TV NEWS: TBS ORDERS 'ARE WE THERE YET' FROM CREATOR ICE CUBE

MY BIG HOMEY, DARK BUFF BAGWELL MYSELF, TERRY CREWS IS BACK ON THE TUBE IN A MOVIE TURNED SITCOM, FROM MY OTHER BIG HOMEY, MR YEAH-E-YEAH, AKA ‘TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY’, AKA CRAIG, AKA DOUGH BOY, ICE CUBE. I THINK THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL, IF DONE RIGHT, TO ACTUALLY HAVE A LIFE ON TBS. LET’S HOPE IT DOES. I ROCK WIT TERRY & CUBE. CHECK IT OUT, & ENJOY

'Are We There Yet?' Becomes a Sitcom

TBS orders 10 episodes of the new comedy, starring Terry Crews and Ice Cube, that is based upon the hit movie of the same name, for 2010.

SANTA MONICA Calif. and VANCOUVER British Columbia, July 15 — Using the unique model created by Debmar-Mercury for Tyler Perry's "House of Payne" and "Meet the Browns," TBS is teaming with Joe Roth and Ice Cube for "Are We There Yet?," a sitcom starring Terry Crews ("Everybody Hates Chris") and based on the hit Revolution Studios film of the same name. TBS has ordered 10 episodes of the new sitcom, slated to premiere in June 2010, with the option for an additional 90 episodes. The series is produced by Cube Vision and distributed by Debmar-Mercury, with Revolution's Joe Roth and Cube Vision's Ice Cube and Matt Alvarez serving as executive producers, along with multiple Emmy-winning show-runner Ali LeRoi ("Everybody Hates Chris"). In addition to executive-producing, Ice Cube will have a recurring role.

This is the fourth television series for which Debmar-Mercury has utilized its groundbreaking approach to launching shows into distribution and syndication, following in the footsteps of Tyler Perry's two hit sitcoms, "House of Payne" and "Meet The Browns," which also air on TBS, and the new Jon Heder sitcom from writer-producers Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy ordered by Comedy Central last week.

The movie "Are We There Yet?," a breakout 2005 hit, told the story of Nick (Ice Cube), a smooth operator who is trying to land a date with Suzanne, a divorcee stuck working out of town over New Year's and miserable because she misses her kids. Nick gallantly offers to make her New Year's wish come true - and his own in the process - by driving her two children to be reunited with their mom. What Nick doesn't know is that Suzanne's children, whom he's never met, hate every man their mom dates on sight. The movie grossed more than $82 million at the box office and was followed in 2007 by a sequel, "Are We Done Yet?"

In the sitcom "Are We There Yet?," Crews will star as Nick, the character Ice Cube played in the film.

Debmar-Mercury's association with TBS began in 2006, when the company devised a groundbreaking distribution strategy for Tyler Perry's "House of Payne." Debmar-Mercury offered a 10-episode experiment in select markets that produced strong ratings, leading TBS to order a full-fledged series with an unprecedented 100 episodes. In January 2009, TBS premiered 10 episodes of Tyler Perry's "Meet the Browns" to strong ratings, leading the network to order additional episodes for a total of 80. So far this year, the two series have ranked as the top television programs in delivery of African-American viewers.

"When we set out to expand on the television comedy model that the amazing Tyler Perry has turned into a runaway success at TBS, we knew we had to be in business with Ice Cube, a cultural icon who can do it all: an acclaimed hip-hop artist, film phenomenon, actor, writer, director and producer," Debmar-Mercury co-president Mort Marcus said.

Debmar-Mercury co-president Ira Bernstein added, "To be back with TBS again and have a dream team of creative partners like Ice Cube, Joe Roth, Matt Alvarez and Ali LeRoi attached to this project, plus a breakout star in Terry Crews, this show has all the elements to be a major hit."

TV NEWS: JON HEDER MOVES TO COMEDY CENTRAL FOR HIS OWN SHOW

Napoleon Dynamite to Star in Sitcom

Comedy Central has ordered 10 episodes of a groundbreaking series, starring Jon Heder as an out of work computer IT specialist, to be co-written by Will Ferrell.

NEW YORK, NY —Comedy Central has ordered an initial run of 10 episodes of a new, untitled sitcom starring Jon Heder ("Napoleon Dynamite," "Blades of Glory") from Gary Sanchez Productions and Debmar-Mercury, it was announced today by Gary Sanchez Productions, Comedy Central and Debmar-Mercury.

Produced by Gary Sanchez Productions, the production company led by Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy, distributed by Debmar-Mercury, the untitled, multi-camera sitcom for Comedy Central will star Jon Heder as an out of work computer IT specialist who leaves the big city and returns to his small home town, where he moves back in with his parents and younger brother. Ferrell, McKay and Henchy will write and produce the series.

Modeled after previous successful groundbreaking Tyler Perry sitcom ventures from Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein, Comedy Central has initially ordered 10 episodes of the Heder sitcom and will then have the option to order an additional 90 episodes upon a successful first-season run. Debmar-Mercury would retain the rights to take the series into syndication after its run on Comedy Central. Prior to this deal, Debmar-Mercury had partnered with Comedy Central in 2003 to distribute the broadcast syndication rights to the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning series "South Park."

"Combining the creative genius of the Gary Sanchez gang with the brilliant business model established by Mort and Ira at Debmar-Mercury should ensure many, many great laughs in the years to come on Comedy Central says Michele Ganeless, president, Comedy Central. "With a proven track record featuring some of the most memorable comedy films ever made, we are so excited to be in business with Will, Adam, Chris and Jon," says Lauren Corrao, president, original programming and development, Comedy Central.

