or


[06/28/05 - 12:00 AM]
Reba Is the First Show Picked Up for the WB's New Afternoon Block

[via press release from The WB]

�REBA� IS THE FIRST SHOW PICKED UP FOR THE WB'S NEW AFTERNOON BLOCK

Burbank, CA June 28, 2005

THE WB MAKES TWO-YEAR DEAL WITH TWENTIETH TELEVISION AND TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX TELEVISION FOR OFF-NETWORK RIGHTS TO DOUBLE RUN �REBA� IN THE 4:00-5:00 PM HOUR, BEGINNING IN FALL 2006

The off-network broadcast rights to REBA, the hit Friday night sitcom on The WB, have been sold by Twentieth Television and Twentieth Century Fox Television to The WB as the first show picked up for the network's new afternoon programming block. Under terms of the two-year agreement, beginning in Fall 2006, The WB will double-run REBA, starring Reba McEntire, as an off-net strip from 4:00-5:00 p.m. on over 200 affiliated stations throughout the United States. The announcement was made jointly today by Garth Ancier, Chairman of The WB, David Janollari, President, Entertainment, The WB, Bob Cook, President and COO of Twentieth Television, and Gary Newman, President of Twentieth Century Fox Television.

As a primetime series, REBA is still growing, which bodes well for the afternoon runs. REBA recently completed its fourth season, during which, for the fourth consecutive year, it ranked as The WB's number one Friday night program, as well as its top comedy in viewers, households, adults 18-34, adults 18-49 and viewers 12-34. This season REBA returned to the 9:00 p.m. time period and posted its best season ever in adults 18-49 and women 18-49 and also vastly improved over the prior season's (`03-`04) 9:00 p.m. time period average (primarily �Grounded for Life�), generating a 42% increase in households and 53% improvement in women 18-49.

�The afternoon block is designed to greatly increase our affiliates� 3:00-5:00 p.m. young adult ratings with programming that is compatible with The WB brand, making REBA the perfect show for us to run in our new afternoon programming block,� said Ancier. �We couldn't be happier to have made this deal with Twentieth The show has been a big hit for us for four years, and in that time we have come to know that Reba McEntire is not only a phenomenal actress and singer, but also a wonderful person and a class act in every way.�

�REBA will give our affiliates a great lead-in to their prime access blocks and an excellent promotional vehicle for our primetime line-up,� said Janollari. �The WB has had tremendous success in syndicating our dramas. This deal recognizes our long-term goals of making comedies on The WB as profitable for producers and studios as our dramas.�

Regarding the announcement, Cook stated, �We are very pleased to be the first studio to provide The WB with quality programming that appeals to its target demo for this very important block. REBA has been a proven commodity for The WB with strong crossover appeal for four seasons. Scheduling this comedy as a strip provides the network with a natural bridge to retain viewers from early fringe into access and, ultimately, primetime.�

Newman added, �We are so proud of this fantastic family comedy starring the amazing Reba McEntire, which has performed so well since its very first broadcast. We're gratified that The WB has chosen this quality series to launch its new comedy afternoon schedule, and believe this added exposure will bring even more viewers to its Friday night network runs.�

In the series, McEntire portrays a real estate agent and divorced mother of three who is juggling the demands of her career, being both a parent and grandparent, dealing with her ex-husband and the occasional date in between. The program was named Best Family Friendly Show over two consecutive years by the Parents Television Council. Last year, McEntire garnered a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series � Musical or Comedy.

One of the country's true entertainment treasures, Reba McEntire is a multi-platinum and critically-acclaimed recording artist who has sold more than 48 million albums, won multiple Grammy Awards, 14 American Music Awards and eight People's Choice Awards, including Favorite Actress in a New TV Series for �Reba.� Additionally, her immense popularity crosses over into feature films and television movies; publishing, with the New York Times best-selling novels �Reba: My Story� and �Comfort from a Country Quilt;� and on Broadway, where McEntire lit up the stage with a universally renowned run as the title character in the Irving Berlin musical �Annie Get Your Gun.�

Returning for its fifth season on The WB, the series stars Reba McEntire, Christopher Rich, Melissa Peterman, JoAnna Garcia, Steve Howey, Scarlett Pomers and Mitch Holleman. Kevin Abbott, Mindy Schultheis, Michael Hanel and Matt Berry serve as executive producers. Chris Case, Pat Bullard, Reba McEntire, Patti Carr & Lara Runnells and Don Beck are co-executive producers on the series produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television and Acme Productions.

