MyNetworkTV Upfront: Fall 2008

[Du Mont]

MyNetworkTV has confirmed its eight theatrical titles for February 2009, including five broadcast premieres. I am expecting the network to soon be announcing some mid-season changes to its Wednesday comedy line-up, which has been severely under-performing in the 9-10 pm timeslot.

Here's a list of upcoming MyNetworkTV movies:

MyThursdayNightMovie - 8-10 pm

• February 5th: "HoneyDripper", a film by Mr. John Sayles starring Mr. Danny Glover, Miss Lisa Gay Hamilton, Mr. Stacy Keach and Mr. Charles S. Dutton (BROADCAST PREMIERE).
• February 12th: "Mississippi Masala" starring Mr. Denzel Washington (BROADCAST PREMIERE).
• February 19th: "River's Edge" starring Mr. Keanu Reeves, Mr. Crispin Glover and Mr. Dennis Hopper.
• February 26th: "The Street King" starring Mr. John Seda and Mr. Mario Lopez (BROADCAST PREMIERE, released theatrically as "King Rikki").

MySaturdayNightMovie - 8-10 pm

• February 7th: "The Object of My Affection" starring Miss Jennifer Aniston and Mr. Paul Rudd.
• February 14th: "Pushing Tin" starring Mr. John Cusack, Mr. Billy Bob Thornton, Miss Cate Blanchet and Miss Angelina Jolie.
• February 21st: "Bushwhacked" starring Miss Catherine Hiegel and Miss Victoria Abril (BROADCAST PREMIERE).
• February 28th: "Girl 6" a joint from Mr. Spike Lee starring Mr. Lee himself, Mr. Isaiah Washington, Mr. Peter Berg, Mr. Michael Imperioli and Miss Debi Mazar (BROADCAST PREMIERE).

MyNetworkTV Specials

• Monday February 16th: "ISU Grand Prix Figure Ice Skating" -> From Seoul, Republic of Korea, this special will include the best figure skaters from around the world including US skating sensations Miss Mirai Nagasu, Miss Evan Lysacek and Mr. Johnny Wier.
• Wednesday February 25th: "Shaken Not Stirred: Rev. Al Sharpton"

All MyNetworkTV movies and specials are presented in High Definition.

[Pavan]

For Fall 2009, MyNetwork TV has acquired Law & Order: Criminal Intent reruns and will run it weekly in a two-hour block.

MyNetwork TV is moving to what it is calling a "programming service model" for fall 2009, featuring a two-hour block of Law & Order: Criminal Intent and also a movie night, so that is 2 nights right there and 3 nights will remain for MNT to program, and one of those nights will be WWE Smackdown. The new model decreases MNT's programming from 12 hours a week to 10 as Saturday nights will be removed.

Possible Fall line-up (it will be announced soon)
Mondays - Original Programming
Tuesdays - Law & Order: Criminal Intent or Original Programming
Wednesdays - Law & Order: Criminal Intent or Original Programming
Thursdays - My Thursday Movie
Fridays - WWE Smackdown!

Saturdays and Sundays will be programmed by local affiliates.

[ryan423]

That's great. Sunday Nights, my local programming is 2hrs of SVU. And Criminal Intent already airs for me at 11pm nightly on My9!

[Du Mont]

MyNetworkTV has confirmed its theatrical titles and specials for the 2009 March Sweep, a line-up that is light on broadcast premieres (originals) but heavy on well-known, highly promotable encore titles, very much in keeping with the spirit of the 'new' MyNetworkTV.

MyNetworkTV has also skedded specials in the troubled Wednesday 9-10 pm slot for three of the four Wednesdays. Only one Wednesday (March 11th) will have the first season (series?) finale of 'The Tony Rock Project' at 9:00 pm followed by an encore of the series at 9:30 pm.