"We've always been fans of Jon's," McKay comments. "This deal gives us a chance to take some big creative swings without the risk of testing and focus grouping the show to death."

"We immediately jumped at the opportunity to be in business with this elite team of A-list comedy talents, who are among a handful of people in Hollywood capable of pulling off a project of this magnitude," notes Marcus. Adds Bernstein, "As we expand on a proven business model, we could not be more pleased that Comedy Central chose this concept to serve as its first full-fledged, live-action original sitcom."

David Bernath, Comedy Central's senior vice president, programming, negotiated the deal with Debmar-Mercury's Marcus and Bernstein.

Heder, 31, who came to fame starring as the title character in "Napoleon Dynamite," studied animation at Brigham Young University in Utah and appeared in student-produced short films, including a comedy, "Peluca." It was later expanded into the feature-length "Napoleon Dynamite." Its surprise hit status coming out of the Sundance Film Festival led the film into national distribution and, by the end of 2004, Heder's portrayal of the hapless Napoleon was widely imitated as the movie went on to gross more than a hundred times what it cost to make. Heder's acting career took off. He next appeared in the Reese Witherspoon romantic comedy "Just Like Heaven" (2005) and landed roles in other comedies, including the animated feature "Monster House" (2006) with Maggie Gyllenhaal and the ice-skating farce "Blades of Glory" (2007) with Ferrell.

SOURCE: POP TOWER

TV NEWS: NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE HEADS TO LIFETIME

The New Adventures of Old Christine' Goes to Lifetime

The women's network has acquired the exclusive cable rights to the hit CBS comedy which will make its off-net cable premiere in the fall of 2010.

LOS ANGELES, CA—Lifetime Television, the number one women's network, has acquired the exclusive off-net cable rights to Warner Bros. Television's critically acclaimed hit comedy "The New Adventures of Old Christine," starring Emmy Award-winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus, in a deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution.

Under the terms of the agreement, Lifetime will hold the exclusive cable rights to all 88 existing episodes of the program, as well as the exclusive cable rights to all episodes produced in future seasons. The comedy, for which Louis-Dreyfus won an Emmy in 2006 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and which won a Humanitas Prize in 2007, will make its off-net cable premiere on Lifetime in fall 2010.

SOURCE: POP TOWER

TV NEWS: ANIKA NONI ROSE TO HOST AFRO POP PUBLIC TV SERIES

EW DISNEY STAR ANIKA NONI ROSE TO HOST AFROPOP PUBLIC TELEVISION SERIES

Documentary Series on Contemporary African Diaspora Returns in October for Second Season

New York, NY (BlackNews.com) - Tony Award winning actress Anika Noni Rose, who recently made history by being cast as the first-ever African-American princess in Disney's The Princess and the Frog, has signed on to host the new season of AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange. An innovative documentary series on contemporary life, art and pop culture in the African Diaspora, AfroPoP's second season comes to public television in October 2009. The series is produced by the National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC), and co-presented by American Public Television (APT).

As the series host, Rose will introduce audiences to powerful stories about African boxers who journey across the Atlantic to match their skills against the best in global contests; a teenage girl who travels to Ghana and a Sierre Leonian ex-patriate who returns to his homeland, each hoping to dispel prevailing myths about the two continents; and, Hurricane Katrina victims who find themselves refugees in their own country.

In announcing Rose's hosting role on AfroPoP, NBPC Executive Director Jacquie Jones explained: "Anika's body of work reflects not only a strong connection to the African-American experience, but her recent work in Africa shows she shares a link to and insightful understanding of Black life in other parts of the world. At the same time, we were looking for a youthful voice who could express the great breadth of the Diaspora. She is a perfect fit for the series."

Film audiences will be reunited with Rose in November when she plays "Princess Tiana" in the animated, Disney musical feature opening in November. Her other recent acclaimed roles include secretary "Makutsi" in Anthony Minghella's HBO series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, "Lorrell Robinson" in the major motion picture Dreamgirls, and "Maggie" in the all-black cast of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof on Broadway. Rose won a Tony Award for her performance in Caroline, or Change.

To preview the series or for more information on the films or filmmakers, visit www.AfroPoP.tv

ABOUT THE FILMS:

The Fighting Spirit

Dir. George Amponsah

Boxing is show business with blood--a tough sport, which has always found its top competitors from the poorest neighborhoods. Bukom, a tiny district in Ghana's capital city of Accra, is one such locale. Grounded in a long cultural tradition of wrestling that over the years developed into boxing, the tiny fishing village trains young people to fight--and win. Bukom has produced up to five percent of the world's champion and Olympic medal boxers. The Fighting Spirit tells the story of three fighters from Bukom--two men and a woman--as they battle their way to the glittering rings of Europe and America to compete for the biggest prizes in the business. Viewers watch the athletes fight for respect and reward for their tribe and their home, and witness their triumphs and defeats in and out of the ring.

Black to Our Roots

Dir. Tre Whitlow

Living in a housing project in Atlanta, Georgia, 17-year-old Sylvia Dorsey is frustrated by the drug abuse and violence that surrounds her. Black To Our Roots is the inspirational story of the journey Sylvia takes to explore her ancestral home in Ghana in an attempt to escape the cycle of violence and poverty of her Atlanta neighborhood. In Africa, Sylvia confronts several challenges that test her patience and change her life forever. When she returns to the United States, will she be able to adjust to her old world as a new woman? This film is a testament to the power of change.

