Content Ranging from Election-Year Politics to Breakthrough Scripted and Reality Projects Demonstrates Cable's Programming Diversity
Century City, CA – Coming off a record number of Emmy nominations that eclipsed broadcast networks for the first time, cable television programming services emphasized quality, innovation and the potential impact on viewers of their diverse upcoming programming in presentations this week to members of the Television Critics Association (TCA) during that group's annual summer press tour.
Programming from more than 35 cable channels was highlighted in presentations and social events from sunrise to late night during cable's three-day portion of the tour, July 21-23. Featured shows – which will air through the end of the year – span a wide variety of genres, including comedy, drama, sports, history, ethnic diversity, reality, and public affairs.
“Even as they've been recognized with awards and other honors, cable networks clearly aren't resting on their laurels,” said Jill Luckett , Vice President, Program Network Policy, National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA). “Cable programmers continue to build on their multibillion dollar investment in quality original programming by creating and acquiring innovative content that enhances choice and value for cable customers. Increasingly, that programming is making a substantial impact on the lives of viewers.”
Last week, cable networks collected a record 220 Primetime Emmy nominations, surpassing for the first time the total nominations received by the broadcast television networks (206).
Impactful programs that were previewed this week at the TCA press tour include “Gift of Life,” a six-part series premiering September 23 on Discovery Health Channel that chronicles the process of organ transplants and encourages viewers to consider the ultimate “gift of life” represented by organ donation; “The Brooke Ellison Story,” a December premiere on A&E Network, directed by Christopher Reeve, that tells the miraculous story of a young girl who becomes a quadriplegic at age 11, but with her family's help, returns to school and goes on to graduate from Harvard University; “Identity Theft: The Michelle Brown Story,” a Lifetime Original Movie inspired by the true story of one woman's attempt to retrieve her stolen identity; and “Russell Simmons Presents: Hip Hop Justice,” a Court TV Special Presentation premiering October 6 that examines law enforcement treatment of Hip Hop culture and its prominent young artists.
The Presidential and General elections of 2004 have inspired several cable networks to premiere and feature politically-oriented programming this year. One extraordinary example is Sundance Channel's “Tanner on Tanner,” a 16-years-later spin-off of “Tanner '88,” the genre-bending political cult classic portraying the campaign of a fictional presidential candidate. Like its 1988 predecessor, “Tanner on Tanner” – written by Gary Trudeau, directed by Robert Altman, and starring Cynthia Nixon – blends fiction and reality over three 30-minute segments and will be filmed in part at next week's Democratic National Convention in Boston. In tour discussion of other politics-inspired programming:
- CNN's Wolf Blitzer and Judy Woodruff previewed their extensive real coverage of the upcoming national political conventions and highlighted innovations such as an anchor booth situated on the floor of the convention; “embedded delegates” who will share their experiences with CNN crews; and a Web log unit that will review and report on the hundreds of political blogs that are tracking the conventions.
- Showtime unveiled “American Candidate,” a 10-episode, one-hour reality series premiering August 1 that offers 10 contestants from across the country an opportunity to demonstrate they have the qualifications and qualities to run for President.
- HBO outlined “Alexandra Pelosi's Diary of a Political Tourist,” in which the groundbreaking filmmaker followed presidential wannabees on the Democratic campaign trail in their quest for the nomination and developed a humorous travelogue spanning a two-year chunk of the campaign.
- Capitalizing on the fame of one of those presidential candidates, Spike TV introduced “I Hate My Job,” an eight-episode series premiering October 12 that offers former Democratic presidential candidate and political activist Al Sharpton an opportunity to serve as the ultimate career counselor and motivational coach for eight individuals who quit their jobs and have been given three months to pursue and obtain the jobs they've always wanted.
This summer's press tour also featured an opportunity for TV writers to become more conversant in some of the new technologies sweeping the multichannel video market place. The Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM) sponsored a champagne breakfast hosted by Josh Sapan, President and CEO, Rainbow Media, to demonstrate and discuss new on-demand and digital cable services, including high-definition television (HDTV).
Other highlights of the cable portion of the tour included presentations on a wide variety of standout programming:
- A&E Network profiled “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” a series premiering August 31 that captures the life, motivation, and activities of legendary bounty hunter Duane “Dog” Chapman.
- BBC America introduced for American audiences “The Kumars at No. 42,” an hilarious new series – part scripted comedy, part improvisation, part interview show – focusing on the exploits of a stereotypical Indian family living in North London. The series premiere is August 29.