Here's a list of upcoming MyNetworkTV movies:

MyThursdayNightMovie - 8-10 pm

• March 5th: INTO THE BLUE starring Mr. Paul Walker, Miss Jessica Alba, Mr. Scott Caan and Mr. Josh Brolin (BROADCAST PREMIERE).
• March 12th: PASSENGER 57 starring Mr. Wesley Snipes.
• March 19th: LETHAL WEAPON starring Mr. Mel Gibson and Mr. Danny Glover.
• March 26th: THE MAN IN THE IRON MAST starring Mr. Leonardo DiCaprio, Mr. Jeremy Irons, Mr. John Malkovich and Mr. Gérard Depardieu.

MySaturdayNightMovie - 8-10 pm

• March 7th: FRENCH KISS starring Miss Meg Ryan, Mr. Kevin Kline and Mr. Timothy Hutton.
• March 14th: THE FABULOUS BAKER BOYS starring Miss Michelle Pfeiffer, Mr. Jeff Bridges, Mr. Beau Bridges and Mr. Xander Berkeley.
• March 21st: THE BANGER SISTERS starring Miss Goldie Hawn, Miss Susan Sarandon and Mr. Geoffrey Rush.
• March 28th: THE SLUMS OF BEVERLY HILLS starring Mr. Alan Arkin, Miss Marisa Tomei and Miss Jessica Walter.

MyNetworkTV Specials

• Wednesday March 18th: 'The 2008 World Magic Awards' -> Second encore of the annual magic special that always gets a big audience for MyTV.
• Wednesday March 25th: "Shaken Not Stirred: Ice-T" -> Third comedy roast in the special series.
• Wednesday April 1st: "Shaken Not Stirred: Bobby Brown" -> Fourth comedy roast in the special series.

All MyNetworkTV movies and specials are presented in High Definition.

[Du Mont]

Beginning Wednesday April 8th, 'Comics Unleashed' begins its run on MyNetworkTV every Wednesday at 9:00 pm and 9:30 pm replacing encores of 'The Tony Rock Project' and 'Under One Roof'.

This series is a half-hour broadcast version of the syndicated series hosted by Mr. Byron Allen that first started in 2006. I'm unsure as to whether the episodes will be new or encores of the syndicated versions.

MyNetworkTV has skedded double-up episodes of the series through to the May Sweep.

[Du Mont]

Mediapost.com reports today that MyNetworkTV has begun the process of re-negotiating their standard five-year affiliate agreements to one-year renewable deals beginning with the 2009-10 season. The deal gives affiliates 7 minutes of ad time per hour on Mondays-Thursdays, and 5 minutes/hour of ad time on Fridays for 'WWE Smackdown' (programming on Saturday nights will be discontinued this coming fall).

According to mediapost.com, the News Corp group of MNT owned-and-operated (o&o) affiliates have already signed on, as have many of the major affiliate groups. The network does not expect to lose affiliates as a result of the renegotiation.

The network also confimed three nights of their 2009-10 fall schedule:

Monday:
8 pm 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' (encores)
9 pm 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' (encores)

Tuesday:
8-10 pm TBA

Wednesday:
8-10 pm TBA

Thursday:
8-10 pm 'My Thursday Night Movie'

Friday:
8-10 pm 'WWE Friday Night Smackdown'

The NBC Universal deal gives the local stations half the ad-time while NBCU retains the other half for national sales. If MyNetworkTV opts for similar syndie-type deals on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, that will leave only two nights of national ad time for MNT to sell (Thursday and Friday nights).

[Du Mont]

MyNetworkTV has confirmed its theatrical titles and specials for April 2009, a line-up that features five consecutive broadcast premieres on the 'My Thursday Night Movie' and one broadcast preem on the soon-to-be-disbanded Saturday movie night.

MyNetworkTV will also be making changes to the troubled Wednesday 9-10 pm slot, with double-ups of syndicated 'Comics Unleashed' taking over the slot out of 'World's Funniest Moments' and with this skedding to be maintained going into the May Sweep.

