee Stallion Guest Appearance for New Comedy Series "The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins"
Megan will play Denise, a recently divorced mom who strikes up a flirtation with Arthur Tobin (Daniel Radcliffe).

[02/04/26 - 08:31 AM]
Video: MGM+ Debuts Terrifying Teaser and Premiere Date for Highly Anticipated "From" Season 4
The new season will premiere Sunday, April 19 on MGM+.

[02/04/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "BAKI-DOU: The Invincible Samurai" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Musashi Miyamoto - the ultimate symbol of strength - descends into an underground fighting arena where the use of weapons is permitted.

[02/04/26 - 08:01 AM]
Drew and Jonathan Scott Help Wary Buyers Find the Right Home in New HGTV Series "Property Brothers: Under Pressure"
In the 14-episode season, which premieres Sunday, March 15, the Scott Brothers will guide clients through the ups and downs of the home buying process when their emotional and financial stakes are at an all-time high.

[02/04/26 - 08:00 AM]
ESPN Delivers Most-Viewed Australian Open in Six Years
The men's championship, featuring No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz defeating No. 4 Novak Djokovic in four sets, delivered 730K viewers and was up 57% YoY, ranking as most-viewed since 2017.

[02/04/26 - 08:00 AM]
Fan-Favorite Period Crime Drama, "Murdoch Mysteries," Returns to Acorn TV Monday, March 2
Season 19 of the top-rated and internationally acclaimed series continues to delight with a host of puzzling mysteries, surprising guest stars, and the comic moments that make the show so beloved.

[02/04/26 - 07:01 AM]
Netflix Premieres "The TikTok Killer" on March 6
In 2023, Esther Estepa, a 42-year-old woman, disappears in Spain after a trip during which she crossed paths with a social media content creator.

[02/04/26 - 07:00 AM]
FOX Celebrates Three Breakout Debuts, Each Delivering Over 11 Million Multiplatform Viewers, Driving +21% Year-Over-Year Growth in Total Minutes Watched
"Best Medicine," "Fear Factor: House of Fear" and "Memory of a Killer" drive FOX's strongest midseason performance in 14 years.

[02/04/26 - 07:00 AM]
Action-Comedy Anime "Rooster Fighter" to Draw Blood and Ruffle Feathers on Adult Swim March 14
The adaptation of Shu Sakuratani's manga "Rooster Fighter" follows "cock-about town" Keiji.

[02/04/26 - 06:00 AM]
ESPN's Studio Show Lineup Scores Record Highs, Double-Digit Growth & More Big Viewership Wins in Jan.
On Monday, January 19, following the NFL Divisional Round and ahead of the College Football Playoff National Championship, fans fueled milestone episodes for "Get Up," "First Take" and "The Pat McAfee Show," with the 7 a.m. ET edition of "SportsCenter" delivering its best episode of the month the following morning.

[02/04/26 - 03:01 AM]
Video: Netflix Shares Teaser of the Third and Final Season of "High Tides"
The third season will be available worldwide on Netflix from April 3, with the exception of Belgium.

[02/03/26 - 05:01 PM]
Apple TV Debuts First-Look Image for the Highly Anticipated Feature "Mayday"
The film, starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh, will premiere globally on Apple TV on Friday, September 4, 2026.