or


[06/29/11 - 10:43 AM]
"To The Mat" Starring Ricky Schroder and Laura Bell Bundy Premieres Wednesday, August 17 on CMT
The film is the first made-for-television movie to be released as part of the "CMT Original Movies" franchise.

[via press release from CMT]

"TO THE MAT" STARRING RICKY SCHRODER AND LAURA BELL BUNDY PREMIERES WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17 ON CMT

"To The Mat" Is First Film To Premiere As Part Of "CMT Original Movies" Division

NASHVILLE - June 29, 2011 - Long-time television actor Ricky Schroder will share the CMT movie spotlight with Broadway star and Mercury Nashville recording artist Laura Bell Bundy in the romantic comedy "To The Mat," premiering Wednesday, August 17 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT on CMT. "To The Mat" is the first made-for-television movie to be released as part of the CMT ORIGINAL MOVIES franchise, the network's newly-formed division of original television movies.

Written by C. Jay Cox ("Sweet Home Alabama"), "To The Mat," tells the story of a laid-back ex-wrestler (Schroder) who's trying to keep his family's down-and-out southern wrestling school above water. When his mother hires an uptight Wall Street consultant from New York (Bell Bundy) to help get the books in order, these two opposites must find a way to get along and save the family business. Directed by Rob Iscove ("She's All That"), "To The Mat" was filmed in British Columbia earlier this year.

Ricky Schroder made his Hollywood debut at nine years of age as the emotionally tortured son of a washed-up boxer in the 1979 remake of the drama "The Champ." The performance earned him a Golden Globe(R) for "New Star of the Year" and launched the beginning of his successful career. When Schroder was twelve, he starred as Ricky Stratton in the hit television series "Silver Spoons" (1982-1987). Six years later, he experienced another career high when he starred as Newt Dobbs in the acclaimed 1989 television miniseries "Lonesome Dove." In 1998, Schroder joined the cast of "NYPD Blue" as Detective Danny Sorenson. Additional television credits include recurring roles on "Scrubs" and season six of the Emmy(R) award-winning "24." Schroder made his directorial debut with the 2004 feature "Black Cloud" and later that year, he won a CMA and CMT Music Award for his direction of the music video "Whisky Lullaby." sung by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss. Recently, Schroder starred in writer-director Jeb Stuart's indie film "Blood Done Sign My Name," based on the book by Tim Tyson and he just wrapped the feature "Wild Hearts," which he directed and starred opposite his daughter, Cambrie, in her first role.

Laura Bell Bundy was born and raised in Lexington, KY with a dream of having a music career. Her strongest influence, her grandfather, was a radio DJ and newscaster who introduced her to Patsy Cline, Frank Sinatra, Pearl Bailey and Willie Nelson. She moved to New York at age 18 to pursue her music career, forming a duo and performing in various New York clubs. Meanwhile, she earned roles in major Broadway musicals and found it as a great means to support herself. Laura Bell originated the lead role of Elle Woods in the Broadway musical Legally Blonde, for which she received a Tony Award nomination in 2007. She also originated the role of Amber Von Tussle in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Hairspray and played Glinda in the smash hit Wicked. Prior to that, she originated the role of Tina Denmark in the successful off-Broadway production Ruthless, The Musical!, for which she received the Outer-Critics Circle Award and Drama Desk nominations. After a successful run on Broadway, Bundy moved to Nashville in the fall of 2008 to continue her original pursuit of having a country music career. She was signed to Mercury Nashville and in 2010 Bundy released her debut video "Giddy On Up," from her debut album Achin' and Shakin' which has since garnered over 3.2 million streams. She is currently writing and recording songs for her Mercury Nashville sophomore album.

"To The Mat" is an Entertainment One Television production. John Morayniss, Noreen Halpern, Margaret O'Brien and Ira Pincus are Executive Producers for Entertainment One Television. Lisa Silfen, Robin Palmer, Lewis Bogach and Mary Beth Cunin serve as Executive Producers for CMT.

CMT, a unit of Viacom's MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and entertainment, reaching more than 93 million homes in the U.S. CMT and its website, CMT.com, offer an unparalleled mix of music, news, live concerts and series and is the top resource for country music on demand. The network's digital platforms include the 24-hour music channel, CMT Pure Country, CMT Mobile and CMT VOD.