Here's a list of upcoming MyNetworkTV movies:

MyThursdayNightMovie - 8-10 pm

• April 2nd: BEAUTY SHOP starring Miss Queen Latifah, Miss Alicia Silverstone, Miss Andie MacDowell, Miss Alfre Woodard, Miss Della Reese and Miss Keshia Knight Pulliam (BROADCAST PREMIERE).
• April 9th: SWEEPERS starring Mr. Dolph Lundgren and Mr. Bruce Payne (BROADCAST PREMIERE).
• April 16th: CONSPIRACY starring Mr. Kenneth Branagh, Mr. Stanley Tucci and Mr. David Glover (BROADCAST PREMIERE).
• April 23rd: THE TRANSPORTER starring Mr. Jason Statham, Miss Qi Shu and Mr. Matt Schulze in a film co-written by Mr. Luc Besson (BROADCAST PREMIERE).
• April 30th: THE TRANSPORTER 2 starring Mr. Jason Statham, Miss Kate Nauta and Mr. Matthew Modine in a sequel co-written by Mr. Luc Besson (BROADCAST PREMIERE).

MySaturdayNightMovie - 8-10 pm

• April 4th: BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA starring Mr. Kurt Russell and Miss Kim Cattrall.
• April 11th: HOT SHOTS! starring Mr. Charlie Sheen, Mr. Joh Cryer, Mr. Cary Elwes, Mr. Lloyd Bridges and Mr. Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
• April 18th: PICTURE PERFECT starring Miss Jennifer Aniston, Mr. Jay Mohr, Mr. Kevin Bacon, Miss Olympia Dukakis and Miss Illeana Douglas.
• April 25th: THE CHASE starring Mr. Charlie Sheen, Miss Kristy Swanson, Mr. Henry Rollins and Mr. Ray Wise from 'Reaper' (BROADCAST PREMIERE).

MyNetworkTV Specials

• Wednesday April 1st: "Shaken Not Stirred: Bobby Brown" -> Fourth comedy roast in the special series.

All MyNetworkTV movies and specials are presented in High Definition.

[Du Mont]

MyNetworkTV has confirmed its theatrical titles and specials for May 2009, a line-up that features five broadcast premiere theatrical films, one on the 'My Thursday Night Movie' and four broadcast preems on the soon-to-be-disbanded 'My Saturday Night Movie' skein.

This week and next, MyNetworkTV will making a careful assessment of the troubled Wednesday 9-10 pm slot, where double-ups of the syndicated 'Comics Unleashed' premiered last week to disastrous ratings, losing 900,000 viewers and 0.3 in A18-49 of the lead-in audience from 'World's Funniest Moments'. If this unacceptable performance continues over the next two Wednesdays, I expect the network will pull the series for the May Sweep and replace it with something else off the shelf (i.e. 'Twilight Zone', perhaps an encore of the 'Mom's Funniest Moments' special from last May).

Here's a list of upcoming MyNetworkTV movies:

MyThursdayNightMovie - 8-10 pm

• May 7th: THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND starring Mr. Forest Whitaker (in role that won him a Best Actor Oscar), Mr. James McAvoy and Miss Gillian Anderson (BROADCAST PREMIERE)
• May 14th: BATMAN RETURNS starring Mr. Michael Keaton, Miss Michelle Pfeiffer, Mr. Danny DeVito and Mr. Christopher Walken.
• May 21st: LETHAL WEAPON starring Mr. Mel Gibson and Mr. Danny Glover.
• May 28th: JUST CAUSE starring Mr. Sean Connery, Mr. Laurence Fishburne, Miss Kate Capshaw, Mr. Blair Underwood, Mr. Ed Harris, Miss Scarlett Johansson, Mr. Daniel Travanti, Mr. Ned Beatty and Miss Liz Torres.

