Networks presents Sydney Pollack tributes
Three networks will pay tribute to Oscar-winning filmmaker Sydney Pollack with special screenings of his work.
Pollack, who won best director and best pictures Oscars for “Out of Africa,” died of cancer May 26 at age 73.
The network plans are:
Chiller (channel 199 on Dish Network, 257 on Direct TV) will air two episodes of “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour” that were directed by Pollack: 1962’s “The Black Curtain” (4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday) and 1963’s “Diagnosis: Danger” (5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday).
Oxygen (channel 127 on Dish Network, 166 on Cox Digital Cable, 251 on Direct TV) will air the 1973 film “The Way We Were” at noon Sunday. Pollack directed the romantic drama starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford.
TCM (channel 63 on Cox Cable, 132 on Dish Network, 256 on Direct TV) will devote an entire evening of programming to Pollack on Monday. The lineup includes 1965’s “The Slender Thread” (7 p.m.), which marked Pollack’s directorial debut; the 1982 award-winning comedy “Tootsie” (11 p.m.), which ranks second behind Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Hot on the American Film Institute’s list of best film comedies; and 1972’s “Jeremiah Johnson” (1 a.m.) and 1975’s “Three Days of the Condor” (9 p.m.), two of the filmmaker’s seven collaborations with star Robert Redford.
In July, TCM will present film critic and commentator Elvis Mitchell’s extensive, in-depth interview with Pollack, among the last interviews he ever gave. The interview will air July 7 as the premiere episode of the network’s new original series “TCM Presents Elvis Mitchell: Under the Influence.”
“Hour of Power” reaches milestone
Network News Release …
“Hour of Power” will broadcast its 2,000th consecutive weekly program at 7 a.m. Sunday (June 1) on Lifetime.
The broadcast will include interviews with individuals whose lives have been positively impacted by the show, as well as the world-premiere performance of “Gloria,” which was composed for the event by Hollywood film scorer Mark McKenzie.
“For 2,000 episodes, God has used the ‘Hour of Power’ to powerfully motivate and encourage persons across the world – from China to Pakistan, from Australia to South Africa,” said the Rev. Robert A. Schuller, senior pastor of the renowned Crystal Cathedral, whose Sunday services have aired as the “Hour of Power” since 1970.
“When we started the ‘Hour of Power,’ with Billy Graham as my guide and mentor, we didn’t know how long it would run,” said Dr. Robert H. Schuller, founding pastor. “But we were led by God to try it. And we kept going, week after week, thanks to God and the generous support of millions of persons who have made it possible.”
Today, 20 million people a week watch the “Hour of Power,” now the fourth longest-running weekly television program in history. Airing in the U.S. on Lifetime, the Trinity Broadcasting Network, and on more than 100 local broadcast affiliates, the “Hour of Power” also reaches all seven of the world’s continents, via the Armed Forces Network and the satellite and cable systems in 50 countries.
Watch Space Shuttle launch live
Network News Release …
HDNet (channel 79 on Direct TV, 362 on Dish Network) will broadcast live high-definition coverage of Saturday’s launch of Space Shuttle Discovery STS-124.
Coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. Saturday with the launch scheduled for 4:02 p.m. from the Kennedy Space Center. Greg Dobbs, HDNet World Report correspondent, will be joined on the broadcast by NASA astronaut Julie Payette, a veteran of space flight.
Discovery’s mission is to deliver Kibo, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency – or JAXA – station laboratory. It is the largest laboratory (and also the second component of Japan’s laboratory complex) to fly to the station. The Kibo pressurized module weighs in at 32,000 pounds. It’s so large that the shuttle’s robotic arm was left at the station during the last mission. There’s not room in Discovery’s cargo bay for both the boom arm and the lab.
Program Planner: June 1-7
Sunday’s Oklahoman, which includes TV Week, hits the newsstands in the Oklahoma City area on Saturday afternoon. And it arrives at the doorstep (or hopefully nearby) early Sunday morning.
But for those who can’t wait to begin planning the upcoming week around the best TV has to offer, here is a sneak peek at programs worth watching the week of June 1:
SUNDAY
“In Plain Sight” (9 p.m. on USA):Series premiere. Mary McCormack (“The West Wing”) stars as Mary Shannon, a U.S. Marshal working in the highly secretive branch of the witness protection program who relocates Federal Witnesses. “
Million Dollar Password” (7 p.m. on CBS).Series premiere. Regis Philbin (“Live With Regis and Kelly”) hosts the new game show. Stars scheduled to appear include Rosie O’Donnell (“The View”), Neil Patrick Harris (“How I Met Your Mother”), Monique Coleman (‘‘High School Musical”) and Betty White (widow of original host Allen Ludden).