  [june 2011]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· TO THE MAT (CMT)





[07/11/25 - 12:45 PM]
ABC Concludes September to May Season with Top Five Shows Among Adults 18-49 Including "High Potential," "Abbott Elementary," "The Rookie," "Shifting Gears" and "9-1-1"
Continuing to lead among broadcast series, ABC's "High Potential" stood as the No. 1 new drama among Total Viewers (16.41 million) and No. 1 new show among Adults 18-49 (3.85 rating).

[07/11/25 - 11:28 AM]
"Big Brother: Summer of Mystery" Premiere Up +10% from Last Summer
Last night, season 27 premiered to nearly 3 million viewers.

[07/11/25 - 10:01 AM]
FX's "Alien: Earth" Takes Fandom to New Heights with Premium Exclusive Content Including a Companion Podcast and Innovative Immersive Experiences
"Alien: Earth," a new drama series from Noah Hawley inspired by the acclaimed feature film franchise, will premiere on Tuesday, August 12.

[07/11/25 - 10:01 AM]
CBS Unveils Fall Primetime Premiere Dates for the 2025-2026 Season
Highlights include an early return for "Watson" on Monday, October 13 in place of the previously announced "FBI" spin-off "CIA."

[07/11/25 - 10:00 AM]
The "Outlander" Universe Expands in Hall H, as Starz Returns to San Diego Comic-Con
Look for can't miss panels for "Outlander" and "Outlander: Blood of my Blood" in Hall H on Friday, July 25 and an in-depth preview of the newest saga in the Spartacus franchise, "Spartacus: House of Ashur" on Saturday, July 26 in the Indigo Ballroom.

[07/11/25 - 10:00 AM]
Adult Swim Returns to San Diego Comic-Con with "Pirate Purrrty on the Green," Must-See Panel Events, and Exclusive First Looks and Giveaways
Adult Swim will bring its famed pirate ship outside the San Diego Convention Center (5th Avenue Landing and Convention Way), this time with a feline twist!

[07/11/25 - 09:01 AM]
HBO Max to Host Fan Experiences for Upcoming Seasons of "Peacemaker" and "It: Welcome to Derry" in San Diego
The festivities include a panel in Hall H, where showrunner/writer/director and Co-Head of DC Studios James Gunn and the cast of "Peacemaker" will share new details about the upcoming season and premiere the global trailer for season two.

[07/11/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Billy Joel: And So It Goes" - Official Trailer - HBO Max
There's always a message in the music.

[07/11/25 - 06:00 AM]
"Love Island (UK)" 10th Anniversary Special Date Announcement
The special premieres in the US on Friday, July 11.

[07/11/25 - 02:01 AM]
Netflix Will Release "Death Inc." Seasons 1, 2 and 3
The series is a comedy centered around a family-run funeral home and the relationships between the eccentric characters who inhabit it.

[07/11/25 - 12:01 AM]
"Too Hot to Handle: Italy" Is Coming on July 18 Only on Netflix
A special guest will guide the contestants in the first Italian edition of the reality show.

[07/10/25 - 07:01 PM]
Video: "The Winning Try" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After his career fell apart, a disgraced rugby star finds purpose coaching his old school's team - driving them and himself toward growth and redemption.

[07/10/25 - 07:01 PM]
Video: "The Nice Guy" - Teaser Trailer #3 - Disney+
He wants out for good. But the past comes with strings.

[07/10/25 - 05:03 PM]
Meagan Good Returns to Lifetime to Executive Produce and Star in the Alluring New Thriller "I'll Never Let You Go" Alongside Antonio Cupo and Thomas Cadrot, Premiering August 16 on Lifetime
Good stars as Emily Westover, a poised and successful art gallery director whose life takes a dark turn after a brief, impulsive affair with a magnetic Italian artist, Carlo (Cupo).

[07/10/25 - 12:01 PM]
"Virgin River" Is Returning for Season 8
"On behalf of myself and the whole 'Virgin River' family, we're eternally grateful to Netflix and to the fans for allowing us to continue on this journey with these beloved characters," said showrunner Patrick Sean Smith.