or


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

CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- MTV will continue its rapid-fire rollout this summer as the cable network unveiled two new series and a dozen pilots in development to advertisers yesterday as part of its 2003-04 season upfront presentation to advertisers. MTV logged its highest ratings ever in the first quarter of this year, landing five of the top 10 basic cable series for the quarter. The cable network hopes to build on that by continuing to launch new programming every three weeks. "We have to keep up with an audience that has a voracious appetite for culture," MTV entertainment president Brian Graden told reporters. "It's all about speed."

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

NEW ORIGINAL SERIES

THE NEW TOM GREEN TALK SHOW (premieres June 16) -- The one time network mainstay returns to the channel in a new late-night talk show. The series, which premieres June 16 at midnight, will feature Green grilling guests in his trademark offbeat style.

UNTITLED JESSICA SIMPSON/NICK LACHEY PROJECT (premieres in August) -- Newlyweds Simpson and Nick Lachey will have their first year of marriage - as well as both of the latest recording efforts - chronicled by MTV in a new reality series. R. Greg Johnston is producing the series.

NEW SPECIALS/BACKDOOR PILOTS

GIRL MAKES BAND -- Project features a cadre of teenage girls act who act as A&R executives to create a new pop act.

HIGH SCHOOL STORIES: SCANDALS, PRANKS AND CONTROVERSIES (airs April 16) -- The other special set to air during "TRL High School" is this one from MTV News that will investigate high-school pranks, scandals and "sports mishaps." The pilot will focus on a prank in a Florida school involving the release of 80,000 bees on campus.

HOMEWRECKER -- Game-show/reality series in which a group of roommates will plot to force one another out of a group house of which the last one remaining gets to keep the house.

LIFEGUARD -- The lives of several young lifeguards are chronicled in a "Baywatch"-style reality series.

POSSE -- The project will focus on the entourages of pop megastars, following a different set of celebrity hangers-on each week to get a slice of life in "the inner sanctum of fame." Swift River Prods. is producing the project.

ROOMMATES -- A reality/game-show hybrid where a person searches through three bedrooms in an apartment trying to figure out who is their perfect mate. Tony DiSanto and Lisi Harrison are behind the pojrect.

THE SCENE -- The project follows a group of young people following their dreams and trying to gain fame in the same local music scene.

UNTITLED BAM MARGERA PROJECT (airs in August) -- Former "Jackass" cast member Bam Margera will have his masochistic life documented in the backdoor pilot, set to bow in August.

UNTILTED BLINK 182 PROJECT (airs in July) -- A behind-the-scenes documentary/reality special following Orange County pop-punk trio Blink 182 as they make their new album.

UNTITLED PAULA ABDUL PROJECT -- A reality competition featuring the ex-Laker girl-turned-pop act-turned-"American Idol" judge that will chronicle a cheerleading contest pitting top college cheerleaders against one another.

UNTITLED WADE ROBSON PROJECT -- Former 'N Sync choreographer Wade Robson gets his own contest show as well, in which dancers compete for fame and fortune.

WHEN I WAS 17 (airs April 17) -- One of two specials set to air during "TRL High School," this one profiles celebrities waxing nostalgic about pivotal events in their teenage years. Eve, Pharrell from the Neptunes and Sum 41's Deryck will be among those featured in the project, which is being produced by Dave Sirulnick.





  [april 2003]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· AMERICAN IDOL (ABC)
· BAYWATCH (SYNDICATION)
· GIRL MAKES BAND (MTV)
· HOMEWRECKER (MTV)
· JACKASS (MTV)
· LIFEGUARD (MTV)
· NEWLYWEDS: NICK & JESSICA (MTV)
· POSSE (MTV)
· SCENE, THE (MTV)
· UNTITLED BLINK 182 PROJECT (MTV)
· UNTITLED PAULA ABDUL PROJECT (MTV)
· VIVA LA BAM (MTV)
· WHEN I WAS 17 (MTV)





[11/10/26 - 12:30 PM]
Hiding a Larger-Than-Life Legend in Plain Sight: New Competition Series "Can You Hide... Shaq?" Premieres Thursday, Dec. 3, on ABC and the ESPN App
Shaquille "Shaq" O'Neal is larger than life and one of the most recognizable figures on the planet. So, can you actually hide him?