“The Next Food Network Star” (9 p.m. on Food Network):Fourth-season premiere. Chef Bobby Flay (“Throwdown With Bobby Flay”) joins the judges panel.
“The Tudors” (8 p.m. on Showtime): Second-season finale (series has been renewed for a third season). “The 2008 MTV Movie Awards” (7 p.m. on MTV): Mike Myers (“Austin Powers” films) hosts the live event. “Superbad” leads the way with five nominations, followed by “Juno” with four.
MONDAY “Atom TV” (1 a.m. on Comedy Central): Series premiere.
“Legally Blonde the Musical: The Search for Elle Woods” (9 p.m. on MTV): Series premieres. Haylie Duff (“7th Heaven”) hosts the new reality program that will conclude with the winner replacing Tony-winning actress Laura Bell Bundy on Broadway.
“The Mole” (9 p.m. on ABC): Fifth-season premiere. Jon Kelley (“Extra”) hosts the new revival of the show.
TUESDAY
“30 Days” (9 p.m. on FX): Third-season premiere. Morgan Spurlock is creator and host of the series. He is also a participant in two installments, working in a coal mine in today’s premiere and living on a reservation with American Indians in the sixth episode airing July 8.
“Independent Lens” (9 p.m. on OETA-13): The new documentary ‘‘Writ Writer” tells the story of Fred Arispe Cruz, a Texan who was convicted of robbery and sent to prison in 1960. Unable to afford a lawyer to appeal his conviction, he taught himself law and became a crusader for prisoners’ rights.Actor Jesse Borrego (‘‘24″) reads Cruz’s words.
“Workout” (9 p.m. on Bravo): Features the making of trainer Jackie Warner’s fitness DVD titled “Workout: One-on-One Training With Jackie.”
WEDNESDAY
“On the Road in America” (8 p.m. on Sundance): Series premiere.
“She’s Got the Look” (9 p.m. on TV Land): Series premiere. Supermodel Kim Alexis hosts the new reality series. Ten finalists compete to be the new face of the fashion industry, with the winner landing a contract with Wilhelmina Models, Inc.
“Freeheld” (6:30 p.m. on Cinemax): Won the Oscar for best documentary short. It tells the story of Laurel Hester, a New Jersey police detective who is diagnosed with terminal cancer and fights for the right to transfer her pension to her life partner, Stacie Andree.
THURSDAY
“Fear Itself” (9 p.m. on NBC): Series premiere of a new 13-episode suspense and horror anthology series. Today’s installment is “The Sacrifice” and stars “Jeffrey Pierce (“The Nine”), Jesse Plemons (“Friday Night Lights”) and Stephen Martines (“Port Charles”).
“Step It Up & Dance” (9 p.m. on Bravo): First-season finale.
“Swingtown” (9 p.m. on CBS, Pictured above in CBS Photo): Series premiere The new drama traces two generations of friends and neighbors as they forge intimate connections and explore new freedoms during the culturally transformative decade of the 1970s.
“Last Comic Standing” (8:30 p.m. on NBC): Dave Foley (“NewsRadio”), Richard Kind (“Mad About You”), John Gomez (“Chuck”) and French Stewart (“3rd Rock from the Sun”) scout for talent at auditions.
FRIDAY
“Live at Gotham” (9 p.m. on Comedy Central): Third-season premiere. Ventriloquist Jeff Dunham hosts the season premiere that showcases the comedy talents of J.R. Brown, Erik Griffin, Jared Logan, Anjelah Johnson, Michael Palascak and Lenny Marcus.
“Meerkat Manor” (8 p.m. on Animal Planet): Fourth-season premiere.
“Rich & Reckless” (9 p.m. on truTV): Series premiere.
“The Naked Brothers Band: Polar Bears” (7 p.m. on Nickelodeon): A new 90-minute TV movie that includes four original songs written and performed by Nat Wolff and Alex Wolff.
SATURDAY
“Housecat Housecall” (8 a.m. on Animal Planet): Series premiere.
