TRIO LAUNCHES "BRILLIANT, BUT CANCELLED" TELEVISION MONTH IN DECEMBER
Originals, Acquisitions Look At Great TV That Didn't Make It
New York, New York - October 22, 2002 - Popular arts channel TRIO launches an aggressive slate of original and acquired programming in December under the banner "Brilliant, But Cancelled." The month will feature some of television's most innovative and forward thinking series as well as three original series that look at every aspect of the creative process of television from the initial pitch to cancellation. The announcement was made by Lauren Zalaznick, President, TRIO.
"We felt that this was an opportune time, just on the heels of the new show premieres and with the landscape of television fundamentally changing, to present a month-long theme dedicated to television's best programs that were cancelled before their time," said Zalaznick.
TRIO will premiere three originals:
Brilliant, But Cancelled:
Anchoring the month of programming will be the premiere of Brilliant, But Cancelled, a 90-minute original documentary, narrated by Andy Richter (Fox's Andy Richter Controls The Universe and former Conan O'Brien sidekick), that examines those remarkable and critically acclaimed programs that "got the ax" and left ardent viewers to wonder what might have been. Produced by World of Wonder, this special highlights programs that died before their time and explores the question "Why did they fail?" The documentary also delves into dusty vaults and tape libraries to uncover never-before-seen rarities from Hollywood's hottest producers. Interviews featured include: Aaron Spelling, Garry Marshall, Warren Littlefield, James Earl Jones, Darren Star, Bernie Brillstein, Larry Gelbart, and Bruce Paltrow's last interview. (Premieres: Sunday, December 8 at 9:00 pm ET/ 6:00 pm PT.)
The Perfect Pitch:
"Nothing, nothing is left to chance when I pitch. I rehearse my spontaneity. I memorize my ad libs. I know my opening line, I know my closing line, and woe be unto me if an executive asks a question in the middle of my spontaneity, Âcause I'm instantly lost and I have to go back to the beginning." -- Bruce Kirschbaum,
(Writer, Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond). This is among the many candid
interviews in Perfect Pitch, a 30-minute original documentary produced by World of
Wonder which examines the art of successfully selling a program idea to the network.
Writers, producers and executives give their advice on how to deliver the pitch and recount their best and worst pitch meetings. Interviews include: Bruce Paltrow (St.
Elsewhere); Sherwood Schwartz (The Brady Bunch); Tony Krantz (Felicity; 24); Ian Sander (I'll Fly Away); Bruce Kirschbaum (Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond) among many others. (Premieres: Sunday, December 1 at 9:30 pm ET/ 6:30 pm PT.)
Face Time:
Journalist and media savant Kurt Andersen serves as host for this 30-minute limited series featuring probing interviews with television visionaries including network executives, creators, talent and writers. The camera never blinks as Andersen asks the tough questions. The series aims to deliver refreshingly frank and candid discussions about the reality behind their creative successes and failures through personal and professional experiences. (Premieres: Sunday, December 1 at 9:00 pm ET/ 6:00 pm PT.)
Complementing the original programming are critically acclaimed acquisitions including:
• Robert Altman's anthology series Gun about a pearl-handled Colt 45 which changes owners from episode to episode. Guest stars include James Gandolfini, Daniel Stern, Kathy Baker, Carrie Fisher, Rosanna Arquette and Randy Quaid. Acclaimed series bounced around ABC's sked from April '97 to May '97, before it disappeared. (Premieres: December 7 at 9:00 pm ET/6:00 pm PT.)
• Ted Demme's show-biz insider series Action starring Jay Mohr as an egotistical action film producer and Illeana Douglas costarring as his VP of production, was passed up by HBO and picked up by Fox. It lasted only three short months on air. (Premieres: December 9 at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT.)
• The Ernie Kovacs Show featuring one of the original geniuses of television, debuted on CBS in December '52, but quickly died in April '53 when it went up against NBC's "Uncle Milty." (Premieres: December 9 at 8:30 pm ET/5:30 pm PT.)
• Now and Again, a CBS series about a man who gains supernatural powers after being brought back from the dead, was lauded by the critics, but got axed from the schedule. Originally aired on CBS from September '99 to May '00. (Premieres: December 16 at 7:00 pm ET/4:00 pm PT.)
• Kolchak: Night Stalker with Darren McGavin, which originally aired on ABC from September Â74 to August '75, was considered the inspiration for The X-Files by creator Chris Carter. (Premieres: December 16 at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT.)
• The Famous Teddy Z with Jon Cryer was inspired by the true story of Jay Kantor, a mailroom clerk at talent agency MCA who became an agent upon the insistence of client Marlon Brando. The series, which won an Emmy for Alex Rocco's portrayal of veteran agent Al Floss, ran on CBS for one season, September '89 Ç May '90. (Premieres: December 9 at 7:00 pm ET/4:00 pm PT.)
• Profit, dark drama series starring Adrian Pasdar as evil-genius executive Jim Profit, who spends his days blackmailing, framing and killing people and his nights sleeping naked in a cardboard box. Debuted and cancelled in the same month -- April '96. (Premieres: December 2 at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT.)
• A dark, adult parody of an afternoon children's TV program, TV Fun House stars Robert Smigel (creator of Saturday Night Live's "Ambiguously Gay Duo"). Originally aired on Comedy Central in December '00, it went off the air by January '01. (Premieres: December 2 at 9:30 pm ET/6:30 pm PT.)
TRIO is an entertainment cable television channel reflecting all of the popular arts: music, fashion, film, stage and pop culture in its programming. TRIO is available to over 17 million households via digital cable and satellite services.
TRIO is a program service of Universal Television Group, a division of Vivendi Universal Entertainment (VUE) (www.universalstudios.com), the U.S.-based film, television and recreation entity of Vivendi Universal, a global media and communications company.
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Contacts:
Karen Reynolds 212/413-5629 kreynolds@usacable.net
Amelie Tseng 212/413-5594 atseng@usacable.net
Vanthan Khel 212/413-5478 vkhel@usacable.net
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