[11/10/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of November 2 - "A Dog's Perfect Christmas" Unwraps the No. 1 Spot in This Week's Top 10
"Taken: Natalee Holloway" premiered in the No. 1 spot of the English TV list, gathering 12.9 million views.

[11/10/26 - 11:00 AM]
Season 3 of the HBO Original Late-Night Comedy Series "It's Florida, Man." Debuts December 4
New episodes of the six-episode season will debut weekly on Fridays at the same time, concluding with the finale on Friday, January 8.

[11/10/26 - 10:30 AM]
Award-Winning Actor Taye Diggs, Stars in FOX's Upcoming Holiday Event "The Chosen: The Three Kings," on Monday, December 14 @ 8/7c on FOX and Next Day on Hulu
Piter Marek (Melchior) and Rahul Rai (Gaspar) star alongside Taye Diggs (Balthasar).

[11/10/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art Debut - "The Circle"
The series will debut three new episodes weekly at 6 p.m. PT/ 9 p.m. ET on November 17, airing Tuesdays through Thursdays for five weeks.

[11/10/26 - 10:00 AM]
Spin Master and Nickelodeon Announce New "PAW Patrol" Spinoff Featuring Skye
"Skye's Pup Squad" is an all-new 2D animated series in which best friends Skye, Everest and Liberty set out to rescue animals in need.

[11/10/26 - 09:15 AM]
Recording Artists Ashe and Sofi Tukker Set to Take the Stage at "Kids' Choice Awards (KCAs)"
Additional music performance news and show details will be announced at a later date.

[11/10/26 - 08:46 AM]
Video: Apple TV Debuts "Fraggle Rock: A Holiday Gift" Premiering December 4
The joyful special reunites audiences with beloved Fraggles Wembley, Gobo, Red, Mokey and Boober for a festive new adventure filled with holiday magic, friendship and new musical numbers.

[11/10/26 - 08:02 AM]
24 Hometown Bakers Revealed for the "Pillsbury Bake-Off Classic" Primetime Special on CBS
Joining host Drew Barrymore and celebrity chef judges Christina Tosi and Dook Chase is celebrated baker and author Amirah Kassem, who will serve as the special's roaming sideline reporter.

[11/10/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Clashing Through The Snow" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
This rivalry is going the distance.

[11/10/26 - 08:00 AM]
Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake Team Up for a Special Thanksgiving Episode of "The Tonight Show"
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Timberlake's album "FutureSex/LoveSounds," the episode brings Timberlake and Fallon together for a night of unforgettable music and comedy.

[11/10/26 - 07:31 AM]
First Look at "The Age of Innocence" Coming to Netflix February 18, 2027
Starring Camila Morrone, Kristine Froseth and Ben Radcliffe, this contemporary reimagining of Edith Wharton's tale of forbidden love in 19th century New York is a heart-rending romance exploring freedom, duty, identity, and love in all its forms.

[11/10/26 - 07:10 AM]
TBS's "All I Watch for Christmas" and TNT's "Christmas Maximus" Programming Kicks Off the Holiday Season Beginning Friday, November 13
Continuing the annual tradition, TBS and TNT will ring in the holidays with 24-hour movie marathons of "Elf," "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," and "A Christmas Story."

[11/10/26 - 07:01 AM]
The CW Network and PBR Announce Multi-Year Extension to Broadcast PBR Teams Series Events
The new multi-year agreement extends The CW's relationship with PBR, which began during the 2025 season.

[11/10/26 - 07:00 AM]
Acorn TV's Hit Crime Drama "Art Detectives," Starring Stephen Moyer, Returns with a Two-Part Special This December
"Art Detectives," which debuted in 2025 as Acorn TV's most-watched new series premiere ever, will premiere a six-episode second season in 2027.