“Sybil” (7 p.m. on CBS): Remake of the 1976 movie adaptation of Flora Rheta Schreiber’s book, which earned Sally Field her first Emmy. Tammy Blanchard (Emmy winner for “Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows”) steps into the many shoes of Sybil, with Jessica Lange playing the doctor who helps Sybil confront the childhood abuse that led to her dissociative identity disorder (formerly known as multiple personality disorder).
The 140th running of the Belmont Stakes will air live at 4:30 p.m. on ABC. ESPN will air Belmont-related programming at 11 a.m. (“Today at the Belmont Stakes”) and 2 p.m. (“The Belmont Stakes Special”).
–PennyTV
Twilley’s next “Bachelorette” adventure
Tulsa native Blaine Twilley received a rose from DeAnna Pappas in the second episode of “The Bachelorette” (May 26).
According to ABC, this is what’s in store for Twilley (pictured at right) and the other 11 bachelors in the third installment premiering Monday (June 2) at 7 p.m.:
DeAnna turns up the heat with a romantic one-on-one dinner date overlooking Los Angeles and another under the stars at the historic Mt. Wilson Observatory, with both rendezvous having a high-stakes rose on the line – if the bachelor doesn’t receive a rose, he goes home.
She takes the remaining men — including Twilley — on a “ride ‘em cowboy” visit to a bona fide dude ranch with another rose at stake.
DeAnna also has a special surprise in store for her beaus when she takes them to meet her good friend, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. And Ellen won’t just be questioning the men; she’ll also be handing out a rose.
At a very intense cocktail party, the men fall all over themselves trying to convince DeAnna that they’re completely there for her. For some it might be too little, too late. She sends three bachelors home, but is sure that her decisions are the right ones for her and is ready to move on with the nine remaining men.
Stay tuned to see if Twilley, a graduate of Tulsa Metro Christian Academy, makes the final nine.
–Penny TV
Here’s your chance to write a comedy script for Fox
Got an idea for a TV sitcom? Fox Broadcasting Company would like to hear about it.
Fox has teamed up with the New York Television Festival (NYTVF) for the Fox-NYTVF Comedy Script Contest that invites aspiring television writers to submit half-hour pilot scripts for original comedy series. The winner gets $25,000 and a developmental deal with Fox.
Interested writers better hurry, though. The opening date for script submissions is June 2, and the deadline is either June 13 or when 1,500 submissions have been received — whichever comes first.
To submit a script, go to www.nytvf.com/2008_contests_script. Scripts must be saved in a PDF file format. Also, scripts must be between 25 and 35 pages in a proper screenwriting format to be eligible. For official rules, go to http://nytvf.com/2008_fox_info.
A screening committee of NYTVF officials will narrow the pool of entrants down to 25 finalists, and those 25 scripts will be presented to Fox development executives, who will select the winner. Fox may also elect to enter into development agreements with the remaining finalists.
Good luck to all.
— Penny TV
New “Psych” and “Monk” coming soon
USA Network’s hit series “Psych” and “Monk” will return July 18 with new seasons — the third for “Psych” and seventh for “Monk.”
But that’s not all.
Golden Globe winner and Emmy nominated actress Cybill Shepherd (“Moonlighting”) will join the cast of “Psych” in a recurring role as Madeleine, the mother of Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and ex-wife of Henry Spencer (Corbin Bernsen).
Madeleine is a private practice psychologist by trade who has also worked freelance over the years for the Santa Barbara Police Department. She is a free spirit who spent the last few years living abroad, and quite clearly the source of Shawn’s adventurous side
and similar joie de vivre. She returns from Europe and shows up to visit Shawn and Henry, stirring up memories and issues…and a bit of trouble.
And Emmy-winning and Golden Globe-nominated actor Hector Elizondo (“Chicago Hope”) has signed up for “Monk.” He will portray Adrian Monk’s (Tony Shalhoub) much-needed therapist – a role that was recently left vacant with last month’s unexpected death of Stanley Kamel, who played Monk’s beloved therapist, Dr. Charles Kroger.
“Monk will always need a therapist — and it’s a part that is pivotal to the central themes of the show,” said Jeff 
Wachtel, USA Network’s executive vice president of original programming. “When we lost Stanley, we knew we needed an actor who could bring warmth, intelligence and humor to the role. Hector was actually the first person that came to mind, and we are incredibly fortunate that he’s agreed to do some episodes with us.
— Penny TV
Artists wanted: GAC searching for country music’s next great artist
Musicians who love the spotlight and dream of the day when millions of fans will scream their name now have the chance to show their mettle.
