Cartoon Network Picks Up Two New Live Action Series
November 6, 2009 by Eric
Filed under Cartoon Network
[Press Release - Cartoon Network]
Cartoon Network has picked up thirteen episodes of two hour-long original, scripted live-action series, Tower Prep and Warner Horizon Television's Unnatural History. Production on the network's first-ever hour-long action series is slated to begin in January 2010.
Tower Prep is an action thriller telling the story of a rebellious teen, Ian (Drew Van Acker), who wakes up one morning to find himself trapped at a mysterious prep school focused on tapping into the "unique potential" of its students. Ian forms a secret group with fellow students CJ (Elise Gatien), Gabe (Ryan Pinkston) and Suki (Dyana Liu) as they search for answers to where they are and how to get home. The pilot was executive-produced and written by Paul Dini (Lost, Batman: Arkham Asylum), with Terry McDonough (Breaking Bad, The Street) directing. The series will be produced out of Cartoon Network Studios in Burbank , CA , in association with Dolphin Entertainment.
Unnatural History is an action-packed mystery series centering on Henry Griffin (Kevin G. Schmidt), a teenager with exceptional skills acquired through years of globe-trotting with his anthropologist parents. Shipped off to a high school in Washington D.C. , Henry and his smooth-talking cousin Jasper (Jordan Gavaris) find themselves wrapped up in mysteries revolving around the national museum. Mike Werb (Face/Off, The Mask) created the series and wrote the pilot, which was directed by Emmyr Award winner Mikael Salomon (Band of Brothers, The Andromeda Strain, The Company). The series will be executive produced by Mike Werb and produced by Warner Horizon Television.
"These new series will offer our viewers a type of action-packed event entertainment not found anywhere else," said Rob Sorcher, chief content officer of Cartoon Network. "We are looking forward to working with all of the great talent involved in these exciting new ventures, which we believe will be a powerful complement to our diverse and expanding array of original programming.
Cartoon Network Circles the Globe with BEN 10: ALIEN SWARM Premiere Events
October 28, 2009 by Sandie
Filed under Cartoon Network, Press Releases
[Press Release - Released by Cartoon Network]
Cartoon Network Circles the Globe with Ben 10: Alien Swarm Premiere Events
Live-Action Movie Based on Hit Animated Franchise Has Broadcast Debut in United States on November 25 at 7 p.m.
Cartoon Network territories around the globe will join forces in a worldwide campaign surrounding the broadcast premiere of Ben 10: Alien Swarm. Throughout November, countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Poland, Italy, Spain, South Africa, Mexico, and the Philippines will host premiere events and screenings in 26 languages to support the global broadcast premiere of the latest television movie in the hugely popular Ben 10 franchise, which transcends borders with its global success in broadcast, digital and retail.
The Ben 10: Alien Swarm tour will kick off in London, England where cast members Ryan Kelley, Galadriel Stineman, Nathan Keyes and Alyssa Diaz will present Ben's 10 Awards to 10 lucky kids. Fans will be able to follow the cast as they travel from London to Los Angeles through updates on the official Cartoon Network Facebook page and Twitter account, posting photos, text messages and video clips from each event. Bandai America Incorporated, the official toy licensee for Ben 10, will serve as the exclusive sponsor of the U.S. premiere in Los Angeles, California. These events around the world, combined with a comprehensive marketing campaign promise to make this the most extensive global launch in Cartoon Network history.
Ben 10: Alien Swarm is directed and executive-produced by Alex Winter, who also directed Cartoon Network's first Ben 10 live-action movie, Ben 10: Race Against Time, which scored over 13 million viewers during its Thanksgiving weekend premiere in 2007. The new movie follows Ben as he breaks ranks from the Plumbers (a secret organization that battles alien forces) to help Elena, a mysterious young woman from his past, uncover an alien threat to our world.