Desert Bayou

Dir. Alex LeMay

In the wake of one of the worst natural and humanitarian disasters ever to visit American shores, nearly 600 African Americans were airlifted to the almost entirely white state of Utah...without their knowledge. Desert Bayou seeks to examine whether two cultures can come together in a time of utter chaos, or whether their differences prove too great a challenge to overcome. In their own words evacuees of Hurricane Katrina, tell how they survived the storm of the century and out of the rubble ended up at a military installation in the deserts of Utah. With interviews from evacuees, political, military and religious leaders, community and social figures, the questions of race, politics and religion hurtle towards each other in this truly American story: a story of loss and reunion, of sorrow and rebirth, of anger and rejoicing, but most of all...a story of hope.

Moving to the Beat

Dir. Caleb Heymann/Abdul Fofanah

Moving to the Beat explores how youth in Africa and America are using hip hop music to communicate with one another and as a language for social change. The documentary follows Rebel Soulz, a hip hop group from Portland, Oregon, as they journey to Freetown, Sierra Leone to bring the radical roots of American hip hop to the motherland of Africa. In the process of collaborating and interacting with the local artists, the visitors confront their own stereotypes and fantasies of Africa while shattering the Sierra Leoneans perception of America as a "second heaven." The result is a deeply forged connection that transcends centuries of misunderstanding and separation, and becomes an inspiring call for people worldwide to transcend boundaries.

ABOUT NBPC

The National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC), a national, nonprofit media arts organization, is the leading provider of black programming on public television and the greatest resource for the training of black media professionals within the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). NBPC develops, produces and funds television and online programming about the black experience and, since its founding in 1979, has provided hundreds of broadcast hours documenting African American history, culture and experience to public television. For more on NBPC and its initiatives, visit www.nbpc.tv

ABOUT AMERICAN PUBLIC TELEVISION

With more than 10,000 hours of programming in its library, American Public Television (APT) has been a prime source of programming for the nation's public television stations for 47 years, distributing more than 300 new program titles per year. APT milestones include distribution of the first HD series on public television and the 2006 launch of Create(TM) - the TV channel featuring the best of public television's lifestyle programming. Known for its leadership in identifying innovative, worthwhile and viewer-friendly programming, APT has established a tradition of providing public television stations with program choices that strengthen and customize their schedules, such as: Carreras Domingo Pavarotti in Concert, Winged Migration, Battlefield Britain, Globe Trekker, Rick Steves' Europe, Great Museums, Jacques Pépin: Fast Food My Way, America's Test Kitchen From Cook's Illustrated, Broadway: The Golden Age, Lidia's Family Table, California Dreamin' - The Songs of The Mamas & the Papas, Rosemary and Thyme, P. Allen Smith's Garden Home, The Big Comfy Couch, Monarchy With David Starkey, and other prominent documentaries including AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange Program, dramatic series, how-to programs, children's series and classic movies. For more information about APT's programs and services, visit APTonline.org

TV NEWS: CBS ANNOUNCES 2009-2010 PREMIERE DATES

EVERYBODY’S FAVORITE TV NETWORK, WELL AT LEAST SOME PEOPLE’S FAVORITE, HAS JUST ANNOUNCED THEIR 2009-2010 PREMIERE DATES. GET OUT YOUR PENS, BLACKBERRY’S, IPHONE’S, SIDEKICKS, PDA’S, LAPTOPS, & WHATEVER OTHER TECHNOLOGICAL DEVICE YOU OWN, AND MAKE NOTE OF THE DATES. THEN PREPARE TO WORK THE HELL OUT OF YOUR TIVO & DVR’S. CHEERS, & ENJOY

CBS Announces 2009-2010 Premiere Dates

CBS will debut nearly all of its new and returning series during the official premiere week from September 21 - 27.

CBS today announced dates for the fall premieres of its new and returning series, which include a pre-season debut for "Survivor: Samoa" and the launch of the new Sunday drama series "Three Rivers" in early October. The Network will introduce the majority of its schedule beginning Monday, Sept. 21, the official start of the 2009-2010 season.

"Survivor: Samoa" the 19th installment of the hit reality series, will debut a week prior to the formal start of the season, on Thursday, Sept. 17 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT).

SOURCE: POP TOWER

TV NEWS: JESSICA SIMPSON'S NEW REALITY SHOW

Greetings family. Forgive the extended leave of absence. I’ve been away on business, which is absolutely a good. Thing. God has truly shone favor to me, & as a result I have a great responsibility to honor his blessing by working hard in my this new endeavor that he’s blessed me with. And all of that will lead to greater opportunities for this blog, as well as the other two blogs I’ll be starting soon. Anyway, more on that later. For now, enjoy this article on pop princess Jessica simpson. She has her own reality show forthcoming, & it actually seems entertaining. Cheers, and enjoy. It’s good to be back!!!!

Jessica Simpson Travels the World to Find 'The Price of Beauty'

The pop icon looks at beauty in cultures across the globe in her new VH1 series, set to begin production next month for a 2010 premiere date.

NEW YORK, NY—No matter where you are in the world, chances are, you know that Jessica Simpson is no stranger to the spotlight. Her hit pop and country songs, movies, television and eponymous collection of shoes, clothes, bags etc. have helped to keep her in America's eye, but we all know Jessica for more than just her career achievements. Jessica has been followed, studied and scrutinized since she released her first hit single at the age of 19. Now, Jessica turns the tables on our culture and cultures all over the world to find "The Price of Beauty," her new original series on VH1.

The new VH1 docu-series, produced by RDF USA ("Wife Swap", "Secret Millionaire"), takes Jessica all over the world to meet everyday women. She may also discover some local pop culture icons on their own quests for beauty along the way. Jessica will study the local fashions, dietary fads and beauty regimes and even participate in some of the extreme practices she discovers.

