Upfront Reviews: CNN's Triple Strike, Comeback Spectacle at BBC America and Reelz Does Polka

CNN

Venue : Skylight Modern, the two-floor exhibit space located on W. 27th St. which also plays home to Digitas' annual NewFront event (two weeks from this Thursday). Most of the action happened in the downstairs auditorium. Columns around the room posted quotes from Anderson Cooper, Erin Burnett and other CNN anchor-people, tied in with "Go There," the channel's new motto. In what may be the most unique display any upfront has used so far, the kind of board that flips departure and arrival information at airline terminals or rail stations was in action at the back of the auditorium, listing new CNN projects or breaking news coverage, the city involved and the date/time. This display is too good to be used just once. Ship it to Time Warner Center and make this the first thing people see inside CNN's NewYork offices. Pronto.Grade: 5 Jacks

Presentation : After reminding the crowd of the channel's past accomplishments over the last 34 years via a sizzle reel, CNN Worldwide president Jeff Zucker traveled a "let's clear the air" road with the audience. CNN’s format "of news and information is not changing, ever," he declared. "What's changing is how we're informing your consumers. Tell the story, the whole story, through deeper, immersive storytelling." Yes, more weekly series and documentary specials, not just on weekends. Yes, a number of series will involve "big personalities telling stories with attitude." Yes, the perennial 9 p.m. talk show every night is out. However, when the choice is between breaking news coverage and scheduled programming, breaking news will trump every time. Zucker emphasized all four points throughout. Grade: 4.5 Jacks

News : Three big developments. First, that 9 p.m. hour will be filled by a different original series each night, starting in June. The series lineup includes limited 10-part effortThe ‘60s, The Hunt with John Walsh, Somebody's Gotta Do It from former Dirty Jobs host Mike Rowe, and a new Lisa Ling-produced hour. The rest of the primetime lineup, including the recently-launched CNN Tonightwith rotating anchor-people at 10 p.m. stays as is. Second, 24/7 interactive content comes alive with CNNX, launched as an iPad app last week, en route to distribution via cable and satellite – and later, smart TVs -- this fall. Viewers using CNNX can supplement what they watch live with rundowns of specific newscasts from which they can pick reports played earlier or coming up. Another feature is on-screen retrieval of multimedia content and social media related to the news presented live at any moment. Third, HLN will launch its first major series under new chief Albie Hecht and his social-centric strategy -- The Daily Share --this fall. Weekly series in development there include The Social Life, Web Mysteries, Trip Trader, Weekly Mashup and Keywords. Grade:5 Jacks

Host : Zucker was in command of his audience from start to finish, with Hecht holding court for the HLN portion. Grade: 4 Jacks

Overall Grade: 4.5 Jacks Great format that made the key points, and surroundings like that terminal board that left no doubts about the channel's direction. More important, CNNX may become a milepost on the interactive TV highway.

BBC America

Venue : Terminal 51, located on W. 56th St. between 11th and 12th Avenues (one block past the famed CBS Broadcast Center). Guests entered a spacious room that on one side welcomed visitors with a gallery of BBC series and BBC World News anchor-people (presenters in Great Britain). Big stage in front, bar in the back and a second level on three sides of the room for networking. Space wise, 360 degrees from the small Liberty Theater space near Times Square that played havoc with last year's event. Splendid food, including tender chicken on a bed of jasmine rice. Grade: 5 Jacks

Presentation : BBC America's gaudy, live and living in decadence affair was one of the big upfront event hits two years ago. People still remember the woman with a large playful yellow python around her neck, the ballet dancer prancing all over and those people above the floor, stuffed inside wedding cake. The repeat performance last year was stifled by the overcrowded space, a few tipsy attendees and dangerous walkways from ground floor to second level thanks to unattended garbage. With plenty of room to use and an "Upfront Blitz" theme suggesting royal pranks, it was back on grand point. How grand you say? Try a group of mostly men strutting in David Bowie costumes to his hits "Changes" and "Fashion" or a group of female Buckingham Palace guards getting their kicks on a Rockettes chorus line. Four guards went to columns throughout the room for an extended shimmy session, a la 1960s discos. Here, the big shimmy song was "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk, not "Happy." Mark Grade, BBC America's executive vice president of ad sales, took the wise route and minimized his greetings. Grade: 5 Jacks

News : No announcements or press releases here. Grade: 0 Jacks

Host : Repeat -- Mark Grade, BBC America's executive vice president of ad sales, took the wise route to and minimized his greetings. Very wise, given the crowd was so into what their eyes were catching. Grade: 3.5 Jacks

Overall Grade: 4 Jacks Comeback of the year. No doubt the masterminds behind this panorama of the senses can dish memorable images that push the message. Boy, did that happen Thursday night. However, why was BBC America's treasure chest of talent absent? No Tatiana Maslany from Orphan Black, given the Peabody Award the week before? No Top Gear or Graham Norton or cast members from Doctor Who? Let's get them into the act next spring.

ReelzChannel

Venue : Hudson Hotel on W. 58th St. near 9th Ave., up the block from Time Warner Center -- a very apt choice for this independently-owned network's first major upfront gathering. The former home of WNET/Thirteen, with a long escalator leading to its main floor, never held an event of this kind. Reelz remodeled portions of that main floor into two separate "Octoberfest" rooms, one for networking under a big-top tent, the other for food, drink (emphasis on beer), music performances and speeches from company executives. Also, Reelz scheduled its event against BBC America's showcase some blocks away. To the ad community's credit, the crowd was considerable and in the mood. Indeed, the fun they had was so considerable that the event, scheduled to end at 10 p.m. went at least an hour overtime. Grade: 4.5 Jacks

Presentation : Formal remarks and videos were minimized in favor of live music from The Chardon Polka Band, subjects of the upcoming reality series Polka Kings(accompanied by dancers, beer barrel taps and chess/checker moves), and a pop band doing covers of 1960s tunes like "Twist & Shout." Joining in the frolic: The casts of Hollywood Hillbillies, Treasure King and The Capones. Grade: 4 Jacks

News : One pair of reality series and another pair of scripted miniseries are on the channel's roadmap over the next nine months. Mansion Matchmakers will be the first reality series up this July (company fulfills eccentric requests for mansion use by celebrities to fashionistas), followed byBranson Cab next January (family-run taxi enterprise in the Missouri entertainment getaway). After Camelot, the long-awaited sequel to The Kennedys, debuts in early 2015, followed by The Disciplesa few months later. Several scripted series are under consideration and Reelz has picked up rights toFacing The Enemy, the Bomb Girls finale special.Grade: 3.5 Jacks

Host : Unable to see the executive portion of the presentation, due to conflict with BBC America's event. No Jacks count here.

Overall Grade: 4 Jacks Off the bat, Reelz created a fun atmosphere with its event while getting its message across. Again, a large crowd staying way beyond closing time for your first effort speaks volumes about how you're doing.

5 Jacks - Excellent
4 Jacks - Very Good
3 Jacks - Good
2 Jacks - Fair
1 Jack - Poor
0 Jacks -Worse than bad

Up next: Pivot

Until the next time, stay well and stay tuned!