Television network Great American Country (GAC) is joining the ranks of its sister networks HGTV and Food Network by premiering “The Next GAC Star,” a nationwide talent search for the next country music star. Six finalists will be flown to Nashville to be featured in a final two-part television special on September 3 and 10, with a live elimination in the second show. The winning artist will receive a record deal and a music video, which will air on GAC.
Now through July 14, GAC will accept videos, mp3s and photos from hopeful country music enthusiasts looking for their shot at becoming a recording artist. To make submissions and for more information, go to www.gactv.com/star.
Voting began May 23 and will run in three phases. For the first eight weeks, the public will vote on submissions using Music Nation’s head-to-head player, which randomly pits two artists against each other and asks the user to choose a favorite. During this period, there will be two weekly winners: the highest ranked artist from the head-to-head standings and an “Industry Insiders” Pick, an artist collectively chosen by GAC and Music Nation.
Select video submissions will also air in the new series “The Next GAC Star” that premieres June 1 and airs Sundays at 4:30 p.m.
During the second phase, the 16 weekly winners will be narrowed down to a field of six by Next GAC Star’s panel of celebrity judges. These six finalists will move on to be featured on the two TV specials, where the Next GAC Star will ultimately be determined.
NBC reveals fall series premiere dates
This just in from NBC … BURBANK — May 23, 2008 — NBC unveils the Fall 2008 series premiere dates for new programs and returning favorites including a three hour launch of the hit drama “Heroes” on Sept. 22, the Thursday night debut of the new comedy “Kath & Kim” (8:30 p.m.) on October 9. “
Thursday night comedy favorites return with a one-hour premiere of the fourth season of “My Name Is Earl” on Sept. 25 (7 p.m.) followed by the one-hour season premiere of the Emmy Award-winning “The Office” (8 p.m.). “ER” begins its 15th and final season on Sept. 25 (9 p.m.). The new comedy “Kath & Kim,” starring Molly Shannon and Selma Blair premieres Thursday, Oct. 9 (8:30 p.m.) and the Emmy-winning “30 Rock,” starring Tina Fey (“Baby Mama”) and Emmy winner Alec Baldwin, begins its third season on Oct. 30 (7:30 p.m.). Preceding the premiere of “30 Rock” will be three consecutive weekly “Saturday Night Live” special election editions of “SNL Thursday Night Live” (7:30 p.m.) on Oct. 9, 16 and 23. “Life” resumes its second season on Oct. 3 (9 p.m.) in the drama starring Damian Lewis as a wrongly imprisoned police detective who returns to the force searching for justice. “Crusoe,” the action-adventure, contemporary re-telling of the classic Daniel Defoe novel “Robinson Crusoe,” will debut on in a special two-hour premiere on Oct. 17 (7 p.m.). “
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 “Chuck” — (7 p.m.)“MY OWN WORST ENEMY” — (9 p.m.)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3“Life” — (9 p.m.)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9 “KATH & KIM” (8:30 p.m.) FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17“CRUSOE” — two-hour premiere (7 p.m.) THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30 “30 Rock” — (7:30 p.m.)
“Crusoe” cast grows
This just in from NBC …
BURBANK — May 22, 2008 — NBC announced that Sam Neill (“The Tudors,” “Jurassic Park”), Sean Bean (“The Lord of the Rings”) and Joss Ackland (“Lethal Weapon 2″) will join the cast of NBC’s new landmark series, “Crusoe” an epic and ambitious take on Daniel Defoe’s legendary tale.
“Crusoe” finds the dashing and resourceful Crusoe (Philip Winchester, “Thunderbirds”) after many years of being a castaway on a desert island with his companion Friday (casting to follow). Written by Stephen Gallagher (“Eleventh Hour”) and directed by Duane Clark (“CSI: NY”), “Crusoe” follows the adventures of the two island dwellers while looking in flashback at Crusoe’s life before he was thrown into an isolated existence filled with danger and adventure.
Among those are his tragic childhood with widower father James (Bean), the blossoming relationship with the love of his life, Susannah (Walton) and his endeavor to transform entrepreneurial aspirations into a business empire under the watchful eye of family friend, Jeremiah Blackthorn (Neill). Overcoming marauding militias, hungry cannibals, wild cats, starvation and apocalyptic lightning storms on his seemingly idyllic island, Crusoe dreams of the day he will be reunited with his beloved family.
Due to film in the