- Bravo featured “Project Runway,” a behind-the-scenes fashion documentary and competition series starring supermodel Heidi Klum and 12 amateur designers.
- Comedy Central highlighted its uniquely skewed take on reality series, “Drawn Together,” premiering October 20, featuring eight animated characters picked to live in a house and have their lives taped.
- Court TV previewed “Ben Mezrich Underground,” produced by Kevin Spacey's production company, Trigger Street , and exploring the worlds of excess, beauty, action and danger by best-selling author Ben Mezrich. The series premieres in October.
- CSTV: College Sports Television introduced its programming line-up featuring deep and extensive coverage of college sporting events.
- Discovery Channel highlighted “Egypt Week,” a breath-taking week-long examination starting December 5 of ancient Egypt and its many mysteries.
- Disney Channel previewed “Tiger Cruise,” a Disney Original Movie inspired by original events and starring Bill Pullman and Hayden Panettiere, about a U.S Navy Commander and his teenage daughter, who through extraordinary circumstances is able to see first-hand her father's commitment to country and honor.
- E! offered a glimpse of “Dr. 90210,” a new weekly half-hour reality series featuring a window on the lives of top plastic surgeons in the elite world of cosmetic surgery in Beverly Hills .
- ESPN previewed “Hustle,” an original movie premiering September 25 and directed by Hollywood icon Peter Bogdanovich, based on the controversial gambling life of baseball's Pete Rose.
- FX (in a panel earlier this month as part of the Fox Cable Networks' presentation to TCA) featured “Rescue Me,” a dramatic new series starring Denis Leary that revolves around the lives of men in a New York City firehouse coping with the stresses and strains of the post-9/11 world.
- GSN highlighted “American Dream Derby,” the first reality show set in the area of thoroughbred horseracing, premiering this fall.
- HBO unveiled a powerhouse lineup of new series and specials, including “The Life and Death of Peter Sellers.” Premiering in December, and starring Geoffrey Rush as the legendary and idiosyncratic British thespian, the film contrasts Sellers' ability to adopt personalities with his tortured inability to embrace one of his own.
- Lifetime previewed the second season of its acclaimed original series, “MISSING,” about a psychic and her FBI colleagues who solve missing-person cases.
- LOGO, Viacom's new network for gay, lesbian, and transgender audiences, unveiled its “launch slate” of programming, bowing in February 2005.
- National Geographic Channel (in a panel earlier this month as part of the Fox Cable Networks' presentation to TCA) unveiled “Inside the U.S. Secret Service,” a revealing look at the agency's critical duties and seminal history, premiering October 24.
- Nickelodeon presented its new TEENick live-action series, “Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide,” a comedy offering first-person, insider tips on surviving middle school.
- SCI FI Channel previewed its blockbuster epic fantasy, “Earthsea,” based on Ursula K. LeGuin's award winning novels about a reckless youth destined to become a great sorcerer. The series benefits from the participation of such actors as Isabella Rossellini and Danny Glover.
- Showtime highlighted its upcoming one-hour drama/comedy series “!Huff,” starring Hank Azaria as a psychiatrist seeking balance and clarity in his own life even as he provides emotional counseling to others, premiering in November.
- The History Channel previewed its soaring documentary, “First Invasion: The War of 1812,” exploring the roots and impact of America 's “second war for independence,” premiering in September.
- TLC explained “Taking Care of Business,” a series premiering in October featuring a team of three business gurus who provide struggling start-ups and “mom-and-pop” businesses with the guidance and tools they need to achieve small business success.
- TNT discussed its July premiere of “Evel Knievel,” a new movie about the legendary daredevil starring George Eads.
- TR!O introduced its first original comedy series, “Pilot Season,” a half-hour improvisational comedy series debuting September 6, which provides a mockumentary look at the anxieties and relationships involved in the creation and launch of television programming.
- TVLand previewed an original “35 th Anniversary Reunion Special for the Brady Bunch,” which will be accompanied by a “Brady Bunch” Marathon on September 26.
- USA Network profiled “Frankenstein,” a contemporary vision of the Mary Shelley classic, produced by Martin Scorsese, author Dean Koontz, and Tony Krantz's Flame Television, and premiering in the fourth quarter of the year.
- VH1 unveiled “And You Don't Stop: 25 Years of Hip-Hop History,” a groundbreaking five-night, five-part documentary on pivotal moments in hop-hop history.
NCTA is the principal trade association of the cable television industry in the United States . NCTA represents cable operators serving more than 90 percent of the nation's cable television households and more than 200 cable program networks, as well as equipment suppliers and providers of other services to the cable industry.
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