Boomerang Pays Homage To THE FLINSTONES With A Musical Marathon
October 22, 2009 by Sandie
Filed under Cartoon Network, Press Releases
[Press Release - Released by Cartoon Network]
Boomerang Presents Pre-Historic Musical Countdown "Bedrock 'N' Roll"
Network Pays Homage to the Melodic Side of The Flintstones with a Musical Marathon, Sunday, Oct. 25
In addition to making television history as the world's first prime-time animated series (ABC), The Flintstones also offered viewers many samplings of fun, culturally relevant music that delighted viewers throughout the show's six-year run. On Sunday, Oct. 25, these classic animated musical moments will return for a command performance as Boomerang presents a day-long marathon of the best of The Flintstones musical episodes: BEDROCK 'N' ROLL. From 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. (ET), America's favorite Stone-Age families—Fred, Wilma and Pebbles Flintstone plus Barney, Betty and Bamm-Bamm Rubble—will "rock out" to prehistoric beats while they welcome a number of celebrity guests, including Ann-Margaret (Ann Margrock) and James Darren (Jimmy Darrock).
"While not specifically a musical series, The Flintstones presented some of the catchiest TV tunes of the day," said Stacy Isenhower, senior vice president of programming and scheduling for Boomerang and Cartoon Network. "So while fans of all ages can enjoy the family animated entertainment, this musical marathon also will illustrate the high level of tuneful creativity and talent that went into the making of these timeless classics."
STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS! "Senate Spy" Preview
October 14, 2009 by Sandie
Filed under Cartoon Network, Press Releases
[Press Release - Released by Cartoon Network]
Romance, Duty and Deadly Intrigue Collide in an All-New Episode of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS!
Tasked by the Jedi Council to rekindle an old flame in order to solicit crucial – and dangerous – information from a suspected traitor, Senator Padmé Amidala finds herself torn between love and duty in "Senate Spy," an all-new episode of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, airing at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, October 16 on Cartoon Network.
COURAGE THE COWARDLY DOG Joins Boomerang's Nightly Lineup
October 14, 2009 by Sandie
Filed under Cartoon Network, Press Releases
[Press Release - Released by Cartoon Network]
Just in Time for Halloween, Courage the Cowardly Dog Joins Boomerang's Nightly Lineup
With a personality as contradictory as his name, Courage is a small dog with a big paranoia problem. Courage the Cowardly Dog, a half-hour animated series first appearing on Cartoon Network in 1999, chronicles the life of this timid pooch as he defends his owners, an old couple living on a farm outside the small town of Nowhere, from paranormal elements that threaten their simple existence. Time and time again, Courage must exhibit enough fearless ingenuity to rescue his oblivious caretakers Eustace and Muriel, who are none the wiser to the menace of such bizarre creatures as the savage Weremole, the sinister Katz, the devious French duck Le Quack or the misunderstood Bigfoot.
Coming to the commercial-free Boomerang network on Monday, Oct. 19 at 9 p.m. (ET), Courage the Cowardly Dog is the latest Cartoon Network original series classic to join the primetime lineup. The series will air nightly Monday through Saturday, and will provide a special Halloween treat in the form of a four-hour mini-marathon on Oct. 31 from 7-11 p.m. (ET).
"Courage the Cowardly Dog is a perfect fall addition for Boomerang," said Stacy Isenhower, senior vice president of programming and scheduling for Boomerang and Cartoon Network. "It adds to our current roster of a new generation of classics, with a spooky twist just in time for Halloween."
The series will air from its very beginning, with the first week of episodes including:
Cartoon Network Halloween 2009 Programming Highlights
October 5, 2009 by Sandie
Filed under Cartoon Network, Press Releases
HALLOWEEN PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS
Get ready for the most spooktacular month of the year as Cartoon Network fills October full of tricks and treats. This month, voyage into the world of the paranormal with all-new episodes of The Othersiders. Goosebumps returns with a daily dose of terrifying tales, and Cartoon Network favorites such as Ed, Edd n Eddy, Billy and Mandy, and Scooby-Doo make appearances throughout the month.
THE OTHERSIDERS (TV-PG)
The Othersiders is a thrilling live-action adventure series that follows five friends on missions as they explore mysterious, potentially haunted locations in search of evidence that will confirm or deny the existence of paranormal activity. Using state-of-the-art technology, the teens conduct first-hand examinations of a variety of reportedly haunted locales. Evidence is collected, a verdict is rendered and all findings are posted on their Web site, allowing visitors to come to their own conclusions. Each mission begins as The Othersiders team members—Riley (Lead Investigator), Jackie (Researcher), KC (Case Manager), Sam (Webmaster) and Zack (Tech Manager)—meet at their headquarters to choose their next location. After extensive online research and discussion, the team determines which venue has enough credible reports to warrant an investigation. During the month of October, tune in to 12 all-new episodes, including an entire week of nightly investigations leading up to Oct. 30 when The Othersiders explore one of the most famous haunted sites of all, Alcatraz.
