Upfront News and Views: TV Land and CMT

Venue Rose Hall the Jazz at Lincoln CenterTime Warner Center auditorium which has become a mecca for wellexecuted network showcases The Columbus Circlebased theater can handle as complex or simple a production design as you like and there isnamp8217t a bad seat in the house Simple was the course here with an illustrated circular backdrop framed by small staircases at both ends Pictures of individual series were displayed Cineramastyle supplemented by critic reviews and social media reaction Interestingly there were empty seats scattered around the hall for this Upfront pitchamp160 Grade 35 JacksPresentation Less than an hour for the second straight time and divided into sections again this time by network However the format came off less rapidfire than Nickelodeon the day before thanks to spacing performances throughout the hour instead of at the end Each network came with a characterizationamp160 NickNite as TV quotfor the gaf generationquot TV Land as quota destination for appointment viewingquot and CMT being a bigger broader fandriven brand Where NickNite was concerned there was no explanation for what the gaf generation is and zip details on programming changes ahead Given NickNite takes up the majority of Nickelodeon39s primetime lineup largely with offnet replays of amp8220Full Houseamp8221 amp8220The Fresh Prince of BelAiramp8221 etc this was surprising Overall content ruled Grade 3 JacksNews Six new series will play on CMT before the end of 2016 headlined by what the channels hopes will be a dynamic scripted duo amp8211 amp8220Still the Kingamp8221 Billy Ray Cyrus as a washedup singer on a personal comeback trail with his family starting June 12 and amp8220Million Dollar Quartetamp8221 adapting the Broadway music about rock 39n roll39s beginnings in 1950s Memphis coming this fall amp8220Dude Perfectamp8221 featuring the popular group of trickshot Web videomakers kicks off April 14 while threeweek miniseries amp8220NASCAR The Rise of American Speedamp8221 premieres May 18 The specials agenda includes a new amp8220Concert of the Summeramp8221 attraction and documentaries amp8220The Banditamp8221 and amp8220Chicken Peopleamp8221 For TV Land the only new series set is amp8220Lopezamp8221 coming March 30 a mockumentarystyle comedy overseen by amp8220Silicon Valleyamp8221 executive producers Three pilots all described as quotcomedies with dramaquot are under consideration amp8211 amp8220The First Wives Clubamp8221 adapted from the hit movie amp8220Nobodiesamp8221 show biz tale from amp8220Mike ampamp Mollyamp8221 costar Melissa McCarthy and an untitled dramedy inspired by amp8220Real Housewivesamp8221 cast member Kyle Richards Also amp8220Youngeramp8221 creator Darren Star will develop at least one more TV Land production Grades 3 Jacks for CMT25 Jacks for TV Land0 Jacks for NickNiteHosts Sound delivery from both CMT President Brian Phillips and TV Land Executive Vice President of Original Programming Keith Cox Ditto Viacom Kids ampamp Family Group leader Cyma Zarghami coming off her appearance at Nickelodeon39s event the day before Grade 3 JacksStar Time Plenty and plenty good entertainment inside the hour George Lopez got in a few choice Donald Trump jokes during his standup quotThat wall will get 10 feet higherquot he said referring to how Trump39s plan for securing the border will impact Latinos trying to enter illegally quotF we got tunnelsquot As for his TV Land series he noted quotWe fought about the title I wanted amp8216Olderamp8217amp8221 A more laidback Jim Gaffigan admitted that quotad sales is why I became an artistquotamp160 amp8220Million Dollar Quartetamp8221 brought out its costars only together for a few days after winning their roles via auditions in Memphis to do a pop medley Kevin Fonteyne as Johnny Cash showed he has the voice and timber of Cash down pat doing quotFolsom Prison Bluesamp8221 while Christian Lees stunned the crowd with a highwire quotGreat Balls Of Firequot as Jerry Lee Lewis Cyndi Lauper closed the hour with a countrytinged quotMisty Bluequot and the song that brought her everlasting fame over three decades ago quotGirls Just Want to Have Funquot quotMaybe when I turn 80 or 90 I39ll do wheelies and still do that songquot Lauper quipped to the audience Her voice remains loud and proud Grade 45 JacksCuisine Plentiful supply of Italian and countrycentric favorites such as chicken and waffles Best dishes cavatappi with pesto sauce and mushrooms and rigatoni in tomato sauce Worst dish couldn39t find oneamp160 Grade 35 JacksOverall Grade 3 Jacks The pace and a fine group of performances with the cast of amp8220Million Dollar Quartetamp8221 our first nominee for surprise Upfront attraction this year were offset by a mixed news roundupamp160 Hard to believe there was nothing much to say about NickNite5 Jacks Excellent4 Jacks Very Good3 Jacks Good2 Jacks Fair1 Jack Poor0 Jacks Worse than badNext up GSNUntil the next time stay well and stay tunedThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillageMyersBizNet management or associated bloggers

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Upfront News and Views: TV Land and CMT

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