MySaturdayNightMovie - 8-10 pm

• May 2nd: SAY IT ISN'T SO starring Mr. Christopher Klein, Mr. Orlando Jones, Miss Heather Graham, Miss Sally Field and Mr. Eddie Cibrian (BROADCAST PREMIERE).
• May 9th: ALIEN RESURRECTION starring Miss Sigourney Weaver, Miss Winona Ryder, Mr. Ron Perlman and Mr. Brad Dourif.
• May 16th: TWO GIRLS AND A GUY starring Miss Heather Graham, Miss Natasha Gregson Wagner and Mr. Robert Downey Jr. (BROADCAST PREMIERE).
• May 23rd: A LIFE LESS ORDINARY starring Mr. Ewan McGregor, Miss Cameron Diaz, Miss Holly Hunter, Mr. Stanley Tucci, Mr. Tony Shalhoub and Mr. Christopher Gorham (BROADCAST PREMIERE).
• May 30th: DRIVE ME CRAZY starring Miss Melissa Joan Hart, Mr. Adrian Grenier, Mr. Stephen Collins (BROADCAST PREMIERE).

MyNetworkTV Specials

• Wednesday May 27th: "Shaken Not Stirred: Rev Run" -> Fifth comedy roast in the special series.

All MyNetworkTV movies and specials are presented in High Definition.

[Du Mont]

According to futoncritic.com and tvguide.com, MyNetworkTV has pulled 'Comics Unleashed' from their schedule effective immediately.

For the four Wednesdays of the May Sweep, MyNetworkTV has skedded an encore of 'World's Funniest Moments' at 9-10 pm, following an original episode at 8-9 pm in its regular timeslot.

There is no indication from the network whether 'Comics Unleashed' will return after the Sweep, but it is considered unlikely as the series was garnering extremely poor ratings, especially in the 9:30-10 pm timeslot which is of crucial importance as it leads into affiliate local news and syndicated programming.

[Du Mont]

MyNetworkTV released the first month of its summer sked which will see 'Twilight Zone' returning on Wednesday June 3rd in the Wednesday at 9-10 pm timeslot, and will also see an unaired episode of 'Celebrity Expose' return to the Monday 8-9 pm line-up for a one-off timeslot tryout.

As reported earlier, for the duration of the May Sweep, MyNetworkTV has dropped 'Comics Unleashed' from the Wednesday at 9 pm slot, and replaced it with encores of 'World's Funniest Moments' which has been a stable million-viewer-plus performer on MyNetworkTV this season. There has been no indication from the network as to whether or not 'Comics Unleashed' will return to the schedule, although it is assumed unlikely due to poor ratings in six episodes already aired over three Wednesdays.

The first draft of a summer sked is as follows (NEW SHOWS IN CAPS):

Monday:
8:00 pm 'Masters of Illusion' encores (new 'Celebrity Expose' episode June 1st only)
9:00 pm 'Magic's Biggest Secrets' encores

Tuesday:
8:00 pm 'Street Patrol' encores
8:30 pm 'Street Patrol' encores
9:00 pm 'Jail' encores
9:30 pm 'Jail' encores

Wednesday:
8:00 pm 'World's Funniest Moments' encores
9:00 pm 'TWILIGHT ZONE' encores (returns to sked on June 3rd)

Thursday:
8:00 pm 'My Thursday Night Movie' (June films -> 2 broadcast premieres, 2 encores)

Friday:
8:00 pm 'WWE Friday Night Smackdown' original episodes

Saturday:
8:00 pm 'My Saturday Night Movie' (June films -> 1 broadcast premiere, 3 encores)

[Du Mont]

MyNetworkTV's movie slate for June includes three broadcast network premieres (two on Thursday, one on Saturday).

Here's a list of upcoming MyNetworkMovies for the month of June 2009:

MyThursdayNightMovie - 8-10 pm

• June 4th: ORIGINAL SIN starring Mr. Antonio Banderas, Miss Angelina Jolie, Mr. Thomas Jane, Mr. Gregory Itzin and Miss Alison Mackie (BROADCAST PREMIERE)
• June 11th: HONEYDRIPPER starring Mr. Danny Glover, Miss Lisa Gay Hamilton and Mr. Stacy Keach in this film directed by Mr. John Sayles.
• June 18th: DIRTY starring Mr. Clifton Collins Jr., Mr. Cuba Gooding Jr. and Mr. Keith David (BROADCAST PREMIERE)
• June 25th: THE STREET KING (released theatrically as KING RIKKI) starring Mr. John Seda, Mr. Mario Lopez and Miss Tonantzin Carmelo.