Cartoon Network October 2009 Programming Highlights
October 5, 2009 by Sandie
Filed under Cartoon Network, Press Releases
OCTOBER PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS
***NEW SEASON***
STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS (TV-PG-V)
Premieres Friday, Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. (ET, PT)
Fierce battles, expanded storylines, and elaborate animation raise the stakes higher than ever in Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Rise of the Bounty Hunters scheduled to premiere this Fall on Cartoon Network. The lives of the Jedi become more complex as secret and forbidden relationships are revealed and a new breed of villain enters to take advantage of the wartime turmoil. Season two introduces these lawless rogues into the fray along with a host of new characters, locations and creatures. Set against the spectacular backdrop of the Star Wars universe, The Clone Wars is bigger, bolder and more intense than ever before! The new season begins with a special one-hour presentation on Friday, Oct. 2, at 8 p.m. (ET, PT).
• Friday, Oct. 2: "Holocron Heist/Cargo of Doom" – Cad Bane infiltrates the Jedi Temple and attempts steal an ancient Jedi Holocron. It's up to Ahsoka, Anakin and Obi-Wan to stop the bounty hunter from escaping with the valuable Jedi artifact. Anakin and Ahsoka intercept Cad Bane's warship, but the Jedi underestimate the bounty hunter's cunning tactics.
• Friday, Oct. 9: "Children of the Force" – Cad Bane is given a new mission: kidnap Force-sensitive children from across the galaxy and bring them to Mustafar for Sith training.
• Friday, Oct. 16: "Senate Spy" – At the Jedi Council's request, Padmé investigates a Separatist conspiracy in the Senate.
SCOOBY-DOO! THE MYSTERY BEGINS Scores as Cartoon Network's Most-Watched Telecast
September 15, 2009 by Eric
Filed under Cartoon Network, Press Releases
[Press Release - Released by Cartoon Network]
Scooby-Doo and the teen gang of mystery-solvers invoked supernatural delivery and ratings strength Sunday night when Cartoon Network premiered the original live-action movie special SCOOBY-DOO! THE MYSTERY BEGINS (7 p.m., ET/PT), setting all-new records as the most-watched telecast in Cartoon Network history, according to preliminary overnight data from Nielsen Media Research. The live-action and CG-animated film delivered 6,107,000 with viewers age 2+ and became the #1 telecast in network history with kids 2-11 (7.4 / 3,032,000), kids 6-11 (9.3 / 2,296,000), kids 9-14 (7.5 / 1,831,000), boys 2-11 (9.4 / 1,978,000) and boy 6-11 (12.2 / 1,538,000).
A co-production of Warner Premiere and Cartoon Network, SCOOBY-DOO! THE MYSTERY BEGINS reveals the never-before-told story of how the Mystery Inc. gang first joined forces to solve a suspicious haunting at Coolsville High. Teachers and students alike accuse Fred, Velma, Daphne and Shaggy of playing a spooky prank. Suddenly, the school athlete, the science fair-winning brainiac, the drama beauty and the school misfit must band together to clear their names. With Shaggy’s newly adopted dog Scooby-Doo tagging along, the mismatched quartet soon discovers they have more in common than they originally thought. Warner Home Video will release SCOOBY-DOO! THE MYSTERY BEGINS on DVD and Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def Combo Pack on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
The live-action cast features Robbie Amell (Life With Derek, True Jackson) as Fred, along with Kate Melton as Daphne, Hayley Kiyoko as Velma and Nick Palatas as Shaggy. Frank Welker, a member of the original Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! voice-cast, provides the voice of Scooby-Doo. SCOOBY-DOO! THE MYSTERY BEGINS is directed by Brian Levant (Snow Dogs, The Flintstones), produced by Brian Gilbert (Wrong Turn) and written by Daniel and Steven Altiere (Dr. Dolittle: A Tinsel Town Tail, Gym Teacher: The Movie).
Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in more than 97 million U.S. homes and 166 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for youth and families. Nightly from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.