"When Chris approached me with his idea for a show about true beauty, I was immediately intrigued," Jessica stated. "I have always believed that beauty comes from within and confidence will always make a woman beautiful, but I know how much pressure some women put on themselves to look perfect. I am really looking forward to discovering how beauty is perceived in different cultures and participating in some of the crazy things people do to feel beautiful. I know we will all learn a lot on this journey and I am so excited that VH1 is coming along on what I'm sure will be a wild ride."

Chris Coelen, CEO of RDF Media USA, said: "In this series, Jessica will tackle a serious issue with her unique and relatable blend of humor and heart. We're thrilled to be in business with Jessica, Joe and VH1 on what we know will be an exciting and eye-opening show."

"Perhaps more than any other pop culture figure on the radar today, Jessica Simpson has been the target of our obsession with beauty on both sides of the equation. She is a woman who can set trends and create firestorms with a single photo," said Jeff Olde, EVP, VH1 Original Programming & Production. "We could not be more thrilled that Jessica now gets to take control of that conversation and take a look at the idea of beauty through her own unique, unfiltered lens. And we at VH1 are excited to be in the passenger seat next to her as she begins this fantastic journey."

"The Price of Beauty" is set to begin shooting in mid July. Executive Producers include Jessica and Joe Simpson as well as Chris Coelen, Claire O'Donohoe and Greg Goldman for RDF USA (Wife Swap, Secret Millionaire). The show will be produced by Jeff Olde, Jill Holmes, Alex Demyanenko and Sean Boyle for VH1 to air in 2010.

Source: Pop tower

TV NEWS: MTV'S THE REAL WORLD TO TRAVEL TO CANCUN

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT THE MTV REALITY MAINSTAY “THE REAL WORLD” COULDN’T GET ANY WILDER, I WOULDN’T BET AGAINST IT, AS THE SHOW TAKES ITS CAMERAS & YOUNG HEDONISTS (JUST JOKING…..LOL) TO CANCUN, THE MEXICAN DESTINATION FOR SIN, SIN, & MORE SIN. CHECK OUT THE ARTICLE FOR DETAILS. CHEERS, & ENJOY

Season 22 of MTV's signature docu-drama premieres on Wednesday, June 24, while season 23, "The Real World: Washington, DC" gets the greenlight.

NEW YORK, NY—MTV kicks off the next installment of the highly anticipated reality series "The Real World" from the coastal city of Cancun, Mexico. Eight new roommates will come together under one roof to heat things up this season, as they work hard and play even harder. From sexy hook-ups to blood-boiling fights, the Mexican Caribbean will never be the same as drama unfolds this season on "The Real World: Cancun," premiering June 24 at 10:00pm ET/PT.

The cast will reside at one of Mexico's hottest hotels, the ME Cancun, in a suite armed to accommodate the wild lifestyle of the roommates. When they are not hitting the town, much of their time during the day will be devoted to helping out at StudentCity.com, a travel agency that specializes in providing college students with spring break packages.

The series transitions its 23rd season to a different lifestyle as "The Real World" will begin production in Washington D. C. in the summer of 2009 and is slated to premiere in 2010. In the upcoming season, eight young adults will experience life in the nation's capital as they live and pursue their passions in the city that many of our country's most influential figures call home.

"The charged atmosphere of Washington D.C., the center of our country's social and political change, will provide an electric setting for this next season of 'The Real World,' said Tony DiSanto, President of Programming, MTV. "We are thrilled to be filming our classic franchise in the heart of where history is being made...it adds a whole new dimension to the great characters and drama our viewers expect and love from 'The Real World.'"

"Young people have never been more engaged in what's happening in this country and Washington, D.C., is the perfect place for 'The Real World' cast to express their opinions and pursue their passions," said Jonathan Murray, the creator and Executive Producer of "The Real World."

"In a time when our country has witnessed the impact and spirit of our nation's young people, it is a pleasure to welcome MTV and 'The Real World' cast to the District of Columbia as they utilize the immense opportunities that the District's backdrop will undoubtedly provide," said Adrian M. Fenty, Mayor of Washington D.C

TV NEWS: FOX'S FALL SEASON SCHEDULE 2009/2010

CHECK OUT FOX’S FALL SEASON PREMIERE SCHEDULE. FROM THE LOOKS OF IT THEY AREN’T IN THE LEAST BIT AFRAID TO EXPERIMENT WITH CONCEPTS & TALENT. BUT, THEN AGAIN, THAT’S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT FILMMAKING & TELEVISION. CHEERS & ENJOY

FOX Fall Premiere Dates for 2009-2010 Season

Season 6 of "So You Think You Can Dance" and new comedy "Glee" kick off the fall premieres on September 16.

June 15, 2009

LOS ANGELES, CA — FOX has set the fall premiere dates for its new and returning series. The 2009-2010 season will kick off Wednesday, Sept. 16 with the sixth season premiere of "So You Think You Can Dance" (8:00-9:00 pm*), followed by the highly anticipated series premiere of "Glee" (9:00-10:00 pm), the biting new comedy for the underdog in all of us that features a soundtrack of hit songs from past and present. On Thursday, Sept. 17, fan favorite "Bones" (8:00-9:00 pm) and the second thrilling season of "Fringe" (9:00-10:00 pm) return. "Brothers", the new family comedy starring Michael Strahan, premieres Friday, Sept. 18 (8:00-8:30 pm) followed by the return of "'Til Death" (8:30-9:00 pm) and the second season premiere of Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse" (9:00-10:00 pm).