MySaturdayNightMovie - 8-10 pm

• June 6th: PRELUDE TO A KISS starring Mr. Alec Baldwin, Miss Meg Ryan, Miss Kathy Bates, Mr. Ned Beatty, Miss Patty Duke and Mr. Stanley Tucci.
• June 13th: ALL THE RIGHT MOVES starring Mr. Tom Cruise and Mr. Craig T. Nelson in a film produced by Miss Lucille Ball.
• June 20th: CATCH THAT KID starring Miss Kristen Stewart, Mr. Corbin Bleu, Mr. Max Thieriot and Miss Jennifer Beals (BROADCAST PREMIERE)
• June 27th: GREAT EXPECTATIONS starring Mr. Ethan Hawke, Miss Gwyneth Paltrow, Miss Anne Bancroft, Mr. Chris Cooper, Mr. Hank Azaria and Mr. Robert DeNiro.

All MyNetworkTV Movie presentations are in High Definition.

[Du Mont]

MyNetworkTV's has programmed an aggressive slate for July to do well in the Sweep (which runs from Thursday July 2 to Wednesday July 29) with the following highlights:

Fresh series episodes upcoming in July on MyNetworkTV include:

• 'Street|Patrol' on Tuesdays from 8-9 pm;
• 'Jail' on Tuesdays from 9-10 pm; and
• 'WWE Friday Night Smackdown' on Fridays at 8-10 pm.

MyNetworkTV specials for July include:

• An encore of 'The 2006 World Music Awards' (featuring Mr. Michael Jackson accepting his Diamond Award for exceeding 100 million records sold) is slated for Wednesday July 1st from 8-10 pm;
• 'Heroes Among Us: The 2009 Hero Awards' on Tuesday July 7th from 8-9 pm, a follow-up to last years special in which everyday heroes are honoured, with celebrities on hand to sing a song or tell some comedy.
• A limited run standup comedy series 'Baggin', which is slated for Wednesdays 9-10 pm when 'Twilight Zone' finishes its run.

The slate of MyNetworkTV movies includes several big box office titles and one broadcast network premiere. Here's a list of upcoming MyNetworkMovies for the month of July 2009:

MyThursdayNightMovie - 8-10 pm

• July 2nd: ALIENS starring Miss Sigourney Weaver.
• July 9th: PASSENGER 57 starring Mr. Wesley Snipes.
• July 16th: SOLDIER starring Mr. Kurt Russell and Mr. Jason Scott Lee.
• July 23rd: BATMAN RETURNS starring Mr. Michael Keaton, Mr. Danny DeVito and Miss Michelle Pfeiffer.
• July 30th: LEAVING LAS VEGAS starring Mr. Nicholas Cage and Miss Elizabeth Shue.

MySaturdayNightMovie - 8-10 pm

• July 4th: FAR FROM HOME: THE ADVENTURES OF YELLOW DOG starring Mr. Jesse Bradford, Miss Mimi Rogers and Mr. Bruce Davison.
• July 11th: VOLCANO starring Mr. Tommy Lee Jones, Miss Anne Heche and Mr. Don Cheadle.
• July 18th: A COOL DRY PLACE starring Mr. Vince Vaughn, Miss Monica Potter and Mr. Devon Sawa (BROADCAST PREMIERE).
• July 25th: JOHNNY DANGEROUSLY starring Mr. Michael Keaton, Mr. Joe Piscopo and Miss Marilu Henner.

All MyNetworkTV series, special and movie presentations are broadcast in High Definition.

[Du Mont]

In the month of August, MyNetworkTV will have several series offering original episodes as part of the summer season:

• 'WWE Friday Night Smackdown' will be new every Friday through August.
• 'Street|Patrol' has its second season (series) finale on Tuesday August 4th.