A leader in the domestic program production and distribution arena, Twentieth Television oversees the domestic sales of one of the most extensive libraries of off-net programming in the entertainment industry. In 2004, it successfully sold and launched the sitcoms �Yes, Dear� and �Malcolm in the Middle,� the highest rated off-net premiere for the 2004-05 season. Currently, the company is distributing the critically-acclaimed and award-winning drama �24,� starring Kiefer Sutherland, for a fall 2005 launch in off-net syndication. Also scheduled to make its off-net debut in fall 2005 is The Peabody Award-winning sitcom �The Bernie Mac Show.� Other programs being slated for future off-net launches include the multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy �Arrested Development,� starring Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Portia de Rossi and Jessica Walter, among others; �Still Standing,� with Jami Gertz and Mark Addy; David E. Kelly's critically-acclaimed drama �Boston Legal,� featuring James Spader and William Shatner; reality hit �The Simple Life�; and the animated comedy �Family Guy.�

First-run programs distributed by Twentieth Television include the news magazine �A Current Affair,� and the popular court show strips �Divorce Court� and �Texas Justice.� This fall, the company will debut the court strip �Judge Alex.�





  [june 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· 24 (FOX)
· ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (NETFLIX)
· BERNIE MAC SHOW, THE (FOX)
· BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
· CURRENT AFFAIR, A (SYNDICATION)
· DIVORCE COURT (SYNDICATION)
· FAMILY GUY (FOX)
· GROUNDED FOR LIFE (WB)
· JUDGE ALEX (SYNDICATION)
· MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE (FOX)
· REBA (CW)
· SIMPLE LIFE, THE (E)
· STILL STANDING (CBS)
· TEXAS JUSTICE (SYNDICATION)
· YES, DEAR (CBS)





[11/07/25 - 03:00 PM]
Peacock Renews "Love Island: Beyond the Villa" for Season Two
The cast of season two includes Bryan Arenales, Gracyn Blackmore, Jeremiah Brown, Clarke Carraway, Amaya Espinal, Hannah Fields, Pepe Garcia, Iris Kendall, TJ Palma, Andreina Santos, Chris Seeley, Belle-A Walker, Coco Watson and Taylor Williams and other islanders from season seven.

[11/07/25 - 10:31 AM]
Video: Rockstar Lestat Is Ready for His Close-Up in New Behind-the-Scenes Teaser from Season Three of AMC Networks' Critically Acclaimed Series - "The Vampire Lestat" Debuts 2026 on AMC and AMC+
Resentful of the perfunctory portrayal in the trashy bestseller "Interview with the Vampire," the Vampire Lestat (Sam Reid) sets his story straight in a way only the Vampire Lestat can - by starting a band and going on tour.

[11/07/25 - 10:00 AM]
Nate Bargatze to Host New Game Show, "The Greatest Average American"
The series premieres Wednesday, February 25 (9:02-10:02 p.m. EST), on ABC and next day on Hulu.

[11/07/25 - 09:02 AM]
From Shiz to Studio 6B: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" Celebrates "Wicked" Week Nov. 16-19
"The Tonight Show's" week-long celebration will feature a magical lineup of the film's stars and special musical moments.

[11/07/25 - 08:36 AM]
Super Bowl XLIV Champion Quarterback Drew Brees Joins FOX Sports as NFL Game Analyst
Brees is set to make his debut on Sunday, November 16 on FOX.

[11/07/25 - 08:30 AM]
Nominations Revealed for "The 68th Annual Grammy Awards," A Celebration of a Landmark Year in Music
The Grammy Awards will return to Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, February 1, 2026 (8:00-11:30 PM, live ET/5:00-8:30 PM, live PT) and will broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+.

[11/07/25 - 08:03 AM]
Video: Prime Video Announces Release Date And Debuts Teaser Trailer For Season Two of "The Night Manager"
The first three episodes will debut on Sunday, January, 11, 2026, on Prime Video, with one new episode releasing every Sunday, until the season finale on Sunday, February 1.

[11/07/25 - 07:31 AM]
Netflix Announces "Win the Mall" (W/T) Competition Series
Over eight episodes, 10 teams of expert shoppers face off against each other as they attempt to gain control of storefronts, increase their spending power, and outmaneuver their rivals.

[11/07/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Stringer: The Man Who Took The Photo" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A former Saigon photo editor reveals a secret he's been plagued with for 52 years, setting off a gripping two-year investigation into the truth behind one of the Vietnam War's most iconic photographs.

[11/07/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "LEGO Marvel Avengers: Strange Tails" - Official Trailer
Purr-pare for a pawe-some adventure.

[11/06/25 - 11:36 PM]
Video: "The Family Man" Season 3 - Official Trailer - Prime Video
Outlawed and on the run, Srikant Tiwari faces sinister forces threatening to ignite chaos in Northeast India, uncovering a conspiracy that could plunge the nation into war.

[11/06/25 - 07:01 PM]
Video: "Stranger Things 5" - First Five Minutes - Netflix
With Hawkins under lockdown, El in hiding and danger lurking at every turn, the entire party unites with a single goal: to hunt and kill Vecna.

[11/06/25 - 02:15 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers and Adults 25-54
"Nightline" was up on the previous week by double digits in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.

[11/06/25 - 02:09 PM]
OWN's "Love & Marriage: Huntsville" Back with New Episodes Starting November 15
Also, this December OWN presents the first-ever holiday specials for "Love & Marriage: Huntsville" and "Reality with the King," both hosted by executive producer Carlos King.

[11/06/25 - 11:28 AM]
Love, Lies & High Stakes Drama: Viaplay Announces Must-See December U.S. Premieres
Highlights include the new true crime documentary series "Murdering Love."