"House" jumpstarts its sixth season with a special two-hour premiere Monday, Sept. 21 (8:00-10:00 pm). Sunday, Sept. 27 marks the return of Animation Domination with the amazing 20th season premiere of "The Simpsons" (8:00-8:30 pm), the series premiere of "The Cleveland Show" (8:30-9:00 pm) and the season premieres of "Family Guy" (9:00-9:30 pm) and "American Dad" (9:30-10:00 pm). The second season of hit drama "Lie to Me" will premiere Monday, Sept. 28 (9:00-10:00 pm). "So You Think You Can Dance" will air two nights per week when the original dance competition has its time period premiere Tuesday, Sept. 29 (9:00-10:00 pm), and later expands to two-hour performance shows beginning Tuesday, Oct. 27 (8:00-10:00 pm). In addition, new Saturday late-night entry "The Wanda Sykes Show" (working title) debuts Saturday, Nov. 7 (11:00 pm-Midnight).

Premieres of new series and returning favorites are listed below in chronological order.

Saturday, Sept. 12

8:00-8:30 pm - "Cops" (Season Premiere)

8:30-9:00 pm - "Cops" (All-New Episode)

9:00-10:00 pm - "America's Most Wanted" (Season Premiere)

Wednesday, Sept. 16

8:00-9:00 pm - "So You Think You Can Dance" (Season Premiere)

9:00-10:00 pm - "Glee" (Series Premiere)

Thursday, Sept. 17

8:00-9:00 pm - "Bones" (Season Premiere)

9:00-10:00 pm - "Fringe" (Season Premiere)

Friday, Sept. 18

8:00-8:30 pm - "Brothers" (Series Premiere)

8:30-9:00 pm - "'Til Death" (Season Premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM pm - "Dollhouse" (Season Premiere)

Monday, Sept. 21

8:00-10:00 pm - "House" (2-Hour Season Premiere)

Sunday, Sept. 27

8:00-8:30 pm - "The Simpsons" (Season Premiere)

8:30-9:00 pm - "The Cleveland Show" (Series Premiere)

9:00-9:30 pm - "Family Guy" (Season Premiere)

9:30-10:00 pm - "American Dad" (Season Premiere)

Monday, Sept. 28

8:00-9:00 pm - "House" (All-New Episode)

9:00-10:00 pm - "Lie to Me" (Season Premiere)

Tuesday, Sept. 29

8:00-9:00 pm - "Hell's Kitchen" (All-New Episode)

9:00-10:00 pm - "So You Think You Can Dance" (Time Period Premiere)

Tuesday, Oct. 27

8:00-10:00 pm - "So You Think You Can Dance" (Time Period Premiere)

Saturday, Nov. 7

11:00 pm-Midnight - "The Wanda Sykes Show" (working title) (Series Premiere)

*All times ET/PT

TV NEWS: CW 2009-2010 TV SCHEDULE

ATTENTION ALL CW FANS, I HAVE SOME GREAT INFO FOR YOU. READ BELOW FOR THE INSIDE SCOOP ON THE NEWLY RELEASED TV SCHEDULE FOR YOUR FAVE NETWORK. ENJOY, & LEAVE YOUR COMMENT

The CW Unveils Schedule for 2009-2010 Season

New series "Melrose Place" brings back backstabbing bitches for the new century, while "The Vampire Diaries" takes a stab at the "Twilight" phenomenon and "The Beautiful Life" finds drama in top models.

NEW YORK, NY—The CW Network unveiled the schedule for its 2009-2010 season today at a presentation for advertisers, affiliates and national media in the Theater at Madison Square Garden. The announcement was made by Dawn Ostroff, President of Entertainment, The CW.

"In just three years, The CW has become TV to talk about, with culturally current, quality programming," said Ostroff. "Next fall, we will have great flow from Monday through Friday, starting with the Monday pairing of' Gossip Girl' and 'One Tree Hill,' which made The CW one of the top destinations for young women this season. Tuesday night gives us a perfect match with '90210' and 'Melrose Place.' And what could be better than our Wednesday night shows from Tyra Banks and Ashton Kutcher the all-model lineup of 'America's Next Top Model' and 'The Beautiful Life.' On Thursdays, 'The Vampire Diaries' taps into the continuing fascination young women have with all things vampire, and makes the perfect lead-in for 'Supernatural,' which is coming off its strongest year ever. Moving 'Smallville' to Fridays gives us a major player with a loyal fan base to kick off the night. Top all that off with our heartwarming and humorous midseason drama 'Parental Discretion Advised,' from writer/producer Liz Tigelaar, and we have a full slate of great programming to keep our viewers watching, chatting, texting and tweeting all next season."

On Monday, the powerhouse combination of "Gossip Girl" and "One Tree Hill" will remain in place. Last fall, this winning team made The CW the Number One network with women, and sent Monday night ratings up 118 percent in women 18-34. "Gossip Girl," which continues to be one of the most talked-about shows on television, will return to its 8:00-9:00 p.m. slot, followed by "One Tree Hill" from 9:00-10:00 p.m.

On Tuesday, "90210" returns for its sophomore season in the 8:00-9:00 p.m. timeslot. Last season, 90210 gave The CW its highest-rated series premiere ever and improved the 8:00 p.m. time period by 35 percent in women 18-34. The highly anticipated, updated version of the 1990s monster-hit drama "Melrose Place" will premiere in the 9:00-10:00 p.m. timeslot. The new "Melrose Place" features a dynamic ensemble of up-and-coming stars, along with two original cast members reprising the roles they made famous: Laura Leighton as Sydney Andrews and Thomas Calabro as Dr. Michael Mancini. "Melrose Place" promises to deliver all the backstabbing and sizzle of the original series. And, as they did once before, "90210" and "Melrose Place" will combine for a great night of television.

