TLC’s Howard Lee Reflects on Network’s Successes Heading Into Upfronts

After graduating he became a production assistant on Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego and worked on a string of lowbudget horror movies before taking production roles at Travel Channel and increasing levels of network management at parent company Discovery eventually leading to his role as the President of TLC a post he assumed a year ago amp160Itamp8217s been a year of tremendous successes and Lee is in a terrific mood as he recounts a few of them TLC the No 2 adsupported cable network among women has enjoyed 14 consecutive months of yearoveryear growth and some of the buzziest shows in television including I Am Jazz and Trading Spaces as well as megahits Lee greenlit like 90 Day Fiancamp233 and Dr Pimple PopperLee previewed a bit of what advertisers can expect to hear about TLC when Kathleen Finch Chief Lifestyle Brands Officer for Discovery takes center stage at Alice Tully Hall for the companyamp8217s Upfront on April 10 including a new series following 90 Day fanfavorite coupleamp160Pedro and Chantelamp160called The Family Chantelamp160 Lee shared news of this spinoff and also reflected on his careeramp160and hopes for TLC in a wideranging interview What follows is an edited version of that conversationJacqueline Cutler amp160As you shepherd a show from concept to air what are you looking for amp160How much is instinctualHoward Lee amp160I think that is one of the hardest areas in our world in terms of content amp160Any platform television digital how do you trust your gut despite anything you might be hearing from research or your colleagues amp160It is very daunting amp160Sometimes shows might not win over the hearts of everybody but they win over the hearts of the audience and it shows in our brand missionamp160 People who have a story to tell or who cover a subculture that may not be popular amp160What is the point of TLC amp160It is to shed light on people who are part of unique worlds who really have something to express amp160We are nonjudgmentalCutler amp160How did one of your biggest hits Dr Pimple Popper come aboutLee amp160Dr Sandra Lee is renowned amp160The audience sits and listens and understands and experiences the story of the individual who comes to her for help amp160They may be stigmatized for something on their body amp160She is able to bring a solution and maybe a resolution to these folks who may not know where to go for help amp160On TLC you are getting the background the full story and understanding of the people who come to her amp160There is always a transformation on every hour of Dr Pimple PopperCutler amp160What were some of your favorite moments from your shows this yearLee amp160I must talk about the fact that I was so proud this year of I Am Jazz amp160She underwent her longawaited gender confirmation surgery amp160That had not been seen on television with someone who just turned 18 amp160Itamp8217s a testament to her family that they were sharing their story with us amp160With TLC talent even with cameras there they donamp8217t mind showing the hurdles and obstacles of what they are trying to achieve amp160In this area particularly with transgender individuals you donamp8217t always see the struggle that entails amp160I think that Jazz Jennings is remarkable that she and her family siblings and friends all embraced this to make the world aware that she needed to tell her truthCutler amp160What does that say about the trust the talent places in the networkLee amp160We are very much aware that it is a joint effort amp160If they are not comfortable with something we will not show it amp160This applies to any of our programs amp160We are a hallmark for showing nonfiction family programming amp160We consider that we own that area and families come in all shapes and sizes the Jennings from I Am Jazz Sweet Home Sextuplets and OutDaughtered even a design show Nate ampamp Jeremiah By Design is two gay husbands that have two children amp160Family is not just categorically mom and dad and two children conceived from birthamp160 We are inclusive of all types of familiesCutler amp160Thereamp8217s a major TLC event coming up in 2020amp160 Could you tease it a bitLee amp160Itamp8217s called Say Yes to the Dress America a tiein with the original Say Yes to the Dress with Kleinfeld the famed bridal salon in Brooklyn amp160We will select one bride from every state as well as Puerto Rico and DC plucking 52 brides and giving them a wedding experience unlike any other amp160They will get an allexpensespaid trip to New York amp160We are shooting the presentation of the gowns to the brides at Kleinfeld amp160This event will culminate at an iconic New York City location not yet disclosed where Randy Fenoli host from Say Yes to the Dress will officiate one big weddingCutler amp160What are your goals for the networkLee amp160I want to see more family programming and want to make sure that 90 Day Fiancamp233 continues to stay No 1 that we keep satiating the appetite of the female viewer who wants so much more amp160But we are far more than 90 Day and Dr Pimple Popper amp160We have countless returning series coming back amp160I am very proud of this stable of shows and itamp8217s such a broad palette at TLC amp160We are trying something new this year with Kate Plus Date amp160Kate Gosselin and her original show Jon and Kate Plus 8 was the show that started a lot of the family programming genre amp160We are going to take a stab at that to see if she can find true loveMost of all I want TLC to continue to be inclusive in our storytelling amp8230 that is who we are at our best and we will not waiver from thatamp160 With stories about all types of families extraordinary people living their truth amp8230 giving our viewers the relatable reallife stories that represent the true fabric of AmericaClick the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writersamp160

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TLC’s Howard Lee Reflects on Network’s Successes Heading Into Upfronts

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Jacqueline Cutler

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TLC’s Howard Lee Reflects on Network’s Successes Heading Into Upfronts

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Jacqueline Cutler

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