The MyNetworkTV lineup of movies in August includes several well-known titles and one broadcast network premiere. Here's a list of upcoming MyNetworkMovies for the month:

MyThursdayNightMovie - 8-10 pm

• August 6th: THE GOOD THIEF starring Mr. Nick Nolte (BROADCAST PREMIERE).
• August 13th: THE PRINCESS BRIDE starring Mr. Cary Elwes, Mr. Mandy Patinkin and Miss Robin Wright Penn.
• August 20th: NUNS ON THE RUN starring Mr. Robbie Coltrane, Mr Eric Idle and Miss Doris Hare in one very funny film.
• August 27th: SWEEPERS starring Mr. Dolph Lundgren.

MySaturdayNightMovie - 8-10 pm

• August 1st: DYING YOUNG starring Miss Julia Robers, Mr. Campbell Scott and Mr. Vincent D'Onofrio.
• August 8th: TRUTH ABOUT CATS AND DOGS starring Miss Uma Thurman, Miss Janeane Garafalo and Mr Ben Chaplin.
• August 15th: THE JEWEL OF THE NILE starring Mr. Michael Douglas, Miss Kathleen Turner and Mr. Danny DeVito.
• August 22nd: GARFIELD starring Mr. Breckin Meyer, Miss Jennifer Love Hewitt and Mr. Bill Murray.
• August 29th: THE NEWTON BOYS starring Mr. Matthew McConaughey, Mr. Skeet Ulrich, Mr. Ethan Hawke, Mr. Vincent D'Onofrio and Miss Julianna Margulies.

No specials have been scheduled at time of writing.

All MyNetworkTV series, special and movie presentations are broadcast in High Definition.

[Du Mont]

In September, MyNetworkTV plans to launch its fall sked on Monday September 28th.

The following new programs are skedded for September:

• 'WWE Friday Night Smackdown' will be new every Friday through September.

The MyNetworkTV lineup of movies in September feature obscurer indie-type titles and three broadcast network premieres. Here's a list of upcoming MyNetworkMovies for the month:

MyThursdayNightMovie - 8-10 pm

• September 3rd: LOVERBOY starring Miss Kyra Sedgwick, Mr. Kevin Bacon, MR. Oliver Platt, Mr. Campbell Scott, Miss Marisa Tomei and Mr. Matt Dillon.
• September 10th: CRAZY IN ALABAMA starring Miss Melanie Griffith, Mr. David Morse, Mr. Lucas Black, Miss Cathy Moriarty, Meat Loaf, Mr. Rod Steiger, Mr. Richard Schiff, Mr. Robert Wagner, Miss Fannie Flagg and Mr. Noah Emmerich in a film directed by Mr. Antonia Banderas.
• September 17th: GOOD STUDENT (reeased theatrically as MR GIBB) starring Miss Sader Colley Bakst, Mr. Andrew Benator, Mr. Tim Daly and Miss Paula Devicq (Kirsten from the great 'Party of Five' series) (BROADCAST PREMIERE).
• Setpember 24th: LAKE CITY starring Miss Sissy Spacek, Mr. Troy Garity (the talented son of Miss Jane Fonda), Miss Rebecca Romjin, Miss Drea de matteo, Mr. Colin Ford, Mr. Keith Carradine adn Mr. Barry Corbin (BROADCAST PREMIERE).

MySaturdayNightMovie - 8-10 pm

• September 5th: THE COMMITMENTS starring Mr. Colm Meaney.
• September 12th: FROM JUSTIN TO KELLY starring Miss Kelly Clarkson and Mr. Justin Guarini(BROADCAST PREMIERE).
• September 19th: PICTURE PERFECT starring Miss Jennifer Aniston, Mr. Jay Mohr, Mr. Kevin Bacon, Miss Olympia Douglas and Miss Illeana Douglas.
• September 26th: WING COMMANDER starring Mr. Freddie Prinze Jr., Miss Saffron Burrows and Mr. Matthew Lilard (this marks the 'My Saturday Night Movie' finale as Saturday primetime is returned to MyNetworkTV affiliates for local programming). This film will be the 'My Saturday Night Movie' series finale as the night is officially returned back to affiliates for local programming in the 2009-10 season.

No specials have been scheduled in September as at time of writing.

All MyNetworkTV series, special and movie presentations are broadcast in High Definition.