On Wednesday, "America's Next Top Model" returns in its successful 8:00-9:00 p.m. timeslot, followed by the glamorous new drama "The Beautiful Life." Last season, "America's Next Top Model" ranked second in its time period with young women. Tyra Banks is one of the few women who is seen regularly on both daytime and primetime television. Beginning this fall, The CW's daytime block will feature two hours of "The Tyra Banks Show" with an encore episode from 3:00-4:00 p.m. and an original episode from 4:00-5:00 p.m. "America's Next Top Model" and "The Tyra Banks Show" provide perfect symmetry and a natural fit for The CW brand by targeting the same audience in both primetime and daytime.

New drama "The Beautiful Life" joins "America's Next Top Model" on Wednesdays. From producers Ashton Kutcher, Jason Goldberg, Karey Burke, Mike Kelley and Carol Barbee, the fashion-based series gives viewers an exciting, behind-the-scenes glimpse at the cutthroat world of a group of young, beautiful and very sexy models living together in a models' residence in New York City. The show features a stunning ensemble cast, featuring Sara Paxton ("Last House on the Left"), Mischa Barton ("The O.C.") and supermodel Elle Macpherson ("Friends"). Together, "America's Next Top Model" and "The Beautiful Life" will be television's most fashionable night.

Thursdays go Goth with the new teaming of "The Vampire Diaries" from 8:00-9:00 p.m., followed by "Supernatural" in the 9:00-10:00 p.m. hour. Based on the best-selling series of books, "The Vampire Diaries" is the story of two vampire brothers obsessed with the same beautiful girl, and battling to control the fate of an entire town. Starring Nina Dobrev ("DeGrassi: The Next Generation"), Paul Wesley ("Mad Men"), Ian Somerhalder ("Lost") and Steven R. McQueen ("Everwood"), "The Vampire Diaries" makes the perfect new lead-in to "Supernatural". Last season, "Supernatural"'s Winchester brothers gave the network ratings growth across key young demos, despite the highly competitive timeslot.

Big changes are in store on Fridays when "Smallville" relocates to the 8:00-9:00 p.m. hour, bringing young viewers from Thursday into Friday nights. With non-stop action and classic DC Comics characters from Lois Lane to Doomsday, "Smallville" continues to give loyal viewers the stories and characters they love.

The heartwarming and humorous drama "Parental Discreation Advised" will premiere midseason. From writer/producer Liz Tigelaar, ("Brothers and Sisters"), "Parental Discreation Advised" is the story of a young girl who finds her biological parents and how that discovery changes all their lives. The show stars Britt Robertson ("Swingtown"), Kristoffer Polaha ("Mad Men"), Shiri Appleby ("E.R.") and Kerr Smith ("Eli Stone").

Following is The CW's 2009-2010 primetime schedule, a night-by-night breakdown and accompanying details on all the programs.

THE CW's 2009-2010 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

Monday

8:00-9:00 p.m. - "Gossip Girl"

9:00-10:00 p.m. - "One Tree Hill"

Tuesday

8:00-9:00 p.m. - "90210"

9:00-10:00 p.m. - "Melrose Place" (New Series)

Wednesday

8:00-9:00 p.m. - "America's Next Top Model"

9:00-10:00 p.m. - "The Beautiful Life" (New Series)

Thursday

8:00-9:00 p.m. - "The Vampire Diaries" (New Series)

9:00-10:00 p.m. - "Supernatural"

Friday

8:00-9:00 p.m. - "Smallville" (New Night)

"America's Next Top Model" (Encore Presentation)

NEW SERIES

"Melrose Place"

In an elegant Spanish-style apartment building in the trendy Melrose neighborhood of Los Angeles, a diverse group of 20-somethings have formed a close-knit surrogate family. Sydney Andrews (Laura Leighton, the original "Melrose Place") is the landlady, still beautiful at 40, and a central figure in the lives of all her tenants, especially handsome and rebellious David Breck (Shaun Sipos, "Shark"). Sydney started an affair with David despite her turbulent history with his estranged father, Dr. Michael Mancini (Thomas Calabro, the original "Melrose Place"). Both father and son learned through experience that Sydney was not above using blackmail to control people. Another tenant, high-powered publicist Ella Simms (Katie Cassidy, "Supernatural"), once considered Sydney her mentor, but their friendship was destroyed by betrayal, and Sydney threatened to evict Ella and ruin her career. Sydney also played a pivotal role in the career of Auggie Kirkpatrick (Colin Egglesfield, "All My Children"). After they met at an AA meeting, she became Auggie's sponsor and encouraged his dream to become a chef. Now a successful sous chef at the trendy restaurant Coal, Auggie has been avoiding Sydney since she began drinking again. The other tenants include Lauren Yung (Stephanie Jacobsen, "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles"), a medical student in desperate need of money to pay her student loans, and Jonah Miller (Michael Rady, "Swingtown"), an aspiring filmmaker who has just proposed to his live-in girlfriend Riley Richmond (Jessica Lucas, "Cloverfield"), a first-grade teacher. The newest tenant, 18-year-old Violet Foster (Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, "7th Heaven"), has just arrived in LA with her own secret connection to Sydney. When a bloody body is found floating in the courtyard pool, David is the leading suspect. However, as the police are soon to discover, almost everyone living at Melrose Place had a reason to want the deceased out of the way.

An updated version of the popular 1990s series, "Melrose Place" is from CBS Television Studios with executive producers Todd Slavkin & Darren Swimmer ("Smallville"). Oscar-winner Davis Guggenheim ("An Inconvenient Truth") is the director and executive producer of the pilot.

"The Beautiful Life"

The life of a high-fashion model appears glamorous and sexy, but as every new model quickly learns, behind the beautiful faade is a world of insecurity and cutthroat competition. Two teenage models who are about to discover this world for themselves are Raina Collins (Sara Paxton, "Last House on the Left"), a stunning beauty with a secret past, and Chris Andrews (Benjamin Hollingsworth, "The Line"), a strikingly handsome Iowa farm boy. When Raina makes an unforgettable impression at a show introducing the new line from designer Zac Posen (appearing in a cameo role), she steals the spotlight from her friend Sonja (Mischa Barton, "The O.C."). Sonja has been out of the country for mysterious reasons and is now desperate to reclaim her standing as the reigning supermodel. While Raina and Sonja live at the top of the fashion food chain, Chris is starting at the bottom, having just been discovered by agent Simon Lockridge (newcomer Dusan Dukic) of the Covet Modeling Agency, which is owned by former supermodel Claudia Foster (Elle Macpherson, "Friends"). At his first photo shoot, Chris' inexperience almost derails his career until Raina comes to his rescue, showing him how to relax and work the camera. That afternoon, Raina brings Chris to the "models' residence" where she lives along with other young hopefuls, including Marissa Delfina (Ashley Madekwe, "Secret Diary of a Call Girl"), Egan (Jordan Woolley, "As The World Turns"), Issac (Corbin Bleu, "High School Musical 2") and the current alpha-male-model known as Kai (Nico Tortorella, "Twelve"). At an exclusive industry party that night, Chris is again impressed by Raina's generosity when she steps aside to make sure Sonja lands a job that will resurrect her career. However, after an ugly scene with Simon, Chris is left to question whether he can survive in this world of dangerous excess and fleeting fame.

"The Beautiful Life" is from Katalyst Films in association with CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television with executive producers Ashton Kutcher & Jason Goldberg ("True Beauty," "Punk'd"), Karey Burke ("True Beauty"), Mike Kelley ("Swingtown," "Jericho") and Carol Barbee ("Swingtown," "Jericho"). Christian Duguay ("Coco Chanel") directed the pilot.

"The Vampire Diaries"

Four months after the tragic car accident that killed their parents, 17-year-old Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev, "DeGrassi: The Next Generation") and her 15-year-old brother, Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen, "Everwood") are still trying to cope with their grief and move on with their lives. Elena has always been the star student; beautiful, popular and involved with school and friends, but now she finds herself struggling to hide her sadness from the world. As the school year begins, Elena and her friends are fascinated by a handsome and mysterious new student, Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley, "Army Wives"). Stefan and Elena are immediately drawn to one another, and Elena has no way of knowing that Stefan is a centuries-old vampire, struggling to live peacefully among humans, while his brother Damon (Ian Somerhalder, "Lost") is the embodiment of vampire violence and brutality. Now these two vampire brothers - one good, one evil - are at war for Elena's soul and for the souls of her friends, family and all the residents of the small town of Mystic Falls, Virginia.

Based on the series of books by L. J. Smith, "The Vampire Diaries" is from Alloy Entertainment and Bonanza Productions Inc in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios with executive producers Kevin Williamson ("Dawson's Creek," "I Know What You Did Last Summer"), Julie Plec ("Kyle XY," "Wasteland"), Leslie Morgenstein ("Gossip Girl," "Privileged") and Bob Levy ("Gossip Girl," "Privileged"). Marcos Siega ("Dexter") directed the pilot.

"Parental Discretion Advised" (Midseason)

After spending all of her 15 years bouncing from one foster family to another in Portland, Oregon, Lux (Britt Robertson, "Swingtown") has decided it's time to take control of her life and become an emancipated minor. Her journey through the legal maze leads Lux to her biological father, 30-something Nate "Baze" Bazile (Kristoffer Polaha, "Mad Men"), who owns a bar, lives like an aging frat-boy with two slacker roommates, and is astonished to learn that he has a teenage daughter. Lux is equally astonished when Baze reveals that her mother is Cate Cassidy (Shiri Appleby, "E.R."), a star on the local "Morning Madness" radio show, along with her on-air partner and real-life boyfriend, Ryan Thomas (Kerr Smith, "Eli Stone"). Lux has been listening to Cate's voice on the radio as long as she can remember, so she feels an instant connection with the mom she's never met. Baze takes Lux to meet Cate, who is shocked and saddened to learn that Lux has grown up in foster care, but thrilled to finally meet her beautiful daughter. When a judge decides that Lux isn't ready for emancipation and unexpectedly grants temporary joint custody to Baze and Cate, they agree to try to get past the awkwardness and make a belated attempt to give Lux the family she deserves.

"Parental Discretion Advised" is produced by Mojo Films in association with CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television with executive producers Liz Tigelaar ("Brothers and Sisters," "What About Brian") and Gary Fleder ("October Road"). Gary Fleder directed the pilot.

RETURNING SERIES

"Gossip Girl"

Returning for its third season, "Gossip Girl" is a one-hour drama based on an exclusive group of privileged teens on Manhattan's Upper East Side whose lives revolve around the blog of the all-knowing albeit ultra-secretive Gossip Girl. No one knows Gossip Girl's identity, but everyone in this exclusive and complicated vicious circle relies on her website and text messages for the latest scoop. The series stars Blake Lively as Serena van der Woodsen, Leighton Meester as Blair Waldorf, Penn Badgley as Dan Humphrey, Chace Crawford as Nate Archibald, Taylor Momsen as Jenny Humphrey, Ed Westwick as Chuck Bass, Jessica Szohr as Vanessa Abrams, Kelly Rutherford as Lily van der Woodsen and Matthew Settle as Rufus Humphrey.

Filmed in New York and based on the popular series of young-adult novels by Cecily von Ziegesar, "Gossip Girl" is from Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios with executive producers Josh Schwartz ("Chuck," "The O.C."), Stephanie Savage ("The O.C."), Bob Levy ("Privileged"), Leslie Morgenstein ("Privileged"), John Stephens ("Gilmore Girls," "The O.C."), and co-executive producer Joshua Safran.

"One Tree Hill"

In season seven of "One Tree Hill" our beloved characters learn the struggle to live an exceptional life doesn't end once you've achieved your dreams. Whether they found true love, answered a call to greatness, or sought redemption for sins of the past, nothing that's come before compares to the challenges our characters now face to keep their dreams alive, their friendships intact and their lives full in the place they call home.

"One Tree Hill" was created by Mark Schwahn and is executive produced by Schwahn, Joe Davola, Greg Prange, Mike Tollin and Brian Robbins. "One Tree Hill" is a Mastermind Laboratories and Tollin/Robbins Production in association with Warner Bros. Television.

"90210"

The second season of "90210" focuses on the West Beverly group as they begin their all-important Junior year. They'll go through all the ordinary teenage struggles and triumphs crushes, sexual discovery, academic pressure, evolving friendships, shunning and isolation, love and relationships, family issues, SATs, STDs, a desire to fit in, a desire to stand out, fear and humiliation, joy and exultation but they'll do so in the extraordinary world of LA a world of movie stars and overnight success, glamour and glitz, surfing and sunshine; a city where the American dream is writ large in the Hills and yet failure could come around any corner of the Boulevard of Broken Dreams. We'll follow Naomi, the well-meaning, but delightfully narcissistic rich girl with a heart of cubic zirconium; Adrianna, the gifted, artistic drama queen whose personal life is as dramatic as any role she could hope to play; Silver, the outspoken free spirit who marches to the beat of her own drum machine; Annie, the good girl from Kansas who has gotten a bit lost in the land of Oz; Dixon, her charming, good-natured brother who adapts easily to any challenging situation and yet is still struggling to find his own voice; Navid, whose geeky charm makes all the Blaze girls swoon; and Liam, the troubled New York transplant who abhors the decadent materialistic world of Beverly Hills. These stories could only happen in LA...and only on "90210."

The series stars Rob Estes as Harry Wilson, Lori Loughlin as Debbie Wilson, Shenae Grimes as Annie Wilson, Tristan Wilds as Dixon Wilson, AnnaLynne McCord as Naomi Clark, Ryan Eggold as Ryan Matthews, Jessica Stroup as Silver, Michael Steger as Navid Shirazi, Jessica Lowndes as Adrianna Tate-Duncan and Matt Lanter as Liam Court. "90210" is produced by CBS Television Studios with executive producer Rebecca Sinclair.

"America's Next Top Model"

Returning with its thirteenth and fourteenth cycles, the runaway runway hit series stars Tyra Banks. The show gives real people an opportunity to prove that they can make it in the high-stress, high-stakes world of supermodeling. With mentoring by Tyra Banks and exposure to high-profile fashion-industry gurus, young women of various backgrounds, shapes and sizes must endure a highly accelerated modeling boot camp and face weekly tests to determine who will make the cut as they vie for a professional modeling contract. The executive producers are Ken Mok ("Making the Band"), Tyra Banks and Daniel Soiseth ("Hell's Kitchen"). The reality series was created by Tyra Banks and developed by Mok and Kenya Barris. "America's Next Top Model" is produced by 10 by 10 Entertainment in association with Bankable Productions.

"Supernatural"

Returning for its fifth season, this haunting series follows Sam and Dean Winchester, two brothers bound by tragedy and blood to their dangerous, other-worldly mission. This past season, Dean was rescued from Hell by the angel Castiel, who told Dean he was meant to avert the impending Apocalypse, as well as Lucifer rising from Hell. As the brothers were caught up in the epic battle between angels and demons, Sam and Dean found their relationship was strained almost to the breaking point until ultimately, both brothers were betrayed. Now, in season five, they must battle the Devil himself. The series stars Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester, Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester and Misha Collins as Castiel). "Supernatural" is from Warner Bros. Television in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision, with executive producers McG ("Charlie's Angels," "The O.C."), Eric Kripke ("Boogeyman") and Robert Singer ("Midnight Caller").

"Smallville"

Returning for its ninth season, last season "Smallville" was filled with twists and surprises, starting with the disappearance of Lex Luthor. However, someone quickly arrived to take his place the enticing Tess Mercer. As Tess maneuvered her way through town, she flirted with her old flame Oliver Queen, discovered Clark's true identity and unleashed a new world of danger. As if that hurdle wasn't enough for Clark, he also met his greatest match Doomsday. "Smallville" explored the origins of Doomsday, revealing a sympathetic guy named Davis Bloome, who battled an inner demon the Doomsday character fans have loved to hate for years. When Clark wasn't busy battling the beast, he was knee-deep in work at the Daily Planet. Last season threw Clark and Lois Lane together literally across the desk from each other. As Clark's persona as the cub Planet reporter emerged, so did his feelings for Lois, the fated love of his life. The series stars Tom Welling as Clark Kent, Allison Mack as Chloe Sullivan, Erica Durance as Lois Lane, Justin Hartley as Oliver Queen and Cassidy Freeman as Tess Mercer.

Reinterpreting the Superman mythology from its roots, "Smallville" was developed for television by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar ("Shanghai Noon," "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor"), based on the DC Comics characters. Kelly Souders & Brian Peterson serve as executive producers, along with James Marshall, Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins and Joe Davola. The series is produced by Tollin/Robbins Productions and Warner Bros. Television. Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

SOURCE: POPTOWER